Hooray for my first reviewer, elizabeth!
*imaginary crowd cheers*
Anyway... I got impatient of waiting for more reviews. One is good enough!
I want to see how people think of my longest chapter ever!
It was also the most fun to write out of all of them, I believe.
The next chapter was also real fun, because that's where most of the romance comes in ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Sadly.
Chapter 7 – The Festival
Ariea's POV
I slowly wake up, rubbing my eyes and stretching my arms.
Good morning, sleeping beauty. Took you long enough to wake up chimed Elesiea
Sorry about that Elesiea… just a bit of beauty sleep.
Oh come on, you don't need THAT much beauty sleep. Now come on, he's waiting for you outside.
How do you know he's waiting for me outside?
I can talk to his zanpakuto, didn'tcha know?
What does his zanpakuto think about me, after fighting him?
I'll be sure to ask him that the next time I see Hyorinmaru!
I sigh and get up from bed. Immediately, I stumble and nearly fall.
How long was I out again?
2-3 days.
You didn't bother to wake me up? Jeez.
Myeh, I said I was sorry! Toshiro-chan didn't wake you up because, or at least his zanpakuto says, he thought you looked so peaceful and happy in your sleep.
Damn it, Toshiro!
Elesiea giggles; you're starting to sound like Toshiro-chan with Rangiku!
I shake my head and stand up once more, this time more slowly. I look at the picture I drew nearly a week ago on my wall.
Is that really what you look like, Elesiea? I ask
Of course! All though all you have to do is ask and you can see me in my physical form!
I'll keep you in bracelet form for the time being, thank you very much. I'd rather not have all of your embarrassing thoughts to be said out loud.
You're no fun, Ariea-chan!
I giggle and begin to dress myself. As I'm walking out the door I hear the most relaxing sound I've ever heard
"MATSUMOTO!" yells Toshiro, obviously angry
"Get the hell back here and finish your paperwork!" he calls after her
"But taicho… I'm busy tonight! I need to get ready for the festival! I need to go shopping!" she yells behind her, listing off excuses
I walk up behind him, he hasn't noticed me yet.
"What festival?" I ask
Rangiku immediately returns to the room when she hears my voice.
She puts me into one of those suffocating booby hugs of hers.
"C-c-cant… b-breath…" I squeak.
She lets go of me before she explains.
"It's a special festival! People dress up in all sorts of costumes, normally hollows, but also other kinds of monsters as well! I believe people in the real world call it 'Halloween!' exciting, isn't it?" She says
"I need to find the perfect costume if I'm ever going to get a date for the after-party! I'm thinking of going as a sexy witch, or maybe a maid!" she says, pondering her options.
"Well, I already know what to use for my costume. I won't be joining you until the festival. See you guys later." I say, walking out the door.
Now to start my costume.
You'll help me, won't you Elesiea?
I'm so excited for the festival! Of course I will!
A few hours later at the festival…
Toshiro's POV
"Think we should look for Ariea? She's not here yet and the festival's about to begin!" said Momo worryingly. She was dressed as an unidentified captain, complete with a haori.
"Don't worry, Momo-kun, she's never one to be late for anything! I wonder if I can convince her to compete with me in the sake drinking contest…" said Rangiku, dressed as a panther, complete with ripped clothes and a tiger lining pelt.
"I agree with Rangiku, she'll come when she's ready. Although I highly doubt she'll join you in the contest," I say. I decided to dress up as a wolf-man, or were-wolf.
We're rushing to catch the opening ceremony when we're stopped by two little girls who appear to be identical twins. They're both wearing green dresses and have gray eyes with long, wavy brown hair. Both also have the bracelet that Ariea calls," Elesiea,"
"How do'ya like my costume, Toshiro-chan?" both of them ask in identical voices. They curtsy in their little dresses, copying each other's movements to the millimeter.
"Which one is the real you?" I ask, slightly amused even though I don't show it.
"We're both the real me, silly!" they say giggling.
Rangiku immediately becomes enamored by them, "They're so cute! Aw, I'm going to take a picture of you two!" she says, pulling out her camera.
The girls pose, putting their arms around each other's waists and making a peace sign at the camera while making the most adorable smile I had ever seen.
When I said adorable, I meant down-right adorable. Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya is not a person who says or even thinks the word adorable.
"Well, come on you two! The ceremony's about to start!" Says Momo-chan.
We hurry and rush towards the opening ceremony.
We manage to get there in time, getting there right as the curtains open to reveal the head captain.
"Today's festivities will begin with the Sake drinking contest, followed by the prank wars! The pranks as well as the Sake drinking contest will be judged by those highest ranking who are not drunk. This meaning Captain Unohana, Captain Kuchiki, Captain Ukitake, and Captain Hitsugaya! Afterwards we will have the dance accompanied by food and drinks, which will end in judging the best costume award! The person with the best costume will be allowed to skip out on any paperwork which will then be given to their respective captain for an entire month!" Yamamoto said. Cheers erupted from the crowds of shinigami.
The two younger girls at my side yawn," Boring! Shouldn't the stakes be set a bit higher? Oh well, time to join the Sake drinking contest!"
I look with an eyebrow raised at them," Aren't you a bit young to be drinking Sake?"
They giggle and look at me," We're smart drinkers; we would never get drunk doing something as little as a Sake drinking contest!" they then giggle and run away together, joining the contest.
The contest begins with the usual drinkers. As time goes on the only people left are the head captain, Captain Shunsui, Rangiku, and the 2 girls.
All of them are around their 30th bowl of Sake. Rangiku begins to look a bit woozy, and then finally passes out. Captain Shunsui follows soon after.
Finally, it's only Head-Captain Yamamoto and the 2 young girls. People are amazed because the girls don't look the least bit drunk and neither does Head-Captain Yamamoto.
They approach their 40th and then their 60th bowl. Will those 3 ever stop?
Then suddenly, one of the girls puts a hand over her stomach and a hand over her mouth. For once the other doesn't mimic her. The girl runs off screaming, "I'm gonna throw up! It's too rich!"
Head-Captain Yamamoto keeps eyeing the remaining girl. They both chug down their bowls at a fast rate.
Finally, for fear of them dying for too much alcohol, they stop at 100 cups of Sake and it is pronounced a draw by me and the other Captains.
People are applauding the young girl for being able to stand up against someone whose been drinking Sake for over 300 years.
I get suspicious about the girl's sake bottles, because they seem to be a different color then regular Sake.
I walk over and take a sip from the bottle. Captain Ukitake looks and me and winks, along with the winning girl.
The 2 girls had been drinking MILK from the bottles, not Sake. I nearly burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it.
The girl who had gotten sick finally returned to her twins' side. They begin to whisper to each other, no doubt planning for the prank wars.
Head-Captain Yamamoto begins to address the shinigami once more," It is time for the prank wars! In the prank wars, you have 2 hours to devise a prank to pull on any captain or lieutenant of your choice! The prank must be successful and must not be done on any of the judging captains, unless you just can't help yourself. Needless to say, I am not someone you may want to prank because I will most probably get back at you for it! 2 hours starts, NOW!"
Everyone begins to huddle into groups and break off to begin their pranks.
I begin to eye the two girls skipping off hand in hand, wondering what they'll be doing for their prank.
I continue to supervise the others as they begin to pull off their pranks.
About an hour later, I hear Rangiku scream. "TAICHO!" she yells," It's the two girls! One of them has been caught by a strong hollow and the other is trying to save her!"
I immediately begin to shunpo towards Rangiku; she shows me the way to the two girls.
I hear a hollow roar and a young girl screaming.
We approach a clearing near a cliff where we see a large hollow with a large, balloon-like head and nearly 20 tentacles with hands on the ends of them.
One of them is holding one of the girls.
"Ariea!" yells the girl on the ground; I'm guessing this is Elesiea.
Ariea, the one caught by the hollow, begins to scream and cry for Elesiea.
The hollow begins to tighten his grip around her.
"Tasty little girl meat for beautiful hollow!" roars the hollow
"Get off Ariea, you big nasty hollow!" yells Elesiea. She then shunpos and makes an extremely powerful kick to the tentacle holding Ariea.
A nearby tentacle just grabs Elesiea and holds her tight.
They both begin to scream and cry out, "Toshiro-kun!"
I take out Hyorinmaru and attack the hollow. The hollow, instead of dodging, places Ariea and Elesiea directly in my path, and uses them as a human shield.
I scowl and stop.
"Let them go!" I yell, enraged that the hollow even thought about hurting them.
"Let them go!" mimics the Hollow with my voice exactly
"Stop that!" I yell
"Stop that!" he repeats
"Hey, the hell you think you're doing copying my voice? My voice is my voice! Stop it!"
"Blah, blah, blah! Myeh, Myeh, Myeh! Whine, whine, and whine!" says the hollow in my voice.
"Look at me, I'm Hitsugaya-taicho!" continues the hollow, acting like a snob," I'm as cold as ice and I have to keep my reputation by acting BORING, BORING, BORING!"
Finally something snaps.
I look up at the hollow with a terrifyingly calm face.
"If you think I'm so boring, then why don't you meet Hyorinmaru? He's much better suited for people like you."
"BAN… KAI!" I yell, releasing Hyorinmaru.
The Hollow actually has fear in his eyes; as well do Ariea and Elesiea.
I swiftly and easily cut off the head of the hollow, but my surprise when what I cut through isn't flesh, but machinery!
Inside the head sits Captain Mayuri.
I stop and start the turn my icy glare to the people behind me.
All the shinigami are present, and Rangiku is holding a camera.
The crowd starts to inch back except for the Captains and Rangiku with the camera.
I turn the stare to Rangiku, who gulps in nervousness.
"How many of you were in on it?" I ask calmly.
Rangiku, Captain Mayuri, Momo, Ariea, and Elesiea raise their hands.
"Rangiku, I still expect you to finish paperwork after you're done with your month." I say calmly, although inside I was nearly bursting in anger.
I'm about to shunpo away when Ariea and Elesiea grab the ends of my captain's haori.
I look down at them. Both of them look like they're on the verge of tears.
"Toshiro-kun, it was my fault, I came up with the idea to prank you like this. I accept full responsibility. Please don't be angry at anyone else. It was me!" Says Ariea, looking down guiltily.
"Toshiro-kun, it was my fault too, I came up with the idea to have Captain Mayuri help us. I also accept full responsibility." Says Elesiea, doing the same thing.
They stand side by side, looking down at their feet. They both look as if they're struggling to fight the tears coming to their eyes.
All of a sudden I'm very uncomfortable. I have 2 little girls that I've made go to tears and I have no idea how to stop it.
Suddenly, I've got it.
"One moment, I'll be right back." I say, patting their heads.
They look up in confusion, but I'm already gone.
When I return and offer my gift to them, nearly the entire Seireitei gasp.
"Captain! You would give them…" says Rangiku
"But you've never shared it with anyone before!" cried Momo
"Are you sure you want to give them some?" says Captain Ukitake.
In the 2 girls' hands, lies one of my perfect watermelons.
"He never shares it with anyone! He goes berserks whenever someone tries to touch them!" whispered shinigami from the crowd.
"Does he really want them to be happy that badly?" another one whispers
Ariea and Elesiea look at each other and then split the watermelon into thirds. They give one-third to me and one-third to themselves.
They take a big bite and then gasp their open mouths almost so that the watermelon falls out.
Tears then begin to gather at their eyes.
"Toshiro-kun… tastes like… the watermelon tastes like…" they stammer
"HOME!" they cry out, bursting into tears. I stand frozen, not sure what to do.
They hug each other, being careful not to drop or damage their precious watermelon.
I hear their small whispers to each other," Home…" says Elesiea
"From mom's garden!" whispers Ariea.
They both smile as they take another large bite from their watermelons.
"Toshiro-chan!" they cry out, jumping into my arms, giving me a big hug. They also kiss me on each cheek. I hear Rangiku's camera shutter.
My cheeks blush shyly at the gesture.
I can hear all the shinigami 'Awww' at the sight.
"The winners of the prank wars are Ariea Rin and Elesiea Rin along with their accomplices in crime!" yells out Head-Captain Yamamoto.
The shinigami cheer, especially happy with this year's winners.
We all walk back towards the large clearing where the dance is taken place.
I dance with both Ariea and Elesiea, one hand of each in my two hands. I spin and twirl them as if they're princesses.
Ariea, never really wanting to be a princess when she was younger, feels the delight of actually being one.
Me seeing Ariea so happy makes me want to smile myself, but I keep it down to a contented look.
They both giggle when I dance with both of them at once during a slow song.
Then they begin to fight over who I'll dance with alone, the winner being Elesiea.
Rangiku giggles and makes little heart signs with her hands.
I give her an icy look, but she doesn't stop.
Finally, the dance portion of the festival is over, and the costume contest begins.
I just love happy endings. One thing I didn't really like was the ending, can you guys see Toshiro-chan dancing with 2 twin girls that look like they're 5 years old?
I had a little trouble with that too, but I didn't want Toshiro-chan to be stuck in the corner of the room, doing nothing.
That's probably where he ends up at most of these things if he's not with anyone! Also, there kind of a song-fic in the next chapter, but only because I couldn't resist adding it.
Let's just say I set the mood while they did the rest ;)
Until next time!
