A/N If ever there is a day to expect updates from me, it's gonna be Mondays. I've got three classes with three hours between them, and parking's a stone biotch, so it's not worth it for me to go home between classes. Updates on any other days are flukes. Or I was really, really bored.
I've upped the rating to T because of some violence and a single curse word. I always stay on the safe side with ratings. If I'm torn between two, I pick the higher one. But T is the highest it's going, don't worry.
Kudos to reader238 and Chillis for getting my exam question right. Denotation is the literal definition and connotation is the psychological or emotional meaning. So if you ever take psycholinguistics, you know you'll ace at least one of the midterm questions.
I also just wanted to mention something I've changed in my profile. For those of you who've seen it, you know that I said I review all of my reviewers. I've changed that. That was my policy when I first started posting on fanfiction, and it worked then. But I have considerably more work to do now than I did then (and there were less people here!) and some of you have really long fics, and I always read the entire thing before reviewing. So, if you have a fic that you really want my opinion on, please feel free to PM me. Otherwise, I probably won't read it.
One last thing, I promise. A lot of you leave questions for me in your reviews, and then apologize for asking. Never be sorry for asking a question. I have a very organic writing style. I don't plan things out ahead of time, so you might ask a question I'd never even considered, and it might spark some idea for the story. The same goes for school, too. I can't count how many times I thought I understood the material, and someone asks the prof a question, and I'm like, "Oh yeah, I didn't get that either." Never be afraid to ask questions and never apologize for it.
Okay, off my soap box now. Sorry for the long author's note! And I'm not gonna write the disclaimer anymore. It takes too much effort, and if you didn't catch it yet, you aren't gonna. It remains for the rest of the fic.
It was the next morning at breakfast that the students got their schedules. Some people were happier about it than others. "Toshirou!" Karin ran over to the white-haired captain sitting at the Slytherin table. "Did you see, Toshirou? We've got Transfiguration together."
One of the Slytherins opened his mouth to say something that probably wasn't altogether complimentary, but shut it quickly at an icy glance from Hitsugaya. The Shinigami had already earned a reputation among the Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle had found Hitsugaya's Soul Candy, and had been about to eat it, when the diminutive captain had casually flipped them both on their backs. They of course didn't know that it had been for their own good.
"And I've got Herbology with Yuzu," Karin continued, obliviously. "What about you, Toshirou?" And she snatched Hitsugaya's schedule up without giving him time answer. He let her- it was easier than responding.
"Oh dear, so that's what smells."
Malfoy- flanked by Crabbe and Goyle- had approached Hitsugaya and Karin. Hitsugaya had been aware of their approach but hadn't said anything. He knew Karin could take care of herself.
"I know Gryffindors aren't the brightest bunch, but honestly, to not know where your own table is? That's hitting a new low."
Karin looked up from Hitsugaya's schedule scowling. "Ne, Toshirou, is this guy a friend of your's?"
"Not at all."
Malfoy didn't seem to like that answer. He was used to Slytherins deferring to him and fawning over him. It was a privilege to be his friend. "Nor would I associate with a Mudblood-lover," he sneered.
But to the surprise of the Slytherins, Karin laughed. "What was that?" She looked at Hitsugaya. "Did he just call me a Mudblood?"
"I believe so."
Karin laughed harder. "What does that even mean? It sounds ridiculous."
Malfoy looked stunned. "It's, ah, an insult," he said lamely.
Karin shook her head, still laughing. "We've both got the afternoon off, Toshirou. Meet me by the lake?"
Hitsugaya nodded. "All right."
Malfoy tried to save himself a modicum of dignity by turning on his heel and leaving, but Karin's laughter reached him even as she headed back to the Gryffindor table.
Hitsugaya was ready to turn to his breakfast and eat in peace when Urahara swooped down on him. "Shiro-chan!" the blonde man said happily. With difficulty, Hitsugaya willed his eyebrow not to twitch. "I'm afraid I have to leave today Shiro-chan. You won't be scared without me, will you?"
Don't twitch, don't twitch, Hitsugaya thought without replying.
Urahara clapped him on the shoulder and leaned forward. "Watch out for that Umbridge character," he whispered in the captain's ear, in a rare moment of seriousness. But it was gone just as quickly as it came. Urahara straightened up. "Ukitake-san gave me this for you. He said it was your favorite kind and would make you feel less homesick, Shiro-chan." Urahara handed Hitsugaya a bag of candy.
Hitsugaya lost the battle with his eyebrow as it twitched uncontrollably.
*****
The day had been uneventful- Herbology and History of Magic- and Hitsugaya headed out to meet Karin. He saw her talking to a knot of other students, a soccer ball under her arm, but she broke off and waved to Hitsugaya when she saw him. "Toshirou! Over here!" But she was impatient as ever and jogged over to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the group. "We're gonna play soccer, Toshirou. Some of them have never heard of it- can you imagine!- but they said they'd try it out. You will play with us, won't you Toshirou?"
Hitsugaya's first instinct was to say no. After all, he was not a social person. But if this became a regular occurrence, it would become a simple way to keep his eye on Karin. Besides, he really didn't have anything better to do. "All right."
"Isn't he from Slytherin?"
Hitsugaya looked at the tall red-head who'd spoken. The redhead met his gaze defiantly. "We don't hang with Malfoy's ilk."
"Ron…" Hermione started placatingly. "If he's Karin's friend he's welcome here." She gave Hitsugaya a friendly smile, which faltered when Hitsugaya didn't return it.
"Toshirou plays soccer really well," Karin said. She tugged on Hitsugaya's hand. "Ne, Toshirou?"
"If you say," was his only reply.
"Hey, Harry," George said with a grin, "you'd better be careful or a Slytherin will steal your girlfriend."
With infinite precision, Karin kicked her soccer ball into George's stomach. Fred only laughed at his twin's predicament.
It eased the tension, and once both twins could breathe again, Karin and Dean started explaining soccer to the group.
Hitsugaya stood off to the side. He knew if it wasn't for Karin, he wouldn't be welcome there, but it didn't bother him. Not at all. His strange appearance, icy personality, and intelligence rarely made him friends. But he had the unquestioning loyalty of his squad, and that was all that mattered. Really.
One of the others moved to stand near him. Hitsugaya pretended not to notice.
"It's rare for a Gryffindor and a Slytherin to be friends," Harry said softly. "We're normally at each other's throats."
"I'd figured as much."
"But the Sorting Hat was right." Harry's eyes darkened. "We're all in danger and we need to stick together to fight it. I didn't think I'd ever say that to a Slytherin."
Hitsugaya said nothing, but he understood. Harry Potter had been mentioned often in the common room, and never in pleasant terms.
"But Karin doesn't seem the type to be friends with someone- well, someone like most Slytherins. So I'm willing to give you a chance. Not that that will win you many friends, anyway."
Hitsugaya snorted. "I'm not looking for friends." He cast a sideways glance at Harry. "The Sorting Hat gave some good advice. You're right to listen to it."
Something wasn't right. Hitsugaya could feel it suddenly. His hollow detector was quiet, but Hitsugaya wasn't Soul Society's youngest captain for nothing. He turned to Harry abruptly, and whatever the young wizard had been about to say died on his lips. "Get inside," Hitsugaya ordered. "Get everyone inside!"
All the other students had heard him, and looked at him with surprise. "Now! Get Dumbledore!"
Karin seemed to be the only one who understood, and started pushing people towards the school. But they were confused and a little bit angry. They seemed to think Hitsugaya was pulling a prank on them.
It was too late anyway. Hitsugaya's hollow detector chirped, and a hollow roared as it broke through the trees of the Forbidden Forest.
"Shinigami," the hollow moaned turning towards Hitsugaya. It was unpleasant thing, like all hollow. It was large and green, with writhing tentacles, like some sort of living plant. It's white mask sat in the middle of the tentacles.
Hitsugaya popped a piece of Soul Candy in his mouth and stepped out of his gigai, feeling a moment of relief when Hyorinmaru bumped against his back.
Trusting the mod soul to take care of his gigai, Hitsugaya flashed stepped away from the group of students. If the hollow was after him, then it was best to get away from noncombatants quickly.
The hollow managed to anticipate Hitsugaya's flash step, though, and was turned to face Hitsugaya when the captain reappeared.
"It's been so long since I tasted the soul of a Shinigami," the thing moaned again, lashing at Hitsugaya with a single tentacle.
Hitsugaya dodged it easily, and drew his zanpakuto, slicing the tentacle neatly off. The hollow howled in pain, but Hitsugaya didn't relax. If the hollow had defeated Shinigami, then the minor injury wouldn't even slow it down.
The hollow was enraged now and started attacking Hitsugaya from all sides with everyone of its tentacles. But using shunpo, Hitsugaya easily parried or dodged them, even managing to slice off a few more. He frowned to himself. This was too easy. The hollow must have something else up its sleeve if it had defeated other Shinigami.
Something whistled past Hitsugaya's head, and he turned to see a soccer ball surrounded in reiatsu knock one of the detached tentacles out of the air, just as a second one pierced his shoulder.
Hitsugaya's shoulder screamed in pain, but he ignored it. The hollow, angry at the interference, had turned its attention to Karin, and Hitsugaya noticed with a start that some of the other students were still there as well, staring at the hollow with their mouths open.
Time to end this quickly, Hitsugaya thought to himself.
I quite agree, Toshirou, a voice like an icy wind said in Hitsugaya's mind.
"Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyorinmaru!"
The ice dragon sprouted from Hitsugaya's katana, and hit the hollow squarely in the middle of its mask. The hollow split in half with one last roar and then dissolved.
*****
Hitsugaya held his shoulder, his zanpakuto dangling from his hand. It was bleeding badly, and Hitsugaya cursed himself for allowing a hollow to injure him. He'd underestimated it, and it had cost him. But the wound- though bloody and painful- was minor and would heal nicely in his gigai.
He made his way towards Karin and the three students who had stayed- Harry Potter and the Weasley twins. Hitsugaya wondered if the others could see the hollow as well, or if these three were the only ones with a strong enough reiatsu. They were currently staring at the spot where the hollow had been when Hitsugaya had purified it.
The other students, along with Hitsugaya's gigai, were gone, presumably to safety.
"Is anyone hurt?" he asked quietly of Karin since she seemed to be the only one not shell-shocked by the experience.
She shook her head. "It didn't come near us. It was only after you, Toshirou."
"I'm fine," he said, even as he bled through his fingers. "Thanks to you," he added. If she hadn't taken care of one of the tentacles, he would have two holes in him. Probably in more critical spots.
It was then that Dumbledore came running, followed by Ron, Hermione, Hitsugaya's gigai, and rather dismayingly, Umbridge.
"Toshirou! What happened?" Dumbledore asked as he came to a stop in front of Hitsugaya. The headmaster's blue eyes were worried as they took in Hitsugaya's bloody shoulder and the zanpakuto- now in its unreleased form- in his hand.
Umbridge coughed delicately. "Professor Dumbledore, who are you talking to?" She looked pointedly at Hitsugaya's gigai, which was standing behind Dumbledore. Clearly, she couldn't see Hitsugaya in his Shinigami form. Neither could Ron or Hermione, judging by their own confused looks, but they stayed silent.
"Hollow," Hitsugaya said simply as he walked past Dumbledore to his gigai. It seemed he had a responsible mod soul, for once. It was good to know that Hitsugaya could count on it in a pinch.
The pain in Hitsugaya's shoulder dulled immediately when he entered the gigai. Let it never be said that Urahara did shoddy work.
Dumbledore turned to face him now. Hitsugaya knew he had to give an answer to the question in Dumbledore's question within Umbridge's hearing, but he was reluctant to tell her the truth. He remembered Urahara's warning, and although the former captain might come across as laid-back and rather ridiculous, he was nothing if not sharp.
"I had a- bad feeling. Like something dangerous was coming," was what Hitsugaya finally said. He had to swallow his pride to say the next, "It really scared me. But it's gone now."
Umbridge sniffed. "I didn't know you pampered your students so, Dumbledore. You come running just because one of your students is a little jumpy?" And again, that terrible giggle. "I'd have thought Slytherins were made of stronger stuff."
Hitsugaya had to turn away so that Umbridge wouldn't see his fury. But it was a good thing for her that he couldn't draw Hyorinmaru in his gigai, because his fingers itched to.
"Well, there is a reason the Forbidden Forest is forbidden, Dolores. It's entirely possible something got close to the edge of the forest, and that's what frightened the students." Dumbledore's voice was almost apologetic, as if he knew what this ruse was costing Hitsugaya. "I'll have a look around, just to be sure."
"Well, I can't stop you from wasting your time, Dumbledore, but I have classes to prepare for." She turned to leave, but only Hitsugaya heard the last bit she muttered under her breath, "Doddering old fool."
Dumbledore waited until she was out of sight- presumably to make sure she wasn't in earshot, but really to allow Hitsugaya's anger to calm. "Toshirou," he said gently. "Are you all right?"
"The gigai will help me heal." Urahara had made it with this very scenario in mind, it seemed. Hitsugaya could feel the healing kidou working. It was slight, but it would allow the wound to heal even more quickly. "Have you ever had hollow attacks before?"
"No. The school's protections kept them at bay."
And hollows generally didn't like food that fought back. Except for those with a taste for Shinigami souls. "It had defeated Shinigami before, so it was stronger than the others. It came for me."
"Err, Professor Dumbledore," Ron spoke up, "excuse me, but what the hell is going on here?"
Review Responses:
Nefarious Seraph 13: They won't have familiars. That's just adding more trouble, and I started this fic to relax me, not add stress. ^_^ I have thought about their wands, but I'm not going to say it here, because I might mention it in a later chapter. But PM me if you really want to know! My plans are for this fic to only span one year. There is always the possibility of sequels, but this fic only takes place during fifth year, so no worries. Has Karin been told about Soul Society? I didn't remember that happening, but if it's not some really long psychological term, I can't be sure. And I've read all of HP and seen all of Bleach (episode 242). I haven't read the manga or seen the HP movies (minus the first).
reader238: Well it wasn't at Malfoy, but your comment gave me the idea for it in the hollow fight, so thanks!
Xandre: No worries, lol. I had a textbook and a lecture on it. I was just wondering if anyone else knew. (And Urahara's coming back, no worries. *shhhhh*)
Chillis: Thanks! I know they never mention it, but I just couldn't see Karin allowing gossip. It's not her style. And it was a good way to introduce her to Harry & Co.
kuaispeed: Yeah, I was just too lazy to look it up, lol. And I hope you like the George/Karin interaction in this chapter. You gave me the idea for it. And I saw 241, but I don't remember Hyorinmaru making a funny, but I did have a midterm and three quizzes last week. If it's not inductive generalization or morphology or the psychology of sex offenders, it probably leaked out my ear. Remind me?
missyJuliette: Friends? Possibly. Probably. Most likely. It'd be too hard to have the HP crew in the fic otherwise. ^_^
anaime7: Thanks! I hope to be able to continue it, lol.
