Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or anything relating to it, and have the utmost respect for all the people who created these wonderful characters.

AN: See notes in previous part. Also, even though people are reading this story, I don't have a single review yet. [pout accompanied by anime eyes shimmering with tears] Well, I'm changing the order I was planning on doing them in, hoping that doing one on two of the more popular characters will at least get someone to review.


One Step Behind Him

By Lady Callista

Haineko.

I will always stand one step behind you.

Hyorinmaru.

I wish you would laugh more often. I wish you could just be a child. Yet instead you carry more responsibility on your small shoulders than I even want to imagine having.

I know half the time you just think of me as a goof-off, drinking or having fun instead of doing my job.

But I think that part of my job is trying to make you happy.

Every time that you crack a smile over something that I say or do, it's a small victory.

I know that our zanpakutos are reflections of our souls, but somehow yours seems to be more like you than the rest of us.

Cold. Hard. Stern.

And yet I get to see another part of you.

I get to see the kind and gentle man hidden behind your frozen mask.

And despite what most people think, I know it's a mask.

Because I know your feelings are there. Just because you hide them well doesn't mean they don't exist. And every day that passes I see them a little better.

You just need to learn how to let people in. Because of all the people I know, you are the one most deserving of love. And it would be a shame if you never found someone to share it with.

Hyorinmaru.

If I hadn't stood one step behind you, would you have anyone who understands you?



Glossary:

Matsumoto reflecting on Hitsugaya. Sorry to those of you who like them as a couple, but I just don't think they see each other that way.

Haineko: Literally "Ash Cat." The zanpakuto of Matsumoto Rangiku.

Hyorinmaru: Literally "Ice Ring." The zanpakuto of Hitsugaya Toshiro. When looking up the word, I discovered that the "rin" part of it, while meaning circle/ring, is also the counter used for flowers. I wonder if that has something to do with the 3 flowers that appear over his bankai form.