The New Captain of squad three

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor am I associated with bleach or anyone involved with it in any way. Bleach is the property of its original creator, Tite Kubo.
(Please read author note at end)
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A remote mountain book store

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Toshiro Hitsugaya stood near the entrance of an old book store closely watching his fellow captain, Asura Suzuki.

Suzuki was browsing through a bin of old books, grunting incoherent words and getting agitated. After a few minutes of searching a middle aged women walked up to the Captain and giggled.

"May I help you find something young man?"

The woman was lanky and tall, with a narrow face and features that were a bit to large for her face. She possessed drawn on eyebrows, and pale painted skin. It was obvious she was attempting to resemble a Gisha, but with both her terribly applied cheap makeup and her tattered kimono she resembled a beggar from an ancient time long since past.

Suzuki sighed in defeat and nodded at the women, "I am looking for a particular book madam, do you perhaps possess 'The tale of the bamboo cutter'?

The woman giggled again, but it came out grumbled and sounding clumsy.
"I believe your referring to the book, 'Taketori Monogatari', I'm afraid we don't have any children's books here dear, since we don't get many children. Though perhaps I can interest you in 'Konjaku Monogatarishū' or in 'Kokoro'?
"The first one is a serious of 28 tales from the late Heian period, the stories are folk tales and might interest you. The second one is about a young man and his teacher, taking place in the Meiji into the modern period."

Suzuki sighed hanging his head, "I was really looking into getting another copy of 'The tale of the Bamboo cutter' but those do sound interesting I'll take them please," Captain Suzuki saw something out of the corner of his eye, "Oh and this one too please."

The woman giggled again, "Ah I see you've picked 'I am a cat', That's a book taking place in the Meiji period. It's about the mixing of western culture with our own. Tell me handsome are you interested in the western part of the world?"

Suzuki nodded, ignoring the woman's pass at him, "Yes actually I lived in the states for a short period. Back when I was-," Suzuki stopped when he noticed Hitsugaya eyeing him and obviously listening in, "- anyway I'm ready to check out now please."

Toshiro grumbled, turning on his heels and walking out side of the old looking book store. Once outside he wiped out this soul pager from his pocket and started scrolling through it. Much to his dismay there was nothing happening near by, meaning all he had to do was monitor Captain Suzuki.

Any attempt at gaining information on this mysterious man had come up a dead end so far, leading the white haired captain to become agitated.

He was close to learning something about his past in the store but of course the sly man caught him and dropped the subject. He was like a sly fox or snake.

After a little while Toshiro began to wonder what was talking the other man so long in the store. He peeked back into the store and didn't see him anywhere. He began panicking.

Had Suzuki slipped out with out him seeing? If so where had he gone?

Before he could search for him an object was thrusted into his face. On instinct he whipped back and crouched into a fighting stance grabbing for his Zanpakutō which was on his back when in his soul reaper form, which he was currently not in.

Toshiro looked at the mysterious attacker only to be meet with a confused Suzuki, who was standing with a popsicle out stretched towards Toshiro, a bag dangling from his arm.