Ever noticed how inspiration comes at the strangest times? This came to me during a boring class and took a while. So I'm sorry it took a while to write. I have another two chapters waiting to be finished so it shouldn't be too long a wait from now on
~Twan.

He was running down a field, sword on his back, part of his division trailing behind him, their zanpakto's in hand. Ichigo had a grin on his face as he stopped and faced them, drawing his zanpakto. The men and women under his command stopped in formation and presented their blades. "First stance!" Ichigo went, moving into the stances one by one, practicing the standard moves. He knew that once they were fighting Hollows it would go very differently, but the stances would make a good basis.

Several hours were spent training in this fashion. They would run a through the training grounds, up hills, down slopes, through rivers and on fields. Then in an open field they would practice stances or mock-fight and run some more. Ichigo was one of the few taicho's who would personally train his own division once in a while.

"Kurosaki-taicho!" called the newest of his recruits when they walked back into the barracks. Ichigo stopped and turned around, spotting the youngling. "Ah, Sami-chan." He smiled to her.
"I..." the girl blushed brightly and looked to the ground.
"Hmm?" Ichigo asked, half-urging her to formulate her sentence.
"I just wanted to say thank you for the lessons!" she blurted out in a ramble of words.
The sheer cuteness of the young girl made him smile. It reminded him of his sisters when they were just starting out.
He smiled at her, "It was my pleasure, Sami-chan. Keep practicising."
She nodded enthusiastically and quickly hurried to her quarters

And just like that, the taicho was alone again. He sighed as he looked around on the parade ground. The square was empty except for a few members rushing to the dinner halls. He stretched and put Zangetsu on his back again and decided this was as good a time as any to make his way to the Eleventh.

A few quick steps and he set foot on the backwall of the Division, overlooking the barracks and wondering where his sister would be. She should be in her quarters, taking time off. He reached out with his senses and scanned for her. Even after years of practice he was terrible at it, but his sister felt so like him he could pinpoint her with relative ease. After a few moments of probing he detected her location and disappeared from the wall and appeared in front of the door.

Karin had far better skills in detection than her brother would ever have but she was startled when she heard the knock. She was writing a report at her desk and was so fully concontrated on her task she never felt the energy appear before her door. "Karin" she heard through the door.

Karin stared at the door, unsure what to do. Tōshirō had told her how Ichigo explained his situation but was she ready to forgive him too? She had been mad at him for weeks and was quite willing and able to be so for weeks to come, but here he was, her brother. After a few minutes another knock was heard. "Karin, open the door please." Ichigo's voice didn't sound annoyed or agressive, but there was that subtle undertone their father had when they needed to talk. That tone all parents have when their children don't want to listen but know they should. Karin sighed, she stood up and opened the door.

Standing straight was Ichigo, he had a soft smile on his lips and was waiting patiently. "Yo" he said as he always did and raised his hand in greet. "What?" Karin asked angrily, glaring up at her brother. Though she was a grown woman now, she never really gotten beyond 5 feet 10, so she was always looking up at Ichigo. "Can I come in?" he asked, ignoring her angry tones. She sighed again but allowed him entry.

"Karin." Ichigo started as he found his way into her living room. His younger sister took her seat back at her desk, facing him from across the room. "What do you want?" she asked in an ice cold tone.
He took a deep breath. "I'm here to apoligze" He said as kept standing.
"Apologize? You tried to kill my fiancé! That's not something you can fix with an apology!" her temper started rising. Ichigo could feel the energy radiating from her. It was so familiair to him, it felt like himself and like their father.
"Yes, I did." He agreed calmly.
She was startled with the sudden agreement, not expecting him to be so open about it. Ichigo took the seat across the desk and sat down calmly, putting Zangetsu against the chair.
"Why?" she asked, collecting her thoughts.
He took a moment to formulate his thoughts before speaking. "Since Dad's gone I felt like I had to protect you from everything. I knew you were big girls, strong women who can fend for themselves, but that didn't make me feel less responsible. And out of the blue Tōshirō declared you were engaged to be married. I felt I was losing you, felt I couldnt protect you. This feeling always resolved itself by destroying the threat, as I have before. Without conscient thought I lashed out." He spoke in calm tones, keeping his eyes on his sister.

Karin was silent, surprised at the calm tone of his brother but also the love that seeped through the whole explanation. She looked him over and saw nothing but sincerity on his face. And why did she expect something else? Her brother had never lied to her.

"I thought it was I angry because it was a slight to the family, that my friend would not speak to me first, but after introspection and a stern speaking to from Zangetsu I came to this realisation." He concluded as he had his hand on the pommel of his blade, feeling the connection.

Karin nodded silently and stood. She walked around the table and climbed on her brother's lap, burying her face in his chest, softly crying. She wasn't the strong Eleventh Division fourth seat now, she was a young woman who was being held by her big brother. Karin almost never let her emotions out, so this was a dam breaking in her. She had not cried when she graduated Shino Academy, she had not cried when Rukia died, she had not cried when Ichigo got married or when Isane got pregnant. She had not even shed a tear when her father died. But this broke the dam, the fact she realized her brother would protect her no matter what happened. This allowed her to lower her defenses for a while, to be a young woman again.

They sat on the chair for several minutes, his sister safely in his arms until a clock struck the hour and Karin stirred again in his arms. He gently let her go as she stood. Ichigo raised too and took her head gently between his hands and kissed her forehead. The room was silent as Ichigo took Zangetsu and made his way to the door when she heard her say "In four months." Ichigo turned around to look at his sister. "The wedding is in four months." Her voice croaked a bit from crying. Ichigo nodded and stepped out of the door