He'd made a friend, but the next day still wasn't any better. Hitsugaya spent the whole night coughing and sneezing because of all the dust. His back ached from being bent over for so long and his foot fell asleep for about three hours. To top it off, he was hungry, tired, and he wanted nothing more than to get out and strangle every one of his subordinates. These subordinates were currently sitting in his office eating and drinking; having a great time watching him suffer. They chose to take turns watching him at night to make sure he didn't escape.
He used to sense Hyourinmaru's presence and hear his angry voice, but there was nothing he could do about it. He knew that no matter how bad he had it in this small space, Hyourinmaru was suffering the most. Hyourinmaru being the most spoiled sward in all of Soul Society. However, he hasn't heard Hyourinmaru all day today. It made him worry.
A small tap on the bars of his prison woke him from his worried thoughts. It was Irani.
"Hi." He said simply, not in the mood to chat. She held up a long brown bag and shook it side to side.
"…"
Noticing he didn't get it she opened the top of the bag so only he could see inside.
"Hyourinmaru!!" Exclaimed Hitsugaya excitedly.
She jumped up and moved quickly away from him, and it was a good thing because everyone suddenly looked to their direction. She left with the bag. Well, at least I know he's safe. He thought.
After a while of watching people one by one pass out or leave drunk from the party he began to wonder why none of the other captains noticed he was gone. And why Matsumoto hadn't come to rescue him. With the presence of his sward taken from him he couldn't help but to despair. He was feeling worse by the second. His breathing and hunger pains were becoming like a sickness to him. He wondered if this was putting too much stress on his already stressed body; if so, he can catch Captain-itus. It sounds funny, but it's a very serious disease that a person catches when their body is under a lot of stress for a long period of time. People who are tortured or anyone in a position of a lot of power or responsibility is most likely to catch this disease. New captains catch it a lot.
Finally night came. And the door opened to let in the person who'll be guarding him.
Matsumoto.
She smiled at him apologetically, and brought him some water. He took it quickly before she could change her mind.
"Let. Me. Out." He ordered. She frowned.
"Sorry Captain, but I was assigned the job of making sure no one let you out. It would be horribly ironic if I was the one who let you go."
"Matsumoto, this is serious. I think I'm getting sick staying in this place. I'm your Captain!"
"I'm not going to let you out. Please stop asking me, it's not my choice to keep you here."
"…"
He suddenly hated Matsumoto. Yes, he was aware of how childish it sounds, but he wanted out and she said no! He felt like throwing a tantrum; he's a captain! Why are they behaving this way towards him?!
"Captain I wanted you to know that Captain Kurotshuchi made a clone of you."
"He WHAT?!" Shouted Hitsugaya. That explains why the other Captains didn't notice his disappearance.
"He made a clone, but it was a bad clone. It malfunctioned and we had to destroy it." She pulled a picture out of her pocket and showed him the mangled remains of his clone.
"How the hell-"
"I don't know how but he had samples of your blood. " She continued. "The other captains are worried. They've noticed, with the destruction of your clone, that you're missing. I'm not supposed to, but I think I should let you go to save Jiko and the others from getting into a lot of trouble." Hitsugaya nodded his head.
"Of course you should let me go! You'll all be arrested if you don't!" He was suddenly filled with anger and excitement; he was going to get his revenge. "Now, let me out!"
"I can't. Not with you the way you are." She said simply. "Your angry, and for good reason. But, Captain, you have to forgive them. They. Are. Your. Subordinates."
"I don't care, they deserve to be drowned, beaten, drowned, saved from drowning, and then beaten to death!"
"Captain, please forgive them. I'll let you go if you do. But I don't want you to hurt them. They are wrong, but it would be even worse for you if you attack them."
…Well, she was right…
"Fine. I won't hold a grudge. Let me out before someone finds me like this." He said. As the door swung open to let him out, he was glad he chose to forgive everyone because he had no idea how he'd explain the death of all his subordinates to the other captains. Matsumoto didn't seem to believe him; as soon as he stepped out of the fireplace she backed up to the farthest wall and stood still and quiet.
"I won't hurt you Matsumoto."
"Oh, I know." She relaxed and moved to sit on the sofa. She stopped short.
"What's wrong?" Hitsugaya asked, concerned.
"Are you feeling ok?"
"Well-" He actually felt worse than awful at that precise moment. His airways closed and he couldn't breath! Then his legs went numb and he fell face forward onto the floor. All this happened in a matter of seconds. And then everything went blank.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
He awoke in the hospital. A woman with short light hair was staring at him.
"Aaahhhh!"
"Oh, you're finally awake Captain?" Said the woman. "My name is Koutestu Isane. I'm your doctor for now since you scared everyone the last time you were here." She smiled politely.
"What happened?" He asked her.
"You caught Captain-itus." She said plainly. "Your lucky all that happened was you passed out. Your vice captain, Matsumoto saved your life. She brought you here just in time. Oh, Captain Hitsugaya this is my captain. Captain Unohana, this is Captain Hitsugaya."
A woman that had been previously hidden behind Isane approached his bed. She was wearing a white haori like his.
"Captain Hitsugaya," She said slowly and calmly. "You've got the Soul Society in an uproar looking for you, you know."
"I know, I've heard of Captain Kurotshuchi's creation." Captain Unohana smiled.
"Well I reported you found. So the search parties have been relieved. Where were you?"
"…I was in my office. I was a little shy, and so I avoided the others." He avoided looking her in the eye; Captain Unohana gave him the feeling she could see straight into his soul. She smiled a knowing smile at him.
"If you knew how old I am you'd know just how ridiculous that excuse sounds to me." His heart sank; she knew he was lying. "I won't tell anyone. I doubt anyone would care, but even so if you don't want anyone to know then it's not my place to tell."
"Thank you Captain Unohana." Said Hitsugaya relieved.
Matsumoto arrived shortly after Captain Unohana finished taking all his blood pressures and everything to make sure he's ok.
"Captain!!" She cried throwing herself at him. "I'm so happy your ok!"
"Matsumoto!! Your crushing me!" She got up. "By the way. Thank you for helping me."
"It was my pleasure, Captain." She said happily. "Besides it was worth it."
"What do you mean?" Asked Hitsugaya a little taken back.
"I got to steal a free hug!" She laughed. He just rolled his eyes. Girls sure are weird.
"And, Captain, everyone got together and we've decided to give you a chance to prove your worth. Welcome Captain Hitsugaya."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Things went pretty smoothly when he arrived back to his squad. They welcomed him as though nothing had happened. Jiko apologized and Irani retuned his sward to him. He was happy to be reunited with Hyourinmaru. Normally the sward drives him crazy, but when he was gone Hitsugaya missed him terribly.
And so just like that Hitsugaya Toushirou was threw with all his first horrors of captaincy. He felt like a pro now. However he knew, as he watched his vice captain carelessly throw papers onto his desk, to his squad he'd always be a new captain.
Sorry about the suckish ending; not my good point. Hope you enjoyed the story. Personally I'm gonna end all my long stories and stick to short ones. I get side tracked to easily for a long story. Well peace out!! :)