Hello! I'll be going away for a week this Saturday, so I'm warning you in advance that there won't be any updates until I get back. This chapter is probably one of the shortest since the prologue and the slowest. It's also probably as fluffy as I will ever get. I'm horrible at really romancy stuff. I hope you enjoy it. Tell me what you think. More action next time.
If I owned Bleach, Diamond Dust Rebellion would already be out over here. "Tow Worlds" by Phil Collins or from the Tarzan Soundtrack. However you want to say it.
Two Worlds
Matsumoto had learned a lot about the mysterious boy-genius during the last year.
She had learned he spent at least half and hour practicing every day. She had learned he could find the solution to a problem in half the time it usually took people. She had learned he could scare off most subordinates with just a glare. She had learned he handled his work with competence and seriousness, no matter what the task might be.
She had learned that he had only been in Rukongai for a little over three years before they had met. She had learned that he loved watermelon and would go out of his way to find the huge fruit. She had learned that he hated warm weather, something they attributed to Hyourinmaru's influence. She learned that he would sneak down to Rukongai from time to time to visit his 'granny' and the gate guardian he had befriended.
She had learned that he would do anything for the few people that were precious to him.
And this morning revealed another interesting, if not annoying, fact.
He was a morning person.
Growling into the pillow, she silently cursed the construction crew that had taken up residence in her head. Shifting so a curtain of her hair blocked out the sunlight, she closed her eyes and fell back into the welcoming darkness that was sleep. Maybe growing out her hair had been a good idea after all. There was an annoyed expulsion of air from above her and another jab at her shoulder, this one more rough and demanding than the first. "Matsumoto- fukutaichou."
Groaning as the loud voice boomed in her ears, she clapped both hands over the small hearing instruments. He was doing this on purpose. She just knew it. She could hear the smirk in his voice. As she continued to ignore the insistent boy, the temperature dropped to levels that made her wince. "Matsumoto -fukutaichou." The frustration was dripping from his voice and she knew that he was trying hard not to turn her into an ice sculpture.
Oh well. There was no way she was moving from this couch. Not until the pounding between her temples stopped. He could try everything he wanted, but there was no way the brat was getting her up this early with this kind of hangover. "Go away." The pillows muffled her words, but she knew he had heard them.
"Matsumoto -fukutaichou. Is that how you speak to a commanding officer?" Damn him for sounding so much like the old man. Pursing her lips she glared at him between cracks in her hair.
"If the officer decides to wake me up at some god-forsaken hour while I have a hangover, then yes. Yes, that is how I speak to a commanding officer." There was a moment of tense silence as the blond bit her cheek. Idiot! You brought him here so he wouldn't have to deal with unruly subordinates. Not become one.
"It's eleven o'clock." The even voice surprised her. She had expected to either be frozen or have a serious verbal lashing for her insubordination. Glancing up, she looked at the clock. He was right. Groaning, she flopped back down on the pillows. Why did it feel so early?
Footsteps so quiet she would have missed them if there had been any other noise, moved toward the previously unoccupied captain's desk. Papers shuffled and the old chair squeaked with disuse. The dutiful scratching of a pen started up.
Sighing in defeat, she pushed herself up. Her head pounded and her vision blurred as she sat up. Her stomach clenched and she felt bile rise to her throat. How much had she had last night? "Unohana- taichou brought over a remedy. It's on your desk." Nodding numbly, the woman hesitantly got to her feet and crossed the short distance to her desk. A large cup of the stinking liquid bubbled on her desk, sitting innocently next to a pile of papers she had a feeling her new captain was going to make her do today, hangover or no hangover. She sent a glare at the cup before hesitantly lifting it to her lips.
The acidic taste burnt her tongue and throat as she swallowed. Holding back the tears that sprung to her eyes, she blinked and noticed a small slip of paper that had been covered by the cup. "I warned you." Crunching up the paper, she glanced over her shoulder at the boy sitting there. He was looking intently at his work, but a small smirk made his lips twitched as he tried to suppress it. Oh the brat was going to pay.
She sat down at her desk with a huff and crossed her arms over her large chest, hiding the wince the movement brought. At least the pain was starting to subside a little. She would really have to ask Unohana for the recipe. It was annoying and embarrassing to go all the way to the fourth whenever she had a hangover. Letting lose an overly dramatic sigh, she slowly picked up her own pen. This time the boy did look up and sent her a quick glare to keep quiet. Childishly pouting, her pen soon began to slide across the papers.
It must have been an hour of mind-numbing work, before Hitsugaya finally moved from his position at his desk. With a languid stretch and several pops, he stacked the papers at the corner of his desk and got up. Matsumoto looked up in surprise. He was already done! His stack of papers was nearly twice hers for heaven's sake. He noticed her gaze and smiled faintly. "I have to go observe the division's recruits' training. I'll be back later." He grabbed Hyourinmaru from where it was leaning beside his chair and fasten the worn and frayed rope across his chest. "Once your done with those, you can finish the ones under the couch." With a twirl of his haori, he exited the room.
Her mouth impersonated that of a fish out of water. Her grey eyes were wide as she glance between the door and the couch. How had he known? She had made sure that everything was completely hidden and unless someone was looking for them, they would never be found.
Getting up from her seat faster than her head allowed, she swayed in pace before jogging over to the couch. Crouching down, she didn't see any sign of paperwork. How had he... Kyouraku. No the carefree captain would never rat her out and she highly doubted Ise would either. She didn't remember saying anything about her hiding place last night either. Sighing, she took off the cushions and opened the zipper on the side. Sticking her hand in, she came out with a handful of crunched and wrinkled papers months old.
Groaning, she began to take out the numerous hidden papers. It would take forever to finish all these! And they were all so boring! That's why they had 'disappeared' in the first place. The brat was to smart for his own good. When she was finished she put the cushion back on the couch, noting how they sagged from the lack of 'stuffing'. He couch wasn't going to be very comfortable. Her eyes widened in realization.
He was doing this on purpose! The disgusting medicine, the load of paperwork during a hangover, and the de-fluffing of her couch. He had only been in the room once and already got rid of all her slacker techniques. She wasn't even going to check her sake stash. The probable state she would find it in was to much to bear.
Stomping over to her desk she let the mountain of paper cascade from her arms and onto her desk. Grabbing the pile of completed papers before they really disappeared, she walked over to the captain's desk, glaring at an invisible boy-genius. He was way too smart for his own good.
Slamming the paperwork on his desk, she smiled as his perfect pile scattered to cover the desk at the impact. Ha! Payback! She turned towards the door. No one messed with her sake and went unscathed. Hell had no fury like Matsumoto with her sake missing. Her fingers trailed across his desk, messing up the papers even more. She froze when they touched something more solid than a piece of paper.
Intrigued, she glanced at her hand where it lay next to a small, white box that had blended in so well with the piles of paper. Picking it up she was surprised to find a small card on top. "Matsumoto." Eyebrows quirked in suspicion, she opened the card. Hopefully it wasn't another assignment. "Thank you."She blinked owlishly. For what? He certainly hadn't enjoyed the party. What for then? Cracking the box open, she blinked. A scarf the softest color of pink was folded with perfection that could only be done by Hitsugaya's hands. Taking out the length of fabric, she was surprised at the smooth, cool feel of it. Silk. Letting the cloth run spill over her fingers, she smiled.
Leave it to the prodigy to notice she had lost her ascot during a mission when a hollow had gotten too close and nicked her. The blood stain had never come out. It had only been a few weeks since she had lost it and no one else had seemed to notice. Placing it behind her neck, she let the long scarf trail down her body.
Glancing back at the destruction she had left in her wake, she sighed and turned back to her charge's desk, picking up the scattered papers.
The training grounds were filled with shinigami as they practiced the four major combat forms for shinigami, swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, shunpo, and kidou. Fire balls leapt form hands and into moving targets in the middle of the dusty part of the area. Shinigami fought with each other in marked circles, using both hands and swords. Several practiced shunpo in the small maze and obstacle course set up in the corner of the vast training field.
In the middle, she could see the tuft of white hair and a white haori among a group she recognized as some of the seated officers of the division. They were organizing events and helping newer shinigami with techniques. Intelligent teal eyes watched the happenings carefully.
Even from her distance from the boy, she could see he was content with the... his division's abilities. There were mixed reactions towards the new captain though. The older and wiser warriors knew what it took to accomplish what the boy had done and treated him the proper respect. The younger, more arrogant reapers however kept giving him condescending looks. His outward appearance didn't give away his annoyance at the later, but she knew him well enough to understand his feelings.
He would have to prove himself to them. There was no way around it. The recruits wouldn't follow anyone they thought inadequate and their judgment of competence was slightly skewed. It would explain why Hitsugaya had brought Hyourinmaru to an observation. He knew what he would need to do. All it took was one idiot.
And there he was. Tall, broad-shouldered and good-looking. His strut was filled with so much arrogance it made her sick. How had someone like him gotten into this division? A smirk showed perfect teeth as he made a comment to the white-haired boy. It was probably a good thing she was out of hearing range, because some of the higher seats' faces were turning an angry red from whatever the idiot had said.
The boy turned around slowly to face the man and looked at him with a bored expression. He spoke quickly to the man and she smiled as the back of the moron's neck flushed red. The man yelled back in response. Now all attention was on the two in the center of the grounds. Perfect. Now he wouldn't have to do this more than once.
More words were exchanged, Hitsugaya's cold demeanor a contrast to his opponent's fiery disposition. For every yell from the man, the genius answered with a calm and collected voice.
Murmurs resounded throughout the training grounds as the idiot pulled out his sword and pointed it the small captain. Hitsugaya regarded him with the same bored expression, probably warning him what would happen if the man didn't re-sheath his sword. The warning went ignored of course and the moron charged. Mistake number one.
The captain sidestepped the wild swipes and easily blocked one he couldn't safely avoid. There was no way anyone below a captain status could beat the prodigy in swordsmanship. This would be over quickly.
The man thrust his sword at the prodigy who deflected it and started a counterattack. The moron jumped backward from the attack and gasped as the boy appeared where he was going to land. He tried to twist and parry the blow, but he couldn't position himself correctly in the air. The side of Hyourinmaru smash into the man's side and he collapsed with a groan.
Silence filled the training field as the recruits watched with wide eyes. Slowly more whispers started up until there was roar of noise. Instructors worked to regain order. A quick glance around the field from the young captain did what the instructors couldn't. The recruits began to train again, occasionally glancing over their shoulder at the boy-captain.
Giggling, Matsumoto leaned against the wall and watched a pain of shinigami race thought the obstacle course. That was easier than she expected. He hadn't done anything spectacular and yet he had shown he wasn't someone to mess with, that he deserved his titles. She looked back at the center and found teal eyes looking at her.
The boy sheathed Hyourinmaru and spoke to the officers around him. They nodded and he walked over to her.
"That was fast." She pointed her chin toward the crumpled man as he approached. The boy just rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Am I right in assuming you finished all the paperwork?" She nodded and smiled. "And I see you found it." His eyes landed on the silk scarf around her shoulders. Her smile widened into a grin. Usual ice cube. He wouldn't outwardly show emotions, but he had his own bizarre way of showing he cared.
She waved to the crowd in the training grounds and followed the boy as he exited the area. As soon as they were out of sight she pulled him bodily toward her and squished him against her. "Thank you Taichou. I love it." He scoffed and patted her on the arm around his neck before slipping from her grasp.
"Just make sure you don't lose this one the same way you lost the other one." Matsumoto nodded and smiled. Usual ice cube.
"What's this?" The teal eyes penetrated her own grey ones, demanding answers. She smiled slyly at him and shrugged.
"It's no fun if I tell you." At his frown, she sighed. "I never gave you a gift at your party so I figured I should give it to you after your first day as a captain." The boy looked at her suspiciously before extending his hand and taking the small box. She motioned for him to open it as she sat down on the lumpy couch.
He watched her for a moment before turning his attention to the box. The lip popped off and he looked at its contents. His eyebrow quirked as he glanced up at her. A self-satisfied smiled spread across her features and his lips twitched. "What is this?" The blond pouted from her seat and rest her chin on the back of the couch.
"Aw c'mon Taichou- kun! Don't be mean. You know what it is." He shot her a quick glare for the name, but let it slide this time, something she made sure to note.
"I know what it is, but why?" He looked honestly confused as he glanced from the box to her. "I don't get cold." She laughed. He sounded so much like a kid right now. Even the pout on his lips as she laughed at him revealed his true age.
"I know. It's not for that. It's for Hyourinmaru." The confusion only increased in his eyes. She could see the gears turning in his head, probably trying to picture the dragon wearing the small bit of cloth.
"Are you feeling alright Matsumoto- fukutaichou?"
"Not like that!" She giggled. "That old rope is going to break soon. I figured you needed something more formal now that you're a captain." Realization sparkled in his turquoise eyes as his lips twitched into a small smile. He grabbed his zanpakutou from beside him and undid the fraying knots on its sheath. The dirty and old rope dropped onto his desk and he reached inside the small box. His deft fingers pulled out the tough silk strip and tied the two ends to Hyourinmaru's sheath. He slipped the loop over his head and adjusted the length.
He glanced at himself in the mirror she had placed against the wall when it had just been her in this tiny room. The dark green cloth contrasted nicely with the whiteness of his hair and haori and accented the color of his eyes. A very nice choice if you asked her.
"Thank you." He looked at her and nodded his thanks before sitting down at his desk and started the work that someone had placed on his desk while they were out. The words sparked her memory and she looked up at the ceiling, playing with a lock of golden hair.
"Taichou?" The boy looked up from what he was writing and quirked an eyebrow. He put his pen aside and looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "On the card that was on the box you gave me, what did you mean by 'thank you'?" The genius sighed and the sound of the chair creaking made her turn her head. The boy stood against the doorframe leading to the garden, watching her with serious eyes.
"Exactly what it said. 'Thank you'." Her expression asked him to explain and he sighed in exhaustion. "Do you honestly think I could have passed the exam my myself?" He held up his hand as she began to argue and she found herself obeying him. "Do you think I would have passed it this early by myself?" His expression softened and a genuine smile touched his lips. "It's because of you that I was able to pass, and I am grateful. Since you obviously didn't understand earlier, thank you."
Matsumoto smiled back at him and got to her feet. Her arms wrapped around him in a gentle hug. "Thank you." He scoffed and hesitantly returned the gesture.
"Idiot."
