Hello there! Really not sure if anyone's going to read this or has any interest on this couple as I do. Anyways, this idea popped into my head a few days ago, and I had to get it out of my system. I wrote that in two days (and honestly I did not expect it to become this long), so please, if you do read this and want to help me improve my writing, leave a review? Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy!
For context, I imagined that Ichigo went to college in another town, and that the two sisters joined for a small holiday. Also, I like to think that they all evolved a little from what we saw in the original story, since they got older, but I hope it doesn't come out as too OOC in the end.
Karin scanned the room around her, trying to process where, or what she ended up in. Yuzu was confident this was their brother's Halloween party's location. Still, the apartment was so crowded with masked faces it was challenging to spot anyone, until she noticed an oddly familiar silhouette rising above the mass.
"Hey! Big guy! You're Ichi-nii's friend!"
"Is that… Karin? Is that you?"
Looking her up and down, he offered a bemused smile before speaking again.
"I was not expecting this."
"Expecting what?"
"For starters, a costume."
"What? It's Halloween. I'd look like an idiot in plain clothes in the middle of… What even this is."
She gestured at the party animals dancing around her at the aggressive sound of techno. She couldn't recognize anyone. Were those guys all of Ichigo's friends? She knew college celebrations could go a little out of hand, but without coming across Chad, she would have seriously thought they were in the wrong place. The man's voice interrupted her trail of thoughts.
"You got taller."
"That's rich, coming from you."
"Well, last time you weren't even reaching my hip."
"I was eleven, dumbass, and although I can't blame you for forgetting this, we ran into each other a few times in the last decade. On a side note, I am pleased to notice you don't look as huge as back then."
He chuckled softly.
"I don't get that often."
"I might have lied a little."
"So… Are you dressed as… Morticia?"
"Hell yeah. She rules."
"I never thought I'd say this, but it suits you."
"Why not? Not femme fatale enough?"
He smiled again.
"I'm glad to see I was mistaken."
"I'll take that as a compliment. Wait. But. You. Aren't you dressed as… Are you Gomez!?"
Her face lit up as he bowed in agreement.
"This is amazing! I found my Gomez! I've gotta tell Yuzu, come, she'll be so happy to immortalize this."
He let her drag him away, which she did with much more ease than he'd expected, especially considering the amount of people in the way. She spotted her sister's red hood easily despite the mess.
"YUZU! Look what I've found!"
Chad thought the young woman's eyes were going to pop out of her head.
"KARIN! THIS IS INCREDIBLE! I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS! You're Ichigo's friend, aren't you?"
"Yeah that's Chad!"
"This is SO great."
As Yuzu started to rummage through her bag to get her camera, Chad stared at his friend's sister.
"I'm actually impressed you know my name."
"Why wouldn't I? I mean you've been one of Ichigo's oldest friends. You know my name as well."
Yuzu eventually reached her camera and started to snap away at them immediately, taking them aback a little.
"Now do something! Take a pose!"
"Yuzu, is this really necessa—"
Her sister's very serious face cut her protest short. The twin was more than determined to get her shot. She exchanged uncomfortable glances with Chad, until she timidly laid a hand on his massive forearm, which he then delicately winded around her waist. While they both affected very distinguished expressions and bombing the chest, Karin felt a shiver running up her spine. When it was over, she realized she'd been holding her breath the whole time. She felt cold where his arm was seconds earlier, and warm everywhere else. When Yuzu left looking for their brother, the brunette embarrassedly turned to her acolyte.
"Thanks for bearing with this, I was not expecting such dedication. I guess you're not that lame after all."
He vaguely recalled her telling him something like that, back in the days.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
He added a thumb up to back up his words and she rolled her eyes.
"I take it back."
Suddenly, as she tried to chase off the nervous feeling that had taken her over, he bent down and came unexpectedly close to her face, gazing directly into her soul with an undecipherable expression.
"How long has it been since we waltzed?"
Distracted from her uneasiness by the new challenge and without missing a beat, the words purred out of her lips while she instinctively bat her eyelashes seductively.
"Oh, Gomez… Hours."
He gracefully took her hand and improvised a few steps with her on the totally inappropriate music playing. She stopped the dance with a mischievous grin when she felt his breath on her face.
"Are you drunk?"
"M… Maybe. A little."
"This is hilarious."
As they parted from one another, Karin nonetheless felt her face was on fire and thanked god for the white foundation she had put on. That's only then she noticed Ichigo watching them with incredulous eyes.
"What is happening?"
Against all odds he started laughing, and appeared to be unable to stop.
"Ichigo…? Are you okay?"
"You two… You two were… Ha… Were you guys… WERE YOU ACTUALLY WALTZING? The two of you? This is comedy gold. Oh my stomach hurts…"
He left half laughing half suffocating, holding his belly with his hands. Chad could swear he'd seen tears of hilarity at the corners of his eyes.
"Is he drunk too?"
"I don't think so. My guess is he genuinely found us laughable."
Karin looked around her and shrugged at the answer.
"Well I can figure out why. I'm not even really mad."
"Not mad? What happened to you?"
"Puberty, I guess. It's a shame I'll still have to kick his ass, since someone needs to teach this fool some respect."
Amused by her antics, Chad just smiled and nodded. They stood motionless and silent for a few seconds, strangely staring at each other, when she tried a way out.
"Look, I'm gonna get some fresh air."
"That sounds good. Would you mind if I came along?"
"If you get me a drink you are more than welcome."
"What would you like?"
"A beer would make my day."
She went ahead to get out, when a random stranger abruptly intruded her personal space.
"Heeey sexy!"
Chad made a step back to intervene, but the girl seemed utterly unimpressed. She raised a finger and softly stopped him with a polar glare.
"Don't. You. Dare."
Her silent threat took effect immediately. The guy froze, chuckled nervously and went to greet someone else, while she made a dignified exit. That was more how he remembered her, which he found delightfully entertaining. She could still be scary whenever she intended to.
As soon as Chad got the beer, he went out and looked for Karin, not finding her at first. He gazed at the people chatting on the threshold with disinterest, when he heard a distant, faint call.
"Up here!"
She was on the roof. He checked around him and made sure that no one was paying attention, took one swift jump and landed smoothly at her side. How she managed to reach such height so fast was however a mystery.
"How did you get up here?"
"Same as you."
He deadpanned her, waiting for further explanation.
"What? I'm a Kurosaki as well. I go at Urahara's on my free time and do stuff like you guys used to."
"Does Ichigo know?"
"If not then he doesn't deserve to. I haven't exactly tried to hide it from anyone, so that's on him."
"And of all places, you settled for the farthest from the party."
"Well, yeah. This is more private."
This last remark made him pause. The corner of her lips twitched a little as he replied.
"Did you lure me on a date?"
Unfortunately, the words sounded much more awkward once spoken up than he intended them to. Unsure if he was joking or not, and trying to hide how startled she was by his question, she raised a half-serious eyebrow.
"Why, is this what you hoped for?"
"I'm confused. I can't tell if you're flirting with me or not."
An eerie silence spread after he blurted out this last remark. Karin realized he might have a point in saying this.
"Actually me neither. Should we head back inside?"
"That would be wise."
"Thanks for the beer by the way."
They made a toast and fled towards the party, both of them with the feeling of being brain-fried, definitely resolved to avoid each other for the rest of the evening, and why not for a few years more. Their eyes locked a few times during the night, and every time Karin felt upside down. This was no good. How could someone she barely knew have the ability to open up the floor under her feet and swallow her completely in the abyss of his dark gaze?
As the party calmed down a little, Karin found herself yawning and looking forward to bury herself under warm, thick blankets. She hoped Ichigo's couch was comfortable, since she needed to be fully rested for her upcoming football session the day after. Yuzu was getting tired as well, so they looked for their brother. Unable to locate him anywhere, Karin tried to find anyone who would have information, and eventually stumbled upon Chad again. She mentally kicked herself up and managed to keep it together.
"Have you seen my brother?"
"He left about an hour ago."
"WHAT? Seriously? What the hell, we were supposed to sleep at his place!"
"You were?"
He so obviously tried to repress a huge grin that Karin forgot for one second she was pissed.
"Of course you were. This is going to be fun."
"What is?"
"He didn't exactly leave alone."
She gaped at him, taking in this new piece of information.
"Ichigo?"
"Himself."
"Oh now that's great."
"It's okay, you two can have my room. I will sleep on the couch."
"Wait, you're his roommate?"
"He didn't tell you?"
"He told me "his roommate". So… No."
Seemingly sensing he was being talked about, that's the exact moment Ichigo chose to call her sister and check on them.
"Hey Karin! Are you and Yuzu having a good time?"
"Not as much as you apparently. You have an instinct for timing by the way."
"Listen, I had to go out for a while, but I'm on my way back, don't worry!"
"It's okay, stay where you are, I wouldn't want to bother you, I'll find my way. I have the address and Chad told me you live close by."
"We do, but I'm not at home right now, wait for me so I can open up."
Karin sighed in exasperation, and noticed Chad lipping something to her.
"Chad volunteered to walk us home. Enjoy the rest of your night you unworthy brother and say hi to the lucky person."
"What did Chad tell y—"
She hung up before she could hear anymore of it.
"He's so full of shit."
"He didn't mean to put you in an uncomfortable position."
"Oh I'm glad he's getting laid, and also that it's not at your place, so I won't have to pretend I don't hear it, I just wished he told… No that would have been awkward. I don't know. I'm just tired."
"Let's go then."
"Are you okay leaving now?"
"Yes, I intended to."
As it turned out, Yuzu also changed plans last minute when she learnt that some friends of hers having a sleepover not far either were still up. Before getting into her cab, she tried one last time to bring her twin along.
"Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"Honestly, I love you with all my heart, but I already put on a costume tonight. You can't expect me to also join in a sleepover. I'm glad you get to spend some time with your friends, but I'll pass."
"Is Gomez walking you home?"
"His name is Chad, and yes."
Yuzu beamed with bliss, starry-eyed.
"This is fate."
"This is also his apartment."
"This is fate."
"Good night Yuzu. Send me a text when you arrive."
With the taxi out of sight, Karin finally turned to her giant host.
"Shall we go?"
"Would you like a last drink?"
"What do you have?"
"Tequila and whisky"
"I'll have the same as you."
They were sitting on the couch, each of them staring at their own glass at first. After a while, she noticed him staring at her legs when she got rid of her shoes and pulled up her dress a little to be more comfortable, and felt exasperated as she had to make an effort to stop staring his lips when he talked. They chatted for a while, much more than any of them expected. Then as she looked through the window, she noticed the horizon getting clearer.
"Oh my god, it's dawn already. Would you mind if I took a shower? There is no way I sleep with all this make up."
"Make yourself at home."
He proceeded to show her everything she needed. When she tried to get in his brother's room to steal a tee shirt from him as an improvised pyjama, she had to face the cruel reality that it was locked up.
"What even… Doesn't he trust you?"
"I think he wanted you girls out of it."
"What for?"
"Well…"
"Ugh okay nevermind I don't want details."
"You can have one of mine if you want."
"Are you sure? I… Thanks a lot. Okay, I just… I have one favour to ask for."
"Which is?"
"I, um… I need you to unzip me."
"Oh. Okay."
After a few seconds of hesitation, she turned round, offered him her back and cleared it from her hair. He carefully raised his hand, beguiled by the sight of her neck and the reminiscent traces of perfume. He slowly complied, silently reprimanding himself for appreciating the vision of her body revealing to him inch by inch. It felt like eternity. When he was done, he stood still for an instant, finding much too hard to stop leering at her. He collected himself, cleared his throat, and initiated a movement to get out, when he felt her hand grasp his arm, and pull him closer as she stared right through him.
"You don't get hints easily, do you?"
"I…"
"For the record, I am flirting with you now."
Before he could think of anything to say, she had grabbed his collar and crashed her lips on his. He did not remain surprised for too long and clutched her in a solid embrace that made her feel dizzy. No one would have to sleep on the couch after all.