Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. I could do the most daring thing ever, and will never own it. And NO, don't dare me to do something--trust me.
Summary: I feel that everyone by now has gotten the point--so I'll stop posting the summary.
Well, this chapter is dedicated to Tsukihime nee for wishing me a Happy Birthday! Thanks, hope you like this chapter.
The Bridge Of Silence
+---+
+Holding On Again+
The clamp feeling of the nose did not do well or helped at all, unable to provide oxygen with the stuffy nose at the moment. She groaned in frustration, the flue surely failed to become one of the greatest things in the world in order to miss school. Her body felt groggy, as though she had spent an entire day out on the pouring rain that continuously pounded against her window.
"Kurosaki, I brought soup." Toshiro entered the room, which felt extremely warm--the kind of weather he disliked so much. Except that, it had been his fault for not taking care of her properly the previous day during a fight against a Hollow.
Karin turned to look at him, a tiny smile spread around her face--she didn't know if it was the cold medicine, the illness or whatever, but she wanted him there. His figure sauntered closer to her and set the plate down on the nightstand, and sat on the small spot besides her.
"What's with that sappy look on your face?" She questioned, pulling her arm out of the covers and reached out to touch the contours of his face. Her thumb graze his fair skin, it seemed strange to see that type of expression painted on his face, those green eyes looking as though there was some blame inside of him--it was not a good feeling.
Why was he always risking himself in order to protect her, always treating her with so much care and love that it hurt to see that hurtful expression. The usual pompous side of him never faltered in any circumstances, now regardless of how many times she would tell him that it was not his fault, it seemed as though there was a void growing inside of himself.
"Its nothing, just rest Kurosaki." He muttered thru gritted teeth, hating to be reminded of his childhood friend. All the past seemed haunting, carving like a deep flesh wound that never allowed itself to heal at all despite the five years that had been put between that time and the present. "I was supposed to watch out for you Karin, and I didn't keep my word on it." Toshiro's head lowered on her palm, his cheek seeking out her warmth for comfort.
The unusual cold captain felt weak, for the first time revealing the darkness that his soul had suddenly been drowned out in suddenly burst like a bubble. The dark memories from the time when Aizen had revealed his true colours, that was a bullet piercing a human and killing it, shattering many lives and building doubts.
He rested his face on her chest, smelling the fresh laundered clothes and feeling her warmth wrap itself like a bubble around him. Kurosaki Karin was a safe person, one who understood what it was like to lose so many things in life, but despite that, she was still willing to stand up to anything that came her way.
"In life there will be times in which neither you or I could help the fate that awaits us both, so please stop blaming yourself." Karin ran her fingers in his soft white hair, allowing the cold that came from his body to make her feel better. His breath was hot against her chest, it was so warm and welcoming she closed her eyes. "I blame no one because you were there to protect me when I fell. I am not as strong as you when it comes to dealing with Hollows, but I am really glad that you are here now." She sat up and grabbed his face with both of her hands. Karin was panting, the cold was not normal at all and she felt that it might be pneumonia or something because she had been around ice for so long.
The white haired captain looked at her dark eyes, seeking and reaching out to pull her into his arms as their lips crushed against each other. She asked for entrance, eliciting a moan from the male as he ran his fingertips on her face and traced her face. They fought against each other as she begun to roam his chest and she began to unbutton his black shirt, but he stopped her suddenly.
"You're sick, we shouldn't do something like this." Toshiro breathed, resting his head on her shoulder and breathed heavily. "Go back to sleep."
"Hai, Toshiro." She laid back down and immediately fell asleep.
+---+
The faint sound of the birds chirping echoed in the large room, nothing but the thick silence seemed to be getting to Toshiro as he opened his eyes to look up at the ceiling. The lighter colours, the daylight--everything that was Soul Society seemed new once again after spending so long staring at darkened skies. He stood up slowly, since he was still not allowed to move so much due to the fatal injuries that he had acquired from Hueco Mundo, and he was not liking his rest at all.
Having fought life and death only a week ago, he wasn't allowed to see anyone for the time being because he was still in some type of danger of getting infected. The least of his worries were his injuries though, the thought of going back to work was the thought that really got to him because he had been missing a lot of things for so long now. Mostly, the part that worried him was to see his fiancée again and meeting his child as well.
"Hitsugaya-taichou, Kurosaki-taichou is here to see you." The caretaker announced, as the orange haired captain entered the premises followed by his two children.
"Toshiro, finally up and ready?" He smirked at him and took a seat on the cushions that were there on the floor. "Sleeping on a futon helps with some pain, or at least I think."
Toshiro only shook his head at the strangeness that sometimes he would say, but he was certainly glad that at least he was acting normal unlike everyone who worried about a lot of things regarding him.
"I told you Kurosaki, its Hitsugaya-taichou to you." The icy captain expressed. "Is there something you wish to tell me now? Or do I have to go and find out myself from Matsumoto?"
Ichigo furrowed his brow a little because it was hard to really say what there was to be said about a future that for the moment seemed uncertain, everything was too chaotic to even realize the truth about anything. Sighing, he looked over at his two children as they sat there silently out in the porch. Why was everything so hard to say? Simple words could be useful, but it would only make whatever there was to say feel slightly threatening. Going about it on the long explaining process won't do any good.
"Everything is going haywire here Toshiro." The orange haired captain expressed, while looking at his future brother-in-law. "I feel like someone we knew did this to you." His voice was hard on that last statement, it had taken everything for him to say it clearly to Rukia after finding out more about what had happen during the kidnapping of Hitsugaya.
"What the hell do you mean? Matsumoto--" Toshiro raised his voice, but Ichigo kept him quiet because no one was to know about it just yet.
"It isn't her, I swear that it isn't her. She--Rangiku felt responsible for not being able to protect you back in Hueco Mundo." Ichigo's voice suddenly wavered as the painful tales of that day seemed to only sink in deeper, but he tried not to look sad. "Shit, it is my fault for not going with you while I had promised my sister to keep you. I--"
"Don't apologize for something that neither you or I could stop." Toshiro expressed as he sat up slowly and put his hand on the 9th squad captain's shoulder. "If both of us were to be captured, then Karin and your wife would've been in pain at the same time. If one is in pain, two would be a hell that we would wake up to. I blame no one but myself for being careless, but there are many things in life that happen."
Ichigo sighed and then smiled a little, going back to look at his two children and then remind himself that Hitsugaya was yet to meet his child. The sight of two white haired souls was comical, now Ukitake-taichou would have a reason to continue giving candy to the two.
"So, are you ready to meet your son today?" He changed the subject, feeling like the morose words were getting to him and he hated that feeling.
"Tatsuya, Karin said that he looks like me but obviously the Kurosaki genes run deep inside of him." Hitsugaya mused while he looked at Kurosaki Kazuki and Amaya, smiling despite the fact that the two were just like their father. "I missed a lot in his exceptionally young life that I won't repay back, so there's a lot of things that I need to go back into."
"Trust me, babies will be a hell for sure. Except that children bring a lot in your life just like Kazuki and Amaya, but you'll do fine I think." He grinned and patted him in the back. "Kazuki, Amaya come on don't be rude and at least greet Toshiro. Sometimes they can be really rude like that."
Toshiro shook his head. "Obviously they had to be Kurosaki children." That earned him a glare as the two children entered and bombarded him with a lot of questions.
Somehow though, it was not so bad being part of that family because they were extremely close and unlike the life that he was once a part of. Leaving his grandmother had been a hard choice, losing Hinamori had been the worst of them--except that now things weren't so bad.
+---+
The Kurosaki manor, which had been built recently because the Kurosaki's had been made into a noble family, something rather rare and unheard of. For Hisagi Shuuhei, it was a rather intimidating thing to say the least. It was still a bit new to him to understand that his girlfriend was actually a noble now, though he tried not to pay much attention to it since neither Yuzu, Karin, or his captain even cared to much for such titles at all.
He paced around the room he had taken up, at the request of his captain because no one really lived here, and he was getting tired of the room he held in the 9th squad--adding a bonus Yuzu lived here as well. So, what would he do now? It was crazy trying to even realize that Captain Kurosaki Ichigo had actually accepted on having Yuzu marry him, the only problem was that how in the hell was he supposed to ask?
"Shuuhei, are you alright?" Yuzu entered, as she was carrying some books in her hands.
"Uh--yeah I am fine. Doing more research for Ukitake-taichou?" He questioned, while scratching the back of his neck in response of trying to hide the ring on his hand.
The golden haired shinigami set the books on the small table in the room, and dusted her robes in order to remove the dust she had gotten from the library. She then looked at her 69 tattooed face shinigami boyfriend and saw how he was not acting like himself, but she was not into questioning much.
"Not really, I was just looking up at some more Kidou theories and old demon arts. Ukitake-taichou seemed to be interested on looking at ancient arts that have been disappearing." She informed him, while walking over to him as he continued to hide something from her. "Are you sure that you're alright?"
Hisagi was trapped, acting weird was obvious to raise some questioning from her. It would be now or never, but he had to do it.
"Yuzu, there's something I would like to ask." He said, while watching her respond. She gave him a nod to continue. "First, I know that I am not really that much of a romantic type of guy. Secondly, I went to the lengths of proving myself that I was more then just a simple Casanova and all of that s-crap. Kurosaki Yuzu, will you be willing to spend your eternity with me?"
There wasn't going to be the whole cliché type of thing at all, but he felt that she wouldn't like that either--so he resorted on the 'unromantic' way. Yuzu was speechless, surely it would be expected sooner and didn't know what to think at all. Her brother and twin sister had actually accepted him, which made this moment better.
"I--I am speechless." She threw her arms around him and kissed him in the cheek. "I can't be more happier then I am now. So, I will marry you." She looked into his warm eyes and kissed him warmly, allowing him to trace his tongue over her lips. Tasting the cherry flavour of her chapstick and the faint taste of tea in her mouth, she was sweet like no other. Her scent was of silk and a mix of coconuts, such relaxing smell that could not beat anyone at all.
"Hopefully neither of you eat each other's faces." Karin stepped inside, while holding Tatsuya in her arms and threw a sly glance at the couple. "So, I am guessing you didn't have to resort to the 'roses and candles' shit, right?"
"Karin-chan!" Yuzu hugged her sister and kissed her nephew in the head. "Watch your mouth while around Tatsuya-chan, he'll start cursing as well."
The long haired shinigami laughed at her sister and smiled widely, today felt like a new beginning because today was the day in which Toshiro was due to return home again in her arms. The happiness flowed around her like no other, and it was slightly sickening as well.
"Glad you got asked this morning? Ichi-nii would've arranged it to have this made officially, since he knew a long time ago that it might happen." Karin informed, as the child begun to tug on her hair and giggle. "I would congratulate you on this and that, but enough of the happiness because I hate sugar coating things."
Yuzu could not help but smile at the fact that she was back to her normal self, being completely arrogant and mean about a lot of things surely seemed normal. Hisagi groaned only, having her back to that back-talking-girl was not something he looked forward too--but at the same time it was a change because seeing her depress was worse.
"Keep talking shrimp, then maybe we'll get somewhere on this subject." He smirked a little, trying his best to poke fun at her in order to prove if she was really alright.
"Oh, really now? As long as I remember I had grown at least a few inches more taller over the past five years. I don't think I am qualified to hold onto that title." She retorted as she opened the door. "Mess with me I'll fucking kick your ass again, unless you don't want that future brother-in-law." She laughed as she walked off, leaving Hisagi slightly aghast at the fact that he was going to be related to her in a way.
"Karin-chan, don't scare him away." He heard Yuzu say as she chased after her twin sister.
+---+
The taste of mint was always welcomed as Tatsuki tasted it in her mouth, the ice cream was the only thing that she could think about for over the past ten minutes. Bliss, it was pure bliss as she smiled contently while still digging on the large pint of ice cream. Renji could only stare at it wide mouthed, how could a woman her size eat that whole thing in only a matter of minutes.
"That's just plain disgusting, how can you eat a pint of ice cream all on your own." He muttered, trying his best to restrain himself from throwing up at the sight. "Adding sweet beans to it, that is just--there isn't even a word to say on that."
Tatsuki glared at him and threw the spoon at his face, though he managed to dodge it in time before being hit by it squarely in the face. Pregnant was a state new for her, everything that involved a pregnancy was not fun at all--though she had to admit sending her husband to find the most crazy foods around Soul Society surely beat anything in the world.
"Honey, don't be so mean like that." She started to cry, something that the red head didn't like at all as he quickly stood up and hugged his wife.
Hormones surely didn't do well--one minute women were angry and the next they were so chipper, it was like being stuck with a bunch of people who had split personality disorders. Sighing, he just soothed her while rubbing her back and kissing her temple.
"I'm sorry, I am really sorry. Think about it though, that kind of thing is slightly sickening you know." He attempted to smile, but only earning a punch in the gut for it.
"You are a moron Renji, be a little more considerate at the fact that I am the one who is carrying this baby in my stomach! Don't talk to me." She stormed out of the room looking extremely infuriated at him.
Perhaps the couch would be a better place to sleep at night for at least one night, before being yelled at and cursed at for being the cause of her being pregnant. At the same time though, he was so happy to know that soon he'll be taking care of a child in his arms and protect him from whatever that caused pain to him.
"A father, huh?" He thought out loud.
"Have you decided on a name yet?" Ichigo entered and smirked at him. Renji turned red because he hadn't really talked about his child at all, mainly with all the chaos happening around him.
"Ah--with everything going on. No, plus she's fucking pissed as we speak." He inquired, dropping his head and avoiding looking at the captain.
Ichigo widened his eyes for a moment, but then smiled contently seeing that it was obviously the feeling of being new to the whole parenting thing. Only eight years ago had that stage only started, it had been unexpected for him--somehow it was great though. Perhaps the parenting books would help his friend.
"You'll do fine Renji, its not rocket science." Ichigo mused, taking a seat on the small couch in the large room.
"I don't think I will. How--I don't even know what the hell I am supposed to do." Renji suddenly began to panic after thinking over it, it was sudden and unexpected for the orange haired male. "The idea now is starting to scare the hell out of me you know. I've never had to take care of anyone, let alone a child that is on its way."
The red headed shinigami was pacing around, his rumbled thoughts were getting to him as the feeling was being allowed to sink itself in. At first, it had been great and all happiness around--now it seemed like a terrible hell was going to start. The doors to the Gates of Hell had been opened, how could he feel responsible for another life?
Ichigo grumbled under his breath, the panicking of his friend was seriously annoying as he watched him pace back and forth muttering so many things. Deciding it would be best to knock him out of that thinking, he stood up and went to punch him right in the side of his face.
"What the fuck was that for?" Renji shouted angrily, rubbing the side of his face.
"Renji, parenting is not an easy thing. I can tell you that right now, trust me you are much more older then I am, but it isn't difficult." Ichigo groaned. "You'll think that everything is a living hell and all of that shit, but trust me, it would get better. I felt the same way because I wasn't ready to be a father, but look at me now. Rukia and I have two children together, both of us are doing great. You'll do fine Renji, you're just over thinking about it."
"Kurosaki-taichou, Hisagi-fukutaichou is looking for you." A lower seat appeared suddenly.
"Alright, I'll be there." Ichigo sighed and turned to look at his friend again. "You'll do fine, really. I'm not going to apologize for punching you, that's only a favour I am doing this for you."
Renji stood aghast, allowing that comment to sink in as Ichigo walked off. He shook his head, clearing his head was seriously something he needed to do, and realized that he was right about it.
+---+
The white haired captain stared out the window, leaning against a stack of pillows while he thought about everything that suddenly came out of the shadows. After all these time, he never truly believed that Inoue Orihime could easily turn against them--then again he could have guessed something like that because of the situation ten years ago. The memory of her had become slightly forgotten, mostly after she had gone missing and everyone had declared her dead right on the spot.
He remembered, his fight with that Espada had been overwhelming, she had strength that could not compare his to hers at all. The gate to Hueco Mundo opened, she along with that fourth Espada and Kurosaki appeared. Tears streamed down here face, the shock and horror of the bloody battle in her eyes--he knew the fear that ran inside of her and the blame that appeared on her face.
At first, it seemed like a normal shock at first, but suddenly he remembered that she shouted 'Stop!' so loudly. The hateful expression that appeared was shocking itself, she began to help that Espada and then suddenly, he remembered he had his own battle to return. Toshiro hadn't known what had happen afterwards, only the dreadful silence fell on the large battle field--the confirmation of the deaths of some Espadas, Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tosen--no one even cheered or anything. It was dead, everyone stood there as the sun begun to arise from the horizon.
Under the beautiful dawn, the horrid sight laid as he pulled away after killing the powerful Espada that dared to fight with him. A shaky breath escaped his lips, that memory alone made him realize how much he had at the moment. Losing everything would only bring his own death because he knew that losing Karin--that was enough to make the world stop spinning.
"Toshiro!" Karin exclaimed as she fell into her lover's arms. He was shocked at first, but allowed himself to pull out of that memory.
"Karin." He whispered as he took her face on his hands, and examined it carefully. Those onyx eyes always managed to shock him, the smile that which he loved and had missed. She was the sole reason why he wanted to exist at the moment, pushing aside that long battle and the scars, he smiled at her softly.
The dark haired shinigami smiled and hugged him again, hugging him as though there was no tomorrow because there was still a lingering fear of losing him again. Karin wasn't disposed on thinking about it, but seeing him alive and moving, smiling and speaking made her realize how vulnerable the situation had become. Tatsuya laughed cheerfully, staring at his father's eyes and stretching out his smalls arms at him.
Toshiro stared in awe, the small child that looked like him was there smiling at him and reaching out for him. Carefully, he took his son on his arms and held him at arms length. The baby giggles were new to him, the snowy white hair was a reminder that he was actually there breathing, but why was this sudden warm feeling coming to him so suddenly.
"Tatsuya." He whispered, afraid that this might be simply a dream and the child would suddenly disappear.
"Yep, that's him." Karin sat besides him, while resting her chin on his shoulder. "I told you he looked like you, but he's still got my arrogant genes running inside of him." She kissed him in his cheek and smiled again.
"He's--amazing." The white haired captain couldn't express his love for his son at all. The usual cold captain felt the happiness run in him, everything suddenly fell into place as he stared at his offspring--that felt like an offensive term. No, that was his future there and the second person that would depend on him to teach him.
Karin allowed the tears to flow down her face, she buried her face on his shoulder and allowed the salty tears to moisten his robe. Toshiro sat his child on his lap, allowing him to play with the small toy that he had on his hand, while he turned slightly to look at his fiancée. There was so much that he wanted to say, ask, express---anything, but it seemed not enough to comfort those long months.
"Sorry, I shouldn't start crying like a baby." Karin laughed, and stood up to walk towards the shoji screen and stared out into the sunlight that soaked the greenery. "I would've come sooner today, but I think Ichi-nii was here to speak to you."
"Ah, yeah he was here." Toshiro replied, shifting on his spot. "I--what should I say to you? Its hard enough for me to express my feelings, yet the pain somehow becomes heavier inside of me." He was confused for a moment, he stared at her and then at his son. Two distinctive people that suddenly felt so far away from him, even though they were there in the room present and breathing.
Karin continued to stare, her eyes watching the bamboo fountain moving down as it was filled. Silently, a conflict formed inside of her head because she knew the drawbacks of those who came back from war or whatever other conflict they would go through, he was never going to be the same. Shutting her eyes tightly, the void and happiness were two feelings that should be illegal to have at once--nothing good was bound to come out of it.
"There's nothing for me or you to say that would help the process be much more easier." She turned to look at him. "Lets--lets not talk about this alright." He sighed and attempted to stand up, but only being held down by her. "You shouldn't restrain yourself so much Toshiro, besides, Tatsuya looks like he wants to play with you."
How was she always acting so strong? Hitsugaya found that hard to understand, why she always acted like nothing was wrong and rarely cried about anything. Of course, Karin held the same pride as him, but hers was like that after losing her mother. He shook his head, while looking at his son and smiled at him--he was far too young to be put in a painful situation.
"Things won't be easy, are you sure that you'll be fine with that?"
"No, but as long as you are here I will, I will be more then satisfied with that."
"I won't argue with that then, but what now?" Hitsugaya questioned.
"What now?" Karin pondered, but suddenly recalling that there was a life to get back to. "You have to return to work, I have to return to mine in my division, and we both have to start acting like parents. And, I would--um--like to get married soon." She turned away as the blush on her face appeared, it was sudden and she usually didn't demand things upfront like she was at the moment.
Toshiro smirked at her, and looked down at his son. "We're engaged, so its obvious that it is expected to get married." Though, she was going to become Hitsugaya Karin, that was strange. "You'll no longer be a Kurosaki."
"So, its not like I wanted to be in the first place." She snapped at him. "Besides, I don't want to be addressed as 'Kurosaki-sama' all of my life you know. Its annoying, plus I much rather be a Hitsugaya. There'll be enough Kurosaki children to keep the name, at least Kazuki is going to keep our last name alive."
"That's true." He thought for a second. "I'll allow our son to keep both surnames then." It was final, no argument at all as she stood there gaping at him.
Somehow though, parenting had suddenly hit the usual icy captain. Despite the many injuries, betrayals, and everything that had taken place didn't really change him--no it was the fact that he was a parent now. Ichigo mentioned that babies were difficult, but as he looked at his son, there couldn't possibly be something that would be difficult about him--until Tatsuya had put drool all over his white robe and the toy.
Karin started to laugh, it was quite cute to see father and son like that, especially when Tatsuya had drooled all over his father.
"This is not funny, at all." The white haired captain glared at his fiancée.
"Sorry, you'll get used to it though." The dark haired shinigami smiled, and tossed him the towel that was on the container at the other end of the room. "Its almost time to eat, so I'll start teaching you about our child and the laws of parenting."
Toshiro, in spite of how serious the situation was, smiled contently because there was so much that he needed to learn because of this child. His smile, the sparkle in his eyes--everything about him seemed to only bring out some hope in himself. He knew that growing stronger, forgetting the past and its pains would make the present better--yet, even if the void was present, there would always be a time in which it would not matter at all.
"Now, isn't this sweet." Matsumoto entered. "Welcome back, Hitsugaya-taichou."
He smiled at her and looked at his son, picking him up again up in the air. "It feels good to be back, you better start to stretch out your hand--there's a lot of reports to do."
"Aw, Taichou!" The strawberry blond woman whined.
Karin broke into a laughter, smiling happily because it felt like things were going back to somewhat of a normal stand for the time being.
Its chapter 7 already--wow! I am pleased to say that I am really glad I actually started on this story and all of that. Thanks to Tsukihim nee, happygirl24, MoonDrake (also for alerting), and Toushi-chan for reviewing. Come on guys, keep on reviewing 'cos I really appreciate how people respond to this story, even if you express how much you hate it or blah-blah! Anyways, to say the least I am not really content with this chapter--some of it I am and some of it I am not, like the closing to this chapter. Its hard really, I mean how could I really express the missing links and such between Karin and Toshiro after being apart for so long. I don't want them to be separated from each other again, it was extremely hard to write them apart from each other. Sighs, but at least he's back and my fellow readers sighed in relieved on the previous chapter after finding out that he was alive. Anyways, I am nearing to the part in which Renji gets to be a father--I have to think a name for his child you know. Gosh, that's going to be a little difficult.
On with this note, oh yes well I know that it would be weird for someone to become noble, but in a way I could actually see Ichigo, Yuzu, and Karin being of noble blood 'cos of their father--even though I can't prove it or really make the statement concrete. So, I guess I'll explain later why they were made nobles, so don't freak out or bash the idea, alright. And I really didn't like how the scene in which Hisagi proposed looked, but I am not really into the very cliche scenes at all--just trying to live it like that. Orihime fans, I won't apologize for making her a 'turncoat' as one of my readers mentioned. I want to explore more sides of a lot of characters if I can, and I really don't like her character. I think I've said this on the previous chapter, but I'll keep on explaining why she went to the other side of the spectrum. Well, what does everyone think of the name Yozora no Kawa it means "River of the night sky"--I think. I thought that was a good name for Karin's zanpaktou, still working on the shape and its forms. As for Yuzu's, I am still on the works. Tell me what you think on that idea. Well I am dragging this far too long, so I'll start typing the next chapter. Like it? Review it. Hate it? That's alright.