A/N:For those who may be confused, cuz I am a confusing person, from now on all thoughts will be in bold, all flashbacks will be in italics and may or may not be set off by (flashback), depending on the situation. Some voted, and I decided I will spell Toushirou like that (imaginary arrow pointing thataway). Oh wait, give me a minute… hah. I gots it! It probably won't be pointing the right way, but oh well. It may seem like Toushirou is not in the chapter, but fret not, he will appear. Some people wondered why I didn't write part if the prologue on Toushirou's past, and that's because I'm evil. O.O Nah, his past will come up either in flashbacks or he'll reveal it himself. Or maybe in his dreams…
This chapter will be pretty long, because I want to show where Karin is, and introduce a lot of people. Toshiro will be mainly in the second part of the chapter, and he may or may not meet Karin… you'll have to read!
To let everyone know…Toushirou and Karin have not met yet. If anyone thought that the man who took Karin last chapter was him, I'm sorry to say it wasn't. I thought I could change my idea and make it him, but when I looked at my chapter, I wrote 'man', and Toushirou is not a man. Sorry. XD
Disclaimer:
Me: I do not own Bleach. At all. Yet… just you wait world! I WILL OWN BLEACH!
Nee-san (crimsoneclipse): Yo! Idiot! Who the hell are you talkin' to?
Me: My friend- (looks around) Pete? Where'd ya go? PETE?
Onto chapter two!
Chapter Two: Finding 'Home'
The higher you build the walls around your heart, the harder you fall when someone tears them down.
Karin woke up to the smell of food, and the banging of pots. Wait, that's just a headache. What the hell?
She bolted up from where she had been placed, trying to remember how she'd gotten to where she was now. Who was that man again? She placed a hand to her head, groaning.
"You're awake."
Karin turned to see the man who from earlier. Looking at him closely, she saw that he had a kind appearance; if you were going to be taken in by a stranger, she supposed you'd want to be taken in by someone like him.
She looked at him cautiously, not sure what to think of him. Before he could say anything else, a very buxom girl burst into the room.
"Ukitake! Shuuhei's being meeeeaaaan!" she whined. She shook her head, and her orange colored hair bounced.
"Rangiku, this is not a good time." He glanced over at Karin.
Rangiku noticed the girl sitting on the couch. "Ooh!" She ran up to Karin. "You're awake! Hi! I'm Rangiku!"
Karin's eyes narrowed and she involuntarily shrunk back. Ukitake noticed this, and he stepped up to Rangiku, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Weren't you saying something about Shuuhei?"
"Oh, yeah! He won't tell me about yesterday!" Rangiku pouted, her eyes widening. Karin wanted to laugh, but she found herself unable to.
"Let's go talk to him," Ukitake said to her. He looked at Karin. "You can just stay here. I'll be back in a few minutes." With that, they both left Karin alone.
She took the opportunity to look around the room. She was sitting on a plain black couch, a blanket carefully placed on her. A coffee table near her held a bunch of papers, all of them looking like college notes. Not now, idiot. Don't you dare start crying.
Scanning the rest of the room, she found nothing out of the ordinary. There was a desk that overlooked a window, and a TV was in the corner of the room. The lights were shut off, so she couldn't be sure, but Karin guessed the room was burgundy in color.
Making sure they were gone, she got off the couch. She walked warily to the door. With a hand resting on the doorknob, someone behind her spoke.
"Where'ya going?" A little girl with pink hair looked at her expectantly, a lolli pop sticking out of her mouth.
"Yachiru," the one that Rangiku girl had called Ukitake came back. "No sweets before dinner," he reminded her.
Dinner? How long had I been asleep? What day is it?
Ukitake's looked at where Karin's hand rested. "Why don't you join us for dinner?"
"Yeah!" Yachiru grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the door. "Let's go!"
Karin would have protested, but the girl looked like she wouldn't take no for an answer. Spoiled little brat…I was so close to leaving, too…
They headed to the dining room, Ukitake trailing behind them. Karin noticed that the house was decorated like the room she had just been in. It was also fairly large. As they neared their destination, Karin could make out a bunch of conversations. How many people are here?
When they entered the room, it was like nothing happened. Karin noticed that everyone there were children. She'd have to say that Yachiru was the youngest of them all, and she had yet to figure out who the oldest was. Rangiku saw her and waved her over.
Ukitake looked at Karin. "Choose a seat." He smiled at her and sat down himself. "Help yourself."
Karin sat next to Rangiku, not knowing where else to go. She smiled at her, turning to smack someone on the head.
"What are you doing, Rangiku?" He glared at her. Karin saw that he looked to be about 18, maybe a year older. He had scars on the right side of his face, and a tattoo of '69' on his left cheek.
"Introduce yourself." She looked at Karin. "I'm pretty sure that she can't guess your name."
He muttered at Rangiku. "Go to hell."
"He's Shuuhei," Rangiku said, ignoring his statement. She smacked him again, and they started to argue.
Karin stared down at the table. She didn't belong here. She had her own place, nowhere even close to here. Not anymore you don't. It was all taken away from you, remember? Think of it like this, Karin. You've got nowhere else to turn to. Do you want that Omaeda guy to find you? Ship you off to a family?
"Sorry about it being take out," Ukitake said, "but none of us are great cooks."
Yuzu…
Karin nodded numbly.
"You staying the night?" Shuuhei asked.
Rangiku clapped her hands together. "You can sleep with me!" She glanced at Karin. "It's settled."
Karin looked up at her. "I-I can't," Karin said, hating how unused her voice was. It was, she thought, the first time she had spoken since that night.
Rangiku looked at her quizzically. "Why not?"
"Rangiku," Shuuhei warned.
"Do you need to go back home?"
Home.
Karin sat there.
"What's the matter?" Rangiku asked worriedly.
"Nothing," Karin whispered, "nothing at all."
(Toushirou)
"Wanna drink, Toushirou?"
"Can't."
"Come on, you said that last time." Smoke filled the car as he took another drag, followed by a swig of beer.
"You know I have to go home." Teal eyes looked out the window, past the darkened streets. He watched as Mr. Sumeragi took out the trash from his diner, hoisting it into the overflowing trash container. The bag bounced a little before it settled on the top of the pile, a lone piece of crumpled up paper falling loose. It fluttered to the ground slowly, until the wind blew it up. Toushirou watched as it flew through the air, up over the building's top, until it was out of his sight.
Sighing, he pulled the hood on his jacket up. "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Whatever." The man took another swig, not paying attention as the boy left, cool air entering the car. He put out his cigarette, pulling his car out and driving down the street.
Toushirou watched as Satoshi drove away, swerving slightly on the road. He walked down the sidewalk, heading the few blocks to his 'house'. He could see his breath, coming out in puffs in front of his face.
"Look Momo," he said excitedly, breathing out a big breath. A large smile covered his face as he looked at his childhood friend. She smiled sweetly at him, ruffling his hair. She seemed to be the only one who could do that without him getting really mad.
"That's great, 'lil Shiro," she replied. "You know what that means, right?"
His smile seemed to grow even larger. "Winter's coming, right?"
"Yes, it is."
Toushirou concentrated as he watched his breath crystallize in front of him. He grabbed Momo's hand, and after a moment, she squeezed his back.
Toushirou's eyes hardened and he braced himself against the wind that had started to pick up. He slowed his breathing, making it so that he couldn't see his breath anymore. He shoved his hands into his pockets, taking his time on making it to his 'home'.
(Karin)
I'm in Hell. I've been swallowed into Hell, and it consists of watching reruns of Jersey Shore, makeup, and Rangiku.
Karin sat miserably on her new bed, conveniently placed next to Rangiku's, as the girl chattered on and on, nonstop. Suddenly, Rangiku stopped, and Karin heard a door slam from downstairs.
"Ooh!" Rangiku pulled Karin to her feet, dragging her downstairs. "C'mon, there's someone you need to meet!"
(Toushirou)
Toushirou let go of the breath he had been holding, angered at the sight of his destination. He walked up the five steps to his prison, and for good measure, he slammed the door as he entered. Shuuhei and Izuru looked at him, and he glared. I wish I had taken that drink.
"Toushirou."
It was him. Standing with his arms crossed, Ukitake leaned against the doorway.
"What." It came out as a statement, not a question.
"Do you know what time it is?" Ukitake asked, standing up straight. Shuuhei and Izuru looked at Toushirou, waiting for a response.
Toushirou smirked. "Time for you to get a damn watch, old man, 'cause I sure as hell won't wear one."
Izuru looked at Toushirou with his mouth agape, and Shuuhei narrowed his eyes.
Ukitake sighed. "Toushirou, where were you?"
"Out."
"With who?"
Toushirou scoffed. "None of your damn business."
"Toushirou," Ukitake said, stepping in front of the teen, "I'm trying to help you."
Toushirou rolled his eyes. His gaze flickered to the door, where the others had gathered. His eyes returned to Ukitake. "Yeah? Who said I want your help?" He lowered his voice. "I was doing fine before I had to come here."
"Toushirou," Ukitake said, earnest, "you were not fine."
"How would you know?" Toushirou replied angrily. "You weren't there, were you?"
Ukitake sighed. "You're right. I wasn't. But I'm here now, right?"
Toushirou didn't answer, crossing his arms.
"Are you hungry?" Ukitake said, changing the subject.
"I already ate."
Ukitake put a hand on Toushirou's shoulder. "Alright." He turned around and left. Shuuhei and Izuru turned back to the muted TV, and everyone but Rangiku and Karin scattered before Ukitake passed them. Ukitake smiled at the two of them, and they entered the room.
"Toushirou!" Rangiku said, running up to the boy.
"What, Matsumoto?"
"You're so stingy," Rangiku pouted again, something Karin was beginning to think was a trademark of hers. Well, that and other things.
"koe sae ushinattemo-" Toushirou's phone started to go off. He flicked it open, answering the call.
"What?" he said. Rangiku looked at him, interested in what was happening.
Toushirou's eyebrows drew together as he listened to Satoshi on the other line.
"Hey Toushirou, heh heh, whatcha doin'?" His voice was slurred, and Toushirou could only guess how drunk his friend was.
"What do you want? You know not to call me."
"Ya see, that's the thing. I kinda need your help right now…"
Toushirou sighed, turning away from Rangiku. "Where are you?" he said quietly.
"I'm, ah, kinda in, ah, jail?"
"Then why did you call me?" Toushirou imagined himself strangling Satoshi the next time he saw him.
"You know why." Satoshi got serious. "I need you to bail me out."
"How do you think I'm going to do that?"
"I don't know, you little brat," Satoshi spat at him, "find a way. Bring 300 dollars to the jail soon, cuz I can't be busted anymore."
"Whatever." Toushirou hung up on his ex-friend. "Rot in Hell," he said, walking past Karin and Rangiku. He went to his room and slammed the door.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Toushirou looked out of his window, staring at the snow that had started to fall silently. Four months. That's how long it had been since he'd gotten out of the hospital, since he'd lost yet another family member. A tear rolled down his face, joining the rest that had fallen onto the windowsill. How can being surrounded by people feel so miserable?
He wiped away the tears harshly, only stopped when the skin on his cheek felt raw. He shut the blinds to his window, waiting for his world to fall dark.
A/N:
Okay, so I wanted to get that out there, because I may or may not have been able to update until Sunday, and I luv y'all's reviews so much.
God, Toushirou kinda ignored Karin there, didn't he? That meanie… Yeah, I got Satoshi from DNAngel, mainly because I needed a name, and I took his. I don't think he'll reappear, unless anyone wants him to. Toushirou's ringtone was the Echoes by Universe, one of the Bleach endings for the latest season.
Okay peoples! I'm counting on you all to review! I do have another question for you: Do you guys want me to make either Toushirou or Karin, like, self-harm themselves (that didn't make any sense…)? Cuz I don't want to be too horrible to Toushirou or Karin, but I do have an idea…
Also, be on the lookout for another story from me, coming shortly. It shall be called Love Made the World Go 'round. Here's a sneak peek:
"Don't leave me," he pleaded.
"Promise me…"
"What? I'll do anything. Just stay with me!" He could hear the desperation in his own voice.
She smiled. "Promise me you'll love me forever." The smile froze on her face, and she coughed up the smallest amount of blood.
Ichigo could hear the sirens of police cars and paramedics inb the distance. "Stay with me," he pleaded again.
"I…love you I-chi-go…" She coughed up more and more blood.
"I love you, too." He blinked back tears. "I will always love you. Forever."
OOH, SNAP. No she di'in't! Well, yup. If you guys care to find out who 'she' is, and what the heck was happening, keep your eyes peeled for that story. It should be up by the end of the weekend. I can tell you, it is IchiRuki.
Please review!