Title: The Lies We Tell
Genre: General, Slice of Life
Characters: Mostly various Vandenriech and Toshiro
Summary: The lies that have been told... the half truths that eat away at the soul. Toshiro is finding himself being thrown into a pit of lies without realizing it.
Rating: K+
Notes: I have a few one-shots partially written and I have others that I'm going to write despite not necessarily being compliant with later chapters, but this is inspired by 543. Pretty much I'm working out some kinks in the theories I came up with. Not that it matters whether the theories I come up with turn out true. That's part of the fun of theoretical work. Also... I ask for a bit of willing suspense of disbelief when it comes to this particular chapter. The Vandenriech has attacked soul society again and taken Toshiro away. Also, a bit of shuffling with the relationships for this one. :D

The Lies We Tell

Toshiro sat on the floor of the jail cell, his knees folded up to his chest, his chin resting on his knees. His stomach was tumbling from the stress as he fumed over the fact he hadn't been strong enough in the latest attack to protect his division and had even gone so far as to have been captured. What he found himself fuming the most over was the fact he had been captured by someone he had considered a friend.

Ishida Uryu had shown up, causing the young Shinigami to question his actions simply because he viewed the Quincy as a friend. He also verbally questioned the physically older male about why he was doing it, but only received the typical response about the Quincy honor. Thus he had ended up captured, the sting of his defeat made worse due to the fact he had trusted the young man as an ally, but to be honest he should have also been smart enough to see it happening.

He also found himself wishing more then he ever had that Ichigo would have shown up, but his training with Zero Squad wasn't complete. Of course, there was the fact it was honestly advantageous to move before Ichigo came back. That was the best strategy that came to Toshiro's mind as he sat there in the cell thinking about his plight, not wanting to think about what would happen to him or his friends back in Soul Society.

The door opened and the boy looked up to see Uryu approaching him. A frown pressed forward on the boy's lips. "Traitor."

"Excuse me?" Uryu looked at the boy in surprise. "I don't have ties to Soul Society."

Toshiro frowned, thinking about the others words for a bit, thinking also about why he had chosen to call him a traitor. "I trusted you."

"I know that."

The small Shinigami felt his throat tighten. "You know that? You don't care about the fact because I am a Shinigami?"

The blue haired teen looked at him, frowning. "Trust isn't always about doing what the person wants, but it is always about doing what is best for said person."

"Don't give me that shit. Best for me?" Toshiro narrowed his eyes at Uryu. "Why do I get the idea that this only applies towards myself? If so, why am I being singled out."

There came another silence as the boy watched the physically older male. The blue haired teen leaned against the wall. "At this point what you need to know is that your safe and no harm will come to you. Things are complicated."

"Let me make it clear that I am not some child who needs protection Ishida." Two bright eyes continued to look at the other.

"Let me make it clear despite the fact you believe otherwise that you are still a child. That is why I'm doing what I am doing."

Toshiro's hands clenched the edge of the bench while his teeth gritted. "At what cost? I'm not stupid you know."

"Neither am I."

Toshiro let out a deep sigh before glancing to the side. "Let me be frank here. What is going to happen to me?"

"As I said, it is complicated. All you need to know is that nothing bad is going to happen to you. You don't have to worry about anything."

"Anything?" The boy looked up, anger in his eyes. "I worry about the others in Soul Society. They're my acquaintances. No... I think I should be more specific for once about my feelings. I care about those in Soul Society. They're... they're more then just friends. They're family."

"You need to get used to the fact the Vandenreich is your family." Uryu continued watching the boy.

Toshiro gritted his teeth again. "You think I'm happy about this?"

"I know you're not. I told you that trust isn't just about doing what makes a person happy. It's always about doing what is best for the person. As I've told you, there is only so much I can explain at this point."

"Get the hell out."

"As you wish. I'll be back later though."

drowning in lies...
...the last Quincy is not the last Quincy...
...Juhabach's lie...

"Why me?" Uryu looked at the pale haired Quincy in front of him, his mouth frowning. "There is nothing special about me if the Quincy are left alive. I'm quite sure that he has plenty of others that he can choose from."

"Honestly, I have an idea behind his reasoning, but he'll likely want to explain it to you himself. As such I agree with his choice, but understand that you will meet with opposition from some of the others but I will stand by it as it is the decision that is best for him in the long run."

"Of our majesty?" The blue haired teen glanced at the ground.

"Him..." There was a period of silence. "What if I were to tell you that you'll be allowed to protect something important to you? I can't go into specifics of what that is here."

"Are you saying this important thing to me wouldn't be protected if I didn't choose to join your side."

"No. The important thing will be protected whether you choose to join or not. The question is whether or not you are going to be the one to protect this important thing. Of course, you won't know what this important thing is until you swear allegiance to our majesty and you won't have your task explained to you until then. It is however something that is indeed important to you."

Uryu found himself swallowing as he remembered his grandfather's words about protecting something that was important being part of the Quincy's honor. For some reason the old man had felt the need to drive that into his head. The blue haired teen finally stood up. "Fine."

He then found himself dragged to the court where only his majesty was present. He made a bow, swearing his allegiance hoping that what he was to protect really was important to him. Of course, this would be a perfect trick to get him to join. The man then spoke up. "You can stand up."

"Hai." The teen looked at the man, noting how fearsome he was.

"Did you know that all the Quincy are of my bloodline?"

"Is the important thing you want me to protect family? I don't exactly have good bonds with my family. I'm also assuming that's why you called me your son."

"Yes and no." The man folded his fingers. "You are the last Quincy left alive from the living world are you not?"

Uryu blinked a couple of times. "There is my father."

"Your father wants nothing to do with this. He made that clear a long time ago, so he is considered dead to us. However, we won't seek his death either if that matters to you any."

"Not much."

"The man who brought you here is named Jugram Hashwalth. He is my son through my favorite wife."

"Then that means he's your heir." Uryu continued to watch the man carefully.

"No. I'm actually going to be naming you my successor, but as my successor you aren't the heir either." Juhabach narrowed his eyes at the young Quincy. "You are confused, so I'll explain this some more. While some of the Quincy believe that Jugram is the eldest son of my favorite wife he is not. My son that is actually the eldest disappeared on me and has since passed on. He did however have a son of his own."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"My grandson is in fact still a child. Thus if something were to happen to me he would need someone to rule in his place until he is old enough to make decisions on his own as well as prevent the other Vandenreich from using him to their own goals. Since you are an outsider you are less likely to be influenced by the politics here and would be unbiased."

"There has to be more to this. I was told that I would be protecting something important to me, but I know of no child Quincy that is male. I only know of Kurosaki's two sisters and obviously they are half Quincy, half Shinigami."

"Actually, you have me this child. He's the child taicho of the Gotei Thirteen."

"Hitsugaya?" Uryu narrowed his eyes. "He's happy enough where he is. Also, how can he be your grandson?"

"My heir tried hiding the child from me. We are going to bring him here with or without you. It isn't a matter of what makes him happy, but what is best for him. We are his family, the Shinigami are not. On top of this the Shinigami use him as a weapon and care not one bit about using him as such. Hasn't it bothered you that someone as young as Kurosaki's sisters is fighting like this child is?"

The blue haired teen remained silent, thinking about what the man said, carefully picking his words. "Its not something I would ever choose to say to his face."

"If he is here, he no longer has to fight. If possible we won't inform him of what is going on until the battle with Soul Society is finished, but there is a chance things will have to be explained to him." The man watched as Uryu glanced away. "You bonded with the child and think of his as a close friend. Now you know this child is also family. Will you do what is best for him."

Uryu clenched his fists. "Despite the fact I don't agree with your actions of taking him away from the place he considers to be his home, I will not let him shoulder the burden on his own."

"That is the answer I am looking for."

many will lie...
...Juhabach's heir is not his heir...
...the family's secret lie...

Bazz-B's mood was dark as he stormed down the hall to the jail cell. He slammed the door open, causing the child inside to flinch. "First his majesty names that no name as his successor and now we bring back some piece of Shinigami shit and we're not allowed to execute him despite the fact he is a captain. The majesty has lost his mind and I'm not going to stand for it."

Toshiro turned to look at him, frowning as he did so. "A word of advice here. I know as much as you do as to why I am spared, but I think it is in your best interest not to harm me, not that I really care. I'm simply putting forth the idea that you won't get away unscathed if you injure or kill me."

"Why would some brat Shinigami care about my well being? We're enemies you know."

"Are we?" The boy went back to looking at the wall. "I would certainly be treating all of you as an enemy if left to my own means. On the other hand I know full well I'm not being treated like an enemy either."

"You didn't answer my question brat. Why are you acting like you care about my well being? Are you stupid?"

"I honestly don't care about fighting in the first place and don't see why we even have to find."

"Oi... you just said you would be treating me like an enemy."

"As a member of the Gotei Thirteen it would be my duty to fight you. Apparently though I am a prisoner of war now and need to act accordingly. Of course... I'm also under the impression that I'm not seen as a prisoner of war."

"Fuck you." Bazz-B stepped forward, grabbing the boy and lifting him up into the air. "Do you want me to crush your skull."

"Honestly, do as you wish. I doubt you'll like the consequences if you do."

"You..."

"Oi... put the kid down." The door snapped shut. "Seriously... Juhabach won't be happy with you picking fights with a kid."

"Butting in again Askin?"

The man stepped forward and looked right at Toshiro, frowning as he did so. "The kid looks like oka-sama." Suddenly, the man elbowed Bazz-B roughly, causing him to drop the boy. "Yup... same hair and eye color as well."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Who does he look like to you?"

"The brat looks like a mini version of Haschwalth. What of it?" Bazz-B let out a laugh. "You aren't telling me that Haschwalth went and knocked up some woman and had a kid? He's too straight laced for that. The fact he's not standing up to his majesty for his rightful inheritance is beyond irritating. Even if that isn't true..."

"What are the two of you doing here?"

The two Quincy glanced up to see Uryu standing in the door, a trey of food in his hands. "Hitsugaya is to have limited visitors. You haven't told him anything he isn't supposed to know yet have you?"

"What ever they told me I was already figuring out on my own." Toshiro glanced at the ground. "I'm also not hungry."

"You're not hungry because you're depressed. You know as well as I that you need to keep up your energy, so eat." Uryu set the trey down, before turning to leave with the two men. He glared at the two of them. "Don't approach him again without permission."

"Screw you." Bazz-B took off, his stride revealing his irritation.

Uryu continued on his way, only to pause upon realizing that Askin was following him. "What do you want?"

"That kid is my psychopath half-brother's kid, isn't he."

"I don't know what you mean."

"I'm one of the inner family, though not of the first wife. I know full well that Jugram isn't our majesties heir, his older twin brother is. So does Cang Du despite being demoted and a few others. Eventually others of the inner most circle are going to figure it out."

"So?"

"Every single person who hasn't protested you being his majesties successor is a member of the inner circle, or once was of the inner circle. Every single one of them will figure out, not to mention there has been some suspicion that something like this is going on. However, you do have to worry about Baba-chan."

"And she would be?"

"The youngest member of the inner circle other then that kid back there. As they are as young as they are, neither one of them know. All Baba-chan knows is she's got a bunch of uncles looking out for her, her care taker being Cang Du as he's the one who brought her back. Lost his tongue too when he did to our nii-sama. That's how much a psychopath that one is... or was. It's also why Cang Du got demoted."

"And I have to worry about her because?"

"Baba-chan was expecting one of her uncles to get the position. She dotes on every single one of us, but then we all spoil her rotten. She doesn't know she has a brother... likely a twin I say as they look to be the same age. It hasn't crossed her mind either that her parent was the heir either. She doesn't like you. No, she doesn't like you one bit."

the unsaid truth...
...what betided the family ties they have...
...an unsaid truth to a child...

"I do not like him." That was the decision Bambietta made when she heard that Ishida Uryu was going to be her grandfather's successor rather then one of her uncles. She found herself walking through the halls, fuming as she did so and breaking a few things.

"What are you doing?" A voice broke her from her concentration, causing her to look up. "You're to close to his majesties quarters. You know that he doesn't like being disturbed."

"Why didn't he pick you?"

"Are you going to barge in and demand answers from him? You know I can't allow that. He may not kill you for having an insolent tongue, but he will certainly tan your hide."

"He won't give me answers?"

"Why would you think he would?"

"Because I'll ask nicely."

"Oh... and what if he says it is none of your concern."

"I don't know why adults do things."

"I have an idea why he did this. No, I know why he did this. Eventually you'll find out as well."

"Can I have a hint."

The man paused, frowning as he did so. "Eventually you'll meet a certain person and when you see said person you'll understand. That's all I'll tell you."

a self told lie...
...a child who didn't die but was born...
...Toshiro's lie...

"Yo!"

Toshiro's head jolted up, before turning to look at the stranger. He had been the second stranger to have entered the jail cell. "What do you want?"

"What do I want?" The man eyeballed the trey of food left on the bench. "I'd like you to eat your food."

"No you too... or are you under orders from Ishida-sama to force me to eat."

"No... growing kids need their nutrients." The man's voice had a funny accent. Something hit Toshiro in the head before falling to the ground. The boy glanced down to see a small bag sitting on the floor. Carefully he picked it up before frowning. "If he comes back you can tell him you ate the treat I gave you."

One of Toshiro's eyebrows rose up. "Are you here under his orders?"

"I'm actually under his orders to stay away, but I'm not one for obeying orders unless I see fit."

"You sound like Kurosaki."

"Is that supposed to be an insult or a compliment."

"Kurosaki will stop you guys."

"I guess I should take it as a compliment since you seem to admire that guy, but I doubt he'll be able to stop us."

"He won't just be able to stop you, he'll do it with minimal blood shed." Toshiro looked at the bag, before opening it out of curiosity. Upon seeing the contents his eyes went wide before he clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Is something the matter?"

The small taicho closed the bag before flinging it across to the other side. "I hate dried persimmons."

The man folded his arms across his chest. "Funny... your mother and father loved dried persimmons. Your..."

"Wait..." Toshiro turned to look at him. "I thought you weren't supposed to tell me anything, but did you just say what I think you did?"

"About your parents liking dried persimmons? What of it?"

"This is some cruel joke, right?"

The man narrowed his eyes at the boy. "What do you mean by that?"

"I died on a plain of ice and ended up in Soul Society. I don't have any parents."

"Where the hell did you get that idea. I can tell just by looking at you who your father is and the only person I can think of who could be your mother would be that girl."

Toshiro swallowed. "She wouldn't abandon me. I know her. Him I can see doing it, but not her."

The man narrowed his eyes. "My half-brother didn't agree with our ways. That's why he ran off with that girl. Do you think he'd actually want us finding you? Simple fact is he decided to hide you. Whether she knows or not I don't know."

"Matsumoto wouldn't lie to me."

"Matsumoto?"

"Ichimaru Gin and Matsumoto Rangiku."

"Those aren't their real names kid. I bet he came up with them."

"She still would have told me!"

The man frowned with that strange scowl of his. "Really?"

Toshiro frowned. "She's not a very good liar."

The man scratches his head. "No... she never was." After a few minutes of staring at each other the man spoke up again. "I guess she doesn't remember for some reason." The man reached into his sleeve again. "Here... this was oka-sama's favorite."

Toshiro caught the bag. When he opened it, his eyes became wide. "Amanatto?"

"I figured as much as you look like her."

The boy looked up at the man. "What was so special about her?"

"Her? She let us call her mother despite not being our real mother. It didn't matter that our mothers were part of father's harem."

"Ishida's going to be mad at you for telling me this you know."

"What kind of connection do you have to that nerdy kid."

"He's on of Kurosaki's friends." Toshiro looked at the treat, debating whether to eat it or not.

"Then why is he siding with us? Because he's a Quincy?"

Toshiro's head paused, before turning to look at the man with wide, bright teal eyes. "No. Don't tell him you told me this stuff. I'm just going to say if he asks that you brought me a treat to try and get me to eat. I have an idea what's going on. He's honestly trying to protect me you know, though I disagree with his methods."

"Uh-huh. Why is he protecting you?"

"Duty, Quincy honor. I honestly don't know. May have something to do with him not liking the fact I'm a child solider."

"Oh... Baba-chan isn't going to like that, but then again she's not going to like that fact she's likely going to be left out of the final battle plans."

"Whose Baba-chan?"

"Oh... you'll meet her eventually. She's your age. I think you'll like her."

"Because she's my age? I don't get along well with most people my age."

"I think you'll get it when you meet her.

feelings can lie...
...the feeling of being alone with no family...
...the twins' lie...

Toshiro decided to be compliant simply because there was nothing else he could do and the entire Vandenreich were watching him like a hawk. After a couple of days Uryu made the decision to allow him to wander about the place with someone to escort him around. Said person had said there had been specific instructions given to not lay a finger on him, to which he didn't care and simply zoned out.

He was also made to change his clothing. Thankfully he was allowed to wear a simple kimono and not the uniform. Chances are Uryu arranged it so that he would be more comfortable, knowing full well that he would turn down the first choice given, the overly stuffy uniform. As he walked behind the person, he suddenly heard a voice coming from the hall way.

"You!"

This caused Toshiro to turn just in time to see a small female dressed in the Vandenreich uniform suddenly surge forward, a few other children not dressed in uniform watching from the side. The person with the small taicho spoke up. "Lady Bambietta..."

"You..." The girl poked him in the chest, her nose coming to touch his. However, the angry look quickly dissipated. "Do I know you?"

Toshiro blinked a couple of times. "I don't remember us ever meeting."

"Why do I have the feeling we've met before?"

This caused the silver haired child to glance away, frowning as he did so. "I don't know..."

"Do you have the feeling we've met despite the fact we don't remember having met."

The small taicho paused, wishing she hadn't brought up what he had been avoiding thinking. "Yes... that feeling is there."

"Lady Bambietta..." The guide frowned at her. "He's just a lowly Shinigami."

"He looks like uncle. Are you one of uncles children?"

"I don't think so. You're referring to someone you definitely know, right?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"This person your referring to is here in the Vandenreich and has always as long as you remembered been a part, correct?"

"Yes."

"Then they aren't my parent."

The female folded her arms. "Why then do you look like him? Are you sure that your father isn't one of my uncles."

Toshiro turned fully around and looked at her. "Positive. Where exactly is this going?"

"I don't know... hold on." Bambietta counted on her fingers before suddenly pausing. She looked up at him. "I forgot someone."

"Who?"

"Papa."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Papa's the only sibling who isn't around."

Toshiro's eye's widened. "That's... no... uh-uh."

The dark haired female quickly hugged him around the neck. "Nii-chan!"

The silver haired boy's jaw drop as his cheeks flushed up. "Now hold on. Just because I look like a relative of yours doesn't mean I am a relative."

He could feel her chin move against his shoulder as she shook his head. "No... you're my nii-chan."

The man who had been leading Toshiro around frowned. "Lady Bambietta..."

It was then that a loud sound came from the side. "Oi... what is that kid doing out and why is Lady Bambietta hugging him. He's our enemy you know."

Toshiro turned his head to see Bazz-B Storming over. Bambietta though stepped inbetween. "My nii-chan isn't the enemy. You leave him alone or I'll tell grandfather that you're being a bully again."

The man let out an irritated sound. "He ain't your nii-chan."

"He looks like uncle!"

The man paused, looking at the boy carefully. "So I've been told."

"He said his papa wasn't any of the uncles."

"So. That ain't mean he's related."

"Papa must have looked like uncle!" Bambietta turned her head to look at him. "Don't you think so?"

Toshiro frowned. "Don't you look like all of your uncles?"

The female paused. "You haven't met him then? I told you that you look like him. Is papa... your papa... does he look like uncle."

"If you mean does my father have the same coloring as me, he does."

"Just because his papa looks like your uncle doesn't mean his papa is your papa as well."

Toshiro frowned. "I don't like you."

"So... you're our enemy."

"I guess so."

"See... he's not related to you."

"One of her uncles wouldn't happen to be that man?" Toshiro glanced away.

"That man?"

"He interrupted our first meeting."

"What of it?"

"He came back later despite being told not to visit me. He insisted that my father was his half-brother."

"Oi... that would mean your papa was the brother of..." The man paused, suddenly paling. "Nobody said he had a full blood brother."

"Uncle? Why would they have to be full blood brothers? What's the difference between half-brothers and full blood brothers?" Bambietta blinked a couple of times. "Does this have anything to do with why that icky guy was named successor and not uncle?"

"That brat Ishida's a damn sessho."

Toshiro let out a deep sigh before looking away. "I guess so. Not that I really care."

"Haschwalth should have been named your sessho."

"Look... I hate politics, so can you shut the hell up. As I said, I don't like you."

"Hey..." Bambietta spoke up. "I don't know what any of this regent business is. Can someone explain?"

The small silver haired boy took a deep breath. "A sessho is someone who helps a child leader rule until they come of age."

"So the icky guy is only going to be the successor until someone comes to age." The female folded her arms. "Uncle was the heir though as he's the son of grandfathers favorite wife."

Toshiro paused. "Are you really my sister?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're not very bright."

"Hey!"

"Just think about why he wouldn't be heir."

"That would mean there was an older... oh!"

"Yeah... just don't tell Ishida that I know all this stuff. He'll know a gasket."

"Don't tell me that you don't know what Hitsugaya?"

Toshiro paused, his mouth twitching. Bambietta turned to look at the blue haired male. "Hey... icky guy. Why don't my brother and I share the same name?"

"Why does it matter? It isn't as if we share the same last name as our father and mother. We also got caught because we stopped in the hall way."

"Hitsugaya... why are you talking like you've done something wrong. Also, what do you mean by neither of you share the same last names as your parents?"

The boy turned to look at Uryu. "Our parents are Ichimaru Gin and Matsumoto Rangiku. I'm in trouble because I wasn't supposed to find out, right?"

Uryu sighed before pushing up his glasses.