6

I Spy

…

Toshiro ran as fast and far as he could. People went through their busy lives around him, moving aside when he came near them. The street was crowded, but it hid him well. Occasionally, a car horn would sound, indicating when he'd accidentally run in front of it. This place was dangerous.

The area became clearer up ahead. There were less people, less lights, less noise. He broke into it. Now, instead of people, trees flew by him. He felt so childish running away like this, but he couldn't stand to be in the same room with Katashi. He didn't want his older brother to see him being so…so weak. It was only a nightmare, Toshiro tried to tell himself. All this stress had gotten to him and produced that image.

It wasn't real.

It couldn't be real.

His feet continued to pound on the pavement. His heartbeat accelerated. His senses were being distorted.

He couldn't trust his own memory anymore.

…

Karin was extremely thankful for all those years of soccer practice. They gave her endurance and the ability to look past the burning in her muscles and lungs. She rushed through the city and toward the only place where she could find sanctuary.

The sight of the field in the distance greeted her like an understanding friend. It had been there for all the good and bad times. She needed it again. All she had to do now was cross over the road, that road, and she would be safe and free.

As she started onto it, the railing by her side as if it were some sort of guide, she began to hear another noise. It was followed by a strange sensation. There was an abrupt burst of energy, both inside and outside her. The one inside was warm-almost hot-but the one outside was icy. She looked up. Another person was running straight past her. She stopped.

"Toshiro?"

He stopped as well. A head full of familiar white hair turned and she was met with bright teal eyes.

"Karin Kurosaki?"

She realized that the strange sensation was coming from him. In fact, it had only gotten stronger the closer they came. Goosebumps formed on her arms.

Toshiro, meanwhile, had also felt that strange sensation. The warmness was odd. Now realizing who was in front of him, though, he could tell that it was coming from her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I could ask you the same," he replied.

She glanced toward the ground. "It's nothing."

"Then the same here."

There was a tense pause.

"Ne, Toshiro?" Uncertainty welled up in Karin's chest as she prepared to speak.

"Yes?"

She gauged the captain's face closely. "What do you do…when someone is hiding something from you and…even when you know that something is wrong, they still won't tell you?"

He froze. She'd asked one of the exact questions plaguing his own mind. The only thing he could answer was, "I don't know."

Her fists clenched. "Oh."

"But let me guess," Toshiro continued. "They think you're too young and that not knowing is for your own good?"

"I'm not sure," she said. "Maybe."

He scoffed quietly.

Karin's gaze drifted toward the sky. Her onyx eyes widened. "Hey, the sun's setting."

Toshiro followed her stare. "So it is."

"Is that why you came here?" she wondered.

He lied to her. "Sure."

"Would you mind…if I watched, too?" she asked.

He watched her intently. She looked…lost. So he nodded. "If you want."

…

Fear began to set into Ulquiorra's mind, even if he refused to outwardly show it. Toshiro had just run off. What was troublesome was the look in the younger's eyes. It was…scared. He hadn't seen that in his brother ever since before they'd met again as Shinigami and ex-Arrancar. Thus, Ulquiorra's haste could be pardoned.

For a second, he thought he felt Toshiro's reiatsu, but it was too far away and too fast. It was gone before he'd even had the chance to track it. This left him once again with no idea of where his brother might be. He'd already searched half the town.

Another flash of the icy feeling rose, accompanied by one of heat. Ulquiorra skidded to a stop and immediately set out on tracking it. However, he was interrupted.

"Ah!"

Something large slammed into the pale man, knocking him off balance. He found stability in the brick wall behind him. The other figure ended up spinning to a stop. Obnoxiously orange hair alerted him to who it was.

"Kurosaki," he growled.

"Ulquiorra?"

"You made me lose my focus," Ulquiorra accused, using his I'm-so-calm-that-it's-obvious-I'm-angry-with-you voice.

"Sorry," Ichigo apologized quickly, "but I'm in a rush. I have to find my sister."

"And I have to find my brother," Ulquiorra shot back.

"Wait, Toshiro ran off?"

Ulquiorra gave Ichigo a bored look. "Yes, Kurosaki."

The bursts of heat and ice came again. At the same time, the two exclaimed, "That's him/her!"

They turned to look at each other. Only one glance was needed to confirm what they were thinking. The two sped off in the same direction in search of their siblings.

…

"You know, sometimes, I wonder if ignorance is bliss," Karin sighed.

"Ignorance can get you killed," Toshiro pointed out.

"Yeah, I guess so," she answered. "Which reminds me; I never said thank you."

He looked at her in surprise. "For what?"

"That one time, for saving me from that Hollow and…for not calling me crazy when I asked where Ichigo was, then for telling me that you knew he would be okay." She smiled at him. "You were the only one who ever told me anything."

His surprise showed only for an instant. Then, he tightened up again. "Just don't go around yelling that out. I could get in trouble with Soul Society. We're not supposed to tell humans about any of this."

She rolled her eyes. "That's kind of pointless considering I can see all you guys and the Hollows."

"You fight them, too, if you consider kicking a giant soul-hungry monster with a soccer ball fighting."

She was about to rebound on him for that when she saw that he was smirking. So, instead, she laughed.

"It's not like I can do anything else," she replied. "I'm not one of your oh-so-special Shinigami."

"I don't think you'd ever want to be," Toshiro answered.

"Not if I had to lie to everyone I know," she said, shaking her head, "but I wouldn't mind actually being able to do something when one of those monsters shows up instead of waiting for Ichigo to come save me."

"Who knows?" Toshiro asked. "After all, Karakura Town is a very strange place."

She laughed. "I'm watching the sunset with a Shinigami captain over four times my age, talking about killing Hollows. No kidding, Toshiro."

"It sounds really bad when you say it like that," he noticed.

Karin shot him an amused look. "Only in Karakura."

"Only in Karakura," he repeated.

Then, they watched as the sky turned red. It was the most peaceful red either of them had ever seen.

…

"The sun's setting," Ulquiorra noticed.

"Way to point out the obvious," Ichigo snapped. "Where the h- could they be?"

"I am not sure. Their reiatsu have calmed significantly and become untraceable."

A grassy field opened up in front of them. It was being tinted red by the sun's fading light. Ulquiorra stopped.

"What?" Ichigo asked.

"There," Ulquiorra replied. He pointed.

Sure enough, one black head and one white one sat side by side on top of a railing.

"What the-?" Ichigo sputtered. Shock registered. "What's your brother doing with my sister?"

"Laughing."

Ichigo gave the black-haired man a curious look at this. Taking another glance at the pair on top of the hill, he realized Ulquiorra was right. The two were laughing.

Ulquiorra's chest felt heavy. This was the first time in a long time that he'd seen Toshiro look so…carefree. That boy had bolted straight out of Ukitake's apartment with fear and confusion raging war on him, but there were no traces of that now. At least, none that Ulquiorra could see from this distance.

Ichigo had no clue what to do. Was he supposed to go in there in all his big brother glory and pull her away? Even when she looked so happy? He hadn't seen that face in awhile. He wasn't sure if he wanted to risk tearing it apart again. Still, it was his job to look out for her, regardless of whether or not he knew Toshiro was a good person.

They were both stuck.

Finally, Ichigo said, "I say we spy."

"That is completely immature, Kurosaki," Ulquiorra commented. "Not to mention we would betray their trust."

"They ran off on us," Ichigo said. "Plus, it's not like they would know."

Ulquiorra scoffed. "I am amazed that neither has sensed your overpowering reiatsu yet."

"Karin wouldn't be able to," Ichigo defended.

"I wouldn't count on that," Ulquiorra responded. "I sensed two reiatsu from this direction."

Ichigo frowned. "So?"

"How dense are you?" Ulquiorra was blunt. "If she has reiatsu, that means she might be able to sense those of others. Currently, both their reiatsu are stable, but earlier they would rise and fall at drastic levels. The last time I sensed them, they were together. However, I know that at least Toshiro would be able to recognize your presence. If he has not yet, there must be something happening. I think it might be possible that the combinations of their reiatsu have created a neutral zone."

Ichigo blinked. "What?"

"It is only a theory, but it could be possible for their reiatsu to be blocking each other out. If your sister's energy is more heat oriented, it could temporarily be calming Toshiro's ice zanpakuto and vice versa. Their reiatsu might be limited to a very small area, especially if it is being accidentally or purposely aimed at the other. This would make it difficult for us to sense them, but also for them to sense us. In other words, their senses are clouded due to being overloaded."

"That's not normal, is it?" Ichigo asked.

"Stronger reiatsu can hide the weaker," Ulquiorra said, "such as how your reiatsu is so thick that it can blind the spiritual senses of those around you. If that power was focused and contained, it could create a result like this, possibly even without opposing elements. Thus, it could be normal, simply unused. However, I told you, it's only a theory and I am not the best to ask on the norm of Shinigami."

Ichigo grunted. "Well, all theories need to be tested. Let's go."

…

Matsumoto was as happy as could be strolling out of the Senkaimon. She bathed in the scents and sounds and sights of the living world. She'd only been sent because Captain Ukitake had been found ill and someone needed to be there to supervise during the sickness, both now and for every time it happened afterward. Also, she had big news to deliver to her captain.

And all of this got her out of paperwork.

Closing her eyes, she tried to locate her captain's reiatsu. She couldn't feel a thing. Pouting, she instead tried searching for others. Ukitake was at home resting, Nel and her Fracción were on the other side of town, and Ichigo was by the fields.

The fields.

Matsumoto suddenly got an idea. Smiling, she dashed off toward the Substitute Shinigami. At least if her captain (who was possibly with Karin Kurosaki) wasn't there, she could bother Ichigo and ask if he'd seen the white-haired boy. Plus, if she got lucky, Captain would save her all the trouble by finding her via reiatsu.

It took her all of two minutes to get there considering she was still in Shinigami form and had the advantage of shunpo. She searched the darkening field thoroughly. A sly grin lit her face as she discovered two pleasant surprises. One, Toshiro and Karin were up on the railing, smiling and laughing and watching the sunset. Two, she caught Ichigo and Ulquiorra red-handed in spying on their younger siblings. Oh, this would be fun.

Deciding to be sneaky, Matsumoto hid her reiatsu and snuck up behind the two teenage boys. Then, when she was sure neither had noticed, she asked, "Wow, I never expected you two to sink to spying. Shame on you."

Ichigo jumped and whipped around. Ulquiorra's reaction was much more controlled.

"Matsumoto!" Ichigo whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"I was sent to help Captain Ukitake," she answered. "Imagine my surprise when I stumble on to this little act of treachery." She winked at the two. "Don't worry, I won't tell."

"Shhh!" Ichigo hissed, pulling her further into the grove of trees. "Be quiet or else they'll hear us."

She rolled her eyes. "They look pretty preoccupied up there."

This only deepened the carrot-top's frown. "How do they know each other, anyway?"

"Karin didn't tell you?" Mastumoto inquired. "Captain saved her from a Hollow one day."

"No, she didn't tell me that," Ichigo mumbled.

"Well, they look like they're having a good time," Matsumoto observed.

"Which means we should leave," Ulquiorra insisted.

"If you leave now, they'll see you," Ichigo replied.

"And if you two keep talking, they'll hear you," Matsumoto cut in. "Now shush so I can hear what they're saying."

"Hey, Toshiro, did you ever want to finish that soccer game?" Karin asked. "You know, without you having to run off to go slay a Hollow or whatever."

"The chances of that are low," Toshiro remarked.

"A low chance of wanting to play soccer or a low chance in not having to go slay Hollows?" she questioned.

"The latter," he answered.

"How many Hollows are there usually?"

He shrugged. "It depends."

"Then why do they always seem to have to show up during soccer?" she groaned.

"Do you want me to answer that truthfully?"

"Of course."

"Then it's probably because when you play soccer, your reiatsu raises, so they're attracted to it," he said. "Reiatsu and aggression often go hand-in-hand."

"Ah, all this Shinigami stuff is so confusing," she admitted. "I wish Ichigo would actually decide to explain it to me instead of avoiding the topic."

At this, said teen's face began to redden.

"Hey, look!" Karin exclaimed. "The first star!"

"So?" Toshiro asked.

"You're supposed to make a wish."

"Why?" Toshiro wondered. "That seems pointless."

"Yeah, I know," Karin agreed, "but it's fun. C'mon, Toshiro, haven't you ever done anything just for fun?"

He shrugged.

"Hey, how come he doesn't make her call him Captain Hitsugaya?" Ichigo complained.

"We are not in Soul Society," Ulquiorra pointed out. "Such a title would be rather misplaced."

"But he doesn't even make her call him by his last name!"

"Shhh!" Matsumoto reprimanded.

"It's getting dark out now," Karin noticed. "I should probably get back to my family. I kind of ran off on them earlier."

"I should also return," Toshiro realized.

"It was nice hanging out with you, Toshiro!" Karin called. "We should do it again sometime if you're ever in Karakura."

"Who knows?" he asked.

Karin walked away. However, she didn't get more than ten feet when it felt like something shattered. Instantly, the two had their eyes glued to the trees that Ichigo, Ulquiorra, and Matsumoto were standing behind.

"The neutral barrier has been broken," Ulquiorra stated.

"Matsumoto!" Toshiro yelled in anger.

"Ichigo!" Karin reprimanded similarly.

"Crap, we've been found out," Ichigo cursed.

"Eh, Captain, hello…" Matsumoto greeted, stepping out guiltily with her hands in front of her. "What a surprise seeing you here."

"Katashi?" the boy scolded, eyes discovering the pale man. "What was that about following people being childish?"

"…Kurosaki made me."

That was when Karin stomped up. Before Ichigo could so much as speak, she landed a punch to his face. He cried out as he rubbed his jaw. It burned and even his amateur senses could feel the reiatsu laced into the mark.

"What is your problem?" Karin exclaimed. She was shaking and hot energy was pouring out of her like crazy. Even Toshiro was looking at her in amazement.

"Karin, I-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses anymore, Ichigo!" she yelled. "I don't care. You're always sneaking around behind my back, so just leave me alone. It's not like you already don't. Next time you decide to get out of my life, stay that way. I'm going home."

"Stop, Karin!" Ichigo called after her. "It's complicated."

"What's so complicated that you have to keep lying to me and Yuzu? Do you even know how many times you've made her cry?"

A stab of guilty pain hit Ichigo's heart. His face reflected this. "Karin, you're still young. There are some things you're better off not knowing."

Karin froze at his words. She began to shake.

"But let me guess," Toshiro had said. "They think you're too young and that not knowing is for your own good?"

The words echoed hauntingly. She couldn't take it anymore. She turned tail and ran. Ichigo vainly reached a hand after her, defeated.

Toshiro shook his head and walked off in the same direction. "I hope you three are happy with yourselves," he said, "because considering think of us as children, you've been setting a horrible example."

"Captain…" Matsumoto muttered.

He ignored her and continued on. No one moved to follow either of the two.

"We've screwed up," Ichigo concluded.

"For once, your summary of the situation is extremely accurate," Ulquiorra agreed.

"Aren't you guys going to do anything?" Mastumoto asked.

Ichigo touched his throbbing jaw. "I'll go ask Chad if I can spend the night at his house while Karin cools off."

"That's all?" she pursued.

"What else do you want me to do?" he rebounded. "I already made her hate me."

Matsumoto turned to Ulquiorra. "And what about you?"

"I will go check back with Urahara," he answered. "It would be suicidal to instigate Toshiro now."

"Well, I'm going to go after him," she announced, "before he ends up sleeping on another roof."

"Another?" Ulquiorra whispered to himself.

"And," Matsumoto continued, "I'm going to ask Rukia to talk to Karin."

"But Rukia's a Shinigami, too," Ichigo asserted.

Matsumoto gave him a steely glare. "It's more than you're doing."

She used flash step to disappear, hoping that in the meantime, those two would think of some way to fix this. Because obviously, the argument was about more than the spying.

…

Again: NO PAIRINGS INTENDED.

Friendship is the limit.

I think now would be a good time to remind everyone that this story deviates from canon since after Ulquiorra's death. I guess that should be kind of obvious, since I wrote Ulquiorra killing Aizen. However, assume that everything after Ulquiorra's (anime/manga) death has not happened.

By the way, I also had to fix a few of my timeline screw-ups in Like Brothers. And people say I'm good at math. If you notice any more, tell me so that I can fix them.

Thank you to: windlily and 69EmoGaaraFan69.