Chapter 4- Karin's Fate
As the sun rose in Karakura Town the next morning a soft knock was heard on the Kurosaki residence. Isshin answered the door cautiously, "Well Yamamoto, Retsu, Shunsui, Jushiro welcome to my family's home."
The captains looked in shock many puzzle pieces falling into place as to where Ichigo's unique abilities came from.
"Isshin, is that you? I thought you were dead old friend." Shunsui remarked as he looked at his fellow former captain.
"Yeah well, Not dead obviously just had a family to raise my daughter is still asleep so I would suggest we move this to the kitchen." Isshin said very strictly. Yamamoto gestured in agreement.
"Is it true that due to her near death experience your daughter, while human manifested a zanpakto?" He asked firmly watching Isshin.
"The answer depends on your intentions… you already have my son fighting for you. I will not have my daughter removed from her human life just so you can make her into a soldier with no consideration to her desires." He allowed a small smile, "Not that she takes orders anyway. Karin is far more intelligent and independent than her brother even with her being younger. She does only what she wants."
Retsu smiled, "Now, who does that remind me of?" Her eyes trailed along Isshin, Shunsui, and Jushiro with a smile. "You three were the closest friends Aizen aside and when Isshin left it was like the wild side disappeared from you two. Isshin you were always the one who stuck to his values above all else. Even if the Head Captain didn't agree, you followed your morals."
Jushiro looked at his old friend hurt that he hadn't let him know he was alive. "I remember…so how old is Karin? Do you have any other secrets you wish to tell some old friends about?" His soft voice weakened by his insecure thoughts. 'Why didn't Isshin trust us with his family? Was it because of our closeness to the head captain?'
Isshin sighed, "I didn't keep them from you to hurt you Jushiro…in fact I named you Karin's Godfather should anything happen to me or my wife. Retsu is all my children's godmother. I named Shunsui as Ichigo's godfather and Yuzu who is Karin's twin had Tousan as a Godfather but, with his betrayal I changed that to being Head Captain Yamamoto." His friends and particularly the Head Captain looked shocked.
"I thought you hated Old Man, Yama?" Shunsui drawled lazing in his chair. Isshin grinned, "I think hate is a strong word. I don't agree with a lot of his methods but, Yuzu is such a gentle and polite girl I believe there will be no issues should anything ever happen."
Isshin looked at the poster of his wife, "Karin and Yuzu are 17 years old. Ichigo is the oldest and he is 22 years old. Yuzu and Ichigo looked almost identical as far as hair and eyes but, Yuzu is much smaller and more feminine. Karin has my hair and her mother's gray eyes… truthfully most people if not introduced to her before meeting her might mistake her for a Kuchiki. Karin however is a sharper more intelligent and independent version of Ichigo."
"We still need to speak with your daughter and her zanpakto," Yamamoto stated. Retsu sighed and looked at him insistently, "Head Captain, patience is a virtue, the girl was described to have serious injuries to disturb her rest so early in the day would be inconsiderate. Not to mention you have yet to ease her father's concern as to your intentions. I believe that should be addressed first and foremost don't you?" Her smile present but her eyes spoke a thousand threats should he be difficult.
"Morning everyone is anyone hungry?" Yuzu said cheerily as she began working on breakfast. Completely focused on her task she drowned all sounds out by putting her headphones over her ears.
"Yes of course, Captain Unohana." He said fairly. "I know in the past Ichigo was trained under strained circumstances by former captains Urahara and Yoruichi. I merely wanted to address the concerns of this girl's training regimen. Karakura already has a large amount of hollows infesting the city. To have another powerful substitute soul reaper here may be a good thing but, her training must be fulfilled before she is placed in the field."
"So you worry about Karakura and the hollow activity? Or you worry about improper preparation for Karin's first introduction into the field. Which one is it Yamamoto?" Jushiro asked looking at the Head Captain slightly suspicious, the Head Captain normally threw recruits into the field with bare minimal training to gage their abilities.
"I worry about Karin entering the field without the minimum required training. Also the more spiritual pressure within the city the more hollows will appear and distort the balance. We may end up with more humans gaining abilities not natural to their race. Similar to the cases of Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue we do not have the ability or the manpower to maintain all the incidents of developed powers that could occur. The risks to such problems should be kept to a minimum." He allowed his gaze to meet Isshin's across the table ignoring the sound of footsteps upstairs.
"Isshin you know as well as I…if not more so how truly dangerous it could be if unpredicted instances continued to pop up here." Isshin nodded in agreement. "That I can understand but, I must make this clear if you wish to train my daughter you will do it by her terms. She has school and commitments to go to a college to become a lawyer for the family clinic." He looked at the reproachful look on the elder's face.
"I would much rather debate this with the girl, herself." Yama stated simply. "I am aware but, I have been very lenient as far as you calling my son away for months to almost a year at a time. I don't want Karin to abandon her life in this world. She deserves the life of travel and exploration that the Soul Society can't offer."
Shunsui nodded, "That's a fair statement. Ichigo comes and goes constantly so it's only fair for you to be a little more restrictive on your daughter. He left at 15 in high school and lost a lot of his education for it. He has no real future except within Soul Society. You want Karin to be allowed a choice that Ichigo didn't have."
"That's exactly what I want." Isshin confirmed with a smile at Shunsui. For being lazy his friend could always read between the lines about the important things.
"That is understandable and completely agreeable." Retsu commented on the side, "Before we go any further however we need do also discuss this with Karin." She turned to Isshin and asked, "Do you happen to know what her zanpakto's name is?"
Isshin paused and looked over at Ichigo who looked freshly showered and wide awake. "I think you should get to know my sister before you worry about her zanpakto." Ichigo said as he grabbed some breakfast that Yuzu had made for everyone kissing his sister on the cheek he made an additional 2 plates. "I'm going to take these up and let Karin and her guest eat before bringing her down to talk to you guys."
"Great idea thank you Ichigo!" Unohana stated, "She should have something in her stomach before we hold her up for a period of time to negotiate her training schedule."
Ichigo nodded in approval before leaving the room towards the steps. As he walked in he noticed a manifested Muramasa who was smiling gently talking with a grinning Karin.
"Remember the punks that hated your guts Ichigo?" Karin asked as breakfast was delivered. "Yeah." He replied. "They tried to kill me, minus the blonde." Ichigo got a tick on his brow, "Just what does that mean?" She smirked, "Any other 'friends' you have that may try to kill me?" Ichigo sighed, "Muramasa, shut her up please!" "How should I know how to do that?" Muramasa said slyly.
"She's your new master! You probably know exactly what she's thinking." Ichigo continued irritated without noticing the rage boiling on his sister's face as Muramasa blanched at the M word.
"I am no one's master! I am a partner, an equal, a friend! Nothing more, nothing less, you ass and all others like you best keep that in mind!" She screamed out not paying attention to the new warmth in her chest as Muramasa stared at her. His face was blank but, his eyes said everything he was feeling.
Ichigo just bolted out of the room barely dodging a plate that had been launched covered in food at his head. As the captains and his dad ran up the steps he turned and said, "Now isn't the best time…" Isshin hit his son upside the head, "What did you say son?"
"I don't know! I just asked Muramasa to get her to shut up. Then I called her his master…" he looked up at the annoyed look on his Dad's face and the surprise on the captains faces.
"So your sister became Muramasa's new mistress…this is ironic news." The Head Captain said irritated.
"I am no one's mistress! He is my equal and my friend! You all better remember it!" Karin's voice came from the room loudly followed by the soft murmuring of Muramasa's voice letting her know to calm down and that most of Soul Society would refer to their partnership that way.
"I don't care how others see it Muramasa. It just shows they have no respect for their zanpakto partners. You guys aren't just objects, you have souls, feelings, dreams, thoughts that belong only to you! That makes you a person not just some blade, tool, or weapon Muramasa." Hey grey eyes filled with honesty. "If you never acknowledge that for yourselves as zanpakto…how will your partners ever hold you with the same respect?"
"I apologize Karin, my old teacher Yama-ji, he's a bit old school as far as how he refers to his zanpakto." Shunsui said with a grin, "To be honest I made the same mistake and my partner Kyokotsu sure taught me a lesson thanks to Muramasa's help previously."
Karin grinned, "Hope they got a good smack or two in." Shunsui just laughed ignoring the shocked faces, "Yeah if you call beating me around as a distraction a smack than yeah she got me." He looked over at Jushiro, "Ukitake here also got a good workout from Sogyo no Kotowari too." Jushiro just smiled and nodded, "Those kids did give me quite the work out! I forgot how fun it could be to just spend time playing with them…they're twins you see."
Retsu smiled, "I too have learned the struggles of not having my partner with me. It was deserved but, now we've moved pass the trials and our bond is stronger than ever." Her blue eyes glinting with happiness towards Muramasa, "I have you to thank for that Muramasa-san I can see just a few days with your new partner has given you a much better outlook on life."
Muramasa just nodded looking back at his smiling mistress. He never knew that one young girl could be full of such passion and fire. He felt a larger chunk of ice from his heart melt away at the sight of her defending him. "Yes, she has been a new experience for me." He smiled softly shocking even the head captain with its warmth. "With Karin I have no doubts about my place at her side. She makes it more obvious every second that we were meant to be."
The Head Captain cleared his throat, "Muramasa you have committed a number of crimes against those of Soul Society." His stare was met by a furious Karin, "Really? If I recall he only has the ability to manipulate the other zanpakto based of their own desires. If anything he did you a favor by freeing them…in doing so you were forced to acknowledge that without them you are nothing but, and old washed up man with nothing better to do than give out orders and act like a god damned tyrant!"
Isshin stepped forward towards his daughter, "Karin now you are out of line." She glared at her father, "Like hell I am goat face, or have you forgotten how all the times Ichigo has saved his Soul Society without so much as a thank you! Of and did you forget when Aizen took Orihime? What did this old jack ass do? He said she was a traitor and refused to help Ichigo!" She turned to the head captain, "Screw you and anyone that agrees with the way you run things because I sure as hell won't play a part in it!"
Ichigo popped his head back in, "Karin…I know he isn't the nicest guy but, can you take it down a notch?" He nervously looked between his angry sister, her shocked partner, his surprised but silenced father, and the captains.
Karin just kept on glaring, "I'll make this simple and quick then. I will train on my terms within Soul Society but, if from any captains or lieutenants I hear one wrong word about my family." Her stern eyes meeting the old ones of Yamamoto, "Then the Kurosaki from that day forward will no longer aid the Soul Society that includes my father and Ichigo. We will withdraw any assistance from you and your order and will remain in the world of the living never to be bothered again." She smirked, "Understood, Yamamoto-san?"
The Head Captain had to admit the girl was a force to be reckoned with, "I will agree to that statement Miss Karin, anything else you wish to add?" Karin smiled, "Yes, I will have no punishment placed on my zanpakto for teaching your people a lesson of respecting your partners and you will give my brother the respect and gratitude he is owed as well as a formal apology to him, Rukia, Orihime, Chad, and Uryu for the crimes you and yours have committed against them."
Retsu covered her mouth in an attempt to quell her laughter. "Miss Kurosaki, I think you will do very well within Soul Society. You and Muramasa will be just fine."
Jushiro blinked shocked that Yamamoto gave in so easily, "I see we may have a future captain or lieutenant on our hands don't you?" He looked a Shunsui who wore a lazy smirk, "Actually Jushiro, I think we may have a future Head Captain on our hands now. She sure knows how to put a man in his place and teach him a good lesson or two."
Isshin grinned before looking at the poster of his deceased love, 'Well Masaki it seems our little girl will be just fine. We have nothing to worry about.'
"That settles it than come summer break I will train in Soul Society until the school term starts and then I will train in this world during my years in college." Karin looked up at Muramasa who wore a proud gaze, "Sound like a plan?"
Muramasa turned to the others in the room, "It sounds like a perfect arrangement for all sides."
Yamamoto just smirked, "Miss Kurosaki, from this point on let it be known that the Kurosaki clan will be a Noble clan within Soul Society and with you at its head may live on for many years. Also, I may want to train you myself…it is rare to find a soul with as much fire a you possess that also has the discipline for politics."
Ichigo just stood there watching as everyone broke out in laughter before he smirked at his sister who just winked.
