A/N: Short chapter today! I'll update again this week because of that fact. Finally the introduction to the plat is over with this chapter. Next up is some filler HitsuKarin fluff before we get back to the main part. This fanfic will be only 10 chapters or so but the sequel WILL be MUCH longer.
GirlFish: Glad you like it! Please keep reviewing!
MomoPeachFlower: Isn't Toshirou just so fun to play with? His reactions are so cute! ^_^
Dee Dey: Thanks so much! Your review made my day that day. I'm happy that you like the fanfic. :)
The Clawed Butterfly: This fanfic is meant to be a little drawn out. If you are a person who likes fluff, then you should like the next chapters. If you don't, you could wait for the sequel which will move a lot faster. Like I said earlier, the introduction is slow so I completely understand if you are a little annoyed with how slow the plot line is moving. I'll do my best to pick it up from here on out since the intro is done. Thanks for alerting me; I would've probably dragged it out even more.
Enjoy this short & sweet chapter!
Disclaimer: If I owned Bleach, I would make myself a character in the plot line. IF I owned it.
Ch. 3: Visiting the Kurosakis
"Remind me why we're visiting Ichigo again?" growled Ikkaku.
The 10th squad captain glared at him. If looks could kill, there would've been nothing left of the bald shinigami, save for a smoking pile of ash. "We're taking Kurosaki to - well, Kurosaki; they need to know that we're going to perform Konso on her."
Ikkaku folded his arms but said nothing more. Karin looked uneasy, glancing around herself. Toshirou unconsciously moved closer to her. The stars twinkled above, giving off a distant homely feeling.
"Eh? Who is it, this late at night?" mumbled Ichigo as he stuck his head out the door. His eyes widened. "Toshirou!"
For the umpteenth time that day, the white-haired shinigami felt a vein pulse in his forehead. "It's Hitsugaya-taicho to you, Kurosaki!"
"Yeah, yeah," said Ichigo, glancing away, clearly uninterested. "Why'd you bring Karin here?"
"You COULD let us in first, because it's a terribly long story, and I'll get horribly filthy if I stand here all night trying to explain to you," interrupted Yumichika.
"Huh? Oh, yeah." And Ichigo stood aside to let the party in.
Yuzu poked her head around the corner. "Who is it, Ichi-nii? Ah, Karin-chan!" She rushed forward and enveloped her twin in a bear hug. Karin squirmed for a moment, then returned the embrace.
"Don't start crying, Yuzu," said Karin warningly. "I don't want to see you cry."Yuzu laughed, her watery eyes twinkling.
"Uh, we have some stuff to tell you," said the tenth squad captain.
"The reunion is cute, though!" whined Matsumoto. "Don't interrupt it, taicho!"
Hitsugaya went on as if his lieutenant hadn't spoken up at all. "There are some complications involving the Konso of Kurosaki Karin."
Ichigo led them to the living room, where everyone plopped down on couches and armchairs.
The substitute shinigami rested his arms behind his head. "So, what is there to talk about?"
The white-haired captain cleared his throat. "Kurosaki Karin's reiatsu is abnormal. That is to say, she has much more of it than the average Plus. Her presence is attracting powerful Hollows and the shinigami who was in charge of Karakura Town has been sent back to Soul Society. You may have noticed the rising numbers of Hollows around here" - here, Ichigo nodded in agreement - "as a consequence of Kurosaki Karin. So, we have come to track her down and send her to Soul Society." He indicated himself and the other shinigami.
"Aa," said Ichigo slowly in response. He looked over at Karin. "So, what do you think?"
"Me?" Karin asked. "I… I don't mind. After all, I'm dead." She let out a humor
Ichigo now turned to Hitsugaya. "Toshirou, I don't think a move can be made that easily. The rest of her family is still here and she would be all alone in Rukongai."
"But remember," interrupted Hitsugaya, "she would lose her memories."
Ichigo sweatdropped. "That's even worse. Yuzu would go nuts."
"It's for the good of Karakura Town," the 10th squad captain reminded him.
"It's really up to Karin, though," said Ichigo, glancing at said Plus.
"Objection," interjected Yumichika. "We have orders from Soul Society. No matter what, she has to have Konso performed on her within one week from today. Or she could risk turning into a Hollow."
A/N: Kinda abrupt ending, I know. This chapter isn't one of my favorites but I promise it'll get better. Thanks minna-san!
