Life of Simplicity (Bleach Fanfic)

Quality Time *Karin*

Toshiro was different.

Toshiro was completely different than the other boys her age.

Of course, she got the fact Toshiro was this awesome Shinigami like Rukia, and she also knew they aged differently. Perhaps the fact he came from a different era when young men were expected to act in a different, non-perverted manner helped. However, Toshiro was different than any kid her age, for all the other preteens in her class were stuck in this odd phase between childhood and teenage years where they weren't quite ready to let go of their childish things, yet wanted the world around them to see them as mature.

Toshiro already let go of childish things but was also quite mature for his age.

Of course, he needed a bit of a lesson in understanding he could act a little more his age.

As such, when she felt his icy cold rietsu, she knew right away and started planning a rather fun day for her friend, knowing full well he needed to relax.

She wasn't expecting to see him in that much need of relaxing. When she found Toshiro, he stood with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders tense. While he could be stiff in his body form when situations started becoming uncomfortable, he was already stiff, but stiffer than he normally got. Letting out a sigh, she walked up. "Toshiro?"

"Kurosaki-san?" His voice was strained. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine." Karin folded her arms across her chest, her foot tapping. "I can not though say the same for you."

"I..."

"Well, it's kind of obvious something is upsetting you." Karin took a deep breath. "You can tell me. I mean, if it isn't something you're not allowed to."

"I was simply..." Toshiro paused, looking at the ground. His foot scuffed the ground, indicating the normally confident captain somehow lost quite a bit of his confidence. He looked up, those bright teal eyes boring into hers. "Do you know where the planetarium is? Urahara said I could see the stars there, since it's not yet night time."

"The planetarium?" Karin's eyes drifted towards the relative direction. "Does looking at stars make you feel better?"

"That..." Toshiro's voice cracked.

Her violet eyes drifted back to the Shinigami, noticing his eyes drifted to the ground. "It must be pretty bad if you're having to come to the living world like this."

"I can't..." Toshiro glanced now to the side. "Just let me know where it is?"

"Just let you know?" Karin let out a laugh, her hand reaching out to grab his. She started by tugging at his arm, startling him. This meant one of his hands slipped free, allowing her to take his hand with her other. She then pulled him after her. "I'm going to show you where it is?"

Toshiro's voice strained again. "Kurosaki. You don't have to?"

"Don't have to?" Karin laughed again. "Toshiro, what kind of friend would I be if I left you alone? It's obvious something's upsetting you. I know you probably can't tell me what's going on, but I can at least keep you company. I'm also paying."

"Yes, but..."

"No buts." She tugged Toshiro along. The tension from his arm at first indicated reluctance, but he soon fell into step behind her, not arguing.

"Oh. Are you two working on a school project for elementary school?"

"Something like that." Karin piped up, hoping Toshiro would react. He hated people treating him like a child, meaning he would blow a gasket and correct the man.

He didn't.

Karin tugged him into the planetarium, becoming even more worried. She found herself having to push him into a seat in the dark room. Despite not seeing the look on his face, she knew something was definitely wrong. When she sat, she placed her hand on his gently. While he tensed, he made no movement and said nothing. Taking a deep breath, she spoke in a whisper. "Toshiro, I know this is none of my business, but you're obviously not okay."

"What made it so obvious?" His voice was soft, calm. The usual spunk she knew simply wasn't there.

"Let's start with the strain in your voice you get whenever something upsets you."

"You don't know me that well. I mean..." Toshiro quieted, obviously lost in his thoughts.

"Okay. How about the fact you didn't chew the guy out for calling you an elementary school student?"

"Oh. That." The melancholic tone was honestly depressing her, making her think she really needed to find a way to cheer him up. "At least he didn't say we were on a date, though truth be said..."

"What? You wouldn't want to go on a date with me?" Karin smirked, hoping to get a reaction from him like she normally did when teasing him.

"What. No. I mean..." While she couldn't see his face, she did see him tense up. "I... shut up Hyorinmaru! This isn't funny! I can't..."

"Hyorinmaru? What's your zampaktuo have to do with this?"

"I..." In the darkness she watched him slide down, his facial features still invisible because of the lighting. "No matter what I say, you'll take it the wrong way. Females always do."

"Toshiro, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not a normal female."

"Nor are any of the females in the Shinigami Woman's society. Unless you count Hinamori."

Karin frowned, her fingers tightening around the armrests of her chair. "Toshiro, I am not following you."

"If I were to say yes, you'd say I was a pervert. Possibly rightly so. If I were to lie and say no..."

"Lie and say no?" Karin found her voice straining

"I..."

"Toshiro, do you have a crush on me?"

"Can I lie and let the implications be that you hate me for thinking you ugly when I really don't rather than you hating me for having a crush on you and thus instead making me a pervert in your eyes?"

"Toshiro..."

"I mean, it's not as if we could be together, even though your father is technically a former Shinigami and broke Soul Society's laws already in that regard. But why would you like me? I'm cold, cold as ice. Everyone knows that."

"Toshiro..." Karin took a deep breath, hoping he'd slow down and stop his rambling.

"I mean, that's why I became a Shinigami. I have a cold personality, and thus a cold reiatsu which nearly killed my grandfather. And oh, I so should not be telling you any of this."

"Then why..."

"I'm already in trouble, a lot of it. Plus, since your father's back and I messed up, my position as captain is likely out the window. Not that I ever cared about that, but it is my duty. But I owe it to you. Its what friends do, isn't it, being honest? I honestly..."

There was of course one way to get him to shut up. She didn't think about the repercussions of kissing him beyond the fact it would get him to shut up when she did it, or the fact it was likely a poor choice on her part.