Karin, Kazui and Ichika were having lunch in the college's cafeteria. After Toshiro had left the day before, Karin kept thinking of how to investigate what was happening and how she would question both Yuzu and the kids without worrying them too much. So she decided to start investigating things on the following day, hoping that they would have calmed down a little bit. She was currently waiting for Yuzu to arrive so all of them could have a talk while eating. So far, Karin's plan was going smoothly, the kids were eating and chatting happily, they seem to have relaxed a bit after all that they had been through. Unfortunately, that peaceful atmosphere didn't last long enough for Karin's liking, as an annoying entity made its appearance, Rebecca. "What a sight! Are we perhaps witnessing a happy family eating in our cafeteria? Could it be a single mother with her two wretched freak children?" snickered Rebecca, while her group laughed. Each one of the three had a different impression about what they had just heard. Ichika, in a loud angered voice, yelled " What?!". Kazui, on the other hand, sat wide eyed from shock, while Karin, who was already used to Rebecca's annoyance, clenched her teeth, breathed through her nose, and tried to calm herself down; so as not to kill Rebecca right on the spot. Before Rebecca could say another snide remark, Karin planned to shut her up, however, Ichika bet her to it" What was that, bitch?". "Ichika!" yelled Karin, without a second thought, while looking sharply at her. No matter how much Rebecca could be annoying, the children must never forget their manners, especially when they are dealing with their elders. Rebecca stood still in her place, stunned at both the fact that a kid just called her bitch and the fact that Karin's yell had so much power to it, like that of a mother reprimanding her child. Ichika was startled, this was the first time someone yelled at her. No matter what she did, her family always talked to her. Never have they ever yelled at her. However, before she could ask why she was yelled at, a phone rang. Without even thinking, Karin picked up her phone and answered:" What do you want?", but there was no reply. Karin looked at her phone to see who it was and found that it was Matsumoto Rangiku, Toshiro's vice captain. So Karin tried again" Rangiku? Are you there?", that's when she heard:" yes, I'm.". Karin then realized that there was something wrong, so she shushed Rebecca when she was about to retaliate, and talked in a serious tone that forced even the kids to pay attention :" what happened?". Everyone was waiting anxiously to hear what was happening , even Rebecca, but suddenly, the phone fell from Karin's hand while she was frozen in her place, wide eyed, not even paying attention to her phone. Then a tear fell from her eye, a tear that surprised everyone there. Yuzu arrived at that moment and saw Karin's phone fall and saw her frozen in her place. So without asking, she picked up the phone and hurriedly asked what's going on, and only then did she understand why Karin was in that state. Toshiro had died.
They were on their way to soul society, that's what Yuzu had decided. After hearing about Toshiro's death, Karin didn't utter a single word and didn't even shed anymore tears other than the one that first escaped from her eyes. She was lifeless, to the point that Yuzu had to literally drag her from the cafeteria to their apartment. Yuzu was at a loss of what to do, especially with the kids asking her about what happened. In the end, she decided to go to soul society, to find out more about what had happened and how Toshiro died. She had no choice but to take the kids with her, she had no time to send them to her brother Ichigo, and she couldn't entrust any of her colleagues to look after them, besides, she hoped that having the kids along would help Karin to awaken from her reverie. She didn't explain anything to the kids, all she did was telling them to wait, that all their questions shall be answered at the right time, and until then, they should look after Karin until she recovers from her shock. Deep down Yuzu knew, she knew that Toshiro's death must be connected to what happened to her. It must be connected to other things she had no idea about, things that Karin kept in her heart and worried about all on her own. All Yuzu could do right now was steel herself, even if she was scared and unsure of what to do. She had to be strong in front of the kids. She had to be strong for Karin, until she regains her strength and be ready to face whatever was happening.
As soon as the four of them reached soul society, Karin disappeared. Yuzu didn't even get the chance to register the fact that Karin had left, as she was suddenly greeted from behind by Kyoraku, the captain commander of soul society, "I heard you were crossing the senkaimon, so I thought of greeting you myself while guiding you around". Yuzu was at a loss of words at first; as she was worried about Karin, but she collected her thoughts quickly and returned the greeting:" Thank you for your kindness, captain Kyoraku. Before anything, I'd like to send the children to the Kuchiki manor then we can have our talk.". Kazui understood what Yuzu was trying to do, but he wasn't going to go along with it "I'm not leaving, auntie Yuzu!". Yuzu was surprised with what Kazui had just said, but she decided to play dumb " I'm sorry, Kazui, but there is something I need to talk about with captain Kyoraku, and I thought you'd be bored hearing some adult-talk. Wouldn't it be better to have Ichika show you the Kuchiki manor.", she hoped she could trick him into agreeing, but things didn't go like how she hoped. "You're wrong, auntie. I want to hear that adult-talk, especially when I know that it is related to what is happening around us." Kazui had this strong determination to stay, and he planned to show it to his aunt. "We are not some stupid kids who don't understand what is happening. There is something very important happening, something that made auntie Karin behave strangely and made you act all secretive. We have the right to know, especially after witnessing what happened to you!", that was Ichika's reply to what Yuzu was trying to do. Ichika had the same determination and will as Kazui, and they were not going to back down. Captain Kyoraku was watching the conversation silently, thinking of how much those two kids are similar to their fathers, as if he was looking at smaller versions of both Ichigo and Renji. He realized that Yuzu hadn't told them the news and was trying to keep it from them, so he decided to interfere himself:" The kids are right, you know. They have every right to know what happened, and if you're not going to tell them, I will". Yuzu looked at him with disbelief, how could he want to tell mere children such a thing. She knew from her own experience how hard it's to receive a news like this at a young age, she and her sister suffered a lot when they heard about their mother's death. Kyoraku replied, as if he could read her mind: "Have faith in those kids, I believe that they are stronger than what you think.". She was distraught. Everything that's happening was driving her mad and she was already tired to fight him off, so she let him have his way.
They arrived in front of the death scene, Soul society's archive, the place where Toshiro was killed. After hearing the news, the kids were shocked and even cried, but they still decided to accompany both Yuzu and captain Kyoraku to the archive; to see and hear everything about the incident. There, they found all the captains and vice-captains of soul society gathered, including Ichika's uncle and mother. Everyone there looked towards the Kurosaki's, noticing that Karin wasn't there. Captain Kyoraku was the first to break the silence:" Captain Kurotsuchi! Have you contacted Kurosaki Ichigo yet?"." I already sent him a message since no one answered the phone. It seems there was an accident in the living world and he is busy. I believe he shall come as soon as he can. ". Captain Hirako Shinji was the one who talked next:" I don't see your sister. She must be very sad to the point of not being able to come here.". As much as his words were hurtful and insensitive, as much as she couldn't deny them. As soon as they had arrived, Karin disappeared and she didn't know where she was. The kids, on the other hand, wanted to reprimand him for his words, however, vice-captain Hisagi Shuuhei made everyone stare at him wide-eyed from shock:" What are you saying, captain Hirako? Kurosaki Karin is already inside the archive." . Just as he said those words, Karin emerged from there, looked at everyone for a short time then left. Yuzu was about to call her out when a beeping sound appeared. Everyone looked at the source, captain Kurotsuchi, waiting for him to explain the sound " A senkaimon was opened. Kurosaki Karin is heading back to the world of the living, to Karakura town!".
It was already night by then. Ichigo, along with Orihime, Ishida, Chad, Mizuro, Keigo and Tatsuki, arrived to the Kuchiki manor, where Yuzu and the children were staying. Byakuya, who greeted everyone, explained to them the details of what happened that day. How Hitsugaya Toshiro died in the archive without a trace of any form of violence, as if he had been swallowed by a dark hole. How Yuzu and the kids came here and what happened with them. And how Karin is no where to be found. Everyone was trying to check on Yuzu and the kids except Keigo, he had that solemn and serious face, it was probably the first time Kazui had ever seen him like that. Ever since Kazui was born, uncle Keigo had been a funny, friendly uncle who never stopped smiling and laughing, so Kazui wanted to ask him about what has changed, but he didn't have the chance with everyone there. Rukia suggested that everyone spends the night in the manor as everyone was already tired from the day and on the following day, they could think of what to do next.
Kazui couldn't sleep that night. After everything that's happened that day, he couldn't help but feel that there was still more, what with how uncle Keigo was behaving that night. So he decided to talk to him at that moment, even if he had to wake him up. As he was walking in the Kuchiki garden, he saw uncle Keigo , standing in front of a sakura tree. Kazui was about to call him out when he realized that his uncle was talking to someone, so he subconsciously hid behind some bushes. When he tried to look closely, he found that his uncle was talking to a tall figure. He couldn't even tell if it was a man or a woman, it reminded him of these shadows that appear in horror movies. He was too spooked by the figure to go and talk with his uncle, but accidently he overheard what they were saying " So you already knew, that both of them have already died!"," What I really know is that you have been entrusted with a key, a key that shall lead us to the truth"," At the cost of whose life!"," Then are you willing to see those kids suffer in an endless hell?!"," But to trust that man is a suicide in itself. I can't believe that I'm hearing this from you, Ichimaru Gin".