A/N – I know the last chapter was short but that's why I'm making up for that with this chapter. Thank you all for those who have stuck with my story when I make you all wait forever. I do apologize greatly.

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Ch 7 – Break Away

"The nights are beginning to be unbearable," Karin whispered leaning into Hitsugaya's chest tears sliding down her cheeks. Hitsugaya stroked her hair trying to register everything that was said a few days ago.

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Rukia knocked on the door of Karin's room, "Karin-chan, come on time for dinner." There was no response, "Karin-chan?" Rukia knocked a few more times. Turning the knob of the door her eyes widen as Karin tossed and turned on her bed clutching her head.

Rukia dashed to Karin's side trying to wake her from her sleep, "Karin-chan! Wake up it's only a dream!"

Rukia grabbed hold of Karin's hands yanking them away from her head. Karin slapped Rukia and continued tossing and turning this time more violently. Rukia quickly got on Karin once again trying to get her to calm down, "I ii Ichigo!! Ichigo!"

Heavy stomps of the orange haired substitute shinigami can be heard from the hallway. Ichigo ran as fast as he could into Karin's room. His heart pounded as he stopped to observe the sight of his sister shaking violently. He quickly went beside Rukia to assist her.

"Karin! Snap out of it," Ichigo panicked.

Karin's eyes suddenly shot open, sweat dripping down her forehead, "Toshiro," she called. Rukia glanced at Ichigo. Ichigo nodded knowingly. He quickly ran to find Hitsugaya as Karin began to sob. Rukia rubbed the back of Karin soothing her with whispers of sweet nothings trying to get her to calm down.

Within a few seconds Ichigo and Hitsugaya arrived through shunpo. As soon as Karin caught sight of Hitsugaya she quickly ran to him wrapping her arms around him and burying her face to his chest. Rukia smiled sullenly and turned to Ichigo grabbing his hand and leading him out of Karin's room to let the younger couple have some time alone together.

"Shhh, Karin I'm here now. What's wrong?" Hitsugaya asked.

"How long do you have?"

Such a vague question struck Hitsugaya at the heart, "What?"

"I asked how long do you have?"

Not knowing how to answer it frustrated her.

"What I mean is how long do you have here in the human world?"

Hitsugaya frowned. This was something he hoped he could have avoided. Karin pulled away from him, "Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

"I never said you were."

"You probably thought I was."

"No I didn't."

"Then how long were you going to keep going as if I didn't know?"

He said nothing. Karin stepped away from him.

"I saw it," she said.

"Saw what?" he asked already knowing the answer to his question.

"I saw you disappear. Your faux body won't be stable enough to keep you here," she replied.

"Does it matter?"

Karin did a double take, "Does it matter?" she repeated incredulously, "What do you mean does it matter?"

Hitsugaya felt a little guilty for what he said and tried to take it back but knowing him, his pride got in the way, "Why does it matter? It's not like I can't come back –

Suddenly he felt a harsh sting erupt from the side of his cheek. His pale hand slowly made its way towards his now red cheek. Karin's fist dropped beside her.

"Knowing Soul Society and its rules, they won't let you come back here especially if they find out about us. They aren't stupid and neither are you or me. The time is getting closer Toshiro where you and I will no longer be. Doesn't it bother you that one day you will disappear and we may never be able to see each other again?"

Hitsugaya remained silent still holding the side of his cheek unable to give her a straightforward answer.

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"Say something Toshiro. Anything is fine. I don't care if it make sense or not," she said.

"What's there to say," he said more than asked.

Karin released herself from his grasp and angrily turned to him, "There's a lot to say. Toshiro do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Then why does it feel like you don't?"

"Karin I know that what we have is difficult to comprehend but why can't you just leave it alone as it is?"

"Because if we leave it alone we'll just keep walking around in circles. We can't keep living our lives as people try to break us apart. We're just running away! I don't want that. I just want to be with you and not have any problems. How hard is that to comprehend?"

"I'm not going to deal with this," Toshiro got up and walked away, "So you're just going to leave?"

Toshiro's back faced Karin, "If we're just going to keep fighting, then I might as well."

Karin gripped the hem of her sleeve, "In that case we really can't be together cause obviously we can't see eye to eye….. bye Toshiro, …..I'm letting you go."

With those final words Toshiro shunpoed away not returning or even a glance behind.