Nympholepsy

A frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable.

Chapter 3

Toshirou nodded, switching his gaze from Karin to the man holding her. "You can let go, Abarai."

And with that, Renji dropped Karin onto her feet. She moved her hands to rub her stomach, as he had previously been squeezing her rather tightly. Looking back over her shoulder at him once more, she saw him give her a nod. A nod of acceptance. Karin would have smiled, had she not been trying to look intimidating and tough.

"So, Karin." She looked back toward Toshirou.

"You mentioned you had some questions." It wasn't a question, but he was asking. Karin was beginning to get an idea of his personality.

"I did." She nodded. Toshirou raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue. "Well first off, who the hell are you people?" she roared.

Toshirou appeared surprised by her sudden outburst, as did many of the people surrounding her.

Hinamori finally let Toshirou free from her grip so she could move to stand in front of him. "Are you serious? You keep stalking us and you don't even know who we are?"

Karin glared at her. She could tell they probably wouldn't be getting along.

Toshirou sighed and walked around Hinamori to get closer to Karin. "We are… a club. A society, if you will. We are all a part of the Seireitei." His words came off as cold and bored. He clearly just wanted to get back to his lunch.

Karin frowned. She recognized the word from the girls standing behind her this morning, but besides that, she couldn't recall ever having heard the title before.

By the look on her face, Toshirou could tell she didn't know what he was talking about.

Sighing again, he closed his eyes in frustration. He moved his hand up to rub the bridge of his nose in an attempt to keep this girl from causing him a headache.

"Look, everyone wants in our society, but no one knows why. You're no different from them. You have no chance with us. So please, just leave. I was the first freshman invited in, and trust me, I will be the last."

Karin pushed the hurt feeling that accumulated in her chest aside, and set her focus back on anger. "You honestly think some short little kid like you is gonna get me to do what he says? And for your information, I wasn't looking to join your stupid society, anyways."

Toshirou's anger became far more apparent. Not wanting to waste his time with the hot-head any longer, he turned and strode toward the door. He smirked, seeing the lock in place. Turning back toward the girl, he said "Did you really think you'd be able to stop us from unlocking this door?" He grabbed the latch and twisted it up, successfully unlocking the exit. "Pathetic." He said, walking forward and into the building.

Karin had had enough. He just kept insulting her! Noticing a piece of scrap mettle sitting a few inches ahead of her, a wicked idea formed in her head. Stepping forward, she focused all of her strength into her right foot, pulled it back, and swung it forward. She nailed the metal perfectly, causing it to go soaring toward Toshirou's head.

Before anybody could react, the metal piece followed Toshirou into the school. Fortunately, the lithe boy ducked just as it went whizzing over his head. The only sound to be heard was the clatter of the metal hitting the wall and falling to the ground. Toshirou remained in his crouched position as Karin stared in shock. As she stared at the older boy, the scary people around her faded away with the background.

Toshirou slowly stood up, still not facing her.

Karin opened her mouth to speak, but she had no idea what she was going to say. Luckily, Toshirou beat her to the punch.

"What's your last name?" Still, all she could see was his back.

Karin took a moment to think the question over. She had come to find out about her brother. But… 'Good. We can't have anybody associating him with us.' The words she heard Toshirou say this morning came rushing back. She began to think they'd be less inclined to tell her what they were up to if she was there for Ichigo. Yet if she didn't answer, that'd look suspicious, and they might find out themselves.

"Suzuki." She blurted out. It was the name of the last patient she had worked on. Thinking back, she regretted not using her deceased mother's maiden name. Well… there was no changing it now.

"Karin… Suzuki. This is the last time I will warn you. Don't come looking for us anymore." And with that, he continued on down the stairs.

Karin continued watching him, until she felt someone shove her. She gave an agitated growl as she watched Hinamori bounce away after Toshirou. Matsumoto, as well, seemed to be following him. She, however, had manners. As she walked unsurely toward the exit, she gave Karin a strange look. Sort of… apologetic and indecisive.

The bell rang, then, causing the rest of the occupants of the roof to begin filing out. No one spoke. And just when Karin thought she was alone, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she was greeted with the sight of Renji holding her backpack. His head was turned to the side as he held the bag out, refusing to make eye contact.

"Ah… thanks." She said. He grunted, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and walked back into school.

Karin sighed. She didn't feel like getting back to class. She was late already, anyways. Shouldering her bag, she turned to look out at the school grounds. Making her way to the broken fence, she sat down. She didn't know how they had managed to break it… but she didn't say it bothered her. She liked having a view that wasn't ruined by the safety fence.

Sitting on the edge of the roof with her legs dangling off the edge, she pulled her bento out of her backpack for the second time today. Realizing she wasn't really all that hungry, she set the food aside and pulled her water bottle out. After a few sips, she screwed the cap back on and discarded it to the side with her food. Growing bored with the school grounds, she lied back and looked up to watch the clouds.

Next thing Karin knew, she was opening her eyes from a dreamless sleep. She hadn't even realized how tired she had been until waking up from her impromptu nap. She groaned as the pain of sleeping on cement finally caught up to her. On the first attempt at opening her eyes, the sunlight blinded her. As the rest of the world slowly came into focus, however, she noticed someone standing over her.

Shock was the first thing to register in her mind, so she jumped up and took a step back. She immediately regretted it, as she felt nothing beneath the heel of her foot. Upon glancing behind her, she remembered the broken fence. Clutching onto the part of the fence beside her that was still standing, she analyzed the stranger.

Before her stood a little girl, dressed in the junior high uniform she had been dressed in, up until this year. She had short pink hair and a huge grin.

"Hi there!" she shouted.

"Uh… hello." Karin replied, unsure of the little girl.

"Why were you sleeping here?" She asked.

Karin didn't answer her. "Who are you?" she asked, instead. The girl looked at her curiously.

"I'm Ya-"

"Yachiru!" A loud, angry male voice shouted.

"Oh, I gotta go now. Bye bye sleepy head!" She called, running back into the building. Karin faintly heard her scream, "Coming, Kenny!"

Finally taking notice of the setting sun, she figured school must have just let out. That might have even been what woke her up. Either that, or the strange little girl…

Gathering her stuff, she gave the school grounds below her one last look, and began her walk home. She had planned to try to get more answers from Seireitei, but decided it could wait. She still had to pick up Yuzu's homework… as well as her homework for the classes she skipped.

/

"Excuse me, Yamamoto, sir?" Toshirou called, knocking lightly on the already open door. An old man looked up at him from behind a cherry oak desk adorned with a gold colored plate that read: Principal Yamamoto.

"Yes, Mr. Hitsugaya?"

"I was wondering if I could see the records of one of the new freshmen. Karin Suzuki."

What? Yamamoto, the principal, is working with Seireitei?

Moral of the story: don't lie. You never know whos got connections.

Oh, and, theres a link to some pictures I drew for this story on my profile

10 reviews I'll update next Friday

20 reviews I'll update right away