#maybe they teach positive affirmations at shinigami academy

[bleachbleachbleach]

29 hours

Every couple months I come back to this (or some variant of this), but like... Do you ever wonder what the heck Hitsugaya and Matsumoto did for 29 hours?

They get this jigokuchou email when they’re watching over Hinamori, after their brief altercation with Ichimaru. “29 hours” initially seems very arbitrary (not that I could expect the Council of 46, real or imagined, to not be arbitrary), but Ukitake seems to insinuate that it just lines up with noon the next day:

Which implies that the jigokuchou would have gone out at ~7AM. I buy that. The morning of the execution also begins “5 hours before the execution,” so maybe 7AM is just the start of the regular business day in the Seireitei. A budget meeting and then a brown bag execution during lunch!

Hitsugaya tells Matsumoto they should use these hours to “stop the execution.” But like... 

24+ hours later:

That is not... That plan does not seem any more developed than it was the day before, lol?? I’m just really curious about what it is they were up to.

Once they reach the Council of 46 (and apparently they had something else to do that morning because it also doesn’t seem like they leave for the Council of 46 until the execution is literally beginning, and there’s some wiggle room in between 7AM and that, since other people are busily getting into skirmishes and Byakuya is off killing Renji), Hitsugaya informs the readers that:

the Council of 46 would not be swayed by a single captain’s objection

they forced their way into the chambers, so it’s not like they were waiting for an invitation to be there. (Not that they would have received one.)

So after a full day of brainstorming, was their plan to... ask for something that they knew would certainly would not be granted and then just show up at the door uninvited to ask for something they knew would not be granted, to see if that would work?

We do know what Ukitake did with his 29 hours:

Appeals unsuccessfully to the Council of 46, as anticipated

Un-seals big powerful Shihouin shield thingy

Some options I’d like to propose for how the 10th spent those 29 hours:

sent a Comment or Complaint thru the Council of 46′s online portal

refreshed that page multiple times

waited

“But it says our feedback is valuable and they’ll get back to us as soon as possible.”

snacks

sleep (in fairness, they were at least one all-nighter in already, and it had been a long day of Aizen being brutally slaughtered and then failing to keep Hinamori in jail)

Change.Org?

realized they’d failed to spend any time actually doing their jobs re: emergency mobilization re: ryoka, a thing they do not appear to care about at all, ever, the entire arc, had to go make some work assignment charts and hold a bystander intervention training (rando 10th people do show up to the post-execution kerfuffle, so...?)

more snacks

wrote ICHIMARU on a blackboard many times

Matsumoto had to fix Haineko, which Shinsou cracked, so I guess that’s important

open MS Word / blinking cursor / close MS Word

“Fuck it, we have a four-hour commute; we’re bound to figure something out on the way.” (Narrator: They did not.)

Maybe Hitsugaya had to go attend to the fact that he’d released shikai but had no ryoka to show for it, or explain Aizen’s bonkers letter. But it seems like everyone except Hinamori continued to be unaware of/ignored the accusation because it was too bonkers. 

ALSO, while we’re here, I definitely forgot that not only did Aizen say Hitsugaya had killed him, he also said that Hitsugaya was the one who’d arranged for Rukia’s execution so he could steal the Sougyoku and destroy Soul Society. Which sounds ridiculous, because Hitsugaya is way too boring to have thought up that plan. XDDD (On the other hand he 1) was mysteriously absent for the “emergency measures” captain’s meeting, 2) at no point engaged the ryoka, 3) attacked a Captain, and 4) broke into the Council of 46, which all actually does look sus af, lol.)

Whatever. I love them. Amazing. Excellent contribution to the stopping of the execution. As long as the execution in question is the execution of their own plan. 😅<3

[canariie]

future musings

Rating: K+

Synopsis: “My whole time as a shinigami I dreamt of being Aizen’s vice-captain. However, I now have different goals. I think I would want to become a greater kido master—and who knows, maybe one day teach at the Academy.”

“You would be an excellent professor Hinamori. Everyone says so,” he affirmed, recalling her earlier training session with Ichika.

She tucked her hair behind her ear. It had grown longer and was falling out of her side clip. “They’re just being nice.” She paused, her brown eyes far off somewhere.

 …

In the quiet of the winter night before the fireworks burn, the two childhood friends reunite to share thoughts about the future.

Word Count: 3200 words

Setting: few years after the epilogue of Bleach

Prompt: Hitsuhina Day 2022 - Kido, A Quiet Moment

Authour’s Note:  Happy Hitsuhina Day everyone! I’m super excited to share this one with you as I’ve been sitting on it for over a year now. But when I saw the prompts, I knew I had to finish it up! It has a couple of my own headcanons that I’ll mention briefly on my thoughts of what happens to our beloved characters, particularly Momo, after the epilogue of Bleach :)

Hope you enjoy!

Also shout out to EXO’s White Noise for helping me set the mood & finish this :)

— 

Toushiro was not one to meander: meandering meant one did not have purpose and was prone to wasting time.

But he had found himself wandering towards the Fifth headquarters. Not to deliver paperwork. Or to meet Hirako-taicho. No…he was just conveniently walking by, in the secret hopes to see if his childhood friend was free to stop for afternoon tea. He had only been on the receiving ends of her out of office hell butterflies and hadn’t had the chance to personally talk to her as to why she had been so absent of late. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he had missed seeing her smile, listening to her stories about mundane topics and even hearing the childish moniker “Shiro-chan”.

And to Toushiro’s surprise, did he not just find her but a whole crowd from her captain to Abarai-fukutaicho and his own vice-captain watching from afar as she was practicing out in the Fifth Division’s courtyard with Ichika.

“Matsumoto, what are you doing?” Toushiro asked, irritable because she was overdue from her break thirty minutes ago.

“Shh, Taicho! Hinamori-chan and Ichika-chan are training!” Rangiku shushed as Momo and Ichika talked in the distance.

He raised his eyebrow. “And why do you have to watch?”

Renjii piped up to his friend’s defense. “Matsumoto hasn’t been here long, Hitsugaya-taicho. She came to drop off papers for me, but I wasn’t in the office.” Toushiro scoffed at the told-you-so look from his vice-captain.

“They’re almost finished so you might as well stick around,” Hirako drawled with a casual shrug thrown over his shoulder at the shorter captain.

Though he was not one to conform to slacking like the other bystanders, it was his first time seeing Momo in person in a while, so he just stood silently and watched from afar as the duo continued with their kido session.

“Ichika-chan, is it okay if I adjust your pose?” The girl nodded her head furiously, as Momo stepped closer, gently taking her arms. “You want these to be parallel to the ground, and then position your hands…like this…”

Even from the distance, Toushiro could see that the crimson blush on Ichika’s cheeks was fading and she was relaxing with Momo’s teachings. He always knew that Hinamori had a calming presence, but he had never seen it happen so quickly and smoothly in someone else—particularly one who was so young and flustered.

“Is it like this?” the little girl asked meekly, as she demonstrated her stance.

“That’s great, Ichika-chan! Just focus on widening your stance and moving your shoulders back…like this,” Momo encouraged as she gently adjusted the young girl’s shoulders. “You got it! Now give it a shot!”

The onlookers watched as Ichika chanted the familiar words. While initially she had stumbled over the mantra, she finished with confidence as the light steadily grew from her palm before flying out. Within a few moments, the target was smoking grey wisps from the singe of the red cannon ball.

Momo clasped her hands together. “Amazing job, Ichika-chan!” The little girl beamed as Renjii gave a proud clap and Rangiku whistled in accord. Toushiro glanced up at the corner of his eye, to see the laid-back captain nodding in approval. “In no time she’s going to surpass all of us,” Hirako said with a sudden graveness that it made Toushiro wonder if was speaking about more than just the young girl.

“Ah, Ichika-chan, your hair is getting loose! Let me tie it for you,” Momo said, moving around swiftly and combing the red hair together with her hands. “When I first started out too, my hair would get in my way but someone gave me a cloth for my hair—to protect myself from getting hurt.” Ichika remained silent with a light blush dusting her cheeks as the fifth lieutenant tied the ribbon securely twice before tucking fly away behind the little girl’s ears.

“You’re making great progress,” Momo bent down to look into her violet eyes, “and in no time you’ll be as good as your mom!” The girl broke out into a wide tooth smile and rushed onto Momo with such an affection that the older girl couldn’t help but return back.

“Ichika-chan is doing really well! She’ll be well prepared for the academy,” Rangiku said with a proud smile, as the bystanders watched the two from far. “It’s all thanks to Hinamori,” Renjii affirmed. “She’s Ichika’s favorite. Though Ichika respects Ikkaku, he gives her a hard time. But Hinamori never rushes her and pushes her at her own pace.” Shinji collapsed down on the balcony. “She’s the patient one between the two of us—the new recruits love her,” he grumbled half-heartedly.

“She always had a way with the underclassman and younger souls,” Renjii agreed. “She’ll be great with her own kids.”

Rangiku turned to her captain, who had remained silent and watched Momo from afar, with a cheeky grin and devious look in her eyes. “With her own kids, hmm?”

—

At the balcony’s edge, overlooking their garden, she was sitting with her long hair down. Though her back was turned to him, his heart still picked up to see hair flowing down, almost to her waist. Even from the distance, he could feel her warmth reiatsu pulling him forward.

Peeking out from the crook of her elbow was the smallest head of white hair. As Toushiro opened his mouth, she turned her head and all words were lost as she beamed at him.

“Toushiro! You’re home early!” Momo gestured with her head for him to come forward. She looked down in her arms, the love evident in her eyes.

“He’s finally asleep,” Momo whispered as she leaned forward to kiss the little boy’s forehead. “He looks just like an angel in his sleep.”

Without any control, he felt his arm move around Momo’s shoulder before pulling her in. Toushiro felt her body settle against his, as if they had sat like this, many times before.

“Anata,” her long eyelashes fluttered as she sighed into his cloak, sending shivers up his spine.

“I need to go finish the paperwork. Matsumoto don’t dawdle for too long.” Toushiro flushed crimson and shook his head, quickly removing himself from the premises and smug looks from his vice-captain and the fifth captain.

—

“Ahh Shiro-chan! Over here!” Momo waved enthusiastically.

“Hinamori! Not too loud!” He looked side to side, hoping that no one was around to hear. They were on one of the rooftops of the 10th division barracks, a little far off the main commotion. It was just far enough to hear the bustle from the festival but have a private moment. String lights hung from building to building, guiding excited guests through the different stalls that dotted the streets. It was truly one of the few times where the whole city had seemed to sigh in relaxation and revel in the festivities.

“But Hitsugaya-kun, no one is even here,” Momo said matter-of-factly.

He unwrapped the scarf from his neck as he scoffed, “That doesn’t matter.” He wrapped it around her neck. “Also, how many times do I have to tell you,” he tied a knot, “don’t come out here without a scarf.”

“It’s not that cold!” She lifted the scarf to her nose and smiled in content. “But thank you Hitsugaya-kun.”

He nodded in acknowledgement as he sat down besides her. There was a chill in the air and their breaths puffed out little whispers of smoke. The last light of the winter sun had started to fade away as the stars began to twinkle hello.

Toushiro sighed. It had been a while since they had properly seen each other. He had been swamped with paperwork as the end of the year approached. They had seen each other in the general captain-vice-captain meetings but only quick hellos and byes. Besides the time he had observed her train the younger Abarai a few days ago, Toushiro hadn’t had the chance to see her outside of quotidian duties and simply catch up.

So, when Hinamori had asked him to watch the winter festival fireworks together, he was more than happy to oblige. As the time settled in, he couldn’t ignore the sense of anticipation that brewed inside him. Even Matsumoto had noticed it, giving him a look at of the corner of her eye and a knowing smile as he finished his work a little more quickly than usual.

“It’s been a while, since we’ve done this Hitsugaya-kun,” Momo said. “Thank you for agreeing to watch the fireworks for me.”

She realized too. “Well, I’m not the one that’s working more outside my position. Is Hirako not giving you enough work?”

She set her shoulders back and gave him a pointed look but he could hear the teasing in her voice. “Hirako-taicho is giving me plenty of work, Hitsugaya-kun.” She smiled in content. “But he’s also encouraging me to try new things that I’m interested in.”

“Like what?”

“Ahh, I didn’t get to tell you, yet! Wow, it has really been a while since we’ve talked!” She tugged at her lieutenant badge. “We had a meeting where we discussed goal settings and he explained to me the importance of picking specific areas where I wanted to grow and write it down so we were both clear on how I should improve myself.”

Toushiro raised a skeptical eye brow. “He asked you to write down your goals?” Though they were not close, he thought it was out of character for the seemingly laid-back captain.

“I know, I know it seems a little out there,” Momo laughed. “But while he was in the World of Living, he worked in some corporate positions so I guess he adopted more strict human practices of work management.” She tightened the scarf around her neck, her eyes slightly downcast. “I think it’s also because he blames himself as a captain for not being attentive with his previous vice-captain…”

Toushiro could believe that. At the battle of the fake Karakura town, he remembered the anger on Hirako’s face when he came face to face with Aizen. He hadn’t known the full story at time but there was loaded history behind the look of contempt the current 5th captain had for Aizen—something that Toushiro shared with greatly.

He’ll never forget the boiling rage that erupted within as Aizen goaded him for swinging his blade out of fury. Though he regretted rushing into battle so quickly, he couldn’t deny the contempt he felt when the traitor mentioned Hinamori. As more time passed and he reflected back on that battle, he realized that there may have been another feeling that had sourced such a visceral reaction when it came to the sweet eyed girl.

Toushiro cleared his throat. “So, what did you write down?”

“I’ve always wanted to improve my kido. I have never been able to do greater than Bakudo 73 but it would be amazing to perform a level 90 or higher! And to think of the kind of combinations that I could create!” Momo looked up at the sky. “Last time we went to the World of the Living, he introduced me to Hacchi-san—who used to be the kido-corps lieutenant—and wow, he’s amazing Hitsugaya-kun! Did you know that can perform Bakudo 99? He’s so gentle and knowledgeable, it feels like I’m in the academy!”

Toushiro watched as Momo continued to talk eagerly, her arms moving from under her scarf to demonstrate the different hand movements she learnt. He couldn’t remember the last time she had seem so excited about something, where her eyes lit up and the smiled widened. It eased him inside to see her so motivated— the last time was when she had decided to become a shinigami.

“Don’t take on more than you can handle Hinamori.” Though she was smiling, he could start to notice the faint dark circles under her eyes.

“Wow, the Hitsugaya-taicho is telling me not to overwork myself!” Momo laughed. “That’s truly one for the books.”

“Don’t mock me,” he scoffed, crossing his arms and fixing her with a stare he had patented for when the new recruits had stepped out of line or his vice-captain had taken out a bottle of sake past her break time.

But it did little the dissuade the smile off of her face. “Thank you. I promise I’ll take care of myself—that’s why I invited you tonight!”

If Momo noticed his red ears, she didn’t say anything and continued on. “We’ve had so many battles— but there’s still so much work to do. Hacchi-san wants to get stronger, so many people do. Kira-kun has found new training methods. Hirako-taicho is spending more time with our recruits. Even Abarai-kun is taking on more work.”

The street lights began to slowly turn on, and the festival thrummed with excitement. But Toushiro paid it no heed, as he watched the girl next to him, slowly picking at the stray strands from his scarf.

“Renjii has trained so hard. Now, he has a family to protect. Ichika-chan is doing amazing and I know will follow in her parents’ footsteps. But it just reminds me how much is at stake—how much more I have to lose.” She turned to look at him and Toushiro saw a quiet determination he hadn’t before.

“My whole time as a shinigami I dreamt of being Aizen’s vice-captain. However, I now have different goals. I think I would want to become a greater kido master—and who knows, maybe one day teach at the Academy.”

“You would be an excellent professor Hinamori. Everyone says so,” he affirmed, recalling her earlier training session with Ichika.

She tucked her hair behind her ear. It had grown longer and was falling out of her side clip. “They’re just being nice.” She paused, her brown eyes far off somewhere. “But I could imagine myself as a teacher first before a mother.” Momo laughed. “Now that seems out there.”

He gulped, almost afraid to say the next words. He didn’t know what she was going to say, and there was a part of him that felt like his heart was on a precipice.

“Have ever you thought about it…?”

Momo glanced down on her midrift, rubbing her hand down as if she were imagining a bump. “I don’t think I’m there yet…There's nothing great about being young and naïve when I have so much to learn. There’s still a lot more I want to accomplish.

“I’m still growing and learning, but I cannot wait until I become an adult.” She smiled at Toushiro. “Maybe one day!” Her eyes drifted out towards the stars, “And if I do have one…I think I would want a girl.”

His eyes widened in surprise. She had never mentioned anything like this before. “Why a girl?”

She chuckled mirthlessly. “I think I would want a girl so I could teach her how to stand on her feet and become strong. So, she could learn from my mistakes.”

“Hinamori…” He looked at her, hoping his eyes communicated his determination. “You have gotten stronger, more than you think.”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, “Not enough.” She shook her head, as if brushing the melancholy aside. “Anyway! Enough about me!” She pointedly turns to him with a mischievous look in her eyes. “What about you Hitsugaya-kun?”

“Me?”

She rolled her eyes. “Well yeah—you! Have you ever thought of having children?”

He could feel the blush on his cheeks rise to the tips of his ears and he quickly looked away. “I-I haven’t thought about that!!” Toushiro crosses his arms. “I don’t think about those things.”

She raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Hmmm, I don’t think you’re telling me the truth…” Momo teased.

He choked back a quick retort. “I am!”

“Well! If you had a child, I would hope you have a boy.” She stares at him with a far-off look that makes him heat up.

“And why’s that?”

“I would hope they have your white hair! I could ruffle their hair like I did when you were younger and they would be so cute to hug!” She smiles sweetly, “But I would love any children of yours Hitsugaya-kun!”

“W-what?” he sputters. He was certain now that his face was red.  

How can she say things like that? It didn’t help that was precisely what he was thinking about—and what Matsumoto and Hirako teased him about.

She bumped his shoulder. “Don’t blush, don’t blush.”

“I am not blushing!” Toushiro responded indignantly.

Before Momo could respond back with a retort, the loud clap of the firework erupted in front of them. Whatever was left unsaid, fell into the silence between Momo and Toushiro as their gazes were arrested by the bursts of colour in the dark night. Though they both remained quiet, the two childhood friends felt a comfort that was long overdue. It had been a while since they had gotten to sit down, just the two of them, without the foreboding worry of danger.

Toushiro was the first one that broke their gaze as he watched Momo stare openly at the bright lights. He could see the bright red and yellows reflect on her skin, casting her in a warm light, as if she were lit up with Tobiume’s rieatsu. He didn’t know if it were possible, but the fireworks seemed to be brighter in her hazel brown eyes. Toushiro knew that there was a period of time where the warmth in her eyes had disappeared, after she had woken from her coma. Though Momo had picked herself up and fought bravely, her eyes had still looked like she was going through an inner battle.

Now, it was as if a spark had reignited and though it was the middle of the night, Toushiro felt that he could see the sun start to rise in her eyes.

She turned to him to say something but stopped. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

He snapped from his reverie, embarrassed to be caught openly admiring her face. “I wasn’t looking at you,” he responded smartly. “Also, it’s late and you should go to bed.” When she didn’t seem to believe his response, he quickly stated, “It’s captain’s orders.”

Momo continued to look at him as if she wanted to say something, but shook her head as if she decided against it. “Well,” she picked herself up and dusted her uniform. “You’re right. Thank you for listening to me…Hitsugaya-taichou.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “You never call me that.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Thought I would give it a try. Will you walk me back?”

Toushiro scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Of course, what else?”

Momo smiled as he stood beside her, and he noted how he was now at eye level with her. In due time he knew he would tell her more one day. But for now, he’d be content to walk alongside her as the fireworks crawled higher and brighter, before fading out into the pitch-black sky. For even though the future was uncertain, they knew they would be at each other’s sides, cheering each other to be stronger individuals.

— 

Author’s Notes: Some of my headcanons: Momo totally trains with Hacchi-san! Being Shinji’s vice captain, I’m so sure he’ll introduce them together on one of their World of Living trips :) I would love to write a fic of them training together :) I also totally imagine her in the future someday having the opportunity to treach at the Shinigami Academy and further down the road be offered the  Kido Corps Captain position!

Also another headcanon that I took from Fruits Basket, is that Toushiro waits until he’s taller than Momo (without the Mature Bankai haha) to tell her how he feels haha (In the meantime, he’ll just fantasize about their future together haha)

Hope you enjoyed!