Author's Note:
Alright, here we go with chapter 2! So, how did you all like the first chapter? Excited for more of the story? This is personally one of my favorite chapters, as we get to see a glimpse of Toshiro's family life, and relationships; and Karin gets to see his gorgeous house ;-D
I mention Arundel castle in England as a comparison to Toshiro's castle, and you all should definitely google it to see some pictures. It's a phenomenal piece of architecture, and a massive place. It will give you a better idea of just how grand and beautiful I pictured Toshiro's home to be in this story.
Thank you to Phany9634 for the review, and telling me you were looking forward to reading more!
Now, on with the story! Be sure to leave a review, and let me know what you think! I'm always looking for feedback!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. All credit goes to Tite Kubo.
One month later…
The month-long journey to the northern kingdom was largely uneventful, but Karin had enjoyed spending the time with her men; and, she'd gotten to know the guards who came with Toshiro fairly well. The scenery had been wonderful, and the closer they got to the north, the more new plants and wildlife she got to see. Having never travelled outside the southern hemisphere before, she soaked in every discovery, and strange object she came across. Along the way, she talked with a lot of locals, and bought some books to help broaden her knowledge of the native flora and fauna.
The highlight for her had been visiting Saikyo and the western border kingdoms, and meeting all of the rulers and their generals; especially Kensei's general Shuhei Hisagi, and Kenpachi's general Ikkaku Madarame.
While she'd thought Ikkaku a bit unstable, he clearly loved the thrill of battle; so, they'd bonded rather quickly over that similarity. He was great fun to spar with, and she discovered he was also rather fun to tease.
She found Shuhei to be a great drinking companion, and also a worthy sparring partner; with plenty of good conversation, and some entertaining stories about Toshiro and his general, Rangiku, that the young king had not appreciated Shuhei sharing.
She'd also liked Shunsui's generals, Genshiro Okikiba, and Nanao Ise, very much; even if she found Nanao to be a bit uptight for her taste. She was introduced to the soldiers guarding Kenka's and Kiryu's borders, and she worked with them to integrate the majority of her men into their ranks; after which, she was given a tour of Saikyo. The enormity of the kingdom stunned her; with her approximating that it was roughly twice the size of Karakura. She marveled at the exquisite architecture, and the people were all very friendly. The kingdom truly lived up to its name as being the largest, and grandest, kingdom out of the thirteen; and she wondered for a moment how Shunsui managed it all.
They had only stayed in each place for a day at a time, but it had been enough to at least get her men settled in until she returned to start getting appraised of the situation in full. Now, they were almost at Orora's border, and she was anxious to see this famed 'ice castle' of Toshiro's for herself, as she'd heard it described by her father on a few occasions.
Mostly, though, she just wanted to get there, and get settled in, so she could begin doing what she came here to do…preferably as far away from the ice king as possible. During the trip, Karin began to wonder if she'd imagined that morning she and Toshiro had talked before their departure. He had almost seemed kind, then; but she hadn't caught even the slightest glimpse of that side of him since. If anything, he'd seemed even more irritated, and unamused, than when she'd jokingly insulted him by asking if Todoroku Kaze had scared him. He rarely spoke to her, and kept himself to himself most of the time. On a rare occasion, she'd see a hint of a smirk, or a small chuckle; but he usually just scowled, or glared, at anyone or anything that crossed his path. 'He should take a leaf out of his general's book, and have some fun for once; otherwise, he'll die a grouchy old prig' she thought amusedly as they finally reached Orora's border.
With wide eyes as they approached, Karin took a minute to fully study the sight before her. Stretching from as far east to west as she could see, there was a beautiful white granite wall that stood approximately 30' tall, with a large 20' wide metal gate that bore Orora's royal crest: a four-pointed star with a dragon head in the center. The craftsmanship of the gate was first-class, and Karin had never before seen the metal that was used to create it. 'Actually, I think I have' she thought, as she remembered the crown that sat on top of Toshiro's head. The wavy patterning was the same, as well as the color; 'So,' she reasoned, 'it must be the same metal. I wonder if it's unique to his kingdom, because I've never seen it anywhere else before'
The men guarding the gate bowed once their king came into view, and immediately cleared a way to let their sovereign through; the large metal creation swinging open with an intimidatingly loud creak.
Toshiro, however, stopped the precession just before the wall; dismounting from his horse, and walking over towards a man who emerged from behind the giant stone edifice with a large bag slung over his shoulder. Opening it, he pulled out ten coats, thick long-sleeve fur-lined shirts, fur-lined boots, and pairs of wool gloves; handing some over to his king, and walking over to her archers with the rest. Toshiro threw his armful of clothes over his horse's withers, remounted, and made his way over to her; holding out one of each garment for her to take.
Karin raised a quizzical eyebrow, and gave him a confused look while he stared blankly back at her. Did he really think she couldn't handle a little cold? She doubted it, but she couldn't think of any other reason why he'd be giving her and her group extra clothing. "I've dealt with cold weather before, you know. I'll be fine in what I have on until we get there." she said; offering a small smile.
Toshiro frowned back at her, and shook his head in reply; tossing her the clothes, which she caught on reflex. "No, you won't. It's November in the norther hemisphere; you'll freeze before we reach the halfway mark. You're not in Karakura anymore, princess; just trust me, and put them on over your regular clothes."
Karin's skeptical and irritated look did not leave her face, but she reluctantly did as he requested; her archers following suit.
Once they were properly dressed, Toshiro nodded, and made his way back to the front of the precession; giving everyone the signal to move forward. As soon as they were all through the gate, it was closed behind them; and they started making their way up a very long, winding roadway.
Much to Karin's surprise, and chagrin, Toshiro had been right about the weather conditions. It felt as though the temperature had continuously dropped at an alarming rate the further up the mountain range they climbed; with snow beginning to fly through the air once they reached the halfway mark to the castle. She was sure she would have frozen long before then if he hadn't given her the extra garments, and she wondered why on earth anyone would choose to live in such environmental conditions. 'Well, at least he has an amazing view' Karin thought, as she looked behind her, and out over the large border wall below. She could see Saikyo's, Kiryu's, and Kenka's lands stretching out for miles; and, if her face wasn't so cold, she was sure she'd have an awe-struck look on it. 'A really amazing view'
On their way up the long and winding road, they passed large expanses of what Karin assumed was farmland, albeit covered in snow, now; a few villages, and a large town about two-thirds of the way up the mountain. 'Oh, good. Now I know where I can find a weapon's shop, if I need one' she thought, as they continued on to their destination.
The journey to the castle took about four hours due to both the snowstorm they encountered halfway up the mountain, and their already slow pace; but the first sight Karin got of the place had made it worth the wait. It was even more beautiful, grand, and enormous than her father's description.
The castle was mainly constructed of a pure white granite that had waves of light grey running through it; accented by a darker granite that was used for the detail work on the building. A large, four-pointed star in the same darker grey granite was engraved over the entry arch to the courtyard, with a white granite dragon's head that boasted piercing red eyes at its center; and the same crest was carved into the large ebony doors of the castle entrance.
The granite seemed to shimmer in the setting sun, now that the snow had stopped; and the majestic aura of it took Karin's breath away. 'This place is absolutely gorgeous; the architecture is first-class. It reminds me of the paintings I've seen of Arundel Castle in England' she thought, as she and the rest of the precession came to a stop outside the castle doors; dismounting, and handing their horses to several servants that emerged from the large stone building. Toshiro had one of the servants bring the remainder of Karin's army, as well as her archers, to the barracks, and he gave instructions for all of the animals to get a good rubdown after their long journey. The ebony doors swung open, and the man that Karin presumed to be Toshiro's butler bowed as the sovereign entered with his guest; closing the large doors behind him.
The princess took a minute to examine the interior of the castle; deciding it was just as beautiful as the outside. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lit fireplaces with intricately carved mantles made of white marble graced every room, and the ebony floors boasted white fur rugs. The furniture also appeared to be made of the same ebony wood; the chairs and sofas upholstered with rich dark green fabrics. On the light grey walls hung paintings of various snowy landscapes, as well as several generations of what she assumed were Toshiro's ancestors. 'Most likely previous rulers, and their families' she thought as she walked around; stopping at a painting of a kind-looking man with straight and short white hair, large green eyes, and a warm smile. Standing next to him was a beautiful woman with long, wavy black hair, brown eyes, and a gentle demeanor; and in front of the both of them was a pretty young girl with silky dark hair pulled up into a bun, large dark eyes, and a cheerful smile. Standing next to her was a young boy that Karin instantly recognized as Toshiro: spiky white hair, striking turquoise eyes, and that same disinterested frown on his face. He looked to be about six or seven in the painting, but she wasn't sure. 'He always had been short for his age…until recently, that is' she thought, as a small half-smirk made its way onto her face.
"That's our family portrait."
Karin jumped at the sound of the familiar voice right behind her; turning on her heels to face a slightly amused-looking Toshiro. She blinked once, then twice, before regaining her composure, and turning back towards the painting. "I figured as much. It's a shame, but I don't think I ever officially met your parents. When they came with you for my mother's funeral, I never spoke with them. Your father looks like he was a kind person."
Toshiro nodded in reply; staring at the painting intently. "He was, and so was my mother. They were both very well-loved…and are very much missed." he said; his amused smirk dropping to a melancholy frown.
Feeling somewhat guilty for bringing up a still clearly sore subject, Karin was about to say something to try and change the mood, when she heard a loud shriek from behind them. Before she knew it, Toshiro was wrapped in a bone-crushing hug by a beautiful busty blonde woman who wore a pink fur-lined tunic with a black leather belt around her slim waist, a pink scarf, black leggings, and white fur-lined boots. On her arm was a band with the crest of the royal family, as well as four silver stars underneath the crest. "Oh, your highness, I'm so glad you're back!" the woman squealed, before she was pushed off by her sovereign.
Toshiro glowered at the bubbly woman, before sighing, and giving her the smallest hint of a smile. "It's good to be home, Matsumoto. How has everything been here while I've been gone?"
The woman smiled wider, and crossed her arms over her ample chest. "Everything has been fine since your departure, but Ryu's missed you a lot. You should go see him soon, or he'll come and find you." she said; a humorous smirk adorning her face, before she turned, and looked to Karin.
Her smile returned as she bowed, and extended her hand out to the young Kurosaki. "Your royal highness, princess Karin, I presume? It's an honor to meet you. My name is Rangiku Matsumoto, king Toshiro's general. Thank you so much for agreeing to be a part of the war effort." she said; her big blue eyes shining with gratitude, and excitement.
Karin smiled back at the woman, and shook her hand. "It's an honor to meet you as well, general Matsumoto; and please, it's just Karin. We're happy to help if it brings down king Aizen permanently. My father, king Isshin, says hello, and hopes that you're doing well, by the way."
Rangiku's face lit up at the mention of her former ruler. She had been a young trainee in the royal school of swordsmanship for four years when she left Karakura with her parents to emigrate to the north country; leaving behind her sovereign, and personal teacher, king Isshin. She had loved Isshin dearly, and thought of him as something of a father-figure; and it broke her heart to leave him behind. Looking back now, she was happy that her parents had insisted she come with them, instead of remaining in Karakura with her relatives to continue her training; but she'd still missed Isshin greatly, and thought of him often. It made her happy to know that he still remembered her. "I'm very glad to know that the king hasn't forgotten me. The next time you write to him, would you tell him that I say hello, and I hope he's doing well, too?" she asked; hope and happiness reflecting in her eyes.
Karin nodded in confirmation, and the smile on her face grew. "Of course; I'm happy to do that for you."
Rangiku hugged the princess in thanks, before getting a disapproving look from her king. She quickly released Karin from her grasp, and all was quiet for a moment, before they heard little footsteps running towards them. Every head pivoted in the direction of the small library, on the left, to find a young boy with dirty-blonde hair, chocolate brown eyes, and light freckles, run up to them. "Uncle Toshiro, you're back! I missed you! Who's the pretty lady?!" the little boy asked excitedly, as Toshiro caught him, and hoisted him into his arms; the first genuine smile on the ruler's face that Karin had ever seen.
The princess chuckled, and ruffled the child's hair, as she made eye contact with him. "Well, thank you very much for the compliment, young man. My name is Karin Kurosaki, and I'm a princess of Karakura. What's your name?" she asked; enjoying the boy's sudden bashfulness as he hid his face in his uncle's neck.
Toshiro's smile softened as he looked from the boy in his arms, to Karin; his bright turquoise eyes shining with what Karin recognized as pride and love for the child. "This is Ryu; he's my sister Momo's and brother-in-law Izuru's son. He's five years old."
Karin smiled back at Toshiro, before transferring her gaze to the boy; who was peaking at her from behind Toshiro's white hair. "Well, it's very nice to meet you, Ryu. Can I be your friend while I'm here, because I would really like that." she said; softening her smile to appear less intimidating to the child.
The little boy nodded, before squirming out of his uncle's arms, and dropping back to the floor; looking straight up at Karin. "How long are you staying?" he asked; genuine curiosity in his eyes.
The princess crouched down to Ryu's height, and smiled wider at the young boy. "I'll be here on and off for maybe up to two years. I'm helping to fight in the war, so I'll really be here for however long it takes to win."
The child nodded in understanding, before looking up at his uncle. "I like this pretty lady, Uncle Toshiro. Can she be my new auntie, and can you make sure she stays for a long time?" he asked; hope shining in his big brown eyes.
Toshiro's face took on a rather awkward and uncomfortable expression, as Karin and Matsumoto burst into laughter; only forcing themselves to stop when the young king shot them an icy glare. Looking back at the little boy, Karin ruffled his hair again. "Don't worry, Ryu; I'll be here for a long time."
"Yay!" the boy shouted, before running off back to where he came from; leaving the three adults alone in the foyer once more.
Watching the little boy disappear, Karin looked from the direction Ryu had just gone, and over to Toshiro; a sarcastic smirk on her face. "I have to say, Toshiro; so far, your family is a lot more fun than you are."
The young ruler shot her another unamused glare, before turning, and walking away in the direction of a large corridor at the back of the foyer. "Rangiku, would you please show the princess to her room? I have business I need to attend to." he said; rounding the corner, disappearing out of sight, and leaving the two women to talk alone.
The young princess stared after the king with a puzzled expression on her face. "I don't understand him, Rangiku. At first, I thought he really was as ice cold, and unemotional, as he seemed; but he looked at Ryu with so much warmth and tenderness…only to turn around not two minutes later, and give me one of the most irritated scowls I've ever seen in my life. What's his problem?" she asked; clear bewilderment, and slight frustration, on her face.
Rangiku looked over at the young princess, and a smirk made its way onto her face. "The king is a complicated man, Karin. He may appear to be completely void of any emotions aside from irritation, anger, and indifference; but there's a warm heart, and sarcastic attitude, buried underneath that tough exterior. Just keep at him, and you'll see it with time. Trust me; I've known him since he was born." she said, before turning her attention to her king's command. "Now, let me show you to your room. This way, please." the beautiful busty blonde continued, as she ushered the princess up a grand staircase on their right, and took a right at the top.
Karin looked back one more time at the foyer, before it disappeared from her sight; mulling over Rangiku's words. '"there's a warm heart, and sarcastic attitude, buried underneath that tough exterior. Just keep at him, and you'll see it with time." Hmmmmm…interesting. Let's see if that's true' she thought, as she followed Rangiku down the many different aisles of the upstairs gallery, before finally stopping at a large ebony door.
Rangiku looked over at her, and smiled, as she gestured to the door. "Here you are, Karin. This will be your room during your stay with us. Mine is ten doors down the hall that way," she said, as she pointed in the direction they had just come, "and the king's room is just around the corner in the opposite direction. Don't hesitate to call on either of us if you need anything."
Karin nodded, and thanked Rangiku, before the bubbly general turned back around, and disappeared around another corner. She had no idea where they were in the huge castle, but she decided that she would do some exploring after a nice warm bath, and a much-needed change of clothes.
Opening her bedroom door, she was greeted by the sight of a beautiful mahogany four-poster bed with wine-red silk sheets, and a light tan fur blanket; with the same color red for the wallpaper. There was a brown marble fireplace mantle with a fire already going, and the floor was the same mahogany wood; decorated with a light tan fur rug similar to the ones downstairs. Also in the room was an intricately engraved mahogany writing table, coffee table, bedside tables, chairs, and a sofa; the chairs and sofa upholstered with the same wine-red fabric. On her bedside tables were a set of oil lamps with paintings of the winter scenery on them, and a few pictures depicting various scenes of village life hung on the walls. 'Alright, I have to hand it to him; I've never seen a castle, or palace, so beautiful before in my life' she thought, as she walked past her luggage sitting on her bed, and into the bathroom; finding a steaming tub of hot water already waiting for her. 'Smart man' she thought amusedly, as she stripped out of her cold, wet clothes, and soaked in the relaxing hot water; closing her eyes, and enjoying the steam. 'Yeah…exploring can definitely wait until later'
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Karin wasn't sure how long she stayed in the tub, but when she heard the dinner gong sound, she reluctantly got out of the steaming water. Drying her long hair by the fireplace, she quickly put it into a loose braid, and weaved it into a delicate bun on the top of her head; getting out her ruby-red velvet gown with gold braiding, and inspecting it for wrinkles. She made sure her necklace didn't have any spots or smudges, dressed herself; and fixed her tiara on her head, before putting her red heels on, and giving herself a final once-over in the mirror; making her way out of her room satisfied with her appearance.
Looking from one side of the hall to the other, she tried to remember how on earth to get back downstairs; feeling lost in the maze of rooms, and hallways, of the grand castle. Shrugging to herself, she took a right, and walked to the end of the long aisle; taking another right in the hopes that she was headed in the correct direction.
She walked a little further down the new corridor, until she came to two very large ebony doors that bore Orora's royal crest, and were decorated with intricate silver filigree. Slowly, she walked up to the doors, and ran her fingers gently along the silver patterns; marveling at the level of detail put into the design work, and quality of the craftsmanship.
Suddenly, the doors swung backwards, and she came face-to-face with Toshiro; dressed in black pants that were tucked into his black fur-lined boots, a dark green, long-sleeved tunic embroidered with silver designs that resembled patterning you would see on a sheet of ice, a dark green cape lined with white fur, and silver clasps on either side of the cape connected by a simple silver chain that draped around his throat; hanging down to his collarbone. The clasps were the royal crest of Orora, and on his head was his steel crown that boasted the royal jewel of his kingdom: the diamond.
Karin took a step back in surprise, as the white-haired man gave her a quizzical look; stepping out of the room, and closing the doors behind him. "Do you need something, princess?" he asked, as he found her gaze.
Remembering that Rangiku had mentioned his room was down this way, Karin's face reddened slightly as she shook her head; realizing she was probably intruding on his privacy. "No, not at all. I'm sorry, Toshiro, I was trying to find my way back downstairs, and…well, I guess I took a wrong turn. I was actually looking at the silver filigree on the doors before you appeared."
Toshiro raised a questioning eyebrow in response; curiosity reflecting in his bright turquoise eyes. "The metalwork on the door caught your interest? Do you know about smithing?" he asked; slightly intrigued.
Karin nodded in reply, and crossed her arms over her ample chest, as a cocky smirk made its way onto her face. "Of course I do. I forge my own swords, you know. I have to say, though; whoever your blacksmith is really knows his work. All of the metalwork around this place is first-class; especially the gate at your border wall. I've never seen such fine quality smithing before; and coming from me, that's a big compliment. My smithing standards are unreasonably high; or, so says my brother, at any rate."
To her surprise, a small half-smirk made its way onto Toshiro's face as he walked past her, and down the corridor she had just come from. "Thank you for the praise. My kingdom takes a lot of pride in the quality of our blacksmithing. Now, come; we should go down to dinner." he said; prompting her to follow him.
Karin complied, and he led her back downstairs; pointing out distinctive items along the way to help her remember her way back.
Walking into the dining room, Karin saw Rangiku, Ryu, a pretty young woman with dark hair that she recognized from the painting she'd seen earlier, and a tall blonde man; all sitting at a large ebony table.
Toshiro looked from her, to the dark-haired woman, and nodded; the lady getting up, and making her way over to Karin. The young Kurosaki could see a royal tiara inlaid with diamonds on the woman's head, and surmised this must be Toshiro's sister, Momo.
Momo curtsied gracefully to her, and Karin reciprocated the gesture; a warm smile on her face.
"Princess Karin, allow me to introduce my elder sister, princess Momo Kira. Her husband, his royal highness, prince Izuru Kira, is sitting with their son, Ryu, whom you met earlier." Toshiro said, as Momo brought Karin into a small hug. "Oh, it's so good to finally meet you, Karin! I've heard of you and your many accomplishments on the battlefield for years now, and I was very excited when Shiro said you would be staying with us for the duration of the war effort." the pretty dark-haired woman said; giving her little brother a sly smile.
Karin chuckled, and looked at the white-haired man beside her; who's stoic expression had morphed into a disapproving frown. "Shiro?" she asked; laughing when Toshiro's frown deepened, and he shot her a glare.
Turning his attention to his sister, the young king directed his glare at her next. "Momo, how many times do I have to remind you: enough with the childish nicknames. I've been your king for how many years now?" he asked; slight irritation in his voice.
Momo chuckled, and reached up to ruffle his hair. "Sorry, but you'll always be little Shiro to me, brother. We can't have you getting too grand, now, can we? That head of yours needs to stays small enough to fit the crown." she replied; highly amused, as she watched her now-disgruntled younger brother take off his crown, and try to fix his now-disheveled white locks.
Even though Karin was laughing, she couldn't deny that she found the family interaction between the two siblings heartwarming. It actually reminded her of her own family. 'I guess he really does have a heart somewhere in there' she thought amusedly, as the footman ushered her over to her seat.
Everyone took their places at the table, and all throughout dinner, Karin talked with Rangiku and Momo; trying to get to know them a little better. Ryu interjected whenever he felt like he could add something, as did Izuru, and Toshiro; but it was mainly the women who carried the conversation.
Before everyone knew it, dinner was over, and they were all headed into the drawing room. Once in there, Karin took a few minutes to walk around, and examine the many paintings on the various tables, while the others continued talking.
She made it to the very back of the room, when one picture in particular caught her eye. It was a sketch in charcoal pencil, but it was very highly detailed. In it were two men who looked almost identical; only one had short hair, and the other long. She recognized the one with the short hair from Toshiro's family portrait. 'Okay, so that's his father. Who's the other one, then?' she thought; picking up the picture, and examining it more closely.
Sensing him make his way over to her before she saw him, Karin turned to the young king, who now stood to her right, with a questioning expression; a small smile on her face. "Who's the other man in this sketch? I recognize your father from the family portrait I saw earlier, but not the other one. They're so similar in the face, they look like twins."
Toshiro nodded his head, and looked from her, to the picture in her hands. "They are twins. That's my Uncle Jushiro." he said; the faintest hint of a smile gracing his lips.
Surprised, Karin looked back at the picture, and brushed her thumb over the glass that covered it. "Interesting; Goat-chin never mentioned that you had an uncle. Does he live with you, or in the town?" she asked; her curiosity now peaked.
Looking back at him, Karin's face adopted a slightly worried frown as she watched Toshiro's expression darken the same way it had when her father had asked about Gin Ichimaru. A moment of silence passed before Toshiro spoke. "He did live with us, but he died six years ago." he replied; turning his attention back to her, and finding her gaze with his own.
Karin gave him a sympathetic look, and put a hand on his shoulder; feeling him tense slightly from the unexpected contact. She didn't care, though; this was how she showed sympathy, so he could deal with it. "I'm sorry, Toshiro. What happened?" she asked; holding his gaze, and watching his facial features tense slightly.
All was quiet for a moment, before Toshiro sighed, and looked back down at the picture. "That's a story for another time. On another note, I have to ask…Goat-chin? Not very respectful, Karin." he said; a smirk making its way onto his face, and his eyes reflecting amusement.
Karin smirked back, and dropped her hand from his shoulder, as she put the picture back in its proper spot. "Hey, if we wants me to treat him with respect, then he needs to grow the hell up, and act like an adult. My respect isn't obligatory, it's earned."
Toshiro's smirk grew slightly, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Fair enough. I also operate under the belief that respect, and loyalty, should be earned, not expected. You need to work for what you want." he replied; watching with amusement as her smirk morphed into a triumphant smile. "Finally! Someone who understands! Ichi thinks I'm just being unreasonably stubborn; but, in my opinion, if someone wants something from me, they better damn well earn it." she replied; a cat-like grin on her face.
Karin could tell that if he didn't have the ridiculous self-control he was known for, Toshiro would be laughing right now; she could see it in his body language. She was ready to ask him about a few of the other paintings, when the pair was interrupted by the sudden appearance of little Ryu, who tugged at his uncle's long fur-lined cape. The two adults looked down at the child, before realization dawned on Toshiro, and he looked up at the clock. Seeing that it read 9:30, he scooped his nephew up into his arms, and looked at him. "Sorry, Ryu; I didn't realize it was getting so late. Are you ready for bed?" he asked; a soft smile on his face that Karin had never seen before.
The little boy nodded in reply, before looking over at the Karakura princess. "I need to go to bed now, but I'll see you tomorrow, right, princess Karin?" he asked; his large chocolate-brown eyes watching her intently, and a small, tired smile on his freckled face.
Karin smiled back at the boy, and ruffled his hair affectionately. "Yes, you'll see me tomorrow; I promise. Goodnight, Ryu; I hope you sleep well."
The little boy said goodnight back, before Toshiro, Momo, and Izuru bid her and Rangiku goodnight as well; disappearing out of the drawing room with the child.
Walking over to the pretty general, Karin kept her gaze on the doorway that everyone had just exited out of. "How come Toshiro went with them if they're just putting Ryu to bed?" she asked; looking to Rangiku, and watching as the woman's smile softened. "He reads Ryu a bedtime story every night. It's something he's done every night he's at home since the day Ryu was born."
Karin looked from Rangiku, and back to the door; a gentle smile unconsciously making its way onto her face. "Huh, I wouldn't have expected that from him." she said; finding the idea of the ice king, Toshiro Hitsugaya, reading a bedtime story to a five-year-old rather amusing; but sweet, nonetheless.
Rangiku glanced over at the dark-haired princess; a small, knowing smirk making its way onto her face. "Like I said, he's a complicated person. There are reasons why he has such a hard outer shell, but there's a kind and loving man on the inside…it just takes a while for him to loosen up, and trust someone enough to let them see that."
All was quiet for a moment, before Karin decided to speak again. "Hey, Rangiku," she began; waiting until the busty blonde gave her a nod to continue, "how long does it take for him to loosen up, and let someone in?" she asked; a thoughtful tone to her voice that Rangiku found interesting.
The general watched her intently for a moment, before answering. "It depends on the person, really. He shuts out most everyone he meets; his family and subjects are the only people who really know him, I think. Why do you ask?"
Karin shifted her gaze from the door, and over to Rangiku; locking eyes with the general. "Because I recognize that self-defense mechanism; that refusal to let people affect you…I see it in the mirror every day."
A heavy silence fell over them, and she could tell she didn't need to say any more as Rangiku nodded silently back at her; the understanding clear on her face.
They stood there in the quiet for a few more moments, before Karin started walking towards the door. "Well, I think I'll retire for the night. It's been a long few weeks of travelling, and I could use a good night's sleep. Goodnight, Rangiku; I'll see you in the morning." she said; walking out of the drawing room, and beginning her journey to her room.
Rangiku bid Karin a goodnight as well, and watched the young princess walk out the door; disappearing out of sight. Her mind was racing; and, for a reason she couldn't name, her excitement was increasing, as well. 'I have a feeling that things are about to get a whole lot more interesting for the king…and complicated as well' she thought, as a Cheshire grin made its way onto her face. She was looking forward to seeing what this vibrant Karakura princess could do with her ice-cold king.