Okay so I know this is pretty crappy but I'm working through major writers block (2 months |ToT| oh my goodness) so please stick with me I'm hoping this little fic gets better.

~~CxB~~

Toshiro stared out the open shoji screens and back at the lake with mild frustration before sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. His former taicho had always been so good at making his blood boil. "Ano…Hitsugaya-taicho…please don't worry about Isshin-ji. He's really nice but he can say stupid things I guess." Toshiro turns to watch as the orange haired man ran a hand through his hair before nudging the edge of a second futon with his foot. He turns sharply obviously a bit nervous before grabbing the two swords off the far wall in a quick and fluid movement that shows years of having done so. "I'm going out for a while…gomen nasai…for not having any guest rooms prepared. The last time we had a guest was last fall when Juu-san visited us for a month due to his sickness."

With a short bow the orange haired man brushes past the white haired taicho and moves in a rapid shunpo into the forest. Picking up Hyourinmaru Toshiro follows his residual reiatsu through the weaving forest while concealing his spiritual pressure. He watches through the trees as the young man moves gracefully through a short series of motions that were elegant and easily well practiced but also held a power and certainty that came with years of handling a weapon. Toshiro hears a silent command brush through his lip which sounds almost like 'Chisei Zangetsu'. The two twin blade glow rapidly with bright blue light which twirls with strands of deep ebony black almost as if it was the moon light filtering through the darkness. The blue was pure and you could feel it despite having been swarmed with the black essence of seeping power.

The two swords were truly a masterpiece perhaps two of the most fear instilling and yet oddly glorious blades ever seen in the Seireitei. They were long and thin with sharp edges. The top was thicker than the center with a curved shape filing down into a point that flashed white in the lightly of the blue reiatsu rolling across them. Over all two indents separated the blade itself into three oval shaped parts that were smoothed into one unbreakable looking blade. One each edge of the handles hung three chain links with azure blue stones hung from them in the shape of two crescent moons surrounded by black rings on either blade. The very tip of the hilt held a full circle of azure stone that had three cracks in it and was also surrounded by the same black rings. The blades were deadly edges and smooth curves which promised to slice through any skin as if it were butter.

"Amazing…" The soft breath of a word was all Toshiro could mutter as he watched how the man's speed and agility increased the longer he trained. His strength as his fingers flexed and quickly adjusted rapidly as if he were battling an actual opponent. It was likely he was training with his zanpakuto since that was a tool Toshiro often used on his own. Slowly the man comes to a stop and wipes a drop of sweat form his forehead before tearing his haori off and tossing it to the ground before resuming again. Toshiro leaned back onto his heels and then slid to his bottom in awe as his eyes constantly traced and retraced the beautiful curve of each muscle as they rapidly moves and tensed in a beautiful ripple of movement with each swing and block. Ichigo's arms were well built and toned as was his chest and abdomen. His hamaka were hung low on his hips showing off the very pronounced 'v' of his hips. Ichigo was beautiful…no more so than that in Toshiro's awestruck eyes.

Then slowly the man come to a stop barely breathing harshly after such a quick workout. "Bankai…Tensa Zangetsu…" Toshiro gasp as wind whips wildly through his hair carrying the deep black and azure reiatsu that somehow had become darker black. When the wind died away Toshiro stares amazed at the new man before him. He held two black blades with three sickening points on each slightly curving blade. The handle was thick and curved around his fingers before a long chain hung down and nearly touched the ground with the same azure crystal hung in the same black rings but this one wasn't cracked and glowed with it's own blinding light. Out of the side of each hilt were two twisting reptilian bodies that curved upon themselves and ended in two dragon mouths curved around one another and biting around Ichigo's middle fingers. He wore what appeared to be a shihakusho just slightly different as the top layer was only white and he wore a long black cloak that exposed his white top through three crisscrossing sets of fabric. Just below the white Toshiro could make out a brown red tattoo that looked to be some type of creature on his body. Blue pieces of crystal wrapped up his arms in crisscrossing patterns to match the fabric of his outfit. Ichigo Kyoraku had a full body Bankai that was one of the smallest Toshiro had every seen. That could only mean one thing…Ichigo Kyoraku was one of the fastest and probably most destructive wielder of a zanpakuto in the Seireitei and he wasn't even a taicho. Judging by the look in the orange haired man's eyes Toshiro knew that his guess was most likely correct which meant he might just be able to help the Sotaicho fill at least one of the open taicho positions if not the open Fukutaicho positions since Hinamori is still mentally incapable to being a fukutaicho.

With a short sigh Toshiro watches as the man moves faster than Toshiro had ever thought possible. Slowly the white haired taicho slinks back into the forest and returns to his shared room only to leave it and return to the large library everyone deemed as Ichigo despite him having one in his own chambers.

"You've seen his Bankai haven't you?" Toshiro jumps and spins around to stare at the grey eyed girl from earlier that evening. She couldn't have been much younger than him but she appeared older when you looked into her eyes. "All of us have them you know...bankai that is. Yuzu's isn't very strong but she has it and she one of the best leaders around as long as she has someone to rely on above her…know what I mean. None of us share a lot but my Tou-san and Shun-ji like to gossip I guess its something they picked up after Mai-ba and Kaa-san disappeared." She flicks her black hair to the side and then tucks a few strands behind her ear before settling into the chair she was sitting in more comfortably.

"How did you know I didn't just go out for a walk?" The woman, Karin was her name, stares at him for a long moment before a sick twisted sort of grin passes across her lips and she pulls two hidden fans from her kimono sleeves. They appeared to be folded and placed like knives but when she unfolded them they sparkled with blazing red stones that made the fans appear to be on fire.

She flutters them for a few moments before snapping them shut so that Toshiro can see a low fire blazing in her eyes. "My zanpakuto, Entenka, has a very keen ability to follow the flexing of reiatsu to those close to it when unsealed. It's part of Entenka's abilities that I am then skilled in tracking reiatsu and reading into it. You had the same feel to your reiatsu as Jii-sama and Shun-ji did when they first saw Ichi-nii's bankai for themselves. You were in awe…shocked…and sucked in by the raw beauty, power, and destructiveness that his bankai and shikai seem to create. It's part of Ichi-nii's ability." I watch as the fan shimmer brightly and flash before returning to two sealed knives.

"Karin…stop trying to frighten our guest you won't achieve anything by doing so. Return to your room or go train. Isshin would no like it if he knew you were in here bothering our guest." The young woman stiffens quickly at the angered command given by the older Kyoraku male. She turns her hard grey eyes on him and stands quickly before leaving the room. Shunsui settles into a chair across from Toshiro and offers him a small smile which Toshiro returns. "So you've seen it haven't you? Truly an amazing thing to watch isn't it?"

Shunsui's eyes tell the smaller taicho exactly what he's thinking. "Yes…I…his blade is so frightening and deadly looking that it is rather beautiful even when only in shikai. It gives off such horror and fear but some how you can't look away because it's so amazing." The two share a long sort of silence before Toshiro speaks again. "Why didn't he become a shinigami he's talented for sure and would have excelled probably faster than I have?"

Shunsui turns his gaze to the windows of the agree library where the moonlight trails in. "Time seems to move much slower up here as if the sun and moon share more time in the sky then usual." Toshiro tilts his head to the side as Shunsui sighs softly as if the story is both old and hard to tell. "A very long time ago, I've lost count of the years as they seem to blur together without her, we were all a happy family living in the first district of Rukongai the closest manor to the Seireitei to be exact. Ichigo's mother Mai was a very vibrant person and was as loving and tender as women came but she had a temper that could rival ever yours Hitsugaya-taicho. She was all fire a flame when I first met her but somehow she was also the most amazing women I had ever laid my eyes on. Ichigo is a lot like her except he's a lot more laid-back like me in most matters. Mai was the center of Ichigo's world when he was younger and continued to be as he grew up and enter into the academy. No matter how angry she would get with him after every fight he participated in she's still clean all his wounds and kiss his forehead tenders before telling him she loved him. When Ichigo was a few months from graduating and his sisters were preparing to enter the academy Mai and Masaki were kidnapped from out home. After seeing the destruction and blood they pronounced the pair dead and never to be seen again. That one loss shatter Ichigo's entire world more so then even mine. He didn't want to do anything so we left the house and moved here and tried to get our family back together." Toshiro nods slowly and notices the far away look on Shunsui's face. He sighs softly and stands to look out the window.

Deciding that he should get the older males mind of his late wife Toshiro begins speaking of his findings during his recon mission in Hueco Mundo. "During my mission I found something odd about the palace Aizen was having created. It already had a jail build. From what I could tell it was made of reiatsu stopping stone much like some parts of the Seireitei and it had prisoners. I'm guessing if we went there to rescue the prisoners we'd find men and women within our own ranks if not a few other strong reiatsu wielding men and women who would have been a risk to Aizen's plots." At this statement Shunsui raises his eyebrow to the young taicho's back before sighing softly and nodding.

"Perhaps we will tell this all to the sotaicho when we return. He will know what to do. For now we should retire I believe Ichigo just returned as well from his training. If I were you I wouldn't bring up having seen his zanpakuto. Oyasumi nasai Hitsugaya-taicho…" With those parting words Shunsui silently leaves the room and a bewildered Toshiro. Heaving a sigh Toshiro returns to the quarters he is sharing with the orange haired male and slips into his futon quietly already hearing the even breathing of the other male in the room.

~~CxB~~

It felt odd to sleep in his own bed the night before after everything was done and over with and everyone was over their shock at having seen the supposedly missing juubantai taicho walking into the Seireitei with Kyoraku-taicho who usually didn't get off his lazy ass for anything much less a search party unless they were searching for sake. It wasn't that Toshiro didn't like sleeping in his own bed but somehow within the three short nights he spent at the Kyoraku manner he had grown used to the calming presence Ichigo gaze him at all times and his room not only felt larger than usual but it also felt empty and rather lonely to the ice wielder. Even deep in his soul Hyourinmaru gave off a pitiful sigh of loneliness. It was as if somehow Hyourinmaru had connected with the soul of Ichigo's zanpakuto in a sort of companionship after having sat with the other's zanpakuto every night.

The meeting of the taicho was supposed to be longer today and it certainly was however after presenting his idea Toshiro wasn't happy about the outcome of the sotaicho's decision. The sotaicho decided that in order to stage a rescue mission they would need to fill the open spots since Ichimaru was not allowed to return to his position as taicho and would remain the fukutaicho of the Ichibantai after the former Fukutaicho resigned due to old age and wanting to spent time with his wife in the Rukongai. When he asked if anyone had any suggestions for the taicho positions as well as a fukutaicho position for the gobantai only four names swam through Toshiro's mind one of them being the most obvious one in the world. The name of the same man that seemed to occupy his every waking thought.

With a deep breath Toshiro cuts off Kuchiki-taicho as he's about to speak. "I suggest Kyoraku Ichigo for a taicho position as well as Kurosaki Isshin, Kurosaki Karin, and Kurosaki Yuzu for the fukutaicho position. All are more then capable of the position and I've seen for my self Kyoraku's bankai…it's…the most amazing feat of utter strength and speed I have ever witness Yamamoto-sotaicho." All eye turn on the white haired prodigy and he catches a small smile grace the features of the hachibantai taicho with the thought of his son becoming a taicho.

"I am very aware of my grandson's abilities Hitsugaya-taicho I am however shocked that you are aware of them. Perhaps your stay with Shunsui was more informative than I had originally been brought to believe. As for Isshin, Yuzu, and Karin I must ask why you have stated their names." Yamamoto's eyes stare searchingly at the wide eyed gaze of the shocked taicho. Ichigo was Yamamoto's grandson. Why hadn't he put the pieces together before it makes sense why he was so powerful?

"Yamamoto-sotaicho…although I do this grudgingly I must agree with Hitsugaya-taicho that my younger cousin's abilities are great enough to be giving this position as for his twin cousins and idiotic Uncle…they are also very talented." Toshiro's eyes widen farther with the reveal that Byakuya was actually Ichigo's cousin. God lord have mercy he was in the middle of a familial hierarchy that was controlling the Seireitei even thought they deserved it.

"Yama-jii it is entirely my fault that Toshiro found out about Karin and Yuzu and he served under Isshin for a few months when he first arrived. I agree with him that they are more than qualified for these positions and for the sake of the other taicho in the room we could test them for the position before the seated shinigami as you did with Juu, Isshin, and myself." With a short sigh the Sotaicho turns his gaze on his son-in-law and his shoulders sag in defeat.

"Hai we shall test them but I shall not go easy on them just because of their status as my late daughters' children and Masaki's husband am I clear Shunsui?" The taicho in question nods quickly and straight faced before the sotaicho sighs once more. "Contact them and have them come here…tell Ichigo that it is a direct order and that if I do not see him here at sunset I will set his library ablaze…meeting adjourned." The sotaicho taps his cane twice and leaves the room full of shocked shinigami in his wake.

"Did he just threaten that boke's books to get him to come here?" At Byakuya's shocked question Shunsui nods silently and shakes his head. "I am guessing that it will work though won't it and the brat with come barreling through here spewing curses the entire way won't he Oji-sama?" Shunsui frowns softly and bonks his nephew on the head.

"If Sojun was still alive he'd kick your ass for saying such things about your family Bya-kun. Be more respectful of Ichigo he enjoys his books. Now Juu-chan what do you say we go out for some lunch and send my delightful family their letter?" Ukitake-taicho nods ecstatically and begins rambling about the reactions of Shunsui's family and the pair leave the hall of taicho still confused as hell and desperately waiting for a reply.

~~CxB~~

Two days later a small group of two men and two girls walked into the Gotei 13 with blank faces that were calm, worry free and oddly airy and light which neatly displayed their nobility. Toshiro for some reason couldn't take his eyes off the orange haired male not unlike the many other shinigami surrounding them. However a sense of relief flowed through him and the tightness deep in his soul seemed to end and stop. The loneliness that had once settled in the pits of his stomach seemed to end when his eyes found that top of orange hair and even Hyourinmaru's saddening cry in his inner planes slowed and then was nonexistent.

Warn honey brown eyes scan the crowd and meet with his teal eyes where he stands beside his fukutaicho as well as Abarai-fukutaicho who was searching lightly for his taicho. "Ohaiyo Toshiro…I'm glad to see a friendly face." Toshiro watches as a small yet oddly affectionate smile crosses the orange haired man's face as his brown eyes close lightly before opening to stare into his own teal eyes.

"Ohaiyo Ichigo…It's good to know you have at least that coming here…" Rangiku watches as her small taicho walks side by side with the orange haired man with a gentle look to his gaze that she had never seen before. Her stuffy little taicho was actually giving the man a half smile that seemed to shock most of the crowd except Shunsui and Byakuya, who had just arrived together and moved to greet the group.

"Itoko…it is a pleasure to see you again." The orange haired man looks up a bit startled before a wide grin stretches across his features. He was unbelievably handsome when he smiled at her Nii-sama Rukia Kuchiki decided. His orange hair fell just right over his brown eyes which were wrinkled just a bit and his lips were perfectly pouty and smooth. His skin was tan and flawless and he was very obviously well built and muscular.

"Yes of course because it's been so very long since the great and powerful Kuchiki lord came to visit his poor heir of a cousin…" They heavy sarcasm lacing the younger man's comment and sly grin plastered across his face gave all those there the knowledge that he enjoyed pushing his cousin's boundaries and by the Kuchiki lord's reaction they knew that the young man knew all the right buttons to push in order to do just that.

A small twitch formed at the corner of the lord's eyes before his lips curve in a small frown and he grits his teeth. However his words are what shock the shinigami the most. "For once I was trying to be polite you boke and you ruin it with your snide ass remarks!" His fist connects with the orange haired man's head causing him to begin laughing and punch the black haired man back just lighter before tossing an arm around his slightly taller shoulders and begin whispering to him before pulling away right as the Kuchiki lord swings to hit him again.

"Boys…" The pair turn at the soft and controlling voice behind them which shocks the positively weirded out shinigami farther because it was none other than Shunsui Kyoraku, the most laid-back man here, who gave such a simple worded command and stopped the two in their tracks.

Both men look at one another debating how much trouble they would get in before sighing and reining in their composure. It was in the short moments beside the two noble cousins that Toshiro saw the vast friendship spaced between the two. They shared such elegance and control in their nature but there was a freedom Ichigo emitted that even melted the cold walls of the Seireitei's most rule abiding taicho.

The small group is brought into the Ichibantai with the Sotaicho standing before them. Toshiro watches as the two youngest members of the party grin brightly and shunpo toward the older man before wrapping their arms around him and shockingly the old man returns the gesture proudly. "Ohaiyo Karin and Yuzu…you are both so very lovely now…too much like Masaki for your own good." The sotaicho places a small kiss on each of their temples before releasing them and turning his gaze to Ichigo. "Ohaiyo Ichigo…you've grown again yet you still look like Mai…are you all prepared for your testing? Yes Isshin, you will have to be tested again."

Toshiro turns his gaze to his former taicho only to see a serious face portrayed. Toshiro watches as Isshin nods and offers his father-in-law a small smile. The white haired taicho nearly jumps out of his skin when warm breath ghosts across the skin of his ear. "Wish me luck Toshiro…I hope you're in the front row watching as you seemed to find my Zangetsu so very captivating when you first saw it." Toshiro spins on Ichigo only to see how utterly close the orange haired male is. Their noses brush lightly before Ichigo winks slyly and turns walking away with his hands laced behind his head of orange hair. "You wouldn't want to get stupid sitting beside Byakuya now would you Toshiro?"

That simple phrase snaps him out of his daze only to find that most of the other shinigami are filing into the seats around the area set up outside for the testing to take place. Byakuya is frown in the direction of his cousin while sulking slightly. "I do believe my itoko is enamored by you Hitsugaya-taicho and judging by your reactions to him the same could be said for you." With that Byakuya joins the crowd with his fukutaicho whom he offers a gentle smile. Frowning to himself Toshiro quickly run through the crowd and sit with his own fukutaicho in the very front row with the rest of the taicho and their fukutaicho.

While everyone was filling in Ichigo was standing beside his Uncle and tugging his loose fitting Haori from his pants. "Ichi-nii must you always train without a shirt on?" Ichigo pokes his tongue out at Karin before tossing his haori to the side and placing his twin blades properly on his sides. Karin frowns softly before removing the outer kimono she had worn to reveal her own train outfit which consisted of loose fitting pants and a sleeveless haori top which was wrapped around the waist in white fabric. Her sealed zanpakuto, two knives, were tucked into the wrapping and hidden away perfectly.

Ichigo rolls his eyes as Yuzu pulls off her own kimono to reveal skin tight training pant, much the same style as Yoruichi, which were tucked into slim black boots and a baggy haori tucked into the pants and the excess fabric hung over the edge of her pants. The sleeves of the haori were short and just met the elbow length black gloves she wore on her hands. Her own two short knives were attached to her upper arms and you could just barely make out the tips with her movements. "Kar…it wouldn't be a proper spar if I wore a shirt plus it just gets in the way and that's always back don't you think?"

"Stop arguing both of you we've got some serious shit coming at us so stay on your feet and good luck…to all three of you." The three youngest watch as Isshin walks away from them and out onto the field before the shinigami to take on his own tasks. In their mind each one of them, past their own nerves, wish Isshin Kurosaki good luck in his own testing for a taicho position.