Chapter 4

A Stranger in Her Mind

The next few days breezed by. Karin would go to school while Toshiro would watch her, along with the surrounding area, closely. There were no signs of hollows or any other potential threats. Therefore, he decided that, for now, he would ignore the uneasy feeling that he couldn't shake away. Thinking the time is right, Toshiro was given permission by Urahara to use his underground training area. He planned to take Karin there the following day.

"Where are we going again?" Karin walked a few steps behind her friend, noticing how relaxed he seemed. "Maybe he doesn't think anything is wrong anymore…?" She sighed and moved her hand to tighten her ponytail.

"Urahara's shop to start your training," the young captain answered for the fifth time that day.

"Why there? That guy kinda creeps me out…" She shuddered at the thought of his eerie smile. "And there's that quiet girl and that annoying brat, too. Not to mention that big guy with the glasses and the weird mustache. And there are these dolls that …" Karin shut her mouth when she saw Toshiro stop walking.

"Karin, Kisuke Urahara and Tessai are very diligent men," Toshiro turned around to face the young girl, "and Kisuke cares deeply for the two children that reside there. Don't worry about the talking dolls; they are just modified souls created by Kisuke for a specific purpose." He watched as his friend looked down apologetically. "It's alright, Karin. I understand that this is all new to you, so you may have questions." He gently cupped her chin, pulling her face close to his. He gave her a reassuring smile before dropping his hand. Quickly, he spun around and began walking ahead, hoping to hide his blushing face.

Karin placed a finger on her tingling chin. "What was that, hmmm?" She grinned and began strolling after her friend.

"How is this under his shop!?" Karin motioned to the huge training ground. "No matter what way I look, I can't see an end to it!" She dropped down and moved her hand against the rough terrain. "This is impossible…"

"Karin, don't worry about that. Come here and sit down." Toshiro popped a soul candy into his mouth to separate himself from his gigai. He ordered his gigai to go back up to Kisuke's shop then sat down, crossing his legs.

Karin huffed and faltered over to the Captain. She eased herself onto the ground and matched his sitting position. She glanced over at the meditating boy. "Umm, what am I supposed to do?"

"Close your eyes," he spoke softly, "and imagine that you are building a barrier around your mind, enclosing all of your thoughts and emotions." Toshiro peeked over to see Karin breathing in and out slowly. Her eyes were closed and her muscles appeared relaxed. "She's a fast learner…" He smiled and closed his eyes, relaxing his own body.

Karin found herself floating in darkness. Suddenly, a small, shimmering light began to float beside her. She lunged and snatched it up. The black-haired girl peered down at her clenched fist, noticing the streaks of light escaping through the cracks between her fingers.

"What is this?" She gasped as her voice echoed through the darkness. She opened her fist and watched as small pictures drifted above her before disappearing. "That's…" Small photos of Ichigo floated in front of her face before vanishing above her. She recognized every picture. "Haha, that was Ichigo's first day of high school." She smiled at the picture of her older brother being kicked in the face by their father. To the left of her, Karin noticed a different set of pictures.

She slipped along and grabbed a picture. "Toshiro…" She smiled softly as she looked down at their first soccer game together. She reached for another and felt her face reddening at the sight of Toshiro cupping her chin. "These are my memories…"

"They are…"

Karin gasped at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. She frantically spun around but could not find the owner of the voice. "W-who's there?!" She stuttered.

"That's not important…"

"What the hell…?" Karin turned to see a cloaked figure walking towards her. "Who the hell are you!?"

"I said that's not important…"

"How is it not important!?" Karin yelled and tried to float towards the unknown being, but her body was frozen in place. Trembling, she flinched as the stranger reached her and ran a gloved hand down her cheek. "Get away from me!" She cried and tried to jerk her head away but the stranger wrapped their hand around the top of her thin neck, forcing her to look up. "Let me go!" She grunted as the long fingers tightened, causing her to lose her breath. "Ugh, I can't breathe!" Karin felt her body going limp as she desperately struggled to catch a breath. "My vision… I can't… What's happening…?"

"Until we meet again, my sweet Karin…"

Karin jolted up and wrapped her arms around her neck, coughing violently. She felt tears pouring down her cheeks.

"Karin!" Toshiro watched the shaking, crying girl; his brows furrowed. "What happened?" He was only given a loud, choking cough as a response. Carefully, he pulled Karin's hands away from her neck then gasped at the sight of a blackening bruise in the shape of a hand. "Who did this…?" He asked; his voice low and serious.

"I-I don't know…" Karin managed to finally catch her breath. She looked up into Toshiro's worried eyes. "Some person appeared while I was looking through my memories…"

"What!?" Toshiro's eyes widened at her words. "That's impossible. How can someone intrude in her mind? Maybe, she's delirious, but… There's no way she could have choked herself. The hand-shaped bruise is too big… Karin…" Toshiro pulled the trembling girl to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. "Everything is okay now," he whispered while he rubbed her back.

Karin burrowed her face into the Captain's neck, desperately trying to wipe that image from her mind. "I-I couldn't move… I just stood there, helpless…" She suddenly pulled away.

"Karin?" Toshiro reached to grab the girl's arm.

"Is someone trying to kill me?" She drew in a sharp breath as she watched Toshiro ponder the thought.

"I don't-"

"Captain!" Toshiro and Karin turned to see Rangiku running towards them.

"Rangiku!? What are you doing here!?" Toshiro brought his eyes down to the blood oozing out of a gash on the woman's leg.

"Head Captain Yamamoto sent us!" Rangiku grunted and pressed her hand against her stomach.

"Us? What for?"

"Ikkaku, Yumichika, Renji and I. They sent us to help fight the hollows!" Rangiku collapsed to her knees, groaning at the pain from her wounds.

"You are that injured from some hollows?" Toshiro gave his lieutenant a skeptical look.

"There's something different about them…" Rangiku looked up at the two standing before her, "And I think they are after Karin…"

Toshiro unsheathed his zanpakutō. "Stay here!" Without looking back, the young Captain charged to help in the battle.

There's chapter 4! Finally getting to some good stuff haha. Anyway, sorry in advance for any grammar errors, and thanks for all the favorites, follows, and reviews :)

Bleach-Tite Kubo