Title: Candy Kisses
Pairing: Hitsugaya Toushirou / Kurosaki Karin
Theme: #23 candy
Disclaimer: Bleach does no belong to me. This is a purely fictional story based on the characters and story created by Tite Kubo, to whom they do belong.

It occurred quite suddenly to the captain of the Tenth Squad that he had not seen a single soul the entire day. Usually Matsumoto was already in the office and was either passed out on the couch or thinking of ways to escape her 'mean and harsh task master' of a captain. He snorted on that thought, knowing that no matter what he did, he would never get his errant lieutenant to do any decent amount of paperwork to make a difference. Slightly miffed at being ignored almost the entire day, he placed the last stack of paperwork aside and rubbed his eyes tiredly. Even Karin hadn't been to see him, and that was a rare occurrence in itself. The only time she didn't come to see him was if she was assigned to the World of the Living or if she was angry with him… again.

Frowning, he knew that Hinamori had not assigned her to the World of the Living recently, nor was her next assignment there due for another few months. Mentally crossing that out, he tried to remember if he had done anything particularly wrong the past few nights to get this sort of reaction out of Karin. Drawing a blank, he shook his head, shaking the nagging thoughts out his mind as he made his way out his office. He made a quick detour down to his Squad's training ground, only to find it devoid of any sort of activity. This made him slightly suspicious, knowing that this time of day, the training grounds were full of seated and unseated officers alike. Crossing his arms, he scowled slightly.

Turning around and marching back to his office, he captured a Hell Butterfly gently and gave a short but crisp request for both Karin and Matsumoto to appear in his office. Sending the butterfly off, he sat down in his chair; pulling out the book Kurosaki had gotten him for his rather reluctant birthday celebrations a few months past.

Karin was sitting in an office, waiting for Hinamori to dismiss her when the Hell Butterfly came through the open door, perching on her ear and whispering the message from the miffed Tenth Squad Captain. Hinamori looked back at her 3rd Seat, laughing delightedly when she saw the message. Karin raised an eyebrow when she was waved off distractedly. Bowing to her captain, Karin grabbed the small bag she had placed on the desk and took off at a fast pace, glad to be out the office and wanting to get to Toushirou before Hinamori changed her mind.

Matsumoto was drinking with Hisagi, Kira and Abarai when she received the message. Shouting a reply, followed by a particularly loud belch from Abarai and a down right dirty comment from Hisagi, the butterfly flew back to Toushirou, definitely not looking forward to the reaction it was going to receive.

Toushirou felt rather than heard Karin approaching. Much like her brother, Karin had little control over her reiatsu. Granted, she had a lot more control than Kurosaki ever had and most likely ever will have. It was one of those little things that Toushirou loved to tease her about. He didn't even look up when the door shuddered open, providing him with the sight of his beloved.

Karin crossed her arms, scowling at Toushirou and his almost carefree pose. She walked over to him and sat on his desk, opening the bag and popping a piece of the rock candy into her mouth. Toushirou finally looked up when the book was taken from his hands and thrown gently to the side. He saw the smirk too late before Karin descended on him, pressing her lips to his firmly. He reached up to cradle her cheeks gently, deepening the kiss. Karin took her chance and manoeuvred the candy from her to him, drawing back once her mission was complete.

She smirked in triumph when he looked at her, confused for a moment before he realised what it was she had just done. He refrained from rolling his eyes, looking up at his devious girlfriend.

"That was downright sneaky," he murmured, finishing the candy quickly.

Karin's smirk grew. "You never stated the rules, Shirou-chan."

Toushirou's eyes narrowed with determination, reaching over to the bag and taking a piece of the candy. He put it in his own mouth and dragged Karin down to initiate their second kiss. He pushed the candy into her mouth, kissing her as she accepted the candy. He pulled back, smirked once again at the dazed look on her face, and reached for the book again.

Karin shook herself out of the daze, rolling here eyes at Toushirou as she sucked nonchalantly on the candy. She eyed the Hell Butterfly as it flew in, knowing exactly whom it was from and where it had come from. She nudged Toushirou with the side of her foot, indicating to the Butterfly. He held his hand up to it, allowing it to perch on his fingertip.

The message, however, was not one he was expecting.

"Caaaaaaptaaaaaaain!!! Guess whoooooo, siiir! I'm so not drunk, I swear… OH HEY IZURU!!! WAKE UP!!! Reeeeenji wake Izuru uuup!!! Oh Hisaaaaaaagiiiiiiiiiii!!!! Come say hello to Captain Hitsugaaaayaaaa-kun!"

"Cap'n!!! Long time no taaalk. Now, you hear me!!! You haves a lovely girl, that Kurosaki!! Make sure you can plea---"

Toushirou shook his finger, sending the Butterfly fluttering away in a desperate attempt to save its life. The temperature dropped suddenly as Toushirou started to shake. Karin looked over at him, grinning at his reaction.

"MATSUMO---"

He never finished the cry, being cut off by a very persistent Karin. Another candy slid into his mouth, effectively preventing him from talking. Karin pulled back, quite impressed with her handiwork.

"Now now, Shirou-chan. Hisagi's just jealous he isn't half the man you are," Karin said offhandedly, popping another candy into her mouth carelessly.

Toushirou swallowed the candy in shock, coughing harshly to clear his airway. Karin glanced at him, concerned until he stopped coughing. He looked up at her, still sitting on his desk, and decided he had to know.

"What was the big idea, kissing me with this candy?"

Karin smiled, stroking his hair affectionately.

"This was just to show you candy isn't just for children," Karin explained mischievously.

It was then, at that moment, that Toushirou decided he didn't mind candy so much anymore.