Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach

Chapter Eight - Discovery and Confusion

Having came across a startling piece of information while doing some research for her captain in the library Matsumoto ran toward the Senkaimon that would take her back to the world of the living. The news that she had to relay couldn't wait and the Squad Ten vice-captain knew that Captain Hitsugaya would want to know immediately. This could prove vital to the mission that he had been assigned.

"The captain will definitely want to know about this ASAP," she murmured as she made her way through the portal to the world of the living, following along behind a hell butterfly. He would most likely be surprised by her quick return, since she wasn't known for getting work of this nature finished quickly, however the concern in his eyes had made her want to work faster. There was an uneasiness in his eyes that she desperately wanted to see disappear. Her captain was always serious, it was true, but his current state of worry went way beyond the normal and she was beginning to grow concerned about him.

She was worried about him and in her eyes the sooner he got this information the better. Matsumoto didn't know if it would help or not but she was determined to do everything in her power to resolve this issue quickly so that Captain Hitsugaya could return to Soul Society and finally get some much needed and much deserved rest. The young captain always worked extremely hard but things had been even rougher for him since the onset of those nightmares. Hitsugaya hadn't been sleeping well and then he'd been sent to track down an enemy who appeared to be extremely elusive so Matsumoto knew that he had to be absolutely exhausted, both physically and mentally.

When she arrived in Karakura Town Matsumoto quickly searched for the reiatsu of Captain Hitsugaya and Hinamori and when she found it she used her flash-step.

Hitsugaya and Hinamori were still searching for the reiatsu of Midori when Matsumoto suddenly appeared in front of them. Hitsugaya arched a brow, slightly shocked that his subordinate had returned from Soul Society so quickly. And he didn't fail to notice that she had an unusual look in her blue eyes. "Did you find something Matsumoto?"

"There was no one on the list of known threats by the name of Midori," Matsumoto informed her captain, her gaze locked on him in an attempt to judge his reaction to this knowledge. And it was obvious to her by his facial features that Captain Hitsugaya was surprised by this news. The way that his teal eyes widened ever so slightly was enough to tell her that Hitsugaya had been expecting a different answer to his question.

"I don't believe it," Hitsugaya said in a quiet voice, his teal eyed gaze leaving his vice-captain and coming to rest resolutely on the ground. He had been certain that Soul Society would have a file on someone as powerful as Midori and could not quell the disappointment that he felt upon learning that this was not the case. He wanted, no needed, to know what was going on, what had happened to his mother since his death and this had seemed like a good way to accomplish that. He was disappointed to say the least and as much as he wanted to the young captain couldn't completely hide this disappointment. It shone in his eyes if nowhere else.

"Captain," Matsumoto said, noticing the expression of disappointment in his teal eyes. "After I searched the lists of known threats with no luck I had a thought. Since she wasn't on that particular list I took a leap and checked the records of Shinigami and. . . and I came across the name of a Shinigami who was listed as missing in action. She was the third seat officer of Squad Ten and her name was Midori Hara. The physical description matched so I think there's a real good chance that the woman you're tracking is the same person."

"Shini. . . gami. . ." Hitsugaya gasped, his eyes returning to the face of his second in command and widening in shock. His mother had been a Shinigami? In the back of his mind, the part that was still rational, he had suspected as much since she had revealed the fact that she possessed a zanpaktou. Unfortunately that revelation brought about more questions than it answered. For some reason a Shinigami had deserted from Soul Society and had somehow ended up as a Hollow. Was that even possible?

"Toushirou?" Hinamori said, picking up on the haunted look that had appeared in Hitsugaya's beautiful teal eyes. Something about the news that Matsumoto had just delivered had disturbed him and she desperately wanted to offer him comfort. "Are you okay?"

It was as though Hitsugaya hadn't even heard the words spoken to him by his childhood friend. The young captain sank to the ground, his haori fanning out to lay on the grass. His mother had been a Shinigami, and not just any Shinigami but a seated officer. So what had happened to make her leave Soul Society and have a kid? A kid that she had grown to despise. A kid whose life she had ultimately ended.

"Captain. . ."

Feeling completely numb Hitsugaya barely registered the fact that his vice-captain was calling out to him. How could his mother have been a Shinigami and him never know? He never noticed anything strange about her, aside from the fact that she was possessive and abusive. Completely overwhelmed by emotions that he had kept bottled up for decades the young captain suddenly collapsed.

Matsumoto's eyes widened in horror as she watched Hitsugaya's teal eyes roll back into his head as he fell limply to the ground.

"Captain!"

"Toushirou!"

Both Matsumoto and Hinamori sank to their knees at Hitsugaya's side, each calling out to him in an attempt to get him to wake. Their efforts were all for naught however as the young captain remained completely motionless, his features seeming tortured even in sleep. Hinamori nudged his shoulder gently with her hand but even the gentle back and forth motion didn't arouse the young captain.

Now extremely worried for her superior officer Matsumoto gently scooped the small boy up into her arms and then got to her feet. "Come on Momo," she said as she turned to walk away. "We have to get him to Squad Four as fast as we can."

"Right," Hinamori said, getting quickly to her feet. The Squad Five vice-captain quickly summoned the Senkaimon that would take them back to Soul Society and together the trio traveled back to their own world. The enemy had yet to be stopped however one of their own was suffering and at the moment he was all that they cared about. Everything else would just have to wait.

Someone else could take over this fight.

When they arrived back in the Seireitei Hinamori turned to Matsumoto, concern evident in her chocolate colored eyes as she gazed at Hitsugaya. In his current position the young Captain of Squad Ten appeared even younger than he did while he was conscious. Hinamori wasn't sure if she had ever seen Hitsugaya looking so vulnerable. "You get Toushirou to Squad Four. I'll tell Captain Aizen about what happened and see if he can take over the mission until Shirou-chan recovers."

"Good idea Momo," Matsumoto said, nodding her head in approval of her friend's plan. She hadn't cared much about the threat to Soul Society when she'd watched her captain collapse however now that they were back in the Seireitei she realized that the threat shouldn't be ignored. Luckily Hinamori had the foresight to think of a way to solve the problem and she was grateful for this fact.

Leaving her best friend in Matsumoto's capable hands Hinamori used her flash-step to disappear while the Squad Ten vice-captain quickly made her way across the Seireitei toward the Squad Four barracks. She wanted to get her captain into the care of the Medical Corp. as quickly as possible although she was fairly sure that he was just suffering from exhaustion. He was pale and had a tortured look however his breathing was even and his pulse rate was steady.

As Matsumoto walked toward the front entrance of Squad Four she saw that the vice-captain of said squad was just stepping out. The lavender haired woman gazed up and she seemed surprised when her gaze fell upon Matsumoto, who held her limp and seemingly lifeless captain in her arms.

"Rangiku-san!" Isane exclaimed as she rushed over to Matsumoto. Her gaze quickly surveyed the limp form of Captain Hitsugaya before her eyes found their way back to the Squad Ten vice-captain. "What happened?"

"He just collapsed," Matsumoto replied, thinking back to the conversation that she had been having with her captain and deciding to keep it on a need to know basis. "Although he hasn't been sleeping well for quite some time. I think he's just exhausted."

"Right," Isane said, immediately turning back toward the entrance of Squad Four. "Well let's get him inside and make sure that it isn't something more serious."

Matsumoto nodded and followed Isane inside, her captain still held gently and carefully in her arms.

"Captain Aizen."

Captain of Squad Five Sousuke Aizen glanced up from his paperwork as he heard the voice of his vice-captain call out to him. Hinamori's voice sounded somewhat desperate and Aizen briefly wondered what was wrong with her. He offered the young girl a reassuring smile as she stepped inside his office however he also appeared to be slightly confused about her appearance. "Momo. . . what are you doing here? I thought that you volunteered to go to the world of the living to help Toushirou. Is everything alright?"

"I did captain," Hinamori said as she came to stand in front of her superior's desk, gazing down at him with the same look of devotion that she always wore while in his presence. Being his vice-captain was all that she had ever wanted and she knew that her kind hearted captain would help her out with her current situation. She just knew it. "But Toushirou collapsed and we had to bring him back to Soul Society. Rangiku-san took him to Squad Four."

Aizen's eyes widened. "Is he alright Momo?"

Hinamori nodded, warmed as always by the concern of her beloved captain. "We think that he's just mentally and physically exhausted, due to the nightmares that he's been having and the stress of the search. I was kinda hoping that you'd take over his assignment until he recovers captain."

Aizen held a thoughtful expression on his face for a few seconds before nodding. He offered the young woman another reassuring smile. "Don't worry Momo, I'll take care of it. You should go to Squad Four and check on Toushirou, after all he's your best friend."

Tears appeared in Hinamori's eyes and she had to resist the urge to run and embrace her captain. Not for the first time she found herself thinking how lucky she was to be in Squad Five with Captain Aizen, the greatest captain in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. "Thank you so much Captain Aizen."

Aizen nodded and watched as his vice-captain turned and walked out of the office. "And now to go to the world of the living."

A/N - and there's yet another chapter. Poor Toushirou, he really has it rough. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review and tell me what you thought. Til next time this is Hitsu-taichou signing out.