A/N: sorry it took a while to update. I'm swamped in homework and I have baseball now, so it might take a bit longer to update now. But I will try to update as fast as I can. Thanks to those who has been reviewing. Pease review, I like to know your thoughts and opinions on this, and if you have any ideas for upcoming chapters, it would be nice to hear them. Thanks J
Ch.11
My attack was on Sunday, and it is now Thursday. Toshiro has been keeping a close eye on me, like a hawk, ever since my near death experience. I didn't expect a hollow that looked so regular, to be so powerful. That spiritual power was weighing me down.
We were walking by the park, when we heard our names being called. We look over to see a bunch of kids from our class. They are holding gloves and a bat.
"Toshiro! Karin! Come play softball with us."
We walk closer to them. For once, I was the one who objected instead of Toshiro. "Sorry guys, I actually don't really know how to play softball," I say sheepishly.
Some of the guys look shocked, because I'm good at every sport that we play. "How about you Toshiro?"
"Sure, sounds fun. Come one Karin, I'll show you how to play," he pauses for a moment. "As some people say, it's easy breezy lemon squeezy," he says uncertainly.
I start to laugh. I can't believe that he just said that saying, it's so not like him to say that. "Since when have you played ball?" I ask him still laughing.
He thinks about it for a moment. "Some of the guys organizes a game once a month. I can only play about once every three months though, because Matsumoto always doesn't do her portion of the paper work, and of course all the paper work has to be done first," he tells me with a sigh.
"Toshiro and Karin, you will both be on Junichi's team," Katsumi informs us.
Kenshin tosses us leather gloves as we go into the out field. Toshiro explains the rules to me just before we go into our positions. I take center field, the position behind second base, and Toshiro takes left field, the position behind third base. This part shouldn't be too hard. I just have to catch the ball and throw it in, and I've thrown a ball before and people have said that I have a good arm.
Tadao is up to bat. He is wearing silky black shorts, that go to the middle of his knee cap, and a dark green shirt. His helmet is covering up his short light brown hair. His legs are shoulder width apart, with his knees slightly bent. His hands are at the bottom of the bat, with his hands touching and his knuckles all in line.
Takumi circles his arm above his head, down to his hip and releases the ball. He did that in sync with stepping forward with his front foot, and dragging his back foot up.
Tadao swings the bat across his body in a straight line, while he steps forward with his front foot. He miss the ball.
"Strike one!" Takumi exclaims. The ball flying back to him, he catches it in his glove. He narrows his eyes at the ball as he turns around to face Tadao. He does exactly what he just did. He circles his hand over his head, back down to his hip, and releases it with power that makes it go fast.
This time when Tadao steps and swings, the bat makes hard contact with the ball. The ball flies out into the out field. Tadao starts running to the bases. The ball flies just over Toshiro's head. Toshiro runs to get the ball, and throws it to third base. Tadao is stuck on second base so he won't get out on third.
Now Sora is up to bat. On the first swing, he hits it up high into the sky, right above me. The guys on my team are cheering for me to catch it. My arm is up by my head, to catch the ball before it hits it. I shift a little to the tight and forward, then back two steps. It's getting closer. I feel the ball hit the glove that I'm using, I quickly put my right hand on top of it to prevent it from falling out. I hold the ball for a split second before I throw it to second base. It's a double play. I caught the pop fly, causing the batter to be out, and Tadao doesn't get back to second base quick enough, causing him to get out too.
The next couple of guys that bat end up getting to home base, getting points for their team. Takumi finally strikes somebody out, and since we got three out, we get to go up to bat now.
Takashi puts on a helmet, and walks up to home base. His method is like Tadao's, bent knees, elbows up, and knuckles together. Tadao pitches the ball. Takashi hit's the ball on the first swing. It goes towards short-stop, he makes it to first base.
Next up is Tadashi. I notice that they all have the same stances as each other, maybe that's how we all are supposed to stand like. He hit's the ball into the out field, getting to second base while Takashi runs to home base.
I put on a helmet and stand on deck, I'm up next after Raiden. I start to practise swinging the bat while I watch the ball. I feel cold hands on top of mine on the bat.
"You're not doing it right," Toshiro tells me, his breath tickling my face. "Bend your knees a bit more." One of his hands trails slowly up my arm, causing me to inwardly shiver. He places his hand on my elbow to raise it up some more. He places his hand back on top of mine. He moves our hands across our bodies to swing the bat. "Just like that," he tells me.
"Get a room you two," Mitsuru tells us.
A bunch of the guys laugh at the remark. I look to second base, Tadashi is glaring daggers at Toshiro. Toshiro backs away from me to go sit back on the bench with the guys. I feel a faint blush creep across my cheeks.
Raiden hits the ball, but not very far. He gets out at first base while Tadashi gets to third. It's my turn now. I walk up to home base, and hold the bat above it to make sure I'm in the right spot. I widen my legs a little bit, to make them shoulder width apart. I bend my knees, and get my hands and elbows in the position they should be. I think to myself, shoulders and knees, those are the boundaries. I wait for the pitch.
Tadao pitches the ball. It's fast, but it's high. I notice that the ball is above my shoulders, and don't swing the bat. If I get four of that kind of pitch, then I get to go to first base. If I don't, then I'll either have to hit it, strike out, or hit the ball and still get out. I am hoping to hit the ball and get on base.
Tadao pitches fast again. It's right in the middle. I swing the bat, but I'm to slow. "Strike one!" Tadao exclaims. He pitches once again. I'm not ready for it. I hurriedly swing the bat, making contact with the ball. It flies out to right field. For a split second, I watch the ball fly in the sky. I run to first base and realize that I have enough time to make it to second, so I do so. I arrive on base just before Junichi could tag me out.
A few more guys on my team bat. Their hits are enough to get me to home base. We get five runs in, getting in the lead. Since we got five in, it is now our turn to go back on the field.
It is pretty much the same as the last time we were on the field. Being on the field is kind of boring, it's funner being up to bat. They get a couple runs in, making us tide.
The sky is turning gray as black clouds start rolling in. A few rain drops fall on my arms. The rain starts coming faster, pouring down. Thunder roars in our ears, with a quick flash of lightning.
"Game's over, lets call it a tie and go home," Mitsuru tells us all.
Everybody goes back to the bench to pack up their things. I help pack things up, too, since I was participating in the game. Nobody is in a hurry to get home, despite the storm that is starting up.
I'm standing right by Tadashi/ he quickly glances to Toshiro, then back to his duffle bag that has all of his equipment in it. "Hey, Karin," he says getting my attention. "Can I walk you home?"
I hesitate, looking over his shoulder to look at Toshiro. Toshiro gives me a forced nod, signalling that he'll meet me at home. "Yeah, sure," I accept Tadashi's offer.
We walk to my house in silence. The only noise being the roaring thunder, and the rain pattering on the ground. The cars barely audible over the storm.
We finally arrive in front of my house, both of us are soaking wet. We walk up to the door, still haven't said a word. "Thanks for walking me home," I smile at him.
He takes my hand in his. He raises it to his lips, and kisses it. "Karin, it is my pleasure," he pauses, letting my hand go. "Karin Kurosaki, if no one has asked you yet, I would like to be your escort to the upcoming ball."
I stand right in front of him, staring at him, flabbergasted. I hadn't expected him to ask me, and the ball is only a couple days away. I give myself a mental shake, and regain my composure. "Tadashi, thank you for asking me, but I have already accepted somebody else's offer. I'm sorry."
"It's Hitsugaya isn't it?" he asks in a slightly angry tone. "The way he was all over you at the game, marking his territory. It's obvious that it is him."
I let my head drop, looking at the ground. "Yes, it is Toshiro who I am going with. But he wasn't marking anything," I say firmly, looking back up at him. He now has a scowl on his face.
Right at that moment, my father decides to open the door. "Oh my! My little Karin is with a boy! This must mean she's getting married!" my dad exclaims joyously.
I punch him in the face. Dad holds his reddening cheek, with fake tears in his eyes. I turn to Tadashi. He looks a bit freaked out, anyone who meets my dad gets freaked out, especially when he mentions marriage. We are way too young to get married.
"Sorry about that, Tadashi. He's like this with everybody," I apologized, embarrassed of my father's behaviour.
"Oh Karin! My beautiful daughter, why must you always hurt daddy?" he fake cries.
"Because you're very immature. I'll stop when you grow up," I tell him, justifying my actions.
Dad stops crying. He just notices that it's storming, and Tadashi and I are soaking wet. "Oh my! You're both soaked to the bone! Come on in my boy, and dry off while the storm calms down."
Tadashi hesitates. "Um, no thanks. I should be getting home, my mom will be getting worried," he declines the offer.
Dad looks like he is heart broken, then quickly snaps out of it. He snaps his fingers like he has a brilliant idea. "Nonsense my boy, we'll just call your lovely mother hen from the house phone. I shall tell her that we will ensure your safety here. He pushes Tadashi into the house, knowing that if he touches me, I'll punch him in the face again.
"Here's some of Ichigo's old clothes. You can change in the washroom, down the hall, the first door on the right. I'll go call your lovely mother to let her know that you are safe here," dad walks to the kitchen phone while Tadashi goes to change.
I quickly but silently run up the stair to my room. Toshiro is laying on my bed with his legs crossed, reading a book called Holes. He looks up from the book smiling at me, his beautiful eyes shining. When he sees my expression, his changes from happy to puzzled.
I close my door and go towards him, so nobody will hear us talking. "Tadashi is here," I tell him. I go to sit beside him on my bed, but then realize that I am still wet.
He looks disappointed. "Oh," he sounds kind of sad, as if I changed my mind about him.
"My dad insisted that he says here until the storm passes," I explain to him. "I'm not changing my mind about anything," I ensure him, smiling. I lean in and kiss him on the cheek.
I go to my dresser to get some dry clothes. I decide to just change into my pyjamas, I'm not going anywhere else tonight. Once I'm done changing, I decide to go back downstairs. I can't just leave Tadashi down there all alone, with my dad. What a disaster that would be. Poor Tadashi would be scarred for life if I left him alone with dad for too long.
Dad just gets off of the phone when I enter the living room. Tadashi is sitting on the couch looking awkward, like he doesn't know what to do. I just rejected him, and now he is forced to stay here for a while with me and my creepy dad.
I just sit down on the couch next to Tadashi, when my dad comes in smiling creepily. This cannot be good. "Amazing youthful children, I have just talked to young Tadashi's mother hen. Considering that Tadashi is going to be my new son, he is allowed to stay here until the storm has past."
The phone rings, stopping dad from saying anything else. He leaves the living room to go back to the kitchen to get the phone. I can hear him saying in a serious tone, "Uh huh, uh huh, alright. Yes, right away. I'm on my way, I'll be there as fast as I can." He hangs up the phone, and comes back to tell us what is going on. "I have to go to the clinic. There was an accident, and the patients will be arriving soon," he picks up his jacket from the chair and puts it on. "I'll probably be back late, so don't wait up. Goodnight kids," and with that, he leave the house.
There is no school tomorrow, so Yuzu is at a sleep over and Ichigo is in the Soul Society. That leaves me and Tadashi alone downstairs, while Toshiro is secretly in my room. What a great night this will be, note the sarcasm.
I turn to face him. "The power hasn't gone out yet, how about we watch a movie?" I ask, breaking the silence between us.
"Yeah, a movie sounds good," he replies nodding.
I walk over to the shelf that has the movies on it, and search for a good one to watch. "The Notebook, too girly. Mhmm I Know What You Did Last Summer, lame. A Cinderella Story, too Yuzu. Huh, Prom Night, it's kind of lame, but I haven't watched it for a while." I put it into the DVD player, and go sit back down beside Tadashi.
We are at the part where they are in the hotel for prom, and the main girl goes back to her room to get something. Of course the crazy murderer comes into her room to get her, and she hides under the bed.
"Oh come on! Not under the bed, that's the most obvious hiding spot! She should really stop hiding there," I complain about the girls' unintelligent hiding place.
My eyelids are getting really heavy by the time the cops search the hotel top to bottom. I should go up to my room, but I'm too tired that I have no strength. I cuddle up to the warmth absentmindedly, as I fall into the familiar darkness of sleep.
I wake up to the sun streaming in through the window. With my eyes still closed, I wiggle closer to the warm thing beside me. I feel it move and hear it yawn, right I forgot that Tadashi is still here. I realize that my head is on his chest. I quickly move away from him, opening my eyes to see him watching me.
"Sorry," I apologize to him. Somehow, I just know that he doesn't mind the slightest bit that we were cuddling with each other. But I mind, I'm with Toshiro not Tadashi. If I'm going to cuddle with anybody, then it should only be with Toshiro.
"Good morning," he grins at me.
After we eat breakfast, Lucky Charms, I go to the laundry room to retrieve Tadashi's now dried clothes. "Here you go," I say handing them over to him.
"Thanks," he walks off to the washroom to go change. Before he's out of sight, he pulls off his shirt, revealing his bare back to me. Before I can get more than just a glimpse, he turns into the washroom, disappearing from sight.
He comes back out, looking mice and clean. "Thanks for having me over, but I think my mom would want me to come home now," he says with a sigh.
I walk him to the door. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow at the ball," I say awkwardly, thinking about what he said about Toshiro. I open up the door.
He leans in, but instead of a hug, he gives me a peck on the cheek. "See you tomorrow," he walks out of the door to go home.
I close the door behind him, and start to go up the stairs to my room to explain to Toshiro why I wasn't in bed last night.