Hinamori woke up in the morning, not knowing about any of the events that had transpired the night before. Thus, she went straight to the dormitories to look for the three boys, particularly Toshiro, whom she had planned on personally walking home that afternoon, after perhaps she gave him a tour of the campus. She waited outside the dorms, watching as other sixth year males turned and gave her weird looks, for which she didn't quite understand.

She then was suddenly startled as a man walked up to her, picking his nose of all things. She took one look at him, and made a disgusted face. "You're that man that the head master was speaking with yesterday."

"Oh, yes, I guess I am," the man suddenly stopped picking his nose, almost as if he had been doing it no annoy her and wiped his hand on his shingami robes. "What of it?"

"You wouldn't happen to know if a boy with maroonish hair, the white haired boy and another came by here while I wasn't watching," the girl suddenly stated.

The man blinked. "Oh… I forgot that no one told you, as it was so late at night."

"Told me what?" she suddenly asked.

"That they moved those three to the teachers' dorms for the night," the man folded his arms smirking. "My name is Isshin by the way."

"What did they get moved for?" she asked, then startled. "No last name?"

"Nope," the man stated, not answering her first question and walking off towards the teachers' dormitories. "I hate being so formal, even though some people get insulted when I become informal with them."

Hinamori then stood up, puffing out her cheeks trying to keep her temper with the man. "Hold on! What happened that they had to be moved?"

"Come and follow me or you'll miss the commotion that is going on with the academy teachers. I would say that things are going to get interesting when the headmaster makes his announcement to the other teachers, if he hasn't made it all ready," the man continued to walk at a pace she could follow.

When they arrived at the teachers' dorm, the man waved his hand. "The girl is with me."

Hinamori, never having been inside this part of the dorms before found her head darting left and right. It wasn't that the place was any nicer then the dorm she was in, but it was defiantly more secluded, more quite, not to mention the teachers didn't room with each other. They then came to a couple of doors that the man pushed open.

"Hello everyone!" the man called out as a bunch of the teachers glanced up. One of the teachers saw Hinamori.

"Child, shouldn't you be in class?" the man suddenly stated.

"What class… unless you count the ones led by older students," another commented. "All of us were called here as the headmaster found it quite important to do so.

"My… I wonder what all the excitement is about." Isshin suddenly chuckled, motioning for Hinamori to take a seat with him next to where Kira and Renji were sitting.

"You wonder what this is all about." Kira suddenly asked, as if he was surprised by the man's statement. "You know as you were rather involved with the events."

Renji though laughed. "He was being sarcastic! Wonderful!"

"Renji! Kira! Where's Shiro-chan!" Hinamori suddenly snapped at the two boys, causing them to both startle. "I let him go with you because I trusted you to take care of him!"

"Hinamori-san… Hitsugaya-kun is in the room over there with the headmaster and three other teachers," Kira suddenly stammered out.

"And in case you haven't noticed, the brat can very well take care of himself," Renji suddenly narrowed his eyes. "There is no way I'm going to get kicked by him for acting like a mother hen."

"What is going on?!' Hinamori suddenly stated, her panic growing.

"They're administering the admittance test," Isshin suddenly stated, he suddenly saw tears rolling down Hinamori's cheeks.

"The headmaster went back on his word then," the girl sobbed.

"But there were exterminating circumstances," Renji protested, trying to get her to stop crying.

"What circumstances!" Hinamori's tears got harder.

"Well… uhh," Kira glanced at Renji then both looked towards Isshin.

The older man let out a sigh. "See… you're little brother's reiatsu is strong, and still growing at that. They decided that he could potentially be a danger to himself or others in a year or two unless he can keep it in check. So, even if he doesn't pass the admittance test, they are going to keep an eye on him, keep him here."

"But what about grandma… she can't possibly know he's here! She'll be worried sick," Hinamori sobbed.

"I talked to him Momo-chan… he made sure to tell her that he was coming here," Renji commented, leaving out the fact that the small boy had been slowly killing off the old woman.

"But… but…" the girl sobbed, her frustrations being put to the limit. Isshin places a hand on her shoulder.

"Things will be all right," the man smiled at her. That was when the door opened and the three teachers stepped out of the door, shaking their heads at the other teachers, rather shocked looks on their faces. The headmaster then stepped out, leading the small boy out, causing him to make a face at the fact that the man was touching him on the shoulder.

"Shiro-chan!" Hinamori suddenly called out, causing the boy to look up at her, then walk over to where she was. For once in a long time, she found a small smile spreading across his face.

"You promised Hinamori," the boy's eyes glinted with humor.

"Promised… that promise…" Hinamori blinked a couple of times, then bent down so that she was eyelevel to him. "But there is no way you got into the academy…"

One of the other teachers who hadn't been inside of the room scoffed at this. "I find this very unlikely, I mean… he's a child… in fact, the boy is way younger then any of our prodigies that we've had before."

"He passed every single part of the exam," one of the three who had been inside stated.

"I have to say, that we really have no choice but to admit him to the academy," the headmaster stated. "I didn't expect someone so young to actually do this well." Before anyone could protest any further, he turned his head to Isshin. "Plus, in case you haven't noticed, we have a guest who will not hesitate to get word to the general if we don't let him in."

"Nose picker?" Hinamori suddenly blurted out, hugging Toshiro tight to his annoyance and very prepared to sob into his shoulder. His eyes went wide as she wasn't one for such nicknames. However, a bunch of the teachers tried suppressing their laughter, especially when Isshin began to pick his nose again, causing Momo to make a disgusted face at the man.

"That isn't a very mature thing to do," Toshiro suddenly blurted out narrowing his eyes at the man, causing Renji to stifle a chuckle and Kira to cringe.

"I don't need a brat telling me what or what I can not do," the man said, removing his nose. "I so happen to have a cold today? You wouldn't happen to have an idea about that, would you Shiro-chan?"

The small white haired boy pushed his lips tightly together and places his hands on his hips and glared at the man. "It's Hitsugaya Toshiro!"

"What ever little one," Isshin commented, pretending to ignore the boy and act all aloof. Suddenly, he found himself kicked in the shin, and the small boy storming off.

"Are you sure the boy is ready maturity wise," one of the teachers asked.

"I believe so!" Isshin raised his hand in response to this, using his other to rub his leg.

M

Hinamori insisted on accompanying Toshiro to get his robes and to his first class, as she still felt over protective of him. She refused to also look in his face. When they got to the place, an old lady opened up to them, and raised an eyebrow. "I know you don't need any more robes as you just got new ones Momo-chan."

"Ahh, no… they're for my friend here… he's entering the academy today," Hinamori stated, handing over the letter that the headmaster saw fit to give them.

"Ahh… oh my," the woman stated then looked at Toshiro. "I do not believe that I have robes in your size… unless you count the ones that are made for girls, as nearly all of them are smaller."

"Shiro-chan would look cute in red," Hinamori beamed, not thinking about the whole thing fully.

"Red is for the girls?" Toshiro suddenly asked, his face turning pale, and his cheeks flushing.

"Ahh… yes. There is no need for that kind of stigmatism," the woman sighed.

"Stigmatism?" Hinamori suddenly asked, then realization hit her. "Oh…"

"I could hem down one of the male uniforms, but it will take awhile," the woman sighed.

"I can help," Hinamori stated cheerfully.

"The two of you should be heading to class… I'll just take a few measurements," the woman stated, then afterwards shooing them out of the door.

"And I was looking forward to sewing you're uniform," the girl pouted, holding firm to his shoulder blades.

"Hinamori…" Toshiro suddenly stated. "You're holding on to tight."

"Oh… sorry Shiro-chan," she smiled.

"Hitsugaya-kun!" the small boy protested. Momo wasn't fazed by this reaction at all however. They then came to the class room and Momo suddenly had tears rolling down her face. "What ever is the matter with you?"

"I'm rather upset with you for just coming out here like this," the girl wiped the tears away, then saw white haired boy giving her a dirty look. She suddenly got a pouty look on her face and suddenly hugged him, startling him and making him want to squirm away. "I'm also so proud of you!"

"Hinamori!" Somehow he managed to escape her grim. Unfortunately, for him, she took his hand and opened the door to the advanced class for the academy, a smile on her face as she opened the door. He could hear whispers of Hinamori-sempai from some of the students sitting at the tables.

"Why's that little boy with Hinamori-sempai?" one boy muttered, his voice a bit jealous. However, Toshiro gave him a death glare, first for calling him little, then also for being obvious about their crush on Hinamori, though it would be best to make it look like only the first really mattered. His face softened though a bit, and glanced at the ground, not liking that everyone's eyes were on him.

"He's majorly shy as he's looking at the ground," one of the girls suddenly commented, noticing his glance at the ground below his feet.

"Ahh… hello Hinamori-san," the man teaching the class suddenly turned forward. "This student with you're sempai is going to be our new student."

At this, a male student suddenly stood up. "You expect us to believe that a kid can just come and join us like this!"

"Please sit down," the teacher suddenly stated as Toshiro pulled his hand out of Hinamori's grasp.

"The testing was a while ago," another student protested. "Not to mention we've started the school year."

"And…" came a third reply. "Are we to actually expect someone to just get into the advanced first class like this?"

"Enough!" the teacher snapped, not at all happy with the turn out. "This is Hitsugaya Toshiro. He grew up with Hinamori Momo."

"Why should we care?" the first boy snapped, not at all pleased with the predicament.

"Because I care!" Hinamori snapped suddenly, causing the eyes to turn to her. "If I find out… if I find out… if I find out you've been mean to Shiro-chan just because he's gifted… I'll… I'll…"

This caused the boy to back down and a few students to stifle giggles at the nickname she had given the younger boy, however, the teacher gave him a glare. "I believe that you owe an apology."

"I apologize Hinamori-sempai," the boy muttered.

"And…" the teacher gave the boy a dirty look, only to receive one back.

"It doesn't matter," Toshiro suddenly stated. He then glanced back at the older girl who had brought him in. "Shouldn't you be getting to class Hinamori?"

"I… of course… I nearly forgot," the girl had a conflicted look on her face and glanced at Hitsugaya. "But…"

"I'll be fine. I've been able to take care of myself without you for awhile now, haven't I?" the boy stated firmly, trying to keep his tone down.

"Hinamori-san… if I think I need you're help, I will be sure to let you know," the teacher suddenly commented.

Momo looked a bit abashed, but bowed. "Hai."

After Hinamori left, Toshiro glanced around the room, trying to surmise his fellow classmates. Many of them were giving him ugly looks. The teacher glanced around and picked the least in hospital spot for Toshiro to sit.

M

One thing that the young student soon found out was that the bullying that had gone on back when Momo wasn't around didn't go away. Especially when people found out that, he wouldn't dare tell Hinamori his problems, which made some of the other first years wonder really how close they really were. He was far younger then all the other students, had white hair and teal eyes, so why wouldn't they make fun of him?

Thus his one respite, because he really couldn't tell Hinamori and felt uncomfortable with those two friends of hers, he ended up diving right into his studies. To the first year teachers lack of enthusiasm, he had excelled with the first year curriculum and couldn't be taught more, so some had taken to sending him to the library as a means to get rid of his over enthusiasm to learn.

This was also a source for the other first years to bully him. Some said that he hadn't been qualified for getting into the advanced class in the first place, while others stated that they should have left him out of their class and waited a few years as he took away their chances and he could likely get better. The there was the fact that he had problems with his reiatsu, making some people think he purposely tried to stand out.

The library was quiet and after a few weeks of the academy, it was the one place he felt comfortable, not to mention he could actually learn something. Or he could sit and stare out the window at nature without some people wondering if he was right in the head or where he belonged. His stay there was startled my Hinamori's voice. "Shiro-chan! Why aren't you in class?"

"I could ask you the same thing," the boy stated, startled out of the world he had gone into. His voice lacked any of the sarcasm that he usually used, as he learned being snarky with other students made them only pay him more mind.

"I am working on a project. I know for a fact first years aren't supposed to be in the library yet," Hinamori put her small hands on her hips.

"I got kicked out, simple as that," the boy responded.

"Hitsugaya Toshiro!" she snapped, her anger quite high. This led to Toshiro and quite a few others shushing her. However, he could tell she was livid. Her voice came down to a whisper. "What did you do to get kicked out? Bad mouth the teacher? Start a fight?"

"No…" came the white haired child's reply, a tad pit shocked from being startled out of his world. "Hinamori… why do you think I did something wrong to get kicked out?"

"Because what else could have happened?" the girl folded her arms.

"Ahh… hello… the first year teachers told me that I could find Hitsugaya Toshiro here," a silver haired man suddenly stepped up behind them. "I was told that he would stand out relatively well from his fellow students."

"Ichimaru Gin…" Hinamori startled, surprised to see the man. She then put a hand to her mouth. "I mean Ichimaru taicho… why are you here?"

"I was asked by Isshin-san to come and speak with Shiro-chan here," the man stated plainly.

"Whatever for?" the boy stated. "And it's Hitsugaya… not Shiro-chan."

"Toshiro! Be polite!" Hinamori corrected.

Ichimaru gave Hinamori a look through his narrowed eyes, a smile on his face. "Can I speak to him privately?"

"Ahh… yes," Hinamori stated, a bit abashed, not to mention as she left, she gave Toshiro a worried look. She could see that the conversation wasn't easily starting up as Toshiro was being stubborn and not saying anything, while Gin was waiting for him to make the first response. Someone tapped her one the shoulder.

"Is that Hitsugaya Toshiro?" a rather tall boy asked her.

"That trouble maker who got kicked out of class?" Hinamori commented rather darkly. "He's been trouble since he's been little."

"Ahh… because he's too smart for his own good at times?" the boy suddenly asked.

"Excuse me… but I don't really know you," Hinamori turned to the boy.

"Sorry, my name is Kusaka Sojiro. I am in your year you know," the boy stated calmly.

"I know that," Hinamori suddenly stated, a frown on her face. "Even I know that there are a few girls who are interested in you."

"So Hinamori Momo isn't as aloof as she appears," the boy laughed, his violet eyes twinkling. "Seriously… though, you are still rather aloof. That, or you care so much about you're little brother that you don't see the obvious. Of course, there are quite a few first years that are making up rumors about him being a trouble maker as the reason he isn't in class lately. They won't be able to do that soon I think."

"What does that have to do with anything and what do you want with me?" the girl suddenly muttered angrily.

"First, what I want has nothing to do with you, unless you count the fact that I do want something with Hitsugaya… especially if the rumors are true, he may be in need of a friends soon… there aren't many other students taking the initiative," the boy stated calmly.

"Shiro-chan and I are friends," Hinamori suddenly commented.

"Silly… you're also his sister," the boy stated firmly. "That isn't exactly the same thing as a friend."

"But Toshiro is a great person," Hinamori protested. "Why wouldn't anyone want to be friends with him?"

"I guess you don't see what everyone else sees. Most people, and I'm not saying I do, but most people see a kid with white hair, odd eye coloring. He's also extremely smart, which when a kid has the intellect of an adult, it can sometimes bother people," the boy smiled.

"Intellect of an adult," Hinamori suddenly laughed. "The kid who spit watermelon seeds at me and called me names?"

"Considering that Captain Ichimaru is in fact speaking with him, I would say yes," the boy stated with the coolness of a river, with none of the iciness that Toshiro at times had.

"What exactly does that have to do with anything?" Momo asked, glancing over at the two who were still staring at each other. "He was the lieutenant of Aizen taicho before he became captain."

"Did you know that he graduated in one year from the academy?" the boy suddenly spoke up. "If he is talking to Hitsugaya, it is possibly about that, or Lieutenant Shiba's graduating within two years."

Hinamori suddenly paled. "Shiro-chan? No…"

"Do you know the reason he's been kicked out of some of his first year classes?" the boy suddenly asked. He didn't wait until Hinamori answered him and instead went into this. "He's been kicked out because he's already memorized all of the first year material. He's very good with sword and battling technique, even though that is a bit shaky, due to his age and size in comparison to everyone else."

"I didn't…" Hinamori started, then stopped. "I didn't know that."

"That's because both of you go off into your own little worlds to think about things, yet you more so then him. Means you two really are siblings. And anyways, he probably keeps things from you so you don't worry about him so much," the boy suddenly commented, then turned to leave. "It was nice meeting you. I have to be going now."

Hinamori turned to look at where Toshiro sat with the man, biting her lip slightly, almost feeling like she didn't know the little boy anymore. "I have to go too."

Meanwhile, Toshiro stared for sometime at the captain, not giving him the privilege of the boy showing interest in why he was there first, so Gin finally gave in first. "That girlfriend of yours over there was standing for quite some time."

"Hinamori isn't my girlfriend," the boy frowned.

"Ahh… you're thinking the boyfriend girlfriend kind," the third division captain laughed. "There are also friends who are girls and friends who are boys. Wait though… from what I've come to understand, she's also like you're sister."

Toshiro rolled his eyes at the man. "What exactly are you here for? Obviously not to talk about my social life, especially since I have none?"

"You got kicked out of class didn't you?" the long grin widened, causing Toshiro to inwardly squirm.

"What of it exactly," the boy frowned.

"When I was going through the academy I got kicked out for a similar reason, however…" the man smiled at the boy. "The thing is this… unlike you who are rather over board in ones answers when one got bored, I was libel to punch someone who commented on… certain things."

Toshiro narrowed his eyes, not knowing where this was going, or whether or not he wanted. "What exactly does this have to do with me?"

"I graduated within a year…" the man suddenly stated. "How would you like to graduate in that amount of time?"

"Why… Hinamori is supposed to graduate this year," the boy suddenly commented on all of this, frowning at the man.

"Ahh… Momo-chan," the man sighed. "I guess that you wouldn't want to graduate before your sis. However… that probably is not the best thing for you… I mean, you are already bored with the lessons being provided by the teachers. You need to grow. I know that feeling. I also know the feeling of…"

"Stop…" the boy narrowed his eyes at the man. "You and I have nothing in common. I can tell from your demeanor. I don't think you really want anything to do with me. Why?"

"Isshin-san asked," the fox-faced man laughed.

"You don't seem the type to fall for that guys whims," the boy stated firmly.

Gin started tapping his fingers on the table. "You're right. Isshin-san isn't someone that I would listen too. But you are wrong about us not having anything in common. We have Ran-chan in common."

"Ran-chan," Toshiro suddenly got a confused look on his face.

"Ahh… I forgot. Matsumoto Rangiku forgot to tell you her name when the two of you met," the man smiled. "That is what… or I should say, who we have in common."

"So her name is Matsumoto-san," the boy commented slowly. "I overheard that she's in the tenth division."

"That's true," the man suddenly smiled. "While Isshin-san asked the favor, Ran-chan has… let's say she's taken an interest in you, perhaps because she found you like she did."

"I am not some stray cat," Toshiro muttered with irritability.

"No… but Ran-chan… she really didn't like how you were treated," the man turned away. "She is the type person who looks out for others whether they need it or not really. It is just the way she is. Anyways… she would want what is best for you, and since she is important to me, I am going to push with the head for you to be placed on the best course of learning for you."

At that, Gin got up to leave, Toshiro having a confused look on his face. He then spoke up. "I don't need... no. Would you please tell Matsumoto-san and Isshin-san thank you for me?"

"Sure," Gin stated. "Oh… and she would probably appreciate it if you would at times call her Rangiku-san."

"Granny taught me it is rude to be informal with people," the boy quickly commented.

"So that is why you do that," Gin suddenly laughed. "Well… just to let you know… you're already calling Isshin-san by his first name."

Toshiro blinked a couple of times, a bit irritated at the development, not able to say something to the man.