A/N: Hola pplz! So, um . . . okay, I got discouraged. I started writing White Fire as a side story just for fun, but then it started getting even more reviews than this one so I kind of, er . . . made this my side story instead. What can I say ? I love the ppl who review my story, so review everyone!
Hasta la pasta!
-B
Disclaimer: Only 1 winner per household. Do not disturb. All models are over 18 years of age. Apply only to infected areas. If condition persists, consult your physician. Take two of these and call me in the morning. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Now with new plastic applicator. High altitude directions-increase cook time by 10 minutes. I do not own Bleach.
M-A-K-I-N-G-E-N-E-M-I-E-S
How About Now?
"Oww-"
I immediately clamped my hand over my mouth, cutting off the painfully loud vocal reaction that came with running face-first into a wall. A wall that I apparently hadn't been aware of until right about then. I rubbed my forehead pitifully, already feeling a goose egg. The light touch sent shocks, making my head pound. Obviously, my ability, or lack of ability really, to see in the dark hadn't improved all that much in the past few years. I thrust my hands out in front of me, providing some kind of barrier for anything else that I was in danger of slamming into.
I edged along the wall, more slowly now, mentally slapping myself for having such stupid ideas. It happened every, single time. I would have this great burst of spectacular inspiration, and run off without a second thought, only to have my parade rained on by something dumb like not being able to see six inches in front of my face. Honestly, I never thought anything through anymore; just ran off of pure instinct.
Suddenly, my foot caught something strewn haphazardly across the ground, and I, being my graceful self, fell right on top of whatever it was. Luckily for me, the thing broke my fall quite nicely. In fact, it was surprisingly cushiony. I clumsily pushed myself up using my elbow.
"Ow!"
I squealed, practically shooting four feet in the air as the squishy object under me made a sound.
"What do you want with me?" I demanded, my blood draining.
"Mmo- . . . yrr on mry frce."
Hmm. Funny, that fluffy thing sounded suspiciously like . . .
"Oh, Toshiro!" I exclaimed, getting up wobbly and trying not to step all over my best friend. "I'm sorry! I thought you were - Hey, what are you doing sleeping on the floor?" I felt one of Toshiro's hands grip my shoulder, steadying me, while the other went over my mouth to keep me from speaking. I angrily demanded that he let go but my protests just sounded like mumbled gibberish through his fingers, so I doubt he understood any of it.
"Calm down, Momo," Although I couldn't see Toshiro at all, I could imagine the eye roll he was giving me simply by the tone of his voice. "You'll wake the whole building up in five minutes at the rate you're going."
"Hmph," I sighed sharply, but lowered my voice regardless. "Don't you have a bed?"
"Yes," Toshiro said in a hushed tone. "But Rangiku doesn't, so I let her use mine."
"Oh," I said, a strange, bittery feeling filling my stomach. Of course, he would let Ran use his bed. She was his lieutenant, after all; his second. I briefly wondered if Captain Aizen would do the same for me, if put in the situation that Toshiro was in. Of course he would, I told myself. He cared for me.
"What are you doing here, Momo?" Toshiro inquired, bringing me back to earth. I hesitated. No "What's wrong with you, Hinamori?" or "Get out of here, Traitor!" He was acting as if he still liked me, which I knew very well was not the case. After all, how could it be. He must have been half-asleep, I decided, of he would have kicked me out of there the minute he saw me within ten feet of him.
I remembered all too well the way Toshiro had shunned me the last time. He wouldn't talk to me at all; wouldn't even look at me. The thought of him being like that all over again made me want to cry.
But I couldn't.
Because that would be weak.
"Um . . ." I started, unsure how to phrase what I actually wanted to ask. I improvised. "Well, you see . . . let'sgooutsidethere'smorelight." I blurted out the last sentence in a not-so-affective attempt to stall for time.
"Whatever you say, Momo . . ."
M-A-K-I-N-G-E-N-E-M-I-E-S
I savored what little that I could actually see as we stepped outside the barracks. The felling of dread, all but gone for a few precious moments, was now seeping back into my consciousness once again.
"Are you going to tell me why you're here now?"
Unwillingly, I turned to look at Toshiro, wringing my hands frantically to give them something, anything, to do. My body tensed uncomfortably and you would've thought, by the looks of things, that I had Attention Deficit Disorder. He looked kind of beautiful in the moonlight. His intent eyes glowed silver, like the reflection off of starlit snow. He stood with his arms crossed and one thin eyebrow raised expectantly. I opened my mouth to spill the truth, but chickened out. Again.
"I just . . . get so lonely in my room," I offered, making it sound like a question.
Darn.
Toshiro leaned forward and squinted at me, his mouth slightly open, making me feel like a bug under a magnifying glass. I looked down and fidgeted with my too-long sleeves, refusing to make eye contact. I knew exactly what he was doing.
"You're lying," he said finally, after a long silence. Alright, so . . . maybe he wasn't half-asleep after all. I sighed internally. That was the problem with trying to lie to someone who's known you your whole life: You can't.
Still, I tried.
"How do you know I'm lying?" I challenged, putting on my best 'skeptical face.' Toshiro just smirked.
"Your voice shook, you were fidgeting and you wouldn't look me in the eyes," he answered promptly.
I glared. Stupid know-it-all.
Despite himself, he seemed to find my anger pretty amusing because a hint of that old 'I'm-a-child-genius-and-there's-nothing-you-can-do-about-it' smirk pulled tauntingly at the edges of his mouth.
"Why won't you tell me why you're here, Momo?" he asked again, still smirking.
"Because . . ." I gave in wearily. "Because you'll just tell me to quit being stupid and go home." It was exactly the sort of response that I always got from him. This time would be no different than any other.
"Momo . . ." he complained, looking up at the sky, as if the answer could somehow be found there instead. I shook my head and pressed my lips together stubbornly. No way was he going to be getting this one out of me. Toshiro sighed sharply at my silence.
"Well, if you're not going to tell me, then I'm going back to sleep," he said, turning to leave me. If there was one thing I did not want, it was to be left by myself outside the barracks. I waited just a few more moments to make sure that he was not just bluffing. He wasn't.
"Oh . . . okay, fine," I said quickly, not at all keen on being left alone in the dark. I waited another short moment before speaking, closing my eyes and taking in a slow, deliberate breath.
"I, er, had to come and make sure you didn't hate me, now," I admitted, talking a little too fast. "Izuru sure does . . ." In the dark, I could just make out the movement of Toshiro crossing his arms and frowning in disapproval as I spoke.
"Hmph. So that's what this is about, huh?" he asked indifferently, sounding a bit disappointed, as if my question was hardly a call for distress. I nodded, giving him a serene look. Wasn't that enough to be concerned about?
"Weren't you paying attention at all the other night, dummy?" Toshiro scoffed, going all 'protector' on me. "You asked me the same exact question." His voice, to anyone else, would have sounded impatient and slightly rude, but I knew him well enough to recognize it as Toshiro's way of reassuring me. If he sounded sure of himself, then he figured that I wouldn't worry so much.
"Fine," I sighed, deflating. "Just checking." He snorted.
"Well, I gave you an answer, so go to bed now and get rid of those purple rings." I smiled. To anyone else, his farewell sentence would have been horribly insulting.
But I knew better.
M-A-K-I-N-G-E-N-E-M-I-E-S
A/N: Reviews make the world go 'round! (or at least in my world they do) Read&Review!
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