The older I get, the more I just. I dunno. Like exploring how my favorite characters interact around children. I'm not a parent myself, and I don't have any plans to become one. But I've helped raise them, and it's made an impact on me.
Also, those who know my history as a fanfiction writer will know that my favorite topic to explore is parenting. What can I say? I'm predictable like that.
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Hibiki and Izumi were in a race with each other to show off their new clothes to Mister Captain—almost certainly the first new clothes they'd ever received—and by the time they found him, they immediately started whirling around in circles so that he could see. Hitsugaya, for his part, struggled to stay stone-faced during this impromptu inspection; eventually, though, he was unable to keep up the façade. A small smile rose on his face.
"See, Mister Captain? See, see?" Izumi was bouncing on the balls of her feet. "We gots robes like you got!"
"I do," said Hitsugaya. "I see that, Izumi."
Both children were dressed in standard-issue soul reaper shihakusho; the only deviance from protocol were the sashes bundled about their little waists. Izumi's was a bright, sunny yellow, while Hibiki's was a deep, forest green. They were quite entranced by the way the outfits flowed and billowed around as they moved.
Hibiki windmilled his arms around. "They gave us socks, Mister Captain!" He kicked up one foot, showing off his new tabi and waraji.
Hitsugaya nodded sagely. "Very good," he said.
Matsumoto came sauntering up, looking supremely pleased with herself. "Well, now, Captain. I see you've met our new recruits."
"Indeed, I have." Hitsugaya sat on his heels in front of the twins. "Now, my division is going to help the two of you learn how to protect yourselves. People like those bandits who wanted you to steal for them, people like Mister West; you need to be able to stop them from hurting you, and my soldiers are going to help you learn how to do that."
Izumi and Hibiki, gawping openly, could only nod.
"One day," Hitsugaya went on, "if you want to be a soul reaper like me, you'll go to the Shin'o Academy." He reached over his shoulder and pulled Hyorinmaru from its scabbard. He held the sword in front of him, delicately, on his fingers. "You'll both get swords like this. But if you want to do that, you need to be diligent. That means you need to pay close attention and do what my soldiers tell you. Okay? Can you two do that?"
"Uh-huh, uh-huh," Izumi said.
Hibiki nodded so hard that his hair flopped in front of his face.
"Good." Hitsugaya rose to his full height and turned to his vice-captain. "The first lesson our new prospects need to be taught how to care for their uniforms. Tonight, when the time comes for rest, I expect you to show them how to fold and store their shihakusho properly."
"She, hawk, show," said Hibiki.
Matsumoto bowed her head. "Yes, sir."