"Nii-san," Ichigo groaned in his sleep, feeling himself being shaken out of his dreams, "nii-san," Ichigo grudgingly opened his eyes and squinted against the bright light filtering around his sister's head. She leaned back out of his line of view and he got a clear view of the water stained hotel ceiling he was staying. The demolition of his bedroom resulted in his father's decision to have them all move to a cheep hotel while he stayed and in the clinic, "Someone's here to see you nii-san," Groaning, Ichigo sat up and looked around, his eyes falling on the man in white stroking his sleeping orange haired sister's hair.

"Ukitake Taicho?" Ichigo wondered. The man smiled at him.

"Quite a family you have here Ichigo," Ukitake grinned, "a very protective sister too." He laughed, Karin glowered at him from where she sat on the couch.

"What are you doing here?" The abnormally happy man sobered and he looked over at Karin.

"What ever is Ichigo's business is my business," Karin said firmly and glowered at the man.

"The hard headedness must run in the family," Ukitake laughed and folded his hands into his robes.

"Is it about Renji?"

"Abarai fukutaicho is in barely stable condition," Ukitake answered sadly.

"What do you mean barely stable?" Ichigo panicked. Ukitake looked away.

"He mightn't make it," Ichigo stared at the man for a long moment and the noise of the awakening restaurant sounded around them.

"So that means he'll live?" It came from Karin who was looking at them in fascination, cartoons playing behind her.

"Yes essentially,"

"wow, it's like a reverse scenario on your end huh," She remarked thoughtfully, "we weep for the dead and you weep for the living, so tragic," she turned back to her cartoons.

"But I'm not here for that," Ukitake said in a low voice.

"Then-"

"It is about the Inoue situation-"

"Oh,"

"what about Ichigo's busty girlfriend?" Karin asked, turning back to them.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Ichigo defended, blushing furiously.

"Uhh..." Ukitake looked over nervously at the boy who was panicked.

"Nothing, nothing at all, no one's pregnant!" Karin narrowed her eyes at him.

"Well after that little trip you two had over the summer, teenage pregnancy is not surprising."

"I-It's not my baby!"

"Typical man," Karin sighed.

"Really I'm still a virgin!"

"You sex life in none of my business Ichigo," Karin answered dismissively, "I just hope dad's ready to be a grandfather but really who would have known a nice girl like that would have fallen so far." She sighed.

"Hey, what's wrong with me?" Karin looked back at the fluffy haired, puffy eyed, drool covered boy for a moment and then looked back at the television. Ichigo started to fuss again.

"What you brother says is true, he is not the father of Inoue's child, not yet," Karin looked at the white man.

"What do you mean not yet?"

"There is a manifestation in her womb, a spirit decided to live in her womb-"

"Then why didn't you exorcise it or something?"

"the due date for that is passed so now we need a human boy to impregnate her."

"What would happen if they didn't do the deed?"

"she would experience a fate worse than death and that child would be miserable," Ukitake explained.

"But why him? I mean if I were stuck in that kind of situation I'd go with the son of the big shot hospital not the -" Comprehension dawned on her face. "She loves you." She remarked in wonder.

"Really?" Ichigo wondered, "No I'm sure she just trusts me or something,"

"You trust family idiot," Karin scolded, "not get pregnant for them. Well you have my blessing with the whole conception business, I'll tell dad you wen off with some friends, just don't use what ever weirdo you use to keep your body please, he's annoying." Ichigo stared at her- she knew about Kon? Well the way that idiot behaved, who wouldn't?

"Yeah... right,"

"You'd better go before Yuzu wakes up too, she'll beg you not to go if she finds out." Ichigo scrambled on his clothes and followed Ukitake though the open portal.

"How is Byakuya?" Ichigo asked, following the reiatsu road still in his body- it was necessary.

"Under heavy security in his home."

"Protected from his own family," Ichigo sighed sadly, "that's really sad."

"One of the reasons why he doesn't trust anyone probably."Ukitake answered sadly.

"Can't dream of a world without my friends," Ichigo remarked, "where is Orihime anyway?"

"I have sent Shunsui to fetch her," Ichigo stared at the white head.

"Shunsui?"