Archive of Our Own

“So, you have never been here?” Karin asked, taking the stairs to start her millionth tour in IKEA.

Beside her a quiet and somewhat resigned Toshiro sighed. “No.” 

“Well, now you have, and I really appreciate you joining.” Picking up a big cart Karin slowed her steps, taking in some new design. “I need a few things for the apartment. Some bigger things I’ll order and they will deliver, but some I need to see in person.” She explained walking into the carefully arranged mock living room. “And I need to buy them now.” She picked up a cushion, turning it in her hands before throwing it back to the couch. “Thankfully I already have my couch situation sorted, and I’ll want to buy a few things to make it cute but, probably that’s not the most important thing now.” She explained, while examining a cabinet full of tiny things. Toshiro was convinced a person wouldn’t actually need it in their home.

“What do you exactly need?” He asked following Karin, not touching anything instead doing his best to take it all in. The clutter was an eyesore. Why would anyone want three different lamps or four different shaped pillows and two different blankets, and whatever else was only on and around the couch. 

Lost in thought Karin, pursed her lips, noticing something in another mock room walking into it without hesitation. “Not entirely sure.” She picked up a vase and immediately placed it back, then poked the coffee table. It shook slightly. “Wouldn’t trust this thing with my coffee.” Grimacing, she stopped in her tracks. “I definitely need stuff for my bed. I have my mattress already, but that and an old lamp makes my bedroom at the moment. Ideally bedside tables, but I’ll order those, some cute lamps, duvets, pillows, those stuff, you know…” She trailed off crossing her arms. 

“So I assume you didn’t make a list?” Toshiro was looking at her, brows raised, unable to hide his smile. 

“Look, I need everything you'd need for a home.” She stated simply, after a moment of pause.

“I think you and I have very different ideas, what those things are.” He laughed, picking up their cart, gesturing to Karin to keep moving. 

“I suppose.” She deadpanned, turning back so he could see. “You gifted every but one of your wardrobes to Rangiku, and I’m still trying to figure out how you can live with so little stuff.”

“Why would I need so many clothes that they don’t fit into one?”

“I mean, you have the uniforms, that helps, I guess.” Karin wandered into another room, plopping down onto the couch. “Men usually have fewer things too, they wear long jeans and short ones with shirt all year long.” She immediately got up, startling Toshiro a little. What was that good for? 

“I guess.” He followed Karin carefully, deciding to use the opportunity as an entertainment, because her behaviour was absolutely unnatural, and comical. Poking furniture and sitting down, then tapping pillows, like it was actually useful to do so, seeing how they’d serve on the long term. “Most of those are from Urahara too, and he keeps them with the gigai, so I actually only have the things I got from you.”

“Oh.” Karin’s head snapped up, surprised like she didn’t expect that bit at all. Then she took a good, long look at him, making Toshiro pick up a rattan container, like suddenly he was interested in it. Actually he hoped to stir away his thoughts and ease the tightness in his chest and the tingling in his stomach, which never failed to happen whenever Karin’ intense gaze was on him for too long.

Staring like that wasn’t necessary, he thought. 

“Oh, right! The sweater is from me, and the shoes too.” 

“Yeah.” Toshiro laughed, some warmth spreading in his chest thinking of another shopping tour Karin took him then bought him a few things, she insisted looked good. He didn’t argue. The few items were very comfortable and if Karin liked him wearing them… He allowed himself to have a few soft spots, and anything about Karin was one of them. 

She was grinning, seemingly pleased, still looking at him. “I’m proud of me for finding them, they go really nicely with your eyes!” 

Toshiro shook his head, the warmth from his chest creeping up on his neck as well. He was so weak for Karin, he felt pathetic, but she didn’t let him dwell on it. Slapping her hands together she got up from another couch again. “That makes sense, but I have loads of stuff, so try to think like that.” She suggested and looked around. 

Right. 

Toshiro was watching her as she took a few pictures of items and the slip attached to them before turning to him again. “Okay, let’s move on.” 

The arrangement of the store was overwhelming at least and insanely smart at best in Toshiro’s opinion. He wasn’t one to buy things on impulse but even he could have taken home a few things by the end, he was sure of it. 

The carefully arranged displays were followed by racks and they served their purpose right, because Karin picked up a vase, a few fake succulents, a pillowcase and some candles while they passed the living room section alone. 

“So, the couch is sorted, but I wanted to get this for my laptop.” She pulled something Toshiro didn’t recognise and placed it into the card being dragged by him. “I can put it in my lap, the laptop on top and work like that.” She explained, probably seeing the confused expression he didn’t notice he was making. Or Karin was just really good at reading him, which could have been a problem.

“Smart.” He nodded, before something drew his attention and without thinking about it he reached out. “You said something about blankets.” Lifting a fluffy blanket he handed it to Karin. “Seems very warm, plus it’s red and very soft.” He listed the reasons why he thought it was perfect for her to have. And it was.

“Oh, how did I not notice this? This is great!” Karin’s face lit up, grabbing the soft roll with both hands, squeezing it a few times, then hugging it to her chest. “It’s pretty thick too. Thank you!” Flashing a huge grin to him the blanket landed into the cart too. “I might get two.” She lamented her hand hovering above the stack, hesitating. “Do I need two?” Pursing her lips she glanced up at her friend, who only shrugged, making the same face back at her. 

“Maybe if someone stays over…” He suggested carefully. 

“Yeah…” Karin wasn’t convinced. “But for Yuzu I’ll get another colour, you would die under this, and at the moment I can’t think of anyone else staying there long enough to need one.” She withdrew her hand and walked to another stack. “This will be Yuzu’s.” She decided and looked at Toshiro, like she needed him to agree with the decision, like she didn’t make up her mind already. 

“She will love it.” He nodded either way, ready to move away from the section. 

“We should get you a few things too!” Karin caught up, arriving at the area with the bedrooms. It wasn’t a question, but Toshiro felt like maybe that was a little unnecessary. 

“I’m fine, Karin.” He laughed, shaking his head, his eyes catching a glimpse of her face, rolling her eyes at him. 

“Yeah, then you steal my pillow.”

“That was one time!” He huffed, a little flushed to the memory. “And I was asleep.” 

“Clearly awake enough to get my pillow and swat me away when I wanted it back.” Karin was arguing with an easy laugh, mustering up the best fake upset expression she could. They have been over this a few times, but it was never not funny to bring up, mostly because of Toshiro’s instant, fierce defense.

Little did Karin know the reason he got flustered each time it came up wasn’t really because he felt embarrassed or annoyed by her teasing and the fact that he did in fact do all those things. It was rather how earlier that night, sharing a bed with Karin for the thousandth time, he got up to a warm back pressed to his chest, stray pieces of hair tickling his nose and his arm circled around Karin’s pretty waist as he was holding her in their sleep. Carefully he unwrapped himself of her, hating how his subconscious clearly got the better of him, but maybe hating the loss of her warmth pressed against him, fitting so ridiculously perfectly against him, even more. Then he decided he should push both his hands under the pillow his head was on, trying to prevent anything like that happening again. He already allowed himself the luxury of sharing a bed with her, clearly in a platonic way, and he didn’t need to mess it up. 

“Are you even listening?” A sharp poke between his ribs yanked him back to reality, trying to dodge it a little too late. 

“Yeah…” He sighed, rubbing his assaulted side a bit with a pout. “Pillow for me.” He gave in with a flat expression. “You really didn’t need to attack me like that.” Grumbling, he followed Karin to another bedroom with a huge soft looking bed in the middle, nicely arranged, the colours were natural, in harmony. It looked all very inviting to get everything there as it was. 

“Pff, please, Captains shouldn’t be a bit tougher than that?” Her tone was mocking, shooting a sceptical look at him above her shoulder. 

“We are.” It was his turn to roll his eyes.
He was unable to resist and sat onto the edge of a mattress. “Wow.” He gave it a few tentative pushes with his palm. Now he was acting ridiculous too. “Okay, this I could take back.” 

“Comfortable?” Karin asked, still facing away from him, trying the blackout curtains between her fingers. 

“A lot.”

There wasn’t any point in sitting there any longer, not like he could buy it. With a sigh he got up, right at the same moment when Karin spun around to take a look as well, bumping right into his chest. She stumbled back with the same force she crashed into him, and probably would have ended up on the opposing armchair if he didn’t catch her. With firm fingers he steadied Karin by the waist immediately, pulling her back to himself a little. She didn’t push him away, she only let out a squeak at the impact then rested her fingers against his chest, the weight of her hands sweet and welcomed. It was probably only a split second for the spectators, and Karin was steady long before he even considered releasing her, yet he felt like his touch was lingering on her, holding onto her a moment longer than necessary. 

“Sorry.” She mumbled and took a step back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. A nervous habit, Toshiro knew that much already. 

“It’s okay. I’m sorry, I didn't see you turn around.” He said with a sheepish grin, shoving his hands into his pockets, keeping his gaze on Karin a moment longer, noticing the sudden pink tint of her cheeks. She was even prettier like that and he wondered what else he could do to make her blush like that. 

Idiot.

He was acting pathetic, like his crush on Karin wouldn’t have been damning for a while now, no he had to start acting on it too.

“Too bad it would be more than a lot of trouble taking it back.” He tried to recover, keeping his eyes on Karin on purpose, watching as she looked away, exhaling slowly, a tense twitch tugging on the corner of her lips, barely noticeable, but certainly there. 

“Let’s ask Urahara when we are around?” Karin suggested, taking a snap of the slip with the name, and other details.

“Agreed.” Toshiro took a last glance at the bed. 

“You really like that.” 

“It is comfortable!” 

“You got used to it, didn’t you? It is easy to get used to something you like.” Karin noted absentmindedly and Toshiro had to remind himself that they were talking about mattresses at the moment. 

“I mean, I spent quite some time here in the last few years, and… yeah, it’s easy to get used to the good things.” He nodded, looking at her from the corner of his eye, a wishful smile flashed on her lips for a moment, then it was gone. 

Were they still talking about mattresses? 

He didn’t have time to dwell on it, again, because Karin saw something and took a sharp turn. 

“You said you needed things to sleep too, right?” He double checked, looking ahead to a section filled with white. Probably with blankets and pillows of all kinds.

“Yep!”

“Well, I think we just found the place for part of those.”

“Oh, great! We need pillows, duvets, bedsheets for sure. I’ll check out the bed frames next and the matching furniture, but those can wait, I think.” She listed and cornered a big rack filled with at least seven types of blankets. It was madness. “So, I’m thinking of getting one for me, for sure, then a spare too, if anyone would sleep over.” She mused. “Mostly you. We should get you a blanket.”

“You really don’t need to.” He shook his head, eyes a little wide in surprise. “I’m fine with whatever you can lend me.” 

“But you liked the one we had at home before, so much!” Karin argued, already touching all the sample ones.

“Yes, but you already had those! I don’t want you to spend your money on me.” 

“Well, too bad it’s my money and uh, I do whatever I want with it and right now it is to get you a fluffy blanket and your own pillow too.” She turned a little, facing him, crossing her arms in front of her chest with a challenge in her eyes, challenging him to dare to argue. “It’s okay to like all these soft things, Toshiro, they are really nice, and you sleep better with them anyway. It won’t make you less strong or tough to get a good night's sleep.” 

He sighed, rubbing his forehead a little annoyed. Karin was clearly set on getting things for him as well, and even if it was hard to admit, he loved it, it warmed his soul and made his heart soften. Again, the things he let himself have when it came to Karin, she was one of the few people he allowed to take care of him, even if it was something mundane, like letting him use the airy, light blanket. It did make him sleep better, although sleeping next to Karin had a big part in it as well, he suspected, but she didn’t need to know that.

A big grin was spreading on Karin’s face and she watched him let his resolve go, or simply knowing better at this point than to argue. 

“Fine.” 

“Yeah?” She practically squeaked, electric and energetic. 

“Yes, but that’s it okay? So you should focus on things you need, I’m fine.” He tried to emphasise it with a serious expression, but holding back the smile and stopping his lips curl up was almost impossible. He loved how such small things could make Karin so happy. 

She agreed and it took some time to pick everything, but she left the area pretty satisfied. It was pretty smooth afterwards, Karin picked many things before online, now she only needed to fetch those until it came to kitchen wear. 

“Oh, come on! You need a cup!” Karin’s voice was laced with laughter at his annoyed expression as she dangled the cup in the air. 

‘Karin…” He ran his hand through his hair before trying to take the little thing from her to put it back to its place. “We agreed.”

“I know, but come on! You always have your tea whenever we meet, let me get you your own cup, please.” Pleading she pouted a little, changing tactics and trying to win with big puppy eyes. 

“No…” That wasn’t too convincing. 

“Okay, how about this,” she turned back to the shelf, “I get one for myself for my coffee and I get you its pair, same-same but different colour for your tea?” She bargained, holding up the two identical things in front of her chest, with a too sweet smile. 

Toshiro inhaled, mouth staying open as he wanted to say something but his expression softened. 

“It’s really not necessary, Karin.” Trying a last almost ditched attempt to push back as his shoulders slumped down in defeat. 

She stayed in place, probably waiting for him to break. “It would match mine!” She dangled them a little again, her smile softening, the gray eyes trained on him, tender and pleading, like it was really important for her to match him in a way. Probably that got him. 

Gingerly he took them from her hands, pacing them on top of the not too small pile. “Eh, okay, but last thing, for real.” 

“Deal.” Two arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a tight, quick hug, forcing his arms by his sides, it being a rash decision on Karin’s side, leaving the both of them a little flushed. 

Getting everything into Karin’s apartment wasn’t the easiest thing, but they managed.

“I’m starting to think you actually asked me to go with you, so I would carry these up here and help you with the assembly.” Pushing his hair out of his face Toshiro slumped onto the floor to catch his breath.

Karin sat beside him handing him a bottle of water. “That’s a wild accusation.”

“Is it wrong tho?”

Karin was watching him down almost the entire thing. “I mean, I hoped you’d help. You are stronger and taller and a guy, so yeah…” She gestured wildly and Toshiro found it too entertaining. 

“Oh, so now those count?” He kept up the teasing with a shit eating grin. 

“Wha-What do you mean?” Karin was looking at him annoyed, but her smile reached her eyes. “First, you haven’t always been taller than me, second I have never ever thought you weren’t strong, in fact I always said you were, and…” She paused, giving him a quick once over, her rambling coming to a halt, the slightest pink tinting her cheeks again. “And obviously, you are no girl.” She bounced back fast with a slight teasing tone and a matching expression. 

“No?” He raised a brow, giving the same look to Karin, looking her up and down, before meeting her eyes. “You sure?” He didn’t know where the confidence came from, maybe making Karin flustered more than once a day made him bold, almost daring. 

Holding his gaze Karin bit her lips, waiting a tad bit longer than a breath to answer. “Pretty sure.” 

His breath hitched and he was only staring at her, that annoying feeling in his stomach and in his chest going haywire, his heart beating so fast he was afraid she might hear it. Flirting with Karin was not in his plans for the day, and Karin flirting back was definitely not part of it. 

Picking up the bottle she got up, speaking with ease. “I’ll bring another and then we should start assembling something, if you, mighty man, feel up for it.” 

He groaned and grimaced at her. 

The moment was gone and he felt like an idiot, starting to question everything he thought about their relationship until then. Maybe Matsumoto was right after all and Karin was seeing him more than a friend, which was great news except, eventually he’d need to admit she was right and then listen to it till the end of his life. Dear god. 

Trying to stir his attention elsewhere he was looking at the few boxes laying on the ground. Karin said it was only part of what she needed and these already were twice as much as he owned. Maybe he should put more effort into making his home actually feel like a home and not just a house he was living in. 

His train of thought was cut short with Karin returning. “So, I was thinking of starting with my desk, which we could use to eat from. I don’t have chairs yet, but we can just make it a standing desk and that will come in handy for work on Monday too. Then the armchair, so at least one of us doesn't have to sit on the ground, then,” she took a big breath, “the dresser if we will have time and energy.” 

“Sounds good to me, except, er, you should start with ordering something to eat, because you will get hungry, and these seem like a pain to build, so I rather not have you annoyed and hungry with sharp objects around.” 

“Ugh, right, but no need to be rude about it!” She slapped him on the shoulder. “Plus, good thing you are a skilled warrior and all that, so even if I lose it you are in no danger. I’m pretty sure you’d be able to take me while jabbing around with a screwdriver.” She was mimicking the motions making Toshiro smile. 

“I’m pretty sure I could take you anyhow.” 

Shit. 

That wasn’t intentional. 

Karin’s wild gestures stopped mid-motion, her head tilting, eyebrows raised. “Anyhow?”

“In combat, I mean!” He tried to recover with a shake of his head and an exasperated expression. 

“Of course, in combat.” She narrowed her eyes moving into a playfight position, gesturing to Toshiro to attack her, before laughter erupting from her seeing his less than impressed look. “Okay. Food first.” Swiftly she changed the subject, her tone still light, hopping onto the ground.

An hour or maybe two later, two empty takeout boxes were laying on the freshly built desk. 

“Honestly, this is so smart.” Toshiro admired the structure which lowered and lifted the entire surface with a push of a button. 

Karin chuckled. “Of course you love it.” Then added kindly, almost adoringly. “You workaholic.” 

“Hey!”

She shrugged her shoulders and picked up the boxes taking them to the kitchen, returning with one more container. 

“Jokes aside, I know I work a lot, and something like this would be amazing to have.” His hands run across the smooth edge, appreciating the clever tool. 

“Hm, I bet. I love listening to a training or having a chat with someone while standing.” 

“I do none of those, but it would still be useful.”

Karin opened the last bit of their order pushing it in front of Toshiro. “You should consider talking to Urahara, if they could figure out video calls to the Seireitei, I’m sure transporting a few furniture would be nothing.”

Barely registering what Karin was saying, Toshiro picked up a dango, holding it up with a questioning look. 

“What?” Grinning Karin picked the second one. 

“Stop buying me things!” 

Practically munching on the balls, Toshiro already finished half of the first one. 

“But you love them so much! Take it as a thank you for your hard work of carrying everything upstairs, and coming with me and, uh, helping to pick things and now put them together.” 

Biting off the last bit he thought about it. 

“Anyway, I have more of our kind of money, of course I will get most things when you are here. Then when I am there you are the one usually paying because you have more of that money.” She explained like it was so simple, finishing her piece too. 

“But I’m here more often.” He argued, reaching for the third and last dango then pulled his hand back. “Sorry, you should have it.”

“You clearly want it.”

“Let’s split it.”

“No, have it, please.” Stepping back, Karin held her hands in front of herself. “You love sweets, I got these because of you.” 

“I know..” Toshiro, picked up the skewer, his lips curling upwards. “Thank you.” Taking a bite he remained quiet, thinking about offering a dumpling to Karin anyway, but when he looked up the gray eyes were already fixed on the sweets. “Would you like some?” 

“No, it’s okay.”

“Then stop staring at my food.” 

“Rude, wow. I bought it.” Karin squeaked, crossing her arms in front of her chest with a hurt frown. 

Waving with the two remaining dumplings, Toshiro stared at her, slight annoyance on his face. “Come on, I’m happy to share.”

It didn’t take much to convince her and to lean in a little, one hand coming up to prevent her hair from falling over her shoulder. Taking the sticky skewer would have been a hassle, then giving it back, one of them surely making a mess, so it seemed logical that she would only take a bite. She took hold of his wrist, pulling it closer to drop as little of the precious sweet as possible. Focusing on the task at hand she couldn’t notice the greenish eyes widening in surprise, until she looked up. 

Realising how it all looked she immediately retreated, her hand coming in front of her lips. “Sorry.” 

Toshiro only shook his head, his cheeks flaming. He finished the last bites in quiet before dropping the skewer into the empty box. “That was delicious. Thank you.” 

It was already late in the evening, the armchair standing in the corner, new and pretty and the dresser was also mostly done. 

“Alright.” Karin picked up the manual. “Drawers ready, now we need to secure the back panel and lift this thing before placing them. I’ll start. Do you mind bringing some soda?” 

“Not at all.” 

Toshiro was pouring the contents of the bottle into their two glasses when he heard some groaning and the noise of Karin drilling. Raising a brow, he finished his task and returned just in time to hear another groan and see Karin slumping on the ground in frustration. “What’s wrong?” He set the two glasses on the desk then walked closer, assessing the situation. 

“This thing doesn’t want to stay there.” With a huff Karin was drilling again, the slim back panel was more resistant then it looked. She was trying for a lot longer than what Toshiro thought was necessary. He picked up the manual. 

He waved to Karin and she stopped. “It says no drilling.” He stated dryly holding up the paper booklet, pointing at the little sign. 

“Ugh. I saw it too.” 

“Then why are you drilling?” 

“Do you have a better idea?” Karin huffed and got up.

“Not yet.” Toshiro took her place looking at the task at hand. “The manual doesn’t even show those screws. It is showing little nails.” He was more talking to himself, racing out then ripping a small pack open and picking up the small hammer Karin, surprisingly, already had. 

“That looked dumb.” Karin sat cross legged, a little butthurt. 

“But it works. I suppose they sell enough of these to know how to assemble them.”

“Wow. Look at you, been to IKEA once and you are an expert now?” Karin mocked him with an easy laugh. 

“Not me. The people who wrote this.” Toshiro rolled his eyes and waved with the manual before tossing it to the side, finishing his task. “Alright. Now, we need to lift it.” He said and started it head on. 

“Ugh, no. It says it needs two people.” Karin interfered, picking up the somewhat crumpled paper, looking expectantly. 

“I can do that alone, it’s not that heavy.”

Nonetheless Karin stood on one side of the half-built furniture, placing the manual on top, waiting. “See, the little IKEA man’s friend arrives, and they do it together. Must be sad for someone doing this alone, they need to wait for a friend to move on.” Chuckling, with a playful glint in her eyes Karin looked at Toshiro, who was shaking his head.

“That sounds a bit dramatic.” 

He was opposite to Karin now, and moving the two sides at the same time was easier and a little more secure, although the danger was on the drawer to fall apart rather than any human injury to happen. 

“Great.” Karin was grinning, eyeing the thing happily. “Can you help moving it to the bedroom? I’ll place the drawers there, and tomorrow I can start filling it immediately.”

Toshiro only gestured to her to hold on. 

“Oh!” Karin was walking backwards, backing towards her room. “I forgot to mention, I got a new mattress, ugh, it is actually for two people by design, it is huge! So, when you stay over we will really fit. No more kicking you by accident.”

“I still don’t remember that, but… amazing.” Toshiro carefully slid the drawer to the ground, then straightened and looked around in the rather messy room. Boxes everywhere as expected, except the big mattress in the middle, one set of bedding already neatly folded on top of it. 

“You really sleep like dead sometimes.” Karin was standing next to him. “What do you think?”

“It is huge.” He had to admit, and as lovely it was he thought sharing a bed before was really only because Karin didn’t want her whole family to know he stayed over and the only option was to stay in her bed, otherwise he would have took the couch and in her dorm, well, space was very limited. “I thought when you moved in I could simply sleep on the couch.” 

Karin’s eyes snapped to him, in clear surprise and something he couldn’t immediately recognise. “Oh, if that’s what you want… If that would be more comfortable for you… Sure.” She stammered a bit, unconsciously starting to pick her nails. 

Suddenly he was less sure, because seemed hurt and that he didn’t expect. 

“I mean, I thought it would be more comfortable for you, but… I’m not insisting, if it’s not.” He tried carefully to amend his statement, focused on Karin, trying to see any change in her eyes, but she still looked unsure. “But I’m happy to share.” He added finally, honestly and that brought back Karin’s smile. Thank god.

“Me too, and again it will be a lot less crammed like his.” 

Karin was right. Toshiro lowered himself onto the mattress, laying across the soft surface. Tiredness came crashing down on him. It was a long day. He was eyeing the t-shirt Karin kept for him. It was on top of the boxes. He put on the pants after draping his towel on a foldable chair but didn’t see the t-shirt first and now he was so comfortable. Whatever, Karin was still showering and it would take only a moment. He picked up the thick IKEA catalogue which was by the side, starting to browse it while waiting. 

He had no idea when he got so interested in a home-decor magazine, but he did, and only snapped out of it when the bedroom door opened.

“God, this was much needed!” Karin walked in already in her sleepwear, taking a second to notice him on the bed. “Ah, er…did you find your stuff?” 

It didn’t get lost on him how Karin stopped mid-sentence and mid-motion, staring. He completely forgot the t-shirt, but if he was already wondering about the things that made Karin flustered that wasn’t an issue. 

“I found the pants, thanks.” He sat up, pinching the soft material at his thigh. It didn’t get lost on him how the gray eyes tried to remain focused on his face before moving onto something in the room, but her gaze dropped down onto his body before doing so. 

“Here is the other part too.” She pointed to its direction. 

He got up. “Ah! Thanks.” Like he didn’t know it already. 

He walked over to Karin, standing just a little straighter than usual. He wasn’t that oblivious. It took some time for him, and a few subtle and less subtle hints from Matsumoto to figure out his “face situation” as she called it. He always thought that was subjective, everyone liked something different, but no, apparently there was something as conventionally hot. His body on the other hand, he always thought that was very objective and he knew he looked good. He picked up the t-shirt but didn’t put it on immediately. He didn’t directly see but felt Karin’s eyes on him and when he turned a bit, indeed she was staring. 

“Ugh. Put that on, will you? No need to show off your perfect body!” She pushed her palm against his shoulder with an annoyed look, but her face was flushed. 

“I’m absolutely not perfect.”

Karin made a sound and now looked at him dead in the eye. “Oh, you are not. But please don’t pretend like you don’t know how you look.” She gestured up and down before him, her eyes not leaving him for a moment, and the intensity of her gaze made him feel so much at the same time again. The heat at the back of his neck, on his chest, the flutters in his stomach and the overwhelming need for her proximity. 

“Alright, alright.” His shoulders slumped down a little and he pulled the soft material over his head, swiftly covering his torso. “I actually got lost in that stupid magazine.” He confessed sitting back on the mattress. Praying that Karin didn’t feel vindictive, because if she were to get shirtless, even with a bra, even with seeing her in a bikini before, he would have been in trouble. 

He tried to blink the mental image away. 

Big trouble. 

To his luck Karin was only shaking her head and sat next to him, switching the lights to only a small bedside lamp, which he recognised from her dorm before, providing some dim light. 

The bedsheets they got earlier were freshly washed and quickly dried, they smelled great as he let his head rest on the pillow. 

“Ready to sleep?” Karin asked, fidgeting a little before finding a comfortable spot. 

“Yes, please. Goodnight!” 

“Goodnight!”

Toshiro didn’t try to fall asleep immediately, he was surprised the lights were out already. Usually they spent minutes or hours talking after getting to bed, but he got it. It was a long day. 

He was listening to Karin turning and adjusting her pillow and turning again for a while, he himself was laying almost completely still. 

“Can’t sleep yet?” He whispered after a couple of minutes, staring into the darkness. 

Groaning, Karin turned to her side to face him. “No. Everything is very new. I had trouble sleeping in the last few days. I know this is my place now, but I’m just not feeling it yet.” It was almost impossible to see her so he focused on her voice instead. It was soft and a little more vulnerable than usual. 

“Give it some time, you just moved in.” 

“Yeah, but before I lived at home, someone was always there, then in the dorm, same. Here? I was alone till today, and will be mostly alone after.”

Sighing he closed his eyes. Yeah, that feeling, being alone, that he knew. “It will be better, you will feel at ease with it, but I’m sure it sucks now. With the new furniture and your old little things and photos, I’m sure you’ll make this space very nice in no time.” 

“Thanks. You think?” 

“Honestly, yeah. Wherever I visited you before you always managed to make it look very homey and cozy. With your million pillows, and those little lights, and the photos, it was always great.” He thought back to being in Karin’s room for many-many years and he was only telling the truth. Well, the truth was that Karin’s room always felt like home to him but admitting it out loud was a different case. 

“Thank you.” With a hum Karin shuffled a little with the pillow again. “Plus, Yuzu promised she will visit when she can and you said you can also stop by sometimes.” 

“I-,” What was he supposed to say to that? He would have stayed every night if he had the chance. “Yes, I’ll try my best.” He promised, leaving out the uncertainty of the Gotei and the Soul Society and his missions for both of their sake. He wanted to make himself believe that he would be able to stay with Karin as much as it was possible. 

“You always do.”

He perked up looking to the side, only being able to take out Karin’s silhouette, and not her face, but her sleep laced voice cut through the dark. “I’m sorry if I try to snuggle you at night. It’s a bad habit I picked up with Yuzu when I couldn’t sleep.”

What was he supposed to say to that? That he wouldn’t mind? That he would be more than fine with it? He was only afraid that he would reciprocate it in a way that would completely give his feelings away. “Don’t worry about that… If it helps you sleep.” He uttered, turning to his side, tucking his arm below his head, his mind racing with thoughts, implications and his own doubts. He couldn’t tell when he dozed off, he was only listening to Karin’s breathing getting deeper and slower.

In the morning he woke first and by the time he heard Karin move to the bathroom he had already done his tea and settled on the new fluffy rug they got. Karin’s bare feet didn’t make any noise as she padded to the kitchen, sleepwear still in place, her hair down, rubbing her eyes as she greeted him. 

Toshiro thought that if sunkissed existed then so should sleep kissed, because nothing described Karin more in that moment. He watched in silence as she prepared her coffee, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear, standing on one leg, the other pressed to her ankle.

Slowly the smell of coffee filled the room, which he loved contrary to its taste. Karin was a coffee person. She was always picking it above anything, and it was a mandatory part of her mornings, so maybe that’s why he grew to love it. The slightly bitter scent filling the air in the morning usually meant one thing. He was with Karin. It was kind of obvious he was so fond of it. 

The quiet noises of her morning ceremony were sweeping into the comfortable silence around them and he had no intention of breaking it too soon. He was waiting until she settled next to him and took a few sips of the black drink to say anything.

“How was sleep?” 

“Good… kinda. Did I bother you too much? I woke up a few times.”

“No, I slept fine.” He took a sip, deciding to keep away from the details of feeling her pressed against his back or shoulder multiple times the night. That if anything only made him sleep better. He didn’t want her to feel self-conscious about it, he didn’t want her to stop doing so. 

“Great.” Karin was still staring ahead, looking perfectly content with this slow morning. 

There was some silence again, both of them enjoying their drinks, lost in thought, until he felt her glancing at him again and again. 

“You are unusually quiet. Did something happen?”

Turning towards her Toshiro smiled, shaking his head a little. “No, I was just thinking. You were talking so much about making this place a home, about making the space feel lived-in, comfortable and cozy, and I realised I never gave these any thought wherever I lived before. Sure, the Seireitei is a bit different in that regard, but Rangiku for example has all kinds of things in her place to make it look nice, so does Momo. And I never really thought about it.”

“I can help… If you want to.” Karin offered, with her brows knitted together, looking a bit unsure about the topic. 

"Thank you, it’s okay.” He drank, only a tiny bit but the cup provided an opportunity to hide and to take a moment, figuring out what to say.

“Thank you, you like your place that way or thank you, you actually want my help?”

“I’m not sure.” He let out an easy laugh. “It’s uh, it’s hard to think of those places like a home, I suppose, and it’s not because I move a lot. Also placing a bunch of things there wouldn’t magically make it feel like a home either. They would be, I don’t know, just things…”

“Without any sentimental value?” She crooked her head, pulling her knees up, leaning back to her palms when she finished her drink. 

He took a second, following her movement. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Well, start with pictures maybe, or paintings, maybe those are more in fashion there? Of places you love, or I can help you get a few things printed and put them on the wall, or wherever you want.” She offered. 

“That would be nice.”

“But not what you were thinking of?”

“I don’t know.” He was laughing because he didn’t know where he was going either and now he felt a little like an idiot. 

“Tell me, where did you feel like home before?” Karin asked, looking at him, her grey eyes trained on him, so honest and curious. 

That he didn’t expect and certainly didn’t know how to answer in a diplomatic way. 

“While I lived with my grandma.” He started simple. “That was nice, but I was home most of the time and she was there too and Hinamori visited very often.”

“Okay, that’s a start.” Karin nodded, seemingly determined to figure out what made him feel at home. “So, people and time spent there?”

“I guess…”

“Okay, what else?”

“I could say the barracks, but not entirely. Err, I’ve lived there for very long but it’s still different.”

“Different than what? You have something in mind.” She stated, still looking at him expectantly. 

He took a deep breath, pulling his legs in a cross legged seat, placing his cup next to Karin’s too, taking a moment to appreciate how they matched next to each other. Then leaned back to his palms. “Please don’t think I’m crazy or anything, okay? But I really liked being in your family home.” He said softly, almost shy, keeping his eyes on the cups. 

“Oh.” Karin blinked at him, like she didn’t expect that. “Okay… makes sense… time spent there and the people?” She tried but he almost missed it, suddenly he got so nervous. 

He confirmed with a nod a little late. The nerves were balling into something uncomfortable in his throat when he looked at Karin. “The people definitely.” He looked away again, his cheeks were practically burning too, but that didn’t stop him from bumping his hand to hers on the soft rug, keeping it there, leaving it up to Karin whether she wanted to move away or not. 

“Alright… that’s…” Her eyes widened a little.

“And your dorm room too.” He added quickly before he could have changed his mind, turning back to Karin. He decided it was all or nothing, because if anything she pressed her hand a little more to his, the barely there touch changing for a tender pressure.

“So-,” It took her a moment. “Oh.” 

He gave a sheepish little nod. Leaning onto one palm, he turned, his whole body facing her. Karin didn’t back away, if anything she put more of her weight against his hand, being a lot closer than before. Her eyes were on him, bright and gleaming and hopeful. Almost sitting on one knee, he tipped his head, his heart wanted to break out of his ribcage. He was so nervous he thought he might die again, but one more glance at Karin was really enough. She was so close, she almost closed the distance between them. Almost. Leaving it up to him to take that final inch. 

He did. He brushed his lips to hers, letting them part on instinct just enough and then press them gently to Karin's. They were warm and soft and she kissed him back immediately. His free hand came up to cup her cheek, kissing her tenderly moving with a slow rhythm. She tasted like coffee, but sweet, more how he liked it, and he knew he had to have another taste urgently. Breaking apart only for a split second to scoot closer and get more comfortable he did so. Karin made the smallest sound, and he wondered how he could make her do that again. She was kissing him back with ease, matching if not exceeding his barely contained excitement. She smiled into the kiss and tipped forward, twisting a bit, her knee resting on his thigh. It was an extremely awkward position to kiss, but he couldn’t care less in that moment, he scooted even closer and he didn’t even think when he reached out to pull Karin flush against himself.  She tilted her head to a deep angle, opening her lips more. He took the invitation. He would have been stupid not to. 

They kissed until his nerves were gone, until his heart was only fluttering in his chest because it was filled with happiness to the brim.

With a small sigh Karin broke the kiss, the pads of her fingers sliding against his cheek as she pulled back her hand, only to rest it against his neck. “Okay, wow.” She was grinning, ear to ear. 

“Yeah.” He stole a quick peck from her.

“So, my dorm room too, huh?” Karin tried to pick up their conversation, practically beaming.  

“Yes.” 

There wasn’t a lot more said for a few moments, Toshiro’s arm was circling Karin’s waist as he was resting her head on his shoulder. 

“So, just to be clear, the matching cups were not the ones making you feel more at home?” Karin asked with a giggle, making Toshiro’s shoulder shake as he laughed at it. 

“They are lovely, but no.” He shook his head. “I suppose as you said, it’s the people.” His hand found hers, pulling it into his own. “It’s you.”