Chapter 5: Perspective Manipulations

Leaning against the doorway to the main hall, the ice captain scanned the filled dining room, a thin piece of buttered toast in his hands as his teal orbs glared over the inhabitants. It was the morning which the ice captain had been summoned for his meeting with the Ministry, Cornelius and a number of core members to be in attendance. Which included Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mr. Weasley.

"Hitsugaya."

Turning at the sound of his name, the ice captain quirked an eyebrow as he met gazes with Black, who neared from behind, his grey eyes stormy as he sighed before speaking. "The Ministry is not a game to be underestimating to play with no matter how deluded they currently seem."

"I am well aware." Toshiro acknowledged, turning back to the dining room which Mrs. Weasley was plating massive amounts of food on everyone's plates. "The Ministry is not that different from a similar government which I have dealt with before. I appreciate the concern, however, it is unnecessary."

Nodding as if expecting this, the fugitive shrugged.

"I figured as much from you, Hitsugaya." Black sighed, running a hand through his black locks before his eyes grew steely. "But do not bring Harry into this. You may have assisted me two years ago, but Harry is my godson."

"I had no intention to do so." Toshiro replied with an indifferent shrug, continuing as he knew it was a confused expression plastered on the fugitive's face, not understanding the captain's thoughts. "I merely needed something to steer Mrs. Weasley into not underestimating me and inform her that I am by no means intent to altering my goals. To show that her concern was a nuisance that would cost her."

"Molly is only concerned for under-aged wizards is all." Black sighed, nodding at the captain's words. "You are one of them in her eyes, Hitsugaya."

"She has no reason to do so." Toshiro pointed out, his eyebrow risen as his icy voice hinted with confusion. "She does not have a relation to me in any sort. Nor does she have any benefit in doing so."

The fugitive looked at the white-haired child before him incredulously.

"No benefit?" Sirius echoed, his voice low. "You believe that Molly has to need a reason for benefit to care for others?"

"No, I believe that Mrs. Weasley genuinely cares for her children and others alike." Toshiro nodded as he gestured to the dining room with a thumb. "However, I fail to see why Mrs. Weasley's concern should extend to myself."

That's because you are the one who needs it the most, Hitsugaya. Even Molly could see it clearly in you, my boy. Sirius replied silently as the ice captain moved past the godfather with silent steps, exiting to change as thoughts traveled to the previous night, shortly after the discovery of the Horcrux.

Ebony shrouded Seireitei as a strawberry blonde woman lounged seemingly drunken on a green sofa in an administration office, the table before it, littered with several bottles of clear sake and a single porcelain cup. Lieutenant Matsumoto shot up as a shrill ring took her from the drunken haze, pale blue moons reading the caller's identity with a soft cat-like grin. Answering, the strawberry blonde straightened up immediately.

"Matsumoto." Her captain's icy voice sounded as he continued without giving her a chance to whine, red flags going off on her mind. "Inform the Head Captain that I have found another Horcrux and it is being sent to Soul Society by the end of the week, and I have bypassed for you to have permission to accompany me to the Ministry of Magic. Be ready to meet me tomorrow morning."

"Taicho." She cut off, not allowing him to continue as her voice was clear despite her whisper. "Did something happen?"

A pause. Ah, then something did happen.

"It's nothing." He answered with a thin sigh as she frowned, orbs narrowed all too similarly to her superior. "A minor complication with the Horcrux when I was caught off-guard for a moment. Nothing of great importance."

So, that was what this was about. The strawberry blonde thought. The exposure of the Horcrux was initially limited to the captain-classes to ensure secrecy, but considering her captain being the center of the topic, the Tenth Division Vice Captain was informed and had seen more than her fair share of the Horcrux. Shifting to Gin once, the strawberry blonde would have been cut down if not for her captain, barking a stern order for her to snap out of it.

"I see." She replied, shaking the memory from her mind, sending a soft thank you to Haineko's soft purrs to calm her master. Now to do the same for her captain. "How's school, taicho? Did you make any new friends? How are Harry, Ron, and Hermione?"

"It's August, Matsumoto." Her captain growled, uptaking his usual scolding at her. "Readmission does not begin until September. Regarding, the three of them; they're the same as ever."

"Well, they are children, taicho~." She teased, smiling as she readied for the punchline. "Don't go breaking too many hearts, taicho. It took us forever to sort through all of those letters to the Yule Ball last year~."

"Shut up." She could practically see the blush on his face. If only she had a camera to take the shot. Well, the sight of her captain's incredulous face when he saw her reading letters that looked eerily like paperwork was enough she supposed, along with the face that he made when she was actually reading through his fan mail. "Just inform the Head Captain of this and finish your paperwork. I doubt you've even started on it."

"Taicho~!" She whined into the phone, pouting indignantly. She was lazy but she did technically start. "I did too, start on it already!"

"Writing only your name in the past week on every form does not count, Matsumoto." Her captain deadpanned before hanging up, surprising his lieutenant on how well he truly knew her. On the other side of the conversation, the superior smirked softly as he hung up, setting aside the phone before he returned to his bearings, the hour late as he befell into a slumber, the soft growls of his ice dragons purring in his ears.

Taking himself from the memory, the ice captain changed his clothing, preparing for his visit to the Ministry of Magic, when a crack sounded.

"Hello, Kreacher." The ice captain greeted the aged house-elf, not turning from his trunk, pulling out clothing. "What do I owe this visit?"

"Master Hitsugaya." The house-elf replied, bowing. For some reason to everyone's bewilderment, the normally cranky and irritable house elf was not so much towards the ice captain. And when questioned, the house elf merely stated that his Mistress wanted him to greet all 'worthy' guests cordially. Which apparently accounted the ice captain and only him.

"Have a seat." The ice captain gestured, pointing to the side table, ready for tea and biscuits, nestled by two chairs. Before the house-elf had the voice to refuse, the ice captain cut him off. "I insist and order it to be so, Kreacher. Do not refuse."

Nodding, the house-elf followed the ice captain obediently, taking up the tea cup and a small biscuit before with a nod from the captain, began to stuff his face; the ice captain occasionally declining with a shake of his head and a nod to his own tea.

"I have found out about Master Regulus's locket, Master Hitsugaya." The house-elf reported after finishing, closing his bloodshot eyes, almost squinting as he regained some kind of composure. The house elf was aged considerably but held attributes of a stout, hooked nose; folds of aged skin and nearly invisible tufts of white from his bat-like ears, as an elf. His voice was low and gravelly, but the ice captain merely rose an eyebrow at the house-elf's words, continuing his report.

"Master Regulus had two of them and he couldn't destroy the old one, no matter how hard, Master Regulus tried, it wouldn't break. Kreacher helped and tried everything Kreacher thought of. But nothing, Kreacher failed. Then Mundungus Fletcher found it and now the old one is gone! Kreacher failed Master Regulus!" Kreacher growled as he balled his wrinkled claws into fists, his pointy and yellowed teeth curled in a snarl.

Two? The ice captain noted as he thought for a moment, Hyorinmaru and Sephiroth roused. Why would Regulus Black configure a pseudo locket and keep the original so unprotected in the House of Black?

Perhaps, Regulus Black was confident that the elf was able to destroy it? Sephiroth suggested, his tone questioning. It could be that the former Death Eater had gone rogue without Voldemort knowing.

Humming in thought, the ice captain made no reply as Hyorinmaru voiced his thoughts. Regulus Black may have been loyal to Voldemort to an extent but then somewhere along the line, he could have turned rogue and instead of hiding the Horcrux as ordered, he made a fake and hid the fake to destroy the original.

In any case, it comes down to Regulus Black's loyalties. Toshiro finished as he turned back to Kreacher, who ate silently, remembering his manners after an initial hunger.

"Kreacher, who was your master, Regulus Black, loyal to?"

"Master Regulus was loyal to none, but he self; Master Hitsugaya." Kreacher answered in-between biscuits as the ice captain summoned more with a wave of his wand. "But for a short breadth of he life, Master Regulus was loyal to the one he called the Dark Lord. But angry with what Kreacher suffered from, Master Regulus turned his alliance to he self."

So, in spite of what Voldemort had done to Kreacher, Regulus Black turned rogue and to give his house elf the satisfaction of revenge gave the locket to the elf to destroy, only to find out that it was more resilient than he had thought prior. Toshiro speculated, as he fingered his tea cup, raising the china to his lips. So instead, the wizard decided to do the one thing he could if he couldn't destroy it.

Hide it as ordered. Hyorinmaru growled as Sephiroth rose an eyebrow in confusion before widening in realization, their master nodding in agreement. Only for the master of the Horcrux to discover it as a fake, and that he was not as immortal as he thought.

"What happened to Regulus Black, Kreacher?"

"Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to speak to no person of this." Kreacher growled as the ice captain receded, a strange glint in his eyes.

"I see." Toshiro nodded as he continued, his voice icy yet curt. "Black hid it away where you were mistreated then."

"Master—!" Kreacher shot up, spilling the tea and half-eaten biscuits, the china breaking, when the ice captain sent a dark glance, interrupting the house-elf.

"You did nothing wrong, Kreacher." Toshiro stated, unmoved other than his teal orbs shifting back as the house-elf relaxed slightly. "I do not know where this area is and nor have you revealed it. You merely informed me that there is more than one of these and who Regulus Black was loyal to. That's it. You have in no way disobeyed his last command."

Swallowing dryly, the house-elf nodded slowly before the spread was repaired, the elf regaining his place. Replacing his wand, the ice captain paused before speaking.

"Do not repeat this to another, Kreacher. And I shall return what was stolen from the House of Black." Not seeing the house-elf's surprised look, the ice captain snapped his fingers, the tea and snacks disappearing, the elf not protesting. "Go."

And with a loud crack, the house-elf obliged.

Dressed in a pressed teal button-down under an ebony blazer, the ice captain tied a thin bow at his neck as bronze cuffs gleamed at his wrists, his legs wrapped in ebony as they ended with shoes that were shined to reflect everything within a hundred meter radius of the captain. His white locks messily tamed, the ice captain made no sign to acknowledge his lieutenant who shunpoed into appearance, who winked to her superior with a giggle as he rolled his eyes at her.

"You look so cute, taicho!" She giggled as the ice captain glared at her annoyedly, dampened by the subtle blush in his cheeks.

"Focus, Matsumoto." He scolded, clipping Hyorinmaru to his back, the blade covering his division insignia on his blazer, as he scanned his lieutenant, nodding in approval of her clothing, not too revealing for the audience they were due for. A marbled tank top hugged her assets modestly as an ebony blazer with their division insignia on the back in white hovered on her shoulders similar to his own, the sleeves listless as a ebony half maxi skirt trailed down her thigh, ending with black heels. And as if to add a touch of color, a soft pink chiffon scarf danced at her neck as glossed lips pouted at him, her shadowed pale blue eyes glinting with amusement.

Deciding that he would rather not learn what she was laughing about, the ice captain sighed before his eyes hardened, the lieutenant following in suit as she stood before him in full attention, mirth gone.

"Report, Matsumoto."

"Sir." She bowed, obliging immediately. "The witness is in standby as you have requested. And I shall retrieve her when the meeting is brought to the climax as planned, if needed."

"Well done, Matsumoto." Toshiro nodded, as he held out a small pouch. Black velvet, the small thing did not appear to be able to hold much of anything, but a sense of danger crawled down the lieutenant's spine as her captain handed her the thing, tied securely and tightly with a silvery white ribbon. "Hold onto this until I tell you to open it. You are under no circumstances to do the same without my explicit order."

"Yes, sir." The lieutenant nodded, before looking at the small bag curiously. "What is it, taicho?"

"A little something that Kurotsuchi and I have created with the help of Urahara." The ice captain merely shrugged before turning to the door, pausing as if to grimace at an unpleasant memory before refining his composure once more. "Did you bring the mirror I gave you two years ago?"

Holding up the said item, the lieutenant nodded. The hand-held mirror was small, the reflection no bigger than her hand; the handle and silvery frame of thin carvings, encrusted with pale opals. And on the back engraved in a soft pink was a lazing yet lithely dangerous cat, if it's sharpened claws where any indication. The ice captain had gifted her the mirror, having purchased the mirror and managed to model the frame to gift her, much to her delight and his suffocation afterward.

Pulling out a twin one, the ice captain held up his own. It was identical to his lieutenant's, only was bronze in frame and his was crusted with never-melting ice, two menacing dragons, intertwined in the back of bronze in a bone white, the mirror small enough to be hidden yet big enough for it's purpose.

"You have one too, taicho?" The lieutenant asked, blinking at her captain.

Nodding, the superior explained. "These are called Two-Way Mirrors, Matsumoto. They are magically connected for the owners of the respective pair of mirrors to communicate with one another while being different locations."

"This way, we can communicate to one another if something goes amiss?"

"Yes, and also to overhear the surrounding conversation if need be." The ice captain replied as he gestured to her mirror. "I have also placed a Taboo on the mirrors in case you are unable to reach the mirror."

"A Taboo?" The lieutenant echoed, narrowing her eyes over the mirror.

"I have modified the jinx to transcribe the location of myself or you to each other, Matsumoto, if you say the 'taboo' or have been in an induced sleep for more than necessary, on the mirrors. This way, if you or myself are impaired in anyway, the other will know in the every least where the other is."

"I knew your gifts were more than just a souvenir!" The strawberry blonde chirped, as she held up one fist to the air. "Nanao owes me a drink for this!"

"Matsumoto!" Toshiro scolded, his irritation growing as he told himself to calm with a thin frown. "The mirror has two weaknesses: Firstly, you must be holding and in constant possession of the mirror to work, and the word can only be spoken by you and only you for the Taboo to trigger."

"So, what's the magic word, taicho?" The lieutenant winked, as the captain merely rose an eyebrow before replying to her question, eliciting a small smile and another suffocating hug from the beautiful strawberry blonde as he failed to squirm away from her arms, a soft sigh coloring his lips as he informed her more on the gifted mirror.