Neither Bleach nor its characters belong to me
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"To hide the key to your heart is to risk forgetting where you placed it." -Timothy Childers
"Are you just going to sit out there all night or are you going to come in?"
Hitsugaya sat up at the sound of Rukia's voice. He spotted her standing in the doorway of the house below, hands on her hips and staring up at him expectantly. He stared at her, deliberating. He had planned to sit out under the sky all night but...
He landed in front of her gracefully. He lost all composure, however, when he got a look at her. Her eyes were sunken in with bluish bags beneath them, her hair hung lifelessly, and, the biggest shock: her tiny frame was swollen with her pregnancy.
But she looked...happy. Relatively, at least.
She folded her arms across her chest before letting him pass. "Drop the pretenses. Ichigo asked you to watch me, didn't he?"
He scowled. "No," he said truthfully.
"Please," she said, disbelieving him. She turned around and marched into the house, and he followed her, closing the door behind him. "You don't have to lie for him."
He snorted. Like I would. "Believe me, I'm not."
She sat down at the kitchen table, her large stomach impeding her movements. He watched her as if she was an alien life form; her condition was so...foreign. He stepped forward to help her, but she succeeded in her efforts without him.
She sipped her tea, seemingly lost in her thoughts. "Why else would you be babysitting me?"
He sighed and she kicked a chair out from under the table for him.
"Sit. Make yourself comfortable."
He obliged but was hardly comfortable.
"So how often does he ask you to report in? Twice a day? Every hour? Every other minute?" she asked, her agitation obvious. "Does he not think I can take care of myself?"
Hitsugaya closed his eyes as he sighed again. He should have stayed on the roof. "I said it wasn't him."
"Well, then who the hell was it? I know you're not doing it out of the kindness of your heart."
He pursed his lips, debating whether or not to tell her. He didn't really like her attitude, but she'd just whine more if he held it from her. "It was Kuchiki-taicho."
That shut her up. She looked at him, nonplussed. "My brother?"
He nodded once.
She didn't respond. She stared into her tea, swishing her finger about along the top. "So Ichigo..."
"He's in Soul Society."
She nodded and leaned back, absentmindedly rubbing her enlarged stomach with one hand.
"How much longer?" he questioned, uncomfortable with the silence.
"The doctor said a week but Urahara thinks less than that."
"Urahara's qualified to make that assessment?"
She grimaced slightly. "Supposedly. But he's not going to be my obstetrician."
He didn't know what an obstetrician was but he didn't really want her to explain it to him; to clarify, he didn't want to know, period.
"Will...will he be back?" she asked, uncertainty apparent in her voice. She meant, "Will he be back in time?"
Something resembling sympathy struck him, but his reply was cool. "I believe so."
She nodded, satisfied. "Now, on to Karin."
He froze. "Karin? What about Karin?"
She stood slowly, gripping the table for support, and padded toward the kitchen. "You hungry? I'm hungry."
He scowled, disliking her swift change of subject. "Not really."
"Come on, you've got to be hungry. I'm sure the only thing you've eaten is bento boxes since you've been here. Am I right?"
She was, but he wasn't going to tell her that. She put two plates into the oven and sat back down at the table. "Karin does-"
"Rukia?" a voice called from behind the door.
She didn't stand, and she did not react to the voice calling her. In fact, he could have sworn she rolled her eyes. The door opened and Hitsugaya turned to see Ichigo enter.
"Hey, Rukia. How ya doin'?" he asked, stepping into the house.
"I'm fine, Kon. Urahara gave you his body?"
"Ya. For tonight. I'm supposed report back after dinner."
"So I have two babysitters now? And where is my husband?"
"You're the one who kicked him out," Kon stated pointedly.
She pursed her lips but didn't say anything.
Kon turned to Hitsugaya. "Urahara said you might be here."
"Where else would I be?" he mumbled, scowling and folding his arms across his chest.
Kon smirked.
When Kon had entered, Hitsugaya could have sworn he was looking at Ichigo. Now he sensed their different reiatsus but, initially, there had been no difference. He could see the difference; with Kon in his body, Ichigo's eyes were alight with a carefree soul, his face free of that signature scowl. There was a decided difference.
"He said I might also find you with a certain, dark-haired sister of Ichigo," he said, brows raised.
Hitsugaya tried not to let his face reveal any emotion, but his jaw clenched involuntarily.
"Is that right?" Kon asked, cocking his head to the side. "You should know then that I too see Karin as my sister, and I'm not afraid to go bankai on your ass."
"You don't have bankai; you're not even a shinigami," Hitsugaya stated bluntly.
"Maybe not, but I've got a mean kick." He leaned down and put a pointed finger in Hitsugaya's face. "Hurt her, and you'll answer to me. Got it?"
Hitsugaya stood, eye level to Kon. They stared each other down until Rukia stepped in between them. "Yes, we know. You're both big, strong, chauvinistic men. Bravo. Now sit down or get out. I can't deal with all this bullsh-"
"I'm just looking out for Karin," Kon argued defensively.
And I'm not? But Hitsugaya held his tongue.
Rukia started to play with the food on her plate. "Karin is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. If she needs help, she'll ask."
His phone rang and he flipped it open. "Yes?"
Rukia could hear his vice-captain's shrill voice on the other side of the line.
"No, I won't be back in time to sign off on this month's paperwork. You'll just have to sign it for me," he told Matsumoto with a scowl. He paused as a response came over the line, and then his jaw clenched tightly. "What do you mean you didn't do it? I thought I told you--I don't care about parties. You should have done your job before--just get it done before I get back or I swear-"
Rukia heard a distinct click and Hitsugaya sighed.
"I need to-"
"Nee-san," Yuzu, at the door, interrupted.
Hitsugaya froze.
Kon turned and opened the door, stepping into a familiar role. "Hey, Yuzu," he said, sounding a bit more like Ichigo.
"Hey, Ichi-nii," she greeted warmly. "You and Rukia ready?" She looked past Ichigo, into the room, and spotted Rukia at the table. Her expression fell a little. "Oh. You've eaten."
It was then that Hitsugaya realized Yuzu could not seen him.
Rukia waved her off. "That was just a snack. I'm starved."
"Okay, good. Um," Yuzu glanced around, "is Karin's friend here yet? Should we wait for him?"
Rukia's brows furrowed and Kon looked to her for a signal.
"Dad said...he'd be here," Yuzu said, now unsure.
"Who?" Rukia asked.
"Hitsugaya-something. I'm not really sure. Dad just said he was supposed to join us."
Rukia threw a subtle glance at Hitsugaya, who shook his head obstinately. She smiled slightly. "Oh, right! Yes, he called; he's running a bit late." Hitsugaya threw her a murderous glare. "He'll meet us there."
Yuzu smiled. "Great! You ready then?"
"Yes," she nodded, but then looked around the room. "Oh, I think I left my bag upstairs. Would you mind getting it?"
Yuzu shook her head. "No, of course not," she said heading to the stairs.
When she was sure Yuzu was out of earshot, Rukia turned to Hitsugaya. "I'll never forgive you if you don't show up," she said.
"And I care about your forgiveness because?" he asked, folding his arms. "I'm not going."
"You're acting like a child," she sighed, exasperated. "Look, whatever issues you and Karin are having, you need to work them out. We can't play run around until I give birth."
"You said it'd only be a week more," he mumbled, but he saw her point.
"Get your gigai and if you're not at the Kurosaki's in ten minutes, I'll-" she tried to think up a viable threat, "let Kon 'go bankai' on your ass...and then I'll tell Ichigo, who will really kick your ass." Her face softened a bit. "I know a lot has...transpired between to two of you, and I'm not just talking about the past few weeks. Just-Just do this-"
"Fine," he bit.
She started, her eyes widening. She thought she'd have to push harder. "Really?"
He nodded but looked away. "The blond one's back," he said and he was gone.
She turned to see Yuzu's expectant face. "Ready?"
Hitsugaya shoved his hands into his pockets as he exited the Urahara Shoten. He was not looking forward to dinner tonight, though he was thankful Isshin had given him some notice, or, a better word, warning. He had purposely avoided any and all contact with Karin all week. He needed time and space to sort through his...feelings. A week was hardly long enough, but it was better than nothing. He now had a plan, a resolute plan, and if he could just stick to it, he wouldn't wind up in the dirt...again.
She doesn't remember anything, he mulled.
Besides, thanks to Isshin, his ever-so-helpful vice-captain, and, apparently, the powers that be, he now would be spending an indefinite amount of time with Karin. In Soul Society. In the 10th Division barracks.
Oh joy.
The walk to the Kurosaki's wasn't nearly long enough, and he stood outside and watched the front door for a while. Light emanated a soft yellow out the windows, and he could hear laughter. It also smelled like something was burning.
He did not want to be here.
This is how it all got started last time. He had been so resolute not to have unnecessary contact with humans, to use his gigai only when absolutely necessary. But just as luck would have it, he'd managed to run into a girl who could see him sans gigai. Even better: she was Kurosaki's sister. He could-should have ended it; he should have left, never to see her again, and gone off, forgetting...but he didn't. Something about her...he'd wanted to spend time with her. He'd wanted to get to know her.
He never would have, though; he never would have stayed. But she, in all her persistency, wouldn't take "no" for an answer. He'd finally relented, and then found he enjoyed spending time with her.
And spending time with her led to more.
He'd never admit it, not to himself or to anybody else, but he had let his heart get involved. Something about her made the cold confines of his heart just melt away.
Not again. Never again.
That was then, and, now, he knew better. He knew better than to invest in a friendship with a human.
She doesn't remember anything, he repeated as if to reassure himself. She has no expectations and I get a clean slate. The only relationship we'll have from now on is that of teacher and student, captain and subordinate. Nothing more.
"You going to stand out here all night, Hitsugaya-taicho?"
Hitsugaya started. He hadn't sensed Isshin's approach. "I was coming in," he said gruffly, slightly put out.
"Well, don't take forever."
He paused. "Are you telling her tonight?"
"If everything goes as planned," Isshin said.
Hitsugaya went to follow him back around the side of the house, but Isshin stopped him. "No, no, I was just taking out the trash. Guests use the front door."
He opened his mouth to argue but the older man turned on his heel without a backward glance. His irritation grew.
He did not want to be here.
He stood on the porch, fist posed to rap on the door, and took a deep breath. He hadn't signed up for this. He didn't want to care, he didn't want to be involved...he missed being alone, he missed the quiet.
But he had nothing left to lose at this point.
He knocked.
The door swung open.
Damn, he thought, giving himself a mental shake. He missed having control of his own heartbeat.
Karin's dark eyes grew wide as she looked up at him and her mouth fell open. "You? What are you doing here?"