Authors' Note: Welcome to the next chapter. I appreciate everyone's kind words and encouragement; they really do mean a lot. :3 Many thanks especially to Blackbelt, who initially inspired me to write a Hitsuruki fic, and actually took the time to read my story and give me a really nice review. I am grateful.

Anyways, this one is a little short. I will extend their length if you want me to, but in my opinion it is easier to absorb and read when shorter. It keeps people's attention longer.

Enjoy, and please review. :)

White Phoenix

Chapter 2


"Is there anything else bothering you, Hitsugaya?" Unohana asked quietly once they reached the infirmary. She floated over towards a nearby desk, checking several clipboards in a seemingly repetitive fluid motion. Her patience always preceded her.

Hitsugaya was leaning against the door frame, tapping his fingers together quietly, hair shifting in front of his face. He never once looked up to find her searching eyes. The sun gave him a silhouetted shimmer, his white hair becoming black.

"Besides the fact that my friend and lieutenant is dead? Well, this floorboard is creaking rather loudly, and it's too bright in this room, but that's about it."

Unohana narrowed her eyes. "No need to be sarcastic Hitsugaya-taicho. As squad four's captain it is my duty to ask such questions."

"How come? We already know what is bothering me." He replied coldly, shrugging her off.

She looked away from him, hurt in her eyes. He was suffering terribly, but his attempt to be strong seemed to overtake him. It was his duty as a captain to continue as normal, even though he was grieving. But how could he, when it was indeed the woman he loved who died to protect him?

"Taicho, there is a room awaiting you down the hallway there," Unohana broke his thoughts, and he turned to see her pointing down the corridor.

He nodded and slid across the floor into the hallway, leaving Unohana to stare after him. As he walked, he noted that it was oddly quiet. Some doors were ajar, and he noticed those that were in the rooms, amongst them being Renji. Renji was sleeping; his wounds were fairly severe and would take some time to heal.

"Welcome, Hitsugaya-taicho." Hitsugaya turned his attention down the hall, where in his room's doorway stood Hanatarou. He bowed deeply before the captain.

"Hello, Hanatarou." Hitsugaya said formally as he approached the young squad member.

"T-the bed is already folded down for you, and I l-left you some water and a few rice balls, if you feel h-hungry." He said with a small voice. Hitsugaya entered, sat on the edge of the bed and pressed into it firmly. The boy was still shaking; Hitsugaya figured he was slightly fearful.

"Thank you, Hanatarou-san. You may go now." He said softly. Hanatarou bowed deeply once more and exited the room silently, shutting the door behind him.

Hitsugaya glanced around the room with his deep green eyes. The walls were stark white, nearly the color of his hair, and there was not much relating to furniture. There was the bed against the left wall, and the window was placed nearby. It was a good view of the gardens, which to his surprise took hold of his interest.

With a heavy sigh he shed his white cloak, and his shirt, leaving him solely in his pants. It felt nice to be informal and comfortable for once. He fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling with intent, and felt the cool bedding cushion his warm skin. Though there was comfort surrounding him, there was still an uneasy shifting inside.

Then he saw her face, clear as day. The smile that now haunted his dreams was before him, wearing his heart away even more.

"Matsumoto…"

How he longingly wished that she were there lying on the couch in his office, sleeping the day away while he did their paperwork. Though it was aggravating at times, he enjoyed catching a glimpse of her as she slept. Her face was calm and content as her chest rose and fell with a certain rhythm that he secretly enjoyed.

Now the couch would be empty, and although he would still do all of the paperwork, it was not the same. There were going to be no more awkward arguments about her random thoughts or lack of work ethic, no more fights side by side, no warm smile to comfort him, and no soothing voice saying, "Taicho, do something to please yourself for once."

He closed his eyes.

Suddenly, the hole in his heart began to open; he felt completely and utterly empty inside. It was bad the night she died in his arms, but now her death had officially sunk in, and he knew that he could not bring her back. Hitsugaya mentally kicked himself for never revealing to her how he felt. There was nothing he could do to turn back the damned hands of time.

"I never did anything to please myself…I'm sorry, Rangiku-san, for not doing that in return for your friendship."

There was a light knock on his door. With a jolt he sat up from where he was resting and glanced in the general direction. "Come in."

Unohana entered quietly. "Are you comfortable, taicho?" She asked sweetly, as if she had forgotten the way he spoke to her a few minutes ago in the main room. He felt quite embarrassed, to say the least, about his un-professional behavior towards another captain.

"Unohana-taicho…I apologize—"

She put up her hand to stop him. "No need to apologize for anything, Hitsugaya. In times of grieving one says things they do not always mean. It happens to the best of us. Do not beat yourself up for reacting normally. In fact," She said, holding up a finger and smiling, "I'm happy that you responded the way you did."

He gave her an incredulous look. "How does that make someone happy?" He asked.

"It proves to me that you are grieving correctly. I noticed you are one to keep your emotions to yourself, and when you reacted that way I knew everything was doing what it should."

He turned away from her and gazed out of the window. "I'm glad I could ease your mind, Unohana-taicho."

There was a long pause between them, and soon Unohana cleared her throat gently to catch his attention. He turned to her once more, but his face was wet; for the first time since Matsumoto's death, he finally shed his tears of sorrow. Unohana did not seem surprised.

"I understand your pain, taicho." She said sweetly, "I am always here if you need to talk, and if you need anything else, just let I or Hanatarou know."

She did not wait for a reply; she bowed slightly and shut the door, leaving him to stare down blankly at his hands. For a fleeting moment, he saw Matsumoto's blood stained on his palms and fingers, but in the next moment it was gone. For one reason or another he felt guilty. His head pounded aggressively, crying out for rest, and to release the tension.

"It should have been me…" He said aloud, pressing his eyelids together in a vain attempt to stop his tears. "I should be the one dead…not you, Matsumoto."

Gripping the sides of his head, he gritted his teeth painfully. The tears were flowing more freely than before, the droplets crashing onto the wooden floor.

"It should have been me!"

--

"I suppose you understand why you are here?" Yamamoto looked curiously over the girl, who sat quite erect.

"No, I do not." She replied quickly, never once catching his eyes. The wall behind him seemed more interesting at the moment. Byakuya stepped forward, in front of Yamamoto. She suddenly felt nervous.

"You have an assignment, Rukia."

Her eyes bulged as she stood up before him, stiff and rigid. The wall held no interest to her now. "And what assignment is that, Byakuya-taicho?"

Yamamoto poked his head out from behind Byakuya timidly. "You have been assigned to be Hitsugaya-taicho's temporary vice-captain." Byakuya turned and gave him a dark glare; she thought that maybe he had hoped to be the one telling her the news. Rukia barely managed to keep from falling over herself.

"R-really?" She stuttered, her mind whirling about as she attempted to gather her thoughts.

Byakuya nodded. "Since Matsumoto has…now passed on, he will need a replacement. And since he did not have anyone in mind for the position, I assumed it would be good for you to practice the schedule and tasks of a vice-captain first hand."

"Hitsugaya-taicho is a good captain, and would not make it too difficult for you, unless you felt ready. Ukitake apologizes for not being the one to train you, but in his position right now he is unable to do so. This was an unfortunate way, but we must take it. Do you feel ready to accept this?"

Rukia's head still spun wildly as she tried to absorb all he was throwing out to her. It all came at her so fast she was nearly unable to catch it as it flew by. There was a long pause.

"Rukia." Yamamoto snapped her out of her thoughts. There was no fear in her eyes as she made solid contact with the old commanders' squinted ones.

She nodded with a blank expression on her face. "I accept."

Byakuya did not smile, nor clap his hands, but she could see in his eyes the relief and the happiness, and what she hoped to be pride. Never before did they ever have a temporary vice-captain replacement, and Rukia would be the first. Byakuya took his place on the floor, followed by Yamamoto.

"Good. Hitsugaya-taicho is at the infirmary now, resting and relaxing. You may go out on patrol or go to visit him, whichever you see fit. As lieutenant you are able to make these decisions unless ordered otherwise." Byakuya stated with pride as he looked his sister over once.

She did feel warm and content, though at the same time sad about her departed friend, and the grieving captain. She figured her temporary captain would not want to be disturbed, and looked out past the doorway. "I will go out on patrol." She said.

"Very well," Byakuya replied. "But do not be too long; I do not expect Hitsugaya-taicho will be relaxing for any length of time. His job was always first priority, and I suspect he wants the same ideal from you."

"Yes, sir," And with that, she exited the room, leaving the two to discuss other matters.

--

"I'm becoming a temporary vice-captain?" She asked herself as she wandered around Sereitei, not exactly being on patrol. If she needed to fight, she would, but it was one of those afternoons where one could almost care less. The sun was slowly setting over the walls, leaving a beautiful orange-red glow, the walls now seemingly less menacing.

She felt overwhelmed, and scared. For the first time, she wished she had not been placed in this position. Rukia hardly knew the guy, and only knew about his personality through certain stories Matsumoto would tell. Only a couple of times had she run into him in the real world while he and his chosen elite were on duty, and they hardly spoke if at all. It was a mere acquaintance relationship.

"How am I to work for someone I barely know?" She asked herself aloud, once she was sure of being alone. She slid down the wall and sat on the dusty ground, ignoring the fact that her kimono was getting dirty. I'll just say I got in a fight with some random Shinigami. She thought quickly in case someone wondered.

She turned and faced the retreating sun, the anxiety of tomorrow overcoming her. "I want to do my best…but how could I ever amount up to her?"

Suddenly she heard many footsteps approaching, and stood up to fight, sword drawn. The reiatsu was weak, but many footsteps meant more than one. It was time to begin settling her nerves.


Authors Note: Well, a cliffhanger…kinda. When you read the beginning of the next chapter you will understand what I mean. I hope you enjoyed, and please let me know how it is so far. I've been sick so my writing is not up to par, to say the least. Forgive me.

Next chapter will hopefully be up soon, but do not expect it within the next week. More like two weeks or so.

Evilmoose