Christmas Nightmare
~ Even More Awkward ~

The whole situation between Ichimaru Gin and Toshiro bothered Rukia greatly. When she walked out of the kitchen, she saw the two together. Ichimaru was leaned over the couch, hugging the small taicho. Rukia became bothered due to the fact that she knew that Hitsugaya Taicho was not someone who liked getting close to people and she also knew that Gin wasn't someone that you could get close to.

When the offer came from the small taicho, with the comment to keep things private between the two of them, Rukia found herself wanting to agree, but then found herself listening to the conversation between Ichimaru and Hitsugaya, which made her even more nervous then before. She had never liked the man. Toshiro's words shocked her though. "He's my otousan."

At that, Rukia simply stared at the small taicho, completely taken aback, not wanting to believe what she just heard coming from the child's own mouth. The first thing that came to her mind was the fact that there could be no possible way that this could be true. Her mouth finally opened up. "What did you say?"

At that, Toshiro took a deep breath. "I said that Ichimaru Gin is my father."

Rukia opened her mouth to say something, only to have Yuzu come into the room at that very moment and glance around. "Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes."

At that, Karin got up and grabbed the arm of her twin and dragged her back into the kitchen, the small girl taken by surprise. "We got it. They are kind of having a private conversation."

"How can Ichimaru Gin be your father?" The small female shinigami shook her head in disbelief. "Hitsugaya Taicho, are you sure he isn't lying to you? He's... he isn't know for exactly being truthful."

At that, the small taicho spoke up, his emotions not changing, though it was obvious that he was tired of the whole situation. "Ukitake went and spoke with my grandmother and confirmed the fact that Ichimaru is telling me the truth."

Rukia simply stared at the two. She then spoke the next thing that came to her mind. "What about Matsumoto?"

"She's my mother... but she doesn't know." Toshiro stated, his tone remaining calm about the whole situation.

"How can she not know?" The small female found herself becoming more and more upset.

"As you said, I am not known for telling the truth." Gin spoke up rather suddenly, causing Rukia to give him a dirty look.

"Please. Don't tell anyone about this, Kuchiki-san." The small taicho's face suddenly twisted up into a look of worry.

"But what about Matsumoto?" Rukia shook her head. "Doesn't she deserve to know?"

"Please. Don't tell even her. I want Ichimaru to have a chance to talk to her about this. It is very important to me that he be the one to tell her." Two teal eyes suddenly pleaded with her, something that she hadn't recollected ever seeing from the young taicho. It almost seemed like he was vulnerable, but the look went away when he glanced away.

At that, Ichigo tugged Rukia to the side. "Can we talk for a bit." He folded his arms across his chest. "What do you think now?"

"What I don't understand is how Hitsugaya Taicho can get so close to that man, allow Ichimaru to touch him like that. I know now that there wasn't any forbidden relationship going on, but still. The way Hitsugaya lets him touch him seems way too trusting." The small female glanced at the ground.

"Toshiro was rather sick for awhile and it's been Gin whose been taking care of him. From what I can tell, Toshiro and Matsumoto aren't getting along well right now either and their relationships become a tad strained." Then came the next words. "Do you think that this is something that Toshiro should really just forget about?"

At that, Rukia paused for a few seconds. "This is kind of like how nii-sama and my sister didn't want me to know the truth about abandoning me. But... Ichigo, that was just one thing, one time. She kept looking for me for a long time."

"I don't have the answers because I don't believe I have all the details." Ichigo though glanced into the other room. "The thing is, I think the situation isn't that much different."

However, the small female simply walked back into the room and sat down next to the small taicho, catching him off guard. "Are you sure that you are happy about this situation, Hitsugaya Taicho?"

At that, the small boy blinked a couple of times. "The only reason Ichimaru told me, was because I had a wish to know who my real parents were. I'd rather not go into the details."

"Now that you know, do you regret knowing?" Rukia asked, watching him carefully.

At that, Toshiro glanced at the ground. "In some ways, it is better then thinking that your parents abandoned you because you were a freak, in other ways it isn't. I can't say yet that I regret finding out, because it is to soon."

At that, the Kuchiki female found herself staring in front of her, digesting the words that the small taicho told her. After a bit, she glanced up at the silver haired man, then decided not to speak her mind on the matter. The look she gave the man said that she was not happy with the idea that things were turning out the way that they were.

The tension simply kept growing, until Yuzu called them to eat dinner. She looked at the four in the living room, confusion written all over her face. However, Toshiro stood up. "Has someone gone and gotten your father yet?"

"I'll go do it." Rukia stated, wanting to get away from the silver haired man, her eyes glancing over at the small taicho, her worry rather obvious.

"Is something wrong, Rukia-nee?" The lighter haired win asked, only to have the dark haired shinigami shake her head.

Rukia moved into the clinic and walked over to Isshin's office, her body completely tense. The man glanced up. "I take it dinner is ready?"

"Yes sir." The Kuchiki noble took a deep breath. "Ichigo says that you trust Ichimaru around Hitsugaya Taicho."

At that, Isshin paused as he was standing up, giving her a funny look as he stared at her. Then, he completely stood up. "I've never thought of him as a bad person. Then again, I've known Gin since he was really young. He and Toshiro are actually a lot alike."

"To me, they are only alike in looks." Rukia frowned at the man. "Ichimaru Gin likes playing games with people and Hitsugaya Taicho is not one for childishness. Also, Ichimaru Gin makes you feel like snakes were choking you. I've never had a bad feeling from Hitsugaya Taicho."

"You don't know either one as well as I do. I know very well that feeling Gin puts up around people. I've also see him deal with both Rangiku and Toshiro in the past. He's never used that kind of aura around them. He felt no need to use it on me. And as for Toshiro, he can have his own bite when he loses his temper. Then again, you've yet to see that child lose his temper and throw a tantrum. I have. I've also seen the look in his eyes, that want to have some sort of childhood left over."

The small female remained silent. Upon the question of what else was bothering her, she spoke up. "What I don't understand is, how come you ended up with a different perspective on that man?"

"I didn't just watch Toshiro grow up, Rukia. I also watched as Gin grew up. Ichimaru didn't have someone to take him under their wings like Shiro-chan did. Instead... he set his mind on stopping Aizen from the time he was really young. Foolish, considering where it got him. Family though, is important to him, and I always treated him, Rangiku and Toshiro like family. I guess that made him feel comfortable being part of his real self. It will be some time before that will be able to show to other people."

The Kuchiki female let out a deep sigh and moved into the kitchen area and sat down at the table. She raised an eyebrow, watching as the small taicho was stuck between the twins. The situation was honestly tense, until Yuzu piped up something. "So, is Toshiro your boyfriend Karin?"

At that, she watched as the small taicho's teal eyes went wide and his cheeks flushed red. Karin gave a rather annoyed no. To Rukia's surprise, Gin's mouth twisted into a smirk, while his eyes glint with mirth at Toshiro's reaction. It was honestly the first time she had seen any form of warmth from the person, causing her to suddenly relax, while the non-preteens stifled their laughter.

Afterward, Toshiro helped the girls clear away the table and volunteered to help wash, while Ichimaru went to the couch and Isshin headed up to bed. Ichigo commented about going upstairs to work on his homework. Things seemed to be going well. A knock came on the front door and Rukia said that she would go and answer it. She found though, her eyes going wide. "Matsumoto-san?"

Note: Sorry for those that read the wrong chapter. I am now fixing it!