Prize of Victory

Warnings: Quick sex scene.


Something had changed after the night she had went to him on her own free will. She didn’t even bother to try and hide it from Yuzu and as strange as it kind of was it was somewhat of a relief no longer attempting to hide what was going on. She hated keeping secrets from her twin. She even found her stuff slowly migrating into what was now their room.

Yuzu actually seemed pleased with the relationship, which was rather confusing, but Karin wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Karin yawned as she woke up, stretching as much as the arm holding her in place would permit. A quick sniff of the air indicated Yuzu was already awake and making what smelled like a wonderful breakfast.

Karin sighed and tried to wriggle out of the arm holding her, but it just tightened and pulled her back under the blankets.

“I am starting to think I am getting the short end of the deal.” She groused as she felt something hot and firm pocking into her thigh.

“Want to change it?” Grimmjow muttered from behind her.

“Maybe restrict it.” She sighed, but turned in his grasp to face him.

She could never get over how deeply blue his eyes were, or his powder blue hair for that matter.

“Ride me.” He grunted, untangling his arm from her body to let her move and shifting onto his back.

She had learned the reason he had always taken her from behind was because that was how hollows did it. They were like animals with no memory of their human life. After she had rode him that night he had began to demand they try various other positions.

It was like a dam had been broken and she found each evening for two weeks straight they would try something different. His favourites still seemed to be either her on her hands and knees or her riding him, depending on his mood.

Karin straddled his hips and reached for the bottle of lubricant on the desk beside the bed. She poured a generous amount in her hand before reaching down to stroke him. He bucked his hips into her hand and sighed, eyes closing in contentment.

“Spoiled house cat.” She grumbled.

He just smirked at her.

She poured another good dose on her hand and rubbed it in herself before wrapping a hand around him once more and sinking down onto him.

Her walls had adjusted to his length by now and the lubricant made easing down onto him much easier. She shifted once he was fully inside to settle herself about him better before she started to move.

His eyes gazed at her in a lazy hunger that never failed to bring a blush to her cheeks. No one had ever wanted her like he clearly did and it left her heart fluttering each time he looked at her like that.

Since that first night and their agreement he hadn’t even glanced at Yuzu, and that also flattered her for she was well aware how beautiful her sister was compared to plain old her. But even more flattering was he had never brought another woman home either, nor had she caught traces of another reiatsu on him.

His hands held her hips to balance her as she rode him and her own snaked out across his chest to tweak a nipple each. He hissed, arched his back and cursed her. Karin permitted a smirk of her own to touch her lips at his reaction.

He never lasted long in the mornings, and neither did she. All too soon she felt that cliff loom before her before she plunged over the edge. Her walls clamped around him and he let loose curse as she felt him also shudder beneath her, hot cum shooting into her body.

She rested against his chest, panting lightly and listening to his own pants. One of his hands absently ran up and down her back as they recovered.

“Shower.” He grunted.

“Yeah.” She agreed.

She sat up and slowly untangled their bodies. Left over fluid ran down her right leg as it leaked out off her. They always showered in the morning together and it had become very routine.

By the time she actually managed to get dressed and make it down stairs, Yuzu was just finishing breakfast and greeted her with a cheerful ‘good morning.’

Karin returned the greeting and collapsed into one of the chairs. She had about half an hour to eat before her daily training would begin.

“How did you sleep?” Yuzu asked pleasantly.

“I actually slept.” Karin answered.

“Oh?” Yuzu asked with a knowing grin.

“Oi, none of that now.” Karin warned, feeling another blush come on.

“It is good that you have found someone.” Yuzu assured her with a warm smile.

“Yeah.” Karin agreed softly, looking out the window into the garden and just enjoying the view.

Yuzu set her breakfast down before her and Karin’s eyes lit up at the colourful omelette before her, until the smell hit her nose. She felt bile rise in the back of her throat and barely had enough time to excuse herself before she rushed to the bathroom.

She dry heaved into the toilet for a full minute before her stomach settled.

“Karin, are you alright?” Yuzu asked from the door, worry very evident in her voice.

“Peachy.” She muttered. “It seems to have passed.”

“Are you sure?” Yuzu asked concerned.

“Yeah.” Karin stood up and flushed the toilet out of habit. “I think the scent of pepper just went down the wrong tube when I took a whiff.” She assured her sister.

“I hate it when that happens.” Yuzu nodded understandingly.

Karin took a few breaths and found her stomach did seem to be completely fine and the need to choke to death had passed.

“Oi, let’s go.” Grimmjow’s voice shouted from the front door.

“ Strange, we usually train out back.” Karin thought. “Sorry Yuzu, but I think I will have to finish eating when I get back.”

“That’s alright, I will put it in the fridge for you.”

“Thanks.”

Karin snuck passed her sister and joined Grimmjow by the front door. He led her out the door and down the street without a word, and she followed.

“Where is he taking me?” She wondered.


Grimmjow had been contemplating on the next step of Karin’s training for a few days now. He was somewhat familiar with a Shinigami’s Zanpakuto, but he didn’t know how they acquired it or learned to release it.

For that he was going to need a Shinigami. And since he did nothing halfway, he was going to need one of reasonable strength and not one of the pussies that did their best to duck out of his way and make sure their eyes were averted at all times.

He knew a few of the powerful ones had been Claimed by the other Espada, but only two of the said Espada with Claims on those of the power level he sought where even tolerable to be around, let alone speak to.

The first was Harribel with her Claim on the white haired kid and the second was Starrk with his Claim on the white haired adult. Both he knew were still active Taichou and he had actually briefly toyed with the idea of letting Karin join one of the divisions to earn some real combat experience.

In the end he scratched the idea because it meant there was a chance she would be deployed to the living world. While she was strong enough to hold her own against any hollow that would show up there, he was worried she would come across Kurosaki and he would lose her.

He had considered both optional Taichou and in the end went with Starrk’s pet. He wouldn’t admit it was because Toshiro was closer in age to her then the elderly Shinigami and she might develop an interest in him. No, he used the excuse that with age came wisdom and Ukitake was a very experienced man.

They finally arrived at the place that reeked of Starrk’s reiatsu and he tossed a glance behind him to make sure Karin was handling the pressure alright. She seemed confused, but otherwise fine from the pressure.

He turned back to the door and knocked loudly. After a moment a woman wearing a bright pink Kimono that was clearly too large for her and a pair of glasses answered it.

“Yes?” She asked carefully.

“I need to see Ukitake. I already cleared it with Starrk.” He commented.

“You must be Grimmjow-san then.” The woman opened the door fully to let them into the compound. “Lilinette said you would be stopping by at some point today. Ukitake-taichou is in the back garden.”

“Thanks.” He grunted.

A quick scan of the area found the only other unfamiliar reiatsu. The other two belonged to Starrk and Lilinette and the third was clearly a child by the undeveloped feel of it.

He headed towards the unknown one and found the white haired man indeed in a garden, feeding bread to koi in the pond. Ukitake turned to face them as they approached.

“Wait here.” He ordered Karin.

She nodded her head and stopped following him, her eyes never leaving the Taichou and a look of confusion mingled with curiosity on her face.

Grimmjow closed the distance until he was standing before the elderly Taichou.

“Grimmjow-san.” Ukitake greeted him politely. “Starrk-san said you wanted to talk to me about something.”

“Yeah. I want you to train her. I don’t know shit about how a Shinigami’s Zanpakuto works.” He said bluntly.

Shock rippled across the white haired mans face and he turned his gaze back to the young woman. Grimmjow waited patently while the Taichou studied her. The man blinked in surprise before turning back to Grimmjow.

“I take it that is one of Ichigo-kun’s sisters?” He asked slowly.

“Yeah. What of it?”

“I am just surprised. I would be honoured to train her, but I have a division to run.”

“It’s taken care of for the next week. I already cleared it with Starrk. I just need you to teach her about that Zanpkauto stuff. The rest I can handle.”

“I guess I have no choice then. But, I am curious as to why you want her trained in the first place.”

“That comes to me second request.” He admitted grudgingly.

Ever since his argument with Ulquiorra he had seriously been considering this. His words to the 4th were very true. There were few women with the power level she was capable of, and even fewer he could stand to be around. Now that he had staked a territory the instinctual need to breed was starting to get to him.

“I can smell Starrk’s reiatsu all over you. I want you to explain to her about Claiming.”

Now that nearly caused the Taichou to lose his balance and his eyes widened in shock.

“Pardon?” Ukitake asked in disbelief.

“I ain’t so good with explaining shit like that. No doubt you could explain it to her in a way she would understand.”

“You are thinking of Claiming her?” Ukitake asked.

“Yeah, got a problem with it?” He challenged.

The man looked like he was about to protest, but wisely stopped himself.

“Forgive me. I will do my best to explain to her what Claiming means and entitles, but I must confess my own knowledge is limited.”

Grimmjow nodded and waved Karin over.

Ukitake had been informed by Starrk the day before that he wouldn’t be going into work and that he would be expecting company. Apparently Grimmjow had a request of him. He was understandably confused as to what the 6th Espada could possibly want with him.

He tore another piece of bread off and tossed it into the pond, smiling softly as the Koi competed for it. The fish didn’t care who ruled just so long as their bellies were fed and he couldn’t help but to envy them for it.

He heard a banging on the front door and quickly scanned. Nanao was heading to answer it and the two on the other side were vaguely familiar. One was clearly a hollow and he quickly put a name to that one, but the other confused him.

It clearly belonged to a Shinigami and judging by the strength of it one of the seated officers. He turned to face them as they approached and his confusion only amplified when he saw the other was not a Shinigami as he had anticipated, or at least not one he recognized.

Grimmjow’s request took him by surprise and he studied the young woman, starting to see a family resemblance and putting a few pieces of the puzzle together.

“I take it that is one of Ichigo-kun’s sisters?” He asked.

His suspicion was confirmed and he studied her again.

“This must be the one Toshiro spoke off. Karin I believe her name was.”

It was Grimmjow’s next request that sent a spike of fear for her through his body.

“Pardon?” He asked, just to make sure he had heard right.

So Grimmjow was planning on Claiming the teenager. He wanted to object, not just because this was Ichigo-kun’s sister, but because she was still technically a human and not even an adult yet.

“Forgive me. I will do my best to explain to her what Claiming means and entitles, but I must confess my own knowledge is limited.” He agreed.

Grimmjow nodded and waved Karin over. He explained that she would be training with him, and then left with a promise to pick her up in a week. She looked after Grimmjow shocked as he disappeared out of sight.

“Apparently Grimmjow-san didn’t tell her anything before bringing her over. Ukitake noted.

Karin turned her attention back to him, clearly studying him and he offered her a warm smile.

“You are one of the Taichou, aren’t you?” She asked confidently.

“You are very observant. How did you know?” He asked curiously.

“You have a large amount of reiatsu and you are wearing the same type of haori Toshiro was when I met him.” She explained.

“Did Grimmjow-san explain the kind of training we will be doing?” He asked.

“No.” Karin answered.

“Perhaps we should start with a bit of a history lesson about Shinigami first. How much do you know?” He asked.

Karin gave him a quick run down of what she knew, and he was surprised she knew as much as she did. The important part was she knew there was something special with their katana’s.

“They are called Zanpakuto.” He explained once she was done. “And they are a part of our soul. As such each one is different with different abilities, and their own attitudes.”

“You mean they are alive?” She asked confused.

“Something like that.” He agreed. “A Zanpakuto isn’t something that is giving to you, it is something you earn and create out of your own soul. I am not sure how this will work with you though Karin-chan, for you are still a human.”

“Ichigo has one though, doesn’t he?” She questioned.

“Indeed. I do believe his is named Zangetsu. My own is Sogyo no Kotowari, and I would love to show him to you but I am afraid I am not permitted to wield him anymore.”

“Part of being a prisoner I guess.” She reasoned.

“Indeed. Regrettably, because of what a Zanpakuto is, I can not just give you one. Because you are human there is no guarantee you will even be able to posses one.”

Her face fell in disappointment.

“What I can do for you though is teach you the art of Jinzen.”

Her entire face perked up.

“What is Jinzen?” She asked.

“It is kind of like a form of meditation we use to communicate with our Zanpakuto. Would you like to learn that?”

“Yes please.” She agreed almost immediately.

“Very well. First though, let’s find you a room and I will introduce you to Nanao-san and Hana-chan. Perhaps Nanao-san might be able to teach you a bit of Kido if you have the talent for it.”

“What is Kido?” Karin asked with clear interest.

Ukitake smiled in pleasure at the question. It had been so long since he had acted as a teacher that getting back into it with such an eager student was swelling his heart in a way he hadn’t felt since the war.

Her introduction to Nanao and Hana went well and they found Karin a room to sleep in for the week. He decided to forgo teaching her Jinzen for the moment and instead turned her over to Nanao.

“Kido is using your reiatsu and set chants to essentially create various effects. You can use them for offensive, defensive, healing, and binding.” Nanao explained.

Ukitake could tell the woman was also just as pleased to suddenly find herself doing something useful.

“Can you feel your reiatsu?” Nanao asked.

“That I can do, and I can sense and recognize others.” Karin frowned and looked at him. “I don’t want to be rude, but since we are on the topic, why does your’s feel so different, like….. almost like there is two? I noticed Orihime felt the same way.”

He was shocked by the question. Was her perception seriously that strong? Not even Nanao had noticed the change to his reiatsu from the Claiming. The former fukutaichou was shooting him a demanding glance of her own.

“I’ll explain that to you later. It has to do with the other thing Grimmjow-san wanted me to talk to you about.”

She looked at him curiously, but didn’t push the subject, nor did Nanao.

“The first thing I want you to do is something simple we do to test potential students. I want you to form a ball of reiatsu in the palm of your hand.” Nanao instructed.

“That’s easy.” Karin assured her and quickly completed the task. “I have been able to fuse reiatsu into my hands and feet since I was eleven. I can even infuse it into objects.”

She demonstrated by dropping the reiatsu in her hand, finding a decent rock, and kicking it into a near by tree, nearly breaking it in half. He had never heard of nor seen someone fuse reiatsu with something to make it a weapon.

Both adults looked at her stunned before the first full smile of pleasure he had ever seen since the war crossed Nanao’s face.

“Let’s try an actual spell since you can do that much already. I will demonstrate with an easy one first.” Nanao’s voice held a hint of excitement.

He hadn’t seen her this happy in years and he suddenly wanted to hunt down Grimmjow and demand to let them keep teaching Karin just to see the look of life that was on Nanao’s face.

They started with the first spell, a simple Sho. Karin caught onto that one quickly and they moved on from there. The time flew by them quickly and for once there wasn’t a shadow of pain or loss in Nanao’s voice.

“Karin-chan’s control over her reiatsu is as strong as Ichigo-kun’s is weak.” He noted. “If she can learn Kido then she must be able to summon a Zanpakuto. But how? Did something happen we don’t know about to turn her into a Shinigami like her brother? Is it because of living under the same roof with so much reiatsu it affected her like it did Orihime and the others?

“First Ichigo-kun and then Grimmjow-san. Could their reiatsu have had such an effect on her? No, there must be more to it other wise wouldn’t her sister also be similarly affected, and their father.” He paused.

He had no idea who their parents were. Perhaps the key was there.

“Karin-chan, might I ask your parents names.”

She looked at him in confusion, but did answer.

“Kurosaki Isshin and Masaki.” She answered. “Why?”

“Isshin?” He questioned.

“He is……was…..” She never finished, and he regretted even bringing it up, but at least his question was answered.

If it was indeed the Isshin he was thinking of it certainly explained a lot about the Kurosaki family. In fact he was probably the only person alive other than Unohana who would have a clue who Isshin really was.

“I think it is time for dinner.” He called the now mores attention back to him.

Karin had proven to be alright in Hado, but it was the barriers of Bakudo that she excelled at. She didn’t even bother with the incantations after a bit and simply focused her Reiatsu into a solid force.

They all headed for the dinning hall and he noticed Karin freeze as they approached it.

“What’s wrong?” He asked as Nanao continued on ahead.

“Such…. power.” She whispered.

“She is sensing Starrk-san’s power from here?” He realized surprised.

“It feels,” she frowned, “like the other half on yours.” She looked back at him and studied him. “I think I understand now. It’s like a binding. His reiatsu is binding yours, just like Ulquiorra’s is binding Orihime’s.”

“You are very perceptive. There is more to it than that, but I will explain later. The reiatsu you are sensing is Starrk-san’s, and he is indeed very powerful. But you don’t need to fear him. The other Arrancar you will meet is Lilinette-chan.”

They kept walking and found everyone waiting for them at the table.

“Ah, it looks delicious, Lilinette-chan.” He smiled at her.

“It’s Lilinette-sama to you, Shiro-chan.” She snapped.

Karin looked between Lilinette and the half asleep visage of Starrk, a frown on her face.

“This is Karin-chan.” He introduced her. “She will be staying with us for a week for a bit of training.”

“I am pleased to meet you.” She bowed politely to Starrk. “Ano….”

“What is it Karin?” Ukitake asked.

“It’s nothing.” She broke her gaze from the two Arrancar.

“Can she honestly see there is a connection between Starrk-san and Lilinette-chan?” He wondered surprised. “It would make sense seeing as how she can sense his reiatsu binding mine.”

“You going to sit down and eat or what Shiro-chan?” Lilinette taunted.

“Of course, Lilinette-chan.” He took his place.

“It’s Lilinette-sama to you.” She countered quickly.

He sent her an amused smile and Starrk sighed in annoyance while Nanao tried to get the food INTO Hana as the five year old seemed more interested in wearing it yet again.

Karin continued to study the two Arrancar as they ate and his suspicion, that her suspicion was heading for the right mark, was growing. However, it wasn’t his place to reveal something like that.

It was after dinner, while Lilinette and Nanao were cleaning up dinner in the kitchen with Hana, that Karin spoke again.

“Starrk-san?” She said hesitantly.

“Hmm?” He looked up at her.

“Lilinette-san…. her reiatsu feels like yours, but differently than the way it feels with Ukitake-san. Hers is more….. Pure?” She questioned.

Starrk stared at her before shooting his glance at him.

“I told her nothing. It appears Karin-chan is very adept at reading reiatsu.” He explained with a soft smile.

“I see.” Starrk turned his attention back to her. “You could say Lilinette is the physical manifestation of my Zanpakuto.” He answered.

Dawning entered Karin’s eyes and she nodded her head in understanding.

“That makes sense.”

“And I already told you I would explain my story later.” Ukitake said before she could ask him again. “For now, you should go get cleaned up and I can begin to teach you a bit on Jinzen.”

Karin nodded and stood up before heading off through the estate to her chosen rooms.

“Grimmjow want’s you to explain Claiming to her?” Starrk asked, a bit surprised.

“Yes.” Ukitake answered. “ He is as sharp as ever to figure out so much from one little sentence.” He thought to himself. “I warned him my knowledge is somewhat limited.”

Silence between them for a moment.

“I’ll explain it to her before she leaves.” Starrk offered.

Ukitake looked up at him in surprise.

“There is indeed more to it then what I am using on you, and I have a feeling it’s the ‘more’ part Grimmjow is interested in. Don’t worry,” Starrk assured him, “I’ll let you listen in too.”

“Thanks. I need to get clean up myself. I wish I had Sogyo no Kotowari to show her. Grimmjow-san wants me to train Karin-chan to acquire her own Zanpakuto. Even if Nanao-san could have hers it would help.”

Ukitake stood up and stretched before heading back to his own room to change from his uniform to a loose fitting yukata for comfort. He found Karin and led her to his favourite garden.

“Jinzen is like a form of meditation.” He explained as she sat cross legged across from him. “Shinigami use it to communicate with their Zanpakuto. It does not happen overnight and can take years to even hear a whisper from your Zanpakuto’s spirit.”

Karin nodded and closed her eyes.

“Let your mind be free. Do not try to find your inner self, let it find you. It is there trying to talk to you, trying to get your attention. All you need to do is listen.” He consoled.

He closed his own eyes and reached out for the faint, distant voices of his own Zanpakuto. He could still hear them, but the voice was faint with distance. Surprisingly the voice was a bit louder today than normal and it took him a moment to realize the usual reign on his Reiatsu had been loosened.

He found himself in his inner world for the first time in five years and barely had time to realize it before he was wrapped in a group hug with the twin spirits of his Zanpakuto. He felt tears run down his face at the trust being giving to him.

With this much reign he could actually summon his Zanpakuto to him. He wanted to do it so badly it almost hurt, but he could not betray the trust giving to him. Having Sogyo no Kotowari in his grasp would make no difference in anyone’s fate.

He settled for crying and holding the twins close while he had the chance to do so. His bliss was interrupted by a violent shaking on his shoulder. His eyes snapped open to see the concerned gaze of Karin.

The sun had long since set and the moon was halfway across the sky. He didn’t even realize he had been in his inner world for so long.

“Sorry Karin-chan. Did I worry you?” He asked embarrassed.

“A little.” She admitted.

“Any luck?” He asked, although he really wasn’t expecting a positive answer.

“Well, I didn’t hear anything or see anything, but I could tell something was there.” She admitted.

“It’s a good start. Just keep that up and sooner or later you should find the other half of your soul.”

She nodded her head and they bid each other good night before heading to their separate room.



Somewhat long end not. Bad Nova, Bad.

/hug everyone who reviewed. I am glad people actually enjoyed the last chapter and what people took away from it. More so, for daring to check out pairings one would normally skip over. A well written story can make any pairing viable and half the fun of Prize was working with the various options. Some will find love, others only hate.

When I first started to think of the pairings I would work into this I stopped and thought who should go with who and why. I figured in most cases the Claimer should have fought or at least had previous interactions with the Claimed. It had to make sense why the Espada chose to Claim who they did. The Prize of Victory. Byakuya only fought the two Espada and of the two only Yammy was going to be left alive. I was pretty sure it had never been done before and Yammy is definitely good for dark torture. Regrettably, Byakuya does not have an easy time.

We will see more pairings as the story goes, but they kind of weave around Karin's story and take place before and after they cross paths with her. I believe it goes to Orihime, than back to Karin, than we finally see Toshiro's fate 3 chapters from now. I am not sure how many chapters there are done atm, but this chapter ends on page 108 and I am on page 410 (spaces between each paragraph to make posting easier).

There is a lot of underline plot going on that wont come to fruition for a very long time. I already have plans for who Isshin was and how that is going to come into play.

Karin's two core abilities were touched on and set up this Chapter. See if you can guess what she is going to be capable of. Not you though Kazes, you already know ;) I have no plans on giving her a Zanpakuto. I toyed with i, but in the end thought these two abilities were enough.

For you Gin fans, we won't see him for another 8 chapters or so. Sorry.