Chibi Punishment
Chapter five: A Conversation

Toshiro sat on the bed in the empty room, concentrating on the seal that now held him in such a childish place in the world at the moment. 'Okay. I can do this. I almost had it before. I can do this.' He thought to himself as he concentrated even harder. He saw the seal in his inner world, a dragon that looked like Hyorinmaru inside an orb that appeared to be his power.

'Okay. One last time. This time, I'll break it for sure.' He thought with determination. Toshiro put all his effort into the seal for the next ten minutes. At the last second of ten minutes, someone gently shook him, rattling him back to the real world. He narrowed his eyes at whoever had interrupted him. That person just so happened to be Matsumoto.

"What did you do that for?! I almost had it!" He yelled at her, scooting away.

"Hitsugaya-kun? Would you kindly stop for just a moment so that we may speak with you?" Unohana asked, making her presence known to the boy. Toshiro hesitated and looked at them skeptically before asking, "No Ichimaru?"

"No, Gin isn't here. I sent him off with taicho." The lieutenant explained. Toshiro relaxed slightly at her words.

"Hitsugaya-kun? I was wondering if you would tell us why you're so upset?" Unohana asked as she sat down in a chair near him.

Toshiro brought his knees up to his chest in contemplation. 'Should I tell them? I guess I should, but can I?' He asked himself in his head. He eventually sighed and shut his eyes.

"No." Was his response.

"Please, taicho. It may help us to help you." Matsumoto tried, referring to him as captain again.

"I can't. I just can't, Matsumoto. I can't put it into words." Toshiro replied, letting his head be buried in his arms and knees.

"Would you please try, Hitsugaya-kun?" Unohana asked calmly and quietly.

Toshiro said nothing. "Hitsugaya-kun, I understand how hard this must be for you. You mustn't break the seal that has been placed on you though. It may damage your body and reitsu." Unohana said, coming closer to him.

"The seal has to break though! I-I-" Hitsugaya tried saying but ended up swallowing before he could get the rest out.

"You what?" Matsumoto asked.

"Nothing. It's nothing." Toshiro responded, drawing his knees even closer to his chest.

"Taicho... why are you trying to break the seal? What good will it do for you?" Matsumoto asked, concerned for the boy. Toshiro remained silent, unwilling to talk about the subject.

"Please...?" She tried again. Toshiro shook his head no. Matsumoto sighed and crossed her arms under her chest. She shut her eyes and turned away from. 'I didn't want to have to do this, but...' she thought.

"Toshiro. You're acting like a child." She said clearly and loudly. She could hear him make a noise, then the sheets on the bed were moving.

"WHAT did you say, Matsumoto?" The young boy demanded.

"I said that you're acting like a child." She repeated, starting to walk away from him.

"Just how am I acting like a child?!" Toshiro demanded, growing angry at the woman.

"Well, sensible and mature adults SHARE their worries and feelings. You however, are obviously not an adult like I thought you were." Matsumoto played as she opened the door.

"Y-you think of me as an adult?" Toshiro asked, anger fading slightly.

"I did. I was mistaken though, it seems." She said as she stood in the doorway.

"I-I'm not a child though!" Toshiro slightly whined, making more noise on the bed.

"Then prove it." Matsumoto challenged as she turned around, seeing Toshiro standing on his knees on the bed, fists pressing into the mattress. His facial features were scrunched up in frustration and anger.

"How?! How can I do that?! I don't know how to share my feelings!" Toshiro yelled, glaring at the lieutenant.

"Hmm... I thought as much." Unohana said, shaking her head from side to side. "You were admitted into the academy so young, and became a shinigami so quickly, that no on ever thought to teach you these things."

Toshiro remained silent, staring at the female captain. 'Is she right? Do i really not know how to do simple things because of the power I possess?' Toshiro questioned himself, frowning.

'Think... learning experience.' A deep voice advised. Toshiro's eyes widened.

'Hyorinmaru?! Are you there?!' He cried out in his head. He received no response.

'Think learning experience? Does he want me to not break the seal? Does he want me to learn these things?' Toshiro thought as he stared out lost into the room. He fell back on his legs and began to look very sad.

'Even Hyorinmaru doesn't want me anymore...'