Karin closed the hotel room's door behind her gingerly, letting the lock click into place.

She walked down the hallway hurriedly, attempting to shrug on her winter coat while balancing her scarf and stupidly-large handbag at once. The cold that seemed to permeate every space in the building still grated on her nerves. Her heels clicked against the hardwood floors in an echo, the sharp sound rattling inside her head distractedly as she counted the floors to the lobby.

So maybe she'd ditched her brother's engagement party downstairs (with a bottle of champagne sneaked from the kitchen downstairs) to finish a paper, and maybe Yuzu thought she was going to get shitfaced with a random guy before playing anatomy, and maybe Rukia thought that she'd seen her ex downstairs and was trying her best to avoid the bastard, and maybe her father thought that she was still in the bathroom.

Either way, she'd still proved herself to be a fantastic liar.

Two out of the three were slightly true - she was still tipsy when she'd spotted her ex-fiance slow dancing with his new girl friend that looked bored to tears, clearly interested in networking around the room and ordering around for more drinks. People in expensive clothes and half full champagne glasses started asking invasive questions as she'd secretly cackled at him, and so she'd slipped away for the night.

(Really, as if she was the one to take the time and effort in clearing up misconceptions.)

It made her want to gloat just a bit. Karin was the one who downgraded from national soccer star to med school student in a matter of seven months, and he still looked more of a fool than her.

Her term paper on hemophilia was supposed to be turned in by midnight - since Ichigo had a beautiful habit of inconveniencing her at the worst of times - she brought out her huge leather handbag that Yuzu had given her for her last birthday and stuffed her laptop and a textbook inside. Honestly, sitting in a fancy hotel room, stuffing her face at the minibar and drinking expensive champagne was an experience. It felt even better that her brother would be footing the bill, no matter how easily she could have paid for it herself.

Tonight, she learned that it was easier to bullshit a ten page essay half drunk.

Karin made it to the elevators fully dressed and heaving her bag over her right elbow. She'd pressed the elevator button as she pondered her sister's knowing wink earlier. An unwilling smirk pulled at the corners of her lips.

So maybe she would have liked to have been playing anatomy with a guy.

Or, well, a little more than maybe. Grimmjow had been checking her out...

The doors opened after a minute, breaking her scandalous thoughts, and she stepped in with stilletos shifting from the sharp click of wooden floors to the heavy tap of marble. Karin settled herself into the very center, stepping back and pulling the hair falling down her back over her left shoulder. The doors of the elevator were almost fully closed when a hand slipped between the space between them, startling her instantly.

'How wasted am I?' she thought quietly, watching as the man entered through the reopening doors. She hadn't heard him at all.

The dark haired woman watched him with a cocked brow, taking in the tailored suit that had to be more than a thousand dollars, stark white hair that stuck out in a mess around his head, and bone structure that would make any male model burn in envy. A lit cigarette was hanging off of his lips casually, making her frown involuntarily.

He found her stare after the doors had closed and the elevator was making its way back to the ground floor.

"What?" he asked, frowning. She cleared her throat a bit, and tried not to slur as best as she could.

"Can't smoke in here."

"That's not what the front lobby said."

He settled in to her left as she made room for him, a glare warping her face. That lie hadn't gone too well - or rightfully posed assumption. What the hell kind of hotel allowed people to smoke in elevators? Karin rolled her eyes, curling her lip in a sneer. "Second hand smoke doesn't go with this dress. Or adenocarincoma," she drawled acidically. "Put it out."

The stranger rolled his eyes, taking a long drag before blowing out a thick cloud of smoke as he met her eyes. "Oh, wow, big word. Should I clap for you? Or maybe I should just run along with my lung cancer?" he answered back condescendingly.

Karin blinked owlishly. Did he just make a pass at her intelligence?

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she seethed, her words coming out sharp and clear. The alcoholic fog of her mind cleared away in acute anger. She took a step towards him, a finger pointed in his chest. "Have the goddamned common courtesy to un-light that thing before stepping in here! I shouldn't have to be subjected to inhaling toxins against my will!"

He gave her a tired, dull stare as he took another drag.

Karin damn near growled, simmering for a moment before snatching the cigarette from his lips and tossing it onto the floor. She stepping on it heatedly, twisting her foot into it.

Her knee responded almost immediately. The sharp, aching of her muscles protested the sharp movement and her poor footing. All the irritation in her system left as a familiar wash of panic shot through her system. She gasped in pain as she lurched sideways against with slippery muscles that did nothing to find her balance again-

Only to be caught by lanky arms, supporting her back onto her feet.

"Are you okay?" he asked, suddenly concerned.

Karin didn't look him in the eye, taking a deep breath and letting the ache in her knee subside before she focusing on his throat. She quietly realized he wasn't wearing a tie, the top button of his suit undone to reveal tan skin and tightened muscles around his neck.

Her cheeks flushed at the throbbing pain and embarrassment, trying to struggle out of his arms. He did not relent. He smelled like fresh smoke and expensive cologne, making her head dizzy.

"I'm fine," she muttered through grit teeth. She heard the elevator doors ring and slide open, and righted herself immediately. The bright, heavy lights of the hotel lobby revealed the flurry of guests still in the midst of the party, making her heart slam in worry. He finally let her go, arms still hesitating near her frame. "It's nothing."

The dark haired girl slipped through the door as quickly as she could, trying her best not to walk with a limp.