OooOoOooO
"Insanity is contagious" – Chapter 2
Her strokes were fluid.
Precise and graceful.
She held her brush firmly but not too tight.
Her art was beautiful and deadly, even the bastard had admitted it under heavy blackmail of exploding watermelons.
'Oh well… He got that coming for freezing our room. I'm a fire person damnit!'
Maybe that reason has something to do with the fox.
The thought was bemusedly theoretical.
She loves seals.
They were complex in design but simple in theory. For her, at least.
After two thousand years or so if you count the iterations, this became a hobby than just a skill.
Humans are very peculiar, they thought those displayed scrolls inscribed with seals in the museums were manuscripts written by their myth heroes or feudal lords.
'Now that I think about it, I've got to take some time in my schedule to steal those. Waste of good things.' She shook her head with a frown.
The stroke of her brush was fast, but not furiously so.
She bit her lip in concentration.
The sword in front of her continued to glow as she added the seals.
A little to the right, another arc there, and a horizontal line perpendicular to the side–
"Hey dumbass, the pack's all set. What time do we leave?"
–her hand froze dangerously still, it wouldn't be good to mess her work.
Carefully lifting her brush away from her uncompleted work, she looked over her shoulder with a growl.
Blue eyes glowed an unnerving purple as she glared.
Toushiro remained unperturbed, returning her glare with a flat stare of his own.
He's currently dressed in casual blue denim pants and an emerald green shirt that brought the color of his eyes into focus. She ignored that part and glowered at him, together with the black cat curled around his shoulders, golden orbs staring at her with curiosity.
Cautiously stepping away from her work, she let loose a good amount of killing intent.
The white haired boy didn't even blink.
'…the nerve!' She thought angrily.
"I said the pack's are ready for departure, dumbass." He said exasperatedly as he rolled his eyes.
She'd never hated him more than this moment.
"Don't interrupt unexpectedly when I'm in the middle of writing a seal array you blasphemous, primitive ape of a bastard!" She scolded darkly, unholy murder in her once again azure orbs.
"That's an insult if I ever heard one." The cat pointed out.
"The love, the love." He deadpanned.
Ignoring them, Naruko went back to work.
This time more wary and vigilant in her work with the other two peering at her.
"Well, it's not really like that. If she ever insulted me, it will always involve bodily harming me. Promise, I know." He muttered with a snort.
Naruko twitched, vigorously determined to ignore them.
"Though she's doing experiments without telling us, it's a miracle we're still alive." The cat purred amusedly.
Naruko tensed.
The white haired boy didn't bother mentioning that Naruko is the stealthiest person in the world. Even if the blonde bothered telling them whatever she's up to, she could always resort to go into hiding.
"A bitch too, if you ever saw one."
"But she's a nerd!"
He smirked.
"Don't they say that it's always the quiet ones, eh, Yoruichi?" Teal eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement as the blonde grew tenser.
The feline grinned, as much as her face allowed in that form.
"What's with the lab coat? Is it really supposed to be in neon orange?" Yoruichi asked with mocked interest.
Toushiro's eyebrow twitched at that.
"Her eyes are quite…not right, a little bit color blind." He waved off dismissively, wanting to steer clear of the subject.
Yoruichi laughed at that.
"I second that." She agreed easily.
But Naruko had enough.
No one insulted orange. And got away with it.
Turning around, her face set in an adorable version of any normal person's pissed off look, she gave them a look.
"Get out," Naruko hissed crisply. "Never enter this lab again without permission, or I'll kill you." She growled hotly.
Rolling his eyes, Toushiro left without another word despite the cat's protests.
Knowing not to pry any further.
"You and your fucking obsession." He grumbled irately.
He and Yoruichi didn't even see it coming when they flew across the hall.
Then the door slammed shut.
- OooOoOooO -
'…oh? What's this?'
He brought the photo to his face closer.
But as he peered at the old photo, his mood visibly lowered.
Written at the back was "Team Seven under Hatake Kakashi: Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruko".
Three genins and one jounin.
A silver haired man, a raven-haired boy, a pink-haired girl, and a blonde girl.
'This sure brings good memories…' He doesn't even know if he was being sarcastic or not.
Teal eyes focused intently at the visage of the black haired boy.
His heart clenched as he continued to look at those awfully familiar onyx orbs.
Full of hate and anger, fear and desperation.
Frozen in ice cold hatred.
He couldn't even bring himself to look away.
'I pity you, Sasuke. I may not hate or carry the burden of vengeance like you, but I feel for you.' He quietly said in his mind.
And he just couldn't force himself to feel any anger towards the boy's memory.
'Yet I will never want to become someone like you again.' He vowed as he hid the photo in a random drawer inside their bedroom.
He sat heavily on the bed, drained.
Putting his face on his hands as he leaned his elbows on his knees, he sighed tiredly.
He didn't even bother to look up when he heard the door open.
Her chakra signature was a beacon to his senses.
"You know, I get the feeling that we're seriously being played at." Naruko laughed as she sat beside him.
Curiously peering at her through his fingers, he raised an eyebrow.
"I knew that a long time ago. Though I'm surprised you just realized it." He shrugged.
"Or I finally acknowledged it." She argued.
He rolled his eyes as he straightened.
"That's even worse."
The blonde chuckled softly.
"You teme, just say it already, I'm awesome!" She grinned widely at him.
Remembering the photo, his heart ached.
He sent her a small smile.
"Why am I with you again?" He inquired mocked disgustedly.
Naruko matched his expression with mischievous eyes.
"It's because we're so in love with each other that we wouldn't be alive if the other dies. We're each other's halves and soul mates to each of our…well," She trailed off. "…you're already a soul so that doesn't count. The dove of my heart then." She nodded with a straight face.
He laughed at that.
The blonde just knew how to make him feel better.
Ignoring those times that she could be quite the opposite.
Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he leaned his forehead towards hers.
"Those excuses are ridiculous." He mumbled softly.
As she pouted, he almost smirked.
"But you're right about one thing, we're so in love with each other and I don't know what I'll do without you." He murmured quietly at the suddenly still and hot room.
He saw her eyebrow twitched at the mushiness of those words.
'Feh, she just has to endure it, we've been together for a long time now.' He reasoned amusedly.
"Are you quite done already?" She asked, rolling her eyes.
But he wouldn't want it any other way.
"Not really."
And he kissed her.
The heat and warmth from her was needed, the feel of her body against his was appreciated, and her taste was sorely wanted as the kiss grew more passionate, her hand combing through his white locks gently as she reciprocated the affection.
Now, he couldn't care less about Sasuke.
It was at these moments, he could really tell that he was Hitsugaya Toushiro.
And he loves every second of it.
- OooOoOooO -
"My expensive and fabulous yukatas."
He sighed.
"Check."
She nodded.
"My Chirai and your Hyourinmaru?"
"Check."
"My brushes and ink pots?"
"Check."
"Instant ramen packets in all of their thirty-seven flavored glory?"
Seeing a little drool, he rolled his eyes.
"Check. But we're resupplying later with healthy foods. Much, much healthy foods."
She pouted.
"Sake and the champagne ordered from France last two days ago?"
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Check, though the champagne supply had been cut to half, dumbass. You didn't share." He accused.
Shrugging nonchalantly, she went back to her list.
"Kunai and shuriken sets?"
"Check. By the way, Yoruichi said that she wants to have a test of those fuuma shurikens we have."
She just nodded distractedly.
"Cooled slices of your watermelons."
"Check."
There was a hint of satisfied finality to his voice.
"Storage scrolls and summons?"
"Check. Those wolves have been notified, right?"
She smiled too widely. "Sure."
"And that is why I don't believe you." He pointed out dryly.
"Our very personal supply of chocolates and coffee?"
There was a hint of hunger in that question.
"Check."
"That laptop and phone we bought five days ago?"
"Check. And you will teach me how to use that iPod thing." He said forcefully.
She ignored him.
"Bags of clothes with mesh armors? Vacation clothes? And party ones?"
He scowled.
"Check. Check. And Check."
"No problem, sleeping bags and tents just in case we get stuck in forests or places without civilization?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Check. Are you sure it's wise to bring Yoruichi with us to the trip?"
His tone was skeptical and doubtful.
She eyed him innocently.
"What? She's awesome. Gorgeous. Fast. And has a sense of humor to appreciate my practical jokes. Besides, she's on the run. You can promise her protection and custody when Soul Society happens to come sweeping in on her. Not that she'll be captured or anything, 'cause she's Shunshin no Yoruichi and fast like that. And a very good female ally."
'I should've expected something like that, don't I?' He thought forlornly.
She smirked at his suffering expression.
"And she could keep a secret. This ninja business is kind of her thing, being from the Onmitsukidō and all. Why she stayed after we basically scraped her for information of her intrusion last time we met her, is beyond me so she's practically one of us now." She reasoned with a happy sigh.
A throbbing vein appeared on his forehead.
He should've known, really.
Naruko worshipped Yoruichi in terms of femininity. And speed. Not as a person but a Shinigami.
Of course she would want the woman.
But they can't be too sure if she's to be trusted. Naruko knows that, hence, for the interrogation scene.
"I really should have seen that coming, didn't I?" He gritted out of clenched teeth.
Her smirk became sharp.
"Thought you were a genius?" She inquired with mischievous orbs.
"Don't test me, bitch." He snorted as his temper calmed down.
The blonde put her hands on her hips challengingly.
"Oh, but you would want that, wouldn't you?"
He twitched visibly.
"You and your damn twisted humor." He muttered lowly.
"One more word and I'll cut you to pieces, teme." She replied calmly, though the smirk that followed broke the image.
He eyed her peevishly.
"Do I need to get Chirai? I'll even give you free access, cut away, dumbass."
"Sissy." She grumbled as she rolled her eyes.
Teal orbs flashed dangerously.
"Say that again, I dare you." He growled angrily, this woman is such a pain in the neck.
She gave him a squinted blue-eyed glare.
"I would but you don't want to." She stated carefully.
He fumed for another three seconds before deflating dejectedly.
Glaring at her dementedly, his jaw clenched.
"I so hate you right now, you know that?"
She nodded solemnly.
"Every second, teme. And I love you too."
He resisted the urge to groan.
"So I wouldn't mention anything wounding to your male pride. Promise." She smiled sweetly, her lips pursed.
This time, he groaned.
- OooOoOooO -
She looked at the two dubiously.
Both were still currently staring at the large ship dreamily, even the normally grumpy boy.
When she followed them, it was out of curiosity.
She's good. Got the skills. And abilities unheard of. In Seireitei, that is.
But they figured her out in less than five seconds.
They interrogated her.
And she was surprised that they managed to make her sing information.
The blonde girl, 'Naruko', has a devious mind.
After all, mind games aren't her specialty.
'Toushiro', she was heavily surprised to note at that time, was a former captain – a captain! – of the Goteijuusantai. His extremely calm and stoic attitude normally wouldn't work on her as she had to deal with one Kuchiki Byakuya previously and saw the man lost his cool.
But the boy was unnerving.
He didn't really react that much.
Unless the blonde girl provokes him.
Though she had to admit, the blonde has a talent in annoying people. Including her.
Sure, she likes orange, but the sheer brightness of Naruko's orange garments and random things was just giving her a headache the longer she had to look at the girl for more than ten seconds.
How Toushiro remained with his eyes intact, she really didn't want to know.
The white haired boy had – to her immense surprise – used the legendary Captaincy Lunar Right to get this supposed 'vacation'. She only knew about that contract due to the elders of the Shihouin Family.
Whom he managed to convince to let him go amongst the current captains, she'll never know unless she asks.
Still in her cat form, Yoruichi padded after them boredly.
"We're really riding this thing?" She asked skeptically.
Naruko nodded eagerly.
"Oh yes, Yoru-chan! This is a cruise ship, mini vacation in a ride while we get to our destination. Parties, booze, suites, food, swimming pool, casino, and just a plain fun place." The blonde enumerated with a disturbing gleam in her blue orbs.
There's that another habit.
Whether endearing or aggravating, Yoruichi couldn't tell.
Naruko has a penchant for giving nicknames.
To say the least, the Shihouin woman in cat's clothing didn't appreciate it.
The blonde was dressed in a maroon silk yukata that reaches only past her knees, loose around her petite form and with some kind of durable blue sandals Yoruichi never saw before. While Toushiro eyed her with amusement through half-lidded eyes, dressed in a simple black shirt, white jacket with a hoodie, gray pants and white sneakers.
"Don't forget the money, dumbass, the money. This ship practically reeks of it." Toushiro said with wonder.
His teal eyes swept across the deck.
Then he smirked.
"Definitely, a place worth of just cause. We're cleaning them up. Preferably with lighter pockets." Naruko nodded coolly.
Yoruichi eyed them, horrified.
"You're going to steal from them?"
She was careful to keep her voice low, these humans would cause quite a panic to see a talking cat.
Toushiro scoffed at her and crossed his arms.
Naruko looked at her with a glare.
"We won't steal money, Yoru-chan. We have LOTS of it, believe me. But when we say we're going to clean them up, we're talking about cards. Casino. Big games. Millions of cash. And entertainment to boot. Don't insult us." The blonde told the cat darkly, face almost set into a scowl.
Yoruichi nodded, satisfied, though a little doubtful.
"Don't worry yourself about her. She calls gambling a skill. So she generally gets upset when people mixed it with the terms of stealing." Toushiro consoled as he ran a hand through his hair.
This time, Naruko directed her glare to him.
"Gambling and winning is a skill, you damn teme! I don't need to steal, I'm a natural and I'm good at what I'm doing. I could cheat AND steal, but like I said, winning in gambling is a skill, you fucking frostbite." She growled angrily as she loomed over them.
The blonde resisted the urge to stomp her foot.
Yoruichi eyed them amusedly.
"A skill huh?" She murmured faintly.
"Frostbite?" He asked incredulously with a good touch of disbelief in his voice.
Naruko's glare turned scathing.
"What?" He snapped. "Your insults are rather lacking today, though the irony of that name absolutely eluded me. Enlighten me, dumbass?" He stated sarcastically as he frowned at her.
"You so don't want to go there, you asshole." She hissed at him.
There was a certain spark in her eyes.
Yoruichi eyed the stiffening figure of Toushiro.
Said white haired boy stepped back.
"No, I'm not going to freeze free snow cones for your delusional cravings, you insane bitch! I've been stalked by Momo and Kiyone for a week! It cost me my office, my haori, and my damn money!" He gritted out as he looked at her pensively.
"So? Soul Society loved those cones. You earned money."
Her tone suggested that it wasn't supposed to be a big deal.
"Earned money? You let Momo advertise it for free! FREE, you witch! If it weren't for my job, I would have slept on the streets." He grounded out through clenched teeth to prevent from shouting.
As he was so tempted to do.
"Snow cones?" Yoruichi questioned with big, curious golden eyes.
Toushiro cursed under his breath.
Woman and their fucking tastes.
"I'm not using Hyourinmaru for the sake of your dessert needs." He growled out in a gruff voice.
Yoruichi pouted.
She loved snow cones. Kisuke used to eat those things with her, under promise of painful castration of course.
"But…"
He scowled.
"No."
"Then–"
"No."
Yoruichi looked crestfallen.
Naruko intervened. "Yet surely, you'll understand the sweet–"
"No. And that is final!" He raised his voice as teal orbs began glowing an icy blue.
"Why?" Naruko pressed determinedly.
A vein throbbed visibly on his temple.
"I already said NO! What are you on about? Is this your fucking time of the month or something woman?"
- OooOoOooO -
He hid his face behind his hands, embarrassed.
"–is certainly a great place to bond as father and son! This is the ultimate trip, the vacation for the Gods!"
His dad kept shouting, people looked at their way oddly.
As he inched away from the man, maybe he could say that they weren't related.
'Why does dad have to be so…so embarrassing!' He complained inwardly.
He loves his dad unconditionally but it never meant that the man has the right to humiliate him.
This is supposed to be a vacation.
A time where they could relax and have fun.
Not hide their faces from the public because his dad is being his eccentric self again.
Seriously, had the man never heard of the words 'restraint' and 'control'?
"Dad! Would you stop doing that? People are looking at us weird." He whined to his father.
As an eight year old, he has that right.
'I wish I just stayed with mom. Karin and Yuzu are sick so mom has to watch over them. I wish they'll get better soon though.' He thought morosely.
Had his sisters not been sick, they would've been here with his mother.
But no such luck.
The man roared with laughter.
"Ahh! But son, I am just expressing the wonders of this magnificent vacation! After all, it is rare to win tickets for this cruise – grand as this!" His dad exclaimed with tears in his eyes.
An eyebrow twitched angrily at that.
His dad could be such a wimp.
"Could you not shout it to the heavens? I think the whole Karakura Town knew it by the time before we even left. This is supposed to be a vacation!" He screamed at his father.
But the man just dramatically put the back of his hand on his forehead.
"Masaki-chan! What would you say if you are here with us on this ship? What a disrespectful son we have!" He cried miserably.
'If mom came with us, I'm sure dad would be at least tolerable.' The child thought bemusedly.
He didn't really know the meaning of the last word, but his mom said it a lot of times concerning what his dad's behaviour should be like.
Deciding to ignore the man, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and hastened his steps.
"Well, dad, I'm on vacation and you are not gonna ruin it." He muttered furiously under his breath.
"Oi, Ichigo-chan! Wait up!" His dad shouted after him.
He twitched derisively at the name but went for ignoring the man as best as an eight year old child could.
But as the man caught up to him fast, Ichigo decided to run.
As he looked over his shoulder, he saw his dad struggle with their luggage.
"Serves you right, old man!" He shouted triumphantly.
"Son, wait for your dad!"
But said son ignored him as he ran.
Ichigo grinned as he heard the shouts of outrage from his dad.
'It really serves him right.'
He didn't notice the pair walking towards his direction though.
"–the party! There's wine, music, and helluva lot of food. What more do you want? We're in mini-parad-oof!" The female voice was cut off as Ichigo accidentally slammed into her.
Ichigo fell on his posterior.
"Son of a bitch, what the hell?" The voice grunted irately.
As the eight year old looked up, brown eyes met azure blue.
The older girl was pretty. More pretty than his classmate Orihime at school. Her long gold hair reaches the back of her thighs. She was dressed in a black tube dress that reaches her ankles, with a slit on the left side showing her shapely left leg. Black heeled sandals with straps adorned her feet. Dangling earrings and a simple necklace with a green gem and two silver beads beside.
But her pretty face was looking at him angrily.
'Oops.' He thought nervously.
He yelped as the girl grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
"Oi brat! What are you doing running like a headless chicken on the deck?" She demanded, voice carefully low.
Despite himself, Ichigo blushed at how close her face is.
"Uh… I, It–" He stuttered quietly as he averted his eyes away from her face.
"Hey dumbass, stop scaring the poor boy. He might think you're more of a freak as it is." A male voice drawled lazily with a yawn.
Ichigo looked to the side to see a white haired older boy standing beside the pretty girl.
The white haired boy was staring at him impassively through half-lidded teal eyes.
And Ichigo could see he was elegantly dressed as well in white tuxedo, a black buttoned up shirt underneath with silk gray tie. He wondered if he and his dad boarded the wrong ship, these people screamed 'RICH!'.
As he gazed around him, other people were grandly dressed as well.
'What the…? Are we on the right boat?' Ichigo wondered dreadfully.
"So? The kid was running like the hounds of hell were after him, teme. I was just being nice." She huffed indignantly as she let the orange haired boy go and stand upright.
The other boy rolled his eyes.
"Right," He said dryly, clearly not believing. "Traumatizing him is being nice." He deadpanned at her with a raised eyebrow.
She glowered at the boy.
"Are you insinuating something?"
The boy blinked innocently.
"Whatever you would like to think, Naru-chan." He stated with a smirk.
Ichigo was confused at what to do from here.
Should he run or apologize? Or was he too late for that?
"Ichigo-chan! Son! I found you!" Ichigo heard his father yelling from behind him.
The child groaned loudly, refusing to look at the man who scrambled to his side.
Golden Girl raised an eyebrow at his father, while Green Eyed Boy crossed his arms and stared impassively.
His dad grinned at the pair while Ichigo scowled.
"Ah, you found friends, son! Lovely and fancy friends!" The man shouted delightedly. "I am the great and fantastic Kurosaki Isshin." He introduced exuberantly, enthusiastically shaking their hands.
Isshin then put a hand on Ichigo's shoulder.
"And this insolent boy is my also great and fantastic son, Kurosaki Ichigo!" With that, the brunette man laughed uproariously.
Ichigo looked torn between denying the fact and bowing politely.
So the orange haired boy was surprised to see Golden Girl grinning.
"Uzumaki Naruko. The fabulous and sexy mistress of this side of the country." She said cheerfully, her azure eyes lighting up mischievously.
Ichigo cringed at that.
'No, not another one! And she's so pretty too!' He wailed inwardly with despair.
Isshin looked at Golden Girl with sparkling eyes.
The child tensed as he eyed Green Eyed Boy suspiciously.
"Hitsugaya Toushiro." The older boy sniffed distastefully.
Ichigo wasn't really sure if it's because of Golden Girl's behaviour or his dad's nauseating cheeriness.
For some reason, the smile on his dad's face froze.
The man went stiff as a board as soon as he heard Green Eyed Boy's name.
"Hitsugaya…" The man stated the name with deliberate slowness. "Toushiro?" The decisive tone he said the name with was laced with trepidation.
As if he wanted to make sure Green Eyed Boy isn't pulling his leg.
Ichigo wondered what significance the name held in his dad's standards to make someone like Kurosaki Isshin this solemn and serious.
"What of it, Kurosaki?" Green Eyed Boy inquired quite rudely, narrowing his teal eyes.
His dad tensed, sweating anxiously.
"Hitsugaya-san, from the Tenth?" Isshin instead asked, subtly taking Ichigo's hand as if they would bolt any second.
Golden Girl elbowed Green Eyed Boy with a roll of her eyes.
"Don't be more of a bastard than you already are, teme. He's a great guy." She gestured to the scared man with a dismissive hand.
"Dad?" Ichigo called hesitantly, never having seen the man afraid of anyone like this.
Green Eyed Boy scowled at Golden Girl, though he appeared to be unrepentant for his actions.
If anything, he seemed to think they were justified.
Finally, Green Eyed Boy sighed defeatedly at the glare Golden Girl was directing at him.
"Former." He conceded grudgingly.
"What?"
Isshin's eyes widened, unsure if he just heard right.
Green Eyed Boy growled under his breath.
"Former Captain." Ichigo didn't really hear the words but his dad relaxed immensely at that.
So he was okay with it.
Then Isshin laughed, full of relief and joy.
"Ichigo-chan! You really have a knack for finding the most interesting people!" He told the confused orange haired child amusedly. "I know going through with this vacation is not a bad idea, it's awesome. We are awesome!" The man raised his fist on the air, still laughing.
Green Eyed Boy groaned despairingly.
And honestly, Ichigo wasn't that far behind.
'Dad is so…embarrassing!' He once again complained inwardly.
Golden Girl was chuckling.
"So, Kurosaki-san, I think you should get dress for the party. It will start in an hour and would be a shame to miss it." She commented as she smiled at them.
Ichigo blushed as he ducked his head.
He knows that Golden Girl is pretty but why was he feeling warm in his tummy and face?
'Wait…party?'
Isshin grinned as he ruffled Ichigo's spiky orange mane who swatted his hands away a little too late.
"Yes! Masaki-chan prepared our robes and suits for this occasion! She said that it will be a good experience for young Ichigo-chan here." He beamed as Green Eyed Boy sighed.
Golden Girl nodded approvingly.
"Can we go already?" Green Eyed Boy demanded but Ichigo thought he was whining.
Azure eyes rolled heavenly at that.
Then Golden Girl smirked at them.
"Nice meeting you, Kurosaki-san." She nodded pleasantly to both of them.
Isshin grinned back.
With that, Golden Girl let herself be dragged away by a frustrated Green Eyed Boy.
"Dad?"
The man turned to him with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Ichigo-chan, what is it? You can tell Daddy." Isshin encouraged cheerfully.
Ignoring the humiliating name, his brown eyes kept looking at the disappearing pair.
"Golden Girl is kind of cool but Green Eyed Boy is broody."
Hearing the nicknames, Isshin laughed once again, beaming with pride.
He clapped Ichigo at the back with tears in his eyes.
"You're becoming more like your old man, I'm so proud!"
Ichigo's eyes widened, terrified at the notion.
"NO WAY!"
- OooOoOooO -
"Don't." He growled as soon as he saw Naruko open her mouth.
She pouted at that.
"But he's awesome, even in those iterations! The brat was rather endearing too." The blonde wondered aloud thoughtfully.
Toushiro scowled at her, teal eyes accusing.
"You were the one who gave them those 'winning' tickets for this cruise, aren't you?" His voice tight with annoyance.
"Well, what if I did? This is just an iteration, what's the worst that could happen?" She waved dismissively, rolling her eyes once again at him.
His eyebrow twitched angrily.
"May I remind you of the time you also said the same thing when you decided to help Ichigo and his band of friends to save one Kuchiki Rukia from execution, only, you ended fighting the Soutaicho to the death and let Aizen escaped unnoticeably and a little too late." He pointed out nonchalantly.
"Hey, it wasn't my fault that the old man felt the need to confront me more important!"
He sighed exasperatedly.
"And the second time you did the same thing, you ended up getting all the blame for Aizen's schemes spectacularly." He counted another with slight frustration.
She grinned nervously at that.
"Well, maybe blowing up the Fifth Division straight on wasn't a good idea. But I made sure no one was inside!" She amended hastily while flailing her arms.
"Or the third and fourth time that the hollows didn't help Aizen because they thought you are their lost lord or lady due to Kyuubi's power." He deadpanned with a tired yawn.
Naruko tapped her cheek with nostalgia.
"Good times, servants at your disposal and pathetic target practice. Though I'm a bit sad that it doesn't work on Vasto Lorde and Arrancars." She pouted dejectedly.
"Oh gods, the trouble I went through those times. I can't even remember the time Kenpachi didn't lash out on me because of those stunts. My shoulder still aches every time I think about it." As if to make a point, he rubbed his right shoulder slightly with a wince.
Naruko shrugged.
"Well, who told you to stand beside him every repetition? I thought you would have learned by then." She raised a mocking eyebrow, azure eyes glinting with amusement.
"Standard protocols, Tenth Division Captain, Eleventh Division Captain, in ascending order, dumbass." He grumbled back sulkily.
The blonde smirked.
"Heh, protocol my ass. It's only because you wanted to figure the man out. You hate unfinished puzzles." She stated matter-of-factly with a smug smile.
He deflated at having been figured out.
"You're right. The man is confusing as hell. I can't even tell what he thinks ALL THE TIME! And others thought he's the most predictable just because he's bloodthirsty." He complained with a scowl, twitching at that unwanted fact.
"Well, time is not in the question. We've got ALL the time needed for your little shell-breaker for him. I'm sure he'll be surprised."
Toushiro crossed his arms and sighed.
"I swear, that man is a freaking psychic or something."
"But we need to put a stop into this sometime soon, you know?" She raised an eyebrow.
The white haired boy frowned as he looked away.
"We will need to destroy it then and let things go in one point. Then there would be no way out." He stated quietly and a bit hesitantly.
She gazed at the darkened sky thoughtfully.
"Then our choice should be for the best. IF we managed to put a stop into this…this situation, doing things would be difficult. It would stay that way forever, no repeats and certainly no AGAIN." The blonde said lazily, idly straightening her long blonde locks.
Toushiro shrugged.
"Well, it was fun while it lasted."
Naruko smiled.
- OooOoOooO -
He eyed the two standing at the corner suspiciously.
The way their feet move was light and measured, fluid and graceful, no movement wasted.
Narrowing his eyes, he noted that these two had subtly scanned their surroundings the moment they entered the grand room on the higher deck. Most spies in the government would first blend in then gather information after.
If he judged right, these are professionals.
Not just any professionals, no normal human being could silence their footsteps the way those two can.
And the high amount of chakra he could feel spiking up from time to time from either of them said as much.
The one coming from the blonde girl was somewhat small compared to the white haired boy, but potent – as if suppressing it. The boy in question though, his chakra is smooth, much fluid and flowing.
'Those two– they're…SHINOBI!'
His eyes widened, rarely meeting this kind of people outside the protected islands in Western Japan.
In fact, he doubted there should be anyone existing outside their small system.
Yet those two…
He didn't feel any fear or anger.
Honestly, he felt excitement bubble inside him.
Not only itching for a good fight, but also for information.
He grinned to himself, maybe taking his sister's advice to take a break was not so bad.
After all, only Shinobis could match another Shinobi.
'I think, no, I KNOW they're strong.'
Sharingan briefly flashed in his onyx orbs.
This… this is what he needed.
- OooOoOooO -
"Two Pair."
"Full House."
"Four of a Kind."
"Royal Flush." She smirked as she revealed her cards.
One of her opponent, a rather rich-looking brunette man in his late twenties who had achieved 'Four of a Kind' just now, stood up in outrage.
"This is unbelievable!" He growled, obviously dismayed. "She's got to be cheating, damnit!" He accused angrily.
Her other opponent, an aristocratic looking redheaded man in his late fifties eyed him calmly.
"You should restrain yourself, Aratsuo-san. Just because you already lost than what you really have doesn't give you the reason to invalidate Naruko-san's luck in poker. Even if I find it troubling, she had been abiding our rules for the past thirty minutes. Exchanging seats, blindfold, and even stopping her from taking a glimpse of her cards. She hasn't cheated in any way, shape or form and she still wins." The man explained patiently.
She smiled at the man.
"I could have handled it myself, no need to use the words I would have told him had you not interfered, Kazuo-san." Her voice thinly veiled with amusement.
"Ah, but I couldn't just let a man insult a lady of your standards, Naruko-san." The man quipped quickly.
Naruko grinned a little.
"But you see, Toushiro-kun will have done that in my stead too."
The white haired boy grunted but otherwise just let his left arm wrapped around the blonde's waist.
Those men eyeing her greedily hadn't escaped their notice.
A snort was heard and they all turned to the beautiful raven haired woman at the far end of the table. Despite having a youthful visage, they all know that she's nearing her forties.
"You perverted men disgust me. Naruko-san had played fair. And I find it ridiculous to question her after humouring us." The woman stated disdainfully.
She eyed the men around the table with a pair of gray baleful eyes.
"They're just teenagers for Kami's sake!" Aratsuo reasoned, hazel eyes blazing.
"Mou, teenagers that have cash to pay, and more of it now that I can see." Kazuo pointed out with a shrug.
He has experience in this. So he learned to never bet more than he had or could lose.
Naruko felt her lips twitched.
"Aratsuo-san, wouldn't it be prudent to just leave than start a tantrum in the middle of a game?" She inquired, feigning worry.
The man whirled around to face her.
"You bitch! Stop the cutesy act, you little cheater." The man hissed, determined to prove he was right.
'Or stubborn is more like it. And stupid.' Naruko thought, annoyed.
Toushiro levelled the man with a cold glare.
"Your behaviour is truly disgraceful, Aratsuo. Or have you lost even that dignity to this game?" He bit out coolly.
If there's one thing he didn't tolerate, it was badmouthing the blonde bitch.
After all, it was his job.
"You insolent–"
The man went purple in rage.
"Aratsuo-san, kindly leave the table if you are quite finish. This is a game between professionals, thus, we have absolutely no time to tolerate such childish fits." Naruko intervened nonchalantly.
Kazuo and the raven haired woman looked at her with silent amusement.
The brunette man fumed for a few seconds before stiffly standing on his seat and mechanically walking out of the room.
"I think you just earned yourself an enemy. Or is that just my imagination?" Toushiro commented idly, taking a sip of wine from his wine glass.
Naruko raised an eyebrow.
The white haired boy shrugged.
"I have a sixth sense when you are about to get in trouble." He offered.
She tilted her head a bit with a smirk.
"No, you can't go with it. It's too troublesome. I thought this is supposed to be a vacation until we get on the island?" He inquired, his voice tightening slightly in annoyance.
Naruko shrugged.
As she tapped her fingers on the table, her lips pursed into a thin line.
A white haired eyebrow twitched derisively.
"Yes, it can't be helped. We will clean them up, after all."
He smirked savagely.
Kazuo turned to the raven haired woman, confused.
"He understood all of that, Rena-san?"
The raven haired beauty smiled eloquently.
"It seems he has a better understanding of women than most men his age or older than him." She stated with an amused gleam in her eyes.
The redheaded man shuddered at that.
Not liking what Rena was hinting at.
Then the game continued.
– OooOoOooO –
He watched as Naruko downed her twentieth shot of vodka.
It didn't really surprise him, having been used to this particular scene for the most part of his life. But the bartender's reaction was quite amusing, seeing him gape at the blonde teenager since her twelfth shot.
He knew that the drink is pretty strong. Most individuals would have already been knocked out at their ninth or tenth shot.
The only reason he hadn't joined her in drinking spree is because of another presence in the ship. After all, he did not have his partner's fast metabolic system that could burn the alcohol faster than he could activate his shikai nor a demon willing to add that amazing bit.
At first, he thought that it was Isshin.
But meeting the man after the private poker tournament, that theory was squashed quite ruthlessly.
The man only gives off reiatsu.
Not the potency that this other presence have.
He could tell that Naruko had already caught on to it. But the way her azure eyes had flashed a raging ruby told him that this presence was unexpected…and familiar.
In a we-haven't-encountered-this-for-a-long-time kind of familiar.
And the list for that is very short.
Considering their 'long time' is very long. Including what must have been hundreds of iterations.
They've faced and seen almost everything the world could offer.
So no one can blame them for making the list rather short for any person's taste.
As he thought of this, he wondered if he should notify Yoruichi. But the woman had stuck to Isshin the moment she realized that the man was here.
'Not that she could help to begin with.' He thought bemusedly.
The woman was lazy as hell.
At that, he chuckled to himself. Totally ignoring Naruko's questioning glance.
'I should speak for myself, not that I'm any different now that I think about it. When did I start getting this lazy anyway?'
Then he frowned. He suddenly remembered the answer. It was when Naruko had lashed out – Kyuubified with six tails – in Hueco Mundo. Her inner demon was always itching for blood and since shinobis had started ceasing to exist, the thrill for combat had decreased severely. After meeting him, she had took it upon herself to slaughtering hollows with an Asauchi – courtesy of him – and bathe in those monsters' fear.
Unless he was in Soul Society, the blonde woman was always stealing his fight.
Not that he minded since he really doesn't have a thing for violence but it had caused him to always sit back and watch.
It doesn't mean he let his training slide though.
He just doesn't get involve in things more than necessary like he used to do.
Hyourinmaru had been quite supportive of him. It's not like he was surprised but he was genuinely curious about his zanpakuto's reaction. Learning the secret between zanpakutō and Shinigami had been rather interesting.
Zanpakutōs are manifestations of their inner power. Shinigamis are wrong to assume when they thought of their spirits as another entities within them. The zanpakutōs are not only part of them but are them. They may have minds and personalities of their own, but zanpakutōs are the Shinigami they represent. It could either be because the Shinigami had possessed those traits once or had been them when they were still alive.
It was because of this that the council had been very adamant in their rule: no two or more Shinigami can have the same zanpakutō spirit.
If it happens, it technically means that those Shinigamis' souls are identical. Beyond the realm of normality, it shouldn't be possible. Because it could only happen if a soul had not gone the reincarnation process properly, thus leaving a manifestation of their soul behind. That was what happened during the incident with Kusaka Soujiro.
The reason he had felt so close to the teen to begin with was because he could tell that they were the two sides of the same coin.
Each others' halves. They thought that Hyourinmaru being their zanpakutō was coincidental. But as he recalled the time he met the spirit in the cave, the dragon had been with him before that. The icy reiatsu that he had been steadily releasing when he was still in Junrinan had been Hyourinmaru's and his.
And the reason Kusaka wasn't able to achieve bankai is due to him only being a half-manifested soul that was supposed to be reincarnated already. Maybe not into Toushiro immediately but into another human that died and became the white haired boy.
When the rebel died, his reiatsu had been instantly absorbed by Hyourinmaru. And in extension, by him.
Despite being reincarnations, no soul can obtain the same zanpakutō in another life. They will represent another life and person. Kusaka had been a different case because to be able to maintain his half-manifested form, he had to latch on the reiatsu it had felt most similar with.
Meaning, its current reincarnation – Hitsugaya Toushiro. Thus, Hyourinmaru or Toushiro recognizing him.
After all, Hyourinmaru isn't just another spirit.
Toushiro is Hyourinmaru as much as Hyourinmaru is Toushiro.
He doesn't just need to work with his zanpakutō but he needed to think like Hyourinmaru in order to gain a harmonious strength with his whole being. In short, he needed to become Hyourinmaru and vice versa.
When he had achieved that state of oneness with the ice dragon, Toushiro was surprised to note that his bankai transformation had been different.
Naruko had observed that there are no separate presences within him during that like his normal bankai. It was only either Toushiro or Hyourinmaru, not Toushiro and Hyourinmaru. Being able to accept that they're the same being, they have indeed become one.
And that was how it felt being at full power, past your absolute limitations.
Toushiro was now able to understand what kind of power Kurosaki Ichigo had possessed during his final battle with Aizen.
It had started with that fight anyways that he was forced to research on his own.
Forged by curiosity and interest.
Zangetsu had become Ichigo. Simple as that.
The only reason Ichigo almost lost his reiatsu was because despite being one, he and his zanpakutō still think rather differently and always separates their being from the other. In fact, it almost only looked like Zangetsu had possessed the orange haired teen for a short amount of time, but the toll on his body had been strained to its limits.
If they had indeed become one being, then Ichigo wouldn't lose his reiatsu powers and have a circulation of powers with Zangetsu. After all, the zanpakuto's powers are his as much as his powers and knowledge are Zangetsu's.
They still think of the other as different entities.
Actually, the numbers of Shinigami who knew of this is close to none.
Besides, it had been centuries or maybe even millennia before Toushiro even realized it.
The zanpakutōs may be represented as sentient beings, but they are the power and the Shinigamis are the bodies. One being. One mind. One strength.
That's all there is to it.
'At the very least, Kurosaki Ichigo had been the first Shinigami to manifest such power. But it had been utterly useless in the end, he and Zangetsu thinks that they are Yin and Yang, part of a whole but totally different from the other.' Toushiro thought as he tapped his fingers on the counter.
Funnily enough, the major point of this discovery had been Naruko's offhanded comment during training once.
"You said that Hyourinmaru's part of your soul, right? Doesn't it simply mean that you're the same and one person?"
She commented distractedly when he had been getting frustrated at the lack of progress in bringing his bankai beyond its limits to no success, as if there was a stopping point.
To tell the truth, he'd never felt stupider than that moment in his entire life.
Using Jinzen, he got to know his zanpakutō a lot more and extremely deeper than just a bond.
How Hyourinmaru felt in his stead, what he thought, how he reacted, and even how he settled in his Inner World.
Being in bankai and accepting Hyourinmaru more into him had been a bitch. Like blondie.
It was hellishly difficult as they had been used to each others' presence as if another person. He had to think of himself as Hyourinmaru and Hyourinmaru had to get used to the idea that he is also Toushiro.
After countless centuries, decades of blood, sweat and perseverance, almost blowing himself up with overload of reiatsu from the inside out due to lack of control on his part – the ice dragon and him had to be synchronised in their spirit energy – severely burning his insides because of speeding his training recklessly, carelessly letting the reiatsu take over him once resulting in a big explosion…incinerating anything within five meter radius, and having an identity crisis for five months, he had achieved the level beyond even bankai.
Beyond even Aizen and that blasted Hogyōku.
And he was proud to say that he mastered it a long time ago.
Hell, he didn't even have to activate his shikai most of the time and things would still work the same.
He would've smirked proudly to himself if not for the heavy spark of chakra around them.
Naruko's head snapped in the direction where they could feel the source.
He and the blonde began to generate their chakra around their bodies, fighting the effect of whatever the technique being issued around them.
Teal eyes narrowed dangerously as he saw people slowly fall asleep, even the bartender.
Then it hit him.
'GENJUTSU!' He cursed as he fully released the technique.
The white haired boy shook his head to clear it.
Naruko didn't even have to make the hand seal, she had been always immune to such illusions.
He and the blonde immediately teleported outside.
Toushiro had to admit, learning Hiraishin was worth it after placing the seals around the ship.
Even if it took getting almost killed and massacred by the technique itself during learning process, the result was to die for all over again.
Naruko and Toushiro stood on the railing easily.
Though the white haired boy's performing it with the help of chakra, the blonde is standing perfectly erect and relax as if it was normal ground just with perfect balance and grace.
A raven haired teen whistled as he walked on the ocean below them without causing even as much as a ripple.
Naruko surprised her companion with her furious growl.
It didn't take that long for him to discover the center of her annoyance.
This man is a shinobi.
Of that, Toushiro doesn't doubt.
"I knew I wasn't mistaken from the start. You didn't disappoint." The teen stated calmly, onyx orbs already assessing and gauging their strengths.
Naruko actually smiled, even if a little darkly.
"I don't fail to disappoint, shinobi-san. I've been rather surprised at your audacity to challenge us." She frowned as her blue eyes turned into a pair of deep amethysts.
Toushiro scowled.
'Or idiocy.' He mentally added as he crossed his arms over his chest.
The white haired boy made sure to stare down at the raven haired teen, letting the teen know that he would stay that way. Down at his feet, that is.
It worked, albeit almost subtly as the raven haired teen frowned slightly. Not liking that he was being treated as if he was a mere annoyance, disturbing their cosy night.
"I wouldn't dismiss your opponent so easily, if I were you." The raven haired teen said softly, bowing his head.
Toushiro almost scoffed.
But as the teen raised his head, the white haired boy felt the insult get choked down his throat as he stared into a pair of familiar accursed eyes.
A spinning pair of a fully matured Sharingan.
'No…'
This has been gathering dust in my pc, so if you review or not is up to you even though I would like to encourage into doing so. Thanks for reading.:)