Chapter 19:

Ichigo was too tired to do anything that night. So after he sat with his sisters on the couch watching a little TV, he went straight up to bed. He kept nodding off during the program, so they all called it a night around 10:30. His father didn't come in until around 11:00 which suited him just fine. He didn't even change out of his clothes. He flopped down on the bed, asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The next morning, he woke around 10:15 feeling very rested. That was a good sleep. He got out of bed and went to take his shower, deciding once he got in there to take a bath instead. It was an excellent choice. He enjoyed a nice hot soak in the tub, room smelling of water and soaps. He sank into the water up to his eyeballs and below out a mouthful of bubbles. He did this twice and stopped after inhaling under the water through his nose. He sprang up, coughing and snorting. That was stupid. He hadn't relax in a bathtub like this in so long, he had almost forgotten what it was like.

He got out a few minutes later, fully dressed and a white towel around his shoulders. He opened the door, unleashing the steam and went downstairs. A nice Sunday afternoon. He liked these days when he could just relax and do nothing.

Yuzu was fixing lunch in their newly repaired kitchen and Karin was up in her room. Ichigo poked his head in to see what his sister was making. "Hi, Ichigo. Was that you taking a bath upstairs? You sure got up late."

"Yeah, I was worn out." A water drop from his wet hair hit the edge of his nose, making him shiver slightly. He wrapped the towel around his head, drying his hair violently with both hands. "Save me any breakfast?"

"No, sorry. Dad ate your share."

"Great." He returned the towel to his shoulders.

"You can have this, though." She pointed to the bowl of fruit on the counter. "Lunch will take some time. But I'm almost done."

"Ok." He took an orange and peeled it. After he was finished eating, he went into the living room and flopped down on the couch. He picked up the remote and started surfing through channels. After finding something he liked, he stretched out and made himself comfortable.

His half hour of TV watching was disrupted by a knock on the front door. He glanced up. "Who could that be? Dad maybe?"

Yuzu looked. "I don't think so. He has a key. I sent him out for some carrots and cooking spray for tonight's dinner. Maybe it's a delivery guy. Could you check, Ichigo?"

"Yeah, sure." He reluctantly got up. And just when he got comfortable, too. But if he got too comfortable, he'd slip into a catnap which he didn't want. He passed Yuzu by in the kitchen, boiling some water and chopping up vegetables, and went over to the door.

He opened it.

"Hi, Ichigo! Long time, no see!"

Ichigo almost fell back out of shock.

Standing in front of him was the whole team. Rosalia holding her new baby, Nathan standing beside her and Sashiro standing between them smiling brightly.

"Y- you guys..!"

"Surprised?"

"Well, uh… yeah."

"Ichigo!" Sashiro tackled him, jumping through the door and into his gut. "You didn't come back to see us, so we came here! I only saw you once! It wasn't fair!"

He peeled Sashiro off his waist. "H- how did you guys..?"

"Ukitake pulled some strings," Rosalia answered. "He thought you had the right to see us off, but it didn't work out the way he thought so… He allowed us to come here for the day and visit you."

He still didn't fully grasp the situation it was so sudden and unexpected. But he was happy to see them again.

"Ichigo, who is it?"

He looked back at Yuzu who was coming over. "Uh…" He looked back at the group at the door. They were all in gigais, even the baby. She could see them. "It's, uh…"

"Hi!" Sashiro beat him to it. "I'm Sashiro! Who are you?"

She stopped in the middle of the room, coming to them. Sashiro was inside and over to her in less than a second. "I, uh… I'm Yuzu, Ichigo's little sister."

Sashiro was smiling at her. "You're real cute. You sure you're his sister?"

She was blushing furiously. "Well…" she giggled.

Ichigo turned back to the others. "You just came here to visit?"

"Yeah. You and Kisuke," Rosalia answered. "We want him to see our baby." She looked down at the bundle in her arms.

The baby wasn't doing anything but stare at the sky and the tall people over him. He stayed nice and quiet in her arms. Looks like she was a natural mother after all.

"NATHAN, MY BOY!"

"Ack!"

Nathan was grabbed from behind by Ichigo's father who lifted him up in the air, one arm around Nathan's neck and the other around his chest. Nathan held on tight with both hands, trying to pry the man's arm off from around his neck so that he could breathe, his legs kicking in the air.

"Dad, knock it off!"

"Knock what off? I'm just happy to see the son I never had home to see his daddy!" He squeezed him tighter, Nathan's face turning blue.

"Um… sir… please..?"

"Nathan, it's been so long! How have you been?"

Nathan forcibly pulled Isshin's arm down from around his throat and hooked his feet around the back of his captor's knee for support, turning his body towards him. "It's been a few days, sir. And I'm here with my wife and…"

"Waaahh!"

"… child."

Upon the sudden attack, the baby had gone into crying mode, screaming and fussing loudly in his mother's arms. She struggled to keep hold of him while he kicked and flailed about.

"Oh, your family's here!" Isshin set Nathan down, or rather tossed him and moved over to the mother and child. "Aw, she's a sweet thing, she is! Atta boy, Nathan! Way to pick 'em!"

Rosalia and Nathan were blushing heavily.

"Aww! What a cute little baby!" He squeezed in close, causing the baby to cry even louder.

"You stupid old man, keep scaring him, why don't you? Move!" Ichigo kicked his father aside and pulled Rosalia into the house along with her child. "Ignore him. He's an idiot."

"Oh, a baby!" Yuzu came running up to see it. "Aw, so cute! Come in, come in! Sit on the couch! I can get you some milk if you need it."

"No, thanks. I… already have it." Rosalia's face was red again.

"Oh. Oh! I totally forgot! I'm sorry! How embarrassing! But please come in!"

As the girls moved further into the house, Isshin got up from the sidewalk and followed after them, carrying a bag in his hand which was undoubtedly for Yuzu's dinner. Ichigo was about to follow after them when he felt a tug on his arm. Nathan stood holding a cloth-covered object in his hand.

"This is for you. I picked it up before we left. I thought it was only right that you should have it."

Ichigo took it from Nathan and slowly unwrapped the cloth. He looked down at a small doll wearing his hairs around its neck.

"It's the voodoo doll that was used on you back then. I found it and thought I should take it with me, just in case. Since the Arrancars are gone, I doubt that it still works, but just in case, I don't want it falling into the wrong hands. So I… I thought you should keep it."

Ichigo looked down at the doll with mixed emotions. He slowly started to unravel the orange hairs from around its neck and stuffed them into his pocket. The doll was completely useless against him now. Now it felt no different than Kon's plush body. It felt complete.

"Thanks." There was no emotion behind it, but Ichigo felt the need to say it.

"Sure."

X

The next hour just flew by. After making funny faces to the baby, Yuzu went back into the kitchen to cook. With Sashiro's help, it went even faster. Nathan was right. Sashiro was a decent cook and was a big help in the kitchen. The two would make small talk and once in a while go back to see the baby. To their disappointment, the newborn baby couldn't smile very well if at all and mostly stared or fussed at their gestures and faces. Karin came down to see what all the noise was about and discovered that the house was infested with strangers. Yuzu dragged her over to see the baby and introduced everyone. Their father kept trying to get near the child but every time he tried, the baby would cry. He finally took the hint and kept his distance.

"Want to hold him, Ichigo?" The question came from his sisters.

He took a small step back. "I don't think so."

"Oh, it's fine. Go right ahead." Rosalia offered her baby to him.

"No, really, I'm good. Thanks."

"Nonsense." She stood up and ordered his sisters to pull him down into the chair. They forced him down and begged him to do it. Having no say in the matter, Ichigo had to agree. "Here, keep still. I'll hand him to you."

He sat there unmoving as Rosalia gently started to lower her baby into his awaiting arms. His sisters kept giving him tips from either side of his seat.

"Now hold your arms out like this."

"Keep your elbows bent."

"And remember to keep his head up."

"Don't drop him."

"Try to keep your other hand out like a brace on his side. See, like this."

"Rest his head on the inside of your elbow. That's his pillow."

"Don't hold too tight."

"But not too loose either."

"Head up, remember."

Now more nervous than when they started, Ichigo was about ready to drop his arms and run. But he kept still as the baby was transferred over to him. Keeping in mind what his sisters had just told him, Ichigo kept his right arm up to support the baby's head. He felt the little bundle in his arms and heard him coo at the exchange of arms.

He looked down at the baby.

His eyes were looking all around the room, curiously. His tiny body was warm and soft, dressed in little baby clothes and baby gloves. He cooed and turned his head quickly to the right. He had light brown hair with gold highlights. Both his parents had blue eyes and depending on the light, his would change shades. His mother had slightly darker ones than his father. Nathan's were more like the ocean reflecting the sky. He looked like both of them in different ways. The brown hair was the only difference. But then again, if his mother had dark hair and his father had blond hair, it only made sense that when you combine the two it would turn out a brownish color. His definitely had his mother's tender and delicate skin.

The baby turned his way suddenly and looked Ichigo up and down. He made small noises and fanned the air with his arms. He latched onto a button on Ichigo's shirt with his gloved hand and didn't move afterward. Karin helped detach her brother, but upon doing so the baby started to fuss and whine. Ichigo tried bouncing him gently like he had seen many mothers do to comfort their children. It seemed to work for a short time. Then the baby rested his cheek against Ichigo's warm chest and closed his eyes as if ready to sleep.

"Aw, he likes you Ichigo."

"I don't think so, Yuzu. I think he just likes Ichigo's shirt."

"He must be warm. You make a good blanket, Ichigo. Pillow, too."

He smirked as if daring her to say more.

But holding the baby like this reminded Ichigo of when he held his sisters as a child. It was so long ago now that he had nearly forgotten. It brought back memories. He remembered his mother handing him his sisters after asking over and over again to hold them. She had made him sit down just like this. In a way, he kind of missed it.

Then the baby started to fuss again, stretching out and kicking. Ichigo almost lost his grip on the baby, a lot stronger than he had figured. He was a feisty little guy. Ichigo quickly passed him back off to the mother and got up.

"What'd I do? I thought he was all calm and everything."

"He must be hungry." Rosalia sat down in Ichigo's spot.

"Do you have a bottle or.." When he saw her unbutton her shirt, Ichigo quickly figured it out and turned his head away. Nathan was doing the same, but stole quick peeks when he heard either his child or wife make a sound. Ichigo only looked once when Rosalia let out a sharp 'ouch' when the baby gummed her breast hard. He may not have had any teeth, but he could still bite. Nathan and Ichigo enchanged bashful looks.

X

Once the baby was finished feeding, the group went over to the kitchen for lunch. But having so many unexpected guests left little room at the table. So they decided to eat their lunch in the living room together. As they all took their spots, Ichigo expected Nathan to sit on the floor by his feet again like last time. But to his surprise, Nathan chose to sit next to him on the couch, as an equal. This was a big thing for Nathan. To anyone else, it would have looked like no big deal. But actually it was a sign of growth. Before Nathan only saw himself as a servant. Just a trained dog to remain at his master's feet. But now he could sit beside Ichigo, something he could never do before, seeing each other as equals. It wasn't a master-servant relationship nor was it a warrior-weakling relationship. They were equals. They were friends.

They all talked and joked around. Sashiro kept trying to impress Karin in different ways and failing every time. He and Yuzu did manage to find something to talk about, however. They discussed cooking and cleaning techniques. He even gave her a recipe to a dish he remembered from over a hundred years ago. He used to watch the chefs make it all the time and took notes on their culinary skills. She was very impressed and grateful. She couldn't wait to try it out.

Their father gave up on trying to get a positive reaction out of the baby and decided instead to try his luck with the young mistress. He asked her a whole bunch of questions and told her a bunch of things no one really cared to listen to. He also tried to talk to Nathan again. Ichigo had half a mind to hit him and shut him up for good. The baby made a grab for Rosalia's fork as she was eating, almost spilling it. Other than that, he was pretty well-behaved. Ichigo was happy to see growth in her as well. She had matured a little bit. She was going to be a fine mother. She already was from what Ichigo could see.

After lunch, it was time for the baby's nap but wouldn't settle. So his mother started to sing her song to him.

"So soft and gentle your touch,

Like water flowing through my fingers.

My once hard heart is now so warm,

It feels so light and fluttery,

Like a bird in flight…

The gentle touch of your hand in mine,

Is like the touch of fresh rose petals in my palm.

The fire it lights in my heart will never go out,

Nothing can erase the memory of this warmth in my hand,

So let's hold hands."

The baby soon fell asleep after hearing her song snuggled up in her chest. The rest of Ichigo's family really liked her song and were impressed that she could sing so well. She told them that she always sang that song, having made it up when she was a child. She even sang it while pregnant. The baby must have recognized her voice and that song from inside her womb and was calmed by it every time.

As they watched the baby sleep, Yuzu asked the question everyone was dying to know. "So what's the baby's name? Have you named him yet?"

Rosalia smiled. "Yes. We decided to let Sashiro decide."

He puffed out his chest as if it were a great honor.

"So what is it? What his name gonna be?" Karin asked.

Rosalia and Nathan smiled at each other and looked down at their son with pride.

"Caleb Frasier."

THE END!

I wanted to make it an even 20 chapters but it came up a little short. Better stop it here or it'll drag out more than it needs to. I'm pretty happy with it. What about you guys?

Thank you everyone for reading and wanting a sequel so much ^^ Thanks a lot once again and don't forget to please review! ^-^