living corpse Chapter 9: rose coloured skies, a bleach fanfic

It's… blue. No, not blue. But it's not quite green either.

It's a myriad of colours, swirling back and forth like the sparkle in Karin's eyes; a mixture of happiness and bittersweet loss.

Azure, cobalt, sapphire… shades of blue that reflect the sky and the sadness within a teardrop.

Myrtle, celadon, emerald… hues of green that represent freedom and the childish imagination that calls forth mystical allure.

And then there are the broken sheets of gold, sliding through his toes, soft and harsh at the same time.

The sky, layered in wads of cotton spit, seems to be smiling in melancholy, never staying the same for a single moment.

Hitsugaya Toushirou has never understood why Kurosaki Karin has always loved the seaside.

Not until he sees her smile and laugh as she twirls in bare feet on the warm ground.

She looks happy.

"We're staying here." Karin says, arms outstretched, tracing patterns on the sand with the tips of her fingertips. "For a very long time."

"Really." Toushirou says noncommittally and decides to sit on the sand. "Guess this detour is worth it."

For her, that is.

"Hey, we are going to Kobe. It's just… it's the beach. The sea. The sand. Something about it that I just can't resist, you know?"

"No." His reply is quicker than she expects and she pouts in annoyance.

Kobe is famed for hot springs and fashion. It has a beach, much like the rest of Japan. What difference does one beach have to another?

"Sucks to be you then."

It doesn't really matter anyway.

Hitsugaya Toushirou can make a list of ten things that Karin does in a beach:

First – she likes to build sand castles, with or without buckets and spades.

Second – she loves splashing in the water.

Third – she will dance in the ocean breeze and might flinch whenever she feels the sand scratch her ankles, pulling a funny face.

Fourth – she collects sea shells, building a pile of it before deciding whether or not to add it to the aforementioned castle.

Fifth – she likes to make sand angels.

Sixth – she will bask under the sun, as long as she has a hat.

Seventh – if there's no alcohol, she will definitely find ice cream.

Eighth – she will roll away from crabs, towards him, black hair splayed in sand and ask if he can get rid of it. He will not.

Ninth – she scrapes handfuls of sand that slips and slides through her fingers—

"What are you doing? No, Karin—go away! Don't chase me!"

"Aha! Too slow! Too slow!"

—and dump it in his hair.

"What the hell was that for?"

Tenth – she acts like a complete child under the drowning sun.

Hitsugaya Toushirou finds he doesn't care.

Except he does when she admits with humiliation that she has no other unused clothes, even though she has a towel in the car and that they're going to stay on the beach until she's dry enough to drive.

He pointedly states that she could get changed – or at least slip into the towel, stay in the back seat and let him drive whilst giving him directions.

She refuses without a second thought.

Right. Of course.

How could he think of such a thing?

He can practically feel the horror reel off her as the thought occurs in Kurosaki Karin's mind.

Another day, another beach:

"Awesome! Look, Toushirou – this one has an ice cream van!" Pulling up to park the car, she's already out and tugging his shirt sleeve, whacking his arm, rather, in anticipation of tasting the cold liquid and for Toushirou to pay.

"I know. I know." Sighing, he gets out and lets her lead the way. "I'll pay, my treat as thanks for your wonderful generosity."

He no longer needs any prompting as this is the sixth time that it's happened.

"Vanilla for you, right?" After he nods, she bites her lip, contemplating which flavour to taste. "I'm gonna have… pistachio today."

Her ice cream always changes; much like his always stays the same.

"Hey, Karin?" Blue eyes wide and waiting for his question, he asks, feeling slightly awkward. "What's your favourite ice cream flavour?"

"That's easy. Chocolate mint. Nice and cool with a dash of sweetness." She winks as she smiles, before taking his wrist, her skin hot on his cold flesh, and leading him to the ice cream man.

… he wonders if that means something. But he can never tell with Karin. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't; yet he has no clue of either but to rely on his gut feeling.

Handing her the ice cream that she impulsively chose, Toushirou can't help but notice the way her face light up before she gives a tentative lick and drags him off to enjoy the beach.

When did he get so comfortable around her?

"Pop quiz!" Karin says, beginning to make a sand angel. "Ready?"

"Go ahead." He nods, joining her on the ground this one time, refusing to mimic her action of making angels.

"Is the glass half-full or half-empty?" She asks, looking at the sky, so blue in splendour.

"We haven't got a glass." Toushirou kindly decides to point out.

"I know. Metaphorically speaking. Answer the damn question." Instantly, she deflects it back at him.

"Depends. You?"

"A glass is a glass. Stop making it seem so damn complicated." She looks at him with a lopsided grin, hair spilling from her shoulder to her neck. "Take it for what it's worth."

He only laughs.

"How long have you wanted to say that?"

"A while."

In a way, she's right. It's not like everything has a deeper meaning within them.

Days pass, and they slowly move to their destination. Kobe is coming closer and closer.

Karin is sipping lemonade when she comes out of the café, swaying under the light of the sun as she walks towards the only man who lives under an umbrella. In her hand is another vanilla ice cream.

"Oi. Short and grouchy. I bring your desired product into reality." She calls him in a bored tone.

Even if he doesn't reply, preferring to turn instead with a slightly thunderous expression that others will shy away from, Karin takes no notice. Or rather, she does, grins, and doesn't comment. Her silence is her amusement, visible on her open face.

"Come on. Take it." She holds out his ice cream, slowly dripping onto her hand.

"… thanks." He replies, expressing his gratitude in a sigh. It is his money, after all, that she used to buy it.

They watch the sun set under the shared umbrella, in some sort of comfortable silence.

"Hey, do you ever think you'd be able to live like this? Go on and on and on, with no end to the adventure?"

Karin says, giving out and sitting on the red bonnet of her car, chocolate ice cream in hand.

Toushirou's lips curve, in sadness and regret and his voice is soft as he speaks. "… I'm not you, Karin."

"No." She shrugs, trying to shake away that brief disappointment. "Guess not. Ah, well. It's for the best."

"The world couldn't handle another Kurosaki Karin." He comments, earning a grin off her mischievous face.

"Three cheers for individuality." She toasts sardonically, the ice cream flying from the wafer cone for a brief moment.

The next beach is made of stones, smooth and rounded, almost perfect to hold in someone's hand.

Karin has never liked shingled shores.

Until she notices Toushirou pick up a pebble and throws it, bouncing off the surface before it inevitably sinks.

"Teach me!" The blue-eyed girl demands, determination in her eyes, cheeks flushed, her fingers interlocked. "Please?"

"Okay." He nods, picking up a stone. "First, you find a stone that's smooth and flat and fits in your hand. Then, holding it between your finger and your thumb, lean back, make sure that your arm is straight, before you throw, changing the pressure from the foot that your currently leaning on to the one in front."

He demonstrates; the pebble bouncing four times before it succumbs to the watery grave.

"… what?" Eyes big and watery, she throws… resulting in a splash!

Toushirou sighs.

Grabbing a stone, he puts it in her hand, letting Karin become acquainted with it, before catapulting it into oblivion.

"Relax." He murmurs, standing behind her, his hand lightly resting on her shoulder and her wrist. "Calm down."

"But—" Karin protests.

"Just do it." Firm yet gentle, he waits until she does so, sensing her muscles go lax. "Okay, now, lean back." Feather light, he lets her lean back, setting her legs apart, maintaining a steady balance. "Move the arm holding the stone back, while making sure that the arm holding the stone is in front, that's where you want to aim." Under his guidance, she does so. "Then, you quickly move this arm forward letting it go once it's in front of you; while you do that, lean forward, putting your weight on the front foot." Slowly, she goes through the motions, the stone firmly gripped in her hand, repeating the gesture until it's as comfortable as breathing.

He steps back, satisfied with his teaching. "Now you try, and this time, let it fly."

And when she does, the stone skims three times, sinking on the fourth.

"Yay!" She cheers, arms flying around his chest, impulse taking over. Just like old times. "I did it."

"…" He stiffens, when she doesn't let go, awkwardly patting the top of her soft black hair. "… well done."

"Thank you." She gives him a blinding grin, finally letting go of him.

"Yeah. You're welcome." Coughing, he picks up another stone, trying to act unaffected.

She doesn't seem to notice, caught up on her achievement.

He wonders if he's going soft on her.

living corpse
9 : rose coloured skies

Kobe is a city of stars and exotic flair, relaxation and tall buildings. There are hot springs and zoos, romantic views; leisurely parks and monuments worth remembering. The mountains of Mount Rokkou and Mount Maya look stunning at night, glistening from moonbeams and shafts of light captured from multicoloured strobes.

And didn't you know? The fashion there is awesome.

Karin makes mental notes to buy clothes for her twin, and wonders if she'll be suckered into buying clothes for herself. The answer is probably yes.

Toushirou makes mental notes on how he should buy a camera to take photos and remember this memory.

"Hi, I'd like to reserve a room for a week?" Karin says, leaning on the counter with an easy going smile.

"Are you looking for one bed or two; or would you prefer the honey moon suite?" The receptionist asks, tilting his head and reciprocating the gesture, soft but curious, polite as expected.

Her grin widens, and she flashes a devious grin back at Toushirou. "Two beds, please."

The receptionist raises one eyebrow. Trouble in paradise?

"That will be ten thousand yen. Thank you for staying at our hotel, hope you enjoy the night. Your room is on the fifth floor, number seventy-eight."

"Alrighty. Thank you very much." She smiles and sets off to discover where her exactly the location of the room is.

He buys a camera the very next day.

Black, small, stylish, compact; it has lots of storage. What more is there to say about a good camera?

… Karin buys an entire closet of clothes.

Before she reluctantly gives back half.

"Look! Lions and tigers and cheetahs, oh my!" Taking his elbow, she leads him through the zoo.

And he… really doesn't have the heart to make her let go.

"This is so cool!"

Click!

She buys a kimono, wears it and sleeps under a Sakura tree. Pink petals surround her, tangled in the wind's breath and her black hair.

There's a slight smile on her face that he cannot help but return.

Click.

"I want shaved ice! Melon flavoured!" She proclaims excitedly, switching from foot to foot in the queue.

"… you don't like melon." He has never forgotten this fact.

"But I've never tried shaved ice with melon!"

"… fine."

"Thank you!"

"Stop staring at it. Eat it already." He scowls once he sees her staring pensively at the treat.

"But what if I don't like it?" Her eyes are big and watery. Then dark blue eyes flash, inspired by something. "I know! You try!"

She shoves the melon flavoured shaved ice into his mouth.

Click!

The sun is setting, burning across the sea. There are fireworks in the air, fizzing, sizzling, and exploding into a menagerie in bright lights. They can see boats streaked in ash, on the horizon. Music hums a jazzy beat, elevating the mood of the festival.

Karin leans on the balcony, arms steady and looking at the bright sunset.

Toushirou is right beside her.

Click.

The hot springs are amazing. Nice. Hot. Steamy. Relaxing.

Like they are supposed to be.

… Toushirou sighs, and is consumed by bubbles.

Click.

If you can't go to Paris, go to Kobe.

It's a beautiful city, one that Rukia has always wanted to go to.

Sitting on the balcony, she looks up, gazes at the stars, twinkling and scattering like dust in her hands.

There's a dying smile on her face, distant and bittersweet.

She can taste it.

The memory of her flickering into the afterlife.

It's almost time to say goodbye.

The ghost sees it all in slow motion.

And she smiles that beautiful smile that everyone falls in love with one last time.

The hotel has a swimming pool. It's not a beach, nor a hot spring; but Karin figures it's worth checking out anyway. Toushirou doesn't really know why she bothers; it's not different to the other two except that this one is much colder.

"Yeah, but… it's the concept. The concept." The younger girl wrinkles her nose as she protests, slightly incredulous.

"If you say so." Grudgingly, he ends the conversation.

"I do. So there." She wonders if she should continue that thought, and does, grinning. "Nyah!" She sticks her tongue out.

"Must you act like a child?" He folds his arms, turning his back to the swimming pool and facing Karin.

"You enjoy it." She retorts playfully, stepping forwards, closer to the grouchy dragon. Her hair shimmers as it mingles with the breeze. Her blue eyes sparkle like a child lost in one-upping in their idle banter.

"Do not." Denial quickly comes to him, as he steps back.

"Do so." She grins, rather wolfishly, almost anticipating the moment to attack. "Speaking of which; if I'm acting like a child, then it's perfectly logical and okay for me to be out for revenge."

"For what?" Quizzically tilting his head, he tries to quickly delve into his memories, probing for anything worth for vengeance.

"The bridge? You totally could have saved me." Cheeks red in mortification, her arms flail as she remembers the sensation of—

"Oh. I thought saving was something a knight did?" Countering her statement and referring back to her metaphors of fairytale characters, Toushirou adds. "Dragons don't save; and knights do."

"Who saves the knight when they're in danger?" Fuming, she replies in indignation. "You so should have grabbed my arm, you didn't even try!"

"You were the one who said that I mustn't touch your kimono." He reminds her, throwing her statement back in her face.

"Ju-Just shut up!" Red-faced and losing the battle, Karin angrily remembers that this is the reason she didn't get along with Toushirou. Their arguments always became petty and like children, they would glare whenever they were in the same vicinity until someone broke. The apology never was in words, but in bribery. It did the trick. Usually.

"Is that the best you can do?" Feeling derisive, he scoffs, a child once more.

"How about this!" Karin yells, pushing Toushirou into the pool where she would hear a satisfactory splash.

Pity he takes her with him, tumbling together with a cry of outrage.

Splash!

Fuck.

That's really cold water!

Bubbles, bubbles, everywhere. Up his nose and in her hair.

Blinking, Toushirou opens his cerulean eyes, watching a mass of thick black tresses slowly unveil the Kurosaki companion.

There's a smile on her face, and she's never seemed more alive.

She's laughing.

Out of the shear stupidity of it, he finds himself joining in.

It's something they used to do.

They really haven't changed that much.

Jumping up and breaking the surface, Karin gasps, drinking in the warm glow of the sun, smeared in pastel shades of rosette and orange skins. Using the water as a blessing, she pushes her thick locks out of her face, dripping wet and soaked to the bone with the stench of chlorine.

She is cold, she is warm, and she is relishing the life she lives.

Hitsugaya Toushirou finally submerges and the expression on his face is a combination of amusement, surprise, irritation and downright idiocy.

"I cannot believe you." He says, once his mouth is completely devoid of water.

"I can't believe that you would do something like that to me." Karin quips, equally flabbergasted, her grin unable to go away. "I'm so proud."

"Don't flatter yourself." Muttering, a scowl reappears on his face. He shakes his head, like a wet dog.

"Oh, there he is. The one and only Hitsugaya Toushirou that I know well; I wondered where'd you go without me." Karin dryly remarks, arching one eyebrow.

"Shut up." Blithe, the words slip out as easily as he feels droplets of water slide down Toushirou's face. "It's your fault anyway."

"What? Pushing you into the pool? You were asking for it." The black haired girl chokes back a laugh, unable to stifle a grin.

"Then you were asking for it, too." Toushirou informs her in a bored tone, though mirth lingers in the iris of his eye.

"Yeah. I guess I was." Her mouth twists easily into amusement, wry and full of vigour.

Her face changes before him, a plethora of soft care and a delicate light of friendship, entwined in honeycomb hues that sweetened the air. And still her smile on her face remains, bright as ever; yet it lacks something. Or maybe it is just a trick and Hitsugaya blinks, ignoring that sensation that makes the hairs of his neck prickle ever so slightly.

"Come on. Let's get out of here."

Slowly, they wade their way towards the stairs.

Karin. Rukia decides to speak, rippling on the surface, fading in and out. Thank you.

The younger girl is startled, blue eyes wide, standing still; hating the foreboding feeling that is clawing at her heart. Hand trembling, she seeks her friend's hand, passing through water.

She can sense goodbye through the refracted angle, squeezing and letting go like the waves that move back and forth.

This is it, isn't it? Karin wants to say. This is your goodbye.

Don't.

Don't leave me.

But she can't.

She can't say those words because Rukia is her best friend and deserves to move on.

She can't say those words because Toushirou is still here.

So Karin opts to smile, a broken and gentle smile, but one that understands.

You're taking such good care of him, that I don't need to be here any more.

I don't need to worry about him any more.

So, Karin. Thank you.

And goodbye.

There no longer bears any rippling reflection of Kuchiki Rukia in the water.

Out of the corner of Kurosaki Karin's eye, she sees a black butterfly ascend into the sky.

She wants to cry, like she did in Ichigo's arms in the not so far-off past. Like a child, too selfish to understand that life isn't going the way she wants; selfish enough to keep the dead from rest but—

But then she thinks about her mother.

And the dead need to rest; need to find their peace.

She still retains the memories of various segments which include Rukia. If she wishes, she can go back, recall those times with ease, snort and sniff, keeping in mind the will to not be lost in the past.

To see that smile, hear that voice, and grin goofily at her elegant mischievousness.

And Karin feels Toushirou's hand on her shoulder, barely enough pressure to be called a touch.

But it's there.

Somehow, she recognises that through sifting thoughts in her distant mind.

"Karin." His voice is soft and sharp, and he brings reality to her with gentle contact.

"Huh?" Eyes wide, she blinks, concentrating on him, mind blank.

"You okay?" Toushirou asks with quiet intensity, close yet far.

"Yeah." To smile is hard, but it feels genuine. Almost as if it's made of porcelain, cracking only at the edges; it soars and breaks. "I'm fine."

He gives her this look, caught in conflict on whether to fight her or not, eventually settling to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Alright."

In the morning, when he sees her gazing out the window, arms looped around her legs, her hair is orange streaked in red.