Prologue
A white haired girl wove throughout the busy street of the market place. She was trying to lose the guards chasing her. This white haired girl was of royalty and she wasn't permitted to go into the village without at least two guards watching her every move even though she could take care of herself. The moment she saw that the market started getting crowded she made a break for it. She was fast on her feet and she was small and she used her stature to her advantage. She ducked into different alleyways to lose her pursuers. She was just about to make a left turn when suddenly. BAM!
"Hey watch where you're going!"
She noticed that she had knocked over someone, a white haired boy. He had dropped his groceries when she ran into him. She scurried to help him pick his things up. She was occasionally looking behind her to see if they caught up with her.
"What's the big idea?" The boy snatched the natto from her hands. She gathered the remaining things and she saw the pursuers. The boy noticed the nervousness and tears gathering at the corners of the girls eyes. "Hey what's the matter?"
She lied through her teeth, "I'm being chased by bad people." She pointed over to two large adults in the crowd. They were scanning the streets for her. The boy looked surprised and grabbed his groceries and her hand.
"C'mon hurry up!" He loudly whispered to her. The two of them ducked around the corner and escaped the two large men. The two stopped running when they hit a house sort of isolated from the village.
"Thanks." She breathed out. The boy didn't reply and he just entered the house from the open screen door. She didn't really know what to do so she followed him into the house.
"Granny, I got the groceries!" He yelled into the room.
"Coming," an old squeaky voice called over, "Oh who do we have here?"
"My name is Sayuri Igarashi, it's a pleasure to meet your." Sayuri bowed with elegance to the elder.
"Oh-ho-ho you're so polite." Granny smiled and started to unpack the groceries from the bag.
"Thank you very much for saving me, uh I never got your name." Sayuri bowed formally once again towards the boy.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya." He was kind of shy; he didn't know how to respond to such a formal bow.
"Shiro-chan?" a cute voice called out from outside. Oh, there's someone else too! Hi my name is Momo Hinamori, nice to meet you!" Hinamori waved to Sayuri. Sayuri bowed to the girl as well.
"I'm Sayuri Igarashi."
"Bed wetter Momo," Toshiro smirked. Hinamori grew frustrated and started yelling at Toshiro. A few neighboring kids came over to see the commotion.
"Gross there's another white haired freak!" A boy pointed and started laughing at Sayuri and Toshiro and the other kids joined as well. When did kids get so rude? Sayuri thought crossing her arms.
"Hey that's rude!" Hinamori started scolding the kids for laughing and being mean. Sayuri looked over at Toshiro, and he was obviously bothered about name calling and having someone defend him, but he tried not to show it.
"Bakudo 1: Sai." Sayuri whispered under her breath. The kids quickly had their arms restrained behind their back and some even fell over struggling to get unstuck.
"What's going on?" One of the kids screamed. Sayuri thought that she had done enough and released the kids. The children scampered away and Sayuri couldn't help, but laughing. Her laugh was contagious. Her green and blue eyes squinted and her nose scrunched adorably. Toshiro couldn't help but stare at her.
"Did you do that?" Hinamori ran up to Sayuri. Sayuri continued laughing and wiped away a tear from her eye.
"Sorry was it too mean?" She straightened out.
"No that was awesome!" Hinamori squealed, "I've always wanted to become a Shinigami! Are you one?"
"Yeah," Sayuri smiled at her.
"What division are you in?" Hinamori grabbed on to Sayuri's hands.
"Secret," Sayuri smirked at Hinamori. Hinamori begged her multiple times but she still wouldn't tell her. As Hinamori was bickering Sayuri looked over at Toshiro who was chuckling.
"Thanks." He whispered and looked the other direction. Sayuri looked at his red ears and could tell he was blushing.
"No problem."
Sayuri, Momo, and Toshiro became friends very fast. Hinamori entered the academy to become a Shinigami, but Sayuri still wouldn't tell her what division she was in. Sayuri also noticed something else; Toshiro had an enormous amount or Reiatsu for his age, even though Sayuri was just a bit older than him and she was a Shinigami. Sayuri saw potential in Toshiro.
"Taiyou have you seen Rangiku around?" Sayuri swiftly walked around the 10th barracks.
"Nope, she might be drinking though."
"At 11 am in the morning?" Sayuri said in disbelief.
"Yep," the two headed to the kitchen area in the 10th barracks. And too Sayuri's surprise she was there.
"Sayuri," Rangiku slurred her speech. "What brings you to the 10th division barracks?"
"Could you do me a favor and go to the Junrinan Province tomorrow, 1st district west Rukongai?" Sayuri sat in front of Rangiku.
"Sure, but can I ask you why?"
"There's a boy I want you to convince to become a Shinigami. He has great potential, enough Reiatsu to become a great Shinigami."
"Why don't you do it yourself?"
"He won't listen to me. He needs an outside opinion!"
"Okie dokie, what's he look like?"
"White hair, kind of short, you really can't miss him."
"Okei!" Rangiku smiled and waved Sayuri off.
"Do you think she's going to remember that?" Taiyou walked with Sayuri, she shrugged. "Ah, you're so late!"
"Crap," Sayuri started flash stepping to hurry up she would hate to suffer the wrath of the captain commander.
"Have fun at the Captain's meeting!" Taiyou called out sarcastically.
"You know I always do."
"Congratulations, child prodigy!" Sayuri leaned back into Toshiro's chest. She was sitting
Between his legs and watching the stars. It was a rather cold night cuddling with Toshiro's cold Reiatsu was not to answer to Sayuri's chills, but she liked his company so she persevered through it. Today was the first day Toshiro was a captain, the captain of the 10th division. What he didn't know was that Sayuri was the one who pitched his being captain to the rest of Gotei 13, and she was fine keeping that from him. Sayuri always avoided wearing her captain's robes around him because he wanted to surprise him and because her squad was technically secret to people outside of the Gotei 13. She was the captain of the fourteenth squad in charge of secret covert ops and special cases. There were only thirteen members in the fourteenth squad. It was never really referred as the 14th division it was more commonly known as the Black Lily due to the Igarashi crest.
"Let's go back inside its getting cold." Toshiro picked Sayuri up from the armpits. The two were finally the same height. Sayuri use to be a bit taller.
"Okay." Sayuri sighed. The two of them had a habit of watching stars every full moon and Sayuri was kind of upset that it was ending so early. The two jumped off of the roof and went back inside.
"Welcome back! Taicho!" Rangiku smiled. She noticed Sayuri and a sheepish grin crawled up to her face. "Hi Sayuri." Rangiku saw Sayuri's face flush a bright crimson and laughed a little bit. It was so cute how obvious her feelings were. Sayuri quickly turned around before Toshiro noticed anything.
"Um, I'm going to go now." Before Toshiro had any chance to protest she flash stepped out of the room.
"That was weird." Toshiro sighed and walked over to the captain's desk and plopped down. Today was a tiring day for the young captain.
"Mm hmm?" Rangiku smirked.
"What division is she in anyways, she never tells me! She always avoids it by telling me it's a-"
"Secret," Rangiku smiled and finished his sentence. Toshiro became frustrated. He went to his room and tried to get plenty of sleep he knew that his life would be a lot busier as a captain.
"Are you excited to be going to your first official captain's meeting?" Sayuri ran up from behind Toshiro and linked arms. She started swinging their arms and skipping. Toshiro noticed something weird about her clothes. She usually wore simple elegant kimonos and Yukatas, but today she wore something similar to Shinigami robes. She wore a short black Hakama that had no sleeves and a dropped back. Her smooth skin glistening softly under the sun. A large pale red piece of flowing fabric draped down from her waist and tied into a beautiful ribbon in the front of her stomach. The skirt had a large slit in the front for easy maneuvering and to show off her slender legs. In her hand she carried a wadded ball of white fabric and her two zanpakutos were strapped to her lower back by some pink rope. Her hair was wavy and had a few braids here and here. The green in her eyes shone more today and it was beautiful.
"I guess." Toshiro replied.
"Aw you're no fun." She teased. Sayuri was all about having fun, she was spontaneous and childish. Personality wise she was almost the exact opposite of the serious Toshiro. The two made it to the large doors of the Captains meeting room.
"Shouldn't you be leaving?" Toshiro asked pushing open the double doors.
"Hmm?" Sayuri smiled and started putting on the white fabric she was holding onto before. When the doors opened she stepped right in revealing the white Haori to Toshiro. "Surprise." Sayuri looked quite pleased when she saw Toshiro's dumbfounded face. "I'm a captain too!" Toshiro was silent as he walked into the room full of smiling captains.
"But you weren't here yesterday at the welcoming."
"Actually I was." Sayuri jumped from the ground. She landed on a horizontal beam of wood supporting the ceiling. "I was sitting right here enjoying every minute of your welcoming!" She jumped down and gave Toshiro a quick hug. "Welcome to Gotei 13 captain's corner!"
"What are you doing let go." Toshiro grew red.
"Don't worry about it she does that to everyone." Captain Kyouraku smiled. Sayuri ran over to the 8th division captain and jumped on his back. Captain Kyouraku and Sayuri had a father daughter like relationship. Despite his love of girls he treated Sayuri like he treated his Lieutenant like a very precious loved one who needed to be cherished. "Look she's like a monkey."
Toshiro felt a sudden twinge of jealously she was this close to everyone?
"What division are you a captain of?" Toshiro made his way in between Kyouraku and Kurotsuchi where the 10th captain was supposed to stand.
"Technically it's the fourteenth, but it's more of a special ops and a place for special cases. Its more commonly referred to as the Black Lily." Sayuri jumped off of Kyouraku's back and showed the design of her Haori. Instead of a number in the rhombus there was an elegant black lily printed on the back.
"I thought that was just a myth." Toshiro said.
"Well it's only a myth in the 3 seats and below, but it's a fact between the lieutenants and Captains." A few of the captains chuckled and Sayuri jumped back to the beam where she sat before.
"Let's get on with the meeting! What's happening today Captain Commander?" Sayuri smiled from her seat. Toshiro was still quite unsure of the whole situation. This whole time the Black Lily existed and Sayuri was the Captain of it?
"Actually Sayuri it's about you." Genryuusai stated slightly amused about what just happened.
"Someone is here to challenge you for the place of captain."
"Wow that's a first!" Sayuri jumped down from her beam. "Nobody's ever done that!"
"It's a recent graduate. Top of her class, she was placed into your division."
"Who is it?"
"Shizuka Imai." After Genryuusai said the name a smirk appeared on Sayuri's face. She had read her profile; Shizuka Imai had a unique zanpakuto. Sayuri was giddy because she also got to show off in front of Toshiro.
"Since it is a Black Lily challenger only Captains and Lieutenants will watch." Genryuusai declared.
"What's the level limit I'm allowed?"
"20%,"Genryuusai pounded his cane against the ground and the captains all made their ways to the battle ground. Sayuri was there in a few seconds and she saw Shizuka a tall strongly built red head.
"Sayuri taicho good luck!" Taiyou called out in the crowd. Sayuri waved to him and stared at her opponent. She tried to feel her reiatsu and it was powerful, but calm.
"Let's have a good match." Sayuri smiled to her opponent, but all she got back was a stern nod. When Genryuusai gave the match started. Clanging of swords rang in the air.
"Sayuri's just playing with her. This girl is an idiot, Sayuri is the clear winner." Soi Fon scoffed.
"I wouldn't say that, she seems to have some potential in her." Ukitake smiled. The two fighter clashed swords many a times. Shizuka had some small cuts here and there, but Sayuri was untouched.
"Warp, Jikuseikei!" Shizuka unleashed her zanpakuto and her sword transformed into a pure red sword with a large ring connected at the hilt. Suddenly she disappeared and Sayuri couldn't feel her Reiatsu anymore. A gust of wind appeared around Sayuri and suddenly a lot of gashes appeared onto Sayuri's body. She noticed that Shizuka was traveling in between dimensions, every time Shizuka slashed Sayuri caught a quick glimpse of her body teleporting back in forth.
"Unleash seal of the lake, Mizari." A glowing beam appeared at the tip of her fingers and suddenly Sayuri's Reiatsu shot up. The pressure of it made Shizuka go weak at the knees, but she continued attacking. Shizuka seemed to find a blind spot and aimed for her back.
"I got you!" Shizuka charged at her back.
"I congratulate you; you're one of the first people in a long time to make me draw my second sword." Sayuri grinned as she blocked Shizuka's blade. Sayuri quickly flipped over Shizuka and pinned her down with Sayuri's zanpakuto hovering over her neck. "I win. Good game!" Sayuri smiled and carried Shizuka while she flash stepped to Genryuusai.
"7th seat!" Sayuri reported as her wounds healed themselves.
"What's wrong?" Rangiku nudged Sayuri and handed her a drink. Sayuri took a sip of the Sake and sighed.
"Am I being stupid? Am I wasting my life?" Sayuri chugged down a shot of sake and rested her head on Rangiku's shoulder. "I feel like I'm just a friend a childhood friend and only a friend to him."
"What to taicho?" Rangiku asked slurring her words. It was late at night and after a tough day the two of them needed to unwind. Rangiku was avoiding her paperwork and Sayuri was suffering an extreme case of jealously.
"I mean I love Hinamori, but every time I see those two together my heart hurts. I'm a horrible person." Sayuri poured herself another shot. "All out." Sayuri got up and grabbed a new bottle of whiskey, "I got his in the living world and stored it in here." She smirked.
"You know Sayu-chan? You're very dense sometimes." Rangiku whispered.
"Here have some," Sayuri poured a glass of whiskey for herself and Rangiku. She didn't hear what Rangiku said at all.
"Rangiku I think I've stooped to an all-time low." Sayuri laughed sheepishly a tear gathered at the corner of her eye.
"Aw Sayu don't cry!" Rangiku stood up and hugged her. Rangiku really wanted to tell her what her captain really felt, but it didn't feel right for her to be the one who told Sayuri, it had to be him. Rangiku cooed Sayuri and she drifted to sleep.
"No way!" Sayuri jolted awake, "I'm going to teach that jerk a lesson. I've liked him for years probably and he knows it! I've been pretty freaking obvious about it right? It seems like he likes me too, doesn't it? If you don't like me then don't be so nice to me! I'm going to go give that midget a piece of my mind!"
"Yeah, you go girl!" Rangiku cheered, but soon she realized what was going to happen, "Wait Sayuri." It was too late Sayuri was gone and ready to confront the Captain. She flash stepped quickly from the Black Lily barracks to the 10th division office. She slid open the door and Toshiro was sitting in the chair with a mountain of paperwork surrounding him.
"Ah Sayuri have you seen Matsumoto anywhere?" Toshiro looked up at Sayuri. Her long wavy white hair dangled in front of her face and her cheeks were flushed. Her clothes were roughly done and it showed too much of her skin.
"I sure have, captain Hitsugaya sir." Sayuri stumbled into is room towards his desk. She climbed on from the other side and her Hakama became more and more loose revealing a large part of her chest.
"Are you drunk?" Toshiro smelled the alcohol from her breath. He looked down and her chest area and blushed.
"Yes, but that's not the point." She climbed completely up onto his desk knocking down a few stacks of paperwork and grabbed on to his face. They were inches apart.
"Hey what are you doing?" Toshiro grew furious.
"Shiro-chan, I really really like you." Sayuri mumbled. Toshiro hear it perfectly and he couldn't believe it. Sayuri pulled him in and gently kissed his lips. They were cold and soft, but they didn't kiss back.
"Why aren't you kissing me back?" Tears pooled at Sayuri's eyes and dripped onto Toshiro's cheeks. Did she just kiss him? He was trying to understand the situation, but right when he was ready to ask questions Sayuri collapsed into his arms completely drunk.
"Sayuri don't do it!" Rangiku ran into the room and saw Sayuri collapsed into Toshiro's arm. What the hell happened? Rangiku thought. She could tell that something happened according to Toshiro's face, but she just didn't know what. "I'll bring her back if you want."
"No I'll do it." Toshiro's expression was solemn and stern. He grabbed the back of her knees and the behind her back. Her head swayed so he pushed her head against her chest.
"Ohh, bridal style." Rangiku whispered still slightly drunk. She waved goodbye as her captain flash stepped off towards the Black Lily living quarters. Sayuri's room always amazed him; there were new decorations almost on a daily basis. He gently settled Sayuri into her soft fluffy bed and tucked her in. She groaned a little as she tossed around in her bed. Toshiro looked at her. Sayuri looked at peace as she was lying in her bed. Toshiro ran his fingers through her hair and bent down to kiss her on the cheek.
"I am." He answered her previous question.
Sayuri's eyes snapped open the next day. She remembered everything. How could she just attack him like that? Sayuri looked around wondering how she got back to her room.
"Probably Rangiku." Sayuri got up and freshened up with a quick shower and a new set of clothes. "Today's operation: avoid Toshiro at all cost!" During the whole day Sayuri managed to avoid Toshiro. Every time he got close to her she either flash stepped away or hid behind others. She managed to avoid him for five days, she even skipped captain meetings!
"I'm getting really good at avoiding him!" Sayuri smiled feeling somewhat accomplished.
"You are going to have to face him eventually you know?" Taiyou wrapped his arms around Sayuri; he enjoyed skin ship just as much as Sayuri. "You can't spend your whole life avoiding him." He bent down to look Sayuri dead in the eyes.
"Watch me; I'm going to avoid him for the rest of eternity!"
"Who are you going to avoid for the rest of eternity?" Toshiro's voice growled from behind the two. Sayuri quickly hugged Taiyou and buried her face in his chest she wanted to disappear.
"I need to talk to you." Toshiro barked impatiently.
"No!"
"NOW."
"Over my dead body!" Sayuri screamed. Taiyou raised his hands trying not to get in between the two captains, but having Sayuri permanently glued on to his body didn't help. Toshiro rushed over and pried the two apart.
"Now." He pulled her away from Taiyou. He didn't like the way she was all over her Lieutenant.
"Let me go!" Sayuri struggled to break free from Toshiro's grasp, but his hands were too strong. Tears began to form in her eyes, but she wiped them away before they fell. They were walking quite a long way. Sayuri grew more and more anxious with each step. "Ow!" She was thrown against the wall and the impact hurt her shoulder, but before she had time to complain Toshiro's lips classed against hers. The same cold and gentle lips made Sayuri melt into the kiss. She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck to bring him closer and he gently wrapped his arms around her waist. A few tears rolled down Sayuri's closed eyes as the two were kissing. Toshiro pressed harder against her lips with his and licked her lips. Sayuri's mouth opened slightly and their tongues flicked against each other. Suddenly Sayuri pulled away from the kiss, "Ha-ha, I forgot to breath." She grinned and started kissing him again. The kiss was more passionate and rushed. Sayuri had no clue that Toshiro could kiss like this. The two pulled away one last time before Toshiro gave a quick last peck to Sayuri. Sayuri broke out into shy nervous laughter.
"I really like you too." Toshiro stared into Sayuri's greenish blue eyes and kissed her forehead. Sayuri didn't know what to feel she felt relieved, scared, nervous, and happy at the same time.
A few years later
"Good morning!" Sayuri pressed her lips against Toshiro's. After their first kiss the two captains grew closer and closer to each other. They were Soul Society's "It" couple. Everyone could tell that they were in love by the hand holding and even the not so secret kisses they shared every once in a while in public. Toshiro would always deny, but everyone knew what really was going on.
"What are you doing?" Toshiro rose from the couch he was taking his afternoon nap. Sayuri climbed over the couch and jumped on top of him and gave him another kiss, a deeper kiss. Toshiro wrapped his arms around Sayuri's small waist and pulled her closely suddenly. Sayuri let out a small squeak laughed and continued to kiss him. What a great way to wake up from a nap.
"Taicho!" Rangiku sang as she slid open the door. The sudden noise made Toshiro sit up and made Sayuri fall from the ground.
"Ow." Sayuri winced as she rubbed her sore bottom.
"Oh, sorry guys I didn't mean to intrude." Rangiku teased.
"Matsumoto, what do you need?" Toshiro asked obviously frustrated. He stood up and pulled Sayuri up along with him.
"Shizuka was looking for you Sayuri; it's time for you to go on your mission." Rangiku grinned looking at the couple.
"Oh right that's why I came here for, I came to say goodbye." Sayuri said and kissed Toshiro one last time before she jumped over the couch. Toshiro felt kind of embarrassed for Rangiku to have witnessed their moment of intimacy. "Love you!" Sayuri waved goodbye and flash stepped away from the barracks.
Toshiro would forevermore regret letting Sayuri leave his grasp. Little did he know that there was a greater evil going around and it was targeting Sayuri. If he had known he would've never let her go because that was the last time he was going to see the Sayuri he knew and loved.