"Hey, Hitsugaya-taichou."

"What, Ikkaku?"

"You seem happier these days. What's the what?"

"None of your business. Where's Ayasegawa? I need his report."

"He's trying out a new hair treatment at the saloon."

"I think you mean salon."

"Whatever, Hitsugaya-taichou."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The dark head and the white head bent over the training schedule. Urahara sat at the apex of the triangle, his fan flapping open-shut-open-shut. Hitsugaya scowled at the repetitive noise, wishing he could just decide on keeping it one way or the other...

"So. What do you think, Yoruichi-san, Hitsugaya-taichou?"

"It's too intensive, Kisuke," said Yoruichi. She was in human form today. "She needs to go to school. Unlike Ichigo, who's essentially a problem student, Karin is pretty okay in the school department."

Hitsugaya bit his thumb. "Perhaps the time between lessons as well? I mean, if she is as you said, she can turn her natural talents to something damn powerful. And we are running on a tight schedule."

The three peered at the schedule and Urahara began crossing out the morning parts. "Then Hitsugaya-taichou will have to smuggle yourself into her school for morning training and, immediately after school, escort her to Yoruichi-san for further training."

Hitsugaya felt his face pale. "I have to go to her school?"

"You're not expecting us to hop in now, are you? For one thing, the girls are too young for me to be interested in their-"

Yoruichi's punch in his mouth stopped him from continuing the statement. Her large eyes fixed on the small captain. "Hitsugaya-taichou, I think you see the sense in this."

"I do. It's just... well. I guess it's a small price to pay."

Yoruichi smiled. She rolled the schedule up quickly, then stood and stretched. Her sleek form gleamed under the dull fluorescent lights of the dingy room. "I'll get Kisuke to fill in the paperwork tomorrow."

"Yoruichi-san," began Hitsugaya, but was unsure how to continue.

The ex-captain glanced sideways at him. "She will be a shunpo expert, Hitsugaya. Don't forget who I am."

He raised his brows. The Goddess of Flash.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Everyone, we have a new classmate. Come on in. Don't be shy! Please welcome Hitsugaya Toushiro into the class, everyone!"

"Shut up, Matsumoto," Hitsugaya growled as he smoothed his hair back and fiddled with the collar. "Let's go."

The strawberry blond grinned. "You're so going to become the new schoolyard idol, taichou! Look at you!"

"I'm going there so that Kurosaki Karin gets proper training every day without wasting time."

Disappointed at her taichou's native inability to joke, Matsumoto pouted while he strode out the door.

Then she giggled. Whipping out her credit card, she decided to call on something to help.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Hitsugaya endured the adoring gazes plastered to the back of his neck.

There were sixteen girls in the class. Fifteen were fixed on him. One was stubbornly looking straight ahead, refusing to even make eye contact with the person sitting next to her.

Hitsugaya's boredom expanded. Everything being taught was so easy. Where was the challenge of learning something new?

When the bell rang for recess, Hitsugaya was immediately swarmed by all the girls in class.

"Is this your natural hair color?"

"Where do you stay?"

"Do you like table tennis?"

"What's your favorite food?"

Pushing his way out of the babbling throng – not without a struggle – he looked about for Karin.

"Damn." Where did she go?

A slim girl with wavy brown hair skipped up to him. "Who are you looking for, Toushiro-kun?"

"It's Hitsugaya-taich-" he snapped before he realized it was not his subordinates talking. "Call me Hitsugaya. I have to go."

The look of offended pride was lost on the silver-haired captain as he dashed off down the corridor, seeking the neon-bright signature of Karin's reiatsu.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Matsumoto licked the last of the Chunky Monkey off her spoon.

"So, Kon-chan..." she ran the cool metal along the stuffed toy's arm. "You know how to operate a small camera such as this?" she plunged her hand into her bosom and drew out the item and a rapturous sigh from Kon. "And you know what to do with it now right?"

"Yes, goddess!"

"And maybe, if you do a good job, I might just... have a little reward for you."

Kon swallowed his drool. "Little... reward?"

Matsumoto dug another spoonful out and exhaled with pleasure as she licked it. She leaned towards the modsoul, her breasts threatening to spill out of the purple v-neck tee she wore. "Not that little. Start today."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

He found who he was looking for, angrily dribbling a soccer ball up and down a field. Briefly he debated calling out to her, but sudden irritation overwhelmed him.

She was headed down the field, her eyes now fixed on the goal.

Wham!

"Done being a kid, Karin?"

"No." She stayed where she was as Hitsugaya walked down the steps to the field. The other boys who were around exchanged confused glances. Any other male outside of her father and brother calling her Karin was pretty much asking for a good beating. Some of them have the nightmares to prove it.

Hitsugaya came up to her. "I'm just reveling in your entire immaturity. You think I wanted to come here? There's something important going on."

"I don't care. How can you just barge into my school, my personal life like this? And frankly, I don't care for a dead boy to be anywhere near me and my sis."

"Your sis?"

"That one over there, gawking like the rest of the boys at us talking so familiarly." Karin folded her arms over her chest. "You met her this morning. In class?"

Hitsugaya spared one uncaring glance. "I'm here so we can train in school during break and then, after school, I'll send you to Yoruichi-san for specialized training."

"You couldn't have told me before... before appearing this morning?"

"We made the plans last night. While you were resting at home."

"Like I care. I'm just in to get over the whole nausea and helplessness. It's done. I'm good."

He stepped closer and, when she stepped back, he grabbed her by the arm. "This isn't about you, Karin. We need every soldier we can get. And then some. You think I'm investing all this time and effort in you because I like you? There is a war coming."

"What war? What are you talking about?" Karin stopped struggling.

"A war that involves every soul in this town and perhaps the rest of the world. You are a potential asset. If you want to jeopardize people's lives because you're too damn young and immature, fine. Disappear after school and let me go off alone."

He let go of her arm and prowled off, ignoring the twittering and subdued chatter of his classmates, and ignoring especially the intensely conflicted gaze of one Kurosaki Karin.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Finally the last bell rang. Hitsugaya grabbed his bag and left the classroom, leaving a wake of muttered comments from his classmates.

His little confrontation with Karin had spread like wildfire and he was irritated with himself. It wasn't as if he wanted the attention: god knows, his hair color was already garnering too much from students and teachers alike.

But he had to make her understand the stakes.

Steeling himself for disappointment, Hitsugaya stood at the school gate to wait.

"Hitsugaya-san."

That was not Karin's voice. The white-haired captain half-turned and saw Karin's sister, stern-faced and very serious. He raised an eyebrow.

"What do you want with Karin, Hitsugaya-san?"

"...is she sending you to tell me that she's backing out?"

"No."

"Then why are you talking to me?"

"I don't like to see people threatening my sister." The girl stepped closer. "So never, ever grab her by the arm again, okay?"

Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed. For a petite human girl she was quite brave, standing up to a guy like that for her stronger and more aggressive sister. He shrugged acquiescence.

"Hey, Yuzu." Karin stepped out of school, her cap again perched on her head. She saw her talking to Hitsugaya and – was it his imagination? - there was a flicker of a strange expression across the large, liquid eyes. "Hitsugaya."

"Let's go." The captain didn't want to waste time on pleasantries. "We need to get there asap."

"Where are you going, Karin-chan?"

"Not to worry, Yuzu. Tell dad I'll be home late. Keep some dinner for me."

"Karin-chan!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"You sure you don't want to explain to your sister?" Hitsugaya asked as they made their way to the Urahara General Store.

"Nah." Karin brushed the notion off. "I don't want to lie to her, but the truth is kinda way out there, y'know?"

Yoruichi was already in the basement, waiting for them. Hitsugaya made the introductions, and watched Karin try to figure out why the woman felt so familiar.

"Have you explained the reason why we're training her up?" Yoruichi's question cut into his musings.

Hitsugaya cocked his head. "Partly. But I'd like to know what specialized training she's going to receive."

"Karin," said Yoruichi, her canted eyes now pinning the girl. "You know you're now a shinigami, right?"

"Yeah."

"As a shinigami most of us tend to be better at a certain area of combat. Zanjutsu, kido, hakuda and hohou – these are the four main specialities. Hitsugaya-taichou here has talent mainly in swordsmanship, zanjutsu. For myself, I'm an expert in hakuda and hohou."

Karin listened, her hands stuffed in her pockets.

"You are one of the few natural adepts at hohou, Karin." Yoruichi grinned. "Which means that, for the next few weeks, Hitsugaya-taichou will focus on teaching you basic zanjutsu, and I will further develop your naturally incredible speed. Questions?"

"Yeah. How much time?"

"A few hours a day." Hitsugaya noted the flare in Karin's eyes, but chose to ignore it for now. "You'll not have free time for a while."

She chewed on her upper lip thoughtfully. "You said you'll train me in school as well."

"Yes, I did. My plan is to have us train in shinigami form while replacement souls stay in class. Unlike your delinquent of a brother, you can't afford to cut school."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Kon clambered back to the meeting place, waving the miniature camera. "I got it! I got it!"

"What do you have?" Matsumoto all but snatched the camera from him and plugged it into a laptop she had 'persuaded' a neighbor to lend. "That's... that's him arguing with her."

"Well, the whole class was talking about it after recess," Kon said, his beady eyes fixed on the ample bosom. "About my reward..."

"Until you give me something more juicy to gossip about it's not gonna happen." She tossed the hapless stuffed toy out of the way and went to return the laptop.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"You have to call out the full name of your sword," chided Hitsugaya. He sheathed his sword and folded his arms. "Can we please focus?"

"I am focusing," protested Karin. Sweat poured off her brow. "We've been doing this for hours."

"I wouldn't call gawking at Abarai and Sado's battle 'focusing'. And you can't seem to maintain a hold on your sword's attack."

"But they're really-"

"Nothing related to your training. Now, call out the first command for your zanpakuto."

Karin exhaled and said, "Gekido, Yuutsubame."

A short rush of water emerged but quickly disappeared. Karin looked at the damp patch before her and huffed out a disappointed sigh.

"Your attacks are too tame, and there is no direction of attack." Hitsugaya tapped her sword. "Look at it now, Karin. Tell me what is different."

"It's... Well, it has two blue tassels wound about my right wrist. And the sword seems a little longer."

"Any idea why?"

Karin's eyes darted left and right. "Am I supposed to know?"

"It is your zanpakuto. You tell me." Hitsugaya folded his arms again.

Karin stuck her sword into the ground. "How am I supposed to do that? I know next to nothing about zanpakuto."

"Then ask."

For a moment Karin was a little lost. Then she raised her eyebrows and pointed to the shirasaya before her feet. "You mean... ask him?"

Hitsugaya nodded. Karin closed her eyes and concentrated.

Oi. Fishface.

Call me that again and I'll ignore you forever.

Fine. Can I call you Yuu?

That's much better. What do you want?

How do I, y'know, strengthen the power of the attack? What I have now is a joke.

You have to know what you're attacking. I'm not gonna waste my energy attacking a pile of air molecules, girlie.

It's Karin to you, fish- I mean, Yuu.

Whatever.

Also, what's with the tassels?

D'ya know the weakness of the shirasaya blade?

No guard? Smooth handle?

Uh-huh. No grip, in fact. Also, the tassels are to anchor me in your source of power.

Getting to be Yoda-ish, Yuu. Spill already.

Remember when you first became shinigami? Why did you think you were supposed to be one?

Something about helping my brother?

No, dumbass. The real reason.

...It's in my blood.

Karin's eyes opened. Hitsugaya was inwardly pleased to see a sparkle of understanding in the black depths. He said, "So?"

"I get it now. I think you better brace yourself." She held her zanpakuto loosely by her side, then crouched into a combat stance. "Gekido, Yuutsubame."

Hitsugaya froze the huge wall of water rushing at him in a blink, Hourinamaru delighting in the exercise. "Good! Now to Yoruichi-san."

"I don't get a break?"

"You rest when you die, Karin." Hitsugaya tossed the girl a towel. "Tomorrow we'll start basic sword drill."

Karin flopped to the ground and groaned aloud, "This is worse than soccer boot camp."

"Of course it is," Hitsugaya said under his breath as he walked away. "It's about life and death now."