A/N: Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, just the next generation kids.

~5~5~5~5~

Chapter 5

As soon as Yuki's back hit the wall, Toushirou was pissed. No, not at Yuki. He could never be angry at his own daughter. Not ever.

It was Kusaka he was mad at. It was him who made his daughter go crazy. It was his fault that his daughter was having trust issues. Kusaka had already made some damage that could last for the rest of his little girl's life. That damage would most likely never go away. Some of it would probably still show itself from time to time.

Yuki noticed the anger of the man kneeling in front of her. She saw his fists clench. She saw his teeth also clench. But she had noticed his face when she had squeaked and he had turned around. It had gone soft and full of worry. It had gone from angry to caring. Maybe he really was her father. Maybe, just maybe, Kusaka was lying to her. Maybe Kusaka was just twisting her mind to make her have trust issues.

Fortunately for Hitsugaya, Kusaka had recovered rather quickly. That meant that Toushirou could kick his ass sooner than he had expected to. Toushirou glad for this.

Toushirou was silent as Kusaka got up in no pain at all. Toushirou had drawn his sword before Kusaka's face was all the way off the ground. Toushirou could feel his anger and emotions radiate from him in waves like a hurricane. He was the center of the storm and while his reaitsu was waving in swirls around him, destroying anyone or anything that got in his way.

Kusaka also got his sword out and barrowed his eyes, as did Toushirou. But Kusaka smirked.

"You finally got my message…Toushirou…" the black haired man said. "I captured her to send you a message. I'm back for revenge, Toushirou…"

"How dare you…" Hitsugaya's voice was soft, yet menacing. Yuki didn't want to get in the way of that. "How dare you do that to her…"

Kusaka didn't answer, and, of course, neither did Yuki. Yuki was too scared to answer anything right now. However, she didn't want to get any part of her busted for interfering. So she was smart, and kept quiet.

"You know better than that, Kusaka…" Hitsugaya menacing voice was enough to make anyone shiver to the bone.

"What are you talking about, Toushirou?" Kusaka asked him, as if he was trying to make Hitsugaya mad, which was exactly what he was trying to do.

"HOW DARE YOU TURN MY OWN DAUGHTER AGAINST ME?" Hitsugaya bellowed and Yuki jumped out of her skin once more. "I told you once, and I'll tell you this one last time! Do not drag anyone else into this mess! Do one! This is something that only has to do with you and me! NO ONE ELSE! Understand?"

Yuki's pupils retracted. While the two old Academy friends fought once more, Yuki watched it commence. When the first blood was drawn, Yuki closed her eyes nice and tight. She didn't like to see any blood. She turned her head to the side and opened her eyes just a little bit.

Yuki was too focused on her choices right now to focus on anything.

~Flashback~

Young Yuki was in the Academy when she was running down to her father's office to go and get Rangiku. The strawberry blonde Lieutenant had promised the girl to train her in Shunpo today. But when Yuki got to the office, the door was closed, which meant that her father was either in a very important meeting with someone or he was doing work that needed to be done or he would be in serious trouble.

She pressed her cheek against the door to see if she could hear anything.

"Demo, Taichou…" Rangiku was saying.

"No, Matsumoto," her father replied. "I told you before. Her mother left. Her mother left Yuki in my care. Do you remember?"

"Yes, I remember, Taichou…"

"Then why are we having this conversation?"

"I was just wondering whether you should start thinking that she could doubt you someday…"

"I know she most likely will, but she is my biological daughter! How many times to I have to explain that? Her mother left years ago and I promised her that I would take care of Yuki for her. Why do you doubt me, Matsumoto?"

"Gomen, Taichou…I really am…I know that she is your biological daughter. I was there when she was born, but I'm just reminding you that one day, she may doubt you."

"I know that, Matsumoto…I appreciate you reminding me…"

~End Flashback~

They hadn't known that Yuki was there when they had that conversation, so how could the Captain that was still fighting her kidnapper in anger be an imposter? That one little memory gave Yuki hope. All she needed was proof. If Hitsugaya won this fight, and if he really was her father, then he would not leave right away. He would only leave when Yuki was ready to leave. Rangiku, Kimiko, and Hitsugaya were the only ones who did that.

Yuki turned back to the fight, but then winced and looked away again. She was trembling because of the sight of all the blood that was splattered all over the ground. She hated it. She turned back because she saw only one person standing.

Hitsugaya Toushirou was, once again, standing over the dead Kusaka Sojirou. Toushirou made sure that Kusaka was really dead this time, and he turned into Reishii and dissolved into the atmosphere. Toushirou slowly turned around to face his daughter.

Toushirou had very few scratches. He had a couple of cuts on both arms, but none were serious, and he had a small cut on his left cheek, but again, nothing too serious.

Toushirou was hesitant. He knew that this day would come sooner or later. He sheathed his zanpaktou, which was now at his side, because he was finally tall enough, but he still kept the green sash, and held out his right hand to her slowly as if to state the question of "Do you trust me?", and he was expecting the worst.

Yuki's eyes were starting to tear up, because of both sadness and joy. So many emotions were running through her head and heart. She was trembling and her eyes still showed the unquestionable truth: she was still scared.

Toushirou was expecting the worst, but Yuki simply, but shakily, stood up and ran to him with tears pouring down her face. When she reached him, he kneeled down to her level and she immediately hugged him, burying her face in his chest with tears still pouring down her cheeks, whimpering the entire time.

No words were needed for this moment. Yuki's tight hug that she gave to her father said the obvious: "Oh, Daddy! I was so scared!"

Toushirou didn't want to ruin this moment, so he simply closed his eyes and kisses her forehead, not wanting this moment to end. It may have been sad to Yuki, but it was pure relief to Toushirou. His daughter was still alive, she was safe, she was back in his arms, and she still trusted him.

Yuki opened her eyes momentarily and looked up to see her hairclip on a string around his neck. Because of this, she smiled. It was a small smile, but it was real…

~5~5~5~5~

A/N: Review!