Chapter Two: The Family
The sun had set when Karin arrived at their house—their mansion, in fact.
She pushed the front door carefully and stepped in, making her entrance as quiet as possible. As soon as she was inside, one of their female servants greeted her.
"Welcome home, Karin-sama." The greeting was not cheerful neither was it surly. It was simply emotionless.
Driven by habit, Karin grinned. "Oh yes, thank you, Nemu-san."
The only response that the servant gave was a bow of her head. Not that Karin had expected anything else since this was Nemu, the most silent person in the mansion, she was talking to.
Karin remained on the same place for a while, taking her gaze in a tour around the entirety of the current area, and couldn't help but grace her lips with a lovely smile. It was a rare smile of hers—a pure and kind smile of a real, sophisticated heiress.
She sincerely loved the room. Other than her bedroom and her private studio, the main entry hall was her favorite part of the whole mansion. And she could tell that even her dad and her siblings held fond regards for the certain area.
Unlike in most of the large houses, the Kurosaki mansion's main entrance room wasn't designed to present the guests a grand first impression. However magnificent the room maybe, it remained as a steady representation of humility as it was filled with the memories of a really humble person—Kurosaki Masaki, Karin's deceased mother.
The walls were painted with light blue—the color of Masaki's most favorite things, the sky and the sea. In addition, the entire entry way would remind anyone of a painting gallery. Adorning the walls with their grandeur were none other than Masaki's paintings; the concrete remembrance that she had left to her family.
True, like her beautiful artworks, Kurosaki Masaki's memories would never fade.
Finally, Karin's gaze settled on the largest masterpiece on the center. It was a painting of three kids—an orange-haired, nine-year-old boy in the middle and the two younger girls on either side of him. Their smiles were a clear image of innocence.
That memory. It was like only yesterday.
Karin was still in the state of reminiscence when an authoritative yet gentle voice broke in. "Do you know what time it is now, Karin-chan?"
At the highest landing of the staircase leading to the elevated area of the Kurosaki mansion, a pretty, honeybrown-haired woman of Karin's age was standing. Her hand was elegantly placed on her hip.
Kurosaki Yuzu, Karin's fraternal twin, was certainly a proof that even the cutest little things were capable of intimidating. Yuzu was like a rose—beautiful and delicate at first glance but one must always be aware of its thorns.
On reflex, Karin's hand shot up on the back of her head. "Heh, you see, I tried to come home early but something came up," she explained, smiling sheepishly.
"Mou, Karin-chan, I was really worried about you," Yuzu told her, often the harmless, sweet young lady where her family was concerned. "Isane-san told me what happened in the mall. Seriously, Karin-chan, stop getting yourself into trouble, will you?"
"I was just having fun! You do realize that it's two weeks from now before we start our university life, don't you?" Karin folded her arms stubbornly, and scowled. "I am only enjoying the remaining days of my freedom."
"As far as I can remember, not even the strictest teacher in high school was able to pull you away from that so called 'freedom' of yours," Yuzu answered, gracefully taking her steps down the flight. "So I don't think university is going to be any different for you, Karin-chan."
As soon as her dollshoes-invested feet touched the carpeted floor, Yuzu looked at her sister from head to toe, examining her whole appearance. The sigh that escaped from her could only mean she was not impressed with what she saw.
"Look at yourself, Karin-chan. You dress like you're not a lady." Yuzu crossed her arms in front of her chest, and frowned, mimicking Karin's action earlier.
In contrast with Yuzu's above-knee-length dress with few ruffles and floral designs, Karin was wearing a white loose T-shirt and purple men's basketball shorts, complete with her rubber shoes. Her hair remained in slight disarray since the earlier incident with her cap and the jerk at the mall. Anyone who's up to date to the fashion trend would see Karin as a walking fashion disaster.
But of course, Karin couldn't have cared less about what other people had to say. "I am not a lady, thank you very much."
Yuzu pouted. "I've made a cute dress for you, Karin-chan. You should see it! It's my own design, and I want you to be the only one to wear it!" Her voice almost rose in excitement.
"No, no, no, Yuzu. Let's not go there again. Just no."
Karin had nothing against her twin's clothing designs. In fact, Karin was confident that Yuzu would make a great fashion designer someday, like what she had always dreamed of. Yuzu's particular masterpieces for Karin were all wonderful, even the latter had to agree. As far Karin was concerned, the dresses were good to look at but wearing them was another story.
"But Karin-chan, I want to see you on that lovely piece!"
"I am not a doll that you can dress the way you want, Yuzu!"
Apparently, Yuzu didn't want to give up anytime soon. "You have to listen and obey me sometimes, Karin-chan. After all, I am older than you."
Karin blinked. "Where did you get that information? We're twins and born on the same date, in case you're forgetting."
"I came out a minute before you. Therefore, I am one-minute older than you." Yuzu smiled in triumph.
However, her expression of victory was short-lived, as her twin sister started to laugh.
"The usual misconception," Karin said, smirking. "Most people believe that the older of the twins is the one who came out first, but in fact, it's the other one."
Yuzu blinked this time. "E-eh? What are you saying, Karin-chan?"
"The last one to come out is the older," Karin answered. "Maybe it's only a matter of seconds, but they'd been in the mother's womb longer than the other, thus, their location. They're sited on the inner side and further from the mother's opening."
Yuzu's mouth formed an "o" in wonder. It was clear that she was amazed by her twin's wit more than the information he'd heard.
No one could disagree that, in spite of being troublesome, Kurosaki Karin was naturally smart. She could have graduated third rank in high school had she taken academics seriously during those times.
"Pardon me, Lady Karin, Lady Yuzu." The twins were too engaged in arguing to notice that Kotetsu Isane had approached them. "Doctor Isshin wants to talk to you. He's waiting in the leisure room with Sir Ichigo and Miss Rukia."
Karin shook her head and smiled at Isane's politeness. The older woman had been serving them since she and her siblings were little kids. To this time, the dark-haired heiress still wasn't used to her formal way of addressing them. In the past, Karin had asked Isane to call her by her given name without the honorific, but Isane had insisted it wasn't appropriate. That, and it was her duty to honor her employers and their children regardless of their ages. Karin, though not completely sold by the idea, had given up and let Isane do what she pleased.
"Yes, Isane-san, thank you. We're coming." Yuzu answered courteously.
Yuzu walked with Karin following suit.
"I am wondering, Karin-chan. I saw you leave this afternoon wearing the cap that Rukia-chan gave you. Why aren't you wearing it now?" Yuzu spoke as they made their way through the maze they called home.
Karin sighed. "Ah, yeah. I lost it to a jerk."
Yuzu stopped walking and turned around to face Karin. Not expecting her twin's sudden action, Karin continued forward until their foreheads crashed into each other.
"Ow!" Karin cried and nursed her forehead instinctively. "Why did you stop, Yuzu?"
"Karin-chan, someone robbed you?!" Yuzu exclaimed, ignoring both the pain on a certain part of her head and her sister's question.
Karin looked at her twin like the honeybrown-haired woman had just grown two heads.
"Huh? Who robbed who?" Lost, she asked.
"Uhm, you said a jerk stole your cap," Yuzu answered, her assumption more tentative now.
"Oh... It's far from what you're thinking, Yuzu. Don't exaggerate." Karin began walking again. She was few meters ahead when Yuzu ran, her footfalls soft, catching up to her twin.
"You can't blame me for overreacting where you are concerned, Karin-chan."
Karin ignored her twin sister and stopped in front of one of the closed rooms. Opening the door, she readied herself for the an eccentric greeting that they would no doubt get.
Sure enough, as soon as Karin took the first step in the room, a cheerful, dark-haired man ran to meet them, his arms wide open. "My pretty little angels! Daddy has been waiting for you~ How about you give Daddy—" He didn't get to finish his sentence because a foot connected sharply on his face. In a bat of an eye, the man found himself kissing the floor.
"Why hello to you too, Goat-chin." Karin walked past by the sprawled man, and then sat in a sofa, joining the other two persons in the room—an orange-haired man and dark-haired woman.
The female gave Karin a smile as a greeting. In return, Karin smirked.
"Otou-san! Are you alright?" Yuzu rushed to the man lying on the floor, and helped him stand.
Yes, the man that Karin had kicked was Doctor Kurosaki Isshin, their father.
Kurosaki Isshin was well-known to the Karakura residents, not only because of their family's status but also because for his knowledge and good-deeds as a doctor. He was admired. He was respected.
However, for Karin and her older brother, the old man was a total nutcase. Don't get them wrong, their father was no doubt a nice person if not too whacked out. The two siblings believed that Kurosaki Isshin was an utterly idiotic of a father, while Yuzu was too naïve to realize that fact.
"Oh, yes, yes, my sweet Yuzu-chan, thank you." Isshin groaned as he stood. "My darling Karin-chan has grown more agile with time."
"So what did you call us for?" Karin asked as soon as Isshin and Yuzu sat down with them.
The orange-haired man scoffed. "This old man wants to talk about your preparation for college." The very first version of a delinquent and reckless Kurosaki kid before Karin—it was certainly Kurosaki Ichigo. "I don't know what's the big deal about it."
Isshin made some scolding noises while he looked at his son. "You still have a lot to learn, Ichigo. Of course, when it comes to these things, it is my responsibility to give moral support to my children."
"Moral support, you say," Karin butted in. "Is that your excuse for forgetting Ichi-nii's first day in college before?"
"And he also forgot my graduation!" Ichigo added.
The woman, sitting next to Ichigo, laughed. "I think he's supportive only to his daughters. Now, let's hope he'll not forget about your wedding in the future, Ichigo."
Following that statement, two pairs of eyes turned to where Ichigo and his lady friend were. The dark onyx ones were holding a mischievous glint whereas the hazels were sparkling with delight.
"You know, Rukia-chan, 'our wedding' in place of 'your wedding' sounds better," Karin teased.
"W-w-what?!" Funny how the male subject of teasing reacted wildly while the female only laughed.
"Who wants to marry him?" Rukia asked, scrunching up her face in mock disgust. "You know that Ichigo and I are good friends. If not, Ichigo is like a little brother to me."
Making a face, Ichigo stated, "Last time I checked, I am older than you."
"Last time I checked, you've always been a cry baby," Rukia shot back as if the retort made sense, "And I've always been the one who has cheered you up like I am your older sister."
"Oh, don't start, midget," Ichigo chided, which Rukia countered by whacking him in the head.
While the two were busy bantering with each other, Karin caught her twin sister giving her a meaningful look, as if asking, 'Why are they so dense?' As an answer to the silent question, Karin shrugged. Frankly, even she wanted to know if the pair were really as oblivious as they made themselves to be.
Ichigo and Rukia had been good friends since middle school. Up to now that they were both successful on their chosen fields—Ichigo as a college professor and Rukia as a journalist—they had managed to keep their strong bond. 'Best friends' was their label to themselves.
But if someone asked the Kurosaki twins, it would be different. Karin and Yuzu knew it better. They could decipher the meaning behind Ichigo's and Rukia's smiles to each other. They were often the witnesses of those stolen and wistful glances when one was confident that the other wasn't looking. Sadly, just like in the most clichéd soap operas where the lead characters were best friends and in-love, Ichigo and Rukia were too dense to notice their feelings for each other.
Karin thoughts were interrupted when a phone rang. She turned and saw her father talking with someone in the phone.
When the oldest Kurosaki was finished with his call, he turned to his daughters, looking apologetic. "Ah, my lovely daughters, maybe let's talk some other time. I'm sorry for calling you here for nothing. There's an emergency that I need to attend to."
As he stood up, Isshin murmured something. He walked for the door and left the group.
Karin had heard it. Even though her father's words were almost inaudible, it hadn't escaped from her hearing.
"You're hopeless, my son."
The dark-haired Kurosaki sibling smiled faintly. Ah, even their father knew. Possibly, everyone knew. Everyone, except the couple themselves. Karin wondered how long they would keep dancing around each other.
"So how about the two of you? Tell me about your crushes." Karin heard Rukia say. As the young heiress looked up to her, the older woman grinned.
Upon hearing the words, a scowl immediately crept on Ichigo's face. Not that it wasn't already there, but it had become more pronounced.
Karin snorted. "I don't have anything to tell, given 'crush' is not on my vocab. And don't give me that look, Ichi-nii." She mirrored her brother's frown. "You have to worry more about our sweet Yuzu here."
From radish-white, Yuzu's face instantly turned tomato-red. It was as if she knew where the conversation was heading. "Karin-chan!"
"Where does the guy live, Yuzu?" Ichigo asked, automatic and stern.
Rukia reached for his hair and messed with it. "Really now, Ichigo. Don't be a fly in the ointment, alright?" She looked at Karin, and smirked. "Now, how much information do you know? Is he already Yuzu's boy?"
"He's not!" Yuzu shouted, then looked down. Fiddling with the hem of her skirt, she continued speaking, her voice lower this time. "I doubt if he even notices me."
Rukia stared at her incredulously. Even Ichigo held the same expression. What kind of guy didn't make a double-take on seeing the little goddess, Kurosaki Yuzu?
"The problem's not Yuzu, it's the guy," Karin said duly, noticing Ichigo's and Rukia's quizzical looks.
"Is he gay?" Ichigo and Rukia simultaneously asked.
"Not that I know of." Karin shrugged. "But that's not the point."
"He's interested in video games more than anything else. That's why he rarely gives attention to other things around him," Yuzu explained, still blushing.
"Video games?" Ichigo raised his brow. It looked like he'd already forgotten his original plan of hunting the guy down.
"Yes, Ichi-nii. Yuzu's crush is a blond brat and a videogame-geek who goes by the name of Vorarlberna Yukio Hans."
Rukia hummed. "Interesting."
"Shall we not talk about it?" Yuzu pouted.
Understanding that his younger sister was not comfortable on the conversation, Ichigo took Yuzu's request into consideration. To change the topic, he asked the twins if they were excited of finally entering the university life.
Karin rolled her eyes and sarcastically answered, "Sure. We're just as excited as the diver who's about to be eaten by a shark."
"Oh c'mon, Karin. College is not that bad," Rukia assured her. "I'm sure you can still pull your pranks on your professors." The older female laughed.
Karin feigned offended, and put her hand on her chest for effects. "Ouch. I'm a good student and I love my teachers. I can't pull some practical jokes on them."
"Sure, Karin-chan, sure. Remind me again about that student who'd managed to break even the stoic Byakuya-sensei's temper back in high school."
Both Ichigo's and Rukia's eyes widened on what they'd heard.
"You mean, my Nii-sama?"
"Really, Karin? Even Byakuya had been one of your victims?
As though trying to remember the incident, Karin looked up. Suddenly, she grinned. Aha, how could she forget that priceless moment?
"Oh, you mean the ouija board incident?"
"Ouija board?" Rukia said, "I wonder why I haven't heard the story."
"Heh, I doubt your brother would like to remember that incident, anyway, no less tell it to anyone. Well you see, it happened–"
The faint sound of an opening door stopped her mid-sentence. Everyone casted their eyes to the door as a short guy with brown hair poked his head inside. "Anou, excuse me Yuzu-san, the ingredients for the dessert have arrived."
In an instant, Yuzu's face brightened. She clasped her hands together, and almost jumped from her seat. "Yay, thank you, Rin-kun! Uhm, sorry guys, I'll walk first."
Excited, Yuzu ran out of the room. No doubt, cute and sweet things never failed to regale her.
Few seconds after she was gone, Karin also excused herself. "Let's continue this talk later. Neh, Rukia-chan, you can stay for a dinner with us."
And she left.
As soon as Karin was out of the earshot, Rukia looked at Ichigo, smirking, "She's only saying that crush is not on her vocabulary now, but sooner or later, someone will add the definition to her life."
Ichigo scoffed. "Since when have you started to think that way? And it's Karin we're talking here."
"Then wanna bet?"
"No way," Ichigo dismissed, as he stood, "Not if my sisters are involved. C'mon, wanna spar for while?"
"Now that's a challenge that I'd never decline," Rukia answered, grinning
Together, they made their way out of the leisure room.