And now we continue. I do not own Bleach, characters or locations.

~Urahara's shop living room~

"We all know why we are here." Urahara spoke with authority. "We all felt Aizen's Reiatsu, but we had no luck in finding him or any of his Espada." He looked around the room. Everyone was tired, they had spent all night trying to locate Aizen. They couldn't even find a trace of his Reiatsu anymore. "The only thing we know is that Aizen knows we use the store as a base. There is no evidence he is certain we are here."

"We might as well should assume that." Renji was pissed at having lost their only lead on the man behind Rukia's false imprisonment. He still had a score to settle with that man.

He was silence by one look from Urahara. Kisuke continued, "I have already informed Soul Society of the situation. We are to stay here and prepare for war, whether it comes or not."

After the meeting the Kurosaki family went back to their home. Rukia, Hinamori, Izuru, Renji and Toshiro went with them since there wasn't enough room for all of them in the shop. Rini went back to her room and also showed Ukitake and Muguruma to the guest room that did not have communication equipment in it, they had gotten lost a few times, and where the extra futons were. Zaraki and Yachiru were no where to be seen.

"I'm going to go see what Hisagi is up to." Muguruma wanted to make sure Hisagi didn't lead the poor human girl, that was infatuated with him, on more.

Rini and Ukitake began setting up the second guest room. "I never properly thanked you." Ukitake said trying to start up a conversation in the long silence as they pulled futons out. "Normally this would have been too much work for me and I would have had to rest and recover." He padded the futon he had just laid down.

"It was no problem. It was actually quite easy. The Hollow wasn't as imbedded as I thought it was, probably because you have such a high reiatsu level. It's harder when the soul has fully Hollowfied." Rini handed Ukitake the third futon. Their hands brushed past each other. Rini dropped the futon unconsciously, but Ukitake already had it in his hands. When Ukitake turned to go put the futon in its place he saw a slight blush on Rini's cheeks. He wondered what that was about.

"Have you removed a Hollow from a Hollowfied soul?" He asked trying to get pasted the awkward silence that was settling.

"A few times. It basically splits the soul into the soul and the Hollow that was born from it. After that the soul can't become a Hollow again. We also figured out how to do soul burials." She knew she was just rambling on at this point. She had made four piles of sheets for the four beds. She put one on each futon. "I imagine you guys can finish making your beds."

"Yes we'll manage. Thank you." Ukitake gave her a smile. He didn't realize that the reason why she left in such a hurry was because she was blushing and felt embarrassed. He just watched her as she left and went into her room.

'Oh my gosh why am I affected by him so much.' All she could think about was his smile and gentle nature. She also couldn't forget the touch of his hand, soft yet strong. She was blushing even more just thinking about it.

Neither Rini nor Ukitake knew that they were having the same thoughts about the other.

Ayame walked into their room and dove onto her futon and slammed her face into her pillow. She then proceeded to hug it, roll around with it, and giggle into it. Rini had never seen her friend like this, ever. Ayame had, had a boyfriend before, but she was never like this. Mind you they only lasted an hour, because he became too scared of her after seeing her beat up the Captain of the kendo club. But Rini was genuinely worried for the girl.

"You OK there Ame-chan?" They only used their childhood nicknames when either one of them lost control of their powers, or they were really worried about each other.

~flashback~

"Hisagi-san, can I talk to you?" Ayame was nervous. Hisagi hadn't even looked at her since the incident in Soul Society. She was worried he was scared of her now.

"Sure. I need to speak with you too." Hisagi knew he needed to tell Ayame that they couldn't be together. He knew it would break both his heart and Ayame's, but he knew it would keep her safe. He knew the law stated execution as the worst case punishment, but he didn't doubt that the central 46 wouldn't think of forced employment as an alternative. It would fix the problem and give them a strong shinigami.

Everyone had left the living room. Only Ayame and Hisagi were in the room. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity Ayame leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on Hisagi's cheek. He blushed at her action and became instantly speechless.

"Seeing as how you are at a loss for words, I'll start." Ayame smiled at how perfect her distraction went. "I don't know what is going on. At one point we are perfectly fine. Then I had my little episode and now you aren't speaking to me. You won't even look at me anymore!" Ayame was on the verge of tears. "Do you see me as a monster that much? That I'm just another muscle head that belongs in 11th squad? I would fit in just perfectly with Chiru-chan would I?" Ayame knew she was starting to cry. She tried to hold them back knowing the trouble it would cause.

She stopped when she felt a pair of hands tilt her face up. She felt the soft warm lips of the man she had fallen in love with. The only thing she felt she could do was kiss him back.

"I would never think anything like that about you. The only thing I think about you is how beautiful you are. How your smile is the one thing that can always make my day. How infectious your laugh is." Ayame couldn't help but smile at his words. "I don't see you as a muscle head. I see you as a strong person who could easily take down Zaraki-Taichou." He hoped the Taichou didn't hear him say that. "You are who you are, and I love every bit of you. Craziness to deadliness to cuteness." He kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly.

Ayame hadn't realized just what he meant to her. Now, though, she knew. Hisagi was the one person she felt she could change for, other than her father. "Thank you, Shuhei." She hugged him tightly. 'Thank you for helping me be brave.'

Hisagi had to admit it, he liked hearing Ayame say his name. "I love you, Ayame." He had never actually called her by her first name while she was listening. He definitely had never told her he loved her either.

Ayame pulled away from him and looked him in the eyes. Then gave home one of her genuine smiles. "I love you too." She stood up on her toes and gave him another kiss. She then almost skipped back to her room, humming her favourite song.

~flashback end~

"I'm perfectly fine." Ayame could feel blush creep back to her cheeks. She nearly screamed with happiness, but pushed her face back into her pillow and giggled loudly.

~back to Hisagi~

"What happened to keeping your distance?" Kensei walked into the room scaring Hisagi.

"I just couldn't do it." Hisagi knew that there were going to be problems in the future. "But, who said law can't be changed. It was when Kyoraku-Soutaichou married Ise-Fukutaichou. Why can't it change for this?" Hisagi wanted it to be easy, but he knew I wouldn't be.

"The difference is that you live in different worlds. She is still alive. She will grow old. You are not and will not age at the same rate. And that is not something that can be changed." Kensei knew where the Fukutaichou's heart was, but he knew they couldn't be together as they were now. "I'll keep the comment about Zaraki-Taichou to myself. I'd hate to see you get beat up in front of your girlfriend who could beat up the guy." Kensei had a smirk on his face telling the young man his secret was safe.

"That would be much appreciated. Should we go find Zaraki-Taichou or let him come back on his own?" Hisagi asked his former Taichou.

"Get me for what? You guys going to stay up the rest of the night and talk?" Kenpachi was heading toward the guest room that they were staying in.

"Ken-chan. I'm tired." Yachiru said from his shoulder.

The door to Ayame and Rini's room opened. "Chiru-chan. Want to come sleep in our room?" Ayame was wearing shorts, several tank tops, and bright blue fuzzy slippers. Her hair has braided and looped into the strangest hairstyle any of the men had ever seen.

"Yay! Sleep over!" Yachiru rushed into the girls room and pulled Ayame back into the room with her.

They could hear whispering and laughter, but couldn't make out words. None of them understood fully what just happened. "Well at least we don't have to deal with her early wake up schedule." Hisagi walked past the tall Taichou into their room. They all settle down for the night. Hoping sleep would relieve them of the disappointment from their search earlier.

~at the Kurosaki house during the same time~

"So Izuru, Abarai, and Toshiro can stay in Ichigo's old room. We can pull out the two spare futons for Rukia and Hinamori. You two can stay with Yuzu and Karin in their room." Isshin's was determined that nothing would happen that night. Everyone was tired and no one needed to be making stupid mistakes. 'I will see whether or not you are worthy of my daughter before you can date her.' Isshin felt like such a strong father as he directed his thoughts to his former 3rd seat.

'Except that she could easily beat you up.' Isshin's zanpakutou said coldly.

'Shut it Engetsu.' He didn't need his zanpakutou tearing his plans apart before he had even started it.

"Karin. Can you show the boys to their room? I'm going to cook something. I'm sure a bit of soup should help calm everyone down a bit." Yuzu headed to the kitchen.

"I'll help Yuzu-chan." Hinamori followed the petite blond to the kitchen.

"Ok. Rukia I'm sure you remember where my and Yuzu's room is. The futons are in the closet. Can you make one for you and Hinamori?" Karin stretched and started walking towards the stairs.

"Yep. No problem." She ran ahead of Karin up to the girls room.

Karin opened the door to her brother's old room. It had been a while since she last went inside. It still looked like Ichigo lived in it. "There is already a futon set up in the closet. I guess that's where Rukia slept when she stayed here the first time." She opened the closet door to show the already set up futon with a spare futon folded on top of it.

There was a loud crashing sound accompanied by Rukia's scream. Renji was immediately worried and ran out of the room. Izuru followed him out of the room to see if he could help. The temperature of the room increased causing the door to close after he left. The temperature returned to normal once it was closed.

Toshiro smirked and looked at the girl standing in front of him. "Wanted some privacy?" He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.

"I'd rather not have people watching us." Karin wrapped her arms around Toshiro's neck and pulled him into a kiss.

"Do you have any idea of what you do to me?" Toshiro was intoxicated by her presence alone.

"No. Tell me Toshiro." 'My gosh I like saying his name' Karin was loving his embrace.

'Don't get to carried away master. You do need sleep and so does he. And I don't think your father would approve of the two of you sleeping together. Even if you're just sleeping. ' Karin hated to admit that her zanpakutou was right.

Toshiro smiled when Karin said his name. She had said it many times before, but this time was different. This time there wasn't a little stab of pain in his heart. He pulled her into another kiss.

'Master. I think we should let her go to bed. You both are exhausted. And I think her father is keeping a close eye on us.' Toshiro had known that his former Taichou wouldn't let just any guy be in a relationship with his daughter, but he hoped to not have to fight with him about it either.

They both just stood there embracing each other.

"Everyone! The soup is done!" Yuzu yelled from the kitchen.

"Shall we?" Toshiro pulled on Karin's hand.

She intertwined her fingers with his. "Let's."

Before they opened the door they heard feet shuffling down the hall away from the door. Both Toshiro and Karin blushed. They hadn't realized people were eavesdropping on their intimate moment with each other.

"This is going to be fun. Wonder how my dad will react?" Karin knew her dad was going to flip, but she was certain she could handle him.

Toshiro squeezed her hand and kissed her fore head. "Don't worry. I'll be right beside you." He smiled at the girl who had stolen his heart and headed down the hallway to face the wrath of Kurosaki Isshin.

"There you guys are. Hurry up before the soup gets cold." Yuzu had set the table and already served the soup to everyone.

"Thanks Yuzu" Karin hadn't realized she was a little hungry.

She took the seat beside her father and Hitsugaya sat on the other side of Karin. They both were surprised that Isshin hadn't even so much as looked at them.

"Nice to know there is someone to look after my daughter." Neither Karin nor Toshiro had expected Isshin to say anything. Especially not that, it had almost sounded like he approved of the relationship his daughter had with the young shinigami Taichou. Both of them looked at the man grinning at the two like he just morphed into an animal of some sort and was dressed in a leotard.

Isshin gave Hitsugaya a look that could easily be interpreted as "we need to talk".

When everyone else had left, and Yuzu and Hinamori had finished cleaning the dishes, Isshin sat at the table with his former 3rd seat sitting across from him. "I hope you realize that by being with Karin, you're putting her in danger." Isshin trusted Toshiro, but knew there were things even a Taichou was powerless against.

"I know. You should know that I will not let any harm come to her. And we both know she can hold her own as well." He stared at his former Taichou. "She certainly is Ichigo's sister."

"Can you tell she's my daughter?" Isshin was just fooling with Toshiro.

"Not at all." Toshiro answered flatly. "I'll see you in the morning. You should turn in as well. It's late." Toshiro got up and walked towards the room he was staying in, leaving Isshin to cry to the poster of his deceased wife. He walked in to find Renji and Kira waiting up. "What are you two doing still up?"

"Just wanted to ask you some questions." Renji said while smiling at the Taichou.

"No. Go to bed." With that Toshiro turned out the light and ended the conversation before it got any farther.

audible groans and grumbles were heard from the two Fukutaichous.

~the girls~

Once the girls got to their room they all turned and looked at Karin.

"What?" She knew exactly what they were going to ask.

"Just wanted to know some details." Rukia had an almost creepy grin on her face.

"You're not getting any." Karin turned out the lights hoping to end the conversation.

"Come on just a tiny detail." Yuzu really wanted to know what she had missed while she had been making soup.

"No! And if anyone else asks I'm going to throw them out the window. Or I'll use Hiwamaru to make the room nice and toasty for me." With that said Karin had effectively stopped all gossip for what remained of the night.

I know I'm terrible. I set up a cliff then pushed you off only to find a ledge right below you. :P
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