Mistakes
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach; I do however own Hitsugaya Miki.
THIS STORY IS RATED T for some minor language, alcohol use, and dark themes.
A/N: Finally, after a LOT of procrastinating and will of the heart… I have made a new Hitsukarin story! Of course, you will find this much better and darker (In my opinion) than my other story: It Started with a Date. I would like to thank those who have supported my stories, and I hope you will find this to your satisfaction as much as I did.
About the alcoholic drinks part, yeah, chapter one is full of it… You would wonder how I found out so much drinks… Well, I searched them in the net. I don't drink. In fact, I'm a drinking virgin! :P
And yes, I took off the Prologue thing in this story cause it's too darn hard to update with different chapter numbers.
CHAPTER ONE: Him Again
"Mom, do you believe in blessings in disguises?" asked Miki, her huge blue-green eyes staring at her.
"I don't know what you mean." said Karin. Miki was a curious child. Barely eleven and she was on her way to be a philosopher.
"You know… Good mistakes?" she tried again. Karin stopped chopping the vegetables. She was making Beef wrapped in asparagus, a family favorite.
She looked at Miki, and smiled.
"I believe I do." said Karin, tapping her nose.
Why do people go to bars? Is it because they seek alcohol? Attention, perhaps?
It was not the plan of Karin to go there, and the only reason she did was because Matsumoto Rangiku has invited her yet again. She didn't want to go, though.
Karin was a 25 year old with a simple life. She has good ambitions and great goals in life. One of those goals involves soccer, her first love. Then, there is the getting married and having a child thing. For her, it was impossible. She wasn't what you called 'pretty'. Her hairstyle was stuck in the short age, and it had been like for 15 years. Maybe that could explain the fact that yes, she was single… And no, she is not desperate. Also, her job as a sales clerk didn't help, either.
She met Matsumoto 15 years ago. She was a perky blonde with big boobs that scared the shit out of her. And men weren't afraid of showing their happiness at the sight of her. Of course, they didn't know that Matsumoto was about 200 years old. Karin stopped asking a long time ago.
Matsumoto came from Soul Society. No, it's not a weird theme park. It's the home of dead souls and death Gods. As far as she knew, Matsumoto was a vice captain.
Death gods kill monsters called 'hollows' and they are not allowed the use their swords to hit humans. Puh-lease.
Karin was wearing a tight red dress that Yuzu, her sister, recommended for her. Yuzu is like her fashion adviser these days. She is also her adorable twin who has a hot husband named Hanaraki Jinta, and a cute baby boy named Yukiwa.
"Karin-chan!" called someone from behind her. Funny, she still wasn't used to that voice. It was of course, Matsumoto. She was wearing a scandalous black dress. Her big blond hair flowing freely around her smooth neck. Karin spotted a weird looking guy checking her out.
Karin blinked as Matsumoto waved at her like she hasn't spotted her yet. She was pretty sure that she was only doing that so her boobs would jiggle for the bartender to see.
"Rangiku-san, do you really have to do that?" asked Karin with a look of disdain at the bartender who was checking her out too while wiping a dirty glass. Like it helped with the dirtier rag he was wiping it with.
"Ah, I don't know what you're talking about. Aren't you used to this?" she asked happily as she looked around. Good question.
They have been going there every single day since Matsumoto and her captain came to check Karakura town again since Monday. And yes, it was a Saturday.
"I've been used to it. I even found a good way to get over my hangovers. My boss wants to kick me out the next time I come to work looking like a stripper." said Karin pouting. Matsumoto laughed.
They talked for a longer time about how stupid her boss was, until Matsumoto remembered something important.
"Oh! I almost forgot. Someone else is joining us." said Matsumoto. Karin rolled her eyes. It wasn't the first time, to be honest. On Wednesday, Matsumoto brought a hot guy who kept on making out with Matsumoto the whole time that Karin left really early. It was a first for the boss as he saw her fresh for work the next day.
"Who?" she asked, despite the horror. Matsumoto smiled and pushed her lightly.
"Hitsugaya taicho." said Matsumoto with a wink. Karin blushed. It's been like, forever. It's been pretty obvious that the first time she met Hitsugaya Toushiro that she had a huge crush on him. It was a little saddening when he left 15 years ago, but she got over it easily.
Toushiro was the captain of the 10th squad in Soul Society. There are 13 squads, and being a taicho was a big deal. Throw in the fact that he can play a mean game of soccer, and he was a great catch. She was pretty sure though, that somehow, he always saw right through her.
"Toushiro?" she asked stupidly.
"Yes, yes… Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be okay." said Matsumoto faking supportiveness. Karin knew what she meant. Karin wasn't exactly suave with men.
About 10 years ago when they got together for the first time in years, Karin's 'then' boyfriend tried to kiss her in front of Matsumoto, which resulted in a nice, noisy crash on the nearby tree (She tripped). Her boyfriend then broke up with her. His excuse? That she didn't love him enough to kiss him in front of another person. Then, he proceeded to flirting with Matsumoto which resulted to him crashing by the nearby tree, courtesy of Matsumoto's kick and Karin's fist. Good combo.
"I don't know what you're talking about." said Karin with a tight smile and gritted teeth. Sure, it was obvious that she used to have a crush on Toushiro, but why the hell did Matsumoto have to be so obvious.
"Oh come on—"started Matsumoto, but Karin clamped a hand on her mouth which was a faux pas, but she didn't care. When she let go, Matsumoto made a funny noise.
"Just shut up, okay? I don't like him anymore." said Karin. Her eyes looked like tennis balls as Matsumoto's eyes widened.
"AHAH! I knew it. You like him." she said.
"I said, I used to like him. Are you deaf?" said Karin angrily. Matsumoto laughed boisterously, causing a bunch of heavily made up women to give her the evil eye.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that, well… I think you two look good together." she replied after drinking on her Cosmo. Karin was drinking a Margarita.
"I don't know… He's a little too damn short for me." said Karin. This was kind of true. The last time she saw him, he was still a few inches shorter than her… And she's not even the tallest in her class! Toushiro, however, did not seem to care much that he was a shrimp. Hasn't he ever heard of the saying, "The tallest ones go first?"
Okay, she made that up.
"Hey, haven't you seen him these days?" asked Matsumoto with a glint in her eye. Karin shook her head vigorously.
"How could I? I know that you will only be here for a week, but I'm pretty sure being a captain, he can't really spend his time sipping Cosmos and Margaritas with us." said Karin.
Matsumoto gulped down her drink all in one and ordered for another one.
"You are in for a pleasant surprise then." she said through her glass. Karin stared at her drink.
It HAS been 15 years since she has seen his white head and brilliant blue-green eyes. Surely, he looked much different than he did a few years ago? Who was she to know? He was probably about a million years old for all she cared.
How she knew this information was really odd. It was indeed 15 years ago when Kurosaki Ichigo, her brother, jumped out of his window without another word, in a shinigami cloak no less. It was 15 years ago too that she got an explanation. Funny, she wasn't too surprised either when she found out that her idiot father was one too. Ichigo was pretty dumbstruck, though. Yuzu was just cool about it.
"Matsumoto." growled someone at her side. Karin jumped so high that she almost hit the low ceiling of the bar. She whirred around to find her face in an awkward position near pale, colorless lips.
"Uh." grumbled Karin stupidly. The boy moved back slowly. He was a handsome man, he looked about 28 with his eye crinkles, but impressively, his white hair seemed to keep him look young. Suddenly, it struck Karin that this was Toushiro. You know, Toushiro her used to be crush? The guy that helped her kick middle school but when she was ten? The guy who left without a word? The middle school kid?
"Taicho!" rang Matsumoto, sounding slightly slurred. She was drunk already. Karin then realized that she was too absorbed in her thoughts to see the glasses of Cosmo on the table. The bartender looked a little flustered at the sight of it.
Toushiro sighed.
"I told you to meet me outside since we have to leave tomorrow. Or are you too drunk to understand a word that I'm saying?" he asked in his deep, deep growl. For some reason, it scared Karin a bit. The demand, the seriousness… It always made her weak. She mentally slapped herself.
'I used to have a crush on him… USED TO.' She thought weakly.
"Of course I do…" said Matsumoto with a hiccup. Karin stared at her. Her pink cheeks made her look like a tomato.
"I'm sure." he said exasperatedly. He didn't seem to notice Karin even if they were close to a lip lock a few seconds ago.
"Um, Toushiro?" said Karin, announcing her presence finally after Toushiro sat down and ordered a glass of water.
Toushiro looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"You are?" he asked a little rudely. Karin crossed her arms.
"Oh come on… You seriously don't remember me?" she asked, sticking her tongue out. Toushiro shook his head. He took the glass of water with a quick thank you and splashed it on Matsumoto's face. It seems that she had fallen asleep.
"Huh? What's going on?" she asked, dazed. "Taicho? Karin? What are you doing in my room?"
Toushiro ignored her and turned back to Karin who was fiddling with her red hemmed dress.
"Karin? Ah, yes. The soccer girl." he said, a little amused for a second.
"Yeah, and you are the boy who can't put down his phone for a second." said Karin with a laugh.
"Hmm. Yes, you are the also the girl who chased after me. "He said seriously. Karin couldn't help but laugh. He was right, to be honest.
It all happened one day. She was pretty angry that Ichigo never came back for an explanation, so she kicked her brand new soccer ball. It was pretty close to the road, and she was afraid a car would run over it, so she jumped down the stairs of the hill and spotted her ball, safe, and in the hands of the boy sitting in front of her now.
Ever since then, she always seemed to be seeking for his soccer prowess. He was good at it, even if he didn't like the game at all.
Toushiro stared at her.
"You look good when you laugh." he said honestly. Karin stopped laughing and smiled up at him. Yeah, he was now very tall, even if he was sitting.
"Was that a compliment?" she asked. Toushiro nodded.
"Of course it is. A man has every right to compliment a woman who laughs well." he said. Karin grinned. She was sure it was the alcohol getting in her thoughts, but was he flirting with her? She couldn't tell.
"I think that deserves a drink. My treat." said Karin with a hearty wink. Toushiro blinked.
"Alcohol? I don't think so. We captains don't drink." He said superiorly. Karin sighed.
"Are you chickening now, captain-chan?" she asked cockily, her head swinging side to side.
"Fine." he said, again, it was probably the alcohol getting in her head, but she was sure that she saw a small blush on his cheeks.
"What are you going to take? Tonic? Gin? Uh, Sex on the beach?" she asked, feeling like an expert knowing all that alcoholic drinks. To be honest, she only drank Margaritas, but she has heard so much drinks the past few days, that she took it all in, watching the effect take place as Matsumoto and a bunch of other women drank them. Amusing results always came, you should try it. Or maybe you shouldn't.
"Sex on the beach? Is that a—"he stopped short as he cleared his throat of any dirty thoughts. Karin laughed.
"You are so naïve! It's a drink." she said
"Oh… Well, I'm not getting a drink that sounds like a porn movie. I'll take a bottle of gin, please." said Toushiro. Karin wondered how he knew about porn movies in the first place. Could it be that there were porn movies in Soul Society?
"Wait, a bottle? Can you handle that?" asked Karin. Toushiro raised an eyebrow.
"Are you chickening out, Mortal-chan?" he asked, for the first time, a smile creeping in his face. He too looked good laughing. Maybe everyone did.
"AHAH! I smell a challenge." said Karin. "Well, dude, you are soooo going to lose since I am now an expert… And you are just, well, you."
Toushiro chuckled.
"We'll see about that." he said, pouring some gin into her glass and his. They knocked glasses together.
"To Soul Society!" said Toushiro.
"To soccer!" said Karin.
"To free will and justice!" said Toushiro.
"To cheap deals at Hypermart!" cried Karin.
They both burst out laughing. They were already halfway through their bottle when Karin put her drink down and looked at Toushiro's face.
"Why are you talking to me? I mean, to be honest… I have a funny feeling you want to avoid Me." She spoke, her voice slightly slurred with the alcohol. Toushiro looked puzzled as he stared at her pout.
"I don't know what you are talking about." He said slowly and coldly as he took another silent sip from his glass.
Karin sighed. It was new to her, his attention. She was used to him being cold to her. The last time she saw him, he just nodded and left to finish his job. Apparently, it wasn't good for captains to hang around with humans. Not that she cared.
"Whatever." she muttered as she slammed her drink on the table. Guilt… It was weird how fast it seemed to seep in.
Toushiro stared at his 'drinking' buddy for a few seconds before he cleared his throat. Matsumoto stirred and mumbled something they ignored easily.
"I've always wanted a family." he said. Karin raised an eyebrow, bewildered at where the conversation was going.
"And?" she asked a little chocked up as Toushiro looked away.
"Well, I never… Uhh…" he started. Karin burst laughing. The bartender jumped and looked at her as if she were crazy.
"Toushiro… What the hell are you implying?" she asked. Toushiro looked at her seriously.
"I don't know if a human, such as you, will ever be interested in me. Dead or alive." said Toushiro. Karin picked her jaw up.
If it was ever possible, she fell from her chair, laughing, and her hair in tangles as she clutched her heart. Toushiro looked struck. He didn't expect that.
Matsumoto shot up and whipped around.
"Karin, what's wrong with you?!" she asked concerned. Karin breathed heavily to stop her laughter and stood up.
"Sorry, I woke you… Toushiro, you were saying?" she asked. Matsumoto blinked at them and shook her head, ordering a whiskey (as if she weren't drunk enough).
"Never mind… I see it was a mistake to even tell you something so absurd!" he growled, standing up. He looked away paying the bartender without looking at the bills he was holding. He glowered at Matsumoto, who sighed and patted Karin.
"I'll see you again, okay?" she said. Karin clutched her arm as she watched his white hair disappear. "Wait, taicho!"
"No." said Karin, as she ran out of the bar. They were nowhere to be found, but his reiatsu was somewhere close. It was fast, obviously, he was shunpoing.
She closed her eyes, concentrating, which was hard since she was pretty much drunk.
"HAH." she boomed as she felt them. They were somewhere near her house… Why? "Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find a cab around here?"
She was talking to a handsome man, about 30, who was holding a bottle of water. She recognized it as the same thing that Matsumoto handed her when she was intoxicated for the first time. He looked at her, and smiled a bit.
"I think, a minute from here, you will find a bus stop. Sorry, I don't know much about cabs." he said, his grin widening as Karin sighed heavily. "May I ask why?"
"Oh, I'm looking for someone." she said. This was technically true… I mean, she knows where they are… She just doesn't know where they are. Get it?
"I can give you a lift, if you want." he said. Karin eyed him. He seemed innocent enough. You know, the kind that appears in TV with huge, glittering toothpaste worthy smiles. And then, a mug shot. She shivered.
As if reading her mind, he sighed sympathetically.
"I'm not a rapist. I have nothing much to do, you see." he said. He wasn't smiling. Obviously, he wasn't pleased that a girl was resisting his smile.
Karin sighed again, this time, pointedly.
"Fine… But that's only because I don't want to ride a bus looking like a stripper." she said, as she smiled honestly.
The man laughed and extended his hand, which Karin took. His grip was firm and his hands were callused.
"Akihiko Tahome." he said.
"Kurosaki Karin." she said, then added, "Let's go…"
He nodded and he pulled her to his silver Mercedes Benz. Karin, for a second, gaped at it. As he saw her face, he chuckled and opened the door for her.
"Thanks." She muttered at his display of chivalry, something she was not used to. Ichigo wasn't much of a gentleman. How Rukia ever managed to be patient with him was none of her business. But Karin was sure that Rukia was just too patient for her own good.
His engine roared, or perhaps whispered, as he stepped on the gas. He swerved in the corner and looked at Karin.
"So, Karin, where do you think your boyfriend is?" he asked. Karin giggled inwardly. Asking such a question was the oldest trick in the bruised and battered book of tricks.
"I don't have a boyfriend. And uh, I'm sure she is somewhere near Karakura park. You can drop me there at least." said Karin, emphasizing the 'she', a white lie.
"Oh." he said, pleased. "Alright."
"Yeah." muttered Karin as he revved his engine for a speed drive.
They didn't talk for a few seconds until Karin spotted the park nearby. Tahome looked at Karin with a smile.
"Here we are. Do you want me to wait here, just in case she isn't there?" he asked hopefully. Karin smiled thankfully.
"Thank you. But I think I can handle this by myself." she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. Tahome sighed.
"Okay. But I hope I can see you again, Karin." he said, his glimmering teeth dazzling her. Karin nodded as he waved at her and drove away.
Now, to look for Toushiro. Her house was just a block away, and she took off her heels and ran. The air whipping on her face was invigorating. It was like a drug that she hasn't taken in months or maybe even years. She was on high!
Her feet were aching on the cold, wet grass. It hurt a bit as she sat on the grass, her heart beating too fast.
"Damn, I should run more." she said loudly.
"Yeah, you should. I have never seen such a pathetic display in my whole life." said Toushiro. Karin looked around to find him, a foot away from her, his hands on his legs.
"Toushiro! What—"
"I should be asking you that. I'm here since I don't really have any place to go tonight. I guess I gave the bartender most of my money. I can't afford a hotel, now." he said. Karin giggled as she stood up and ignored the huge blotch of mud on her red dress.
"I'm sorry about a while ago… I shouldn't have laughed. I mean, I have dreams too." she said. Toushiro grinned sheepishly.
"Of course. What I don't understand is that you are here… To apologize?" he asked hating himself for sounding so stupid.
"Well, yeah. I don't want you to leave with a little birdie." said Karin. Toushiro shook his head, a grin plastered on his face.
"Hmm… To be even. I want to apologize for being a prat and not being nice to you years ago. I never meant to ignore you." he said. Karin laughed as she put her shoes back on.
She struggled. Why does a pair of heels have to be so complicated. It was the kind of thing you couldn't do without help.
Toushiro stared at her, and then bent over and said,
"Do you want me to help you?"
"Uhh, sure?" she said or asked. Toushiro smiled as he put the shoes on her dainty mud covered feet.
Karin looked at him. He looked fifty times better in the moonlight. His hair shone like a moon itself, and his giant orbs of eyes glittered with innocence. Not the kind with malice.
Then she looked around. Matsumoto was nowhere to be found.
"Where is Rangiku-san?" she asked unsure as his head turned to her.
"She went to look for you in the bar…" he said, suddenly remembering. Karin shook with her laughter, and it took her a few serious tries to realize that he was laughing too.
"There you go." he said. He pulled the last strap of the heels together and grinned at her pink face. Karin was blushing.
"I-I—Thanks." She whispered at him. Toushiro stared at her more.
"You know, Karin. I did like you before. And I'm pretty sure I still do… Now." he whispered. Karin gulped.
So, they were declaring their mutual likeness now? NOW?!
"I do too… Now too." she whispered back, not making much sense as their faces seem to deteriorate the remaining space between them.
"I don't know why I just said that… A captain never shows any emotion." he said quietly, as they paused a few inches away from each other. It was a little like it was a few hours ago.
"Maybe… Maybe you are not a captain in heart…" she suggested louder than the mood should be. Toushiro chuckled and said in his normal tone,
"Well, maybe you are right…"
Then the space between them closed as their lips met for the first time.
A/N: YAY! End of first chapter. Well, how'd you like it? I do have a lot of intention of continuing it… But first I want to know if I should. Please, review… Please? Oh, and story alerts are a must. I will update soon as soon as you TELL me if the story is worth continuing.