Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Sadly. Well, it's probably a good thing I don't. Anyway, I hope you like it.

Matsumoto looked on in horror as blood spurted from her Captain's chest, and the arm holding the sword dropped to his side. His bright, blue-green eyes glazed over. Then he fell. Matsumoto sprinted forward as he plummeted toward the ground, his white Captain's cloak billowing around him.

She caught the small boy in her arms, for that's what he was. Despite his rank and steely composure, Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya was just a boy. She cradled his head, and brushed back the soft white hair that only added to the illusion of his age. He groaned, and his eyelids fluttered open.

"Are you alright?" Matsumoto asked, her voice filled with concern. He nodded and drew in a ragged breath. She watched his fist clench at his side, but his lips were kept shut tight. "You don't have to be so strong you know." Toshiro looked up at her, a frown pulling at the corners of his mouth. Matsumoto sighed. "It's okay to feel pain. You don't have to lock it away just because you're a captain." Hitsugaya tried to protest, but was silenced with a sad look. "We care about you Captain." Matsumoto smiled. "If any one of us were hurt you'd want to know, yes?" Toshiro grunted, then gave a small nod.

Matsumoto smiled again, but then Toshiro jolted, his fingernails digging into his palms. "Captain . . ." Matsumoto waited as his breathing steadied itself. He turned towards her, eyes wide, revealing how young he truly was.

"Matsumoto . . ."

"Yes?"

"It hurts." Toshiro hated himself as he felt his eyes water, but it felt good to say it. "It hurts," he repeated quietly. Matsumoto nodded, and wiped the tears from his face.

"I know. That's why you have your squad. And me. So that we can pick you up when you fall," she whispered. Toshiro shut his eyes and sighed as Matsumoto hugged him. That pain was still there, but he could tell that some of it had been lifted off his shoulders. Toshiro felt himself drifting away, and instead of fighting the darkness he let it take him.

Matsumoto looked at the boy in her arms and smiled in relief. He'll be fine. "Thank you for listening to me, for once," she mumbled as she slowly let him go, and stood to get Orihime.

"Shut up." Matsumoto beamed at her scowling, white-haired, too young Captain. He's just fine.

"Yes sir!"