A/N: HI GUYS! GUESS WHAT- I'M NOT DEAD! Hahahaha! Y'all have no idea how glad I am to be back. I'm so sorry for the what - 8 month hiatus? That's like two-thirds of a year! I'm so sorry for this, and any excuse could not make up for it. Regardless, here's the next chapter! We're getting to the climax in the one after this one. Updates from now on will be few and far between, but I will try to squeeze as much writing in as possible.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. That includes Bleach.

Chapter 8: Hellish Butterflies

The door to Urahara's shop slid open. Tessai, clad in his blue apron, bowed deeply.

"Hitsugaya-taicho," he greeted. "And Kurosaki-dono."

Urahara smiled cheerfully, and gestured his two guests inside. "Please, sit."

After tea was poured for the both of them, Urahara sat down across from them.

"So, when are we sending Karin-chan to Soul Society?"

The white-haired shinigami folded his arms, forcing himself not to look at Karin. "Soon. But we have to collect her memories first." His eyes went slightly out of focus as he remembered his promise.

It was the day after Karin died. Droplets of rain fell slow and steady, plunking down onto the payment. In the Kurosaki's living room, Ichigo was hunched over on the couch, staring at his knees. Hitsugaya-taicho sat opposite him, stoic-faced.

"Toshiro," said Ichigo suddenly, looking up. The shinigami met his eyes.

"Is there a way to preserve Karin's memories? So she still remembers us?"

The captain lowered his eyes. "Urahara might find a way," he said softly.

"I need you to promise that you will find Karin once she gets to Soul Society and get her memories back." Ichigo inwardly winced at having to ask the shinigami for a favor to protect his sister. That was his job - to protect and support Yuzu and Karin. And he couldn't.

"It's not a problem."

The orange-haired substitute shinigami looked up. "Eh?"

"We'll find her. She'll probably find her way to the Shino Academy, on account of her abnormally large reiatsu potential."

Ichigo looked away, half embarrassed and half proud. "Aa…" he agreed.

He was jolted back to the present by the sharp sound of Urahara's fan snapping open.

The shopkeeper swept the fan over his mouth so that only his hooded eyes, barely visible beneath the brim of his hat, were visible. "I have prepared everything. We could do it now, if you like."

Karin looked up from her teacup, which she had picked up but hadn't drunk from yet. "Now?" she asked. Seeing Urahara's nod, she looked away for a moment and met Toshiro's bright turquoise stare.

Karin wasn't expecting this to come so soon. Even though she had died, living in the living world wasn't all that different - minus monsters attacking her every other day. But going to Soul Society - that was a whole different level. She wouldn't know anyone there. She'd lose all her memories, and be in a completely new place, akin to a new universe as far as she knew. Sure, she knew a few shinigami, but from what it sounded like, she'd be in a whole different part of Soul Society. She was essentially completely starting her life over.

With all these thoughts swirling around in her head, Karin was momentarily stunned. It was only the sudden and gentle touch of Toshiro's hand on her own that brought her train of thought to a screeching halt. Not used to the feeling of a boy's hand on her own, she snatched her hand out of his grasp and, seeing his look of disappointed surprise, immediately regretted it.

"Well?" said Urahara, who had obviously not missed a single part of this silent exchange. "Are we ready?"

Every single part of Karin was saying no, but her voice, which came out stronger than she thought it would in this situation, sounded in the room. "Bring it on, sandal-hat."

The former 12th squad captain smiled once more. "Very well. Follow me."

Urahara led the pair through a hallway into another room. The room was strangely empty, with only a strange-looking mannequin bust sporting a queer device like a crown. It was completely white, and it was fitted around the forehead and around to the back of the head like a wreath. It looked a bit like a white band, except for the very front of the headpiece, which had a large knob protruding from the center.

Urahara swept his hand over to a chair, indicating that Karin should sit there. She did, throwing a glance back at the white-haired captain, but he was looking at the headpiece intently. Karin tried to keep her face from showing her feelings of disappointment.

Urahara swept over to the bust and placed it delicately on Karin's head. It did nothing, and Karin was a little skeptical.

"What are you doing, sandal-hat?" she demanded.

"Relax, Karin-chan," said the man, stepping back. "I'll explain. This headdress is a new invention of mine. It's fully tested - don't worry. I'm going to now summon a Hell Butterfly, which will land on this knob. After that, I'm going to invite Tessai-san into the room to perform some kido. If all goes well" - here Karin shot him a disbelieving look - "that Hell Butterfly will record all of your memories up to this moment. Shall we begin? Or do you need a little - ah, time?"

Karin raised her chin defiantly. "I'm not that much of a coward, sandal-hat. I'm strong. Let's do this."

*break*

"Oww!" complained Karin, rubbing at her temples for the umpteenth time.

It was the next morning. Karin and Hitsugaya were sitting at the table eating. Karin closed her eyes and huffed. "He never told me that that stupid headdress would give me a hangover!"

"I told you not to expect miracles," said Hitsugaya. "I mean, this is classic Urahara. He always gives you a little something extra. At least we got the memories, though." He shifted his gaze from his food up to her dark eyes, and instantly looked away, feeling awkward.

Karin changed the subject abruptly. "When am I going to be sent to Soul Society?"

The shinigami captain fidgeted a little. "Well… whenever you want to, I suppose. Except... didn't you say you wanted to play soccer?"

The dark-haired girl's face lit up. She grinned, and without another word, grabbed hold of the 10th squad captain's arm and all but dragged him out the door.

A/N: Please follow, favorite and review! See you all on the next chapter! ~IDream