AN: Wow, so many reviews and favorites and alerts~ Super happy with the response, guys, so keep it up. I've got quite a list going, but I think I need to clarify the rules a little bit because unfortunately some entries weren't usable. :(
1. I won't be recreating anime/manga/books specifically. That takes a lot of time and effort because I have to reconstruct an entire story and reinterpret it in a HitsuKarin fashion. Very difficult for someone like me who has a lot going on stories-wise (and life-wise). Sorry!
2. I'm imposing a word limit on myself to try and see if I can get the most out of so few words. I'm aiming for 2,000 to 4,000 (not counting AN's), but I don't mind going a little over. Just know that I'm not writing epics. I write too much as it is. Haha.
3. I'll have to go between opening and closing the submissions. I already have half a page of plots (double-spaced, of course) and I don't want to bite off more than I can chew.
4. I may combine plot bunnies into one chapter because some themes overlap. This isn't really a rule, just FYI. :)
Thank you's for last chapter:
Nola: Thank you and enjoy~
HitsuKarinLOVE: Thank you. It's mostly fluff. No plot here other than to write cute scenes. I may do a M-rated story one day but as of now I have no plans. :) Unfortunately, 1 Liter of Tears is a tragedy and I don't plan on taking this story in that direction. But if you have anything else's that shoujo manga based, please let me know!
Aoi. Kunieda-Karin. Kurosaki (I'm sorry. I had to add spaces because your name kept getting deleted in the document page. :/): School's been busy, is all. ;) I'm afraid I can't use series, but if you have specific scenes from the series then please let me know. I'll be happy to write them. :) Unfortunately, I haven't kept up with number of mangas, so I don't feel confident trying to rewrite the series. :(
Nalay: It's just a bunch of random one-shots so it'll definitely be continued for as long as I'm inspired. I hope you like them!
Guest: I've taken a few of your suggestions. ;D I personally love the homemade lunch one (it's classic, after all) so please look forward to them~
Guest: Unfortunately I'm only accepting scenes and not series. :( I'm trying to stay within this very shoujo!AU I've intentionally created. But it's a wonderful idea and if I decide to do a one-shot I'll definitely keep it in mind. If you have any more ideas, please let me know~ :DDD
Kuschkova: I'm not using series right now, mostly because I don't feel right trying to rewrite shows or stories I'm not familiar with. :( Sorry! I know that shoujo manga isn't really everyone's cup of tea but right now I can only focus on one thing at a time. But thank you for the suggestion! :D
Test123: I actually love Pride and Prejudice, but trying to do that story justice is something I can't even imagine doing right now. Maybe one day I'll feel accomplished enough to do it, but right now I definitely don't feel adequate. But thank you for the submission~ :)
Guest: I actually love Plot Bunny #2! I'm gonna have fun with that one. I'm not sure if I can do #1, but if I can I will. Thanks for your thoughts~
Warnings: My idea for the premise of the chapter is reminiscent of my story The Plan. Just in case it sounded a little familiar.
Cliché Two: Dream Detention (from Titania of Fairy Taii)
When her senses first started to develop as a child, Karin had actively ignored any spiritual beings that appeared before her. If you didn't acknowledge them, then they didn't exist, she told herself as she refused to meet any number of gazes that sought out her own. Back then, it was just easier to protect herself that way, living in ignorance and hoping for bliss.
But it was a useless method, one she finally modified when her life was turned upside-down by Ichigo's new double life. And somehow it started her down the road of fighting monsters far superior in size and strength, and finding that there was much more to her abilities than just sight.
So, really, it was only a matter of time until Karin made the transition into a defender herself. But the role she took on was an unpaved road, as she came to terms with the fact that she wasn't fully human but nor was she a trained shinigami. An uncomfortable middle was what she fell into, as she allowed Urahara to teach her the techniques she needed to battle against otherworldly creatures and survive. And in exchange, she was monitored constantly in hopes of understanding just how powerful a mixed breed could be, an estimate of what her older brother might've been without Rukia's intervention.
Slowly but surely she took on the thankless job that was once Ichigo's and learning that she was every bit her father's daughter in the process. Her model student status was constantly tried as she snuck into school after the gates were locked by skimming fences. Other times she would dodge class while claiming sudden illness, rushing out the door in a fashion that was much characteristic of Ichigo and his friends when they were in high school. But because she was upstanding and maintained her ranking each grading period, all the teachers could do was praise her and turn a blind eye to her obvious disappearances and dubious tardy excuses.
Unfortunately for her, Karin was about to find out that her wayward habits were no longer acceptable as far as a certain teacher was concerned.
Checking that the coast was clear on either side of the street, the dark-haired Kurosaki hoisted herself onto the white slab of wall fencing her school. If she was right, then her math class just ended, which meant her final subject still had a few more minutes before it began. She could sneak in and her professor would be none the wiser, she pondered happily as she fell into a crouch on the opposite side.
"Welcome back, Karin."
Shooting up in surprise, she glanced over at the source of the voice, eyes like saucers and looking more than a little troubled. Of course, it was a natural reaction when one heard that voice, the one that she and her classmates were starting to associate with true terror. The quiet, almost slow patience barely covered the deadly seriousness beneath, as Karin fought to relax and fake nonchalance beneath that dark emerald stare.
"What're you doing here, Hitsugaya-sensei?" she asked, sounding uncharacteristically sweet even to her own ears. But she knew that when Toushirou began using her first name there was definitely trouble ahead. Hence the reason why her defenses went up when he used it, as she piled on the politeness in hopes of dodging his wrath just one more time.
"I think you're asking that question to the wrong person, don't you?" Crossing his arms over his chest, she watched his muscles tighten beneath the white button-down. It was a reflex of hers that she didn't quite understand, as she tore her eyes away and looked down at the ground in faux repentance. In truth, she just wanted to buy herself a few more minutes.
"Well, I don't see anyone else out here," she stalled, glancing up with a sugary smile, in hopes of offsetting his temper.
It didn't. "You're smart, Karin. It's basic logic. If I'm not the person you should be asking, that only leaves one other choice."
"Umm, the Spirit King?" She was already knee-deep in her own grave. There was no use in trying to play nice if he had no intention of letting her go scot-free.
"You left class to take care of a Hollow, Karin. And not just any Hollow, but a Menos. Did you even think about how hurt you could've gotten?" The iciness from his voice was gone, replaced by hot anger at her blatant disregard to chase after an early death.
Honestly, he wasn't the only one getting sick of this conversation. "I've been trained for this and you know it, Toushirou. If I didn't think I could handle it, I would've left it well enough alone but it got way too close to campus. I couldn't just leave it."
"Have you forgotten that there's nowhere safer in this city than right here? I'm not just for decoration, you know," Hitsugaya scoffed, taking a few steps forward to crowd her against the concrete wall. It still felt strange having to tilt her head to meet his gaze, as she lifted her chin with a hard glare of her own.
"It wasn't something you had to worry about." She couldn't tell him why her words fell short, feeling incomplete on a level she didn't quite understand yet. Since he'd arrived, Karin loathed to admit that she and Toushirou had become oddly aware of each other, unconsciously following each other's whereabouts as if they each wore a tracking device. Just as he knew where she disappeared to during the day, she was well acquainted with his nightly practice of skittering between worlds.
Maybe that was why she felt the need to go at her job alone. It was one less thing for him to worry about, though why she cared she didn't know. Maybe having him back in her life made her maudlin, trying to pay him back for something she couldn't even put into words. All she knew was that he'd been there for her as a kid, during a time in her life when she was afraid her family might not get through whatever storm was brewing, and that was all the justification she needed.
"So you took it upon yourself to do a shinigami's duty." Watching him with wary eyes, Karin purposely didn't answer since it hadn't been phrased as a question. Instead she waited for him to continue, her defiance soft but present, hands clenched at her sides in readiness. She didn't expect him to retreat then, giving them both a few feet to just breathe.
But the reprieve was short-lived, as he spoke with solemnity before turning on his heel. "I expect to see you in detention today, Kurosaki. No excuses."
"What?!" she exclaimed, chasing after him without getting too close. "You can't do that!"
"Try me."
"But-but… You're not even a real teacher!" she blurted out, immediately knowing it was the wrong thing to say. So when he halted and spun back towards her, Karin braced herself for the worst, spreading her feet as she watched him with uncertain eyes.
As always, he didn't mince words. "I'm enough of one to know what's against the rules, and if no one else in this place is going to discipline you, then I will. I will see you after class so don't be late. You have—" he glanced down at his watch, "—approximately forty-five seconds to get there before I do."
She decided to save her breath and not cause a scene, as she sprinted towards the nearest entrance while cursing a certain shinigami captain to high hell and back.
Standing at her desk, her limbs felt heavy as she went about packing her stuff. As she waved unenthusiastically as some her friends left, Karin couldn't stop the glower from overtaking her face. When her dad found out about this, he'd probably go on and on about how terrible a father he was before crying into her mother's poster… again. The shiver of disgust was only barely concealed, as she turned to watch Yuzu walk in.
"You ready to go home, Karin-chan?" she asked, smiling as she readjusted the bag in her hands. Damn, she forgot to tell her sister. She was too busy slowly killing Toushirou in her mind to send her a text.
At least the bastard wasn't there at the moment. "I can't, Yuzu. I have something to take care of today."
"I didn't realize you had an activity. What is it? Soccer? Student council?"
"Neither," Karin grumbled impatiently before swinging the her handbag up and over her shoulder. "I have detention."
"You?" Yuzu gasped, as if the idea was blasphemous. It seemed that her running about wasn't lost on others, including those in other classes. "But you never get detention for anything. The teachers adore you."
"Yeah, well, this one hates me," she mumbled ungratefully, as she walked with her sister to the door. Toushirou had told her to meet him in a separate classroom closer to the teacher's lounge, as he'd be going back and forth when needed to. The fact that he had to work while she suffered only alleviated her pain by a tiny margin.
"That's not true. Which teacher was it?"
"The white-haired demon that used to call himself my friend," she spat, as if this one act was a betrayal of everything they shared. Granted, a handful of visits weren't much but she was a believer in quality over quantity and that was what kept their relationship intact each time he left.
When she noticed that her sister stopped a few steps behind her, Karin turned back with a frown, vaguely noticing that the hallways were eerily deserted. But even more frightening than that was the gleam that entered Yuzu's gaze, causing the raven-haired sibling to step back, unsure. As far as she was concerned, no Hollow had anything on Yuzu when it came to looks of pure evil. It was as if she was the originator of such dark, twisted conspiracy.
"Do you mean… Hitsugaya-sensei was the one who gave you detention?"
"Umm, yes…" she replied uncertainly, not liking the menacing expression that was starting to take root on the other's face.
"And he doesn't usually give detentions, does he?"
"Not that I know of…"
"And you'll both be alone? Together?" The hopeful lilt made Karin's frown deepen, as she narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Just where was her sister going with this?
"I guess so. I mean, no one else was called to stay after."
"Karin-chan, don't you know what this means?" Excitedly, Yuzu grasped both of her hands with her own, eyes practically glittering as she looked up at the other. It was only self-righteous determination that kept her from retreating, as that overly enthusiastic gaze tried to coerce an answer from her lips. All it did was scare her shitless.
"That Toushirou is out to get me?"
"No, silly! It means he likes you!" Yuzu giggled happily, as she watched her with crescent eyes. As the potent fear continued to creep into her senses, she also felt the disbelief rise with it.
"'Likes me'? Are we talking about the same person who decided to besmirch my perfect record?" she snorted, pulling her limbs away to place her hands on her hips defensively.
As Yuzu nodded, Karin could only try (and fail) to understand what was going on in that head of hers. "Think about it. He makes you the exception and treats you differently from everyone else."
"That's because he doesn't know anyone else," Karin interjected but was promptly ignored.
"And now he's found a reason to get you two alone together! Isn't it romantic?" The fluttering of her lashes and dreamy visage only had Karin shaking her head, as she spun back and made her way towards her prison for the next few hours. Her sister's last-minute encouragement didn't help calm her mind at all, as she swiftly turned the corner. As far as she was concerned, the one who needed luck here was Toushirou because she wasn't going to play nice if she could help it.
"You're late."
"Be careful, Sensei, you're starting to sound like a broken record," Karin chastised mockingly, ignoring his glower as she took a seat in front of him. She continued to do so as she pulled out her homework and made an attempt to look impervious to his attention. On the inside, however, she could feel her heart hammer loudly in her ears.
For a while, it was easier just not look at one another. That way, Karin could pretend she was in her bedroom, doing the exact same thing but without the other's constant presence. She could pretend that she didn't glance up on occasion to see the concentrated look in her old friend's eyes or the way his brow crinkled in question at a particular answer. She could pretend that she didn't admire those long lashes or moon-dyed hair, unfit on a man who had no right to be as pretty as he was deadly.
She could pretend that she wasn't turning into someone else completely whenever Toushirou was around, regressing into the child she forgot she was sometimes. It was easier to not care about him but it was impossible not to, Karin realized dully as she got through the first few lines of her English homework. The boy always made an impression, but perhaps his was ingrained more deeply in her than most.
And with each passing moment, Karin took note of how the atmosphere gradually turned lighter, their initial tension unexpectedly melting away. The once harsh energy bled into companionable silence, as they each continued to work on their own. It was funny, usually Karin hated quiet and calm, too used to having a house filled with noise and a life always hanging by a thread. Maybe she'd forgotten how to appreciate the solace, as she worked without another word or argument with Hitsugaya.
So it was no real surprise to Karin when she found herself blinking weary eyes open, head cradled in a nook she'd created for herself. Vaguely she noticed the feel of paper beneath her limbs, as she sat up slowly and took in her surroundings with a half-mast glance. Although all of the fluorescent lights were on, the darkness outside openly stated that it was far past her initial time limit, as she moved to check her cell phone's clock. 5:53 PM. All of the club activities were probably done by now, Karin thought, frowning when she realized that Toushirou was nowhere in sight.
"If that jerk left me here…" she trailed off irritably, standing to stuff her supplies into her pack and head home. She could chew him out properly tomorrow, after she had a good night's rest and a few hours to stew in her anger.
Her jabbing movements caused something to rustle to the floor, as she looked down at a dark gray jacket she hadn't known was on her. Picking it up, her fingers noted the expensive fabric, as well as the long sleeves and pleated collar. Inspecting it closer, her nose filled with the scent of sage and honey an instant later, the earthy perfume one she would've never concocted until that moment. Nor did she think she'd come to associate it with someone as masculine as its wearer, as she recalled where she saw it earlier that day.
"I see you're up." The sound of Hitsugaya's voice nearly had her dropping the expensive blazer, as she swiveled her head towards him in wide-eyed wonder. But she didn't say anything, not quite trusting herself as she nodded at him and placed his coat on the desk.
As he came to stand on the opposite side of her table, Karin kept her focus away from his face, unsure of how she felt. Not only had he not left her behind, he even had the courtesy to place his jacket over her. The ire that she desperately wanted to feel was absent, as she finally assembled herself and handed him back the borrowed piece of clothing.
Shaking his head, Toushirou looked outside before turning towards the exit. "Wear it for now. It's not too cold out yet but do it just to be safe. I'll walk you home."
"You don't have to, you know. It's still pretty early," Karin protested, hearing the scratchiness in her voice as she moved to catch up with him. "Besides, I don't really get cold too easily."
He glared down as she offered him the coat again, looking mildly offended. "You really can't just accept help, can you?"
She scoffed then, retracting the offering as she shot him a sardonic look of her own. "Looks like the pot's calling the kettle black again. If you'd just let me do as I like, we probably wouldn't fight as much, y'know."
"If I let you do as you like, you'd probably kill yourself and a few others as well."
"Be careful, Toushirou. If you keep talking like that, you're gonna be one of the people I kill."
And, as if by some old magic, they continued to bicker as if they'd never been separated for years or by dimensions, leaving the school grounds and walking down the street toward her home. She pleaded her case about hollow hunting, which he flat-out refused to acknowledge. And he continued to get on her case about butting into business, as she asked straightforward questions that he felt no need to answer.
But they did settle on one thing that night: Karin agreed to wear the jacket—but only if Toushirou let her keep it.
AN: Submissions are still open so feel free to add a few if you like (this counts as a completely new round of entries). Or, just tell me how I'm doing in a nice little comment down below. I should be studying for exams but school makes me procrastinate and procrastinating makes me write. LOL Which is why I updated even though I'm not supposed to. Hope it was worth it~ ;)
Until next time, everyone~
