I must apologize for the late posting, I had no time this weekend and am just getting to type this up now.
I am happy to say that I didn't lose all of my reviews when there wasn't a poll so…
YAY!
This chapter chops my deadlines up completely. I'm above the 10th chapter, and beyond 2 months.
Disclaimer: If I owned Bleach, I would broadcast it on the radio and on TV, giving is super attention! This should just prove to you all that I do not own Bleach.
Enjoy!
Rukia skips happily up to Orihime's front door and knocks gently. After a moment of silence, Rangiku answers the door. "What is it?" she asks seriously, thinking that something might have happened to Karin.
Rukia peers around Rangiku's busty body into the house. "Toshiro's not here?" she asks.
Rangiku shakes her head no, "He went out an hour ago, I think he said something about the park."
Rukia slides inside, just thinking of the perfect ness of the moment. "Is Orihime home?"
"Nope, she went grocery shopping." Rangiku closes the door and plops down on a nearby couch. "So what's up?"
Rukia sits down across from her, trying to keep a somewhat serious face. "Squad 10 has been called back to the Seireitei, it has been determined that they are no longer needed in the world of the living."
Rangiku nods solemnly, "What does that mean for the bet?"
Rukia puts up one hand and can't hold her smile back any longer, "You didn't let me finish. You two aren't the only ones going to the Seireitei. Kurosaki Karin is to join you for one day of training from Hitsugaya-taicho. The head captain doesn't believe that Karin is strong enough, so he wants her to train under your captain for just one day to hone her skills."
Rangiku is now hosting a similar smile to Rukia's as she takes in the idea. "So it's on me now, what do you want me to do?"
"First…."
The two girls get closer together to share their plans…
At the same time
Toshiro gets tired of kicking a soccer ball into an open net, so he heads off to check on Karin. That girl could drown herself in a puddle if you left her alone for too long. He walks slowly back the house, enjoying the fresh air.
Eventually he gets back to the Kurosaki home and slips inside. The door is unlocked, making Toshiro's entrance easier than expected. He walks down the narrow side hallway and knocks on Karin's door.
"Come in." Someone, probably Karin, calls from inside the room.
Toshiro pushes open the door, finding himself staring straight into the intense gaze of Ichigo Kurosaki. "What?" Toshiro asks, looking away from the carrot top. He looks over at Karin, who is already much livelier and healthier looking than a little while ago.
"Ichigo was just going to tell me something, he said it had to do with you." Karin makes a motion for Toshiro to sit in one of the chairs.
Toshiro shoots a confused look at Ichigo, "What is she talking about Kurosaki?" he asks cautiously.
Ichigo sighs, "I guess you haven't heard yet, so I might as well be the one to tell you. Squad 10 has been recalled back to the Seireitei."
Karin pulls a face but doesn't say anything.
"That's too bad, with Karin injured this place needs some more protecting," says Toshiro.
Karin decides to add in with, "We only got to hang out for a few days Toshiro. You know what this means? It means you have to visit more!"
"Ah…" Ichigo cuts in to the small moment generating between the younger teens, "I wasn't done yet. Karin, you are going up to the Seireitei as well, but you will only stay for a day. Toshiro is supposed to train you. Yamamato said that you were too weak and needed more training."
Karin smiles and sits back a little on the bed, "That's awesome! I won't go easy on you during our training Toshiro."
Toshiro just sighs, "Fine… but I won't go easy on you either."
"Hah! If you went easy then you would lose in ten seconds flat!"
"Wanna bet on it?"
"Woah, woah!" Ichigo cuts in, "No bets, betting is bad. You shouldn't get involved in that kind of stuff Karin." (A/N: Irony! I love it)
"We were just kidding around Ichi-nii. It will be fun to go up to the Seireitei, what time do we leave?"
"Tonight."
That night
The Seireitei is the polar opposite of the world of the living. When it is warm in the Seireitei, the world of the living is usually on the colder side. Vice versa is true, but not as harshly as the first. The Seireitei is protected by Soul Reapers, so it doesn't suffer from the weather changes as much.
Needless to say, nights in Karakura are cold. Very, very cold. Karin wraps her scarf tighter around her neck and a small chill creeps down her spine.
She glances over at Toshiro, who is dressed as if it were 90 degrees outside. "H-how can you not be cold?" she stammers.
Toshiro glances up at the dark night sky as he answers, "I am the ice, this weather is perfect for me."
Rangiku walks up to the two of them quietly. "It's time to go, Urahara says that the portal is ready."
"Ok." Karin jumps off of the bench that she was resting on and shakes some warmth into her body.
The three of them go over to Urahara, who is measuring the sides of his portal with a measuring tape.
"Hmm… I don't know about this," he mumbles to himself.
"Don't know about what?" Toshiro demands crossly.
"Ah! Hitsugaya-taicho, you see, I don't know if the portal is stable enough for three separate people to go through. Two of you could always try to trick the portal by traveling close together, but obviously Matsumoto-fukutaicho can't do that." Urahara measures the sides again and shifts to the up and down sides for measurements.
Toshiro sighs in frustration, "Why did you set it up like this?"
Urahara scoffs from his kneeling position, "It's the cold, I didn't think that the portal would be affected, but it appears to be shrinking even as we talk here."
Urahara looks over Toshiro's shoulder and makes eye contact with Rangiku, mischievousness sparkling in his eyes.
"I know!" Shouts Rangiku, "What if Hitsugaya-taicho and Karin-chan went together. They are both smaller than me, and I bet one of them could ride on the others back."
Karin starts to shake her head no, but Toshiro pauses to think.
"If we have to…" he says grudgingly. He leans down and motions for Karin to climb on. "Let's go Kurosaki, we don't have all day."
"Why do I have to be on top?" Karin crosses her arms and lets out a 'hmph'.
"Because I'm the captain!"
Rangiku sighs and nudges Karin towards Toshiro, "Come on Karin-chan, before we lose the portal completely. How about this, I'll go first, and you guys can follow me."
Karin nods and let's out a small sigh of defeat.
Rangiku launches through the portal and disappears. Toshiro once again tries to place Karin on his back, and this time she complies. "I am going to kill Urahara for this," they both mumble under their breath at the same time.
Toshiro shifts Karin so she's comfortable on his back and hustles through the portal.
Don't think about it… She's just Karin. Her hair doesn't smell nice or anything….
After a few moments of running, the two pop out in the Seireitei.
A flash goes off in their faces and both teens see white spots. When their vision clears, Rangiku is standing in front of them, smiling evilly, pocketing the camera before they can take it.
Toshiro dumps Karin, who lets out an 'umph' as she throws her feet down to catch her fall. Toshiro walks away slowly, leaving time for Karin to call after him. "Where are you going?"
Toshiro glances over his shoulder at the angry girl, "I have to report in, find yourself a place to stay. We start training in the morning."
With his business finished, Toshiro shunpos off to the meeting center to report.
"See you around Karin," says Rangiku sympathetically. She too shunpos off, probably to report to some other vice captains or something.
Karin looks around, the last time she had been here was… well a long time ago. "I wonder if they have any maps?" she wonders aloud.
That was fun! The next chapter will be spent with Karin looking for a place to stay, and maybe some training too.
I can't believe we aren't into day 5 yet. It's interesting, but a little sad to know that I can't keep things moving.
"This just in! Review Replies!"
Lady Queria- lol sorry about misspelling clothes. It would be quite funny, but in this story, she's been to the soul society once before, although she will get into fights ;) Soccer match and then kissing? Maybe as an 'accidental' celebration thing but I couldn't see it go beyond that. Oh no… now you've planted ideas into my head.
blacklightangel- I'm sorry, I couldn't "update soon" because of my crazy life. It's fine that you couldn't vote, I hoped you liked what it ended up as. I love white rice too, but only with lots and lots of soy sauce.
IsbellaJacob2521- I'm glad it makes you laugh, I like knowing that my stuff is making people feel better. As for Toshiro, I've been a little worried that he may be too weak, and not enough like an ice cube, do you get what I'm saying?
meggie-moo s- hehe your review made me laugh. No prob about spelling, that is how I originally spelled it in the story, but I went back and fixed it later on. Of course they are going to kiss, it's love!
oOoHKoOo- I love torturing Ichigo… and Toshiro has more than one day left. If Rukia (or Toshiro himself) can trick the head command into sending him back down to the world of the living, then Toshiro will still have days 6 and 7 to win her over. Rukia has very large sleeves….
Gaming Girl- training always brings out the best emotions in people. I could imagine that kind of thing with Karin, but in my story she's already been once so it will be a little different. Fighting is a must have though ;)
vampirebeast01- Actually, I really do care about your favorite food and such. I'm not a huge sushi fan, maybe if it wasn't wrapped in seaweed…. What do you think chapters are? I don't have them like babies overnight, and I certainly don't skimp off on these replies :D
Lina Schiffer- Thanks! I feel like a change of environment for a little while will be good for the story. It also brings the Soul Reapers into this insanity. I like noodles too!
RainingSun- I like making people laugh, that kind of thing makes me feel worthwhile you know? Not worthless… Thanks for saying something, I have a friend who is really into the color yellow, and I like red, so this is a win win! Sushi pizza…. Not so much.
Little Gypsy Girl- Not proper, which means that she doesn't have to count it! Karin has more than a day, if she can convince Toshiro to back to the world of living then she has a little longer. Plus, Rangiku is there to ensure everything goes as planned.
headyzest- I dunno about Ichigo and Rukia. Sure their relationship is moving forward, but they are kind of locked in a serious competition. Ichigo would probably accuse Rukia of sabotage if she made a move on him and vice-versa. I know! I'll have a vote! I like votes…
whitegrlanimeluver- Your welcome, your welcome, your welcome. It was my honor to use your idea! Sorry for the late update… I feel kind of bad about it.
MKBunny- The get together is definitely going to be as last minute as possible. The longer that the relationship drags on, the more chapters I get to write! I'm glad you like the story, I feel that this one is one of my best works.
flipomatic- wouldn't be much of a comedy without it now would it?
Turtle-chan in Blue- There are soooo many things wrong with people (lets not go into detail) I took them to the soul society because now I can include all of the crazy Soul Reapers that live there!
PunkRockHolly- it was only a couple hundred shorter than the normal… A mistake on my part, I probably should have thrown the beginning of this chapter on the end of that one.
Ziryx- both, I love sabotaging Ichigo and Rukia is just doing all of my dirty work. Isshin has very few purposes, and this is one of them!
tichtich2- You can thank Frostfire (the hollow) for Karin's return to the soul society. I don't want you to stop reviewing (as we discussed) I would miss your awesomeness and then I could never reply again. :( so just keep coming! :)
"And that is the end of this urgent broadcast!"
POLL TIME: I'm not sure what to do here, so if you want to share your opinion, please do.
Should Ichigo and Rukia get together at the end of the story?
Yes
No
Undecided