Ichigo stood outside the Squad Ten barracks, a frown on his face as he looked for his sister. She was supposed to have been back by now. Next to him Aberon was taking a nap, unconcerned in the least about the fiery girl. Tælaf was sitting next to the black dragon, Rukia currently inside, and turned towards the distressed Reaper.

"She'll be back," The Ice dragoness promised.

"Tch, what is she doing anyway?" He scowled, jumping to various conclusions that he didn't like in the least. Surely Toshiro wouldn't be doing anything like that, right?

"I will not pretend to understand humans," Tælaf spoke. "But I would think for the two of them, they should be allowed their time together. He is king twice over, both for spirits and dragons. Such is not an easy task. He relishes his time here, both with her and with all of you."

"Still…"

His thoughts scattered as, in a flash of light, the two being spoken of arrived and he let out a sigh of relief. When he saw their expressions, however, he stiffened again. Karin was not smiling, face downturned, her grip on the white-haired being more of a forceful one than friendly, as if she was having to keep him steady. In turn, Toshiro seemed vacant, icier than ever, as if his mind wasn't all there. What had happened?

"Something wrong?" Ichigo asked, approaching them. Aberon picked his head up at the concerned tone in his partner's voice.

When Toshiro did not respond, it fell upon Karin to do so.

"That damned Dethmaiyn is at it again," She hissed.

"What happened? More demons?"

"They were gone by the time we got there, but…" She turned nervously to Toshiro. The young king had not moved, gaze fixed on the ground.

A rush of wind and the ice and fire dragon pair landed in the courtyard with them, Myndræl giving a comforting purr and pushing his head against his partner. Not even this got a response and the Ice dragon frowned, upset by the rejection.

Ichigo didn't know details, but judging by Toshiro's current state of numbness, it was something best not mentioned anytime soon. It would take time before he was ready to talk about it, and the Reaper understood that very well.

"You should get some sleep, Toshiro," Ichigo said.

Toshiro glanced up at him slightly. Hopeful, Myndræl tried once more to get a response, nosing his arm gently. Teal eyes turned to him, a hand lifting to rest atop the sapphire muzzle as they shared a private conversation. Karin turned to her brother.

"Sorry I'm late," She said.

"Don't worry about it." He waved it off, seeing as whatever had happened was enough torment for one day, probably more with how withdrawn the young king had become. "But it's getting kinda dark, you two should come inside."

The Kurosakis jumped as Myndræl gave a low growl in their direction before turning back to his partner. Clearly the dragon did not want his partner leaving his side just yet.

"I'll stay out," Toshiro said quietly, most of his focus in turn on the ice dragon.

Ichigo frowned but did not argue.

"I accept, by the way."

Confused, both dragon and king turned to Ichigo, silently demanding an answer to his strange comment. Karin was also confused, giving her brother a glance as if he'd lost his mind. Noticing this, Ichigo scowled at her before looking back at Toshiro.

"Being a Royal Guard. I'll do it," He clarified.

"Seriously?" Karin's eyes widened in surprise. "But…what about becoming Captain? Wasn't the Head Captain considering you for the Squad Thirteen Captain position?"

"Yeah, along with Rukia and dad," Ichigo shrugged. "But I have one condition."

Though still in a state of shock and grief, Toshiro managed to roll his eyes at the young man while awaiting the condition he had set.

"I stick with my family. Even if they decide not to be a Royal Family, I stay with them."

"Granted," Toshiro responded easily, turning back to Myndræl and scratching the drake under the chin, earning a purr.

"Now I-wait, really?" Apparently Ichigo had expected resistance to his request, completely caught off guard by the swiftness with which the white-haired being had accepted it.

"I know you well enough to know that you'd make such a request." His tone held no emotion, suggesting he still wasn't all there. "The Royal Guard is meant to protect the Royal Families and the Soul King. Your family may not be among the royals yet, but considering they are your blood relations and you have accepted the role they might as well be. Plus, there are six other Royal Guards." Now he looked once more at the taller Reaper. "I think I can handle my seventh being away all the time."

Karin laughed at that, as did Aberon and Dyrilæn. Truth be told, everyone was pretty sure Toshiro didn't need a guard. Oh Ruala was always around just in case, but even she had admitted that she would only help if she thought he truly needed it, which was a rare occasion in these past fights. With the Demon Lords still hidden away, there was no opponent strong enough to combat the Ice King.

"When you feel like coming inside, doors are open," Ichigo smirked, turning and stepping inside, out of sight.

Deciding not to follow, Karin stepped closer and gave her boyfriend a tight hug.

"I'm here if you wanna talk," She said quietly.

"Thank you," He whispered in reply, kissing her forehead gently. "I just need some time…"

"I understand." Hesitantly, she left his side and headed inside, knowing he needed some time to himself right now.

Once she was out of sight as well, Toshiro turned back to Myndræl and pressed his forehead to the leathery scales of the dragon's muzzle, cold as ice but comforting to him.

"So what happened?" Aberon asked, Tælaf beside him watching their king curiously, Dyrilæn picking a spot to lie down nearby.

"Don't worry about it." Was their reply.

Aberon snorted, clearly displeased with this answer, but Tælaf clipped him with her wing and glared to shut him up. Though a few years older, the Dark dragon was a little slow on the uptake…rather like his partner. In contrast, Tælaf kept up with stories of her fellow drakes, making sure she knew what was happening and what rules were in place so as to respond properly to any situation. The attitudes of these spirits and humans were still new to her, but she knew enough to understand that the Dragon King needed some time to process whatever it was that had happened, and only Myndræl would be privy to any secrets.

The three drakes gave a start as Myndræl let out a snarl of rage. He had been allowed to see what had happened and scorned the one who had caused his partner this grief. Standing calmly, Toshiro waited for the drake's overprotective side to calm down before speaking again. He had expected this reaction.

"Filthy beasts of darkness," Myndræl growled, already on his feet and tense, making Toshiro frown. This he had not expected. "Cowards of shadow! These slithering monsters will shatter under my claws for this."

"Myndræl, there's no need to be upset," Toshiro tried to calm the upset Ice dragon.

"Demon is not the right term for these unholy pests. To strike down an Elder is beyond cowardice!"

"Strike an Elder?" Dyrilæn bristled. In fact, all three of them did, their fangs gleaming as they bared them in anger. So that was the problem…Dragons held the utmost respect for the Elders and to harm one was considered cowardly and beast-like, as they had little power left beyond what they held stored within them. They considered his grandmother an Elder, and her death was like the death of one of their own, causing them to anger.

"This Dark Master finds new lows each passing night," Aberon snapped. "Whether it was his orders or simply a demon playing games, he will pay for harming an Elder."

"The other dragons must hear of this," Ahvain spoke, poking her head over the rooftop where she'd been attempting to sleep. "The demons must be punished."

"They will be." Toshiro assured, a little uncomfortable with how out of hand things had gotten. "But for now, don't make a scene. It's no doubt what Dethmaiyn wants."

"His goal was to harm you." Dyrilæn scowled, though it lessened as Toshiro glanced away, pain in his expression. "And you being our king we cannot sit idly by and let him."

"Though I appreciate the concern I just…" He paused, taking a deep breath before his emotions slipped through. "I just need some time to…to deal with this. The last thing I need right now is a fight."

Myndræl lowered his head in apology. He had overreacted and now the others were pressuring his partner for a fight. He hadn't meant to do that, he had just been furious with Kamai for striking such a painful blow, a coward's move. Sensing the dragon's sadness, Toshiro put a reassuring hand on his muzzle before stepping inside the Squad Ten barracks.

The current Captain seemed to be out at the moment, noticed mainly by the lack of a dragon outside; young Shadow. The others were in the lounge, however, but they did not press him for information. He sat quietly next to Karin and remained there the rest of the night, everyone trying to avoid any conversations that involved him for now, giving him his space. Karin put an arm over him to be silently supportive but likewise did not bother him with words. He made no move to be part of the conversation.

When Kadin Thane, the silver-haired Captain of Squad Ten, returned and dragged away Matsumoto and Rukia left to her own squad with Renji in tow, leaving the Kurosakis alone with Toshiro, did they turn to the quiet king.

"I won't ask what happened," Isshin sighed. "But you know you can talk to us if you need to, right?"

No words, just a small nod.

"Good. Now, even a king needs some sleep." He patted the young king's shoulder, those teal eyes glancing up at him in annoyance. "I suggest you get some."

With that the man left, whistling loudly as he went and being his usual obnoxious self. His children grimaced, though Yuzu giggled, and quickly changed the subject.

"So Karin says you'll be here for a week." Ichigo mentioned. "What all do you plan on doing in that time?"

"Waiting for your family to make a decision," He replied, meaning his offer to make the Kurosakis a Royal Family.

"We don't take that long to decide." A frown crossed the Substitute's face.

"You're here for Karin too, aren't you?" Yuzu gushed, poking the king's arm playfully. She giggled as he went a bit pink but he nodded to show that was true.

"Leave him alone, Yuzu," Karin rolled her eyes at her twin.

The black-haired twin yawned loudly, her siblings watching in amusement.

"I should probably get some sleep, that test wore me out," She sighed, standing. "Good night."

"Night, Karin." Yuzu waved her off. "Oh, I should probably head to bed too. Come on, Shimmer."

The small white dragon followed behind her like a happy puppy as she left to the room Kadin had given to her for when they stay over the summer. With the Kurosakis having so many connections to Squad Ten, he didn't see a problem with letting them remain there, and most of the squad already knew them. Ichigo was famous throughout most of the Seireitei, and Karin was starting to make herself known as well since she almost had Bankai, not to mention being the children of former Captain Isshin Shiba.

Muttering to himself, Ichigo took a seat next to the silent Ice King.

"Maybe the dragons should find another place to stay," He was muttering. "It's probably crowded in the courtyard."

"They won't leave their partners," Toshiro countered. "Especially the new ones."

"Yeah, that's how Aberon was." The man's brown eyes looked at the white-haired being curiously. Even though the boy was talking now, he was still clearly in a state of grieving, slouched over with his knee up to lean on, a saddened look in his eyes. Not to mention an aura of depression around him. Whatever had happened had hit him hard. "You look tired, Toshiro."

"A little bit, yes." Toshiro sighed lightly.

"Then get some sleep." Ichigo rolled his eyes as if in mockery, smirking. "I'm gonna go make sure Goat Face isn't doing something stupid."

"Good luck with that."

Ichigo laughed as he left; they both knew there was no stopping Isshin when he decided he wanted to do something. And if that something involved 'training' his son through random jump attacks, well…Ichigo had learned to live with it.

Toshiro waited a few minutes before standing and leaving the room, travelling down the halls.

'Will you be okay?' Myndræl's voice came through into his thoughts.

'I'll be fine, Myndræl, don't worry. It was…just a shock, that's all. Just like when…when Ukitake died. I told myself not to let every death get to me.'

'But that was your grandmother.'

'I know…' He reached the door he wanted and paused, wondering if he should really be bothering her. He was a king; he needed to support himself through times like this. Ever since the assault two years ago where they had lost many he had told himself to remain firm, to not get too attached, because he knew there would only be more lost. He had let hope slip in falsely that, because his grandmother was of the Rukongai, she would be safe from the demons. He should have realized the opposite, that her connection to him would threaten her as much as any Reaper, and that the demons had been waiting to slay her just before he could visit.

The door slid open and he was brought into a warm embrace; so she'd noticed him there. As he often did when upset, he buried his face at her neck, hugging her waist tight. Nothing was said, but he was fine with that.

"Come on," Karin said softly after a moment, pulling him inside. "You definitely need some sleep."

"I…I don't know if I can." Gaze fixed to the ground, he did not hide the sadness there. Any barriers he hid behind in public were removed when they were alone, and king or not he was still too young for everything happening to him.

"That's why you came here." Karin smiled, moving out of his grip and sitting on the bed, waiting for him to follow before she kissed him on the cheek. "I'll be right here, okay?"

He pulled her to him once more, a small smile on his lips and a warm feeling running throughout his body.

"Thank you."

"Hey, that's what partners are for." She chuckled.

They settled in to sleep, his arms around her in a protective manner but also in a way that suggested he wanted to make absolutely sure she was there with him. He was usually like this when they spent a night together after a long time away and she'd gotten used to it. Instead, she just turned so she was facing him and cuddled up close, bringing a smile to his face.

Whatever happened next, they would endure. Kamai would not get away with what he had done, that was for sure.

But the seeds of darkness were sown. A tiny shadow in the icy landscape, waiting to grow. The one thing that could kill without ever lifting a sword, the one thing that could torture without lifting a hand. The one thing that could break down the Soul King to nothing if left untreated.

Fear.

Sorry this took so long, I was at a convention and my Beta was busy. But, it's here! Enjoy!

Beta'd by Writer of Craziness.