Sequel to Karin's Thoughts requested by Nefarious Seraph 13. Enjoy!

Whoosh. The ball zoomed through the air. The boy blinked blankly as the soccer ball hit home. An amazed silence stretched out across the pitch. A girl with black hair landed gently on the ground, facing the ground her hair obscuring her unreadable face. The goalkeeper's chin dropped at the force of her attack. The girl slowly stood up. Then there was applause, getting louder and louder.

"Wow! Karin-chan! That was amazing!" one of the boys on Karin's team shouted and rushed towards her.

"We won! We actually won!" another boy yelled jumping up and down. The opposing team slunk off the pitch, unable to believe their eyes.

"When did you train Karin?"

"We won!" the babbles continued to stream from Karin's team mates. Lifting her head up, she smiled.

"Yes, we did," she whispered. Another match in the bag. Her mind then zoomed out away from the compliments of her friends. How long, am I kept in the shadows? How long before they come again? How long... before I can see him again-? Her thoughts was suddenly cut off at the familiar syllables uttered by one of the boys.

"...train with Toushirou?" Karin looked up, startled at the mention of Toushirou's name. The box she had tried to build to lock the memories of him in began to crumble, pitifully.

"I- what?" she said. The boy smiled.

"Ah?! You've been training with Toushirou without us noticing?! That's so unfair!" Karin blinked.

"N-no, I haven't. He hasn't been around..." but she refused to continue because her voice began to break. This is pathetic! Stop. Go. Now. Stop thinking about him. Go, now!

"Look guys, I have to go now. See you at practice," with that Karin rushed off the pitch leaving her team mates looking a little stunned.

"What's wrong with Karin? Ain't she happy we just won?"

"Maybe she's too happy. Did you just see those tears in her eyes?"

"Don't be stupid, Karin doesn't cry..." doesn't she? Karin thought to herself biting back the tears, hard. They had brought up a painful subject. She didn't even know why she felt so upset. He's a Shinigami! He can't stay here, in the real world! Like, Ichi-nii. Karin tried to reason with herself. She twisted through the streets of Karakura, rebuilding the little box again. He's gone. Gone- then she was hurled back.

Shocked, Karin took a few seconds to gather herself. No! No, not another, no... NO! Karin forced herself up trying to turn subtly. The Hollow in front of her didn't notice her. Karin raised an eyebrow. Not the smartest of all Hollows... then a scream echoed towards her, the scream of a human. Damn, it wasn't after me after all! Crap, weapon... Then her eyes fell on a discarded metal pole. That will do.

The Hollow screamed loudly in triumph. The human scream continued to ring but stopped suddenly. The human looked up at the Hollow, the chain on his chest swinging gently. The Hollow froze as Karin hit its head again. Like brushing away a fly, the Hollow swiped at Karin's frail body. She went sprawling into the ground. The Hollow turned on her.

"Oh? A living human can see me? Hmm, decent reiatsu too. This indeed is a good town to feed on!" the Hollow's deep eerie voice bellowed. Karin struggled up onto all fours. Shit, shit, shit! She felt stupid now. She wanted him to come so badly, she was willing to sacrifice the human and herself. The Hollow laughed manically... and prepared to administer the final blow. Karin closed her eyes. Farewell... but the blow never came. She opened her eyes fractionally then they snapped open. A pair of geta wearing feet stood on the ground in front of her. She looked up, slowly. A black kimono billowed around the feet. No... he can't have.

"Run, run now!" her heart nearly stopped. It wasn't him. In front of her, a Shinigami with an afro stood in front of her.

"Zennosuke Kurumadani," Karin whispered. She had seen him once before, briefly. She stared blankly at him.

"What are you doing?! Get out of here!" his voice rang out over the Hollow's angry cry. The cry jolted Karin awake. She stumbled awkwardly then ran. Coward! Turn back! She screamed at herself but somewhere deep in her mind, a deep intelligent and mature sounding voice spoke to her. Live and there will be possibilities and hopes.

That's it for now! Thanks for reviews on previous chapter :D Keep them up! My writer's block is clearing now:D

Shaari