Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters, just the bloody plot for this story. Curse the depths of Hell for keeping me there, actually I am no where near that one but whatever!
+--Red Moon Winter--+
"Nada que pueda perder, nada que no pueda ser.
Algo que te alivie, algo que me cure."
-ZOE
+--+
The house was completely empty, quite literally, only that the house maids and other personal stayed to run the house. In spite of that, Toushiro felt completely annoyed by the swallowing silence that continued to grow, it continued to become extremely consuming that it was just eating his mind away. Thus, he could only bring himself to think of something else and keep his mind so busy; except that it was proving to be unsuccessful at it. Yoshiro started to cry suddenly, his small arms stretching out for him to pick him up.
Toushiro looked closely at him, the little pink tint on his cheeks was present--did children usually have such tint? As he made to pick him up, Yoshiro's cries got louder and his hands were suddenly opening and closing almost like he was desperate to say something.
"What's wrong?" He asked his son, picking him up and trying to make him stop crying. "Are you hungry? Though I think we just ate a while ago, but maybe you wanted more eh?" His teal eyes stared at the black haired boy, his own eyes stared back at him, except that he continued to wail uncontrollably.
It seemed so strange though, almost like nothing in the world would prepare a person properly for the cries of a child, even though Yoshiro was never the one to cry so much. He pressed his chin against his son's forehead; it felt far too warm then normal.
"Damn it, I think you are sick." Toushiro laid him back on the blanket that was spread on the floor. In panic, he picked up the phone and dialled Karin's number in hope that she would answer. "Pick up the phone, pick it up…Karin? Karin?"
"You have reached me, but as stating the most damn obvious thing I can't pick up the phone. Leave your name and number, though if it's important you'll look for me instead." Karin's voice finished at the tone.
The maid entered the living room carrying a tray. She stopped suddenly, all the contents on the tray fell to the floor as she rushed over to Yoshiro.
"Hitsugaya-sama…what's wrong with him?" She picked him up, touching his forehead and cheeks. "He's running a fever, you must take him to the hospital."
"I am highly aware of that, but I am trying to reach his mother." He ran a frustrated hand thru his hair. When he needed Karin the most she had to be away, and he needed her for this. "Shit, take him in a car to the hospital while I go look for her."
The maid nodded simply without saying anything, rushing to pick up the blanket on the couch to cover Yoshiro up and walking fast out of the living room. As she rushed out, Toushiro heard her shout at everyone about his son being sick and in need to be taken to the doctor. Though, there was no more time to waste either.
As he pulled out of the driveway, it no longer mattered that he was breaking rules and that people would be worried completely. The street lights moved by fast, his foot stepped rather fiercely against the gas pedal and quite literally ran so many red lights, but that didn't matter either because it was important to get to Karin and go to their son. Though, the traffic was growing slower and slower, coming into an abrupt end.
"Damn it!" He shouted, hitting the steering wheel. There was no time to waste at the moment, life and death quite literally was playing into this game.
The Hollow Plaza was only a few blocks away, the traffic wouldn't really make much movement for the time being and the clock was running. He put the car on reverse, going to the parking spot by the park that was nearby and simply turning the ignition off. It was a bother, his long legs dragged him across the park and into the other side of the street. The lights on the outside of the hotel moved around, the music could be heard from the very inside and there was so much security around the place.
"Name and number sir?" The security guy stopped him.
"I don't have time to waste on that, where's Kurosaki Karin?" Toushiro looked at the man.
"If you are not on the list, then you are not allowed to go in." He eyed him suspiciously.
Toushiro wanted to beat the man, but it was illegal to do such thing. People were passing by, the smiles and laughter was even annoying with the despair that was running so thick inside of him. "I need to see Kurosaki Karin!"
"My, my…Toushiro-kun?" A familiar laughter caught his attention. He turned his eyes to the figure of Aizen Sousuke standing at the very top of the steps, a brandy glass on his hands and his cell phone on the other hand. "I did not know that you were in Japan, Ryo mentioned that you had gone out of the country."
Hitsugaya didn't particularly like the man seeing that he was so perfect, a little too perfect for his taste and there was some danger hinting in the saint-like figure that Aizen was. Though, perhaps this might help him get inside and look for Karin.
"Let me cut to the chase here, I need to get inside," he muttered, glaring at the guard. "but your guard doesn't let me in. Is Kurosaki Karin anywhere here?"
Aizen nodded, taking a sip from his brandy and smiling broadly while looking at the sky. "I tell you where she's at, if you only do me a favour."
"Just spit it out, I don't have time to waste on the little chit-chat here." Stress was building up to the extreme.
"Always the one to cut to the chase." The brown haired man chuckled. "Of course, are you the father of Hinamori Momo's child?"
Toushiro stopped in mid-step, looking at the man before him and not comprehending what he had just said. Momo was pregnant? He would never lay a hand on that woman, not now or ever in his life. He shook his head, Aizen was glad that the young boy wasn't the one to have done that to the beautiful girl. Of course, he was a powerful man who had his sources and the one who would get the people he needed to continue being the greatest.
"Good. Hitsugaya-san, you wouldn't mind if I make her my wife now?"
"No, I wouldn't give a damn about it. Now, kindly quit asking so many damn questions because I need to find Karin."
Aizen watched him go inside, running almost like life depended on it. He was never the man to pry on someone else's life, but the young white haired boy was interesting since he was always the one to keep so many secrets. He had known for a while now that Hitsugaya Toushiro was already a father, Kurosaki Karin was the lucky woman to have given the Hitsugaya heir a child for the future of the Hitsugaya Company. Aizen wouldn't bring himself to mess with that, Hitsugaya-Kurosaki problems wouldn't end well, especially since Kurosaki Ichigo was already part of the Kuchiki noble clan--never a family to mess with.
He raised his glass, "Cheers!".
+…
+--Absolutely Nothing--+
Everyone had stopped moving, their eyes were locked at the centre where Hitsugaya Toushiro, Kurosaki Karin, Hinamori Momo and Kurosaki Ichigo stood at. Their eyes were glued, almost like a bride seeing her dress or someone holding the most precious thing in the world in their hands--it looked almost like that. The press had stopped taking pictures, everyone's ears were paying close attention to the words being said. Karin and Toushiro stared at each other, Momo was crying and saying mundane things to both of them--it was a disaster already forming on a beautiful night like that.
"W-why are you with her?" Momo asked, tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt betrayed that he would appear like that after being missing for a month, wrapping himself around a woman that she had a great dislike for and watching him look at her in a different way.
"Toushiro, what an awful time you have." Ichigo muttered, thankful too that Byakuya's security was putting a barrier between them and everyone else. "Couldn't you wait a little longer?"
The white haired young man glared at him, his arm tightening a bit more and kept his stance. Ichigo knew that this wouldn't end well, but by the look on Toushiro's face there seemed something wrong going on that was in need to be told. Though, his fierce amber eyes stared at the young woman crying like there would be no end at all; it was going to be an unpleasant night.
"There's no time to waste." Toushiro muttered quickly, looking down at Karin. "We need to leave, now!"
"You shouldn't have come out like this, not tonight." Karin expressed, holding onto Toushiro and completely forgetting about Hinamori Momo. "Why exactly are you here?"
"Stop holding her like that!" Momo shouted, rushing over to them and pulling Toushiro out of Karin's embrace. "You fucking bitch, get your hands away from him!"
"Hinamori, stay out of it." He pulled himself out of her grip, reaching out for Karin again and looking at her.
Momo struggled to keep him close, knowing well that this battle had been over so long ago and that there was no way that her Shiro-chan would come back to her again. The way in which he stared at her told everything--he was so deeply in love that it was sick, almost too sick to stare at the two look that way. They were far too perfect for their good, yet she couldn't bring herself to lose like that in front of the other woman.
"It's--" He stopped short.
"Why are you doing this to me?" She interrupted, tears continuing to stream down her face. "You left like that without caring for me…why?"
"Shut up! Will you?" Karin shouted at her. "What is it?" She turn her attention back to Toushiro.
"You damn whore, how dare you!" Momo sobbed, looking victimized by her harsh words.
"Hinamori, just shut the hell up. Please." Toushiro muttered, closing his eyes and opening them again. It seemed impossible to gather his thoughts, not when he worried over his son. "Its Yoshiro, he's in the hospital."
Ichigo, who was paying close attention looked at him. His nephew was in the hospital? "What happen to him?" Everyone wondered who they were referring to. "What happen to my nephew?"
"My son is in the hospital?" Karin whispered, tears seemed to be forming in her eyes. "Why…since when?"
"A while ago, he was running a fever." He answered, lowering his head in an apologetic way. "I was trying to call you, but you didn't pick up. He's on his way to the hospital with the maid, I told her that we would arrive soon."
She simply nodded, forgetting the entire world behind them and the woman that despised her the most. It didn't matter though, the world was meaningless now that her son was in the hospital fighting for his life and she rushed passed the crowd. She could faintly hear Momo shouting, her lover shouting at her regarding their son and the cameras flashing across her face.
Everyone left behind whispered to themselves, the heir to the Hitsugaya Company was a father already and the famous Kurosaki Karin was the mother of said child--no one could completely grasp that at all. Ichigo did not bother to chase after them, it would be futile to argue against the reason as to why Hitsugaya had come out of the house and showed his face into public after so long. There was no need to say anything, not a single word at all.
"We should go, Ichigo." Rukia appeared, holding out her hand for him to take. "They might need us."
"I know, lets go." The orange haired man grabbed her hand, smirking a bit and leading the way to the car.
…
The streetlights were like a blur, nothing in the world seemed to prepare anyone for such worry and it was eating all other emotions away. Hospitals were never compelling to the senses, they were ironic places since life was born there and death came to claim other lives as well--it was never a good experience. As soon as Karin and Toushiro arrived at the hospital, they signed all forms and tried to find the doctor that was taking care of their son. The maid had been crying, calming herself down when they showed up and decided to stay.
She wanted to see her son, to hold him and comfort him; it had been so wrong to have disappeared from his sight for a few hours. What kind of mother was that? Leaving her child behind to go and work, there was not even a need to work, but it had been a favour asked by a man that her family knew. Pride shouldn't even exist, it should never become the sole reason to out do one's self for the sake of keeping a good name intact. Anger coursed thru her veins, her fist made contact with the wall--not hard, but with enough strength to cause pain.
"Stop it, don't hurt yourself." Toushiro held her arm back, as she was going to attempt a second punch at the wall. Karin looked at him, anger and sadness flowing in her expression--it was never something that could ever be seen before. "He's going to make it, please stop that."
She sighed, letting one of her tears slip away and burying her face on his chest. Having him near was comforting, it wouldn't have been great if she were to face this alone and was really glad that he knew about Yoshiro. Tears would never suffice to the feeling that she feared and was overjoyed with, she feared of losing both her lover and her son, but she also was overjoyed that they were all together at the moment.
"I'm sorry, I should've answered." She said, fighting the tears back. "I left my phone in my purse, after almost losing it while running to the bathroom to throw up."
"No, it's understandable. Speaking of which, when is the next check up?" Karin sighed in relief, there was a serious need to change the subject.
"Next week, I'll be about a month and a half." She put her hand on her stomach, there was no bump that would be visible enough for anyone to really fully tell that she was pregnant at all. He smiled, holding her close to him.
An hour slipped away, the Kurosaki family had gathered around the hospital and were waiting for the doctor. What seemed days and nights, the doctor appeared holding a smile on her face.
"Unohana-sensei?" Ichigo stood up abruptly.
The said woman smiled, acknowledging everyone in the room and looking at the main couple. "Yoshiro-kun will be fine. He suffered a fever, but nothing that should be worried some for you Hitsugaya-kun."
Everyone sighed in relief, Karin hugged Toushiro and kissed him in the cheek. "Thank you, Unohana-sensei."
"It was my pleasure, everything for the family. I suggest that everyone rests for the night, but I'll like to keep him here for the night for observation only." She indicated, seeing that everyone looked extremely worried.
"We will, thank you." Toushiro bowed. "First, we would like to see him."
Unohana-sensei smiled, indicating them to follow her to see the young child. It was never rare to see young couples, but never the ones that came with family and looked completely united. Yoshiro was asleep, he seemed so peaceful and was resting to get well. Karin grasped his small hand, feeling it warm and a sign that proved that he was still here with her.
"I wonder what will happen tomorrow." She said suddenly. "People will start to talk about us, about our son and perhaps about Hinamori."
He sighed deeply. "That doesn't matter, I am simply worried about Hinamori Jun and my father." Karin simply stared at him, there was other things to worry about as well after tonight. "Though, lets focus on our son first." She nodded.
+…
Everything was completely empty, silent as Ryo stared out the window of his bedroom and the cup of brandy on his hand getting warm by the minute. A smile spread around his face, there was no need to fear or worry about anything at the moment--especially since his dearest son was still alive and was well. Hinamori Jun was almost there, so near on grasping the things that he desired for so long now, but it would not suffice enough to get there.
"Always remaining so silent, Ryo." A woman's voice claimed the silence.
"Always that one to pry, Yourichi." Said man turned around, she stepped out from the shadows and smiling. Those golden eyes glowed even on the darkest night skies, there always held a mystery to them, but also she was always the one to joke about a million things. "What is it that you come to say to me tonight?"
Yourichi smirked, propping herself on the chest by the end of the bed in the room. Perhaps there were so many things to say at the moment, comforting news of the sort or something else…she didn't know. Urahara had decided on this, joining the powerful man on whatever strange quest he was seemed completely reasonable; though at the same time it was absurd.
"I've come in free will to join you, my dear husband will too." She smiled, twisting a strand of her long hair between her fingers. "We are completely aware that you know about your son, am I mistaken?"
The white haired man stared at her with no emotion, hiding expressions was a talent that took so many years to fully get it right. "My grandson seems like a happy child, is he well?"
The woman laughed. "Of course, your son is his father and his mother is a strong woman." Ryo smirked, holding out his glass up in the air.
"Cheers to them then. Frankly, I'm starting to like that Kurosaki girl more and more." He commented. "A woman with a backbone, she's much more the better woman for my son."
"I've been trying to tell you that for so long, but then again, you always fail to listen." She said, crossing her legs now and sighing. "You have absolutely nothing to lose if your son marries Kurosaki Karin, Isshin would be rather pleased about it seeing that he continuously keeps saying that they make a good couple. I must agree on that too, if you keep them apart it will never end well."
"No, I would lose my son just like his mother. I would prefer if my grandson has a mother and a father." Ryo agreed, crossing his arms and staring out the window again. "Isshin has always been a good friend, he will understand that allowing them to get married so soon would be a horrid choice. Hinamori Jun will not rest, not since Aizen has decided on choosing Momo as his wife tonight."
Yourichi went silent, that had been a rather shocking announcement tonight after everything that had happen, and she wondered as to why he had done it tonight. The world went completely wild at that, the famous man wanted to marry a young woman while announcing that she was expecting his child--no one had seen that coming. Urahara had informed her that Jun hadn't taken well that, no one would mess with Aizen because he was a cunning man with power and brains; perhaps that would mark the end to his game.
"A man is not a man when he grows power hungry, it will come into an end." He opened the windows to allow the breeze to come in. "Continue keeping an eye on my son, that's the only favour I can ask of you two."
"If that's what you want, then I will not comply against your choice…" her voice trailed away. The door shut with a click, she was a fast woman.
Running away would never behold an answer to the problem, Ryo had known that for so long after taking the job that he had a the moment, but it was risking it staying in Japan much longer. There were to many lives at stake for this, Jun simply didn't not want to give up so easily and he would go far into it; it had gone far too long now and it needed to end. Thus, he had decided to resign his post in government and go to another country, maybe that would bring peace to his son's life.
He picked up the phone, dialling the number that which was already an imprint on his head. The ringing was solemn, but it was a choice that needed to be made for the sake of the rest.
"Moshi-moshi?" An older man's voice answered.
"Yamamoto-sensei?" Ryo replied, keep his eyes out the window.
"Hitsugaya? Do you know what time this is?" Yamamoto's voice was hard without meaning.
"I am terribly sorry sensei, but there's something that I wish to speak to you about." Losing such post meant nothing, it was not even important to say the least. "It regards my post in office, I would like to have someone else take it from me."
"You are not the one to make wise decisions, son. A difficult man like yourself is agile for this job, I can't find a replacement from day to night like this." Yamamoto expressed, coughing slightly in the background. "Why the sudden decision like this?"
"I have my reasons, personal ones that is. Sensei, I am terribly sorry to say this to you in a rush, but there's no time left." Ryo leaned against the railing of the balcony. "And, do not worry about a replacement. I've found myself a man that is completely reliable for the job, even much better then myself."
"Who might that be?"
"Ha-ha, you never change." The two of them fell into a brief silence. "Ah…that would be…Zaraki."
"Zaraki Kepachi?" Yamamoto's voice sounded shocked, almost like the man was trying to find a reasoning with that. "He never approved of us, thus he left the place. How did you manage to find him?"
Ryo laughed at that, he wasn't such a hard man to find. "Lets just say that I found him by accident, him and that adoptive daughter he has." He remembered that day still, it had been quite a sight. "He's perfect for the job, he gets my respect and my job. I am terribly sorry for having to do something like this. Good bye, Yamamoto-sensei." He ended the call.
…+
A/N: Wow its been like centuries right, maybe much longer? I don't know, time just seemed to slip away rather quickly and I don't even know where in the hell to begin. Okay, firstly I am deeply sorry about not updating for so long now, but school really did get hectic that I didn't even know if I was breathing. Though, as of today my first semester is over, though I still have to return on the 14th to start final exams, but no classes--that's the good thing. Well, secondly this chapter is probably crap 'cos the ideas just didn't come to me, so hopefully this isn't so bad. The next chapter will be a little more happier--seeing that I am so in love--haha only joking about that. But it will be getting better for our star couple here--so that's about it. School sucks! Hope that you enjoy this very, very, very late update. Thank you for those who have been very patient for the update, for the comments and all that other good stuff. You know the rules! Off to start thinking about the next chapter!-bleedingxinxspace