As they were all very tired from their own journey that they took to meet, they decided that since there wasn't something that they could do at a time like this, they would rest, as long as someone could rest with a tragedy such as this on their mind, and then leave first thing in the morning.

Matsumoto and Momo left to show a room for Ichigo and Orihime to rest, while Toshiro and Karin stayed in the library to write and sent the letter.

When they were alone…

Toshiro opened the second drawer on his desk and took out a paper and a pen together with ink. When they were all settled, he began writing.

Karin, with a saddened face, was looking at him, without taking in what he wrote. The only things on her mind were how her nephew went missing and how her husband was gonna go away.

She went out of her reverie when she heard Toshiro's voice calling her name.

"Karin… are you okay?"

"Huh…?"

"I asked if you're okay. You've been spacing out since they left. If you're worried about Sora, it's okay. We will bring him back, so everything will be fine. Come here. Let us go upstairs and rest for now. Everything will be better when the morning comes, you'll see."

Karin did as she was told and followed him to their bedroom, but didn't say anything the whole way there as he was guiding her. She didn't even say anything when he had already closed the door and showing her the way to their shared bed.

Since he understood that something else, other than her nephew's disappearance was eating her inside, he just sat at the edge of the bed while holding her hands in his own and waited for her to say what she wanted.

When ten minutes passed and Karin was still like that looking at nothing in particular and being inside her world, Toshiro squeezed lightly on her hands and that was when she finally looked at him.

They were looking at each other's eyes without anyone saying anything till Toshiro's voice broke the silence yet again.

"What is it Karin? What is on your mind, please tell me."

"It's… It's just that… you see, with all these things happening at the same time, I don't know what to do. We just got here, and now this happened, and you'll leave again, and who knows when or if I'll ever see you again. I'm just scared…"

Toshiro got up at hearing that and seeing a lone tear escaping her eye unintentionally.

He hugged her tightly, trying to show her that he loved her and that everything would be okay, while she cried silently some more.

After her crying was finally over, he let her go enough so that he could still have her in his arms, but could see her tearstained face.

As he saw that though, he brought one hand and wiped her face, while showing a small sad smile so to make her feel a little better and maybe tell him what was troubling her.

It seems that the smile did the trick because she smiled too and while being sad and embarrassed, she shied her face away before speaking.

"It's… It's just that I… I want something to have from you before you leave. I need something to tell me that you will come back to me again."

That startled Toshiro a little as he couldn't think of something that he could possibly give her.

She was a queen; she could have everything she wished. How could he give her something valuable so she could remember him by?

"What do you mean? You can have anything you want, just ask for it and I'll tell to be brought to you first thing in the morning, but I don't see how you are gonna remember me by some object."

"That's exactly it… I don't want an object. I know that it must be an outrageous request, since we've only known each other for a little over a week, but I think that I really want to do it. I want you…"

As she hid her face while looking at their feet, from embarrassment, he took a few moments for the information to sink in.

When it did though, his eyes became round like saucers, and he looked at her with disbelief. Was she really saying what he understood that she was saying? The embarrassment her face said it all and he just sat on the bed again, unable to stand when he realized it.

Sure, he wanted too, but as she had said, they only knew each other for almost two weeks. Wasn't it a little early for that? But, if you saw it from an alternative view, they were married so it was natural, right?

He looked at her yet again, to see if he got it all right and haven't misunderstood. After he realized that indeed he hadn't, he got up again and brought her face so she was facing him before speaking while looking at her in the eyes.

"Are… are you sure this is what you want? Have you thought of this more clearly?"

"Yes Toshiro… This is what I want. I want to become yours, and you become mine. I believe that… I believe that I love you."

Those words broke away any arguments that he may have had and while he looked at her with the most kindness and love he had, he brought a hand to her cheek, and gave a tender kiss to her lips.

It started slowly, but it didn't take long for their feelings to take form in the kiss and make it more passionate and needy. It was like something inside them broke and brought out feelings that they didn't know they possessed.

She brought both of her hands to his neck and brought him closer to her. As his hands were left free, he took them instantly and encircled her waist with them, bringing her as close as humanly possible.

Unintentionally, he took a step back, completely lost in the kiss and totally forgotten how close to the bed they were. Thankfully, he was a quick thinker and so instead of falling completely backwards on their bed, he sat at the edge, much like he was sitting before this whole thing started, and brought her to sit on his lap.

She obliged instantly and without breaking the kiss for even a second, she trapped him with her legs as they were bending on each side of her.

Her night dress had slightly rolled up at this moment, but neither seemed to care, nor notice for that matter.

One of his hands went up her waist and to the back of her neck, deepening even more the kiss, if that was possible, while the other took the down road resting on her hips before going with slow movement from the inside of the dress.

He wasn't the only one eager and active though, as she did her thing too. She reluctantly broke the kiss and looked at him in the eyes for a few seconds before going to attack the exposed skin on his neck.

His eyes had become a much darker shade then the light teal eyes she was so used to seeing. It wasn't frightening though. No… It held a passion so deep that draw her in, while having a wild touch in it.

It was like she was the only thing he could see at the moment and it thrilled her.

She kissed and licked on every available flesh she could find, while her hands had left their previous spot on the back of his neck and was now exploring his upper body.

At some point, when she licked his collar bone, he growled out of pleasure and brought her closer to him.

That was her clue to realize that he liked it there and so gave it a little more attention before she continued on. Her hands by this time had already reached the bottom of his shirt, and she stopped what she was doing so to take it off.

When he read through her intention, he decided to help her so to get over and done with it a minute earlier.

He moved his upper body a little backwards and took the unwanted t-shirt off coming back again, but this time she didn't let her continue what she was doing before.

Instead, he went for the kill this time.

His mouth was doing magic to her and was turning her body hot everywhere he kissed and caressed.

She fisted his hair and brought him even closer to her neck while she moved her head backwards to allow him more access. He did as his lover wanted and continued his ministrations.

He moved upwards towards her left ear and nipped on the earlobe giving it an attention that was surely much appreciated if you take into consideration the sigh she gave.

After that, he decided that he had missed her lips on his so he went to fix that as he crushed them with his own on a heated kiss involving tongues and battles of dominance. Though, if anyone really minded about winning was another story.

That night, even though they were tired from the previous journey and the thought of the new one that was coming tomorrow, he caressed her all night and only in the early hours of the morning did they get to sleep peacefully in each others arms, inside the one they loved.

Toshiro and Karin weren't the only ones that stayed up that night till the early hours of the morning.

Though for obviously different reasons, Orihime and Ichigo stayed up as well with all the sorrow they felt and the worry for their only son's safety.