Chapter 7:
Sure enough, in the middle of the night, Rangiku awoke to the sound of someone tripping over the wire in the hallway. She jumped out of bed and opened the door. No one was there, but the broken wire had been pulled down the east wing. So that was where Hitsugaya was headed. She hurried down the hall after him.
Hitsugaya began to open random doors on his way down the long corridor. There must be at least one room that was cold. He really, really needed the cold. He opened one door after another and each one greeted him with a humid blast of air. Could these rooms be even warmer than the hallway itself? It sure seemed that way. How could anyone stand it?
He stopped in his tracks when he heard footsteps coming his way. A shirtless Yumichika was walking towards him. He looked as if he had just returned from the bathroom. He tugged his pants higher up his waist and yawned loudly, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. He stopped when he saw Hitsugaya.
"Oh, evening, Hitsugaya."
The white-haired boy said nothing.
"Ok, sorry… I mean, Captain Hitsugaya."
Hitsugaya focused his foggy half-lidded eyes on Yumichika's form. He knew this man. "Hi."
Yumichika ran a hand through his hair and moaned dramatically. "Oh, wow! Is it hot out tonight or what? Would you just look at me? My beautiful hair is all frizzy! None of those control shampoos are working in such intense heat… My poor hair..!"
Hitsugaya blinked slowly. "He was right. You are a pansy."
Yumichika's face twitched and turned back to Hitsugaya. "Wh- what did you just say?"
"You're a pansy. Just like he said."
"Who said that about me?" His eyes narrowed in anger.
"Ikkaku."
The Soul Reaper's face fell. "I- Ikkaku said that?" he stuttered.
Hitsugaya nodded. "Yeah. He also called you a prissy."
"He called me what?!"
He nodded his head again. "Yup. He said that a real man could hold is own better than you. He said that if you were, you could have stopped yourself from crashing through my window."
Yumichika turned away in anger. His face was red with fury and his fists were shaking. "Ohh, that uncouth, horrid, awful… conniving little..! How could he say that about me? Me?! Some friend he is! And after all I've done for him..?"
Hitsugaya let out a soft snore, but Yumichika was far too busy raging to notice. "But maybe he's right… You do talk about beauty a lot…"
"I can't help it if I'm more cultured than he is!"
"… And your hair…"
"At least I have it!" He stomped his foot on the ground. "Grragh! He's just jealous, that's all! I mean really… Questioning my masculinity? Is he calling me gay?! I most certainly am not! I'll have you know, I've had plenty of girls looking my way… Women love a man with a good sense of taste. And I have that! Ha! He thinks he's the real man?! Please! The only thing he has going for him is that chrome dome he calls a head! Sure, some girls like bald heads, but really! He's far too violent and boorish!"
Hitsugaya blinked again, watching Yumichika's face change a deeper shade of red. "Are you sure you're not gay?"
Yumichika spun around. "Positive!"
"Not even with Ikkaku?"
His face turned even redder. "Never! That's sick!"
"But you're blushing…"
"Am NOT! I'm red with rage!" He sank his fist deep into his open palm. "Ohhh! When I get my hands on that Ikkaku, I'm gonna..!" He stormed down the hall seething with rage.
Hitsugaya blinked and watched Yumichika disappear down the hall. He didn't think much of it at all. He didn't even realize that he had done anything wrong. His eyes fluttered with heaviness. It was too much work to keep them open any longer. He closed his eyes and continued his march down the hall.
~*~*~
Rangiku hurried down the hall when she spotted Yumichika stomping in the opposite direction. She could hear him muttering curses under his breath as he went, wringing his knuckles.
"Ohh… When I get my hands on him, he'll be lucky if he has any bones left..! That jealous little… I swear, if he thinks he can get away with this..!"
Rangiku stopped and watched him. "Uh, Yumichika..?"
"Pansy? Me? Really! Of all the..! He has the nerve to make fun of my hair? Oh, I'm sure he did! At least I have hair to comb! I'm sure he waxes his head, the little..! I'll kill him! Some friend he is! A prissy? I'll show him! Why, I oughta..!"
Rangiku watched him turn the corner and vanish from view. He didn't even see her there he was so angry! What could have caused..?
"Could it be..? Hitsugaya?" She hurried down the hall Yumichika came from. He must be down here somewhere.
~*~*~
Hitsugaya wondered down hallway after hallway, but everything was so hot! He had to find something to cool himself down with before he melted! Maybe down here…
He opened one door after another with no such luck. Why was everything so hot?! He went downstairs and started opening the doors he found down there.
No. Nope. No. No. N- Wait.
He opened the door and stuck his head inside. It was refreshingly cool in this room. Wow, it felt good.
"Ah..! Cold!" he sighed blissfully and hurried inside. This room was perfect!
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What room is he in? Read and find out and don't forget to review!
