SHIROUchan: I know you guys have been waiting for this chapter for a long time and to be honest, it's worth the wait. Now my fellow friends, I present you with the Chapter 9 of When You Weren't There.
Happy now noodle-chan! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach
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Chapter 9
Ryu ran as fast as his long legs could take him. He and Torin both felt the reiatsu and raced to the scene. Was it a hollow invasion? Rogue shinigami? Only time could tell as the two raced down the rocky path of the woods. His red hair flowed behind him, gathering into Torin's on occasion.
"What do you think it is, Ryu-kun?!" Torin yelled from behind her friend. Her Za-panktou was clutched in her hands tightly as she rode on Ryu's back. Leaves fell from above as the sun began to set below the horizon.
"I'm not sure, Tori-chan. But," He saw a clearing come into view. Still running, Ryu leaped into the clearing. The trees began to clear and an open field came into his view. Two figures were standing there, obviously hugging and talking. " We are about to find out."
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"So the unruly Kurosaki has two heirs." Aizen said, still holding Hinamori in his arms. Her head rested on his chest, feeling at peace.
"Uh huh. Identical twins. One boy and one girl." She blew a strand of brown hair from her face. " Their names are Torin and Kishiro Kurosaki." She looked up to Aizen when she received no response. He was looking straight ahead . His chocolate coated pupils stared at the opposing force across the field.
Hinamori too focused on her attention across the field. She frowned slightly and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Speak of the devil."
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His white captain's coat flapped behind him as he shunpoed through various trees. His female companion was in tow, her robe also flapping behind her. Her long silky ebony hair flowed gracefully as she tried to keep up with her lover. Finally arriving at his side, she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.
"Are sure it's really Aizen?" She asked, still not believing that Soul Society's greatest enemy was alive. From what she heard, Ichigo gave the final blow, breaking Aizen's bankai and killing him. If all of that was true then how could he survive unless….
"Positive. I know that reiatsu anywhere." He glanced at the female by his side, still shunpoing further down the forest terrain.
"Are sure that you want to help? I-" Karin cut him off and smirked.
"Cut the sappy stuff, Toushirou. I said I'll help. Besides," She turned to stare in his sea-green eyes. "You don't want your butt whooped like last time now do you." She laughed and shunpoed in front of him, ignoring his annoyed aura. She ducked under a tree branch and advanced farther, leaving Toushirou to trail behind her.
She frowned. This wasn't going to be an easy battle. If Ichigo couldn't directly beat him then their chances are slim. Aizen's ability is to use illusions. Without knowing the location of the real one, they were royally screwed.
Taking her mind off of that, Karin searched for her children's reiatsu. Many were scattered out in the area but, she could directly sense Torin's and Kishirou's. Kishirou's was far off from enemy territory, but Torin's was….
"Shit." Karin cursed. With Toushirou right beside her, the two advanced further down the terrain where a clearing came into view.
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Torin jumped off Ryu's back. This wasn't what she was expecting. The lieutenant and former captain of her division were standing side by side in front of her. She heard about Aizen from other division members. She also heard of the infatuation lieutenant Hinamori had for Aizen.
Here she was, standing in front of Soul Society's greatest enemy. Taking her Za-panktou out she held it in front of her. Ryu placed his arm in front of Torin, taking out his own Za-panktou.
"Stay back. This enemy is out of your league." Annoyed, Torin turned her Za-panktou over and hit the back of Ryu's head with the hilt of her Za-panktou. Ryu let out a yelping sound at the random contact. He turned his head slowly to stare at Torin with an annoyed look. He was met with an even more annoyed look. Torin resembled her mother in many ways.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Don't count me out! I don't care if he is king mighty and all that bullcrap! I'm still going to fight, whether you like it or not!" She pushed his arm out the way and walked forward in front of him. The two adults standing in front of her were a danger to Soul Society and all that reside within. It was her duty as a shinigami to protect and serve Soul Society.
"And if you get yourself killed?!" Ryu yelled, pushing Torin behind him once more. She was getting annoyed at the moment but, Torin settled down as she looked into Ryu's eyes. He cared deeply for Torin. She was his most important person in his life. If he were to lose her, she could only imagine what Ryu would be feeling and what type of grief he would be feeling.
Looking down, Torin grit her teeth and kicked Ryu in his side. She watched in delight as he yelped and rubbed at his side.
"What was that for?!" He asked, still rubbing his sore side. Turning her head, she huffed and stood still, her Za-panktou still in hand. Ryu stared at his childhood friend confusingly. Sea-green eyes met auburn. Torin knit her eyebrows and let out an aggravated sigh.
"If you're going to protect me, then just do it !!" A small smirk appeared on Ryu's face at Torin's outburst. He felt a strange emotion well up inside him. Torin never allowed anyone to protect her, let alone admit that someone was.
"Okay then." After turning his attention from Torin, he faced Aizen and Hinamori. These two were going down for good. Taking his stance, Ryu sprinted down the trail towards his enemies. Raising his Za-panktou he was going to take a swing. Lifting his Za-panktou above his head, he swung down with force and determination.
A smirk played on Aizen's face as the Za-panktou went right through him. Hinamori shunpoed to the right and positioned herself for a kido spell as Ryu preoccupied himself with Aizen's illusion. She aimed at Torin who seemed ready for any attack.
"Byakurai!" Lighting shot from Hinamori's fingertips and aimed straight for Torin. The white-haired moved to the right slightly. As the lighting aimed closer to her, she prepared herself to block it. Before taking down the kido spell, Torin stared at the back of someone.
Her long ebony hair flowed down her back. Her robe flew off in the wind. Her onyx eyes concentrated on the older woman in front of her. Torin gasped as she lowered her Za-panktou.
"Okaa-san!" Karin glanced over her shoulder and gave her daughter a smile.
"Hey Torin. Are you okay? Are you hurt?" She watched as her daughter nodded her head. Smirking, she whispered a good, audible enough for Torin to hear. She stared at Hinamori before standing straight.
"I see you don't give up!" Karin yelled across the field. Hinamori smiled innocently before returning her response.
"I see you refuse to give up too." She focused her coffee coated pupils on her opponent in front of her. She knew Karin was a formidable opponent but, Hinamori always had the upper hand. No one actually seen her in action.
"I thought you said you and Toushirou were through, Kurosaki-sama. You are such a liar." She continued, releasing her bun . Her brunette hair fell down her shoulders, brushing against her shoulders. Karin snickered, and took off her headband. Some ebony strands fell into her eyes.
"And YOU are such a traitor. Fighting side by side with Aizen. I thought you were loyal to Soul Society." Karin glanced over her shoulder to signal Torin to move to a safer location. Her daughter nodded her head and moved into the forest. From across the field, she heard Hinamori laugh.
"Why should I be loyal to the ones who disagree with Aizen-kun. They have you all fooled you know." Hinamori slowly started to walk forward, as did Karin. They walked slowly towards each other, glaring each other down.
"What information do you have ?" Karin asked, approaching Hinamori with every step she took. A smile was still on Hinamori's face. She finally stood face to face with Karin as she took her final step. Taking her Za-panktou in hand, Hinamori placed it in front of her.
"Soul Society is not all flowers and rainbows."
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Toushirou finally appeared from the forest, already been left behind from his lover. He scanned the area before shunpoing to Ryu's location. Karin seemed busy with her own battle. He trusts her enough to not get herself killed. Now beside Ryu, he pulled the boy back and jumped a few feet away from the illusion.
"Are you okay?" Ryu nodded at his superior, his eyes darting across the field. Toushirou tried to search for the whereabouts of Aizen. Drawing his Za-panktou, Toushirou glanced behind him.
"Well, if it isn't the young prodigy of 10th division." Toushirou jerked his head to the direction of the voice. He frantically searched with his eyes but, with no luck, didn't find Aizen in his sight.
"Don't worry, Hitsugaya-kun. Your chance to dual with me will appear sooner than you think but, for now, I'll leave everything to my lovely wife and her pets. Farewell, Hitsugaya-kun, Kurosaki." The voice faded and soon several portals ripped open from the sky , several hollows and arrancars arriving from the portal. Each landed safely, and stared at the directions of each and every shinigami in their eyesight.
"Damn." Hopefully Soul Society will dispatch some spare shinigami to their location. They will not be able to handle all of them.
"Take on as much lower class hollows as you can. I'll take on the rest." He whispered to Ryu, who agreed without question. Without a blink of an eye, both of the male shinigami set off for their own battles.
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Slapping away an oncoming hand, Karin back flipped from Hinamori. She had to admit, the girl had skill but, Karin wasn't nearly using half of her strength. Advancing forward, Karin preceded with a low kick to Hinamori's mid-section. Already figured out the younger woman's move, Hinamori bent her back to avoid the kick. She watched as it missed her by and inch. Lifting herself up, Hinamori aimed for Karin's face but, was caught inside Karin's hand. Using her free hand, Karin aimed for Hinamori's gut but, with no luck was evaded yet again. Releasing Hinamori's fist, Karin took the girl's arm and twisted it behind her back and kicked Hinamori in her back.
Stumbling forward, Hinamori quickly regained her posture . She kicked Karin's shins, making the girl buckle down. Smirking she uppercut Karin with her elbow. Before the girl could land to the ground, she moved to her falling location and kneed her in her back.
Karin coughed up blood. Before hitting the floor, she caught herself with the palm of her hand, balancing herself. Using her right leg, she swung at Hinamori and missed intentionally. Bringing her other leg, she kick Hinamori in the side of her head. Still balancing herself on her hands, she glided her hands across the ground and kicked Hinamori in her side. Jumping up off her hands, she elbow Hinamori in the face, making the older woman glide across the field.
Spitting blood on the ground, Hinamori stood up and rushed towards Karin. The two continued to block each other's move, slapping or dodging their attacks. The backed away from each other and glared. They were at a draw.
"You're pretty good. I'm surprised someone like you can fight let alone on par with me." Karin said, rubbing her swollen cheek. Hinamori smiled and rubbed at her arm.
"I'm surprised that you're surprised. Did you think I was weak?" Karin smirked and giggled making Hinamori frown.
"Yeah, I did actually." With that said, she rushed towards Hinamori, taking out a few shurikens and throwing them at the stunned girl. A few managed to cut her face but, the others missed. Frowning, Hinamori caught Karin's fist. She tried to knee her opponent in her stomach but, missed as Karin jumped up and kicked Hinamori and her chest. Karin continued by dropping to the ground and sending a low kick towards Hinamori's feet. Jumping up in time, she returned Karin's attack by kicking her in her face. Missing slightly, Karin took her fist and jammed it in Hinamori's gut.
Feeling the impact, she coughed up blood. Still standing, Hinamori brought her fist back and punched Karin in her face. Sending her opponent a few feet away, Hinamori shunpoed and lifted her leg up. As Karin was about to past her, she brought her leg down on Karin, sending the girl to the ground. Cracks were made around Karin as she made impact with ground.
"Shit." She cursed. Grabbing Hinamori's foot, she twisted it and picked Hinamori up with her arm. Swinging the girl around in the air, Karin counted before releasing and sending Hinamori flying across the field.
She wasn't done yet. Taking a few more shurikens, she aimed exactly for Hinamori. They whizzed past her opponent as she seemed to disappeared. Karin frantically searched for Hinamori.
"That daughter of yours has potential. Mind if I take her." Karin widen her eyes as a voice whispered in her ear. Before she could react, she felt incredible pain throb from her stomach. Looking down, she saw a hand through her mid-section, covered in her blood. As blood trickled down her chin, Karin grabbed a kunai from her pouch and tried to aim at Hinamori. With no luck, the hand was removed and Karin felled to ground. Being lifted by hair, she stared at Hinamori with heavy eyes.
Her blood trickled down her neck and onto her uniform. Her breathing was heavy and her energy was drained. Her gripped at the kunai in her hand but, with no energy she could barely lift a finger. Hinamori giggled innocently and continued to grip at Karin's hair. Placing her Za-panktou against pale skin, Karin opened her eyes.
"It's a shame we have to get rid of this pretty, long hair of yours. It's smooth and silky and flows gracefully when you walk. But," Hinamori let go the fistful of hair and pinned Karin up against a tree. " Where's the fun in that. It would be a better piece of art if I just cut through your smooth skin and paint you red."
Karin coughed out blood and stared at Hinamori. The look on her face made her sick. She spat blood on Hinamori's face and smirked, her teeth now mixed between red and white.
"You're a sadistic bitch." Blinking slowly, Karin glared at Hinamori and frowned. " I'm not like the rest of you. I could give a rats ass if you cut my hair or damage my skin. I don't care!" Karin gripped at Hinamori's hand and tighten her hand on her wrist. " The only thing I care about is rearranging your face."
Kicking Hinamori in her side, Karin dropped to the ground and stood up, moving to the back of Hinamori. Cursing, Hinamori holds her Za-panktou and smiles.
"I'm surprise. What would Toushirou think if the love of his life would to return all red and short-haired?" Karin let out a low laugh and placed the kunai at the base of her neck. Grabbing her hair, she placed her kunai knife at neck's length and cut her hair. Ebony locks fall to the ground as the wind rustled. Removing her hand, she allowed her hair to fall at the base of her neck, barely touching her shoulders.
Looking up with pride and dignity, Karin smirked. " He would love me regardless of how I look."
