I know, I know- short story. Have no fear. The next one is at least 9 to 10 chapters long, at LEAST.

Entrust Oneself To The Future

Just 3 days later...

Hitsugaya: "Hey! Unohana wants to see you right away!"

Toushiro had completely recovered 3 days ago, just a few hours after that intense battle with the Coge from this world. He has been staying with his counterpart since then. But Vegeta was another story. The prince has been literally on the edge of death since that battle. Unohana has worked tirelessly to stabilize him since then.

Toushiro: "Why? What's wrong!?"

Hitsugaya: "She didn't say! She just said that you need to come to Squad 4 immediately!"

Toushiro feared the worst as he hurried to Squad 4 with his counterpart. When they arrived and found Unohana, she was quick to greet them.

Toushiro: "What's wrong!? Why did you need to see me so urgently?!"

Hitsugaya: "Is something wrong with his friend?!"

Unohana held up her hand and told them to wait a second. Only a second after she did, Kurotsuchi came flying out of the room next to them and smashed against the wall! Toushiro just stared at the Squad 12 captain in shock before he heard an angry bellow.

?: "Try that again, Mayuri, and I'll redefine 'pain' for you!"

Kurotsuchi: "How dare you!? You have no right to call me by my name, you horrid barbarian!"

?: "I'll call you by whatever I damn well please, twisted bastard!"

Kurotsuchi walked right back into the room again. A second later and he came flying out once again only with a size 9 foot print across his face. Both of the Squad 10 captains looked up at Unohana. She just calmly looked at our Toushiro.

Unohana: "I asked for you because you're the only one who can control him."

Toushiro looked at his counterpart who just shrugged. After looking back, he started walking towards the room. After carefully stepping over an unconscious Kurotsuchi, he peered into the room. Toushiro's face suddenly lit up with excitement and pure happiness! The saiyan prince was more than alive.

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Ragh! Even in this world, I can't get any peace from him!"

Toushiro: "VEGETA!"

Toushiro ran into the room and towards the bed just as his counterpart was looking into the room.

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Hey, Toushiro. Glad to see you again."

Hitsugaya smiled as Toushiro grabbed Vegeta's torso and hugged him tightly. Perhaps a little too tightly.

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Ow-ow-ow! Toushiro-Toushiro-TOUSHIRO! Still tender-STILL TENDER!"

The young captain quickly released his hold and slid off the bed with an apologetic grin.

Toushiro: "Eh heh heh... Sorry, Vegeta."

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Good god, for someone as small as you, you've got one hell of a death grip!"

Toushiro just looked up at his second lieutenant with a shy grin. Before he knew it, Vegeta had picked him up and sat him down next to him on the bed.

Lieutenant Vegeta: "But I forgive you."

Hitsugaya: "Unbelievable..."

Vegeta glanced up at the other young captain. He was shaking his head in disbelief.

Hitsugaya: "Yesterday you were still practically dead and now you're up and kicking Kurotsuchi through the wall like it's second nature!... What are you made of anyway?!"

Lieutenant Vegeta: "When you figure that out, let me know please. Cuz I've got a lot of questions pertaining to that answer!"

Hitsugaya started laughing along with Vegeta and Toushiro.

Toushiro: "So... How are we gonna get home?"

Vegeta rolled his eyes up with his eyebrows and dropped his jaw. He had no clue.

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Uh... That's a good question."

Hitsugaya: "And we've got the answer."

The two intruders both turned to the young captain's counterpart. Unohana came in and stood next to Hitsugaya with a warm gentle smile.

Unohana: "You'll both be pleased to know that we and the Z-Fighters are almost finished with a way to send you both home."

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Well it's about time."

Toushiro: "Ah, I can't wait to get home."

Unohana: "We can't thank you enough for everything you've done for us."

Yamamoto: "Indeed."

All eyes turned to the doorway as Yamamoto came in. Right behind him, all of the 13 Court Guard Squads, Ichigo and his friends, and of course the Z-Fighters.

Yamamoto: "We are all indebted to you both for saving us, both from Coge and each other. If you hadn't come along... This war would have ended in tragedy for both sides."

Ukitake: "Is there anything we can do to repay you?"

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Just get us home."

Toushiro: "I'm with him on that. I still need to give our Kurotsuchi a piece of my mind!"

Lieutenant Vegeta: "As do I!"

Goku: "Still, isn't there anything we can do?"

Toushiro: "The only thing you can do for us now is whatever you feel is right. We don't belong here so we can't tell you what to do."

Piccolo: "Hmph... Well said."

Suddenly, someone woke up.

Kurotsuchi: "Why that incompetent alien! How dare you kick me!"

Kurotsuchi started coming towards Vegeta yet again. Knowing full well what was about to happen, Toushiro slid off the bed and stood off to the side.

Kurotsuchi: "I'll teach you what happens to those who dare to underestimate me!"

But before our Vegeta could do anything, his counterpart beat him to it.

Vegeta: "Took the words right outta my mouth!"

The younger Vegeta grabbed Kurotsuchi and started to strangle him. The rest of the 13 Court Guard Squads didn't really try to intervene.

Kyoraku: "He had it coming."

While most watched the show, Hitsugaya suddenly remembered something.

Hitsugaya: "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Here."

Hitsugaya handed his counterpart a new Squad 10 badge for Vegeta. He had practically destroyed the one Vegeta had hidden in his clothes when they fought. In fact it was the badge that had saved the saiyan prince from being stabbed by Hitsugaya.

Hitsugaya: "Right before Aizen showed up, I fought against your friend there. I tried to run my blade through him but I ended up hitting the badge he had hidden in his clothes instead. I couldn't believe what I was seeing back then, but now I know. Since I destroyed that one, I thought I'd replace it."

Toushiro: "Thanks, I appreciate it."

The sounds of Kurotsuchi starting to really choke made everyone look up again. Finally, Goku showed mercy.

Goku: "Vegeta... Let him go."

Vegeta reluctantly released Kurotsuchi. The Squad 12 captain pretended like he didn't feel anything.

Kurotsuchi: "That's better. And you should work on your grip. It's a bit womanly."

Lieutenant Vegeta: "How's mine?"

Our Vegeta suddenly grabbed Kurotsuchi by the neck and pulled him up to look him straight in the eye! The saiyan lieutenant just growled as the scientist gasped and struggled. He was clearly feeling this one.

Kurotsuchi: "Not- *gag* Not this one!... Definitely not! *choke*"

Everyone laughed with enjoyment. But Toushiro had something different in mind.

Toushiro: "Save your strength, Vegeta. Use it on our Kurotsuchi."

And our Vegeta just released his death grip like that. The next day and our saiyan's injuries were all healed, and not a moment too soon. The portal was ready. The Z-Fighters and Soul Reapers were saying good-bye to Vegeta and Toushiro. The Z-Fighters and some of the captains had Vegeta's attention while Hitsugaya and the other Vegeta were saying good-bye to Toushiro.

Vegeta: "Sorry about... ya know, trying to kill you back there..."

Toushiro: "It's alright. I forgive you."

Hitsugaya: "We really can't thank you enough."

Toushiro: "It was nothing, really. We were just doing our job."

Hitsugaya: "Well thanks to you two we can finally get back to some peace around here. And with the Z-Fighters help, it won't take that long."

Toushiro: "Hopefully some of them will take some of those empty captain positions."

Just then, Toushiro pulled his counterpart closer to him and whispered to him.

Toushiro: "And try to get your Vegeta to become your second lieutenant. Trust me. He's the best life insurance ever and you'll never find a better bodyguard in a million years."

Vegeta: "I heard that, and I have to agree. He hit me pretty hard back there."

Both of the young captain's chuckled with the other saiyan prince. All too soon, though... It was time.

Goku: "Sorry, but... There's a little problem with the portal."

Yamamoto: "It'll take you back to your world. However, we could not get it to open in the Soul Society or in West City."

Hitsugaya: "It's open somewhere in the desert."

Toushiro: "That's ok. We can find our way home once we get back to our world. Heh, it's not the first time."

All of the Soul Reapers and the Z-Fighters looked on with smiles. Everyone watched as the young captain climbed on Vegeta's back. Toushiro patted his neck while he spoke in a soft voice.

It was time to go.

Toushiro: "Come on, Vegeta... Let's go home."

The saiyan prince nodded with a big smile and turned around. Within seconds, they had ran through the portal and were back in their world. The Soul Reapers and the Z-Fighters watched and waved from the other side of the portal as Toushiro and Vegeta headed for home. The young captain waved back while Vegeta roared. They were in an unfamiliar region, but they knew how to get home. And so they rode on. Through the desert and well into the night and followed the rising sun. In a prairie full of flowers and long green grass, a great herd of bison grazed. The thunderbeasts just watched calmly as the saiyan galloped passed them, their young even joining the run for a tiny distance. The forests seemed to part, as if showing them the right way. A river ran with them. They never stopped. They ran like the river. They followed the sun. They flew like an eagle. After just three days, they were running across a familiar plain. Toushiro recognized it. Just ahead of them would be a forest, and beyond that... Karakura Town.

Toushiro: "C'mon Vegeta! We're almost there!"

Vegeta was tired after running for three days straight. But he kept on going. The closer they got to home the more his spirit was lifted! Without stopping, they entered the forest. Their ears filled with the sounds of birds singing, bushes getting brushed against, leaves crumbling and breaking underfoot of the great saiyan prince. Before they knew it, the two of them found themselves staring down at Karakura Town. They both took the moment to enjoy the view. The whole of Karakura Town right before their eyes. It was a beautiful sight. But it was even more beautiful at the fact that they were now so close to home it was ecstatic. With excitement, Toushiro urged Vegeta on.

Toushiro: "C'mon Vegeta!"

The saiyan prince reared up and jumped forward with excitement as well! As they entered Karakura Town, Toushiro opened the Senkaimon and they charged through the Precipice World without stopping once. At Sokyoku Hill, everyone had gathered again. Their patience was gone and they were all very angry at Kurotsuchi. Just when they were about to start pounding on the poor man, a Senkaimon opened right in front of them. All eyes stared at the gate. And then, from within the bright light, Vegeta suddenly emerged with Toushiro upon his back! The saiyan lifted his head up to the sky and roared with joy as both of them charged towards their awaiting friends! Levi and Val were some of the first to intercept them, followed closely by the others as they all greeted the two. It had been a long road, full of war, tragedy and grief. But here, being pulled into the warm and caring embrace of friends and family, their light shining against the darkness... Toushiro and Vegeta knew that: They were home.

The End