A/N: Goddamit. Late chapter is late. Sorry guys, I had really horrible writers block for this thing, and it just broke. DX Not beta'd, but I figured you'd want it NOW. I'm SUPER SORRY.

I hope you guys like it.;;;

Chapter 7

For the next several weeks, Hitsugaya watched Rukia and Renji closely. There was obviously tension between them, and Toshiro didn't like it. Mentioning one in the other's presence was a surefire way to kill the mood, so pretty soon the soccer team and friends of both had learned to keep their mouths shut. Despite the resentment between them, Renji stuck to Rukia like glue, which only angered her and made her yell more.

Needless to say, Momo, Izuru, Hanataro, Rikichi, Rin and Toshiro were non-too-pleased when their quarreling friends joined them for lunch. Finally, after an intense battle of words between the two, Hitsugaya snapped. He stood, slamming his hands down on the table.

"Goddamit! I don't care if you guys are pissed over Kuchiki-sama's decision, but for the love of all things holy, BE QUIET! I get headaches day after day from you! If all you guys are gonna do is fight, then eat somewhere else!" Fuming, the white-haired teenager grabbed his backpack and stalked off, half-eaten lunch forgotten.

"I think he's angry," Hanataro said meekly after a stunned silence.

"Naw, really?" Renji asked, sarcasm dripping from his words. "Couldn't tell."

"You really are as stupid as you look," Rukia snapped.

"What'd you say?!"

"You heard what I said!"

"Midget!"

"Tattoo-ape!"

Wordlessly, Izuru stood, lunch tray in hand. "I'm sorry, Abarai-kun, but Toshiro was right. You two need to stop fighting." Then he was gone. Rin and Rikichi followed, as did Hanataro after a stuttered apology. Momo looked between Renji and the backs of her friends.

"I'm going to go check if 'Shiro-chan is alright," she muttered before standing, grabbing her backpack and lunch, then going to find her friend.

Afterschool found Toshiro Hitsugaya standing in the gym. He wasn't sure why he was there, but he hadn't really been thinking about it when he'd left fifth period. He'd just walked intent on not getting caught by Momo or any of his friends.

So now he was here. With a sigh, he set his backpack on the bleachers and sat down beside it.

"Hey, Toshi, whatcha doin' here?" He looked up. Kaien was standing in front of him, his track jacket tied around his waist, a soda in one hand. His bag was slung over his shoulder and his blue eyes were puzzled.

"Hey, Shiba-sensei."

"Hey, hey, woah, woah, hey." Kaien backed up. "Who are you and what have you done with Toshiro Hitsugaya?"

"Kaien, then."

"That's better." The soccer coach took a swig of his soda. "What's up?"

The teenager shrugged. Kaien dropped his bag on the floor and sat next to the white-haired teen. "Wanna talk about it?"

Hitsugaya shrugged again. Kaien set his soda to the side and opened his bag. "Coke or Fanta?"

". . .What?"

"Do ya want a Coca-Cola or a Fanta?" The black-haired man repeated, holding up a soda can of each.

"Coke, I guess." Kiaen tossed him the red can and Toshiro caught it and opened it. "Dad never lets me have soda . . ."

"What Ukitake doesn't know won't hurt him, will it?" Kaien asked with a sly grin. He drained his first soda then popped the top on the Fanta. "It'll be our little secret, then."

Hitsugaya sipped his Coke quietly. "Rukia and Renji are fighting." He wasn't really sure what had compelled him to say it, it had just come out.

"Ah, that's what you're all bent outta shape about." Kaien leaned back, resting his back on the bleacher behind him. "Do you know why?"

"Well . . ." Hitsugaya stared at his can. "I don't know for certain, but I've heard it's about Byakuya."

Kaien scowled a bit. "That pish-posh man doesn't know when to stay outta others business," he informed his pupil. "He got into Rukia's life and pushed her around, so she ran away. Now that she's back, he's doin' it again. It's making her right mad."

The teenager nodded. "Why?"

"Why what?" Kaien sipped his soda.

"Why's he taking over her life like that?"

"Oh, that." Kaien shrugged. "Well, didja know Byakuya was once married?"

"What?!" Toshiro stared at him.

"Yup, he was. To some woman called Hisana, or somethin'. I only met her once. Anyways, she died, but not before tellin' Byakuya she'd had a sister, but she'd had to leave her or somethin'."

"Rukia . . ." Comprehension dawned in Hitsugaya's seafoam eyes.

"Yup. Well, Byakuya used his bucks to find her, and adopted her, makin' her move from where she was staying over in Rukongai to Seireitei. She wasn't happy, but she agreed. So everythin' was goin' fine 'till Byakuya started takin' over. Limitin' her freedoms and such." Kaien paused to take a gulp of his soda. After he swallowed he continued.

"So this summer, she ran away. To a place called Karakura. Apparently she made friends there and was stayin' with 'em when Byakuya's detectives found her and dragged her home. That was two weeks ago. Apparently, since she's close friends with Renji, that idiot asked 'im to keep tabs on her. So that's why they're at each other's throats all the time."

Hitsugaya nodded. "So Rukia's mad that Renji agreed to keep tabs on her?"

"That's about the gist of it." Kaien took a final swig of his soda. "You understand now?"

"I . . . think so."

"Good." Kaien stood, crumpling his can. "Want a ride to yer place? It isn't that far outta the way for me. Grab your bag, let's go."

"Okay." Hitsugaya finished his coke and tossed the empty can in a recycling bin on the way out of the school. The grounds were fairly deserted as the two climbed into Kaien's black Aston Martin DB9. Kaien started the car and it roared to life.

"You like?" The soccer coach asked with a grin. "She's a beaut. Got her with one of my last paychecks from the Gotei. Worth every penny, too." Hitsugaya nodded aimlessly as Kaien pulled his car out of the parking lot and out onto the road. It only took them a few minutes to get to Ukitake's house, and Kaien idled at the curb while Toshiro clambered out.

"See ya tomorrow at practice, Toshi," Kaien said, saluting him.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow." Hitsugaya nodded and the black sports car rolled away. The teenager made his way up the front steps and pushed through the door to the house.

"You're late," was the first thing Ukitake said. It wasn't said harshly, just stating the fact.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I talked with Kaien—"

"Shiba-sensei, Toshiro."

"—Shiba-sensei after school. He gave me a ride home."

"I know, I saw him leave." Ukitake nodded at the living room window, which had a perfect view of the street. "What did you talk about?'

"Rukia and Renji."

"Ah." Ukitake smiled knowingly, then handed his son the phone. "Call Hinamori-kun, Toshiro. She's worried sick about where you went."

Hitsugaya flushed. "Right, I'll do that."

As his son hurried off, dialing his friend's number, Ukitake chuckled quietly to himself. Teenagers.

A/N: Kaien's sexy car looks like dis: http://i28(dot)photobucket(dot)

I'll hopefully update sooner. DX