This was it, this was the end of Karin Kurosaki's life in the World of the Living. In a few short hours she would be dead, only don't say you are sorry she sure isn't. Funny thing is that this is not the way she thought her life would end, condemned to death for murder. Still she could not bring herself to regret her actions, that bastard she killed needed to die for what he did to her beloved twin sister Yuzu. So here she sits in her cell waiting for the guards to come for her and take her to the place where she will be put to death,. If Karin is afraid of anything it is that her father and sister will have to watch her die tonight, and that hurts her more then anything. Her family has suffered enough after what happened to Yuzu, then her being arrested for killing that bastard. If all of that was not enough pain for one family, her brother Ichigo and his girlfriend Rukia were killed in a car crash last year along with Keigo, Chad, Uryu, as well as Orihime and Tatsuki. She misses her brother and although she knows he is happy in the Soul Society with Rukia and his new job as Captain of squad 3, she still wished he could be here tonight to tell her that everything would be alright.. She had to admit that part of her was afraid of what was about to happen, not afraid of being dead, after all her brother, soon to be sister in law, and her father were all technically dead. Not to mention her boyfriend had been dead for over a hundred years before she even met him. Fear of what lay beyond death was not a problem for her, she knew what to expect she had visited the Soul Society many time and had made friends there, hell she had even filed her application to the Shino Academy with Toshiro's help the day after being sentenced to death. No it was the fear of how painful her death would be that worried her and made her feel like the lost little girl that met Toshiro all those years before. They say that lethal injection is humane and painless, but of course no one has ever comeback from the dead to confirm that little assumption, and being spiritually aware Karin had felt the deaths of the three inmates that were executed during her time here. Karin could only pray that it would not be as bad for her, she was of course female and much smaller and younger then the three large grown men who's executions had left her unable to sleep until Toshiro came and stayed the night with her. The last execution had been by far the worst, the man was over 300 lbs, therefore, the drugs had not been fully effective so he suffered an agonizing and slow death, he had also been a serial rapist and murderer. The moments after his death were far worse the she could have imagined, he became a hollow and would have eaten Karin's soul if Toshiro had not been there to protect her, as it was she witnessed the gates of the Underworld open and take him to Hell, and a small part of her worried that she would end up in the Underworld as well. Toshiro had assured her that would not happen to her, but she could not help but worry anyway.

Karin was brought out of her musings when she felt Toshiro gently wipe her tears away with his thumb, funny she'd not even realized she'd been crying. Toshiro had been with her in her cell for the past 3 days and has been holding her in his arms for the past 5 hours while they wait for the guards to come and take her to the death chamber. Of course to anyone who couldn't see spirits it looked as though Karin was alone in her cell, but she was glad that Toshiro was with her and he'd be the one to take her to the Soul Society.

"Thank you for staying with me I'm glad you're here Toshiro, I really don't want to die alone." Karin said

Toshiro gave her one of his rare smiles, and responded. "Of course I'd be here for you, I love you."

She closed her eyes and let his words sink into the very depths of her soul, warming her heart. She was silent for a few minutes, enjoying the warmth of his words and the security she felt laying in his arms for the last few hours of her life.

"Tosh?"

"Yes Rin?"

"When they do it, will you hold my hand?"

"Yes from the time they start until we cross the sankimon gate I will hold your hand."

"Thanks." she said as she started to cry again, so he held her a little tighter and whispered a song in her ear that Granny would sing to him when he was troubled.

She wondered how it came to be like this, how she ended up on death row. Her life had been so bright and her plans for her future so sure.

Flashback, 3 years ago

"Hurry up Karin, we'll be late for class"

"Ok Ok I'm coming, hold your horses will ya Yuzu" Karin yelled to her twin.

Today they were both starting their first day at Karakura community college, both girls had the grades to go to any university in Japan, however, they chose to stay in Karakura to help protect the town from hollows. Karin had been killing and purifying hollows since she was 11 years old and she's spent the past 7 years getting stronger, so that now she can kill any hollow short of a Menos class. Thanks to training from Urahara, and lady Yoruichi she can even do Shunpo and kido while she was in her body, she still can't leave her body though she really has no reason to anyway. Toshiro had also started to train her in how to properly use a sword over the past 7 years telling her that if she spends the rest of her life in this world practicing with the sword then when she dies and enters the Academy she will be years ahead of her classmates. She really enjoyed her visits to the Soul Society, and her stays with Rukia at the Kuchiki manor. She even developed a close, almost brother sister relationship with Rukia's brother. Captain Kuchiki made it known that she was to be considered a Kuchiki anytime she entered the Soul Society, he even insisted that she call him Nii-sama not Captain Kuchiki.

None of this came as a surprise to anyone who knew Karin and about hollows and Soul Reapers, what surprised everyone was when Yuzu started to have uncontrolled bursts of spirit energy at age 14 and had to train with Karin at Urahara's shop and in the Soul Society or else she would have died as her body was overwhelmed and destroyed by her own spirit energy.

Seven Years Ago.

"So what do we have here?" said the blond man wearing the green striped hat and wooden sandals.

"I'm Yuzu Kurosaki." said the sandy haired twin with a polite bow.

"I see, let me guess you have a problem controlling your spirit energy and need someone to train you in how to control and use it?"

"Wow how did you know that?" exclaimed Yuzu.

"You could say it's a family trait, you're not the first Kurosaki to have this problem." He stated looking at Karin for a reaction, he was not disappointed.

"Hey you stupid jerk I can control my spirit energy just fine." yelled a very angry and red face Karin.

"He's not talking about you Karin, he's talking about Ichigo." said a black cat lounging on a near by rock, causing Yuzu to gape with astonishment.

"Yoruichi is right I was talking about Ichigo, you never had any trouble with controlling your spirit energy, just your temper." said Urahara as he covered his face with his fan. Karin caught the last part of his statement and smashed her fist into Urahara's face. The impact of the spirit energy filled punch sent Urahara flying into the rock Yoruichi was resting on. Yoruichi fall off laughing. "I guess you were right on both counts Kisuke." she said between gasps of laughter.

The twins spent the next year training with Urahara and Yoruichi, by the end of it they were both very good at killing and purifying hollows, they learned how to use both shunpo and kido. With Toshiro's help Yuzu quickly caught on to the basics of sword fighting and even beat Karin a few time in spite of the fact Karin had been training with Toshiro and Urahara since she was 12.

When the girls entered high school they both joined the kendo team, this shocked many of Yuzu's friends from elementary and middle school who thought of her as the sweet and gentle little Yuzu. No one had any idea that she had any talent with a sword. Even more shocking was that she beat Karin for the Captain's position and Karin became her vice captain. Of course Karin was still the Captain of the Soccer team and along with those duties she and Yuzu also fought hollows with Ichigo and Rukia by channeling their spirit energy into their wooden practice swords, not as good as a zanpaktou but good enough to kill and purify any ordinary hollow.

Three years ago

The girls left the house and began the walk to Karakura Community College, Yuzu was there to study pre-med, she wanted to be a doctor like her father and brother. Karin was unsure what she wanted to do just yet, but she and her twin planned on joining the Kendo team.

'Hey Yuzu, are you ready to try and get the captain's position from me again?"

"Oh don't worry Karin you can still be my vice captain." Yuzu said giving her twin an innocent look.

Still the happy go lucky type, I hope that part of her never changes. Karin thought as they entered the school grounds.

A week later

"Damn how could you let me beat you so easily Yuzu."

"I don't know I guess I was just off today, but congratulations on making captain."

"Well you still made vice captain Yuzu." Karin said to her very distracted twin.

Yuzu had a dreamy look in her eyes as she watched the Soccer team's vice captain, Ryu Honda walk up to them., Karin noticed this but tuned out the conversation her sister was having with him.

"I think I know what happened Yuzu." she said while Yuzu was watching him walk away.

"What do you mean Karin?" she ask still watching him walk away.

"You like him don't you?" Karin ask with a smirk on her face, she had to admit he was cute. Ryu was also known to be kind and gentle, Karin could not blame her twin hell if she had not been dating Toshiro for the past 6 years she might have wanted to make a move on him. At Karin's statement Yuzu turned as red as their brother's name sake before trying and failing to deny it.

"Ok I guess I do, but he's so cute and sweet, anyway he would never like me."

Karin had not failed to notice how nervous and red Ryu had been when talking to Yuzu.

"I bet he does like you."

"You think so?"

"Yup, give him a week and I bet he'll ask you out."

"So when will you see that dreamy Captain Hitsugaya again?" Yuzu ask trying to change the subject.

"I don't know being a Captain in the 13 Court Guard Squads takes a lot of time, I hope soon though I miss him."

"Karin you two have been together since you were 12, I bet he's just waiting for the right time to propose to you."

At this it was Karin's turn to blush.

Maybe she's right, we have been together for a long time and I am old enough now. Karin thought to herself.

'Karin Hitsugaya has a nice ring to it." Yuzu said with a mock thoughtful look.

"Yeah it does, hey no fair Yuzu! You tricked me!" Karin yelled as she realized what her twin had tricked her into saying.

Three days later

"He asked me out, he asked me out!" Yuzu squealed as she was running around their room. Just then Isshin burst through the door exclaiming that both his little girls had grown up and found the men they would spend the rest of their lives with. Karin would have punched him, but she just didn't feel like it. Their dad stopped running with Yuzu when he noticed the distracted and slightly sad look on Karin's face.

"What's wrong my lovely daughter?" He ask still in his crazy persona.

"Nothing is wrong I'm just thinking." Karin said.

"Oh, I see Yuzu can you give Karin and I a moment alone." Isshin asked as he dropped his persona and became very serious.

"It's what Yuzu said the other day that's bothering you isn't it?" He asked Karin.

She just nodded and a few tear slipped past her defenses.

"I know you miss him, but you know it takes a lot of work to be a captain and with Rangiku as his vice captain he has even more work." Karin looked up and gave her Dad a real genuine smile. "You know I could never get any work out of her when I was captain of the Tenth Division either." He continued. At that Karin started laughing. "Thanks Dad." she said.

As Isshin left the room he decided that he should not tell her that Toshiro came by that morning while she was in class and ask his permission to propose to Karin, he smiled at the thought of his baby girl in a wedding dress. Setting on a chair in front of the large poster he kept on the wall he looked up at his wife's lovely face "Masaki if you could see how the children have grown I think you would be happy, Ichigo can smile again thanks to Rukia. Karin and Yuzu have grown into beautiful young women and now they both have boyfriends and get this Karin's boyfriend ask me if he can propose to her. Funny I never thought it would be Karin who would get married first, but even though she's still young I can tell that she really loves my former vice captain and he really loves her. I hope he makes her happy, she's carried so much of a burden over the years just like her brother, and like him she finally found someone to help her carry it."

Isshin started thinking about the day he proposed to Masaki and wondered if he would ever see his beloved wife again one day.

Friday came soon and Yuzu was busy getting dressed for her date, when someone knocked at the door. Ichigo opened the door to find the Tenth Division captain standing at the door step.

"Yo Toshiro what brings you here?" he asked as a vain bulged on the captains forehead.

"That's captain Hitsugaya to you Kurosaki." he responded with an eye twitch.

"Is Karin home?" he continued trying to ignore Ichigo's disrespect.

"Toshiro!" Karin yelled with a smile on her face, as she raced down to him and grabbed him in a almost painful hug.

Toshiro walked with her into the living room and the two started talking as everyone left the room to give the two young love birds some time alone.

"Hey you want to go play some soccer?" Karin asked.

"Why not." Toshiro responded, thinking that after they left for home they could watch the sunset at the railing like they always did, that would be where would ask her to be his wife.

Karin smiled at him as he took her hand and lead her out the door, she had an odd filling that something was up with Toshiro but figured she would find out later.

Karin and Toshiro were walking home from the soccer field, when he stopped at the rail to watch the sunset over Karakura.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Toshiro asked feeling more nervous by the second.

"Yeah it is." said the raven haired 18 year old setting next to him.

He sat there for a few minutes watching her, taking in her beauty. Her raven black hair was still up in a ponytail, and her grey eyes still looked as beautiful and innocent as they did the day he met her. The more he thought about this the more nervous he became, what if she rejects him? "Grow up Hitsugaya." he mentally scolded himself. It's only Karin you've known her since she was 11, she loves you and you love her" With that thought in his head, and mustering what courage he had left he looked into her beautiful eyes and leaned back.

"I have to ask you something Karin." he started.

"Ok, what is it Toshiro?" She said causally as she leaned against the rail next to him.

He stood up in front of her and was about to bend down on one knee when her cell phone went off.

"Hang on it's Dad." she said.

Toshiro was a little aggravated at the interruption, until he saw the shock and anger in Karin's face as she listened to what her dad was saying over the phone.

"What's wrong?" he ask as she closed her phone.

"Yuzu and her date were attacked, she's in the hospital." Karin said as she and Toshiro started running.

When they got to the hospital she ran to her dad and brother who looked like they both been crying, with Rukia holding Ichigo tight and her brother keeping them company. Karin was even more worried when she noticed tears in Byakuya-nii's eyes, if he was crying it must be bad she thought.

"Where's Yuzu?" she asked as she was hugged by both her brother and dad.

"She's resting in her room, we can't see her yet but the doctor says she's not in any danger." Her brother told her, his voice nearly breaking.

"Karin set down please, I have to tell you something" her father said looking like a weight had landed on his shoulders. She did as he ask, and he place a hand on her shoulder before he started.

"Yuzu and her date were headed to a movie when a man came out of an ally, he stabbed Ryu then he beat Yuzu when she tried to stop him." Isshin explained as Karin felt her anger start rising.

"Where's Ryu?" she ask.

"He's gone, he died at the scene." Ichigo said as Rukia held onto him.

"Karin, Yuzu was raped by the man that attacked them." Isshin said gripping her shoulders lightly, before he pulled her into him and they both started sobbing. Toshiro felt both anger and sadness at the sight of his beloved Karin in that state, he placed a hand on her back and rubbed up and down trying to bring her some comfort in this nightmare.

Yuzu came home a few days later, but she was not herself anymore. Sure she looked like Yuzu but the happy go lucky girl she had been was gone. She sat and sobbed at Ryu's funeral, but behind her sadness Karin could see fear in her eyes, fear that the man that did this would find her and do it again. The next few weeks she could not sleep and when she did it was fitful and filled with nightmares. This got so bad that Yuzu had to sleep with Karin just to feel safe enough to sleep. Rukia and Ichigo continued to look for Ryu's soul but they had no luck, that and the fact that the man who did this to her was still out there on the loose made Yuzu's life a living hell.

Eight weeks after she was attacked the police announced they had a suspect under arrest, 43 year old Koga Takashino. Finally Yuzu can get some sleep tonight Karin thought as she watched the news coverage. Toshiro had to return to the Soul Society, but told her that he would arrange for her and Yuzu to visit.

Slowly life at the Kurosaki house started to return to normal, as Yuzu suffered fewer sleepless nights and the fear in her eyes started to fade. One day about two weeks later Karin was watching the news with her dad, when she heard the name of the man who raped her sister on the T.V. She stopped hopping that they found him dead in his cell. She had no such luck and what she did hear enraged her beyond words.

"They let him out on bond!" she screamed so loud that the neighbors could hear it.

With a scream of rage Karin stormed out of the house and began hunting her prey. She walked for what seemed like forever as anger and sadness fought for control of her heart.

"Damn it I wish Toshiro was here." she said as she started sobbing, the pain and sadness of what that bastard Takashino did to her sister finally broke down the last of her anger.

Karin continued walking though Karakura, not really going anywhere just walking. She passed one of the few bars in Karakura, then she saw him, the man who raped her sister and killed her friend. Karin's rage soon replaced her sadness as she followed the drunken bastard back to his home. She watched him as he went into his house leaving the door open behind him, too drunk to care about it. This was it she could protect her sister from him now, and he would never see it coming. Karin walked in through the door and slowly made her way to where the man lay half unconscious from alcohol and the drugs she noticed on the table. Karin knew that if she killed him here her life would be over. She would face life in prison at best, or because the death penalty had been reinstated in Japan last year she may even face execution for this. Her resolve hardened as she approached her target, her sister was worth any sentence she would face. She found a knife on the table and grabbed it, as she came closer to him.

"Hey asshole think you can rape my sister and get away with it?" Karin snarled at him as she plunged the 5 inch knife into his belly, he let out a gasp of pain and she could see the fear in his eyes as she pulled the knife from him and hit him in the face with a spirit energy filled kick. The man landed with a crunch as blood ran down his face, she pounced on him stabbing and slashing him as she was covered in his blood and the room looked like a slaughter house. The man was barely alive when she took the knife and

cut open his chest, "Looks like you do have a heart after all." she said before she ripped the still beating organ from his body, ending his sorry life once and for all. After Karin was finished with him the coroner thought it had been a wild animal attack, until they found the knife and her bloody handprints.

Karin arrived home still covered in blood, to find Toshiro sitting with her family. They all gasped when she came in covered in that bastard's blood.

"What happened to you?" Toshiro said his voice filled with concern.

"I killed him, he's dead Yuzu doesn't have to be afraid anymore" She said in a monotone voice still in shock at what she had done.

At her words her father and Yuzu started sobbing knowing that Karin had just given up her future for her sister's sake. Toshiro just looked as she walked up the stairs to clean herself up. After she walked out of his sight Toshiro felt overwhelmed with sadness, and for the first time in a long time he started crying, his agonized sobbing only stopped as she wrapped her now clean arms around him. The police came a short while later and Toshiro was about to attack them when a look from Karin stopped him. "I'm sorry Tosh but I have to go with them, I love you." Karin said as the police cuffed her.

"I love you too." he said as the police allowed him to place a kiss on her forehead.

As the police car drove away she gave him one last sad smile, then he knew her life in this world was over.

Karin's trial started 2 months later, her attorney was a man by the name of Hiro Ishida, he is Uryu's uncle and is spiritually aware. Like his brother he had chosen to abandon his Quincy heritage and pursue a career in law. During the trial the prosecution portrayed Karin as a violent delinquent during her childhood and used her history of violent behavior to paint her as a danger to society. They even tried to make Takashino out to be the victim, this caused her to start vomiting in court and she had to be taken out for the day. In the end she was found guilty of murder, and because of the brutality of her attack she was sentenced to death. When the sentence was announced Karin remained stoic, but sadness could be seen in her grey eyes. Her father began to sob as Yuzu fainted, and their brother and Rukia tried to comfort each other. Toshiro and Byakuya both began to cry silently and she could swear she could see tears in Urahara's eyes. As Karin was lead out of the court room, she looked at her family. "I'm sorry." was all she could say as she passed them.

Her case was given an automatic appeal, and after that was denied she told Hiro not to bother with anymore. She would rather die soon then spend the next 50 or more years in prison. Hiro wanted to protest, but he understood her reasoning after all she could enter the Soul Society as a young woman and she would be free to become a soul reaper like her boyfriend.

Present day

Karin was still crying in Toshiro's arms when Hiro Ishida walked to her cell, they would come for her soon and there were a few issues to work out.

"Karin I am sorry to interrupt you and captain Hitsugaya, but I need to ask you a few questions if that's Ok?" he said sounding sad and regretful.

Karin just nodded in response.

"What do you want us to do with your body after you leave it?" he ask.

"I told my dad I want to be buried next to Ichi-nii and Rukia's grave." she said, her brother's body and Rukia's gigai had both been cremated as per Japanese custom after the crash, and at their request Isshin had their ashes mixed and placed in one grave.

"Ok" was all Hiro said before he left so that Karin could be alone with Toshiro until the guards came for her.

Soon enough Hiro returned with two guards, Karin took a deep breath as she stood bracing her self for what was about to happen. The guards shackled her hands and feet, and as they lead her down the hall she saw Toshiro walking next to her, his hand on her shoulder as they entered the death chamber. Karin was lead to the gurney in the center of the room, and she could see curtains over the windows that lead to the rooms where the witnesses to her execution were. As she was being strapped to the gurney she wondered if her dad and twin sister were there.

Urahara shop in Karakura town

Jinta and Ururu were walking though the back rooms of the shop, retiring for the night. As they passed Mr. Kisuki's room they could hear a faint sobbing sound, and after looking through a crack in the door they could see that both Kisuki and Yoruichi were sobbing and trying to comfort each other.

"Why are they crying?" Ururu ask in her meek and innocent voice.

"They're gonna execute Karin in a few minutes." Jinta said.

As Jinta's words sank in Ururu began to cry as well, Jinta put his arms around her and let her cry on him. He would never let her see the tears that were falling down his face, he would be strong for her.

Kuchiki Manor, Soul Society.

Rukia and Ichigo were getting ready to leave the house, and head to the sankaimon gate so they could greet Karin and Hitsugaya when they cross into the Soul Society. As Rukia passed her brother's room she could hear a slight sound coming from within his room. She peeked in to see Byakuya sobbing quietly, as he sat holding a picture she could not see. Rukia was aware that her brother cared for the both Karin and Yuzu, and that Karin held a dear place in his heart. Ichigo came up beside her, and whispered in her ear "I miss judged your brother, he really is a good man at heart." Rukia was shocked to hear that from Ichigo, she knew that Ichigo and her brother had begun to develop a friendship over the past few years, mainly do to how much they cared for her and Ichigo's sisters, but to hear him say that was still shocking.

Rukia wrapped her arms around her soon to be husband's neck and smiled at him. "Lets get ready to greet your sister." she said as they walked out of the manor and headed to the gate.

Back at the prison

The guards finished strapping Karin down and left the room, someone walked up to her and she felt a needle stick in her arm. It's a good thing I'm not afraid of needles like Rukia is. Karin thought to herself. The man left the room and she and Toshiro were alone again, he took her hand in his and leaned down to her ear as he stroked her hair comfortingly.

"Everything will be aright, this will be over soon." He whispered in her ear.

The curtains opened and the warden took out her death warrant and read it aloud.

"Karin Kurosaki, for the willful murder of Koga Takashino you have been sentenced to death by lethal injection, to be carried out in accordance with the pronouncement of the court of criminal justice."

When he was finished the warden ask her if she had any last words she wanted to say.

"Yuzu I'm sorry I have to leave you and cause you even more pain, but please don't cry for me I'll be with Ichi-nii and Rukia again, and please don't be afraid anymore. Dad I'm counting on you to look after Yuzu, and keep her strong. I'm sorry for all of this, and I love you both very much." she said as tears started falling from her eyes again. Toshiro wiped them away with his thumb, and gave her hand a slight squeeze.

As the clock struck midnight the warden gave the signal, and the execution began. At first Karin didn't feel anything change, but after a moment or two she started to feel sleepy, like she could not keep her eyes open. As her eyes started to close, she could still hear Toshiro whispering in her ear and feel his hand squeezing hers. Maybe this would be peaceful and painless after all, she thought. Then she realized that she was still thinking, as she felt a weight building in her chest it was getting harder and harder to breath as she realized she could not move. Shit shit shit, I'm still awake she realized with horror. Karin began to panic as she felt her body struggle to stay alive, and fight the drugs that were slowly killing her. She felt her slowing heartbeat pounding her ears and she thought her head would explode. The pain and panic she was unbearable as she felt her struggling heart and lungs slowly shutdown, each passing second was like a lifetime to her.

Toshiro could feel her spirit energy spike, and he know she was panicking. She must still be awake he realized, and his heart froze as he whispered in her ear to stay calm, it was almost over. He stroked her hair with his free hand and he held her hand even tighter, he wanted cry at the thought of her suffering so much but he needed to stay strong for her sake. Karin could still hear Toshiro's calm voice and she concentrated on it as the pain became worse and worse, she willed herself not to panic and she calmed down a little. Toshiro could feel her calm down as her spirit energy began to level off. He looked at her beautiful face, and could see her breathing was becoming more labored. She began to feel lighter as the pain became less and she felt a little strange. Toshiro could see the color draining from her already pale face, and her breathing was shallow and ragged. He knew that she was near death and soon her soul would leave her body. Karin's lips started turning blue and her face was almost completely white, with a strained shuttering wheeze her breathing stopped. Toshiro felt a wave of panic grip his heart at her last breath even though he was expecting it. With his free hand he checked her pulse, her heart was still beating, but it was growing weaker with each beat until he could not feel it beat anymore.

Karin felt the pain stop and she could move again, she fell from the gurney onto the floor of the death chamber. She and Toshiro both heard a metallic sounding boom as her chain of fate was severed. This was it, she was dead no going back now. She sat on the floor hugging her knees to her chest and started sobbing as memories of the pain she suffered filled her mind. Toshiro sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her, as the medics came in to check her vitals and finding none they pronounced her dead. Her body was moved to a new gurney with a sheet placed over it., and rolled away. Her dad and sister planned to have her funeral in three days.

After Karin regained her composure she stood with Toshiro still holding her hand as he opened the sankaimon gate to the Soul Society as they entered she wondered if her dad and Yuzu would be ok without her.