Disclaimer: Bleach (ブリーチ) (c) Tite Kubo & Shueisha.
You Had Me At I Hate You plot and Original Characters belong to Me.
日番谷 冬獅郎 恋物語
A Tōshirō Hitsugaya Love Story
You Had Me At I Hate You
. . . A Bleach Fan Fiction . . .
|| -X- || Chapter One || -X- ||
Sounds of metal clashing with metal resonated through the room. Thirty pairs of wide-open childlikes eyes followed the two opponents as they battled, ruthlessly at each other's throat. The boy had sweat dripping off his damp hair, eyes beginning to un-focus and sting. The girl was still dangerously in the zone, piercing brown eyes determined to whip his ass.
A minute later of dodging, jumping, cautious attempted stabs, and pinning, the boy was on the floor. A blade poised against his neck with the girl triumphantly looming over him. A victorious smirk graced her features.
She lifted the blade off of him and extended a hand. The boy, frazzled and sweaty, looked at it in humiliation, submitting reluctantly and allowing her to pull him to his feet. He stooped over to bow, a fist in his palm, the traditional way before noticing the girl was not bowing. He glanced up and caught sight of her open palm, extended just how it was seconds ago. He blinked, awkwardly straightening and grasping her hand. She smirked, and they both shook hands respectfully. She gave a single nod of her head in place of the bow. Finally, he grinned, repeating the action.
A loud guffaw boomed from the front of the room. "Ayumi, Ayumi! You certainly are so interesting..."
Black hair dropped over her shoulders as she bowed deferentially. "Thank you, Hinomi-san. But whether you tell me straight up or not, I know I'm nothing like I was several years ago."
Hinomi Ryuchi was a round man in his early fifties, dressed in tradition Japanese Samurai robes with a Katana sheathed readily at his waist. He stepped down from the platform and told his Nineteen year old son to take over the lessons as he guided Ayumi into another room with less people. He began to continue the conversation. "Nothing like you were? I'm afraid you're betterthan you were! You're at your prime, Sakurada. Don't play modest with me."
Ayumi forced a grin at his kind words, obviously not convinced herself. "If anything, this so-called Prime won't last. I can feel myself hardly recalling the feeling of adrenaline during battle."
Another surprising cackle made Ayumi question her own safety for a second. "That is merely because you find no one a threat! When was the last time you felt a challenge, young Ayumi?"
Before she could answer, but then again she was surprised to find herself unable to think of a time, the man patted her back gently. "You must get over your guilt, Ayumi. Your heart still dwells on the time when you were a Captain, does it not?"
A pang of emotion hit her chest and began to spread through her limbs. She cleared her throat, immediately putting up a wall. "That is in the past."
Ryuchi nodded slowly and Ayumi watched carefully to catch any hints on what might be going through the man's mind. He gestured for Ayumi to take a seat on a chair across from him. She complied.
"Would you like some tea?"
"No, thank you. Actually, I have to be leaving soon. I have a friend who's coming back through the portal and I have plans to go see him."
"Eh? Is he a Captain?" She shook her head, strands of black hair brushing past her ear in its ponytail.
"Just a friend. He went to save Kuchiki's sister from an execution." The man chuckled.
"The trouble that seems to happen these days. Execution? What on earth did the young girl do, I could only imagine."
"It's a long story," she admitted, and he left it at that. His eyes seemed to spark with realization.
"You have heard of the news about Aizen...?" he tried and Ayumi nodded, eyes closed.
"I never did like that man. But I can't say the same for Tousen. That came as a big shock." She sighed, checking her watch. "I'm sorry, Hinomi, but I have to take my leave now. It was a pleasure sparring with your son, and I do apologize for any egos that have been damaged."
She ended with a mischievous smirk and Ryuchi smiled in reply. "There has bee no harm done. That boy deserved it! He's been boasting about how good he's become for months! He's planning to enroll as a shinigami himself soon. If he had won today, he would be on the next train to Soul Society right away. I should be the one thanking you for knocking some reality into his head." She smiled at the thought, a bit flattered. "If he had been able to get a firm lead off you, I really would question your authority as an Ex-Captain, Sakurada. Luckily, my worst nightmares have yet to come true."
"He'll improve, no doubt about it. I can tell he's a fast learner. Tell him I'll be ready if he ever decides to attack me in the middle of the streets," she joked and Ryuchi grinned again, following her out into the practice rooms again.
"Sakurada Ayumi-chan is leaving. Everyone, say your goodbyes," Ryuchi commanded once out of the room. Everyone stood up straight.
A chorus of high-pitched, nasal child voices shouted, "Goodbye Sakurada Ayumi-sama!"
Ayumi flushed white at the end '-sama' and Ryuchi only chuckled again, a hand on her shoulder reassuringly as if reminding her of her old title. The boy she had battled with, Ryuchi's son stepped forward individually and bowed, a blush on his cheeks.
"I'll work hard so that I won't lose next time!" Ayumi grinned at his respectful departing gift. She nodded when he straightened, standing a good 5 inches taller than her. She had been five feet and seven inches for decades.
"And I'll wait for you," she winked playfully, earning the exact response she intended for: A blush. She did a quick bow to him, Ryuchi and gave a wave to the class of beginner swordsmen and women. She shouted goodbye and slided open the wooden doors, the familiar gesture bringing back years and years of nostalgia. The mixed emotions muddling her thoughts.
She slid the wooden door closed with a reverberating 'shhk'.
-X-
"We have no Captain for the Third Division, Fifth Division, or the Ninth Division." All the Captains of the Gotei 13 were seated along the vast meeting table, with Genryuusai at the head. Events were starting to become more peaceful for the Gotei 13 thus a meeting was called.
"Are we going to start moving seats up?" Soi Fon asked, yet it was clear she wasn't the least bit 'hopeful' for the suggestion to come true. Genryuusai was nothing less of knowing.
"It is still a possibility. Unless any of you have anyone to suggest." The pupils under his wrinkly eyelids scanned the audience. When no one spoke, he blew out a stream of air, leaning forward in his chair to steeple his fingers. "Perhaps Kurosaki Ichigo? Perhaps after a few months of training, he would be able to take over the duty of a vice captain, then we would be able to promote our Shinigami."
Even as he spoke, Genryuusai knew it was much easier said than done. The role of a captain could only be taken over by one who had complete control over their Initial Release – Shikai, and their Final Release – Bankai. Only a limited number of people could fill the shoes of those who had left. With the growing number of New Coming shinigami joining squadrons, the lack of a powerful leader for a total of three divisions wasn't to be taken lightly.
"Kurosaki-san is leaving at this very moment. Shall I go after him and ask?" Jyuushirou offered politely.
"Yes, that would be helpful. You are dismissed, Ukitake Tai-cho. Ahh. Perhaps you could inquire about the Shinigami assigned to Karakura while he was gone. We don't have anyone assigned there, but there seems to be a very noticeable decrease of attacks."
"Certainly, Commander," Jyuushirou agreed reverently, standing up to bow before leaving the room.
-X-
"We're off!" Ichigo gave one last wave to Rukia, who he had successfully rescued from the reaches of execution. She had decided not to leave with them, and instead stay in Soul Society. There was no way in hell Ayumi was going to forgive him now: Wasting her summer and then coming back empty handed. But at least his main goal was fulfilled.
Ukitake Juushirou arrived right on cue. "Kurosaki-san! Please hold on!"
A few seconds later, and Ichigo, Uryuu, Orihime, Sado and Ganju would have gone through the portal leading to their world. Ganju made an aggravated comment about wanting to get home and Orihime scratched her head. Ichigo turned towards the one calling his name and raised a brow in curiosity. "Uh... Hey, Ukitake. Need me for something?"
"The Gotei 13 would like to ask you a big favor," Juushirou began, "I'm sure you are aware of our shortage of captains and Yama-"
Ichigo stopped him short, knowing where he was headed. "Sorry to ruin any last hopes, but it's seriously out of the question! Ayumi would freak if I stayed here any longer. I've already ditched her for summer break... and let's just say I'm probably going to get a beating the minute I arrive home."
"Oh, you must be speaking of... your girlfriend?" Juushirou inquired harmlessly.
"Huh? No way!" Ichigo chuckled. "Sakurada? She's a close friend. You.. probably know her. She used to be a Captain here and she trained me along with Kisuke and Yoroichi before coming here. She's the one killing all the hollows while I'm gone, since there's no one assigned to our city as of now."
For a moment, Juushirou's vision blurred and the name ignited the dusty memory of the Exiled Captain Kisuke Urahara as he left, bringing along the next two strongest Captains at the time. It had been one of the biggest blows to Soul Society after the disappearance of several Vice Captains and Captains.
"I see." Juushirou breathed, darting his eyes to the sky somberly. Uryuu caught on quick and fixed his glasses more comfortably on the bridge of his nose to analyze the Captain's suspicious behavior.
"Since you refuse, it's best that you take this." Ukitake handed him a Substitute Shinigami badge.
Ichigo blinked, holding up the gift eye level. "What's this for?"
"It's a badge to allow you to legally hunt down hollows, and change into your Shinigami form," he explained. "You're officially a substitute Shinigami."
Ichigo smirked; glad he was, perhaps not 'officially, but at least still linked with Soul Society after his departure. "Thanks."
"I've got to get going now. I was scheduled to come back yesterday, actually, so I better get back before ole' Sakurada decided to make me do pushups for every second I was late. Ja!"
He gave a two-fingered wave and sprinted to his patiently waiting friends. Orihime smiled loving at him as Uryuu took one more glance at Juushirou. Ganju muttered something like 'Bout time' and Chad jumped into the portal directly after Ichigo. Seconds later, they were gone — completely vanished from the vicinity.
-X-
"Sakurada Ayumi?" Genryuusai repeated the familiar name, surprised at his nostalgic it was as the reactions varied from surprised, to anger, to confusion, to just plain happiness she was still 'alive', in the most metaphorical sense.
"Hai," Jyuushirou confirmed.
"I see... To think the three of them teamed up to train Ichigo personally... Yoroichi has already rejected my offer to be a Captain," Genryuusai stared intensely at the table, thoughts racing in his mind.
There was no doubt that he couldn't ask Kisuke Urahara. He was exiled. However, the two Captains that had left with him – Yoroichi and Ayumi – had committed no sin.
Byakuya looked vaguely curious, but his lips dared not ask the question that racked his brain. Instead, Jyuushirou spoke the words for him, their mindset the same. "Yamamoto Tai-cho, are you considering on asking her to come back and take the position of a Captain?"
"Rash decisions should not be made, even in a tight position," Soi Fon advised, glaring.
"However, perhaps, this is not a rash decision," Retsu Unohana calmly stated, bringing surprise to a few newer captains on the table. Her friendly words had almost sounded like a threat.
"There's no harm done in asking," Genryuusai stated, "because mind you all, she handled the position of Captain with utter profession. She is a powerful girl. No matter which Lieutenant we compare her to, she would sweep them off the battlefield in a matter of minutes, as would the lot of you."
Soi Fon glowered at the table, taking out her seething anger on the inanimate wood. "Traitorous brat."
"I would like to pose a inquiry." It was Hitsugaya Toushirou who finally spoke. Eyes turned towards him and he spoke plainly. "Who is this 'Sakurada Ayumi'?"
He watched with interest as select Captains looked around at each other knowingly, shifting in their seats. Soi Fon continued to scorn at the table, and at the sound of her name she crossed her arms and looked away, biting her lip bitterly.
There were only three Captains at the table who failed to identify with the name: Toushirou Hitsugaya, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
"We might as well get them up to speed," Retsu Unohana suggested good heartedly, another motherly smile adorning her face.
-X- Back to the time when Ayumi was 10th Captain, Kisuke was the 12th Division's captain; Yoroichi was Commander of the Covert Ops. –X-
We stood at the gate, hands by our side as we overlooked the familiar buildings we had spent the last decades residing in. We were filled with pride, emotion, and more importantly, the nerve to leave unannounced.
Of course, we'd rather not, but we didn't give much of a damn. If we did, we wouldn't have been doing it undercover. I smiled at Yoruichi and she smirked in return. Kisuke sighed at our childlike eye conversations.
"I know you guys wouldn't leave just because you wanted to," he said. Yoruichi and I shot him another glare. It was the Seventh time already, couldn't he give it a rest? "I'm not going to drag you guys down-"
"August 4th 1875: Kisuke Urahara saves Ayumi Sakurada from being killed at the hands of a Grand Fisher." I recited. It was practically scripted at this point.
"September 20th 1875, Urahara Kisuke saves Yoruichi Shihouin from two Grand Fishers." Yoruichi closes her eyes, as if embracing the memories from so long ago. The three of us had gone on a mission together with our respective Vice Captains.
"And not to mention all the times you taste tested my beginners food! Just imagine the diarrhea the other Shinigami would have gotten, if you had not bravely sacrificed your well-being!" I jested.
"From what I remember, you shoved it down my throat while I was napping in my office..."
"Well, you stopped taking naps during duty, didn't you?"
Urahara sighed in defeat and I huffed in triumph. None of us admitted it, but the friendly banter was only playing on our already shaky nerves. There was a bittersweet feeling to this conversation. The last conversation we would have together next to the buildings of the Gotei 13.
We both smirked at him from either side. "We owe you our lives."
"And who needs this dump anyways!" Yoruichi shouted, joining in on the mocking atmosphere. Her booming insult to Soul Society earned a few bystanders' attention. They began whispering in worry and curiosity. 'Isn't that-!' 'What? Why are they - Are they going on a mission together?'
I grinned widely. "Let's see what Soul Society does with three of their top Soul Reapers walking out on them."
At this, a disapproving grunt. "You guys-"
"Are great friends," Yoruichi finished, cutting him off from his original sentence and elbowed him in the sides. She smiled warmly at him and I sniggered.
"Guilt isn't a very manly trait, Mr. Urahara," I chuckled as Urahara nudged my head.
Yoruichi gestured for us to turn around and head out the gate. "Time to-"
"Wait!" I, for one, didn't need to turn around again to identify the owner of the voice. I whipped around to scorn at him, angry that he was going to make this hard for me. I continued to hold my glare. I wasn't even tempted in the least to give him the tiniest bit of hope.
"What is it, Shiba Fuku-Taicho?"
"SAKURADA TAI-CHO!" He charged at me, and ready to sacrifice my dignity, I didn't dodge.
It took me a few good seconds to realize that he wasn't going to give me a punch in the face, but instead charged at me and wrapped his arms around my body. I staggered back, and suddenly I felt like a little girl in his strong arms, not my hundred-year-old self.
"What the... Shiba?" I mouth silently, as I responded to him by draping my arms around his back. The little voice in my head scolded me.
"You'd better come back and visit!" I blinked, my ears identifying the sound of a warbled, not Kaien-like voice. For a moment, the possibility that he was crying flashed past my eyes.
"Idiot! You'd better come visit me!" I yelled at him. We had went through the Shinigami Academy together, taken class together and gotten through hardships with nothing but a laughing memory. But despite all I've been through with him, I wasn't going to let anything come between my Captain subordinates.
"Take care of Miyako, got it? You'd better tell me when the wedding happens!" I flicked his nose playfully, and his cheeks tinted pink in my favor.
"Wh-what are you talking about? That's..." he blushed even harder.
I laughed. "Well, it is still a long way to come. I mean, you've got centuries! Go get married when you're 5000 for all I care!" I smiled. "Take care of yourself, Kaien. Goodbye."
"Yes, ma'am!" He saluted, which caused my suspicion to increase. He was the little devil, causing trouble everywhere. The sudden salute? Was he showing his respect for me in my last moments with him? I was right to be suspicious, because he cupped my face with his hands and kissed my forehead.
Perhaps it was because it was the first time I'd ever been kissed anywhere, before, which made me stand still and loose control of my thoughts. I stumbled back and clutched my head in frenzy, the heat rising to my cheeks immediately. I heard stifling laughter from behind me.
He put me down gently, as if I would break. For a second, I was afraid I would break too.
I ran back to Kisuke and Yoroichi, who were grinning madly. I coughed, gaining my composure, and we took our first step into the portal.
"See ya, Ayumi!" He called out my first name. For the first time.
My lips broke out into a smile.
But I was wrong, you see, because he did die in the end. Unfortunately, he couldn't even contact me for his wedding with Miyako several years after I had left. Not that I had given him any leads to my location, nevertheless Soul Society. I still carry thousands of the memories gathered from my experience in Soul Society though, just to prove I'm not some cold, heartless freak who forgets about my old friends as if it were nothing.
"ICHIGOOOOO!" BAM.
"HELL!" he yelled, before limping out of the wall I had kicked him into. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?"
He dusted himself off, growling in anger. Orihime, Sado, Ganju and Uryuu made their way out of the portal and looked in alarm at the damage Ichigo was in. He sighed. "Nevermind. I saw that coming."
Hands on my hips as I cocked my head at him, threatening. "Mission Status?"
Scratch that. Maybe I am cold-hearted -
He glanced up at me and we both just stared at eachother for a long while, as if taking in the very subtle changes we had went through in the span of a month. His mouth shifted into a dazzling lopsided smirk. And just for a single second, Ichigo wasn't Ichigo: he was Kaien, smiling to me as wide as he did the day I left. "Complete."
- because moving on definitely didn't take me too long.
I broke out into a smile and rushed forward to leap into his strong, open arms.
-X-
OH HARDY HARR HARR.
No~ This isn't an Ichigo fic (I think *gets kicked*) so don't get hopeful/your panties in a knot!
I hope you enjoyed the debut to You Hate Me At 'I Hate You'!
Review your thoughts, please!