AN: "This is only a one-shot," I murmur as I plan the second installment in my head.
"Whoa, whoa. Is the baby on the way?"
"Uh, I think so." Ichigo's voice was distorted a bit over the phone. The connection between Karakura and Soul Society was always a little spotty. An unpleasant wailing suddenly filled the background of the call. "Okay. Yep. It definitely is!"
Karin stifled her laughter, nodding her head to her anxiously-waiting twin and father. This was the moment they'd all been waiting for.
Isshin sprang forward, wrestling the phone from Karin's grasp and crowing into the receiver, "Thundercats are gooooooo!"
"Dad! I said no cheesy code words!" Karin exclaimed, taking the phone back. "We'll be there ASAP, Ichi-nii."
—-
The first time Ichigo's family and friends visited the Seireitei, they had garnered quite a lot of attention. But the novelty of seeing a pair of human high-school aged twins wandering around had long worn off for many. The Shinigami's figures had long become clear to Yuzu, who had earned quite a reputation among them. One that Karin despised simply because it required her to be so damn protective of her sister whenever they visited.
But today, she didn't even think about that as they sprinted down the narrow passageways. She led the way, her legs much more toned for running than Yuzu or Isshin's. The newest member of the Kurosaki family was about to be welcomed into the world, and they were late.
"Hey, wait!" A voice stopped them as they ran into the fourth division, Yuzu almost bowling her sister over. A nurse waved a clipboard above his head, "Visitors must sign in!"
"I'll do it! You guys go ahead!" Karin ordered, plucking a pen from the front desk as the rest of her family darted down the hall. This better be damn quick.
Her penmanship left much to be desired in her hurry. She tossed the clipboard down on the desk, sloppily half-saluting the nurse as she turned to take off again.
"—oof!"
In a split-second, she became well-acquainted with the tile floor. By the looks of it, so did someone else.
He grumbled, words just quiet enough for her not to understand them. Both rubbed at their foreheads where the impact had occurred, mirror images. She found herself blinking up at a boy who would be considered striking even on a bad day. He ran his hand through his alabaster hair, still muttering something. When his teal eyes flickered up to meet hers, she froze.
"Er…sorry." She shrugged, feeling foolish. He stared, her heart squeezing in her chest. By the looks of his uniform, he was a taichou. A young one at that. Great. She'd pissed off one of Seireitei's best and brightest. Her face warmed.
He just kept staring, not even replying.
If he wanted to act like a douche, that was on him. She began to brush herself off, deciding to head down the hall if he wasn't going to say anything. Before she could return to her feet, he was on his. He offered her a hand, and this time it was her who was left staring.
Finally, she took his help. "Sorry about that," She repeated for good measure, "I'm in a bit of a hurry. My name's—"
"Kurosaki Karin." He nodded, crossing his arms. "I know,"
She quirked an eyebrow. Now, that was an unexpected turn. "How do you—"
Her words were swallowed by a scream resonating through the building, "Piss off, Ichigo! You did this to me!"
That was her cue.
"I have to go." She shot him an apologetic glance for only a moment before she vanished around the corner.
This was the sort of day that changed lives forever. But it wasn't supposed to change Karin's. Not in the way that it had. But in that split second with the mysterious taichou—that first sight— she knew she was on the cusp of something new.
Something even Rukia's furious labored screams couldn't make her forget.