What If? Ch 4 Hanabi Fireworks, a bleach fanfic

A/N - Hey everyone I am so, so, so, so sorry that I didn't update at all this summer. I apologize I forgot that I had an In-Progress fanfic. Again I am sorry but enough of that, let the fanfic continue!!

Ch. 4 – Hanabi (Fireworks)

Ichigo stared from his sister and the white haired Taichou agitatedly as he was eating his rice ball. Everyone seemed to be alright with everything as if there was no problem however, Ichigo continued to stare uneasily at the two young teens.

"So how exactly do you know each other?" he asked devouring his rice ball.

"You would know if you were around more," Karin said reaching for the beef that was sitting across the table, "but since you're asking, it was because I was attacked by a hollow. He was around he saved my life and that's how we met. End of story."

Ichigo stared at them one last time before dismissing the topic.

"Hey, let's go find a good spot for the fireworks after we eat," Rukia said trying to stray away from the awkward moment that had just occurred. Everyone nodded and continued to eat to their stomach's content and nothing left was said.

For moments that passed on neither of them had said anything to each other. Karin berated herself for making the situation awkward.

'C'mon say something. It isn't so hard to say something to him. God why am I like this it's not like something happened between us.' Karin thought to herself as she walked beside him.

Thinking too much to herself she didn't notice that everyone was beginning to sit down when she finally whammed into the back of the ice Taichou. Her face flushed ever so brightly as he slowly turned around.

"Uh….sorry," she said in a quiet voice that he barely heard her.

"It's fine," he replied.

For a minute, it took Karin a very long time to register that he had said something to her for the first time in such a long time. She was about to say something else when Rukia began to speak, "Hey Karin, can you do me a favor? Can you and Hitsugaya-Taichou go to one of the stands to buy a load of dango? Please?"

A/N - dango (a type of japanese sweet dumpling)

Karin was about to protest but in the corner of her eye she saw Hitsugaya walk away. Seizing this chance to be alone with him she shrugged and walked away as well.

"Thank you Karin!" Rukia yelled from afar.

Karin sped up to catch up to Hitsugaya and as soon as they were far away from the group she placed herself in front of him, going on an impulse she said the first thing that came to mind, "You come back after all these years and you didn't even bother to say hi to me."

He stood there looking at her as a vein popped in his head, "Hi," Hitsugaya then side stepped and continue to walk in the direction of the dango stand.

A vein popped in Karin's temple. She did the same thing again and stopped him from walking forward, "That's it? That's the 'hi' I get?"

Hitsugaya walked away from her and continued on his way. Karin grabbed his wrist, "Maybe I got off in the wrong hand so let me start again. Hi Toshiro welcome back," Karin waited for him to say something, anything really. Finally, she let go of his wrist feeling like an idiot. It was then Hitsugaya turned around, "Hey Kurosaki,... it's good to be back," he said embarrassed.

For that moment, a smile appeared on her lips and then silence began again as they continued to walk.

"I didn't think I would see you again," Karin said leaning against a rail.

"I didn't think you would still remember me," Hitsugaya replied.

After all this time, Hitsugaya was finally able to speak to her. The thought about coming back to the human world seemed surreal especially when the first Taichou had allowed him to return no questions asked. He gazed longingly at the matured girl before him. Very mature he thought. She looked different from the last time he saw her. The way she carried herself had changed as well. She no longer seemed so much like a boy. It might have not been noticeable to others but he could see that she had developed a slight feminine side to herself.

Karin tucked a piece of hair behind her right ear when she noticed she was being watched.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked.

"No. Sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"It's nothing."

"Oh, okay," not too long she smirked and reached for her phone. Karin placed herself before Hitsugaya, "Smile!" she exclaimed. As he looked up the sound of a picture being taken resounded among them. He blinked before realizing she had just taken a picture of him.

She giggled softly then showed him the picture, "I think you look rather perplexed."

He took a look at it then blushed, "Erase that now."

"What?! No way! I took it and I'm going to keep it." Hitsugaya growled and reached for her hand trying to take her phone.

"No! Let go!" she yelled as his hand made it's way to her wrist. She tossed her phone to her other hand and yanked her wrist from him. She stuck her tongue out at him making faces. Hitsugaya grunted and tried to grab the phone again. Karin smirked, turned on her heels, and ran for it.

"Hey! Get back here!" he yelled. Knowing she was too stubborn he chased after her. Karin continued to smirk, "Hmmm, what shall I do with this picture?" she thought aloud.

"You wouldn't," he said, "Maybe I will."

She laughed as he continued to chase after her. She crossed a street and went towards the direction of her school. Before she could make it to the corner of her school, Hitsugaya finally grabbed her wrist again. However, his sudden hold on her wrist caused her to trip and together they tumbled to the ground in a heap.

Despite the impact and crash landing to the ground, both of them just laughed and laughed until their stomachs hurt. As the laughter subsided, Karin realized that they were still on the ground. A faint blush appeared on her face as she stared straight into Hitsugaya's eyes.

Without realizing it, Hitsugaya's phone fell out of his pocket when they had collided. He picked up his phone and stood up. Helping Karin up to her feet, he quickly reached for her phone, but before he could flip the phone and delete the picture Karin rapidly took the phone from his hands and shoved it in her pocket.

"Uh-uh, I'm not letting you erase it," shaking her head.

Surprisingly, he lifted his hands up in defeat, "Fine you can keep it."

The fireworks were about to begin as the group sat, "Karin-chan and Hitsugaya-san aren't back yet," Inoue said.

Matsumoto smirked, "Oh don't worry about them, they're probably catching up with each other. Anyways, let's let them be and just enjoy the fireworks together instead."

The group nodded. Suddenly a small flare shot up into the air and exploded a beautiful green color in the sky.

"It's starting!" Rukia said happily.

Karin looked up, "It started," both of them stopped where they were and just gazed up at the sky.

"We should go find a good spot to watch the fireworks," Hitsugaya said. In a blink of an eye Karin took Hitsugaya's hand and walked away, "I know just the place," she said.

Once content, Karin smiled and sat down. Hitsugaya stared at her back, "Well what are you waiting for Toshiro come sit with me."

As he sat, he couldn't help but smile, "You still remember this place…."

"Actually, Toshiro, believe it or not I come here everyday now. You were right about this place. You can see the sky so much better here."

"I see."

Beautiful bright colors flew to the sky. Some bright, others neon looking. Several shapes and sizes of these shooting star-like lights burst in the air enchanting the many people that have waited all day to watch them appear.

Hitsugaya gently placed his hand on the side of the railing but instead, made contact with her hand. Now staring into each other's eyes the exploding lights of the fireworks illuminated their faces and their eyes. A small grin formed across Karin's lips. A faint blush painted the ice Taichou's cheeks.

He squeezed her hand as she squeezed his.

It truly was great to be back Hitsugaya thought silently.