There is only one problem with Superman, as wonderful as he is.

"Mm." She can't help but smile, leaning on his shoulder, her own head lolling in the clutches of sleep. "That was certainly a nice night."

"No nightmares?" It's a mixture of teasing and concern, edified as he ruffles her hair.

"No nightmares." Karin confirms, eyes fluttering shut; relaxed and at home.

She hasn't had such pleasant dreams in a while.

"Aw, you two are so cute. Do you want me to take a photo?" The corners of Yuzu's mouth twitch upwards.

In other words, Yuzu has is going to vomit with the level of sickening sweetness that they share. But she's too nice to say that.

Besides, Karin is a master at reading through the niceties.

And she hates cameras.

"My, my. I see you've certainly adopted your Christmas Spirit." Kazuya smirks, leaning on the kitchen door. "I'd never think you'd ever heard of Scrooge these days, with your happiness shining like a beacon."

"Bah! Humbug!" Good-naturedly, she sticks her tongue out, rolling her eyes; her smile lasting an eon. "Pardon good sir, would you prefer a frown? A pout? Or a milkshake with marshmallows, as my customer would like?"

Kazuya only grins in return, approaching the fridge. But Karin hears the laughter within every bounce of his step, every second of stifled breath.

"Never mind. It's nice, a break from the usual you."

"And the usual me is Scrooge?" Arches her eyebrow, flicks her hair out of her eyes, Karin shoots a curious glance at him.

"Only at Christmas. You know that." Kazu-kun's expression is nostalgic, contemplative. "You can't stop smiling, can't stop dancing. Nao-chan would be so proud."

… it's so sad to think that it might be because of Nao-chan that this whole predicament exists.

"You've found someone, right?" Tilting her head to the side, Karin wonders about his love life, changing the subject. "Someone just for you? Because… you deserve it. Maybe more than me. I want to see you happy. I want to see you in love." A pause. A chuckle. It comes so easily. "Not with me, mind. But someone… who will love you forever. After all, you aren't Bob Cratchit in this Christmas Carol."

"Hmm." A snarky grin slips onto his face. "Am I more like Tiny Tim?"

Oh that does it.

The milkshake soaks his shirt, laughter sustaining the moment in merriness.

"Cool, I spend my time just thinkin', thinkin', thinkin' 'bout you…"

Yuzu can hardly believe it. Judging by the expression on her face, thoroughly impressed.

"Every single day, yes, I'm really missin', missin' you…"

Tsubasa dances with her, paws lifting, head bobbing, voice 'nyah'ing when appropriate – having practised numerously.

"And all those things we used to, used to, used to, used to do…"

It's a strange sensation, but not unwelcome. After all, Karin loves to dance. And sing-along. Like she's happy and insane at the same time.

"Hey girl, what's up? It used to, used to be just me and you…"

And baking a Yule Log.

… Yuzu has faith. After all, she's standing not too close, and not too far.

Just in case a disaster happened.

Which was the reason Scrooge appeared in the first place – the lack of a decent cake.

Karin claps her hand, slides to the side and continues with the delicacy.

Ignores Yuzu's mirthful giggle – because it's part of the magic of the cake tasting simply divine; dancing is a ritual of brilliance. Ergo, she might as well choose a song of her liking.

Kazu-kun's logic is flawless.

"Hey, I bought you something." Toushirou's face looks a little embarrassed, slightly pink. "It's not a present. I just…" Closes his eyes and reopens it. "… thought you might like it."

"Okay – thank you!" Her fingers twirl, imaging paper, like a kleptomaniac, ready to open the not-present.

… she's pretty sure that someone told her that not-presents were also wrapped up.

"Not just yet."

She kisses him, quick and chaste, and taking him off guard, while her hand sneaks to the one hidden behind his back.

Like a python, she recoils; unwrapped gift in hand.

"Pocky! I have missed you so!"

Is there a word that is an amalgamation of glomp and kiss?

"Kami, Karin. You're practically a bubble of joy. Sooner or later, I'm going to pop it, just to make sure you just don't get happiness overdose." Kazuya moans, scanning the rooms for extraterrestrials. It's rare, but anomalies sometimes occur. Karin calls it dust.

"Can't help it. I finally found a present for him." Flashing a lopsided grin, Karin scours the cupboard for the container of hot chocolate powder. "It took a while, but it's done."

"And what is it, dare I ask?" Kazu-kun wiggles his eyebrows curiously.

"Top secret." She places a finger on her lips. "If I told you that, Lex Luthor might just have to kill you."

Disappointed, Kazuya shakes his head and fist. "Damn comics and their realities coming to life!"

It happens too fast, happens too quick.

But such is the way of her emotions, ultimately beyond her control.

Fate is something different.

Or is it?

And that is the sole reason why she hates Superman.

She doesn't see the car.

Instead, she sees Hitsugaya Toushirou, waving as she walks towards him, about to call his name.

Then:

A swerve.

A screech.

A scream.

She shuts her eyes and—

Arms.

Air.

Warm, familiar.

"I've got you. It's okay. I've got you."

His voice makes her feel light headed.

It makes her register everything that just happened, as she looks down at the scene of a car crash.

"Toushirou… what just…?" Confusion filters through disorientation. It still doesn't make sense.

"Are you okay?"

No.

"Yes. No. I mean, what—how did—why?" She inhales, holds it, and exhales. Nice and slow. "Toushirou? Can I get down?"

Reluctantly, he does as she says.

Okay. She's calm now.

Calmer than before.

"You saved me from a car crash."

Angrier too.

"That right." He nods, his expression slightly puzzled and… crestfallen?

"Is that why you're here? To protect me?" Annoyance fuels her, and she doesn't care if she's making a scene. "Because I didn't follow Ichi-nii to join Soul Society?"

"No! I—"

"Because I don't need protecting, okay? If Ichi-nii's got a problem, then you tell him to come here lickety-split instead of acting like a big brat! I mean, seriously, I don't mind the fact that he keeps sending shinigami over to my café. I don't. That's good for business, technically. But if he's just sending you in his place, then… just don't—just don't come at all!"

"Karin…"

Maybe she's not being rational, and her heart's beating so rapidly, but relentless, she refuses to listen.

"No, listen. You've seen us, visited us, and checked up on us. Cleansed Tokyo of Hollows, for the moment – you've done that, and I'm grateful. I am. And, yeah, you looked after me… but I think you've done enough. Don't let Ichi-nii guilt trip you just because he's worried about his sisters. We can take of ourselves."

It's not him that she's angry at. It's the circumstances, the—

Allusion, maybe? The implication?

… she's not Lois Lane.

"Karin—"

She hates the tangible sadness on his voice.

"No. Look. I've had… enough of this." She can't look at him, and the sun is blinding her. Really, it should be a cloudy day. Maybe windy. But why should she ever put faith in pathetic fallacy? "I'm tired of Ichi-nii using shinigami as a substitute."

She hates the way that he's looking at her.

"Just go. Okay? When I get back home… I don't want to see you there."

"Don't you—"

She's not going to listen to him.

"No." Strange, how detached she's become. Almost like a robot, her insides all mechanical. But she doesn't need his pity. Doesn't need his protection. "Whatever you want to say, save it. Just go back. You've stayed here long enough."

"You would have preferred to get hit? Died?"

His voice cracks, only slightly audible.

"… yes." The words are rusted iron on her tongue.

"Look, Toushirou. Stop being Superman. I don't you to be him."

And they'll never know, if the collision had happened, if she actually would.

"If you see Ichi-nii…" Words hesitate, faltering. Her face softens, vulnerable, feeling exposed. "… tell him to stop being a coward. Alright?"

Her feet move without her consent, but Karin knows that she won't fight.

She hates the ghostly side of life, sometimes.

It has its pros, it has its cons.

But she craves normalcy too.

Hands slide into her pockets: it begins to snow: frozen tears.

The walk home is going to be cold.

Yuzu will not be pleased.

Thing is, Superman saves Lois Lane time and time again.

But Karin never asked to be saved; she wants life to lead its own path.

Wants coincidence and luck and chance to mingle and take a natural course.

And Superman can't save everyone.