A/N: This is my first fan fiction. I hope you enjoy. I always welcome constructive criticism.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. I only own my own characters.

Prologue: Already?

"What do you mean, you're skipping high school?" Isshin yelled at the breakfast table as he and Karin sat eating breakfast.

Karin sighed at her father's outrage and stared into her bowl of cereal. They would have been eating a home cooked meal if Yuzu were still alive. But she had died as a casualty in the war with Aizen. No one knew how, but it didn't really matter, since they could see her nearly anytime they wanted. It also helped to ease Karin's mind about her sister to know that Ichigo had went with her to the Soul Society. He was now the official captain of squad nine and Yuzu was a lieutenant in the fourth squad. A good fit for her.

"Don't ignore your father, Karin. You are fifteen years old. You need to go to school. The fact that I have to explain this to you is proof enough." Isshin paused to gulp in a deep breath. Karin turned away from him in her seat and began rooting around in her old school bag that lay beside her chair. "Are you listening to me, young lady? Ever since your brother and sister went away, you've been acting more and more rebellious. You are forever coming in late. Always over at Urahara Shop doing god knows what. I even found out that you've been skipping school! How could you do this to your father?" By the end of his speech, the man had tears pouring down his face as he regarded his silent daughter.

Sighing again, Karin got up from her seat with a slip of paper in her hand. Turning to her father, she regarded him with a look of complete boredom. She handed him the slip of paper with a snap.

"If you'd care to hear my side of the story, Goat Chin, I was going to say that I'm skipping high school and going straight to university. And, yeah, I've been coming home late, because between training sessions with Yoruichi-sensei and taking the advanced placement exams, I've not actually had a lot of time. So excuse me if I go for a walk in the evenings to look at the sky and relax. Besides, any time I am actually home, you're off in another meeting or tending to a patient. It's not my fault our schedules don't match up." Karin finished and went to the kitchen to start on the dishes that were ever piling higher. It was also a good way to let her dad absorb the information she had just thrown at him. He would need some time to swallow it all.

A few hours later, Karin was in her room she used to share with Yuzu, shuffling through all the paperwork she had to fill out for various universities.

-knock knock-

"Come in!" Turning in her desk chair, the black haired girl saw it her father standing sheepishly in her doorway. "What's up?"

The older man's mouth flopped open and closed, reminding Karin of koi fish she had seen once at a temple. "I'm sorry... Really. I am. I shouldn't have assumed such a thing. You've always been a good girl. You've always done things your own way." When Karin gave him a small smile, Isshin sat on the edge of her bed. "So, you passed the advanced placement tests with perfect scores, huh? Who knew I had such a smart daughter." He came in for a hug, but only got a fist to the face.

"Don't even think about it, Goat Chin. You hug me and you'll start bawling like a child. I don't have time to deal with that right now." She was about to turn back to her desk when her father suddenly grabbed her wrist. Startled, she saw he was staring at the leather cuffs she was wearing.

"Karin, where did you get these? I don't remember..." His face looked pinched and worried.

"The leather bracelets? Mr. Urahara gave them to me for my birthday. He said they would help... with some things. Besides, I like how they look." Karin shrugged his hand off.

His face only became darker after her statement, but he said no more on the subject. Still staring at the accessories, he asked, "So, how long have you been training with this Yoruichi person? Is he cute?"

Karin gave her father an annoyed look, but decided to answer his question anyways. "I've been going to Urahara Shop since I was little. It was Yuzu's favorite candy store. Anyways, when I was about seven, Yoruichi-sensei asked if I'd like to train with her. I've been training with her ever since."

"Hm..." He murmured. Then, in his true hair brained fashion, completely changed the subject. "So, what university were you thinking about. Maybe I could help narrow your choices down."

They passed the rest of the night in pleasant debate over whether or not a school's sports team should be the deciding factor or whether it should be the academics.

888

Karin walked out onto the busy street after a four hour tour of the University of Tokyo. She had finally decided on a school to attend and was only waiting for the paper work to go through so she could start her studies.

"I'll be right back with the car, kiddo. You wait here." Isshin patted his daughter on the head and headed in the direction of the parking garage.

Karin leaned against the wall behind her and waited for her father to return. She was so bored. Because of her success in school and getting into a college so early, Yoruichi had decided to give her the month off training. She had no idea what to do with herself anymore.

"Wait! Somebody stop that man! He just stole my purse!"

Looking around, Karin saw a dark clad man running down the street, clutching a beige purse in both hands.

This looks easy enough. Easily positioning herself, the fifteen year old girl waited for the thief to get within reach. With lightening reflexes, she extended her leg and tripped the jerk as he attempted to pass. After he skidded to a halt on his face, Karin walked over to him, full of confidence. Leaning over the man, she wrestled him to his back and tried to retrieve the purse.

But she hadn't counted on one thing.

It happened in what felt like slow motion. Slowly, the man brought a gun around to face her. Before she could do as Yoruichi had taught her, the man pulled the trigger. The earsplitting crack of the gun firing echoed off the nearby walls and ricocheted back at the crowd in an eerie fashion.

Looking down, Karin saw a red stain blooming on her chest. Reaching up, she vaguely wondered why she didn't feel any pain. Gunshot wounds should hurt, right? Oh, right. Shock. That was a thing.

Man this is gonna hurt in the morning … Will dad be mad at me again? I hope not. Karin thought as she lost strength in her legs and toppled to the ground. I'm cold now. And so tired. I've been tired ever since Yuzu died. I should go to sleep. I'll be better when I wake up.

"Karin? Karin!" The girl felt herself lifted from the ground and pulled into a familiar chest. "Oh, baby girl, no. No, not already. It's too soon. Don't die. Not now."

Minutes or hours passed, Karin couldn't tell. White lights flashed in rectangular patterns above her head. Soon, she came to rest in a dim room. But she didn't care. She was too tired. And cold. If she could just warm up a little, she could go to sleep.

A hand held hers tightly in its grasp. "Don't worry, baby. Daddy won't leave you alone for long." A rough voice rasped close to her ear. "You'll be safe there. I know you will. So don't hold on, okay? Daddy will be with you soon. I love you, Karin. My precious little girl."

He picked her up and cradled her in his arms, close to his heart. Rocking her gently, he began to sing the old lullaby his wife had made up for their children.

"Sleep, my child. Dream in a land of fancy. Rest your head awhile..."

So warm. Good night, Daddy.