Chapter 4: Normal

Summary: My name is Kurosaki Karin. 17 months and some after my brother lost his powers I… died. After training so hard in almost two years to become stronger and protect my family back in Karakura, I needed to leave them after a freaking car accident. But I'm not worried. My life here in Soul Society just began. [HitsuxKarin]. Maybe I'll write stories for another partners, too.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tite Kubo's Bleach, and its characters. Some part from the manga is used so that the story is accurate.

Previously on Hitsugaya Karin…

The gate is still open today, and she went in Seireitei and looked at the still long line of people trying to enter the Academy. She sat on one of the steps that situated to the Academy, but after a while, she got bored and went to explore the 1st District. No used sitting there like a statue. She walked along the walls that circled Seireitei. Maybe I won't get lost if I follow these walls. She stopped walking when she suddenly reach a place that looks like a grassland, but the thing that made her stop is the weird house she saw in the distance. There is a banner in front of the house, held by two hands (statue's) that said "Kukaku Shiba". Her curiosity peak, she went to stand in front of the house when two giant monsters came out of nowhere. "And you are!?"

Karin was shocked, and tried to laugh. "Ahahaha …" She cleared her throat and start introducing herself. "I am Kurosaki-" Karin didn't get to finish her sentence, she was suddenly up on the shoulder of one of the giant and in to the weird house.

Karin shouted as the two giants made their way down the stairs. Wait. Down the stairs? But we just entered! Karin panicked. "Put me down!"

"Oh, please, Kurosaki-san, don't worry. We won't do anything bad. We just want to introduce you to-" The giant who's carrying Karin was trying to say when someone speaks behind us.

"And who is this person you're carrying, Shiroganehiko?" A woman with a prosthetic for the right arm said.

The two giants, Shiroganehiko and Giant 2, turned around so fast to look at the woman who spoke. "Kukaku-sama, you're there!"

"Why? Where do you think I should be?"

"On your throne, of course!" Giant 2 bellowed, and he received a kicked.

"I can't go out now? And Shiroganehiko, put the girl down.

Karin was tumbling and falling to the ground when Giant 1 set her on her feet. Karin could swear she sees stars, and she wants to vomit. Kukaku, who saw the girl's suffering, led Karin inside a wide room and made her sit down. Then she went to sit on her 'throne'.

"Shiroganehiko, Koganehiko, you may leave."

"Hai, Kukaku-sama."

"So, who are you and what do you need?" Kukaku asked.

"I-I needed to go to the bathroom." Karin holds her head and willed it to focus. She didn't know that being on a giant's shoulder is like a roller coaster ride. "Never mind that. My name is Kurosaki Karin. Were they your servants?"

"Oh, you're a Kurosaki. No wonder they wanted me to meet you. They're my family's servants, yes, but they're also my assistants. So, how Ichigo's doing?"

"You know my Ichi-nii? So he's really dead? He's a shinigami?" Asked Karin.

"I know Ichigo. He's not dead, and he's a shinigami. So he's your brother, eh?" Kukaku answered. "Tch… more cousin. You're good, Uncle." She said under her breath.

"Yes, he's my brother, but I can only remember bits of my memory about my family and I… Anyway, how can he be a shinigami but alive?"

Kukaku looked at the girl. "You'll remember someday. Change Topic! What do you want?"

Karin was confused by the sudden change but answered, "W-want? I don't want anything, I'm just admiring your house when the monsters suddenly came out of nowhere."

"Oh-ho! You're the first one to say that my house is cool. (Karin didn't.) So what are doing with your life here in Rukongai, Karin? Are you running around, stealing like most of the kids? Do you want a place to stay?" Kukaku said in enthusiasm.

"Iie. I'm not a criminal, and I'm already living with a friend. Oh, right, I need to get going. I already missed breakfast, Nanami will get mad. As for what I do with my time, sorry, none of your business." She got up, and walked out the door to the hallway and up the stairs. Out of the weird house named Kukaku Shiba.

Kukaku grinned. The girl had punk. She's truly a Shiba.

"Where have you been?" Nanami asked Karin. She was really getting worried.

Karin looked up. "Hey, Nanami. Sorry. Two giants hurled me in a weird house, and the owner of the house decided to have a chat with me. Don't worry, they didn't do anything wrong at me?"

Nanami sighed. "Go in to the kitchen, your food is on the table."

Karin beamed. "Arigato gozaimasu, Nanami-chan."

"I hate you, too." Nanami grinned. Karin went to the kitchen, and found the food on the dining table. Nanami heard a loud "Itadakimasu~!" from the kitchen, and her grin grew wider. She went to the kitchen, too, to keep Karin a company.

Isshin and the other shinigamis, namely Byakuya, Toshiro, Uruhara, Renji, and Ichigo, entered the house through the Kurosaki Clinic. "Yuzu, I'm home." He called his youngest. " Oh, Ryuken, you're here, too?" He said when he noticed the man.

"You told me to look after your daughter!" Ryuken answered. "I'm going." He stands up and walked out the door before anyone can say anything.

"Otou-san. And Uruhara-san, Hitsugaya-kun, Abarai-kun, and…umm…" Yuzu said when Ryuken got out.

"…" Byakuya.

"Oh, that's Byakuya." Isshin said.

Ichigo kicked his father away. "Yuzu, How are you?"

Yuzu noted the life on her brother's eyes. "I… I'm fine now, Ichi-nii. You… what are this people doing here? I-I didn't mean to be rude, but I haven't cooked any dinner yet. I need to…"

"That's okay, Yuzu. They're not staying. We just need to talk about something and they'll be gone." Ichigo looked around the house. "You cleaned?"

Yuzu blushed as she directed the guest to the sofas. "I did. Ryuken-jisama gave me tips to cope with sadness, Ichi-nii."

"That's good, I guess. Do you want to go cook or-" Ichigo didn't finished what he's saying because a punch in the head came on his way. "Baka Oyaji! HOW COULD YOU TRY TO KILL YOUR ONLY SON!?"

"You kicked me first. Hmp! Oh, my sweet Yuzu, the stranger gave you tips? Daddy will give you some, too. First, you need to have a hobby, like watching porn or something." At that, the people in the room either blushed or their sweat dropped.

Yuzu blushed like a cherry at the comment, and before Ichigo could punch their father, she swing her right arm as hard as she can and Isshin's head went through the wall. Isshin got up, and run in front of his wife's ridiculously big poster. "Oh, Masaki! Our sweet little Yuzu inherited Karin's punch and she used it on me! OH, where did my angelic daughter go?"

"Shut up! Anyway, Yuzu, you want to cook, right?" Ichigo said.

Yuzu took that as a sign telling her to leave. "Ah, hai, nii-san. I just need to go to the convenience store around the corner and buy ingredients. Our supply is either spoiled or is used in some weird concoction that I threw them all out." She walks to the door and put on her shoe. "I'll be going now."

"Okay, Yuzu. Be careful." Ichigo watched his sister.

"I will." And she went out the door.

The shinigamis watched the exchange. And Uruhara let out a silly grin. "So, Kurosaki-kun. Your other sister can also punch like Karin-chan. Do you think that if I trained her she could become like you and Karin?"

Ichigo glared at the man. "No way in hell! You trained Karin and send her to kill hollows by herself, and now your planning to train my other sister, too? Don't you know that she could barely see ghosts? Do you want to send her to her death?"

Toshiro sighed. " Kurosaki, Karin is really dead?

"Hitsugaya-taicho, we came here to talk about Kurosaki's job and wages set by the soutaicho, not to talk about some dead girl." Byakuya said.

"DON'T YOU SAY 'SOME DEAD GIRL!' SHE'S MY SISTER!" Ichigo shouted.

"DON'T YOU SAY 'SOME DEAD GIRL!' SHE'S MY FRIEND!" Toshiro said at the same time.

"… Fine. Anyway, according to the soutaicho, you've helped the Soul Society for many times now that giving you reward is of no consequence. A captain's paycheck will suffice, and all you need. As for your work, you just need to continue being a substitute shinigami. Your friends has already agreed to help you not make any mistakes, and from now on, you need to submit a report on the hollow activities in Karakura and some weird happenings. Do you understand?"

Ichigo and the others stared. "I… I do but, Byakuya, you could talked that much?" A vein popped on Byakuya's head, but didn't respond.

"Oh, a captain's salary! My son will be wealthy by the time he died!" Isshin shouted.

"Shut up!" Ichigo yelled.

"Shi- Kurosaki-san." Toshiro called to get Isshin's attention, "About Karin…"

"Oh my, you really want to talk about my middle daughter, Toshiro~kun?" Isshin teased Toshiro.

"?" Toshiro was confused and didn't take the bait. "Middle daughter? I could understand if it's middle child, but a middle daughter? Who's the eldest?"

"The eldest? Of course, my third daughter, Rukia-chan!" Isshin said gleefully.

"You called me, ji-chan?" Rukia said out of nowhere. She just arrived after helping Inoue heal Riruka.

"Oh my third daughter, you're home!" Isshin went to hug Rukia, but Ichigo put his foot on the way, and he tripped on it.

"She's not your third daughter, idiot!" Ichigo said.

Isshin lift his head up, he's face is covered with exaggerated tears. "B-but I thought y-you two are sweethearts." He said innocently.

Rukia blushed and Ichigo turned red because of embarrassment and anger.

Byakuya got out of character by shouting "Kurosaki!"

Renji looked at the two with suspicious eyes, and Uruhara smiled before saying, "I hear wedding bells in the near future."

Nanami shouted in excitement as she held two envelopes with the Academy's mark on it. "Kariin-chaaan!" She opened Karin's door.

Karin woke up and shouted, "Where's the fire!?" Then her eyes found Nanami.

The two of them were silent for a moment. "Ah, Karin-chan, don't worry, your bed's not on fire. I- the result of the exam is here." She sat on the bed, and gave Karin her letter.

There hands shook on anticipation as they ripped the envelope open. They slowly unraveled the letter and stare at it. "I passed!" They shouted at the same time. Karin got out of the bed and do the victory dance. Nanami laughed.

"So, what class are you on?" Nanami asked. "I'm on the third class."

"I forgot to look at mine. My mind just registered on the fact that I did pass." Karin read the letter's front page. "… I'm on Class 1."

"Oh, Karin-chan. Congratulation!" Nanami hugged Karin.

"Thank you, but we're not on the same class! That's horrible! I want to be on the same class as you!" Karin said. "You tried the exam to be with me, right?"

"I did, but Karin-chan, you are gifted. I passed but I'm not as good as you. Think about this: I'm a girl who went to party without knowing that it's suppose to be formal. I wore a dress fit for going to the mall, and when I arrived, my dress looks like a rag compared to the other girl's. That's how my reiatsu is Karin-chan. It's enough but not nearly enough to be on your class. Don't worry about it. We could spend our free times together. Now why don't we compare our schedule?"

"That made sense. Okay, I have Gengoro Onabara for adviser, and he'll be teaching Hakuda. Next period is Fujita Aoi's Hoho, and then I have Izuru Kira for… Haiku? Why do I need to study Haiku?" Karin is horrified. It's not that she doesn't like Haiku but where would she use it? "… Then I'll be having lunch break. My next class will be Kido with Ashikaga Yuuta, then Higuchi Isamu for Zanjutsu. I think that's it…wait, I have one more class… Kuchiki Byakuya… for calligraphy? Why? Why do I have stupid subjects after the main ones?" Karin didn't realize that Nanami was dead on her tracks.

Kuchiki Byakuya. Her eyes wandered on her schedule ones more. She sucked her breath when she noticed the name. "Karin-chan, you don't have to take those classes, it says here that it's optional."

"Oh, really?" Karin looked once more and sighed with relief as she found the word optional after the classes. It was really written in a small font. "What about you, Nanami?"

"I have the same teachers as yours, Karin-chan, but I have Haiku first. I wonder when do this guy have the time? I think he's the lieutenant of 3rd Division... And my next class is Kido, then Zanjutsu. After lunch, I'll have… calligraphy with Bya- Kuchiki- taicho…. Then Hakuda and Hoho." Nanami finished.

"I think I get it. You are on the 3rd class so you have my third period subject. How clever of them." Karin said, oblivious of the feelings her friend have.

"You're right… Karin-chan." Nanami answered.

Rukia sighed. It's been five days since they came back from the Living World, and yet she's wishing to go back. What's happening to me? I saw him, I was with him but… Oh, Rukia, why do you want to go and stay with him? Ichigo…

"Kuchiki-fukutaicho, is something bothering you? You've been sighing all day."

"Ah, Ukitake-taicho! I'm okay… I'm just thinking… some things…" Rukia answered.

Ukitake smiled. " Don't worry, Rukia-chan. You'll see him soon." Rukia blushed.

Toshiro is walking back to the 10th Division Quarters. He spent the remaining of his day looking for Karin again. He looked up the sky. Where are you, Karin?

Byakuya sat in front of Hisana's altar. He stayed there for several minutes before rising. What he's thinking? No one really knows, but the sadness can still be seen on his eyes.

Ichigo's school routine is back, complete with the times when he needs to make up excuses so he could kill Hollows. And when he comes back home after school, he'll write all the names of the Hollows he encountered and put it on his journal. Complete with a detailed report about them, and he'll look at the latest Soul Society magazine, and read the Chappy Corner. Chappy set #1 have pillowcase, blanket, and a big Chappy stuff toy. Chappy set #2 had Chappy teacups set, plates, and spoon and fork. I'm getting crazy, why would I consider buying something for that midget? Shit! Why am I missing her? Ichigo throw the magazine into the floor after circling the two Chappy sets with a red marker. Stupid life! He sighed. Rukia…

Now that Yuzu's back with whatever Ryuken told her, Isshin is happy. He already told Yuzu about Soul Society, and Uruhara's already setting up something so she could come with him and Ichigo when they visit the place. He can't wait to find his other daughter. Misaki's death hurt him, but Karin's sudden death nearly broke him apart. I'll see you soon…princess…

A week after they receive the letter, Nanami and Karin stand in front of the gates of the Academy wearing a red shitagi*, white kosode* with red stripes, red hakama*, white socks and sandals.

"Come on, Karin-chan, we have a New School Year Assembly to attend to." Nanami said to the grinning Karin.

A/N: The title of the chapter is Normal because if you got on the last parts, I was just stating what the characters usually do. Rukia is on her table, signing papers but her mind wonders to Ichigo. Toshiro is still doing a lot of work but is making time to look for Karin. Byakuya is visiting Hisana's altar. And Ichigo is preparing for graduation but is now back on being a shinigami substitute, and is always thinking of Rukia. Yuzu is back to normal after she heard that she could see her sister again, once they find her, and Isshin is back to being happy.

We're now entering the Academy arc, and here are the list of teachers and the subject they're teaching:

Gengoro Onabara-Hakuda

Fujita Aoi-Hoho

Izuru Kira-Haiku

Ashikaga Yuuta-Kido

Higuchi Isamu-Zanjutsu

Kuchiki Byakuya-Calligraphy

Also, the classes will be from Monday-Saturday. And Ichigo is preparing for graduation already because in Japan, High School is only three years.

Japanese vocabs:

*shitagi-under shirt

*kosode-shirt

*hakama-trousers

And thank you for the following people, this extra long chapter is for you: BloodyMe, NaLuNaruHinaluvr23, Libiky, Xingnai, Kagome Echizen Fan, henshin7, finchyyy, KumiTiny, rebel.17, ShadowWolf62400, cris08.1991, Dotted-Daffodil, KorPa, Meganlei, CalaverasandTattoos, and Ziya Hitsugaya.

BloodyMe: I'll try to write more chapters faster, but I'm a high school student and I have tons of homework to do. Thank you for liking the surprise.

ShadowWolf62400: I can't wait to write another chapter, too.

KumiTiny: Your praise makes me happy. Thank you very much. But I think that this chapter is one of those 'fillers'. But it's still important.

Thanks guys! Please Review because I love hearing from you!