I couldn't help it, I wanted to post it! And I know it's going to take AGES before I'll be able to finish this story! *sighs*
Well, this is a HitsuKarin fic that has been sitting in my secret files for ages. As the original text was written in Finnish, I beg your pardon if there are any weird phrases within the text. I did my best translating it and even added some stuff that sound so much better in English than they would in Finnish.
R&R please, and all that. Let's get on with it!
A long, damned excuse of a road headed to the far north. Were one to find themselves trecking along on it, there's surely something wrong with their life. And that's underestimating it.
The snow readily hid the tracks of the small caravan under it's icy veil. A line of poorly clothed, shackled people trudged against the slashing winds, following a man riding a horse. After the line came three other men, horseback aswell. Every now and then someone would trip and fall down, having to endure a slash from a whip or sometimes two. A blue haired man, Grimmjow, was especially enjoying using his weapon.
A youngster with raven hair tripped and almost toppled over but the girl next to her just managed to keep her upright. "Karin", she whispered anxiously, "try to hold on!"
Grimmjow showed up next to them. "Listen to your sister, brat!"he sneered, "you're slowing us down." The whip lashed again and Karin had to bite her lip to prevent any noise permeating from her mouth as she felt the pain of the whip on her arm. Even through their winter clothes, thick enough to keep them alive in the weather, the hit hurt.
"Asshole", she muttered to herself, and was awarded another hit from the whip.
That night as they were setting camp for the night, a fox faced man walked around checking the shackles and doing additional knots with ropes to make sure no one would escape. He stayed with Karin and Yuzu for a moment, whispering something to the twins with a wicked grin. Leaving soon, he had Karin glaring after him looking uncertain. Even then, she decided to take her chances and turned to her sister who was watching her in desperation. "Karin, don't tell me you're really going to go through with it! It's obviously a trap to entertain him!"
Karin snorted. "Yes, it's a trap, but it's Gin's trap. Knowing him the chance to succeed is one out of hundred, not non-existent. He wants to enjoy his little games."
Worried, Yuzu kept watching her. "I don't know... I'm scared he..." She got a smile from her sister, and an answer to his unfinished uttering:
"In all honesty, I don't think both of us could do it. Besides, I'm the one who always wins the gambles." She petted the light haired twin affectionately. "I will come to find you though, don't worry. I can't do it alone though. So I'll have to find Ichi-nii, and any other help I can get."
They were given their small supper, and as per usual, Karin forced half her portion to her sister. At least that was her attempt - Yuzu glared at her. "Tonight, you're the one who needs this! Don't you dare try to talk against me!" Karin was about to start arguing but seeing the look in her sister's eyes - the one of pain, worry and stubborness - she simply nodded.
"I'll enjoy it then. Thank you. You really are my other half." Yuzu simply smiled with teary eyes.
Soon the prisoners were ordered to sleep and the two girls curled up next to each other, cuddling for warmth. Yuzu's back was against the fire shielding her sister from other's sight. The thickening snowfall was the only witness to their silent goodbye. Karin looked her sister in the eyes. "Yuzu, goodbye... No, I'll see you soon. I don't know how long it's going to take, but I will find you!"
Yuzu grinned to her and planted a small kiss on her forehead, praying for a succesfull escape for her sister. "I can handle myself. I'll see you soon, Karin." She lied down and watched as her sister's form disappeared after a couple of meters, the snow caressing the footprints before hiding them from view. Closing her eyes, she prayed again for any deities to hear her, and attempted to fall asleep.
The fox faced man, Gin Ichimaru, had his constant smile to wiped a crack. "Let the hunt begin, lil' Kurosaki. He stood up and went to alarm the escape of one of the prisoners.
The snow was too deep for her to be able to run. Karin strided towards the riverbank Gin had told her was close by. If she could only pass it, her escape would be a success. After that, she'd only have to survive somehow.
The loud howling cut her train of thought. Even though the noise still sounded far away, she knew it was probably because of the approaching blizzard. The girl huffed. "Oh, screw you Gin! You could have given me a little bit more time!" Hastening her steps as much as she could, she narrowed her eyes trying to see ahead of her.
It didn't take her long to get to the riverbank. Swallowing Karin looked down and saw that rather than a riverbank, in front of her was a canyon several dozen meters deep, and a harsh, icy river running at the bottom of it. It was impossible to cross, the distance being several meters.
A yell was heard behind her and Grimmjow appeared from within the snow. He had a sword in one hand while the other held a leash of a dog, the one that had sniffed her way to the girl and was now growling at her. "Too bad", the man roared over the wind, "this is as far as you get!"
Baring her teeth like a cornered animal Karin backed down to the border between the ground and a long, cold fall. She heard a screech somewhere close, but paid no attention to it. Not that she could have even recognized the source. Right then the only thing she could focus on was the threat infront of her. Grinning slightly she sneered back to the man:
"Yeah, I won't be able to cross it. But I'll be damned if I won't be able to jump." With that she jumped off the cliff before the man or the dog could catch her. The moment she was falling the wind slapped her hard in the face and she felt like a rag doll. Bracing herself for the impact, she awaited the cold embrace of the water below her. Instead, a stunning force hit her side knocking the air out of her lungs. With the movement came the same screech from before, and suddenly she was moving along the canyon, the river being left behind as their altitude increased. Struggling to breath Karin tried to make some sense of what was happening but the whipping of the wind forced her eyes shut, and she gritted her teeth together holding on for dear life to whatever was grabbing her.
Now, how did you like it? This was a short chapter, but really, it was more of a prology than a chapter. No matter, I liked it, but I like the following chapters even more. There's no way I'm going to be asking for certain amount of reviews or anything, but it would be great if I got some feedback on this.