January 15
Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya furrowed his brow as his frosted eyes scanned the report he had just received. Three Captain's had already signed off on it, but something about it had nagged him. Toshiro stood up, turning around to sift through the files behind his desk. He could remember receiving a few similar reports before. Thinking they were suspicious he had had the foresight to combine the reports into one folder, he just needed to find where she had placed the folder.
Toshiro called out for his lieutenant:
"Matsumoto! Hey Matsumoto!" Where did she go this time? He thought getting annoyed.
Toshiro walked over the the couch situated in the center of the office he shared with his lieutenant intending to peek over the back of it. Matsumoto had a nasty habit of napping during working hours.
"HEY! MATSUMOTO!" He yelled, causing his lieutenant to jump.
"Oh Captain. Don't shout like that when I'm sleeping. You'll age me scaring me like that."
"You're supposed to be working, not napping. Where are the reports I asked you to file last week?"
"Oh that folder? I put it...hum, let me think."
"Rangiku this is important."
"Umm..I was gonna file it and then what happened? Let's see...Ah right. Shuhei came in with a bottle of sake..."
"Please tell me you didn't get drunk and misplace my folder?"
"Of course not. Oh I remember.." Rangiku rolled off the couch, sinking to her knees and reaching her hand under the couch. "I accidentally knocked it under here and couldn't reach it. My boobs kept getting smooshed like this..."
"I don't need to see..." He said, feeling his eye twitch. "Why didn't you just lift the couch or push it out of the way.."
"Sake..."
Toshiro felt his eyes roll before he scooted the couch out of the way, allowing his lieutenant to retrieve the folder. She handed it to him, smiling.
"Now that's great teamwork Captain."
"I'm going out, try not to lose anything else ok."
"See you later Captain!" She called, already climbing back onto the couch.
Toshiro walked over to his desk picking up the newest report and sliding it into the folder with the older ones. He walked out of his office, cursing his luck at having such a lazy lieutenant.
She's reliable when it's important. He reminded himself. And I guess I can't really blame her, the previous Captain didn't exactly train her the way he was suppose to..
"Ah, Toshiro. What can I do for you?"
"Head Captain. I would like to speak to you about a matter I believe to be urgent."
"What's wrong?" Captain Commander Kyoraku asked, lifting the hat from off his eyes. He had been concerned with the young captains tone.
"Uh, shouldn't we go inside your office to discuss this?"
"Well, it's so nice out today. Is what you have to say really that important?"
Toshiro could feel himself getting annoyed. So many lax captains around this place...
"Sir, I just received a report about three defectors, all from different squads."
"Oh that, yes I saw the same report earlier. These things happen, we live so long you know."
"Yes sir, the thing is they all defected at the same time and yet none of them knew each other."
"Ah. I see what you mean. It is a little excessive to be a coincidence.
"Yes head captain. There have been three similar reports over the course of this last year, all containing the same information. I understand these things happen, but I cant imagine this number in one year alone."
"I understand your concern. I will speak with Captain Sui-Feung about investigating these soul reapers further."
"Squad two has already investigated, and they reported nothing. Not a trace, left over spiritual pressure or anything."
"Oh, I didn't realize that."
"I would like permission to go to the human world and conduct my own investigation."
"Oh, I don't think that would be necessary. I'll speak with Captain Kuchiki, she usually handles the human world interactions."
"I understand that sir, however as I was the one who made this connection I would like to be the one investigation this matter."
"Ok, ok." The head captain said, already sliding the hat back over his eyes. "Keep me updated on your progress."
"Of course Head Captain. I will probably be gone for some time."
"Don't worry about that, this place wont fall apart with out you."
Toshiro let out a deep breath, unsure of what to say next. He bade goodbye to the Commander and decided to head back over to his office. Looks like I'll be going to the human world...
January 20th
'I always have the same dream. It haunts me, torments me. I miss the peacefulness sleep once provided.
I stand in the middle of the woods, lost. I'm cold and it's dark. I can hear something calling for me. It must be Yuzu. I'm filled with desperation to find her.
I follow the soft yellow glow. It leads me past the thickest brush of trees, and guides me to a small clearing where it sits at the edge waiting for me.
I'm seconds away from it. I can hear it call me again.
"Karin, come find me."
"Who are you?" I call out to the small yellow light in the darkness.
"It's me silly,"
What did she say? I think. I can't hear.
Before I can ask again I find myself awake lying in my bed. Not in a small clearing outside.
I lay in bed, shivering from cold sweat. My heartbeat skyrockets as I try to remember what had happened. I can feel my soul ache, like it's heartbroken.
The same dream, always that same dream.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed, sitting up trying to calm myself down. My hair is drenched and it falls over my shoulder, sending a cold chill down my spine.'
Karin sighed heavily as she laid her pen down on her book.
I don't know what I was thinking. What made me think writing this down would help me figure out this bizarre dream?
Karin pushed her chair away from the desk and climbed back into bed. She stole a glance at the clock sitting next to the table. 5AM... I don't have school anymore, and I lost my job at the restaurant. Maybe if I try to forget I can still get a few hours sleep...
Karin pulled her yellow blanket over her head, desperately trying to block the sunlight that threatened to peek through her curtains. She took a deep breath, praying for a dreamless sleep.
It was almost noon before she woke again. She startled in her bed, wondering if it was her imagination. She had thought she heard her father's laughter coming from downstairs.
Thats strange, sounds like dad's talking to someone, but who? Brother is home taking care of Kazui, and Yuzu is working at the hospital today.
She sat up, stretching her stiff body. Now that she was more awake she could definitely hear her father talking to someone.
"That voice...seems familiar to me...who, who is it?"
Karin slid off her bed and walked over to her closet. She pulled on her favorite jeans and a light blue tank top, pulled her hair back, and headed downstairs to investigate.
"Sounds suspicious to me. And you've already been by to see Urahara huh? That would be the first place I went if I was."
"Yes." Toshiro interrupted. "Urahara claims to have not seen anyone from the soul society lately. I am at a dead end at this point. The missing soul reapers..."
Karin stopped dead in her tracks, the floorboards beneath her feet creaking as she hesitated to step forward. Immediately Karin had recognized that cold drawl. Her memory of the man was so strong she flashed on a pair of beautiful vivid sea blue eyes.
Toshiro. Why? How?
Karin quietly skipped down the last steps and peered around the corner. Toshiro was sitting on the couch. His posture was stiff, and he was leaning forward resting his elbows on his thighs and completely engaged in the conversation he was having with her dad.
Like herself, Toshiro had grown. She couldn't be sure because he was sitting but he had appeared to be almost as tall as Ichigo was. His white messy hair was cropped shorter than it was when he had been younger. Toshiro's face held the same dead expression he had when they had first met, even though she knew he must have been passionate about the subject of the conversation, his body language giving away what he refused to allow his expression to. Karin had thought Toshiro cute before. Now he was handsome. Very handsome.
Karin had to take an extra second to compose herself. Taking a deep breath she stepped forward and entered the living area.
"And I highly doubt he would lie about something like that. Well, as long as you didn't ask for names and specifics. Oh Karin. Better late than never I guess." Her father added looking at the clock.
"Yeah, yeah. I was working late so I slept in."
"You're always sleeping in."
Toshiro took a chance and glanced at Karin while her and her father were busy exchanging insults. He was almost shocked to see the beautiful woman she had become, half expecting her to still be the same eleven year old girl he met out on the road all those years ago.
Looking at her closely now, Toshiro wondered how he never noticed the family resemblance to the Shiba clan. Her blue eyes, which set her apart from her Sister and Brother, were most definitely like that of the Shiba clan in the soul society. Her silky dark hair was pulled back, different from how she wore it before. Karin had certainly grown in other areas, areas he never took notice of before. She wasn't as curvy as his lieutenant, her curves were much softer and suited her. She certainly had lost her boyish figure. This would most likely be the last time they looked similar in age, something that had seem to have made him a little sad.
Toshiro brought his attention back to the conversation too late for his comfort. Both Isshin and Karin were staring at him, waiting for him to say something.
Issshin looked from his daughter to Toshiro and felt himself smile.
"See something you like there son?"
"What?" Toshiro asked, his frigid voice deadly.
"Ignore him." Karin said rolling her eyes. "Come on Toshiro I'll show you where you're staying."
"Where I'm staying?" He asked so confused he hadn't bother to correct her like he usually did.
"Wow you really weren't paying attention were you?" Karin laughed.
"Oh it's Toshiro is it? Not Captain Hitsugaya? I didn't realize you two were so close." He chuckled. "Come to think of it, when did the two of you even get a chance to become acquainted?"
"That's none of your business." Karin shot at him, grabbing Toshiro's wrist and leading him up the stairs, leaving her father in the living room gaping after the both of them.
"Why did you do that?" Toshiro asked annoyed.
"Do what?" Karin asked as she pushed her door opened. "This is my room you can stay here, I'll stay with Yuzu."
"Why didn't you tell your dad when we met? Now he's going to read more into it than there was."
"He's going to do that anyway no matter what story you tell him." She shoot back her arms folded and slightly annoyed. I guess the height growth didn't come with personality growth. "Let me go get you some fresh sheets. I'll be right back." Karin said as she left the room.
Toshiro looked around the room, feeling a bit out of place. He wasn't really sure how he had ended up staying here. Actually he was hoping to stay with Ichigo, as Ichigo was less likely to annoy him like the former Captain would.
Toshiro walked over to the small desk in back of the room, the framed photographs catching his eyes. He picked up the picture of a beautiful women with soft features. She had the same face shape of Karin, but the smile matched more with Yuzu. This must be her mother. The woman his Captain had left the soul society for so suddenly. He put the picture down and picked up another one, smiling to himself. Karin was sitting in a room, holding a baby with bright orange hair. Her face clearly showing how uncomfortable she was holding her baby nephew. Toshiro put it down before picking up the next one, a family shot. Ichigo in the middle with both his arms around his sisters. This was was taken more recently he thought. Karin looked the same. Ichigo wore an easy smile, something that had happened after him and Orihime got married, the constant scowl now long gone. Karin was smiling but Toshiro could tell she was trying not to smile so freely. On the other side was Yuzu, who too had grown into a beautiful woman. Her smile was more open, easy and it lit up her whole face. Captain's going to have trouble on his hands with these two. Finally he picked up the last framed picture on the desk. Karin with her arms around a man. She was kissing his check and he was smiling like an idiot. Toshiro found himself growing annoyed at the stupid look on his face.
"That's Eric." Karin said announcing her return.
Toshiro jumped accidentally slamming the photo down so hard it shattered the glass. Karin raised her brow at him before walking the fresh sheets over to the bed.
"Yeah. My dad doesn't like him either." She added casually stripping the sheets from the bed.
"I didn't say that." Toshiro said defensively. If my former Captain doesn't like him, there must be something wrong with him. The Captain may be a idiot but he always had good instincts.
"Of course you didn't." Karin added. "Besides you've never even met him."
Toshiro watched silently as Karin fitted the sheets over the bed. She pulled the old case from the pillow and replaced it with a fresh one.
"Sorry to make you go through all this trouble. I would have preferred to stay with Ichigo to be honest."
"Weren't you listening earlier?" She laughed again. "Kazui is sick. They have their hands full over there."
"I see. Urahara then?"
"Only if you want to spend your time sweeping the shop instead of doing whatever it is your supposed to be doing. Why are you here anyways?"
"Official business." He said stiffly.
"Well obviously." Karin cocked her head to the side looking at him intently. She could definitely sense he was uncomfortable but she couldn't sense the source of it.
"You still play?" Toshiro nodded to the poster hanging on the back of the wall, changing the subject.
Karin turned around looking at it and smiled.
"Haven't played in years." She turned back around to look at him. "You're all set here. I put some fresh towels here on the chair for you." She said pointing to a chair by the door. "I'll see you around Toshiro." She added walking out the door and closing it behind her.
Toshiro sat on the bed and sighed in annoyance. He only came here looking for Ichigo and somehow ended up staying here for the length of the investigation.
I shouldn't complain. He thought swinging his legs over and laying on the bed. I have a place to sleep and food to eat thanks to their generosity. I'll be able to focus more on the investigation if I don't have to worry about those trivial matters. Toshiro began compiling a plan, trying to think of where to go next in the investigation. He had hoped Urahara would have known something, anything about the missing soul reapers.
Toshiro heard a loud sound coming from the window, disrupting his flow of thought. He got up from the bed and walked over to the window looking out.
He could see Karin walking towards the source of the nose, a car he thought, playing unbelievably annoying music. A tall man with sandy colored hair was leaning against it, his arms crossed. Toshiro felt his eyes roll. That's the idiot from the picture. He watched as the man pulled Karin into him when she got closer. He kissed her roughly his hands roaming down her body. Toshiro watched through the frosted glass as Karin tried to pull back from the idiot, obviously uncomfortable with his level of affection in front of her family home. Does this man have no sense of decorum?
"I believe the word you're looking for is crap weasel. As in my daughter's new boyfriend is a real crap weasel." Isshin called from the door way. Just like Karin, the former Captain had managed to surprise him. How can a man with such a large personality walk so quietly?
Isshin walked towards the window in time to see Karin slide into the car and watched as it sped down the street. Isshin glanced at Toshiro before peering back out the window. "There are some things women have to learn on their own. The idiocy of their boyfriends is one of them. Remember that Toshiro. The harder I push Karin to dump that loser the more she'll like him."
"That's really not my business." Toshiro threw out casually as Isshin walked back towards the door.
"Is that why my window's frosted over?" Isshin asked. "Dinner's at 7. You know where to find me if you need anything, Captain Hitsugaya."