literature

Precious Times Together Ch 11

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"You look stunning honey," said Isshin to his daughter, Yuzu, as she walked down the stairs.  Her boyfriend during her junior year of high school, Hoji Fujiwara, stood in the living room with Isshin watching his date for the junior formal enter the room.  He placed a corsage around her wrist and kissed her on the cheek.  

Ichigo stood in the kitchen watching the whole scene go down.  Although he didn't particularly like the kiss, he knew that chances were, that two 17 year-olds had done a lot more and this was mild at best.  In the two-plus years it had been since he found out Yuzu was dating, he had come to accept the fact that his sisters were not so young anymore and would be on their own in just over a year anyway.

Isshin posed the couple in the living room and took a few photographs.

"Yuzu, you look fantastic!" came a voice from near the stairs.  It was Toshiro.  He was also dressed formally and he was adjusting his cuffs as he walked towards where everyone was.

"Thanks Toshiro," Yuzu answered her friend.  She turned to Isshin.  "I think we're going to get going, Dad."

"Don't you want to see Karin?" Isshin asked.

"I've kind of already seen her – we do share a room y'know," she answered sarcastically.  "But seriously, we're meeting some friends in 15 minutes and I don't want to be late."

"Sounds good, honey," answered Isshin.  He showed them to the door.

Isshin and Toshiro quietly waited for the other Kurosaki daughter to make her appearance.  

Toshiro sighed.  "We're going to be late if she takes any longer," he muttered under his breath loud enough for Isshin to hear him.

"Unless it's a soccer game, she usually is late," noted Isshin playfully.  

Just then, the stairs creaked, as if someone was walking on them.  Both men turned to see Karin make her entrance.  Toshiro looked at the teenager and didn't say a thing.

"Karin, you are beautiful," said Isshin to his daughter.  "I don't care if the other boys do have dates tonight, you are going to break some hearts for sure."

Toshiro still didn't say anything.  He was used to seeing Karin as she normally was.  It had been quite a few years already since the incident where she was dressing up because she thought he would want someone who looked impeccable at all times.  Although he told her that he liked her for who she was, he wasn't going to deny her the occasions such as this when it was proper and expected to dress-up.  However, he still wasn't expecting this.  She was still so young the last time he saw her look this fancy.  Now she was a young woman and had all the curves and other niceties to go along with that.  

"Toshiro?" she said.

"Huh?" he replied.  

"You're staring," she said.

"Oh, I, uh.  You just surprised me," he answered.  "I think you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Karin blushed now fully understanding that he was taken aback by her appearance.

"Come over here so I can get some pictures," said Isshin.  They walked into the living room.  

Toshiro's mind started racing.  Although he didn't mind taking Karin to her first formal ever, he had already been thinking about other things pertaining to his best friend from the world of the living.  He loved her.  She loved him, and he knew it.  But he would not let it go any further than friendship.  And now, even as they were closer than they had ever been before, his heart ached for what could never be.  His thoughts were nearly obsessive about the next step that he must take – the next step he didn't want to take.  He was going to break it off…completely.  It was just the most humane thing to do.  He suffered and he guessed she did, too.  He wanted her to move on with her human life – go to university, find a man and settle down, and be as normal as possible.  

He had actually told Rangiku of his plan and she had scolded him.  But in this case, he thought he was right.  Rangiku was a hopeless romantic who thought anything could work as long as there was enough effort and patience put into it.  He, however, was a realist and knew what the price of a relationship with Karin would be.  Everything worked out when Karin was younger.  There were no huge expectations other than friendship and a crush.  Now she was approaching adulthood and he wanted more.  It was getting harder and harder to hold back.  So this was the solution he thought best.  He would enjoy this one last night with her, then let her move on with her life.  

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

The evening started off well.  Karin had missed Toshiro terribly and just being around him lifted her spirits.  

The dinner was fantastic.  She had met a few friends from school and their dates at a restaurant near downtown.  Then they all headed to the hotel where the dance would be held.  

Although Toshiro was not a dancer, Karin was able to get him up on the floor for a few fast dances and almost every slow dance.  Most of the time was spent talking with Karin's friends and taking pictures of everyone in fancy clothes.  

It was during one slow dance near the end of the evening that Karin excused herself from Toshiro.

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied with a smile.  "It's just really hot in here with all the people.  I think I'm going to get a breath of fresh air."

"I'll go with you," he offered.

She grabbed his hand and led him up a set of stairs to the 2nd floor and a set of French doors leading out to a balcony overlooking the nearby river.  

"It's beautiful out here," she noted.  "You wouldn't think a hotel in the downtown area would have such a nice view."

"Hm-hmm," Toshiro noted in agreement.  

Karin stood next to the railing.  She placed her hands on the ledge and Toshiro took the liberty of placing one of his hands on one of hers.  They both just took in the beautiful view and cool breeze for a few minutes.  Not a word was said.

"Toshiro – I," started Karin at the same exact time he spoke.

"Karin, there's – .  You go ahead."

"No, you can go," she replied.

Since he knew what he was about to disclose, he was most definitely not going first.  "Karin, please.  What were you going to say?"

She blushed a little.  She knew what she wanted to say, but also wanted it to come out perfect.  "Toshiro, we've been close friends for years now and I know you already know how I feel.  I know you've always been wary of our…differences.  Now that I am older and more mature, I was hoping that we could maybe…."

He looked away from her.  Toshiro had a good idea what she was going to say, but it wasn't until she started to speak that the guilt of what he had to say really sunk in.  

"What?" she asked, noting the change in his demeanor.

"Are you sure you want to hear it?" he asked.

"I'm confessing to you, you baka," she answered.

"I already know how you feel," he replied.  "Just like you said."

"Damn it, Toshiro!" she said firmly.  So much for her wish for perfection.

"Karin, I'm sorry.  But I can't let you go on," said Toshiro.  "I have been thinking about us, too."

She stood back, worried.  Toshiro had been in such a great mood this entire evening up until this moment and now, she was scared to death of him.  Well, not of him, but he looked so serious and solemn right now and he had something to tell her.

He paused, not quite knowing how to tell her what was on his mind.  

"Well?" she prompted.

"Karin, you mean the world to me," he said.  "But…there are reasons I will not be able to keep visiting you anymore."

"What?" she blurted out.  "Are you being punished for something?  Did I do something wrong?  Did something change in your role as a taicho?"

"No, no – nothing like that," he assured her.

"Then what?" she demanded.

"Please – don't make me go into any more details.  I can't.  Just….just don't expect to see me ever again," he said to her.  

"Toshiro…," was all she could say until the tears started flowing.  

"I'm so sorry, Karin.  I really am," he said meekly.  He knew he had hurt her, but he was hurting as well.  But he firmly believed that it was for the best.  She would be much happier not holding onto him.  

She collapsed onto the ground, still crying.  

"Karin - ," he started.  He couldn't help but want to console her.

"Leave," she said lowly.  

"Karin - ," he said again.

"I said leave!" she shouted at him.  

"As you wish," he said to her.  She looked up after a few seconds and he was gone.  Karin looked around and then sank even further into a heap on the floor.  

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

Karin didn't care who saw her.  She didn't care much about anything anymore.  She continued to stay in her spot on the balcony.  Other couples walked by.  She heard whispering and even saw some pointing in her direction.  

Finally, Yuzu ran out of the French doors to her sister.  "Karin!  What's wrong?  Are you sick?  Where's Toshiro?" she shouted.

Yuzu looked at her twin sister and saw that her face was wet and that mascara had run all over her face.  

"Karin?" Yuzu said again.

"He's gone, Yuzu.  Toshiro is gone," she finally squeaked out.  

"What do you mean 'gone'?" Yuzu asked.

"I was in the middle of a confession and he stopped me and told me he wouldn't be coming back to see me anymore.  Yuzu, what did I do wrong?" she asked.

"Karin, it is probably nothing you did," comforted Yuzu.  "I know this situation is extremely hard on you...but nothing I say right now will make it hurt less.  I think we just need to get you home."

Karin nodded.  She absolutely didn't want to stay there any longer.  

Yuzu turned and signaled for Hoji to join them.  He was watching through the windows from inside the hotel.  

"Hoji, do me a favor and dial my house.  I need Ichigo to come get Karin," she told him.

"Hai," he agreed.

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

Ichigo was spending a casual night at home.  Both of his teenage sisters were out of the house which made it amazingly quiet.  He also didn't have to battle anyone except for his Dad for the TV, and usually that wasn't a hard fight to win.  

He was surprised when the phone started to ring.  Usually it was for one of his sisters, but most of their friends knew full well where they were this evening.

"Hello?" he said as he picked up the phone.

"Ichigo, it's Yuzu," said Yuzu.

"Yuzu, is everything ok? Why are you calling home?" he asked.

"I need to you come to the hotel and get Karin," she said.

"Is she sick? Where's Toshiro?  Did he have to run off?" Ichigo asked.  He knew that there was always a chance that Toshiro would have had to leave Karin behind to take care of situation that called for a Shinigami.  However, under the circumstances – one of the most important nights in his sister's life – he would not have expected Toshiro to have run off unless it was absolutely necessary.  

"She's not sick, but she does need to get out of here," explained Yuzu.  "There's something going on.  I can explain more when you get here.  Please, just come now."

"I'll be right there," he said as he hung up the phone.

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

Ichigo entered the hotel in his everyday clothes and gradually made his way to where Yuzu had told him they would be.  When he finally reached the balcony, he saw Hoji and Yuzu standing together next to a crumpled up Karin, still sitting on the floor.  

He kneeled to be at her level.  "Karin, are you ready to go home?" he said to her.

"Hai," she softly replied.  

"Where's Toshiro?" he looked up and asked Yuzu.

"He's gone," interjected Karin.  "He said he will not be visiting me anymore."

Ichigo looked at Yuzu, who shrugged her shoulders because that was all she knew as well.  He looked back at a distraught Karin.  Although he was full of questions about what exactly had happened earlier in the evening, he thought better than to ask them now.  

"Let's get you home," was the last thing he said before picking up his sister in his arms.
Here is chapter 11 for your reading enjoyment! A little hard to write, but if everything went well all the time, it would make for a pretty boring read. Toshiro is being an idiot, though he does what he does for good reasons.

Chapter 12: [link]

Chapter 10: [link]
© 2011 - 2024 chakragoddess
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TheSkandranon's avatar
Awwww, what horrible timing. The Prom (whether it's the junior or senior prom) is one of the most important nights in a young girl's life.