Hey guys… Thank you for all the reviews. I appreciate all of them. Sorry for the late update. I have been busy these past few days. I wanted to rush this chapter but I decided to spend more time on it. Thanks a lot for waiting... =)
Toshiro leaned back against the wall next to Haru baa-san's door. Balancing his weight on his right foot while his left propped on the wall behind him. He folded his arms as he watched Karin ran down the hill towards the training field. He scowled deep in thought scrunching his eyes together.
This might just be a big mistake. He was given strict orders not to have any contact with any of the Kurosaki family. This is to help reduce the pain it might cause Ichigo with the departure of his powers. Soul Society felt in debt to Ichigo for saving their lives and the lives of those who lived within its compounds. The Head Captain made the decision for Seireitei to cease contact with the Kurosaki Family in an attempt to reduce the suffering it might cause any members of the Kurosaki family.
Disregarding the Head's orders was going against his own principles but there is something about her that just makes him want to stay close. He could have easily gone out of sight when he saw her running towards him. Why didn't he run away? What force was it that held him in place and refused to let him go?
She had not changed much from the last time he had met her. She still dons t-shirts and shorts but her hair is longer than before. It still looked as shiny as he last saw it. He remembered he liked the way the sulight made her hair shine when he watched her train with her friends months back when he helped her with her soccer match against those rude boys.
Why did he help her with soccer that time? Was it because he liked the sport? Or was it because he felt rage when her opponents hurt her? Up till this day he kept wondering why. What was it that compelled him to assist her in such a way?
He watched her reach her friends and brought the training in order. She stood with her back towards him as she gathered her friends and split them up to two groups. To the group on her left she pointed to the goalpost. To the other group she pointed to the cones laid down in a straight line in front of her. She clapped her hand once and the team split up to do their own drills. The group at the goalpost started practicing their shots at goal while the group at the cones started dribbling in and out of the line of cones. She watched her team practice for awhile. Then she turned her body around and looked up at me. She smiled and waved once at me before running off towards the goalpost to practice her shots.
She was as energetic as he remembered. Giving her all even if it was just a training session. It was nice to see an energetic woman for once. The women at Seireitei do not even have half her energy and spirit. If they do have it, it don't last long. Matsumoto is a fine example. She was always lazing around for sake with Abarai and the others. Even Kuchiki Rukia who was always energetic lost to her. Although he liked girls who are naturally an introvert, looking at Karin's zest and exuberance made him feel very refreshed and alive.
What have he gotten himself into? He sighed. He looked up to the sky and tried to distract himself with the shapes of the clouds. Looking for shapes that weren't really there. Refusing to succumb to the urge to look at her train with her team. It took all of his self-control to maintain his concentration on the cloudy blue sky. He watched a cluster of clouds float by and wondered if it was wise to engage that morning and decided that whatever the consequence would be, he would face it willingly just for these few hours he could spend together with the girl who amaze him to no end.
Slowly he lost his battle and watched in awe at her brilliance in the sport and his gaze never left her while he waited for Haru baa-san's arrival.
Three hours soon passed. Karin finally ended her training for the day and sent everyone home to recuperate before another training session the day after next. Haru baa-san still has not returned. The shadows of neighbouring trees have grown shorter and were fast disappearing under its owner. It was not Haru baa-san's norm to return so late into the afternoon from grocery shopping in the early morning. Concern clawed his mind as he wondered what had happened to the old lady. He scanned the area and saw something that slipped his sight when he stood and whiled the time away by watching Karin.
The bushes that lay at the foot of the wall that surrounds Haru baa-san's house was unruly and unkempt. That was unusual. Haru baa-san loved those bushes. Once saying that the flowers that bloomed from those bushes complemented her home and made her home more welcoming to look at from the outside. She said that she liked the picture those bushes made when framed together with her ancient home.
Sensing something wrong, Toshiro scanned Karakura Town for any sign of Haru baa-san's reiatsu. A new wave of panic engulfed him.
