Act I: A Mother's (Unusual) Concerns
Hiyori drummed her fingers impatiently on the darkly colored wood of her desk, chewing absentmindedly on her bottom lip, honey-golden eyes glued to the clock on the wall as it ticked away.
Only ten minutes left of her work day. Ten extremely long damn minutes. The pendulum swung back and forth hypnotically inside its glass case, and she swore it was moving slower than normal today just to piss her off.
Normally, Hiyori didn't care about leaving early, but today was special. Today was the first night of the Soul Society's Lantern Festival. This year it was to be hosted by the Thirteenth Division which meant that all of the shows, games, fireworks, food, and whatever else might be going on, would be happening right next door. If she were at home right now, Hiyori would probably squeal excitedly just at the thought but she was in public and had a reputation to protect.
Every year the Court Guard Squads would have a random raffle drawing and whichever Division's number was picked would host the Festival, a seven night fair that drew almost every Soul Reaper. Each Division was also required to set up a booth. Most just served food or had simple games. Except the Eleventh Division, they had a fighting ring set up every year and without fail every year they would get banned after the first day because of injuries and/ or fatalities. Hiyori was hoping to get there early so she could get in on the action before the Head Captain shut it down. Party killing old bastard.
A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts and she tore her gaze away from the clock just as it slid open. Captain Kirio walked gracefully into the room, long wavy violet hair pulled back into a loose ponytail floating behind her, and a gentle but ecstatic smile was on her face. Hiyori knew that face and she knew that whatever her sneak of a Captain was planning would not be in her favor.
"Sweet, little Hiyori," Kirio sang, batting her long lashes and sticking out her bottom lip into an alluring pout, " I have a surprise for you."
Shit. The last time her adoptive mother had said that she had a surprise for her it had found Hiyori and Kirio in Hueco Mundo being chased by several vasto lordes. To this day Hiyori had no idea how they ended up there or even how they ended up back in the Soul Society. The time before that Kirio had stolen Division Eight's sake budget and tried to spend all of it to build a mansion in place of the barracks. Hiyori could only assume the only reason why that hadn't worked was because the Head Captain wasn't stupid and had denied building permits and had demanded the money back. He had almost set fire to the entire Twelfth Division in his rage while he lectured both of them in his office. Hiyori didn't understand why she had been yelled at because she wasn't the one that stole the damn money and Hiyori wasn't the one dumb enough to get caught.
She scowled," What?"
"Weeell," her Captain began," You know how the Lantern Festival is starting tonight?"
Hiyori nodded, slightly terrified over whatever Kirio had planned for the Festival. At least now she knew that she wouldn't be going this year, she thought angrily. Whenever this shit blew up she wanted to be as far away from Kirio as possible. Hopefully it wouldn't be so bad that Yamamoto would cancel the entire Festival permanently.
Kirio abruptly leaned over the desk, her face so close to Hiyori's that the latter could practically count all of her eyelashes. She sighed, resigned to her fate, " What do you want me to do for you?"
"It's not what you can do for me, but what I can do for you," the Captain preened, setting her elbows on the desk and leaning into her closed fists. She once again batted her bright eyes innocently.
This was worse than she thought, Hiyori realized with newfound horror. Anytime Kirio wanted to help her it usually meant she wanted her to wea-
"I had this adorable kimono custom made. Just. For. You."
Damnit. This couldn't possibly get any worse.
"And I also bought some cute accessories. Maybe we can even get your hair out of those ponytails, eh?" Kirio laughed the last part out.
Fuck.
Struggling to find a way out of this, Hiyori began grasping at straws," Captain, I plan on working in the Twelfth Division's booth for most of the festival-"
"That's wonderful!," she cheered," You can be the hostess and greet everyone while wearing your new outfit!"
Double fuck.
"A-actually, I was going to be working in the kitchen. Cooking."
Kirio continued smiling," The Division's taking shifts this year, you'll only have to work for two hours at a time then you'll be able to change and walk around."
Triple fuck. There was only one last technique that she could use…
"I might not even go this year," she stated bluntly, biting the inside of her cheek hoping that her Captain wouldn't catch the lie. It wouldn't be too difficult to go to the festival and avoid Kirio at all costs as long as she kept her spiritual pressure in check.
Kirio rolled her eyes," Seriously, Hiyori, all you have to say is that you don't want to wear the outfit. You don't have to lie to me. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not stupid."
"Sometimes I beg to differ," grumbled the Lieutenant, before her golden eyes began to shine," Does this mean I don't have tah wear the new outfit?"
"You bet your sweet ass you will," the Captain said, " I didn't spend almost three thousand kan for you to be walking around in one of your ratty old yukatas and with your hair in pigtails again this year."
"I like the ratty old yukata and I like my hair this way," retorted Hiyori angrily, noting with distaste how quickly this conversation was escalating from playful banter to an actual argument. Lately it seemed like all the two ever did was fight, Kirio trying to steer the younger girl into a more feminine demeanor and Hiyori digging her heels in and refusing.
"Well, I like the new kimono and the hairclips," Kirio argued back before her tone softened and she cajoled sweetly," Won't you just try them on? I'm sure once you gave it a chance you'll really like them."
"No," Hiyori spat venomously, ocher eyes glowing with distaste, she stood up from her desk resting two hands on it as she leant closer towards the taller woman, curling her lip she jeered," You probably didn't even get one that I'd like. Probably just some pansy ass little pink and white thing that'll tear if I so much as draw my sword, huh?"
Kirio clasped a hand to her heart and proclaimed dramatically," You wound me. Sweetheart, I know you and I know what you like. Trust me, you'll like it. It doesn't even have pink in it!"
Hiyori was silent for a moment, contemplating," No pink?"
"None at all."
"Will I look stupid in it?"
" Hiyori," Kirio smiled warmly at her surrogate daughter," I would never make you wear something ridiculous."
Hiyori highly doubted that. But, on the other hand, if Kirio really did spend that much on the kimono no tailor would dare make something hideous for a high paying customer. This probably wouldn't one of her smartest decisions, but wearing the kimono would make Kirio happy( and shut her up) and Hiyori would probably destroy it anyway so she wouldn't have to wear it ever again. Hopefully.
The words still tasted bitter as she uttered," Fine, I'll wear it."
/
Hiyori could admit, the kimono wasn't that bad. It wasn't something she would wear of her own violation, but it was picked out in good taste. It was long and the hem would trail slightly as she walked which meant that it wasn't designed with the idea of battle in mind which is what she normally looked for in clothes. The material was a delicate red silk that had felt like cold water slipping around her as she had slid it on, filigree flowers with green stems and neatly stitched ice blue flowers varying in size were patterned along the bottom half of the kimono. The neckline and obi were a cobalt blue, nearly black that darkened the red and brought out the blue of the flowers.
The 'cute accessories' that Kirio had spoken so fondly of were cute and complimented the kimono and Hiyori couldn't stand them one bit. For one, they ( along with Kirio's objections) did not allow her to put her hair up in her trademark pigtails. One was a silver hair band clip thing that she wasn't entirely sure how to put on and Kirio had to do it for her. Once it was in the clips thin comb had stuck downward in her loose hair, each stem holding several silk flowers that were done in layers of black, various shades red and blue, and gave the illusion of her actually have flowers in her hair. The other key accessory was a thin, silver choker with flowers carved out of ivory clinging to her throat. According to Kirio, if she had worn her hair up the choker would've looked tacky and the hairpiece wouldn't have stayed on right. Hiyori's suggestion that she not wear any accessories had quickly been shot down.
"You look beautiful," Kirio cooed, happy that her outfit of choice was actually being worn by Hiyori. Hiyori scowled in the mirror. She looked….girly. Really girly. She hated looking like this with a burning passion.
"At least someone's happy about this," she grumbled under her breath, biting her lip nervously. Kirio was going to single handedly destroy her reputation in one night with this outfit. At least she had talked her out of trying to put make up on her. She could salvage one night of dressing up or at least she hoped so.
"All the boys are going to be falling over you," squealed Kirio, eyes shining as she danced around putting on her own outfit, a long golden furisode with a simple pattern in white of birds in flight along the top of the pale silver obi and on the flowing sleeves. An elaborately large kanzashi that was carved out of white ivory and held a circular pattern of white, gold and brown feathers over her braided-twisted bun. Dangling matching earrings just barely brushed her shoulders.
At least Kirio's get up looked like something her Captain would actually wear.
Hiyori's scowl deepened on her face at that comment," Why the hell would I want a bunch a stupid boy droolin' over me?"
Kirio uncapped her rouge and dapped it on her lips with an expert hand, looking into the mirror to give Hiyori a knowing look," You might not want their attention now, but soon you will and you'll know just how to sink your hooks into them."
She just rolled her golden eyes at that statement, " How about whenever I actually want to attract boys"-never will that happen-" you can teach me then instead of now."
Kirio frowned, snapping the rouge shut, her forehead creasing and she opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something. Instead she quickly smiled and asked," Are you ready to go or will you let me add onto your outfit?"
Confused by the shift in topic, Hiyori gave a snappy," Whatever, might as well get it over with."
Kirio continued to smiled softly, her eyes slightly misty as she took in Hiyori's outfit one final time. What was her problem? Hiyori continued to scowl , sulking mostly just to sulk because if she did anything else it would mean that Kirio had won.
Truthfully, despite the outfit choice for tonight, she was still looking forward to the festival. Especially the food. And the fighting( she really hoped the Captain-General hadn't shut down the Eleventh's fighting ring while Kirio was dolling her up). But mostly the food. In one aspect of their personality, Hiyori truly was Kirio's daughter. She could eat from the time the sun rose until it set and then some. She could also cook enough to sustain that kind of eating habit, and could cook almost as well as her Captain could.
"Now, you can have as much fun as you want," Kirio was telling her as they made their way towards the Thirteenth Division," but remember your shift at the Division's booth is from eight to ten."
"I know," Hiyori snapped, wondering why they couldn't just flash step there, it would be so much quicker, " I'm the one that made the chart with the shifts because you were too lazy to."
Kirio rolled her eyes good naturedly," No, I made the first chart and you had a fit because of how unorganized it was. I need to at least get some points for trying."
"Two points," Hiyori grudgingly consented, her eyes-although not her scowl-lightening as she saw the bright glow of lanterns growing as they drew closer. Her steps sped up. Thankfully, Kirio hadn't made her wear any fancy shoe wear that would hinder her movement. You can't be a badass in silk shoes. Her feet were bare for tonight, allowing her to enjoy the feel of her toes sinking into the different textures of the ground.
"Only two?" Kirio pouted.
Her comment was ignored as Hiyori stepped into the Thirteenth Division's domain. People were milling in the dark, the only light coming from the many lanterns that were strung from the buildings and trees. Laughter and voices floated everywhere. All Divisions were here, enjoying the Festival. Hiyori's eyes strained to find someone she knew. A certain blonde haired bastard. Not because she wanted to see him, but because she knew that asshole would have some smartass comment about her attire and she wanted to be prepared to kick his scrawny ass to the moon.
The only person she recognized was Love ambling towards them, nodding his head in greeting. He didn't mention her unusual clothing choice, although it was hard to tell what he thought of it, his glasses hiding any emotion from his eyes.
"Hey, Love, " Hiyori greeted distractedly, fingers twitching into fists sporadically as she imagined sadistically beating Shinji to a pulp before he could utter a single fucking word about her outfit," you seen Shinji?"
"Not yet, " was Love's answer.
"Princess is probably taking his sweet ass time with his hair again," she sneered, " seriously he's more anal than any girl over that yellow mop."
"Hiyori!" Kirio's voice whip lashed, and Hiyori rolled her eyes." Watch your language when speaking about your superiors."
" What he doesn't know won't kill 'im," Hiyori drawled, golden eyes still roving over the crowd with a bloodthirsty light. Her eyes flamed to an even more demonic shade as she saw her favorite punching bag leisurely walking down the pathway. He hadn't seen them yet.
Hiyori was just really in the mood to beat the shit out of something today.
She began to stalk towards him, puffing up for a confrontation only to be blocked by Kirio who had the strangest look on her face. Her lips were twitching with amusement but her eyes conveyed concern.
"Hiyori, sweetie," she began, " you seem awfully excited to see Shinji. Is there any particular reason why?"
" I want to see him for the same reason I always want to see him," Hiyori answered honestly, slightly put off by the look Kirio was giving her. As if the older woman knew something she didn't know. Honestly, half the time she never knew what was going on in that woman's head.
"Hiyori, do you have a crush on Shinji?"
The question didn't even register at first, the concept so ridiculously foreign. Hiyori, Shinji, and the word 'crush' didn't even belong in the same sentence. When the question finally set in, she felt her cheeks heat up. All she could see was red. She clenched her fists, mouth opening in closing angrily not quite able to put her outrage into words. Her nostril flared.
Finally sounds screeched out of her lips," HELL NO! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU EVEN THINK THAT?! THAT IS THE STUPIDEST FUCKIN' THING I HAVE EVER HEARD!"
"Hey, monkey," a voice drawled from behind her," what's got you in such a mood? Someone steal your banana?"
She whipped around and roared, pointing with an accusing finger," YOU!"
Then she leapt on him, grabbing his ridiculously long hair and yanked, determined ti rip it off his skull. He yelped," What did I do to deserve this?!"
Hiyori just continued to shriek like a banshee, kicking him wherever she could reach, yanking his hair out with one hand while slashing at his face with sharp nails with the other. Stupid Baldy. He struggled to get away from her, a black eye already forming on his face, claw marks peppered his face, and large portions of his hair were laying on the ground. As if she would ever have a crush on someone so pathetic.
She would never have a crush on him and whoever else thought to ask that fucking question would receive the beat down of a lifetime.
