"Did you get the answer you were looking for?" Rangiku asked as Hitsugaya wrote down what Tatsuki told him in his case file, trying to compile a case. Matsumoto couldn't help but worry for her captain. She knew what he was capable of, he had always been capable. He was not the youngest captain in all of Society for no reason. But leading a militia at the age where his peers were spinning tops was not something to take lightly.
"Ah..." Hitsugaya muttered sadly before leaning back in his chair.
"So you... know about this incident?" Matsumoto asked, wanting to cross confirm what she was told to what he knew.
"Yeah. When she was 15, she was drugged at the Cultural Festival being held at Karakura High School." He said and Matsumoto was shocked. The amount of bad luck that hovered around this girl was incredibly worrying. How was she even still standing?
"What?" Matsumoto remarked.
"In March, she played in a worldwide soccer tournament where she represented Japan. The Japanese girls' team won and she was even awarded best player so she was recognisable." Hitsugaya said. "The people who drugged her were caught. They were random guys from out of the school who came by since the Cultural Festival is when they allow outsiders onto the premises. They said that they saw her on the news and found where she went to school and did it to lure her off of school grounds."
"Okay but... why is that relevant now?"
"Kurosaki never told me what caused the seizure but Tatsuki helped with that."
"The drugging?" Matsumoto mentioned and he nodded.
"They administered a drug to her that was supposed to make her... euphoric but she went into an epileptic shock." He said. "Tatsuki said that sensory drugs can induce someone into an epileptic shock because the brain experiences a sensory overload."
"I'm still not following." Matsumoto said.
"Mashiro speculates that whoever corrupted Karin's zanpakuto did it while she was unconscious for it to happen that quickly." He explained.
"So... what you're saying is, whoever did this to Karin was drugging her into epileptic shocks to get her unconscious?" He nodded and Matsumoto now understood why he looked so distraught. "So... we have no idea who did this?"
"... I asked Tatsuki if she could get the information of the two men who did it." He said
"Why?"
"Because the situation in itself is strange." Hitsugaya said. "I don't doubt that there are pyschos who would do what they did... but the substance of choice is what threw Tatsuki off when she thought about." Matsumoto shook her head, still not following. "That drug causes insomnia. If the goal was to take her, why administer a substance that would make her hyperaware in a case were she wasn't an epileptic hypothetically? There are sedatives for that."
"So you think Aizen had something to do with it." She said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case." He said. "To see what happens then go back and regroup."
Matsumoto nodded but stood nearby, fidgeting a little as if she was hesitant to ask something. She was. She felt as though she knew very little about her captain. "What?" She jumped when he addressed her but he didn't even look at her once. He was still reading a report. "You look curious... nosy even. What do you want to know?"
Matsumoto frowned at how he put it before sucking it up. "Taichō... how close were you with Karin-chan?"
He stopped to look at her. "How is that relevant?"
"I just... she's your friend." She chose her words carefully. "And you normally don't like getting involved with others. What made the both of you specifically work?"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "She makes me think." He said
"Eh?" Matsumoto looked confused. "What do you —"
The hell butterfly came back in. "Hitsugaya-taicho, come in." It was Renji's voice. "Hitsugaya-taicho, come in."
"Ah, I'm listening." He sighed.
"We've hit a dead end." Hitsugaya rubbed his temples.
"Understood. Thank you for the update." Hitsugaya said before standing up
"Where are you going?" Matsumoto asked but he didn't respond. "Taicho!" The door slammed behind him.
Karin and Gina finally arrived at the airport and waited in the arrivals' terminal. The intercom went off, announcing that passengers from Frankfurt were arriving. Gina looked at Karin and nodded, explaining that this was the plane before standing up. Karin followed, going over to wait at the gate. Eventually, people were coming out through the opaque doors and eventually, a short, old hispanic woman stepped out and Gina waved in her direction before leading Karin over.
"Mama." Gina greeted.
"Ah, Gina!" The old woman smiled, holding her cheeks in her hands before hugging her. "It's been so long."
"I hope the plane wasn't too much for you." Gina said.
"The airport staff was so kind, I didn't feel it." She waved her hand dismissively. "A churro helped me get around in Germany. Held onto his strong arm and everything." She winked
"Ugh, mami!" Gina laughed, rolling her eyes.
"What? I am still young." She joked before looking at Karin. "Amorcita." She held out her arms and Karin didn't hesitate to hug her.
"Oba-chan." Karin sniffled.
"Ah, why are you crying?" Her grandmother asked, pulling away to look her in the face, wiping away at the tears. "I'm here, okay?" Karin nodded, reaching out to hug her again.
"You are so big now." Sofia commented and Karin laughed. "So, are you going to show me around? I haven't been here in years so my Japanese is rusty."
"We can always help." Gina offered before taking her bags.
Tatsuki was at the apartment, waiting for Ichigo to come back. It was taking a while, considering he left hours ago. She even went to the station and asked Kakeru to link to the police department in Shizuoka for the two men who Hitsugaya was asking for earlier and it was another dead end. "They O/D'd." Kakeru told her after getting off the phone. "Sorry." It was dead end after dead end and it was frustrating her. She could not even imagine what Ichigo was going through.
Just as the thought popped in her head to call him, she heard the rattle of keys before the door opened and he walked in. "Welcome back." She said, slightly cringing at how she sounded. Like a worried wife. He looked tired. "Nothing?"
"The building was abandoned." Ichigo said. "It's going to be demolished and rebuilt next year once the city has the funding." Tatsuki sighed, shaking her head. "I have decided... I'm joining Rukia and Renji." He said and Tatsuki looked confused.
"What?" She muttered in confusion. "But... why?"
"I have to find Aizen." He said
"You can't go on this wild goose chase. What about school?"
"I have no classes anymore or exams. All I have left is my thesis." Ichigo said. "I'm thinking of filing for an academic leave and getting an extension until June."
"So that you graduate in August?"
"I guess." Ichigo said.
"... Fine. I can talk to the department he-"
"Alone, Tatuski. Just me, Rukia and Renji. You stay here." Now Tatsuki looked at him in disbelief. "I'm going back. I only came here to tell you." Ichigo added. "I'll talk to Sado about staying here for some time."
"Excuse me?" Tatsuki stood up and stomped over to him again.
"You shouldn't stay here alone." Ichigo said.
"Oh, because I'm helpless and can't defend myself?" She mocked him
"These aren't regular thugs or human assholes. Of course I know you can take care of yourself but not this time."
"As if I wasn't able to take care of myself today?"
"Which part do you want to discuss, the one where you almost bled to death?" He scoffed. "You're still trying to match missing people to the blood from the bucket and you spoiled Aizen's plan. He heard you over the phone and he knows what you look like. I'm not taking chances."
"You have got to be shitting me." He ignored her but as he expected, she blocked him.
"Tatsuki, out of the way."
"No."
"You're not making things any easier." He said.
"I. don't. care." She hissed. "Asshole! You always do this! Why?"
"I have to go."
"No, you don't. You haven't even thought this through." Ichigo tried to walk past but she wouldn't let him by. "Stop pushing people away! And stop trying to control everything!"
"Everything I have done is to protect everyone I care about."
"Bullshit!" Tatsuki muttered, walking away and pacing back and forth. "It's so funny how you claim not to be controlling yet that is exactly what you are."
"And who the fuck am I controlling?" He scoffed. "I'm trying to keep people safe! I always have!"
"And you make those decisions for who?"
"You almost died today!"
"No, that's not what happened!" Tatsuki laughed. "You know what? Now it makes sense why you and Orihime didn't work out. You are controlling!"
Now Ichigo was angry. "You've crossed a line."
"Oh, really?"
"I told you everything because I trusted you and that's what you are reducing it to?" He scoffed.
"But I'm only going on one side of the story and maybe the truth is that you actually were controlling!" She claimed.
"That has nothing to do with you. None of it does." Ichigo gave up, walking away to his room and Tatsuki knew she had crossed a line but she was too angry. It was high school all over again and she couldn't let it go.
"Why don't you trust me?" She yelled, going after him and entering through his bedroom door. "You didn't trust me back then, and you don't trust me now." Ichigo ignored her. "Are you just going to ignore me?"
"Tatsuki, you're disturbing the neighbours." He said.
"Fuck the neighbours!" Tatsuki claimed and Ichigo sighed. "Why do you keep doing this?"
"The same reason I did back then; the less people involved, the better." Ichigo said before sitting down on his bed. "Do you think I wanted Orihime to go off to Hueco Mundo back then? Do you think I wanted her or Chad involved from the very beginning? I'm starting to regret not minding my own business because look what happened to my sisters. If I'm controlling or selfish or an asshole or whatever you want to call me, then let me be. The more people that stay away from me, the better. I'm tired of going through the same shit over and over again and if that means that I lose everything and everyone I care about then so be it."
Now, Tatsuki calmed down and realised she was being a bitch. She sat down next to him. "... I didn't mean any of it." Ichigo looked at her but he couldn't even look annoyed correctly because he looked so tired. "... Fine! Half of it. We all care about you. That's why I'm concerned. Don't ice yourself out."
"... Not even my own sister likes me. What does that say about me?"
"Karin loves you. She's just hurt." She said. "You've had to make tough choices in the past. No one is holding it against you... we're here for you. That's all we want you to know." Tatsuki sighed. "I didn't mean what I said. I was angry and I'm sorry."
"At least this time you didn't punch me into a window." Ichigo said and Tatsuki winced.
"I'm not proud of that." She said. "Did I ever apologise for that?"
"More than a hundred times already." Ichigo joked. "Sometimes I think you keep the fridge stocked with beer because of that."
"I drink too."
"You buy Kirin but hate it." He said
"It tastes like piss. Suntory is better." She said and the both of them laughed. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm really sorry."
"It's okay." He said.
"You don't have to go." She said. "We can figure this out together."
"You've done more than enough for me, Tatsuki. You don't have to protect me anymore."
"I haven't done that in years." She joked. "You don't even let me open a jar anymore." He laughed. "I just feel really weak these days. Between you and Orihime, I feel like no one needs me anymore and it's hard to get used to."
Ichigo looked down at her. "And who told you that?" She looked up at him and she felt her breath get caught in her throat at how close they were. Now she felt like the biggest cliche in the book. It was her childhood friend; a scaredy cat and cry baby for most of their childhood, a frenemy all throughout high school after he changed and the ex of her best friend who was boy crazy over him for all of their high school experience. Yet here she was, kissing the person she constantly bickered with. And she was enjoying it so far with no intention of pulling away.
Her hand found it's way to his hair, pulling him closer and his hands held at her waist, coaxing her to move and straddle him. Her mind was totally blank as the intensity only built up more and more. Whatever was controlling the both of them was doing a pretty damn good job at it because she let out a little moan when her middle connected with his - whether it was intentional or not, it got both of their attention now as they pulled away from each other and stared wordlessly with mirrored expressions: confusion, horror, lust... expectancy—mostly.
So she made the first move and unbuttoned her shirt, very slowly as he watched every move. As soon as she unhooked the last button, he did not hesitate kissing her again more fervently and taking her shirt off completely. She held onto him before flipping them over so that she had her back to the bed. If the neighbours were concerned about the angry yelling before, they were about to be even more confused by the noises next.
He was tired and irritable. He ran out cigarettes and skipped his afternoon nap and the last thing he needed, was for someone to come looking for him before heading out to get food because he was too damned tired to cook and go home and sleep- or at least sleep as much as he could before getting more nightmares. "What?" He yelled at the subordinate who entered the office. Normally, he would acknowledge them by their surname but he was too tired to identify anyone. He noticed the coat showing he was from the first... and that made him give less fucks than he thought possible.
"You are being summoned." The officer said.
"At this hour?" Hitsugaya scoffed
"It is important and it is an order." He clarified
"Of course it is." Hitsugaya muttered as he stood up.
Someone is sassier than usual. Hyorinmaru said.
Sassy? Toshiro parroted
You normally keep the sass in your head. The zanpakuto clarified and Toshiro rolled his eyes before following the officer out.
"Ah! Welcome, welcome!" Isshin greeted as he helped an older lady in with her luggage and Yuzu watched from the living room as she did homework. That was defintely her grandmother.
"I'm here." Sofia huffed before noticing Yuzu. "Ah! You must be Yuzu-chan." Yuzu stood up to go over to greet her.
"Nice to meet you." She bowed. "I'm Yuzu."
Sofia looked at her and laughed. "Ah, no hug? Japanese people are so formal, huh?" Yuzu felt kind of awkward but went over to hug her anyways. She felt warm and cozy and smelled like flowers. Did all old people have this weirdly comforting scent to them?
"I'm surprised you still remember how to speak." He said
"I lived here for twenty five years. Of course I remember." She laughed. "Isshin, your daughters are so beautiful. Yuzu looks just like Misaki when she was 17." Yuzu turned visibly red.
"I made dinner. It must've been a long trip, oba-chan."
"It was, amorcita." Sofia stretched. "The plane was very comfortable though. It was better than I remember. I even slept like a log."
"A... Amor..." Yuzu tried to repeat what she had just said.
"Amorcita." Karin spoke and Yuzu turned to look at her. "It means little love." She picked up her grandmother's suitcase and went upstairs with it.
"I should go. The girls are probably waiting for me." Gina kissed Sofia on the cheek. "I'll come by tomorrow."
"Bye, my dear."
"Bye, bye." She bid everyone a farewell before leaving.
Yuzu looked at Sofia, swaying side to side. "I... uh... made dinner. I didn't know what you liked so-"
"Doesn't matter." Sofia smiled. "Karin told me you are a wonderful cook!" She called up the stairs, speaking in Spanish and Karin called back, responding in Spanish. Yuzu only blinked at the exchange, feeling out of place. "I brought presents! I hope you're all here! Where's the boy, Ichigo? Last I saw him, he was a baby."
"He is a university student." Isshin said. "He's graduating in March, actually."
"Wow! I didn't know this! That's amazing! What is he studying?"
"Medicine." Isshin said. "Pulmonology."
"Well this is just fantastic!" She mused. "You can tell me all about it... Karin!"
"Hai, hai..." The dark haired girl huffed as she came back down and settled on the couch.
"Yuzu, come here! I got you this gorgeous dress and I think it will look great on you!" Yuzu blinked in surprise but went over. Never had she experienced this much doting... but it left her feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
A/N: Disclaimer, I suck at writing romantic-ish scenes. I apologise for the cringe.
Omake
Living in apartment complexes meant living with neighbours. Living in cheap apartment complexes meant having thin walls where you practically live with your neighbours. Every pin drop, every tap that was not properly closed, every time they opened and closed the fridge, they could hear. The old couple knew they lived next to two young people; one a recent university graduate who worked for the police force and another who was still in medical school. Luckily for them, they were very solitary. They rarely had people over, they rarely played loud music or left the TV on too loud. Sadly for them, they argued very often. It was nothing that warranted intervention... they just wished they would keep it down sometimes. Hearing the young girl yell at her male friend in the middle of the night after he left the toilet seat up causing her to promptly fall in because of the darkness and sleepiness was something they didn't enjoy hearing but understood happens when two people of the opposite sex live together.
But today, they were particularly loud. Something about him leaving — they didn't realise they were together. They argued and eventually, things went silent. They didn't hear a door slam or things break so the old couple assumed they managed to work things out. The two youngsters were clear upon their introduction that they were just friends so they shouldn't be concerned with them having loud sex or something. But here the old couple were, unable to sleep... because the bed was squeaking and thumping against the wall too frequently and loudly. So while they were not loud themselves (they could hear them, sure but just as much as they could hear the TV playing on a regular day) the loud squeaking and thumping against the wall spoke volumes.
"I'll admit. They sound mighty powerful." The old man said, sipping his tea. "Been going at it for a while."
"Darling!" His wife reprimanded him.
"... Just musing on being young and energetic, dear." He said.