Disclaimer - I own neither Bleach nor Fullmetal Alchemist.
Chapter Twenty-Nine - Regroup
"I can't believe that we wasted all of that time for nothing," Ed growled as he and the others made their way back toward the Seireitei. They had spent hours searching for the persons responsible for the attacks and the modified Hollows, all with no luck. They were returning empty handed and decidedly foul tempered. Even the easy going Hughes had a scowl on his face as they returned to regroup and decide how to proceed.
"Well complaining about it isn't going to help the situation," Hitsugaya pointed out from his position at the head of the group. He had been far from happy about making the decision to postpone the search but they weren't having any luck and it was pointless to simply wander around the Rukongai. "We'll return to Squad Ten and make an attempt to come up with a plan."
"And exactly what kind of plan can we come up with?" Mustang questioned, his dark eyes focused on the white haired boy who was leading the way back. "We don't know anything about them except for the fact that they can modify those Hollow things and that they can produce a barrier that deflects reiatsu."
"That's where you're wrong," Hitsugaya said, his tone calm. Glancing over his shoulder he locked gazes with the dark eyed former colonel. "We know that they have a grudge… which means that we won't have to find them."
Ed's eyes shifted as he heard this bit of logic from Hitsugaya and he knew where the white haired prodigy was going. "They'll find us," he finished the thought, nodding his head in agreement.
Mustang looked somewhat surprised but shook it off rather quickly. It was true that the two boys had a very valid point but that fact only served to raise another question. "So you intend to just wait around until those responsible decide to attack again?"
"No," Hitsugaya said, shaking his head and returning his gaze to the forward position. "I intend to have a plan ready so that they next time they attack we can put an end to this once and for all."
"That's the best idea that I've heard in awhile," Ed said, nodding his head in agreement. He was completely fed up with the fact that their enemies seemed to be running the show and was more than ready for their group to take the upper hand.
"The situation must be dire indeed," Mustang commented dryly, shaking his head so that a couple of strands of his black hair fell in front of his eyes. "If Fullmetal is actually ready to sit down and make a plan."
"Watch it," Ed growled, narrowing his eyes as he turned to glare at his former superior. "I'll…"
Deciding to play the part of the diplomat Al interrupted before his brother had the chance to make the threat that was on the tip of his tongue. "So do you really think that we can come up with a plan before their next attack?"
Hitsugaya opened his mouth to reply to this question but never got the chance. Rushing forward Matsumoto seized her pint sized captain from behind, pulling him into a bone crushing hug. "Of course he can!" she exclaimed as Hitsugaya struggled for his freedom. "The captain is the greatest!"
"Matsumoto…" Hitsugaya growled, interrupting her praises.
Gazing down at him Matsumoto tilted her head slightly to the side, blinking her long lashes a few times. "What is it captain?"
"Release me at once." The young captain's voice was laced with irritation but of course his second in command chose to ignore that fact. A pout formed on her lips as she reluctantly released her hold on him, placing the white haired boy back on his own two feet. "Aw, you're no fun captain."
"I know," Hitsugaya said, adjusting his haori and continuing on his way.
While everyone else made every attempt not to laugh at the display. Because even Ed seemed to realize that this would be pushing the Squad Ten Captain over some sort of invisible line. And, having witnessed Hitsugaya's power first hand, not even Ed was willing to open that can of worms.
Arriving back at the Squad Ten barracks Hitsugaya quickly walked down the corridor to his office, still followed closely behind by the others. They were all dragging somewhat, owing to their exertions, but it was Hitsugaya and Ed who appeared the most drained. Though both of them were doing everything in their power to hide this fact from the others.
Stubbornness at it's finest and all that.
Sliding the door of the office open Hitsugaya led the way inside, followed by the others. Hughes brought up the tail end of the group so he took it upon himself to close the door behind them. Scattering out it wasn't long before everyone had found somewhere to sit, with Hitsugaya taking his customary chair at his desk.
"So," Mustang began once everyone had taken a seat. "We know that Tucker is somehow involved in this but that doesn't explain everything. He's working for someone so our next objective should be to find out exactly who that someone is."
"Right," Hawkeye said, nodding along with the others.
"Since it's obvious that your group knows about this Tucker person why don't you fill the rest of us in?" Matsumoto said, arching one brow as she gazed around the room. "It might be easier to find answers if we all know exactly what we're dealing with."
A far off expression appeared in Ed's golden eyes as he thought about the man whom he hadn't expected to ever see again. And he felt his hatred once again well up. "That bastard was a State Alchemist," he snarled, having already explained the concept of alchemy to the people in the room. "And he used his own daughter and her dog in a transmutation… he turned them into a chimera."
"So I take it this Tucker person has a grudge against you," Hitsugaya stated more than asked, his teal eyes focused on the blond youth.
Ed nodded but didn't elaborate. These were memories that he didn't really want to dwell on and he hoped that the Shinigami would get the hint and let the matter drop.
Which they did.
"Seems like a lot of people have a grudge against you," Hitsugaya commented after a moment, running a hand through his already unruly white hair. He was feeling the exhaustion from his usage of alchemy more than ever now that the adrenaline from before had ebbed. "Which is going to make it difficult to figure out who the mastermind of this plot is."
"It's not my fault," Ed said in his own defense, his gaze shifting to each of the room's inhabitants in turn… as though daring them to disagree with him.
So of course one of them couldn't resist the urge.
"Um, yea Nii-san, it kinda is," Al countered, the hint of a teasing quality in his voice.
Ed shot a glare in his younger brother's direction but didn't say anything. It was pointless to argue and he knew that Al wouldn't simply give in because, whether or not he wanted to admit it, his brother had a very valid point.
"I think we should all take a bit of a break," Matsumoto said, her voice quiet and uncharacteristically serious. The others in the group all shifted their gazes in her direction and she gestured toward the still figure sitting behind the desk.
It appeared as though Captain Hitsugaya had fallen asleep, his head resting on his folded arms.
No one argued with this suggestion, since they were all feeling the effects of their mission in the Rukongai.
A/N - End of another chapter, hope that you enjoyed.