The small white haired taicho if the juubantai stared across the green grass as his vision blurred in and out of focus. For a short moment he thought he saw a lone figure staring at him from a distance but he chalked it up to his own imagination. A hollow had gotten the best of him and nearly killed him. A swarm of them attacked him during his recon mission in Hueco Mundo. He barely had enough time to open his own Senkaimon and jump in left alone make sure his calculations were accurate. So here he laid in some lone part of the forest somewhere in the Seireitei or possibly Rukongai.

As his vision finally turned black a man slithers from the shadows around him to stare down at the small boy he had thought he'd seen once or twice during his own time in the academy. With that passing thought the more caring nature of the young man lifts the white haired boy into his arms and, using shunpo, returns to the large manor hidden in the mountains of Rukongai that he has called home for nearly one hundred years. His father only returned on the weekends meaning he would be there at sunset and likely be able to identify the young man and help him more than Ichigo's basic healing abilities would. Knowing his ji-san thought the goat faced bastard probably knew the boy as judging by the taicho haori, as bloody as it is, the boy is his successor meaning the two likely knew one another. Karin and Yuzu would be unhappy with the new addition to their family.

His steps slow to a long stride as he enter into the walls of the manor and guards fall upon him trying to take the small body from his arms. With a single look from Ichigo the guards fall into light strides behind him with an aura of fear falling around them. Despite the male heir's laid back nature he is most definitely not someone you wanted to get angered as he has a temper to match the former lady of the houses.

Ichigo carried his charge into is quarters and shuts the doors with his reiatsu in the faces of the few guards still following him. Placing the boy on a futon Ichigo sets to healing his more serious wounds as well as cleaning his bloodied body and stripping him down and replacing his bloodied shihakusho with one of Ichigo's older sets of silk clothing that he had grown out of a few years ago. Unlike his cousin who rid himself of his clothing nearly every year to buy himself a new wardrobe Ichigo didn't care what clothing he wore so long as t fit and didn't tend to clean out his closet for long periods of time.

After cleaning the boy's wounds and clothing him again Ichigo presses the sheets around the white haired taicho and leaves the inner chambers of his room to step into the small sitting room filled with books and seating that comforted him and fed his intense love of all things written. He was in a word an avid reader and enjoyed sitting for long periods of time sipping his favorite tea and reading. It was something he and his mother shared. With her passing his family moved from their house in the first district, which Yamamoto had provided for them so both Isshin and his father could visit as often as they liked, to the familial manor of the Kyoraku clan high in the mountains with the forests surrounding Rukongai.

It was so high that the clouds brushed the wide expanses of trees and set for a very relaxing place where time seemed to stand still and was only kept by the blossoming and shedding of the various trees around the manor. The private quarters of the family were founds surrounding a square courtyard near the very back of the manor with it's back to the high back wall of the mountain cliff the manor was built upon. A large pond and water fall were nestled snuggling against the wall right outside to doors of the farthest room while smaller ponds dotted the vividly colored gardens. Within the courtyard of the familial wing as the servants call it is a set of gardens with sakura trees as well as an area for training with countless weapons as well as meditation and conversations with ones inner being. The courtyard could be found through a large hall that lead the entire way through the main house and ended at two shoji screen which were left open in the spring, summer, and fall and closed during the winter. Large porches which could be closed in during the winter for added heating circles the courtyard presenting the shoji screens which allowed entrance into the more public quarters of each person's chambers.

The door on the left of the main entrance belonged to Karin Kurosaki, Ichigo's younger cousin, who was a replica of her father in every way. She was brash, powerful, loud, obnoxious, and always seemed to pick fights with servants and the guards who seemed to always be at the receiving end of her kicks. Despite all of these things she also had a soft side that came out whenever her twin was upset. The door to left of Karin's room belonged to her twin sister Yuzu Kurosaki who was as nice and gentle natured as they come. Yuzu was a replica of her deceased mother in every way possible and was often found in the kitchen humming away as she helped prepare the daily meals with the two elder cooks that were employed there for as long as Ichigo could remember. Ichigo's rooms was the room farthest back mostly because it was the only set of chambers with a small library built in and the only place big enough to hold all of his books as his aged. To the left of his room was his father's chamber which was used on the weekends and on holidays as well as the two weeks a year his father took a vacation and returned home. The final room in the wing was Isshin's room as he often stayed up late into the night and didn't wish to wake anyone while returning to his room even though he always seemed to do so.

The Kyoraku manor was laid out simple with the main hall which held a large ballroom which rarely saw use, a sitting room, where the family often lounged about during the day doing their own activities, and various other rooms such as a tea room for visitors, a large scale library which Ichigo often stayed in due to it beautiful view over the mountain side, a few studies which Isshin worked in for most of the day, a rooms for Karin and Yuzu's various tastes and hobbies. The servant's quarters were in a large building connected to the main house by an enclosed hallway with large windows that mirror the same hallway on the right side of the house that held the quarters for the guards. These quarters were luxurious and well to do with beautifully decorated rooms and a center where the guards and servants congregated and often stayed in late at n night before retiring. The quarters were very much like a house for all those working in the Kyoraku manor and the family has always been known for treating those that work for them very well including housing their families and children until they decided to go out into the world and find themselves.

Ichigo is startled from his own thoughts on the odd book he had picked form his collection by the smooth baritone of a voice that couldn't belong to any other man than his father. "I thought I'd find you here after you weren't in the library. Nariaki said that you went out to train in the forest again today…have you grown used to your new body yet?" Ichigo watches lightly as his father languidly slips into a chair and runs a hand through his shorter hair. The man had cut it only a few short months ago when one of the elder servants who they all looked at as if she were a grandmother nagged at him about the unkempt mess he was becoming.

Folding the corner of the page he was reading Ichigo places the book in his hand back onto the shelf. "It wasn't as hard to deal with these changes as it was when I grew rather quickly after…we moved…" The two men share a somber look, both knowing that the boy still didn't enjoy speaking of his mother's death. "How has things been in the Seireitei with Sosuke being put in the maggots nest after trying to rise up against Yama-jii?"

The older of the two males heaves a hearty laugh before rolling his eyes lightly. "Things have been settling back nicely although settling the turmoil in Hueco Mundo hasn't been easy. Let's not forget that the fukutaicho or the sanbantai, gobantai, and kyuubantai haven't been coping well with the loss of their taicho. Rangiku-san is both relieved and extremely upset with Ichimaru for doing something so stupid and he is currently awaiting his trial before Chuo Shijuroku. Honestly none of us really blame the man. Aizen threatened to kill his wife. I think it's because she's the only thing important to him anymore. I've talked to him you know…he said he loved all of the shinigami under his command but none of them meant as much to him as protecting Rangiku-san did. She really is his world and had been since they were young children." Shunsui seems to deflate under his son's tender gaze before sighing softly and continuing with his tale of the happenings within the Gotei 13. "Hinamori-chan, you remember her she went to school with you, she's still in the yonbantai with Retsu. Her injuries are severe both mentally and physically so Jushiro and I have been dividing the gobantai's paperwork until Yama-jii can find a replacement taicho. He's been looking at Abarai-san and Madarame-san but neither wishes to leave their current positions as they aren't ready for the position of taicho. Byakuya has been helping Kira-fukutaicho and Hisagi-fukutaicho with their paperwork at least until Ichimaru's trial. The Seireitei is in an uproar though since Hitsugaya-taicho didn't return on time from his recon mission in Hueco Mundo."

Recognition flashes through Ichigo's eyes like a lightning storm before he's short from his chair and is pulling his father into his room with a strong grip. The orange haired man stops and move to the side so his father can see the small unconscious white haired man lying before the two of them. "I found him during my training I've healed the major injuries the best I can and cleaned the blood from him as well as had one of the servant clean his shihakusho and haori. He still hasn't awakened though." Shunsui breathes deeply through his nose and places a calming hand on Ichigo's shoulder before pressing a soft kiss to his son's temple. A look of irritation passes his son's features as he scowls and takes a step away from his father.

"I'll contact Yama-jii and have him call of the search parties well done Ichigo. When he wakes bring him down to the kitchens for some food I'll be in my study if you need me alright?" Ichigo nods and watches as his father leaves the room. Turning to his white haired charge, Ichigo begins studying him. His face was smooth and older than what he had remembered it being when they were in the academy together. Ichigo graduated a year before him despite having only enters a few short months before the boy. Both were known as prodigies but only the white haired boy had become a shinigami. Ichigo decided to return home and thankfully he did because a few short months later he became painfully sick and suffered a sever growth spurt due to having to mature so rapidly.

Toshiro Hitsugaya wasn't overly tall, he most likely came to Ichigo's chest and he had white hair which stuck up in every direction. It was slightly longer than what he recalled it to be but the boy appeared somewhat older. Ichigo somewhat recalled his father saying that with Hinamori's mental instability Hitsugaya had gone through a small bit of a growth spurt after having his childhood friend ripped away form him.

Ichigo finds himself leaning against the open door frame and watching the sakura blossoms fall into the cloudy waters of the large pond that was sat outside of his chambers. He enjoy the light fragrance the blossoms held but it also almost always brought a sad smile to his face because he remembered watching the petals fall as a child while seated in the loving embrace of his mother. "I know you're awake…"

A sharp intake of breath can be heard in the room before Ichigo turns to the wide eyed taicho lying in his room. Ichigo is a bit startled by the beautiful teal eyes staring back at him and how that contract nicely with his pale skin and even paler hair which nose lies perfectly over one side of his face ( Went with Toshiro's newer looks during the Xcution arc except he's a bit taller. (; ).

"How would you know something like that?" At the young taicho's harsh and chilly statement Ichigo offers a warm smile and a gentle shrug of his shoulders. Hard teal eyes glare into his before Toshiro is looking around the room and his eyes land on three swords. All three were lined up but judging by the four small hooks Toshiro knew two of them were to be hung on the wall for organization.

Upon seeing his charged unease Ichigo allowing a calming dose of his reiatsu to sweep the room. "I heard your breathing become different…that's how I knew you were awake. I'm Ichigo by the way and from what my Tou-san told me you're Toshiro Hitsugaya. Man the Gotei 13 have been going crazy looking for your little ass." Ichigo watches in mild amusement as a twitch begins forming at the corner of the white haired man's forehead.

"Who're you calling small strawberry?!" His icy reiatsu covers the room and Ichigo glares right back at the white haired boy before rolling his eyes and straightening from where he's leaning against the frame of the door.

"Come on Toshiro…Tou-san said I needed to take you down to the kitchens for some food when you woke up. You should be fully recovered and able to leave by the end of the weekend and then Tou-san can take to back to the Seireitei with him. It's really hard to find your way out of these clouds." Ichigo offers the man a hand which he grudgingly takes after grumbling for Ichigo to use his proper title which Ichigo promptly ignores.

"Ichigo-sama so nice to see your bright and cheery face in my kitchens again today I was wondering when you'd come and visit me for some food. We all know you can't go a day without eating with that appetite of yours…you get it from your Tou-san." A petite grey haired woman with narrow yet angular features pinches at the orangette's cheeks before looking behind him and allowing her azure eyes to widen a fraction. "Gomen nasai Ichigo-sama I did not see that you had company with you please both of you take a seat and let me get something cooking for you both."

As the grey haired woman turns her back another voice pops up behind the pair of young men. "Make that for three people please, Shiori-san." Toshiro whirls to be fact to face with Shunsui Kyoraku the taicho of the hachibantai. He looked different now that he wasn't dressed in his shihakusho. He wore a pair of silken white hamaka and a loose fitting blue haori with no socks on his feet or shoes. He seemed more relaxed and laid back which was odd considering the man was one of the laziest taicho in the Gotei 13. "I'm glad to see you're awake Hitsugaya-taicho. My son had been taken good care of you since he found you…"

Toshiro turns his eyes to the orange haired man at his side and studies him for a few seconds before recognition dawns in his wide teal eyes. "You're Kyoraku Ichigo…you graduated with Momo." Ichigo nods slowly watching as the pieces slowly click into place in the young prodigies mind. "You're the boy who stopped Nosuke from killing me that day in my first month at the academy…he didn't like my attitude and you threatened him and made him piss himself."

Ichigo nods slowly and ignores the raised eyebrow his father is giving him. Shunsui was never made aware of Ichigo protecting anyone during the few months before he graduated and after his mother's disappearance from their lives. Ichigo had also promised both his mother and his father that he wouldn't get in any fights while in the academy.

"Yeah I graduated from the academy and returned home a few months later after…" the orange haired man trails off and turns his eyes to the cook before replacing the harsh scowl on his face with a much softer and serene looks that was obviously forced. "So…um…Shiori-san what are you cooking for us today?"

"We are having sumashijiru with your favorite desert Ichigo-san…amanatto." The little woman with grey hair laughs softly before pinching lightly at Ichigo's cheek and he smiles brightly in her direction.

"If I'm not mistaken Hitsugaya-taicho favorite food in Amanatto as well Ichigo…" the two younger men share a look of shock at having something in common before Ichigo shrugs and plucks a piece of higashi from a small tray which holds quite a few. From Toshiro's vantage point the higashi appears to be citrus flavored goshikiito.

"Iie Ichigo-san, don't you dare spoil your appetite with junk…" The second of the two older women who is slightly younger than Shiori-san with less grey hair and brighter green eyes taps Ichigo's hand with a small wooden spoon while giving him a mock glare only to groan in exasperation as Shiori slips Ichigo another piece of higashi form the plate that one is also citrus flavored goshikiito.

"Gomen nasai Tsubasa-san…" The orange haired man winks at Shiori before taking his seat at a table where his father is settled. "Nee…where is Yuzu Shiori-san usually she's in here with you?"

"I'm right here Ichi-nii." A head of slightly paler orange hair pops out from a screen door holding ingredients in dainty little arms. There are plenty there to the point that they nearly cover her soft feminine face. Her brown eyes narrow slightly as she takes to settling them on the counters. "Shun-ji, why are you and Ichi-nii pestering Shiori-san and Tsubasa-san with your chatter? Go into the dining room please and leave us to our work or I'm telling Yama-jii that Ichi-nii needs to work on his manners again." Toshiro watches as both father and son stand quickly and duck out of the room each grabbing one of his arms and tugging him away. "Nice to meet you Hitsugaya-taicho!"

The two men finally relax and let go of the bewildered taicho of the juubantai when they reach a beautifully decorated dinning room with a large table big enough to fit at least twenty people comfortably. The windows around the room were opened and the walls were a light cream color with bamboo stalks rushing up them. It looked comfortable. "Why must she always be so mean?" The orange haired man rolls his eyes at his father's lazy whine before offering Toshiro a seat at his left before settling down beside Toshiro as his father settles in at the end of the table. "Ichigo I'm still surprised Isshin hasn't broken her of the habit of calling you her brother and not her cousin. Has Karin stopped completely yet?"

"Not really…they both still do as they wish and we both know goat-face won't really stop them from doing it because he's a big push over." Ichigo ducks down quickly confusing the white haired taicho before a man flies over top of his head with a kicking motion that barely missed the orange haired man. "Honestly goat-face will you ever learn to stop doing that?"

The irritated orange haired man glares daggers at the black haired man who is grinning sheepishly from ear to ear. Toshiro isn't however worried about the orange haired boy sitting to his right anymore. Instead his focus has shifted to the grey eyed man sitting across from him that had once worn the same numbered taicho haori as he does now. The very same man that had inducted him into the juubantai before leaving only a few short months later due to familial issues he had to deal with.

"Kurosaki-taicho…why are you…how are you..." All three men near him turn to look at him before Isshin grins broadly and begins laughing loudly. A cold chill sweeps the room as Toshiro becomes angered by his laughter.

"You haven't grown very much have you kid…you were shorter than my Yuzu when I got my hands on you out of the academy and now you only a little taller than her I'm guessing. Man how's it going in the Juubantai? Who is the new taicho? Rangiku-san? I always did like her she was always so jovial and sweet to everyone but man did she have a temper when she didn't get her way especially with that Ichimaru creep…" Toshiro begins speaking in a deadly voice that is cold and frozen beyond belief while cutting off the rambling man.

"As you seem to be interested in Rangiku she's currently the fukutaicho of the juubantai and married to 'that creep' Ichimaru. As for who the taicho is you are currently looking at him." The dead end look in the white haired taicho's eyes could tell anyone in the room how much he disliked the former taicho of the juubantai. "As for the happenings in the juubantai I assure you that everything is running much smoother than it ever has under my control."

Shunsui and Ichigo silently sip their tea as the room grows tenser as the white haired man glares at his former taicho. Suddenly out of the blue a fist slams down on Isshin Kurosaki's head pushing his head into the table and causing his nose to bleed rapidly. Behind him is standing a slender and stick straight young woman with shoulder length black hair and large grey eyes that are narrowed in disgust. "How many fucking times has Yuzu told you to be polite to our guests? There's a reason people don't visit us you asshole!" The black haired girl continues to punch the man in the head while her face becomes redder with each blow. "You're lucky we're not outside of I'd through you down the mountain side again and make you trudge your ass back up it!"

"Karin please stop hitting Tou-san…please forgive Karin and Tou-san they aren't very volatile." The demure young girl blushes softly before dipping her head and setting plates on the table along with the two cooks from the kitchen. Over all Toshiro got the impression that this meal would be a very odd one if nothing else.