Karin Kurosaki did not like being pushed away. It didn't matter who, whether it was her own brother, these NCIS agents, or even Toshiro. It was unacceptable. She wasn't someone to shove aside, she wasn't useless and she definitely wasn't a package to just drop off.

Toshiro Hitsugaya wasn't expecting to be standing on a soccer field that night, in any way. Yet, he found himself standing center field, across from one angry looking Karin Kurosaki. Her arms were crossed and her weight was shifted to one side, and frankly Toshiro had no idea why she looked so mad. Well, if he did the thought wasn't as prevalent as he was curious as to why Karin was in this dream and whether Karin herself was in this dream or rather this was a dream version of the young girl.

"What is this?" He muttered.

"A dream," Karin replied curtly.

Toshiro rolled his eyes, "I figured as much. Why the hell are you here though?"

Karin wasn't even entirely sure herself, she just knew she had gone to bed angry, she shrugged in response. "I don't even know how this is possible."

"So you aren't a dream?"

"I mean, I'm pretty sure we're in one."

"I meant you."

"Of course I'm not a dream! This is probably like before, you know? Like when you didn't have your memories. 'Cause I'm not a dream."

Even though the black market gigai was gone, apparently the two still had the connection, which Toshiro then mentally raised the question, why was this particular exchange happening?

"Why are you here?"

"Why are you here?" Karin fired back.

Sighing Toshiro looked Karin up and down, her stance hadn't changed and there was still agitation laced in her voice.

"Is there something wrong?" Toshiro sounded both curious and genuine.

The captain noticed Karin's arms slightly lose their tension as she straightened out, her body language was more defensive than agitated now. Her gazed was towards the ground, as if she was watching the green grass grow below her.

Karin stood there in silence, inadvertently she had adjusted her posture. But that wasn't important. To her, at least. Finally she lifted her gaze to meet Toshiro's turquoise eyes.

"You're just pushing me aside?"

Startled, the white haired captain replied, "How so?"

Karin threw her arms in frustration, "What do you think? You and Ichi-nii are just dumping me off in Japan, like I'm useless."

It was Toshiro's turn to be silent, but he didn't drop Karin's gaze. He could now see the hurt in her eyes. The decision to take her back to Japan seemed to wound her.

The young captain hesitated before replying, trying to get the wording right as to not hurt Karin even further. He hadn't even realized that she was hurting in the first place.

"It's not that we're dumping you off in Japan because you're useless, but because I don't want you getting hurt, not anymore." Toshiro momentarily dropped the dark haired girls gaze, only to reaffirm it with confidence.

Karin mustered a small smile, an awkward smile. She wasn't sure how to respond to that. Karin never thought of it that way. Never.

"I-I never thought of it that way," She stuttered. Wow, she thought, original.

Toshiro blinked, "It's fine, I guess."

"Toshiro. Toshiro, I-"

The dream was cut-off as Karin drowsily opened her eyes. The blaring alarm next to her kept going on and on until Ziva had gotten up and smashed the snooze button.

"I want to shoot that thing," Ziva muttered before going back to sleep.

Ichigo, and their "guide" Taro were still sleeping, the alarm didn't faze them. Karin waited for the sweet embrace of sleep, but was disappointed when it arrived. Her dream with Toshiro was no longer there.

Moments later, Ziva was screaming for everyone to get up. It was going to be a long day.

. . .

Toshiro was awake early that morning, as he had awoken about the same time Karin had. Since her flight was early, she had to get up early. Regrettably, Toshiro was up that early too now. At the damn crack of dawn. Toshiro rolled off of Gibb's couch, accidently stepping on a sleeping DiNozzo below. The NCIS agent had drawn the short straw and unfortunately had the sleeping bag on the floor as his sleeping arrangements. Whereas Gibbs went where ever Gibbs was, and Toshiro assumed the lack of Urahara meant the soul reaper had sauntered off to find, and annoy, Gibbs. What was strange was that the little boy, Nao, was nowhere to be seen.

Toshiro turned suddenly, sensing movement from the staircase behind him. He took a defensive position as he heard climbing. But, he let out a sigh of relief when he saw agent Gibbs surface from the basement.

"You okay kid?" Gibbs asked flatly.

"I'm not a kid."

"You didn't answer the question."

"I'm fine."

There was a moment of silence between the two. They just stood, standing their ground as if guarding their territories. That changed when Toshiro heard footsteps from upstairs. Gibbs also noticed the shuffling of steps and his hand went for his gun.

"Is everyone sleeping?" Gibbs asked, trying to make sure that this wasn't just that idiot Urahara being nosy, or DiNozzo.

Recalling only seeing DiNozzo sleeping Toshiro replied, "The other agent was the only one, besides myself, in that room."

Gibbs' hand relaxed, but he still wasn't entirely calm. Gibbs was a private man and he didn't like the idea of anyone going through his personal belongings.

"It's probably Urahara," Toshiro shrugged. He still didn't relax and remained defensive. The kid was missing and Toshiro didn't trust him in the slightest. Urahara is more trusting than this kid, and that's saying something.

"Get DiNozzo up. I'll check upstairs."

Toshiro groaned but agreed. Him and DiNozzo didn't exactly get along. Especially after Toshiro purposely rigged their "fair" system to get the couch. DiNozzo happened to find out, but no one believed him.

Toshiro kneeled down and poked a snoring DiNozzo's nose, "Hey, agent, wake up."

DiNozzo stirred but didn't wake.

"HEY AGENT. GET UP."

DiNozzo yelped and his head shot up at Toshiro's shouting. The young captain grabbed his forehead and DiNozzo his own. The captain's forehead was just a little too close to DiNozzo's when he woke up.

"What the hell?" Both Tony and Toshiro groaned.

"This is your fault kid."

"Not really, I'm not the lazy idiot who decided to sleep in. AND I'M NOT A KID!"

"But of course you are, chibi-Hitsugaya-chan~~!"

"Oh no," Toshiro groaned.

"Heh," Tony chuckled.

Urahara appeared from the basement, smiling bright even though it was the early morning. Toshiro sighed and rolled his eyes, he didn't need to give Urahara the satisfaction he wanted by responding anymore.

But, if Urahara was here, then who was upstairs? The thought dawned on Toshiro suddenly. He had momentarily relaxed after his ordeal with agent DiNozzo, but now he was very defensive. Nao had either ran or was upstairs doing who knows what.

Without saying a word Toshiro ran up stairs, with DiNozzo and Urahara in tow. Each of which was very confused.

Gibbs caught the little kid digging through a chest in the attic. What he was looking for was unclear but what he held in his hands was not.

Toshiro and tow burst into the attic battle ready, but only found Gibbs staring at Nao. There was a picture in the boys hand, of a woman and a girl. The young girl both resembled the woman in the photo and vaguely of the NCIS agent staring.

"Hey kid, you should leave that alone," DiNozzo said hesitantly.

"Who're they?" The kid asked, eyes blank and voice flat.

"None of you damn business."

"Are they important to you?"

"Kid, you're pushing it real far," Gibbs replied with gritted teeth.

"They must be. I wonder, are they dead?"

"Boss-" DiNozzo started, but never got to finish.

"We're leaving. Pack up you stuff."

. . .

Author's Note: I apologize for the long wait! I promised to be productive. But failed. Miserably.