Ch 5 – Phone
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Karin held her hand to her chest contemplating on what happened the night before. How could just holding hands affect her so much? To her it wasn't just anyone's hand. It was his hand. The one she wanted to experience this journey of life with. No matter how she thought about it, it was obvious that she wanted more. She didn't want to just be the girl he held hands with during the fireworks, or the girl he saved from the hollow a few years back, or even just simply known as the girl that is Ichigo's sister.
She didn't want to be seen like that through his eyes. Karin shook her head. This was ridiculous. How could she feel like this? She barely even knew him and she's already smitten.
Feeling that she needed someone to talk to she pulled out her phone to call someone to ask for advice. Once she flipped the phone, her eyes widen. This definitely wasn't her phone she realized. The feeling of shock ran through her veins as she stared at the wallpaper. It was her.
She didn't remember ever taking this picture before. Then she thought, of course she wouldn't remember. The shot that was taken was a natural shot. Dressed in her school uniform and not even paying attention to the person taking the picture, her mouth opened slightly in a shape of an 'o'.
Then it clicked to her mind when Hitsugaya collided with her near her school yesterday. He had dropped his phone but picked it up. Had he picked up the wrong phone and had possibly taken hers? It was the only reason that made sense. How else would she not have her phone?
A thought ran to her mind, she remembered seeing Hitsugaya's phone before and it looked exactly like hers.
Suddenly the phone vibrated. There was a number lighting up on the screen of the cell phone. She recognized it to be her number. It could be him calling her now.
Karin answered the phone, "Hello?"
"I suppose you realize that your phone is missing," he said on the other line.
"Yeah I just found out actually."
"Kurosaki, meet me at the guard rail in ten minutes," he said before hanging up.
Karin glanced at the phone. She didn't know whether to feel happy or upset. She was going to see him again. Then again, either way she could see him again anytime she wanted. The thought pushed away any negative thoughts. She quickly gathered herself together and headed towards the guard rail.
Karin made it to the guard rail and saw him sitting on it. Before she could say anything he turned around, "You're probably wondering why there's a picture of you on my phone."
"I don't ...understand," she said.
"It's nothing," he replied giving Karin back her phone. Karin gave his phone back, "Is it really nothing?"
Silence crept between them. She really wanted to know the reason why she was on his phone, "If it was nothing then why won't you look at me and tell me that?"
Hitsugaya shifted his eyes towards her. He was truly speechless right now. Never had it occurred to him that she might have actually seen his phone. He never thought he would have to worry about that. Now, here he was standing before her, unable to explain something that seemed so easy.
"Toshiro," she said reviving him back to reality.
He took a deep breath, "Why does it matter? It's not like I'm going to black mail you with it."
Trying not to take it to heart, "If you're not going to black mail me with it then why? I don't mind that you have a picture of me but I just want to know why I'm you're wallpaper. Is it that hard to answer?" she asked as her emotions began to boil up.
"Why does it bother you so much?" he asked equally boiling up.
"I never said it bothered me. Just answer the question."
"What if I don't want to answer the question?"
"Then I'll make you,' Karin jumped at Hitsugaya. If he wasn't going to tell her why she'll just force it out of him.
Hitsugaya pushed forward trying to push her arms away from gripping around him. Karin struggled to get him down. In an instance, Hitsugaya pinned her down to the ground, "You're so stubborn like you're brother you know that?"
"Don't compare me to that idiot."
"Too late I just did," he said then earning a smack to his face.
They continued to wrestle on the ground provoking each other to do something each second. Soon the talking turned into yelling in turn, turning into shouting.
"Toshiro! Just answer the damn question already! It's not that hard!"
"Like hell I would tell you anything!"
"You're such an ice king."
"Well thanks, I rather be an ice king than a ugly, stubborn, toothpick!"
"Hey! I'm not ugly nor am I a stubborn toothpick. I happen to be in perfect shape. I'm no where near being anorexic!"
"So she says," Hitsugaya said.
"You're so impossible! I don't understand why you won't answer. What are you so afraid of?" Karin stared at him. Getting tired of asking the same thing she decided to just ramble on, "Oh, I get it, you don't want to tell me cause you're afraid. You're afraid cause you like me. Wow, why didn't I see this before, Toshiro is madly in love with me that's why you have a picture of me on you're phone. I've should have seen it coming," she said sarcastically.
A vein popped at Hitsugaya's temple. His face suddenly darkened. It stung him to know that she was making fun of him in that sense. Finally, he released her, "Laugh all you want. So what! Maybe I do like you! Maybe, maybe that's why you're my wallpaper. Well you know what, it doesn't matter how much you make fun of me because the truth is Karin, I like you! I like you a lot. Ever since the day we met. Even then I liked you."
Karin stared at him wide eyed as he continued, "I didn't know how or what to do. I've waited for so long to come back to the human world just to see you again. And I know we don't know each other well, but I can't help what I feel. So there, are you happy now?"
Hitsugaya's body was shaking with excitement not of happiness but because he finally let out his emotions that he kept so well hidden. Realizing what he just said, he couldn't look at her. Not anymore. He felt ashamed for releasing his emotions like that.
As he got up Karin grabbed his wrist, "I like you too," was all she said.