Playing with Fire (Rewritten)

Chapter 3: Time

" Can you hear me now, Matsumoto?"

Rukai tapped the hologram device. She sat comfortably on the couch after surveying that no one was there. Looking around, it was obvious why Matsuomoto seemed in awe. With the help of Ichigo, they were able to rent a place through Airbnb. You could say it was a massive upgrade compared to their previous living arrangement with Inoue. The many times that they had to live in her apartment brought unpleasant memories of her cooking.

Rukia leaned in closer to the hologram, and asked under her breath, " Any ideas as to how Captain Hitsugaya knows Ichigo's sister, Rangiku?"

" Hmmm... you sure you can just be talking out and in the open like this?" Rangiku asked but Rukia shook her head.

" Captain Hitsugaya's in a meeting with the Head Captain now. It's been going on for quite a while."

Rangiku made a face that seemed unconvinced, but it didn't take her long to get over it as she shrugged. " If you say so although I don't know if you can get much from me."

After all, out of everyone they knew, Captain Hitsugaya was one of the least they knew about. His private life and relationships remained a tightly kept secret, shrouded by a veil of mystery and an impenetrable cold front.

"It was a long time ago; we were on a mission to the human world. I think that's when those two met cause I'd often find him hanging out with her. He barely told me anything, although I did think the two were cute together."

" Who's cute together?"

A chilly voice pierced through their conversation. Rukia cautiously turned to see Toshiro right behind her. He held a darkened expression, aiming a deadly glare at the two lieutenants. If looks could kill, she would surely be dead by now.

" Well, I gotta go now. See you, Captain!" Rangiku said and ended the call, leaving Rukia to fend for herself.
Surprisingly, Toshiro didn't pry. Perhaps it was a sign that he'd grown too old to be upset at every little thing. Only tired sighs left his lips as he shoved paperwork into their hands.

" There's a new sighting. I need you to investigate and collect data for Captain Kurosutchi." Toshiro paused. Seeing how she seemed hesitant, he asked, "
What is it?"

Rukia rubbed the back of her arm, " What is the situation with...Ichigo's sister? Did the Head Captain say anything?"

" It's been approved. Anything else?"
She shook her head and promptly embarked on her mission.

Finally — a moment of silence. Toshiro slipped onto a nearby couch and rested his aching head there. His whole morning had been dosed in nothing but stress. From the Head Captain lecturing him to subordinates prying into his private life...Toshiro could never seem to know peace.

Toshio watched as the clock from across the room ticked by. Thoughts of yesterday soon flooded his mind, and with that, he was reminded of her.
Karin Kurosaki – there were only a handful of humans that had spiritual awareness, much less interacted with soul reapers and the like. Even if his memory of her slightly faded, he would still be able to remember her.

Seeing her again was a tender reminder of how quickly time moved in the human world. Compared to then, Toshiro could tell she'd changed into an even bolder and more blunt person. As evident from yesterday, her fiery personality persisted even till now. Asides from that, there wasn't much for him to recall considering their brief time together.

A beep rang from his pager, marking the end of Toshiro's short-lived break. He opened his device to see the images that Rukia had sent. Similar to the bodies that preceded it, it was nothing short of gruesome and cruel. Only an empty husk of what used to be a living person. Hot scathing steam rose from their skin to give off a reddish hue. Hitsugaya could only shake his head. The pile of evidence just kept growing.

He checked his watch and steadied himself to head out. Within one quick motion, Toshiro was in front of the Kurosaki's home. Naturally, he wouldn't take the front door.

" Toshiro what in the world are you doing in my room!" Ichigo, who was startled, shouted. Toshiro groaned at the incessant noise. The headache from this morning only worsened with Ichigo's presence.

" Where's your sister?"

After the initial shock, Ichigo had quickly composed himself. He scoffed at Toshiro's question " Obviously ...at college? "

" College?" Toshiro said, a little bit surprised. He had almost forgotten the education system here operated differently from the soul society.
Nevertheless, that was irrelevant now.

Closing his eyes, strings of spiritual energy floated around him. The stronger the energy. the thicker the string would be, and it was quite easy to find hers. Glaringly larger than the rest, he plucked it into his hands.

" Thank you. I'll be off now, Kurosaki."

"Wait, hold on! Are you going —" but he had disappeared before Ichigo could finish.

Soon enough, a large school structure came into view. From above, he could see the mass of students moving in and out of classes. To the distance was Karin talking to a small group before drifting apart from the crowd.

Down below, Karin had just said goodbye to her friends. Classes were done for the day so it was eerily quiet walking back into her empty classroom. Sure that she had left her notebook in there, Karin searched her desk when an uneasy feeling sprouted in her chest.

A chill sent goosebumps down her skin, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. Alarmed, her gaze carefully scanned across the room. The unusual stillness eventually crept up onto Karin, shaking her nerves as the silence echoed her panicked breaths.

A growl came from the corner behind her. She spun around, watching its skeletal mask part open to let out a ghastly snarl. Its rough exterior scratched the walls that could barely contain its sickly thin yet tall figure.

Terror gripped her body the moment she saw its legs stretched out in her direction. Without hesitation, Karin jumped away as soon as the creature flew at her. Its sharp claws managed to land a large scratch on her legs as she winced in pain. Karin ultimately crashed onto the floor but quickly picked herself up, and ran out of the door.

" This can't be fucking happening! The repellents should be working!" She screamed to herself, sprinting as far away as she could. Small blood trails scattered across the hallway as Karin pan her head back and forth to see it getting closer.

As if her luck couldn't get any worse, she tripped. In that instance, the hollow leapt into the air. Everything felt surreal - like she was stuck in a dream. Her body was moving at such a slow pace while the rest of the world moved ahead.

In that split second, she saw the hollow fall apart before her eyes. Its body split into two from a clean and swift slice. Its dead carcass lay on the ground, covered with what appeared to be frostbite as it soon dissipated into dust. Karin's gaze shot up to a familiar figure approaching from the distance. In no time he was already in front of her and reached out his hand.

" Are you alright?"