Title: Catching Up
Date: 22 February, 2010
Words: 1176
Characters: Toshiro, Kusaka, Rangiku; mentioned Hinamori, Kira, Gin, Aizen, Yamamoto, Kurotsuchi, Ukitake, Kyouraku, Rukia, Ichigo, Isshin & family, and others
Pairings: Rangiku & Toshiro, Gin & Aizen, Kusaka & Hinamori, Kira & Hinamori, hints of Gin & Kira, implied Ichigo & Rukia
Summary: Hitsugaya runs into Kusaka in an abandoned warehouse somewhere in Karakura, and things take a turn for the… better?
Inspiration: Just because some silly creator somewhere said so, why do I have to listen? My version of how DDR should have played out.
Rating: PG-13, for some content

A/N: I took things into my own hands and fixed some things. I mean, why can't the guys who write and direct these movies throw a wrench into things like this? Seriously, spice up our lives!

If you haven't seen DDR, then shame on you!! Hahaha. This is set just after Hitsugaya comes across Kusaka in the warehouse in the Living World, and before Kusaka transports them to Soul Society. Obviously, since I'm writing it, it doesn't stay with the storyline after that. 8-) Lots of OOC and canon destruction ahead!!

Thanks for reading and reviewing! I'd not have a reason to write if it weren't for everyone who reads and reviews my fics!
-Rachel Noelle

oOoOo—RN—oOoOo

"Leave Hinamori out of this," Hitsugaya snarled.

"Oh, yes, your dear Hinamori-chan, bed-wetter Momo. Of course you'd want her to be all okay and everything," Kusaka retorted.

Hitsugaya looked surprised for a moment before remembering that his friend had died before all of the changes in Soul Society. "Well, no, I don't really want her killed. But, maybe you could, I dunno, take her with you? She's really been in a bad way since Aizen defected."

"Aizen? The Aizen-taicho everyone loved?" Kusaka was shocked. Hitsugaya nodded. "Really? Wow. When did that happen?"

Hitsugaya shrugged. "About… 15 months ago now? I'd have to ask Matsumoto, but I hate to, since it's kind of a sore subject with her."

"Matsumoto? The blonde haired babe from Tenth?" Kusaka asked. Hitsugaya bristled, not enjoying the tone of voice Kusaka used.

"I suppose that would be the one," Hitsugaya stated with a clipped tone.

"What's the deal, man? I know you always thought she was gorgeous, too. Unless…" Kusaka's mouth dropped open. "Oh-ho-ho. I get it. Way to go, Shiro!" Kusaka laughed aloud and slapped Hitsugaya heartily on the back. "Never imagined a shrimp like you could snatch a chick like that. Congratulations."

Hitsugaya blushed lightly, responding with an embarrassed, "Uh, thanks."

"So, what else has happened since I've been gone?" Kusaka asked, genuinely curious now.

"Well, I finally got the taicho job, in Tenth. Hinamori landed a position as fukutaicho in Fifth, under Aizen. Matsumoto actually works for me, now, hehe… Really, that's about it until around a year ago now. You remember Kurosaki taicho?" Hitsugaya asked. Kusaka nodded. "Apparently, instead of being killed, he lost his shinigami powers for a while. He got married to some woman in the Living World, and had a few kids."

"Wow. I never would have guessed. He's almost as much of a skirt chaser as Kyouraku and Ukitake," Kusaka muttered.

"I know. He's got two daughters; one of them is so kind and friendly it's almost nauseating, and the other would just as soon kick your ass as look at you. At their worst, anyway. Usually they aren't too terrible. But it's his son no one could believe."

"Really?" Kusaka queried again.

"Yeah," Hitsugaya responded, continuing with, "He broke into Soul Society to save Kuchiki Rukia. Perfect little boyfriend. He isn't a shinigami by usual standards, but he's got so much reiatsu he can break most of our barriers without even trying. After he rescued Kuchiki is when everything blew up. Aizen left Soul Society for Hueco Mundo, and took Ichimaru and Tousen with him. Not a great loss for Tousen, but Ichimaru was quite crafty. And the damn bastard broke Rangiku's heart… Then we captured them, and Rangiku volunteered the two of us to be Ichimaru's counselors…" Hitsugaya trailed off, leaving Kusaka to guess the rest of the details.

"Huh," Kusaka stated after a moment. "I'm surprised I haven't run into him. Any of them, actually."

"Eh, well, I guess Hueco Mundo is rather large. Quite difficult to run into anyone by accident. It took us three weeks just to find the vague, general direction of Aizen's castle," Hitsugaya agreed.

"Well, if I do, I'll kill the two. I'll leave Ichimaru for you, since you've obviously got it in for him," Kusaka laughed.

"I'd love to let you kill him, and save me some trouble," Hitsugaya offered, "But, Rangiku would not be happy about that. They're still friends, and it's actually not so bad, now that he's openly with Aizen and all. And, seriously, how about you take Hinamori with you? She was always rather fond of you. Of course, you may need to take Kira, as well. He's rather fond of Hinamori as well as Ichimaru, so he may have to spend every other weekend with you or something."

"Hmm, I could use a good female opposite. You know, for the lead antagonist and all. Since our protagonist obviously already has a lead female."

"I will warn you just once, Kusaka, old friend. If you so much as look at Matsumoto wrong, I will kill you," Hitsugaya growled.

"Noted. So, where can I find Hinamori? She isn't totally nutty, is she?" Kusaka asked.

"Back in Seireitei. She's probably with Kira or Hisagi somewhere."

"Huh. So, what do we do about our little problem with the King's Seal and all?" Kusaka worried.

"Well… we could always just pin it on Aizen or Ichimaru. Even though they've been in custody for three months, and the rehab is really coming along… Hmm… Is there anyone else you want to get back at?" Hitsugaya replied.

Kusaka put a hand to his chin in thought. "I dunno… Besides the old man, but that would be next to impossible. Actually…" Hitsugaya looked excitedly to Kusaka, "Why don't we pin this on that whack-job from Twelfth, Kurotsuchi. We've been trying to get him out of the picture since we were in the Academy."

Hitsugaya nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "I like it. And, even better, no one will care. Besides, who is Yamamoto gonna believe? Us or that nutter?" The teens shared a laugh, happy to have a new plan of attack.

"Now, the only issues are Hyourinmaru and Central 46," Kusaka stated a moment later.

"Well, Aizen did take care of Central 46, wiped them all out. Gotta say I appreciated that," Hitsugaya offered. "As for Hyourinmaru, he's far too involved with Haineko for me to let you have him, he'd kill us both. But I have heard of these new, refined Bakoutou. The twelfth remade them, kind of like putting a soul candy into your zanpakuto. I imagine Hyourinmaru would be okay with that…"

Kusaka nodded then extended his hand to Hitsugaya. "Sounds like a plan. Let's get this started, shall we?"

Hitsugaya and Kusaka headed back to Soul Society, laid a trap for Kurotsuchi, and presented their 'evidence' before Yamamoto and the Second Division. Of course, Yamamoto believed their story, but with Kurotsuchi's recent advances in shinigami warfare sentenced him only to be relieved of his taicho duties and forced to retire on a remote island somewhere.

Kusaka and Kira were given joint custody of Hinamori, per her decision, and she was one or the other's girlfriend for a week at a time. Both males handled it well, as Kira had a Division to maintain and Kusaka still lived in Hueco Mundo most of the time.

After calming down a quarrel between Gin and Aizen, Aizen threatening to force Gin to sleep on the sofa for a month for trying to gain custody of Kira, our hero and his girlfriend returned to their home for some downtime.

"Well, that worked out nicely, eh, Taicho?" Matsumoto said, looking at the pictures on the coffee table. "We have Gin and Aizen back, you've got your best friend back, Kira and Hinamori are happy, no one's trying to take over the world, Kurotsuchi got a good retirement, and the missing taicho positions have been filled. Good work."

"Yes, indeed." Hitsugaya sighed, "I'm so tired of having to save the world…"