Come Morning Light

Part 1

The small fire crackled in the corner of the tatty room. The erotic ember breezed into the world of my life; it looked like it was spitting dancing demons from an ocean of red, orange and yellow silk. Like a heart beating inside of its' sheltered Forte, the cabin was alive with possibilities anew every day. The smoke from the fire floated up the large chimney breast and meandered whimsically up into the sparkling night sky. A crisp miasma of fresh pine and wood smoke floated peacefully in the atmosphere; even inside the small homely cabin. Hidden from the outside world, the cabin stood alone in the middle of a large forest inhabited by small animals such as rabbits and dear. Although inside was me and a boy with orange hair the cabin looked empty.

Six long hours dragged since we ran away from soul society, well when I say 'we' ran, Kurosaki ran with me; basically kidnapped. I found myself curled up on a large oak double bed at the back of the room with soft cotton sheets draped over my wounded body. My captains' robe still wrapped around my body with the number 10(十) still clearly placed on the back. My abnormal white hair stood out on the black cotton sheets and my skin looked like snow against the stygian colour. I wasn't quite sure that the bed was meant to be in here: I think it was moved out of the bedroom and placed in front of the fierce fireplace. To the right of me was a large rectangular gap in the wall, where I think a door was meant to be. Coming from it was this warm glow and the smell of cinnamon rolls to die for. This couldn't be the work of Strawberry: he isn't that kind of person. Plus I have never heard of a kidnapper to look after their victims, which would be very abnormal. I sunk my palms into the mattress in attempt to sit up but pain shot through my spine like a bullet going full speed ahead sending me back down into my original place in the mattress sinking deeper into it than before. Suddenly the mattress began to rise lifting my body from its sunken prison, this making me jump as it did. I looked to the side and to my surprise… Kurosaki sat peacefully on the side of the bed looking towards the wall.

"Did you sleep well, little one?" He asked as a smile slowly spread across his face. My forehead creased with anger.

"How many times do I have to tell you? It's CAPTAIN HITSUGAYA TO YOU!" I roared: my pale skin turning a burning red colour, my fists clenching the jet black sheets and my body slightly adjusted itself.

"Calm down Toshiro, don't stress yourself," he gently pushed my body back down and placed my head on the puffed up pillows before tucking me comfortably in.

"Wha-what do you think you are doing Ku-Ku-Kurosaki! I am not a baby!" I pushed away his arms and scowled at him

"Shhh, there, there it's okay, just close your eyes" he moved a strand of hair from in front of my eye and tucked me back in again. I felt helpless and small, like I was a dog and he was my master or I was paralysed and the only person who could move me was Kurosaki.

"I won't stand for this Kurosaki! Why kidnap me? What's going on?" I asked with a slight stutter in my voice.

"I have had this secret for a long time, Genryūsai Yamamoto found out what it was…" He exhaled slightly before looking away from me, "and in order to protect the main… person in that secret…" he stood up "I had to run away, with you." He put his hands behind his head and inhaled and slowly exhaled with a sigh of regret.

"Why… me?" I asked my voice croaky at the time "And why am I wounded?" I couldn't seem to remember how I was wounded and why.

"I'm sorry about your wounds, I tried to get you away… they thought I was lying" a tear formed in his waterline but he wiped it away quickly.

"About what?"

"Some Shinigami didn't believe the word when it was spread, so they tried to attack you to see if I really…"

"Really what-"

"Really love you…" he interrupted "and I do Toshiro, I love you from the deepest part of my heart".

I didn't know what to say. I had no interest in men, but for some strange unexpected reason, I had the urge to kiss him.

"Kuro...saki…" the fear of what might come next frightened me, I knew this wasn't going to end up with us two smiling and forgetting all about it and, I also knew this wasn't going to end without a kiss at the very least. He slowly sat back down once again lifting the mattress; he looked in my direction but his head bowed down.

"You don't have to say anything, other than be disgusted" he muttered with a little croak sunken deep into his vocal cords. Disgusted is what I normally would be but my heart said otherwise.

"I think I love you too… Ichigo…" I whispered this time using his first name. What was happening to me? What was this coming too?

"Don't kid yourself, you don't love me, I've seen the way you look a Hinamori…" he sarcastically laughed. But I don't love Hinamori; I think I love Ichigo, not Hinamori, not Hinamori!

"NO!" I yelled my face burning red sending chills down his spine. He looked up at me with a fearful look smeared across his despondent face. "I love you and no one else!" the words slipped out of my mouth like a bar of wet soap, I couldn't stop saying things I never used to feel. Me and Kurosaki always used to argue and he would get on my nerves, is that what true love is? I suddenly found my body moving closer to his; despite the excruciating pain. My hands trailed along the black cotton sheets and ran over his hand as I gently stroked it. His eyes made contact with mine, forcing my body to freeze on the spot, they gave of a little twinkle. I couldn't resist, I grabbed his head and pulled it towards me before fiercely placing my lips on his. Instantly I think our hearts connected at that very moment as the heat between us raised to its highest point creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere which I wanted to hold onto forever. His lips felt as if they were meant to be there, like they were destined to be on mine for all eternity. His lips tasted of exotic fruits dancing on my taste buds with a warm sensation at the same time; like the warm, toasty feeling you get whilst snuggling up on the sofa with a blanket whilst watching a sloppy romance movie. As the kiss ended I felt my heart desperately cry for more but I looked up at his glowing eyes and smiled, this feels so right.

"Toshiro…" his eyes looked into mine deeply, but his voice hinted he was in shock, so was I.

"I… I don't know what's going on, I think I'm actually falling for you…" I heart suddenly broke when I remembered one vital piece of information: what would everyone say? In soul society romance isn't suggested, especially for captains such as myself, and the fact that I'm in love with another man isn't going to help either. One of the worst things is… breaking Hinamori's heart; she's obviously in love with me but I just don't feel the same way and to date Ichigo would send her down to her knees in tears. Ichigo's hand stroked the side of my cheek.

"It's okay, I'm afraid of what the others will say too…" he said with a sweet tender approach.

"I don't know how I never noticed before, how amazing you truly are and how I didn't fall in love with you the moment I saw you, I love you and I don't care what anyone says, if they don't accept it… I'll abandon my place as Captain of the 10th squad" it was all happening so fast: me being kidnapped, falling in love with my kidnapper, kissing my kidnapper and thinking about abandoning my place as the 10th squad captain. But what was next to come was more unexpected and shocking than all four of them put together…