The Two of Them, Feeling Depressed

"Ahem, the tea is almost ready!"

Tsuna might be okay with watching Toshiro's little antics, Ichigo Tsuna couldn't stand it. That's his sister! Toshiro, why are you always glancing at her like that?

Toshiro realized his little trick had been discovered, and somewhat embarrassed, he sat up straight again and politely said to everyone, "Please have some tea."

Masa smiled without saying a word. Of course, she saw through Toshiro and Ichigo's little scheme. She herself was a combination of a human and a Bleach, so Masa wasn't particularly opposed to this development. It wasn't even a hint yet, so she wasn't in a hurry to nip it in the bud.

At this moment Rangiku finally returned after beating up Isshin. After gulping down two glasses of water, she let out a long sigh of relief. It felt so good to vent all the frustration that had accumulated over the years and the past two days!

After getting to know Isshin's family as usual, Rangiku, with a resentful look on her face, questioned Isshin: "Tell me, why did you come back? I didn't expect my old captain to still remember the squad..."

"I was wrong, I was really wrong!" Having learned from his experience at the Shiba Clan, Isshin 'Dogeda (bowing apology) was very smooth.

"You..." Rangiku was at a loss for words when it Isshin scolding Isshin's sincere actions, so she turned to the captain for help, "Hachi, look at him!"

"Call me Captain Hitsugaya!" Toshiro said irritably. "You're not much better; I'm the one handling all the team affairs!"

After giving Rangiku a mild reprimand, Toshiro turned to Isshin, feeling a little embarrassed to embarrass him in front of Isshin's family. "Sit up, Captain Isshin. What are your plans for coming back this time?"

"Hehe, it's nothing, just taking my family back to Kūkaku, and also visiting the squad..." Isshin was always overjoyed, immediately beaming with a grin.

However, before Isshin could finish speaking, Rangiku interrupted him, complaining to Toshiro, "Captain! I knew the former captain didn't respect the Division at all! By the way, if he hadn't gone to Kūkaku Shiba's house, he probably would never have come back to the Division in his life!"

Toshiro sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. This Vice-Captain was no pushover either; he was only addressed as captain respectfully when needed.

Toshiro completely ignored Rangiku and continued, "Is Captain Isshin planning to return and take over the captaincy? I'm also preparing to train properly."

After these two encounters with Aizen, Toshiro realized how ridiculous his own strength was. If he could find Aizen's true form with his Zanpakuto like Captain-Commander Yamamoto, would Momo have been safe? Toshiro didn't know.

Even now, Momo Hinamori is still unconscious. Urahara Kisuke specially installed a room in the 10th Division to maintain Momo Hinamori's life, since Hogyoku Urahara hid the Momo Hinamori inside her body. However, Urahara did not expect Aizen's methods to be so drastic.

Whenever he saw his childhood friend, Toshiro could only attribute the reason for Momo Hinamori accident to his own lack of strength. If he could fully master the power of Hyōrinmaru, Aizen would definitely have no chance of escaping.

Now that Isshin was focused on returning to the 10th Division for a visit, Toshiro quickly made up his mind to leave all the 10th Division's affairs to Isshin so he could focus on his training and use Aizen's head to awaken Momo Hinamori.

But Isshin completely refused any work from Toshiro, waving her hands in refusal, saying, "No, no, no, I'm just back for a visit. I still have a family to support in the World of the Living, so I'm only back for two days."

"But you are the captain of the 10th Division. As long as you explain the situation to the Captain-Commander, the 10th Division can be returned to you. Captain Isshin, have you forgotten that captains also get paid?" Toshiro said earnestly.

"No, we still have to exchange Soul Society's money through that shrewd merchant Urahara, it's not worth it!" Isshin retorted, "Besides, strength can't be rushed. You're still young, why are you pursuing such great power?"

"No! There's no time left, I must avenge Momo!"

After Ichigo ear, Isshin and the others learned that Momo Hinamori had been beaten half to death by Aizen. Now Isshin could understand Toshiro's feelings. When he was still the captain, he had high hopes for the two kids.

"Toshiro ..." Isshin sighed. If Masa were in this situation, he would have made the same choice as Toshiro. "After I visit the Captain-Commander, we'll still have some time. Let's have a match."

Since he wasn't directly involved, Isshin couldn't persuade Toshiro to let go of his enemy, and he certainly wouldn't accept the position of captain of the 10th Division. So, the only thing Isshin could do was to guide Toshiro in his fighting skills.

Toshiro paused for a moment. He hadn't actually fought Isshin since he learned Bankai, and he had no doubt about Isshin's fighting ability. It would be great to receive guidance from Isshin.

"Thank you very much, Captain Isshin!" Toshiro said sincerely.

Isshin wiped his nose, a little embarrassed, and said, "Don't call me captain anymore. When I was here, you were the one managing the division. Now you're the captain of the 10th Division, so lead everyone forward!"

"Understood, Captain Isshin!"

Hearing that Toshiro still hadn't changed his title, Isshin chuckled and stopped worrying about it. The two captains of the 10th Division, past and present, officially passed the baton at this moment. With Isshin's approval, Toshiro no longer needed to emphasize his title as captain.

Without dwelling on Isshin's abrupt departure, and Isshin to Yixin's playful personality, everyone quickly became acquainted.

With Toshiro and Rangiku by his side, Isshin begins to take his family around the 10th Division barracks to visit old friends. Rangiku will occasionally crack jokes and tell Isshin stories from the past in front of the Kurosaki Residence.

During the dinner, Tsuna, who doesn't usually drink, quickly left his seat to take a nap in the corridor. It seems that his decision to persuade Isshin to come back was the right one; this warm feeling is really nice.

"Thank you so much, Tsuna." Rangiku sat down opposite Tsuna with a glass of wine in her hand. "The captain can finally smile again."

Since the Sōkyoku incident, Toshiro's expression has remained icy, much like the nature of his Zanpakuto. Rangiku's countless efforts during this time only earned her Toshiro's response. "Leave me alone."

If we say that Toshiro is the core of the 10th Division, whether it's administrative duties or the team's main combat strength Rangiku Toshiro more like the 10th Division's mother figure.

Rangiku has been with the 10th Division for a long time, longer than most of the members. She understands exactly what kind of mood a team needs at what time. She always teases her mature-beyond-her-years captain with her unpredictable antics, thus mobilizing the entire division's emotions. She is a crucial link in the 10th Division's cohesion.

However, Momo Hinamori Toshiro, so much so that even Rangiku couldn't comfort him. Fortunately, Isshin returned at that time.

"If you're not in there, Uncle Isshin will cause trouble," Tsuna said with a smile.

In the next room, Isshin was getting alcohol for the underage members of Soul Society. According to Isshin, Toshiro was over a hundred years old and had long reached the age where he should be drinking.

Without Rangiku's presence to keep things in check, the entire dinner party became Isshin's domain.

"Let him go. Captain Isshin has returned after a long absence." Rangiku smiled and took a sip.

Toshiro's willingness to let Isshin drink was partly a way for him to drown his sorrows. He had been extremely depressed these past two days because of Momo Hinamori's situation, but Toshiro wasn't the only one who was depressed.

"Thinking about Gin Ichimaru?" Tsuna suddenly asked, looking at Rangiku who was gazing at the moon.

"Cough cough..." Rangiku wiped the wine from the corner of her mouth, stubbornly denying it, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

The reason for the somber atmosphere in the entire 10th Division was not just the captain, but also the Vice-Captain in front of him. Although she kept trying to hide it and even tried to comfort Toshiro, she could not hide the somber aura emanating from her.

"Gin Ichimaru, I quite admire him." Tsuna, ignoring Rangiku was trying to hide it, said to himself, "I'll bring him back sometime. With his abilities, he shouldn't have died because of Aizen."

Knowing that Gin Ichimaru's true Bankai ability, Tsuna wouldn't easily let him be killed by Aizen. With Gin Ichimaru's Shinsō, as long as he plays it safe, he can definitely take down one person reliably when facing the Wandenreich.

Rangiku stared at Tsuna, her face flushed, whether from the alcohol or from thinking of Gin Ichimaru, she couldn't tell. She didn't know how Tsuna knew about her relationship with Gin Ichimaru. Now that Gin Ichimaru had defected, as the Vice-Captain of the 10th Division, she had to bury this feeling deep in her heart.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine." Seeing that Rangiku didn't reply, Tsuna stood up, stretched, and prepared to leave.

Tsuna didn't know if his words would have any effect on Rangiku, but he hoped that the two Vice-Captain of the 10th Division could get rid of their depressed mood after today.

Watching Tsuna's retreating figure, Rangiku gritted her teeth, determined to ask him how much he knew and the real reason for Gin Ichimaru's Tsuna.

From beginning to end Rangiku never believed that Gin Ichimaru was in cahoots with Aizen. As far as she knew Gin was concerned, he would never care about the so-called Bleach boundary!

"Yo! Tsuna, you've been hiding here!"

Just as Rangiku made up her mind, Isshin walked out, reeking of alcohol, and put all his weight on Tsuna 'Tsuna shoulders.

"Quick, Hachi and Ichigo are both exhausted, come on! Keep your uncle company and have some fun! Have a drink!"

Isshin's words implied that he had gotten Ichigo and Toshiro drunk, leaving Tsuna speechless. Was this shameless old man even behaving like a human being?

Toshiro is at least a hundred years old, yet he could do this to Ichigo, a minor. Can't Masa- san do something about it?

"Uncle, you're already drunk. You should find a room to rest." Tsuna advised.

"Drunk? I'm not drunk! I'm happy! I can drink!" Isshin said, hiccuping. He had finally managed to persuade Masa and his two daughters to leave. If he didn't have enough fun this time, he wouldn't have this kind of opportunity again after returning to the World of the Living.

"Huh? Aunt Masa?"

Tsuna's words sent a chill down Isshin, and he quickly turned around to explain, "Masa, I didn't..."

Where was Masa? Even the confused Isshin realized he'd been tricked by Tsuna, and turned around to Tsuna.

Watching Isshin and Tsuna struggle, Rangiku smiled from the bottom of her heart. It had been a long time since she had felt so relaxed.