Damn. It wasn't good for her record. Not good at all. Her sister was going to kill her. Karin scrutinized her watch, vainly hoping that the twenty-one hours displayed would suddenly transform to retreat even by just a little hour, but to no avail, the hands were far from willing to cooperate.

"Damn."

She had promised Yuzu that she wouldn't linger after the match and that she would go straight home afterwards. Since their father was away, they were only the two of them, and her sister didn't like having an empty house. So, she had asked her to be there as soon as nothing held her outside anymore. But here she was, as always, her team exchanging hotly on their impressions of the match, on the techniques that had or had not worked, in short, a whole bunch of things that meant she was very late at the moment.

"I have to leave you. See you later!"

She abandoned the rest of her team as the moon was already showing its face, as if to mock her further. A reproachful glance in her direction and Karin ran off without looking back.

The match had drained her, and she wasn't sure she could run the little kilometer that separated her from home, but the thought of Yuzu crying her eyes out in front of their mother's portrait, in their father's fashion, gave her a burst of energy.

She slalomed through the different neighborhoods she knew by heart and didn't care at all about what was happening around her. Her mind was searching for excuses to feed her little sister. Because of her inattention, she didn't realize that the sky was opening up above her. Even the light emanating from it didn't alert her, as occupied as she was with her thoughts.

When she reached her neighborhood and a few seconds later, her house's porch, she stopped to catch her breath. Her heart, pounding in her chest and drumming in her ears, skipped a beat at the sound of a voice she knew all too well.

"Karin? What are you doing here at this hour?"

The girl turned abruptly to face a young man with red hair. Once the shock passed, she realized he wasn't alone, and some of his Shinigami friends accompanied him. Only her brother was in a gigai, suggesting he was going to stay for a while.

"I should be asking you that!"

No one had time to add anything; the front door burst open with a loud crash, and a tiny, terribly angry woman emerged.

"Karin! You promised me! I hope you have a valid excuse!"

The dark-haired girl turned to her sister, and although frightened by the spatula she held firmly in her hands and her threatening demeanor, she found the courage to reply:

"Yuzu, it's not what you think! We were just talking with Ichi-ni and his friends!"

The latter turned to where her sister pointed and dropped her spatula in surprise.

"Ichi-nii!"

She then ran into his arms, tears in her eyes. After all, it had been a few months since he had left. The older brother caught her without difficulty, a smile glued to his lips.

"I'm glad to see you, Yuzu."

Even though he whispered those few words, everyone heard them.

"Did you really come with your friends from the other world that I can't see?"

"Indeed."

"And is Toshiro there?"

The young man frowned. "Why are you asking me that?"

"Because that's the only excuse that will save her." She pointed at Karin while exaggeratingly emphasizing the "her".

"And may I know for what reason?"

Against all odds, it wasn't Karin to whom Ichigo posed the question, but the young captain behind him, invisible to Yuzu's eyes.

"So he's here. You're lucky."

She then climbed the porch and invited everyone to come in and share the meal with them. Karin followed her quickly without looking back, not wanting to provide an explanation to anyone. Yuzu was going to pay for it. She followed her even to the kitchen to confront her.

"Is it done, your revenge? Are we even?"

"I absolutely have no idea what you're talking about."

Her sister gave her an innocent smile before putting plates in her hands. "I don't know how many we are, so I'll let you take care of putting the right number."

She then returned to her kitchen.

And to think that nobody understood why she feared Yuzu's anger so much. Just because the latter emitted an aura of tenderness and kindness, no one ever suspected her. Her sister really hid her game well! Since she wouldn't get anything else from her, she went to the living room to do her duty. When she finished setting the plates, she saw that the whole crew was present, and in gigai this time. She didn't dare to give them an additional look and focused on her very difficult task. She heard her brother telling them to make themselves at home and sit at the table. When Yuzu emerged from the kitchen a few moments later, everyone was at the table and somewhat embarrassed to intrude.

Ichigo even apologized for showing up in such large numbers and without prior notice.

"It's okay, on the contrary! I'm really happy to see you, and all your friends are welcome! I'm delighted to have you even though I would have liked to know beforehand to prepare a better meal."

"That's perfect, don't worry Yuzu," Ichigo replied.

"Yes, as always! You're impossible to surprise!" Rukia responded with stars in her eyes at the sight of dishes simmered with as much expertise as passion.

"And at least we won't be bored!" added the youngest of the Kurosaki.

"You might as well say that I'm annoying too while you're at it, Yuzu!"

"You know I adore you, Karin, but you're the least talkative person there is."

"Don't worry, I know someone worse than me." The brunette cast a mocking glance at Toshiro. "If her sister complains about her, what would she say about him?" The concerned party felt targeted and met Kurosaki's gaze. He was about to retort and defend himself, but Renji didn't give him the chance.

"You must not know Captain Hitsugaya," he said with a pause before continuing, "Well, apparently, you do." He was referring to the episode a while ago.

"Yeah, speaking of which, how do you know him?"

But nobody answered Ichigo, whose words fell into oblivion as soon as they were spoken.

"I confirm. He's worse than her. And the only times he speaks, it's to get angry," Matsumoto pointed accusingly at the young man with white hair.

All eyes converged on the captain of the tenth division. A vein was now appearing on his forehead, and when he spoke, he confirmed his lieutenant's words.

"If you did your job, Matsumoto, I wouldn't scold you as much!"

"Well, that's something they have in common. Karin is always angry."

"Stop talking nonsense, Yuzu!"

"See for yourself!"

"Like attracts like," Matsumoto innocently tossed out.

"That's not the expression. It's 'birds of a feather flock together,' isn't it?" Rukia corrected.

"No, that's not it, Rukia."

"Oh, yes, it is, I'm sure that's it, Ichigo!"

The eldest of the siblings seemed not to understand the young woman's smile, so Yuzu replied, "Isn't there another one that says, 'those who secretly conceive give birth publicly'?"

Two people choked on these words, and all eyes turned to them. Karin, on one hand, seemed to have swallowed wrong, and Toshiro, on the other hand, seemed to have choked on his glass of water.

Ichigo looked at them both, furrowing his brows. Suspiciously.

"But after all, we do say, 'discreet relationship, perfect relationship,'" Matsumoto refrained from laughing after her tirade.

Unable to hold back any longer, the ice captain got up and glared at them before saying, "Mind your own business," and left the living room to go to the roof, where he lay down and closed his eyes.

He was joined a few seconds later by a smiling Karin.

"We were discreet, though. What nosy people those three are!" She was referring to Rukia, Matsumoto, and Yuzu. "I wonder how they found out."

"Matsumoto and Rukia don't know what awaits them when they get home. They'll regret it."

"I'll take care of Yuzu."

They heard Ichigo shouting in the distance:

"What!? Are they together? But for how long? Was I the only one who didn't know?"

There was a brief silence before he continued:

"Toshiro!"

The said young man let out an exasperated sigh.

Karin, who had sat down beside him, leaned over to kiss him before pulling him up by the sleeve.

"Come on, I think it's time for some confessions. Worst-case scenario, if it goes wrong, you can always bury them in ice."

"Don't tempt me."

He gave her a smile that only she knew before they headed back inside.

((Thank you for taking the time to read. Sorry if there are any mistakes, I'm French and English isn't really my strong suit.))