Okay so I don't know much about baby stuff so most of the information I'm getting on this is from the internet. Please forgive me for any discrepancies or whatever else I get wrong.
"Well everything seems fine." Yuzu said looking over the clipboard. She glanced at her sister-in-law with a smile. "All you have to do is take your prenatal vitamins and DHA supplements daily and everything should go fine."
"Thanks Yuzu," Rukia said with appreciation putting her hand against her stomach which was only slightly showing her current condition, she looked up at Yuzu curiously, "I didn't know you specialized with pregnancy?"
"I don't," Yuzu admitted sheepishly with a small smile putting the clipboard down, "In fact I really shouldn't be in this section of the compound at all since I'm in charge of trauma injuries this month. But when it comes to the care of my future niece/nephew, I believe I should be consulted on all issues." Rukia laughed at this before reaching for the medicine she was just given.
"Don't worry, next visit I'll get you the very best specialist on your case. Maybe even Unohana taicho will be willing to take a look."
"Oh don't bother her with me; I'm sure she has other things to worry about." Rukia carefully stepped back on the floor off the counter. "In fact, next time you should keep working instead of attending to me."
"Oh I'm on break right now, I was going to go bring Shuhei is lunch but then I remembered about your appointment so I came." The two girls walked out of the room and Yuzu quickly picked up a basket filled with food for lunch. As they kept walking several passer bys congratulated both girls on their respected surprises from a week ago. Rukia wasn't sure how new of her pregnancy came out, but the twin's engagement was the hottest topic spreading through the Soul Society. It wasn't everyday that a Capitan and Lieutenant of the Gotei 13 got married, and to the sisters of another Capitan. Yuzu beamed at every congratulation more than happy to reminded of her engagement.
"So Yuzu how is being an 8th seat treating you?" Rukia asked.
"I'm still not used to it." Yuzu said with a smile, "But I'm so thankful for the promotion. And what has Ukitake sensei said about your position now that you're pregnant."
"Well I was worried I would lose my lieutenant position, but you know Ukitake taicho he was more than willing to give me time off when I'm so fat I won't be able to move." Both girls giggled together at the thought, "Anyway, I better go off and check on your brother. He was so anxious this morning when I told him about the appointment, it was hilarious."
"Ah, Ichi-nii is just worried about you and the baby." Yuzu replied. Rukia nodded her head in understanding.
"Well I better get going, bye Yuzu!" Rukia called back as she continued out of the compound. Yuzu waved back until the older girl was gone before turning the other way towards the 9th squad.
"Since when did marrying your sister give you the right to disrespect a fellow Capitan, honestly Momo the only reason I didn't actually try fighting him was for Karin's sake." Toshiro walked alongside his childhood friend, the discussion had started innocently enough until the topic changed to his future brother-in-law. "I didn't want her to get upset seeing me beat up her brother."
"Is that so?" Momo asked with a quirky smile on her lips, Toshiro glared at her icily.
"What?" he snapped. Momo giggled giving him a side-glance.
"It's just that for some reason I don't think Karin would mind seeing her brother fight her fiancé. For some reason I think she'd actually enjoy it, so using that as an excuse well it makes it sound like you…," She looked down at him before quickly shifting her gaze forward, "Never mind."
"No, enlighten me." Toshiro said, "What exactly are you insinuating?"
"Fine, but you won't like it. I think you're avoiding a fight with Kurosaki taicho because you're afraid of losing and looking dumb in front of Karin." Momo suggested, Toshiro looked stunned at the statement.
"I…h-how, you think I'm afraid of him?" he asked wildly, Momo cocked her head before sending him a sly smile. "Momo!"
"Look, we all know he is probably stronger than everyone else in the Soul Society I mean he has defeated Kuchiki taicho, Renji, half of the members of squad 11…" she trailed off swirling her hands lightly.
"I can beat all of them too." Toshiro argued, he thought for a moment, "I just haven't had the chance to- I can't believe you doubt my abilities! I outrank you!"
"I'm just giving you my humble opinion."
"I thought best friends are supposed to be supportive."
"I am." She said honestly, "If you and Kurosaki taicho got in a fight I would be with you the whole time while in recovery at squad four." She smiled at his ensuing glare.
"This is why I hate talking to people."
"Oh cheer up; you know I was only joking. I'm just happy for some reason beyond my comprehension."
"Yeah, whatever." He grumpily replied, "It probably has to do with your new Capitan. I can see you're just smitten with him."
"You're right; he is just such a lovely and caring person. I couldn't ask for a better-"
"Less paperwork, right?" Toshiro interrupted flatly.
"So much less paperwork!" she said in relief, "I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that anymore. I don't know how you do it."
"Well you had double the work since you were filling in for a missing Capitan on your squad."
"And now I don't have to deal with any of it!" Momo exclaimed, "So would you like to come with me back to the compound."
"And deal with that stupid strawberry, hell no." Toshiro shook his head with a sigh, "Lately I've been getting glared at whenever I'm around him, and I miss being the one who gets to glare."
"I'm sure Rangiku is doing something she isn't supposed to right now." Momo offered helpfully.
"You're right; I think I'll yell at her. It'll make things seem normal again."
"Well I'm headed back to squad five, anything you want me to tell the aforementioned 'stupid strawberry'?"
"That he is an annoying jerk."
"Okay!" Momo replied pleasantly.
"Wait! I wasn't serious!" he panicked
"Aha, you are scared of him." She laughed and waved a goodbye as Toshiro scowled at her. He returned to his own squad, as soon as he entered the compound an unranked member gave him a file of paperwork. He sighed and begun looking through his workload on the way to his office.
"Rangiku!" he yelled not looking up as he headed to his desk already knowing she was doing something wrong. The red head popped up instantly from her slumber. She looked up at her Capitan momentarily before rubbing her head with a pout.
"Whatcha yellin at me for, I'm not doing anything wrong?" she complained nosily. As the white haired boy sat down he gave her a short knowing look. She matched it with her chin held high but soon caved in from the icy glare blasting from the teal eyes.
"Alright fine, I'll cough up and admit that I did it."
"Did what?"
"I dunno, whatever you just found out I did." She replied lazily laying back down on the couch. A vein popped on Toshiro's forehead.
"Rangiku!" he snapped, "Get back to work!"
"And how do you know I haven't finished it already?" Dead silence was met at her question, "I'll get right at it." She mumbled in a defeated tone. She got up before something fell to the floor next to her feet.
"Oh right I completely forgot about this!" she suddenly exclaimed turning to Toshiro while waving the letter, "Guess what this is?"
"Unless it's your resignation letter I'm not interested." He said dully.
"Ouch, someone is upset for just getting engaged. I suppose this has to do with Ichigo." She smirked and slipped the letter on his desk, "This might make you feel better."Toshiro paused in the middle of his writing and glanced at the letter, he then dropped the pen to grab for said letter.
"Wait, seriously?" he asked looking up at Rangiku who shrugged in return.
"From what I heard they sent the letter in today and that's the response to the very same letter."
"He really is insane." Toshiro muttered while still considering the envelope in his hand, he then blinked and looked up at her, "Why is it here though?"
"One of our men was on his way back to the Soul Society and was asked to deliver this. And so he left it to me to give to you to give to Karin and the rest of the bunch." She explained.
"Interesting, I'm half tempted to open it and read it myself for entertainment sake." He said tossing the letter back on his desk.
"Oh, we can do that! I know this way to re-seal letters so it looks like they were never even touched." She explained with enthusiasm.
"And why do you know such a strange technique?" he asked with raised brows.
"Duh! So that I can read other people's mail without them knowing."
"Like who exactly?"
"….I really need to get started on that paperwork, catch ya later boss!" and with that she rushed out of the room.
"RANGIKU!"
Shuhei Hisagi was a busy man. It was no surprise considering squad nine didn't have a Capitan so naturally the lieutenant would have to take on more duties. But if it were just that Shuhei wouldn't be complaining, unfortunately for the young man he also had become the editor for the Seireitei Communication. And each month he would have to publish a new issue discussing the news going around the Soul Society and somehow find a way to entertain his readers. He was positive it was the most useless and at the same time consuming job in the Seireitei.
Updating news once a month was not necessary, first of all nothing happened in the Seireitei. And if something that could be even slightly considered as news, like someone getting promoted, by the time it was printed out everyone already heard about it because there was nothing else to talk about.
And pleasing his audience with entertaining information was difficult to do because readers had a wide variety of tastes. Complaints filled his inbox all from the 11th squad wanting stories with intense violence. And then the very next day Unohana taicho would have a pleasant chat with him about glorifying the brutality of their jobs and effectively creeping him out enough never to touch the subject again. There was no pleasing shinigami.
Shuhei sighed as he finally finished a column someone else was supposed to do. He took a glance at the clock wondering if there was enough time from him to do some training. Usually daily training for high ranked officers wasn't necessary, they would of course improve on their skills and try to advance them once in a while but they were high ranking for a reason. But Shuhei had lately been training daily putting extra strain on his body; he had been trying to achieve bankai for quite a while now.
He would be lying if he didn't admit that he had aspirations to be Capitan. He really did want to become Capitan of squad 9 for quite a while, but who heard of a Capitan who hadn't achieved bankai yet. Shuhei also was still sore from the entire conflict with Aizen, especially concerning his old Capitan. He had barely been able to defeat Tosen and after that he could barely help anyone else in the fight. He clenched his fist at the thought, he had to get stronger.
Shuhei was interrupted from his thoughts as a sweet voice rang out from outside his office. He smiled immediately recognizing Yuzu's voice as she pleasantly conversed with the other members of his squad. He still couldn't believe he was getting married, it was a weird feeling. A nice one, but still strange.
"Hello Shuhei!" Yuzu opened the door smiling at him, "I hope you aren't too busy."
"I am, but I'd like to use you as a distraction." She giggled and walked over to him placing the basket on the desk. She took out several wrapped up dishes and carefully put them all on the table before turning to him.
"Eat up!" she said in a motherly tone. Shuhei looked down unsurely, he knew Yuzu's cooking was beyond fantastic but he wasn't sure whether eating till he was absolutely full was best right before training.
"The only way for you to get stronger is if you eat a full and healthy meal. So don't worry about that." She said in a knowing voice.
"It's like your reading my mind." He smirked and pulled her into his lap. Yuzu blushed complaining about both of them being too busy but she didn't physically protest.
"So any progress on this wedding thing?" he asked.
"To be honest I haven't had a chance to even think about it. I've been too concentrated on Rukia to do anything yet." Yuzu replied.
"How is she?"
"She is fine, her appointment went well. Ichigo is still being extra cautious with her though, it's so cute. Can't wait to see him when he finally gets to hold his baby."
"By then we will probably be married." Shuhei thought out loud. "That's not too far away if you think about it."
"Yeah, kind of scary." Yuzu said wrapping an arm around his neck to snuggle towards his chest. She sighed, "Things are moving really fast. It felt like just yesterday that I joined the academy. Now I'm getting married to the most wonderful man on the earth."
"Can't argue against that logic." Shuhei shrugged with a smile. She laughed and leaned in for a kiss before reaching for one of her dishes that happened to have soup filled in it.
"Now eat, I should probably head back to my squad." She said about to get up until she noticed he had a firm hold on her waist. "Shuhei."
"Feed me." He demanded motioning to the soup in her hands. Yuzu gave him a crazy look but he just grinned in return continued to look down at the soup. She placed the soup bowl back on the desk and dipped a spoon into the delicious smelling liquid hovering it near his lips.
"Say ah!" Yuzu commanded and as soon as he opened his mouth she splashed the soup right in his face. Laughing at the expression he had one she grabbed a napkin and dabbed his face were she had thrown the liquid.
"Your sister is having a bad influence on you." He said before pulling her in closer, Yuzu squeaked at the sudden close contact. "Time for some payback."
"I said I have to go…ah!" her lips were captured and any words she wanted to say were lost. Shuhei grinned against her lips feeling the heat from her cheeks; he could definitely deal with this for a lifetime.
Karin sat on the coach flipping through a magazine at Ichigo's house. She hadn't had a chance to talk to Rukia yet and wanted to ask her how the appointment went. It wasn't as if she was worried, but Karin still thought that the sooner she heard everything went fine the sooner she wouldn't have that nagging thought in her head. Suddenly the door bell rang loudly calling her attention. She got up and curiously went to look out the window wondering who it could be. All she could see was someone caring a large box masking the identity of its carrier. She opened the door.
"Tohsiro?" she asked finally seeing his spiky white hair over the top.
"Yeah, here." He responded pushing the box in her hands almost causing her to lose her balance. Karin steadied herself before sending him a confused look.
"What the hell is this?" she asked.
"A letter." He answered simply. Karin blinked at him as if he were crazy. She then dropped the box on the ground and with the ensuing thump sent him a glare.
"You call that a letter?"
"Well there are various other objects in there too. Like rocks, and old paperwork, some sake Rangiku tried hiding in my office…and then a letter."
"Stop giving me a look like this is normal when you show up giving me this."
"Look the letter is the important thing. I put in that other stuff to distract you long enough so I could get myself out of here before you open that letter."
"Why?" Karin asked scrunching up her nose.
"Trust me," he sighed, "You'll see when you open the letter."
"Why didn't you just give me the letter when I got home today?"
"Did you miss the part about me not wanting to be here when you open that thing?" Toshiro questioned with raised eyebrows, "Besides it's not just for you, it's for your whole crazy family." Karin stared at Toshiro with a suspicious look which he returned with a completely stoic one before cutting off connection. She kicked the box warily and when nothing happened she assumed it was safe.
"If that thing explodes, it'll only give Ichigo a reason to hate you more." Karin warned. Toshiro rolled his eyes before taking a quick look around the house.
"Speaking of your brother, is he here?"
"No, I'm the only one home." Karin answered.
"So no one else is home?" he clarified, Karin seemed to catch on quickly.
"Why? So you can make out with me without any restriction, that's cool." Karin commented smirking slightly at his flustered appearance.
"What, is wanting some affection from the person you are betrothed to so wrong?"
" You just made that sound romantic, like those crappy novels Yuzu reads and sobs over all the time. Toshiro, you my friend are far from romantic." Karin swiftly informed him as if dealing him a hard truth in his face.
"You seemed completely entranced the night I proposed." Toshiro said slyly with pride weaving in his voice. "I was pretty romantic then, don't you think?" Karin blushed but hid it well.
"That was cheesy romance and I felt sorry for you so I pretended that it struck a chord in my heart, but you're right things got really passionate when my brother almost chopped your head off."
"You want me to show you some passion right now?" he asked in a low voice with an evil smirk. Karin backed away smiling nervously.
"You stay away from me, Shiro-chan!" she mocked but Toshiro just inched towards her, "Ah stop!" she shrieked and ran back in the house as her raced behind her. Soon Toshiro managed to trap Karin against a wall turning her around to face him.
"Looks like I caught you." He whispered snaking an arm around her waist; she gave him an unimpressed look over.
"I let you catch me, don't get too cocky." Karin replied before pushing his chest away lightly and gripping his shoulders, "Just be lucky that I like kissing you or else I would have disappeared from your sight." She grinned until his lips brushed against hers. He eagerly kissed her opening his mouth slightly. She always liked the coolness of his lips against her skin, Karin pressed harder only so it wouldn't look like she had relinquished control. Toshiro broke off though and released his hold causing Karin to lean against the wall for support.
"How's that for passion?" he asked grinning stupidly. Karin eyed him still catching her breath, honestly she wouldn't have minded a few more seconds but she wasn't about to tell him that.
"Correction, that was lust." Karin retorted, Toshiro blushed furiously mouth open in shock.
"It was not!" he protested while Karin just laughed. A few seconds later the door opened with Rukia and Ichigo on the other side.
"Oh thank goodness you're here," Rukia said in relief rushing towards Karin, she then glared back at her husband, "I was afraid I would have to put up with him by myself for the rest of the day." Ichigo wasn't paying attention though and eyed Toshiro and Karin suspiciously.
"What were you two doing here alone?" he asked.
"Ichigo, they are engaged they can do whatever the hell they want." Rukia said with irritation.
"We were just talking." Toshiro replied coldly, he then turned to Karin who was about to yell at her brother with a smirk. "I'll see you later." Karin nodded, Toshiro pointed to the box reminding the girl to open it. But before he could open the door Yuzu came bursting through.
"Oh, I'm sorry Toshiro!" she said pleasantly with her ever present smile. The Capitan cringed slightly, but he had long ago given up the idea of any of the Kurosaki's calling him by his fully deserved title. Besides who could get mad at Yuzu?
"It's no problem, I was about to leave." He then walked outside, "Goodbye everyone." Yuzu watched him leave before closing the door shut and walking over to everyone else.
"You weren't home so I thought you would be here." Yuzu said to Karin before placing the basket she was holding on the table. After graduating the academy the twins decided to go for some semblance of independence by renting out a house together. Ichigo didn't like the idea but the house wasn't too far away so he agreed.
"Is that food I smell?" Ichigo asked leaning in to take a whiff of the basket's contents. Yuzu smacked him lightly on the head.
"It's for dinner, be patient!" she scolded. Karin smiled at her twin proud of her for adopting some violent tendencies.
"Yeah well I tried getting some paperwork done back at the compound but Kira finished it all already so I just hung out here knowing you wouldn't come home for awhile." Karin replied, "Ever since I got promoted to 5th seat Kira has been doing all the work for me. It's really great."
"He is probably just looking for a distraction," Rukia said softly, "I think he still might be sore with what happened with the Winter War and everything else."
"Well he better concentrate on his training rather than grunt work." Karin said, "From what I heard they are looking to fill in the empty Capitan seats soon." Everyone turned to Ichigo for confirmation.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that."
"You forgot?" Rukia asked incredulously.
"Have you been to a Capitan's meeting? Yamamoto taicho has a voice that puts deranged hallows to sleep. I can never pay attention to what we are doing." Ichigo complained. Rukia rolled her eyes not willing to put in the effort to try and argue with him. Karin decided she better open that box, or letter or whatever it was while everyone was here.
"I'm not reading it." Karin threw the letter on the table as if it had just burnt her skin. Rukia and Ichigo looked warily at it not wanting to open it either. Clearly printed on the cover was the name From: Isshin Kurosaki, To: My dear and ever growing family. Karin threw a glance at her sister, "Why don't you read it since you're the only one who seems to enjoy his company." But Yuzu shook her head.
"I would read it, but uh…" she trailed off turning red in the face.
"What?" Karin prodded.
"Well someone added in the message that Rukia was pregnant." Yuzu said bluntly, "So I really don't want to read it." Ichigo and Rukia's expressions paled. They were hoping to salvage a few months where they didn't have to hear Isshin screaming to the heavens in thanks and talking to the portable Mazaki poster he carried about their future grandchild. It was bad enough that they had to inform him of the weddings now to find an appropriate date to pick so that he could come. Ichigo and Karin seriously considered not telling their father but of course Yuzu wouldn't hear of it.
"This cannot be good." Karin sighed.
"Well who put that in the message?" Ichigo asked. Far away in the 6th squad compound a red-headed lieutenant snickered sinisterly until his Capitan threw a book at his head. Rukia shrugged and turned back to problem in front of them.
"Well we have to read it. So someone just get it over with." Rukia declared. Ichigo raised his eyebrows at Rukia before pushing the envelope towards her.
"Fine then you read it." He smirked as she was taken aback at the suggestion.
"It's a family matter, I can't pry in on this." She said trying to excuse herself. When everyone stared quietly at each other Karin finally snapped.
"Fine, I'll do it." Karin scowled grabbing the letter in annoyance, "But you all owe be big time."
As she opened the letter at least ten pieces of damp, paper fell out. Karin sighed and proceeded to read the first page but stopped looking at it with annoyance.
"All it says is I'm going to be a grandpa, my son is not gay now that he finally did it, something about manhood, and that my daughters are getting hitched over and over again in big letters." She paused looking near the end before tossing the paper aside, "And then something about us producing grandchildren for him." Karin looked at the second page almost wearily before continuing.
"Basically it says how he never thought his son was man enough to….ugh, that's disgusting!" she shook her head before skimming for something less repulsive, she found a paragraph that's sole intention was to piss off Ichigo and it was working rather well. "…I'm so glad that my deadbeat son finally decided to do something useful for once and grant me the chance to be the best grandfather on the face of the earth….." Karin flipped to the third page where it seemed to look more like a normal letter.
"Alright, here goes nothing: Dear darling daughters, beautiful third daughter, delinquent idiot of a son, and MY GRANDBABY, I cannot believe that my precious, beautiful, lovely…."she trailed off on a list of adjectives until she growled in annoyance and skipped to the end of the sentence. "…daughters got taken away from my hands and off into the world with two boys! And then your idiot brother gets my third daughter knocked up! What has happened to our children Masaki? But now we will finally have a beautiful grandchild who will hopefully inherit all of its personality and physical traits from his or her mother because his or her father is a…." Karin paused looking up at Ichigo to see him getting more and more frustrated and turned to the next page, "I'm just going to skip that part and the next three paragraphs cause all he does is have a imaginary conversation with mom. He also says some derogatory things to Ichigo, mentions exactly how he wants your baby to behave and look like, and says sort of approving comments about Shuhei and Toshiro before questioning whether they have taken us to womanhood….ah here we go." She cleared her throat before continuing.
"Unfortunately I won't be able to come back to the Soul Society until my mission here is done. As you know it's a secret, top-ranked mission that I can't tell you about even though I know you all are dying to know." Several mutters in disagreement went around the table at this, "It will take at least eight months till I can come back. Not to fret my darling daughters Daddy will be home soon so that I can walk you down the aisle and proceed to cry out to the heavens about the great sorrow and happiness I'm going through by giving your hands away in marriage. And then of course bless both of you to…" Karin's face twisted in disgust as she continued reading the rest of the letter in her head before throwing it down in horror.
"Okay well the point is that we can only plan the weddings to take place eight months from now. So now that the date is pretty much settled can I burn this letter, because it really really needs to be burned. Now." She said firmly before shivering. Yuzu made a reach for the letter but Ichigo grabbed at it before his other sister could become tainted by his father's words as well. He looked stunned momentarily while reading it before proceeding to rip the letter to shreds.
"You're right; eyes shouldn't have to read this. It's too horrible." He said before throwing away the scraps, he turned to Karin seriously "Remind me to kick his ass when he gets here."
"As long as you hold him down while I get some punches in." Karin added punching her palm with emphasis. Yuzu looked unsurely at where the shredded letter was deposited before turning back to her siblings.
"Eight months? But that means…"
"I'm probably going to go in labor right before you say your vows." Rukia filled in blankly before slumping against her hand.
"Crap that is going to happen isn't it?" Ichigo groaned.
"You guys need to be more optimistic, think positively!" Yuzu said cheerfully.
"Please Yuzu; trouble follows Ichigo everywhere he goes." Karin said. Almost as soon as the words left her mouth a sudden rumbling could be felt underneath their feet. Everyone looked around bewildered suddenly wondering if it was an earthquake.
"Stop, stop, stop stop, STOP!" cried out a voice from outside until something apparently smashed straight through the front entrance of the house. As the dust settled down the Kurosaki's watched completely stunned as two figures became distinctly clearer.
Oh just who could that be? It really isn't that hard to figure out, but a cliffhanger is always fun to put in stories. Yes I'm putting off Isshin's appearance because he is the definition of crazy and I don't want Ichigo's head to explode from strain quite yet, eventually though :) But I'm sure a few letters here or there will satisfy everyone's need for Isshin madness until he comes.
About the double or separate wedding issue, as you can see I haven't really made a decision yet. Many of you made excellent points saying that double wedding means extra craziness which is always fun. But Karin and Yuzu are so different in personality that they wouldn't agree on some of the same things. I do have an idea, a sort of mesh between the two that I'm still trying to work out. But an answer will come soon. One last question is about other side pairings in the story; I'm open to all suggestions. That's all, please review!
