AN: I swear, February is 'HitsuKarin Month' for me. I update without meaning to and you guys get to reap the awards. Yay for procrastination! ;D I hope you all enjoy the random update~

Thank you's for the last chapter:

Black Rose: I'm so glad you liked the last chapter. Personally, it's one of my favorite one-shots to date. :) I'm oddly productive when I choose to be. I write fast when I'm extremely inspired, haha. I don't get to do big, dramatic scenes very often but that ending was a lot of fun for me so I'm really happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading~

elarhy: Sorry but I have no plans for a sequel. :( I don't usually do sequels unless I have an idea and it's rare that I do. I've never seen "Snow White and the Huntsman" but I hope the story was as good as the movie. :D

Guest: Thank you! I hope you continue to read and enjoy whatever I'm able to put up. :)

nureen: Thank you~ It was definitely one of my favorites. Fun and light but not too frivolous. I love a good adventure, after all. I'm glad you liked the ending (it was so fun to write and I don't think those kinds are done enough). ;D

Aoi. Kunieda-Karin. Kurosaki: Thank you for saying so~ I always try and post things that are worth a read or two. I love writing Karin as a badass. It just suits her. Haha.

Kuschkova: I'm happy to hear that. I hope you enjoy the next chapter too~ :DDDD

Summary: Vampire AU. "It went against all logic, but when he tore open the flesh of his skin and placed it to her lips he knew what he was doing wasn't a mistake."

Warnings: This was definitely an experimental fic. A little darker, a little more mature (but nothing that would require a rating change) and lacking the "deep" story line I usually do. Plus, it was written in Toushirou's POV so it was interesting trying to make him my main character. I also tried out a different style of writing here so your thoughts on everything would be very much appreciated. :)

February 2013: Sire

The crime scene was that of a feeding gone wrong.

Soulless green eyes took in the sight of broken bodies, blood spilt from open wounds that had been caused by teeth that could cut through bone and flesh with ease. Without needing to investigate further, the light-haired man could tell that it was the job of a newly turned vampire, one without a proper guide. A snort of disgust left his nose, as his hand fell to the gun in its holster at his hip. For such a weak specimen Hyourinmaru was unneeded. To draw the holy blade against something so pitiful would only disgrace the powerful spirit buried deep within the steel.

He'd need to leave quickly once he figured out the monster's escape route, not wanting some bystander to catch his silhouette and scream bloody murder. There was no point in checking to see if any of the humans were alive. Newborns were infamously weak to their hunger, feeding off anyone they could get their hands on. Thus the reason why arbitrarily turned minions were dangerous, oftentimes tossed aside before they learned to stand on their feet and losing their true selves to their madness. In the end, death was the only proper end for these once-mortal travesties.

Darting from torn limbs to patterns of spatter, his gaze trailed to the end of the dark alleyway, shifting to the left corner that broke off into a new path. With vision that saw through even the thickest shadows, the stain of a hand along the wayward bend was obvious against the light gray of the building. Taking a few steps in that direction, surprise literally grabbed him, as a grip tightened around his ankle.

Looking down, the hunter could see a young girl hanging onto dear life, eyes barely open as she tried to lift her head to meet his gaze. Just from the smell of the air he knew she was on death's doorstep, her blood almost completely consumed and the last of it leaking from her wounds. The fact that she had any strength at all was impressive, her will to live greater than her body's need to die.

And, for the first time in centuries, he was intrigued.

In the distance, the sound of police cars tickled his ears, forcing his senses to stand at attention. Without thought, he bent on one knee to get a good look at this woman who refused eternal sleep. Beneath the dirt-encrusted hair and scratched skin was a pretty face he hadn't been expecting. But even more interesting than that was the determination in those gray eyes, bright despite the fading of her consciousness.

It would've been easy to leave her there, let her die and find the peace he knew that most souls craved for in a life of hardship and sin on earth. And none of his kind would have blamed him, knowing he'd never intended to take a disciple of his own. However, that stubbornness of hers poisoned him, the refusal to give up and give in somewhere beneath the stench of almost-passing on her. It went against all logic, but when he tore open the flesh of his skin and placed it to her lips he knew that what he was doing wasn't a mistake.

When she woke up, he could feel the intensity of her emotions as strongly as his own. The first came as a shower of surprise, followed closely by confusion and then a vague wariness that was not quite fear. That last one was the most interesting to him, as he got up from his perch on the couch and drew closer to the guest room he'd put her in.

While certainly not made for many tenants, the high-rise apartment was certainly big enough for two occupants. And considering how he'd unceremoniously plucked her from her normal life, there was no doubt that they'd be together for a very long time. Perhaps not eternity, for a child was always free to leave if deemed capable, but decades would certainly feel long to a girl as young as her.

Vaguely he wondered how she was adjusting to her new senses, knowing it was the first thing she would notice. With her retina too sensitive, bright lights would leave her temporarily stunned and unable to look outside during the day. Her hearing must've already picked up his steps because she perked as he came to the door, awareness of his presence trickling into the forefront of her mind. The supernatural strength and speed would be discovered in due time as well, making him thankful that he had few precious things in his penthouse. She was practically an infant as far as he was concerned and until she knew better he would treat her as such.

Swinging the entrance open, dark green eyes met dulled but not timid stone irises, seeing how she clutched the bed sheet to her chest in defense. Happily he noted that there was still no fright, just a growing understanding that she was no longer in the world she was born into. At the very least, if he was going to have to take on a child vampire, he was glad she was intelligent.

There were no hysterical screams or pleadings as he came to sit on the edge of the bed, no shifting away as if he might hurt her. One day he'd explain that her own strife would cause a reciprocal feeling in him, as she was too unstable to support herself so she'd be forced to use him as a crutch. But, for now, he was going to get to know his little companion.

What is your name? he asked, white wisps falling into his solemn stare.

She paused, sizing him up as her cat-like eyes turned to slits. Kurosaki Karin, she finally answered, dropping the blanket to her lap as she eyed him.

Do you know what's happened to you? He didn't do subtlety much, one of the reasons why he hadn't converted anyone before. Too much patience and tolerance for a creature as old as him, nor any worthy candidates he'd deemed deserving of his blood.

However, against all odds, it seemed as if he'd found one. You've turned me, haven't you? It was phrased in a questioning manner but without any of the bemusement. I've become a vampire, just like the thing that tried to kill me before.

Yes, though I'm nothing like that weakling that fed from you. His voice was even, though he didn't enjoy being compared to the trash he took care of on a nightly basis. I am your Sire, your master from here onwards.

Still unbelievably calm in the face of her change, the girl known as Karin observed him with all the might of an experienced hunter. The sureness there delighted him, made him increasingly confident that his instincts were correct. If he was going to spend the next few centuries with anyone, then no one would suit him better than this girl here.

Without a stutter, she spoke again. And what is your name, Master?

The lightning bolt of pleasure that shot through him brought a small smirk to his face, the need to complete his claim on his new follower bubbling at the pit of his belly. Tangling his fingers in the mass of dark, silken hair, he pulled her face to his, murmuring his answer before touching her lips with his own.

Hitsugaya, Hitsugaya Toushirou.

Barely a week into their cohabitation and the two of them were still taking tentative steps around each other. With her life torn away and left in ashes at her feet, he wanted her to make the transition without the aftereffects that afflicted so many Turned. So he forced himself to wait, letting her come to him on her own time.

But it was him who would have to close the distance, unwittingly using her own attraction to him as needed. Though she didn't know it yet, her current attachment to him was only temporary, as she would crave his nearness out of solace rather than want. However, for the short while, he wouldn't stop her if she sat beside him or sought him out personally to use his presence for comfort. It would only serve to strengthen their fragile ties.

Slowly it got easier, guiding her into his world little by little. And, as she made the adjustment with clumsy grace, he found himself earning her trust in return. One day he inquired about what she'd left behind, not expecting her to divulge it in full when he felt her indecision; instead, he learned that her family had died long ago, a car crash that only she'd managed to survive. Alone since fourteen, she essentially raised herself, using her family's life insurance to put herself through school after selling her childhood home. When he asked why she left, her answer was cold and clipped, as if she'd detached herself completely from that part of her past.

It brings back memories was all she offered, curling into a ball on the couch next to him and leaning against his shoulder a bit. The gesture made her look so small and breakable, unlike the vampire she was destined to become. But he knew that that tragedy had fostered will the strength of diamonds, as she met his eyes that refused pity or sorrow. So he offered none, using her weakness to press his lips to her forehead before leaving her to her thoughts.

With each passing day, he was sure that she was going to be a powerful ally to him, a predator admired by any of his equals. He refused to raise his child as a delicate damsel, not when his job constituted death at every turn and enemies who wanted his blood for their own purposes. Life was far too easy to take, an experience that he used as livelihood but respected all the same. It was an ideal he wanted her to learn well.

For in his world, a natural born such as him was rarer than gold, less than a hundred in the world as far as he knew. Because of their homogeneity, their bodies were saturated with far more power, running thick through their veins and lending energy to the adherents who fed from them. But there were others who coveted such strength, using it to feed themselves by draining a noble to sate that limitless avarice. As she was now, his child was more of a liability to him than an asset.

So he expected her request long before she made, as he forced her to watch him work late into the night. With just the barrel of his gun and his body, he took out a small army of undead that had no right to call themselves vampires, more like victims of stronger men's games than anything else. However, with power struggles among makeshift clans and old moralities slipping with the times, younger but powerful Turned were becoming obsessed with gaining multitudes of followers so that they might overpower an opposing enemy.

But if the need came, he and his purebred brothers and sisters would go to war with those so-called leaders, a future he both detested and craved. Making an example of them went against his usually calm, peace-maintaining nature, but would also give him the chance to draw Hyourinmaru for the first time in many, many decades. Just the thought made his cold blood run hot in anticipation

Turning back to his raven-haired cohort after the last man fell to the floor, he was glad to see her interest rather than her disgust or horror. Oh, they were certainly there—he could still sense her emotions haplessly since she was only now managing to control their bond at her end—but she didn't let her features own up to it. A good practice for someone who would eventually become his partner in these matters, he thought, striding towards her with purpose.

Her words were strong where her voice was not. Teach me.

You are not ready, he declared, going before her. The tapping of her feet as she chased after him permeated through the quiet night, the scent of desecrated remains leaving their sensitive senses the further they got.

Although he outright refused, her persistence was commendable. I won't be if you won't teach me, Master.

You have been turned for less than a year, Karin. His tone spoke of silent disbelief. While you may be able to feed properly, you still have trouble controlling your base desires. Until that happens, your training will begin once you've figured out how to manage all of the effects of the Turning.

Just because I'm not ready to fight doesn't mean I'm not ready to learn, she fired back, causing him to hesitate between this step and the next. He loathed to admit that she was right, causing him to come to a stop and making her run into him. And though she bristled at his abruptness, she was glad to see that she was plucking all the right heartstrings. Assessing the boldness in her visage and the confident lines of her shoulders, he knew that this was one battle he was going to end up losing.

Eventually he trusted her enough to take her around with him, exposing her to the world that was hidden deep inside the crevices of its human counterpart. And slowly she made the transition from being his child to being a candidate for mating, though he would only acknowledge a man that he decided was good enough for her. When they attended meetings, regardless if they were impromptu or organized, he had to ignore the stares that her form drew, the lustful gazes that they shot in her direction. She was a prime specimen for desire, with classic beauty that drew them in but not enough that they'd find an early demise by his hand.

She'd stopped aging at twenty, barely legal and with the promise of greater loveliness if she'd been allowed more time. But that would've been a nuisance for him, as he had to patrol all the suitors that sought her favor. Luckily for him, she felt no need to play nice, actively turning down any that approached and proving her strength if they tried to force her into submission. Her training was well on its way, so much so that he had no doubts that she'd grow fine with his helpful hands.

But, while she was well behaved and obedient in public, he'd come to understand that her initial quietness hid a rebellious streak that he both hated and admired. And it was always reserved for him, as she'd glare through sweat-soaked bangs whenever he managed to pin her down or scowl when he refused to give into her smallest demands.

He knew she'd be powerful, but he wasn't quite ready for just how quickly she caught on. Years of athletics had toned her soft body, making her an infallible weapon in both the training hall and on shadowed sidewalks. The way she dodged an on-coming swing and countered with a sweep spoke well of her reflexes, well in-tune with her own abilities and incorporating her acquired advantages into them. Soon she would no longer need his physical protection, but she would not outgrow him for a long while.

And the way he kept her sane was by soothing the beast in the recesses of her mind, newly awakened and hungry for blood. It'd scared her in the beginning, finding herself addicted to the life substance's taste as she fed from him that first night. If he'd been a weaker specimen, the monster within her would've drained him, driven purely on instinct for more of his power. The fact that he had to fight her off only electrified his senses, as he pushed her into the feathered mattress and silenced her struggles with a string of passionate kisses that had her arching into him the next morning.

He taught her that the bond between a child and her Sire was sacred, consummated by both the exchange of blood and bodies. And, as long as she depended on him, she would have to accept his advances in exchange for peace of mind. When she asked if she'd ever be able to survive without him, as she laid against his chest and panted softly against his cool skin one early morning, he answered honestly, wracking his finger along her spine.

When you are strong enough, you will be able to leave me. Perhaps take a mate if you choose to.

And when will that be? She compounded the inquiry with a kiss to his neck, licking the bite marks she'd made earlier that night. While reluctant to feed from humans, the child happily dined off her master. There was something about his flavor that she found immensely satisfying, as she crawled to straddle over his taut stomach and flatten him further into the mattress.

You will know, he replied, letting her hands stroke over his body, more than ready to play with her a little more.

And what if you decide to take a mate, Master? she asked abruptly, supporting herself above him so she could look directly into his eyes. With her mane trapping both of them and her lips stained red with their previous lovemaking, she was a sight to behold, refreshing after the centuries of faceless women he'd taken to bed. Those females had only managed to scratch the itch that never went away, pleasing him for a moment before he needed another to keep his own yearnings in check.

But she wasn't like them. She was far too innocent to be compared to any of the heartless wenches who wanted him for reasons other than himself. But the way she was looking at him, like she could see through his very skin and into his mind, made his defenses go up, fighting back memories of a girl who'd been stolen from him long ago.

In the end, he didn't answer her with words. Instead, he rolled her over, only to pull another pleasured gasp from her eager body.

She was drawn to strength.

It shouldn't have been a surprise, really. After all, she'd been turned by one of the few purebloods left in the world. He didn't know how he missed this though, as he was always by her side and her by his. And he had always been so good with following her train of thought, only needing to meet her eyes or open the connection between them to understand what she wanted. In his eternity, he'd never met anyone he'd wanted to know as much as his midnight-haired disciple. But with such a strong need to possess her came the realization that she might not want the same from him.

That was when he started to feel her drift, perhaps not physically but mentally. Before now, she'd been content with staying in his shadow, allowing him to do his job efficiently and leave each conference without event. However, now she was gaining the respect of his peers, her own opinion being asked for and accepted. She'd begun to keep her half of their bond severed, as if hiding a secret from him alone. And he was of the kind who hated not knowing what he craved to know.

Thus the reason why he shouldn't have been surprised to see Kuchiki Byakuya take an interest in her, taking her aside on occasion and talking about things he had no business prying into. The other man was even older than he was and from a family whose roots ran deeper than almost any other. What sort of interest he had in his child brought conflicting emotions to the jade-eyed hunter, who watched from afar with growing discontentment.

Initially, he planned to wait it out and let her come to him. If she needed an opinion other than his own, then it was good that she got it from someone who was wise, if not a bit unkind to those who were especially green and inexperienced. However, the patience turned to anger when he realized that she had no intentions of going to him at all.

As that rage continued to simmer, the two of them were less hidden about their newfound friendship, earning the whispers of everyone in attendance. What a coup, they whispered excitedly among each other as if they all didn't have incredible hearing, if she managed to snag the most eligible man this side of their realm. After all, Byakuya was poised to marry another of his upbringing, someone who'd keep the bloodlines pure.

Eventually, all of the expectations and mindless stewing had led up to his confrontation.

What are you doing with Karin? There was no greeting, no nod of respect or the polite chitchat that afforded such an occasion. But with her not at his side, there was only so long he could stand to be away from her so he had no time for proprieties.

He'd left his little one asleep in bed after making love to her, forcing her to surrender to him more harshly than he'd intended to. A part of him felt guilty for it, for leaving red angry marks on her perfect skin and teasing her within an inch of her peak, but he'd wanted to punish her a little. He wouldn't let her keep things like this from him if he could help it, and she had taken each bit of torture with such heady bliss that he was fairly sure she hadn't minded the extra time he'd spent on her. She was an insatiable bed partner, perhaps even more so than he himself.

Before him, Byakuya was damningly calm in the face of his ire. I don't know how you mean, Hitsugaya.

I think you do, he assured him, stepping forward as the moonlight shone overhead in its waxing form.

She is… fascinating, the other admitted, earning a possessive growl from the young woman's Sire. The uncharacteristic gesture earned him a raised brow, clearly taken aback by the sheer jealousy the other was radiating. Even without his mystical abilities, Byakuya would've been able to see how enamored his friend was with the girl.

However, it was the master who was blind to his own pet's seduction of him. I won't let you take her from me. She is mine.

And who said I wanted her? The words were meant to be innocent, but the way the ice wielder drew his blade said that he'd misinterpreted the meaning completely. Vaguely the nobleman wondered where all the other's self-control went when it came to his child, disappearing as soon as she was no longer there to comfort him. And never in his life did he think the young genius would submit to another without even knowing.

If you don't plan to do what's right, I'll make it so you'll never see her again, he threatened, the elements called to the spiritual blade that harnessed water indiscriminately. While any other would've cowered, Byakuya drew the other's attention back to their conversation. There was no reason to fight over a female that only one of them wanted.

You are so blind, my friend, I'm surprised she cares for you as much as she does, he countered, refusing to draw Senbonzakura despite the impulse he felt. By doing so would mean that he was fighting her master to take her as his own. And while he certainly liked the chit, he had no interest in accepting her as his mate.

Tightening his grip, the younger vampire bared his fangs, losing to his temper as he fought to keep his emotions in check. And what the hell does that mean?

It means that I can't fathom why Karin would fall in love with someone so oblivious when she could have nearly any other. There was no way to miss the gentle mocking, like a father chastising his son for not looking where he was going and making a mess of things.

She… what? The stammered words didn't have any right to be called coherent, as wide bottle green eyes met the rather unperturbed black glare, looking wholly unsympathetic. His words were reflective of that mindset, as he turned his back to take his leave.

You'd better complete that bond you've created before it drives you crazy, Hitsugaya. Or else she may find a man who will love her better than you do. 'Better,' Byakuya spoke, not 'more.' Because he doubted that there was anyone who could care about that child more than her own master, as dense and misguided as he was. The only one who needed to figure that out was rushing home, back to the bed where he'd left half of his heart to rest.

You thought that Byakuya was courting me? she choked on a laugh, sitting between her lover's legs as he reclined against the wooden headboard. Inside her, the sense of embarrassment prickled the edges of her mind, making her lean her head against the bare shoulder behind her. With his arms secure around her middle, she doubted he'd admit to the feeling now that he'd finally claimed his prize.

She was right of course. Everyone was thinking it, not just me. It wasn't normal for him to show interest in any female that he didn't deal business with.

I asked him for help, she admitted, playing with his fingers covering her belly. Nervously she shifted her bare legs against his sweatpants-clad ones. I wasn't sure about how to breech the subject of confessing my feelings. Since you're a high-ranked official and very tradition-bound, I didn't want to mess up and ruin my chances. That, and you're my Sire. I didn't know if that was influencing my feelings or if it would affect your decision.

He understood what she was doing, and honestly he was touched by her careful consideration. There was still much for her to learn and if it'd been another she probably wouldn't have had to worry so much. Other Turned would merely have to come to an understanding, a verbal agreement wholly sufficing. Then again, if it had been any other she'd shown interest in he'd have wiped them off this side of the earth by now.

A moment of hesitation was filled by uncertain words. He… also told me about the woman you'd almost taken as a mate.

Automatically he tensed, pulling her into a crushing embrace as he dug his face into her jet black hair. That'd been a long time ago when he was nothing but a child, still able to age normally and only mildly aware of his own uniqueness. He remembered the friend that'd been a few years older than him, bright and cheerful and loving. It was no wonder that he'd fallen so helplessly for her, to the point that he was going to ask her to be his.

But she'd run off with another man, a teacher of hers, an illicit affair that had her skipping town. What he hadn't known was that her so-called lover was also a vampire, a Turned who used her for cover before eventually slitting her throat with his teeth. That man had been his first kill, Hyourinmaru bloodying the bastard before he carried off his sweetheart to bury her cold body in a respectable place.

After that experience, he'd promised himself that he'd never take a mate. The loss was so painful and she hadn't even truly been his. At the time, it was just easier to tell himself that he'd be better off alone with no one to hold him back, refusing to give another person the power to hurt him.

She died before I could save her, he explained, voice soft in her ear. I didn't want to take a chance that I'd lose someone else again the way I lost her.

You won't lose me, Master. And there it was again, that determination that made him choose her out of all the people he'd met across the world and throughout the different eras. Because he knew she was speaking the truth, knew that she was strong enough to stay there beside him.

I know, Karin, he murmured, tilting her head so he could smile against her lips. As he pressed chaste kiss against her mouth, sweet but fully unsatisfying, her grumble of frustration only made him grin wider. But she was young and patience was a virtue unlearned at her age. But, as he pulled his shirt from her body, it was a trait that he would have no problem ingraining into her for the rest of their days.

AN: This was terribly easy to write and I don't know why. :/ And why do I always toss Byakuya in there? Seriously, I didn't realize I liked him so much. LOL Anyway, if you guys wanna support this muse of mine, a review is greatly appreciated. It would really mean a lot to me if you guys could leave a few words of encouragement to help keep me interested in the fandom and my muse happy. :)

Thanks for reading, everyone! Until next time~