Disclaimer: Bleach does not belong to me. This is a purely fictional story based on the characters and story created by Tite Kubo, to whom they do belong.

I know what some of you are thinking, and that's probably what the hell are you doing starting another fic when you haven't updated the others in ages!. Well, truth be told, I'm not quite sure myself! :P Only that this quite literally jumped out to me in the middle of the night and was written within an hour. If there are any mistakes, I do apologise. But other than that, enjoy rhis first chapter of... who knows how many more! ;)

KKTH

Chapter 1

KKTH

Karin sat at the desk, writing furiously. She had to get it out or else their story wouldn't be heard. She knew Matsumoto was on her way and knew she would find it. She would do the right thing, or so she hoped. Glancing over at the stiff figure, she knew he was waiting for the reiatsu to decide which was it was going to go. He wasn't a fool; Karin knew he knew who it was. He was torn between seeing her again and running. But without knowing how she would react, they couldn't risk any meeting with them. Turning back to the piece of paper in front of her, she continued to write.

Whoever finds this letter, please understand. We are tired of running, tired of fighting. We just want to be left alone... we have been running for so long it was hard to tell exactly when it had happened. It should never have happened, but it did and we're now paying the price. Being outcast from our homes, losing all friends and alliances we held and trusting no one but ourselves and each other. We could never dream to settle anywhere for too long, what with you and Aizen both hounding us. You want Toushirou back to deal with him in the 'appropriate way'. Aizen wants him for his own mysterious reasons. Compared to Aizen, Toushirou did nothing wrong. All he did was love me and refuse to give me up. I told him to wait until I had died, then we could be together without much of a hassle. Seventy or so years is not a long time, but he refused. We argued about it for so long before I gave up and let him have his way. That was a mistake I should never have made. The fate of so many souls depended on his ability to command his troops and, compared to me, is a lot more important.

Our first meeting... it was so long ago it's nothing but a fuzzy memory. That day started the rest of my life. Being saved from the Menos was just adding to the foundation. He never knew the reason for the emotions he felt that day; even now he puzzles over them. With no one to ask, we do nothing but put it away for a time where we can stop and think. I kept seeing him everywhere, in the corner of my eye. But when I turned, he was no longer there. I gave him the nickname of Stalker, because that is what it seemed like he was doing. Eventually enough was enough and I had decided, demanded he show himself. He did of course, unable to disagree with the way I demanded it. A few choice words were exchanged before he confessed he couldn't stay away from me. Despite being twelve, I knew he spoke the truth. It was like this had happened before, a very long time ago. Even now, we cannot stay away from each other any longer than a few weeks. This was another thing we cannot afford to dwell upon. But no matter, that is not the point to this record.

This liaison continued for a few years, him coming to see me whenever he could afford to. I was constantly worried about him, knowing the War was expanding out into longer than had been intended. Sometimes I saw him every week, sometimes I saw him once or twice a month. But he always came back to me, was always a consistent person in my life. It was inevitable that I would eventually fall for him. He grew as I did, the Living World finally having an effect on his stunted growth. By the time I was eighteen, he towered over me. Still as cold as ever, he literally grew into his powers. His shikai and bankai has grown so much more powerful. It amazes even himself at just how much more power he attained during those six years. What was even better, at the time, was the fact that I had Ichigo for a brother, Isshin for a father and Toushirou for a best friend and all had relatively high reiatsu, I was bound to gain some ability from all the influence. Fuyu Kasai materialised one day without any sort of summoning to present me with the zanpakutou. She said she had been woken from her slumber by the screams echoing through my soul and had deemed it time to show herself.

Toushirou, though he would never say it, is frightened by the sudden materialisation. I didn't even have a shinigami form, so having a zanpakutou without one was practically unheard of. The screams she had awoken to had been a warning for what was to come, I see that now. Having no fear, I learnt from my zanpakutou. I never realised what consequences would await me once others found out. And they did find out, and with that, the relationship we had kept secret for so many years. I had been taken to my old home and was kept under house arrest with Rukia and Renji as the guards. Kidou enforced barriers were placed around the perimeter of the property. I had no idea what was going on, nor what had happened to Toushirou. It was agony, knowing he was in trouble and not being able to help. You could not know the torture it was, hearing the hushed whispers of a trial and power stripping and never being able to ask any questions. I could get no word to him, nor him get word to me. The two I thought were good friends had become the enemy, people who could no longer be trusted. I couldn't even trust my own brother for fear he would tell Rukia and Renji, who would inform their higher ups. You were counting on that, I know.

I kept my silence no matter what. I knew Toushirou's fate rode on whatever I said, so I said nothing. Bribes and pleas didn't work, threats and violence didn't work, and nothing could convince me into giving anything away. When I saw him, I could feel my heart breaking. He had been beaten up severely, the numerous cuts and bruises telling me all he never would. Was that entirely necessary? You know how stubborn he is, did you honestly expect him to just roll over and give everything up without a fight? He refused to look at me, not wanting to seem weak in my eyes. I didn't care about his ego; I just wanted to make sure he was alright. I hope whoever finds this letter can only barely imagine what we were feeling. Needless to say, we escaped. I'll leave the details out in case the need ever arises again, but we will never surrender. We will never stop running. We will fight to the death and beyond.

I sit here and reminisce but the fact of the matter is we are being hunted down in-between the skirmishes you engage in with Aizen. He will never give me up, I know that. I would never dream to leave Toushirou. It's too late for that now. We're in it for the long haul, come rain or come shine. No matter what happens, I will never stop loving him. He is my entire reason for living, the other half of my soul. Sappy, but I speak the truth. He feels the same way; he doesn't have to say it.

So please, take into account what we have gone through. If loving is against the law, then we shouldn't be the only outlaws on the run. Ichigo and Rukia should also be charged with the crimes we are being faced with. Just because Ichigo saved your asses more times than you can count, and that Rukia is Byakuya's sister. That wouldn't be fair, would it? If that were the case, you'd have no soldiers to fight this forsaken war you've started. What does it matter if it's a human? Love is love, pure and simple. We just want you to know.

Karin left it unsigned, folding it up neatly and placed it against the intricately designed candle stick holder. Standing up, she made her way over to Toushirou, looking out the window. No words were needed to be spoken; they knew they had to leave. Placing a hand on her should, he turned and pressed a chaste kiss to the side of her head. Closing her eyes briefly, she felt the weariness she knew he could feel. Constantly being on the run was tiresome. As he walked away, she glanced out the window one last time, feeling the flickering reiatsu of Matsumoto. The curtains fell closed, obscuring her view of the outside world.

"Karin, we leave in five minutes," Toushirou warned softly, turning all the lights off and erasing most of their presence from the room. It would do them no good for them to find anything other than the letter that could track them down.

"Yeah, okay," Karin replied, heading over to the room they had been sleeping in.

Shoving her clothes into the bag, she didn't hear the soft footsteps dancing along the hall way. She did, however, notice a small shadow looming behind her. Turning slightly, she knew exactly who it was. Smiling slightly, she continued to pack her clothes away. It wasn't like she had many in the first place. When she felt the small hand touch her arm, she turned to see a messy mop of white hair and piercing green eyes peeking out from under thick dark lashes.

"Yuuki, what are you doing?" Karin asked her daughter, scooping her up into her arms.

"We're leaving again," she said as an explanation.

Karin sighed, knowing exactly what she meant. This was no life for a child, yet they were given no choice. As far as they knew, no one was aware of Yuuki's existence. They wanted to keep it that way, for if anyone in the Seireitei knew they had a child who knew what extremes they would go through to get their hands on her. Karin unconsciously tightened her hold on Yuuki, unwanted images of what terrifying tortures Mayuri Kurotsuchi would inflict upon her 'in the name of science'. Realising that Yuuki was squirming in defiance of tightened hold, Karin released her, placing her on the ground gently.

"Quickly, go pack your things. Get your father to help," Karin instructed her daughter. Yuuki nodded and scrambled off to her room. Sighing, Karin pulled the zipper closed on the bag and stood up, taking one last look around the room before she walked out. The room would be purged of any sort of reiatsu traces within a few minutes to prevent anyone from tracking them down.

Dropping the bag by the door, she looked over to see the two most important people in her life play fight with each other. A small smile graced her lips as she continued to watch them. Toushirou looked up to see her watching and smiled back before turning his attention back to his daughter. Looking back out towards the covered window, Karin could sense that Matsumoto hadn't come any closer. As she continued to map out where everyone was, she felt a figure enter her peripheral vision.

'She is undecided, mistress,' a silky voice said.

Turning her head, she came face to face with the materialised essence of her zanpakutou. Fuyu Kasai bowed to Karin before falling to her knee respectfully. Karin had long ago gotten used to her zanpakutou's mannerisms, now preferring her to do what she felt comfortable with rather than forcing her to comply with how Karin wanted her to do things. Karin sighed, turning her gaze back to the horizon.

"She will decide soon," Karin murmured, resting her hand on the top of Fuyu Kasai's head gently.

'Whatever her decision, I shall protect you and Mistress Yuuki with all I have and then more,' Fuyu Kasai vowed, her head never moving from its submissive position.

When Karin had first met Fuyu Kasai, she was absolutely petrified. Here was this fierce tribal like warrior woman, hair a wild tangled mess and what seemed like fire burning in her eyes as she demanded that Karin take up the blade and defend herself. Karin did not know what to do. What made her so dangerous were her combined powers over the elements of fire and ice. She was one of a kind. She was also the one responsible for hiding both herself and Hyourinmaru from the sight of those who are not spiritually aware. It was useful, to say the least.

The sudden defensive stance Fuyu Kasai took pulled Karin out her thoughts immediately. Her eyes scanned the horizon to find no trace of Matsumoto. Cursing, she called to Toushirou as her zanpakutou took off. Toushirou was ready in an instant, Hyourinmaru in one hand and Yuuki curled up against his shoulder, surprisingly calm. While it would upset any other four year old, for Yuuki this was a normal occurrence. Karin already had the bags in hand and her own zanpakutou glued to her side.

"We leave, now," Toushirou said, sweeping through the house erasing any traces of reiatsu.

Karin sighed; she had grown to like this place. Hefting the bags onto her shoulder, she trailed after Toushirou to the car they had taken off the hands of an old lady who had no use for it anymore. It was in very good condition and blended in wherever it went. Strapping Yuuki into the back, she shut the door and climbed into the front seat. They were off in no time, suppressing their reiatsu as low as they could and ensuring Yuuki's reiatsu suppressor was still in place. Much like her uncle, Yuuki had a monstrous reiatsu that could be detected from miles around. Her birth had almost been the death of both her and her mother, drawing an overwhelming number of Hollows to the area. She hated wearing it but knew she had to or else they would get caught. Toushirou looked at her through the rear view mirror and sighed. He never wanted this type of living for his family. But until anything was resolved, they would keep two steps ahead of whoever pursed them.

"Where did Fuyu Kasai run off to?" asked Toushirou quietly.

Karin paused, tracking her down and working out where she was. "She's halfway between my mind and the house. It seems Matsumoto is close by."

Scowling, he put his foot down on the accelerator. They needed as much distance between them and the house as possible and the quick find Matsumoto was about to discover would not help them much. As they drove, the sun slowly set in the distance along with the disappearing reiatsu of Matsumoto. She had stayed at the house for quite some hours before leaving in the opposite direction. This surprised Karin, but Toushirou was not. He knew she would try and get the letter straight to Yamamoto's hands, regulations on the matter be damned.

"Try and sleep a little, it'll be a few more hours until we've arrived at our destination," Toushirou advised quietly, not wanting to wake the snoozing child in the back.

"Hmm..." Karin replied distantly, her eyes already sliding closed and head resting against the cool glass of the car window.

Toushirou smiled and turned back to the road, hoping they would reach their destination quickly.

KKTH

Darkness. It's all around me, closing in and suffocating me. I'm scared, so very scared... where is everyone? Where did they go? Was I bad? Did I do something wrong? Why did they leave me alone? I don't understand... am I dead? In the void between life and death? I can't feel anything, no ground beneath my feet, no wind flowing through the air... yet it's cold, so very cold... I'm frightened... why is no one here to protect me? Why can I not protect myself?

This presence, this atmosphere, its evil, it scares me almost as much as this darkness... but this evil, it pervades my very soul, penetrates the deepest part of my essence. I cannot escape from it, cannot run away. Where is this place, this place filled with such an evil presence... so dark and cold it chills you to the very bone? I want to know yet fear the destination. Where are my family? Are they too trapped in this darkness?

I must run, try and find a semblance of light in this suffocating darkness.