A/N: Say hello to my new obsession!


Hitsugaya put the transfer request down on the desk in front of him, eyebrows furrowed, as if trying to remember something important. "Oi, Ichigo," he called to the first seat shinigami currently lounging on his office couch.

The other cocked his head back to look at his taichou and lover. He'd never understand his boyfriend's obsession with paperwork. Ichigo himself had actually died a year prior (hit and run driver- the shinigami himself had given the man a haunting he wouldn't soon forget), but still visited his friends and family frequently. It still pissed him off that his body hadn't been as resilient as the rest of him. "Whaddya want?" he asked.

"Does the name 'Tsuzuki Mizaki' sound familiar?"

"I'm surprised it doesn't to you."

"That's problem. It does, I just can't place her."

"Ah, Shiro-chan," the other sighed, making the taichou twitch. Although he'd long given up correcting him when they were alone, he still felt the need to kill Matsumoto for introducing him to Hinamori. "I'd hope you'd at least remember the night we met her. It was the night we started having a relationship," the orange-haired shinigami said, choosing his words carefully for once. Apparently, Toushiro didn't 'do dating.' Ichigo was pretty sure the other just didn't like the word itself.

"It was?"

"Still don't remember? Come here, Shiro-chan, I'll tell ya a story."

Frowning, he left this seat to join his lover, paper still in hand. Ichigo took a deep breath and began his stroll down Memory Lane.


-Set at the night after the beginning of the Arrancar Arc-

The white-haired taichou stared at the night sky, desperately trying to block out the shrill giggling he heard below him. There wasn't enough currency in this world or Soul Society to get him in that house. He glanced below, sensing a familiar presence. Ichigo Kurosaki was strolling by. In shinigami mode. Funny, he didn't get any orders.

"Kurosaki!" he called down. "What are you doing out?"

The teen looked up, eyebrow arched. "Toushiro!" he called back with a smirk. "Got a case of insomnia, I guess."

"That's 'Hitsugaya-taichou' to you!" the other yelled, jumping down to the street. "Insomnia? So… you're patrolling? I thought you were a teenager."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I was under the impression human teenagers were lazy."

"If I was like that, would I be doing this shinigami thing at all?"

"Well, you did just get thrown into it," the shorter of the two reasoned, stomach suddenly growling. He blushed, but tried not to show it.

"I suppose…" Another girlish shriek sounded from the house. "Ah. So that's why you were on the roof."

The captain glowered. "And I plan to stay there."

"Come ta my house for awhile, if ya want. I don't plan on sleeping anytime soon."

Toushiro seemed to think it over. "Nn, I suppose." he finally said.

The two shinigami got through Ichigo's bedroom window effortlessly. Instinctively, teal eyes darted around the room while the other got back in his body.

"'Kay, this way," he said.

"Is your family asleep?"

"Yeah, the only one who could be a problem is my dad. But he sleeps like a rock."

"A rock?"

"It would take a lot to wake him," Ichigo clarified.

"Humans are weird."

"Whatever." The two walked the rest of the way in silence. "Whatcha in the mood for?"

The taichou blinked, then his complacent gaze reset itself. "Doesn't matter."

Ichigo smirked, gathering the composure seemingly lost at the sight of the other looking a bit... confused. This was Hitsugaya Toushiro, after all. Who wouldn't find that look a bit funny?

"I don't know what you taichou are used to," the shinigami stated. "But you're getting peanut butter and jelly."

Toushiro, not used to human foods, decided to keep quiet until he saw what it was before questioning it.

Ichigo, after finishing the sandwiches, got a positively evil idea. Even if his visitor knew anything from Rukia, he was pretty sure the woman had never seen a soda can in her life. And he was willing to bet this guy hadn't either. Holding back the urge to laugh, he set the two plates and sodas in front of them both at the dinner table. "Here ya go, Toushiro."

"That's 'Hitsugaya-taichou'!" the other snapped on impulse, then looked at the food in front of him.

"Itadakimasu," they both recited. Ichigo began digging in, purposefully not opening the soda. He saw the other look curiously at the sandwich, then the can, practically hearing the wheels in the his head turning.

"You're purposely not telling me how to open this thing." It wasn't accusatory, just a statement.

"You're on to me," the other smirked.

"You're hilarious, Kurosaki."

"Ichigo," the other told him, reaching over to open the drink. "Stop with the 'Kurosaki.' It's annoying."

"Yeah, I'll do that," the captain said. "Right when you start calling me 'Hitsugaya-taichou.'"

"Ain't happening, Toushiro."

"And why not?" he snapped.

"Friends should use each other's first names."

"We're friends?"

"I think so."

"Is there any way to persuade that delusional mind otherwise?"

Ichigo laughed. "Ain't happening," he repeated.

Hitsugaya sighed. "Total opposites," he muttered.

"Come again?"

"I'm ice, you're fire. We're total opposites."

"At least I'm not an idiot."

"What was that?"

"So your hair's white, ice zanpakuto, whatever. Your heart burns with the desire to protect the ones close to you. That's one thing we have in common."

The captain's eyes opened widened a bit in realization, then relaxed. "Yes, I suppose you're right."

"Besides, who decided I was fire?"

Of course, it was at that exact moment that Toushiro's cell phone started going off, along with Ichigo's badge.

The taichou flipped the phone open. "It's only a Hollow, but we're closest. None of the others will bother."

"'Kay," the other replied. "I'll meet you outside. Gatta lose the body in my room."

Hitsugaya nodded, then exited, popping a mod soul and allowing his own freedom.

Ichigo felt the other's reiatsu spike as soon as he leapt back out the window. "He didn't start without me, did he? That bastard!" But upon locating the taichou, he found the other indeed laying the finishing blow. "YOU PRICK!" the substitute yelled. "Trying to show off or something?"

"Had I had the inclination to wait around for you, that girl would have been consumed," he said monotonously, pointing to a shaking female soul with dark brown hair and gray eyes. "Or did you want that on your conscience?"

"Prick," Ichigo muttered again.

"Who- who are you two?" the girl asked. "What was that thing?"

"A Hollow," the shorter replied. "It feeds on spirit force. We fight against them. That's all you need to know."

"Gonna give her a soul burial?" the other asked.

"Unless you'd like the honors, not being able to fight and all."

"Not unless it's yours," the substitute shinigami replied through gritted teeth.

"Like it would do anything."

"I say we find out."

"What's a 'soul burial'?" she asked.

"It'll send you to a place called 'Soul Society.' It's a nice place," Ichigo told her.

"I don't want to go."

"That's where souls go," he told her logically. "Do you have a reason to stick around here?"

"I... guess not. I just don't want to die."

"A little late for that."

She smiled weakly. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Look, there's a lot of other souls in Soul Society. I'll bet you'll make a lot of friends, instead of just hanging around the park."

"O... Ok."

"Knock yourself out, Toushiro."

"That's 'Histugaya-taichou,' Kurosaki!"

"In your dreams, Toushiro."

"Will I see you two again?" the girl asked.

"Maybe," Ichigo told her. "What's your name?"

" Mizaki Tsuzuki."

"We'll keep an eye out for ya."

"Ok!"

Toushiro raised the hilt of his zanpakuto. She smiled weakly as her spiritual body dissipated to join the many others awaiting her.

The taichou turned and sheathed his sword, looking at the other. "There's just one thing I wanna know in case this ever happens again," he said.

"What?"

"Are you always such a sap, Kurosaki?"

"I am not a sap! I was calming her down! Quit taking your frustrations out on me, ya prick!"

"Tch. I am doing no such thing."

"Please. I heard Matsumoto tellin' Baldy all about how pissed you were that you had to release your limiters to fight that Arrancar!"

The moment the words left Ichigo's mouth, he knew he'd said too much. But it was too late.

Toushiro's eyes darkened. "Honestly," he finally said. "I don't know if I should be angrier at Matsumoto or myself."

"Be mad at me," the other said apologetically.

"You wouldn't be, if the roles were reversed."

Ichigo couldn't debate that. It was true. The last person he would be mad at was the one who brought it to his attention. Unless it was Ishida. Then he'd get his ass kicked. He said as much to the taichou, who only scoffed weakly. "Well," the taller finally added. "If you don't come back soon, I'm gonna eat your sandwich."

Toushiro's eyes narrowed as the other took off. That was a good sandwich, dammit, and this human wasn't going to take it from him!

Ichigo smirked when he realized the shorter was following him. 'Mission accomplished,' he thought.


"You can stop basking in your smug glory now," Hitsugaya snapped. "And that wasn't the night we started our relationship."

"But it was the first night you looked at me like a person and not a pain in the ass like most the rest of this place," his lover smirked. "What made you bring her up, anyway?" The shorter held up the paper. Ichigo took it, looking it over. "She's in 12th Squad!" he exclaimed. "Shiro-chan! Get her the fuck out of there!"

"Look further down," was the bored reply. "At her zanpakuto."

"'Yoruko,'" the other read. "'In shikai form, the blade can elicit a high shrill. It effects both friend and foe. Not allowed to pursue bankai.'" He glared harshly at the offending print. "That's bullshit! 'Not /allowed/ to pursue bankai?' What the hell is that?"

"If it truly has such a strong effect, it's not hard to see why."

"You /agree/ with this crap!"

"Don't twist my words, Kurosaki. That's not what I said."

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Ya gonna transfer her or not?"

"Why would a bring a hindrance to my squad?"

As much as he wanted to yell at the taichou, Ichigo had to admit the other was right. "What about fourth squad? She could at least-"

"If you bothered to finished reading that paper, you'd see her healing skills are minuscule. Some people just don't belong here Ichigo, and that's the truth of it."

The taller faced his lover sternly. "Why would she want to be somewhere she didn't belong? If her heart is here, that's reason enough for her to be as well," he debated. "Look at Inoue. We thought all she had were healing powers-"

"Yes, yes. I suppose you want to talk to her too, don't you?"

Ichigo smirked. "You know me too well."

"Tch," Hitsugaya scoffed. "Then get your ass over to 12th Squad and find her. See if you can figure out some way she can be useful to our squad. If so, I will approve the transfer."

"You just have to do things the difficult way, don't you?"

The captain arched an eyebrow. "Look who's talking."


Ichigo loved roof jumping. It was one of the few refreshing activities he could partake in during peace time. That, and kicking Renji's ass. People didn't even flinch anymore as they saw a flash of black, white and orange speed by on his usual routes.

Which 12th Squad certainly was not on. He wasn't afraid of Kurotsuki-taichou by any means, the other simply creeped the hell out of him. Who would want to be continuously asked if they wanted to be a research subject?

He stood on top of a building right outside the squad headquarters, trying to see if he could spot her from here. He vaguely remembered what she looked like...

After 15 minutes or so, he was ready to suck it up and go inside. Until he saw a figure resembling his quarry walking in the far corner of the courtyard. It was hard to see, but he was pretty sure... Then he saw she was being followed by the taichou himself. Damn, she looked mad. Mad enough to grab the hilt of her sword-

Oh, shit! If she drew that blade on her own captain, she was in a world of hurt! Ichigo shunpo'd as fast as he could to get between the man and the girl. "Kurotsuki-taichou," he said, not bothering to force any pleasantness.

"Kuro... saki...?" he heard a disbelieving voice whisper behind him.

The anger on the taichou's face melted away to surprise. "First Seat of 10th Squad, Ichigo Kurosaki," he greeted him. "Have you come to take me up on my offer?"

"No. This girl's a friend of mine. I heard she was a shinigami now, and I wanna talk to her. Ya know, catch up. So we'd like some privacy."

"Tch," the other growled. "Don't let your boyfriend find out," he remarked, stalking off. "I hear he's the jealous type."

"You heard wrong," Ichigo muttered, turning to face the young woman. "Wants you for a research subject too, huh?"

She nodded, obviously disgusted at the idea. "Thank you," she said.

"Pulling your sword on a captain, especially that one, is a really bad idea," he told her. "Well, Zaraki might be worse..."

"I know," she admitted. "He just..." She shook her head. "It's good to see you again."

"Yeah, same here," he replied. "Wondered what had happened to ya."

"I wondered what was going to happen to me too for awhile. And have been wondering it again since I got to this squad. It's almost..." she trailed off.

"Hey, almost as if what? Don't start a sentence and not finish it," he admonished her. "It's annoying."

She smiled weakly. "I'm sorry you had to see me again in such a mess."

"Don't change the subject."

The earned him a watered down glare. "It's almost as if they want Kurotsuki-taichou to turn me into a test subject, just to be rid of me. Happy now?"

"I'm rarely happy. Ask Toushiro."

Tsuzuki giggled. "The white-haired guy, right? He's your taichou? And boyfriend, from what I hear."

"Yes, yes, and yes," was the smirking reply.

"That must be nice," she said softly. "You're a first seat, so you get to see him all the time, don't you?"

"More often than he would care to admit." Ichigo looked down at her, the height difference a bit more than a foot. "There's another reason I'm here."

"Oh?" the other asked, daring to let herself hope.

"Yeah. Toushiro did get your transfer request, but-"

"My zanpakuto," she finished. "You didn't have to come all the way down here to tell me he rejected it."

"I didn't."

"Huh?"

"He wanted me to come down here and talk to you, see if we could figure out a way for you to be useful so he could approve your transfer."

"R... Really?"

Ichigo smiled, his chocolate-brown eyes looking warm, and yes, happy. "Yeah. Really."


"Ne, ne! Taichou!"

"What is it, Matsumoto?"

"Where's Ichigo? There's a meeting for assistant captains and one through five seats and we're going to be late."

"He's on a errand for me."

"Taichou, he can't keep missing these meetings just because-"

"Matsumoto, he really is on an errand for me. If you could fill him on it later, that would be appreciated."

"Oh. Of course, Taichou."


Somehow, the orange-haired shinigami managed to pry the girl off him. "That's wasn't a hug, that was an assault!" he declared.

Tsuzuki blushed. "Heh, sorry. I'm just happy."

"Glad to hear it. I'm curious about that zanpakuto of yours. Is there a place you can use it where people won't hear it?"

"I'm not supposed to even be using it."

"Not even in shikai? I thought the paper said just bankai."

"Did... you finish reading it?"

"Er, come to think of it..." He had just read the part about bankai and gotten pissed off. Maybe Toushiro was right. He did need to get a grip on his 'anger issues.'

"I'm not supposed to be using shikai or bankai. They're considered too dangerous."

Ichigo thought for a moment. Wasn't 13th Squad's training ground far off? Rukia'd kill him, but he was pretty sure she was in the human world for the time being... "Well, fortunately for you, you've got the biggest rule-breaker around giving you a hand."

"So I've heard," she smirked in reply, and the two headed off to the training ground.