Of Birthdays and Siblings

Luncheon

Toshiro found his uncle waiting for him outside of the room to help him get to the dining room. The man placed a hand on his head and carefully rubbed the tresses before they headed off. When they got to the table, Toshiro found himself blinking a couple of times upon seeing the long table and Bambietta waiting for the meal to start.

Juhabach glanced up and glanced at his younger son. "I wish to speak to you about that matter after lunch."

"I've told you before that I do not agree with your assessment or what you plan on doing. You know why."

Toshiro sat down and Bambietta glanced up with a smile on her face. Their grandfather turned to them. "How was the day for you two."

The man clapped his hands and the meal was beginning to be served. The atmosphere had a stuffy feel to it that was suddenly broken by his sister's comment. "Toto-chan makes a very pretty girl."

Toshiro found himself looking up at his grandfather, a bit fearful of how a man would react. His uncle was also looking at the man to see how he would react. The man had a rather amused look on his face. "Excuse me?"

"Toto-chan played dress up with me with grandmother's clothing."

The small white haired boy felt his cheeks flush up and he found himself forced to look away from Juhabach. "I'm sorry?"

The man however let out a laugh. "You are a very strange, but interesting child. There is nothing to apologize for. I want you to make up for what you've missed when you were younger."

Toshiro found himself glancing up in confusion, when another man came into the room and taking a bow. The man looked right at him and Toshiro found himself suddenly looking away. The man had been someone who had been in the group with them. "I apologize for intruding, but a few of us who have seen... well, your grandson... we're wondering when you'll announce him to the whole of Vandenreich."

The small boy suddenly dropped the utensil and glanced up with a guilty look on his face. "I don't like being a problem for people."

Juhabach noticed the look on his face and waved him off. "You're not in trouble." He then turned back to the man. "Why do you ask?"

"We were wondering how we should address his highness as we don't even know his name and we can't yet address him properly in front of others for one thing."

"Don't worry, I'll announce it soon."

"Hitsugaya..." Toshiro spoke up without realizing it. "My name is Hitsugaya Toshiro and I would rather you simply call me Hitsugaya."

Juhabach let out a deep sigh. "We'll see about that. It isn't that simple." The man then paused. "You were addressed in the Gotei Thirteen as Captain Hitsugaya were you not?"

The untesil began to play with the food and the man next to the man blinked a couple of times. "Your highness was a captain of the Gotei Thirteen? Won't they notice that he is missing from their ranks? I mean, he is a captain after all?"

"Probably..." Toshiro let out a deep sigh. "Me being a captain isn't that big of a deal."

"Not that big of a deal?" Juhabach laughed. "You were the youngest to ever enter the academy, you graduated in a half a year, you're the second oldest to ever be fukutaicho and the youngest to have ever achieved Bankai and the youngest to ever become a child."

A small hand set the utensil down. He turned to look at the man. "If you have that information... that means you've been keeping an eye on me in Soul Society. If you knew where I was, then why didn't you try and retrieve me?"

Juhabach frowned. The look on his face wasn't angry, but it was obvious something was upsetting him. "We had information, but we couldn't move without Soul Society assuming we were kidnapping you rather then simply retrieving one of our own."

"Don't worry your highness. We won't let Soul Society force you away from your home." The one man said, before bowing and leaving the room.

Toshiro fond himself pausing at the statement before looking up at his uncle. "What exactly did he mean by that?"

"He probably thinks that Soul Society thinks of you as an important asset due to the fact you are a child genius."

"He isn't incorrect in assuming that Soul Society would consider you an asset, particularly if they felt they could hide your blood status as a Child of Darkness. Particularly the forty-six. You probably think favorably on the forty-six..."

"I don't your majesty." Toshiro stated, his tone taking a business like tone. "Even though there is a new regime and things are changing for the better, there hasn't been enough time to decide if the new one will right the wrongs of the past one or if they will also cover up things like that Vaizard, or..."

There came a pause that was interrupted by Bambietta. "Is something the matter Toto-chan?"

More silence came, and he stirred his food with the utensil. His uncle let out a coughing sound. "We are family, so we won't judge you."

"My friend during academy years also summoned Hyorinmaru, so we were both summoned in front of the forty-six so that we could duel to the death. I was willing to give up Hyorinmaru, but..." Toshiro paused, closing his eyes."

There was a silence and Bambietta was glancing around, confusion written all over her face. "What exactly is the matter. Grandfather and Uncle... you both look bothered by this."

Toshiro then glanced up. "Is there something I should know?"

Juhabach let out a cough. "You have a very special zampaktuo Toshiro. It was... well, you could say that your zampaktuo's mother was your grandmother's zampaktuo, or its grandmother even. The dragon zamapktuos are passed down through a family blood line,"

"Was Yamamoto grandmother's father? Was that why he let you go despite the fact he was likely ordered to kill you?"

Juhabach's face suddenly flared with anger, but it calmed when the man with the scar on his lip held up his hand to interfere. "Actually, he was her uncle and he is the grandfather of your mother. You do understand that despite the fact he is family, that his and his Majesties encounter was not a good one."

Toshiro glanced at the ground. "I'm sorry I brought it up."

"You're not in trouble. Don't bring his name up around here though. The younger generations don't know who he is, but there are people who have not forgotten the war."

"But I want to know about the other grandpa, uncle thingy." Bambietta stated.

Toshiro glanced up to see that his sister was picking at her food. "Grandpa, uncle thingy?"

"Well, he's our great-grandfather as well as our great, great-uncle."

Toshiro found himself frowning, before turning to look at Juhabach. "There is one thing I have to ask. If he knew that I was blood related to him because of my zampaktuo, why didn't he ever tell me?"

Juhabach's nostrils flared, but he kept his temper checked. "Possibly because he would have had to admit a lot of truths and even speak of things he doesn't want to talk about any more then we do. Subject is closed.