Chapter 13: News

"Matsumoto, im going to tell you this once, tell everyone else to go to their room." growled Hitsugaya, he was still very angry at her for her eavesdropping.

"But im a fukutaicho, I have a right to—" but she was silenced with a last glare. She bowed at him and tottered out with a swish of her hair. When her orange-y hair disappeared out of the doorway, Hitsugaya turned and went in the room.

He was greeted immediately with a bow from Urahara, and a nod from Byakuya who looked like there really was news.

"What's going on?" asked Hitsugaya, his face in a serious frown. Byakuya crossed his arms and ignored the coffee cup in front of him. He was eyeing it with distaste.

"We received news from 12th division, that a huge hollow attack will come soon, but they don't have an exact date. And im talking about Menos Grande, and Huge Hollows all over the place." said Urahara. His cup was already half-full.

"What?!" cried Hitsugaya, this was more dangerous than he imagined. He knew that bringing this much shinigami in one place would be dangerous, but he never imagined that it would bring this much.

"Calm down, Hitsugaya. Yama-jin made a decision. He said that we have to leave soon, so that the hollow attack will cease." said Byakuya coldly, his eyebrows raised superiorly.

The former taicho, Urahara and Byakuya stared at him, as if waiting for what he has to say.

Hitsugaya was speechless, he wanted to stay here to be with Karin. But he has a duty to the Gotei 13, to keep the normal humans safe.

His insides froze as if Hyourinmaru attacked him, giving him a lecture.

He could almost hear it saying,

"Don't be stupid, Hitsugaya. Karin is only one person. But the whole world is a billion."

Toushiro frowned at himself. Is that what he would say?

"I think we should go back, what say you?" asked Byakuya. His face looked as if he knew what he was thinking inside his mind.

Hitsugaya glared at him.

"I do not have an option now don't I? We have to go back." he said, but his voice was so sad that it was almost too obvious. Byakuya blinked at him, then nodded.

"Good answer, taicho. I will go inform them now." said Byakuya, disappearing into Inoue's room. (That's where the big television is placed.)

HT/KK



Urahara looked at him in dismay. Toushiro fiddled with the cloth on the table.

"Is that what you really want, Hitsugaya-kun?" he asked Toushiro. Toushiro looked up, startled.

"What are you talking about? My duty is to the Gotei-- ." said Toushiro, but he felt his heart burn in pain.

Karin.

"You haven't answered my question." said Urahara, raising his funny looking hat in a knowing glance.

"The Gotei 13… Soul Society." said Hitsugaya, in a downcast voice.

"Answer this question. Do you respect your heart?" asked Urahara. Toushiro raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of question is that? Of course I do." said Toushiro, but of course he knew what he was talking about.

"Im not talking about your heart health. Im talking about your heart heart." said Urahara.

Toushiro remained silent.

"That Karin… Ichigo's sister. You like her don't you?" asked Urahara. Toushiro bit his lip.

"I do." admitted Toushiro.

"Then, you should stay here." said Urahara.

"What are you talking about? We are leaving soon." said Hitsugaya, truly baffled.

"Im talking about you, fighting to stay here with her." said Urahara. "You have a choice Hitsugaya-kun… You have a right to submit yourself to someone else for a change."

"I—"

But he couldn't talk any longer, Byakuya entered the room. Toushiro glared pointedly at Urahara who looked like he was smiling.

"We are leaving 3 days from now. It is best if we tell the others, so they can deal with their problems here as soon as possible." said Byakuya.

At the word "problems" he stared at Toushiro, who almost squirmed at his knowing gaze.

What the hell do I tell Karin?

Why don't you think of what Urohara said instead, Shiro-kun?

Shut up, ive already made up my mind.

So you are going to leave, Karin?



Hitsugaya never felt this confused in his life. And to answer the question in his mind, he really didn't know, because he knew the answer was right in front of him. He just didn't want to admit it.

HT/KK

"Leaving already?" asked Matsumoto with a groan and a side glance to Toushiro.

"It's not a choice really." said Ikkaku understanding immediately.

"We haven't been here for a week, and the hollow attacks are getting worst by the minute. And besides, we have done our job with the Arrancar." said Yumichika, his arms folded.

Byakuya glanced at the clock and without any other word, he swept out of the room.

"Taicho, what about Karin?" asked Matsumoto. Rukia looked up and nodded sadly.

Hitsugaya wondered that himself then he went out of the room, and shunpoed to the park feeling the dread of asking the same person, if she could do the favor again… In which he knew the answer this time.

HT/KK

Karin woke up with a splitting headache. And she has school today.

"I didn't even drink last night…" she said and she massaged her head. She never drank, but she had her share of headaches.

She cast a look at the clock next to hear bedside table and her eyes widened.

It was 9 am and she was late for school.

She grabbed her uniform and dashed out of the room while fitting in her blouse. She cursed herself for sleeping late last night.

She saw her father sitting on the table, drinking coffee.

Then he looked up and said,

"Good morning. Where are you going?" he asked. Karin gritted her teeth. What kind of question is that!?

"School! Where do you think I'd go? Why didn't you wake me? Never mind… I have got to go!" she said and she slammed the door shut.

As she ran faster, she felt her father shunpo next to her, she glared at him and said.

"There is no school today, as you should have known." he said. Karin marveled by how her father actually knew shunpo.

"What!?" she cried angrily slamming her bag on the ground.



"Im sure they told you about it in school." he said. But deep down he knew she was busy with other things.

Karin tilted her head to the side, and remembered her teacher say something about today, but she was to occupied thinking about her date with Toushiro that she didn't bother to listen.

Karin laughed nervously, as her father stared at her knowingly. Then he went back into the house leaving her with a smile.

"Baka." She told herself. Then she went back inside and changed into something comfortable. She did not have much of a plan today anyway.

Then she heared a knock downstairs, and Yuzu saying,

"I'll get it!"

After a few seconds she cried,

"Karin! Toushiro is here."

Karin blushed and practically jumped in joy.

HT/KK

Then he went in the room, his face a grimace.

"What is wrong, Toushiro?" asked Karin, as she stared into his sad face.

"Karin, we have to talk." he said. Karin gulped.

"You are in my room, why don't you sit down?" she asked, with a half laugh, half nervous giggle.

"Thank you." he muttered as he sat down.

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"What is wrong, Toushiro?" repeated Karin.

He looked at her. And realized she was also as nervous as he is. It was as if she knew something was up, and it wasn't anywhere near good news for her.

"Im leaving in 3 days." he managed to say.

Karin looked at him, his face showed real sadness, and she realized he probably had no choice.

"I know that." she said. Partly she knew he would leave soon, and it didn't make it easier that she heared it from his mouth. Toushiro blinked away, hurt.

"Is it alright with you?" he said, after they allowed each other a moment of silence.



"No. But I know you don't have a choice do you, Toushiro?" she said curtly.

He froze, as he realized her tone was icier and unwelcome. Karin was slightly glaring at him.

"I don't. The Menos Grande have sensed a humongous spirit power here, and seeing as we have two captains, two lieutenants, and a whole bunch of shinigami bunched up in one place, they would definitely come here soon. So we have to go… It's also for your safety." he said. The look on Karin's face turned stonier.

"I don't know what to say. I mean, it was only last night that we actually spent time with each other for 5 years, and now you have to go? I don't understand it…" she said, her heart spilling uncontrollably.

"Karin, it's now my decision to make." He said, he took her hands, but she pulled away, and looked at the window. Karin crossed her arms angrily. Then she looked out at the sun.

"Remember when you asked me your favor 5 years ago?" she asked, her face lit by the early morning sky.

"I do." he said slowly. She looked at him determined.

"After 5 years, we are still together right?" she said, her voice getting louder with each word.

Toushiro nodded, wondering where this was getting.

"Toushiro, it was hard for me. It was hard for you. But even so, im determined to wait for you, even if it means more years." she said, and felt her heart sink at the thought, but she still felt determined just the same.

"I don't want you to wait for Me." said Toushiro. "I want you to have a life, Karin. When I came back, I found you sad and lonely, and I don't want that, it would be selfish and cruel. Please Karin, find someone else. Because—" he started.

"Because what?" asked Karin forcibly. She saw his eyes widen as Karin narrowed her eyes at him.

"Seeing you sad, makes me sad. Seeing you cry, makes me cry. Seeing you lonely, makes me lonely." he said, then added,

"Maybe that was the reason ive been feeling my heart burn with sadness, this past years."

Karin smiled at him sadly. Toushiro sniffed.

"Toushiro, it does not matter if im ever sad, I know you will come back for me… You keep your promises, I trust you." she said. Toushiro smiled at her.

Then they hugged each other, feeling the warmth of each other's body was comforting, and they couldn't have it any other way.