Fearless and Tearless

Chapter 8

Long Lost Brother

Karin's P.O.V

It was hard, but then I opened my eyes to my inner world and to find Miyuki fighting someone that looked like me.

I tried yelling her name, but no sound came out of my mouth. Then, I tried to run to her, but I was frozen. I watched, horrified, as Miyuki got stabbed in the leg. Out of nowhere, a man appeared and with one slash with a sword, he defeated the me look-a-like, and then vanished along with the me number two. Without even realizing it, I was able to move again.

I ran towards Miyuki and then knelt down next to her. "What the hell happened?!" I almost screamed.

"Karin…" then she coughed up blood. I know that I shouldn't be worried about these things, but her wings were red at the moment, instead of black. I finally understood what she meant about her wings being based on my attitude at the moment.

I wanted to ask her a million questions, but I didn't want to stress her out. "Are you ok?" Of course she's not ok, you idiot!

Apparently my thoughts were projected out loud. Miyuki laughed, but painfully. "I'm fine, I just need to rest. This wound is nothing, but I'm sure you have many questions." Out of nowhere there was something like a house to my right, and without thinking I pulled my zanpakutou up and dragged her inside. Once inside I somehow knew exactly where the bedroom was, but I brushed that off for the moment.

As I laid her on the bed, I checked her forehead just in case she was about to have a fever, but she caught my hand and kept it there. "I'm fine Karin-chan. Now, just ask your questions."

After removing my hand and making sure one more time she was comfortable I found a seat and sat down. "Well it's not a ton of questions… Ok, well who was the person that looked like me?"

"I don't know how to particularly say this…but she's kind of like you…" I took in what she said. "I mean…ok, do you remember when you turned into hollow and took off the mask?" I nodded. "Well that didn't mean that there was no more hollow in you." I've actually heard of this before. Ichi-nee has a hollow inside him named Hichigo. Ichi said that at first it was hard, but then he got him under control. "I know, right now that you are comparing your hollow to your brother's, but let me warn you that yours is a lot more…evil."

"What do you mean? All hollows are obviously evil."

"I know, but…ok look at it this way. You have to admit that between your siblings, you're the most dark. Am I right?" I agreed grudgingly. She smiled. "Even though your brother can be sad, he never is completely dark and depressed like you have. Not even when he went through the time when he had no powers, was he completely down."

I looked at it this way and I got where she was coming from. "So, since I'm pessimistic and dark a lot, my hollow will be like that too, but ten times worse. Right?"

"Correct. Karin-chan, you've always been too hard on yourself, and your hollow knows all your weaknesses, but you know hers too." By the way she said it I knew that she wasn't going to tell me what they were.

"Hmmm…. Ok…So since she's evil and stuff… This is a complete guess, but she wants to destroy me and take over my body or something like that?" When she gave a nod I sighed. "Oh well, I'll just have to fight her when the time comes. Y'ok, now, who was that guy that came to help you and defeated the hollow in a flash?" As I said those last words, Miyuki's eyes widened.

"Um… I'm very sorry, but that is the one thing that I cannot tell you about." I was about to press for more until I remembered the condition Miyuki was in.

"Fine. You'll be ok here right?"

"Yeah, and I'm sorry about not being able to train right now, next for sure, I promise."

"Don't sweat it! And don't push yourself ok? Well, I'll be going then, ja ne!" With one more look at my zanpakutou, I turned around and left the house. Outside, I did a complete 360 degree circle to check the perimeter for any signs of anyone else, but it seemed no one was there. I then closed my eyes and then concentrated on returning to my body.

I came to, to see myself already inside my body and my father looking down at me. "How long was I out?" I heard myself ask.

"'Bout twenty minutes, what happened?" My dad inquired. I really wanted to tell him, but the events from today were finally catching up with my body. I glanced at the clock to see that it read only 9:40 p.m.

"I'm really sorry. I promise to tell you tomorrow, but could I sleep now? I'm exhausted." The old man just stared at his daughter for a few moments, but then complied with her wishes. After he closed the door, she went under the covers and tried to go to sleep.

She tried to two hours to go to sleep, but she couldn't. She was too stressed out about everything. She knew she really needed rest, because her body was way over used, but she just couldn't go to sleep. Finally, at 12:30 a.m. complete exhaustion took over her and she went into a dreamless sleep.

Reader's P.O.V.

As Isshin left Karin's room, he sighed and headed to the living. In there he sat on the couch and just stared. After maybe two minutes of doing nothing he stood up and went outside to take a stroll to Urahara's. Now that he got his powers back too, he had to keep his retsuai in check as he went through town. He made it and didn't bother knocking, as he knew that there was someone awake in the shop.

"Isshin, what a pleasant surprise." Urahara said appearing out of the shadows as he waved his fan in front of his face with the most bored expression instead of surprised.

"Hm, you knew I was coming sooner or later." Isshin said as he went over to the blond ex-captain and sat next to him by the table.

"Yes, I guess I did. Is it about Karin-chan too?" Urahara said while putting his fan away.

"I know that her spiritual power was gaining rapidly the last few months, but I didn't know that she chose to become a Shinigami! (Soul Reaper)" the overprotective dad said while shaking his head to the tea Urahara was about to pour for him.

"Well, actually, I wanted her to do it quite awhile ago, seeing as she was by far ready, but she wasn't sure. It was only three days ago that she decided, when she started the training to become a Shinigami."

"I see… You saw her sword right?" Isshin whispered even though no one else was awake.

Urahara whispered right back, "Yes I did, at first I was surprised and thought that my eyes deceived me, but there it was. The sword everyone's ben waiting for."

"My child has no idea of the power she holds. She needs as much training as she can as soon as possible. I know that you helped me with gaining my powers again, but if Karin ends up in flames, I'll have your head." Isshin said with a deadly glare.

Urahara knew he was serious, and even though his friend was a little rusty, with a little luck, he might actually have his head. He just nodded. "Ok!" Isshin leaned back and got relaxed. "I'm staying here tonight, if that's ok with you, I mean."

The owner of the shop smiled, "Well of course, anything for you old friend." Urahara said and got up.

"Who you calling old, pervert." Isshin said following Urahara to his guest room.

"Eh, I take pride in that." Urahara smiled and then shut the door behind Isshin as he got settled in the futon. "Let us see what the future brings us, my friend." Urahara mumbled behind the door, but Isshin could still hear him and he replied quietly through the door.

"Yes, we'll wait and see…"

The lights burned Karin's eyes as she opened her eyes after her long sleep. Karin usually sleept in on the weekends, but this was a new record! She only went to sleep at 12:30, but she awoke at 2 p.m. that's never happened before. Dang she was tired last night, but now she felt as good as new, but her body was still laggish. She wanted to go to Urahara'a as fast at possible and train, but she knew that even with great stretching, she wouldn't be able to do anything productive. Karin was also surprised that her father didn't wake her up.

She got out of bed and headed downstairs towards the kitchen. She smelt something amazing and sat down at the table. "Haha, good afternoon sleepy head!" Yuzu said as she appeared with a plate full of food for Karin. "Dad is gone right now, but he said to let you rest, so here ya go!" As soon as the plate hit the table, she dug in. She finished the massive pile of food on her plate in about five minutes, but she was still hungry, this reminded her of one time that her brother was devouring food.

"It's because I have a large amount of reiatsu, that I need to eat a lot."

Thinking about her brother reminded her that her brother was missing.

Damn it Ichi, where are you?

Stop worrying, he's FINE! You're ruining my sleep!

Woah, you're still sleeping? Karin thought as she asked for seconds.

Yes! That attack was nothing, but I used quite an amount of spiritual pressure.

Karin mentally nodded to her zanpakutou, and then Yuzu asked, "Karin-chan, are you ok, you looked like you were out of it for awhile."

"Uh, yeah I'm fine." I need to work on my face when I talk to you, or else people will think I'm crazy. Karin got up and thanked Yuzu for the food once she was done.

Miyuki just giggled.

As Karin walked up the stairs she felt a large amount of spiritual pressure in her bedroom, and looked to Yuzu if she was all right. Yuzu didn't have much reiatsu, so she didn't notice anything wrong. Karin then headed up to her room.

Right as she was opening her door, the spiritual pressure was denser and powerful, but she recognized it. She made sure to hide her reiatsu, and stepped inside her room. There she found hollow. Why didn't I ask Urahara for the Soul Candy?!

She didn't know what to do, but for some reason she felt safe around this hollow and it shocked her. Karin looked closer to the mask and looked at all the details.

"Holy shit…" At those words the hollow turned around.

"Karin," it said with the hollow's raspy voice, and then it fell onto her bed. Karin was going to freak out, but then remembered that, that hollow was her idiotic brother and she can't turn away from him.

Karin went over to the hollow cautiously, just in case Ichigo didn't have any willpower over the hollow, and then looked at him. She placed him under the covers of the bed, and noticed that the hollow mask wasn't disintegrating. Karin went over to her door and locked it just in case Yuzu might come in. Karin could see it now-Yuzu fainting from shock and then call 911 when she woke up. She took her seat and placed it right by the head of Ichigo's. "Oh, Ichi-nee what have you done?"

I know it's only been two days, but I was inspired after i turned in that last one. Sorry, but I won't usually update this fast, this time was an exception, and sorry if you see a lot of mistakes, I didn't proof read it well. Please review!