Chapter 7

Toushiro Hitsugaya smiled a little as he held this weeks letter from Rukia. He reached inside his pillow case and pulled his three favorite letters out. He kept one favorite letter for every year. He would have kept them all except he didn't want to pile up him and Shunsui's small cell.

Shunsui smiled as he watched the kid climb up to his bunk and open one of the old letters to reread it. His smile faded as he remembered his wife and daughter. Nanao loved to bicker with him and try to motivate him into doing things. She was always very organized and he always pretended to be lazy. But she knew that if something really needed done he would do it without question or argument. Asami had been the spitting image of her mother except that she liked to keep her hair long like her daddy's. But she always had the same stubborn look on her face her mother did. Shunsui rolled over onto his side and sighed. He closed his eyes to nap.

Meanwhile, Toushiro had been reading Rei's letter. He always marked them what year and day he received it. This one was from Year 1 Day 14.

Dear Shiro,

I miss you very much. I missed going to the bowling alley with you on Friday. I miss talking to you. I miss doing everything with you. You're my best friend. Daddy and Mommy miss you too.

I started having those really bad dreams again since you left. Some of them were about you. So Daddy started coming in my room at night and singing me to sleep like he used to when I was little. His voice calms me down and I fall asleep without any bad dreams.

What about you Shiro? Do you have any bad dreams? And what about your friends you were telling me about? Tell me more about them.

I miss you Toushiro. Write back soon!

Rukia

He smiled and folded the letter back and picked up the next one. Year 2 Day 726. She was twelve when she wrote this one.

Dear Shiro,

Christmas was wonderful! The only thing missing was you and your mom. Daddy and Mommy got me my favorite present. A puppy! Can you believe it? He's a golden retriever. Yours and mine favorite breed! I named him Samuel. Sam for short. He's so adorable! He's really big for a puppy his age. And really fat. He loves to eat. Mommy smacked him on the butt this morning because he pooped on her carpet. He ran right up to me and hid behind me. So far that's the only accident he's had. Mom always has had the talent of making people do what she wants them to. Especially Dad.

Santa brought you presents too. There were two under the tree and whole stocking stuffed full. Daddy said that he would put them in your room. Oh that's right I forgot to tell you! Daddy said that when you come back you were going to live with us for a little while so him and Mom started setting up the room next to mine for you. So Dad put your presents in there for you. I can't wait to see you open them when you come home.

I miss you.

Love, Rukia

He smiled. That was when she had first started signing all of the letters with 'Love, Rukia'. That was when he had first started feeling less alone. Before he had known that when he got out he was going to be welcomed into their home but he didn't feel like it was going be home. But when she spoke of Christmas in their house with presents under the tree for him...he felt like he would have a real home to go to when he got out of this place. He picked up the next letter dated Year 3 Day 775.

Dear Shiro,

I hate school Toushiro! I hate it! This whole middle school thing sucks! None of my friends have the same classes as me. And this group of boys keeps bugging me no matter how much I punch them. They must get a kick out of making me mad! Plus the teachers always give us a bunch of homework. Luckily Dad and Mom have been helping me with it.

So how are the guys doing? Is Hisana out of the hospital yet? Is she doing alright? Make sure Byakuya knows that he needs to get as much food and rest as possible. That's what Mom says is good for him. I have to go take Sam for a walk. Write to me soon.

Love, Rukia

He smiled and folded the letter back. That was the year they had sent a Christmas picture of the whole family with Samuel in it too. He took the new letter and opened it. He took his pencil and wrote on the back: Year 4 Day 1328.

Dear Shiro,

So I think I'm starting to like this boy in my math class. His name is Justin Johnson. He has dark hair like me and brown eyes. Nothing special but he's really nice. He's always helping me when I get confused and he's really patient with me when I get frustrated. But I don't know what to do about liking him. Should I wait and see what he does first? Should I say something? Mom gave me some advice and promised that she wouldn't tell Dad. Now I want to know what you think I should do.

Love, Rukia

Toushiro sighed. She was 14 this year. She was having her first crush. And he was missing it. Sort of. He wished he could be there for her all day every day. He smiled sadly. She was growing up. His Rukia was growing up. He sighed again and laid the letter down on his stomach along with the others and thought about what to write back to her.

/

Two days later, Rukia rushed into the mansion after school. "Nigel! Is it here?", she asked him as he came around the corner. "Of course. It came on time as usual", Nigel said as he handed her her new letter from Toushiro. She smiled and ran up to her room. She dropped her backpack on the floor and sat down on her bed as she tore open the letter.

Dear Rukia,

So you're having your first crush huh? I'm sorry I'm not there to give you advice in person but I suppose this will have to do. I think you should wait and see if he makes a move. If he looks or sounds like he wants to but he starts to get nervous don't just sit there and not say anything or else he might chicken out. Encourage him. Tell him you're a little nervous too so that he feels less like a dork. Even though he kind of sounds like one already. Don't worry I'm just teasing.

Other than that, the best advice I can give you is don't tell your Dad until you absolutely have to. Your father is very protective of you as I'm sure you're well aware. But don't worry he just doesn't want to see hurt. He's confused too. He wants you to experience life but he also wants you safe and sometimes the two collide. Especially now that you're growing up; he's afraid that you'll start to fight against him and try to go off and do your own thing. He wants to remain important in your life. Make sure you stay best friends with him, Rukia. Even when he makes you angry just remember he's only thinking of you and that he and your mom and me will be the ones who will always be there no matter what. Friends come and go but family is forever.

I won't lie to you, Rukia. You will get hurt. The world is not a friendly place all of the time. Things will get tough. You may even feel like one bad thing keeps happening right after another but don't worry; it could always be worse. And we will always be there for you. No matter what. We love you, Rukia. I love you.

Go easy on your dad, Rukia. He'll loosen up when he sees you with someone he believes could truly make you happy.

Love, Toushiro

P.S. Shunsui, Byakuya, and Gin all say 'hello'.

Rukia smiled and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She smiled and held the letter to her chest as she layed down onto her back. She wiped her eyes again. She was so happy that Toushiro was there for her. She felt so happy knowing that he would always be there for her no matter what. No matter the distance he was there.

She sat up and pulled a piece of paper and a pencil out of her backpack and started writing her letter.

Im sorry it took so long for me to update :( I was getting ready for school. I start tomorrow. I tried to make this a little longer than usual to make up for taking so long and I succeeded :) This is the longest chapter so far :) I think it turned out pretty cute but tell me what you guys think