Disclaimer: KTNM. -v-
Chrysanthemums & Peaches: Chapter 4
Dinner went rather uneventfully with Hinamori monopolizing the conversation as usual and Hitsugaya giving vague indications that he was listening. He always took her to the best restaurants, as his status as taichou afforded him the best seating wherever he went, told her to order whatever she wanted, and paid for everything like a true gentleman. And Hinamori was no cheap date. She was and had always been a finicky eater. She did not really eat meat, but she loved high-class seafood and of course ordered the most expensive items on the menu without hesitation. Hitsugaya did not really mind, but he definitely had simpler tastes, preferring something as simple and traditional as chazuke (tea poured over rice and dried seaweed or sour plum) and pickled vegetables. However, he never voiced his preferences, always taking her to places that she would enjoy, and she never did ask.
After Hitsugaya had settled the exorbitant bill she had mostly racked up, they headed to the theater for an after-dinner show. While he was a shinigami of few words, Hinamori's busy chatter stirred the still night air all the way to the theater. He managed to catch bits and pieces of her monologue, but frowned slightly when he realized that most of it was idle gossip with little to know informational or intellectual value.
"So, I was at the cafeteria, and you'll never guess who I ran into…Oh by the way, did you know that Zaraki-taichou and Kyouraku-taichou use the same hair wax? I hear Kyouraku-taichou hates frizz and well, I don't know about Zaraki-taichou but yeah, I suppose that wax must do wonders—I wonder how those bells stay on—anyway, that's what I heard from—oh, I just remembered something, did I mention that you have to be at the exhibition tomorrow to show the newly entered students of the academy how to call out your shikai? Sorry, there was a letter for you and it looked important, so I took the liberty of opening it and answering it…But I just remembered now so…."
This was one of the things that irked Hitsugaya about Hinamori—there was just nothing that was intellectual coming out of her mouth. Most of it was complaining and idle gossip. He came to realize that if anything, silence was better than listening to her gab on and on. Knowing it would be rude to sigh, he simply focused his attention on the clouds slightly masking the moon. He was just admiring the subtle beauty that the moon had to offer when he felt his arm being tugged and allowed himself to be led inside the theater hall.
After they were seated and the lights finally dimmed to signal the start of the show, Hinamori became silent, clearly interested in the play and cuddled cutely next to him. Hitsugaya remained as stiff as a board. He watched for several minutes before deciding that this play was pure fluff and not worth his time. His thoughts drifted in and out between the show and work. His mind entertained him by replaying the events of the day.
This morning…
"Taichou!"
"Why are you late again, Matsumoto?" he muttered grumpily.
"Sorry, I broke your teapot this morning while I was cleaning it. I had to go and buy another one."
"While I'm not happy about losing yet ANOTHER teapot, I'm glad you at least thought to buy another one."
"Here's your tea," she said putting it on his desk. He nodded and took the steaming cup and put it to his lips.
"Excuse me, Hitsugaya-taichou and Matsumoto-fukutaichou," called a voice from outside the door. "I have a message."
"Report."
"This is to verify this morning's activities. I report, today at 6:02 am, the members of seats numbering 25-50 were dispatched this morning to assess the problem with the hollows that have been appearing in the eastern part of the Rukongai. Damage control was also dispatched at 7:34 am. We are awaiting reports from those two squads. No further comments."
"Good work," Hitsugaya said. "Dismissed."
"Excuse me for interrupting you."
"Everyone certainly is working hard this morning!" commented Matsumoto as she rummaged around the front of her uniform, much to Hitsugaya's embarrassment.
"Quit doing that!" he said turning around.
"I'm looking for something—oh! Here it is," she said, lifting up her rack and pulling a stack of slightly crumpled envelopes tucked away in her sash. "Whoa, girls," she said, to the nearly spilling out boobage.
"What the hell, Matsumoto!" he said, blushing furiously.
"Oh, here. Your mail—one, two, three, four…hmm…ONE, two, three, four…uh oh. I could have sworn there were 5 this morning when I went to pick up your mail…." Matsumoto flipped through the stack again with no luck. "Umm…" she looked up curiously as if trying to remember something. "That's right!" she said slapping her fist into her open palm.
"What?"
"The last one was a box!"
"So where's the box?" Hitsugaya said impatiently, eager to get on with his work.
"Um…hmm…now where did I put it…?" Matsumoto looked around, patting the black fabric along her legs and derriere. "Oh, hmm…let's see. I went to the mailbox, saw Kira, talked to him…he gave me money for the sake and I put that with the box so I wouldn't lose it…oh right, in between my Miki and Kiki!" Matsumoto reached in between said mammaries and pulled out a small flat box in otherwise perfect condition.
"Since when did you give names to your body parts?" murmured Hitsugaya, trying vainly not to blush.
"Here you go, taichou!" she said cheerily, putting the box on his desk. "Good thing my breasts are so ample and soft. They protected your box that says, 'FRAGILE—DO NOT SMASH'," she grinned, pointing to them for emphasis.
"Matsumoto, just hurry up and go check on the Damage Control squad!" he ordered.
"Okay, okay, no need to get upset," she called as she walked out waving.
"Matsumoto."
"Yeah?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
"I don't think so. Am I?"
"Zanpakutou!" he growled, chucking her zanpakutou at her.
"Oh, here you are!" she said happily hugging the weapon. "Long time no see! I was looking for you!"
"Matsumoto, NOW!"
"Okay, I'm going, I'm going! Sheesh—no need to be all uptight about everything…someone's suffering from lack of SOMETHING…"
That was this morning. Sometimes he was sure she did what she did just to piss him off and get his blood pressure up.
Stupid Matsumoto. Oh well, at least there was never a dull moment. Goddamn Matsumoto and her free-spirited, whimsical, fun loving, lazy—damn her and her big, soft-looking—whoa. Okay, let's not go there…Unsexy thoughts, unsexy thoughts…Yamamoto-soutaichou in a dress—better yet a bikini—bleh, ok, I'm good. Damn her. I hate when I have these stupid impure thoughts.
Hitsugaya cursed Matsumoto's attractiveness, damning it to the fiery depths of hell, for making him feel so naughty. Then for some reason, his mind turned to Hinamori and their relationship.
"I love you…" Hinamori told him those three words everyday as soon as they started going out. But for the serious 10-bantai taichou, never in his life had he heard of such a meaningless phrase. He never really understood what those words meant. 'To love someone'…'I love you'…He never said those words back to her, and she never really noticed, but it bothered him that she always said that and never felt he urge to tell her them back—no matter how meaningless they might be.
Once, while he was cleaning his office, he found a bunch of magazines and novels that Matsumoto had left lying around. All of them were either romance novels or manga, some of the erotic nature, much to his embarrassment. In these pieces of literary trash, he read of princes and heroes going to great lengths for their damsel in distress, slaying hollows and monsters, sacrificing everything for the woman they loved, so that one day they might be together and live happily ever after.
Hitsugaya may have been inexperienced in the relationship department, but he was no fool. While Aizen might have slipped from his radar, he was still fairly decent at reading people, their intentions, and their emotions.
The play ended with a roaring applause that brought Hitsugaya back to reality.
"I must stop day-dreaming," he mumbled to himself as he stood up.
"That was a—amazing," Hinamori sobbed. "Shiro-chan, oh my god, isn't that romantic?"
"Huh?"
"How the duke sold everything he owned, was disowned by his family, shunned by his friends—all just to save his impoverished lover from the evil dictator."
"That's just retarded," Hitsugaya mumbled. He thanked his lucky stars that Hinamori was so specific and despite always wanting to talk about the show, she at least always gave away the plot. He never really had to actually watch the sorry excuse for entertainment thanks to Hinamori's naïveté
"What! Why!" Hinamori said, glomping on to his arm as they exited the play.
"Because," he said, strolling out into the cool air.
"Because, what?" she pouted. "What would you have done then?"
"Called out Hyourinmaru and defeated the bad guy of course," he said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, but that's so unromantic!"
"That duke was just foolish to act without thinking things through. Why should I sell my possessions and give up the livelihood that would support my lover and myself just to save my lover? Isn't that counterproductive? Wouldn't it make more sense to just defeat the bad guy, save the princess and live happily ever after?" That was one of the problems of being a child prodigy. He was usually too smart and logical for his own good. He rarely was able to enjoy something fluffy like the romance sap that Hinamori loved."But that's not romantic!" she exclaimed as they neared her apartment.
"Well, it's not like he loved her any less. I mean, he still went and saved her, right?" he pointed out, walking her to her door. He unlocked the door for her with his key and pushed it open for her. He was about to follow her into the living room, but stopped at the shoe area. "Hinamori, forgive me, but I think I'll go home—"
"But it's Friday, Shiro-chan! You usually don't go home until Saturday," Hinamori whined as she pulled him into her apartment, causing him to lose his grip on the door, causing the door to slam shut.
"I'm feeling under the weather, I don't want you to get sick on the account of me."
"Noooooooooooooo! Stay with me! PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAASE!"
"No, I have to get up early in the morning too." Hitsugaya walked towards the door once more.
"Shiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrooooo-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaann!"
"Shhh! It's late, you'll bother your neighbors."
"But, Shiro-chan—"
"Hinamori, let's not quarrel over this. It's late, I have a full day tomorrow—"
"But it's the weekend and the weekend's our time—"
"I have to do that demonstration and I have to go open up for Matsumoto tomorrow so she can finish her reports. I also have a mountain of paperwork that needs to get done."
"But, Shiro-chan—"
"Hinamori, I have responsibilities!"
"You have a responsibility to me too, though! I'm your girlfriend!"
"Hinamori, stop being so childish! I'm putting people's lives on the line every time I send members of my bantai out to investigate. A bad call on my part could mean not only huge financial damages, but also tremendous fatalities! I have to go in tomorrow to resolve that hollow situation in the Eastern part of the Rukongai!"
"I am not childish!"
"You're acting spoiled and selfish!"
"How mean!"
"It's the truth—"
"You always put work before us!" she screamed.
"I don't do it intentionally!" he shot back, even louder. "I try to spend whatever free time I do have here with you. I take you out when you want to go out, I live here most of the week! Have I ever mistreated you, taken advantage of you? I've never asked you for anything in return—I've never expected anything in return! Everything I've done was for you! What more do you want, Hinamori!"
"Shiro-chan…I'm…"
"You know what, I'm drained. I'm going home. I don't need this from you now. Good night." Hitsugaya stomped off towards the door, shoving it open and slamming it shut.
"Well, excuse me for trying to spend time with you!" she screamed from behind the closed door.
Hitsugaya, all worked up from his argument with Hinamori, for the first time in a long time, used his shunpo to get home.
"Oh yeah, we're totally compatible—psh," he mumbled as he bounded towards his own apartment. "Right, Hinamori and I are about as compatible as Matsumoto and deadlines…" he muttered rolling his eyes as he soared through the crisp late night air.
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Cue ending theme…
Matsumoto: Emotions are running high and the air is thick with tension. Poor taichou, he's under a lot of stress thanks to Hinamori-chan.
Hitsugaya: MATSUMOTO!
Matsumoto: Uh-oh, looks like he's in a pretty bad mood. He's gonna kill me. I just dropped his new teapot…I guess no tea for taichou this morning…not to mention I had to throw away a few reports because they were soaked from the tea…I hope he doesn't notice…shhh, I won't tell if you won't.
Hitsugaya: MATSUMOTO!
Matsumoto: Coming! Anyway, guess who gets more screen time next chapter? No, not Miki and Kiki…ME, of course! Yup, yup. I finally get more screen time with my cute little taichou! But how will things work out? Taichou's relationship is on the rocks…I think I better step in and 'help' him out a bit. Stay tuned—things are gonna take a wild turn.
