"Back again, hm?" Ichigo crossed his arms as he looked down at the young prince, as he hadn't quite reached the five foot range yet. Toshiro glared but continued on; it was not the time to argue with the Substitute.

It wasn't really a problem for them to accept the crimson dragon, as Yuzu was actually there with Shimmer too, introducing her to the Soul Reapers. Momo and Rangiku were all over the crystal dragon and Shimmer bathed in the attention happily.

"Why the sudden visit, my lord." Kisuke asked with a dramatic bow.

"Don't call me that." Toshiro frowned.

"Your Majesty?"

"No."

"Hm, Your Highness?"

"No."

"Prince Hitsugaya, then?"

"…Fine. I'm still not used to all these names."

"But you have to get used to them." Rangiku pointed out.

"It's only been two months." He argued. She just shrugged and let it go. "How is training with Nakryin?"

"Tougher than I thought." Ikkaku scratched his head. "Girl is quicker than I expected."

"Very." Yoruichi grumbled.

"You're just mad because she's faster than you." Yumichika poked fun at the she-cat.

"She's only faster because she found a way to use her Spirit Energy to make her faster." Toshiro cut in. "If she ever gets around to it she'll show you how."

"It's not that big a deal, really." The purple haired woman shrugged it off. "Why the sudden interest in our training when you're still in your own?"

"Dethmaiyn's demons have upped the ante." He replied. "They've gone from observing to kidnapping." He motioned to Karin.

"They kidnapped you!?" Ichigo darted to his sister. "Are you okay?"

"Fine, fine." Karin laughed nervously. "Just a few scratches, that's all. Lady Shutara was a big help."

"Thankfully I was able to see to the gashes on your back." The woman commented, having been standing off to the side all the while.

"Gashes!?" Ichigo looked pale.

"Ichi, calm down! I'm fine!"

"I made sure that man paid for what he did." Dyrilæn let out with a growl. "They suffer in Hell now, forever and always."

"Huh, having a dragon partner seems useful." Kisuke smirked.

Toshiro and Karin both nodded their agreement, and Yuzu giggled happily, playing with her own dragon partner.

"Moving on." The young prince cut in once more. "If the demons are going to start this fight you all need to be prepared. There's no guarantee at this point that Dethmaiyn will keep this war among the Soul King's Realm anymore. He's aiming for me and with my ties to both this world and the Soul Society he'll attempt to damage them both in order to get to me. I'm not going to let him destroy that."

"You're finally letting us in on it, are ya?" Ikkaku grinned madly, eager for a fight.

"I don't really have a choice." The white haired prince replied. "Not that you all would have given me one."

There were several replies of confirmation and he sighed lightly.

"I can't stay long, there are still things I need to do, but I can send fighters to help you all get stronger. The Soul Society needs to strengthen itself to new levels if they want to fight off the demons. The Royal Guard can help you as well."

"Alright, sounds like a plan." Renji smirked and hit his fists together. "Just say the word, prince, and you have all of us on your side."

"We'll help you any way we can." Rangiku agreed, stepping forward and showing her determined air.

Toshiro relaxed his stance ever so slightly and gifted them with a rare smile, some of them blinking in surprise. Then it was gone and his cold façade had returned.

"I don't know when I'll be able to return. Keep alert for any of the demons and watch yourselves, they're stronger than they look."

Out of his range of vision, Karin looked down at the bracelet on her wrist.

'They said this protects me from Fear.' She mused, looking back up at Toshiro as Momo came to hug him goodbye. 'Why won't he give everyone else one? I'd think he'd give Momo one at least, considering she's like his sister.'

'Looks like the boys were right, you're far more special to him than you think.' Her zanpaktou offered.

'More like I'm right. Everyone here has fighting experience, even Momo. I don't have as much as they do, so he thinks I need protection.'

'You know, I kind of wonder why he's not wearing one. If he's the target, you would think he'd be wearing something to protect himself from their Fear.'

'Yeah…you're right. I'll ask him before he leaves, I need to say bye to Dyrilæn anyway.'

Together the large group headed down to Urahara's basement to enter his makeshift Senkaimon back to the Soul Society. Toshiro was adamant about letting the Head Captain know, but he was leaving that to Senjumaru while he and Dyrilæn returned home. The dragoness wasn't very happy about that but she knew she had no choice.

Before he could vanish for who knows how long again, Karin pulled him aside. He quirked an eyebrow at her, curious.

"If you're so worried about protecting me from their magic, why don't you have one, considering you're their target?" She asked, holding up her wrist with the bracelet.

He glanced at it and looked rather tense all of a sudden, glancing quickly away.

"I can handle it better." He replied. "Most of it is destroyed as it comes into contact with my Spiritual Pressure."

"But not all of it." She crossed her arms.

"What I myself don't destroy, Nakryin can. That's her specialty. I don't need one, Karin, and besides, it was for your birthday."

She hid the tinge in her cheeks with a huff and turned away, pretending to accept that answer.

"I'll be back when I can…I have to continue my own training, my father doesn't have much time left."

Her shoulders slumped and she turned back to him. That's right, his father was on his death bed. She never got to meet the man but he seemed okay, as he was able to get Toshiro to open up a bit.

"Don't hurt yourself trying too hard." She told him and saw him smirk slightly.

"I won't."

Now it was time for him to leave. With the crimson dragon at his side he left for the pillar to take him back to his father's realm while Senjumaru started ushering them back towards the Seireitei. They had Soul Reapers to train.

Toshiro paused to watch them leave, his eyes lingering on Karin.

"Hopefully she never finds out just how that bracelet protects her from Fear." He whispered and turned away, Dyrilæn already ahead of him and ready to go.

'She'd be very unhappy about it.' Hyorinmaru agreed.

'Sofia keeps an eye on me, whenever it spikes she calls her master over and they remove the Fear before it attaches.'

'Perhaps Nakryin should be the one carrying the other end, then. It wouldn't affect her at all.'

'No, her body reflects it back. It wouldn't help Karin at all.'

'Then you better be careful.'

With one last glance back at his group of friends, the white haired prince stepped into the Tenchuren and, with Kukaku's help, left for the Soul King's Realm.

Short chapter. Just a transition. Not much to say...yeah...Enjoy! Next chapter not until after school tomorrow so be patient with me, please!