This is something of an experiment. A new character, for the sake of spice, I guess you'd say. Let me know what you think. If you like him, or like the conflict he brings to the plate, then maybe I'll work him in more solidly. If not, then he's pretty easy to get rid of at this point. So, tell me what you think of our newest addition.


"I hate him."

Hinamori Momo didn't exactly consider herself an expert on social interaction, but she was almost positive that that hardly counted as a proper opener to a conversation. Nonetheless, she had never been all that keen on confrontations. And she figured that it would be especially tactless on her part not to appease Matsumoto, of all people, and therefore chose not to mention that.

Instead, she said, "Oh?"

She wasn't all that good with appeasement, either.

"'Kudo-taichou.' Right. Far be it from me to criticize the commander-general, but that old man's slipping."

Hinamori still wasn't sure if she was altogether comfortable around her fellow vice-captain yet. They had become...somewhat closer ever since they had both nearly died together, but every so often, she still thought she caught a glimpse of almost-homicidal irritation in Matsumoto's eyes.

"...Kudo-taichou may not be...the best candidate," Hinamori allowed, "but we are in the middle of a crisis. Kira-kun's been way too stressed lately."

Matsumoto rolled her eyes. "He may not be the most intelligent man in the world, but Abarai has some leadership in him. Let him take over the Third Division, and Kuchiki can find himself a new vice-captain."

Hinamori shrugged. "I...I guess that would work, but...Kudo-taichou must be doing an adequate job, or Yamamoto-soutaichou would have gotten rid of him...right?"

Matsumoto rolled her eyes. "Adequacy? Maybe. Doesn't stop me from wanting to send my sword through his teeth. Okay, so...you hold him down after your captain breaks his limbs, and I..."

Matsumoto lapsed into a string of incoherent threats.

Hinamori wondered if Kudo Hideaki realized how many enemies he had made during his short time as the new Third Division captain.

"I hate him."

Hitsugaya, unlike his childhood friend, had made a name for himself being especially tactful, and knew better than just about anyone how to appease Matsumoto Rangiku.

He wasn't in much of an appeasing mood at the moment, however.

"Kudo is the spiritual successor to Ichimaru," he muttered as he sifted through his paperwork. "Say what you want about him now, but you used to find that sort of personality appealing."

"Gin was cocky, arrogant, lazy, maybe a womanizer," Matsumoto admitted, "but he also had something to offset that: skill. You know, Toushirou. You fought him. Tell me Kudo-taichou would last four seconds against him."

Hitsugaya snorted. "Fair point."

"He hit on me!" Matsumoto cried.

"I'd have thought you would be used to that by now."

"Yes, but he's a slime bucket!"

Hitsugaya shrugged.

Matsumoto suddenly glared. "Hey! Hold on, here! Don't think I don't remember that stunt you pulled in the infirmary! Everybody knows! We're...official now! You can't just sit there and let him hit on me!"

"Words mean nothing," Hitsugaya said. "If I silenced every man who hit on you, no one would be left. Has he touched you?"

"Not yet."

"If he does, then we have a problem. Otherwise, consider this a challenge."

"And if he does touch me, do I have leave to kill him?"

"No."

Matsumoto glared.

Hitsugaya glanced at her. "If he touches you, I will kill him."

"Am I the only one with a moral objection to having children in this organization?"

"Yup," Ikkaku muttered.

Kudo frowned. "I don't know about you all, but...I think it's wrong. I mean, what does it say about us, that we will send children onto the field of war?"

"That age isn't relevant," Hitsugaya said sharply. "Barring that, Kudo, nobody looks their age in this place, if you haven't caught onto that yet."

"Oh, sure, technically," came the reply, "but...well...you have to admit...we would be better served with someone...well, more developed?"

"I'm a fair share more developed than you are, Kudo," Hitsugaya replied, "in any area that truly counts in this discussion you've decided to delay this meeting for. And I would love to see you stop Kusajishi from doing her work."

Zaraki scowled, deeper than usual, and when Kudo looked incredulously up at him, he grinned. "Wanna give it a shot, newbie? She's been bored lately. I'm sure she'll make ya right comfortable."

Ikkaku chuckled, and Renji smirked.

"Oh, wonderful," Kudo said haughtily, rolling his eyes. "Make light of the problem."

"You do realize this is only a problem by your definition," Matsumoto put in. "Yachiru acts, and looks, like a baby, but she can take care of herself better than a lot of us. Nobody knows the extent of her skills. And as for Toushirou..."

"Don't fuck with that one," Ikkaku put in.

"Toushirou," Kudo said, raising an eyebrow. "Nice to see you have such respect for your captain."

"I would appreciate you not judging my practices," Hitsugaya snapped, "until my efficiency is brought into question. If she wants to call me by my given name, she can very well do so. It's my call. Not yours."

Kudo seemed faintly taken aback by this.

"I would remind you, Kudo," came a sudden voice from the head of the room, "that Hitsugaya Toushirou has ever shown an exemplary performance since his instatement. So, as to your assertion that his closeness to his adjutant will present a problem in the future, it will be dealt with if it happens. Otherwise, I would appreciate it if you remain silent on that matter and any of your other grievances. None of us have any time to spare on your personal crusades."

Kudo sighed, bowing. "Yes, Soutaichou," he muttered. "I still think it—"

"How dare you?" Matsumoto suddenly said. "You're judging my relationship with my captain, a relationship that I might remind you is quite reliant on trust, as problematic? And who was the one who wanted to take me out last week?"

"That..." Yamamoto said sharply before Kudo could respond, "...will be quite enough. I have a matter to discuss, Kudo, and I daresay it is faintly more important than petty jealousy. Now be quiet."

Kudo went slightly pale, eyes darting around at each of his fellows and realizing that none of them had particularly friendly faces. And any number of them, like Ikkaku and Zaraki, were downright hostile.

He didn't say a word for the remainder of the meeting.

"I give it two more days 'fore he gets his fool ass killed."

Hitsugaya sighed heavily. "I know that we are hurting, but I begin to wonder how the man managed this. He is apparently...a fair hand with a blade, but I think he would have been far better served as a vice-captain first."

"You 'n me both," Ikkaku muttered, "but I ain't so sure he's even good enough for that. I got half a mind to test the theory, ya wanna know the truth."

Hitsugaya couldn't say he liked the man Yamamoto had appointed to replace Ichimaru, but he supposed that it was a minor annoyance. In all honesty, he had been waiting for someone to criticize his relationship with his vice-captain for a long time now.

After Hinamori and Matsumoto had both been injured so grievously, the decision had been made that the remaining empty positions in the Third and Ninth divisions needed to be filled. So far, only the Third had been posted.

It made sense that the only person so far to question his and Matsumoto's...closeness, as Yamamoto had put it, would be the new guy. No one else was stupid enough to try.

Kudo Hideaki was a most unsavory combination of Kyouraku Shinsui and Ichimaru Gin, and Hitsugaya for one was waiting for him to make enough mistakes to be discharged or killed. There was enough eccentricity in the ranks as it was; he didn't want more.

"He's keen on yer woman, y'know," Ikkaku said. "Gonna do somethin' about it?"

"If I don't trust her," Hitsugaya said, "how is she to trust me? Let him try. I have more important matters to worry about. Besides...he's so horrendous at his attempts that I don't think it would work on anyone, much less someone used to such advances."

Ikkaku laughed. "Yeah, guess you got a point, there."

"Listen, I...I, uh...just—"

"Talk quickly, Kudo," Hitsugaya all but growled. "I had fully intended to ignore your existence for the rest of the day, and you're infringing on that. What do you want?"

Matsumoto seemed pleased. She smirked, crossing her arms and gliding to a stop beside her captain as Kudo, flustered, wiped his hands on his cloak. She grudgingly admitted to herself that the man was aesthetically appealing; he was tanned, well-muscled but not obscenely so, and he did have the same advantage as Kyouraku in that the stubble on his chin actually enhanced his appearance rather than detracting from it. She might have enjoyed the game he had been trying so desperately to play, if not for...certain circumstances.

The smile she might have found charming was instead instantly grating.

"I wanted to, ah...apologize for my conduct, today..."

"Did you, now?" Hitsugaya asked sharply. "And are you under the impression, then, that you deserve the chance to apologize? You questioned my ability to lead my division, Kudo, based on nothing but my perceived age, and I don't know about you but I find that to be rather insulting, especially considering that you have worn the mantle of a captain for a scant few weeks."

Kudo flinched, and he looked sheepishly down at the ground, and it did Hitsugaya's heart well to see it. This was not to say that he was any less irritated with the man, but it did help some. The vindictive side of the boy captain was somewhat sated for now. "Yes, well...I...I do...a-apologize for that. I suppose...I've a lot to learn about...about our organization. I...I understand if...if you are not inclined to forgive my insult, but...but perhaps...eventually...well, I am sorry. I just wanted you to know that.

Oh, I know it, Hitsugaya thought.

Kudo dared to nod in Matsumoto's direction, offering what looked like was supposed to be an apologetic but still dazzlingly charming grin. All it did was to make Matsumoto's face darken even further. Clearing his throat quickly, Kudo turned to leave. "Ah, well...I'll...leave you to your business, then."

"Kudo."

The night was crisp, a fair night to be out, but in what felt like a switch being turned, it seemed to drop to freezing. Suddenly, Hitsugaya's breath puffed out like smoldering smoke, and Kudo began to shiver unconsciously. He turned.

"Y-Yes...?"

Green eyes flashed. "Let your eyes drift any lower than my vice-captain's face again, and I'll cut out your heart."

Whether it was the sudden grin on Matsumoto's face or the blank slate on Hitsugaya's, Kudo Hideaki suddenly had pressing business to attend to. Far away. And the next day, neither Hitsugaya nor Matsumoto saw him at all.

Kira informed them that his captain had fallen ill.

So...did I call it or did I call it? Anybody keeping tabs on the manga recently will of course know what I'm talking about. I'm fairly impressed with Hinamori's more recent actions in canon, and I'm relieved to see Kubo give her a chance. It's not quite enough, but it's surely a step in the right direction for her, don't you think?