Yay, I'm glad you all liked the last chapter! As promised, this one is definitely juicer. Oh, and sorry to disappoint, but Kyouraku is not an alien, at least, not in this fic. But you never know…
Karin was waiting for him when Hitsugaya rode up. She was holding a bag and wearing an enormous grin.
"Did your delivery go well?" she asked as he dismounted.
"It went fine," he replied, patting his horse's nose briefly. "Kyouraku's just as crazy as always, but it's still nice to have his business. I take it you enjoyed yourself," he said, noting her smile. Karin nodded.
"I had so much fun!" she said enthusiastically. "I can't believe this town, there're so many things to see! I went to this one place where…"
"I love you." Karin checked.
"What?" she asked, not believing her ears.
"I love you," Hitsugaya repeated. He blushed slightly, but his eyes were sincere. "I just…wanted you to know that." Karin didn't know exactly how to respond. Sure, she felt incredible affection and endearment for Hitsugaya, but love? Was she ready for that?
"Well, I don't know if you'll love me so much when you see this." She indicated her bag, deciding that humor was the best way out of responding to his confession.
"Why, did it cost a fortune?" Hitsugaya replied, feeling slightly disappointed. He wondered if saying that had been the right thing. He meant it. He absolutely meant it. But was she ready to hear it? The last thing he wanted to do was push her away by moving their relationship too quickly.
"No," Karin smirked. "I actually used my poker winnings." She held the bag out to him. "Here. It's for you." Hitsugaya was taken aback.
"What for?" he asked in surprise. Karin shrugged.
"Because I wanted to. Aren't I allowed?"
"Thanks," he said awkwardly.
"You haven't even opened it!" Karin protested. Hitsugaya gazed at the bag for a moment before reaching in and pulling out a stuffed dragon. It was pale blue with ruby red eyes. Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow.
"You bought me a plush toy?" he asked incredulously. "Why?" Karin snickered.
"I thought it would remind you of your imaginary friends," she teased, and Hitsugaya felt his face turn a rich shade of fuchsia.
"H-how…do you know…about t-that?" he stuttered. Karin broke down laughing at his utter embarrassment.
"Matsumoto told me!" she said through her laughter.
"Oh, I am going to kill her when we get home!" he growled. Karin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, lighten up Toushiro, it was just a joke," she chided, still chuckling. Hitsugaya glared at her.
"Yeah, well, do you have any skeletons in your closet I should know about?" he retorted.
"Skeletons!" Karin gasped. "I thought they were dragons!" Hitsugaya invented new shades of red as Karin laughed harder than she had in a long time.
oooooooooooooooo
"Welcome back!" Zaraki greeted them as they walked into the bar. "You back for another round? I think the crowd's expecting you." There were several drunken cries of "here here," from the bar.
"Just two rooms Zaraki," Hitsugaya answered. He and Karin were both exhausted. Owing to their delayed start that morning, they had arrived at the tavern much later than Hitsugaya usually did and were very much looking forward to passing out.
"Sorry," Zaraki apologized, "but I only got one room left." Hitsugaya felt his fatigue evaporate at those words.
"What?!" he cried. "But you knew I was coming back! I always come back here after I've been to Seireitei!"
"Hey, don't complain," Zaraki growled. "After your theatrics last night, this place has been packed to the brim with people wanting another show. It was all I could do to save you the one room."
"You're a saint," Hitsugaya grumbled sarcastically. He turned to Karin.
"Go ahead, take the room," he offered. "I'll just sleep outside…"
"You'll do no such thing!" Karin stated soundly. "I'm not that horrible a person. We'll take the one room."
"You…you don't mind?" Hitsugaya asked awkwardly. He had no desire whatsoever to force Karin into an uncomfortable situation. Karin blushed and she looked away from him.
"I don't mind," she replied nonchalantly, but inside, her heart was racing. Were they really going to sleep in the same room? But it wasn't like she had a choice.
"Here you go," Zaraki said, handing Hitsugaya the key. "There's free tea in it for ya' if you want to hang in the bar."
"We'll think about it," Hitsugaya replied, but he wasn't really listening. He was too busy trying to calm his nerves.
Hitsugaya and Karin went upstairs and entered their room. The door clicked shut and the sound drove home the fact that they were alone together in more private a setting than they had ever been in before, faced with the prospect of sharing a room for the night. Their movements were slow and jerky as they unpacked their sleeping yukatas, not knowing exactly what to say to break the heavy silence. Neither of them could look the other in the eye. The tension in the air was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Karin's heart was pounding in her throat and Hitsugaya felt his palms get sweaty. It was like every noise, the creaking floor, the muffled laughter from the bar, and the night owl cooing outside the window, were screaming in Hitsugaya's ears, attempting and failing to mask the hammering of his heart and the sound of his own ragged breathing.
"I'll sleep on the floor," Hitsugaya assured her. "There's nothing to worry about…"
"No," Karin said softly, her face flushing. "It's alright. You can sleep in the bed." Hitsugaya gulped. "But no funny business!" she snapped, rounding on him. Hitsugaya scoffed.
"I'm not dumb enough to try anything," he retorted. "I know exactly how I'll end up, and frankly, one bruise is enough." Karin grinned and the pressure in the room abated somewhat.
They took turns changing in the bathroom then climbed into bed, each facing away from the other as they moved as far apart as the narrow mattress would allow. Hitsugaya's heart was beating so loudly, he was sure Karin could hear it. On his right, Karin felt the same.
"Goodnight, Karin," Hitsugaya said bravely.
"Goodnight Toushiro," came the distant reply. Breathing deeply to calm his nerves, Hitsugaya closed his eyes and eventually allowed his weariness to overcome him as he fell into a restless sleep.
ooooooooooooooooo
Karin woke up first the next morning and rolled over to gaze at the sleeping figure beside her. They hadn't so much as touched in the night, and she was grateful that her husband at least had the self control and decency to keep his hands to himself. They had even skipped their goodnight kiss, it being too intimate an action in their situation.
Hitsugaya looked so peaceful and calm. Karin watched his chest rise and fall with his steady, even breathing. His hair was as wild and unruly as ever, and the sleeve of his sleeping yukata had crept up his arm, revealing his bulging bicep. Karin grinned ever so slightly at the sight.
"Ah, the joys of being a sword smith," she thought happily. She wondered vaguely if the rest of him was that muscular, then mentally slapped herself.
"God, what's wrong with me!" she scolded herself. "What do I care what his body looks like!"
Not wanting to disturb him, she climbed out of bed as silently as she could and went to take a bath.
A few minutes later, Hitsugaya woke up. The lack of another person in his bed didn't even register as odd in his early morning stupor, since he had never in his life woken up beside someone. He groggily rolled out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom. The sight that awaited him snapped him to attention instantly.
Karin was standing there, one foot in the bath, completely naked. Hitsugaya felt heat rise in his cheeks that he knew had nothing to do with the steam in the room. He didn't know how to react. It seemed like his feet were rooted to the spot.
"What are you doing you pervert!?" Karin screamed, clutching a towel to her chest.
"I'm sorry I…" Hitsugaya stuttered.
"Get out!" she screeched, throwing a bar of soap at him. Hitsugaya ducked out of the way, dashed out of the bathroom, and slammed the door behind him, breathing like he had just run a marathon. It took him a moment to come to his senses, but when he did, he let out an aggravated groan and clutched his face in his hands.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" he derided himself. "How on earth did I forget that Karin was sharing the room with me?! What is wrong with me?! She's never going to forgive me now!" He felt terrible that he had invaded her privacy like that. Would she ever trust him after this? He sincerely doubted it. Why should she?
Karin was smoldering.
"How dare he just barge in here?!" she thought furiously. "What a letch!" But, inside, Karin knew that it had been an accident. Somehow, she just couldn't picture Hitsugaya walking in on her like that on purpose. If she knew anything about him, it was that he respected people. And he had told her he loved her. He just wouldn't do that to her intentionally. A voice broke into her thoughts.
"Karin," Hitsugaya said from the other side of the door. "I'm really, really sorry about that. I just forgot you were here and I went into the bathroom without thinking. Please," he begged, and Karin's heart broke. He was too strong a man to beg. "Please understand. I didn't mean to…"
"Alright, quit that!" Karin insisted. "God, you're making me sick! I forgive you ok! But on one condition."
"What's that?" Hitsugaya asked hopefully. Karin smirked. She wrapped a towel around herself and opened the door. Hitsugaya gaped at her and his cheeks turned pink.
"Never use that tone of voice again," she said amused. "It doesn't suit you." Hitsugaya stood in stunned shock for a moment, before turning away, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"What?" Karin chided. "You can see me naked but you can't look at me in a towel?"
"That was an accident!" Hitsugaya barked, rounding on her. He immediately blushed again as he remembered what she was wearing; or, what she wasn't wearing. Karin smirked.
"There's the man I married!" she chuckled, coming over to him and ruffling his hair.
"Maybe…maybe you should get dressed…" Hitsugaya stammered, feeling incredibly uncomfortable. Karin sighed exaggeratedly.
"Oh, and I was just thinking how nice it would be if someone helped me wash my back." Hitsugaya choked.
"What?!" he gasped, not sure he had heard her correctly.
"I said," Karin replied, finally blushing herself, "that I would like you to wash my back. If…if you want to." They stood in awkward silence for a minute, before Karin got fed up with the atmosphere.
"I'm getting in the bath," she declared. "You can come if you want." And with that she marched back into the bathroom and shut the door.
Hitsugaya took a moment to process what had just happened. Did she really just ask him that? Was it a good idea to accept her offer? But it had been her suggestion, not his. She wouldn't have said that unless she really wanted him to do it. Taking a deep breath, Hitsugaya knocked on the bathroom door.
"Come in," Karin called, and Hitsugaya pushed the door open. Karin was in the bath, her back facing him, her arms cradling her legs which were pulled up tightly against her chest.
"I see you decided to join me," she teased, not turning around.
"Well, I wouldn't want you walking around all day with a dirty back," Hitsugaya replied, hoping that humor would help calm his nerves. It worked; somewhat. He picked up the bar of soap from where it had landed after Karin had chucked it at him and settled down on the floor behind her. His heart drumming in his chest (it seemed to be doing a lot of that lately, and Hitsugaya wondered vaguely if it would ever beat at a normal pace again), he reached out and placed a shaky hand on Karin's shoulder. Slowly, very slowly, he began to trace across her back, spreading soap around her shoulder blades and spine. Her skin was smooth and milky white, which contrasted sharply with his tanned and calloused fingers.
"My hands aren't too rough are they?" he asked with concern. "Being a sword smith doesn't exactly lend itself to having soft skin." Karin shook her head.
"No. They're fine," she replied simply. She couldn't actually believe she was letting him do this. What had come over her? But, she thought as she closed her eyes to savor the feeling of Hitsugaya's hands on her skin, she liked it. It was much more intimate than sleeping in the same bed, or even kissing, had been. Their mutual embarrassment and the physical contact drew them closer together and Karin was almost disappointed when Hitsugaya declared that he was done.
"Ok," she said, trying not to sound as dejected as she felt that it was over. "Please leave so I can get out." Hitsugaya escaped the room, closed the door, and breathed a sigh of relief as he leaned against the wall. But he couldn't fight the smile that slowly crept its way along his face.
"Thank you Karin," he thought fondly.
ooooooooooooooo
The western sun was just barely brushing the horizon as they rode up the street towards the Hitsugaya manor. The house came into view in the distance and Hitsugaya checked.
"What's wrong?" Karin asked. The house looked normal to her. Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed.
"Something's not right," he said darkly before breaking out into a gallop.
Yeah, I had to throw some spice in here somewhere right? It was getting too lovey dovey for me.
Shout outs to yonne1104, cLaRiShA, and shrimpnoodlesoup who knew that Hitsu-chan was going to say, "I love you," and to Tsavorite Garnet, who knew the gift was a dragon.
Mega insane kudos and brownies to Miichiya Mikan and mara who guessed both! You two rock!
Oh, and I know that there probably wouldn't be hot water in the bathroom in this world I'm in, but we can just pretend right? :P
