The door slammed shut and a head popped up from the couch in the living room. Isshin Kurosaki was watching TV when he heard the unexpected commotion.

"Hey Karin. It's been a while...how have you been?" said Isshin, after seeing who had entered his house. Karin had just come into her childhood home for the first time in a few months.

"Hi Dad. I'm fine. I just got back from the seireitei and thought I'd drop in before going to the apartment. I thought we could have dinner since it has been so long since we've seen each other," said Karin.

Isshin got up from the sofa and went to the kitchen to hug his daughter.

"Sure, hon. Did you want to go out somewhere, or get delivery?" asked Isshin.

"I'm kind of tired, so I'd prefer delivery. Is anyone else here?" she asked.

"Nope," answered Isshin. "There haven't been any Shinigami staying here for a few weeks now. Peace is a wonderful thing." Isshin hadn't bothered to answer about Karin's two siblings - Ichigo was in the seireitei and Yuzu had been out on her own for a while now.

Isshin pulled out a menu from the drawer by the refrigerator and started to peruse the items. "So what were you doing in the seireitei?"

"I had a meeting with Unohana-taicho," she replied.

"Another one?" he asked.

"There have been a few things that we've needed to talk about as of late," said Karin. "After all, I'll be in her squad full-time starting next week."

"When is your last day at the hospital?" Isshin asked. The news didn't surprise him as he was already aware of Karin's latest decisions.

Karin took the menu from Isshin and started looking at it. "Friday is my last day. Then I am officially done."

"It's been a long time in coming...," said Isshin.

"Yeah, it sure has. I finally finished my residency. As of Friday, I will officially be a 100% educated and certified pediatrician, able to be employed anywhere I choose in the country of Japan."

Isshin chuckled. "Just in time to leave the world of the living for good." He paused, grabbing the menu back from Karin and putting it back into the drawer. "I knew you couldn't stay away from him for long."

"Daaad! Ok, want me to say it? You were right. Everyone who thought I'd end up moving to the seireitei was right," said Karin.

"You may have lost the bet, Karin, but you'll end up winning in the long run. I can see how much you two love each other. You belong together," said Isshin.

Isshin interrupted the conversation with his daughter to phone in the delivery order.

Karin reflected on the first time she truly considered not staying in the world of the living. It was Retsu Unohana who had started the doubts in her mind and made her reconsider her reasons for staying here rather than moving to the seireitei. For a few months, she pondered what would be the correct decision on her own. Then, having convinced herself, she held the first serious conversation with Toshiro about it. He, of course, only wanted her happiness and was willing to live with whatever her decision was - but he wanted them to be together as well. By the time it was a firm decision, she only had a year left in her medical training. She decided to finish her residency and then relocate.

Isshin hung up the phone. "What did you end up telling your friends at the hospital?"

Karin now sat at the kitchen table. "Most of them knew I got married to Toshiro, but they think he is just a Japanese businessman who does most of his work out of New York City. I am merely relocating to the States to be with him."

"But - ," started Isshin.

"We don't yet have a place big enough for the two of us so I will need to contact them once I arrive there...oh, and there is a course I'll be taking at NYU which enables foreign doctors to practice there," said Karin.

"Seems like you have everything covered," said Isshin.

"I hope so...I had long enough to plan it," said Karin.

"I'll be sad to see you go," said Isshin. "But the truth is, I may get to see you more now that you aren't a medical resident. You hardly had any free time these last few years and when you did, you rightfully spent them with Toshiro."

"Well, now I'll be done and can come visit you more often," said Karin.

"Don't kid yourself. I'm sure you'll immerse yourself into your work in squad 4 just as much as you did at the hospital," said Isshin with a smile on his face. He knew his daughter so well. "They have plenty of kids in the Soul Society that will need your skills...and your zanpakuto, too. Is your new place set-up yet?"

"Toshiro was supposed to move the rest of his stuff out of the squad 10 barracks today," answered Karin. "It will be much more comfortable than his little place."

After the decision was made for Karin to move to the seireitei, Toshiro proposed that they get an actual house to live in near the squad 10 barracks. It would afford them more privacy and would be much nicer than being surrounded by random squad 10 members all the time. She was told it was by no means like the Kuchiki manor, but Toshiro did find a decently sized house on some land a short distance from both squad 10...and it was only a little further to get to squad 4.

"Plus the new place will be good if we ever have kids," noted Karin.

Isshin shook his head. "Now Karin, I don't want you to get your hopes up. You know how difficult it is for souls to have children."

"I know Dad. If I stayed here it would be impossible. At least now we have a chance for children with me moving there," said Karin. "But don't worry, I'm a realist. My expectations aren't very high."

"I just don't want to see you disappointed if it doesn't happen," said Isshin. "You know I would be more than happy to be somebody's grandpa."

OlOlOlOlOlO

Three days later...

Karin ran through the Dangai with her usual fervor.

I can't believe that I'm moving to the seireitei. I don't actually know when the next time I'll be back in the world of the living again, she thought to herself.

This time Urahara put her physical body in some special container he developed that would keep it stored better than usual given that she may not be back for a long while. There was always the possibility of giving her body over to a mod soul for the time being, but in truth, the mod soul would almost be living her own life in Karin's body and Karin might not know what situation she could potentially come back to. Because of that, it was decided that long-term storage was the best option.

When she stepped out of the senkaimon at the Kuchiki estate, she was surprised to see her soon-to-be taicho greet her.

"Unohana-taicho," Karin said upon seeing her mentor.

"I'm sorry to have to meet you like this, but I wanted to catch you before you met Hitsugaya-san in squad 10. We have some business to discuss. I didn't want to interrupt your weekend," said Retsu.

"Oh, it's no problem. Actually it will be easier to hit squad 4 now on the way to squad 10," answered Karin.

The two started walking next to one another as they headed towards squad 4.

"I have decided to make you a seated officer in the squad," said Retsu as they walked.

"Taicho, I'm grateful," said Karin.

"You have more than proven yourself over these past few years. Even with all your responsibilities in the world of the living, you still somehow made time to work with us in squad 4 whenever you were called to report," explained the taicho. "Not only that, but over time, you have shown yourself to be a leader within the squad. I couldn't be prouder of you and how you've grown."

"Thank you, taicho," said Karin.

"You will be the eighth seat starting on Monday," said Retsu. "The duties will be similar to what you have experienced before - some work in the squad 4 barracks, and some out in the seireitei. However, you will be asked to lead more missions now that you are an officer."

"Hai, taicho," Karin answered.

"The schedules will be posted the Thursday before the week ahead so you can prepare," said the taicho.

They finally reached squad 4 and Retsu led her into her office. Isane was unexpectedly in there already.

"Karin!" Isane said, grabbing her friend and hugging her.

"Hi - er, Kotetsu-fukutaicho," said Karin.

Isane backed off noting they were technically in a professional atmosphere.

"No worries, Isane. I've already told Karin the official communications," said Retsu. "All we've got left are the personal communications."

"That's why I'm here," said Isane. "I need to know."

"Patience, Isane. This is just a follow-up visit...just to be sure," said Retsu.

"Isane, I think you are more excited than I am," said Karin.

"Shall we begin?" asked Retsu.

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

Karin stuck her head into the squad 10 office and looked at Toshiro who was silently sitting at his desk. His hand was on his forehead as he leaned on his desk and he, as usual, looked irritated.

"A-hem!" Karin made a clearing of the throat sound just to get his attention. It worked - he looked up at her.

"Karin, you're back?" he asked.

"I'm back," she answered. "For good."

Toshiro got up and walked over to his wife and gave her a hug. The couple, even after all this time together, never neglected to show affection to one another when they had been apart for even a small time.

"Are you almost done?" she asked. "I so excited to see it!"

"You haven't sneaked a peek behind my back?" he asked her knowing her personality of hating surprises.

"No...," she said playfully as if offended by the very insinuation.

"Well, let me finish up my work for the day and we can go," he answered.

Toshiro had found the house they would now be living in and had told Karin all about it, but he wanted the reveal to be a surprise. Only Rangiku and Momo had seen the house - they helped with the move and with the decorating.

"I'm going to head upstairs for a minute. Come get me when you're ready," said Karin.

"Ok, I will," he answered as he pecked her on the lips and went to sit back down at his desk.

Karin turned and headed towards the captain's quarters in the barracks. The door had been left open and she stepped in to see all the furniture and decorations were gone. She walked into the various rooms of the small apartment-like abode to see how it had changed since the last time she had visited. Over time, little-by-little, things had disappeared as Toshiro's belongings had been brought to the new house. Now they were completely gone.

Karin's heart felt a little heavy. Then she felt arms hug her from behind.

"Are you sad?" Toshiro asked.

"Yeah...a little. There are so many memories here," she replied.

"Change can sometimes bring about some sadness, but just think about what awaits us from here on out. We are finally going to be together in our own home and..." He didn't finish, presumably a little choked up as well.

Karin turned around in his arms and hugged him. "I know," she answered. "We've had such precious times together all these years."

The hug broke and the couple started walking towards the exit of the barracks and into the seireitei. Karin recognized whereToshiro was led her, but still wasn't sure where their final destination was ultimately going to be. In only about 10 minutes, Toshiro finally stopped.

"Is this it?" Karin asked.

"What do you think?" he asked her.

"It's perfect," she noted.

Then they heard a crash come from the inside of the house.

"Rangiku! You need to be more careful," screamed a voice that sounded like Momo's.

Karin looked at Toshiro who immediately went into irritated-mode when he heard that something had obviously been broken during the final unpacking of his things in the house.

"I take it Rangiku and Momo are still helping you out?" asked Karin with a smile on her face.

"Uh, yeah," he answered. "Sorry. I thought they'd be gone by now."

"Don't be sorry," Karin said. "It's wonderful. You chose well. It will be perfect for our growing family."

Sounding just like Isshin had just a few days ago, Toshiro responded to that last comment. "Karin, I know you want to try to have kids, but don't..." It was just then that he looked at her face and saw her expression. She was smiling...but not just smiling...no, it was more like she was about to burst.

"Really?" he asked.

Karin nodded her head frantically. "Confirmed earlier by Unohana-taicho herself."

Karin looked at Toshiro's face as the news sank in. His normally stoic look turned soft and tears formed in his eyes. He rushed forward and grabbed her in a tight embrace.

"I feel like the rest of our lives have just truly begun," he said.

OlOlOlOlOlO

Well folks, that's it...THE END. I hope you enjoyed it. I just looked at the story as a whole and 45 chapters took me approximately 7 months to finish. It's also my longest story yet by about 3 chapters. It has been my honor to write for your reading enjoyment and I hope you continue to read my stories. I have enjoyed your reviews, and whenever someone makes me a fav, or subscribes, I just feel so happy...and motivated!

Another one in the books...

CG