A/N:

A NEW FANFICTION! Don't forgot to review!

Summary:

17 months have passed since the Winter War and Karin hasn't seen or heard from Toshiro since. Just when she was beginning to believe that the white haired captain may have died during the war, she finds the person himself collapsed in front of her house, half-dead and in a gigai. HitsuKarin. AU.

Disclaimer:

I do NOT own Bleach in any way, shape, or form. It belongs to their respective owner, Tite Kubo.

Prologue…

"War? You're going to war?" The raven-haired girl asked in a choked voice filled with sadness and worry, the dark lighting in the room worsening the atmosphere. Her shoulders trembled slightly and she gripped the sheets on her bed tightly in anxiety as she stared down at the wooden floor.

She wouldn't dare look at him. She couldn't bring herself to look into his teal eyes, for she knew that if she did, all of her emotions – sadness, loneliness, weakness – would be discovered in her moist gray eyes. She couldn't bear the thought of having the opportunity of looking into his captivating teal eyes for what may be the last time and yet she didn't because of some stupid ego of hers. The fear of losing him in battle and not being able to lose herself in those same eyes was simply too much for her to endure. Biting her lower lip, the girl raised her head slowly and found herself absorbed into his teal eyes with her upturned eyes. Before she realized it, she had immediately released the tears she had fought back for so long just by having one look at his face. The pain and the fear of losing another person close to her was just too great for her to bear and she broke into small sobs, reverting her gaze on the ground.

The figure in front of the window seemed to be slightly taken aback, frowning as he watched the tears drop from her face and onto the floor. Sighing and unsure of what to do, he removed his zanpakuto from his shinigami attire and was about to place it by the window before pausing. Staring at the green sash that was wrapped around his zanpakuto in his hand, he decided to remove the sash. After not too long, the sash was removed, leaving only the zanpakuto in its sheath near the window and the star clip in his left hand and the sash in his right.

He approached the now quietly sobbing girl and sat down on her bed beside her, grabbing her right hand into his left. Startled, the girl shot her head up from the view of the wooden floor and into his teal eyes.

"Karin," he began, looking at her tear-stained face with an unknown emotion in his eyes as he placed the green sash into her hand and closed her fingers around it, "I want you to keep this for me. So when I come back, and I promise I will, I want you to return it to me."

"But, Toshiro," she hiccupped between breaths, "what about your sword?"

He shook his head and wiped the tears off her face. "I'll find something. Don't worry about it."

"No. Wait." She ordered, having somewhat calmed down, and got off the bed, leaving a somewhat puzzled Toshiro.

The girl scurried around the room in search of something like a squirrel jumping from one tree to another, collecting acorns. After one minute of watching her run around the room, the white-haired boy laid back onto her bed and placed his arms behind his head to relax. Almost having dozed off during the wait, Toshiro looked at the golden star clip in his left hand. Not really thinking too much about it, he grasped it tightly in his hand, almost capable of forming a complete fist with the clip in his hand. Feeling a weight being added on top of his abdomen, his thoughts were shattered as he realized Karin's face was in front of him, only a few inches away from his.

Karin had calmed down considerably after being consoled and reassured of his return from the war by giving her his sash. He felt rather relieved when the raven-haired girl simply accepted his proposal. Truth to be told, even he himself wasn't sure if he was going to come back from the war alive, but he had to stay strong for Karin. Sure, he had given her his sash as a promise of his return, but to him, it would also serve as a momento – what it would signify if he really did die during the war. It was something for her to confide in when she missed or needed him. Something to remind her that he would always be there by her side, even if he wasn't physically there. All he hoped now that if he were to lose his life, his momento wouldn't cause her unnecessary grief or sadness or give her bad memories from when he was around. However, Karin is a strong girl, a strong and sensible girl, so worrying about the negative aspect of his notion probably wouldn't matter.

"… iro… shiro… Toshiro!"

"Huh?" His thoughts were once again shattered by Karin calling his name. He was so lost in thought that he unknowingly made a stupid expression after being called back to Earth.

A chuckle escaped her lips as she looked down at him with a gentle smile. "What's with that stupid look?"

Feeling the heat rush up to his cheeks, he quickly looked away, hoping that she wouldn't notice the slight blush and that the dark might help in this cause. "Shut up. I was thinking. Anyways," he looked back at her, fighting the blush down, "why are you sitting on me?"

"Oh. That's because you were so lost in thought that you didn't hear me calling you until I sat on you. When you did notice me, you got lost in thought again." After giving her reason, she eyed the clip in the boy's hand and opened her mouth to say something. Shaking her head immediately after, she revealed a gold chain, dangling it in front of Toshiro's face. "Ta da! You can use this. Now, give me your clip, so I can put it on."

Toshiro stared at the clip in his hand for a while before finally answering. "… Is it even strong enough to hold Hyorinmaru?" She grunted in frustration and swiped the clip from the boy's hand. "Watch it! You almost took my hand off!"

"Just shut up and take it." She snapped as she connected the two together, ignoring the glare that was sent her way. After she handed it back to him, she looked at him with serious eyes that almost seemed like they were pleading to him. "The same goes for me. When you come back, be sure to give it back to me. Okay?"

The glare was immediately replaced by a small smile that Toshiro only allows a few people to see. "You bet."

"Stay safe… And," she paused to close the already short distance between their lips, "make sure you come back to me."

Instead of being bewildered by the sudden notion, a gentle expression filled with affection adorned his face. "Yeah. Damn right, I will." He confirmed confidently before bringing her face down to crash her lips into his for a compassionate kiss.

A/N:

How was it? Did you like it? I hope you did. Please review!

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