Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters. I do not believe that my pocket change will make that possible at all.

Summary: On the day of the birth of Karin & Hitsugaya's child, news arrives that he's gone missing on a mission to Hueco Mundo when his zanpaktou and a letter are retrieved from Hueco Mundo. Karin though does not believe as such along with her family, but fights the rumours of Soul Society about Hitsugaya being considered a criminal and a traitor, and must face the fact that she would be raising their only child alone.

The Bridge Of Silence

+--+

+Dead+

"What are you doing?" Kurosaki Ichigo looked down at the white haired captain bowing.

"I come to seek permission to marry your sister." He looked up, those ocean green eyes burning intensely with so much determination. The orange head sighed, unable to really do anything now that his sister was 18.

"I'm not my father you know. Besides, I thought you hated her." He furrowed his brow.

Hitsugaya didn't hate her, maybe it was another story because they bickered constantly about other problems. He adored her to say the least, even if sometimes they couldn't agree in many things.

"Kurosaki, just answer the damn question." He stated icily, obviously he was in no mood for stalling or any other kind of crap the new ninth squad captain would throw at him.

Ichigo didn't know what to really say, it surprised him. They hated each other, loved each other…did they ever decide on a clear point to it? Sighing for what seemed the nth time in the day, he scratched his spiky orange hair--it was way too absurd to waste the entire morning on that.

"I suppose." He waved his hand lazily, while going back to signing those damn papers. The silence grew between the two, only the scratching of the calligraphy pen and brush managed to interrupt the wavering silence.

"Was that a yes or what?" The white haired shinigami muttered thru his gritted teeth.

"Yes, is that clear?" Ichigo wasn't having patience, therefore he stood up abruptly nearly knocking the bottle of ink on his desk. "I have other matters to attend to, you know the way out, Toshiro." He knew that his future brother-in-law hated that.

"Its Hitsugaya-taichou to you!" He grumbled, as he stood up.

+--+

"Karin, ready?" Isshin asked, as the Senkaimon was open for Soul Society.

The black haired girl sighed, shifting uncomfortably on her spot as the small baby on her hands giggled at the sight of the Hell butterfly. "Yeah." She mumbled, while trying hard not to think about what awaited her.

"Wait, before you go," Her father stopped her, and handed her an envelope. "…open it when you get to the division. Take care and take care of Tatsuya."

Karin smiled lightly at her father and huddle her baby closer, and the enveloped on her shinigami robes.

"Bye Oyaji!" She waved, as she stepped thru the gate and onto Soul Society.

The gate closed, Isshin sighed for the nth time while Urahara appeared out of no where, hiding behind his famous fan.

"Seems that young Kurosaki Karin is not looking down." The mysterious man commented, while hiding his expression. "You don't seem so concern after hearing the news just two days ago. And, when are you going to return to Soul Society?"

"She'll be alright Kisuke…she'll be alright." The other shinigami smiled. "She still doesn't know, but I fear somewhat when she does. I'll go back when I think its right, besides they don't need me much at the moment." He walked off, leaving the former captain in a slight confused daze.

Soul Society looked the same, blue sky with scattered clouds around--peaceful. The people greeted Karin as she walked about the tenth squad barracks, they nodded and allowed her to pass to the tenth squad taichou's office. Karin held her baby still, allowing him to look around at the mysterious place in which normally his father (whom he did not know) doing paper work as always.

"Tatsuya, this is where your father works." She whispered to the baby, not wanting to disturb the peacefulness in the room. "He'll be back soon, take care of the paper work. Scowling at the mistakes he'll find, and here to take care of you." She didn't want to cry. Fighting the forming tears back, the lump on her throat was tighter then ever, but she wouldn't cry.

Tatsuya simply blinked at her, reaching his small hand out for her to grab. The new mother smiled at the baby, tugging lightly on his little hand as he giggled. You are a replica of your father, she thought while taking a seat on the couch.

The emptiness seemed new for her, usually the visits prolonged an uncertain excuse just to see Toshiro and have a couple of make-out sessions. Kissing him senseless, allowing her to become so heated and wanting him right there and then. It didn't matter if people walked in during their heated kisses, mainly because everyone had become accustomed to the new found relationship.

Ninth squad's new third seat, Kurosaki Karin and tenth squad Hitsugaya-taichou. There was nothing wrong with it, though speculations never died down despite the seven year relationship that was no secret. She had been thankful that her brother hadn't killed him when the ninth squad captain walked in on them. It was a comical sight to say the least.

"Karin?" Ichigo slid the door shut. She scowled at that as she jumped off from Toshiro and fixed her robes.

"We are screwed." The icy captain muttered, while fixing his own robe.

"Ichigo!" Karin opened the door and saw him stand there, completely shocked. "I don't care what you or everyone else says. Its my life and you, along with everyone else, is not allowed to interfere…got it?"

He stood there, looking at his young sister's determined eyes. Something told him that they were together, but not that far into the relationship. Ichigo hadn't cared though, it reminded him slightly of his relationship with Rukia, that little demon shinigami.

"I wasn't going to comment on that." He grumbled, scratching his head. "I only came here to hand him a paper that got delivered to my squad. And, I really don't care Karin about it." She stood there surprised. Kurosaki Ichigo wasn't pissed at all, or angry at the fact that she was about to have sex with the white haired captain.

"You…you aren't mad?" She asked, quickly regaining her composure.

The orange haired captain shook his head. "Not a bit." He opened the door again. "Yo, Toshiro! Oh, and please don't do stuff like that in the office. Or, try a silent proof kidou spell at least." The very last part made her frown.

"Its Hitsugaya-taicho!" She heard her lover grumble loudly.

Karin smiled at that little memory. Except that a few days later, Kurosaki Ichigo nearly tried to kill his brother-in-law to be because of it. She remembered that it was a test to see if he was worthy of taking care of her, as if the answer wasn't obvious.

Hitsugaya couldn't beat him on the first day…third…fifth. No, it was until their tenth meeting that he was finally able to defeat the unbelievable strong shinigami. That day was a very rewarding day for him, which was Karin's passion for a single day.

"Karin-chan!?" A voice pulled her out of her reverie. The black haired girl looked up to see Matsumoto-fukutaichou looking solemn and as if she had been crying.

"Rangiku-chan." Karin stood up, holding her son still.

The strawberry blond shinigami fell to her knees and resumed her tearful session again. Karin didn't know what was going on at all, but she knew that there was something wrong. Quickly, she rushed over to her and put her hand over her shoulder.

"What's the matter?" The edge of her voice couldn't be hidden.

The older shinigami looked up at her. "He's…he's…" She couldn't. She just couldn't say it because it would hurt too much.

"What?" Karin could not help her worry. Matsumoto looked battle worn.

A few shinigamis appeared behind her, they seemed to be from the fourth squad.

"Matsumoto-fukutaichou." One of them spoke. "You shouldn't have left like that, please come back." Another one attempted to pull her up, but the woman refused.

"NO!" She shrieked, pushing them all away. "I don't want to return to that room anymore."

Karin was just so confused, but Tatsuya began to cry.

"Shh…I am sorry." She said. "I would appreciate if you just let her be."

"Hai!" The four said in unison and disappeared.

Something felt wrong, and Karin was well aware of it. Tatsuya stopped crying suddenly, allowing the peacefulness to return to the place again, only the muffled cries of Matsumoto managed to squeeze thru the echoing silence.

"What's going on?" The fearless shinigami asked, getting tired of the strange façade that everyone seemed to be putting around her.

"I shouldn't…" The voluptuous shinigami shook her head, wiping her tears away. "Did you not get the letter?" Her voice was shaky still, but she managed to compose herself as she looked at the baby on Karin's arms.

"Letter?" Karin mumbled, remembering what her father had given her. "Oh, you mean…" She didn't finish her sentence as Matsumoto motioned to be allowed to carry Tatsuya. "Sorry, here."

Matsumoto smiled at the tiny baby that looked so much like her captain, but tried not to cry. She watched as Karin pulled out the letter of some envelope. Her eyes widened at the blood stains, it couldn't be true.

"W…" Her mouthed moved, but it seemed her voice box had suddenly been turned off. Quickly, Karin unfolded the paper and begun reading.

Karin,

I am sorry to disappoint you on leaving like that, not even did I imagined to have detected that, but I found out only today. Unohana-taichou informed me about the fact that you were with child, I really didn't know what to think at first. You probably are scared to death right now, mainly due to the fact that you are the one who is carrying it and not me. That's not the point here, the point is that I am rather disappointed with myself because I won't be there for you because of this mission, but I am stuck between a conflict. Again, I wished I could kiss you and tell you how happy it makes me, and to know that soon you'll have our child. There's so much I want to say except that I am unable to say it properly, there's not enough words to express the joy that is buried in my heart at the moment. I love you Kurosaki Karin, no matter what. Maybe this mission won't take long, so until then take care of yourself and our child.

Love always,

Hitsugaya Toshiro

Shock over took her, as Ichigo suddenly appeared along with his wife Rukia. Karin looked at them, unable to understand the meaning to the letter at all, until Ichigo pulled out Hitsugaya's zanpaktou. It was unbearable, shocking, and completely unattainable to really process in her brain. A gasp escaped her lips, she then realized what it truly meant.

"No…no…" She shook her head. "No…its…that's a lie." Ichigo shook his head, while Matsumoto and Rukia lowered their heads. "Oh God…ah…" Karin dropped the letter and put her hand on her stomach, trying to not cry out loud.

"I couldn't tell you earlier." His voice sounded low, unlike his usual self when he was going to give bad news of some other type. He watched her tremble, tears slowly forming in her eyes…the pain being painted on her young face. "Karin…"

Ichigo caught her as she nearly fell to the floor. That lump that had been there loosen suddenly, making her cry in agony at the loss. She didn't want to though, and she shouldn't. That was not the case at the moment, it felt as if everything had been ripped away slowly. His last kiss, his last taste, his smell…everything about him had suddenly vanished.

"NO!" She screamed, allowing herself to show a weaker side of herself. "Why!? Why! Toshiro!" She held onto Ichigo's robes tightly, looking as if she was about to rip them apart due to her pain.

Her nails dug on his flesh, but he ignored the pain as he held his sister tightly.

The entire 10th squad had known already, but only hearing the Captain's fiancée scream in pain made it all too real. The loss, the pain…everything that came with the unknown was too much for anyone to really handle. Rukia covered her mouth as she tried not to cry, it was a horrid sight at the moment, and she wanted to leave. That was impossible, mainly because it was Kurosaki Karin who had lost so much over the past ten years.

"I am sorry, Karin." Ichigo expressed, still holding her. "I'm sorry for not telling you and for not protecting you."

Matsumoto could no longer cry, every single drop of tears no longer seemed to exist in her body anymore. It was clear that she shouldn't cry anymore, her captain wouldn't be too proud if she saw his fukutaicho showing weak emotions.

The sight was unbearable as Rukia vanished from sight, unable to really handle the pain that showed on the young new mother's face. While Matsumoto could only stare at the sight, without having the power to stop the pain at all, but also feeling shame about the fact that she was unable to bring her captain back with her. Also, as she looked back down at the giggling child, she wondered about what would happen now that the young child was without a father.

"Is he really dead…Ichi-nii?" Karin's voice was weak, dry without any emotion left on her tone.

Ichigo exhaled lightly, explaining was something he really didn't want to do at the moment. "No one knows." He stared at the sinking sun out of the window of the tenth squad's office. "There's no trace of his reiatsu anywhere in Hueco Mundo."

Karin stared at the unknown, a million of things running in her head at once--not a very wise decision to think at all. No, it was not time to mourn because there was no proof that Toshiro was actually dead. She didn't want to believe, and neither was she going to allow others to think so as well.

"I don't believe it." Karin stood up and brushed her shinigami robes. "I need to get back to my living quarters right now."

Ichigo didn't say anything as he watched his young sister disappear along with his nephew. He stared at Matsumoto, who stood there simply gazing at the empty office.

"She believes in him so much." Her voice came clear. "I should be like her right now. I must believe that taichou is out there fighting to stay alive, and wanting to return to see Karin-chan and Tatsuya-kun."

He sighed and managed a smile on his face. "It's a Kurosaki trait that we are often reminded by our father. We don't believe in giving up after letting out whatever emotions we feel at the moment. So, I think it is better to believe that he's out there." He patted the woman's shoulder. "Don't worry Rangiku, just think that he's out there somewhere like Karin is doing right now."

Her blue eyes gazed at the amber ones, they held so much determination that she was a little jealous at the fact that the Kurosaki children could be so strong. A small smile of hope appeared on her face. "Hai, Kurosaki-taichou." Matsumoto knew that he hated being called that.

"Ugh, not that Kurosaki-taichou crap again." He scowled as he walked off back to his division.

+--+

"Is she really going to be alright?" Hisagi Shuuhei asked, while grasping Yuzu's hand.

"I like to think so, we are Kurosaki children after all." She smiled, while she watched his twin coming towards the ninth squad barracks. "She has stronger faith then any of us. While all of us think Hitsugaya-taichou is dead, she manages to believe in him and think so otherwise."

Yuzu stood there wondering if it was really alright for Karin to feel like that, then again her sister never really put so much faith on other people. Karin had very strong beliefs, something that Yuzu was amazed and intrigued by it.

"She's far too strong, sometimes I wonder if I'll lose my post because of her." The dark haired shinigami looked at Yuzu.

"I wouldn't know about that." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "At first I thought she would join the 11th squad. Zaraki-taichou surely is a scary man, and it seems like the type of squad she would be in."

"I'm not that scary." Karin opened the door to the office, and smiled at the couple. "I don't think it would be proper to have my child grow up around those men. Shuuhei, get your filthy hands away from my sister."

Despite the fact that Yuzu had found someone to really put her interest in, Karin didn't really like the fact that Hisagi was a former womanizing shinigami. Perhaps she doubted if his adoration for her sister was really genuine, then again many things in Soul Society never failed to amaze her.

"Kurosaki!" Hisagi glared at the testy Kurosaki. "Haven't I worked for nearly three years to prove my worth?" He was completely annoyed by the fact that a lower rank shinigami bossed him around, but he was slightly afraid of her because he didn't want his taichou to beat him up.

"Yeah, you have. Except that I don't buy it." She shrugged, while her child giggled again.

"What's his name?" He asked, despite of really wanting to form a bond with her.

"Hitsugaya-Kurosaki Tatsuya." Karin replied, while trying hard not to be influenced by the older man's tricks. Yuzu decided not to interfere with the fact that her sister and boyfriend were fighting, again, about useless matters.

"I have to go." She suddenly said. "I'll drop by later to see Tatsuya." She waved and walked out of the room.

Silence soon fell, only the cooing of the baby broke the silence between the two shinigamis. Hisagi maintained a level head on himself, specially in case Kurosaki-taichou were to step in and find them arguing about Yuzu. Ichigo wasn't lenient with her at all though, Hisagi knew well after having being nearly sliced by a powerful Getsuga Tensho.

"Want to hold him?" Karin gave in, even if in the future he was to become her brother-in-law.

Willingly, the tattooed face man lifted the child off her hands and saw the resemblence of the tenth squad's captain. He was a sucker for cute things oddly enough, despite his usual calm self, but he had to admit that the child was unnaturally adorable.

Karin stared at the sight, she smiled in spite of herself because she had to admit that he was really nice. Maybe, just maybe she would start to cut him some slack.

"I thought you were so interested on Rangiku-chan?" She asked, while trying to clarify the fact that all male shinigami who were single were obviously obsessed with the very beautiful woman.

He looked up and frowned, not really wanting to be reminded of the fact that he indeed had a crush on her.

"Did." He muttered. "I don't think she's really interested in me in the first place. I've known that for a while now, since it seemed she had an adoration towards Ichimaru. I can't replace him, nor do I want to be used as a replacement. She moved on, I moved on--it's a happy world now."

Happy? She thought for a second on the ideal of a happy world. Everyone would be there, her mother, her father, her brother and his wife, Yuzu and maybe Hisgai as well. The only person that seemed missing on her happiness was Hitsugaya. No, he was alive somewhere out there and she needed to stay at that mind set.

"I suppose." She stared at the fading sunset. Stars began to appear. "It seems…reasonable. I think."

He frowned, not really understanding what she meant at all. There were a lot of things that he didn't understand, after all, he still hadn't grasped the idea as to why his former captain had betrayed Soul Society.

"You think? That's good." He chuckled lightly, carefully choosing his words around her. Hisagi was aware of the situation regarding Hitsugaya-taichou, but he was still unknown as to what to think about him.

"Here, I need to go and get some rest." Karin held her arms out for Tatsuya. He gladly handed the child to her. "Do you think he's out there?" He cocked his head a little, her back was against him.

"I wouldn't know about that. He should be, if he has hope and the will to continue living." Hisagi answered to his best.

"I see." She muttered and slid the door open. "Keep trying Shuuhei, and maybe you'll have my approval along with Ichi-nii's." He watched her walk off.

No sadness seemed to appear on her face, only sheer determination and belief about Hitsugaya being alive seemed present. Perhaps things would be better this way to think, and believe as well.

+--+

This was chapter two everyone, thanks for reading. My thanks goes to Sonata Ann, rose-of-alabaster, Kida Ookami and ChevalierAirumel for reviewing and alerting, also to Moon of Jupiter for alerting. I hope this was not such a bad chapter at all, mainly because there was a lot to say. I decided to pair Yuzu with Hisagi because I usually read her being paired up with either Jinta or Hanatarou. Though Hisagi doesn't really look like the type of guy that would be paired with Yuzu, but I am only seeing how this works out. Anyways, the name for the child took a while to think about because I had gone thru an entire list of names; in the end though Tatsuya seemed like a very fitting name because I liked it; according to websites I have searched it means 'become dragon (and possess its wisdom and longevity).' If you know an other meaning let me know, or I'll just leave it like that. Also, Karin and Yuzu's ages haven't been made clear, but they are around 21 so hopefully no one got confused on that part.

Everything is still on the works, meaning that I have to do some extensive research in order to find a proper name for Karin's zanpaktou along with Yuzu's. Just to clarify, Karin is third seat in the ninth squad, and Yuzu is...I can't reveal that yet at the moment. I am also doing the little flashback scenes in order to add some Hitsugaya/Karin moments, since at the moment he's missing. I promise that hopefully in chapter 4 or 5 he'll come back 'cause I have other details to really write down. I hope it wasn't too OOC, but I tried my best not to go off. Also, I think there was some slight confusion from last chapter about Karin thinking that Hitsugaya was dead but she only assumed that he was, she was only thinking deeply into it. Like it? Review. Hate it? That's alright.