It was currently the Second Saturday of the month and Rukia was hanging upside down off the monkey bars with a 3-year-old Ichigo hanging upside down from her hands. He was giggling loudly as she swung back and forth, very careful not to lose her grip, a wide grin on her face as she snickered softly.

In the distance, Rukia felt Izuru's spiritual pressure heading their way. He was tasked with killing Hollows since he was in the area anyway. The man appeared in the park, Gigai on and an annoyed look plastered on his face. "I wonder if the Quincies broke that Hollow summoning thing… There's an annoyingly high number of them lately."

Rukia swung Ichigo in a way that he was flipped, in which case she was able to grab his hands one at a time to carefully set the boy down on his feet so she could jump down from the monkey bars. "It could also be this one's newly developing spiritual energy. It's getting more and more powerful with each passing day…" She frowned. "We should talk to Kisuke about getting a suppressant for him, maybe in the form of a bracelet or necklace."

"Might be for the best…" Izuru watched the pair play. "Maybe it'll prevent… you know, the incident. I could also ask Captain Kurotsuchi if he could develop something. He's been bugging me to cash in some favors."

Rukia nodded, noticing Ichigo getting a bit nervous with the seriousness of the adults, and reached down to tickle the toddler. He giggled loudly. "Pretty soon the twins will be conceived." She said softly.

"Probably sometime next year, when we're with Ichigo. Give the parents a quiet home." He chuckled, reaching down to pinch at Ichigo's cheek. "What'dya think, lil man? Want baby siblings?"

Ichigo eyed him suspiciously. "Why?" He asked, crossing his arms only to get tickled again by Rukia. "I don't need sib-" He paused. "What's a sibling?"

"Brothers and sisters?" Izuru's answer was more like a question than anything else. "Rukia, have we been failing so badly he doesn't know what those are?!"

Rukia laughed lightly. "He's 3, Izuru. Besides this is the first time we brought this topic up in his presence." She frowned slightly. "If I remember correctly… Their birthday is around May… So they'd have to be conceived sometime this year… if they aren't already."

"Nah, not right now. Not unless the extra free time means we bumped Karin and Yuzu's births up by a whole year." The taller man paused and then grimaced. "Think we can convince them to change the girls' names?"

Realizing they'd been ignoring Ichigo, Izuru hoisted the child up by his ankles. "Wanna get ice cream?"

Ichigo cheered excitedly. "Yeah!"

Izuru carried the upside-down child with Rukia. "Wonder what honorifics he'll give us, once he's mastered more of the language? Doubt his mom is gonna let him just address us as Izuru and Rukia straight."

"I'm hoping he calls me Rukia-nee-chan!" She grinned brightly. Skipping along next to them, occasionally reaching over to tickle the cute child. "You really should probably flip him over, his face is going red. He's not like Kotarou." She said seriously.

Izuru rolled his eyes and flung the child into the air. Several mothers in the distance shrieked in fright, but he easily caught the squealing child. "I think I'd love to be called Aniki. Less syllables."

"Ane-chan would be cute… Or Onee-chan." She hummed and looked at the little boy who was breathless and giggling.

Izuru bought the kid a chocolate cone while he got a demented character pop. "Want anything, Rukia?"

"Double swirl with chocolate and strawberry?" She asked curiously, "Do they even do that? If not I'll just take a strawberry." She clasped her hands behind her back and looked at the tiny menu. "A girl could dream." She giggled.

Izuru passed money to the man and Rukia received her strawberry ice cream. "Why not just ask your brother for ice cream?" He bit off the character's ear, uncaring for the cold. "The man dotes on you this time around."

She laughed nervously. "I'm not really supposed to eat a lot of sweets. Even though my metabolism is amazing." She shrugged. "Though I guess a treat now and then wouldn't hurt." She smirked. "You know, I never follow the rules when it comes to sweets, I think Nii-chan knows it too."

Izuru hummed in thought. Not at all caring that Ichigo was painting his white shirt brown with chocolate more than eating the ice cream. "By the way, have you seen Rangiku and Shuuhei lately? They've been kinda… cuddly. Least during the Lieutenant meetings."

"Oh yeah, well seeing as I'm not a Lieutenant… But I have stumbled across them snuggling in my favorite hiding spots recently." She grimaced. "They were almost making out a few times too." She shuddered. "It's like watching your siblings make out in front of you."

"I'm just waiting for Gin to find out." He grumbled. "He's going to be heartbroken when that happens… I cannot deal with feelings and such." He looked down at the little man and poked his messy nose. "Never love a woman and keep pining for her if she likes someone else. Heartbreak is the worst."

Rukia nodded slightly, "You know…" She sighed looking up at the sky. "You think Renji and I would ever make it as a couple?" She asked, "Like in Canon?" She blushed slightly and shook her head, taking a whole bite out of her ice cream. "F-forget I asked." She mumbled, embarrassed.

"Woman, just ask him out!" Izuru snapped with a laugh. "You should see how flustered he gets when you're mentioned! The man is twitterpated for your tiny ass. Plus, it'd get Byakuya off my rear… the man thinks I'm courting you."

Rukia nearly choked. "Still? Seriously?" She laughed. "You think dating his lieutenant would be better?" She asked with a snort.

"Hey, at least when Renji is under your brother's thumb, he can discipline him however he sees fit. Byakuya tried to convince Gin once that I should be given stricter training regimes to keep busy, and Gin was all 'but ta extra work~' then flashed his freaky eyes at your brother."

Rukia grinned widely. "I'd have given money to see that." She cackled, finishing off her ice cream and reaching over after wiping her hands with some tissues she kept in her bag, to tickle the toddler who seemed to be very confused. "It's getting late," She pointed to the setting sun. "We should get this little guy home for dinner. Hopefully, Masaki-chan doesn't kill us for giving him ice cream." She snickered.

"To be fair, I think most of it's on my shirt," Izuru said with a now cow pattern shirt.

She snickered again. "It looks good." She laughed as she dodged a swing to the back of her head.

Izuru had left his office in a flurry of falling papers when he read the encrypted message. Grin nearly splitting his face, which was all Gin needed to see to back off entirely so the blond could leave the barracks without question. He needed to tell Rukia the news and they needed to get to the World of the Living immediately!

Thanks to the Seireitei being absolutely massive, it took him a solid hour of non-stop Shunpos to get to Squad 13. He skidded to a stop, breathing so hard he smelt and tasted blood, but damnit his adrenaline told him to keep running! A few non-seated officers gave him a weird look, but a sharp glare sent them running.

"Okay… I was…" Izuru paused to wheeze, "Rukia… where would I be?" Trying to steady his breath, he made the trek through the barracks, hopefully running into someone useful.

Kaien paused in his trek to his office and stared at Izuru running past. "Where are you going?" He called to the blond.

Izuru nearly face-planted a wall in his attempt to stop, because you know, no foot traction. "I'm looking for Rukia. Seen her anywhere?"

"She's at the office." He pointed, a perplexed look on his face. "What's so important that it's got you running like that?"

The blond lieutenant paused, looked at Kaien up and down… and then it was like a clarity of remembrance hit him. "Oh… it's you. Nothing you need to know. I just need Rukia." He spoke almost robotically, he rubbed his very flushed face and Kaien heard him mutter, "Forgot you were still alive. Too many people and too many names. Stupid names. How did I survive all those times? Right… Rukia… need to take her to the World of the Living."

Izuru then spun on his heel and began his march to where he assumed the offices to be, leaking out his spiritual pressure in hopes that his friend would sense it and come running.

Meanwhile, Rukia perked up. "Izuru!" She chirped, she could sense her friend nearby and somehow it got her excited. She luckily had just finished her own set amount of paper and so she stood up and grinned widely. "Bye, guys! Izuru is calling!" She shunpoed from the office and towards Izuru who she could see standing trying to catch his breath.

Not to mention Kaien seemingly trying to talk to him.

Izuru spotted Rukia and sighed a breath of relief. "Oh, I have way too many gods to thank that I didn't have to hunt you down." He approached her and Rukia could tell he ran the entire way over. "We need to go to the World of the Living. Like… now. Captain Ichimaru didn't stop me so I have permission."

"Okay." She smiled. "I don't know why but I just finished my paperwork so I'm basically off now." She shrugged.

"Good, because we're needed." Izuru bent down at the waist to her level. "It's today. They're here,"

It took a second as her brain tried to compute what he said… "Oh!" Her eyes lit up with realization. "Let's go!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him away.

As if seemingly remembering his existence, Izuru looked over his shoulder to where Kaien was forgotten… and smirked.

Kaien bristled and his eyebrow twitched as he watched the duo disappear.

(linebreak)

Rukia passed by her brother's office, peeking her head in to see him hard at work. She frowned slightly. "Ne ne, Nii-chan." She called him. "Let's go have dinner!"

The dark-haired girl was dressed in a nice, purple and pink sakura kimono. She clapped her hands enthusiastically. "You've been working all day, take a break!"

Byakuya sighed and set his brush down. "Alright," he said softly, standing up gracefully from his desk.

Rukia giggled.

Byakuya followed after his little sister as she led him to a restaurant that recently opened in the Seireitei. "I heard this place is really nice, Nii-chan," She looked up at him, smiling brightly. "I think you'll really like the atmosphere."

"Hn." Byakuya nodded, his expression still as blank as ever. But his eyes were glittering a bit down at his sister as she smiled widely before she had to school her expression to be serene as they entered the restaurant.

Byakuya wished she'd smile just a little more but shook his head. She had an image to upkeep, he knew that.

Soon the two were seated.

Rukia ordered Sake for the two of them, much to Byakuya's chagrin. "You shouldn't drink in public, I should restrict your access to that Shiba boy." he sighed deeply.

"Come on, Nii-chan, you should lighten up a bit, this is a safe space you know." She smiled crookedly at her brother.

Byakuya's heart clenched slightly at her expression, it was open and true he knew that. It almost felt as though she was finally opening up to him more. "Fine." there was a slight flush to the tips of his ears.

"Yay!" The Sake finally made it to the table, and Rukia immediately poured him a glass. "Drink up!"

Byakuya glanced at the small glass in front of him. "Only a few drinks."

Rukia grinned and nodded. "Of course, Nii-chan." Her face was the embodiment of sweetness and innocence.

Before long a few drinks turned into a few more, and then a few more until Rukia was snickering, watching as her brother slightly swayed in his seat.

"You know Rukia…" Byakuya murmured in his soft voice. "I never got to tell you…"

Rukia blinked, eyes wide as her brother seemed to let loose his words.

"I never got to tell you how happy I was to have you join my family." He murmured, knocking back another drink.

"You know Nii-chan, I think you've had too much to drink…" This stuff was more powerful than anticipated. Hell, her brother was pounding the drinks like a sailor pounds whiskey.

"I really do care about you, Rukia…" His words were slightly slurred as he reached over the short table with his long arm and patted her on the head. Her expression was stunned, eyes wide. "You're my cute little sister."

"Okay, definitely too much to drink there brother-dearest." She laughed nervously, removing his hand from her head. She carefully replaced his drink with a glass of water. "You're gonna regret this in the morning."

She laughed nervously again, her eyes closing as she held his hand in her own smaller one. "As much as I like my big brother finally being honest, this isn't the way I was hoping it would go…" She called forth her hell butterfly. "Please go get Renji, tell him I need his help with something important." She murmured softly to the beautiful creature who seemed to nod at her request before flying off.

"I would never regret bringing you into the family. Especially since it was at the final request of Hisana…" Byakuya knocked back the glass of water like it was alcohol and frowned at the lack of the burning sensation.

Rukia's heart clenched and she sighed. "I know, brother. Thank you for bringing me into the family." She smiled at him brightly. "I really hope you don't remember this in the morning."

"My cute, bestest little sister," Byakuya prattled nonsensically. "If Kira doesn't stop being so friendly, I might have to take him from Squad 3 so I can teach him manners…"

Rukia chuckled very nervously. "Please don't."

Renji popped his head inside the restaurant and sighed at the sight of his crush and her brother.

"What's the big idea? I was in the middle of a training exercise." He frowned before realizing in shock that the captain of the 6th company was drunk. "What did you do?" He asked.

"I just asked him to have a drink with me…" She rubbed the back of her head and smiled nervously. "He just kept knocking back whatever I gave him. I guess he really needed to unwind."

Renji nodded a bit. "He is a bit overworked with being head of the family and captain of the 6th…" Renji murmured, rubbing his chin slightly in thought.

"Alright, what was the important thing you needed help with anyway?" He questioned with a frown.

"I need help taking him home." She beamed at the boy, causing him to match his hair. "What? Why are you blushing? Do you… have a crush on my brother or something?"

Renji sputtered and growled. "No!" he shouted, causing the restaurant to go silent.

"Renji… I was just teasing you." She giggled lightly.

"O-oh…" He frowned. "Alright. I'll help you take him home." Renji sighed.

Together the two picked up the head of the Kuchiki Clan and started on the trip home.

"Let's take it slow, I don't want to use shunpo and have him throw up, it would be even more undignified than being dragged home by his sister and her friend," She smiled a bit.

Renji nodded, and the two trucked onto the Kuchiki compound.

Once there they placed the Kuchiki Captain in his bed.

"You should probably leave before he wakes up, he'd kill me for letting you in here." She laughed nervously.

"Ah, right…" Renji frowned and nodded at her. "I'll see you around then."

"Thanks for helping me." she smiled lightly.

"Yeah, no problem…" He waved over his shoulder and stuffed his hands into his pocket as he left via Shunpo.

Rukia turned to her brother and carefully tucked him in. She smiled lightly and turned to leave the room. "Goodnight Nii-chan, sleep well." She closed his door.

Byakuya opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. He had sobered up a bit and he could feel his face burning with a blush. He covered his face with his hands and sighed. "I hope she lets me live it down." He mumbled, frowning deeply.

A nightly stroll. The moon is large and bright, the stars illuminating the darkness of the Seireitei. Izuru quietly followed behind Gin, patiently waiting for his captain to dismiss him.

It'll never happen. If there was one thing Izuru has learned these past years: Gin LOVES his walks with Izuru.

They passed a beautiful Japanese garden. Perfectly drawn lines amongst the pure white sand. Rocks strategically placed amongst the native flora. A few normal butterflies flew lazily in the twinkling night. A secluded garden, with not many Soul Reapers and even fewer members of nobility or servitude that bother coming here. The silence permeated the air… until it wasn't anymore.

"Shuuhei~..."

The hair on the back of Izuru's neck stood on end. The moan was soft, pleased, and oh so very familiar.

Gin must have heard it too, because the shorter Lieutenant almost slammed into his back. The pair looked over to their right. There, hidden amongst the rocks, was familiar long orange hair with black hair pressed against it. There was… a sound of kissing, of clothes rustling.

Izuru didn't remember when he grabbed his captain's wrist, dragging him away. But he did, at some point. Gin wasn't fighting him, despite the obvious disrespect and unusualness of this behavior. By the time Izuru stopped and looked over his shoulder…

Gin wasn't smiling anymore.

"Captain?" Izuru started. When the taller man didn't respond, he spotted a restaurant, one that he'd learned to have employees that mind their business. He grabbed Gin's wrist again and guided him over to the restaurant without resistance.

He got them a table in the far corner and told their server to bring some tea, tempura, and upon spotting it on the menu, some dried persimmons. Convenient.

"Captain Ichimaru?" Izuru tried again, pinching at the front of Gin's haori. "Take off the haori, sir."

That snapped the silver-haired man out of his trance. His grin grew back, wide and dangerous. "Whatever for, Izuru?"

"We should talk man to man. I can't speak freely to Captain Ichimaru, but I can to Soul Reaper Gin." Izuru experimentally began peeling the haori off. When he still had his head on his shoulder, the blond grew bolder. "About what we saw and heard."

"What makes ya think that bothered lil old me?"

"Because you're not fighting me." Izuru held up the now removed haori in his hands, shaking the fabric. He folded it up carefully, placing it beside him in his seat. The lieutenant patiently waited for his captain to join. When Gin joined across and the tea was served, Izuru leaned forward. "Tell me about the story of Matsumoto-san and Gin."

Briefly, Izuru wondered if he was stepping too far. Maybe Gin wouldn't open up to him about Rangiku and him? Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if Gin slaughtered him later.

But… it didn't happen.

Instead, Gin talked. It was condensed, an obvious attempt to tell Izuru enough to satisfy the man but not give anything that could be of use. It was enough, though.

"You love her," Izuru said simply, taking a bite of his tempura that just arrived.

Gin took a pause. His spiritual pressure slowly leaked out, causing Izuru's lungs to start to struggle for air. Izuru didn't show it, at least not in a noticeable way.

"I may not be the most... emotionally aware person... but I know love. I don't know why you kept your distance, but you did... And she sought love from another." Izuru continued. "Shuuhei will take care of her... she won't get her heart broken."

"... Is this supposed to make me feel better?" Gin grumbled, eyes opening to the tiniest of slits.

Izuru raised a brow, "Do you want me to coddle you like a child or talk to you like an adult?"

Gin made a motion to continue, followed by raised hands of surrender.

The blond sighed, eyeing the captain's haori sitting next to him. He would one day wear that thing- he'll never let someone else be his captain. "To be frank? Suck it up, buttercup."

It was like Gin's brain had a record scratch. The dried persimmon fell out of his hands.

"You made your choices and now your spiritual pressure is sucking up the bandwidth of everyone else's here." Izuru motioned his head to a waitstaff that was sitting down with her head between her knees, and another patron who was close to passing out. "You still want to love her? Go ahead, no one's telling you to change your feelings. But, Gin-" That felt normal on the tongue… NOT! "- you'll have to work on healing on your own. I cannot imagine what kind of pain you're going through right now, but at least you're not going to be alone in it all."

Gin tilted his head, his grin growing a fraction wider. "Whatever do ya mean?"

"I'm here," Izuru stated plainly.

The captain's eyes were now open.

"I'm here if you need a friend- a confidant. I'll support you as you heal. If you choose to, that is. Not everyone can move on… especially after decades of pining for someone." Izuru paid the now recovering waitstaff and slid off his chair. He picked up the haori, dusting it off and setting it in Gin's lap. "I'll see you in the morning, Captain Ichimaru."

Izuru started to turn away, but froze as Gin… has not closed his eyes yet. Those glacier blue eyes pierced through his very soul and his captain's spiritual pressure, barely a fraction of its capacity, was still a suffocating thing. All of it was aimed at him. He pushed his own spiritual pressure out, just to poke at the overwhelming pressure.

Then, mid-blink, Gin was on his feet, slipping the haori on. His eyes returned to their normal fox-like state. "Yes, yes! Thank ya for the offer, Izuru. I appreciate yer forwardness! Goodnight."

The captain left the restaurant, taking his spiritual pressure with him.

Izuru's bones turned to jelly and he cracked his head against the table. He would later find himself in a bed in Squad 4's infirmary. Three days of rest as a result of, quote: "excessive exposure to high levels of spiritual pressure."

Well, all Izuru could hope for is Gin didn't use his promise of support to murder anyone, or assist in Aizen's dumb plans.

Well this chapter was so much fun to write! I really hope you enjoyed reading!