5 times Toshiro held Isshin's hand and 1 time Isshin held Toshiro's.
…
1.
Isshin paced the study at Shiba Manor restlessly. He was still furious that his brother and sister had so recklessly allowed Toshiro to light fireworks during the testing phase, but even the captain had been surprised by his loud outburst downstairs just moments ago.
He tried to justify it, thinking about how Toshiro had saved Mari from an intruder only a couple of weeks ago, and how that meant that the Shibas now owed him, or how Kukaku and Ganju should have been far more careful to not injure a child with their business, thus putting a bad name to them and the Shiba clan in general. In reality however, Isshin's chest was tightening because he felt fear, not anger or embarrassment. He had exploded at his family downstairs because Toshiro had been put in harm's way and been hurt – that's all he cared about it and it wasn't because he thought they owed him anything.
They did owe him, but that was a separate thought.
Isshin had seen Rangiku's knowing smirks and Mari's poorly hidden smiles over the last few weeks and knew what they were implying. The captain had thoroughly denied it, more in an effort to convince himself than others, but he could no longer pretend anymore.
He cared for the boy, more than he had ever expected too – more than anyone had expected him too.
There was a timid knock and Isshin turned quickly to see shy teal eyes peering at him between the threshold and the ajar door.
"I'm ready to study?" the boy seemed to ask, uncertainty in his voice. He had a book tucked under his arm which he gestured to, as if to make his point.
He was often like that with him, Isshin had noticed. The captain wasn't sure if it was a shyness thing, or intimidation, or perhaps he was still reeling from their rocky start when Toshiro had first been brought to them by Rangiku. His eyes often held wariness, like he was being cautious.
Isshin stopped pacing and gestured the boy into the room.
"How is your hand?" the captain asked, eyes dropping to where the boy held his now bandaged hand against his stomach.
The other hand came up to cover it, as if Isshin's mere gaze hurt it.
"It's okay," Toshiro answered quietly.
Brown eyes flickered back up to teal as they locked stares for a moment.
Toshiro's voice was small, decreasing the convincing power of his answer and the fact Isshin had seen him not ten minutes ago burying his face in Mari's kimono, presumably to stop them seeing his tears or pained expression.
The captain reached for Toshiro's shoulder and gently steered him to the couch in the study.
They sat and Isshin eyed the wrap job his sister had done to the kid's hand as the boy maneuvered the book from under his arm to his lap. Messy, as Kukaku always was. The captain huffed and reached for the boy's hand.
"Let me fix tha-"
Toshiro's other hand, the unburnt one, caught Isshin's quickly, and the captain paused. He glanced up at Toshiro's eyes again, the pack of his mind faintly registering the cold fingers moving over his hand carefully. It surprised Isshin that something that felt so cold could also be so soft and gentle.
"It's okay," Toshiro repeated, with much more conviction this time. His wide eyes were careful as they ever were around him, but they also held a touch of… was that concern Isshin saw?
Toshiro squeezed Isshin's hand, as if to reassure him, before he gently let go.
A quiet moment passed between the two of them, as Isshin's brain tried to fully comprehend the fact that Toshiro was the injured one but he was trying to calm the captain.
After a minute, Toshiro reached for the book in his lap, opening it up.
"I did my readings," he murmured, flicking through to find his page and moving on from the moment they had just shared.
Isshin watched, still surprised and still feeling the residual chill on his skin when Toshiro had held his hand, as short lived as it was, to try and reassure him.
This was why he cared about the boy so much, Isshin realised, because Toshiro had a heart of gold, not of ice.
…
2.
Naturally Toshiro had aced his entry exam into the Spiritual Arts Academy, and after tutoring him for the last month, Isshin was not the least bit surprised by this.
He was still surprised, however, by how much his care factor had increased for the boy. Isshin felt guilty now, for his original approach to the injured street kid that had been brought to him, for referring to him as a stray dog and worse, for suggesting they just let him reincarnate. The captain was glad Rangiku and Mari had fought him tooth and nail because they were right – Toshiro was too good a Soul to not be given a chance.
The morning of his first day at the Academy came quickly.
Isshin and Rangiku had promised to walk him there on his first day, since entering the Seireitei for the first time could be an extremely intimidating experience, especially for a kid who would look entirely out of place, even in his new uniform.
Mari fussed over him before they left, of course. At one point, she got her old fashioned camera out and tried to take several pictures of the boy in the blue and white. Toshiro looked alarmed at that, so Isshin saved him quickly.
"Okay Mum, we best be off," Isshin reached for Toshiro's shoulder and steered him towards the front door. "We wouldn't want him to be late on his first day."
"Of course," Mari all but wept as she hurried after them. At the door, she gave Toshiro hug number ninety-eight for that morning. "I know they have food there but I packed you some amanatto anyway. Good luck today and don't forget to call and write."
Toshiro nodded and thanked her, his voice tight. Isshin rolled his eyes and dragged the boy from Mari's arms and out the door. Rangiku followed them, giggling softly as she waved back to Mari on the porch, the three of them setting off towards the Seireitei gates.
"Was she that bad on your first day at the Academy, Captain?" Rangiku teased Isshin once they were out of earshot.
"This was worse," Isshin sighed. "Even worse than when Kaien left the nest and I didn't think she was ever going to recover from that."
That earned a grin from Toshiro, the boy very much aware of who was the favourite Shiba child in the past.
Three of them walked on. Rangiku talked, reminiscing about her time in the Academy – her favourite classes, the big parties and the social clubs. Isshin threw her a glare when she pointed out the best place to get sake from and her favourite 'study hacks' which largely pertained to copying the answers of the person beside her.
They were bickering about whether that was something she should say to the impressionable young student walking between them, when they came up to the Junrinan town centre. Busy as always, the place bustled with Souls as Isshin and his companions pushed through the hectic streets.
Isshin paused, feeling a cold hand grab his.
Glancing down, the captain found Toshiro holding his hand tightly, staying close as he looked around the busy town with wide, rather fearful eyes. Glancing up, the captain noticed the dirty stares from the Junrinan residents.
He was used to them, of course. Rukongai Souls hated Soul Reapers, even the ones from the wealthier districts such as Junrinan. After all his decades of service, the captain ignored them so easily, he forgot they even looked at him that way. It was unfortunately something Toshiro was going to have to get used to as well. Sighing, Isshin squeezed Toshiro's hand and led him on through the street.
Toshiro hurried on little legs, staying close. For the rest of the journey, and in fact all the way until the Seireitei gates, the boy held onto Isshin's hand tightly, even after they got out of the Junrinan town centre.
Rangiku noticed, and sent Isshin a wicked grin that he was sure was going to come with follow up teasing later. Still the captain didn't mind. The kid holding his hand made him feel trusted, and Isshin was grateful Toshiro could feel that way about him after their tricky start.
The captain knew he was yet to truly earn that trust though, and that was why he was going to keep a close eye on the boy throughout his years at the Academy.
Toshiro would always have a hand to hold if he needed it.
…
3.
There was a time, early in Toshiro's career at Squad Ten, that Isshin needed to go to the Living World to speak to an old… acquaintance. The captain decided to take Toshiro with him, since the new third seat had never been.
There was no doubt that sooner or later the boy would have a mission in that world, so the captain thought it best to bring him along for some experience.
It went well. Toshiro grew used to the gigai after a couple of hours wandering around the streets, but other than that, he blended into the human world easily, unsurprised by anything he saw or experienced while he was there. Isshin took him to the shopping centre to see the modern world and the kid had endless fun when they stumbled into an arcade.
They even came across a low-end Hollow, one that Toshiro cut down effortlessly, saving a small girl and her mother, Pluses, before they even knew what was about to happen to them. The third seat carried out the konso and off they went.
Deciding he couldn't really put off the main reason for his visit any longer, Isshin reluctantly arrived outside the candy store. At the entrance, a black cat sat eyeing him up through all too familiar golden eyes.
"The Urahara Shop?" Toshiro squinted up at the sign, a frown on his features. "You don't mean… Former Squad Twelve Captain Urahara?"
Isshin nodded carefully. He hadn't expected the boy to make that connection so quickly. Alas, the boy was far too intelligent for his own good.
"The Gotei Thirteen exiled him, yet we still buy a lot from him, mostly products to help Soul Reapers on their Living World missions," Isshin sighed. "It's a bit taboo, but he's the best in the business."
Urahara was the only one in the business, really, except his successor who was even creepier and far worse to deal with. Alas, he was the lesser of two evils.
"Can you wait out here for me?" Isshin asked the boy, not really ready for Toshiro to meet the man just yet. "I'll only be a minute."
The third seat nodded, disciplined as always.
Isshin moved forward to the shop, holding the cat's stare as he walked past. He liked her more when she had been his neighbour.
Thankfully the interaction with Urahara was brief. Isshin got what he needed and a few minutes later, he left the store, wandering back out into the sunlight to find Toshiro sitting on the concrete driveway, black cat in his lap and patting her gently.
The cat purred happily at Toshiro's gentle affection.
"Careful, Toshiro," Isshin told the boy. "She bites."
The cat smirked, if one could call it that, but Toshiro was oblivious.
"She's very cute," the boy grinned.
"She used to be," Isshin commented dryly.
The cat hissed at him, deeply offended, and jumped from Toshiro's lap. Isshin rolled his eyes as it hurried back into the shop.
Toshiro was pouting as he stood, brushing the excess fur off his human clothes.
"That's the first cat that's ever let me hold it," he murmured sadly.
Isshin decided then it wasn't the right time to tell him that the cat was in fact the former Stealth Force Commander, professional assassin and noble clan princess, Yoruichi Shihoin.
"Come on," the captain sighed, turning away from the shop and heading out to the road again. "Let's get some ice cream before we go."
Toshiro followed, and caught up to him as they made it to a busy intersection. If the boy was surprised by the presence of cars and other vehicles that were not seen in the Soul Society, he didn't say anything.
Isshin had been just about to step out onto the busy road, well-seasoned enough to know how to cross a road in the Living World without being run over, even in a gigai. He was stopped, however, when Toshiro suddenly grabbed his hand.
"We have to wait for the green man," the boy answered simply when Isshin glanced back at him, and he pointed up to the pedestrian traffic lights.
Isshin went to scoff and snort, about to chuckle at the childishness of it all, but he shut his mouth quickly, spotting the family on the opposite side of the road, waiting to cross as well. Mother and father, with twin boys who might have been Toshiro's age (or human equivalent) and a baby in a pram – the mother pushed the pram, and the father stood beside her, holding a hand each of the twins.
Minus the mother, the baby and one of the twins and it was almost a mirror image of Toshiro holding Isshin's hand right now.
The captain felt something strange stir in his stomach as the cars finally stopped for them, and the green man lit up opposite them.
Toshiro continued to hold his hand as they crossed the road, and as they passed the family, the father sent Isshin a knowing grin, like they were both part of a secret dads club or something.
"Got to teach these kids about road safety, right?" he chuckled to Isshin, eyes rolling slightly.
"Yeah," the captain chuckled weakly, frowning as the family moved past them and out of sight.
They made it across the road, safely obviously, but Toshiro seemed to hold Isshin's hand all the way to the ice cream shop. Isshin mulled on it quietly, noting first how Toshiro's hand was no longer cold now that he had learned control over his powers, and secondly that a pattern seemed to be forming – it appeared that Toshiro liked to hold hands when travelling with him.
After the ice cream shop, where Toshiro had dropped his hand in favour of holding his cup of mint chocolate chip ice cream, they came up to another road crossing which would lead them back to the quiet forest where they intended to re-open the Senkaimon. It was there that Toshiro held Isshin's hand again, though this time there was no green man or heavy traffic. It was zebra crossing that gave them right of way and not a car in sight either direction.
Isshin felt the little hand grab his but said nothing this time, half expecting it now.
Was Toshiro just trying to blend in with the humans? Was he really concerned about road safety?
Or was he genuinely treating Isshin as a father right now?
Isshin found himself hoping it was the latter.
…
4.
Toshiro was quiet on the walk home from the Thirteenth, though Isshin was putting that down to largely exhaustion in the wake of being drugged by a mad scientist.
The boy promised he felt fine, though he would rather go straight to bed than eat dinner once they got back to the Tenth.
Rangiku too was uncharacteristically quiet, but Isshin knew that she, like him, was still trying to process the drama of the day as reality set in.
Kurotsuchi had tried to kill Toshiro – the Squad Twelve Captain could call it what he wants, 'research' or 'an experiment', but it was still murder that he had intended.
The Head Captain had promised to throw the man in the Maggots' Nest, but that wasn't good enough. Kurotsuchi could very well try again, and next time they might not get so lucky.
Isshin would rather die than let that happen.
He seethed silently, feeling his anger rise in him when he spotted the flags marking the point of the Squad Twelve barracks. They weren't going to walk directly past it, but even seeing the flags was enough for Isshin to feel his fiery Zanpakuto burning hotter inside him.
It was a stark and jarring contrast when he felt Toshiro's hand slip into his, his skin cold. Isshin paused to glance down at the boy, but those teal eyes were staring hard at the ground as they walked.
Toshiro liked to hold hands when travelling with Isshin or Rangiku, but never inside the Seireitei gates where he could be embarrassed.
It had been a long time since Isshin had felt Toshiro's hands so cold. Outside of when there was an obvious reason, such as playing in the snow or training with his Shikai, Toshiro's skin was usually a normal temperature. He was rarely warm, but he had enough control over his powers now to not let it exhibit on his skin.
Of course, the other reason Toshiro might usually turn cold was when he was feeling more heightened negative emotions, such as anger or fear.
The captain spotted the boy glance up at the flags quickly before ducking his head again, sinking just a little bit closer to Isshin as they continued walking.
Fear it was then.
Rangiku, who never missed anything (except drill training three times a week), shared a grimace with Isshin.
Internalising the sigh, the captain squeezed Toshiro's hand gently.
"What book should we read tonight?" Isshin asked him gently, his earlier anger quelling for a moment to comfort the kid. "Something new or 'The Tales of Toshiro' for the millionth time?"
Isshin saw the hint of a smirk on his third seat's features.
"I've only read it thirty-eight times to date," Toshiro mumbled, his tone somewhere between humoured and embarrassed. "It's your turn to choose anyway."
The captain chuckled.
"Well then I'll end up reading a romantic spy novel to you," Isshin smirked, "and you'll get bored of that quickly."
"I'll be asleep three pages in," Toshiro agreed with a nod, his grin that little bit cheeky but Isshin reveled in it.
"I've got a book you could read," Rangiku's voice was sly as she chimed in. "It's called-"
"No!" Isshin cut over her, with a little more aggression and panic that he wanted which caused Toshiro to jump a little in shock.
Rangiku didn't read often, unless it was a glossy-covered fashion or gossip magazine, but when she did she only read erotica. That was something Isshin had to live with knowing, but their little bookworm third seat could wait a few more centuries to find that out.
The she-devil of a lieutenant cackled her witch laugh while Toshiro only frowned in confusion. The boy did know one thing about his lieutenant and that was to not ask follow up questions when she laughed like that.
Eventually, between him and Toshiro, it was decided they would read 'The Tales of Toshiro' for the thirty-ninth time that night. The captain didn't mind, and he suspected Toshiro just wanted something familiar and comfortable after his terrifying ordeal and the whacked out version of reality he had experienced today.
The rest of the walk was quiet again, but this time Rangiku filled the silence as she talked about the latest questionable and somewhat unethical projects of the SWA.
Toshiro stayed close to Isshin, his little hand holding Isshin's far bigger one firmly, even once they were well past the Twelfth Division barracks.
He didn't let go until they came in sight of the Squad Ten guard towers.
…
5.
Isshin woke up to horrifically bright artificial lights overhead, and an angry and persistent pain in his- well… all over really.
Isshin woke up to crisp, somewhat scratchy white sheets that were definitely not his own, and a continuous and steady mechanical beeping.
Isshin woke up to an almost ice cold vice grip around his hand and quiet murmurs, the pitch of the voices off and the odd sniffle to break them up.
Isshin woke up to sickening memories of battle gone horrifically wrong.
The captain blinked a couple times and tilted his head towards the voices. Black spots covered his vision for a moment, a result of staring up at the fluorescent lights even for a second, but they soon cleared and he saw them.
Toshiro, wrapped in Rangiku's comforting embrace, his face buried in her neck but his hand sticking out to hold Isshin's tightly. Rangiku held him close, her arm around his back and the other hand in his hair. Her eyes were closed, and she murmured quiet words of comfort to him, but the captain could see by the way Toshiro's shoulders were shaking that he was crying.
That hurt Isshin more than the Hollow ever could.
"My boy," Isshin tried to call out to him as he squeezed the boy's hand, but his voice was broken and hoarse.
Still, they heard him. Toshiro and Rangiku's gazes snapped to him instantly and a second later their faces crumpled with fresh tears.
The pain in Isshin's chest increased at that and he tugged gently at Toshiro's hand, pulling the boy closer.
"Your injuries!" Toshiro tried to warn, voice wet, but Isshin shushed him and pulled him closer until he could grip his uniform enough to pull him up to his chest.
The boy didn't fight him after that and maneuvered himself onto the hospital bed, lying close to Isshin and continuing to sob.
Isshin reached out for Rangiku next and the lieutenant hovered over them both, resting her head on Toshiro's back and extending her arm over him and Isshin's chest gently.
They continued to cry as Isshin murmured to them that he was okay. He hugged them as tight as he could with his injuries and they buried themselves close.
They couldn't speak, and neither could Isshin really, but he knew that they had thought they were going to lose him. They thought he was gone, just like Kaien.
Six months later, but it was still so fresh.
"I'm here," Isshin croaked. "I'm still here."
…
+1
One the anniversary of Kaien and Miyako's wedding, the Shiba clan decided to have a picnic by the stream at the outskirts of Junrinan where they had met. Kaien and Miyako had always celebrated their anniversary that way, and now that they were gone, their family wanted to carry on the tradition.
It was painful still, but Isshin knew it always would be.
The family did their best though, to turn tears into laughs, quivering lips into knowing grins, sadness at their brother and sister-in-law's death into joy for the lives they had lived, and that they had been so lucky to be a part of it.
For the most part, that first wedding anniversary without the couple had been handled well. It was a better date, one the Shibas could actually attempt to celebrate, rather than the anniversary of their deaths.
Toshiro came of course, as Kaien and Miyako's unofficial little nephew, and Rangiku too, as their friend.
Taking away the internal pain they were all struggling with, the picnic had been nice. Ganju and Toshiro went swimming in the stream, as no doubt Kaien would have if he were there. Rangiku had Mari in a fit of laughter with her story about Kaien's academy days, and even Kukaku managed to go the day without muttering hateful remarks about Soul Reapers (thankfully she made exceptions for the Soul Reapers still in the family).
When the sun started to set, they decided to pack up and leave.
Isshin felt a weight lift off his chest then, seeing his family content with the day as they headed back to the manor. He felt responsible for their grief, as clan leader and head of the family, and it wasn't an easy burden.
Still, they looked happy, and the feeling was light again, so Isshin felt relief.
Toshiro walked beside the captain, carrying the picnic blanket that even when rolled up was too big for him to carry in just one arm, and talking excitedly about a skink lizard he had seen on a large boulder by the stream (thankfully he didn't want to keep that one, so Isshin didn't have to worry about Tobio getting a friend today).
Isshin glanced down at the boy and smiled softly seeing his animated expression as he gushed. Toshiro reminded him a lot of Kaien as a kid; the adventurous spirit in him, the gentle heart, not to mention the affinity with water.
Wordlessly, Isshin reached down and plucked the picnic blanket from the boy's arms. Toshiro's story was cut short as he glanced up at the captain in confusion. Tucking the blanket under his arm, Isshin reached down with his free hand and caught Toshiro's own. Understanding settled on the kid's face and he squeezed back before turning forward again and resuming his lizard story.
Isshin looked forward too as they continued to walk, his family not far behind. He was still smiling softly, staring into the sunset ahead.
He never forgot the last sunset walk he had taken with Kaien.
The Shiba brothers were walking towards their family manor, having bumped into each other at the West Gate, for the weekly Thursday night dinner.
It was just the two of them front the Seireitei attending that night, with Miyako in bed with a stomach bug, Toshiro on a mission in the Living World and Rangiku nursing yet another all-day hangover.
"Quiet one then?" Kaien chuckled as they walked. "No doubt Mum still would have cooked too much."
Isshin laughed, thinking about how Rangiku usually shovelled food in her mouth with little grace and Toshiro had Mari continually filling his plate even as he started to look sick from overeating.
Maybe it was the vivid image of the boy in his mind that had Isshin forgetting for a moment that Toshiro wasn't actually there with him, but before Isshin knew what he was doing, he was reaching for the boy's hand to hold it through Junrinan.
The hand he grabbed was far bigger, and rougher from decades longer of sword fighting.
Isshin's eyes snapped to Kaien in surprise as his younger brother stared at him with a raised brow and confused eyes.
"What are you doing?" Kaien asked, tone humoured.
Immediately Isshin released his brother's hand, realising the mistake.
"Sorry," the captain laughed – he supposed it was funny, though his cheeks were a little heated. "I forgot you weren't Toshiro."
Kaien's smirk was wicked. Isshin internalised the sigh, knowing what was to follow. Here we go again...
"Oh so you didn't just want to hold my hand then?" Kaien teased, tone mock offended and his expression challenging. "Used to hold my hand all the time when we were kids, but noooo, now Isshin has gone and grown up-"
"You're being dramatic again, I see," the captain interjected with a shake of his head and a slight huff. "How immature, like always. Damn water types-"
"- too embarrassed to hold his little brother's hand," Kaien continued, blatantly ignoring him. He pointed an accusatory finger at Isshin. "How come Toshiro gets to hold hands with you but not me?"
Isshin rolled his eyes, but his own smirk couldn't recede.
"Well Toshiro's a lot cuter than you," the captain pointed out.
"Well that's true," Kaien pouted playfully.
"Not to mention he's a child," Isshin continued, "and you're an adult."
"Excuses, excuses," Kaien muttered with an eye roll.
Isshin shrugged, unembarrassed now.
"He feels uneasy walking through Junrinan because of the dirty looks he gets," Isshin explained lightly. "It's become a bit of a habit now that he holds my hand when we're travelling through the town."
And when they were travelling most places, if Isshin was being honest, as long as they were out of sight from Souls that could tease him about it.
Kaien sighed then and nodded his acceptance, seemingly understanding that much.
"Seriously though," the lieutenant rolled his eyes after they made it through the busy Junrinan centre. "When are you going to adopt that kid?"
Isshin couldn't help but grin at that.
"Honestly, I thought about it," he admitted with a shrug. "I would do it in an instant if I didn't think we would cop so much backlash from the other noble clans."
There was uproar when Byakuya married below his station, and there was an even bigger uproar when he adopted Rukia from Hanging Dog. If Isshin adopted Toshiro, the backlash would be even worse because Toshiro would be directly in line to inherit everything and would assume Isshin's clan leader position one day. The difference with the Kuchikis was that Rukia was adopted in as Byakuya's sister, not his daughter – she would never become the clan leader unless Byakuya and his father died, and Byakuya hadn't produced an heir by then (though, to be fair, it wasn't looking like the man was going to produce an heir any time soon).
Isshin didn't wish that backlash on Toshiro, neither did he really wish the clan leader role for him either. It wasn't as glorious as it sounded, it was just a headache and a lot of unnecessary pressure – it was a burden, not a gift.
Kaien shrugged anyway.
"I still think you should do it," Kaien stated simply. "He means too much to you to be anything other than your son."
Isshin grimaced. That much was true. Toshiro meant the world to him, and it was getting hard and harder to accept he was officially just the boy's captain.
"You could always talk to the family about it, see what they think," Kaien continued. "Even step down as clan leader and start a new branch."
"That would make you clan leader," Isshin pointed out, smirk turning playful. "Not sure we want that."
"Not sure I would want that either," Kaien rolled his eyes, "but I'd do it for a cute little nephew."
"Yeah," Isshin hummed. Internally, he was grateful for the offer, and it was certainly one to discuss with the family, but externally he wasn't done teasing. "Speaking of cute little nephews, when am I getting one? Or a niece? I'm not fussy, you know."
Kaien rolled his eyes – hard.
"You sound like Mum," he muttered.
"No little Kaiens or Miyakos on the horizon then?" Isshin laughed, though to be fair, he knew Kaien and Miyako had wanted to enjoy married life alone for a while.
There was a tug at the corner of his brother's lips and it told Isshin all he needed to know.
Isshin stopped suddenly to send his brother a look.
Kaien's smile was ridiculous as it broke out over his features.
"Are you serious?"
Kaien shrugged, "Like I said. Miyako has a 'stomach bug'… for the next eight months."
Isshin choked on a shocked laugh. He grinned and clapped his brother's shoulder firmly.
Miyako was pregnant.
It pained Isshin that he never would get to meet his little niece or nephew. It pained him that he still hadn't adopted Toshiro, and it pained him that he wasn't sure he ever would be able to, not without hurting the boy or the clan.
Still, it was only a bit of paper and a name, wasn't it?
Isshin glanced down at Toshiro, his hand still in his as the boy continued to talk about this lizard he saw.
Yeah, this boy was still his kid, official or not.
…
A lot of you have been asking about Kusaka and we will be meeting him next chapter! I'm going to put my head canon forward for the reason they had twin Zanpakutos, because the movie was bs I reckon
Some of you have theories! Will you be right? Find out next time~
Please review :) xx
