The small taicho's feet hit a heavy rhythm on the wooden floor of the first division's outer hallways. He crossed his arms, miffed at the fact that Hisagi asked Rangiku out for a date. He took a deep breath as his mind stormed at the idea. "They CAN'T date each other. They just can't."

"Child... young master. There is nothing you can do about other people's feelings and what other people want. To intervene would be very rude on your part. This is something that you are going to have to accept as reality, despite the fact that you don't have to accept it as something that you want." His dragon sighed.

The small taicho then came to the wooden doors of Yamamoto's office and rapped his knuckles on the door. A voice told him to come in and the small taicho slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. "I received a hell butterfly that you wished to speak with me."

"Indeed I did Hitsugaya Taicho. The information that I am to speak with you about is extremely sensitive information." The old man stated, folding his hands and watching the small shinigami step over to his desk.

"In other words I am not to speak about this to anyone outside of this room?" Toshiro slipped into place, full at attention.

"You are to pick who you choose to tell with leniency." Yamamoto stated. "I'll start by going back to details that occurred during the Winter War that a good deal of Soul Society is unaware of, including the captains. It was felt that for the time being that we would keep this under wraps due to the fact we do not know how people will react when they find out."

"Does it have something to do with Aizen?" Hitsugaya asked, only to have Yamamoto's mood darken.

"I get the feeling if you are wondering if he's escaped from the forty-six chambers." The general folded his fingers together. "Hitsugaya Toshiro. Do you think if he had escaped that I would be talking to you of all people?"

The small taicho's mouth twitched slightly, and then he glanced at the ground. Despite having his feelings hurt at the comment, he spoke up. "I understand that the reason that I would be left out of the loophole is due to my inability to retain my cool when it comes to that man."

"Good call on your part." Yamamoto then spoke up again. "This does though deal with the Winter War though. What happened to the three taicho who defected?"

"I am not sure I would call what they did defection. Goodness, in the case of Tosen was it really a case of treason, or simply Aizen manipulating him. The former taicho of the ninth is dead, while Aizen is sentenced to a thousand years. As for Ichimaru, no one knows what has happened to him. For two years no one has heard one thing about him."

"It is Ichimaru that I wish to speak to you about." The old man stated.

At that, Toshiro's eyes suddenly went wide, then he opened his mouth. "You know where Ichimaru Gin is?"

"That is not where I am going to start this conversation. Where I am going to start is what happened to Ichimaru Gin after the war. He was gravely injured and brought into the care of the forth division unknown to everyone around him." Yamamoto stated.

"Then you have known where he's been for two years now?" Confusion appeared all over the small taicho's face.

"I simply said I knew what happened to him right after the war." The general stated. "After he was healed, he went before the forty-six for trial and his case was heard. They decided since his reason for turning on Soul Society was to stop Aizen they decided that he was a traitor and they pardoned him."

"Why does this sound familiar?" Toshiro asked himself, blinking twice. "Why is it then that Ichimaru didn't reappear and no one was told about his pardoning." The boy's mind spun. "If he was still around, then Matsumoto wouldn't even think of dating Hisagi Fukutaicho."

"I told you not to think about that." His dragon hummed insufferably in his inner world. "It is her choice in this matter, not your own."

"Despite being pardoned, he should not have done this on his own. It was decided that he needed to do something to make up for his actions that were not as sound in intelligence as a taicho and child genius is known for." Yamamoto stated.

The old man then continued. "When Kuchiki Taicho's sister came back from Los Mundos, she and the others came across a shinigami who we had thought lost when he and another group traveled there to try and push back a major hollow attack. His name is Kano Ashido, missing in action for a long time. We sent Ichimaru, who knows Los Mundos better then anyone in to bring him home."

At that, the small shinigami blinked a couple of times and let out a deep breath. "So you did know where he was. Why wasn't anyone told of this? I don't understand."

"We didn't say anything as we did not wish to get the hopes of certain people up. That, and we didn't know, even if we sent in someone with a high end captain class reiatsu if this mission could be pulled up. There are certain people that Ichimaru didn't wish to get the hopes up of." Yamamoto stated firmly. "And while we know they are both in Los Mundos, we do not know where they have been the last two years."

Frustration came to the small taicho's mind. "I would like to know why I was called to speak with you on this."

"When we sent Ichimaru in, we had a device created so that he could signal us when he got to the surface area of Los Mundos and was in a place that a rescue party can be sent in for him, whether he found Kano Ashido or not. The person to head up that rescue party is going to be you, Hitsugaya Taicho."

"Me..." Toshiro stated. "I am to choose who goes on this mission?"

"Yes, you are to choose who all go on this mission. It is also your choice whether or not to tell anyone the reason behind this mission and what details you are to tell them. There are some who you would trust on a mission, but who would tell about the details of this mission. Again, I can't emphasize to you how much we shouldn't get people's hopes up."

"Why was I picked for this mission?" Toshiro asked, frowning, his mind filled with confusion, trepidation and a bunch of feelings rushing through his mind.

"I personally believe that you are one of the least likely persons to attack Ichimaru Gin on site due to, the best way to put it, hurt feelings. Also, I have a reason for believing that he will actually listen to you. However, I can not tell you that reason at this point. You will be going in through the living world and the substitute shinigami can choose to go with you if he so chooses, as can his friends."

"I don't see why he should feel the need to." Toshiro shook his head.

"They know Kano-san and will likely wish to help in his rescue." Yamamoto stated. "However, you do not need to take them if you do not wish."

"Knowing Kurosaki, he'll want to go even if I tell him no, simply because it is a friend being rescued." The small shinigami frowned, scratching his head with his hand. "I would rather leave them out though if possible. How long do I have to prep my team?"

"I wish for you to be heading to Los Mundos within twenty-four hours, if not sooner." The old man stated. "Have a good day, Hitsugaya Taicho and understand very well this mission is not about attacking or killing or holding back the hollows. This mission is about rescuing others and this is about, for once, coming back alive."

"Hai." The small taicho stated, making a quick bow. "I can't make you any promises, but I take that as a message to do my best."

At that, the small shinigami turned to leave. Hyorinmaru suddenly popped a question. "Who are you choosing young one?"

"Hisagi Fukutaicho is one of my choices." Toshiro muttered

"Is this because of his skill, or because you are trying to prevent him from making advances on a certain someone." The dragon sounded irritated with his shinigami. Hitsugaya choose to remain silent about the matter.