I've been looking forward to this chapter ever since I came up with the idea for this story, and I kind of like how it turned out. I hope you do to :)

Karin stormed down the stairs, wondering what had come over her.

"I'm hurt because he didn't acknowledge me for who I am," she said to herself. "But that would mean I care about who I am. That I'm his wife, not just his traveling companion. But I don't care, do I? And that ridiculousness about the room! Did I really want to stay in his room?" She shook her head in her hands.

"Maybe I will go flirt with some guy in the bar," she thought mischievously. "That'll make him jealous." It struck her that that would mean that she actually wanted to make him jealous, which would in turn mean that she wanted him to care about her. Deciding that thinking too hard would just drive her up the wall, Karin entered the bar and looked around.

It was dusty and dingy and there were peanut shells scattered on the floor. Several groups of men sat around small round tables, playing cards and drinking a pale amber liquid out of large tankers. Karin spotted the man with blue hair who had distracted Yachiru earlier. He was sitting with a friend who had an extremely pale face and eyes that were very similar to Hitsugaya's in color. She recognized their white uniforms instantly. They were among the select few who chose to stay in the army after their required service time was up. This gave them special privileges, like spending money and leave time once a month to go wherever they wanted.

"Perfect," Karin thought slyly. There was no one more willing to talk to a girl than an off-duty soldier. Karin was never one for flirting, but these weren't your average, run-of-the-mill townsfolk. These were bar junkies, and those she could handle.

Karin put on the most sarcastic smile she could muster and sauntered over to them.

"Mind if I join you boys?" she asked pompously, and without waiting for a response, she settled herself down at the table. The pale faced man barely reacted, but the blue haired man was much more animated. He gave her a quick once over and smirked.

"You play poker girl?" he asked, a conniving glint in his eye. Poker? Oh did she play poker. Her father had taught her how to count cards ages ago and she and Ichigo used to play for hours, each trying to outwit the other.

"Grimmjaw, you don't have to be so kind to a simple hussy," his companion said blankly. Grimmjaw glared at him.

"Eh? Who said I was being kind to her Uloquiorra?" he retorted. "I just think playing with someone who isn't you will be a nice change of pace."

"Deal me in!" Karin demanded, slamming her hand down on the table and ignoring the hussy comment. That was exactly what she was being right? Uloquiorra gazed at her a moment, then shrugged.

"As you wish," he replied lazily.

"You ready to lose some cash!?" Grimmjaw challenged, tossing cards around the table. "This is serious business. Poker isn't a kid's game you know." Karin smirked.

"Put your money where your mouth is," she dared. And so they began to play. Karin hadn't lost her touch, and had built up quite an impressive sized pile by the time Hitsugaya entered the bar.

Karin had been waiting for him, wondering how long it would take him to stew in his room before he graced her with his presence. But he didn't even acknowledge her. Instead, he settled down at the bar and grabbed a bowl of peanuts, eating nonchalantly. But Karin knew. He was staring at her like a hawk out of the corner of his eye, and she felt a vindictive pleasure at taunting him.

It became a game of wits. Karin would laugh a little too loudly, push Grimmjaw just a little too playfully, and make comments that were just a little too laced with innuendo, all the while glancing over at Hitsugaya, who made every effort to maintain his indifferent composure and be looking anywhere else when she spied on him. Neither wanted to admit it, but as the evening wore on, their anger at each other subsided to be replaced by amusement, and they actually found that they were enjoying themselves. Not at poker or peanut eating, but at toying with each other, waiting to see who would crack first.

Eventually, Grimmjaw was broke.

"Damn you," he cursed furiously as Karin swept up her winnings. "We'll see if I ever play poker with you again!" Karin offered him a seductive smile.

"What's wrong, Grimm-chan?" she pouted exaggeratedly. "Bitter that you got beaten by a girl?" Grimmjaw scowled. He looked at her, and his expression suddenly changed. He looked like a wolf on the prowl. He leaned towards her, resting his chin on his propped up arm as he stuck his face in hers.

"I'd let you beat me in other ways, if you know what I mean," he said, a gleam in his eye. "You interested? I've got a room not too far from here." Karin felt her stomach flip over. She was not expecting this. Well, she had been flirting with him all evening, but actually hearing him come out and say something crude like that was really off-putting.

"Ah, not tonight I'm afraid," she sighed, stifling a pretend yawn. "I'm a bit tired."

"Come on," Grimmjaw pleaded. "I promise I can wake you up in no time."

"That's really alright," she brushed him off, standing up. "Thanks for giving me your money though."

"Look girl!" Grimmjaw snarled, jumping to his feet and grabbing her arm. "I don't like a tease. So you're going to come with me or…"

"I believe the lady asked you to leave her alone!" rang a harsh voice that, while not shouting, was firm enough to silence the entire room. All eyes turned towards Hitsugaya, who was angrier than he had been in a long time. The game was over. Whether Karin wanted him to or not, he was going to protect her. Grimmjaw raised an eyebrow.

"Are you talking to me squirt?" he asked amused, looking Hitsugaya up and down. "You're hardly a threat."

"Stay out of this Toushiro," Karin spat, ripping her arm out of Grimmjaw's grasp. "This doesn't concern you."

"The hell it doesn't!" Hitsugaya yelled, coming over to her to argue properly. "I can't just sit here and let you go off with some guy you've just met!"

"Oh and I've know you what, five days?" she retorted. "And I wasn't 'going off' with him. I've got a little more self respect than that."

"Oh?" Hitsugaya said incredulously. "Well I wouldn't have known that, seeing as you've been whoring yourself out all evening!" Karin slapped him across the face.

"What was that for?!" he cried.

"You know damn well what that was for!"

"Oi oi," Grimmjaw interrupted. "What are you two going on about…"

"Stay out of this!" Karin and Hitsugaya screamed in unison. Grimmjaw chuckled.

"Hey kid, you're not treating your girl very well. I'd do a much better job…" but he was suddenly cut off as two feet walloped him in the stomach and he toppled backwards, crashing into the table behind him and splitting it clean in half with the force, before landing on the floor with a sick crunching sound.

"Nice kick," Hitsugaya complimented, not taking his eyes off Grimmjaw.

"You too," Karin replied, still glaring at the target on the floor. The bar burst out in laughter at this macho man's pathetic predicament. He had clearly been bested by a girl and a boy half his size. Karin's serious expression faded and she started to chuckle. Even Hitsugaya allowed himself an amused smirk.

"Damn you," Grimmjaw cursed. He placed a hand on the broken table in an attempt to support himself as he stood up, but it was rocky and unstable, and it slipped out from under him as he crumpled to the floor a second time. The laughter reached epic proportions as Grimmjaw awkwardly found his way onto his feet amidst the broken glass and wooden shavings scattered underneath him.

"I told you not to get involved with her," Uloquiorra reprimanded him in a bored voice.

"Shut up!" Grimgaw growled, more embarrassed than he had ever been in his life. "Let's blow this dump." The ridicules and derisive laughter followed them all the way out the door.

"That was bloody brilliant!" Zaraki congratulated as he approached them. "I never would have expected such a display of brute force from the likes of you!" The members of the bar cheered their affirmation.

"Sorry about the table," Hitsugaya apologized. "I'll pay for it." Zaraki laughed.

"Are you kidding me? That was the best entertainment we've ever had in here!"

"Here here!" the other men agreed, raising their tankers in a toast.

"Let me get you two a drink," Zaraki said with a grin. "On the house. What'll you have?"

"Tea," Karin and Hitsugaya replied together, then looked at each other in surprise. Zaraki scoffed.

"Well, to each his own," he muttered, heading back to the bar.

"Why tea?" Karin asked curiously. "Free drink in a bar, you could get whatever you want." Hitsugaya shrugged.

"I don't drink. I never really saw the point. What about you?"

"Same here. I like being in control of myself." She smiled at him. "So, do you play poker?" Hitsugaya smirked.

"Are you kidding me?" he asked incredulously. "I was practically raised by Matsumoto. I know every bar game there is." Zaraki brought them tea, still mumbling about how weird it was that they didn't want alcohol, and they settled down at a table to play. No apologizes were exchanged. None were needed. They were implicit. Their anger at each other had completely dissipated when they teamed up to take down Grimmjaw, and in its place, they both felt incredible admiration.

The bar started to clear out, but Hitsugaya and Karin were too engrossed in their poker game to notice. They were having too much fun, just being in each other's presence and teasing one another after the night's events.

"I'll see your two peanuts and raise you a shell," Karin declared. They had decided to play with peanuts, since playing with actual money seemed unnecessary and too serious for the mood of the evening.

"Whoa, big spender," Hitsugaya chided.

"Well, you know. I did marry you for your money." She laughed heartily at the skeptical look on Hitsugaya's face.

"Oi, you two," Zaraki called from the bar. "I hate to kick you out, but it's closing time." Hitsugaya gasped. It was much later than he had thought it was and he suddenly realized that they were the only two customers left.

"Sorry," he apologized quickly, gathering up the cards.

"I didn't notice how late it was," Karin commented as they climbed the stairs.

"Yeah. We're going to be exhausted tomorrow and we still have a while to go before we reach Seireitei. But it was worth it." He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and basked in the warmth and embarrassment of her smile.

"Sorry I slapped you," she said awkwardly.

"That's ok," Hitsugaya brushed her off. "I deserved it." Karin chuckled.

"Yeah, you did."

They reached their rooms and turned to face each other.

"Well, goodnight Karin," Hitsugaya said, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Goodnight Toushiro," she replied. Deciding that the evening warranted one, Hitsugaya leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He pulled back, and Karin suddenly realized how disappointed she was that that was it.

"What?" she teased. "That's all you have for your wife?" She looked at him expectantly, and Hitsugaya's heart skipped a beat. Gathering up his courage, he leaned forward again, but this time, his lips found hers. He closed his eyes against the sensation, and Karin brought her hand up to caress his cheek, careful to avoid the large bruise that was still etched prominently on his skin. The kiss didn't last very long, but as they pulled away, Hitsugaya found himself feeling warmer than he had in a long time. Karin smiled at him affectionately for a second, than backed away towards her door.

"Well, goodnight," she said quickly, rushing into her room and shutting the door before Hitsugaya had the chance to respond. He stood there for a minute, touching his cheek where her hand had been and trying to relive the moment as best he could.

"Goodnight," he said wistfully before retiring to his own room.

Yay, their first kiss! A seedy tavern probably isn't where they expected it to happen, but nothing with these two is ever expected. And yeah, I know they don't really play poker, but I can see both of them being good at it, and hey, this is an AU story, so why not?