Disclaimer: I do not own bleach. Because if I did. Karin and Hitsugaya would have met and Ichigo would have bankaied his ass.

Red Strings of Fate

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet,
regardless of time...
"

The night fell upon Karakura quickly than usual. Kurosaki Karin was on the roof of her house. Her knees drawn to her chest. She was in a pair of black sweat pants and a white crew neck. Her chin was on her knee as she watched the stars in the sky begin to grow brighter as darkness consumed the sky. The time was ten thirty seven. Yuzu was already asleep, her otou-san was out for the night, while her onii-san was in his room doing his homework.

Karin closed her eyes once she felt a cold hair blew onto her face. Her stomach churned. A flash of emotion overcame her as her mind flashed back to Rukia and Ichigo's goodbye. Shaking it off, she let out a heavy sigh. "You know, I thought taichou's were suppose to have amazing control over their reiatsu. I mean that's why you're a captain right midget?" Karin looked over her shoulder, finding the white hair boy in shihakusho, which was a black kimono with a white undergarment underneath. He had a white that blew in the cold wind.

"Kurosaki." his voice was cold and distant. Karin finally got a good look at the young Taichou. The moon shined down on him. He was muscular for someone who looked like an elementary school student. His muscles were clearly shown through his shihakusho. He wore a teal scarf around his neck, his katana was held but a thin chain and a starfish pin. His ends of his white hair flew in the same direction as the wind. His face looked mature but childish at the same time. Certain areas on his face were chiseled but there were still hints of baby fat. A strand of white hair fell upon his teal eyes, which Karin tried her best not to have contact with. She didn't want to repeat what happened with Rukia.

"Toushirou" her voice was hot and firey. As she turned her head, she heard him growl. A smirk appeared on her face whens he realized he was annoyed. "What are you doing here. Thought it was illegal to be associated with a Kurosaki"

"I was sensing a strong reiatsu coming from here. Turns out to be you." he answered. "Lower your reiatsu" it sounded more like an order than a request.

Karin rolled her eyes as she stared at the white hair boy who stood closer to her than before. "If I could, then we wouldn't have a problem. Now would we?" Her eyes traveled back to the stars. "You know for a elementary student you sure act like an old man"

"I'm older than you and your whole class combined" he replied, his tone was still cold and distant, but Karin hinted a dash of annoyance. "Besides, with you leaking reiatsu like crazy. I have to stand guard." he crossed his arms and looked around. Silence filled between them once again. "So what's the real reason why you don't want to be a shinigami"

Karin glared at the short white hair boy. "That's Ichi-nii's life." Toushirou raised an eyebrow as he sat beside the ebony hair girl. Karin felt her right side freeze. Man, this kid was radiating ice. She thought to herself. Biting her lip, she began to debate if she should tell Toushirou the real reason. Deciding that they would probably get off her back if she did, she turned towards the white hair boy. "It's not the only reason I don't want to be one." she opened up. Toushirou faced towards her with an eye brow raised up. "Ever since he's become a shinigami. Ichi-nii hasn't really been around. Yuzu and I get worried. If I become one then I have to make a lot of sacrifices. It's already enough that things around the house is different because of Ichi-nii and the other shinigamis but I can't leave otou-san or Yuzu. I can't become something I don't want to be while Ichi-nii wishes he could be one." she hesitated. "As much as I have the same urge to protect. My way is different than Ichi-nii's"

Her eyes trailed over to Toushirou who stared at her, causing her to back up a little. "You are mature for a Kurosaki" was all he said. Karin rolled her eyes as she slipped out a laugh.

"Nah" a smile appeared on her face. "Us Kurosaki's don't like growing up much" Toushirou glanced over at the smiling ebony hair girl who days before almost caused him to pop a vein. He realized that a smile suited her well, her grey eyes shined bright reflecting the moon's light. "But sometimes we kind of have too" a weak smile appeared on her face as she looked down. Her eye brows scrunched together in thought as she turned towards Toushirou, surprising him. "I guess you had to grow up too huh? With being a taichou and all." Toushirou looked at the moon nodding slowly. "demo, do you ever wish to rewind time. Get a chance to do things all over again?"

Toushirou thought about the question. "Certain things." he said honestly. "Demo, it's the things in the past that makes us who we are." he looked at the ebony hair girl.

Teal meeting Grey. In a flash. Karin saw everything. She looked away, looking at the moon. Her mind was echoing with a nickname. 'Shirou-chan'. The voice that echoed in her head was sweet like Yuzu's. She blinked before looking back at Toushirou.

"Oi, Toushirou" another vein popped at the corner of his head. "Is there any way to transfer my ability and give to Ichi-nii" she asked. For a while, the idea had been in her head. She didn't want to tell Urahara-san her idea because she very much wanted to keep her body parts together. Asking a Taichou who might actually know the answer would be a better idea.

Toushirou sat there, thinking for a moment. His teal eyes glanced over at Karin who blinked, waiting for a response. "I-I don't know." he spoke in confusion. "That's actually a good idea" he thought, surprise was in voice which Karin took rather offensively. As a reflex she slapped Toushirou in the arm who jolted up sending her a death glare.

"Just because I'm related to that baka doesn't mean I don't have good ideas!" she stated as she glared back. Toushirou continued his glare. Karin rolled her eyes "I better head back down before Yuzu realizes I'm gone" She started to climb onto a tree. "Night Toushirou" she waved off as she entered into her room.

Karin fell onto her bed, her eyes slowly dropped until she was completely unconscious.

Karin woke up at another unfamiliar place, it wasn't like the times she had dreamed about Rukia's past. Instead she was in somewhere cold. Icy. It was dark, but she could clearly see a little boy who looked around confused. His eyes held fear but he looked around. A voice was calling out to him, a pair of red beady eyes appeared. Calling out to him. Karin shivered at the memory, the cold air hitting against her skin. With a blink of an eye she watched a girl, someone who was not that much older than the white hair boy call out to him. 'shirou-chan!' Karin realized it was the voice she heard last time.

'don't call me that!' the little boy argued as he shot watermelon seeds at her head.

With another blink of an eye the settings changed. Toushirou was in a shihakusho but without the white haori. Instead another man had it. She titled her head at the familiarity of the dark hair man. 'I'm sorry Hitsugaya-san' the voice was familiar but before she could remember who it was the memory began to dissolve, like it had been altered. The setting quickly changed, a katana was stabbed through the bun hair girl from the memory before. She witnessed as his eyes widen in grief and shock. Karin felt an emotion of regret course through her body.

Karin shot up from her bed as she felt the urge to cry. Her heart was beating out of her chest and her ears felt clogged. The sudden urge to throw up came to her stomach. She stumbled out of bed and dashed to the bathroom, not caring that the sound of the door slamming echoed through the house.

She heaved over the toilet, letting all the contents in her stomach out. Leaning against the toilet, she shut her eyes wanting the feeling to pass. But was welcomed with another flash of an image of the girl in the bun screams, the emotion of regret, pain, and angry coursed through her body. Feeling the urge to hurl whatever was left in her body she leaned over the bowl once again, waiting for herself to let out the rest of her dinner.

She felt the lack of oxygen in her lungs and tried to breathe deeply, but was always interrupted by the vile and acid that went out her throat. She was soon in a coughing fit as she spat out the remaining vile in her throat. She flushed the toilet as she leaned against the shower curtains. Her eyes remained shut as the screams echoed through her head. "Karin?" Karin opened her eyes weakly to find a man towering over her. Her eyes slowly closed as she reached unconsciousness.

Ichigo stared at his little sister in disbelief. He didn't know what to do, his instincts kicked in as he picked her up. Carrying her to the infirmary. It was three in the morning when he heard the sound of a door slam and items falling on the floor. Quickly getting up, he rushed over to the bathroom where he had discovered his little sister puking out everything that was inside her stomach.

Looking down at his little sister, he saw her sweating, feeling the heat radiating off her body. He rushed to the empty table, placing Karin down. He quickly grabbed a bucket and ran to the sink. Filling it up with cold water, grabbing a clean towelette. He dipped it in the cold water, squeezing it until the right amount of water was soaked up in the cloth. He folded it before placing it on his sister's forehead.

The last time Karin had been this way was when there was a huge amount of reiatsu. He called. Not knowing what to do he dialed Inoue. Waiting for the line to answer, discovering that she was probably asleep he decided not to call again. Walking over to his sister, he sighed.

For the next two hours, Ichigo would grab the cloth and dip it in the bucket then place it back on her head. He sat down on the chair beside the table, he looked over at his sister. Realizing that she was growing up. A groan was then heard. Ichigo stood up and rushed beside her.

Karin slowly opened her eyes as she stared up at her older brother. "Onii-san?" her voice was innocent and weak. It reminded him of the days when Karin would freely show her emotions. The last time she had called him onii-san was the day of the funeral of their mothers. "wha-what happened" her voice was weak and she tried to sit up but Ichigo pushed her down gently.

"Karin, stay down. I found you in the bathroom. You're ill." he explained. "I brought you to the infirmary because I didn't want to make any noise that would wake up Yuzu" Karin closed her eyes, slowly nodding.

"Do you miss her?" her voice cracked.

They both knew who she meant. "Yeah"

"Do you love her?" her voice croaked. Ichigo was a little bit surprised she asked this.

Ichigo stayed quiet, unsure to answer. Did he love her? Did he love Rukia? The short ebony hair girl who was the cause of his stress. The only girl who managed to snap him out of his daze? The only person who could make him feel? His best friend? Could he have fallen for Kuchiki Rukia during those few years?

Ichigo looked over at his sister, finding that she had fallen back asleep. Her cheeks were tinted pink. He sighed as he looked at his sister. She clearly did know more than he thought. Chuckling at himself he removed a strand of hair from her face. "Us Kurosaki's are a crazy bunch huh" he said to no one in particular.

What he didn't know was a white hair boy leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. He watched the sick girl carefully.


A few days after the incident, Kurosaki Karin was good as new. She walked home from school, seeing a flash of white in the corner of her eye she turned towards the trees. Finding a white hair boy in a gigai. "Can I help you all mighty Taichou?" Karin asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Rolling his eyes, he approached the ebony hair girl. He watched her as he slowly began to increase his reiatsu. After a few minutes, he noticed her beginning to fall weak. Lowering it completely until it was nothing she let out a gasp of air. She glared at the boy in front of her. "You get weak by strong reiatsu" he stated.

"Hasn't happened in a while." Karin added. "Is that all?" She was a bit annoyed of the teal eye boy, but there was a part of her that felt bad for him.

"Kuchiki-san told me the incident when a little boy was stuck in a birds body." Toushirou tried to make eye contact, which she was avoiding. "And you're avoiding eye contact which implies that it happens when you make eye contact. Isn't that right Kurosaki"

Karin backed away from the white hair boy. "Does it matter? Why the sudden interest shinigami" She crossed her arms. She sympathized for the white hair boy but it didn't change the fact that she thought he was arrogant.

"The sudden interest is that if someone discovers this ability of yours. It can cause chaos" Toushirou explained as he stepped closer.

"Well my life is chaotic enough, and no one knew except for Urahara-san, Jinta, Ichi-nii, and Rukia-chan. What can this ability do that will cause said havoc?"

"Crush every Taichou." he said simply. "You have the ability to look through a person's past. Our enemies can use that to their advantage and destroy us. They can learn our weak spots and use our own past against us. That is how it will cause havoc and that is why I have the sudden interest" Toushirou explained.

Karin rolled her eyes and began to walk away. "Well no problem there Taichou" she emphasized the last word with annoyance. "I won't tell if you won't"

Toushirou grabbed her arm. "It doesn't work like that Kurosaki" he stated with a cold, annoyed tone. "Life doesn't work like that" he emphasized. "I have been ordered to watch over you." Karin raised an eyebrow as she pulled her arm back.

"I don't need a baby sitter" she walked away, towards the trees. Hoping to lose the annoying white hair taichou.

"Well we don't have a choice now do we?" Toushirou replied following her.

Karin, finally fed up with all his antics, turned around face to face. "Listen and listen well Hitsugaya Toushirou. I do not want to be in this shinigami business and having you following me around or 'watching over me' is defying what I want. So you can tell all the other shinigamis who ordered you to do this to suck it" Toushirou stared at the girl, at first baffled but suddenly annoyed.

"Listen and listen well" he mimicked. "Kurosaki Karin. I cannot defy my orders and you are a danger to every world so you have to 'suck it'" Toushirou glared at her back.

"What? The great all mighty Taichou has to take orders from someone else?" Toushirou growled in annoyance causing Karin's inside to churn. A sudden flashback of Toushirou's past appeared in her head. She hunched over, holding her head in pain. An icy dragon appeared, growling with red beady eyes. Ready to attack.

Toushirou leaned down to check on the Kurosaki. She annoyed him to no end, but it was his job to watch over her. Something he didn't really understand. "Oi Kurosaki are you okay?"

Karin shoved him away as she fell to her knees, her eyes shutting tight. The voice in her head repeated his name over and over again. 'Hitsugaya Toushirou. Hitsugaya Toushirou. Kurosaki Karin' Her eyes snapped open. She wondered if she had heard right. After hearing the chants of his name, he name was heard by the same voice. She gasped for air as she glared up at the white hair boy trying to help her.

"Kurosaki. Are you okay?" Toushirou asked as he helped her up. "Did you have see something of someone's past?" he asked curious. The sudden thought had finally hit him wondering if she had seen his past.

"I-I'm fine" she declared pushing him off. "And it doesn't matter."

"Have you not been listening?" Toushirou stated. "Knowing someone's past is the best way to hurt them. It's a good drive to make them go insane. Kurosaki, you're ability will cause havoc. With one look you can see everyone's past."

"It's more a curse than a gift Toushirou" Karin stated. "Do you think I want to know about someone's past? Something that I shouldn't even be seeing or tapping into? You don't understand anything Toushirou! You don't know how it feels to experience it like I was there. You don't know how it feels to actually feel what they're feeling!" Karin had tears in her eyes but she wouldn't let them fall. She was Kurosaki Karin and she did not cry, ever. "To feel the pain and the sadness they went through! Like, like I was there instead of them. Like I was experiencing it instead of them!"

Toushirou had felt the urge to punch himself in the face, his heart ached seeing someone so young deal with so much. He knew that the Kurosaki family was unique and had been through more than necessary, but hearing the ebony hair girl rant about her ability made him feel guilty for their encounters earlier. He didn't know what to do. When Matsumoto cry, he'd let her get drunk and cry onto him. When Momo cried, he left her use his shoulder as a napkin. The girl in front of him refused to cry as pain appeared in her eyes, Toushirou didn't know what to do.

"Hearing everything! Seeing everything! Feeling everything! This is a curse. Hearing screams and cries, feeling their fear and heart break. Hearing someone who cares about them scream their name because of bad accidents or in battle" Karin stared at the white hair boy, feeling the weight off her shoulders but at the same time feeling guilty that she was ranting to him about her own problems. "It makes it worse when I know about their past while they think I know nothing" hearing herself say that, she felt a pang of guilt. Her eyes met her school shoes wondering what on earth he was thinking. Pft. He probably could care less.

Karin sighed as she looked up. "Hitsugaya-san" she felt weird being formal with him, he was even surprised that a Kurosaki even knew formalities. "Gomenaasai." she apologized with a small bow. He looked at her confused. "For the past few days, I saw everything. I saw everything in your life" she specified as she stood up straight. Toushirou stared at her, unsure if he should be mad or sad. He blinked and just stared at her. "I didn't mean to do it, it just happens." Karin explained. "So Gomenaasai for seeing things I shouldn't"

"Kuroaski. You know if anyone finds out about my past. They can use many things against me" Toushirou stated with a strict face, like he was talking to a child.

"Like your friend?" Karin asked looking up, she was unsure if it was right to use her as an example.

"Like Momo"

Karin letting out a defeated sigh, looked at the white hair boy. "Look Toushirou, if you do have to watch over me or whatever. I need you to promise me something"

Toushirou blinked at the sudden change of emotion, he slowly nodded. "If something does happen to me. The first few people you have to protect is Yuzu, Ichi-nii, and Otou-san" Karin's face was stern.

Toushirou nodded with his signature stern face. "I'll try my best"

"No." she stared at him. "You have to promise. Their life before mine" Toushirou stared at the girl in disbelief. He was about to say no before Karin cut him off. "Look, you don't want them to use people you care about as bait and I prefer that they don't use the people I care about as bait as well. So promise me" She stick out her pinky.

Toushirou sighing and took her pinky in his. "Promise." he hesitated. A sudden jolted coursed through both of their bodies, neither saying a thing as they released each other's pinkies.

Karin cleared her throat. "I know we got off to a bad start before so we should start over" A smile appeared on her face. "I'm Kurosaki Karin, I prefer to be called Karin. Not a fan of formalities" she stuck out her hand.

Toushirou couldn't help but chuckle at the odd girl in front of him. "Hitsugaya Toushirou. Taichou of the twelfth division." he took her hand and shook it. The jolt appeared once again, making them both drop their hand awkwardly. "You should get back Karin. It's getting late"

"You're right." she said looking at her wrist watch. "It was nice remeeting you Toushirou" She gave him a friendly smile before heading off towards her house. Toushirou shoved his hands in his pockets as he watched the odd girl walk away.

'She's one odd girl' Toushirou thought to himself, a deep voice chuckled in his head. An amazingly odd one.


Karin made it home earlier than she expected and decided she should do her homework. She blinked as she discovered a letter with a sticky note on her desk. Picking it up, in clear girly writing it read. "Dear Karin, please give to Ichigo. Rukia" she mumbled to herself. Taking off the sticky note, she wondered into Ichigo's room. Entering before knocking, she discovered her brother on his chair while Inoue was on his bed.

A pang of anger coursed throughout her body. "Nevermind Ichi-nii" she turned and almost left the room when she felt a pang of jealous and sadness and a familiar reiatsu. Looking towards the window, she saw Rukia on a phone wire. Looking at Ichigo who was oblivious to the stare. Karin turned to Inoue. "Orihime. I think Yuzu might need your help in the kitchen" she lied. Inoue clapped happily as she dashed out of the room. Karin shut the door and locked it.

Karin slammed a letter on the table. "For you. Don't let her in until you're done reading and thinking" Karin ordered before she left the room, locking the door before she leaves.

Ichigo stared at the letter confused. Slowly opening it, he found his heart pounding out of his chest. He unfolded the letter, his heart stopped when he saw the familiar drawings. He sighed hard. "Renji" he muttered annoyed.

Dear Strawberry,
It's illegal to talk to you. But I found a loophole thanks to Hitsugaya Taichou. He's a lot nicer than you give him credit for. Anyways, for the past few months. We've been watching over you and your family. Not in a perverted way you baka! I'm sure Orihime, Sado, and Ishida have not told you because Hitsugaya Taichou forbid them. It might also have to do with the fact that Inoue told Rukia it would be best to let you move on with your own life. I'm writing this to remind you w
hat happened these past years may seem like a dream these past seventeen months, but I can guarantee you that it's not a dream. It was a reality. Keep hoping Kurosaki Ichigo, we'll always be there for you no matter what.
Renji

Ichigo grinned as he saw a terrible drawing of a chappy version of himself in shinigami attire with his knife like sword in the air on a smaller sheet of paper. In cursive read the words 'never give up'. He automatically knew it was Rukia's drawing. "Baka. She still can't draw" he folded the letter carefully, placing it on the corner of his desk. Unaware that a certain dark hair girl standing their with an angry face ranting about how she can draw.

A knock on the door brought his attention back. Ichigo opened a drawer, grabbing a pin, and corking the picture on his cork board with a small smile. He stood up and made his way to the door, unlocking it and opening it to reveal an orange hair girl. "Kurosak-kun. Yuzu told me to bring you down to eat" she said with a smile on her face.

Ichigo nodded and followed her downstairs. Ichigo was greeted by his father whose face was planted on the floor muffling. Karin hovered over him with her foot crushing his head to the floor, a tick mark appeared on her face. "Karin-chan! Get off of Otou-san this instant!" Yuzu ordered as she put her hands on her hips like a mother telling her children to calm down.

Karin removed her foot as she sat at her usual dinner spot. Isshin ran to the poster of their mother. "Masaki! Our beloved daughter is turning into our idiot son! What shall we do!" he cried to the poster. Causing Karin and Ichigo to roll their eyes.

Yuzu brought a chair and placed it between Ichigo and herself for Inoue to sit on. Which she took gratefully. Ichigo dragged his father of the poster and threw him into his proper seat. Ichigo sat in his and they began eating. Continuing their Kurosaki antics.

Karin couldn't help but sense that her brother's spirits were lift up a bit. His smile was more sincere and he was more lively than before. From the looks of Inoue's reactions, Karin had a hunch that she thought it was because of her. Which made her want to scoff.

Karin had nothing against Inoue, she was a sweet girl. Karin knew that Inoue has had a crush on him for years. In the beginning, Karin thought that she was a good match for Ichi-nii*, but those were also the days where she thought that hanging around the boys would make her one of the boys. She was clearly wrong with both. Karin began to notice how Ichigo acted around Rukia and the others. She noted that Ichigo and Rukia argued a lot but they were always very close and they manage to have something they didn't share with anyone else. That's when she realized that Rukia was the one who was the perfect match for Ichigo. Too bad Rukia and Ichigo were both too stubborn and too clueless to realize that they were meant for each other.

They had finished eating dinner and decided to go through their regular routine. Yuzu would clear up the kitchen and do the dishes, Isshin would go straight to the clinic, Ichigo stated he was going to walk Inoue home, and Karin went upstairs in her room.

She grabbed her cellphone and punched in numbers. Placing the receiver in her, she waited. She was growing impatient as she tapped her foot while sitting on her bed. "Did you come here to become a shinigami" Urahara voice was creepier on the phone than in person.

Karin rolled her eyes. "No" She could hear him pouting. "I called for another reason" Karin stated. Urahara made a sound, Karin knew that he was curious. "You know that I have the ability to look at ones past" Karin started off, Urahara grunted in understanding. "Say that I look into a shinigami's past" this definitely caught the shop keepers attention. Karin cleared her throat. "And I hear something calling their name..."

"That would be their zanpakuto talking to them" Urahara commented.

Karin still confused of what he said. "Okay? Anyways, it called out their name but it also called out mine. And I might not know much but it didn't feel right" Karin explained. Urahara on the other line blinked. For the first time in a long time, he did not know the answer. "I know I look into the past but, it called my name. And it felt close and..." Karin drifted off. And it felt right. Ignoring the last part she waited for the shop keeper to respond.

"Karin-chan. Do you mind coming in tomorrow?" He said in a singing tone. Karin agreed, unsure if she should. "I might be able to explain it better tomorrow." Karin said her goodbye then hung up the phone.

Urahara Kisuke sighed. The shop keeper lounged around. He thought about his conversation Karin had with him. The Kurosaki was definitely a unique family. They were crazy too. They also took after their father. After a good two hours of lazing around, he looked at the clock and figured it was the best time to contact them.

He pulled out another phone that was hidden inside his pocket. His fingers pressed a couple of buttons before putting the receiver on his ear. He waited for a few seconds until he heard a few hellos. The mad scientist had created a special phone device that allowed calls from the living world to Soul Society. Currently on the line was his three good friends Ukitake Jushirou, Kyoraku Shunsui, and Kurosaki Isshin. At first the device was use for more playful purposes once Isshin got his shinigami powers back, but now it was used for more serious issues of the Kurosaki children.

Urahara had just explained what Karin had tried to explain to him. He forced her to leave then rushed into the back room and called up his wise old friends. "Have any of you ever heard such a thing?"

The line was quiet, none of them had ever heard something like that happen. A zanpakuto calling out someone elses name? That was near to impossible. Then again, the Kurosakis had a knack for doing the impossible. "I'll look in the library to see if there is anything. I highly doubt though" Ukitake stated. "Isshin-san, have you ever heard of something like it?"

"I haven't heard, but I've witness something close to it. With Masaki" the line stayed quiet.

"Isshin-san that was a different story" Urahara stated. "You're Zanpakuto hasn't spoken to you in twenty years."

"Not to me, but according to Masaki. He has spoken to her" the line remained quiet. "Jushirou, look it up. And Shunsui is there anyway to sneak past that crazy twelfth taichou and dig up some information?" Shunsui replied with a grunt and the line ended.

Isshin looked at a picture on his desk. Holding the frame it was a picture of him wrapping his arms around a beautiful lady who had a smile on her face. "Masaki what has our children gotten into?" he asked as he smiled at the picture.

Isshin stood up, stretched then made his way into the house. Looking around the empty kitchen, he noted that Yuzu went off to bed. Karin was on the couch flipping through the channels absentmindedly. Isshin took a seat beside his daughter. "Hello my darling daughter!" Isshin called out.

Karin continued to flip through the channels. "Ichi-nii's not back yet" Karin commented.

"Oi, stop worry about your baka Onii-chan. He can take care of himself" Isshin stated as he tried to grab the remote from his daughter. Karin pulled it further from her father's reach with a challenging smirk. "Go off to bed, it's late"

"Otou-san, it's only ten" Karin commented as she continued to flip through the channels. "And besides, shouldn't you be worried about Ichi-nii coming home late?"

"Ch. He won't do anything with Orihime-chan" Isshin declared with confidence. Karin raised an eyebrow in curiousity. "Besides, Ichigo's heart is already taken!"

Karin chuckled. "And who would the poor lady or gentlemen to capture Ichi-nii's heart?" Karin asked. Karin was often annoyed with her otou-san, but she loved him none the less. They were actually pretty close. Right when she entered middle school, he tried to tackle her with hugs rather than his fist. Karin, being fairly similar to Ichigo would respond with a punch or kick. Even though she acted as if the old man annoyed her and irritated her, she was grateful for having a father like him.

"Let me tell you a story Karin" he turned towards his daughter. Karin raised an eyebrow, thinking that her father had changed the subject.

"Aren't I a little too old for bed time stories" Karin asked as she turned off the television.

Isshin smirked at his daughter. "One is never too old for stories!" He said rather excited. Karin rolled her eyes, "And it will explain who I think has Ichigo's heart" A tone of seriousness was in his voice which quickly caught Karin's attention. Fulling facing her father, she waited for him to start.

"Walking home one night, a young boy sees an old man standing beneath the moonlight. The man explains to the boy that he is attached to his destined wife by a red thread. The moonlight shows the boy, the young girl who is destined to be his wife. Being young and having no interest in having a wife, the young boy picks up a rock and throws it at the girl, running away."

Karin scrunched her eye brows together in confusion. "What does that have to do with anything?" Karin asked. Isshin smirked at his daughter. He stood up and patted her head.

"It has to do with everything." Isshin began walking upstairs. "I'll tell you the rest some other time" Karin looked at her father in confusion. "Don't wait up all night for the baka." Karin blinked and turned towards the television. Leaning back, she began to rethink the story.

"Red thread?" she said to herself. "Like the strings that decides who you love?" Karin unconsciously lifted her left hand, looking at her fingers. Twitching her left pinky. Her train of the thought was cut off whens he heard the door slam. She looked towards the door to discover her brother entering the house.

"Did you wait up for me?" Ichigo asked. Karin stood up and grunted a no as she held her head up high, heading upstairs. He chuckled at his sister's act of 'caring'.

Karin walked into her room, passing by Yuzu's bed. She went to their joined closet. Opening her side, she opened a drawer, digging out a pair of plaid shorts and her old soccer shirt. Karin stripped and changed her clothes then went to the bathroom. Passing by Ichigo's room, she heard no movement assuming he went to sleep. Making her way into the bathroom. Doing her usual bathroom procedures. brushing her teeth, brushing her hair, and washing her face. When she finished she left her hair down and lose and made her way back to her bedroom.

Right as she walked in, she saw a figure standing outside her window. Jumping back slightly in fear, she realized it was the white hair Taichou. She quietly opened the window. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Karin whispered angrily.

"Checking up on you" Toushirou whispered back.

Karin thought for a second. "Wait. How long were you standing out there"

"I just got here why?"

"Just asking" she whispered with a shrug. "So I'm fine, all in one piece. Now scram before Yuzu wakes up!" a scowl appeared on Karin's face. Toushirou couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"I'm staying on your roof." he stated. "Hollows usually come during the night, and according to Abarai-san you're reiatsu spikes up when you're asleep. Which means-"

"I get it I'm a target for hollows" Karin mumbled. She heard shuffling behind her, peeking over her shoulder she saw Yuzu toss towards the window. Karin signaled Toushirou to get on the roof. "Go before Yuzu wakes up and sees you!" she said about a whisper, Toushirou couldn't help but roll his eyes.

" She can't see me Kurosaki" Toushirou stated, Karin glared at him which he ignored "Anyways, I came to also ask why did you go to Urahara's earlier?"

"Do you have a tracking device on me or something?" Karin asked looking around on her body. Toushirou rolled his eyes, Karin laughed quietly "I had a few questions, but he was unable to answer them" Karin explained. Silence filled up between them as the moonlight hit Tosuhirou's back. He looked over Karin, who seemed to sparkle under the moonlight that barely hit her. Toushirou noticed that her hair was down, giving off waves down her back from always putting it in a hair tie. He also noticed that her face was maturing, her long eye lashes complimented her dark grey eyes which twinkled under the moon light. Her lips were partly open. Toushirou cleared his throat when he realized he was staring. Feeling a jolt through him again.

Karin on the other hand, oblivious to his stare and was too worried that Yuzu would wake up to see her talk to nothing, remained silent. "No scat, I have a lot of things to do tomorrow" Karin ordered. Toushirou rolled is eyes. With one quick movement, Toushirou was gone as the wind he left behind hit Karin's face. She shivered at the sudden cold. Karin closed her window then prepared for bed.


A/N: Okay so small fangirl moment. Who's read the new chapter of bleach? Fanfiction is the only reason why I saw it coming because there was story about Isshin being taichou of the tenth division with Toushirou and I fanned so hard. k anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter !

* - Okay so explanation. In the manga chapters when Rukia went up to Ichigo's room before she convinced them to let her live with them. Karin said she wouldn't be impressed that he brought a girl home until it was someone like Inoue. So technically speaking, Karin approved of Ichihime. But I changed it up so it can kind of make sense. Which it does. Karin believed at first it was Inoue but changes her mind when she sees her brother acting more livelier.