A/N: Sitting on the break today, I suddenly got struck with the idea of another oneshot which could be posted here. Some of it is based on episodes 132 and 316, some of them are placed in the future of this young couple :D

Anyway, I don't own anything here.

=H I T S U K A R I N=

One could ask how Kurosaki Karin knew that Hitsugaya Tōshirō cared deeply about her. After all, seeing his cold demeanor, one couldn't said what he really felt. Well, in the beginning Karin herself wasn't sure about it. After all, she was only eleven and her interest in boys were deeply hidden and not discovered. but it changed, maybe not very much when it comes to the boys, but she gave it much more thoughts than before. And after few years of knowing the Tenth Division Taicho, she knew how to answer it.

In reality, there were few points on the list when she thought about it deeply.

1. The name.

Anyone who knew Hitsugaya, either in Soul Society or Real World, knew that there was one unbreakable rule: never ever, if you want to still keep your body in warmth, call Hitsugaya-taicho by his first name. There was only one proper way, and it should be kept that way. Even Momo was always reminded to call him by his title. But still, Karin was exception.

Not even once during their friendship, Hitsugaya corrected her about how she was addressing him. it was pretty shocking for others Shinigamis when they witnessed him. After short 'Yo, Tōshirō.' they were all expecting the sudden coldness, the murderous glare, the shouting. Nothing came, except 'Hello, Karin.' Well, adding the facet that it was the time when they had found out that Ichigo had a sister... And it hadn't changed on the run of years. For her he was always Tōshirō, not Hitsugaya, and for him she was Karin, not Kurosaki.

Matsumoto looked on Rukia, her light blue eyes widened in shock. The violet ones weren't in much better state. Of course, Kuchiki knew about the fact that Ichigo had a sister and Matsumoto that Karin had met her taicho... but she never suspected that they had met again somewhere.

'She... he didn't correct her.' Rangiku muttered, strange light in her eyes.

Rukia nodded her head, her thinking face on the place, with finger on the chin.

'And didn't even get scold.' Kuchiki girl added.

Suddenly, matsumoto grabbed her shoulders and turned her around, bringing her closer to herself, nose to nose, eyes shining in excitement.

'Do you know what that mean?' Rukia shook her head. 'My taicho is interested in girl! He is finally growing up!'

The sudden coldness behind redhead Shinigami told both of them to quickly run away.

2. Childish things.

The other well known fact about Hitsugaya Tōshirō was that he hated everything what could made him look like child. He despised it from the bottom of his heart. He would get angry when someone suggested a sweet. he would get furious when someone patted him on his head. He would get extremely pissed when someone suggested to play in some child game.

And still, when Karin suggested playing soccer, he would happily agree. Of course not showing it. but still, he wouldn't think twice about that. he loved playing soccer with her. For her, playing was almost her whole life. Nothing mattered more, except of family. He didn't even know when, but suddenly, the things important to Karin started being important to him. With every year more and more, until he learned to cherish them completely.

'Shuhei~' Matsumoto sang in happy voice, walking onto the office where the redaction of Soul Society newspaper was gathered. there was a large envelope in her hand, which she protectively were holding against her breast.

'What do you have for us, Matsumoto-fukutaicho?' Hisagi asked, looking up from the paper he was currently reading.

He knew that Matsumoto and the rest of the team just came back from the Real World, and that meant more news to the paper.

'You will never guess!' she shouted excited, pushing the envelope into him. 'Look at this!'

Hisagi took an envelope from her, feeling her exited eyes on him all the time. he opened it and looked on the photos inside. His eyes widened.

'Is it...' he started, still closely inspecting the photos.

'Yep!' she shouted, clapping her hands. 'it's my taicho in amusement park, having fun with...'

'MATSUMOTO!'

Let's just say, the photos were no longer able to be used.

3. Annoyed.

He would only glare when someone said something about his 'relationship' with other Shinigamis women. He was not once accused on romance with Momo (what could put as an incest) or Matsumoto (this one always sound to him as if his fukutaicho was pedophile), but he didn't do more than giving person who toldt his a cold shoulder and turning around.

But when someone said something about his relationship with younger Kurosaki, he would get furious. He would shout, glare, even froze someone without second thought. And also, he could blush.

One could ask why it was different? Why Karin was exceptation? On the beginning he himself was convincing that it was because he didn't want to ruin their friendship. Then, he made a discovery, which sent him into the Fourth Division in state of shock. As a genius, he hated when someone found out something before him. Especially when the case was close to his heart.

'Your taicho had become quiet a man after he grew up.' Nanao commented once when they both were sitting in the Tenth Division office, drinking a tea.

of course, it was time when Matsumoto was supposed to fill the paperwork.

'Tell me something I don't know.' Rangiku answered proudly, thinking about her taicho. After all, he was like son for her.

Nano thought about something for a moment.

'There is even a rumour that he had a funclub in the Academy.' she said, remembering what her own taicho had told her once.

'Nah, tacho won't be interested in them.' Matsumoto stated, waving her hand. When Nanao looked on her, she continued. 'He already has a girlfriend in Real World!'

Nanao split her tea when deadly whisper suddenly rang in the cold air.

'WHOM I have WHERE, Matsumoto?'

4. Protecting.

He had known from the moment he met her for the first time what she was like some damn bait on Hollows. It was as if she was running aroung with huge sign over her head. And he knew that she needed protection. And more often than not, he was her knight in shining armor. Or in snowy haori.

he would jump in front of her every time, in last second protecting her from being stabbed, cut, smashed, eaten. And it wasn't only because he didn't want kurosaki Ichigo to bankai his ass into oblivion.

It was just that Hitsugaya valued her life more than his own.

Matsumoto run quickly to her wounded Captain, blood dripping down his arm. He was crouching on the ground, almost hovering over something. Her hands started glowing in healing kidou when she suddenly heard a voice rang from in front of her taicho.

'Idiot. I told you to be careful.' Karin said, hitting the Shinigami in front of her on the head lightly.

'I wasn't the one blindly walking into the Hollow.'

Matsumoto smiled. So that was why her taicho was hurt by little Hollow.

5. Hairs.

No one could touch his hair. Another sacred rule of Hitsugaya Tōshirō. Never ever, basta. As soon as his hair were touched, the person who was stupid enough to do it, was ent into another dimension.

Only one hand could touch his hairs. Karin had this stupid habit of ruffling it whenever she got bored or annoyed with him. From time to time he could glare on her when she did it in front of others, but still ,the fire was gone from the glare.

Everyone was already used to bickering, which often acompanied the metings between Karin and Hitsugaya.

'They are like and old married couple.' she stated to Rukia, who was next to her, smiling slightly on her taicho annoyance.

Her smile softened when Karin's hand suddenly shot up and landed on white hairs, ruffling them. Hitsugaya only closed his eyes, sighing deeply, but still, there was small smile on his face.

6. Touching.

Hitsugaya never would be accused of being comforted with close proximity between himself on other person. He was just this type of people who hated being touched, hugged, comforted. It always made him feel uncomfortable and childish.

But when he touched Karin it felt different. It gave him this strange warm feeling which he liked, even if normally he preferred coldness. Yet, touching warm skin of Karin's hand, he felt as if he was on cloud nine.

Karin shoot up on her bad, tears running down her cheeks. She had seen it again, the death of everyone she loved.

'What happened?' she turned to the windowsill, where the white haired man crouched, looking on her with his teal eyes closely.

Without a single word she reached her hands for him. Understanding, he took of his sword, walking closer to her.

He stayed with her for the rest of the night, hugging her closely to his chest.

Thinking about it, Karin was pretty sure that Tōshirō cared about her from the bottom of his heart. The ring on her finger was one more proof of their love.