Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed, it's so cool to see that people are actually reading my story! This chapter is a little shorter, I meant to put more of the story in it, but I'm posting it now because I don't know when I'll be able to finish the next part, and I want to get something else up.
Hitsugaya was sitting on the roof, staring at the stars. He was disturbed. Why had Karin reacted like that upon seeing him? She hadn't said a word to him. She hadn't so much as looked at him after she realized he was there. Was it all his imagination? And why did he care so much? He sighed deeply.
Suddenly, Hyourinmaru stirred beside him. The sword shook for a moment and glowed softly. The temperature in the area dropped as a pale blue ice dragon with glowing red eyes flew smoothly and gracefully out of the hilt. It circled the sky several times, before settling down next to Hitsugaya, curled up like a rattlesnake.
"It's been a long time since you've come out, Hyourinmaru," Hitsugaya said casually to the dragon, not the least bit disturbed by the cold.
"It's been a long time since I've been needed," Hyourinmaru replied. "Your mind is in turmoil. It's painful to be in there. So I thought I'd come out and help you steady yourself."
"I don't need your help. I'll be fine…" Hitsugaya said, in a rather gruffer tone of voice than he meant to use. He turned to see the dragon fixing him with a death stare, the kind that would send most normal people running for their lives.
"Sorry," Hitsugaya apologized curtly. "I guess I am a little disturbed at the moment." He couldn't get angry at Hyourinmaru. He was his strength, an extension of himself. He lived in his mind and knew everything about him, and probably more. Hyourinmaru was the only person, (well, person is the wrong word but thing is too demeaning) that Hitsugaya could really open up to. There were no secrets between them.
"How do you feel about the Kurosaki girl?" Hyourinmaru asked in his smooth and cold voice, skipping all pretense.
"You already know how I feel, so why are you asking?" Hitsugaya replied, turning away to look at the sky instead of those burning red eyes.
"It doesn't matter what I know," Hyourinmaru continued knowingly. "I want to know what you think. I don't ask you unnecessary questions." Hyourinmaru fixed Hitsugaya with another stare, but it was less bone-chilling than the last one. Hitsugaya sighed.
"She's my student, my comrade, and my friend. You know I was excited to see her and that I'm anxious to watch her fight, but well…I'm bothered by the fact that she won't acknowledge me." Hitsugaya paused and looked up at the stars. It didn't feel good to admit that, even to Hyourinmaru, to whom he wasn't really admitting anything.
"Stop keeping things from me," Hyourinmaru reprimanded. "There is more to it than that. How do you feel about the boy?" Hitsugaya stiffened unconsciously.
"I honestly don't know why he bothers me so much. He's just Karin's friend, her friends were guys before too, but something about seeing her be so comfortable with him…" he trailed off, but Hyourinmaru didn't pry. He waited patiently, but Hitsugaya didn't continue.
"You're jealous." It was not a question. It was a statement. Hitsuagaya stared at the dragon wide-eyed.
"Jealous! How could I be jealous! That would mean I…"
"Yes," said Hyourinmaru, finally reaching his point. "Your affections for Kurosaki Karin have surpassed mere friendship. I'm glad you finally understand." Hitsugaya shook his head, trying to clear it of this newfound knowledge.
"How long have you known?" Hitsugaya asked Hyourinmaru, hoping that he wasn't as big a fool as the dragon was making him out to be.
"Ages," Hyourinmaru stated flatly, confirming Hitsugaya's fears. "Since the last time you sat here. You are astonishingly naïve about your own emotions." Hitsugaya scoffed, but didn't respond. He knew better than anyone how much he hid his emotions, even from himself. But apparently, he couldn't hide them from Hyourinmaru. The source of his strength was just too in-tuned to the inner workings of his mind.
"So what do I do now?" Hitsugaya asked, deciding that it was not worth fighting this point. If Hyourinmaru said that he liked Karin, then he liked Karin. The ice dragon wouldn't lie to him.
"I believe you are intelligent enough to determine that on your own," Hyourinmaru replied airily. "And I think it is safe for me to return now. Your mind should be much calmer now." Hitsugaya didn't really think he felt a whole lot better. In fact, he felt much worse. But Hyourinmaru had said all he needed to say, and gracefully disappeared into the hilt of the sword at Hitsugaya's side.
Flashback promised next chapter to explain what the heck Hyourinmaru was talking about.