"Captain, you have a message from the Eighth Division. Capain Kurosaki has requested you meet him in his office at your earliest opportunity." Rangiku Matsumoto read off the paper that had been passed to her at the Lieutenant's Meeting. "What's that about?"

"It is unlikely to be anything of your concern, but I will be sure to inform you if I am mistaken." Toushiro Hitsugaya did a masterful job of keeping the nervousness out of his voice. He was rather proud of himself. Now, as long as he can keep his cool that well in front of Ichigo, he may yet live to see another day.

As he stepped out of his room, his captain's haori neatly in place, he thought very seriously about making a run for it. No, that is not how a captain should act! He sighed in resignation and looked at his desk. Of course, the pile of paperwork he was wishing for was absent. His third seat had surprised the division by tearing through paperwork even faster than their captain and would frequently sit down and fill out several hundred pages in an hour of boredom if training didn't catch her interest at the time. For the first time, he took a moment to wish she were as much of a slacker as his Lieutenant. At least then he would have an excuse to avoid this meeting.

"Captain, you're freezing the windows, is everything okay?" Matsumoto's voice snapped him out of his inner panic. He glanced at the frost covered windows and quickly pulled in his riatsu before shaking his head and walking past her. "Oooooh! This is about his sister, isn't it? Did something happen for him to get the wrong idea? Oh! Or better yet, does he have the right idea?" Her sly grin caused him no end of frustration.

"I'm sure you have some paperwork left to do somewhere, Matsumoto." He did not bother denying her speculation. It would only have encouraged her. Besides, the odds were that she was right.

As he was leaving the division in the direction of the Eighth, he felt a familiar and welcome presence.

"Kurosaki, what a coincidence. I'm just on my way to see your brother. I'm glad I get this opportunity to say a last good bye." He felt the punch coming, but let it connect with his shoulder anyway. It was not meant to be painful.

"He isn't going to kill you, and I have told you not to call me that when it's just the two of us." Her voice was a mixture of irritation and amusement. "You're really nervous about this, huh, Shiro?"

"Yes." Toushiro nodded reluctantly. He was a captain, and a powerful one at that, but not only could he not hold a candle to the captain of the Eighth, he could also not find it in himself to disrespect his wishes if the orange headed hero demanded he put an end to any romantic pursuits with his sister. "Karin, promise you won't let Matsumoto give my eulogy... Captain Ukitake would be acceptable."

"Idiot. Get going. Keeping him waiting won't make him any happier. I'll see you later. I'm pretty sure Rangiku has already fallen asleep at her desk." Karin leaned up and brushed her lips against his for an instant, then flash stepped back into the division. Now, with no further distractions from his errand, Captain Hitsugaya set off toward the Eighth Division.

When he arrived, he quickly took shelter behind a low wall as he spotted the elder Captain Kurosaki leaving his son's division. Toushiro let out a sigh of relief. If he had not been slowed down this morning, he would have been faced with not one, but two protective Kurosaki men. Looking around to ensure no one had witnessed his undignified action, he waited a few moments until he felt the familiar riatsu of his former captain draw away before turning around the wall and entering the division itself.

"Ah, you're here earlier than the captain expected. He told me it would be closer to noon. It's alright though, his father just left, so he's not busy. Come in, Captain Hitsugaya." Lieutenant Lisa Yadoumaru invited him in with a warm smile. Either she had no idea what the purpose of the meeting was, or she was a sadistic woman. She was part hollow, so either was possible.

He followed her along the familiar halls to the office of the hero of Soul Society, his dread growing with every step. It wasn't too late to make a run for it. He could make an excuse. Ichigo didn't know he was here yet...

"Captain Kurosaki, Captain Hitsugaya is here as you requested." The woman called through the door. Well, there goes the point of no return.

"Come in, and I keep telling you, just call me Ichigo. It gets really confusing with two Captain Kurosaki's. I can take it from here. Toushiro, come in and close the door." The orange haired shinigami looked only slightly older than he had all those decades ago, but he had matured some. Not as much as some would have liked, but more than many ever thought he would.

"Captain Kurosaki..." A small burst of riatsu and a glare that could make Vasto Lorde run made him immediately correct himself. "Ichigo, may I ask why it is that you have summoned me here today?" Toushiro shifted his weight nervously. He had faced down Arrancar and Sternritter, but he had never felt this uneasy before.

"Take a seat, Toushiro." Ichigo set aside the paper he had been working on and then fixed his intense gaze directly on his fellow captain silently for e few moments until Toushiro was ready to burst with his desire to get the threats out in the open. "Jeez, relax. Don't forget, I know what it's like seeing someone as the older brother for the first time. And trust me, Byakuya is a lot scarier than I am."

"I can't imagine that..." Toushiro swallowed. He now had confirmation that the meeting was about exactly what he feared.

"First, you know what I am. I'm not only Shinigami, but Hollow and Quincy as well. My sisters share that same blood. Yuzu deliberately avoided training so that she would not undergo Hollowfication before she was ready. Karin, however, could go through that at any time. When that happens, as her captain if nothing else, you must promise me that you will alert me, Urahara, or one of the other Visored immediately." Ichigo began. That was not what Toushiro had expected, but he immediately nodded.

"I had not thought of that before, but I understand, and I promise. I won't allow any harm to come to her through my action or negligence."

"Good. Second, you were the third seat under my father when he was captain of the Tenth. You know what he is like. He has always considered you his son, just like he considered Rukia his daughter from the moment he met her. He prefers a different approach to how he protects his children. If you hurt Karin, you know without a shadow of a doubt that I will tear you apart and let my inner hollow devour your soul. My father will never make that threat to you. He will embrace you as his son from the first instant he knows, but if he gets even a whisper that you have hurt her, you'll be dead before I can make it to the Tenth to compete with him. Are we very clear on this point?" Ichigo's gaze had not wavered once.

"Y-yes. Very clear." Toushiro knew he was even more pale than usual. He had not comprehended just what the wrath of these men would entail. He had expected the stereotypical over protective father act from Isshin as well, but in retrospect, Ichigo's description sounded more likely. Then there was Ichigo's threat. He had never considered that his inner hollow would come into play. He knew that Karin had spoken about it almost fondly. It was a part of Ichigo, so it made since that it would be as protective of her as Ichigo himself.

"Good. Third, and I assure you this is not my concern, but Byakuya will have my head if I do not mention it, she is technically a noble of the Shiba clan. That means there will be some formalities that must be observed, and I can assure you from experience, they are a royal pain in the ass. If Byakuya approaches you about such formalities, you will comply to him. If you don't, I have to deal with him, and that will not make me happy." Once again, Toushiro was caught off guard. He had not once considered the fact that he was dating a noble, nor what that might entail should it become more serious.

"Alright, this is the last thing. My father already had this talk with Rukia and I, and although it is too early for it to be of great concern to you, as her captain you should be aware of this as well. Urahara's research suggests that our three fold spiritual nature is almost guaranteed to be passed on to any children we have. That means not only is Karin the same kind of entity as me, but any potential children she may have with you or anyone else will be as well. That isn't meant to scare you away, merely insure you are fully informed about what you are getting yourself in to. She doesn't know this yet, and my father wants to tell her himself, so please refrain from doing so until he does."

"I will... You aren't going to forbid me from seeing her?" Toushiro stared at the taller captain.

"Of course not. She's my sister. I love her, and you make her happy. I will tell you again, if you ever hurt her, cheat on her, or touch her against her will, you can not comprehend the horrors that will rain down upon you. Beyond that, she is capable of making these decisions for herself. I trust her, and I trust you as well. You are basically my brother. Now, I'm supposed to meet Byakuya and Rukia for lunch, and I'm sure your division is in need of their captain by now." Ichigo stood up and smirked at the white haired captain. "Oh, and the old man wants a big family dinner. I don't need to tell you what a fiasco that's going to be. Brace yourself, the message will come in the next few weeks. He wants Rangiku there too, since she is one of his 'daughters' as well."

"I see. I'll be sure to pass along that warning. And... Thank you. I don't think I could imagine a better older brother, even if you are technically younger than me." Toushiro bid farewell to the orange haired captain and then set off for his own division once again. He had a lot to think about, but he was no longer afraid of speaking to the man. It had been a far more rational and mature confrontation than he had expected.

"Captain Hitsugaya!" A voice called out to him from the direction of the eleventh division. It sounded far to kind to be a member, and upon turning in the direction of the voice, he was unsurprised to find two members of the Fourth walking away from the training grounds. It was likely that someone had ended up needing immediate help and could not be moved to the Fourth. The tall woman looked mildly uncomfortable being in public, which was her usual state of being. The other was waving to him.

"Sixth Seat Kurosaki, Lieutenant Kotetsu, good morning." Toushiro came to a stop before the two women. It was clearly Yuzu who had addressed him.

"Captain, my brother told me he was meeting with you today, and I had hoped I would get there before hand. I just wanted to let you know that whatever fate my brother has promised you if you hurt my twin, I will be healing you between rounds to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Have a good day!" The cheerful woman and her tall companion left him standing there, mouth hanging open. Of all the Kurosaki's he had expected such threats of pain and suffering from, she was the last. He didn't even know she was capable of threatening. He did now.

He made it back to his division without further incident, and was pleased to find it still standing. Inside, Rangiku was asleep at her desk, but with over half her paperwork completed. Karin must have gotten tired of driving her and went to spend her time elsewhere. He closed his eyes and reached out his senses to through the division, pinpointing her riatsu in the gardens. He was at her side in a flash step.

"So, how did it go, Shiro?" Karin opened her eyes from her meditative position and cast a calm smile up at him. He sat beside her in an identical pose and relaxed at the feeling of her warm riatsu washing over him. It was the only warmth that didn't bother him.

"It went surprisingly well. I am no longer uneasy about seeing your brother or father, but your sister made it very clear I am not to discount her contribution to my demise should I cause any harm to befall you. Oh, your father wants a big family dinner. Including Matusmoto, since he still considers her a daughter from his time as captain of the Tenth." He closed his eyes and she followed his example. "Have you managed materialization yet?"

"Not yet. She doesn't think my body can handle it yet. At least Shirosaki talked my inner hollow into behaving herself." Karin scowled slightly. Toushiro laughed quietly.

"That is exactly the sort of name Ichigo would choose for his inner hollow. Why does he not just call him by his name, Zangetsu?"

"He still calls the manifestation of his Quincy powers Zangetsu out of habit, and he says it is too confusing to call them both the same thing. Shirosaki actually suggested the name. I think he is just happy to be acknowledged as a part of my brother, not just a parasite." Karin leaned gently against her captain's shoulder.

"Do you call each manifestation by a different name as well?" Toushiro asked. He wished he could join her in her inner world.

"No, my manifestations all merged into one, so it's no problem to call them all by the same name. Although it is weird that my Shinigami and Hollow manifestation is female but my Quincy manifestation is still male. I guess since all Quincy powers came from Yhwach, all the manifestations are the same in appearance."

"I see. Hyourinmaru told me the same thing when I was working on my Bankai. Turns out he was right. The first time I achieved final release, I ended up in the Fourth Division for three days with frostbite on most of my skin. They said I was lucky to have survived. Of course, I immediately went back out and tried again. By the third week, they were keeping a room reserved for me." The white haired captain smiled at the memory as he heard his dragon's amused growl in his head.

"Why were you so determined to achieve Bankai immediately if your body wasn't ready?" Karin asked.

"Because... Your father had just gone missing. I knew if he didn't return soon, a new captain would be assigned. He had given his formal recommendation for me, but if I couldn't pass the exam, there was no way they would allow me to take his place, and I didn't want someone new to come in and change the division. If they had, I would have probably transferred to the Thirteenth of the Sixth or something. It would have made me sick to see some stranger come in and change what Captain Shiba had made."

"You really missed him when he left, huh?"

"Yes, very much so. But he's back, and he's gone and made my family even bigger, so I see no reason to cry over the past now." Toushiro opened his eyes and smiled. The gardens were trimmed in frost and icicles and his dragon had manifested in a smaller form, curled up before him with his magnificent blue eyes fixed on his Shinigami. "Hyourinmaru, you know her through my eyes, but it's about time you were officially introduced to Karin Kurosaki."

"It is an honor, Karin Kurosaki." The dragon bowed its head to the stunned woman.

"He's so beautiful... You really do have the most amazing Zanpakuto I have ever seen. Only fitting for the incarnation of a heavenly guardian, I guess. Hyourinmaru, the honor is mine." Karin smiles as the dragon slowly dissolves into the air, leaving the pair alone again. "Now I see why all the plants are fake."

"Yes, I used to kill them off every time I meditated. Captain Shiba let Matsumoto go to the human world and buy fake plants to plant here instead. I suggested a rock garden, but they both insisted it is not a garden without greenery." Toushiro stood up and offered a hand to his third seat.

"I guess I'll just keep trying. We should probably go and make sure Rangiku finishes her paperwork." Karin takes his hand and stand in front of him. She looks around briefly to ensure they are alone, then wraps her arms around him and kisses him. "We should organize a soccer match for the division. We could charge admission and make some extra money for the division too."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Karin."

Line -

"How many people are going to be there?" Rangiku asked as she followed her captain and third seat toward the Eighth Division where it had been decided the dinner would be held.

"Everyone Captain Shiba has ever considered family, most likely. So, a lot." Toushiro sighed. Ichigo had warned him this was going to be a fiasco. Why did he always feel a sense of dread when he approached the Eighth Division now? First it was the meeting about his future with Karin, now it was a big family dinner. That family never did anything half way.

"Well, there will be Ichigo, Rukia, Byakuya, the three of us, Kukaku and Ganju, dad, Yuzu, probably half the fourth division knowing dad and his habit of adopting people. I'm sure he invited Hinamori as well. Urahara will probably be there too. I think that might be it..." Karin had been counting off. "At least a dozen."

"I m so excited! I remember when we would do things like this within the Tenth back when he was our captain. It was always a ton of fun. Well, except that one time we invited the Eleventh. Then half of the division ended up in the Fourth." Rangiku recalled happily. Toushiro was suddenly even less eager to go.

"Did you say Hinamori is going to be there?" He almost turned around then.

"Yes, and you're going anyway!" Karin put a hand on his back, as if anticipating his imminent retreat.

"Oh don't worry captain, I don't think she's mad at you. Maybe a little jealous, but as long as you don't go feeling up Karin, I think she'll be as friendly as ever." Rangiku placed a comforting hand on her captain's shoulder.

"Alright... Let's do this, then." With one last moment of hesitation, Toushiro led his subordinates into the Eighth Division.

Inside, they found a few large tables set up in a large training room. There were fourteen seats set up around one table while the rest of the tables were loaded down with food. Ichigo and the Kuchiki siblings were already present, along with the Shiba siblings. Only minutes after they arrived, Hinamori entered the area, waving cheerfully at her childhood friend before taking a seat near Yuzu and Isane who had returned with a final load of food for the table.

Urahara came in without anyone noticing and struck up a conversation with the orange haired hero. Now, they were only waiting on the man responsible for the whole affair.

"Ah, I love having my family all in one place! Next time, we're going to have to invite the rest of our divisions as well!" Isshin arrived then in a flash step, grinning widely and practically glowing with joy and excitement. "Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu, please come outside for a minute!" The older captain led his three children out to the front of the division.

"Dad, what do you need us for? Is there something..." Ichigo stopped speaking and stared. His sisters were equally shocked, unable to comprehend what was standing before them.

"After I killed Grand Fisher, she was able to make her way to Soul Society. I've been taking time off every day to search the Rukongai since I returned. I didn't want to tell you until I found her, just in case she had already died and been reincarnated, but I was in time." Isshin extended a hand to the woman and then stepped toward his children. "This is the first time we've all been together for a century, come here!" Without further delay, Isshin dragged the four most dear people to him in the world into a hug.

"Mom? Is it really you?" Ichigo was the first to recover his ability to speak, holding the brown haired woman at arms length.

"Yes, Ichigo. It's really me. You've grown up..." She smiled as she touched his face. "And you two! Karin! Yuzu! You were so young... I'm sorry for not being there for you all these years..."

She had no more time for apologizing as her children clung to her, laughing and crying with relief.

"I told you they would never be mad at you, Masaki." Isshin grinned at his wife. "I never gave up on you, you know."

"I know, Isshin. I know. I love you. I love you all so much... It is good to be back where I belong." Masaki smiled as she looked at her family. "There's a party in there waiting for us."

"Yes! You need to meet Toushiro! You remember I told you about him back when I first came to the living world?" Isshin took his wife's hand and led the group back into the division. Ichigo and his sisters were still shocked silent by the sudden appearance of their long lost mother, but there was nothing that could make their smiles fall now.

"Ichigo, who is that woman? She looks familiar..." Rukia looked at him quizzically, not entirely sure what to make of his goofy grin.

"You probably saw the poster Dad kept of her in our old house... That's my mother Rukia. He found her in the Rukongai." He kissed the top of her head. "She's the missing piece of my family... I never thought I would see her again."

"You'll have to introduce me when your father lets her get away for a moment." Rukia smiled and squeezed his hand. She owed quite a lot to that woman.

At the other end of the table, Isshin and Masaki were talking to Toushiro and Karin. The white haired captain could not find it in himself to begrudge her the tight embrace she offered. Not when she clearly meant the world to the family he considered his own.

When the reunited couple had moved on, Toushiro could not stop himself from grinning at the radiant smile coming from his third seat.

"Shiro, my mother's back! I can't believe it! This is real, isn't it? Not a dream? If it is, don't wake me up!" Karin intertwined her fingers with his, not sparring a glance for Hinamori, who scowled at her briefly but sighed and turned her attention elsewhere.

"My family just keeps growing." Toushiro didn't bother mentioning that she should be using his formal title in public. They were with family, so he could let it slide for the day.

"Everyone! Your attention please!" Isshin had jumped up onto a clear table, arms spread wide and shouting enthusiastically to the people below him. "As much as I would like to have you all gathered together like this every day, I know you all have responsibilities to your own divisions that won't allow that. But today, forget all that! Forget your other responsibilities and positions. For today, I want you all to remember what is really most important. Family. Whether they are here with us, or spread far and wide, or lost completely, our family is what matters most in life. The people who love us and who we love." The man looked fondly around the group. "You're all my family. My niece and nephew, Kukaku and Ganju. My son and his wife, Ichigo and Rukia. Her brother, Byakuya. My daughters Yuzu and Karin. My dearest subordinates, past and present. Toushiro, Rangiku, and Isane. My best friend, Kisuke. Toushiro's childhood friend Momo. And of course, my beautiful wife, Masaki. In honor of those that we have lost, who should be seated here among us today, love those you have all the more in their absence!"

Isshin jumped off the table then, and was surprised to find his son clapping for him, soon joined by the others.

"Well said." Byakuya acknowledged. "Hisana would have agreed as well."

"Kaien, too." Kukaku nodded.

"And Gin." Rangiku smiled sadly.

"Granny." Momo and Toushiro agreed.

The evening was spent in high spirits as the men and women of Isshin's family enjoyed the company and food. By the time they parted, they all agreed that they should repeat the event regularly. At least every year, if not more. A day just for family.

Line -

"You did it, Karin!" Toushiro smiled proudly as the manifestation of her Zanpakuto stood before them.

"Shunruu, what made you decided to allow me to move forward?" Karin asked. The manifestation smiled and sat in front of the pair, mirroring their pose.

"I determined you were ready now. But it will still be a long road to achieving final release. Toushiro Hitsugaya, continue to protect my Shinigami. She will need your wisdom and experience in the next years as she works to master our power." The woman, who appeared similar to Karin, but taller and in contrast to Ichigo's inner hollow, radiating vibrant color from her pure white hair and skin.

"I will protect her and help her for as long as she will allow me, and I won't promise to stop even if that time comes to an end." Toushiro agreed. Having received his agreement, Shunruu faded into the green and blue around her. "Your Zanpakuto could compete with Rukia's for most beautiful in Soul Society. I've never seen such a contradiction as white being colorful, but I will never forget the sight either."

"Before she merged with my Quincy powers, she was the same as Shirosaki. Just a white version of myself. Something about the merge made her look like that. I'm going to go tell Mom about my progress, do you want to come with me?"

"Of course." Toushiro followed her out of the division, smiling at the familiarity of Rangiku asleep on her paperwork. He loved his family.