New beginning

Kira stood patiently behind as Matsumoto talked with Kukkaku. He could guess by the looks she threw at him that she was not happy to see him.

"Rangiku! I promised to take care of this girl, so that the bastard over there would not trouble her again. But what did you do? You brought him here!" Kukkaku exclaimed in disbelief.

"I told you already. A lot of things happened and he realized his mistakes." Matsumoto said. She could see that Kukkaku was not convinced. "We should let Kanzaki decide, ok?"

Kukkaku was hesitant for a second, but then she moved from the door frame and let Rangiku inside. Kira did not try to go. He was not welcomed.

After 10 minutes, which seemed like eternity to him, the door opened again and Kanzaki appeared. She was healthy and glowing, with her big belly visible under the baggy clothes. He felt his heartbeat quicken. He moved closer.

"Kanzaki!" Kira exclaimed.

She was looking at him with a cold expression.

"Captain, I am glad you are alive."

He stopped in his tracks.

"Kanzaki…Mina…forgive me!"

She smiled with irony.

"Mina…I am surprised you know my name. You only ever called me by my surname."

He did not know what to say.

"You treated me with no respect, but now you come and think that if you ask for forgiveness, I am going to jump in your arms in happiness?" She shouted. "In that case you are very wrong! I have no feelings left towards you!"

He was prepared for a reaction like this, but he hoped that she would be gentler towards him.

"You are right. I was a jerk. I deserve no forgiveness. This is the side of me that you saw and there is no way to believe that I can be different. But I want a second chance. Not to be the man you love, but the father of your baby." He pleaded.

"The baby's father killed him long ago." She said coldly. "Don't you ever come back again!" She moved her back to him and headed towards the door.

"Kanzaki!" Kira jumped onto his knees and caught the end of her robe. "Please! Just give me a chance to see you and our child and help you! Please!" She stood still, biting her lip, trying to suppress her emotions. "I know that you loved me! And I am terribly sorry for everything I did, but I can't turn back the time. I missed you a lot." He said the last sentence quietly. She was crying, but moved away without a word.

She had promised herself to never forgive him and never show weakness ever again. The most painful thing was that he had never told her he loved her.

Three months later:

Hitsugaya was in bed with Hinamori sleeping soundly on his chest, deep in thoughts. Ever since coming back he had trouble sleeping. He did not know if it was because of the fact that he believed he would never be back again or because of all the responsibilities he had to face now.

"Shiro-chan?" Hinamori asked and he focused his sight on her face, looking intently at him. He had not realized she had woken up. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Momo. Go to sleep." He whispered.

She was not convinced.

"You know, if you share your problems, they become easier to solve." She moved up and sat next to him. "Are you worried about Shin?"

"You can say so." He said quietly.

She caught his hand.

"He just needs time. He can be very stubborn." She smiled. 'Like you' was the next thought she did not voice.

"I know. But it does not make it any easier. The fact that my son hates me."

"He does not hate you!" She exclaimed, moving in front of him. "He loves you. He just wants to punish you for missing the first years of his life. He does not realize the situation."

"How can he? If we tell him the story from the beginning, the reason why I decided to leave in the first place, he will hate me even more."

Hinamori felt sorry for everything he had to go through.

"This is all in the past. You should forget about it. The kids will always love you." She moved her hands to his face, caressing him. "Shiro-chan…"

Hinamori kissed him softly, then moved on top of him standing on her knees. She bent her head to kiss him again. He returned the kiss, caressing her hair.

"I love you!" She whispered in his ear.

Her hands moved to his chest, parting his robes. He put his own, under her nightgown, taking her off.

The next morning Rangiku came for breakfast. The kids were both very happy to sit around their funny aunt.

"Captain, you look tired! Since you don't have a vice-captain, maybe you can take me to help you!" Matsumoto said enthusiastically.

Hitsugaya looked up with a comical expression.

"Matsumoto, you must be joking. Nothing will change even if I take you. The amount of paperwork will be the same." He said seriously, much to Matsumoto's indignation.

"This is so unfair! Besides ever since becoming Kira's vice-captain I began to work more." Hinamori laughed at her remark.

"Rangiku-san…you tried to stay away from him most of the time."

"How is that connected anyway?" Matsumoto sighed. Yuki smiled next to her.

"Aunty Rangiku, when I become a captain one day, I will take you as my vice-captain!"

"Oh, thank you, sweetheart!" Rangiku and Yuki hugged smiling.

"You won't become a captain, Yuki!" Shin teased her with a smirk. He loved it when Yuki got angry.

"I will!" She jumped from her chair, protesting. "Right, daddy?" She moved in Toushiro's lap.

"You both will as long as you work hard!" He smiled.

Shin met his gaze for a second then moved his head to the side.

"I am going to train!" The boy said as he stood up.

Hinamori was quick to interfere.

"Shin-chan, your father can help you later!" She smiled, while trying to kiss the boy's cheek.

"I don't need his help!" He said coldly, rejecting Hinamori's kiss.

Rangiku was first to break the heavy silence that followed.

"Geez, he takes after you, captain! He's becoming grumpier with every passing day."

Yuki and Hinamori smiled secretly at each other, while Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow.

"Anyway, I am leaving now! I am going to check on Kanzaki! She is about to give birth every moment!" The red-haired woman stood up with excitement, kissing Yuki before waving goodbye.

"Good luck!" Hinamori wished. "I am going to visit Kira this afternoon."

Hitsugaya stood up too, leaving Yuki on the ground, patting her on the head.

"I will be going to the office too!"

"It's Sunday. Don't overwork yourself!" Momo kissed his cheek.

Inoue was standing above the baby crib, looking with admiration. A wide grin appeared on her face as the baby opened her big eyes, the same color as Rukia's.

"Kuchiki-san, she is so beautiful! She has your eyes!" Inoue exclaimed as she looked back at the company, sitting nearby.

"Thank you, Inoue!" Rukia smiled, full of pride.

"My hair, though." Renji remarked proudly, pointing at his red hair.

"How did you name her?" Ichigo asked.

"Ichika." Rukia looked at Renji and then answered.

"Her name is also so beautiful!" Inoue was starting to tear up.

Ichigo smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed. Then moved his hand to scratch the back of his head.

"You know guys, you really didn't have to…You already expressed your gratitude numerous times." He said.

Rukia and Renji looked at each other.

"Didn't have to do what?" Renji asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Name her after me." Ichigo smirked, feeling honored.

"Ichigo, we did not name her after you." Rukia said calmly, taking a sip of her tea.

"Eh?" Ichigo looked at them confused.

Renji grinned.

"I chose this name, because this is the flower Inoue embroidered on my wedding veil. We both liked it very much."

Ichigo opened his mouth in surprise. Renji and Rukia secretly exchanged smirks.

"You did not even get married…" He said quietly.

Meanwhile Inoue started crying from joy.

"Thank you, Kuchiki-san, Abarai-kun. It is my favorite flower."

"Oi, Inoue. It's ok." Ichigo moved up to calm her down, moving his hand on her back.

"You can name your own child after yourself, moron!" Renji teased.

"Yes, I might. We will consider it, right Inoue?" Ichigo wanted to answer Renji's provocation and accidentally said more than he planned to.

Rukia looked at Inoue.

"Inoue?" She questioned the orange-haired girl.

"Well, actually we planned to tell you anyway." Ichigo began.

"I am pregnant." Orihime said and her cheeks turned bright red.

"Congratulations!" Rukia said loudly, standing up to embrace Inoue.

"Wow, this explains why Inoue is a bit chubbier." Renji said surprised.

"Renji!" Rukia scolded him.

"Congrats, man!" Renji grabbed Ichigo's shoulder. "Guess you will be getting married?"

"Yes, before you!" Ichigo remarked, teasing the red-haired man.

"We will be getting married in three months." Renji responded.

"In two weeks." Ichigo smiled, putting his hands in front of his chest.

Rukia sighed and looked at Inoue.

"We chose two fools for husbands."

Inoue laughed.

Kanzaki lay in her bed, still sweaty and tired, when Isane entered and handed her the baby.

"There you go! Congratulations, Kanzaki-san!" Isane smiled brightly.

"Thank you!" Mina answered, then looked down lovingly at the small bundle in her hands.

Her son was crying while throwing his small fists in the air.

"It's ok. Mommy is here." She carefully caressed his cheek with her finger.

The door opened and Kira went in, visibly very excited and emotional. She had kept her word about not forgiving him, but she promised Rangiku to let him be a father to his son.

"Kanzaki…" He whispered and stepped closer carefully, moving his head to take a better look at the baby in her hands.

The baby stopped crying and opened his crystal blue eyes. Kira smiled at the sight. He looked at Kanzaki, finding the same feeling in her eyes. They had become parents to a lovely healthy boy.

"Thank you, Kanzaki! Thank you for giving birth to him!" He said, one tear rolled down his cheek, but he was quick to wipe it.

She nodded softly.

"May I?" He carefully asked and moved his arms towards her.

"Yes." She handed him the baby gently.

Izuru embraced his son, rocking his arms slowly, with eyes full of adoration.

"My son…daddy is here!"

"I thought of naming him Naoki." Kanzaki said. "Do you like it?"

"Naoki." Kira repeated and looked at her, then again at his son's face. "I like it a lot. It has a good meaning. I hope our son will become a man who stands behind his words." He smiled.

She returned the smile.

Kira returned his whole attention to the baby who was busy exploring the new world.

"I love you a lot! I love you both!" Kira whispered.

Shin was trying to shoot the targets in the training field with his kido, but it was quite difficult for him to do it. Hinamori had tried to help him but he always wanted to advance faster than possible. Hitsugaya watched from afar as his son angrily jumped in his spot after every failed attempt.

"You have to move closer!" Toushiro said and the boy turned to where his voice came from.

He was angry that his father had seen his failure.

"I know what to do!" Shin said confidently.

"It doesn't seem so!"

"The other soldiers train from here!"

"But they are better than you!" Toushiro calmly said as he got up and moved closer.

"What do you know? Mom is better than you!" Shin got even angrier.

Toushiro smiled.

"It's possible, but I want to see what you can do!"

"I won't show you!"

"Why? Are you scared?" It was a provocation.

"I am not scared of anything!" Shin shouted, determined to beat his father.

His next attempt was even worse.

"Just move closer!" Hitsugaya repeated loudly.

"I won't!" Shin stubbornly refused.

Hitsugaya moved past him and hit the target effortlessly. Despite the fact that he could do kido spells without the incantation, he said it loud and clear. Shin moved next to him.

"Hado 31! Shakkaho!" He excitedly said and the fire cannon hit part of the target. He smiled proudly.

"It was not so bad!" Hitsugaya sighed.

Shin was offended.

"Leave me alone!"

"I am not going anywhere until you hit one target in the canter! So are you!"

Shin jumped to attack his father, but Toushiro easily caught his shirt and put him down in the spot in front of the target.

"Shoot!"

Shin tried to do it with all of his anger but it did not work out.

"You can't do it, because you are angry! Anger never helps. You need full concentration." Toushiro said as he stood parallel to him. "Look at the target until it becomes the only thing you see! Then move your hands straight in front of you and say the incantation loud and clear."

Shin was not very willing to follow his advice, but he decided to try anyway, because he refused to give up. He stood there for around two minutes before he shot as Toushiro followed his concentrated face and posture, finding it adorable. Then the boy exhaled loudly and screamed, while a large red ball appeared and completely destroyed the target.

"Yes!" He jumped in satisfaction, smiling.

When his eyes met his father's, however, he stopped and resumed his serious expression. Hitsugaya was smiling too.

"You have some talent!"

"What do you understand anyway?" Shin exclaimed, pretending to be annoyed, but he walked by his father the whole way back home.

Later that evening when they were going to bed, Hinamori asked.

"What happened today? You seem pleased!" She smiled and moved closer to him.

He pulled her in his lap. She laughed.

"Nothing special." He kissed her neck.

"You are lying!" She laughed again. "Stop it, Toushiro! I am ticklish!" She moved her head away. "Shin was also happier!" Momo tried again.

"Maybe." Toushiro continued playing mysterious.

"Shiro-chaan!" She pouted, annoyed and moved up from his lap.

He stood up and embraced her from behind.

"Don't get irritated! These are things between fathers and sons."

She raised an eyebrow and turned around to face him.

"Really?" She playfully asked. "I will ask you one day when me and Yuki have secrets too."

"Ok." He smiled and kissed her.

She returned the kiss and was about to go further, but he stopped her.

"Wait!"

"What?" She was confused.

"What happened to the ring I gave you before I left?"

She was surprised, but went to the drawer to pick up a silver chain, holding the ring.

"I used to wear it on my neck before the war." She handed the chain to him.

"You don't need to do that anymore!" He said and removed the ring from the chain. She looked at him with confusion.

He took her hand and put the ring on her finger. She widened her eyes.

"Momo…" His eyes met her own. "Will you marry me?"

Hinamori opened her mouth, but no words came out. She just nodded in response. He watched with pleasure as she adorably bit her lip, trying to calm down.

"Yes! Yes, I will!" She finally managed to say and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck, the diamond ring sparkling on her finger.

This was the last chapter! I felt happy writing it and I hope you will be happy reading it! An epilogue coming next week! Ah, I will miss this story!(the happy parts)