The Calm

The day after, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads were in disarray. Byakuya had sealed himself inside his quarters, having every member in Squad 6 guard him, after failing to strike even a single blow to Ichigo and Rukia the day previous. Squad 9 have begun search parties to search for a missing Shuuhei Hisagi (Toshiro thought it best to leave him unconscious in the warehouse without telling to serve as a lesson) with Squad 11 doing the same to look for Ikkaku and Yumichika. Squads 2, 5, 7, 8, and 13 (The ones sent to the "Special Assignment") were greatly exhausted after the evening's events and were forced to rest in Squad 4's barracks (Captain Unohana still had strength to spare). Squad 12 was overwhelmed with work as Mayuri's way of calming down after failing to initiate his plans the day before. Overall, the day previous was one to remember for all of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

And the day present is one for Toshiro Hitsugaya to remember too.

At the moment, Toshiro and Rangiku were in Head Captain Yamamoto's office for bad reasons; Toshiro went to the World of the Living without permission, due to his hurry to save Karin, and was now being scolded by the Head Captain.

"Captain Hitsugaya..." Began the elder Captain. "Explain why you left for the World of the Living without proper permission..."

"It wasn't his fault, Head Captain!" Rangiku selflessly defended. "He was just-"

"Silence..." Yamamoto interrupted. "I was asking Captain Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Matsumoto."

"I left for personal matters that desperately needed my attention, sir." Toshiro explained.

"These personal matters can be told." Yamamoto said expectantly. Toshiro sighed.

"I left to stop Captain Kuchiki." Toshiro explained.

"Captain Kuchiki?" Asked Yamamoto, slightly more interested.

"Yes. Last night, he initiated a series of plots to interfere with Substitute Soul Reaper, Ichigo Kurosaki's current affairs." Toshiro went on.

"Is this in any way linked to his request to separate said Substitute with Rukia Kuchiki?" Asked Yamamoto.

"Indeed." Toshiro confessed. "For the past few weeks, I took the burden of halting all his plots in secret. But now that you ask, Head Captain, I cannot stop him in secret no more." There was a long pause, obviously for the old Captain to absorb all that the young Captain has told.

"Do you have any proof of his plots?" Yamamoto asked. Toshiro knew immediately this would be one of the first things he would ask. If he hadn't visited Kisuke Urahara, he'd have been struggling for an answer. This, however, wasn't the case.

"Over the past week or so, I have been recording what Captain Kuchiki and his underlings have been discussing." Toshiro said, pulling out a DVD and presenting it to the Head Captain's desk.

"Underlings?" He asked.

"Yes." Toshiro replied. "I forgot to mention, Captain Kuchiki began an underground Movement, gathering members with similar wishes. I don't wish to name names."

"I see..." Said the Head Captain.

"And if you want more words for it, other than my Lieutenant and mine, I'm sure Squad 4's 7th Seat can provide." Toshiro said.

"Before I make my decision to end this matter; please allow me to ask one final question." Yamamoto said.

"Anything, sir."

"Why are you helping the Substitute Soul Reaper?" The Head Captain asked. "What do you gain out of Captain Kuchiki's loss?" Toshiro was now put into a seat of awkwardness. He never had a reason to help Ichigo or Rukia, it was just out of kindness. But now that Yamamoto had asked, there was only one answer he could give.

"It's because I can't bear to watch another heart be broken..." Toshiro said.

"Go on..." Yamamoto said, interested in such a comment.

"Ever since Aizen departed from the Soul Society and betrayed us, I have seen that Lieutenant Hinamori was deeply heart-broken. I have seen her as a sister, and to see her in such a state aches my soul. Why? Why should Kurosaki and Kuchiki have to suffer the same fate as Lieutenant Hinamori? Because Captain Kuchiki says so? Because he doesn't want his pride trampled on? Foolish words for a foolish man! If Captain Kuchiki really wants to separate those two and cause them earth-shattering heart break, I shall fight to make sure that never happens!" Rangiku gazed at her Captain with awe.

"Captain..." Rangiku whispered in amazement. Yamamoto listened intently to Toshiro's speech.

"Very well." The Head Captain said. "You are dismissed. But be warned, never leave the Soul Society without permission again. Understood?"

"Yes." Toshiro said, with a bow, and he, with his Lieutenant, left quietly.

"Lieutenant Chojiro." The Head Captain called and his Lieutenant, who was behind him all this time responded.

"Yes, Head-Captain?" He said sternly.

"I think it's time way pay Captain Kuchiki and this group of his a visit..."

Byakuya was in his estate that day, his mood wasn't that to be taken lightly. Not only did they fail in their efforts to separate his sister from Ichigo, but most of their plans were thwarted by Captain Hitsugaya. His mood was so bad, the maids of his estate dared not to go within a five foot radius of him, or even make eye contact. Before he could wollow in his thoughts once more, one of the maids entered the room he occupied.

"Captain Kuchiki, you have a visitor!" She said charasmatically. She stepped aside and allowed the Head Captain and his Lieutenant to enter. Byakuya gaped slightly.

"Head Captain..." Byakuya said, standing up as to not seem disrespectful.

"Please sit..." Yamamoto said. "We have issues to discuss..." Byakuya seated himself, as did Yamamoto. "So then, tell me your end of the tale. My knowledge extends to you starting a group to separate Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki from your sister, Rukia Kuchiki. But what is your side of the story?" Byakuya took a moment to think things through.

"Head Captain, I know it isn't in my place to meddle in the affairs of the Substitute Soul Reaper, but consider my point of view." Byakuya said calmly. "I am not on best grounds with the Substitute Soul Reaper...I believe he is just a human who is nothing more than a shadow of a Soul Reaper. I have no quarrel with him doing his business in the World of the Living, but to enter a relationship with my sister, I cannot allow."

"Why can you not allow it?" Yamamoto asked. "Love is a force of nature. Stopping it's course would be as futile as stopping the trees from growing, or the sun from shining. Also, have you not for one second considered what your sister must be thinking?" Byakuya paused.

"I have not..." Byakuya said.

"Let's say, for arguement's sakes, you do manage to split the two up. How long will it be before one of your subordinates owns up and tells her you were the one who instigated their separation? How will she react towards you?" Byakuya couldn't imagine it. "Even if your subordinates remain silent, have you considered the impact on Rukia Kuchiki if you break her heart?" Byakuya's eyes widened open in shock. He never considered that possibility. "A broken heart is never easy to fix, especially with one as fragile as Rukia Kuchiki's." The Head Captain stood up, as did Byakuya and Chojiro. "There are no laws that forbids the interference between a couple; but starting a group, with no authority or permission is unacceptable. However, I shall give you a fair warning over it, and be gone. Next time you do something like that, you shall face a heavy punishment." He turned to leave. "And I must give you another warning. Either accept the love your sister has for the Substitute Soul Reaper, or accept the path of futility and insanity." With this last statement, the two left, with the maid bowing her head in respect to Byakuya.

Only hours later, Renji had decided to visit his despairing Captain.

"Hey, Captain." Renji began. "How are you feeling?"

"Renji..." Byakuya said.

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember our first assignment to separate Rukia from Ichigo Kurosaki?" Byakuya asked.

"The 'destroy the drawings' plan? Yeah, why?"

"When Lieutenant Hinamori conducted the plan, how did Rukia react?" Renji thought for a second.

"I was never there when it happened. But Hinamori said it was heart-wrenching to watch. Rukia was crying at the loss and was even more hysterical when she thought Ichigo did it. Glad I wasn't there, by the sounds of what Momo was saying."

"Would you have callen it...a broken heart?" Byakuya asked.

"Well, I'm not one to go ranting and raving about love and crap like that, but yeah, I'd say she was broken hearted. Good thing Captain Hitsugaya was there to prove Ichigo was innocent; who knows what kinda state Rukia'd be in if she went back." Byakuya remained silent.

"It was a good thing, indeed..." Byakuya said to himself.

A day after, Toshiro was sent to the World of the Living on an assignment to deal with a troublesome Hollow. It didn't take long, and the Hollow was quickly vanquished.

"Defeating Hollows really is a nice breather from all the worries of Ichigo and Rukia..." Toshiro said to himself. This reminded him of a certain someone he rescued two days ago. He had no more assignments and was free to either stay in the World of the Living for a spell, or immediately return to the Soul Society. Toshiro took the first. "Wonder how Karin's getting on?" Toshiro arrived quickly at the Kurosaki household, finding no need to get into a Gigai, since Karin could see him anyway. He quickly found the room that was Karin's and entered through the window, to see her quietly doing homework. "How are you feeling?" Karin quickly reacted and looked to the young Captain and smiled at his appearance.

"Hey, Toshiro!" Karin said happily.

"Captain Hitsugaya..." Toshiro frowned. He stepped down from the window sill to enter Karin's fair sized room that belonged to her and Yuzu. "I came to check on you. You must be pretty shaken after being kidnapped like that." Karin shook her head.

"It was nothing." Karin said calmly. "After all, I knew you'd come for me." Toshiro gaped. "So, how are the creeps trying split Ichigo and Rukia?"

"Quiet. They haven't moved since their date. Hopefully they'll keep it that way." Toshiro explained.

"Good." Karin sighed.

"And how are Ichigo and Rukia?" Toshiro asked.

"They're great. Never seen Ichigo look so happy. It's like Rukia's completely changed him, y'know?"

"That's what I wanted to hear." He was now ready to leave. "But don't get too comfortable. If anything out of the ordinary happens, I'm counting on you."

"W-Wait!" Karin called to the leaving Captain. Toshiro stopped and turned to Karin who was approaching him. And what felt like a tidal wave hit Toshiro, Karin gave him a short, but sweet kiss to the cheek. "Thought you deserve it, after you saved me." Toshiro remained silent, and was blushing extremely hard. He cleared his throat, still hot under the collar and extremely shy.

"And I think you should need this." Toshiro said, giving her an identical replica of her cell phone. "Your old one was destroyed. Call it compensation." Karin took it.

"Thanks!" Karin said happily. Toshiro smiled back and departed, leaving Karin to look wondrously on his trail as he left. However, Karin had a little spy...

"Karin?" Asked Yuzu, standing at the doorway. Karin jolted, not knowing her sister was present. "Who were you talking to?" Karin remained silent, only to ponder how on Earth she was going to explain what she was doing for the past two minutes.

That night, Byakuya now took drastic action, but not for the bad, but for the good; he intended to make peace with Ichigo and Rukia and finally call it quits. Byakuya appeared at Ichigo's house.

"So, this is where the Substitute Soul Reaper resides...Not too shabby..." Byakuya commented. He ventured into the back garden where Ichigo's bedroom window was, and using his Spiritual Pressure, walked on air up to Ichigo's window. But before he could enter and declare his presence to the two, he noticed a scene was going on between the two; not of bad, but for good.

"Ichigo..." Rukia asked, with a heavy blush to her face. "Do you think this is alright?" Byakuya analyzed the situation carefully, he couldn't afford any more misinterpretations or storm in tea-cups, and remained low, to see what the sitation was.

Byakuya's eyes were wide and his face was chalk white. Rukia was on top of Ichigo, with nothing but a small vest, while Ichigo was was the same, but only with a t-shirt.

"Of course it is, Rukia." Ichigo said with a calm smile. "You were the one who wanted it, right? Just go when you're ready."

"O-Okay..." Rukia said, timidly. Slowly, she proceeded to initiate sexual intercourse with Ichigo, letting loose a gentle moan and an amourous scream. Byakuya had seen enough. He made his escape before he could be found out. His need for peace between both parties was now gone, and replaced with the old desire to do whatever it takes to bring down their relationship. It was one thing to be kissing and enjoying themselves, but to have sexual intercourse right before his eyes. But now, the desire was not to separate Ichigo from Rukia any more. It extended way beyond that. And only when going into the Squad 11 barracks and meet face-to-face with Kenpachi Zaraki did he reveal his true nature to the two.

"Kenpachi Zaraki...you win, you may kill Ichigo Kurosaki..."