CHAPTER 4

((a/n) This begins sometime before Ichigo goes to save Rukia. Oh and thanks for all of the reviews I appreciate it. I hope everyone that reads will review as well.)

Karin POV

Yuzu and I were in my room when we heard Ichigo's surprised yell. We smiled at each other and gave a thumbs up in victory. Project Pay Ichigo Back worked like a charm. I can't wait to see what he looks like, I bet he looks hilarious.

"KARIN!!!" screamed out Ichigo from another part of the house.

I smirked while Yuzu giggled. I knew I was going to be blamed for this. While Yuzu gets out of it scott free. Heh heh if Ichigo only knew who the mastermind behind this prank truly was.

My door slammed opened to reveal a pissed off, drenched in pink Ichigo, followed by a laughing Rukia and Kon. We found out about the whole Shinigami thing a couple of weeks ago. It is still weird to see a stuffed lion actually laugh or talk for that matter.

"Yes?" I asked innocently, but by the look on Ichigo's face I don't think he buys my act.

"Cut the crap Karin. I know you are the one to do this." Ichigo said pointing to himself for emphasis.

I only raised an eyebrow, "Really? Why would I do something like that?"

Ichigo only glared in response. Heh, it's fun to piss him off.

"Well?" he asked me.

"Well what?" I questioned back.

"Are you going to apologize?"

"How do you know I even did that?"

His eye twitched, which made it hard for me not to crack up laughing. I need a straight face in order to win this battle...then when he leaves, I can laugh my ass off.

"Karin, it has your name written all over it!!" He screamed in my face waving his arms in the air to prove how much my prank affected him.

Before I could say anything Yuzu spoke up, "Big brother?"

Ichigo looked at Yuzu with questionable eyes, "Yes? What do you need Yuzu?"

Yuzu looked straight into Ichigo's eyes, "Umm... How could Karin do that," she pointed at the pink paint that was all over Ichigo, "when she was with me the whole time?" I was surprised not only that Karin would lie in my defense, but would also do it with a straight face.

Ichigo looked flabbergasted as well. But it was probably for the fact that he had nothing to say in return. "Umm... Well..."

Yuzu spoke up again, "I don't want to sound rude or anything brother, but I think you should go take a shower. Just put your dirty clothes in the laundry room, I'll take care of them."

If only I had a camera right now. Ichigo's expression looks hilarious. You could tell he was still in shock as he headed out of the room with only a nod and headed towards his room. No doubt to get clothes and then take a shower. Leaving behind the laughing forms of Kon and Rukia.

Once out of hearing range, Rukia quelmed her laughter and spoke to Yuzu with a small grin, "You lied."

"No I didn't." She said in reply which made Rukia, Kon, and I stare at her in shock.

"Yes you did, you said I didn't do it. When you know that I did." I told her.

"No, I only asked Ichigo how you could have done it, not that you didn't do it. It was his mistake to misinterpret it." She told us with a giggle.

We all looked at her open-mouthed, I never realized how sly she could be. I smirked; I guess we truly are twins.

"Wait!! That means..." Rukia stated bringing the pieces together, "that you helped Karin with the prank didn't you?"

Then something appeared on Yuzu's face that I thought I would ever see, a smirk. "Yep."

"Why?" Kon asked speaking for the first time.

She looked at him with a smile lighting her face, "because I felt like it." A glint appeared in Yuzu's eyes, which made me, back away slightly. "And hopefully Ichigo learned his lesson."

Kon looked afraid to ask, "What lesson?"

She looked at us seriously, "Always go to a family outing." Her face suddenly brightened into a cheery smile. "Now who's hungry?" She asked as she headed out of the room with a light skip.

A few moments later I started to follow her, as I passed the shell shocked Rukia and Kon. I heard Rukia murmur to me, "Your sister scares me sometimes."

"Me too." I replied as I exited the room.

Yuzu POV

I hummed as I entered the kitchen. Taking out the food I made earlier from the fridge, I put it in the microwave and warmed it up. It was about this time when Rukia, Kon, and my sister entered the room.

"I hope you're all hungry, there is a lot here." I told them without turning around. The buzzard went off on the microwave telling me the food is done. Taking the food out I scooped some on each plate. Grabbing two I turned around and handed one to Rukia and the other to Karin.

"Thanks." They both replied to me.

"No problem." I said with a smile. I then turned around and grabbed the other two plates as Ichigo came in, good thing I can control my laughter. Or I would be on the floor laughing by now. My brother looked back to normal after the shower, with the exception he has a scowl on his face...wait that's normal.

"Hi big brother!!" I said as I handed him his food. "You look better."

He only grumbled in reply.

We all then sat at the kitchen table and ate our food in relative silence. With the exception of Kon, who was glancing at Ichigo and attempting not to laugh. Which he failed quite miserably at. When everyone was finished, I grabbed their plates and put them in the sink to wash later.

As I went back over to where everyone was at, Ichigo said something that made me go into tears. "I think the boy you found was attacked by a hollow."

Karin and I looked at him in shock, while Rukia and Kon looked grim.

"Wha..What?" I asked him with wide eyes. "You must be joking."

"Yeah," Karin stated right after me, "How can you assume he was attacked by some stupid hollow?"

"He might have just been in some horrible accident or something." I pointed out. I don't want to believe that hollows attacked him. I like to think positive.

Rukia looked at us, "No that is not possible. A hollow attack is the only possible explanation for his injuries. I know the difference between an accident and an attack. Those wounds are definitely from an attack."

I looked down at the floor in sadness. Rukia's right that is the only plausible explanation. Even so, I still don't like that fact. I think Karin noticed my depressed state, because she said something that momentarily eased my depressing thoughts.

"I think we should wait until he recovers, before we all agree it was a hollow attack. Then we could ask him, he should know."

"And what if he doesn't know?" asked Kon.

Karin looked at him nonchalantly. "Then we will say it was a hollow, end of story."

We all agreed to this and just in time too, because father was entering the room. Kon seeing this went immobile like the stuffed animal he appeared to be.

"You've all eaten?" My father asked us. We all nodded. "Good."

"Why is that good?" asked Rukia.

He gave a beaming smile. "We are running low on medical supplies and since you are all done eating, we can all go restock!!!"

Karin looked at him dully, "That's all good, but what about the boy?"

Father immediately deflated after that. "Oh."

I was about to tell father I could watch the boy, but Karin beat me to it...of course she told him in her own way.

First she sighed in exasperation, "Since you obviously have a one-tract mind and didn't think things through. I guess I'll watch the boy, while everyone else goes."

"Thank you Karin." My father said.

"Don't mention it." My sister said, "For real, don't mention it."

My father clapped his hands loudly, gathering everyone's attention. "Since everything is set, let's go!!" He yelled as he grabbed Ichigo's and my hands and started to drag us out. Rukia who was holding Kon followed us.

As we walked away, I couldn't help but to feel that something big was going to happen.

Karin POV

I waved half-heartedly as they left, from my spot at the table. Then after a few moments, I sighed and then stood up. I headed to where the boy was resting. When I got there, I took a spot near his bed. I then looked at his cute face...wait...CUTE!! Did I just say that? I shook my head. No, I'm not supposed to have those thoughts about a stupid boy. I mean he obviously did something to receive these injuries. Idiot.

After about a half hour of just sitting there, I decided to be nice and go do the dishes. Yuzu deserves a small break from all the chores. And as long as I check up on the boy every-once in awhile, he should be o.k. It's not like he is going anywhere anyway.

Getting up, I headed towards the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later I find myself drying the last of the dishes and putting them away. I was about to head back to the boy when I heard a dark sinister chuckle from behind me, that sent chills down my back. As I turned around the voice of the chuckle started to speak.

"Look at what I see here, a petty human all alone." More evil chuckling soon followed this statement.

It was a hollow. A pretty big one at that, more than double my size. It looked at me hungrily through his mask. He lunged towards me, I screamed.

Gohan POV

I hurt all over. I bet my bruises have bruises of their own. I don't know how much time has past or where exactly I am. I know that a family saved my life. So I think it is safe to assume I am either at their house or in a hospital. Of course knowing where I am would be a lot easier, if I was actually awake!!! I can hear what goes on around me but I can't respond very well, maybe a twitch of my fingers at best. I felt someone sitting beside me not long ago. Who? I don't know, but they left to go somewhere a little later.

I hope everyone's all right though. If not...I don't want to think about that. But I can't help it. Did it work? Is Cell dead? Is everyone all right? Or did I fail and everyone was killed? I hope it's not the later. I wouldn't be able to stand myself if I failed them.

Wait...what's that...It feels like a dark aura...an evil one. I have a bad feeling about it. Even though my body will hate me for this, I need to wake up!! I started mentally screaming at my body to move and allow me to open my eyes, but it won't respond.

I am too drained, I have barely enough ki to live, let alone get up. But I know that if I don't get up now something bad will happen...really bad. Then I heard a scream. A cold feeling settled inside of me. I need to wake NOW!! Even if I did fail my family, I am not going to fail now and allow someone else to die. If I can prevent it, I will do anything.

"Anything?" asked a voice.

"Anything," I said replying to the voice. Totally ignoring the fact that I am responding to a voice inside my head.

"I can help you, but your life will change more so than it already is. Are you willing to take this risk?" The voice asked me.

Without a second thought I responded, "Yes, I just want to save this person."

"Alright then, prepare yourself Gohan Son." After the voice said that, I felt some strange energy flow through my body. It wasn't ki...it was something else. What? I am not sure but I'll think about it later.

Using this energy I forced my body to awaken. It was hard, but I forced my body out of the bed. Opening my eyes I looked around quickly. Finding the manevolent aura, I ran out the door as fast as I could towards it. I hope I am not too late. I did not notice that my wrists now sported two black bracers outlined in red.

Karin POV

I barely dodged the lunge. The Hollow growled in annoyance.

"Stay still human!!"

"Make me." I told him sticking out my tongue. Bad idea on my part, the hollow responded by saying,

"Gladly." As he extended his claws ready to tear me apart. Nothing will stop him either. Everyone is out of the house and the only other person in this house is out like a light.

I clenched my eyes shut, as I prepared for my gruesome death by the hands, or in this case, claw of a hollow. Man my life stinks.

For some reason it never came. Opening my eyes slowly I looked in shock at what was before me. It wasn't the fact that the hollow was stopped in its tracks in mid strike. It was the person that was holding the hollow's arm.

It was the boy!!! What he said next, sounded so cold and emotionless that I was glad that he was on my side.

"You are going to regret trying to hurt an innocent while I am around."

END CHAPTER 4