Chapter 2: The Reality of Dreams
The dream stayed with Karin. His blue eyes hadn't been cold or freezing. They had lit up from the inside as if he had some secret light. Just like her mother had. Like Ichigo has.
He had given her some peace and if it was only a dream she was grateful. He must be something her imagination had conjured up to give her comfort. No one ever made her feel that safe except for Ichigo.
She could hear her brother yelling at Rukia as he stubbed his toe on the shoes she had left out. Rukia was always leaving her sandals out and at night she would frequently sneak into Ichigo's bedroom and sleep in the closet. When the two were alone, Karin would often hear them talking about Rukia sleeping in closet. Karin had tried to ignore it. She liked Rukia and she was glad Ichigo had her.
"How did you sleep?" Yuzu asked when she saw Karin.
"Better than most nights. You?"
"I dreamed of Mom," Yuzu said hesitantly.
Karin's eyes opened wider. "What happened in your dream?"
"She was just smiling. She told me she was proud of us and then she disappeared. I woke up crying. I wanted her to come back."
Karin stared. She felt guilt about her own dream. Cain, he had offered some form of comfort. His treatment of the children had reminded her that innocents needed to be protected. Yuzu was the most innocent person Karin knew. Her and Orihime Inoue.
"It will be ok."
Karin went back to sleep expecting to just have no dreams. She had been happier today than she could remember being in a long time. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
Her eyes closed and she once again found herself in the familiar dusty landscape.
"I didn't know you were coming back."
She turned to look at Cain. "I didn't think I was either. I figured I'd be in nothingness or just sleeping."
He laughed softly. "I kind of figured there was nothing after I died. I figured we just ceased to exist. Imagine my surprise when I found myself here."
"H-how did you die?"
She doesn't know if it's rude to ask that or not. He stops laughing and she's afraid she's offended him.
"I was stupid. I didn't listen to my teacher and my impulsiveness got me killed. Come on let me show you around. Will you be staying this time?"
"I don't know. But I didn't like to learn this place. For some reason it's familiar."
And so are you. Even if he was only a dream she didn't want to scare him off. Right now he was one of the few good things in her life.
Karin sighed after the fourth night of dreams. She had thought that her imagination had gone into overdrive. The history classes on the Edo period sinking further into her subconscious making her reenact things. But the world Cain spoke of was so foreign she couldn't imagine it.
She spent her days wanting to go to sleep. Anything to get back to the Hanging Dog district and the world Cain was slowly showing her. She didn't care anymore. She went on autopilot to school, to soccer, and to Don Kanjou's. She worked her shifts at the hospital in a mechanical way. No one noticed except her father. He seemed to watch her more closely but at night….it was worth it. It was worth every bit of it to go to that new world and be with her new friend. Even Cain wasn't real he was her friend.
"You're happier today," he remarked.
Karin grinned. She had taught him a little bit about soccer the night before. He had surprised her by actually showing her some of the moves she had taught him.
"It isn't often I actually have someone listen to me. You practiced," she said grinning.
"Of course I did. I didn't have anything else to do."
"You sound like you get bored a lot."
He shrugged. "It's not that hard for me to survive here. Koga taught me about survival and if I had listened to him, I would still be alive."
"How's that possible?"
He didn't get a chance to answer before the hollow descended in the midst of the district. Cain shoved her quickly out of the way.
"You need to run now," he shouted at her.
"What about you?"
"I've got to stay. I have a better chance of holding this thing off until a shinigami can get here."
"What do you mean?"
He didn't answer her as the hollow clawed her leg. Karin screamed but took off running. She could try something but she knew that these things fed off of spiritual pressure.
She stared at Cain as green life engulfed him. A creature came out of him and began to attack the hollow. It was only when the shinigami's came that he stopped.
"What are you?" she asked once they were back at his house.
"Eat the honey. It will make you feel better," he said handing her a honey comb that he had bought from the market.
She chewed slowly. "What are you?"
"A bount."
She felt her consciousness pulling at her. Someone was entering her room. She could sense it. She woke with a start and stared down at her legs doging as Yuzu rushed to hug her.
The mark on legs showed the scar and she could taste the honey he had made her eat on her lips.
She shivered. Her dreams were real.
To be continued…