"Wildflowers ramble 'cross the verdant glade, beneath the golden sun..." Hitsugaya sang under his breath as he hacked the hollow into pieces. The hollow had the great fortune to come across the small-sized captain while he was fuming over Matsumoto's comments, all alone in a small park away from the festivities.
"...and the autumn winds come without mercy..."
He was very glad no one else was there. Sometimes all the companionship got on his nerves.
He loved Hinamori. Always did. He had missed her terribly when she enrolled in the Academy, even if he never admitted it to her.
And one reason why he tolerated Matsumoto's slacker-attitude was because she used her influence with Ichimaru to enroll him in the Academy even though he was far too young. He had had to pass inspection with the old man, of course, but still, he owed his lieutenant.
This was about Hinamori, he reminded himself. He had volunteered to come on this reconnaissance mission because he couldn't bear not doing anything. He wanted to help her, but she was beyond his help while she was hooked up to the tubes and machines and whatnot... but he could assist in finding out more about the traitors.
He loved Hinamori. He really did. He always did.
"...wildflowers in summertime fade like shadows, they fade like shadows fleeing the light..." Hitsugaya hated to sing. It meant he was under tremendous stress. And he hated to show he was under tremendous stress.
Thing was, what was he stressed about?
Not Hinamori, although her progress was still erratic. Unohana had her well taken care of. Hinamori was fine. She might not be completely sane yet, but she was fine.
He thought further. Then the name came to him, and he sighed and sat on a park bench.
Kurosaki Karin.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Daddy!" Karin squealed uncharacteristically. Her father looked tanned and healthy. That was great.
"Karin-chan!" He embraced her tightly. Then pulled away. "Wait... you're an imposter."
Karin was confused. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"The real Karin wouldn't hug me like this." He was still embracing her though. "You must be an impos-"
Irritated and relieved, Karin detached herself and smacked her father across the arm – hard. Isshin grinned. "That's my girl!"
Then he broke into a wider smile when he saw two towers weaving their way through the crowd.
One tower was balanced by Jinta. It was as tall as Sado.
The other was balanced by Ururu. It was taller than Sado.
Both were led by Yuzu who launched herself at her father. Delighted they spun, sending half of Jinta's precarious stack flying.
Urahara, who was right behind Isshin, managed to grab hold of a toy rabbit and a turtle, and Yoruichi beside the shopkeeper caught an odd blob-like shape and a teddy bear. Both of them looked gloriously flushed in the fluorescent lighting from the stalls, and Urahara's hair appeared a little mussed.
"So," he said, a little breathlessly, "are we all here?"
"Sado-san's still at backstage," Tessai reported, placing a small L plushie on top of Jinta's trophies. "Matsumoto-san said she was looking for Hitsugaya-t... uh, Hitsugaya-san, and Abarai-san went looking for her."
"Talking about us?" asked Matsumoto cheerily as she and Abarai appeared arm-in-arm. "Where's tai... uh, Hitsugaya-kun?"
The group exchanged shrugs and raised eyebrows. Karin wondered where the white-haired captain had disappeared to – he was missing out on Sado's performance, according to Abarai, since the tall teenager had been roped in to stand in for a sick bass player.
Also, she wondered why Yuzu looked a little downcast... was she concerned about Hitsugaya too?
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
He sat, his arms slung over the back of the bench. He had to clear his head – he was supposed to be focused on retrieving information for Seireitei, not train a chit of a girl. She was not important in the big scheme of things.
And yet...
Karin's confident approach to the difficulties in her life had been a breath of fresh air. After watching the shinigami about him either sink into moroseness or divert themselves with work (much like he himself was doing), it was encouraging to see someone who was willing to solve her own problems, and who was not afraid to ask for help.
She might have had to deal with the issues of grief and loss much later than the actual event, but even then Karin demonstrated strength of character. Faced with the horrible truth, she did not shirk, did not deny, but took as much of it in as she could – even if she had to cry again.
He saw, from the start, the way she carried herself. Without a whiff of arrogance or swagger, but confident and collected. And when she asked to know more about him, he hadn't rejected her questions outright.
Why didn't you?
"Hourinmaru?"
Yes. Why did you converse so extensively with the little girl?
"I don't know." Hitsugaya chewed on his lower lip. "She's easy to talk with, I guess. Much easier than the rest of Seireitei."
Because she doesn't fear you?
Hitsugaya snorted. "The kid fears no one."
She does – she's afraid of terrible fates befalling her brother. She's afraid she can't protect her family despite having this power in her. She's afraid you might think lowly of her.
The captain shook his head, bemused. "How do you know all this, Hourinmaru?"
I listen, said his zanpakuto. She talks a lot with her sword, Yuutsubame. The fishman is annoying.
Hitsugaya filed the nuggets of information away. It certainly clarified some things, but it still hadn't answered his own curiosity.
What did Matsumoto mean when she said there was something no one else figured out?
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
In the press of bodies Karin found it easy to slip away.
Not that her escape was unnoticed by the others, of course; only Yuzu and Jinta hadn't realized. But one quick shake of Urahara's head stopped all others from following her.
The shopkeeper had a pretty good idea where the girl was heading.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"So there you are."
Hitsugaya looked up. Karin was there, hands planted on her slim hips. The black long-sleeved sweater looked good on her – Karin appeared more mature and less boyish, especially with the large but simple silver cross hanging around her neck.
"Hey. You're missing the fun." She walked up to him. "You're also missing Sado's playing. He's great too, for someone going in cold."
"Then he should wear a jacket."
"You're not joking, are you?" Karin narrowed her dark eyes. Hitsugaya matched her frown. She sighed. "I meant he hasn't practiced with them before."
"Oh."
Seeing that the captain wasn't intending to get up, Karin sat down. It was the second time they were sitting together that night, but somehow Hitsugaya felt incredibly uncomfortable.
"Uh... Karin, there's something we have to discuss."
Karin gave a one-shoulder shrug. "Sure."
"I won't be here for long, you understand." Hitsugaya could have kicked himself for that opening, but it felt easier to talk about work.
Karin settled again. What had she been hoping for? "I get that. What about it?"
"Well... when we're gone, don't move about in your shinigami form. In fact, don't appear in shinigami form at all if possible."
"But the pluses-"
"-are taken care of by official shinigami." Hitsugaya knew she liked to argue and thus sought to preempt any possible disagreements. "I don't want Seireitei to know of your existence."
Karin sighed and looked away. She felt she understood his reasoning, but she didn't like it. "Then you shouldn't have taught me how to be a shinigami."
"Substitute shinigami. Like your brother. Except Ichigo is official," Hitsugaya reminded her.
"Then make me official."
"It's not that simple."
"Then make it that simple!"
"Stop acting like a kid and try to understand, will you?" Hitsugaya startled them both by raising his voice. "The more you are under Seireitei's scrutiny, the more likely you'll be targeted by Aizen and his subordinates!"
Silence blanketed them both.
Finally Karin said, "The traitors will be interested in me because I'm a substitute shinigami?"
"No." Hitsugaya had to make her comprehend the severity of the issue. "They will be interested because you're a substitute shinigami AND a Kurosaki. You're not stupid, Karin. Don't act like a dumb kid, alright? I've told you before: this is a war we're fighting."
"Fine. Tell you what. Go back to your Soul Society or Seireitei, whatever, come back in a few decades. I'll have stopped being a dumb kid by then." Karin folded her arms across her chest.
Hitsugaya turned away, not sure how to bridge the chilly silence.
She glared into the middle distance, not willing to acknowledge the importance of his words.
After a prickly ten minutes they got up. Hitsugaya looked at Karin, surprised. She was also frowning at him. They tore their gaze away, before speaking at the same time.
"Listen, I didn't mean to imply that-" "I understand where you're coming from-"
The captain looked at the girl. For one beat neither said anything. Then they both exhaled.
Karin went first. "I understand. I really do. It's just – I don't like it when you come across all superior. You need to have fun."
"I didn't mean that you were immature," explained Hitsugaya in turn. "You needed to know how bad this could all turn out. And that's why I don't have time for fun."
"Maybe you don't need to be thinking about that all the time," retorted Karin. The dark-haired girl waved her hands around expansively. "We can relax and be kids – well, me anyway – without losing sight of the big picture." When Hitsugaya appeared reluctant, Karin rolled her eyes and half-smiled. "Just for tonight? Forget you're a captain or a shinigami. Just be a kid."
He sighed and placed his hands in his pockets. "Fine. Tonight."
Somewhat reconciled, the two black-clad shinigami – one captain, one substitute – strolled back to the Harvest Festival.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Matsumoto's grin grew wilier as she sensed her captain returning with Karin. Nudging Kurosaki Isshin, she made a 'pay-up' gesture.
Rolling his eyes, Isshin stuffed a handful of bills into Matsumoto's hand.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Y'know, I'm thinking we should blow off training tomorrow," remarked Karin nonchalantly.
Hitsugaya gave her a stern glance from the corner of his eye. "You're still very raw in your attack techniques."
"But we'll all be tired and frankly, I'd rather play soccer tomorrow."
Hitsugaya scowled, though not fiercely. He'd seen her wistful expression that afternoon, while her friends were kicking a ball around. He had never seen the point of the sport, but then, sports were pretty much pointless.
"How about shinigami soccer? Shunpo and zanpakuto allowed."
Karin looked at him incredulously. "You want me to get killed? Zanpakuto allowed?"
"Alright, not the best idea I've had in weeks," he admitted, "but shunpo with soccer should be fun."
"Hmm..." Karin mulled the idea over. "We'll bar Yoruichi-sensei though. She can be referee."
"So it's five a side... let's say Jinta, Abarai, Madarame, Ururu and Ayasegawa on one team..."
"Whoa, you plan on putting all three big guns together on the opposing team?"
"Well, they aren't as fast as you. Or me, for that matter... So you, me, Sado, Matsumoto and Tessai... I wonder if we can get Urahara to play too, it'd be a great chance to observe him in action."
"Can you please get your mind off work?"
"I'm supposed to be working. That's why I'm here."
"...Be a kid tonight, remember?"
"Oh... yeah..."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
They talked soccer rules and team distribution until they found the rest of the group waiting at a snack food stand.
Matsumoto was trying not to look too triumphant, Urahara and Yoruichi were definitely concealing huge grins, Yuzu gave a discreet thumbs-up and the others pretended not to notice.
As the gang filed away, Urahara whispered into Isshin's ear, "They make a cute pair."
"Yeah. And if he tries anything funny I'll cut his hands off," replied Isshin, a lot less jovially.
Urahara and Yoruichi sniggered while the doting daddy glowered at the white-haired captain, who was still chatting to Karin.
If looks could kill...
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Abarai stretched lazily and waved to the two girls following their father back to their house. "Finally! I get a room to myself again!"
"You sure you don't want to share with me?" teased Matsumoto.
"Rukia would freeze my ass. No thank you."
Abarai, Madarame and Ayasegawa had peeled away earlier to go to a pub, and only Hitsugaya's forbidding glare had stopped Matsumoto from joining them.
"What is it, taichou?" the buxom one asked while they made their way back to Orihime's place.
Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow. "You know what. Now spill."
"My boobies?" At the daggers shot from her captain's eyes she held her hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay... you're no fun, taichou."
"I'm Hitsugaya Toushiro, have you met me? I'm not known to have fun."
Matsumoto ignored his words. She asked, "Taichou, how do you address Hinamori Momo?"
"Hinamori, of course."
"And how do you address Kurosaki Karin?"
"Karin. Why are you asking me these questions when you know the answer?" Hitsugaya was frustrated. Why couldn't she just get to the point?
"And how does Hinamori address you?" she continued her barrage of questions.
The white-haired shinigami was tempted to forget about it, but Matsumoto grabbed his arm. "How does Hinamori address you, taichou?"
"Toushiro, but she's supposed to call me Hitsugaya-taichou."
"Why?"
Hitsugaya was flabbergasted. "I've earned the title, Matsumoto. The least she can do is respect it. The only one who's calling me by my name is Ukitake-taichou, and that's because he's earned it."
"But Karin calls you Hitsugaya without any suffix."
"That's because-" Hitsugaya braked mid-sentence. He tried again. "She's... she's not a shinigami."
Matsumoto raised a perfectly painted finger. "Ichigo isn't a shinigami either, and yet you insist on his calling you Hitsugaya-taichou."
"He's just a kid! He has to show respect."
"And there you have it."
"What? Have what?" Hitsugaya frowned, more confused than ever.
She merely shrugged eloquently and sauntered off ahead. Matsumoto's calm little smile infuriated Hitsugaya more than the incessant questioning earlier, but to his rising ire he couldn't form a coherent rebuttal.
Damn it. Damn, damn, damn.