Chapter One- Uninvited Guests make a Very Happy Kisuke

Karin's POV

My brother has been gone for over 12 years. To be honest I haven't seen any of his friends since then either. Did they all die or just choose to disappear. After Yuzu died even Jinta and Ururu were gone. Today is the anniversary of both my mother and Yuzu's deaths. Ironic isn't it. Mother died being murdered and Yuzu died peacefully in sleep after lung cancer landed her in the hospital.

Dad passed on in some battle before Ichigo disappeared. I felt his reiatsu vanish. Now almost 13 years later I am 25 years old and alone. Well that's not true...there is one person still around. Kisuke Urahara, an enigma if I ever knew one and yet, I enjoy the spontanious man's personality.

Incredibly sharp, smart and a bit of a sadist. Yet he has a lazy but confident smile that hides his darker urges to most. Not to me though, I read people from their eyes. Not their smiles...my sister was a master at using smiles to mask her pain and fear but I always knew. That's what twins were for right?

"Kurosaki-chan what are you doing today?" Urahara asked with that nosy but know it all tone. "What's it to you, Kisuke-kun?" I asked teasing him easily. I smirked as he faltered in his steps. His expression went from shocked to intrigued, "Oh-ho-ho and just when did you become so bold Karin-chan?"

I threw back my head and laughed, "When haven't I been bold Kisuke? If I wasn't playing soccer I was up to something how else would I have known that my brother was a Shinigami and you an ex-shinigami for that matter?"

He let out a chuckle, "I see what you mean. You always knew about more than you let on didn't you?" His eyes went from playful to serious. "Do you know why I stayed behind? Everyone else has moved on to soul society but, you and me."

I looked him in the eye, "I can take a gander at part of your reason for staying but, you are an enigma to me so correct me if I'm wrong." My eyes met his which were heavy with regret...from guilt. "You feel guilty, you made mistakes some towards my family and some towards others. That is part of what keeps you here. Anything else I can't be sure,"

Kisuke looked uncomfortable now, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything." I began to walk away when I felt his hand encase my smaller one.

"No, no I'm the one that asked you. You're right about a lot of it. There is more to it though." I turned my head to face him again it was up to him if he wanted to share. I was tired of feeling alone...but he needed to make the next move.

"Do you want to come in for some tea?" He asked quietly ignoring the cooing of the random elders walking the street.

I couldn't help but smile softly something that shocked him from the look he gave me. "I'd love to." He grinned and gently guided me towards the house his usual smugness evident once again, "Great!" I just shook my head laughing as he led me inside before I knew it the door was shut and I was pinned to the wall.

"You Karin Kurosaki are too smart for your own good you know that?" Kisuke said with a smirk that to anyone but me and possibly cat lady (Yoroichi) would have seemed dangerous.

"And...what are you going to do about it?" I asked with a grin. I was enjoying teasing him. He groaned in what seemed like pain. "You Kurosaki's will be the death of me I know it!" He exclaimed as he backed off shaking his head his hand twitching as if he wanted to hit something.

"You love it...you live for thrills and chills." I quipped as I followed him to the kitchen leaning against the doorway.

"I suppose that's true...I tend to take more risks than is healthy for someone as ruggedly handsome as me." He said wiggling his eyebrows in a goofy manner. I couldn't help but smile again. I seemed to be doing that a lot around the man. He stood there and stared as he reached out his hand with a cup of tea in it. I took it and sipped the tea without hesitation.

"Even your brother doesn't drink anything I give him without being suspicious. Why do you?" He asked curiously. I looked up at him and bluntly stated, " You are an intelligent man Kisuke Urahara but, you're also a sadist with honest intentions who wouldn't stoop so low as to poison someone. Even if you would it would be after you tried intimidating me and bound me in some ridiculous and humiliating fashion. Otherwise you would be acting very out of character for your norm."

Kisuke almost looked affronted before pouting, "How is it I spent years around your brother and he doesn't have a clue about me, that you seem to just know?" His eyes observing me with rapt attention.

I let my eyes drift back to his to show my honesty, "Kisuke...my family were masters of masks. My brother with his scowling, my father's stupidity, and Yuzu's angelic smiles. If I didn't know how to look past them to see who they really were...I would have probably died years ago. You are an enigma in many ways but, your eyes betray you. No matter how much training you have there is always someone who will see beyond it to that personal shadow in your heart you bury deep away like a nightmare." I paused to see if he realized where I was going with this. He nodded with a thoughtful hum. "The thing about nightmares is no matter how deep they're buried,"

"They always come back to the surface." Kisuke finished before letting out a pained smile. He gave me a gaze that I couldn't read and the next thing I knew I was wrapped in his arms. "How long have your nightmare's haunted you Karin?" He asked quietly, his arms like bands of silk wrapped steel around me in a secure embrace.

"Since I was three...when my mother died she took the family with her. Ichigo constantly blamed himself and turned on his scowls to mask his pain. Dad stopped being Dad and became the idiot of the century over the top and only years after forgot I needed a father. Yuzu my own twin was the worst...she went from smiles and songs, laughter and fairytales to this shell. She went through the same motions but, in her eyes I could see the emptiness swallowing her unless people were around." I paused shaking as a tear began to fall, "When the ghosts kept coming around me and Ichigo she only receded further. I was surrounded by my nightmare. When Dad 'died' and Ichigo left...I knew it was only a matter of time until I was alone. Yuzu started smoking and the next thing I know she's dead in the hospital. Now there's only silence...I wonder if my family ever heard my screams?"

Kisuke held me tighter I know that no one knew how bad it was at home when no one was around. The dead silence that became my life. I wrapped my arms around him glad to hear someone breathing next to me. "What about you? How long have you had nightmares?" He let go of me before grabbing my hand. "My nightmares have haunted me since back when I was a captain in Soul Society. I had friends they were changed...betrayed by a lieutenant within the 13 Court Guard Squads. No one believed them when they petitioned for their innocence. I proved they were innocent and when the head captain didn't listen I was exiled." He paused looking at our joint hands.

He chuckled almost sarcastically, "I waited for centuries for them to right the wrongs they did to those guys and me. In the end it was your brother that made them see what ungrateful sows they had been. When they finally invited me back to Soul Society...it was when I finally accepted that I would never return there. They tried to insist but," he paused almost hesitant to finish.

"But?" I asked curious to know what kept him from returning with Yoroichi, who was his old friend. When my eyes met his there was heat in his gaze. I felt consumed by him as he strutted over to me with purpose.

"I found something worth staying for...not my guilt, not my curiosity, just my own emotions tying me to someone who amazed me time and time againe." He got so close our faces were inches apart I held my breath shocked by his close proximity to me. I could feel my body temperature rise as a blush settled on my cheeks. He couldn't be talking about me could he?

"What amazed you? Actually better question, who?" I asked quietly trying to ignore how good it felt to have him close to me. He smirked just a little as he scratched his chin.

"Well she comes from a family of stubborn yet selfless people. She's been isolated and hard to read in truth until recently the only thing I knew was she was an angry and lonely person who loved her family more than anything." He paused to gaze at my face filled with confusion and chuckled a little, "She's an awesome athlete with a soul of fire but, she has a mind of water to tame herself with logic and reason. Her eyes penetrate to the most important parts of me and she reads me as if I were a book...even if she doesn't realize it."

"Wouldn't that bother you, Mr. Enigma?" I asked with a small grin. His eyes regained their playful fire as he looked at me. "At first it did bother me but, I had a good friend who put it into perspective for me." He hesitated and softly continued, "She said that the reason it bothered me so much was because I wanted her to like me...and I didn't want her to notice the bad and not give me a chance to show her the better side." He shook his head softly, "She was right too. I want her to see me but, I want my better points to stand out to her rather than the bad. I also want to see if she wants to be with me even with the bad though."

"Sounds like you've got it bad. So why haven't you asked her yet?" I asked gently watching him freeze up in front of me. "You'll never know if she is willing to give you a chance unless you ask her. The point of dating or courting is to get to know each other and see if you're compatible for the long haul." I let my eyes traveled to the window and gaze at the moon outside. That much time has passed already? I turned back to find Kisuke fidgeting a bit which was...cute.

"Would it be stupid if I said I was terrified of rejection?" He asked with a grin a shy blush on his cheeks. I smiled softly and looked at him, "No Kisuke that's normal...no one likes being rejected but, if you never take that leap you'll trap yourself in the what if's and someone else may steal your girl before you ever got the chance."

He paused and looked at me. I could see he was nervous and calmly waited for him to talk again. He was fidgeting so I asked, "What's the issue? Is it age difference, because she's a normal human, what else is holding you back?"

He laughed, "If I said all of the above on top that her relatives may kill me for it?" I laughed, "I would counter their attacks with thoughts of her happiness...if she wants to be with you and she's happy then nothing else should matter to her in the end. Her family would put her happiness above their opinions and pride...if they really cared about her anyway." I moved to place my cup in the sink as I felt his arms wrap around my waist for a soft hug his head placed against my neck as he rested his head his nose brushing the curve.

I giggled as I felt the tip of his nose tickle my neck. He laughed lightly against my back the quivering in his chest and shaking arms a dead give away. "Yes I'm ticklish and you my good sir are enjoying it far too much." I quipped at him as he continued laughing. "Perish the thought my dear Lady, I would never!" he said with an embellished flare.

I couldn't help but laugh as I rolled my eyes, "Of course not but, then what amuses my wolfish knight in green clothing?" He looked confused, " I thought it was knight in golden armor or wolf in sheep's clothing?" He took a moment before, "Oh I see so I'm a knight to you but, a rogue wolf to everyone else am I?"

"You said it Kisuke not me!" I gasped laughing as I escaped his ticklish cuddling and ran for the door saying, "Until next time Kisuke...and you better make some progress with that Dream Girl of yours by then or I'll knock you one!" I barely heard his voice let alone what he said as I headed back to my empty home.

*At Kurosaki Clinic*

I opened my front door only to think my eyes were deceiving me...there in white garb was Ichigo along side him were others in white and Yoroichi. I nodded to her to show respect and saw her wink at me. "So, this is interesting I come home to find a multitude of strangers in my home and a brother I haven't seen in over 12 years. What's the occasion?" I asked with a neutral tone by Yoroichi and the Black haired Captain's smirks I would say I succeeded.

Ichigo just stared at me in disbelief, "Karin...is that really you!" I just looked at him before shaking my head. "You break into my home without permission after being gone for over 12 years with no communication whatsoever and now you have the gall to doubt me!" I glared at him clenching my fists so I wouldn't punch him. "What the hell do you want?" I asked scornfully. "You didn't need or want me around years ago so what necessity has brought you unwelcome into my home?" I growled hateful. "You wouldn't be here otherwise."

Yoroichi looked shocked and about to say something and I gave her a look to not get involved. She backed down clearly getting the message and nodded softly. Her aged golden eyes shone full of respect and understanding. Rukia however was not so intelligent, "You can't talk to him like that!" She yelled furiously.

"Oh, I can't say what I've waited years to say...when in fact he has said nothing at all to me but decides to come into my home where I live ALONE uninvited?" I tsked waving my finger in her face, "Listen here Ru-Ki-A...in my house I can say whatever I damn well please and if you have a problem with it," I pointed to the door, "there's the door."

I turned away to once again see Ichigo staring in shock, "Well?" I crossed my arms. He shook his head and paled, "Yuzu warned me you would be angry but, I never imagined it as this bad." I just scoffed, "Oh and why not? Have you still been so stupid to realize I knew about your little adventures with the dead the entire time. Since the night you first met Rukia? All those camping trips? Yuzu may have been so gullible but I never was. How do you explain all those times I confronted you about it and you LIED to my FACE!"

Ichigo got red before shouting, "I did it to protect you!"

I growled, "Protect me? You were trying to protect me! The fact that I could see ghosts made for as long as you have made me a stand alone target! Where were you when Dad died? Where were you when Yuzu was in the hospital?" I finally caved to the urge and punched him in the face hearing the bones crushed under my fist. "It was never about you protecting us Ichigo...you were trapped by your warped need for redemption for a crime that was never yours! It was all about the hollow that killed our Mom. If protecting us was what you wanted you would have been here when the hollows tried to devour Yuzu. When I had to literally break their masks with my bare fist just to keep Yuzu and me safe!"

I finally let up on him, "Don't ever lie to me again saying this was about me and Yuzu! Everything you have ever done has been about you! You only used us as a scapegoat for your own selfish ends!" I paused ignoring the silent and shocked glances from most while acknowledging the warmer proud gazes from the young Black haired male captain and Yoroichi.

Ichigo pause and I shook my head before entering my room to pack an over night bag. "You and your friends can stay here I'm going to a friends home and you'd best not follow me or I may just kill you." I threw the bag over my shoulder as I exited the house with Yoroichi coming up behind me. "Could you have been any harder on him?" Yoroichi asked me softly the man from inside beside her.

I gave her a significant look, "I don't enjoy being cruel or hard to others...Ichigo included as angry as I am. In your world Ichigo is a hero who is respected and revered and gets away with basically everything. Or at least he used to." I paused to let my comment sink in. The man's eyes widened and I smiled gently, "If I don't hold him accountable and punish him for his mistakes with more than a slap on the wrist," I stopped and heard the man finish, "Then he will never learn to hold himself accountable for his own actions and take all the repercussions that come with them."

"I am angry and not in a forgiving mood make no mistake...but, even my anger won't last forever. Until I can be the sister again instead of the teacher...be his friend and ally in my place." I requested before leaving and heading back towards Urahara's home. I had hoped to rest in my own bed but, with present company that would not be wise.

*Back at Urahara's*

I stood frozen as Karin's words hit me. "How the hell am I supposed to do that when she just ran away from me?" I asked no one in a whiny voice. I then frowned as I felt a disturbance in the reiatsu of Karakura. I jolted when I realized it was Ichigo's spiritual pressure as well as others that were recognized. I moved to prepare a room for Karin muttering, "This is not going to end well."

It was sometime later before I could feel Karin's reiatsu sporadically seizing in what I determined was pain and anger. I opened the door before she even knocked and bowed with a smile, "My Lady to what do I owe the pleasure of this late evening visit?" I desperately wanted to see her smile again.

"You felt me coming didn't you?" she asked softly her voice tired and upset. I nodded and waited, "I was so angry when I saw him...I even punched him in the face and called him selfish." I pulled her to me. I knew why she was upset...she doesn't enjoy being like that to her family but, if she isn't then they will never learn. "You weren't wrong if that's what you're worried about. In many ways he was selfish. On other ways he was one of the most selfless people I know." I told her softly. "Everything your brother did started out with the best intentions his path just strayed more along the way."

She shook her head, "Does Kami enjoy making me his cruel teacher? Sometimes I wonder why I have to be the one to point out his mistakes...I feel like I've been made his mother or something." She growled against me making me grin. "I think Karin-chan makes a good Mommy." I said in a goofy voice wanting to ease the tension.

Her snickering sounded like music to my ears and I chuckled when she replied, "If I'm a good Mommy you're a better Daddy Kisuke-kun." My heart leapt again as I heard the endearment. I know she mostly used it in jest but it made me feel warm accepted. "Well I did start Ichigo's training initially so I guess that's true if he made it this far huh?" I looked down and saw her softened and sleepy (So Cute!) smile.

"Let's go tuck Mommy in shall we?" I asked with a wink. She just grinned and shook her head, "Only if I get a warm and comfy pillow for tonight." She quipped back and I laughed, "Of Course! Mommy only gets the best here at Daddy's house!" Just the jokes of us being Ichigo's parents made me imagine little black haired hazel eyed children running around the shop. As I led her into the room I found myself tackled to the bed with a not so manly yelp.

"Mm Comfy warm pillow." Karin mumbled cutely as she snuggles against me her head against my back. I just chuckled and turned over to lay on my back pulling her to my chest. "I have now discovered by comfy pillow you meant me." I said amused, Karin barely open her mischievous eyes to answer, "Of course I meant you...what normal pillow is warm Kisuke?" I scratched my chin. "None that I kno- Oh...I feel stupid." When I my head turned to look at her again I found her asleep. I kissed her forehead as her breathing evened out..."Sweet dreams Koi."

ZIL: I know this isn't most people's cup of tea but hey Rukia and Ichigo are centuries in age apart so I figured What the hell!

Kisuke: You know...I would rather not get murdered by my favorite student.

Yoroichi: Like you care...you do everything your way.

Isshin: If I don't have a problem Ichigo can shut up I mean he can't even really decide between Rukia and Orihime for heaven's sake.

Karin: Really Dad...shut up! *Kicks Isshin's face in*

Isshin: . *Falls to the bottom of the hill

ZIL: One and only disclaimer for this story Tite Kubo owns Bleach and its affiliated characters and locations I am just manipulating them into my own twisted fun fantasies for the amusement of crack pairing fans everywhere without profit so no legal suits allowed! *glares at incoming lawyers* :)