Chapter 5

It may happen, It may not


"So, how did it go?", Yuzu asked while arranging the food for dinner.

"Ahmm, ok, just like in the main branch, though I only met my senior and his secretary" Karin answered while arranging the plates.

"why only them?'

"Oh, the others have their own businesses, though I received a tour on the offices and building"

"Nice, looks like they treated you well, and looks like you're not going to be that busy"

"Well, apparently my new senior or should I say boss, is one of the tops, so I think I will be more busy"

After a while they both readied their selves for dinner.

"Itadakimasu" both said in unison.

"So, who's your new boss?" Yuzu started the conversation.

"Oh, him, remember the guy who helped me during Ichi-nii's wedding?"

"hmm ……The white-haired guy, with gorgeous eyes, his name is Hitsugaya-san right?"

'gorgeous eyes??' Karin thought "Yup, him"

"Really, wow it must be fate for the two of you" Yuzu said dreamingly, and Karin choked on her food, and immediately grabbed the glass of water and drank.

"What are you talking about??" Karin said while trying to compose herself.

"I mean that it must be fate for the two of you to meet again,

or more likely to..

work with each other" Yuzu explained with dreamy eyes imagining things that Karin ought not to know.

'Oh, Kami-sama here we go again' "Yuzu, don't even think about something like work romance, it is just a coincidence that he is my boss"

"Who knows, Karin-chan don't conclude already,

it may happen,

it may not."

"Yuzu, I think you are watching too many love stories"

"Oh, come on You find him attractive too right, don't deny it'

"Yes, he is attractive,

and nice" Karin said mumbling the last part but Yuzu of course heard it.

'hmmm, looks like my deductions are right' Yuzu thought "See, I told you, you actually like him"

"What, no way, anyone would find him attractive" and it's not like he's going to like me too he's still in love with her,, mehh what am I thinking,

"Ohh, really" by the looks of her, I can see

"Fine, I'll leave you on your fantasies, but Yuzu

believe me it is not going to happen"

'Believe me Karin, I can sense there is a possibility, you may not realize it now but may be sooner' Yuzu thought a smirked appearing on her face

Karin originally lives alone on her typical apartment complex, but since Yuzu was admitted to the 4th division office of Sereitei, they decided to live together and share on the rent. Occasionally they go home (in Karakura), to visit their ever so happy father, and to help on his clinic. Ichigo on the other hand live on his own apartment with his wife Rukia, time to time the twins visit them or the other way around, or sometimes they go home together in Karakura.

Toushirou's apartment complex, the same time

"Tai..cho" Rangiku called while approaching a white-haired man sitting at the far corner window side of the café (it is inside the apartment building).

"Hn" Toushirou said indicating for Rangiku to say what she wanted

"What cha doing here?"

"None of your business Matsumoto,

what do you need?" He answered emotionless

"Nothing, just looking around"

"……"

"You're still thinking about her, right?"

He just looked at her eyebrow raising.

"Momo"

"who knows"

"admit it,

You actually love her"

"You know it already"

"If you really love her, why?

why, did you let her go?"

"She has a choice of her own"

"why didn't you tell her"

"what?"

"that you love her"

"You know its one sided

She only treats me as a brother that's all"

"It hurts"

"Not that much"

'even if you say that I can see it in you' "I see, If you need someone to talk about I'm here"

"That's why I'm talking to you now"

"I know"

"Matsumoto"

"Hmm"

"Thank you"

"don't mention it"

"And by the way"

"Yes?"

"Book 2 flights for Sapporo before next week"

"Ehh, you just ruined the atmosphere" she said with a pout

"Whatever"

"So what do you think of Karin-chan"

"She's a good one, knows what to do, as expected from the main branch"

"And she's cute and has a bright attitude"

"…..

Possibly,"

'oh, looks like someone can mend the wounds' She just gave him a meaningful grin

"Don't even think about it"

"Ehh, what am I thinking"

"Using her, on your stupid plans of match making"

"I am not thinking that" though that can be

"Whatever"

"But you trusted her easily"

"hn?"

"You told her about you and Momo"

"How did you know about that?" she's eavesdropping again

"Hmmm…ahhh

Heard it..hehehe"

"Eavesdropper"

"Eh, Don't change the subject, so why?

why did you let her know?"

"She asked," more likely pester me about it, though why does it feel ok

"And you willingly told her"

"Not really

I actually don't know why"

"(smirk) May be because, she got your interest?" admit it

"No

Its not like that"

Rangiku said nothing but with a knowing look

"I think may be

She's just comfortable to talk to just like you"

"Na ah, taicho, I still think she got your interest"

"Who knows"

'Deny it or not, you're interested'

.


Wednesday Morning Karin's second week

At the Office

During Karin's first week she had grown accustomed to her work schedule and her co-workers schedule, attitudes on work and personality. On her second day, she had finally met all of the remaining six co-workers she had on what others call as 'Hitsugaya's team', where she actually belongs. And also during the first week, she already began her part of work: the architectural designs of the new building in Sapporo, wherein Toushirou, guides and critics her work. She was also informed about the rule 'call Hitsugaya-san as Hitsugaya-san not on his given name', but she never did it, since he never corrected her, so to Karin it's an unspoken permission. And as expected Rangiku, take note of this, as well as her other co-workers.

"Karin-san, Hitsugaya-san wants to talk to you" Meg one of Karin's co-workers said. She just came out of Toushirou's office.

"Oh, thank you Meg-san, I'll be there in a minute" Karin said, while arranging the files she's making earlier.

After a minute Karin entered Toushirou's office.

"You want to talk to me?" she asked while approaching him. Toushirou was actually looking at his floor-to-ceiling windows.

"Yes" he said and walked to the sofa, indicating for her to follow and sit

"I would like to talk about our trip to Sapporo, did Matsumoto informed you about it?" he began

"Yes, she told me yesterday" she answered with composure and confidence

"Good, then you know it will be a two week trip"

"Yes, I have already made arrangements for my two week absence"

"Okay, The flight will be the day after tomorrow, Friday"

She nodded indicating for him to continue.

"The transportation and the lodging during our stay is taken care of"

"On what hotel then?"

"No, not a hotel, we will use my ancestral house at Sapporo. It is nearer in the site than the other hotels available and it will also help in our budget"

"And you want to visit your ancestral house too"

"Yes, that too, is it okay with you?"

"No problem, as long as there's a place to sleep"

"(chuckle) as expected from you, oh, and another thing please bring all the documents I have given you regarding the project"

"Okay, no problem, is that all?"

"yes, you may go"

"Thank you"

Night time, 20minutes after the office hours end

"Karin-chan do you want to join us for tonight?" Rangiku asked pertaining to the party (cough drinking party cough) at her place.

"No, thanks for the offer but I need to finish this"

"Okay, then I'll be going now, may be next time bye"

"yes may be next time, Bye"

45 minutes after the office ours end

"Karin, you're still here?" Toushirou said while exiting his office. On the other hand Karin was actually arranging her things to leave.

"Yes, but I'm actually leaving already" Karin said and lifted her bag to go

"You really like doing overtime" He said accompanying him to the office exit

"Not really, it' just that I don't like leaving small things not finished"

"I see,

You have a car?"

"Nah, I'll just find a cab to go home"

"Want a ride?"

"Huh"

"(chuckle) I mean would you like to have a ride with me, since I think cabs are rare at this hour"

"Oh, is that ok with you?"

"I wouldn't be asking if it is not" he said sarcastically resisting to roll his eyes

"Yah, but you don't know where I live"

"You can always tell me where"

"Yah" she said sheepishly

At the parking lot

"So this is your car" Karin said in amazement

"Yup, it is" Toushirou said, trying to decipher her facial expression.

"A Mercedes Sedan then" She said still in awe

"(chuckle)Yes, you're well informed on cars, I see" he said surprised she knows

"Not really, it's just that

I really like this car"

"Like a dream car"

"You could say that"

"Then hop in"

At the car

"My place is a 10 minute ride, if there's no traffic" Karin said. They are now travelling.

"I doubt there's traffic at this hour"

"Yes you're right"

"By the way since, I will know where you live

Can I just fetch you on the day of the flight?"

"Huh, but why?"

"Because it will be awkward to wait for each other at the airport, and it's a favor on your side anyway"

"Or more likely, you just hate waiting"

"(chuckle)Yes, is that a yes or a no"

"Alright, if you say so"

"Now where we left or right?"

"Right, the 5th building will be our apartment building" she said pointing to the said building

"Our?"

"Mine and Yuzu's, my twin sister, you met him at the wedding

She working as a nurse on the 4th division"

"oh, I see, here we are"

After Toushirou had parked the car near the apartment entrance, he got out and helped Karin on her door.

"So this is good-bye then" he said

"Ah yah, thanks for giving me a ride, see you tomorrow and ...

your car's cool" she giggled

"(chuckle)You really like the car,,,

See you tomorrow too, good night"

"hehe, Good night, have a safe trip"

"Thanks"

By that Toushirou drove home, and Karin still waving at him before he turned and then she entered the building.

Karin and Yuzu's apartment

"I'm home" Karin greeted from the door and remove her shoes.

"Karin-chan!!, how did it go" Yuzu came bombarding her

"What are you talking about?" Karin said surprised that she just appeared like a mushroom on the doorway.

"I saw the two of you earlier, he offered you a ride, right? " Yuzu said teasingly

"Yes, but that is purely professional"

"oh, when did that became purely professional" Yuzu said sarcastically

Karin just rolled her eyes "I mean, it just ah, never mind you wouldn't listen anyways"

"But Karin-chan I want details" she said with a pout

"Yuzu, there is no details, and Yuzu"

"(pout) yes?"

"Our dinner is burning"

"What, no way" Yuzu said running to the kitchen

'here we go again' Karin just rolled her eyes to her sister's act and proceeded to her room.