Chapter 6
Welcome to Sapporo
At the day of the flight Friday
Ding dong (door bell ringing)
"Coming" Yuzu said while dashing to the door to answer it.
"Who's there?" She said while opening it
"Ahmm, Good morning Kurosaki-san, though it's almost noon" Toushirou greeted with a bow
"Ah, Good morning too, Hitsugaya-san and Rangiku-san" Yuzu smiled and greeted too with a bow (she met Rangiku at Ichigo's wedding)
"Come in" she said and leading him to the living room
"Would you like to have a tea?" Yuzu offered when she thought that the two are comfortably sitting on the couch.
Rangiku just nodded on her.
"Ah, Yes, Thank you Kurosaki-san" Toushirou said awkwardly.
"Just Yuzu" Yuzu corrected
"Oh, yes Thank you Yuzu-san" Toushirou said. Rangiku on the other hand just giggled on the two.
"Yuzu, have you seen my purse…
Oh, Toushirou, Rangiku-san you're here already" Karin said on the stairs facing the living room.
"Yes, we're here" Toushirou said with a smirk
"How did you know my apartment room?" Karin asked awkwardly
"We asked the front desk" Rangiku answered
"Oh I see,
Yuzu-" Karin said trying to ask again about here purse
"It's on the table next to the shelf" Yuzu said to her with a knowing look and a smirk
"Thanks" Karin said giving her a don't-even-think-about-it look
Toushirou on the other hand have seen the exchange of looks and only thought 'Women and their non-verbal communication'
Rangiku however just thought 'Looks like I'm not the only one who plans (giggle)'
After a few minutes they left the twins apartment and rode on Toushirou's car; Karin sits next to Toushirou, while Rangiku on the back. During the 45 minute ride to the airport (because of traffic) They have talked about many things from office to the current events and to Rangiku's drinking party, but mostly these conversations are done by Rangiku and Karin, while Toushirou just give sarcastic side comments, if the talk includes him or peek his interest. And now they arrive at the airport, Toushirou being gentlemen helped Karin with her baggage.
"Remember, Matsumoto, just bring my car back at my apartment and leave the keys to the landlord, understood" Toushirou reminded her
"Yes, of course taicho, I won't use your car for something I know you would hate" she said cross fingers at the back
"Hnn, I already told my landlord that if you did not give him the keys until 2:00 he's going to call me, and you know what happens" he said. Karin and Rangiku sweat dropped on his tone and about thinking what will happen if Rangiku did something
"Yes taicho, both of you have a safe trip"
"What do you mean by what you said to Rangiku-san" Karin-asked
"Nothing just merely a warning" he answered
"O-ok"
After almost one hour of waiting to check in, they are now boarding the plane. The two of them of course requested a seat beside each other: Karin on the window side. After the take off, they decide to talk about different things since the plane trip is almost 1 hour.
"So your family is from Sapporo, why did you migrated here in Tokyo" Karin asked
"Because my parents died" He said emotionless
"Oh, sorry about that" she said sadly
"Don't worry about it, I was 16 at that time almost 11 years have passed already" he said reassuring her it is ok to talk about it.
"Oh, is it okay for me to ask how they died?" she asked cautiously
"We were on a cruise then the ship sank, I was the only one from my family who survive…" he explained
"Oh, I see, that's ….sad" She said don't know what is the right word to say
"Did you ever have a phobia or trauma about a cruise?"
"May be, as far as I remember I can't bear to cruise for 2 years after the incident"
"ah I see..So, who took you in when your parents..ahmm died?"
"My uncle, he became my official guardian, and he is also taking care of everything my parents have left"
"Ahh, you're one of the heirs right?"
"huh?"
"I mean heirs to different company that trains in Sereitei, I heard about it in the main branch"
"How did you know I'm one, I doubt you heard about me being one in the main branch"
"Ahh, I just guessed, and looks like I'm correct"
"Yes you are, but don't tell others, the only person who knows in the office is Matsumoto, but now it includes you"
"Hehe, No problem"
"(chuckle) How about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you, I mean say something about your family"
"Me, as you know I have 2 siblings Ichigo and Yuzu"
He nodded indicating for her to continue.
"My family is from as you know in Karakura, my father runs a clinic, and ahmm mom died when I was still young" she said uncomfortable
"Sorry, I forgot, sorry I made you think of things you wouldn't like to talk about"
"Ah no problem, Ichi-nii told you?"
"Not really, I heard it during the wedding"
"Ah, I see, thanks"
And the conversation shifted to different topics but mostly about basic personal things and work relating to the project in Sapporo. After an hour plane trip, they arrive at Sapporo. In the airport they we're greeted by a man in age between 30 to 40 years old wearing you can call a butler's uniform.
"It's been a long time young master, we are happy you came to visit" the butler said pertaining to Toushirou.
"Yes it has been a long time Greeves, thank you for fetching us" Toushirou answered "Ahmmm" Karin said hesitantly Young master?
"Oh, sorry about that Greeves, this is Kurosaki Karin, she is my partner at the work today, she'll be staying with us at home" Toushirou introduced Karin to Greeves.
"Pleasure to meet you sir" Karin said and extended her hand for a hand shake
"Oh, the pleasure is mine young lady" Greeves accepted the hand and they hand shake
"Please, call me Karin, I'm kinda not used to formalities" she said nervously
"Oh okay, Karin-san, if that's what you wish"
"Greeves where is the car?" Toushirou asked
"Oh, here young master" Greeves showed them the car
Karin just gaped at what she is seeing "A limousine?"
"Ah, yes is something wrong?" Greeves answered (A/N: he thinks that Karin may not want to ride a limousine, 'cause of may be experiences)
"Greeves, you could have just used the ordinary car, many people are staring at us already" Toushirou said. By that Karin noticed the many people stopping and staring at them and she also heard some of the whisperings of those people.
"I'm sorry young master but the other cars were on maintenance this is the only one available" Greeves answered.
" Fine, let's go Karin"
"huh, a yes" she said nervously still in shock okay so much for first encounter
The trip to Toushirou's house is not really that silent since Karin is actually enjoying the view outside and asked Toushirou various questions about what she sees, while Toushirou just answered her with a bored expression as always, but deep inside enjoying seeing her acting like a child. Then they have arrived at Toushirou's house, more likely "big" house almost a mansion already.
"This is your house??" Karin answered wide-eyed staring at the house
"Ahmm, No, this is my parents house" She is really surprised at what she is seeing, she's like a child,, so cute..did I say cute? Toushirou just dismissed the thought on his head
"Yah, whatever" Karin rolled her eyes
"Greeves please help Karin with her belongings, I will just going to pay a respect to mom and dad" By that he left.
"Yes young master" Greeves have proceeded to help Karin
"Thank You sir, by the way is there other people who live here?" She asked while entering the "house".
"Oh, only us, and a few maids" Greeves answered showing her the hall to get to the stairs
"I see, ...wow" She is now staring at a beautiful garden near the balcony.
"That is my mom's famous garden" Toshirou said pooping out from nowhere. Greeves have left them and proceeded on bringing Karin's belongings to her room.
"Ehh, Toushirou, don't just pop out of nowhere you'll give me a heart attack"
"(chuckle) sorry about that, here let me show you your room, you can admire that later"
"Ok, thanks" she said while blushing from embarrassment.
Toushirou have showed her room and his, and every part of the house, for her not to be lost, also he introduced some of the maids that they encountered during the 'tour'. Since they have arrived later than almost 2:00, Toshirou let Karin to have a rest on her room.
"I really admire this room" She said.
The room was big, there was a four post bedroom two side tables, a working table, shelf with some books, a TV, a personal bathroom and the best of all a veranda showing the garden earlier. The room is painted with the mixture of powder blue and pale green with paintings hanging on the wall, and the furnitures are mostly made of wood, just like an ideal rest house.
At the garden balcony almost sunset
At the garden there were tables and chairs for relaxation under a so called cottage like roof connected to the house, and that is where Toushirou and Karin is.
"You want tea?" Toushirou asked
"Yes, thank you" Karin answered still gazing at the garden
"It's really beautiful isn't it?"
"Yes it is"
"My mother really love gardening, she's the one who designed the arrangements of the flowers"
"And you preserve it"
"Not me, Greeves and the other maids"
"(chuckle) Yah, right"
"Toushirou," Karin asked
"Hmmm" Toushirou answered indicating for her to continue.
"Say, Toushirou, why do you need to work if you have all these" Karin asked while taking the cup of tea at the table, and proceeded to lean on the railing designed on the cottage.
"Because, I'm training in Seireitei" He said joining her on the railing
"Really, that's all?"
"Not really the truth is because these are entirely my parent's and I want to know how to earn my own money" He answered
"But, these will all be yours right?
The only thing you need to do is to know how to preserve it"
"Yes, but I also want to gain experience and to success on my own, you know standing on your own feet"
"Oh I see, you're really a mature person"
He just replied her with a small smile.
"Young master, Karin-san, dinner is ready" a maid called and by that they proceeded to the dining room.
After the dinner, they just talked to each other, telling stories about different things in Sapporo sooner that night they retired on their respective rooms.
The Next Morning
"Karin-san, you're up early, did you sleep well?" Greeves asked spotting Karin at the same cottage last night looking at garden.
"Yes, Greeves-san, I just want to see the flowers this early, actually it is not really that early since it is already 7:00" Karin answered
"(Chuckle) Yes you are right, young master probably will be down a few minutes"
"Yes, I think so too"
"Toushirou!!, where are you? I heard you came to visit Sapporo" an unknown voice was heard at the house
Explanation about their talk on the cottage:
Karin asked that question, because every heir that trains at Sereitei does not have the privileges they suppose to experience as a heir. In Sereitei the heir actually works for his/her own money and does not receive money from their family, except the house and car. They are treated just like an ordinary employee, since it is the main reason why they are training; to experience doing all your best to succeed without the help or back up of others. They work there until it is the time for them to succeed their own family company. It is also rare for heirs to train in Sereitei, because of the tendency that a heir can't meet the expectations of the company, resulting to gossips and corporate conflict if that said heir will succeed his/her own family company.