Prompt: Base

Rating: T

"Kurosaki, I…"

She noticed the mood change, felt his determination building up, and swallowed, dread beginning to shoot through her veins. She hoped against hope.

"I-I like you!"

It was too late. The words were out there, and they couldn't be taken back.

She and Kazuo had built up a decent friendship over the past few months, and though she enjoyed it, she definitely wasn't looking for anything more than that. And, of course, telling him that outright would only serve to destroy their friendship—not to mention his feelings.

He looked at her expectantly. She had to say something.

"I'm really flattered, Kazuo," she stalled, racking her brain for a decent excuse. "But I…I already have a boyfriend!" Hey, that one was pretty good!

Before she could even pat herself on the back for her quick thinking, her admirer frowned. "I've never seen him."

"That's because he goes to another school." She shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, Kazuo. I'm flattered, but I'm already taken."

Disappointed, the boy bowed his head and left.

~.~.~

She expected her rumor to be passed around a little—after all, it wasn't everyday that Kurosaki Karin had a boyfriend, made-up as he was. But she had assumed that after a few whispers, the whole thing would die down.

What she hadn't expected was to get ambushed while reviewing her notes for the upcoming math quiz. She was leaning back in her chair, chewing her lip thoughtfully, when she suddenly found her desk surrounded by nearly all the girls in her class.

"Kurosaki!" one of them yelled excitedly, "why didn't you tell anyone about your boyfriend?"

Karin blinked. "I wasn't aware my personal life was everyone's business."

"Aww, don't be like that, Karin!"

"Tell us about him!"

"What's Hitsugaya-san like?"

Karin almost fell out of her chair. "W-What?!"

"Your boyfriend." They looked at her expectantly. "Hitsugaya-san?"

She could feel her face burst into flame, could pinpoint the moment her blood-pressure skyrocketed. "Where did you hear that name?"

"Kazuo asked Yuzu about your boyfriend," one of them said impatiently.

Karin stood, dazedly pushing people out of her way. "Excuse me."

~.~.~

"What the hell, Yu!"

She had made her way out into the hallway and made frantic hand gestures at Yuzu's classroom door window until her twin came out. But Yuzu only seemed perplexed at her urgency.

"He told me that you rejected him because you already had a boyfriend," the light-haired twin explained. "I assumed you were talking about Toshiro-kun. Was I wrong?"

"Yes," she hissed. "We're just friends. Completely platonic! I keep telling you—"

Yuzu smiled, one that clearly was saying more than her words, though Karin wasn't sure what. "Okay, I'm sorry. But Karin, it's not like people are going to meet him. What's the problem?"

And her tirade stopped mid-sentence at that. What was the problem? Yuzu was right. She could use Toshiro as a fill-in so she wouldn't sound like she was lying when she was bombarded with questions, and eventually everyone's curiosity would die down and she would be left alone.

Yuzu smirked, patting her arm. "Don't worry. I'll only tease you a little bit."

~.~.~

"Is he tall?"

Karin chuckled to herself. "No." Though the last time she saw him, he was a bit taller than her.

It was lunch time, which meant she was again surrounded by her nosy female classmates. This time, though, she was more prepared.

"Does he takes you on romantic dates?"

She thought of them watching the sunset together, eating ice cream he had bought them. "Sometimes."

"What high school does he go to?" someone demanded.

Karin didn't fidget. "He graduated already." Which was technically true. It just wasn't high school that he graduated.

There was a collective murmur. "A university student?" "I can't believe Kurosaki has an older boyfriend!" "Her of all people!"

Yes, her. Eventually, they all left her alone, more interested in gossiping about Yumi's supposed pregnancy.

Karin sat there, smug, for the rest of the day.

~.~.~

At least, she was smug until, as she was gathering her things to go home, she felt familiar reiatsu.

Oh no.

"Hey," someone called. "There's someone waiting at the school gates."

What was he doing here?

People were curiously looking out the window now. Karin began stuffing things into her backpack with unnatural speed.

"He has white hair." A gasp. "Oh my god, it's Kurosaki's boyfriend!"

Shit shit SHIT

"No it's not," Karin denied, an edge to her voice. "He's at school."

"Maybe he came to visit you!"

"You should go check!"

"I highly doubt it," Karin insisted. But it was no use—everyone was rushing to the door, hoping get a closer look at her "boyfriend". For fuck's sake!

Of course, when she got there, it was indeed Hitsugaya Toshiro waiting for her at the school gate. As she got closer to him, she considered walking right by and not acknowledging him. But he was looking right at her, a confused look on his face.

"Ah!" Yuzu appeared at her side. "Toshiro-kun, it's nice to see you!"

Karin smacked her forehead, cursing her sister's terrible timing. The group of girls behind her tittered excitedly. "He's hot," someone mumbled.

"It's good to see you again," he greeted Yuzu, giving Karin a curious look.

"What are you doing here?" Karin demanded, betrayed.

He frowned. "I'm here to walk you home." More excited noise from the voyeurs. "I got some time off. Doesn't that movie you want to see come out today?"

"Yes," she replied, flustered. So flustered that she didn't realize he'd taken her backpack from her until she saw him slide it over his shoulder. The girls went wild.

"Is there a reason they're here?" he asked, eyes flashing annoyance.

"We're sorry," someone said, to Karin's horror. "We just wanted to see Karin's boyfriend."

Hitsugaya's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "Boyf—"

"TIME TO GO!" Karin announced, hooking her arm through his and dragging him away. "We're going to miss our movie!"

He followed her without resistance, though everything about him betrayed his bafflement. Yuzu walked beside them, that same smile from before gracing her lips.

And Karin was so mortified, she couldn't look him in the eye. "So," she said instead, hoping to change the subject and never, ever go back to it. "How did you get Rangiku-san to cover for you?"

Luckily, he took the bait. But as she half-listened, arm still linked through his, she had to wonder if at its base, her willingness to portray him as her boyfriend was more than just a white lie.