AN: So, second chapter's up, I guess. Takeshi is Hitsugaya's father's name by the way, in case I haven't made that clear yet. Kind of peaceful in a way, nothing really going on, just showing what his life is like before he returns home and meets Hinata.

KoreanGal5: Isamu was looking for a wife, sorry if I didn't make that clear enough. And thank you, I read your story, would've reviewed but I got kicked off a bit earlier than I hoped. I promise I will however, I really liked it.

A young 15 year old boy complained to himself as he beat the egg yolks until they were thick and a light yellow before adding the sweetened condensed milk. He wasn't a big fan of sweets, but since his family owning a confectionery, he often found himself making deserts when his mother was sickly. Today was a great example.

Key lime pie was the order, and he was the confectioner, so he slaved away with the ingredients. He almost missed his time in Aurora, when he was known for his combat skills rather than his cooking skills, but one can only spend so much time with someone like Isamu…not that that was his only reason for moving. He moved in only after he heard his birth mother had caught a severe illness. She was fine on some days, almost coming off as perfectly healthy, but those days were becoming rarer and rarer as time went by. He feared for her life, truly and deeply, and that was why he put up with doing something he hated in a country he hated, all for someone he loved.

Returning to reality, he poured in ¼ cup of key lime juice and started to mix the ingredients together once more until incorporated before pouring in another ¼ cup of juice and 2 teaspoons of zest. As he mixed for a bit longer, making sure not to over mix it once more, he was reminded of how much easier it was to train with a sword than work the kitchen. At least he didn't have to memorize complicated combinations and worry about overdoing or under doing things. With a sword, he could simply improvise and still come out the winner.

After he finally finished making the filling, he poured it into the crust shell and placed it into the oven at 350F. There, he wouldn't have to worry about it for another 12 minutes.

With 12 minutes to spare, he decided to visit his mother and see how she was doing. He pulled off the hairnet as he walked out the kitchen doors and stuffed it in the apron pocket as not to lose it. His white hair went wild without the net keeping it down and he frowned as he ran his fingers through it in a sad attempt to tame it.

When he entered the room, he found his mother awake, which immediately calmed his nerves. His thinking was drastic, he knew, but he couldn't help but worry that she might die at any given moment, she just looked so frail, so opposite to the usual fiery woman he called "mom".

"Lord Hitsugaya?" his mother called weakly as she saw him enter. A frown pierced the boy's lips as he pushed the dark indigo bangs out of her eyes. He couldn't stand being the splitting image of his father, not when she mistook him for the man every day. It hurt him to tell her that he died awhile back…

"It's rude to call your own son by his last name," he said in grim humour. His mother smiled as she reached out her hand to stroke his cheek. He held onto her hand, feeling how thin her small fingers where. Just skin and bones…

"Toushiro…" she said his name as though testing it for the first time. He tried to smile back at her as he looked into her deep brown eyes. The one difference between his father and him were the eyes; while Takeshi's eyes were violet, his were teal. They came from his grandfather on his mother's side, and however beautiful they may be, he couldn't help but desire the brown ones of his mother. At least then he would have similar features to her. "How's business?"

He sighed as he stood once more and ran his fingers through his hair for a second time in less than 5 minutes. He excused himself, giving her a peek on the cheek before leaving. One must always hover over the oven to watch the pastries so that it would come out perfectly. He really hated working in the kitchen…

He was slightly surprised to find the man waiting for him when he came down the stairs. He knew the man, and he was almost positive he didn't walk for a week just to get a desert…

"What do you want Juro?" he asked, not even bothering to hide the distaste in his voice as he pulled out the hairnet once more and put it on. "Isamu suddenly got a sweet tooth?"

"You know I'm not here for that." The man said as he pulled out an envelope and placed it on the countertop. "I was sent to deliver this to you; I hope you read it at the very least seeing the pains I had to go through to give it to you."

He stared at the envelope without a word for several minutes, torn between a desire to rip it open and read it and just plain rip it. But then again, he's been having mixed feelings about everything since that time with Isamu…

"I'm not rejoining the militia," he sighed just as the timer went off. He blankly looked behind him before picking himself off the counter and walking over to the oven to take out the pie. "Want to do me a favour and deliver this?" He packaged the pie before handing it to the man opposite him. He scribbled an address down on a sheet of paper, ripped off the end and handing that too to the man. Juro stared at the boy strangely; he had been expecting him to continue with his protests, not to ask for a favour. But then again, Toushiro Hitsugaya was known for being unpredictable.

"You're wasting your talent," Juro commented as he took the packaged pie. "You're our country's sure sign of strength, if you were to return I'm sure we could send someone to look after her. The most elite captains would be a small price to pay for your return."

"And who would be willing to substitute for me?" Toushiro demanded, sure that he won with that last comment.

"For one, I would," Juro smirked, knowing he had him beat as he left just then so that no other comment could be made.

Juro walked down the corrupt streets of the rain filled city, wondering what kept the boy from moving his mother to the Ice country. That would solve all their problems, and he was sure they had better medics than the Rain country.

He stopped at the mentioned address and knocked. A young girl around the age of ten years answered and they exchanged pie and money without a word. It left Juro feeling upset, in his country, no one would dream of doing such a thing.

"Juro!" Toushiro called suddenly and the thirty-something year old looked up to see him running towards him, no longer in an apron but rather his shinobi clothing, his headband fastened tightly around his left thigh, his long sword strapped to his back. "I'm taking you up on that offer. Take good care of her!"

The man didn't know what to think as he witnessed the boy running off at his world renowned speed. He guessed he should be glad that he was able to convince someone as stubborn as Toushiro Hitsugaya to do what he claimed he never would, but he wasn't expecting it and had no desire to behind in this foreign country.

But of all the things that bothered him, he couldn't stand hearing the hate and panic in his idol's voice. It made him wonder what exactly he delivered to the boy.

Not that he'll ever find out, seeing as how he had torn the paper to shreds.

An: I'll have them meet up maybe next chapter or the one after that. Reviews help :)