(A/N: A Shinji Hirako X OC Love Story, between my OC Kurenai, and Shinji. They're both still in the Seireitei serving as captains. About the title of this story, Cheshire Grins is relating to Shinji's grin that's like a Cheshire cat's meanwhile Kurenai's name means Crimson and this story is about how Shinji slowly wins her heart. This is the story about how Kurenai fell in love with him and what happened in between the stories. Shinji is captain of fifth company and she is captain of tenth. This takes place between the 3 year time skip in the Turn Back the Pendulum Arc. Kisuke is a captain. )
Disclaimer: I don't own Shinji or Bleach (sadly) I'm working on the legal documents for Shinji
Claimer: I do own Kurenai, the story plot and the gummy worm I'm eating
Chapter one-
[Hating you a little less]
"My lips touch your lips my hands on your hips
What's it gonna take for you to give me my goodnight kiss?"
Midnight Romeo By: Push Play~
Kurenai Urahara's POV.
I'd never like that guy, Shinji Hirako. His irritating grin, his annoying carefree attitude, the way he always had something to say, but the thing I hated about him the most, was he saw straight through me. When I smiled when I was sad, it could deceive everyone but him. When I laughed when I was angry, no one noticed except for him. When I shoved my paper work under the couch no one knew but him. It was always Him. He was always there grinning that damn Cheshire cat grin, taunting me…
And today, was no different. I woke up in my bed as usual, Kurai and Awai were both in wolf form sleeping soundly in the corner of the room. The room was larger than others due to the fact it belonged to Yoruichi Shihoin, my brother and I lived with her right now. It was another day I had to put up with Him. That annoying captain that never ceased to drive me mad. The one who made my time in the Seireitei unbearable…the one who was always somewhere in the back of my mind. Taunting. Vexing. Laughing… Grinning.
I took a deep breath, if I could just avoid him things would be fine. But no, he was always there.
Oh stop complaining about him Kurenai, you know he likes you. Kurai said chewing on his paw. He was a large black wolf with piercing silverish blue eyes, he had a chain around his neck and two cuffs. He was the more aggressive of the two, he liked fighting and biting the hell out of his victims. His looks were that of a wild, yet elegant wolf…
Don't bother Kurai, Kurenai is far to stubborn to acknowledge it. Trust me, I've tried. Awai agreed taking Kurai's side in the matter. She was a large white wolf, maybe a size or two smaller than her brother, she had yellow eyes that expressed her emotions well. Some wolves' fur grew a yellow tint, but Awai's always seemed to stay that pristine fur, white as snow and seemingly soft to the touch.
I loved them, they were the physical form of my zanpakuto and they preferred that form. I cared for them, of course, they were annoying and fought with eachother nearly every second. They were nearly as bad as Shinji, demo, I'd given up trying to avoid them. As my zanpaku-to they had constant access to my brain, trust me, it irritated me to no end but with Awai and Kurai, I had to learn to put up with it…because I'd come to accept…they were never leaving.
He does not like me! He likes MESSING with me. He likes ANNOYING me. He likes FOLLOWING me. He does not LIKE me. And I do not LIKE him.I told them forcefully to which they ignored completely and continued arguing amongst themselves, I sighed. As I got up and took a shower, allowing the rush of water cascading down my back to calm my thoughts and allow me a small peace…that peace soon ended when I stepped out of the bathroom and saw Kisuke snoring on my bed. I glared at him.
His ash blonde hair stuck up from a pillow of white, while his snores filled the room. His haori was spread out to fall in the shape of his body as I poured the contents of a flower vase on his head. To which he abruptly awoke with a startle.
"OI! KURENAI! I came to wake you up." He said.
"And yet, it's YOUR drool that is on my pillow." I retorted smiling tightly.
"Don't have to be so mean about it. Oh, Shinji told me to tell you-" He began as I grabbed him by the collar of his Shihakusho and threw him out the door, he knew how much that guy annoyed me. Hell, everyone did, only KISUKE took every chance to bring him up just to annoy me…I got dressed in my uniform and slung my Haori on, the sleeves were cropped and I tied a piece of ripped white scarf around it so it hugged my body well. I brushed through my hair and headed out from the window…
Kurenai! Can we get some meat today? I've been dying for some meat! Awai complained. I walked through the yard, the estate was huge and I finally came to a wall, which I swiftly climbed over.
You're already dead! I informed her as she rolled her eyes. Fine, later today I'll get you some from the market but only on one condition! You bring up the bastard ONCE and no meat for you, got it?
Aw, c'mon! That's not fair! You're such a fun sucker! Kurai complained along with Awai. I rolled my eyes as I entered 10th divisions barracks and found Shinji waiting patiently on the couch. He sat there with his piss yellow blonde hair and wandering light brown eyes… Che, (shit) Why did he have to be here? Of course, I shouldn't be surprised, he's just like Kisuke, finding every opportunity to annoy me…he was like a lost puppy following me around…
"What do you want?" I demanded.
"Simply to see ya, what else, love?" He asked smirking flirtatiously.
"I'm only going to say this once, call me that again and I'll pay Hiyori to follow you around for a month!" he recoiled at that threat. Hiyori and I were like sisters, and it was a benefit to me because Shinji HATED Hiyori, or rather, feared her. Normally, one would wonder how a guy like him could fear a pig-tailed girl who was 3 inches short of his elbow, but knowing Hiyori, it was obvious why anyone would fear her. It was nice for me because I could usually get him away from me using her as a threat, but today, I could not, because he was unusually persistent today for some odd reason.
"Hai, hai! Just…not Hiyori…anyways, I'm here today to-" He began.
"Annoy me?" I finished.
"Me? Never! I want to take ya on a date…tonight…" he said grinning that damn grin. The Cheshire cat grin that showed off all his teeth…
"Let me think about it…No." I retorted, he had been asking me out for some time now, it all started last year. That's when he went from stalker to mega-stalker. I could never be seen anywhere without the grinning teme. (Dumbass) "If you keep asking me I'm gonna get a restraining order on ya." I told him harshly as he ignored me and flash stepped in front of me…
"Ya see, today is different. I'm not leaving until ya say yes." He retorted smirking.
"No, today is no different, because I'm never saying yes." I said, returning the smirk.
"Then I guess it's my lucky day, because that just means I get to be with you…all…day." He said grinning suggestively. "And don't bother setting Hiyori on me, she's on a mission in the world of the living for a week…and if following you around for week is what it takes…" He just kept grinning. Damn he pissed me off. Isn't there some sort of Shinji Repellent I can buy some where?
Just accept it, go out with him, we know you like him…it's pretty obvious Kurenai. You don't hide it very well. You act like you hate him, but we all know; there's a thin line between hate and love.
Ignoring Awai completely I glared at Shinji. "Shinji you don't understand! I hate you! You're annoying! You may follow me, I don't care, but getting me to say yes? Ganbayo…" (Good Luck) I retorted.
"You say ya hate me, but your eyes say differently." He said approached me.
"Yeah? WELL LETS SEE WHAT MY FIST HAS TO SAY ABOUT YOU!" I shouted throwing a punch to which he dodged, and slipped behind me…
"Besides, love me or hate me, I know yer' thinking of me." Shinji said following me to my desk where he laid himself across it keeping me from doing any paper work. That's when he opened his mouth again. "Ya know, the saddest thing in the world is being in love with someone who won't acknowledge that they love ya back." I glared at him.
"Shinji. I. Do. Not. Love. You." I said menacingly, yet, my words had no affect on him. "Now, get off my desk so I can do my paperwork." I hissed as he didn't move an inch.
"Don't you think you should start with that paper work that you've put off and hid under your couch for the last month?" He asked as I sighed, of course he'd know about that too…how did he seem to know about EVERYTHING? I looked towards the light blue piece of furniture that hid my paperwork within it.
That's when the door opened again revealing my newly appointed lieutenant, Sai, when I got my new sixth seat she bumped Sai up to the rank of lieutenant. My new sixth seat was a strawberry blonde named Rangiku Matsumoto, a woman who shared my fondness of sake, but had the attention span of a child. Sai came in, took one look at Shinji and shook his head. As he began on the paper work under the couch…did everyone know that I hid half my paper work under there? Apparently so.
"No, there's no use, yer not getting rid of me." Shinji said as he continued grinning at me.
"Hakedake!" (Dickhead) I sneered. "I will NEVER say yes." He sighed and continued to grin.
"I don't mind, because that just means I get to spend more time staring at a beautiful sight…" He retorted as I realized how hopeless this was. I may be stubborn, he was so persistent he could get the head captain to organize a camping trip for the entire Gotei 13!
He's a persistent one, but I guess, with someone as stubborn as you Kurenai, you need to be persistent. You could be lost in a foreign land for a year just because you're too stubborn to ask for directions. Kurenai, you're TOO stubborn. Kurai noted.
I am not stubborn, I'm right!
"With you it's all about winning, and this date is the first step to my first win…" He said. Winning?
"Winning what?" I asked.
"You…" He retorted as I rolled my eyes.
"I'm not saying yes! And I'm not a prize you can just win." I told him harshly.
"Ah, we're just like an old married couple aren't we?" He said.
"I don't like the simile, I've come to discover you're full of crap Shinji." I snapped.
"You and Hiyori tell me that everyday, but behind all of your words…there's love." He said infuriating me further. He never gives up. "You may be thinking I never give up and it's true, but that's just because I could never give up on someone I can't go a day without thinking about…"
"You sound like some sort of cheesy Christmas special…"
He really never will give up will he? This is becoming a matter of pride to me. I won't surrender either!
Kurenai, eventually one of you will have to give in and you and I both know that Shinji never will.
HAHAHAHAHAHA! The poor boy, he's so in love with someone too stubborn to admit her own-
Stop RIGHT there Kurai, I don't have ANY feelings towards him except for hate! And that's NOT going to change! He's infuriating and all he has is an obsession, it will go away eventually! I'm sure of it!
"You know, eventually you'll have to use the bathroom and I'll slip away." I retorted, he was still lounged across my desk and I was still glaring at him while Sai was in his own little world…
"Maybe I'll have to bring you will me." He said, uh-uh, that was NOT going to happen. The door opened once again revealing Lisa. Lieutenant to Shunsui. She was in her usual uniform and had the Yaoi magazine she usually carried, she used it more as a weapon against her taicho rather than a real form of entertainment.
"I'm here to pick up the paper work." She said, "Why is-?"
"Shinji is being a persistent jackass and won't leave me alone until I say yes to a date. And because that will never happen he is going to follow me until the end of time I suppose. As annoying as it is, I doubt he would leave me alone even if I DID go on a date with him. So I'm stuck with him…if you want him, take him." I said as I stuck a FOR SALE sign on him. Which he looked at, tore off, and threw away.
"No thanks, I got an annoying captain of my own to look after." Lisa said as she left.
"Shinji, it's been three hours already. Don't you have paper work of your own to do?" I asked.
"You're much more important to me Kurenai." He said as I glared not amused. "Listen, one date! That's it. If you don't have a good time, I promise never to bother you…ever again. Just one chance Kurenai." He said with pleading eyes…I bit my lip…
The only reason you don't say yes is because you're afraid you WILL have a good time.
THAT IS NOT IT! It's just…I…Well…I…You see…It's…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Kurai burst out laughing.
"Fine…" I said, "Tonight, eight." His grin grew wider if possible, as he kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear…
"I knew you cared…" He shunpoed out as I blushed madly…DAMN HIM! He was too charming for his own good…and I hated that about him. The way he could control me, he could see through me…I was like a window to him, and I hated it. I hated the way he could make me feel…the way he could make me blush with no effort…the way he could always get his way with me…
That Night-
"KURENAI! I HEAR MY KURENAI-CHAN HAS FINALLY SAID YES!" Yoruichi's childish voice shouted as the door slammed open. Hitting the wall with a force I was sure would knock it over. Yoruichi stood there in her shinigami uniform. "I KNEW YOU LIKED HIM! Well, actually, everyone did, but everyone also knew you were too stubborn to admit it! But you two are so cute together we knew it was fate and you two had to end up together eventually!" I hung my head…Yoruichi would forever be Yoruichi.
"What are you planning on wearing?" Rangiku asked entering the room.
"Jeans, a shirt, and a jacket." I told them they gasped…as I rolled my eyes.
"No you're not! You're wearing this!" Yoruichi said shoving an outfit in my face.
"Nuh-uh! Ain't gonna happen!" Yet, despite my protests, I found myself shoved into a white short sleeve cut out dress, it was white and there were cuts in the sleeves, and around the stomach area. Then there was a two black leather strapped belt with a silver belt buckle high heel platform sandals and a dark colored jacket. They put up my hair in a messy yet elegant way with a few pieces of hair framing my face.
"There!" Rangiku said smiling at me. I blushed at the two of them…
"C'mon! He'll be waiting!" They called grabbing my arms and pushing me out the door.
I approached the area I was supposed to meet Shinji, it was a shopping area in the Seireitei he was standing there wearing a white 2 buttoned jacket with a soft silhouette and rounded shoulders, slim legged white dress pants and a black dress shirt with a dark purple and black tie. Yoruichi totally did this on purpose…she totally matched our outfits on purpose…he had this white hat on too, it looked like a fedora and knowing Shinji, it probably was, he turned to me grinning like mad.
In his hand he held a single purple calla lily…I blushed. HOW THE HELL DID HE KNOW THOSE WERE MY FAVORITES? NO! HOW THE HELL DOES HE KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME? The lily was beautiful and started with black and were purples at the tips, there was a few tiny green stripes jutting out from the center though, it was beautiful. He looked amazing in that suit…GAWD!
True love…he cares about you, and he doesn't know EVERYTHING about you. You just think so because you want to think he's annoying when really, you know deep down he's in love with you just as much as you're in love with him. Don't deny is Kurenai…you know it's true…
"I didn't know what you're favorite flowers were so I just grabbed this, they remind me of you, beautiful, but can be extremely dangerous. I did know the color was your favorite though." He said keeping that grin on his face. "I only got one though, see those green streaks? It's unique and rare, just like you." He was horribly cliché, yet it was charming and I couldn't help but smile as I took it…
"Thanks Shinji…" I said biting my lip trying to conceal my blush… "I guess I never really told you, but calla lilies are my favorite…" And of course, he knew the flower was perfect…just like him. I didn't dare tell him that though, he grinned with satisfaction as he held out a hand…I took it.
"First, we're going shopping, I know you hate dresses." He said guiding me inside a store. "Pick out whatever you want. You'll look great in anything I'm sure." He told me…
"You're flattering me Shinji, and you don't have to do this." I said.
"But I want to…" He retorted as he held out an outfit. And shoved me into a dressing room, the outfit was a short sleeve cut out shirt with overlapping neckline, a pair of bleached out black holed leggings with a skirt over it and a pair of high heels. It was once again Perfect. Only proving more and more that Shinji knew me far too well…I felt discouraged, he knew so much about me, yet, I barely knew anything about him. We've known eachother for the same amount of time, and yet…he still knows so much about me.
"Ya look gorgeous." He told me as he took my arm. "C'mon, dinner awaits…"
…
The table was elegant and was in a private place we could just hang out and talk…
"I feel discouraged. You know so much about me, yet I barely know anything about you…" I said.
"What do you want to know? My birthday's May Tenth, I'm 176 cm. I like salmon sushi and takoyaki, soumen, nikuma's, miso soup, onigiri, udon, yakisoba, aburi, sum, and pan. I like eating oden in the summer and ohagi in the fall. And I hate cooking." He told me as I laughed.
"You like food…" I stated, "But what else? What area of the Rukongai did you come from? What was your life like before you became a shinigami?" I asked, "Did you have many friends there?"
"Area 70 of the northern Rukongai. I was only there for four weeks, I didn't like it there at all. So I came to the soul society where I became a shinigami. What district did you come from?" He asked me.
"I'm surprised you don't know, area 80 of southern Rukongai." I told him. "I had no friends there, in that place, 'friends' would turn on you the second you turned around." He nodded taking that in.
"That explains your violent tendencies." He responded.
"VIOLENT TENDENCIES?" I shouted at him, "I AM NOT VIOLENT!" At that point he was laughing. I couldn't help it as I began laughing with him.
Kurenai, you are pretty violent.
You're one to talk! All you ever want to do is kill people!
THAT'S NOT TRUE! I LIKE EATING AND SLEEPING TOO!
You're like a baby, you eat, sleep, burp, and complain!
Baby's don't complain! They can't TALK!
Well you cry and whine like a baby!
Would you two please just shut up!
"Tell me more about yourself, I know you like jazz music, you've always had a thing for that stuff as far as I can remember. I also know you procrastinate doing your paper work until the last possible moment. You also have a way of getting what you want in the end… As much as I hate to admit it, you're also pretty badass when you fight." He grinned at this.
"Ya think I'm badass? Guess that's the closest thing I've ever gotten to a compliment from you." He said.
"Well, you know you're good and you don't need reminders. Besides, you're ego's already too big you don't need any more compliments either…" I told him.
"See, seems you know me pretty well, but as for getting what I want, there's some truth to that, but I know one thing that I want that I still haven't found a way to get." He said as if foreshadowing something.
"What would that be?" I asked him. He just grinned… "Oh c'mon! Just tell me!" He shook his head. To which I rolled my eyes. "I'll add being mean to my list of character traits for you."
"Aww…" He pouted. The waiter finally came by.
"I'll have three imagawayaki, wagashi with the tea and some karumeyaki!" I said as she jotted it down.
"I'll get the tonjiru with some umeboshi." Shinji ordered as the waiter left and he stared at me, "Dessert first?" I nodded, "That's almost as odd as eating oden in the summer…"
"There's logic behind it. You see, if a hollow comes crashing through that wall right now and I'm killed-"
"I'd never let that happened."
"-That's not my point. My point is, IF I'm killed-"
"BUT you won't be because I'm here." I sighed…
"Shinji, just shut up, my point is, if I'm killed-" I covered his mouth before he could speak, "-then I want the satisfaction of knowing I had my dessert. If I'm killed and only ate my dinner, then I would die unsatisfied." I told him as I unclasped his mouth…
"Well, that makes sense." He said. I nodded. Our food came and we ate. Then Shinji ordered some dessert and I ordered some teriyaki and a side dish of edamame and some sake which Shinji and I both drank. All in all, it was a very fun time, that I had to admit…I enjoyed.
We left the restaurant as Shinji said, "C'mon, the gate closes soon." What gate? What gate closes at- Oh no. He wasn't talking about the…oh wow…he was talking about that gate…it stood in front of us the gate was there sure enough, the guards weren't though, only Ukitake stood there.
"You two are looking great tonight. Yoruichi informed me, I got rid of the guards, but you must be back at twelve or you'll be stuck in the world of the living till morning." He said, I was still in shock at the whole thing. The world of the living? Shinji was out doing himself…the senkaimon opened and two hell butterflies flew out, as we walked through the door and found ourselves on the other side…
…
As we listened to some weird music I recognized Shinji had on in his office, "It's called jazz." He informed me as he stood up, offering a hand as he asked me, "Ya wanna dance?" I shook my head.
"No, not really but either way you're gonna make me so I may as well get it over with…" I told him. Of course I had no idea how to dance as Shinji directed me along…
"Step back with yer right foot." I did… "Now kick with your left, step foreword with your left to the original position, kick foreword with your right foot now repeat." I followed his instructions feeling incredibly stupid, ridiculous, and rather immature. "Try holding yer arms straight out from your body and bending them at your elbows, hands pointing up. Swing your arms from your elbow, first to right…then to the left." He instructed, I tripped and we both fell as we laughed…
"You're a good teacher and all but I feel incredibly stupid…" I told him he laughed, most likely at how ridiculous I looked. I didn't blame him…
As if reading my thoughts he said, "I'm not laughing at you…it's just, you're actually really good at this."
"Yeah, if falling ever two seconds is considered good, I'm great." I said as I laughed, he just directed me along as we danced to this odd music, and I did have a great time. We had a few drinks as well as we continued to dance along to this odd music that Shinji seemed to enjoy so much…
The club was animated and full of people, many of them dressed a lot like Shinji. The saxophone played along with the trumpet and other instruments while Shinji spun me around and swung me this way and that.
After that we took a walk, the park was reasonably nice, the trees were tall and grown, the coble stone streets had a nice affect. The gray buildings that towered around us were alight and the air wasn't too cold. I found what everyone was wearing hilarious. It was funny watching them strut around acting like they were cool or whatever. We talked some more about things. Then Shinji went on about wanting to learn how to play the trumpet…that ambition lasted a full hour…
"I wanna learn to play the trumpet…" He said humming to some jazz song.
"Why?" I asked him as he thought…
"There's that one guy, Louis Armstrong, he's the king of jazz." He told me, "I like him.
"You do remember you're dead, right?" I reminded him.
"Way to ruin the mood…" He muttered. I think it was around twelve pm when we returned laughing our asses of at some picture of this old lady tripping over her umbrella. We made our ways to the gate when we both heard a loud roar…I guess we should've been expecting it…we unsheathed our swords as we got in position. Then, ten gillians and 2 adjucha hollows came down from the sky…from Hueco Mundo…
"Okay, six for each of us." I said grinning. This was turning out great…a perfect date. "Okay Shinji, I'll tell you, you've already got one win." I told him, as he grinned remembering earlier today.
"Yes, wouldn't it be sad if I died before I got my first kiss from you?" He said.
"No, it wouldn't be sad, and it doesn't matter because you're not going to die, we're both captains we can take care of this…" I told him as he pouted as one hollow swooped down, to which Shinji hitched a ride and sliced through it. Meanwhile I dodged the tail of another hollow, I sliced it off and shunpoed behind it where I swiftly took off it's head. Two more came at us as a claw narrowly missed my head, I hacked through it, while Shinji took care of his second hollow with a quick blow to the head.
"Ookami-no-sono-kurai Higyou-no-ato-Tsuki-zetsumei! Third razor of the night!" I called as three black hardened reishi razors appeared, they were pitch black as I controlled them with my hands slicing another hollow in pieces while Shinji used Hado to destroy his last two gillians. I sliced another into pieces which left us and 2 adjuchas. Adjuchas were in theory, supposed to be captain class…but I hoped that theory was JUST a theory and nothing more…besides, I had faith in Shinji, he was strong and I didn't doubt him.
"Okay, you wanna take Mr. Muscles over there or Mr. Fish face?" I asked him.
"I'll take Mr. Muscles," He told me as I nodded…okay, I had to focus, I couldn't afford to be worrying about Shinji, I had to pay attention! I dodged just in time to keep my head on my shoulders.
"DAMN! You don't waste any time." I muttered as I controlled a blade and attempted to take off it's legs while it dodged and held out it's hand, soon a red light began gathering, I recognized it as a cero. Shinji's head swirled around for just an instant as I held out my hand and began creating a kido. As his head swirled to worry about me the hollow appeared behind him and slashed down his back!
"HADO! 31! SHAKKAHO!" I shouted as the kido was fired neutralizing the cero, Kisuke had taught me it a while ago when he first began teaching me kido. It was a similar to hanki sosai. Destroying an enemy's kido using a kido of equal but opposite force. Because Cero was so similar to Kido it worked the same way.
"Ookami-no-sono-awai Zai-no-ato-Hi-Tentei! Awai, heal Shinji!" I instructed, the wolf nodded. As I dodged another cero and shouted, "KURAI! EIGHTH RAZOR OF THE NIGHT!" I shouted summoning five more black razors to join the three I already summoned. They swarmed around the hollow trapping it as I directed the razors to shred the hollow to pieces. At which time Shinji was finishing off his hollow…
We stood there as we shared the same careful expression. I smiled as he grinned back. "C'mon, it's nearly twelve!" I exclaimed as he followed me and we opened the senkaimon, stepping through we got an unpleasant surprise, the doors opened and immediately…
"Where exactly where you two?" A stern voice asked I turned to see the general…crap. Wasn't expecting that. "You two missed a hollow attack. Your explanation?" The general took a harsh breath when the white haired Ukitake came around the corner with Yoruichi trailing not too far behind.
"What's going on sir?" Ukitake asked.
"Seems these two children have snuck off to the world of the living, without permission…" He said.
"What? No they didn't! They went there to kill a hoard of hollows. Don't worry, we sent them." Yoruichi said to my surprise. We just went along with it…as the General finally just agreed with it and left. I mean, in the state that Shinji and I were due to the actual hollow attack we went through, we really DID look like a bloody mess. Shinji's back was still bleeding through his Shihakusho and haori…
"Gee, that was a close one, thanks you guys…" I told them as they left me and Shinji alone… "I don't regret sneaking out…it was actually a lot of fun…thanks Shinji. I'm beginning to hate you just a little less…" I told him, "I had a great time with you tonight…thank you." I embraced him in a hug to which he grunted due to his back. As I kissed him gently on the lips…I shunpoed off back home…
Cheshire Grins and Crimson Wins
