An hour later they lay still, breathless and blissful, still naked in Karin's bed. She laid her head on his chest and he stroked her hair gently. They didn't talk. There was no need to talk. Finally, reluctantly, Karin broke the silence.
"Let's go. I don't know when my family's coming back, but I don't think we should be caught like this." Hitsugaya nodded. They dressed and left the room. Since it was a nice day, they decided to go for a walk. They had a lot to talk about.
They held hands as they strolled along the river, telling each other about their lives since they had last seen one another. The years melted away as they talked, laughed, and teased. Their old love was still strong, but a new one was growing, not to replace it, but to add to it. Neither could remember ever feeling so peaceful.
"Demo, I still can't believe you gave up being a taicho!" Karin joked. "It was like, the best part about you!"
"Oi, say things like that and I might just go back to Soul Society." Hitsugaya couldn't remember the last time he had felt so free, so alive. The hot sun was pouring down on them, so they headed towards the shade of a large tree.
"Too bad you're retired and can't go back," Karin continued. "It looks like you're stuck with me."
"No, you've got it backwards," said Hitsugaya, backing her into the tree trunk. "You're stuck with me!" She laughed and he kissed her.
"Kesuma!" shouted a furious, yet familiar voice. "Get your hands off of my fiancé!" Hitsugaya spun around and before anyone realized what had happened he had Kentaro in a headlock.
"It's alright Toushiro, let him go," Karin said, figuring out what had occurred. Reluctantly, Hitsugaya loosened his grip and Kentaro threw him off.
"Baka! What the hell do you think you're doing, attacking someone like that?" Karin screamed at Kentaro, livid.
"Oi, he was attacking you!" Kentaro retorted, still steaming.
"Baka!" Karin yelled. "Who said he was attacking me? And another thing-I am not your fiancé!" Kentaro stood there for a few moments as the weight of what Karin had just said hit him. He looked as if someone had smacked him over the head with a frying pan.
"Wait a minute," he asked puzzled. "You mean, you let him kiss you?!" Karin's face softened at the hurt in his voice. He was, after all, her best friend.
"Gomen, Kentaro. I didn't know how to tell you. I've been in love with Toushiro for a long time, and only today did he come and…""Wait," Kentaro interrupted, still hurt and confused. "I know all your old friends and I see you every day. How on earth did you have a lover I didn't know about?"
"Gomen Kentaro," Karin continued, fighting back tears. She felt horrible that she had hurt Kentaro so badly. This was not how she would have chosen for him to find out about Hitsugaya.
"There were extenuating circumstances and we couldn't tell anyone. But well, Toushiro and I…have been engaged for a long time." She grabbed Hitsugaya's wrist and held it up. Kentaro's eyes widened. There, on his wrist, was a bracelet that Kentaro knew well. It was Karin's bracelet. No, he realized. It was different. The bracelets were a set, made from the same string in the same style. The bracelet that Karin never took off, the one she didn't want to talk about-this strange new person had one too. And Kentaro understood; he had lost. He dropped his head, gave all this new information a chance to sink in, and took a moment to compose himself. Then he forced a smile onto his face and looked up at Karin.
"Baka, you should have told me. Now I feel like a complete moron!" Karin couldn't help it. Grinning broadly, she jumped into the air and hugged him, something she had never done before. She let go and Kentaro stuck out his hand towards Hitsugaya.
"Well, if you're really going to marry Karin, then I guess we'd better learn to like each other. Arima Kentaro. Nice to meet you." Hitsugaya smiled and shook his hand.
"Hitsugaya Toushiro. Nice to meet you too."
"Toushiro," mused Kentaro. "Where have I heard that name before? It sounds kinda familiar. It does!" he claimed at an incredulous look from Karin.
"Ah!" he exclaimed. "Karin, is this the guy your friends told me about? The soccer legend?" Karin laughed.
"That's right. He could beat you any day. And, for that matter," Karin bragged, thrilled that Kentaro was taking this so well, "he makes my kendo skills look like Yuzu's…no actually, more like yours!"
"Urusai!" Kentaro laughed. "Well Hitsugaya, if you're really as good as Karin thinks you are, than I challenge you to a match!"
"I'm looking forward to it!" Hitsugaya challenged back.