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Chapter II
Zoo Fiasco
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"Hey Yuzu!" Jinta said grinning.
"Hey…" Kyohei said a little embarrassed to look at his captain.
"Good morning Jinta-kun, Kyohei-kun" Yuzu replied smiling, Karin on the other hand wasn't very pleased.
"Yuzu, I need to talk to you…NOW! " Karin said pulling her to the side.
"What's wrong Karin-chan?" She said playing innocent.
"I'll tell you what's wrong! Why is Kyohei here? Yesterday Jinta told me you wanted me to date and stuff, but this is completely out of question! I can get my own dates! And what on earth made you think I would like to date Kyohei?" Karin tried to speak low but she was so nervous her voice came out almost squeaking.
"Well, first of all. You CANNOT get your own dates, if you could you would already have chosen one of the thousand boys that confessed to your this last year. Second I thought Kyohei-kun would be a nice choice because you train together so you have the same interests, and he seems to like you." Yuzu said giggling and placing a hand over her cheek.
Before Karin could go on, Jinta and Kyohei approached.
"What are you two talking about? Let's go!" Jinta said.
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"Captain! Commander called all captains and lieutenants to a meeting." Matsumoto came rushing to Toshirou.
He looked back at her and nodded. He had changed a little, over the last few years, he grew a little taller, his hair was slightly longer letting some of it fall over his face, his facial features were more mature, and his eyes were not so big anymore. Not many people seemed to understand why, although Mayuri theorized it was due to the zombification healing process he and Matsumoto went through during the Thousand Year Blood War, when the Quincy Giselle took over them, Mayuri healed them all but at the expense of their lifespan. Perhaps Hitsugaya sudden changes were part of it, others speculated it had something to do with his completed Bankai. The rumors about his older and much more handsome form took Soul Society by storm once things went back to their peaceful days, and almost every shinigami was aware of it. Some thought that because he forced his body into that form, his body was automatically set to grow into it. Like turning a timer of an oven.
Shunshui Kyoraku, the new commander of the Gotei 13, whenever questioned about the topic in idle chit chat simply answered "He just found the rhythm his heart must follow".
"When it is?" Toshirou asked Rangiku.
"Now." He sighed they went to the meeting room, of course, Matsumoto delivered the message late, everyone was there already.
Kyoraku nodded as the last captain appeared and began to speak.
"I called you here today because something happened in the human world last night. It's something completely unusual and never seen before so that's why I'll be sending a captain and a lieutenant to verify the situation."
"What happened Captain-commander?" Soi fon asked.
"It seems that a zanpakutou spirit is manifesting in a plain human girl in Karakura town, since her reiatsu seems to equal a lieutenant's and we don't know the consequences of a zanpakutou spirit appearing in a human, it's safer to send a captain and a lieutenant to verify and if necessary neutralize the reishi."
"Captain-commander, I volunteer myself to go." Shūhei Hisagi said standing up.
"Good. Now from the recent activity reports the captain who would be less busy is…" The old man said looking at some papers. "Captain Hitsugaya. You and Abarai will go to the human world and secure the situation." Toshirou sighed, the first time he manages to give the reports before the time limit is when he gets a mission for not being busy.
"Sir, may I ask, who is the human?" Hitsugaya asked looking up.
"Her name is Kurosaki Karin." Everyone's eyes widened, they all knew that name too well.
"Kurosaki, does she have any relationship with ex-captain Isshin and Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"Yes, she is Isshin's daughter and Ichigo's younger sister. But since Kurosaki Ichigo is not around someone else must go. And in case we need to neutralize the reishi, he wouldn't be a good choice because of their relationship." Everyone nodded. Ichigo would never seal his sister's reiatsu and would make some other big confusion.
"So be ready to leave today, we must act quickly before something happens, and I would rather avoid any trouble with the Kurosaki family, as we all owe them a great deal. Dismissed."
"Heh, no wonder the reishi is too much. Those Kurosaki's are always trouble…" Soi fong said.
"It would be interesting in studying this human" Kurotsuchi said amidst creepy giggles.
"Heehh what a luck captain, going to the real world…" Matsumoto whined as she tagged after Toshiro.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, I was thinking that maybe if you had the time…"
"What do you want me to bring….?" Hitsugaya said sighing in defeat.
"Yay! Thanks, captain! Here's the list!" She shoved a paper into her captain's face.
"List? When did you have time to make one?"
"The moment captain-commander said human I started scribbling. There isn't much though, I just want some stuff I can't get here to improve my…erm…training." She simply said, for a minute he believed her until her read in the list…
"A koala plushie? " He asked raising one of his eyebrows.
"They opened up a new zoo there, and Rukia told me they have the cutest stuffed animals there!"
"Fine whatever…just finish your paperwork and try not to kill anyone while I'm out…"
"Aye aye captain!"
He headed to the Senkaimon, Hisagi was already waiting for him.
"Captain Hitsugaya are you ready?" The red-haired asked, and he responded with a positive nod. "Then let's go!". They jumped into the gate heading to the human world.
"Captain-commander said her reiatsu was detected in the local zoo." Renji said, Toshirou nodded and mused how opportune it was that Matsumoto mentioned the place and that was precisely where their target was.
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The four teens were walking, Yuzu and Jinta in the front, Karin and Kyohei following, they were quiet, except for one or two comments they made to reply to Yuzu.
Yuzu would constantly turn around to see if something happened to her sister and her unwanted date, but they weren't even acknowledging each other. She frowned and pouted slightly, she had to interfere…again.
They sat on a bench in front of the penguin's cage.
"Karin-chan, let's go buy some ice cream?"
"Okay". Karin said getting up.
"You guys wait here," Yuzu said blinking at Jinta.
"OOOhhh I getcha! Okay!" Jinta said excited and a little too proud of taking the hint.
"Shh" Yuzu said trying not to look suspicious….trying. Not succeeding.
Karin rolled her eyes as they walked away. Jinta waits for them to get out of sight and abruptly turns to Kyohei.
"So here's the deal, Yuzu is starting to get really pissed off."
"What?"
"So I suggest you make your move fast! You could start talking about something in soccer and…"
"WHAT?" Kyohei yelled. Jinta blinked.
"What what?"
"I mean what the hell are you saying about making a move!"
"About Karin, you thick head!" Kyohei blushed.
"Wh-why do you think I want to make a move at the captain!"
"If you don't why are you here again?" Kyohei looked away refusing to reply.
"You are just like her…never admitting defeat. Shouldn't you just get over the fact that she's better than you at soccer and accept that you like her!"
"She is NOT better than me!" He said blushing…this time out of anger.
…
Yuzu and Karin were in line for ice cream, Karin sensed something. She looked up, no hollow around…it was different. Maybe something bigger…or someone.
"Did Jinta feel it too?"
"Kariiiinnn? Are you listening?" She snapped out when Yuzu waved a hand in front of her face.
"Oh sorry Yuzu…I just remembered…I have to go somewhere… I'll be back soon…" Karin said running into the crowd.
"Karin! Wait! Oh, that girl!" Yuzu said heading back to the boys.
Karin was feeling some large reiatsu around, she couldn't tell if it was a hollow or something else… She followed the energy trace and finally found its owners. In the souvenir store stood two men, one had Fiery red hair, the other one silver-white. The girls around were giggling, but they didn't seem to care.
"Are they…people? I thought it could be a hollow…damn I just wanted some fun but nooooooo they had to be…normal, well I guess I can say at least human…"
She had never seen the first one, but he looked a little menacing.
The second, she squinted, he was very familiar, white hair wasn't exactly common, but then again there were some fashion trends around. He turned his face and only then Karin realize it was Toshirou, the middle school shinigami who would drop by and play soccer with her years ago. He was a little different but still had the same old grumpy face.
She looked closer and noticed he was holding a Koala plushie.
"Kinda girly…" She thought out loud. She cupped her mouth when she realized that she actually said it.
"Did they hear that?"
They looked around and spotted her. One made a positive head sign and both of them walked up to her with very angry faces.
"Oh, crap they heard it! I have two options. First one: Pretend I didn't say anything and face them. Second option: Run like hell."
Hisagi looked positively a delinquent with that tattoo on his cheek. Did Soul Society have yakuza? They looked like trouble.
"Second option."
"Hey!" Toshirou called. Karin immediately ran away from the store using flash step.
"What the hell! See! You scared her away! Now we have to run after her!" Hisagi groaned
"No one told us she knew shunpo!" Hitsugaya retorted.
Karin stopped, thinking she was far from the store in the other side of the zoo.
"Great! I think I lost them…now I just need to find Yuzu and the boys…" She turned around to leave when she bumped into someone falling to the ground.
"Going somewhere Kurosaki?" Hitsugaya said, looking pretty pissed.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She frowned glaring back at them.
"We know you, brother Ichigo. And we have some business to take care of with you." Shuhei said while Toshiro offered her a hand for her to stand up.
"Here."
Karin frowned glaring at his hand and got up on her own shoving his hand away.
"Jerk." She muttered and stood up on her own. "I have nothing to do with any of you."
"Damn Toshirou, you ARE the ladies man." Shuhei said sarcastically.
"It's Captain Hitsugaya to you Hisagi." Karin stopped in her tracks, those names were really familiar. She turned around. Stared at them for a while.
"AAAAAAAAGHHHH! YOU TWO!" She yelled pointing at them.
They jumped out in surprise.
"YOU'RE PART OF THAT GANG THAT KEPT BUSTING IN AND OUT HOME! AND YOU'RE THE ELEMENTARY SOCCER STUDENT!" They blinked. Shuhei started laughing and desperately tried to muffle it. Hitsugaya's eye twitched.
"I AM NOT AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT!" He stopped…"Wait…soccer? Now I remember, I met her some years ago and helped her with that soccer match thing…she used to visit Haru-baa-chan as well…"
How can you be so slow? – He heard the dragon's voice inside his head
"You knew? Why didn't you tell me?" Hyorinmaru didn't answer.
"What do you want from me?" She asked.
"We are shini…"
"Yeah yeah…I realized that already! Damn! If I didn't follow the reiatsu I would be eating ice cream by now."
"You sensed us? How come you could sense our reiatsu and we couldn't sense yours?" Shuhei asked raising an eyebrow.
"I first thought it could be a hollow or two, so I concealed my reiatsu to approach, but then I found you instead."
"So you had training." He said, she nodded.
"Pretty much, it's been around five years. Now I really gotta go I have to meet someone." She said. Before she turned around she heard someone running up to her.
"Karin!"
"Kyohei-kun? What are you doing here?"
"Jinta and Yuzu got worried so we decided to split up and look for…" He looked at Hitsugaya and Shuhei.
"Who are they?" He asked narrowing his eyes.
"How should I know. Those two followed me from the convenience store." Karin lied blatantly. Toshirou frowned, sensing something from the tanned boy, and he didn't like that.
"Kurosaki you should come with us at once." He said, grabbing her wrist.
"What the…!" Karin was taken aback by the grip.
"Hey, dude let her go!" Kyohei said grabbing her other wrist. " She's with me so back off!"
"I'M WHAT?"
"She needs to come with us!" Toshirou said pulling Karin.
"Like hell, I'll let you walk around with her! Let go!" Kyohei pulled Karin the opposite way.
"Err.. captain…I think you should stop it now…" Shuhei said nervously pointing at Karin. She looked extremely angry, Shuhei and Toshirou sensed her reiatsu starting to go up.
"LET GO OF ME!" She yelled furious as her spiritual pressure pushed both away from her.
"Wow, that was some serious girl anger!" Shuhei said.
"Karin-chan! Kyohei-kun!" Yuzu said catching up with them. "What happened here?"
Without saying a word, Karin walked away.
"Yo Karin, are you okay?" Jinta asked worriedly.
"I'm just fine! I'm going home now, I've had enough jerks to deal with in one day." She walked off.
Hitsugaya started to walk to follow her, but Jinta stopped him.
"I think it's enough for one day captain Hitsugaya. You two should go back to the shop and resolve any business you might have with her, with him first." Jinta said in a dead-serious tone.
"He's right. We better go." Shuhei agreed.
"hunf…fine" Hitsugaya relented not pleased about the situation and the two shinigami walked away.
"Kyohei. What happened here?" Jinta asked looking at the boy who frowned and looked away.
"Don't tell me I was wrong, those guys wanted to take her away so I stopped it." The blonde teenager huffed and turned his head away.
Jinta raised one eyebrow. "Really? 'cause it seemed like you two were playing tug-o-war with her." Yuzu chuckled. " You of all people should know she can take care of herself."
"Whatever! I saw two guys coming at her so I had to do something…"
"Or did you feel threatened? 'Cause, you know, they were pretty good-looking…" Jinta teased behind a sneaky grin.
"I WAS NOT JEALOUS!" Kyohei shouted turning red.
"Whatever, just remember that Karin hates to be treated as if she was a damsel in distress so if you keep this up she will hate you more than anyone else, and not in a nice love-rival kind of way," Jinta replied.
Kyohei looked away, angry. Yuzu pitied him.
"Maybe we could try something else when Karin forgets all this, don't worry Kyohei-kun, Karin is very kind and will let this go soon." She said smiling gently.
"Yeah…you better get her a reaaalllyy good present because THIS was a TOTAL FIASCO!"
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"We must go talk to Urahara maybe he's the one behind her training. We can clarify if we should seal her reiatsu or if she has total control of it…." Hitsugaya spoke up while they walked out of the Zoo.
"Yeah, but for now…where are we gonna spend the night… We could stay at Kurosaki's but I don't think we can go there now… so the only option left is Orihime Inoue…" A chill went down their spines as they remembered her DELICIOUS cooking.
"By the way didn't you feel something strange in that blonde boy?" Hitsugaya asked.
"Like what?"
"I don't know, there was something terribly familiar in his reiatsu…it seemed a lot like an Arrancar's but still different we better keep an eye on him, we don't know who else might be interested in a non-shinigami zanpakuto." Shuhei nodded firmly in agreement.
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Karin finally got home. Her head was hurting like hell. "Damn those shinigamis! They always managed to give me a headache!" threw herself at her bed.
She looked at the red pendant around her neck. "I want to train…Yeah that will do me some good." She got up from her bed in a jump, took her sword and went straight to the Urahara Shop. When she got there Urahara was already in the front of the shop.
"Kurosaki-chan! I was wondering if you would come today, I heard about the fiasco, but don't worry its perfectly normal for a cute lady like you to have boys using you as tug-o-war." He said with that cheesy smile of his.
"I want to pick up from where we left yesterday, I just need a calm place and somewhere away from people." She said ignoring his comment, keeping her resting unamused scowl.
"Feel free to use the basement Kurosaki-chan." She nodded and left. He stood there, his face was now serious.
"Soul Society already knows huh…this will be faster than what I expected…"