Chapter 8: Secrets and Reunions
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.
We're now on 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
Previously on Hitsugaya Karin…
"Oh, Karin-san. You must go! It's a party for you. What sweet friends you have!" Nanami said. My baby sister became a big sister without me knowing. She's so grown up now, falling in love and such…
"You were invited, too, Nanami. It said on the invitation 'Bring your friend'." Karin said.
"Oh, then I'm happy to attend. W-wait… where is the place?" Nanami asked.
"Kuchiki mansion. Dress in your best, Nanami-chan!" Karin grinned.
"Hmped! When Hitsugaya-taicho go back to his barracks, you need to tell me the whole story." Nanami said. Toshiro and Karin blushed again. Kuchiki mansion…
"So, tell me. Are the two of you going out now?" Nanami asked as she pushed Karin away to make a room for herself in Karin's bed.
Karin rolled over voluntarily. "I… We… yes." She blushed and ducked under her bed comforter.
"Kyaaa…! Tell me the story. You just saw each other again today and you're already an item? How did that happen?" Nanami squealed like a fan girl.
Karin is have a permanent blush now, and she lifted her comforter so she could breathe. "We were walking towards his Division's office… and then I tried to l-left him, telling that I need to go home, and he asked me why am I avoiding him. I-I said that it's because he forgot that someone's waiting for him in the Living World, and he said that he won't show his face to me anymore… and I panicked, and he said that I'm his heart's greatest desire, and we played tag. We confessed each other's feelings, told him that I…I've love him since that day he picked up my soccer ball. He said that he was happy when Yuzu and Haru-baachan wants the two of us to be together because he thought that they were giving permissions already… and by the time we got home…" Karin told the story slowly and in broken sentences.
"Oh, how so sweet! I wish I would find someone someday who would tell me 'You're my heart's greatest desire.' Kyaaa!"
"Nanami, stop it already! Go back to your bed, we need to wake up early tomorrow again." Karin said.
Nanami slipped out of the bed. "Fine. Oh, I will dream about what two lovebirds did all those times they were alone together before the boy walked the girl home…" Nanami teased as she walked to the door.
Karin threw a pillow after her, and Nanami dodged. "Stop it! Go to your room already."
Nanami opened the door but before she could close it behind her, she heard Karin call her name, she looked at Karin. " "Nami, please keep it a secret." Nanami nodded.
"Hey, midget, you'll be going now?" Ichigo asked the girl who is sprawled on his chest, hugging him. (A/N: Nothing happened, okay? They're just cuddling.)
"Hmmm…." Rukia looked at her gigai's watch and sighed. She stands up after she kissed Ichigo on the lips. "I guess."
Ichigo watch Rukia gather his Daily Hollows Journal and the magazines. "Can't you stay for another hour? Maybe Inoue and the others are together somewhere. Let's look for them."
Rukia went back to the sitting Ichigo and hug his head. Ichigo hugged her waist in return. "If I have another hour, I will spend it with you, but I should've already gone back to Seireitei when I received your report. I'm long overdue."
"Alright. " Ichigo got up. "Come on, I'll bring you to Uruhara's." He took the DHJ and magazines from Rukia, and stuffed them into a plastic bag.
"Ichigo, I could go by myself." Rukia protested.
"I won't let my girlfriend wander around town during the nigh, Rukia. Never." Ichigo told her. Rukia pouted and follow Ichigo when he walked out his room. Ichigo wait for her in front of the house and he holds her hand, squeezing it lightly. Rukia smiled.
Byakuya's mind recollected what he and Ukitake-taicho talked after he visited the older white-haired taicho after his last class.
"Kuchiki-taicho. It's nice for you to visit, although we saw each other early this morning already." Ukitake welcomed the 6th Division taicho.
"… You're welcome…"
"So, what can I do for you, taicho?" Ukitake motioned the novel to sit. He poured out tea on the teacups he prepared.
"… I wish to ask you about something, Ukitake-taicho. It's about…." Byakuya hesitated.
"Is it about Kuchiki-fukutaicho?"
"No. No. It's about… reincarnations. Is it possible for a soul who died in the Soul Society to be reincarnated again?"
"That's an interesting question, taicho." Ukiatake got up and looked through the books on the far right walls of bookshelves. He pulled out a book entitled Another Life. He walked back to the waiting captain. "This book has stories about how a soul can be reincarnated, Kuchiki-taicho." He looked at Byakuya's eyes. "And there's a poem very similar to yours." He scanned the book and found what he's looking for. He gave Byakuya the book opened in the page of the beginning of the poem.
I died and in that death
My soul disappears forever
And I flew into the sky to reach
The white moonlight
I extended my wings
But something tugged my wavering soul
I opened my eyes
And I felt myself in a new, small body
Where am I? What is this?
I can't remember who am I
And that seems not to matter
And years went by
I died the second time
And I remember my past life
I went to search for him
So that I can give him
What I didn't on that old life:
My love
But I saw him
And I realized I'm not worthy
So I decided to wait
To become stronger
So I could fight to live
And be with him forever
Someday
Someday
When I come back again
On that day
I'll be able to give him everything
Someday
-S.S.S
Byakuya closed the book and give it back to Ukitake. "Thank you."He got up and turned to leave. "This is about Kobayashi Nanami, isn't it?"
"…" Byakuya closed the door.
"Nanami…the seven seas… so different from Hisana but she…" Byakuya got up and went to his room. A few minutes later, the light was out.
The week passed by and Karin and Nanami is getting a hold in their classes. Karin's new Zanjutsu teacher, Tanaka Rin, is a woman who could definitely wield a sword, but when she saw Karin's advancement on the art, she also tried to move Karin to a more advance one, if not because Karin begged. Her 3rd year classmates are nicer than her first year ones, too. Maybe it's because they're her senpais.
Nanami is having a nice time, too, but her classmates are already starts to attack her. Her practice sword went missing, her Kido notebook stolen, her poems are being plagiarized, and she felt like she's fighting to the death every time her class go to the Hakuda and Zanjutsu training grounds.
Karin is getting attacked, too but she scowls a lot and her classmates could see how strong she is. Her only problem is that Ona who really are not scared at her. But she's really getting worried about Nanami. She heard rumors that Kuchiki-sensei always stare at Nanami during the girl's calligraphy class, and the mean girls are doing things to her now.
"Daijobu, Karin~chan. Do not worry about me." Nanami always answer every time Karin asked.
Mami looked at the figures of the two girls she hated the most. "It's true, Mami! I saw that classmate of yours holding hands with Hitsugaya-taicho! And that Nanami! She's taking all of Kuchiki-sama's attention!"
"We can't do anything to Karin except to sabotage her silently, but that Nanami… " Mami said. "Chiyo, what can you tell about that classmate of yours."
"She's good at Hakuda, Ono-sama. Ashikaga-sensei also praises her every time. I think that the only classes she's having trouble with are Hoho and Zanjutsu."
Mami grinned. "Do you think that the girls wants a shorter haircut? That long hair of hers makes me sick. Chiyo, gave her a nice haircut, won't you?"
Saturday, Nanami woke up dreading the day ahead. She can't wait for the party to start but she also doesn't want it to begin. She walked to her Zanjutsu class. We're going to the training grounds today. Thank God it's Sunday tomorrow and I can rest. It's nice that I'm getting use to the weight of the practice sword.
"Okay, students. I want you to search for a partner. You'll spar with one another and show me what you learned this week." Higuchi said.
Nanami looked around to find for a sparring mate. She turned around when someone tap her shoulder.
"Nanami, spar with me." Go Chiyo said. Nanami narrowed her eyes but followed the girl when she began to walk away.
Shin eyed Chiyo suspiciously. Since the first day when Karin ignored him, and he felt ashamed of himself, he began to hang out with the girls, secretly protecting and shielding them from the attacks of the jealous girls on their year. The two doesn't seem to mind his presence but ignored him if he won't talk to them himself.
Shin began sparring with the unfortunate guy he got to spar with him. He was the best of the third class in Zanjutsu. He was just getting fired up when someone shouted. He looked at Nanami, and saw her in the ground covered with blood. "Nanami!"
Higuchi used shunpo to reach the girl's side. He can't really do that much because like all shinigami from the 11th Division, he's not good at Kido. He carried the girl and told the class to get out of his way. He ran towards the clinic.
Shin looked at Chiyo and saw her smiled a little before her eyes turned back to being remorseful. She starts to walk out of the training grounds, too, but he held her wrist. "You need to explain what you just did."
"I-it was an accident, she ducked her head down to avoid my attack but it…the flat of the practice sword hit her head and the bl-blade cut her hair." Chiyo said.
"I don't care. Don't explain to me. I'll bring you to Karin's class. Explain everything to her." He watched as horror entered the girl's eyes, and he began to drag the girl in the way of Karin's Haiku classroom.
Karin was so happy last night when she saw her family again. She looked out the window.
"Karin! I miss you." Yuzu hugged her sister.
"Oh my long-lost daughter! Daddy is here, give him a hug!" Isshin shouted. His face met by a punch as he tried to hug Karin. "Oh Masaki, the Academy made our daughter stronger!"
"Shut up, Oyaji. Hello Karin." Ichigo said.
"Ichi-nii…"
Karin's reverie was broken when she heard Abe Shin's voice calling her name.
"What do you want in my class, Abe-san? Is something wrong?" Izuru asked the boy. "You're creating a disruption."
"Gomen, sensei. I need to tell Karin something." Shin answered.
"What is it?" Karin got up from her seat.
"Nanami's in the clinic."
"What! What happened?" Karin shouted.
Maki smiled at her seat and gave the pale-faced Chiyo a thumb's up.
"Chiyo's here to explain. Go on Chiyo." Shin pushed the girl in front of the enraged Karin.
"I… I-" Chiyo said.
Karin glared at the girl. "Shin, let's go to the clinic." She looked at Izuru. "I'm sorry, sensei. My friend needs me." She bowed and walked out of the classroom. Shin followed. As they walk in the hallway, they saw Kuchiki just arriving for his afternoon classes. His eyebrows went up when he saw the Kurosaki glared at him. "It's your fault!"
"And what is my fault, Ms. Kurosaki?" Byakuya asked. Shin's pulled Karin's sleeve, reminding her that the guy in front of them is a captain.
Karin brushed off Shin's hand and looked at Byakuya in the eyes. "If you didn't pay any attention to her, those rumors won't go out, and Nanami's not in the clinic!"
Byakuya panicked at the mention of Nanami in the clinic. No, not again. I won't have you hurting again. Byakuya shunpo towards the clinic fast, leaving Karin and Shin behind.
Byakuya arrived in the clinic. He opened the door and saw Nanami in one of the beds. He looked at the Nurse. "Is she okay?"
"Kuchiki-taicho! Ah, Kobayashi-san is okay now. I already healed the wound, and check if she have concussion and internal bleeding, but nothing's wrong now." Nurse-san said. Karin and Shin arrived after they use shunpo, well Shin tried.
"Higuchi-sensei! What happened? Is she okay now?" Karin asked the man who Byakuya ignored.
"She's fine now, Karin-chan." Higuchi answered. " The only damage visible now is her hair. The Healing Kido can't re-grow it. She'll be fin if she took a rest."
"That damn Chiyo… Mami. I knew it! That girl's the one behind this! Chiyo is one of her underlings!" Karin muttered angrily.
"Kurosaki-san. Please lower down your voice." Nurse-san said when she saw Nanami's brow furrowed in pain, and her head moves a little.
"Ooops…" Karin said as they watch Nanami's eyes open.
Nanami opened her eyes and saw Byakuya's worrying eyes. "By-Byakuya-sama…" She whispered.
Byakuya took her hand. "I'm here."
Nanami smiled. "Don't worry. I'm okay."
Karin and Shin looked at each other. Are the rumors true? Kuchiki-taicho and Nanami are lovers?
Nanami closed her eyes to go back to sleep but she realized what she just said. Uh-oh. She pulled her hand from Byakuya's grasp and tried to sit down. Byakuya lend support and she stiffened as his arm wound around her waist. She took a deep breath and look at the people in the room. Wait. What room? "Ugh… What happened?" She looked at the wide-eyed Karin and Shin.
"Chiyo tried to kill you." Shin answered.
Nanami tried to remember. "No, she didn't." She continued before Karin can say something else. " I know that she's up to no good when she asked me to be her partner. I saw the attack coming and I ducked to dodge it. It's clearly a wrong move from me, and during the match, she keeps on trying to cut my hair." She looked at her uneven hair. "I guess she succeeded."
"So you're telling us that she told the truth?" Shin asked.
"What ever she told you were true, Abe-san." Nanami answered.
"Are you really alright now, Nanami? I'll stay here with you since it's already lunch." Karin told Nanami. "Better yet, maybe you need to go home. Wait, no one's home to look after you. My family went to Kuchiki-taicho's house to decorate." Karin looked at Byakuya.
"I'll be gone for the rest of the class hour. Higuchi-sensei, if you could please inform the Academy." Higuchi got up, nodded and left. "I'll be taking Nanami to the Kuchiki mansion. As I was in the knowledge that she's also one of the guests for the party, it would be better if she rest in one of the guestroom of the mansion. In that way, she could attend the party if she wants to, and she'll be well rested."
The people in the room are once again silenced by the long speech of Kuchiki-taicho. Karin nodded. "Hai, arigato, Kuchiki-taicho. Please take care of Nanami. Bye, 'Nami. Come on, Shin."
"Kuchiki-taicho, you don't need to… I'll be okay right here. Nurse-san can take care of me." Nanami answered.
Nurse-san looked at the face of Byakuya, and paled. "A-actually, Kobayashi-san, I was just going to get my lunch now, bye." And she also got out, more like run away, from the school clinic.
Byakuya starts to carry Nanami. He hooked his right arm under her bend knees, and circled his left arm on her back, and then he lift her. He used shunpo to get out of the room into his house.
Rukia is busy ordering Ichigo and Renji to put a banner up when Byakuya came in with Nanami.
"Nii-sama. You're here early." She looked at the girl in her brother's arms. "Oh, Nanami-san, what happened?"
"She needs to rest, Rukia. Tell the servants to get one of the guestrooms ready." Byakuya said.
"Hai, onii-sama." She went inside the house. Renji and Ichigo came down the roof.
"Nanami, are you okay?" Ichigo asked his sister's friend.
"I'm okay, Ichigo-san. Just a little bump in the head." Nanami answered. "Bye-bye." She said when her husband starts to enter the house.
"Is your Captain always like that with girls, Renji?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't know myself. I think I don't know my captain anymore." Renji's confused. "Do you know that if the soutaicho's not sending him to a mission, he's in school? And he never missed any of his afternoon classes. My paperwork also doubled this week."
"Hn. I think your taicho's in love." Ichigo smirked.
"What?" Ichigo walked away. "Hey, Ichigo! What do you mean?"
Byakuya set Nanami down the futon. Rukia's on his back, watching him. "Rukia, you may leave us now." He paused. "You should supervise on your suitor's sister's party. If you don't, the servants will suffer from the chaos that will happen during the preparations." He looked at his adopted sister with tender eyes.
Nanami watched as Rukia grinned. "Hai! Nii-sama!" Rukia answered and left Nanami and Byakuya.
"… So, Hisana, when do you plan to tell me the truth." Byakuya asked after a long silence.
Nanami blinked at the name. No one called her using that name anymore. It sounds so foreign. "You knew! B-Byakuya-sama, how did you found out?"
She didn't even act confused, or try to deny it. "I started to notice when I saw your eyes. I suspected when you wrote Senbozakura's name on your first day of Calligraphy class. I know I'm right when Ukitake-taicho asked me to read a poem about a woman who was reincarnated. And sometimes you act just like her."
Nanami bowed her head down. "Please don't tell anyone, Byakuya-sama. I… I'm not strong yet. I need to get stronger first… before I can, if you let me… come back to… you…"
Byakuya hugged Nanami. "Hisana…no. Nanami, I've been a sad man for more than half a century already… I think a few more years are okay, I guess."
Nanami lifts her head and look at her husband's gray eyes. "When I became stronger, Byakuya-sama, I'll be able to give back your love fully. Knowing that my sister's in a good hands made me happy. My heart's capable of giving you everything now, Byakuya-sama. Just a little longer."
"A little longer." Byakuya kissed her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, and then her lips. "A little longer."
Rukia was standing outside the guestroom's door, tears flowing in her eyes as she listen to her brother's chant, holding to it like a lifeline. Nanami-chan is onee-sama. My onee-sama. "A little longer." She whispered to her self as she walked away from the guestroom, forgetting why she went back in the first place. She dried her eyes, and put a smile on her face.
A/N: A new chapter, guys. But the Party will be on the next chapter. I hope that I'll be able to satisfy you with this chapter, though. Oh, and the poem is mine. I made it up, and the abbreviation 'S.S.S." stands for Scarlet Seven Seas, which are the meaning of Hisana and Nanami.
I cut back the School Hours and just describe them in little plots so that I can reach the main part fast. And I nearly forgot that Nanami and Karin still have classes during the Saturday. It's good that I made the party "Seven in the afternoon" LOL. That should've been evening.
Anyway, Thank you to the following:
ArtemisKirara7
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BloodyME- you're very much welcome.
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KumiTiny- Thank God it did. Hope you'll like this chapter, too.
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Mituni14-thank you very much for your comment. Don't worry, My mind's full of ideas. I just need time to type them down.
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Ziya Hitsugaya- thank you for wanting to me to take a rest. And I'm glad that you're glad that there were two chapters that day.
Guest-san: Next time, please leave a name. Thank you for reviewing and telling me that I'm doing a good work. More surprising events on the next chapters…
Thank you to the people who reviewed. And I was singing this during the past two weeks:
"I had the time of my life and I never felt this way before
And I swear, it's the truth, and I owe it all to you"
-titled I had the time of my life from Dirty Dancing
Thank you again!