The Element Of You: Chapter Seven

Yuzu was dragging herself tiredly to downstairs. It was now four o'clock and someone was knocking very impatiently on her door. "I'm coming! I'm coming!" she yelled angrily. She was wearing her baby blue pajama pants and bright yellow top. Over her shoulders she had light brown scarf to keep herself warm. Yuzu walked to her door and asked "Who's there?"

"Yuzu, it's me Karin. Please open the door." Yuzu heard her sister's pleading. Yuzu opened the door slowly and was surprised when Karin threw herself into her twin's arms. Yuzu closed the door and allowed Karin to cry into her chest. "Karin-chan? What happened?" Yuzu asked and patted her sister's midnight black hair.

Karin pulled away and revealed her teary eyes. She was still wearing those clothes she had picked up after she had woken up alone in her apartment. She had dried up after the cold shower and left right away. Now Karin's mind was so messed up that she needed to talk to someone. Yuzu looked at her sister and took her arm. She lead Karin to the living room and sat her on the couch. Seeing her twin like this was so confusing. Karin was always so strong and full of life, but now she looked so vulnerable and scared that even a tine breeze could break her. Yuzu sat next to her sister and took her arms in hers. "Tell me. What happened?" Yuzu asked sounding like a mother even if she was still seventeen.

Karin looked at their hands and swallowed. "You remember that guy we ran across two or three days ago?" Karin said quietly.

"You mean that one you tried to beat up?" Yuzu asked.

Karin nodded and continued "That same night, did you felt anything unusual?". Yuzu thought about it for a while and nodded. "What was it that you felt?" Karin asked. She wanted to first make it clear to Yuzu what had happened in these days.

"I felt Ichigo using his energy, a lot, like he was fighting against someone." Yuzu answered. Karin nodded and Yuzu tilted her head in confusion "Who was he fighting with? Was it that guy?". Karin nodded once again. "Why didn't no one tell me?!" Yuzu asked and pulled away.

Karin pulled her hands back and said "Because he didn't cause any problems. Ichi-nii won.". Yuzu relaxed and let Karin continue. "He is an ice bender and his name is Hitsugaya Toushirou. After his and Ichi-nii's fight, I heard from Rukia-nee that they both lost consciousness. I came here to get my key remember?" Yuzu nodded "On my way back to my home I ran across Renji and Rukia, who were trying to come up with an idea where would they put Toushirou. Rukia, being as "nice" as usual, gave him to me. To this day he has been staying in my place and…" Karin stopped.

"And?" Yuzu asked curiously.

"And it has been great. He's a great guy. Maybe too quiet, but that's okay." Karin finished creating a fake smile on her face. She stood up and started walking to the door. Yuzu quickly took a hold of her sister's hand and stopped her. "That's not all, isn't it?" she asked. Karin stared at her sister and her eyes started to fill with tears again. Yuzu pulled her twin into a hug and rubbed her back soothingly.

"Last night we, we… I don't know why I didn't push him away. I like him, but it was too soon!" Karin cried. Yuzu's eyes popped open in shock and she pulled her sister into a tighter hug. Yuzu kept running her hand up and down soothingly along Karin's back until she stopped crying. Karin pulled away and looked at her feet.

Yuzu placed a finger under her sister's chin and lifted her look to her face. "You're gonna have to talk to him. You can't avoid it, I hope you know it. If he cares about you, he will understand. I am gonna come with you, okay? We'll face him together. But now were both gonna go back to sleep and you'll stay here, understand?" Yuzu smiled to her twin and wiped the last tears away from her cheeks. Karin returned the smile and hugged her.

"Thanks Yuzu. You're the best." she said smiling.

Matsumoto was looking now very depressed Toushirou who was sitting against the wall. She had listened his story about his fight against Ichigo, his unpleasant encounter with Hinamori and his very confusing relationship with Karin. Matsumoto tried to move, but she winced. Fucking rib, heal faster! she thought angrily. She looked at Toushirou again who had his legs pressed against his chest and his chin on them. He wasn't looking at anything just staring the floor and thinking.

"What are you gonna do now?" Matsumoto asked him.

Toushirou blinked quickly and looked at her without lifting his chin. "I dunno. I mean, I know I'm gonna have to face her eventually and talk to her, but I don't know what to say to her." he said.

"You could start saying that you're sorry. You left her alone after you guys had sex. It really wasn't nicely done." Matsumoto said and looked at him disappointedly.

Toushirou shrugged and said "Yea, I know. But after hearing that you're here and wounded, I needed to know how badly."

"Aww, that was a kind thing to do." Matsumoto said smiling lovely. Toushirou shrugged and stood up and turned. "Where you're going?" Matsumoto asked curiously.

"I'm gonna go now and talk to Karin." Toushirou answered and opened the door. To Toushirou's horror he was greeted with a punch to his face. He collapsed on the floor and yelled in anger "What the hell is wrong with you all?".

"My, my, I should have asked that from you, shouldn't I?" said a man holding a cane. Toushirou looked up and saw a tall man with strange dark green clothing and a hat. He had a blond hair and the hat was covering his eyes. The man lifted Toushirou up by his shirt and asked "Who are you and why did you break my shop's door?"

So he's the shopkeeper Urahara Kisuke, Toushirou thought looking at his face. The man released him and dropped him on the floor. "Well? I asked you a question, didn't I?" Urahara asked.

"I'm Hitsugaya Toushirou, a friend of Matsumoto's. And for the last time, I didn't break your door. A man named Kurokari Ichigo threw me in." Toushirou answered.

Urahara laughed and lifted his hat to reveal his eyes. "But it was you who were used as a tool to break the door, weren't you?" he stated. Toushirou shrugged to his comment and looked at wooden the floor.

Urahara walked to Matsumoto and looked at her. "How's your rib?" he asked. Matsumoto smiled at him and placed both her hands onto her stomach "It's okay. But I am so hungry."

Urahara raised an eye brow and asked curiously "Again?". Matsumoto nodded which made Urahara sigh deeply. "Ururu?" he called. The sad looking black haired woman named Ururu appeared to the door and bowed. "Could you be so kind and bring miss Matsumoto more food?" Urahara asked his smile as creepy as usual. Ururu looked at Matsumoto confusingly, but nodded and left. Toushirou walked to the door "See ya Matsumoto." he said and left. Before he was too far away he heard Matsumoto yelling at him "Good luck!".

It was now nine o'clock and Rukia was lying on her back on the couch in their living room. She was reading a magazine and had her cell phone on the coffee table. After every page she read she lifted her look from the magazine to her cell and back. It was clear that Rukia was waiting a call. She dropped the magazine onto her lap and sighed in boredom. This is so fucking frustrating! she thought and lifted herself up. Rukia threw the magazine on the coffee table and grabbed the tiny grey phone into her small hands. He must be doing this on purpose! He knows how impatient I can be! she thought angrily and felt like freezing the phone back to the ice age. Rukia walked into the kitched and placed the phone on the dining table. She took a glass from a cabinet and put ice cold water in it from the tap. She sat on a chair around the kitchen table placed the glass full of water in front of her.

Rukia started to play with the water by turning it to ice and then melting it back to water. I am so bored when he's not around. I can't believe I'm so addicted to his presence, she thought and kept playing with the water. Suddenly the phone started beeping and Rukia quickly grabbed the cell, same time pushing the glass over. She sighed in relief and saw that the glass was full of ice. Rukia pushed the green button and answered "What took you so long?" she said sounding angry.

She heard chuckling from the phone "Sorry." Ichigo said. Rukia put the phone on the table and place the speaker on. She placed the glass above the sink and melted the ice back to water. After pouring the water away she placed the now empty glass on the table and said "Well? What did Yuzu want?". She heard Ichigo sighing "I thought it was nothing important but Yuzu just ranted me about why I haven't told her about Toushirou and stuff.". Rukia blinked in confusion and asked "That's odd. Why did she do that?". Ichigo just shrugged and then remembered that Rukia couldn't see him, so he said "You tell me. I was as surprised as you are. Karin was also there but she didn't even look at me. When I asked what was wrong she closed herself into her room and Yuzu said she was upset about something.". Rukia was now messed up by the twin's behavior "I don't understand. Was she crying or something?" she asked.

Rukia gasped in horror and dropped the phone when she felt someone tapping on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Ichigo standing behind her, smirking at her. "Don't you ever scare me like that, you idiot." she ranted at him angrily. "Nice see you too." Ichigo said and gave her a chaste kiss on her lips. Rukia shrugged and lifted her phone up. She placed it on the kitchen table and stood up. Turning to look at Ichigo she asked "So answer my question? What the hell was wrong with them?". Ichigo leaned against the sink and sighed "I dunno. After seeing Karin like that Yuzu just pushed me out of the house and changed he personality back to miss sunshine.". Rukia walked in front of him and placed one hand on the place where his heart was. "You're gonna go back there aren't ya?" she asked leaning against his body. Ichigo placed his both hands onto her small waist and kissed her head. "Yea. I just want to make sure what was wrong with them?" he said into her hair. Rukia nodded into his chest and breathed in his scent. He smells always so nice, she thought happily.

Karin and Yuzu were eating breakfast around the table. The atmosphere in the kitchen was heavy. Yuzu took a bite of her toast and looked at her twin who was almost same time sleeping and sitting up. Karin didn't got any sleep after talking with Yuzu. Her muscled were still a bit weak, but her walking didn't wobble anymore. Karin twirled the spoon in her cereals but didn't eat. She didn't want to. Yuzu felt bad and scared seeing her twin like this. "You're thinking about him, aren't you?" Yuzu asked and looked at her twin. Karin was taken aback by her sister's question and she asked confusingly "What are you implying?". Yuzu shrugged and said smiling innocently "I know you're mad at him, probably furious, but you also said you like him. Am I right?".

Karin blushed and looked away "So? What if I was?". Yuzu giggled and kept the innocent look on her face. "I was right." she stated happily humming. Karin looked confusingly at her sister "Right about what?" she asked curiously. Yuzu shook her head in negative and took the dished in her slender hands. She placed them in the sink and hummed some silly song. "Oi, tell me! What were you right about?" Karin asked impatiently. Yuzu turned to look at her sister and clapped her hands together. She shook once again her head in negative "It isn't nothing important." she said stickin her tongue at her. Karin took her cereal bowl into her hands and walked to her twin. She poured her unfinished breakfast into the trash and placed her now empty bowl into the sink with her sister's dishes. Karin placed her hands on her hips and looked demandingly at her innocently smiling twin. She nudged lightly Yuzu and asked "Seriously tell me. I really wanna know." Yuzu finally stopped her silly smiling and looked at her sister "I was right about this: You have a huge crush on him. Each time you spoke about him, about how great he is or how good looking he is, you always blushed like a silly teenage girl who has her first crush on some stupid celebrity." Yuzu stated and saw Karin blushing once again. "See? And each time you think about him, it feels like talking to empty walls 'cos you don't answer." Yuzu continued her little speech which only made Karin blush even more.

"And so what if I like him? I already admitted it, didn't I?" she asked sounding irritated. Yuzu nodded and asked "When do you wanna talk to him?". Karin looked at Yuzu and shrugged "I dunno. I don't even know what to say to him. Yell at him? About what? I'm just so fucking confused and messed up right now!" she yelled in panic and hugged herself. Yuzu hugged her twin and rubbed her back soothingly. "From what I have heard from you about him, he isn't horrible. He'll listen you if you want. And I'm sure he's just as confused as you are right now." Yuzu whispered into her sister's ear. "Then why did he left me alone?" Karin asked fighting against tears. What'll I answer to that?! Yuzu thought in panic. When Karin didn't demand an answer from her, she let it be.

After Karin was able to keep her tears away she pulled away from Yuzu and smiled a bit "I am so weak and pathetic, aren't I?" she asked laughing half-heartedly. "It's understandable why you're acting like this. Don't worry, it'll pass in time. Soon you'll be like you used to be: the loudmouthed young woman who'll stand behind her opinions and thoughts." Yuzu said smiling. Karin laughed and said "Yea, loudmouthed. That's a perfect word to describe me, isn't it?".

"No! That's not what I meant! I meant that you're..." Yuzu said in panic. "It's okay, doesn't matter." Karin interrupted her twin and smiled. Yuzu nodded and started washing the dishes.

Karin walked into her old room and closed the door behind her. She walked to a mirror which showed her whole form. Karin looked at her now sad looking face and her open messy jet black hair. Karin took a brush from her bedside table and started brushing her hair while looking herself from the mirror. Her big, baggy and black T-shirt was hanging on her and her also black leggings were covering her long slim legs perfectly. Karin kept brushing her hair and thought, What am I gonna do about this fucking mess?, and placed the brush on her lap. She sighed in frustration and stood up, same time dropping the hair brush on the floor. She walked into the kitchen and found Yuzu putting now clean dishes back in the cabinets. Karin swallowed and walked behind her twin. Yuzu turned around after she had put the dishes away and asked "Karin-chan what's wrong?". Karin looked at her twin and bowed her head "Yuzu, I am sorry but I want to talk to him alone. It'll only be very awkward to you and…".

Yuzu took her sister's hands in hers and shook her head "Don't. I was just going to come there if you needed me as support, but you don't so it's okay. And you're right it would be kinda awkward for me to be there when you two are yelling or talking about your last night together and stuff. So it's okay." Yuzu said and released Karin's hands. Karin nodded in agreement and said "Thanks Yuzu. Changing the subject, how's your relationship with Jinta going?". Yuzu blushed as deep red as a tomato and poked her tongue out "None of your business!" she said and smirked. Karin laughed and walked to the exit door. She put her shoes on and pulled her hair up in a ponytail. She looked herself from a tiny mirror on the wall and smiled to her now more happier face. "Good luck." Yuzu said softly and leaned against the kitchen's door frame. Karin nodded and opened the door to take her leave.

Toushirou had arrived back to Karin's apartment about an hour ago and was shocked when he didn't found Karin there. He searched the whole tiny apartment and was now lying on the couch on his back. I am so dead, I am so dead, I am so dead, he thought over and over again. Karin flas stepped in front of her apartment's door and walked in. She had felt his could presence form far outside and her stomach was full of butterflies. I hope I am not gonna throw up, she thought and placed her hand on her stomach. She walked into her living room and was suddenly welcomed by a gentle hug. Toushirou breathed her scent in and out and said "I'm sorry.". Karin pulled herself free from his arms and took a few steps away from him. When he took a step forward she place one hand in front of her and said "Don't come any closer. Don't you dare.". Her eyes were under her hair and Toushirou thought she was crying. She lifted her gaze to his eyes and he saw only confusion in them. "Tell me something. What do I mean to you? I mean why the fuck are you still here?" she asked sounding pissed off, a lot.

"Pardon?" he asked and backed away few steps. "Just answer the question?!" Karin yelled and created a fire ball into her right hand.

Toushirou shook his head in negative and sighed "I dunno. My head's so messed up right now." he said and took a step closer to her. Karin aimed the fire ball at him and threatened "One more step and I'll fire this.". He backed away and said "I could ask the same question from you, what do I mean to you? If you didn't want me yesterday why didn't you just push me away. Then we wouldn't be in this shitty situation!". Karin was taken aback by his question and comment that she lowered her hand away from him and she extinguished the fire away from her hand. She laughed half-heartedly and looked at her feet. "We're an odd pair, aren't we?" she stated. Toushirou shrugged and took a step closer to her. When she didn't do anything he walked close enough to her and pulled her into his arms. Karin gasped in shock and placed her face against his chest. She returned the hug and placed her hands around his lower back. Toushirou kissed the top of her head and placed his chin on her head. "We are. But that's okay to me." he said in a low voice. Karin nodded against his chest and agreed "It's okay to me too, if…".

"If?" he asked and kept her still in his arms. "If you'll tell me two things. One, why don't want to go back to your home and to your friends? And two, why did you leave?" she asked sounding hurt. He pulled her closer to him and answered "One, I don't want go back, because there's nothing for me. I grew tired of their rules and had always been interested about this side of the border. And last Saturday I just left, just like that.". Karin nodded and was starting to drift to sleep in his hold, but managed to ask without yawning "What about my second question? Why did you left me?". Toushiou sighed "When I woke up in last night you're phone beeped. It was your brother. I didn't want to wake you up so I answered" Karin's eyes popped open in confusion and she started squirming in his arms to get free. Toushirou pulled her back and continued "As I said it was your brother. He was just as confused about why it was me and not you to answer your phone as you're now. He told me that a friend of mine came here to look for me and got wounded when she attacked against some air bender"

Renji! Karin thought and started squirming again but was quickly pulled back to his chest "Will you stop that squirming and listen. Your brother escorted me to her. She's at that Urahara's shop and two of her ribs are broken." Karin lifted her look to him and asked "Who is she?".

"Her name is Matsumoto Rangiku. She's probably the most annoying person this planet, but she's also a very close friend to me." he answered and smiled to her. He should really smile more often, Karin thought and placed her head back against his chest. "So you left me 'cos you needed to see that she was okay?" she asked sounding a bit jealous. "Yes, and I'm sorry about that. Even Matsumoto ranted to me about that." Toushirou said. Karin nodded and yawned suddenly. She blushed like hell and pulled away. Toushirou chuckled at her which made her blush more. "You're tired?" he asked smirking. Karin placed a lock of her midnight black hair behind her ear and nodded "After I woke up alone I couldn't get anymore sleep." she said looking at her feet. Hearing her said that made him bow his head in shame. Karin leaned back to him and lifted his face up to look at her. She cupped his both cheeks and placed a light kiss on his lips. When she pulled away she took his hand in hers and made a suggestion with another yawning "I'm gonna take a nap, you wanna join me?". Toushirou looked into her onyx eyes and gave her a chaste kiss on her lips. He nodded and let Karin take him to her room. Karin quickly drifted into sleep. She was in his strong arms, feeling safe, her face in his chest and her small hands around his waist. Theirs both legs were wrapped together. His other leg was between hers while the other one was under her legs. Toushirou looked at her peaceful sleeping face in wonder. His other hand was under his head, because he had thrown the pillow away, while the other was loosely around her lower back. She's a puzzle, he thought and closed his eyes.

Hinamori walked along the streets. She welcomed the sun's warm rays to her smiling happy face. She noticed a beautiful violet next to the street. How is it possible that there's a flower growing next to a cement road without grass or water? Hinamori wondered and kneeled next to it. She touched its beautiful petals and smiled as it wobbled lightly because of the warm breeze. She stood up and continued her walking. Hinamori was anxiously waiting for the end of this week. By then she had beaten the life out of Karin. Hinamori hated her, more than anything. Karin had stolen her best friend's heart. Hinamori was so happy when Toushirou defended her, but when he demanded her to leave him alone and not to come back she didn't know him anymore. The Toushirou she knew didn't ever push her away and for that she can only thank that bitch Karin. Hinamori bit her lip and tried to control her anger. I'll make her pay! she thought angrily. "Good afternoon miss Hinamori!" Hinamori cooled down her anger quickly and saw a smiling face of Kyouraku and behind him his always as stern looking secretary Ise Nanao.

"G-good morning!" Hinamori said and bowed. Nanao pushed her glasses higher and looked away. She's as impolite as usual, Hinamori thought and smiled innocently as she lifted her look up again. Nanao was wearing khakis and a white T-shirt. She had her hair as usually pulled up in a bun and had black high heels. Kyouraku saw his secretary's face and nudged her lightly on the shoulder. Nanao looked angrily at him and stamped down on his foot making him yell in pain. "Shit! Nanao-chan why are you so mean to me?" he whined and took a hold of his foot.

"Keep your dirty hands off me." she said in a low angry voice. Kyouraku laughed and placed his foot back on the ground. He looked at Hinamori who was day dreaming. He snapped his fingers in front of her and she gasped in shock. "What the…?" she asked in panic and realized where she was. Kyouraku chuckled and said "You're too young to start day dreaming Hinamori.". Hinamori smiled and bowed to them. Nanao was staring at Hinamori disrespectfully. "I am sorry so much. I haven't been sleeping well." Hinamori said in shame. Nanao pushed her glasses once again higher and said "For a young woman like you should keep better care of yourself.". Who is she to tell me that? Hinamori thought furiously and looked at Nanao, she nodded in agreement and created a fake smile on her face. Kyouraku sighed and pulled his angry secretary next to him. "We will be on our way now. It was nice to see you Hinamori, good day." Kyouraku said and started pulling angry yelling Nanao behind him.

After they had disappeared from her sight, Hinamori continued her walking. She suddenly heard her cell phone beeping. She looked at the screen and read the text. She smiled in satisfaction after she had read it and placed the cell back in her pocket.

"We will start in 48 hours. Sincerely, Aizen Sousuke."