I don't own bleach or any of characters, they are all property of Tite Kubo.

As Rukia was getting to class, Yuzu and their other friends were also making their way to class.

"Did you do what you needed to do Rukia – chan?" asked Yuzu.

"Yeah, I did," responded Rukia. When they entered the class they were surprised to find that Karin wasn't back yet.

"Karin – chan isn't back yet," stated Yuzu, the worry evident in her voice.

"Don't worry, she's probably on her way back now," reassured Rukia. The 2 then took their perspective seats waiting for Karin. Rukia and Yuzu kept glancing at the clock and then at the door, waiting for Karin to walk in. Just then the door quickly opened and in walked their sensei, who quickly resumed her lecture. Yuzu and Rukia exchanged worried looks.

After half an hour Karin had not returned. "Sensei, I have to go to the bathroom!" Rukia quickly exclaimed and quickly left the classroom.

"Me too!" Yuzu yelled and followed Rukia. Luckily for them, they had Ichigo's old sensei, Ochii – sensei, who excused odd behavior as long as the students had good grades.

"Where do you think Karin can be?" Rukia asked Yuzu as the two ran down the hall.

"If she's not with Hitsugaya – kun, then Karin – chan will be either at the soccer field or at the gym.

"Let's try the gym first."

When Yuzu and Rukia reached the gym, they kept hearing a loud thud. "Karin – chan!" Yuzu yelled and ran through the doors, Rukia quickly followed after, neither was sure what to expect. When they ran through the doors, their worries quickly flew away as they saw Karin was kicking soccer balls into the net. Although, she was doing it angrily and with as much force as she could.

"Karin, what's wrong?" asked Rukia.

"Nothing," replied Karin as she continued to kick the balls.

"Then why did you miss class?" asked Yuzu.

"Because," she replied as she picked up another ball, but Rukia snatched it from her. "Karin," Rukia said worriedly.

"Please tell us Karin – chan," Yuzu said with pleading eyes.

"It's Hitsugaya," Karin said as she balled her fists and glared at floor.

"What about him?" Rukia asked cautiously.

"That bastard broke up with me," Karin said angrily.

"W – Why would Hitsugaya – kun do that?" asked Yuzu.

"There were signs that he wanted to break – up with me. I felt like we just weren't as close as we used to be," Karin answered sadly.

"If you knew it was coming, why are you so mad?" asked Rukia.

"Cuz maybe I could've done things differently and he would've stayed." Rukia put her hand on Karin's shoulder, gave it a light squeeze and said, "Karin, you don't have to do things differently or change for someone else. And you said it yourself that things were different between you two. Maybe deep down you also wanted the relationship to end." Karin's eyes widened in surprise at Rukia's words. It's true that Karin wasn't as happy with Toushirou anymore. Sometimes she would even make up excuses to cancel their dates. Karin then nodded in acknowledgement at Rukia's words. Rukia removed her hand from Karin's shoulder and then handed back the soccer ball to Karin.

"Let's go Yuzu," Rukia said as she started walking towards the door. Yuzu nodded okay, but first went to give her sister a big hug. "We'll wait for you after school," Yuzu told her sister.

"I'll meet you two at the house," replied Karin.

"A – are you sure?" asked Yuzu.

"Yeah, and don't worry I won't come home late."

"Alright," replied Yuzu in defeat. She then left to join Rukia who was waiting by the door.

When Rukia and Yuzu walked back to the Kurosaki household, they walked in silence. They both had worried looks on their faces and their thoughts were filled with Karin. Once at the Kurosaki residence they each took a seat at the table and waited for Karin.

Karin on the other hand waited for Toushirou after school, she knew that he was usually the last one to leave class, and she was hoping today would be no exception. While she waited outside his classroom she was looking out the window, enjoying the scenery.

"Kurosaki?" asked an all too surprised Toushirou.

"Hey," was Karin's response. Toushirou was a bit uneasy about Karin waiting for him. It wasn't necessarily because of the break up the he felt uneasy. It was more because he knew that Karin could be somewhat violent (like Rukia), so he just wasn't sure whether he should expect a punch to the face or not.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, still on the defense.

"I came to talk to you."

"About?"

"I hope we can still be friends. You're a cool guy and really like hanging out with you, so I hope we can still be friends even after we each get into new relationships."

Toushirou smiled and said, "I'd like that." Then with a cocky smirk he added, "Just don't get jealous when girls start throwing themselves at me."

Karin returned the smirk and said, "I won't, cuz it'll probably be a bunch of middle schoolers who will think you're their age. That and I'll probably want a guy who's a good few inches taller."

A vein tick was easily seen on Toushirou's head as he angrily said, "KUROSAKI!"

Karin laughed and said, "Later Hitsugaya." She then made her way home.

As soon as Karin walked into her house, Yuzu and Rukia ran from the kitchen to greet her. "Were you two just waiting for me?" asked Karin.

Rukia chuckled and said, "Kind of."

"We just couldn't concentrate on our homework," added Yuzu.

"So what did you have to do?" asked Rukia.

"I just had to clear a few things up with Hitsugaya," answered Karin.

"Are you and Hitsugaya – kun back together?" asked Yuzu.

"Pfffft, no. I just had to talk to him. I still wanna be friends you know."

"That's good that the two of you are still friends," stated Rukia.

"Yeah whatever," replied Karin nonchalantly. The girls then started talking about the ball that was about two weeks away.

The rest of the school week went by without any more drama. Although, Karin and Toushirou were teasing each other quite a bit and when they would tease each other, Rukia would tell them to stop flirting. While other students thought that Karin and Toushirou were secretly dating.

It was the end of the day and students were finally on break. Several students left the school in groups to go hangout and enjoy the start of their break. "I'll see you two tomorrow," Rukia said as she waved good bye.

"Can't wait," replied Karin sarcastically.

"It'll be so much fun, can't wait," gushed Yuzu.

"Just remember that Nii – sama has someone driving us there. So I'll text you two when I'm outside your house," Rukia said. The girls then said their good byes once again and made their way to their perspective homes.

As soon as Rukia got home, she put away her school bag and quickly changed out of her school uniform. She then went to her brother's study and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said the voice from within. Rukia walked in and said, "Nii – sama, I am off to meet Renji. I will not be home late."

"Very well. Be careful."

"Thank you Nii – sama, I will." With that Rukia left to go meet Renji at the train station.

When Rukia reached the train station she was surprised to find that Renji was already there. She gave Renji a hug and said, "Sorry I'm later."

"Don't be. I just got here," he said as he returned the hug. The two then started walking in awkward silence. Once they were a few blocks away from the train station and walking nowhere in particular, Renji broke the silence by saying, "Rukia we need to talk."

Rukia stopped walking and looked into Renji's eyes with a somewhat scared look in her eyes and said, "Yes we do."

Renji swallowed the lump he had in his throat and said, "I think…that you and me…we need to uhm…break up," as he said the last two words he closed his eyes in fear of her reaction.

"I think you're right."

"W – what?" he asked in shock.

"I think we both knew it was time for this relationship to end….but can we please still be friends?"

As Rukia was pleading for their friendship, Renji knew that the sadness she had earlier was from fear of losing him completely, not fear of losing him as a boyfriend. Renji gave Rukia a reassuring smile and said, "Of course, we'll always be friends no matter what."

"Really?" she asked in disbelief.

"Really. We'll always be best friends no matter what. So you can always come to me with anything. I promise to always be there for you."

Rukia gave Renji a big hug and said, "You'll always have a special place in my heart Renji, and I'll always be there for you too." She then slightly pulled away from him to look him in the eyes. "So don't go thinking you're all that cuz you're sleeping with a bunch of college girls," she said jokingly.

"Sleeping around? Is that really what you think of me? Man, it's true, girls are brutally honest once they become your exes," he said feigning hurt.

Rukia laughed and said, "Well you did tell me once that you chose girls without standards."

"I did? Then how come we never did it?" he asked jokingly.

Rukia immediately blushed at his comment. "Renji!" she scolded as she released him from their embrace and shoved him.

Renji laughed out loud at Rukia and said, "I'm just kidding. Don't freak out now."

"I know, but you didn't have to bring THAT up," she said with her blush still in tact.

"What? Why? Did you wanna lose your virginity to me?" he asked the last question with a cocky grin.

"Renji!" she scolded again as her blush increased several shades.

"Calm down, calm down," Renji said in between laughs.

"I'm going home already," Rukia stated.

"What? Did you seriously get mad?"

"No, but I'm going dress shopping with Yuzu and Karin tomorrow."

"Dress shopping? For what?"

Rukia gave Renji a look that asked 'Are you serious?' "I told you a bunch of times about the winter ball," she replied angrily.

Renji nervously scratched the back of his neck and said, "Right."

"Nice to know you were such an attentive boyfriend," she said sarcastically.

"Sorry, I forgot. Damn! You don't need to get so mad."

"Whatever, I'm leaving," Rukia then started walking towards her home.

"Wait!" shouted Renji and Rukia turned to look at him. "Want me to walk you home?"

Rukia gave Renji a small smile and said, "That's okay. You can go meet the others at that party you were talking about. Because unlike someone else, I actually pay attention."

"You're never gonna let that go are you?"

"Nope."

"*sigh* I'll see you around then," Renji said as he started walking in the opposite direction as Rukia.

As Renji was walking away, Rukia shouted, "And just cuz we're not dating anymore doesn't mean you can't visit."

"Got it! I'll drag your ass to the next party in Karakura Town," Renji shouted back. Rukia watched Renji walk away; she turned to leave when Renji was no longer in sight. As Rukia walking home she had a small smile on her face. This break up was completely different from her break up with Toushirou. She and Renji were still on good terms and she no longer had to worry about losing Renji completely, he was still her best male friend and they could still confide in each other. She now knew that Renji had a special place in her heart. She loved him, it was a unique kind of love, it was a kind of love that was greater than the love between siblings, but a love that was less than that between lovers, and she was content with how things ended.