(Alright everyone, in this chapter, Karin-chan meets Toushiro and his baa-chan in a very unusually way, so get ready to read the most unplot-related thing ever. Hope you like it!)
-2 Weeks Later-
"That's it!" Karin screamed, ripping off the soft kimono that was strangling her and kicking off the tiny shoes they had forced upon her. "If I don't get some freedom, I'm really gonna destroy that old lady!"
"Karin-chan!" The other girl in the room gasped. Then the girl, named Sen, leaned and whispered frantically: "She could've heard you!"
"Well, do I look like I give a hell?!" Karin cussed. She ripped the kimono in half, kicked the shoes to the corner, wretched off the headdress and through on her old clothes. Sen looked at her in her attire, ratty and peasant-like. Karin stormed out of the room, glaring at anyone who looked at her. Sen chased after her.
"Karin-chan! Karin-chan! It's almost nightfall!" Sen yelled, trying to grab her arm to force her back. "Minene-sama would be furious!" Karin smacked her hand away but stopped.
"Why does she care?" Karin spat. "She's been a thorn in my behind ever since I got here. 'Karin do this, Karin do that. Karin, don't talk. Karin, stop it!'" Karin imitated pitifully. She groaned and ran again but this time, Sen didn't follow her.
Karin ran until her sides her, which was a very long way by the time she stopped, it was already an hour into the night. She drew in deep breaths and then saw the white smoke coming out of her mouth as she breathed out. She shivered but walked deeper in an unknown direction. She rubbed her arms as she got, hopefully, closer to whatever creating this freezing atmosphere. Then, as she rounded a corner, she saw a house.
Karin walked up to it and placed a hand on it, it was freezing and almost unbearable to touch. Karin knocked but got no answer, she reached for the door and it was unlocked. Karin cautiously stepped into the frost-bitten air and was surprised at how cold it was. Even more colder than outside. She walked around aimlessly, until she saw someone lying down on a futon. Karin walked up to her and realized the poor grandma was shivering uncontrollably. Karin looked around and found blankets tossed to the side. She quickly threw on the warmest blankets on the baa-chan, first warming them up with her body. It took a while but the baa-chan stopped shivering. Karin smiled contently, but then frowned when she realized the temperature got colder again.
She turned her face in the direction of where the freezing aura was coming from. She slide open the door quietly and saw the one and only Toushiro curled up in a ball like a child. Karin frowned again and went up to his sleeping face. She poked him but only received a grunt and some shuffling. He was emitting cold air and an icy-aura into the house. Karin smiled down at his peaceful but then realized how tense he was. Karin sat down next to him and slowly began to rub some feeling back into his arms and fingers. She slowly loosened the tense muscles in his back and fore arms. His face relaxed as Karin massaged him. Karin slowly felt the house temperature return to normal and went to check on the baa-chan. She was no longer as cold so Karin took off most of the blankets, leaving a comfortable two.
She sighed contently and then turned to the door to leave then she heard a gasp. She turned around, alarmed and already in her battle stance when she realized it was the baa-chan. She had a surprised look so Karin must've looked pretty bad. Then the baa-chan dropped to her knees, bowing graciously.
"I must thank you, for taking such good care of Shiro-chan and I." She said. Karin was immediately by her side.
"Please, stand up. You really don't have to bow, I only did what any sane person would've done." Karin smiled warmly. Karin then gasped mentally, if the baa-chan was already awake, that means-Karin groaned mentally. She'd been here all night! How the hell does time go so fast?!
"What is your name, dear?" The baa-chan asked. Karin turned to her.
"Karin." She said. The baa-chan smiled at her and took her hand.
"Tell me more about yourself. If you had come here, you must know my Shiro-chan." She led Karin to the living room and told her to feel at home. Karin smiled at how nice she was, unlike the other old ladies she'd met.
"Well, I live in the orphanage. They say that I'm trouble." She admitted to the baa-chan. "I used to live in District 80 until Toushiro found me and led me to the orphanage." Karin said, smiling. Baa-chan also smiled as she prepared tea for the both of them. The sun began to rise, bathing the both of them in a warm golden light.
"So you have met my Shiro-chan!" The baa-chan exclaimed happily. Karin smiled as a yes. Baa-chan poured her tea and gave it to her. "He normally doesn't speak to anyone and always gave everyone the cold shoulder. The only one he really opened up to was Momo-chan. Although, he also kept her at a distance."
"Momo-chan?" Karin asked questionably.
"She used to live here before she left for the Soul Reaper's Academy. She and Shiro-chan were so close." Baa-chan sighed. Karin noticed the sad look on the old woman's face.
"Well, if there's anything I can do to help, you can always say it." Karin offered, hoping to make her happy. The baa-chan smiled and patted her hand.
"There's no need dearie. Would you like to stay for breakfast?" She asked warmly.
"If there's no trouble in that. I could help too." Karin said, helping the baa-chan up to her feet as they made their way to the kitchen. As they made preparations for breakfast, they heard a grunt and a yelp from someone.
"Baa-chan! Do you have the-" He faltered as he entered the kitchen and saw Karin wearing an apron, holding a potato that's half skinned.
"Good morning, Shiro-chan." Karin teased. Baa-chan smiled at this. Toushiro's face flushed red as he stormed out of the room, embarrassed that she'd found out about his nick-name.
"I'm going to be in my room." He said, still red. Karin saw the opportunity to tease him more.
"Don't be gone too long, breakfast is almost ready!" She said in a honey coated sing-song voice, like a mother toward a very spoiled child. She saw Toushiro turn red enough to put tomatoes to shame. Karin laughed as baa-chan watched the two happily, it has been quite a while since the mood was so family like, not since Momo-chan left. Baa-chan sighed contently and went back to the miso soup and rice.
"Oh." Karin said, looking into the cupboard. Baa-chan looked up.
"Yes, Karin-chan?" She asked as Karin took off her apron and washed her hands.
"We've run out of salt and some other supplies. I'll go buy some." Karin took off to the market before baa-chan could say or give her anything. She smiled at the rash young girl but what she didn't know, was this young girl was terribly good at haggling for prices.
-Market-
"Hey, hey, hey! Take it or leave it!" The butcher screamed at the young girl. Karin smirked, she knew this type, the pushy-kind.
"Who would buy this other than me? After all, you can only sell this for half price to your other customers." She said almost pitifully. The butcher turned red but gave her words some though. Karin decided to push a bit more. "Well, I had offered a bit more than half the price but maybe I'll just go next door and buy the other butcher's meat." Karin said to her back. The butcher turned as red as the meat hanging from the window.
"Alright, alright! Take it!" He yelled shoving the pork toward her and taking the money. Karin beamed and left. She did the same with the other stalls, gaining three fish and a couple of cabbage heads, along with some beef. Karin ran back to the house and shouted triumphantly as she entered the house.
"Karin-chan. Welcome back!" Baa-chan said from the kitchen. Karin proudly placed everything before her and dawned her apron once again. "Karin-chan! Allow me to pay you back for this!" Baa-chan exclaimed.
"Oh, nonono. It was quite cheap really. You just have to know the secrets." Karin winked. Baa-chan looked at the girl, quite happy that this girl was as kind as she let on.
"Done!" Karin said, setting the last dish on the table. The normal dishes were miso soup and rice but the side dishes were amazing. Crispy golden pork, beef and cabbage wrapped like spring rolls and with three fish fried to perfection.
"Shiro-chan, time for breakfast." Karin said, taking off her apron as she went to get him. She found Toushiro sitting on the floor, eating watermelon. She sneaked up next to him and pounced on him causing him to spit out watermelon.
"What the-" He gasped, looking from side to side. Karin grabbed his face and dragged him to the kitchen.
"I said, it's time for breakfast, Shiro-chan." She sighed. Toushiro smacked her hand irritably and sat down at his place. He grabbed the miso soup and rice but was not expecting everything else.
"Baa-chan? Where-" He stuttered. Baa-chan smiled and nodded at Karin, who just ate some rice as if this wasn't much of a big deal. They all ate in silence. After they finished, Karin helped with the dishes.
"Well, I'll see you next time, Baa-chan. I have to go back to the orphanage." Karin frowned at the very thought of it. Baa-chan smiled warmly at her.
"Karin-chan. Why don't you stay here?" Baa-chan suddenly asked. Karin looked at her, surprised. That was quick. "I'm sure Shiro-chan it fine with it as well" Toushiro only looked away but nodded ever so slightly. Karin's face slowly let on a smile then she was suddenly hugging her new grandma. Baa-chan was take back at first but hugged her back.
"Welcome to the family, Karin-chan!"
(Hey, everyone. I know this chapter was really weird and…yea just weird. But I had so much fun writing it. I don't know why it came out this way, she was suppose to meet baa-chan in the market when The Lady ordered her to buy some food and then, baa-chan decides to adopt her in the orphanage. 0.0 Yeah, I know. This is way different then what I planned. T^T Well, hope you enjoyed this. The next chapter will be from Toushy's P.O.V. So looked forward to it. (I said that in chapter 2, for chapter 3. T.T))
