Chapter Five

Ichigo sulked the whole car ride back. Normally on long trips, Ichigo would insist to drive but she refused. Ichigo could drive like a maniac when he was angry and the ride to Karakura was a scary one. And on top of that... the car wasn't even theirs. Tatsuki understood the reason why he was pissed, in fact, she supported his anger but going to attack his father and Urahara was not going to help anyone. Ichigo got out of the car and slammed the door.

"Hey!" Tatsuki huffed as she got out to lock the car and she sighed as she stormed up the stairs of the apartment buildings they lived in.

Tatsuki sighed and walked in after him. She went into the building after him and reached their apartment. She tried to open the door but it was locked. She searched her pockets for her keys and winced. "Goddamnit!" She hissed before knocking on the door. Yasutora Sado answered, holding a newspaper. "He slammed the passenger door." She threw him the key before walking inside. "That's the only dent you can worry about. I made sure of that."

"Expected." Sado shrugged, closing the door behind them. "I'm surprised he let you drive."

"Where is he?" Tatsuki asked

"His room." Sado pointed

"Sulking like a fucking teenager." She huffed before going to knock on his door.

"If you don't need me for anything I'm heading home." Sado sighed, putting the paper on the counter.

"You got work?" She asked and Sado nodded. Sado worked as a firefighter. "Thanks, Chad. We owe you big time." She pounded her first on his door. "Ichigo!" Sado raised an eyebrow at her and Tatsuki sighed. "I'll handle it."

"I'll leave it to you. I'll come by tomorrow. Goodnight, Arisawa-san." He said

"Goodnight, Chad." She waved at him and he let himself out. She turned back to knock. "Kurosaki!" No answer. "... Want me to grab you a beer?" She asked. There was no answer but the door opened.

"I don't want to talk." He emerged into the hallway.

"I got that, loud and clear." Tatsuki said. "I'm just asking if you want a beer." Ichigo opened his mouth to speak but Tatsuki stopped him. "No one knew. It was intense and in the heat of the moment. So much was going on... they did what they thought was right."

Ichigo looked unconvinced. "I said I don't want to talk."

"I'm talking, not you." She folded her arms over her chest. "Karin is fine. And if she isn't... and no one let's you know then you have every right to go ham on them."

Ichigo looked like a cross between confused, angry and hurt. "They were supposed to protect her." He said

"Everyone thought she was at soccer camp." Tatsuki said

"But she never called."

"Karin is quiet." Tatsuki said. "You barely know you share a house with her sometimes... no one is at fault but the people who took her."

"I'm going to fucking—"

"Ichigo... let Soul Society handle it. We know nothing and we understand nothing of what is going on." Tatsuki said. "Then once we get some information or when shit hits the fan... whichever comes first—" Ichigo was slightly amused by that one. "Then we can go fuck that person up."

"I'm going alone." He said

"As long as we're on the same page, Strawberry-kun." She smacked his cheek playfully before heading over to the fridge to get two cans of beer. "You still want?" She turned around and he was still in the spot where she left him. She put the cans on the counter and sighed before walking over to him. "Want a hug?" She offered.

"You practiced your cop speech on me." She chuckled as she hugged him. At least he had a small sense of humour left in him.

"I'm not a cop, dumbass." She said

"Same shit." He said but paused. Tatsuki could feel the dread coming off of him. "No one knew where she was. She could have been anywhere... with anyone. She doesn't even remember what happened."

"I know... but there's nothing you can do right now except wait." She pulled away.

"I was supposed to protect her." Ichigo frowned. "This isn't the first time it's happened."

"I know... but we can't do anything about something we don't know." She said. "You live here in Tokyo. How were you going to get to her... fly?" Ichigo frowned at that. "... I'm sorry. But I can't help you right now. Neither of us can help Karin either. We just have to wait." She sighed. "So... food. It was a long car ride. I can cook today." She was about to turn but her phone started ringing.

"... If it's the cop guy, you can—"

"It's not important." Tatsuki ignored the call. "I told Kakeru that I'm going to Karakura with you this weekend so... it doesn't matter." She put her phone down on the counter after walking over to the kitchen. "So... what do you want? Yuzu's curry?"

"You don't make it as good as her." Ichigo said and Tatsuki rolled her eyes before pointing a wooden spoon at him threateningly.

"You will eat it." Tatsuki said.

"I didn't say it was bad." Ichigo said and Tatsuki let that one slide. He was rightfully upset and the least she could do was cheer him up. His dad did deserve that kick in the face but going to attack Urahara was taking things too far... especially since they're the ones who searched for her and found her. The worst was over and she was safe. That's all that mattered.

Her phone rang again and Tatsuki sighed before picking it up. "What?" She huffed in annoyance.

"... Hello to you too."

"Kakeru, I said I'd call you tomorrow." Tatsuki huffed in annoyance.

"I know, I know... I just wanted to check in. Your friend, is his sister okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, she's fine. She has asthma so we were in a bit of a panic when we found out she was sick." She sighed.

"I'm glad. I was a little worried about you... and your friend of course." He said.

"He's fine and he's here." Ichigo almost choked on his drink and shook his head vehemently.

"Tell him I said hi." He said.

"Stop flirting in front of me, it's disgusting." Ichigo gagged quietly and Tatsuki waved the spoon in his face.

"He says hi too. Look, I'll call you later." She said. "Alright, bye." She hung up and glared at Ichigo.

"Gross." Ichigo said before burping and Tatsuki waved the spoon at him again and he dodged.

Stupid insomnia... Yuzu thought as she woke up in the middle of the night, grabbing her katana and navigated through the manor at night until she got outside. She sat on the ground and put her sword on her lap, closing her eyes and trying to meditate and connect to her zanpakutō.

Nothing happened.

Yuzu sighed, trying her hardest to concentrate and eventually gave up and stood up. She unsheathed her sword and began to practice with precise slices. It was silly of her to believe that she actually has a zanpakutō. Do you always have to doubt me? A voice in her head spoke.

Yuzu stopped and looked around. "Who said that?"

You do not deserve to know my name because to you, I clearly do not exist... The voice said.

"Shihōin-sensei, I love and respect you but I am sleep deprived and frustrated right now so I will not take you lightly." Yuzu said with an annoyed huff.

How reasonable... a voice in your head is just brushed off so easily. It laughed. How cowardly you are.

"Shut up!" Yuzu hissed.

Oh! The kitten has claws! It taunted. Tell me, Yuzu-chan. If I do show you my face, if I do tell you my name, what are you going to do with it? Continue battering yourself about how weak you are... keep running away from problems or are you going to stay and fight like the warrior you aimed at being?

"I–"

"You Kurosaki's do have a penchant for creating noise."

Yuzu squeaked, jumping three feet in the air before turning to see Kuchiki Byakuya standing by the sidelines. He was still in his shihakushō but his haori was nowhere to be seen. Most probably he was still working up until this time but the youngest Kurosaki often wondered what is it that captains do that require them to stay up past midnight.

"I apologize for the noise, Kuchiki-dono." She said with a bow. He may have irked her earlier due to the way he spoke to her and Rukia yesterday but this was still his house and she was his guest so she had the responsibility to be polite and respectful. Besides, it was wrong on her part to just walk out of the manor and start training. She was not at home so she had no right. "I was having trouble falling asleep and since I missed my regular training yesterday morning I decided to remunerate myself."

She pulled herself back up and there it was... the cold, condescending stare that made her eye twitch. "And you thought it was appropriate to do that here?" He asked her.

"A lapse in judgement that I strongly do apologize for, Kuchiki-dono." Yuzu explained. "I promise to not do so again in future."

"And if there is no next time?" There was that eye-twitch again. She apologized for it, he did not have to be so difficult. "I heard you speaking just now."

"There's a voice in my head as crazy as it sounds."

Kuchiki-taichō raised an eyebrow at her. "And the way you best respond to it is out loud?"

Yuzu was plain annoyed now staring at the noble before her. "Yes, Kuchiki-dono, it is because that is just how us foolish, lowly humans rationally react to madness." She snapped. "Forgive us simpletons."

He ignored most of what he said. "Do you consider your zanpakutō calling out you as madness?" He asked.

"Well it sure as hell isn't normal where I come from." She said.

Kuchiki-taichō was taken aback by her response, blinking at her before he quickly recomposed himself. Yuzu was quite shocked herself that she was able to get such a response out of him. "You truly are your brother's sister."

"I beg your pardon?" Yuzu said.

"I was fully convinced that because you are a Kurosaki, you would lack a filter, be an impolite brute and solely come here to stir up trouble but you addressed me correctly out of utmost respect." Kuchiki-taichō said.

"Are you trying to say I am a disrespectful trouble making delinquent?" Yuzu questioned.

"No but I certainly thought you'd be the direct opposite which you seem not to be. He is aggressive but you seem... assertive." He explained. Now she was the one blinking, taken aback by the response. "I take it you have not attained your shikai yet." Yuzu quietly shook her head. "Probably because you have trouble using Jizen and connecting to your zanpakutō." Yuzu nodded quietly. "Why is that?"

"I... can't say I know." Yuzu admitted in a quiet, hushed voice.

Kuchiki-taichō watched her before speaking. "Have you spoken to your zanpakutō before?"

"Hai... I think..." Yuzu scratched her head.

"You think?" Kuchiki-taichō echoed inquisitively.

"My sister, Karin went missing a few weeks back and in my dream, that same voice spoke telling me to save Karin and it had guided me to find her until it stopped." Yuzu explained. "Now anytime I try to focus on it, it doesn't show up."

"Has it ever occurred to you that you only connected to your zanpakutō because you had a goal?" Kuchiki-taichō said. "Instead of focusing on proving your zanpakutō is real... focus on where your strength lies. What drives you." He then turned around.

"Uh... thank you, Kuchiki-dono." Yuzu said

Kuchiki-taichō merely looked back at her with a side glance before looking forward again. "Try to keep it down this time, Kurosaki Yuzu." Yuzu watched his retreating figure somewhat disdained but he did give her some good advice. Taking it, she sat back down and instead of focusing on seeing the zanpakutō, she focused on what motivates her, what drives her, what strengthens her.

Karin-chan... Yuzu thought. You were always strong for the both of us... now I have to be strong for you.

Congratulations, Yuzu-chan... Yuzu opened her eyes and found herself in a white, mirrored room. A lady in a white robe with dark silver hair stood there, her face had three black stars across her cheek. You know your resolve. You now have reason to know me.

Thank goodness! Yuzu thought happily as she stared at her.

However, you are not ready to know my name just yet. The spirit said. There's so much you have to learn... so much you have to understand... so many demons you have to deal with.

That's... understandable... Yuzu hesitantly agreed.

As of right now, you are exhausted and heavy with sleep. The spirit said. A weary soul is a useless one. Go to sleep.

But... Yuzu tried to protest but she instantly found herself outside again, sitting on the grass and surrounded by darkness. Deciding that she should at least be thankful that she made progress, she stood up and made her way back to her quarters.

"This is some really good food, Rukia-nee." Yuzu smiled as she ate her eggs. "I should really go thank Kumiko-san for preparing this!" Rukia raised an eyebrow of confusion at the girl's enthusiastic display this morning. Yes, she was happy that her surrogate little sister was at least being her bubbly self but the food was not all that good... Rukia knew because Yuzu's food tasted a thousand times better.

"But Yuzu, you cook much better than this." Rukia pointed out.

"Eh?" Yuzu looked taken aback. "Oh well," She shrugged. "I never really eat anyone else's cooking other than my own so I can't really tell. Will your brother be joining us?"

"He is most definitely gone already." Rukia said. "He is always at the Sixth even before dawn. Renji thinks he should get some more sleep considering he works until midnight but that man is more stubborn than your brother."

"Ah!" Yuzu said. "Anyways, I'll be off to the Fourth soon. Hitsugaya-kun said he would drop by to check on me and Karin during the course of the day."

"I've been meaning to ask... how do you know Hitsugaya-taichō?" Rukia asked.

"Hitsugaya and his taskforce were stationed there after that hollow thing that erases memories escaped. He was there to retrace where it came from... remember?" Yuzu noted and Rukia had completely forgotten that happened; her not being able to be remembered by everyone. It felt like a fever dream.

"He used to hang out a lot with my sister anytime he was in the human world after that" Yuzu giggled behind her hand. "Karin-chan had such a huge crush on him when she was fifteen." One of the chopsticks in Rukia's hand slipped onto the table. "I know, right? Don't tell anyone I told you this but she has a sketch pad under her bed full of drawings of Hitsugaya-kun. Karin-chan is an amazing closet-artist so I am actually amazed she could draw him from memory."

"Memory?"

"Hitsugaya-kun used to come randomly... once in a blue moon. He could be around one week then gone the next, come back three weeks later then disappear for months, came around for two weeks then disappear. Then he just... stopped coming. Karin thought he was just busy and had no time off since he had disappeared for months before but months turned into a year and Karin eventually got over it. Sure it hurt but... she realized that it was not worth it for a middle school crush."

"I... see." Rukia nodded. "Did she know have any concerns of seeing him when she got here?"

"Deep down... probably very deep down, she had concerns but she has so much on her plate right now so Hitsugaya-kun may have completely slipped her mind." Yuzu said.

"I just have a hard time imagining Karin with a crush." Rukia said.

"Kyaa! She is so adorable, it was the cutest thing I have ever seen!" Yuzu squealed. Rukia laughed. "You know, affection brings out a totally different side to a person."

"Ever experienced that?" Rukia asked, sipping her tea.

"No but I'd like to." Yuzu shrugged. "I've never liked a guy before."

"Never?" Rukia questioned.

"Nope." Yuzu laughed. "I've never met a guy I was interested in. You?"

"Me what?" Rukia snorted.

"Experience affection?" Yuzu asked.

"I'm... not sure." Rukia shrugged.

"Oh..." Yuzu said before sighing and continuing to eat. She paused and looked up. "What is he like?"

"Who?" Rukia asked.

"Hitsugaya-taichō. Karin doesn't like talking about him and I can only imagine how different it may seem from your perspective seeing that he is a captain."

"Hmm... Hitsugaya-taichō is a... serious person." Rukia said. "Well respected, respectful, quiet and reserved. He doesn't talk to people much outside of his vice captain which was why I was confused to hear that him and Karin were friends of sorts."

"Hmm..." Yuzu nodded.

"His division admires him. He is one of the best Seireitei has to offer and at a young age too." Rukia said. "From there... I don't know much about him."

"Hya!" Hitsugaya watched as his division trained from the top of the staircase. It was morning training and this time, he observed them as they moved. He had a good division, he didn't think otherwise. But they needed to stay on top of their game and on par with their duties. Jūbantai was, in theory, the smallest division in the goteijūsantai. While the thirteenth was smaller in comparison and the eleventh and twelfth were near the minimum bound of the regular range, it was solely because recruits did not want to go there because of sadistic captains or displeasing work environments — or both; Zaraki and his team were not exactly people you wanted to be around if you were just the right amount of sane.

The tenth was only slightly bigger than the thirteenth, capping at 141 people which included fourteen seated officers and him as captain. The standard was nineteen to twenty four seated officers and a captain in a division ranging from a two hundred to three hundred men. Many thought of it as elitist as the selection was rigourous and in some years, they would accept no one new from the academy or from transfers, but Hitsugaya preferred it this way for a reason. When he started, the division was too big and he was quite young so there was a mass exodus of personnel because they had no trust in his capabilities. Only less than fifty remained with Matsumoto staying by his side as vice captain. Hitsugaya managed to turn it around very quickly with successful missions which landed his division specialisation in investigative measures.

Some attempted to return but out of pettiness, he refused. Soon after, he realised the benefits of having a smaller division, especially to keep an eye on things himself. So he restricted entry to 140 people and shaved off five seated titles. Each seated officer had a team of their own comprising of nine unseated officers that would shuffle every year and the officers would report to him. It was more efficient this way to know what everyone was doing and how things were going. It was also better in terms of morale because the division was small enough for everyone to know everyone and for the smaller groups to build up some form of trust and efficiency. In fact, he took that strategy from Ukitake. While his division was not small by design as people did not want to work under a sick captain, those that did liked the thirteenth and how small it was on top of Ukitake's leadership.

He noticed a newer recruit, the newly appointed 15th seat officer get hit to the floor by one of his older seated officers. It was bound to happen: become a shinigami and expect to be placed in a brutal environment of a lethal fight. What happened next was what got to him.

The newer recruit was about to get back up to her feet but his 12th seat hit her and kept her down. "Do you think the tenth is for weaklings?" He probed her. She struggled on her knee and he hit her again. "Weak women annoy me. Stand up!"

"Hey!" Hitsugaya called out to everyone and they froze. Hitsugaya walked down the stairs and moved into the crowd as they started to disperse slowly, parting to make way for him. "Tokukura." He called out and the young man paled.

"T... taichō."

Hitsugaya flashstepped and in an instant he appeared before Tokukura to strike him. Tokukura raised his sword to block but it was too heavy and clattered on the ground. "Pick up your sword."

"B... but taichō—"

"You said it yourself just now, didn't you? The tenth is not a place for the weak." Hitsugaya said and Tokukura looked between his fallen katana and his captain. "What is the matter? I thought you weren't weak."

"I... I..."

"Help her up." Hitsugaya instructed and Tokukura rushed to do so but Hitsugaya stopped him with his sword at his neck. "Not you." Two other shinigami reached over to help her to her feet. "Fukugawa, are you hurt?"

"... Yes, I'm sorry." She winced, trying to bow but her knee hurt.

"Agata, help her get medical support." Hitsugaya said and one of the shinigami who helped her up nodded before leading the injured officer away. He turned back to his 12th seat. "What is your stance on fighting me now?"

"I... I can't fight you, taichō." He said.

"Why? Are you implying that you are weak?"

"I... I'm not, I just... I don't want to fight—"

"Why?" He remained silent and Hitsugaya took his sword away and sheathed it. "So you recognise that when someone holds less status, they automatically fear someone ranked higher. Does that make them weak?" He turned to everyone. "Line up!" He ordered and every moved to make fourteen straight lines across the courtyard in front of him with a seated officer in front of the line, facing him, except Tokukura who was held back by him and Fukugawa and Agata who were headed for the fourth. "Now... what is the one rule of this division?"

"Everyone has a role and a place." They chorused.

"And what does that mean?" He asked

"No one is lesser or more, we all serve one purpose." They completed.

Hitsugaya frowned. "I have said so several times... if you want bloodthirst, the 11th is to your right. And if you want to flex your nonexistent muscles, the 9th is to your left. At the 10th, we are one unit. If someone cannot live up to their task, you help them. When a teammate cannot carry on, you carry on for them. When one of your teammates falls, what do you do?"

"Pick them up." They chorused and Hitsugaya turned to Tokukura.

"Did you pick her up, Tokukura?" Hitsugaya asked and the man looked ashamed.

"I'm greatly ashamed!" Tokukura bowed. "I apologize, taichō!" Hitsugaya looked at him before looking up.

"Training is over for today. You are dismissed. Matsumoto will brief you on your roles at your stations." They all bowed before scattering in different directions.

"Tokukura... if you act out of line, then it is clear you don't value what we value here." Hitsugaya said.

"That isn't true, taichō!" He affirmed, keeping his torso bowed.

Hitsugaya looked at him before sucking at his teeth in annoyance. "Transfer papers are always available in my office if you feel the 10th doesn't suit your goals anymore."

"Are you kicking me out?"

"I don't kick anyone out." Hitsugaya rolled his eyes. "I'm just reminding you to evaluate your priorities. If they do not line up with this division there are twelve others to choose from or none at all. Deciding to stay means that not only do you adhere to what we do here, but you also do so with full intent of being serious about it. I am expecting the bare minimum at the very least. That is all." He turned and walked away.

You're very intolerant today. Hyōrinmaru noted and Hitsugaya ignored him. And you're in a hurry.

You're interrupting me. Hitsugaya complained.

Are you going to the 4th today? Hitsugaya paused in his tracks before hissing in annoyance.

"I have work to do." He muttered under his breath before making a beeline for his office.

Omake

"Karin-chan should really stop taking my stethoscope" Isshin muttered to himself as he searched her wardrobe and drawers for the wanted tool. He had patients to attend to and Karin always took his equipment. He gave up and looked under her bed, finding a girly looking teal green notepad with glitter and rhinestones on it. "Did Yuzu lose this by mistake?" He blanked when he saw the kanji for Karin's name on the side.

Wondering what on earth could his less than girly daughter could own such a notepad. He opened it and skimmed through each and every drawing and began to tear up exaggeratedly. "Oh Masaki! Kami-sama has answered my prayers!" Isshin raced downstairs and planted himself on the large picture shrine of his wife. "Our Karin-chan is growing up! She has fallen in love with a wonderful boy! He is my former third seat whom I loved like a son!" He stepped back as realisation kicked in before the tears of joy were replaced by sorrow. "Oh Masaki!" He re-plastered himself against the picture. "Our daughter is committing incest!"

Kon who was in Ichigo's body at the time was watching him, slightly disturbed. "Uh... that's... not how it works..."