Title: Always Two

Genre: Reflection

Characters: Ichigo, Toshiro, Bambietta

Summary: There are snide comments made about Ichigo's zampaktuo. Takes place after the war and tenth division is the way it used to be.

Rating: K+

Notes: At least one person has told me that the "from the shadows" thing surprised them. I recently discussed something with by brother involving the zampaktuo arc and how Ichigo's attack was no longer tainted black once he separated from dark Zangetsu. People thought this was a mistake on the part of the Animators just as they thought it was a mistake for Soifon to refer to the first division fukutaicho as having a captain level zampaktuo. I have a theory behind why tenth is still around despite recent changes but I'm not going to be able to go into that one in this one-shot.

Always Two

Ichigo walked through the tenth division to visit the small shinigami he had come to see as a younger brother. As he passed by a couple of shinigami he over heard them speaking. "Did you hear about the substitute shinigami?"

"I heard that he's Shiba Isshin's son and that's where the previous taicho disappeared too."

"Does he take after his father or his father's twin? He does look like his uncle before he died."

The other female waved her hand. "No, no. While he's cute like his uncle his powers are wind based like his aunt and his hair is orange. Plus, rumor has it his powers are tainted black by the fact he's like those captains that came back before this mess with the Quincy."

"Actually... my hollow side isn't like Shinji and the others because I was actually born with it as my mother was attacked by a hollow before I was born that was pretty much black from head to toe." Ichigo scratched his head.

"He does look like him but with orange hair!" The one that had been gossiping about his powers eyes suddenly turned wide and her hands clasped together causing the orange haired teen to frown, the behavior confusing him.

The other girl also developed a blush on her cheeks and stammered out what she wanted to say. "But wouldn't that explain why your powers are black?"

"If that were true then my powers would still be black when the other Zangetsu was pulled out by Muramasa leaving the Hollow Zangetsu inside of me. No... the fact my wind based powers are tinted black comes from my other Zangetsu."

Both of the female shinigami became existed. "You mean Shiba-dono has a dual zampaktuo!"

"That is so amazing!"

"My last name is Kurosaki, not Shiba. My father took my mother's name."

"But still! A dual zampaktuo spirit!"

"Only two others have ever done that!"

One of the female's paused. "But wait... why's your abilities tainted black?"

"I think that's the Quincy side of my blood line." The two females looked at him in horror. "What? I would assume that if those rumors are going around about me that people would also be talking about how my mother was also a Quincy." The two continued to stare at him. "Look... where's Toshiro?"

"Captain Hitsugaya?"

"He's been ranting and raving in his office."

"That's where the rumors are coming from."

"Oh... great. He's having a problem shutting up." Ichigo stepped to the side and around just in time to hear a loud sound from the office. Letting out a deep sigh he headed over and opened the door just in time to find himself hit by a pillow. Pulling it away he saw a rather distraught child captain staring right at him. He then watched as Toshiro ducked behind the couch. "What is going on?"

The boy swallowed as the orange haired teen looked around the room, scratching his head. "So... you know who my dad is?" No answer. Ichigo's eyes settle on the boy. "Do you know about me having a hollow?"

"It..." The child's mouth clamped shut.

"As well as the fact my powers are tainted."

It was then Toshiro's cheeks reddened and puffed out as if he had gotten his hand caught in the cookie jar. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"Apparently you were ranting and raving, so the entire division knows."

The boy opened his mouth then shut it. "Obviously they only heard parts of the conversation." Toshiro then moved away, glancing at the door as if he wanted to dart away.

"Toshiro...

"It's..." The boy paused. "As if I deserve that title. You honestly..."

"Shut up."

The words came out of the boy's mouth quickly. "You're his son. Not to mention I lost my Bankai for awhile and the fact... there is no way the two of you could..."

Ichigo looked at the ground. Placing hands behind his head he looked at the boy. "You know... it's not tainted because of my Hollow. My hollow is... it's a bit odd."

"But that's what's so amazing about you!" The admiration came out before the boy blinked a couple of times. "Wait? It's not tainted because of the Hollow?" The boy glanced at the ground. "Well... still. You and those taicho are pretty cool with their Hollow side. You've got both Shinigami and Hollow, right?"

"Umm..."

"At least..."

Toshiro stopped when someone came through the door behind Ichigo, crashing into the orange haired teen. The boy tensed up. Ichigo peered over his shoulder to see the violet haired Quincy behind him. She looked up at him with violet eyes. Something about the eyes were oddly familiar as she narrowed them in a rather stern look. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Toshiro. What exactly are you doing here? You're one of the Quincy. I thought you guys were still working on getting into good terms with the Shinigami."

The female simply glared at him as if she felt he was stupid as well as annoying. She then turned to look towards the small taicho and before barging past Ichigo. The orange haired teen looked to over to see Toshiro tense up even more, his mouth dropping. The girl placed her hands on her hips. "Why are you avoiding me?"

Ichigo pointed a finger at her. "Toshiro, what's going on."

"Nothing I want you or my former taicho to know!" The boy's voice strained.

"Excuse me? You don't want them to know? You make it sound as if your relationship with me is something horrendous."

"What is the relationship between you two other then... well, you guys being enemies."

"We're not enemies!" The girl turned with her hands on her hips.

"There is no relationship between the two of us!" The boy's eyes went wide and his hands waved in the air indicating that something was agitating him.

"There..."

Ichigo interrupted, holding up his hand as he did so. "Hold on. I want to know why Toshiro was ranting and raving about me and my dad earlier."

The small female walked over to the orange teen and started to shove him out of the room. "Out!"

"Hey! Toshiro was ranting and raving about the fact my powers are tainted by a hollow as if there is something wrong with that."

"There isn't anything wrong with that." Toshiro blurted the words out.

The girl turned to glare at Toshiro, her mouth twisting into a deep frown. "There isn't anything wrong with that but there is everything wrong with me?"

Ichigo watched as the two bristled. "Toshiro... what exactly were you ranting and raving about."

"I..." The boy glanced at the ground. "You and those other taicho who came back are really cool for being able to control your Hollow sides, and taicho... well, taicho..." There was a pause then. "I just don't want you or taicho to know."

"So its not that we don't need to know, its that you don't want us to know?" Ichigo shook his head. "Sheesh."

Suddenly the small female was hurrying behind the couch causing Toshiro to run to the other side. They kept going back and forth until the girl finally snapped some words out. "What is wrong with us being siblings?" Toshiro froze, causing her to run into him causing both to crash to the floor. "You idiot!"

The orange haired boy frowned. "Toshiro... what did you want me not to know? That she is your sibling or that you're part Quincy?"

"The first of course." The female rolled her eyes.

The small taicho's hand twitched as he lay on the ground. "Kurosaki..."

"You know how annoying my siblings can be at times."

"That's not..." Toshiro tried sitting up, causing the female to tumble off.

Ichigo glared at the boy. "Then it's because you're also part Quincy."

"Yes. The fact I'm also part..." The boy stared at the older boy. "Wait... you're part Quincy?"

"My attack is actually colored black because my mother was a Quincy."

The small female blinked a couple of times before holding up her hand and shrugging. "Sure... blame it on the Quincy side of you and not the Hollow. Both of you are complete jerks."

"I know it's from the Quincy side because it is attached to Old Man Zangetsu who looks like Juhabach." Ichigo watched as Toshiro's eyes went wide.

"So you and taicho don't mind me being part Quincy?"

"No..." The orange haired teen scratched his head. "Toshiro... who all knows that she's your sister."

The boy held up his hands. "Ichimaru..."

"Papa..." The girl rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Matsumoto..."

"Mama..."

"The head captain..."

"The old pervert..."

"Ukitake...

"The sick pervert..."

Toshiro's cheek twitched. "Ukitake is not a pervert!"

"Funny how you didn't say he isn't sick."

"That's because he is physically ill you moron." The boy's shoulders tensed up. "He isn't a pervert."

"Funny... I thought he wanted to do you."

Toshiro's cheeks suddenly flushed red. His fists then clenched. "You wonder why I am avoiding you and yet you say things like that."

"Ukitake actually likes females... so if he's actually interested in your age range he would be interested in you and not Toshiro."

"What about your sisters!" The small taicho turned to Ichigo, his face twisted up in a manner that made it clear that he was horrified at the idea.

"Well, no... they're his nieces just like he considers all of Uncle Kyoraku's nephew and nieces as his nephew and nieces."

"Ah..."

"Wait... you're saying that he would be interested in little girls instead of little boys."

"So would you stop saying...

"He is kind of cute..." The small female stated, placing a finger on her mouth. "He's also a powerful captain so our babies would be powerful as well. Good genetics."

"You... you... you..."

"You is a sound." The girl turned to look at him. She then pointed a finger at Toshiro, a smirk on her face. "He is some much fun to mess with!"

"Sorry Toshiro, but your sister is enjoying torturing you mentally. And to be honest I know exactly how much fun that can be."