Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters. Too bad '08 wasn't a good year to own it, perhaps I will own it when its a Sunday between Monday-Friday in '09.
7240 words for this long chapter!
The Bridge Of Silence
+---+
+Stumbling First+
The soft breeze of spring smelled sweet, it was a bit warm and bright with the sun shinning down upon the reborn ground. The bits of snow that had been left behind were melting off, though there was still a few more days of cold to get past by. A new year had begun, new solutions to pass by and trying to work on attempting to better one's resolves from the past year.
Hitsugaya sighed as he signed his last paper for the day, he had spent nearly the entire early morning trying to complete it just so he would go home early--the rest was going to be left for Matsumoto to complete. Life had return back to normal, a bit boring with the fact that really wasn't much to do at all; and only the small incidents of Hollows that appeared randomly in the living world. It was slow, but nothing much to complain for the most part.
Except that wasn't so hard, only having to take care of his son and daughter were the hard part; even if he had been a father for four and something years. The lifestyle was hard to get around by, often dealing with a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of sorting out--it was a bit difficult. The only thing was that, he couldn't complain about it at all because he enjoyed that private lifestyle.
There were so many things that needed to be learned, re-taught because they had gone unforgotten, and a bunch of new emotions to get used to again. Allowing a heart to beat once again, to return back to it's original state after allowing to turn cold suddenly. It was a happy life, a family that he wouldn't trade for anything in neither realms of this world at all; it was perfect for his standards.
Somehow, if he would look back upon the day in which Karin had come to his life it wouldn't really explain how his life came to be now. How everything changed for the better. Somehow, it would not help at all for anything, but he was content with everything. Toushiro knew that life was better this way, instead of wallowing in pity and sorrow that wasn't even built for him, he was better this way. Life was simpler, easier and clearer to live with.
Toushiro shunpoed home, walking wouldn't make his trip back home any easier and shorter. Karin, Tatsuya, and Yuri waited for him to come so early in the day--so he hurried quickly. The sight of the home was comforting, the warm feeling would spread inside of him and a small smile appeared on his face as his wife walked out of the house.
"Welcome home, I didn't know you were going to get back early." Karin smiled, walking up to him to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her close, and he kissed her awaiting lips. "Not that I complain."
"I didn't feel like staying the entire day." He replied, taking her hand and leading her inside their home.
"Strange that you're taking a day off, weird." She commented with total sarcasm.
They took a seat on the small couch on their living room, the place had a very welcoming feel to it since it had changed so long ago after they had become a family. The subtle changes had been either good or bad, that was the balance that needed to be kept in order to co-exist with everything around them, and the people that inflicted changes as well.
"No, I just couldn't concentrate at all." He answered, sighing and closing his eyes while laying his head on her lap. "Is Yuri sleeping?"
"No, she's with Rukia-nee. She's a baby, so there shouldn't be much to worry about." She stroke his white hair. It was soft, almost silky. "Tatsuya is with Kazuki and Amaya along with Takehiko in 11th division."
He sighed again in complete relaxation, his eyes staring out of the Shoji doors into the bright Spring day as the light reflected upon the little patches of green grass that had grown back. The world surely moved slow, it reacted in synch with everyone now--it was different from the previous years of Soul Society. Before Aizen had turned against them, before anything huge started to dawn upon them; it was a forgotten peacefulness.
The world moved ever so slowly during times of peace, though somehow a brewing storm would only be lay ahead in the future, but it was not worth wasting time thinking about it. This time it existed in order to think, to plan ahead for the uncertainty the future brought with its ever winding reach. Hesitation and pre-planning shouldn't exist so much or be taken into account so seriously, the surprises it would bring was what made it best to look forward to it. Like not knowing what laid in a storm.
The rock fell, creating ripples that would never end at all it would continue on like a circle. The continuing cycle would exist, but in the end, it would only wear one out.
"Are you alright?" Karin was concern, he was being silent.
"Yeah, it just feels completely astounding." Toushiro couldn't put it in words. "This was something I never thought I'd live to see again, not after that from Hueco Mundo."
She opened her mouth, but closed it back at the mention at the time in which he had been kept in Hueco Mundo for so long. He had never talked about it, never shared his feelings regarding about the time he was imprisoned against his will. Then again, her husband was never the one to share much feelings with everyone, and he was always very much reserved on his own right.
"Knowing that there are only two choices seems complicated, strange." He continued after the brief pause, his hand reaching out for hers. "Staring at the same walls, the bright moon shinning down upon the cell to reveal the loneliness. A feeling like that was new, raw and sorrowful like nothing else in the past--a choice of life and death seemed so close."
"Tou…shiro." She whispered softly.
"All of that pain that was inflicted was so strong, each breath became the last--time moved so slowly." This time, he closed his eyes. "That crushing feeling in my heart became so heavy, begging was never in my nature until I knew that I couldn't leave the world like that. Knowing that I would leave you alone was much more painful then a wound, far more cruel for me to have done something so horrid like that."
She was in tears now, knowing that he loved her that much was so much to hold at once without breaking down like that. There was suffering, it was what created the balance that existed in life to main it throughout the entire course of one's existence--so why did it have to be so harsh like that? Somehow, life itself was a complicated thing compare to anything else that would never make sense--life should be under the definition of 'complicated' on a dictionary.
"I've made you cry." He touched the tear that was ready to spill on his face. "I'm sorry about that, but I promise to never leave you ever again in my life. No matter what it takes."
"Mm." She smiled at him and kissed him.
He pulled her down to him, deepened the kiss more and more until he couldn't allow himself to breath and think. Why had she become the only woman who could affect him so much? That raw and fitting power, that unique talent and look about Karin was nearly impossible to pass at all. Toushiro had been attracted to her long before he noticed, long before knowing that their little meeting by the road had painted a path to their fated lives to reunite again, and then become on whole.
Allowing those feelings to explode, to swallow them like a rapid crashing wave against the rocky cliffs--it was a power that could not be replaced by anything else.
Their love was like the rest that had blossomed over the past 14 years, allowing a new wave of destinies to pop up suddenly between the shinigamis. It was like a sudden turn of the century, a wave of changes brought upon a civilization that existed almost in secret. New lives were built, created and re-created during the transcending years since that war. Everyone changed, whether they accepted it or not, their ideals and beliefs changed drastically without a warning.
"Toushiro?" She whispered his name. As the two laid in their bed.
"Yes?" He opened his eyes, looking at the ceiling.
"We should start dinner." Karin chuckled softly, throwing her arms around him and kissing his cheek. "Come on, before our children starve when they come home."
He sighed as she slid away from the bed, taking one of the bed sheets and heard the door of the bathroom close with a click.
"You're making me cook." Toushiro grumbled as he got up.
"Of course, a husband is supposed to help you know." She called from the other side of the door. "Besides, I'll like to see you cook--something I've longed for." The smiling undertone of her voice was hard to miss, he scowled.
"You make me suffer." He could not help but chuckle, it was true in a weird way.
She laughed out loud from the bathroom, while he laughed at himself too because sometimes it was hard to explain their strange relationship. It was a good relationship though.
+---+
Karin had been gone off to the real world to take care of some family business--Ichigo and Yuzu had left as well because their father had demanded their presence. That is why, Toushiro was left behind to take care of his son and daughter while their mother was away for whatever reason it was. The sun was beating down upon their house, the warm weather was welcoming after the long weeks of winter and cold weather.
"Otousan, can I go visit Takehiko. We promised Renji-san to help him with watching over the squad." His son asked, his turquoise eyes glistening with hope it was so hard not to say no. "Please, we'll be responsible and won't cause trouble."
Toushiro ruffled his son's white straight hair. "Go, but don't cause your havoc. Behave."
"Yes, yes. I know." Tatsuya expressed. "Kaasan will ground me for sure, and I won't like that."
The white haired captain could not help but smile, surely his son was very much aware of the situation regarding the consequences of trouble. Tatsuya was well behaved, for the most part, and he sometimes worried over his son being constantly bullied for no reason. Though, there was nothing to worry about for the fact that he was a smart child, and could take care for himself.
"Pa…pa." Yuri giggled as she spoke. Her own teal eyes stared with awe at him. She was simply a few months old, but again, children were never normal like human children.
She was a beautiful baby, her dark hair shinned relentlessly with the sun light as her teal eyes never allowing any pain to come to them--she was a tough girl like her mother. He smiled softly at his daughter, picking her up from the floor and walking to the kitchen--that look was also the one that stated that she was hungry.
A baby wasn't as hard that everyone believed, well not that Toushiro's children were actually normal to begin with because they matured awfully faster; though it could be said as well for Kurosaki Kazuki and Amaya. Yuri giggled as she put her small baby hand on her father's face, even though she didn't know much about anything, seeing her father smile at her was warming.
"Pa…ple." Yuri giggled again, as she watched Toushiro cut the apple into pieces.
"Your favourite, I'm sure." He smirked at his daughter, picking up the large watermelon that had been delivered to the house. "I prefer watermelon, I'll let you have some."
Despite the fact that his love for watermelons had been kept a secret for so long, no one found it surprising to see him go shopping for his favourite fruit at the local market, and no one made comments. Toushiro cut up the watermelon, and handed Yuri the bowl of apples and a piece of the delicious looking watermelon for her to eat before he would start making dinner.
Parent lifestyle surely seemed complicated from the outside, which it really was, but it was practical in some sense because it was easier to avoid unwanted attention from the outsiders. Some people still found it very much strange that a captain, one who was always frigid and extremely private, had manage to father two children over so many years since he had become a captain.
A huge responsibility arouse from becoming a parent, always staying on guard, always being careful not to slip up, and showing sides that no one else was allowed to see. For Toushiro, parenting was nothing compare to other accomplishments, parenting made him feel more aware of the surroundings that were present in front of him. He was tickled by the idea in the beginning, but he did not care so much over personal opinions of others caring about his parenting skills.
"Ow, Yuu. Stop it!" He heard Hisagi come inside the house.
"Chan, chan!" The small boy seemed to be pulling on his father's head.
The family coming and going was normal, now that is. Hitsugaya did not complain against that at all, mainly because there were a lot of fascinating things that took place with his nieces and nephews. It seemed that young Yuu looked irritated, pulling on his father's hair only indicated that he either hated the trip, or disliked being away from his mother.
"Hitsugaya, do you know when they will return? Ow!" Hisagi attempted to sat his son down, but it was useless as he was now holding tightly onto him. "I'm going to go bald here before Yuzu returns, and I can't tell whether he has a mother or father complex."
"No, Karin said it wouldn't take long." He answered, as him and his daughter watched the father and son show. Tugging, pulling, cringing--it seemed that bits of dark hair were falling onto the ground as the small boy continued to tug.
"They better not, I don't know if I can handle being tugged by Yuu any longer.." The dark haired shinigami grumbled, as he sat his son down on the ground.
Toushiro allowed Yuri to crawl on the ground, immediately Yuu started to play with the baby and they crawled to the middle of the sitting room from where their fathers watched over them carefully.
The afternoon was winding down, the sun carefully sinking over the horizon line as the moon seemed to slowly appear on the darkening sky. The bright orange colours looked like the foliage of autumn, so bright and soft as the golden light danced across the surfaces of Soul Society. Both shinigamis sat there, their children sleep on a futon inside the room, the wind was soft as it brushed against them.
"That was a long day, stupid old man." Karin's voice came, her and the rest of the Kurosaki siblings walking besides her.
"If I knew he only wanted me for that, I wouldn't have bother to take a day off." Ichigo seemed a bit irritated.
"Come on, Karin-chan, Ichi-nii. We haven't seen him in so long now." Yuzu was the only one that ever worried about their father.
"He can take care of himself, besides Urahara-san keeps an eye on him." The door opened, and the three entered the house. "Oh, Toushiro and Hisagi."
All of them greeted each other, Rukia and the rest of the family were called to have dinner at the house. Hitsugaya felt like this was supposed to be what a family was like, unlike the one he had when he had lived in Rukongai, and nothing could compare to that poor life at all.
He was thankful, thankful for knowing that there would always be someone who supported him, someone to be there on a time for need, and everything that was supposed to be a true family. The warm atmosphere hadn't been accepted entirely by him in the beginning, it took a few years to get used to the idea that Karin loved her family despite of how bizarre it was.
Late at night, once everyone had left, Toushiro laid in bed after putting Yuri to sleep. He was attempting to read some book, but he was having no luck on concentrating on the content because it seemed like everything in it was written in gibberish, and he was unable to understand any of it.
"Your brain will fry one day." Karin commented as she took her spot on the bed.
He laid the book down to turn off the lamp, tiredness surely was taking him deeply lately. Karin wrapped her arms around him, feeling warm coming from his body despite the fact that she was not cold at all.
Today she had realized that Toushiro was the only person in the world that could make her feel other emotions, some that perhaps wouldn't exist if she hadn't met him and married him. Realizing that alone, her heart would only belong to him and long for him while being away, being able to know that he was always there to make her happy. It was weird, sure, due to the fact that she had never thought that a happy life like it was at the moment would exist at all.
Knowing that she would come home, see him waiting for her in their sitting room while holding their baby and their son laying on the floor; it was always a good feeling. Was that supposed to be considered a happy and comforting life? To be welcomed home with smiles, hugs, kisses--to always feel so warm by knowing that people needed her.
She knew it was, though sometimes she wondered if it was alright--to know that a lot of people had been hurt during the process of her happiness--but hadn't it be the same as her brother? Perhaps, perhaps not, but frankly it was better not knowing or worrying. Karin wrapped her arms tighter around Toushiro, smelling his scent and closing her eyes to sleep.
+---+
The office of the captain of the 10th squad was filled with gifts, a lot of gifts and it seemed to only get worse throughout the entire day because Hitsugaya's son was having his birthday today. Five years past, his first son had come into the world and brought him happiness. Everyone seemed to celebrate the birth of a child coming from their captains, to allow the spirit to flow freely in the air because it was actually a happy atmosphere. A blessing to them because their captains were able to produce more strong shinigamis, the future of Soul Society was literally in their hands, and so, they were glad to celebrate Tatsuya's birthday.
"Taichou, I brought my own present." Matsumoto entered the room, with a large box on her hands. He dared not ask what was in it, afraid that something crazy was inside it due to the fact that his fukutaichou was a strange one.
"Put it somewhere, this things need to be deliver at home. I can't do work with all of these gifts around." Hitsugaya stated irritably. Sure, celebrating was just fine by him, but the presents were growing in numbers.
"Taichou, another delivery." A shinigami stepped inside, dropping yet another box in the middle of the room.
So, that's what Ichigo had meant about the absurdity of celebrating a birthday in the office, and surely Toushiro knew not to celebrate it in the first place. Though, it was his son and he loved him very much to do something so horrid as that, so he put up front his best by not being annoyed by the mountains of presents in front of him.
"So exciting, Tatsuya-chan is going to be five." Matsumoto piped suddenly, clapping her hands together as she sat on the couch. "He's going to be a mini taichou, so cute."
"Matsumoto, get to work before I strip you off your position." He looked at the strawberry blond shinigami, her blue eyes holding those fake tears he never fell for at all. Why was everyone so clingy and giddy, it was becoming an eyesore seeing everyone smile at him. Even strangers. "Today."
Matsumoto pouted, but got to work because that threat never sounded pretty at all. She hated work and loved being lazy, a little too much of both surely made it impossible to deal with a lot of things. Though, she held a great respect for her captain, and did what she was told to do for today.
In the 6th division, they were also having a problem with the office being clogged up with mountains of presents. Kuchiki Byakuya eyed the glimmering boxes, unable to find a reason why it was so important to deliver the presents here instead of their home. Though, his fukutaichou was just as stressed, perhaps even more compare to the usual things, and surprisingly she was no complaining at all.
"Hitsugaya-fukutaichou." A woman entered the room suddenly.
His eyes focused on the shinigami, he had never seen her before at all, so she must have been a new recruit that his fukutaichou had been talking about for the past few days non-stop. The woman's hair was cut on a pixie style, brown with what looked to be blue highlights of some sort. Her piercing golden eyes were like that of a cat, bright and narrowed directly in the light--they were captivating and there was something mysterious about the woman.
Byakuya shook his head, he must never allow himself to look upon a woman like that because his heart would always belong to his beloved Hisana. Though, he could not help but continue to observe the woman's appearance. She looked like the type that belonged to 11th division, rough with small scars in her bare arms, someone who did not belong on the gentle side of the Gotei 13. She was normal on height, perhaps a little shorter then Hitsugaya Karin, but looked very strong.
"Ah, Yagami Mika." Karin stood up. The other shinigami bowed.
"I hope I'm not disturbing, you did say to come here once I got the chance." She smiled at her, and then turned her attention to the dark raven haired man. "Ah, Kuchiki-taichou. I am terribly sorry for my intrusion like this, my apologies."
Byakuya said nothing, simply nodding at her acknowledgement and then standing up abruptly while taking a folder on his hands. The woman's presence was becoming a bit too tiring, the prolonging stare she was giving him was too intense, and something about her made him feel a bit too strange.
"I'll deliver this to 1st squad. Yamamoto-soutaichou wanted these files immediately. I'll leave the squad in your hair Hitsugaya." He walked like a noble, not much noise was made at all as he disappeared down the hall without looking back.
Why was he allowing a single stare like that affect him? Had he become so weak against anyone in the past few years already? He was being careless again, but that wouldn't happen again after he swore that he would never break the rules again, and to follow his promises. Somehow, everything lately had become so--so strangely fused with the changes that were taking place. Surely, Byakuya knew that it was bad to let one's guard down, but what about his adopted sister?
Rukia had never being a noble from the beginning, only adapting her life into that role as a Kuchiki, but never fully accepting much responsibility for it at all. No, she had gone out of her way to fall in love with a human, having that human rescue her countless of times and becoming some hero. It seemed like a great love story, but it was nothing of the sort from his point of view at all because they had endure a lot of whispering from the beginning of their proclaimed relationship.
After that took place, the marriage between Rukia and Ichigo was viewed as the most noble thing to have been done. That orange haired child had taken upon his responsibility of becoming a shinigami, a captain, a husband, a father, and at last--the head of his own noble clan as well. Byakuya no longer cared so much about it anymore, it was better accepting the reality instead of spending countless of nights plotting of a way to kick that boy out, and besides that Rukia might hate him entirely.
Suddenly that had become a shock, but then having Hitsugaya Toushiro fall in love with another human was entirely another case as well. They had gone thru that ordeal as well, only a few years ago that had been fixed and turned into another love story tale that all young shinigamis could not help but admire. Even his former fukutaichou had done the same thing, though in his case, the woman that was connected to Kurosaki Ichigo in the past, had died. So, that hadn't being such special case at all, but it was still considered a great story.
"Kuchiki-taichou!" He heard his name being called, but he ignored it. He was busy, interruptions were futile and it was surely nothing to be worried about. "Wait up."
"What is it?" Byakuya stopped abruptly, but keeping his back to whoever it was that called his name.
"Y-you…you're impossible." Yagami Mika stopped besides him, bending forward with her palms on her knees for support as she tried to catch her breath. "I-I…you…you're fast! Damn, I never thought I seriously needed to do a whole fifteen mile running for an entire month."
"Tell me what is so important. I have no desire to listen to your personal complains." His tone was monotone, making that sound a little bit more harsher then it needed to be.
Mika sighed, standing back up and looking at the tall captain besides her. She was always captivated by him, even though she did not know him so well, he was very smooth in person. Like a god that stood on a precipice looking down upon the ground and waiting to give out orders--he was really enchanting it was nearly impossible to speak in his presence.
"Is it alright if I joined the squad? I've showed Hitsugaya-fukutaichou my abilities and everything." She said, her golden eyes holding that hopeful look as he looked down at her. "I-I know that I look like someone that belongs to a rough squad, but I'm nothing of the sort. Becoming a member of the 6th squad has been my dream after my sister told me that it would never happen, but that isn't really much of a reason at all." She took a deep breath, Mika was speaking so fast. "My devotion will only be focused on becoming an elite member of your squad, and to protect what we are set out to protect by joining the Gotei 13."
He looked at her curiously, that look was so similar to someone who really had good intentions, but this was affecting him so greatly because he was becoming so bothered by the strange presence of the woman. She was so--Byakuya couldn't even think of a proper way to describe the feeling that was deep inside of him. No, he wouldn't allow himself to think of another woman, because he wouldn't dare to betray Hisana's love for anything at all.
"There are others who want that, so you'll have to work harder to gain the spot." He continued to walk, not allowing to become annoyed by that woman at all. He couldn't join the bandwagon of new romances in Soul Society, after all, he was Kuchiki Byakuya--captain of the 6th squad and the head of the Kuchiki noble family.
Allowing emotions to over rule his thinking, it was improper and not the type of thing he would do, because he could never fall in love with another woman at all.
+---+
A birthday party in the Hitsugaya household had been very stressful as tons of people had come to wish Tatsuya a happy birthday. All of the captains had come, Ukitake-taichou being the one who was very much cheerful and had given candy to the boy. Except, Tatsuya loved candy like no other and did not complain about the gift at all. After all, there were three white haired shinigamis in Soul Society that people needed to take notice of it.
"Great party." Ichigo commented, taking a sip of his tea.
"I never thought Nii-sama would come for this type of thing." Rukia commented as she laid her cup down. "The kids look like they're enjoying this, too."
"As always, Yuzu you cook amazing food." Hisagi looked at his wife, as they were feeding their twins.
"Thank you, I tried." She smiled, while feeding some food to Hotaru.
The merry atmosphere was so vivid, welcoming as everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' to Tatsuya, and watching him blow out the small five candles that were in place on the large cake in front of him. No one really celebrated birthdays in Soul Society like anyone would in the real world--they were simply small engagements that were treated more like gatherings. So, a birthday party had been a different costume that had been brought back again.
Not many traditions were fully accepted in the beginning, but having shinigamis go back and forth in the two dimensions seemed to make a slight change on that. Old traditions were changed into new ones, some were thrown out because they counted, and the older ones were kept. It was all based on the balance.
The adults had their fun on their own, passing the sake around was a past time and not a party thing. Karin failed to understand that part, though there really wasn't anything to gain from understanding that at all. At least, Tatsuya had a good fifth birthday and was very happy about that.
"Leave it for the maids to do it." Toushiro was leaning against the door frame of the large room.
"I don't like acting like Karin-sama you know." She muttered, looking at him and folding her arms across her chest. "Fine, I'll let them do their job then."
He sighed, pushing himself away from the frame and walking towards his wife, while she worked hard to glare at him. Of course, living under the whole nobility thing was hard because no one could easily accustomed themselves to that lifestyle over night, and Karin obviously never wanted to work for it. She was always rash about it, pushing it aside because she didn't believe it would make a difference at all. She believed nobility was a boring thing, having to appear to meetings and behaving well--that was a hindrance for her.
Toushiro, himself couldn't stand it either because it was too bothersome. Marrying into nobility had not being in the future for the two of them, it was one of those things that came out of no where suddenly without a warning. Also, it had become an obstacle to overcome due to adversity, how everyone treated them after becoming nobles--Karin hadn't enjoyed the special treatment at all. Of course, she would simply spat at the title each time she was asked by others--pushing it aside was easier to handle.
"I don't want you to get angry, but you look tired." He looked down at her. Those dark eyes were so enchanting, holding that spark that was impossible to draw one's self away from.
"Ugh, I just don't enjoy to have them around at all." She pouted, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head on his chest. "Guess they have to become useful one of these days, eh?"
Toushiro put his chin on top of her head, the sweet smell of her shampoo and her natural scent to be breathed in by his lungs. Naturally, he could never stay away from her at all because it was impossible to be away from her. To draw himself away from her was also impossible, Karin always managed to pull him back without using anything in her power--it was natural.
"Did you put Yuri to sleep?" She asked suddenly, looking up at him.
"Yeah, Tatsuya offered to help." He smiled at her, stroking her cheek with his fingers and allowing himself to be indulged by her scent.
Karin was dangerous, he knew that much, though no one could help themselves to be drawn by whatever personality she showed in front of others.
"I'm glad." She groaned, feeling so relaxed by the icy feeling that her husband was giving out. "I'm going to hate work tomorrow--Kuchiki-taichou is on a vendetta or something after the office was flooded with presents. And, there's the Yagami Mika problem too."
"Yagami Mika?"
"Ah, yeah. She wants to join 6th division--except that Kuchiki-taichou told her no."
Surely something was strange like that, well allowing shinigamis to join their divisions was a long process. Proving one's strength and will was important, to have a pure heart and knowing that they were devoting their lives to protect Soul Society was a hard choice. Though, there were a few that did join them with good intentions at heart, swearing to protect and follow orders. Knowing that shinigamis like that existed was excellent, so he found Kuchiki Byakuya's choice a bit weird.
There could have been a million things to change one's opinion over something, but Hitsugaya wasn't about to go and stick his nose on something that wasn't worth it, and it was none of his business. His wife easily found a way to meddle in people's business, at least she was discreet about it and hopefully wouldn't go far into it because there was no way they could afford to start in another gossip in Soul Society. Those things never faired well, or brought anything good at all.
"Don't get so worked up about it though." He commented as they laid in bed, both staring at the ceiling without really feeling the need to sleep early.
"Working on that. A meteor needs to crash in order that to happen, meaning never." She sighed. Somehow, the way Kuchiki Byakuya was getting so worked up seemed strange--so perhaps there was an underlining reason as to why he wasn't very fond of her. Karin gave up though, it was far too bothersome to worry about it.
Perhaps her husband was right, getting worked up about something as silly as that would do nothing in return, only it would bring trouble for the most part, and she was pulling herself out of it for good now.
+---+
As the rest of the small band of shinigamis had killed off the last Hollow, Hitsugaya closed his eyes while trying to release some of the tension that had been building up. It was tiring bringing new shinigamis out into the battlefield, though it hadn't really being something to consider it as being a huge case, but he did no like taking part in those things. Except, as a captain, it was his duty to oversee his squad members and view their strength, their capability to keep up with their surroundings and to create a better squad.
A few had slipped, mistakes were obviously made, and some weren't even made to come out to fight at all. A report awaited him patiently on his desk once going back, and he really was no looking forward on spending an entire long night again in the office.
"Taichou, are we ready?" Matsumoto called him back to reality.
"Is everyone here?" He asked, looking over at the shinigamis that had come with him. "Lets head back. Some of you already know what's going to happen, so don't bother questioning until tomorrow. Lets go."
"Hai!" They all chorused as the gate open.
Hueco Mundo had been kept under control recently, having Nel watch over it and take care of it had been a good thing for Soul Society, because they managed to stay out of it. A few things had occur over the past five years, but nothing that anyone needed to worry about. There were at least 4 shinigami station in the real world, they watched over Karakura still and kept an eye for whatever danger would come suddenly to them.
Peacefulness still continued its reign strongly, a few scuffles had broken out between squads, but it hadn't been something new at all. There had been some talks recently of Yamamoto-soutaichou wanting to remove himself from being the commander of the Gotei 13--that was the only thing that had been slightly strange.
That alone made everyone become worried, the unknown royalty had been wanting him to join their secret guard making it seem strange. No one knew about them, though everyone simply called them the Imperial Guard--no one really could come up with a different title at all. So, now there were many talks as to who would be promoted to become the Commander, the one who held a very high position in Soul Society, though no one had a single clue as to who it was.
Hitsugaya believed that either Ukitake or Kyoraku would replace him, since they had been the oldest shinigamis that had been in the Gotei 13 since it had started. They were honourable shinigamis, strong willed and very civil about what went inside. Though, he doubted that the 8th squad captain would want that job, it was much more responsibility to become the one who made very crucial decisions during the hard times--even Hitsugaya felt that he could never take upon that job in his entire existence at all.
The position he had was enough, becoming someone higher on the food chain would never be good at all, plus, he didn't want to be locked up in an office for the rest of his life. At least, doing paperwork kept him busy without worrying about making life and death matter decisions at all--being the captain of the 10th squad was enough work. Along with that, he was a father and a husband, so those roles along with becoming a commander would never work out so well.
"You're thinking too much again." Karin entered the office, holding Yuri on her arms as she giggled and buried her face on Karin's hair.
"Is that illegal now? What is it that you want?" He looked at his wife and daughter. Smiling as his daughter stretched out her arms for him to take her. "Oh, what's with her now?"
His wife shrugged, a smirk playing on her face as she went around on his desk and took a seat on it. "I don't know, she's being all giddy. So, what kind of sh--stuff were you thinking about now?"
The way she changed her tone confused Toushiro, but he could understand because he also seemed to choke up a bit on his expressions and tones. He sat back down, as Yuri played with a plush dog that her uncle Ichigo had given her.
"The talks about Yamamoto-soutaichou wanting to retire." He replied, looking at her. "Everyone is wondering who would be willing to replace him."
"Oh, that." She shooed it away with a wave of her hand. Karin wasn't the one to worry about those details, surely someone like Ukitake-taichou would be the one to work along with that role, but there was the case that he was a very sick person. So, who else could fit on that role. "I don't think he would really want that, there's no one who would be willing to take upon that responsibility."
That was correct, the white haired shinigami knew that much. Everyone had their good and bad points, so there were a lot of conflicting problems with the replacement like that. Toushiro did not want that role, he would refuse to take it or being made to think about it, that was a no.
"As long as I don't get it." He muttered. Yuri's eyes gazed intensely at his, she was very much intriguing. "I wouldn't want to take that role, being the captain of this squad is already hard enough. Plus, adding that I'm married and I have children, that makes the choice a bit more harder. Someone like Kuchiki Byakuya or Ukitake-taichou would be fitting for that role, but not me."
The dark haired shinigami understood her husband because she just had had that conversation with her sister-in-law, surely that was a hard topic to think about because of how affected everyone would be. Though, she doubted that those rumours were actually true in the first place--the Commander himself hadn't had said anything about that at all to anyone. Perhaps it would be brushed aside on another meeting, or at least be explained if it was true.
"I forgot why I came here." She changed the subject suddenly. "I was talking to Ichi-nii earlier today, and he was thinking that we should go to the real world to visit that goat chin. And, its been a while since we've been there."
He wouldn't deny that at all, especially since his children would probably want to see their grandfather. He could not refuse it at all, it was for the sake of his children mainly. "I see." Was all he manage to say.
"Is that all you can say?" She arched her eyebrow at him, looking at her husband and then shaking her head while smiling. "Never mind it. Ichi-nii says that he's going tomorrow, since Yuzu and Hisagi already went today. I said that we would go on our own time, so its up to you really."
Again, Toushiro could not deny it as his own daughter was giving him the puppy eyes, the thing that he couldn't resist at all. Sighing in defeat, he agreed.
"Fine, I'm sure Tatsuya would want to visit the real world." He stated, while he gave Yuri back to her mother.
"Well, actually. These two already went." Karin pointed out. "So, I thought that maybe the two of us should go. I'll like to pay a visit to--well you know."
Talking about her mother was hard, she had a hard time still talking about the mother that she barely knew, but would never stop loving at all. Though, Karin would never talk about it at all, unless it was necessary--and was thankful that Toushiro was never the one to pry on that part of her life.
"I see, I'll accompany you then." He gave her that special smile, only the one for her that no one else was allowed to see.
"Thank you." She kissed him, and waved as her and Yuri left the office.
It would be the first time that which she would include him on that little circle, the only place that no one would ever step onto because of how private it was. Karin would share some of that hidden pain, the one that she believed to be weak and unnecessary to carry on.
It is 12:37 am on my country--I am tired, hadn't had much sleep from the previous day. I am beat, but here's this super long chapter. I'm listening to 'Tokyo Shounen' by my new favourite band, Nightmare, to stay awake to write this. Thank you for the reviews, story favourites, and all the other good stuff. I'll like to thank SmilingPasta and NinaRose475 for the favourites, thank you so much. Anime Lover 152 for alerting.
+Tsukihime Nee- 'Really? Wicked! I love the name too XD. Though, 'Amaya' has that special place lol. Thanks for the review too. Hope that your holidays were good :). Hope that you also enjoyed this chapter!'
+happygirl24- 'Yay, I'm glad that you liked it XD. And, I know. I did add something on this chapter about that, but I don't think that I'll go more into that, so my apologies for that. Hope that you enjoyed this long chapter.'
+WatermelonPrincess- 'Thank you, glad that you liked it. How was your Christmas? Well, I could have done without some stuff, but it was good. Hope that you liked this chapter--it was a long one lol.'
Phew. Okay. Well, this chapter was long because there's a purpose for it. After all the crap that Karin and Toushiro went thru, I believed it was time for them to have a little bit of peace in their lives now. Surely, pure peace can't possibly exist because of how life needs to be balanced out. So, this chapter showed a bit of different things that have taken place after that whole thing with Inoue and such, so they are living a little bit of a 'happily ever after' life. I wanted to go farther in time to show their children, but that lead me no where because it seemed to only end up being like a 2nd generation type of story, so I didn't want that. So, I kept it in a short time line again. A lot of things happen, which most will go mostly likely unexplained--I'll like to leave it open for anyone to think of what could happen and such. And, NO. Its not the ending yet, sadly chapter 20 is going to be the very last chapter. If your lost or confused, simply ask and your questions will be answered. I took enough time from everyone by reading this, so you know what to do. Review! early Happy New Year to everyone. Hopefully '09 will be much better--and perhaps I shall start working on another story soon. See you everyone in 2009, and with the ending to this story as well!!!! (^.^)!!