Finally! Sorry it took me so long to get it up. It's an extra extra long chapter just for you guys! Thanx for all the great reviews, and I'm responding to them. I think this will be your fave chapter of all XD but before you read I'd like to say a few important things:
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my grandfather, who pasted away yesterday night.
And can anyone tell me how to get into a community? I'd like to join a Hitsukarin one so my story canbe a bit more famous.
And do you people want a lemon for the second series (yeah i plan on making a second)
So I'd like my questions answered on the reviews. sry for being clueless.
Enjoy!
Koyuki's POV
"You can come in." I said to my two guests. Karin and Nii-chan looked around. Poor Karin-chan must be overwhelmed by the place. It did look nothing less than a church chapel, only more, how should I say it…..homey? Nii-chan led Karin to the kitchen, cooking lunch I assumed. Ever since I almost food poisoned dad, he cooks for me. I braced myself for something, expecting a tackle by my welcoming committee. But………nothing.
"Hmmmm must be out for a walk…." I said.
"Why? Do other people live here?" Karin said, over hearing what I had said.
"Actually, yes. The room up stairs is rented by a friend and my do-"but, as I expected, before I could finish, my not so little pet had jumped up from behind and knocked me to the floor. Geez, did Kurogane have to make such a scene even though I had guests?
Kurogane is a solid black German Sheppard (yes they do exist). I named him after one of the characters in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. I am such a manga nerd…. Anyway, whenever I come home, no matter if it be 5 minutes or a month, he always greets me at the door in this way. I never punish him for it because I actually think it's cute, and it's always nice to know someone is waiting for you at home.
"So is Renji home, Kurogane?" I asked. He gave me a blank stare, which probably meant he wasn't.
"Hmph. Too bad, he's gonna miss lunch" I said.
"And what is with that silly smirk on your face?!" a voice all too familiar to me said. I turned and saw a red haired, monkey faced idiot with an all too pissed expression. I tried my best not to laugh.
I put on my best Nougami Neuro poker face and said, "What do you mean? It's not like I was going to starve you or anything." Renji just rolled his eyes.
"Right. Like you didn't purposely leave a long grocery list for me to get and try to start lunch early so I'd have to eat your leftovers." He said. All I did was put my hand on his shoulder, with a smile on my face, and shake my head, left to right, left to right. That did it. And that was it for my self control. I let out the tiniest snicker, and he gruffed an 'I knew it'. Hehehe.
"Stop your arguing and help us cook!" Toshiro yelled. Renji and I climbed up the stairs to the kitchen. My lovely cooking area had slate tile and dark wood cabinets, with a white concrete counter top. The back splash was a pretty glass tile. The first thing you say was our dining table under some light colored bamboo floors. You had to walk around it to get to the kitchen. Renji saw that my brother was here.
"So is it ok is I mess with him a little?" he asked with a sly smile. I grinned back.
"Hey, go crazy." I can't believe that I just gave the most annoying person I knew the permission to annoy my Nii-chan freely. Ah well, I brushed it off. Like they say, you will probably feel bad for making your brother upset, but only for 5 second. I helped Karin-chan chop the vegetables.
"You have a really pretty kitchen," she whispered. I couldn't wait to show her the rooms.
"Thanks" I whispered back. She glanced at Renji, obviously concluding he was the other resident.
"His name is Abarai Renji." I told her. She mouthed an 'Oh' and nodded.
Hitsugaya's POV
We were making Hot Pot for lunch, as my sister told me. Strange, what kind of person eats hot pot in the middle of the day? I found some nice beef in the fridge. She walked in with Renji and the rest of the ingredients. I braced myself. If anything, Koyuki's friends were just as annoying as her, when they wanted to be.
"So who's your new girlfriend?' Renji started off. Here it comes.
"Karin Kurosaki and she is not my girlfriend." I sighed.
"Mm hm, you know the more you deny it the more I'll believe it" he said with a sarcastic tone. I wonder if Koyuki put him up to it. I turned around.
"I can't believe you have such an annoying person living here." I told her.
"Oh come on. He's my right hand man. If I were your younger brother he'd be my wing man, too." She said. I scowled at her.
"Renji, don't give my big brother a hard time!" she said, waving her finger at him. Then I knew they were in it together. Koyuki had never given me such a hard time with a girl before. What? Did she think I actually had a chance? Please, Karin and I had only just met three days ago! As if she sees me any more than a friend.
"Here is the rest of the ingredient's Nii-chan!" Koyuki said, interrupting my thoughts.
Now the Hot Pot was cooked. I was surprised at how good it tasted. Must mean she got Renji to get some good quality food. Then the two started fighting over it, which didn't make much sense, since the pot was almost half the table size.
"Renji! Quit hogging all the meat!" she yelled.
"What are you talking about?! You're the one who has the most on her plate!" he retorted.
"As if! Look! You're taking a couple right now!"
"Are not! Do you see anything in my chop sticks?!"
"That's cuz you're using two pairs! How do you even use chop sticks with your left hand anyway?!"
"Oh just shut it, you harpy."
"You first, Monkey face!"
"Would you two just kindly SHUT UP!!" I yelled.
"Yes sir." The both said simultaneously sitting down. Then in the silence we heard a chuckle. We turned and saw Karin cracking up with laughter.
"Ah, I'm sorry. It's just so funny to see you two lash out at each other like that." She said, laughing a little more. I thought it was really cute, the sound of her laughter.
As if reading my mind, Koyuki said," Awwww. That's so cute. It's alright." And with that the rest of lunch was pretty peaceful. Karin helped me with the dishes.
"That was fun. Is your sister always like this?" she asked.
"Yeah, she is. Do you have any siblings?"
"Yup. My fraternal twin, Yuzu, and my older brother, Ichigo." Oh, so she had an older brother. I wonder if he's overprotective like I am. Probably. All older brothers' were, or at least to my knowledge.
"Sorry to break this love fest, but I'd like to show Karin the rest of the condo." Koyuki said suddenly springing up out of no where.
"Why? So you can show off?" I asked her.
"Oh, just be quiet. I bet Karin is curious about the rest of the place anyway." She said giving Karin a wink.
"Yeah, actually I am." Karin said.
"Yeah right. You just want a tour so you don't have to do dishes." I said. It was the same old trick she would use when we were little.
"Oh, PLZ!" they both said. I rolled my eyes and said, "Fine. Whatever."
"Yay! Come on, Karin!" Koyuki said dragging Karin up the stairs.
Karin's POV
Actually I was curious as to what the rest looked like. If the living room and kitchen were this nice, what were the rooms like? I almost got dizzy just climbing the stairs. I wonder how she ever gets through going around and around and around. Ugh. Then we came to our first stop, a long hallway with shoji doors to either side.
"This is where Renji stays" Koyuki said pointing to the right. "And this is the first guest room, where Matsumoto is gonna stay." Pointing to the left. Then, after some flights, got to the top floor (4th whoa). We walked into the hallway that looked identical to the last.
"And this," she said while sliding the door, "is my room." Opening the door, there really wasn't much to see. It was certainly big, though, easily twice the size of my room back home. There were tatami mats spread across the floor. And there was a computer on the desk at the far side of the room, and a futon laid on the floor.
"Ahaha, I guess I really shouldn't leave that there, but oh well." She said. I didn't really hear her though, because I was walking over to the desk, looking at the number of frames on it.
They were mostly her and Hitsugaya, when they were kid, she and him in a flower field, and Koyuki putting a flower necklace on him. Then I caught another photo that looked interesting. A photo of a couple, the mother holding a baby in her arms, she was beautiful with ebony black hair and ruby eyes, like Koyuki's. Then to the right of the woman stood a handsome man that looked a lot like Hitsugaya, they both looked really cute together.
"That's a photo of our otou-san and okaa-chan" Koyuki said, noticing that I had subconsciously picked up the frame.
"These are your parents? They look so….beautiful" I said. Now I know where the two got their good looks, and white hair.
"Yeah, aren't they? This photo was taken when Nii-chan was born." Oh, so the baby in the picture was……. I smiled to keep myself from laughing at his cuteness. Haha.
"But then why didn't they take another photo when you were born." I asked.
"Because okaa-chan didn't live long enough to take another one." She answered with a much gloomier smile than usual.
"Oh! I'm sorry."
"No, it's ok. She died a long time ago, anyway." Then I looked at the picture again. She didn't even look sick. "Me and Nii-chan actually grew up here when we were little. Two days from now is okaa-chan's death anniversary, so we all agreed to rendezvous here." Koyuki continued. She probably doesn't like talking about it.
"So then the other one is your father?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah! I just love him. Nii-chan looks a lot like him, doesn't he?" she said, looking cheered up.
"Yeah….almost a spitting image." Then I wondered if Hitsugaya would look like this when he grew up. Probably. sigh
"Is it ok if I take a shower here? I'm so tired from climbing all those stairs." I said.
"Hehe. Well, about that. See, we don't have a shower here…" she said.
"………………………What? What do you mean by that…?"
"We have a bathroom, just not a shower. There's a bath house downstairs, though. The natural hot springs here are so nice."
"Hmm, I haven't been to a hot spring in a while. Is it ok if I go?" I asked.
"Sure sure! Just show this to the lady downstairs and you can use it as long as you like." She said handing me a bracelet.
"Ah, thanks." After a long walk downstairs, I left to go to the first floor.
Hitsugaya's POV
"Nii-chaaaaaaaaan!! I'll help you with those." Koyuki said grabbing one of the dishes.
"Oh hey! I'll help too." Renji said, taking my place. What are those two up to?
"So where's Karin?" I said taking a seat.
"Oh, she went downstairs to the bath house." Koyuki said.
"What?! And you didn't go with her?!" I exclaimed. Why did she send her out alone when she knew so many corrupt rich guys lived here? She even told me one of her neighbors tried to harass her the other day (pulling him into a dark ally and teaching him a lesson on "courtesy" as she said)! Koyuki just shrugged.
"I thought maybe you could, keep an I on her I mean."
"But why don't you just go?" I asked.
"I'm busy." She said pointing to the dishes. I see what game she's playing, and I'm not about to lose.
"Then I'll go upstairs and sweep the floors." I said.
"Oh! But I already did that!' Koyuki said. I frowned. Strike 1.
"Then I'll make the beds."
"Ah, but I already did." Renji said. My shoulders slouched. Strike 2.
"Then……I'll take Kurogane for a walk..."
"But he just went for one." They said together. Strike 3, I'm out. I put my head in my hands.
"You planed this very well. And I suspect that the stained window is cleaned as well, the laundry washed, and the furniture cleaned?" I asked.
"Yup." Koyuki said. Her eyes said everything, 'there's no escape for you', was the vibe I was getting. I stood up and walked downstairs.
"Fine, but I'll get you back some day." I glared. She snorted.
"Whatever." She said not believing me.
"Just heed it." I yelled and walked out the door.
Back to Karin
Wow. This is a nice hot spring! They had such a wide and beautiful outdoor spring! Just as I was about to walk in, a lady at the door stopped me.
"Do you have a token?" she asked.
"Ah, well no, but"
"But nothing, no token no entrance." She said firmly.
"But"
"Oh, you want to argue? I won't hesitate to call security." I decided talking to her wasn't going to work either way, so I showed her the bracelet. Her eyes bulged.
"Oh! That's the bracelet I gave to Lady Hitsugaya! Are you a guest of hers?" she asked. I nodded. "gasp Please excuse my rudeness! Go on, and enjoy your bath." She said bowing.
The water felt great. Not too hot, but not considered warm either. It's a good thing Koyuki said I could stay here as long as I want. I wonder if she's annoying Hitsugaya now? She was always so funny, teasing and annoying him, but it was very obvious that she loved her brother endlessly. I love Ichi-nii too, even if he sent me here, and can act like an idiot sometimes. Then I heard a splash.
"Hey! I didn't know such a cutie lived here" said one of the guys who just came. Man, why did someone have to ruin my R&R time like that. I got kinda pissed.
"Hey, how old are you sweetie" one of them said as they started to surround me. Now that pissed me off.
"Hey, why don't you just leave, save yourself the trouble." I said, giving them a glare.
"Oh, is that a threat? Your gonna have a hard time with this one, Riku." I balled my hands into fists.
"That's ok. I like them feisty anyway. Oww!" the other one saying, his arm twisted behind him.
"You people really don't know how to exercise self control." A familiar voice said. I looked.
"Hitsugaya?!" I yelled subconsciously. The other's looked alarmed.
"Hitsugaya?! He must be Lady Yuki's brother!"
"Run for it!" And in a flash they were gone.
"What're you doing here?" I said to him.
"Saving your butt apparently"
"Oh please I had the situation under control! I was this close to beating the hell out of them anyway."
"Hmph, right right." He just said, laying down into the water. I did the same. After that it got kinda awkward ((just in case you don't know they both have towels on in the water. It probably makes it feel warmer, but who would go into an outdoor bath naked?))
"Koyuki told me about your mother." I said. Stupid! What kind of conversation starter is that?
"She did?" he asked, looking surprised.
"Yeah, my mom died of sickness, too." He seemed to calm down after hearing that, and just nodded. Some more awkward silence.
"So it's just you, your dad, and your siblings?" he asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah."
"My dad re-married 2 years ago, and she seems nice enough." He said.
"Seems?"
"Well I don't really see her a lot. I know her through Matsumoto." He said.
"I haven't seen her at all today." I said.
"She takes the saying "shop till you drop" literally." He said. I laughed.
"Maybe it's about time to go back." I said.
"Yeah." he said in a voice so low I might have been hearing things.
"Hey guys! How was the bath?" Renji asked, sitting on the couch watching TV.
"Pretty good actually. Here's your bracelet back, Koyuki, and thanks again"
"No problem. And how was it Nii-chan?" Koyuki asked. Hitsugaya looked away.
"None of your business." He muttered.
"Oh yeah! I got the mail while you were gone." She said. I sat on the couch with Renji.
"And?" Hitsugaya asked.
"We got invited to the annual Allons ball again this year." She said. Hitsugaya got a little troubled.
"And……?"
"They sent four tickets" she said smiling.
"Whoa whoa! Hold it! What are you implying, Koyuki?" I asked, getting up.
"I was just thinking that maybe Karin-chan could accompany us to the ball this year. It only happens once a year." She said.
"No way! I don't do dancing." I said. There was no way I was going to let her talk me into this.
"Oh come on Karin! It's only one little dance. You don't even have to! Just show up." She insisted.
"Not happening! I would rather spend a whole month with my dad than go to that!" I said. Then it hit me like an atom bomb. I slapped my forehead.
"Oh snap!" I screamed.
"What?" Koyuki said alarmed.
"I forgot my dad at the park! I can't believe I just realized that now!"
"What time is it?" Hitsugaya asked.
"It's already 6:45PM." She answered. Hitsugaya and I rushed out the door.
"How could you forget your own dad!" he said.
"Oh well excuuuuuse me for letting things slip my mind sometimes!"
"Forgetting the car keys is one thing, but your own dad?! You had the whole day to remember!" We got out of the elevator and headed to the door.
"Good day, Hitsugaya-sama" The counter guy said. Hitsugaya nodded.
"I wonder if he's at the hotel by now." I said.
"I'll check the park. You know where your hotel is?" he asked.
"Yes!"
"Good. Then I'll see you here in 15 min."
I kinda knew the way to the hotel is more like it. I had a good feeling that I was on the right track, which probably meant I was already lost. Frantic I looked around for someone. My eyes came upon a Purple stand with the words PALM READER signed across. An old lady sat there. Since I don't know any French I just said,
"Hotel Le Relais Montmarte?"
"I know how to speak Japanese, lass" the woman said.
"Oh, then do you know the way there?"
"Aye, but only for a reading." She said, extending her hand. Well, one fortune telling couldn't hurt.
"Alright." I said, and gave her the money. She studied my palm. She stayed silent most of the time, with the occasional 'hmmmmmm's and 'I see'. Then she finished and gave me a smile.
"Well, it's not everyday I see this kind of future." She said.
"Why? Is something bad gonna happen to me?"
"No no, dear. Just the opposite. Here, please keep the money, and a gift from an old woman." She said, and handed me my money back and a ………….lollipop? I was a bit skeptical.
"Is it ok, giving away a free fortune telling?"
"Aye, lass. It be alright."
"And what is in my future that's so good you'd give me my money and a present?" I asked.
"Well, it wouldn't be much of an experience if I told you, lass."
"But isn't that what you live for?" She threw back her head and laughed.
"Aye, that be true. The hotel is a that a way, lass." She said and pointed to the street ahead.
"Thank you." I said bowing.
"Aye, and a good day to you, lass!" she waved, smiling. What a nice old lady, I thought. I looked at the lollipop. I decided to save it for later, since I really wasn't in the mood. I could see the hotel from here. Dad and Matsumoto were at the front.
"Hey, Dad!" I yelled, waving.
"Oh! Karin-chan where were you? I waited for hours!" he said.
"Sorry. I kinda got carried away. Hi Matsumoto." I said.
"Hey, Karin-san."
"What are you doing with my dad, anyway?" I asked.
"Oh I just happened to spot him in the shopping district and I thought I could have a friendly talk with him." Matsumoto said.
"If you were with her, why didn't you call me?" I asked my dad.
"Oops. I guess I can forget sometimes too." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "So what did you do the whole day?"
"I met Hitsugaya and his sister, Koyuki. I practically spent the whole day with them and forgot about you."
"Ehhhhhhhhh?!" Then just in the middle of my dad's distress, the man in question walked up to the entrance. He looked really pissed.
"Matsumoto! Why did you just now take the liberty of send me a text about Karin's dad?" he asked.
" Haha. Funny story about the. See"
"Whatever, I don't want to here your excuses." He said. I stretched my arms up.
"So can we finally go back to our room and rest? I'm completely exhausted." I told my dad.
"Actually we're staying with the Hitsugaya's."
"Wha?"
"Koyuki gave Matsumoto a call just now saying it was ok for us to stay in her condo for free, so I canceled the hotel room. I was just going to jet our stuff right now." All I could do was just stare at him with my mouth hanging open. Stay? With Hitsugaya? All of us in one place? I've had enough happen to me for one day. The sun was setting and I really didn't want to argue with it.
"Fine, whatever." I said and headed back to the condo with Hitsugaya. Koyuki was gonna get an earful when I get back. If everyone was in on it why did I bother looking in the first place? Hitsugaya tapped my shoulder lightly.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"So why are you so against going to Allons?" he asked. Oh great. We're going to talk about this.
"Cuz I'm not such a great dancer." I said.
"I could teach you" he said. Why was he pestering me about this?
"Well I don't want to."
"Why?"
"Cuz."
"Cuz?"
"Because I don't like to, I have bad coordination, clumsy, and, let's just face it, I have a bad sense of direction!"
"I think I figure out that much by now." He said.
"So then why are you asking?" he shrugged.
"I dunno. Maybe I thought it'd be interesting to see you dance."
"Well, it's not gonna happen." I said. He walked up in front of me and stopped, and so did I.
"What?"
"I didn't really want to do it his way, but whatever." He said. I had a bad feeling. "Karin, would you go to the Allons ball with me?" I gaped. Was he serious? So was gonna fluster me into saying yes. I shook my head. "Please?" he said. I shook my head again.
Then he did something intangible. He hugged me. I must say that I did in fact blush. Probably the most in a while.
"What are you doing?" I asked in a really low voice, not able to speak up.
"I'm not going to let go until you say yes." He said. Oh, so it was gonna be the extra hard way. I stayed in place to see if he meant it. And he did. We stood there for a good, humiliating yet touching 5 minutes. It was embarrassing. He could probably hear my heart beating. It was thumping so hard it almost hurt. I've had enough. I sighed.
"Fine……I'll go. But"
"But?"
"Only if you teach me." I said.
"Those are conditions I'd probably be able to get used to." He said, and let go. Still blushing, I looked down so that my hair covered my face. We held hands the rest of the way.
Yay! So did I tell you or did I tell you! Hitsugaya is finally gets the nerve to ask Karin out, and this is only the 4th chapter!
So we got into some family backgrounds a little, and the romance is escalating at a rapid pace. I think you all know what will happen if it keeps going :)
We also changed the points of views a little. I just hink that spices it up a bit. If it were all one perspective it wouldn't make much sense.
So anyway if your confuzled about the fortune teller thing, don't worry it wasn't space taker. i have a plan.
SO REVIEW NOW! PLZ!!