Sorry it took so long, but I have an excuse - a very good one, at that - called LIFE. SO, I really am sorry I couldn't update sooner.
Let's get to it! Read and Review, please!
Bleach isn't mine. Wish it was, though.
-Karin-
When I arrived home, Rukia-nee was on the couch, chatting with Yuzu. I went to my room, changed out of my uniform into some jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt, and walked back downstairs to sit by Rukia-nee and listen to her and Yuzu's conversation. As soon as Yuzu went to the bathroom, I turned to Rukia, hoping for some answers from her.
"Is Ichi-nii coming home soon?" I asked.
"Yes. In fact, he should be home at about 5:30." She smiled at me. "I miss him too, but Head Captain Yamamoto is keeping him busy. We've been working harder than ever the past two months or so because we're so close to everything being done. None of us were allowed to leave. Renji and I only escaped a few times because of Byakuya-nii." She giggled. "Big brothers will do anything for their little sisters, huh?" I giggled too and nodded. "Yeah. Ichi-nii is always so worried about Yuz and me when he leaves and he always makes me repeat 'the drill' to him." I cleared my throat and put on my best impression of Ichigo. "And remember. Urahara's is just down the road and he'll tell you everything you need to know. And keep Yuzu safe. If there's a hollow nearby, get to Urahara's as fast as you can. And, as much as I hate the stupid kid, always stay close to Jinta at school since you don't have any classes with Ururu. And eat everything Yuzu puts in front of you. And punch Uruyu next time you see him. I haven't gotten to do that in a while. Okay. Alright, be good. Don't get in too much trouble. Okay bye." We burst out laughing just as Yuzu walked into the room. "Did I miss something?" I would've told her we were just messing around, but I was laughing too hard. She huffed and said, "Whatever. Anyways, I'm going to start supper."
Later, just before Yuzu started setting the table, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." I told them as I walked to the door. I yanked the door open, annoyed that someone had interrupted my food time, when I saw who it was. Ichi-nii was standing there. I squealed and jumped at him, hugging him as hard as I could. Then I dragged him inside. "Hey, Yuz? Set out another plate, please." I told her happily. "Huh? Why would I- Ichi-nii!" Yuzu dropped the silverware she had in her hand and ran to hug him. When she let go, Rukia hugged him. She went to pull away, but Ichi-nii held on. "Okay, this was supposed to be a surprise, and he's going to murder me now, but all of the Captains have a full month off with no work what-so-ever. But, when Byakuya comes to visit, you have to act surprised, okay? Please. I don't wanna die!" He smiled at Rukia and she smiled back, leading him to the dinner table.
We ate and talked, Ichigo telling us about when Yumichika had dropped and I-bar on Ikkaku's head and now Ikkaku had a big welt on his head.
Yuzu was just about to serve the chocolate cake she'd made when I got the urge to go walking. I suddenly felt restless, but why would I want to go walking at eight o' clock at night? I didn't know why either, and though the thought made my stomach turn, I felt like some sort of gravitational pull was trying to yank me outside. So, I excused myself from the table in favor of pulling my black chucks on and letting my feet take me wherever they saw fit as I listened to my music and zoned the world out.
After about twenty minutes of walking or so, I zoned back into reality as I realized I was walking in the direction of the very spot I always avoided. I sighed, deciding that it was time to face the facts and get over this shit. I kept walking looking around at my dark surroundings, smelling the aroma of spring. Suddenly, something blazing white caught my attention just inside my peripheral vision. I turned, but it was gone. Thinking I had been imagining it, I continued on my way.
I really don't know how much more time I spent meandering my way to the railing, but when I finally got there, my vision tunneled as I focused on the figure leaning on said railing, earbuds in his ears, his blazing white hair longer and a little tamer than the last time, completely oblivious to the world in favor of his own thoughts. And he was very much alive.
Toshiro Hitsugaya, cold-hearted captain of the tenth division of the Seireitei, warrior in the Winter War, my best friend who I'd assumed was dead, had come back to me ALIVE.
I slowly pulled my earbuds from my ears, turned off my iPod, and shoved it and the earbuds into my pocket. I stared for a while, I don't really know how long; it could've been two minutes, or it could've been two hours. I was elated and disbelieving that m white haired crush had come back. I sank to the ground and realized that salty tears were pouring down my cheeks. I pulled my knees to my chest and put my head between them, trying to get my breath back to normal. When I lifted my head again. I was met with wide, beautiful teal eyes staring at me as if I was the eighth wonder of the world. "K-Karin?" he whispered as he tentatively reached out a hand towards my face, placing it gently on my left cheek, as if he thought I would break. After a few moments of just sitting there staring into each other's eyes, he lifted his thumb to run under my eye, wiping away my tears. Then, he pulled me into a tight hug, holding me against his chest, like he thought I was going to disappear. "Karin." he breathed out as he buried his nose in my hair. "Toshiro…I-I…" I trailed off as I broke down into tears again. He picked me up like a princess and walked over to the railing. Toshiro sat down in the grass on the other side, but kept me firmly in his lap.
After a while, I calmed down. We sat in silence, save for my sniffles, and just watched the town below us. Finally, he spoke.
"Why were you crying, Karin? I hate it when you cry." I sighed and pulled my face from I's resting place on his shoulder. "Truthfully? I'm not entirely sure myself. I just had the urge to walk and my feet carried me here. I turned the corner and you were there, alive, listening to the iPod I gave you years ago. I stared for a while and suddenly, my face was wet. I….God, you idiot. I missed you so much!" I buried my face in his shoulder as he chuckled softly. "Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. It's just, Yamamoto Head-Taicho wouldn't let any of us leave until everything was rebuilt. But, I have exciting news. Every Captain has a month off!" He grinned down at me, and I remembered that I was probably one of the very few people, if not the only person, to have ever seen that. I couldn't help but smile back. "That means, you're not leaving my side for this entire month. School just finished today, so you get to go wherever I go. Clear?" I had tried to stay stern, but I couldn't keep the idiotic grin off my face as he nodded his consent. "Sure. I don't mind. I'd go anywhere with you, if it meant never leaving you again." Toshiro whispered tenderly. I blushed.
"Toshiro, I…that doesn't mean what I think it means, does it?" I asked hurriedly.
"I don't know. What do you think it means?" His face got closer to mine.
"D-do…do you…does it mean that you…l-like me?" I stuttered, trying to grasp the concept.
"No, I don't like you, Karin. I never have liked you and I never will." His face was still getting closer to mine, but I wasn't paying attention to that, as his words stung more than any pain I'd ever felt. But, his next words were like a slap in the face. "No, Karin, I love you. Always have, always will."
I practically squeezed the life out of him as I hugged his neck and squealed like a giddy fangirl. "You really mean it?" I asked. He nodded with a soft smile. Then, just as before, he started to lean closer to me. I licked my lips because they were dry, and noticed how he followed that motion. He looked back up into my eyes and I closed the centimeters worth of distance between us.
hehehe! Kind of a cliffy there at the end. HAHA, suckers!
Nah, just kidding. I love you all. But, there is one more chapter to go, so thanks for reading!
R&R please! Love ya'll!
-T