7. Joke, Truth

He wasn't sure. He didn't know what he was doing at the roof of their division barracks, sitting and bailing himself out of the works in the office. Perhaps, he could hold the dark-haired woman, who was sitting next to him, liable for that.

Tōshirō sighed, glancing to his side. Karin seemed to be very much delighted as she stuffed some sweets on her mouth. Who would have thought that the girl was fond of those?

"Why am I here again?" He hadn't actually aimed the question to her, but he hadn't been able to realize that he'd blurted it out, loud enough for Karin to hear.

Karin turned to him, and playfully punched his arm. "Gee, enough with being a dead-set-on with your responsibilities, Tōsh. You also need a break. As I always say, lighten up!"

"I still have a lot of paper works to do, Karin. And, aren't you supposed to be training right now?"

"Right, right, Sir. I promised that I'm gonna help you finish your works tomorrow, didn't I?" Karin reasoned out, popping another candy on her mouth. "And as for my training, I don't think I can be productive today. Honōzuki is being uncooperative, y'know?" She frowned. "I do not know where she got that stubbornness of hers."

Tōshirō gave her a look which implied the message 'Are you kidding me?'

"I'm not surprised," he whispered and looked away, hoping that Karin wouldn't hear him, "Like the wielder, like zanpakutō."

Harder this time, the young captain received another punch.

"The hell, Karin! Stop doing that! I might haven't been complaining, but your punches hurt!" he shouted, rubbing his arm. Seriously, the woman could hit.

Pouting, Karin said, "I am not stubborn. Hmpf."

"Right," Tōshirō answered, rolling his eyes, "I can see that."

No one spoke after that. And as though sympathizing with them, their surroundings calmed down into silence.

Karin closed her eyes, appreciating the lack of noise for a while. As Tōshirō brought his gaze back to her, he couldn't help but smile. His eyes softened, holding the endearment which was reserved only for the certain woman beside him.

For some reasons, every time Karin was near him, Tōshirō felt at ease. Karin was the only person who could make him do the things that he wouldn't usually do. Her smile alone was contagious.

Within his heart, Tōshirō knew that Karin was the woman that he'd forever hold dear to him.

The moment Karin opened her eyes, the sun had also decided to call it a day. Unaware of her companion's stare, she grinned, watching the bask fall below horizon. "This is so beautiful."

"Yeah," Tōshirō breathed, his eyes still captivated by the smiling woman next to him. "Really beautiful."

Noticing that there was something off on her friend's tone, Karin looked at Tōshirō. She blinked, seeing how he stared at her.

"Yo." She waved her hand in front of his face. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Coming back to his senses, Tōshirō looked away, and cleared his throat. "Nuh-uh."

Karin grinned, an idea popping on her head. "Tōsh, if you fell in-love with me since you stare too much on my face, I'm surely gonna laugh at you."

That was actually intended to tease him, but as Tōshirō gave her a sidelong glance, Karin concluded that he was not up to any joke.

"Uh-huh," he replied, pulling himself to his feet. Karin's statement wasn't left tabled, as he turned away.

"Then, you can start laughing now."