I do not own Bleach … :) and I do not earn any kind of money from this snippet
This chapter had been beta-ed by Cittyno2 (thank you very much). If you find any mistakes, it's her fault (not mine). I wish you pleasant reading.
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To break is all I know
Chapter 13: Not a cover
"I seem to have this habit of pissing people off. On the other hand, maybe habit isn't the perfect word, more like an annoying feature probably inherited from my father and brother.
Still I'll tell you this: the best example of rivalry is Jinta and I. I'll give you some reason from which I can deduce his eagerness to decapitate me and send my remains all over the world. I can see him dancing samba on the beach after this great accomplishment.
Back to the main topic:
First of all, he cannot stand my personality and me. Let's not forget that every single time we meet an altercation is inevitable.
Then I'm the only human standing between him and a bright future, spend on an exotic island in Fiji with my twin sister. I'm saying human because no matter how hard they try, Goat Chin and Ichigo haven't been humans for a long, long time.
Another reason consists in the … similarities we seem to share with each other. This is the first and only time I'll confess I might have something in common with Jinta so pay close attention. We are both temperamental and have predispositions for violence; we are sometimes too arrogant for our own good, so we may … come home banged up after a Hollow had thrown us in the dirt because we were too damn stubborn to ask for help.
The last but not the least is the position of Karakura Red. I gave up on that stupid title a long time ago, but he's still being a stupid asshole that can't get over it. I'm not going to steal it from under his nose, no matter how tempting it might sound.
What's with men and their desire for power … really I cannot understand. Ichi-nii is the same. Train, train, train … so you could protect your friends … so heroic. Sometimes I'm tempted to scream BULLSHIT, but he's my all so dear brother … and I do not want to uncover the secret of the deep passion he has for Rukia. You guessed right, he clearly trains for Rukia … so he could be the knight in shinnying armour that sweeps her off her feet. So sweet.
Now… back to the topic.
If Jinta were the only one I piss off, everything would be just fine, but there is also the annoying computer retard Aizen Samaki …
Not a subject I want to discuss. One last word.
The biggest ass ever, that also seems to have a god complex. A very big, high and fat god complex.
This is not just a word, but whatever. Gotta go teach a retard how not to be a retard.
Tough job, believe me"
Kurosaki Karin's diary
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"Aizen" she stopped just beside him, her toes touching the piece of rock he found shelter on "We need to talk"
One short glance towards Karin assured him of a serious course of discussion. He rather suspected something about it, but it was funnier to annoy her into exploding like dynamite than truthfully answering her right away.
"About what?" He asked still standing on the rock, not bothering to raise his face from the book he held firmly in his palms.
If his indifference bothered Karin at least one tiny bit, she was careful not to show it. Actually, she looked incredibly calm and collected. If this strange calmness before the storm wasn't a sign of alarm for the future agitated weather, nothing was. Still a violent slap behind the back of his head was enough to capture the man's attention.
"Guess Mr. I'm-too-smart-to-pay-attention. I hope you're not that stupid."
After one month of torturous bonding, Karin still had the annoying habit of slapping him wherever she wanted and this degenerated in an obsessive compulsive disorder in due time. It didn't mean Aizen wasn't OCD-ing, because every time she did this particular slapping he would snap angrily giving her the same old speech.
"If you dare to hit me one more time I'll …"
"You'll strangle me and hang me by my throat above the sea, waiting for the sharks to devour me piece by piece, blah, blah, blah" impolitely interrupted Karin "I know the line, Samaki. You keep on threatening me like this every day."
"And someday I may not leave it just in words" growled the man, switching his focus back on the book.
"You know what they say. Action speaks louder than words" tried to cheer up Karin, sounding more like the shrilling of a machine than an actual pacifying old saying.
Aizen raised an eyebrow at the deceiving tone, but didn't change his point of focus.
Karin sighed when seeing that no matter how hard she tried, her friend wasn't in the mood for a solemn and serious talk. She took a seat beside him, with her legs crossed and hands resting by her sides. The rough surface of the rock succeeded in scratching her shins and palms, but she was too engrossed in reading over Aizen's shoulder to notice the forming bruises. It was a tough job, because the man was big, especially in the shoulder's area, and very tall, so the quest of reading over his shoulder was quite troublesome.
"What are you doing?" His tone woke her up.
Karin raised her head, only to meet his questioning gaze and perfect features. The fact that their noses were practically touching each other wasn't helping either.
"What does it look like?" she asked rhetorically, glancing inside his beautiful chocolate orbs.
For one second Karin was under the impression that the man's gaze slipped onto her plump lips lingering there too much for only a friendly stare. After she had blinked twice, the illusion dispersed, Aizen's gaze being still fixed on her dark eyes. She shook the feeling of uneasiness, deciding that it was probably just an illusion her mind invented for her already paranoid view over life. Little did she know about the true reasons behind Aizen's complex way of thinking and that her vision wasn't playing tricks.
Karin mumbled something that resembled a 'strange thing', but before she could attack the subject she came for, Aizen answered her question.
"Peeking over my shoulder" he closed the book with a loud snap, turning around to face the girl.
He was forced to lift one leg on the rock and deposit it under his body. It was sure to get numb, due to the gigai's sensitivity, but he didn't care for such trivial things like his faux human body's well being. His pupils dilated when they were exposed to the girl's serious look and he was tempted to tilt down his head until he would be able to reach those beautiful god-ish lips. From here, it was all left for the villain's imagination.
Attractive little minx.
"Are you ok?" She asked when she remarked the man's dark look.
"Very"
If his tone didn't get her all shivery, nothing did. And those barely ajar, pupil dilated brown eyes boring inside her soul, drilling deeper than anyone had ever done, got her in a state of cationic fear. She was supposed to scream at him for inviting her sister at a party, but every single word flew away like a bird that had just found the way towards absolute freedom.
"Aaa …"she stammered "I want to …" tried Karin to link two fucking words, but even this seemed impossible in her state of blurry daze.
The man bended forwards slightly, enough to assure Karin of a bubble-penetration. The difference was barely noticeable, but Karin was on edge because of it.
"Too close" she said, pushing him backwards "I told you a million times to refrain yourself from this personal space invasion. Do you like doing that to anyone you meet?"
It was an honest question and one Aizen had expected.
"No, just to you." He answered sarcastically.
"I'm so flattered" her nails dug painfully through his jacket and deep inside his flesh. He was very lucky that his shoulders were somewhat bony or he would be in much trouble because of some ugly scratches "But at least now I understand why I'm the only one that sees you as a god complexed, creepy human"
Aizen came closer as a last attempt of enraging Karin. His hands were pinned on her sides assuring him of a better advantage then before; over this, his right hand slipped forward, bringing his body even closer.
"Really, Aizen. Stop it!" her command echoed without attracting any kind of reaction from the man "There must be a legal limit of creepiness. If you don't stop I'll call the government and ask them for a restrain order"
"Weren't you supposed to call a lawyer in these cases?" Incredulously asked Aizen.
"Smartass" a growl of rage emerged from her throat "But really stop it" her voice became raspy when a foreign hand sneaked over her belly "Aizen be aware of my punch. It's dangerous"
"Very"
However, the man wasn't paying attention, thinking about the cloth that covered the beautiful flesh of his companion. A soft squeeze and his fingers pressed onto the raw muscles of her abdomen, gathering the silky skin inside his palm. Even if he couldn't actually touch the milk-like epidermis, just by the delicate friction of the blouse's cotton against her skin he was able to deduce its softness.
"Yes …very. What are you doing?" she noticed the ticklish sensation "Aizen really it's not funny. Stop it!" Karin struggled to get free from the hand that tickled her front, while the other one stopped her retreat "Damn you!" she tried to detach the tricky left hand, since his right one was deeply embedded in the rock, just behind her, making an escape route impossible.
"You're ticklish" he stated simply while assaulting her sides with well aimed tickles.
Between shaky breaths and snippy tries of thought recollection, Karin had been able to link only two words, but after this unprecedented accomplishment, a new wave of laughter took over her yet again.
"Good deduction" another burst of uncontrolled laughter "Einstein." She almost spat on Aizen because of a not so thoughtful attack on her left side "I'll give you a prize for the best deduction ever done in Japan's history. Maybe you'll win The Nobel Prize"
Any other irony that might have come through Karin's mouth was stopped by a sudden fit of laughter and some very interesting moaning sounds. Aizen was even inclined to believe he had heard at some point a pleading moan of pain, but there were some other things that got his attention, like the spiritual energy that linked them so deeply. She didn't realize it, for obvious reasons, but her energy was pouring itself inside his veins creating an invisible chain between them. Nothing was done intentionally and not even consciously since Karin was just trying to escape the tickling gripping teen.
A swear escaped, sounding vaguely familiar.
"What did you say?" he asked, not releasing her.
" 'uck u" she snarled loudly even with a clenched jaw "U and yer entir' ..." Another wave of cold sweat crossed over her body "…family"
It was a real threat, but not nearly enough to scare the worst Shinigami ever created by Soul Society. He continued the assault and until Karin admitted total defeat, the rough treatment didn't change. Aizen couldn't admit that the only reason for this playful behavior he had exhibited before her was the "beautiful" sounds she was making when being irked.
After she had been freed, Karin dashed two meters away recreating the annoying distance Aizen worked so hard to diminish. She straightened her blouse and its limp collar by smoothing the ruffled edges. Meanwhile the man watched her like a hawk staking his pray, deciding the next course of action.
"You're way too quiet!" He stated exactly after Karin had finished the tricky job.
"Do you like … love Yuzu?" Still calm and trying to collect peaceful thoughts.
The brown pair of eyes slipped downwards in shame, but a subtle twitch of mouth disagreed with it completely.
"She's beautiful if I might say" this wasn't a lie "And a great kisser" he tried to ignore the loud snort that came from Karin, being already sure of her jealousy "She's useful and not something I plan to throw away anytime soon"
If he was seeking new ways of pushing her buttons, he was clearly succeeding in finding them, because his last statement shook her inner world … in many ways.
'Why do I like this manipulative bastard? Please remind me again!' rhetorically asked Karin, checking her appearance in a pool. This was the only utility she found for the gathering of water probably left behind by a rainy storm.
Suddenly another figure joined hers. The only warning she had before a well-known voice whispered against her ear, was a tall reflection mirrored in the clear water. Her bubble had been penetrated by an invader, but the seductive voice, flowing by her ear, filled the place like a smooth blanket of comfort that made her forget for one second all her worries.
"Why do you ask?" Even if he had guessed the answer a long time ago.
"I saw you together … and I was curious." A necessary lie, which became even more necessary because of their proximity.
She didn't blush or do anything stupid.
"Since when does curiosity make you so serious, quiet and touchy?" He was still using that deep sensual voice that was sure to bring a proper response from the dark haired girl. "And please do not act like the last time I took the Kurosaki b- on a date"
"I asked because I was overly curious and no! It doesn't make me touchy" she snapped, not noticing the unfinished b- in the reply.
Karin didn't turn around, fearing those brownish irises of terror and the fact that any motion was bound to bring her closer to him and his body. Yuzu seemed to be the least of her problem, since she had almost forgotten about her twin sister.
As a response, her whole body stiffened.
"You're lying. Do you know how I know?" she shook her head vehemently, two strands of dark hair hitting her forehead repeatedly "I can see it just here" and he pressed the index finger on her nose, being obliged to bend his hand at an awkward angle because of the strange position they were in "It's as big as Pinocchio's"
She twitched her nose trying to chase away the invading finger. Finally, when this task failed, she turned around avoiding his hand by millimeters.
"So tell me. Do you like her that much?" he asked while taking a step back.
"Don't be idiotic"
Said the girl, making a face of pure disgust, which only provided to be the perfect fuel for Aizen. He already knew who the real object of her affection was, but he was not inclined to tell her anytime soon.
"So, you do like her"
"For obvious reasons this statement sickens me. First of all, in case you didn't notice in the multitude of escapades you might have had with her, she's a girl" replied Karin thinking that this was his way of being funny, when in reality he had no idea of the sibling relationship she shared with the blonde girl.
"Believe me, I noticed" his lips twitched upwards "And?"
"You're a disgusting pig" stated Karin as a serious expression retook its rightful place on her grim face.
"You're an overprotective bitch. Please do tell me what's new on the planet?"
A feral scowl appeared –uninvited- on the white face, but what impressed Aizen was the multitude of wrinkles that settled of her forehead. If it wasn't for the dark look of death she was sending his way, he might have cataloged her expression as cute.
"Look. I don't think she should spend time with someone like you," she said firmly, acquiring a strange tone of protectiveness.
"Like me?" Interrupted Aizen.
She was an incurable hypocrite, especially when he was involved in the equation. It was still very strange, because Karin was criticizing Yuzu of something she did daily.
"An insensitive jerk" her arms were crossed over her chest, protecting herself from a threat that was sure to come "Did I tell you about that god complex deeply embedded in your soul?"
"At least twice a day"
Gritting her teeth because of her annoying friend, Karin decided to peruse the subject with one last tiny trace of hope that speaking with him will solve the problem.
"I don't think you two are fit for each other. Let's be serious she's kind, innocent and maybe too naïve for her own good. On the other hand, you are …neither of these." Her gestures became wider sign of an erratic spectrum of feelings "Complete opposites. You need one of those rock chicks wearing black all the time"
The man raised an eyebrow, but decided to humor her.
"Really? And you know this exactly how, Karin? Read in a fashion magazine?" he received a delicious growl from Karin "It's easier to play with little and feeble lives that cannot defend themselves against the attacker … or they cannot see him at all" his eyes burned with malice and sarcasm "I'm sure that if I try, by the end of the month she'll eat from my palm like a pigeon that seeks for food."
Annoying her had become his favorite sport, but the enraged expression Karin acquired throughout his discourse was unexpected. Still he should have expected this reaction since his words were particularly dark and, surprisingly, genuine.
Something tough, probably Karin's knuckles, cracked under the pressure and only a hiss escaped her mouth before a punch was being thrown in his direction. She tried to kick him in the gut, but he grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back at an awkward angle, numbing the hand from shoulder down.
She was a fighter for the all mighty light, while he played with the darkness.
"You are sick and disgusting" she growled, her voice sounding somehow off because of her body's bend position "When Ichigo will find out about you playing with his sister, he's not only going to kick your royal butt, but he'll skin you alive and not me or anybody else will be able to stop him"
He was looking at her with interested eyes, but she wasn't able to see his expression being busy with struggling out of his tight hold.
'She clearly knows Kurosaki Ichigo and his overprotective nature, but I wonder how much does she know? Is she aware of the Shinigami. How close is she to the Substitute Shinigami?' thought Aizen, unconsciously squeezing her wrist.
"Ghh" hissed Karin in pain, momentarily waking him up from the presumed jealousy. Not that he'll ever admit being jealous because of a relative fact like a possible relationship between his archenemy and the woman he wanted to bed.
"And what if he kills me?" He asked silently, almost whispering the last part of the sentence.
"Then the world will be a better place" snarled Karin, gritting her teeth at the same time.
"Do you really believe that?" Mocked Aizen as he released her hand.
Karin rubbed the abused skin, being almost able to distinguish the purple patter of a forming bruise. Her long fingers pressed onto the skin, forcing the blood to circulate through the forming clots. Just when an awkward silence was about to be established, Aizen tilted his head to the right, brown eyes sparkling with malice and discontent.
"You are right Karin. I should take one of those rock girls and since Yuzu is so easygoing I'll keep them both."
Her dark eyes narrowed, but before she could stop him with a not so pleasant roar, Aizen was 10 meters away. He was walking nonchalantly, stepping over some annoying pools of mud. It looked like even the dirty carpet feared him.
'Why did I stay like a fool … without doing anything?' she thought when he disappeared from sight.
"Damn it!" she screamed, soaring forward as her fist went through a tree's trunk leaving behind a whole as wide as her hand "I promised it won't happen again!" her other hand, the one that wasn't stuffed in the oak, grabbed the bark gripping onto it with wild abandon "I knew this would happen. I knew it and yet I did nothing to stop it."
Short breathes of anger hissed between her gritting teeth while her orbs were shut firmly, hiding behind thick dark eyelashes. Finally, she opened her mouth leaving a pained moan escape.
"I should have stopped; I shouldn't have let him get to me. Damn it, I should have known better than get close to him." Karin's hands slipped on the trunk, falling down along with her whole body "One month …in one month I have fallen for him without realizing" her lips parted slightly forming the words she didn't want to acknowledge "And … I know he's not normal, but I cannot stop myself"
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One week had passed since the evening they had that altercation. Neither of them wanted to speak of it and because of that, the usual meetings in the park were halted. If they met in the school's hallway, Karin would do anything humanely possible to ignore him and he would smirk and pass by without sparing even a glance. It was a simple ritual of a continuous run around the tail without being able to catch it.
Even if both of them seemed sure of the cold shoulder, they were giving to each other, in the comfort of their minds things tended to change. Karin damned her sister and that sweet innocent charm that attracted boys and implicitly Samaki, while Aizen was plotting a cruel revenge for Yuzu, since she was the source of his discontent. It was her fault for one month of hard work that had gone down the drain because of a stupid party. He couldn't stop his intellect from blaming the subject of his obsession who had the annoying habit of acting like a stubborn cow.
And in the end, he blamed himself for interfering with the human world and its complicated entanglements. It was hard enough to boil the perfect plan for Soul Society's destruction … now he had problems in his personal life.
Ironically, when he found a valid solution for one of the issues involving the Shinigami world, things got bad with his human alias and vice versa. It was a disturbing situation.
And he desired to solve some unfinished businesses in Hueco Mundo that couldn't be delayed much more. Someone was waiting for him there, deeply buried in the heart of Las Noches and soon he'll be forced to go get him. Aizen was aware of the power this man had and that he was alive and well, probably dancing the hula dance after he had been lucky enough to escape from his grasp. Aizen wondered if he'd ever find some other lost Arrancars that were spared during the Shinigami slaughter; his hopes were for the top Espada.
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Karakura was bathing in the warm light spread by the last rays of a bloody sunset. Colorful stripes of red and orange painted the blue sky in a chaos of crimson shades, twisting around the sun in a concentric dance. It had been one of the hottest days in the last month so it was no wonder in seeing women wearing skirts and men hanging their jackets nonchalantly over the shoulder. They were all enjoying, probably, the last sunny day and the possibility of wearing whatever they wanted without being cocooned in a multitude of fur clothes that weren't even keeping them warm.
Still it was the day of the party.
The 7-th of November was the date when one of the most adored parties in Karakura High School took place: the freshman's ball. It wasn't really a ball, but everyone liked to call it by this name, because of the pompous noun that was sure to bring more guests. Nobody really cared, but still it was better to show off about the ball that you'll attend, instead of the party that you'll attend.
Of course, Karin didn't give a dog's crap for the name and this overestimated school event, but she was compelled to go by her status as the soccer captain. Also, she couldn't let Yuzu go there without some strict supervision, especially since her partner was the biggest creep the world had ever seen. Maybe she was exaggerating in her beliefs, but there was no way she'll leave her alone with him; no way in hell.
So, that being the case, Karin decided to dress properly and accompany her sister at the party.
Everything was all right, except the fact that they were now walking down the street, Yuzu and Aizen talking some school nonsense, while Karin was matching nervously in front of them. From time to time, an enraged growl would leave her mouth, but only Aizen could hear it since he was the only one that actually listened to her every breath.
He tried not to laugh at the humorous situation, a subtle twitch of lips being the only sign of amusement he let loose. Karin was always the invaluable source of so much fun. It would have been better if she wasn't looking so damn hot, especially dressed in those totally black clothes and having her hair bound at the back of her head in a fancy ponytail.
His eyes traveled over her slender neck, noticing its fragility. It was indeed rather thin and white, or maybe it was just the contrast it made with her raven hair; it's a well-known fact that black tends to thin the lines and give a short illusion of slimness. But for the first time in ages, Aizen remembered that day when he threatened her with death and when she stated fearlessly that, she knows him. If she had really known him, she would have dashed like a frightened child in her mama's arms.
A sight and then his job continued as a brown lustful gaze slipped downwards lingering on the message encrypted on her tank top's back. He forced a soft smile, which resembled an evil smirk more than anything else did, when he noticed the white letters and the calligraphy of a writing machine.
'Death god, huh?' he thought as his hand jerked to follow the white pattern, but stopped before doing it 'So ironic'
His eyes continued to fall over her hips, taking in account the slim waist and not so wide hips, but being rewarded with a plump backside. She wasn't exaggerated in that department, but the black and overly tight pants she was wearing weren't really leaving much space for the imagination. Not that Aizen was bothered by it and leather really suited her, but he clearly didn't appreciate the looks she was getting from other man.
He did send a couple of nasty glares at the ones that dared to leer at her.
"So, do you like my dress, Aizen-kun?" Asked Yuzu smiling innocently.
Aizen was brought back by Yuzu's question and he damned her again for interrupting his trail of thoughts.
"Of course, Kurosaki-san! It fits you, perfectly" he mirrored her smile, bowing his head slightly forward as a sign of content.
'Too bad it is pink' he couldn't stop from thinking as he took his date's appearance into consideration.
Yuzu was clearly a beautiful woman, with many suitors, who was used to receive gifts and delicate declarations of love, but, like some say, looks aren't enough. So, even if she was indeed gorgeous, Karin was the only one that could wake him up … in many ways.
"Aizen-kun and Kurosaki-san my ass" mumbled the raven haired girl, making Aizen smirk.
They were so different; complete opposites. Somehow they reminded him of the temperamental Kuchiki Rukia and the always naïve Hinamori Momo.
Meanwhile Karin was mentally screaming and kicking viciously a voodoo doll that held a close resemblance with her ex-friend: red hair and brown eyes, but a head stuffed with straws. She tried to rip his head off, but the damn thing wasn't moving a centimeter. All these imaginative things were happening in her inner self, since on the outside she was busy trying to keep her mouth firmly shut, or she was sure to upset her twin.
If this wasn't enough, Yuzu began a strange discussion about how cute had been Ichigo as a little child. Who talks about her brother on a date… but then again, who takes her sister on a date.
Over all this, she had no idea of the beautiful view she gave to Aizen. Her round rear seemed to be the main interest of the evening and by moving like a storm through haystacks, Karin clearly worsened the situation. Not that Aizen minded.
Finally, after a long walk, the trio arrived at the agglomerated club.
One hour later, Aizen was staring at his drink, being bored and sick of the loud rhythm that banged against the walls and into his unprotected ears. Luckily, for him Yuzu was gone at the toilette to refresh her makeup, or so she said, leaving him alone in a crowd of hormonal teenagers. At least he had the drink to keep him company, since his real date was too busy with her appearance to notice him.
She was a simpleminded creature, so why bother. It was a Kurosaki main attribute to act like that.
When he was about to go ask for another glass of …he had no idea what was that dark liquid's name, but surely it wasn't tea … something caught his eye. It was Karin squeezing through the front door, but only after she had assured herself that nobody saw her hasty retreat.
Curious to know what she was trying to accomplish by leaving the club in the middle of the night, he followed her, being careful not to attract any unwanted attention. His stealth steps got him outside on the wide porch, where he distinguished her form on the blurry background of stars.
To be continued
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Here it is …chapter 13. 13 have been my lucky number for as long as I know *laugh* ironic. I tried to make this one funny, but the next one won't be. I don't know if you ever had problems with tickling friends (I know I had) but they aren't pleasant and it's rather vexing when you ask them to stop and they won't just because they're having fun. My last chapter wasn't so popular, not that I'm surprised anyway *sigh* Revolation made a good point a few chapters back about Karin not looking like a boy since in the manga Tite Kubo gave her boobs, so I tried to explain it.
Sorry for the wordiness (I new word I learned from my beta … I love her so much T_T)
In the next chapter I'll be forced to change the rating in M; I'll post a warning at the beginning anyways. Btw how do you find Rukia's new haircut?