Disclaimer... Owning Bleach = having responsibility. I don't have either.

Yep,

Looking back, he knew why he'd laugh. Haru had been in the room but had shrugged it off, thought it wasn't uncommon, and went to his room after getting instruction's from Hitsugaya. So as he sat behind his desk and comtemplated, a certain fireball entered the room.

"Hitsugaya Taicho!" the fireball flicked and cast shadows around the room as it said each word. "Do you know where Hinamori-Chan is?"

"Sorry, but no, I do not. You might go to the fifth barracks." He said and a smirk came over his face. It Tobiume was here then Hyorinmaru… perfect. "In fact you might check with Hyorinmaru, he might be with her or know where she is at."

"But Hyorinmaru is behind me…" Her voice so innocent, quite like Hinamori's voice, then again she was her Zanpakto.

Hitsugaya quirked an eyebrow, already knowing full well where Hyorinmaru was. "Is he?"

The fireball made one big shadow that encompassed the room and then floated aside, revealing the miniature ice dragon behind her. It was about the size of a dire wolf. That was not considered small but compared to what the normal size was, it was marginally smaller. The smaller Hyorinmaru was about Hitsugaya's height and radiated a colder aura. His eyes were a lighter red and the ice that made up his body took more of bluish hue.

The smaller fireball, however, was an exact scale model. Her appearance hadn't changed at all.

"Yes master?" his lips did not move as he addressed Hitsugaya.

Hitsugaya made a mental connection with his Zanpakto and waited for Hyorinmaru to respond. He kept his outer body still, with a thinking expression over his face that only Hinamori could have seen through. Although Tobiume may be Hinamori's Zanpakto, she was not Hinamori. So the fireball floated and waited for, what she thought was, the thinking Hitsugaya to speak.

Yes? Master?

I want you to stay with Tobiume, and maybe talk to her, while I go get Hinamori.

Master…

Something wrong that makes you not want to stay with your friend?

No master.

Good.

Hitsugaya cut off the connection and spoke aloud. "I will go get Hinamori." He left the office with a flustered Hyorinmaru and a confused Tobiume.

"What was that about Hyorinmaru?" The ball flicked more shadows across the room. The temperature dropped, almost unnoticeably.

"I am not sure myself, Tobiume." Was all he said before lying down, curling into a ball not unlike what a dog curls into. The fireball nestled itself in between his head and his legs. She fell asleep also.

Hitsugaya barged into the fifth squad barracks and nearly jumped at seeing Haru and Hinamori laughing on the couch. He could hear them talking about bad things that happen in the heat of summer. His blood started to boil. She was laughing and having fun with Haru. Hinamori laughing with Haru. Hinamori and Haru. Haru. No way in hell! He couldn't you the expression concerning hell's freezing over because he could certainly make that happen. The room temperature dropped twenty degrees.

"Shiro-chan!" Hinamori turned around to see an angry snowball behind her. What was on his nerves? "You're making the room freezing!"

"Sorry Hinamori." He had his arms across his chest. He didn't want to make Hinamori cold… He centered his energy and tried a new trick.

"Geez… It's freezing in here!" Haru exclaimed. Rubbing his arms, he looked back at the only person with an ice Zanpakto in the room. He regretted it immediately. What he turned to see, was a glare that froze his bones and made his head ache. What had he done? Scratch that, he knew now, with just the flick of his eyes, what he had done. Just how possessive could a friend be? Nope, that didn't work…. Just how cold could he make the room?

"It's not cold Haru-san." Said Hitsugaya, "You must be imagining it."

"Mou, Shiro-chan, don't say that! You are used to the cold. Haru-kun is not!" Hinamori gave him a stern look. It did not befit her normally benevolent features at all.

"Tch, whatever." Hitsugaya shrugged and walked over the couch. He out his hand on the back of it and raised himself up and over. He plopped down on the couch on the other side, between Hinamori and Haru. What seemed normal to him and Hinamori is not normal for Haru.

"Wow, you exploit your powers like that?"

Hitsugaya and Hinamori both looked at him before sharing a glance. Haru leaned in at the silent communication.

"How do you guys do that?" Haru's voice was quite like a five year old explorer that had found something new.

Hinamori blinked at him, uncomprehending. Hitsugaya glared at him. "Do what?" His voice snobbish and uncaring.

"Communicate in those glances with no linguistic or visual aid. It's like reading each other's mind!" This five year old has a bigger vocabulary then most.

Hinamori and Hitsugaya both shrugged at the exact same time, in the exact same way. "I don't know." Came form Hinamori. "We know each other well." Came from Hitsugaya, Haru shouldn't have asked.

"You think it's because we know each other well Shiro-chan?" Her eyebrow furrowed, her mouth became a line of concentration. She inhaled, "No, that can't be it because if that was all then Rangiku would be able to do it with Ichimaru-san better and Renji would be able to do it with Rukia. So it has to be something else, like how we grew up together or…" She paused to take a breath. "Or, maybe it's because we grew up with Obaa-san, who made sure that we knew each other."

"That might be it, or it could just be we are closer then the others and we take the time to get to know each other in that way." Hitsugaya said calmly.

"Yeah I guess." Hinamori shrugged.

Haru stared. He could see letting Hitsugaya let Hinamori go on like that, anybody who was a friend of hers would, but to brush off her suggestion and replace it was just mean. Just to be right probably too! So he watched and said nothing as he listened to their playful banter. Maybe not as mean as he thought.

Hyorinmaru felt warm. Not very unusual, since Tobiume spent a lot of time with him, but unusual enough for him to wake up, and see what was going on. Hinamori was crossing words with Hitsugaya, again not unusual, but Lin was in the door way talking to Haru. That was why, Lin is here. He curled back into his ball, hoping Lin didn't notice he was awake. While he pretended to be asleep, Tobiume woke up and did what Hyorinmaru had done, pretend to be asleep. Presumably, it was for the same reason. They listened to the conversations around them instead of making their own.

"No, an ice Zanpakto is not better then a fire Zanpakto, Shiro-chan!"

"Yes, it is Bed wetter!"

"So when is the next concert Haru?"

"No idea, hey we gotta get Kei and Eve to train. They are gonna lose their spunk."

"No Shiro-chan, a fire Zanpakto is wayyyyyy better!"

"Not true bed wetter, ice is the better Zanpakto."

"Yeah, Eve hasn't even talked to her companion lately; we haven't trained together in a while."

"Maybe we could get Hinamori to train with us?"

"Would you all shut-up!"

"Ichigo-kun, we were just talking. No need to yell."

"Since when have you called him Ichigo-kun?"

"Since always."

"Wow you guys have a lot of friends."

"Sometimes, I wish I didn't."

"Moi, don't be like that Ichigo-kun!"

"Uruse, Kurosaki, explain what you are doing here?"

"I need a recommendation to be captain from another captain."

"No."

"Shiro-chan!"

"It's Hitsugaya Taicho."

"Hyorinmaru, is it me, or are they acting like a bunch of children."

"Not just you Tobiume."

"Oi, you two wake up!"

Tobiume popped up from Hyorinmaru's side to an almost laughable situation. Hinamori was sitting on the couch with Hitsugaya beneath her (strange but true), Ichigo's head was being shoved down by Rukia (not so unusual), Haru was on his knees and cowering (no idea on that one), and Lin was standing a foot away with her arms crossed; she was giving them an intense glare. How this happened, neither Zanpakto wanted to know.

"How can we help you Matsouki-san?" Tobiume asked. Hyorinmaru, Hinamori, Haru, and Hitsugaya stared at her in pure horror. Hitsugaya rarely called her Matsouki, for fear of being killed. He never called her Matsouki-san for fear of slow painful torture, followed be slow painful death.

Lin bent her head down slightly, her eyes unable to be seen. An aura of anger flickered around her. Hitsugaya and Hinamori rolled out of sight, in front of the couch, and out of Lin's visibility zone. Haru quickly got on his feet and ran over to join them. He disappeared into the safest place before any one could bat an eye

Hyorinmaru stayed frozen (A/N: No pun intended) behind Tobiume, worried about leaving her with Lin's wrath. Everyone in the division knew at least one thing. Never, EVER, call her by her family name. San, Chan, or Sama; it doesn't matter. Death was not certain, but generally pain was. The last guy that called her Matsouki-san had ended up in the 4th squad for 3 weeks and then refused to come back to the division ever again. That had happened before Lin had gained the rank of third seat, she was about twice as powerful now compared to then.

"May I ask what possessed you to call me that infuriating name?" Lin's voice held and angry quiver.

"It is your name, is it not?" Hyorinmaru nudged her, a small warning that did not go unnoticed by his friend. "Something wrong Hyorinmaru?"

"Nothing Tobiume, nothing." Hyorinmaru sighed, Tobiume was choosing not to take the hint. It was there, she just was not taking it. He perked his ears up at a "pst".

Glancing over the couch, there was Hinamori waving her arms at her friend. Hitsugaya was waving behind her in a no fashion. Tobiume ignored them both, you could practically see the anime/ manga sighing signs above them, with little white tails directed at their downturned heads.

Yep, Tobiume was in deep. Yep, he should probably want to stay, but he didn't. Yep, Hinamori was waving at him to do what he wanted and Hitsugaya was waving at him to stay. Yep, he was very confused. Yep, he wasn't being himself. And one more Yep on the situation; he had to stay by his friend, no if, ands, or buts allowed. Not only to make sure she wasn't killed, but to make sure Hinamori didn't get upset, if Hinamori got upset that would upset his master… and things go downhill from there.

In his defeat, Hyorinmaru sighed and hung his head for a quick second before picking it up and standing, unwavering, beside Tobiume. Tobiume nodded at him and the fire seemed to smile, it was impossible to tell due to her mouth blending with the rest of her fire.

Hinamori sat worried behind the couch, she would rather her Zanpakto not be killed. Hitsugaya was thinking the same thing, as well as how his Zanpakto might react to Lin killing Tobiume. He would get mad, not show it, attack Lin, and get killed. Not necessarily in that order. It might go like this; attack Lin, get mad, get killed, not show it; or like this; get killed, attack Lin, get mad, not show it. None of them made sense, but it would still happen; he had to think of something quick.

Nope, he didn't need to think; he needed to act. Acting before thinking Hyourinmaru put himself in front of Lin and bulked up his size. Now he was a foot over Lin's head. His wings fluttered quietly before he folded them around his large body. His head was twice the size it was before, and the final change was his eyes. They were a blood red.

"There is no need to fight, it is your name. Tobiume probably did not know you didn't like to be called by your name. It is not her fault." His voice didn't sound natural. It sounded like leaves landing on ice and then being raked away with a wooden rake.

Lin nodded. "Very well, now that she knows she won't call me that again."

"Indeed." Came the gentle but strong voice that belonged to Hinamori. Tobiume winced at her master's disapproval of the situation. Hitsugaya gave a nod to Hyourinmaru, signifying his approval of Hyourinmaru's handling of the unwanted situation. Both Zanpakto sighed; their masters were exact opposites, but when it came to things like their Zanpakto they thought exactly alike. How it was possible could be explained by looking at Hyourinmaru and Tobiume. That still left a lot of questions though.

"Hyourinmaru and I should get out of Hitsugaya-kun's office. I don't think he would appreciate it if we disturbed his paperwork to much." Tobiume's fiery voice sounded different suddenly. Much like the sound of falling leaves in autumn.

Her joke, though, did not go unnoticed. Hinamori clamped her hand over her mouth as her body was racked in silent laughter, Hitsugaya glared at her, and Lin smiled. Laughter suddenly filled the room as Matsumoto burst in drunk. Everyone felt the room temperature drop 10 degrees (in Celsius). Hinamori clamped the other hand over her mouth and almost fell over. The room temperature raised two degrees (A/N: Lets just say I'm using Celsius). Everyone watched silently as Hinamori fought the urge to laugh, her body was shaking and her eyes were watering. She fought it harder but finally, at the funny look Hitsugaya gave her, she burst. She doubled over and fell, still racked by laughs that now echoed throughout the tenth division. Hitsugaya, having caught her, rolled his eyes at her. She laughed even harder.

Matsumoto smiled at her and Hinamori laughed.

"Oh, dear. She has the laughs."

"I believe you mean giggles."

"Yes, it's when you can't stop laughing."

"Of course, Tobiume." His chest rose and fell at a slightly faster pace, the ice head bobbed. He shrank back to the size of a dire wolf. "We'll be going now, master."

Hitsugaya nodded. Hinamori looked up at them curiously, her laughing had stopped. She asked a most peculiar question, that even Tobiume didn't understand. "So, you and Tobiume are going somewhere to enjoy yourselves and leaving us alone?"

Didn't they just answer that? If Tobiume's eyes were visible, you would have seen them narrow at her overly cheerful master. Hyorinmaru, however, narrowed his eyes at his own master. For if Hinamori was in on something, it meant he was too. All too well, Hyorinmaru knew that his master could not stand up to the petite shinigami. He shuddered at the thought of what she could do, had the little one turned out more like Matsumoto. Yep, that scared him.

"I didn't mean anything by it! I just thought you might hang out with us some more!" Hinamori's hasty reply once she saw Hyorinmaru's eyes turn into slits.

"Is it okay that we go for a walk master? I just thought you guys wouldn't want us talking in your heads like we usually are…" Tobiume's voice sounded very sweet and innocent.

Hinamori and Hitsugaya exchanged a look. They both turned and nodded consent simultaneously. "Of course! Thank you for being thoughtful Tobiume."

"It's my job Master!" Her voice raised in pitch slightly.

"Yes it is! That means you should take Lin and Haru away from here." Hinamori hinted very strongly at that prospect.

"Indeed!" Hitsugaya added.

Hyorinmaru and Tobiume shared a look. Sometimes the little ones relationship could be describes as banter, but sometimes they needed to have alone time together; without the banter. So, their companions also liked the prospect of being alone together and understood when it was just time to be alone with someone you cared for.

They walked out, Tobiume herded Lin and Haru was herded by Hyorinmaru. Hinamori breathed a sigh of relief. Hitsugaya walked over to the couch and collapsed. Noticing him having a slight smile, she smiled too and flopped down beside him. Looking at him from the corner of her eye she whispered something she hoped was out of his hearing range. It was.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and let the small smile that was on his face stay for once. He whispered under his breath, knowing she couldn't hear. If only Haru didn't like her as much as he did. He sighed and was about to get up when he noticed Hinamori getting up.

"Where are you going?" His voice filled with the curiosity he felt was childish.

"Somewhere." Was the only reply he got from his small friend. She left, leaving him wondering where she was going, he should get back to paperwork. Just as he got up he could sense Hinamori right outside the door. He gently walked over to where he was within hearing range, not directly by the door, but close enough. He knew no what had stopped her, Kira.

"Hinamori-kun!" God, he hated that boy's voice; he didn't consider him a man.

"Hello Kira-kun! How are you?" Hinamori's voice, sweet as spring, came from behind the door.

"Good, with no Taicho I am kinda busy! Sorry I didn't come see you sooner…" Was he Emo?

"It's okay Kira-kun! Don't push yourself too far; you just have to take it step by step!" The voice was sweeter then sugar.

"Thanks Hinamori-kun! I may still be a lieutenant, but I can do it! Thanks again." He will be dead, probably.

"No problem Kira-kun!" A voice better then watermelon.

"Is that watermelon? Mind if I have some?" Tortured slowly, with death by frostbite, if he even survived the torture.

"Sorry, I got this for Shiro-chan! Sorry Kira-kun." So sweet, his little peach. Wait his?

"Okay, sayonara Hinamori-kun!" Take that sucker.

"Sayonara!" Yep, his.

He let out a light chuckle at the prospect, Kira wasn't a threat. All he had to worry about was Haru really. That would be a problem, as he thought of a plan he chuckled again. The door slid open and he saw his little peach, her smile she only had for him stretched across her small mouth. The plate of watermelon in her hands couldn't quite catch up to it.

"Shiro-chan! I brought watermelon! Wanna go on the roof?" Her voice bright and bubbly.

"Yeah." Came his soft reply as he let another smile grace his lips.

(A/N: I am not good when it come to time intervals…so yeah.)

"Tobiume, what do you think of Ryu?" Hyorinmaru's voice softer then usual.

"I think he amazing! He was so cool; he had your shape but was a kido-fire Zanpakto! I could tell because of the spiritual pressure." She sounded like she was in candy land.

"I see," He paused, considering, "Would you consider him a better friend then me?"

"Course not." Her reply immediate, a promising reply.

"Should we head back?"

"Nah."

"Nah?"

"Human word for no."

"I see."

Line... here

"Go to bed!" Eve shouted at Haru and Lin.

"Why doesn't Kei have to? It's not fair." Lin pouted at her normally quieter friend.

"He isn't obnoxious and rude! Get out!" Her shout echoed.

"Fine!" They chorused in unison before leaving.

A weird noise came out of Eve's mouth before she flopped back onto the futon behind her, ruffling the red covers. Kei leaned over and looked into her eyes from above.

"You okay?" His voice a bit deeper then usual.

"Yeah, they're so tiring." Eve rubbed her eyes. "Thanks for being the only quiet one."

"That's my job!" His eyes bright and smiling.

"By the way!" Ever swung her body around, expertly missing Kei's head, and sat cross-legged on the bed facing a still head down Kei. "We have a problem."

Kei nodded. "Probably."

Author!- Review and I give you peach flavored cyber cookies!