I think Hitsugaya called his grandmother "Granny" in my previous story, but I like "Nana" better, somehow. The funny part about that is, I never called either of my grandmothers by either of these names. But then, I guess I've never conjured ice magic with a sword, either.

So maybe it works out.

.

"Off on another adventure, dear?"

Hitsugaya didn't suppose he should be surprised that his grandmother would find him; she always seemed to know when he was near; even though she'd never given any indication that she could sense reiatsu, Hitsugaya didn't think it was anything to wonder about. Regardless of how, his Nana had a sixth sense, and she'd never been afraid to use it.

Even when it brought her headlong into danger.

"I suppose you could call it that," Hitsugaya said, without conviction. "Nana, what are you doing out here? You shouldn't be sneaking around alleys. Who knows what you might find? You might even come across a rogue soul reaper."

The elderly soul, who'd been looking after Toshiro Hitsugaya for longer than he ever could have lived, beamed at him. "Indeed, I might," she chirped. "One might even accuse me of looking for just such a rogue."

Hitsugaya crossed his arms over his chest. "What can I do for you, Nana?"

Nana waggled a finger in Hitsugaya's direction. "What's this I'm hearing about you adopting a pair of little ones? Did you think you could get away with not allowing me to meet my great-grandchildren?"

Hitsugaya blinked. Stared. Gawped. "Nana, that . . . they aren't . . . I'm just . . ."

Nana laughed. "Oh, you always take things so seriously! You really need to learn how to loosen up a little. I'm well-acquainted with Izumi and Hibiki. You have been looking after them, haven't you?"

". . . Yes, Nana."

"Good." She nodded, clearly pleased. "They've been listless for so long. Getting involved with the wrong crowd. Not any fault of their own, you understand. It's just how things work around here. I'd half made up my mind to take them in myself, somehow, when I heard you and Miss Rangiku came along and scooped them up."

"Wrong crowd," Hitsugaya repeated. "What do you know about that, Nana?"

Nana waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, a whole mess of things, dear. Is that what has you out here today?"

Hitsugaya cleared his throat. "As a matter of fact," he said, "yes. They're involved with someone they call Mister West. I've also heard him called Nishi. He can control shadows, and the people attached to them. I need to learn more about him, and the last time I saw someone even tangentially related to him, it was around here."

Hitsugaya watched something . . . change in his grandmother.

"If you need to know about Nishi," she said, almost whispered, "you should come with me."

Hitsugaya didn't think he'd ever heard his grandmother's voice take on quite so grim a tone before; it was like scraping metal with a whetstone, and it sent a shiver down his back. Normally, Hitsugaya never would have hesitated before following the woman who raised him; it was built into his nature, carved into his heart, to follow his Nana.

But all at once, he wondered if that was a good idea.

"All right, Nana."