Disclaimer: I don' own no watchamacallit. And Bleach.
Author Note: Sorry for the wait, I'm kinda busy what with homework and crap. Also, I still have to finish my other fics (tee-hee) so those should PROBABLY come first. Just saying. ANYWAY! Please enjoy. Also, I couldn't decide on a title, so I did two.
War
or
Paradigm Shift
"Hiyah!" My martial arts teacher, Soi Fon, cried before doing a round house kick to my gut and sending me flying. I hit the ground and let out a long, slow groan of pain. Soi Fon returned to her original, stoic position before speaking.
"Something seems to be bothering you, Hitsugaya-sama. You've been attacking wildly for the past half-hour." She observed, and I clenched my teeth. I hated losing, even if it was to my teacher.
"Sorry," I muttered grudgingly, and Soi Fon frowned.
"We might as well have a water break. Why not tell me what's bothering you?" She suggested, and I hesitated. I liked Soi Fon the best of any of my instructors, with one possible exception, but I'd never really opened up to her, or anyone for that matter, before.
"Why not?" I decided with a shrug. I mean, it couldn't hurt to tell Soi Fon a little bit of my frustration, right? After going through several quick cool down exercises, the two off us sat down at a bench and downed some water.
"Well...there's this girl," I began, and then winced at the sight of Soi Fon's knowing expression. "It's not what you think!" I added hurriedly, and Soi Fon smiled slightly.
"Continue." She told me, and I hesitated before speaking.
"Her names Kurosaki Karin, and for some reason, she absolutely hates me! I mean, it's not like I'm in love with her or anything, but it's ridiculous! I haven't done anything to her!" I explained heatedly, and Soi Fon frowned.
"Are you sure you haven't offended her somehow?" Soi Fon asked, and I thought hard. I had tripped her once, but as far as I could tell, that was it. Well, maybe I'd belittled her slightly during Hell Week, but that hardly counted in my mind.
"No...No, of course not." I told her, and felt indignant at her skeptical look. Soi Fon sighed and then thought for several seconds before opening her bright eyes.
"Why don't you try ignoring her? Don't rise to any attempts to bate or frustrate you, just ignore her as a waterfall ignores the rocks it cascades down." Soi Fon advised, and I blinked, considering. I would prefer to inflict some sort of painful and excruciating revenge, but Soi Fon apparently caught my train of thought.
"Revenge only breeds ill, Hitsugaya-sama." She told me matter-o-fact, and I flinched guiltily.
"Yes, Soi Fon-dono." I said obediently, as was expected of a martial arts student.
"Yay, you're- oh, it's just you." I rolled my eyes at the sight of my disappointed swordsmen teacher- Urahara Kisuke. Ugh.
"Exactly who were you expecting, hm?" I asked as I walked across the storage room of Urahara's candy shop and grabbed the wooden katana hanging off of the wall. Urahara sighed and cast the doorway a longing glance, as though expecting someone, anyone, to come bursting through the door and save him from his charge- me.
"Not you," He answered with a sigh, and I grunted with annoyance, though I was fairly sure of who he was waiting for. Urahara then gave me an evil look, causing me to take a step back.
"I'm going to give you hell for that last game." He threatened, and I gave him a defiant look.
"Bring it on." I said, spoiling our face off with a huge, wolfish grin. Urahara laughed as he pulled out his own wooden blade before flicking it nonchalantly towards the trapdoor that led to Urahara's gigantic basement.
"You are something else, Toshirou." He said with a shake of his head, and I shrugged.
"You shouldn't be talking." I countered, and Urahara laughed.
"Point taken. Now shut up so we can get started, you're father isn't paying me to work my butt off for nothing." Urahara said, and I nodded. We then went down into the basement, and I once again marveled at the sheer size.
I mean, who has enough time to create a harsh dessert of a landscape that stretches for miles as his basement?
...Urahara, enough said.
I then bowed towards Urahara, who bowed back (Although I don't quite get the point of that, as an enemy isn't going to wait for me to bow to him/her- probably her in my unfortunate case- so why bother?) and we flicked up our wooden blades.
The next twenty minutes was a whirl of action and counter-action. I would strike, fast as snake, and then instantly be on guard for an attack from Urahara, which invariably always came. For no matter I did, or what trick I pulled, Urahara always seemed one step ahead of me.
As the seconds became minutes, then the minutes turned to an hour or so, I felt my arms grow heavy as sweat poured down my face. My hair, irritatingly enough, kept falling into my face, and I had to take a few vital seconds off my barrage to push it back.
To my annoyance Urahara, however, had not broken into sweat yet and seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. Realizing I only had so much time left before my arms gave away, I lunged forward desperately at the sight of a brief opening.
Urahara, however, merely side-stepped before calmly sticking out a sandaled foot. I let out a cry as I fell flat on my face, then felt the grain of the blunt wooden tip against my neck.
"Dead, dead, and dead." Urahara said in a sing-song voice, and I let out a growl before spinning around and chopping his legs with my feet. Urahara let out a yelp as I stumbled to my feet, grinning victoriously.
"I win," I said in a smug tone, and Urahara groaned before sitting up, rubbing his ankles.
"That's no fair," He complained. "You cheated. No martial arts in swords class."
"You should use whatever asset is available at the time of attack." I said primly, and Urahara grimaced as his own advice was parroted back to him.
"Yeah, well this doesn't count, so I win." He proclaimed, and I rolled my eyes. How did I manage to put up with the man, who had the spirit of a twelve year adolescent?
"Whatever," I said, and then added under my breath. "Sore loser." Urahara scowled before getting up to brush himself and wince.
"That hurt... I need to tell Soi Fon to tone it down a little." He mumbled, and I smirked. Then he flopped on the ground again, absently twirling his katana.
"What was the point of getting up if you're just going to lie down again?" I asked him, and Urahara shrugged.
"I felt like it, that's why. The power to choose is just that... power." He said in his oh-I-am-so-wise voice. I yawned slightly before flopping next to him. It felt good to be able to just relax without having to worry about hordes of girls, my father or... her.
"You should've been a psychologist." I said, feeling slightly drowsy as the wind tousled my hair (wait a minute, where did the wind- ah, what the heck. Who can understand this weird place?).
"Nah, too stuffy. I hate stuffy. This, however, is the life... when I'm not getting my feet taken out from under me by rich brats who cheat."
"I'll beat you, sword-on-sword, one day." I promised him, and Urahara smiled slightly.
"I'm looking forward to it." He told me, and I felt a contented smile grace my lips. As much as I despised Urahara's happy-go-lucky nature, I knew I could always turn to him... unlike my father.
I frowned at this thought, trying to push it away.
He does care, you know. A little voice whispered, and I sighed pensively.
"Hey, Urahara."
"Shouldn't you technically be calling me master?"
"...Hey, Urahara."
"...What?"
"Why did you become a shop owner instead of a master swordsman?" I asked, the question had often bugged me, though I'd never thought to ask it before. Urahara shrugged before sitting up.
"I dunno," He said with a stretch. "That just wasn't what I wanted to do. Simple as that."
I wish my life was that simple.
"Hitsugaya-Taicho!" Came the all too familiar cry of Matsumoto. Suddenly all I could see was flesh and a heavy warmth, much to my displeasure.
"Matsumoto! Get off!" I shouted as I pulled away, and Matsumoto pouted, looking put out.
"Aw, you're no fun Taicho." She whined, and I shrugged carelessly.
"Get used to it; it's my goal in life to make sure you don't have fun. At least not around me." I told her, and Matsumoto sulked for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, this left me to the savage nature of my mortal enemy- woman.
"Hitsugaya-Taicho." A simpering voice called, and I gritted my teeth. I really disliked it when anyone other then my friends called me that, it annoyed me to no end. Turning, I spotted a pretty girl with huge (probably fake) breasts and startlingly blue eyes.
"Hello..." I tapered off, unsure what the girls name was.
"Moneruto Hikari. But you can call me Hikari." Hikari said with a coy smile, and I gave an unresponsive grunt.
"Sure, whatever you say." I said, distracted by the sight of Karin Kurosaki. She gave me a mocking look, her dark eyes glittering. When I'd first met her, I'd felt attracted to those eyes, for they reminded me so much of her.
But then, of course, she'd been extremely nasty and irritating after that first moment, so why did it matter? Well, maybe I hadn't been exactly social, but it was soccer game, for crying out loud.
"Hitsugaya-Taicho?" Hikari simpered, and I opened my mouth to brush her off when Sasakibe appeared.
"Everyone! Warm up, please." He called, and I broke into a quick run, pulling away from Hikari and the swarm of girls surrounding me. I looked to my right to see, surprise, surprise, Karin.
"Go away." I growled out, irritated that she had the nerve to follow me, and Karin merely stuck out her tongue, completely ignoring me. I resisted the urge to stick out my foot, remembering what Soi Fon had told me.
Ignore, ignore, ignore, waterfall down rocks, ignore...
It worked, and I felt a flush of pleasure at the accomplishment. Sasakibe nodded in both our directions.
"Nice effort you two." He complimented, and I nodded distantly, distracted by the sight of the ominously shaped brow pig skin football in my teacher's arms. I really hated football, the game made no sense in my mind, plus the ball seemed specially designed so that I fumbled it every single time I was passed too.
Sasakibe then divided us up into groups, and I found, to my horror, that I was with both Hikari and Karin. Why did the world seem to be against me? As luck would have it, however, the sky- an overcast, crummy atmosphere- let loose a torrent of water at that moment.
"Gah, everyone, come in." Sasakibe called, and everyone cheered except the football jocks and myself. Showing my expressions was over rated, in my opinion. We all made our way back to the school, while I inwardly sent a prayer of thanks up to whatever god/s lived up in the never ending expanse of sky.
"Yeah! The first soccer party of the year! At your house, I presume?" Abarai shouted enthusiastically as I handed out the invitations. I regarded him balefully before nodding.
"Yes... everything's on the invite." I told him coolly. Abarai smiled, looking pleased. Then I gritted my teeth and headed over to where Kurosaki, Kuchiki, and she was talking.
"Invites," I said, not looking at Karin, and both Kurosaki and Kurosaki grabbed them eagerly. Karin hesitantly took her own, dark brown eyes suspicious.
"Invites to what?" She asked, and I was tempted to say 'none of your business, you brat.' But I didn't. Instead-
"A party. You know, something where a bunch of people gather around at a place to socialize and, here's a shocker, have fun." I said sarcastically, and several girls nearby fake laughed, even though I was positive they had no idea what I was talking about.
Ichigo had a resigned look on his face, while Kuchiki seemed to be fighting off the urge to giggle. Karin, meanwhile, had flushed a delightful shade of red, much to my amusement. I smirked at her before walking off, feeling triumphant.
Score one for the genius, null for the ignoramus.
"Hitsugaya! Take the team for a jog! I don't care were you go, just NO WALKING!" Coach Kenpachi roared, and I gave a sharp nod before heading away from the soccer field.
It was still drizzling drearily, but something like that doesn't put off someone psychotic like Coach Kenpachi. As a matter of fact, the only thing that probably could take down someone like Coach Kenpachi was a semi-truck. And even then, I'm not sure.
I don't know how to explain it but practice felt... different. It seemed almost as if I had my friends, Renji, Madarame, and a couple others, while Karin had her own posse- Ryu, Ichigo, Arisawa, and several more.
We worked on juggling and slid tackling after that, finishing up with a game of dutch (where Coach Kenpachi kicks a ball right at your face and expects you too score. If you miss, you become goalie. After two goals are scored on you in goal, you have to sprint around the field until the game finishes. It can definitely be classified as torture in some cases).
All in all, I felt rather satisfied, though it was slightly dampened when Coach Kenpachi was forced to call the game a draw between Karin and myself (how unfair).
I went home dripping wet (it really started to pour near the end) but satisfied.
Three day's later, it was time to party.
It was a pool party, and the day was perfect. Unusually hot for October, we later found out that the temperature record had been broken that day. And it was very warm, much to my displeasure. I hated the heat, it made me feel hot and sweaty and generally unpleasant.
However, I consoled myself with thoughts of how cool the water would feel while hanging out with my friends.
"Honey, I had the chef cook your favorite meal. I also have all your favorite snacks and candies. Are you ready? I think I just heard the doorbell ring." I heard my mother call up from below, and I looked down.
I was shirtless (because all the girls had boyfriends, except Karin, go figure, I didn't have to worry about anyone salivating over me) with my favorite blue and white swimming trunks on.
"Yes, I'm ready and I'm coming mother!" I called out before running out of my large, spacious room and bounding down the huge staircase. There stood a cheerful Kurosaki and a surly Karin. My footsteps slowed.
Just what I needed to make my day. I thought to myself as looked into her spiteful hazel colored eyes. Ignoring her, I strode towards Kurosaki.
"Hey there Kurosaki, how are you?" I asked, and Kurosaki nodded in my direction.
"Pretty good," He said, before sniffing the air and grinning. "Is that pizza I smell? Aw, you shouldn't have." With this said Kurosaki made a beeline to the kitchen, and I glanced at the nearby butler.
"Make sure that one doesn't eat all the food." I instructed, and the butler nodded before sidling off. Then I was left in an uncomfortable silence with Karin.
"So..." I trailed off, suddenly unsure what to say. "Uh, welcome to my humble abode." Karin's mouth twitched, but what came out of her mouth was spiteful and cruel.
"I could care less about a rich brat's home." She snapped, and I stiffened angrily. What was wrong with this girl? Seething inwardly, I felt a relieved and a little irritable as the doorbell rang.
Relieved because someone was here to keep me company, and irritable because now I couldn't twist Karin's neck.
It turned put to be Arisawa and Kuchiki, both extensively dressed up. At the sight of Karin, Rukia spoke up instantly.
"Where's Ichigo?" She asked possessively, and Karin smirked.
"Where else? The kitchen of course." She said, and I resisted the urge to laugh while both Arisawa and Kuchiki laughed openly and loudly.
My murder moment averted, the next several hours passed smoothly. Everyone came, laughing and joking all the while, and we had a great time. I felt a slight pang that Uryuu hadn't made the team, but hadn't had the heart not to invite him either. Another reason to dislike Karin, who had usurped his position.
After everyone had eaten (Abarai was outraged when he found out Kurosaki had already finished off a pizza without him) there was much merry talk and laughter before we dressed to go outside in the pool.
I was surprised when I saw that Karin hadn't gotten dressed, but didn't say anything, waiting to see what would happen (not that I wanted to see her in a bathing suit, pervert). Then I was distracted when Madarame leaped into the pool, getting everyone in the vicinity wet.
"He is so dead." I muttered before leaping in. The water felt cool and delicious compared to the hot and muggy air, and I struck out a stroke before wrestling underwater with Madarame.
Several hours later, I was very pleased with how the party was going. Everyone was laughing and yelling and basically having a good time. Except for Karin.
My interest was piqued by the fact that she simply sat there and stared, never making a move to enter into the water. Curious, I got out of the water and shook myself, water flying everywhere. Karin scowled and shielded herself.
"Hey, watch where you're drying off dog-boy!" She jeered, and I glowered at her. She was so annoying. Why couldn't she just be quiet? It didn't help that the sun had been beating relentlessly on my head, and I was feeling the coming on of a headache.
Walking inside, I grabbed a piece of candy and popped it into my mouth. I loved candy, its sweetness was just so addicting in my mind. Feeling slightly better, I walked back outside to see Karin on the edge of the pool, shouting something at her brother.
"You idiot Ichi-nee! Be more careful where you're splashing around!"She shouted, and I merely stared.
Don't do it Hitsugaya, it's not worth it...you're a waterfall...a waterfall... ah what the heck. Running forward, I shoved hard against Karin's back. It felt wonderful after all the nasty comments she'd given me, and I felt immensely better afterwards.
That is, until she started thrashing around and cursing furiously before realizing the water was shallow enough for her to stand. Face bright red, she spun around and glared at me. Her brown eyes were smoldering with hate, and I couldn't help but shudder, wondering what I had just initiated.
That's a stupid question, actually. I'd just declared war.
Author Note: What did you think? I wanted to do it from Hitsugaya's perspective, I thought it would add some flav-a. Other chapters from his perspective will most likely be dotted throughout the story, if you like it that is. I also hope I did a good job making his writing style distinctively different from Karin's. Also, thank you for all the glorious reviews! They warmed me from my head to my toes! Ciao!
~Firefox