Okay so… bit of a different story compared to what I usually write. This is a Toshiro and Rangiku FAMILY story; this Toshiro is younger than in the cannon, physically (also mentally) 10 years old, so if you like cute!Tosh, this is for you. I've wanted to write this story for a long time, so I hope you'll like it xD

WARNINGS: minor spoilers for the later manga chapters, mostly incorrect facts, a touch of violence aaaannndd some mature themes.

…

Irreversible Punishment

Chapter One: Yoruichi's Secret

Yoruichi Shihoin took a deep breath. She was the Commander of the Stealth Force and she was under direct orders from Central Forty-Six; she had no choice. At least that's what she told herself as she signalled to her subordinates to circle around the house, leaving no escape for the two souls inside…not that they'd be able to flee from the flash goddess herself, or the twelve highly competent Punishment Force ninjas she'd selected for this mission. She could feel the spiritual pressures of her two (still unaware) victims inside the run down cottage – powerful but raw; untrained and ignorant of the power they possess.

"Commander Shihoin," one of her masked subordinates dropped to his knee beside her.

"Report."

"The premise is surrounded, and the kido barrier complete. So far, both beings remain oblivious to our presence."

Yoruichi gave a firm nod as the ninja stood and returned to his post. Everything had gone according to plan – although she wished it hadn't. Over her many years in this position, as well as her role as Captain of the Second Division, she had been ordered to complete many unspeakable tasks, and she had carried out this particular operation a couple of times, but now the guilt of her actions was beginning to take its toll. Yoruichi was – for the most part – a popular woman in the Seireitei with friends everywhere who loved her for her cheekiness and her outgoing nature, but during these darker moments in her leadership, she had learnt to detach herself emotionally as not to develop feelings that may hinder her from the task at hand. This time was different, however, as she felt a heavy weight in her chest; it was getting harder and harder for her to carry on serving Central Forty-Six, whom were becoming corrupt and ruthless, and constantly paranoid about 'threats' to the Soul Society, leading them to make harsh and unyielding decisions.

Her loyalty came first though, and she had a job to do.

"Let's move."

The commander and her twelve chosen underlings closed in around the small house silently. The buildings occupants wouldn't sense them, partially because they were reining in their spiritual pressures and also because the targets were untrained themselves and wouldn't know how to sense them.

Yoruichi glanced back at her officers standing beneath the midnight sky and signalled for them to remain in their positions; they were only here as back up should something go wrong, which was highly unlikely in this situation, but necessary under the rules she'd established long ago for similar operations. Noiselessly, the Commander of the Stealth Force slipped through the open window and landed in a crouched position on the wooden floorboards of the old cottage, quieter than any feline. From her place in the dark, she could hear the happy giggles of a young toddler and the soft coos of the child's mother.

A baby and its' mother; Yoruichi Shihoin's two new victims, and the supposed 'threats' to the Soul Society.

…

Toshiro Hitsugaya stood silently in his appointed place between Captain Kyoraku and Captain Kurotsuchi and their respective lieutenants, while his own vice-captain chirped happily with their friends at the Eighth from her place behind him. The atmosphere in the First Division meeting hall was somewhat upbeat – as it often was when the lieutenants were invited; they seemed to get along better than most of the Captains and many were loud and talkative – but Toshiro knew it wouldn't last long.

The purpose of the combined meeting was to discuss the future of Central Forty-Six, whose previous members were killed by Aizen all those months ago. With the Winter War behind them; the Seireitei was now in the process of recovering; buildings finally got fixed, vacant captain and lieutenant positions were gradually filled and now it was time to re-instate the political branch of the Soul Society. However, there were many captains who believed that Central Forty-Six had become ineffective and corrupt, and thus, with the permission of the Soul King, the Head Captain called the current meeting.

Right on cue, the ancient First Division leader took his seat at the front of the room and banged his staff hard against the wooden floorboards, immediately silencing the room and forcing everyone in attendance to stand that little bit straighter. Despite the old man's age and often slow physical movements, all captains and lieutenants were aware of the power he possessed and that was enough to pull them into line.

"Today, I call upon the captains and the lieutenants of all thirteen divisions to discuss the fate of Central Forty-Six," Yamamoto droned, his voice stern with authority, "This meeting will be conducted like a trial, as we will assess their past actions and judge whether those actions have been just and effective. I have invited former Captain of the Second, and former Commander in Chief of the Stealth Force, Yoruichi Shihoin, to provide information from her time working under Central Forty-Six."

All eyes turned towards the back of the room to the purple-haired woman and a few people gave her a small wave, namely Soi Fon and the other ladies of the SWA. Yoruichi herself kept her facial features impassive as she gave a curt nod to the Head Captain. Toshiro had to wonder what the former noble woman's opinion on the whole matter was; she had, after all, served directly under the political branch as the Stealth Force leader for many decades, and would know better than anyone how they operated and what secret affairs went on within those dark chambers.

Toshiro himself was fairly torn over the issue. On one hand, he knew that the Soul Society would need some sort of governing body and that Central Forty-Six had been designed to work unbiasedly in the best interests of all citizens, but on the other hand, in practice, Central Forty-Six had not lived up to their principles, and he'd been burned by them before. They'd forced him to duel his best – and only – friend to the death without considering any other possible solutions. That was Central Forty-Six in a nutshell really; they wanted the best for the Soul Society but were narrow-minded and firm in their decisions. There was also evidence to suggest that they tended to favour the noble clans over the residents living in the Rukon districts, which had led to startling inequality under the law.

"Captain Soi Fon," The Head Captain continued, "As the current Commander of the Stealth Force, please share any information you have on the matter."

The petite woman with short, dark hair stepped forward in order to be seen. There was a faint blush on her cheeks – probably brought on by Yoruichi's presence – before the usually stoic Squad Two Captain launched into her report.

Soi Fon discussed her history of working under Central Forty-Six, and the various tasks and operations she was asked to carry out. Some of them seemed rather irrational or extreme given the scenario, such as the (thankfully now banned) Spirit Sealing Pits in which unarmed 'criminals' were thrown into a pit lined with Sekkiseki – a rock that drains spiritual power – alone with a hollow as a means of execution. She continued, saying that this form of punishment was discontinued as it was deemed barbaric, but had operated for many years previous to her leadership. Toshiro thought he saw a mild flinch from Yoruichi at the mention of the old sentence; she'd probably had to oversee that punishment a few times.

As it turned out, most of the captains had a story or two to tell in regards to their experiences with Central Forty-Six, and none of them were pretty. If they had something to say, they stepped forward – in no particular order – and gave their blunt opinions.

Kurotsuchi was still bitter over his time spent in the Maggot's Nest, believing his incarceration was 'ridiculous and unjust', which started up a whole argument over the harshness of Central Forty-Six's penalties for crime.

It was often rare for people to agree with the insane scientist captain, but the Captains of the Sixth and Thirteenth did just that, bringing up the sentence that Rukia Kuchiki – who'd finally made it to a lieutenant position in her squad – was given for her two charges; overstaying the time limit in the World of the Living and for transferring her powers to a human, i.e. Ichigo Kurosaki. Toshiro did have to agree on that one too, Rukia had certainly not deserved a death sentence.

The recently re-instated Captain Shinji Hirako of Squad Five then made the point that Central Forty-Six would often overlook the details of why the crime was committed, and skipped straight to the punishment, which was how he and the other visoreds ended up being treated like hollows, even though they'd gained their hollow powers unwillingly.

Kenpachi Zaraki then added – rather gruffly – that the 'old buggers' were irrational like that, since they had order the Head Captain to cease his Zanjutsu training as they were 'piss-assed scared' that he'd become unstoppable, which to them was a threat should the man ever try to revolt against the Soul Society. Toshiro had to frown at that; Zaraki was a monster but he didn't seem like the type to try and overthrow the Seireitei. He was simple and happy fighting hollows or whoever else was dumb enough to challenge him – he had no motivation to rebel.

Captain Kyoraku stepped forward last to announce his distaste for the governing body of the Soul Society. He'd, unsurprisingly, had a few runs with Central Forty-Six in the past. Most notably, during the whole Reigai debacle, Central Forty-Six (the temporary council set up post Aizen's betrayal) had falsely accused him of altering the Dangai records. Shunsui also provided them with another anecdote of the Central Forty-Six's role in the death of his sister-in-law, also his lieutenant's mother, who was executed for misplacing a sacred artefact; the zanpakuto of House Ise, Shinken Hakkyoken. Toshiro watched with a grave expression as Rangiku placed a hand on her friend Nanao's back; the memory of her deceased mother bringing up old, buried emotions.

Deciding to keep quiet and not bring up the Kusaka incident – since most of them were aware of his history in that particular area – Toshiro stood silently. It seemed that very few of the captains actually wanted the Central Forty-Six re-instated to its former glory. Despite Soi Fon's early presentation, the Second Division Captain was actually in support of them, believing that the legislative authority just needed some minor tweaks. Captain Unohana and Captain Komamura had so far remained silent on the issue, as well as the recently promoted Captain Shuuhei Hisagi. Squad Three remained leader-less, however Lieutenant Izuru Kira had not spoken on his division's behalf.

"Very well, if no one else has anything to contribute…" Yamamoto called formally, "Yoruichi Shihoin, you have the floor."

The former Shihoin princess stayed silent for a minute, looking around the room before shifting uncomfortably on her feet. Toshiro did not know the woman well, encountering her only a few times since her return during the Ryoka invasion, but was certain that this was out of character for the normally confident and decisive woman.

"If you re-instate Central Forty-Six…." The woman eventually drawled out slowly as she measured every word before she said it, "You'll be making the biggest mistake of your life."

A beat of silence passed before quiet murmurs erupted around the meeting hall, as the rooms occupants tried to riddle out the purple-haired former captain's vague response.

"Silence!" The old man yelled, banging his staff three times in succession. The noise of the room came to an abrupt stop, "Please justify your response, Yoruichi."

Out of the corner of his eye, Toshiro could see Rangiku throwing Yoruichi a confidence-boosting thumbs up and an encouraging nod. Yoruichi returned a pained half-smile in response. Toshiro frowned; something was wrong.

"Under the direct orders of Central Forty-Six, I was forced to carry out a number of terrible tasks," Yoruichi answered, "You all wonder why I could so easily abandon the Seireitei, well they were the reason why…"

...

Yoruichi crept towards the door; her feet silently moving across the wooden floor of the old cottage. Light filtered in through the slim gap of the open door, and the echoes of the bubbly baby grew louder as she neared it. The light disappeared behind her shadow as she pressed her eye to the ajar door and peaked into the main room of the cottage.

A young mother sat on a blanket in the centre of the room. She had shoulder length strawberry blonde hair, a naturally beautiful face and a well-endowed chest. The woman was cradling the child against her chest and humming a soft tune. The child looked to be a toddler, no older than eighteen months, and was wide awake, its' little fists tugging at the mother's robes. The toddler was wearing an oversized jumper, with the hood up over its' head, so Yoruichi was still unclear as to what the kid looked like, other than its physical size.

"Mum," the child called, "Mama."

The mother smiled and cooed at her child, hushing the toddler and continuing her humming, probably in an effort to get the baby back to sleep.

"Shush, little one, go to sleep now,"

Yoruichi felt a pang in her chest; this was her mission, to destroy this happy little family.

...

"Could you give us an example?"

This time it was the gentle voice of the healer captain, Retsu Unohana, which poised the question. Her eyes were soft and caring. Unohana tended to play mother whenever she felt it was called for, to comfort injured soldiers or lonely new recruits. Yachiru sometimes even called her 'Mother', much to her adoptive father's embarrassment. Toshiro himself had never seen her as a mother figure to him; sure, she was warm and compassionate but she wasn't his mother. He didn't have a mother, having been found wandering the streets of Junrinan alone by the old woman he now called 'Granny'.

"No," Yoruichi said firmly.

The room was silent as they processed the fact that the former commander of the Stealth Force had just blatantly refused to co-operate. Toshiro couldn't decide if the woman was brave for standing her ground or just plain stupid. No one refused Unohana, and certainly no one declined the Head Captain…or at least, nobody had done so and survived to talk about it.

"Is this about those two girls again?" Soi Fon intervened, "Lady Yoruichi, it was a long time ago; I don't think Central Forty-Six even cares about that any more. I haven't been asked to carry out a task like that since I took over from you."

"They care," Yoruichi hissed, glaring at her former second in command, "It just hasn't happened since you took over."

Soi Fon inhaled sharply, taking a timid step back, looking as though she'd just been slapped across the face. Thick tension filled the room; no one had been expecting the sudden hostility radiating from the ex-captain.

"Yoruichi Shihoin," Captain Yamamoto called sternly, "You have been brought here to provide information on the Central Forty-Six's activities and to make a proper decision, we must have all the details. Now, explain yourself."

Yoruichi stood in her place, her lips locked firmly shut, arms crossed over her chest and shaking her head. Eventually, Soi Fon answered – rather nervously – on her behalf.

"We are all aware of the law that states that two souls with high spiritual pressures are forbidden to conceive a child together – unless they are of a noble clan – out of fear that the child will become a powerful threat in the future," Soi Fon stated, addressing the room, "What you would not know is what Central Forty-Six does to those who break that law."

Uncomfortable glances were exchanged about the room; Central Forty-Six were famous for their harsh punishments. Yoruichi visibly flinched at the remark, causing Toshiro's curiosity to peak; just what had affected the fierce former captain so much?

The topic made him feel a little uncomfortable too, however, as he often wondered if he was the offspring of two powerful souls. It was often suggested by Captain Kurotsuchi, who hated Toshiro beyond reason and would happily see his demise, although no one else had ever taken it seriously.

"Lady Yoruichi was never comfortable with carrying out the punishment," Soi Fon continued, "When Central Forty-Six discovers that a child has been born from two parents with high spiritual pressure, they order what is known as the 'Irreversible Punishment'; the child is executed, while the parents are wiped of their memories and sterilised."

A number of gasps echoed throughout the room and Toshiro felt Rangiku grip onto his haori tightly. She always did this when she was shocked about something, whether it be good or bad, and he was within grabbing range. She'd instinctively pull him close; it was her maternal nature kicking in, he assumed, she'd always tried to mother him. He tended to let her get away with it, mostly because she would just do it anyway, but also because part of him liked it. Sometimes there was nothing more he'd want other than to climb onto her lap and fall asleep to her soft humming and gentle, loving touches. Of course, he'd never actually done that on his own accord, but he was not opposed to pretending to be asleep in her presence, which almost always resulted in her picking him up for a cuddle. He usually felt pretty pathetic afterwards though; he was a captain, for goodness sake, he should not need to be cuddled by his mother hen of a lieutenant.

Unohana had no motherly effect on him, but Rangiku had it in spades.

"There have only been two known cases in the time I've been in the Stealth Force," Soi Fon continued, "Yes, it was cruel, but it was the ruling of Central Forty-Six and it was our job to carry it out."

"Yoruichi, is this correct?" The Head Captain looked down at the tanned woman at the back of the room.

Yoruichi hung her head and closed her eyes; a small nod her only answer.

"You're lying," Yamamoto responded gently, his voice low and grave, "There is more to it, I can tell. You worked for me too, remember? I know you, now answer me; what happened that made you want to leave the Soul Society so much?"

It was weird how Yamamoto could alter between strict Head Captain and fatherly figure, or grandfatherly as Toshiro saw it. Whichever the term, it seemed to have an effect on the former commander turned cat enthusiast, who raised her head to meet his eye.

"There was another case where I was ordered to carry out the 'Irreversible Punishment', only months before I left with Kisuke Urahara," She began, "A little boy. I will never forget the fear in his eyes."

...

Yoruichi sighed internally, it was time.

She muttered a quick kido spell and knocked the mother unconscious. The strawberry blonde woman slumping backwards onto the floor, her child sliding out of her arms and landing softly next to her. The toddler stood on shaky feet, poking its mother in the cheek and calling for her; confused by the game it thought she was playing.

Yoruichi stepped out of the dark adjoining room into the well-lit main space of the house.

"Hello, little one," She had tried to sound upbeat and cheerful, as not to scare the young child.

The toddler turned sharply to face her. It was a boy with large, expressive eyes; small for his age, but healthy. The boy tugged on his mother's night shirt, but the woman did not rouse. Yoruichi took a few more small steps forward, reaching out a gentle hand to the boy. The toddler's eyes were full of fear as he crouched by his mother's unmoving form; terrified by the strange woman in his home. Yoruichi was surprised that the boy hadn't run for it yet, as the girls in the previous cases had. This boy refused to leave his mother's side, but whether it was because he thought she could help him or because he wanted to protect her, Yoruichi did not know. Unprotected and alone, the boy's voice shook as he called out once more for his mother.

...

"You killed that little boy?"

It was Rangiku who had asked the question, her fists tightening in Toshiro's uniform and a look of pure horror on her face; Rangiku had a soft spot for children.

"No," Yoruichi admitted quietly, "I thought that if I just erased his memory, and bound his powers, then Central Forty-Six would never know I'd let him go…"

"And they believed you?" Kyoraku asked, eyebrows raised.

"They were suspicious," Yoruichi answered with a half-shrug, "But I know they never found out the truth."

"The boy is still alive then?" Rangiku beamed happily.

Yoruichi nodded, but expanded no further on the boy in question's current whereabouts or activity.

"What about the parents?" Lieutenant Kotetsu of Squad Four asked, frowning.

"The father was never charged," Yoruichi swallowed, "But the mother was punished as per the order. I altered her memory so that she would never know she had a child, and then I-"

"-Sterilised her?" Unohana interjected, her voice almost accusing.

Yoruichi gave a slow solemn nod, "She didn't deserve that."

The feline-like woman's voice cracked a little on that last note, and Toshiro had a feeling that they'd pushed too far. The story seemed only half complete though, so he had a feeling there was worse news to come.

"Why wasn't the father charged?" Nanao asked, frowning and pushing up her glasses, "That seems a little sexist."

"The father was the one who turned his family in, and Central Forty-Six rewarded him with a pardon and an unofficial warning that wouldn't go on his record," Yoruichi explained, her voice becoming bitter and hateful, "He was a high-ranked Soul Reaper at the time, and didn't want to risk losing his position, apparently."

There was an immediate uproar amongst the more vocal soul reapers in the room; each and every one of them loudly shaming the father who'd turned his own lover and child over to Central Forty-Six, all the while knowing that his innocent son would be executed.

"Who would do such a thing?"
"What scumbag hates his own child enough to have them killed?"
"That monster…"

"Enough!" Yamamoto roared, "Who was the father?"

Yoruichi froze, her body tensing up visibly and she took a step back.

"I can't…" She said, "I won't."

"You will," The Head Captain demanded, back into his stern, unyielding mode, "Who was the father?!"

"Gin Ichimaru," Yoruichi blurted out, as the temperature of the room dramatically increased.

Rangiku inhaled sharply behind him, and Toshiro shifted uncomfortably, but not because of the heat. Gin Ichimaru was the bane of Toshiro's existence; the man was evil and twisted, and took pleasure in trying to make Toshiro's daily life a living hell. Rangiku, however, was in love with the man – making it even more awkward for him – and still grieved his death. Oddly enough, it was Rangiku who had killed Gin in the end, after he had attacked Toshiro and almost won. The silver-haired traitor hadn't been expecting her to taking her captain's side against his, and therefore was shocked to find himself skewered by her Haineko. Toshiro was glad that she'd picked him over that man, but sometimes he wondered if she regretted it; she sure did cry a lot about it.

Many of the eyes in the room turned to face them too; many knew of the relationship Rangiku held with the fox-faced traitor and it was often suggested – again, by Kurotsuchi mostly – that Toshiro himself held a number of traits similar to those of Gin's; child prodigy, genius, similar hair colour…

"The child…" Yamamoto murmured just loud enough to be heard across the room, mental clogs ticking over one at a time as his eyes left Toshiro's and returned to Yoruichi, "You said you bound his powers?"

"I said I was going to," Yoruichi's voice shook as she answered, her hands wringing nervously together, "But he got away."

"A mere child escaped you?" questioned Byakuya Kuchiki, disbelief written across his features, "The Commander in Chief of the Stealth Force and a Soul Reaper Captain?"

Yoruichi nodded, her head hung in shame, and slowly she confessed…

...

The boy lay unconscious beside his mother as Yoruichi finished up sterilising the woman. The toddler had been more a problem than she thought, and she'd had to hit him with a weak kido spell to get him to stop struggling so she could focus on the woman. Sterilising was difficult work; it involved a number of difficult and intricate spells – most of which were forbidden in any other circumstances – designed to injure someone from the inside and leaving no traces on the skin. When done properly, the woman's uterus would be scarred; she'd still get light periods but would never be able to hold a baby in there again. After the damage was done, Yoruichi would use a light healing kido to take away the pain; the mother would never know it had happened.

Altering the memory was next. Not many people knew you could actually pull out someone's memory from their head, but Yoruichi's friend Kisuke had learnt how to with his dabbling in forbidden kido. Yoruichi first pulled the memory out of the toddler boy; a glowing white orb sat in Yoruichi's hand and when she looked close enough, she could see flashes from the boy's memory. Recent images of Yoruichi herself looming above him passed over the orb and the Commander had to cringe; he'd been utterly terrified, and rightly so. Moving on to the mother, Yoruichi muttered the spell again, pulling out a dark grey orb – like ash – out of the strawberry blonde woman's temple.

With the boy's memory, she simply just pulled it out and that was it; the boy was a baby, he wouldn't even realise it was gone, the only thing Yoruichi left behind was his given name – he deserved to remember that much. The mother, however, would notice if roughly two years of her life had simply vanished, so Yoruichi's job was to alter the memory – to make it child-less – and then give it back to her. Well actually, she had to make a copy first because altering the original memory was too risky, but a mere copy would prove less disastrous, especially if she made a mistake. With more complicated kido, she made the secondary ash globe and managed to erase all memories of the child; the whole memory would be the same in every other aspect, for example, the mother would remember coming to this cottage and sitting alone, but there would be no child in her thoughts. Yoruichi then pocketed both original memories and returned the fake memories to the mother.

Well, that was one half of her job done, Yoruichi sighed, glancing over at the sleeping toddler. She scooped the boy up into her arms; he was so small. With one last sad look at the unconscious mother, Yoruichi turned and flash stepped from the house, stopping briefly to send her subordinates into the home to remove all the evidence of a child, including toys, clothes, milk bottles, and anything else that belonged to the toddler; she'd deal with the child alone.

Another thing Urahara had taught her was how to permanently bind someone's spiritual power. Derived from the binding spells that locked criminals in the Maggot's Nest, Urahara developed a serum that when injected what seal whatever powers that individual might possess and cut off any connection they have with their zanpakuto spirit, should they have one. It was permanent, however a much less cruel alterative to killing a child.

Landing in abandoned woodland, Yoruichi looked down at the boy in her arms. He began to stir, and cracked a large eye open. A few seconds went by in silence as the boy lay staring up at Yoruichi uncomprehendingly; he wouldn't remember her.

But then the boy cried.

The toddler began to panic, squirming in Yoruichi's arms and crying loudly under the midnight sky. There was no soul within two miles, nobody to hear him. As the boy's distress grew and Yoruichi's shushing went unnoticed, the Stealth Force Commander suddenly began to feel cold. It was the middle of summer, and yet she could feel the temperature around her begin to plummet rapidly. Looking around, Yoruichi saw ice creeping around the grass at her feet, and on the tree's standing around her. The sky became dark as the moon and stars were lost behind dark, angry clouds. Rain started to fall; lightly first, but gradually building up to a hammering force that was almost painful on the tanned woman's skin. Ducking under a now frozen tree, Yoruichi didn't have to look far to find the cause of the sudden freak weather; her tiny captive was glowing white, like a livid soul reaper preparing to destroy their opponent. The difference was that this boy had no training, no control, just raw power. And it was terrifying.

Especially when the rain turned to hail, and then to heavy snow.

Yoruichi dropped the child when her own arms began to ice over. She fell back against the tree holding her arms to her chest. They were so cold it actually burnt. The child got to his feet, still screaming and crying, before turning on his heel and running as fast as his little legs could carry him. Yoruichi was frozen – for lack of a better term – as her legs cramped up in the cold and she remained paralysed against the tree. She could see the boy getting away, but in this freak snow storm, there was little she could do. The boy tripped, falling flat onto his face. As he stood, the hood over his head fell back, revealing a head of thick, snow white locks. Yoruichi's breath hitched as he turned to give her one last look before running off again. She knew then that she'd never forget those startling teal eyes.

...

Several beats of silence passed over the First Division meeting hall.

Yoruichi was now in tears.

Rangiku too, when she'd realised the implication of the former captain's tale.

Toshiro inhaled sharply, taking a sudden step back. This couldn't be happening. It was a lie, it was a mistake; he was not the little boy, he was not Gin Ichimaru's son. His lieutenant's hands gripped him tightly from behind. He could feel her underside of her breasts brushing against his crown, but embarrassment was the last thing on his mind.

"No," He whispered, choking a little, "It's not…no, I-"

"Yoruichi, you're not…" Ukitake stumbled over his words, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," The purple-haired woman wiped her eyes, "I'll never forget that spiritual pressure and I felt it again when I returned to the Soul Society with Ichigo Kurosaki. I found that little boy fighting against his own father as Captain of the Tenth."

Toshiro took another step back, and then some more, slipping out of Rangiku's grasp before finding himself backed against the wall, all eyes on him. It was getting harder for him to breathe.

"I'm not his son," Toshiro denied, shaking his head, "He isn't my father."

Rangiku followed him, gripping his wrists and pulling him into her hold. He fisted her robes and shook violently, his head pressed into her stomach. It was a mistake, it wasn't true.

"Well, I called it," Captain Kurotsuchi's voice echoed happily throughout the hall, "I guess we'll have to execute him now; illegally born, son of a traitor…You know what, on second thought, we should re-instate Central Forty-Six-"

"No!" Rangiku screamed at the mad scientist before turning towards the Head Captain, "You can't! He's innocent, he's just a boy!"

"Enough!" Yamamoto called, "Captain Kurotsuchi, keep your opinions to yourself; that is a warning. Lieutenant Matsumoto, please keep your outbursts contained. I think you should take your captain and return to your division while we sort this out."

"Actually, Sir…" Unohana's calm voice radiated from the top of the room, "I think Captain Hitsugaya should first find out his mother's identity…although I'm sure most of us can guess."

Toshiro raised his head out from his Lieutenant's uniform to look questioning at the healer captain; of course, he had two parents. From Yoruichi's story, his mother seemed to love him and care for him, until… He felt his blood beginning to boil, Yoruichi had hurt his mother and split up their little family, and she'd done it under the orders of Central Forty-Six.

"Very well," Yamamoto responded, "Yoruichi Shihoin, please tell Captain Hitsugaya who his mother is… He deserves to know that much."

Yoruichi turned to look at him, and Toshiro realised it was the first time they'd ever made eye contact… Well, the first time in his memory. Her feline-like eyes were still teary, filled with guilt and regret. He didn't care about her feelings, though; they wouldn't change the past.

"I'm so sorry," Yoruichi said, her voice breaking before she looked over his shoulder.

She was looking at Rangiku.

"I'm sorry, Ran," She cried, "I'm sorry, I should have told you the truth, but when I saw you defending him against Gin…and then I found out you were his lieutenant… I just-I couldn't. I justified it, thinking that, despite everything, you were still his mother anyway…"

There was silence.

Toshiro's body tensed. Rangiku released him; her face screwing up in horror. She took a step towards Yoruichi.

"You're saying that I'm his birth mother?" Rangiku questioned her as tears rolled down her cheeks, "You're saying that I'm his mother and you took him away from me? You stole my memory and took away my ability to have any more children?!"

She was screaming now; Toshiro had only heard that tone in her voice once and that had been when she killed Ichimaru during the Winter War. It was so full of fury that Toshiro dared not move. He still couldn't believe his lieutenant was his mother. He'd always wished it, but now that it was happening, he wasn't so sure it was a good thing. Rangiku was livid, so maybe she agreed, and that hurt.

"We became friends and you knew but never told me!" Rangiku continued to shout and take sinister steps toward the former commander, "We were friends!"

Yoruichi was backing up too, trying to apologise but it was falling on deaf ears.

Toshiro found himself taking a step towards his lieutenant…towards his mother. He was stopped, however, by a strong arm that curled around his chest and pulled him back. Teal eyes met those of Captain Kyoraku, who hugged him close.

"Stay back, Toshiro," He whispered, "She's just in shock."

Kyoraku – like Ukitake – had always been somewhat of an uncle figure to him. Ukitake was the nice, warm, helpful uncle, and Kyoraku was the drunk one, telling inappropriate jokes he didn't fully understand, and Rangiku would always cover his ears anyway. They used to have big dinners together, when Captain Shiba was around, and Lieutenant Ise would join them and so would Kaien Shiba and his wife before they died. These days, Toshiro had no time for those ridiculous dinners, and most of the time it was Rangiku and Kyoraku getting wasted, while Ukitake tried to give him copious amounts of candy.

Toshiro suddenly felt his lieutenant's spiritual pressure rise; the room becoming hot again. He turned to see her in a fighting stance and pulling Haineko from its' sheath at her waist. Rangiku lunged for the former Stealth Force leader.

"Hado 31: Shakkaho!"

It was Soi Fon with the kido spell, she stepped out of line and shot it towards Rangiku, whose entire focus was on Yoruichi.

"No!" Toshiro belted, firing off his own kido to destroy Soi Fon's red light cannon.

If he wasn't being held back against Kyoraku's chest, he would have ripped Hyorinmaru from his sheath and froze the attack and anyone else who dared intervene, but since he only had his arms, the kido was his only choice. The kidos collided and exploded in the centre of the room, sending the closest people stumbling back a few steps from the sheer force. Neither Toshiro's nor Soi Fon's spells had been too strong as neither were intending to serious harm their targets; Soi Fon was probably just trying to knock Rangiku out. They were still captains however, and had their spells been any stronger, the collision could have destroyed the whole building.

Toshiro heard Kyoraku behind him uttering a quick kido spell himself, and suddenly Toshiro fell limp, his vision going grey and his body collapsing back into Kyoraku's warm embrace. He heard Rangiku scream his name – his first name, not his rank – before the world went black.

…

Rangiku sat by her captain's bedside in the Fourth Division, looking at the fragile form curled up in the sheets. A few hours ago, the boy had awoken from his short coma following Aizen's attack on him in the Central Forty-Six chambers, and was already back asleep. It wasn't his fault really; Unohana had pumped him full of painkillers, so he was bound to be fairly drowsy.

She raised her hand to gently brush a stray stand of hair out of his eyes. She'd always loved his hair; so thick and soft and stubbornly messy. The purest of whites, like the snow of his element. His eyes too, when they were open, were like beautiful teal orbs. Expressive; they conveyed every emotion he never let filter across his face. It had always amazed Rangiku how he could look so cute and innocent when he looked at her, and then dangerous and downright deadly when he looked at his opponents.

She let her hand fall to his cheek; smooth, pale and cool to touch. Toshiro murmured incoherently as he stirred, his face nuzzling into her hand. Smiling a little, Rangiku wondered how anyone could hurt the boy; he was just so adorable and innocent. Well, maybe not innocent anymore. He was a captain, and the wielder of the strongest ice-type zanpakuto in history; he'd always have enemies. Rangiku frowned. She would not let anyone hurt him; she would not let that happen. She'd fight her best friends if she had to; she'd fight Gin too if he ever tried to harm her little captain again.

...

"I'll protect you, Toshiro; you mean the world to me."

Rangiku cracked open an eye. Bright light flooded her vision and she promptly shut her eye again and groaned; the light was making her newly discovered headache throb hard against her skull.

"Rangiku?" a voice called, "Ran, can you hear me?"

Rangiku rolled onto her side, recognising the familiar feel of her favourite office couch without needing to see it. She opened her eyes again, coming face to face with her friend Shunsui Kyoraku, Captain of the Eighth, who crouched beside her and looked at her through concerned eyes.

"Captain Kyoraku?" She asked, wondering what the man was doing in her division's office.

Suddenly, the memories came flooding back; the meeting, Yoruichi's guilt, her captain is actually her son, she attacked Yorui-

Toshiro was her son.

"Where is he?!" She sprung upright, no longer caring about the pounding in her head.

Kyoraku grabbed her shoulders firmly, and tried to push her back down, all the while shushing her and quietly begging her to stay calm.

"He's fine," He assured her in a hurried whisper, "He's okay, but I need you to calm down, Ran."

Rangiku took a couple of deep breaths as she tried to compose herself. Toshiro was her son. She was his mother. She had given birth to a baby…to Gin's baby. Her captain was her baby boy…

"Please, Shunsui," She asked in her calmest, most even tone, her eyes doing the begging, "Please, I need to see him."

Kyoraku looked her up and down, before sighing and releasing her shoulders. He stood up from his crouched position beside the couch and side-stepped out of the way. Behind him, on the couch opposite the one she was currently sitting on, lay her captain – her son – his eyes closed but his chest moving as he breathed steadily. Captain Ukitake sat at the other end of the couch, by Toshiro's feet. He wasn't wearing his haori, as it was currently being used as a blanket for the small body beside him. Rangiku slipped of the couch and crawled to Toshiro's side. Her son…

She raked her hand gently through his hair like she often did when he was asleep, sick, injured or sad.

"You knocked him out?" Rangiku asked Kyoraku without looking over her shoulder, her eyes remaining focused on the sleeping boy.

"I had to," Kyoraku replied evenly, "He was panicking."

"And who knocked me out?"

"That was me, actually," Nanao's voice called from the same direction as her captain's, "I'm sorry, Ran, but you just lost it and we didn't want Captain Soi Fon or anyone else stepping in."

Rangiku nodded; she had lost it. She'd been so consumed by her anger that she had openly attacked Yoruichi in front of all the current captains and lieutenants. The thought made her furious again; Yoruichi had become her good friend in the last few years. They regularly talked and went shopping together, drinking sometimes, or to the beach even. They were friends.

"What happens now?" Rangiku asked, glancing up at her three friends – Four actually, since Rukia was there too, hanging back silently behind Ukitake.

Kyoraku opened his mouth to respond, but Rangiku's attention was driven back to Toshiro when the boy released a soft groan. She continued to run her hands through his hair as he shifted, and slowly two teal irises came into view. Rangiku had to wonder where he got his eyes from, since hers were an icy blue and Gin's were a terrifying red. Perhaps he got them from Hyorinmaru?

"Matsumoto?" Toshiro mumbled groggily as he propped himself up on to his elbows and looked around the room.

The little captain frowned as his vision fell upon their guests, and pushed himself in to a sitting position. He glanced at Ukitake, who was smiling warmly back, and then down to the haori that had become his blanket. Toshiro sighed softly.

"Thanks," He murmured quietly, stripping the haori/blanket back and returning it to its owner.

"Are you feeling okay, Shiro?" Ukitake asked, accepting the haori and folding it on to his lap.

Toshiro nodded silently, although he looked like he was only just holding it together. Rangiku pushed herself off the floor and sat back down on Toshiro's other side. She rubbed his back, and braced herself for the conversation that they were about to have. This had been a life altering moment for them; they were no longer captain and lieutenant, they were son and mother. She remembered back to the meeting when Toshiro had begun to panic upon finding out he was Gin's son, so she as unsure how he would feel about her being his mother.

He turned to look at her, his face emotionless and unreadable like it always was when he didn't want someone to know how he was truly feeling.

"You're my mother," He said, his voice soft but expressionless.

"And you're my son," She replied gently, giving a hint of smile.

Rangiku was still rubbing his back soothingly. He hadn't pushed her away or flinched at the contact, which was good news, because he rarely liked being touched as it was, and apparently this news hadn't broken his trust in her.

"What do we do?" He whispered, looking down at his lap while his hands played idly with the knot of his obi.

She wasn't sure what he meant by that; did he mean how were they going to work together, or perhaps he was confused as to how he was supposed to act around her now? She prayed it wasn't a question of how can they go back to how they were before. Rangiku didn't want to go back; she had a son now, and he was her little captain that she'd always cared for. She wanted to make up for lost time, and take her son into her arms and just hold him, just as she should have been doing for the last hundred years or so.

"You figure this out together."

All eyes turned to the doorway, where the Head Captain himself stood in all his power and glory. The long-sleeved haori swayed gently in the slight breeze of the open ended hallway and he held his staff-disguised zanpakuto in his two hands.

"Lieutenant Kuchiki," Yamamoto called gruffly as he entered the office and slowly came to stand in front of Rangiku and Toshiro, "Did you get in contact with the Kurosaki family?"

"Yes, Sir," Rukia nodded sharply as Yamamoto groaned lowering himself to sit on Rangiku's favourite sleeping couch, "Ichigo said it will be fine."

Yamamoto nodded his silent thanks and turned his attention to the two Squad Ten leaders, who sat silently staring with wide bug-eyes opposite him. Rangiku could not recall a time when the Head Captain had ever visited their division. In most cases, if he wanted to see one of them, they were summoned to his division.

"Captain Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Matsumoto," The old man sighed, pouring himself a cup of tea from the pot Rangiku hadn't even realised was on the coffee table between them, "I am very sorry to hear about the actions taken against you by Central Forty-Six. I promise you that I will do my very best to ensure nothing like this ever happens again. The law is unjust."

"Thank you, Sir," Rangiku bowed her head; at least he was on their side.

"The meeting to decide the outcome for Central Forty-Six has been temporarily postponed until further information is gathered," He informed them, "Until then, Yoruichi Shihoin has been asked to stay in the Seireitei to help. I understand that you may be mad at her, but I cannot punish her for simply doing her job. Your anger should be directed at Central Forty-Six, for it was under their orders that she operated."

Toshiro remained silent and impassive as ever. Rangiku clenched her jaw but stayed quiet; she was, after all, lucky to have been let off for attacking the former captain in the meeting hall.

"In the meantime," Yamamoto continued, sipping on his tea, "We have organised for the both of you to take a week's leave in the Human World. You two need a break from your duties, and time to sort out what this revelation will mean for your relationship. The Kurosaki's will house you for the week, and I am sure your former captain will look after the both of you in that time."

"You want us to go to the World of the Living?" Rangiku asked.

"Indeed, Lieutenant," The old man answered, "I think you both need to leave the Soul Society while we sort this out. Do not fret, there are many here with your best interests at heart, and they'll represent you at the meetings to the best of their abilities."

Rangiku glanced around the room to find her four friends nodding encouragingly to them. She nodded back, silently thanking them and showing her trust in them. Kyoraku and Ukitake held a lot of power as two of the most senior captains, and they'd have a heavy swing on the opinions of others.

"You may leave whenever you're ready," Yamamoto said, placing his now empty tea cup back onto the coffee table, "The Senkaimon will drop you inside the Kurosaki home, where your gigais await you. You will not have to go through Urahara's basement today."

Rangiku and Toshiro thanked him quietly. The old man nodded in return before slowly pulling himself up with the help of his staff, groaning loudly once again, and waddling over to the door. Toshiro suddenly wiggled out of his spot between Rangiku and Ukitake and quickly slid over to the Head Captain before he could open the office door. Yamamoto looked down at the young boy questioningly. The little prodigy opened his mouth to say something before promptly closing it again, seemingly undecided on how to say whatever it was that he was trying to.

"Sir, I – um – Are you…or them maybe, I – like Kurotsuchi said…" Toshiro stumbled on his words, obviously very unsure of himself and nervous too.

"Captain Hitsugaya, what do you need?" Yamamoto asked, placing a hand on the boy's narrow shoulder.

"Are you going to have me executed?" Toshiro blurted out quickly, his eyes wide and his voice a little shaky, "Or Matsumoto?"

The occupants of the room all stiffened in shock and horror. Rangiku's mouth went dry. No, they couldn't…they wouldn't…

Yamamoto frowned sadly, before pulling the boy to him, engulfing him in what was surely a rather warm embrace. From her seat on the couch, Rangiku could see her son's tiny hands clutching onto the old man's robes, his face buried in the dark folds. She knew that Toshiro saw the Head Captain as a grandfather-type figure, but also knew that some of that trust had been lost during the whole Kusaka incident. She could see where the boy's question had come from; it wouldn't have been the first order for his execution. Yamamoto must have realised it too, if they look of regret on his face was anything to go by.

"Of course not," The old man whispered as he stooped as low as possible to Toshiro's height, "I have let you down in the past, but I swear to you, Toshiro, that neither you nor your mother will be harmed. Your jobs will still be here when you return next Monday, and I promise that I will never let anyone hurt you again. Do you understand, Toshiro?"

The small captain nodded, but did not let go. Yamamoto held him tightly before finding Rangiku's eyes and silently calling her over. Rangiku stood, making her way over to them, and placing her hands gently on her son's shoulders. Slowly she pulled him towards her and out of the Head Captain's embrace.

"Thank you, Sir," Toshiro whispered, as the elder captain ruffled his hair and turned to leave.

Rangiku continued to hold the boy by his shoulders as several beats of silence past following Yamamoto's departure.

"Rukia and I will help you pack," Nanao offered gently, and Rangiku turned to see Rukia nodding enthusiastically.

"Pack for me, Matsumoto," Toshiro murmured, shaking out of her old and walking towards the office door, "I will organise the squad to operate without us for the week. We'll leave from here in one hour."

The small boy didn't look back, slipping through the door way and vanishing down the corridor.

Rangiku sighed, she knew the signs of her captain closing himself off but she would not let it happen again. Once they were in the World of the Living, she would become his mother and they would have the relationship they were supposed to have.

…

Well…

Firstly, I know you're all gonna be like 'You've written Yoruichi horribly! She's not that weak!' YASS I agree, I have done that, so ooops, but no – in all seriousness, of course she could have easily caught baby Tosh again, BUT she was in complete shock that a toddler tapped into his powers at such a young age and tbh, she didn't really want to catch him since she had no intention of killing him anyway. I hope this clears things up there and LONG LIVE QUEEN YORUICHI xoxo

I'm super nervous, but please please PLEASE REVIEW xx