Chapter 2
The setting sun cast glowing oranges and yellow as far as the eye could see. Toshiro Hitsugaya watched as the colors mixed. Over the last ten years his body had finally adjusted to match his power, and position. He no longer appeared as a young child but stood just over 6 feet, with his white hair longer than it used to be and falling slightly to cover his eyes.
His aquamarine eyes shifted to glance to the door of his office before it opened and his lieutenant stood in the doorway. His right eye started to twitch as he fully turned to stare at her "Don't you ever remember to knock?" Rangiku strolled into her captain's office and plopped down on his futon.
"But Captain I have a message from the head captain's office." Rangiku whined as she stretched out on the futon and started to close her eyes. She missed Toshiro freezing the rest of thew futon, so she ended up sliding off. "That was so mean captain! Why did you do that?" Rangiku started to stand and rub her backside while glancing at her captain who continued to give her a death glare.
"You said you had a message from the head captain's office – perhaps rather than laying down to take a nap you can – well I don't know – TELL ME THE MESSAGE!" Toshiro shouted at her while she continued to stare at him blinking.
"Oh yea…. The message…. Head captain Kyoraku wants to see you right away. Nanao said it is very important." Rangiku repeated as she tapped her chin. She smiled at Toshiro, and he just sighed and shook his head while he walked through the door of his office wondering how he ended up with a lieutenant that drove him insane.
Toshiro flash stepped to squad 1's barrack and walked up to the head captain's door knocking. "Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya requesting entrance." There was silence for a moment than the door swung open to reveal the head captain. Toshiro gasped and knelt right away as protocol dictated. "Head Captain, I received a message you wished to see right away sir."
Shunsui smiled down at Toshiro who was kneeling outside the door. 'Always so stuffy… I wonder how he is going to react to this conversation…' Shunsui chuckled causing Toshiro to lift his gaze. "Come in Toshiro, I have something I want to discuss with you." Shunsui turned to walk into his office, he heard Toshiro stand and close the door before beginning to follow him further in. Shunsui sat at his desk motioning for Toshiro to take a seat as well.
"It is my understanding that the 3rd seat of squad 10 has yet to be filled." Shunsui inwardly grinned as Toshiro's face shifted from his normal blank expression to one of shock just for a split moment. "Relax Toshiro, I did not call you here to reprimand you about that, I actually wanted to suggest a candidate that I feel will be greatly beneficial to your squad."
Toshiro kept his face neutral but tried to figure out where the head captain was going with this conversation. 'I hope he is not going to suggest some else like Rangiku, last thing I need is to have both my lieutenant and 3rd seat be drinking buddies to the head captain.'
"My daughter is returning to the Seireitei, she had been stationed in the Royal Court guard for the last 100 years. Apparently, she needs a change and wants to come home. I was hoping you would agree to make her your 3rd seat." Shunsui watched as Toshiro let the shock of him using the word 'daughter' appear on his face. Not many currently knew about Kimura and that was the way they kept it as a precaution. "I understand your shock, very few remaining people here know that I have a adopted daughter, but do not let that fact sway your decision, you know as well as I that to be a member of the Royal Court Guard one has to be an exceptional soul reaper."
Toshiro allow everything that Shunsui was saying to process into his brain. 'Daughter… how have I never heard about this in all these years?' Toshiro looked at Shunsui who continued to hold his gaze. "I would be honored head captain. When will she be arriving?" Toshiro watched the smiled spread across Shunsui's face, and he couldn't help but feel that he was conned into something he was going to regret.
"Excellent! She will be arriving tomorrow. I have called all the captains to a meeting so that she can be presented to everyone and let them know of her seat. I appreciate you agreeing to my suggestion." Shunsui stood and Toshiro followed suit. Shunsui watched as he bowed and left the room. "I hope the feeling of dread that I have is just in my head, but I can't help and feel like very soon the winds are going to change."