Our Family: Chapter 2 – Our Home

The small apartment was nice and quite when they got there and they found everything that they needed, Urahara having planned ahead so that they wouldn't have to worry about the things they would need. This included the jobs lined up for them, their new identities as mister and missus Kagaya. Toshiro opened up the cupboards. "What would you like for dinner Karin?"

"I don't care really. This is a really nice place for us to start out, all things considered."

"They could still possibly find us, so we have to be careful to hide our rieatsu. Urahara's provided those things as well. We also don't have to start our jobs for a couple of days." Toshiro set about cooking the meal, not speaking as he did so. He stopped short, looking up at Karin. "You're not going to miss your family... our family are you?"

"Not really. Yuzu's gotten to the point she doesn't pay attention to me anymore despite the fact we're twins. Dad is a horrible parent, something I hope I am never like. I actually hope to be more like my mother. As for my brother... he's been going off and leaving us with Kon, so there is nothing to miss." Karin paused. "This said, Ichi-nii is the one most likely to mess this up for us."

"What do you mean?"

"He's going to kill you, you know."

"Yes. I know."

"He won't stop until he finds us."

"Yes... he will."

Karin turned to look at Toshiro. "You don't know my brother that well, do you?"

"I completely expect him to be furious about us for this stunt we've pulled, but I also see him being the most understanding as well as making attempts to make sure we're not found out. He's the one most likely to find us though. He's stubborn like that."

"I don't see it that way, but I don't want to argue with you." They ate dinner and then headed to bed. After a couple of days they went to work. Karin had a job at a floral shop while Toshiro went to work at a cafe. Things continued going well for a couple of months, until Karin started not feeling well. Toshiro of course insisted that she go and see the doctor and she came back.

"So... did he put you on flu medicine."

"Nope."

"Stupid doctor, not treating his patients."

"I got a lecture about us being to young to be on our own despite parental permission to do so. And no Toshiro. I don't have the flu."

The white haired youth looked up at him. "Then what?"

"You're going to be a father." Karin watched as he fell out of the chair before standing up, his face pale. "Whatever is the matter?"

"I... nothing." There came a pause. "No... I never knew my parents, so I can't say that I know how to act like a parent. You're lucky in that regard."

"You don't have anyone you looked up to as a role model."

"Role model... yes. But parent? He was the last person who should ever be a parent."

"Who?"

"My former taicho. I'd rather not talk about him. He went off one day, forsaking his duties and never came back. Left me in charge of the division because I'd managed to learn Bankai. He was also a freakin idiot. No... I don't want to talk about him." Toshiro paused. "One thing is for sure... I won't let anything happen to her. Not if I can help it."

"What if it is a boy?"

"It's a girl."

Karin laughed. "I have the feeling it is going to be a girl as well. I want to name her Miyuki."

"And what if she has your looks instead of mine Karin?"

"That's why Miyuki. Deep snow I think covers both."

Toshiro nodded his head and remained silent. "We'll need things for the baby."

"Yes. We will."

They decided upon a home birth due to the fact they didn't wish to draw to much attention from Soul Society by having the child in a hospital. This meant that they had gone ten months roughly without Soul Society's attention being drawn to them. Despite the misconception that things would be bad, they couldn't help but think that things might actually turn out all right. Toshiro waited outside of their bedroom and finally found himself allowed into the room.

Stepping forward he saw that the baby had his white hair and he took a deep breath as he stepped closer to his wife. "Congratulations Mr. Kagaya... it is a girl."

"This is Miyuki. Miyuki... this is your papa Toshiro."

Toshiro felt the babe placed into his arms and watched as she opened her eyes. He let out a laugh. "She has your eyes Karin."

"She's going to look more like you then me I think."

"Possibly... but she has your beautiful eyes." Toshiro sat down on the edge of the bed.

Things progressed in an easy manner from there on out for the next two years. Despite the fact they had heard babies were a pain to take care of, Miyuki was easy to care for. Karin kept joking that the girl had to take after her father and that he must have been an easy baby to care for, to which he replied he doubted it and that was why he had been given up and left all alone, his parents thought he was a horrible child.

He of course also told her that Miyuki was a wonderful angel and that perhaps they should have named her something along that lines, or a snow angel but Karin would only laugh and say that the name they had given her worked. The other thing that occurred for Toshiro was for him to have a growth spurt, making it so that he grew to finally be five feet. There was though always the feeling that something would go wrong.