AN: SUPER fucking sorry everyone! I got a job and I'm going to school and oasidfpoask. Adult shit. I'm also aiding with the Bleach Big Bang as a mod and a creator so it's all kept me busy with a dash of not knowing what I wanted to do, it made a bad cocktail. Anyway, if you follow me on Majestyssteed on tumblr, it's an easier way to get ahold of me and if there's anything that has happened that you need to be aware of as a reader. Along with that, after I finished Our Life I neede K. It was too real. So off we go!

PSA: There might be an argument here with Hana and Lauren that will upset some people because Lauren is being a super toxic "mother". Just a PSA c:


Ichigo's knee bounced as himself and Shiro waited for the woman in question. Shiro took a long pull of his coffee and sighed, looking at Ichigo.

"Ichi, yer makin' me nervous."

"Sorry. I know you are too so don't even try to make it seem like you aren't." Ichigo said, pointing at the man before he took a drink of his hot chocolate. There was some coffee in it, but it was more chocolate than anything. Shiro merely grunted and continued to look out the window of the coffee shop for his former one night stand.

"I have this bad feelin' about all this," Shiro mumbled and Ichigo spared him a long look before he sighed.

"So have I, I can't help be feel like we're getting played."

"Like a fuckin' fiddle." Shiro groused as the woman of their woes made an appearance into the cafe. She found them immediately, got herself some coffee at a quick wave and joined them.

"Hey, how's it going?"

"I mean, fine. I guess. You?" Shiro said shortly and Ichigo nodded.

"Pretty much the same," Ichigo added and the three dissolved into awkward silence.

"So. Hana." Lauren started and Ichigo nodded.

"I need to ask and I really don't want a fight but what the hell were you thinking at the school?" Ichigo asked, Shiro, hiding a grin behind his mug. Lauren sighed and nodded.

"It was a lapse in judgment, and I know I probably ruined my chances with Hana.." She trailed off and the two men just looked at each other. "I want to try..to work together?" Lauren said, looking up from her coffee at the two of them.

"...We could start." Shiro said, hesitantly and Ichigo watched his face. "But at a neutral place." Ichigo breathed a sigh of relief, making sure their home stayed out of the equation. Lauren's face brightened and Ichigo's chest caught at how it resembled Hana. Shiro's eyes narrowed a bit.

"I'm glad we can be adults about this."

"Ya backed us into a corner," Shiro responded, arms crossed and Lauren just shook her head. Regardless of what she said or did, she would always be batshit crazy to him.

"I wasn't trying to scare her."

"Ya acted like a fuckin' lunatic and ya know it," Shiro said and the woman sighed. Ichigo leaned back and just looked at her.

"Well. Thanks for meeting me, but I'm gonna head out I need to work later. Here's my number for when you want to meet up and all that." Lauren said, before she made a mood to leave, she turned and the hostility was thick in her voice. "Maybe if we had this conversation earlier, I wouldn't have done it." With that, she was gone and Shiro was about to get up to get the last word before Ichigo stopped him.

"Let's see how this plays out, if you're with Hana it's gonna be okay. Especially if it's in public." Ichigo reassured and Shiro just nodded. "I know, we'll just be on guard, alright?"

"..Alright."


"So you mean to tell me they let her go?" Masaki said in a testy voice.

"Yeah."

"How is that legal?!" His mother yelled and Ichigo shrugged with an exhausted sigh.

"Shiro is with her right now, meeting Lauren in the mall at the play place."

"I don't like this, Ichigo," Isshin grumbled and Ichigo just shrugged again.

'She should technically be in court at the moment with us but we were advised that might not be the best for Hana since she should get to decide if she gets to talk to her."

"She's seven," Isshin said, much against what he would think about the man when he was younger, Isshin got pissed and serious when needed.

"I know," Ichigo just said with a shake of his head and another sigh, "She really is just a baby…"

"At least you'll have rights as a step-parent now...right?" Masaki asked hesitantly.

"Not until we're actually married, which won't be for a few months," Ichigo stated and Masaki shook her head in exasperation.

"She's so young.." Masaki repeated.

"Well, nothing we can do about that now. Just have to wait for them to get back." Isshin added. That they did, and it was one of the most stressful few hours of their life.


Hana looked at her mother, in hesitation as they sat down to eat at one of the tables in the cafeteria of the mall.

"Hana is a pretty name." Lauren tried, and Hana looked at Shiro who raised a brow at Lauren.

"You didn't name me?" Hana asked, and the woman shook her head.

"No, I didn't want to get attached," That response made Hana angry. She did know why, but it really did. She couldn't understand why, and Shiro saw the beginnings of anger on his daughter's face, something Lauren didn't pick up on.

"Then...why did you want to get me from school?" Hana demanded and Lauren flinched as she looked away.

"You're Daddy wouldn't listen to me..so I went to see if you would want to come with me," Lauren responded and Shiro had to try his hardest to hide a sneer.

"But...Everything has been fine without you.." Hana began, looking down and the hurt that was visible on Lauren's face gave Shiro pleasure before he heard the sniffles of his little girl. "You came and ruined everything!" The little girl yelled, voice cracking. Shiro collected her quickly, and held her in his lap, as he held her to his chest as she started to cry.

She had done her best today, trying to play and include her biological mother and get to know her. Shiro didn't realize how mature his little girl was until that moment. She was only seven, and Shiro felt his heartache for the pieces of adulthood she had to experience so soon. He gave Lauren a look before he gathered their things, packed up their food and stood.

"We'll try this again later," Shiro said, authority and no room for argument in his voice. Shiro held his little girl's hand as they walked away, Hana was quiet, for the majority of the time it took to get into the car and start heading home.

"...Why did she come back, Daddy?" Hana asked meekly, as Shiro took a turn. Shiro looked in his rearview to Hana before he sighed.

"Honestly, Flower, yer guess is as good as mine," He sighed, which wasn't the answer she wanted as he watched her look back out the window with a frown. Shiro shook his head to himself. She wasn't Ichigo's biologically but he would be damned if she didn't get that brooding quirk from her Papa. They pulled into the driveway to their home, Hana quietly unbuckled her car seat, and got herself out of the vehicle, making way to the house without Shiro's aide. The man stood next to the car and watched her, sighing as he followed and unlocked the house for her. She went to her room, quietly. Shiro looked at Zangetsu, the dog watching the young girl before putting his head back down where he laid and looked at Shiro.

Shiro sat on the couch, deciding to give Hana some room to think. He turned the TV on with another deep sigh. He was over this. Over that his daughter couldn't just continue on with life and be a carefree little girl. The hour or two that went by before his fiance came home, were some of the worse hours he had experienced in some time. The silence killed him when usually it was filled with laughter. After Ichigo took his shoes off, he looked at Shiro when he entered the living room before he went to him, and sat next to him.

"...How did it go?" Ichigo finally asked, breaking the silent air.

"..Not good. Hana is broodin'." Shiro responded, staring blankly at the TV. Ichigo hmmed, and looked at the TV to mindlessly look it like he was.

"What happened?"

"Hana got upset with Lauren about ruinin' things," Shiro explained and Ichigo nodded.

"That's fair...She is being way more mature than her age." Ichigo said, and Shiro didn't really respond until he shook his head and looked at Ichigo fully for the first time since he got home.

"It's not fair to Hana. It's bullshit, Ichigo."

"Mom was saying the same thing."

"Masaki is right." Shiro agreed. They were quiet for a few more minutes until Ichigo got up and held his hand out.

"Let's make her favorite meal, yeah?" Ichigo suggested and Shiro looked at Ichigo's hand then his face before he smirked and took his hand. They let Zangetsu out into the backyard before they started on dinner. Shiro was cutting up ingredients when Ichigo was getting the stove and their cooking items started. Mom's curry had become some of Hana's favorite meals, and it warmed Ichigo's heart. Shiro decided to bring it up to Hana and let her eat it by herself. She was still quiet and drawing as she did.

"Try not to make a mess, alright Flower?" Shiro asked, and she nodded.

"Curry?" She said, her voice filled with warmth and Shiro nodded.

"Do ya wanna eat with Pops and me?"

"No..I'll come down later." Shiro watched her before just nodding, kissing her head and walking out. He came back downstairs and sat on the couch next to Ichigo with his own curry. They put on a show and ate in silence as they watched. After eating, they sat their bowls on the coffee table in front of them and leaned back on the couch, Shiro putting his legs on Ichigo's lap as they settled in. Around eight o'clock, Hana came out to request them to tuck her in, and they did. They closed her door and decided to go to their own room, Ichigo showering in their on suite. It was going to be an early turn in for the exhausted men. They settled in and chatted for a bit before Ichigo fell asleep.

Neither of them felt like having alone time with the nature of the day. It had been so stressful and Shiro's libido was getting hit with a hammer every time he saw Lauren. Unfortunately, it didn't seem they would be getting any sleep. Shiro was woken up by scratching at his door, and some yelling. Ichigo woke up and blinked before they looked at each other and bolted out of bed.

"Hana?!" Shiro called, ripping the master bedroom door open, Ichigo hot on his heels as the two men ran to Hana's room.

"Daddy! Papa!" They heard the yell. Ichigo ran downstairs after stopping and ran into the living room and saw the back door to their backyard was wide open. Zangetsu ran outside, Shiro following him out now that he was downstairs, having looked into Hana's room. Ichigo and he followed the German Shepherd before the privacy fence hindered the dog. Shiro growled and spun and moved quickly through the house and out the door. He saw a car peel off as he sprinted outside.

"Hana!" Shiro ran after the car for as long as he could, taking note of the license plate. It was Lauren. He didn't see Hana, but he knew. He knew his baby girl was in there. Ichigo came up behind him as they stood in the middle of the street. Ichigo had made sure to leave Zangetsu behind, knowing the dog would risk his life for the little girl. Shiro was numb and frozen. Ichigo coaxed the man from the street and back to the house. All the while, Shiro was just repeating "She took her, Ichigo...She took her."

Ichigo was unhinged himself. Shiro felt him shaking and saw it as he made the call to put out an Amber Alert. Shiro leaned forward and put his head in his hands. Now they would have to go to court. No questions asked. After Ichigo got off the phone, he sat on the floor next to where Shiro had all but collapsed.

"...We're gonna find her." Ichigo whispered.

"I'm gonna fuckin'..." Shiro started and he sneered. Ichigo watched the man as he felt his chest clamp up. If something happened to their little girl he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. The two sat there in silence before Shiro took his phone out, he called Nel.

"Shiro? Is everything okay?" Came the tired voice of a new mother.

"...Hana's missin'." Shiro croaked and Ichigo's face creased with worth, guilt, and sadness as he watched the man.

"Missing?" Nel said more alert than the first time she had spoken. Shiro nodded, then vocalized is confirmation.

"I know it was her fuckin' mother," Shiro replied and he could hear movement as she woke Grimmjow up.

"We're coming."

"Nel you-"

"We can help. His parents are still in town." The line went dead at that, as the two men sat there and waited, Ichigo not having the heart to call but calling his mother either way. It was in three in the morning after all. The cry from his mother had been the third most heartbreaking thing he had experience in a long time. Ichigo just closed his eyes and waited for the police to arrive.


Nel came into the living room with Renji, baring coffee for the group as they sat around the table. Zangetsu laid at Ichigo's feet as he stared at the floor. Shiro was leaned forward, elbows on his knees and his chin resting on his fist, staring at the coffee table like it had offended him. Masaki looked at her son and to Zangetsu who sat at his feet, she gratefully took her drink from Renji as everyone settled in with their drinks.

"Where would they go?" Masaki asked gently, breaking the silence.

"Probably her house," Tatsuki replied to the woman, Orihime sat beside her, Ichigo looking between the two, and then to his mother.

"We obviously don't really have a clue, we barely know her," Ichigo replied. Shio leaned back at this point, crossing his arm and obviously chewing the inside of his lip.

"Unless she's moved, I do," Shiro replied. "Tha' was seven years ago though and I wasn't really focused on her fuckin' house." Shiro rubbed his face, and Ichigo watched him for a minute.

"You're gonna have to let the police try first." Grimmjow started and Shiro looked over at the man, he looked exhausted too, and they all knew it wasn't just from having very young children.

"I don' wanna wait tha' long."

"Shiro if you go with your record she will go into foster care."

"What about Ichigo though?"

"I haven't adopted her yet, I planned on doing it for her at the wedding, where it would be a gift to her…" Ichigo trailed off. There was some silence at this. "I already feel awful about it I really don't need to be put on the spot." Ichigo snapped, which shocked most of them.

"No, but it should have been done a while ago if you intended on staying." Grimmjow baited and Shiro bristled at it.

"If yer gonna be an ass, there's the fuckin' door." Shiro sneered and Grimmjow sat up at that. Nel put her hand on his chest from where she sat next to him and gave him a deadly look. Ichigo didn't warrant him a response and that set Grimmjow a light a bit more. Had it not been for Nel, he probably would have continued to pick a fight. Isshin watched the veteran, before looking back at Shiro.

"Let me call my brother if you have a lead it could help and you might be able to help," Isshin responded and Shiro nodded.

"I would have to start from the club we met at and go from there. I don' remember where it was from here, but I could from there." Shiro supplied and Isshin nodded, getting up and making the call.


"Welcome home, Hana." The little girl heard as she the blindfold that had been placed on her eyes was opened to see an apartment. It was not her home, she could say that much. She shied away from the other, quickly backing up to a nearby wall and looking wide honey brown eyes to darker brown eyes. "Oh dear, I'm your mother I'll take care of you."

"I want Daddy and Papa." She said and Hana felt genuine fear as the woman's face dropped and she straightened.

"Fine. Stay in this corner. You'll come around." The woman walked away, after making sure to padlock the door. Hana was at a loss. She was scared and alone. She waited a while, she heard the shower going at one point before she remembered something her parents had told her.

"If you're ever in trouble, call us or the police station where Uncle Kaien works." She quietly, oh so quietly, tiptoed around in search of a possible landline. When she found one she smiled widely, still listening for the shower as she quickly called the police station, figuring this was a situation the police would be able to find her. She called, and when she heard the familiar voice pick up, she sighed.

Kaien had made an effort to give a number to his direct line to his family, and Ichigo had made sure that Hana remembered it.

"Uncle Kaien..?"

"Hana?! Where are you, sweetheart." Came the reply and Hana's breath hitched when she heard the shower turn off.

"I have to go-"

"Can you keep the phone call on?"

"She'll see me.."

"We're on our way, hun. If you can just stay on the line, I'll mute myself okay? Hide the phone."

"Okay.." Her voice trembled, she did what she was told. She went back to where she was and huddled there.

"Okay, Hana! Wanna see your new room?" The woman sang, and Hana looked up at her as she walked in. She knelt down in front of her and rested her hand on her knee. "I'm sorry that this hasn't been easy, but I've been trying to get you to see that you should be with me! It's not fair you didn't get to have a mother and that's my fault."

"You didn't want me, Daddy did."

"Do you honestly believe that? He almost didn't take you but didn't want to subject you to the foster system."

"I don't wanna hear this!"

"Well, you get too because sometimes the world isn't fair! Like the circumstance that I had you in!" Lauren yelled back. "Your father's hands were tied when I had them call him."

"Daddy loves me! So does Papa!"

"Your "Papa" will never know the love that I have for you."

"You don't even know me!"

"I'm your mother of course I do!"

"You just want to get back at Daddy and Papa!" The little girl screamed.

"You're being an ungrateful brat! I made sure you had a home instead of tossing you to whatever passerby there was! I paid for the hospital room to have you!" Lauren grabbed her wrist, and Hana struggled before she saw and heard the door get busted in.

"Lauren Hoggins put your hands up!" Hana heard Kaien say, while three others went around to check the apartment. He listed the charges she was being arrested with, as his collages collected her, one man had white hair like her Daddy and herself, she would later find out his name was Ukitake and he worked on these types of cases to comfort the children.

"Are you okay?" He gently asked, and Hana nodded her head. The man smiled at her and held out a hand. "Why don't we go back to your parents, huh?" Hana nodded, taking the man's hand as they walked out of the building. Hana gasped as she saw the two men quickly getting out of a police car, and running to her.

"Hana!" Shiro yelled, Hana, running to them as Ichigo came to a skidding halt on his knees, arms wide to collect her and hug her, Shiro falling next to them and hugging her other side, effectively cocooning her from the world. She started to sob.

"I didn..I didn't think I'd see..you again." She whimpered and Ichigo shook his head.

"We would have found you."

"We'll never let this happen again, okay Hana. You don' ever have to see her again." Shiro said.

"Good." She sniffled and enjoyed the warmth of the two men. They watched, as Lauren was dragged out of the apartment, handcuffed. Shiro finally pulled her into his lap and shielded her from the woman's rage as Ichigo threatened her.

"If you ever find a way to come after her again, after we tried to trust you, jail will be the last thing you have to worry about."

"Did you just hear him threaten me?!" Lauren roared and Kaien shook his head, shoving her into the car, taking care of her head at least.

"I did and I've heard worse. There's more you could be charged with, so I would mind your P's and Q's." He said, shutting the door to his cruiser. He turned back to Ichigo and Shiro.

"Ukitake will take you guys home, go home and get some sleep and we'll deal with what's to come in a few days." They nodded.

"Thank you, Kaien."

"Hey, I'm both hers and your uncle, it'd be a bad uncle if I didn't help in some way." He responded to his nephew and Ichigo just shook his head with a small smile. With that, they all parted ways. Hana upon arrival home was bombarded by Zangetsu who licked away her tear stains and made her giggle. The heavy feeling in Shiro's gut was gone, but he knew there was more of a fight to be had later. Ichigo and Ukitake had told him she had already proven herself unstable and that she shouldn't be an issue for much longer, she'd probably spend a few years away.

As much as they were happy for it, they wished it hadn't scared Hana the way it did.


AN: We have another chapter of Hana being seven before I time skip again! Remember, this isn't meant to be a long fic like Our Life, but this is important to her development as a child c:. I hope you enjoyed and I'm sorry again for the wait! Sorry for any type-o's too. Tried to catch em!

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Later Days and Nights, Hollows