Kenji wasn't someone who was used to be threatened. The very few people who had actually done that had ended up in a pretty bad manner soon after, if you know what I mean. But despite the rare occasions when he had the chance to deal with such problems, the red-head was fully aware of what to do. And the first thing he had to do, was to find out more about the irritating person who didn't know how to mind his own business. No, 'more' wasn't the word. Kenji had to know everything. And considering Hitsugaya wasn't someone who just walks around babbling about his personal life, nor did any of his colleagues had any intention of opening their mouths about the silver-haired captain, the new tenth division's head needed to find another, roundabout way to get what he wanted.

…So he did. And pretty quickly, too.

If there were people in Soul Society who knew everything about everybody, those were the barmen. Even if Hitsugaya didn't go to bars, his friends did, his colleagues did, his subordinates did, and they were definitely way more willing to spit out his dirty little secrets at the barman after few drinks, than they usually would be at anyone else in any other situation. Sooner or later, something was going to come out. And that was all Kenji was waiting for…

So the red-head did what he had to do – went to all local bars he could think of and bribed the barmen. And the latter were venal people. What can you expect for somebody who spends their day serving drinks, washing glasses and cleaning the counter?

'Captain Hitsugaya?' every each one of the barmen asked, staring at the money that were handed to him/her 'The guy's pretty right-minded, ya know… It won't be easy…'

Kenji just shrugged. The brat couldn't be so perfect. There had to be some interesting stuff about him that the red-head could use.

True - it took quite some time until he found what he needed. The barmen had a hard time finding somebody who knew about Toushiro. But soon enough a group of regular drinkers, also known as Ikkaku, Hisagi and few others, found themselves in a great need of sake. One of Kenji's bribed men was there to help them in their desperate search for the soothing liquid. Also, he had been there to use the little amount of time while they weren't so drink they couldn't move, but still drunk enough not to realize what they were doing. The next morning Kenji got his information. And he was very pleased, too. For a kid, Hitsugaya had a quite messed up life…

Few days later…

Hitsugaya woke up with a bad feeling about the day that was going to follow. He didn't know why, but it was there and the juvenile captain doubt it was going to go away.

Perfect…

He groaned, rolling his jade eyes heavenwards before sitting up in his bed. The week hadn't been one of the great ones. He didn't know what to do with Matsumoto. She was terribly upset and it was obvious. Especially the times he had caught her staring at him and Hinamori. She had looked so hurt, that Hitsugaya's heart just seemed to stop beating. He wanted to tell her so badly that there was nothing between him and Momo, but then again… there was nothing between him and Rangiku either, was it? His personal life was none of Matsumoto's concern. Hitsugaya had to get used to that. The tenth division's fukutaicho had to get used, too.

Hitsugaya shook his head and pushed the blanket away before dangling his legs over the side of the bed. As he stood up, the feeling in his stomach got stronger. He frowned. Bad feelings seemed to be an ordinary thing for him, they could mean everything – from Matsumoto spilling tea all over his done paperwork, to Matsumoto arriving all drunk at work. So he was used not to pay attention to it. But then again, there was no Matsumoto to do any of these things and Hinamori was quite a responsible lieutenant, so what could it be?

'Well, there's only one way to find out…' he murmured, stretching his arms and cracking a few bones.

Hitsugaya was ready for work within thirty minutes and just as every other day, he went out of his apartment, locked the door and headed to his office.

But unlike every other day, he felt unusual amount of curious stares following him wherever he went. And by 'unusual amount' I mean that every each one of the shinigami he passed by stopped whatever he/she was doing to look at him in way that the silver-haired teen didn't like even the slightest bit. It was like he was some sort of a moving attraction, an object, something rare and unhuman. And it definitely made him feel uneasy. Toushiro frowned and narrowed his eyes slightly. This was… disturbing. To say the least. People were looking at him oddly, shutting up whenever he showed up, whispering, pointing, letting out rather derisive chuckles under their breaths… something was wrong. Hitsugaya just knew it.

What the hell is going on?

He dropped in his office to leave some documents and mentally made a note that Hinamori was acting the same way. She was staring at him oddly, awfully oddly, as if he was some sort of a green-skinned alien. And when he asked her what was wrong, she immediately denied that she had been acting weird. Hitsugaya frowned and decided to ask her about it later, then headed for yet another captain meeting. He got there with the tiny hope of getting some rest of the bothering whispers and gazes, but of course, there was none. His scowl deepened as he noticed the small gloating smirk on Mayuri's lips and the worried looks on Ukitake, Kenpachi, Kyoraku, Komamura and Unohana's faces.

'Hey, are you ok?' Ukitake asked softly, placing his hand on Hitsugaya's shoulder as the younger captain was about to pass by. Toushro looked down at the hand, puzzled.

'Y-yeah, I think so…' he replied, not really understanding what else to do. He was about to ask what was going on, when the general entered the hall and Hitsugaya had to hurry to take his place.

Yamamoto's gaze traced the two prefect lines of captains and stopped on Hitsugaya, making the boy let out an almost imperceptible exhausted sigh.

'Hitsugaya-taicho.' The old man said slowly as he looked at the boy up and down 'Are you feeling alright? Would you like to take a day or two off?'

For some people Yamamoto might have looked like he actually cared, but Hitsugaya knew better – all the general was interest in was how the system under his control worked. If there was a damaged element in that system, that could ruin everything. The old freak didn't want that. But then again – that lead to one thing – why would he think Hitsugaya was a damaged element? The prodigy frowned and slowly shook his head.

'Are you sure?' the general asked.

'Yes, sir.'

'I see. Inform me if you change your decision. Now let's get to business.'

Hitsugaya barely managed to wait until the end of the meeting. He wanted to find out what was going on and fast. The bad feeling that was messing up with his stomach since the morning had gotten even stronger and the mere idea that people, more importantly the general, thought he was incapable of doing his job, was driving the silver-haired teen crazy. It seemed like he, for once, was the only one who was unaware of the situation, and also a situation that had something to do with himself. And that was definitely not a good thing…

Toushiro sighed, closing his eyes in a pathetic attempt to relax for a moment so he could think more clearly afterwards. It didn't work out very well… so he simply returned to the intrusive question.

What could it be?

What, indeed? Had he done something…? Something that could make everybody act that way? And if yes, how did they find out? Who told them?

'Understood?… Dissmissed.' Yamamoto announced dryly some time later and the captains headed to the door. Hitsugaya was about to hurry to catch up with Ukitake and try to find out the problem, when Mayuri somehow appeared in front of him, blocking the way. Toushiro stopped dead on his track and his scowl slightly deepened at the sight of the gloating smirk on the other taicho's face.

'Well, well, well…' Mayuri's voice was dripping with venom and at the same time it radiated some sort of wicked satisfaction '…it seems like someone finally put you in your place, little prodigy.'

'What do you want, Mayuri?' Hitsugaya snapped, trying to remain composed. Mayuri's smirk only grew wider as he bend down so his eyes yellow eyes were on the same level as the younger captain's jade ones and answered in a sing-song voice while, as it seemed, enjoying every word.

'I always knew you were pathetic little freak, but daring to even imagine something like that, daring to think that it's possible… Well, I must say that I wasn't expecting that. But I must also admit it was a pleasant surprise…'

Hitsugaya opened his mouth, but before he had the chance to say anything, another voice interfered:

'I think this is Hitsugaya's business, Mayuri.' Kenpachi's large hand landed on Hitsugaya's shoulder. The twelfth division's taicho let out an almost imperceptible growl that sounded just like 'You're ruining my fun' and stood up straight.

'Don't overreact, Zaraki, we're just chatting.' Mayuri replied with a carny voice as a fake smile formed on his lips.

'Really? May I take part in this 'enjoyable' chat, then?' Kyoraku drawled, coming from somewhere behind Kurotsuchi's back.

'I must admit it didn't sound very enjoyable to me.' Zaraki said, his hand slightly squeezing Toushiro's shoulder 'If there's something you'd like to tell Toushiro, go ahead, we're listening.'

Mayuri's eyes widened a bit and his lips slightly parted.

'We're waiting…' Kyoraku sang and put his hands on his hips.

There was a short pause before Mayuri finally gave up with a low snarl and directed his eyes to Toushiro.

'Fine.' he hissed through gritted teeth while having a sort of glaring competition with Hitsugaya 'I don't care if most of the taichos and fukutaichos feel sorry for you, in my opinion you asked for it, brat. Acting all strong and mighty around, when you're just an impertinent spoiled kid!'

'MAYURI!' Zaraki bellowed, narrowing his eyes dangerously at the twelfth division's captain and at the same time tightening his grip on Hitsugaya's shoulder just in case the silver-haired teen decided to do something stupid. Which was a wise move, considering the room was much colder than before.

Kurotsuchi let out a dry laugh before waving his hand dismissively.

'Alright, alright! I won't hurt our precious little prodigy's feelings anymore… Then again… Hitsugaya seems to be taking things pretty well, considering the whole Soul Society knows about him being tricked in falling in love with his lieutenant and all…' Mayuri turned around and slowly started to make his way out of the hall 'Pathetic. Thinking that someone might actually fall in love with you… Sheesh. And here they call you boy genius… ' and with that he was gone.

Hitsugaya felt as if his heart had stopped beating. The blood left his face, his eyes went wide and suddenly he felt as if he was suffocating. His lips slightly parted. He could hear his own unsteady breaths in-out-in-out-in-out so much louder than usually.

'Kid?' Zaraki asked, frowning as he saw the expression written all over the prodigy's face. Toushiro's legs went weak and he was sure that if it Kenpachi's strong hand hadn't been there to grab his arm, he would've collapsed for sure.

'Hey, hey, kid, don't you faint on me, you hear me?' the eleventh division's captain exclaimed, glancing at Kyoraku's direction with worry 'You think he didn't knew about the rumours?'

'It seems that this is the case. Toushiro, do you hear me?'

Kyoraku walked to the boy, squat in front of him and snapped his fingers in near Hitsugaya's face. No reaction. Shunsui then placed his hands on the smaller captain's shoulders and gently shook him.

'Toushiro! Snap out of it!'

Hitsugaya squeezed his eyes shut and without warning pulled away from Kyoraku's grip.

'Tell Yamamoto I am taking a few days off…' Toushiro whispered and before any of the other captains had time to reply, shunpoed away.

Meanwhile…

'WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!' Matsumoto yelled, grabbing Ikkaku by the collar and pulling him towards her 'WHY DOES THE WHOLE SOUL SOCIETY KNOW ABOUT THE BET!?'

'I-I-I have no idea…' the bald guy murmured, staring with horrified eyes at her beautiful face, now livid with anger.

'Spit out, Madarame, or else…'

'I really don't know, Rangiku, please, let go!'

'I don't believe you! Nobody else except of you, Kira and Hisagi know about the whole story! Who of you morons did it? WHO? You screwed my life, you know that? YOU SCREWED IT! AND THE WORST PART!? WHEN HITSUGAYA FINDS OUT ABOUT THE RUMOURS, HE'LL THINK I DID IT!'

'But I'm telling the truth, I didn't even… Oh... Oh my.' Madarame blinked, his eyes locked somewhere above Matsumoto's head. She raised an eyebrow and reluctantly followed his gaze.

'Look at this…' the bald shinigami exclaimed as he watched the bright-blue sky quickly become overcast with dark clouds 'Have you ever seen a storm appearing so fast?'

Matsumoto dropped him on the ground and frowned as the first heavy drops begun to fall down.

'Yes… Actually I have.' She murmured 'When Hinamori slipped into coma…'

'What do you mean?' Ikkaku asked, standing up and dusting off his clothes. Matsumoto's frown deepened.

'What do you think? Our ice prince found out about the rumours. We better hide, Madarame. This… is going to be one hell of a hailstorm…'

A/N: Ok, ok, OK! I know it was somewhat OC and I'm sorry/pouts/ Don't hate me, please! I screwed up on plain geometry, so go easy on me! And I know they said nothing about there being a storm when Momo was in coma, but let's pretend, puh-lease!