I do not own Bleach … :) and I do not earn any kind of money from this snippet
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To break is all I know
Chapter 7: Don't you want to sing too?
"Two weeks have passed since my first fight with Yuzu …
She's still sulking in our room and every time I enter, a rush of guilt seems to find its way in my soul. God damn it! And of course Jinta had to find out about our little quarrel and thought that barging in our house like a maniac screaming obscenities at me was a good idea. Not that I didn't deserve them …but not from Jinta … from Yuzu maybe, or from father.
Ichigo tries to be impartial, but for some reason he cannot do that when I'm involved. He was the only one that took my side during the whole trial of who's to blame for this shit.
Yeah …I know. We had a trial and believe me it was pretty pathetic. Yuzu was cleared of any charge, while I was accused of being a bloody bitch.
The jury was composed from Rukia, Renji, Toshiro, Orihime and Ishida. I had no chance. Orihime and Rukia voted for Yuzu because they are sooo in love with her, Renji and Ishida did the same, because they cannot stand me and my unbelievably troublesome personality, and Toshiro voted for Yuzu because … I don't know why … and the only reason I'm thinking of gets me all riled up again.
If I were to tell you why we had a fight, it would sound incredibly stupid, and believe me it is incredibly stupid.
She tried to make me wear a dress, and as I'm an irreversible tomboy, I declined her offer in an offending way. We argued for a while, until she said something about me not being feminine and not trying to act at least like a girl … and from here on hell broke loose.
Damn it … we are 11, we are just children. Just because I act like a tomboy now, doesn't mean I'll act like one forever. Right?
At least I had Ichigo … my one and only defender. But now I know that no matter what happens and in what trouble I'll enter, he'll be there … taking my side and protecting me from everyone. I know I'm acting like a coward, but it's all right to have someone by your side.
Still …I'll have a little discussion with Toshiro about his vote, and if he doesn't find a good reason, Gotei 13 will have to find a new captain for the 10-th squad … soon. "
Kurosaki Karin's diary
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After what happened in the laboratory, Aizen elegantly dashed towards the high school yard, the meeting place he decided with Yuzu. He was doing an interesting combination of walking, running and rushing, still being able to look graceful. But the calm, kindness and severity he inspired to any passing student was being a cover for his chaotic mind and just as erratic thoughts.
He was revising his strategy, because the one at hand was not going anywhere; and over all the problems he had with Ichigo's sister, Karin was becoming more and more dangerous.
Aizen tightened his right fist, trying to forget her piercing words. Even if he didn't want to confess, a part of him believed her statement … 'I know you. I see you Aizen'. Without dropping the façade his mind wandered towards the other thing that struck him, and made him realize the potential problem she could become in the near future. Karin said those things about his eyes… true things, but not visible to a simple human, even a highly intuitive one like her. Or he was losing his touch, dropping the necessary walls he built in order to protect his false identity, or she was too shrewd for her own good.
He could hear her words echoing again and again inside his head 'These eyes tell a history of crime and they speak of a well earned experience'. As a result he closed his eyes, meditating on their meaning … on their true meaning, because a conclusion even a simpleton could make out of it. But he couldn't comprehend how was a human capable of seeing so far inside his soul. Maybe she wasn't just a human, maybe she was a shingami …
"Aizen-san?" asked a young woman with brownish hair. She was watching him worryingly, and his dazed face spoke for itself "Are you ok?"
Her question seemed inappropriate, and somehow unnecessary, especially with Aizen's dreamy gaze. He was still lingering inside his mind, trying to decipher some unknown mystery.
Finally he woke up from the slumber and rushed to excuse himself "I'm so sorry, Kurosaki-san. I have the bad habit to daydream in bright daylight" he smiled softly hiding tumultuous thoughts behind it "I know it is strange, so I'm sorry if I startled you"
Yuzu chuckled and by doing so, she erased any doubts from Aizen's mind. For now, the man was sure that she will be an easy target just like Hinamori once was, if not easier than her. But again his mind took a different route, thinking of Karin and those awfully correct statements. He saw her dark blue eyes burring daggers in his, without showing any kind of fear. They were bugging him like an ever lasting itch and he couldn't do anything about them … dangerous eyes and a dangerous woman.
He shook his head, moving his attention back on Yuzu, who was smiling softly and innocently at him. A light in her brown eyes told him she was anxious and overly joyful, expecting this date to be a blast.
"Shall we go?" he asked while offering her his left arm.
The girl blushed, but accepted the offered hand, thinking how lucky she was to go on a date with this elegant and gentle man. After a quick look around her, perhaps looking for a Karin hidden behind a bush, she asked:
"Where do you propose we go?"
With one hell of a seductive smile, Aizen softly said "Can I keep it a secret"
"Of course Aizen-san" answered Yuzu, practically suffocating his left hand in a tight grip.
Her whole being was radiating happiness and her bright smile infuriated Aizen beyond limit. He was beginning to regret ever inviting her on a date in the first place, but what was done, was done, and he had to go through with it … for his plan … his plan of definitely destroying the Kurosakis and Soul Society.
As a last try Aizen strengthened his stomach, subduing the annoying nauseating sensation, but it didn't work, amplifying it even more.
'Why?' asked rhetorically the villain 'Why did it have to be so simple in Soul Society? Why did I have to lose everything! My Arrancars, my army … my fucking Espada' he did a metaphoric face palm 'If I had won that time, I wouldn't be in this pathetic situation'
And they left at a local and cheap restaurant, Yuzu being totally draped over the man's arm.
Unconsciously, Aizen touched his right palm seeking for the last remain of Karin's reiatsu. Her energy was stirring his insides like boiling water and he couldn't understand why. Maybe it was a part of him that reacted positively or negatively at her smooth, but firm reiatsu. She was a powerful woman and he was a powerful man … math is always simple.
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Meanwhile Karin was still squashed against the wall, not believing what had just happened. With a hand wrapped around her neck, checking its integrity and the other held on the wall for support, Karin could only stare at the window. She could hear shouts and shrieks of joy undoubtedly from overly happy students that left their daily prison.
Now, after the adrenaline had been eliminated from her blood stream, the girl was having a rush of fear; her whole body trembled when realized in what deadly situation it was put through. The hand that had the role of supporting her body moved instinctually on her previously abused neck, leaving her unbalanced against the wall. It didn't take much to send her on her rear, but she didn't care, because she was still in sock.
This was the way the woman that asked them to leave the laboratory found her … slammed on the ground, leaning her head against the wall behind her. It was a pretty pathetic sight …
"Please leave the laboratory. I have to close it" commanded the said woman, this time with enough force to be heard.
Karin was just as motionless as before, the only reaction she had to the woman's words being a half protest which sounded more like a groan. Finally after the woman tapped her head, Karin raised her head, making a short eye contact with her. She repeated and the girl was obliged to follow her orders, raising from the ground slowly, and exiting the room …
… And then it happened. It struck her like a tone of bricks, making her dash toward the school yard. Whoever happened to be in her path was rewarded with a clash, a punch or in the best case a nudge, but they didn't follow her … one of the reasons being the look of pure terror she wore on her white like marble face, the second one being the reputation she hold as one of the heavyset punches in Karakura.
'Damn it' mentally swore Karin, missing the wall by an inch 'I can't believe I let Yuzu go on a date with that man … he's a fucking maniac' her speed increased even more, scaring the shit out of anyone that happened to pass her 'I hope I'm not late. Please let me be on time'
She broke through the front doors, knocking her math teacher off her feet, but since she was good at math it was no danger. But all the relief she felt when seeing a couple kissing passionately turned into dreadful fear when she realized they weren't Aizen and Yuzu. Apart from them, another guy was tying his laces while a girl was chatting happily on the phone with her boyfriend.
"Damn it!" this time Karin swore loudly, starling the kissing couple.
"What's your problem?" screamed the boy, wanting probably to act al macho in front of his girlfriend.
But Karin wasn't in a good mood, so she just ignored the rebel teenager. If she were in a good mood, the boy wouldn't have walked for a long time and his chances of ever having an heir would have been practically zero, but today was his lucky day.
Karin walked away, not forgetting to apologize for the sudden bump. The math teacher seemed reticent in giving her forgiveness, but when she saw Karin's sad expression she agreed as a sign of goodness.
Afterwards Karin rushed through town, seeking desperately for Yuzu. She would have searched for her reiatsu, but since Yuzu had a little amount of spiritual energy, such a feat was impossible. She looked in every fancy restaurant, every theater and almost every cinema, but she was nowhere to be found …
Only after that Karin gave up and returned home.
A rushed feeling of guilt entered her soul like a plague, threatening any sanity she had left. Yuzu was in danger and she was to blame for it. If she hadn't been so scared by Aizen's empty threats, she could have stopped her sister from going with that sinister man. How much she regretted that moment of pathetic weakness … a moment of weakness that could endanger her sister's precious life. Unconsciously she swore it will be last time, she will be intimidated by Samaki, or any other man.
She paced around the house, digging trenches in the ground. When she realized that the soil was all muddy and dirty, transferring its qualities to her trousers, she decided to move her position in the house. Here everything was silent.
Ichigo was probably out with his friends or hunting hollows or both, since his friends had the tendency to be very spiritually aware. Her father was in the clinic, but she didn't want to disturb him from the hard occupation of being a doctor. And Yuzu … she had no idea where Yuzu was, but she knew with whom. Fear over her sister's fate took over her again, and at some point she asked herself if she wasn't just being paranoid. But then she would remember his hand on her throat, talking about its fragility and bullshit like that.
In a rush of fear, Karin grabbed the phone, searching in its agenda for a number. Her hands typed the name 'Andrew' and when the search engine found it, she pressed the call button.
After three calls, a tired male voice answered 'Hello?'
"Andy" exclaimed Karin "It's me … Kurosaki Karin" she didn't give him time to answer or to remember her "I want to ask you if you have a classmate named Aizen Samaki"
A short pause was heard on the other line and then the boy's response came 'Yeah … I have a classmate with that name' he seemed to sigh, but Karin wasn't sure because of the jamming and the bad connection 'He's new student … why do you ask?'
"I have a little request for you … being the class representative and all" said sweetly the girl, knowing that the class representative card will work the best
'A request?'
"Yeah …" mumbled Karin, playing with the telephone cord "I don't know if you heard about his total inability to work with a computer" amusement jingled in her voice "But I guess you did …"
'There isn't a soul who didn't hear' he said, sounding awfully serious for someone that should have been amused 'but I don't think it's a funny thing …'
Karin realized that Andrew wasn't amused by Samaki's situation, so she discarded the humor acquiring a serious tone as well "Look … The teacher put me in charge of his private lessons, but he's being a … bother. And I don't have talent in the teaching department, so I wonder if you can find someone else to do my job"
Andrew seemed to think of something and finally said 'Okay. Don't worry' his voice was calm and somehow happy 'I'll teach him how to use the computer'
"Thank you" sighed Karin, relief spreading on her face "Thank you very much for doing this. I owe you one"
'Don't worry' the boy on the other line reassured her 'Then …' an awkward silence enveloped the conversation. It was a usual thing when you want to say goodbye and do not know how to initiate it without sounding like an impolite person.
"Okay … then bye … and thanks again" said Karin, getting over the slight moment of embarrassment "And sorry if I disturbed you … or something" she felt like adding after remembering his tired voice when he answered the phone.
'You didn't disturb me' politely said Andrew, his statement sounding fairly fake 'We'll see each other at school. And by the way … at what hour are these private lessons?'
"At 2 … they are during your computer science lessons. I guess you will have to speak with the teacher" answered Karin, hoping that Andrew will not back down, especially now after he accepted her proposal.
Luckily he had no intention of doing so, finishing the conversation with an 'Ok' and a rushed 'Goodbye'
Karin pressed the red button, turning off the connection. She even checked the time, observing that she spoke barely over 2 minutes. Usually she would have found something to discuss with the person on the other line, without regarding their gender, age or occupation, but today was one of those times when she wasn't in the mood to do so.
Taking advantage of the fact that her siblings and father weren't home, Karin turned on the radio searching for her favorite music station. After a long pursuit, the radio buzzed and an old country song echoed in the room. The station still had some bugs, but they didn't alter the music in any way, being only an annoying background sound.
Karin hummed a little and when the woman began the song, she carefully listened to it, trying to distinguish who was the one singing. Not remembering her name exactly, Karin continued to hum, the lyrics still lingering somewhere inside her mind.
It didn't take much for Karin to become engrossed in the melody, climbing on the table and screaming like crazy the chorus.
"Don't you wanna come?" sang the girl, her voice being fit for anything but singing "Don't you wanna ride? Hmmm … mm … mm " she mumbled the last part, not being to sure of the lyrics "I know why I'm singin' ... Don't you want to sing too" this time she yelled at the top of her lungs, her voice resembling the tune an old cow died of.
From behind her someone screamed, trying to cover the radio that had the volume at maximum
"When I hear you sing like that I instantly grow tired of ever singing, little sister"
Karin didn't give any attention to her big brother, who was standing in the door leaning against its frame. He was wearing a satisfied smirk on his face and a camera was hanging from his neck, dangling every time he slightly moved his head.
On his other side, Isshin was sawing in the air, imitating his daughter. He wasn't doing a very good job, because at some point he slipped on the greasy sandstone knocking off a vase and, undoubtedly, Ichigo. From here Ichigo and Isshin got into a fighting/bonding period, punching each other as hard as they could, not censuring the words either, and ignored Karin who continued the phonic pollution.
…
Ten minutes later Karin turned off the radio, along with the loud music and opened the computer in order to check her mail. The two males were still fighting somewhere under the table, being covered in bruises, but still very much able to continue the violent conflict. In one burst of energy, Isshin unplugged the computer on which Karin was writing a very important email; she was about to press the send button when it happened.
"Father" snarled Karin dangerously under the table
"Yes my beautiful and spiny cactus" sweetly said the father, smiling innocently at his daughter and doing a metal pray to the mighty god and any other divinity he could think of; from Zeus and Athena to Hades and Hephaestus
Karin's face darkened, which wasn't a good sign, and when she screamed "I'm going to unplug your junior" Isshin knew that his chances of ever having another child would be greatly diminished.
"Wait … Karin" but it was already too late because the girl jumped on him attacking his face "Argh!" screamed the man trying to pry her off "Have mercy on your father" but she didn't listen, if not her violence raise at a superior degree, making everything worse.
He yelled at the poster about his abusive daughter, he roared something about a delinquent child and in the end was unable to say anything else because his mouth was so swollen that he wasn't capable of talking, or eating or anything that involved his oral cavity.
…
After one hour, Isshin returned to his daily duty as a professional medic and Ichigo turned into a shinigami, leaving that Modified Soul, Kon, in his body which, I have to add, left to stalk Orihime. The house was quite again and Karin watched the clock ticking and ticking, counting the seconds and waiting for her sister. The worry never left her soul, but with her family around, she was able to subdue it and fool herself that Yuzu was fine and on a date with a normal human.
Another hour passed without anything happening in the solitary house. When Karin was getting her jacket and sneakers on, Yuzu had entered through the doorway looking … happier than ever. It struck her that her sister, who was on a date with a maniac, came with such a bright smile painted on her already pretty face.
She was in such a blissful world, that she even smiled softly at Karin giving her one of the most beautiful hellos she ever received. The next part was even stranger, because Yuzu discarded her clothes on a near by chair and whistled an unknown melody. The whistling part wasn't that strange, but the part that startled the dark haired twin was that Yuzu never threw her clothes on a chair.
She would scold her every time she did that and sometimes refuse to wash the clothes because of that. A childish behavior, but this was her sister. However what she saw in that second was beyond any exception Yuzu had ever made in her entire life.
"Look … Yuzu … I'll go out for a little while …" mumbled Karin, hoping that her twin will answer.
Strangely, even after the cold shoulder she received that morning and throughout the day, Yuzu still answered jovially
"Okay … Have fun" and she hummed a happy tune, taking the apron from the hanger and dancing happily towards the kitchen.
Karin followed her with an intense gaze, but since her sister was too dizzy to notice anything else but her happiness, she gave up … she will have a talk with Yuzu later, when her brains will be cleaned of all this pathetic mushiness.
…
Being finally out of the house Karin took a huge gulp of air, deciding to check her watch immediately after. It was almost 8 and the sky was darkening, the absence of the mighty sun being perceived in the coldness that covered Karakura. Two weeks have passed since the second high school year had started for the twins, and Karin was already missing middle school and her previous friends.
She began a monotone walk towards the park, ignoring everything that happened around her, being busy with her thoughts and happy memories.
She had some interesting friends in high school as well, but those 4 fools were and will be the ones she really loved to play soccer with. They were so stupid. Toshiro would occasionally play soccer with them and by doing so he was unconsciously making her day better then before. A bright past existing only in a gloomy future.
Karin chuckled when realizing how incredibly lame all this sounded.
Somehow life was so simple back then. Her sister's only suitor, Jinta, was easy to beat. Now Yuzu, being in high school and not ugly at all, had a couple of them and Samaki was by far the most dangerous. She tried to believe that somewhere underneath that creepy exterior a calm and interesting personality existed, but … she couldn't.
"Hello captain" saluted a familiar voice from behind her, stopping her from the erratic thinking.
She was talking about the wolf … and guess what. He's knocking at the door.
"Aizen"
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The song is "I know where I'm going" by The Judds.
Thank you for the amazing reviews … all of you *crying* I can't believe I have 100 reviews. Btw if any of you wants to beta my story … I would be more than happy to accept your help. I won't take offense in any criticism you make … really o_o
Yeah … I want Ichigo to realize (in the future) that Toshiro was a better choice, and to regret ever sending him away … you know for the melodrama. And no … it won't be a one-sided love. I got that in real life, why would I need it in my story XD He will "care" for her, or the Aizen equivalent of care *laugh*, but gradually. And yes, he's being a jerk, a big big jerk.
Aizen has no idea that Karin is a Kurosaki … he knows her as Karin or/and captain.
And don't worry Lilith I'm a major Karin-Toshiro fan. As a matter of fact it was the first couple that I really loved in Bleach. No … I lie. The firsts were Ichiruki, Gin-Matsumoto, Nanao-Shunsui and still one of my favorites, but came later … Hiyori&Shinji. I have something with tomboys (maybe because I'm one of them)
I know this is a short one, but I've already wrote half (3 pages) of the conversation she'll have with Aizen and I don't want to split it. And I think I'll update the next chapter soon and I plan to make an interesting introduction (aka Karin's diary)