Chapter 10: What Could Possibly Be Next?

She ran. She ran fast. Her heart was racing beyond belief, to the point of bursting. 'How could he?!' Hoshichimei thought, 'He's my best friend! Why now?!'. Tears trailed down her flushed cheeks, glistening by the moons light. She continued to run, until she reached her destination; headquarters. Looking out to the training field, she began walking across it, when suddenly everything went black. A few minutes later, someone walked up, and noticing her body laying there, picked her up and walked off. It seemed like an eternity before she woke up, and when it happened, she had no idea where she was. Hoshichimei lifted herself slowly, trying to adjust her eyes to the dim lighting. Looking down she noticed a soft quilt laying over her, and beside her a cup of water on an elegant looking little it was for her she took it and drank quickly. Sliding the shaded door open, Shunsui stepped in and smiled. She blinked, "T-taichou!" then froze, "...Am...am I in..." His soft chuckle verberated through her body, "Don't worry about it Hoshi-chan. I found you passed out in the field, and figured you needed rest." Her fingers curled around the glass cup, "Th-thank you sir..." as she tried escaping his overwhelming gaze. Sitting down on the floor beside her, Shunsui pulled out a bottle of sake and took a slug, then asked, "Might I ask what caused you to pass out?" Hoshichimei bit her lip, 'He's so gentle...he's being so kind, and sweet to me...', then answered in a careful way, "Well...I was just...upset, I suppose." Shunsui's kind smile egged her on, "And...the stress from what I had went through, caused me to collapse. It's happened before." He raised an eyebrow, "Has it? I suppose we'll need to keep better watch over you. Now, what caused you to become upset?" She looked down, "Just...a friend." The lazy captain leaned against a cushion, and furrowed his brow, "Doesn't seem like a good friend, to make you so upset." Hoshichimei looked up to his face; the candle light was illuminating it, making him look overwhelmingly handsome. Her eyes directed to his, as her lip began to quiver, "N-no..taichou, he is my best friend...I'm sure he..he didn't mean what h-he said..."

A solemn tear escaped, begining to run down her face. Before she could get it herself, one of Shunsui's large hands was gently wiping it away. Her eyes widened a bit at his swift action, and especially at his closeness. "T-Taichou..." He gazed into her eyes with compassion, "It is Hisagi Shuuhei, from your old division, no?" She nodded slowly, still looking directly at him. He sighed, and pulled back, "I knew it, I knew he did." She raised an eyebrow, "You knew what, taichou?" Shunsui fiddled with his sake bottle, "I knew since the beginning, that kid is in love with yah." Her eyes widened, "You did?...But, how?" He shrugged, "It's pretty obvious, the way he looked at you. I think he's always loved you, no? So why is it that you're upset about it, why won't you be with him? Have you not known him nearly your whole life?" Hoshichimei felt like she had been punched in the stomache; the man she was in love with, was practically telling her to go for someone else! She stuttered, "Y-you...think that I...should be with him, taichou?" studying his eyes. They both gazed at eachother for several moments, before he broke the silence, "I think...you should do what makes you happy, Hoshi-chan." She looked away once again, "I want to do what makes me happy, I think what I want is the right choice...but how can I know for sure.." Shunsui shrugged, "I don't know that, and I don't think you ever will. You just need to take that chance, whatever happens...happens."

A large sigh came from Shunsui, as he got up from the ground and stretched, "Well, I should probably get to bed. Its pretty late." Hoshichimei shook her head, attempting to get up, "No, sir this is your bed! Where will you stay?" He chuckled, "I can sleep pretty much anywhere, I'll be fine. You just rest, and I'll make sure Nanao-chan doesn't give you any hard work in the morning. Alright then, good night Hoshi-" A small sob inturrupted him, he looked to her, "...Whats wrong?" Her hands were covering her face, as tears slipped out. He waited for an answer, then stepped closer, "Hoshi-chan...what is it?" his face plastered with worry. She muttered from her hands, "S-stay with me Taichou! Please!" His eyebrows rose in surprise, "Hoshi-chan, what do you mean?" She ubruptly looked up at him, reaching out and taking a handful of his haori, "I love you taichou!" Tears continued to stream down her face, as she looked up to his, awaiting an answer. His mouth gaped open, "You do? You love me?" She nodded, rubbing her tired eyes, "I do...I f-feel so horrible, how I treated you back at the human world! I was s-so worried...I d-didn't want to fall in love with someone who would hurt me again..." Shunsui sat beside her, taking a hold of her hand, "Who has hurt you before?" She cried out, "Hisagi-san!" his eyes widened, "I thought..." She shook her head, "Yeah, we are best friends. There was a time w-when we tried being together, b-but...I fell in love with him, and h-he wasn't in love with me all the way. I found out that, he...was actually in a serious relationship with one of my previous best f-friends..." Shunsui used his other hand to gently rub her back, "I'm so sorry to hear that..." She nodded, "Yeah...and thats w-why I was so upset that he tried to be with me again! T-trying to be with me, after that...I-I could never.." she paused, "Plus...I don't love him like that..." then looked to his face, "I love you..." Shunsui dropped all his previous expressions, and smiled sweetly, cupping her face with one hand, "I love you too, sweet Hoshi-chan..."

Both of them continued to stare and smile at eachother. Shunsui chuckled again, "Mmmmmm...so long I've wanted to tell you straight out how I felt..." She replied with a giggle, "Oh?" He nodded, "Ever since you stepped into my division, I knew there was...something about you. I just didn't realize that I would end up so desperately in love with you." Her heart pounded, "Taichou..." He shook his head, "No, call me Shunsui." She could feel the heat rising to her face, "...Shunsui..." He embraced her, "You sound so beautiful when you say it..." She replied with a tight hug, "I love you, Shunsui-sama..." His throat vibrated with a happy response, "I feel like I could just hold you like this forever, Hoshi-chan.." A small yawn escaped her lips, and he chuckled, "But I suppose I can't, you need sleep." He began pulling away from her. She grasped onto his haori, looking straight into his eyes, "Stay." He paused, "...You sure?" She nodded, "Yeah." then layed down on one of the pillows. He layed down beside her, wrapping a large arm around her waist, then kissed the back of her neck, "Good night, sweet Hoshi-chan." A smile lit her face, "Good night, Shunsui-sama.."

The next morning was slow to come, which was a good thing to Hoshichimei. She woke to no one in the room, and wondered, 'Was it all a dream?' Getting out of bed, she gasped, covering her mouth with one hand, "It wasn't a dream! I actually told him how I ...feel.." she mumbled. A sudden realization came to her, "And I, s-slept in his bed! And he...he..." her face lit up with embaressment, 'He held me all night..' Grabbing her shoes, which were neatly placed by the door, she slipped out of his room, looking for any way to get by unnoticed to her room. Thankfully not many were up that morning, and she was able to get to her room. Leaning against the door she sighed heavily, thinking about the previous evening. All the worries of Hisagi were gone, she could only think of her beloved 'Shunsui', and seeing him again. She smiled to herself while getting dressed, 'He loves me, he actually...loves me!' Only a few minutes later, she stepped out of her room, dressed and ready for the day. She seemed to glow with happiness, and people really noticed. Hoshichimei said hi to most everyone she passed, grinning happily and hugging all her friends. Skipping to the food court, she noticed her training buddy. "Airi-san! Hey!" she shouted, then ran up to him, "How are yah this fine morning?" Airi blinked, 'How can she possibly be this happy after what happened last night?!' but smiled anyway, "I'm good, how are you?" She grinned, "Super duper!" then grabbed her plate, walking with him to a table. He laughed, "Why are you so happy?" She held a finger to her mouth, and winked, "Its a secret." He nodded, "Ohhh, I see. Nevermind then, just glad to see you happy." After they ate, Hoshichimei decided to go see her friend Nanao. She wasn't sure if she would tell her the news yet, so she decided to keep it quiet. Stepping in the office, she saw Nanao sitting next to a pile of paperwork. Hoshichimei raised an eyebrow, usually Nanao has that stack done by early morning! Now she was just sitting there, staring at it. Hoshichimei walked up, "Hey Nanao-san, you okay?" Nanao nodded, then slowly looked up to her, with a blank expression, "Jyuushiro taichou...he...he..." she paused, "...He proposed to me."

Hoshichimei nearly screamed, and jumped up and down, "Yay for Nanao-san! Yay yay yay! I'm so happy for you!" Nanao wasn't jumping up and down, she just sat there, lightly smiling. Hoshichimei stopped, "Aren't you happy?! After you told me before how you feel about him, shouldn't you be happy?!" Nanao nodded, a smirk rising to her lips, "I'm really happy, and I did say yes...I'm just...worried for the 8th division..." Hoshichimei cocked her head to the side, "Why?" Nanao sighed, "Because if I do marry him, I'll become his fukutaichou, and have to leave this division." Her friends eyes widened, as she sat beside her, "Whoa...I didn't think about that..." Nanao nodded, "Yeah, and I just don't know how this would go...I mean..." she looked up to Hoshichimei, "You would become the fukutaichou. And ...you are a very hard worker, I have no doubts but...its a lot of work." Hoshichimei stood up, her expression firm, "I can preform those duties! And even if I'm having a hard time, I have many friends here who are higher ranked and willing to help me!" Nanao was surprised at her boldness, "This would be...okay with you, Hoshichimei-san?" She nodded, "I want you to be happy, Nanao-san! And Taichou Ukitake will make you happy!" Nanao smiled, "Thank you...Hoshichimei...san..." then hugged her. Hoshichimei grinned, returning the hug, "No problem"

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I know I know...I didn't upload in a while. I'm sorry!!!!!!!!! I've got tests and all that fun stuff going on in College...I'm workin' on my music, and my Manga, and ugh. Just...too much is going on. Please forgive me?

=]

Long chapter though, annnddd its a pretty freakin awesome and fluffy chapter don't you think?! Yeeeah babbyyyy.

Reviews are love!