Toshiro's POV

It has only really got to me that Hinamori, the sister figure from my childhood is dead and I killed her! The Kurosaki's are being good to me and healing me. My spiritual pressure has returned but I am still in no state to fight hollows. I guess I am gonna have to leave that to Madarame and Yumichika. I know so little of what happened to everyone after the war but I also can't help but wonder why I wasn't taken back to the soul society to be healed with the other shinigami.

"Rangiku?"

"Yes Taicho?"

"How is everyone after the war?"

"Well… Abarai is in a coma and from the last point squad four said that he would be lucky to make even a slight recovery as he is too greatly injured. Ishida is living with Inoue because his house was destroyed. Gin and Hinamori are both dead but there has been no body found for Gin. Kisuke said that Yoruichi and Soi-Fon were both in a critical condition but they resisted help from him and he was told to come and help you. Shunsuei was in a state after fighting the first Espada but is no-where near badly injured. Ukitake has a cold. Rukia and Ichigo are stuck in the Sereitei, Rukia was quite badly injured but Ichigo protected her before too much damage was done. Byakuya came out unscathed; Komumura is fine but drained as he used his bankai a lot in that war and finally I am ok."

"Wow I really missed a lot and Ukitake escaped with just a cold? Seriously?"

"Yes, I know but that's typical for him. Who didn't see that coming?"

"Fair enough"

There was a long silence after that but then we heard a huge commotion in the hallway. Suddenly Karin and Isshin came running through with two… Wait is that Madarame and Yumichika? It was! Damn if they are injured? Who is gonna protect Karakura town? There is no way we are gonna rely on Karakuriser again, also I don't believe this job is one for a quincey! But there are no shinigami left here so I suppose there is no other option. I couldn't send my lieutenant, she has been extremely depressed lately and I don't want her fighting in her current state.

"If that was Madarame and Yumichika… Who is gonna protect Karakura town"

"I could…"

"No Matsumoto… I won't have you fighting in your current state. You need time to rest just like the rest of us!"

"Ok, thank you Taicho"

We stayed in silence for a second, whilst we were thinking about what we could do when we heard Karin.

"I could become a shinigami"

My heart broke the moment she spoke them words. The thought of her in constant danger and fighting against enemies with the power to crush her without a second thought. It was too much, I have already lost too much, if I lost her I think I would despair and die!

"No Karin"

"Why? I could…"

"NO! I have lost too much Karin. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you too!"

"She's right Taicho"

I looked at Rangiku with a shocked expression, she was actually agreeing with this? Where is that woman's head?

"Think about it Taicho, it was gonna happen eventually. I mean with Ichigo's power, we know she would be ok. I see so much of Ichigo in her, the determination, the love and the protectiveness. She also has extremely high spiritual pressure so she would be fine!"

"Why are you both doing this to me?"

"I think even you know it's for the best Toshiro"

"Fine then, I agree on one condition! The only condition is that it must be hyourinmaru that pierces your heart"

"Are you saying that you want to do it yourself Toshiro?"

"Yes"

"Agreed"

Ichigo's POV

Oh great! Stuck in the Sereitei! I just got the news from squad 13 that the, barriers between the worlds is completely closed and the department of research and development is trying to re-open it with no such luck. I am currently in the squad 4 hospital with Rukia because she got injured and I don't plan to leave her side until she gets better! I hope my family are ok, the last I heard from them was that Isshin and Karin were performing emergency surgery on Toshiro. Just then Isane burst through the door completely out of breath.

"Kurosaki! I have news from the world of the living! Apparently Yumichika and Madarame were taken out by an unknown powerful energy."

"Oh… You are telling me this why?"

"Because… If they have been taken out then there are no more available shinigami to protect Karakura town!"

"Damn! We need to get the senkeimon open soon then!"

"Yes we know, there is no evidence though to suggest why it was shut in the first place"

"Well it is only a hunch but I think that it has something to do with Aizen! I feared he would have a back-up plan for if his plan went wrong!"

"Kurosaki that is highly unlikely Captain Yamamoto himself sent his own squad there to see if there was any such evidence of a back-up plan or something we missed!"

"Ok then, I am still going to consider it though!"

"I think the same but it is unlikely. Oh and there has been a great improvement in Rukia's condition and she will be fully recovered in around a week and a half"

"Thanks Isane"

I then leaned my head on the edge of the bed like I always did and fell asleep still holding Rukia's hand.

Karin's POV

We stood round the back of the clinic, Rangiku helping Toshiro to walk there as he is still weak but he did insist he wanted to do it himself. I still don't know whether to be happy or concerned about that!

"Are you ready Karin?"

"Yes Toshiro"

He took his blade from his back and held it in both his hands. It looked like he was making a desperate attempt to make them stop shaking. I smiled softly and put my hands on his to make them stop trembling. He looked at me with a sad and desperate expression as I guided the blade clean through my heart. My spiritual pressure exploded.

Soi-Fon's POV

I carried Yoruichi all the way back to the outside of her house, she was gasping and her chest rose and fell quickly. She was losing too much blood. We both knew that and me being the Taicho of squad two I don't know any healing kidou. I started to see the life fade away from her yellow eyes and her purple hair was now completely red with blood. I began to cry burying my head in her chest as she gave my hand a weak squeeze of reassurance.

"I am sorry Yoruichi senpei, I have failed you! I don't want you to die here in my arms! DON'T LEAVE ME YORUICHI SAMA!"

I then heard a small familiar voice behind me.

"Sōten Kisshun, I reject!"

I saw a familiar orange shield appear around my sensei and begin to heal her. I turned around to see a very ill and pale looking Inoue with her arms around the quincey for support.

"Thank you, Inoue"

I smiled and tears of happiness came to my face as I began to see her get better.

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