Understanding II: School Daze (Bleach Fanfic)

Cram School

"Toshiro... did you finish the homework for school?" Karin's comment caused the white haired preteen to look at her. Her arms were crossed and she almost looked smug as she did this.

The small, white haired boy turned towards her while his lip twitched. Facing the others after he finished at the shrine did not at all feel comfortable. "Oh shit."

Yuzu suddenly raised a hand to her mouth. "We're at a shrine! You shouldn't use such language!"

"I don't see a problem with it!" Isshin suddenly laughed with his hands behind his head.

"That is because you also don't see a problem with playing dominoes with gravestones," Ichigo muttered. He grabbed Toshiro by the shoulder. "How much of the school work did you get done?"

"I think... none of it..." came the reply. Two teal eyes refused to look either of the girls in the eyes.

"Toshiro. I told you... if you needed some help with school work you need only to ask," Karin muttered. "What is it with boys anyways?"

The small taicho turned to look at her. His face twisted up in a hurt fashion. A lot of what he wanted to say in truth would likely turn Karin against him. "No comment."

"Well... Karin and I can help you when we get back to the house," Yuzu smiled. "We both have finished ours already."

"So... are you ready to accept help now?" Karin stood with her arms folded along with a rather stern look on her face.

Toshiro's face paled at this. "I didn't need her help before 'because' I can very well do it myself. This is majorly embarrassing."

"Look. I'll help Toshiro finish. I mean... I've also finished my work." Ichigo grabbed the small taicho's shoulder and guided him away from the two girls.

"Hold it. Toshiro's in our class. We've already done the school work, Ichi-nii!" Karin began to protest her brother's decision much to Toshiro's dismay.

"Actually..." Isshin spoke up. "It's a school night and you two should be getting to bed as soon as possible. I would rather your brother help Toshiro out."

"But Toshiro gets to stay up," came Yuzu's protest.

"He's staying up to finish school work, not because I am letting him have fun. If he hadn't procrastinated on his homework he would be going to bed early, just like the two of you," Isshin gave the boy a look.

"Going to bed at an elementary school student time..." Toshiro found Ichigo slapping a hand over his mouth.

"Be glad I am the only one who heard you Toshiro," Ichigo was rather irritated with the small taicho. "Even if you are a captain, with the fact you're still growing, you really need to get as much sleep as possible, if you want to be healthy."

"I would rather take a nap," Hitsugaya muttered firmly.

"You do realize that most kids don't like nap-nap time?" Ichigo commented dryly.

"You've heard the saying, children who sleep well, grow well," came the retort.

"You really think backwards, you know that," the teenager sighed suddenly having Yuzu pop up beside him.

"Whats you and Toshiro-kun talking about, Ichi-nii," the small girl asked.

"Nothing..." both boys stated, getting guilty looks on their faces. Karin caught onto this look, without them realizing.

M

Stepping into Kurosaki Ichigo's room Hitsugaya Toshiro felt a great weight on his shoulders as he glanced at the desk. He paused in the doorway only to have the substitute soul reaper push on by him. He watched as the the teenager walked over to the desk and began to glance through everything. Toshiro felt the need to speak up. "You don't need to help me you know."