Disclaimer: Kubo is god. Kubo is king. Tite Kubo owns everything. Except the quotes used at the start of each chapter. They were all found on the internet, and if they have an author I say who it is.

AN: See all author's notes in part one. So after reading and considering all the ideas for how the story should progress from this point on, I finally figured out, mostly, how I want to do this. And the one thing I haven't figured out yet you get to vote on at the end of the chapter! It does mean I'll be jumping forward in time several years, but that really can't be helped, mostly because I just can't write romance with a 12 year old. It feels too wrong. Also, another fairly long part (for me at least). I just couldn't find a good stopping point any sooner.

No Warm Memories

By Lady Callista

Chapter 8: While the Cats are Away

OoOoOoOoOoO

Some have a lifetime, some just a day.

Love isn't something you measure that way.

Nothing's ever forever. Forever is a lie.

All we have is between hello and goodbye.

OoOoOoOoOoO

OoOo Two-years Later oOoO

"Please let me come with you this year, Ichigo." Karin begged as she walked into her brother's room.

Ichigo barely looked up from his homework. "I told you last year at this time, and every other time you've asked, you're not a Shinigami, and you can't go to Seireitei."

"I know I can't go normally, but for this…" Karin persisted as she plopped down on his bed. "I know Orihime-chan and the others went last year."

"But they know people. They fought in the War." Ichigo replied. "Why do you want to go anyway? It's just a remembrance ceremony for those who died - it's not like you knew any of them."

Karin blushed bright pink and looked down at her feet.

"That's what I thought." Ichigo sighed as he shook his head. "You haven't seen him in almost a year; can you even still consider yourselves friends?"

Actually, Karin thought as she carefully didn't meet his gaze, she'd seen him almost a dozen times in the past year. She'd just hidden if from Ichigo.

In theory only Urahara-san, who opened the Senkaimon for Toshiro, knew that they'd been seeing each other. Although Karin was fairly certain that Orihime knew as well, as she always had some plans for her and Ichigo on the first of the month, which was the day Toshiro came if he could manage to get away. In the past 24 months, he'd only missed twice.

"If you hadn't seen Tatsuki in a year, would she still be your friend?" Karin sidestepped his question with one of her own.

"That's different." Ichigo replied. "I've been friends with her for most of my life. Plus, don't you have a soccer tournament tomorrow?"

"Yeah, but I can miss it." Karin replied. "Please, just let me come with you."

"Even if I wanted to let you come, I couldn't." Ichigo sighed. "It's a private event, and you were not invited."

"You just don't want me to see Toshiro." Karin snapped, standing up abruptly and crossing to his door. "I'll just find another way."

Ichigo sighed again as she stomped out. She was fourteen, half-way to fifteen, and the signs of her childhood crush on Hitsugaya Toshiro showed no signs of fading away. He'd hoped that as she grew older, and as more and more months passed without her getting to see the young taicho, she would simply forget him. Why couldn't she just like a normal human boy?

Not that he'd be much happier about that, Ichigo thought with a moan as he turned his attention back to his homework, but at least a human would be easier to kill than a taicho. Because make no mistake, anybody who hurt his little sister would die a very painful death.

OoOo The next night oOoO

Karin was in a rotten mood despite the fact that her team had won the soccer tournament. Even her dad taking her and Yuzu out for dinner and ice-cream afterwards hadn't helped.

She'd planned to ignore Ichigo by waiting till he and his friends went through the gate, and then just asking Urahara-san to leave it open for her. After all the help he'd been the past two years, she was pretty sure he'd agree.

Unfortunately, Urahara and Yoruichi had gone through the gate with Ichigo and his friends, and it had closed behind them.

Leaving a very annoyed Karin stuck in the human world.

As it happened to be the first day of the month, and she knew Toshiro wouldn't be able to get away because of the memorial and all, she resigned herself to another month without seeing her boyfriend.

She'd gone up to her room soon after they got home, saying she was tired from the long day. And that wasn't a lie, her body was exhausted, but her mind just wouldn't turn off.

When her last soccer game had ended, she'd seen one of the boys on her team go straight to the bleachers and give his girlfriend a kiss.

What would it be like to have a relationship with a normal boy? To be able to walk home from school with him every day? To not have to meet in secret for fear someone would find out you were dating?

To have to explain to him why you sometimes have to run off in the middle of dates because you sense a Hollow?

'Oh, be quiet.' Karin said sharply to Kyokon. 'I'm not saying I think it's possible, or even that I want it, but I wonder.'

You could just become a deputy Shinigami like your brother. Then the relationship would be…well, allowed, at least.

Karin sighed. 'You've been pushing me towards that even since Urahara-san said my power had grown enough he thought it was possible. But I'm not sure that's what I want. To always be at the beck and call of Seireitei like Ichigo is. To have to go patrolling every night. I don't feel the need to protect everyone like he does. I mean, I do, but not the same way. I just want to protect my family and friends so that he can worry about the important things.'

But you are destined to do so much more. Your power…

'I know how strong I've become.' Karin said without pride. 'But I'm nowhere near as strong as Ichigo. Or Toshiro.'

That is only because they are Shinigami and you are not. As a human, there is only so much power your body can handle. There is only so much I can do. But you have more untapped power within you…

'Let's just leave it untapped for now.' Karin replied as she snuggled down under her covers. 'I don't want to be a hero. I just want to live my life. Although I wish there was a way for Toshiro to be a bigger part of it.'

Soon you will have to choose.

Karin thought she heard Kyokon get in the final word as she finally drifted off to sleep.

OoOo Meanwhile, in Seireitei oOoO

"You should at least consider our offer, Urahara-san."

"No offense, Yamamoto-soutaicho, but I've been considering it for two years now, and my answer will not change. I do not want to be a taicho again." Urahara replied as he and the old man stood in a corner conversing.

"But now that Shihoin-san has agreed…"

"Yoruichi is free to do as she wishes, not that I could stop her if I tried." Urahara mused. "She will be a good taicho for the Kyubantai, as well as an excellent leader of investigations. Although do not be surprised if she tries to regain control of the Onmitsukido."

"Her and Soifon-taicho have already had words about that, I believe." Yamamoto said in a thoughtful voice. "It is hers by right of birth."

"That would be an interesting fight to watch…" Urahara mused as he finished off his sake.

"But with her agreeing, the only taicho position we have unfilled is that of the Gobantai." Yamamoto argued. "If you would only agree…"

"I've told you no every time you've asked." Urahara said with a sigh. "My answer isn't going to change. Now, if you would excuse me please."

In another corner of the room, Orihime leaned against the wall, sipping the punch that Ichigo had brought her before Kenpachi had chased him out of the room and onto one of the practice fields to fight. She listened absently to Yachiru, who had dropped off of Kenpachi's back as he'd run by.

"But we're not sure if we like that idea either, so now the me and the other ladies are talking about…"

"Inoue-san, Yachiru-fukutaicho, good evening." Toshiro said as he stepped over to them.

"Hitsugaya-taicho." Orihime nodded her head, remembering to be formal.

"Shiro-chan!" Yachiru squealed, "You're talking to someone at a party!"

Toshiro glared at her, but only slightly. It was hard to get too annoyed with the pink-haired hyper girl. "I was just surprised that you weren't watching Kenpachi-taicho fight. Don't you like seeing him have fun?"

"Ken-chan is fighting?" Yachiru asked guilelessly, apparently the only one in the room who hadn't sensed the huge rise in reiatsu a few moments ago.

Not that anyone was concerned about it. Not once had Ichigo managed to enter Seireitei without being challenged to spar by Kenpachi. And he'd been there at least a dozen times in the past few years on one kind of business or another. It was assumed that if neither had died yet they weren't going to.

Toshiro nodded, and Yachiru said goodbye to Orihime and skipped off to find her taicho.

"She wanted to come, Toshiro-kun, but she couldn't." Orihime said quietly when she was alone with Toshiro.

"She would be out of place, anyway." Toshiro replied as he looked around. With the exception of Ichigo and his friends, the room was filled with Shinigami; with the taicho, fukutaicho, and other seated officers who had taken an active part in the Winter War. Even after two years, it still saddened him to note the absence of certain faces. "She wouldn't be able to talk to me much, and she doesn't know many others. Plus if someone was watching too hard… she and I can't afford any mistakes."

"I know." Orihime said quietly. "It's why I've never told Ichigo."

"Did I ever thank you for that?" Toshiro asked, his cheeks turning slightly pink as he remembered an event in the real world just a few months shy of two years ago. Ichigo would have caught him and Karin kissing if not for Orihime's intervention.

"You didn't, but Karin-chan did." Orihime smiled at him. "It's not that hard really; Ichigo doesn't really want to know about his sister's love life. He knows I'm there to talk to her if she needs it, so that allows him to ignore it the way he wants to."

Toshiro gave her one of his almost-smiles, then said in a voice so low she barely heard him, "Could you tell her that I miss her?"

"Of course." Orihime smiled gently at him. "I know she misses you, too."

Toshiro was about to reply when a Jigokucho flew into the room and hovered in the center of it. The voice of Kotetsu Kiyone filled the air, stopping every conversation that was going on in less than a second.

"Urgent notice to all members of the Gotei Juusantai, multiple Gillain and at least two Adjuchas have been reported in Karakura Town, Japan. Divisions Four, Eleven, and Thirteen are ordered to report to their barracks and await their assignments. As all taicho and fukutaicho are currently together, expect these assignments to come very quickly. Again, multiple Gillian and at least two Adjuchas have been reported in Karakura Town…"

"Urahara!" Ichigo's shout drowned out the repeating message as he charged into the room. "Open the Reishihenkanki now!"

Orihime, Ishida, and Chad practically flew to his side, and without a word to any of the Shinigami the four of them vanished through Urahara's gate, the former-taicho right behind them.

"Order, order!" Yamamoto called out, as chaos had descended upon the room with the rapid leaving of the four humans and one ex-taicho. "Now, as there are Adjuchas, I will need at least one taicho and fukutaicho…"

"I'm going." Toshiro spoke up, to the surprise of most of the room.

"We're going." Rangiku and Rukia spoke as one.

"You are no longer Juusanbantai." Kuchiki Byakuya spoke to his sister. "The human world is no longer your concern."

Rukia glared at him. "Well then, Kuchiki-taicho…demote me."

Rangiku was already heading towards the Senkaimon that had opened in the corner of the room, it obviously having been anticipated that at least a few of the people in the room would be going. She spun around to face Byakuya as Rukia and Toshiro joined her in front of the gate. "I'll bring her home."

"Bring yourself home as well." He mouthed, and only the fact that she'd gotten used to reading his lips allowed her to understand his unspoken statement.

The gate had just begun to open when Renji stepped up to join them. "Can't let Ichigo take all the glory."

Rukia gave him a grim smile. "At least you can't get in trouble for going."

Renji smirked. "If he kicks you out he can take Izuru and I'll take you. At least then the office might get more interesting."

Rukia could only shake her head at him as the four friends stepped though the gate.

OoOo A few minutes previously, in the real world oOoO

Karin awoke with a start, the screams of dozens of suffering souls lancing through her mind. Well used to waking up like this, and knowing that this time Ichigo wasn't there to help, Karin grabbed her soccer ball from the side of her bed and vaulted out the window, the jump down to the ground nothing to her conditioned body. Especially as she knew how to use her reiatsu to cushion the fall.

She sent her mind out to locate the Hollow, worried at the number of souls she heard screaming. Her worry abruptly turned to panic when she realized the Hollow was almost on top of her, and that it was larger than anything she'd ever seen.

It was taller than her two-story house, an oddly narrow shape, covered completely by a black cloak and a narrow white mask. She could sense that it was much stronger than a normal Hollow, but had no idea what it was.

With a shout, Karin channeled her reiatsu into her soccer ball and kicked it hard, her aim true as always. Yet her shout of jubilation as the Hollow vanished cut off abruptly as others floated in to take its place.

Luckily her ball had fallen back to the ground close to her, having rebounded off of a neighbor's house. Her mind furiously focused on everything Urahara, Ichigo, and Toshiro had taught her, Karin lined herself up for another kick.

"Kyokon." She called out. "Tamashii no Mado."

Abruptly her mind was filled with screaming voices, but she organized and filtered them as she had been trained to do. She'd almost lost consciousness from the pain the first time Urahara had exposed her to multiple Hollows, but was well used to it by now.

Off to her left she sensed the weakest one of the group, the one which had the least number of souls in it. She quickly kicked her ball in that direction after filling it with her reiatsu, making sure her kick was angled so that a building behind the Hollow would bounce the ball back to her.

"Karin - what's going on?" Yuzu's screech filled her ears, and she spared a second as her ball rebounded to see her twin at their bedroom window, her hands clutching her head as if she was in pain.

"Stay inside!" Karin screamed. "Wake dad up, but stay inside!"

"Bakudo Number 26 - Kyakko."

Karin screamed as Yuzu suddenly vanished from sight.

TBC…

AN2: There is a poll up on my profile that will determine how the next chapter goes. As you can tell, we're having a climax one way or another. Should Karin live and become a Deputy Shinigami, or die and become a real Shinigami? Vote now. Or if you can't be bothered to go vote, at least tell me your opinion when you review. I'm leaning a certain way right now, but will totally abide by what the readers pick.

Omake: Radio Kon

Kon: So, tonight we have one of our most anticipated guests so far. Kurosaki Karin joins us tonight.

Karin: I think I like you better with the pink flower glued to your ear.

Kon: I wish that between you and your brother one of you would save me from being subjected to things like that.

Karin: You tell me how it works that sometimes you're in that lion and sometimes you're in Ichi-nii's body and maybe I will.

Kon: …

Karin: That's what I thought. So what did you want me here for?

Kon: Well, some of our readers have questions for you…the first is, "Karin-chan, why did you deny what you saw for so long?"

Karin: If you could see ghosts, and none of your friends could, would you really want to advertise it?

Kon: But your brother still helped them, just not when anyone could see…

Karin: And I'm not him! I know everyone in Soul Society thinks he's so great, but if they had to live with him…with his constant over protectiveness…and never wanting to show his feelings…and just randomly vanishing for weeks at a time…

Kon: Well, anyways, the next question for you is…

Karin: Well, anyways, this has been fun, but I think I sense a Hollow….

Kon: No, don't leave…Well, that's all the time we have tonight folks, stay tuned for another broadcast of Radio Kon. With a Mystery Guest. Who do you think it should be?

Glossary:

Soutaicho: Commander General; the rank held by Yamamoto.

Kyubantai: 9th Division, formerly Tosen's.

Onmitsukido: Secret Mobile Corps. Originally led by a member of the Shihoin family, it became attached to whatever division they were a part of. When Yoruichi fled Soul Society, they remained tied to the 2nd Division, which she had been taicho of. Currently commanded by Soifon.

Jigokucho: Hell Butterfly, one of their main purposes is as messengers between Shinigami.

Reishihenkanki: Spirit Exchanger, the only way for humans to pass into Soul Society.

Juusanbantai: 13th Division

Bakudo: "Way of Binding," one of the two main types of spells that Shinigami cast. The other is Hado, or "Way of Destruction." Almost all spells we see cast by Shinigami fall into one of these two categories.

Kyakko: "Curving Light," a spell to bend light and hide both the physical appearance and reiatsu of whatever it is cast around. Cannon.