Two years after Tatsuya came, the family welcomed another son who they named Ryouta and a year after him, the first daughter in the family was born and was given the name Izumi.
Jūshirō was now seven years old and loved his siblings dearly.
He helped his parents a lot with keeping an eye on them since both Tatsuya and Ryouta were wild little boys.
But not long after Izumi's birth, Jūjirō fell ill.
"Will your father be alright, Akemi asked"
"The doctor says that this came out of nowhere and they're not sure if he will recover"
"Is it because of his age?"
Jūsanrō nodded and sighed.
"Dad is not as young as he thinks he is and his health has not been the best the past years.
-I guess it was only a matter of time before this happened"
Akemi saw the sad look in her husband's eyes and kissed his cheek.
"Let's hope that your father recovers. The children would be so sad to lose their grandfather"
"You're right"
But Jūjirō didn't get better.
Jūsanrō and Hiroshi walked out of his father's room along with the doctor.
"Thank you for everything you've done"
"Just doing my job, my lord"
The doctor bowed and left the two.
"I can't believe this, said Jūsanrō
-Father isn't going to make it"
Hiroshi looked at his nephew and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's hard for us all to believe"
"Uncle..."
"We should tell your family so the kids can say goodbye to their grandfather"
"You're right"
They walked through the house and out to the garden were everyone was. Jūshirō was next to his mother in the shade while his brothers were playing with Emi
When he saw his father, Jūshirō ran up to him.
"Father, Great-uncle"
"Hi there Juu"
Jūsanrō picked up his son and Jūshirō could see the sadness in his father's eyes.
"Is grandfather okay?"
Jūsanrō sighed and shook his head.
"I'm afraid your grandfather won't be with us for much longer"
"Why not?"
Hiroshi saw that Jūsanrō couldn't say it so he took his great-nephew from him.
"Your grandfather is very sick Jūshirō and he's not strong enough to fight it anymore"
"But I was very sick too and I'm better"
"But you are young and strong enough to fight when you get sick.
-Your grandfather is over 1000 years old and is not as strong as he once were"
The others then came up to them.
"We should go see him, Akemi said"
Her husband and his uncle agree and they walked inside.
"Brother, we brought Emi, Akemi and the kids"
Jūjirō looked up tiredly at his brother, his daughter, his son, daughter-in-law and grandkids.
"So... you told them..."
"They deserved to know father"
The elderly man nodded weakly before turning to Tatsuya and Ryouta.
"It's sad that I won't see you grow up more than this.
-I know you two will grow up to be strong like your father"
He knew the two were too young to understand what was going on but he wanted to tell them that anyway.
Akemi then knelt down so he could see Izumi.
"And you little Izumi, you will grow up to become a beautiful woman like your mother but also strong like your brothers"
The baby made a cooing noise which made her grandfather smile before he looked up at Jūshirō who still was in Hiroshi's arms.
Akemi took the other kids with her out of the room while Hiroshi knelt next to his brother.
"Jūshirō... don't be sad"
"But grandfather..."
"I know that I won't be here much longer but it's the circle of life. We're born, we live and we die. It was just a matter of time"
He reached up and placed a hand on the boy's head.
"I wish I could see you when you are older but I know that you will become a strong and kindhearted young man.
-And a great heir"
Tears flowed down Jūshirō's cheeks as he got off his great-uncle's lap and hugged his grandfather.
"I will miss you grandfather"
"I know my boy but I will always be in your heart"
Emi, Hiroshi and Jūsanrō watched and smiled a bit at the way Jūjirō spoke with the boy.
After Tatsuya was born and Hiroshi had that talk with his brother, Jūjirō had gotten closer with Jūshirō which made the whole family happy.
He had finally accepted that Jūshirō was strong enough to be called the family heir despite his illness and now, he was going to leave them before even seeing the boy take on the position.
The old man then turned to his children.
"Emi, I couldn't have asked for a better daughter than you. Despite not being born into our family, you embraced the Ukitake name with pride.
-Help your brother with his work as family head and help take care of your niece and nephews"
Tears ran down Emi's cheeks as she bowed her head.
"I promise father"
He then turned to Jūsanrō and Hiroshi.
"My son, stay strong for your family. Raise your sons and daughter to become just as strong as you and your wife. Keep on growing as clan head and become better than I ever was"
"I will father"
"My brother, I leave the heavy burden on clan elder to you and I'm sorry for that. But help my son when he's troubled for as long as you live"
"You have my word, big brother"
Jūjirō passed away the next morning and the family took it very hard.
A couple of months later, Jūsanrō came home later than usual.
"Something the matter dear?"
"I came from a meeting with some other clan heads. As you know, a few of them works as Soul Reapers in the Seireitei and I decided to do the same"
"You're gonna become a Soul Reaper?"
"Yes. I have powerful spirit energy so all I need is to summon a Zanpakutō"
"Does this mean that we...?"
"Yes. We're moving to the Seireitei in a week so I can be closer to my work.
-But it's also a perfect and safe place for our children to grow up"
Akemi looked at her husband before nodding.
"You're right dear. Our children will grow up in a safer enviroment if we live in the Seireitei"
"I've also talked to a friend who works as a healer and he's assured me that he won't hesitate to help us if Jūshirō gets one of his worse attacks"
"That's good to know. Maybe living in the Seireitei will also help him get stronger so it doesn't happen that often"
"We just have to wait and see"
The two then walked into another room were Emi was playing with the kids.
"Children, we have something to tell you"
"What is it father, Jūshirō asked"
"I got a job in the Seireitei as a Soul Reaper and in a week, we'll be moving into a house there"
"Move?"
"That's right Tatsuya.
-It means that we will have a new home to live in"
"If it's big enough, you can all have your own rooms and you'll have a bigger garden to play in, said Akemi"
That seemed to get the kids attention the most and they all seemed a bit more exited to move.
A week later, the family moved into a bigger house in the Seireitei. On their grounds, among some trees they made a family grave were the ashes from Jūjirō, his father and grandfather were buried.