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Karin's POV:

My eyes fluttered open, and almost instantly they were forced shut again. A huge wave of throbbing pain ripped through my head, making me cringe and turn my mouth down into a frown. Light filtered through my closed eyelids, and shadows danced across them. I managed a groan and I turned over, feeling myself tip. My eyes opened and I found myself staring into the carpet. I had fallen out of bed…

"Kurosaki!" someone said, lifting me underneath my arms and sitting me up. I looked up and saw Toshiro staring down into my face. I rubbed my forehead, tracing a giant bump above my right eyebrow. I flinched and gasped.

"Ouch." I muttered. "What happened, and how did I end up in my room?" I demanded, standing up quickly. I swayed on my feet, my head bobbing. The room spun and I felt light-headed, and I felt myself falling towards the ground once again. A dull pain throbbed behind my eyes as I was jerked back by Toshiro's hands…Toshiro's strong hands…

"Just lay here until I get your dad." He said, laying my head on my pillow and stomping out of the room. I evaluated myself, feeling my forehead and cheeks. I came to the conclusion that I had a fever. I swallowed hard, regretting it as my throat scratched against itself. I coughed and a loud, hollow sound erupted from my chest. I cleared my throat and pulled the blankets around myself. I was sick, but that didn't explain why I couldn't remember anything that happened after third period. I thought hard, fitting little pieces together. I had embarrassed myself in front of everyone…and then I was at lunch…I didn't feel well...and I fell.

"Karin! My sweet daughter! You're alright! I thought you were going to die!" My dad cried, throwing the door open and scaring the living daylights out of me. I jumped at the bang of the door as the knob hit the wall and my heart skipped a beat.

"You scared the crap out of me! You nearly gave me a heart attack goat chin!" I cried, sitting up. I was about to take another huge breath to yell out another snippy remark, but in the middle of the intake a huge fit of coughing stopped me and I doubled over. Toshiro was at my side before I could take another breath.

"I'm fine midget. You don't need to hover over me." I muttered, breathing hard and trying to relax my airways. Toshiro blushed and looked down.

"Sorry." He muttered, walking away. I watched him exit the room and then turned my attention to my dad. He sat on the edge of my bed, sticking a thermometer underneath my tongue.

"I'll be back to check it. Need anything dearest daughter?"

"Waher." I said around the thermometer. My dad followed after Toshiro and left me alone. I wasn't alone for long, however. Ichigo and his friends came in carrying a little stuffed bear and a balloon that said "Get well soon!" in pink letters.

"Hi Karin! I brought you some bread from my job!" Orihime said, setting them on my nightstand. Chad, Ichigo's tall, dark, quiet friend who had saved me a while back set the bear on my bed. I smiled at him and held the bear in my arms.

"Get better Kurosaki." He grunted, returning to stand next to Orihime. Uryu gave me the balloon, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

"Here you go, Ms. Kurosaki." He too returned to stand next to Orihime. Ichigo approached me, his arms behind his back.

"I thought you might like this." Ichigo said softly, pulling out a soccer ball from behind him. My face lit up.

I threw my arms around him. "Thank you Ichigo." I said, letting him hug me back.

"You're welcome. Uryu had taken my idea, so I got you the ball instead. Your old one is pretty beat up, so I thought you might need it." He smiled. "I'll let you get some rest. Dad will be back up to check your temperature." And with that, he and his friends left the room and I put my head back, examining the ball in my hands by lifting it over my face. It was a satisfying feeling to hold a brand new soccer ball in my hands, but it was quickly taken over by a fit of coughing. I spat out the thermometer and continued coughing. When it was over, I stuck the thermometer back into my mouth and cleared my throat, finding refuge in my pillow. I sank back into it and closed my eyes.

"Karin?" a voice said. I opened my eyes and my dad was standing over me. He took the thermometer from my lips and frowned. "Fever." He said underneath his breath. "Not high though. Just the common flu." He said, diagnosing me.

"Great." I muttered. "How long will I stay out of school?"

"Three or four days at the most." He said, wiping the thermometer with a towel and putting it away to clean it more thoroughly later.

"I can't be out that long though! I have perfect attendance!"

"Not anymore. You missed yesterday. Don't you remember?" I shook my head, scowling.

"Whatever. Leave me to sleep." I muttered, throwing myself back into the pillow and closing my eyes.

That night…

Toshiro's POV:

I sat in bed, shirtless and in a pair of sweatpants checking my phone from soul society. Absolutely nothing had happened since I had left. Matsumotto hadn't done her paperwork like always, Ukitake was sent to division four again because of a fever, and everyone seemed to be living their normal lives. It seemed like after Aizen was imprisoned, it was quiet. Very quiet. I was so used to running around and saving soul society that I got used to it. It seemed like a part of life, and now, I felt empty, like there was something that I was supposed to do. I couldn't place it, but I felt the urge to do something out of the ordinary.

Karin stirred in her bed and I looked over at her. She worried me. Karin had been fine yesterday morning when we had woken up, but all of the sudden she passed out and didn't wake up for an entire day and a half. I shook my head, returning to my phone. There was nothing new, however, so I just shut it and threw it onto the carpet, hearing the thump it made. I put my hands behind my head and laid back, staring up at the ceiling, deep in thought. The play…what should I do? I can't keep refusing. She gives me the guilt trip every time I say no, and if I didn't know better, I'd say I might be-

I was shaken from my thoughts as a cry came from the other side of the room. I looked at Karin, her face twisted, but her eyes still closed. She was having a nightmare. Her eyes shot open, staring right at me. It was unsettling, but she seemed scared. I ran to her bedside, ready to call out for one of the Kurosakis if anything went wrong.

"Toshiro, what is that thing?" she asked, pointing behind me. I looked where she was pointing, but there was nothing there.

"Karin, you're dreaming. It's not real." I cooed softly. She wrapped her fingers around mine, squeezing them hard.

"Toshiro, don't let it get me, please." She slurred. She was definitely asleep. She would never hold my hand like this…would she? I didn't know what to do. I could leave her alone, or I could comfort her. Either one seemed weird.

I hushed her. "I-I won't let it get you." I stuttered awkwardly. "I'll be here for you." That seemed to calm her down. Of course, I didn't mean it…I was only trying to calm her down.

Who am I kidding? Of course I mean it.

"Toshiro, why'd you leave? I missed you." She asked, her grey eyes blank, but at the same time, they were full of meaning and emotion.

"I didn't want to leave…I missed you too, but I had to go. I had to help your brother fight Aizen in the winter war. I'm sorry." I said, putting her hand to my forehead. I looked up at her, but her eyes were closed, and she was sleeping soundly. I blushed to myself and shook my head.

"You're and idiot." I muttered shamefully. "You're going soft for a human."

The next morning…

Toshiro's POV:

I sat at the table, glaring at Ichigo.

"Get my name right you half-wit! It's Hitsugaya!" I cried, dropping the spoon in my hand into the bowl below it. "Next time you do that, I swear I'll-"

"Morning guys." Karin said sluggishly, a blanket wrapped around her hunched figure.

"Morning Karin." Ichigo and I said at the same time. We turned back to each other, exchanging glares.

"How'd you sleep?" Ichigo asked, pushing his chair back and standing up. He tossed his bowl into the sink, making a loud clink.

"I slept alright. I had the weirdest nightmares." She looked over at me, giving me a funny look. "You were there. You basically told me that you loved me. I don't know where it came from." She laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. I laughed nervously, afraid that she might realize that it actually happened.

"How strange." I said stupidly. I glanced at the time. "I have to go get ready. Bye Kurosaki." I said, my head down. I ran up the stairs, escaping Karin and Ichigo before she could say anything.

Three days later

Karin's POV:

I felt almost 100% better thanks to my dad. I was even up and kicking my new soccer ball in the front. All of my cooped up energy didn't have anywhere to go during those four days, so I had to let it all go somehow. Elementary kid had been acting strange the past few days, and I couldn't figure out why. He had been avoiding me all week, and it was fairly easy for him because I was condemned to my room all day, but now that I would be going back to school again, I could bother him a little more and find out why he'd been eluding me.

"Bye dad. Bye Ichigo." I said, slinging my backpack over my shoulder and skipping out the door. The sunshine on my face felt glorious and the fresh air in my lungs filled me with energy. My cough still lingered, but as long as I was hydrated, it wasn't too bad. I plastered a smile on my face as I walked down the driveway. Toshiro was waiting for me at the mailbox, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Took you long enough." He growled, scowling at me.

"Sorry. You were in the bathroom for an hour and a half. What the heck did you do in there anyways?" I asked, curious to why he was always in there for so long.

"That's none of your business Kurosaki." He said sourly. He was in an obvious bad mood.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, didn't they?" I said cheerfully, walking ahead of him. I was just trying to piss him off. I thought it was hilarious when the vein in his forehead popped out when he was aggravated.

"I woke up on the right side of your bed, FWI." He said, a cold edge in his tone. He was looking down, visibly trying to disregard me.

"Okay, whatever you say." I taunted, prolonging the ay in say. He mumbled to himself, a permanent scowl on his face. "Have you thought about the play yet?" I asked. This time, I wasn't trying to get on his nerves, I actually wanted to know. His head shot up, his eyes furious.

"For the last time Kurosaki, I'm not doing your stupid play! All you've done these past few days is torment me about the play, and I'm tired of hearing about it! Just shut up!"

I recoiled at his sudden outburst. He was dead serious. I hung my head, a dreaded feeling of self-pity filling my chest. "Sorry. I just won't ask again."

Toshiro's POV:

Karin ran ahead of me. I watched her run. Karin was right. I had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Guilt filled me. I shouldn't have blown up at her, and I shouldn't have told her to shut up. That was her job…

"Karin! Wait! I didn't mean it!" I yelled after her, running to catch up. Whenever I caught up, she just ran faster. After she turned a corner and I lost sight of her, I gave up and walked the rest of the way to school, kicking myself for being so stupid.

Third period…

Toshiro's POV:

Class ended quickly, and everyone left in a hurry, excited to get to lunch. One girl came up to me, a girl named Azami.

"Good afternoon, Hitusgaya-kun. I saw you staring at Ms. Kurosaki. Sorry for asking, but do you like that girl?" She asked sheepishly.

I looked at her, caught off guard by her sudden question. "Why do you want to know?" I asked, becoming defensive.

"Because, I know that your feelings for her are mutual. I've seen the way she looks at you."

"I don't have feelings for her." I growled, picking up my things and leaving. I went to lunch alone, and sat alone, ignoring anyone who tried to speak to me. I was in a rotten mood, and I didn't want to have any interaction with anyone right now.

Karin's POV:

I noticed Toshiro sitting alone at a table at the other end of the cafeteria glaring at the food on his tray. He looked like he was having a crappy day, and if it wasn't for his earlier explosion today, I would go and talk to him.

"Do you like Toshiro?" Kuzuki asked, nudging my shoulder and knocking the spoon out of my hand. It clattered to the floor with a metallic clang and I reached down to get it.

"Why would I? It's not like he has any feelings for me." I muttered, wiping the spoon with my napkin. I set it down and took a gulp of my orange juice.

"Because, you always stare at him." He said bluntly, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Why else would you stare at him like that?"

"I don't know." I growled, putting my glass on the table.

"You should go talk to him."

"No way."

"Seriously Kurosaki, he doesn't look that happy."

"No." I shot back.

"Do it!"

"No!"

"Come on!"

"You piss me off."

"I know."

I stood up, walking to the trash and throwing the food on my tray into it. I set the tray, the cup, and the spoon on top of it and tossed my napkin in after my food. I approached Toshiro and he stood up quickly, spilling his lunch over his shirt. I laughed at his facial expression and grabbed a paper towel from the condiments bar.

I handed him the napkin and he took it gratefully. "Thanks." He muttered, engaged in dabbing the food out of his clothes. When he had finished, he looked up at me and studied me intently.

"What?"

"I'm just…sorry," he said, putting the napkin in the tray. "And I've decided to do the play with you."

Ohhhh snap. He decided to do the play with her?! I saw that coming… :P

Please review! Thanks for reading!