• 1-Love is a Triangle
• 2-Hello Beautiful
• 3-Misery Date
• 4-Toshiro Says the Dumbest Things
• 5-First Day of School, and a Second Date
• 6-The Panther and His Tamer
• 7-Little War, Lovely Peace Maker
• 8-A Bad Dream and Not So Cold Comfort
• 9-A Gnawing Sensation
• 10-My Mate!
• 11-Instinctual Addiction
• 12-Awakened—New Power, New Feelings
• 13-Hit by a Bus of Love
• 14-Upset and Vulnerable
• 15-New Connections

You Bent My Triangle!

Chapter 9: A Gnawing Sensation

Karin woke up at before sunrise, she groaned. Looking at the clock, 5:57 am, "Crap!" She knew she'd never get back to sleep after the night she'd had she was almost glad to be awake. Besides she felt extremely hungry for some reason.

Karin dragged herself out of bed, suddenly noticed a faint snoring sound, looking to the left of her bed. There sat a boy with white hair, snoozing in the same chair Ichigo had fallen out of only a couple days ago.

"I guess he thought I needed looking after," She smiled at him. She thought how cute he looked. She tentatively brushed her hand through his now short, but still spiky hair. It was soft. She smiled but had a pang of guilt. ‘Have I to think of Grimm. I can't start to crush on Hitsugaya,’ she frowned as she went to the bathroom. She got into the shower and tried to forget the events of the night before. The gnawing hungry guilty sensation grew stronger. She grabbed her stomach and crumbled in the shower. The lights went out in her head. Water still running growing colder.

"Karin! What's wrong?" Yuzu shook her sister. She groaned and shook her head unconsciously. Karin shivered as a clean towel was laid over her shoulders. She opened her eyes to bright morning light flooding the bathroom.

"Yuzu?" Karin looked up from her position confusedly, "Wha' happen?"

"You must have fainted, the shower was ice cold. Thank goodness you had not locked the door," Yuzu's lip quivered, "I'll help you get dressed then take you down to see Dad."

"No, I just need to eat something, I feel so hungry. I must have low blood sugar or something," Karin protested.

"Well I'll get you some juice then you can see Dad," Yuzu would not be argued with. Karin was still shivering visibly and her skin was icy to the touch from laying unconscious under freezing water for almost an hour. Yuzu helped her sister up and wrapped the towel around the stubborn girl, "Come on Karin! Let's get you dressed and then I'll get you some juice."

"You know Yuzu you can be really pushy when you want to," The two of them giggled.

"Only when it comes to my loved ones health," She smiled at her twin.

Yuzu lead Karin into her room. Hitsugaya had since left her room and was dressed and already down stairs with the rest of the house hold. Yuzu only came to the bathroom to check on her sister.

Karin got dressed and was lead down the stairs by her sister.

"Are you ill?" Toshiro stood up from the kitchen table seeing the usually strong, headstrong girl being lead by the meek twin.

"She fainted in the shower. She needs some juice," Toshiro went to the fridge and found a carton of orange juice. He poured Karin a glass and handed it to her as she took a seat.

"Thanks," Karin blushed at the predicament she was just rescued from.

"You are so thoughtful, thank you for thinking of my sister," Yuzu smiled warmly, "Karin drink your juice, and I’ll make you some breakfast." Karin nodded sipping the juice.

Yuzu made her sister an omelet and took some rice from the steamer, knowing she needed plenty of energy. Karin appreciatively dug into the meal. Yuzu prepared lunches for the each of them; strangely silent, eying her sister the whole time. Once done the boys excused themselves. She handed them lunches, "We will see you at school." The boys thanked her and smiled back, even icy Hitsugaya was no match for Yuzu's innocent charm.

"Thank you Yuzu, I'm feeling much better," Karin got up and tried to follow Hanarato and Toshiro, but her sister caught her arm and dragged her into the clinic.

"Dad! Karin fainted, and she needs to be checked out!" Yuzu yelled over the radio playing on the receptionist counter. The desk was usually unoccupied because either twin would fill that slot when they were able. When they weren't available their father played both roles, Receptionist/Physician. Now they had Hanarato to help out too, and he seemed really happy to do anything to help the clinic.

"OK! Make sure she doesn't go anywhere. I have to finish up with this patient then I'll make sure my lovely daughter is ok," Karin glowered toward her old man's voice. Then not so loudly she heard him comment, "You know I have two pretty daughters. The dark haired one doesn't have a boyfriend."

"What was that old man?!" Karin fumed, "God! You are such a pervert Goat Face!" She heard snickering from the old goat. ‘I'm gonna' knock the snot out of ya' old man!’ She thought with a zeal that showed on her face. It was actually frightening.

"Karin! What's wrong?" Karin grinned showing more teeth then Yuzu thought humanly possible. Her eyes only showed hate and enjoyment of that hate. Yuzu shook her sister, "You're scaring me Karin!"

Karin shook her head, "Huh?" Not being aware of the inhuman expression that was now fading to a more typical grimace. Yuzu sighed, relieved that Karin wasn't having a stroke.

"Yuzu, go on to school. I don't want you to be late on my account. I promise I'll stay put until Dad looks me over. I swear that I was just hungry," Karin plastered a fake sweet smile that Yuzu did not see through.

Yuzu nodded, "You promised, remember-"

"I know, I know, a Kurosaki never goes back on her word," Karin repeated lamely. Yuzu hugged her sister and took off.

"Try not to be too late, but if Dad doesn't let you come to school I'll get your assignments for you," Yuzu turned back toward the kitchen to retrieve her own lunch.

Karin sat in the waiting room, impatiently tapping her foot and she saw a nice looking boy about her own age. The young man flashed a smile and exited the clinic.

"So, how's my daughter today?" Isshan asked placing the back of his hand on his daughter's forehead. He was in doctor mode which was much less annoying then his usual setting as a psychotic father, "you don't feel feverish, but let's take your temperature just to be safe." He stuck a cold instrument in his daughter's ear. It beeped after a few seconds. Isshan looked at it, "A bit high, but nothing to worry about. Just be sure to drink plenty of water, and maybe you should sit out for soccer practice tonight. "Huh?" Karin groaned, "You can forget that old man, we have another game coming up in a few days."

"Listen to your father," Isshan clicked off the doctor in him, and returned to the overbearing dad once again. Pulling the annoyed girl into a crushing hug, "I just don't want my darling daughter to get sick." Karin punched him in the gut, and Isshan doubled over in pain before his quick recovery. He ran off to tell his wife's picture how mean her daughter was to him. Karin walked past the crying man grabbed her lunch and ran to school.

The gnawing sensation never really left her but it was much less now. She was late to school. After the teacher scolded her she noticed someone new. Sitting next Hitsugaya in the back. The goth kid was gone. There was Grimmjow, in a school uniform no less. He smiled at her. She smiled back then quickly took her seat. She was distracted all morning.

‘What'sss the matter Karin?’ She felt the hissing buzz in her ear. She fought the urge to answer verbally.

‘As if you don't know. Don't you know everything about me?’ She retorted internally.

The thing hissed, ‘Well you are a tad bit disssstracted, but you are correct. I know thingssss. Thingssss you don't even know about yoursssself.’

‘Huh?’

‘Jusssst be mindful of the arrancar. He meanssss no harmful intent (I truly believe that), but that doesssn't mean he can't and ssssscertainly doesssn't mean he won’t hurt you,‘ It rumbled warningly.

‘What in the hell is that supposed to mean?’

There was no reply. At that moment the bell chose to ring. She had checked out mentally for most of the morning. Her stomach gave an angry growl and she started to feel dizzy, "Well lets go have lunch before I pass out." She smiled at her friends and left the room. Grimmjow quickly followed. Renji, and Toshiro went behind them. Hanataro went with his little girlfriend again. They knew he could be easily found if he was needed.

Karin was stuffing her face like there was no tomorrow. She was glad she grabbed a couple of energy bars to for later. "Hey, Karin you’re going to choke," Karin glared menacingly at Renji. He shut his trap and quietly ate his lunch. Grimm took a seat next to her and draped an arm around her comfortably. Toshiro growled inaudibly.

"You're not eating?" Karin said to Grimmjow after swallowing a big mouthful of her rice.

He shook his head, "No I ain't hungry. Just enjoying the company." He squeezed her shoulder affectionately. He and she both had guilty smiles on their faces. Karin felt a strange flow of energy passing between the two of them. She shrugged it off, ignoring her inner self's advice. The gnawing sensation was fighting her again. The food she put in her stomach only masked the pain and emptiness, but something else, raw power. Grimm on the other hand felt wonderful, warm and dare he think it human.

Almost as if on cue, to ruin their day, Mao came strutting over. This time with Yuzu in tow. She gave a wavering smile. Mao frowned at the new guy with his hands all over the most unattainable body in the student body. Mao coveted not just one Kurosaki. He wanted both. That was why he joined the soccer team. He was a decent player, but it was his off the field 'plays' that pissed Karin off.

He constantly flirted and cajoled the raven. ‘But no, some punk can just waltz into the school and claim what is so rightfully mine. How will I ever get my beautiful little harem going if this guy's got his paws all over her!’ Mao had long ago made it his mission in life to have a three-sum with the twins, poor innocent Yuzu did not know this.

Unfortunately Karin was only vaguely aware of his intent. She knew the prick hit on girls all the time. She assumed his flirting with her was the same until as recently as the previous day. Yuzu had only recently confided in Karin that he had taken her virginity. Karin was ready to kill the bastard. Yuzu intervened and Mao had no idea how close he had come to his own demise that day.

"What the hell do you want Mao," Karin snarled, "Yuzu you know this guy is nothing but trash."

Karin bestowed a concerned look on her sweet sibling. Her smile faded when she caught the look on her sister's face. Yuzu was frowning and there was a red mark on her face a and her wrist looked like she had been forcefully dragged somewhere. Karin was up on her feet. She grabbed the conceited jerk's collar and shoved him against the tree they were sitting under.

"So you like it rough. You kinky vixen. I think I’d like to try it with a dominate woman," Mao sneered. Now three males were glaring at the pervert that had approached their little group. Karin didn't need any help, however. She shot warning glances at her companions. Mao was taller than Karin so they did not know how she managed to lift him off his feet. Said feet were barely brushing the dirt, but she drew him toward herself, then slammed him into the tree they had been sitting under. He coughed in surprise.

"Did you hit my sister?" Her tone was deadly. Mao looked in disbelief.

"What the hell?" He managed to choke out. She drew him forward again and crashed him into the tree once more.

"YOU-HURT-YUZU!" Karin gritted her teeth, the next part she whispered venomously, "If I ever catch you near her again. I will cut off your genitals and force feed them to you." Karin's eyes changed from molten black to icy blue. Nobody but Mao saw it. The soul-reapers and Grimm felt the change in Karin.

Mao felt a warmth growing between his legs. A wet patch formed at his crotch as he emptied his bladder. Karin dropped the man and he took off without looking back. Karin started to shake uncontrollably. She almost fell, but Grimmjow caught her by the waist. He cradled her still violently shaking body. Her eyes rolled back and her convulsions stilled as her weight sagged against Grimm‘s body.

"Karin, KARIN!" Yuzu screamed. Yuzu wasn't well either. She grabbed her stomach and gasped in pain. The two Kurosaki girls were taken to the school nurse. Yuzu was checked out. She told the nurse she was just having cramps, but Karin was not well at all. Yuzu convinced the nurse that she should be taken home. Toshiro asked Yuzu if she minded that they go see Urahara. Yuzu knew Urahara's shop. She used to have a crush on the boy that works there.

Seeing as Karin had settled into an uneasy sleep, Yuzu thought no harm would come of it. She spoke up suddenly, "I know strange things go on there. I can't see spirits as well as Ichigo or Karin, but I can see more then I used to. Mr. Urahara is a good man; though he's a little creepy; I know he would not hurt Karin. If he can help her we must go there first. You are all able to see spirits aren't you?" Nobody answered, but she did not need them to tell her, "People think I'm stupid. Maybe I am naďve, but I'm not stupid."

The soul-reapers looked a little guilty, but still said nothing. They arrived at the shop. Karin was brought in by Grimmjow. The rest of them followed.

Urahara smiled, "What do we have here? Company? Well it looks like Miss Kurosaki isn't well." His smiled stayed glued to his mouth, but a hint of concern managed to reach his eyes for a split second.

"Where's Hanataro I could use his assistance."

"He's still at school," Toshiro informed.

"Could someone could retrieve him for me."

"Right," Renji took off.

"Um, excuse me Mr. Urahara? Can you tell me what's wrong with my sister? Am I in the way?" Yuzu spoke quietly and calmly.

Urahara had until this point ignored the girl, "Ah, Ichigo's other little sister. You used to visit my shop a lot more," He smiled genuinely, "I'm sorry I don't know what is wrong with your sister. I think it might be best if you went home. You have no need to worry about Karin. I promise she will be safe with us. When she is feeling better we will bring her home. OK?"

Yuzu nodded, "Thank you for helping Karin, I will go home and start on dinner, if you are not back by four I'll bring dinner to you." She smiled brightly, and walked out.

Grimmjow followed Urahara to a small unoccupied room. He placed her on a futon that lay in the middle of the room. Urahara began hooking her up to strange machines, "What are you doing?"

"Huh? Oh, just running some tests."

"These tests better not hurt her," Grimm warned.

A small monitor lit up there were several lines were indicated. It looked like an EKG machine.

"Strange," Urahara mumbled to himself.

"Urahara? What is going on with the girl?" Toshiro poked his head in the small room there really wasn't room for more than a few people in the room.

"Well I'm getting interference. Grimmjow could you take that gigai off and take it away down to the training grounds. It is interfering with my instruments. Grimm obliged. He took the body to the training ground. As soon as he was about fifteen feet away from it everybody could feel his aura. Grimm was back at Karin's side quickly.

"Grimmjow I'd like to run some tests…what's wrong with the hole in your stomach?" Urahara looked intrigued. Grimm looked down. His hollow hole was strange. The edges looked raw, it was misshapen, and it seemed to have shrunk. What it looked like was a large wound that was attempting to close itself. Grimm touched the 'wound' he hissed with pain. Grimm looked concerned, "I don't know what's going on?"

The ex-shinigami started to hook up the arrancar to the machines. He watched the monitors and pushed a button the box began to print images of the readings. He began comparing the two readings. "Hm, This is new." Nobody liked the way Urahara's voice sounded. Like an evil scientist glowering over his newest creation. The man in the hat and clogs compared the results from Karin's scan and that of Grimmjow’s, "I'll be damned, no offense Grimmjow. Looks like we have a soul binding. Sorry kiddies this ain't good. Not good at all."

"Soul Binding?" Toshiro and Grimmjow said in unison.

Unahara scratched his chin, "Well it's rare, you ever heard the term soul mates?"

"What! You can't possibly mean those two are meant to be together?" Toshiro yelled. A low angry growl eminated from Grimm's throat directed at the Captain.

"That's not exactly what a soul binding is. If Karin and Grimm were both human, or even human and shinigami I would not be worried. When two souls meet and become connected. The two souls in fact merge into a single soul. …But this is different and very dangerous. Theirs is not a complete merging. Grimmjow here isn’t a complete soul. Karin has a part of your soul trapped with her own." Hat and clogs looked over the blue haired male.

"She's gonna be ok, right?" Said the hollow, concerned but defiantly still very pissed at Hitsugaya.

"I'm afraid not, That is if she continues being in contact with you she could die." There was no trace of a smile, "She could possibly become a hollow, but she certainly will not become an arrancar. Just an ordinary hollow." Urahara's face was blank.

The growling became louder. Now Hitsugaya and Urahara exchanged anxious looks.

"Please calm yourself, Jaegerjaquez. Please think of Karin."

"She's all I ever think about anymore!" Grimm Clenched his fists and drew nearer Karin's sleeping form.

"You are killing her!" Toshiro screamed.

"No!" Grimmjow's face hardened. He plastered on his once characteristic evil toothy grin, but his eyes showed true terror, "You god-damned lairs!" Grimm was growling loudly now. He Caressed Karin's Cheek. He Slowly and carefully took her in his arms pulling off the wires that were stuck to her skin.

"Put her down, now," Hitsugaya ordered in an even tone.

Grimmjow drew Panthera, "We will be leaving now." With those words he saidoned out of there.

"SHIT!" Toshiro cursed, thinking to himself, ‘Fools! We're a lot of damned FOOLS!’ He went after the two.

{To be continued…}