Diamond Treasure (Bleach Fanfic)

Spinning World

The piece of bread that she gave him went into his mouth, causing his stomach to grumble. Normally he wouldn't wolf down the food he ate, but for some reason he couldn't help but to shove the food into his mouth. "I wish that she wasn't helping me like this. She's going to get herself hurt. She wasn't incorrect in surmising that I don't want to risk losing another friend. If she would know that though, why isn't she backing off? She should know how I feel about all of this."

"This isn't about her worrying about your feelings. This is about her doing the right thing. She sees a friend in need and she has made the decision to help them. It is as simple as that."

Toshiro leaned back, not liking the fact that Hyorinmaru's voice was as faint as it was. He closed his eyes, only to find another piece of bread shoved into his hand. This piece he ate slower and he watched Karin, his cheeks heating up a bit for some reason he couldn't place. The girl however spoke up. "I know what you're thinking. I'm not going to back off on this. You may be upset if something happened to me, but how do you think I would feel if something happened to you?"

The boy turned his head. "I need to be going Karin." The boy stood up, stumbling a bit as he stood, only to have the sleeve of his uniform grabbed. He started walking at a slow pace as that was what his body could handle, only to wobble and find that Karin wasn't letting go of his sleeve. She kept ahold of his sleeve even when he bent down to pick up his blade so he could lean on it.

"You know, I can help you."

"I'm going to tell you that I don't want you involved."

"I think that's a bit late for that, don't you think."

The boy looked away, the heat rising in his cheeks even more. "Seriously... did she just walk me into a position where I can't refuse her help?"

"I believe so."

Toshiro stopped and turned to look at her as he made his decision to speak up, only to find his eyes adverting into another direction as he couldn't look her straight in the eye.. "Look... I know you mean well... and you likely think that I would let you stay with me because I've gotten you involved, but the fact is you can stop being involved."

"Toshiro... I see a friend in need. I can't very well leave that alone."

"Apparently you missed what I was getting at."

"Shut up." The boy felt his cheeks heat up. "Please..."

"Because you don't want me to get hurt. How selfless of you."

The boy stopped short, spinning around so that he found himself falling to the ground. "What?" Toshiro let out a groan as he sat on his bottom hard. He looked right up at her. "I know that you can likely sense that I don't want you to get hurt, but where did that that sarcastic remark at the end come from."

Karin reached her hand down to help the boy up and Toshiro proceeded to dust himself off and prepare to limp off again using his blade to support himself. He found himself stopping short when he heard what she said next. "I know exactly where that remark came from, but the fact is you don't know where that remark comes from."

Toshiro's eyes widened and he stared at her. "Exactly what is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't just feel the emotions people give of that they know that they have Toshiro, I feel the ones they don't even realize they have. I can't tell you where that comment came from simply because it is related to feelings you haven't come to realize you have. Perhaps I shouldn't have told you that your reasons for keeping me safe were not a selfless act, but you know what... it isn't a selfless act."