Chapter 7: Planning

When Ichigo showed up at the door she found herself swallowing, not liking the fact her older brother was there. The first thought that crossed her mind was the idea that Ichigo was going to kill Toshiro. "Ichigo..." She of course couldn't say anything about the whole matter, wondering where he was going to take this as he played with her daughter on the couch. Miyuki was happy. Miyuki knew nothing was wrong.

Ichigo of course picked up on the fact she was upset. "Something the matter Karin?"

"You aren't planning on physically accosting my husband are you?"

Silence. Ichigo let out a sigh. "Rukia would kill me."

"I see." Karin shook her head. "No... I don't see."

"I've honestly got other things to worry about, like the fact I've got three other Shinigami with me, so I need to soak up as much Miyuki time as I can. Plus... we're going to be going into another war."

"I see. This time I actually do see." Silence came over the room until Toshiro came in, panicked and upset. She of course couldn't stand being near her brother. It was almost as if he was planning something, or better yet he really did want to beat up Toshiro but was holding back for some reason. Or looking for a really good excuse. Not being able to take anymore and actually needing dinner stuff as she had gone and mashed the vegetables, she left the room. She came back and could sense that three other Shinigami were there.

Opening the house to the family apartment she saw Rangiku and Rukia were there as well as a Shinigami she didn't know. She couldn't help but notice the death glares the Shinigami sent her way, as if she had done something wrong. This bothered her, but in the long run she decided to not make the first move as this Shinigami felt like she wanted to rip her eyes out. And yet she also felt like she wasn't wanting to.

Toshiro looked up. "I'm so glad you're back." He walked over and grabbed the dinner. "I'll take those for you."

"What? No kiss?" Rangiku began to pout.

"Excuse me?" Toshiro turned to glare at her. "She's not in the mood."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I'm really not."

"Drink, bath salts for your feet..." Toshiro piped up.

"Don't worry about it. I just want to close my eyes and snuggle Miyuki." Karin paused. "Well... I want to, but she seems to be enjoying herself.

Ichigo piped up. "I could use a hug from you. It's been awhile sis."

Karin walked over and sat next to him as he gave her a quick hug. She whispered at him. "You're not going to try and kill Toshiro."

"If he makes the wrong move, I'll make his life a living hell."

Karin leaned back, feeling a headache coming on. She felt a cool rag on her forehead and looked up to see Toshiro, his apple green eyes filled with worry. "Don't worry Toshiro. I'm fine."

"Shiro-chan..." The other girl spoke up.

Karin felt herself flinch. Toshiro though spoke up. "Hinamori, how many times have I told you not to call me that."

"You're letting Ichigo and that girl call you that."

"No... they're calling me by my full first name. And she has a name. K-A-R-I-N."

"So this is your sister." Karin could feel the temperature in the room drop. "I take that as a yes."

"What is that supposed to mean!" Momo's cheeks stuck out.

Ichigo's eyebrows rose up. "Yeah... you're not even supposed to be here."

Rukia though was ecstatic. "Miyuki is so adorable. I wonder if Hitsugaya Taicho was that cute when he was a baby."

"What?" Toshiro blinked a couple of times. "REALLY?"

"He wasn't a cute little kid." Momo muttered.

Karin sighed. "Let's have dinner, and then we can do Miyuki's birthday cake. You guys fine with that."

"No!" Rangiku pouted. "I missed her first birthday party. Pictures! I want to see pictures of Miyuki with cake on her face! I want to see pictures of her first bath. Her first diaper change. Her..."

"Matsumoto!" Toshiro snapped. Karin could ear him going over to the bookshelf. "Miyuki... while your mother and I set the table, would you look at the pictures with Aunt Ran?"

"O.K." The girl took the book from him and walked over to Rangiku. "But mommy has a headache."

"Then that means I get to do it myself. No worries."

"I can help Shiro-chan!" The sound of Momo's feet hurrying away and then the sound of a rather nice plate hitting the ground caused Karin to sit up and glare at the girl. Momo of course looked sorry. Rukia went pushed her away.

"No... Ichigo will sweep up this mess. I'll set the table. Momo..."

"Go sit in the corner in a fetal position out of the way!" Ichigo suddenly pointed his finger into a corner with a smile on his face. "I always wanted to say that!"

Toshiro blinked a couple of times. Karin though glared at her brother. "Ichigo! That was mean!"

"Hey. Dad did it to me all the time when I got in the way."

"Dad is also an idiot."

"Fine. I'm sorry Hinamori."

"Still..." Rukia frowned. "You should just stay out of the way. I mean... you weren't even asked to come on this mission. Maybe go and look at the baby pictures with Rangiku. You missed out on your nieces first minutes, did you not."

Karin watched as Toshiro flinched. She reached over and tugged him closer. "What ever is the matter."

He whispered back. "My creepy sister has a creepy crush on me. It's disgusting. She... how to put this... she's got no sense of reality."

"Come on Toshiro, be nice." Karin got up and went and sat down next to Momo. "It's nice to meet you finally. Toshiro's told me..." The female paused. "Well... a lot about you."

"I know it wasn't anything good. Nobody has anything good to say anything about me."

"Miyuki... you like your Auntie Momo, right?"

"No."

Karin felt her eye twitch. "And why not?"

"Daddy's mad at her. I'll like her again when he's not mad at her."

Karin sighed. "Well... she really doesn't hate you. She's just..."

"She really doesn't like me." Momo looked at the pictures, a rather dull look in her eyes.

"She does this to everybody." Karin paused. "Except Toshiro. And Ichigo."

"And Rangiku and Rukia."

"That... there hasn't been that much time."

"Stop trying to patronize me. I really don't like it."

"That's why I don't like you!" Miyuki pointed her finger at Momo.

"Um... table is set." The dinner was very quiet then until it was time to do birthday cake and then Miyuki was sent off to bed.

Ichigo of course went and sat down next to his sister, pushing Miyuki's high chair out of the way. "So... what are the plans."

"I said I would have to discuss with Karin what we're going to do."

"What is there to discuss?"

"Then I take it you don't want me to do it."

"We can't involve Miyuki. We don't know enough about this to even begin making any decisions and if it doesn't outright effect her then..."

Momo stood up. "That isn't fair! We need Shiro-chan's power! We need all the power we can get."

"Sheesh." Toshiro reached a hand up to scratch his head. "Hinamori... we didn't say we were out. We're simply saying we're not in yet. The details are too vague and we've got to think of Miyuki and what will happen to her if Karin and I join the battle."

"What..." Ichigo frowned.

"She's joining if you join! She's... she's! The reports say she's not even seated level."

"Then... not now."

"My sister fighting? No... you want me to slug you Toshiro?"

Toshiro looked him straight in the eye. "Do you want your sister to slug you? No... seriously... your sister will fight because she is stubborn and gets her way and won't take no for an answer. On top of that we have a child to protect. We'll get involved if it involves her."

Ichigo sighed. "Well... can you at least come and stay at our place for awhile. Dad and Yuzu haven't seen her yet. Dad's been bawling his head off every night."

"And Yuzu."

"She... um... slumber parties on the weekends?" Ichigo tried.

"Don't worry. Yuzu will be Yuzu." Karin looked at Momo, glad she at least had a sister that was better then Toshiro's sister when it came to smarts. Or at least she hoped. The idea of Yuzu acting like that girl bothered her. And them getting along... a nightmare.