A/N: Well, here's an update! And on a Sunday, too! As it turns out, writing is a great way to avoid homework. Great development over the past week, by the way: I got a flame! Which really shouldn't be too exciting, and I was bummed for a bit, but as my friend pointed out, that means that this is a real story! Anywhosits, I brought in a couple of new characters for this chapter. If you like seeing them, tell me and I can work them in! Oh, and I have to bow to Yemi Hikari's greater wisdom: Yes, I do really, really need a timeline, considering that this gave me so much trouble. I'm not 100% happy with this chapter, but it's definitely not the worst I've written. All information on heat sickness is from WebMD and MayoClinic.

If you like it, review it!

And the last thing on here? Well, let's just say that it's a concept I've been debating about writing. Give me your opinions! Otherwise my college people will and the two people beside me are crazy for it without even knowing the fandom!

Rangiku brushed her fingers through Toshiro's pale locks. "Is he still asleep?" Gin came in and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Yeah. Unohana-taicho said that he'd be exhausted for most of the day if the weather stays like this." She pressed a wet cloth to his face, cooling his heated skin. "He's so warm."

"He has an ice zanpakuto. Of course he'll suffer in the heat." Gin kissed her gently and looked down at his son. "He'll be okay. He's survived everything else. A little heat won't kill him."

"I know. But this is the worst heat wave Seireitei has ever had. Even Rukia is being affected."

Gin wrapped an arm around her waist. "Don't worry, Ran. He's strong."

"Yes, I know, but -"

"Matsumoto-fukutaicho?" Renji stuck his head into the room, his red hair sticking to his forehead from the heat. "My captain asked to speak with you."

"I..." She exchanged a look with Gin, reluctance etched across her features.

"Whatever Byakuya wants from her he can tell me." Going to the door, Gin cast one last glance at Toshiro. "Send me a hell butterfly if anything changes. Good or bad."

"Of course. Thank you."

U_U

Gin raised an eyebrow at Byakuya. "You want to send them to the Kurosaki family?"

"Yes. The world of the living has a device called an 'air conditioner', I believe, and that can cool Hitsugaya-taicho and Rukia." The tall captain looked down his nose at Gin. "I assume that your son is suffering as my sister is?"

"I would say so. Do you want me to take them, then?"

"Please. I cannot be spared from my duties." He paused for a moment and continued, "Has Yamamoto-soutaicho discussed returning to the third division captaincy with you?"

"Not yet. I've been summoned to meet with him tomorrow afternoon, so I suppose we'll find out then." Gin stood up and started for the door. "Is Rukia still conscious?"

"Of course. Hitsugaya-taicho is not?"

"Toshiro can barely stay awake for more than ten minutes. The heat is making him sluggish."

Byakuya's expression didn't change but Gin could tell he was concerned. "It may be the best idea to send him to Kurosaki. He does not sound -"

"I know. Rangiku is worried as well. Thank you for the idea. I'll go collect Rukia and bring the two of them to Ichigo."

"Thank you."

U_U

Ichigo pulled open the door to find Ichimaru, Rukia, and Toshiro on his doorstep. "Hi?"

"I apologize. This was Byakuya's idea, but I do agree with it. There's a heat wave in Seireitei, and -"

"No problem. I'll take care of them." Ichigo moved over and opened the door wider, allowing them to come inside. "My father will be home in a few minutes. He's a doctor, he can keep an eye on them."

"Thank you." Casting Toshiro one last worried glance, Gin turned to the door. "Keep an eye on them."

"I know what to do for heat sickness. I'm not an idiot. Have either of them shown any signs?" The substitute shinigami brought him to the door. "Other than exhaustion, I mean. I can see that much."

"Toshiro was sweating a lot earlier, Rangiku told me." He paused in the doorframe, looking at Ichigo. "Take good care of them. If you hurt Toshiro..."

"I know, you'll run me through with Shinso. Relax. He isn't a baby. Neither of them are." Ichigo pushed Gin out of the house. "Go to Rangiku. She'll want to see you. Toshiro will probably blow up once he wakes up enough to see you worrying about him."

"You're probably right."

Once Gin finally left, Ichigo went back into the living room and looked at the two shinigami on the couch. Rukia glared at him. "I occasionally find my brother's care rather stifling. But this isn't so bad."

"Yeah. Now I'm stuck with you, midget."

"Hey! I'll have you know- "

"Why is Toshiro Hitsugaya on our couch?" Isshin boomed from the doorway.

"How do you even know who he is?"

Isshin shrugged. "He was my third seat, way back when. I don't think he knows I'm your father yet."

"Great. So now he can deal with even more problems." Ichigo sprawled across the couch beside Toshiro, who was staring off into space. "Yo. Toshiro."

"What?" The white haired captain raised his head a bit and looked around. "Shiba-taicho...?"

"Heat exhaustion?" At Ichigo's nod, his father sighed. "Sit tight, Toshiro. Let me go get you something to drink. Rukia, are you feeling okay?"

"Much better now that I'm cooler, thank you." Rukia sat down primly beside Ichigo. "I think Hitsugaya-taicho is worse off than I am because of Hyorinmaru's power."

"He is." Going to the kitchen, Isshin returned with two glasses of cold sports drink and handed one to Toshiro. "Drink that. Not too fast, I don't want to overload your system. Rukia, you too."

After a few more minutes, Isshin pressed the back of his hand to Toshiro's forehead. "Looks like you're cooling down. Now Ichigo, what exactly did you mean by 'more problems'?"

"His parents are Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto. Why do you know him?" Karin entered the room and sat down beside Toshiro, who was beginning to become aware of his surroundings. "Hi."

"Rukia and I are going to go upstairs. I'm not staying for the show." Ichigo and Rukia stood up, heading for the stairs.

"Fine. Go ahead." Turning back to his daughter, Isshin continued, "I was a shinigami captain before I met Masaki. Toshiro here was my third seat and did the work of a fukutaicho plus. Since his zanpakuto is ice related..."

"Heat exhaustion. I figured as much."

Toshiro sat all the way up and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here, for that matter?"

"I live here. That happens to be my daughter you're dating."

"We aren't dating!"

Isshin chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, that's what you all say. Now, Toshiro, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Why -"

"Don't interrupt me. Right now I'm a doctor and you're sick." Bending down to his former subordinate's level, he met his teal gaze. "Are you feeling nauseous or dizzy? Any pain? Your heart rate and temperature seem alright, although your temperature should be a bit lower than a normal human's because of Hyorinmaru."

"I told you, I'm fine!" Toshiro exploded.

"And that's why we went upstairs!"

"I know that!" Isshin shouted back. "Shiro, I know you don't like being babied, but heat sickness is serious. You have to work with me."

"I have a headache and I'm a bit dizzy. Happy now?" He slouched against the couch and considered the sports drink. "This is disgustingly sweet. And I would still like to know why you are here."

"That is a long story and not one for right now. But if I could've come back I would have. I didn't abandon you."

"Dad..."

Isshin ignored her. "Neither did your parents. They both must have had their reasons."

"I've come to terms with that. Your insight is not needed, especially when you disappeared for over twenty years." Turning his back on his former captain, Toshiro sipped the drink slowly, beginning to feel a little better. "Did Gin happen to say when he's coming back?"

"I don't think so but I wasn't down here." She pressed her hand against his cheek. "You're still very cool. Are you nauseous?"

"Karin..."

"I know, you're fine. But you said that you have a headache and you're dizzy. Plus I don't want you to puke on the floor."

Toshiro sighed and pressed his fingers to his temples. "I won't vomit. I haven't eaten all day. The only thing I've had has been water and this disgusting beverage."

"What?!" Karin looked over at her father, her eyes wide. "Toshiro, you need to eat and drink. What kind of a moron are you?"

"You stay here. I'll go get you something to eat. Karin, go show him where to shower." Isshin grabbed his arm and pulled Toshiro to his feet. "You go take a cold shower. Ichigo should have some old clothes you can borrow."

U_U

Isshin watched his daughter and his former third seat sitting together on the couch, eating macaroni and cheese. Toshiro's color was beginning to go back to normal and he appeared to be feeling better. Feeling eyes on him, the white haired captain raised his head. "What, Shiba-taicho? Or is it Kurosaki-sensei now?"

"Whatever is more comfortable for you. I know this is odd." He pulled out a thermometer and stuck it into Toshiro's mouth as he opened it to ask a question. "Close your mouth and put that under your tongue. I'll take that out in a minute. I need to check your temperature, make sure you're cooling down."

Toshiro rolled his eyes and waited quietly until Isshin pulled out the thermometer. "I feel fine."

"Headache? Dizziness?"

"Not really. I have a slight headache but no dizziness. Can I stop drinking now?"

"I won't be on top of you about drinking but you have to drink at least a little bit. You need to stay hydrated even if you're feeling fine." Isshin patted Toshiro's head and ruffled his hair, making the child scowl. "You're still the cutest! And you will become my son!"

"Goat-chin!"

"My little Karin is all grown up! And so is my Shiro-chan! Now -"

Karin kicked him in the face and he dropped to the floor. "Shut up already. Before Toshiro decides to run you through. He's supposed to be resting, not dealing with his nutcase captain."

"Isn't he your father?"

"If he's being stupid I reserve the right to kick him. Ichigo does the same thing. Actually, he once tricked my father to jump out the window." She leaned over, poking Isshin. "Hm. I think I may have knocked him out. Oh well. He'll live."

Toshiro felt his eyebrows jump up to his hair. "And this is the family model you kept telling me to emulate?"

"I did tell you that my family is crazy. Ichigo and my father are only part of it."

"Okay..."

"Aw, come on, are you telling me that you've never had the urge to smack Gin or Rangiku?" Karin fixed him with a skeptical look, making him shrug. "No way."

"I've never actually done it. They can be annoying sometimes but I've never hit or kicked anyone. I spat watermelon seeds at Momo once, though, if that counts."

The darker haired twin groaned. "I've got a goody two shoes on my hands. What will you do once you have siblings?"

"Who said anything about siblings?"

"Um...do you really think your parents won't have more kids?"

"No..."

"What do you think they do when you sleep?"

Toshiro's face turned bright red. "I try not to think about it..."

"They're probably going to have at least one more kid." Sniggering, Karin punched his shoulder. "Now that'll be fun to see. You as a big brother. Hitsugaya-taicho, babysitter extraordi-"

The pillow hit her square in the mouth.

U_U

"What the heck happened here!?" Ichigo exploded.

Karin looked around the room. Isshin was flung into a corner, forgotten (He was a doctor, he could take care of himself, couldn't he?). Toshiro was sitting on the couch, his face red and covered in feathers. Well, when she said sitting on the couch, it was more like he was sitting on the frame of the couch. There wasn't much left of it by now.

"Toshiro threw a pillow at me."

"He threw a pillow at you." Ichigo surveyed the damage, a dangerously calm look on his face. "And what did you do, throw the couch at him?"

Rukia ran her hand through her hair. "You two do not exactly work well together, do you? Hitsugaya-taicho, what did she say to offend you?"

"She insinuated that my parents may...procreate." Blushing, he clasped his hands in his lap. "It devolved into this."

"You two can now clean this place up. Shove Dad into a closet or something."

"Of course Ichigo."

Toshiro knelt down on the floor and began to clean up. A few seconds later, Karin joined him. "Sorry. Ichigo usually isn't like this."

"Oh! Toshiro! I didn't know you'd come over."

"Hello Yuzu."

As Yuzu came into the room, Karin saw that there were a bunch of girls behind her. "Um, sis...?"

"What's wro...Oh!" Yuzu took a step back. "I think they had way too much fun in here."

"Hey, if you have any ice cream we can just stay in the kitchen." A redhead stuck her head into the room and surveyed the mess. "Guess we're not coming in here anytime soon."

"No, I guess not." Shooting her twin a dirty look Yuzu shepherded everyone into the kitchen, leaving the mess behind.

"I apologize," Toshiro said quietly.

"Why? I did it too. You don't have to apologize for everything that happens." A cheeky grin appeared on Karin's face. "I'm really going to have to teach you about having siblings. You always, always blame the other one."

"Karin!"