Hey
guys!
How's your summer vacation going? I sure hope it's been
more exciting than mine. Work, work, work. Gosh I've been tired
lately too. I can never sleep anymore. But I guess that's got its
benefits, because I've spent many a midnight hour wondering in what
direction this story should be going. Well, I've finally decided.
So read on~!
And tell me what you think, okay?
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I'd like to say it was the pale morning sunlight that woke me up, or perhaps the caress of a gentle breeze. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
"Momooo," A voice whines from the doorway, accompanied by a persistent series of knocks. "Come on, let me in. You know how bored I am on my days off! Let's go shopping! No, no --- out for lunch!"
Lunch already? How late have I slept in?
Still half asleep, I roll over groggily. I struggle to resist the overwhelming urge to pull my pillow over my head and succumb to the appealing prospect of Rangiku free dreams. I choose instead to pull myself into a half sitting position and shake off the last dregs of sleep. In my haste, I nearly crush the small object sitting beside me on my mat.
Confused, I pick up the trinket and examine it more closely. Immediately I'm stricken by its loveliness. Bearing the likeness of small flower, I marvel at the detail in which it was made. Every petal seemed to have been constructed with the utmost care. It shines a pale, opalescent blue in the early afternoon light, and I can't help but wonder at its material. So smooth and delicate. I rub it between my fingers, slowly so as not to scratch it. Cold to the touch. One would almost think it's ice...
Realisation strikes me with such shock, that I almost drop the flower.
Shiro-chan.
"Let me in," Rangiku persists. I'd nearly forgotten about her. "Momo, you meanie. Do you want to see me cry, is that what you want? Because I will!"
She's so melodramatic. Ignoring her loud complains, I search my room for a note. An explanation for his abrupt absence. After what happened last night, he can't have left so suddenly. No goodbye, no nothing? That's not true, I suppose. I glace at the glass flower, now lying haphazardly on the table. Discarded but certainly not forgotten.
Shaking my head, I decide I'm the one who's being overly dramatic. The flower is a charming, unique gift. Running my fingers over its small leaves, I notice the lack of water on the table. Shouldn't it be melting? It is made of ice. But no, my hands are dry. How strange.
With a sigh, I take my time dressing. Relishing the time Rangiku spends in anticipation of my tardy welcome, I pin my hair back into its usual bun. I notice how healthy and soft it's starting to become, and can hardly keep a smile off my face. It's good to start feeling like myself again!
Finally, I can delay it no longer. Dropping my icy present into my pocket and sending out a silent prayer that it doesn't get crushed, I pull open the door. Rangiku, who had evidently opted to leaning on the door instead of pounding its poor wood endlessly, tumbles awkwardly into the room. Her hair is fashioned into a sleek bob, I notice. Makes it seem as though Ikaku's heartless prank is more of a gift than a curse.
"My little lieutenant buddy," Rangiku murmurs as she pats my head affectionately. Do I look like a cat? I certainly dislike being fondled like one. "I've got news for you. Not just news, gossip!"
Oh joy. I can hardly contain my excitement.
Though I know she can't hear my subconscious sarcasm, I figure she can at least sense my solemn mood. No such luck. Why is it so hard for a girl to be able to mope in peace, these days? Making herself comfortable in my ratty old desk chair, she turns to me. Her face is alive with the anticipation of sharing a scandalous secret.
"You know how things are so chaotic right now?" Rangiku begins, her tone taking on serious edge. "Because we've got three squads without proper Captains, and that whole Aizen thing going on in the real world."
I give an unenthusiastic nod. "Yeah, I've noticed."
"Well Commander-General Yamamoto has decided it's been long enough. Apparently, he's found someone good enough to take over as a new Captain for one of the squads! I'm not sure who she is, but I hear she's really something..."
It's as if time has stopped altogether. A new Captain? What squad would she be overtaking? A chill runs the length of my spine and a horrible notion occurs to me. Would it be the 5th squad? I know my competency has been harshly undermined lately. But would they really expect me to put my full trust and devotion into another Captain so soon?
"...meeting her, so that's why I'm even stuck in this boring situation. Without Captain Hitsugaya to order me around, I just don't know what to do with myself! I mean, I love having these days to myself an—"
"What did you say?" I ask, effectively cutting her off. "All the Captains are meeting with her now?"
"That's right."
So that explains his hasty exit this morning. He isn't embarrassed about what happened, nor does he regret it, I'm sure. He just had another obligation. Hugely relieved, I decide to give Rangiku my full attention now.
I bite nervously at my thumbnail. "What do you think she's like?"
"Who knows?" Rangiku throws up her arms in annoyance. "I hate not knowing! We're lieutenants, shouldn't we have the privilege of meeting her along with our Captains? It's not fair!"
"Oh, by the way," I ask, hoping I sound casual. "Do you know which squad she'll be leading?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's the 9th. I overheard Hisagi getting all giddy over the prospect of having a new girl in his life. Fat chance she'll give him the time of day!"
Once again, I feel as though the world's been lifted from my shoulders. How many more breaks am I going to get before my luck runs out? I guess I should count my blessings. Maybe things are finally going to change for the better now.
"HEY!" Rangiku exclaims, startling me out of my thoughts. "I know what we should do!"
Uh oh.
"How about we go and do a little reconnaissance of our own? Think of it as a personal mission."
She's trying to persuade me, because she believes I'm morally against such a blatant breach of ethics. But she's wrong.
"That sounds..." I take a deep breath and smile broadly. "Fantastic"
Rangiku, who had been eyeing me warily the whole time, jumps to her feet happily at the sound of these words. Wasting no time, and probably afraid I'd change my mind; she pulls me to my feet and out the door.
"Then let's get a move on!"
________________________________________________
Sleuthing is not easy. Especially when you're trying to mask your reitsu, while hiding alongside a girl who's about as subtle as a hallow attack. Lying flat on our stomachs, we gaze out from under our ingenious hiding spot. A large bush.
"Quit fidgeting or they'll see us for sure." I hiss.
This only sets her off. "I can't see anything! Why won't they move?"
As if obliging her, the crowd of Shinigami slowly begins to dissipate. Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake walk so near to where we lay, I'm certain we'll be discovered any second. But to my immense relief, they continue on without so much as a glance in our direction.
Wiping the anxious sweat from my brow, I feel a sharp pinch on my arm. "What'd you do that for—"
"Shhhh," Rangiku whispers, and points. "There she is"
Standing before us, flanked on both sides Captain Unohana and Captain Kuchiki, stands a young girl in a haori. Her long blonde hair is secured in tight pony tail and a pale pink headband pulls back her bangs from her lovely face. Her perfectly tan skin and slim, athletic body make me violently aware of how meek, and frail I must look in comparison. With those high cheekbones and rosy cheeks of hers, she looks as though she belongs more in the pages of a magazine then standing among us Shinigami.
"Yikes," Rangiku mumbles after several moments of silence. "She looks no older than you, Momo. She must be something, for Commander-General Yamamoto to pluck her from obscurity and appoint her Captain, like that."
I can only nod, finding it impossible to respond to such a statement.
"And wow," She continues. "Just look at those eyes!"
My gaze returns once more to her flawless face. Beneath a layer of long, dark lashes reside the most unusual eyes. Matching perfectly to her cotton headband, their pale pink color is unlike any I've ever seen. My stare doesn't go unnoticed; suddenly I feel her eyes meet mine. It's as though her cold stare has frozen my blood. I'm unable to move even an inch. For a second, I fear she will bring my presence to everyone's attention. But just as quickly as the feeling overwhelmed me; it's over. She releases me and turns back to her pleasant conversation with Captain Unohana.
That was close.
"Rangiku," I pull at her sleeve, desperately trying to capture her attention. "Please, I think we should go. I've seen enough of her."
But as I finish my frantic plea, I discover I haven't.
Waving goodbye to Captain Unohana and Kuchiki, she walks over to where Shiro-chan is sitting. When I say walk, I mean dance. Because with the lithe and grace in which she moves, the movement can be described as nothing less than a dance.
Shiro-chan looks as though he wishes he were somewhere else. I feel a smug sense of pleasure raise within me. Yes, I know where he wishes he were. But as she dances over to him and leans down to whisper something in his ear, my Shiro-chan looks up at her with amused eyes.
What?
She says something else, her pony tail shaking animatedly. I desperately wish I could hear what that harpy was saying. Probably something flirtatious and gaudy. As if to prove me point, Shiro-chan frowns and shakes his head. Getting to his feet, he begins to walk away. There you go, you witch. He won't have any of your sad little antics.
Her large, pink eyes fill with anger and resentment as she watches his retreating figure. I'm almost satisfied she's given up, when she smiles and dances after him. Linking her arm through his, she pulls him off down the road. Though he looks less than pleased, Shiro-chan makes no effort to shake her off.
"Well, would you look at that?" Rangiku laughs happily, slapping me on the back. "Looks like my Captain's got himself a little girlfriend."
___________________________________________________________
Does
he, now?
Little do you know, Rangiku, that she's sitting right
beside you!
Haha~! Okay!
Now I've done my part, you do
yours!
Comments, comments anyone?
