A/N Chapter 23: Epilogue!

8 Months Later, The Mansion, Karin

Karin had received many congratulations from everyone in the mansion and also her new family. Everyone was incredibly happy that Karin was having twins, though no one knew what the genders were. Karin and Toshiro deemed that it would be better to make it a surprise.

Of course, everyone respected their wish. Well, almost everyone. "Why don't you want to know?!" Isshin Kurosaki, who incessantly pestered her into seeing the genders of her unborn children, knew that if he made her mad, he would face her wrath.

However, even Karin knew her limits. She wouldn't harm her children just because of her idiot father. "Why can't you accept our decision?! Besides, they're going to be born any day now so it's pointless. Just forget about it." The truth was, Karin wanted to know too, but everyone says it's better to keep it a surprise. He smiled at her, but it was different from his usual stupid grin that he often teased her with but a genuine smile.

"I'm proud of you, Karin." then he ruffled her hair, something he hasn't done to her since she was little, and then he left. Just then, Toshiro appeared beside her. "Where's your father?" he asked as he gave her a quick peck on the lips. Karin sighed at the mention of her father. "You just missed him."

"Is he still bothering you about finding out the genders?" Karin simply nodded.

"Don't worry, Karin. No matter what gender they are, we'll love them all the same. Your father knows this. I'm sure he'll stop asking soon enough. Now come with me, it's time for dinner." Karin nodded once more and held his hand as he led them to the dining room to eat.

The Mansion, Toshiro

After dinner, Toshiro started to worry about Karin. She looked like she was in pain but was too stubborn to say anything about it to him. "Are you okay, Karin? Are you in pain or anything?" He was really worried about her and as her husband, he needed to know if she were in any pain or not.

She just shook her head with a smile; a smile which revealed the pain she was trying to hide from him.

"Nothing's wrong, Toshiro. Let's just go to bed. I'm sure I'll feel better with some rest." she said, but suddenly, Karin's face contorted into one of pain and her water broke. "RANGIKU! HURRY!" Rangiku rushed to them from around a corner to see what the matter was, gasped at what she saw, and immediately began dialing for the hospital.

The Hospital, Toshiro

Within a few minutes, the ambulance was at the front door and Karin was being whisked away on a gurney with Toshiro hopping in the ambulence after her. He held her hand as the nurse on the other side of Karin told her to take deep breaths and then began demonstrating for her and she followed his example.

Soon after, they were at the hospital and Karin was rushed to a room to wait and rest in bed until she was ready to give birth.

"It hurts so much, Toshiro!" she said, her lips clasped tight together so much that she was turning slightly white. He kissed her hand and she began to visibly loosen herself up until a doctor came to check in on Karin. "Looks like you're ready to have your babies. Are you ready, Mrs. Hitsugaya?" the doctor said after checking her over and writing something down on the clipboard in his hands before finally looking up at her.

Through the pain, Karin managed a weak nod and the doctor and Toshiro smiled at her. "Good. Then let's go." he called some nurses in who picked up Karin and rested her on a gurney again and began to pull her towards the ER.

Toshiro never let go of her hand, even when he felt it go numb as Karin began to give birth. "Push! Push! Push!" the doctor shouted and Karin complied and then the first baby was out. "Female. 7 pounds. Born at 11:55 p.m." the doctor said out loud as he handed the baby to the nurse to clean.

Karin loosened her grip on Toshiro's numb hand and visibly relaxed but the moment didn't last long. Karin gripped his hand with a new-found strength and her eyes widened in pain. "It's a big one!" the doctor said and Karin didn't look like she could take this much longer.

Soon enough, the last baby was born. "Male. 8 pounds. Born at 12:00 a.m." the doctor said aloud as he once again handed the nurse a baby to clean. "Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Hitsugaya. You have a healthy baby boy & baby girl. Would you like to see them?" the doctor asked and Karin nodded weakly with what energy she had left.

Two nurses, each carrying a baby, slipped the babies into each parent's arms; Toshiro holding the girl and Karin holding the boy. "He's beautiful," Karin said, then leaned to her right to see her daughter. "they both are."

Later, Karin was moved back to the room she had waited in before with both of her babies asleep in her arms. "Have you thought of any names yet?" Toshiro asked Karin and she nodded.

"The girl is Annika and the boy is Akinori." Toshiro nodded his head in agreement at the names. "I like those names. They're perfect for them." Karin smiled as she held her children close to her. Later, after Karin and the twins had a little nap, everyone came to see the twins. However, three people were very excited to see the twins. "They are sooooooooo cute! What's her name?" Rangiku said as she held Akinori.

"Akinori isn't a girl. Annika is." Karin giggled as Rangiku had a blush spread across her face at mistaking the two babies for each other. "Sorry, Akinori." Rangiku whispered to the sleeping baby as she laid Akinori in Yuzu's open arms. ''Hi, Akinori. I'm your aunt Yuzu and this is your uncle Ichigo. You're cute, you know that?" she whispered to the baby as she passed him over to his uncle Ichigo, who had been holding Annika previously.

Ichigo didn't say anything to Akinori; he just held him in his arms and stared at his face with a loving expression. "He's beautiful, Karin," Ichigo whispered, never taking his eyes off of Akinori. "they both are."

"Hey, where's Dad? I would have thought he'd be here with the amount of time he spent pestering me about the twins." Karin asked, but no one knew where he was. "I tried calling him to see if he wanted a ride to the hospital but he wouldn't answer so we went on without him. We thought we'd check on him after we came to see you and the twins." Ichigo said and Karin nodded.

"You might want to go and check on him now. Something could be wrong." Toshiro said, being the cautious one. "You're probably right. I'll go...they don't look like they want to leave anyway." Ichigo said as he looked over at Yuzu and Rangiku before hugging his sister and waving bye to Toshiro before he was out the door.

The Kurosaki Home, Ichigo

He parked the car outside of the house and saw that the lights were on. His father would never leave the lights on before leaving the house. Does that mean he's still inside? Well, he wouldn't know unless he went inside.

He got out his key from his pocket and the first thing he saw was his father on the floor, seemingly unconscious. He quickly called the hospital and while he was waiting, he checked over his father to see if he was even breathing. Luckily, he was. Within a couple of minutes, the ambulance had arrived and then they were on their way to the hospital.

The Hospital, Karin

Shouts could be heard from beyond Karin's hospital room and she saw someone being rushed past her door with Ichigo going along with them. "What's going on?! Was that Dad?!" Karin was panicking and Toshiro told her to calm down and that he would check and see if it was her father.

The few minutes it took for Toshiro to see if it was her father or not made her anxious, nervous, and afraid. When Toshiro came back, he wasn't alone.

"Ichigo? Where's Dad?" Yuzu asked as she noticed her brother's return. "Dad collapsed." Those two words had the twins at the verge of tears. "What? We have to see him, right now." Karin said as she began to get out of bed. Toshiro rushed to her side. "You can't see him just yet. He's in critical condition. A doctor will come by and tell us when we can see him, all right? Just stay in bed for right now."

Karin did as he asked but she was restless; she couldn't sit still. The atmosphere in the room was tense as they waited for the doctor with the news of Isshin's status. Moment's passed in silence before a doctor came in with a grim look on his face.

"I'm sorry." was all the doctor could say before everyone ran toward his room after the nurse told them where it was.

There he lay, in bed, with the heart monitor attached to him and the IV slowly dripping with the medicine that was prolonging his life. Toshiro & Rangiku left the family alone to talk among themselves. Yuzu immediately began to cry as she lay her head against her father's leg.

Ichigo sat next to her and held her in his arms as he comforted her by trying to comfort himself. Karin held her tears in and sat beside her father and held his limp hand in her own. His skin was ice cold but it still held some warmth of its own.

No words were spoken between them as they sat in the hospital room. But one thing disturbed the silence that had grown in the room. Isshin had started to cough up blood and they started to panic. They called in the doctor and he said that there was nothing he could do about it. Karin had a look in her eyes that said she wouldn't take that for an answer and she started to charge at the doctor but Ichigo held her back long enough for the doctor to leave, then he released her.

"I wasn't going to hurt him, much." Karin whispered to the soundless room. Ichigo just shook his head and sat back down next to Yuzu. Within the hour, both Yuzu and Ichigo were asleep, each laying their head on their dad's hospital bed. Karin was close to falling asleep but she wouldn't allow herself to; not until she knew her father would be okay.

She lay her head down on the bed and looked at his face. He looked to be in pain and his breaths became labored. She closed her eyes so she didn't have to look at him but instead, she fell asleep; just as she promised herself she wouldn't.

Karin's Dream, Karin

When she awoke inside of her dream, she found herself to be in a pure white room with no doors or windows. At first, she thought she was alone in the room but there was someone in one of the corners of the room. She was surprised and scared to see the face of the person in front of her.

"Jezebeth." Karin breathed out, her voice caught in her throat.

"It's nice to see you again too." she looks just as she did before. Same long black hair put into high pigtails, the same white complexion and blood red skirt and black button up shirt with a white collar and red tie and black knee-length socks and black school shoes.

"You demon! You killed my mother!" she tried to use her fire on her but it wouldn't come out. She looked at her hands in confusion as Jezebeth began to laugh. "I'll kill your father as well, you insolent child. Then your brother, then your sister, then your husband, and finally your children." Karin was filled with so much rage even Jezebeth could feel it from across the room.

"You go near any of them and I will end you!" venom dripped with every word Karin said and Jezebeth laughed at Karin's threat. "You can try, but it is not your destiny to kill me. You cannot kill me; it is not your job to do so."

Karin let her anger slip, just slightly, to confusion. "What do you mean it isn't my job to kill you? Is this some kind of trick?" She smiled at Karin as if she were in on some kind of joke but Karin wasn't. And apparently, she was. you? Is this some kind of trick?" She smiled at Karin as if she were in on some kind of joke but Karin wasn't. And apparently, she was. "She didn't tell you, did she? It's so like her; after all, she's my flesh and blood."

"Who and what are you talking about? Quit speaking in riddles!" Karin said. Jezebeth smiled at Karin. "The one you call Aruf. She is my older sister. She can explain everything to you." and then she was gone and Karin was back in the hospital room where her father was residing.

The Hospital, Toshiro

He was sitting in Karin's room with the twins sleeping in their respective cribs. He couldn't stop thinking about Karin. Life can be so cruel when it wants to be. "You need to stop worrying so much and be happy." Rangiku said to try to cheer him up. He appreciated it but it didn't help him feel better. Karin's father was dying on the same day their children had been born. No one could have imagined anything worse to happen.

He could only imagine the misery Karin was feeling over this whole thing.

The Hospital, Karin

Her father's heart monitor started going crazy and he was wreathing in pain. Yuzu quickly called the doctor and nurse in and they pushed the family out so they could work. She and Ichigo began to pace from panic and worry while Yuzu watched the door with anxiousness for the good news, if there was any to give. Minutes passed before the nurse, then the doctor, came out of the room.

Just by looking at the doctor's face, they all knew that something had happened. However, they didn't give him time to explain it as they charged into the room. As soon as they all stepped inside and took one look at their father...they'd wished they hadn't.

"Oh my god." Karin shook her head in disbelief. Jezebeth had spoken the truth about her father, but she wouldn't allow her to hurt someone else that she loved; never!

Several Days Later, Cemetery, Toshiro

It was a sad day for everyone. They were burying a great man, father, and grandfather. It wasn't supposed to be like this! He didn't even get to hold, let alone see, his grandchildren. Karin wouldn't cry, no, she couldn't cry. Not anymore. She had cried enough in the hospital. He hated seeing her like this, like a hollow shell. He wanted her to be happy but he didn't know how to do it.

All he could do for her was hold her in his arms and comfort her and that seemed to be all that she wanted from him. Soon enough, it was over and her father was laid to rest.

Someone from Soi Fon's squad came up to them with a letter in hand. "This is for you," he said, and then he left. Karin slowly opened the letter and noticed that it was from her father.

It read:

Dear Kids,

If your reading this, then that means I must be dead. Please don't be sad. This was predicted and I happily accept that because now I can see your mom. Anyway, like I said, don't be sad about my death because with death comes new life. I hope my grandchildren grow up to be big and strong just like you, Karin.

Love, Dad

Karin crumbled the letter in her hand. "That crazy old goat!" She couldn't help but laugh, which caused her to gain a few weird looks. Toshiro reached for the letter and read through it. He pointed out a line to her. "'This was predicted.' What does he mean by that? Does that mean he knew he was going to die? Was this another kind of prophecy?"

Toshiro looked at Hyōrinmaru who had a sad look on his face. "Is there something you're not telling us?" He slowly nodded his head. "There is a prophecy, but..." "But what?" Karin asked. "It involves your children." Karin shook her head in disbelief. "No, I won't have them go through what we did." Toshiro agreed with her but they might not have a choice.

"When will it happen?" Toshiro asked. "When they are 15."

Karin looked heartbroken as she looked at her children sleeping in her arms. He put his arms around her shoulders and just held her as she silently wept for their children. And then, they went home.

The Mansion, Karin

"Why didn't you tell me, Aruf?"

Karin asked her. "Tell you what, Master?" "That you are Jezebeth's sister and about the prophecy concerning my children." Aruf's eyes widened before she sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to bring up my family with you. It is a difficult subject to talk about. I come from a family of demons after all." Karin nodded her head. "Was my father's death really predicted? Was there no way to stop it?"

"I am afraid so, Master." Karin eyes began to water as she looked at her children, wide awake and reaching out for their mother. She smiled sadly at them as she let them each grab one of her fingers. She kissed both of their foreheads and they slowly went back to sleep.

"I don't want to condemn them to some prophecy. I want them to be normal and happy and free. Can't I do something to help them? Anything?" Aruf was crying just as Karin was as she sadly shook her head.

"Jezebeth is an skilled tracker. Even if you tried to hide them, she would find them. There's nothing we can do, Master. They must accept their fate or they will die." Karin looked at her children once more before she knelt in front of their cribs and began to cry. Tears streamed down her face and she made no move to wipe them away. They were her reminder that she couldn't save the people she cared about most.

"I'm sorry."

A/N The End!

Well, for this story at least. I'm going to a sequel. But I'm not sure what I should call it. If you have an idea, you could PM me. I'll be taking ideas until September 27.

Anyway, until then. Bye.

~Bloody Ruby~