My eyes shot open quickly and I was gazing at three familiar soul reapers sitting at the table in front of me. I stood looking slightly dazed.
"Hana are you ok?" Shuuhei stood from his seat and walked over to me. It was all a dream? He didn't kiss Matsumoto? My eyes darted to each person in turn. It seems I drifted in my own thoughts while they played the first game. How could someone possibly go off into space standing up?
"Uh--I don't know--" My look seemed to shock Shuuhei even more and he placed a hand on my shoulder, as if trying to show we were both still here. I slowly looked up at him and smiled genuinely. If I was jealous of my best friend, did that mean I was chasing after thin air all this time? No way. Shuuhei was my friend, nothing more. I quickly pictured Hitsuguya in my mind, his small figure standing defiantly and his white hair blending with his white robe. "I mean, yeah, I'm fine!" I added as an afterthought, still in a daze. Stupid dreams trying to confuse me!
"If you're sure–anyway, why don't you come join us, you can look in with me." As long as this was not going to turn out just like the dream, I would be fine. I would hate to think I could see the future now!
He pulled me by my hand over to his seat and sat me in his lap willingly, and the next game started.
Game after game I watched them play, occasionally squirming to a new position when I started to get numb. I turned out to be of no help at all to Shuuhei as the games progressed well into the night and into early morning– but I was content on just being here. Or at least I was until at one point in time Matsumoto got tipsy and knocked the sake bottle into my lap, where I quickly pushed back before realizing I was still in Shuuhei's lap. Turning my head slightly, I saw his startled gaze while Matsu started to laugh at the chain of accidents and Kira joined in. I grumbled something about her being clumsy, and pushed myself up and out of the room, frog walking as to stop the cold liquid touching my skin.
It seemed like the whole bottle was dumped into my lap– I'm sure it was when I used the time staring back at Shuuhei! My robes were completely soiled and very uncomfortable sticking to me the way they were. No matter how much I tried to dry it two things bothered me to no end (other than the fact Shuuhei would not leave my head), that was of course the stickiness and the stench of alcohol wafting into my nose.
"Stupid, stupid, agh! Why do these robes have to be so freaking sticky when wet?!" I shouted to no one after about a half hour of constant scrubbing of my uniform. I was interrupted by a swift knock on the door and a muffled voice through the wood.
"Hana are you ok? You've been in there for quite a while..." My ears perked up to Shuuhei's voice and a broad smile formed on my lips. I noticed my own behaviour and stamped my feet in annoyance.
"Yeah Hei-kun, I'm fine! I just... you think I can borrow some of your clothes? These are ruined.." I laughed at myself for being so forward. After all this time I was just now seeing Shuuhei like this–when I thought it would never be something to worry about? Or maybe my mind was still just fooling me. That has to be it. Good going Hana for catching the little bugger!
"Yeah, sure thing." I heard footsteps drift away from the door and after exhaling loudly, kneeled down and hugged my knees. What a Friday night this was.
Another knock on the door told me he was back with the change of clothes. I scampered over to the door and unlocked it, sliding it ajar just enough to reach out and have the fabric placed in my hand. He quickly grabbed the tips of my fingers and rubbed them affectionately, making the breath in my throat hitch. He's done this so many times before, and now I understood why it had cheered me up all the time.
"When you're done you can leave your uniform in the corner, I'll get it cleaned in the morning. Now I want you to promise you'll come out with a smile, okay?" He let go of my fingers and they fell from outside the door, swinging to my side. I nodded, only realizing after a minute that he could not see it and then gave him a tiny squeak of agreement. Just before the door closed again I heard him chuckle softly, then I was left in silence once again, just to ponder on thoughts.
Holding the clothes in front of me, I snorted out a sudden amused laugh. He'd given me his favourite set of clothing--a sleeveless hooded shirt and dark baggy jeans. I slipped the clothes on and shoved my own to the very corner of the room, grimacing at them slightly.
When I opened the door, I did not have to force a smile to do as promised, it came naturally. It stayed the whole way back into to sitting area and only increased when the three turned to me.
"Nice to see you again Hana!" Matsumoto clapped and cheered at my fashion statement and Kira smirked, making me gain a tint to my cheeks from embarrassment. "Ooh, the new Hana; Shuuhei duplicate! Aw, she looks so cute doesn't she Shuuhei?" He looked to her surprised, then back to me, not really scanning me like I was anticipating. Instead he immediately nodded, giving off a slight smirk.
"I'll have to agree with you there." She squealed out in excitement and jolted over to him, pulling him into a very unneeded hug. I stood stock still as she giggled and pulled him side to side, still hugging him tightly. I was hoping no one noticed the fact that my body turned rigid and my eyes quavered at the scene.
"Matsumoto please...stop..." She quickly let my raven haired, tattooed friend go, giving him a coy grin. Kira on the other hand sat gazing at me, a new look on his face; that of understanding. He was unfazed by Matsu's childish behaviour, but not about my reaction. What was worse is that I did not understand it myself! I just needed time to think. I debated on retiring for the night and was about to say so but Kira beat me to it and Matsumoto reluctantly agreed.
"Night you two! See you in the morning– oh wait, it is morning!" She cackled girlishly, leaning on the equally as tipsy blond. The door closed quietly behind them and I was left with my friend alone once again.
"So, uh, I guess I'll see you up at the gathering hall tomorrow then." For the first time I was lost for words that moment with him. But why, I asked myself. He nodded, reaching a hand to my upper arm and squeezing it a little.
"Try not to let him get you down, okay?" I furrowed my brows in confusion, not understanding that he was talking about earlier with Hitsuguya until it was too late and I had given him a questioning look.
"It's not like you to forget about the one you love, Hana. I think you may be coming down with something!" I nodded, not comprehending the words, only the smile on his face. He's right... I should not be forgetting about the one I love. But who was that again?
"I...I think I just need some sleep is all." He nodded and with that, and another friendly smile, I left his cabin and tracked down to my own, taking a full ten minutes of walking to finally get there.
When coming up to the door, I unlocked it not even bothering to turn on any lights. What was the point if I was going straight to bed?
Getting into my room with ease, I plopped onto my mattress and sighed quite audibly. Maybe Matsu slipped something in my drink or something. It should be over with tomorrow then.
Wait! I never had a drink!
As I leaned forward into a ball, a smell hit my nose putting me into a content sleep. It smelled just like... Shuuhei...