The next day, the day after she'd found the demon spy, Karin made her way out of school and straight towards her house. They were going to stage Ichigo's death today so he could start his full time job as a Soul Reaper. Her role was to go shopping with him and Yuzu for groceries before running off after some 'jerk', which would be Kon in a Gigai Kisuke had made to look like every average dude on the street. Ichigo would then run after her, looking frustrated, and therefore not paying attention as a car came by. He'd use his Substitute badge to exit his body right before the hit.
Hopefully it would work, there were so many things that could go wrong, like the car stopping in time before hitting him. They were doing it like this so Yuzu wouldn't actually have to see it, as even knowing it was a fake death the thought still upset her. She had hung out with her elder brother the whole night before.
She set her bag down in her room before heading downstairs. Yuzu was visibly nervous, Shimmer on her shoulder as support.
"Put those acting skills to good use, Yuzu." Karin said, patting her on the back.
"Right." The honey-blonde took a calming breath as she'd been taught and slapped on a happy smile. "Off we go!"
Ichigo sighed, putting a hand in his pocket to make sure his badge was there. All he'd need would be a light tap and he'd be out of his body. He was nervous himself, it was going to be disturbing to say the least to see himself die. But he had to do something. For someone as healthy as him, just dropping dead would look very strange, and he didn't want anyone getting pinned for murder. An accident would have to suffice.
As they walked together towards they store they momentarily forgot about the soon-to-be 'death' they would be staging and acted as they normally did, just siblings hanging together, though with the Kurosaki twist of being rather violent about it, save Yuzu.
A figure passed. Normally this wouldn't have seemed strange to Karin, considering they were constantly passing people, but this figure sent chills up her spine. She turned back, spotting silver hair before they vanished around a corner. Karin was tempted to chase after him, wondering if he might have been that new Captain, Kadin, and to ask why he was here.
"Oi, Karin." Ichigo called out.
Deciding to shrug it off, she caught up to her siblings and headed to the store. Kon should be waiting inside, but she somehow doubted he'd stay in one place for long…too many girls. She was already thinking of a different excuse to use to run out onto the streets with her brother chasing after her.
She felt it again, that strange chill. However it wasn't just her that time. Ichigo tensed and spanned his gaze over the building, the store surprisingly rather barren for this time of day.
"Hollow?" Karin asked in a whisper. Yuzu frowned and stopped with them, Shimmer fidgeting nervously on her shoulder, unseen by the crowd.
"Don't think so." Ichigo scowled as the weird feeling vanished. "Come on, let's keep going."
They walked into the store and Yuzu darted off to one of the aisles, seeming to have completely forgotten about the real reason they were there. Amused, her two siblings walked over to join her. Karin looked for Kon but couldn't spot him, he really did blend in. Either that or he wasn't even there anymore.
She paused as she spotted red hair, wondering if it was Renji. Looking closer she realized it was a fair skinned man with blood red hair to his shoulders, looking only mildly interested in a book he'd picked up. He wore all black, and with summer coming around she thought he would get crazy sweaty in such clothing.
The man looked up, catching her eye with his blood red orbs. The chill raced up her spine as he slowly grinned, fangs gleaming in the fluorescent light.
He wasn't human.
"Ichigo!" She called out, a little panicky. Time to fake deaths later, this guy had to be dealt with.
The man didn't give her a chance, setting the book down and snapping his fingers, the sound echoing sharply in the building.
Then everything turned red.
"Karin!" Dyrilæn snapped to her feet in the Soul Society, startling Renji and Rukia who happened to be nearby. 'Myndræl! Karin's in danger! A lot of it!'
She heard a growl from the ice dragon's side before it went silent. Her wings flapped madly though she did not take off, simply panicking at the thought of losing her partner.
"What's wrong?!" Rukia questioned over the roaring wind the dragoness was creating.
"Something's happened to Karin!" She whined. "So much darkness!"
The Lieutenants frowned deeply and Flash Stepped to the Senkaimon without further ado.
They were not the only ones in a rush. Dyrilæn's message had been quickly reported to the Ice Prince and to say he was concerned was a vast understatement, having already felt a darkness creeping on him through the pendant. He was quick to track down Ruala.
People moved away from the burning building that had just exploded, the injured being carried out. Yuzu was one of them, managing to escape with minor burns and a few cuts from glass, her dragon flitting about her unseen as she worried for her partner. But she took no notice of her wounds, demanding the firemen find her brother and sister.
In Soul Reaper form, Ichigo let his sister know he was fine, deciding to leave his body in the wreckage as a perfect way to 'kill' him off.
"I'll find Karin as quick as I can, promise." He told her and she nodded tearfully.
He vanished with Flash Step to find the black haired twin.
It was in an alley that she managed to bring herself back to reality, body a little stiff from the blast but otherwise unharmed. She was sure the red-haired man had brought her here, for what purpose she really didn't want to know. Groaning a bit, she brought herself to a standing position and looked around to find her bearings.
"Even trapped in a mortal body you resist the darkness." A silky tone spoke and she froze in place, eyes widening. She couldn't turn around to face the voice. "You have a strong soul, princess."
The owner of the voice came up behind her and she felt his breath as he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"But even with that gift on your wrist you can't remain unafraid."
Whatever had paralyzed her left and she moved away, turning as she did so.
The man before her watched her in amusement, golden eyes calm and cold, a smirk playing on his lips. His silver hair framed his face, a little black streaked through it on the front, and he had a rather handsome face, skin pale. He looked straight out of the Victorian age, dressed all in black with a thick leathery coat and tall boots, a silver necklace standing out on his chest, the symbol it was shaped into unknown to her.
"Wh-who are you?" Karin demanded, though she found herself stuttering under the man's steady gaze.
He calmly placed his hands behind his back and smiled.
"Why, I thought you would know. You did seem to have a go at me when I had young Star send a spy after you."
"You…You're…You're Dethmaiyn?" She gaped a bit, eyes wide as they could go as she realized she was facing off against the Lord of Fear himself, the man who wanted Toshiro dead so he could become Soul King.
"But of course." She gaped further as he bowed to her, actually bowed. "Shall we walk? This alley is rather dreary for our kind."
"Our kind?" She narrowed her eyes a bit at that.
"Royal blood of course." Kamai smirked. "Though, I suppose your line is no longer royal. The Shiba Clan has fallen quite a bit. I hope you didn't think I was calling you a demon, I'm not so cruel as to do that."
Not seeming to care if she followed or not, Kamai began to walk calmly out of the alley. Karin didn't dare walk alone with him, but staying in the alley wasn't a good idea either. She reached down for her Substitute badge while his back was turned.
It was gone.
"My apologies." Kamai paused and lifted a hand, the badge suddenly in it. "I neglected to mention I had taken this from you. I'd like to talk civil and I can't do that if you're attempting to burn me."
"And how do I know you're not trying to lure me away from everyone?" Karin snapped.
"Away from your spirit friends, yes." Kamai turned, still smirking. "But do not fret, princess, I have no plans to kill you yet, simply talk."
"You're a demon, demons are good liars." Karin crossed her arms.
"Ah, save for me. I'm a rather terrible liar. You see, I cannot lie."
"That's a lie right there."
He chuckled as if amused by her naivety, making her growl.
"It's quite true, I am unable to lie." He put a hand to his chest and bowed slightly. "Everything I speak to you is the absolute truth. I will not harm you today, young human, I only wish to chat."
"About what?"
"Your future, of course." Kamai motioned for her to follow him out of the alley. She did so with great reluctance. "Unfortunately for me, my young enemy, this infamous Ice Prince, is protecting you from my power."
"Duh, you people keep trying to kidnap me." Karin growled, stopping the minute she was out of the alley. Though the street was wider at least, it was still deserted.
"For good reason." Kamai pointed out. "The boy is rather resilient for his age. But I do not think he should take the throne."
"Only because you want it."
"But of course, it was mine by right before he was born." Kamai frowned a bit as he continued. "Someone so young cannot lead the realms. I dread to think what would happen once his dear father dies."
"Toshiro will take the throne and he'll be the best damn Soul King ever." Karin snapped, feeling a little brave.
Those golden eyes looked her right in the eye and all her courage vanished as if it was nothing.
"You are naïve, child." He said softly, putting his hand to her cheek. She could not move away, frozen in place under that golden gaze. "A mere boy can never be the Soul King. Your dear friend Toshiro is better off dead."
"You won't win." She managed to get out, voice shaking.
He chuckled, moving his hand down to her neck.
"It's a shame I must kill you, princess. But for the sake of protecting the world from the mistakes of a growing child, I'm afraid your fire must go out." His grip tightened and she gasped, losing her air.
The bracelet flashed but the man ignored it, continuing to shut off her air with an expression of indifference, no longer smiling. Her vision began to blur.
'Dammit…where is everyone?' She panicked. 'Toshiro…'
The air became deathly cold.
"Let her go!"
The hand removed itself from her neck and metal flashed in front of her line of sight, going for the hand that had just retreated. In the blink of an eye the Lord of Fear was standing several feet away, a malicious grin on his face.
Taking in the much needed air she had just been deprived of, Karin shakily turned to her savior, having fallen to her knees once released from Kamai's spell.
"T-Toshiro!" She exclaimed in surprise.
Though his expression was calm his eyes blazed with fury as he faced the silver haired man that had just attempted to kill her.
"I see you got my message." Kamai chuckled, twisting his hand in front of him and bringing small wisps of darkness to hover above it. Fear.
Karin saw the white haired prince frown slightly but she herself was confused. How could Toshiro have known? Unless…her gaze turned to the bracelet, remembering how it had flashed. It must have warned him she was in danger, of course. He'd told her it could do that.
"What does the Lord of Fear want in the World of the Living?" Toshiro demanded, blade held at the ready. He was careful about how much Spiritual Pressure he released, especially since Karin was in her human state.
"Was that not clear?" Kamai frowned. "You did just separate me from her."
"So you've stopped sending your servants to do the dirty work for you?"
"She did call me out." Now he snickered. "I believe she called me a 'coward hiding in the shadows'."
Karin groaned; those were her words exactly, but how he'd heard them she'd no idea.
"I simply wished to prove I am no coward." Kamai continued. "I did not harm her, as promised."
"You tried to suffocate me!" Karin snapped.
"That was your imagination." One golden eye winked. "Fear is a powerful thing."
"But…" She cut off, looking at the bracelet again.
"Oh that can't block all of it, not all of mine anyway. Though most of it did pass through."
"Pass…through?" Karin turned to Toshiro, the young prince a little tenser than before.
"Feeling a little pressured, Ice Prince?" Kamai held the hand with the wisps of Fear out. Toshiro scowled, wincing as his chest felt tight.
Chuckling, Kamai cast the darkness aside.
"As I said, I won't harm her this day." Kamai donned an emotionless façade, tossing the Substitute badge to Karin who caught it in surprise. "Fare the well, young prince. Your time will come." He made to leave, but paused, smirking. "I did say I wouldn't harm her, but…"
Shadows rose and a familiar figure appeared before them; the man Karin had seen in the store before it had exploded, and the man Toshiro remembered originally casting the Fear into his soul moments after learning of his birthright. Gralio.
"Try not to die, prince." Kamai turned his back. "I want the honor of severing your head from your neck."
Then he was gone and the red-headed demon master grinned evilly.
"Just how much Fear can you take?" Gralio questioned with a hiss to his voice. "Will you scream?"
"Bastard." Toshiro growled, lifting Hyorinmaru up a little higher.
Karin took her chance to remove herself from her body, moving it to the side before standing next to the Ice Prince once more. She had a lot to talk to him about, like how she'd come to realize he received the Fear others tried to cast on her, putting himself in harm's way, something the enemy no doubt counted on.
"Leave it on." Toshiro snapped as she reached for the bracelet to take it off.
"Like Hell, the Fear goes to you." Karin growled back. "You should have told me that earlier."
"I knew how you would react." With Gralio simply watching with a somewhat amused yet somewhat bored expression, Toshiro turned to look at her. "I didn't want you to take it off."
"Well I'm not gonna let you suffer through it alone." She slipped off the bracelet. "I can fight it too."
"Are you finished?" Gralio tilted his head. "I've wanted to settle this for a while, boy."
"As have I." Toshiro glared his way letting his Spiritual Pressure rise now that Karin was in Soul Reaper form. Ice formed quickly on the ground and a wind stirred in the air.
With a maniacal chuckle, Gralio lifted his hand up and shadows surrounded them, blocking them from the World of the Living, moments before Ichigo, Rukia and Renji could make it there. They attempted to breach it but to no avail.
"In here we have no restraints, prince." Gralio snickered, gesturing to the blackness surrounding them. "Well, I suppose you do if you don't want to flatten that pretty girl."
"She can handle a little pressure." The Ice Prince replied easily. Karin looked at him in surprise for a moment before smirking and unsheathing her blade, standing beside him with confidence and withstanding the icy pressure around her. It felt natural, side by side with him in this fight.
"Good, otherwise this wouldn't be fun." Gralio flicked his wrist and a twisted blade of shadows came to the call. "When we first met you could hardly move in my presence. How much have you improved since then?"
"That's a matter of opinion I suppose."
"Allow me to make mine then!" The man leaped forward, blackness following him and becoming sharp blades to assist.
Teal eyes hardened as he prepared for a tough fight.
So the big bad boss shows up! Opinion? Oh, and it's true, he can't lie. He's really good with wordplay. But there is a weakness to this, I wonder if anyone can figure it out. After all, not being able to lie is a tricky business, there's gonna be some complications :)
Anyway, time to get back at Gralio! Enjoy!