The next morning I woke up with, Karin Kuro-no, Karin Hitsugaya, in my arms. Her jet black hair spread out on the pillow, and her eyes soundly asleep with a peaceful smile.

I don't want to wake her up...

I slowly arose from the bed and damn, she woke up. 'Morning' I said with a smirk.

'Morning.' She smirked back.

'I'm going to make breakfast, coming Mrs Hitsugaya?' I said walking towards the door.

She threw a pillow at me while saying, 'We're only engaged, and I'm still Karin to you!'

I went and fried some eggs, sunny side up, while she poured two cups of orange juice. We sat across each other on the table and she spoke up, 'So Toshiro, there's still one thing I want to know.'

'What's that?' I said taking a bite of my food.

She continued, 'Well, you seemed to know I was Karin, and that you were waiting to propose to me since you arrived, how?'

'Well, I have been waiting to propose, to Karin Kurosaki. But then I met Crystal, and she distracted me from my mission of finding you. I forgot how quickly humans age in the world of the living, and after all these years I couldn't even recognise you...' I looked up and saw her listening attentively and continued, 'Then when I finally started to remember Karin's situation, I fell in love with Crystal. If it wasn't for your brother...' She looked annoyed, but I proceeded, 'I would have never had realised, that I've been missing out on a lot of history of Karin, that I only know Crystal.'

Her spiritual pressure flared now as she said with a death glare, 'What did my idiot of a brother say?'

A sweat ran down my face as I scratched my hair and replied awkwardly, 'Well, he told me about his past, and you told me yours. So it all sounded familiar until her said the same words you said for the death of your mother.' I continued, 'There's nothing I can do now but protect the others that go through situations by hollows.'

She looked at me for a moment with understanding, and then returned to her usual from and turned her head away releasing a sigh. 'I guess Ichi-nii is like me in a few ways.' She turned her gaze back to me, 'That means it's pretty obvious why I'm not in the house anymore, right?'

'Yeh,' I replied, 'Well I know the basic details, on your 17th Birthday, and argument about your shinigami powers and sending you to soul society so you can live your life there as a Captain Of The Gotei 13. ' I said calmly.

'Which I'm against.' She corrected. 'Anyways, I'll tell you what happened.'

Karin's Pov

My 17th Birthday is today. Yuzu organised a big party for us. 'On our 18th we'll have an even bigger party!' She exclaimed. 'Oh Karin-chan, maybe we can get married that day!'

Yuzu and her crazy ideas. No wonder her and Orihime-san get along so well, there both creatively innocent. I went to the Vizards hideout and practiced my skills. I had mastered Bankai a while ago, and when I told Ichi-nii and Dad they both gave each other a 'look' and asked for me to speak to them on my 17th Birthday. Which remind me, I have to go and meet them.

I received my Happy Birthday's from the vizards, and birthday beats from Hiyori as I walked back to the house, watching Yuzu ordering the decorators to place lights all over the house. 'OLD MAN, ICHI-NII, I'M HOME!' I yelled.

'In the kitchen!' Ichi-nii yelled back.

I walked toward the kitchen, my zanpakto reading them easily, and I felt tension in the air. 'What's up?' I ask casually.

'Karin-chan, have a seat.' My dad was occasionally serious, and this was one of those times.

I took a seat and my dad started to speak, 'Karin, you have grown very successful, intelligent, beautiful, 17, and now...you have mastered Bankai.' I didn't like where this was going. '...and Ichigo is now the Captain of the 5th Division, I am considering joining Soul Society, Yuzu-chan can start shinigami academy...and you, you my daughter have been offered the seat of Captain in the 9th Division!'

I...I didn't know what to say. I can't leave Karakura; I'm a footballer for heaven's sake! I can't forget my teammates...my promises.

'No, I don't think I'm ready.' I said.

Ichi-nii finally spoke up and said, 'Karin, there is not much choice left. Your soul will eventually be too powerful for your human body, come join soul society.'

'Ichi-nii! You can't force me! I have teammates and friends here, I can't abandon them!' I shouted.

'Well, you don't have much time left! The captain said the day after your 18th Birthday is the day you must make your last decision, and then the offer is up!' He said.

'Ichi-nii, STOP pressuring me! You can't make me go!' I spoke.

'Oh yeah? Then we're going right now!' He said.

'YOU can't MAKE me go! I'm not a kid anymore, I CAN MAKE MY OWN CHOICES!' I yelled.

'Just like how you made the right choice to date Jinta and he cheated on you for your sister!' He yelled, and then the room went into silence.

He slowly walked towards me while saying, 'Karin, your my baby sister, I only want the best for you. Soul society is the best place for you to be...and I didn't mean to remind you that-' I stopped him there by putting my hand up, indicating him to stop. I went upstairs and wordlessly packed my bags. 'Karin, stop! Please, don't go!' Ichi-nii yelled. But I wouldn't hear anything. I just kept walking. And at the door, no-one else there but Yuzu and Jinta, kissing may I add.

Perfect. I could feel my eyes burning and my hands clenching onto my bags. Ichi-nii must've sensed it too because he arrived to see a flushed pink Yuzu and Jinta, staring directly at me.

'YUZU, YOU ARE STAYING AWAY FROM HIM!' Ichi-nii yelled.

'Shut up Strawberry, no-one asked you anything.' Jinta said looking at the door.

Ichi-nii tensed up and shouted, 'YUZU, GET AWAY FROM THAT DELINQUIENT. WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THIS GUY?'

Yuzu finally spoke and said, 'Ichi-nii! I love Jinta-kun, I will not stay away from him, ever.'

Ichi-nii's faced tensed up, this was unlikely of Yuzu, but I carried on walking away when I felt a cool hand on my shoulder. I did not turn around, but I heard my dad's voice say, 'I will not stop you from leaving, cool down and come back. There's a vacant apartment downtown, stay there, it's near to the soccer fields. But just remember, you have until the day after your 18th Birthday, think. And...GOODBYEEEE!'

I smirked, then frowned, then walked off.