Author Note: Hello again, my lovely readers! CrazyAce'n'PokerFace proudly present Chapter 3 of Midnight Snow. Thank you to all of you who are reading this story, especially to those who have also alerted, reviewed, or added this story to their favorites. The following is a list of these wonderful people, to whom we owe much gratitude: Spockie, anna1594, Turtle-chan in Blue, , Tharrow, ticking-clocks8, XX825N12319W, oOoHKoOo, Red-Haired-Jack, NarayaEdea, ichilover3, Revanent, Life is Full Of Regrets, Tasogare X, Gray Tasare, Ash-chan13, Shizuku700, lilithchild, Auditory Eden, irsistort, Soul-Searcher16, ScienceAngel, xkaleidoscopex, and SilverDragonEyeCardSpiritWolf. Thank you to them and to everyone who's stuck with us thus far. And now, on with the story!

WARNING: Upcoming mentions of RenRuki. Please feel free to criticize my writing, but not the couple. Thank you.

Normal = prose, italics = thoughts or inner conversations

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters. They belong solely to Tite Kubo. However, if there was an alternate universe where I do own Bleach, I will promptly give my left arm to switch with my other self. I also do not own any of the chapter titles. Cookies for anyone who guesses which poems they're from. :)

Chapter Three: And Miles to Go Before I Sleep

i.

It really wasn't so bad, he supposed. It could have been worse. It definitely could have been worse.

He just couldn't think of how it could be worse at the moment.

Staring back and forth between Matsumoto, who was grinning at him evilly, and Momo, who was smiling at him expectantly, he could think of only one way to reply:

"I don't think so."

And there it was, the instant pout forming on both faces so quickly that he wondered if they had it synchronized down to the second. He wouldn't put it past Matsumoto to have planned the whole thing out already, and even though Momo seemed sweet and naïve, she hadn't gotten to be fukutaichou by playing it safe. He was dealing with two very formidable opponents here, and he couldn't afford to misstep; otherwise, he'd end up—no, no, no. Focus, he had to focus. He would not let them beat him, oh, no, he would not succumb, no matter what.

Oh, Kami-sama help me, he thought. He could see tears forming in Momo's eyes. Now, that really wasn't fair, she knew he was a sucker for girls who cried, especially when it was her who was turning on the waterworks. What had she expected? She was practically his sister in all but blood and name. He couldn't help himself, he just had to say ye—

Wait a minute, wait a damn minute! Was he a Taichou or wasn't he? He could stay strong, he had to! All right, all he had to do was calm down, think of a good excuse, and graciously present it with every sign of deepest regret and sorrow. That should be enough to get rid of them, at least for an hour or so while he hastily located one of the other Taichous and switched patrol schedules with them. Then he'd really have a fool-proof, bona-fide excuse to get out of the nightmare his self-proclaimed saviors were planning for him.

Slanting his eyes oh-so-very-casually away from the disappointed faces in front of him, (must not let them see weakness, must not!) he stated simply, "I just don't have the time to do what you're suggesting. And besides, isn't there someone else who'd be better suited for the role? I must be your last resort. Surely Unohana-taichou would be happy to preside, or perhaps Soi Fon-taichou…"

His stomach sank slightly as they shook their heads no.

"Sorry, Taichou," Matsumoto said, not looking sorry at all. "Seireitei regulations state that a visiting party to the Real World whose numbers exceed six members, for reasons other than Hollow elimination, i.e. recreation, must have a chaperone to accompany them. This chaperone must also be of at least equal rank to the highest-ranking member of the party, and cannot be included in the party him or herself. As Unohana-taichou and Soi Fon-taichou are both coming as part of the Women's Association, that rules them out for the role. And all other taichous are either unavailable or too sickly to make the journey, limiting the number of eligible people of suitable rank to one person—namely, you." She grinned slyly at him, pushing forward the latest edition of the Seireitei Regulation Book.

"What? Since when is that a rule!" exclaimed Hitsugaya, flipping through the pages frantically.

"Well, ever since the Women's Association took that unscheduled beach trip, and the local humans complained of mutant watermelons," stated Momo sheepishly. "The new Central 46 decided it would be more prudent if uninvolved chaperones were to accompany any groups heading to the Real World for a vacation, just as an extra precaution, you see."

"Yes, Taichou! And so we have chosen you to be our chaperone! No one can doubt your integrity and suitability for the job!" said Matsumoto happily.

"You're only saying that because you know I can't control the lot of you, so you'll have virtually free rein once we get there," grumbled Hitsugaya.

"Exactly, Taichou! It's a perfect set-up. Now just say yes and in two weeks we'll be ready to go," said Matsumoto, not-so-subtly urging him to capitulate. "We can even pack your bags for you and everything, you don't have to do a thing. After all, the paperwork's been taken care of—"

"Oh, really, Matsumoto?" he sarcastically interrupted.

"Uh-huh. I'll dump all of our paperwork for that week on Nanao-chan, and she'll have her drones finish it up. Those Eighth Division workers can be really dedicated, you know."

"The answer's still no, Matsumoto. Just cancel the trip. I'm not coming with you," said Hitsugaya, exasperated with his fukutaichou's scheming.

"But Shiro-kun!" protested Momo. "We can't cancel this trip! It's absolutely necessary for Rukia-chan's wedding!"

"That's Hitsugaya-taichou to you, Hinamori. And I don't see how this vacation that you dreamed up is 'absolutely necessary' for Kuchiki-san's wedding," he crossly stated, fast losing his patience. "So far as I can tell, she and Abarai-taichou are completely absorbed in each other, and separating them would be classified as torture, not as help."

"But Taichou! Surely you know that she has to go and pick out her wedding trousseau, and register for gifts, and have a bachelorette party! And she certainly can't do those things here, not when half her friends are in the Real World, including two of her bridesmaids and her maid of honor! And she certainly can't have a bachelorette party without the rest of us from Soul Society! So obviously the most convenient thing for everyone to do is rendezvous in the Real World for a week or so before the wedding," Matsumoto stated, sounding like the very voice of sweet reason.

"Yes, Shiro-kun," agreed Momo. "Besides, this'll give Kuchiki-taichou some space to finish all the preparations for the wedding without Yachiru-san getting under foot. Why, just last week she completely wrecked the gazebo he was setting up on the clan's estate!"

"And distance will be good for the two love-birds. Renji-kun and Rukia-chan are driving each other crazy right now, since Rukia-chan is desperately trying to get every single detail perfect, and Renji-kun's frantically trying his best to prove that he's still worthy of her by being even more obsessive-compulsive than she is. A little breathing space will remind the both of them why they're getting married in the first place," stated Matsumoto emphatically.

"I don't care. I'm still not going," Hitsugaya stubbornly replied.

Matsumoto and Momo exchanged glances before turning to look straight at him.

Uh-oh, he thought. That can't be good…

"I'm sorry to have to resort to this, Taichou, but you really leave us no choice," Matsumoto stated gravely. Pulling out an official-looking paper from her waistband, she began to imperiously recite: "I have solemnly agreed not to renege on my official duty as acting chaperone for the Women's Association 'Operation Bachelorette' party. I have agreed to accompany said group on their authorized trip to the Real World, and will not break my word under any circumstances. If I do so, I submit myself to the penalty of eating an eight-course meal specially prepared by Inoue Orihime with the aid of Matsumoto Rangiku. Signed," here she paused for dramatic effect, "Hitsugaya Toushirou, Taichou of the Tenth Division."

"When did I sign that?" he screamed disbelievingly, staring at the familiar signature on the evil document. Could Matsumoto have forged…? No, surely even she has higher standards than that, he thought.

"Really, Taichou, you ought to pay more attention to what you're given to sign. I just slipped this into the pile of paperwork you were tackling yesterday. And now…" she smiled tauntingly, "…we have leverage."

Flabbergasted, he turned to Momo, who was blushing with embarrassment, but looked straight at him, stonily resolved. "I'm sorry, Hitsugaya-kun. But this is important," she said quietly.

"I can't believe you're resorting to blackmail," he said, rolling his eyes. "Do you really need me that badly?"

"Of course we do, Taichou! No one else would put up with us the way you do," Matsumoto said.

"Please, Hitsugaya-kun!" pleaded Momo. He could feel his objections weakening.

There was a five-second pause. And then: "All right. I'll go."

Matsumoto and Momo began cheering ecstatically, victory won. Hitsugaya merely exhaled loudly, putting his head in his hands. Why, oh, why didn't he run the minute he saw the pair of them in the room? Now he was condemned to keeping the Women's Association in check in the Real World, while they were planning Kuchiki Rukia's bachelorette party. Who knew what Kurotsuchi's daughter would be planning? And how was he ever going to keep Yachiru from destroying the town? Great, just great.

As he uttered another despairing groan, Matsumoto stopped celebrating long enough to pat him sympathetically on the back.

"Cheer up, Taichou," she said consolingly. "This'll be good for you, too. It'll let you unwind a little, get rid of that stress you've been bottling up inside you. Oh, don't you give me any of your excuses, Taichou," she said in warning, just as Hitsugaya opened his mouth to protest. "I can tell when something's wrong with you, and hopefully this trip'll help fix the problem."

"Yes, Shiro-kun," agreed Momo, all pretenses of respect dropped now that the battle was won. "You need to relax and get some fresh air. You've spent too much time working recently, and I can tell you're not getting much sleep. Besides," she said, brightening as a thought occurred to her, "you can go and visit Karin-chan. I'm sure she can get you to laugh. She can always get you to laugh."

"Ah, yes! Karin-chan is sure to cheer you up…right, Tai-i-i-ichou?" said Matsumoto, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"MATSUMOTO!" yelled Hitsugaya. "I've told you a million times! There is nothing between me and Kurosaki!"

"Of course not, Taichou! We were referring to Karin-chan, not Ichigo-kun," said his fukutaichou, deliberately misunderstanding him. "You shouldn't get her confused with her brother; she's so much prettier, after all, and far smarter, too."

"I wasn't talking about Kurosaki, I was talking about Kuro—oh, just get back to your work! It's pointless explaining that Karin and I are just friends," he said, slightly red in the face, from anger or embarrassment Matsumoto couldn't tell, but she highly suspected it was the latter.

Grinning, she continued.

"Did you hear that, Hinamori? He called her 'Karin' so casually! My, my, my, they do get along so well, don't they? And they make such a cute couple, too! Well, at least they would if Taichou would smile more," she said, putting her hands to her face to exaggerate her own smile.

Momo giggled as Matsumoto continued rhapsodizing about Karin's attributes, moving on to describe her physical assets: "And have you noticed how much she's matured, Taichou? She's definitely blossomed into a beautiful young woman, hasn't she? With that pretty smile and raven hair. Why, all the boys in her town must be—"

And suddenly she stopped, noticing the abrupt drop of temperature in the room.

"They must be what, Matsumoto?" her taichou asked, frigidly.

"N-nothing, Taichou," she hastily recanted. "I was just kidding around, you know."

"Good. Because that's my close friend you're talking about, and I wouldn't appreciate you spreading false rumors about her," bit out Hitsugaya. "Karin isn't some romantic fool who'd fall blindly for a guy, no matter how many were chasing her. She'd pick somebody worthy of her, and she'd definitely tell me if she found someone like that."

"I know that," Matsumoto said, seriously. But then reverting to her light-hearted bantering, she cheekily continued, "But you're sounding awfully possessive, Taichou. Almost like her father—wait, wait! Her grandfather would be more accurate, especially with your hair coloring!"

Momo's answering peal of laughter could be heard from across the building, as well as Matsumoto's shrieks and Hitsugaya's irate voice as she agilely dodged the wadded up paper balls heading her way.

All in all, it was just another normal day for the Tenth Division office.

ii.

Hitsugaya sighed as he made his way through the halls, walking towards the Thirteenth Division office. He couldn't believe the mess that he'd gotten himself into. Oh, well. He'd just have to deal with it, like usual.

And it's true that this is the perfect excuse to go and see Karin, his mind whispered. That more than makes up for the hassle of baby-sitting Matsumoto and the others.

He couldn't help but smirk at this thought. Who'd have known that Matsumoto of all people would be the reason for an unscheduled jaunt to the Real World? He'd have to thank her—after he survived the trip, of course. It had been quite a while since he'd last visited (five months, three weeks, two days, and…six hours? Yes, six. But who was keeping track, anyway?), and he relished the opportunity to talk with Karin face to face. He'd sent a couple of letters, via Urahara, but he didn't trust the man to not go through his mail, so it wasn't as if he could actually include any pertinent details in them. And her replies were equally…not impersonal, but more…light-hearted. Yes, that was the word. Light-hearted. They never discussed anything serious in the letters, just the normal day-to-day events. He treasured them anyway, but he had yet to find the opportunity to talk to her about the dreams.

Yes, those annoying dreams that had been haunting his mind at night and stalking his thoughts during the day. Honestly, he didn't know what to make of them. Did the appearance of a dark castle in his inner world signal a change in his future? Was it a premonition of some cataclysmic event? And who on earth was the owner of the voice he could just make out before waking up? It sounded so…familiar. Like someone he should know anywhere…

He scowled. It was so frustrating! Like a song stuck in his head, with just the melody playing, and no words and no title to help him figure out which song it was. And it wouldn't go away. It was like his brain was tuned into this one particular song, metaphorically speaking. And it was driving him insane.

He paused thoughtfully. Maybe he shouldn't tell Karin about the dreams at all. It would probably just make her worry, and besides, it was galling to admit that he had a problem he couldn't solve by himself. He scowled again. Knowing Karin, she'd most likely needle him mercilessly before giving him her take on the subject. But then…that was what best friends did, didn't they? They told each other their problems, and helped each other figure them out. It's like a rule or something, he thought. So I guess I've got no choice; I'd definitely want her to tell me if something was bothering her, and there's no way I'd let her keep a secret like this one.

Nodding to himself, decision made, he continued on his way to Thirteenth Division, to collect Third Seat Kotetsu Kiyone's signature, and get approval from Ukitake-taichou for his subordinate to go on the trip. She was the last member on his list, and he was looking forward to a quick training session afterwards to finish off his day and help clear his mind.

Arriving at Ukitake's office right after his eardrums were shattered by Kiyone's squeal of excitement, he lightly tapped on the door, waiting for Ukitake's quiet reply before entering the room.

"Ah, Toushirou-kun," said Ukitake, looking up from his book. "I wasn't expecting you today. How are you doing?"

"Just fine, thank you," Hitsugaya murmured, holding out the approval sheet at the same time. Ukitake took it and quickly scanned it, raising his brows in surprise when he got to the end.

"You're chaperoning the Women's Association? Willingly?" Ukitake asked, incredulously.

"Not quite, but that's the official version, and I'm just doing what I'm told," stated Hitsugaya, rolling his eyes.

Ukitake grinned at the younger Taichou's exasperation. "Ah, I'm sorry, Toushirou-kun. I would chaperone them myself, but my lungs have been acting up again, and Kiyone-chan and Sentaro-kun have forbidden me to go. But the change of scenery should do you some good; you've been too cooped up in your office as of late."

Hitsugaya frowned slightly. "Why is everyone always telling me that? I feel fine," he grumbled in annoyance.

"They're just concerned for you, Toushirou-kun. I would take it as a compliment. Many of the other officers worry for you, you know. It concerns even us taichous that someone so young should bear the burden of so many responsibilities. It's not that we doubt your capability to handle them, of course. It's just that having you take a break once in a while makes us worry less," explained Ukitake patiently. "We want you around for a long time, after all."

Slightly gratified, Hitsugaya bowed once before heading to the door, stopping and stiffening abruptly when Ukitake gave his parting remark, "And do say hello to Karin-chan for me when you visit her, will you? It's been nearly a year since I've last seen her."

Turning back, Hitsugaya gave a short nod in the affirmative before making his way out of the suddenly stuffy room, eager to get away from Ukitake's distinctly knowing expression.

Why do they ALWAYS assume that there's something going on between us? he agonized silently. We're friends. Just friends.

And he walked quickly down the corridors, hunching his shoulders in an attempt to ignore all the suggestions and expectations being leveled at him, wondering if Karin suffered from the same innuendos. Shaking his head, he decided not to dwell on it; after all, he really needed to get the paperwork for the trip filed. And then afterwards…he could go and relax for a bit. Looking forward to a break from all the hectic activity of the day, he strode more quickly towards his own office, a faint smirk on his face and an eager gleam in his eye.

iii.

He stood alone in an empty clearing, located some distance away from the Tenth Division training grounds. It was mid-afternoon, and the sun shown down brightly on the verdant grass and wild plant life growing in the field. However, the shadows formed by a few tall trees provided a sharp contrast to all that golden glowing. In addition, the grass had yet to cover deep gouges present in the stony earth, and moss could not quite hide the wide, jagged cuts on some of the tree trunks, hinting that the cheerful little clearing had witnessed violence. The sound of slow, steadily moving water echoed off the rough rock walls enclosing the vaguely circular space, indicating a nearby stream, but other than that, it was completely silent, as if even the animals hesitated to disturb the place. After all, it was the domain of a dragon.

And he was present now, resting within the lean, muscled frame of a white-haired boy clothed in simple black.

Breathing in and out, Hitsugaya concentrated on the unsheathed sword in his hands, slowly going through the movements of a basic exercise, stretching his muscles and warming up his body. His eyes were closed, sea-green orbs hidden from the outside world, concentration furrowing his brow lightly and thinning his mouth into a firm line. His even, graceful movements belied his skill, and the familiarity with which he performed the maneuvers suggested his experience. But something about the way he held the sword…it showed his power, fearsome and vast. Everything about him suggested absolute control and confidence.

Suddenly his eyes opened, that shocking teal blazing forth. And his movements switched from slow and even to blindingly swift, the sword forming a silver arc, cutting rapidly through the air, all that slumbering power bursting free, free, free. Narrowing his eyes, he stepped into the familiar pattern, one perfected through decades of practice. He sparred intimately with an invisible opponent, his sword a blur of white.

Breath in, breath out. Step, sidestep, cut. Draw back, hold steady, then—attack! Thrust forward, parry, block. Breath out, breath in. Step, dodge, weave under, move aside…wait for it, wait for it—there! An opening! Slice, counter, step, and thrust. Inhale, exhale. Step, jump, kick. Exhale, inhale. Watch the form there, keep the footing steady. Whirl around, sword at the ready, slash downwards, then step back. Feel the sun and shadows dance across his face, the grass and dirt shift beneath his feet, the wind ruffle his hair. Feel the pull of muscle, the sweat on his skin, the blood rushing through him, the familiar weight of his sword in his hands. Fight, defend, protect what's precious to him. Never give an inch. Then thrust forward, his sword a straight line, aimed at an imaginary foe's heart. Stand still for a second, then repeat the pattern. And repeat. And repeat again, until the sun is mellow and hazy orange instead of blazing yellow, until the shadows grow and leap and fill the clearing.

Push himself until all that he knows, all that exists for him is the sword in his hand, the dragon in his soul. Until the worries and stress of his life have been torn to shreds. Until the dreams are not merely forgotten, but erased completely, and all thoughts of a dark castle and a haunting voice have been pushed out of his mind.

At least until he stops, and they come creeping out of the shadows. The black castle calling him to reach it, to discover its secrets. The voice compelling him to listen.

Groaning, he sheathed his sword and cradled his head in his hands. He had to stop this; he was driving himself insane! They were just dreams: inconsequential, insignificant. Better to think of more useful things. Getting up, he shunpo'd out of the clearing, running faster than the wind until he reached the edge of a nearby cliff. Sighing, he sat down with a soft thump, letting his feet dangle over the edge. He turned his troubled gaze out towards a glorious sunset, formed of delicate pinks and blurry oranges, with the deepening shades of night making their appearance, wistful violets and shadowy blues. And as the sun slowly lowered, and day faded into night, he let himself relax in the memories the scene before him evoked. Sunsets had always reminded him of both endings and beginnings, and it occurred to him that his life was composed of nothing but these.

He thought of his shy, gentle sister sharing watermelons with him, of his grandmother running a comb through his unruly hair, of worry-free days chatting with Jidanbou, stuffing his face with ame-natto, and playing soccer by himself in empty fields. He smiled a little at the last image; Hinamori had insisted he join the local team, so that he could make some friends in their neighborhood. That had been a disastrous plan, as he'd been as outcast and alone as ever. However, he had to concede that there had been some good things about it: he'd found that he loved the game, and learned how to play like a demon, discovering that skill could always shut up even the most loudmouthed of bullies. His signature back-flip kick had earned him respect, if not friends. Besides, playing alone hadn't been so bad, as it was preferable to pitting himself against players who weren't a challenge at all. He smirked. Hinamori would scold him for being too arrogant if she could hear his thoughts now.

He gazed lazily at a passing cloud, its shape reminding him of a sword. He moved on from memories of Junrin'an, and thought instead of entering the Shinigami Academy, graduating the top of his class, and becoming taichou. He thought of naps in his office, bantering with Matsumoto, and taking that first glorious sip of coffee after working all night on forms and papers and official documents. He thought of visits to the Real World, killing Hollows, keeping his subordinates in check, and bonding with them and the crazy humans who lived in Karakura.

Grinning to himself now, he thought of all the loud, colorful, insane people he knew and counted as comrades and (reluctantly in some cases) friends. He started sifting through a collage of random memories. He remembered how Hinamori had pouted when he finally started growing, reaching his current height of 176 cm (a/n: around 5'9") and towering over her.

He frowned when he recalled Matsumoto teasing him about how the female Academy students had switched from labeling him as the "Cutest Taichou" to voting him as the "Sexiest Taichou" instead, and scowled even more as he recalled the hordes of rabid fan girls trailing after him and generally being a nuisance.

He thought of Ukitake-taichou still giving him candy and Kyouraku-taichou giving him advice on how to woo women.

He thought of Yachiru drawing all over his paperwork and Unohana-taichou forcing her to apologize.

He remembered (unfortunately) Abarai, Madarame, Ayesegawa, and Hisagi dragging him along with them to a bar, resulting in his first hangover.

He recalled Kira nervously asking him for permission to date Hinamori (that had been…weird, to say the least).

He thought of Rukia-san organizing a huge snow ball fight including practically one-half of Soul Society, and convincing him to join her team.

He thought of Orihime-san trading recipes with Matsumoto, and giving him a potted plant, to "help liven up your office," she had smiled.

He rolled his eyes at the memory of Kurosaki's perpetually scowling face, yelling at him and hypocritically accusing him of being an idiot.

He thought of snow ball fights and sand castle contests and watching fireworks. He thought of lazy conversations and exasperating antics and bawdy jokes. He remembered hard-won battles fighting side by side, and trusting the person next to him to watch his back.

He thought of what it felt like to look around one day at all these people and realize that he had friends. People who didn't just respect him, but loved him and supported him. It had been shocking to say the least, but oddly pleasant. It was nice to not be alone. It was nice to be able to acknowledge that even if playing soccer by yourself was better than having nothing to do at all, it still sucked.

As the sun became a glowing half-circle fast disappearing below the horizon, Hitsugaya let himself think of a soccer game played with an actual team, of a gray railing overlooking other sunsets, and of a laughing, black-haired girl who smiled as if she could see the future and liked what she would become. A girl he counted as first among his friends.

Kurosaki Karin.

As best friends went, he knew she was an unlikely choice for him. But really, what could he do? The minute he'd stopped her soccer ball, fate had practically painted a mark on his back and told her to use it for target practice. They'd been drawn to each other; that was the only way to explain it. After all, she'd managed to find him twice in one day, intriguing him with her apparent spiritual powers and then cajoling him to play soccer for her team of ragtag friends, who'd been slightly annoying but mostly amusing, and were nowhere near as interesting as her.

The next day he'd followed her, trying to identify that mysterious feel to her reiatsu. She was powerful, more powerful than a human should be, but then again this was Karakura, home to the biggest circus of spiritual freaks. So he'd listened to his instincts and traced her unique spiritual energy to a nearby park…and was promptly discovered by Matsumoto—even then his fukutaichou had been teasing him and labeling his feelings as something more than platonic. He'd left in a huff after that, but not before sparing one last look at the human girl.

He'd put her out of his mind, never expecting to see her again, when she showed up at the railing once more, panting from exertion and glaring at him accusingly. He couldn't help but admire her self-assurance and her persistence in trying to recruit him. He'd answered her with a question, keeping his responses deliberately vague as he'd stared at the sunset and saw only the past. Then his phone had started beeping, signaling yet another Hollow to take care of. Turning away to track it down, he was stopped suddenly by a hand on his arm and a sharp, penetrating stare.

He remembered it, that look of fierce concentration, compelling him to listen to her and to not go that way. He could feel her reiatsu as well, flaring sharply like a beacon before returning back to normal. She'd had unrivaled control over her spiritual energy, even back then… And while he was staring at her, trying to figure her out, she'd let go and stepped away, averting her gaze and innocently trying to explain why she'd suddenly grabbed him. He could see through her excuses; she was definitely hiding something.

The next day, he'd shown up at her soccer game, the one she'd been pestering him about, determined to talk to her and get to the bottom of things, to solve the mystery around her that had been puzzling him. But before he could get the chance to speak to her alone, he realized that she'd been hurt while playing, and he could see the bruise on her leg, the shadow of pain in her eyes.

But he also saw the determination to win, to defend her territory, and to protect what belonged to her, despite the pain. He could see that this was a girl who didn't cry or break or lose control, not ever. And so, intrigued by the resolve he'd seen in those eyes, he'd stepped in to help. Just a game, he told himself. Just a game. But he'd let her kick the winning goal, because it wasn't just a game to her. This was a test, a test to see if she could be as strong as she needed to be. He understood that, and so he'd passed the ball and stepped back, watching her take that victory and prove that strength.

After the others were celebrating their triumph, she'd walked over to him to thank him, and he took the opportunity to question her and get some concrete answers. But like always, life interfered and a Hollow showed up. He'd been shocked when, instead of running away, she'd tried to fight it. He'd been more shocked afterwards to discover that she could see him while in his shinigami form, only to understand once she'd explained that she was Kurosaki's sister. No wonder she was so strong. But he could see her strength struggling against doubt and fear for her brother, so he couldn't help but comfort her, and soon enough, she'd smiled that carefree, confident smile at him. Matsumoto had appeared then, and they'd exchanged the usual introductions, when Karin had promptly repaid his kindness by patting him on the head and teasing him, causing him to lose his temper spectacularly.

He should have seen that as a warning.

The next time he'd seen her was at Soul Society, at the victory ball held in honor of the end of the war. He'd hated every minute of it; the music was too loud, the food was gone by the time he'd escaped from well-wishers, and the people were rude and pushy, congratulating him on having fought so well while simultaneously asking for favors. He'd retreated to an out-of the-way balcony to get away from the crowd, and found her staring up at the night sky. He'd stood there for a moment, debating whether or not he should just walk away (he couldn't really expect her to remember him) when she'd caught sight of him and promptly waved.

Looking away, he'd been about to leave when she'd called him a midget. Now he really couldn't stand for that, could he? So he'd turned around to yell at her…and an hour later, he found himself glued to her side as she animatedly talked to him, and was surprised to realize that he actually liked listening to her. She wasn't looking to use him or fawn over him, not like the others did; she genuinely wanted to spend time with him because she liked his company. It was refreshing, to say the least. So he'd leaned against the banister and listened to her talk, noting with faint surprise how her eyes were not black as he'd originally supposed, but a dark, mysterious gray. It suited her, he thought, suited that carefree smile of hers. And as those gray eyes sparkled at him, he'd simply stated, "It's good to see you haven't changed."

For some reason, he found himself wishing she never would.

So a few weeks later, he'd volunteered for Hollow duty around Karakura, never admitting to himself that he was hoping to see her. But see her he did, and the next thing he knew, he was constantly on the lookout for any excuse to visit her, and inordinately pleased whenever she was able to visit him, even if she found inappropriate uses for the paperwork. And he found himself relaxing more, laughing more, seeing the world through her eyes, and finding he liked the view.

Within six months, he could honestly say she was his best friend, the only person who could understand him without saying a word. He'd known it when they'd stood at their railing, watching yet another sunset, and he'd asked her what she thought best defined her.

She'd smiled at him, and said, "Being a sister."

He'd been shocked into silence, and in the quiet that followed, she began to explain herself:

"Being Yuzu's sister taught me what it means to love someone more than you love yourself, to want that person to be happy and safe no matter what, and knowing that you'd do anything to protect her. She also taught me to accept who I am without any apologies, that it didn't matter if I wasn't as pretty and gentle as she was, or that I couldn't cook or clean like she could. She loved me for being me, for being different, and nothing would ever change that.

"It's hard having a sister, because even though I want to make sure she never gets hurt, I have to step back and let her make her own mistakes. I have to believe in her, and trust that even if her heart gets broken or her dreams don't come true, she'll be strong enough to keep on going. Doesn't mean that I won't kick the snot out of anyone who messes with her, of course," she said with a grin. Letting it fade, she watched the sky once more, quietly continuing.

"But since I know what it's like to have a sister, I know what it's like to be a sister. For Ichi-nii, I learned what it meant to let someone else protect me, to be the one who held that person's heart. It was hard, you know, letting him go off and fight. I knew that I was too weak to do anything to help, and that I'd only make him worry if I tried, so I held back and kept his secrets, letting him fight for me, for all of us.

"I know what it's like to be the protector, and I know what it's like to be the one protected. And because I know, I have both kinds of strength, the one that lets me fight for my family, and the one that lets me wait for them to come back home. So yeah, being a sister is what defines me, because it's made me strong enough for anything."

Saying that, she'd lapsed into silence, and he'd realized that in some ways, she was stronger than he was. And he admired her for it; the same way he admired her for her biting sarcasm, her sharp mind, and her determination to achieve her goals. He also admired her fierce loyalty to her friends and her undeniable (if exasperated) love for her family. There was nobody else like her, and he was proud to be her friend.

He just wished he didn't miss her so much.

Sighing, he looked up at the now darkened sky, staring intently at the stars for one more second before getting up, making his way back to his quarters. Once there, he'd probably finish up a few stray reports, go over some of the plans for the trip, maybe even read a book. And of course, he'd write a letter to Karin, telling her that he'd see her in two weeks, and to be prepared to lose to him at soccer again.

Imagining her scowl when she'd read that line, he smirked a little and felt the slight ache in his heart disappear, eagerness taking its place as he looked forward to seeing her once more, black castles and mysterious voices completely forgotten.

Endnote: All right, I think that should be the last of the super-long chapters…well, probably not. I can't seem to write anything shorter than 4,000 words. XD

Sorry for taking so long on all the back-ground stuff, but I really wanted to show the parallels between Karin and Hitsugaya's lives, and just generally show what a normal day is like for the two of them. But from now on, the plot should be going a little faster, so thank you for sticking it out. :D

For anyone who's wondering, the last chapter title was taken from "She Walks in Beauty," by Lord Byron. Kudos to anyone who guessed properly! :)

Hopefully, I'll post the next chapter soon, so I'll see you then. Please review if you can! I'd like to reach fifteen reviews! :D