{Heys, this is mah first fanfic, so im NOT going to say go easy on me; be as hard as you want. Tell me if chu see's any gramar or other messups, and gomen if any of my japanese is wrong, please tell em, ill fix it! None of this belongs to me, everything belongs to their rightful owners.}
{Karin's POV}
I lay on the river bank, listening to the quiet trickle as the river flowed and a family of ducks quacked their way down the stream. The sky was lit, with hints of mango among the faded fushia, and lilac before blending into the darkening blue sky. The grass beneath me was warm, as I'd been laying there the past two hours. the music from my IPod was barely audible over the river.
I sighed as I stood. Yuzu and Dad were probably waiting for me. Mom had died when Yuzu and I were little. Everything was so different now. Ichigo had disappeared. That baka! We both knew something was going on, and he wouldn't tell me anything.
I looked up as I walked the familiar path home, and saw people staring at me. I realized I was stomping. I sighed, and looked up at the moon. Shit, Yuzu was definitely going to be worried. She was crying, and pounced on me when I finally stepped in the house. I landed on the floor with a thud, and winced as my head hit the ground. Tears streaked Yuzu's face.
"Karin-Chan!" She wailed. I hugged Yuzu.
"Gomen, Yuzu." I said as I held her tightly. Yuzu squeezed me so hard my ribs hurt, even after she let go and helped me up.
"Karin-Chan! I thought you disappeared, like.." She couldn't finish
"Like Ichi-Nii?" She nodded, as more tears jumped from her eyes. I smiled sadly.
"Yuzu, you know I'd never.." I couldn't finish. Yuzu thought I was choked up because of Ichi-Nii, but I wasn't sure I could make that promise. The hollows had been appearing more often, and thought Ichigo, and Toushirou, another Shinigami I'd met, had tried to forbid me from attacking them, they had disappeared. The hollows hadn't. The resident Shinigami wasn't able to appear everywhere fast enough to kill them when I ran. So I killed them.
Yuzu reached up and wiped her tears. She gave me a smile.
"C'mon, there's soup ready." Just then, my father came bouncing into the room.
"My beautiful Karin is home!" He tried to hug me, but just then my foot met his face. He loudly sobbed to the poster of my mother, about how strong and beautiful her daughters were. I rolled my eyes, and followed Yuzu into the kitchen.
{Karin's POV}
Yuzu was sitting on her heals, rolling my pant leg up as I sat on my bed. She pulled out a bottle of peroxide, and a cotton swab. I grimaced. Cotton swabs felt really weird, I couldn't stand them.
"This should be the last time," Yuzu said, seeing my face. The injuries from my last soccer game were almost healed now. I grimaced as the peroxide bubbled. Think soccer, I told myself to forget what Yuzu was doing. I started to remember the game where I'd gotten that injury.
Those damn middle schoolers, had refused to acknowledge that the field was ours. so a challenge had been issued. whoever won this game, won the soccer field. Unfortunately, my team was losing, badly. The guys were losing hope, fast. I tried to yell at them, but you can't force someone to hope. But their eyes had lit up just like mine had, when we'd seen the Shinigami walking towards us in his gigai.
"Toushirou!" I called a time out, and raced toward him with the rest of my team. I ignored the pain in my knee where the middle schooler had kicked me. He chatted with the guys for a minute, in that icy, bored attitude. When he looked over and saw my knee, his teal eyes seemed to grow colder. His voice was colder than ice when he asked
"You're hurt?"
I flinched in pain as I was jolted back into reality by Yuzu wrapping a bandage tightly around my knee. I looked at the window, trying to ignore how tight the bandage was. I saw something white flash, and I tried to get up to see what.
"Karin-Chan please stay still!" I looked over, and saw Yuzu biting her lip. I apologized, and forced myself to sit still. She finally finished, and we changed into our pajamas. We'd had to buy her new ones, because hers had disappeared a few months ago. I knew why now, Ichigo's Shinigami friend had stolen them. I'd seen them on her, when she was in her gigai. But when her phone went off, they would both desert their bodies and run off. I knew why now, her phone told her where hollows were. Toushirou had told me, when I asked why he always ran off when it beeped.
I lay in my covers for hours, long after Yuzu had begun to snore softly. I slowly faded into sleep.
We sat on the railing, talking. I'd had a feeling everything was about to change, and there was no way I could stop it. I surprised myself when I asked the question, I hadn't even really been thinking about it. ~
"When do you leave?" He turned, and those icy eyes seemed...warm, like a green sea, instead of the arctic ocean.
"Whenever Captain-Commander Yamamoto orders us back." I pondered that for a while. Then, another question came out of nowhere.
"Will you come say good-bye?" I had no idea where these questions were coming from, and they were starting to embarrass me.
"I probably won't have time." His eyes stared intently at me. "Why do you ask?" This, at least, I could answer normally.
"Because we're friends." His eyes froze up again, and gave away nothing. "Hey, Toushirou?" he was kind of annoyed when he looked up.
"Yeah?" His brow was furrowed as he frowned at me.
"Can you tell me more about Shinigami's and Hollows?" I asked, and he glared at me.
"No! If you see a hollow, run. For gods sake, don't try to fight." He said vehemently. " You don't need to know about Shinigami. You should pretend you don't see anything." I glared back at him.
"You're just like Ichi-Nii! Except you admit Shinigami exist. He shoves me away, too. I've tried pretending I don't see them. But they still come, they still hurt people. I know Ichi-Nii wouldn't fight just because he could. He'd fight to protect, and I want to too! Why should he get to, and not me? He can't be everywhere, and do everything..he'll get hurt if he tries." Toushirou looked away, and he wouldn't look back at me for a while. We sat in silence, and I clenched my fist, and focused on the pain, so I wouldn't cry.
"What did he say to you?" My nails drew blood, and I had to focus even more not to cry.
"He told me I was crazy. That he didn't know what I was talking about. That baka! I haven't seen him since." Those were were thick, almost choked. But I wouldn't cry. I hadn't cried since the year mom died. I didn't look up, though I felt Toushirou's piercing, beautiful teal eyes on me. When I finally looked up, he spoke.
"Karin, I can't speak for Kurosaki, but I think he wants to protect you." I growled in frustration.
"How am I supposed to be safe, if I don't know whats dangerous? I need to know, and he won't tell me..and neither will you." I looked away, bitterly. Toushirou sighed.
"Gomen nasai. But my world is for the dead. If you want to know, ask Kuchiki and Kurosaki."
"Ugh! The whole point of asking you was because they're not here, they won't tell me!" I looked at him, and saw the truth. "So you don't want me to know, either?" He shook his head. I tried to focus on something else. I didn't expect him pushing me away would hurt. He wouldn't find out though.
"What did you mean for the dead?" Toushirou looked surprised.
"Right, I forgot you didn't know. It can't hurt to tell you this much. All Shinigami are dead-usually. Your brother is an exception. When people die, they are sent to Rukongai. Some peoples reiatsu begins to rise, and they choose to join the Shinigami Academy. They learn to control their powers, and manifest their Zanpakutou, and how to do kudo- demon magic." I stared at him, slowly processing and storing the information.
"How did Ichi-Nii become one then?" I asked. Toushirou shook his head.
"Kurosaki's story, not mine. Or you could ask Kuchiki. Since it was all.." He trailed off, and i sighed in frustration. I was getting no where. "Karin, don't worry. It's highly likely, because of your current reiatsu that you'll become a Shinigami when you die. You can protect people then. For now, just enjoy your life." He said, and his eyes looked a little misty. Maybe it was someday, but I wanted to be able to protect Yuzu now. So I wouldn't lose her like I lost mom.
Masaki still has a lot of influence in my life. I kept a picture of all of them, and sometimes I'd walk alone to her grave, and talk to her. I got an urge to right now, but I probably couldn't get home in time. I nearly asked Toushirou to take me, but I wanted to talk to mom about him, and I didn't want him to hear. It could wait 'til morning, tomorrow was a Saturday. The sun faded in the distance, and Toushirou looked up from his rapid texting.
"Karin, you should go home." I ignored him and pulled out my phone. I pressed a few buttons, and waited for Yuzu to pick up.
"Karin-Chan!" Yuzu greeted me warmly.
"Hey Yuze. I might be home late, so can you put dinner for me in the fridge? And put Otou-san on the phone?" I could see Yuzu nodding in my head.
"Karin-Chan!" I rolled my eyes at my father, he was so child-like.
"Otou-san, can I please stay out late tonight?"
"Are you going on a date? With who? Is he respectable? I'm going to be a grandfather!" He exclaimed. I growled.
"Otou-san! I'm not going on a date, you freegin' perv!"
"Karin-Chan, why are you so mean?" He whined. I could hear Yuzu giggling in the background.
"Because you have a big enough ego already; we have to keep it to a normal size. Can I, Otou-san?" I waited while he thought.
"Why do you want to stay out?" I bit my lip; I didn't want to have to say this, but I had to.
" I want to go see Okaa-san." Silence ensued my comment, finally, he said.
"Okay. Be home by eleven." He hung up. I looked over at Toushirou. It was nine-ish.
"I'm not going home for a while. You should though." He seemed to have finished his report, because he finally stopped texting.
"Where are you going?" I grimaced.
"To hike a huge hill." He looked at me like I was crazy.
"Why would you?" He obviously thought I was stupid.
"To go see my mother." Understanding filled his eyes.
"I can help you," he offered. I smiled sadly.
"No, this conversation is between me and Okaa-san." He looked offended, it must happen often, because he had the face perfected.
"I wouldn't listen in!" My smile turned genuine.
"Okay then." We both stood up, and I stood there awkwardly, not sure what to do. I froze when he picked me up, and was carrying me around in one arm. I mean, come on, I'm not that light. Before I could say anything, he jumped on one of the highest branches of a tree, then over to a building. Soon we were jumping through the sky. I looked down, and laughed.
"Kakura is really pretty from up here." He muttered, and it sounded like
"Yeah and a hell hole for any Shinigami." I looked up at him, and wiggled. His arm was digging into my stomach. "Stay still," He insisted.
"You're making it hard to breathe," I argued. He stopped on a building, and set me down.
"I can not believe I'm saying this, but get on." He crouched so I could climb on his back, and I held my laughter until I had my arms wrapped around his chest, and we were almost flying through the air again, creating a nice breeze. Toushirou giving me a piggy back ride... The laughter escaped.
{Karin's POV}
He followed me silently to my mothers grave, and then backed off to the tree line. I knelt in front of the white grave.
"Hey, Oka-san. I know it hasn't been that long since I last came to see you, but so much is happening.. Ichi-Nii...hes gone, Oka-san! And I miss him, no matter how mad I am at him. Hes still my Ichi-Nii. And..I've started seeing everything Ichi-Nii has always been able to see. It's kind of scary, Oka-san. How could he stand it all?
"And Ichi-Nii's in danger. Toushirou told me hes training to protect us, Dad, and Yuzu, and me. The monsters he faces are evil. I want to help him, Oka-san! I want to protect Yuzu and Otou-san, and Ichi-Nii too! But I can't find any ways to help him. Toushirou won't tell me, and Ichi-Nii said I was crazy. Maybe I should ask the resident Shinigami, but hes weird. Hes got really bushy hair, and he's always running off for hollow."
"But Oka-san, I also came because of Toushirou. Hes the Shinigami over there." I half smiled." I don't know why, but I like him. I even trust him. Maybe its because I've seen him around Ichi-Nii, but I don't know. Oka-san, I miss you. You made our world have the sun always shining, but now..its like the sun is always setting. But its not right, there's no balance. I wish I could see you again, but that won't be for a long time.. I love you Oka-san." I smiled at the grave, and then stood up, and walked over to Toushirou. He was leaning against a tree, with one leg against it, and his eyes closed.
" You done?" He opened his eyes, and I nodded, suddenly tired. I climbed on his back again, and he carried me home. when I turned to thank him, he was gone. In the distance, I could hear that cell phone of his beeping. Smiling, I went inside, to raid the fridge.
{Karin's POV}
I woke up in the morning, and sat up, frowning. I fell asleep, yet, I had continued thinking about that night. Why had I dreamnt of it? Of him? Usually my dreams were filled with soccer, or nightmares of shopping with Yuzu. I sighed. It didn't matter. Toushirou had disappeared that night, and I hadn't seen him since. Everyday, at sunset, I would sit at that railing. It had become a habit, and, it made me feel closer to him. I kept hoping I would see him there, but I didn't know why. Yuzu burst in the room, smiling brilliantly.
"Karin-Chan! Wanna go see Ururu-Chan and Jinta-Kun?" She seemed so enthusiastic, I couldn't help but smile.
"Sure, Yuzu."
{Karin's POV}
A couple of hours later, we were at the Urahara shop. Jinta was arguing with Ururu, but his back was to us. When he reached to grab Ururu's piggy tails, I grabbed his hands. Ururu ran around Jinta, to hug Yuzu. I let him go once Ururu was out of range. the girls were squealing.
"You shouldn't bully Ururu so much, or I won't let you near Yuzu." I said. He spun around.
"What?" I sighed. If you're too rough, you might scare her away. And if you ever hurt her," I lowered my voice. "I'll tell Ichi-Nii. And he won't be the only one to hurt you." Jinta's eyes widened, then my words kicked in- the real meaning.
"You don't mind?" He stared in wonder.
"Not really. But remember, Ichi-Nii's friends might not get a shot at you." Jinta's eyes were guarded.
"What friends? Do you mean Sado, Orihime, and Ishida?" I shrugged.
"Not just them. I'm sure Ichi-Nii's Shinigami friends would hurt you too. Most of them look eager for a fight." And it was true. They all had this look in their eyes, and a way that they held themselves. I saw it all the time at school, though not as experienced or intense. Jinta stumbled back.
"Ichigo said you and Yuzu didn't know." Yuzu and Ururu hadn't really noticed our conversation; they'd gone inside to look at new Chappy posters. I glared.
"Ichi-Nii can fool himself all he want, and pretend I don't know, but I do."
"So...He's pretending you don't know?"
"Hai." The word was bitter.
"You should talk with Urahara-San and Tessai." He lead me into the shop, and bowed before knocking on a door. He pulled me down with him.
"Come in, Jinta-kun, Karin-San." We stood up, and I was surprised that Jinta waited for me to go through the door.
"Since when is he polite?" I muttered. I looked up, and I saw a strange man.
He was tall, with wavy short sandy hair. He wore a green and white vertical striped hat, with a black shirt. His pants were hidden by a table. Beside him, was Tessai. I smiled at Tessai, he'd always been very kind to Yuzu and I on our other visits.
"Karin-San, I am Urahara Kisuke, but you may call me Urahara-San. He patted a large -huge to tell the truth,- pitch black cat beside him. "This is Yoruichi." I frowned.
"How do you know my name?" He laughed, and for some reason, it kind of annoyed me.
"Ichigo talks about you and Yuzu-San a lot.
"Do you know where Ichi-Nii is? Toushirou could only tell me that hes training." Urahara-San peeked from behind a fan he had picked up.
"Hitsugaya-Kun? He usually insists on being called Hitsugaya-Taicho, actually. Not that you'd know why.." He murmured, and I snorted.
"I know why. I know about Shinigami's, but Ichi-Nii keeps blocking me. Jinta-Kun said I should talk to you about it." The look he gave me was kind of unnerving. I wasn't sure whether I could trust this person or not.
"Jinta-Kun, go talk with Ururu-Chan and Yuzu-San, tell them we're arguing over a price or something so they're not suspicious." His eyes didn't leave me. Jinta bowed and left.
"Karin-San, just how much do you know?" I sighed, and collected my memories.
"Not much. Just what I've figured out, and what Toushirou told me. So definitely not much. Actually, pretty much nothing." Tessai grunted. "Shinigami exist, and so do Hollows. Hollows are fallen souls, and try to eat other souls -dead or alive- to fill the void. Shinigami fight them. Normally, you have to die to become a Shinigami, but Ichi-Nii did it another way somehow. That's all I know." And I hated it.
"So Ichigo-Kun was lying, you do know about Shinigami." I shook my head.
"Hes fooling himself into thinking I don't.. I know its because he wants to protect me." But that did not mean I liked it.
"I see. And what do you want to do?" I stared, and was suddenly, very confused.
"I...I want to learn, at least. And..is it possible for me to be trained?" I asked, not daring to hope.
"Well, information we can definitely give. And we can train you so your reiatsu rises, enough that you would be even more likely to make the change." I hesitated, and jumped when I heard a masculine voice say
"Is something wrong?" I looked up from staring at my cup of tea, and saw the cat talking.
"Y-Yoruichi-San!" I could feel my jaw hanging limply.
"Yes, I can talk," she said, sounding amused.
"Well..." I thought about her question before answering. "If I became a Shinigami, would I have to change into one often?"
"That's a difficult question. If you transform about every three weeks, you should always be able to have them at hand." Urahara-San said.
"Would I be under Soul Society's jurisdiction?" Yoruichi-San laughed.
"No, but they might try and order you around. Your brother tends to do as he..believes whats right. We, as well, aren't under their control. But, if you become a Shinigami, it would be wise to mask your presence, at least for a little while." I nodded.
"I'm not really sure I want to become one. I want to protect my family and friends, but I don't want to lose my life to dealing with Hollows. Toushirou..said, that when I died. I'd probably become a Shinigami. I'd have the rest of time for that, then. But the Hollows keep attacking me and my friends. I want to protect that time I will have, and Yuzu. Shes too kind spirited to fight all of this. Ichi-Nii can't always protect us." Silence ensued my confession.
"Rukia told me.. Ichigo had some doubts when he first became a Shinigami. She told him, he had to be prepared to save all souls. But with you, I think the case is different." Yoruichi-San said, and Tessai and Urahara-San nodded. I couldn't help but feel a bit selfish. Then I froze in horror.
"There's a hollow nearby!" Actually, it was a couple blocks away and heading towards the store. "Yuzu!" I jumped up, and ran out of the room. She was talking with Jinta and Ururu.
"Karin-Chan!" Yuzu laughed. "Whats wrong?" Jinta stopped, and stared in the direction the Hollow was in. I caught Jinta's eye, and nodded towards the store.
"Nothing, I was just wondering if you wanted a drink.
"Yeah, Ururu, Yuzu-Chan, lets go inside." I noticed he blushed a bit when he said that. Ururu noticed now, too, and we all ushered Yuzu inside. I heard screams, and it took everything in me not to grab my soccer ball, and run out. I saw Tessai-Kun going out, and he assured us he'd be back soon. We all only relaxed- those of us that knew the truth- when he came back.
{Yoruichi's POV}
"Shes not going to last long on that not protecting everyone." I told Kisuke.
"No she hides it more, but shes got that same urge to protect everyone. She has a lot of the same morals her brother has, but she thinks. God knows Ichigo doesn't!" I laughed at the understatement.
"Isshin has done a good job raising them, shes just as tough as Ichigo. Once she starts training, her power levels going to go through the roof. Seiretei's going to have to send more Shinigami, especially when Ichigo leaves the barrier. This place will be worse than Ishida's Hollow bait." We both laughed, brushing off the seriousness of the situation. There were bigger problems right now.
Aizen and his Espada had to be dealt with, along with any Vasto Lordes he had recruited. The Hougyoku had to be in our hands, and destroyed. Tessai stood up.
"Would you like me to deal with the Hollow?" I nodded at him. He walked out, and Karin-Chan's reiatsu grew even more condensed. It was almost sickening. I turned to Kisuke.
"First lesson; how to control her reiatsu." He nodded.
"We don't need her doing what Ichigo's done to his classmates. Some of them would probably had low reiatsu when they went to Rukongai. Now, they'll end up being Shinigami's -probably. Well, not Keigo. Hes too scared. Tatsuki, Orihime, and Sado will. But Muiziro..I wonder if he will. Ishida already had his powers. But we do not need a whole class of grade schoolers with powers."
"Yeah, Seiretei's gunna have fun when they all die. If they all end up in the same squad.." We both laughed, albeit grimly.
{Karin's POV}
I couldn't stand this! My eyes flew open, and I stood up. I was in a corner of the training room, trying to focus on controlling my reiatsu. I started dribbling my soccer ball, using my anger to keep my movements precise, and headed towards the net they had set up for me.
"Karin-Chan, you're getting better," Urahara-San said. The ball slammed in the net.
"Shes a lot better than Ichigo. It almost takes a menos for him to sense a Hollow. He relies on Rukia," Yoruichi-San said.
"Ugh!" I couldn't help screaming in frustration. I forced myself to sit back down. Better than Ichi-Nii...that wasn't saying anything! He had almost no control over his reiatsu! I'd noticed it months ago... since we were attacked at Oka-San's grave.
I focused hard on my reiatsu, and reached out with my consciousness, and tried to grab it. This is where I always lost control. Surprisingly, I found I could hold it. I tried to pull it in, but apparently, I did it too fast, because I lost control. A large wind circled around me, and it almost turned into a twister. It knocked away all the small rocks and dirt around me. Urahara-San had to hold his hat on, because he was standing a couple feet away from me.
"Very good, Karin-Chan!" Urahara said enthusiastically. I smiled, my anger fading. Now that I knew how it felt to hold my reiatsu, I was sure I could get it again. I closed my eyes, and tried again. It was several minutes before I could feel it, and this time I slowly brought it down. It was like another part of my brain, and it seemed easy enough to control, like my hands; a thought, and my reiatsu moved the the level I wanted it at. Of course, I would have to keep practicing, until I controlled it on a sub-conscious level.
"That was great, Karin-Chan!" I smiled, because, while it took thought, I was pretty sure I could move around and control it.
" Karin-Chan, I want to you start walking around and controlling you reiatsu. When you feel ready, try running." I stood up, and went to retrieve my ball.
"It makes more sense to play soccer. I do that as often as I can, and if I don't have a sign saying 'Yummy food' above me, then, its a lot less likely Hollows will disturb me every time I go out."
{Yoruichi's POV}
I watched as the girl began running, right away. She managed to keep a grip on her reiatsu, as she moved the ball around expertly.
"They may never know shes here. Looks like we worried for nothing." Kisuke shook his head.
" She won't have control when she sleeps. They'll find her then." I frowned.
"Yeah. If we asked Rukia to hide it at night, she'd have to report it, or get in serious trouble if she was found out. We don't have time to go out there every night." As it was, while we were training her, we were making calculations for transporting Kakura to Rukongai
"Yes... we'll worry about that, after the war, they're too bus to notice right now." Kisuke said, and I nodded, looking back at the girl. She was reflecting the ball against a wall, and her reiatsu was barely there. I smiled and went back to work.
{Karin's POV}
"What?" I screeched, staring at them. Yoruichi-San sighed.
"We don't have a choice. Besides, Karin-Chan, you'd only get in the way if you were in the fight. This all..its dangerous. Aizen and his creatures would not hesitate to kill you. All of the Shinigami would be distracted, and that could easily kill them." I turned away from them. "You'll be able to learn enough to really fight after Aizen is killed. If we all live that long." I looked over my shoulder.
"Gee, that's reassuring." Urahara-San shrugged.
" I thought you'd prefer the truth." I stared for a second, and nodded.
"Arigato. When do I start sword training?" Yoruichi-San laughed, loudly.
"In a week or so. After the war. I rolled my eyes.
"I'm going to play soccer, then." They nodded, neither one looking up from their work. I put my soccer ball in its bag, and started up the ladder.
{Karin's POV}
I stared in boredom at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep. Yoruichi-San and Urahara-San had told me that the war had ended; Aizen was dead, and Hougyoku destroyed. The Espada were being hunted. But they'd asked me to hold off of swords training. It was hell, healing everybody, apparently. The fourth squad was full, I was told.
Ichi-Nii was back, but I hadn't really talked to him. He would spend all day in his room with Rukia, or out, at the shop. It was really hard to talk to Yoruichi-San and Urahara-San. I'd offered to help with healing, however I could, but they'd refused.
"If Ichigo found out, he would cause hell and disrupt the healing of all the others. This is a problem to be dealt with later." So I couldn't do anything. My friends had all managed to get themselves grounded. Suddenly, I felt a Hollow. I sat up, and opened my window. Then I heard Rukia's pager go off, and I saw Ichi-Nii and Rukia jump out his window.
" Ichi-Nii!" I called out before I could stop myself. He turned around, and stared at me in shock. "Be careful." Horror was on his face, but Rukia tugged on his sleeve. They bounded off into the darkness, I but saw him glance back. I laid back down, but didn't fall asleep until I heard Ichi-Nii and Rukia come back.
{Karin's POV}
Ichi-Nii walked right in our door, because it was open. Yuzu was telling me about her plans for the day- shopping.
"Ichi-Nii!" I burst out, surprised at him coming in our room. Things had immediately returned to normal- Otou-San attacking Ichi-Nii whenever he entered a room, Yuzu and Otou-San listening at doors, Yuzu cooking a lot because of Ichi-Nii's appetite.
But still...it was strange to see him, kind of. He kept disappearing...
"What about Ichi-Nii, Karin-Chan?" Yuzu interrupted my thoughts. Then I realized he was in his Shinigami's outfit.
"Uh, nothing. I'll be down for breakfast in a bit. Ichi-Nii and I are going out after that." I looked strait at him, and he nodded. Rukia looked in, then came in the room.
" Karin-Chan, can I talk to you?" I nodded, and Ichi-Nii and Yuzu left- Ichi-Nii presumably to get his body back from Kon.
" Karin-Chan, how long have you been able to see us?" Her voice made it clear what she was talking about.
"Clearly? Since a bit after the anniversary of Oka-San's death." Rukia nodded.
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner, but I was order back to Soul Society. If I'd been there when you tried to talk to Ichigo.. I would have told you everything. But, like I said, I was there, and this was a huge fight for Soul Society. Its been chaos."
"Rukia, was Toushirou ordered back too?" I asked, keeping all emotion from my voice.
"You mean Hitsugaya-Taicho? Yes, everyone was." Ichi-Nii appeared in the doorway.
"You know Toushirou?" He asked.
"He'd kill you if he heard you calling him that." Rukia commented. Ichi-Nii waved his hand.
"He'd try. From where, Karin?"
"Soccer. He helped us win the field. And don't worry Rukia, hes almost given up on getting me to call him anything else." She laughed.
"He's always correcting Ichigo." I smirked.
"Everybody's always correcting Ichi-Nii." We laughed when Ichi-Nii glared at us. I stood up.
"I'm hungry, you guys coming?"
{Karin's POV}
Ichi-Nii and I sat in silence at the river bank. We'd already been there for ten minutes. I couldn't stand it any longer.
"Why did you push me away, Ichi-Nii?" I had to hear his answer, not why everyone thought he did.
" I don't want you to live the life I live. I don't want to see you bleed, or ever, ever see you die." I looked at him, and...for the first time in eight years, I cried.
"Shouldn't that be my choice? I can see that world, I'm a part of it whether you want me to be or not. And what if I make a mistake that gets me killed because I didn't know something." I purposely hadn't masked my reiatsu since Ichi-Nii had come home. "What if I attract another Menos because I can't control my reiatsu, and no ones there to save me? And I can't fight it?" He looked down, and I could see the shame in his eyes.
"I...Karin, I'm so sorry. I should have told you it all, Rukia was right. I was just so scared you would say what you just did. She told me your reiatsu was rising. You gave me an argument I can't fight. We'll talk to Urahara and ask him to help train you." Although this was what I wanted, I still had to prove a point.
"What if I didn't want the training? You're not getting it, Ichi-Nii! It has to be my choice!" I masked my reiatsu. Now was the time to show him. He looked up.
"Karin.." He looked like he thought I would be gone, then when he saw me standing there, realization dawned.
"I'm already training with Urahara-San and Yoruichi-San." HE crossed the few steps between us, and hugged me. I stood there in shock. Ichi-Nii hadn't given Yuzu or I a hug in what felt like forever. I squeezed him as hard as I could, loving the fact that my Ichi-Nii was back home, and this time, he wasn't hiding who he was.
He may never admit it, but at heart, he's a Shinigami. He's a human for now, but he'll die..and just get back up as a Shinigami. He was born one; he'd always been able to see the ghosts.
He'd finally accepted that I was going to be a part of his world, from here on out. Finally, we let go of each other. We walked home, talking. He told me everything that had happened to him since he became a Shinigami. We got home, and just before he opened the door, I put my hand on his.
"Ichi-Nii.. Urahara-San and Yoruichi-San are busy, will you please start training me with a sword?" I heard a swish of fabric, and looked over to see Toushirou.
"Don't ask an amateur teacher." Ichi-Nii snorted.
"Hey Toushirou. How come you didn't tell me you met my sister?" He could see a challenge in his eyes, and I sighed. Ichi-Nii's so overprotective..
" It's Hitsugaya-Taicho! And you kind of disappeared to god knows where for training."
"Taicho!" A woman appeared behind him, with breasts bigger than Orihime's- a feat. She hugged him, and his head was squished between her boobs.
"Matsumoto!" He yelled. She let him go.
"You know, get Hisagi and he would kill to be there, when hes drunk." Two men came up behind both of them. One had short black hair, and an arrogant air, with feathers sticking from his eyebrows, and the other was bald, and he was holding a wooden sword against his shoulder.
"That's Hisagi. Matsumoto, what did you want?" She whined.
"Taicho, you're so cold! I just wanted to tell you Inoue said we can stay at her house, and that I found an awesome deal!" He rolled his eyes, and turned to the other two.
"Yumichika, Madarame, anything to report?" Baldy answered.
"Yeah, there were a lot of Hollows around, all heading towards the river bank..and heading this way." He looked over at Ichigo. We took our hands off the door. All I could do was clench my fist. This was because I hadn't been hiding my reiatsu.
"You dispatch them all?" Baldy rolled his eyes.
"Of course, Taicho." I saw Ichi-Nii's temper reach the boiling point. Rukia jumped out the window, and landed lightly on the ground.
"Cool it, Ichigo. Hitsugaya-Taicho, Yumichika, Matsumoto, Madarame, what are you doing here?" Ichi-Nii had been home a week, and I hadn't been hiding my reiatsu that whole time.
"Hollow numbers have skyrocketed here. We were sent to dispatch them, in case an Espada was commanding them, they decided to sent a captain level Shinigami. Oh, and Abarai's here too."
"Or four." Ichi-Nii muttered to Rukia and me. Rukia elbowed him. He turned, rubbing his side, he opened the door.
"C'mon, lets go up to my room. By the time we got everyone upstairs, I was at the back of the crowd. Everyone walked in Ichigo's room as surely as they walked in their own. I paused at the doorway, unsure.
Rukia looked up, and saw my hesitation. She elbowed Ichi-Nii again, and he looked up.
"Come on in Karin. I'm not going to push you away any more." Rukia and I both smiled at the same time. I could see in her eyes, pride, and ...love? My smile grew brighter, and I sat down beside her on Ichi-Nii's bed.