Hi minna-san! Wao, I'm actually updating...*laughs awkwardly* Anyway, this is the next installment for this multi-chaptered fic I'm making (yay!). Um, if anyone's confused...this is just basically the prologue part, I was actually planning on inserting these like what they did in Bleach...the 'Turn Back the Pendulum' thing-y...but, it was to much of a hassle for me since i started writing these already...so yeah...the next chapter will hopefully make sense. *sweatdrops*
Well, I wanna say thankies to all those who reviewed...(there were only 4 though...)
SilverLuna-san: Thanks a lot for the review! It means a lot...and I'm sorry if you're confused...I am a bit confused as well...haha...and I'll try to update 'Drunken Snow' soon! And, yes, the plot bunnies are undoubtedly evil...
youshallnotpass-san: Really? It was interesting? I thought that it was weird to the extreme!...erm, yes, it's not the typical cookie-cutter story...but knowing my inconsistency, I'll probably still add some humor here and there...haha...and yeah, I missed writing for this pairing....
HANYAxbrando-san: Hai! I'll try to update more! ...nyahaha...XD
BlackBelt-san: Yeah...another one, and yesh...the plot bunnies are continuously reproducing at an alarmingly fast rate! Lol! Wao...I'm flattered...*blushes* Um...um...thanks a lot for reviewing!
A big thanks to all those who read the previous chapter!
Warnings: AU, some blood in the next chapters (yes, it's gonna be a multi-chaptered one)
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Kubo Tite does.
Now on to the fic!
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Stalactites and Stalagmites
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Act
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Thunder crackled hauntingly outside, followed by the slow patter of rain on the tiled rooftops. Within minutes, a dreary midday drizzle had turned into a full-blown thunderstorm, casting a dark gloom across the cobblestone streets and thoroughly soaking everything outside window of the black '54 sedan. Lightning tore a lingering flash of white through the weeping midnight blue sky, illuminating the dark and dangerous alleyways and successfully casting an unsettling feeling over the whole place. It was rather unthinkable that someone would even dare step foot outside with this kind of weather, where even the humble weed bows down so lowly that it becomes uprooted and the mighty oak crumbles with little resistance to the ghastly winds.
It was frightening.
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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A harsh laugh escapes the man's lips, a hand ghosting over his mouth, feeling the rough texture of his stubble. Seriously, what were they doing out here in this kind of weather? Men like them shouldn't be outside, going against the wrath of Mother Nature, no, they should be somewhere else, drinking beer or…chasing after girls. He sighs, running a hand through his brown hair, the same old question that haunted him, ringing continuously inside his head.
Why are we here?
Why indeed.
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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He was shaken from his reverie as a long drawn out cough escaped from his friend's mouth and he momentarily cringed, feeling as if his own lungs were being mutilated that very moment as his silver-haired friend wheezed erratically. "Ne Jyuu-chan, you alright?" He asked haphazardly, trying and failing miserably to mask the worry evident in his voice, he glanced over at the back of the car, cursing inwardly at the fact that he was stuck in the passenger's seat and held back by the stubborn seatbelt.
His friend smiled weakly, hiding the handkerchief that had covered his mouth just moments ago and he had a bad feeling that it was now soaked with blood. "I'm fine Shunsui, don't worry yourself over me, it's just a cough" A very bad cough.
Shunsui looked at his friend, obviously worried about the other's well-being. Honestly, who was Jyuushiro kidding? He'd already seen the horrendous results of the numerous tests the other man had secretly gone through and he knows full well that it is not just a measly cough that was wracking his friend's body.
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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It was something worse.
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He opened his mouth again to speak, but Jyuushiro picked that moment to stop, albeit poorly, his coughing fit. "I'm fine," The man firmly restated. "Is this the correct location ?" Jyuushiro asked their silent driver, who had up til now remained quiet; the poor sergeant had chosen to just nervously watch the pattering of rain on the front window than to interrupt the two generals' conversation.
"Err…yes sir, just right down that street; the road has become too narrow for the car to get through" The sergeant dutifully informed him.
Shunsui sighed noisily and took his seatbelt off. He grinned toothily at their driver. "Guard the car while we're gone 'kay? We'll celebrate with hot sake after we're done here"
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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"Y-yes, sir!"
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His silver-haired colleague merely smiled, opting not to disagree with the brown-haired man. He grabbed his umbrella and opened the door; the umbrella feebly shielded him from the rain as he hastily closed the door. Not long was he joined by Shunsui holding a thick folder and seeking refuge underneath the umbrella as well.
"Y'know I have a feeling that the old man sent us here so that he could have a good laugh…" Shunsui muttered, frowning as water found its way inside his shoes.
"Well, that may be true, but we can't do anything about it, can we?"
"Mou, let's get this over with, then…my dear assistant is probably worried about me"
Jyuushiro's tinkling laughter was lost under the rain as they made their way to the lone building at the end of the street.
Splish…Splash…Splish…Splash…
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Soft pitter-patter echoed inside the hall, but this time, it was not coming from the downpour of rain outside, instead, it came from the numerous feet running around, seeking some kind of comfort from the barren walls of the dank orphanage. Assorted noises were heard all throughout the large sitting room, ranging from ear-splitting cries to obnoxious catcalls and wolf-whistles; the annoying yet somehow comforting noise of children.
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Wide eyes regarded the two newcomers with unmasked curiosity that would bring men to their knees in sheer embarrassment. Even Shunsui, who was almost always incessantly cheerful and loud, had remained quiet and settled to shaking the water vehemently from his umbrella like a deranged man. Jyuushiro had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at his friend. He smiled cordially at the numerous children around them. Ah, when did they form that circle? He bit his lip, slightly bemused; the children had gathered in a circle around them.
"Oh dear!" A woman's voice said, and the two men looked up to see a bespectacled lady, probably in her mid-twenties, rush towards them. "I'm so, so sorry, we had a little trouble with preparing dinner and ah—" She turned suddenly to the children, "why are you all in a circle?" Exasperatedly, she shook her head as they scurried away like ants. "I'm very sorry for that, they get, well, excited like that…you can't blame them I guess…"
Jyuushirou held up his hands, "No, no, it's fine." He turned to his unusually silent companion. "Right, Shunsui?"
"Oh yeah…kids are just wonderful"
The lady smiled.
"I'm glad you think so…oh, pardon me, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Yadomaru Lisa, Lisa's just fine…" She smiled at them cordially. "If you would please follow me"
And they went off, boots trailing after the dainty heeled shoes through a series of similar hallways and doors. They were not here to dilly-dally, they were here on business, and they had no time whatsoever to admire a woman's backside.
No matter how nice it was.
Splish…Splash…Splish…Splash…
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Snow white hair, porcelain like skin and striking green irises.
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The two generals stared, transfixed at the almost inhumane sight in front of them, still not quite believing that this child, this baby, was the point of their very mission. The toddler's mouth opened, letting out the softest of yawns, fists clenching as the lithe body struggled against the bundles of cloth wrapped around.
"Excuse me, but are you sure that he is the one?" Shunsui asked, eyes still glued at the child cradled in Ukitake's arms. What the hell is the old man planning to do with a child, a toddler even?
"Yes, there is no other child here with the surname Hitsugaya, and we're very sure that no other child here would match the descriptions given" Lisa answered, fingering the files on the wooden table.
"If you don't mind me asking…where will you be taking Hitsugaya-kun?"
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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The two looked at each other grimly.
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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Starting the ignition, the sergeant listened to the soft hum of the engine, eyes looking out of the foggy window to make out the hazy outlines of his companions. He almost let out a yelp when the door suddenly opened and rain gushed down followed by his two superiors. He managed a shaky salute, eyes travelling to the bundle of cloth cradled in the white-haired general's arms.
A bundle of cloth that he was very certain, not present earlier.
Eyes widening, he mustered up all the courage to ask: "General Ukitake, what—who is that child?"
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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Said man smiled. "He's the reason for our mission"
The man seated on the passenger's seat sighed loudly, halting the sergeant who was about to reach a hand to touch the ephemeral child. "The old man wants us to babysit…"
"Ah…" The sergeant turned driver nodded in understanding, eyes still fixed upon thw white-haired child. "Erm, what's his name?"
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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"Hitsugaya" Shunsui nonchalantly answered, a gloved hand pulling down the seatbelt.
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"Hitsugaya Toushiro"
Ukitake supplied as he brushed off a stubborn strand of snow white hair from the toddler's face.
At this, Kyoraku Shunsui raised an eyebrow.
Splish...Splash...Splish...Splash
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"Toushiro"
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Splish...Splash
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Act
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End
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A/N: -cries at a corner- I still don't have a beta!
Forgive me if it sucked...I just wanted to get the prologue part done so I can start with the real chapter 1...Needless to say, it was a bit hard typing this since, I focused on two characters: Kyoraku and Ukitake, and the view kept on changing and...ugh...
I was so frustrated when I typed this because we've got loads of exams coming up...and ah...gomen for the sucky chapter...TT_TT -goes back to corner to sulk-
...
Comments? Suggestions? Drop me a review!
.don't worry, i don't bite.
(Hibari's the only one allowed to bite people to death)