Hey ya'll! thought i might as well update! i sorta left off in a bad spot last time so i got past two of the last chapter! sorry kids!
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING of Bleach, only Aikio
When Shuuhei woke up in the morning, his head slightly hurt, and he moaned a bit, placing his hand on his forehead before sitting up. He noticed the blanket, and was confused, then looked down in the floor, and saw Aikio. She was laying on her side, slightly curled, arms relaxed. 'Damn, I hope she hasn't been on the floor all night..' He thought, getting up, careful not to step on her. He pulled the blanket back, then knelt next down to her.
He looked at her, she had a gentle expression on her face, something he never noticed before, she always had a smile on her face, but it always looked like she was trying to hold something back, or hiding something. He gently picked her up, placing her on the couch covering her up.
Aikio turned a bit, giving a soft moan, before slipping back into a comfortable sleep. Shuuhei's hand placed gently on her cheek, his thumb rubbing her skin softly, 'She's…' He shook his head, standing up, 'I'll let her rest, especially since she had come get me.' he thought before leaving.
Aikio, it being a few weeks since the incident, sat in the office, waiting for Shuuhei to get back. 'The attack should be coming any day… I'm starting to worry…'
"Aikio." Shuuhei said, now rushing into the room.
She saw the worried look on his face, "Fukoutaichou… what's wrong?"
He tried to calm himself down, but it wasn't working, but walked to her, "Look, Aikio, you need to be ready, we're leaving tonight to get ready for the battle tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" She said, getting up, "The battle's this close?" she looked worried, but her voice didn't alter.
Shuuhei only nodded, "We're going to set up four pillars." He spoke, sitting down, motioning her to do the same, as she sat down, he continued, "These four pillars are going to transport Karakura town here, and leave a fake one in it's place. General Yamamoto-taichou has suspected that Aizen will know about the pillars, so he's assigned people to guard them, I'll be guarding one, along with Izuru Kira, Yumichika Ayasegawa, and Ikkaku Madarame." He looked up to her, " You're going to be coming too, Aikio."
That took her back, she didn't expect to becoming, "Me?"
"Yes, the General Taichou made sure that I was to inform you."
She looked down, "Again, General Taichou gives me an order I can't refuse." She muttered under her breath, "Well, I won't object to it, I'll go. But Shuuhei, you still have to promise me to be careful."
It was his turn to be taken back but he gave an infamous smirk, "Of course I will, I'm fukoutaichou, you're suppose to be promising me to be careful." He paused, "Now, hurry up and get ready." He said, before letting Aikio rush out to get ready. He got up as the door opened, and saw Jushiro, "Oh, Ukitake-taichou, nice of you to drop by."
Jushiro gave a slight smile, "Yes, thank you." He held up a piece of paper, "I have something for your third chair, Hisagi-fukoutaichou."
He blinked, "Aikio?"
"Yes, Aikio Shiimakida, you left so quickly that sensei wasn't able to give this to you, so I've been ordered to personally give this to her."
Shuuhei looked closely at the letter, it was an ordinary envelope, but if it came from the General, it couldn't be ordinary, "She's.. she's not in trouble is she?"
"Oh goodness no, it's actually the quite opposite, I think you'll be proud of her."
Aikio ran into the office, slamming into to Jushiro's back and falling back. "Oh, gomensai, Ukitake-taichou."
Jushiro only chuckled, helping the girl up, "Oh, don't worry Aikio, you're quite fine." He then handed the letter to her, "I have good news for you."
Aikio blinked, taking the letter but looking at Shuuhei, "Hisagi-fukoutaichou…"
He shook his head, "I don't know anything about this Aikio, go on, open it." He motioned.
Aikio hesitated, then walked over to Shuuhei, "Are you sure-"
"Open it and read it Aikio, you're not in trouble, as Ukitake-taichou said, it's good news."
Aikio nodded then opened the letter. As her eyes scanned the letter, her eyes held nothing but confusion and shock. "I'm… I'm being… promoted.." She barely got out. "To… fukoutaichou.." She looked up at Ukitake, "There has to be a mistake, I'm not fukoutaichou material, I'm only third chair material…" She continued to read, and looked at the signature, General Yamamoto-taichou's signature at the bottom.
Ukitake saw the uneasy look in her face, and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, "You'll do fine as a fukoutaichou, Aikio. You know what squad you're going to be filling?" He gave a smile.
Aikio gave a short laugh, "I'm sorry if it seems like I'm not thrilled to be serving under you Ukitake-taichou it's just…" She looked back at the letter, "I just feel as this is a mistake."
Jushiro patted her head, "Don't worry Aikio, I have faith in you, and I'm sure Hisagi-fukoutaichou does as well."
'Oh no.' She thought, now looking at him.
Shuuhei had a shocked face but placed a hand on her back. "Congratulations Aikio, looks like you're starting to get on par with me."
Aikio noticed the hidden emotion, but didn't say anything. Jushiro decided to end the silence, "Aikio, since the showdowns tomorrow, I want you to stay with Hisagi-fukoutaichou, since it's all ready been agreed that you're to help guard the pillars."
That took her back, "Ukitake-taichou, are you sure?"
Jushiro nodded, "Besides, after this battle, you'll be spending a lot of time in the 13th division, so spend as much time as you can with the 9th division." He, again, patted her head and walked out.
Aikio kept looking down at the paper, reading it again and again, waiting for some to say 'surprise it was a joke!' but it didn't happen..
"I guess I'm going to have to start calling you Shiimakida-fukoutaichou now on." Shuuhei said, not taking his hand off her back.
"I… I don't want to be a fukoutaichou, that's the problem, and please don't." She spoke, looking up at him.
"You're going to do fine, Aikio." He said, taking her face into his hands, bringing her close. "You've helped me out with my duties, you know how to act like a fukoutaichou than anyone else does, you don't have to worry, and if you need any help, you know I won't bite."
Aikio placed her hands just under his wrist, "Shuuhei…" She then broke free, burying her face in his chest, "I don't want to move divisions.. I have nothing against Ukitake-taichou or anyone else… I just…"
Shuuhei was taken back, but hugged her, laying his chin on the top of her head, "Aikio. You worry too much." He whispered. He could feel his heart pound in his chest. 'Why…' He ignored it, "And it's not like you're never going to see me, we'll see each other at the boring fukoutaichou meetings." He spoke trying to get her to laugh, which it did. "Now come on, we need to start heading out."
She nodded, and without another word, they walked out.
eek! So close to the big battle!!! was it a shock!? Oh! And i personally wnat to thank everyone who commented and everything! You don't know how much it means to know that people actually read this stuff! thanks!!