Ichigo groans as he wakes up and stretches his arms over his head. His alarm still going off in his head. "Damnit." Then he stands and walks to his closet to get his clothes. "I hate this damn job."
"Ichigo!"
"I'm up."
The door opened and Orihime popped her head into the door of the bedroom she now shared with Ichigo. "Hey you don't need to put your work clothes on. I doubt that you will be going to work today."
Blinking over at her he arched an eyebrow. "What are you talking Orihime?"
"Get out here Ichigo."
Hearing the voice of Toshiro Hitsugaiya made him frown. "Give me a sec hold your horses." Then he pulled out a pair of jeans and t-shirt then headed out of the bedroom only to stop and go wide eyed. It wasn't just Toshiro. Byakuya, Kenpachi, and Juushiro were there as well. "What's up guys?"
Toshiro, who had reached a growth spurt recently now stood eye to eye with Ichigo, stepped forward. "Where are your sisters Ichigo?"
"Yuzu and Karin? Last I heard they were living on campus for Tokyo University. Why?" His eyes narrowing.
Orihime came up next to Ichigo with a smile. "I got ahold of Karin. She and Yuzu were on their way home to visit for a while. They should be here later. I told them I had a surprise for them so they are going to stop by here before going home to see Isshin."
Rangiku smiled and gave Orihime a thumbs up. "Thank you so much!"
With a serious look that was so unlike her, Orihime quirked her head to the side. "Why does the soul society have a sudden interest Karin and Yuzu?"
Turning his back on her Byakuya crossed his arms. "That is not for you to know. Only the family of the girls may be privy to that information. I must ask you to leave while we talk to Ichigo."
Ichigo put an arm around her waist with a glare for Byakuya. "She is family to them. Or have you all forgot that Orihime and I were married last year?"
"I remember. However she is not blood related to them in any shape or form."
"She stays."
Juushiro sighs as he steps between them. "In any event Byakuya. She is married to the Kurosaki family and there for is part of the family now. Go on Toshiro."
Nodding Toshiro turned to Ichigo. "We have gotten word that Aizen is on the move again and this time he is targeting your sisters."
Ichigo and Orihime gasp as their eyes go wide. Orihime casts her eyes down remembering her time being held in Hueco Mundo. But it was the slight shake in the arm that tightened around her waist that drew her out of it. She turned and placed a hand to Ichigo's chest. "Ichigo?"
"What the hell does that bastard want with Karin and Yuzu?"
This time it was Juushiro that spoke. "We don't know. All we know is that a Soul Reaper that encounted all of you when you went to save Orihime from him managed to get out of Hueco Mundo and went straight to Captain Yamamoto with his information."
"So who all else is here? Something like this, I can't believe that just the five of you came here without anyone else."
Rangiku nodded as she looked out the window. "Oh we brought nearly the whole gang with us. Yumichika, Ikkaku, Izuru, Yachiru, Renji, Rukia, Shuhei. Oh and Kuukaku sent Ganjo and of course our friends from Urahara's. And that also includes Yoruichi and Soi Fon."
Orihime laughed as with each name Rangiku said Ichigo's head dropped farther and father down. "Everyone is back together then."
Looking at her from the side he half smiled. "You do know that most of them will want to stay here with us right?"
"Yep. Looks like I better dig out some extra blankets huh." Then Orihime found herself on the floor with Rangiku hugging her.
Rangiku tackles the girl with a big smile. "I knew you wouldn't make us stay at one of those ghastly hotels or that stinky old shop. And I have missed your cooking so much!"
Ichigo covers his face with a sigh. "You know she doesn't cook like that anymore. With the relatively calmness we've had for the last six years you guys haven't been around a whole lot except for a few of you at the wedding last year."
On her feet with her face in Ichigo's now Rangiku glared. "Don't you dare tell me that she doesn't make those wonderful meals anymore! I swear if you changed how she cooks I will beat the hell out of you. You don't know how excited I got thinking about her meals when Captain told me we were coming!"
Orihime stood and smiled as she put her hands behind her back. "I learned a lot of different ways to cook Rangiku. But I can still make something like I use to for you if it means that much to you."
Again the lieutenant assailed the young woman with a flattening hug. "At least someone here cares about me!"
Leading the rest of the guys outside they left the two girls there in the house as they went outside. About half way down the stairs it was Toshiro who spoke. "I swear Ichigo I don't know how you can put up with all that."
"She isn't like that normally anymore. Like I said we hardly see each other anymore. She has matured a lot since the last time you all saw her. And if I am wrong correct me but wasn't it your lieutenant that was causing the scene not my wife?"
"Tch." Then Toshiro stomped off on downstairs. "In any event, I have been put in charge of guarding your twin Karin. Shuuhei is in charge of Yuzu."
"How did you get stuck babysitting?"
Out of nowhere though it was Rangiku who was once again in Ichigo's face but this time with a smile. "That was my doing. I told Captain Yamamoto that he played a soccer game with her before, and that he was the first Soul Reaper that she ever saw other than you of course. And he put her in charge of Karin."
Rubbing the back of his neck he sighed. "How did Shuuhei get Yuzu?"
"Not the slightest idea."
X
Orihime watched from the top window with a mile as Ichigo and the others talked. It looked like old times downstairs. Except she knew that it wasn't. They were in their early twenties and this news about Aizen coming after Karin and Yuzu couldn't have come at a worse time than it has. 'I don't know how to tell him now. He is going to be stressing over the safety of his sister, rightfully so too. So how do I add more stress to that by telling him I am pregnant?'