A/N: I LIVE! Thank you everyone who commented thier support. I very much appreciated it, and I apologise for not being able to comment back, but I wanted this up as soon as I could.


Even Ichigo noticed the hostile silence between the two girls that walked on either side of him. Orihime kept glancing to the other as if she had something to say; Tsuzuki looked anywhere but at the healer, not wanting to hear anything the other girl had to say.

"I can't take this anymore!" he finally yelled. Luckily they were only nearing the next district, no one was really around to stare. "I'm going ahead. You two work out whatever's going on."

"There's nothing to work out," the fifth seat stated.

"That's an order," Ichigo smirked, picking up his pace.

"That bastard," she growled. "Only pulls rank when it suits him."

"Don't most taichou?" Orihime asked cautiously.

"Er, I suppose so," the shinigami muttered, still avoiding eye contact.

"Tsu-chan, about last night..."

"Please, don't apologize. You just don't feel the same way about me that I do you."

"I... thought I didn't," the healer corrected.

"Come again?"

"I'm a bit ashamed to admit it, but after you left last night, I became so afraid I would never see you again. Suddenly, everything I felt for Kurosaki-kun seemed to be so little in comparison. I'm so selfish, Tsu-chan. I know I have no right to ask, but if I don't, I'll keep wondering 'what if,' just- just like..."

Tsuzuki took the other's hand in her own, squeezing it softly. "You're not the only one who's selfish, Hime," she said softly, then kissed the other's cheek gently.


"Shinhigami?" Hisana repeated. "Oh! I know all about those!"

"You do?" Toushiro and Matsumoto chorused.

"Yeah! Daddy told me all about 'em!"

"Wait..." the boy said. "What did you say your last name was?"

"Ishida! You weally have ta pay more attention, Toushiro."

"Your father's name... is it Uryuu?"

"Yeah! How'd you know?"

His brow furrowed. "I'm... not sure," he finally said. "But... he's a Quincy, correct?"

"Yeah!" the girl proclaimed happily. "I am too! Mommy isn't, but she says that's ok, cus she can just beat 'em down!" she added enthusiastically, punching the air.

"Er... right..."

"What's Mommy's name?" Matsumoto asked. "Maybe we know her too."

"Her name's Tatsuki."

"It does sound familiar," Toushiro stated.

"Oh, she's-" There was a polite knock at the door, interrupting the fukutaichou.

"Oh, that's prolly Daddy!" Hisana blinked at the shocked expressions. "Wha? Did you dink I came alone? I was just so excited, I wan ahead!"

"Oi," Toushiro shook his head as he got the door. The Quincy on the other side looked a bit confused for a moment, then his expression relaxed as understanding set in.

"Toushiro?"

"Ishida."

"Ah. You remember then."

"I'm getting there. Come in."

"Your parents aren't here?" the man asked as he did so, father instincts kicking in.

"No, but there are at least six shinigami running around at any given time," Toushiro stated. And if his powers of observation continued to serve him as well as he thought, there was at least twelve total that rotated duties. He didn't know who had ordered so many just to watch him; although, it wasn't like he'd bothered to ask...

"Is that a fact? I didn't see anyone."

"They likely saw that Quincy Cross dangling from your wrist and didn't want you to."

"Damn, you are good," a new voice stated. Megumi had entered, Haruko close behind. "We weren't sure if this guy was your friend or not."

"He's harmless," was the boy's only reply.

"Are you from the ninth squad?" Ishida asked.

"Us personally? We're from thirtheenth." Megumi continued. "There's four of us each from ninth, tenth, and thirteenth."

Toushiro silently congratulated himself for being right on the numbers.

"Why do you ask?" Haruko inquired.

"I'm an acquaintance of Ichigo's," the newcomer stated stiffly.

"An apparently, you married one of his best friends," Matsumoto cut in.

A light blush crossed the man's cheeks. "Yes, well, I can't say either of us really saw it coming." He and his daughter's eyes met and a small smile tugged at his lips. "Well, I should be going now. I'll be back for her around four, if that's acceptable."

"Yeah, yeah," Toushiro stated. Uryuu gave Hisana a hug and kiss good-bye, then left.


"Split up? Are you sure that's a good idea, Tsu-chan?"

"Yeah. We'll cover more ground that way; it's already afternoon. There's even three roads to go through this district. We'll just meet at the other end of town."

"And if we find her?"

"Reiatsu pulse. That ok?" the fifth seat asked, looking at Ichigo.

"It works," he replied.

"Ok, pick a road, and see ya later."


'Toushiro working...'

Ichigo was looking. He was just thinking at the same time.

'Scrunching his nose when he's reading...'

'My God, when did you become such a girl?'

The taichou stopped in his tracks.

'Then again, you've always been a girl.'

He started walking again. 'Can it, Shiro.'

'Make the goddamn rain stop and I'll think about it.'

'Rain? There shouldn't be rain.'

'Oh, please great king o' mine, tell me the fucking logic behind that one.'

'Because you asked so nicely?'

'Duh.'

'You're part of me. You should already know.'

'There are a grand total of two of your emotions I understand, dumb king.'

Ichigo sighed internally. 'Thinking of Toushiro is sad, yeah, but at the same time, not. Get it?'

'No.'

Another sigh. 'Well that's the best I got, so go piss off Zangetsu or something!'

Without another word, the hollow's presence vanished from his mind.

Which was weird. Ichigo was barely annoyed at this point, usually his darker half would wait until the shinigami was all out yelling at him before he made his exit. While he would never own up to it, the taichou was a bit worried. He hadn't expected Toushiro's 'disappearance' to affect the other so badly.

And Zangetsu. While the zanpakuto was the quiet type, there was no doubt how he was feeling as well.

Ichigo didn't doubt their tripled emotions were the reasons for the rain. All three of them- Ichigo, Shiro, and Zangetsu- were miserable.

That shrimp was in for a lot hell when he got back.


Toushiro sneezed.

"Waii! Taichou, you're not getting sick, are you?"

"No," the other muttered, batting the woman's hand away as she tried to take his temperature.

"Toushiro!" Hisana spoke up. "Let's pway! Wha do ya do around here?"

"He mopes, mostly," Matsumoto answered.

"Can it," he warned.

"Sewiouswy," the girl prodded. "Wha do ya do for fum?"

"I'm afraid you'd be disappointed if I told you," he told her stiffly.

"You seemed to be hafing fum at da party."

A white eyebrow arched. "Did I?"

"Yea! You were hummin' and colorin.' You lookeded so happy."

"Taichou? Happy?" Matsumoto asked.

Hisana nodded.

"My taichou? This' (she pointed at the boy) 'taichou?"

"Ah dunno why you're callin' 'im dat, but yeah, him."

"She's calling me 'taichou' because that's what I am. I'm head of Division 10 of the Thirteen Protection Squads of Soul Society," he said, allowing a bit of pride to line his voice. 'Or I was, anyway.'

'You still are,' a familiar voice rumbled in his mind. Toushiro smiled internally. Hyorinmaru didn't say much, but he definitely knew when to say it.

"Taichou, you were coloring? And humming?" Rangiku persisted.

"It's the closest thing to paperwork they'll allow me to do," he defended himself. "Speaking of which-"

"Ne, Taichou, I bet you want help training again! That's why I came over! To help you! But since you have a friend over, I'll just be on my wa-"

"Hold it."

She stopped, mid-wave.

He turned to Hisana. "Do you consider training 'fun'?"

"It... can be...," she said. "As wong as it doesn't become too much like work."

"Then I just figured out our afternoon. Get your sorry ass back in here, Matsumoto."

"Hai, Taichou!"

"You said a bad word!"

Toushiro hung his head. This was going to be a long afternoon.


Tsuzuki practically skipped as she went on her way.

"Kurosaki-san!" a female voice called. "How good to see you!"

Tsuzuki's head shot up at attention. No orange hair anywhere.

"Sandra-san! It's good to see you too," a polite, happy voice answered.

"How are you?" the first woman asked as the shinigami peered around a house at the two. The one called 'Kurosaki' had long brown hair and a content demeanor. The other woman had short blonde hair.

'Wonder if she's related to Ichigo-taichou. Yoruko, what do you think?'

'She could have been dead for some time, Tsuzuki. She could be a relative and not know Ichigo-san."

'Point... Is it stalking if I just wanna know where she lives cus of that?'

'Technically. And I don't think you have enough stealth to do so and Kurosaki-san not to notice you.'

'Bitch.'

'Nympho.'

'Slave Driver.'

'Klutz.'

'Hey! That was below the belt!' The mystery woman walked into a house filled with children.

"Mommy! Mommy!" they all yelled. "You're home!"

'Guess we found her house.'

'Are you going to talk to her or just gape at them?'

'That is a lot kids. Maybe I should-'

"Mommy! Lookie! A shinigami!"

The woman turned. "Oh, hello. May I help you?"

'I hate to say-'

'Then don't.'

"Oh, um, sorry for bothering you, my name is Tsuzuki Mizaki," she stammered nervously. "It's just, ah, I heard that woman call you by name... er..."

"Do you know someone with my surname as well?"

The fifth seat nodded. "I-I guess I was just curious if you knew him," she said quickly.

Masaki smiled softly. "Is he a shinigami as well?"

"Uh, yes. He is."

Another smile. "Isshin or Ichigo?"

Gray eyes opened wide. "I-Ichigo."

"Yes. He's my son."

"O-Oh. So you're already in touch with him."

"Well, not exactly... Tsuzuki was it?"

The shinigami nodded.

"Come inside, will you?"

"O-Okay..."

"You're a friend of Ichigo's?"

"Well, I'm not a confidant or anything... He must have some faith in me; I head the team that looks over someone quite close to him."

"Ah, Toushiro," the woman said knowingly.

"You know him?"

"Only by reputation."

"Well, that's ok. It's a good reputation." Masaki shooed the childrenb away so they could talk, now seated at a small table.

"He's your taichou?"

"Yep! I'm fifth seat in 10th Squad, though Ichigo-taichou's currently looking over us and 9th Squad."

"Oh, yes, I know."

"Are you sure you're not in touch with him?"

"Isshin keeps me updated on allour children."

"But... you don't talk to them?"

"No. The girls are still alive, they should live their lives. And Ichigo, well..."

"Mam, I know I just met you, but may I say something?"

'Were those manners I just heard?'

'Shuddup.'

"Of course," Masaki replied. "And please, you don't need to be so formal."

"Oh, ok. Thank you. Um, it's just, if my mother knew where I was, I'd want her to see me."

"Even if your last encounter ended badly?"

"Especially if our last encounter ended badly."

"I see. I will take your words to heart, Tsuzuki."

"Thank you for making time to speak with me, Kurosaki-san. I won't tell Ichigo-taichou I met with you if you don't want me to."

"That would be appreciated, thank you."