a/n at the end of the chapter!

Yoruichi stood, arms folded across her chest, mouth twisted in a mild grimace. Of the three of them, she was the only one who stood completely still, having been interrupted in the middle of hunkering down for an afternoon nap. Karin's breathing and heart rate were back under control, but a sheen of sweat still lingered on her skin, her uniform clinging to her in patches against her back and beneath her arms. Like this, the training grounds felt stuffy, instead of modestly temperate. Next to her, Yuzu's brows were furrowed and her bottom lip was stiff, fervently ignoring the long stands of hair that were sticking to her neck and irritating her skin.

"You must be certain," Yoruichi said. "It will not be easy, nor, in any likelihood, will it be brief. And, should you fail to do it right on the first attempt, it will blow your cover immediately. Think carefully. There can be other alternatives."

"There's no point in considering any," Karin said. She tried to keep her jaw unclenched. "If doing this means we can go back home, then there's no other choice."

Yuzu glanced briefly at her but said nothing. At fifteen years old, it was quite possible that the two of them knew everything there was to know about each other. Most thoughts were transparent, each predictable to the other twin. Karin knew Yuzu wouldn't fight her on this, would, in her nagging cloud of doubt, trust her to understand what was best for them both. Where Yuzu was indecisive, Karin was unwavering, and it worked marvellously in no better situation than this.

Yoruichi gave them a long, hard look, the kind that was meant to break them should they still be uncertain deep down. Nothing came of it.

"Very well. Prepare. Focus, like I taught you."

Each twin took a stance, feet planted shoulder width apart. Around them, slowly, a thin white veil of reiatsu began to shine.

I'll make it, Karin thinks, even if it kills me.

"Begin."

Two Years

"Alright, everyone, before we begin, Kurosaki has an announcement for the class. Kurosaki."

"Yes."

Everyone watches with mild attention as Karin Kurosaki and four of the boys in their class get up and walk to the front of the room. Eiji Furukawa has a notebook with him, and on a blank page are the words Beginner's Soccer! written with a childish hand in red and blue marker. Eiji holds up the sign and smiles brightly, while the others fold their hands behind their backs and stand at attention.

Karin steps up and clears her throat. "Right, guys, the five of us have just created a new club. Beginner's Soccer. It's for people who have little or no background with the game, but want to participate and learn how to play. The tutors will be the five of us as you see here—

"Eiji…" as Eiji lifts one hand and widens his smile,

"Heita…" greeted by a wicked grin and a casual salute,

"Kazuya…" a friendly, polite nod,

"…and Kei." [No greeting, but his name cues a series of giggles and suppressed squeals within the classroom.]

"And me," Karin finishes. "We accept all levels of players, but the club will focus on the basic rudimentary skills and rules of soccer. Our first meeting will be tomorrow at 4:00 in the arts building, so if you're interested, come and join us." Karin smiles. "Everyone, I hope to see you there."

The class claps, half out of politeness, and half simply from being charmed; if they hadn't been paying attention before, everyone was now. Karin seems to sense this, and looks thoroughly satisfied by the response.

From the left side of the room, her sister Yuzu shoots her a thumbs-up.

-.-.-.-

"I think that went well," Kazuya remarks, the five of them shuffling down the stairs.

"Of course it did. We were total soccer nuts back in elementary school. We're the best people to learn from," Heita says, unabashedly. "Not to mention half of us are on the school teams."

"It's good we all aren't, though. If I were thinking about joining, I'd be scared if all the tutors were team members. The fact that Kei and I aren't on the team will make it more inviting for people who get overwhelmed easily."

"I agree," Kei says. "You look very non-threatening too, Kazuya. I think it'll go well."

"I'm just glad you guys agreed to it," Eiji says, speaking to Kei and Kazuya. "Thanks for helping out."

"No worries. Even if no one else joins, at least it'll be the five of us, right?" Kei says. "Just like old times."

Eiji turns to look at Karin, who's been silent till now. "You, too, Kurosaki."

"Mm?"

"You were so busy during middle school. We hardly ever saw you."

"That's true," Heita pipes up. "You were so busy at your dad's clinic all the time. It was like you were a ghost in middle school."

Karin gives them a faint, apologetic smile. "Sorry. I should be thanking you guys for still wanting to talk to me. Anyone else would've given up."

"Group wouldn't be the same," Kei replies honestly. "You were always the cause of all the excitement, you know. We wouldn't have half the memories and good times that we've got now."

"Plus it was like having another guy around anyway," Heita says. "Back then you had no charm whatsoever. You were flatter than a cutting bo—"

A strong punch to the side of the head cuts him short, Karin shaking her hand out afterwards with a look of mild annoyance.

"Well, I've got kendo now," Kazuya says, as they finally make it out of the building and start shuffling along on dirt paths. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Later," the others chorus, waving him off.

"Kurosaki, you coming to the movies with us?" Heita asks. "We were gonna check our that new robot invasion one. The graphics look sick."

"Thanks, but I'm going to have to join you another time," Karin says, already veering off. "Have fun!"

The others wait until Karin is out of hearing range. "Say," Heita says, "doesn't it feel like something's different with her?"

"I should expect so. She put in a lot of hours at her dad's clinic," Kei says. "I don't think she had any free time. Just studying and helping."

"She must've seen a lot of blood and gross stuff," Heita says thoughtfully. "I guess that kind of changes people. Man, in the movies it's one thing but in real life I'd probably be sick or something. Don't you think so, Eiji?"

Eiji didn't hear him. He's still staring after Karin's retreating figure.

"Eiji?"

"Hm?"

"Everything okay, man?"

"Yeah, everything's good." Eiji looks over and smiles. "Should we get going?"

"YEAH! Robots, robots!" Heita chants, pumping his fists as he leads the way.

Eiji glances over his shoulder, watching as Karin approaches her sister Yuzu, the two of them exchanging a quiet word before slipping off the school premises.

-.-.-.-

"Yo," Karin calls out, slipping her shoes off and stepping into the store.

"Ah, Kurosaki," Urahara says, greeting the both of them. He's sitting off to one corner, legs crossed, fanning himself gently with his paper fan. To Karin's knowledge, he never actually does anything else, save for when they get a customer. "How was school?"

"Same as always. It never really changes as you go on. Elementary school becomes middle school, middle school becomes high school. The only difference is the uniform."

"Hello, Urahara-san," Yuzu greets politely, giving her usual bright smile as she steps inside. "Karin-chan is just being grumpy like usual. I think high school will be fun."

"I'm glad at least one of you is enjoying it, then. Yoruichi is downstairs already. You guys can go ahead whenever you're ready."

"Thanks. Hey, Tsukabishi-san," Karin says, waving to Tessai as she spots him stacking boxes in the back.

"Hello, Karin-dono, Yuzu-dono."

The sisters enter the back room, and open the cellar door that leads to the underground training arena dominating the basement of the shop. Knowing that Yoruichi was probably the only one down there, Karin grabs hold of the sides of the ladder, and artfully slides down in one smooth movement.

"Goodness. You should be more careful when you're wearing a skirt," a familiar voice says behind her.

Karin turns around and bows respectfully. "Hello, Yoruichi-sensei."

"Skirt, skirt," Yoruichi chides, and Karin obediently reaches behind her and flattens the back of her skirt down while retaining her 90 degree bow.

To put things into perspective, Karin respected Yoruichi probably more than she respected anyone else in her life, and she'd changed her hair to mimic Yoruichi's in an homage to her favourite teacher, her long locks tied back into a high ponytail. Yoruichi, in Karin's eyes, was everything that a strong respectable woman should be—powerful, intelligent, serious but not without humour, confident but not without a well-groomed beauty. Karin figured she only had a fraction of Yoruichi's strength or charm, but was decidedly content with the idea of being her pupil for as long as time and instance would allow it.

"Sorry. I haven't worn a school uniform all summer," Karin said, as Yuzu was trying to descend the ladder rungs as quickly as she could. "I'm not usually one for skirts."

"I know. But that's okay. They're only really of any use if you're going to wear them to a date. I guess you don't have any school friends to catch your eye?"

Karin made a face. "Come on. I don't have time for stuff like that."

"Ayy, you can't think like that! You're in the prime of your youth! You should be going out and having a little fun," Yoruichi grins. "Hello, Yuzu."

"Yoruichi-sama!" Yuzu was practically sweating, taking her place beside Karin and bowing frantically. "Sorry I took so long!"

"Don't sweat it, don't sweat it," Yoruichi says, waving her hand dismissively. "I was just telling Karin she should be more mindful about her skirt. Karin, note her example."

"Yes, Yoruichi-sensei," Karin said, bowing again. She knew Yoruichi was just poking fun at her, but the response was automatic, drilled into her brain from when they'd first begun training a few years back. Needless to say she'd started off a much more disorderly pupil.

"Well, in any case," Yoruichi said, slipping off the rock she'd been perched on and approaching the girls, "my special order finally came in. These are for you."

Karin and Yuzu looked on quizzically as Yoruichi took something out of her pocket and showed it to them with her open palm. Inside were two toy candy dispensers, with little animal heads on top—one a cat, another a rabbit.

Karin frowned. "Aren't these just regular Gikongan dispensers? Why are they a special order?"

"Come on, you guys have seen what Kyon's like, haven't you? The little lion's a total pain in the ass. Typically speaking, Gikon are meant to reflect characteristics of the character on the top of the dispenser—" Yoruichi pointed to the cat and rabbit heads, "but most of the characters are incredibly annoying. In your case, I had yours specially designed to reflect your personalities instead."

That caught the sisters' attention, the two of them now looking at the Gikongan in awe. Yoruichi smiled. "Go ahead. They're yours."

Karin picked up her dispenser, with the cat head on top. "Should we…"

"Mm. Give it a try. You should meet the spirits taking care of your bodies for you."

Karin nodded. Popping the top open, she flicked the Gikon into her mouth and swallowed.

The effect was instantaneous; in the next second Karin was standing a foot closer to Yoruichi than she had before, now in her Shinigami form. Her kosode was sleeveless, typical of Shūnko users, her hakama swapped out for black stretch pants. Yuzu had kept her hakama, but wore a sleeveless kosode as well, due to the heavy weight of the standard sleeved variety.

Together, the two of them turned to look at their bodies, inhabited by their Gikon.

"Yo," Karin's body greeted cheerfully, in a voice that wasn't quite Karin's, raising a hand in greeting. "My name's Yuri. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Yuki," Yuzu's body said, smiling blindingly. "Nice to meet you."

"Aren't they cute? They're real twins, just like you guys," Yoruichi gushed, clearly proud of herself. "They already know all about you two. I've given them the full rundown. They'll take good care of you guys while you're fighting."

Her enthusiasm is palpable, so Karin smiles. "Nice to meet you. I hope we can get along well."

Yuzu leans forward and examines her own face closely. "Heh. I didn't realize my eye shadow looked like that in this lighting."

"You guys can admire yourselves later." Yoruichi looks over at Yuki and Yuri. "You two, go and wait for us upstairs. You can…get accustomed to their bodies or something."

"Yes!" they chorus, and obediently turn away to start climbing back up the ladder.

Karin watched Yuri go and made a face. "I can see what you mean about the skirt."

"See? Now," Yoruichi put on her serious teacher voice, "we can warm up by getting you two to spar. We'll do the bell exercise."

Karin slumps. "Again?"

"Don't complain! In order to be the fastest, you have to stay in practice. Put your bells on and get ready."

The bell exercise wasn't complicated, in theory. Each of them tied a couple of bells to their waist, and had to try and snatch the other's person's bells off of them. It was a practice of speed, but it also helped with detecting and predicting the opponent's movements—something the two of them kept in constant practice with. Being twins, they always had to think up new ways to outsmart the other. This part more or less was where the ease of the theory didn't translate into the practice of it.

The sisters took their places on opposite sides of the arena, their bells now tinkling with every movement of their hips. Yoruichi found a spot up on one of the taller rocks to spectate, and crossed her legs comfortably.

"You ready?" Yoruichi called, although it was plain to see that they were; both of them were now staring intently at their twin, brows furrowed and mouths pinched. Yoruichi smiled. Watching her students was something she could grow tired of.

"Then begin."

-.-.-.-

"Right, well," Kyōraku scratches his chin idly, "I'm sure a few of you are aware already, but there seems to be some disturbance regarding recent Hollow activity in the world of the living."

Following Yamamoto's death and Kyōraku's promotion, captain's meetings—and the overall function of Soul Society in general—had drastically changed. Where Yamamoto was the all-power, strict in his orders and unwavering in his decisions, Kyōraku was much more relaxed, and was open to the opinions of the other division captains, making it plain that he was taking their words into consideration. Central 46 had been denounced almost immediately, so any major issues were brought up and resolved by him.

If Hitsugaya was being honest, Kyōraku's rein was much more preferable to serve under. Even if Kyōraku was, technically, just another old man making decisions, he could appreciate what Kyōraku was trying to do in inviting everyone to pitch in their opinions. Plus he'd always hated Central 46 with a burning passion, and had been relieved to hear that the council would not be reinstated. Course, he'd never openly admit any of those things out loud to anyone, probably not even Matsumoto.

"We're not entirely aware what this disturbance could be," Kyōraku said. "From what we've gathered from reports from Kurumadani Zennosuke, Hollow activity has been on a sharp rise, and tends to be highly concentrated to certain spots at a time. I've spoken to Kisuke Urahara and told him to do his own investigations and helping about, but it seems we'll have to do a bit of interfering of our own.

"Now, in terms of those I'd like to send to the world of the living, the easiest thing to do would be to dispatch those who have had experience there before. Lieutenant Kuchiki Rukia has already approached me to volunteer in overseeing Tokyo city, where our beloved Kurosaki Ichigo is currently residing, and she will be taking Lieutenant Abarai Renji with her. To my understanding, that leaves 10th division Captain Hitsugaya Tōshirō, 10th division Lieutenant Matsumoto Rangiku, 11th division 3rd seat Ikkaku Madarame, and 11th division 5th seat Ayasegawa Yumichika as the remaining officers with previous experience in Karakura Town."

Kyōraku turned, and addressed Hitsugaya alone now, his perpetual smile upon his face. "Well, Captain Hitsugaya?" he asks pleasantly. "Do you have any interest in volunteering to return?"

"If I'm to return to the world of the living," Hitsugaya said with a stiff sigh, "I imagine my lieutenant will probably raise strong objections to not accompanying me."

"Sounds like a plan. But if not Matsumoto, I'd recommend bringing at least one other with you when you go, for back-up. Better safe than sorry." Kyōraku addressed the general meeting again. "I'll consider that resolved for the time being. Everyone else will be sure to receive any important updates from me. Well, unless anyone has any questions, I'll bring this meeting to a close."

"Commander," Kuchiki Byakuya spoke up. "Are we to understand that Urahara Kisuke and all those involved with him before his departure from Soul Society are now cleared from the crimes which they were accused?"

"Hm? Ah, yes. That is correct. I approached Urahara on my own and asked if he was willing to clear any misunderstandings regarding their departure. We've had our fair share of messes here in Soul Society, and I'm afraid clearing their names is the only one I've been able to fix so far. But, I'm hoping that from here on out there will be less of these fatal misunderstandings to begin with. Injustice is cruel, and leaves a bitter taste in the heart. I wouldn't wish that on anybody."

The assembly had no comment to this, remaining quiet. I wouldn't be very close friends with him, Hitsugaya mused, but at least his heart's in a good place.

"Then, this meeting is adjourned. Captain Hitsugaya, you and your chosen companion may depart to the world of the living as soon as it becomes convenient to you."

"Yes, Commander," Hitsugaya said, although he could tell from Kyōraku's knowing smile that he knew exactly who would be leaving with him. He suppresses the urge to rub at his temples.

-.-.-.-

Karin covered her mouth, yawning widely. She's already read her assigned passage of Peter Pan, her English garbled and horribly pronounced, and now she has to suffer listening to everyone else's terrible English. Everyone's droning is making her eyelids heavy, and she glances at the clock before staring longingly out the window. It's supposed to become cold and overcast later, and she really wants to get outside before the weather takes a turn for the worse.

There's an hour and fifteen minutes left of school still, and last period is advanced calculus. Worst than English, honestly. Numbers are manageably agreeable with Karin, math never being her worst subject, but it sure as hell wasn't her favourite either. Being a first year always sucks, Karin thought sulkily. They always make you take specific things. Why shouldn't we be able to start picking out which courses we wa—

She feels it.

It's sharp, acute, heavy, and familiar. Like a lingering memory of something she'd nearly forgotten, only now here it was again, stronger than it's ever felt before, because her spiritual awareness is so much higher now than it was two years ago. Karin's eyes flew open, a shocked noise caught in her throat.

"What!" she burst out, jumping out of her seat at the exact same moment as Yuzu, who looked just as bewildered.

The entire class stops, looking at them. "Kurosaki twins," the teacher says, peering at them over his glasses, Peter Pan still propped open in his hand, "is something wrong?"

"Sorry, sir, we have to go," Karin said, scooping her bag up and hurrying to the front of the class. She leans forward and whispered into her teacher's ear, something Yoruichi told her to say if she ever needed to leave somewhere short notice.

Sure enough, the teacher rears back, looking utterly flustered. "Yes, yes, of course, you're both excused," he said quickly, now sounding eager to have them out of the classroom as fast as possible.

"Thanks, sir!" Karin said, running out, and Yuzu catches up close behind, the two of them bolting down the hallway.

"Karin-chan, do you know…?"

"Yeah, I do." Karin curses. "Hopefully they're not here for long."

"Will we get there in time?"

"As long as they didn't sense us. You cut off your reiatsu right away, right?"

"Yes."

"Then we just need to run."

The second they pushed out of the school's double doors, they disappeared, the swiftness of their Shunpo rendering them undetectable to the human eye.

-.-.-.-

"Hey, hey, Captain," Matsumoto said, as they stepped out from the Senkaimon already in their Gigai bodies, "do you think we could go visit Ichigo's place?"

"What? What for? He's not at his home right now."

"But Isshin still is! It's been so long since we've last seen him. Aren't you curious? We might see Ichigo's sister too. She must've grown a lot since we last saw her. Maybe she's still taller than you!"

"Give it a rest!" Hitsugaya snapped. "I thought we agreed no more height comments!"

"C'mon, I think it'll be fun. It'll be like a reunion!"

Hitsugaya exhaled through his nose. Barely ten steps he'd taken on Earth's dirt and he could already feel the blood pulsing through his temples. "We're not here for Isshin or his daughters. We've got a job to do. Remember that, before you run off and cause more trouble by goofing around."

"So mean," Matsumoto pouted, trailing behind her captain. "But, where are we going to be staying?"

"I've arranged something with Urahara. We should get going and see him now."

"But we just got here! Captain, come on!"

It fell on deaf ears—or at least partially deaf, anyway, seeing as Hitsugaya could never really block out Matsumoto's distinctive and insistent whining. If I'm lucky, Matsumoto thinks, jogging a little to catch up, I can sneak away for the rest of the night.

Author's Notes

1. I stole the bell exercise from Naruto don't kill me

2. So this is my first venture into fanfiction in a really, really long time. I'm not super used to , so please forgive any format issues. I'll probably only continue working on it based on reader response, so if you guys like it please let me know, whether it be through a comment or an upvote (or whatever system they use on this site)! It'd be much appreciated :)

3. I can't believe this godforsaken site doesn't have paragraph breaks what kind of nonsense