A/N: WHOOO HOOO! First chapter to the SECOND installment of the Riddles of Water Trilogy. So if you haven't read the first one, Riddles of Water Volume 1: Patterns in the Snow, then you better go read it! And I've decided to add a FOURTH is FOURTH volume to it all. It's not going to be full blown, just some side stories. They have NOTHING to do with the main plot, and that'll be coming out AFTER the series is done. Just some fun little stories for everyone to enjoy. I'll be updating my website later today, so be sure to check that out for further information on the FOURTH volume of the series.
Now, for people wondering WHY I'm posting this today... it's because TODAY the 16th of September is... MY BIRTHDAY! And as a treat for everyone. I thought I'd get the prologue up. XD I'm not done with the volume yet, but I'm close, so the next update MIGHT be a little late. I like to have the whole series DONE before posting stuff. Today's an exception though. So, make me happy on my birthday and REVIEW lots and lots!
And just as side note, anything with -- ... -- around it is supposed to be CROSSED OUT. The fricken thing won't let me strike text... but I think there's only ONE place in the whole chapter there's something that has strikes on it. You'll see them. XD ENJOY!
Symbol Zero:
Tautology
/History doesn't repeat, but it sure does rhyme. -Mark Twain\\
Minako,
Yo. So, how's your first 3 weeks of school? Matsumoto's been annoying the crap out of me here. She keeps whining about how boring it is without you. It's really getting on my nerves. Anyways, I'm just writing to check in. Yamamoto-soutaichou said that even if you're in school, you're still considered to be under my care, so if anything happens to you it'll be on my account. And since that's the case, then don't let anything happen to yourself. Got it? Alright, I've got to go now. Still have this massive pile of paperwork to do.
Take care (and I mean it),
Hitsugaya Toushirou
Toushirou,
Man, it took you long enough to write. I was waiting for you to write, since I didn't know where to address the letters to. And now that I have an address, I'll write more often. School's been great! I've made tons of new friends and class has been really interesting. I'd tell you all about it here, but I'm supposed to be doing my Teleportation essay right now. And tell Ran-chan that I miss her a lot. I'm sure it is boring without me. I mean, come on Toushirou-kun, all you ever do is paperwork! Have some fun once in a while, why don't you? Ok, gotta go, that essay's due tomorrow, and I've only written 3 sentences.
Write back soon!
Takamori Minako
P.S: What would happen to you if anything did happen to me? Just wondering... Bye!
Minako,
See? Didn't I tell you that you'd make lots of friends? I told Matsumoto, and how she's writing a letter to you too, so it'll probably come with mine. I've got to say thanks though, ever since your last letter came, she stopped complaining. I think she's more focused on clustering your mailbox now, but enough about that. And about the punishment for something happening to you? Well, he'd probably give me a lecture on responsibility and then if it gets bad enough, demote me. But that's a moot point because you are going to be careful, right? Just like I told you to.
For you information, I do have fun. Or have you forgotten those comics you found. I personally find them very fun to read. And I'm thinking of going and getting some new ones. I heard there's this really good series that just came out. I don't know if I should go get it or not. Anyways, I'll write again some other time.
Be Careful,
Hitsugaya Toushirou
Mina-chan!
Since Taichou wouldn't relay my messages, I decided to write you a letter on my own! It's boring here without you. All Taichou does is work work work. And then he forced me to do work with him. I want to go shopping! But he wouldn't let me, and then he got mad at me for going to get a drink. How come he doesn't get mad at Shunsui-taichou whenever he goes out to get drinks? It's so not fair. Well anyways, you have to write back soon and let me know how you're doing!
Miss you lots!
Ran-chan
Toushirou,
Pft, and you also told me to forget about you. And I haven't. Not yet anyways. Nah... just kidding. I wouldn't forget you. Haha, I got the letter from Ran-chan. Has she showed it to you? I don't think she would have. It's full of... well... complaints on how you only do work and then you make her do work. And she even talks about you getting mad at her for going drinking and how you don't get mad at Shunsui-taichou when he goes drinking. She's so funny. I was laughing my head off, reading her letter. And yes, I'm going to be careful. I haven't done anything yet, other than get a paper cut and blow up a glass jar. But both of them were accidents, so no biggie.
Anyways, how are you? I've been wondering what you're doing. The same old same old? Well, other than paperwork I mean. Anything interesting happen while I'm gone. Oh! Did Aka-sama and Rukia-san get back yet? I want to know what happened to them. And Kurosaki-kun and his friends too. Did they get Orihime-chan out alright? Are any of them hurt or anything? You have to tell me everything. I'm so worried! The Research and Developments Department suddenly stopped giving reports. Either that, or you just didn't tell me about them. And no, I haven't forgotten your comics. They're lots of fun to read. But I haven't heard anything about a new series. Well, duh... I'm in Enchanting school, they don't have manga and comics here. I miss them though, it'd be nice to read some of them again. Be sure to save them for me too!
Write back soon!
Minako
Ran-chan!
Gosh! I was wondering when you were going to write! I thought your letter would come with Toushirou-kun's first one, but it didn't. Well, better late then never! I know Toushirou-kun is a workaholic, but he does have fun. Shh! don't tell him I told you, but he's got a secret stash of comics hidden on his shelves. I don't know if you knew that already, but there it is anyways. I'm doing great, actually! I've got great friends here and we have lots of fun. Homework's always a pain in the ass, but it always has been, so I can't say anything about that. There's a Halloween Dance coming up, and we have to have dates. Ugh, it's such a drag. I don't want to have dates. All the guys get all nervous about asking the girls, and all the girls get all giggly every time a guy passes by. Seriously, I don't get that. But then again, I've never really gotten romancy stuff, so whatever. And I have to go and buy a new dress now... just perfect. It'll be snowing hard on the weekends too. The dresses better be nice for me to go all this way during a snow storm.
Miss you too!
Mina-chan
P.S: What color do you think I'd look good in?
Minako,
No, Matsumoto has not shown me her letter, but that's very interesting. I'll have to remember to have a word with her about that. Thanks for letting me know. You blew up a glass jar? Are you alright? Did any of the glass cut you or anything? If the glass gets in your eyes, you could go blind. Have you gone to the nurse to check up after it happened? You idiot! How do you blow up a glass jar?! Make sure you get a check-up if you didn't yet.
I thought I told you, but apparently I didn't: They got Inoue back. And Kurosaki's fine, along with everyone else. Kuchiki and Abarai returned shortly after you left, so you didn't get to see them, but they both send their regards. As for me, I'm doing fine. Nothing exciting happened other than the addition of a new Taichou. He's a nice person. You'd like him, but he apparently can't hold his liquor. There was a small fuss over the Fukutaichou of the 3rd Division, but that was settled. Everything else is going just as it always does. And there have been no huge attacks other than a few Menos ones, but Menos aren't much of a problem anymore. Not for people who have dealt with the Espada.
Write back soon,
Toushirou
Mina-chan!
There's a dance?! Oh! How exciting! Has anyone asked you yet? I bet there are tons and tons of guys just lining up to ask you out. You're so pretty! You'd look good in any color, but I think white, or any light color would suite you well. Like light blue for instance. And remember to take a picture of yourself and send it back to us! I'll tease Taichou with it. You know, I think he's likes you. I'm not sure, but it's just a hunch. And I know you've got a thing for him. Oh, and the comics, yeah, I knew about those already. I used to tease him about it all the time, but it got boring after a while, so I stopped. It was plenty fun while it lasted though. Too bad it wasn't porn or anything, then I could have gotten a real kick out of showing it to everyone. Ok! Write again soon!
Miss you lots!
Ran-chan
Toushirou,
Tsk, tsk, tsk, don't get over confident, Toushirou-kun! That's what leads to bad things. But then again, you are a child prodigy, so I guess I shouldn't worry. Wow, December already? Man time flied by fast! I feel like I'd barely been here. Ok... this school has way too many dances for it's own good. We had one in October for Halloween, and now we're having one for Christmas, which means I can't go back. I was really looking forward to going and visiting you during vacation. Sorry, Toushirou-kun. This time, it's the girls ask the guys out, so it's even worse than last time. Damn it... I don't wanna go to the stupid ball. Well, I'll see you later, it's passed midnight, so I have to go to bed. Thank god it's a weekend tomorrow.
Miss you lots,
Minako
Ran-chan,
Hey! I hope you got the pictures I sent to you and Toushirou-kun. Surprisingly, I actually looked nice in the light blue dress. Thanks for the tips, Ran-chan. Ugh, we're having a Christmas ball now, what a pain. And this time, the girls has to ask the guys and everyone has to participate, which means that I can't go back to visit. I was really looking forward to going back too... dang it. Ok, I've gotta go. We're already making preparations for the ball, and I have to help.
Bye!
Minako
Minako,
I am not over confident. And flattery will get you nowhere, however much I enjoy it. Hm... I didn't know that you would be able to come back for Christmas, but if you can't then you won't be able to attend the Coming of the New Year celebration I told you about. We, too, are beginning preparations for that. Don't worry though, I'm sure Matsumoto will save loads of things for you. She does every year. And you look nice in that dress. Light blue suits you. Also, is there anyone you're planning to ask to the ball? Just wondering, that's all. Write back soon.
Hoping you're well,
Toushirou
Mina-chan,
You look absolutely beautiful in the dress. You should have seen Taichou's face! It was all red, and he yelled at me later for pointing it out, but I really think he's got something for you. Wouldn't that be nice? Oh! You better not get a boyfriend while you're at school, poor little Taichou would be heartbroken! Are you going to wear that dress again for the Christmas Ball? If you do, remember to send back more pictures! And I should really take some picture of Taichou and send them to you. I'm sure you miss him a lot. Well anyways, you better write back soon.
Wish you were here to chat,
Ran-chan
Toushirou,
Oh so you enjoy the compliments. Hm, I'll have to think up some good ones then! Maybe I'll be able to get more favors from you. Aw, I really wanted to go and see it. Can you send me some pictures? You guys have cameras over there, right? Cause if you don't I can mail one over. I really want to see it. Awww, thank you. That's really sweet. Ran-chan was the one that suggested light blue as a color, and there just happened to be one that looked nice on me. But thanks.
No, I don't fancy anyone here. I mean, sure, there are cute guys, but I just don't like them like that, you know? I've got a few good guy friends though, I think I'll just ask one of them as a friend. They'll get it anyways, they know I'm not into that kind of stuff. Write again soon!
--Hey Mina-chan's boyfriend! I'm her best friend here, and she talks about you all the time and she even--
Sorry about that, my friend was writing on my paper. And I want to say that I love you and you're the most
Ok. Ignore that. She's getting really annoying now. Bye!
Minako
--Love you!--
Ran-chan,
Thank you! And I got those pictures of Toushirou-kun you sent me. They were absolutely hilarious. They made my day. Do you really think that he's got something? I really don't know. And I'm not going to get a boyfriend. Why would I do that when I already... well anyways, I do miss him a lot. And I miss you too! I can't wait till school ends and I get to go back. I'll write again soon.
Wants a good chat too,
Mina-chan
Minako,
How'd you do on the end of year tests? You told me last time that you were studying. And is your arm better from that fire accident? I told you to watch yourself. That better not leave any scars when you get back. Yamamoto-soutaichou just had a meeting with me today, concerning your well being. He asked if everything was alright with you, and I told him yes. If I'd told him that you burned your arm, he would have set some penalty. You better not get any more injuries. I've told you a million and one times: Be careful. Do you not understand that meaning of that phrase? It means to dodge when explosives are bouncing around a room. You don't just stand there and do nothing while waiting for one of them to burn your arms and legs off. Alright, write back and tell me how you're doing.
Heal soon,
Toushirou
Mina-chan!
Yay! Only 3 more weeks till the end of the year for you! And then you'll be back with us again! Oh I can't wait! I got tons of presents for you from the Coming of the New Years Celebration, and Taichou got you a little something too! Trust me, you'll love it. And he picked it out himself! I thought it was so sweet. At first, he was just staring at it, like it reminded him about something, and then he asked me if I thought it looked nice. And I told him yes, and so he bought it. When I asked him who it was for, he got all shy and said you. You really should have seen his face. It was priceless. Anyways, can't wait till you get back!!
Write back soon!
Ran-chan
Toushirou,
I did fine on my tests. At least I think I did. The grades for them are going to come during the summer, so I don't know the exact scores yet. But I basically knew everything that was asked, except for a few questions here and there. So I think I did fine in general.
Thanks for asking, I'm healing as we speak. No really, I'm literally healing, or being healed by the school nurse. She first put this really weird gel on it, and told me to let it sit there for a day or so. Then she cast some sort of an Enchantment on it, and now the spell is working its charm! It looks really cool, and I want to be a healer, now that I come to think of it. So I'll probably be going in that general direction. I'm sorry if I made you worry too much. I really didn't mean to. The 'explosives' were bouncing around like crazy! And they were so fast that we could barely see them. How am I supposed to dodge them when 2 are coming at me from different directions?! Well... anyways, I have to go. The nurse is going to come check on me soon.
Counting down the days till I go back,
Minako
Ran-chan,
He got me something? What is it? I want to know! Is it like... jewelry or something? Ugh! I want to see it! How much money did he spend on it? I don't want him spending too much money on anything for me. But knowing him, that won't be much of a big problem. I can't wait till I go back either! I wanna see you guys so badly!
See you soon!
Mina-chan
Minako,
Good to know that you're alright. There's only one more week left of school for you, correct? Well, Matsumoto and I will be coming to the station to pick you up and bring you back to the Soul Society. I trust you've told no one that you're a spirit? I didn't bother asking earlier because I thought you had more sense, but just to make sure.
You have to attend another Captains' Meeting, and demonstrate what you have learned in these past months. The Taichous agreed for you to go to school in order for you to gain further control over your powers, so that you can be of some use to the Soul Society. We're all still preparing for the Espada attack, which, surprisingly, hasn't happened yet. We thought it was going to happen last winter, but apparently not. And now it's June, but still no word or movement from Aizen. Maybe he's given up, but that's probably not the case. Remember to bring everything with you. You'll be staying under my care as usual so I trust there'll be no problems. You haven't forgotten the layout of the Seireitei have you? Well if you have, then we'll give you a general tour once you get back.
Anticipating your return,
Toushirou
Mina-chan,
Oh I can't wait till you get back! And I can't tell you what he got. It'd ruin the surprise if I did. He wants to give it to you as a welcome back present, well that's how he said it, but I think he just bought it cause he thought you'd like it. Don't worry, I think you'll love it. It's so... well I'm not going to say anything else. And I'll be seeing you at the station too! I'm coming with Taichou to pick you up!
See you then!
Ran-chan
A/N: Prologue finished! Just a collection of letters that sorta represented their interaction durring the year. And for those of you who thought I was going to write about what happened during the year with NO Toushirou... what are you ON?! How can I POSSISBLY not write about our lovely little captain in EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER?! Ok... I hope everyone caught on to the fact that the line-breaks were time-jumps. Some of the letters sorta link, well... use your imaginations as to what happened kay? I trust you all have lots of imagination. XD And just a warning, this will be a rather long A/N.
So... a bit of a Q-A before anyone asks...
Q: If there are four volumes, will it still be called a Trilogy?
A: Yes it will. Because the fourth volume isn't exactly an OFFICIAL volume. It doesn't contain important information for the plot. In fact, it has NOTHING to do with the plot at all. Just some little side things.
Q: Will there be any sequels to the series?
A: No. There won't be any sequels. I mean... why would we need sequels if there are already FOUR volumes in the series? What would the sequel be about? The two of them being all mushy? Eck...
Q: Why don't you like to post as you write?
A: Because it puts less pressure on me. I can post on an average schedule, and I actually have the time to go and review everything, make sure everything makes sense, revise it... Good writing makes happy readers. So I make sure that I have enough time to produce and edit anything possible to make the writing good. XD
Q: Why can't you just post all the chapters at once? Wouldn't it be easier? And people want to find out what happens next!
A: I want to see everyone's reactions, thoughts, and opinions to EACH AND EVERY CHAPTER. That's why I post a chapter at a time. Keep the readers interested, and at that same time, I could read all the lovely reviews everyone leaves me.
Q: What story will you do after you finish this series?
A: I don't know yet. Actually, that's for YOU to decide. Review and tell me what you'd like to see me write. XD And if it's in my power, then I'll do my best to write it. XD
I believe that's all for now. But if you have ANYTHING else you wanted to ask. Please feel free to do so. xD The more reviews the better I feel! And it's my BIRTHDAY so be nice. XD REVIEW!!