AN: Okay thank yous for the reviews. Now, I'm warning you, this chapter was tough, Ikkaku isn't my strong suit, so please forgive OOCness, thanks.
Oh yeah and question, what should Yachiru call Karin? I suck at nicknames, so please ( if you can) leave a name in a review, tha'd be awesome thanks.
BTW, Forbidden-Hanyou, thanks again, I'll look out for your fanfic, can't wait to read it.
Now, the story must go on and I'm done blathering.
Disclaimer: I. Own. Nothing.
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Karin let a small groan out, flexing her hand. After Toshiro and her returned, the butt head had put her on paper work for an hour. Beside the fact that the amount of information meant cramped writing, apparently the Soul Society had yet to be introduced to pencils. Karin hadn't picked up a brush since third grade.
So, after the torturous writing session, Karin started heading to her second to last class. Although she might just skip science…..
The Eleventh Division compound loomed before the small teen. The sound of shouting coming from inside the gates made most pause. Shrugging, the middle child of Kurosaki Isshin pushed her way through.
On the other side of the large doors was a humongous courtyard, like most of the divisions. But there was one difference from the others. Unlike the Fourth's, with people walking peacefully, or the Ninth, with shinigami running around, trying to make a deadline, the Eleventh's courtyard was full of shingami, the clang of zanpakuto filling the air.
Karin stopped, face deadpan. This looks like fun, Hi no Shinzo piped up excitedly.
Ignoring her zanpakuto, the young girl walked through the mini battles, trying to dodge flying swords. After almost being sliced open twice, Karin took her own zanpakuto out, blocking any other attacks. Hi no Shinzo let out woots of pleasure. Oh, take that, be-otch! Yeah, you're my bitch!
Breaking out of the forest of men, the ecstatic zanpakuto was sheathed. Had fun? her partner asked.
You know it! the double edged voice responded. Let's do that again! Except, next time, with a bit more fire, make it prettier…
Maybe some archery lessons too, the shinigami suggested, entering the barracks.
The halls were empty, obviously, most were outside, screaming their heads off. Idiots, screaming just alerted your enemies. Who the hell taught them how to fight? Much less let them near shiny swords?
Quietly walking through the corridors, Karin let herself relax, stride becoming a stroll as she shoved free hands into pockets she cut into the black robes she wore. Hi no Shinzo retreated, watching through her partner's eyes, both ready to just observe. That was the thing about fire, it could be wild and angry, but then calm, turning into crackling embers, dormant until awakened.
So, they just kept walking.
As the duo passed another screen, a loud crash caught their attention. Without another thought, Karin slid the door open, sensing a massive increase in reiatsu. The scene that followed was a bit… confusing.
Obviously a dojo, the room she entered opened on one side to another courtyard, this one a bit more peaceful than the first. All around the training room were unseated shinigami, pressed against the wall, leaving the wood floor empty. Sitting opposite the entrance was the eleventh division captain, hair still spiked, bells intact, eye patch in place. Their eyes locked.
"Get off me!" someone yelled, catching Kurosaki's attention. A second later, a man ran into her line of sight, trying to hit his head with a zanpakuto. A little mass of pink sat atop the bald cranium.
No one seemed to notice Karin's interruption, too intent on the man still dashing around. Some were actually trying to keep a smile from forming.
These are the people who're gonna train us?
Kami, I hope not, the teen responded, sweat dropping as the man took another swipe at his head…with an unsheathed zanpakuto. Hi no Shinzo cackled as the pink thing dodged, still clinging on, drool sliding down the smooth skin. The hysterical man kept swinging, almost hitting one of his comrades, who in turn coward against the wall.
Deciding it might be time to intervene, Karin stepped forward, using her strategy for shutting Goat Face up. "Hey, Ichigo has porno mags under his bed!" Everyone froze.
I thought those were that pervy bear thingy's?
Hi no Shinzo's observation was brushed off with a blasé, Technicality.
The bald man turned slowly, zanpakuto held vertical, eyes focused on the intruder in that 'girl-say-what-what' way. The captain just stared at the kid, face clear of emotion, sword laying across his lap.
"What? It shut you up." The middle Kurosaki shrugged nonchalantly, leaning against the doorway with crossed arms.
"It did, Baldy," a little voice came from the pink mass. With a jerk of movement, a small face appeared under the bright color, revealing a little girl wearing shinigami robes, lieutenant's badge strapped to her arm. "You were being very rude, too, ignoring Rin-Rin," added the kid, sliding off her victim and pouting up at him.
"Don't call me that," Baldy exclaimed, fuming. "And she isn't even supposed to be here!" Wild eyes turned to Karin, who smiled back, giving a finger wave. "Why are you here?" he demanded. One Kurosaki was enough for Ikkaku. Too bad there were two others.
"Yamamoto gave me a schedule," she explained. "This is my second to last stop for the day. You're captain was supposed to be sent a notification about it," a beat of silence, "but if he didn't get it I'll just be on my way." Turning on her heel, Karin tried to make her escape (from what she had seen, no one there was worth a good fight.) She'd come back when someone pissed her off.
"Stop," a gruff voice commanded. The girl sucked in a breath, slowly turning back. Was it her or was this just like trying to sneak out of class to go play soccer?
The Eleventh Division Captain stood opposite Karin, backed by the garden courtyard. "I've been waiting for you," he growled, a blood thirsty grin forming. "I wanted to see if you're as good as your brother."
Oh no he didn't!
Annoyance flared in Karin. "For your information, I am way better than Ichigo at a lot of things." What was with these people and comparing her to Ichi-nii? It was seriously getting on her nerves.
The bald guy snorted. "I highly doubt that," he muttered.
The young shinigami pushed away from the wall, turning to the man. "Wanna say that to my fist?" she asked, raising a clenched hand. An audible intake of breath could be heard from the surrounding subordinates.
You have me, you idiot! Hi no Shinzo hissed.
…Shuddup.
Baldy arched a brow. "Are you challenging me, midget?" he sneered. The only response was the sliding sound of an unsheathed zanpakuto. "All right then, let's get this over with." Reaffirming his grip, the third seat grinned.
You're going down, ya here me? You will be my bitch! I will own you!
Oh, hush Hi no Shinzo.
Na nuh na nuh na nuh!
Real mature.
Just hit him already! Please, please, please, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-
All right, all right!
Redistributing her weight, Karin tensed her muscles, preparing to charge. Right as things were about to get really ugly, a rough voice interrupted. "Stop."
Bald guy blinked in surprise. "Captain?" Head of the Eleventh Division stopping a fight?…..Yeah, no.
Zaraki Kenpachi turned to Karin, grin still in place, his lieutenant waving cheerily from a broad shoulder. "I like you, kid. You're willing to fight, which is exactly what my division's about. But I already got yer training planed out and it wouldn't do any good if you skipped ahead."
The teen stared at the man warily, fighting position firm. "If it's more paper work, I'm leaving," she warned.
Zaraki's smile spread. "No, much better."
"Kenny's so excited about his plan, it's gonna be so much fun," the pink haired child chimed in.
"Shut it, brat," the captain murmured, the girl just stuck out her tongue.
Ikkaku was getting impatient. "Captain, just say it so I can get on with teaching this girl a lesson about respecting her elders."
Grey eyes narrowed. "Yeah, you gotta be older than Yamamoto to have less hair than him," Karin shot back.
"You little-"
"Shut it Ikkaku," Zaraki growled. The third seat grudgingly shut up. "Now, here's what's gonna happen, kid. Everyday you're gonna fight someone from my division, starting at the weakest and working your way up. Once you defeat all unranked shinigami, you'll go for the seated." The captain's mad grin grew wider, more blood thirsty. "When you finish 'em off, you'll face me. Then we'll see if you're anything like your brother."
Zaraki's newest pupil brought her single sai to her chin, tapping it thoughtfully. After considering the proposition, she lowered her weapons, locking eyes with the older man. "Sounds fair enough," Karin agreed, grinning back. "Just know," she added, sliding her sai into the slit in the robes she wore, "I never back down from a fight, and I never give up."
Ikkaku snorted derisively. "So much for not being like Ichigo."
In a flash, Karin stood before the bald man, finger pointing in his face. "You just wait, in no time we'll be facing each other in battle, and you'll wish you were nicer to me, Baldy." The shorter shinigami punctuated her statements with jabs to a broad chest.
Third seat Ikkaku didn't like that. "Why you little punk-" he began.
And again he was interrupted. "Now," Karin spoke loudly, turning away from her newest rival. "Who's my first opponent?"
Pink head shooting up, the lieutenant pointed at one man sitting against the wall. He was skinny and had unruly brown hair, matching eyes wide with fright.
Gripping Hi no Shinzo, Karin took a step toward the cowering man. For the next minute the only sound coming from the small dojo was the clang of zanpakuto (once) and gleeful giggles.
I think I'm gonna like this place.
Agreed.
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Thanks, please review.