Negirau Atashinchi
~Hating Family~
"You don't belong. Go home to that crazy dad of yours," the girl stated, sticking out her tongue at Karin.
The dark haired Kurosaki Twin simply turned back around and slipped on her shoes as she tried to ignore what the girls had said to her. This was particularly true about the comment about her being gay. Truth of the matter was she had never really cared about her looks. For some reason she didn't understand the comments the girls made hurt.
"Are you going to just ignore us?" the leader of the girls stated firmly.
"I don't see the point of wasting my time with people who like to cut people down," the tomboyish female stated firmly.
"That's because you can't come up with a comeback," the girl sniped back trying to goad Karin into doing something.
"Why should someone come up with a comeback to something that is a load of nonsense in the first place," the female stated. "I'll likely see you in class tomorrow. Have a good day."
She then swung her bag over her shoulder, choosing to leave it at that. Perhaps if it had been a guy mouthing off to her she would have used some physical force on them to knock some sense into them. The only girl she really understood at all happened to be Yuzu and in truth she really didn't understand her that well either.
She headed over to the classroom chart only to chance bumping into one of her friends. "Toba... are you going to head home to change out of your uniform so we can play soccer?"
Ryohei paused for a few seconds, blinking. "Why not just play in our uniforms? It shouldn't matter if we mess them up, right?"
"Even my brother isn't dumb enough to mess up his uniform for school," Karin sighed. "Plus, I think you forgot that I don't wear the same uniform as you."
At that, the boy opened his mouth to say something, his eyes suddenly drifting down to Karin's chest. "I seriously forgot you were a girl."
"Let me guess... because I don't dress all fru-fru like Yuzu does?" came her irritated reply.
"Because you were always rather flat chested. Now I can see that you have..." Ryohei found his words quickly interrupted.
"Don't say that in polite company," Karin stated firmly.
"Look, just because you want to pretend that you aren't a girl, doesn't mean that you still can." His eyes moved from taking into her chest to taking in her legs. They then snapped back up to her chest area.
"Oi!" A clenched fist caused him to jerk his head up to her face.
"What..." came his dull response.
"Don't you dare stare at my chest," Karin snapped. "Are we going to play soccer or not?"
"Well, I guess us guys are going to get together," Ryohei stated, suddenly scratching his head, his eyes drifting to her chest again, but then darting away.
"And..." Kurosaki's tone made it clear he needed to get to the point.
"Look. I am not exactly comfortable. I mean, you're a girl. Seeing you in a girl's school uniform is weird." The boy glanced at the ground.
"I get it. I'm a girl. I'm not a part of the group anymore," Karin sighed walking towards the door.
"Could we borrow a soccer ball... we don't have one..." came his question.
Karin suddenly glared over her shoulder. "Why? Why not find someone for your new fifth who happens to also have a soccer ball."
"Do you know if Hitsugaya has a soccer ball?" Ryohei stated. "I've been looking for him. I mean, I figured that he would be going to our school this year but I can't find him. Do you know where he is?"
"I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him in over half a year." Karin turned to face Toba. "But you know what? I don't think Toshiro would care who he played soccer with."
At that, she spun on her heals, just in time for Ryohei's mouth to drop in protest as he held out his hand, obviously not sure how best to apologize.
~o0o~
The front door of the Kurosaki household slammed shut as Karin walked into the house. Yuzu, who was busy cooking dinner popped her head out of the kitchen. "Karin-chan, slamming the door is bad etiquette."
"Karin-chan! How was your first day of school!" came the overly excited response from her father.
His tomboyish daughter suddenly launched a hard round house kick into his stomach. "I'm not in the mood goat-beard."
"Karin-chan..." Isshin bawled, collapsing to the ground. "Why?"
"Why did you have to go and be an embarrassment at school today during our open ceremony! That only happens once in a life time! Are you that moronic that you have to turn into an absolute baby at the smallest thing! I hate having to live with you!" Karin stated firmly. "You and Ichi-nii!"
"Yeah! Ichi-nii didn't notice our school uniforms or come to our opening ceremony! That was cruel!" Yuzu stated firmly.
"That isn't it," Karin stated firmly. She then stormed up the stairs kicking off her shoes and heading up to her room. As she entered the hallway, she couldn't help but notice that her brother's room was open. "Ichi-nii?"
"Ahh... hi Karin," her brother stated, leaning back in his chair staring at the ceiling. "I was trying to get ahead of studying this year."
"Sure you are," the black haired girl sighed. "Ichi-nii? What happened to you being a shinigami?"
Her brother's head shot up hard and then stared at her. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do!" Karin crossed her arms, her voice becoming heavy. "First dad makes an utter fool of himself at our school. Now you happen to deny what I know."
"Should it really be a surprise you that dad would embarrass you in front of everyone?" her brother stated firmly.
"Why are you avoiding the subject!" Karin snapped back. "I'm tired of you avoiding the questions I ask!"
"You haven't asked any questions since I stopped being able to see spirits so I thought you were doing fine on your own," Ichigo stated firmly.
"Ichi-nii," The preteen's voice strained. "I thought... I thought it was just something you didn't talk about. Why couldn't you have said something? Why is it I am the only one in the family now stuck with this lousy power!"
Ichigo titled his head towards her. "Because... what happened isn't something you need to hear about. Not until you're older."
"And who are you to decide that!" Karin blurted out. "Seriously! You could have at least told me about not being able to see spirits anymore."
"It isn't as if I'm the only one hiding things," her brother stated firmly.
At that, Karin balked. Her face suddenly paled"You think I'm hiding something?"
"No. It's actually someone else," Ichigo sighed.
"Rukia nee-chan?" Karin blinked a couple of times. "She isn't coming back, is she? What did you do to make her hate you?"
"Karin... stop jumping to conclusions," her brother snapped. "It isn't her, and some secrets are best... just kept that way."
Karin found herself storming down the stairs, irritation written all over her face. She found the energy to elbow her father in the chin as he tried to hug her only to slip on her shoes to head out the door. Temperament wise she knew she had to cool down. She hurried off not really caring where she was going but keeping an eye out for traffic as she crossed the street.
She found herself at the place that Toshiro found to watch the sunsets. She went and sat on the railing, glancing down at the view below. "My chest isn't even that noticeable. Only a pervert like Toba would notice something that small."
"Well, if you became a shinigami, the clothing would make it so nobody would notice," said a voice in her head. It was rather familiar, and simply seemed to become more clear over the last year or so. To her, it was normal.
"Yeah, well, those girls at school think I don't have an interest in guys. I clearly said that I find most guys to be stupid morons," Karin sighed.
"But not Toshiro," the voice stated firmly.
"Toshiro would be the kind of guy any girl would want to date. I'm not ready to date though. Plus, he's still in Soul Society," Karin waited for the voice to respond. However, when none came, she let out a loud yell. "Why is it that Ichi-nii couldn't come and talk to me!"
"Because he was trying to protect you," the voice called out. Under most circumstances it would have been calming, but Karin's frustrations were finally boiling over.
"And what is up with dad!" Karin snapped out. "I hate him! I seriously hate him!" She found no response to her tirade. "What am I going to do? My levels are near where Ichi-nii's were when he started high school. I thought it would take longer to get there, but it isn't. I can't talk to him about this."
"You could try Urahara," the voice stated softly.
"No... he's an old coot. Jinta would laugh at me, and I wouldn't get a straight answer out of him. Actually... the only one I think I would get a straight answer out of would be Toshiro. But..." Karin closed her eyes tightly. "He's not ever going to show up. Ichi-nii's basically guaranteed only that one stupid shinigami is here."
"So... you're looking for answers?" a man asked.
Karin's eyes snapped open to see a badge with a skull in front of her eyes. She opened her mouth, not sure what to say, but then said what was the most logical thing. "Who are you?"
"My name is Yamada Seinosuke," the man stated, not yet within her peripheral vision.
Author's note – I haven't read the next chapter yet, but I am off to read it. Yes, this will likely be AU. And yeah, I'm theorizing that the guy seen in 424 was Hanataro's older brother Seinosuke.
