Karin did think about not eating again but she knew her father was right she did have a child to look after. Karin looked down at her sleeping child that lay on her bed. She stroked her sweet face and cried as she reminded her so much of Toshiro. Even the way she slept reminded Karin of her fiancée. When Karin couldn't sleep she often stared at his sleeping face.
Ryuken walked into the room to see Karin leaning against her wall, softly sobbing. He walked in, sat beside her and pulled her close to him. She cried heavily into him.
"I'm going to miss Toshiro so much. Akira is a set reminder of him. I can't look at her without wanting to cry. Does that make me a bad mother? I can't even look at my own baby," Ryuken shook his head.
"When I lost my wife, I couldn't even look at Uryu. I resented him because he was a constant reminder of her but it was not his fault. You love Akira, so you will never be a bad mother," Karin sighed and glanced over at her.
"I'm glad I still have her," Karin said as she stood up, walked over to Akira and placed a kiss on her forehead. Akira slightly wriggled and fell back asleep. Karin climbed over her baby and lay in bed beside her. She snuggled up to her and took in her smell. Ryuken placed a blanket over Karin and watched as she fell asleep with her baby under her arm. He sighed and headed back down stairs to finish his tea.
Isshin ran to Masaki and wrapped his arms behind her. She was shocked when she felt him there. He was resting his head against her back.
"What's wrong, dear?" She sighed as she washed her hands in her office.
"I just got an angry phone call from Ryuken. He wants to know why Karin is crying on his couch,"
"She's at Ryuken's. That's good. I know he would look after her," she gave off a big sigh. "Did you speak to her?" Isshin nodded against her. Masaki turned round and hugged him from the front. "What did she say?"
"Not much. She was crying but she did say that she loves us," Isshin kissed her lips and walked away. "Got to go back to work. See you later," he winked at her. Though they had been married for ages, he still had a way to make her go crazy just like when they first met.
Karin was sat down at the table with Ryuken, Uryu and Orihime. They were making sure that she was eating and she was. She was on her second helping. They knew that with her high spiritual pressure she had to eat to make sure she was full enough for her underweight baby.
"I promised my dad that I would stay healthy because I have a young baby who needs me," when she heard Akira cry she wiped her mouth and walked away from the table. "Excuse me. I think she need as feed," they watched as Karin walked out the room to where her baby was sleeping.
"Dad! She is far too young to have the responsibilities of a mother!" Uryu hissed at him.
"Her baby is here. There is nothing we can do but support Karin. When they planned it, she probably thought that she would have Toshiro looking after them with her family. She did not expect to be kicked out,"
Uryu sighed and leaned back on his chair.
"She doesn't have anything for Akira. Does she?" Ryuken shook his head. "I'll buy her a cot and other things."
Karin sat on her bed with Akira attached to her nipple. She was sucking on her quite forcibly. Karin sighed as she didn't want to cry over Toshiro any more. She knew that he would collect her but she had no idea when. It would be Christmas when she could smack her lips against his. She wanted to be in his arms so desperately.
"Daddy will be here for us soon, baby. Don't worry," Karin kissed her baby's head. She wanted Akira to remember her daddy. She never wanted her to forget Toshiro as he would be upset. She would like her first word to be 'daddy' or a variation of it. She would want Toshiro to see her walking and talking for the first time. She would want Toshiro see his own daughter get her first tooth. Her hair growing back in. Before Karin realised it she was already crying onto her baby. Akira didn't mind as she was being fed. Karin waited until she let go before she redressed herself. Karin placed Akira in a drawer that she left open.
Ryuken walked into her room to make sure that she was okay. He saw Karin sleeping in a T-shirt and Akira sleeping in only a nappy. He knew Karin and Akira were needing some new clothes so he was going to get her some. He checked what size her bottoms where and her top. He had a lot to buy for both of them.
Karin woke up to the sound of Akira crying to walked over to the padded drawer. Karin picked her up and smelled her bottom. She was in a dire need of a change. Karin went to her bag that she had and saw she ran out of nappies. Karin groaned as she had no more nappies and hadn't bought any more. How could she buy things for her. She had no money. Karin looked to the side of the dresser to see a massive stack of nappies. She saw a note on top.
'I bought you and Akira some supplies. - Ryuken'
Karin smiled and quickly teared open the nappies, the wipes and the powder and changed Akira. Her crying ceased and she hugged into her mother, sucking on her little thumb. Karin kissed her little head and placed her pinkie her mouth. She began sucking onto it. Karin sat in her bed and fed her. Karin was so tired as she could sleep better with Toshiro in her bed.
Karin headed down stairs to see lots of items in the living. Karin saw there was a couch for items for her and a couch for items for Akira. There was a cot, a changing table and a buggy for her daughter. Karin looked at all the clothes for Akira. She placed Akira on the couch and held each clothing up to her to see how cute her baby would be. She had all the same clothes back at home that would not be in use. She saw a camera on the couch for Akira. There was a another note saying:
'Take a picture every day, to show Toshiro how cute she was," Karin smiled as she loved the idea of taking pictures of her own baby. Karin dressed her baby in one of the outfits that Ryuken had bought her. She was wearing stripy tights and a denim dress. Karin kissed her little cheek and picked her up and pressed her against her body. She felt her daughter snuggle back into her.
Karin sat at the table as she ate her breakfast, single handedly. She ate a piece of toast with jam. Karin was so tired as she didn't sleep to well. She heard Ryuken come down the stairs. Karin was greeted by a kiss on her head.
"I'm heading to work. I'll see you later."
"Thanks for the items. I love them," she said as she ate her toast. "Oh, can I take Akira for a walk today?" Ryuken nodded and walked out the door with his bag slung over his shoulder. Karin finished her breakfast and got herself ready to go out on a walk. She needed the fresh air. Karin placed the new clothes on and placed Akira in the new buggy. She wrapped her tightly in the blankets so she wouldn't be cold. Karin packed her bag and filled it with everything she needed for the walk.
Karin very enjoyed her little walk. She went to visit many places. Her old school, her burnt home and the park where she played all the time. Karin sat on the park bench as she watched young kids play with their parents. She wished Akira had the same opportunity to have both parents in her life. It wasn't her fault that her parents had split up. Karin had to hold back her tears from falling. She was lucky that she even had a daughter. Karin glanced into the buggy to see her peacefully sleeping.
"Well look who it is, Karin Kurosaki or it's Hitsugaya now?" Karin looked up to see Ryohei smiling at her. Karin stood up and hugged him.
"Hey. It's still Kurosaki," he noticed the sadness in her eyes. He looked over to see the buggy. He peaked in an smiled.
"She's so much like Toshiro. Where is lover boy, anyway?" with that sentence Karin broke down in tears again. She fell back on the bench as she cried. Ryohei sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Karin placed her foot on the buggy so Akira wouldn't cry and gently cradled her. Ryohei was becoming scared as she never cried in front of him before.
"I've been kicked out the soul society. They forced me and Toshiro to break up," Ryohei became suddenly angry at the soul society. They forced a mother and new born child to live on her own. He knew all the great things she did for them. She lay down her life to protect the damn place and that was the thanks that she got. "I love him so much. I don't want to leave him."
"I know you do. Let's go to my house and we can catch up," Karin nodded and they both walked side by side towards his house. She loved Ryohei so much but only as a friend. She was her best friend. They had been friends ever since she was three. She was being bullied and he shoved them away from her. In the end both of were bullied together but Karin and Ryohei always had each other's back.
Karin sat in his house with a cup of tea in her hands. Akira was lying beside her on the couch. She was groaning in her sleep. Ryohei sat on his favourite chair that was sideways to the TV. Karin's tears soon stopped. He didn't enjoy her crying. It was unusual for her. Karin was shocked when she heard Akira cry. Karin picked her up and gave her a little cuddle. She smelt her bum but it wasn't smelly. She placed her pinkie in her mouth and she was sucking on it. Karin became quite bashful as she never fed Akira in front of anyone before except Toshiro.
"She needs fed. Can we go somewhere quite to feed?" Ryohei nodded and lead Karin through his house to a spare bedroom. Karin had Akira in her arms while Ryohei had the bag.
Karin was shocked at the room. It was quite spacious. There was a bed with purple covers and matching pillow sets. There was a drawers and cupboards that looked empty. There was a random chair in the corner of the room. Karin sat down in the chair and lead her baby to her nipple. She had no idea why Toshiro loved her breasts so much. He was a breast guy. Her breast to be precise. He was in love with her breasts. Akira sucked on her breast just like Toshiro did. Most women found breast feeding to be a nusicance but she was beginning to like it as that's what women's breast were designed for.
Ryohei leaned against her door as Karin and him kept up their conversation. He was shocked that Karin had fallen pregnant with Toshiro's baby. He didn't want to think about the couple in certain situations. Karin was innocent in his eyes. He did catch a glimpse of Karin and Toshiro making out in the club. He was shocked to see both of them grinding their hips against one another.
Karin returned to Ryuken's after spending a day at Ryohei's. She couldn't quite call it home yet. She was just a mere lodger who didn't pay rent. He had already bought her so much. Karin was greeted by the smell of dinner. Karin placed her baby in the cot in the living room and went to eat in the living room.
She sat at the table with Uryu and Ryuken. They both were tucking into their meal. There was four plates being laid out with the same food on it. She assumed that Orihime was coming over. Karin laughed as she figured out that Orihime and Uryu were always spending time together. Karin happily digged into her meal.
"This is lovely," Karin complimented the chef which turned out to be Uryu. He smiled as he was glad that she was eating, she wasn't spending much time locked up in her room.
Once they all had finished, including Orihime who joined a bit later on. Karin picked the plates and began to clean them by hand. She would place them in the dishwasher but it was on. Karin would wash while Orihime would dry.
"Karin, Akira is so adorable. She looks so much like Toshiro," Karin looked down when she said that.
"I know. She is a constant reminder of him. On a new topic, what's the relationship status with you and Uryu?" Karin was glad she thought of a new subject or she would break down in tears again.
"We are partners. We have talked about marriage and that but we think we're a bit young to be married. Our careers are just starting. We agreed that once we get promotion in our jobs, we will get married," Karin smiled at how they talked about marriage and careers. She smiled as she and Toshiro used to do that. They would crawl into bed every night and talk about life. While Karin and Orihime were doing the dishes, Uryu and Ryuken were moving things into Karin's room. They placed Akira in her buggy before they moved the cot.
When Karin went through she saw Ryuken snuggling into Akira. She was looking at him as talked quietly. Both males were watching the television but Uryu was reading a book at the same time. Karin sat next to Ryuken and Orihime sat next to Uryu. She snuggled into him. He moved his body so both of them were comfy, never taking his eyes of the book. They both sprawled over the two seater. She watched the TV and played with his hands at the same time.
"Ryuken, what am I going to do about money?" She asked as she hugged her legs. He just glanced at her and sighed.
"Nothing. I'll provide for you. But if you want to help out I'm sure those two can babysit while you play your music. Go busking with your band. People will love to hear your music," Karin smiled and rested her head against his shoulder.
She woke up to the sound of Akira screeching. She rushed to see her. She was in no danger, thankfully. She was safe in the world of the living. Karin smelled her bum but there was no smell. Karin had changed her about an hour ago. Karin check if she needed a feed but no. Karin picked her up and started bouncing her gently but there was no sign of the crying dying down. Karin was trying her best to calm her down. If Karin couldn't do it, Toshiro could. She gently bounced her while talking sweetly into her ear.
Karin saw Ryuken come into her room with a pissed of face. He was only in pyjama bottoms. She didn't care that he didn't have a top on. She would only fawn over Toshiro's naked body. He took Akira off her and began to burp her. Karin was becoming stressed. Karin didn't know how to help her baby.
"Don't worry," Ryuken whispered to her. "Your new at parenting. I'm going to be here to help you. You are not going to be alone...come to work with me tomorrow. I need to check if she is okay. We need to register her," Karin nodded and watched as Ryuken handed her baby back still crying. "Head to the the piano and sing to her. I think she misses her father," Karin nodded and slowly walked down the stairs with Akira in her arms. Ryuken walking behind her to support Karin and the baby.
Ryuken held Akira as Karin cracked her knuckles. Karin played a gentle melody o twinkle twinkle little star. Her baby slowly stopped crying. Karin softly sang along with the song. Her baby finally fell asleep in Ryuken's arms. He smiled as it was so quite. He heard the soft breaths of the child.
Karin woke up a few hours later which felt like minutes later with the sound of Akira crying. Karin shuffled over to her and picked her up. She could easily see that the had poohed herself. Karin took her the the changing table and stripped her of her dirty bum. She kicked tried to kick Karin as she grabbed her ankles to clean her up. She kissed her baby's cheek and got her dressed for the the day after looking at the time. It was to late to go back to bed but it was too early to get up. Karin sat back in her bed with Akira in her arms and told her about her daddy.
Karin was in the park as Akira was not sleeping well. Each night over the several weeks Akira was crying the house down. She noticed a few hints that Ryuken was stressed about work. She could tell that he wasn't sleeping so well. She leaned against the bench as she breathed in the cold air. It was so refreshing. Karin looked to her child who seemed to be asleep. She had to the best thing for her.
"Mind if I join you?" Karin didn't open her eyes but answered,
"Sure," the figure scooted beside her and leaned their head back as well. Karin picked her head up to see Ryohei sitting beside her. He was in his football gear, again. Karin found out that he plays for the japan team and works at a convince store in the night. She disapproved the long hours of a lack of sleep but he reassured her that he doesn't play full time and was only one of the substitutes. Karin so desperately wanted to play with him but she had a child to look after.
"I hear the school is looking for a football coach. Why don't you go and get a bit of money that way?" Karin just shrugged. Ryohei sighed and looked to the field where the kids ran about.
"I never asked but where do you live?"
"With Ryuken. Why?" He just shrugged.
"If you want to you can stay with me," Karin was shocked by his offer. She loved living with Ryuken and Uryu but they weren't going to get any sleep because of Akira and many patients needed them to be awake and focused. But living with Ryohei could be a little strange as she didn't want him not to get his sleep. "Kairn, I work at night so Akira crying wouldn't bother me and you can always go out during the day so that I could sleep."
"I will need to think on it. I have to do the best for Akira and others. I don't want to be annoying you with a baby. She cries three times in the night," Ryohei merely shrugged his shoulders.
Karin went back to Ryuken's and sat on the couch with Akira in her arms. Her baby was peacefully sleeping. Karin was waiting for either Ryuken or Uryu to return home. She needed to talk about her living arrangements. She didn't want to be ungrateful to the Ishida's for their hospitality. Ryuken had bought her so much. She would wear it at Ryohei's as she had nothing else.
When Karin heard Ryuken walk into the room, she didn't bother to move. Her daughter was still sleeping and she didn't want to wake her up. Usually he walked into the living room to place his bag down and then take out the leftover food he hadn't eaten.
"What's on your mind?" Karin looked up to see him looking up at him at her. She looked down and hugged her child.
"Ryohei asked me if I wanted to live with him. I don't know what to say. Your not sleeping because of me living here. You need to be active in your job. You can't take coffee as a supplement for a lack of sleep," Ryuken sighed and sat beside her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Karin rested her head against his shoulder.
"Karin, I don't mind of you stay. You need help. Once Akira becomes bigger, I don't need to help you as much. You can handle it. I also don't mind if you live with your friend but he has to have a suitable place for Akira to live. I won't feel offend if you choose your friend," he said then kissed Karin's head. She was so thankful he was so understanding. Karin placed Akira in the crib that stayed in the living room. She then phoned up Ryohei. In an instant he picked up his phone.
"That offer still on the table."
AN: sorry that I haven't updated in a while but i will finish the story even if I am old. Please do review, it does help me write faster if people are interested in the story. I have not been getting enough reviews so I ode my inspiration. Don't worry, I do have a plot so don't be sad.
