Welcome to Chapter 12, sorry it's a few days late, but I couldn't uploaded because my internet signal was too weak to upload.

Sorry that the chapter is poorly written, I'll try and revise it later.

Chapter 12

The carriage pulled up to the castle steps. Torshiro helped Karin out as the servants came out. Matsumoto came out exhausted.

"King we have a problem" she said barely understandable. Stepping up Torshiro could hear the urgency in her voice.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"It's about Momo and Aizen, their kingdom, Aizen has become ruthless and a fire started in his Castle and no one has seen Momo, we have numerous letters from worried towns people worried about their soft hearted queen and even more from some servants that work for Aizen. Some give us account on what they think happen, but no one is absolutely sure what had happened. Momo just disappeared. Also servants do confirm that she is pregnant and are worried for the heir as well" Matsumoto reported. Torshiro left Karin without a word going to his office. He immediately started on the work on finding Momo and figuring out what had happened. Torshiro didn't get any sleep that night or the night after. Karin tried to convince him, but he refused. Soon weeks turned into a few months and no one knew where Momo was for the last two months when someone finally knocked on the door late at night. Torshiro had finally stopped sleeping in his office and once again joined Karin back in bed. When a knock came on the door during the middle of the night. A servant answered it and a young girl with a big stomach came in crying,

"I need to talk to Shiro…" she cried in panic and pain. The servant almost freaked out seeing Momo and a skinny male with short blond hair holding her. The servant called Matsumoto. Matsumoto freaked out and told a servant to go get Torshiro. She had the person holding her take her to a guest room Momo to a guest room and had a servant ride a horse into town to try get a physician. A loud knock on the door had awoken Torshiro and Karin from their sleep. Torshiro got out of bed and put a robbe on. He kissed Karin on the lips before heading to the door and opening it. Outside he saw a nervous servant,

"Momo, she's here!" she exclaimed.

"Okay, I'll be there shortly let me just get dressed." He told her before shutting the door. Karin watched her husband go into the closet and change.

"What's going?" she asked. Torshiro looked at his wife in bed, wishing he could just sleep with her again, but was overcome by the need and want to see Momo.

"I'm sorry Karin, I have to go. Momo has appeared here, and we need answers. I'll make it up to you," he promised. Karin laid down in a sigh.

"Okay, go take care of your friend." with hearing theses words from Karin, Torshiro was gone out of the room. He had gone to the room where Momo was being cared for, he could see that her stomach was decently big, she had to be 7 to 8 months by then and close to being ready to deliver. Torshiro took a seat next to her,

"Momo, what happened with Aizen." he asked calmly.

"It all happened by surprise, Aizen wasn't himself. He was acting different. He wasn't calm he was crazy, but I know he still loves me. Regardless of starting the fires he still loves me, because he allowed me to escape" Momo said quickly becoming out of breath. Torshiro shook his head not believing what he was hearing.

"What about you?" Torshiro pushed on. "How did you get here?"

"I escaped and took wagons all the way here, people were nice, but me and my servant Kira got here. I didn't know where else to go" Momo explained. Torshiro looked up seeing the servant that she was talking about.

"Okay Momo. Just rest" he encouraged her. She nodded before being overcome with pain.

"The physician is here." they informed Torshiro he nodded.

"Bring him in." The physician came in and checked Momo before looking back at Torshiro. "If there another physician that can help me, another person that knows medical?" he asked. Torshiro looked at him surprised.

"Why would we need another?" he asked confused.

"Because I can't do delivers on my own." he informed. After hearing that, Torshiro froz,

"Excuse me?" Torshiro asked wanting clarification.

"She has started contraction, her water hasn't broken but the contractions are there." the doctor informed. "Now is there anyone in the building that has medical knowledge?" At this point Karin had been listening from the hallway. Taking a deep breath she opened the door and walked in,

"Doctor, I can help you I have some medical skills, not up to date, but that should be suficiente right?" Karin informed. The doctor nodded eagerly.

"Yes that should do fine, medical hasn't really changed since the time both of your parents were born, so we should line up fine. Now can you order the servants to get supplies that we might need than I request anything else that we might need. King Hitsugaya, I am going to need you to leave along with her servant, umm" The doctor said. The blond servant stood up

"Kira,, it's Kira," he said before leaving the room. Torshiro couldn't stop looking at Momo.

"Torshiro, you need to leave" Karin ordered.

"Don't call me Torshiro!" he snapped not realizing that it was Karin until he looked. "Karin… I didn't .." Karin stopped him in his sentences.

"You need to leave" she told him again. She pushed Torshiro out and signaled Matsumoto over to them. Karin gave her a list of things to get and Matsumoto ran off towards the kitchen. Karin shut the door going back into the room. Torshiro leaned up against the wall and slid down so he was sitting.

Karin and the doctor where talking about everything they would have to do.

"I hope you're ready for a long day, maybe even night," the doctor said. They moved Momo into a easier position to deliver. Momo felt a shock of pain again and continue to tell them that, her body hurt. Matsumoto knocked on the door and gave the supplies to Karin, the doctor checked them and than asked for a few more things. Karin set the supplies on the side table. She put the small tube she had asked for on another table in the room and lined it with a soft towel. Karin checked the knife that they had been given than handed it to the doctor to inspect.

"Why don't you go change into your worse clothes," the doctor suggested. Karin nodded and left the room, allowing Matsumoto in to keep watch. Torshiro watched Karin leave then come back with ugly clothes he thought she would never wear. Without a word she went back into the room. 12 hours past and between that time Momo's water had broken but her contractions were still too far apart. The doctor was very nervous,

"Let's begin, if we leave it any longer we might have not have an alive baby or mother" he said, taking the knife he cut down from the canal, so it wouldn't rip in delivery. Karin went up to Momo talking to her softly and explaining everything she would be asked to do. Momo nodded. The doctor gave the signal to Karin and Karin told Momo to push. It took another 13 hours for Momo to deliver, putting the time the baby was official born around 1am. Karin grabbed another soft towel that she had got and took the baby from the doctor and into the bathroom to clean it off before coming out and handing the baby to Momo. It was a little boy, Momo put the baby to her face and kissed him. Karin took the baby and put it in the clear container she had the servants given her. Karin took care of the baby while Mom slept. The doctor checked the baby, before looking at Karin.

"Thank you, Queen for your help." The doctor said before leaving the room. Karin stayed in the room she was tired, but didn't want to leave the two alone. Kira came into the room. Examining the servant, he bowed to Karin.

"Thank you for helping our queen, but I believe you should go get some sleep for if you don't your kingdom might worry about you, your majesty"

"I will take your advice, but if anything happen please wake me" she instructed. Kira nodded and with this Karin left the room going to her own room. When she walked in Torshiro was changing.

"Karin! Does that mean Momo is finished delivering?" Torshiro asked. Karin watched him. He seemed more excited to hear that Momo was done delivering than he did seeing his wife that he hadn't seen all day, but Karin nodded giving him the answer he wanted. He nodded and left the room without another word. Karin watched as the door shut leaving her in the empty room alone. Karin changed her clothes into a nightgown before going out of the room. Matsumoto saw Karin leave the room in her night clothes,

"Where you going?" She asked walking up to Karin. Karin looked at the older woman that she once didn't like, but now didn't mind.

"Umm, I didn't want to stay in the room and sleep…." Karin answered.

"Karin do you want to sleep in my room, I'm on duty and won't be sleeping until tonight." Matsumoto answered.

"Really? Thanks, you" Karin smiled

"I know Torshiro can be well, over protective over Momo and all, but I believe he married you" Matsumoto said exposing Karin's thoughts as they walked.

"He did, but only out of contract." Karin sharply replied.

"But he loves you now" Matsumoto argued. Karin was quiet. Matsumoto felt bad for her. She was in love with Torshiro, but was unsure that Torshiro actually loved her, and Matsumoto had to agree with her, sometime she thought that Torshiro loved Momo more than Karin too, but wouldn't let Karin know what she thought. She let the girl into her room before going off to do her job.

A month went by and majority of the things that Torshiro did was his paperwork, check on Momo, and sleep. He would sometimes talk to Karin, but only when they ate. Momo was now up and about she played with her child that she had named, Mushiro. During theses two months Karin had received steady letters from her family telling her about her dad's condition, she could tell it was getting worse. The doctor was sad to tell the family that there was nothing else he could do to help. Ichigo suggested that Karin came home to visit her dad for the last time. Karin talked to Matsumoto about it and the head servant had agree. As night time rolled around Karin was in the room her and Torshiro shared. Torshiro was talking about Momo and everything her, and her son had done today. Karin couldn't take it anymore.

"Torshiro I'm going home," Karin announced. Torshiro became silent.

"Why? I thought you liked it here, I thought you loved this kingdom" he asked.

"My dad, he got bad again, Torshiro he's dying and might die even before I get there" Karin told him.

"I see, well I wish you a safe journey than…" Karin was crushed by this sentences.

"You aren't coming with me?" Karin asked in a broken and dejected voice.

"Karin I can't I have to be here to help Momo,"

"But why? I'm your wife!" Karin argued.

"Only because of a contract!" Torshiro rose his voice. They both went silent, Torshiro had a guilty look on his face and Karin looked at him sadly. "Karin… I didn't.." he was cut off.

"Thanks for being truthful" Karin said before leaving the room. Outside she saw Matsumoto and a couple other servants with face full of horror. Matsumoto watched as Karin went down the hall and whispered something to the other servant sending her off after Karin. Matsumoto looked at Torshiro with a disappointed look.

"Nice going your majesty" she spat before going an opposite way. She knew she had to get Karin out of the castle, she decided to go with her. She order the carriage to pull up to the castle steps and had everything loaded on. Next she went and got Karin from the room she was in and had her change. When they were ready they got onto the carriage and headed out of the castle yard into the kingdom leaving. Matsumoto watched the younger woman as she dealt with everything in silences and pretending like she wasn't bothered with the situations.

It took them about a two days to get to her kingdom, Ichigo was taken by surprised of how they got there so fast. Karin got out of the carriage with Matsumoto behind her.

"Karin your a day early why? And why isn't Torshiro with you and who is this?" Ichigo asked.

"Ichigo, I came early because we had good timing, Torshiro had work at home, and this is our head servant Matsumoto she offered to come with me in place of Torshiro," Karin explained Ichigo knew she was hiding something but just pushed it aside.

"Okay let me show you to your rooms than" with that Ichigo lead them inside. They walked down the hall Karin was in the room that she was in last time and Matsumoto was placed into the room next to her.

"Ichigo I would like to visit dad" she requested. Ichigo got a sad look than nodded. She followed him to their fathers room. As Karin walked in she noticed that everything had changed since she had visited two months earlier. The room was darker and smells of sickness was thicker. She knew the castle was extremely clean, but had her dad gotten so sick they couldn't keep up with it. Her dad was sleeping, she could tell he was paler. Sitting next to his bed she spent time just watching him. He stirred in his sleep and woke up to see her.

"Karin, your here" her dad said happily. Karin smiled for him,

"Of course you can't keep me away."

"Where's Torshiro?" He asked looking around

"Umm he didn't come, I don't know if we will even stay together I might have to come back, I'm sorry for failing the kingdom…" Karin said

"That's not why your upset, you didn't fail us, I was trying to make you happy, I'm sure everything will turn out for the best and I'm quite happy for you…." Isshin said before falling back asleep Karin looked at her dad confused. Happy for her for what? Ichigo entered the room.

"How's it going?" He asked

"It went good, but he said something weird…"

"Like what?"

"I told him about everything in my life being negative and he said things would turn out for the best, and he was happy for me, but I don't know why" Karin answered her brother. Ichigo smiled remember something.

"Dad is interesting, he told Rukia that too, before she realized she was pregnant"

"I can't be" Karin refused to admit it.

"It's a lot to take in, but let me walk you to your room" Ichigo offered. Karin nodded and followed him out. Matsumoto was waiting for her opening the door for her when she got to her room. They said goodnight to Ichigo before going into the room. Matsumoto had picked out a nightgown for Karin. She changed and got on the bed. Matsumoto brushed her hair waiting for Karin to talk.

"My dad said something… After I told him everything that is happening between me and Torshiro and how we may not stay together." Karin started.

"What did he say?" Matsumoto asked

" he said I'm happy for you, and Ichigo told me that he had told Rukia that right before she found out she was pregnant…" Karin explained. Matsumoto stopped brushing Karin hair and got in front of her.

"We can do some test and we can figure it out, but Karin if you are. What are you going to do? Go home? Stay here?" She asked

"I don't know, Rangiku I don't know what I'm going to do. The child is Torshiro's so technically I should go back, but not how things are now" Karin said.

"How about we deal with this when we find out that you are, no need to worry about it now since we don't know" she told her not bothered that Karin had used her first name. After that Matsumoto left Karin alone in her room to do her own things as Matsumoto went back to her room, but Ichigo stopped her.

"What's really happening?" Ichigo asked. She knew she couldn't hide it and decided to give up. Leaning against the wall she began,

"When they returned home Torshiro had gotten word his childhood friend, who he may or may of not loved went missing from her kingdom. She was also pregnant. She finally showed up at our front door a month ago were Karin and the physician delivered her baby after 25 hours of her being in labor. The baby survived everything seemed great, but since then Karin and Torshiro haven't been able to spend time together or anything. In Fact I think Torshiro is falling out of love with Karin and falling back in love with Momo and sadly Karin's had to sit by and watch it. Watch him help her take care of her child, talk to her at night, eat with her, momo helps him with work and Torshiro just tells her not to worry about it. I am regretfully having to inform you that I may not want Karin to return home with me when I do go back and rather have her stay here." She explained. Ichigo took in a big breath thinking. Rubbing his temple, he decided his words carefully.

"Okay, what about Karin, do you think she's pregnant?" he asked. Matsumoto thought for a moment.

"I think it's a high possibility. She would only be two or maybe three months along. Karin probably didn't notice the sick feeling because she was already stressed" she informed. Ichigo nodded and dismissed her. The castle went quiet. Ichigo did tell his wife. Rukia was prepared to talk to Karin the next day, but was delayed due to unexpected circumstances.

Everyone was woken up by servants and told to go to their fathers bedroom. They all arrived to hear what was going on.

"What's wrong with my father?" Ichigo questioned. His fathers top servant looked down sadly.

"I am sad to inform you that he has past, in his sleep he felt no pain." they were told. Karin fell down, but was caught and comforted by Matsumoto. Ichigo held Rukia as she cried.

"Okay, lets get his body moved and prepared for burial" Ichigo said "I'll take Rukia to our room, um matsumoto can you umm Karin?" he asked she nodded and took her back to her room. She got Karin calm enough that she was able to fall asleep. Matsumoto sat in a chair in the room thinking, 'why was all this happening to her queen that was completely loyal to the king, she was continuously getting bad news. Matsumoto decided she wasn't going to take Karin back with everything going on as is. Once she found out if Karin is or isn't pregnant she would go back and than talk to Torshiro. Either tell him to break it off with Karin, or find a place to put Momo, so she couldn't damage their lives anymore. If he decided the second option than she would send him back to get Karin and if it was the first than she would send Karin a very painful letter. She was hoping for the second one but couldn't guarantee it.

The days blended together as the family prepared for their father's funeral. Karin had sent a letter to Torshiro telling him what happened, but that was about a week ago with no reply, on the other hand Matsumoto was getting reports from the other servants that were at the castle. They said torshiro had received the letter, but that Momo had taken it and apparently tore it up. Torshiro didn't get mad at all either. They explained that Torshiro had been returning to his room late at night, with Karin not there he didn't have to be back in their rooms at certain times. Momo called herself the queen of their kingdom a couple times as well. Matsumoto didn't like this and she was certain the people wouldn't like it either. Karin had breathed life back into the kingdom. People realized it was the queen paying for supplies that were needed around the town. That she spent time with the children and taught them things that they didn't know. She had helped wives of soldiers and of common workers earn more money, by the things they made. She made products in their kingdom better. She had flowers planted for lost ones of villagers who couldn't afford the grave. The people loved her. One of the servants that lived at home said that the towns where getting mad and unhappy. Torshiro had to do something soon. Soldiers were starting to refuse work from the crown. Matsumoto sighed hearing all of this wondering what had happened to the little boy who she had helped raised into a fine young gentleman.

Karin's father's burial finally was upon them as everyone in the kingdom began to grieve they had a procession out of the kingdom. Yuzu was among the family at last. She was the only one to be noticed by the townspeople. Matsumoto walked beside Karin helping her. As they reached the burial site a new boulder that was bigger than that of Karin's mother was next to said grave. The body of Isshin was lowered into the grave and buried. Ichigo spoke about his father as a great king ending the baural. Yuzu went home with Jinta not even acknowledging Karin. Karin went back to the castle and was sitting in the main room looking out of the window into the distances, when Rukia and Matsumoto both walked in.

"Karin." Rukia called Karin turned to look at them telling them that she was listening. "It's time, we test." Karin nodded before getting up. A physician was waiting , they did several test including Piss Prophets, Look Into My Eyes, and I Saw the Sign. (Actually real test just search up the names and/or 8 HIstorical methods detecting pregnancy) The last one was the oddest one that made Karin feel uncomfortable, but went through it anyways. After all the test where done, Karin was back in the main room waiting for the news. Rukia and Matsumoto talked the physician for 30 minutes before letting him leave and going over to Karin. Rukia came over to Karin with a pieces of paper handing it over to Karin she said "Congratulations" Karin looked at all of the test each one was positive. Karin wanted to be happy, but couldn't. She slowly looked up at Matsumoto. Karin looked like she was about to cry.

"Rangiku what am I going to do?" Karin asked the servant that had been helping her through everything.

"I said we would deal with it when we got here so, now it's time to plan. Karin I don't want you going back to the castle, not how things are, that would over stress yourself and be bad for the child. I've been thinking about the approach and decided that I would go alone back to the kingdom and give Torshiro two options. To break it off with you or to break it off with Momo or at least make Momo leave the castle and spend min time with her, so you two can spend the time you need. If he says the second one, Karin, I will come back and stay with you. I won't tell Torshiro anything about your pregnancy. I just need to see that you had his child, so when the time comes your son can take the thrown and not Momo's" she explained. Karin nodded in understanding.

"Okay…." She replied quietly. Rukia looked at Matsumoto and nodded, with this she left the castle and got the fastest horse that they had and took off racing towards her kingdom. She would be there in less than half the day. Rangiku Matsumoto was on a mission for her queen not her king she was loyal to her queen. She hoped things would be better for Karin when she returned and hoped that Torshiro would give her the answer she wanted.

As always comment, vote, favorite, follow, and review. Tell me what you think!

~Foxflame!~