Touchan Taicho
~ Loss of Adrenaline~

The sides of his eyesight were blurred, as if he hadn't noted certain aspects of the place around him. His steps on the wooden floor of the forth division were long and tiresome, but his body kept pushing forward, that one goal at the forefront of his mind. There was something still left for him to achieve, despite the aching pain in his arm.

Stepping into the room, his mind felt numb to all emotion as he saw the small child with white hair on the bed, curled up in a position that sought comfort from the harsh world around him. He had seen Toshiro sleep before, and this time around, the entire body was tense, rather then relaxed, as if he were waiting for the pain to come again.

The child's lower right arm was in a cast, a small bit of protection against the bad in the world. Matsumoto was to the side, a foggy mess to his vision, as were her words. He slipped into the room and over to the child. Toshiro just so happened to open his eyes to look at him, and there was this deep, dark fear in the once bright, fiery eyes.

He then reached down to scoop the child, despite the fact that Toshiro protested, his body tensing even more, if that was possible, and kicking for dear life to be put down. He muttered something to Toshiro, but couldn't hear his own words. He simply scooped the child and carried him out to the courtyard. He watched as the haori of Aishadou was dropped into the fiery barrel.

This time, he could hear his own words. "I promised you, I wouldn't let him hurt you again, didn't I?"

Toshiro's body for some reason relaxed, and glancing down, Ichimaru could see the shocked look in the child's dulled eyes. Carefully, Ichimaru carried the child back into the room he had been saying, Matsumoto trying to say something to him. He placed his son into the bed, pulling the covers up to his chin.

"You're safe now." Ichimaru stated, carefully brushing that one lock of white hair away from Toshiro's face. He could feel his energy draining, but he waited until the small taicho's eyes closed, before collapsing to the ground. He could hear Isane yelling something, possibly for someone to take him to another room and to have his injuries treated.

M

Pain seared through Ichimaru's right arm as he opened up his eyes to look at the ceiling of the forth division. He pulled said arm up to his forehead, despite the pain he was feeling and began to think about things, despite the fact that his body was exhausted. "Toshiro is safe now."

"That Aishadou was a piece of work. I mean, controlling your reiatsu like that." His zampaktuo bubbled the words out.

Gin let out a deep sigh. "Well, I shouldn't have expected anything less from the man. He was a manipulater who doesn't care about others feelings. He's one to use any means to get what he wanted."

"You and he are alike then, you know." His zampaktuo blurted out, causing the man to inwardly flinch.

"There are a lot of things I would do, yes... to achieve my end goal. I wouldn't ever allow those most precious to me to become harmed in the process, not if I can help it. Plus..." Ichimaru choose to sat up at that point. "He hid his bad morals behind the fact that he outwardly looked like a good person. I made people believe me cruel so that the blow wouldn't be as bad."

Glancing over towards the door, he couldn't help but notice a rather small shinigami standing in front of him. Ichimaru recognized it as the overly timid one of the forth. "I don't bite, Yamada Hanataro."

"I know that." The small male stated, holding his clip board. "I guess that's the reason why I've been assigned to your care."

"Ehh..." Ichimaru shook his head, letting out a short laugh as he did so. "I guess nobody wants to come near me then? I don't blame them, do you?"

"Well, I can't say I can. You did make everyone think that you had turned on us. But then, you weren't exactly a nice person to be around before that." Hanataro spoke up, heading over to Ichimaru. "Despite the fact that you wish to get up and leave, I am going to have to stop you sir."

At that, Ichimaru found himself eying the young shinigami, knowing full well that he could get past Hanataro if he so choose to do so. However, he found his interest greatly perked by the fact that the obviously timid youth was standing up to him. "Aren't you afraid of me? I mean, everyone else is."

"Well, everyone knows that you are the person who challenged Aishadou to a duel. You burned his haori in plain sight." Yamada stated, still holding onto his clip board. "However... I'm in the office when I'm not doing my duties. I know that Hitsugaya Taicho isn't doing well, despite the fact that Unohana Taicho's been keeping it from everyone. I saw him too that day. You did all that for him, didn't you?"

"Does it really matter if I did?" Gin shook his head at the youth.

"It doesn't matter if Hitsugaya Taicho thinks I'm his friend, but I consider him a friend of mine." Hanataro stated.

"I'm quite sure that Shiro-chan considers you a friend, even though he has a hard time admitting things." Ichimaru let out a deep breath. "How is chibi taicho doing?"

"Well, I haven't seen him since you brought him out of his room. I'm assuming that he isn't doing well. Normally he would be up and about by now." The young male stated, watching the man carefully.

"Hanataro... I would like to go see how Shiro-chan is doing." Gin put his plea forward. "I am going to go see him, whether you wish to let me go or not."

At that, Yamada frowned, then spoke up again. "You wouldn't be leaving here if you didn't have that reason?"

"Not likely." Ichimaru piped up. "It isn't as if anyone will be happy to see me. I am not blind to the fact that I am very disliked. I do want to see how he is doing. Do you want to see how he's doing as well?"

At that, Hanataro continued to frown, but then nodded his head. "I'll go with you. I don't think Unohana Taicho will have a problem with that."

At that, Ichimaru pushed the covers away, his body still feeling the fact that his reiatsu levels had been messed with. Unsteadily, he got to his feet and straightened out the white robes. He allowed Hanataro to show him the way to the child's room. He couldn't help but feel different sets of eyes on him as he did so, but then he had done that many times before to other people.

Arriving at the room, he watched as Hanataro stepped into the doorway. "Kotetsu Fukutaicho?"

"Yes Yamada-san?" The female got up and walked over to the door. As she arrived at the door, she couldn't help but notice the person who was with him. Her body tensed up. "Aren't you supposed to be watching Ichimaru to make sure that he doesn't wander around."

"Ichimaru-san wished to see how Hitsugaya Taicho was doing." Yamada commented.

Isane frowned for a few minutes, then stepped aside. "Matsumoto-san. Ichimaru and Yamada are coming in to see how Hitsugaya Taicho is doing."

There came no verbal answer, so the two stepped into the room. Gin went and pulled one of the chairs in the room over so he could sit next to Rangiku. It was then that she spoke up. "I am not happy with you, Gin. I know that you possibly meant well, but I have a problem with the way you are doing things. I don't want to see my small taicho hurt because you do something you can't take back."

The man didn't say anything to her, but simply looked at the small child who slept soundly on the bed. "His body is still tense." At that, he closed his eyes. "I don't know how to make him better for you Ran, otherwise I would."

"I am personally glad that you don't have some idea on how to make him better." Matsumoto folded her arms across her voluminous chest. "Gin, I don't know exactly what you did, or why you did it. I get the idea that you killed Aishadou Taicho. You can't solve everything with violence you know. And no, I don't want to know the reason you did all of this. I still haven't exactly forgiven you."

At that, Isane went and got two more chairs from another room, pulling them onto the other side of the bed. She watched the small taicho carefully, his body not stirring from where he was sleeping. "They called a meeting between the captains and fukutaicho."

At that, Ichimaru found his head jerking up. "They're going to tell everyone what happened to Chibi Taicho?"

"It's not as if they have a choice in the matter. Unohana Taicho said that Matsumoto-san wasn't asked to come because she made a very specific request of her. However... they didn't invite Hinamori-san to the meeting." Isane stated.

"Well, I can understand why they didn't." Matsumoto stated, her body tense as she watched the small child, waiting for him to wake up. Silence though came to them as Toshiro continued to sleep. As the sunshine of the setting sun shown through the window, everyone heard footsteps in the hall way and they were greeted by the taicho of the division.

"Well, I expected that Ichimaru would still be out cold by the time I got back, but I can understand why you woke up and didn't stay in your room." Unohana smiled at them, moving into the room. She also glanced over at Hanataro. "Thank you for staying with him."

Rangiku spoke up, concern in her voice. "How long will it be until I will be able to bring taicho home?"

At that, Retsu paused. "It will honestly be at least a few weeks before I can release Hitsugaya Toshiro from the forth division. That said, I've decided it is best to release him into the care of Ichimaru Gin and the third division for the time being."

At that, Matsumoto found her mouth opening wide, while the other two members of the forth division gave rather confused looks. Isane found herself speaking up. "But it's always Rangiku-san whose been taking care of Toshiro-kun when he's been ill."

"I know this." Unohana stated, then continued. "Normally I would be releasing Hitsugaya Taicho into Matsumoto-san's care. However, I am faced with the dilemma of the two of them not having a major strain on their relationship that needs the chance to heal."

"I understand what you are saying about why I shouldn't be the one to take care of taicho, but..." Matsumoto closed her eyes, her face twisting up in pain.

"I am going to have to agree with Ran-chan here. I think she is talking about the fact that I am likely not the best person to be caring for Shiro-chan until he recovers." Ichimaru frowned, holding completely still as he did so.

"At this point, Hitsugaya Taicho isn't really letting anyone touch him." The female piped up.

"The only reason Gin was able to touch taicho was because he..." Rangiku closed her eyes, remembering the fit that the small child had when someone had touched him.

At that, Toshiro began to stir and he opened his eyes, suddenly freezing when he saw the two sitting in front of him. He twisted his body over so he was facing the other way, only to find two other people near him. At that, he buried his face into the pillow. Hanataro spoke up rather quickly. "Um... I know you don't want people around, Hitsugaya Taicho, but if you need anything, just let one of us know."

At that, two teal eyes stared at the other youth for a few minutes, before burring his head again. Unohana glanced at the small figure. "Matsumoto... can I speak to you in my office?"

At that, the busty woman got up, letting out a deep sigh. She followed the female taicho to the main office and sat down in the chair. "I am not happy with this at all. I don't see why Ukitake Taicho couldn't be placed in charge of taicho, or Hanataro. I mean, doesn't taicho trust them?"

"It isn't as simple as that. Ukitake Taicho tried getting Hitsugaya to speak with him when he noticed that our small taicho's wrist was damaged." Unohana sighed. She then went on to comment on the fact that it was too big of a task for Hanataro to handle. "That said, I have a reason for selecting Ichimaru for this task. Two exactly."

"And they would be?" Rangiku let out a deep breath, making it obvious that her frustration was growing.

"Something that Yamamoto and I didn't tell the other captain's and fukutaicho and that only a select few know is the state of mind Hitsugaya Taicho had before Aishadou Taicho took him to the living world. Goodness knows that it will eventually come out. However, neither one of us were blind to the fact that Hitsugaya Taicho mentally doesn't think he is worthy of his position. He likely will think that he is still a fukutaicho of the third division, despite the fact that he is still the captain of the tenth."

At that, Matsumoto closed her eyes. "Still. I have a problem with the fact that Gin is the one taking care of him."

"The other reason is, the blade that was used to protect himself from Aishadou Taicho wasn't Hyorinmaru." Ukitake commented. "In fact, we're still looking for his zampaktuo."

"You mean to tell me, that man took my taicho's zampaktuo? He took part of Toshiro's soul?" Rangiku shook her head, rather pained at the idea. "Taicho... he won't be complete until he has that dragon in his hands again. Hyorinmaru is his best friend." At that, she closed her eyes, feeling a headache coming on. "What did taicho use then?"

"He used Shinso." Unohana spoke up. "Ichimaru Gin gave Hitsugaya Taicho his blade."

At that, Rangiku paused, confusion written all over her face. Her featured though then softened. "Ichimaru wasn't in jail because he was a traitor, was he? He wouldn't have been allowed to keep his zampaktuo other wise. Not that I trust him anymore. But... he gave taicho Shinso? He never lets anyone touch that blade, unless it is to cut them. I mean, I've touched it, but he's never liked it."

"Do you think you can trust your small taicho in his hands Matsumoto?" The female taicho spoke up.

"I don't trust his tactics. He's trouble with, as they say, all capitals." The woman let out a deep sigh. "However, I get the feeling he does have taicho's well fare in the for front of his goals. I still won't forgive him this easily and I'll be watching everything he does."