Jushiro looked at me a moment before engulfing me in a hug once more.

"Gah! Need...... Air!" I gasped.

"Oh, right!" He said sheepishly, releasing me. "Oh! That's right! I have a present for you."

"A present?" I repeated, tilting my head.

"Wait right here!" He said, beaming as he got up and ran from the room.

"Jushiro!" I yelled after him. "You're sick! Slow down and be careful and.... He probably isn't even listening to me at this point...." I sighed softly, scratching the back of my head. I heard giggling and turned around.

"What?" I asked Unohona, completely lost.

"Nothing," she said lightly. "I've just never seen a child so adult like," she explained, smiling at me.

"Er... Thanks.....?" I said slowly.

"Ah! Here we are!" Jushiro yelled happily, dashing back into the room.

"Jushiro Ukitake!" I barked at him, making him freeze mid-stride. "For gods sake, calm down so you don't hurt yourself!"

He obediently sat in his seat, but held out a long box, which was neatly wrapped.

"Happy birthday!" He grinned.

"It's not my birthday," I said skeptically.

"It's October 20th," he corrected.

"Holy crap it's my birthday!" I yelled, shocked. He beamed and thrust the package in my direction again. I carefully took it and stared at it.

"What's wrong?" He asked hastily.

"Nothing.... It's just...."

"Just what?"

I looked at him hesitantly.

"It's the first present I've ever gotten," I said quietly. He was shocked, as were the others.

"Well, open it," Yumichika said softly, putting a hand on my shoulder and grinning when I looked at him. "You'll probably like what's inside more than the outside."

I gulped, but nodded, and began to unwrap the box. When the paper was gone, I pulled the top off the box and gasped at the amazing zanpakuto that was within.

"It was your fathers," Jushiro said quietly as I picked up the blade.

It was crimson red metal with a black edge, maybe as tall as me and at least a half foot wide. There was no hand guard leading to the white wrapped hilt, but a long chain was connected to the end with a pair of spiked, black brass knuckles attacked to the chain.

"But.... Shinigami can't pass their zanpakuto on, can they?" I asked carefully, holding the large sword in my right hand as slipping the large brass knuckles over my left hand. I felt a pull at my soul as the sword shrank slightly, it was still as tall as me, but was now about half a foot wide, and the knuckles for my hand fit perfectly.

"Your father once told me that he had made a deal with his zanpakuto," Jushiro said slowly. "It would work with you once he had gone- it was like he knew what was about to happen- if it approved of you."

"But how-"

"Honey I'm hooooooooome!" A new voice shrieked.

"You!" Jushiro snarled in outrage.