After a week of relentless training she hadn't gotten anywhere.

"Stop trying to force it." The wind feline, Airwing, sighed. She was a blue feline with large blue wings, white swirling throughout her fur and belly soft lavender, eyes the dark orange of sunset. "You can't force wind into a place it doesn't want to be, you have to coax it there, lead it on. Air travels down the easier route, so give it one and it will follow."

"Argh!" Karin growled, scrunching her hair into her fists in frustration. "How do I give it an easier route? That's like trying to make water go uphill!"

"The Soul Prince can do it." Airwing noted. "His ice follows his every command, heading straight into the sky when he leads it there. Yours should be easier, as fire always travels up, and wind, as I said, goes to the path of least resistance. You're giving it far too much resistance."

Growling, Karin closed her eyes and concentrated once more. She'd passed the last one, and so had her brother after some extreme effort, but this one was about fine tuning their control, and neither of them had it easy. According to Toshiro the next one would be even harder, though he seemed to think Ichigo might handle it a bit better. When asked why, he simply smirked and went silent. That was another difference with the Ice Prince, he'd started getting cryptic.

When she still made no progress the Substitute called it a day and returned to the base of the mountain, trudging on back to the tree mansion. She'd grown close to Sylfie and her daughters over time but her mood had been declining, as Toshiro hadn't visited since the others left. She didn't complain, though, because Sylfie had told her he was spending more time with his father. She'd been the one to suggest he do that so she refused to force him back to her.

In the palace, Toshiro sat by his father's bed, making small talk to pass the time. His father loved the company and was happy to talk about pretty much anything. Though, at the moment, their conversation was a little more serious.

"Soul Society is on high alert." Toshiro said with a frown. "The demons don't come in as large of groups as before, but they're still coming, making it hard to give people time to recover. Thankfully Ruala gets there in time to fight back the Fear but some have been lost to it."

"I see, that is troublesome." Satoru put a hand to his chin in thought. "I wonder if they're trying to find a way to get here through the Soul Society, as that's where you go the most."

"I haven't been there in a month since I went to bring the Soul Reapers here." Toshiro mentioned. "So why attack now?"

"Maybe it's because you aren't there. After all, you can kill them easily, as you've already defeated one of the elites."

"I haven't defeated a Demon Lord."

"No, but Gralio was as close to one as they can get. His problem was his impatience, which you were able to use to your advantage. The Solar Five aren't so impatient. In fact, they love to drag it out, to make YOU impatient. They know they can do it too."

"Damn." Toshiro scowled. "They haven't showed themselves, either. Not since I brought Karin here."

"How is she, by the way?" Satoru grinned. "Perhaps she could come join us sometime."

"She's still doing the trials." His son looked curious as to why he was interested in her. "I believe she's on her third along with her brother."

"They're making progress." The king nodded. "She seems like a nice young woman."

"Except she's stubborn." The prince huffed.

"Much like you."

Toshiro grumbled under his breath and his father laughed lightly.

"The two of you are an unlikely match." He continued, watching his son's cheeks turn a light pink. "But I can see it working out. You even each other out quite well."

"What do you mean by that?"

"When she gets hot-headed, you cool her off, and when you stand rigid, she warms you up. You need each other to find that balance in between that makes you complete." He smiled as Toshiro listened intently. "It's risky, as most beings of Fire and Ice end up destroying each other, but I believe the two of you have that balance."

"Maybe…" Toshiro scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I should probably go see her."

"I'm sure she'd like that." Satoru put a comforting hand on his son's shoulder. "She's helped you earn two marks already. Who knows, maybe she's the key to getting your fourth."

Teal eyes glanced down at his birthmark, glowing with a subtle, transparent light. It only got bright when he was using his powers, otherwise it wasn't there. It wouldn't be permanent until he became Soul King, like his father's own white mark, the color matching their Spiritual Pressure color.

"Will you be alright?" Toshiro looked back up.

"I'll be fine, son." Satoru shooed him away, Toshiro standing reluctantly. "I heard a few others planned on returning, you should see them off."

"Okay."

He left the room but did not go farther, waiting behind the now closed door, his Spiritual Pressure dimmed to make it seem like he'd left. After a moment he heard his father cough violently, frowning deeply. There was nothing he could do, he knew that, but it still hurt. His hand clenched into a fist before he finally walked away. His dragon said nothing, knowing that there were no words to make the situation any better.

At the Kingdom of Magika, Karin and Ichigo noticed the Soul Reapers gathered.

"So you guys are going back?" She questioned, looking over at those who had made that decision. Kadin, Byakuya, Jushiro, Kisuke and Yoruichi. That left only Renji, Rangiku and Rukia staying with them, waiting for the two of them to finish the trials.

"The demons are still coming; they could use some well rested fighters to back them up." Kadin replied to her.

He paused as he spotted Ælfwyn step outside with her sister. The woman smiled kindly at him and he couldn't help but smile back. His memories had not quite returned yet, still blurry and unknown, but he knew he could trust her, his mother.

"Well, be careful." Sylfie commented, standing next to Karin with Ruala on her other side, the guardian keeping her gaze on the ground. During his time here Kadin had come to realize he knew Ruala as well as he knew his mother, a blurry figure in his memories that was always there to comfort him. He knew they were close but couldn't say anything until he knew more.

"You have no need to worry about us." Byakuya replied, stiff as always. The green-haired woman was at a loss for what to do with him. Unlike Toshiro, who just needed a little push in the right direction to get a smile, this man was a statue. She'd even tried teaming up with Yoruichi, but that only frustrated him.

"Best be off." Jushiro gave a small wave.

"Good luck!" Rangiku waved back, Kadin rolling his eyes at her. He knew half her reason for staying was to avoid paperwork.

"To you as well!" Urahara waved his fan at them all and turned away. "I'm going to see what Kurotsuchi found out about the demons, I heard he caught one. Just my luck!"

"Oh boy." Yoruichi sighed.

A shadow made them pause as Myndræl landed before them, the large blue dragon blocking their path as Toshiro dismounted and headed towards them.

"Oh, Prince Hitsugaya." Kadin greeted with some surprise.

"I heard you were leaving." He said.

"We are." Jushiro nodded. "We wish to aid in keeping out the demons."

The prince nodded, understanding completely, and said his goodbyes to them all. He waited with the others as the five Reapers left, the Tenchuren heading downwards back to the Soul Society, Japan branch. With a huff, Ichigo turned back to the mountain, determined to finish the trials.

"Time to get back to business." He said as he walked away.

"Oh no you don't." Sylfie latched onto the back of his Shihakusho and pulled him back, startling him. "You and Karin haven't made any progress what-so-ever which means you're not doing it right. The best thing for you two right now is relax a bit and think about why."

"But we don't have time for that." Karin argued.

"Just ask him," Sylfie motioned towards Toshiro, who blinked in confusion, "you won't get anywhere trying to force it."

"She's right." The young prince grumbled.

"Okay, I get it." Ichigo scowled, the royal letting him go finally. "So, what? We just take a nap or something?"

"Whatever will help." The woman shrugged and headed back inside with her daughters, including Ruala, who looked a little more sad than usual.

"Maybe you should try talking to your zanpaktou." Rangiku suggested, Renji and Rukia nodding behind her.

"But I don't have him with me." The orange-haired man reminded.

"Oh, right…"

"Even if you can't talk to him the meditation would be a good way to clear your head and think about it." Rukia stepped over to him.

"I guess…"

Rolling her eyes, the petite Kuchiki pushed him inside to do just that, Renji smirking and following, knowing this would get interesting if an argument started.

"Well, I should probably keep practicing." Rangiku grinned at the two left. "I knew Bankai was difficult, but goodness! And Haineko isn't ANY help!"

"Maybe if you actually tried to get along with her?" Toshiro suggested, Karin snickering.

"So mean, Hitsugaya." Rangiku pouted and walked off into the forest to practice her Bankai.

Now it was just him and Karin, a fact he noted quickly. Well, he had planned on seeing her…but he wasn't sure what to say. There was more than one reason he hadn't been by the past week to visit, and his father's approaching demise was only one of them. An important one, but still just one. However, explaining the other one would be difficult.

"Still letting her call you by your last name?" Karin said to him, initiating a conversation.

"Yes." He replied. "I told her she could, and that she didn't have to call me Soul Prince like everyone else."

"You call her by her first name now; can't she call you by yours?"

"I…suppose…" He fidgeted a bit.

The silence got a bit oppressing. Deciding to try another time, Toshiro sighed.

"I should go."

He turned to leave. Myndræl narrowed his eyes and was prepared to turn away; like he was letting his partner run away from this, oh no. However, he had no need to move as Karin stepped forward and latched onto the boy's arm.

"Hey!" She growled. "You just got here!"

He looked back at her curiously, unsure what to do now. Fate seemed to be against him.

"Are you avoiding me?" She asked, looking a little hurt, and he stiffened.

"Of course not!" He denied. "I just…I don't want to be a distraction."

"Hmph." She let go of him to cross her arms. "You weren't the first three weeks, what makes you think you are now?"

"Um…" He scratched his head nervously; so perhaps that wasn't the best excuse. "I'm…in a difficult spot right now."

Her gaze softened.

"With your dad?"

He nodded, going along with it. It was part of the reason he was nervous, so he supposed it wasn't completely lying. There was honestly no good way to put into words what he was thinking, fearful it would only end in her anger.

"No idea how to get the fourth one?" Her voice brought him out of his thoughts.

"Unfortunately, no." He sighed, looking at the mark again. "It's a very vague attribute."

She nodded in understanding.

"I'm sure you'll get it." She flashed him a smile and turned to leave.

In that moment, as he saw her walking away from him, his calm demeanor slipped and he caught her before she could actually leave, arms around her waist and head nestled at her neck. Face flushing, she froze in place, wondering why this was happening. Similarly, Toshiro was wondering what the heck he was thinking, putting himself in a corner like this.

"T-Toshiro?" Karin stuttered, completely caught off guard.

No reply at first, just a slight tremble to his grip. What was going on? Why was he acting like this?

"Don't leave me." He confessed in a desperate tone. "I'll be alone…"

Her heart went out to him then, putting her arms over his to stop the shaking, his arms cold in her grasp. She let her warmth spread into him to hopefully calm him down. This definitely wasn't like him but she could see why he acted as such. He was weeks, possibly only days away from losing his father, someone he'd grown close to during his time here.

"I've still got things to do, I'm not going anywhere." She promised.

His grip tightened.

"What about when you've finished?" Though still sounding desperate, there was an icy bite to it.

'Jeez, I had no idea he was so possessive.' Karin inwardly sighed, biting her lip, trying to think of what to say.

'Can you blame him?' Her zanpaktou said, reminding her with subtle flashes of memory things Toshiro had told her about his life that had lead her to realize why he was such a cold person.

'Damn…now what do I do?'

She got him to release her just enough so she could turn around and hug him tight. But while it made him feel a little better, she still hadn't answered him.

"You'll leave, won't you?" He questioned her. "When you're finished?"

"Maybe…" She sighed. "Toshiro, it's too early to think about it. Just stop avoiding me, okay? If you're scared to be alone then don't hide."

"I'm not hiding." He shifted himself to look her in the eyes.

"Yes you are." She snapped and he flinched a bit. "You have to trust me, Toshiro. Even if I leave I'll come back, okay?"

Trust. That was the key word, here. Trust was hard for him and she knew it. Trust was something he'd held back on, wary of what would happen, scared of being hurt in the end. Trust was something taken from him when Aizen had been in power, or perhaps even before that, when he still ran barefoot in the Rukongai, mocked by the other children.

"I trust you." He whispered to her, if a little hesitantly.

"Good." She nodded. "Because I'm trusting you, okay? That's what you do in a relationship, you trust each other."

Now he nodded, showing he understood. It was tricky dealing with him during these vulnerable moments, but she felt she knew how to handle it now. Grinning, she kissed him on the cheek before slipping out of his grip with a laugh, him pouting, and heading towards the mansion. He followed after her like a lost puppy, his thoughts still out of line.

Inside, Ichigo watched the entire exchange with a stiff posture. He hadn't done anything, noticing with some concern Toshiro's seemingly frightened behavior, but he still didn't like it. As Karin's older brother he felt he needed to step in, but as Toshiro's friend he did nothing. The young prince was a very polite person when he wasn't irritated, which was usually all the time, and he knew he could trust him to take care of his sister. It was actually kind of funny to see how much Karin seemed to have him wrapped around her finger.

Letting out a huff he moved away from the window before they came inside, not wanting to be caught spying. Rukia and Rangiku had already been quite clear that he wasn't to mess things up, the former threatening no more affection. He had his own relationship to keep together; he couldn't keep up with his sister's, too.

Hmm, what to say this time...Meh, not in the mood right now. I feel like i'm starting to rush these chapters...

Enjoy!