Found(A HitsuKarin Fanfic) BOOK 1

Chapter 14, Freedom Always Comes With A Price

Even though the chains had been cut and they were free from each other, free from being bound to the Hollow, they did not move. Didn't even make a sound.

Karin walks slowly up to them, their showing the brokenness that they felt within, and she understands why they do not move. They did not believe they were truly free, because freedom always comes with a price.

But Karin had already decided that she was willing to bare any price so long as it saves them,

"You are free now," Karin tells them, "why do you not pass on? Do you need help? Do I need to perform a console.

The blonde haired girl Jillianna looks up at her, eyes lifeless, devoid of any and all emotion.

"You are our enemy, why would you help us?"

"Because you asked me to, because I want to. The Soul Reapers wronged you, they hurt you, but I never claimed to be your enemy." Karin replies.

Jillianna's eyes narrow, "Soul Reapers can't do this," she gestures all around them; "They can't enter Hollows like this. So what are you?"

"I am many things, soul Reaper, Empath, Human, but a liar I am not. I want to help you, you just have to let me Jillianna." Karin answers her.

"How do you know my name?" Jillianna questions, face impassive, years of torment and pain, hate and anger bubbling just beneath the surface, years of learning not to trust anyone because they will just betray you in the end. Karin could feel it all, which only prompted her to want to help them more. 

They didn't deserve this pain, this suffering, it wasn't fair, they deserved to be free.

"I know all of your names." Karin finally responds, their eyes locking on each other, reflecting the same pain.

"How?"

Karin shrugs, "I told you, I'm an Empath, your thoughts, feelings, memories, I can hear, see and feel them all." Karin explains.

Jillianna shakes her head, "Why? Why would anyone want to do that? To see our past torture, to feel our pain, and the suffering we've gone through, to hear the anger and hate we think about. Why would you want that?"

Karin gives a sad smile, "I don't. But I also don't really have a choice in the matter." Karin makes sure that she has Jillianna's full attention before continuing, "I don't know why I can do what I can do, why I have these abilities, but it is what it is and I can't do anything about it. I don't choose to see your memories, to hear your thoughts, to feel your pain and suffering, I just do. Everything you feel, I do too, your pain becomes mine as well."

Jillianna nods replying with, "we will trust you, but you must know that in order to free us from this Hollow, one of us has to stay behind."

"I'll stay." Karin suddenly adds, but Jillianna shakes her head, her once lifeless eyes now filled with compassion.

"No. You can't help anyone if you stay here trapped inside this monster. I will be the one to stay." She turns to the others, "rise." They o so without a word, without so much as a single glance. Jillianna grabs Karin's arm, pushing her toward them, "go save them."

"What about you? I can't leave you behind." Karin turns her head to face her, their eyes meeting once again.

Jillianna smiles, "You can save me by first saving them. then returning to the battle and slaying the Hollow with me along with it."

"I can't do that!"

"You have to, please, let me do this for my people."

Shaking her head, Karin turns completely back around to face Jillianna, "there has to be another way! There's always another way."

"Not always dear child, and surely you must know that freedom will always come with a price, someone has to bare the burden, and that someone is me."

"bu..._"

"No! I am not by any means innocent!" She shouts out, throwing her hand up the air before continuing, voice passionate, filled with emotion. "I have raged in anger all these years. I have committed heartless acts, and I have killed plenty of innocent beings! Let me do this do this for my people child. All hope is not lost, You can still save me, just in a different way."

With a sigh, Karin nods before turning back around to face the other soul, and as much Karin wanted to argue Jillianna on this, they were running out of time.

"Just one more thing child, may I know your name?"

"Karin Kurosaki," She smirks while walking forward, radiating confidence.

"Thank you Karin Kurosaki. For everything."

"Are you ready Shionnei?"

"Yes." Instantly Shionnei appears in spirit form, just as she did when Karin had that astral projection vision. Walking up to each one of the souls, Shionnei whispers something in their ears, causing their eyes to immediately brightening, and bringing a smile to Karin's face.

It's quiet for all of a minute before the little boy looks up, meeting Karin's eyes, "I'm Scared," he says.

"That's okay," Karin responds, "Everyone gets scared. This world can be very cruel, and you've been through so much, but now you will be free."

"What does freedom feel like?" The boy asks curiously, "just the tinest bit of light returning to his once vacant eyes.

"Wonderful." Karin smiles.

"Alright," Shionnei adds capturing their attention, "Everyone grab hands and form a circle, starting with me and ending with Karin.

The little boy runs up to Karin, taking her hand in his as they are soon joined by the rest.

All the while, Jillianna watched with a sad smile, happy that her people were finally going to be free, and a bit sad that she couldn't join them.

But freedom, no matter for what or for whom, or what form always came with a price, and someone had to pay that price.

Karin takes a dee breath in before letting it out slowly, and then...And then she feels everything, from all of them. Their emotions, their fears, their pain, their anger, their suffering. She sees everything. Their memories, one by one like a motion picture, she witness the solitude they been forced to bear for all these years. And lastly, she hears everything. Their thoughts, their fears, their tears, their screaming.

They have suffered for so long, too long, and now they would finally be free. She takes everything, and she give them peace, her peace as they smile and their bodies begin to glow. Soon their spirits fade away.

Once they are gone, Karin turns to face Jillianna.

"You must go now." The girl says.

Karin nods, "time to slay the monster right?"

Jillianna gives a short laugh, "indeed. Just one last thing before you go though, don't let them use you like they tried to use us. Be better than both them and us."

Karin fades out, not having time to reply as she reappears back in the world of the living with Shionnei back in her Zanpakto form, and everything right where she left it as if no time had passed at all, or rather as if time had just completely stopped.

Authors Note: Hey guys, sorry it a bit late, but here it is as promised, hope you enjoy.

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