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Crush Three: You, Me, and the Monster Part 1- Soccer

Running over fields, swimming in the river- it was you, me, and the monster. I talked endlessly with you, backed by and unforgettable sunset sky. Eating melted ice cream and laughing over it with a snort, that summer-suited crush made my heart flutter…

We held each other's hands, and got close, but just then!

XXX

"Hey, I'm back!" I called as I entered my home a few hours later.

"Welcome home Karin. Where've you been?" My brother Ichigo questioned from the couch, half paying attention as he sliced through odd monsters on the television.

Keep this a super secret, Toushirou's voice echoed in my mind.

"I was hanging out with a friend." I replied vaguely.

"Oh really?" Ichi-nii remarked.

"Yeah, we walked around town a little and talked. We're going to hang out tomorrow too." I continued. It was only half of a lie, and it would keep Hyourinmaru and Toushirou safe.

"Oh, cool. Do you have any other upcoming plans? Rukia and the rest of the gang are going to the beach Monday. Do you want to come with us?" Ichi-nii offered.

"Nah, thanks anyway. I'm probably just going to hang out here." I smiled. I wanted to spend as much time as I possibly could with my crush and Hyourinmaru. As much as I liked all of them, Ichigo and his posse would only subtract from that time.

"What's for dinner?" I ponder aloud after a few hours. I was getting hungry...

"Orihime convinced us to go out to eat. Do you want to come with us?" He offered.

I shrugged. "Sure. I don't see why not."

XXX

The next day, I woke up early to get ready and make lunch for me: macaroni salad, rice, and a pack of custard pudding. Oyaji and Ichi-nii came down when I was cleaning the dishes I used.

"Kariiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin-chaaaaaan! Give your Tou-chan a hug!" Oyaji shouted exuberantly. I kicked his face in.

"Morning," I blandly greeted both of them.

Ichi-nii elbowed me aside to prepare breakfast. "Going somewhere?" He asked, glancing at my bento on the counter.

"Yeah, out with the friend I told you about yesterday."

"Okay, who?"

"Nobody," I answered ambiguously. I turn my back to my brother as I packed my lunch into my backpack. I was a bad liar, and Ichi-nii knew it. I'd be caught right off the bat if this continued! I wasn't going to reveal that I was hanging out with my crush who happened to be raising a gigantic monster!

"That's not an answer, Karin. Is it a boy?" Ichi-nii inquired suspiciously.

I internally said some very unladylike things. I was going to get caught!

"Aw, don't grill her too much Ichigo! Karin's a big girl and can take care of herself." Oyaji reprimanded my brother. Ichi-nii merely scoffed.

After a short breakfast, I my soccer ball into my backpack and ran out of the house.

"Be back by sunset Karin! I don't want you out after dark!" Ichigo shouted after me.

"Will do! See you at dinner!" I hollered back. I was so excited to hang out with Toushirou and Hyourinmaru. Even if he didn't like me romantically, that didn't mean we couldn't be friends and have fun together!

I knocked exitedly on Room 103 of Toushirou's apartment complex. He opened the door, a cowlick on the the side of his head and his black pajamas rumpled.

"Oh, it's you, Kurosaki." He observed flatly, rubbing the crust from his eyes.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." I laughed nervously. Was I annoying?! But yesterday, he said he wanted me to come back! Was he not a morning person? I should've come at a later time...

"I'm being sarcastic." He clarified. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Come in. Just let me shower and get ready and we can go." He stepped aside and opened the door wider.

"I'm sorry I stalked you yesterday and went to your house so early I don't mean to seem like a yandere I swear I'm not a crazy jealous axe-murderer and I haven't told anybody about Hyourinmaru and I really want to play with you guys so please don't be angry I swear I'm not up to any mischief-"

"Breathe, Kurosaki." Toushirou ordered as he tugged me through the door. I deposited my shoes next to his, nearly tripping over the landing in the process. He led me to the door at the end of the hallway. It was the living room and kitchen. At the far end of the room, facing a small television was an ugly, blue sofa and a low, wood table. There was a large area free of any furniture before the wood stopped and became tile. The kitchen was small- with a stove, a sink, a fridge, a few counters, drawers, cupboards, and a sink next to the stove.

"I'll be back in a few minutes." Toushirou yawned and left the room.

"Okay. I'll wait here." I said and sat on the couch. I heard him walking around a bit before the shower turned on. It ran for awhile before stopping and then Toushirou walked back to him room. He returned a few minutes later, his snowy hair damp and still sticking to some places on his skull. It'd probably go back to its unkemptness as soon as it dried. He was wearing brown shorts and a white, half-sleeve, button-up shirt.

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting for long?" He asked, treading over to the fridge. He brought out a carton of milk and set it on the counter, and then he brought out a bowl, spoon, and a box of cereal from various cupboards and drawers.

"No, not at all." I watched as he prepared his simple breakfast. "Is that all you eat for breakfast everyday?"

"Yeah, so?"

"That's not very healthy. I'll make you some breakfast tomorrow, okay? I'm not the greatest cook in the world, but I'm not awful." I said firmly. Toushirou looked at me like I was nuts.

"You... don't have to do that." He stated.

"Well too bad that I'm doing it anyway, huh?" I crossed my arms defiantly.

"Fine, do what you want you crazy woman." He relented, shovelling breakfast in his mouth. I stuck out my tongue at him. He deposited his dishes in the sink before grabbing his backpack from off the counter and slung it around his shoulders.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked. I nodded. Toushirou and I left with our shoes and ran as fast as we could towards the edge of town.

"Give me a second. I have to get Hyourinmaru's breakfast." Toushirou informed me once we reached the candy shack. I followed him in.

It was a simple place: open-air, a few aisles filled with candy bins and snacks. There was a counter with a register on it in the back, and beside it, a deep freezer. Behind the counter was an older woman in a green kimono.

"Ah, hello Toushirou-kun! It's so nice to see you today." The older woman looked past him and smiled widely at me. "And you brought a friend."

I bowed. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Kurosaki Karin."

"It's my pleasure," The old woman returned the bow.

"This is Haru-obaasan. She's the owner here." Toushirou explained as he went for the snack aisle. He picked up a pack of onigiri and a pack of sea salt ice cream and paid for it at the register.

"Alright, you two play safe now. I don't want you getting hurt!" Haru-obaasan called as we left.

"We'll be careful!" I said. "Have a nice day!"

"You guys too!" She said.

"Haru-obaasan seems so nice." I declared as we walked down the dirt road.

"She is. She's one of the few people whose company I enjoy." Toushirou smiled briefly. He had such a nice smile... but wait! Was he implying that he didn't like my company?! I internally wilted.

"So… I stayed for a little while with Hyourinmaru last night." Toushirou interrupted my thoughts. "He likes you a lot it seems. He'd just lay in the spots you sat in for long periods of time and pout. He'll be happy to see you again. Of course, I can't really blame him. You're the most excitement we've ever had."

I beamed at his compliment.

"Yeah, I thought he looked kind of sinister at first but now he's sooo cute!" I giggled excitedly. Toushirou looked at me like I was insane for the second time that day. "Hey, I'm a girl! Pretty much all girls have a weakness for cute things! I'm no exception."

"I've concluded that all girls, including tomboys, are aliens."

I glared at him.

We reached the top of the lot. Hyourinmaru was sprawled out on his back a few meters away. He smelled us and flailed onto his stomach and darted over to us.

"Good morning," said Toushirou to the dragon as the latter nosed his cheek. Hyourinmaru then nosed mine.

"He's saying hi." Toushirou explained as I looked to him. I beamed again.

"Hi Hyourinmaru!" I laughed and kissed his mouth. He fluttered his wings.

"Womanizer," Toushirou rolled his eyes. I rolled mine as well.

The monster nipped at my crush's hand. He pulled the popsicle from its package and tossed it into the air. Hyourinmaru lurched for it and caught it, happily crunching away. I smiled when Hyourinmaru nuzzled Toushirou affectionately.

"Oh so now you love me, after I give you a treat." Toushirou quipped. I laughed.

"Hey, do you play soccer?" I ask as I set my backpack down on the grass, pulling a ball from it.

"Yeah, of course! Hyourinmaru loves to play too." Toushirou smirked.

Suddenly, the dragon knocked the ball out from my hands. I cried out in alarm, before laughing. Hyourinmaru was glowering at me, spinning the ball on the tip of his tail.

"Oh-ho! It's on!" I roared.

"I'm on Kurosaki's team!" Toushirou cheered.

The three of us played soccer together. Hyourinmaru would completely ignore me and let me "score" by kicking the ball between two stones we had found, but he'd block every move from Toushirou. In the end however, Hyourinmaru won.

"Whoa," I said breathlessly, hands on my knees as I panted. "He's good!"

"Cheating bastard let you score but not me." Toushirou grumbled crabbily. I rolled my eyes. He was such sore loser.

"I'm starving! Is it lunch time yet?" I thought aloud.

Toushirou looked down at his watch and nodded. "Yeah. Gimme a few minutes, I have to get Hyourinmaru's food." He stretched up high.

"See you in a few minutes!" I shouted after him. He waved before jogging down the hill.

Hyourinmaru poked my belly. I giggled and pet his nose. He purred. I reached into my bag and pulled out my bento and popped off the top.

"Ittekimasu!" I said before digging in. Hyourinmaru nipped my hand. I looked at him perplexedly.

"What do you want?" I asked him. He rumbled lowly. I just stared blankly. "I don't understand what you want."I iterated, He nipped my hand again, a bit rougher.

Toushirou returned, panting. I handed him his onigiri.

"Thanks," he said. He then tossed the pack of frozen meat into the air. Hyourinmaru devoured it.

"He was nibbling on my hand. What does that mean?" I ask.

"'e wan'ed hood." Toushirou said with his mouth full. I glared at him.

"Watch your manners." I scolded. He swallowed.

"Sorry. I said that it meant he wanted food."

I looked at the dragon as he laid his head contently in my lap.

"Can I feed him tomorrow?"

"Sure," he shrugged.

We finished lunch and continued playing soccer for hours. It was sunset before I knew it.

"I... should get home." I panted, leaning against Hyourinmaru's cold body. Ah, that felt nice.

"Can... Can I walk you?"

I blushed.

"Oh, calm down! It's not a romantic come-on or anything! It's just not safe for girls to walk home alone." He defended as his eyebrow twitched.

My blush receded and was replaced with disappointment. He didn't like me...

"Sure, I don't see why not." I sighed as I stood. Toushirou was up a moment later.

"Bye Hyourinmaru," I said, kissing the dragon's maw. He nosed my cheek, then Toushirou's. The two looked so cute together.

"Can I walk you home now?" Toushirou asked impatiently. I giggled and nodded.

Toushirou bought us both a popsicle as we passed Haru-obaachan's. We were both quiet as we walked, relishing the cooling, dusk air.

"Come back tomorrow too. We had a lot of fun... Me and Hyourinmaru." Toushirou told me as we arrived at my house. I smiled.

"I will, and I'll bring lunch tomorrow for the both of us so you don't have to eat that packaged stuff. Home cooking is hundreds of times better anyway."

Toushirou and I said our goodbyes and I went inside.