Author's Note:
Alright, here we go with chapter 11! We're heading into the final stretch, everyone, so I hope you're excited! Just four more chapters to go ;-)
Phany9634: I'm very glad you loved last chapter :-D We'll have more cuteness for a little while longer before things start to get serious.
SailorStar9: Lol! I know, Isshin does tend to rush things, doesn't he ;-)
MikeRyder16: So awesome to see you back for another one of my HitsuKarin fics! Thank you for the favorite, and follow! It's always appreciated, and I hope you're enjoying this story as much as you enjoyed After All These Years :-)
A big thank you, once again, to all of the other people who have followed/favorited this story, as well as my others! I love seeing returning readers, and it's wonderful seeing new ones as well! It's very encouraging for an author to see that your work is enjoyed by others.
Okay, enough of me; on with the show!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. All credit goes to Tite Kubo.
Three months later…
Toshiro was sitting in bed reading various reports from Rojuro (or Rose, as everyone called the king of Bara), Lisa, and Shinji when he heard a light knock on his bedroom doors. Looking down quickly at his still-sleeping wife, he said 'Come in', and his sister appeared a moment later; her hands filled with more paperwork, and a small smile on her face. "Wow, you didn't even ask who it was; that was rather risky. What if I'd been Rangiku?" she asked; amusement in her eyes as she walked up to her brother, and set the paperwork down on his bedside table.
The young king gave her a sarcastic smirk in reply. "Are you kidding? It's seven in the morning on a Saturday, and she's home; there's no way Matsumoto is awake yet. She's probably still passed out at a tavern somewhere."
Momo chuckled, and nodded her head in agreement. "That's true. Hopefully Shuhei managed to get her back to the barracks this time. Sometimes I wonder why he puts up with it." she said; watching the smirk on her brother's face soften slightly as he held her gaze. "He loves her, that's why. You know as well as anyone else that you learn to accept what you know won't change. That, or you walk away; and I know that he doesn't want to walk away." he replied; smiling at her now, with an understanding look in his eyes.
The dark-haired princess smiled back, and glanced from her little brother, to his wife, and back again. "Very true, and I know you speak from experience, too, Shiro." she said, before her expression turned thoughtful, and she looked at the two of them. "It's hard to believe that three months have gone by already since you two got married. It's been so busy around here; I don't think anyone's had a chance to really notice how quickly time has been moving recently. Speaking of which, is Karin okay? She's usually up and about by now; tackling some project, or another." the dark-haired princess asked with a curious, and slightly concerned expression.
Toshiro nodded in reply, and looked down at his wife; a soft, loving smile on his face. "Yeah, I think she's fine; just tired. She's been up late all week with Nanao and Genshiro, planning an ambush on one of the last remaining Fraccion that we heard was travelling north, towards Kiryu. I think she's feeling it now." he said; gently running his fingers through Karin's silky raven locks.
Nodding, Momo's smile grew slightly, and she turned to head back towards the door. "Okay, I just wanted to check. Recently, she's been working far more than she really should, and I wanted to make sure she wasn't letting it affect her health. Now, I need to go wake up Ryu, so I'll see you two later." she said; opening the bedroom door, exiting the room, and closing the door again behind her.
After his sister left, Toshiro turned his attention to the stack of paperwork she had put on his bedside table; the envelope on the top of the pile catching his eye. 'That's Ichigo's handwriting' he thought, as he took the envelope, and opened it; reading the letter it contained.
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Hey Toshiro,
I'm writing to inform you that we've lost the trail of the Espada again. Tier Harribel and Grimmjow Jaegergaquez were last seen near Kiryu's borders, and, based on their direction of travel, we suspect that they were heading for Saikyo. Shunsui's increased security, and has put out public warnings to the citizens as a precaution. Szayel Aporro Granz disappeared near Rika, so king Mayuri is on high alert, as well; and we got a tip from the Onmitsukido that Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck was last seen near Karakura. Ulquiorra Cifer vanished in the large pine forest near the entrance to the Dragon's Pass in Hueco Mundo, so I would increase the number of men you have stationed on your side of it if I were you. I've had a couple of encounters with Ulquiorra already, and I can tell you that he is not an opponent to be taken lightly; so, be on your guard. That cloaked, masked man was with him, too; the one who's been giving us so many problems lately. I know I don't need to tell you how incredibly dangerous he is, so please be careful around Orora, and increase security. That man alone has nearly destroyed several allied kingdom bases near the border in the last couple of months, and I don't want anything happening to my sister, you hear me? When we spotted him, we tried to detain him; but he managed to nearly kill both Mashiro Kuna, and king Kensei. Thankfully, I was able to drive him off with Tensa Zangetsu, and help get them to safety, before they suffered any fatal injuries. I'll give you more information in person later, which actually brings me to my other reason for writing. Since Goat-chin and I are in Saikyo to meet with Shunsui, we thought we would stop by, and see you and Karin. We won't be able to stay for more than a week, so I apologize in advance for the short visit; but we're looking forward to seeing the two of you. You can expect us in two days' time.
Sincerely,
Ichigo
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Toshiro sighed in slight annoyance after reading the entirety of the missive. "Dammit, Ichigo; you couldn't let us know that a little bit sooner?" he said; looking at the date on the letter.
"Couldn't let us know what sooner?"
Upon hearing his wife's voice, the young king looked down to see sleepy stormy grey eyes looking back at him, and he gave her a small smile; leaning down, and kissing her. "Good morning." he said once they separated, and Karin gave him a playful smirk in reply. "Good morning. Now, what's the problem? What did Ichigo do this time?" she asked; humor dancing in her eyes.
Giving her a slight smirk in reply, Toshiro passed her the letter, and watched amusedly as she read it; her facial expression going from confused, to concerned, to surprised, to finally settling on irritated as she looked up at the date on the letter. "Ugh, what the hell, Ichi?! This was written two days ago! So, that means they're arriving today?" she asked; looking to her husband as he nodded. "Most likely."
Karin huffed before handing him the letter back. "Well, I guess I need to go find Momo, and help her get two rooms ready, then." she said, as she moved to get out of bed…only to be stopped by a muscular arm sliding over her waist, and holding her in place. Before she had a chance to look back, she felt soft lips on her neck, and she immediately closed her eyes; sighing contentedly. Even after three months, she still couldn't figure out how he managed to draw her in so easily.
Toshiro kissed his way up her neck, before stopping to hover just above her ear. "That's why we have housemaids, Karin; let them take care of it. Besides, we probably have a few hours until they get here, and I have other plans for you." he whispered; sliding his fingers under the hem of her shirt, and enjoying the goosebumps that made their way onto his wife's usually smooth skin.
Smirking to herself, the queen leaned out of reach just enough to turn her head, and find her husband's gaze. "And do I have any say in this, your majesty?" she said; her voice laced with sarcasm and flirtation, which made Toshiro smirk. "Depends on what you want to say." he replied, before leaning down, and capturing her lips with his.
Karin didn't bother with a sarcastic retort; instead, humming in approval as her hands slid up his chest, and around his neck to pull him closer. Paperwork and visitors could wait for an hour…or two.
EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F
It was four in the afternoon by the time Ichigo's and Isshin's horses finally approached the border walls of Orora. They'd had to stay longer in Saikyo than originally planned, and were consequently behind schedule; which, Isshin thought, probably wasn't a bad thing. He figured Ichigo's letter had only been delivered this morning, so it would give the young couple longer to prepare for their arrival. He hadn't liked Ichigo's idea of dropping in so last-minute, but he was excited to see how his daughter was doing in her new kingdom…and he wanted to shake hands with his new son-in-law, as well, to welcome him into the family properly.
As the white granite walls came ever closer into view, and the pair could really start to feel their imposing grandeur, Ichigo gawked. "Wow…Toshiro's family doesn't do anything by halves, do they?" he asked; marveling at the impressive stone structure.
Isshin smirked at his son's awe-struck face as they approached the gate. "Oh, if you think this is impressive, just wait until you see the castle. If Toshiro is anything like his father was, which I know he is, then it will be as immaculate, and pristine as I remember." the southern ruler said, as they verified their identities with the gatekeepers, and were let into the interior of Orora; listening to the large metal gates close behind them as they began their trek up the mountain road.
On their way, they encountered several villagers, and townsfolk; all of whom they stopped to talk with. Everyone had been thrilled to hear that they were related to princess Karin, and welcomed them into the kingdom with open arms. Ichigo and Isshin were rather surprised, but very pleased, to hear that Karin was so loved, and admired, by the people of Orora; it meant that she would be a cherished queen when this war was over. They noticed how the people still addressed her as 'princess Karin', so they deduced that the young couple had indeed married in secret for Karin's safety. 'Good to know' both father and son thought, as they finally approached the castle after a couple of hours on the road up the mountain.
When the massive stone fortress came fully into view, Ichigo's jaw almost hit his horse's withers, and Isshin smirked at him. "I told you." the Kurosaki patriarch said amusedly, as they passed under the entry arch of the castle; their horses' hooves clicking on the granite cobbles of the entry courtyard as they came to a stop in front of the large ebony doors.
Dismounting, and handing their reins off to two stable boys, they walked over to the doors, and knocked; the dark wood swinging open a moment later to reveal the smiling face of Rangiku. "King Isshin! Prince Ichigo! It's so good to see you again! Please, come in!" she said, as she ushered the pair in.
The two men gave the bubbly blonde a hug, and Isshin looked her over; a huge smile on his face. "Rangiku! It's good to see you again, too! Look at how much you've changed! You're not that little girl I remember from twenty years ago, anymore; you're a mature woman now." he replied; his huge smile changing to a soft, affectionate one. Rangiku's did the same, as she put a hand on her hip. "True, but don't you worry, your highness; I'm still just as much fun." she said, as she winked at them; her smile morphing into a playful smirk, before she started looking around. "Hmm, I could have sworn that the king and Karin were here a minute ago, but I think I know where they are now. If you'd like to come with me, I'll take you to them."
Isshin nodded, and the two of them followed Rangiku as she led them down a large corridor at the back of the foyer. Looking to his father, Ichigo raised a curious eyebrow. "I guess they didn't tell Rangiku, either; though, I'm not entirely surprised. She's a hopeless gossip." he whispered, as a small smirk formed on his face; the two royals following several paces behind the general.
The Kurosaki patriarch chuckled, and nodded in reply. "I guess she hasn't changed as much as I'd thought, then. She was the same as a child. On a separate note, what do you think of the castle, Ichigo?" he asked; curiosity and anticipation in his eyes.
The crown prince looked around, and took everything in; from the pristine white granite and ebony floors, to the crystal chandeliers and paintings on the ceiling and walls; as well as the rich dark green, and lustrous silver of the furnishings. He couldn't deny that the castle was one of the most beautiful houses he'd ever been in, and he gave a nod of approval in response. "I have to admit, Toshiro's family has good taste; this building is incredible. I can see why Karin likes it here so much." he said; a slight smirk on his face, as they came to the end of the corridor, and stopped at a large ebony door with the royal crest of Orora on it. Rangiku knocked, and opened the door when they heard a faint 'Come in' from the other side; seeing Toshiro standing by his large mahogany desk, reading various reports from the front, and Karin plotting points on a large map of the thirteen kingdoms, and Hueco Mundo.
"What is it, Matsumoto?" the young king said; not even bothering to look up at his effervescent general. Rangiku smirked, and put a hand on her hip. "Sir, you have visitors." she replied, as Toshiro's head snapped up, and Karin turned around; a huge smile on her face. "Dad! Ichi!" she yelled, before running up to them, and giving them both a big hug. Toshiro nodded in greeting, before dismissing Rangiku, and walking up to them; the bubbly general telling the two Karakura rulers that she would see them at dinner, before closing the door behind her, and leaving the four of them alone in the study.
Isshin smiled at the white-haired young man, as Toshiro extended his hand out; the Karakura ruler taking it, and giving it a firm shake. "Welcome to Orora, Isshin; it's a pleasure to have you," he said, before releasing the older man's hand, and turning to Ichigo; shaking the strawberry's hand next, "and you as well, Ichigo."
Both of the southern rulers nodded to the young king in reply, with Isshin speaking first. "Thank you so much for having us on such short notice, Toshiro…and we'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you into the family, as well." he said; looking at the young man with a smile on his face that was filled with fatherly love.
Toshiro gave a small smile and nod in return. "Thank you…for everything. I'm sorry you and your family couldn't be here for the wedding. If it's any consolation, only my sister, and brother-in-law were there; both to act as our witnesses, and because they're the only ones in this house that I trust to keep a secret." he replied; a slight smirk making its way onto his face.
Isshin and Ichigo smirked back, and the crown prince spoke this time. "Yeah, we noticed you decided not to tell Rangiku. Good decision on your part." he said, before his smirk faded back into a smile. "Welcome to the family, Toshiro; we're glad to have you."
The white-haired king's smile returned, and Ichigo could see the gratitude in the younger man's eyes. "Thank you, Ichigo." he replied, and the strawberry nodded before looking over at the map on the wall. "So, what on earth is this? It looks like a rainbow threw up all over the map." the crown prince asked as he walked over to it, and took a closer look. He recognized some of the various points as bases, and weapons hoards, that the allied kingdoms had attacked over the course of the last year, but he wasn't sure about the others. Everything appeared to be color-coordinated in some way, so he was eager to get an explanation.
Rolling her eyes in mild amusement, Karin walked over to her brother. "Very eloquent, Ichi. We've been keeping track of the places we've attacked, various points of interest for strategic reasons; and places where the Fraccion have been deployed, and captured, to try and see if we can establish some kind of pattern. So far, every Fraccion encounter has seemed too random, and too spaced out. Either they really are losing as badly as we think they are, or they're setting up some kind of counter-strike; and I would be willing to stake the castle that it's not the former." she said; eyeing the map in front of her.
Ichigo smirked amusedly in reply; giving his sister a good-natured, questioning look. "And since when have you ever cared about eloquence, Karin? Maybe Toshiro's influencing you more than I thought." he replied sarcastically, which prompted a smirk from his sister in return, before his smirk dropped into a contemplative frown. "I would agree, though; they're planning something. I just can't figure out what they could possibly have to gain from letting themselves take as many losses as they have over the last year. We've taken quite a bit of Aizen's army captive, retaken most of Hueco Mundo; and, including our masked mystery soldier that's with them, all of the other Espada have pretty much disappeared." he said; a concerned, and contemplative look on his face.
Toshiro walked over to the siblings, then, and stared at the map as well. "That's the big question, Ichigo. It doesn't make sense why he'd lose so much ground, but I'm sure we'll be seeing the reasons shortly; things can't continue for them as they are, so they'll need to act soon." he said, before looking back at Isshin with a questioning gaze. "By the way, who's looking after the kingdom in your absence? You two are never away from Karakura at the same time." he asked; clear confusion in his voice.
Looking from her husband, to her brother, Karin's face adopted a puzzled look as well. "That's actually a good point; who is ruling the kingdom while you're both here?" she asked; watching as her brother adopted a sly smile. "Who do you think?" he said, and he watched his sister piece things together in her mind a moment later; a look of understanding making its way onto her face, as she smirked back at him. "Ah, of course. Kisuke, right?"
Ichigo nodded in confirmation. "Yes, Kisuke. Who else would we trust the kingdom with in our absence? If anyone can keep it safe, it's him." he replied, before gesturing towards two new couches that were positioned by the fireplace. "Anyway, we should sit down, and catch up. It's been months since I last saw my beloved sister, and I want to hear how her life is going with the midget." he said sarcastically; smirking as he made his way over to one of the couches, and sat down.
Karin chuckled in response, while Toshiro felt his eyebrow twitch in irritation. "Who are you calling a midget, Kurosaki? I'm as tall as you are now." the young king replied, and Ichigo laughed. "Sorry, Toshiro, but you're a part of the family now, so you better get used to the teasing; it'll be a regular thing." he said amusedly; a cocky smirk on his face that prompted an icy glare in return from his brother-in-law.
The white-haired man sighed, and found Ichigo's clearly self-satisfied gaze with his own. "Since I'm well-aware of how your family operates, that's fair enough; but keep in mind that you're in my kingdom at the moment. I don't want my nephew picking up bad habits, and mannerisms; so, rein in the sarcasm, and degrading nicknames when he's around, understand?" he said in a voice that clearly indicated that was a statement, not a question, before kissing his wife's cheek, grabbing his family sword from the edge of his desk, and strapping it around his shoulders. Making his way over to where his fur coat was hanging on a rack by the door, he put it on as he turned to face his in-laws. "Now, unfortunately, I can't stay to talk; I need to go check the Dragon's Pass before it gets any later. I'm sorry to be rude, but I won't be long." he said, as he adjusted his coat so he could reach his sword's hilt.
Isshin shook his head in reply; an understanding smile on his face. "It's quite alright, Toshiro. Go take care of what you need to, and we'll see you when you return." the Kurosaki patriarch said, as his son-in-law nodded in reply. "Thank you, Isshin. Karin, if Momo or Rangiku come looking for me, could you tell them I'll be back in an hour, or so?" he asked, as the raven-haired woman nodded, and gave him a soft, affectionate smile. "Of course I can. Be careful out there, Toshiro; It's still blizzard season in that part of the kingdom. Send word if you need anything." she said; the slight concern in her voice only obvious to her husband.
Toshiro returned her affectionate smile with one of his own, before nodding in reply. "I will, and I'll be back soon." he said, as he exited the room, and closed the door behind him; leaving the three family members to talk alone.
Transferring his gaze from the closed door, to his sister, and back again, Ichigo let out a contemplative 'Hmm'; catching the young queen's attention. "What is it, Ichi?" Karin asked; the orange-haired Kurosaki's gaze falling back on his sister, and a smirk appearing on his face. "He's much softer with you than he is with anyone else. Good to know; now I have another way to tease him."
Karin sighed, and sat down opposite her brother; giving him a pointed look as their father joined Ichigo on the couch. "Ichi, at least try to behave while you're here. That's not a request; that's a command from the queen of this kingdom, so you better bloody well pay attention to it." she said; her eyes narrowing on the strawberry to form an intimidating stare.
The crown prince raised an amused eyebrow at her in response. "Wow, you're pulling rank on me now? I think someone's head is getting a bit big for the crown." he replied; laughing at the now intense and irritated glare his sister was giving him. Raising his hands in front of him in a surrender pose, Ichigo gave her a playful smirk. "Calm down, Karin; I'm joking. I think Toshiro's rubbed off on you a little too much; where's that Kurosaki sense of humor gone?" he asked, before he sobered slightly, and gave her a genuine smile. "That reminds me, though; how's life been since you two got married? Are you happy? Is he treating you well?" the strawberry asked; his warm smile morphing into a curious, and concerned look.
Letting her irritation go, Karin smiled back at him, and nodded her head in confirmation. "He's always treated me well." she replied; the happiness on her face saying more than her words ever could. As much as Ichigo drove her crazy, she had to admit that she valued how much her family cared for, and worried about, each other. That was one of the few good things that had come from their mother's death; they all had bonded more than anyone thought was possible, and they always looked out for each other.
Deciding to start from the beginning, Karin told them about everything that had happened in her life since her return to Orora; starting with the conversation that she and Toshiro had on the roof of the castle about the contents of their letters to him, and his reasoning for not broaching the subject with her sooner. She told them about the days leading up to the wedding, the ceremony, and how Momo had cried her way through the entire event. She also described the crown and necklace that Toshiro had made for her for the occasion, as well as the pride she'd seen in his eyes at seeing her walk down the aisle towards him while wearing the markers of the Hitsugaya royal family. Afterwards, she told them about how life had been since the wedding, and how they'd somehow miraculously been able to keep the marriage a secret from everyone so far. She made sure to exclude all of the more intimate details of the last few months, but she told them enough to put her brother's mind at ease with the reassurance that she was happy, and that the two of them were doing very well.
Before she knew it, an hour had gone by, and she knew they would all be needing to get ready for dinner soon. Finishing her recap of everything that had happened since her return, she was puzzled to see the slightly melancholy expression on her father's face. Giving him a curious look, she raised a questioning eyebrow. "What's the matter, Dad? You look like a puppy that's been kicked." she asked; watching as a sad smile made its way onto Isshin's face. Holding his daughter's gaze, the elder Kurosaki replied. "It's nothing, really; I just wish we could have been here for the wedding. I wanted to see my little girl say her vows."
Seeing the sorrowful look on her dad's face made Karin sadder than she thought it would, and she felt a twinge of guilt for not having invited her family; despite knowing that they wouldn't have been able to keep it a secret if she had. It did remind her of something, though, and she knew it would probably at least mitigate Isshin's sadness to a certain extent. Getting up, and walking over to Toshiro's desk, Karin picked up a framed piece of paper; bringing it with her back to her brother and father, and handing it to Ichigo. "I'm sorry you couldn't be here for the wedding, Dad. I know this won't compensate for actually being a part of it, but here's the scene that you wanted to see." she said; a gentle smile on her face, as she watched their eyes soften with affection.
Ichigo and Isshin looked from Karin, to the picture, and examined it closely. It was a painting of Karin and Toshiro on their wedding day. They were standing at the altar, and Toshiro was sliding her wedding ring onto her finger; both of them looking happier than either of the Kurosaki men had ever seen. As they looked at the painting, a small smile made its way onto Ichigo's face. "Toshiro painted this?" he asked; to which the former Kurosaki nodded, before he continued, "The kid has talent, I'll admit it. You looked beautiful, Karin." the crown prince said; his love and admiration for his sister evident in his eyes.
The raven-haired queen smiled back at her brother, as Ichigo handed the painting to their father; a warm smile overtaking Isshin's own face, as well, as he looked at the picture more closely. "Ichigo's right; you really did…and you looked happy, which is all your mother and I wanted for you." the Karakura ruler said, as he held out the picture for her to take back.
Karin shook her head, and sat back down opposite them. "No, that's for you two to bring home with you. We wanted you to have something to show Yu and Hime. Toshiro's going to paint a larger one for the castle, but it won't go on display until after we can announce the marriage…so, really, whenever this war is over. That's alright, though; I've actually kind of enjoyed having it be our secret for a while. It saves all of the scrutiny, and pressure that most royal couples find themselves under as soon as the 'I do's' are said." she said; a visibly relieved look on her face, as the two men nodded in agreement, and understanding. As married royals, themselves, they knew very well the pressures from the public, and traditional duty, that came with marriage. The kingdom expected an heir to the throne as soon as possible, and for the royal marriage to be the perfect union that never saw any difficulties; so, it made the first few months, when both partners are trying to adjust to each other, rather difficult. Disagreements and arguments had to be conducted completely out of both sight, and earshot, from everyone; and it often made life for the newlywed couple very difficult, and unnecessarily complicated. Karin was lucky that she and Toshiro hadn't had to deal with that, themselves.
'Speaking of which…' Ichigo thought, as he looked intently at his sister, and fidgeted slightly; lowering his gaze from hers just a hair. "So, Karin, how are things going with you two…you know, personally? Are you both…enjoying married life?" he asked; looking awkward, and uncomfortable, which put Karin on alert. Examining her brother closely, the former Kurosaki narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "I just finished an hour's worth of telling you that we were doing well, and enjoying ourselves, so why are you asking a repeat question?" she asked; her intense gaze making Ichigo feel as if he were standing on the witness stand before judge and jury.
The strawberry fidgeted some more, and looked anywhere but at his sister, as he replied. "Well…I-uh…I was…um…" he stuttered; an embarrassed flush appearing on his face, as Karin raised a questioning eyebrow at him. She watched her brother, and thought for a few moments, before realization struck. Feeling her eyes go wide, and her mouth drop open slightly, she gave him a disbelieving look. "Ichi…please tell me that you're not asking me about what I think you are." she said; watching in embarrassed horror as her brother's gaze fell back to hers, and his face turned a shade darker.
Feeling her own face get uncomfortably warm from her increasing anger and embarrassment, she stood up on instinct to loom over him intimidatingly. "Oh my god, you are! What the hell, Ichigo?! That's private, and none of your damn business!" she yelled; which prompted the strawberry to shoot up off of his seat, as well, and return her heated glare with one of his own. "I have a right to be worried, Karin! You're my sister, we're in a war, your marriage isn't even public knowledge, and you're still way too young to be a mother! I'm just looking out for you!" he yelled back; refusing to back down, even though he knew she was right.
Karin practically growled at him in reply, and clenched her hand into a fist. "None of that gives you a right to pry into our private life, and that's still none of your damn business!" she exclaimed, as she drew her arm back, punched her brother square in the face, and sent him flying backwards across the study; with Ichigo ending up sprawled out on the floor.
As the strawberry scrambled to get back up, Karin grabbed a hold of his collar, and shot him a look that would have caused lesser men to flinch. Narrowing her eyes at him, her grip on his tunic tightened. "Ask me that again, and I'll cut your tongue out." she ground out; not even registering the now-open door to the study swinging wide behind her.
"What the hell did I miss?"
Turning her head towards the door, and releasing her still-dazed brother, Karin rolled her eyes as she replied to her smirking husband, who was standing in the doorway. "Trust me, you don't want to know."
Raising an amused eyebrow, Toshiro walked into the room, and placed his sword by his desk; keeping eye contact with his wife. "Actually, I kind of do. The last time I saw you this angry with Ichigo was when I went to Karakura with the other rulers, and Shunsui and I stayed for dinner. Remember? You launched him across the dining room." he said, as he leaned back against his desk, and crossed his arms over his chest; the smirk still on his face.
Karin smirked back, and walked over to her husband to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Oh, I remember. Funny enough, it was even about the same topic. We can talk about it later, okay?" she replied; giving him a 'Just-trust-me-this-isn't-something-we-should-discuss-in-front-of-my-family' look, to which he nodded in understanding. Karin gave him a small, appreciative smile in reply, before they heard little feet making their way into the room, as well. "Auntie Karin, who's the man with weird hair, and why is he on the floor?" Ryu asked, as he walked over to Ichigo, who was in the process of standing back up.
Toshiro, Karin, and Isshin all chuckled in response; and the young couple walked over to the little boy, as Ichigo gave him an unamused look. "Ryu, this is my brother, prince Ichigo, and my father, king Isshin. They were in Saikyo to see king Shunsui, so they came for a short visit." Karin said, as Toshiro picked the boy up. Ryu's face lit up, and a big smile appeared on his face. "Yay! Auntie Karin's daddy and brother are finally here! It's nice to meet you, Ichigo and Isshin." the child said excitedly; waving to both of the men.
Ichigo raised a curious eyebrow; looking from Toshiro, to his father, who was getting up to walk over to them, and back to the young king. "Auntie Karin?" he asked; the silent question obvious to the adults in the room. Toshiro nodded, and looked from Ichigo, to Isshin, and back again. "Ryu considers Karin family now, since she's been here for so long. He doesn't want her to go back home anytime soon." he said, as the little boy nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, Auntie Karin is family now! I'll be really sad when she has to go back home." he said; his cheery smile morphing into a dejected frown, as he looked to his uncle. "Uncle Toshiro, can you make Karin stay after the war is over? I don't want her to go home." he whined, which elicited a chuckle from the Kurosakis in the room. Toshiro merely smiled softly at the child, and nodded his head. "I'll see if I can persuade her to stay for a little while longer after the war is over, but I can't promise anything." he said; glancing discreetly over at Karin, and giving her an infinitesimal smile, which she returned.
Ryu shouted excitedly, before wriggling out of his uncle's arms, and walking over to Ichigo and Isshin; hugging their legs excitedly. "I'm glad you're staying! I need to go change for dinner now, but can you play with me after we eat?" he asked, as he looked up at the two adults; hope shining in his big brown eyes.
Isshin and Ichigo smiled down at the boy, and nodded their heads. "We would love to play with you after dinner, Ryu." Isshin said, as Ryu's face lit up even more. "Yay! Thank you, Isshin! Okay, I need to go now, but I'll see you when we eat. Bye!" he said; releasing their legs, and disappearing back out of the room just as quickly has he'd come.
Ichigo looked from the door, and over to Toshiro; giving his brother-in-law a playful smirk. "Man, Toshiro, are you sure he's related to you? He's actually happy and cheerful, and he smiles way more than you ever have." the crown prince said; watching in amusement as the white-haired king gave him a non-plussed look. "Ha ha ha, very funny, Kurosaki. Those are actually traits that come from my sister, Momo, whom you'll meet at dinner. Her husband, Izuru, is a pretty quiet person, so don't expect much conversation from him." he replied; crossing his arms over his chest.
The Kurosaki men nodded in reply just as the clock struck the hour where it was time to dress for dinner. Exiting the study, Toshiro and Karin showed the king and prince to their rooms, and then went to their own room to get ready for dinner; Toshiro closing the doors behind them, as he gave Karin a curious look. "Okay, what happened in the study? I figured that you and your brother would get into an argument while I was gone, but I wasn't expecting to see him lying flat on his back in a stunned heap." he said; an amused smirk on his face.
Karin smirked back, and shrugged her shoulders. "He was trying to find out about our conjugal relationship; so, I told him it was none of his damn business, and punched him in the face. Really, a pretty standard interaction for us." she replied nonchalantly, as she fished around in her closet for the dark green gown that Momo had given her for Christmas.
Toshiro raised a questioning eyebrow as he went over to his closet, as well, pulled out his formal attire for dinner, and stripped out of his tunic. "Well, it sounds like the punch was well-deserved; but why, outside of his annoying, over-protective nature, would Ichigo be trying to pry into that?" he asked; watching as his wife let out an irritated sigh. "That's about the size of it, really; just over-protectiveness. He thinks I'm still too young for a lot of what married life brings, but there's really nothing he can do about it now. If he had concerns, then he shouldn't have given you his blessing to marry me in the first place. Besides, I'm tough enough to handle whatever life has in store, so he needs to relax." she replied as she pulled out her gown, stripped out of her clothes, and stepped into the green silk; putting it on, and glancing over her shoulder at her now-dressed husband with a sly smile on her face. "I'm going to need some help." she said, as Toshiro gave her a sly smile of his own in return.
Walking over to her, he fastened the back of the dress, and took her new emerald necklace from Matsumoto out of its holder; letting it glide up her chest, and drape over her collar bone as he secured the clasp in the back. Running his hands down the smooth skin of her bare arms, he raised a curious eyebrow. "Am I right in assuming that you're actively trying to provoke your brother?" he asked; his sly smile morphing into a smirk, as his wife's did the same.
Karin turned around, and slid her arms around his neck, as his hands found her waist; with the raven-haired beauty shrugging in reply. "You know, I can't decide if it's reassuring, or concerning that you know me so well. Ichi knows that I don't have a lady's maid, so he'll figure out easily enough who helped me into the gown...and who's going to help me out of it. If he wants to butt in, I'll give him something to chew on, and make him wish he hadn't." she said; her smirk growing, and mischievousness dancing in her dark eyes.
Toshiro shook his head amusedly in reply. "It'll be a miracle if he doesn't try to kill me before this is over…but, I can live with that, as long as that's an invitation for later." he said; his eyelids dropping to half-mast, and a playful smile making its way onto his face.
Tightening her grip on him, Karin met his half-lidded gaze with her own. "I'm surprised I still need to issue invitations. Aren't you supposed to be the one in charge here, your majesty?" she replied; a cheeky smirk adorning her face, as she gently ran her nails along the back of his neck.
The young king leaned in further, and pulled her closer to him as he held her gaze. "I am in charge; I just like to let you think you still hold the reins." he replied sarcastically; watching in amusement as Karin rolled her eyes at him in mock-irritation, before threading her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. "Shut up, and kiss me before I hit you." she said, as both of them chuckled slightly, and Toshiro leaned in; capturing her lips with his own before angling her head to deepen the kiss, and receiving a small, approving moan from his wife.
Unfortunately for them, the kiss only lasted a few moments as a knock came at their door shortly after, followed by Isshin popping his head in. The pair separated, and looked over at the Kurosaki patriarch, who had an apologetic smile on his face. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Momo sent me up to come and get you two; dinner's ready."
The pair nodded, grabbed their diamond crown and ruby tiara, and made their way downstairs with Isshin; the older man following behind them with a warm smile on his face as he watched his son-in-law discreetly take his daughter's hand, and lace their fingers together. 'Keep her happy, Toshiro; that's all I ask' he thought as they reached the bottom of the stairs, and made their way into the dining room.
Everyone else was already waiting, so Toshiro introduced his sister and brother-in-law to the Kurosaki men. Momo was thrilled to finally meet some of Karin's family; and, after the young king and queen took their seats, along with Isshin, the group of eight talked their way through dinner.
Isshin very much enjoyed catching up with Rangiku after so many years apart, and Ichigo had fun taking small, good-natured jabs at Toshiro throughout the meal; much to the monarch's annoyance. At one point during dinner, the crown prince's innuendo was a little too conspicuous to miss, and Karin had to smack her brother on the back of the head when Rangiku gave her and the young king a questioning look. Everyone had laughed at Ichigo's angry yelp when Karin hit him, and the mood lightened up once more. After that, the strawberry was much more careful about what he said, and he kept one eye on his sister for the rest of the meal.
Dinner lasted for two hours, and they all made their way into the drawing room afterwards; with Isshin and Ichigo playing with Ryu, while everyone else talked for another hour.
Ichigo's over-protective rage silently festered the remainder of the evening with every seductive smile, playful look, or subtle touch that he saw discreetly exchanged between his sister, and brother-in-law. He, of course, also noticed that Karin's gown was one she couldn't get on, or off, by herself; and, knowing that she had no maid, knew exactly who would be helping her undress tonight. It wasn't lost on him that she was doing this on purpose just needle him, which only made it worse. 'Because if they're comfortable enough to do this with others around, that means this flirtatious atmosphere has been around for a lot longer than they've been married' he thought, as he felt his anger spike. 'Toshiro, you sneaky little white-haired bastard; wait till I get my hands on you' he thought angrily; trying to ignore it as best he could for as long as needed, so he could spare what remained of his sanity.
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By the end of the evening, the crown prince was ready to snap his brother-in-law's neck, until he saw Ryu walk over to the young king, and tug at his fur-lined cape; Toshiro looking down at the boy, and giving him a small smile. "Are you ready for bed, Ryu?" he asked; to which the little boy nodded, and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Yes, Uncle Toshiro. Can you and Auntie Karin tell me the story of the king, dragon, and princess again tonight? I really like that one." he asked; looking up at them with big, hopeful eyes.
Toshiro nodded, and picked the child up; letting Ryu lay his head down on his shoulder, and hug his neck. Walking over to the door, with his nephew in his arms, he looked first to his wife, who nodded to him, and then to everyone else. "Karin and I are bringing Ryu to bed, so we'll say goodnight. Isshin, Ichigo; I hope you sleep well. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask; Rangiku, Karin, and I are all just down the hall from you." he said, as the Kurosaki men nodded, and everyone said goodnight to the young royals.
Once the two were gone, Ichigo gave a quizzical look to Momo and Izuru, and raised a questioning eyebrow. "Toshiro reads him bedtime stories?" he asked, as the young couple nodded in reply. "Yes, Shiro reads him a story every night. He's been doing it whenever he's home since Ryu was born. Karin picked it up when he was away on the front lines, so Ryu's started asking for her to read with Shiro now. It's rather cute, actually; he really loves his uncle, and adoptive aunt." Momo said; her love for her brother, sister-in-law, and son reflected in her eyes, and an affectionate smile on her face.
The crown prince hummed thoughtfully in reply, as his gaze drifted back to the door. "Interesting. That doesn't strike me as something Toshiro would do; he's always seemed too cold and uptight to me for stuff like that. Karin's told me otherwise, but I've never seen it; so, I have a hard time believing it."
Momo's affectionate smile morphed into a warm one as her gaze found Ichigo's, and she shook her head. "Karin's right, he's not a cold man on the inside; he's just suffered a lot of losses in his life thus far, which makes him hesitant to bond with people. He loves his friends, family, and kingdom very much, and he'll do whatever's necessary to protect them. To be honest, I think he'll be a very good father later on in life; he's very attentive, and caring." The Ororan princess said, as a wistful look overcame her face.
Beside her, Rangiku nodded in agreement, but sighed irritatedly. "Yeah, that's if he ever gets married…not that you need a wedding to have a baby, but he would never do it in reverse-order; he's way too much of a traditionalist." The bubbly general chimed in; her voice laden with both sarcasm, and exasperation. "I've tried to get him past the whole 'I don't need anyone' mentality, but he's even more stubborn than his father was. It's really getting discouraging…the pig-headed idiot." she huffed; crossing her arms over her ample chest, as a scowl made its way onto her face.
Isshin, who had been listening the whole time, chuckled softly at that; drawing everyone's attention. "You're right, Rangiku; he is more stubborn than his father was…but he cares for people just as much as Jion did. Don't worry about him; I'm sure he'll have a good future, with a family of his own one day." he said, as Momo gave the Kurosaki patriarch a discreet, but grateful smile, and nodded in reply. "He's right, Rangiku. I know you think of Shiro like a son, but try not to worry about him too much; I'm sure he has a good future ahead of him. I'm his sister, and I know him just as well as you do, so trust me on this." she said; a confidence in her voice that the busty blonde thought interesting, and slightly suspicious.
Rangiku gave the two of them questioning looks, but shrugged, and nodded in reply. "Okay, if you insist. I'll still keep lecturing him, though; the annoyed responses that I get from him are too entertaining to give up." she said, as all of them laughed, and decided to go to bed, themselves.
As Isshin and Rangiku went their separate ways to their rooms, Ichigo asked to accompany Momo and Izuru to Ryu's room. He wanted to see this 'family man' side of Toshiro for himself, and he thought this would be a good opportunity. The parents agreed, and all three of them began their walk down the nursery wing of the upstairs gallery; with Ichigo glancing over at them as they walked. "So, now that we're out of earshot of Rangiku, how do you two like having Karin in the family? Do you think that she and Toshiro are a good match?" he asked; watching as Momo and Izuru both smiled, and nodded in unison. The young mother looked over at the crown prince, and gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sure it's not easy saying goodbye to your sister, Ichigo, especially after suffering the loss of your mother; but I can promise you that Karin is being well-looked-after here. She and Toshiro are happy, and we love having her in the family. Ryu adores her, and she's become as dear to us as Shiro is. I think the two of them are a wonderful match; they're opposites in many ways, but also very similar in others. They're the perfect foil for each other, and I think you'll see that as time goes on." the dark-haired princess replied; the sincerity in her words easing the Karakura prince's worries to a certain degree.
Ichigo nodded in understanding, and a slight smile made its way onto his face. "As long as he loves her, treats her as his equal, and keeps her happy, I'm satisfied. You're right, it's still hard to give up my protective instincts when it comes to her, but I'm trying to keep them in check." he said, before his smile was replaced by a look of irritation. "Her constant flirting tonight wasn't helping, though…the little minx." he said disgruntledly; grumbling angrily while Momo and Izuru both chuckled, before the young mother replied. "I won't lie, and say I didn't notice, but it was honestly pretty funny." she said; giggling lightly as the crown prince's scowl deepened, and he replied. "She's lucky I didn't break the wine glass I was holding, and then use it to stab her husband."
Both of the young parents laughed at that, and Ichigo's scowl softened ever so slightly. "Well, I'm glad someone got some entertainment out of it, aside from Karin." he said; letting a moment of silence pass, before he spoke again with a more noticeably awkward, and uncomfortable tone. "Don't tell Karin I asked about this, but, uh…I was wondering about something that you might be able to help me with. I know it's not really my place to ask, but how long do you think it'll be before we can all expect a new addition to the family? Personally, I think she's still way too young for it, and there's no rush. We're not even sure how this war is going to end, anyway, so it wouldn't be smart for them to bring a new life into the mix right now." he said; the protectiveness, and defensiveness, in his voice obvious to the young princess.
Momo gave the crown prince a sly smile, and put a hand on his shoulder, as they came to a stop outside Ryu's bedroom. Finding his gaze with her own, her smile took on a more reassuring look, as she gave his shoulder a light squeeze. "I understand your concern, Ichigo, and I sympathize. After all, Shiro's very young, too; but neither of us get a say in any of that. Of course, I don't spy on them every evening when they retire for the night," she said, as a playful smile made its way onto her face, and Ichigo reddened, "but, If I had to guess, I would say it won't be long before we hear news of a baby; just based on my own observation. I know it's nerve-wracking for you to think about, but I know for sure that they're both ready for it if it comes sooner, rather than later. Yes, they're very young, but they'll be fine…and I can prove it to you." she said, as Ichigo raised a disbelieving eyebrow in response. Momo merely transferred her gaze from his, to the closed bedroom door, turned the handle, and opened the wooden divider slightly; letting Ichigo look inside.
There, sitting on the edge of Ryu's bed, were Toshiro and Karin narrating a story; with a sleepy, smiling Ryu listening intently. "and even though the bomb went off so close to the princess, the dragon was able to save her life by shielding her from the explosion. Thankfully, the king was also able to survive by taking cover behind some rocks that were close by, and the dragon brought them both back home unharmed. With the kingdom safe again, the dragon decided to leave his master, and go back home to be with his family. The king and princess married, and they lived happily ever after with their loyal dragons by their side. The end." Toshiro finished, as the little boy snuggled further into his sheets. "Uncle Toshiro, did the king and princess ever have a family, like the dragon did?" he asked curiously.
Toshiro glanced at Karin, and the two shared a tender smile, before focusing back on the dark blonde boy. The young king nodded, and ruffled his nephew's hair affectionately. "Eventually, yes, they did. Now, it's time for you to go to bed. Goodnight; I love you, and I'll see you tomorrow." he said; giving the boy a hug, before getting up so Karin could say goodnight, as well. "Goodnight, Ryu. Sleep well, so you're ready for swordsmanship class with me and Uncle Toshiro tomorrow, okay?" she said, as the child nodded in reply. "Okay, Auntie Karin. Goodnight; I love you." he said, with a tired, but adorable smile on his freckled face.
Karin smiled affectionately back at the boy, and bent down to give him a kiss on the forehead. "I love you, too. Now, go to sleep, and we'll see you tomorrow." she replied, as the boy nodded once more, before closing his eyes, and quickly dozing off.
Standing up, the two adults watched Ryu sleep, and Toshiro took Karin's hand in his; interlacing their fingers, and giving her a chaste kiss before they both looked back at their nephew with soft smiles on their faces.
They stayed like that for a moment, before the young king released his wife's hand, and they turned around to head towards the door…only to be met by the sight of a gently-smiling Ichigo, with Momo and Izuru standing behind him. Startled, the young couple looked at them questioningly. "What's with the out-of-character smile, and how long were you standing there watching us?" Karin asked, as Ichigo walked up to them. "Long enough. Momo was right; I don't have to be concerned about you. I'm still over-protective, and I still worry too much, but I'll work on that. Toshiro," he said; putting a hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder, and holding his gaze. "I told you in my letter how lucky you were to have an amazing woman like my sister, but I'm realizing that she's lucky to have you, too. You're a good man, and I know you'll do your best to keep her happy. I'm glad you're a part of the family now, really." the strawberry said; a sincere look on his face that took the young king off-guard.
Surprised to hear Ichigo actually say those words to him, but happy that he did, Toshiro gave the crown prince a small smile in return. "Thank you, Ichigo; that means a lot to me."
The crown prince nodded in reply, before a more strained smile overtook his face as he squeezed the king's shoulder slightly, and looked between his sister, and her husband with an intimidating stare. "I'm glad; but I'll also warn you that if you don't want any broken bones, or missing body parts, then there shouldn't be any more repeats of tonight. Understand, Karin?" he said; glaring at his sister, who was smirking cheekily back at him. "Hey, you're the one who butted into our private business, so you can't complain when it comes back to bite you in the ass." the raven-haired queen replied haughtily; putting her hands on her hips.
Ichigo rolled his eyes, and released his brother-in-law's shoulder; sighing irritatedly. "Okay, you have a point; but still, stop with the suggestive looks, and the flirting. I was tempted to break the wine glass in my hand, and ram it into the midget's neck." he said; pointing to the white-haired king, who was glaring at him unamusedly.
Toshiro rolled his eyes, and lowered Ichigo's finger from in front of his face. "It wouldn't have worked if you'd tried, Kurosaki, so don't even bother. Now, it's getting late; we should all get to bed. Goodnight, everyone." he said; taking his wife's hand, and guiding her past her still-irritated brother.
Momo and Izuru said goodnight, and walked by the young couple to kiss their son goodnight; with Ichigo closing the door for them, before following after his sister, and brother-in-law.
The crown prince walked a few steps behind the king and queen; wishing more and more the closer they got that his room wasn't just a few doors away from theirs. 'I know they're married now, and I really am glad that he's a part of the family, but none of that's helping' he thought angrily, as he stopped at his door, opened it, and walked in; looking back at the wooden divider, only to find that he hadn't closed it all the way. From the reflection on the mirror by his bedroom door, he was able to see his little sister turn to her husband, glance quickly down the corridor to make sure they were alone, and pull him towards her as she slid her arms around his neck; his wrapping around her waist, and holding her close. They looked at each other for a moment, before Toshiro leaned down, and kissed her with more passion than Ichigo had ever seen from him; with Karin bringing her arms down to slowly start undoing the buttons of his vest, and Toshiro sliding his hand up her back to untie the lacing of her dress. When the two separated, a smirking Karin opened their bedroom doors, and pulled her husband in; the two of them disappearing behind the ebony wood, and the lock on the door echoing a resounding click.
Feeling as though his face were on fire, Ichigo felt his temper flare, and he desperately resisted the urge to go break their doors down as he slammed his own shut; hoping that the cracking sound he heard wasn't an indicator that he'd broken something. 'Dammit, you two; at least try to control yourselves! I did not need to see that! It's going to be a long week if this keeps up' he thought disgruntledly as he washed up, got changed, and begrudgingly settled into bed; grumbling to himself about white-haired midget bastards, and provocative little sisters, until he fell asleep.