Author's Note: while i worked on the next chapter and noticed that this chapter got lost in the document manager and wasnt published! how embarassing! Im so sorry guys lol the story wasnt making any sense XD
*.·:·. .·:·.*
Chapter IV
Begin
*.·:·. .·:·.*
Hitsugaya was having a lot of trouble thinking about how would he tell the captain-commander that the girl already has a zanpakuto spirit and is trained by Urahara and Yoruichi. He knew that it might cause the seal of her powers, and in the middle of all his own confusion, he did not want to do that, he knew that much.
But why worry about that human? Well, he was kinda sympathetic toward that girl. She wished to protect her family and friends and to overcome herself and to take this away from her was to sentence her soul to a painful and long death, to deny the same power he once longed for wouldn't let his conscience still. He remembered how much the loss of powers had affected Ichigo and still, he found a way to fight. Would sealing her reiatsu even work at all? Wouldn't she find a different way as her brother did?
His mind was a mess, he needed to think clearly and in this damned human world, there was only one place he could do so. By the road, that same spot of sunset light. Toshiro had his arms folded and eyes closed.
After Kurosaki passed out, he talked to Urahara about what he should report.
Even after exposing Karin like that, Urahara seemed calm and sure that Hitsugaya should report to the captain-commander, he also let him keep the necklace but warned him not to use it near Soul Society or include that in the report. He was confused, he knew the ex-captain was plotting something but still couldn't understand why he wanted Soul Society to know about the girl but not about the crystals.
He frowned and then sighed. He would play along to the man's game, it could not be helped. He was curious. He wanted to know about those strange and rare powers that a plain human girl had acquired. It was infuriating how he was inevitably turned into one of Urahara's pawns.
Standing up, he walked down the road that he knew he could not go back from. He would have to go to the bottom of this as Urahara decided to involve him firsthand.
The first step was explaining everything to Shuhei Hisagi, Toshiro told him about Karin's training and her skills with kido. Shuhei was honestly amazed at how far the girl got, without being a shinigami. However, Hitsugaya would not tell him about Nichirinmaru nor Hyorinmaru's physical manifestation caused by Urahara's necklaces.
"Captain Hitsugaya and lieutenant Hisagi reporting sir."
"Good, I was starting to become worried about you two" Kyoraku replied only to be interrupted by an unamused Nanao:
"Sir. You were napping as if you didn't have a care in the world."
Kyoraku cleared his throat. "Aaaaanyways, what is the situation over there?"
"The girl seems to have developed a zanpakuto spirit and is able to perform destruction Kido. I sparred with her and she is strong and skillfull. She also knows Shunpo and how to conceal her reiatsu. "
"And how did she learn all this?"
"Kisuke Urahara and Shihoin Yoruichi are training her for approximately 5 years now."
"I see. Then it cannot be helped. I've made my decision. You two can come back to Soul Society and I will announce her destiny for all captains and vice-captains. You are dismissed."
"Yes sir.." They both said.
On the way out, Shuhei spoke up.
"Wow, that girl really has the Kurosaki gene, she looks like more trouble than Ichigo if that is even possible..."
"Well, at least she seemed to have her father's abilities. Even being younger than Kurosaki, she has more reiatsu and control over it...different from her brother."
"Yeah, but I want to see if she has the same attitude as her brother."
"On recklessness? I don't think so... but on determination, I have no doubt about it." Toshiro added confidently.
"Ha, no one can be as reckless as that guy...by the way, do you think captain-commander will seal her powers? I know it can be dangerous to let a simple human girl with such powers but...ahh..I don't know, it just doesn't look right..."
"Yes, I'm worried about it too." Toshiro lowered his eyes.
"You are? really? wow. Now I'm impressed!" He said blinking and laughing.
"Why are you so surprised about it?" He asked frowning.
"The almighty captain Hitsugaya protector of order is worried about an outlaw human girl? You still wonder why I am surprised?" He said tapping on his back.
Hitsugaya glared. "If I didn't know any better I would think you are teasing me, lieutenant Hisagi."
:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:
"Oooow my body is heavy like a rock!" The raven-haired girl cried.
"No wonder, you two got pretty excited on the little spare," Yoruichi said;
"I lost?"
"Yup, but you did pull up a good fight. After all you made a captain release his shinkai to win! That is something really amazing for any shinigami." She grinned trying to cheer the girl up.
"But I'm not a shinigami." Karin spoke with a melancholic look and sighed. "So what happens now?"
"What are you talking about?" Yoruichi tilted her head feigning ignorance.
"What will become of me and my powers? I don't think that he will keep this a secret and I don't expect Soul Society to let a human girl bounce around with a zanpakuto."
Yoruichi became serious. " I'm honestly not sure." She then softened her face with a gentle smile. "But I know that Kisuke won't let anything happen to you, and neither will I." She placed her hand on the top of the girl's head.
She hated to admit it but she got a soft spot for this girl. Different from Soi Fong who was like a younger sister, Karin has become something close to a daughter for her. She knew that Karin had no one else to talk to about those feelings, she could never tell her twin Yuzu or her father, and Ichigo hardly came to visit, so the flash step goddess was the only one that she could tell her difficulties in training, her frustrations and her victories. She entrusted all this to her in such a trusting way, that Yoruichi would do whatever she could to protect her smile.
"You need rest, what will your father say when he comes home and sees his beloved daughter all banged up like that" She grinned. "Try to get some sleep, Ururu-chan will bring you some food when you're better!"
"Ha, if you get any nicer you will spoil me!" Karin chuckled.
"Oh yeah? Then I'll prepare the most exhaustive training session you've ever had just to make up for it!" Yoruichi said in an attempt to cheer the younger Kurosaki.
When Karin got back home her father and Yuzu were desperate and worried about her, in their own way, as in: Yuzu crying and Isshin jumping around and hugging her mom's poster.
"Karin-chan! What happened? Why are you hurt?"
"I'm just a little tired, had a rough training session that's all..." Karin said. Amidst the tumult of protests of Yuzu, Karin could notice her father narrowed his eyes. Karin swallowed saliva a little too hard her throat felt sore from Nichirinmaru's release, and she didn't want to face her father if he was picking up on this information somehow.
"I'm going to sleep now. Good night!" She said climbing up the stairs in a hurry.
In her room she looked out of the window, wondering what would become of her. Her thoughts were interrupted when her father came in.
"Karin-chan, I need to talk to you." His face was serious so she didn't have the nerve to make a joke or call him goat-face, she just stood there, quiet.
He sighed.
"I know that you've been aware of your brother's condition and mine as well. So you also know that I'm not as stupid as I seem."
"What do you mean by that?" She looked away.
"Karin. I know you've changed. Your spiritual pressure has increased exponentially the last few years." Her eyes widened, she knew he had been a captain in the past but she never REALIZED that he WAS a SHINIGAMI CAPTAIN and all that it meant.
She lowered her head, ashamed that she didn't tell her father about it, knowing that he understood what the shinigami world involved.
"But I also know that everyone must have their own journey, but I want you to know that we are family, and you can always count on us. You will always have a home here, doesn't matter what you become or how far you go." He walked over to her bed and set next to her.
"Dad, I'm not going anywhere..." She said looking away, and then glancing back at her father, who had a sad smile on his face.
"Doesn't matter if you do or don't. But I want you to know your family is here. Even if Ichigo is not. I am here."
Karin nodded not lifting her eyes towards her father.
"Well, you need a lot of rest, so good night Karin-chaaaaannn!" He said in his usual cheerful way going out of her room.
"That was strange... does he know something I don't, did geta-boshi tell him something, I don't understand, where would I go to..." She lay down on her bed and tossed her arms over her face.
Toshirou and Shuhei were back, three days after their return, Kyoraku called another squad meeting.
"Concerning the human girl, Our reports state that the girl has been trained for 5 years by Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihoin. I was informed that she also knows Shunpo, and kido."
There was a heavy silence mixed with a few gasps of surprise..
"Bu-but, how she is just a human!" Soi Fong was astonished.
"But I'm afraid that our fears came true. During a sparring session, captain Hitsugaya witnessed the girl using her zanpakutou's shinkai." Everyone's eyes widened.
"How is this even possible? she is not just human but she is too young! Not even the most gifted Shinigamis learned their Zanpakutou's name after only 5 years of training! She can't achieve shinkai!" Isane said.
"I fought her, and she does have a shinkai, and it was no ordinary zanpakutou, it was a fire-type sword. She was so powerful that if I hadn't released Hyorinmaru, I might as well have lost."
"So what are we going to do about this girl?" Byakuya said in a cold tone.
"She obviously has too much power to control it. She must be sealed immediately" Soi Fong said firmly.
"Oh please captain Soi Fong, you are just jealous that you are not Yoruichi-sama's favorite student anymore." Kurotsuchi said in a mocking tone.
"What?! How dare you!" She got up hitting the table with her hand.
"Quiet down. I already decided what will happen to the young Kurosaki." Everyone stood quiet, waiting for the commander to say.
"Due to her unique abilities and rare traits, we cannot afford to lose such promising power as an ally. So she will come to Soul Society and train here, under my eyes. So she can't be used as a pawn in Urahara's schemes, nor put other humans in danger."
"So you will send a human girl to the shinigami academy?" Renji asked.
"No."
"Then who will be responsible for her training?" Byakuya asked raising an eyebrow.
:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:
Karin woke up, she felt like she had slept for days. She quickly changed into her uniform and left for school. Her classmates were saying Karin got in a fight with a bunch of delinquents and that's why she was hurt, but mostly, people didn't know what to think, the soccer captain has always been a mysterious person.
"Kurosakiiii!"
"Ah, what's up Kentarou." Karin turned to her friend.
"Everyone is talking about you! What the hell happened this weekend?"
"Er...nothing important really." She said. Kyohei approached.
"Morning everyone..." He noticed Karin was wearing the stone necklace. He stared at it for a few seconds before snapping out.
"What's wrong Kyohei?" Kentarou asked.
"Nothing, yo Kurosaki, can I see this necklace of yours?" He stood out his hand, but as it got closer to Karin she felt something.
She quickly held the stone closer to her chest and swatted his hand away.
"Wow what was that for Kurosaki?" Kentarou asked.
Karin didn't know what to say, it was an automatic reflex, and yet when she looked into Kyohei's eyes, she thought that she saw them strangely black. His eyes were green, never black.
He blinked, they were green again.
"What the heck is this? What is happening to him?"
Karin was disturbed. And so she avoided him all day.
She didn't know why her hand protected the necklace from what she thinks is a good friend.
"Karin. You must be careful."
"Nichirinmaru? Does this means I can't even trust my friends?"
She got no answer.
She spent the whole day looking up at the sky while playing with the crimson stone in her fingers. She was by the road looking down at the city, she didn't remember but someone once told her it was a good place to think. But she didn't know what to think about to start, her head was a whirlpool of thoughts.
She heard footsteps. She wasn't concentrated and was too confused to pay attention to her surroundings and didn't notice who was there. So she turned around, hoping it wasn't her "friend".
She didn't know if she was happy or irritated. There was no Kyohei around, just that not-so-midget-shinigami again, with those irritating teal eyes.
"You again?"
"You are coming with me." He said bluntly coming closer.
"What? To where?" She said as he pulled her along.
"To Soul Society."
"WHAT?"
"Stop shouting! Is annoying." He said as he walked holding her wrist.
"Wait a second! Let me go!" She pulled her wrist from his grip. "Do you think I'm going to hand over my powers that easily! Do you think I don't know what you are up to! That as soon as I let my guard down you are going to seal me away!"
"Be quiet already! You should be thankful to me! Thanks to my report you will be trained in Soul Society!"
Her eyes widened. He once again took her wrist and began to walk, this time she was silent. At first, he pulled her, but seeing her expression was different he stopped pulling and just guided her.
They reached the senkaimon. She looked at the endless darkness ahead.
"My family! Yuzu and Dad, I need to tell them."
"Kurosaki-san already knows he will explain everything your sister needs to know. Now, we need to go."
"Do you really think I'm going to believe in you just like that?!" Karin protested and Toshiro groaned.
"If I wanted to take you by force I could. I gain nothing by lying to you, it doesn't make the job any easier."
Karin hesitated. That made sense. "But still…"
Toshiro sighed. "I promise you are not going to be sealed, your brother and father will come soon enough to meet you there, there is no need to be so scared."
"I-i'm not scared!" She frowned and Toshiro rolled his eyes.
"Try to keep up. You can't stay in the senkaimon for long."
"Fine."
She held his hand and they jumped in.
As they passed, he glanced back at her, her grip in his hand tighten. He stared at her, she didn't realize that she was holding his hand so tightly. He felt a bit funny but ignored the feeling.
When they finally got to the other end, she still wouldn't let go of his hand. He glanced once more, this time she noticed, and quickly pulled her hand away.
"Er...so..Is this Soul Society?" She asked. He nodded.
"We are inside Sireitei, here live the shinigami and noble families, beyond the walls is Rukongai."
"Noble Families eh? So you Shinigamis are the high society while keeping ordinary souls outside your little perfect world." She said placing her hands on her hips.
His eyes narrowed.
"Not everyone here is from noble birth. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born in the golden cradles."
He turned to look at her, waiting for an answer.
She threw her arms to the back of her head noticing he was talking about himself.
"Haa isn't that right. I guess people just have the urge to fight against a destiny imposed on us by others. Not always a better destiny. Just our own. Built with our own hands, sweat, and blood. Even if it sucks, it is still ours. At that point, we are more alike than I thought." She looked back at him and smiled.
He blinked.
"Alike? Us?"
:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:
Flashback
Toshiro was coming back from the first meeting of the captains to decide on Karin's fate. He decided to stop by and see how Hinamori was doing.
"Shiro-chan!" She said
"It's captain Hitsugaya."
"Aah sorry sorry! So what happened while I was away?"
"More than I had bargained for. I finally got Matsumoto to finish the papers before the deadline, but because of that I was sent on a mission in the human world to investigate a girl."
"Why?"
"Believe it or not a human girl developed a zanpakuto spirit." Her eyes widened.
"I didn't know it was possible! She must have a huge reiatsu."
"Well, she is a Kurosaki."
"What? A relative of Ichigo Kurosaki?"
"Yes, she is his younger sister, Karin."
"OOh I know Karin-chan! Yeah she really is something! about two years ago I went to this mission in the human world and I met her, the girl not only could see me, but she even hunted hollows around town!"
"Yeah, tell me about it. She already knows kido and shunpo, and now she learned her zanpakuto's name."
"Wow! In such a short period of time! She is more prodigy than yourself!" She laughed.
"She is a pain, that's what she is! She keeps calling me the midget-shinigami or the elementary-shinigami-dude! Urgh it's infuriating, really!" Hinamori could only giggle at his demise.
"You two are very much alike you know."
"How can you say that! That girl is absolutely clueless and stubborn! I'm nothing like her!"
"You two are very determined. Always try to hide your feelings to protect others, always wanting to become more than what you really are." She smiled looking up at the sky. "She must be as hard to read as you are."
"Well, you will have plenty of time to try to read her, Captain-commander decided she is coming here to train properly."
"Really? That looks pretty cool! Maybe I can become her friend! After all, I'm YOUR friend, so if you two are really similar then I'll be her friend too!"
"Stop saying nonsense is better for you not get involved in this mess."
"But who is going to train her?"
:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:••:
Toshiro snapped out when they heard other voices.
"Shiroooo-chaaannn! You are finally back!"
"Oh look it the chibi captain! Finally!"
Toshiro looked around to see Hinamori and her captain, Shinji Hirako.
"It's captain Hitsugaya." He corrected Shinji while scowling.
"Ah you must be Kurosaki-chan!" Hirako completely ignored Toshiro's protests and turned to Karin.
"Y-yes..." Karin answered a little scared of the man's psychotic behavior.
" Nice to meet you! I'm Shinji Hirako, captain of the 5th division, this is Hinamori-chan! My lieutenant."
"Nice to meet you Kurosaki-san." Hinamori said bowing.
"Er, nice to meet you too ... I think. But why are you here?"
They blinked. And turned to Toshirou.;
"Shiro-chan, didn't you tell her about the training?" Hinamori tilted her head.
"Not everything."
"Oh I see... Then let me clarify things to you Kurosaki-chan. I was put in charge of your training here in Soul Society, you will stay in my division."
"Oh, now I get it. Then I hope we get along well." She smiled sweetly making Shinji even blush for a moment before opening up a wide grin.
"My my, aren't you adorable! Muuuuuch better than your grumpy brother! No wonder Captain Hitsugaya wanted to be responsible for your training!" Shinji declared cheerfully and Momo chuckled.
"What?" Karin blinked utterly confused. Toshiro blushed and shouted in embarrassment.
"Don't say stupid things captain Hirako!"
"Now, now, thanks a lot for bringing Kurosaki-chan all this way, come on, we will take you to our headquarters," Shinji said as they walked away pulling Karin along.
"Oh wait a sec'!" Karin stopped for a moment before turning back.
"Thank you for helping me this far." She bowed politely to Toshiro. "I know I didn't believe you earlier…so I'm sorry for that." He was surprised and a little embarrassed. "...But you're still a midget." She quickly said sticking her tongue out. And then grinning and following after the blonde captain.
"Ah yes. I like her very much." Shinji joined the girl in grinning.
His face was now a mixture of anger, embarrassment, and something he could describe as butterflies in his stomach.
Hinamori took her time to look at Toshiro's exasperated expression and smiled. "I will be going now Shiro-chan. We'll catch up later." Just as she said that her captain called to her from a distance urging her to come along at once.
Once they were gone Toshiro scratched the back of his head and groaned.
"She will be pain..."