Tairei9: Hey people, Here is chapter thirty eight.

Ichigo: Hey is something wrong?

Tairei9: 'sigh' a good friend of mine died last week.

Ichigo: I' m sorry… you okay?

Tairei9: Yeah, I'm fine… on with story…

Chapter thirty eight.

It was a bright sunny day in soul society. The breeze was warm and the trees, bushes, and grass were a beautiful green. The blossoms were in full bloom and enhancing the natural beauty all around. The sun was shining in the rich blue sky and the white fluffy clouds were scarce. The water of the crystal blue lake rippled ever so slightly and a certain orange spiky haired boy stared at the scene. He was enjoying the peaceful quiet. Well… almost peaceful quiet.

"Ichi-ni-san!!!"

He turned to see a certain little black haired girl running towards him. She had a shinigami outfit with a blue obi and a very light blue inner kimono instead of a white sash and inner kimono. Her hair was up in a ponytail and her bangs falling around her face. Two people walked not too far behind the girl.

"Kumiko!! Yoruichi-san!! Byakuya-san!!" He said waving at them. Kumiko took this opportunity to launch herself into his arms, making him fall back onto the grass. Yoruichi laughed and said, "She still makes you fall back? Come on!! She weighs almost nothing!" Byakuya held a small shadow of a smile and said, "No but he still does it to keep her happy."

Byakuya and Yoruichi got married about a month ago. Kumiko had run into Urahara's arms squealing that she did it. Everyone had laughed except Byakuya who just smiled. She had run around with Yachiru telling everyone in Soul Society that Byakuya and Yoruichi were married.

It was now four months since Kumiko was found. She had shrunk due to the time reverse due to losing Naiyami and was just bellow Yachiru's shoulder. Her hair was longer and now by her elbow, even though it was hard to tell because she had it up in a ponytail. She now had her zanpakutou, but Byakuya refused to let her become part of Gotei Thirteen. But Kumiko some how ended up in the 11 division playing with Yachiru."

"Hey," he said to the giggling girl, "You being good?"

"Yep," she said, allowing him to sit up. Ichigo stood up and Kumiko ran down by the lake edge.

"Kumiko, don't get wet," Byakuya said, raising his voice slightly so she could hear them.

"Okay, otou-san!!"

"Please keep both eyes on her," Byakuya said.

"Don't worry," Ichigo said, "So how has she been?"

"She sneaks around helping out in all of the divisions, even though she maintains being Daddy's little girl," she teased, Byakuya just closing his eyes and retaining his impassive face. "You know you should just let her become part of Gotei 13 already."

"That is one thing I will not let her do as of yet," Byakuya said firmly.

"I saw Yachiru earlier," Ichigo said, "She taller now, but damn she still a hyper kid!!"

"Some one must have given her candy," muttered Byakuya.

"Kumiko!! Stop hoping on the rocks!! You'll fall into the water!!" Yoruichi called out.

"No I won't!!"

"Kumiko."

"Okay."

"Well we need to get going," Yoruichi said, looking at Byakuya.

"Right," Byakuya said, "Kumiko, we're leaving!"

Kumiko flash stepped in front of them. Byakuya kissed her forehead and Yoruichi hugged her gently.

"We'll be back for you later," Yoruichi whispered. Kumiko nodded and her parents flash stepped away.

She then spun around and Ichigo said, "Where so you want to go first?"

"To the training grounds in the west fields," she said, hey blue-grayish eyes sparkling. He chuckled they flash stepped to the grounds, where Zaraki and Yachiru just happen to be.

"Hey Ichi!!" Yachiru said happily, "Miko-chan!!"

"Hey, Ichigo, are you ready?" Zaraki asked. Yachiru and Kumiko had managed to engrain into Zaraki's head that if he wanted to fight Ichigo so bad, he needed to not kill him, or he would never fight him. Surprising enough, he actually listened.

"Yeah," Ichigo said grabbing Zangetsu.

"Yachiru-chan!! Are you ready?"

"YEAH!! Let's do it!!"

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Byakuya was standing waiting for the meeting to start. They were missing two captains, not including the three that had betrayed them. Yamamoto's patience was wearing thin. The door opened and Nemu walked in. After Kurotsuchi had died, she had been appointed captain.

"You are late Kurotsuchi Taichou," Yamamoto said irritated.

"I apologize, but I was in the middle of checking the arancar monitor," she said, bowing apologetically. Yamamoto nodded and she took her place.

"Where is Kenpachi Taichou?!!"

Just as he said this, everyone in the room felt a huge reiatsu wash over them.

"My, it looks like he's sparring with someone," Shunsui said smirking. Byakuya's eyes narrowed, hoping that it was not Kurosaki fighting.

He did not wish his little one to get caught in the cross fire.

"Fine!! I will send someone to fill him in late!!" Yamamoto snapped and said, "Kurotsuchi Taichou, do we have any information on Aizen?"

"There as been no arancar movements for a while, just normal hollows," Nemu said softly.

"I see, he's biding his time," Yamamoto said, "Continue to keep a close eye on it; we can not afford to have anything slip by."

"Hai."

"Now, it is early spring. You all know what that means," Yamamoto said.

"New recruits?" Shunsui sighed.

"Yes."

Almost everyone in the room groaned. New recruits… were annoying! It took a lot of training just to make them acceptable to be a shinigami. Yamamoto rapped his cane on the ground and said, "Quiet!! I know it is a pain with everything else going on. But it is necessary, especially with Aizen still around! Now starting tomorrow, you will be training them and assigning them to something if they are any good. The list of recruits is in your offices. You are dismissed!!"

Everyone went to leave but Yamamoto called, "Kuchiki Taichou, I need to speak with you for a moment."

He stopped and turned back to the old commander.

"What is it?"

"I really hate to do this, but I must. Your daughter has a very strong zanpakutou. I can understand that after every thing she's been through that you would not wish for her to get assigned to Gotei 13. But I fear that there is something on the way that will challenge us…. I wish for Kuchiki Kumiko to enter Gotei 13."

"She only a little-!"

"Yes, I understand that and as I said, I would rather not do this. But… this is a dangerous time to be molly coddling her. I fear that Aizen might go for her, due to the fact that she not only stole his key to victory, but destroyed Las Noches as well. She is not safe to not be properly trained in something!!"

Byakuya felt like her was being cornered and he didn't like it. But he was making points. No!! She was too young for it!!!

"This decision is up to you," Yamamoto said softly, "I personally do not want such a little child to be forced with such a burden. But Central room 46 wishes for your consent to make it happen."

"… I will not allow it. She is too young. If she needs protecting I will take care of it," Byakuya said.

"I understand," Yamamoto said, "You may go."

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Kumiko laughed at Ichigo's terrified face as Zaraki chased him around. Zaraki's eye patch was off and he was blazing with reiatsu. Yachiru and Kumiko munched happily on their cookies. Kumiko swung her legs and said, "So how's Yumichika?"

"He's okay, but I can tell he misses you. You haven't visited us in a while," Yachiru said, looking at her friend. Kumiko simply said, "I was with Otou-san."

"Ahhhh….. Miko-chan?"

"Nani?"

"Does Byakushi give you candy?"

"When it's not morning," Kumiko said.

"What kind?"

"It varies."

"Ahhh, which one do you like the best?"

"Caramel."

"Eh? I like the ones he throws into the air!!!" Yachiru said smiling.

"Isn't that to get rid of you though?"

"True… BUT CANDY IS STILL CANDY!!!" she shouted cheerfully, "Miko-chan, we'll always be friends right?"

"Yep!! Hey look it's a chipmunk!!!"

"AHAHAHA!! MIKO-CHAN!!! WAIT FOR ME!!!!"

"Kumiko! Yachiru! Come back here!!!!" Ichigo hollered running after them, completely forgetting about his fight.

"Damn it Ichigo!!! YACHIRU COME BACK!!! COME BACK SO I CAN BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF ICHIGO!!! YACHIRU!!!" Zaraki shouted, hastily putting his eye patch back on. He chased after Ichigo, who was chasing Yachiru who was chasing Kumiko who was chasing the little chipmunk who was chasing no one.

Kumiko laughed and followed the little creature far away from the training grounds. The little thing scampered up into the tree and Kumiko began to climb up the tree. She noticed something and cocked her head.

Suddenly she felt something pull her down saying, "My, my, It is quite unbeautiful to climb such a dirty tree."

"Yumichika!!" she said happily. He placed her on the ground and brushed off her clothes.

"It's been awhile, Kumiko-chan," he said smiling, "How's Kuchiki Taichou and Yoruichi-san doing? Is their love flourishing beautifully?"

"Yes, it is. They kiss when ever they're alone, they walk hand in hand, and I learned never to walk in on them in the morning."

"Why?"

"Because Yoruichi-san is cranky. She is always complaining that she's sore or they're kissing. It's annoying," she pouted. Yumichika sweat dropped and asked, "Why is it annoying?"

"Because… I can't go into Otou-san's room when I'm scared…" she murmured softly. Yumichika looked at her and Ichigo came running towards them.

"Kumiko!! We have to head back," Ichigo said, swooping her up onto his shoulders. She giggled as he ran off toward the Kuchiki estate. Yumichika looked thoughtful and then disappeared with a smile.

"OTOU-SAN!!!" Kumiko ran into Byakuya's waiting arms and he picked her up.

"I have to go," Ichigo said tired like.

"Right," Byakuya said walking into the estate. He was wearing his white kimono. He did not have his hair ornament in his hair. He walked over under the blossom tree where Yoruichi sat in her white kimono. He sat by her and Kumiko had fallen asleep. Yoruichi leaned against him and said, "She all puckered out?"

"Apparently," he murmured as Kumiko shifted slightly. She stroked Kumiko's dark hair and pulled it out of the ponytail. Her hair fell onto her shoulders and Byakuya took Yoruichi's hand and squeezed it.

"Shall we head in?"

"Sure."

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Kumiko opened her eyes and found herself between a sleeping Yoruichi and Byakuya. Kumiko felt sleepy and didn't want to ruin the peaceful moment.

But her stomach had other ideas.

Tairei9: Okay the story will end in a couple of chapters… maybe.

Okay have question. If Kumiko was older… what pairing would you like? Rules, no lesbian pairings, gay pairings, or family blood pairings. Okay. Review.