Fearless and Tearless
Chapter 15
Best of Both worlds?
Karin's P.O.V.
"Hello, mistress," was the first thing I heard when I opened my eyes. "I assume you've figured out the problem I told you about before."
I stood up and stretched. "Hm. I guess." I stared at the guy appearing before me, but I was confused. "If you're… if you're supposed to be the Hollow version of me, then why are you a guy, and why aren't you… you know, a Hollow."
He just smiled at me and replied, "You've finally said it." As soon as the words left his mouth, vanished, and in his place was a girl. Well, to be more exact, me. Hollow version.
I stared wide-eyed, unable to say anything at first. When my mouth finally started working, the Hollow beat me to it. "You're rather slow aren't you? It's sad that if I want to live, I have to depend on a pathetic girl like you." That was the voice that I first heard. It was her.
"Where'd the guy go?" I asked trying to remain cool. She gave me a pissed off look, but then he appeared right beside her.
The guy smiled pleasantly at me, but I could feel the evilness behind the fake façade. He also looked different now. He was Hollow version of how he appeared before. "I look this way now because your mind's accepted the fact that you're harboring Hollows inside. My name is Hokarin and her name Hikarin. Inside your inner world we can live as two beings. Outside though, we live and exist as one."
"It's a pain in the ass though," Hikarin added. "So, am I supposed to be her? The bad parts of our "mistress"? Ha." I could feel her looking down at me, and I could not tolerate this for much longer.
"I highly doubt that you two are going to accept being inside my body without any fighting. If you wanted to, I'm pretty sure you think that you could beat me, but you're greatly mistaken," I challenged them with a smirk.
The man continued to smile at me while the girl bared her teeth towards me and glared. "We do not plan on bringing harm upon you at all, Karin-sama. We just wish to help you in whatever you plan to do."
"He can speak for himself. I don't plan on staying here quiet." I didn't expect the Hollow me to keep quiet.
"One question: Why are you two like one being?" I was really curious.
"Who the fuck knows." Spat Hikarin.
"If I may explain, Mistress. You see, Hikarin is obviously your Hollow, but I'm part of her as well. Who are you Karin-sama? You seem to be hiding many things and personalities. You probably haven't even realized how many personalities you are hiding. You are different though. Different from your brother at least." He didn't seem to want to explain anymore, so there was no point in questioning further.
This was a lot to take in. First, I found out that there are Hollows inside me. Not one, but two. Second, I'm special? What? How is this special? This is just messed up! Where's Miyuki? Oh, that reminds me, "Have you two met Miyuki? When you guys were talking inside my head, Miyuki couldn't hear you… This was because I didn't accept you. Okay, I get it. So, where is she now?" I asked.
"Just call her. This is your inner world anyway." I narrowed my eyes on Hokarin. I can't seem to figure him out. Hikarin is obviously the Hollow me, but he… I don't know.
"Miyuki. Come here please." I whispered. Surprisingly, she appeared before me. That was shockingly easy.
"Karin-san! Who are these intruders?" Miyuki immediately put herself in between them and me. "Karin-san, are you alright? Are you injured?"
I mentally smiled that she was always trying to protect me. "I'm fine, Miyuki. These… are the side effects of the transformation into a Shinigami. Meet, Hikarin and Hokarin. Two of the same person, literally."
Before another word could be said, Miyuki flash stepped towards Hikarin unexpectedly to hit her. Almost like she knew she was going to be attacked, Hikarin dodged easily and elbowed Miyuki in the back, sending her flying. "Miyuki! Are you okay?" I asked while running towards her. Ignoring me, she got up again and ran towards Hikarin. Hikarin just licked her lips in a way you would before an anime devoured their prey. In that one second, I knew what Hikarin was capable of and a shiver went down my spine. Behind me, Hokarin was standing behind me, without me even realizing it.
"Why don't we watch this battle, Karin-sama? See for yourself, the skill difference between the two. Soon enough, you'll make all three of us your weapons." At his last sentence I turned to face him, but he was watching the fight with the same placid smile. Facing back towards the fight, it wasn't hard to tell that Miyuki was definitely being overpowered.
"Okay, enough of this. Miyuki, we're switching places." I said with no room for arguments in my tone.
She looked like she wanted to protest but before she could Hikarin spoke up. "Do what your master tells you. You wouldn't have lasted much longer and you know it. Now let's see how long Karin can last before she ends up… Let's just wait." She really was the Hollow of me. I can see it. Right in front of me is the human form of all the bad qualities about me.
"I would shut up if I were you. You don't need to worry about me, you should worry about yourself more." I muttered. I flash stepped towards her right side and made Miyuki into her sword form before I parried into her. Being one-step ahead of me, she seemed to do the same thing, except the sword was Hokarin. Taken aback, I lost my footing and slipped.
Having no mercy, Hikarin took her sword and slashed my left thigh. I hissed but got back up. Taking no time to worry about the pain, I shot forward while she was still close and cut her across stomach. Knowing the bad part of me, I hated using spells because I thought they were cowardly, wanting to always use hand-to-hand combat. I smiled and then waited for the right timing. She was just as fast as me, which is a problem. I've never faced anyone quite as fast as me, so I wasn't used to it.
"There!" I mumbled right before I used Hado, Shakkaho. The red light emitted off of my hand and went straight to the right side of the Hollow me.
"Damnit. Cheater!" She screamed as she gripped her side.
"How is this cheating?" I asked while getting into a defensive stance, but I didn't get to finish the fight. The sword Hikarin was holding disappeared and Hokarin appeared beside me.
"No more fighting. We don't need to do anything unnecessary. Karin-sama, you are in for something very big tomorrow and will need your rest. Please, don't let us keep you back from peace." Just like that I was back on the couch with my head nuzzled up against the old geezer who was watching T.V.
"Oh? You're back?" My father asked, turning off the T.V. "How'd it go?"
At first I just stared at my hands, letting my thoughts run. What the hell just happened? How was I calm back there? Why didn't I ask more questions since I obviously have no idea what is going on? There are too many questions that are unanswered! "Karin? Karin-chan, what's wrong?" My father's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"There's too much stuff happening." I managed to get out.
"Why don't you start by explaining what happened after you fell unconscious." I nodded and did just that.
Once I finished explaining what happened, I checked the clock and a few hours had already passed. "We'll talk later, sweetie. You're going to have hell in awhile from a certain 10th division captain. I know what's going on, but it'll take too long to explain and I can tell you are exhausted from your fight. Now go on upstairs and have a nap."
I was shocked by how serious and comforting my father sounded that I followed him and carried myself into my bedroom. I didn't even realize it, but I was really exhausted. It didn't even seem like I was in my inner world for that long. I wonder where Miyuki is. That was my last thought before I fell asleep.
Isshin's P.O.V.
I hurried back over to Kisuke's place to explain what's going on with Karin. Damnit. Why do all the bad asses always appear from my bloodline? First there's me, then there's-
"Yes? Oh, why you are back sooner than expected," Urahara appeared before me snapping me out of my thoughts. "Do you need something? Come in, come in."
I remained where I was. "It's Karin. That thing that was supposed to be impossible, Kisuke? Well, it's possible, and it's happening right now to my little girl. It didn't happen to Ichigo!" I grabbed my head knowing how hard Karin's life will be form here on out.
"Isshin, what are you talking about?" Kisuke looked concern. "Yuroichi, come here!" A black cat appeared from behind him and turned into a naked woman. "Here, your clothes." Somehow Urahara was carrying clothes and handed them to her.
"Kisuke, Yuroichi, Shinigami. Hollow. Two of them in one. One is a sword. She has two swords. Do you understand me?" After I said, "Two of them in one," something triggered behind both of their eyes and shock replaced their expressions. "Snap out of it! We have to do something about this!"
They shook their heads and Yuroichi was the first to speak. "Where's Karin right now?"
"In her room taking a nap. She's exhausted from fighting her Hollows." I told them what happened this morning.
"This only happened this morning?" The feline lady asked. I nodded.
Urahara who had been silent until now spoke up. "We're going to have to train her harder than we have been. Isshin, you have to help out. We have no idea how long it will be before someone finds out. Hopefully, never, but that's never going to happen. Someone will find her, and they will use her as a weapon. Before that though, we have to teach her how to control her body before she self-destructs. It's hard already having two voices in your head, but four? Forget physically training, she also need mental. I'm just worried about how long we've got."
The three of them stood there in silence for a while in thought. "As soon as she wakes up, she's undergoing intensive training." They all agreed and Isshin went back home.
Toshirou's P.O.V.
"We're going over to the Kurosaki household right now." Inside of my heard Hyourinmaru winced in anticipation. Are you sure? I didn't bother to respond. There was an unauthorized Shinigami going around doing whatever she wanted. Regardless of what happened in the past with Ichigo, we cannot allow this. You're thinking this now but I wonder if you will be able to say no to her beautiful face.
I rolled my eyes and before I knew it, I was knocking on the door. "Oi, Ichigo, open up. I have to speak to you and your sister."
"Do you need something 10th division captain?" A deep voice said behind me.
I turned around and saw my former captain- Isshin. "W-What are you doing here?" I was so shocked, he left Soul Society.
"I live here. I know that you need my daughter Karin, and my son Ichigo." He took on the stance of a protective father.
That's why Ichigo is so strong… So is the lady. "Isshin, as captain of team 10, I need to speak to you, your daughter, and your son. Please do just do what I say; I don't want to have to fight you. If you're as strong as back then, I know I can't defeat you in my current state." You're practically admitting defeat, master. I shrugged the voice in my head off.
"Okay, but first you have to promise me something." My former captain looked me straight in the eye. "Honestly, right now you are here at the worst time."
"What do I have to promise?"
"You can't tell Soul Society, or even old man Yamamoto about Karin. You absolutely cannot. They have to find out for themselves. Please." He looked at me with such desperate eyes. I don't even know what's going on. How can I promise this, regardless of him being my former captain? You should listen to what he and his children have to say first. Hyourinmaru sounded like he knew what was going on.
"May I speak with your children first, captain?" The last word came out before I could catch myself. Isshin stared at me for a moment before he nodded and then opened the door for me. I entered cautiously.
"Since I am not part of Soul Society anymore, if you do anything to harm my children, Ichigo is an exception considering he is part of the captains, I will not hesitate to end you," Isshin said casually as we entered the living room. "Karin-chan! Wake up! Get Ichigo too! We have a guest." The father shouted to his children. Someone came out of the kitchen wearing an apron. "Yuzu, can you make a huge meal for everyone, including our guest here?" She smiled at me and came up.
"I'm Yuzu Kurosaki, it's nice to meet you…?" She asked as she stretched out her hand.
I took it and shook, "Toshirou Hitsugaya. Likewise." She smiled again and skipped to the kitchen. Cheerful girl. I still prefer the other girl though, just saying. I heard footsteps come stomping down to show Ichigo in pajamas.
"What're you doing here Toshirou?" He asked while yawning. I glared at him, but I didn't have time to correct him because I was taken aback when Karin appeared behind him. I didn't even hear her footsteps. The siblings both hesitantly took seats on the couch. "I'm guessing this has to do with Karin."
I looked at her. She was looking a little pissed but… she really was pretty. Her hair was up in a messy bun making her look good without trying. What? I need to get my thoughts on track. I shifted my focus to Ichigo. "I need to speak with you three about what to do with her being an uncertified Shinigami."
"I told you before, we can't alarm Soul Society about her. We have to prevent as many people knowing about her as possible… for as long as possible." Isshin said.
"Why?" Ichigo and I asked at the same time. The girl in question was quiet the whole time just sitting there. I gave her a glance and she was looking straight at me. I quickly turned back around.
Karin's P.O.V.
I'm just planning on sitting her quietly and listen to what's going on. Honestly, nothing at this point would surprise me. I looked over towards the white haired guy and as soon as I did, he took a glance at me. He blushed and turned back around. Weird. Maybe he has a crush on you, Karin-san. I just chuckled quietly at the thought.
"Why? Because Karin-chan is special, and if anyone finds out about her, I can't even predict the shit that will happen. Before you ask any questions, I'll just explain everything." My dad looked at me to see if I was going to say anything. I just shrugged and he sadly smiled at me. "As I was saying, Karin-chan told me about what happened to her this morning…" The old man started telling Ichigo and the captain about the Hollow version of me while I just sat there.
Milady. How are you this afternoon? Hokarin's voice echoed throughout my mind. I sighed and responded, I'm good, how are you?
I'm shocked, I thought that you would be having a hard time still accepting Hikarin and I, I'm sorry. I couldn't figure this guy out. Well, I'm not that surprised. I'm just going to do whatever I can with whatever happens to me.
Ha, are you trying to act all mighty and mature by putting on a cool front? Pathetic. Without even hearing her voice, by just her words I knew that it was the Hollow version of me. Good morning, Milady, how may I serve you today? I asked sarcastically. I could feel her glaring at me. You got something to say to me, bitch?
"That's pretty much all that happened this morning," my dad wrapped up. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's the truth."
"Hard to believe? It's impossible!" The captain spat out.
Until now I was quiet. "If you don't want to even consider it possible, then don't. Old geezer, there's no point in trying to convince him of the truth if he's not willing to listen." I said quietly with no emotion in my voice. Are you okay, Karin-san?
"Sweetie, are you okay? We need to convince him because we cannot have him tell the Soutaichou about you." He and Ichigo looked at me with concerned eyes. I just ignored them. "Well… so… Toshirou, Ichigo, and Karin, you three need to listen to this. Karin's Hollow is different from Hichigo. It has a separate sword. A sword that can be accessed by Karin, technically she has Hollow powers, but she's not necessarily a Visored. Espada are Hollows with some Shinigami powers, Visored are Shinigami with some Hollow powers. Karin- chan, you have the potential to hold both Hollow and Shinigami powers to their full. You have no idea how much power you hold. This is why Toshirou, I cannot allow you to tell this to Soul Society. Ichigo, since she's family, I'm assuming you won't tell the Soutaichou either."
Ichi-nii nodded but the captain just sat there. Finally he spoke, "Okay, I won't tell anyone about Karin." Dad's eyes widened like he didn't expect to convince him. "This is a whim, but I'll follow my gut. If what you're saying is true, then by telling Soul Society, more people will know, and the more chances that bad people like Aizen will know." His reasoning was solid. I still didn't look at him in a new light though. I didn't really hate him, but I don't like him either. I don't know him. Karin-san, seriously, are you okay? Why wouldn't I be? You're not doing or saying anything after hearing this.
Since this was settled I got up and headed towards the kitchen where I could smell the amazing cooking of Yuzu. Someone grabbed my wrist before I could get away though. "What do you want Ichi-nii?" I asked.
"What's wrong with you? You're not showing any emotions about any of this. Say something."
"…What? You heard our old man. Am I supposed to be surprised? I don't really care." I shook his hand off and walked to the Yuzu.
I'm open for any suggestions, really! I'm so sorry if this is so confusing, my thoughts are tumbling around and I'm trying my best to type them down. I want to improve my story as much as possible. So, if you guys have anything to say to me, please review or even msg me. Thanks for reading so far!