Requested by The Crazy Chick In Black- thank you

Rangiku x Karin, and Ichigo

Passed

Karin was not one for trying for things that did not matter to her all that much, and that was why everyone was so surprised when she started trying to smile. It was not so noticeable at first, and in fact Ichigo probably would never have noticed if Matsumoto hadn't clapped her hands together one day as they saw his sister, and exclaimed "You're getting better!"

"At what?" Ichigo had asked.

Matsumoto had blinked at him prettily.

"At smiling, of course."

Karin pulled a face, hard work vanished. Ichigo stared at her, slightly incredulous.

"I wasn't aware that she was practising. What, is there going to be a final exam in looking happy?"

Matsumoto had just laughed in response, leaving Ichigo utterly baffled and a little annoyed as she ruffled his hair. Glancing across at his sister, however, he caught sight of a very different expression; was it just him, or did Karin look a little... pleased?

This strange, indirect education came about in a very round-about sense, from observance and discretion. A lot of the time Karin did not even realise that she was watching the older woman until she would turn around and wink at her, and then she would blush furiously and storm off. This went on for several weeks, the blushes changing in depth of colour depending on the length of Matsumoto's skirt, until one day the older woman slunk up beside her, and ruffled her hair.

"Do you want to do something tonight, hmm?"

Karin turned a surprised but glowing smile onto her, and the other felt a similar one tugging at the corners of her mouth, even though she was going for breezy-indifferent. But then, she remembered, it didn't really matter how she acted, did it? Karin was going to come regardless, so she didn't really have to play the sort of games that she normally reserved for these sorts of encounters.

"Well done," Rangiku said, voice honey-sweet and just as warm, "You passed."

Karin felt her throat constrict, even though she did not want it to, so that her next words were hoarse.

"What's my reward?"

Rangiku tapped her cheek with her finger, leaning in.

"What did you have in mind?"

Karin surprised them both by moving upwards, on the balls of her feet, to press their lips together.