Fact: Tite Kubo is God. No question about it.

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( T h e. S h a t t e r e d. S t a t e. of. F r a g i l e. M i n d s )

Reappearance

by hitdapanicbutton

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Strange occurances are taking place in Karakura and it seems that Karin's mysterious disappearance and reappearance has links to it. Hitsugaya must race against time to uncover the truth while he comes to terms about his feelings to Karin.

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1

The distant roar of the engine of a speeding car or two echoed through the neighborhood of houses in Karakura Town where its residents laid deep in slumber, oblivious to the unannounced visitor who quietly shunpoed from roof top to roof top until it settled to perch on the roof top of the house on the furthest corner of the neighborhood as the full moon stared on, observing.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Karakura High School. 30m. 1.45am. +-10mins.

The visitor's eyebrows rose quizzically at the mobile screen when the repulsive smell of rotting flesh filled the air and the sound of a hollow's wail was heard. The figure raced to the location that the wail was heard from as fast as its legs can take it, only to find a shinigami with striking orange hair and a rather large zanpakutō landing on the ground, the hollow already dissolving into the air.

He looked up; his tired-looking eyes grew wide- the expression of shock spread across his face as a bundle of conflicting emotions brewed inside of him. The figure stood there awkwardly, unable to make of his reaction. The coldness of the air seemed to heighten, giving it goose bumps on the arms. Silence enveloped them before he muttered a single word.

"Karin?"

She looked over her shoulder and when she saw that there was no one else there, turned back to face the guy again, uncertainty and confusion in her eyes. He took a step towards her and automatically she took a defensive stance, a hand touching the hilt of her zanpakutō. His face looked visibly more upset and he stopped, examining the person in front of him. She looks about seventeen, her shiny black tresses cascading just below her shoulder but he was not mistaken. The girl in shihakushō with the same fearless expression is in fact his sister.

His long lost sister.

"It's me, Ichi-nii. Don't you remember?" Kurosaki Ichigo pleaded softly with the pained look in his eyes causing her heart soften but she was not this Karin that he spoke of. She shook her head, her eyes casted downwards.

"I am sorry but you have mistaken me for somebody else. I am Hikaru, unseated officer from Jūsanbantai, stationed temporarily at Karakura Town." Hikaru introduced herself with a lopsided smile. Ichigo merely nodded his head, contemplating.

So it is true. She can't remember. But… If I had been there for her, all this wouldn't have happened.

Suddenly a surge of pain shook her body from head to toe and her surroundings swirling in her vision, causing her to clutch her head and scream in pain. Ichigo stood there for a few seconds but his brotherly instincts took over and he walked towards her, alarmed. But each step that Ichigo took towards her, the pressure of the pain deepened.

Is he causing this pain?

She held up her hand to motion stop and with tear stained eyes, shouted "Get away from me!" Ichigo grounded his foot and merely looked at her, eyes watered with emotion. There was pain and fear in her eyes and she was retreating.

I've got to get out from here. Away from him.

Unable to take the drowning pain, she closed her eyes and lost consciousness, her body falling to the ground.

"KARIN!"

A black stallion engulfed in blue flames with a white outline materialized with Karin suddenly slumped on its back and it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Ichigo blinked and found that he was all alone in the empty courtyard.

She was gone.