Chapter 2


They weren't kept waiting long.

Hitsugaya was never quite sure how annoyed Yamamoto was when he had that look on his face. At least a part of it, if he were, would be due to the fact that because Sharon wasn't a shinigami – yet – he couldn't just command her and expect her to obey. That included commands transmitted by Hell Butterfly. "If Sharon-san is with you" indeed. It must have galled for him to put it that way.

"I will be blunt," Yamamoto began. "Oshidamaru is a zanpakutou. She must be brought to take physical form that Sharon can wield, and Sharon must be officially brought into the ranks of the shinigami. Her presence is causing disruption and unrest. Sharon may be a healer, but Oshidamaru is not."

Sharon shot Hitsugaya a look that said I knew it, they're kicking me out then one that said maybe I should have moved in with you while I had the chance before taking a deep breath. "With all due respect, I haven't made a habit of back-talking dragons."

One white eyebrow raised, and Yamamoto peered out at her, expecting her to go on.

"I mean, why now? How come this is all of a sudden an issue, when before you all were perfectly content to let me be over with Unohana-sensei? I'm not hurting anybody here, and I like to think I'm doing some good where I am."

Hitsugaya cringed inwardly, though his face kept a carefully schooled expression. She doesn't realize that nobody ever addresses Sou-Taichou like that, nobody gets away with questioning his orders, and nobody but nobody questions his judgment. Not without getting punished anyway.

"You should know. Did you not just come from cleaning up the aftereffects?"

Sharon tilted her head, with a quizzical look on her face. "I'm not sure I understand. Hanatarou-san was showing me how to repair a slash wound properly. We had just finished when your summons came."

Yamamoto's eyes narrowed. "And you were unaware that you were the cause? Surely he would have mentioned how he got injured."

"With all due respect, the patient was in no condition to give much history. His, um, friends dropped him and left, and we made the gross assumption that his injury was sustained in battle with some Hollow." Sharon folded her hands in front of her. "He'll be fine, but he won't be fighting anyone for a while. You mean to tell me he was fighting over me? Remind me to give him a gentle piece of my mind when he wakes up."

Hitsugaya's face burned red. Silently, he begged her to stop while she was ahead. Or at least not quite so far behind.

"You won't be there. He was not fighting over you per se; he got in an argument with one of those who believe you have no right to be living among the shinigami and sharing their privileges without bearing their responsibilities. I don't appreciate my officers wasting their time and energy in useless squabbling when there are far more serious issues at hand." Yamamoto turned to Hitsugaya with a stern glare.

"Hitsugaya-taichou, your new orders are to take whatever steps necessary to compel Oshidamaru to take the form of a normal zanpakutou. Until this is accomplished, you and Sharon are both restricted to the Tenth Division. This has already been discussed with Unohana-taichou." He shot a hard glance at Sharon. "Your healing training is hereby suspended until you can be officially entered into the Fourth Division as a full shinigami." Yamamoto's eyes narrowed again as he turned his gaze back on Hitsugaya. "This is not a vacation and not a honeymoon. This is an assignment and you both need to treat it as such. Your progress will be monitored, and you will not be permitted to leave the Tenth Division until you can demonstrate Oshidamaru's physical form to the satisfaction of a taichou. In the meantime, the administrative duties of the Tenth Division will be handled by Matsumoto-fukutaichou – " At this, Hitsugaya inwardly groaned, wondering if he had hid her sake stash thoroughly enough. "– and you will keep written record of what tactics and techniques you use to attempt to gain control of Oshidamaru. Such a thing has not been heard of in all recorded shinigami history, and it will need proper documentation." Great. Just when I thought I was getting out of paperwork.

"One more thing. I saw with my own eyes that she can take a weapon form when she wants to. What was that called, that weapon you held against Ichimaru Gin, that pole with a blade on the end?"

Sharon looked blankly at him. She was stuck on the name Ichimaru Gin. "Who? You mean Botox?"

"Botox?"

"Yeah. The fellow whose face looks all stretched out over his skull, like he's been all shot up with Botox and he has that plastic kind of look? The one who insulted my son?" Sharon's face was now hard.

"Ichimaru Gin was a taichou within the Gotei 13 and is a traitor in Hueco Mundo. I don't know what this 'Botox' is, but you have described his look accurately enough. I asked you a question, young lady."

"You mean the glaive? That wasn't my idea, nor Oshidamaru's, really. She was just copying an anime character. She kind of had a life of her own long before I knew she was there, and the glaive was a part of it." Sharon shrugged. Hitsugaya closed his eyes. They would have plenty of time together now – and he would use the first part of it to explain what not to say and do in front of Yamamoto. "She decided what she wanted to do and she did it. Just like when Shellhead was messing with my head and she decided to toast his little creatures. They said I looked like a dragon. It suited her to take that form. Then Botox – Gin? – decided I would be at home in this Hueco Mundo place and took us there. But the dragon form didn't work so well, and she decided to go slice. I can't aim worth a damn. She did all the work. Got off a few good shots, too. Shame we didn't hit him." Her eyes took on a look of grim satisfaction. "After a while, something must have hit, though, because there was this slice across, and the next thing I knew, I was under a tree in a really nice place. A lot nicer than the one I was in, anyway. Then I saw Toshiro, even though I didn't remember him properly yet, and the rest you know." She shrugged again. "It never occurred to me that she shouldn't do whatever she damn well pleases. I trust her judgment."

"You really don't understand the situation here," Yamamoto intoned. "This is not a request. This is an order. You will subdue Oshidamaru. You will compel her to take physical form suitable for a zanpakutou. You will complete the training necessary to become a full shinigami. This is not up for discussion. If you fail, you will be compelled to leave Seireitei. Hitsugaya, you will be held personally responsible if this fails."

That shook his composure. In other words, both his professional and his personal life hinged on the whim of a dragon, one whom a few months ago he hadn't even known existed and who clearly had a mind of her own. As if dragons hadn't caused enough trouble in his life.

"Hai. Understood. Sharon?" He turned as if dismissed, as they clearly were. She paused and shot Yamamoto one last enigmatic look before they left.


They were escorted back to the Tenth Division. They can't even trust us enough to walk home. Hitsugaya stopped by his office long enough to pick up writing materials.

"Taichou," Matsumoto said sadly. Hitsugaya rested his hand on his desk a moment. His eyes were closed. "You know where to find me. I don't know how long this will take. I do know we will find a way." He looked at her with grim determination. "I'm not going to lose her."

"Hai." She allowed a small smile as they were escorted away.


AN: I was afraid this chapter would take more cleaning than it did. It got up a lot faster than I thought. #3 might be up in the next few days if all goes well. #4 and beyond.... well...... need more work.

Hitsugaya: What in the hell are you thinking? Making me personally responsible for the decisions of a dragon?

Satscout (innocently): So Yamamoto's upset. As if he hasn't been upset before.

Hitsugaya: Why do I have a feeling this is going to get much worse before it gets any better?