Sup! Here's Chapter Seven…sorry for the late update, reason is below…

Anyway, I'll leave you to read, hopeya enjoy it, and review!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach and probably never will…

But I do own this story and characters and plot.

Chapter Seven: The ice begins to melt…

'Stupid…idiot…crazy…evil…bastard,' Rino muttered, sprinting furiously over her cousin, 'I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR THIS!' she shouted, spotting the "figure" of Aki.

The figure turned around.

'That bastard, acting all cocky on me…just 'cause I'm younger,' Rino growled, unsheathing her Zanpakuto, she leapt up, bringing her the blade down on the dark figure.

Sparks flew as her blade met his, 'he managed to block me?' Rino blinked, glancing at his face. She paled, instantly recognising the trademark white hair and teal-green eyes, 'H-Hitsugaya-taichou?' she stammered.

He glanced down at her, eyebrows raised, 'Kaiyuki Rino', he murmured, 'What do you think you're doing?'

Rino blushed, suddenly glad that it was night. 'I-I mistook you for someone I know…' Rino explained, hurriedly sheathing her Zanpakuto.

Hitsugaya turned away and sheathed his Zanpakuto in one fluid motion. He frowned to himself.

Rino bit her lip, 'Um…are you going to report me?' She braced for the worst.

'No.'

Rino blinked. She looked up to thank him, but the white-haired taichou had disappeared.

Aki grinned, leaning on a tree a few metres away, 'Hmm…he's not as cold as he looks, well…besta luck Ri-chan, it's time I began my mission.' He disappeared.

Hitsugaya Toshirou

He frowned, 'Come out, I know you're there.'

Aki grinned, stepping into the moon light, 'Very good…you noticed me.'

Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes, 'I don't recognise you…state your squad and your purpose.'

Aki glanced at him, 'I'm a shinigami in training,' he replied gesturing at his academy robes, 'doesn't that explain enough?'

'Then why were you following me?' Hitsugaya tensed, gripping the hilt of his Zanpakuto, ready to draw at any moment.

Aki's smile disappeared, 'Oh, that's right…my purpose is to test you.'

Teal-green eyes widened, 'Test me?'

Aki fluidly unsheathed his Zanpakuto, 'Yes.'

Kaiyuki Rino

'Stupid Aki,' Rino muttered under her breath, 'getting me into trouble like that.' She closed her eyes, straining to locate her cousin's faint reiatsu. 'There!' Her eyes flew open, 'he's near the Juubantai Quarters…I wonder why?'

Hitsugaya Toshirou

Hitsugaya and Aki froze, 'Someone's coming,' Hitsugaya stated, releasing his grip on his Zanpakuto.'

Aki frowned, 'Ri-chan's better than I expected…' he chuckled, 'guess she found me.' He hastily sheathed his Zanpakuto just as Rino pounced on him,

'AKI!!' she shouted, 'I'm gonna KILL you! I got in so much trouble because of you!'

Aki cocked his head, 'By who?'

Rino frowned, 'By Hitsu…-' she faltered, finally noticing the white haired boy staring at the pair. He gave on final look at Aki then turned around, striding away.

'Eh? That was Hitsugaya-taichou…right?' Rino turned to face Aki, 'why was he here?'

Aki smiled, 'Oh…yeah, I just happened to bump into him as he was on his way back to the Juubantai Building.'

"Oh…kay,' Rino blinked, 'Oh yeah,' She glared at her blue-eyed cousin, 'That's right,' she murmured, her voice dangerously low.

'Huh?'

'TAKE BACK WHAT YOU SAID BEFORE!' Rino demanded.

Aki held his hand up in defeat, 'Okay, okay, I take them it back.'

Rino gaped at him, just when she was about to smack him, 'This isn't like Aki,' she thought, puzzled, 'normally he'd just ignore what I say and keep teasing me!'

Aki smiled sadly, 'Well it was nice catching up with you, Ri-chan…this'll be our last meeting for a while.'

'Huh? What do you…' her voice tailed off.

Aki had gone.

Hitsugaya brusquely strode into the 10th Division building, nodding at the guards, who in response bowed,

'Hitsugaya-taichou.'

'Welcome back Hitsugaya-taichou.'

The Taichou approached his office, 'Matsumoto!'

The blonde lieutenant appeared before him, kneeling, 'Hai taichou?'

'I want you to search through the records for a person named Aki,' Hitsugaya ordered, running his hand through his white-grey hair.

Matsumoto refrained from questioning his decision but instead asked, 'Do you have any appearance description?'

'Blue eyes, dark hair,' Hitsugaya replied, than narrowed his eyes, 'and if possible…find out his relationship with Kaiyuki.'

'Rino-chan?'

'Yes,' he replied, turning away from Matsumoto's searching gaze.

'Taichou…' Matsumoto murmured.

He stopped, looking back, 'Yes?'

She took a step forward, 'Just what happened to you, while you were out?'

Hitsugaya stared at her, 'Nothing,' he said after a moment's hesitation, 'I don't want Matsumoto to get involved.'

Matsumoto gazed sadly at her taichou's receding shadow, her eyes lit up in amusement, 'Maybe he's jealous,' she pondered, the thought suddenly striking her, 'How sweet…'

The Next Morning

Rino wrenched her eyes open. She frowned, 'Where am I?' Sitting up, she glanced around, 'Oh…I'm in my dorm room, must have gotten home, somehow.' She rolled out of bed, stretching her sore legs. Rubbing sleep out of her eyes, she hurriedly dragged a brush through her gold-streaked hair then proceeded to brush her teeth and wash her face. Towelling her face dry, she gazed at her reflection, she groaned, 'Ugh…academy today, another test of endurance between my patience and their glares.' Grumpy and annoyed, Rino left the room, not-at-all ready, to start a new day.

At that time in the Juubantai Building

*Knock! Knock!*

Hitsugaya glanced at the door, 'Come in.'

Matsumoto burst into the room, clutching a piece of paper. She held it to the Taichou's face, 'Is this the Aki you were looking for?' she asked, breathing hard.

Hitsugaya stared at the photo, before nodding, 'Yes.'

Matsumoto let out a sigh of disappointment, 'and I thought he finally fell for Rino…guess not.'

Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms, 'What?'

'Oh, nothing Taichou… well then I'll tell you the information I learned.' She cleared her throat, 'According to the record books, Aki is Rino-chan's cousin and currently resides in Hokutan, a part of West Rukongai.

'He lives in Rukongai?' Hitsugaya repeated, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.'

The lieutenant stared at him curiously, 'Hai taichou…'

'So he doesn't attend the Shinigami academy?'

'No…at least his name isn't down on the graduates or current pupils list. Nor is it in the previous pupils list.' She slipped the photo into one of the many folds in her robe, 'Why do you ask?'

'Never mind,' he muttered, getting up from his seat. He faced his subordinate, 'Matsumoto,' he said grimly, 'I'm going out…keep watch.' He left.

Matsumoto stared at her taichou's receding shadow, 'Keep watch for what?'

Rino trudged into the Zanpakuto training arena, blatantly ignoring the glares, stares and what-not her "fellow" classmates gave her.

The substitute sensei glanced at her, 'Kaiyuki Rino,' he paused, ruffling his blonde hair, 'It seems that you were absent yesterday…why is that?'

Rino bowed before blurting out her ready-made excuse, 'Sorry sir, I was feeling unwell…and uh, decided not to attend class for the day.'

The class sniggered, 'I bet she thinks she's too good for class.'

The sensei ignored them, 'Very well, please step back in line.'

Rino bowed again, 'Hai, sensei.'

'Thank God he accepted my excuse,' Rino inwardly sighed, then walked over to stand next to…Koutarou Ishikawa (the ex-top student).

Koutarou inwardly panicked, the colour of his face rivalling the girl's academy robes.

Rino glanced at him, raising an eyebrow, 'What's up with him?'

The sensei cleared his through, 'As Minazuri Naida is absent, I shall take part in the pairings for today's Zanpakuto Combat Class.'

With these words, the class instinctively bunched themselves into pairs, leaving Rino with the substitute sensei. She inwardly groaned.

He smiled reassuringly at her, 'Do not worry; I'll go easy on you…if that makes you feel better.'

Rino forced a smile as the class separated into pairs, picking an arena to fight in.

Unsheathing her Zanpakuto, Rino struggled to stay calm, 'I'm only fighting a sensei, someone who is sufficiently skilled in all forms of combat,' she thought, 'nothing to worry about…'

The relatively young sensei smiled once again, before drawing his own Zanpakuto, 'Are you ready?'

Rino swallowed hard, nodding slightly, 'Yes…I'm ready,' she replied weakly then charged.

Sparks flew as blade met blade, over and over again.

'Wow,' the sensei thought, 'this girl is amazing…no wonder she's going to be Dux for this year. Her skills are exceptional.'

Sweat began to drench both pupil and sensei as the "two minute fight" drew out to thirty minute battle, each fighting to gain the upper hand.

However, the battle was abruptly put to and end when the bell began to toll, signalling for the end of class. This left the two to wonder who would've won.

Panting hard, Rino bowed to the sensei, before staggering away, pausing only to sheath her Zanpakuto.

The sensei stared at her, 'I'd only meant to go easy on her…but in the end, she forced out my full strength. That girl could wipe out the Gotei 13 one day…'

The rest of the day was uneventful and the end of classes soon arrived. Grinning to herself, Rino glanced at the clocked, 'Only five more minutes,' she told herself as she dutifully took down notes…or at least pretended to.

The whole class bit back a cheer when the bell began to toll.

The teacher shook his head sadly, 'Very well, class dismissed.'

Chatting with each other, the class swiftly left the room with Rino in the lead, who was just as, or maybe even more, eager to get back to her dormitory room.

Humming softly, Rino unlocked the door to her room. Her face fell after a quick inspection of her room. She'd half-expected Aki to be there, waiting with he's idiotic smile, 'Damn…now I'm all lonely again,' Rino complained, blinking back tears as she stacked today's homework on her desk, 'I hope he comes back…soon.'

A few hours later

Rino let out a frustrated sigh, throwing her pen onto the table. 'Finally!' she exclaimed, ruffling her fringe, 'I've finished all my homework…I swear this is child cruelty or something.' Glancing outside, her face fell, 'Aaaw man, it's dark already…I can't train if I can't see where I'm going.' She peered through the window, grinning recklessly, 'but it's a full moon, so I might as well risk it.'

'Getting up, Rino ran through a few stretches as she attempted to return life to her stiff legs. Jumping up and down, Rino opened the window, shivering as cold air rushed inside, 'I forgot…it's colder at night.'

Kaisoumiraa laughed.

'Shut up…' Rino muttered as she leaped out the window, landing lightly on the rooves below. Rino closed her eyes, breathing deeply, 'Fresh air at last!' she exclaimed, setting off at a brisk jog, towards the clearing she had gone to the previous day.

Rino shivered as she neared the clearing, her academy robes billowed as a chilly breeze swept past, 'Is it just me, or is it really cold here?'

('Well I do believe that it is considerably colder,') Kaisoumiraa replied, attempting to mimic Rino's hohou(1)-sensei.

Rino giggled, 'Nice imitation…but anyway,' Rino paused, trying to think up of a positive outcome to this unwelcome event, 'this uh…"nice" weather,' Rino improvised, 'gives us a chance to build up our resilience against the cold!'

Kaisoumiraa mentally smacked her head, ('Our?') She repeated, ('You mean you…I don't get cold.')

'Oh, that's right,' Rino laughed, 'now that I think about it, a sword doesn't get cold…right?'

Kaisoumiraa gave an exasperated sigh. She gave up talking all together.

Rino pouted,'Fine then,' she said aloud, 'ignore me…see if I-AAAAH!'

She leaped back in alarm, inches from being impaled by a pillar of ice, 'WHAT THE HELL?!' She shouted, her voice echoing throughout the clearing. She staggered, a flicker of movement caught her eye, 'My GOD, what's with this enormous reiatsu?'

Whirling around, Rino found herself face-to-face with a white haired boy who looked around her age. Adorned with huge wings of ice and surrounded by towers of ice, it took Rino a moment to register that the boy in front of her was Hitsugaya Toshirou, 'H-Hitsugaya-taichou?'

Hitsugaya blinked, finally noticing the violet-eyed girl. Meeting her gaze, his concentration shattered, along with his ban kai, 'K-Kaiyuki-san?! What are you doing here?'

Rino bit back a giggle; the look on his face is hilarious…and kinda cute,

'Rangiku-san showed me…,' she said aloud, gesturing at the clearing which was now permanently defaced with ice, 'I usually train here.'

'Oh…I see,' he murmured, regaining his usual, cold composure,

'Matsumoto told me you achieved shi kai,' he added calmly, casually changing the subject.

Hyourinmaru chuckled, ('Not the most dignified position…hmm?')

Hitsugaya ignored him, curious that the girl before him seemed flushed with heat…even though the temperature was nearly below zero.

'Matsumoto helped me,' Rino explained, staring at the ground.

Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow, "At least she wasn't drinking sake,' he muttered darkly.

Rino bowed, 'I'm sorry for…uh, disturbing your training,' she murmured, turning a way, in an attempt to hid her red cheeks, 'What's wrong with me?' she thought in despair, cursing the person who invented academy robes that had the thickness of toilet paper.

('You like him?') Kaisoumiraa snickered.

'NO I DON'T!' Rino objected, 'Don't you start.'

('Aaah…the first sign of love is hate,') Kaisoumiraa replied, knowingly.

'That's...just a saying,' Rino protested lamely.

('A saying that tells the truth!') Kaisoumiraa added.

Rino frowned, 'Anyway…WHY WOULD I LIKE A GUY WHO HAS THE PERSONALITY OF AN ICE CUBE?!' Rino's eyes widened, 'Did I just say that out loud.'

Hitsugaya pretended not to hear, however, teal-green eyes betrayed his real thoughts. For once, he was glad about his ban kai's weather-changing qualities, as icy mist swirled around the two figures.

Rino bit her lip, clasping her hands together, in hope that this was just a dream…unfortunately for her, it wasn't.

This ominous mood was shattered when Matsumoto burst into the clearing, 'TAICHOU!' she shouted, her voice amplified by ice, creating formidable acoustics, 'TROUBLE IN RUKONGAI!'

Rino and the Hitsugaya winced, Matsumoto's voice was the last thing you wanted to hear after complete silence.

Hitsugaya was inwardly relieved, silently vowing to thank his lieutenant later.

Rino seemed to share his thought, and took this opportunity to disappear, 'ARIGATOU RANGIKU-SAN!' she inwardly cheered as she hurried away from the clearing, 'guess I'll save training for later…after all, I have all the time in the world.'

('Unless you get struck by lightening') Kaisoumiraa added.

'Just shut up…'

(1) Hohou: Foot Combat, i.e. Shunpo (sorry the spelling might not be correct)

THINGS I WANT TO SAY:

a) Sorry this took so long to upload…I had this HUGE writer's block halfway through, you would no if you've read Traición, anyway, I hoped you like it, CHAPTER EIGHT HAS BEEN WRITTEN! So it'll be up as soon as I've typed it up and got it back from my beta readers….I think they're on holidays =D

b) Sorry there might be a lot of mistakes…I did edit, but I haven't gotten this back from my Beta readers yet…so yeah…sorry.'

c)SPECIAL THANKS TO: Nettie, , JaggerjaquesShizuka, KurokamiHaruhi, the holy see (who's now also my beta reader =D) and Shutupvoices WHO ARE ALL AWESOME PEOPLE WHO REVIEW!!

d) Completely off track…but now I have TWO Beta Readers =D

e) Please review…and just because I feel nice, I'm going to give you a preview of Chapter Eight (not from the beginning)

Chapter Eight:

Rino turned around to find herself facing Koutarou Ishikawa, who seemed to be very flushed, 'from the heat maybe?' Rino wondered, smiling at the dark-haired boy, 'Hai, Koutarou-kun?'

'Uh…um…well…uh,' he stuttered, flushing a deeper shade of red, he seemed to be struggling to stay upright.

Rino cocked her head, puzzled, 'What's up?'

'I…uh, you see…I,' he stammered, trying to get the three words out.

Rino crossed her arms, her impatience getting the better of her, 'You what?'

'I LIKE YOU!' he blurted out.

=D Well that's all folk's, hope'd you like the story and preview.

--Melodicxstar--

p.s. REVIEW~~~!! Please =D