It was a beautiful day in Seireitei. The sun shone in a clear blue sky. Small, puffy, marshmellowish clouds drifted lazily across the periwinkle backdrop. Pink sakura blossoms floated through the air on a cool breeze that was just strong enough to perfect the days temperature. Days of this were hard to find.

But for Karin, the beauty was marred by the dark cloud of malice that loomed over her, emanating from her brother. Toushirou stepped back to stand beside her. He looked as calm as ever, but Karin knew him well enough to notice the waver in his ever present glare, a small sign of nervousness. Karin wasn't intimidated, but Toushirou had always felt uncomfortable around Ichigo in that boyfriend/brother way. Not that he would admit it. Not that they were going out or anything. But back to the problem at hand.

"Yo, Ichigo!" she greeted him with more confidence than she felt. "Long time no see. How've you been?" He glared at her relentlessly. Okay. So the nice innocent act wasn't going to work.

"Taichou!" A burst of orange hair flew by Karin to envelope Toushirou in a nosebleed-causing hug. "You finally brought your little girlfriend home to meet your mother figure!" Karin's eyebrows shot up. She was about to answer Matsumoto, but Toushirou beat her to it.

"You're not my mother figure, and she's not my girlfriend!" he growled, a small dusting of red decorating his cheeks. Karin had nothing against his declaration, but she felt offended by the degree of dislike his voice seemed to hold towards the idea.

"Well you don't have to sound so insulted," she muttered to herself. But his sharp ears picked it up.

"I'm sorry, did I offend you sweetie?" he mocked. She scowled.

"Of course not honey bear," she retorted. It was his turn to scowl. They stood there glowering at each other for a minute, before Karin remembered the other people standing in the small courtyard. Matsumoto no longer stood beside them. The thought seemed to hit Toushirou at the same time. They both whipped their heads around, suspicious.

"Over here!" Karin found the cheerful woman sitting on the other side of the courtyard. "Wanted to make sure I was clear of the line of fire." Karin frowned in confusion.

A delicate cough reached her ears. Karin turned her attention to a serene Byakuya, and the shinigami surrounding him.

"Right. Angry brother with cronies."

"Cronies? And your brother's at that?" Renji asked.

"Oh! My apologies Kuchiki-taichou. I didn't mean to offend you in any way." Karin bowed politely, trying to hide the smirk on her face.

Byakuya returned the smirk. "You're forgiven. I understand how that term applies to the others standing here." Renji's face now matched his hair.

"And why don't I get an apology?" Renji blustered. "I happen to be a captain too." At this point he made a point of shaking out the white haori that rested on his shoulders.

Karin shrugged. "I know Kuchiki-taichou's just here to laugh at Ichigo's pain. That puts him on my side. Therefore, I apologized for lumping him in with the people who are here to yell at me."

"But I enjoy torturing Ichigo too!" Renji argued.

"Yes Abarai-taichou. You make Kurosaki-taichou suffer as well." Byakuya's voice was cool and calm. "But Kurosaki-san and I do so with a certain … finesse." Renji scowled. "My sister is also in our league, and Hitsugaya-taichou would be if not for his personal complications. But Rukia, for the moment, is in agreement with the buffoon because of her sisterly feelings towards Kurosaki-san."

Toushirou chuckled, but regained his composure as all eyes turned towards him.

"What's so funny Hitsugaya-taichou?" Ichigo's words were full of coldness, and Karin could feel the rage radiating off the syllables. Toushirou tried to step back in an unusual show of meekness, but Karin caught the sleeve of his haori, stopping him.

"You. Will. Not. Leave. Me. Alone. With. Them." She hissed. Cowed he moved back beside her.

"Don't worry Karin." Byakuya assured her. "I'm on your side." And then, he winked at her. The combined area created by the dropped jaws would have been large enough to contain a Getsuga Tenshou. Karin was the only one to react with a grin.

"Karin." Ichigo snarled. "Why are you here?"

"Hopefully because she's dead." Matsumoto quipped. "Otherwise we've got either a serious problem, or taichou decided to man up." Silence met her words.

"Matsumoto," Toushirou growled. "Don't make the situation worse for me."

"And that's my other question," Ichigo asked. "He focused his gaze on the captain standing next to his sister. "Why are you the one who brought her here?" Toushirou gulped. It was subtle, but Karin caught it. Toushirou raised his head in defiance.

"I was with Karin when the accident occurred." He answered stiffly. Ichigo's glare managed to get narrower.

"And why were you with her?" There was so much threat in his voice that Kenpatchi himself would have been terrified, but Toushirou bravely stood his ground.

"Actually I was planning to speak to you about that after I returned from the Living World. May I speak to you privately?" What was he up to? Karin wondered. Ichigo had opened his mouth to say something nasty, when with a whump he doubled over in pain. Rukia stood next to him with a smug, superior look on her face.

"Fine," Ichigo conceded. "But again, Karin, why are you here?" Karin shrugged casually.

"Like Matsumoto said, I'm dead." A tic formed on Ichigo's forehead.

"I know that. I'm a captain. I possess some form of intelligence."

" Unfortunately only some is required," Byakuya muttered, glancing pointedly at Renji and Ichigo. They scowled simultaneously, but said nothing.

"How did you die?" Ichigo asked.

"Car hit me while I was crossing the street." Renji chuckled. All eyes turned towards him.

"Figures," he explained. "She is surrounded by death gods, withstands countless attacks and has an insane father, and in the end she dies from an idiot driver who was probably talking on his cell phone. Fate is screwy." Toushirou and Byakuya snickered.

"It's not funny!" Ichigo protested weakly.

"Is too!" Matsumoto called childishly from her far away spot.

"Is n-" Ichigo stopped himself. He turned back towards Karin. "I refuse to succumb to her childish games." He tried to sound haughty.

"Ichigo, please don't attempt to sound noble when you obviously are not, and leave the pride to those who know how to wear it." Byakuya reprimanded him. Ichigo scowled Then again, he always scowled, the gloomy bastard.

"But he doesn't do badass particularly well either," Renji commented.

"He's not fun or bubbly! Don't forget fun or bubbly! And the jerk doesn't like to drink!" Ichigo seethed.

"Renji! Get out of here. This is a family affair." Renji smirked, before bowing in jest and shunpoing over the wall of the small compound.

"Byakuya, if you could get Karin enlisted in the Academy for me … please." Gasps were heard from all around the courtyard. Byakuya just raised an eyebrow.

"Very well." He turned towards the building in front of them. Ichigo turned towards Toushirou.

"Hitsugaya, walk with me. Rukia, please stay with Karin until your brother finishes arranging things.

He turned and walked out of the compound, signaling Toushirou to follow. With a sigh and a glance in Karin's direction, he did. Matsumoto waved cheerily to Karin, before she too disappeared to wherever it was she spent her time. Only Rukia remained. For a moment she stood there, the two of them watching each other. Then with an earsplitting grin Rukia flung herself forward, wrapping her arms around Karin. The embrace was quickly reciprocated.

"Yes!" Rukia exclaimed. "You're finally here~ Decent company for me to send time with!"

Karin smiled. It was nice to know that almost everyone excluding her brother was happy to have her in Seireitei. A flicker, and Byakuya was back.

"Karin, they're ready to receive you. Your schedule has been formed, and a room assigned. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you, and remember that you are always welcome in my home."

With a small bow he left. Rukia smiled kindly at Karin.

"The next part is for you alone to face." She said, before following her brother over the wall.

Karin turned to face the doors in front of her, slowly pushing open her future.