Summary: She was... a stranger to them, even to him. A faceless ghost from the Apocalypse claiming she came from an obscure future. But if it meant that she could keep everyone alive that time, then Kurosaki Karin would be that ghost for them.
Following most of the canon chronology with obvious alterations for the purpose of the story. Main pairings of the story: Hitsugaya/Karin, Ichigo/Rukia, Gin/Rangiku. Other pairings will come later.
Written in the third person. The words in italic are characters' thoughts.
Update: Years later (aka 2019), I decided to continue this story! I rewrote some passages and correctly some silly mistakes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach (if I did, the 'ending' we got would have never happened).
[SOUL SOCIETY: THE SNEAK ENTRY ARC]
GHOST
~.~
Chapter 1: take me back to the start
An earthquake. A letter. A diary.
Tears. Anger. Acceptance.
Hope.
A black kimono and then nothing but a blinding light before what was left of that world started fading.
Karin abruptly opened her eyes wide, as she was once more exposed to a dazzling, yet softer light.
She felt like she had sunk into darkness before slowly resurfacing. Her head was pounding and although her recent injuries seemed to have vanished, her muscles were aching. It took her a few minutes to realize she was in her own bed. In her own old bedroom.
Such a distant memory, she mused. She hadn't thought about it in a while.
She blinked.
"Wait. How the hell–"
A white glove. An arrow. A black kimono.
Everything...
It wasn't a nightmare, or even a dream.
It was the past... or the future, Karin had no idea at that point.
"It worked... It really worked!"
Her eyes widened at the sound of her own voice: it was still the same. It should not have been the same. She stood up to watch her own reflection in the mirror.
Karin frowned. Nothing had changed. She was still in her spiritual body, cladded in the reiatsu concealing cloak. Underneath, she was wearing the same bloodied and tainted shihakushō along with the white cape and the scarf that she had before passing out.
Her zanpakuto was there as well, lying on the bed along with her badge. She picked them up before looking around, confused.
Wasn't she supposed to take the place of the version of herself at that point in time?
"Damn that Urahara..." she darkly muttered to herself.
The Kurosaki Karin at that point in the past was still a kid...
Perhaps Karin should refer that version of herself as 'past Karin' or 'past-self', she mused.
The thing was, she was sure she had to be a kid since it was a time where she was still in the Human World... Not to mention that the place she had once considered as 'home' in her childhood was still intact.
She hadn't come back to the Living World for years... Well, until that just happened.
Time travel.
It might be a good thing since that would have been hard to fight in her past-self body. More importantly, that guy told her that it would bring her back to a turning point. Somehow, he had avoided to tell her what said turning point was, probably because even himself didn't know.
She looked around to see that her backpack had followed her. Karin opened it quickly to make sure everything was there and closed it back before checking what day it was on the alarm clock of her night table.
August 3rd, 2001.
Yuzu entered the room and stared at her as if she expected someone else to be there. But all her twin could see was an empty spot.
Yuzu...
Young Yuzu with soft and innocent eyes. Young Yuzu with a carefree smile on her face and a wooden spoon in her hand. Such sight made her feel melancholic but it wasn't the time to dwell on it.
The mission.
"Where's Ichi-nii?"
She focused to try to find her brother's reiatsu. Gone.
Her eyes went back on a younger version of her twin.
She didn't truly realize that she really was in the past until that moment. Karakura Town hadn't been destroyed by that earthquake yet, her old man and Ichi-nii were still alive...
August 2001... She was truly back to the summer where Ichi-nii went for Soul Society to save Rukia-nee.
So that's the turning point.
She simply took her backpack and used shunpo to head to Urahara shop, ignoring Yuzu's confusion at the sound of her movements. Karin couldn't even think properly since she had too many questions in her head.
How can I change things?
How can I help Ichi-nii there? Has he already managed to reach Seireitei?
Will he believe me? What about these guys?
The only comforting thing was the warm feeling of the sheath of her zanpakuto on her back. Her sore muscles made it harder to move but she had been through worse. Karin sped up before finally reaching the shady shop. She directly went underneath, only to find Urahara staring at her with shock.
"Who are you?" he asked
What kind of question was that?
"YOU– What are you–"
The plushie was there as well. Kon was perverted and stupid but he had protected her and Yuzu like Ichi-nii did when he was gone.
"I don't have the time for that, Kon. I'll explain later."
"How do you–"
"How did you become a Shinigami?" Urahara finally inquired after a minute of astounded silence.
He seemed to have guessed who she was, Karin would give him credit for that.
His question was a simple question yet difficult one, considering there was no time to answer. No letter left her some instructions to explain to her what to say to people when she would inevitably get that question and she sucked with words so Karin just pronounced the five first words that came to her mind.
"I come from the future." She took a breath, her own words finally reaching her brain. "You were the one to send me here."
Cliché but effective. And not as bad as saying 'the last time I saw you, you were about to run to your death' so Karin considered she did okay.
She expected many things: the classic yet understandable 'what the hell?' along with denial or even a burst of laughter from him (you never knew with Urahara) but she didn't expect plain and simple acceptance.
"I see," he replied back in a somber tone she had heard too often over the past few years.
"I... You kinda gave me a letter and your diary," she showed him as she cringed at the awkwardness in her voice.
Urahara must have known something like that could happen. He had indicated in a note to her in the letter that the diary would prove without a doubt to his past-self she was telling the truth (not to mention that she could have only gone at a point of the past where Urahara would have already more or less finished to build that time machine).
"It's not a diary, it's a logbook," he corrected.
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she automatically replied, handing him the diary.
She watched him turn the pages... It must be weird for the guy to look at every new entry written by his future self, recounting the upcoming sinister events.
(Her future that both wished to erase.)
"We–"
He was eyeing the last entry filled.
"You... died after that and somehow, I had all of this and... Yeah, I'm here." she finished sheepishly with a nervous laugh.
It was better not to think about that, she was already wavering enough about what to do. She needed to focus.
Focus.
"How did–"
"That war, the one against that Quincy... Ichi-nii, Rukia-nee... Everyone..." Trying to focus didn't work when these memories remained carved in her heart. She wouldn't cry. She didn't shed tears when she learned her brother and oyaji would never come back, or when she was standing in front of her friends' empty graves so she certainly wouldn't cry now.
She took a deep breath. "Everyone left for Soul Society to try to help, even oyaji... so I became the new Substitute Shinigami and after that..."
First in the Living World, then in Soul Society... She wanted to protect everyone.
But it was useless if there was no one left to protect, she thought, the grief and bitterness not leaving her.
"Oyaji and you both taught me the basics and I just... It's way too long to explain, you wrote everything in your diary." She looked at Kon who hadn't said a word after his initial shock. "After you all... I got that letter explaining what was that diary and how I could go back to the past, to the turning point."
It still felt so wrong to see Urahara be so grave and serious, she would rather see him being the shady man like he usually was.
"What are you going to do?"
That was what she was wondering since she woke up.
"You usually have the answer for everything."
"Not this time."
She knew what he meant. He was still trying to proceed with these news. Obviously, he didn't think it could be that bad. He might have seen the Winter War coming but the one against the quincies...
"I'll explain everything when I come back but right now, I have to go there. Sorry but I have to keep that diary with me all the time, you were the one who told me to do so."
He looked at her silently. He was probably torn between wanting an explanation, then letting her go or go to talk to her old man.
"Fine... and it's a logbook," he repeated
Urahara opened the Senkaimon again. She was beginning to feel sweat in her palms. Despite knowing what was going to happen in her future, she didn't exactly know what to do to modify the ending that took her back to the start.
That whole idea was a desperate last move anyway. There wasn't even a clear plan or anything.
She knew all Gotei 13 members without meeting most of them, through Urahara's entries. She even mourned dead people she didn't even get to meet, people still breathing in the current timeline.
"It seems you know how it works."
She nodded. "Yeah... I only have four minutes." She masked her face and took a deep breath again. That was it. "Don't tell oyaji about it please... I'll do it myself once I get back," she said before going through the senkaimon.
"Good thing that damn thing isn't here to try to catch me."
It would have been so much easier with the soul tickets but she had no idea if it would still work and could be used without any danger in the past or not.
"Shit!"
Quick!
"Where's this damn... Here!"
Trying to look for that flying thing while she was still in the air was harder than she thought but she managed to land swiftly without getting too hurt.
Where am I?
She closed her eyes. Trying to recollect the reports concerning her brother and his friend's entry. Ryuutamashiikai, the outskirts of Soul Society. West Gate.
Fresh blood was on the soil. There was that giant and also...
"Ichi-nii!"
He was fighting against a guy wearing a black kimono and a white haori. A Taicho with silver hair and eyes narrowed to slits. A snake-like continuous grin.
No doubt.
"Ichimaru Gin!"
"Uh?"
"Who the hell are you?"
Why that question again, she – Right, the cloak.
She turned her head. Orihime-chan, Ishida and Chad were there, like the diary said. There was a black cat too, probably Yoruichi-san.
"Just my luck," she grumbled to herself.
What a bad timing.
"Not now, Ichi-nii."
Ichi-nii was there, alive and fifteen years old again but she couldn't let her emotions spoil everything, reunions would have to wait.
"'Ichi-nii'? Is that ya sister?," Ichimaru-san asked, his face still but the creepy smile always present somehow.
Ichimaru-san was good at hiding his emotions. He had to be to fool so easily Soul Society for over a century.
"I know about Rangiku-san!" she bluntly stated.
Ichimaru-san opened his eyes, startled. "What?"
Bingo.
He really had beautiful bright blue eyes, just like Rangiku-san said they were. It was also apparently rare for him to open his eyes so she took it as a good sign (or a very bad one).
"I know why you're doing that. Just let me in, the others will find another way."
If Rukia-nee's impending execution was the turning point then it meant that she had to change something about Winter War too. To do that, Karin had a feeling Ichimaru Gin was part of the answer.
He almost showed hesitation before pushing Ichi-nii outside with his long zanpakuto and let her pass the door. While it was closing, she threw a glance at her brother while Ichirumaru-san just waving at them.
"Bye bye!"
Karin would have found it amusing if she wasn't freaking out.
Quick, think something.
But what? What should she tell him? Would he change his mind? Would he stay this time? Or would he leave with Aizen again?
"Who are ya?"
Screw it. She finally took off the hood, determination in her eyes. "I'm Kurosaki Karin."
Great, Karin, just great. Way to look cool.
He probably realized it was the same Kurosaki than 'Kurosaki Ichigo' and 'Kurosaki Isshin' but the frown on his face was still there.
"Ya know wha' I mean."
"You probably won't believe me but–"
"Whatever ya say is true if ya know 'bout my true intentions."
She sighed. At least he would believe her but even with that, would she truly change anything? She knew he was testing her. He was trying to know how much she knew about his plan. She pondered. Should she tell everything to him?
Maybe complete honesty was the best option.
For Rangiku-san.
"Your plan to defeat Aizen was almost perfect but Aizen... The Hogyoku recognized him as its master and you died. You were the closest to get to get Aizen but Ichi-nii defeated him... During the Quincy Blood War, Aizen became an ally but we were fooled by thinking it would end so well... Rangiku-san... Nobody survived."
She knew whatever she was saying was messy and vague but she tried to summarize in hatched sentences what happened.
He was strangely calm, although the smile on his face vanished.
"Why are ya tellin' me this?"
"I'm here to try to prevent these events from happening." She didn't need to say she came from the future out loud with him, telling him she knew about his plan was enough. "I came back to the turning point and I think you could be one of the most important elements that could be changed."
Someone she could save that time, perhaps.
"Me?" Ichimaru-san tilted his head.
"It would take too much time to explain you everything."
"I have a few hours before Soutaicho invites me to a meetin'."
You mean punishment time? she was about to say but stopped herself at the last second.
"Fine but we should go somewhere else."
Walking around with her legs still hurting was a pain and she was hungry too to be honest.
"'Kay. Ya know, I can carry ya."
Sarcasm.
That guy was interesting.
"You're not so bad though you do look creepy," she let out.
"So mean!"
She shrugged, knowing he was more amused than anything. "I hope you're taking me somewhere where I can eat... Never knew time travel makes you so hungry."
That, and war.
It was noon.
Good thing it took half a day to gather everyone, thanks to that he had had time to talk with Karin-chan before punishment time.
He had to say the girl was entertaining in a way. She ended up eating the whole menu, an impressive feat.
"Everyone's here? Alright then. We will begin with the subject of our meeting... Third Division Taicho, Ichimaru Gin."
"What's goin' on? Is it really that serious... to call everyone here? Soul Society Taicho, did ya really come back here... just for me?" He looked at each one of them. Which one could help Karin-chan and he? "What's this? Taicho of the Thirteenth Division isn't here. What happened?"
"He's on sick leave."
Obviously not Tosen.
"Again? Good luck to him."
Ukitake could be an option, he too had a soft spot for Rukia-chan.
"Quit joking around. Nobody came all the way back for chit-chat!" Duh.
Zaraki wasn't hard to deal with, unlike Aizen.
The truth was that for the first time of his life, a life dedicated to kill Aizen Sosuke, he didn't know what to do.
"You bastard, I heard that you went off on your own to play with some Ryoka. Not to mention the fact you failed to finish 'em off. The hell's wrong with you? Someone with your skill wouldn't break a sweat over four or five Ryoka."
Did Zaraki just compliment him indirectly?
"Ara, they ain't dead?"
"Huh?"
He fainted surprise. "Well, I was sure they were dead. Did my senses grow dull?"
"Stop playing games. It's impossible for a Taicho to be unable to detect if his opponent has been exterminated." Maybe that guy could help... Nah. Forget it.
"What a pain. Here we go again... Old men and their pointless arguments..."
Chibi-chan then? Maybe since he was a genius but that could be tricky with Aizen's plan going on. He was also still very young.
"That ain't nice. Are ya sayin' that I deliberately let 'em go?"
"Exactly. I'm talking with him right now or do you want me to kill you?"
"What was that?"
Kurotsuchi? Absolutely not.
"How dull."
Soi Fong was... Let's just say he and she didn't get along on too many points plus Karin-chan said the Goddess of Flash was with the rescue team.
"My, oh my, so hot-blooded."
Kyoraku could be an option too since he followed Ukitake everywhere (bonus: he was a fun fella, to Gin's mind at least... Nanao-san might disapprove).
Kuchiki was usual silent self. He had yet to figure out things with his sister before anything.
"Tch!"
Well, that bickering had been fun while it lasted.
"Stop it, both of you!" Gin didn't see an option where he wouldn't end up branded as traitor and dead. He couldn't care less about the traitor part since revenge was more important than Gotei 13 but the dead part disturbed him... Especially if he couldn't protect Rangiku. "Now, let's see... Have you been informed of the reason why you were summoned?" Rhetorical question of course. "You acted alone without permission, and you failed to capture your target. That is unsual for a Taicho! I would like to hear your explanation. That is the reason we are here tonight. So... Do you have anything to say? Ichimaru?"
Scary.
It was unbelievable to know that someone could defeat him.
Everything was against Soul Society's future.
The good thing was that there was no mention of Karin-chan intruding Soul Society in that reunion.
He didn't precisely know who and what she was. While talking about her future, she avoided revealing details about herself.
All he knew was that she was a Kurosaki, daughter of a Quincy and a Shinigami, sister of Kurosaki Ichigo, who became a shinigami herself around age thirteen. She kept her face masked except for the eyes, strikingly familiar to former Shiba-Taicho's grey eyes.
"I have nothing to say!"
"... What?"
Was he really surprised by his answer?
Gin shrugged. "I have no excuse, I made a mistake. I won't try to justify my carelessness."
"Alright, you will be punished however..."
"Hold on a second... Ichimaru."
That was part of the plan, using him as a decoy and Aizen as a future 'victim' but he didn't see how it could benefit him anymore. He came to the conclusion that there was no need to go to Hueco Mundo with Aizen as his ally but how could he reveal Aizen's scheme? Should he reveal everything? How?
Karin-chan hadn't finished with what she said and there was more. She hadn't said so much about herself during that time. It was clear the poor girl mourned her family's death and yet, she still had to do this?
Gin wasn't too fond of sad stories.
ALERT! ALERT! INTRUDERS IN THE CITY! ALL PERSONALS SHOULD REPORT TO THEIR SITUATIONS.
The announcement echoed in the room and everything around.
"What? Intruders!?"
"Can it be... the same ones as before?"
Soul Society was naïve and vulnerable due to their way of thinking, always respecting their 'rules' for centuries. Aizen didn't believe in fortuitous gods nor laws: that was how he surpassed them all.
I REPEAT: ALERT! INTRUDERS IN THE CITY! PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR APPOINTED STATIONS!
"Hey! Wait, Kenpachi! We're not..."
He didn't need to see the future or to be Aizen (both were more or less the same thing) to know that would have happened.
Zaraki lived to fight and nothing else so he ran to find one of them.
Despite the sigh, Soutaicho wasn't surprised by the turn of events. "It can't be helped... The meeting will be postponed for now! We will decide on Ichimaru's punishment later. Everyone, please return to your defense station for now."
Gin told Karin-chan to wait for him at his Division before trying to find Kurosaki Ichigo who just came in Seireitei, like both Karin-chan and Aizen predicted. He smiled.
"The alarm... sure came at the perfect time."
Just what Gin needed. He tilted his head under Aizen's glance, feigning innocence.
"Wha' do ya mean? I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Do you actually think you can get away with this? It is best... not to underestimate me."
Just as planned, Chibi-chan overheard their discussion. Now...
Karin-chan told him what happened until the Winter War and his death but he concluded that Hinamori was an important element from what his new fella revealed and if there was Hinamori, then Chibi-chan was never too far.
Aizen was manipulating Hinamori and if Karin-chan wouldn't have appeared, Gin shamelessly would have done the same. He didn't feel that feeling called 'guilt' on the matter but he knew that he had to fix that... somehow.
All of that was so difficult since he did nothing but appearing as shady as possible without visibly breaking the laws in front of everyone to stick with Aizen's plan. And help with his own plan of course (to be fair, he really was shady but there was no way he was a fool who followed Aizen for such thing as 'justice' like the other guy. Gin's whole life had been a lie after all).
Aizen really used me like pawn 'til the end, he thought, hatred laced with the desire to torture him.
"Wha' are ya doin'?"
Karin froze, the fountain pen she was holding suspended in the air before finishing writing the sentence she started.
It was just Ichimaru-san.
She spent the day stuck in his division's barracks, hearing the uproar after their intrusion and feeling Ichi-nii's reiatsu becoming stronger after his fight against Baldie while she was doing nothing.
Karin was getting restless. She was itching to fight as well but she wasn't even sure whether or not her zanpakuto had completely healed.
Of course she worried about Ichi-nii despite knowing he would beat everyone but she wanted to do more than just trying to think about that alternative future she was created and the consequences of her actions.
(She was also bored, Ichimaru-san was barely there due to the fact he was still acting like he was supposed to, in order to avoid Aizen's suspicion and she frankly had enough of eating dried persimmons. But it was still better than starting again.)
"I'm writing what happened today, to keep traces somewhere about things that changed and things... that didn't." Ichimaru-san's barracks had a beautiful view on the sunset, she mused. Seeing Soul Society as it used to be was only increasing her sorrow. "Ichi-nii... He's fighting against Red Pineapple right now."
She knew by heart every entry of the diary after spending months reading them again and again and came to a conclusion: there were fights that couldn't be avoided.
Ichi-nii would get stronger thanks to these fights and thanks to his deep desire to save Rukia-nee but she knew it was also important to him for personal reasons. Karin had no desire to see her older brother slowly slip into depression once more. And she knew, albeit not in details, the despair he felt when Rukia-nee had been taken away from him because of Renji and Byaku-nii.
It also meant that the fight against Byaku-nii surely couldn't be avoided... What a pain.
"Yer talkin' 'bout Abarai Renji, uh? That's a funny nickname."
"He's Ichi-nii's best friend... Kinda."
There were similar on many points, now that she thought about it and despite her habit to tease (mock) him, Abarai Renji was a good guy. At one point, she had even considered him as her friend as well... Back to the time where he was still alive.
"Ah? Interestin'."
"Yeah..." She paused, not knowing how how to ask. "So, Ichimaru-san... about..."
"I'll help ya."
"You're already doing that, you know what I mean."
Ichimaru-san finally dropped that creepy smile and opened his eyes. She met his bright sky blue eyes again and saw the same fatigue she felt after she had finished reading Urahara's diary along with the reports. It must have been overwhelming even for someone like him to hear about his own death.
About how Rangiku cried over his shoulders as life was leaving his body.
"I'll stay in Soul Society," he finally stated.
She didn't realize she had been holding her breath while she was waiting for his answer.
"Thank you, Ichimaru-san."
She didn't know how important it was for her until she heard her trembling voice.
Of course Ichimaru-san didn't take that decision for Soul Society or Ichi-nii.
It was all for Rangiku-san.
That was why she felt compassion and even something close to trust despite knowing most of the horrible things he had done.
He came closer to ruffle her hair, his creepy smile back but his eyes still open instead of being narrowed to slits. "I wouldn't let a kid tryin' to change the future alone."
She slapped his hand, a scowl on her face. "I'm not a kid!"
For Kami's sake, Ichi-nii was fifteen when he beat Aizen and saved the world and she was older than him despite the appearance.
"Ya sound like the Tenth Division Taicho."
The bright blue eyes suddenly became too similiar to the shade of teal she wished to see once more.
Karin dropped her arm in the air. "Toshiro..."
Just saying his name made her sad.
She tensed, thinking about how they had both parted ways without a proper farewell.
Fate was cruel.
Ichimaru-san must have recognized something familiar in her eyes as he put his hand on her head again with something akin to tenderness. It was surprising coming from him.
There was a new bond, an unspoken understanding.
"I kinda have a plan," she whispered, her voice now devoided of any emotion.
She knew it was a bad thing. It was a sort of coping mechanism she had developped after losing her friends one by one and everything little by little.
"Kinda?"
She was thankful he didn't pry about her relationship with Toshiro though it was obvious they had... a deep bond in the past or the future, Karin remained confused about that.
"We need to retrieve Red Pineapple and talk to Toshi– the Tenth Division Taicho about tomorrow."
'Entry #52, August 5th, 2001: [...] Aizen-san put everybody under Complete Hypnosis to fake his death. He is found by Hinamori Momo. Hinamori-san, remembering Hitsugaya-Taicho's warning made the night before, as Abarai-san was about to be thrown in jail. Begins the fight between Kira-san and her, both devoted to their Taicho but interrupted by Hitsugaya-Taicho [...]'
"The Sixth Division Fukutaicho isn't in a good state, ya know."
"I'll take care of it." Good thing oyaji taught her everything she needed to know to survive and heal herself and those around her. He might had been acting idiotic but he was a skilled healer, even in the living world... Not to mention the fact that Urahara's weird pills and medicine in the backpack he made for her were going to be helpful. "The real issue is Hinamori-san."
Her admiration for Aizen had brainwashed her and followed her until Hirako-san went back to Soul Society as the Fifth Division Taicho. Toshiro once told her that there was a distance between them that couldn't be filled for three years.
It was a sad thought.
She knew Hinamori-san had been Aizen's main victim and she knew that had caused Toshiro's violent hatred for Aizen. It had almost cost both his and Hinamori-san's life multiple times apparently and she wouldn't let it happen again.
"We can jus' knock her out."
She sweatdropped. That sounded so easy said like that but it was better than nothing.
"What about tomorrow?"
"We'll find out."
If there was one thing she had deduced after reading these reports and after hearing Rangiku-san's words, it was that Ichimaru-san wasn't the carefree man he appeared to be: his whole life was a twisted and suicidal scheme in an attempt to avenge Rangiku-san.
"Let's go."
She just had time to put back the hood on her head that Ichimaru-san already used Shunpo to take them to the place where Red Pineapple, Kira-san and Hinamori-san were. Good thing she was still wearing that reiatsu concealing cloak Urahara made or else Byaku-nii who had just left would have noticed the similitude between Ichi-nii's reiatsu and hers.
"Oooh ~ So scary!"
"Ichimaru-Taicho!"
So that was Kira-san. Somehow, she didn't picture him like that. Hinamori-san, on the other hand, was exactly like she thought she would be. Her looks reflected her kindness and softness but also her naïvety.
"He actually said those words. The Sixth Division Taicho-san is as scary as usual. Don't y'all worry. I brought someone for ya."
Right. Byaku-nii was cold (more than usual) towards everyone before Aizen's departure for Hueco Mundo but she understood his behavior now.
She took a step forwards and could read surprise on the two Fukutaicho's faces.
After all, her Reiatsu was still hidden like her face.
Karin greeted them with a slight nod before kneeling on Red Pineapple's left. She felt their gazes, mixed between surprise and suspicion. Was it a good idea to keep that cloak? Should she reveal at least her face?
She shook her head.
What was she even thinking... To risk the integrity of her identity now for that?
They didn't know them. She didn't even know them neither or to be precise, she never got to meet them personally so why was she so concerned about that?
She knew the answer but chose not to ponder on it.
Karin held her hands above his deepest wounds and began to use kaido on Red Pineapple, not forgetting to make her glowing reiatsu stay underneath the sleeves of her cloak. She also took note that Ichi-nii hadn't make her job easy: the guy was feverish, his shoulders and torso entirely bandaged.
Déjà vu.
"Ichimaru-san, can you take the pills from my backpack for me?"
"Sure."
She cursed herself, realizing she didn't call him 'Taicho'.
"Is that it?"
He showed the green pills. "Hai."
She temporarily stopped the glowing spiritual energy emitting from her palms to open Red Pineapple's mouth as gently as she could and put two pills before closing it again. His shakiness stopped almost momentarily. Just like old times.
Ichimaru-san, knowing it was time to start to put their plan into action put his hand on Kira-san's shoulder.
"Come with me, Izuru."
Kira-san must have spotted it was serious matter but remained unshaken, despite his clear confusion.
"Hai," replied in an even voice.
"Thank you for your help!" Hinamori-san respectfully bowed.
She glanced the Fifth Division's Fukutaicho... Hinamori-san probably thought she was a shinigami from the Fourth Division.
Karin's eyes softened at her genuine display of inquietude for Red Pineapple. From what Renji had told her during night patrols in Rukongai, Kira-san, Hinamori-san and he graduated in the same promotion in the Shinigami Academy and that Hinamori-san had consistently motivated him to rebuild his friendship with Rukia-nee.
She was a good friend.
"Wow, how did Abarai got– Who the hell are you?"
Toshiro.
He hadn't noticed her presence until now thanks to the cloak.
"Wah~!"
Now!
Ichimaru-san knocked Hinamori-san with a kido as Kira-san caught her in his arms.
"You bastards!" Ichimaru-san stopped Toshiro, who just unsheathed his katana.
"Hitsugaya Toshiro, you came here to give Hinamori-san notice of the Third Division. We cannot let that happen," she stated without hesitation.
"How–"
His anger lowered though the hostility still remained. Toshiro was in a fighting stance, his eyes going to Ichimaru-san to her.
"Listen to what I have to say until the end. Tomorrow, Aizen Sosuke is supposed to be found dead by Hinamori-san. You'll suspect Ichimaru-san who acted as a decoy just as when you 'overheard' Aizen exchange with him sooner when in fact, Aizen had faked his own death thanks to his Zanpakuto's ability. Hinamori-san got a letter written by Aizen saying you were to blame for this, contradicting with your statement about the Third Division and will later be manipulated again, leaving her mentally scarred for some time," she recounted, her voice devoided of emotion.
She could only do that so calmly because she kept telling to herself it was only facts from the past. It wouldn't happen a second time, it wouldn't become traumatic memories for Hinamori-san once again.
"What... the hell..."
Toshiro almost dropped his katana due to the shock. She finally raised her face and met his eyes.
He was so young again, his voice slightly lacking of the deepness she had been used to.
Toshiro's eyes widened.
"But... We... I can't be! You're lying! Aizen's zanpakuto..."
Denial. Confusion. Pain. Betrayal.
She could see all these feelings in his eyes. Not only he just learnt one of his fellow Taicho was a traitor but he also heard that the same man had manipulated and brainwashed his childhood friend.
It was too hard to believe it.
Of course she expected that: she was... a stranger, a faceless ghost from the Apocalypse.
She briefly wondered if Toshiro would feel the same rage against Aizen after her intervention with Ichimaru-san... Although she still didn't exactly know what was the boundary between what should be revealed and changed about the future or not, Karin knew it wasn't a good idea to tell him how Aizen tricked him during the Winter War.
At least not now.
"Aizen Sosuke is a traitor who fooled Soul Society for more than a hundred years. He was the one who plotted Kuchiki Rukia's execution and slaughtered Central 46 to do that for his... project."
Was 'project' even the right word for that twisted final goal of his?
A flash of memory in the Soul King palace came back to Karin but she immediately suppresed it.
"Rukia..." Red Pineapple was now awake, his voice still hoarse.
"Red– Abarai Renji, do you wish help Kurosaki Ichigo to save Kuchiki Rukia?"
"Who... Who are you? What did you just say about Aizen-Taicho?" he asked, trying to stand up.
"Don't!"
Too late. Renji winced in pain.
"Idiot, you're not fully healed yet!" she scolded, slapping his head in the process.
That guy always managed to break her calmness simply with sheer stupidity!
"Ouch! Is that how you're supposed to heal me?"
"Shut up, Red Pineappale!"
"'Red Pine'– Wait, you look familiar... Do I know you?"
'Do I know you?'
Karin's blood went cold.
She knew he forgot for one moment – 'forget' was the wrong word since he just met her in that timeline – but it still hurt.
She felt lonely again. No one knew her, at least not that version of her. Not her friends and partners like Red Pineapple nor Toshiro nor even her own family.
"Now, now, no need to ask Karin-chan all these questions."
Was Ichimaru-san's intervention due to pity? Or it might had something to do with their understanding. Nonetheless, she was grateful.
"I won't repeat my question: yes or no?"
"..." Red Pineapple looked at Toshiro who just reluctantly nodded in return. "Of course."
"Good."
"I have one question too," Toshiro cooly added.
Not surprising.
He had regained his usual apparant calm but Ichimaru-san was still holding him, just in case. It went better than expected considering that in a worst case scenario, she would have gotten into a fight against Toshiro.
(Again.)
"Why is Ichimaru aware of... all of this?"
She noticed Ichimaru-san's smile changed.
"Because I told him."
"Why would someone like him be trusting whatever you say so easily? And who said you aren't the one scheming what you just said?"
Damn Toshiro, he was too clever.
"You said only 'one question'," she countered his argument.
She had an idea of the consequences for Ichimaru-san if she answered Toshiro with what she knew in details, meaning almost everything, including the felonies Ichimaru-san had committed to execute his plan to try to get his revenge.
At that moment, she could only completly trust Urahara (Urahara, Karin couldn't believe she thought that) and Ichimaru-san.
She couldn't put her complete trust Gotei 13 as they were now, including her old friend from the shinigami world.
"Then–"
She used Shunpo at a speed that took all three men in the room taken aback to stand on Toshiro's left. She put her right hand on his shoulder, her fingers brushing the sash of his katana. The teal eyes she had dearly missed were still on hers.
Karin maintened eye contact, no matter how unsettling it was. "Devotion towards one single person can change everything, even if it means feeling ravaging anger and act recklessly. I'm sure you of all people can understand that."
Hinamori-san's name was left unsaid.
She couldn't bear looking at his eyes for that long anymore and turned her head away. Karin didn't say anything when Toshiro slowly took a step back, the warmth in her hand now a memory.
Of course he had many questions to ask to Ichimaru-san and she but time was running out.
She had already posssibly changed at least three variables: Ichimaru-san just decided to stay in Soul Society instead of joining Aizen in Hueco Mundo, Toshiro discovered the truth sooner and Red Pineapple would go with her to find Ichi-nii and help him instead of staying in jail (it was just a one day difference, but still).
As for Hinamori-san, she didn't know yet. Karin needed time to think about that.
"There will be a Taicho meeting soon... Now, what do you want to do with Hinamori-san?"
She glared at Ichimaru-san, waiting for a proposition from him, anything.
Hinamori-san was part of the plan and she was supposed to be stabbed by Aizen after that for no purpose. Karin had made the conjecture that it had mainly been to please Aizen's sadistic self and cause Toshiro's wrath.
"Let her sleep!" Ichimaru-san simply replied.
Karin rolled her eyes, he was helpless. "Aizen will notice. He needs a witness, someone who knows he wrote a letter and it's her. I know he wants her to see his dead body so..."
What to do there? Hinamori-san would deny Aizen's 'death' and his betrayal. She had even believed whatever Aizen had written about Toshiro being the one responsable for everything in her past.
"Ya worry too much, Karin-chan."
She snorted. "That's my main purpose." It was ironic how he of all people said that. But then, she didn't know if he could be worried about anything other than Rangiku-san. "Alright, I'll give her something so she will be sleeping until next morning then..."
Then what?
"We let someone else discover Aizen's body and we keep Hinamori somewhere safe then say someone kidnapped her so everyone believes it was the Fifth Division itself being threatened. Chibi-chan will go with Rangiku at Central 46 and Izuru will follow me. Ya can tell Unohana-Taicho 'bout the fake body," Ichimaru-san said.
It seemed that she wasn't the only one who try to find a way to change the future.
What Ichimaru-san said made sense. Hinamori-san would only help Aizen's scheme as she was at the moment and Unohana-san did notice something was wrong with the dead 'body' according to Urahara's note. There was only one thing that bothered her.
"Are you sure? Isn't it too soon for that?"
What about Ichi-nii's bankai training? And Rukia-nee's execution?
"Ya should go now."
Ichimaru-san's calmness was reassuring, she thought while she helped Red Pineapple to stand up.
Just like that girl in a black cloak had claimed, there was a Taicho meeting.
Toshiro had an idea about the main concern of the moment.
"Right now, during this emergency the Thirteen Divisions are already short one Fukutaicho! Right now is not the time to hand the missions to the lower ranking shinigami."
Toshiro reckoned the time left before Abarai would be branded as a 'traitor' for helping the Ryoka guy from three to four hours.
"And I won't question about Ichimaru acting alone ealier!"
"Thanks."
Ichimaru was being his usual annoying self, grinning and acting casual, something both unnerving and reassuring to Toshiro.
'Devotion towards one single person can change everything, even if it means feeling ravaging anger and act recklessly. I'm sure you of all people can understand that.'
That was what the girl said.
He had to admit to himself he understood what she meant. Seeing Aizen standing there made him boil in rage despite the uncertainty everything said about him was the truth.
Why?
Why would Aizen betray them? Why would Aizen do that to Hinamori? She admired him and she had worked so hard to become his Fukutaicho.
'... will later be manipulated again, leaving her mentally scarred for some time.'
The girl's voice was cold and hollow while she said that.
He felt no reiatsu from her but that might be because of that cloak she was wearing. He couldn't see her face either because of the mask hiding everything but her eyes...
Onyx eyes?! He wasn't exactly sure.
'Do I know you?'
Toshiro had almost asked the same question after her tantrum against Abarai. Oddly enough, it almost felt familiar.
Not to mention Ichimaru called her 'Karin-chan'.
Were they friends?
The simple thought of Ichimaru having friends was weird, the only exception being Matsumoto who was simply Ichimaru's former classmate.
That girl was comfortable enough around Ichimaru meaning he didn't add the '-chan' suffix for one of his usual twisted and sadistic mind game or whatever that was.
As stupid as it seemed, his guts were telling him their words were true.
He knew they did know more than that but it was enough... for now.
His main priority was to know Hinamori was safe. Toshiro now also knew who was the real enemy.
"All higher officials, including Fukutaicho, must have their zanpakuto at all times, and you are allowed to fight with everything you've got in the battles! Please inform those who did not come to the meeting!"
One of the Ryoka, Kurosaki Ichigo (according to that girl's words), was the one who had fought and beat Abarai and was near to a Taicho level.
Who would be the next to fight him?
Zaraki perhaps, since that guy was looking for a good fight. He doubted the Ryoka could win against him but who knew.
On the back of his head, Toshiro wondered what kind of power the girl in the black cloak had. Just like him, she was carrying on zanpakuto on her back...
"Everyone. We may soon... begin an all-out war," Soutaicho ended.
An all-out war.
Toshiro could only laugh at the irony. There would be an all-out war but not against the opponents they thought is would be against. It was against someone who was himself part of Gotei 13... He was even there, standing in the same room as them.
"Ichi... Ichigo-san?"
"Thanks, Hanataro... I'm okay."
"Idiot," Red Pineapple grumbled as they observed Ichi-nii, Ganju and Hanatoro.
Karin slapped his arm. "Shhhhh."
Did Red Pineapple even understand what discretion was? She knew the answer was no, given how despite the fact his rank had been superior to hers, Karin had always been the one ending up directing throughout infiltration missions in the Quincy Blood War.
At the sudden silence, Karin frowned. Renji never was that obedient.
She turned her head to see that Renji's eyes were now on her arm, a frown on his face.
"That glove..."
"Don't ask, I'll tell you later."
True to Urahara's words, Ichi-nii went with Hanataro and Ganju in the water tunels running throughout the whole Seireitei after his fight against Red Pineapple. Judging by her older brother's reiatsu, his wounds were bad.
"W... What are you talking about! You can't get up yet!" Hanataro explained, panic in his eyes.
"I have to..."
Karin frowned. Was that how people see her?
Rukia-nee might had been right about how the stubbornness of the Kurosaki family could be draining.
However, no matter how stupid her brother was being, she could see he truly wanted to save Rukia-nee at all cost.
She felt a pang of remorse whenever Ichi-nii's words came back to her mind.
'The rain... It won't stop.'
"Ichigo-san! Ichi..."
PAF!
Karin hissed at the sight of Ganju punching Ichigo. That one looked painful.
"Ganju-san?" Hanataro shouted.
Serves Ichi-nii right though.
"How can you be 'okay' if a punch like that can take you down? Lay down like a good boy until your wounds are healed!"
She could reveal herself and Red Pineapple now that Ichi-nii had fainted...
"Ah... Another injury... Ganju-san, you're too brutal..."
"Shut up! At least, I stopped him. Do you have a problem with how I do things?"
"I don't any problem with that, Ganju."
"You..."
Karin was starting to understand why Toshiro and Byaku-nii liked making dramatic entrances so much.
"What is that guy doing here? And who the hell are you?"
He was wary but not to the point of attacking them (he would have badly lost anyway).
"Don't worry, we want to help you to save Kuchiki Rukia as well."
She met his eyes and somehow, Ganju guessed who she was, or at least guessed that they were somehow relatives.
Karin hated to admit it but she knew she just looked like that goat chin when he was younger.
At the time where the old man was still a full shinigami.
She had been angry at him and Ichi-nii for not telling her sooner about all the shinigami stuff.
She knew they had done that because they thought they were protecting her (and Karin was being a bit hypocrite since she did the same with Yuzu and avoided revealing some elements) but she had hated being put apart.
During the time she got to know some of the members of Gotei 13, she became friend with Rangiku-san and she discovered goat chin had been Rangiku-san's Taicho and Toshiro's. She showed her pictures of them and had to reluctantly admit that yes, the man was indeed her father.
The black hair was the same, along with the scowl she and Ichi-nii had inherited from him. By the time she started growing up, she lost some of the baby fat on her face, making her jaw sharper, once again just like Ichi-nii and oyaji.
"Oi, how do you even know Rukia?" Red Pineapple had been the one to fill the silence. Not that surprising coming from him.
"Shut up and rest," she chastised to avoid his question.
"Oi!"
"I told you, you're not fully healed yet, so rest. I'll answer to your questions once we save Kuchiki Rukia."
She set her eyes on the Hollow mask on the ground. That one was going to be troublesome... She knew it from personal experience.
A/N: First chapter done! I don't really know if this story is considered as an AU ('what if') or a 'fix-it' thing but it's a big project since I plan to write what happens from the Soul Society arc to the Quincy Blood War arc (and probably what happens after that) but with things changing. Obviously, romance will be an important part of the story but the main focus will be on the plot aka trying to change the future (and also the platonic/familial relationships between characters both from the past/present and the future). In fact, the thing I enjoyed the most while writing this chapter was writing Gin. Gin is a complex character but he is amusing to write and I like his dynamic with Karin (as I said, romance is not the only focus of the story, there will be many friendships etc. explored)... and yes, he will be an important character.
Karin's blurry references to the future are on purpose, explanation will come later and it is obvious that the whole thing is confusing to her as well as her relationships with characters (especially Hitsugaya).
Thank you for the fav/following! Don't hesitate to post reviews, I'll make sure to answer them on next chapter's A/N or on PM :)