Chapter Eight: Thanks

Karin awoke on a bed roll inside one of Urahara's many rooms that seemed to accompany the shop. She felt very soar and wondered right away how she had gotten upstairs. The hell? I was just in the training room.

The raven haired girl looked out the window to her left to find the morning light spilling through and into the room. She proceeded to sit up, gave a yawn, and rubbed the sleep and fatigue out of her eyes. She then proceeded to take the rest of the room in.

Toushiro happened to be leaning on one side of the door way watching her sleep as she woke up. As she turned her head in his direction and actually acknowledged his presence, his senses jogged bringing to mind that the only thing not exposing her upper body to his icy eyes were bandages wrapped around her upper body. Karin blushed as she too realized this and covered herself with the blanket.

"Ah… hi, Toushiro?" Karin tried to get rid of her very evident blush.

"Hey…" Toushiro responded "How do you feel." His voice was nonchalant as he stepped forward coming closer to her.

"I'm fine… Who brought me here? Wait was it you?" Karin asked with caution. Her next thought got her mad, "You didn't put these bandages on me did you, 'cause that means…"

Karin was interrupted by Toushiro, "No… Yoruichi cared for your wounds. I found you down stairs, unconscious. You must have exerted a lot of energy and you're still alive so you must have achieved Bankai."

Karin nodded and smiled at Toushiro, "Thanks for helping me out…"

Toushiro gave a smirk. "Don't mention it. I should say thanks for the week."

"Welcome," Karin replied with a warm smile.

Toushiro was silent for a minute before asking a question, "I found small traces of ice on you… what was that about?"

Karin sweat dropped, "Oh… nothing… really, ice you say?" Toushiro nodded in reply. "Odd," Karin mouthed in a low voice. She knew what Toushiro was asking and she wanted to tell him about why the ice was on her, but now was not the time.

In a very, Well if she's not going to give me a strait answer then what am I doing here way, Toushiro proceeded to turn around and make his way out of the room. He actually wanted to stay with her, but he needed to keep up his charadeof not caring. A relationship between the two was forbidden and he couldn't let it happen, and who was he to think she even liked him like that. Yes it was better to just leave. "I'll be in he other room if you need me," Toushiro said with his back to her.

"Wait, Toushiro," Karin begged him not to leave just yet. She wanted him here, with her. Everything was clear to her now, thanks to Zanhoshiko.

Toushiro looked back over his shoulder before turning around to face Karin again. "Hm?" he asked.

Karin was blushing again "Well there's this carnival in town… It's a human thing… would you like to go? I mean not just you and me but everyone can come too."

Toushiro had no idea what this girl was getting at, "Maybe, I'll talk to Matsumoto."

Karin grinned as he exited the room. It was going to be an interesting evening if they went.

Toushiro sat next to his trusty Lieutenant at the round table in the dinning room of the Urahara shop, "What the hell is a carnival?" He asked completely confused on the subject.

Matsumoto was delighted by the idea of her Captain on a date. He had just finished describing his conversation with Karin and of course it led the bubbly Rangiku to her most startling revelation that some how her cold and icy captain had fallen in love with a young human girl. It was just so bitter sweet, "Well you see Captain, it's this place with rides and games and people go there to amuse themselves. Lots of couples go one dates there." So much for being subtle.

It took a moment for Toushiro to get all the information into his head. Wait, a date? This isn't going to be a date. Not if everyone else is going to come…Then again, "Interesting… I suppose we could go, seems better than just sitting around here."

Matsumoto beamed with joy at her Captain's approval, "This will be fun captain, I promise." And it would… Matsumoto just knew it would.

Toushiro was surprised at how much fun he was actually having even though he didn't show it, he had to keep up an image after all. The only time he did show it was a smile to Karin now and again to reassure his amusement but that was all. He doubted how ever, that without Karin he wouldn't be as amused as he was now and possibly would have never come to this human function. He had to thank her for it silently. She also helped in figuring out what exactly to do when it came to those pesky water guns… Blasted contraptions are tricky.

He felt that the night was especially hard on Karin, she had to show everyone who wasn't acquainted with the human experience how to play games and get on rides. She never lost her patients once; witch was a bit out of character for her.

In all honesty, Karin thought the group's lack of knowledge was ridiculously funny.

They had spent a good long while at the carnival and it was getting late, but there was one ride yet to be ridden. Karin and Toushiro took a seat in one of the cages on the Farris Wheel.

"What exactly dose this thing do?" Asked Toushiro out of sheer curiosity.

"Well, when the ride starts we spin around slowly and you get to stop at the top after a few spins… You'll like it," Karin explained with a quirky smirk.

As there cage stopped at the top Toushiro was surprised by the view. He had hovered in the sky a million times but something about this was different. It probably had to do with him not having the time to take the view in while in mid air combat. It reminded him of Momo and he felt a wave of guilt and failure splash down on him, soaking his spirit. He sighed and looked down.

Karin had noticed the change in her friend's mood and the fact that he wasn't looking out at the magnificent view, "You okay… what's wrong?" she asked with concern.

"Nothing, just memories of an old friend… You're too young to understand," Toushiro replied. How did I just spill that to her… She just opens me up and I spill out like a book.

"Try me." Karin said back softly.

"I don't know… I," Toushiro felt a hand on his cheek as his head was turned towards Karin, her eyes boar into his.

A thousand memories passed through his mind just like they were being replayed and he knew Karin could see them.

As the whole event was happening the cage behind them was occupied by two of the most nosey Shinigami, Rangiku Matsumoto and Yamichikia. The 10th's Lieutenant peered through binoculars that she seemed to have had randomly in her bag when they left the shop earlier in the evening. She watched the two 'love birds' in front of them.

"What are they doing?" The pretty boy asked.

"Not much… wait, Karin just touched the Captain's face," Rangiku squealed.

Yamichikia brought his hands up to his face, "Oh how beautiful."

For Karin and Toushiro the moment of sharing selective memories was over. Toushiro brought his hand up to hers and took it off his face. He held onto her hand and stared at her with absolute amazement. To Karin, Toushiro's touch was cold yet comforting and she longed for it after he pulled his hand off hers.

"H-how did y-you?" Asked an utterly surprised Toushiro.

Karin blushed; she had never seen Toushiro so surprised. "It's one of my powers… To share, give, and receive information telepathically… It's the only one I can do while in my body," she took a moment of silence, "I'm sorry about… her."

Toushiro took it in completely… It was the only power he's seen her use since becoming a Shinigami and an interesting power at that. "Yeah… me too," he replied to her apology.

The rest of the time at the carnival, until the walk home, was completely silence. Well that is except, Matsumoto, Yamichikia, Ikkaku, Keigo's Crazy sister, Keigo who was hitting on Matsumoto the whole time, a board Tatsuki who only felt joy when beating on the womanizing Keigo, and the reason Mizuiro wasn't there was because he had a date… with a 30 year old mother of two.

Karin, Toushiro, and the gang began their rather long walk home. The two were entirely silent for the time being. That's it! thought a frustrated Karin, she was about the break the silence when her hand bumped into Toushiro's. She remembered the sensation of his touch and smiled to herself a little. Suddenly an idea came to mind. Karin slowly moved her hand toward Toushiro's and within moments, she intertwined her fingers with his. She had expected the icy mannered boy to get angry but instead he pulled her closer to him… She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. His warm, yet icy, body sent shivers through her that mad her melt. She never wanted to leave his side. It was like nothing she had ever felt before.

And during this moment Matsumoto could hardly contain her glee.

Karin hand moved her arm around Toushiro's waist and his around her shoulder and they walked around like that for a few minuets. They where, however, interrupted by a very familiar voice.

"K-Karin? T-Toushiro?" Ichigo Kurosaki's voice echoed in everyone's ears. The group spun around in a rush only to come face to face with the group from Hueco Mundo. Ichigo stood holding the lifeless looking body of one Rukia Kuchiki, bridal style. Ichigo himself looked severely beaten.

Uryu, who was not really looking his best, was supported by an unscratched Orihime as they walked toward the group. Renji and Chad followed, supporting each other.

Ichigo gave a stern look, his ever present scowl deepening, "What exactly are you two doing?"

A/N: So a little bit of fluff, I promise a lot more though so hold on. Sorry it took so long I have been busy. Thanks for the reviews every one.

Next chapter…

Ichigo/Toushiro Smack down?

You'll find out.