Took from "Black and White" and turned into a bigger story. Hope you like it - the first chapter is the same.

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Karin looked down on Karakura with a grim smile. She came back from Soul Society several days ago and she still couldn't get used to being back in the real world.

She never should have believed a different world existed. This is real, and that is just an illusion. The wind blowing in her face is real, and not an illusion like his love.

She tried being a shinigami, she tried climbing up the hierarchy for him… She became a lieutenant for him… She left the world of the living for him…

Everything seemed so perfect. Their life there, his eagerness and gentleness. His kisses and touch. It all seemed like a dream come true. And now the dream was over and it was time to wake up, she decided.

It was time to look fate in the eye and take what she could and leave.

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"Shiro-chan I'm so happy!" Hinamori smiled gently at Toushiro. "I really do feel much better now." She insisted as he wanted to help her get up.

"I hope so Hina-kun." He replied looked at her without a smile. He rarely smiled these days. It was not right for a Taicho to smile.

"A lot has changed since I woke up, would you please show me around again?" She laughed gently.

"Of course, what would you like to see first?" He gave her his hand for support.

"Maybe the new academy grounds?" He suggested. "They were rebuild only three years ago." He informed her.

As they walked past the old academy building she gasped when seeing what used to be a ordinary training ground. Everything was completely rebuild, there was some kind of special fields prepared, new trees were planted, and where used to be barren ground was now fresh green grass.

"It's very nice here." She smiled. "It used to be such a boring place, but now it's much more interesting."

They walked further along the path and reached the edges of the field. Some kid trainees were playing a game Hinamori did not know, but it seemed fun.

"What are they playing?" She asked the silent Toushiro.

"It's a game developed on Earth, it's called football." He replied briefly.

"Taicho Hitsugaya!" Some kid yelled at the captain. "Will you please come and play with us?" He asked with a smile.

"Sorry not today Hiroyuki! I've got duties to attend to." He replied.

"Will you please tell fukutaisho Kurosaki that the finals will start the 15th of March? She promised to train us a bit more if we qualify!" The child recited quickly.

"We wanted to tell her in person, but since she is on mission now we can't contact her personally." A different child said.

Hinamori noticed that all the children playing had gathered around, they were all looking pleadingly at captain Hitsugaya.

"Ok, I will make sure a hell butterfly with the message will be send." He finally responded.

"Hurray!!!!!" The kids yelled and went back to their practice.

"Who is that fukutaicho Kurosaki? I don't think I've met her." Hinamori noticed.

"She's the one who initiated the rebuild of this part of the academy and who introduced this game as a method of training. She is currently on a mission, so you had no opportunity to met her yet." He replied gently.

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"What do you mean she is missing in battle?" A yellow haired man, who Hinamori did not know, yelled.

Yamamoto simply repeated the message. "It has been reported that Kurosaki Karin has been lost in battle. That is why this meeting had been called on."

In the room where all the captains, several fukutaicho and some people who she suspected to be members of the Kurosaki family.

There was man with taicho insignia. A girl with honey-colored hair, and the blond young captain.

"Who are they?" She asked Toshiro.

"The man is Ishinn Kurosaki, the girl is Yuzu, and the new captain is Ichigo. They are the closest relatives of the missing Karin Kurosaki." He explained quickly.

"What are the details?" Ishinn Kurosaki asked.

A deputy of the captain commander stepped forward and began reading the report.

"Her squad reported that they were fighting with several menos grande and that suddenly Karin Kurosaki disappeared." The deputy explained.

"Was she taken by the menos?" Rukia Kuchki asked coming into the room.

"We do not know Fukutaicho Kurosaki." The man replied.

"Fukutaicho Kurosaki?" Hinamori whispered.

"She married Ichigo Kurosaki two years ago." Captain Hitsugaya replied.

"So it has been decided, a team will go to Earth and search there, while a second team will be send to the menos forest." Yamamoto declared, bringing back Toushiro's and Hinamori's attention to the main topic. "This meeting is dismissed."

"I insist on going to Earth with Rukia, our friends there should be able to help us with tracking her there. And if we will not find her we will rejoin the other squad in Menos forest." Ichigo Kurosaki declared.

"As you wish." Yamamoto agreed. Everyone went back to their duties.

"What wrong Shiro-chan?" Hinamori asked the extremely silent and pale taicho.

"Nothing is wrong, I'm just worried about her." He said.

"Did you know her well?" She asked as they walked out of the meeting hand in hand.

"Yes, quite well. We were good friends." He replied curtly. He tried to ignore the deadly glare Ichigo and other Kurosaki family members were giving him. It was not their business what he was doing and with who. He was a free man.

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Time passed quickly, several searches were made but not sign of Karin was found. She had been assumed dead, but that did not bring relief into the heart of her relatives. Yuzu felt as if she had lost her other half and couldn't concentrate or focus on anything. Ishinn was behaving even more stupidly then ever trying to make everyone feel better, but even kicking or hitting him did not help Ichigo… He just knew something was wrong, and that he had to save her from whatever harm, but he had no idea where to start looking for her… But he certainly knew who to blame for the whole situation… And only the fact that he had duties towards Rukia and the newly born Ichiro was stopping him.

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She was doing quite well. Her job as a school teacher and trainer was satisfying and left her little time to think about things she did not want to think. She even took special extra lessons in the local karate club to limit her free time to the minimum. She was going forward slowly and steadily. But somehow it seemed to be so empty and cold… Then she reminded herself how he looked when they said Hinamori's illness was remising… And how he ran to the hospital and how he did not even say goodbye and walk her out before her mission… What she saw when she came searching for him to say goodbye… She shook her head and fought with the tears. She made a promise. She would not cry! She was Karin Kurosaki and she would survive!

She hadn't been feeling well recently, but she blamed it on the snow, and the cold weather. She smiled thinking of spring. Yes, as soon as spring would come everything will be much better, she smiled to herself. The dullness of winter was never her favorite, you couldn't play football in the snow, or go for long walks.

But as spring slowly came nothing changed. She was feeling worse and worse, she was getting paler and slimmer, and she felt like the whole world was placed on her back. She didn't have to go to see a doctor to know what was going on. It was clear as day… And as evident as the fact that she didn't have her monthly bleeding for at least three months… Going away from the Soul Society she took not only her pride and soul, but also a part of him as well…

She didn't have anyone to talk with, no friends or family she could turn to. But one day everything changed. She was sitting in the teachers room, sipping black tea and trying to calm down her stomach before the next lesson when the history teacher, Mrs. Yamane approached her. It was a older lady, with nice thick black hair and a good smile. Karin could easily tell that this woman had more spiritual power than anyone else in the staff.

"You should drink this my dear." She said giving Karin a packet of white tea instead of the black. "It will work better for the baby." She added with a smile.

"How did you know?" Karin asked taken by surprise.

"You are just like my daughter. She had huge problems with her pregnancy as well. And as you don't have anyone here I thought I could help a bit." The woman smiled.

"Thank you very much." Karin replied. She could not shake the feeling that this woman wanted to say more then she actually said.

With time everything sorted itself out, at first she was worried about her job, but the headmaster hearing about her pregnancy agreed to some special conditions for her. Instead of taking part in trainings she would simply supervise them, not engaging into physical combat. Most of the kids were fascinated with her growing belly, and they laughed that she should let them be uncles and aunts to her child. At first she had problems with her living arrangements. Her landlord did not accept pets and children in the building, so she was forced to look for something new. That was when her life took a 180 degree turn. She asked several people at school if they knew of any flats for rent, and then Mrs. Yamane told her she wanted to rent a part of her house.

"You see it's too big for one person." She explained. " My husband died years ago, and I lost my daughter over five years ago…" She added. " So I would love to have someone take up all that empty dull space." She added trying to smile cheerfully, but Karin could see in her eyes a lot of pain and desperation. She just had to agree.

Toshio was born in late June, just at the end of the school year.

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"Get back here you little devil!" Karin yelled at her son from the kitchen.

"But auntie Kei said I could go play a bit before dinner!" The nine year old boy replied.

"Yes, that's right Toshio, but a bit has already passed and it's time for dinner now." Mrs. Yamane told him in her usual calm fashion.

Toshio was a bright child, even a bit too bright for Karin's taste… She had no idea what she would have done if not for Mrs. Yamane. They were still living at her house, she was patient with Toshio and loving as a grandmother. Moreover she was the symbol of harmony and knowledge, and she gave such a good example to the slightly hyperactive and too intelligent and curious little devil Karin gave birth to.

Her son did not look like her at all. He had white spiky hair, green eyes and pale skin. But there was something in the shape of his face and his smile that was of his mother's. He definitely had her character, a bit pushy, a bit stubborn, and with a fiery temperament, but he was all hers, she loved every second of her life with him. He was her son and only her son. And something in the back of her head kept her alert of any signs of his rising soul energy, because that would signify the day the Soul Society would come and claim him…

She gently patted the head of her son, and noticed his grim when he saw all the vegetables on his plate. She smiled and pinched him gently.

"If you eat all of it, I'll go and play soccer with you!" She teased him, he looked at the vegetables again and looked back at his mother. "One hour of soccer and at least half an hour of Karate, and one hour of playing the computer." He stated his demands.

"One hour of soccer, one hour of Karate and no computer." She stated firmly. He looked at the plate again.

"Soccer and karate and I want that new book on the ancient roman army we saw in the bookshop." He looked at her piercingly. A book instead of computer games? Why not… She thought.

"We have a deal." They shook hands and began eating their meal.

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Her life was going on peacefully, despite an occasional fight with her son, she had almost forgot that there was a different reality from this one. She almost forgot about pulses, hollows, arrancars, shinigamis, and everything in between. But they did not want to forget about her. She was able to hide her energy perfectly, so that she would seem to be an ordinary human, but that took many years of practice. Practice her son did not have time to do. They were slowly calling him, he was attracting them, and he noticed that something strange was going around him. He noticed that he saw things other people did not see. Being a smart child he knew not to ask stupid questions in front of other people, but when being alone with his mom he tried to ask her. And she would try to explain about power control and about avoiding danger. But being just a child he could not fully comprehend what kind of danger she meant. That is until one day…

He was walking home from school. It was his usually route, pass the park, then one turn left and one more turn right. He knew it by heart, because he had to walk it at least twice or day, or sometimes even four times when he would practice football in the park with his friends. Mrs. Yamane's house was the last in a row of identical houses , just before a large block of flats. He was half way home when he felt something strange. He knew he could see things other people couldn't so trying not to act funny he slowly turned around, but there was nothing there. The feeling of danger did not let go of him. He knew something was wrong. He tried to concentrate to find from where that feeling came, and he determined that it was not behind him, but more to the right. He gently moved his head in that direction, and what he saw made him go pale. It was not anything he witnessed before. It was simply huge, standing over a house, and it was ugly too. He could feel the evil emanating from the monster but he couldn't run, his feet were stuck as if glued to the pavement. In the distance he saw his mom running towards him. But it was a different mom then he had ever seen before, she had a black kimono and a long slim sword in her hands, and her eyes were burning with fury. With one slash she sent the monster down, then she grabbed his hand and they ran home.

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"We have picked up a signal of a shinigami!" The operator at the controlling machine noticed as he analyzed the patter of the energy impulses detected on Earth.

"There are many shinigamis stationed on Earth, so why are you making such a fuss?" Rin bored noticed with a yawn.

"Because this is not one of our shinigamis!" He yelled at her.

"What do you mean not ours, there are no other shinigamis then ours you imbecile!" She noticed and then she realized what happened. "So you mean we detected a shinigami which is not currently on duty?"

"Finally you know what I'm talking about…" The man gasped.

"Give me the energy scans, if this person is in our register we should be able to determine the identity!" Rin Tsubokura, who was now higher up in ranks, gave a swift order. She was on duty, and when she was on duty everything would be taken care of properly.

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"Are you sure it was Kurosaki Karin's energy you detected?" Yamamoto asked Rin Tsubokura the 5th seat in the scientific department

"Yes, we are positive sir, the energy patterns match in 97." The girl replied.

"Have you pin pointed the location?" He asked.

"We will have it detected precisely within one hour." She replied.

"So after over nine years you have come back to life Kurosaki…" He murmured to himself and began thinking of a possible action for the Soul Society to take.

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"Mom there is some strange man in front of the house!" Toshio told him mom.

"What do you mean by strange?" His mother asked him.

"Well, he's got a huge sword!" The child slowly described the person. "He is wearing a black kimono just like yours but with white patterns, and he has strange yellow hair!" He wanted to continue but he mother ran out of the other room and came up to the window.

"Ichigo…" She whispered, and he magical choice that moment to look up at the window. She knew there was no running now that he's found her.

"I'll take care of Toshio and make some tea, you go and great him." Mrs. Yamane told her taking Toshio's hand and leading him to the kitchen.

Karin slowly came up to the entrance and opened the door. She looked her brother in the face and he stared back. They were staring without end, when she realized it was so not like them at all. She smiled and ran up to him.

He hugged her tightly and she began telling him how much she missed him.

"Mom" she heard her sons voice behind her. "Tea is ready." He informed them.

Ichigo looked at the child standing on the door step and froze in shock. "I'm going to kill that bastard." He whispered to Karin and went to meet his nephew.

"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki and I'm your uncle." He told the boy.

"I'm Toshio Kurosaki." The boy answered. "It's a pleasure to meet you sir Mom told me a lot about you."

"Let's go before the tea gets cold." Karin took her sons hand and took her brother by the arm and lead them both into the house. There was a lot of explaining to do.

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"Dad!" Yuzu called her father entering their house.

"What is it darling?" He asked looking at his gold haired daughter.

"I've got just an urgent message from Ichigo, He's found Karin!" She yelled. "We have to go to Earth immediately!"

"Oh my god! Wait till everyone hears about this!" Ishinn yelled in joy.

"Wait father! Ichigo asked me not to tell anyone but you and Rukia so please keep it a secret for now." She demanded. She had a feeling there was a good reason why Karin ran away and scaring her again could cause the same reaction.

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"So this is the place?" Ishinn asked his daughter as they were standing in front of a house in the middle of Karakura.

"Yes, according to the note it is. Let's go in." Yuzu replied and rang the door bell.

Soon they heard footsteps inside the house and when the door opened they nearly died of shock. In front of them stood a little copy of the 10th Taicho… Yuzu simply fainted, but her father was overjoyed.

"I have a second grandchild!" He yelled and hugged brutally the child. Toshio was completely taken by surprise and he was even more shocked when his mother came along and brutally kicked her own father.

"Don't strangle your grandson at first sight!" She yelled at him.

Then she noticed Yuzu on her floor. "Poor sister." She whispered. "Now don't you two just stand there! Help me carry her into the house!" She commanded both her father and son.

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"Have you heard the news?" Hinamori asked her boyfriend.

"What is it about?" He looked at her questioningly.

"That Karin Kurosaki has been found! Imagine! They found her after so many years from her death proclamation! Her family must be very happy!" She kept chattering and did not notice that Toshiro did not reply or comment. He just went pale and looked at her as if he couldn't believe it.

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Rumors spread around the Soul Society very fast. Some talked about that she turned into a monster. Some talked about that he fell in love with a human. Some repeated stories about how she lost her memory and because of that could not return. But no one was prepared for the truth. Especially not Hitsugaya Toushiro and his girlfriend Momo Hinamori.

She came back to the Soul Society with the approval of Yamamoto. Some wondered what that meant, and if she were to regain her ranks. It was rather irregular that a former fukutaicho would regain his or her status. Usually people in her situation were considered traitors. But not Kurosaki. Everyone wondered the reason. But when she entered and held by the hand a little boy with white hair and green eyes, everyone realized the reason why she left. And they could not blame her. Everyone knew of her close relationship with the 10h taicho and everyone knew he left her as soon as his beloved Momo awoke from her coma. Suddenly the atmosphere became very cold, not because of Toshiro's doing, but because of the general disapproval of the Soul Society.

Hinamori looked at the child and then looked back to her beloved Toshiro and she suddenly realized why everyone disapproved of their relationship. No one ever said anything, but she could feel it from the day she awoke. She especially felt that the Kurosaki family hated her, but until this day she did not realize why.

"He looks a lot like you." She whispered. He did not reply. He froze in shock and his brain tried to add up all the pieces of this complicated puzzle.

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"Karin we need to talk." Toshiro caught her in one of the halls of Yamamoto's residence.

"There is nothing to talk about." She replied coldly. He would prefer if she was mad, he knew how to deal with a mad Karin, but this cold one was completely unknown to him.

"I want to talk about my son." She told her.

"He is not your son, and never will be!" She replied keeping her pose.

"Don't lie to me!" He yelled at her losing all his calmness.

"I am not lying. You were not there when he was born, you were not there when he was growing. You were not there when he needed you. You are not his father." She stated and slowly walked away. She turned around just before she left. "Maybe there was a day when I would have let you in into our lives, but that day you chose her. There is no turning back time." She walked away.

Their lives were separate and there was nothing that could glue their love back into a whole. She cried all night, but in the morning she realized she had something more important which Hinamori could never take away from her. And that something was Toshio's love, and Toshiro's son. And she would fight to keep them both away from him.