30 Houshin Challenge Community by Tenshi no Nozomi

Theme: confluence; river; stream-of-consciousness
Crossover: Bleach

Summary: A flowing river represents the flow of time. Usagi reflects on her life and how much things can change in the span of a month. Along the way, she meets a very special someone.

Reflections

by samisweet

The moonlight set everything afire. The gentle falling of sakura blossoms seemed ethereal in the glow of the pale moon; the hastening river's waves were glittering from moonbeams. Usagi sighed in appreciation as a light breeze played with her long hair, seated on a rock at the riverbank. Fish slowly swam through the crystal water of the river, dark shadows against the brilliance of the glimmering water's surface. A smile quirked at her lips as she thought about her senshi, who were much like the fish in the way that their personalities were shadowed by the brilliance of their status.

Merely two years ago, they had been brought to Soul Society to bring back the quickly depreciating peace. With their strong rule and clear heads, they had made the Society better than ever before, with each senshi ruling over a sector. Usagi supposed this was for the best; she was more than capable of defending earth on her own. After all, if her senshi were happy, then she was too. But that was what confused her. During their two year stay here, they had molded to the expectations of their subjects. They were detached, a little cold, even, people she wasn't used to hanging around. But Usagi could easily see the love they had for their people. Around her, they were normal. She had been allowed to visit them for two months. In those two months, Usagi discovered her senshi for who they really were: feminist warriors with a sense of justice and the heart to rule over countless people with love and equality. They truly did outshine their position as senshi back on earth.

Usagi admired them with all her heart. She idolized Ami for her intelligence and use of strategy, Makoto for the strength that was rarely seen anywhere in the universe, Rei for her fieriness when it came to what she believed in, Minako for her impossible optimism in the most dire of situations, Hotaru for the hope she had within her and the calmness with which she dealt with emergencies, Michiru for her gracefulness and good judgment, and Haruka for her impulsiveness and the way she was willing to put herself in harm's way to protect her loved ones. Usagi was unlike them, but in a way, she supposed she possessed a little bit of each of their qualities. Her senshi had brought her up and had taught her values that no other could. She loved them with all her heart. Here in Soul Society, they were received like goddesses. They deserved it, too.

Throughout all her past lifetimes, her senshi had constantly served her hand and foot, despite her continuous dismissal of it. They had died for her numerous times, they had supported her regardless of their own problems, and they had loved her very much. They nurtured her without thinking twice of themselves. Usagi had hated it. She wanted them to live for themselves, not for a simple-minded ex-princess. She wanted them to be happy and to live out their own dreams. Since the day she was born, she was always dependent on others. This dependency was bad and she knew it.

When she was left on her own a few years ago, she didn't know what to do. She cried most of the time over her dead senshi and family, alone in her apartment. The loneliness crept into her mind and she almost went insane with it. Then, Setsuna came and enrolled her into school. It was a step forward because she had made amazing friends despite her unwillingness to do so. She had been afraid that they would leave her too, but they had been persistent. Slowly, but surely, she went back to being the cheerful blonde she always had been. She could thank Setsuna for giving her hope. Here, in Souls Society, she had made even more friends, friends she knew would never leave her during her time of need.

Soul Society was a bit strange to her. It had been confusing to learn of the hierarchy, but she loved this place. It was here that she had met the Gotei 13; a collection captains, each one different from the other and each one possessing amazing strength. Usagi could easily brag that a single one of her senshi could take any of them on and beat them with ease, but that was a senshi's requirements. Once she had the ability to die peacefully, Usagi could see herself spending the rest of eternity with the Shinigami. They, like her, were warriors for good. They were mostly kind, if a little rough around the edges. Sure, there were the arrogant ones and the rude ones, but she loved them all the same. Though she had been first perceived poorly because of her stance as a ryoka, she was now welcomed virtually anywhere.

Usagi had changed immensely in the span of a month. Before, she had been a tentative warrior, afraid for her own life. After being here and seeing the resolutions of others, she had learned to trust herself to make things go right. She had learned that she held an impossible strength within her, a strength that had barely been tapped into. She was grateful to have people like Matsumoto, Hinamori, even the rough Renji guide her towards the path of self discovery. She held a strong friendship with most of the Lieutenants/Fukutaichou.

Through this friendship, she had found that though destiny sometimes had bad things in store for her, destiny always cared for her and brought her to people that needed her help. She was never hesitant to help someone out, regardless if it were a stranger, friend, or enemy. Haruka had often scolded her for it and told her it was a weakness. But Usagi had learned that it was strength. She was more confident now, she was a better warrior, but most of all, she had a strong support system if anything happened. Her senshi would be unable to help her at most times because of who they were, but the Shinigami never thought twice about helping her out. Even the Taichou were mostly nice to her, if not a little cold. She had, however, managed to make good friends with a few of them.

Ukitake-Taichou was the kindest man Usagi had ever met in her entire life. He always held this gentle glow about him that was inviting and sweet. She knew that he had an illness that made him weak, and with her Ginzuishou, she had resolved to heal him as a goodbye present. Ukitake was always there to defend her, whether it be a lower class Shinigami picking a fight with her, or Renji insisting on battling her to test her skills. His sense of justice was very strong as well and he had a sixth sense about things that didn't seem to go right. He was popular among the Shinigami, and though he didn't know it, the females adored him. Usagi giggled slightly at this thought as her mind wandered to the most playful captain of them all.

Shunsui-Taichou was a girl-chaser, no doubt about it. He was lazy, he slept all the time, and he was a shameless flirt. Even so, Usagi loved him with all her heart. She would never want the humorous man to be any other way. He treated Usagi delicately, as one would a princess, and made her feel like she was the best person alive. Usagi loved that, knowing the far extent of her true faults. When she felt down, he never failed to bring her back to her cheeriness. He hated fighting and bloodshed, but when it came down to it, he fought hard when he had to. Usagi admired that trait immensely. She spent many an afternoon with him, lazing around his house and drinking steamy tea, giggling at his antics with his stoic Lieutenant, Nanao. She smiled when she came upon another captain that was equally stoic.

Kuchiki-Taichou was ice-cold and a bastard. He was arrogant and always bound to duty. He never strayed from his usual personality and failed to care for anyone. Usagi had been immensely surprised when she had caught the cold captain watching sakura blossoms in the moonlight; she never thought that a man so icy would enjoy so simple of a hobby. But he had had a slight smile on his face as he watched blossom after blossom fall to the ground, his back supported by a tree trunk.

Usagi had come upon him as an accident; she was twirling and giggling madly as she ran from Hotaru's watchful eyes. Standing in front of him with wide, frightful eyes, she had bowed and apologized profusely. He had grunted in acceptance, his eyes returning to sakura blossoms. And with them floating around him, glowing in moonlight, Kuchiki looked breathtaking. Usagi had blurted out that he looked really nice smiling like that amidst the falling petals before clapping her hands over her mouth in horror. And suddenly, he laughed. It was a soft but pleasing sound. From there, she had managed to forge a shaky, but later strong, friendship with him. She herself was astonished that such a man had accepted her presence.

It wasn't as surprising as Zaraki-Taichou; that was for sure. The demonic, slightly insane man had scared her from the very start. His very presence was frightening because of the darkness that surrounded him. She had met him through Yachiru, who was a close friend of hers. One day, while she was running away from the pink-haired girl in a game of tag, she had run straight into the tall, demeaning person. Gasping and falling into the ground, she had frozen with terror, until Yachiru happily introduced her to her much-beloved captain. Zaraki had hauled her to her feet in a single, fluid movement and gave a crazy laugh that Usagi would grow to love later.

Usagi had tentatively asked if she could go with Yachiru to training practice, and was mildly amazed when the dark captain said yes. She had given him a few pointers on how to overthrow opponents, and through a long debate on which was better in a fight, strength or technique, she had created a good companionship. Zaraki, though cold, expressed his love differently. Small smiles, a discreet nod, was all Usagi needed to know that she was accepted. And now, she could easily turn to Zaraki for help with any of her fighting skills. Not only that, but he gave support to her whenever she needed it. If it were Shinigami picking on her, he could make them run away with a mere look. If she was feeling down, he'd personally take her to Ukitake-Taichou or Shunsui-Taichou to have them cheer her up.

Usagi blushed as her thoughts went to Hitsugaya-Taichou. Everyone in Soul Society, save for the clueless captain, was aware of her crush on him. She had more than once seen others egging her on while she talked with the ramrod-straight captain. She had even spotted Kuchiki-Taichou giving her thumbs up when they had been together once. And Zaraki-Taichou was always smiling this devious little smile when he spotted them together. It drove her crazy. She didn't even want to get started on Matsumoto. Matsumoto was out to get her, she was sure of it. The buxom brunette was constantly dropping hints to Hitsugaya, but luckily, the captain never took notice. And Shunsui-Taichou… when he had learned of Usagi's crush, he went crazy, joking around with Hitsugaya himself. The tenth division captain didn't understand what Shunsui was trying to get at and Usagi was thankful of that.

Usagi didn't really know what she found so attractive in the prodigious taichou. Maybe it was his eyes, his ice-blue piercing eyes that took everything in. Perhaps it was his strength. He was extraordinarily strong and Usagi felt secure around him, in a way that no one else made her feel. He was very mature for his age and so unlike Usagi. Usagi was slightly envious that he could act so graceful and smart and strong while she… she was rather ditzy, whiny, and a crybaby. She knew she had strength but she didn't possess the galls to use it on someone else.

Despite the fact that the others teased her mercilessly, Usagi would have it no other way. With them, she felt a comfort. Closeness, if you will, that set them apart from everyone else. Here in Soul Society, it was warm and loving and even though it sometimes got chaotic, she knew that everyone would always be there. And tomorrow, she would have to go back to earth, where she would be lonely even with her friends. No one was there to share her burdens with. A Shinigami, as she'd learned, would sometimes be sent to take away Hollows while she was busy defending earth from aliens, but she had never seen them.

"I don't want to go back," Usagi breathed as she leaned back on the rock she was sitting on, head tilted towards the shining moon.

"Then stay."

The voice startled her and she was instantly on her feet. She whirled around and then blushed lightly, looking away.

"Hitsugaya-Taichou, if I stay, then who'll defend earth?" Usagi fought down her blush, refusing to meet the captain's piercing eyes.

"You could defend it from here," Hitsugaya replied softly. Usagi could tell from his voice that he knew it wasn't a possibility.

"You know I can't. But I can go back with memories of this place and know that my friends, people like you, are watching over me. That alone will make me feel better," Usagi gave a warm smile before stepping forward and giving Hitsugaya a small embrace. She let go of him quickly. "I'll miss you, too, Hitsugaya-Taichou."

"I-I wanted to say that, uh…" Hitsugaya's constant frown deepened and he blushed lightly, refusing to meet Usagi's eyes. "I, uh… Um, I wanted to that, uh…" His blush got deeper and Usagi blinked.

"Are you feeling alright? You're not coming down with something, are you? You look kinda red," Usagi blinked, bringing a hand up to Hitsugaya's forehead. He immediately flinched and smacked Usagi's hand away.

"I'm not sick," he declared firmly. "But I wanted to say th-that…"

"Say what?" Usagi replied quietly, waiting with patience for him to spit it out. Hitsugaya gulped, blushing harder. He quickly stepped forward, pecked Usagi on the lips, and then ran away using Flash Steps.

"Sorry!" he managed to say before running. Usagi blushed and sighed before putting two fingers to her temple. She teleported to an empty area where she knew Hitsugaya was bound to run to. He nearly ran her over. When he saw her standing there, he stopped, frozen, his eyes wide with fear. Usagi giggled at his expression.

"Silly Hitsugaya-Taichou. You called that a kiss?" Usagi laughed lightly as she stepped forward. Her eyes fluttered close as she brought her face to his, pressing her lips against his in a sweet, chaste kiss. She stepped away with a smile on her face. Hitsugaya's entire face was cherry red. Suddenly, cheering went up from balconies and people popped up everywhere. Usagi blushed profusely.

"Matsumoto-chan! You are an evil witch!" Usagi screeched, burying her face in her hands. "How could you bring the entire 10th division out here! This isn't a show!"

"Go Usagi-chan!" Matsumoto laughed as she wolf-whistled.

"Usagi-chan is so cute!" Yachiru cried out. "Isn't she Ken-chan?"

"Yachiru-chan! Zaraki-Taichou! Not you guys too!" Usagi whined. "Oh my god! Is that Kuchiki-Taichou and Renji-kun? And Shunsui-Taichou and Ukitake-Taichou, too? Ah! This is so embarrassing!"

"Usagi, I didn't know you had it in you!"

"Hotaru-chan!" Usagi wailed, chasing after the princess and protector of the Court of Pure Souls. Everyone screamed and scattered as Usagi ran after them, her aura flaring up in a burst of silver and her hands burning with the same silver energy. Hitsugaya merely stood there, embarrassed beyond words and turning redder, if possible.

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The first of 30 themes :) Pairing suggestions accepted, but not guaranteed. Oh, and I'm friendly, so don't be afraid to approach me. XD