Chapter Six: The Beginning or the End?

"Closer."

Karin glared at the man who was accompanying her on the way home, eyes surmising the probability that he might pull an ill-behaved trick on her. Although, between the two of them, she was the one who had the tendency to do that.

Downpour sound was too coarse that Toushirou's supposedly audible exhale was drowned by it. He briefly admired the hazy atmosphere before he tilted his head to the side to meet Karin's demanding and displeased stare.

"Stop doing that, will you?" he said in a nature distinguished from the bragging weather.

That was one thing that Karin found aggravating about him. Here she was, trying hard to keep her temper in check however she already wanted to biff his face so bad.

And he? He still was a perfect example of cool, calm and collected, regardless of his companion's behavior.

Dark onyx eyes were almost curtained by lids and lashes on the way they constricted. "What 'that?'" was Karin's question, lacking warmness.

"You glare and scowl too much."

The look that Karin gave him certainly meant he shouldn't have said what he had just said. Didn't he realize the irony of that statement as it came from him?

"Like you're the one to talk!" Karin told him.

Clueless, Toushirou frowned. "What are you saying?"

"That!" Karin pointed on his wrinkled brows. "You always frown as though it is the most natural thing to do!"

"Oh," Toushirou said, suddenly aware of the fact that even he really did scowl a lot.

So Karin must have made her point, but it didn't mean that Toushirou was going to let her ward off from his original concern. He returned his eyes straight on the road and said, "I get your point, alright. Now, can you step closer?"

"No," Karin answered stubbornly, "Why would I even do that?"

"I would think that as obvious, Karin. The umbrella seems to be not enough for both of us because you distance yourself too much."

"You know I didn't ask you to do this for me! I was perfectly fine. You could have just left me earlier!"

"I could, but obviously, I didn't," Toushirou answered coolly, "And knowing you and your pride, I'm pretty sure you'll never ask me, or anyone for that matter, to do this for you. And to tell the truth, I see no point on your protests. Why don't you just come closer?"

"I don't trust you a bit," Karin answered, hoping that it was enough to shut Toushirou up, "Just who knows what kind of stupid plan you have there."

Contrary to what Karin had hoped, her statement only served to amuse Toushirou.

"I was not the one who kissed a random person at a random place, was I?" he gibed.

Thank gods that the weather made the surroundings dark and helped to hide Karin's cherry-colored face. Toushirou just needed to pull that, didn't he? Damn him and his smart ass remarks.

Karin opened her mouth to argue but closed it again because she really didn't have any comeback for that. Unable to accept her defeat, she stopped walking and folded her arms. Without noticing what Karin was doing, Toushirou kept walking and unintentionally left her, exposed to the rain. He was already a few meters away when it came to his attention that Karin was no longer beside him. He halted, and for a couple of times that day, Toushirou sighed. He turned around and walked back to the immaturely rebelling Karin.

"You'll get sick because of what you are doing. Now c'mon, Karin, stop acting like a child," he said, stopping as near as the rainshade could screen both of them.

"I am not acting like a child," Karin talked back, arms still crossed, countenance set unyielding.

"Yes, you do. You're doing it just now."

"No, I don't." Karin knew she wasn't exactly as froward as she was acting at the moment. But where Toushirou was concerned, she always deemed it necessary to carry herself in a childish conduct just to bend him out of shape. She still was on the process of bearing down to even-hand everything between them.

He wanted her to get near him? Fine, she would do the opposite. The plan to cop out on her mind, Karin couldn't help but grin.

Because of the sudden change of her mood, Toushirou was inclined to think that she was planning something not good again. So he wasn't exactly that surprised when Karin quickly shifted from his front to his side, a move that could be easily identified as a simple dodging technique in playing soccer.

The move was almost flawless. But apparently, Karin's past experiences still didn't suffice to learn her lessons. She did it again. A stupid little mistake of disregarding the tiny details of her scheme and its consequences.

"Waa!" She waved her hands as she slipped on the wet ground. Thankfully, her knight in shining armor, who also happened to be the levelheaded man she was trying to run away from, was always prepared.

Karin found herself being held, both legs were still on graceless angle because of her earlier miscalculation. Toushirou had been able to save her butt (literally) from totally kissing the hard pavement by wrapping his free arm on her...

On her...

Good lord, why did she feel like something was pressed on the lower part of her chest?

On that cognizance, Karin flushed again. She immediately pried his arm away from where it was and pulled herself back on her feet.

"P-pervert!"

It was Toushirou's turn to blush. He sincerely didn't realize where his arm had snaked earlier.

"W-w-what?!" He was just glad that no one was around to hear what Karin had called him. For Pete's sake, he grew up with a mind which was free from adulterations. As mature as he was deemed because of his careful reasonings, he still was practically naïve about the stuffs! And here was a woman labeling him as pervert. What exactly did he do to make him one, anyway?

If Karin wasn't embarrassed herself, she could have already noticed that she'd just broken Toushirou's composure.

"Y-you... Ah! Never mind! I don't care anymore if I get drenched by the rain, now that I am not exactly dry, anyway! So just leave me alone!" she said, then stomped away.

If she thought that only she was stubborn between the two of them, she still had a lot of things to dig about Toushirou.

She squeaked, very un-Karin-like, when Toushirou grabbed her shoulder and pulled her close to his side.

"What the hell, Toushirou!"

On purpose, Toushirou ignored her. He resumed walking and, in the process, forced Karin to keep her pace with him, while he silently muttered about a stubborn woman who had yet to learn how to show gratitude for what he was doing for her.

xx

Karin was annoyed.

Annoyed at her twin sister with her stupid grin while she looked at Karin and Toushirou.

Annoyed at Toushirou who was obviously feeling at home in the Kurosaki residence right now.

"Thank you for walking Karin-chan home, Hitsugaya-senpai. I hope she didn't give you trouble," Yuzu said, bowing slightly.

Karin glared at Yuzu, but the latter just answered it with a deceptively sweet smile.

"Don't mention it," Toushirou answered, glancing at Karin who was still busy glaring at her twin sister. 'Is there a way that trouble can be avoided where Karin is concerned?' he thought, but knew better than say that aloud. "And, no. Not at all."

Automatically, Karin's glare diverted at Toushirou, although he obviously didn't say or do anything that deserved that annoyed stare. Not yet, anyway.

"Nah, I'm sorry, Hitsugaya-senpai, but I think you're not telling the truth," Yuzu said, "I know my sister too well to believe your claim."

A ghost of smile, which was too subtle to be seen, crept on Toushirou's lips. "Is that so?" he asked, "Well then, it is Karin we're talking about."

"Yeah, it's me you're talking about, and you talk like I am not here to hear you at all," Karin butted in, her voice whiny. "And what are you still doing here?"

Karin had aimed the question to Toushirou, but the one who answered it wasn't him.

"Mou, Karin-chan. Hitsugaya-senpai is being all nice to you. Is that your way of paying him back?"

"Pay him back? I'm broke, and after all, he's already rich." Of course, Karin knew what her sister meant. She wasn't dumb, although she sometimes liked to pretend that she was. And sarcasm was one of the best ways to do that.

"Karin-chan!" As dulcet as Yuzu's voice generally was, it still had an appalling effect when set in a reprimanding tone.

"Fine, fine! But it isn't as if I obliged him to do it for me!" Karin reasoned out, "He just insisted even when I told him to call it off! I could've been perfectly fine even without his help!"

"No, you couldn't have been fine had it not for Hitsugaya-senpai," Yuzu insisted, "Be grateful that he cares enough to bring you home safe."

Toushirou suspected that they had no plan to stop soon. What made him more uncomfortable was the fact that they were arguing about him as though he wasn't there to be all ears. Now, he understood why Karin was so annoyed when she'd been ignored earlier.

Unable to remain silent anymore, he hemmed. It was enough to call the twins' attentions back.

Just as the ladies looked at him, Toushirou stood up and told them, "I believe it's time for me to leave."

While Yuzu immediately appeared guilty, Karin just looked perfectly indifferent.

"Oh, that's great. Goodbye," Karin said, too eager to get rid of the guy.

"Karin-chan!" Yuzu scolded her twin again, then smiled apologetically at Toushirou, "Even if you already want to, Hitsugaya-senpai, I'm afraid you still can't. The rain has become heavier, and I don't think it's safe for you to go now. You can wait until it calmed down a bit."

At the mention of the rain, Toushirou glanced at the window. Only then did he realize that Yuzu was right. Indeed, the rain was heavier than earlier. At this rate, walking outside wasn't exactly a good idea. It wasn't the time to cast the lots.

He was just grateful that he'd been able to bring Karin home, safe and in time. And good thing he'd already informed Matsumoto that he'd be home later than usual.

He looked at Karin as though her approval was the only thing he needed to stay.

Karin, getting the message of that look, avoided eye contact with him and glared at Yuzu again, as if the latter had planned everything to happen. Even though, the rain was certainly not of Yuzu's making. She looked back at Toushirou, and sighed helplessly. She might've been vexed because of him, but it wasn't enough to send him out with this kind of weather. After all, she was the reason why he was here now. Not that she'd forced him.

"Fine," she said grudgingly, "You can stay until the rain calmed down."

Yuzu beamed. "Now, sit back, senpai, while I prepare some drinks to warm us. Would you prefer hot choco or coffee?"

Toushirou sat back, albeit still reluctant. He also wanted to tell Yuzu that he could manage even without the drinks but, seeing how anticipating the young woman's smile was, it was apprehensible that she wouldn't accept even a friendly refusal.

"Thank you. Tea will do," Toushirou answered politely.

"Tea, then." Yuzu turned to Karin, "How about you, Karin-chan?"

"I'll have a hot choco."

"Alright! Just a few minutes!" Yuzu ran to the kitchen, but not before she told her twin, "Karin-chan, behave."

"What?!" Karin exclaimed, unhappy with her sister's words, "I am not a dog, Yuzu!"

Toushirou couldn't help but smile as he watched the twins' lovely interaction. Maybe, it was really nice to have a sibling, a twin no less. Then again, he would never know about that.

His woolgathering was unkindly interrupted by Karin's voice. By now, he should've been used to fact that gentleness was scarce in this woman's system.

"Tea? Really?" Karin asked, slouching on the seat across Toushirou. "You're such a fifty-year-old."

"And you're such a five-year-old," Toushirou beat back.

Karin would say something in return, but was cut off by a loud voice full of gaiety.

"My lovely daughters, Karin-chan and Yuzu-chan! Daddy is home~"

Karin sighed and caught her face with her palm. "Here's another ass."

"Ah, Karin-chan, my dear, there you are! Will you give Daddy a hug~"

Everything had gone in a blue streak that Toushirou hadn't been able to catch what exactly had happened. Now, the man was on the floor, face first, while Karin was already on her feet, a hand fisted.

"I am always telling you to stop trying to jump at me!" Karin shouted, glaring down at the man.

Said man rolled on his back and lifted his upper body from the floor.

"But I just missed my beautiful daughters." He said, scratching the back of his head and pouting like a child.

"We see each other every single fucking day!"

Toushirou didn't know whether to be amused or feel awkward with the scene, neither did he know whether to chisel in or just remain as though he wasn't there at all.

He was saved from the trouble of deciding on the latter, when the man's attention went to him.

"Karin-chan," he said, his voice suddenly sober, "This handsome fellow here... Is he..."

"No," Karin automatically answered, not even bothering to wait for her father to finish whatever he was saying. For her, it wasn't already necessary. She knew him too well to know what exactly he was thinking. "Don't even dare to start, old man."

The man didn't say anything. He just kept staring at Toushirou.

Raised with breeding, Toushirou thought it was only appropriate to politely introduce himself. He stood up and looked down at the man awkwardly.

"Hitsugaya Toushirou, Sir." He left it that way since he didn't know how to put his and Karin's exact relationship in words.

Karin snorted at the formality. The honorific certainly didn't fit her father, and the Kurosaki family wasn't really a fan of such pleasantries.

"Uh-huh. And I'm Kurosaki Isshin." The man stood up. Perhaps, it could have been better if Toushirou had just introduced himself as Karin's schoolmate, or even a hide-and-seek playmate, instead of leaving the assumption to Isshin. "Your lady's old man."

The weather was of no use to cool down the hot feeling which crept on Toushirou's face.

"She's not my lady!"

"I'm not his lady!"

But their simultaneous exclaims were useless since Isshin had already run to the huge poster of a beautiful woman pinned on the wall and tried to hug it. "Masaki! Masaki! Our Karin-chan has fallen in-love! She's just brought her handsome boyfriend with her today! Our second son, Masaki!

Round, teal eyes watched him disbelievingly. Was this man serious?

"Don't mind him," Karin said, clearly irritated, "He's been like that since my mother died."

"Sorry to hear that," Toushirou whispered, looking back at Karin, "You're probably tired of getting that, though."

Karin just shrugged. "How about you? Uhm... Your... parents... I mean..."

"My real parents, you mean." Toushirou finished off for Karin, "I don't really know a lot about them. My mother died a few days after she gave birth to me, while my father when I was three."

"I shouldn't have already asked," Karin mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"Don't. After all, it's not exactly a secret to everyone." Toushirou looked around as though he was looking for something.

Karin, noticing his action, also looked around the house and asked, "Is there any problem?" She felt weird asking him that, because honestly, what did she care if he really had a problem? Unless, it had anything to do with their house. Did he find it too small for someone like him?

She didn't already need to guess for too long.

"Nuh-uh. Just wondering. You do have a brother, don't you?"

Karin raised a brow. "And how in the world did you know? I'm pretty sure you still haven't met him."

Toushirou shrugged as if to say that nothing was really surprising if he knew about that bit of information. "Let's just say that Kurosaki's have a knack of making names. Besides, he's only a year ahead of me, and I transferred during the last few months of the previous year, remember? He still was in Karakura High back then. As far as I can remember, he's also a good friend of Abarai and Kuchiki."

Karin almost laughed. "Sometimes, I really fail to remind myself that the annoying Hitsugaya Toushirou is really a genius."

"Must the insult necessary?" Toushirou muttered.

"Y'know..." Karin began, but suddenly stopped and frowned as she noticed something odd around.

Her father's whines had already died down. Now that she thought about it, the whole surroundings was silent. The rain had already stopped. And Yuzu. She should have been back by now or even earlier. How hard could it be to prepare some simple drinks to take her that long?

Slowly and in suspense, Karin turned her head to the side. The moment she found the reason for the dead air within walls, she groaned.

On the corner of the living room, Isshin was seated on the floor like a kid, grinning while watching them like they were part of those romantic movies. Beside him, Yuzu was holding a camera—Karin suspected she'd used it to take a few photos of her and Toushirou.

Karin eyed them, glint of annoyance arresting on baby blues. Time would come, she would just clean forget that they were her family.

xx

"Don't dare to come back here, again," Karin said, as soon as Toushirou stepped out of their house.

Toushirou smirked, deciding to press Karin's buttons further. "Now, really. You still have a lot to learn about hospitality. I'd be willing to teach you if want."

"Shut up and just get lost."

"What? No 'Be safe on your way?' And what about my goodbye kiss?"

He chuckled as Karin slammed the door in front of his face.

нιтѕυкαяιи • мαкε ιт εvεи • нιтѕυкαяιи

This wasn't how Toushirou had expected to see Karin this morning. In a few minutes, the soccer club was going to have their early practice. Normally, Karin was in a hurry now, running and not bothering to stop and apologize to whomever she'd just bumped into. This time, however, she still was in front of her locker, arranging her stuffs like she was out in space.

Toushirou approached, unnoticed as Karin's back was on him.

"You'll be late in your practice if you keep moving like that."

There was no glower from her when she turned to face him, nor was there a witty comeback. If anything, her only reaction just made Toushirou worried.

"Uh," Karin said tiredly.

Now, that was totally weird. No trademark glare, no hint if irritation, not even her sarcastic countercharges. Something was definitely not quite right about her.

Toushirou cleared the distance between them, stopping only a foot away from Karin. He held her on both shoulders, and very slowly, leaned close to her face.

Karin was watching him curiously the entire time, and as she noticed him closing the gap between them, her eyes widened. Her first instinct was to pull away immediately, but Toushirou's hands on her shoulders made it impossible for her to do that. Odd how a hold could be so firm and gentle at the same time. She waited for what was about to come. Sensation of fluttery tingled from head to toe, her heartbeat paced abnormally fast, and her whole body went stiff. She gulped audibly as she felt Toushirou's forehead touched hers. His eyes were close and his face was dangerously near.

As Toushirou felt Karin's body heat, he frowned. His assumption was right.

He opened his eyes and pulled away to get a better look at Karin. Her face was clearly flushed, but it was hard to tell whether it was because of what he did or because of her current condition.

"You are burning," Toushirou stated, eyes filled with worry, "Did you know?"

Karin bit her lower lip and nodded.

"And, you still went here in school even if you knew you're sick." Toushirou tried to hide the agitation in his voice, but he knew he could only do so much.

Karin looked at him in defiance. At least, she still had a little of it in her. "But I have to go, don't I?"

Thinking that it wasn't really the appropriate time to argue with her, all Toushirou could do was to sigh again. He moved a hand, and put it around Karin's wrist. "C'mon then, you have to rest at the school clinic, for now."

"No, I am fine," Karin answered, shaking her head.

"You're obviously not, Karin." As cool as Toushirou's tone was, the gravity on it was very discernible.

"But it is nothing really. I have to go to soccer practice now. Let me go, Toushirou."

"Nothing?" Toushirou asked incredulously, like Karin had just said something crazy. "No, Karin, stop being so stubborn. You have to come with me in the clinic."

"I am not being stubborn, and why do you even care?!"

That totally did it.

"I don't know! I just do! So will you listen to me and drop your bratty attitude, for once?!" The sudden rise on Toushirou's voice wasn't planned. It was the concern for her that had broken the ice.

Surprised, Karin jumped. She looked at him, wide-eyed. She didn't feel well to be honest; she felt awful in fact, and Toushirou snapping at her just made it worse. Was it selfish of her if she just wanted to have some peace right now? The fever must have been really getting her, because the desire of crying was certainly not something she would welcome if she was on the right state of her mind.

Realizing what he'd just done, Toushirou looked at Karin guiltily. He covered his eyes with a hand, then ran it on his hair. He exhaled deeply.

"I'm sorry," he said, gentler. When Karin didn't reply, he continued, "I'm just really worried, Karin. And, you have to listen to me."

Feeling really tired, Karin just nodded as if to say she got it. Although, no single statement from Toushirou was understood, what with everything around her starting to look and sound weird.

"C'mon. I don't think you're in condition to walk all the way there. I'll just carry you." Without leaving a room for an answer, Toushirou bent down, his back facing her.

Karin was still uncertain, but knew better than to argue with him again. He'd seriously got mad at her earlier and she didn't already want to fan the flames. Perhaps, it was also because she wasn't feeling well, Karin stooped down to him without any more words. She pressed herself on his back and wrapped her arms over his shoulders.

Toushirou stood up and held her upper legs to still her position.

"Toushirou..." Karin mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I don't know." And she didn't. She didn't know why she apologized to him, much as she didn't understand why she felt so comfortable on her position that sleep seemed to be very inviting. There was no doubt that she was on the state of oddity, because of her temperature hitting high, when she nuzzled her head on his neck and whispered, "You smell so nice, Toushirou."

On the corner of his eyes, Toushirou watched as her head rested on his shoulder and she fell asleep.

"Karin, you idiot," he muttered before he started walking with the sleeping Karin on his back, "Stop worrying me so much, will you?"

xx

The look that the head school nurse gave when Toushirou brought Karin in there didn't go unnoticed by Toushirou.

Kotetsu Isane, the head school nurse, watched with much more interest than necessary as Toushirou settled Karin on the closest bed.

"Fever," Toushirou answered before Isane could ask, "Can you please look after her until all my morning classes are done? I'll be back by then."

"Of course, Hitsugaya-kun."

There was just something on the way Isane smiled that made Toushirou frown.

"Really, whatever Urahara-sensei says about me are not true, Kotetsu-san," Toushirou said.

Isane laughed silently. "He only says he often finds you watching Karin-san every time she plays soccer."

Toushirou looked at her dubiously.

"Well, he might have also said that he thought you've already grown fond of her," Isane added, looking at the sleeping Karin, "And it's not as if, he was only bluffing, right? You are worrying too much about her." Isane smiled knowingly. "Don't worry I will take care of your Karin-chan, Hitsugaya-kun."

"It's not like what you think."

Isane's smile didn't waver. "But you like her, don't you?"

Words were not needed to be spoken for the rosy tint on his face as he looked away was already more than enough as an answer.

xx

On all of his classes that morning, Toushirou's teachers and classmates noticed something about him which was totally unusual. He zoned out for countless times during class discussions. There wasn't anything that could easily distract him on whatever he was doing, but this time, his focus in class was away. And, no one, except him, was aware that the reason was a certain, sick Kurosaki whom he was damn worried about.

Toushirou went straight to the school clinic as soon as his break started and he felt relieved when he saw Karin sitting on bed as he arrived.

"Do you feel better, now?" he asked, placing a hand on Karin's forehead. She still had a fever but not as much as earlier.

"I am perfectly fine." Karin swatted his hand and glared at him.

Toushirou sat on the other side of bed, smiling. "I don't doubt it if you can already act like that again."

Karin stared at him for a moment. "Thank you, I guess," she muttered, avoiding an eye contact with him.

"Pardon?" Toushirou teased.

"I hate you."

"That's not what I heard," he said, smiling still.

Karin, noticing Toushirou's smile, scowled. "Will stop smiling like that?! It's creeping me out!"

"Is it?" Toushirou asked, "Then, I guess I'll keep it."

Karin glared. "Just stop it or I am going to wipe it myself."

The ringing of his phone arrested Toushirou in giving his response. He reached for it in his pocket and when he saw the name of the caller, he smiled.

"Hello, Aimi," he said as soon as he pressed it on his ear.

It was the pure sweetness on his voice that forced Karin to listen on the conversation though she couldn't hear the person on the other line.

"Whatever you want... Yes, I am free on weekend... Okay. Saturday, it is..." Here, Toushirou fondly chuckled. "I love you too, sweetheart. Bye."

The last statement totally caught Karin off guard.

'I love you too, sweetheart.'

The great Hitsugaya Toushirou, known for being too cold sober, just called someone his 'sweetheart.' Was he possessed by a wandering, hopeless romantic spirit? Or was he the one who was sick, truth to be told?

But what needed an explanation the most was the weird feeling Karin got upon hearing those words.

"A-aimi? Special someone?" she blurted out before she could stop herself. It was a quick assumption, she knew. And she didn't want to sound like she gave a damn about his personal life, but that was how every word came out.

Toushirou stared at her as if deciphering her real intention, then he shrugged. "Who knows?"

No sign of admission. But the fact that there wasn't also a little give away of denial didn't assure that Aimi was far from being someone dear to him.

Karin looked away, her mood was starting to drop for uncertain reason. She didn't already like that Aimi, even if she hadn't met her yet. And no, she wasn't jealous, she just didn't like her. There wasn't a reason for her to feel jealous, was there? Unless, she liked the guy sitting near her. Something which was very unlikely. The idea itself was very absurd.

"Ah, Karin?"

"Now what?!"

Toushirou blinked, confused by her reaction. What was with this woman and all her mood swings?

"You're mad again," he stated the obvious.

Karin huffed. "No, I am not."

"You are. What did I do now?"

"Nothing! Why don't you just go to that Aimi of yours and leave me alone!"

The truth was unchanged. Karin wasn't jealous. Nope. Never.