Wages of Sin
Chapter Six
while Karin kept her vigil over Hitsugaya, Madarame Ikkaku was sleepless for a completely different reason. He ached from head to toe, but that wasn't unusual after one of his fights. What kept him awake was the fact that the impossible had occurred.
There had always been this jealousy he'd had of his Taicho. Yachiru Kusajishi may have been the most annoying pain in the ass alive, but the relationship she had with Zaraki was something he'd wanted. He a Yumichika had been friends for a hundred and some years but as close as they were, there were still boundaries they didn't cross. Most of Soul Society probably thought that he and Ayasegawa were lovers. Because of their rank and squad nobody would say anything to their faces about it though. It had never been true and if they'd bothered to ask both he and Ayasegawa would set anyone straight.
He had been with Mizuho for just over nine years, he thought he had known that it could never be more than physical. He was a ranked Shinigami and she was human, that would always be a boundary between them. Somehow though there was more now, with this child they could be some sort of family. Shaking his head sadly Ikkaku realizes that now would also be a chance for problems. Central 46 wouldn't look too kindly on this situation. He didn't even want to think about what they would do to either of them.
Shaking his head again he realizes he was thinking too much. He also realizes that if any of this got out and Central 46 didn't do something to him his reputation would be in shreds. Rather than the big bad fighter who was ranked highest in Zaraki's squad he would be marked as soft. He would just have to beat heads in if it came to that. Reaching out for Mizuho he finally falls asleep with a small smile on his face.
Trying not to fuss with Toushirou as he lay sleeping fitfully Karin hears a quiet tap on the window glass. Going to the window she sees Urahara-san, that friend if Ichigo's who runs the shop Yuzu always went to. He motions for her to open the window, it was July so it was warm enough Toushirou wouldn't catch a
chill. As soon as the window opens Urahara crawls in and motions for her to close the window. Walking over to the bed he looks Hitsugaya over.
Turning to look speculatively at Karin, Urahara seems to like what he sees.
"Do you want to help him?" asks Urahara quietly, "you could you know. I could show you how."
Looking up Karin just stares, she could help Toushirou?
"How, he needs healing not just medicine." replies Karin.
"You could heal him Karin. You are at least as strong as your brother. You have the will and the strength I have the knowledge. I may not know the higher Kido but even a lesser Kido will work.
"But I'm just a normal human. Ichi-nii got his powers from Rukia-san. I don't have special powers. The Karakura superhero's was a stunt."
" Isshin never told you anything did he?"
"That old goat. Why would he have something to tell me?"
To that Urahara just shakes his head. She had as much potential as Ichigo had started with. Couldn't she feel it? He knew she'd been able to at least interact with spirits for years.
"If you trust me we can heal Hitsugaya. The powers Ichigo has are his own and you have the potential to have those same powers."
"Potential? Does this mean I would become a Shinigami?"
"Good question does it matter one way or another?"
whispering more to herself than Urahara she answers, "he won't last if he isn't healed soon. He might not even last tonight if I don't help him. I love him you know."
Keeping the last bit to himself, he walks over to were Karin is standing and lifts his cane. Karin takes a quick look at it, but before she can do anything more he taps her forehead with it. At the moment of contact Karin has an odd feeling of separation. She's standing both near Urahara as well as collapsed on the floor a heavy chain seemed to connect the two Karin's. It was hard to breath at the beginning, but a few moments later she was breathing normally again.
While she gets used to being in spirit form Urahara props her physical body back in the chair. When she's ready he begins to show her some of the basic healing techniques he'd learned so many years ago.
"Karin, we need to start if you're ready."
"Do you think this will really work Urahara-san?"
"Of course, now I won't teach you any actual Kido spells but a technique where you focus your reiatsu into making his body remember what it was like when he was healthy."
"Spells, why can't you teach me those?"
"It would take to much time to learn and you would have to become a full Shinigami. Now picture a light around your hands. Place your hands over Hitsugaya and imagine the light flowing into him. Also imagine that whatever the light touches repairing itself."
Concentrating on gathering the energy she soon quits noticing Urahara or anything other than the task at hand. Since Ichigo wasn't gonna follow the old man she decided she would. The classes in anatomy were helping now, she could clearly picture what the bones and tissues should look like.
It wasn't a fast task though, time crept by as she set the bones of his ribs. It was easier to work on the internal injuries, but they were more extensive. An hour after true dawn lit the sky the last of the major injuries and several minor ones had been healed. At the end of her energy Karin collapses back into her body. Barely awake she lets Urahara out then passes out leaning against Toushirou's bed.
Karin had a crick in her neck, and someone was playing with her hair. Stretching awake she sees Toushirou trying to sit up in bed. He didn't look like he would be fighting Hollows in the next ten minutes, but he also wasn't about to die either. There was no color in his cheeks as he sits up, but he manages to do it with no help. Looking sheepish Toushirou tells Karin that he needs to relieve himself.
"Karin-san can you help me with something ….delicate?"
"Sure what do you need?"
"I need to ...relieve my self soon or there may be an accident."
"Can you make it to the hall with help or am I gonna need to get something"
Toushirou ponders this for a moment. He felt as weak as milk, but he wasn't sure if he wanted Karin to watch him use a bedpan.
"I think I can make it with help, but it will be a lot of help."
Moving Hitsugaya to the edge of the bed Karin gets the two of them standing. It was hard because of their height difference, but Karin manages to drape Hitsugaya's arm over her shoulder. Half walking half carrying him the manage to get to the door. Hobbling to the little bathroom down the hall Karin and Toushirou manage to get there with out any major mishaps. Getting Toushirou settled Karin asks if he wants anything to eat, at his affirmative she slips out into the hall.
About five minutes later Toushirou finishes and they work their way back to the room he was staying in. Propping him up in the bed Karin goes over to the kitchen to make something for the both of them to eat. While she cooks her sister Yuzu comes in and tells her that Ichigo, Rukia and another guy had checked on Hitsugaya and the said they would be back in a few days.
"Karin-chan, you're awake Ichi-ni said to tell you that he had to leave for a few days. He and Rukia-chan left with that red haired guy."
"Renji...? Did he say where he was going?"
"yeah him, and yeah he said he had to go see Rukia's family."
Walking back with the food Karin understands that Ichigo had left for Soul Society. This worried her a little, especially since everyone had to leave. Reaching Toushirou's room she sets the tray so that both of them could eat. Eating quietly neither of them feel the need to talk. As he finishes though Toushirou begins to fall asleep, so Karin tucks him in and leaves so she could clean up for the day. Luckily she was still out of school for a week long festival, so she could check on Toushirou as often as needed.
AN:sorry about the edit soccer season is in late spring.
