Tsukiro sat up against a wall on the second story balcony of the Tenth Squad barracks, over looking one of the courtyards. This particular courtyard was adorned with numerous flora, including daffodils, roses of all colors, and other flowers and plants he couldn't name. This was his favorite place in the barracks.
Some Tenth Squad members were strutting around, talking with others, or just sitting around. However they all had the same look that they've had for weeks.
Tsukiro wore a similar expression now.
He grit his teeth together. "Ridiculous," he growled. "A 'seraph.'"
He had read numerous texts--even some written by humans--on the subject after the Captain-Commander's sudden order had turned into one big, huge flop. Frankly, he couldn't wrap his head around it. How could a being that's supposed to be considered an angel wield fire and have a name that literally means "burning one"? His image of an angel was just like that of anyone else: a beautiful or handsome person with large white wings. (Or maybe he was just being stereotypical.)
"What's ridiculous?"
He turned around to see no other than his childhood friend Kairo. He turned back to the courtyard garden. "Everything."
Kairo sat down next to him. "What do you mean? You mean with your captain?"
"In part." Tsukiro let out a heavy sigh. "I haven't told anyone, but I've pieced some things together recently."
"Like?"
"Like why Hitsugaya-taicho just suddenly up and left and was branded a traitor. We had a meeting last week. Matsumoto-san cleared the air of doubt by saying that our captain was no traitor. On the way to the meeting I was thinking: He wouldn't just outright abandon his Squad, his subordinates, his duty. He's not that kind of person. My theory was that he may have been called off on some sort of business."
"You mean like a secret mission he wasn't supposed to talk about?"
"Exactly. And now this deal with the Captain-Commander giving sudden orders to capture some 'seraph' named Kita who's been hanging out with Squad Nine's Shuhei Hisagi." He turned to Kairo. "Aizen is in on this. He took this person with him back to Hueco Mundo. Given that, Yamamoto must have known about this 'seraph' for some time. No one has ever heard of anything pertaining to a 'seraph' circling around Soul Society. Then this happens."
"You mean that... Captain Hitsugaya is..."
"In Las Noches on orders from the Captain-Commander to capture the seraph, Kita."
Kairo sat with Tsukiro for quite some time before rising to his feet. "Well, I'd better get back to Squad Thirteen. Someone has to break up Kiyone and Sentaro's fights."
"Kairo."
"Yeah?"
"Don't you dare speak of this to anyone. If I'm right and either of us talk--news travels fast and Aizen is cunning--it could reach Las Noches and blow Captain Hitsugaya's cover. If that happens... I don't even want to think of what the repercussions will be."
"Right. Gotcha." He turned to leave.
"I mean it Kairo. Tell. No one."
Tsukiro met his eyes, giving him a "dead serious" look. Then he said, "Or I'll freeze you to the ceiling in your room."
Kairo chuckled. "You always have to follow up on a serious matter with a joke, don't you?"
"It prevents stress."
"Right. See ya."
"Later."
Tsukiro stayed in his spot before standing, stretching and leaving to go practice with Kotaishi in the training grounds.
I'm too perceptive and inquisitive for my own good.
A/N: Read the bottom comment in the comment box.
Part 2: Unexpected Advice
