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Toshiro unbuckled his seatbelt, and brought his hand to the door. "I'm going to go pick up our food."

"Okay, I'm going to call Kimi real quick."

"Well I guess it's a good time for me to be getting out of the car then." Toshiro replied, smirking as he opened the door and got out.

"Ha ha." Karin shot back, smiling as she dialed Kimi's number. Today was a pretty good day. I think this is going to be a great school year.


Two and a half weeks later, Thursday, September 15th

Letting her power engulf her hand, Karin started running full speed at Akira. They got close to a boulder that left Akira slightly cornered, but she managed to get out of the way last second. Just narrowly having missed Karin's hand that would have made contact with her shoulder. Instead, Karin's fist made contact with the boulder, and it broke off a few pieces.

Karin didn't skip a beat, and turned around. Jumping to the side as Akira came at her with a real katana now. Taking the role of defense for a moment, she kept backing off the many rocks around them, and finally summoning her power back to her hands, she began to form a ball as she took off again. This time instead of taking another turn as she got closer to a rock, she turned around to face Akira and pushed her power out in an almost shield.

It was enough to push Akira back, but her real katana quickly broke through Karin's shield. However, Karin had used the pause to create a katana once again, and blocked Akira's real katana from hitting her. Feeling her back pressed against the rock behind her, she gritted her teeth, and quickly dissolved her katana and grabbed Akira's arm and twisted so she could make Akira drop the katana.

It was silent as Karin took some deep breaths, and Akira grinned at her. "Damn, that was much better. You seem to have your powers back under control."

Karin relaxed as Akira signaled the spar was over. "I feel like my life just flashed before my eyes."

"Well you disabled me much faster this time-"

"I'm dying."

Akira laughed at Karin's interrupt, as she grabbed some water and glanced at her watch. "We need to wrap it up here. I have to get back to my apartment and grab some dinner… You coming?"

"I'm just going to lie here for a few more minutes..." Karin trailed off, her eyes watching Akira as she walked up the stairs, then her eyes went to the sky. They were using the training space under Urahara's shop, as Karin's powers were becoming a little destructive for the training space in the forest. Even though the space they were in was artificial it still felt like she was really outside. As she looked up to the sky, her vision started to waver.

Walking up concrete steps. Looking forward to the door, she raised an eyebrow at the tall double oak doors in front of her. On each of the doors there was a colorful window with full trees on them.

This time she was familiar with the scene, and she turned around to the endless white room. Turning back around to face the concrete steps and the double oak doors. She took a step towards them. Reaching out, she attempted to open the doors to find they wouldn't budge. Beginning to feel frustrated, she continued trying to push on the doors, but they remained sealed shut.

Opening her eyes, she was back in the training space at Urahara's, and she raised an eyebrow. I finally got my powers back under control, but then to still have that vision… Maybe it just means that it is something important.

Upstairs

"The assignment went smoothly," Ichigo started, picking up Mina out of her carrier, and smiling down at his daughter. "I've been gone since Sunday evening, and it's nice to be back."

"It's been so quiet here," Orihime said, a smile on her face, as she shared a look with Yoruichi. "With you, Toshiro, Renji, Rangiku, and Rukia gone, it was-"

"Blissful." Yoruichi offered, chuckling along with Urahara.

"I was going to say lonely, but I did get more training done in peace I guess." Orihime said, smiling at how that made Rukia stick out her tongue in her direction.

Isshin clearing his throat was heard, as he got his son's attention. "It's good to have you back, but it was nice being able to spend more time with my granddaughter this week."

That brought a smirk to Ichigo's face. "Did anyone miss me? Because it doesn't really sound like it… Hey Yuzu, what about you?"

Yuzu, who just walked in from outside, froze in her spot. Her phone in hands. "What about me?"

"Did you miss me?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Yuzu moved to lean back against the wall, as she looked down at her phone. "I mean, I guess so. It's not like you live in the house anymore, so it's not like it's really noticeable that you left."

While that brought laughter from the others, Ichigo rolled his eyes and smirked. "Thanks a lot."

The door opening from the back of the room was heard, and Akira walked in. Drinking from her water bottle.

"Damn," Rukia started, raising an eyebrow at Akira. "You look like you just ran a marathon."

"I actually feel more like I was chased a whole marathon." Akira shot back, a smirk appearing on her face.

Orihime offered Akira a smile. "How did Karin's training session go?"

"Well she seems to be back on track. I guess it helps that we're having a more regular training schedule figured out," Akira replied, then she grinned. "She actually almost took my arm off today."

"You seem so happy about that." Renji commented, then he flinched when Rukia punched his shoulder. A smirk appearing on his face at the small smile that was on Rukia's.

"Well Karin's been working on managing her powers more at home," Isshin said, bringing attention back to the conversation. "We're lucky we got that privacy fence put up in our backyard over the summer, or else our neighbors would have some questions."

Ichigo's eyebrow raised. "I want to spar her."

Surprisingly Toshiro was the one to chuckle and catch Ichigo's attention. "I don't see that going well. I feel like if you two ever sparred, half the town would get blown up."

That made the others laugh, even Ichigo couldn't help but chuckle. "Speaking of Karin, where-"

Karin walking in the room interrupted Ichigo, and her eyes met his. "Oh. You're back."

At her lack of enthusiasm, Ichigo sighed. "Nice to see you too."

Toshiro, who had stood up at the sight of Karin, smiled and reached over to her.

"Whoa," Karin said, putting a hand to his chest to keep him from hugging her. "I'm really happy to see you and all, but I'm all sweaty and gross."

"I don't care," Toshiro replied as he took the hand that she had on his chest, and he kissed her once. "So what did I miss?"

"Well I almost died in training a few minutes ago."

While that made the others laugh, Akira rolled her eyes. "You did not. Get some rest tonight, and take it easy this weekend. I'll see you next week."

After Akira left, some of the shinigami left to go downstairs and get a little training in. Isshin took that opportunity to meet Karin's eyes. "Are you still going to the football game tomorrow?"

"You've got to be kidding," Ichigo spoke before Karin could, getting her focus. "Since when are you into football?"

"I'm not really, but Kimi and some of our friends are. I figured I might give it a chance. Who knows?" Karin countered, her eyes switching to Yuzu when she heard her sister scoff. "What?"

Gaining a sarcastic smile on her face, Yuzu shrugged. "Is this going to be your new thing now? Hanging out with a bunch of the popular kids and following them around?"

Karin smirked back at her sister. "How does being social and making friends sound like such a bad thing coming from you-"

"Girls," Isshin interrupted, shaking his head at their glaring at each other. "If you both want to go tomorrow, you're going to have to practice being nice to each other more often."

While that didn't stop Karin and Yuzu from glaring each other, Ichigo started chuckling. "Wait, so Yuzu's going too now?"

Karin finally broke her glare to laugh. "I know right? While I'm going to actually watch the game, Yuzu's going to flirt with some guy-"

"Karin!" Yuzu snapped, her eyes darkening.

"Oops," Karin said, offering her sister a smirk before she walked towards the door. "I'll see you all at home. I need a shower ASAP."

As Toshiro got up and followed Karin outside, Yuzu's eyes went to where her dad, Ichigo, and Orihime were looking at her. "It's no one alright? I don't want to talk about it. Can we leave now?"

Isshin shook his head, as he got up to towards the hall where Urahara had gone down when everyone else left. "I have to talk to Urahara about some things."

"Great, I'll wait outside!" Yuzu exclaimed quickly, as she turned to go out to the front of the shop.

As soon as Yuzu and Isshin left the room, Ichigo chuckled as he passed Mina back over to Orihime. "That was hostile."

"It's been like that," Orihime said, rocking Mina a little as she grabbed her nursing cover out of Mina's diaper bag. Knowing she was a little fussy from being hungry. "You missed a few screaming matches earlier this week."

Ichigo shrugged, watching Orihime put the nursing cover on over her, before starting to nurse Mina. "I don't know, I find it kind of interesting that they fight all the time now, and seeing Yuzu fight back with Karin is a new thing."

"They'll grow out of it eventually… Well they probably will," Orihime adjusted Mina a little, then she sighed. "It might take longer than a few minutes for Mina to get enough. Maybe you should tell your dad that he can take his time."

Nodding back at her, Ichigo stood up. "On it. Then we can go home and get some dinner."

Karin and Toshiro

"Weren't you and your sister getting back to normal before I left?"

"A lot can happen in a week," Karin replied, as she sighed. Toshiro was driving her home, and it was a heck of a lot better than walking. "Well you were only gone on assignment since Sunday evening, but we didn't really see each other over the last weekend since I was busy. So it was basically forever, right?"

"Forever sounds about right," Toshiro agreed, laughing along with her. When they slowed to a stop at a red light, he looked over to her. "So what's this about a football game tomorrow?"

Setting her phone down, Karin propped her elbow on the car door, and shrugged. "My friends want to go, and Kimi had to practically beg me to give it a shot… She even wants us to go all out, body paint and everything."

"Oh well there has to be picture proof of this then."

"We'll see," Karin said, smiling as Toshiro laughed. "Do you want to go? I know you're not in high school and might not really be interested, but it could be fun… Although, I can't say for sure or not, because I don't know if even I am going to have fun."

Toshiro was quiet for a moment, then finally nodded. "Sure. I actually like football."

"Really?" Karin asked, and when he nodded again she smiled. "I just didn't picture you as a sports person."

"Well I am not into many sports. I like football and soccer, for obvious reasons," Toshiro paused to send a grin Karin's way. "Even if I didn't like football, I would still like to go, and spend some time with you. I haven't seen you in forever remember?"

"Right," Karin agreed as Toshiro pulled into her driveway. She took off her seat belt off, and turned in her seat to kiss him. When they broke apart, she smiled. "Want to stay for dinner? We haven't cooked anything, but I would rather have pizza. I haven't had anything since lunch, and it was school lunch so it wasn't that great."

"Well you did just have an intense training with Akira too," Toshiro said, then he grabbed her hand. "How about you go take your shower and relax, and I go pick up the pizza?"

"That would make you a really amazing boyfriend," Karin replied, leaning over to kiss him again. "I'll call and order the pizza, then call and tell my dad not to pick anything up on the way home."

The next evening

"Thank you. I could have bought those. I was the one who invited you after all." Karin said, smiling at Toshiro as they left the ticket booth outside the football stadium. The game is supposed to start in about fifteen minutes.

"That's alright, I wanted to." Toshiro smiled back at her, as they walked towards the entrance.

"Hey babe!" Kimi called over towards Karin, before motioning for Karin and Toshiro to come over to where she and some of their friends were.

As soon as they got over to the others, Sara immediately was eying Karin. "Wow, you and Kimi went all out on the body art."

"Was that Kimi's idea?" Natsuki asked, also admiring the body paint that both Karin and Kimi had applied. It wasn't full body paint, just designs painted on with the school's colors.

"Of course it was," Karin replied, as she motioned to herself. "Do you think I would have done this to myself on purpose?"

"It's called school spirit Karin," Kimi said, as she hooked her arm through Karin's. "Come and take a picture with me. Sara?"

Sara took Kimi's phone, and motioned over to the football field. "Yeah, but move over so I can get the football field in the background."

While they were taking pictures, Natsuki focused on Toshiro. "It's nice to see you again Toshiro."

"You as well." Toshiro replied with a nod, his eyes going to the others.

"Oh yeah, you probably haven't been introduced to them yet," Natsuki started, as she motioned first to the black haired guy next to her. "This is my boyfriend, Kohaku. Then they are Shino and Kura."

"It's nice to meet you." Toshiro greeted, shaking Kohaku's and Shino's hand, and nodding in Kura's direction.

Natsuki glanced around them. "I don't know where everyone else is, but I'm sure we'll run into them soon."

"So Toshiro," Kura started, her eyes studying him. "Karin says you're out of high school and have a job-"

"Yeah he works in the government," Kimi interrupted, as she, Karin, and Sara rejoined them. "Secret agent actually."

"Would you stop telling people that?" Karin asked, her eyes rolling at Kimi's smirk.

Sara motioned to the bleachers. "Let's go get some seats. I think the others are going to meet up with us in a few minutes."

As everyone started towards the bleachers, Toshiro reached over and took Karin's hand, as they fell a little behind from the others. "Secret agent?"

Karin shrugged, as she smiled at him. "Back during my music program, I had to tell Kimi something. So I just stuck with a government job. She made up the secret agent part."

"It's alright, I'll take it. Secret agent sounds much cooler." Toshiro replied, laughing along with Karin as they took the steps of the bleachers.

Almost an hour later

Yuzu let her head rest back against the brick wall behind her, as her eyes moved around her friends. They were hanging out under the bleachers, and she was pretty sure that they were somewhere in the second quarter. At least that's what she thought Shin said. It's nice hanging out with everyone outside of our usual routine of school or sneaking out in the middle of the night to hang out.

"I thought you were into sports Yukio." One of Taro's friends, Jax, said.

"I do like a lot of sports," Yukio nodded, as he was looking down at his phone. "Football just never really caught my interest."

"I actually like football, and I'm probably going to go watch the game for a while. I'll meet up with you all in a while," Shin said, as he stood up. His eyes going to his girlfriend. "Suki, do you want to go with me?"

Suki nodded, and joined him in standing up. "Sure."

As soon as they left, Hinata leaned over to Yuzu. "What do you think about Suki? She seems pretty quiet."

"As long as she makes Shin happy, that's all that matters, right?" Yuzu countered, as her eyes focused on Taro who was walking over to them from the concession stand with some of their friends. "I was wondering when I'd see you again."

"The line was a bit longer than we thought," Taro started, as he handed her a pack of the blue sour straws. "The candy you requested."

"Thank you," Yuzu smiled at Taro, as he sat down next to her. I kind of miss the fact that we aren't going on a date tonight. The past two Fridays ended up being our date night, and it's been nice. I know we still spend time together on other nights, but it is kind of nice to just go on a date. Shaking her head out of her thoughts, she opened her candy straws, and took a bite out of them. Her eyes went to Taro. "We can go watch the game if you want."

Taro wrapped an arm loosely around her shoulders. "Nah I'm good here. Football is more interesting when it's college or national level. Not a bunch of high school kids not really knowing what they are doing."

"So if this was a college or national level game-"

"We'd be in the stands, decked out in the teams colors, and hollering at the top of our lungs." Taro interrupted, then they both laughed.

After her laughter settled, Yuzu smiled big. "I guess I've never really been into sports… Maybe we can go to a game together sometime, and you can show me what's so interesting about it."

"Yeah absolutely," Taro said, a grin starting at the sight of her. "That candy is turning your lips a little blue."

"Really?" Yuzu countered, bringing a hand up to her face.

Moving her hand away from her mouth, Taro leaned over and kissed her. When their kiss broke, they both smiled. "You taste a little sour sweet too. I like it."

Feeling a little flutter in her chest, Yuzu's smile widened, as she snuggled a little into him.

Halftime

"Football isn't as boring as I thought." Karin said, as she leaned back against the brick wall by the concession stand.

"I knew you'd come around," Toshiro started, pausing to grab the fried oreos that Karin had ordered from the concession stand. "Here you go, your order of basically pure sugar."

"Haha," Karin said, accepting the basket, as she picked one of the fried oreos up. After taking a bite, powdered sugar went almost everywhere, but it was worth it. "Oh my god, this is amazing. You should try one."

Chuckling, Toshiro used a napkin to wipe some of the powdered sugar from her face. "I'm not sure I want to be covered in all of that powdered sugar."

Karin picked another one up, and held it over to him. "Come on. It's really good."

"Okay, I'll try one, but that's it," Toshiro said, taking the fried oreo from her, then he took a bite. Taking a moment to chew and swallow the bite, he finally smiled. "I have to say that was really good."

Karin grinned and stepped a little closer to him. "You've got a little-powdered sugar on your face..." she trailed off, then she kissed him a few times. "Are you having a good time?"

"Right now?" Toshiro countered, as he kissed her this time. "Yes, I am having a good time right now."

"You know what I meant." Karin replied, as she laughed along with him.

"I am having a good time. Your friends are nice. Although I have to say I probably only remember about half their names."

"Well, I guess that's a good thing." Karin said as they started to walk to the stairs to go back onto the bleachers.

When they arrived back to the others, Kimi was the first to look over to them as they sat down. "How are the fried oreos?"

Karin grinned back at Kimi. "They are actually amazing, and definitely worth it."

Their attention went back to the field as they bell rang off signaling the start of the third quarter. Toshiro slipped his arm around Karin, and moved her a little closer.

Later that night, around 11:15 p.m.

Smiling when their kiss broke, Karin met Toshiro's eyes. "Thanks for coming with me tonight."

"I had a good time," Toshiro replied, then he kissed her again. When their kiss broke, he brought a hand up to push her bangs back. "It was nice spending the evening with you. I have been gone on the mission for the past four days, and before that you were working and training last weekend, I only got to see you briefly Sunday afternoon on your lunch break at work, so it feels like it's been over a week since we've really got to spend time together."

"I know. Speaking of how we really haven't got to see each other this past week, I have a proposition for you," Karin started, her hand reaching up to take one of his. "I have to work tomorrow until two p.m., but if you want, we can spend the rest of the day together. Maybe even the night too?"

"I'd like that," Toshiro agreed, then he kissed her again. This time when they broke apart, he wrapped an arm around her, and held her for a moment before letting her go. "Goodnight."

"Night." Karin replied, then she got out of the car. Walking up to her porch, she paused to look back and watch Toshiro back out of the driveway. A smile formed on her face after he left, and she walked inside. She was greeted with the sight of her dad on the recliner chair, and watched a movie on TV. When their eyes met, she felt a little anxiety. "I know my curfew is normally ten, and you said that I could stay out until eleven so I could grab some food with my friends. I know I'm a little late, but it took a little longer to get our food at Rocky's. They were pretty busy after the game ended-"

"Karin, it's alright," Isshin interrupted, pausing the movie, and meeting her eyes. "You texted me after the game ended at ten, and told me you and Toshiro were going with your friends to get food. I figured it'd be busy after the game. You even texted me of that fact about thirty minutes ago in case you forgot."

Smiling at that, Karin leaned on the arm of the couch closer to the stairs. "I didn't forget. When I came in, I just felt like I had to explain for being fifteen minutes late for some reason. I guess the whole honesty thing and all that."

That had them both laughing a little, and Isshin's eyes glanced to the door. "Toshiro didn't want to come inside for a few minutes?"

"Well he has an early morning tomorrow. He has a lot of paperwork to do relating to the assignment he was on with Ichigo and the others this past week, and he held off finishing that so he could spend time with me today..." Karin trailed off, as a smile grew on her face at the thought. Her eyes glanced over to see the shoes Yuzu had been wearing that night at the game by the door. "Yuzu's home already? I didn't see her after the game ended."

"She got home about half an hour ago," Isshin nodded, as he motioned to the stairs. "She's already upstairs in bed."

Karin stood up from where she was leaning on the couch. "Well that's probably where I need to be too. I have tomorrow morning, and I need to get some kind of sleep."

"I'm going to finish this movie first, then I'll probably head upstairs as well. Goodnight."

"Night dad." Karin replied, before she went upstairs to her room. After kicking off her shoes in her closet, she grabbed a shirt and underwear for bed, but paused to look at herself in the mirror. A lot of the body paint was still there. They had the schools colors of gold and red, and painted some designs on their arms and legs. I can't believe it lasted throughout the football game.

Leaving her room, Karin stopped at the doorway. Her eyes moving to the right. Much further down the hall was her father's bedroom, and off a smaller hall was where Yuzu's bedroom was. Walking over, she turned down the small hall, and stopped outside Yuzu's bedroom door. Standing at the closed door for a long moment, she finally knocked on it. Hearing no answer, she knocked again. After not hearing anything again, she opened the door, and looked around the dark room. Finally realizing that Yuzu was nowhere to be found, she rolled her eyes and shut the door. Starting back down the main hall to her bathroom, she shook her head. "Going to bed early my ass."

Just after midnight

Sitting back down at the table that everyone else was sitting around, Yuzu sipped her refilled cup of beer. "I'm getting really good of sneaking out of my house. After I climbed out my window, I walked around to the front of the house, and peeked in the front window. My dad was still just sitting in the living room."

"You should have just told your dad you were spending the night at my house, so that way you wouldn't have even had to go home from the game." Hinata replied, leaning back on the chair she was on.

Yuzu shrugged, and took another sip of her beer. "Yeah well, I want my dad to see me spending time at home tomorrow morning/afternoon, so that way he won't question me when I go out tomorrow evening."

"Date with Taro?"

"Yeah, I'm going to tell my dad that I'm meeting you all at a small little art show my the art studio is having for some of the classes," Yuzu replied, as she smiled. "That way I don't have to explain while I'll be a little more dressed up than usual."

"Back to sneaking out tonight. Didn't you say that your sister knows that you have been sneaking out? What if she went to check on you in your room whenever she got home from the game."

Yuzu shrugged back at Hinata. "I doubt she will. We practically live on different planets now… Even if she did go into my room to check on me, she's not going to tell my dad. As long as I can keep from pissing her off too much."

While that made Hinata and Yuzu laugh, the poker game their friends were playing came to an end, and Yukio looked over to them. "You two want to play again?"

"Sure." Hinata said, shuffling so she was sitting a little closer to the table.

"Actually," Yuzu started, as her eyes went to Taro. "Do you want to go outside for a bit? It's starting to get kind of loud in here."

"Sounds good to me." Taro agreed, standing up and offering her a hand.

Accepting his hand, once Yuzu was standing up she wavered a bit, but caught her balance and they left the room to go downstairs. Maneuvering past the many other people, they left to go outside, and stopped once out by his car. Sitting up on the trunk of the car, Yuzu sighed, as she looked up at the night sky. The fresh air seeming to hit her in the face, and it felt refreshing. They sat out there for almost five minutes in silence, before Taro sighed.

"It's been a nice night. Even though I'm not really into high school football, it wasn't too bad."

Yuzu drank a few more sips of beer, and shrugged. "I guess. I had more fun avoiding watching the game, and sneaking out of my house to come to this party."

Taro offered her a smirk at her finishing off her beer. "I can tell."

Laughing lightly, Yuzu set the empty cup down, then she leaned over and kissed him.

Kissing Yuzu back, Taro let himself enjoy the moment for a few minutes, then he finally had to pull back away from her. "We've got to cool it down a little bit."

"I know..." Yuzu trailed off, sighing with disappointment. "I think I've had a little bit too much to drink. Sometimes I get a little carried away when I've been drinking."

"You make it sound like this happens a lot," Taro replied, his grin stretching across his face. "Is there anyone else I should know about? Besides Kat of course."

"I was mostly talking about with you." Yuzu said, shaking her head as that made him laugh. Leaning back over to him, she kissed him again.

Having to hold back a little, Taro broke their kiss and got off the car. Turning back to her, he held out a hand. "We should go back, and maybe find you some water while we are at it."

"I guess so," Yuzu agreed, as she accepted his hand and hopped off the car as well. However, she wobbled a lot when she landed on her feet. "I think I need to find something to eat too."

"We'll get right on that." Taro replied, as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders on their way back to the house.


A/N: I enjoyed writing this chapter. Karin is back working on her powers, and both girls seem to be doing well in their relationships. I enjoyed writing all the football-related scenes. What was your favorite moment this chapter?

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