AN: OMG WHY WAS THIS SO HARD TO WRITE? I am happy to say that this story is done and over with now, but this chapter wasn't exactly a show of my writing prowess. But with so many wonderful stories updated last week, I was just so inspired to write... something! Anything! Also, more than a few people were asking about this chapter (*cough*Melissa986*cough*) so I felt compelled to just finish it. ;) I doubt inspiration was gonna hit me again for this, so I just buckled down and wrote it. I only hope it lives up to the expectations~

And finally, thank you all soooo much for the wonderful reviews. I really don't get to say it enough, but I'm so glad you guys enjoy what I write. I'm really encouraged by every single review (no matter the length or content or just general fangirliness of them). Haha. So, really, this is for you guys. =D

Warnings: More than 8,000 words and a little twist at the end (and it's probably something you guys won't like...). :( You've been warned!

The ride back to Karakura was silent but not uneasy.

As the snow came down slowly, Karin drove in silence with Toushirou in the passenger's seat, watching it come down wistfully. Snowflakes still managed to bring a smile to his face even now and while it happened occasionally in Soul Society, it never looked quite as amazing there as it did here. There was something special about how the sky darkened, clouds shooing away the sunlight, as it lazily spilled over them, piece by piece. In the Living World, it was a calming sight, one that spoke of family and fireplaces or hot chocolate and lovers. Neither of which he really had much of, if he was honest.

No, that's not quite right, he thought to himself, eyes drifting to the carefully concentrating Kurosaki, the wet roads making the usually easy drive a terror. Staying with Karin for the last three days had been an eye opener to say the least, one that he appreciated but at the same time did not.

For example, who knew that the little tomboy of Karakura Town enjoyed singing in the shower, belting out some poorly produced pop song in a voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard? When he'd woken up to her 'singing,' he thought he'd had a hangover (courtesy of his vice captain) and that noise was the ringing in his head. It took a few seconds for him to correlate the sound of running water stopping and Karin's reiatsu returning to her room to the screeching, but when he did the laughter that had risen into his chest fell from his lips without restraint. There really were some things you couldn't learn about someone until you shared the same living space.

"Oi, what's so funny, Toushirou?" Karin asked suspiciously, eyes darting over to him as she kept her concentration on the road. Immediately she didn't like the amused grin on his face, nor did she trust that slight twinkle in his eye. "If you've gotta joke, then you should share it with the class."

He returned her comment with a pleasant smirk. "I promise you won't appreciate this joke. Take my word for it."

"Now you have to tell me. I don't do well with other people keeping secrets from me," she pushed, doing her best not to look in his direction in fear of their safety. Well, her safety. Seeing as how her passenger was already dead, dying a second time wasn't really bound to happen, at least not via car crash.

"Nah, I think you can handle just it, just this once." They continued like that for the rest of the hour-long car ride, her poking and prodding at him while he threw around an ambiguous comeback (or six). The exchange served to soothe the tensions between them, an ice breaker that Karin hadn't know she'd needed. With all the recent jumbling of her emotions and stalwart confusion, she'd forgotten how good it was to smile freely at Toushirou without feeling like a love struck fool. So that for the first time in days, all of her old, irrational fears evaporated in the heat of the car and Toushirou's odd but familiar kindness.

"I'm home. Yuzu, Ichi-nii, Goat Chin, you guys here too?"

"Welcome back, Karin-chan!" the youngest of the Kurosaki clan greeted in that characteristic voice of hers. Stepping into the small hallway where the two guests were stripping themselves of their coats and snow boots, Kurosaki Yuzu was swaddled in an apron, ladle in hand for the stew she was making. But when she looked into her sister's hazel-colored eyes, Karin could literally see the wheels turning in her head, as her pretty twin looked between the two of them with unmasked excitement. All Karin could do was sigh wearily.

"Hitsugaya-kun is here too! I wasn't expecting him," Yuzu cried in that singsong tone of hers, as if she was pretending she had no idea. Which was made even weirder by the fact that she'd explicitly told the other woman over the phone (identity withheld, of course) and with Toushirou's presence nearby. It just goes to show that even after the eight years since she'd last brought him, Yuzu still considered him (and any other male she brought home who looked even mildly sensible) her suitor.

"Hello, Yuzu. Thank you for allowing me to stay here for the next few days," he replied, bowing low and using those exquisite manners that he'd learned over the last few decades. The bright flush of approval on her face didn't escape Karin, who swiftly elbowed her friend in the ribs for his polite conduct. He glared down at her when he straightened, just as she glowered up in return, her eyes distinctly telling him not to encourage the girl's overactive fantasy.

As Yuzu invited them to take a seat in the living room and bring their stuff in, Karin could feel the sliding of his arm around her waist as he walked past her, both of their bags securely held in his other hand. His words caused a flush to dance across her face, as he turned the corner with a knowing look over his shoulder.

"I think it's fine if she sees us that way. It's not like she's wrong, no?"

Sputtering, it took Karin a moment to find her words, though she didn't miss his overtly self-satisfied face when he turned away from her. "Don't just walk away after saying something like that, Toushirou!" Karin grumbled loudly, stomping as she followed the smug shinigami into her living room. "Besides, you didn't like it when she said that stuff when I was eleven, you shouldn't start caring now!"

"It's because it wasn't true when you were eleven, that's all," he shrugged, setting down their things in the corner, even as she continued to berate him one-sidedly. Looking over at the couch, he met Ichigo's defiant stare, as if he knew intimately what the two were talking about. Nodding at the decorated hero, he turned back to Karin, who had her arms folded over her chest while looking adorably put-out by his blatant ignorance of her.

"Man, you're as annoying now as you were when we first met," she said with an exasperated exhale, giving up because they were no longer on the same page. Instead of carrying on by herself, she turned her attention to the orange-haired man reclining on the couch with a newspaper in hand, her smile brightening at his usual scowling face. "Ichi-nii, you're back! How was your medical mission? Did Rukia go with you again?"

"Why'd you bring up the midget?" he asked sourly, as she went over to take a seat next to him, looking ready for him to tell a few of his stories. The singular interest flashed him back to childhood, those dark eyes following him with unadulterated trust and love. It pained him to think that one day he was going to have to give up that worship to someone else, to someone who might not be worthy for his baby sister, and as his eyes went to the stone-faced Hitsugaya across from him, he felt his own features tighten in protectiveness.

"You okay, Ichi-nii?" Karin interrupted, waving her hand in front of his face to catch his attention.

"Fine." But the short, clipped tone assured her that he was exactly the opposite, as her eyes followed his to Toushirou's form. Silently asking him why Ichigo was currently infuriated with him, Hitsugaya's nonchalant shrug only made her frown hard in his direction, displeased when she realized he knew exactly what the reason was but refused to say anything. She turned away before she said anything she might regret later.

"Is that my little Karin-chan who has yet to greet daddy but still brought home some mysterious boy to celebrate the holidays with us? Oh, Masaki my love, our children have grown up so fast and now they're introducing us to their own loves!" Barreling in from the adjacent family clinic, Karin's mood took another nosedive when her father promptly wrapped her into a bear hug, one she politely decided not to fight. It was Christmas and she only had to put up with him for a few weeks. The least she could do was play nice, even if all she wanted to do was want to kick him in the nuts and force his hold on her.

"Oi, Old Man, there are no 'loves' in this house other than familial kind, which is pretty much why you're not on the ground crying right now," she said evenly, glaring at him straight in the eyes since he'd lifted her small frame to his height. His overly shocked face only made her roll them, expression still schooled into her usual passive-aggressive boredom.

Setting her down gently, the man of the house ended up against the wall, sobbing into the gigantic poster of his beloved wife. "Masaki-chan, did you hear her? Karin-chan's become so beautiful and poised and yet she still talks to daddy like that! If only you were here for Christmas—" he began to stroke the paper, making Ichigo and Karin's eyes twitch in disgust, "—then maybe she wouldn't be so embarrassed about bringing that handsome shinigami captain friend of hers to properly introduce him to the family. Well, at the very least our second son has finally arrived, right?"

And just like that, her temper snapped.

"Who're you calling your 'second son,' you old fart? As if I'd bring the guy I like home to meet the likes of you!" With a well aimed flying kick, Karin slammed her father into the wall, indenting his face into the plaster with a crack that seemed to make the entire foundation sake. From his seat, there was some definite pride on Ichigo's face, Toushirou noted, as if he'd taught the younger girl how to beat thing black and blue (which was probably the truth and not something one should be proud of at all, in his opinion). Shaking his head with a sigh, he merely reclined in his seat, just biding his time until this phase of the family reunion was over.

While Yuzu attempted to rouse the fallen man from his attack, Karin swiftly turned away and went into the kitchen, sifting through the fridge but finding nothing appetizing. As Isshin slowly began to regain consciousness, the dark-haired girl leaned against the counter and took a large whiff of the boiling stew before asking with a light voice, "So, is lunch ready?" Toushirou just barely held in a snort of laughter, as her younger twin reprimanded her for her insensitivity.

Yes, there was no place quite like the Kurosaki home.

"We're never going to speak of this day ever again."

"What was that, Toushirou?" Karin inquired, looking between two similar sweaters but of different colors and seeming completely at a loss. Growling in his throat, the old spirit shifted his weight to his other leg impatiently, reluctant to repeat his words. But if she took a good look at him, Hitsugaya was sure Karin would understand exactly what he meant.

"I just can't decide which one Yuzu would like better…" she continued to murmur, as she spun to direct her full attention to him, holding out the choices authoritatively. The throbbing at his temples intensified under her inspection of him. "Which one do you think she'd like?" He stood there in response, speechlessness written all over his features, but he found his voice soon enough.

"Please tell me you did not just ask me that."

Confused, she frowned at him. "Why not?"

"Karin, I am a high-ranking captain of the Gotei Thirteen who maintains balance throughout three worlds, wields the strongest ice zanpakuto in all of Soul Society and has achieved powers far beyond your comprehension." Toushirou paused for dramatic effect and to take a deep, soothing breath at the Kurosaki's mildly unimpressed face. "And now I've been reduced to carrying your Christmas shopping and helping you pick out presents for your family. As if I haven't been degraded enough, I'm now being forced to choose between a pink knitted sweater and a beige cotton one. Tell me, does that not sound as ludicrous to you as it does to me?"

When she adopted a contemplative look, Hitsugaya bit back a scathing comment that he wanted to hurl at the dark-haired woman, offended she even had to wonder since the question was rhetorical. However, her answer brought that feeling out again and multiplied it a hundred-fold.

"Nope, I don't feel a thing other than amusement and just a little bit of Christmas spirit," Karin shot back at him with a wide smile, looking as if she'd known all along that she was causing him immense pain and embarrassment by carting him around like her servant. If Matsumoto ever got wind of this blasphemy, she'd either laugh until she passed out or find a way to get him to do the same with her when she came back for her own reckless splurge.

"The things I go through for you…" he grunted beneath his breath, as he pointed at the tan-colored choice, the bags in his hand swaying precariously from the sudden movement. "That one's more suitable. The pink is something you'd have given her when you were in high school so it probably wouldn't suit her now." Weighing the decision in her head for a second, she turned a glare to the white-haired man, who was giving her the same expression. However, hers was much more suspicious.

"How do you know so much about what Yuzu would want?" she accused, putting the pink down before stalking forward, the clothing dangling over her arm.

He rolled his eyes, exasperated. "I don't. But I do know the kinds of things you like to give—which are usually useful but personalized and something you could see them receiving with excitement and-or confusion and embarrassment—even if you yourself can't seem to make the simple decision on your own." Turning, he made his way over to the register, making her keep up with him as they fought through the crowd.

There were so many people around and with only three days until Santa's big day, everyone was on a blitz to find the right things for their loved ones. Why Karin hadn't taken care of her business weeks ago was still a mystery to someone like Hitsugaya, who planned his way through every aspect of his life with meticulous and calculated care.

As they clambered into the ridiculously long line, the two stood in relative silence. Looking around the large department store, Karin couldn't help but notice the number of couples doing their shopping, girls giggling and hanging off their boyfriends' arms in an exaggeratedly cute manner. The need to roll her eyes was immense, but she pushed it aside as the two were caught by a thrush of incoming people.

With an angry curse, Toushirou kept them in place by holding Karin against him, securing her bags on his other side as they waded out the numerous customers who were pushing up and down the walkway. As he gathered her smaller frame and stabilized them, the fact that he was growing more and more impatient didn't escape Karin. She didn't mention that she was grateful for his company, and even though she felt inclined to say so, she decided against it, in fear of inadvertently unleashing his temper.

After nearly an hour of waiting (and having a merry ol' time watching Toushirou fend off flirts who "accidentally" didn't notice his companion), they reached the register, Karin placing the single sweater down. If she didn't know any better, she could swear that the relief on Hitsugaya's face was comparable to a treasure hunter finding the Holy Grail, the creeping desperation making way for elation. Well, it would look that way if the older man would let himself show that kind of emotion every once in a while.

As they trudged through the light-strewn streets and frozen slush, Karin attempted to wrestle a few bags from the captain, getting pissed off when he refused to hand even one over. To be honest, she'd felt weird about him doing this ever since the first store they'd visited, where he'd grabbed the bag before she'd even paid and subsequently continuing the pattern for every shop after. It was embarrassing for her to be treated like some weak girl, as if unable to handle her own packages.

"Seriously, just one bag! I'm not gonna die from it!" she argued, trying to rip one from his solid grip. It didn't budge an inch.

"It wouldn't be right to have you carry your own things if the main reason I even came was to help you," he explained, annoyingly composed and coherent in the face of her petty anger.

"You don't have to be a gentleman or anything. That kinda stuff's more for movies anyway," Karin grumbled with a large sigh, as they turned the corner to get off the main street and back towards the suburban areas. A part of her wanted to take a little bit of ice and shove it in his face, but she knew she'd probably be digging her own grave. Even she had a bit of self-preservation in her when it came to toying with otherworldly beings.

"Stop complaining for a second and let me take care of you." Despite knowing that the sentence was said in the heat of the moment, Karin couldn't help the amazement on her features, as if she was hearing something she was sure she'd never come across again. It made her stop suddenly in the middle of the empty sidewalk, the bits of snow coming down their only company. A few feet away, he did the same, crunching the frost beneath his feet when he turned back to her.

"What did you say?" she asked, eyes wide as if startled and knocked off balance. From her appearance, Hitsugaya didn't doubt that was exactly how she felt.

With a tortured sigh, he shook his head, looking almost hesitant. "Sometimes, Karin, you just need to be taken care of. Can't you give me this one little thing?"

There was a limit to self-sufficiency and independence and all of those things she held so dear, he wanted to reason but decided against it. No matter what he said now, Karin's personality wouldn't change overnight nor willingly just because of a few words. But that was okay, he surmised, as he turned back and treaded towards the Kurosaki's residence, not minding if he left her behind to sort herself out.

To Toushirou, there was nothing about Karin that he'd change, not one habit or flaw, no matter how great or aggravating. All he wanted to do with that moment was make the point that there would always be a place for him with her, one he'd realized after years of patient waiting and watching, dissecting their friendship until there was nothing more to find. But what he discovered there was much more disconcerting than anything he could've ever imagined.

He was expecting him before he even walked through the doorway. Honestly Toushirou was a little surprised that it'd taken him this long to approach in the first place. After all, Kurosaki Ichigo wasn't well known for his patience, his can-do attitude getting him into trouble more often than not and yet still had him saving their entire universe just as easily.

But protecting three dimensions and looking out for one's sister were two different things, Toushirou told himself, as he sat at the kitchen table in the middle of the night, a newly made snack in front of him when his eyes met dark brown ones. They exchanged muted greetings before turning away, the young captain to his food and Ichigo to the refrigerator. The silence continued as Ichigo took a seat with a glass of water in his hand, choosing to sit across from the other.

Ichigo didn't mince words. "What's going on with you and Karin? And if you say nothing, Toushirou, I'm going to go bankai right here and take you out, even if it means destroying my kitchen."

"That's a little maniacal, isn't it?" Toushirou side-stepped, shrugging as he took a bite of his sandwich. Having a talk about his undefined relationship with Karin to an overprotective brother wasn't how he wanted to have his late night meal, but it couldn't be helped. At the very least he wasn't having this conversation with Isshin. That dialogue would either be a parody of the former captain's overacting or some scary mind game that would leave him forever scarred. With Ichigo, there was only bumbling honesty and intimidation, two things he could handle well enough.

"Just answer the question," the taller man growled, taking a large gulp of water to calm his nerves. Hitsugaya was impressed he hadn't broken the glass, especially considering his tense grip around its middle.

"I don't know what's going on with me and Karin. And, to be honest, I don't think either one of us cares too much." It was a truthful answer but not the right one, not if the way Ichigo's face was darkening meany anything. The domineering big brother was coming out and if he was a less courageous man, Toushirou was sure he'd look away. But he wouldn't back down because even if he couldn't define their relationship into perfectly understandable terms, whatever was between them wouldn't be written off just because it hadn't been named.

Even while suspicious, Ichigo's candor could be counted on to move things forward. "Are you taking advantage of my sister?"

"No. Not now, not ever."

"Is this thing mutual? Does she like you and do you like her, or are the two of you just curious about that childhood friendship turning into more?"

A hard frown overtook Toushirou's features. "I can't speak for Karin, but I do like her, as both a friend and something else. What it is, I can't tell you but I'm not going to try and convince you of what we are and what we are not."

As he said them, the words hung about in the air, becoming the metaphorical elephant in the room. No one with half a mind could easily put a label on all of their feelings, the mismatching of emotions and confusing run-ons not meant for public display or debate. The idea was made exemplary by Hitsugaya and Karin, two completely different people who just happened to share some unmarked affinity for the other.

If Hitsugaya could try to explain them to others, he'd say their relationship was like trying to tell the moon to stop chasing the sun, or trying to discover the meaning of life, a useless endeavor that would leave both philosophers and laymen alike with nothing but more questions. Because after years of tossing it through his head and breaking down their relationship to its bare bones, Toushirou wasn't any closer to defining this unshakable connection. And, after many sleepless nights and saddened bemusement, he'd learned to accept that maybe it was okay not to be sure what lied between them, just as long as he was sure that it was meant only for one another.

As he saw the silent but sure sentiment in Hitsgaya's face, deep down inside of Ichigo, the right locks clicked into place, as he found some solace in those hardened features. The hard truth that he couldn't fully appreciate their relationship was softened by the fact that neither he nor Karin seemed to either. And while it would've been neater and easier to just lump them into some category and be done with it, the orange-haired man knew that there was nothing simple or easy about his little sister and the shinigami in front of him. They were a complex and misunderstood pair, two parts to some whole he was sure that neither of them would've willingly chosen if they had had the chance.

Because Toushirou wasn't romantic enough to want some star-crossed lover from another dimension, and Karin wasn't weak enough to want someone who'd keep her safe from every little harm that could come her way. In the end, this love(?) of theirs was an unruly alchemy, compelling and heady in a way that overtook them completely and without their consent.

As he met Hitsugaya's eyes, he knew they held the faintest glimmer of resignation, and maybe just a sliver of approval. If anyone understood fate's compulsion and how it enjoyed overhauling one's life, no one was more sympathetic than Ichigo. Bathed in the fluorescence of the overhead light, neither man said another word, as a small bud of acceptance nestled itself into Ichigo's heart.

When Toushirou decided his last day would be dedicated to seeing Granny Haru, Karin was more than willing to go with him, as she trailed after the man with an odd sense of déjà vu. It was early afternoon already and the ground was littered with old snow, partly melted but with large patches that had yet to disappear. From the looks of it, however, Karakura Town was due to have a white Christmas, if the looming clouds had their say.

As her eyes went to Toushirou's tall form, she regarded him with a queer sort of softness in her eyes, as she remembered making him tell her where he was going before following after without a second thought. Regardless if he found her tagging along an irritant, she was excited to see the old woman, especially since her last visit had been right after her high school graduation nearly a year ago.

But what they arrived to was very different from what they were expecting.

In front of her house, a few worrying Pluses were bustling around the porch, going into fits of frenzy that neither of them comprehended. But as soon as they saw Karin, the small group rushed forward and began babbling incoherently, sentences caught by cries and sniffles that didn't fit the supposedly grown-up ghosts.

"Okay, guys, one at a time. I can't understand a thing you're saying," she chastised, moving ahead of her companion to intercept them and listen to their story. While trying to soothe them into a more coherent state, Toushirou watched with fearful eyes, a sense of loss filling him that wasn't unfamiliar. Perhaps because he was dead, those who straddled the line between the two sides called out to him more strongly.

"It's terrible, Karin-chan!" a brunette ghost yelled, dressed in a suit with a tail for a lower body. He was the ghost who had inhabited the home the longest, just a month shy of a year and although Karin wanted to ask, she supposed it would be rude to wonder why he was still in this world after so long. "Haru-baa-san is sick! She's so sick that she hasn't gotten out of bed in two days!"

"And she's all by herself?" Karin's question was punctuated by Hitsugaya's mad dash into the house, running down the hall and to the single bedroom near the back. Hot on his heels, Karin followed along with the army of ghosts, terrified of what could happen to their old caretaker if the two of them wouldn't be able to help her.

With the door already open, Karin halted at the mouth of it, staring into the small, tatami-lined room due to the graveness in the air, the feeling making her usually steady nerves quake. Kneeling beside a small, thinned figure, Karin's stare made contact with the back of Toushirou's head, sitting solemnly off to the side of the futon. Although he made no move to call her, she stepped in anyway, coming to kneel next to him and greet the old woman resting on the worn-out futon.

While the years had been kind to Granny Haru outwardly, it seemed that even she couldn't outrun the deteriorating effects of age, nor the call of death's voice that seemed to hover over her. Her face that had long been marred with wrinkles and lines was even thinner, probably because of her recent illness rather than the fact that she had grown older. Her frame was noticeably smaller, too tiny for a person to be considered healthy, and her breaths were ragged and short. But what was perhaps the most terrifying thing was that while the room was a bit on the cool side despite its heating, Karin knew the older woman was even colder, a tell tale sign that the end was coming, one she was too afraid to tell Toushirou.

Fortunately for her, it seemed that he already knew.

"Haru-baa-chan, it's me, Toushirou. I came back to Karakura to see you," he spoke quietly, the baritone of his voice loud in the eerily still room. Their ghostly followers were nowhere in sight, likely to provide them some solitude. Karin didn't doubt that they'd said their goodbyes to her human form long before now and were only waiting for her spiritual end to follow afterwards.

Her response was a mumbling of words, inaudible and incomprehensible, as those usually smiling eyes opened and fell on him. He held her stare, as she slowly seemed to register who he was, her brows furrowing before relaxing, a small but tired smile filling her usually serene face. Somehow, Karin couldn't help but think she'd never seen anything more beautifully heartbreaking.

"Toushirou-chan, oh my, have you grown so big since the last time…" With a slight pause between the words, the small woman gasped on an intake of breath, one that had squeezed at Karin's heart and caused Toushirou to cringe outwardly, uncomfortable. To ease the growing tension, Karin called out to the woman, shifting her interest onto her.

"I'm here too, Baa-chan. Remember me? Karin?" She tried to appear cheerful, but putting on a real grin in the face of death was something few, if any, could do. But the old woman didn't seem to notice the strain, as her eyes slid to meet her. The flash of recognition somehow made her heart warm in spite of the chilly atmosphere and the extraneous circumstances.

"Ah, Toushirou-chan's girlfriend has finally brought him back to visit," she chuckled, but it was followed by a whooping cough, one that had both of them flinching at the noise.

"You shouldn't talk so much, Haru-baa-chan. You're only going to make your condition worse," Toushirou scolded, standing up for a moment to search the room. Karin watched as he dipped into the drawers off to the side, wondering what he was so impertinently looking for in someone else's home. But the notion was gone when he came back with a large, brown blanket, thicker than the one covering her form, as he laid it over her with purposeful movements.

"Oh don't be like this, Toushirou-chan," the old woman wheezed, smiling brightly even as she seemed to tinker on the brink of this world and the next. "I was always wondering what happened to you, but now that I know you're doing fine it seems that I've worried for nothing. This old body of mine isn't quite what it used to be, so I was hoping to see you one last time in it."

"Don't say things like that. You're gonna be fine," he tried to reassure her, but the words were empty promises and they all knew it. Feeling helpless, Karin could see Haru's hand peeking out from beneath the covers, looking just as frail as the rest of her. Without a second thought, she grasped it in her own, calling the elder's focus again.

"Hmm? What is it, Karin-chan?" Those tired but happy eyes were hanging on a thread, barely conscious in the face of passing on. Her throat constricted, as she squeezed the cold, bony fingers, willing the sting behind her eyes away and brightening as much as she could.

"Toushirou's right, Haru-baa-chan, you need to rest. How am I supposed to come back and visit you after the school year if you don't start taking care of yourself better?" However, the pretty words were just that, superficial, filled with the tremors of emotion she was sure Toushirou felt even more than she did. He was merely better at hiding them.

With a faintly pitying look in her eyes, the aged woman tightened her grip in turn, trying to provide her a bit of reassurance. But Karin was more overwhelmed than calmed by the kindness, as she pulled her face away, trying to rebuild her composure. As she began to talk again, the elderly woman's voice was noticeably weak and thready, but the strength of experience was heavy in her conviction, as if the next statement might just be her last.

"Karin-chan, there's no need to put up a brave front. I'm dying and soon I'll get to be with my family, perhaps even with Toushirou-chan as well." The consoling had Hitsugaya reeling on the inside, his turmoil just barely concealed beneath his faulty mask.

He hadn't told his old friend that the afterlife wasn't heaven, not even close, and he'd never explained it to her, deciding that was something one should experience firsthand. Right then though, he wished he'd prepared her better, wished he had the right words and eloquence to tell her that it'd be okay when she got there. However, he'd learned early on that lying to ease one's conscience was most likely petulance at play but while he wouldn't give her false hopes for the future, neither would he take her current one away.

"I don't want you to go," Karin choked out, cursing the way her voice cracked on the last word, weak and childishly so. When an arm wrapped around her, she registered Toushirou's larger frame leaning against hers, that bit of his warmth the only comfort he knew how to offer. She clung to the small hand in hers and his radiating presence as if they were her only lifelines.

"But we must all go one day, and today is mine. I have lived far too long, in my opinion," she chuckled, the sound garbled as she found some pleasure in her own joke. It managed to make Karin smile grimly, as she and Hitsugaya listened faithfully. "Look, I've even lived long enough to see you two kids, who used to butt heads more than soccer balls, fall in love—" both flushed then, glancing at each other as if they wanted to correct her, "—I always wanted you two to realize just how perfect you were for each other. I thought so the first time you followed him here, acting like a young boy going after his big brother's shadow. But you've both matured so much. I only hope I could've been a small part of it…

"Take good care of her, Toushirou. And hopefully, I will see you very soon."

With those last words, Haru's wise, old eyes finally closed one more time, as her heart's pulse stopped and her breathing came to a slow halt. In that quiet and cold room, the strange woman with spiritual sensitivity met her end tranquilly, as her two onlookers mourned her leave in silence. As she slipped her hand from those limp fingers, Karin allowed herself to cry a bit for the woman she had come to care for as the grandmother she'd never had, a few tears that no other living person would shed for the lonely but kind soul. And when she didn't appear before them with a severed chain attached to her chest, both of them were sure she'd passed on easily, her earthly bindings weakened long ago and thus unnecessary.

Not saying anything, Karin stood to give the shinigami a moment to say his peace. Whether it was a few words or an unspoken farewell, she didn't know, as she went outside to offer them privacy. When she broke the news to all of the restless spirits outside, none were surprised or overly distressed, just sadly accepting of it all, as they thanked the two of them for coming to spend time with her during her last moments. After all, no one wanted to be all by themselves the day they left the living world, not even someone who had been ostracized from it for so long.

As she bid all of them goodbye, Karin felt for Toushirou's reiatsu, noticing that it was no longer in the home. He had gone elsewhere, probably to calm down and put himself back together again. She didn't blame him. A tragic loss was no less sad for a spirit than it was for a human. She knew he'd purposely held his tongue when Haru-baa-chan told him she'd see him again one day, both of them knowing full well that she'd never remember him even if their paths did miraculously cross. If that meeting occurred tomorrow, next week, next month or next century, the sting of her unrecalled memories would burn him and she knew that she couldn't understand his feelings at all in that sense.

She might've lost a friend, but today, Toushirou lost family.

Staring out into the distance, the setting sun had dyed the sky an array of colors. Reds and oranges and yellows mixed the sky's canvas in a way that no artist could imitate. It was moments like these that made him feel so small and insignificant, a sense of insecurity that many tried to ignore or run away from. Somehow it was that same pressure that felt the most consoling to Hitsugaya. That while he might be able to save lives and had the responsibility to keep peace in this world, he wasn't impervious to feelings of loss or frustration. And he'd grieve this death as if she was his own grandmother in Rukongai, as the thought tore through his chest, bitter like the bile that burned its way up his esophagus.

"Thought you'd be here."

Hearing her voice didn't ease his nerves like it usually did, but he wasn't upset that she'd come either. In all actuality, he owed Karin. He'd needed a moment of reflection and she'd given it to him, a little bit of time so he could just be angry at himself, as unjust and misdirected as it was. Anyone would know that Toushirou couldn't have saved Granny Haru, for a human's first death was a mandatory one, but it didn't mean he couldn't be troubled by it just the same.

Taking in the scenery, he dully noted that the earth was heavy with new snow and that the sun would be setting soon, the winter days shorter and the sunlight weak in spite of the early hour. When she hopped over the railing to stand beside him, Toushirou didn't shift towards her in greeting, but instead kept watching the horizon. Despite social etiquette, he made no move to comfort her as he had back in the Granny Haru's house but it didn't look as if she needed it, and inwardly he was thankful for Karin's naturally robust personality. She rebounded fast (on the outside, at least), meaning she didn't expect anything more from him than a little acknowledgement, which was the only thing he could give at the moment.

"My dad's taken care of everything at Haru-baa-chan's place," she informed him, staring up at the dark blue sky that had overtaken more than half of the western part of the city. "She'll get her proper burial rites and will probably be cremated. I'll find a good place for her to stay so you don't worry about anything when you leave."

Taken aback by the news, Hitsugaya's surprised face met her serenely smiling one, as if she knew he hadn't expected her to go so far as to lay the old woman to rest. Because he hadn't thought about anything regarding a funeral, too busy wallowing in bereavement to think clearly, and for that he was ashamed of himself. He'd allowed Karin to do the things that should've been his job, a duty to his longtime friend. But the fact that she'd anticipated his uncharacteristic listlessness had his chest overflowing with emotion for this girl, a warm tingle that was slowly coursing through every last cell.

"Thank you." It wasn't nearly enough, but he didn't know what else to offer.

"There's no need to thank me," she replied in turn, shrugging as she adjusted the messenger bag over her shoulder. "I didn't do it for you or me, but for her. She deserved that much at least."

"Ah," he agreed, the small syllable airy, as a spout of misty air left his lips. With the sun gone over in the distance, Toushirou knew that he had to be leaving soon, since he'd promised the soutaichou that he'd return punctually the next morning. But something held him in place, even with the temperatures well below freezing and with nothing else to see but the lights from the streets and houses. And while Hitsugaya might consider himself a bit dense at times, he knew exactly what was tying him down, as he moved his head in Karin's direction. Goodbyes were never his strongest areas, near the top of the list along with confessions and explanations. But if there was anyone who deserved to hear those things, it was her.

"Oh, before I forget," she interrupted his thoughts, as she opened her brown pack and rummaged through it, "I've got something for you. It's Christmas Eve, but since you won't be here tomorrow, I should give it to you now."

"You got me a present?" The obvious answer only had her rolling his eyes, as she presented him a square box wrapped in red and gold. Testing its weight, he noticed that it felt strangely light, knowing immediately it was clothing. A part of him wondered when she had the time to buy it, considering they'd spent the majority of their time together and yet he couldn't recall anything for him among her purchases.

"Well, are you gonna open it?" Folding her arms over her chest, she eyed him with impatience, a habit she'd had since childhood. With a reminiscent smile, he nodded, carefully tearing off the paper and lifting the cover.

Within the tissue sat a thin scarf that was folded immaculately, similar to the one he'd adopted years ago. Just a glance at it told him how expensive it was, as he curled his fingers along the edge and lifted it, letting it fall until it dangled a foot above the snow. Unable to hold in his surprise as he examined it, he figured that the cloth was unmistakably made of high-end cashmere, unfit for cold temperatures and battle. But he knew that it wasn't for either of those purposes, as he recognized the pale blue hue even in the poor lighting. If he didn't know any better, he'd swear it was the exact same color as Hyourinmaru's hilt. To think that Karin had spent any amount of time finding such a specific detail told him more than any of her off-handed words could, as he looked down at her with softly pensive eyes.

"It's usually hot in Seireitei, right? I picked out the material because I remembered you mentioned that it only snowed out in the farther Rukongai districts," she explained, speaking just a little too quickly and giving away her nervousness. "It should be pretty durable too, as long as you don't go crazy in a fight, and the color was perfect for you." She paused for an instant, scanning around her nervously before meeting his gaze. "Do you like it?"

"I do." The words were out before he could manage to contain them, but oddly he wasn't mad that they'd escaped. There weren't enough instances in his long life where he'd spoken freely for reasons other than anger but a good number of them were with her, he mused with a small smile. "Thank you."

She brightened, turning the wintry darkness into spring for a second. "You're welcome." Checking the time on her watch, her eyes widened a little at how late it'd gotten. "I gotta head back. Everyone's probably waiting for me to eat dinner and then we've gotta do all those weird traditions Goat Chin likes so much." She frowned before looking back up at him. "Are you sure you don't wanna stay for Christmas?"

"No, those things are reserved for families. I don't want to intrude," he shook his head as he spoke, looking her over before glowering lightly. She tilted her head in confusion. "It's below freezing now and you're only wearing that jacket?"

Shifting her gaze downwards, Karin was surprised to see that he was right. "Oh, I hadn't noticed. I'm not too sensitive to sudden shifts in the temperature and it was warmer earlier when the sun was still up."

Scoffing, he cleared the few steps between them and peered down at her with a mildly irritated gaze. If Karin didn't know any better, she'd swear he was trying to intimidate her, but that wouldn't work. After being joined at the hip for seven straight days, it was hard to fathom being on edge with him, even if he was trying to browbeat her.

Watching as he unfurled one of the ends of his scarf, Karin could only stand stock still as the lengthened material began to curl around her own neck, wadding tightly around her. By nature, it was thin so as accommodate his erratic lifestyle, but when it touched her skin, she thought it was very soft and rather warm from Hitsugaya's own body heat. The last bit made her flush prettily. Noticing how it had brought them impossibly close together, Karin opened her mouth to ask him why he'd taken his present and placed it around her without taking it off himself.

His answer was unexpected.

With no room to run and nowhere to go to, it seemed that Toushirou was every bit of the Tenth Squad's genius captain, as he used his ingenuity to lean down and kiss her deeply. As a hand buried deeply into her hair, Karin could feel the fight response dull in her core, relaxing into that strange heat that should've been chilled by the air. And as every one of her defenses fell, she let him into her, let him consume her in a way that she wouldn't have done with anyone else.

This wasn't anything like their first kiss, chaste and sweet and innocent, resembling their childhood friendship more than anything else. But this, this was completely out of her repertoire, she reflected helplessly, as his tongue found hers and stroked against it with a single expert motion. He had an odd control over her, an influence that was powerful and sensual, and nothing he'd ever used on her before. Each flick of that muscle against her own, her teeth, her lips, she could literally taste passion, overly sweet and much too addictive for someone to fight off. There had been few boys before Toushirou and no one of significance afterwards, and he damn well knew it, smugly relished it if the way he was trying to suck every breath of air she managed to take in meant anything.

As the tingles ran down her spine, the heat inside her was licking at the edges of her skin, stoked by the intervals of hard, incessant passion that drifted to calmer, kinder kisses. But then he'd catch his next wind and she was lost, doing her best to keep up with him as he trailed his lips across her cheeks, eyes, even the joint between her ear and neck. Unbidden, a whine of pure pleasure managed to break out from her mouth, and when she heard it Karin snapped back to her senses, self-conscious of her actions all of a sudden. However, Hitsugaya didn't hold the same sentiments as she did, as he drew himself away (though that wasn't very far thanks to that damned muffler he'd secured around them) and smirked pleasantly. He looked like a cat that had been given an entire bowl of cream, Karin pondered with a frown, the blush on her face having nothing to do with the weather.

"Next time, I'll find a more suitable place to kiss you," he promised, lifting his hand to thumb at her warmed mouth. When it fell back to his side, Karin licked at the place he'd petted so intimately, making his eyes darken in a way that made her shiver.

"Next time, I'll remember not to let my guard down," she challenged, sticking her tongue out at him childishly. The heat was starting to dissipate off her and for that she was glad, because now she could think a little clearer, act a little less recklessly. Then again, when it came to Toushirou, Karin wasn't very good with the whole head-over-heart thing. Sometimes it was much better for them to just act.

Chuckling, he tucked a stray piece of hair before unknotting the warmer and adjusting it around himself. It didn't escape him that her scent had permeated the material, bringing it to his nostrils and filling him contentedly.

Inside him, Toushirou knew that there was still so much left to unearth, so many contraries and queries about them that needed time to come into the light, much longer than a single vacation could provide. But they also needed to mature, to live their separate lives so that maybe, somewhere down the road, they'll be able to understand the strange and magnetic pull between them, this bond that transcends all logic. One day they'll find the threads of fate wrapped around their forms, tying them together so securely that neither her life nor his death can keep them from each other.

THE END

AN: The greatest feeling in the world was putting those last two words at the bottom. Although the ending wasn't my favorite, I'm pretty happy with this part over all. But seriously, this was a really long chapter and while my writings are usually pretty long, this one was nearly twice the size. The last time I wrote something this length it was for Be My Muse and that was a while ago. XD

And yes, I killed off Granny Haru! Terrible, right? But she was always meant to move on and since one of the major episodes of HitsuKarin has her in it, I made her come back for one last hurrah. I hope you guys understand why I had her die (peacefully). ^^;;

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you'll all do me a favor and click that button at the bottom since they are my writing life force. Haha.

Until next time, everyone~