Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. It is owned by Tite Kubo.
Upon the Frosted Heavens
Genre: Romance/General
Pairings: Hitsugaya/Rukia and some other minor ones
Rating: M
Summary: A series of one-shots centering on the two ice-controllers of Seireitei and their relationship.
(general) Warnings: There will be cursing, sex, sexual tension, dark moments, humor, AUs, OOCness, and character teasing
Story 1: Just when Hitsugaya thought he could never reach his potential, he finds motivation in the most unlikely of places.
Rating: K+
Genre: Friendship/Romance
Warnings: Minor AU
Motivation
It had only been a year since he finally joined the academy and already so many were eyeing him hungrily. Whispers lulled around him whenever he walked down the hall, the sea of people parting to make room as he passed. Rumors spread of a monster residing within the form of a small boy and that he made even the warmest summer nights brisk with a winter chill.
Squads and captains could barely keep their greedy hands to themselves. Everyone could see what he was and the potential he had in his lanky body. Already he stood above those three years his senior. Even some already placed in squads paled in comparison to this younger boy.
His intelligence was off the charts. Despite looking twelve, his maturity couldn't be touched and his focus was impeccable. His power chilled people physically and mentally. And he was chosen by a sword so young…and by one of legend: the great Hyourinmaru.
He was also very cute. In a few years and he begins to slowly age, he will definitely be one of the most attractive men within Seireitei.
He was bound for greatness, possibly the youngest captain within the history of the great Soul Society.
But Hitsugaya Toushirou cared nothing about any of that.
He ignored the rumors and stares. He scoffed at the idea of a captain's position. And he certainly wasn't interested in a fan-group.
All he came to do was get stronger so his powers would stop leaking out and hurting those around him. Or at the very least stop harming those very few he cared about. Nothing else caught his attention.
But where did that leave him?
He found nothing inspiring. He felt trapped within a hallowed existence.
Despite his good looks, set future, and amazing potential there was nothing around him to ever make him feel happy. He was left alone by most everyone. Usually when one was a prodigy, people only flocked around for selfish gain or to harm the competition…and within the short year he's been at the academy, Hitsugaya has discovered both types.
He did see that blond woman with the pink scarf, Matsumoto, but not very often. She was so much older than him and already a lieutenant. Despite her crushing and suffocating hugs when she did see him, he wouldn't exactly call them friends.
The one person he would call a friend pretty much forgot he existed. Momo didn't seem very aware about much of anything out of this captain called Aizen. She rarely ever asked about him or his life. It was so narrowly focused on this captain that he was growing very worried but had no idea how to talk to his fading friend about it.
There was one other, a captain named Ukitake who popped in and out of his life at random. Usually with an armload of gifts. It left him a bit stumped but the man would just proclaim them whiteys needed to stick together.
Hitsugaya wasn't sure if he should trust the man or not.
Which left him a bit lonely. Everyone else was jealous, ready to use him, or very put off by his cold personality.
He felt like nothing. He didn't feel like anything around him really mattered. He had his power under better control, so why would he want to stay? What was he going to do with his life?
He asked himself that almost every day and almost every day he was answered with a solemn silence.
There was nothing there to answer him back.
Till one day, about a week into his second year, he discovered what it was like to have a goal.
Hitsugaya sulked as he walked down the path to his private training area. He needed to vent. Maybe a few swings or punishing the ground would make him feel a bit better about life and the day, which had turned sour pretty fast.
After months of not seeing Momo they had planned to catch up over some cut up watermelon. But she cancelled when she heard rumors that Aizen would be in the vicinity. She apologized desperately, but she couldn't pass the opportunity to meet with him and try to make a connection.
He sneered and kicked a stone. His best friend was turning into a fangirl.
Not like he would admit it but he was a bit jealous. Even he had to admit that Aizen was cool. He was suave, calm, mature, intelligent, very powerful, but kind. Everyone respected him. Hitsugaya included.
And that made him steam even more.
Huffing, he slammed his fist into a tree, shaking it.
The brunette also seemed to have a goal. Like he knew everything he was aiming for and wanted would come to pass. And that made him work harder and become even better.
Something as simple as a push and doors opened up. There was power and potential.
But Hitsugaya didn't have that push. He wanted it, he was tired of feeling so distressed and restless in his life, but he just couldn't find it. He didn't even know where he could go about looking for one of those.
"Hey there snowflake, easy there with the tree. It didn't do anything to ya."
Hitsugaya jumped and spun around, not expecting someone to see his little tantrum. He blushed; very embarrassed he had been caught doing something childish.
Dark raven hair framed a pale but cute face with large violet eyes. She was even shorter than Momo and taller than himself by only two inches (he would loathe to admit more). She was tiny and frail looking but at the same time there was an undeniably rough edge about her.
She wasn't as cute as Momo and not a knockout like Matsumoto. But even he had to admit there was something very pretty about the girl. He's seen her before in passing before but has never had any interaction with her.
Kuchiki Rukia.
She was infamous around the academy. She was adopted by the Kuchiki clan, a noble clan filled with politicians and some of the best warriors within Seireitei.
Hitsugaya gulped and averted his eyes. Even with his fame he was not a noble and he should know his place in front of one lest he wanted trouble. He glared at the earth as if to blame it for his position. He hated feeling submissive.
"E-Excuse me." He muttered then blinked. "Wait a minute." His head snapped back up to give her his grumpy stares. "Snowflake?"
Her face, which had fallen into a sad frown, instantly brightened into a grin at his words. It was a cute and happy grin. She showed him all of her white teeth and her cheeks dimpled a little. Her dark purple eyes lightened a bit and had a slight sparkle to them.
It was very cute.
He blushed at the sight. It was a different smile from Momo's and Matsumoto's or any of the other girls in his class.
"Sorry. I wasn't sure what else to call you. Meant no insult." She leaned over and touched his hair very gently, pulling a strand but didn't pluck to make him uncomfortable. "I love the snow and ice. I'm drawn to it and all that it stands for. So I cant' stop staring at your hair." Her eyes, intense and passionate, then met his. "Or your eyes."
His eyes were normally a shocking green that rooted most to their spots. But there were times, when his emotions and his power got the better of him they turned into an icy-blue.
Instantly his tongue felt swollen at her blunt confession.
And her eyes, she was still staring at him. There was no judgment against him or glazed look like she was drifting off away from him. She was staring just at him and him alone.
He swore his neck was red now too.
"You feel a connection to it as well." She noted, her voice deeper than most girls but it still sounded feminine. There was something naturally sensuous and soft to it. He wondered if she was even aware of it. "You've seen it. The ice."
His back snapped straight and he nodded. "Y-Yes! You too? Have you dreamt of the plain of ice?"
Rukia shook her head, "Nope. Mine isn't a plain of ice. Mine is in a blizzard. It's a field made of flowers and they all have been formed of soft snow. All around me the wind is whipping around and carrying the snow as if in a dance. Everything moves in synch and brushes against each other gently despite the blistering wind."
Hitsugaya listened and imagined. He could almost see such a location from her hypnotic voice.
He found he liked her vision better. It sounded so much purer than his.
"I died in mine."
Rukia cocked her head to the side before another smile spread over her face. "Probably how you died then. That is your connection. Perhaps not the most romantic of images but it's why you can't escape it." She shrugged, that smile still on her face. "But you shouldn't want to. I've been told this is a power that seldom shows itself to others. Its voice only picks special folk."
She knew of the voice. She knew of being lost within white only to be found by that voice.
"Have you found the name of yours?" She continued.
This young girl before him was his kindred spirit. Someone who talks to the coldness and accepts it. Someone who can see the beauty and good despite the blistering chill. He never thought he would meet someone like him.
Hitsugaya couldn't help but let a small smile come on his face. "Yes, but I have yet to bring him out and he hasn't talked to me since."
"What's his name?"
"Hyourinmaru."
Rukia blinked in surprise, "Oh! You're his wielder! I've heard that he chose someone. He is rumored to be the most powerful of all ice zankpaktous." She placed her hands on her hips. "So you're the infamous prodigy. I heard that you are defying all the rules. You already have a seated position waiting for you when you graduate and you already have your sword. Very impressive."
His face colored some more. "Have you learned yours?"
She looked down in embarrassment, "No. I should though. I've been talking with her long enough but I haven't earned her name." Her face fell a bit.
"Her?"
"Oh I know my zanpaktou is a woman. I've seen her too! She so beautiful and we have had many conversations." She smiled fondly in memory. "She's been talking to me ever since I was young and on the streets. I just never realized it was actually the spirit of a sword that was talking to me. But every night, when I was alone on the street she would hold me and tell me stories."
Rukia was so deep and so understanding.
"That's amazing. Only about a week before I joined here did I finally see him. And we've never talked." He found himself really looking up to the girl who had earned the affection of her zanpaktou.
Now it was her turn to blush. "Well, thanks. Oh yikes, I think I'm gonna be late for class. Gotta run. I'll see you around snowflake! Try to avoid hitting those trees!" And then she rushed off with a wave.
She left a tongue-tied and completely smitten Hitsugaya behind.
"B-B-Bye…"
Despite looking out for her, Hitsugaya didn't see the girl that left him emotionally in-awe till nearly another week later.
And it was by crashing into her.
Both were on the ground, holding their injured body parts: him his forehead and her her nose.
"Jeeze snowflake," she laughed, making sure nothing was bloodied or broken. "Watch where you're going."
Instantly he was blushing like a tomato. "S-Sorry. Are you all right? I'm so sorry."
She rubbed her nose and shook her head, "No worries. I can handle it. I just wanna make sure you are ok. You took a hit to the head."
"I-I'm fine!" Really, his pride was hurting more than his head.
"You sure?"
"Yes!" He squeaked out, his face deepening in color.
She laughed at the funny noise he made. She felt real comfortable around her snowflake. It felt so nice to have someone to talk to and look for in the crowd of strangers. They were connected and she could feel herself drawn to him.
Rukia blushed a little at the thought. "Well, glad you're ok." She beat him to the punch in helping him up.
"I'm fine." He grumbled, not feeling very manly. "I won't whine over this."
"Right, right. You're a shinigami. A first-class warrior." She grinned and gave him a pat on the head.
He scowled and slapped her hand away before he could stop himself. His normal defensive bristles on edge. "I'm not a child!"
She blinked in surprise. "Sorry. Y-You're right. You're not one."
He groaned. He didn't mean to do that! He just naturally snapped when he felt treated as a kid.
A moment of hurt went across her face and Hitsugaya felt miserable. He didn't want to hurt her feelings. He didn't mean to make her feel bad.
"I didn't mean to snap. I just-"
"Get it a lot?" She smiled. "I'm not upset. I get it too. It's the curse of being short."
Hitsugaya nearly collapsed he was so relieved. He felt sick with himself the moment he snapped at her. It was like he committed a grave sin for hurting someone like her.
"You…uhm, really understand me a lot." He confessed awkwardly. "No one ever understands why I get upset."
"Psh, tall people don't understand our misery." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm a warrior yet some people treat me like a china-doll. My mistakes are dismissed too easily and many people hold back when training. It's insulting."
He smiled. It felt so nice to have someone comprehend. It wasn't like he wanted to grow up faster (though he would like to) it was about how people see his looks and height and fail to see anything else about him. He wanted to be seen as a man, not a boy.
It always bothered him when Momo did it. She was a delicate female and he wanted to be seen as her protector, her man. So when she would pat him on the head and treat him like he was something beneath her always bothered him.
Though he was wondering if he could be seen as someone else's man…
"Rukia."
And again Hitsugaya was taken by surprise from a voice behind him. Before him the girl stiffened and paled, a sad and almost scared look crossed her features.
Hitsugaya was on edge and stood between her and this force.
"N-Nii-sama."
'Nii-sama?' Hitsugaya spun around to face the opponent only to quickly bow. It was Kuchiki Byakuya, the head of the Kuchiki family and one of the captains of the thirteenth squads.
Hitsugaya fist clenched over his pants. The man's eyes were staring him down. He was being scrutinized.
The presences of the man was overwhelming and suffocating. It felt like he had no self-worth or any right to do anything without permission.
This is what Rukia had to live with?
"Come Rukia." Byakuya commanded. "You don't have time to waste around with the likes of him."
Hitsugaya's head instantly snapped up and glared daggers at the man.
"N-Nii-sama…please. He's my f-friend." Rukia tried, looking close to tears.
He only answered her with a sharp glare.
Hitsugaya saw a shudder pass through the girl. She tried to keep her head up and shoulders straight. He could see how badly she wanted to defend her friendship but no matter what she did the glare kept her argument lodged in her throat.
This wasn't right.
This was not like Granny who had looked over him and had rubbed his back when he was facing hard moments in life. This was not how family was supposed to be around each other.
"N-Nii-sama," she tried again.
"Rukia. Now."
Her head fell. "Y-Yes nii-sama." She gave Hitsugaya a water look and mouthed an apology before she left with her brother.
'What? What was that?' He was left alone and stewing in some anger.
At the moment Hitsugaya knew he did not like the head of the noble Kuchiki family.
"I-I am so sorry."
Hitsugaya paused in his training and looked over at Rukia who was standing a few feet from him, her head bowed down in shame.
"He had no right to speak to you like that. We can be friends. B-But…I can't stand up to him. He just looks at me and I can't do anything." She confessed. "And h-how do I tell him off when he took in someone like me? I was a street-rat and he risked his prestigious role for me. But…he shouldn't…I-I…"
Hitsugaya listened and gave her a sympathetic stare. He hadn't known she was suffering too. Different from him but it was still painful.
"It's ok."
"It's not ok! He was mistreating my snowflake and-and was a bully and I just stood there!"
"Your snowflake?" He smiled. He liked that. "You should know my name already. It's Hitsugaya Toushirou. Not snowflake."
She gave him a sheepish smile. "Well I prefer snowflake." She rubbed her arm awkwardly. "Y-You forgive me?"
"There is nothing to be sorry for. I was there with you." He frowned at the memory from a few days back. "The man was intimidating and knows how to make someone feel small. I could barely glare at him. You at least got some words out. He is…powerful." His fist clenched tightly over his bokken as his teeth gritted tightly together.
He hated feeling weak and small. He hated feeling submissive. And he hated how Rukia looked so lonely.
And he really hated Kuchiki Byakuya.
"Hey, uhm, you wanna spar snowflake?" She brought out her own wooden sword. "I think we both could use a bit of venting."
He blinked at the sight and then nodded in excitement. He wanted to show off to her. He wanted to show her he was…something.
"Yes." He smirked and held up his weapon.
The spar lasted five minutes.
Hitsugaya yelped as he fell back to the earth. He looked up at the girl in shock. He was the top in everything! He excelled in swordsmanship!
Rukia was staring at him in shock as well. "Wow, you're amazing. You really are a prodigy."
He certainly didn't feel like one on the ground. He felt disgruntled he failed to her. As much as he tried to hide it, he was a very sore loser.
"You're better." He grumbled, picking himself up. He glared at his weapon as if it was to blame.
She shrugged modestly, "I would hope I was a little decent. I will be graduating in a month and the Kuchiki clan has trained me. It would be a pity if I can't hold my own against you."
Hitsugaya's head snapped up to look at her, "What? You only have a month left?"
He still had a few years till he graduated! How was he supposed to be around her when she wasn't going to be around? What about his hope in spending time with her? He finally found his kindred spirit, someone who made him feel, and he only had a month left with her?
There were plans! He was thinking of maybe pursuing her, thinking he could see if all that romantic talk people yakked about was worth any trouble. With her, he thought it might.
The world wasn't fair.
"Yeah. S-Sorry."
"You sure do apologize for things that aren't your fault." He sighed. "Do you know what squad you will be in?"
"Yes, the Thirteenth Squad with Ukitake-taichou."
He blinked, "Him? I know him. He visits me often with candy and toys." He scowled again. He really was not some child! "He is a bit smothering. I try to stay away from him."
"This is wonderful!" She cheered and grabbed his hands. "Ukitake-taichou is very kind. And if you are his friend maybe he will allow me to come and visit you. Maybe you can even come into the squad!" She grinned, clenching his hands tightly. "He even will have some members of his squad train those in the academy."
All of a sudden Hitsugaya loved Ukitake and couldn't wait to see him with all those gifts. Maybe he could talk with the captain about Rukia.
He couldn't help but clench her hands back too. They felt small and delicate.
His ears redden a little.
'Maybe there is a chance. If I work hard enough maybe we can be together. Maybe…' A resolve strengthen within him as he looked at his crush before him.
All he needed to do was work harder.
The month passed far too quickly.
But almost every day the two cold-lovers found some time to at least smile at each other and say hello.
But now she was gone. She was in a squad.
Hitsugaya found himself very irritable without his kindred-spirit around. He really wanted to see her again.
He would think of her often. Not much else would enter his thoughts. Not his insecurities from before, Momo, or Aizen.
He would think of her raven hair and how it bounced. Or her big violet eyes and how they darkened with seriousness or lightened up with playfulness. And those smile, although they were dimming a little, they were so cute and gave his heart clenches.
She seemed perfect to him. And he wanted her.
But was he worthy enough?
'No.' The truth tasted bitter and foul.
How could he be with someone like her? There was no way her brother nor her clan would ever agree for someone like him to be with her.
At first, he was tempted to give up. She was out of his league and would always be out of his league.
Unless he was a captain.
Hitsugaya looked up at the ceiling of his dorm. Hope swelling in his heart.
He could be a captain. Everyone has confirmed this. He had the potential to be one within a few years after graduation. And a captain was a deserving position of the Kuchiki princess.
His lips twisted into a smile at the thought. He could be with her and show Byakuya wrong.
'Rukia. My Rukia.' He sighed at the thought. He really loved the sound of that. Hitsugaya just continued to daydream about her and what it would be like to spend an eternity with her.
He would need to be careful with this crush. Should anyone find out his romantic side had woken up he would need to freeze their lips off to keep them quiet. Last thing he needed was to be seen as "adorable" on top of his childish appearance.
'I want Rukia.' He really wanted her. She made him so very happy.
'Just work a bit harder. If I work harder and study harder we can be together.'
His strive, his motivation, his goal had become Kuchiki Rukia.
He was going to be the best there was. He was going to come out on top and become the strongest there was.
He smirked smugly and called out for Hyourinmaru. He gave up talking to the spirit for months. But now he felt like it was the right time.
"I want to become captain." He confessed to the zanpaktou. "I want to defeat Kuchiki Byakuya. I want to be with Rukia."
Are these your goals? Is this what you truly desire?
There! It was him! It was finally him.
"Yes." He answered without any doubt. "It is."
Very well.
And the link ended.
Not the most exciting or in-depth conversation, but it was better than nothing. He finally heard Hyourinmaru again. Now he was another step closer to reaching the position of captain, making Byakuya bow down and see his worth…
And then he could have her.
His grin was almost boyish. It would take so much hard work but it will turn out wonderfully. He wouldn't accept any other outcome.
'Rukia.' The blush returned at the memory of the girl.
All of a sudden he jumped out of bed. Who needs sleep? He needs to get back to training!
Author: Man it feels good to be back into the HitsuRuki fandom! It has been forever. I've really missed this couple. It really is one of my all time favorites from any series.
Sorry for any of those who had hoped from more sooner! School was a beating. But I am finally done and can put some more attention on fanfic writing! I can't promise I can give you another multi-chapter fic soon, but I am going to work on the mafia story and perhaps another one concentrating on HitsuRuki in the future. But I can't make any promises.
For now, please enjoy the one-shots. I love having these so I can write but not feel too pressured to update or complete anything. These will have a more low-key pace. But be warned, these will be some guilty-pleasure stuff form myself. You will probably get a lot of dark, seductive Hitsugaya in the near future!
Just to let you know, I've been in and out of the series so there will probably be a lot of non-cannon/minor-AU stories within the future. Along with total AUs…and (as mentioned) many dark Hitsugaya (drooooool).
Now, let me know what you think and if you have some recommendations for one-shots. I have a few ideas myself, but I certainly don't mind feeling inspired by you readers!
Btw: the stories will probably be in different lengths. This is actually very short for me. Haha, I typically write things that are around 10,000+ words. But each story will probably vary a bit!
Also, Conversing the Dragon is being revised. It needed so much work and hopefully now it will be so much better.
Please R&R!
