Chapter Four: Vanilla Clouds
--A/N--
First off,
Need I tell you all again how much I hate making Aizen seem relatively decent?
Because I do. A lot.
So much that I have to hold my fingers back from typing that Hitsugaya whips out Hyorinmaru and –shhhlunk-, kills him right then and there. But… that wouldn't be much of a plot, and I would be labeled as 'lame'. So lets not, and say that we did a million times over in out heads, ne?
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. But I sure as hell wish I did.
--
"Mmph."
Hinamori rolled over in her futon. The cool, silky sheets rubbed against her legs as daring beams of sunlight rested against her face. Opening her eyes wearily she ached to look outside. Reaching out her hand she grabbed the blue curtains and…
Since when were her curtains blue?
Or have silk sheets for that matter?
She laid perfectly still, trying to figure out what was going on in her head. As her eyes adjusted she was able to confirm that at least she was alone in the bed. The room seemed familiar… but from where? She rolled over on her back and sat up. When she was about to sling her legs over the side of the futon and stand up, something caught her eye on the other side of the room. There was her Hitsugaya. Sleeping informally crumpled in a chair as far away from the futon as possible. One of his legs was swung over an arm of the chair, and his hand was on his kneecap, providing a small, worthless cushion for his cheek that snoozed upon it.
No need to be modest, Hitsugaya-Kun.
She stretched her arm across timidly, afraid to wake him as she placed her hand on his surprisingly soft, white locks. She drew her hand back, slightly shocked, as his hair was damp and cool to the touch with morning dew that also stuck to the bottom of his sandals and haori.
Is he just getting to sleep now? What was he awake for?
Hinamori's brow furrowed as she recalled the way she acted the day before. Or, more or less, over-reacted.
What was wrong with me? I'm never like that…A small sigh escaped from Hitsugaya's lips as he attempted to find a position in the too-small chair in his sleep.
There's no way that's comfortable for him.
Well, she wasn't a vice captain for nothing. She pushed the chair over to the side of the futon, and pulled.
She was able to move him a whole inch.
How can he be so heavy!? He's in a twelve-year-old's body!Hinamori sighed, not wanting to have to break out her Kido skills on such a small task. Also, she didn't want to risk waking him up with such close-range spiritual energy. She mentally slapped herself at that. Kuchiki-Taicho could release Senbonzakura's bankai right there and Hitsugaya wouldn't move a muscle. Kneeling down next to the chair, she un-tied his damp sandals and tossed them to the side. She then pulled off his captain's haori, folded it, and set it next to the futon. Hinamori then stood up, planted her feet, and pulled his arms as hard as she could. With a satisfying "flop" Hitsugaya landed on the futon, pulling a petite Hinamori with him.
"Ow…" Hinamori muttered as she landed on Hitsugaya's cold granite chest.
No wonder I couldn't lift him, she thought coolly.
She pressed her hands against his chest to push herself up, but she paused as she delighted in the feeling of his cold ambiance seething into her veins. Her cheek was pressed against his chest, and one of her hands was caught on his uniform, providing skin on skin contact with his sculpted chest that, at the realization, ran a shiver down her spine. Lifting her head off the cold surface she looked into his face. The frown that always seized his face was nowhere to be found.
He looks so… peaceful.
Was this the only time that he was calm? When he was deeply unconscious? Hinamori timidly reached the hand that was not snagged in his uniform up to the side of his sculpted face and gently ran her fingertips along the delicate surface. Her fingers traced every detail of his face, admiring it all. She wondered how it was even possible for the Hitsugaya before her to be the Hitsugaya-Taicho that stood so dignified at the meetings before all the other captains. Her palm in his uniform was flat against his toned chest, and she could feel the rise and fall of his heavy breathing. Hinamori's upper body was pressed against his, and her legs hung off the side of the futon that was up much higher than her own, leaving her feet dangling off the floor. She would give anything to live in this moment for just a few hours. Just her, and Hitsugaya who was as venerable as she had seen him in years. Her fingertips, still memorizing his face, gently traced the outline of his lips, delighting the contrast of his smooth, granite skin and the soft satin of his lips. Deep inside, she begged for those very lips to claim her mouth, her body, and her soul. Resting her fingers on them, she shut her eyes and reminded herself that Hitsugaya was her friend, and friends did not wish for that from other friends that, with all honesty, were having severe issues even holding onto the bloody friendship as it was. Clenching her eyes tighter together to keep the tears that she felt pricking the back of her eyes from flooding out she wondered, just when it was that she began seeing Hitsugaya… differently. She was unable to exactly pinpoint a certain time. But, she did recall one certain occasion.
-
She was sitting in Hitsugaya's office, waiting for him to come back. It was Friday night, the night that quite a few shinigami went out to the bars and drank themselves into oblivion, seemingly forgetting that just because the next day was Saturday, they still had work to do. And massive hangovers were never easy to work around. A few captains understood the need to "let one's soul free". Such as Ukitake-Taicho. Others forced their Fuku-Taicho's to do multiples of the work they usually do, as if to knock them out of their habits. That would be Kuchiki-Taicho, threatening the poor headache-ridden Renji with millions of deathly pink petals. Other captains joined in on the party as their poor Fuku-Taichos hit them over the head with a large dictionary. Repeatedly. That one is left un-said. Everyone already knows. Hinamori and Hitsugaya had no desire whatsoever to "let one's soul free" as it was, so they had dinner every Friday. Meeting at Hitsugaya's quarters, they would cook in his near lavish kitchen. It was always an event Hinamori looked forward to.
What on earth is taking him so long? She thought to herself, drumming her fingers on his desk that she sat behind. It can't take that long to run and buy some soy sauce!
Her eyes averted around the room and landed on a pink slip of paper that was stuck inside his desk drawer, with only a corner peeking out. In Seiretei, pink slips meant overdue paperwork. Hinamori laughed to herself as she opened the drawer to pull it out, and berate him playfully later. Pulling the drawer open, she nearly fell off his chair, as the drawer was full of pink, red, white, and any other girly color combination imaginable. A distinct odor of vanilla and strawberry omitted itself from the open drawer, and she plugged her nose at the strong scent as she picked up one of the adorned and never-opened envelopes.
The front of the envelope had "To Hitsugaya-Taicho" written on it in fancy pink lettering. Hinamori glanced mischievously at the door to his office, and then back to the vanilla-ed envelope in her hand with a smirk. With a flash, she flipped the envelope over, sliced her index finger through the trail of red hearts that were securing the flap, and whipped out the letter. Followed, of course, by another puff of strong vanilla pungency that caused her eyes to water at its acidity. Blinking through her tears and the cloud of remaining vanilla, she read.
Dear Hitsugaya-Taicho.
My name is Myoki Nahamaru, Squad Ten, President of the Hitsugaya-Taicho Official Fan Club. I just wanted to let you know what an honor it truly is to be working under such a great leader like you. You probably don't remember, but this one time there was this totally big hollow that my group was after. And it had all these, like,… tentacle things. And one was coming straight towards me! And I totally watched as my life passed before my eyes. And I realized, that the pictures of my life were all of you. You were standing right in front of me with your sword drawn and looking very very hot. That was my life. And then amazingly enough you were actually standing in front of me… and you saved me! You are my life! Ever since that day I have been in love with you, Hitsugaya-Taicho. I'm eternally yours.
With love:
Myoki Nahamaru
P.S. Are you ever going to dump that Hinamori from squad five? If so, just keep in mind that I'm first on the list. I am the Hitsugaya-Taicho Official Fan Club's President after all!
Hinamori set the letter down on the desk not sure whether to laugh or hunt down this Myoki Nahamaru and burn her to a crisp. Venting her anger, she ripped the letter in half and shoved it to the bottom of his drawer. Curiosity once again got the better of her as she picked a handful of letters out of the drawer, briefly skimming their contents.
"What does Hinamori have that I don't?" A life perhaps? Sanity maybe?"You must know that Matsumoto Fuku-Taicho's aren't real. They are implants." Wrong again. The common assumption is excess spiritual energy. There's enough there to destroy the world a few times over.
"As for Hinamori Fuku-Taicho, she doesn't even HAVE boobs!" Hinamori looked down. Well, they're right about that one.
"Your hair is like… snow." Creative. No, really. That's enough so make Shakespeare swoon.
Hinamori shoved the letters back into the drawer and kicked her feet on top of his desk as she heart footsteps outside the door. She listened, waiting for Hitsugaya to open the door and scold her for putting her feet on his precious furniture. Instead, she heard a female voice. It was difficult to make out through the screen, but she knew instantly it wasn't Matsumoto. Who, by Hinamori's standards, was the only female shinigami, other than herself of course, who wasn't throwing herself at him. Listening harder she was able to catch an essence of Hitsugaya's rough voice seeping through the door. Unable to make out what the voices were saying, Hinamori gently leapt from the chair and silently glided across the wood floor to the door. Just as she got to it, the screen opened and Hitsugaya, with his head turned to the side, saying quite coolly to the female voice that he had no interest in dinner, and that he already had plans, walked briskly into the room and toppled on top of Hinamori who had just made it to the door. She landed hard on the floor and her eyes winced shut as her hand bent backwards slightly. A shaky gasp escaped from her clenched teeth in pain as a white-hot convulsion seared up to her wrist.
"H-Hinamori?" a worried voice above her trembled.
She opened her eyes wearily and looked directly into two emeralds staring back at her, the concern in them un-masked.
"I'm so sorry," the voice trembled again, "It was all my fault. Are you okay?"
"Don't worry." she replied in a tiny voice, "it was my fault, really."
"But are you okay?"
Hinamori shook her head no as he helped her sit up, and her hand fell loose in her lap as she winced again. His eyes followed the movement, and then darted back up to hers full force as he gently held her hand in his.
"Where?" he said so gently it was nearly a whisper.
Hinamori pointed to the tenants running from her wrist to her dainty fingers, not speaking for fear of the pent-up tears to come flowing out as her hand throbbed again.
Hitsugaya tenderly held her shaking hand in both of his, softly bending her finders and rotating her wrist in multiple directions.
"Nothing is broken." he murmured, "You will probably have some severe sensitivity and bruising in your hand for awhile though. I think I have a wrap bandage in my bathroom if you need it until we can bring you to the fourth squad."
Hinamori nodded.
"Thank you." she attempted to say without trembling, but her voice gave way to her true emotions as daring tears streamed down her cheeks. Hinamori had no tolerance for pain whatsoever, and never had.
Hitsugaya looked up with kind and gentle eyes as he brushed her stray tears away with his hand.
"Shush, Bed-Wetter. Its not as bad as you think." he smirked playfully.
"Mou, Shiro-Chan. You're so mean." she smiled tearfully back.
Looking down, she realized that her hand was still resting limply in his. She was about to draw it back and ask for the bandage when he tightened his grip just a tad to keep her hand in his.
"Hold on. I'm not done with you yet," he said as his eyes sparkled.
With that, he rook one of his hands and traced his fore fingers from her wrist to her fingers. Right on top of the throbbing pain. Hinamori could feel the numbing sensation of ice smother the fiery pain eating away at her hand. Hitsugaya's ice element sure did come in handy sometimes.
"Now, lets go find that bandage." he said, standing up in front of her and holding out his hand to help her to her feet.
Smiling faintly and hiding a forcing blush, Hinamori reached for his hand.
As they passed the door on their way to the bathroom, Hinamori realized that the door was still wide open and a beautiful blonde shinigami was leaning angrily on the wall across from it in the hall. She took one look at Hinamori and stuck her nose up as she walked briskly down the hall.
Hinamori only smiled.
-
That incident was years ago, and yet Hinamori could remember it like it was yesterday. She was able to recall every emotion that ran wildly through her body that day, even if she had been unable to classify them at the time. The prickling of jealousy as she discovered the letters and the more than lovely shinigami outside the door. The warming arms of affection as he more than lovingly put her above anything and everything. And how could she ever forget the high-and-mighty feeling of satisfaction at the expression of the very same shinigami. She could clearly remember the wide, distraught emerald eyes that held her gaze so intently that she didn't even have time to blush.
That was the moment, Hinamori thought, the moment that I knew he made me a part of who I am, who I always will be. And, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Hinamori was brought out of her thoughts quite sharply when she felt a hand softly rubbing her back in just the right places that sent fiery tremors through her veins, as well as the gentile kissing of her fingertips that sent her heart flying. Snapping her eyes open and looking straight down at Hitsugaya, she saw a gleaming twinkle in his turquoise pools as he looked straight up to her in return.
"Good Morning." He muttered huskily around her fingertips.
"M-morning." Hinamori stuttered in return, fighting her rapid heartbeat. "Did you sleep well…?" she trailed off.
He nodded slightly." Except a certain Bed-Wetter kept intruding in on my dreams."
Hinamori tilted her head in confusion, awaiting a definition.
"I-I dreamed about you."
I want this. He thought. I want her to be here when I open my eyes every morning. I'm willing to take a chance… on her.
Hinamori was sure that her heart was audible or could at least be felt against his chest. The smile that rubbed against her fingertips gave her the answer.
Opening her mouth to reply, she found that not only was he mouth dry, but all her words seemed to have disappeared.
"…O-oh?" was all that she was able to say. The close proximity was driving her insane.
Nodding, he replied. "Yes. It was that evening some time ago. I ran in the door, not looking, and ran into you and made you hurt your hand."
"I told you- that was my fau-"
"I know what you said, Hinamori. But I won't listen." He interrupted.
As soon as Hinamori got over the initial irritation of his constant interrupting her, she remembered with a jolt that she had been recalling the same evening.
That's strange... she thought.
"Momo." his voiced reached to her.
Turquoise met cinnamon as Hitsugaya pulled Hinamori fully on the futon, fully on top of him.
"It made me think of what I would do if I lost you. You… you bring life into my day, every day. You give me a reason to smile. And, you have no idea how much I despise it when I can't see you. It drives me insane."
Behind the cinnamon eyes, tears came freely and stroked down her cheeks as Hitsugaya brushed them aside.
"Toushiro…" her voice softly whispered.
He covered her lips with a finger, delicately lulling her voice. Tracing her jaw line, his fingers skimmed her porcelain skin to her cheek and tucked a stray strand of auburn behind her ear.
Hinamori reluctantly removed her hand from Hitsugaya's chest, but was compensated when her hand grazed his face and lost itself in his silky white hair.
"And the more I thought about it," he continued in a husky whisper "the more I realized that I had no idea who I would even be without you."
Hinamori swallowed hard and managed to whisper out a faint calling of his name before his hand tightened lightly behind her neck, and brought her face closer to his burning turquoise. She subconsciously felt her eyelids gently shutting and her lips parting slightly as they tenderly brushed against his, breathing in his scent. Her lips trembled against in anticipation before he leaned forward and his lips claimed her own. A red-hot inferno blazed through her being as he pulled her closer and his hands were lost in her hair. Passion trembled between the melded lips before Hitsugaya broke the kiss to pay attention to her neck as Hinamori caught her breath. He dotted kisses along her neck and shoulder, his eyes never breaking away from her heavy-lidded, cinnamon ones. She breathed in deeply as she pressed her lips against his chest that was rising and falling intensely. After her breathing returned to as normal as it would ever be, she turned her head to look him in the eyes, which were currently gazing out the window. Once he felt her eyes on him, he turned his attention back to the petite shinigami.
"W-what… where did that come from…? Shiro-Chan?" she managed to stumble out.
"I'm sorry I made you uncomfor-"
"No, it's not that. Never mind."
"Well obviously it's something. Tell me."
"Shiro-Chan! Since when have you been so nosy?" she teased.
His eye twitched at that bloody nickname.
"If you call me "Shiro-Chan"… one more time- I'll"
"You'll what, Shiro-Chan?" Hinamori laughed hysterically.
His eyes shot into hers with such ferocity that she pushed herself off him a it, as if backing away before he flipped her over so she was under him, pinning her to the futon. As she opened her mouth to protest he brought his lips down again. Forcefully. Everything was soon forgotten as she was swept into the burning waves that drowned the deepest part of her soul. Once he released her she sat gasping for breath as whispered hoarsely in her ear
"That's what will happen."
Hinamori gulped.
Shifting, Hitsugaya put his head on her stomach and pulled the covers over them both. The delicate warmth from her body just attracted him more to her as her hands were once again, dancing around his snowy hair.
As he turned his head to look out the window, a fragile black-winged butterfly few in the window.
Groaning, he stretched out his index finger for the butterfly to perch on as it told him it's message.
"Damn." he muttered, clenching his eyes as the black wings flew back out the window to the next victim.
"Hmm?" Hinamori asked, unable to find words at the moment.
"Emergency captain meeting and vice-captain meeting. Right now."
Hinamori let out a sigh as she moved out from under him to find her vice-captain badge somewhere on the floor. Before she could even begin to move her feet to the floor, strong hands grabbed her forearms. Hitsugaya sat upright, leaning against the wall behind him and spread his folded legs apart as he pulled her to his cold, granite chest. Wrapping his arms around her protectively, he kissed her hair.
"Be careful, Hinamori." He whispered. "It may be calm right now, but there is a lead that someone or something might be coming. Captains are told to carry Zanpaktous at all times. Please… be careful."
She pushed away from his chest with his hands still remaining on her slender waist.
"I'm not a Fuku-Taicho for nothing, you know, Shiro-Chan." She smirked.
Hitsugaya simply rolled his eyes.
"And plus- I have Aizen-Taicho to look after me!" she beamed.
"How could I forget?" Hitsugaya mumbled for his own ears.
Hinamori leapt from the futon and rummaged around on the floor for her badge as Hitsugaya searched for his other sandal. Suddenly, from outside came a piercing shattering noise surrounded by the crackling of lightning. Their eyes darted to each other, then out the window where the reinforced shield was cracking.
"I-impossible…" Hinamori muttered, wide-eyed. "T-there's no way that they can break the shield and get in… Right, Shiro-Chan? …Shiro-Chan?"
Hitsugaya had walked over to the window, and was staring up at the sky where the invaders had impaled the shield.
"I-I'm not so sure..." he trailed off, leaving her with even wider eyes than before. If that was possible.
He took one look back at Hinamori and shun-po'ed out the window.
Hinamori watched his frame scatter from rooftop to rooftop as she sensed Aizen-Taicho's riatsu in the distance.
You be careful too, Shiro-Chan. She thought as she went off to meet with her captain. He would know what to do.
--A/N--
So I really had fun writing this chapter. A LOT of fun. That whole flashback: yeah, not planned. I just liked describing letters in the essence of vanilla.
I realized that I put practically this whole one in Hinamori's perspective. Usually I switch it up a little.
This chapter was purely fluff. I had to get it in somewhere. The next chapters- it will just be drama,drama,drama… action,action, action.
So we got fluff.
And really, who doesn't love fluff?
Reviews are love.