Hitsugaya was unprepared to see what he saw at the river.

"Kurosaki? Is that you?"

The feral mask turned his way before shattering into nothing. The orange-haired teen acknowledged the captain's presence and sheathing his bankai. "Toushiro. Hey."

"It's Hitsugaya-taichou to you, punk. What have you been doing? Everyone's been looking for you."

The kid waved him off. "Look, I just got a huge dose of blame and guilt back home, I don't need this from you either. Especially since you look more like Karin's age than my dad, I'm startin' to feel like all my siblings are attacking me."

"Karin?" Hitsugaya was instantly on alert.

"Oh, she's my younger sister. Pain in the neck. You guys haven't met her yet, except for Rukia."

Ichigo's blessed stupidity overlooked the small sigh of relief that escaped from Hitsugaya. Then the captain turned to more pressing issues. "Kurosaki, what the hell was that just now?"

Ichigo looked extremely uncomfortable. He squared his shoulders, as if prepping himself to take a scolding, then he flopped to the ground. "I've been in training for this."

"For the mask?" Hitsugaya furrowed his brows. "You... were in this form for a while in Soul Society, am I right?"

"Yeah. When I was fighting Byakuya."

No wonder it felt familiar. I had sensed it before.

"Toushiro," Ichigo began, rubbing his face with his hands. "I'm... I think I may be dangerous."

For a moment he looked not like the cocksure, arrogant ryoka who invaded and took on Soul Society for one Kuchiki Rukia's life, but a lost, uncertain teenager. Hitsugaya softened and didn't bother to correct him.

"How so, kid?"

"Don't call me kid when you're shorter than me, Toushiro."

Hitsugaya folded his arms and the ambient temperature dropped a few significant degrees. Ichigo raised both hands in surrender.

"I have had this problem since I mastered bankai."

"What problem?" Hitsugaya sat down, his legs crossed.

The teen turned amber eyes on Hitsugaya. "Have you ever heard of inner hollows?"

"... no."

"Well, I have one. And he's intent on taking over this body," Ichigo said, eyes now focused on the far bank. "and for a period of time he was winning."

"That was why you got your ass thoroughly kicked by the first two arrancar you met?"

"Yeah."

It was odd, the two of them in a conversation about Ichigo's personal struggle. But who better that Hitsugaya, when the captain thought about it? He wouldn't overreact, like Abarai or Rukia. He wouldn't jump at the chance to fight hollow Ichigo, like Madarame or Ayasegawa. And he certainly wouldn't gossip about it like his lieutenant Matsumoto.

"You say you've been in training. To eradicate the inner hollow?"

Ichigo's answer turned Hitsugaya cold. "No. I'm learning how to tap on its powers."

The young captain's hands gripped his knees. He had to make sure of the facts. "And who are you training with, Kurosaki?"

"You ever heard of the vizards?"

Whoomp.

Ichigo was stunned that a body so slight could hold a force so strong. Hitsugaya's hand was on his throat, pinning him to the ground. He hissed, "You are taking lessons from vizards? You are learning how to be a vizard?"

Using both hands to shove Hitsugaya off, Ichigo scrambled to his feet. "Yeah. What's the big deal?"

"They are abomination!" Hitsugaya's tone held a note of furious urgency. "They are fugitives, they are those who should not exist in the first place! I can't believe..." He chewed on his bottom lip, shaking his head slowly. "Kurosaki, how could you be so spectacularly foolish?"

"Foolish? My inner hollow was about to conquer me and kill everyone I hold dear. I had to do something-"

"-but to be like the vizard means you deliberately call on powers that are not meant for shinigami. It's like the arrancar, Kurosaki. If you think about it, why are there so few vizards out there if it's only a matter of strength?"

Ichigo stood still, not comprehending.

Hitsugaya reined in his impatience. "There are less than ten vizards on record. The first appeared almost two thousand years ago. Guess what he did."

"I'm not in the mood for guessing games."

"Slaughtered nearly half of Soul Society in the space of one hour. The hollow form went berserk and no one in Seireitei could stop it. And I mean no one: practically a quarter of Gotei Thirteen's captains were butchered. The shinigami, hearing the deaths he caused as the hollow, escaped in the chaotic aftermath. He never came back. He didn't dare."

"We did a lot of damage too, Toushiro, when we were trying to save Rukia."

"You don't understand, Kurosaki. They are abominations. They have lost all capacity to draw the line between good and evil the instant they chose to use hollow powers."

"They're not like that," protested the orange-haired teen. "I know them."

"How well do you know them, Kurosaki?" Hitsugaya studied Ichigo for a long beat. "I sure hope they're not like the legends. One of the standing orders any captain must uphold is that when he or she encounters a vizard, the captain must kill the vizard or die trying."

The human shinigami was silent and thoughtful. Then he looked at the captain. "I'm still gonna continue, you know that."

As Hitsugaya made to leave he paused. "Kurosaki, for your sake, I hope you don't let the others find out. And I certainly will try to keep this from the Soutaichou."

"Why? I'm an abomination, if what you say is true. Let him know and-"

"Kill you?" Hitsugaya's voice was very condescending as he cut the human off. "What did you think put the scars across his scalp? All over his torso? Mosquitoes? Two thousand years, Kurosaki, and the scars haven't faded. You're supposed to be smart. Think how he feels about vizards."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Karin turned and tossed in her bed.

She couldn't sleep. Knowing that her brother was safe made her glad, and knowing that he hadn't considered his family while out on his little jaunts made her mad as hell.

Was it because of the war? But if I can make it home everyday after training why can't he?

She faced the ceiling again, observing the bars of light and shadow across the smooth surface. Then, finally giving up, she got up to go to the kitchen for a drink, carefully navigating the crowded room.

Wait. Where's Rukia?

Karin tiptoed downstairs, but stopped abruptly. She could hear raised voices and was surprised no one else in the family was awakened by the noise. But when she saw that both of them were in shinigami form she understood.

"... I'm telling you, you should have informed me at the very least!"

"I decided at the last minute and I know you'll just try to dissuade me, okay? I don't need you to babysit me Rukia, Renji will be upset if you do-"

"-don't bring him into this!"

"Fine, don't bring yourself into my life either!"

"Bit too late for that, Ichigo. You don't even care now, do you?"

"Care about what?"

"All of us! In fact, your sister-"

"- is right here," Karin intercepted hurriedly. Was Rukia in the know? Karin looked at both her brother and at Rukia, then figured the girl knew. She was also shinigami, and therefore reporting to Hitsugaya. "You two are very noisy."

"Oh. I forgot." Ichigo looked away. Karin took the chance to shake her head at the other brunette, but Rukia was not entirely convinced. Karin's eyes flared.

"Of course you forgot that I could see and hear spirits. Like you forgot we existed and cared about you. It's okay. I'm quite used to it by now." Being deliberately callous was riling Ichigo up, and perversely Karin was glad about it. She took a long pull of milk before heading back upstairs. "Rukia, let's go. Ichigo would want to go to his wonderful room which is now all his own."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

When Hitsugaya turned up at the Kurosaki's residence the next morning, the first person who noticed him was Isshin.

"Hi. The clinic isn't open yet, though. You want to come back later?"

"I'm not here for the doctor," Hitsugaya said. "I came to pick Karin up. I mean-" he tried to amend his phrasing "-I'm here to walk Karin to school."

"Karin, huh." Isshin's eyes narrowed, then a mischievous glint emerged from the dark depths. "Have you had breakfast?"

Hitsugaya's eyes widened. "Uh, no. Sir."

"Oh, forget the sir. Just call me Uncle Kurosaki. Come on in."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Yuzu was curled in bed, her face pale. Karin dashed downstairs for her father, then skidded to a halt when she saw their early morning guest. Then she blushed when she realized she had on her yummy sushi pajamas again.

"What's wrong, Karin?"

She jerked back to the issue at hand. "Daddy, Yuzu's sick. She's all feverish."

"Oh?" Isshin ran up to the second level bedroom. Karin debated for a second if she should stay and interrogate Hitsugaya on his reason for the visit, but pajama embarrassment plus familial concern made her run upstairs.

Hitsugaya's here. Why is he here?

Ichigo emerged from his bedroom, no doubt roused by the noise. "What's wrong, Karin?"

"Yuzu's sick."

Isshin handed Karin her change of clothes. "Karin-chan, get dressed then get our guest some breakfast. And for yourself too. I'll write a note for your teacher in a second." He turned to see his son. "And you get into your uniform to attend class!"

"Yeah, whatever, dad." Ichigo tossed his father a wave before heading back into his room. As long as he was present for the exams he should be fine, academically. There were other things to be concerned about.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

She was tugging a comb through her hair when she came down the stairs. Hitsugaya was still standing in the doorway, completely bemused.

Karin wondered if she should yell, then decided against it. "C'mon in, I'll fix breakfast. Grab a seat."

"Thanks, but I'm not that hungr-"

"Toushiro?" Ichigo paused on the second last step into the kitchen. "What are you doing here?"

"You two know each other?" Karin winked at Hitsugaya, who nodded back. Ichigo is still in the dark.

Her older brother scowled. "Yeah." He plunked himself opposite the captain, blocking his view of the oddly domesticated Karin. Ichigo whispered, "Something going on?"

"Not really," Hitsugaya mouthed.

Karin emerged with Poptarts and glasses of milk. "Sorry, but I'm really not a good cook. Be satisfied I actually managed to toast them without burning down the house."

Hitsugaya gingerly picked one up. "I read about toaster fires somewhere."

"Caused by Poptarts and cheap toasters." Karin grinned at the captain, causing him to drop the pastry. "Dave Barry's great science discovery."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed as he scanned the two of them. Karin had plopped herself next to Hitsugaya and was now showing him how to eat it without getting scalded.

"How come you two know each other?"

"He's my classmate," chirped Karin. Hitsugaya was trying to maneuver the breakfast treat properly to answer. "I asked him to come by this morning."

"You did?" Ichigo asked the question before Hitsugaya could. "Why?"

"Well, I was hoping to ask him something while we were walking to school... be more private, y'know."

Ichigo's scowl grew more fearsome. Before he could say a word, Isshin bounded down the stairs. "Hey kiddos! Ooh, Poptarts. Karin, introduce your boyfriend to us, why doncha?"

"He's not my boyfriend!" "I'm not her boyfriend."

Passing Karin an envelope, Isshin's grin grew at the chorus of denial. "Ah. Young love."

Karin rolled her eyes. "He's not, okay? Hitsugaya Toushiro, class mate. Boy, obviously. Friend, yes. Not boyfriend whatsoever. But he's quite cool."

"I'd say downright cold," muttered Ichigo under his breath. He was ignored.

"So what are your interests, Hitsugaya-kun?" Isshin asked.

Hitsugaya shrugged. "Nothing in particular."

"Oh, but he's brilliant, daddy," Karin suddenly gushed. "You should've seen him at baseball the day before. Stole second base, then went for third. If not for the bell he'd have gotten to home. Yuzu and I were cheering madly for him, but too bad, time was up."

Ichigo choked on his milk. "He's already navigating the bases?" Again he was roundly ignored.

"And in math? Hitsugaya has the knack of calculating angles and trajectory. In fact, he's the one tutoring me. I still don't get it, but he's teaching me very patiently."

"Anyone has to be patient when they teach you, Karin-chan," teased Isshin, ruffling his second-born's hair.

"Quit it, dad, Hitsugaya's gonna think we're all nuts."

Hitsugaya swallowed his mouthful. "No I don't."

Ichigo tried not to gag on the beaming smile Karin gave the captain. No one paid him any attention. Hitsugaya was, by now, bright pink and trying gallantly not to smile.

"Last week, we got to talking about molecules in liquids and solids? Hitsugaya understood the whole chapter after one lesson, and he was asked to teach the rest of us the differences between the molecular structures of ice and water."

Isshin nodded. "Quite an accomplishment. Miss Seto is very particular about her advanced science lessons."

"No challenge there," muttered Ichigo again.

Karin finally deigned to 'notice' him. "You're still here? I thought you'd be gone by now."

"Wait a darned sec-"

"Bye daddy, we've gotta go. I'll be out late with Hitsugaya today. Again."

The hapless captain was dragged up by his hand and yanked out of the kitchen. Hitsugaya managed to thank Isshin before he was pulled out of sight by Karin.

Isshin was smiling wistfully at the two empty plates sitting side-by-side. "Ah, young love. I miss those days."

"I can't believe you, dad. You're happy that Karin's all... weird?"

Amused, Isshin looked at his son. "Just because you are a social maladjust who hasn't found a girlfriend, doesn't mean you have to be jealous that Karin is testing the waters. Don't worry, son, your dad still loves you. Even if you turn out to be all alone and unwanted or, y'know, gay."

"Ugh. Stop the mushy. And I'm not socially maladjusted. Nor am I gay." Ichigo cleared up the table. "I'm gonna warn him off her."

Isshin paused in the middle of unrolling this week's memorial poster. "You think she'll let you?"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

They were almost at the school gate when Hitsugaya pulled Karin back.

"Just so you know," he said quietly, "I don't appreciate being used."

Karin looked at her feet for a beat before facing him squarely. "Just so you know," she said equally softly, "I don't care."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Kon pulled himself out of Karin's backpack the moment he saw the coast was clear. Then he listened to the voice recorder again, pleased with his results.

Then he snapped pictures of Karin's open notebook.

The chatter and clatter signaled to Kon the end of recess and the return of Karin's class. By now only Karin and Hitsugaya's replacement souls would be back; the two were in sword drill practice.

"... so he was like, Tina, wil y-y-y-you b-b-b-b-b-b-be my, um, my, um..., and I was going, are you gonna complete that sentence sometime soon? I have to go home. And he turned beet red and ran off." Kon recognized the voice. It belonged to a pretty student who just transferred from the UK, Tina something. She had shiny brown hair that fell in waves to just past her shoulders, and for some reason was unusually popular among the girls.

Kon also knew Tina was a prime bitch-in-training. He might be a modsoul, but he knew bitches-to-be when he saw them.

The only two girls who didn't talk to her were Yuzu and Karin; the latter because she hardly hung out with the girls anyway, and the former because she was being worried about Karin.

Tina was holding court again. "Like I'd ever go out with that scrawny, bespectacled nerd anyway. I was trying not to signal the fashion police when he turned up in that bow tie thing, y'know? Like, get a GQ clue."

The rest of the girls tittered among themselves. They weren't as worldly as Tina, but somehow they desperately wanted to be in on the in clique, and they were doing extra homework to match up to Tina.

"So, Tina," asked one of the hangers-on. "Who do you want to go to the Harvest Festival dance with then?"

"Hitsugaya Toushiro."

They exchanged glances. The gigai of Toushiro and Karin were already at their desks, waiting for class to start, but the teacher had yet to arrive. Tina bent forward and said, "He will agree to be my date before the end of today."

She leaned back again, supremely confident. But one of the bolder or, in Kon's view, the dumber girls spoke up. "Tina, Hitsugaya has been hanging out with Karin since the first day he arrived here. I don't think-"

"Hello, little brain?" Tina cut in, annoyed. "Look at Karin. Bored, lifeless hair, half-asleep eyes, tanned skin that is probably dryer than a desert, kicks a ball around every other day. Then look at me. Wavy, shiny tresses, already developing body, smooth, white skin. Tell me who Hitsugaya will pick to go harvesting with."

Kon narrowed his eyes. He didn't like the captain any more than he liked Ichigo, but at least Hitsugaya had never treated Kon like a dishrag or some sidekick. And Hitsugaya was the busty goddess Matsumoto Rangiku's captain, and said goddess wanted to see Karin and Hitsugaya end up together.

Kon needed a plan.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Atchoo!" Hitsugaya rocked back on his heels with the abrupt exhalation.

Karin pulled her sword back at the last second while Hitsugaya shook the sneeze off. "You alright?"

"Yes, I am. Continue. Remember: thrust, parry, upstroke, stab."