Hitsugaya brought Karin to a park. It was sunset and the silhouettes of birds could be seen dotting the orange sky. The chirping of crickets could be heard all around them. They didn't speak for a while appreciating their surroundings. Finally, Hitsugaya broke the silence.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked gently. Karin nodded. He wanted to make conversation, but it's very difficult to speak to someone who won't respond. Then, finally, Karin spoke.
"Why do you care about me so much?" she asked, and her cheeks flushed as she said it. Hitsugaya considered his answer carefully.
"You remind me of someone. Someone very special."
"Tell me about her," Karin whispered. Hitsugaya smiled.
"I met her about fifteen years ago. She was just a child then. But she never acted like a child. She had a strength and wisdom about her that was far beyond her years. She's was a spunky, spirited, independent girl. No one could tell her what to do. She was proud and brave. But she had a heart like no one I have ever met. When she cared about something, she would do everything in her power to protect it.
"One time, we were walking together, when we saw a small boy crying on the side of the road. He was dirty and his clothes were torn. She went over to him, brushed him off, wiped away his tears, and asked him what was wrong. He told her that he had worked for a month raking leaves to earn enough money to buy his mother a birthday present. But while he was on his way to the store, some bullies from school came along, beat him up, and stole all his money. He was upset because now his mother wouldn't get anything for her birthday.
"Well, she simply wouldn't hear of that. She took the boy's hand and walked all over town until she found the bullies. They were in a manga shop, clearly spending their ill gotten gains. She called them outside and insisted that they return the money. They simply laughed in her face. Biggest mistake they ever made. Never mind that there were four of them. Never mind that they were taller and stronger than she was. She took them all on herself and beat them easily.
"By the time she was done with them, they cowered in fear at a mere glance from her, but insisted that they didn't have any money. They had spent it all. So she led the boy away and took him a candy store. She bought a beautiful array of brightly colored chocolates and flowers and gave them to the boy. She apologized that she didn't have a lot of money with her, but hoped that the gift was good enough. I'll never forget the look of gratitude on that boy's face. That's the kind of girl she was."
Hitsugaya finished his story and looked longingly at the first stars that were appearing in the rapidly darkening sky. He didn't know why that was the story he had chosen to tell. There were so many others. But for some reason, at that moment, it seemed appropriate.
"What happened to her?" Karin asked. Hitsugaya sighed deeply and looked into her eyes. They were glowing.
"She died," he told her. "About a year ago." Karin gasped.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. Hitsugaya smiled.
"Don't be. She's closer to me than you think." And he grasped her hand. He didn't know why he did it. It was subconscious. When he realized what he had done, he panicked, afraid he had ruined everything. But Karin didn't seem to mind. She blushed, but she didn't remove her hand from his. Hitsugaya relaxed. Maybe this was working after all.
They continued walking. They didn't speak for a while as the darkness grew around them. The path they were on led into a small flower garden.
"It's beautiful!" Karin marveled, leaving Hitsugaya's side to pick up a flower and bring it to her nose. Hitsugaya gazed at her lovingly. Her face was glowing in the moonlight. She seemed calm and content, with her joyful smile and her shining eyes.
"Karin," he whispered, and she turned to look at him with tender eyes. He took the flower from her and placed it in her hair. Then he lightly touched her cheek. She stiffened under his touch, but she didn't pull away. Hitsugaya fought with himself over whether or not this was a good idea, but in the end decided that the moment was too good to waste, and he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Time seemed to stop. Karin's world spun around her as she felt Hitsugaya's warm lips against her own. Her head started to hurt. Not the burning fire she had felt during the personality modification, but the kind of pain you feel when you have been studying for too long, like your head is so full of information it's going to explode. Well, that's exactly what was happening. As Karin kissed Hitsugaya, her memories of him flooded back to her, followed quickly by her memories of friends and family, her childhood, school, and Soul Society, until all the damage that had been done was repaired.
Hitsugaya broke the kiss and stood back, wondering how Karin would react. He was slightly concerned by the look in her eyes. It was almost sarcastic and there was a smirk growing on her face.
"A flower in my hair Toushiro? Really, when did you become such a sap?" Hitsugaya's face broke into a broad grin.
"You have your memories back then?" he asked as relief washed over him. Karin smiled.
"Yeah. Thanks for helping me. Although, I can't believe you let me walk around all day clinging to Kentaro's arm. What were you thinking?"
"Hey, what was I supposed to do?" he defended. "I didn't want to upset you." Karin shook her head.
"What am I going to do with you?" Hitsugaya looked at her slyly.
"I've got an idea." Karin took the hint and allowed herself to be pulled in for another kiss.
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Everyone was waiting anxiously as Karin and Hitsugaya returned to the Kurosaki's house. And I mean everyone. Isshin and Yuzu had returned home and Isshin had broken a wall down when Ichigo told him about Karin's condition. Kentaro, Shinta, and Ryoga had come to the house (after Shinta had dried off) to make sure she was ok. And for some reason, Matsumoto had decided that she didn't like missing out on all the fun and had followed her taicho to Karakura.
"Matsumoto!" Hitsugaya shouted when he entered the house. "What are you doing here? Don't you have paperwork to do?!"
"Taicho," she whined, "you took the whole day off, I thought I deserved a break. Don't worry, I got through most of it." Hitsugaya glared at her.
"I can't wait to see your definition of 'most'," he said, rolling his eyes. Karin snickered.
"You seem back to normal!" Kentaro said happily. Karin greeted him by punching him in the stomach.
"What's the big idea, letting me hang off you all day like some sick puppy. You disgust me!"
"But…" he said flustered. Karin grinned.
"Ah, don't get so bent out of shape! Man, I thought you could stand up to me better than that!" Ryoga and Shinta howled with laughter.
"Glad to have you back Karin!" Shinta said, slapping her on the back.
"I still think there's something weird about that relationship though," Ryoga said, eyeing Hitsugaya and Matsumoto suspiciously. They will still bickering. "There is just no way he spends all day with someone that hot and doesn't have a thing for her…OW!" he cried as he also received a fist in the stomach.
"That's my husband you're talking about!" Karin insisted. "So watch what you say about him. Honestly, just because you can't keep your eyes in your head doesn't mean others can't."
"Karin, I thought you had brain damage, I'm so happy you're ok!" Isshin shouted excitedly, leaping over the table to embrace his daughter. He was stopped in his tracks as his face made contact with Karin's foot. Karin was not so adept at stopping Yuzu however, who soon had her in a bone breaking hug.
"Everyone's invited to dinner tonight to celebrate Karin's visit and return to sanity!" she cried happily. Everyone cheered.
It's not over yet, so don't go anywhere. And please review! Thank you.