Chapter 2

Toushiro's POV

It was a peaceful Saturday afternoon. I was in my office doing my usual paper works. And as I signed the last document, I sighed as I tried to recall what happened to Soul Society in 12 years.

I have changed, physically. I look like someone in his late twenties. Though I still look younger than my actual age, I do think I am aging properly. I was awakened from my thoughts when I heard a knock on my door.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Shir- Hitsugaya-taicho, it's me," I saw familiar black haired. "I have something for you."

It was my foster sister, Hinamori Momo.

"Come in," I said.

I saw her walking in with few papers. She also grew these past few years. She no longer have her hair on a bun, instead it is braided down to her waist. She looks younger than I do because I am now taller than she is. She also grew up mentally.

"Here are the lists of the graduating students in each section this year. Rangiku-san told me you need it as much as possible so I decided not to wait for her return and deliver it myself."

Matsumoto went to the World of the Living two days ago for a patrol mission by the Soutaicho. She is scheduled to come back this evening along with her fellow lieutenants, Kuchiki Rukia and Kusajishi Yachiru. They went there to do some investigation and at the same time, vacation.

"Thank you, Hinamori," I arranged the papers. "Here are your requested Shinigami profiles. I had them signed them so there should be no trouble for your captain to use them."

"Thank you, Hitsugaya-taichou," she bowed. "I'll be going now."

I nodded. I started reading the papers and saw no student sparked my interest. I sighed. They better be impressive at the exams. I started sorting the documents by division. After which, I called for an officer to deliver them. As for me, I was just laying on the couch on my office.

It's been twelve years. I know I should have moved on but I couldn't help to think how she is doing right now. Is she married? Does she have kids? Is she happy? Is she even alive?

How pathetic, Hitsugaya Toushiro. You sure know how to kill yourself.

"You know, your ban from the World of Living is lifted, right?" I heard Hyourinmaru talked to me.

Yeah. So what?

"If you miss her that bad, why don't you go and visit her? You can also visit Haru-baachan."

Visit her? Are you kidding me, Hyourinmaru? You want me to visit her and see how happy she is? And for her to see how pathetic I still am?

"You're still friends, aren't you? It's not that weird to visit a friend. And as I said, we can also visit Haru-baachan."

I already asked Matsumoto to pay Haru-baachan a visit. As for her, from what I heard from Kuchiki Rukia, the Kurosakis moved except for their brother. Kurosaki Ichigo won't tell why or where they are.

"What's with that? That's awfully suspicious!"

It's not our business, Hyourinmaru.

"Yeah, I know! But aren't you curious? I mean, they just moved? Sometime after you trained her? After that happened? Don't you think that you are the reason why? They must've moved because she doesn't want to see you."

You are seriously making me feel irritated.

I got up when I heard someone knock.

"Taicho?" Matsumoto entered.

"You're back?" I looked at her.

"Yes, Taicho. By the way, I saw a hell butterfly on my way here. They said you have an urgent captain meeting in fifteen minutes."

"I see. Well you can start writing your report and I'll finalize it later. Also, tell the officers they are dismiss for the day."

On my way to the First Division, I saw Ukitake-taicho and Unohana-taicho.

"Ah, Hitsugaya-taicho," I greeted them.

They are talking about Ukitake-taicho's health as we walk. We met Komamura-taicho and Kyouraku-taicho on the way. When we got there, all captains were already present but I couldn't help but wonder why they didn't invite the lieutenant from 3. The only division without a captain. Nine years ago, Soutaicho managed to convince Hirako Shinji and Muguruma Kensei to go back to their former captain status. As for the other visoreds, they visit from time to time, but only the two stayed.

"Since we are all here, let us start," Yamamoto-soutaicho said. "You must be wondering why I didn't invite Kira. It is because I already found one capable captain for the Third Division but there is no certainty to when he will be appointed as such. "

"Who is he, Soutaicho?" Kuchiki-taicho asked.

"You all know him," Yamamoto-soutaicho started. "I asked him three months ago. I had him study what are the basic roles of the position. He already agreed but he said he'd only be place next year. In preparation, he would like to know where he would be place so he can also study the expertise of the division. He is Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Kurosaki?!"

To be honest, I only see him once or twice a year. I don't even talk to him if I did. It's not like he would talk to me either. He might know or not what happened with me and his sister, but he seemed to be civil towards me whenever we cross paths.

"Yes, he said he'll play dead and join us six months from now," the Soutaicho explained. "The problem is that we have to train him in the first place before we got him to sit in the Third Division. I have been contacting Rose, but it seems that he has business that he can't be here to be his instructor."

"And the other visoreds?" Hirako asked. "Didn't you ask them as well?"

"I did, but they gave me the same replies," Soutaicho answered. "They are all busy in their lives in the World of the Living. They said the next time they could be free would be a year from now. I remember them saying something about establishing a legal business that they could waste their time for."

"What about Shihouin?" I asked. "She was one of the original trainers of Kurosaki, and she was a captain, too."

"Yoruichi-sama has been off the radar for about a month now," Soifon responded. "According to that freak Urahara, she's investigating the massive attack from Hueco Mundo last month."

I remember that day. Something like a reiatsu bomb exploded in Karakura town about a month ago that caused a massive attack from Hueco Mundo. They were so many hollows that the neighboring towns were also affected. We should've investigated the incident, but Yoruichi and Urahara said that we can leave it to them with Kurosaki's assistance.

In the end, we ended with no one in mind. Searching someone who can train Kurosaki to be a captain is only possible to those who became captain. The head captain dismissed us when the meeting was disturbed by his lieutenant who said that someone's here to talk to him privately. Since it's already evening, I figured Matsumoto didn't write her report, therefore I have no papers to do this night. I went to my office and I was right about Matsumoto. But she did leave me some goods she got from the World of Living.

After fixing all the things in my office, I went to my quarters to rest. It has been a stressful day. I should consider on going on a holiday. I have to get my mind off things I shouldn't be thinking of. I should do something so I can erase her in my mind. It's been twelve years, yes, but my feelings for her are still as it were even after she broke my heart.

I still love her.

No One's POV

"Why do we have to hide the fact that she's our mother?" an 11 years old girl whined to their adult companion. "It's not like he'll recognize us as his children anyway. I mean, we barely got genes from him!"

The girl has black hair and blue eyes. Her hair is on a high ponytail which is tied by a white ribbon. She is wearing shihakusho. She has her zanpakto on her back. And she seems taller than her age and has fair complexion. Her name is Rinka. As for her last name, it's complicated.

"That's easy for you to say, Rinka," her brother argued. "I got his eyes, you know."

Her brother also has black hair but has turquoise eyes. Though they were not visible because his bangs covered half of his face. He is also wearing shihakusho with his zanpakto on the left side of his waist. He is taller than his sister and also has a fair complexion. He is Shirohi, Rinka's younger twin brother.

"As if they'll see your eyes through your bangs, dude!" Rinka retorted. "And please call me "Onee-san" for change!"

"Why do you want to tell them about your mother, Rinka-chan?" their adult companion asked.

"Well, it would be much easier for us to find her if they know it's her you're trying to find," she answered but the adult shook his head. "I miss her already."

"Rinka-chan, Kurosaki and I promised her that we will find her personally if ever she enters Soul Society via konso," he responded. "Besides, your father can do simple Math. If he finds out your age and your mother, he'll figure it out in a snap of a finger that you two are his. After all, he is the child prodigy before the two of you. Wait, why don't you want him to find out anyway? Are you two afraid that he won't recognize you as his?"

The twins froze for they knew they can't tell him the real reason. Their companion shrugged it off and continued eating. The said adult is wearing a robe for he didn't want to be recognized, under are his normal hakama. He has his zanpakto on left side of his waist.

The three were in west part of Rukongai, in a tea house near the gate. They are waiting for someone who left for Seireitei three hours ago to meet the Head Captain.

"What are we going to use here as our last name?" Rinka asked. "Is it yours or our mother's? Or granddad's real last name?"

"My last name, of course. It is your legal name, you know?" the man answered. "But to think Soul Society didn't change much. I guess the old man is still the one who is in charge."

"Ichigo-ojisan is sure taking his time," Shirohi mumbled. "We've been here for three hours already."

"You're talking too much today, dude," Rinka teased. "Are you excited?"

"I just-" "Sorry if I took so long."

Shirohi got interrupted by his orange-haired uncle.

"I arranged what you asked. I'll accompany you to him," Ichigo said to the man in robes. "But before that, you two should go straight to bed. I got you a room at 3rd Division to spend the night with. Let's go. The meeting will be tomorrow."

"How about you two?" Rinka asked. "You are not abandoning us, are you?"

"We still need to talk to the head captain, sweetheart," the man gave her an assuring smile. "You know I won't leave the two of you."

Rinka only sighed and nodded. They went through the gate where Jidanbo was waiting. He let them in because it was Ichigo. The four made their way to the 3rd in silence. When they got there, the man in robes didn't enter the barracks and left the twins to Ichigo. After a few minutes, Ichigo exited the barracks and the two made their way to the First Division.

"Are you sure you are willing to sacrifice your freedom for them?" Ichigo asked his companion. "I got the deal arranged. You know what could happen to you as soon as we find my sister."

"Freedom is nothing when you are not with your love ones, Kurosaki," the man answered. "It might sound cheesy and cliché, but it is true. I was very lonely when it was all done. They thought I died so I guess they did not even bother banning me to enter Soul Society. But I knew then that I can never go back here at Seireitei, much more to them. So I just wandered at the World of the Living, killing hollows if I meet some. That was until I accidentally met your sister and come acrossed her situation. Then she found out the truth about me, she offered me to stay with them. I was happy when Karin accepted me like that. So I did my role to the twins. If it is death is what is waiting for me after finding Karin, I will gladly face it."

They reached the soutaicho's room and knocked. Ichigo didn't go with the man inside. The man took off his coat to reveal silver locks and slitted eyes.

"I see you are back," Soutaicho rose from his seat. "Ichimaru Gin."

"It's been a while, old man," Gin grinned. "How ya doin'?"

The old man sighed.

"I heard from Kurosaki about your decision. I purposely didn't ban you here, whether you were dead or alive because I know that the possibility of you coming back is close to zero. And here you are surrendering yourself," Soutaicho sighed. "Are you sure about this?"

"If you heard all from Kurosaki, then you know why I am doing this," he smiled. "I made up my mind that no matter what it takes, I'm not going to prioritize what I want or need."

"I guess you can go to your room and rest for now. Come here with the twins tomorrow before the meeting for breakfast. I want to meet them," Gin made his way out the door but stopped when the old man continued talking. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and well, grandson. Welcome back."

"Thank you, grandfather."

Rinka's POV

The room Ichigo-ojisan got for us is the closest one to the walls between the 3rd Division and the 4th Division. After Ichigo-ojisan left, my brother and I climbed to the roof because we love star gazing.

"I hope mama's alright," I heard my twin mumbled.

If it wasn't obvious, Shirohi is actually a mama's boy. We act older than our age when we are left together, but we couldn't help but act like a child in front of those who took care of us like mama.

"We should hunt that Shinigami who performed konso on her," I said.

"We were a minute late," he sighed. "And it was her decision to go ahead without waiting for our arrival."

"It happened so fast," I said. "I can't believe she died in a car accident."

"I can't believe she died at all," I looked at him and I saw him looking at the sky full of stars. "I mean, she is strong."

My brother and I were born with Shinigami powers. Mama said that back when we were two, we were crying so hard because our souls suddenly got out of our bodies. Mama was shocked to find us in shihakusho so she called Ichigo-ojisan over. That's when Ichimaru Gin met us. When mama found out the truth about him, she invited him to live with us. And he willingly did his role. He's also our Shinigami instructor. My brother and I are what you call child prodigies. We achieved our shikais when we were six, and mastered them in the age of eight. We also achieved our bankais a year ago, but we haven't mastered them just yet.

"We should go to sleep, Rinka," Shirohi said. "We got a long day tomorrow."

I nodded and we went back to our room.

"I'll sleep on the top bunk," I said.

My brother and I don't really mind sleeping in one room. Actually, it's more convenient for us to sleep on one room. Why? Because we still can't control our reiatsu very well. And when we are together, we unconsciously lowering it because we might affect each other. Thus making us each other's limiters. That's why we can't stand being away from each other for a long time. We went to bed and sleep.

I'm meeting them tomorrow.

The next day, I woke up with the sound of someone knocking at our door. It must be Ichigo-ojisan, Ichimaru Gin, or someone who was assigned to summon us to where the two of them are. I felt Shirohi rose and went to answer it.

"Is your sister up yet? The meeting is at the First Division, after we eat breakfast," I heard Ichigo-ojisan said. "Ichimaru stayed there last night."

"Where are we going to eat breakfast?" I asked as I was rubbing my eyes, which made them turned to me.

"So you're up? We are going to the First Division to eat. Ichimaru's waiting for us there," he answered.

We fixed ourselves and went there. We were walking in silence when I remembered something.

"Where did you stay last night?" I turned to my uncle.

He looked away with the hint of pink on his cheeks. Is he blushing?

"He probably sneaked in to the Kuchiki Manor," Shirohi teased which made him redder.

"YOU DID WHAT?!" I exclaimed. "You could've gotten yourself kil-"

"I did not do that! After I accompany Ichimaru to the Soutaicho, I met Rukia. I helped her do her paper works and we kinda sleep cuddling in her office," he said.

"You're hopeless, Ichigo-ojisan. Why not just confess?" I teased. "Shirohi can make a barrier for you against Kuchiki-taicho so he won't be able to kill you."

"Hey! I am strong enough to defeat Byakuya!" he hissed which made me giggle. "By the way, aren't you two nervous about breakfast?"

"Why should we?" Shirohi asked.

"We are eating with Ichimaru's grandfather," we both flinched on the spot.

Our reaction made our uncle laughed.

"Why didn't you tell us that we are eating with the soutaicho?" I glared at him.

"I thought I made it clear to you that we are eating at the First Division," he pointed out. "Common sense, dear niece. Who do you think is residing in that division?"

"Then let's hurry up! They must've been waiting!"

We started flash stepping until we reached the place. We were greeted by the lieutenant and guide us to the soutaicho's dining area. I was nervous about getting inside. When we entered, the two of them were seating on a table with foods.

"You are finally here," Soutaicho said which made us bow. "Come and eat. The meeting's in an hour."

"Hai," Shirohi replied.

"But you two are really adorable creatures," Soutaicho commented. "Definitely my kin, but aren't you a bit tall for your age?"

"When I told them about their father's height, they immediately search for a way to get taller," Ichimaru replied for us. "They didn't want to be stuck at being short."

I think we are too tense to talk.

"So, in what Division would you prefer to stay at while Gin and Kurosaki search for your mother?" Soutaicho asked us. "I would like to have you here but my division doesn't have enough hands to look after you. I'm sorry, but I think I will assign you to a captain for high-level protection. We can't let our guard down, we maybe facing a very dangerous threat."

"About that, I was hoping for them to stay with either 11 or 13," Ichigo-ojisan paused. "Well, at least not in 2 or 12."

"11?" I asked my uncle. "You want me to stay on place full of men?"

"If you would permit, Soutaicho, my sister and I would like to stay at 10th Division," Shirohi said which made the three of them shocked for a while. "I guess we were kinda hoping to stay with them. Even if it's just for a little while. Besides, I do not like fighting that much scratching 11 out of the options. As for 13, Ichigo-ojisan will only use us as an excuse to see Rukia-san."

"Hey!"

"Okay," we all turned to the Soutaicho. "Tenth Division it is."

We continued chatting and we got to know soutaicho for a short while. He also learned something about us. He is not that bad. When we were finish, his lieutenant told us that all the taichos and fukutaichos are already there. For the second time this day, I am nervous. The soutaicho went out first and we followed him. I was walking between my brother and Ichimaru when he turned to me.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?"

"I'm a little nervous."

"They won't eat you," he assured but that wasn't what concerns me.

"Yeah, but they will kill you," I looked at him, worriedly. "Can't we just go find mama without surrendering yourself?"

"And for you two to be in Rukongai? No way," he smiled at me. "I'll be fine, Rinka-chan. We have the soutaicho on our side. Let's go."

"You two stay here with Ichimaru for a moment," Ichigo-ojisan said. "Come in when we will call for you."

"Hai."

"It'll be alright," Ichimaru smiled at us. "They are not that bad. They will just be on their guard since I did betray them."

No One's POV

All captains and lieutenants were standing in silence as the head captain enters with his lieutenant and Ichigo following him.

"We have a serious situation right now," Yamamoto started and sighed. "You see, a new threat is on the loose at the World of the Living."

"How do you know about this, Soutaicho?" Ukitake asked.

"Because there's someone who surrendered himself for the safety of the threat's targets," he answered.

"He surrendered himself?" Unohana asked.

'Is he back?' Rukia thought as she stayed silent.

"Yes, this man committed treason against Seireitei long time ago but he turned himself in last night," Yamamoto sighed. "We all thought he died but he's alive. And he encountered with the threat more than thrice, and has a great connection to the targets."

"Who is it?" Soi Fon asked.

"Why don't you three come on in?"

They all turned to the three who came in and froze. After a moment, they're all in their fighting stances, ready to draw their zanpakto any moment except for Unohana, Rukia, and Yachiru.

'This can't be, he died!' Rangiku thought.

'Ichimaru-taicho?' Kira thought.

'Ichimaru!' Hitsugaya thought.

"What is the meaning of this, Yamamoto-soutaicho?" Komamura asked and glared at the man who entered. "Ichimaru Gin."

"I knew it," they all turned to the black haired girl who was with him. "They will try to kill you the moment they see you."

"Let your guard down, you're scaring the twins!" Ichigo barked.

Yamamoto stomped his staff twice making them calm down for a bit.

"You still haven't changed," Ichimaru said and then turned to the twins. "You two okay?"

"Their reiatsus are too intense," the girl said. "We should've just find mama alone while escaping the mastermind."

"Everybody, calm down!" Yamamoto commanded. "Stand straight."

They all followed him, even if they do not want to.

"What is going on, Soutaicho?" Kuchiki Byakuya asked.

"Ichimaru surrendered himself under two favors," Yamamoto started. "One is to protect these twins, they are the targets of the threat. And another is that he will only be jailed properly after finding someone in Rukongai who is the twins' mother who died recently."

"What is so special about these twins?" Zaraki asked. "Scratch that, who are they? Their reiatsus are different."

"Now that you mention it," Hitsugaya said. "Their reiatsus are like Kurosaki Ichigo's."

"If you let me talk, I can explain why," Ichimaru said.

"Everybody, listen!" Yamamoto commanded which earn some negative responses.

"They're Rinka and Shirohi. They are not a full-shinigami. Their mother was an alive human being with high level reiatsu and their father is a shinigami. That's why their reiatsu is like Kurosaki's. They are humans with shinigami abilities and powers," Ichimaru said. "And the threat whose identity is still unknown is after them because they are prodigies with powerful zanpaktos. We don't really know why they are after them but they attempted to kidnap them six times before coming here. The first attempt was six months ago."

"And how do we know that you are not creating stories?" Shinji asked. "You could be using them just to be here."

"Because I am a witness as well," Ichigo said. "I was with them when they tried to kidnap them the fourth time."

"What is your relationship with the twins?" Kyouraku asked Ichimaru. "It's awfully suspicious that you care for them so much to surrender yourself for their safety."

The twins looked at Ichimaru and nodded. He sighed then he said the following words.

"The twins... they are my grandchildren."

Rinka has Karin's hair color, but she has blue eyes. Her hair is on high ponytail tied by a white ribbon, but it's curly and wavy when it is down. Shirohi also has Karin's hair color, but he got Toushiro's eyes. His hairstyle is like Chiba Ryuunosuke's in Assassination Classroom, his bangs are covering his eyes.

"Zanpakto spirit talking to his or her master."

I don't own Bleach. Please read and review.