A/N: I don't own BLEACH, and never will for that matter. I edited this chapter, adding a few more details and changing some things. I'm sorry that I had neglected it for so long, but I had just lost my inspiration… my muse. Now, she kind of came back to me so I'm gonna continue this story shortly… That is till I lose her again. I hope you like anyway though…

Toshiro was taking the rest of the day, and a few days more, off to go to the real world and see Granny Haru and Karin.

He had talked to Karin through letters, but they haven't seen each other since his last visit that Karin met Granny Haru and she promised to go visit her with her friends for company.

She wrote to him one letter a week and in every letter she described everything with as much detail as possible.

His letters were shorter though, since the only things that he did was train and do paperwork.

She had once written him in one of her letters that she was finally going to high school and she was really excited, but that was almost a year prior, so he assumed that she must be at the age of about sixteen now and on her second year.

She had also mentioned about all her soccer games and everything. Her team had won a tournament between high schools, and he was really proud of her.

As he was getting out of the shekai gate, and into the real world, the first thing that went through his mind was Karin and what she would be doing at this time.

It was winter vacation from her school, and so she could be either on the field, at home or at Granny's house drinking tea and eating his favorite sweets.

He would have to wear a gigai first and then go seek her.

With that plan in mind he went straight for Urahara's shop.

There, Yuzu, Karin's fraternal twin, was talking with Jinta and Ururu.

He had already learnt from Karin that Jinta and her sister was a couple for a couple of years now but he was still red on the face when in Yuzu's presence.

It was kind of funny to witness really.

When he got out of the storage room wearing his gigai, Yuzu looked surprised to see him get out but not in, but was still glad and smiled a sweet smile at his direction.

"Hitsugaya-kun, if you are going to look for Karin-chan, you may want to check out Granny's house since that was were she was heading when she left home at about an hour ago."

Toshiro just acknowledged them with a nod of his head and went his way.

He knew that Yuzu already knew about Granny Haru, and he instantly understood, without the actual name, who she meant.

He was wearing warm clothes on his gigai.

Even though he didn't feel the cold, considering his zanpakuto was an iced dragon, it would be weird to wear a t-shirt and jeans only.

His whole attire was jeans, a black polo t-shirt, a white jacket and black shoes.

A few minutes later, he was outside of Granny's house and he felt a strangely familiar reatsu, and he knew by that that Karin was indeed inside.

He had felt that reatsu again before on his last visit, even if it was faint then, and so he still remembered it.

It was a lot stronger now. He figured that her training, which she wrote she did with Yuroichi, must have paid off.

He just casually opened the door and went inside.

Karin was at Granny's house for about an hour or so and they were drinking tea and eating amannato, one of Toshiro's favorite.

She kept her promise and so was coming here at every opportunity possible.

She had come today because she didn't have school. Another reason was because of the cold and almost snowy weather. She couldn't possibly play any soccer during such weather conditions.

Besides, Granny was a funny and pleasant person.

They've been talking for an hour now and she still wasn't tired of it. She was actually having fun.

When they had a conversation about the latest letter that Karin had sent to Seireitei, the front door opened and revealed the very person they were talking about.

Karin's face instantly brightened up with a huge smile taking residence on it when she saw him and rushed there to give him a breathtaking hug.

Toshiro, when he opened the door, saw something, or rather someone, who he had never seen before.

It was a girl a few inches shorter than him, with the onyx eyes and pitch-black hair that could belong only to Karin with the exception that this girl's hair was longer and currently being held up into a high ponytail.

Also, the reatsu that he knew belonged to Karin was coming out of this girl.

When she came and hugged him, he couldn't help but notice that under those clothes, she had a nicely curved body.

This girl couldn't possibly be Karin, could it?

"Ka…Karin?"

He managed to choke out as he adjusted himself a little better so he could look her in the eye as she looked up

"Yes Toshiro?"

"Is… Is that really you?"

"Yeah… I didn't change that much did I?"

After that statement he realized that his cold expression had turned into that of a surprise and so he couched to cover it up a little while pushing Karin away and then resuming his usual scowl.

So what if Karin has grown up and has gotten herself a couple of curves? That didn't change anything.

Even if he would have liked to hug her like that again and have her pressed against his body, now wasn't the time or the place.

Not that any time was acceptable. He had a reputation of no feeling / always scowling and being cold to keep.

"Anyway… I decided to come here and see you and Granny Haru a little since you have your winter vacations at about this time of year."

"Oh Toshiro… That's why I'm here too. I wanted to see Granny, since tomorrow we are leaving on a vacation with my family and Orihime-nee. Rukia-nee would have come too, but she can't make it because of some business she has on Seireitei."

"Toshiro-kun… Since Orihime-chan is already going, why don't you go with them too? A vacation is all you need in my opinion."

"You know Granny… That's a great idea. Why didn't I think of that? Ne, Toshiro… You'll be coming with us."

"Don't I have a say on this? Besides, if we both leave, Granny would be alone and I don't want that."

"Toshiro-kun… You are so kind to think of me, but you need it. Besides, I was alone before I met you all the time anyway. A few days being alone won't kill me. You deserve a vacation and what better way than a hot spring?"

"A HOT SPRING…? You didn't say anything about any hot springs…"

"Yeah… I guess I forgot to tell you that we'll be going on a mountain a few hours from Karakura town on a hot spring. Anyway… You have to get ready and we have to inform my family that another person has come onboard. Come… Bye Granny Haru… We will bring you something as a souvenir when we return and tell you everything."

With those last words being almost yelled by Karin, as she grabbed a startled Toshiro and dragged him outside before he had time to understand what was taking place, they took off towards Kurosaki clinic, or her house as we all know it.

Granny waved at them goodbye and wished them a safe trip.

With Karin's running, they have arrived at their destination ten minutes after, even if Granny's house was quite far from there.

It could even be considered a world record... You know; if a world record existed for that reason and all. Ahem…

She opened the front door and burst inside while saying the usual tadaima and bringing both her and Toshiro, who was right behind her still being held by the wrist, out of harm's way that was Isshin's hug.

"MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTER HAS RETURNED… KARIN-CHA…"

That was when Karin got out of the way and Isshin went face first to the door.

Yuzu has left Urahara's shop right after Toshiro and was now in the kitchen cooking. Without turning around she spoke

"Karin-chan… Welcome home. Hitsugaya-kun was looking for you."

"Hey Yuzu… Yeah, Toshiro found me and is now here with us. If you please, prepare dinner for him too. He would be eating with us and also he would come with us on our mountain trip if it's no problem."

At that, both father and sister turned from their positions, one cooking in the kitchen and the other mopping on his wife's poster about how his kids don't love him anymore, and looked at the two that were on the door like their lives depended on it. Then they both yelled and danced with each other

"My Karin-chan/Karin-chan has gotten herself a boyfriend…"

The two people involved just turned a little scarlet before yelling simultaneously

"HE/SHE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND."

Isshin and Yuzu smirked mystically and while Yuzu went to prepare another plate, Isshin went towards the 'couple'.

He gave his hand for Toshiro to shake and while putting on a rarely serious face, he said

"Hitsugaya-kun, I'm very pleased that you'll be coming with us on our trip. I know what a stressful job being a captain is, and especially the tenth squad's captain with all the paperwork. Besides, the more people going the merrier, right?"

His usual grin returned when Toshiro took the hand of his previous captain and shook it.

Ichigo had gone on a date with his girlfriend and wouldn't be home for dinner, since Orihime wanted to go around Karakura, much like before she left to go to college with him and the gang, and remember the old times.

The Kurosaki household was noisy as ever, and Toshiro had gone shopping with Karin a little for some clothes to take with him, and they returned when the dinner was just served.

They sat down and ate.

The food was, like always, delicious and they were full before they even knew it. Since their clothes were all packed and safely put into the car, they went right to bed.

Tomorrow would be a rough day.

Toshiro was put to sleep on the sofa, so when the door opened a little past midnight he heard it.

He was a light sleeper.

Besides, Ichigo's reatsu wasn't so hard to spot and identify.

Apparently, even he was back from outside, his date didn't seem to be over as Orihime had cone inside with him too.

He could feel her reatsu, but since he wasn't in the mood to answer any questions, he pretended to sleep.

Ichigo wouldn't be able to sense anything if his life depended on it, so he was safe. Even if Orihime was good at that stuff, he doubted she would tell anything.

As expected, they went right to Ichigo's bedroom and didn't bother him.

He didn't even want to think what they were possibly about to do there, so he forced himself to go back to sleep.

The next morning, Toshiro woke up from loud yelling that was coming from upstairs by Ichigo and his father.

Apparently, Isshin was trying yet again to wake his son by kicking him in the face, but this time, as almost every other, he got kicked instead.

He sighed and got up.

Karin has already warned him about how the Kurosaki household worked, so he was expecting a reaction like that.

He just got dressed and as he was going towards the stairs, the rest of the family plus Orihime came all ready for departure.

The greetings that took place were somewhat weird… or maybe not.

Ichigo was suspicious as to why Toshiro was there and why he was going with them, Orihime was happy to see him, while the rest greeted him normally with a good morning and how you slept and stuff.

They left right after they made sure that everything was ready and in place. They had decided from the day prior that they would eat breakfast on the way there.

The seating arrangements were as follows into the car

Front seat: Isshin driving and Ichigo seating beside him

Back seat: (from right to left) Toshiro, Karin, Yuzu and behind Ichigo, Orihime.

They only stopped for breakfast, lunch and a snack and they were at their destination at around half past five in the evening.

A lady with a traditional kimono on was waiting for them outside of the inn that they were gonna stay while in the hot springs.

When she spotted them, she immediately came up to them as they started getting out of the car.

"We have a reservation for the winter holidays. We are the Kurosaki's and two friends of ours."

"Yes… Hello and good evening. We were expecting you. Please follow me."

They all took their suitcases and followed the woman inside.

While the woman went behind a counter that was in the lobby, they stopped in front of it waiting for her to give them their keys and let them go.

"You have rented three rooms correct…? One is with a double bed while the other two have two separate beds."

"Yeah, the double bed was arranged for me, but since we have an extra person now, my son and his girlfriend will take it, while I will sleep with one for the rest of the children. What do you guys say? Who is gonna sleep with good old daddy?" asked Isshin turning towards his children and company after the woman had given them their keys. (A/N: Even though it's supposed to be traditional, the rooms have beds. Sorry about that but it's the only way I can work so please bare with me on that and with any other possible mistake I may make unintentionally.)

The three 'kids' looked at each other for someone to give up, when Yuzu said

"Why don't we take a chance with rock-paper-scissors?"

With the nod that came from the other two, they began.

Karin got scissors, Yuzu went with paper and Toshiro went with rock. Since they all lost, they did it again. This time Karin went with paper, Yuzu with rock and Toshiro with paper too.

Poor Yuzu lost, so she had to stay with Isshin while the other two had to sleep together.

"Hey… I don't want the midget to sleep with my sister."

"It's Hitsugaya-taicho, not midget Kurosaki. Get it right for once. Besides, we are just gonna be sleeping in the same room. It's not like we'll be in the same bed."

With those things said he took his things, the key to the room and went on his way.

It wasn't like he wasn't embarrassed that he was gonna share a room with Karin, but it was better than sleeping with Yuzu or Isshin.

Besides… there was no way he would ever admit that he felt embarrassed, or anything for that matter, because of Karin or even about her.

No, he had a reputation to uphold.

Matsumoto has mentioned more than once that he had feelings that went above friendship for the black haired Kurosaki girl.

He always answered to that statement saying she was crazy though, and that she misunderstood their letter exchange as something more. He couldn't be feeling something about Karin because he was a shinigami for one and… well he didn't.

"That reason is all you can think about? Heh… and I thought you were a child prodigy. That's just lame."

'Shut up Hiyorinmaru. It doesn't concern you.'

"If it involves your emotions and your thoughts, then yes, it does concern me. I live in your mind, remember?"

'Yes, I remember. It's not like you allow me to forget anyway. That doesn't mean though that you have to be involved into my love life.'

"Alright, I'll stop for now. But… you have to admit that you at least like the human girl. If you don't, it's almost impossible to live in here."

'I don't like…'

"Don't lie to me now. We both know that you do, so please admit that much. Then I'll leave you alone for as long as you think clearly and you don't need me."

'Sigh… Alright, I admit that I may feel a little bit more than friendship for Karin. Happy now…?'

"Yeah… Very…"

With that the silver red-eyed dragon went his way as promised and left Toshiro alone till he needed him again.

Speaking of Toshiro, as he was having his inner conversation, he didn't realize that he was outside of his appointed room… or that Karin had followed him with her bags in hand and was right behind him now.

He just opened the door and went inside with her following, before she closed the door behind her.

They stood there in wow.

The room was plain and just perfect for their tastes. It had the floor covered by a dark brown carpet, two single beds right beside each other with creamy peach covers while each held a comfortable woolen blanket at the color of light brown in case it became cold in the middle of the night.

It also held a closet on a light brown color and a wooden table that could also be held as a card playing board (A/N: for example poker, even though I have absolutely no idea how to play poker. If I put it into the story afterwards and I make them play it wrongly, I apologize in advance. I just wanna show that the table is really short if you didn't get it cause if I were you, I wouldn't get it by my words.).

Karin squealed un-Karin-y like and ran and flopped herself onto the bed that was beside the window.

Once there, she started feeling the covers up in delight, before standing suddenly on her legs and turning the bed into a trampoline.

She just started jumping up and down like a little kid and as Toshiro witnessed this, he smiled secretly before making his way to her with his and Karin's suitcases following.

"This is just perfect, ain't it Toshiro? We must go and see how everything else is in here."

With that one-sided conversation, an excited Karin grabbed Toshiro by the hand and rushed outside.

He didn't even have the time to protest, which by the way he didn't want to do anymore by the time that he realized that Karin was holding his hand.

He just followed after her like an obedient puppy.