What the Heart Wants, Part 2

by Sexyvampire13

Six months have passed since Toshiro left Karin, now an old threat arises and is seeking vengeance. Forcing Toshiro to face Karin again, and ask for her help in bringing the threat down once and for all, if it's possible. If they survive, what will be the future of the two though? RxR.

6. Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach in anyway. Enjoy and RxR.

What the Heart Wants: Part 2

Chapter 6: The Meeting & Lectures

"Thank you all for coming today. First off, there are a few more people added to the line up. I've already paired them off, so you've

no worries about rather or not your training was all for nothing." Karin stated, as she glanced around at all the faces that stared at her. The

day of the battle was nearly upon them, everything went down tomorrow, and she wanted to make sure that everyone was comfortable with

the plan, and knew what exactly was expected of them.

"The Arrancars have agreed to help in this fight, and I hope that you will all trust in them as I have. Now, for the reason that I've asked

for this meeting. If any of you have any questions, or concerns that you want to put at ease, speak now, and I'll answer them the best that I

can." She stated, and waited patiently for the brave person that would speak up first. Not surprised when it was the man that Ichigo had

introduced as Miyori. He stood, and she had to fight back the shiver that wanted to consume her as she stared at him. For some reason, she

just knew that he wasn't a man to cross.

"Yes. First off, why have the Arrancars agreed to help? Second, how sure are you that this plan of yours is going to work? If you ask me

there are a lot of flaws in it that could mean Riyan escaping." He stated, and she sighed slightly. Glad that the first question was easy, and

glanced toward Halibel when she stood and faced her.

"If I may, Karin." She stated, and Karin nodded, but remained standing. Watching as Halibel studied the Captain across from her for a

moment.

"Captain Miyori. The reason some of us have agreed to fight is because I believe that Riyan could be a threat to us if he is to stay on

the loose. Also, Karin is a dear friend to me, and I refuse to allow something bad to happen to her. If you are questioning our trust to you soul

reapers, then fine. But, don't you dare think that we would betray Karin." She stated, and Karin nodded with a smile when Halibel glanced back

toward her before sitting down again.

"Feh. Fine, then. Now, Ms. Karin Kurosaki, what makes you so sure that this plan is going to work?" He asked, and Karin stared at him,

watching as he glared at her. She knew that it was an attempt to shake her, and she refused to give in.

"Because, if it doesn't work then we all could lose something. That's why I asked you all to fight, because you know very well that if Riyan

is allowed to continue to live it would be desasterious for all of us here. He'll set his sights higher, until he had both the world of the living and

the soul society under his control, and I'm certain that no one here wants to see that. Now, if I may, Captain Miyori, I wish to ask you a question.

You said that there were flaws in my plan, yet you have made no move to help correct them. So, are you really concerned with those flaws, or are

you just certain that you and everyone else have trained enough to where those flaws really don't matter?" She asked, and watched as he blinked

slowly for a moment. Then gave a small smile when he gave a laugh and showed a wide, yet creepy, grin.

"I believe I like this Kurosaki better than her brother. She's smarter, I'll give her that." He stated, and she nodded at what she assumed

was a compliment, and watched as he sat back down. She then glanced over the crowd, and waited for the next question. Smiling as she

watched Ichigo stand and glare at her.

"Why the hell did you pair us up with the people you did? You probably cost me over half my life now because of the sparring sessions

with Kinpachi." He stated, and she smiled as the large man beside him huffed.

"Keh. Like it really mattered, you mostly ran away instead of fought." He growled, and Ichigo wheeled on him.

"You were literally trying to kill me!" Ichigo shouted, and Karin shook her head.

"Hey! Save the fight for after the meeting you two. As for why I paired you guys up as I did, think about it. All of you have unique abilities,

and those abilities can react strongly with the ability of another if they match up in some way or another." She stated, and watched as some of

them seem to understand almost immediatly, but some still looked clueless. She sighed and motioned toward Ichigo and Kinpachi.

"Take those two for example. Both are hard headed and refuse to quit. Add in Kinpachi's strength with Ichigo's ability to adabt quickly to

any situation and you have two men on the front line that nobody would want to mess with. They would have enough strength together to probably

wipe out an entire army, by working together and using each others ability to feed their own." She stated, and watched as it finally clicked in

everyones faces.

"Ah. Now that is very smart. Not to mention exactly what should be going inside Riyan Suroichi's body, so you're fighting fire with fire."

Shunsei stated, glancing at her with an approving smile. She nodded, and then glanced around the table.

"But, not all of you were paired up that way. For example, I teamed up Captain Unohana with Captain Miyori. With her ability to heal, and

his knowledge in science, I gave them another task, and from what I heard it was a sucess." She stated, watching as the kind woman smiled and

rose as Miyori did as well.

"Indeed it has, and I must admit, I would have never thought of this in my wildest dreams." She stated, and Karin just smiled as Miyori

huffed and eyed her again.

"I might have thought of this over time, but it seemed that Ms. Kurosaki has a slightly more sharper eye." He stated, reaching into the

center of the table and placed a small glass sphere in the middle. She watched as everyone leaned in and stared in open wonder at the small

item, or more importantly the glowing center.

"What you see before you is something that you all will gain. Ms. Kurosaki has asked me and Captain Miyori to create automatic

healing spheres, such as the one before you. Inside it contains many healing kidos, and other remidies that I have created." Unohana stated, and

then turned to Miyori.

"Yes, and I found a way to contain it in the glass sphere. All one would need to do, would break the sphere at their feet, and they would be

enveloped by the healing qualities within. Also, Ms. Kurosaki, it is complete and one hundred percent in comission. We have produced enough

for everyone here to have four spheres each, even the added Arrancars." He stated, she blinked in surprise and praise.

"Excellent. That will give us a great advantage, but I must ask you all. Use these only when you need it most." She stated, and watched as

they nodded and Miyori removed the sphere from sight. Then watched as Jushiro stood.

"If I may, Ms. Kurosaki. Urahara has told us very little information about the attack that you and Captain Hitsugaya are planning. I was

hoping that you could elaborate on it." He stated, and she smiled while nodding. She faced everyone and saw that their attention was solely

focused on her and the silent white haired captain beside her.

"The attack we have created is something that should put Riyan on a power overdirve if it all goes right. We will be allowing him to absorb

the power, but we should still be able to maintain control over it since it is our powers. We haven't tested it on anyone, only on stationary targets,

because it is very strong and we're afraid that it could really hurt someone. That's why we haven't asked anyone to help us with it, we will reserve

that privilage to Riyan. Now it won't take effect immediatly, because we'll only be giving him only a bit, but as we continue to fight, we'll be steadily

rising it from within him. Until his body can no longer contain it and it rather forces out of his body, or explodes within him." She stated, and

watched as a few of them went slightly wide eyed at the information she had given out.

"I must say. That truly does sound like a dangerous attack, Ms. Kurosaki. So, surely, their must be some draw backs to it?" Jushiro asked,

and she nodded.

"Yes. It does drain me and Captain Hitsugaya quit a bit, to the point where we have to wait five minutes to try again. Not to mention, if the

first one doesn't work, then we only have two more chances left to try and take him down with the same move." She stated, and watched as they

all murmured slightly, and straightened when Soi-Fon stood up and glared at her.

"Wait a minute. If the first one doesn't work, what makes you think that a second or third one will?" She asked, and Karin sighed.

"Because, with each one we create it grows stronger than the last one. If we release it all at one moment it rebounds on us, so if the first

two doesn't kill him, the third should. Rather that, or wound him to the point where someone could end him." She stated, and watched as the

woman blinked.

"And if it does neither?" She asked, and Karin glanced down.

"Then I have an ace up my sleeve that will. Anything else?" She asked, ignoring how Toshiro, Urahara and Yuroichi shot her a worried

look. Instead she watched as Rangiku stood.

"I've only have one thing to ask. If Riyan isn't killed by your and Captain Hitsugaya's attack, who will end his life?" She asked, and she

smiled. She glanced around, knowing that they wanted to know who had a claim to the man's life, and she shrugged.

"Whoever sees an opening in his weakened state, and can get to him without getting their powers absorbed I guess." She stated, and

watched as they just nodded. She straightened and then frowned, giving a shake of her head.

"But, just because I said that, I don't want you to focus solely on killing him. Keep yourselves safe, and out of his range until you know you

have to step in." She stated, and watched as they all nodded and gave her small reassuring smiles. Nodding she glanced around, waiting, then

nodded again.

"If there are no more questions, then we can dismiss. Do whatever you want, and make sure you are prepared for tomorrow. But, before

you leave, Captain Miyori. Captain Unohana. Could you please hand out the healing spheres?" She asked, and smiled gratefully when they

nodded. She moved away from the table as everyone started to stand and blinked when Urahara and Yuroichi stood in her way.

"Karin. I told you that the move that is up your sleeve is to dangerous for you to use in a fight until you've grown stronger. There are to

many possibilities that something could go wrong, especially since you'd have to increase it to a dangerous level." Urahara growled, she

glanced up at him and shrugged.

"Guess thats my problem, isn't it." She stated, and watched as worry entered his eye. She moved around him and finally reached the table

that held the refreshments that had been laid out for them. She was picking at some grapes when a hand landed on her shoulder, causing her to

glance back and blink in surprise to see Rangiku, Rukia, Yachiru, and Yuroichi standing behind her.

"Could we talk for a moment?" Rangiku asked, and she sighed. She was pretty sure that she knew what they wanted to talk about, and

decided to go ahead and get it over with.

"Alright." She stated, and lead the way to her room. They were all silent as they walked along side one another, and she couldn't help but

think about what each probably had to say to her. She figured that Rangiku, Rukia, and probably Yachiru was going to tell her that she was

making a mistake by giving up on Toshiro, and Yuroichi was probably going to lecture her on the fact that she planned to use the power that

Urahara banned her from using until her powers completely settled in. She knew that all of them would have valid points, but she just couldn't

make Toshiro give up his life in the soul society, and if it came down to it, she was going to make sure that Riyan was killed one way or another.

She opened her door, allowed them to file in before her, and then shut the door as they made themselves comfortable. It was Rangiku

who stood and approached her first with a small knowing smile.

"Karin, I know that you probably already figured out what we have to say, but will you please still listen?" She asked, and Karin nodded.

Watching as the buxomous red head relaxed and lead her to the couch where she sat between her and Rukia. With Yachiru and Yuroichi sitting

across from them.

"Captain Hitsugaya told me what went down between you two, and I just want to know one thing. Why did you reject him?" Rangiku asked,

and she faced her with soft eyes.

"I wont let him think that I'm better than his life in the soul society. In the soul society his life is already started and on a very good course

that only leads to better things. If he came to the world of the living he'd have to start all over, begin at the bottom and work his way up just to try

and make a living. I'm not going to allow him to go through that struggle, not when he has an amazing life where he already is." She stated,

frowning when both Rangiku and Yuroichi huffed and shook their heads.

"Karin. His life in the soul society isn't all as it may seem to you. Yes, he's the Captain of squad ten, but every day is the same as the last,

there is no more challenge in his life there. It's get up, eat, go on missions, do paper work, eat, and then sleep. Ocassionally the routine is

changed depending on the level of the mission or how much paper work he has to do, but other than that it's like clock work." Rangiku stated,

and Karin just shook her head.

"It would probably be the same in the world of the living." She stated, and glanced at Yuroichi shook her head.

"Not true, Karin. When I left the soul society with Urahara I thought I would regret the decision, but instead I loved it. When I left, I was able

to make my own decisions, without having to run it past Captain General Yamamotto. I never felt more free. Sure I missed some of those back in

the soul society, but I could still go there and visit, nothing was stopping me from doing that." She stated, and Karin blinked as she realized that

the woman was right. Nothing was stopping her, and nothing would probably stop Toshiro from going either. Hell, she could probably go with

him if she wished to. She stiffened and gave her head a mental shake to stop her thought process, because it was starting to give her hope that

there may be a future for them yet.

"Still, he has squad ten. They need him. What would they do if he suddenly uped and left for some mortal woman?" She asked, glancing

over to Rangiku and Rukia when they laughed.

"Knowing squad ten, they'd probably all cheer him on. Especially after they saw him after the first time things went bad between you two."

Rukia stated, and she watched as Rangiku nodded her agreement.

"What do you mean?" She asked, and then glanced at Yachiru when she giggled.

"He was a mess when he got back from that time. He hardly ate at all, and sometimes he just disappeared without telling anyone where

he was going. He had his entire squad worried about him because he started with withdraw with guilt. Kenny told me it was because he was

being a coward by leaving you with bad words between ya'll." She stated, and Karin blinked. She hadn't known that he put himself through all of

that after their first battle with Riyan. Everytime Ichigo had returned from the soul society she had asked if Toshiro had been doing fine, and all

Ichigo had said was that he didn't see him, but sensed that he was fine.

"Not only that, but he didn't even act like his old self. Usually he would jump me all the time for not doing my paper work, but when he

returned, he didnt even fuss over the large pile that I left. After locking himself in his office for a whole day, he finally exited and I saw that he had

completed everything. Without even saying a word to me." Rangiku stated, and Karin bit her bottom lip before glancing down.

"It still doesn't change anything. What would he gain in the world of the living?" She asked, and tensed when Rangiku suddenly slapped

her on the shoulder, causing it to sting slightly.

"Girl, stop being such an idiot. He'll get you." She whispered, and Karin went wide eyed as she stared at the white floor. She started to

shake her head.

"I wouldn't be enough." She stated, and glanced up when Rangiku huffed in annoyance and stood before her.

"Listen here, and listen good. I've known my Captain since the day he started he started the soul reaper's academy. He's always been the

most serious person I've ever known, but I see that it was only because he was slightly afraid to be himself around those he knew that would

judge him most. You, at first, were one of those people, but you managed to get around the barriers that he set up to protect himself, and get him

to open up. Now you're going to harm him seriously, probably to the point where he wont trust anyone to get close to him again, and that's

happened before with the elderly woman he lived with, and with Momo. I refuse to let you add to that list of pain, Karin Kurosaki. Now, I'm not

telling you to give in just because I say so, but don't just walk away from him as you're thinking to do. I can see it whenever he looks at you, hell,

we all see it. He cares for you deeply, more so than he has for any other person, I might add. So don't you dare say that you wouldn't be good

enough for my Captain, or else I might just believe you. For everything that he has gone through, just to get to where he's at, it was just a means

to him. Something that would get him out of bed in the morning, and it wasn't nothing special. Now he believes that you could give him more, and

you doubt yourself, and him as well. Don't you understand? He's willing to give everything up, just for you. He doesn't care if he has to start at

square one, so long as he has you by his side he knows that his life will be more brighter. Damnit woman, he loves you and you have the gall to

try and deny him that!" Rangiku shouted, causing Karin to blink. She finally glanced away, saying nothing to what she just heard, because she

knew that it was all true. He had said that he chose her compared to the soul society, but she was dening him because she thought that the

soul society meant everything to him. Even still, regardless of how much she wanted to say she chose him, there was still his squad.

"Karin, you said that the squad needed him. You're wrong. They need a captain, yes, but anyone that meets the critireria can fill the

position. It happens all the time, I mean I used to be the leader of the stealth squad, now that responsibility goes to Soi-Fon." Yuroichi stated,

causing Karin to look at her in shock. They could actually do that? Just replace a leader so long as someone realizes their responsibilities. She

swallowed and shook her head. It didn't matter now, it really didn't.

"We've already said that, after the battle, we'd go our seperate ways. It's too late to change anything." She stated, glancing up when she

felt a small hand on her shoulder.

"Oh come on. Where's the Kurosaki stubborness that your family seems to be born with? I know that you will find some way around all of

this, and still come out the victor with Toshiro by your side." Rukia stated, and she smiled at the woman as she gave a slight nod. Rukia was

right, she was a Kurosaki, and they always went after what they wanted. Giving no room for doubt, they charged their problems head on, even

when the odds were against them.

"Alright. I'll figure something out between me and Toshiro." She stated, and watched as the others smiled at her. Rangiku sat back down,

satisfied that she had gotten through to the young woman, and now was curious on what Yuroichi had to say to her.

"Good. Now that that's settled, I need to talk to you about the ace in your sleeve. Is it the powerful blast you can unleash from your hands?"

She asked, and Karin nodded. Watching as Yuroichi sighed and gave her a pleading look.

"Karin, you promise Urahara, me, and your family that you wouldn't use that kind of force again until your powers fully settle. You know that

consequences of pushing your limit." Yuroichi stated, and Karin stared at her for a moment.

"Yuroichi, it is only as a last resort. There may be the chance that it wont even be needed. It's only a fall back plan." She stated, and

watched as the woman straightened.

"That's not a fall back plan. It's suicide." She shouted, and Karin leveled a glare at her.

"It will insure that if the first plan doesn't work, then that bastard will be weak enough to kill. I don't care about the consequeces, not if it

means that my first plan is a failure and innocent people die because of it." She stated, glancing up as Yuroichi shot to her feet.

"Stop putting all of our lives on your shoulders. We can handle our own, Karin. You don't have to carry that burden." She stated, and Karin

shot to her feet as well.

"I know I don't have to, but I refuse to have people die because of my plan." She whispered, and watched as Yuroichi sighed and shook

her head.

"Karin. We all take risks everyday, this is just another one of those risks." She stated, and she smiled.

"I know, and I know that they all volunteered for this. But, because I know I can do it, I swear, that even if I don't, everyone else will be

coming out of this battle alive." She stated, and knew that she had won the fight as they all went wide eyes. She had given her word infront of

witnesses, there was no way Yuroichi could make her back out now. Not if she wanted to destroy Karin's pride and make her turn against her

word. Yuroichi finally sighed and glanced at her with concerned filled eyes.

"Fine. We do it your way. But so help me if you die, I'll hunt you down some way in the soul society and kick you ass for it." She growled,

and Karin smiled.

"Bring it." She whispered, sitting back down and listened vaguly as they started talking mindlessly about different things. She finally

glanced away and stared at the moon that she saw from her window, her thoughts on Toshiro. Could she really help save whatever it was

between them? Was it to late? Did he really want her over the soul society? She sighed and tried to focus back on the others, but regardless of

what she did, she couldn't get her thoughts off the hope that she could still have Toshiro.

Toshiro sighed as he listened idily at the others conversations about the upcoming battle. He was really interested about what Rangiku

had planned to say to Karin. After talking with her about what was going on between them, his luitenant had just smiled and assured him that she

would get everything straightened out for him. At first he had been worried, but then realized that while Rangiku might not be so good with paper

work, she was good when it came dealing with others. Hell, she had reached to him and showed him what he could have in the soul society when

everyone else just cast him aside. He gave a small sigh and closed his eyes, if he really wanted to get through to Karin, he knew that he would

have to let Rangiku talk to her first, and then wait until Karin came to him. He didn't understand why he had to wait for Karin to come to him, but

wasn't about to argue with Rangiku over it, she knew more about this kind of stuff than he did.

"Yo, Toshiro. What's going on between you and my sister?" Ichigo asked, and he glanced up at the substitute soul reaper before closing

his eyes again.

"I wish I knew, Ichigo." He stated, feeling the young man tense beside him.

"What happened?" He asked, and Toshiro sighed, opening his eyes and glanced at the others that were still talking amongst themselves.

"She has rejected me because she doesn't wish me to give up my position in the soul society." He stated, looking up at him when he

remained quiet for a moment. Frowning as he saw that Ichigo was staring at him in shock.

"You told her that you were willing to leave the soul society?" He asked, and Toshiro nodded, not seeing as to why it was that big of a

deal.

"Oh man. That probably has her all confused. Toshiro, Karin is the kind of person that she always tries to make sure that her life doesn't

mess up anybody elses. You just coming right out and saying that you choose her, it's like saying that you think that she's the most important thing

in your life, and she refuses to believe something like that." He stated, and Toshiro straightened, facing him more.

"Surely you are not serious? There's no way she could doubt that in herself." Toshiro stated, watching as Ichigo just shook his head, and

gave him a sad look.

"She may have gain a lot more confident in her powers, but she is still lacking in self-esteem. She doesn't believe that anyone could

prefer her, since she thinks that she still sees herself as someone who is just part of any group that she is near. She's still blind to what others

see her as." He stated, and Toshiro could only stare at him. Karin still thought that she wasn't good looking enough for a man? Was she insane?

Even five months ago, all the men looked at her and nearly died for her attention. Surely she saw that, or at least believed him when he first said

that he loved her.

He sighed and glanced back up at Ichigo. The man was leaning against the wall, gauging Toshiro's reaction. Suddenly a thought came to

him and it caused his stomach to sour slightly.

"She wouldn't happen to believe that because of the men from the soccer team she used to play on?" He asked, and nearly saw red when

he nodded in answer.

"They cornered her one day on the way home. Tore her self-esteem to shreads basically, and she never really listened to what any other

man said to her. A few asked her out and she rather just ignored them, or told them she had other plans only to go to Urahara's to train." Ichigo

stated, and Toshiro fought the urge to go to the world of the living and teach those who had harmed her mentally a hard lesson in respect.

"Please tell me you did something to those boys." Toshiro stated, and watched as a small smile crossed his face.

"Oh, no worries about that. After a few...uh...spooky, things happened to them, they left Karin alone." He stated, and Toshiro laughed,

even though he knew that Ichigo had used his soul reaper powers in a way that wasn't allowed. Instead of calling him out on the error, he silently

applauded him and gave him a nod of approval.

"Someone needs to show Karin that what they said wasn't true." Toshiro stated, leaning aginst the wall again as they both studied the

smaller crowd before them. They stayed in silent for a bit, and then he glanced toward the man when he suddenly straightened and moved away

slightly.

"Yeah, she does. Thing is, the only person who could even begin to do that, is you Toshiro." He stated, and Toshiro watched in shock as

the man walked away and started to leave with the group that he had came in with. Did Ichigo really mean that? Or was he just attempting to

make me feel better? Toshiro smiled slightly and shook his head. True to there way, you could never expect the usual response from a Kurosaki. Giving a sigh he straightned and started toward the hallways, only to blink when Captain Miyori stepped into his path.

"Well, Captain Hitsugaya, I believe that these are now yours and Miss Kurosaki's. Out of all the people here, I made sure that your healing spheres were the most perfect. I do hope that all goes well in this fight." He stated, Toshiro nodded, and accepted both his and Karin's spheres. Thinking that he'd just go ahead and give them to her before retiring into his room.

"Thank you, Captain Miyori." He stated, and watched as the man walked off. He turned, finding that most everyone had left, and decided to go ahead and go to his room. He started down the hallway, and thought about what Ichigo had told him. Was he really the only person who could show Karin that she was worth someone, and that if anything the person she gave a chance didn't deserve her. Giving a sigh he glanced up, and stopped as he saw Rangiku and all the others stepping out of Karin's room. He swallowed, watched as they bid each other as farwell, and then started toward the young woman as the others walked away.
"Karin. Here are the healing spheres. Is everything alright?" He asked, watching as she took her spheres and nodded.
"Uh...Yeah. Just a little girl talk." She whispered, and he glanced away as an akward silence fell between them.
"Karin...I"
"Toshiro...Please" They both started, but smiled at each other and he motioned for her to continue.
"Uhm...Toshiro, please forgive me. I've just been so frantic lately, and I know that you only told me to not use that move because of the side effects. I also want you to know, that...I don't want you to decide what you want right yet. I want to make sure that, well, that you won't regret your decision later. I'm not a girl who could keep a man's attention for too long. I'm stubborn, stuck in my own ways, basically I'm saying I'm a Kurosaki." She stated, and he smiled while shaking his head.
"Karin. I need to explain something to you. I don't want to live in the soul society anymore. There's nothing there that can challenge me anymore, I've nothing to fight for. Here, in the world of the living, I could have you. I already know what I want, and I'm ready to fight for you. I don't care if you're stubborn, stuck in your ways, or that you are a Kurosaki. It's those qualities that make me attracted to you. Also, you've shown me so many things, and are always pushing my limits to places I didn't even know they could go. As for you being attractive, Karin, you've had the men after you for quit a while now. If anything, I'm the one afraid that you would tire of me." He admitted, and watched as she gave a small smile and shook her head.
"You're just saying that." She whispered, and he took hold of her shoulders and stared her in the eye.
"You know damn well that I'm not that kind of person." He stated, and watched as her eyes became vulnerable. She stepped out of his hold, and swallowed.
"I...Uh...We need to get our rest for tomorrow. Have a good night, Toshiro." She stated, quickly retreating into her room and shut the door. He sighed and bit his bottom lip. Afraid that he may have pushed too hard, but sighed and shook his head. He had said what he was thinking, and it was the truth, all he could do was leave the decision up to her. He only hoped that her choice would allow him to stay by her side.