A year after Hikaru's birth, another child was welcomed into the world. This child was Renji and Rukia's daughter.
It was May and the four Ukitake family members were on their way to the Kuchiki manor.
"It was nice of them to invite us to meet their daughter, said Hana"
"I guess it's because we invited them to meet Hikaru, said Katsurou"
"I heard lieutenant Kira and Hinamori also will be there, said Jūshirō"
"No surprise, they were Renji's classmates after all and the three of them are pretty much best friends"
Hana smiled and looked at their son who was being carried by his father.
"Look like you will be getting a playmate Hikaru"
The boy looked at her and made some sort of noise before smiling.
"I think he's excited"
"Even though they can't play until Renji and Rukia's daughter is older, it doesn't hurt introducing them to each other, said Jūshirō"
They then reached the manor and a servant showed them to a room were Izuru and Mom were.
"Hi guys, said Katsurou"
"Hi everyone, said Momo"
"I guess you guy were invited too, said Izuru"
"Yes, Byakuya came by with an invitation from Rukia, said Jūshirō"
Katsurou then put Hikaru on the ground and he walked up to Momo and Izuru.
"You've gotten so big Hikaru, said Momo"
"Hard to believe he's over a year old, said Izuru as he knelt to the boy's height"
"You're right, the past year has gone by so fast, said Katsurou"
"And now, there's one more child in the Seireitei, said Hana"
The doors to the room then opened and in came Byakuya.
"Good, you're all here"
He then opened the doors more so Renji and Rukia could enter.
"Thanks for coming guys, said Renji"
"Thanks for inviting us, said Izuru"
Momo then saw the baby sleeping in Rukia's arms.
"Is that?"
"Yes, this is our daughter, Ichika Abarai"
She walked over to them and placed their daughter in Momo's arms.
"She so cute"
As the others gathered around her to look at the baby, Katsurou walked up to his childhood friend.
"How does it feel being an uncle, Byakuya?"
"I'm proud of Rukia and I will do my best to help Ichika grow up with both the Kuchiki and Abarai name"
"I knew you'd say something like that"
Katsurou then walked over to the others again and sat down next to Izuru who now was holding Ichika before lifting up Hikaru.
"See here Hikaru"
He pointed at the sleeping baby girl and his son looked at her with curiosity.
"This is Ichika, your aunt Rukia and uncle Renji's daughter"
"I hope you'll be her friend when you two get older, said Rukia"
Even though the boy couldn't understand fully what they meant, he gently placed his hand on Ichika's cheek.
"That's right, gently, said Hana"
The little girl then opened her eyes to reveal the same violet eyes as Rukia who looked up at all the new faces. She then reached up and grabbed one of Hikaru's fingers but the boy didn't move away, he just looked at her.
"I think they're already starting to form a friendship, said Renji"
"Let's hope so, said Katsurou"
As both Hikaru and Ichika grew older, they did become really good friends much to the happiness of their families.
The two were now five (Hikaru) and four (Ichika) years old and Hana was expecting another child.
It was the beginning of April and all over the Seireitei, Sakura flowers had bloomed.
Katsurou and Hana were sitting in the 4th division, looking at their newborn daughter.
"I guess Haruka is a fitting name for her, said Hana"
"You're right.
-Haruka, our little spring flower"
Then, there was a knock on the door and Isane came in.
"I'm sorry to disturb you but lieutenant Hisagi is here with Hikaru and captain Ukitake will be here shortly"
"Thank you captain Kotetsu"
"You can let them in"
Isane nodded left the room.
When the door opened the next time, Shūhei came in carrying Hikaru.
"Mom, dad"
"Hi there buddy"
Shūhei put the boy down and he ran over to his parents were Katsurou picked him up and put him in lap.
"Has he behaved Shūhei?"
"Don't worry Suro, he's behaved very well.
-He and Mashiro even played a bit while I was helping the captain with some articles for the Seireitei Bulletin"
"That was kind of lieutenant Kuna, said Hana"
"You know how she is. She may be older than us but she sure likes to act like a kid"
Katsurou chuckled at that before he looked at his son who's eyes were on Haruka.
"Hikaru this is your little sister, Haruka"
"Sister?"
"Yes. You're a big brother now"
Hikaru looked at his father and then his sleeping sister before he reached his hand out towards her.
As he touched her hand, his sister opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"This reminds me of when he first meet Ichika, Hana whispered"
"You're right"
"Ichika, Hikaru said a bit curious"
"Yes. You did the same thing when you meet her for the first time four years ago"
Hikaru looked at his father but turned his head to the door when it opened and Jūshirō came in.
"Grandpa"
He got down from his father's lap and ran over to his grandfather who picked him up.
"Hello Hikaru.
-Have you behaved while you've been with your uncle?"
"Yes. We played and when he was busy, I played with Mashiro"
Hikaru the pointed towards his parents and Shūhei.
"I think he wants you to come over here and see her, said Shūhei"
Jūshirō put Hikaru on the ground before walking over to the other three to look at his granddaughter.
More time past and soon, it had been ten whole years since the war with the Quincies.
Katsurou and his kids were walking along one of the streets in the Seireitei.
"Hey dad, were are we going, Hikaru asked"
"To meet up with your grandfather and then, we're going to the Kuchiki manor"
"Why are we going there again?"
"Because today marks ten years since our victory in the war against the Quincies"
"Wow. Too bad mom can't come"
"Well, she and the other officers at the 4th needs to take care of things since both their captain, lieutenant and 3rd seat are coming to the manor"
"I see"
They kept walking for a while until Hikaru looked around.
"What around here would make grandfather go here?"
"You'll see soon"
Hikaru looked up at his father and couldn't help but notice a sadness in his eyes.
After walking for a bit more, Katsurou stopped walking and Hikaru looked ahead of them to see two people in front of a stone.
"Is that grandfather and the head-captain?"
"Yes. They go here when they get the chance"
"Why?"
"See that stone they're sitting by?"
"Yes"
"It's the grave of our former head-captain, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
-Ten years ago, he fought with the leader of the Quincies but he lost the battle and his life"
"I remember now that grandfather told me about him"
"Then you know what he meant to those two"
"Yes. He was their mentor..."
"And a father-figure to them. Yamamoto saw your grandfather and Shunsui as his sons and they saw him as a father.
-His death may have affected us all but it was those two who took it harder than anyone"
The three of them stood there until they saw the two get up and as they got closer, Katsurou put Haruka on the ground and she ran up to her grandfather.
"Good thing I brought the kids with me to meet them. Dad always looks so sad when he comes home after visiting Yamamoto's grave"
"Shall we get going, Shunsui asked"
"Yes, I guess the others are already at the Kuchiki manor, said Katsurou"
So they made their way to the Kuchiki manor were most of the captains and lieutenants already had gathered.
"Why don't you go and play with Ichika until the final guests arrive, said Katsurou"
"Okay"
Hikaru ran over to were he saw his friend stand and the two started to play tag.
"It's a good thing those two have each other to play with while we adults talk, said Renji"
"You're right about that, said Rukia"
"Yes, it would have been very boring for either of them otherwise, said Jūshirō"
They looked towards the two kids before they started to talk with some of the others until they felt familiar spiritual pressures get closer.
Soon, Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, Hiyori, Kisuke and Yoruichi all entered the garden were they all had gathered.
Ichigo had shorter hair and was dressed in his Soul Reaper outfit with Zangetsu on his back as usual. On his shoulders sat a young boy with the same bright orange hair as him.
Chad had slightly longer hair but it was not covering his eyes anymore.
Uryu and Orihime hadn't changed that much except for both looking more mature and Orihime had longer hair. Same for Hiyori, Kisuke and Yoruichi.
"Hi everyone, it's been a long time, said Ichigo"
"Good to see you all again, said Orihime"
"You all seem to be doing well, said Uryu"
"Thanks to what all of you helped us with ten years ago and the fact that the Seireitei has been rebuilt, you can say that, said Tōshirō"
"Wait a minute, Tōshirō is that you?"
"It's captain Hitsugaya to you!"
It wasn't a surprise that Ichigo was shocked at how the 10th divison captain looked. Over the years he had grown a lot and looked more like a teenager than a child.
Ichigo then looked around to see if anyone else had changed over the years.
Yumichika didn't have the feathers on his eyelashes anymore and wore some sort of cape.
Isane had shorter hair and wore the Haori of the 4th.
Tetsuzaemon had another hairstyle and a cresent scar close to his right eye.
Byakuya was wearing three kenseikan on top of his head again.
Kenpachi's hair was much longer
Mayuri had once again changed his facepaint and headpiece.
He and his friends then saw the two kids playing a bit away.
"I'm guessing that's your kids"
"That's right, said Renji"
"Ichika come over here, Rukia called"
"You too Hikaru, said Katsurou"
The two kids ran up to their parents .
"Kids this is our friends from the world of the living, said Rukia"
"Ichigo, everyone, this is our daughter Ichika, said Renji"
"And this is my son, Hikaru, said Katsurou
-Over there is also my daughter, Haruka"
He pointed to the little girl Jūshirō was holding.
"It's nice to meet the two of you, Ichigo told the two kids.
-I'm Ichigo Kurosaki"
"My name is Orihime Inoue"
"Yasutora Sado but everyone calls me Chad"
"I'm Uryu Ishida"
"Nice to meet you, said both kids and bowed slightly"
"Well behaved aren't they, said Ichigo"
"Of course they are, Ichika is after all part of the Kuchiki family, said Byakuya"
"Okay.
-By the way, this is Kazui"
He placed the boy he had carried on his shoulders on the ground.
"He's my and Orihime's son"
"It's nice to meet all of you. My parents have told me much about all of you"
"Nice to meet you as well kid, said Ikkaku"
The three kids then started to play while their parents and the other adults talked about the events from ten years ago. Celebrating their victory and also honoring those who lost their lives in the war.
(The next chapter will probably be the last and will be about something I've been waiting to do)