Title: Oblivion
Author: MeteorLeopard (HoneyBadger)
This (very short) one-shot was heavily inspired by a stunning picture done by "sadista0907" on DeviantArt. Go here to look at it: art/HitsuKarin-Week-3-Snow-364091107
This is set somewhere after Ichigo finding out the truth about his mother. However, it can also be at some point in the 17 months after losing his powers after defeating Aizen. This one-shot only has HINTS of spoilers and nothing is bluntly given away, so it should be okay to read.
Karin had known what she was getting herself into. She had known that she would have to stand before her family and smile as half of her very being was ripped away. But it is alright. If Ichi-nii can endure it, then so can she. And it is time for Ichi-nii to stop suffering. It is time for him to stop falling into despair. It is time for him to be whole again. Even if it means that she will not be. She knows all this.
It does not mean that she is ready for it though.
Ichigo is standing in the circle about five meters away from her. Urahara had drawn it earlier and instructed Ichi-nii to stand in it and not step out regardless of what happened. She is standing in her own little circle. Urahara has enlisted the help of two captains to assist in this ritual.
"Karin." Ichigo is speaking, and from the tone alone Karin knows that he is going to try and convince her otherwise. "You don't have to-"
She stops him. "Ichi-nii. Stop being stupid." And for a second, Karin thinks that this might provoke him and get him to yell at her, like he should be, scolding her for something silly. But he doesn't. Instead she watches as resignation floods his eyes. She hates that look. It's like back then when he had no reiatsu. Like when, unable to see ghosts, he'd become a ghost himself. So she plasters a smile onto her face, one that she is sure he can see through. "Stop being so down, Ichi-nii! And make sure to stay in there, yeah?"
Urahara pipes up then, snapping his fan. "Yes, yes, Kurosaki-san. You and your sister must both stay in your circles." He points his fan at the both of them. "If either of you step out, the ritual is cancelled, but Karin-san does not regain her inherent abilities. Lost. Poof. Gone." The man pauses for further emphasis. "So once we begin its all or nothing, got it?" He sounds too happy.
She nods. And then, seeing her acquiescence, Ichigo nods too.
Urahara turns towards the two captains standing behind her circle and takes his own position behind Ichigo's. "Begin!"
Karin watches numbly as the white circle around her feet lights up in a pale blue glow. This will be it. The last time that she will sense the spirits of the dead. Having one's innate abilities sucked out feels strange. Somewhat chilling. At least it doesn't hurt, but still Karin thinks she might cry.
The last of the pressure dissipates from her body and Karin feels herself falling to her knees. Vaguely she registers Urahara keeping Ichigo within his own circle as it begins to glow blue. Karin feels her lips twitch into a smile. Pretty.
Two hands alight on her shoulders before the body rushes around to fall to their own knees before her. Her smile trembles but holds when she sees his distressed face.
"Karin-"
She shushes him, lifting a hand to run it through his messy white hair. Perhaps she should have given him that pink hairclip that she'd always mockingly promised him after all. "Guess that's it."
Whiteness is already eating at his edges. His hands clasping hers are feeling flimsy. "Karin."
She leans their foreheads together, desperate for just a little more contact, another last touch. Just a bit more, just a bit. "Toushirou. You'd better remember me, Toushirou." He doesn't correct her. He is trying to choke back the impending loneliness, just as she is. It is a large, hideous lump stuck somewhere between her throat and heart.
"You idiot," he mutters. "I'll see you. I'll keep watch over you."
She smacks his arm. "Don't you dare. What are you, a stalker?" He is half gone, white fog having consumed his captain's haori and most of his legs by now.
He seems frantic all of a sudden, reaching to his vanishing chest and ripping the star-shaped clip from its chain. Karin fancies she can hear the distant clunk of Hyourinmaru's blade hitting the ground. He thrusts it at her, curling her fingers around it. "Keep it," he breathes harshly. "Keep it safe." And right then Karin knows that it's not a clip that he's giving her.
His waist. His back. His shoulders. His arms. His neck.
And then he looks at her, and the terrible pity in his eyes breaks something in her.
A shaking hand is reaching towards his cheek, racing the oblivion for a last touch. "Toushirou-"
Her hand meets empty air.
A/N: I made it purposefully vague to let you all think about it for a minute. Let me know if you have any questions!