Title: Between the Lines
Characters: Ichimaru, Hitsugaya
Rating: PG
Warnings: language, violence, OOC?
Disclaimer: The characters, plot, setting in this chapter as well as all subsequent chapters belong to their respective owners.

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'Light spreads, so warming,

Flowers bloom, birds sing, frost melts,

'tis another day'

Kira was one of those few people that enjoyed waking up at the crack of dawn, not so much to get an early start at work, rather to see this- this beautiful scenery.

It had become a usual habit of his, watching the sun rise and then coming up with a haiku. He found that it brought a calming peace over him, helping to deal with his anxieties. Since his parents' tragic death, decades ago, he struck a nasty case of nerves. Of course, he had worried as a child, but ever since that dreadful moment he had been more panicky than usual. He would jump at the slightest sound, sweat over the tiniest of mistakes, worry and worry until his great aunt would slap him on the back, laughing that he had more worries than a thousand year old man.

One morning before starting the morning chores on the farm, he had stopped to gaze at the sun rise. He felt at peace.

Ever since, he had awoken before the world, for this quiet moment.

He inhaled- the cool air filling his lungs- and was about to turn when he paused. A ribbon of red adored the sky, not the soft pinks that he enjoyed watching but a scarlet streak of red, zigzagging towards the sky. 'Blood.'

Premonition befell over him, something foreboding and awful.

At once Kira paced, rushing through the deserted streets of Seririte, his usually steady walk grew slightly wobbly and he nearly tripping over himself a dozen times. Suddenly he stopped, willing himself to take calming breaths. The Third Division was just beyond these gates and it would certainly not do if the Third Division's new fukutaichou entered all flustered.

The Third Division was cold and empty. No one had arrived yet, except for the morning guard who bowed slightly in respect. When at last he opened the office door, Kira was not as surprised as he should have been.

"Mornin' Izuru," his taichou greeted, leaning back on his chair, his long legs stretched out on the polished desk. He was pouring over a folder, occasionally flipping through the pages.

Ichimau Gin was a tall, pale man with long thin fingers and a smile, a mysterious smile that never left his face. A smile that seemed as though he knew some hidden joke that the world didn't.

"Good morning Ichimaru-taichou," Kira greeted, bowing respectfully. As usual his captain didn't pay much heed to formalities. In fact Kira sometimes wondered if Ichimaru-taichou would mind whether a subordinate greeted him casually, and guessed that the older man probably wouldn't notice. Ichimaru-taichou was an interesting captain, not at all like the other captains of the Gotei-13. He was more relaxed, one could say, careless another could argue.

He arrived to captain meeting's late, completely indifferent to the commander-general's disapproving stare. He continuously turned in late paperwork, often weeks after it was due. And he never kept track of his division's training or progress. Truly, if he didn't have a perfect record for completing every mission, then the commander-general would probably have demoted him long ago.

The captain yawned, straightening a stack of papers. "I was wondering when you'd arrive."

It was odd; his taichou never came to work this early- rather he adopting some strange pattern that changed every week. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays he arrived at noon, while Wednesday and Fridays he arrived in the evening. Last week he arrived at eight in the morning, and then the week before that five in the evening. But despite his unusual patterns for arriving, he would always stay in the office for a little more than three hours before yawning out loud and saying he was off into his little walks.

"I'm sorry if I kept you waiting, sir," Kira apologized, lowering his head slightly.

"Nah don't worry 'bout it," Ichimaru easily replied, rising from his chair and handing his fukutaichou a folder. "Just in from 46."

"A new mission?" Kira realized noticing the official seal from the Gotei-13 but before he had a chance to even look up, his captain was already gone.

The report had been rather lengthy, filled with testimonies, maps, and battle assessments of a recent hollow that had appeared in the outskirts of West Roukongai. The hollow was charged hampering current rice ships that were set to arrive to Seireitei - of course the 46 Chambers would only look into something if it directly involved them. Because the Yasu River stretched through most of Soul Society, it was decided that two divisions would be sent out in the field. Third and Tenth.

Automatically, Kira felt something settling in his stomach. It wasn't that he disliked the Tenth Division or anything like that. On the contrary, he quite respected Hitsugaya and Masumoto. Having met Hitsugaya a handful of times, mostly through Hinamori-kun, Kira found him to be quite intelligent and composed, acting more like an adult than a child.

Also the Tenth Division was well known for its superb investigation skills, Hitsugaya being prized with excellent deduction. So there was no doubt that the Tenth Division would be especially useful in solving this case.

It was just that-

Just that both leaders clashed rather forcefully.

No one knew why, but out of all the captains, Hitsugaya-taichou and Ichimaru-taichou never got along.

Hitsugaya was the most recent, as well as youngest captain of the Gotei-13. Having graduated the Academy in ten months with full marks and achieved bankai in only ten years, Hitsugaya was well considered a genius. Ironically, Ichimaru had also been considered the youngest captain and a genius in his time- graduating the Academy in a little more than a year and achieving bankai fifteen years soon after wards.

It was assumed that both geniuses would get along, would have some sort of understanding, perhaps similar thoughts and ideas.

What a disappointment that was!

A few weeks after Hitsugaya's captaincy, the commander-general assigned them to a mission- more to see how the two geniuses worked together. Though the mission was completed at record speed, the commander-general had quickly picked up on the animosity between the two, and as a result he never gave them a mission together.

Until now. If the Tenth and Third Division were assigned together, then they must want this crisis to be finished quickly.

"Oh you'll be working with Hitsugaya-kun?" Hinamori asked, her brown eyes widening. They were sitting under a great oak tree, its large green branches providing shade against the hot sun. Aizen-taichou had some personal matters to attend to, so Hinamori had decided to spend her lunch with her two classmates. This was a great joy to Kira, as Hinamori was constantly busy with her new title of fukutaichou.

"That's wonderful Kira-kun!"

He offered her a small smile. Hinamori had always been unblemished, free from any suspicions, and completely trusting. She did not have one bitter bone in her body. Perhaps that's why Kira loved her so much.

"I know that," Kira paused thinking how best to word his question.

"Doesn't Hitsugaya hate your captain?" Abari answered, slurping hot soba noodles.

Unlike either Hinamori's or Kira's upbringing, Abari-kun was a complete contrast. He grew up on the toughest streets of Roukongai and seen things that no ordinary child had. Despite his difficult past, Abari-kun was an honest person, hard-working too, with a dream to serve the noble Sixth Division. Currently he was a seated officer in the rowdy Eleventh Division, and though he had wild red hair and black tattoos, he was easily embarrassed.

"I mean... your brother's always angry when he's around Ichimaru-taichou," Abari-kun quickly clarified after seeing Hinamori's frown.

"No, Hitsugaya-kun looks like he's angry, but he really isn't," Hinamori defended. "He's actually really shy around people."

"I dunno," Abari continued, picking through his half empty bowl of noodles. "There's just this heavy aura around them, you know?"

It was true- there was always this heavy aura around him. It made Kira wonder, whether Hitsugaya really hated Ichimaru-taichou? Sure his captain made plenty of off handed remarks and enjoyed teasing people, but really Hitsugaya couldn't exactly hate him for it? Ichimaru-taichou was just joking after all, it was simply his jovial personality, surely that should be no reason to truly hate someone?

"I think Abari-kun's right," Kira responded. "Hitsugaya-kun seems more frustrated towards my captain. I would hate this frustration to possibly cost the mission."

"I see," Hinamori thought, putting her finger to her chin in pensive. "Hn, you know what I'll talk to him, okay?"

Kira smiled. "Thank you Hinamori-kun."

Persimmon trees adored the landscape. The slick tree stretched out its wide branches, filled with leaves and the bright yellow-orange fruit that his captain loves so much. Ichimaru-taichou planted these beautiful trees throughout the Third Division's training grounds and took great care of them- Kira had a feeling that he spent more times with these trees than the office- and when the fruit was ripped and ready to be picked, his captain would spend the entire week making Hoshigaki.

"Would you care for some Izuru?" Ichimaru-taichou offered, holding out a small bag of dried persimmon. He almost looked like a child, munching on the sweet fruit with that grin engraved on his face. In all honesty, Kira wasn't fond of dried persimmon, and he still couldn't understand why his captain enjoyed them so much.

"No thank you, sir." Kira paused from his briefing.

Ichimaru shrugged, tying up the bag of persimmon and hiding it within his sleeve. He cleared his throat before rounding on the four squads, the smile still on his face. "You heard Izuru, yes? Ten shinigami have been killed, two ships destroyed and three bodies are missing, probably rotting somewhere in the Yasu River."

The shingami looked up at him, their faces white- they had not been told this!

"You've heard? That's good!" Ichimaru nodded, the grin spreading against his cheeks. Kira bit back a protest. "So I don't have to remind you all to follow my every command?" he continued the light-hearten tone of his voice dropping slightly.

"Yes sir," the shinigami answered in unison.

"Good! Good!" Ichimaru nodded approvingly, the grin never once leaving his face. "You do as I say, and I'll try to keep you all alive."

The shingami went even whiter. Ichimaru-taichou was known for being almost as creepy as Kurotsuchi-taichou. In spite of the smile on his face, Ichimaru-taichou had no emotions. He lacked empathy and more often than not he said insensitive, if not cruel things. "Pardon me for interrupting Ichimaru-taichou," Kira stepped in, trying to ease these men's fears. "But shouldn't we be moving along?"

The captain turned to his second-in-command. "Ah you're right." He was about to turn then when his eyebrows furrowed as he noticed his subordinates. He laughed lightly at their fiddled faces. "Don't be so scared. What will the lil' taichou think of my division?"

The Third Division headed towards Tōkaidō, slightly north off the Fourth District. Tōkaidō was one of the Five Routes to Seririte, the only route that was parallel to the Yasu River to allow heavy cargo to be carried by boat.

Kira remembered visiting Tōkaidō a few years ago and had found the road so lively with traveling merchants and tourists, either on foot or with horse or wagons, selling or buying goods. Fifty-three post stations were sanctioned along the route consisting of lodging and food, where travelers would try to rest- but who could rest with so much excitement?

Retail stores, inns, tea shops, and the vast assortment of people and exotic goods provided too much curiosity for rest.

Kira had found Tōkaidō so mirthful and energetic, but even more breathtaking was the vivid scenery. Silent mountains hovered over the horizon, while green U-shaped valleys cut through the landscape, creating a sort of hallway for travelers. He remembered how flowers seem to blossoming everywhere and dark pine trees cast a soft shadow, and with each passing station how the scenery changed to provide more beauty and awe!

Indeed this road provided many sights that a culture had developed, and many writers and painters quickly used their talent to describe this scenery.

But the more they traveled through Tōkaidō, the quiet it seemed to get and the less likely a boat would be seen on the Yasu River. The hollow seemed to be scaring people away.

The Third Division traveled towards the fiftieth station, Minakuchi-juku and stayed at the honjin- a shinigami's personal lodging that was cut off from the public- for the night. The inn was nice and the lords provided great food and entertainment. In the morning they were off, probably facing a week's worth of sleeping on the hard ground and eating stale ration bars.

Another 25 km of travel to the east and the Yasu River stood out before them- a majestic body of water that stretched between two river banks and continued to flow for kilometers. Black rocks poked from the river banks, before the land dipped down slightly from the marks of floodplains. The water splashed onto the banks, busily moving until it finally reached Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Soul Society.

There were broken pieces of wood and debris left from the doomed rice ships that was being carried away by the current. The water, Kira noticed, was not clear, rather a muddy brown and for one instant he wondered whether the three missing shinigmai were right there, rotting in the Yasu River just like Ichimaru-taichou had said.

One of the Tenth Division shinigami approached Kira, as he and his captain entered the clearing. "Good evening Ichimaru-taichou, Kira-fukutaichou," a shinigami greeted bowing deeply. As usual Ichimaru-taichou does not pay attention, his squinted eyes glancing at the large expanse of water. The shinigami shifts his feet, unsure whether this captain even sees him. Kira nods for him to continue.

"Hitsugaya-taichou is assessing the scene, if you may; I shall take you to him."

The silver haired captain turned to the shinigami, noticing him for the first time. "Ha, how lil' taichou cheats- getting such a head start!"

The shinigami looked at him puzzlingly. Kira cleared his throat. "Where is Hitsugaya-taichou now?"

"Oh yes. This way, sir."

The shinigami walked with his head held high, looking straight. Kira noticed that he was built with hard bronze muscles and sharp facial features. His zanpaktou, sharp and hard like its master, hung from his belt.

"Has Rangiku been assigned on this mission?" Ichimaru asked.

"Of course, Masumoto-fukutaichou is always with taichou."

Kira noticed that the smile on his taichou's face seemed to widen slightly.

They found Hitsugaya and Masumoto by the wide suspension bridge, both of them heading towards the bank.

This would be Kira's first time working with the Tenth Division, and though he heard the rumors that the Tenth was well-known for its strategy, he couldn't help but notice that Seririte was right- the Tenth was oddly match. Both its leaders fit nothing of the classical taichou and fukutaichou style that all of Soul Society seemed to imagine.

Hitsugaya was still a boy, a small boy at that with a high sense of order, and Masumoto was a curvy woman with a bright smile and no a complete lack of order.

Masumoto seemed to be saying something when Hitsugaya turned on her, a questioning look on his face. He sighs but Kira notices there is a little smile on his face that he cannot wholly conceal his mirth. He replies something clever and she pouts, putting her hands onto her hips about to reply when Hitsugaya turns his head, realizing a presence.

"Hitsugaya-taichou," the shinigami called out, and their little game ends as they turn to the arriving party. Indeed the Tenth Division is quite mismatch, Kira thinks. For how strange that this older man is bowing before this child.

"The Third Division has arrived."

Hitsugaya's moved his teal eyes to the smiling face of Ichimaru-taichou before looking back at his Third Seat. "Thank you." With another bow the older man left.

It was quiet for a moment, nothing but the sound of the splashing river and the creaking bridge as the wind pushed it. Kira shuffled his feet at the awkward tension. He noticed that Masumoto kept her eyes carefully down. "Ichimaru," Hitsugaya acknowledged, his voice as calm as still water.

"Ah lil' taichou, how are you?" He greeted with such pleasure.

"Pleased that you have made it."

"Why of course," he grinned. "I do enjoying working with you, lil' taichou, and your pretty fukutaichou."

Hitsugaya gave him a hard look but did not respond. "Masumoto," he suddenly ordered. "Please see to it that the squads are properly assigned."

"Yes taichou," she spoke softly, bowing her head. Ichimaru glanced at Kira. He understood the message and followed Masumoto down the river.

Her mind seemed to be elsewhere for a moment, but then she turned and gave Kira a healthy shove, nearly causing the younger boy to fall over.

Kira had met her in the Vice-Captain meetings, and had remembered only one thing: Masumoto Rangiku was always bubbly and cheerful.

She was tall with long auburn hair that curled and bounced before reaching her small waist. Her face was slightly oval with high cheek bones and a slight pointed nose. She had perfect arched eyebrows that were constantly raised high in astonishment or laughter; and two gray almond eyes that danced with excitement. Wherever she went, she was the center of attention, of excitment, of fun.

She was beautiful, the most beautiful woman in all of Seireitei, perhaps Soul Society.

"Hey kiddo, how've you been?" Masumoto smiled, her pink lips curving.

"I've been well. Thank you for asking Masumoto-fukutaichou."

She snorted. "You don't have to be so polite, you know. Try to loosen up, every once in a while!"

Kira hesitated. Masumoto had been fukutaichou for years, whereas Kira had only been promoted two years ago. He didn't think he should speak to his senior so causally. "Yes, I will try to keep that in mind Masumoto-fukutaichou." She gave him a look. "Uh Masumoto-san."

"I hope so because this mission will sure take out all joy in you."

Kira's mind automatically started racing. "Is the hollow that dangerous? Has the hollow attacked again? Were the bodies of the missing shinigami found?"

"What? No! I'm talking about the paperwork after this." Kira stared at her in surprise. He had been thinking the most dreadful of things and yet Masumoto had been more fearful of paperwork? Just what type of fukutaichou was she if she didn't want to do her job?

"Kira-fukutaichou!" called out a shinigami and he was snapped from his thoughts. A petite shinigami approached him, a brunette girl with a lovely face and two dimples that showed whenever she smiled. She had the two most brilliant blue eyes, blue as the sea.

"What is it Manami-kun?" he asked alert by her rather disheveled face.

"Youshirou-san is having trouble setting up camp. Some of the Tenth Division shinigami insist that we should set up camp to the south instead."

"What?" Masumoto spat out. "Where?"

Manami took a glance at her instead. "This way ma'am."

A brawl was about to take place. There was a gathering of shinigami, many of them with eager faces others fearful and angry. What began as a simple dispute had escalated, now the two shinigami were constantly touching their proper zanpaktou and shouting insults at one another.

It took one comment and soon a fist swung. Another one followed and shouts and cheers were cried out.

"What the hell is going on here?"

All eyes flew to Masumoto, and suddenly she wasn't so cheerful and bubbly, she was angry. Immediately there were some hasty bows and mutters of 'fukutaichou,' but Masumoto ignored them. She walked with her head high, her arms crossed over.

"Well what is going on?" she asked to the silent crowd. Where there had been shouts and rowdiness soon turned to complete silence. She approached the man with the swollen face. He looked to be in his late teens but the bloody nose made it difficult to make out any physical characteristics, except for his fearful brown eyes.

"Jurou, what's been going on?"

"I-I..." he dropped to the ground then. "I apologize Masumoto-fukutaichou for my behaviour."

Her gray eyes blazed angrily. "Get cleaned. I will give you you're punishment later."

He bowed his head hastily leaving.

She turned to the crowd next. The crowd almost seemed to melt away under her intense gaze. "What type of stupidity is this? Shinigami from the Tenth Division brawling like drunkards? Is this how you present your division to fellow comrades? Like a bunch of squabbling idiots?"

Silence followed her words. "Do you mean to disrespect me? Hitsugaya-taichou? The Tenth Division?"

"No ma'am! No, no!"

Masumoto turned to Kira, and the young fukutaichou suddenly felt his knees weak. "Kira-fukutaichou. I apologize for the rude welcoming my division has shown."

Kira cleared his throat. "Its a-alright Masumoto-fukutaichou."

She smiled at him, a reassuring smile before rounding her division. "We are going to set up camp elsewhere." There was a groan of protest but Masumoto did not listen, she continued strong and fearless.

Kira realized how foolish he had been in doubting Masumoto.

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TBC

A/N: Yes I realize that I suck at writing haikus but I read somewhere that Kira wasn't as good as writing haikus so maybe it somehow balances? Dunno.