Hi! This is my second Bleach story and it's the first of many drabbles to come. Please excuse the OOCness and the hinted shonen-ai. Please leave me some nice reviews! I always appreciate any kind of feedback.
Title: Drabble #1- Empty Space
Pairing: light Hanatarou/Ichigo
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.
He was a Ryoka, a trespasser who must be stopped, and at first I was afraid of him. He and his fellow intruder named Ganjyu, who I later befriended, took me hostage. They did not know that my life was worthless…that no one would care if I had flaming orange hair and a perpetual frown but his powerful reiatsu was strong and reassuring so that I knew he was a good person. I've always had a gift for reading people through their spirit energy so I trusted my instincts and stayed with them.
When I learned his purpose for entering Seireitei, I was shocked, but overjoyed. He was the Ichigo Kurosaki my new friend Rukia had told me many stories of. At last, he had come to save her. I gladly led the way to where Rukia, who was to be executed as a traitor, was being held. I knew I would be severely punished for helping them, but I couldn't find it within me to care.
Throughout our many adventures and trials, I got to know Ichigo and his friends. I slowly began to feel a strange sense of warmth seeping into me. There was an empty space I have always had inside but I knew that somehow it was being filled. I would be lying if I were to say that Ichigo's group had fully embraced me as one of them, but sometimes I allowed myself to believe there was hope for me yet. However, common sense stepped in and told me they simply tolerate my presence and that are just with me out of sympathy and gratitude. A healer is quite handy to have around nowadays.
Whatever the reason…I am happy. Now that I have finally been seen and heard, I realize that I never knew what happiness was my entire life. The smile I wore was always in place as a shield. I was just blending in. But I suppose that since I am such a plain person, blending in is quite easy for me. But now things have changed. For me, happiness is hearing Ichigo call my name…and I smile as that empty space continues to fill up. Even if he only sees me as a friend or ally, I will be ok…and I will keep this foreign flicker of longing I feel in my heart whenever he is near me a secret.