Chapter 6

"Karin, since you are marrying Toshiro and becoming queen, we have to get you a dress! How about we go to the Seireitei and pick out a dress for the wedding, and the reception," Toshiro's mother asked the raven-haired girl that sat across from her.

"Sure, it will be my first time going to the Seireitei; thank you, mom," Karin answered. She had taken to the habit of calling Toshiro's mother, mom, due to how she acted as a mother figure, and now since they were getting married, it only made sense to continue doing so since they would be mother and daughters-in-law.

"Wonderful, I will have the servants get the carriage ready! We can stay at my sister's home, she lives there, and I'm sure she will be excited to meet her niece in law." her future mother in law chatted excitedly. Karin only nodded and smiled as she played the part of an excited daughter in law, but in truth, she was dreading trying on several dresses and being away from Toshiro. The conversation didn't stop until Toshiro and his father walked into the room, chatting. His father took a seat next to his mother as Toshiro sat next to Karin,

"What have you been talking about?" Toshiro's father asked.

"Karin and I are going to the Seireitei to get a wedding dress and staying at my sister's home," Toshiro's mother answered excitedly. Toshiro glanced over at Karin, checking to see her reaction. Deciding he would ask her when they were alone later when they would go on their normal walk.

"When will you be going?" Toshiro asked curiously.

"In a week, I'll send a letter to your aunt tonight and hopefully have a response by next week," his mother answered. The family had a small conversation as they talked about the small details of the wedding. Eventually, Toshiro excused himself and Karin to take their walk to the forest to visit Kana. They were almost out of the kingdom and entering the woods when Toshiro broke the silence between them.

"Are you really okay with going to the Seireitiei? I mean, you've never been away from here or too far away from Kana or me," he pointed out.

"It's okay, it will make your mother happy, and it's good practice since as king and queen, we'll have to leave the kingdom to make alliances or if and when you go to war," Karin pointed out.

"Yeah, but I'll be with you on those, this is only my mom, and you are sure you can handle that level of girliness on this trip. After all, you grew up running about the woods, and even though you wear dresses now, I know you still hate them," he pointed out playfully, flicking her forehead.

"Shiro, I'm sure I can manage. After all, I've fooled your mom so far, and you should be excited. The sooner I get a dress, the sooner we can get married," Karin smugly replied as they got to the clearing of the old cabin where Hana lived and where the pack resided. Karin left Toshiro as she ran towards the wolves to converse with them while Toshiro talked with Hana closer to her than the wolves. They didn't stay long before returning to the castle.

Toshiro's mother got word back from her sister agreeing to let Karin and her stay at her home while they are in the Seireitei. They left on schedule heading towards the Seireitei. The trip didn't take long, and Karin's disappointment was filled with conversation of girly things. By the time they arrived at Toshiro's aunt's house, it was already late. A woman just as tall as Toshiro's mother met them at the door; her hair was a light brown,

"Akine, it's good to see you. Thank you for letting us stay here. This is Karin, Toshiro's Fiancee.

"Koyuki, it's good to see you as well," she greeted before turning her attention to Karin, "My sister hasn't stopped writing about you in her letters since you appeared with Toshiro four years ago; you must be something to stop my sister from writing about her son and rather about a mysterious girl." Akine voiced with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, but you flatter me too much," Karin replied, slightly embarrassed, causing Koyuki and Akine to both laughs before leading Karin inside. They showed Karin where she would be staying during the time before the two went off to talk.

The following day Karin was taken shopping in the Seireitei for the perfect white wedding dress. Karin had rolled her eyes when she had heard her mother in law say those words at first, and her patients were running dry as they made her try on several dresses. Karin sighed as they let her take a break and get a breath of fresh air as Koyuki and Akine continued looking. Karin stepped out of the store and looked around the streets taking in the area's sounds around her. She picked out a scream of a girl perking her interest. Karin immediately took off running down an alley in which the sound had come from. She was grateful for having to live with the wolves as it increased her senses, having to rely on them more than an average person. After the first one, the sounds became muffled, but she was lucky to pick them out. The sound took her a little bit away from the busy streets, and a back broke down area that looked abandoned. Karin paused around the corner, peaking slightly at the building where she had last heard the muffled screams checking for people guarding the outside of it. Seeing nobody, she reached into her pocket, taking out a pocket knife that Toshiro had given her before she left just in case and opened it before running at the place. She noted the similarities that it had to the concrete building where she had found Toshiro as she entered. She growled as she walked down the steps. To see a girl pinned to the table no older than five with four men surrounding her.

"Look what we have here!" she growled, stepping into the room so that the men could see her, "you disgusting bastards are still at it," she muttered angrily as their scent reminded her more about the scent that was in the room were she found Toshiro.

"Girl, you shouldn't have come down here; now we have to kill you," one man said, turning towards her with a knife in hand. Karin narrowed her eyes before running at them. Easily she outmaneuvered them using their pressure points to knock them unconscious. It wasn't until the last one she had to use a knife to fight. The male stood in front of the table, holding a butcher knife pointed at her. Karin attacked straight on, using her knife to go against his as they pushed against each other. The man surprised her when he brought out another knife and slashed her cheek. Karin hissed before knocking the butcher's knife out of his hand and taking out his feet before jumping on top of him, holding her knife tip to his throat. She would have killed him if it wasn't for the voices outside becoming louder, snapping her out of her bloodthirst.

"Karin!" yelled a woman's voice, followed by a series of males voices.

"I'm here!" she yelled out. It didn't take long for soldiers to make their way down to the room to see the scene. One soldier patted Karin's shoulder, telling her to get up and let him take the male below her. She complied, putting away the knife before going over to the girl. To Karin's relief, the girl was still breathing and didn't have very many injuries. Karin picked her up before being escorted out of the building to where her mother in law was waiting. The girl felt small and light in Karin's arms; her frailty reminded Karin exactly of Toshiro.

"Karin wher-" Koyuki stopped halfway in her sentences seeing the girl in Karin's arms.

"She needs help, please, I'll explain after," she promised. Koyuki nodded before rushing Karin to the nearest physician who would see the girl. As the physician was treating the girl's wounds, Koyuki sat with Karin, impatiently waiting.

"Karin, how did you know?" Koyuki started. Karin looked at her before looking down.

"I heard her; living with the wolves heightened my senses. I heard her scream and followed it. Mom, that scene was the same.." Karin started, not sure if she should actually tell the woman that.

"Alright, Karin, I understand you don't have to explain," Koyuki answered, understanding the difficulty of the topic. When the girl was healing, Karin barely left the child's side, ensuring she was protected and felt comfortable. When it was time to return to the castle in Hyourinmaru, it was decided the girl would return with them since she seemed to have no family and was quite clingy to Karin. When they arrived back, both males were standing on the stairs waiting as the carriage pulled up. They were slightly surprised to see the young girl come out of the carriage with Karin and Koyuki.

"Who's this?" Toshiro's father asked first as Toshiro observed the child.

"It's a long story, and we'll tell you in a bit," Koyuki said as she took her husband's arm and followed him up the stairs. Karin took her spot next to Toshiro as the child grabbed her hand.

"Is she from where I think?" he asked softly, referring to the child. Karin nodded,

"Pretty sure the same people too," she added as the following Toshiro's parents to the common room where they took their usual seats, and Koyuki told the story.

"Did you at least get what you went for?" Toshiro fathered asked.

"Yep and Reika helped me pick it out," Karin answered, pointing to the child who was sleeping with her head on Karin's lap. The family smiled as the child slept comfortably, having a small conversation before going their separate ways. Toshiro carried the child to Karin's room.

"Why do I feel like I'm going to be a dad before I even get married, basically?" he asked jokingly as Karin pulled back the covers.

"Because that's exactly what's happening," Karin laughed. He gently set her down before covering her up. The two made their way to the couch to talk.

"Other than that, did the trip go good?"

"I guess as good as one could imagine, your aunt and mom together are pretty scary in a bridal store," she pointed out, making the two laugh. Karin rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around hers. Their conversation was light and playful until they heard cries from the bed.

"Mom! Dad!" Reika called out. Toshiro and Karin went over to her, Karin getting on the bed to lay beside her while Toshiro collected a chair and sat on the other side. They both tenderly stroked her hair calmingly until she opened her eyes to see them. "Mom, dad," she said softly before grasping both of their hands and refusing to let go.

"Don't worry, Reika, we aren't leaving anytime soon; we will always be here," Karin comforted.

"Reika, we'll protect you, sleep easily," Toshiro encouraged before the child nodded and closed her eyes, falling back to sleep. Toshiro stayed in the room until Karin decided she would go to bed and hugging the child and holding her in her protective grip. Toshiro watched for a moment before exiting the room with a small smile playing on his face of how mom like Karin was being.

Over the weeks, Reika officially named Toshiro and Karin her mom and dad. Wherever she was, she was sure to be closest to one of them, never leaving their sides. Meanwhile, Toshiro's mom and Karin were planning the wedding and the coronation. The planning went extremely quickly due to Toshiro's mom's diligence before the day was upon them.

Karin helped Reika with her dress and flowers as it was decided she would be the flower girl and ring bearer.

"You have the rings?" Karin asked gently. Reika smiled and pulled out the rings from a pocket that they had sewn into her dress so she wouldn't lose them.

"Yes, mom," she answered before placing them back in. Karin patted her head carefully so she wouldn't ruin the little girl's hair.

"Good, thank you, Reika," Karin praised before turning to fix herself up. She already had the white dresses on. It was forming fitting with a little bit of a trail behind her. The dress's bottom was covered with silver else quite swirl designs as the collar, and the leaves were lace the similar design. Toshiro's mom entered the room, carrying avail.

"Karin, this is the vail I wore the day I married Toshiro's father, and when I became queen. I think it would be fitting if you were to wear it too," she suggested.

"I would love to," Karin accepted before turning around so the older woman would be able to place it. Karin couldn't help but smile when she looked at herself in the mirror. She was very grateful when her hair had returned to her mid-back. Koyuki helped Karin place the veil over her face and situate the back, which flowed down her, but it was decorated with flowers, and the hairpieces that kept it in Karin's hair was a series of white flowers with silver stems.

"Beautiful," Koyuki complemented before turning to the door and looking out. "I think it's about time." Karin nodded, following her, trying to gather her courage to walk down the aisle by herself since she had no father of her own to do it. She was surprised to see Toshiro's dad waiting by the door,

"Karin, you look stunning," he started seeing her.

"Thank you, is there a problem?" she asked cautiously, confused why he was there instead of in his seat.

"Since you have no father of your own to walk you down the aisle, I thought you would let me do the honor?" he asked gently. Karin nodded.

"Of course, thank you, dad," she replied before taking his arm and faced the door. Karin nodded to Reika, telling her to go ahead. After a few seconds, let the child get about halfway down the aisle before she started after her. When Reika got to the front, she took her spot at Toshiro's left side, watching Karin come up. Toshiro lost his breath seeing Karin walking down the aisle and stepped down the steps to take her hand from his father; he couldn't contain his smile seeing how beautiful she was. Karin took his outstretched hand before he led her up the steps to stand before the priest. The majority of the ceremony was a blur as Toshiro and Karin watched each other until it was time to say their I do's.

"Toshiro, do you take this woman Karin as your wife through sickness and in health until death do you part?" the bishop of the kingdom asked. Toshiro nodded as he responded,

"I do,"

"And do you Karin take this man Toshiro as your husband through sickness and in health, until death do you part?" he said, turning to Karin.

"I do," she answered. The bishop nodded before nodding to Reika, who stepped up, handing Toshiro his ring first.

"Repeat after me, with this ring, I thee wed," the Bishop instructed. Toshiro took Karin's left hand, and as he slid the ring onto her finger, he repeated what the bishop had said. Karin repeated the gesture putting the right on Toshio's left-hand ring finger before taking the other hand. "With this, I pronounce you man and wife; you may now kiss the bride," the bishop finished shutting his book and stepping back. Toshiro took a step forward before leaning down and capturing Karin's lips. It was a chaste kiss that lasted a couple of seconds before they broke apart. They moved to the next stage of the ceremony, turning to kneel facing the crowd as the bishop turned to lift a red crown that had been on display in a shadow box.

"Now do you Torshiro and Karin Hitsugaya swear to defend this kingdom, look over its welfare, ensure its prosperity, and lead it to a promising future," the bishop asked, holding the crown over Toshiro's head.

"We do," Karin and Toshiro both answered.

"Then by the power entrusted to me, by your ancestors and father, I crown you king and queen of Hyourinmaru, may your reign bring the kingdom great joy and prosperity!" the bishop announced before placing the crown on Toshiro's head and turning back to grab the other crown that was colored purple and raising it above Karin's head and placing it on hers. Toshiro stood up before helping Karin to her feet and walked down the aisle to the streets so the kingdom could rejoice about them being the new king and queen. They were taken to a reception hall, where they went to the back hall. They both were able to take off their crowns and place them in the shadow boxes waiting for them. Karin went into a dressing room to do a quick dress change from her white wedding dress to a dark blue formal dress. Toshiro waited outside the door until she was ready. As she stepped out, he put his hand out for her to take, which she gratefully accepted, allowing him to escort her to the reception hall where they were seated at the head table and had the task of greeting several guests. Karin sighed boredly as she once again sat down after greeting another guest. Toshiro took her hand, making her turn to him as he gave her an understanding smile. He leaned into her ear so nobody else could hear him.

"Just a little while longer, and then it's you me for a week at an out of way cabin, where nobody can bother us," he reminded her. Karin blushed slightly before nodding and lipping the words 'I know' before turning to greet another guest. It was time for their first dance, and Toshiro helped Karin up before leading her to the middle of the dance floor. Turning to her, he rested his right hand on her mid-back and took her left hand in his right as Karin rested her right hand on his shoulder. The music was slow as they swayed across the dance floor gracefully. You wouldn't believe that four years ago, they would have been a sloppy mess stepping on each other's feet compared to now. They looked as if they had been dancing their whole lives. Toshiro's mother had always credited their gracefulness to them being perfect together as destined to be together. Everyone couldn't help but watch them the whole time instead of joining them, and when the dance ended, Toshiro and Karin backed away from each other slightly before Toshiro bowed and Karin curtsy. The guests erupted in applause at their dances before going back to dancing themselves.

The couple made their way back to their seats, where Reika was eagerly waiting for them.

"Can I dance?" the child asked with a grin; Karin knelt, so she was eye level with the child.

"Maybe Toshiro can take you to dance," Kari suggested. The girl smiled before tugging on Toshiro's hand.

"Alright," he finally agreed, allowing the little girl to lead him to where he just was. Karin watched the two grinning ear to ear before she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she realized it was Toshiro's dad,

"Karin, how about a father and daughter dance," he offered. Karin nodded before taking his hand and allowing him to lead her to the dance floor next to Toshiro and Reika. The four danced before switching, so Toshiro and Karin were together, and Reika and Toshiro's father were together laughing.

"Did you guys plan that?" Karin asked. Toshiro shrugged his shoulders,

"My dad and mom would do anything for you; they practically are your mom and dad," he replied as the song came to an end, and the reception was starting to slow down. "I think it's about time for us to go." Karin agreed before the two started to head towards the exit. The crowd all made way for them, saying goodnight as they left. Toshiro's parents and Reika followed behind them until they were at the bottom of the steps where a carriage was waiting. Toshiro helped Karin into the carriage before turning to his parents, "We will be back in a week," he reminded them before getting in the carriage and taking a seat next to Karin.

"We will watch the kingdom until you return and have a safe trip," his father said before the carriage left, heading towards their destination. The two sat in silence for a couple of minutes until Toshiro took Karin's hand to make her look at him.

"Ready for a new adventure?" he asked.

"As long as I'm with you, I think I am," she agreed before hearing howls of wolves congratulating them.

~The End~