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Let's us begin Chapter 2!
Disclaimer: I do no own Bleach, its characters, only this story!
"Urgh...my head!" A certain strawberry, complaining early in the morning, gripping his head tightly with both hands. "I'll never drink sake with them ever again!" He shouted, remembering that last night, Matsumoto, Ikkaku, Hisagi, Izuru, and Renji dragged him into their drinking alcoholic beverage party, resulting a major headache. He needed medicine right away, so without pause, he got up, and sped out of the room, only to realize that he wasn't in the same room as the others. In fact, it was completely another area.
"I see you're up." A calm voice told the confused teen, as the said person revolved his head to see the white dragon, leaning against the shoji door, with staring at him with unwavering eyes. "You've been out for the whole morning, I assumed you died to alcohol poisoning."
The Substitute blushed to the roots of his hair, as he in his room. The captain's room! "It's not my fault," he blurted out. "The others forced me to drink it, or suffer at the hands of Kenpachi! Ack!" He clenched his head again, as another migraine attacked inside.
Hitsugaya, while watching the boy in discomfort, sighed, tossing a small vial at him, only to hit his head, receiving a wince of pain. When Kurosaki tilted his head up, the tendo said, "That's one of my idiotic fukutaichou's medicine for this kind of situation. I keep a lot in one of my cabinets, in order to shut her up with her complaints."
Smiling at the bottle in his hand, he replied cheerly, "Arigatou, Toushiro!"
"It's 'Hitsugaya-taichou,' boke. And you're welcome." The captain whispered softly, only to be ignored as the ryoka, popping it open, drank it with one gulp.
"Ah, that hit the spot. I feel better now." He threw the vial back at the quiet child, catching without blinking in his right hand. Brushing the lint off his outfit, he walked passed by Toushiro, only to be stopped be a hand signal by said person. "What are you doing?"
Not looking into Ichigo's sepia orbs, he asked, "You don't remember anything from last night, after being doused with sake?"
Raising his eyebrow, he wondered what the captain was spatting about. He tried to recall what did happen the night before, but only ended up with blurred images, from yelling at Renji with a slurred voice to wandering near of one of the captain's division area. "No, except for the part that I somehow crashed here for the night...That's about it. Why? Is there something I should know about?"
For an unknown reason, the dragon felt disappointment at his words. "...Nothing really." Reminiscing the memory from last night, he dropped his hand to his side, granting the strawberry permission to leave.
Frustrated with what's happening, he sped out of the dragon's sight, who was left with his thoughts. Scratching his back, he had to admit, he thought he never live to see the day when he would be in his room; he'll definitely treasure that moment until that day comes.
*\~+~/*
As the day went by, Ichigo and Rukia went back into the world of living by the time Hitsugaya was dismissed from a meeting. Throughout the whole day, he felt a sense of dread inside him, throbbing with sorrow.
'All of because that baka...'
It caused a lot of tension and problems if he were to love him back with the same amount of feelings Ichigo had for him. That's why no one dared approached him today, who looked like someone pissed him off. But...
"Toushiro!" Someone called him from behind, revolving his head to see the cheerful, white-haired captain, waving his hand and smiling. "Hello!"
"Ukitake-san," the tendo greeted respectfully.
"Don't be so modest," the TB-infected man dismissed with his hand, closing his eyes. Opening it again, he asked, "Do want to join Shunsui-san and I for a cup of tea?"
Hitsugaya tilted his head to the side, thinking about the offer. 'It might ease me up...a little.' "Why not?" After saying that, Jushiro-san happily grabbed his wrist, dragging him off to the Thirteen Division quarters.
*\~+~/*
"Ah! Good to see you, Hitsugaya-kun," an older man with brown hair, wearing a pink flowered haori over his captain coat, addressed when the two entered the green, Japanese room. It was the perfect size for a group of three to sip their tea in peace. Since the table and the seats were set, Ukitake took the cushion on Kyōraku-san's right, while Toushiro on across from the man. Out of modesty, the sick man poured tea into their plastic, ivory cups.
"So," the eighth division taichou started a conversation. "How have you been, young one?"
"I've been doing good, I guess."
"What do you mean, 'you guess?'" Ukitake thought he pinpointed a hint of confusion in the dragon's words. "You can tell us," he calmly assured, as the older men simultaneously sipped their jasmine drink.
"Well it relates to-" he paused midway, remembering the night the deathberry revealed his love for him. He pursed his lips, thinking of the right words to say. He continued, in a quiet and quick voice, "Kurosaki told me he loved me." He heard a spewing, even choking sounds from the both of them, trying to wipe their mouths of the evidence. Ukitake patted hard on Kyōraku's back, as the man gripped his throat, still breathing through his mouth.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
After Kyōraku beat his fist against his chest, he stated, "No, we didn't expect you to say something so...startling."
"I know, right?"
"And he did it so early." Jushiro sighed.
"Exact- Wait, what?!"
"Oh yes, that's right," Ukitake, remembering that the youth is still here, continued on, "you don't know because he never came to you to talk about it."
"Well, of course he wouldn't," Shunsui answered, "you're main reason why he's acting this way recently."
"But the ryoka," for some cause, he still dubbed Ichigo a ryoka, even though everyone in the Seireitei was convinced that he was on their side, since his rescue mission to Soul Society, "was drunk that night."
"Oh boy, this is not good." The thirteenth captain palmed his face, shaking his head in disappointment.
"How?" Toushiro was more confused than ever. What were the duo talking about?
"We were planning to make you spend more time with him," Shunsui-san resumed his statement, "but since that goof messed it up, it leaves us no choice."
Hitsugaya didn't like the way the dried-up captain said that last sentence. "What do you mean?"
"Since we have no choice, we'll tell you everything, but do you swear not to let our strawberry know of this secret?"
Without a second thought, he nodded, as Kyōraku's eyes focused on the other captain to start off. As Ukitake cleared his throat, "After the spat we had with Aizen, Ichigo, while running from Zaraki-taichou, saw a glimpse of you."
"Oh, he told me that while he was intoxicated."
"Anyway, he tried to pass it off as a mere coincidence, but as time went by he came to Soul Society in order to visit you, buy felt uncomfortable being near you, so, he came to us, and in exchange, we told a description of what you're like."
"You mean...?"
"Yes, we told him every detail about you."
"...All of it?"
"No, not the personal stuff. We still kept that a secret. That's up to you, whether to share it with him."
Hitsugaya, shutting his mouth, though of scenarios if he were to notify Kurosaki, but he would have to love him back before it.
"Hitsugaya-kun?" The said person looked to see Shunsui-san, sipping tea, and Ukitake staring at him with worrisome, old eyes, as if he saw history about to repeat itself.
"Yes?"
"I need to ask you this question before we move on."
"Ask away."
"What do you think of Kurosaki?"
'Out of all things to inquire...' He wished the old man would ask a different question. Toushiro wanted to avoid answering, but he knew better than to lie to his comrades, who were genuinely cared for him. Besides, what did really think of the boy?
'He is a formidable opponent with a strong sense of loyalty to his friends and Soul Society. And handsome at the, too.'
He shook his head sideways, making the two captains wonder what's happening.
'What am I thinking?! Did I just think that lunkhead's 'handsome?' I'm straight for crying out loud...I think. Bisexual at the moment. They're so much alike though...'
"Well, I guess he's a good person at heart, but I only see ourselves as allies now."
"That's a start."
"Now, we move on to the difficult question: Are you willing to forgive yourself, for the sake of a possible relationship? Or not?"
The icy taichou knew what the drinker meant. Was he ready to let go of the past? Is he ready to replace that hole he left there? Will he love the strawberry with same amount of feelings as him?
"Don't decide yet, young one. After all, you need more time to know him better before you choose whether to be with him or not."
"...Right," the dragon responded.
"Now, why don't we finish business here and call it a day?"
*\~+~/*
"Are you okay, Kurosaki-kun?" A orange-hair girl asked her friend, who was staring out of the window.
"Huh? Oh yea, I'm fine. Just thinking about stuff you don't to worry about." The deathberry reassured Inoue, gesturing a small smile. He was surprised that she noticed, and hoped no one else saw but her.
She smiled back, cheerly said, "Okay then! Now, let's go!"
They walked out of the classroom, then climbed up the stairs. When Ichigo opened the door to the roof, they saw three people, sitting. One was a short, raven-haired girl with dark violet-dyed eyes, dressed in the same school uniform as Orihime. Next to her, a tanned, buff Mexican with short, curly brown hair, covering mostly his eyes. Finally, a dark-navy hair teen with glasses on, and adjusted his blue-and-golden striped tie. Both males wore the Karakura High School's attire for guys.
"Yo!" Ichigo greeted them.
"Hey yourself!" The noble-looking girl acknowledged back. "We were waiting for you up here for hours!"
"Sorry! Got caught up in something, Rukia."
"Normally, sorry wouldn't be enough, but since you brought us all up here for a surprise, I willing to forgive this time."
"Yea, this better be very important; I missing my sewing club meeting," spoke Uryu, adjusting his glasses. Everyone stared at the Quincy silently....
"So," the Hispanic teen uttered, breaking the pregnant pause, "what's the news, Ichigo?"
Ichigo inhaled and exhaled deeply. 'Okay, here goes nothing, but first.'
"Do you promise not to tell another living," he looked at his three, human friends, and continued, "or dead," then directed his glare at Rukia, "soul?"
They all nodded, waiting in anticipation for the hot-headed's revelation.
In a quick pace, he boldly announced, "I'm in love with Toushiro!" Afterward, he blushed furiously, studying the floor.
Calm before storm...
"What?!" They all simultaneously howled so booming, the surrounding areas thought an earthquake struck.
"I know what you're all thinking: that I'm crazy? Yes, I know. Admit."
"We already knew you were gay long ago," Ishida stated calmly.
"Yes and--Wait, what?!"
"Yea," Rukia briefed the confused shinigami. "We just didn't think you pick the tenth division captain as your crush. Heck, I thought you were going for Renji, or nii-sama."
"Aw, dude! There's no way I would love that stuck-up prick! And everyone here is already convinced that Renji is my brother or cousin, so I don't be branded for incest!"
"But we're all happy for you! Congratulations!" Orihime praised him, as much as it pains her because she was in love with him for quite awhile. Even so, she'll just have to put up with it; besides, so long as he's happy being with the tendo of Soul Society, so shall she. And that they stay as friends and allies, then that's good enough for her.
The others nodded after Inoue's sentence, which sent Kurosaki to smile, and grateful that he had friends who'll support him no matter what.
"On that happy note," Ichigo shouted, "let's eat!"
*\~+~/*
After they finished their tea, Hitsugaya left the tea parlor right away to his office, locking himself in there. At his desk, he completed the last of handwritten papers that were due tomorrow, placing it in the basket at the far, right corner of wooden table.
Toushiro turned around to see the sun setting on the horizon, stained of red and orange tones across the sky. He got up, flash stepping out of the room, and stood on top of the roof. Seeing this beautiful sky made his mind display a mental picture of the Substitute, smiling.
'...I can't...' His train of thoughts went astray, leading him to wander back into the depths of memories he pushed back to forget. Memories of meeting him...
The said person had ebony hair, dark as night, tied back in a bun, and amethyst eyes, with a muscular, yet lean figure to match his personality: he was hard-working, fun-seeking, kind, and always optimistic, which Toushiro had came to love about him ever they first met at the academy.
He was perfect...
Until they were forced to fight to the death over Hyourinmaru's possession by Sou Society. The reason why they fought against their will is it's illegal for two shinigami to both have the same zanpaktou. It was a cruel fate. Not only that, his opponent agreed to this and was insisted on winning, betraying the dragon's heart.
And that was the same day Toushiro planned to confess his love for him, Kusaka Sojiro, who lost the battle and was executed afterwards, before his own teal eyes. And the results? It left the boy so scarred, he froze his heart with his new sword, only to find comfort with its spirit, and with solitude and loneliness, he never opened it to anyone ever again.
The tendo tilted his head to see that night has fallen, and the full moon was out, glowing radiantly. But tonight, there were no stars out, nor cloud. Instead, the white orb was only accompanied by the winds gently breezing cool air, as the small prodigy gazed at it with the same loneliness as it.
"What am I going to do?"
*\~+~/*
After a long day of school, Deputy Shinigami duties, and professing his sexuality, the boy plotted down to his bed in a plain pair of a black t-shirt and black shorts. His face was buried in his light-blue pillow, while he thought back to what happened a couple of hours ago.
After school, when he went his way back home, he ceased all movement when he noticed where he was.
The river that claimed his mother's life. The river where he thought a little girl looked like she was trying to commit suicide, who in reality was the Grand Fisher, a hollow who evaded the shinigami for over fifty years. A hollow who lured prey by his angler, which took the form of that same little girl he tried to save, and because of this decision, his mother paid the price.
He'll never forgive himself for letting this kind of this thing happen. His name meant, "protecter," and failed to uphold it. The death of his mother forever marked Ichigo as a murderer, someone who should be punished, responsible for someone's death.
Maybe he wasn't ready to move on just yet. Maybe, it might be better to...stay distant from the icy dragon. He went through enough pain, and just the thought of him disappearing before him. It was just too much...
He was back in reality as he turned his head to the window and noticed the moon was in a higher position before, gleaming on him. A faded image of Toushiro appeared in his mind. Clutching his head tightly with both hands, Ichigo argued within himself whether he should even think about the captain. His heart thrashed around in his chest faster and faster. Then he composed himself. He stared out at the moon, emotionless.
"I don't deserve you. Besides, at the very least, I am thankful to have heard about you and see you once, Toushiro, and to have fallen in love with you timelessly."
Later, the deathberry closed his eyes, as his mind drifted off to the depth of his subconscious, dreaming of the day when he truly deserved to be with his little dragon, forever.