Chapter 10: Tomorrow we'll begin

Karin walked to her room after the meeting. She had walked around for a while since she had to hide the sword. Sakura hadn't been able to hide it which made her really disappointed in herself since she had always believed that she was good at genjutsu. Melanie had just corrected her by saying that a zanpakutou was difficult to hide if not impossible. It hadn't made Sakura feel better but it had made clear to Karin that Melanie had put the zanpakutou on her responsible and that wasn't something that she enjoyed. She had finally found a way back to her room without anyone seeing her and just when she was about to enter her room she heard footsteps behind her. She threw the zanpakutou to her room and closed her door just before Kurosaki Ichigo came.

"Karin! I have been looking for from everywhere. Where were you?" Karin grimaced; why did it have to be her brother who found her just after her sneakiness?

"I was just walking around after the meeting. Why? Did something happen to Rukia?"

"No, I wanted to talk with you about something that Rukia spoke about in the meeting." Karin sighed and closed her eyes before opening them and looking to her brother's eyes which were as serious as always.

"What did you want to talk about, Ichi-nii?" The familiar nickname made Ichigo relax a bit but he still kept an eye on his sister.

"What did she mean when she said that you had been gone for years?"

"Why don't you ask her, Ichi-nii? Or better leave it all alone. It's none of your business anyway."

"Of course it is! You're my little sister and it's my job to look after you!"

"Who the hell said, that you had to look after me anyway?! I can take care of myself just fine!!" Karin's eyes were burning as she glared at her brother who was scowling.

"It's my duty and I'm making sure that nothing happens to you. So don't expect any missions anytime soon." Ichigo started walking away obliviously happy thinking that he had won the fight. Karin put her hand on the handle before saying the last words:

"I've taken care of myself since I was a little kid, Ichi-nii. You weren't there then so what makes you think that I let you be here now. And about the missions… I'm not a shinigami so I don't have any missions." Quickly before Ichigo could answer or even turn she opened her door, went inside and locked the door behind her. She looked around and saw that the room that Toushiro had given her had changed a bit. Now it wasn't so clean anymore and there was some paint on the walls. Karin smirked; Toushiro would freak out when he saw her room. She knew that he liked things organized and clean. Well too bad for him since there was no way that she would clean her room just some midget couldn't take some dirt. Feeling tired Karin went to her bed and lay down. Soon she fell asleep without noticing the zanpakutou next to her.

-- - --

Karin woke up suddenly as she heard noise from the outside. She got up from the bed and opened the door to yell to the one who woke her up. Her eyes widened as in front of her she saw a corpse of a young boy and a bleeding little girl. When she noticed her she ran to her and asked her to help her. She told her that people were attacking Soul Society and that everyone was fighting. Karin nodded and followed her as she led her out of the building. Along the way she saw blood and corpses and closed her eyes. How hadn't she woken up? Finally they got out and Karin's eyes grew wide. She saw shinigamis fighting everywhere and Rukia screaming as someone pierced their sword through her. Karin wanted to help she really did but when she was about to move the little girl to her hand and said that her big sister was waiting for her. Karin shook her head and said that she had to help and she couldn't leave with her. But the little girl's eyes burned on her skin and Karin lowered her head. She knew the faster she got the girl to her big sister the faster she would be able to help her friends. She took the little girl's hand and asked for directions. The girl said that they should be familiar to her. Karin was about to protest that she had no idea what she was talking about when her legs started to run. Her body seemed to know where to go and soon she found herself in woods. She took only few steps and then saw the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. The woman had chestnut brown hair and red eyes. She smiled gratefully as Karin stopped and the little girl ran to her. The woman said something to the little girl and she nodded happily and ran away. The woman turned to Karin and said to her:

"Come with me." Karin shook her head and said that she had to go. Her friends were waiting for her. She turned to leave but the woman took her by arm and said that she had to come with her and trust her. Karin yelled no and started running away. Soon she came to the place where she had seen Rukia before. Now there was Hitsugaya Toushiro's body lying on the ground with blood all around it. Karin screamed and went to him. She tried to wake him up but he wouldn't open his eyes. Tears began to form behind her eyes as she shook him. Suddenly the woman was next to her and said:

"You won't be able to help them if you don't trust me."

Karin woke up and noticed that she was sweating. She closed her eyes for a while and tried to focus on breathing. Nightmares were nothing new to her but this one had been a terrible one. Finally she opened her eyes and turned around. She saw the zanpakutou on the bed and reached out to take it. As soon as her hand touched it, it burned her and Karin let go of it. She stared at her hand with wide eyes. Her brains worked as she thought a way to carry the sword. Then she saw some gloves on the stool. She put them on and then took the sword. It was still hot but now she could touch it. She opened her door and ran quickly away without noticing Ichigo's friend Renji who looked after her with a strange expression.

-- - --

Melanie was sitting in her room reading a book when her head started to ache. She closed her eyes and focused on thinking the book and nothing else. Finally she felt the familiar pressure go away from her head and she could breathe easily. She looked around her without noticing the slight smirk on a man's face when he finally slipped away from her mind. Melanie put her book away and stared at the painting that Karin had brought with her from Hueco Mundo. She studied it and was about to touch when Karin barged into her room.

"Mel! That damn sword burned me!" Melanie rolled her eyes and pulled her hand from the painting and turned to Karin. She looked at the sword and frowned. She had known that Karin didn't know anything about zanpaktous but she hadn't expected her to be able to make it angry. She was about to touch the sword when a flashback came to her mind:

"Melanie, you can't help everyone. The zanpaktous only response to their owners. You can't control something that's not part of your soul."

"I'm sorry, Kari, but I can't help you."

"What do you mean you can't help me? Of course you can!!" Karin looked at her best friend with a terrified expression.

"I'm not an expert with swords, Kari, and I'm not good with Soul Society things. You have to ask someone else."

"Fine! Then Ruki will help me."

"Ruki has already problems of her own. You must learn to trust other people too, Karin."

"No, I don't have to-" Karin kept on rambling and didn't notice how Melanie was growing more angry every second.

"KUROSAKI KARIN!! Shut the fuck up and find someone to help you! I don't care if it's your friend, brother or something but you will not bother any of the Flowers with this! Do you understand?" Karin just glared at Melanie and left the room with a bang. Melanie sighed and wished that she had done the right thing. She sat down and took the painting. She might as well study it before the storm would begin.

--

Hitsugaya Toushiro walked towards his quarters thinking about Kurosaki Karin. The girl was a mystery to him but he was sure that he would figure her out. She wouldn't get away with lies. He had known her only for a little time but she had found her way to his heart. But no matter how close she was to his heart he would make sure that she wasn't a threat to his home. He was a captain for god's sake and he wouldn't lose to a little girl like that.

"Yo Toushiro!" He smirked. He would start figuring her out right now. He continued walking since he knew that she would catch up with him soon. Karin appeared next to him and panted. She glared at him and said:

"Why didn't you stop?" He merely looked at her and commented:

"If you can't catch up with me when I'm walking I don't want to know how slow you are, Kurosaki."

"Oh Toushiro you're so funny." said Karin sarcastically. She looked away from him as she bit her lip. Toushiro frowned when he understood that she was debating whether tell him something or not.

"Out with it, Kurosaki." Karin glanced at him and took the sword from her cloak. It was burning hot and Karin grimaced as her skin was burned. She saw how Toushiro's eyes became colder as he watched the zanpakutou.

"Where did you get it, Kurosaki?"

"I don't know. It just appeared to my hands." She bit her lip and looked straight into Toushiro's eyes. "And I need you to help me with it." Toushiro looked bored and said:

"No." Karin gaped at him and started yelling:

"What do you mean no? Of course you'll help me." Toushiro once again only looked at her and shook his head.

"Why don't ask you ask once of your friends to help you?" Karin looked at the ground and gritted her teeth.

"They don't have time and you're the prodigy who knows everything." Toushiro just shook his head. "Oh come on, elementary student." Now Toushiro looked annoyed and Karin grinned when a plan began to form in her mind.

"Well maybe you're right. It's not like a midget like you could help me." Toushiro gave none reaction and Karin smirked when she used her number one trick. "I'm sure that Ichi-nii would be a better teacher than you." The air in the room became suddenly colder and Karin's smirk faded as she realized that Toushiro wasn't in a good mood.

"We'll start tomorrow morning in tenth division's sparing grounds. Don't be late!" With that Toushiro shunpoed away from her and Karin let a grin form. But the grin fell when she realized that she had no idea where to go or what time she should be there.

"OI TOUSHIRO!!"

Hey everyone! It's been quite long, don't you think. I'm sorry and I really don't have a good explanation. I just didn't feel like writing. But now I got my inspiration back. I'll try to update soon but I hope that you guys will review so I know that you want me to update. Many of you have asked what Shinkoo ya kokoro means and it means faith and heart. And special thanks to KazeNoSakura.