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Lost And Found
by afrai

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He was almost used to the living world, Hanatarou told himself.

In fact he was secretly proud of how well he was dealing. He wasn't entirely sure why he had been sent, since Ichigo-san and his friends rarely stood still long enough for him to retie their bandages, much less heal them, but he was sure he'd be able to help once the Arrancar stopped attacking for a while.

Meanwhile he had been making himself useful. He had a part-time job. Sometimes he cooked for the others, and he hardly ever caused fires these days. Modern technology held no terrors for him now --

"Attention! This is a call for a lost child!"

Hanatarou dropped his shopping basket and rolled.

"Will Yamada Hanatarou please come to the reception desk to meet his guardian who is very worried about him!" bawled the small child. "And if he could stop hiding behind the fresh produce section like a big fat wuss, that would be nice too!"

"Hi-Hisagomaru-san!"

"Don't call me that!"

"I mean, Hisagomaru," said Hanatarou hastily. "I haven't seen you in a while!"

"You lost me!"

"Yes, yes, I did, I'm very sorry," said Hanatarou. "Um, Hisagomaru-sa -- Hisagomaru, would you mind putting that loudspeaker away? It's a little loud."

The little boy twitched, but he put the loudspeaker down.

"You left me," he said accusingly. His voice was still notably shrill even without the loudspeaker's help. Hanatarou winced and looked around before he remembered that nobody else could see his sword. "Why do you always leave me?"

"Oh," said Hanatarou.

They stared at each other, the small boy with the Coke-bottle spectacles and the shinigami.

"I'm sorry," said Hanatarou gently. "I wish I was strong enough to deserve you."

The child wiped the back of his sleeve across his eyes. Hanatarou resettled his spectacles on his nose.

"I don't want anyone else," said the child. "But you don't want me at all."

"That's not," said Hanatarou helplessly. "I just don't get to fight much, Hisagomaru-sa -- "

"Are you buying vegetables?"

"Bitter gourds," said Hanatarou.

The boy brightened.

"I'm good at gourds," he said. He slipped a small sweaty hand into Hanatarou's. "I'll help you pick the best ones."

"Thank you," said Hanatarou.

"Just don't do it again," said Hisagomaru. "Stupid."

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