Christmas Nightmare
~Shopping Again~

The three young ones walked out to the bus stop and waited for the bus to come and pick them up. Hitsugaya Toshiro fidgeted, scraping his foot against the ground, his eyes focused not on what was in front, but what was down. Rukia leaned over to whisper into Ichigo's ear. "What was the request Gin asked of you?"

"He asked, if Toshiro were to ask what a birthstone was, not to tell him. He's supposed to guess," Kurosaki stated, his hands in his pockets.

Rukia blinked a couple of times. "What is a birthstone?"

This started Ichigo and he turned towards her. "You don't know?"

"What are you two talking about?" The white haired boy piped up, his eyes suddenly glaring at them.

"Nothing." Rukia gave him a slightly guilty look, just as the bus pulled up. The three climbed onto the bus and went to sit down. Despite being crowded, there were enough seats. Toshiro's hand went and grabbed onto Ichigo's right pant leg, while the other grabbed onto the seat. The small female watched, curiosity written all over her face.

After a few minutes, Ichigo pulled out from his pocket a small device with headphones and turned it on, placing one of the pieces into his ear. Satisfied, he placed the headphones into the small taicho's ears, causing the boy to jump. However, as Hitsugaya glanced at the physically older male, Kurosaki spoke up. "Close your eyes. You'll be able to forget that there are a ton of people here. "

This caused the preteen to relax and to loosen his grip. The substitute shinigami tapped the boy's shoulder as the bus pulled to a stop. Getting up, he followed the teenager off the bus, handing him back the headphones. Rukia pulled out her list. "Yuzu-chan is going to be getting the grocery supplies for the dishes."

"Hell, Yuzu is planning on making all the food. That is a good thing as Orihime would simply mess it all up." Ichigo placed his hands into his pockets. "We are though, supposed to pick up some decorations for the party."

They walked along, only to have Rukia pause. "Hitsugaya Taicho, why did you ask Ichimaru Gin if he loved you?"

At that, Toshiro froze. "You said if I went with you, there would be no more questions."

"Sorry..." The females face though twisted up in frustration. She choose to walk ahead, taking a good look at the list.

"So, did Ichimaru answer your question," Ichigo asked.

This caused the small taicho to bristle. "Why would he?"

"Question is, why would you ask that kind of question?" the teenager asked.

"Are you trying to finger him for being a pedophile too? Because he isn't." Toshiro muttered, frustrated at the pressure.

"No. I think I have an idea of what is going on," the boy stated. "Simple as that."

"Oh... what. Go ahead and tell me what you think is going on. It isn't as if Kuchiki-san is anywhere near by," the small boy muttered.

"Well, if I am wrong, don't get mad at me, all right. I am guessing that Ichimaru Gin is your biological father?" The substitute shinigami acted cheerful about the whole thing.

This caused the small taicho to pause, giving the teenager a surprised look. He then glanced away, shoving his hands into his pocket. "i don't know how you guessed, but he could also be lying to me about this."

"It would be a cruel joke if he was," Ichigo sighed. "So, did you get your answer?"

"Ichimaru gave me no answer I really don't want to go into it anymore then that," Toshiro stated firmly.

"I won't push it either." Ichigo stated.

"I didn't realize that I had moved to sleep with Gin last night, honest I didn't," the boy muttered.

"You slept walked?" Kurosaki blinked a couple of times.

"What do you mean Hitsugaya Taicho slept walked?" Rukia stated coming back in a hurry. "I think I found a good place to shop for decorations."

"I..." Toshiro's face suddenly flushed up.

"You were willing to talk to Ichigo about that," Rukia stated. "Sleep walking isn't that big of a deal."

"It is when you end up sleeping with your fukutaicho at night!" the small boy snapped out. However, this caused his face to suddenly turn bright red and then glance away. "It happens when I'm sick, or have a nightmare, or I'm under stress. I have to sleep with someone. Matsumoto happens to be the most handy person."

"Then the reason that you slept with Ichimaru Gin last night," Rukia frowned at this. "That still doesn't explain why you asked Gin that question. Jinta made it sound like you liked him."

"Huh?" The small taicho blinked a couple of times.

"Like as in..." The female shinigami garnished a frustrated look on her face. "Well, you know how a guy begins to like girl, or a girl begins to like a boy. That kind of like. Except, with you its a guy liking a guy."

"That is just gross! I don't know any guy who likes guys!" Hitsugaya bristled, his entire face twisting up in frustration.

"Well then, do you like girls?" Rukia asked, bending slightly forward.

This only caused the boy to bristle even more. "If I like a girl, that would mean I was a pervert. No. I don't like a girl."

"What?" The female bent closer, so that her eyes were level and right in front of the small taicho's.

"He's still at the girl's have cooties stage Rukia," Ichigo piped up.

Toshiro's face turned toward Kurosaki, confusion written all over it. "What are cooties?"

This however caused Rukia's face to suddenly lighten up from the serious look. "Well, I don't know what they are either." Ichigo had a rather funny look on his face. However, Rukia grabbed the small taicho's hand and pulled him into the shop, Kurosaki following behind them. They walked around the place, picking up lights and other decorative items. Rukia kept wandering off to look at things.

"Kurosaki, what would you get your father for Christmas?" Hitsugaya suddenly piped up.

"A woo-pie cushion," Ichigo stated, his voice rather strained, his eyes narrowing.

"Because taicho likes to play pranks on people?" The small taicho looked up at him, only to have Ichigo turn to him, a rather shocked look on his face.

"I wasn't serious. I was just irritated with him. You're thinking of something to give him for Christmas?" Kurosaki watched the young ones reaction, as the small boy flinched. "What about Matsumoto?"

"She's easy... I usually give her candies and she's happy. But this year, Gin picked out what I'm giving her." Toshiro's mouth twisted up.

"You aren't happy about that, are you?" Ichigo shook his head.

"It is a necklace with a restroom sign charm with a topaz stone. Do you know what topaz symbolizes?" The small taicho grumbled out, and didn't give them a chance to respond. "It represents fidelity and love. Sometimes... sometimes I think he needs to just get his mind out of the gutter."

"Toshiro, you're the one who needs to get your mind out of the gutter. Believe me, I know exactly what you are talking about and it doesn't mean what you think it does. Restroom sign... good grief." A chuckle came out of Ichigo's mouth.

"He said something along the lines that I should get the whole thing." The boy piped up. His eyes then went wide. "What is a birthstone?"

"He asked me not to tell you," Ichigo laughed. "That, and not to itch. And don't ask Rukia. She actually doesn't know either. She told me herself."

"Do you know where I can find something like a woo-pie cushion?" the small taicho piped up.

The substitute shinigami's face twisted up in disbelief. "You are serious about giving him that?"

"Well, if it turns out he lied, I'll just use it on him. Though... that might back fire as he likes that kind of thing." The small shinigami puzzled over the whole thing.

"You... aren't used to getting people gifts, are you?" Ichigo muttered.

Toshiro opened his mouth, only to have Rukia bounce over. "Hitsugaya Taicho is wanting to buy presents for people?"

"He wants a prank gift for Gin," Kurosaki muttered.

"You know you aren't likely to prank him, right?" The female shook her head.

"That isn't..." Hitsugaya paused, glancing to the side.

"I think you can find the stuff you are thinking of over here. It is always the first place that my dad heads for," Ichigo sighed. He walked over and glanced around, not at all amused by the prank items, but then... neither was the small taicho.

"Why would people want... a machine that makes that kind of sounds?" Toshiro sighed.

"You mean a fart machine?" Kurosaki shook his head. "I know that one of my friends at school would get a kick out of it... and I have yet to figure out what he thinks is so funny. Then again, he wasn't impressed with me making good grades either."

"How about this?" Rukia asked, a huge smile on her face as she held out an object titled can of snakes.

"Umm..." The small boy paled, not at all sure about the item.

"It fits him quite well!" the female insisted.

"That is because of the fact you associate him as being snake like," Ichigo sighed.

"Who else do you need to shop for?" The small shinigami female was in a gleeful mood.

"Hinamori..." Toshiro stated, watching Rukia stick the can into the top of the cart.

"Girl's like chappies!" the Kuchiki female insisted.

"They do..." The small taicho had a rather skeptical look on his face. Ichigo had a similar look of befuddlement.

Rukia grabbed the sleeve of the small taicho and dragged him over to one of the tables she had been looking at. "Aren't they adorable?"

"You were harping on me earlier, and now you're an overly chipper mood. Do you not see the problem with that?" Toshiro narrowed his eyes at the female.

Her response actually caused him to blink a couple of times. "We have you away from Ichimaru, don't we? I am hoping that I can convince you, you're not safe, Hitsugaya Taicho."

"I am perfectly safe..." the boy grumbled, glancing at the small bunnies on the table. They were in various colors, with different things on their tummies. He picked up three of them, which Ichigo commented on. Toshiro blinked at him. "Hinamori isn't the only girl I know whom I give a present to each year. "

"How do you pick out the gifts then?" Kurosaki shook his head at the child.

"M... my fukutaicho normally helps me," Hitsugaya mumbled, his eyes falling to the ground.

"Couldn't she come help you? There are only a few days left, but she could come see you," Rukia pondered.

"She has come to see me. We aren't... exactly talking," Toshiro muttered, following the two as they did more Christmas shopping.

"Does she know about Gin and the fact that..." However, the Kuchiki noble found herself interrupted and she picked up the phone. "Ukitake Taicho?" The next thing both males knew, Rukia was explaining everything that she thought was going on to the man. After she finished though, she remained silent for quite some time. She nodded her head a few times, then got off the phone. "Ukitake Taicho came to the living world to specifically talk to Hitsugaya Taicho."

"I better go pay for these and head back." However, Toshiro then paused, looking at Rukia. "You aren't going to try and act like a bodyguard Surely with him there, you can trust I'll be safe, right?"

"Actually..." Rukia lacked any form of smile on her face. "He said that while he appreciates me being concerned, I really blew things out of proportion. I am really sorry for that. I honesty thought from what Urahara's assistant said, that something was wrong."

"No bother." Hitsugaya began to pick up the items to head to the cash register. However, the female placed a hand stopping him.

"I'll pay for these and finish up the shopping," the female insisted.

"You don't have to," Toshiro's teal eyes looked at her in confusion.

"After what I did, I need to make it up to you," Rukia insisted.

"All right," the small boy muttered, as Ichigo pulled him away.