A/N: Hope you enjoy,

It was a long, long day for her. But when the day was finally at an end, Karin praised Kami. She found that PE-class wasn't that bad, she even got to know some of the girls in her class better, not minding them very much even made it a possibility for them to become friends. everything was pretty much okay, except for the fact that a few boys kept staring at her like madmen. If it wasn't for their teacher holding her back most of the time, she would send flying fists to black their vision. That ought to teach them to keep their eyes in their heads, but then again ogling at girls seemed to be in the norm, as Gingerbuck Lillinette explained.

When they played dodge ball, she noticed something else, about that one kid. . . The one with the white hair and the turquoise eyes; that Hitsugaya-san. He was really good in PE-class. He moved like some kind of . . ninja. Moving fluently and dodging like an expert. Out of all people she saw playing the game, he was probably the best and the most serious about it. Even if dodge ball is just about having fun, he actually was pretty serious.

It sounds kind of stupid, but it was true.

It was beyond her why they chose him last, he was so good at the game. And Hinamori-san wasn't that bad either, though she needed some training, good nonetheless. She was really good at throwing a dodge ball, but dodging a dodge ball was much more difficult for the girl. She got hit almost everytime someone threw a ball in her direction, even if the person wasn't aiming to hit her. . . For some odd reason, she managed to get him. Somehow, it was very amusing, but also very sad.

After gym-class was over, Karin couldn't help but admit she was interested in him. Even if he was such a distant person, she was pretty sure he was just misunderstood. Because after their second conversation, she discovered a bit about his personality. Aside from being a bit distant, easily annoyed and slightly confused, he doesn't have that many friend, well. . . no friends at all. So she decided to ask Hinamori about him. Since they were so close.

"Oi, Hinamori-san," she tapped the girl on the shoulder, Momo turned around to see who was calling her name. She returned a kind smile as she greeted her new classmate back, "Oh, hey Kurosaki-san." Karin had never been this nervous in her life about asking somebody something. She was just going to ask her a simple question. But it seemed so hard, but then again. . . It was the first day.

"What's up with that Hitsugaya-kid ?" she asked bluntly. Momo was a bit confused, but knew where she was trying to get to. But as a friend, she decided to keep quiet about Hitsugaya's situations. Karin however, didn't fall for the innocent look Momo shot her. Hinamori smiled nervously, "What do you mean?" Karin knew the girl was pretending that she didn't know what she meant, but Karin decided she would keep asking her what the kid's problem was. And because she really wanted, no needed to know what it was. . . She just kept questioning her dark-haired, shy classmate.

"I mean," she tried to find the words to describe the behavior, mean, easily annoyed? She tapped her chin as she thought about it, but couldn't really. "I mean he's so cold to everyone." she stated, it was an slightly untrue statement, but Momo had to agree with her. The boy was pretty vague, kind to only a handfull of people, and the rest of the world could drown in a puddle of shit for all he cared. "What's up with that?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." she lied, she was eager to leave and not having to talk about the situations of her friend. But to much her dismay, KArin kept questioning her. "Bu-" Karin started, just to be cut off by Hinamori quickly. "If you want to know everything so bad, I suggest you ask him yourself." there was a hint of anger in her voice. The brown-eyed girl pulled her black backpack over her shoulders. Walking away as fast as she could, to avoid Karin's further questions.

"What the fuck is up with everybody in this town?"

On a park-bench, a young man was sitting and enjoying the view of the sky. Dark-grey clouds were blurring the view of the sun that was normally up there, the cold surrounded him and he could see the damp of his breath every time he let out a sigh. Winter was his favorite time of the year. It was such a lovely season, cold. This winter, the snow would come later, at least that's what they said on the news.

He thought about it, it would be short period of time too, but at least it would be worth it. Millions of little crystals falling out of the sky, children throwwing it around happily, the warmth that embraces you when your sitting inside. A fammiliar voice called out to him, "Toshirou?" The tall blonde faced his back as she spoke, he didn't answer her. Her breath turned into a cloud of damp when she sighed, of course it was him. How many people have white hair in this town?

"Mom is waiting for you, were you here all day?" He didn't respond to her question once more, so she assumed he didn't feel like talking. Not that he ever felt like talking, this day was just too bad for him to want to talk at all. She understood it, nodded and moved to walk away. Until he made a sound; "No, I just came here ten minutes ago."

His sister smiled at him, not that he could see it. But he felt it, her smile faded as he sighed. She walked around the bench to see him looking up to the sky, normally he would just stare in front of him. She did remember the fuss Hinamori was making this morning when she came to pick him up, so maybe something had happened at school. . . He didn't want to talk, there was a small chance he would answer her question if she asked. But if the possibility was there, it was worth a shot.

"Did something happen today?" she asked softly. There was a silence. . . Rangiku had figured out he probably wasn't in the talkinf-about-it mood, so she let it go. He shook his head quickly, hoping she'd believe it. In fact, there wasn't really anything wrong, nothing really happened. But when he wanted to think, he had to have the time for it, he couldn't come up with a solution for his problems as fast as other people could. Not only did he like being outside when it was cold (nobody really understood that) it also helped him think clearly.

"No," he answered, and stood up from his seat. Rangiku followed his every movement with her eyes. She found herself to be surprised because he was actually easy about the situation for once, normally he would say that it wasn't her business or something in that direction. "Let's go." He supposed, with a nod and a smile from his sister, they started walking towards their home.

"Toshirou where were you?" he was not even home for one second and his mother started worrying about him. But it was only natural, staying away from home for one hour after school ended, sure she'd be worried about you. But this was a bit extraordinary, because she assumed there was something wrong with him or that something might have happened.

"He was in the park mom, like always." Rangiku answered before he even had the chance to. She sighed with relieve, if something ever would have happened with her precious son, she didn't know how to handle it. But seeing nothing happened, she was glad. "Oh, well. Please give me a call next time." she said as she folded her hands. He nodded at her request,

"Will do." he reassured, he avoided her gaze, which made her worry again. "What happened?" she asked as she examined his face, he shook his head. Her braid hung in front of her as she looked down at him. It was like she could feel there was something wrong with him. She knew the kid better then he knew himself, but then the strange glisten in his eye reminded her of the day it was.

"Nothing happened." he replied quickly. She chose to let it go, for once. "I believe you." she walked away, leaving the two siblings alone in the room. He took place on the couch as he examined the content of his backpack. He took out a book with a green cover, opened them and started to read. Rangiku looked at the white clock hanging above her head as she leaned against the wall. Then she remembered, she had a date. The busty woman tapped her younger brother on the shoulder. He turned his head to face her. The pout on her face said everything,"Say Shirou-chan, I have to go somewhere and-"

"I'm not going to do your chores again, it's not worth it." his poor attempt to ignore her, failed. She winced, slumping towards him lazily. He sighed, looking away from her. She'd try to persuade him into doing it by making faces, "But I nee-" she tugged his sleeve to get his attention as he walked away from her.

"No, stop it." he walked up the stairs, ignoring her childish groans and cries of disagreement. When he opened the door of his room, he threw his backpack on the floor lazily, not caring if the books inside of it could be damaged. So it lay there forgotten, the only thing that had his attention was the old photograph on the desk he took place behind.

The photo showed a man. A rather pale man with long white hair parted to the left side, covering one of his brown eyes. On the picture he was painted like the man he used to be most of the time, with the cheerful expression he wore so much when he was alive. His slips twitched in a smile, Jushirou Ukitake.

The man he knew as father. Not biologically, but he was more of a father than the man that made him could ever be. Toshirou was raised by his sister until Jushirou and his wife took them in, raised them as his own and gave them the life they would never have if they stayed with their biologic parents. Rangiku didn't have a last name until then, well, it wasn't a name she wanted to have. Unlike her, Toshirou chose to keep the name. . . not really knowing why. He regretted it though, he planned on changing it when he had the legal age, just to show he never forgot then man that was his father. He meant so much to their family, especially him. And that day was his birthday.

He looked at the picture, he noticed the lighted candle next to it. It seemed that Retsu and Rangiku already bid their farewells. He turne his attention back on the photograph, he observed it, as silent as a mouse. Recalling memories of his life with the man, it was really hard to do so. "I hope you found peace, I hope you can see that we're doing well."

He paused to breath out softly, though he didn't show emotion as much he did the day, he fond himself being unable to hold a tear back. He had lump in his throat, you could tell he was at the verge of actually crying. When he swallowed his sadness, he continued, "And I hope that you're proud of me, because I'm proud of you. Father"

A/N: Chapter Two Re-Written.