Author's Note: Hope you appreciated my last three-chapter update. I was supposed to be studying for a Chemistry exam...but I didn't. Needless to say, I failed it! Yay! But at least you guys got your updates, yeah?
His heart still pounding furiously, Ichigo got to his feet, the dream he had just had still replaying itself over and over in his mind in a disturbing fashion.
He had been sleeping on a couch in the 6th division office, an arrangement that had been reached due to Renji and Rukia's hours of begging in order to convince Byakuya to allow the strawberry to lodge there for his stay in Soul Society.
As he left the office, he headed off promptly to the tenth division barracks, deciding he needed to talk to Hitsugaya about his dream and see how much of it was true and how much of it wasn't. Had it been just a random dream, or had it really meant something? At any rate, Hitsugaya would be the only one who would be able to confirm his doubts.
Not too long after his departure, he arrived at his destination, hurrying towards the main office and seizing the handle of the sliding door, only to find it was locked.
"Damn," he muttered. He gave it another hard jerk. Still nothing.
"Open up, you stupid, stupid, stupid, shitty little door," Ichigo growled, jerking furiously at the handle, hopping up and down as he did so in hopes of dislodging the lock that was impeding his progress.
By now, several tenth division shinigami on their daily rounds had stopped to watch and laugh at him from behind his back. He looked really stupid, and resembled something like an orange-haired toad who had just been lit on fire.
"Oi, Toshiro!" Ichigo roared, banging unceremoniously on the door with his fists. "I had a dream about you last night! And it was an indecent dream, too!"
Hmm, had the wording come out right?
The tenth division shinigami who had been watching exchanged confused and horrified looks. Who the hell was this crazy orange-haired bastard and why was he screeching at their taichou and blathering about dreaming indecent dreams involving him?
And that was when Ichigo realized that he should have chosen a different adjective to describe that stupid dream.
"You pervert! What the hell's your problem!?"
"Stay away from our taichou, you hear me!?"
"Pedophile! You're the worst!"
"Why're you trying to get in his office!? If you rape him, we'll kill you!"
"You lecher! Go back to your own division!"
As the angry mob condensed around him, brandishing their katanas menacingly, Ichigo began to wave his hands frantically in a pathetic attempt to calm them down, backing away, his backside pressed against the door.
"H-Hang on, you guys!" he spluttered in horror. "It's not what it sounds like! I didn't mean to say that-"
At that moment the door swung open, sending Ichigo plummeting backwards.
"Oi! The hell was that for…Ah, I mean…Hi, Rangiku-san."
"Geez, Ichigo-kun," Matsumoto whined, standing in the now-open doorway. "Why do you yell so loudly? I was having such a nice sleep, and you had to go and wake me up."
"Sorry, but I really need to see your taichou. Now."
"You do? Well then, you've got to come back later, 'cause he's not here at the moment He's at the taichou's meeting right now."
"Damn," Ichigo muttered under his breath. "Then I'll wait out here."
"Suit yourself," Matsumoto shrugged, "But I'm staying inside. It's way too hot out there, and I'm going to close the door, too. All of taichou's leftover cold reiatsu is leaking out, and I don't want to roast to death." With that, she pulled the door shut.
Which left Ichigo to turn around slowly and once again face the mob of tenth division shinigami. All of whom looked rather pissed.
"Uh…" Ichigo spoke hopefully. "So, um…What's up, guys?"
Oh, shit. He was in trouble now.
"That is all. The meeting is now dismissed."
After permission from the sotaichou had been granted for departure, the captains slowly began to file out of the first division office, one by one.
As Hitsugaya headed towards the door, he was suddenly stopped by Yamamoto calling his name.
"Hitsugaya-taichou, if you would stay for a moment."
The boy froze, hesitating for a moment before turning around. "Hai, sotaichou."
"That's a good boy," Yamamoto approved as Hitsugaya approached him. "Now, there is something very important I must speak to you about, so listen closely."
Hitsugaya nodded, wondering what in the world it was that the sotaichou needed to talk to him about. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
"Now then, Hitsugaya-taichou. Subordinates of mine have noticed and informed me that you've become quite close to Kurosaki Ichigo, the substitute shinigami. Is that true?"
"Hardly, sotaichou."
"I see. Anyways, there is a special task that I have for you to complete regarding the young man. I am sure that you are aware of the fact that the boy is not only a substitute shingami, but he also possesses an… inner hollow?"
"Yes, I've heard of that."
"Good. Anyways, we've received information stating that Kurosaki Ichigo has been training with the Vizard lately. He seems to be quite attached to that group, which has drawn suspicion that he may stay with them permanently and betray us. I need you to do some investigating, Hitsugaya-taichou, and find out the extent of his hollow's powers and whether or not it is a threat, as well as if he plans on maintaining alliance with the Vizard."
"And if the results prove that he is indeed what you call…a threat?"
"Then we will have to take action, of course, and carry out the necessary procedures to eliminate him."
Hitsugaya's eyes widened slightly, and he fearfully took a step back. "I-I'm sorry, sotaichou," he stammered, "But I can't carry this mission out."
Yamamoto raised an eyebrow. "You seem to misunderstand, Hitsugaya-taichou. This is not a request. It is an order, and you will obey my orders."
"Sotaichou, please. You can't make me go behind his back like that-"
"What does he mean to you, may I ask?"
Hitsugaya hesitated before muttering, "N-Nothing."
"Then why should you hesitate? It shouldn't matter to you. After all, your foolishness and disobedience has already led to the death of someone precious to you in the past. This mission shouldn't make a difference, especially since you claim the enemy means 'nothing' to you."
The white-haired boy's eyes widened again. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out, until he finally managed to choke out, "He's not an 'enemy.' Why must you speak of him like he is? Sotaichou…I beg of you, please don't make me do this…"
"It's just as I thought," Yamamoto scoffed. "You really are still a child, aren't you? I am beginning to think you are unfit to serve as a captain of the Gotei 13, especially since you refuse to follow a simple order. Refusal, I'm afraid, will mark you as a traitor as well if we find evidence to support our theory of the Kurosaki boy's intentions. I will tell you one more time, Hitsugaya-taichou. Declining this mission is not an option. Do you understand?"
Hitsugaya looked down shamefully before slowly nodding and quietly replying.
"Hai, sotaichou."
"Very good. I will let you know when I will be expecting a report from you later this week. For nows, I want you to concentrate on this mission. Failure is unacceptable, and don't even think about trying anything funny. I will have subordinates monitoring your every move. If I am to receive notice that you are not doing your job, you will be arrested and punished."
"I…I understand."
"Then you are dismissed."