Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.
Karin had grown up listening to the tales of her father's heroism as a part of Japan's army. He had been drafted while in college, and had even received a medal for his bravery on the battlefield.
Though she hated to admit it, Karin really looked up to her father for this, which is why she wished to receive the same honor. She wanted to be a part of the army.
But the army hardly allowed fifteen year old girls to join up. And so she was left to switch on the television every morning, and listen to the horrific news about the war being waged.
.. ღ ..
When Karin was two years old, her brother had shown her their father's medal for the first time.
She was a curious baby, and because she was not tall enough to see what was placed on the mantle above the fireplace in their living room, she spent a good amount of time just staring at it, imagining all sorts of wonderful things that could be up there.
Ichigo took pity one day. He pulled a chair from the dining room next to the fireplace, climbed up until he was standing on the seat, and plucked the medal from its resting place.
She had been in awe when she first held it in her hand. It was so shiny, and the ribbon attached to it was such a bright blue. She loved blue!
And then, of course, she had proceeded to place the precious object into her mouth and suck on it. Being only two, she had only valued the medal for its viewing and playing value, and had not realized its importance.
Ichigo had freaked out, and pulled it straight out of her mouth, knowing he would get in trouble if his mother or father discovered that he had let his little sister handle it; he then suddenly dropped it in disgust, as it was covered in saliva.
.. ღ ..
When Karin was four, her mother passed away.
A burglar had broken into their home, not realizing that the Kurosaki family had canceled their annual trip to the beach because of horrid weather conditions at their vacation spot.
The three children had been pushed into the nearby linen closet, to ensure their safety. Their father had tried to disarm the attacker of his knife while his mother had hurriedly called the police.
Karin had been too busy holding onto her hysterical sister and leaking a few tears herself to notice that her brother had slipped out.
His curiosity had been piqued, and he had gone out to see if he could help his beloved parents in any way. The burglar, seeing his opportunity to escape in the little boy, had chucked his knife as hard as he could in his direction. Masaki had immediately jumped in the way; the knife made a critical hit on her shoulder.
By the time the paramedics and police arrived, the young mother had lost too much blood to be saved.
The twins changed after the incident, the whole family did; Yuzu became obsessed with housework, Isshin became extra crazy, Ichigo became withdrawn, and Karin toughened up.
It was at the age of four that Karin discovered how cruel humans could be.
.. ღ ..
When Karin was seven, she had her first kiss. More like she had her first kiss stolen from her.
Her best friend from childhood was moving away. On the day of his departure, he came to say goodbye.
Karin did not cry, but she was very saddened.
"It sucks that you have to leave," she said, solemnly.
"Yeah."
Her friend looked very anxious for some reason. She was concerned.
"Hey, are you o-"
She was cut off when he pressed his lips to hers. After a brief moment, he pulled away, and had enough sense to bolt down the street, not looking back.
"O-Oi!" Karin was steaming mad, and decided she hated boys and kissing. "If it wasn't already obvious, we're not friends anymore!"
The little bastard was lucky they never saw each other again.
.. ღ ..
The couple are seated on their bed, both content in each other's arms. It is one of those nights when the two are bursting with love for one another. He is sitting on the edge, and she has taken a place on his lap. She is facing him, and her legs are wrapped tightly around his waist.
He pulls back, takes her chin within his hands, dips his head and kisses her sweetly.
"Hmmm." She sighs softly at the pleasurable sensations that are evoked within her at the touch of his lips.
"I love your kisses the most, my love. They simply cannot be matched by anything." He simply shakes his head at her words.
"You give me too much praise, my Queen. I only excel because I desire to please you, nothing more. After all, you are the only woman I have ever shared my lips with."
As she pulls him in for another kiss, somewhere in the back of her mind, she curses the boy who has denied her the opportunity to share her own first experience with the man she loves.
She had hated him then, she absolutely despises him now.
.. ღ ..
When Karin was nine, her mother's young cousin got married.
She begged Yuzu and Karin to be the flower girls. Yuzu agreed right away, ecstatic at having the chance to dress up and throw flower petals at guests. Karin refused point blank.
It was only through her father's insistence that she finally agreed, as long as the dress was not pink, frilly, or itchy. And if she was allowed to take it off as soon as the ceremony ended.
She made sure they kept their side of the bargain. She and Yuzu marched down the aisle in matching light blue dresses made of soft silk material. She was not allowed to scowl, but she found a loophole by pointing out that they had not made it mandatory that she smile either.
The second the ceremony ended – when the bride and groom had kissed – she unzipped her dress right there on the podium, and pulled it off. Underneath, she was wearing black basketball shorts and a white t-shirt. She gained a lot of dirty looks from the wedding guests for that stunt.
The bride had no problem with her actions. She was too far gone in her own euphoria. She had just gotten married, and there was a baby on the way. Her new husband put a gentle hand on her inflated stomach, and the two smiled warmly at one another.
Yuzu was beside her self with glee at the scene.
"Isn't that beautiful, Karin-chan?"
"What's so beautiful about a woman getting knocked up before getting married? She's lucky the dude was willing to marry her, or she would have been stuck with a baby."
Yuzu made a face at her.
"Don't be like that. They're in love. And I'm sure she would have wanted the baby, even if they weren't getting married. Babies are so cute!"
"What's so cute about a little snot-nosed monster crying and eating all the time? Not to mention having to change diapers; that's disgusting!"
Yuzu pouted, throwing her an incredulous look.
"You're unbelievable -"
"Thank You."
"- Karin-chan. I bet you'll be talking differently after you have kids of your own."
Karin only snorted at this.
"I don't think so. I don't plan on having kids, and you know me; I always get what I want...or 'what I don't want' makes more sense in this context, I guess."
Yuzu grinned mischievously.
"We'll see," she said in a sing-song voice.
"No, we won't" Karin countered, copying her voice. "Trust me Yuze, it's not going to happen."
.. ღ ..
She tightens the hold her legs have on his waist. He notices.
"Something wrong, my sweet?" he asks, concerned. She shakes her head, a smile playing on her lips.
"No, something is right." She chuckles at his puzzled expression. "Perhaps the wine we had following dinner is making me overly affectionate but," she cups his face with both hands and smiles tenderly, "I love you."
He allows a rare smile to grace his lips. It takes away her breath; it has been so long since she has seen his lips tug upwards, his smiles being so few and far between.
"I do not need wine to tell you that I love you too."
After a few moments of pecking at one another's lips, he pulls back.
"Karin, are you...happy?" he asks suddenly. She looks at him, surprised at the unexpected question. He elaborates. "Not a day goes by that you miss your family. Am I keeping you from meeting them and being truly happy?"
He is surprised when she chuckles.
"Toush, you seem to be forgetting one simple fact; I have you now, and you are my family."
His stiff posture remains rigid.
"It is true I miss my family. They were noisy and energetic, and though I complained, I loved – love – them, but I love you too. If it worries you still so much, we need only to make our own family."
He looks are her, hopeful but disbelieving. She grins at his expression.
"You have made it clear to me that you desire children, my King. Although I was unsure at first, I have decided that, if it is you, I am willing to lay down and have child with you."
He freezes, but there is excitement shining in his eyes, along with the joy he feels is almost impossible for him to convey. She smirks.
"We could begin now, if you would like..." she hints.
He is quick to suddenly stand up, placing a hand on her waist and back to keep her from falling, and flip them, so that when they fall back on the bed, she is on bottom.
He hurriedly unties the sash around her sleeping kimono, and marvels at her beauty after he pries it open. It is an act they have committed countless times, yet to him - to both - each is as sacred as the first. This one will be the most divine; both hold a steady hope for the future outcome of the night as he reaches out to slowly touch.
Her skin is softer than the silk of her clothing. When his hands make contact, she breathes in sharply. When his lips make contact, she cries out lustfully. As the slow pleasure builds, she finally decides to join their deed with her own ministrations.
His own kimono is already open; he had planned to take it off, as he does every night. She reaches out to touch the exposed skin tenderly; he sighs happily when she does.
They lay in bed, only roaming their hands over one another, content with just that for the moment. Neither are in any rush, never are whenever they fall into bed together. It is only when she slowly unwinds her leg from his waist that the movement jerks him into action.
He slides off so he can set her carefully in the middle of their mattress, and lays himself atop once again. Their bodies wind together, their actions become quicker. It is a slow build up, and soon, their emotions peak, and their bodies collapse.
As they settle comfortably in each other's arms, side by side, she smirks.
"I must remember to add 'an apology to Yuzu' on my list of tasks that must be completed once I finally see my family again."
He does not ask for clarification, only covers her mouth with his own.
.. ღ ..
Yuzu stuck out her tongue at her sister, but her eyes lit up when she saw the emptying altar.
"Look Karin-chan. Now we can go congratulate aunty and her husband."
"But you already did that before the wedding," Karin whined, but Yuzu ignored her, and pulled her towards the married couple by the wrist.
"Aunty, Uncle, congratulations!" Yuzu cried.
"What she said," Karin added halfheartedly.
"You two are so sweet." Their mother's cousin grinned. Being family, she was used to Karin's attitude, and was aware that it was an amazing feat for her to simply bother saying anything.
Yuzu's eyes were on her aunt's stomach, and she looked absolutely awed.
'You'd think she'd never seen a pregnant woman before,' Karin thought, rolling her eyes.
"How many months to go?" her twin sister asked in a hush, as if she was in the presence of a sacred deity.
"Only two more," their new uncle answered, beaming.
"Have you had an ultrasound yet? Or is it a surprise? Is it a boy? Or a girl? Have you decided on a name yet?"
Karin grimaced, having expected the sudden flurry of questions.
"Yes, we have done an ultrasound," the groom said. "Had it done as soon as the doctor said we could. I'm the impatient type," he added with a wink.
'The proof is the growing fetus inside your wife,' Karin thought grimly, while Yuzu giggled.
"It's a girl," their aunt continued, sounding extremely proud, "and we've decided to name her Hikaru."
I've decided to leave off here just to confuse you guys. I hope I did!
Just so you know, a lot of the future chapters will be flashbacks; I'll probably use present tense mostly for short HitsuKarin moments that we all love so much ;D
I'd like to apologise to sayo-chan64. I know I told you that this chapter would be about Karin's "betrayal," but it didn't work out that way, so you'll have to wait. Sorry :(
I would have had this up way sooner, but I've been having trouble with the website. A thousand thanks and hugs to CrystallineX, who put up the trick needed to finally make it work on her story Re:Hollowfication. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!