The Real world...
Ichigo and Rukia had used the Kuchiki senkaimon so there was no wait. When the exited the gate Isshin was there waiting with Karin and Tatsuki.
"Dad what the hell happened!"
"Well for a while now both Karin and Tatsuki have been training with Kisuke and decided to come here to spar."
He pointed to the empty field behind where they were standing.
"An arrancar showed up and it was too much for them."
"An arrancar! You have to be shitting me!"
Karin spoke next
"It was Ichi. I'm sorry we tried."
He saw the look on his sisters face. He walked over and gave her a hug.
"It's okay kid. Don t worry everything is going to be fine."
She smiled at him
"I know. At least I can see Toshiro again."
"Wait, what does Toshiro have to do with anything?"
Rukia gave Ichigo a knowing look and shook her head as Isshin chuckled.
"Ichigo I, never mind. Dad sometimes I wish my older brother wasn't so clueless."
"Hey!"
Isshin chuckled as he watched to of his children argue.
"Hey dad, where were you when the two of them got attacked?"
"I was at home with Yuzu. One showed up at the house too. Don't worry she is fine I took care of it."
Karin looked terrified all of a sudden.
"Does she know about me yet?"
"No I haven't told he yet."
"What!"
Rukia decided to leave Ichigo to talk to his family while she went to check on Tatsuki.
Tatsuki had wandered a little ways from where everyone else was standing.
"Tatsuki are you okay?"
"Oh Rukia, I'm okay I guess" she gave a weak smile.
"Tatsuki." was all Rukia could say and Tatsuki broke down.
"I couldn't save her! I couldn't even save myself!"
Rukia hugged her close.
"Tatsuki calm down it's all going to be alright."
Tatsuki continued to sob
"How is it going to be alright? I just got my oldest friends sister killed! He probably hates me!"
Rukia pulled away from her so she could look into her eyes.
"Tatsuki, Ichigo is not angry at you. He does not hate you. You know that is not the type of person he is. He would never blame you for something that you have no control over."
"But Rukia I."
"Hey, what going on over here?"
Still not wanting to let go if Rukia, Tatsuki closed her eyes and put her head down on her friends shoulder. Ichigo came up behind Rukia and put is hand on Tatsuki's head.
"Ichigo, I'm so sorry." She started to sob again
He look at her
"For what? You didn't do anything. You did your best. It's not your fault"
Rukia used her hand to push Tatsuki's chin up
"See what did I tell you?"
Tatsuki hugged Rukia tighter and then let go to give Ichigo a hug. As she hugged her long time friend, Rukia stroked her hair.
"I told you everything would be okay."
Time seemed to pass slowly. After a few minutes Rukia heard Isshin call her
"Rukia, can I talk to you?"
"Sure what's up?"
"How would you feel is I asked Ichigo to go and live in the soul society permanently?"
He already knew the answer. He smiled when he saw the look on her face.
"Are you serious!"
He shook his head yes and was shocked when she lunged at him for a hug.
"Thank you"
"I have one last question for you. Can you make sure that my kids are taken care of?"
"Of course I will. I am a Kuchiki. Plus Ichigo has done a lot for the soul society. They will both be taken care of."
"Come on Rukia, lets go talk to my idiot son!"
The pair walked towards Ichigo and Tatsuki as Karin followed them.
"Ichigo I need to talk to you about something."
"What is it dad?"
"I want to ask you to do something for me. I need you to move to the soul society permanently. You can look after your sister until I get there and it will be easier on you and Rukia. Can you do that for me?"
"Are you kidding me right now? Of course I can!"
Rukia ran and jumped into his arms.
"When will you be coming to live then?"
"Well once Yuzu is done with junior high we will be there. I don't want here to be without you guys for too long."
"Alright then, we should get the girls back."
"Yes get them situated. Anything you need form the house you can come back and get it later."
"Okay dad. Karin when we come back you wont be able to come with us. You wont be able to travel for a while. Once we get everything straitened out you'll be able to. Rukia we should be going."
She nodded her head and opened a senkaimon back to the soul society. Karin waved goodbye to her dad and the four of them walk through the gate.
Mean while in the soul society...
"Lieutenant Abarai"
"Hello Captain Hitsugaya. What can I do for you?"
"I was looking for Ichigo have you seen him?"
"Oh, he and Rukia went back to the world of the living. His dad said that there was family emergency."
"Emergency, of what nature?"
""Well I'm not sure."
"Thank you Renji that's all I needed."
"Your welcome Sir."
Eighth Division Captains Quarters…...
I barely managed to knock on the door with everything that I was holding. Shunsui answered the door and laughed out loud.
"What the hell Rangiku? Are you trying to move in here. I've always wanted a harem."
Nanao smacked him on the back.
"Why must you be so perverted all the time?"
"You weren't complaining last night."
She smiled and smacked him again.
"Stop, now is not the time. Come on Ran, you can bring that stuff into our room."
I walked by Shun and stuck my tongue out at him. I walked into their room and put everything on the bed.
"Did you bring your whole closet Ran, geez."
"Well I didn't know what to wear. I never been to a nobles house before."
"Alright lets see what you got."
After gong through all the kimonos I brought we decided on a red one with black and blue flowers and a white obi.
"You look nice Ran."
"Thanks Nanao"
I stood there and looked in the mirror for a minuet. Nanao walked up behind me to look at my reflection as well.
"Whats on your mind Ran?"
I shook myself back to reality.
"I was just thinking that I am a sexy bitch."
Nanao laughed at me as she shook her head.
"Are we ready?"
I looked at her
"Ready as I'll ever be."
We headed back into the living room to let Shunsui know that we were ready and headed out.
The walk to the Kuchiki manor seemed to take forever. Apparently I was so deep in thought that I didn't even realize that we had arrived.
"Ran. Ran we are here."
"Sorry Nanao. I didn't mean to space out."
"You okay?"
"Yea"
There were guards at the entrance gate to the manor. Shunsui spoke to them
"We are he for dinner with Captain Kuchiki."
"Of course Captain Kyoraku. Please enter."
We walked down the long path that leads the front door of the manor. It was kind of breath taking just walking down that path way
"This place place is beautiful"
Shunsui smiled at me
"He takes pride in everything he owns. He always has."
We finally reached the front door and before we were able to knock it was pulled open.
"Good evening Captain, Lieutenants. Master Kuchiki is waiting for you."
As we entered the house I felt my heart beat a little faster. I had never seen such a beautiful home before.
"Please follow me."
We followed the servant down a hallway and through two large doors into a large dinning room. As we entered the room I heard his voice
"Good evening thank you for joining me."
I smiled at him
"Thank you for having us."
"Please have a seat. The servants will bring out the appetizers."
I sat next to Byakuya to his left and Nanao and Shunsui sat across from me. We got settled in and the servants brought the first course of our meal. There was so much food I was shocked
"There are just the appetizers?"
"Yes I was not sure what you might like. So I made sure that there is a little of everything for you to chose from."
I must have had a strange look on my face. I heard Shun chuckle, and when I looked at him he winked. The meal went nicely. No one did a while lot of talking since we were all enjoying our meal.
"Byakuya, this meal is really wonderful, thank you again for having us."
"You're welcome Rangiku."
We continued to eat and desert was brought out. There was every kind of sweets that you could possible think of.
"Here Rangiku I had this made special for you."
He motioned to one of the servants. They walk to me and sat down ice cream and cake made from persimmons.
"Thank you Byakuya, how did you know that I like persimmons."
"I noticed that was the fruit that you purchased at the market"
"Oh that's right! But you really didn't have to go through all the trouble on my account."
"It's not trouble at all"
I have to admit, that was some of the best ice cream that I have ever ate.
"When you are all finished, I would like for you to join me in the garden for tea."
Shunsui spoke up
"Nanao and I need to be going. Ran will you be okay to get home on your own?"
I looked I him.
"I will be fine Shun, I'm a big girl I'll see you guys later."
"See you later Ran. Byakuya thank you again for dinner."
"You are quiet welcome Shunsui."
Byakuya called for a servant to escort them out once there were out of earshot Shunsui asked Nanao
"How long until they realize it?"
She hugged his arm
"I think it will be soon. But the real question is how long til the admit it."
Back at the Manor...
"Shall we head to the garden?"
I smiled at him
"Lead the way"
As we walked he lead me to the garden entrance. When he opened the door I felt my breath hitch in my throat. It was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen. We walked out to a small table where a servant was already waiting with a tea tray. We sat at the small table to drink our tea.
"Your garden really is beautiful."
"Thank you Rangiku. When we are finished with our tea I would like to show you my koi pond."
"I'd love to see it."
We finished our tea. He stood and offered me his arm. I got up and looped my arm through his. We started to walk deeper into the garden.
"This has to be one of the most beautiful places in all the Seireitei."
"Thank you, it is one of my favorite places to be. It's very calming to me."
We walked a little further until we came to a large pond. He reached into a small bucket and pulled out some bread.
"If you toss pieces of this into the water they will come to the surface."
He handed me the bread and I started to toss small pieces into the water. True to his word the koi started to come to the surface of the water.
"They are Beautiful, Byakuya"
"Thank you I take great pride in them."
As we stood there watching his koi swim we heard the Kuchiki senkaimon open.
At the squad ten barracks...
"That spiritual pressure, It can't be!"
With that Toshiro shunpoed off towards the Kuchiki manor.
Back at the Kuchiki garden...
We turned around to see Rukia and Ichigo step through with his sister and friend.
"Ni-Sama I am sorry to disturb you. Oh, hello Rangiku."
I smiled at her. Just then I heard my captains voice.
"Karin!"
She snapped he head to look in the direction she heard her voice coming from
"Toshiro!"
She took off running to him and they collided into a hug. A huge grin crept on to Toshiro's face.
"So that's what was wrong with him. He missed her."
I watched them for a minuet and then looked to Ichigo for his reaction to my captain holding his sister. Even he had a smile on his face. Our attention turned back to Rukia.
"Rukia what happened?"
"Well Ni-Sama Ichigo's sister and his friend were attacked by an arrancar. It proved to much for them and they were killed"
"An arrancar."
"Yes, his father tried to get to them but he was to late. Both of the girls had been training with Kisuke Urahara but still the arrancar was to powerful."
"I see."
"And Ichigo's father asked him to stay here with her. So he will be living here permanently."
"Do they all have somewhere to stay?" I asked Rukia.
Byakuya spoke up.
"Everyone can stay here. Rukia, Ichigo gather your things from the thirteenth division. I'm sure the girls will be more comfortable with you here."
Ichigo nodded
"Thank you Byakuya. Aright Rukia and I will be back. Will the girls be alright here until we return?"
I looked over to Toshiro and Karin. They were still hugging each other close. I look at Ichigo.
"I'm sure they will be fine."
"Yes I will have rooms prepared for them."
"What about Ichigo?" Rukia asked.
"He can stay with you unless you wish to stay else where."
"N-n-no,no Ni-Sama it's fine"
Toshiro and Karin can to join is where we were standing.
"Captain Kuchiki, I wanted to apologize for trespassing on your property. I just needed to see for myself."
"It's quiet alright Captain Hitsugaya."
Ichigo looked to his sister.
"Karin, Rukia and I are going to get some things from the thirteenth division. Will you be okay here until we get back?"
She looked to Toshiro
"Yea I will be fine. Um, excuse me, Rukia's brother would it be okay for Toshiro to stay with me until Ichi comes back?"
He looked at her amused,
"Of course and you can call me Byakuya."
Ichigo and Rukia left and I looked at my captain. He looked happier that I had seen him in a long time.
"Captain, so this is what was wrong you missed Karin."
"Yes Rangiku. True I was upset by Momo's death. She was like a sister to me. But I wasn't able to see Karin. I really didn't want to burden anyone with my problems."
I nodded to my captain as Byakuya called for a servant to prepare the rooms for the girls. He then called for another servant to bring more tea for us as we waited for Ichigo and Rukia to return. It was really cute the way my captain and Ichigo's sister looked at each other. Like they are the only two people in the whole Seireitei. With all the commotion I almost forgot about Ichigo's friend. She was sitting on the ground with her knees pulled to her chest.
"Is she going to be okay?" I asked
"Tatsuki? Yea she will be fine. She just needs time to adjust."
About thirty minuets had passed when Ichigo and Rukia came back. At that moment the servant also returned to report that the girls rooms were ready.
Ichigo looked to Byakuya.
"I want to thank you for letting us stay here."
"It's not a problem. Stay as long as you need to. Ichigo you will be staying with Rukia in her room. The girls have the two rooms next to yours. All of the rooms have bathrooms attached. If you need anything at all just call for a servant and they will take care of what ever you need."
Listening to the exchange between Byakuya and Ichigo I couldn't help but feel warm inside. He was being so kind by allowing everyone into his home. My Captain snapped me from my thoughts.
"Rangiku, it's getting late. Maybe we should take our leave now."
I nodded to my captain.
"Give me just a minuet."
I walked over to Byakuya
"I wanted to thank you again for having me over for dinner. My Captain is leaving now. I am going to go with him."
"You are quiet welcome Rangiku. I will escort you out."
He walked with us to the front gate of the manor. As we were leaving he grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it.
"Until next time Rangiku."
"I will see you later Byakuya."
"Good night Ran."
"Good Night Byakuya."
He called me Ran! Toshiro looked at me.
"So Rangiku. What's up with the two of you?"
"Sir?'
"You and Captain Kuchiki."
"Oh, nothing really we are just friends. I had dinner tonight at the manor with Nanao and Shunsui. But enough about me Toshiro, what about you and Karin?"
I watched as his face turned pink
"Come on Shiro, you know you can talk to me."
I put my arm around him and pulled him to my side.
"Well while we were in the world of the living, she and I spent some time together. I kind of fell in love with her."
"Well it looks to me live she shares your feelings."
His cheeks turned pink again. I had to laugh at him.
"Come on Shiro lets go home."
Back at the Kuchiki Manor...
Ichigo and Rukia helped Karin and Tatsuki get settled in. When they were done the retreated to there own room. Once inside they shut the door.
"Rukia, I really appreciate your brother helping us out."
Rukia smiled and walked over to where he was standing. She put her arms around him to hug him.
"What's that for Midget?" he asked as he hugged her back
"I'm just so happy."
Ichigo shook his head
"Speaking of happy, did you see Karin and Toshiro?"
She looked up at him
"How could I not see it."
"I had no idea."
" Are you okay with it?"
"Yea, I know he won't hurt her, so I'm fine with it. The other thing I noticed is that Rangiku was here."
"Yea, looks like she and Ni-Sama were watching his prized koi. He doesn't show those to just anyone you know."
"Oh, really?"
There was a knock on the door. Rukia stepped away from Ichigo and called out
"Come in"
Byakuya slid the door open stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
"How can I help you Ni-Sama?"
"I just came by to make sure that everyone is settled and you have everything that you need."
"Yes, Ni-Sama, and thank you again."
"It's not a problem. Tomorrow I will talk to head Captain Yamamoto about everything that has happened. If you need anything else just let me know."
"Thank you Ni-Sama."
He bowed to the younger shinigami and exited their room closing the door behind him.
Byakuya realized he was not tired. He decided to take another walk through the garden. As he walked his thoughts ran away with him a little.
"Why am I feeling like this all of a sudden? Do I have feelings for her? Does she have feelings for me? Am I betraying Hisana if I do? What will Rukia think? What will the elders say? Well I guess that doesn't really matter."
He sighed and looked up in the the night sky. He turned to head to his room to get some sleep.
"I have along day ahead of me."