Welcome back to "My Past Haunts Me" This will be the official first chapter of this book! I am so excited to start this book! Finally, after a year, I have been able to start this.

Oh and so everyone is aware and can have an idea on ages Toshiro I would say is 31 or 32 and Karin is 24 or 25

Chapter 1

Toshiro sat straight up, clutching his head in his hands as he woke up from his dream, breathing heavily. His chest felt tight as if it was being squeezed, and his whole body was sweating profoundly. After several minutes had passed, he had finally been able to calm his breath and his chest to stop feeling tight. As he calmed down, he wiped his white hair away from his eyes and glanced over to his bedside table where his alarm clock sat. It was only 3 AM, and he fell back on his bed with a sigh as he looked up at the ceiling.

"Why did I have that dream..." he muttered, but he knew it wasn't a dream he had lived it a long time ago. It was something that only those that were apart of his case knew about. He sat silently for a few more minutes before he felt his throat start to close up, and his mouth became dry. He contemplated if he wanted to get up and get a drink of water. After 10 seconds, he sat back up and moved to the side of the bed to stand up. Walking out of his room, he passed a closed door. Briefly stopping, he stared at it, wondering if the person in the room was sleeping or if she had woken up like him. Toshiro heard a clang of metal and looked up towards the front door to see teal eyes that glowed with the help of the moonlight that shined through the living room.

Toshiro was taken back slightly before they began to come closer, and Toshiro could see it was Hyourinmaru, his white Siberian husky. Toshiro couldn't help but laugh to himself at being scared of the dog that has been by his side since he got him, but as the dog approached, Toshiro could see the age on him. After all, the dog was 17 years old already, and Toshiro knew that the average age for his breed was 12 to 15 years old, so he was aware that he might only have a few months to a few years left with the loyal dog. He wasn't sure what he would do after the dog was gone if he would get a new dog or stay without one. The reason why he got Hyourinmaru in the first place was so he wouldn't be so alone. He looked back at the door he had passed, but with Karin there, he wasn't so alone, but he knew that she was looking for an apartment, and if Hyourinmaru passed before she left, he would be left alone again. He shook his head, trying to get rid of the thoughts before walking into the kitchen to get water. Opening up a cabinet, he picked up a glass cup, brought it down, and shut the cabinet door before going over to the sink and filling it up with water. He gulped the water down before filling up the glass again and making his way to the couch that was in the front room. He sat down, placing the cup of the coffee table he had nearby. Once the glass was safely on the table, Toshiro leaned his head back against the couch to look up at the ceiling. Toshiro just listened to the quiet apartment closing his eyes, going back to his thoughts. He was brought out of his thoughts when he felt a hand placed on his shoulder. Toshiro jumped off the couch and self consciously reached for his hip where his gun would be if he were in uniform. His eyes were narrow and a darker teal until he realized it was only Karin that stood in front of him.

"Toshiro?" Karin said in a soft voice, hearing her sweet voice calmed him down, and his eyes returned to their lighter teal as he dropped his hands to stand up straight.

"Karin, it's only you... what are you doing up at this time?" he asked curiously. Karin studied him for a moment before she spoke up,

"I should be asking you that it's 4 AM. I got up to get a drink of water and found you out here on the couch. Is something the matter? You seem on edge?" Karin asked, watching him.

"No, I just woke up and needed water like you... I must have fallen asleep when I sat down to think for a moment.." he answered, only telling her the half-truth. Karin knew he wasn't telling her the full truth, she had learned his tells after living with him for a year already, but she knew this wasn't the time to push for answers.

"Well, you should head back to bed then," Karin sternly told him.

"Alright, I'm going," Toshiro grumbled before heading back to his room. Karin watched him retreat to his room, knowing that something was up. He was acting differently than what she was used to. Karin sighed before grabbing his glass from the table he left. She thought for a moment before drinking the water and placing it in the sink before going back to her room to go back to sleep. She briefly paused at Toshiro's door listening to him inside, she could tell that he was having a hard time falling asleep and wanted to ask if he wouldn't mind the company but decided against it as he was her captain after all. Though their relationship of living together had been reported and everyone knew around the station that she at least had feelings for him, she wasn't sure how far they could take their relationship before their superiors said something about it. She didn't want him to get in trouble, so she held her tongue and entered her room. She cuddled into her covers, closing her eyes.

Karin woke up a few hours later at 7 AM, and gruffly got up. She put on her regular clothes, a cute teal top and a pair of jeans, before leaving the room while running her fingers through her hair to calm it somewhat. Karin had let her hair grow out again like when she was first rescued, but this time it was her choosing too. She made her way to the kitchen to make breakfast, letting Toshiro sleep in somewhat, after finding him at four she figured he needed his sleep. As well as Toshiro allowing her to live with him without having to pay rent, so the least she could do was make him breakfast when he didn't get up early enough. She looked up at the clock as she finished making omelets for them. It was already 7:30. She sighed before turning off the stove and heading to Toshiro's room. Karin gently knocked on the door

"Toshiro, we are going to be late if you don't wake up" Karin called into the room through the door. She waited a few seconds before she heard a muffled voice from the other side of the door.

"I'm up," he called. Karin smiled glad that he was back to the Toshiro she knew. He had changed so drastically since she met him. From the gossip of the office, he was more laid back and less strict since she came. She smiled to herself, thinking that she had helped him just a little. Karin turned around, heading back down the hallway to feed Hyourinmaru, she grabbed his bowl and placed his dog food in it before she set it down in front of the eagerly waiting dog that wagged his tail in excitement. She kneeled beside the dog as he ate his food, petting his fur. She was entirely grateful to this dog just like Toshiro, but she could see how old he was getting. She had noticed a few weeks prior that he was having a harder time moving around.

"You see it too," came a voice behind her making her jump slightly, she turned to face Toshiro who was now standing behind her fully dressed in his work suit, a nice white shirt, with a blue tie and a black jacket and pants that matched. Karin hesitantly nodded, not wanting to admit out loud that the dog was getting old, that would make it real. Toshiro gave her a gentle smile and an understanding look. "I feel the same," he told her before proceeding to the kitchen counter. Karin stood up to head into the kitchen to retrieve Toshiro's plate and set it out for him.

"I thought an omelet was a good choice for today's breakfast," Karin said, setting it in front of him.

"Thank you, Karin, what did I do before you arrived here," he joked before digging into his food. Karin set her plate down and sat on a stool before beginning to eat her omelet.

"You lived as if you didn't know me," she answered with a smirk, knowing that's not what he meant. Toshiro rolled his eyes,

"Well, whatever I did I hope I don't have to go back to it anytime soon, I hope you never find an apartment of your own," Toshiro said before digging into his food and finishing off the plate in a matter of seconds. Karin stopped herself from gulping and giving herself away and instead laughed while collecting his and her plate and turning to the sink to wash them.

"You shouldn't say things like that, Toshiro, or you will only Jinx me," she replied as she looked away. She couldn't stop the smile that crept onto her face. In truth, she stopped looking for an apartment a few months ago. Initially, it was because they had too many cases that they had to deal with that she didn't have time, and now it was that she didn't want to leave. She would miss the company of Toshiro, and they had such a good rhythm. He paid for the rent while she paid for the groceries and food that they ate. The system that they had come up with suited her just fine, and she figured Toshiro was okay with it too since he made the comment he never wanted her to leave.

"Besides when do you ever have the time to find an apartment, we are almost always together solving cases," Toshiro replied. Karin rolled her eyes as she went to grab her bags from her room.

"Still, you should look forward to me leaving so that you can have your apartment to yourself again," Karin said as she came back with her bag slung over her shoulder. Toshiro rolled his eyes as he grabbed the keys from the bowl that was next to the door.

"Well, Hyorinmaru likes you and would probably miss you if you moved out," Toshiro lied as he opened up the door to head out of the apartment. Karin followed him with her lips tightly sealed in a pout.

"Come to one, Toshiro, and you would miss me too," she persisted, trying to get the young male to admit it. Toshiro was getting annoyed with Karin and was refusing to look at her because of the blush that was spreading across his cheeks.

"No way, I would just miss not having to get up early to make breakfast," he answered as he got his blush under control and unlocked the car getting into the driver's seat. Karin sighed as she gave up trying to convince him to admit it to her, for now, before getting in on the passenger's side. The car ride to the station was uneventful; they talked slightly about what they should have for dinner and about Karin's family. Toshiro filled Karin on what was happening with Momo senses she had been put in jail for being a handler for trafficked girls. Karin couldn't help but roll her eyes as he talked about his cousin. After all, she was one of the women that were part of the trafficking ring but not as a victim like Karin was. Karin went silent for the rest of the car ride, so she didn't bit off Toshiro's head for talking about Momo.

The two arrived at the station parking in their usual spot before making their way into the building. Toshiro held the door open for Karin to walk in before him, and they followed her in.

"You two should already date!" yelled a police officer with spiky red hair that sat behind the front desk. Police officers stopped and looked at the two comings in and couldn't help, but agreed. Toshiro became irritated as he heard the comments, and was about to snap when Karin got to yelling at the officers first.

"Shut up, you idiots and get back to work!" she growled before storming up to the second floor was her and Toshiro's office were located. Toshiro couldn't help but chuckle, as the officers that she cowardly in fear.

"It's your fault for saying such things. Where are all your guy's respect for your superiors?" Toshiro asked before following in Karin's steps going upstairs. He passed Karin's desk, where she was organizing and collecting files that had come in, going through his office door to see his desk stacked with paperwork. He sighed, seeing it all. "I finished all the paperwork yesterday and more magically appeared today," he muttered before he sat down in his chair to start on some of the paperwork. After a few hours of working on paperwork, Karin came in, knocking softly on the door.

"Hey Toshiro, I have a question about some of these cases," Karin said, coming in with a few folders.

"Sure, what's the question?" he asked as Karin handed him the file.

"Well, these cases aren't exactly sexual assaults. It's a child's abuse case, so why is it here?" Karin asked. She had been at the station for a year, but this was the first time a child's case had come across her desk. Toshiro was slightly surprised that Karin had asked such a question, but thinking back now, he figured that the other officers were stopping her from getting the child cases since it might remind her of what started her torture. Being snatched from her front yard, but with fewer officers, it was inedible that she would eventually get a child's case.

"Well, you see, since most child cases that happen especially those that evolve kidnappings tend to be of a sexual nature, so to shorten to help the cases to the right place they decided that we should take on child evolved cases," Toshiro explained.

"When did they change that?" Karin asked curiously. Toshiro leaned back in his chair crossing his arms thinking about her arms,

"I would say about four years ago or so," he answered before looking back at her. "Any other questions?"

"Yeah, there is this one case in there about a child that came two years ago, his hair was dyed white, and he was wearing contacts. The child was ten years old and has been placed in the foster care system, but the file also said that cases exactly like it started about 20 years ago or so. Every two years, a new kid shows up with white hair, teal eyes, and ten years old. The case was brought up because it's about that time for a new kid to show up if they continue the pattern. Drop off date is December 20th, hey Toshiro, that's your birthday, isn't it?" Karin said, reading parts of the file that she had in her hands before looking up at Toshiro with a horrified expression on his face. "Are you alright?" Karin asked. Toshiro coughed before making his appearance normal again.

"Yeah, I'm fine... I'll take that case," he suddenly said. Karin was even more confused by him but gave him the case before leaving the office. As she left, she glanced back at the white-haired male staring at the case she had handed him.

"Is it because the kids are coming in looking like him..." she muttered to herself before focusing on what was in front of her and heading to her desk. Karin knew better than to ask him personal questions while they were at the station. If he did have a connection to the case, he wouldn't tell her unless they were in the apartment where they were less likely to be eased dropped on. As Karin got to her desk sitting down, she continued to think about the case Toshiro had her give to him. "Maybe these kids were showing up looking like him to taunt him that he hasn't been able to catch him, but it's peculiar that they show up on his birthday," Karin said as she pondered the case. Karin looked over at the calendar, checking the date. December 13th, a week away from when the kid would usually get dropped off.

Toshiro was in his office, running his hand through his hair as he leaned back in his chair. He couldn't believe it was already that time of year again. He thought it was over, but every time he got over it, a new kid would show up and remind him of everything of his past that he wanted to forget. Of course, he had searched and investigated the cases over and over again ounces he had joined as a police officer ten years ago. He had obsessed over the case for five years until Rangiku told him to let her take it over. He still remembered the blurry night when Rangiku had broken into his apartment after he didn't come into the office. It was a couple of days after another child had come in when she found him passed out in his office at his apartment with files scattered all around him. Hyourinmaru had been whining beside him when she found him. That was all Rangiku had to see to take over the case and make Toshiro change his office in the apartment to a spare bedroom. Two years later, Karin came into his life, and for the most part, he was able to forget about it. He was silently thankful that Karin didn't look into the files more profound, or she would have seen he was the first boy was him, but his circumstances were slightly different than how all the other boys were found. Toshiro sighed as he thought back, remembering that where he was today was all thanks to Rangiku, she had stepped in to make sure that he ended in a secure home and he was thankful for her. This was the first year that Rangiku wouldn't be able to help him. She couldn't help him with this anymore. She had to be in the light so that she could be with her child. He had to walk in the darkness alone this time, and he prayed that he would be able to come back to the light where Karin would hopefully be waiting for him.

"I can't bring Karin into this, she's already fought her battle in the dark, I guess it will be just me this time, but I wonder what Karin would say if she knew about my past," he spoke softly to himself.

Meanwhile, a little 10-year-old boy was crying in the corner of a dark cement ceiling. He only tightened the ball he was in as he heard the door open and footsteps coming down the stairs. The boy snapped his green eyes open as a hand grasped his messy brown hair and dragged him across the room where he had to sit still as his captor bleached and colored his hair.

"Maybe Toshiro will finally understand the message this year, and finally come home," the man grimly chuckled as he ran his fingers through the child's now white hair as they faced the mirror. The man wore a wicked smile as the child had a wide eye terrified look,

"I-I just want my mom.." The child said softly.

That's the first chapter. I hope you enjoy it, and it's a little dark.

As always comment, favorite, like, and vote.

Until Next Time

White_spirit