AN: And here I am, writing another fic because I'm weak and having friends who like the same OTPs is an impossible but wonderful burden. Lol so here I am, writing something else because I'm weak. Haha.

Thank you again to those of you that reviewed! (This time I'm sure I replied to everyone, lol) :DDD /huggles.

Summary: May 2015: Heartrending, Heart-Mending. AU. She sells her soul to a demon for reasons unknown but she'll do anything to keep it.

This fic is dedicated to the milliner's rook (because you are awesome and for some reason you write me things whenever they strike your fancy and I could CRY) and, of course, ichilover3 (please leave me alone now, you cruel, cruel, soul. I have no more fics to give) who are wonderful and amazing and I love them both!

May 2015: Heartrending, Heart-mending

Her first day of school back from summer vacation and already Karin was running late. In a furious flurry, she brushed her hair into something resembling order, ignored the wrinkles in her blouse, grabbed her bag, and bolted down the stairs. Yuzu was already at the table, munching daintily on a piece of toast, not even bothering to acknowledge her sister. Probably still mad that Karin had brushed her off the last five times she'd tried to wake her up.

At the stove was their mother Masaki frying bacon and eggs as she hummed a little tune, the picture of domestication. Beside her was her overly affectionate husband worming his way around her, stealing scraps as he went on and on about her beauty, completely besotted. The swing of her spatula and sideways look at him were only softened by her humor.

"Good morning, Karin. I'm glad to see you've joined the living," Masaki joked gently, a certain sweetness in her face that was reserved for her youngest.

"Morning 'Kaa-chan, Goat Chin," she yawned, waving her hand over her mouth as she plopped into a seat. The emptiness next to her had been there since her brother had gone back to university last week after spending the summer with them. Missing him was still taking some time to get used to.

"No, Karin-chan, my precious little girl is still calling me by that horrible nickname! Masaki-chan, make her stop!" Isshin sobbed into his wife's shoulder, tears and snot running down to soak her shirt.

This time her hit made contact with his head, silently tsk-ing her husband as she returned to the table and laid down a mess of food. "If you treat her like a child forever then of course she'll hate you. She's a young woman now."

"But- But—"

"Sit down and eat your breakfast."

Chortling, the Kurosaki twins watched as their overgrown father marched at a snail's pace to sit beside them, his face wearing the most inappropriate pout for his age. But Masaki paid him no mind as she placed a few pieces of bacon on her plate and told the girls to hurry or else they'd truly be late.

Both girls were out the door fifteen minutes later, waving goodbye to their parents as they made their way to school, walking in leisurely silence. Although the homework had been a pain, the holiday had been good to them, affording a family trip to the beach and plenty of soccer practice in between her trips to the arcade. Plus, anytime Ichi-nii was home was more than enough reason to forego her friends and just hang out with him instead, battling away on their console as Yuzu watched off to the side, cheering happily for her siblings.

When they reached the gate Karin and Yuzu said goodbye as they went off to their different classrooms. It was still strange that they'd been separated for the first time. They'd always managed to get shuffled into the same class until this year, and so it became one more thing they had to adapt to.

As she sat in her desk she couldn't help but notice the number of girls hanging by the window whispering excitedly, occasionally jumping up and down as they surveyed the front gate. It was enough to raise an eyebrow, as she took out her homework and watched discretely, only looking up when Kazuya took his seat in front of her and snorted aloud.

"What's up, Kazuya? In a bad mood?"

"Is there anything good about a bunch of girls kicking up a fuss this early in the morning?" he grumbled. His usually messy brown hair had been cut severely short, so much so that she'd laughed in his face when she first saw it three weeks ago but by now it had grown to an acceptable length.

"Oh so they're waiting for someone?"

"Don't tell me you don't know." He glared at her suspiciously, as if there was no way someone with a set of ovaries couldn't not know. It made her glare right back, hers far more practiced and a thousand times blacker.

"If I ask a question I think you can safely assume that I don't. Sorry if I'm not as on top of gossip as you are."

Peeved, Kazuya crossed his arms over his chest with a huff. "Apparently there's a new transfer student. Just a year above us but already everybody knows him. There's been talk before he even stepped into school."

"How the fuck is that even possible?" The curse was so commonplace she didn't even realize she said it until a few people glanced over at her worriedly.

"Y'know, with a mouth like that you're never gonna get a boyfriend, Kurosaki," he pointed out, sitting straight when the teacher came in through the door, waving to the female half of his class to stop their nonsense.

She snorted indelicately. "What the hell would I do with one of those anyway?"

Lunchtime rolled around and not a moment too soon. Karin could feel her stomach garbling since third period and she'd nearly fallen asleep because she was so tired. Served her right for not getting to eat much for breakfast but still.

Her friends had gathered around her after seizing some bread from the cafeteria. The competition for a measly filled bun was legendary in Karakura High School and only the most determined came back with something. Although Karin had always wanted to try her luck at the game, a bento was always perfectly prepared by her mother and she didn't have the heart to let anyone else have it.

They were in the middle of a conversation about video games—there was asolutely no way the sequel to their favorite shooter was going to better than its predecessor—when excitement rumbled through the room. The door was open as a small group spoke at the entrance, giggling among themselves before coming back in.

"Kurosaki, there's someone here for you," one of the girls cooed, still semi-lost in a fantasy.

Her mouth full, Karin's puffy cheeks resembled a squirrel hoarding for winter. "Urghd?"

"Huh?"

"She says, 'what?'" Akira shook his head as he gestured for Karin to 'chew then swallow, you pig.' Her haughtiness compounded each exaggerated bite.

"Kurosaki, Hitsugaya-senpai is outside waiting for you! I didn't know you knew him," another girl spoke frantically. Her fishing was far from subtle as the glow on her face seemed to intensify the longer Karin looked at her. It was actually starting to bother her eyes.

"I don't know that guy. You sure you have the right person?" she said after a particularly difficult swallow, making a discomfited face.

"Well, he did say Kurosaki. Unless he wanted your sister and came to the wrong room…"

"Oh, that would make sense!" The group nodded understandingly and it made Karin's skin crawl. Forgive her for being a tomboy.

At the idea that her sister would be dragged out by some teenage playboy, her protective instincts turned to full blast. Standing abruptly, she didn't even excuse herself, just made her way to the door to brush off this Hitsugaya person and warn him away from her sister. As if she needed to be worrying about her twin's safety the first day back. She would've liked to wait until the week was over at least.

The wheels clattered against the floor as she flung it open, swiveling her head around the crowded corridor.

"Kurosaki," a voice called out, one that was quite unlike any other boy's she'd met.

White, mussed hair fell into bright eyes so foreign she almost rubbed her own just to make sure she was seeing correctly. Well, at least she understood the enthusiasm running through the halls. The rumors about royalty and riches were farfetched but at least there was some basis for them. This guy looked like someone out of those idol magazines, perfectly shaped features and all.

She found him annoying immediately. "You must be Hitsugaya-senpai. Sorry no offense, but I don't really know you and frankly I don't really want to. So if you could stay away from me and my sister, we don't wanna get caught in the shit storm that is your life, thanks."

The slam of the door was as satisfying as the shocked look on his face.

"Mou, Karin-chan, you can't go around treating upperclassmen like that! 'Kaa-chan and 'Tou-chan will get mad at you if they hear you were being disrespectful," Yuzu chastised as they sat against the fence of the roof. Usually it was rather busy but today it was empty save for a few stragglers who kept to themselves.

After Karin's little scene the day before it only fueled the fire around the mysterious transfer student and the soccer team's ace. His fans had gone on the warpath, throwing trash into her shoe locker and scribbling on her desk, even knocking into her a few times as they giggled on their apologies. It was a wonder Karin hadn't gotten into a fist fight but her friends and Yuzu had been careful about that, yanking her in the other direction before she could regain her bearings.

At least they did their job well. There was nothing that could endear Toushirou to her at this point so if that was the goal, then mission accomplished.

"He's a big boy. He'll get over it and find some new girl to bother," Karin reasoned, not a bit of lamentation in her words as she dug into her food, "Besides, why are you defending him? You don't even know the guy." She shot her sister a lidded look. "You don't like him or something, do you?"

"N-no, of course not." Flustered, an embarrassed frown puffed out her bottom lip. "But that doesn't give you the right to be mean."

A disbelieving snort was Karin's answer but she decided to hold her tongue. No matter what her sister said, there was no reason a guy like that would want anything to do with someone like her.

Yuzu was forced to leave a little earlier when her classmates came up to tell her that one of the teachers was calling her, something about her homework going missing. Frantic, she hugged her sister before bolting out the door, making Karin chuckle in her wake. Like her sister didn't turn in her homework. More likely the newbie teacher had mixed it up with another class's and now Yuzu would be forced to scour his desk for thirty minutes.

By now the rooftop had emptied and she was the only one left. And while the weather was quite nice out, even Karin thought it was strange to be sitting by her lonesome. So she packed up her things and made her way towards the stairs.

"Going so soon?"

"The fuck?" Karin slipped, flinching at her own tone of voice as she turned back towards the disturbance. But instead of behind her she found the troublemaker sitting above the door, staring down at her with cerulean eyes and unconcealed mirth.

He didn't even have the decency to come down. "You and I have business, Kurosaki."

"I'm sorry, Kurosaki Karin is not available. Please leave your name, your number, and your message after the beep. Beep." She made sure to be a little extra obnoxious at the end as she slanted her hip and maintained steady eye contact.

"Like I said before, you and I have business, Kurosaki," Toushirou continued, jumping down to approach her. "Though you probably don't remember, we knew each other some time ago."

"No way. I'd definitely remember someone like you."

He raised a brow and looked just a little pleased. "It was around ten years ago that we met. I doubt you'd recall this particular incident, however."

"Oh? And why is that?" she asked, defenses going up as he looked her up and down. The approval in his eyes was rubbing her all wrong.

"Since I wiped your mind of that particular memory," Hitsugaya said it so easily she nearly asked him to repeat himself, "But that doesn't really matter anymore. You agreed to our contract then and so I've come to collect."

"You're fucking crazy," Karin interjected, stumbling a few steps back when he advanced. But at the same time, she didn't feel like she was in danger, nor did she think he was lying. Just what the hell had she been doing at five years old that would require her to pay it back after all this time? Not to mention all she had were a pair of beat up old cleats and an embarrassing amount of manga to her name for compensation.

"Unfortunately for you, no, I am very sane." He let her fall against the iron net of the fence behind her, her fingers gripping it as if she was still trying to convince herself that this was really happening.

"Just who the hell are you?"

"Not who but what," he answered cryptically and for a moment Karin could swear his irises glowed. It wasn't some sneaky trick of the sunlight. Nothing that simple could make a person look the way he did or somehow curl the wind into ice until it bit gently into her skin.

Her nerves seized her tongue, as she straightened herself and shot him her most harrowing glare. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Look, you better back off or else I swear there's gonna be hell to pay."

"Funny you should mention hell." A smirk quirked his lips, amused. "As a demon who hails from one of the deeper rings, you'll find that I'm well acquainted with anything you can throw at me."

"… You're a freakin' nutcase. Wow, I'm can't believe people like you exist," Karin mocked but something in her vibrated with the new information. A stab of pain blossomed in her temples, like trying to unlock a repressed thought, but she had nothing to show for it other than growing weariness.

"I don't care if you believe me or not. All I care about is the promise you made me that day, and it is time you fulfill it. And you are nothing less than your word, aren't you, Kurosaki?"

"Okay, so let's say I did somehow owe you something—not that I believe a word you're saying, you crazy," she goaded, trying to buy some time for her to escape, "Just what did I promise you that would require you ten years to collect? Seems like a waste to wait so long."

His expression turned careless. "I don't make it a habit to take the lives of children, though there are others whose scruples are more questionable."

Disbelieving, Karin opened her mouth to call him out but the pounding in her head only grew stronger, more persistent, as she pressed her fingers to her forehead, trying to get the blood to stop its rush. She didn't trust him. There was nothing but his word to go on and that was insane even by the most outlandish standards.

But the pain didn't abate no matter how much she willed it away, her knees crumpling under her weight as she breathed in gasps of air. Something was wrong, her body was reacting to Hitsugaya instinctively. She nearly screamed at him to stop, don't come any closer, his feet closing the distance between them. He held a hand to her head and murmured in a language she'd never heard before and amazingly, the pain disappeared.

She didn't want to thank him, but her resolve wasn't as strong as it used to be. "What do you want from me?"

Callously, Toushirou pointed a finger at her as he held her gaze. "Your life. It is only fitting I collect what is mine."

"And if I'm still using it? Are you just going to take it from me?" Karin spat, but her pulse was thumping against her ribs nervously, wondering if she could make another deal until she could undo this so-called contract.

The answering smile he gave made her wonder if what she was sacrificing would be worth the trouble.

It was the weirdest feeling, knowing you were introducing a demon to your mother as she cooked dinner. And Masaki, being the good, kind soul that she was, smiled and asked him if he'd like to stay for the meal. Before Karin could interject Hitsugaya agreed readily, bowing politely as he shot her a satisfied smile, and then asked where the restroom was.

Masaki pointed down the hall and told him to take his time as she hunched over the kitchen counter and rested her chin in her left hand, looking unbearably thrilled. Her pinched lips were trying very hard to keep quiet.

But Karin was a big girl. She could take it. "Go on. Say it."

"I am so proud you brought home a cute boy, Karin. You are definitely my daughter," Masaki cooed, moving towards her little girl to hug her tightly, squishing her face into her bosom like the motherly figure she was.

"Come on, 'Kaa-chan! It's not even that big of a deal!" she squirmed uncomfortably as she struggled for air, "He's not even that cute!"

"Oh so we're still in the denial phase, are we? Well fine, I can do that too," Masaki replied gently, patting Karin's hair gently. "He seems like a nice boy. I'm sure you'll be great friends."

Karin chose to ignore the knowing wiggle of her brows. "We're not friends! And we're definitely not dating."

"Whatever you say, sweetheart."

Her hand gave an uncaring toss that showed just how much she believed her daughter (which was not at all). But the more Karin denied it, the more her mother would feed on her embarrassment. And God forbid she drag Goat Chin in on it. He'd had a field day with Rukia-nee finally coming over and introducing herself as Ichi-nii's girlfriend. Just what kind of hell would come about if he found out about Toushirou?

"Is Oyaji coming home for dinner?" Karin asked abruptly, wondering what day it was. He usually used Mondays to hang out with the other dads in the neighborhood, drinking and watching the game raucously in someone's living room.

She prayed it wasn't theirs this week.

"Hmm, well, he said he'd be at Urahara-san's tonight so no, I suppose not."

Disappointment knotted the muscles between her eyes as she stirred the pot carefully. No doubt Masaki wanted someone else to help torture her little girl about bringing a boy home, and an older one at that. Her pride swelled as she turned off the heat and told Karin to call her sister down for dinner.

With both men out of the house, Toushirou was the sole masculine presence in a group of deceptively sly women. Glancing around the table he instinctively read the mischief in Masaki and Yuzu's eyes, as they shared furtive glances and giggles while Karin pleaded the fifth. The dusting of red across her face could be blamed on the piping-hot soup she was sipping but Hitsugaya had his suspicions.

"So, tell me, Hitsugaya-kun, where are you from?" Masaki asked, smiling gently.

"I recently moved here from a small village in a more mountainous area. You've probably never heard of it," he shrugged.

"Yeah right…" Karin mumbled under her breath, so softly no one heard it except for him. Not wanting to blow his cover, he sent her a glare that said 'don't blow this for me or you're going to regret it.' Considering her life was on the line, Karin promptly bit into her fish but chewed furiously.

The conversation flowed and ebbed easily, the other two Kurosakis more inviting and social than their dark-haired counterpart. He complimented Masaki's cooking, who acted flattered and promptly told him that he'd be invited anytime, and mentioned to Yuzu about an open market down the street from his apartment, her eyes flashing at all the fresh food she could get for cheap. Safe to say, Hitsugaya got along with her family like a house on fire.

She hated it.

Leading him to the door after Hitsugaya said his goodbyes, he came face-to-face with Karin's scowl. "Your family seems nice."

"Yeah. And alive. I'd like to keep it that way," she whispered harshly, eyes darting over his shoulder to make sure neither woman was trying to eavesdrop. "So do me a favor and stay away from my house. Alright?"

"I'm not looking to collect on anyone's soul other than yours. You need to relax."

"You want to take my soul because of some deal I can't remember! How can I relax when you could take it at any moment?" Karin groaned, aggravated as she pushed the door open.

His calculating smile sent a shiver down her spine, and strangely it wasn't wholly unpleasant. "If you can come up with something of equal value in exchange, then we can work something else out. Until then…"

Karin was only partly prepared for the invasion of her space, the darkness of the night growing deeper as Toushirou brushed their noses, comfortable with her despite knowing each other for less than twenty-four hours. Her heart played traitor against her skin, her eyes going wide as he crept into her space inch by inch.

"You know, it's polite to close your eyes for this kind of thing," he chided, his fingers falling onto the nape of her neck.

"Shut up…" she griped, nervousness making her lick her lips but she gave in as her lashes shuttered close.

Kisses for time, that was Hitsugaya's idea. He fed off human energy and wouldn't you know it, his route of choice was through the mouth. She'd sputtered and cursed at him when he first proposed the idea, calling him a pervert and a weirdo and flat-out refusing to give him another minute of her time, let alone physical affection.

In return, he gave her another shrug and asked her how she'd like to go—he recommended some tragic accident because then she'd go a martyr and the world loved a good martyr—and she'd paled at the very notion. So she sucked up her meager courage and agreed, laying down the rules about what he could and could not do. Although he agreed to her concessions, Karin had her doubts whether a full-fledged demon could live true to his word.

Pressing her lips together, Karin clenched her eyes closed, feeling her body tense as he kissed her beneath the crescent moon above. He did nothing but plant a little peck on her, his skin soft but a few degrees cooler than her own, his fingers knotting into her hair.

Her first kiss had gone to a demon. But weighing her options, it was a minor injury if she could hang on to her life a while longer, just until she could figure out why the hell she'd given a lowly devil the thing that mattered most to her and how to get out of it.

Freshly fed, Toushirou licked his lips and drew himself away to admire Karin's hazy expression. "I will see you tomorrow, Kurosaki. Thank you for the meal."

The red that permeated her cheeks didn't disappear even as she shuffled back into her home, a pair of bright eyes following her.

"No."

"You can't keep putting it off, Karin."

"I said no, so no." She stomped her foot in emphasis.

Hiding in the space beneath the stairs, Karin prayed that no one would come down the hall and stumble across them arguing. A lover's spat, they would call it and giggle knowingly behind their hands, but the thought made her skin crawl. Although the perfect cover for as to why Hitsugaya hovered unnecessarily around her, it didn't mean she wouldn't reject it at every turn. Still, her words fell on deaf ears.

Frustrated, Hitsugaya stared at her with growing fatigue. "It has been two days since I last fed. I've been very patient with you so why won't you offer me something for my kindness?"

"Look, practice for the upcoming tournament is done by the end of the week. Can't you wait two more days?" Karin pleaded, trying not to let his guilt trip get to her.

"No. Which is why I'm asking for energy now."

"You don't hold back, Toushirou! I can't play soccer whenever you kiss me the way you usually do." Although she admitted it aloud, Karin still colored at the insinuation.

It'd been two months since their deal started, and what began as innocent, little kisses had somehow morphed into something else entirely. Having no boyfriend for her entire life, Karin wasn't quite sure what to call what Toushirou did to her in hallways, corners, alleys, and any other place he could drag her into. But the word 'kiss' didn't fully define the things he did her to.

There was no way that a kiss was pushing her into the nearest wall, the cement digging into her back while he tilted her head back and devoured her shamelessly. There was no way a kiss was him slipping his fingers into the jut of her hips, holding hers against his own as she purred deep in her throat. There was no way a kiss could have her breaths hitching, his name a stutter on her lips whenever he let her come up to breathe only to dive right back in.

His excuse was that he could draw more energy from her if she let her guard down and let him in. It was a bad idea, she'd known it since he first proposed letting him seduce a reaction out of her. She was a food source, dispensable in good time, but she hadn't been able to smother the little thrill that came with the challenge in his eyes, like he could teach her things she'd never learn from anyone else.

Two months, and she was captivated by Hitsugaya Toushirou.

"Look, we both have class. Can't we discuss this later?" She needed more time but wasn't that what got her into this mess in the first place?

Sighing harshly, Hitsugaya ran a hand through his hair but relented. "Yeah, okay. But you have to feed me next time, alright?"

"Of course. I promise," Karin agreed, relieved.

Without a glance back, Karin bolted her way back into the safety of the empty hallway.

Standing beside a wayward demon in a crowded open market had somehow become a commonplace occurrence. Every Sunday, Hitsugaya would escort her, Yuzu, and their mother to the vast farmer's market that sold the freshest, homegrown wares. Although rarely known by others, despite Masaki's kind appearance, she was a cutthroat bargainer, using her pretty face to cheat prices by margins that made even Karin feel guilty. And she'd walk away with a thank-you before dumping her purchases in their hands and moving on to the next victim—err, shop.

Today, however, Yuzu had made plans with her friends and thus left Karin and Toushirou to bring up the rear on Masaki's spree. Her reputation got many side-eye views, assessing the middle-aged woman with uncertainty and distrust as they watched her pass. Some even placed their best produce and meat beneath tables and behind counters to make sure they didn't catch her eye.

"You know, you say I scare you but your mother is far more terrifying than I am, I'll have you know," Toushirou remarked as a set of kitchen knives caught Masaki's eye and she went to take a look. "I've never seen someone charm their way out of everything. And I'm a high-ranked demon so that's saying something."

"Come on. It's not that bad." Karin blushed as she saw the balding man be taken in by her mother's words and she sent a prayer out to him. "I don't even know if she knows what she's doing. She just suggests it and people kinda give in to her. That's just how it's always gone."

"Your mother knows exactly what she's doing."

"Oh? And how would you know?"

He shrugged. "One conniving con artist can recognize another, I suppose."

"Hey! That's my mom!"

Hitsugaya didn't get to reply as the Kurosaki matriarch bounced back happily, holding out the new kitchen tools with a grin. He took them with a nod, balancing handfuls of bags on each side. Every week Karin tried to get him to let her hold a few but her companion went on as if he couldn't hear her. She came to the market because she used to be needed. Now she came because it would look strange to see a teenage boy holding an older woman's groceries for no apparent reason.

It'd been a long time since it was just her and her mother—besides Hitsugaya—that went shopping together. She must've been a child the last time it happened, Karin mused with a faint smile as she regarded her mother fondly. Too long if she was honest. As she'd grown up her time had been splintered elsewhere and she nearly forgot how wonderful it was to be with her like this.

An odd feeling of déjà vu hit her as Masaki came over to grab her daughter's hand and lead her further down the street. It continued to stroke her senses even as they pandered down the busy market place.

"What about Toushirou?" she asked, peering behind her to see that they'd been separated in the crowd.

"Oh, I told him we were going to check out some other shops on another street so he told me he'd catch up with us."

"And just what is he doing that he needs to hang around here for?" Karin snorted, taking in the elderly and middle-aged patrons with a raised brow. Maybe these were his kind of people.

Smirking, Masaki stopped as they waited for the crosswalk light to turn green. "There was a lovely girl working at her family store and she was trying very, very hard to stop him from going." She glanced at Karin out of the corner of her vision. "She was rather pretty too, and he wasn't exactly upset about her flirting."

"Yeah, well, she can have him if she wants," Karin replied, voice tight as she kept her eyes straight and not on her mother's delighted face. The jealousy at the pit of her stomach curdled until she was nearly nauseous with it, tapping her foot until the little green man lit up at them.

Her mind was going far too quickly for her to register the truck barreling down the road, hitting its breaks with a screech that made her cringe. Her first reaction was to run but then that would put her mother in danger, and Karin knew she couldn't let that happen.

Without thinking, she pushed Masaki back towards the sidewalk, lunging forward to keep her out of harm's way. But the speeding vehicle honked its horn in warning, failing to stop as it came down on her in a flash. The sun glinting off the headlights had her gripping her eyes shut as she stumbled to the ground and heard her mother's screams.

But the impact never came.

"How is it that I leave you alone for one second and you almost die on me?"

Still clutching her head, Karin looked up to see Hitsugaya hovering over her. But more astounding than that was the crumpled mass of metal that used to be the right side of the truck, lights and bumper smashed in as if hit with a wrecking ball. But instead of a mass of metal, Karin could see the blood dripping from Toushirou's right arm, embedded in the crash of steel as he pulled it out gingerly.

He whispered a curse beneath his breath that had the audience around them turning to each other blankly and going their different ways, as he fell to his knee and gritted his teeth, Masaki rushing over to see what had happened, her memory wiped clean. A flash of something crawled into her forebrain, a picture of her mother lying broken on the street, her childhood self crying her eyes out, a young boy who made her feel better just by patting her hair.

And Karin swore this had happened before.

Returning to her family's clinic, Karin carefully wrapped Toushirou's hand in clean bandages, saying nothing as her mother tried to get a hold of Isshin. He was probably out for lunch but still the timing was lousy, as Karin's fingers shuddered in her task. Her adrenaline was gone and all that was left was her anxiety.

"You don't have to do that, you know. It will heal quickly," Hitsugaya explained gently, attempting to ease her worries.

But Karin didn't stop. "You saved me today."

He took a moment to reply, reflecting on the right words to say but decided that there was no use denying it. "Yes, I did. I wanted to."

"But why?" Karin asked, big, gray eyes shining up at him for the first time since he'd halted that oncoming car. A spectrum of emotion was shining back at him but he didn't dare try and name any of them.

"What do you mean?" He pretended he didn't understand, turned his head down as she fixed the wrapping in place.

"I mean, why did you save me? You wanted my soul. That was the perfect time to take it." The accusation was punctuated with her nervousness, voice shaking on the letters like she wasn't sure if they'd come out naturally.

His answer was enigmatic at best. "I have my reasons."

"And just what kind of reasons are they? Why the hell am I still alive, Toushirou?" Her voice came out in a quiet roar but when he looked at her he swore he'd never seen her look more vulnerable. The wrinkles at the edges of her frown and the helplessness in her eyes belied her fear, making her turn away as she bit into her lip to hold herself together.

"You're alive because I want you alive. There is no other reason," he explained softly, like teaching a child with all the patience one could muster.

But she wasn't satisfied with that answer, her fingers reaching for his collar to bring them impossibly closer, her breath fanning against his face as Hitsugaya watched her with wide eyes. The emotion came off her in heat waves, in the way her hands clenched unsteadily, in the way she pressed her forehead to his like she was afraid to lose him. They'd shared touch indiscriminately for so long but nothing felt quite as knowing as the way her arms slid around his neck and she buried her face in his hair.

"Don't do that to me again, okay? Promise me," Karin commanded, speaking into his hair as she climbed to straddle his lap and eliminate the space between them. He settled his hands on her hips before reaching up to stroke her hair, calm her down like he knew she needed right then.

"I won't."

This time her kisses weren't sweet and innocent, nor were they the passionate kind he had to draw from her as she fought his every move. These were tender, loving caresses that heightened Toushirou's senses, groaning against her lips while she pressed her pretty curves into him, having no idea what kind of thoughts her lush body could incite in a man, let alone a demon.

It was why he had no problem pushing Karin onto the examining table, swallowing her gasp of laughter and hitched her leg over his hip with one hand while the other cradled her cheek. He was tempted to tell her about the ways a succubus collected life energy, and while he wasn't one himself, Hitsugaya wasn't against telling a little white lie if it meant that she was going to take those wandering hands and put them where he wanted.

"Ahem."

"Oyaji!" Karin yelled, swiftly sitting up and nearly knocking Toushirou off her. It would've happened if not for his superhuman reflexes. "When did you— How did— Look, nothing happened…"

"That's a lie but I'm going to save that lecture for another day," Isshin said sternly but there was a glimmer in his glare. "Go on and help your mother with the groceries while I take a look at your boyfriend."

"He is not my boyfriend," Karin muttered as a hot blush simmered beneath her skin. She shuffled her way to the door petulantly.

"Then I'm going to be giving you a couple different talks later!" he yelled, hearing the door slam and the pads of fast feet bolt inside. The bright smile he wore was still on his face as he regarded his white-haired patient, who looked unimpressed as the doctor took his seat.

For once, Isshin didn't beat around the bush. "You don't really need my help with your injuries, do you?"

"No, Taichou. I'm fine," Hitsugaya grumbled as he sat himself down on the examination table and rearranged his limbs lazily. "I've gathered enough energy stores to last far more lethal wounds than this scratch."

"From my daughter, no doubt." At least Toushirou had the decency to look embarrassed, folding his arms in front of him but denied saying anything. "I hadn't realized the demon energy coming off her was from you. It's been a while since we last met, Toushirou."

"Ten years, more or less."

"Yes, on the day you saved Masaki's life."

Flinching, Toushirou said nothing but made sure to keep his head down.

Reclining in his seat, Isshin could feel his power rise into his chest, a warning that would scare away anyone but the strong. His little protégé had grown into one of them it seemed, because Hitsugaya sat straighter and raised his face to meet the dark red of Isshin's eyes.

"You know, I always wondered why you turned my deal down that day. My wife's life in exchange for the infinite power of a demon overlord—a retired one but, hey, I was one for the history books," the old man chuckled and his eyes returned to a familiar shade of amiable gray. "And when I heard you took Karin's soul for contract instead, I was ready to bleed you until you either promised to stay away or your corpse was all that was left."

"I wouldn't hurt her." The words were as much a promise as Isshin had ever heard as he inspected the boy from head to toe.

"I know that now. Didn't realize you were so taken with her. She was only a child then." The thought of free-spirited, little Karin at five years old pulled a chuckle from him, as well as a paternal protectiveness that kept him ever vigilant.

Although uncomfortable, Hitsugaya spoke with aplomb. "She was mine the moment I saw her, and she will be mine for the rest of my life."

"Not so fast. Until I say so, her life belongs to no one." As if Isshin could give his little girl away so soon. She'd been his baby a moment ago and now she was dealing with demonic suitors. He wouldn't give up his children so easily. Except Ichigo. Rukia could handle him just fine.

Toushirou glared at his old friend but conceded with a stoic nod. It wasn't as if Karin was going to give herself freely without her parents' approval, and when he said he wanted her life, he meant it. But until she figured out exactly what he meant, he had no problems keeping up his end of the bargain.

THE END

AN: Ah, this was fun. I miss fluff. It's weird not writing smut. I expect it to just inch its way into things but I stopped myself. Ugh, my babies bring out the worst (or is it best?) in me! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed and if you did, please drop me a comment in the big rectangle below. ;D

Thanks for reading, everybody! Until next time~