Red Sun, White Moon
HitsuKarin
Chapter three
Discalimer: I do not own bleach.
There are things in life we don't want to happen, but have to accept, things we don't want to know, but have to learn and people we can't live without, but have to let go.
-Unknown.
...
So here I am sitting in a bar with Hikari and Matsumoto, apparently Momo and Rukia had to file paperwork due the next day so they couldn't join us unfortunately. I looked over to Hikari who remained content and reserved as usual just listening to the light conversation Matsumoto and I were carrying, but voice her opinion and comments when she wanted to. Her dark brown eyes looked rather distant, her golden brown hair was messy and up in the usual high bun and her light golden skin was pale and looked rather cold to the touch. She was gorgeous no wonder Hisagi was infatuated with her. I sighed, I will leave her be for the time being, I didn't want to pester her just yet on the subject.
I took another small sip of my sake. I drank often, but when I drink, I drink a little just to be sure I'm aware of what's going on around me.
Oh yeah I just remembered there was another captains meeting tomorrow morning.
Lovely.
The meetings lately have been rather pointless and boring not that they are exactly enjoyable. Most of the time it was constant gossip among the seated officers, which irritated me to no end. It was as if I was back at the academy.
Who knew these ancient people would gossip.
Tomorrow I had the day off for my mother's death, but I had to attend the meeting, apparently it was important.
Well that's what they always say.
I'm supposed to meet up with Ichigo, dad and Yuzu at the west gate of Sereitei to visit mom's grave outside of the walls. Of course, I still get upset over her death, but I learned to accept it. It was hard, but she would never want us to be upset especially if it concerned her.
I took another sip of sake and welcomed the burning liquid slide down my throat.
…
I ran a hand through my thick silver mop reading over a report that needed to be sent to the ninth division out and laid it in front of me to remember it was an important document. Seriously a report on a burglary in Sereitei? Shouldn't that be in the newspaper, not a report for a fuku-taicho or taicho to read? Honestly. After putting that report onto the large pile on my right, I grabbed another report, filled it and lazily grabbed the packet of the next report.
By the time, I finished the stack of undone paperwork it was late afternoon. I neatly stacked a few piles and left them on my desk while grabbing the ninth division report. Making sure everything in my office was in order I stepped outside and could feel the heat from the sun on my face. My body quickly started to turn hot and the heavy shihakusho and taicho's haori weren't making it better, more like unbearable.
How I loathed the summer greatly.
Stupid freaking heat.
I walked through the garden of the ninth division thankful that the walk was short and slid open the door to Kurosaki's office and walked in. It was so much cooler in here than in my office unfortunately. I really needed an air conditioner. I looked around the room a little surprised that the place was almost as neat as my office, despite the random papers scattered all over the floor carelessly. I threw the report on the desk noticing two small picture frames that were placed on the upper right corner of Kurosaki's desk. One was a photo of a family. I grabbed it and I quickly recognized the girl on the right standing beside a women sitting down was indeed Karin, she looked about 4 or 3. A light haired little girl that looked like she was close in age with Karin sat on her mother's lap and a tall man with black hair had a short somewhat light haired little boy standing right next to him that was Ichigo. I couldn't tell the picture looked old and was in black and white.
It must be her family.
I put that one picture frame down back to the place it was before and picked up the other frame. It was a picture of the same women in the previous picture; she had a soft and gentle smile on her face. Taking a closer look, I saw two dates engraved into the picture.
Kurosaki Masaki 黒崎 真咲, 1890-1916.
The woman was indeed very attractive I admit even though I would never admit that I thought someone was attractive to anyone, but me. She had a very slight and soft smile and somewhat dark hair. The picture was so old I could barely make out the background, which seemed to be a landscape.
"It's my mother," A voice replied. I looked to the door and saw Karin. Now I would have called her Kurosaki, but I don't want to confuse anyone and think I meant her brother. The sunlight streamed through the door and a quick breeze whipped Karin's wrapped hair. Now when I say wrapped I mean not her hold head. She has the sort of style like Soi-Fon but unlike Soi-Fon, Karin only has one piece of hair wrapped in those weird bindings. Soi-fon seemed to have a lot of influence on Karin. From what I heard, she trained Karin along with another woman named Yoruichi. I wonder what she looked like with her hair out though.
Wait did I just think that.
"Oh, sorry," I replied monotonously setting the picture down to its original place on her desk. I wasn't really the one to snoop around peoples' things, but I couldn't help but wonder who the people in the pictures were and I've been to several taicho's offices and not one picture adorned their offices. Karin and I get along well although I've known her a couple days, but she seems to understand me. I guess you could call us friends, she usually stopped by to return and take more books from my mini library and we would hold a few conversations with each other. I still didn't act sentimental around her, I've only known her a couple days, but she seems like she knows it takes a while for me to open up even just a little bit and I appreciate and respect that about her. Of course, her and I would bicker and fuss with each other, but that was natural when someone shorter than me called me a midget, actually that was in general, but you get the idea. She was a nice person to be around even though I showed no emotion right now unless I got angry.
"Is there something you need Toshiro?" Yeah she still calls me Toshiro after I corrected her a million times to call me Hitsugaya-taicho. She told me that I don't call her by her given title and I just call her Kurosaki so she didn't need to reciprocate the title.
"It's Hitsugaya-taicho." I scowled. She rolled her eyes and made her way to her desk, "I came by to drop off a report and I wanted to make sure you got it."
"Or you got so interested in my office and you didn't realize you lost track of time." She said rather sarcastically and took a seat at her desk, grabbing the report. "Honestly, what a dumb and pointless report." She grumbled after throwing the report on the desk and grabbed another.
All the paperwork was dumb and pointless obviously.
"Where were you anyways?" I questioned and raised an eyebrow trying to make a decent conversation with her.
"At a bar with Hikari and Matsumoto," She chuckled while her eyes never left the paper she was reading, "Momo and Rukia were supposed to join, but they had reports to file out that are due tomorrow."
"Of course my fuku-taicho would be there." I answered sighing softly bringing up my hand to massage my head. I had a terrible headache from the heat and it was just getting worse.
"You make it sound like she doesn't deserve her position as a fuku-taicho."
"She's an airhead."
"She's not a fuku-taicho for nothing you know." Karin defended.
"Whatever." I answered and rolled my eyes. I got up and dusted of my robes and heading to the door.
"You can stay here and nap Toshiro; I have a fan in the other room if you want."
"Are you sure?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, think of it as a payment for letting me borrow your books all the time midget." She grinned and got up to sit up on the desk. I could feel myself getting angrier after she responded with that inaccurate outburst.
I was not short.
Well I'm not that short.
I slammed both my hands down on the desk trapping her from getting up and threw my face right up to hers. I was so angry at the moment I didn't even realize how wrong that position looked.
"I am not short!" I retorted getting so close that out foreheads touched. I could see her big cat like grin plastered on her face. Now I was known for getting mad or lack of a better term pissed off but I have no idea why she infuriated me to no end so much. I mean I couldn't help but stare at her lips when she started biting her lip, they were a light pink and small but full and her gray crystal like eyes…
What the hell Toshiro get a hold of yourself! I never checked out a woman in such a way!
"Shiro-chan!" I heard a voice gasp. I turned my head around while Karin slightly moved her head to the right to see who walked in. Hinamori was staring there partly shocked and had that same weird smile Matsumoto had when she was thinking of something sly.
Great just what I need my cousin to see. Well I had to be thankful it was Hinamori and not Matsumoto because I would never hear the end of that and that it wasn't a seated officer besides Hinamori. I quickly removed my hands on the desk and straightened my robes and posture. I tried so hard to concentrate but my headache was becoming unbearable. I could feel the sweat on my brow.
Why must it be so hot?
"Sit down Toshiro. Hinamori go get some ice while I get the fan." I heard Karin order and the quick pounding of Hinamori's feet going into the next room. I closed my eyes and then reopened them after feeling the cold air blow onto my face, "Just lay down Toshiro." I obeyed which was rare, but only because it felt like my head would explode and felt like I was going to vomit.
But I Hitsugaya, Toshiro would never do that. I have too much pride.
I felt Hinamori put the cold ice on my head and take a seat next to Karin across from me. I was glad she didn't bring up the position Karin and I were in earlier, but I know she would go and tell Matsumoto and pester me to no end about it.
I planned on locking myself in my room with the paperwork to avoid everyone especially Matsumoto and Hinamori.
I was here a couple days already and I'm already having bad experiences.
I guess it came with the job.
I took a nap while Karin and Hinamori chatted for a while only to awake alone. The fan was still blowing; no trace of the ice was left on my head and my headache was gone.
"Kuorsaki?" I asked in a neutral voice. I opened the other doors that led to what seemed to be an average sized kitchen and a small living room. I was about to walk out when I heard Karin's voice and she came up to ask me if I was alright and told me Hinamori had left and hoped I feel better. I just replied yes and told her I needed to get back to the barracks and that it was late. We had a captain's meeting tomorrow morning as well.
"Night." Karin smiled.
"Goodnight." I answered simply, turned around, and left.
I need some sleep and a vacation already.
…
"We've been receiving reports on several sightings of the Espada by a few government officials." Yamamoto stated, "Now all of you know that we didn't defeat Aizen along with his remaining Espada since they decided to retreat to an unknown area, most likely an un-inhabited island." Everyone's faces remained calm except for Karin, which obviously showed anger and hatred, but she kept herself together. Ichimaru Gin deceived Aizen in the end, but was killed on the spot by him and Kaname realized the wrong path he had chosen, but was annihilated by Aizen as well. Everyone knew that eventually that Aizen and his remaining fighters would strike again. In fact, Aizen remained almost unmentioned for the last 7 years.
"Where exactly have these sightings been seen?" Kyoraku peered out from under his hat curiously and met the eyes of the Sou-taicho.
"I cannot tell you that. That information has been ordered to remain confidential among selected officers." Yamamoto answered bluntly. Numerous sounds of chatter erupted from the room, "Silence!" Yamamoto yelled and pounded his cane on the wooden floor quickly gaining everyone's attention, "That is all for today, you may leave." He replied irritated and left the room leaving behind the other 12 captains.
"Kurosaki." Toshiro said walking up to Karin.
"Toshiro." She responded. He looked at her curiously as if she wasn't herself and she obviously wasn't.
"Is there something wrong?" Hitsugaya pried wanting her to tell him what exactly made her so angry.
"No, I'll see you later Toshiro." She answered emotionless, turned on her heel, and exited the hall.
Whatever happened with Aizen had affected her greatly and whatever it was it must have been bad and Hitsugaya knew this.
…
A/N: Yeah I know I said last Sunday or Saturday but I had a project due that took longer than I expected and I'm beginning to study for midterms that are in I don't even know but this month so I've been busy lately and I have personal issues going on.
FrostyNight98- I'm so glad you find this story interesting! Unfortunately, you are the only one who has reviewed so far but your review really made me happy and more confident. I hope I keep you and everyone else reading this story interested. Thank you! :D
*I do not have a beta!*
~MSB*.