I updated! Sorry for taking so long, I had writers block for most of the parts in this chapter but hey, at least I didn't take a decade.

Now, enjoy! (I hope)

Toushirou awoke in a dark, dull cell. There wasn't anything significant about it but the small window, which seems to be his only light source. And from the stars twinkling in the contrasting dark sky he assumed he was knocked out for a while. He felt his back ached from sleeping on the hard ground and his mind spun upon his awakening.

A squeak sounded through the air and he traced the sound back to the opened door where an old man with a cane stood. Next to him was another elderly looking person but with a broader stature.

Toushirou's eyes sharpened at the new incomers. "Soutaichou." He growled. 'What does he want from me?' He couldn't help but wonder; after all he just committed one of the most sinful law in Soul Society, falling in love with a human. 'Technically she's half human.'

Yamamoto scrutinise the child prodigy and ignored the animalistic tone in his voice. "Hitsugaya-taichou, it would be a waste to throw away someone with as much talent as you so I advise you to reflect on your actions and review your priorities." The old man had just came back from a captain meeting held to discuss Toushirou's fate and they all lead to one conclusion, keep Toshiro alive.

"He's just at a rebellious stage, he'll forget it over time," Kyoraku gave a goofy grin and mirth can be seen in his eyes.

"Don't be so hard on Hitsugaya-kun, he's still just a teenager." Ukitake frowned not approving of Toshiro's punishment.

"Kyoraku-taichou may be right, he is at that age" Unohana smiled.

"The little taichou is still young, we should keep him and see if he changes his mind in the future" inputted Gin, the double agent. 'And Ran-chan would have my head if something happens to him.'

"Hitsugaya-taichou is still growing and has a lot of potential, I suggest we get rid of him before he causes trouble." Was Soifon's opinion.

"If we are on the topic of killing the boy then I would like to ask for his body." Mayumi unsurprisingly suggested.

"Hitsugaya-kun is a loyal man, he'll come to his senses soon." Byakuya spoke up.

"It would be wise to eliminate any danger threatening Soul Society." Was Komamura's input.

After brooding and balancing between the pros and cons, the Soutaichou came to a conclusion, keep Hitsugaya Toushirou alive.

However Toushirou refused to cooperate, "I have already made up my mind." And he was reprimanded for it.

"Hitsugaya-taichou!" The Soutaichou roared. "I am presenting you a second chance, I suggest you reflect on your actions." Yamamoto glared at the child prodigy who shivered in response but didn't back down. Instead the ice user glared back with hardened resolve and didn't stop until they were out of sight. Toushirou let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding when the two old men stepped out of his cell. He was suddenly plunged into darkness as the door shut behind them.

Reaching behind his back for Hyourinmaru, Toushirou was disheartened when his hands grabbed thin air. 'They took Hyourinmaru away.'

Another squeak caught Toushirou's attention and he was drawn to the gate of his cell again. "Taichou" a familiar high-pitched voice called.

Squinting his eyes Toushirou made out the figure of a busty women with orange hair and contradicting icy blue eyes standing behind the bars. "Matsumoto?"

The figure now identified as Matsumoto sighed in relief at his voice. "Oh thank god you're alright. I was so worried when Gin told me about your execution. How have you been? Are you alright? Did they hurt you? And did you know, I'm doing all your paperwork so you don't have to worry. I haven't even had a bottle of sake in 2 days! Aren't you-"

"Matsumoto." One word was enough for Matsumoto to stop ranting. Looking up he smiled at her. "Sorry for worrying you."

Matsumoto's face seemed to soften for a minute before hardening again. Gripping the bar of his cell Matsumoto entered her serious state, "Taichou."

"Yes?"

"Are you willing to give up everything for Karin-chan?"

There's no need for Toushirou to think about the answer, he has already made his decision and he's not turning back. "Yes."

Matsumoto smiled at his response, that one word was so powerful and so full of determination that she didn't need to reassure his answer. "Alright, it may take a while but hang in there. We're going to bust you out Taichou just you wait."

Toushirou nodded, he can wait as long as he can get back to Karin but the question was, can Karin wait for him. He frowned as a pessimistic thought came to his mind before shaking it away, 'No, I'm not going to give her up.'

"I would've have gotten out of here without your help." Toushirou smirked feeling happy to have such a trustful friend. 'Friend huh?' Looks like Ichigo has been rubbing off him.

Exactly one year later~

Toushirou thinks he's going crazy. How many hours, days or months has he been in this cell? He didn't know. But he believes he's beginning to go crazy when he hallucinates about lying in a certain raven head's lap. Loneliness can do that to a person. She occupied most of his brooding time and he finds himself staring out the window everyday to watch the sunset, just like what he's doing now. 'Karin...' He let out a wistful sigh, grazing his lips with the tips of his fingers. He vividly remembers how soft and warm her lips felt on his cold and chapped ones.

A familiar and irritating screeching sound snapped him out of his thoughts and he turned towards the old man with albino facial hair. Once every fortnight Soijirou would check up on Toushirou and see if he has come back to his "senses" and every time Toushirou would deny him without fail. Today was no different. As the Soutaichou's trusty lieutenant left the cell another figure stepped in, a woman.

"Matsumoto." Toushirou greeted with a nod of his head before seating himself on the ground and leaning against the wall. Biting his lip he tried not to sound desperate, "How much longer do I have to wait?"

Matsumoto snickered at his action. It was her first time seeing her Taichou so anxious, it was cute. 'Ah, young love.' "I'm sorry Taichou but just a little longer."

"You said that a few months ago." He almost raised his voice at her but managed to calm down. "How do you plan on busting me out anyways?"

"Well, first I gathered as many allies as I could." She grinned.

"Allies? Who?" He felt rather apprehensive for this was Matsumoto who was planning everything.

She suddenly whipped out a list and started reading out the names, "There's me, Gin, Hinamori, Renji, Rukia, Ukitake-Taichou, Kyoraku-Taichou, Soifon-Taichou, Yoruichi-san, Urahara-san, Kuchiki-Taichou and Ichigo-kin."

Toushirou did a double take on a few names. 'Of course Soifon would do anything for Yoruichi but...'

"Kuchiki-Taichou and Kurosaki?" How she managed to persuade them was a mystery him. Byakuya would never do anything that goes against Soul Society and Ichigo? A shinigami captain was courting his -much- younger sister, enough said.

Matsumoto let out another grin. "Out of everyone on the list, Kuchiki-Taichou is the one who understands you the most. After all you're not the only one who has experienced forbidden love."

'Right, Kuchiki's wife was a peasant.'

"And Kurosaki? You told him?" Frankly, Toushirou would've thought the carrot top would leave him rotting in this cage than let him near his sister.

"Taichou!" Matsumoto reprimanded, startling him with her loudness. "Ichigo wouldn't abandon a friend in need." She winked. "And you don't have to worry about him, I didn't tell him anything about you and Karin-chan" Scratch his previous thought.

"Then what did you tell him?"

"Oh, I told him that Taichou was in his rebellious stage and broke a very important law in Soul Society." Was her cheery reply.

"MATSUMOTO!" Wonderful, another reason for Ichigo to think of him as a child.

Over in the Living World, a girl leaned against the guardrail while watching the sunset. She donned a high school uniform and her hair was put up in a high ponytail. Next to her feet lay a worn out black and white ball. 'Why am I here again?' Karin contemplated.

It's been a year -give or take- since she last saw the young Shinigami captain and she still hasn't gotten over him. She has a habit of playing soccer at the park near Grandma Haru's everyday at 3:30pm sharp because that was the only time he was free. She uses the same route to visit Grandma Haru because it's the route she always takes with him. She stays behind at school because he picks her up from time to time at 3:30. She watches the sunset for they always watched the sunset before walking home together. All the times she spent with him stuck to her and had grown into a habit.

As the sun disappeared behind the landscape and the stars came out, Karin began trudging home. She buried her face into her red scarf as a breeze flew by. The coolness reminding her of a certain shinigami's icy yet calming reiatsu and she cursed herself for remembering. There wasn't one day she stopped thinking of him, everything she does reminds her of him and it irritated her to no end. 'How am I suppose to get over him when I keep thinking of him?'

Opening the door of her home, she crossed the threshold and was greeted by a rare sight. Her overprotective brother and her fool of a father were sitting at a table with a heavy air surrounding them. Both looked to be very serious and she suddenly felt apprehensive, they didn't even notice her. 'Did something happen?'

"I never thought I'd hear him go against Soul Society let alone break a law." Her father spoke.

'Must be an old friend.' Turning around she planned to return to her room but froze at the next sentence.

"Surprising huh? But if it's Toushirou then he must have his reas-" Ichigo didn't get to finish his sentence as Karin interrupted.

"What happened to Toushirou?" Her voice came out urgent and worried as she struggled to compose herself.

"Karin?" Both Kurosaki's uttered, completely taken back.

"Toushirou, white hair, green eyes, about this tall," she gestured to a certain height "and a shinigami captain?"

"How do you know Toushirou?" Ichigo asked.

"We met a couple of times." 'More than a couple actually,' but who cares about the minor detail. "What's wrong with Toushirou?"

"Ah, I found out from Urahara a few months ago that he was locked up for breaking a law. He was locked up for about a year now."

Karin stilled on her spot feeling insignificant. 'Locked up? Oh I see and no one ever thought to tell me?' Honestly she felt angrier about not knowing the situation than worrying about the said person. 'Fine if he didn't want to see me, he could have just said so! Who cares what happens to him.'

Ichigo mistook her stillness for astonishment, "It's surprising huh? Who knew that midget had it in him." He chuckled but his smile dropped when Karin turned around and left with a solemn air surrounding her.

Turning towards his clueless dad, he asked, "why is she angry?"

Isshin shrugged, equally confused, "maybe it's that time of month?"

When Matsumoto said "just a little longer" he assumed she meant a few months later not early in the morning the very next day.

Toushirou jolted awake as his cell shook, a piece of debris landing in front of him. Although very annoyed from the abrupt awakening, he calmly analysed his cell. 'What's going on? Are we under attack?'

His question was answered when the wall of his cell exploded. Toushirou quickly pulled up his arms to shield himself from the flying debris and when all was settled he looked back at the now destroyed wall. A tall male shinigami with orange hair stepped in. With a giant kitchen knife swung over his shoulders the shinigami scanned the chaotic room and grinned when he spotted the white hair convict. "Yo Toushirou!" He greeted.

"K-Kurosaki?" Toushirou stuttered. "What are you doing here?"

"And they call you a child prodigy," Ichigo smirked. "I'm here to save your ass, what else?"

"B-but why y-you?" Matsumoto had only given him a brief explanation of the plan but she never did mention who was going to break him out.

"Didn't Rangiku-san tell you? You're going to be living at my place until this is all cleared up." Ichigo explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

By the end of his brief explanation, Toushirou has frozed on the spot. 'I'm going to be living under the same roof as Kurosaki? What was Matsumoto thinking? Is she trying to kill me?' He worked up a sweat as he imagined the worst-case scenario. 'I'm dead' no pun intended.

Another explosion snapped Toushirou out of his reverie. Ichigo threw Hyourinmaru to Toushirou who caught him with ease before turning around and gesturing towards the ice user to follow. "Let's go before things get rough."

They arrived at Urahara's small shop without much difficulty. With Byakuya, Gin, Soifon, Ukitake, Kyoraku, Hinamori and Matsumoto controlling their respective squads it wasn't very hard. Both Toushirou and Ichigo had only drawn their zanpakuto once and that was get past the 11th squad and their battle crazy captain. It almost seemed too easy and Toushirou grew suspicious.

Upon their arrival, Ichigo automatically went back in to his body while Toushirou entered a special gigai Urahara had prepared to suppress his reiryoku. Both the newcomers sat around a small table as Tessai prepared snacks and tea.

"Now that Hitsugaya-taichou-" Urahara started but was interrupted by Toushirou.

"Just Hitsugaya is fine" He had to get used to not being called "taichou" anymore and he found that he didn't miss the title as much as he originally thought.

"Alright now that Hitsugaya-kun is here lets discuss his stay. I believe we were going to let him stay at your place, right Kurosaki?"

"Yeah I'm fine with it so how about it Toushirou?" Ichigo didn't mind housing the young captain, Toushirou was reserved and respectful of others privacy unlike other shinigami/s he knows of. Actually he couldn't come up with any reason why the shinigami couldn't stay. 'Unless he starts flirting with Karin and Yuzu.' Ichigo chuckled at the thought. 'Nah, it'll be fine after all he's into older girls... I think.'

"Fine by me" was Toushirou's answer as he took a sip of his tea. On the bright side of staying under the same roof as Ichigo, he would get to see Karin everyday. Who was he to disagree?

"Great! That was easy!" Urahara cheered, happy to know he didn't have to house another freeloader.

Silence filled the air as the men drank their tea and ate the snacks prepared but it was quickly shattered by Ichigo's question.

"By the way Toushirou, what crime did you committed?" It has been on Ichigo's mind since he found out but he never had the chance to ask.

In response to the question Toushirou choked on his tea as Urahara whipped out his fan to hide the smirk growing on his face. 'It's too bad I swore not to mumble a single word of it to Kurosaki-kun. It would've been quite amusing'

Toushirou on the other hand fidgeted under Ichigo's inquisitive gaze and he hastily made an excuse to leave. "I-I need some air."

"Oi, wait Toushirou you didn't answer my question." Ichigo frowned as Toushirou shut the door behind him leaving Ichigo's question hanging. He never liked being left in the dark, it seems he's always the last to know. Turning to Urahara he prepared to ask the same question but the said man was nowhere to be found.

Toushirou sighed in relief as he walked on the familiar road towards the guardrail. 'That was close.' There was no way he was going to give Ichigo that delicate piece of information, who knows how he we react.

On his way to the guardrail his heart rate suddenly fastened and his palms began sweating. A warm reiatsu washed over him and he was pulled back to the time when he held a certain raven head in his arms. The reiatsu wasn't unbearably hot but warm enough for him to want to curl up against it, especially because it's hers. Toushirou quickened his pace and it wasn't long before two figures entered his view. One was the girl he craved to see and touch for the past year, the other a shy nerd looking boy with no presence.

Spotting an unknown person he hid himself in a narrow alleyway with only his head poking out. 'Who's that?' It obviously wasn't one of her soccer buddies. Whoever he was his next speech caused Toushirou to clench his fist.

"A-ano, K-Karin-san would you go out with me?" The shy boy bowed attempting to hide his red face.

Karin's friends consist of only boys and there were times where she forgets she's a girl herself. The feelings were mutual; due to her tomboy personality even the boys depicted her as one of them.

So when the shy boy she rescued months ago from the bullies of their neighbouring school suddenly asked her out Karin blinked owlishly feeling lost. She still had feelings for a certain child prodigy who she hasn't seen in the past year. She knew it was impossible for him to reciprocate her feelings; he made it clear when he pushed her away that day and avoided contact with her for a year. Sure she feels guilty about leading this boy on but she wants to forget her feelings for Toushirou, and if it doesn't work? Well it was worth trying

Karin opened her mouth, ready to accept his confession but with a pull on her elbow she was suddenly faced to faced with someone's chest. Tilting her head up she was met with a familiar face. 'Tou…shirou?' Except he wasn't looking at her, he was looking straight ahead and glowering at the now shivering boy. She noticed his eyes were sharper than usual and was holding an unorthodox gleam to it.

Holding Karin close to his chest Toushirou glared at his opponent. 'This boy wouldn't survive dating Karin for even a minute.' He concluded. "Sorry but she's taken" his mouth moved without his permission but he doesn't regret it. He'd rather faced Ichigo's or the Soutaichou's wrath -which he already did- than give Karin away to another man. It was already hell to be away from her for a year. And as everyone knows it got to the point where he was locked up in the second division's cell in order to stop him from escaping to the Living world.

Right after he finished his sentence Toushirou turned and left, dragging a dumbfounded Karin with him.

Coming to her senses Karin ripped her hand out of his grasp. "What are you doing here?" She glared.

"I'm here to see you." He shoved his hands into his jacket pocket and replied casually. His indifferent response unintentionally hurt and angered Karin.

'Did he think everything would go back to normal if he just comes back and see me?'

"Why don't you just stay in Soul Society for another year because I am totally fine with not knowing you were locked up for the entire." She was never good at holding back her anger so why should she start now? And if her memory serves her right she has never turned her anger on him before.

"Is that why you're angry with me?" He should've predicted this would happen she never did liked being kept in the dark.

'No it's because you left me on my doorsteps and told me to forget everything'

"Yeah." Karin mumbled under her breath but loud enough for him to hear. To other people she may have sound convincing but Toushirou knew her better. Closing in on her he grabbed her shoulders and searched her eyes, there was a hint of pain in it, which made him frown.

"Karin?" He prodded for an answer but Karin shook his arms away and turned to leave. She wasn't ready to face him, heck she was half hoping he wouldn't come back at all. All the anger and frustration she built over time was ready to explode and she'd rather not breakdown in front of him. She hasn't even taken a step before strong arms wrapped around her waist and suddenly her back was pressed against his front.

"Stop it." Karin demanded, her hands folding over his in order to break free but he wouldn't budge even a centimetre.

Toushirou buried his face in the crook of her and mumbled, "stop what?"

His action elicited a shiver from the girl. Seeing her struggle Toushirou allowed himself to loosen his hold enough for her to turn around in his arms. She pointed an accuse finger at him. "Stop leading me on! You already know how I feel and I accepted the fact that you don't feel the same! So don't go around and do these sorts of things! Why don't you go and crawl back to your cell in Soul Society!"

Toushirou felt his vein pop. He did not just breach one of the most sinful laws in Soul Society, face the scariest man alive, broke out of prison and gave up everything he had in Soul Society for her to shoo him away. "Do you even know why I was in trouble in the first place?" He couldn't help but shout. When Karin is in this state, nothing gets through her head.

"I don't need to know! I don't want to see you anym-"

"It was your fault!" he doesn't want to hear her finish the sentence so he was glad when she just froze on the spot. "It was your fault! It was your fault that I was locked up, it was your fault that Soul Society lost its trust in me! Everything was your fault!"

Karin's eyes glistened by the end of his rant. 'It was my fault?' She shook her head and hardened her heart. 'No! I didn't do anything wrong, he was the one who hurt me.' She readied to argue back but a thumb on her lips silenced her.

"But... it was my choice to give up everything and come back to you." He stated into her steel grey eyes. Unknowingly to both of them, tears had started streaming down the soccer fanatic's cheeks.

Upon processing his unnerving stare Karin quickly wiped the tears away as she struggled to get away from his grip. "You're lying! Why would a shinigami care this much for a human, much less a child! You should have just stayed in Soul Society!"

Grasping her wrists in his hands he clasped them together in front of her. "Karin, look at me"

"No! You're lying. You're just going to leave again." She doesn't want to get hurt again. Not as bad as this.

"Do want to know which law I breached?" His voice was firm and very much strong.

"I said I dont-"

"I fell in love with a human." Karin's action went limp at the "L" word. Did she mishear? Sensing her uneasiness he repeated, "I fell in love with a human, more specifically, you." He got worried when he received no answer from the high schooler. "Karin?"

"Why?" She whispered her voice so soft and so timid he almost didn't recognise her.

"Hmm?"

"Why did you go through so much trouble for me?"

"Because, I think you're worth it." It was silent between them again but it was quickly broken when Karin delivered a blow to his stomach and he winced.

Karin hates to admit it but what he did and said was really sweet but she refuses to let him think even for a minute that she had softened. "That was for leaving me for 1 year," she kicked his side "that was for hurting me," a punch to his chest "that was for making me cry," a slap across his face "and that, was for making me fall for you." She blushed at her last sentence. However to her dismay Toushirou didn't move an inch from his spot despite how hard her impacts were. Instead he gave her one of his softest smiles she has ever seen. "W-why are you l-looking at me like that?"

Toushirou ignored the pain in the places she injured him and shook his head, "I'm sorry for leaving you but," he cupped her cheek and was elated when she leaned into them. "I have all the time in the world to make up for it now."

Karin let out her trademark grin, her eyes puffy from crying, "Well you can start by playing a game of soccer with me."

Toushirou chuckle at how predictable she was. He pecked her forehead before drawing her into another embrace, "later, I want to stay like this for a little longer."

"Ok" Karin made herself comfortable and snuggled against his chest and Tosuhirou couldn't help but think,

'Matsumoto, she's definitely worth it.'

I'm sorry if it sounds rushed but I just didn't want to drag this story any longer than it already is, why? Because of laziness :P

And I have to admit, Karin had a lot of random mood swings in this fanfiction.

Until next time

Bye Bye