This is a direct result of weird imagination and sleepless nights as well as procrastinating on my only other fic. A 180˚ from my usual and I thought I'll give it a go. Btw, this is AU as in they are themselves but in a world where shinigami, SS and all that mumbo jumbo doesn't exist. Yes, Hitsugaya is actually an 11-year-old elementary student here although school won't be a feature and he makes a very brief appearance in this chapter but not to worry, the length of his appearance will increase. Also, this is a very short fic with 5 chapters the most.
Hope you guys like it. :D
Disclaimer: You know, I know. Let's get on with it.
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( .S t a t i o n. 3 6 0 0. )
AU
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By hitdapanicbutton
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'Our kind of fairy tale'
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1
The rail tracks rattled violently as the train thundered past, disappearing into the dark velvet sky amidst the blur of lights that shone from the magnificent steel and glass structures that made up the urban landscape of Kagamino City. Kurosaki Karin stood on the opposite side of the sparingly empty terminal, oblivious to her surroundings as she alternately juggled the soccer ball between her knees and feet to the rhythm of the jingle playing on the station's intercom, erasing the surrounding noise of the bustling megalopolis out from her awareness, as she waited for the train to arrive.
She heard the wail of the incoming locomotive from the distance before she saw it and took a quick glance at the digital clock that hung on the station's ceiling. It was 7.49pm to the dot; the train arrived a minute ahead of schedule but she was not surprised. After all, the locomotive companies pride itself for its punctuality.
The doors slid open with a hiss and Karin nonchalantly walked inside with the ball held in front of the stomach, grabbing the seat nearest to the door. The indicator boomed when a boy strode in, the door closing just behind him. His stunning white hair grabbed everyone's attention including Karin as his stunning emerald eyes scanned the relatively empty train. A group of girls giggled as they snuck a look at him and Karin heard them gushing how 'Kawaii' he was. Typical.
Karin saw that the boy had caught her rolling her eyes, a frown forming on his face.
Without warning, he plopped on the seat next to her. She jerked a little from her seat because of his sudden movement, her eyebrow reflexively raised as she looked at him with a sideway glance. That frown still adorned his face, irritating her. She pointedly ignored him for the rest of the time, but she still could hear the Giggling Trio talking about the mysterious boy, further aggravating her nerves. When they had reached Karakura Station, relief washed all over her and she walked out without taking a single glance back.
It took her a good 8 minutes before she reached home; slamming the door open and announcing "I'm back!"
"KARIN!" Kurosaki Isshin shouted as he ran with her with outstretched arms, his face bearing his usual silly expression and his lips into a pout. Her soccer ball rammed into his face, his body flying backwards from the force.
"STUPID GOAT-CHAN! How many times must I tell you not to welcome me like that?!" Karin yelled with her hands coiled into a fist.
"Butbutbut" Her father was giving her the puppy eye expression now. "Don't you love daddy anymore? Don't you? Don't you?!"
"Just shut up, will you?" Karin reprimanded him as she walked into the dining room causing him to run over to the oversized Masaki poster, crying and muttering dramatically about 'how she is all grown up and doesn't love daddy anymore'. He only stopped when her older brother entered the room and he ran over to Ichigo, hitting him on the head, blaming him for causing 'my dear little Karin to be so inconsiderate'. A little smack down broke out as the two screamed at each other.
Karin rolled her eyes as she joined Yuzu at the table, her twin announcing that supper was ready as she poured tea into Karin's cup. The guys of the family continued brawling noisily.
"Are you okay, Karin-chan? You looked more irritated than usual." Worry was present in Yuzu's voice.
Karin gave a small smile. "Nah, just some boy at the train who got on my nerves."
"A boy?!" Yuzu's eyes grew wide with excitement, a big grin on her face. Karin blinked, taken back from the abrupt change. "Is he hot? Did you ask for his number? When can I meet him?"
"Boy? What boy?" Ichigo asked as he took a seat next to Karin. Isshin was leaning on the kitchen counter in pain.
"No one worth mentioning."
Yuzu pouted, shaking one of Karin's outstretched arm. "No fair, you got me all excited Karin-chan. Just tell me please." Big brown gogglely eyes completed the look.
Karin let off a big sigh. "What do you want to know?"
Yuzu gave a quick squeeze at Karin's arm then she leaned closer onto the table. "How does he look like? What did you talk about? Don't leave out a single detail!" Ichigo scowled as he shook his head. Isshin made a sudden appearance at the table next to Yuzu, mimicking the brunette twin in movement as well. "Yes, yes. Daddy wants to know about the boy Karin is dating too."
"I am not dating any boy! It's just this boy at the train. He sat beside me. I ignored him. End of story."
"But you haven't answered my question! Is he cute?"
"I'll admit it, he's good looking and he knows it, acting like he's all superior. The girls were all looking and talking loudly about him. I mean, the whole damn train can hear what they were talking about! But whatever, it's not like I will ever see both the girls and him again. Thank god." Karin ended it in a final tone that all of them knew that the topic has ended, period. Anyone who dare venture into it again will experience an early, painful death.
"Ichi-nii, what are you doing here anyway? I thought you were going to the movies with Rukia-san." Karin wanted to know as she dug into her 1st slice of watermelon. Isshin had a mountain of watermelon rind in front of him and he was halfway gobbling up another one.
Ichigo shrugged. "She had to go to some dinner Byakuya threw. Some VIPs will be there so she couldn't say no." Karin heard him cursed Byakuya despite the fact that he was mumbling inconspicuously into his 5th slice.
"So how is the training coming along?" Ichigo asked in an attempt to change to subject.
"Coach Miyokawa made us ran the field ten times for warm-up and had us play soccer with ankle weights attached today. One poor guy had to run the field an additional five times because he accidently tripped from the weights."
Yuzu wore a worried glance on her face. "Oh my gosh, that's terrible. How was the guy? Are you okay?"
"Nah Yuzu, it's nothing really. I already expected this. He is the best known junior league coach after all although we didn't expect the ankle weights just one week into the training. The guy will live so don't worry Yuzu."
Isshin jumped up from his chair with one arm stretched skywards and another fist closed to his chest, causing the table to wobble, the tea to spill and the rinds to drop onto the floor."YES! My Karin will be bigger than Pele and Nakata Hidetoshi!! Bring glory to Japa-" Ichigo's feet found its way into Isshin's face and another father-son bonding session was engaged.
Involuntarily, Karin's mind wandered off to the boy at the train again, a thin line appearing visibly between her eyes. Belatedly she realized it and shook her head. It's not like she is ever going to bump into him again. The possibility of that happening would be one to a million.
She got up from her chair, prompting Yuzu's attention.
"Karin-chan, where are you going? We still have a lot of watermelons."
She shook her head. "I had enough, Yuzu. You guys can go ahead and eat the rest. I'm going to bed now."
"Okay. Good night Karin-chan."
"Oh… Ah…Good night Yuzu."
Despite numerals reasoning and objections with herself, the boy with white hair and mesmerizing green eyes continued to pique her thoughts as she began to fall into deep slumber, slipping wordlessly into her dreams for the rest of the night.
Little did she know, this evening's encounter would be their first among many to come.