Precious Times Together Ch 43

Karin stood there on the top of the hill next to her fiancé.  She couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.  This was the day that most little girls look forward to…the day when they would marry the man of their dreams.  And here she was, doing just that.  She had known him from the time she was 11 years old.  First they were acquaintances, then good friends, then best friends, and after some serious soul searching by both of them, finally they started dating and romance bloomed.  

They had endured long times away from one another.  She never knew when he would be able to visit, and she needed to be ready to spend time with him when he did show up.  All the while she pursued her dream of helping people through the study of medicine.  It was through knowing him that she learned that she was like Ichigo – a Shinigami in a human body born to a couple in the world of the living.  She had strange abilities and a zanpakuto.  

All she could think of on this joyous day was the path that led her to this very moment.  Whereas Toshiro, also ecstatically happy, was thinking about the future and making her happy in the times to come.  He was willing to trust in her….to marry her based on her word that she wanted him and nothing else.  With him, she would be happy.  

A small group of friends and family encircled the couple as they exchanged their vows in front of the marriage official.  A look around at the various faces saw that most of them were smiling – but a small few were crying and dabbed at their eyes with tissues.  Among those were Rangiku and Momo, both good friends of the couple.  Both had known Toshiro from the time he was very young and now they were overcome with emotion at seeing the once small boy they had teased become grown up and get married.

Finally, the marriage was sealed with a loving kiss and the couple broke apart and looked at their friends and family, who erupted in impromptu applause and cheering at them finally sealing the deal.  It had been a long time in coming and along the way, their friends and family had greatly supported them.  

The wedding party and guests walked to a nearby shelter that had been built especially for this occasion.  Since Karin and Toshiro did not want anything fancy in terms of their celebration, it was decided that the best choice was just to turn the event into a picnic where people could casually talk and games could be played.  

"I can't believe you two aren't going on a honeymoon," remarked Ichigo to his now-married sister.

"Nii-san, you know I had to fit this into my work schedule," she remarked.  "I could get a few days off, but not enough to go on a honeymoon.  Besides, they need me back at the hospital."

"Well, I'd be disappointed," Ichigo remarked.

"Its fine," underscored Karin.  "We're just going to spend the night together and I'll be heading back to the world of the living tomorrow.  You know we aren't high maintenance kind of people."  She paused.  "Perhaps you've been hanging around the Kuchiki manor too much lately, eh?"  She jabbed him with her elbow.

Ichigo feigned offense, but Rukia just smiled and patted his back as he turned to walk away.  

Karin heard something off to her left and she looked to see what it was….more like who it was.  Yuzu was comforting their father, Isshin, who was still using a tissue to clean himself up.  

"Oh Dad," said Karin.  "You didn't cry at Ichigo's wedding.  Well, you did cry, but not nearly this much."

"But you are my little girl," said Isshin.

"You can't get rid of me that easily," said Karin.  "Besides, Yuzu is still your little girl, too.  You have her wedding to look forward to."

Isshin turned to Yuzu.  "You aren't seriously dating anyone right now, are you?"

"Oh Dad," was the only thing Yuzu said.  

Toshiro had wandered off from Karin's side and she eventually found him talking with some of the members of squad 10 that they had invited.  

Perhaps now is a good time to get something to eat, she thought to herself.

Karin headed for the food.  She ran into Momo when she picked up her plate for the buffet.  

"Oh, hi Karin.  Congratulations!" said Momo.

"Thank you," replied Karin.

"He's lucky to have found you," Momo added.  "I have never seen him as happy as when he is with you."

That made Karin feel warm inside.  All she wanted was for them to be together and be happy.  

Karin collected her food and sat at one of the tables next to Renji.  

"Congratulations, Karin," said Renji.  "Have you decided when you are moving here to the seireitei?"

"Who said I'd be moving here?" asked Karin, a bit defensively.

"Oh, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to imply…I just thought that since Ichigo moved here for Rukia that you'd….well…I'm sorry," said Renji.

"I still have work to do in the world of the living, Renji.  I can't afford to give it up.  I'm making a difference down there.  With Iyashinomizu, I'm healing so many sick people," said Karin.  

"We could use you here as well though," said a voice from behind her.  Karin turned and saw Retsu Unohana.  

The taicho of squad 4 took a seat on Karin's other side and began to sip at her drink.  "You are definitely doing some good down in the world of the living – that, I don't deny.  But the soul cycle consists of more than just that.  If a soul gets sick and dies here in the Soul Society, it becomes reiatsu.  A soul in the world of the living just comes here when it dies.  Doesn't it make more sense to save the souls here instead?"

Karin was mentally taken aback at that last statement.  She had never thought of it that way.  Most of the time, as naïve as it was, she thought of the two worlds – the world of the living and the Soul Society – mostly like two different planets, or even two different dimensions.  Perhaps she had been around the Shinigami too much and took for granted exactly what they were responsible for.  

"Well, anyway, it is definitely something to think about," underscored Retsu.  

"In the Soul Society, at least they have all of you to count on," noted Karin, a bit defensively.  "If I didn't do the healing work that I do, then so many more people would be lost to injuries or sickness."

"Tell me, Karin.  Do you have a God complex?" asked Retsu.  "Or perhaps, you feel abnormally guilty?"

Was her friend actually challenging her?  Not only that, but this was during her party to celebrate her own wedding.

"What are you trying to insinuate, Unohana-taicho?" asked Karin, standing up.  Her emotions were beginning to escalate.

"Calm down, Karin.  I just wanted to give you some things to think about," said Retsu.  "I, too, want you to be happy.  Not only that, I want you to be the happiest you can be.  And I want you to make the decisions you make for the right reasons.  That's all.  Take what I've said and store them away and when you have time to think and talk, bring them out once again."

Karin sat back down and took a deep breath.  "Hai, taicho," she collected herself and answered in a proper manner.  "I will give what you have said to me some thought."

"Thank you," said Retsu.  

"Karin!" Toshiro shouted from another area of the festivities.  He waved her over.   Karin excused herself from the table and walked over to her husband.

"Did you need something Toshiro?" she asked.

"Hai, a dance.  We have this lovely music ensemble for the occasion, yet no one is dancing," he replied.

Karin smiled and stepped closer to Toshiro for the first slow dance of the day.  Although it was bright and sunny and they were surrounded by others, they both just held each other and everything else faded into the background as they swayed back and forth.  

"Is everything ok?" he asked her.

"Sure," she answered.  "Why?"

"You just seem a little…off," he replied.

"No, I'm fine.  I just have a few things that I need to think about courtesy of Retsu Unohana," she said.  "I'll tell you later."

"Hm," he answered.  He pecked her on the lips and resumed the dance.  

OlOlOlOlOlO

Karin and Toshiro decided to leave their guests just before the dinner hour.  It had been a wonderful day up until that time… surrounded by the friends and family who loved them.  

"I've got one more surprise for you," said Toshiro.

"Hm?" answered Karin questioningly.  

"It's a surprise, so just trust me," said Toshiro.

The husband and wife walked hand-in-hand in a direction Karin was not very familiar with.  She had planned to just go back to the squad 10 barracks and spend the night together there.  Obviously, that isn't what Toshiro had in mind.  

"Isn't this…near where your Granny lives?" asked Karin, finally recognizing the surroundings.

"Yes, but it's not where we're going," said Toshiro.

They continued to walk for another 20 minutes or so.

"Are we still in the first district?" asked Karin.

"Yes," said Toshiro.  "It would take a lot longer that than to reach the second district.  Don't worry, we're almost there."

"Ok," she replied.

"Now, close your eyes," he asked of her.

"Toshiro!" she said playfully.  "I'm…"

"Just – close your eyes.  For me," he repeated.

"Oh, alright," she said.

He changed direction and walked for a minute or so more.  They must have entered the wooded area Karin had noted they were walking near because she suddenly felt branches and leaves against her upper arms.  

"Can I open them yet?" she asked.

"Not just yet," he replied.

Karin sighed.  She was not a patient person when it came to things such as this.

"Ok, you can open them," he finally told her.

Karin opened her eyes and looked around.  In front of her was the cutest country cottage she thought she had ever seen.  There were gardens on three sides of the cottage along with a large pond in front.  A small woman was standing by the front door smiling at the couple.

Karin turned and looked at Toshiro.  "What is all this?" she asked excitedly.

"I know you wanted everything to be informal and low key, but I couldn't bring myself to  spend our first night as husband and wife together at our place in squad 10," he explained.  "I spoke to Granny about it and she told me about this little inn run by a lifelong friend of hers.  She made arrangements for us to stay here tonight."

"That was so sweet of her," said Karin.

"Dinner and breakfast are included, and there is a small hot spring in the back garden that we can use," Toshiro explained.

"You said this is an inn….how many rooms are there?" asked Karin.

"Granny told me the owner only allows one couple or family to stay at a time.  It's more of a hobby of hers rather than a money-making business," he explained.

"You know, it's kind of a shame…," started Karin.

"What's a shame?" asked Toshiro.

"It's really a cute place.  I'd love to tour the gardens and spend some time in the hot spring…," she added.

"So, what's wrong with that?" Toshiro asked.

"Well, we did just get married," said Karin with a spark to her voice.  

"Oh.  Oooooohh," he answered and smiled.  

Karin reached up and grabbed both of Toshiro's cheeks with her hands and pulled his face down towards hers.  She kissed him intimately and deeply.  

"I see," he said when the kiss broke.

Then she let go of him and ran towards the house.  "Let's go!" she said playfully.  

"Oh, don't think you can beat me!" he laughed.  

The lovers hurried towards their final destination for their first night as husband and wife.