Ch. 1 We Slept Together

I am 99.9% sure Karin and I would not be allowed to be together. With the exception of Rukia and Ichigo's case, there has never been a Soul Reaper/human involvement that was permitted by the soul society.

Karin and I's case..Was no different.

Karin and I barely escaped possible execution. With the help of Rangiku, Momo, and Captain Unohana, I was able to find refuge at Urahara's shop where Karin and I have been secretly living at ever since.

"See ya, Histugaya-sama!" A girl waved.

I smiled and nodded.

2 years have passed since then. And yet I never regret severing my connection with the Soul Society.

Right after my escape, I sent in a letter to the soul society describing how my allegiance lies in the true justice I see. And I also describe how utterly retarded the soul society was for acting without thinking and subsequently forcing me to break out of jail to avoid a ridiculous sentence to 50 years of retirement. I also explained how I would be appealing to the Central 46 and asking for my captain's badge back and permission to explain all the wrong the soul society has done by placing action as first priority.

Miraculously, after my letter was sent to the Gotei 13 I was able to convince 5 of the 13 captains to support my appeal.

It took 1 year to prepare the evidence and the appeal file. After it was sent in, just two months ago, I have been patiently awaiting the reply to my appeal.

I trudged along the concrete path home. But ever since Karin and I have steadily grown apart..

Remembering the misfortune Karin had to endure made me walk through the doors to Urahara's shop with a gloomy face.

My thoughts where stopped dead in their tracks as I was immediately greeted by a foot hurdling toward my head. I quickly ducked down and was about to trip my assaulter when I found the muscular, hairy leg did not belong to anyone of the household.

I glanced up slowly and spotted my orange haired abuser.

"Remember me, Jackass?" He began with a look of evil in his eye.

"This time I can really go all out!" He snagged my shirt and tossed me like a stick, through three rooms, into the underground training room.

Karin's POV

Rukia and I scrubbed on the dishes and soaked down cups as we waited for lunch to finish cooking.

We heard a thump and the house shook like it was having a Seeger.

I glanced up and smirked, "I heard Ichi-nee was going to be coming. Is he still trying to kill Toshiro?"

"Well it seems that way," Rukia began "But I really think that it's a way for them to-"

"Bond." I finished.

We looked up at each other and laughed, thinking the same thing. Returning back to washing the dishes, I thought about my life here and looked down; I just don't know why it's eating me up inside…

A pale hand reached into my sink and grabbed my soap drenched palm tenderly.

Rukia grabbed the other hand and placed them both in the tight grip she had.

"I know Toshiro has noticed…Your strange behavior. And he's probably trying to figure out what's up, but you know what,"

She leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "He's clueless when it comes to women."

She and I giggled at this true statement.

"However," Rukia returned to her work and after turning the water on…She shook her head and turned it back off. "I can see right through the wall you used to keep everyone out."

My eyes dimmed, "You can…" I mumbled

"You moved schools, and left your friends without telling them. You didn't even have permission to tell your family. Even after 100 years, no one could adapt to something like that."

I glanced down and then Rukia straightened herself and walked in front of me.

"Ah! Hell! It is true! You're taller than me now!" She jumped up and patted me on the head.

"I know." She began, "That this behavior did not start until after you had to get a haircut."

My eyes widened as she walked over to me and grabbed a lock of my hair.

"Urahara told you that you had to move school and act like a completely different person because you didn't want to risk getting caught. Right?" She asked.

I looked down, my face being shielded by my new bangs.

"So you thought it would be a good idea to get a haircut."

She caressed the lock of hair and ran her fingers through it.

"But after I saw my hair on the floor, and my new image in the mirror… It was as if, my whole last life, that little memory of it, was so thoughtlessly cut away." I finished.

"Your hair looked so much like your mothers. Your father told me that once."

I glanced up at her; it's always like her, to change the subject when she feels the atmosphere getting musty.

"He said, 'It wasn't the color, Yuzu inherited that from her mom… But it was the feel.'"

Well how was that story supposed to make me feel better about cutting my hair?! Now I feel even more depressed. I thought.

"The fact of the matter is," Rukia walked over and stirred the pot of rice and gravy. "If you decided you want to go back. Toshiro, no, the Captain Hitsugaya I know would respect your wishes, even if it might hurt him…"

My dark blue eyes shot open and I shook my head, "Rukia! You're taking this conversation too far! I love it here! Of course I can stay!" The words stung my mouth.

"But for how long? The rest of your life? How long can you hope to stand by Toshiro? To hide from the world? You are 16 now and your past birthdays had maybe two people! You honestly can't expect me not to notice you still aren't making relationships in school because you're hoping you can go back to your old one. Really that's just foolish, even Toshiro knows you don't like your life here. That's why he risked himself and started teaching at your school!"

"That only made it worse, because then it brought back memories." I began.

"So now you see," Rukia began "This is truly tearing you apart inside. You can't hope to keep it together for long."

She tapped the stirring spoon on the pot and stated, "Go down there and tell the boys lunch is ready."

Toshiro's POV

I kept my stance strong as my feet slid along the ground. When I stopped, almost loosing balance, I stabbed Hyorimaru in the ground and regained my footing.

Panting hard I could barely hear Ichigo say, "Is that all you got? Seriously, I thought Karin would pick a stronger man. But you? Man you're a wimp!"

He fake picked his nose with his pinky just to irritate me and sighed, "If you don't release your Zanpakuto soon, I will kill you. You're insulting me, you know, thinking you can beat me with only a sword that isn't released."

"Shut up." I hauled myself up.

"What I do with my Zanpakuto entirely my decision. Or does it bother you that you can't control everything, carrot top?" I sighed.

"Well it almost seems like you don't want to release your Zanpakuto, or maybe even that you can't."

"Amazing… Your powers of observation are frightening." I said sarcastically.

"Why thank you."

"YOU ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WAS SERIOUS?!"

"Wait, you weren't?"

"You catch on quick, strawberry." I laughed.

He snorted and then turned awfully serious, "You know, when are you going to tell everyone else? By sparing with you I can tell you're reluctant to use Hyorimaru's powers. Is it because you think Karin won't like it?" He questioned.

No, that's a good guess but it's wrong…

I picked up my sword and sheathed it. Ichigo watched me as I passed by him, "Once again," I began

"Stay out of my business."

Walking up the stairs to the shop, I was greeted by Karin, going the opposite direction.

Did she just hear? I wondered.

"Oh, hey. Lunch is ready." She stated.

I looked her straight in the eye, she was worried and her orbs where fixed on me. This meant she heard everything. I didn't like seeing her worry; however, I certainly didn't want to tell her what was going on. That would just make her worry more.

To avoid her gaze, I hid my face in my hair, and passed her up.

"Ichigo's still down there." I whispered, rushing by.

Karin snagged my shirt I turned back, and this time she looked down, trying not to make eye contact with me.

"Since when…I wonder…Did you stop telling me things?"

I shook my head, "Your protection is all I need." I stated.

"And if you hate me because of it, even if you never forgive me. All I need you to do, is to stay alive."

I passed her up and left her on the staircase.

I remember clearly. How terrified I was when Mayuri used a dummy corpse doll and made me believe Karin was dead. I remember that it was just so antagonizing painful, that I just felt like dying. If Karin wasn't the core of spiritual pressure in Karakura, Mayuri might have actually killed her. Instead of sealing her away for experiments. It just made me think how fragile her life really was. And that's why I'm doing what I'm doing. I'm trying to make her as uninvolved as she can be.

Karin, by now has noticed she's been having dreams about her Zanpakuto. However, every time she mentions her dreams, she cannot hear her Zanpakuto's name. Soon she will find out Rukia and I can no longer train her.

Frost-type Zanpakuto are not fit to raise a Fire-type. That is why she has made no progress, because we're teaching her the opposite way to fight. Sooner or later, she will need a new trainer…

Eating…

Sitting in silence at the table, the gloomy mood made everyone irritated, waiting for someone to say something.

"So Ichigo," Urahara began, after eating.

"Yea?"

"Isn't it time you tell us why you stopped by to see us. A captain's got a lot of work, you didn't just come here for a 2 hour vacation."

He sighed, "Right, here goes."

"We received an immediate reply from the Central 46." He began.

Karin slammed her hands on the table, "Really! That's great!"`

"What was the reply?" I smiled, staring at Ichigo, intently.

"Permission for the appeal was denied."

We heard a pop as Urahara came out with a wine bottle and cups, "YEY! It went though, it-"

He stared us all, heads hanging low.

"Oh, then..It didn't work?"

We nodded.

"Awe! And just when the mood was brightening up!" Urahara began

"Toshiro, you ok?" Rukia asked.

"Yeah...Heh…I just wasn't expecting a denial."

"However," Ichigo began and we all looked up, hopefully.

"You can re-become the captain of squad 10 if you receive recommendations from the captain of research and development and the captain of the stealth force."

My head dropped again, "Of course," I whispered, "The people that hate me the most."

"Don't give up!" Karin slammed her hands on the table again. Hard enough to make me jump up

"But there isn't any use-"

"Will you quit being the pessimist!!!!?" Rukia screamed slamming her hands on the table too. She did it so hard, the plates jumped up.

"That's right, don't give up hope, I believe I can convince SoiFon to give you a recommendation." A familiar black cat stated, standing in the door way.

"And I'm sure I can make something of an argument with Kurosuchi-san, we where buddies once, so I think he would do me a little favor." Urahara smiled.

I smiled and nodded, "Thanks."

"Don't say thanks! Will do anything for Karin's boyfriend!" Ichigo stated trampling me and ruffling up my hair.

"B-b-boyfriend?" I shuddered.

"B-b-boyfriend?" Karin muttered.

"Sure, you guys are dating, right?"

"WHAT?!" Karin and I yelled.

"Oh…Well didn't Toshiro like practically jump Karin the other day at," Karin made big X signs with her hands, Rukia stopped talking.

"You jumped my sister?!" Ichigo yelled.

"Wait…What did I do?" I questioned, "Karin?! What did you tell Rukia?!"

"Sorry only told her about the time when I wouldn't get off your desk…"

"'I only told her' ? Does that mean you've rapped her more than once?!" Ichigo yelled.

"He didn't actually rape me, because I actually liked it but-"

"Karin!" I yelled.

"What?"

"Oh! Oh!" She covered her mouth, blushed madly. "I can't believe I just said that!"

"Well come to think of it, Toshiro and Karin never kiss in public, do they?" Urahara questioned.

"Well Karin told me it's because Toshiro's whole class was secretly watching when he jumped her, so now they just kiss in private." Rukia told everyone.

"Rukia!" Karin yelled, so flush she looked sun burned.

"That was private information!"

"Look at Toshiro!" Everyone stared at me, my cheeks were bright red and I was hiding underneath a pillow.

We all laughed and when I managed to crawl out from under the pillow, Ichigo punched me and continued to laugh, giving me an evil look out from the corner of his eye.

"You are so dead!" he muttered.

Aizen's Den

"I don't understand why you don't just take her. She's a shinigami now, so you can capture her." Gin remarked.

"Oh, but that wouldn't be fun, at any rate the ability to channel spirit energy through her is not yet unlock able. When her life is in danger, the spirit energy of the inhabitants will willingly give their energy to her that is when I step in, do you understand, Gin?" Aizen explained, rather irritated by Gin's excessive questions.

"I'm getting rather impatient as well, Aizen-sama, are you still after the kings key?" Kaname questioned.

Aizen held the Hokyoku tight in his hand. He held it high and light streamed out of it, "The king's key is only the start. I want the king himself," The Hokyoku shinned with intense power as he let his spirit energy be absorbed by it.

"Do you know how much the Hokyoku craves power?" He questioned, walking over to the rapped shell of a body.

"Hmm?" Gin began "Where did this come from, you're so talkative all of a sudden."

"The Hokyoku is not yet at its full power, did you know that?" Aizen informed.

The Gins tight snake eyes opened for a moment and both he and Kaname gasped.

"If you think about it, the Hokyoku can restore life, it can create life, it is basically god's power. If it is not yet completely charged, what can it do once complete? All we need to do to find out is give it more spirit energy, more than I can give it. The king's key will allow me to get into the king's palace. Once I use Kyoa Suigestu, he will tell me exactly where the king's seal is. That unlimited amount of spirit energy within the seal, will become fuel for the Hokyoku, and at that time, all worlds will become one, and the wielder of the Hokyoku will be God."

The body Aizen had prepared was wrapped in cloth, and as the Hokyoku shinned and called forth new life, the empty shell began to shake and stir. A hand reached out a broke the cloth. And through that whole, the image broke it's way through.

It screeched and moaned on the ground. Aizen had successfully created a human boy. He shook and cradled himself, as if resenting his very being. And finally his eyes opened revealing a pair of the most innocent green eyes.

He instinctually walked over to the cloths hanging for him on the wall, and he grabbed them, put them on, and quietly turned around.

"Behold the Hokyoku's newest creation and its first human."

Aizen grinned looking over the profile of the boy. He looked around 16 to 18 years old. In his unbuttoned white shirt, he looked up at Aizen and everyone else. The first thing he did was give a genuine smile.

Aizen smirked.

"That's a human for you; they're too kind if you ask me." Gin laughed.

The boy continued to smile and looked intently at Aizen, "Daddy." He murmured.

Kaname looked rather surprised and Gin burst out laughing. Aizen smiled evilly.

"Well what do you think? This one is the best yet. Devoted to nothing but you, hell he even thinks you're his father!" Gin broke out laughing.

"Yes quite." Aizen walked over to the boy and placed his hand on the boy's head.

"I want you to do daddy a favor, ok."

The boy closed his eyes a smiled.

Aizen transferred his thoughts to the boy, "Karin Kurosaki, is her name. Gain her trust, and teach her how to consume spirit energy."

Aizen stepped away from the boy.

"You are called, Roka."

Roka focused on the images Aizen had burned into his mind. The girl with long black hair and purple eyes.

"Oh and, try and separate her from the shinigami."

Karin's POV

Monday morning, after school, I was walking alone, thinking about my life. My lips where now drenched with lip gloss and I wore eye shadow and blush every day. To escape the Soul Society, I changed my personality and cut my hair. Now, my long hair was cropped up in the front so that something like bangs hung on the side of my face.

I had to quit soccer and completely abandon being a tomboy. It wasn't that hard, well…Until today.

I passed by a group of boys, one with a soccer ball in their hand. He purposefully dropped the ball as I walked by.

I turned around and he said, "Hey you, girl, pick that up."

I turned back around, "Why don't you get it yourself, it's right in front of you, or are you so weak you can't even manage to bend down and get it."

"You bitch!" He began, I bit my lip, those words stung my ears, I'd never been called that, but I guess, since I was supposed to be a weak girl, they could treat me however they wanted to.

"I'm sure you're three times weaker than I am." He stated.

I almost fell over, wow, he's not good at comebacks is he? "Exactly, that's why you should pick up the ball, because I'm so, 'weak' to do it."

"Exactly." He said, picking up the ball.

I couldn't help myself and I cracked up.

"Boss, she just made you pick up the ball."

He looked down at the ball in his hand, "hey! How'd you do that?"

"It's call reverse psychology, learn it."

"I don't care, it isn't like you could even know how to pick up a soccer ball in the first place."

I smiled, "Oh really, wanna bet? I could beat you at soccer any day."

"Oh yeah? How much do ya' bet?"

"Well how much do you all have in your pockets?" I laughed at them as they stopped to actually search their wallets.

"120 in total. Why?"

"Alright, I bet you $120 I can beat you 1 on 1 in a game. First person to 3 points wins."

"Bring it, chick."

I was sure I was at least as good as Toshiro was back then, because of my training. I prepared to steal the ball when,

"Karin, what are you doing?" I stopped in front of the ball and looked to the right, seeing all my friends.

I fell over on the ball and sobbed, like a little girl.

Can't blow my cover.

Walking home with my Friends

"What, Secret Santa?" I questioned.

"Yea, it's when you get Christmas gifts from Secret admirers and things like that." Haru explained

"Oh I see…" Maybe I should send one to Toshiro.

"Your thinking you should send one to Histugaya-sama? The new professor that teaches 8th grade?" Ruka asked.

"Ahh!" I jumped up, "Ruka, stop using your mind reading ability on me! It's an Invasion of personal privacy!"

Ruka laughed.

"Someone's got a forbidden crush!"

This person is Ruka. He has some weird ability to read minds. I think it's pretty cool, but it gets annoying.

"Well Karin isn't the only one, Histugaya-sama just became a teacher this year, but he's so young and already a professor. All the girls adore him, I'm sure he'd get at least 30 secret Santas this year."

"Yea, how old is that dude?" Ruka asked.

"Ahh…" Haru began

"His Birthday is in 5 days, the 20th and that would be his 126th birthday." I stated, instinctively. I hastily covered my mouth, oh, crap.

Everyone laughed, "Karin, you sure take it hard on the guys. If anything, Histugaya-sama is around 18 to 20 yrs. Old."

I sighed and laughed, "I guess I am hard on the guys."

That's right, Toshiro's Birthday is in 5 days, I'll have to plan some type of party. Hmm I wonder what though…

"That's right, Toshiro's Birthday is in 5 days, I'll have to-" Ruka began.

"Ruka! Stop doing that!" I ran over and twisted his arms behind his back, and covered his mouth.

Haru laughed, "Karin's got LUV on her mind!"

Ruka broke away from me, "And where did you get off on calling Histugaya-sama 'Toshiro'?"

I looked down, "We've been friends for awhile now… since I was 11…"

At home

I sat at my desk and tried to study for exams. Before I knew it I was bored, and I stared the scribble down some doodles. One of them came out a candy cane and another came out a cake.

"Karin?" Toshiro peered through the doors.

"It's getting kinda late, you should get to bed."

"Right…" I yawned.

"Karin?" He began.

"Yeah?"

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

I slid open the doors and walked inside. He stopped and stared at me.

I looked down at what I was wearing. A pair of super short, blue, boxer shorts and a plain blue shirt with a snowflake on it.

"What?" I began.

"You really need to start wearing pants…"

"I am wearing pants!"

"no you aren't!"

"Ah! Whatever, what did you come here for, anyways?"

"Oh right, What's Santa?" he asked.

"Santa?" I laughed. "You must have heard about the Secret Santa too, then.."

"Yea, the girls explained what that game was, and then they offered me 'early presents' is it another celebration like Halloween?"

"Well let's see. He comes every Christmas and gives gifts to children." I explained.

"What's Christmas."

I stared at him, "You don't know what Christmas is?!"

He shook his head.

"Well it kinda figures since you don't know what Santa is either…"

"Ok…Well for little kids, every 25th of December is Christmas. And it's a day where someone called Santa jumps down the chimney while there asleep and gives them presents under a Christmas tree."

"So…Is a Christmas tree one of those trees Urahara brought it the other day?"

I nodded.

He sat down on the bed and before I knew it, the whole night was spent talking.

When I woke up, I felt a breeze in my face. It was Urahara fanning me.

"I hope you two had a good sleep."

Still half awake and nodded and then jumped up, "Wait, TWO?!"

I looked down and saw Toshiro lying on his side, sleeping like a child.

Suddenly all my surprise just stopped as I watched him take in breaths,

"He looks so peaceful…"

"YOU ASS HOLE!" Ichigo zoomed into my room screaming.

Toshiro jumped up, "What was that-"

He looked at Ichigo, cracking his knuckles and then he stood up, and quickly ran like the wind.

"Dear god, SAVE ME!" He yelled.

At school

I sighed and opened my locker. That was some night…

"What was some night?" Ruka popped up in my face.

"Ahh! Ruka, Stop it!"

"Holy crap! You slept with a guy-"

I covered his mouth, "Quit your blabbering…" I whispered.

I sighed again and turned back to my locker. When I opened my eyes I saw a basket of candy canes and peppermint bark.

I gasped. Ruka peered over.

"Could this be the admirer you slept with?"

I grabbed the card in the basket, "I don't know."

I continued to hold Ruka's face and slammed him up against a locker.

"And don't say I slept with him that sounds wrong."

I read the note,

To the one I adore.

-Secret Santa

"Who could that be?" I wondered.

Toshiro?

I peered inside his classroom, he was hard at work. No, if he sent it to me, he'd certainly be waiting for me to come in.

So then… I wondered, leaning up against the wall.

"Who did send the Secret Santa to me?" Ruka finished my thoughts.

"Good god!" I spun around and yelled, fuming, "Can't I even finish thinking by myself?!"

"Well by what you're thinking, It seems not." He laughed.

I dropped down, "Of course I'm thinking that, I just said it seems like I can't act on my own."

"You didn't say that..." Haru peered behind me.

"Oh whatever! And when did you get here?"

"Just now, I'm lining up to get to class before the late bell rings…"

"Oh," I began, and then her words hit me, "Oh crap! The bell!"

I dashed off.

I sighed as the bell for the end of class rang.

I dragged my feet over to my locker and worked up my combination.

"Here!" Haru shoved a yogurt in my face.

"What's this?" I asked while she placed it into my hand.

"It's today's snack! Remember? We have it every first break."

"Oh right, snack…" I looked down at the little package. That's something that's different from Karakura High…

Haru frowned and pushed my chin up, "Hey, what's up?"

I didn't answer.

She made a "Humph" Noise and pouted.

"Wait here."

She dashed off and in no time at all she had tugged Ruka from his class.

How the hell did she make it to Ruka's class and back in 30 seconds? And since Ruka is a senior and they have different breaks than the sophomores, shouldn't Ruka be in class?

Haru flung her finger out at me, "Read her mind!" She commanded Ruka.

I jumped up, "What! Don't use him as a weapon! No fair!"

"She's thinking about how utterly unfair it is to use me as a weapon, and now she's thinking, 'Ha! In your face Haru! Now you can't get any information out of me. Oh shoot! He's reading my mind! I hope he doesn't find out that Toshiro's been- You stupid girl stop thinking about Toshiro!'"

I covered Ruka's mouth, thought he still muttered through my hands.

I sighed and took the lock off my locker and opened the door.

"Seriously, you guys need to learn privacy is something I value…"

"Exactly and that's why we love to invade it-"

Haru stopped dead in her tracks and looked into my locker, with horrified eyes.

I glanced inside my locker as well and could to nothing but shake my head.

Someone had littered my locker with rose petals and in the center was a blue diamond ring.

"KARIN YOU DIDN'T TELL US YOU WHERE GETTING MARRIED! AM I GOING TO BE THE MAID OF HONOR?" Haru questioned.

"Could this be from your secret admirer?" Ruka asked.

"And what are you saying? I'm going to be her Maid of Honor!" Ruka argued.

"You're a guy, doofus! At least try to keep the two genders separate."

"There are guy Maids of Honors, I just don't remember what they call them…"

"You guys, I'm not getting married!" I yelled.

"Well then who in the world would put that in your locker? And what's more, why?"

I took the note out of the roses, "I don't know, Secret Santa is over so… "

I read the note out loud,

"Right…Well I wanted to give this to you, first to say sorry for keeping you up all night…

And secondly because I felt I had to give you something for 'Secret Santa' I hope this is what you think of as a 'present'…I don't know, but um… Happy Santa Claus? (or however you say it)

Sighed,

Toshiro"

"Toshiro," I laughed, "It isn't 'Happy Santa Claus, good try. But it's 'Merry Christmas'."

Haru grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently, "FOR KEEPING YOU UP ALL NIGHT?! WHAT HAVE YOU NOT BEEN TELLING US?!"

"Oh, so you slept with Hitsugaya-sama?" Ruka confirmed.

"You knew about this?!" Haru exclaimed.

She turned back to me with fake, teary eyes.

"Please, tell us what you're up to, don't shut us out."

I looked down. "Sorry to worry you, Haru."

"TTTTTOOOSSSSHHHIRRROOO!!!" I screamed darting in to the room. Like an animal sensing danger, Toshiro hopped up and ran away, despite not even knowing what I was mad about.

I stood where I was and watched him run around in circles like a caged headless chicken. I waited for the right moment, then pegged his head with the case that held the diamond ring.

"What the freaking hell, TOSHIRO! What type of present is that?"

He plopped down on the ground and felt the back of his head, grabbing the ring.

"Well where I come from, this is a standard present."

Urahara laughed and stepped in the room, was he listening it the whole conversation? Stalker -_-he needs to get a life.

"There seems to be some misunderstanding. Karin, Toshiro's family, the Hitsugaya's are the fourth noble house. Just recently, they took the place of the Shihoin Clan when everyone had given up hope for the head of the family, Yoruichi Shihoin, to come back. And furthermore, they have quite a lot of money to burn."

Oh I get it, Toshiro pretty much gets things like this all the time because he's the royal-type in the soul society. Wait, he gets stuff like this? Then, he basically gets proposed to every week. I bet he's so dim witted he wouldn't even notice if someone had proposed.

"Umm..Toshiro? Why a diamond ring?"

"Oh well because I thought it would look good on you…"

He really is so innocent.

I dropped down, looking like I'd throw up.

"Karin?!" He ran over to me.

I got up and slapped the wall, laughing hysterically.

"Remember this, here in the world of the living, when you give a girl a ring, specifically a diamond ring, you're asking her to marry you."

I waited for his reaction and I burst out laughing again, when he jumped up and ran around again like a chicken looking for its head.

"Uh…eh… ummm….ah… That isn't what I wanted to say, when I sent you that…" He said after he'd finally calmed down.

"I ahh…Honestly didn't know that was what a ring like that meant.." I saw him blush, a bit embarrassed, I suppose…

I looked at him, smiling, funny how he just seemed so innocent…It was like I saw a completely different side of him.

He was looking away, trying to hide the fact he was interested in something he didn't know about, maybe one of the only things he didn't know.

When he turned to look at me, I suppose I frightened him with my expression. I think he was trying to hide the fact he actually didn't know something. I didn't know, but just staring at me scared the heck out of him. He jumped up and looked away again.

"I-I mean, I-I-I don't think I'm not going to give you a ring like that someday but-"

Holy crap. I thought, he…He's trying to tell me he wants to marry- Oh my goodness!

I got flustered and slapped him.

"What the hell was that for!"

"Stop making me…Stop… STOP INTERESTING ME!" I yelled.

"What the hell are you saying? Am I supposed to be boring then?"

"No..No…." I quickly corrected myself.

"But by the way,"

"I'd rather be proposed to with a sapphire ring, not a diamond one."

He turned red, realizing I had figured out what he was trying to say. Everyone in the room laughed at this comment.

"Hey Toshiro?"

"What is it, please don't embarrass me anymore than you have."

"Why'd you give me a secret santa anyway?"

"Oh right, because I accidentally saw your note…"

"Oh, yeah, the secret admirer, I don't know who he is…"

"Well I do."

My eyes shot open, "huh?"

"So you're saying, that this dude is a transfer student? Then how does he know about me?"

"How should I know, love at first sight?"

"Are you trying to push me away?!" I yelled. Seriously, you don't say that about your rival, you should be insulting him.

"Seriously, you don't say that about your rival, you should be insulting him." I heard an annoying voice quake.

"Ruka? When did you get here?"

"Just now. Oh and by the way, why are you here at school, it's already 5:00 o'clock?"

"umm… we just wanted to-"

"We? Who's we?"

I realized Toshiro had left while I was talking. He seemed rather dense today.

Ruka and I rushed into the class room to find Toshiro picking up some sort of glowing item.

"It's Aizen's Reistu." He informed me.

"Aizen? What's that? And why are you holding up air, nothing's in your hand you know." Ruka said.

"We have to find this dude." Toshiro told me.

I managed to shake Ruka off and Toshiro and I where darting out of the school in our kimonos faster than you could say, soul reaper.

"Can you trace his spirit ribbon? I know you and Kurosaki are good at that." Toshiro asked.

"Way ahead of you." I stopped and looked left and right, snagging the open air and a ribbon suddenly wiggled in my hand.

"how could you do that so fast?"

"Well umm… I just sensed a ribbon that I hadn't felt before." Toshiro knew, I knew as well. My powers where caused by my being the core of the spiritual energy in this town. We ran in the direction of the ribbon.

"Toshiro," I asked.

"You should be careful from now on. I've told you about Aizen before; if anything he's still after this city. And frankly, you're the perfect key to getting the spirit energy in this town, without having to do any hard work." He explained.

I was quiet, and didn't answer. If I was any more careful than I already was, then I'd have to drop out of school. Toshiro noticed his error and to reassure me he did not mean to stop going to school or take any drastic measures, he smiled,

"I like your bangs."

I looked surprised and hid my face in my hair, trying not to blush.

"We're here. The tail of the ribbon stops here."

"Welcome." I heard someone say.

I turned around and was greeted by two pairs of true green eyes.

I nearly fell backwards and clenched to Toshiro for support.

Toshiro let me stay behind him, and he grabbed the hilt of his sword, "You can see us, so you're Aizen's Minion?"

The eyes did not speak, but they moved out from the shadows to reveal a boy's shape.

"It's a guy?' I peered out from behind Toshiro.

"Hey Toshiro, isn't he supposed to be a hollow?"

"Well yeah, but he's definitely a…"

We looked over him. His messy black hair and tan skin. "A human."

The boy did not say anything. But when he looked up he smiled brightly and ran for me, hands spread wide,

"Karin, my love!" He yelled.

Toshiro stepped in front of my and planted his hand in the boy's face.

"My sweet love! I am finally able to see you in earnest! What a beauty you are."

I blushed and poked Toshiro, "Maybe this dude isn't that bad, I mean he has the same taste as you, right?"

"Taste? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Every person has different taste glands."

"You really are a clueless idiot…." I sighed.

"What'd you say?!" He loosened his grip and in an instant the boy was clinging to me in a suffocating hug.

"Get this creature off of me!" I yelled.

"How could I? I'm the idiot, remember. Anyways I thought you liked this dude."

"Jealous bastard." I whispered.

"What did you say?"

"I called you a jealous bastard."

"Jealous, why would I ever be jealous of you? There's nothing likeable about you-"

The boy immediately smacked Toshiro who flew and slammed against the wall.

"Don't insult my darling!"

Toshiro hauled himself out through the pile of bricks that caved in, "Told you he's dangerous."

"No you didn't!"

Toshiro had dragged the boy off of me and took him to Urahara's shop. There, we interrogated him.

"So you're saying you ran way from Aizen," I began.

"To find your true love, which you've never seen before."

"And you just happened upon Karin and said she was your true love?" Toshiro mumbled, irritated.

"It wasn't at all like that," The boy, who has told us his name is Roka, said.

"You see, I was the first human born of the Hokyoku, and therefore, I'm what you call, a prototype. Aizen would monitor my behavior, and edit out any characteristics he found useless in humans. This way, the more he made my species, the more it would be better fit to his image. I didn't feel his love; I went and searched for my own. And then I saw this beautiful maiden talking about you."

Toshiro jumped up, "You where stalking Karin!"

"You really are a fool, not noticing all the love this girl gives you, and how much you've hurt her."

"Ah, never mind about that, you came here for me?" Karin asked.

"Yes, you and only you, my princess." Roka walked over to her and grabbed her hand. Witnessing this Toshiro jumped up again,

"What's your problem? You got ants in your pants?" I said coldly to him.

"You skin is so fair, as if it where kissed by the stars." He leaned down and pressed his lips to my hand.

I blushed, and Toshiro went berserk. He ran up to Roka and kicked him away from me. Rukia tip toed out of the kitchen and sat next to me, watching them fight.

"Toshiro's the jealous type, then?"

I closed my eyes, "I suppose so, but just the same they are both idiots…" I told her.

Getting up slowly I ran in between the two of them and punched their heads down.

"YOU STUPID IDIOTS! EVEN IF ONE OF YOU WINS THE FIGHT, IN THE IN END IT'S ALWAYS THE GIRL'S DECISION! SO FREAKING STOP ACTING LIKE CAVE MAN AND SIT!"

Imediately the two sat where they were. Roka, clenching his throbbing head and Toshiro, used to it by now, only frowned giving me the, You fool! I was winning the fight! Look.

"Ok first!" I swung my finger at Roka.

"I just met you! So don't just come and claim me!"

"Second!" I swung my finger at Toshiro.

"YOU STUPID FOOL! CONTROL YOURSELF! WHEN YOUR DAUGHTER FINDS HER DATE DEAD ON THE FLOOR, I'm GONNA SAY 'I told you to control your temper' SERIOUSLY DON'T GET SO JEALOUS! LIKE SOMEONE I JUST MET IS GOING TO STEAL ME AWAY! BE REALISTIC." I exclaimed.

I sighed as Rukia walked up behind me, "Hey you! Boy with the black hair!'

Roka looked gloomy for a moment, because he'd just been yelled at by his love or something, but he looked up hopefully at Rukia, for some sort of enlightenment.

"I don't like you." She said coldly.

The boy looked down again.

"Don't you dare try and destroy the beautiful relationship these two have."

"Beautiful? Karin just assaulted me and smacked my head!" Toshiro argued.

"Yea, it doesn't seem like they have a healthy relationship." Roka added.

"Of course we have a healthy relationship!" Toshiro yelled.

"Didn't you just say our relationship was horrible?" I asked.

"Well then let's prove it!" Rukia smiled evilly. She looked around, making sure Ichigo wasn't around.

"Karin, Toshiro-"

"Just because I live with you now, doesn't mean you can call me that."

"Fine, Karin and Captain Hitsugaya, put your hands out. I'm going to try a new Kido technique I learned."

We did as we were told and put out hands out, obediently.

"Alright then. Here goes! Those which shield the moon and comfort the sun, fall into my hands, this cold night wither. Call forth the reverse and let time shield the stars and stop the moon's shine. Bind the day, and the night, through this join which can never be broken. Bakudo Bind # 1, Soden Shiryu!"

Bakudo bind? I've heard of Kido, but no form or which was like this…

"It's a new form of Kido developed by my captain." Rukia smiled.

A rope-like coil formed around my hand and moved to Toshiro's. It thinned out and tied itself around my pinky.

In the end both Toshiro and I's pinkies where tied together by a red string.

We looked at each other and then back at Rukia.

"Is that it?"

Rukia laughed, evilly. "You are now in my control."

"Eh?" We both said.

"Toshiro, French kiss Karin."

"Wha-" I began but then everything stopped when Toshiro grabbed my shoulders and forced me in. His eyes and mine where wide open the whole time, what was going on?

In an instant his chilling lips pressed up against mine and we both stared at each other. My eyes darted over to Rukia, who was holding Roka back and still smiling, planning something even more evil.

I pushed back out of the heart stopping his and said, "Rukia, you jerk!"

"I'm only pushing you two in the right direction."

She grabbed the duck tap off the counter and tapped Roka to the chair, sitting down herself to watch the show.

"Karin," She put her hand on her chin. "Take off your shirt."

"What?!" I yelled.

"WHAT?!" Toshiro yelled.

"MMHT!" Roka fumbled through the duck tape.

Without any control over my body I reached for the bottoms of my shirts.

"No, no! Just kidding!"

My hand fell, and I sighed with relief, as did Toshiro and Roka.

"Karin, you have to wear a dress I pick out for you the whole day and go shopping with Toshiro, afterward you two will sleep together."

"RUKIA WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Ichigo rushed to the door, with grocery bags in his hands.

"Oh darling, hello. You're too late, I already said it."

Ichigo looked at Toshiro and me, trying to chew off the string that allowed Rukia to control us. Then he looked over to Roka, duck tape around his mouth and tying him to the chair. Ichigo, not thinking anything was wrong with this picture, turned to Rukia and said.

"Rukia, stop torturing them." I looked at Ichigo with sparkey eyes, you mean..You're gonna make her stop torturing us?! "I mean seriously you should make Karin allow you to do her hair."

"Eh?" It took me a second to process what he said.

"Yeah, you should let Karin do your hair and stuff, obviously it's starting to irritate us that you and Toshiro haven't even admitted you like each other, when in secret, you two already did to each other."

"What?! So you're just gonna force us on a date and to sleep together?"

"Wait, sleep together? Who came up with that Idea I never said-"

With or bound hands, Toshiro and I pointed to Rukia. Ichigo turned his head evilly to Rukia, "What did you do, midget?"

"So I'm not the only one he calls midget." Toshiro noted to himself in a low mumble.

Rukia pointed to Roka, "He did it all, that's why I duck taped him to this chair, so he couldn't say anything, or do anything else to Karin."

"Oh, good work, Rukia," He patted Rukia's head and walked over to Roka, waking him with his shopping bag.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY SELF RESPECT!? YOU FREAKING IDIOT, LOWLIFE, STUPID, STALKER! HOW DARE YOU SCREW WITH MY SISTER AND HER BOYFRIEND!"

I just stared at Ichigo, Toshiro certainly didn't mind Roka being beat up, and neither did I (I mean, if he was a friend, or someone I knew, maybe I'd try and stop Ichigo, but for someone I just met, and who has been stalking me, I'm not going to try and calm down Ichigo.

"Ichigo, he isn't my boyfriend." I reminded him.

"Shut up! I'm beating him up for you, and besides, even if I do, that spell on you won't ware off so…Yea y'all are basically boyfriend and girlfriend 'cause you two will be forced to sleep together….For the second time…."

"mTHmEmSECmmOmND TmIME?!" Roka yelled.

So incidentally, Toshiro and I were forced to go out for a day, which wouldn't have been bad if everywhere we went, if someone ran even a little farther than the other, our fingers would pull apart, and hurt us. Also I had to walk around in heals and Rukia did my hair in these two big, obnoxious, pigtails that she curled.

She also, with great effort, pinned me to a chair and put makeup on me, but the result of my thrashing caused the makeup to be completely screwed up, so she decided to take it off.

I remember Toshiro's face turn bright red when Rukia said, "Toshiro, just to let you know I have to get Karin changed, but since you two are bound, I can't separate you….I'd ask you to look away, but since you've pretty much seen all that you're about to see….It doesn't serve much purpose looking away.'

I giggled a bit, because after his face had turned back to its original skin tone, he actually did look away. He was nothing like my perverted brother. I chuckled a bit, of course, with him, it kinda just snaps, like you never know when he's gonna pin you to a desk; it's sorta like a second personality.

"What are you laughing about?" Toshiro asked.

"Oh nothing." I told him.

"You know, this has been really fun today, aside from the fact my pinky is swollen."

He smiled in agreement, "And the fact someone has been following us the whole time."

He frowned and stopped, sure enough Roka bumped into us.

"Roka, stop following us, I told you, my brother as well as my sister-in-law don't like you. You'll just get another beating if you say you still like me."

He laughed, "No I just think of us as friends."

I frowned, who the hell is this dude? Changing his mind in 5 minutes.

"Well then what is it that changed your mind about me?" I questioned.

"Oh well….Partially because I don't want to have to deal with your brother every day,"

I smiled, I'm lucky I found Toshiro, otherwise I probably would have been single my whole life because everyone would be scared of Ichigo.

"And because,"

He seized my hand and along with Toshiro, he pulled me into a suffocating hug.

"My dearest is already impure."

"Impure?" Toshiro questioned, looking at me.

"Impure?" I looked at Toshiro.

"So rest assured Hitsugaya-kun I will not touch you woman."

"His woman?" I questioned.

"My woman? Woah, woah, What the hell are you talking about?"

"Remember, Ichigo already told me you slept with Karin, I have no interest in a girl that's already that far into a relationship."

"eh…" Toshiro and I looked at each other.

"Wait, that's not what Ichigo meant-"

"So long, Hitsugaya-kun, Karin-chan!" He darted off before we could explain ourselves.

After he was gone, we could hold it in no longer and we burst out laughing.

"He's quite the character," I said to Toshiro.

"Yeah, I mean, he's such an idiot," he told me.

I nodded "you could never take a guy like that seriously."

Toshiro chuckled a bit, and then his mood dived down, "but still, I can't trust him, and I advise you do the same. It may not look like it but this guy was created by…"

"Yea, I know. We still can't let our guard down." I informed.

"But it's like judging a person before you know them. Both my parents, where close to idiots, but hey! Did I end up and Idiot?"

"Yes." He joked.

"You jerk!" I punched his stomach.

"But you get what I mean; the guy was created by Aizen, big deal. Everyone deserves a first chance, if not a second."

Still deep in thought, he reluctantly nodded to what I had said.

Roka's POV

I stood on top of the roof, watching carefully to what the girl had to say.

Excellent, her hand is in my favor. I glanced back over to the shinigami.

Daddy did say the soul reapers would be bothersome… Maybe I should eliminate him.

The girl ran up to the shinigami and started yelling at him, I smiled, No, that would make me loose her trust. Right now, I have to gain it.

Such a strong girl she was…That Karin.

I would have actually liked to play around with her, if her heart did not belong to another.

Oh well…I guess I was too late, that shiny toy already belongs to another…

"Midget!"

"What are you talking about!? I'm 3 inches taller than you!"

"Hmph! Don't remind me…." The girl turned away from him.

"…Things really have changed between us…Ever since we left Karakura High…"

He didn't answer.

"I'm sorry." He said.

I didn't know exactly what happened, but what they mentioned just then was a weak spot in their relationship, the only crack that I can open up between them.

I smirked and jumped off the roof.

Toshiro's POV

Karin wanted to ride the merry-go-round at the fair. When we got there, we unfortunately did not realize our bond pinkies, so when we hopped on the glossy fake horses, and the ride start, one of us went up, will the other went down; Incidentally resulting in a hard pull to our pinkies.

"OWWWEEE!!!!!" Karin yelled.

I closed one eye and bit my lip, screw this, if I don't do something fast, I think my 5th digit might fall off.

"You ready, Karin?" I asked.

Mustering the pain her muttered an "Uh huh!" and nodded.

So with our hands on the seat belts, as our horses came to an equal with, we tugged off our seat belts, and Karin kicks off her horse. Wait a second! She's coming toward me! Why is she coming toward me Isn't she supposed to be just jumping off her horse? Before I could jump off my horse, I noticed she was falling, or rather she couldn't reach me n time, and I was going upward. I hastily caught her arms and flung her up and behind me.

"woooh!" Karin gasped.

"That was SO scary!"

"Why the hell would you do that?! What if I didn't catch you?! You would have been smashed between the horses!"

"Well..Is suppose it was pretty reckless, huh?"

"Pretty reckless?!" I gritted my teeth.

"But for some reason, I just had enough faith to know you'd catch me!" She grinned.

I stopped, surprised and then I looked away, trying to hide my face, growing red by the second.

Later, as the day was coming to an end, Roka was still following us around.

"Will you leave, already!-" I began, but then Karin put her hand on my shoulder.

She motioned for Roka to come in, and she whispered something in his ear.

He saluted her, "I WILL GET THAT DONE FOR YOU RIGHT AWAY! OK SO, THE ADRESS IS-"

"SHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" she yelled.

Roka sealed his lips and, after bowing, darted off.

"What was all that about?" I asked.

"Nothing, just a normal girl's daily scheming."

She pulled on my shirt, "Come on! Let's go!"

Hmmm… I thought…Girls scheme daily?

"Hey Karin, I've been wondering…"

"Yea,"

"It's the middle of December and yet it hasn't snowed. A few years ago, you told me it never snows here, I thought you were just kidding,"

"Nope. Ever since my mom died, it's never snowed… So that's why so many people live in this town, because it's the warmest place in Japan, never going below 60 degrees."

"I see…" That's good, that way, Hyorimaru can't use the cold temperature…

"You know, my mother always used to loved coming to the fair. Even though it was freezing cold, we always went, just because it looked so beautiful, the frosted night sky…"

I chuckled a bit, "You really like the winter, don't you? Yet your element is fire.."

My eyes widened, I had just figured something out, how painful it must have been for you…Not knowing your spirit energy base was fire, and watching every little snowflake you touched, just melt away into steam, like it didn't want to touch you…

"Of course I love winter, it's the most beautiful season…No other season is so magical."

I laughed, "Guess so…For me, I like the winter too, but the heat always irritated me, and I hated it. But then again, my best friend, Momo's, as well as your element is fire. I think you are both like the heat, annoying and infuriating,"

"annoying and infuriating, huh, I'll make sure to tell Ichigo that.." She mumbled.

"Well you know what, the fact that you accepted be was all I need, you and her gave me a place where I belonged; A home. And I think, that is all I need."

"But you and Momo, are almost opposites. And there is something that you have, and she doesn't."

I glanced up. "That idiotic personality."

"You jerk!" She struck my head.

"No really! I mean, all that yelling really gets me energized, and when that happens, I forget. About everything, any sadness, any stress, nothing but happiness comes with you…Well happiness and anger….And irritation…and infuriation…and-"

"Ok, don't spoil the moment."

I laughed, "Well what I'm saying is, I supposed summer is my favorite season…In the end, that's what it comes down to. Because summer always reminds me of you."

Karin's POV

Rukia promised to lift this stupid kido spell if Toshiro and I didn't tell Ichigo she was the actually culprit who forced us to sleep together. It wasn't a big deal, I mean; I'd already done it so….

So until tomorrow, we would still be bound, to make sure we'd "fulfill" the rest of the spell.

So that night, with some difficulty and several inappropriate jokes, Toshiro and I got changed, brushed our teeth, and climbed into my bed.

"Have a good night you two!" Jinta teased.

"Shouldn't you be in college!?" I yelled.

And he darted out of the room.

Toshiro and I didn't talk because by now, I was tired, so tired that I could just,

Fall Asleep….

When I woke up, it was still dark, and no light shone through the rice paper doors…. I tried going back to sleep, but I'm one of those people that when you wake up, it's very likely you won't go back to sleep.

I knew Toshiro would probably yell at me, but I just needed someone to talk to, he was probably asleep, but nevertheless I ventured to turn around and poke him when I was horrified by what I saw.

His half of the bed was frozen in ice and I looked like snow had been falling all over him, he was shivering and mumbling, "I don't know," and "Please…."

I jumped over to his side and heated up my hands with spirit energy. As soon as my knees hit the frosted sheets, the sparked and burned a bit, but my hands where heated and I grabbed his shoulders and immediately the pile of snow on his melted into steam.

I shook him violently, "TOSHIRO! WAKE UP! TOSHIRO!"

Slowly his eyes opened and suddenly feeling how cold it was, he sat up, and grabbed my hands,

"Are you ok?!"

I stared at him, surprised. He looked over to my side of the bed, which was completely untouched.

He sighed with relief and then I got angry.

"STUPID! What's the matter with you! Of course I'm fine! But…YOU SHOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT YOURSELF! If my element wasn't fire, you could have killed me; my body probably defrosted it by itself, but still…"

My eyes started to water, "Didn't I tell you…Not to keep secrets from me?!"

He blinked a few times, surprised, and then his head fell back on his pillow.

"That's just like you, isn't it, to worry about someone else…You don't really care about what happens to you do you…You should.."

He took my hand and pressed it to his chest. I could feel his heart beating, in harmony with everything. And it felt like I could feel the world breathing.

"You see, I'm ok. Now," he took his thumb and whipped away a tear from my eye.

"please don't cry. Let's see that smile, ok?"

I took two heavy breaths and shook my head, "I won't! I won't!"

I looked surprised again, and then he laughed, "I guess that's fine for now.."

"Karin! Are you alright!" Ichigo forced open the doors to my room. The fact that Toshiro and I were surrounded in ice didn't interest him in the slightest, however seeing me on top of Toshiro with my hand to his heart almost made Ichigo explode.

"YOU ASSHOLE!" He yelled at Toshiro.

"Actually it was me who jump on him this time…" I said.

Toshiro and I laughed.

Rukia ran in, "What's going on?! I-" She saw Toshiro and I, but ignored that and turned to Ichigo.

"Ichigo! Why aren't you wearing those chappy pajamas I bought for you?"

"Ahh…" He ran off,

"You get back here!"

"Well it seems like we have ourselves a captain who's struggling to deal with their Zanpakuto."

Everyone stopped, Ichigo and Rukia looked back, Yoruichi walked into the room and sat on the bed, I got up off Toshiro and she looked at him.

"Is this true?" She asked.

He looked away, "Yes.."

"You idiot! Your dreams could have killed my sister!" Ichigo yelled.

"I know…I'm sorry.." He said. Ichigo was taken aback by his immediate apology.

Toshiro bowed down, "Ichigo, I will never do it again. But please! In order to protect Karin! Please teach me how to re-attain my Zanpakuto's abilities!"

"Eh?" he began.

Author's Notes: Ok so here's what happened, there was a power outage in my area and I lost all my data on my chapter. Afterward I lost the inspiration to right, until I got my new laptop as an early Christmas present! YEA!

The chappy is actually closer to 10k

Thank you for being patient,

~*RukiaRocks*~