Now that the gates were open, we had no need for the watches. I tore mine off throwing it into a drawer back at home. Surprisingly, my room was still intake; the rest of the house was either tore apart or wasn’t even there. It had been a week since the battle. The town was empty with the occasionally people in the hospital. Two days after the battle everyone came to pray for those who died in the middle. I prayed mostly for my four friends.

Toshiro was in the fourth division care now healing rapidly along with a few other Shinigami. Ichi-nii and Otou-san were the same as always acting as if nothing happened. In the back of my mind, I felt like I was forgetting something but I always just shook it off. The baka squad, Ichi-nii and Otou-san, were building our house back to the way it was before, minus a few items.

I was left with the job of cleaning my room, the bathroom, and a few other rooms. After a quick glance over I took note what had to be fix and what needed to be built. I picked up a few stuff animals that I never seen before. I tossed them in the garbage bag to my left.

“Need any help.” I nodded at the voice.“It would be appreciated.” The voice wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me into his chest.

“I thought you were still healing?” I asked my boyfriend. He spun me around so I was facing him.

“Done now.” I laughed lightly for no reason. “Oh shush you.” He said jokingly. He moved his hands to my side and tickled me lightly down my sides.

“Stop! Please stop!” I curled up trying to get him to stop tickling me. All I succeeded in doing was knocking us of balance. He sat lightly on my stomach and continued to tickle my sides.

“Say uncle.” I shook my head through the massive laughing fit I was having, “Say it.” He moved his hands quicker then before.

“Okay okay! Uncle!” He stopped tickling me in favor of kissing me. Greedily, I kissed him back. He pulled away after a few moments. His hands were right above my head and he had his legs on either side of my body.

“Come on, let’s finish cleaning up.” He got off me pulling me up with him. After we finished cleaning my room, with several interruptions, we headed into the next room. It took us about 2 hours to finish the upstairs.

“So now what do you want to do?” I asked him.

He smiled his perverted smile and pulled me into my room. Of course, we didn’t do anything. He picked me up bridal style and jumped out of the window. When we landed, he put me down again. We began our walk around the town holding hands. Everywhere I turned there were 20 or 30 Shinigami rapidly fixing up the town. Toshiro just shrugged his shoulders when I turned to him questionably curious.

“Karin. Are you staying here or coming back to the Soul Society?”

“Most likely going back to the Soul Society. Otou-san is coming along with me, and I think Rukia-nee is staying here with Ichi-nii to watch the town.” Toshiro stopped instantly.

“So you’re coming to the Soul Society?” I nodded at his eager face. He smiled and lifted me into the air spinning me around. When he brought me down, he kissed me quickly. He rested his head on my shoulder hugging me tightly.

“Thank god, what would I have done if I couldn’t see you as much.” I smiled at him. “Who knows, you might have run off with Hinamori though.” He shook his head.

“Nope, I would never do that to you.”

We continued our walk around the town, with myself asking the occasionally question of what was happening now with the winter war. “Well we realized that the gate to Hueco Mundo won’t open from some reason. They cannot come here but we can go there. We plan to bring the war to them.”

“Am I going?” I asked. “Nope, they have also decided that you and I are staying behind to watch out for stray hollows if they come through the gate.”

“So basically we are guarding?”

“Basically.” I nodded. As long as I was with Toshi, I was okay.

It took another week to get the town rebuilt that was they day Otou-san and myself left for the Soul Society. Ichi-nii and Rukia-nee stood in front of us in their gigai and body. The rest of us were in our Shinigami form and were ready to leave.

“Ichi-nii don’t be stupid.” I smirked at him. “Yeah right, as long as you don’t get yourself married or pregnant.” I blushed.

“Yeah right.” I spoke smugly. Toshiro just stood there with a blank face. “It is time for us to go.” I turned to Toshi and nodded. I gave both Rukia-nee and Ichi-nii a quick hug. The waved at us and then I saw the Soul Society in front of us.

“Well Karin, welcome home.” I smiled at Toshi. I was home again.