I'm glad you guys liked the lullaby. And yes, rose-of-alabaster, I did write it, as cheesy as it was. I tried looking for an actual Japanese lullaby, but I couldn't find one I liked so I made one up. Anyway, onward!
Karin woke up in a much better mood than she had been in the previous day. Her preconceptions about Hitsugaya had started to melt, and she was a little more willing to give him a chance today that she had been yesterday. She wouldn't exactly say she was attracted to him, but she definitely didn't hate him anymore. She figured that he at least deserved to see her act normally instead of infuriated or uncomfortable. Shooing away Nemu by insisting that she was perfectly capable of dressing herself, Karin got ready and headed downstairs for breakfast.
Hitsugaya's eyes opened wide with shock when he saw her enter the dining room.
"Good…good morning," he stuttered. Karin smirked.
"Don't look so surprised to see me, Hitsugaya-sama," she teased. "I live here too."
"It's not that, it's just…" he trailed off.
"What?" she chided.
"Ok fine," he surrendered. "I really wasn't sure if you were going to join me. But I'm…glad that you did." That was an understatement. He been waiting for her anxiously, hoping that he hadn't screwed up too much the night before and that she would be willing to talk to him this morning. Just her being here made him a bit more content. He offered her the tiniest of smiles.
"Yeah well, you know. I was hungry," she said nonchalantly, reaching for her chopsticks and attacking a bowl of rice. Hitsugaya's face fell and he scoffed. Karin looked at the scowl on his face and chuckled.
"If we're going to live together Hitsugaya-sama, then I think the first thing you should learn about me is that I have a nasty sense of humor. I don't mean half the things I say. If you can't adjust to that, then I'm afraid we're never going to get along."
"What's with the Hitsugaya-sama?" he inquired, sipping his tea. Karin shrugged.
"It's what everybody else around here calls you," she said innocently.
"Yeah, but you're…" he began awkwardly. "Well…you know…you're my wife so…"
"So?" Karin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know, I just don't think we need to be so formal with each other," he finished in a rush. Karin snickered again.
"I thought formalities were a form of affection in this house?" she noted mischievously.
"Who told you that?" he asked confused.
"Matsumoto," she replied. Hitsugaya scoffed.
"That airhead," he mumbled. "Just because I don't want Momo to call me Shiro-chan doesn't mean…"
"Shiro-chan!" Karin gasped. "Really? Oh, I like that one!" Hitsugaya scowled.
"Oh come on, you brought that on yourself!" Karin laughed, and Hitsugaya grudgingly had to agree. "But seriously, what do you want me to call you?"
"I don't know, um, Toushiro?" he offered, feeling rather strange. Only his parents had ever called him that. But it seemed appropriate.
Karin pondered that for a moment.
"I'll think about it," she replied. "But I think Hitsugaya-sama will do for now." She flashed him a wide smile and he groaned.
"It doesn't sound nearly so respectful when you say it," he glowered and Karin laughed heartily.
"Why, isn't that the point, Hitsugaya-sama?" she cooed.
"So what do you want me to call you?" he countered.
"Karin," she stated flatly. "Everyone calls me that. I don't respond to much else."
"Well that doesn't seem fair," Hitsugaya protested. "I get to call you by your first name but you can't do me the decency of calling me by mine?"
"And what exactly about this situation is fair Hitsugaya-sama?" she retorted, and instantly felt guilty. They had actually been getting along. Why had she gone and spoiled it like that?
"Sorry," she apologized quickly.
"It's alright," he replied, and his eyes were filled with understanding. "I'm in the same situation you are remember? And I agree. It's not fair. We were forced into this marriage against our will and we don't know anything about each other. No one said it's going to be easy. But I'm willing to give it a shot if you are." He looked at her expectantly and Karin smiled.
"I'm willing," she replied, and Hitsugaya felt himself relax.
"So, it's Toushiro?" he said hopefully. Karin sighed.
"Alright then. Toushiro." They fell back into silence as they ate their breakfast, but it wasn't the awkward, uncomfortable silence of the previous evening. This one was much more companionable.
"I've got a lot of work to do in the smithy today," Hitsugaya announced as they were finishing up. "Since you enjoyed it so much yesterday, I was wondering if you wanted to join me."
"Like a date?" Karin teased and Hitsugaya checked. Karin chuckled and cuffed him in the arm.
"What did I say about my sense of humor?" she reminded him. Hitsugaya shook his head.
"Whatever. And no, it's not a date. I actually do have work to do. And besides, I don't think a blackened out smithy is a particularly romantic spot."
"You're assuming I'm one for romance," Karin countered.
"Aren't all girls?" Karin laughed.
"The second thing you have to learn about me Toushiro, is that I'm not like most girls. In fact, any preconceptions you have about girls you might as well turn upside down, spin around a few times, and whack with one of the hammers from your smithy. Then maybe they'll apply to me." She grinned at him.
"Come on, let's go get hot and sweaty in the smithy!" she exclaimed. Hitsugaya choked.
ooooooooooooooo
The smithy was empty when they arrived.
"Where is everyone?" Karin asked curiously, gazing at the silent room. Yesterday, the place was crawling with people. The noise of clanking iron had been almost deadening and the oppressive heat had seeped into her bones. Now the smithy was quiet, pitch black, and the temperature was almost tolerable. That, Karin noted, was due to the fact that the furnace hadn't been lit yet.
"They only work in here three days a week," Hitsugaya explained, going over to the furnace and grabbing a shovel. "I give them the rest of the time off. Just being in this room is hard on the body and they do a lot of physical labor. I don't want to overwork them." He began shoveling coal into the furnace from a large pile in the corner.
"That's very thoughtful of you," Karin replied. Hitsugaya shrugged.
"I also prefer to be in here by myself. I concentrate better when I'm alone."
"Then why did you ask me to come with you?" Karin teased.
"I thought it would give us a chance to spend some time together," Hitsugaya said offhandedly. "Besides, you said you had fun yesterday. You don't have to be here if you don't want to."
"If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be," Karin pointed out, and Hitsugaya smirked.
"Yeah, that's true." Karin watched him work for another minute before picking up a shovel herself and joining him.
"You don't have to do that," he told her. "I can light the furnace myself."
"You don't think I'm capable of manual labor?" she ridiculed.
"It's not that," Hitsugaya replied awkwardly. "It's just…"
"That I'm a lady?" she scolded. "Look, I'm here, so there's no point in me just sitting around and watching. I want to help out, and since I don't know how to do much, at least let me help with the things I can do."
"You really aren't like most girls are you?" he said amused.
"Does that bother you?" she retorted.
"No. I'm actually kind of relieved. I was afraid I was going to get stuck with someone who just wanted to laze around all day, talking about clothes. But you…you're a real person."
"I think there was a compliment in there, but I'm not entirely sure," Karin chided. Hitsugaya scoffed.
"Whatever." By this time they had finished filling the furnace and Hitsugaya gathered kindling and set the coal ablaze.
"It'll take a while for the fire to get hot enough," he said. Karin nodded. They stood there for several moments, watching the flames die down as the embers underneath began to glow with pure energy.
"So what are you doing today?" Karin asked curiously. For some reason, she found herself eager to watch him work. After observing everyone yesterday, she was excited to see this "master craftsman" in action.
"I'm finishing an order for an old client of ours," he replied. "He ordered a set of ceremonial swords."
"Ceremonial?"
"Meaning they're not actually used for fighting," Hitsugaya explained. "Ceremonial swords are much lighter weight. They're not as sharp and they have intricate carvings on the blade so that they look impressive when displayed. I've already made most of them, but there're still two more to go. It'll take me most of the morning."
"So what can I do?" Karin asked enthusiastically. Hitsugaya thought for a moment.
"Well, it's not very glamorous…"
"I don't really care," Karin interrupted. Hitsugaya smirked.
"I thought you wouldn't. Anyway, making the swords themselves is kind of only work for one person, but I could use a runner. You know, get me instruments and water when I need them, help me hold things in place, stuff like that. Think you can manage that?"
"I think I can handle that," Karin said sarcastically. They set to work. Hitsugaya melted the metal, forged the blades, and hammered in the gross structure before setting to work on the carving. The temperature in the room increased steadily and more than once, Karin got a bucket of water to dump over both of their heads.
Hitsugaya was incredibly talented. Forging the initial sword required brute strength and stamina, but the detailed carving was skillful and delicate. He explained everything he was doing to Karin, showed her how to perform each step, and even let her carve a bit of the piece. It was really hard work, but as the hours passed, they found a companionship forming that they were not expecting. They quickly became more comfortable with each other and speaking became more natural and less forced. They were putting the finishing touches on the second blade when a maid entered.
"Ano, Hitsugaya-sama's," she said meekly. "Lunch is ready."
"Go on ahead Karin," Hitsugaya said, waving at the door. "I'll just finish this and be right out."
"I can wait for you," Karin protested, but Hitsugaya shook his head.
"No. Really. I won't be long. I'll meet you in the garden." Karin was about to retort, but at another look from Hitsugaya, she conceded. The fresh air felt marvelous on her sweaty face. She breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh, soot-free air.
"Here you go Karin-sama," the maid said, handing her a basket. "Hitsugaya-sama prefers to eat lunch in the garden after he works in the smithy."
"I don't blame him," Karin replied, taking the basket from her. "I'd do the same. And it's Karin." The maid bowed and left.
Karin wandered into the garden, admiring the diversity and the color. Eventually, she came to the same small pond she had thrown rocks into on her wedding night and settled herself down on the water's edge.
"It feels so different today than it did then," she marveled. She felt much happier and lighter than she had on that night, and much warmer towards Hitsugaya. She hated to admit it, but she had actually become quite fond of the man.
Karin waited, but Hitsugaya didn't come. She was growing more impatient by the minute.
"He said he'd be right out," she growled. She gazed out at the water. It looked so cool and refreshing, and she was so dirty and sticky. Without thinking twice she jumped, fully clothed, into the lake.
"Ahhh," she sighed, feeling the cold water lap over her, washing off the sweat and grime. She swam around for a bit and was so distracted that she didn't even notice Hitsugaya's approach.
"What are you doing?" he called out to her.
"What's it look like?" she responded, beaming from ear to ear. "Come and join me."
"Are you serious?" Hitsugaya asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, don't tell me you don't know how to swim! Come on, the water's perfect." Hitsugaya debated his options for a minute, then jumped into the lake and swam over to her.
"See!" she said with glee, splashing him playfully. "Isn't it nice in here?"
"I can't believe I never thought to do this," he replied, dunking his head to get the ash out of his hair. "It feels great after being in the smithy." Karin grinned at him and was about to swim away, when she felt something grab her hand.
"What…?" she began, but Hitsugaya cut her off.
"Happy birthday," he said, smiling faintly. Karin gaped at him. "What, you didn't forget did you?" Actually, she had. Her life had been such an emotional roller coaster over the past several days that she had completely forgotten the reason she had to get married in such a hurry.
"I know you're probably not one for jewelry," Hitsugaya said sheepishly. "But it was the best I could do under the circumstances."
"What are you talking about?" she asked confused. Hitsugaya smirked.
"Look at your hand." Karin lifted her hand out of the water and saw, on her finger, a thin silver ring carved with a simple geometric design. Her name was engraved in the center, and the letters seemed to flow perfectly into the background pattern so that you had to study it closely to actually read it.
"You made this?!" she asked, stunned and impressed. Hitsugaya nodded.
"Just now. That's what took so long." Karin looked at him gratefully.
"You know, you didn't have to get me anything," she told him.
"I know," he replied, blushing slightly. "But I…wanted to." Karin chuckled at his embarrassment.
"You're right about me not liking jewelry by the way," she said in an attempt to lighten him up. "But I actually like this. It's neat." She smiled at him tenderly. "Thank you Toushiro," she said appreciatively.
Hitsugaya hesitated for a moment, than leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.
"You're welcome Karin," he whispered in her ear. Karin, shocked and confused by his sudden action, felt her stomach do a somersault. She had very mixed feelings about being kissed by him and at the moment, she wasn't in the mood to sort them out.
"Let's eat lunch," she said, swimming to the shore, deciding that changing the subject was the best way to break the mood before she did something she'd regret. "I'm hungry."
Hitsugaya wondered for a second if he had been too forward, but then decided that if he had, she would have slugged him. Taking his lack of a fresh bruise as a good sign, he shook his head to clear it and joined her on the bank.
Yay, they finally show some affection! Why are they in the water? I haven't the faintest idea, but I just thought it was more romantic that way. Plus, it was easier for Hitsugaya to give her the ring discretely.
