This is possibly (just possibly) the last update I'll be writing for this story (that is, if Kimihaine is still open on the offer regarding the taking over of this fic, I think I made her wait too long. Sorry Kimiko-chan! XD)

I have written this like months and months ago, but never really had the time to type it and publish it, 'cause I always have problem with ending it. But anyways, I've finally finished it, and I hope it compensates for my long absence. XD

No editing has been done, so I apologize for the errors.

I'd like to thank Iana Sabelle for being the long-awaited 10th reviewer. And XBlueSkyX, hhth, and PassionIsLove for reviewing even if I haven't updated in ages.

Several hell butterflies scattered all around the Court of Pure Souls, all of them bearing an urgent message. Within moments, the meeting hall of the first division was filled with haori-clad shinigami captains and insignia-bearing lieutenants. The commander-general stood in front of them all, his face holding a grim expression. All the captains and vice-captains had arrived, except for that orange-head "bane of Seireitei" and his petite right hand. Several eyes strayed towards the empty space allotted for the 5th division superiors, and murmurs of annoyance and amusement were heard as each person speculated as to where the two were at the moment. A staff hitting the cold, hard floor silenced the hushed mumbles, and they turned their focus back on the person who called for the meeting.

"Let us start this meeting." Yamamoto-soutaichō declared.

As if on cue, the red-haired captain of the third division, Abarai Renji, raised a hand. "Sir, Ichigo—I mean, Kurosaki-taichō and Kuchiki-fukutaichō aren't here yet."

Yamamoto-sōtaichō didn't even bother to glance at him. "It was intentional."

Stunning gray orbs opened, curiosity piqued about the topic of the sudden meeting that "required" the absence of his sister and her brash, rude captain.

"He's alive." The captain commander suddenly announced, earning gasps and shocked gazes. No one needed to ask who he was.

"But…I thought Hitsugaya-kun and Kurosaki-kun were able to defeat them during the Winter War." Ukitake spoke.

"So did everyone. However, reports say that traces of him were caught lingering all over the living world, but more so in Karakura-chō."

Worry and anxiety started to set in as most of those present in the meeting thought of the previous war—all the destruction, all the lives lost…just all the losses in general. They had barely made it through, and now that another war was threatening to take place, will they be able to survive again? Especially when one of the key fighters during the traitor's first defeat was now a mere mortal?

"Who's gonna finish him now? Only Ichigo is here." Shunsui thoughtfully said.

Everyone fell quiet as they thought of a certain white-haired prodigy and how his life was claimed during the war.

Yamamoto-sōtaichō slowly opened his eyes. "There have been disturbances in Karakura-chō, and it was reported to be from a single source." He paused to let all the information sink in on the captains' and vice-captains' minds. "A mortal has been leaking reiatsu, very much like Kurosaki had—only, stronger."

Nods and knowing glances silently urged the general to continue. "He is after him."

"Who is this him we are talking about?" Renji asked, somewhat ashamed at not being able to keep up with the conversation.

Yamamoto-sōtaichō remained silent, willing someone else to speak for him, which was also a way for him to know if the others understood what he was implying or not.

Byakuya's emotionless, stern voice reverberated through the meeting hall as he answered the hanging question. "Hitsugaya Tōshirō".

Renji gasped in surprise. "H-Hitsugaya-taichō? But isn't he in the living world now…I mean…isn';t he just a mere mortal?"

The commander-general focused on the red-haired taichō. "No. We all know that he is the reincarnation of one of the strongest shinigami that had ever lived. A hundred years before Hitsugaya Tōshirō entered the Shinigami Academy, a mortal had been spotted leaking the exact same reiatsu in the living world."

"So, Yama-jii, are you saying this happened already?" Shunsui asked for confirmation.

"Yes, except before, there was no treason involved, just the way of nature…of death."

"Ahh…history really has a habit of repeating itself, ne, Yama-jii?"

"Indeed."

It was the second day of class, and things weren't going any better for a certain white-haired boy.

"Ah, this class has so many wonderful young ladies! I am so glad to be handling you!"

'What was up with this old man? He's like…in his late 30's or early 40's and he was still a pervert? Not to mention he is so open with it. Seriously, how did he become a teacher?' Yuki irritably looked at the so-called teacher practically ogling his female students. Great. That was exactly what he needed in a new school—a great guiding light. He rolled his eyes at his own sarcastic thoughts.

"Ah you! You are Kurosaki Rukia? Yes, yes. You're Ichigo's daughter! Oh, and you're named after his first love—my dear, sweet Kuchiki-san. Ah, I miss the old times."

All the students were either looking at him weirdly or were snickering at the "classified" information this new teacher gave away regarding Kurosaki Rukia's background. The woman in question was blushing really hard, at first because she knew very well who this pervert was, and how this moron shamelessly announced to the whole class that he knew her dad, and then the blush evolved to one that was of anger and shock. What was this pervert talking about? What was that 'you're named after his first love' thing?!

Yuki promptly froze in his seat. There was a brief tug at his heart. He didn't know why, but he felt it…and it was too real to pass as just his imagination. What confused him was that he felt that "tug" when this sorry excuse for a teacher mentioned that name. kuchiki-san…Kuchiki-san…Kuchiki…Kuchiki Rukia.

"Oooh, by the way, to those who do not know me yet, I am the great and dashing Asano Keigo-sensei. I graduated from this school. Ah, those were the days…" The perverted teacher sighed dreamily as his eyes twinkled with reminiscence.

No one paid attention to their weird teacher, and soon, everyone was in a conversation with heir classmates, not even bothering to conceal their hubbub in low whispers.

BAM!

"Ow, midget! That hurt!" Ichigo rubbed his now throbbing head, glaring at the "midget" who was responsible for his rather rude awakening.

"Baka! Do you even know what time it is? It's eleven! Eleven in the morning, you sleepyhead!" Rukia retorted, huffing at her yawning captain.

"Pfft. As if there's too much to do today." The carrot-top plopped down back on his futon, burying his head under the pillow to block the sunlight entering his room, thanks to the window now opened by his livid lieutenant.

"BAKA! You would always have 'too much to do' if you weren't always slacking off and letting ME do all of YOUR work! Now get up! Yamamoto-sōtaichō wants to see us."

The only reply Rukia got was a snore. A vein threatened to pop in the raven-haired vice-captain's head, and she took a deep breath as she got into an offensive stance.

Several punches and kicks later, a grumpy Rukia and well-beaten up Ichigo quietly made their way towards the first division, where the patient commander general stood waiting for them.

"What is it this time?" Ichigo unceremoniously asked, not even bothering to show some respect in front of Soul Society's highest official.

"Ichigo!" Rukia hissed from the corner of her mouth.

"What?" The insolent captain asked.

Yamamoto-sōtaichō cleared his throat to gain the attention of the bickering duo. "You two have been called for a special mission."

Rukia nodded while her captain simply snorted as if to say 'special my ass.'

"You will be sent to the living worlds to scout. There has been an increase in hollow activity in the living world, after all these years. And it was reported that the cause of this is a young teenage boy who is constantly leaking with reiatsu."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow at the bearded man while Rukia stood quietly beside him, seemingly getting where the conversation was heading. There was trouble brewing again.

"The teenage boy has been attracting far too many hollows, and even though the resident shinigami of his town is doing everything in his power to make sure hollows are disposed of before it catches the boy's attention, I believe that the boy still need protection, and we cannot take chance on this."

Rukia was getting more and more suspicious by the minute. Just how special is this boy that he needed personal protection, and from a captain and vice-captain, no less? What was happening now? She wanted to ask these queries that plagued her mind, but Rukia knew better than to question authority. Ichigo, however, didn't.

"What? You're gonna make us personal bodyguards of some punk?" Ichigo growled.

Rukia wanted to slap the carrot-top for hi lack of tact and respect, and she surely would have, if only she wasn't dying to say those same words as well.

"If that's how you see it, then yes." Yamamoto-sōtaichō deadpanned.

"Hell, no! Give that task to some unseated officer! I'm out of here!"

"Kurosaki-taichō." Before Ichigo could even turn around, Yamamoto-sōtaichō released some of his reiatsu, effectively stopping the idiot captain. "It is not a request. It is an order. You and Kuchiki Rukia are to be stationed in Karakura-chō until things are cleared."

Ichigo and Rukia gaped at him. Karakura, he said? Oh, hell no!

"Permission to question, sir." Rukia asked.

Yamamoto-sōtaichō nodded his head in acquiescence.

"Are we…are we staying long? I mean…long enough to need a gigai?"

The commander general regarded her with calculating eyes, which obviously unsettled the petite shinigami. "Yes. You two will not leave the town until we confirm that there is no imminent danger. You are to make sure that no harm shall ever befall the boy." Which, considering Aizen was behind this again, was nearly an impossible task, but Yamamoto kept that to himself.

"When do we….when do we leave, sir?" Rukia asked again.

"As soon as possible. I trust both of you to use measures you deem fit for the success of this mission."

"Hai."

Ichigo, who had not spoken a word since hearing 'Karakura-chō' finally asked the most logical question that came out of his mouth. "jus who is this kid we're talking about."

Yamamoto-sōtaichō narrowed his eyes to slits. "Yuki. Takuya Yuki."

Rukia's jaw dropped.

"Rukia, wait up." Yuki tried to slow down his furious companion's pace, but the woman only walked faster, desperate to get home and get some answers.

"Why are you so mad?" The white-haired boy asked, trying to lighten the woman's mood.

"Why wouldn't I, Yuki? Why? I…I just found out that…that I was named after…the woman who made my mother's life a living hell! Why wouldn't I be mad? I have every damn right to be mad!"

"But…you haven't even heard the real story behind it yet. Do you actually believe that insane teacher?"

Kurosaki Rukia suddenly stopped, and just when Yuki was about to heave a sigh of relief, the woman looked at him with dangerously-glinting eyes. "He may look like a stupid clown out of a circus, but I know that man. He was one of my dad's closest friends, and I'm sure he knows what he says."

Yuki growled at the girl's stubbornness. "Do you think it's the right thing to do? To go asking other people some information your dad himself didn't tell you?"

Rukia hung her head down in shame. Her dad was a great man, and she would willingly vouch for him every single chance she gets. She knew that there was a reason all these information were kept from her. But she was dying to know. Didn't she have the right to know?

"I…I'll see you tomorrow." Rukia hastily replied before running straight into the Kurosaki home.

It was the third day of class, and Yuki's classmates were still annoyingly noisy, catching up with each other about what they did over the break while he silently stared out the window.

It didn't help his temper any that Rukia still refused to talk to him.

His ears perked up when the class suddenly got silent and the sound of footsteps resounded throughout the classroom.

"Class. I have very wonderful news for you!" Yuki heard his perverted teacher say to them, sounding so excited.

"We have a transfer student that'll be joining our class starting today! Please come in, Ku—I mean—" Keigo was cut short by a subtle glare sent his way that no one but him caught.

"It's Hitsugaya. Hitsugaya Fuyuka." A sultry voice said. Yuki slowly raised his head in time to see the transfer student walk into the room.

Amethyst met Emerald.

Somewhere in the back of Yuki's mind, a voice kept repeating a phrase. And as he stared at the enchanting amethyst eyes of the new transfer student, he couldn't help but feel as if he knew who spoke those words.

Wasurenaide…

That's it. As soon as I talk to Kimihaine regarding the taking over of this fic (whether or not her offer still stands), I'll let you guys know if I shall be updating this or handing it over to her. For now, thanks for reading and have a good weekend!

Don't forget to review! :D

Wasurenaide means 'Don't Forget'…I think. XD

Oh yeah, credit to Iana Sabelle for thinking of the name Fuyuku (fuyu means winter, according to her. ) I wouldn't have finished this without her. XD