For a Captain to be called upon to deal with hollows in the World of the Living, it often meant that the infestation was dire or the threat too great for ordinary soul reapers to handle on their own. Toshiro Hitsugaya had always taken these particular missions with the upmost seriousness and seldom complained about being selected. But much had changed over the years. Priorities became more muddied as he became a husband and a father. Leaving them for any length of time was difficult for him. And this time was even more difficult as Momo looked about ready to burst any day even though she wasn't due for another month. To make matters worse, that idiot kid of Abarai had told their young daughter about the amount of danger that Captains and Lieutenants faced when they went on missions to the World of the Living. The kid terrifying his daughter with the stories of how he and Momo had been injured in the line of duty against Aizen.
His sweet Kokone had cried hysterically, gripping his leg tightly and begging him not to go. Terrified that he might get hurt or even die. Her white hair in disarray and her turquoise eyes filled with tears tugged at his heart and he was sorely tempted to hunt down Renji Abarai for letting their kid fill his daughter's head with nightmares. But he didn't. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to go and do his job. Instead, Momo had pried the girl off him and in the voice only a mother could do, had comforted and reassured her that Daddy would do whatever it took to come back home alive and well and that the battles she'd heard about had happened a very long time ago.
Kokone had sniffled and asked many questions, some not so easy for either parent to answer but they had done their best. And as she calmed down she stared down her father with the same glare that had persisted most of his life until he'd married Momo, had asked if Rangiku was going as well.
Toshiro had answered with a simple yes and the girl nodded solemnly before hopping off the couch and declaring that she had to have a talk with her favorite auntie about making sure Daddy would be okay. Her voice was so serious it left little question of the scolding the 10th Division Lieutenant was in for.
The young parents had watched as their daughter left before laughing quietly at the similarities between father and daughter that was much deeper than their striking appearances. Alone, Toshiro had placed his hand on his wife's belly, feeling the strong kick from their daughter yet to be born in response. His wife held his hand right there and looked up at him. Having known each other all their lives, words were not needed to convey what they wanted to say. He smiled and rested his forehead against hers. "I promise," He whispered, giving her the assurance she needed that he would come back.
The mission wasn't meant to take longer than a week to investigate the increasing numbers of hollows in Naruki City but strange fluctuations in reiatsu had made tracking down the source difficult and resulted in extending their stay by five more days. It had been torture being away for so long and the nightly calls to talk to his wife and daughter weren't enough to satisfy. Hitsugaya pushed his team harder than normal to find the source and after locating a weak arrancar as the source, he had taken care of it personally and finally was able to call the mission a success and order his men home.
He had tried to make a quick call home to let them know he was finally done, but for the first time, no one answered. He tried a few more times to the same silence on the other end. Color drained from his face as worst case scenarios ran through his mind. He had to know if something had happened. Was Momo okay? Had something happened to Kokone? Or the baby? Hitsugaya called the 10th Division offices and was finally answered by his 5th seat who was frantic in explaining that something had indeed happened and that Hinamori had been admitted to the 4th Division.
Upon hearing this, Matsumoto had sprung into action and made every call possible to order a Senkaimon immediately all while doing her best to keep her captain calm as he was on the verge of taking his anger out on his officers. The moment the familiar sensation of the portal between worlds appearing, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto were the first to reach it. Passing through even before the doors were fully opened, moving as quickly as they could to get back to the Soul Society. The welcome party that awaited them, which even consisted of Head Captain Kyoraku were ignored as they made their way to the 4th.
He had little patience when he arrived, grabbing the first 4th Division member he saw and demanding to know where his wife was. The small man had nearly cried from the intensity that radiated out of the captain as he panicked, having no idea what he was even talking about and if it wasn't for Lieutenant Kotetsu showing up at just the right moment to intervene, there was little doubt the small soul reaper would have been made into an ice sculpture fit for the Sereitei Bulletin. Kyone Kotetsu had nervously directed the angry captain to one of the upper levels and personally escorted him up.
Kokone sat on one of the chairs in the hallway, her legs swinging in the bored and nervous way that only kids do. Beside her, Captain Rukia Kuchiki was trying to teach her how to 'draw' as a distraction that was clearly not working. The young girl just sat there with her eyes darting between her lap and a door with a strong kido barrier around it, behind which her mother likely was. It was only when Toshiro appeared that the girl looked anywhere else and her entire demeanor changed in an instant as she launched herself from the chair at him. Toshiro fell to his knees before her and welcomed her into his arms, holding her tight and kissing her head, heedless of the others in the hall.
His daughter began to cry, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It was an accident."
He had no idea what she was talking about but he gently rocked her, hushing her quietly as he rubbed her back and whispered what calming words he could. "What happened?" He asked, pulling back slightly to hold her face gently.
Kokone rubbed at her eye, and at her father's instruction, took a deep breath. "Mommy fell. It was my fault. There was… blood. So much blood. I'm so sorry!"
Her answer didn't give him much of an idea of what actually happened but knowing how much it distressed her, what mattered at the moment was taking care of his daughter. Picking her up, he moved to the seat she had vacated and sat with her cradled in his arms. Rukia stood from her seat and the two captains silently acknowledged one another before the other captain left. On the other side of the hall, Matsumoto and Kotetsu spoke quietly, likely so as not to upset the young girl. His lieutenant gave him a small thumbs up, letting him know that everything was well in hand with Momo and allowed him to relax just a bit more as they sat waiting.
About ten minutes passed and Kokone had noticeably calmed down, snuggling closer to Toshiro as he continued to hold her. Matsumoto leaned against the wall next to him, waiting for news just like them. Small voices could now be heard from the other side of the door as the barrier was released and the door handle moved. Captain Isane Kotetsu stepped out and Hitsugaya stood, still holding his daughter. The Captain of the 4th smiled and walked over to him. "Congratulations, Captain Hitsugaya," She said, turning her head to the open door through which he could just barely hear the small sounds of a baby. His knees nearly gave out at the sound, but he caught himself and shakily put his daughter down, holding her hand as the two of them walked into the room.
Momo sat on the bed, her hair damp with sweat but her face smiling radiantly at them when they entered. In her arms, she held a small bundle. "Come closer, Shiro, Ko-ko."
Kokone approached quickly and tried to jump into the bed but was stopped as her father grabbed her by the waist and gently placed her next to her mother while he leaned over to get a look for himself at the baby.
"Meet your little brother," Momo said watching as her daughter extended a finger and lightly poked the baby's chubby cheek.
"Brother? But I thought…" Toshiro looked closer at the baby, surprised as they had both been so sure it was going to be another girl. Momo had the same symptoms of heartburn, and same cravings and the morning sickness had been just as intense.
Momo shrugged, "I guess he just wanted to surprise us. Lets hope its not an omen for when he's older. I don't think I'd look nearly as good as you and Ko-ko with white hair."
Toshiro laughed and reached to gently touch his son's head. Tufts of brown hair stuck out in odd directions and his eyes opened slowly showing a sweet honey-brown color. "We hadn't talked about boy names…" He whispered.
"No, but I think I know what to call him," Momo and Toshiro looked at one another and she smiled up at him. "How about Sojiro?"