A/N: Hey all, its my first Fan Fic, I hope you all like it. Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, otherwise nobody would be reading this ... I'm not that good
Hitsugaya Toshiro lay in his bed in his room, a thermometer in his mouth, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. His fukutaicho stood over him, her hands on her hips as she looked down at him, a big grin on her face. Hitsugaya's scowl deepened, and that started his grumbling. None of this phased Matsumoto however, she just took it in stride as she usually did when her taicho was angry with her. Finally a tick formed on his head and he started growling before losing his composure.
"MATSUMOTO!! What the hell is the meaning of this?!" Rangiku just smiled wider and raised her hand up to wave off the accusation.
"But taicho, you said you had a cold! I'm just helping you get over it; you don't have to look so mean." She pouted, which would have normally made any other person melt and give in to whatever she wanted. Hitsugaya, however, was used to this and shrugged it off, his patience thinning.
"I can get over a cold on my own! Or do you not recall the fact that I am a wielder of an ice type zanpakuto?! I am almost always cold! If it was really as bad as you say, just call someone over from the Fourth Division!"
"But taicho! They're really busy over there!"
Meanwhile, at the Fourth Division
"Maaaan, I wish something would happen!"
"I know, I am so bored!"
Back to the Tenth Division
Hitsugaya growled again before finally giving up as Matsumoto finally pulled the thermometer out of his mouth, gasping as she saw the temperature. "Oh my! Taicho, your temperature is so hot! It's well past normal! You need to stay in bed!" Her grin never faltered as she realized that with her captain in bed all day, she had free reign to put off her duties. Not like she would do it anyway, but at least now she had a legitimate excuse. Hitsugaya just let his scowl deepen. He was about to yell at her again when there was a sudden knock on his door.
Both Hitsugaya and Matsumoto turned to see who their visitor was as they called "Come in" together. The door opened to reveal none other than captain of the Thirteenth Division, the white haired Juushiro Ukitake. Ukitake just smiled and walked into the room, his hands behind his back as he greeted Matsumoto and her captain.
"Hello Matsumoto. I heard that Shiro-chan was sick and decided to come by and wish him well."
"Awww, thank you Ukitake-taicho, that's so kind of you! Could you keep an eye on Hitsugaya-taicho for me please? I need to head out for a while." Ukitake nodded and smiled and wished her well as she left the room. He turned back to Hitsugaya who was frowning, and relaxed into the bed, his arms still crossed across his chest. Ukitake just smiled wider.
"Hey, I have just the thing to cheer you up Shiro-chan!"
"Hitsugaya-tai-" He was about to correct his superior when suddenly a large jar of candy was shoved into his face by Ukitake, who was grinning widely with his eyes closed. Hitsugaya just scowled and took the jar, setting it down on the nightstand next to his bed. Hitsugaya turned to face Ukitake, who was now sitting in a chair. "Uh, thanks for stopping by Ukitake-taicho, but I think I can take care of myself … I'm sure you must be busy."
Ukitake just waved it off and smiled. "No, no, I'm fine, Kiyone and Sentaro can take of the other duties just fine, I'm sure. Besides, I told Rangiku I would watch you, and that's what I'm going to do."
"But, Ukitake-taicho, it's just a cold!"
"Nonsense! Now, its time for a bedtime story for Shiro-chan!"
Hitsugaya grumbled and just muttered under his breath "Hitsugaya-taicho" before falling silent to listen to Ukitake. Hitsugaya pulled up his pillows and leaned back against them, keeping his arms crossed as he looked away from his fellow captain, who was now holding a book. "This story is called 'The Princess Rukia'. This story was given to me a long time ago by my dear friend Shunsui. I have read it once every year on the same day, and today happens to be that day. I want to share this story with you, Toshiro-kun." Ukitake smiled at the white haired youngster, who just nodded, and opened up the book to begin.
"A long time ago, there was a young woman who was born into a lower class family. The family was not poor, but they were not rich either. They owned a small farm with a small plot of land that was attended to by a single farm boy named Ichigo. The woman, Rukia, was very rude to the poor farm boy, commanding him to do things. She was a small woman with raven hair and purple eyes. But her size did not seem to affect her confidence. She would order around the tall, orange haired farm boy whenever she needed something to do. The farm boy at this time had kind eyes and wore a smile whenever he could. Each time Rukia would order him to do something; Ichigo would just smile and say 'As you wish.'
"She never thought twice about it until one day she ordered him to clean out the stables and his amber eyes met her violet ones, and his smile seemed to stir something inside of her as he told her his usual agreement. She was slowly starting to feel something for the boy, something she hadn't noticed before. There was some sort of hidden meaning behind his agreement, but she did not know what it was. So one day, when she was sure that she loved him, she-"
"Ukitake-taicho, is this a … romance novel?!" Toshiro interrupted, suddenly curious and nervous. Ukitake just laughed and patted Hitsugaya on the head, nodding. "Very good Hitsugaya-kun, you're very smart!" Toshiro just blushed and turned away from Ukitake. He didn't know how to react. Ukitake-taicho, one of the most well respected captains in all of the Gotei 13 was sitting here, reading him a romance novel. This didn't seem to faze the elder captain and he continued.
"So, one day when she was sure that she loved him, she ordered him to do something, and he uttered the words she wanted to hear. 'As you wish.' He said to her. She just looked at him and told him to wait, which he did.
"'What do you mean when you say that?' She asked him. To which he replied:
"'Would you rather I say something else?' She just stared at him, dumbfounded and at a loss for words. He just smiled and turned to leave the stable when she threw the wet rag she was using to wash the tools in the stable at the back of his head. It hit him right on target and he turned around, his wet hair throwing water all about the stable as he scowled at her.
"'What the hell was that for?!' He yelled at her, getting right up in her face. She scowled right back at him and yelled back.
"'What the hell was that supposed to mean you idiot?! I asked you a question! Now answer it!"
"'Why should I answer a question that a temper mental midget asked me?!'
"'What did you call me?!'
"You heard me!' And with that they growled at each other. Their yelling was so loud her family could hear it from the house that was outside the farm. Rukia's parents just shrugged it off, sighed and made the comment of how in love the two were. After a few moments of growling, Rukia finally huffed and sat back down, picking up a piece of paper and the nearest piece of charcoal she had and began drawing on the nearest wooden box. Ichigo just scoffed and turned around, his scowl faded. He was about to leave the stable when she spoke.
"'When you say that, "As you wish", are you saying …' she blushed before continuing, 'are you saying that you love me?'
Ichigo just stopped and let the question sink in before he turned around and met her hopeful gaze. Wordlessly he walked over to her, their eyes still locked as he kept an even pace toward her. He stopped in front of her and bent down, his hand resting on her cheek and caressing her bare skin. She closed her eyes and leaned into his caress, her mouth parting a bit as she sighed in contentment. Ichigo leant down and kissed her passionately, his eyes closed and he heard her gasp. She returned the kiss just as passionately, her eyes kept closed for the duration of the kiss. When he parted from her lips, her eyes were still closed for the briefest of moments before he whispered, 'Yes. When I say that, I'm telling you that I love you.'
"She just stared at him, bewildered for a moment before she whispered, 'I love you too.' Her hands grabbed his face and brought his lips down to hers to kiss her again, with more intensity and passion than bef-"
"Ukitake-taicho, could we please skip these bits?!" Toshiro said loudly and hurriedly to the white haired man. Ukitake simply smiled and said, "Ok Toshiro-kun. Let's see … where were we, hmm … ah, yes. Here.
"Rukia and Ichigo were living happily until the day came that he had to leave. He was planning on taking her hand in marriage, but needed money in order to marry her, so he left on a ship that would lead him to a new land for him to make enough money to marry Rukia. The day that he was to leave, Rukia and Ichigo shared one last moment together outside of her home on the road.
"'You'll come back won't you?' She asked him, worry in her eyes. Ichigo just smiled and kissed her. She looked into his amber eyes pierced into hers, his smile never faltering. He never told her what his intentions were, he meant to keep it a secret. Rukia laughed softly and smiled even softer, looking back into his eyes. 'That doesn't answer my question, idiot.'
"'I'll come back, I promise.' And with that, he kissed her again. They shared a moment together before he took off down the road to the harbor, his pack slung over his shoulder. Rukia stood there and watched him until his image became dimmer and dimmer, hope in her heart that she would see her love again. When it got to be dark, Rukia turned and walked back into her house, ate her dinner, and went to bed. All the while, thinking of him. Weeks passed and word had reached her house that the boat that Ichigo was on had been attacked by the Dread Pirate Kenpachi. When the news reached her, she felt herself become hollow, and she locked herself away for months on end, not coming out. She ate in her room and cried herself to sleep each night. For the Dread Pirate Kenpachi takes no prisoners."
… To be continued