Breath of Life
~Tension~
"What do you mean he can't see me!" Toshiro's voice strained as he looked straight at Karin's father, the color in his face leaving. He then opened his mouth like a fish as if he wanted to say something more, but instead his eyes kept slowly widening and the emotions emanating from him were that of complete panic.
Karin shook her head at the young taicho as she crossed her arms across her chest. "Toshiro, my dad has never been able to see ghosts."
The next sound Toshiro made was a deep sound of air being taken into his lungs and then a sudden coughing fit as the pain got to much for him. When he stopped coughing, his bright teal eyes were looking down at his lap. He kept himself from taking another deep breath. "Is this some sick joke you guys are trying to play on me?"
"Joke?" The female titled her head slightly, then shook it a couple of times. "I'm not joking. My dad can't see ghosts."
A deep breath of air came out of Isshin's mouth. "Actually, I need to apologize to you about that."
Karin felt her jaw drop before she snapped it shut. She glared at Toshiro as she couldn't look her father in the place. "All things considered, it isn't that surprising considering Rukia-nee happens to know Uncle Kaien."
Isshin pulled back his sleeves and moved over to the side of the bed and sat down in the rolling chair. His hand reached out to carefully remove the upper layers of Toshiro's clothing. "Kaien, could you help me with this."
The man moved to the other side, only to pause as he looked at the back of the child's clothing. The corners of his mouth turned down and his nose wrinkled up as some memory or thought came to his head and then one hand went up to cover one of his eyes. "Nii-sama, didn't you used to wear something like this?"
The girl found herself opening her mouth while Isshin looked up at the man, the corner of his mouth twitching. Kaien glanced up in time to see that his brother was bothered by his comment. "Did I say something wrong? I'm quite sure you had this exact symbol on the back as well."
Karin felt her eyes suddenly widening as she looked at Toshiro. The boy glanced up for a few seconds and she suddenly felt the feeling that had subsided, the feeling of utter disgust. The female found herself looking away, before letting out a deep sigh. "I haven't a clue what that might mean, so don't ask me."
Isshin frowned, but there came a sudden squeaking of the bed. The girl turned her head in confusion to see Toshiro suddenly bowing towards her father, low to the ground position wise. She felt the corner of her mouth twitch. Her father reached out to try and touch the boy. "Come on Toshiro, I need to heal you up."
"Gomenasai!"
"What?" The man shook his head. "What are you apologizing for?"
Karin watched as Toshiro's head suddenly went up towards her slightly, only to jerk away. Both of the men suddenly raised their eyebrows in confusion. Kaien took a deep breath before going around to the other side to whisper into the man's ear. She watched as her father suddenly flinched before looking at her. He then took a deep breath. "I need you to step out. Why don't you go and look for his gigai?"
The girl let out a deep breath before heading out of the room. She began to look in each room until she found the look alike sitting in a corner with its knees pulled up to its chest. "There you are."
"Is he all right?"
Karin flinched, not liking the fact that thing was also speaking to her. She turned to leave and tell them she had found the "thing", only to suddenly pause and turn back. "Hey, how much do you know about Toshiro." She watched as the thing gave her a rather vacant look. "How about the taicho of his division before him?"
Two bright teal eyes blinked a couple of times. "Why?"
"He's my dad... his former taicho is." The female watched as the "thing slapped hands over its ears and frowned.
"I can't hear you."
Karin let out a deep sigh before heading back to the room. She could sense that her uncle was still in the room and choose to lean up against the wall and instead stare at the ceiling. Eventually the door slid back open and she turned her head to look at her uncle. He noticed that she was standing there. "Your friend is going to be all right."
"He's acting strange."
"By him I'm assuming your friend and not your father, because nii-sama isn't acting strange at all."
Karin slipped into the room, only to suddenly freeze when she noticed the look Toshiro gave her. Isshin let out a deep sigh. "I owe you... and your brother an explanation. Yuzu eventually as well."
"I think it should be rather obvious I'm not in the mood to talk to you." The girl leaned up against the wall.
The man looked over at the boy. "Just to forewarn you, I don't think he's wanting to talk to you right now. And he's not likely to answer your questions either." The man however got up. "You can try though."
The girl watched as the man left the room before turning back. Toshiro was still glaring at her. "What, are you mad at me."
"No. Just leave." The boy's face was twisted up, indicating he was angry at something.
"You aren't mad at my dad are you? He can be... well, I'm guessing you already know how he is. If so..."
The boy glanced away. "I'm not mad at your dad or your uncle, so please just leave."
"No."
"Kurosaki!" The boy turned to glare at her. "Why can't you just accept the fact that I want to be left alone!"
Karin opened her mouth and thought about leaving, but then carefully pulled apart the feelings he was imitating. "You're lying. You actually don't want to be alone."
"I would rather someone other then you be here!" The boy's tone was strained. He then realized he hadn't taken a polite tone and glanced away. His clothing was lose around his shoulders and his midsection was wrapped in bandages.
"What has gotten into you! I've hung out with you many time and suddenly you're not wanting to be around me? Are you upset that I didn't tell you about my dad or my uncle? Because I'll tell you I didn't know. Or do you not want them to know that the one friend you have is a girl?"
Toshiro flinched and looked up at her with a rather sheepish look on his face. "Wait. Where did that come from?
"You told me that you don't make friends easily. Most guys would be embarrassed if their only friend was a girl."
The boy's mouth twitched, but then he blurted something out. "I'm not embarrassed for that reason."
Karin watched as he suddenly realized he had blurted something out he hadn't been planing on saying. "What are you embarrassed about then?" She watched as he glanced away. "I could easily put you into a headlock until I get the answer I want."
The boy looked at her, then glanced away again. "Because I messed up. I should have been able to take care of that Hollow by myself."
"So?"
"So?" Toshiro suddenly turned to look at her, as if it was really a big deal.
"Stop with the big ego. So what if you messed up."
"So what if I messed up?" The boy's tone began to raise again.
"It's not that big of a deal."
"Yes it is! I should have been the one to protect you. Instead I had to be rescued by someone else. It would have been one thing if it had been your brother, but instead it was your uncle! Your dad also knows that I had to have my but rescued. I know you're not blind to the fact he was my former taicho."
"Yeah... that so isn't an ego problem!"
"It's not an ego problem! I'm old enough to take care of myself now and it so doesn't look that way, does it."
"That's what you're upset about?" Karin found herself suddenly frowning. She watched as Toshiro frowned at her. "And the way you yelled at me wasn't childish at all?" The boy then glanced down. "Your normally not like this. Seeing them again has you worked up, doesn't it."
Toshiro glanced away. "I apologize that I can't tell you more. I think its your father's position to explain things to you, not mine."
"So you can't tell me what your rank was when my dad was your taicho?"
"Third seat... hey..." The boy frowned, his eyes narrowing at the girl.
"What's the problem with me knowing that bit of information?" Karin folded her arms. "My dad's also hiding my uncle from Soul Society because he's supposed to be dead, right?"
Toshiro frowned. "How did you know that?"
"I saw one of my uncle's memories."
The boy glanced away. "I can tell you I looked up to both despite the fact your dad can act like a moron at times. Like not letting you know that he can see ghosts, but considering the fact your sister can't see ghosts it was possibly to spare her feelings, so don't stay to miffed at him for that. About the soccer thing..."
"I know Soul Society doesn't have soccer teams."
"They don't. Your uncle though is the reason why I know how to play. I didn't think it was right to... well, he obviously doesn't remember who I am." The boy glanced away. "I would like to sleep a bit if you don't mind."
"Yeah... sure." Karin stood up. "And Toshiro... don't bottle all this in."
