Chapter Four: Crossroads
"Right now, in your two eyes, already since a long time ago
A different person other than me
Is standing before you, smiling at you"
"Somebody Else" by Se7en
"Why are you here, Shinji?" murmured Kotori.
"You seem to forgotten that you were the one who followed me here."
"That's not what I meant," she said pulling apart from the embrace. "This exact time, place...why are you here? Why am I here?"
"You're speaking in riddles now, Kotori. What's going on in your mind?"
She didn't quite understand it herself either. What is the reason behind their existence? Would she still be here if she hadn't met Shinji?
"Why did you leave?"
"I...wanted something better for you, but if I had known this would happen I would have never-"
"Leave?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "I don't know how to explain it right now but know...I do care for you and from now on I will protect you."
To her, those words were half empty. He had spoken those same words to her before. Kotori thought about her next words; they could either mend their broken friendship or keep it as it is currently.
"I decided I'm not going to force you," she spoke, standing up. "If you're not ready to tell me then I'm not ready to listen...but just know, I'm still angry at you for leaving and I don't believe that's going to change."
"I didn't expect you to forgive me," confessed Shinji. "But I will prove to you that I left for purpose."
"Then I'll be waiting for that day," Kotori declared, handing over a hand for Shinji to get up. "What now?"
"It's best if we move forward, start anew," said Shinji. "We can't dwell on the past."
He couldn't have spoken any better words. The two needed to press on with their lives and Kotori needed to live in the present. No longer will she have to look for Shinji. The only thing she can do was wait for his reason.
Upon arriving at the academy, Kotori heard a familiar loud holler.
"There you are, Kotori!"
Tokimi Mae ran towards the two. When she arrived, she was panting in exhaustion.
"I've been searching for you all over, Kotori! You always disappear without telling me where you're going!" stated an obviously annoyed Tokimi. "Geez, next time learn to leave a note or something."
"This one's my fault," grinned Shinji. "I needed to talk to her about her horrible marks."
"C-captain Hirako! I didn't expect you until later today!"
"Later today?" asked a confused Kotori. "You two know each other?"
"Well..." began Tokimi as she wrapped her arms around one of Shinji's. "I was going to keep it a secret from everyone but I'll let you in on it. He's my date to the Winter Festival!"
Kotori stared at Tokimi with a dumbfounded expression then at Shinji. This was the guy that asked Tokimi to the festival?
"No need to be at a loss of words, Kotori! You look so surprised!" Tokimi smiled brightly at Shinji. "He's just so nice to me even after what happened! I couldn't say no to a guy like him!"
"Anyone would help out a cute crying girl like you."
"You're so kind, Captain Hirako!"
"Just call me Shinji," he grinned. "I am taking you to the Winter Festival."
After several decades of absence from her life, he's still the same flirt as before. Kotori could not help but want to slap Shinji up side the head. How can he be flirting right in front of her? Shinji moved forward pretty quickly.
"That's great to hear."
A half truth, but then again it was also a half lie.
"Are you going to the festival with anyone, Kotori?"
"No matter how hard I convince her she doesn't want to go," complained Tokimi. "I've even asked several guys for her but they all had dates already."
"That wasn't necessary, Tokimi. Besides I'm-"
"Not going, yeah, yeah. I know you well enough," she said then turning her attention to Shinji. "Oh! I saw a flyer that there's going to be a music festival on the second day of the Winter Festival! Everyone's excited for it!"
"Really? Kotori you like music! You can attend that day!" said Shinji enthusiastically.
"Actually there's only one condition," began Tokimi. "Only couples can take part. Plus, they're having a cutest couple contest that day! I believe we can win!"
"Hurry up and find someone, Kotori! Maybe you can enter that contest with someone."
"Don't worry about me! Worry about yourself and your date!"
"Wow, I've never actually seen you get angry at anyone, Kotori. Is something wrong?" Tokimi asked. "We're just trying to convince you to go."
"You two just have fun at the festival. I'll met up with you guys if I do go."
Kotori lied. There is no if. She's going to the Winter Festival with Sōsuke Aizen but no one needed to know. It would just bring her unwanted attention.
"If you say so, Kotori. We'll make sure to bring you back something!"
"That's alright. There's no need for you to do that," Kotori reassured. "Didn't you say you expected Shinji later?"
"Tokimi thought it be best if we got to know one another before the festival, so I'm taking her out to eat later today."
"We could always get a head start if you want!" winked Tokimi. "Whenever we finish our conversation."
"You two can go. I'm going back to my room to finish up some missing work."
"Alright. Just stay out of trouble, Kotori," Shinji joked, waving her a goodbye. "We'll see you later!"
"Have fun."
She thanked the heavens after finally being able to escape that conversation. Kotori found it quite awkward. Tokimi and Shinji? Together? She felt a slight tug at her heart, but Kotori chose to ignore it. It was probably nothing important. It's just the feeling of guilt?
'It's best if we move forward.'
These thoughts need to leave her. She needed to stop thinking about Shinji; he has already started anew and she needs to as well. Kotori shook her head and took a deep breath. It's time to live in the present. As she turned around, she accidentally bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"Didn't see me?" sneered Hana, facing her body towards Kotori. "Oh? Look who it is. The girl who can't even manage her own hair right. What was your name again?"
"Its Kotori."
"Does it look like I care?" she rolled her eyes. "No, I don't give a fuck about you."
"Why the sudden change in attitude? Though this one suits you much better than the one you had on a few weeks back."
"You bitch," Hana threw a punch but it was effortlessly caught.
"What's going on with you?" asked Kotori, taking a step back. She reached for her sword but grabbed nothing. Nothing but air. Today was not Kotori's day.
"Wow, pretty stupid of you to forget your sword. Then again, you are filth from Rukongai."
"That's it? You don't like me simply because I'm from Rukongai?" Kotori laughed. "I'm sorry that I wasn't born in nobility like you or have as much money as you. Where I'm from, we learned how to work for it."
"Filth like you need to learn their place in this world," said Hana, taking out a dagger from her pocket. "You need to learn not to meddle with us, not to sit with us, or to even talk to us. I still can't believe Tokimi brought you along. What was she thinking?"
"She just invited me to have tea. What's wrong with that?!"
"Because one kind gesture from us nobles will cause you to think highly of yourself, and we can't have that happening."
"Aren't you thinking highly of yourself right now?"
"That's because I'm allowed to."
Hana called over her two friends to corner Kotori. She couldn't find an escape route; her best option now was to fight the three.
"Then come at me."
"Gladly!" Hana roared, swinging the dagger towards Kotori.
Kotori barely managed to dodge the dagger, but the brown-haired girl on the right managed to punched her arm. A punch is better than having her flesh sliced open though. She mentally swore at herself. How did she end up in a fight? She did nothing reasonably wrong to Hana or these two other girls.
The blond-haired one on her left charged at her but left a wide opening. Kotori took this opportunity, blocked her attack, and punched her face. As the blond fell to the floor, Hana stepped up and swung her dagger once more. Her movements were easy to read; she was aiming at her face. Kotori positioned herself for Hana's attack but found herself falling. The brown-haired girl from earlier tripped Kotori. A cheap trick it was.
Hana's friends pinned her to the cold snowed floor. Kotori could feel her heart beat faster.
"You should look at yourself right now," spat Hana. "You look pitiful...just wait until I'm done with you. Then everyone will know that in the end you're just filth."
Mo matter how hard she struggled, the two girls did not budge. In the end, they continued to push her back to the floor and harder with each attempt. Kotori never once cried for help. She felt the chill dagger slice through her flesh on her cheeks and arms.
Her blood colored the snow with crimson.
After Hana finished with the dagger, she pocketed it. The blond-haired one spoke first.
"D-don't you think this is enough, Hana?"
"There's never enough," she formed her hands into fists. "I'm going to add the finishing touches with my hands."
Kotori mostly remembered Hana's knuckles flashing before her very eyes; how hard each blow felt as it came in contact with her face and body. The sound of her ribs snapping caused her to spew blood out from her mouth. It was disgusting, the taste of iron.
"Next time learn to pour us tea instead of pretending to be one of us. Do us a favor by laying here. Have fun dying. No one will miss you," hissed Hana, rising and cleaning her hands off. "Let's go before anyone comes."
The three girls hurried off in fear of bring caught. Kotori heard them. Heard the rush of their feet in the snow. She relied on her sense of hearing since her vision blurred due to the punches inflicted upon her face. Her body ached in insufferable pain; her breathing came short due to her broken ribs. She laid there on the floor soaked with her blood, unable to move.
'Am I going to die here?'
Her eyes drew to a close.
"What do you feel like eating?"
"Hm, I don't know. Let's go look around first," said Tokimi, walking around the shops with Shinji. "Say, if you don't mind me asking. How do you know Kotori? I mean, we're friends but she hasn't told me anything about her past."
"Ah, we go way back to the good ol' days. When I first met her, she was the shyest person I've ever met, but she learned to open up," Shinji laughed. "It doesn't look like it now but she has a kind heart. So just wait a little while before she opens up to you."
"She doesn't talk much about her feelings. She doesn't even participate in class."
"Oh? What class?"
"It's Aizen-sama's class! You were just in there this morning!"
"That's right. Can't believe Sōsuke's teaching a class."
"Here! Let's eat here, Shinji-kun!"
"A noodle shop? That's fine by me."
The two ordered their bowls and waited. Shinji took a glance at Tokimi. He never really noticed her radiant blue eyes; they looked like crystals. She had a petite light-colored face. Her strawberry-blond hair wrapped into neat curls that bounced when she moved. She looked like a pretty princess. Then again, her family is of nobility.
He then found himself comparing Tokimi to Kotori. They were polar opposites in both appearance and personality. Tokimi always had a smile to her face that matched her out-going persona, while Kotori is more reserved. Shinji sighed. Maybe if hadn't left, Kotori would also be more out-going. He laughed. That would never happen.
"Here are your orders," the waitress smiled at the two. "If you don't mind me saying, you two make a really cute couple."
"Actually we're just-"
"Thanks!" said Tokimi.
The waitress left the table when she saw another couple come in. Tokimi turned to Shinji with a bright smile on her face.
"Are you ready to win that contest?"
"We're actually participating?"
"Of course! I can't pass up on entering a couple's contest! With a captain like you nonetheless! I think we actually have a good chance at winning."
'This girl is starting to get a bit too clingy...'
Despite this thought, he smiled at the girl on front of him. He had never been on a date before. He figured his first would be with Kotori out of all the girls. But this one wasn't bad. He's moving forward with a pretty girl at that. Breaking his chopsticks, he began picking up the noodles.
Just then, Shinji felt something. He felt it disappearing. But what was it?
"Is something wrong, Shinji-kun?"
"Sorry to cut this dinner short but I have to get going," said Shinji, getting up from his seat. "Here's the money. I'm sorry, we'll just have to do this again a different day."
"Shinji!"
But it was too late. He left before he could hear Tokimi yell. All that mattered to him now is to find whatever that is disappearing. Hopefully he can find it soon.
She stirred in the bed.
However, once she felt agonizing pain from her body she stopped. Slowly opening her eyes, she realized they were still lightly blurred. Great, her vision has yet to return but figured it'll be back in a few days max. For now though, she has to rely on her other senses. Then she remembered.
'I'm alive?'
Hana didn't leave her with a tiny scratch; she wanted Kotori dead.
'Heh, she got me pretty good.'
Kotori frowned. She was unable to defend herself. Then again the odds were one to three. However, that didn't matter to her. At least she's alive and moving because that means she can get Hana back. The other two girls did not matter; they were merely helping out their leader.
The corners of her mouth curved into a devious smile. Oh, how would it feel for her blade to go into Hana's back. The satisfaction she would feel from doing so. Hana better watch herself.
She felt the bandages on her body and the few on her face. Kotori figured she was in the Fourth Division's infirmary. Feeling a presence to the left of her, she turned her head but couldn't make out who he was. It wasn't a she based on the body structure. Just then, another presence entered the room.
"Ah, I'm glad you're awake," she said with a soft voice. "How are you feeling?"
"I've felt better."
"You're a lucky one," spoke the woman, walking towards Kotori to examine her injuries. "You have two broken ribs and several gashes around your body. Don't worry though, you're not in critical condition anymore. I've healed most of it. For now, I need you to rest for a few days. I can't have you up for too long like that."
"Thank you," said Kotori. She could barely make out the nurse except for her short silver-colored hair.
"Who did this to you?"
"I don't remember," lied Kotori. "It...was sudden."
"If you remember please tell an official. We can't have someone like that roam around the academy."
"I will and thank you again."
"If you should be thanking anyone, it's him," she smiled kindly, pointing at the figure sitting in the chair. "If it weren't for him, you wouldn't be here. He came in here with your unconscious body. He hasn't left your side since. Now rest, I will be back tomorrow."
The silver-haired nurse left the room and silently closed the door behind her. Kotori laid in the bed trying to figure out who the person sleeping in the chair was. Damn her vision. If it would hurry up and heal. She then used every ounce of energy in her body to simply raise herself from the bed. Her bare feet touched the cold, solid surface. Walking never felt so painful.
'Shit.'
Kotori mentally cursed to herself when she felt a flesh wound reopen. That can be fixed later. She stood silently in front of her savior. He was sleeping soundlessly; he looked serene from what Kotori could make out.
"Thank you," whispered Kotori.
Her long elegant fingers lightly touched his face.
"Thank you for saving me...Aizen Sōsuke."
Comments
Special thanks to endeavor for reviewing!
Hope you guys are enjoying this story as much as I enjoy writing it! Sorry that this chapter is much shorter than the last one, but I'll be back soon with the next installment.
Are ready guys ready for the Winter Festival?! I definitely am. Who are you guys rooting for?
Please review & have a splendid week :)