OMG! There's gonna be another chapter so soon? Well, lucky you. )
Don't own Bleach.
Karin sat on the edge of her white bed, pondering the meaning of life when her bedroom door opened. It was a bit of a surprise, since it was Visitation day, and no one ever came to visit her, but she turned and questioned the presence of one of the wards as he ushered her out the door.
"Isn't it a great day, Karin-chan? You finally – "
"Don't ever address me so familiarly shit head."
"Aw, come on! I've known you for how many years now –"
"Too many."
"-and you still won't let me call you that!"
"No. You've known that I've existed, not known me for who I am."
"…Well, you could at least call me by my name instead of some vulgar –"
"Shut up, Siguru."
Siguru sighed as they continued down the blank white corridors toward the visitation rooms. She supposed they were just as white and dull as the walls that surrounded her now, but she wouldn't know seeing as she had never been in one of those rooms. For the sake of not being surprised and having time to prepare herself, she dared ask Siguru who was coming to visit.
"Well, as I was saying when I let you out of your room this morning, someone who claimed to be your brother – "
"My brother?!"
Siguru looked at her inquisitively at this statement, as he had never heard her voice so full of emotion, even though it was one of simple surprise come from her.
"Well, he didn't look like he was related to you, with his orange hair – "
Karin stopped walking, making Siguru turn back to face her fully. He gave her a little bit of time before urging her on toward those damnable rooms.
It had been a long time since she had felt so…emotional. It was the only way to describe it, because she though "alive" sounded like she had been dead, and even though she nearly had been (more than ounce) that wasn't how she had felt. It seemed almost like for the past 7 years she had been asleep, and then SPLASH! Someone had come running up to her and sprayed her in the face with nearly frozen water.
As her eternal walk down the white corridors continued, she saw a sign out of the corner of her eye reading "Visitation Center" with a nice plump yellow smiley face on either side of that abominable proclamation.
Closer and closer, she could feel old feelings of anger coming to the surface, burning away the cold grip of her surprise. Why, of all times for him to come back, had he chosen now? She assumed he had visited "home" first, so why didn't he wait until after she got out? She was finally leaving at the end of the week, so "Happier Times Care Center" could kiss her white virgin ass. It was a futile question, she knew that as soon as Isshin had told him what had happened (Yuzu wouldn't have had the courage) he would have hauled ass here.
She stopped in front of the door, and listened as she heard the Clinic therapist explaining to "Ichigo" (she was still skeptical) that she was due out at the end of the week… it struck her flat out in the face as she distantly heard Siguru knock on the door, saying she was here, when she remembered. Visitation days were Saturday. Tomorrow was SUNDAY. She was leaving tomorrow!
Unfortunately, her thoughts were crushed as she felt someone's tough, strong arms wrap around her – "Karin!"
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She sat numbly next to Ichigo in the Big Cheeses office, trying to sort out her jumbled thoughts. She heard her name being called out gruffly, when a hand descended on her shoulder, she jumped and froze under the hands touch. "Karin…" She didn't look up, but when she heard Mr. Big Mac snap at her, she looked up, and stared at the pig faced man before her.
"SO, as I asked you, Mr. Kurosaki, she will be left in you're care, correct?"
"Yeah, so, is this all that needs to be done?"
"Well, seeing as she is a near adult, we just needed to know whom to contact about the finality of her release."
The two continued on with the mindless banter about phone numbers and e-mails, before all three stood, Ichigo shaking pig faces hand, following him out the door. Ichigo thanked him, much to her displeasure, and on the way out, they were followed by a group that, like Karin, were on their way to terrorizing the streets of Karakura. She could feel Ichigo's eyes on her all the way out the door, gauging her reaction.
It was winter, so there was a thin layer of ice on the ground, which had a similar effect on her as hearing of her brother's sudden appearance at the Clinic. As she turned around to look back at the white building, she caught Ichigo's eye, and they stared at each other, not knowing what to say.
Finally, Ichigo came out with a lame "You've changed…" comment. It may have been a small thing, but it drove Karin into turmoil to hear his voice. She had nearly rehearsed for this day; what to say, what to do, how to look… it all flew out the metaphorical window, but she reacted much differently than how she thought she would. It was the way her friend Lashes had said SHE would have acted, and Karin seemed to have taken the idea into more consideration then she thought she had.
Nearly as soon as the words left his mouth, she whirled on him, slamming into him with her shoulder effectively shoving him to the ground. He looked up at her, stunned, confused.
"That's all you can say?! That's IT?! 'YOU'VE CHANGED?!'"
Tears she didn't know she had been holding streamed from her eyes. She looked down at him, opening and closing her mouth several times, as all the angry words she had wanted to say had collided in her throat, and now she couldn't say anything at all.
She whipped around, hearing the security guards from the Clinic, but before she had time to even think of running or where to, a strong hand grabbed her arm, and pulled her around. She heard a braking laugh, then –
"See?! I told ja' how you'd probably react! Let's mosey the hell on outta here!"
She turned and ran, pursued by the guards through alley ways, over fences and other obstacles, her psycho friend Lashes laughing merrily the whole time. It didn't take long for the guards to fall behind - they were used to subduing trapped crazies, not pursuing them up, over, and through people's yards. That didn't stop Lashes from hurling them through the city toward the opposite end. They were in the goddamned Styx before Lashes stopped and called "Time out!" into the darkness. She had hardly noticed night descending.
"Why the fuck did you make us run all the way out here?!"
"You bother asking? The peeps over at the Clinic probably called the cops after that violent little stunt you pulled!"
"That was what you expected from me though, right? Why do you care?"
"Who said I cared?"
Karin stopped arguing after that, knowing that she wasn't getting anywhere.
"Thanks."
"Isn't that what you expected of me?"
Lashes looked over at Karin, both their panting slowing.
"I'm glad you could keep up, Karin!"
"You say it like you're surprised. I used to play soccer, and I would go crazy –
"-er"
"- without exercise, so I used to use the treadmills. How did you manage to stay ahead of me? You always said you hated the little sweating room."
"I did! So, I started flippin' my bed over on its side and leanin' it on the wall. I'd do pull ups on the sexy legs of the bed!" She winked as she added 'sexy'. Crazy bitch.
"And running exercises?"
"My many escape attempts."
Karin snorted. It was a wonder she only spent 4 years and 6 months there. It was on one of her many escape attempts she had met her, but that memory was for another time.
"So why are we all the way out here?"
"So we can gather provisions!"
…
"…provisions?"
"Provisions!"
As she said this, she pointed at the house who's backyard they now stood in.
"…were going to steal food? Why this specific hou -"
"It's not stealin' if you tell em' and it's not burglary –"
She walked up to the door and pulled a spare key from under the mat.
" – if you don't break in!"
Karin watched dumb-founded as Lashes unlocked the door, and held it open for her. She approached cautiously, and after she was inside, Lashes gently shut the door behind her. She pranced into what appeared to be a computer room and snatched a purse off the floor near the desk. Filing through it, she pilfered a dark brown leather wallet, hading it to Karin to hold. She unceremoniously dropped it back on the floor, then proceeded to a small closet to collect a large plastic garbage bag. Before Karin could ask, she walked back through the computer/study room, through the kitchen toward the fridge.
Lashes had the right idea about how she was going about this. Most important things first, so if you need to run, you can without it being a wasted effort.
"You've been planning this, haven't you?"
"Aren't you glad I did?"
She continued shoving nonperishable foods into the bag, while Karin looked around. It was an ok house, not too big not too small. Again, before she could finish her examination, she was lead off to the bathroom where Lashes started raiding the medicine cabinets. She took every pill bottle and syrup she could find, and even remembered to "pack" toothbrushes, floss, and hairbrushes. Next on their list was Lashes' room. She was left to wait outside while she gathered clothes (she assumed) and whatnot. She reappeared not minute later dumping jeans, underwear, sanitary pads, and anything else a girl on the run wants.
It was unfortunate that the bag was nearly busting at the seems, so Lashes got 3 more bags and put 1 of the bags around the outside of the quickly disintegrating one.
"Why do we need all the clothes and things like make up? Are we going to sell – "
"We'll need jobs fool! And new do's so I figured I bring my hair dyes and shit."
"Good call."
"I've been plannin' this, haven't I?"
She was confused again when she heard the remaining 2 bags rustle at Lashes side. Her question was soon to be answered, as when they were leaving Lashes took a detour to a lone shed in the back corner. Hefting the old wooden door aside, she proceeded to toss old blankets and sleeping bags into the remaining 2 bags. When both were full, she put the keys in her pocket and tossed the bags over the wall street-side. Before Karin started heaving herself up, Lashes stopped her. She looked curiously back at her friend who handed her a smooth decorative rock.
"Lashes, what's this for? Pleeeeaaase don't tell me you want to –"
"- practice softball pitches?"
"This IS you're "loved one's" house, isn't it?"
"Well, to avoid prolonging the inevitable, shall we?"
She raised her rock behind her, and Karin copied the action.
"Say the word, Lashes."
"Before we do this, I want you to know that it means a lot that you're doing this with me. Like a bonding ritual or somethin'. So, if you ever want my help, know that I've probably already taken care of it."
"Thanks. I'll be calling that in pretty soon."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Rocks can do a lot more damage than one would think when they are thrown with emotion and good fuckin' aim.
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After hauling ass with their "provisions" on their back, Karin and Lashes took shelter in the only suitable place – under a bridge by the famed river with no name. As a precaution against having their food, money, and virginity stolen they slept in shifts. Naturally, Lashes insisted on taking the first shift, which turned out to be all night.
Well, that was a LONG ass chapter! Anyways, I know I haven't explained what Karin and her Psycho bitch friend Lashes look like, but their more descriptive descriptions will come next chapter. Lucky you!