On Sunday, many of the parents heard what had happened and attended the pageant. What was most surprising was that Mayuri and Ryuuken were among them.
"Dad!" Nan shouted, jumping out from the kitchen. "What are you doing here?"
"Making sure you're okay," he said. hugging her.
"Good, you can join us for fishing then," Toshiro commented from behind them.
"But I..." Mayuri started, but Toshiro quickly dragged him after their children.
"Bye guys, have fun!" Rangiku waved before going to the kitchen. From behind her. she heard Grimmjow's worried voice.
"Is Bobby all right? Is he seriously hurt?" he asked anxiously.
"The kids are fine, Grimm. Now come on, let's go play soccer," Isshin said in an attempt to divert Grimmjow's worry. On their way to the field with Ryuuken, they ran into Ichigo and Uryu.
"Dad. come see our sheep!" Ichigo said. He had recovered mostly, as had the rest of the people involved in the Espada fight. Uryu looked at his own father, eyes hopeful.
"If I have to go, Kurosaki, then so do you," Ryuuken said dryly. He wasn't especially happy about the prospect of meeting some smelly sheep, but kept remembering Ikkaku's words.
"Come on," Ichigo tugged on Isshin's sleeve. Grimmjow waved a hand of approval, glad the parents seemed to get along fine.
"So these are our sheep," Uryu said proudly to Isshin and Ryuuken.
"They're really soft, Dad, feel!" Ichigo chimed in.
"And you boys seem to like being around smelly animals," Ryuuken commented as Isshin petted one of the ewes.
"The boys worked hard to raise them and are happy," Koga said from the side of the barn. The older Quincy looked down to see his friend and the two teens playing with the sheep. He had to admit Uryu seemed rather happy.
"And then after we sell half, we're going to knit with the other half," Ichigo finished explaining to his father.
"Your mother knits, Uryu," Ryuuken couldn't help saying as he bent down to tentatively touch a ewe. They were very soft creatures, despite the smell.
In the yard, Momo was chasing Demi and Daisy all over the place. Their laughter could be heard ringing throughout the house. Meanwhile, Kenpachi sat on the deck lazily watching Yachiru hug their newly adopted son to death. On the outside, she did look young, but that was only because one aged slowly in the Soul Society. In reality, she was a mature and capable adult. Kenpachi smiled to himself; Yachiru had wanted a child for years but for some reason they would never have any.
"Kenpachi, can you tell her to stop?" Dan asked, and Kenpachi laughed.
"I just missed you so much Danny," Yachiru said happily, her pink hair shining in the sunlight. They soon walked off to see the grounds, the girl pulling Dan everywhere.
Indoors, Rukia and Renji were regaling Bess, Orihime, Chad, and Ameil with tales of their adventures in the World of the Living. Izuru was listening as well; he'd come to check on Ameil, since Gin had left him in charge of his nephew as well.
"The best part was when Renji took me to this very fancy restaurant for our anniversary. Bess, it reminded me of Paris," Rukia said dreamily.
"I can't wait till I go on my first date!" Bess said excitedly.
"Not until you're sixteen," Renji replied seriously, and Rukia playfully slapped his arm. She would know when Bess was ready to start dating, then convince Renji to allow it.
Leaning casually on a counter in the kitchen, Rangiku was talking with Emily while Tessai and Kisuke helped Ururu and Yuzu make cookies. Isshin walked in and dipped his finger into the frosting, tasting it.
"Daddy," Yuzu said, annoyed.
"No tasting until it's done, Isshin, " Kisuke said with a smile.
"I don't like that rule. Who made it up?" Isshean said with a mock pout.
"Kisuke. He was tired of Yuzu and me reaching in to taste his pie fillings," Ururu piped up.
"Oh yeah," Yuzu said with a giggle. Kisuke had made a lot of pies for church events and town meetings.
"I remember helping him make a pie for a meeting Ryuuken held at the hospital," Ururu continued. "That was fun," she said with a slight blush, looking up at Kisuke. The man smiled affectionately and hugged her.
"How's Jinta, by the way?" Rangiku asked.
"About the same, and all the fourth squad members say it will only get harder in the winter," he said sadly, and Ururu and Yuzu both blushed at the mention of the 4thsquad. Both girls had a major crush on two certain boys in that squad: Ururu on Hanataro, and Yuzu on Rin. Bess advised them that they were pushing it considering both boys were fourteen.