A/N I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'M REALLY SORRY FOR SUCH A LATE UPDATE. Now, you can read…
Hitsugaya entered his "classroom" tiredly. He had asked for permission to just stay on the roof as shinigami but his call had been intercepted by Matsumoto who had insisted on him thinking it about 'vacations' or something similar and hadn't let him speak to anybody else. After that, Hitsugaya had thought up about 20 different ways of exacting revenge; most of them involving paperwork.
A deep silence greeted his entrance. Looking up he saw everybody looking at him —most of the girls looking crest-fallen— before he felt Karin behind him. Then the boys erupted in cheers and pulled a confused Hitsugaya inside and a small group of girls did the same to Karin.
"Awesome man, awesome!" The boys cheered, giving pats and thumbs up at him. The other was deeply confused and soon started gritting his teeth annoyed. Just before blowing up, a classmate finally had the decency to tell him what was going on.
"Shinomaru said that he saw you with Karin yesterday, is it true?"
"What! Are you doubting me! I saw them with my very own eyes." Replied the other heatedly. All the boys laughed, Hitsugaya now knew what all this was about but still didn't understand why the commotion. Yes, he had been with Karin he said; and yes, they had walked together, yes they had gone there, no, they didn't do anything he continued answering the never ending questions—even though he didn't know what they were talking about with the last question. Finally fed up, Hitsugaya told them to scram and sat down in his desk. He grimaced when he felt his wounds tensing; they were almost healed, thanks to Urahara's help, but they still hurt.
In case anything happened, he had had a tiring cycle of using healing kidou on himself and taking restoring pills in the rest. Thankfully it did work, not much but just enough so that at least he wouldn't be coughing up blood in class. Even so to be on the safe side Kurosaki had skipped school and was currently on the rooftop.
The hours, or rather the minutes crawled by slowly. Hitsugaya couldn't even get distracted by the "lesson" as they were reviewing what they had been learning and of course, Hitsugaya had already —involuntarily— memorized it all. After an idiotic student, whose name started with 'R', had asked the stupidest question— in Hitsugaya's opinion—, he gave up and asked the teacher for permission to 'use the bathroom' and he went to the rooftop.
"Oh! Yo Toshiro!" Kurosaki said looking up and waving at him. Hitsugaya walked in, closing the door with his foot.
"It's Hitsugaya-taicho for you." He said icily as he went to join him. Actually he would have preferred to be up there alone, but the substitute shinigami was already there so there was nothing he could do. Said person cleared his throat behind him; Hitsugaya sighed silently.
"Ah, hey To-"
"Hitsugaya-taichou! For the last time Kurosaki, it's-"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry, anyways…" He paused, uncertainly. Hitsugaya looked back with a raised eyebrow, Kurosaki looked somewhat uncomfortable, like he didn't know how to phrase his following comment.
"Uh, ah, emm-"
"Spit it out Kurosaki."Hitsugaya said tiredly as he turned around completely and leaned against the railings. The substitute shinigami sighed.
"Yeah…Toshiro,—Hitsugaya had to refrain from a snappy remark at how to address him— do you, um, do you know about Karin's…condition?"
Hitsugaya's head jerked up at Karin's mention "Yes, I do"
"Oh…" Kurosaki seemed slightly surprised, but didn't ask anything else.
"Why do you ask?"
"It's that, she's not very honest in how she feels about it, she's always trying to look strong as to not bother us… and well, when you glanced at her the other day, like hinting something…I needed to know." Hitsugaya looked at him, not as the substitute shinigami but as a worried brother; he smiled softly, he sure was a thoughtful brother.
"I wonder after whom she takes up?" Hitsugaya asked ironically with a wry smile. Kurosaki chuckled at this.
"How did you notice?" Kurosaki asked, much less tense now.
"Well looks like I was blind enough as to not notice until she told me." The calm expression wiped off the teen's face.
"What do you mean she told you? Karin couldn't have…she really told you?" Kurosaki was stunned at this revelation and Hitsugaya had no clue whatsoever as to why. He nodded curtly and Kurosaki raised his eyebrows in silence; after a moment he ran a hand through his hair and face with a nervous chuckle. "I can't believe it…"
"What's the matter Kurosaki?"
"I can count with a single hand how many people she has told." That said he slowly raised his index finger "One" he said unnecessarily as he pointed at Hitsugaya.
"Me? What about you? And your father?" Hitsugaya asked surprised.
"My father was an accident. After she woke up, she was in such panic that he kicked me and Yuzu out. I didn't understand a thing she screamed but apparently goat face could. I snuck up on them, I think, the moment he realized."
" He was in pain because of mom's recent death and after something she said his red eyes widened as tears poured silently and he leaned to hug her tightly…" Hitsugaya's mouth was dry as he silently assimilated the information as Kurosaki covered his face. "She was five Toshiro, five, after that she told to no one how she felt.
"And you?"
"I almost walked in on her once, when she was talking with her single plushtoy." He chuckled, bitterly as he drew in a long breath.
"I…I am sorry for-"
"Why're you apologizing?"
"Well it is a family matter and I'm-"
"Karin decided to tell you. You have as much right to know about this." With that, they fell into an amiable silence. Kurosaki cracked his neck and closed his eyes, but Hitsugaya couldn't move from his Karin always been like this? Clammed up to everyone she cared for? It actually reminded Hitsugaya of himself to an extent. He then remembered a fragment of a previous conversation.
"…Do you trust me?" …"Then please, please wait until I trust you. I'll tell you but not now."
Did that mean she trusted him?
"Hey Kurosaki, have you tried healing her? And not by human means…"
"Yes... Uh… When the hollow that was after the parrot boy-"
"Parrot boy?"
"A soul that resided in a parrot." He answered "She was there, on the street and ended up nearly collapsing while I was chasing Chad— who ended up being hunted too because he protected the parrot— and I took her home. First time I actually saw her cry since the incident, she wanted me to save the boy, and then-"
"Your story-telling abilities are horrible Kurosaki" Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow, the other blushed slightly.
"Shut up! Long story short, I took her home and dealt with the hollow, after it ended, I asked Rukia to check on her to see if she was hurt and she didn't found anything amiss… She still doesn't know, so-"
"I get it. You sure talk an awful lot, Kurosaki."
"Shut up! I'm just worried." Hitsugaya nodded and turned around again. He watched the sky, as the few clouds drifting about, moved east-wards.
Karin was tired of the constant chattering of her friends and the menacing aura of the unfamous bullies (all girls, mind you) and as Hitsugaya had escaped, she had the right to escape as well. After glancing to both sides to avoid any possible collision she carefully followed the subtle—although quickly disappearing— trail of reiatsu of Hitsugaya. The knowledge of the trail had always been there but practically everyone's trail was too weak to be noticed or if visible, to linger. Yet Hitsugaya's was there, strong and certain, just like the man it led to.
She followed it with a steady pace, never showing vacillation on her steps although she did feel it when she wasn't sure if the ground was level or a staircase was near. She never showed it, she was used to it she had to… Darn, why I'm so gloomy? Karin thought as she sighed. She climbed the stairs that led to the roof and opened the door. The moment she felt the sunlight on her skin an immense feeling of dread filled her as a powerful reiatsu washed over her. Well, damn good luck she had—note the sarcasm?
The air shook as a garganta ripped the sky and a few dozens of hollows poured out followed by a single immense creature: a Menos. Behind it Hitsugaya recognized Sauron, the Arrancar. Well crap, they were in trouble.
"Karin! What are you doing here?" Hitsugaya spun as he heard Kurosaki. Scratch that, they were in deep shit.
"Ah, Ich-nii, I'm , well…this is not a good moment right?" She said nervously. Sauron flared his reiatsu as if announcing himself. Her brother jumped up — his body limp on the ground beside him— and before jumping towards the arrancar he turned to Hitsugaya.
"Protect her." And then he departed. Hitsugaya downed a Soul Pill and was soon in position, his mouth twitched silently as his stomach twisted.
"Should I go back?" Karin whispered, cold sweat running down her back, chilling her.
"No." He answered curtly as he entered bankai. A rush of cold air made the girl stumble a little and her eyes widened as she saw up close the wings and hovering figures that had appeared out of thin air. Hitsugaya caught her expression and he looked at his flowers overhead Right, He thought as he understood She can see my reiatsu.
He concentrated on his duty as they were soon attacked. Hitsugaya had the upper hand as he sliced through them; these hollows didn't have the peculiarity of the ones he had fought previously — their shrieks didn't cause any real damage. Heck, most of them weren't even Adjucas. He felt something bright to his right and saw an incoming cero. He grabbed Karin and jumped out of reach even before he had time to think. He heard someone yelping below him
Once they both were out of harm's way, Hitsugaya glanced back and saw his gigai moving on its own. The soul was blowing on his sleeve to put out the fire while he held on to Kurosaki's real body with his other arm. It had apparently been barely able to dodge the attack as he lunged for the other's body.
"Hide!" He yelled at him before he turned again after hearing a deep bellow. It was the menos. It had smoke from the previous attack and was already preparing another. Hitsugaya cursed and jumped again. Some careless hollows were burnt to death by the beam. He slashed at others that had approached from the other side; carrying Karin on his shoulder. He caught glimpse of another incoming cero and barely had time to dodge.
Damn, I need to do something about him… When the cero stopped, the smarter hollows attacked, forcing Hitsugaya to keep moving, while Karin started slipping from his hold. When he got a moment to breath he had an idea.
"Karin, do you hear me?"
"Y-yeah" She said a little out of breath. She didn't sound as scared as Hitsugaya thought she would be. "W-what's your plan? Whoaaa!"
Hitsugaya was nearly attacked from the back and Karin had to cling for dear life as she slipped more.
"I need to…ugh!" His stomach twisted uncomfortably when he parried a hollow's long claws. He crouched —avoiding another swing— and slashed forward killing the hollow. He jumped back as two more took its place. Hitsugaya started panting as he felt another violent twist from his stomach. A cero killed them off as they didn't notice its approach.
"Hitsugaya?" Karin whispered worriedly. He focused on letting Karin down and instead carrying her piggyback style. "I need to get to the big one, or I won't be able to fight and protect you."
"So, the plan is?"
"The plan is…don't let go."
"WhaAAA-!" Karin didn't have time to ask as she had to hang on to Hitsugaya with all her strength as they soured towards the menos. A procession of hollows followed suit. Hitsugaya was forced to use shunpo as they neared the other fight. As they passed by them Sauron, the arrancar, tried to go above his opponent to go directly to them but Kurosaki distracted him once again. In their clash he gave Hitsugaya a what-the-fuck-are-you-doing look before releasing a series of attacks. Karin's vice-like grip loosened as Sauron's reiatsu washed over them and Hitsugaya was quick to grab hold of her arms to prevent her letting go.
A hollow managed to catch up to them and the shinigami had to fall several meters to avoid it and then sped towards the menos again. Hitsugaya avoided a cero and rounded the immense hollow. He raised Hyōrinmaru with both hands and did a simple—but powerful— slash downwards. The menos split in two, each side's gash covered in ice. As the hollow fell apart and dissolved, Hitsugaya could see the Arrancar and Kurosaki. Karin gasped as she felt her brother's reiatsu as he fought.
Hitsugaya tensed as Sauron glanced up at them, but Kurosaki used that opening to slash at his chest. Sauron growled and the substitute shinigami pulled frantically at his zanpakuto, which had stuck to the other's hierro. Freeing it, he barely had time to raise it to fend himself, the force of the blow sending him backwards forcefully.
The Arrancar once again attempted to go for Karin but her brother was quick to block him again; this time by pressing Zangetsu against the other's neck from the back to prevent him from advancing forward.
Hitsugaya felt something and his gaze fell on a long and military-green plait which held on the end a glittering orange bead. The plait was tied to Sauron's waist and it rustled softly with the wind.
Was that there before? Hitsugaya frowned as he looked. It felt… he glanced over his shoulders at Karin. No, he had to be mistaken. He looked at the others again and locked eyes with the dead-like creature by accident. Suddenly the plait moved on its own and wrapped itself around Sauron's waist and became part of his attire, the small bead completely hidden. So he doesn't want us to see it… whatever it is.
Hitsugaya didn't have time to think further as the battle ended in a rapid succession of events. Sauron spun around, ignoring the blood seeping from his neck, even through the hierro, and threw his head forward, jaws open and a bigger set of reiatsu-made jaws appeared. Before he could do as much as stretch his neck a few centimeters, Kurosaki had managed a sort of clumsy —yet strong— upper-cut punch, successfully closing the other's mouth with a sharp snap.
Sauron growled again, stepping aside and his reiatsu rose with his anger. Still mock-composed he turned to look at Karin again and Kurosaki bit the trap. As he launched himself forward to block his enemy, Sauron spun around and attacked.
Karin cried out her brother's name as she felt his reiatsu dropping dramatically.
"ICHI-NII!" She yelled as she stretched out a hand and the ice captain finally reacted.
Hitsugayas's eyes widened as Sauron's blade pierced the orangehead, far too close to his heart. "Kurosaki!" He whispered worriedly and his body tensed as he gave half a step forward.
The Arrancar pulled out the blade and gave two steps back. A dark-red stain spread around the area where Kurosaki had been pierced and he coughed up blood. He fell to one knee as he pressed his hands against the wound. Hitsugaya wasn't sure if to contain the hemorrhage or if he was simply clutching desperately at it. Either way, blood seeped freely from in between his fingers.
Sauron was turning around slowly to face his prey once again when he froze. A second later he jumped away from the agonizing teen, surprise in his face.
Hitsugaya was also surprised: Kurosaki's reiatsu had changed violently and Hitsugaya had little doubt as to what the reiatsu resembled.
Blood stopped dripping as a white blobbing mass appeared on the wound, followed by another coming out of his mouth. Ichigo stumbled and briefly saw his sister. Panic flashed across his eyes as he tried to speak.
"Get… ugh getaway —agh— take… TAKE KARIN AWAY!" He managed to choke out, desperately tearing off chunks of that white substance to no avail. The white mass spread quickly across his face and solidified into a mask. A hollow mask.
The once-shinigami had a white, bony mask with red stripes on the left side and crazed ocher orbs over absolute black. He cackled with a raspy voice, tingled with malice. "Weak, weak, weak…" He chanted with croaky voice, swinging the blade wildly and then released a white -reiatsu attack with the blade towards the Arrancar. " YA'R WEAK KING!"
The surprised Arrancar was sent flying by the strength of the attack, but he managed to steady himself. But before he had time to do anything else, he suddenly found his body being sliced by the other hollow. The former shinigami stepped back as he licked his lips, expectantly, under the mask while blood spurt from his enemy.
Sauron managed to keep his composure and launched himself forward, zanpakuto posed to attack. The Hollow raised Zangetsu excitedly and after the first clash, they launched themselves in a bloodthirsty fight.
The Hollow did a spin and ended up facing the stock-still captain. He cocked his head to a side and then a booming laughter of insanity exploded from him even as he was hit from behind by Sauron. Karin felt a chill as the thing inside his brother fixed his predatory gaze on her.
"King's scared that I'll hurt ya'" He snickered in his raspy voice when he calmed down. "Tha' makes me want to do it MORE!"
Karin cringed and Hitsugaya's body finally reacted. He turned around and sped off trying to make distance between them and those monsters.
Even as their reiatsu finally disappeared, Hitsugaya kept running for some more time. His heart was really loud in his ears but it didn't block out the laughter that still ringed in his ears. He could feel Karin trembling. Finally he stopped and jumped down to the ground. They were just outside Karakura Town.
"Karin" Hitsugaya croaked out, he cleared his throat, but it still sounded dry. "Karin, you can get off now." The girl didn't move and Hitsugaya touched her hand, trying to get a response.
"…-t move" He heard her mumble.
"'msorry?"
"My body won't move…sorry." Hitsugaya looked around, but the place had no comfortable place to sit. Heaving a sigh, he leaned his upper body forward, trying to keep balance as he sat down— a little harsher than what he would have wanted to. Hitsugaya then proceeded to pull Karin's arms away from him and he turned around.
Karin was pale and she trembled violently but she was otherwise fine. Hitsugaya noticed there was blood on her lip, he wasn't sure if it was from her biting too hard or if she had crashed against him. Karin looked up and gave him a feeble smile.
Hitsugaya threw his arms around her and brought her up for a hug. He hugged tightly as he heaved a shaky breath. What had he been so worried about? He didn't know for sure. He did know-
That he was really glad she was safe.
A/N Please, do tell me if there are any incongruence with the story so far. I've noticed two, so I would be thankful if you helped me.
For example I wrote of Sauron as a Vasto Lorde even though he's already an arrancar and on the first chapter the accident with Karin occurred when she was five, not six as I had previously written. (those were the mistakes I caught writing this chap)
On to the reviews!
Ziya Hitsugaya: :D Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
Ultimate Black Ace: So this story managed to get you to login? :P And yep it took him that long to figure out XD... And be prepared to expect another (reeeeaally) obvious thing Hitsugaya couldnt notice. Although we could forgive him for that as he isn't as experienced in that area ;P can you guess what it is?
I didn't got many reviews D: why is that?
"As I had read somewhere before… Inspiration is a bitch. I'm droppig in my seat from tiredness, awaiting an impending trip in a few hours (it's 12:30 when I wrote tis bit) and oh surprise..my mind is suddenly flooded with ideas I'll probably forget if I don't write them right away,,,"
I wrote that in the moment, didn't even correct spelling XD, just added de quotation marks.
BTW my keyboard's 'i' is malfunctioning and it's really irritating…
Hope you liked, please R&R, it really makes me happy :)