A/N: I slacked off again majorly, I'm sorry!! I just don't feel like typing up all these pages (why, oh WHY?, did I write the chapters so that they are a billion pages long? WHY, oh WHY?!) … oh well. I'm an idiot hehe. ^^;;

Italics is singing in Japanese

(----) is the English translation

ENJOY!!

Disclaimer: …

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RECAP

Kurosaki Hisana became captain of the 5th Division after her death. She's a good captain and a good friend, but she has a secret: Aizen Sousuke wants her for his own benefits. While she's trying to fight off his attempts to weaken her, the Sou-taichou decides to send her, Ichigo, Rukia, Hisagi, Renji, Hitsugaya, and Matsumoto were sent to the Real World to help fight off the frequent Hollow attacks. There, the gang reunites with their old friends. It turns out that Urahara turned Karin, Tatsuki, and Tatsuki's son Takeuchi into shinigami. Hisana gets furious and tries to beat Urahara up after the gang fights off a Hollow attack. But in her disbelief at their willingness and her weakened state, she passes out…

Ch. 5 Over Chocolate Spread

"Hisana-nee, wake up!" Miko shook Hisana roughly. "Up!"

Hisana woke up with a start. "What's wrong?! Is it a Hollow?!" She glanced around her former room. "Heeeh… this is… my old room?" It was the same room as she remembered it: white walls with pictures hanging in black frames of the three childhood friends, with white furniture. She had a black bean-bag chair to one side of the room, and her bed, where Hisana was laying in, had its familiar cream covers on it. Her favorite black cushion was being clutched in Miko's arms in anxiety. Closet door half-way open, as always, revealed a multitude of colors, as did the top of her dresser. "It's been so long…"

The door creaked open as Takeuchi poked his head in. "Come on, there's an important discussion among the shinigami. Including you, Hisana. Up." He closed the door, smirking as Hisana threw a white slipper at him.

Stepping onto her black rug, she softly padded to the door in a tank top and cargo pants with Miko. She arranged her hair into a sloppy bun as the two walked down the stairs. "Hai, I'm here now."

"Oh, good. I'll get straight to the point. We need to be close to each other. The Hollow attacks are getting way too strong. If an Espada decides to invade, we'll need back-up from everyone available. Then, there's the issue about your names. You can't use your real names here," Toushirou said seriously, addressing the Kurosakis. He was sitting in the armchair. Rangiku, Hisagi, and Renji sat in one couch. Ichigo, Rukia, and Tatsuki sat on another. Takeuchi, Karin, and Hisana sat on the floor, leaning against the table.

"I've got a job at the Clinic back home. And Miko, Takeuchi, and Hisana-chan have to go to school. I know Tatsuki-chan and the others have jobs, but lately, they've been working at Geta-boshi-san's shop because the Hollow attacks are frequent and everyone's too spread out for Geta-boshi-san's comfort…" Karin said.

Silence fell over the room. "Well, then, we'll work there in shifts." Renji groaned a little. "The two little brats…"

"I'll take after-school shifts. OK, we got that settled, but names…" Hisana worried, twisting her hands.

Hisagi said, "Mmm… surname could be Hanazono? Lame, I know, but…"

"Sure, why not. I'll take… Chiharu. Stupid name, but it's only an alias. I don't care at all." Ichigo sighed deeply. "What name you taking, Rukia, Hisana?"

Silence. "…Hikari." "I'll take Yume…" Hisana and Rukia said softly. They looked up as Toushirou spoke up once again.

"OK. Everyone will work at Urahara Shoten, and the Kurosakis, to the public, are now known as the Hanazonos. Now that that is settled, let's…"

Hisana, Rukia, Miko, Orihime, and Tatsuki stood up. Miko and Orihime had been in the kitchen, and came out when they heard the meeting was over. "Let's make dinner!" All the women, except for Rangiku, disappeared into the kitchen. Rukia stuck her head outside the doorway. "We need groceries. Here's a list; go buy these for me, Ichigo, will you?" She threw a long list of groceries at her husband. "Take them with you, neh?"

Just as Ichigo and the others were about to step out the front door, Hisana caught Ichigo's sleeve. "Otou-san!!"

Ichigo stopped and looked down with affection. "What's up, Hisana-chan?" He ruffled her hair.

"Otou-san, don't forget the chocolate spread, neh? Please." She stared up at her father with pleading eyes. He sighed deeply again and shook his head.

"Alright. Kami-sama knows I can't say 'no' to those eyes…" Ichigo chuckled and kissed her forehead. Closing the door, he called, "Itte kimasu!"

Everyone left in the house called back, "Itte irashai!!" Collapsing onto various pieces of furniture, the women grinned. They had the whole time to talk while the men were grocery-shopping. A container of chocolate spread say in the middle of the group. "Neh, Hisana-chan, there actually was a decent number of choco spread left, right?" Tatsuki asked, grinning at her god-daughter while dunking a pretzel in the container. "Last time I checked, the stock of that was full."

"Mm. But we go through this stuff in about a week or less, remember? Besides, the more the better, neh?" Hisana smirked evilly and dunked a strawberry in the spread. She bit the juicy, sweet berry as the others began eating.

"Man, we don't get this in Soul Society, neh? This is like heaven!!" Rangiku sighed, eating a chocolate spread-covered marshmallow. "All chocolate is heaven… Really, this is awesome."

"Ichi-nii never tells us; what's Soul Society like?" asked Karin, chewing on a choco pretzel. "And not just the pros, but the cons too, please. It's pointless saying it's a great place when I bet half the souls go to poor parts of this 'great place'. It kills their hope when they see reality."

Rukia deliberated. "Want the cons first, or the pros?" She ate a chocolate-covered strawberry.

"Cons."

The three seated officers deliberated carefully. All three said simultaneously, with obvious disgust and hatred, "Rukongai." They glanced at each other in surprise. A thousand shared thoughts rang through the three women's minds.

Karin asked, "What's so bad about this 'Rukongai'?"

"It's absolute scum, Karin-nee. Eighty districts, and the higher the number, the more destitute the people get. They steal, beat each other, starve to death… even children steal!! Adults are murderers. And only if you had reiryoku are you able to escape these places. And if you didn't, you're, well, sunk," Hisana said bitterly. "My friend at the Shinigami Academy told me about it. She was from Rukongai."

Rukia spoke quietly. "You wouldn't believe how bad it was. Inuzuri, District 78, was the worst. Renji and I came from there. All of what Hisana's friend said is true. And out of all the six kids in the group we formed, Renji and I were the only one with reiryoku. While we barely managed to survive, the rest of them died."

Her voice quiet, Rangiku said, "It's hard to find family there. Half the time, you're looking for them. Other half, if you had reiryoku, you were looking for food. Either that or you were passed out 'cause of hunger. That's my story, anyway. Then, I met…" Here, Rangiku trailed off.

Tatsuki spoke up. "I feel so bad for those souls we passed on… Karin-chan, Takeuchi, and I told them it was a really good place to go to because Urahara's vague explanation of Soul Society was that was the human equivalent of heaven… From what you said, that's really bad… Then, if Rukongai is the con, the pro would be Seireitei…?"

"Basically." This was another simultaneous answer.

"Well, actually it's the shinigami and the like. We live in Seireitei, have jobs as shinigami, Kido Corps officers, or Secret Forces members and get paid, have housing. It's a comfortable life. The division dorms aren't really all that great, but a poor child would be overjoyed in a dorm," reported Rukia. "Seireitei for someone from Rukongai is absolutely paradise."

Hisana returned from the kitchen, ladled with more strawberries, marshmallows, and pretzels. She set down the bowl and turned to Miko. "Ano neh, Miko-chan, is all our equipment still in the soundproof room upstairs?" As she asked, she dipped a marshmallow into the spread. When Miko nodded, Hisana's eyes sparkled with happiness."Hontou?!" She dashed upstairs, Miko at her heels.

"The soundproof room… Miko-chan, Takeuchi-kun, and Hisana-chan practically lived in that room… All day, all night." Orihime shook her head with an indulgent smile. "At least those two will go back in there now that Hisana-chan's back."

Karin nodded. "Aa. They avoided that room for the last three years. They couldn't even look at the door. Hisana-chan's death hit them really hard. The memories in that room with Hisana were too much for them to handle."

"I had no idea…" Rukia covered her mouth in shock.

--

The soundproof room was the trio's band room. All the amps and instruments were placed around the room, and a huge binder of sheet music sat on top of the keyboard. More sheet music was strewn around the room. A mini stage was set up in the middle of the spacious room. The color scheme was black.

Hisana ran to a case propped against an amp and unzipped it to reveal her black and white electric guitar. She stroked the instrument lovingly. "I missed this room…" Plugging the cord into the amp, Hisana slung the guitar over her shoulder. She started playing a song and began singing along to the instrumental she strummed. Miko dashed to the keyboard and began accompanying Hisana's guitar.

Yozora wo miage hitori houkiboshi o mita no

(I looked up at the night sky and saw a comet)

Isshun de hajikete wa kiete shimatta kedo

(It began in a second and disappeared but)

Anata wa koto mou to mune ga itaku naru no

(I think of you and my chest begins to hurt)

Ima sugu aitai yo dakedo sora wa tobenai kara

(I want to see you now, but I can't fly through the sky)

Moshi atashi ga houkiboshi ni nareta naraba

(If I became a comet)

Sora kakenuke tonde iku donna

(I'd run flying through the sky)

Ashita ga kite mo kono omoi wa tsuyoi

(No matter what tomorrow brings, this though is strong)

Dakara houkiboshi zutto kowarenai yo

(That's why this comet is completely indestructible)

Suddenly, Takeuchi dashed into the room. "Hisana-a-a! Miko-o-o!! You idiots, you started without the drums! And without the—" He gave up and ran to the drum set. Soon, the drums joined in and Takeuchi was bobbing his head to the beat. Hisana kept singing, smirking at Takeuchi the whole while.

Ame ga futte iyada to boyaiteita toki ni

(Rain's falling, and it's miserable; when it hazes over)

Anata ga itta koto ima demo oboeteru

(I'll be remembering what you said anytime now)

Ame no ato no yozora wa kirei ni hoshi ga deru

(In the night sky after the rain, a beautiful star appears)

Sore wa kangaeru to ame mo suki ni nareru yo ne to

(I figure I can fall in love with the rain)

Moshi atashi ga houkiboshi ni nareta naraba

(If I became a comet)

Afureru hikari furasu yo itsumo

(I'd always spill overflowing light)

Kanashii toki yozora miru anata ga

(When you're said, you who looks at the sky)

Egao ni naru you ni motto kagayakitai

(Makes me want to shine more, like your smile)

Renji and Hisagi stood in the doorway, watching as the three played out their hearts. Hisana played the guitar solo as she grinned at Miko and Takeuchi. Takeuchi grinned back and contorted his face into a funny grimace. Miko laughed as she plunked the notes on the piano keys. Rolling her eyes and smirking, Hisana sang to Miko's piano:

Anata wa itsumo hitori nanika to tatakatteru

(You're always fighting something by yourself)

Soba ni iru koto shika atashi ni wa dekinai kedo

(I can't be by your side, but)

Moshi atashi ga houkiboshi ni nareta naraba

(If I became a comet)

Sora kakenuke tonde iku kitto

(I'd surely rush flying through the sky)

Kanarazu kodoku kono Isshun no hikari de

(Without a doubt, I'd reach you in this moment's light)

Anata no IMA terashi sora wo megurou

(Let's wrap your "now" around the shining sky)

Atashi ga houkiboshi ni nareta naraba

(If I became a comet)

Kitto soba ni ite ageru donna toki mo

(I'll definitely be by your side all the time)

"Damn, you guys are good… Hisana-san, another thing you're good at," teased Hisagi. "You're on a roll here." He smirked, strolled into the room, and fell onto the black couch. "So… black in here."

Hisana gasped in mock surprise. "Oh my god, did Hisagi-san just get the right color scheme of this room? It's so obvious, yet a miracle from Kami-sama!" As Hisagi growled, Hisana laughed. "I'm kidding. But, yeah, black's our color scheme. It fits our name, neh, Takeuchi, Miko-chan?" She took the drumsticks from her friend and began to light tap out a rhythm.

"Mm. Shi no Dakitsuku 13. The color scheme is black for 'death'. 13 is for the Gotei 13, of course." Miko smiled. "I mean, our parents are all related to Soul Society one way or the other. Soul Society is where the souls go after they pass on… basically, it's 'death's embrace'."

Nodding in agreement and understanding, Renji jerked his thumb to the door. "Barbeque outside. Let's go." He took Hisana's hand and led her downstairs. The others followed into the huge backyard. Karin ran up to them.

Up for some soccer?" Grinning, she twirled a soccer ball on her finger. "Let's see if your skills went down, shall we?" She kicked the ball to the field of grass, where Tatsuki and Toushirou stood, waiting.

"Hitsugaya-kun…? But…" 'Does he know how to play?' Hisana wondered. The group was joined by Ichigo. "Okay, Gotei 13 shinigami against the representative shinigami. Miko-chan, will you keep score?" she asked. "But, let's play American football instead, neh? It's fun tackling." She grinned.

Karin magically produced a football. "OK. Oi, Hisagi-san, Renji, wanna play?" she yelled. At their nods, she said, "We got Renji." After the rules were explained, everyone got into position. "Gotei 13 gets the ball first."

"Ready? HIKE!!" Hisana yelled. She immediately threw the football to an open Hisagi, who ran the touchdown easily. Ichigo and Toushirou were blocking Renji and Karin respectively, and Takeuchi was guarded by Hisana. Tatsuki tried to tackle Hisagi, but it proved to be difficult. "Uwahh, touchdown!!" Hisana hugged a proud Hisagi.

"HIKE!!" Karin yelled back. Ichigo snapped the ball right at them. Takeuchi caught it and ran using his track speed. Hisana and Toushirou both barreled out of nowhere and tackled Takeuchi to the ground. It was a tangle of limbs. Hisana managed to stick her head out and gasped for breath.

"Are you alright, Hisana-san?" asked Hisagi. Toushirou got up and dusted himself. Hisana stood and helped Takeuchi up. Smiling his thanks, he called his teammates over for the next down. Throwing the ball to Renji, Takeuchi ran to get open.

Renji scored the touchdown. "Hey, Hisagi-san, Otou-san, block me. Hitsugaya-kun, please, stay along the end zone. I'll throw it to you." Everyone nodded. "Hike!!" Hisana said. Easily catching it, she slithered through outstretched arms and threw it to Toushirou, who scored.

The smell of barbeque wafted over to the playing shinigami. Watering mouths were seen on everyone's faces. "Hike!!" At the call from Tatsuki, Hisana threw the ball high, so that it was close by to the center of the field. She ran up, kicked the football so it hit Renji, and grabbed the football. Running to her touchdown zone, she scored. Tatsuki and Karin yelled at Renji furiously for not getting the football, while Ichigo just smiled and ruffled Hisana's hair in pride.

"Dinner!!" Rukia called. She wiped some of the sweat from the heat of the grill from her forehead. Setting out plates and eating utensils, she smiled at Yuzu and Orihime in gratitude for their help. "Arigatou, Yuzu-chan, Inoue. OI!! I said DINNER!!" she added to the still playing shinigami, a vein pulsing in her forehead. "Geez… Chad, Ishida, Yuzu-chan, Inoue, let's just eat ahead of them. Their loss if they don't get the food while it's hot." Rukia began heaping plates with food.

Finally, everyone stopped to eat. Then, they all decided to sleepover at the Kurosakis'. Tatsuki roomed with Rangiku, who had been watching the football game with Miko. Chad roomed with Hisagi and Renji on the floor. Uryu and Orihime had their own room. Takeuchi and Miko were rooming with Hisana, just as they used to when Hisana was alive.

In Hisana's room, the three sat down on the floor in their pajamas, a container of chocolate spread between them. "It's been such a long time since we've had these choco spread talks… I missed these talks." Hisana bit into a strawberry covered with chocolate spread. "We'd talk about anything, neh…"

Miko laughed. "Mmm. Takeuchi-nii and I still have these talks sometimes, but we always end up… at least I… end up crying. We couldn't even go into that band room because of all the memories. And when we did go in the band room, we'd always use your guitar. I started wearing your clothes, and Takeuchi started to take your CDs and listen to them. Both of us started going to the mall like we used to more often. So often that all the store owners know us by heart." She ate a spoonful of chocolate.

Spooning a huge spoon of chocolate for himself, Takeuchi continued, "Honestly, your death… Hisana, it hit us really hard. We wanted you back alive again so you could be with us. We developed our powers to be like you and be closer to you, in a strange way. Hisana…" he reached over and crushed his friend into a huge hug. "…We love you."

"Me, too. Honestly, I can't spar anymore without thinking, 'Ah… I remember it was Takeuchi who originally fell for this trick.' I couldn't look at Momo-chan, my fukutaichou's, face when she's sad and not think about Miko-chan. I'm constantly eating anything that's chocolate, so Otou-san is always wondering where all the chocolate went. And I want to talk with you like this again, but…" Hisana buried her face in Takeuchi's shirt.

"You know? I can't help but wonder if my way of running a division is good. I mean, I'm dealing with a whole bunch of people who have been duped and betrayed by someone they trusted and loved, and to them, I'm a near mystery. Child genius, to be more exact. I just wonder, am I doing a good job at leading them? Can I heal their wounded hearts? Am I doing the right thing; am I doing this right? All sorts of questions run in my mind and it's killing me, driving me over the edge with worry. I WANT to heal them, but how can I if I don't even know what to do?"

'She's suffered as much as us…' they both thought. "Hisana… you've been keeping this all to yourself again, haven't you?" Takeuchi ran his fingers through his friend's hair. "It sounds like you've bottled it up and released it all at once. That's your habit, Hisana; you put up a front but inside, you're killing yourself slowly. And about this doubts thing… you're Kurosaki Hisana! The Hime-sama of Karakura Middle! Heck, the only person but Okaa-san and Ichi-nii to literally kick my ass across the room is you. Talk to your fukutaichou or Matsumoto-san for advice. Ask Toushirou if you need to. Don't bottle it up." He handed her a chocolate-covered strawberry. "Here. Eat."

Hisana took the strawberry after pulling away from his embrace. "Arigatou."

"Takeuchi-nii is right. That's your habit, Hisana-nee. It's already killing you: can't you see how thin you've gotten? There are bags under your eyes too. Not to mention, your eyes are bloodshot. You're beating yourself up even more… I can't believe others don't see this…" Miko fussed.

Patting Miko's hand reassuringly, Hisana smiled warmly. "I'm fine. It's only the taichou's duties. I'll be fine once I get used to it. After all, it's a huge difference from being Dai-san Seki in 3rd Division. Don't worry about me. I'll be alright." Spooning herself a generous helping of chocolate spread, Hisana ate the whole spoonful.

Miko, still worried, pointed out, "Your habit of eating all the chocolate when you're upset is showing itself, you know… And you're playing the "I'm fine / Don't worry" card… meaning you're not fine." She scowled. "Don't try fooling us. We know you too well for you to succeed."

Hanging her head, Hisana was silent. A tear traveled down her cheek, followed by a stream of tears, hot and prickly. Shoulders shaking, she buried her head in a pillow, crying herself to sleep, while Miko and Takeuchi tried to comfort her.

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A/N: well. Here is the end of Ch. 5… was it ok? Hopefully you guys didn't forget too much, since I put a recap… I've got to update more often, neh?

Please R&R!!