I DONT OWN BLEACH. whoops.

"Kyaaaaaaaa~ Karin-chan! Was that what I think it was? Oh, how cool! Abarai Renji just gave you his number. You've GOT to call him!"

Looking back, Karin's pretty sure she heard those words fall from her sisters mouth, but if we're being honest, all she heard was her heart thrumming inside of her mind. One moment she was staring at her palm, and the next she was running out of the cafe like a bullet from a barrel.

With the cold air beating against her face, she began her search for Renji. After squinting a bit, she noticed his retreating form near the end of the parking lot. She cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted "Oi—RENJI!" as loud as she could. Renji startled when he heard his name, but didn't turn around until he heard panting and approaching foot steps. He'd be a liar if he said he wasn't shocked to see Kurosaki Karin hunched over behind his bike.

"Karin—was there something you need—mfphhh-O-Oi!" Renji started, but couldn't finish as he was interrupted by Karin placing her arms on his chest and giving him an ample shove. Quickly recovering he stared at the obsidian haired girl in confusion. He quirked an eyebrow when he noticed the girl was quite flushed.

Huffing, Karin turned around and began walking away. That is, until she heard Renji sputter. "Oi, what the hell was that for?!" She turned right back around and marched up to Renji with fire in her eyes. When she was met with Renji's chest she looked straight up, into his eyes, and glared.

"If you think I'm the kind of girl you can just scribble some number to and leave hanging in a cafe, Ch—you are wrong, Abarai-san!" she spat his name in a sarcastic tone he was sure he'd be hearing a lot in the near future.

Renji stared down at her in shock and embarrassment. Did she not realize how close they were? He was painfully aware that with every breath she took, her chest was brushing up against his upper torso. Blushing, Renji stepped back with his hands up in surrender.

"Listen, Karin, I didn't mean to offend you in any—itaiii, stop hitting me, woman!" Renji scowled as he rubbed his arm.

"Well, maybe if you stopped treating me like some run of the mill FAN GIRL I wouldn't have to hit you, BAKA!" Karin seethed as Renji stared at her in shock and maybe a hint of surprise.

With a huff of annoyance, Karin turned around and stomped off to her car. Little did she know, Renji watched her go with a look of complete awe etched upon his face.

'The nerve of that guy' she thought. 'And to think I actually looked up to him! Pfft, as if!' With one last grunt of annoyance, she swings into her jeep and puts the key into ignition. When her car doesn't start, she sighs as her eyes shut and she lays her head down on the wheel. She gives the key a few more turns, but is met with only disappointment and a nasty sound coming from her poor jeep.

Karin sits in silence as she contemplates her next move. Ichigo isn't exactly close, but calling her Dad would just be painful. He would act like a complete freak and bawl over his poor Karin-chan having car trouble without her Otou-chan looking out for her. She would hate to pull Yuzu away from work… "Baka-Oyajii" she murmurs as she reaches for her phone.

Karin is scrolling through her contacts when there is a slight tap on her window. Her eyes widen when she locks eyes with Abarai Renji. He's standing beside her window and maybe its the cold, but she's almost positive she can make out a slight blush dusting across his cheeks. Against her better judgement, she decides to roll down the window.

Renji stares a moment too long, as if he wasn't sure she'd lower the window at all. She's about to roll the window back up when he stops her.

"Matte Karin—Ano, I-I'm sorry...for how I came off...back inside the cafe. I'm really not that guy…and I'm sorry if I made you feel like—just some fan girl."

Karin stared at him. She didn't like how unsure he made her feel. This morning she thought of him as a soccer god, even more so when they met. But then, he came off as arrogant when he wordlessly slipped her his number as if expecting her to head to the nearest phone and call him up. At least, that's what she thought. Now, not so much. Maybe, possibly, she misunderstood him? Still unsure, Karin gave him a nod and began to roll her window back up.

Again, she was stopped by Renji. She cut him a quick glare that soon melted when she saw his stare softening towards her. "Nani?" she softly asked.

"Eto—I was just wondering...if you'd like me to take a look under your hood?" Karin sputtered and he soon realized how he may have sounded. Quick to recover he then added "I mean, I saw you having car trouble, and I thought I could take a look for you. My dad taught me a lot about cars." Renji saw her face shift to curiosity at that last sentence he hastily choked out as he too wondered why he said that. He wasn't one to talk about his private life with practically strangers.

Karin was about to open her mouth and decline when Renji cut her off in a soft, but reassuring tone. "Just pop the hood, Karin-chan." She growled in annoyance, but did as she was told. After a few minutes of Renji inspecting her engine and what not, he closed it up and walked back over to her window.

"Well?" she asked. Renji took his time answering her. He began wiping the oil and residue from his hands onto his jeans. Then, he looked up at her and said "Well, Karin, it seems you're in need of a new engine." She choked.

"NANIII?!" She was in the middle of freaking out when she heard Renji's soft chuckle.

"Baaaka. Your engine is fine, it's just that your battery is dead." He backs away slowly from the glare she sends his way. She sighs and thanks him for trying. He leans up against the car parked a few feet away from her and smiles. She tries convincing herself that she doesn't find this act…cute. It's not. Really.

"Mahh, it's the least I could do after upsetting you." Karin is about to send him an angry retort when he cuts her off.

"Nehh, Karin…do you think—maybe we could start over? I think we got off on the wrong foot back there."

Karin pauses. She look into his eyes for any traces of insincerity. After concluding that he's telling the truth, her gaze softens, and she nods in agreement. "Mmm, consider all that other stuff forgotten. Thank you for your help, Renji"

She gets out of the car and begins to head back towards the cafe with every intention of calling her Dad. However, when she gets inside, she is bombarded with questions by Yuzu.

"Karin-chan, you're back! What happened? Did you find Abarai-san? Did you give him your number? Tell me everything!"

"Mou, calm down Yuzu. Yes, I found him, but that's not the problem. My jeep won't start. That's the problem. The damn battery is dead. Damn."

Karin is running a hand through her hair in frustration when Renji walks back in. She notices him only after Yuzu grins and nudges her in the side. Karin doesn't know what to say when Yuzu jumps in. Or rather, noses into her affairs.

"Konnichiwa, Abarai-san. Is there anything I can do for you?" she asks with a mischievous glance.

Renji shifts uncomfortably. "No, thank you." Then, he turned to Karin. "I was actually coming to see about you. Eto—I was wondering..if maybe I could give you a ride home?" he asks nervously.

Karin flushes. 'Abarai Renji wants to give me a ride home? why?' Before she could decline or even ask why, Yuzu chimes in.

"She'd love that! Arigato ne, Abarai-san!" she winks at him and playfully shoves him and Karin out the door. "Don't worry, Karin-chan, I'll call Otou-san and Onii-chan to come take care of your jeep! Gambatte." she whispers just low enough for Karin to hear.

After being usher out of the warm establishment, she looks to Renji.

He grins.

A big thanks to Kari Izumi. I've had this chapter ready for about two weeks, but I just got so caught up in everything else (read:life) that I forgot. I promise to be committed to this story, and others, from here on out! That being said, I hope you enjoy this chapter! I know it's not lengthy, but I promise i'll improve! I'm a novice writer, so any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated! The next installment is already in the works!

P.s. to those confused about the reality/universe. Its meant to be Japan, but seeing as I'm not too familiar with actual Japan, you're going to be seeing brands like Jeep, Nike, etc. Also, I know she could have just gotten a jump, but let's just pretend that, at the moment, Renji giving her a ride home was the only option.