Chapter 1

No One's POV

To say he was excited is an understatement. The Captain of the 10th Division was happily jumping from one roof to another as he hurriedly wants to see the woman he loves. It has been three weeks since he last saw her, and he missed her badly. It might not be known to most people, but Hitsugaya Toushiro is smitten to Kurosaki Karin.

He always admired her, even back when she was still an eleven year old. He was amused when she tried to slay a menos using a soccer ball, and his interest grew when he learned that she was one of the little sisters of Kurosaki Ichigo. After the war, they continued to be friends and he actually watched her grew up. About a year ago, she asked him to train her to be a shinigami. He said no, of course. Her brother would have his head, and that is against the policies of the Gotei 13. Karin's reiatsu can rival her brother's, and she's not even a shinigami. Whether or not she's alive, she has been a target of hollows that appear in town.

So instead of teaching her shinigami arts, he thought her how to control, mask and hide her reiatsu. They have been sneaking to Urahara's training ground every night at the first three months, and his infatuation for her keep on rising. She sneaks out to meet him in the soccer field for the next five months until they were caught by Ichigo who got mad. It was expected, of course. After that, they continued training on Karin's room. She was an excellent student. She already mastered all he taught her three months ago. She has not been attracting hollows for a long time now, and that they decided to celebrate. That night, he confessed his love and Karin gave herself to him. It was indeed the best night of his life. After that, they started going on dates and he noticed that he's turning more possessive of Karin. He was getting jealous at all men who approached him except for her family and common friends.

Tonight, he plans on asking her to be his official girlfriend. And he was praying to all gods to have this night end in a successful manner, and not be rejected. But that's an example of not having all we want.

When he arrived at the Kurosaki household, it was weird that it was only Karin who is home. It was already pretty late at night, and Yuzu was still not home with the Kurosaki men. He invited himself in and found Karin on their living room.

"Karin," he called out her name and before she can even respond, he had her in his arms to hug her tightly. "I missed you so bad."

"Toushiro," he let go when he heard her.

He gave her a confused look as she stared at him with emotionless eyes, like how emotionless her voice earlier when she said his name.

"We have to talk," Karin said.

"What is it?" he asked.

Suddenly, his heart began to race and he recognized this feeling. He was nervous.

"We have to stop this," he froze at her response.

"Stop what?"

"This," Karin said. "Whatever is going on between the two of us."

"Y-you can't be serious," he stuttered. "Did I do something to upset you? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, but this is the right thing to do," Karin said. "You're a shinigami, I'm a human. Something like this is not allowed to occur between the both of us. We don't even live in the same world!"

"Karin, where is this coming from?" he frowned. "Please don't do this to me. I can't go on without you. I can't live like that again."

She was standing, and he has holding her hands tightly as he begged. She can't do this to him. He can't let her do this to him.

"Karin, please, I love you!"

"I don't," what Karin said felt like something inside him broke.

He let go of her hand unconsciously, and she turned her back against him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, but it was loud enough for him to hear.

"Why, Karin?" Karin flinched a little as she heard pain through his voice when he asked the question. "Why?! Why did you act like you return my feelings? Why do you have to make me fall for you even more when you know from the start that you can't fall for me, too?"

"I didn-" Karin tried to respond but he just cut her off.

"Of course, you didn't!" he exclaimed. "But you knew I liked you! Right from the start, you knew there's a possibility that I will fall even deeper for you. But you ignored it! You could've told me from the start that you have no plan falling for me. If you did, maybe back then I accepted the fact that you will never be mine and be contented being friends with you. But what did you do? You used my feelings to get what you want from me! Of all people, I didn't expect you to be selfish!"

She stiffened at his outburst. She wants to defend myself from his accusations. She wants to hug him. But she refrained herself from doing so. Instead, she looked at him and smirked.

"I guess you didn't really know me," she tried to erase visible emotions in her eyes when she said those words. "I am selfish, Toushiro."

"Is that so?" he looked down. "Then goodbye, Karin. I hate you."

He then turned his back and flash stepped away. When he was gone, she collapsed on the floor and her tears fell. It wasn't an act. She does feel the same way. But she kept on telling herself that she shouldn't be selfish. That it's better this way. He won't know.

This was all because of what happened yesterday.

Flashback...

Karin gripped at the thing in her hands. She is angry to herself. How could she let this happened? How can she be so careless and not think about the consequences? This shouldn't have happened. This was a mistake, a very big mistake that she needs to be responsible for.

It was supposed to be an ordinary day, but it turned around because of her twin's observation. She has been light headed this past two weeks. She often feels dizzy, and has been vomiting in the morning. She feels weak and thought she caught flu. That was until she was stunned when Yuzu asked her.

"Karin-chan, is there a chance that you could be pregnant?"

That's when she unconsciously caressed her stomach and started calculating when she should have her menstruation only to realize she's one week late. Growing up in a clinic and with a father as a doctor, the Kurosaki siblings aren't prone to health issues, which include having a regular menstruation period like her sister. Her twin's question had her go to their clinic to get a pregnancy test, only to find two lines in the stick.

It's positive: she is indeed pregnant.

"Karin-chan," she turned to her twin who went to hug her. "It's gonna be okay. I'm here, so is Otou-san. You're gonna be okay."

"Karin," she turned to her father who was standing by the door of her room. "What do you plan to do?"

"D-do you know what could happen if this goes out?"

"This is going against the rules," he answered. "He'll be punished for it, just like what I have been through. I don't regret it, though."

"Karin-chan?" Yuzu asked because she flinched at her father's answer.

"I can't let him be punished for this. He can't be dismissed from captaincy," she whispered. "He worked so hard for it. So I'll just take the responsibility alone."

"Don't tell me your hiding this from him," worry consumed Yuzu at what her sister said. "Karin-chan, can't you atleast ask his stand for this? You can't do this to both of you!"

Karin shook her head stubbornly. He won't know about this. He can't be dismissed from service, since she knew how much he loves what he's doing. She'll put all blame to herself and suffer the consequences alone. She will raise his baby without him knowing. Because she knows he can leave his current status for this. She knows he loves her more than his job. But she can't seem to think rationally, and decided that she won't tell this to him.

"I'll stop whatever is going on between the two of us," Karin said. "And I will move out of the town."

"Karin-chan!" Yuzu exclaimed.

"Yuzu and I will go with you," the twins looked at their father. "If you don't want him to find out, who's going to take care of you? Yes, you might have a job, and you're 25 now, but you won't be able to work when you are pregnant."

"But-" "No buts, Karin."

She was interrupted by her father and he continued talking, "You can kick us out when the baby is one year old, but not sooner than that."

End of Flashback...

That's right. Hate me. It's better that way.

Then, she was hugged by her twin. They were home, up in Ichigo's room. They were just hiding their presence by kido.

"I cannot really say what you did was right," her father sighed. "But I am proud of you for doing what you think is right."

"We're here, Karin-chan," Yuzu comforted her. "We will never let you face this alone. You'll be alright. We're on this together."

"Are you three serious in leaving me alone?" her brother asked.

"I can't stay here, Ichi-nii," Karin answered. "Sooner or later, he will have another mission here again. I can't risk of him seeing me again. You can come with us if you want."

"I can't, Karin," Ichigo sighed. "I have a job here, and I'm still the substitute shinigami of the area."

He wanted to go back there and beg. She is his life. He couldn't possibly go on after what she did considering what they have been through together. But his pride didn't allow him to do so.

He was considered dead, but what his feeling right now is worse than being killed. He hates her. But why is it hard for anyone to hate the person they considered their world? That's the reason why he hates himself more. He should've seen this coming. He knew it was possible to happen, but what did he do? He let himself fall deeper and deeper until he couldn't escape at all. He hates her, it's true. But the problem is that he loves her more than he hates her.

He looked back to the house that's five blocks away from the roof he's standing at and noticed her lights were already off. He gave out a sarcastic smile. She's already asleep? I guess she did not care. She did not love me.

"Hitsugaya-taicho!" he was startled when a familiar blonde woman suddenly appeared in front of him. "What are you doing here in the middle of the rain?! We need to go back to Soul Society!"

He smirked a little for he didn't even notice it was raining. It must be because the one who is causing the sky to drop tears is his mood. That's how he cries: no tears from his eyes, but raindrops from the sky.

He looked at the woman who called him as he force himself to get his act together.

"Nothing, Matsumoto. Let's go back," she looked at him like she wanted to ask something but she just sighed.

She knew better: he won't tell her.

It didn't take long for the pair to get back to Soul Society. All the captains and lieutenants were all summoned by the head captain tonight so they went straight to the First Division where all meetings are held. As they enter, the youngest captain looked at the others who are already present. The head captain, Sasakibe, Soi Fon and her lieutenant, Kira, Hinamori, Captain Kuchiki and Abarai, Captain Ukitake and his lieutenant, Kuchiki Rukia. It seems like the others are taking their time. Just a minute passed, Captains Unohana and Kyouraku entered with their lieutenants followed by Captain Kurotsuchi and his lieutenant. Seventh Division's captain and lieutenant entered with Hisagi, and the last to arrive were Captain Zaraki and his lieutenant from Eleventh.

"Now that everybody is here, let us get to business," Yamamoto-soutaicho said. "It has been two years after the war, but we still need to rebuild Seireitei into its original state. So I hereby declare that our top priority for the next few months or years is rebuilding; not just the buildings and infrastructures but also the manpower of the squads. The graduation at Shino Academy is just three weeks away; I suggest begin scouting for your future subordinates now."

"Soutaicho, will you give the acting captains of 3, 5 and 9 the authority to accept new members to their squads?" Ukitake-taicho asked.

"Yes, Kira-fukutaicho, Hinamori-fukutaicho, and Hisagi-fukutaicho are to remain in their posts. I am sorry but you have to endure being the head of your squads until we saw your capability to be promoted or for a new captain to be posted. Is that clear?"

"Hai!"

They talked about everything regarding souls and the world of the living but Toushiro hardly paid attention. When he thought they were already done, but he was wrong when Yamamoto-soutaicho called him.

"Lastly, Hitsugaya-taicho," he called. "There have been unconfirmed reports of you sneaking to the Living World. I would like to know if these reports are true."

"Unconfirmed reports?" he looked at Captain Kurotsuchi for an explanation.

"Ah, yes. For the last few months, you have been going at the World of the Living secretly," he smirked at the chibi-taicho. "Specifically, at Kurosaki's."

He glared at the creepy scientist. Always stalking other people for experiments and scandals. Can't he get along with his job without involving other people?

"What are you trying to say, Kurotsuchi-taicho?" Unohana-taicho asked.

Toushiro smirked. He knows what he is trying to say. Too bad for him, his suspicions are not true. But it's too bad for Toushiro, too.

"He is been sneaking off to see a human girl, probably one of Kurosaki Ichigo's younger sisters!"

"Are you saying that Hitsugaya-taicho is in an intimate relationship with either of the Kurosaki twins?" Abarai asked. "Well I wouldn't blame him if it's Yuzu. That girl is charming. On the other hand, Karin seems boyish, and will probably grow up courting girls."

He wanted to glare at him for that statement but he refrained. He took a deep breath before turning to the head captain.

"Hitsugaya-taicho, we are waiting for your explanation," he nodded at him.

"I won't deny that I have been sneaking off to see one of Kurosaki Ichigo's sisters," Kurotsuchi-taicho grinned at him but he ignored it. "But it's not because we are in an intimate relationship."

"What do you mean?" Soi Fon-taicho asked. "And which sister is it?"

"Kurosaki Karin," he started his defense. "I met her once or twice before. I am sneaking off to teach her how to control her reiatsu. Kar- Kurosaki's reiatsu level is comparable to her brother, and that made her a perfect hollow target. Since she had been involved to hollows more than twice because of it, she asked me about a year ago to teach her how to defeat hollows but I declined because that will endanger her more. And I'm sure his brother will have my head. But since the problem is real, I couldn't just ignore it either as a friend and a shinigami. So I thought of another way for her to be safe. My conclusion was to teach her how to control her reiatsu so she will no longer attract hollows."

He looked at them and they all looked at him, sign that he should continue talking about the subject.

"So I did. And since I am working in the day, I sneak out at night time. On the first two months, we were using Urahara's secret training ground. But when she got better, we moved to an open field where she regularly plays soccer for two months. As for this last month, Kurosaki Ichigo found out about this and highly suggested we do the training at home since there are greater dangers at night. After my mission today, I went to check on her. And it seems like there is no need for me to continue teaching her because she already mastered controlling her reiatsu."

"That makes sense," Abarai said. "I have encountered Kurosaki Karin and as Hitsugaya-taicho said, her reiatsu is no joke."

"That's why Karin is more stable these past few months," Rukia commented.

"Just to be clear, you two are not in an intimate relationship?" Ukitake-taicho asked.

"We're just friends," he answered nonchalantly.

Friends. For her, that is all they can be. But not anymore because of what happened today.

"I see," Yamamoto-soutaicho said. "Since your purpose was clear and clean, I guess there's no need to interrogate the girl involve. But since you have been going to the World of the Living without permission, I am afraid I have to punish you."

"I understand, Yamamoto-soutaicho."

"Very well, as for your punishment, you are not allowed to go to the World of the Living for a decade unless I allow you to," he smiled bitterly inside. "Is that okay with you?"

"Hai."

"Okay. Since all matters had been discussed, I am now adjourning this meeting. You may now proceed with your works," they all bowed at him as he exited.

He knew that some of the people here wanted to ask more about the subject so he quickly exited the place and went to his living quarters. He still has paper works to finish but with his current mental and emotional state, he knows he can never get them done properly. So instead, he took a shower and crashed to his bed. He will just sleep.

This is "It's Better This Way" Rewritten! I have edited some facts and even some parts of the plot, but it's still the same story. Every chapter of this can be a joined chapter of the old version. I don't own the original characters. Please read and review.