Hi all! So… I know this story hasn't been updated in, what, two years, but here's a chapter. I have not forgotten about it, yet I have always put off writing this chapter. When I read back to how awkward my writing style during the first few chapters is, I want to cringe. Right now, there's still a part of me that wants to bury this story and never let it see the light of day again. However, the fact that there are still people reading and reviewing it, even after I've abandoned it for so long, makes me keep it up. So thank you, everyone.

This is, technically, the last chapter. There is going to be an epilogue, posted soon. Yes, I do mean soon. I will keep this promise. I am working on it now. So, I hope you enjoy it!

Title: Secrets, Twists and Chaos [Chapter 6; Trials]

Author: MeteorLeopard (HoneyBadger)

The gate closed behind him and Toushirou hoped that he'd be back before he was discovered missing. Sunset was approaching so maybe nobody would be looking for him until morning. He'd asked Kyouraku to let Matsumoto know what had happened.

His reiatsu was already hidden with the Hollow Mask fragment that Ichigo had given him and was glad for it. From where he stood, he could already feel about ten reiatsu signatures moving across Karakura and the surrounding areas. He cursed under his breath. The soutaicho sure moved fast. In the short time that it had taken him to move to Ukitake's property and prepare the private gate, there were already search teams about, looking for the Vizard.

He had to find Karin quickly. Concentrating, he could feel her reiatsu towards where he knew the soccer fields were. Seemed like practice was running late. He stopped by the Urahara store first though, picking up a gigai. Then, once in a fake body, he pulled one of those queer real-world clothing items on. Karin had once referred to it as a 'hoodie'. He was glad that Urahara kept a stash of real-world clothing in his spare rooms. He kept the hood firmly on his head, hiding his white hair. Even if his reiatsu was suppressed by the Hollow Mask fragment, it didn't mean that he wouldn't be seen or recognized. And he could not risk that.

He took off at a run, thankful that he could quite easily blend in with the humans. Never had he thought he'd be hiding from his own subordinates. He felt like a villain or a rogue. It was actually a bit exciting! He shook the feeling off. Focus.

Karin was on the field, practicing. Her friends, four guys, were surrounding her. Toushirou pushed aside any misgivings that he was feeling about Karin spending that much time around other boys. Jealousy would have to wait. He jogged up to the group of five, keeping tabs on the patrolling Shinigami.

Karin spotted him. How she recognised him he wasn't sure, but he quickly made a shushing motion with his hand. When he pointed a finger over his shoulder where a Shinigami was just jumping across a building, her eyes widened just a little. He came closer, disregarding any suspicious looks from the other boys.

"Hide your head and stay low," Toushirou told her, completely ignoring her friends. "We've got to get to the others right now."

She seemed to understand that he was in no mood for jokes. She gave her confused friends a cursory wave and a quick, "Sorry, see you Monday! Tell Yuzu I'll be around!", and then ran to catch up with him. Toushirou did try to suppress the small tint of victory that he felt when she chose him over her friends so easily.

"So?" Shinji asked, leaning up against a rock, hands in his pockets and lazy attitude still intact. "What's so serious that you had to sneak past the heavy security that Ichigo said you guys were under?"

Toushirou's arrival had not been met with the usual fervour. That alone was off-putting. They knew that he was the bearer of bad news and were preparing themselves for it. For the first time in their presence, Toushirou could sense the divide between them. His Shinigami uniform and captain's haori didn't help matters since he'd discarded the gigai in the top part of the warehouse, instead choosing to remain in soul-form. They were all in casual clothing, another testament to their differences.

"Spit it out, Shorty! What's with all the Shinigami reiatsu signatures all over town?" Hiyori snapped, temper short. Toushirou shot her a glare but didn't argue back.

He heaved a sigh, steeling himself. "It was decided in the meeting today that you were to be found and compensated for your century of exile and rewarded for your contributions in the war."

The silence following this pronouncement made it all worse. Toushirou could feel hostility brewing, though he wasn't sure whether it was directed towards him or not.

Then Hiyori grabbed him by the front of his uniform and shook him roughly. "What the hell is that?! Was this your idea? Eh?! Shorty! Who the hell came up with something so retarded!"

Toushirou finally wrenched himself free. "It wasn't me, idiot! I voted against this whole scheme!"

"Hah!" Hiyori barked, cynical. "I don't believe you! Big words, shrimp!"

"Now listen you-"

A hand fell to his shoulder and he turned his head to find Shinji there, sighing. "Whatever. It doesn't matter who came up with the idea. The point is that they are looking for us." He smiled mirthlessly. "To reward us."

"They sound rather high and mighty," Rose observed, shaking his head. "Like they are deigning to finally acknowledge us. How pretentious."

"Agreed," Love said, arms crossed and a scowl on his lips. "Such actions are not becoming to those calling themselves heroes."

Mashiro was holding a finger to her lips, pouting. "Meanies."

And that about summed up the situation. Beside him, Karin was leaning against the boulder, shoulders slumped. He watched her quietly as she kicked a stone. She was probably disappointed that his visit brought such news with it. He was disappointed too. Normally he'd much rather spend his time with them lounging around in the underground training room watching Ichigo get beaten up or having a spar against Karin. He'd also been thinking about going up against one of the other Vizard in the future. Now he was just hoping they wouldn't be too angry with him for being the bearer of bad news. His gut did uncomfortable clenching things at the thought of being shunned from their group. He liked these people.

Hacchi had remained silent so far, pink eyebrows furrowed. "Toushirou-san, what is your opinion on this?" He looked up at the man a little startled. Hacchi didn't sound in the least bit hostile towards him. In fact, none of the other Vizard were glaring at him. He had a second of clarity: his own face probably bore a similar expression of discomfort with the situation as their own. He was on the same side as them. And for some reason that made him unreasonably happy.

Hacchi continued. "You were at the meeting, were you not? What was the general response to such a proposal?"

Toushirou thought for a moment. "Most captains wanted you back, or at least your status as 'outlaws' revoked. General consent is that the Vizard should not need to remain hidden, fearing prosecution from the Soul Society." He paused a bit, frowning. "But-"

"Of course there's a 'but'." Kensei sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"But the soutaicho didn't seem too pleased with finding you. He seemed rather reluctant to let you guys back into the Soul Society-"

"Who cares!" Hiyori interrupted him then, fist clenched as though threatening an invisible opponent. "I want nothing to do with the old fart!"

"Shut up, Hiyori," Shinji drawled. "Listen to Toushirou for a second, will you?"

She smacked him with her sandal. Toushirou was just vaguely glad that some semblance of 'normal' had returned to the situation. "I don't think he wants much to do with you. So… if you just stay hidden for the time being and let the situation blow over, I think that he'll eventually tire of looking for you and will just leave you be. In other words, it-"

"We'll go."

All Vizard and Toushirou turned their heads towards Shinji in shock. The blonde was standing straight, grinning, ignoring the reddening sandal-print on the side of his head.

"What?" Hiyori was regaining her anger again, looking ready to explode.

Shinji cut her off. "I said we'll go. To the Soul Society. See what the old man wants from us. I'm quite curious now." He grinned. "That and I quite want to go back to visit some time, ya know? We may not be allies, but we're not enemies either."

Hiyori wasn't buying it. "Shinji-"

"I agree," Hacchi spoke up, raising a pudgy hand. "There may be some captains that do not think highly of us and of what we are, but we must not shy away from this. There may come a time in the future that we need our connections in the Soul Society. Reforging bridges while we can seems like an appropriate thing to do."

Kensei spat on the ground, gnashing his teeth. "Well, when you put it that way."

Mashiro was pouting. "Moh, do we have to? It doesn't seem like fun."

The Vizard fell into a discussion and Toushirou let his attention go back to Karin. She hadn't said a word so far, which in itself was unusual. It was as though she was cutting herself out of the situation.

"And of course," Shinji yelled, straining to make his voice heard above the squabbling. "Karin will be coming with us too!"

Both Karin and Toushirou snapped their heads round to look at the blonde man.

"Really?" Karin asked.

"No!" Toushirou bellowed.

They turned to glare at each other. Hiyori snickered in the background.

"We made a promise," Shinji continued, grinning. "We're sticking to it." Karin's grin was wide and Toushirou was gaping at the group. Hiyori was stalking up to them and threw an arm around Karin's shoulders.

"Of course! After all, you were a nightmare to deal with after we left you out of the Winter War! Ain't gonna happen again!" Both girls sported identical grins, suddenly pleased with the prospect of strolling into the metaphorical lion's den.

"But-" Toushirou tried to protest, but Karin cut him off.

"I'm coming with!" she exclaimed loudly, determined. She turned to him, serious. "I'm a Vizard too, Toushirou. So if the Soul Society want the Vizard to come, then I'm included."

He was ready to rip his hair out. "I just suggested that you guys lay low! What happened to that?! And why the hell do you need to go too? You're still alive, Karin!"

"So what?"

"So I don't know what the soutaicho will do! He says that he wants to congratulate the Vizard, but for all I know-"

"Enough." It was Kensei this time, stepping between the two arguing teens. Both looked up at the tall man, who had grasped each of their shoulders, wrenching them apart. "It's been decided. Karin is coming with. We're leaving nobody behind."

Toushirou felt dread settling into his stomach. Fear. For Karin. For all of the Vizard. In that moment, Toushirou hated the soutaicho. He paled. His thoughts were mutiny.

He felt like one of those caged lions that he'd seen on a short trip to the zoo. Matsumoto had dragged him to one many months ago on an assignment in the world of the living and he remembered feeling vaguely sorry for the large cat. Now he was pacing back and forth, running a rut into the wooden flooring outside the Captain's meeting room. Inside, the soutaicho was meeting with the Vizard. Alone.

The thought of Karin among the Vizard was chilling. What if Hiyori said the wrong bloody thing and got them all thrown into jail?! What if Mashiro decided to make a silly comment about Kuchiki's hairstyle? What if Kensei couldn't control his temper and broke that bloody chair that the soutaicho always sat on?!

"Taicho, calm down," Matsumoto told him, trying to calm him. "I'm sure they'll all be just fine."

Toushirou wasn't worried about showing concern about the Vizard in front of the other captains anymore. His secret had pretty much been blown when Mashiro hopped up to him where he stood in line and gave him a crushing hug, exclaiming that he didn't look like a 'blueberry-tan' this time. Luckily, Ukitake and Kyouraku had backed him up, possibly saving him from a dressing-down from the soutaicho.

The other captains were still looking at him strangely, though Toushirou was pretty sure that Mayuri was wondering whether he would have any value as a specimen. Kuchiki just seemed apathetic as usual, though even he had seemed slightly curious. Kenpachi's main focus had been whether or not any of the Vizard were worth fighting. From the fluctuating reiatsu levels inside, Toushirou gathered that the discussion was probably degenerating into an argument. That terrible knot of anxiety twisted violently in his gut.

Then the doors burst open, flying back against the walls on either side and several captains jumped. Karin was the first one out, and the look on her face was torn between devastation and fury. Toushirou took a step towards her, hand reaching out. "Karin-"

But she shot him one glance and turned away, using shunpo to vanish. Toushirou stared after her for a second. She'd run? Why? He was about to take off after her when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder, holding him back. He glanced back, finding Shinji looking grim. "Hirako-"

"Leave her for a moment. She needs to cool down."

Another angry voice joined them outside. "Like hell I'm going back into one of his silly squads!" Hiyori was stomping from the room, stance wide and hands fisted, metaphorical smoke pouring from her ears. "What's with that guy's attitude anyway? Some nerve he's got, asking us that! And then this!" She turned back, frothing at the mouth. "Ya hear that, oldie?! You suck!"

Toushirou was worried now, turning on the rest of the Vizard who were leaving the hall too. "What happened?" Hiyori was still spouting insults at the soutaicho, though Kensei had clapped a hand over her mouth, muffling them only a little.

Shinji sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Stupid old geezer. Wanted to split us up."

Toushirou blinked somewhat owlishly at the Vizard, who were all wearing near-identical sour expressions. He didn't understand though. What was so bad? Why had Karin run off? It wasn't so bad, right? "So?"

"So," Lisa said, her frown deepening behind her severe glasses, "we weren't happy about that. I'm not going to settle for being just another ordinary soldier in the ranks, spat on by Shinigami for the hollow inside me and not trusted by my comrades in arms." Bitterness - a grudge built over a century - crossed her face, settled into her bones. "No mission will be successful then. And I will not be happy either."

"Me neither," Rose intoned evenly, lips formed into a tight line. "I will not enter the Thirteen Divisions again. I have no place here anymore. And I will certainly not be parted from the people that have an understanding of me or my situation."

Of course. Toushirou had almost forgotten. Just because he and Matsumoto were so comfortable around the Vizard did not mean that everyone was. Already he could see Soi Fon shooting them venomous glares from behind her black fringe. And she had seen their powers used for good with her own eyes. Hacchi had saved her life, yet her mistrust of the Vizard was evident. What would happen among the more prejudiced lower-ranked Shinigami who owed no such respect to the Vizard and knew only their hatred of Hollows? In training, it was taught to kill a hollow upon sight. Many had lost friends, family and lovers to the monsters and carried hatred in their hearts. Fear of the creatures was innate, taught and perpetuated during the service as a Shinigami. The Vizard would have to face this. To have the soutaicho split them up…

"So you refused." Toushirou put it simply, because it made sense to do so.

"No." Shinji scowled, his odd mouth pulling downward. Toushirou stared at the man in shock. "Couldn't exactly, the way the geezer put it."

Matsumoto's eyes went wide. "He threatened you?"

"Something like that. Not quite." Kensei was talking now, sighing, having released a simmering Hiyori. "He agreed to put us all into one group after we argued for a bit. A kind of backup unit, so to speak. I can deal with that. But…" he trailed off here, looking at the others for help, fists clenching angrily. Toushirou was getting a bad feeling in his stomach.

"But what?"

Shinji took over again, resigned bitterness in his voice, a tired note of agitation. "But we have to live here. In the Soul Society." Toushirou waited for the punchline. Shinji leant forward, knowing that Toushirou was not understanding. "All of us."

That made Matsumoto reel back as he felt his own eyes widening. "You mean… even Karin-chan?!"

"Moh!" Mashiro was pouting, rocking back and forth. "Old man eyebrows wouldn't listen to Karin-tan when she said she didn't want to! Meany! Mean old man!"

"But she's human," Toushirou was saying, the situation sinking in slowly. Images of Karin, a living being, wandering amongst the dead, shunned for her beating heart, shunned for the hollow… He was getting angry now. "She's got a life in the World of the Living! She's alive-"

"Not really," Love interjected, scratching his head. "She is half hollow, like us. So she's technically half-dead. Or something. So the soutaicho is lumping her together with us. Doesn't trust us, see? Wants us all where he can watch us. All of us."

It was a cold fury in his veins, ice so cold it burned and hurt. Toushirou was turning on his heel then, storming back into the captain's hall. Reckless. Mutinous again. "Soutaicho!" His bellow was so loud that it brought the other captains running back, curious about the commotion.

The old man was sitting silently upon his chair, serious face staring back at him, a voice like gavel biting at his skin. "What, Hitsugaya-taicho?"

For a second he felt like a scolded child, but then he straightened his spine, tilting his chin, clenching his jaw. He was angry. He was angry at this man's cheek and at this man's prejudice towards people he had once relied on and trusted. "Change it!" he called, slicing his hand through the air. "Change your decision!"

Some of the captains were sucking in sharp breaths at his audacity. Toushirou didn't care. He was beyond caring at the moment. He was right about this, and the old man was wrong! Wrong! Wrong and stupid!

"She is human! Still a child! Not even dead yet! She has a life back in the world of the living, with her family! You have no right or power to separate her from that!" He was growing agitated, the Vizard gathering behind him. "Her brother and father fought against Aizen! Defeated him! What kind of gratitude to them is it that you take her away from them?!"

"Yeah!" a new voice piped up. "What kinda gratitude is that?" Heads turned as Kurosaki Ichigo strode into the room, giant sword strapped to his back.

"Kurosaki Ichigo." The soutaicho's voice was rough and dangerous. None of the opposing party took heed.

Ichigo for his part seemed to be at total ease among the captains, though there was a stern set to his eyes and jaw. "My sister is with the Vizard, but you will not keep her here by force." He was scowling at the soutaicho just as fiercely as Toushirou was, both Shinigami simmering, trying to keep their outrage at bay.

Another hand popped up then, the much smaller Kuchiki Rukia stepping out from behind the tall figure of Ichigo, her hand in the air. "I agree! Karin deserves her freedom!" she bravely declared, setting her jaw and fisting her hands, standing tall beside Ichigo in the face of authority. "I will stand up for this. I shall sign a petition if I must!" Toushirou was a little thrown off by her insistence upon a human custom such as a 'petition', but it seemed to have a certain shock-factor with the captains.

Byakuya looked surprised for just a moment. "Rukia."

She turned her gaze to his, unwavering. "Nii-sama, I support the Vizard. And I support that Karin should not have to stay here unless she wants to. I will not change my mind about this!"

Byakuya seemed to study his sister for a minute, a serious expression upon his face. Then he sighed, momentarily closing his eyes. "Very well. Where is the petition?"

"Kuchiki-taicho!" Ukitake exclaimed, surprised but glad, a smile on his face. "That is most kind of you. Well then, I suppose I shall sign too! Does anybody have paper?"

Kyouraku raised his hand. "Nanao-chan might have some." He glanced at the strict dark-haired girl questioningly. She'd already produced a clean sheet and had her brush poised to write, spectacles flashing. "Shall I sign for you, taicho?"

Kyouraku smiled fondly at her. "Such an efficient girl."

Matsumoto was waving her hand wildly. "Me! Me! Sign for me, Nanao-chan!"

"Me too!" Yachiru was giggling, pulling on Kenpachi's bells. "Put pachinko-head and peacock-boy down too-"

"Enough!" The soutaicho bellowed, voice ringing through the room and bringing all activities to a halt. The man was gritting his teeth, obviously displeased. "Very well. I can see the support that this cause has." There was a measure of reluctance to his next words, as though they pained him to say. "As such, I will allow Kurosaki Karin to return to her home in the World of the Living while the Vizard will remain here in the Soul-"

"Oi!" Shinji interrupted loudly, scowling again. Heads swiveled to him, looking at him questioningly. Why interrupt now? They'd just won the soutaicho's acceptance. "Didn't we tell you, old man?" Shinji asked, looking supremely annoyed with the old captain. "Karin's a Vizard too, just like us. We're not letting you split us up."

Kensei was quick to follow up. "Karin's staying with us. If she goes back to the World of the Living, all of us do. It's all or nothing here." He slapped his fist into his open palm, decisive. The Vizard stood stall, surrounding Ichigo, Rukia and Toushirou; all facing the angry soutaicho with heads held high. For a second, Toushirou felt relief. Relief that Karin had gained such strong, dependable allies. Relief that Karin would not be left alone or abandoned. His mind flashed back to that moment before her mother's grave, where she'd recounted her transformation. She'd seemed so lonely then, standing in front of the reminder of her loss, drenched in rain.

"Besides," Hiyori snarked, baring her fangs. "That way you won't have to deal with us every day."

It seemed to be the metaphorical straw that broke the camel's back. The soutaicho crumbled, iron will breaking in the face of threatened mass-rebellion and support for the Vizard's obscure request. And really, what did it matter to him where they were stationed? And so he conceded, grumbling voice carrying across the hall.

He found her on the empty training fields of the 12th Division near a copse of trees. She was leaning on the trunk of a particularly thick tree, fist buried deep in its bark. Toushirou could tell that she'd tried hard not to fell the proud thing. Her arms were shaking. He could hear her swearing under her breath, voice coming in hitches. He could sense the distress in her voice, her stance and her body. Karin never ran from anything, her bravery extending to the point of foolishness. Yet when she'd been condemned to live here, in the Soul Society, away from her family that she loved so dearly, she had fled. Toushirou suspected she'd run so that she could have this break down in private, away from prying eyes. Already he could see her gathering herself, steadying her breathing. There was something akin to pride in his chest as he watched her clench her fists, tighten her jaw. Indomitable, Karin was. Truly.

A strong will to persevere, to fight through life. Toushirou didn't know very much about Karin just yet, but he did know - from snippets and glances and bits of gossip - that Karin had stepped up when her mother was killed. Stopped crying, Matsumoto had told him. Apparently the topic had come up at that sleepover she'd attended with the human girl, Tatsuki, and Inoue. Karin had stopped crying, looked out for herself. Apparently, Inoue claimed, it was to lighten the burden that her family bore. Then the Hollow - the same one that had killed her mother - had almost taken her life too. But Karin had beaten that, defeated the Hollowfication, turned it into strength and protected her family further.

Karin was still composing herself, taking deep breaths to steady herself. Toushirou took one himself. She'd had enough time to brood. And the fact that she'd run away from the fight left a bad taste in his mouth. No, Karin shouldn't run. Karin should never run. She was strong enough, and he'd help her if she'd let him. But she wouldn't, because she never let anyone help her. It was all about how best not to be a bother to anyone.

Time to change that. Time to move. He'd break her shock.

"Why are you hiding?"

Her head whipped around to him, teeth gritted. He kept his face stern, scolding, knowing she'd hate it. He reached for her hand, still fisted on the tree. Pulling it away, he unfurled her fingers, turning her hand over critically, examining the traces of blood on her knuckles. "A clumsy punch."

She jerked back, burned, and Toushirou caught the angry flush on her cheeks. She hated being talked to like that. "I am not hiding!" She was snapping at him again. Good.

"You're not?" he asked her, playing the cynic. "Because you certainly ran out of the captain's meeting hall very quickly." She was fuming mad at him by now, he could tell, and she stalked towards him like an angry tiger. But he was the dragon, and he'd match her.

"I did not run away!" she proclaimed loudly. He looked unimpressed. "I did not!" She was seething, trying to prove a point.

"Really now?" he goaded her. Come on, come on.

"I did not!"

"Kurosaki Karin," he taunted, sounding scathing, "running away from a fight. How brave."

Her cheeks coloured, righteous anger boiling. "I do not run. I do not run!" She threw back her shoulders, and suddenly she was taller again. Yes! "I'm going back there," she declared. "Right now. That old fart can't tell me what to do! He can't! And I'm not running," she hissed the last part at him, sparks flashing in her eyes.

Toushirou felt his lips curve into a small smile. There we go.

Pleased, Toushirou watched her face turn to confusion as she tried to puzzle out his expression. Before she could jump to thinking he was mocking her - which he wasn't - he placed two hands on her shoulders. "The soutaicho changed his mind," he told her softly. Karin blinked at him, listening, the fight evaporating from her frame. "You, along with the other Vizard, will be a satellite-division for the Soul Society, stationed in the World of the Living. Specifically, Karakura town." Toushirou was finding her dumbfounded look rather endearing. She was normally so focused. Anger was fading away and understanding was lighting up her face. She had a second to be irritated with him, realising what he'd done, that she'd been tricked, before she was tackled from the side, an aggressive blonde knocking her sideways, out of Toushirou's grasp.

"Karin!" Hiyori was shaking her. "Hurry up! Let's get out of here before the old geezer goes back on his word!"

"Hiyori!" Shinji was moaning, frowning at the two girls. "Don't kill her. That's our bargaining chip you're suffocating." Toushirou watched as Hiyori retaliated with a volley of stinging retorts. Throughout, Hiyori didn't let go of Karin's arms. The blonde was evidently in a good mood.

"Ah, will you keep quiet already?" Shinji was pretending to clean his ear. "We've got places to go. The others are already at the gate." Toushirou met Shinji's eyes. A quiet exchange. Then Shinji left, Hiyori closely following, still shouting obscenities at the man.

"What are you doing, Karin? Hurry up! And you too, Midget! Get your ass in gear!" And thus they departed for the gate. The two guards who normally stood sentry at the Senkaimon were there, preparing the gate to be opened. All the Vizard were assembled, as were Kurosaki Ichigo and Karin. Toushirou stood among them, feeling welcomed. It was a strange feeling. A nice feeling. His eyes focused once more on Karin, who was trading jabs with Hiyori, a wide smile spread over her face.

A hand thumped him lightly on the back and Toushirou looked up to find Kurosaki Ichigo grinning down at him. "You did good in there. Thank you, Toushirou." You got my sister back, was what Kurosaki was saying. Toushirou felt the substitute Shinigami's approval and was taken aback for a moment, unsure. In the end he simply shrugged, turning away. "Don't mention it," he said, and Kurosaki laughed at him.

"Stand back!" came the call and then white light flooded the square as all assembled blinked to try and clear their sight of spots. The gate was open and Toushirou felt a weight settle in his stomach. They'd be leaving now.

A hand gripped his own tightly. "Come visit soon." Karin was standing very close to him and her hand was warm and nice. Her thank you. "You'd better come visit, Toushirou. You hear?"

He allowed himself to return her grasp. "As long as Hacchi lets me in."

"Of course." Karin was grinning, a happy light in her eyes. "Hacchi always lets in friends." They shared something then, through their linked hands and joined eyes, and it made Toushirou's heart thump in his skull.

"We're going on ahead," Shinji was calling, distant and vague, part of the background. "Don't get lost!"

Then Karin was stepping back and her hand withdrawing from his, and Toushirou wished he could hold it a bit longer. "Well," Karin was saying, shifting from foot to foot, fingers twitching. "See ya."

He found his voice calling after her, "Karin!" She stopped immediately, turning around quickly, almost eagerly, a "Yes?" falling from her lips. But then he didn't know what to say, because he hadn't meant to say anything at all, just keep her with him a little longer. So he licked his lips and flicked his eyes up at the gate behind her and then back to her, to the gate.

"Um, good luck. I guess. Yes. Good luck."

She seemed a little disappointed, but nodded quickly and quirked her mouth and turned again, taking a half-step before whirling back around and saying, "Thank you! Toushirou. Yes, thank you."

And he was nodding, because he's a moron, and she's turning towards the gate again and he was asking himself if he's a coward, before grabbing her arm and stopping her again, steeling himself as he meets her head-on, pressing a quick, barely-there kiss to her cheek. He knows his face is as brilliantly red as hers is. He can imagine the steam issuing from her ears. Then he nodded, decisively, looking as though he'd just closed a business deal, before turning precisely 180 degrees and stalking back towards his office, robotically.

Karin watched him go in a haze. Her vision was fuzzy at the edges, so she slapped two palms to her cheeks, shaking herself awake. Then she rounded on the gate and stomped right through it, catching Mashiro as the bubbly green-haired girl stepped into the white space. Hiyori was grinning wolfishly and Karin knew that the blonde had seen. In fact, there was a general smug air about the Vizard and Karin bristled, but could not keep the goofy grin from her own cheeks.

So it wasn't a proper kiss just yet… but that would come. Right now, she had a life to continue with.

PLEASE REVIEW! EPILOGUE TO COME!