Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.
"You're doing splendidly, Hitsugaya-sama," Ishida complimented the young prince. The boy smirked up at him.
"Can we move onto the next spell, Ishida-sensei?" he asked, slight excitement in his tone.
His teacher smirked at his enthusiasm. The crown Prince was always a delight to teach. He picked up on spells so quickly that it was difficult to believe he was so young. So many masters had problems with the most advanced magic, and yet he seemed to be willing to take on any challenge, and mastered it so very easily. The young child was really a rare prodigy.
In fact, the two had coursed through the year's curriculum so quickly that now the tutor had no choice but to look up new spells, one far beyond what anyone his age should be taught. Hitsugaya always worked so tediously with his lessons that it made teaching him worthwhile.
Which was why he could never understand why the boy absolutely insisted that his tutors make up fake complaints for the king. Though he had acted out when younger, he was very well-behaved and disciplined now. But he asked all of his teachers to please tell his stepfather that he was still a nuisance. They never quite understood why, but he seemed so desperate for them to do so that they did. In reality, teaching him was very joyful.
"Of course," Ishida answered him. Looking down at the lesson plan in his hand, he read off the list. "It's amazing how much you've learned in just these last few months. You've mastered the communication spell, the traveling spell, lock-picking, stunning, offensive attacks, putting someone to sleep...Soon, I will have nothing to teach you."
"There's always something new to learn," Toushiro replied, shaking his head. "I just have to find it. Until then, I'll practice what I know. You never know when it might come in use."
.. ღ ..
"I had a feeling you'd be back."
He scowled at the smug tone embedded within the prisoner's comment. The man was gazing at him through the cell bars, a smirk planted on his face as he eyed first his face, and then the small basket hanging off of his arm. His face lit up only slightly as he put two and two together.
"And, hey! You brought food!" he called out, cheerfully. "Didn't think you would, but I 'ppreciate it all the same."
Toushiro awkwardly patted the basket, nodding. He wasn't exactly sure what had compelled him to bring this stranger – an enemy, at that – what he had asked for, but he felt rather intrigued by him and his race, so he assumed that played a part. He wanted him healthy enough to converse with.
And a small part of him felt rather sickened as he took in his state. Actually, not just the state of him, but his prison, too. He had always been aware since young that the palace kept a secret jail buried deep within its halls – a secret common Leoans were kept unaware of, lest they begin to feel any empathy for the prisoners. The government constantly allowed the citizens to believe that all captives were held within the army bases, under surveillance and questioning. But those captured that were not used for the show were treated brutally, and within the walls of the royalty's own home.
He gingerly took in the dirty walls, each dripping with grime and filth. The floors, as well, were in a similar state, with mud tracked across them from visitors and prisoners. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and the only light source was a dingy bulb hanging down from the ceiling beside him – no cell held a bulb of its own, shrouding the entire area with darkness and mystery. He knew that some of the earlier prisons had been provided with windows to capture daylight, but the prisoner within his sight had not been provided with that luxury. Neither had the cells surrounding his – as one walked farther down the path of the prison area, the darker the room became.
"Hey, Prince," the prisoner called out to him. He eyed the man carefully. "How're you gonna give me the food? You have a key?"
Toushiro blinked rapidly, slowly looking down at himself in thought. He had forgotten a key. Well, to be fair, he had never actually thought to bring a key, as one would be exceedingly difficult to come across or, even worse, acquire.
"No, I do not have a key," he replied. "Only guards are given access to a key, as prisoners are their responsibility."
'But you're the prince, aren't you?" the prisoner questioned incredulously. "Don't you at least get access to the palace?" He felt his ears heat up with irritation.
"I have not inherited the kingdom yet," he answered, frostily, not liking that a prisoner was undermining his authority. The captive nodded slowly in acceptance, his eyebrows puckered in thought.
Toushiro, too, had an idea forming in his head. It was something he would never have thought he would do for simple human trash, yet he had gone through the efforts of bringing the food, and so he decided that he might as well feed the boy. Leaning back, he stealthily looked to his left and right, making sure no others would witness what he was about to do. Satisfied that they were quite isolated, he set the basket of food on the ground, flexing his hands as he straightened. The prisoner eyed him warily.
"What're you doing?" he asked in bemusement.
"Something far below my status," he snapped. "Be grateful."
Placing his hands against the prison lock, he puckered his brows in intense concentration. A familiar green light emitted from his hands, and the prisoner watched with raised eyebrows as the lock, very slowly, turned, unlocking on its own.
"Lock picking spell," Toushiro muttered under his breath as he set his arms down again. "Thanks, Ishida-sensei."
Very reserved, he picked up the basket and swung open the cell door.
"Nice work," the prisoner complimented him, looking rather impressed. "Guess the Prince isn't as useless as I always thought he would be."
He glared, not really liking the backhanded compliment. The human had no right to judge him before they had even met. The idea of his kind laughing at him in ignorance sent his blood boiling. Well, he knew of some nasty rumors about humans, too, so at least they were even.
"Here," he growled, and dropped the basket inches from his bent legs. The boy looked up at him incredulously, first looking at his hands tied behind his back, then at him.
"What do you want me to do with that?" he asked. "I'm not a monkey. I can't hold a banana with my foot, or some shit like that."
"What do you want me to do about it?" Toushiro asked in return, looking at him with a glare.
"Feed me," he answered simply, and opened him mouth. "Aah..."
Hitsugaya flushed. "No! My job was to bring you food, and I've brought it. That in itself should make you exceedingly grateful, so do not ask for anymore favors."
"Don't be such a lazy bum!" the prisoner argued. "All you gotta do is sit there and move your arm back and forth!"
"Insulting me with such vulgar language is not going to get you what you want," he snapped. Even so, he flopped down, crossed his legs, and started picking through the food in the basket. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the prisoner beam at him, and couldn't help but feel heat creep up his cheeks. He hadn't realized such a simple action on his part could make someone so happy with him. It kind of felt good.
"Here," he said roughly, thrusting a roll of bread at his lips. It hit his mouth rather harshly, but he didn't complain, and only opened his mouth to chomp down on it. The cell was silent aside from his chewing and Toushiro's rustling through the basket. They got through the bread, a banana, a piece of mutton, and a capped off cup of water, and the prisoner sighed in relief when he was done.
"I love you for being a prince," he hummed with happiness. "I haven't had meat or fresh fruit in forever! Do you know the peasants and prisoners practically eat garbage food every day?"
Toushiro only looked away, a little uncomfortable. He was aware that there were many in his country and planet that lived in poverty every day; Serra Leoa was far from perfect, and it went through its hardships of being poor and hungry and disease ridden. It was hard for him to grasp the concept, always being provided with food all of his life, but he hoped that when he became the ruler, he might be able to do something about it. Aizen was always a little too busy with the war nowadays.
"Oh, these ropes are killing my wrists," the captive suddenly exclaimed. "I swear they're cutting off circulation to my hands. Damn guards didn't have to tie them so tight."
And then, to Toushiro's complete surprise, using the wall as support, he lifted himself up slightly, and swung his arms underneath his backside and under his knees, plopping down moments later. He slipped his tied hands under his feet, and found them in front of his body rather than behind. Using his tough teeth, he gnawed at the ropes until they loosened, and then thrust his hands apart, causing the binds to fall off.
"Aah. Much better," he said, sighing in happiness as he rubbed his wrists. Only then did he notice Toushiro's flabbergasted expression. "...What?"
"You could have broken free anytime!" Toushiro thundered, a frightening glower on his face.
"Oh, yeah," the prisoner replied casually. "It's not really that hard, especially when you're flexible."
"Then what was the point in having me feed you?" he snapped.
"I just wanted to see if you would," he replied, grinning cheekily. "And you did! So...great job." Ignoring the way his eyes were practically murderous, he patted his back encouragingly. "Thanks, Toushiro."
The anger was replaced with surprise. "You know my name?"
The captive rolled his eyes. "Well, duh. You're the prince of the planet my people have been fighting against for years now. Of course I know your name."
"But you asked me for it..."
"Courtesy," he replied, shrugging. "Wouldn't it be rude if I didn't at least give you a chance to decide if you wanted me to know?"
"But you do know," he insisted. "And I chose not to tell you."
"That's not my fault," the boy replied, shrugging. "We humans do our research when it counts."
Toushiro sighed in aggravation. "At least do me the courtesy of referring to me as 'Hitsugaya.'"
"No." The prisoner stuck out his tongue. "Don't wanna."
"You will do it because I said so!" he ordered. This impudent little...
"Don't think so," the boy sang out. "You will forever be known to me as 'Toushiro.' Hitsugaya who?"
Grumbling furiously, Toushiro stood up and strode towards the prison door. He didn't have to stay and listen to this. This infuriating prisoner could just stay here and rot, for all he cared. After all that he had done for him, he was still so disrespectful! Well, he would never return, and some day, the prisoner would come to regret angering him this way. He slammed the jail shut, locking it once again.
"Hey!" the boy called from inside at the last second. When the young prince looked up angrily, he was smirking, though his eyes were warm. "Name's Hikaru, by the way."
His face flushing, Toushiro stomped away, knowing he would return again and hating it.
.. ღ ..
She quickly becomes used to her new life. It hardly ever feels like a kidnapping, and she soon forgets about the rough way the blue haired soldier had grabbed her, or the fear she had felt sitting alone in that prison cell. Her family plagues her mind constantly, but she has no way to contact them for now. She can only hope that some point in the future, she can assure her brother she is okay and that, until then, he not feel too much grief.
She quickly learns that Leoans are people that need not be feared, as she had believed for so long. Matsumoto follows her around constantly, jabbering away, and it comforts her to have a friend. The other maids accept her presence easily soon after witnessing such blatant approval, and so the atmosphere around her is always carefree. Even Ulquiorra's icy glares directed her way as he is forced to tag along don't bother her as much anymore, though she cannot say they don't prick at her from time to time.
The queen is more than hospitable. She constantly checks in on them, needing to be assured that they are okay. Her offers of hot meals, baths, clean clothes, and anything else she may desire are always appreciated, and she quickly comes to respect the young woman. She does not see the king after that first meeting except during dinner, however, though she does not take it to heart – he must be a busy man, after all.
But, every once in a while, she does feel a little suffocated. She spends all her time in the palace and, although it had been new and exciting those first few days, there is nothing more that attracts her there anymore. From her temporary bedroom window she can see a small village nestled between the trees and forest, and she longs to go, excited by the prospect of exploring this strange new land now that she knows it holds no threat. But, she can only watch in jealousy when she sees the maids whipping in and out of the front entrance, for she is not even allowed to go too far in the yard without Ulquiorra's protection. And with his sour face, it only spoils the mood.
One morning, the three in their usual grouping sit in her room, finished with breakfast and unsure of what to do with themselves for the day. The stoic soldier leans by the doorway as usual, ignoring them with closed eyes as she and Matsumoto discuss animatedly.
"We could always try riding some of the horses," the maid suggests excitedly. "They can really fly! I'm sure it'll be fun."
"I guess..." Orihime agrees a little hesitantly. She bites her lip, looking down.
"What is it?" the orange top asks in concern.
"Well, I know that you always say I shouldn't, but I really, really want to..."
"What?" she urges, her eyes twinkling. Orihime grins with anticipation.
"Can we go to town?" she finally spits out after mustering the courage.
Matsumoto grimaces at the idea, but before she can say anything, a cold voice answers from the doorway.
"Foolish girl," someone snaps, and both look over to see Ulquiorra almost glaring at her. "Do you hold no value in your own safety? Your carelessness only makes my job more difficult."
The young human deflates slightly, her face falling at his harsh tone and confusion as to why he would react this way, but then she glares back.
"What's wrong with wanting to go to town? I'll just be looking around. If I don't turn a knife on someone, who's going to attack me?"
"It will not matter to the townspeople whether you're harmless," Matsumoto explains gently, though she throws a scowl at the bodyguard first for his insulting words. He ignores her, uncaring. "To them, you are different, unknown, and, therefore, a threat. They will be on constant guard, and no Leoan is ever foolish enough to wander through the streets without some form of protection. Panic can be a great motivator for attack, and so your arrival in itself can be deemed dangerous to your life."
"Oh," the young human says, looking down in sadness. And then she pouts. "But I really want to see the town! If the king and queen are watching for my safety, then they surely won't attack me?"
"The king tolerates humans," Ulquiorra speaks again, "because his wife is human. He holds no dear attachment to your people, other than that his bride is concerned for their well-being. It is an unspoken but well-known fact that his Highness would not be so adamant about ending this war had the queen not voiced her concerns for it. Do not think he will be quick to jump to your defense – do not think anyone will be quick to jump to your defense."
Orihime bites her lip at his dismissive tone, though she feels saddened at his lack of care towards her well-being. He pays no mind to her, only looking away from the both of them and staring straight ahead as he leans against the doorway once again.
"As much as I loathe to admit it," Matsumoto adds on, sighing slightly, "what he says is true. Although Hitsugaya-sama is much more compassionate than our last king, Aizen" – her face twists into a dangerous growl at the name – "Karin-sama is the true reason for the recent peace negotiations. He loves her, and his desire to please her and bless her with all of her wishes wins out over his learned belief that humans are trash, even if this means saving those same people."
"Oh, how romantic," Orihime sighs dreamily, gazing off into space, all thoughts of the town forgotten. The two other occupants in the room watch her with incredulity.
"So, you're okay with not going to town?" Matsumoto questions her carefully.
"Of course!" Orihime cries. "True love conquers all!"
"What does that have to do with anything...?" the maid wonders in bemusement, very confused at the sudden change of events. Orihime ignores her, too lost in her romantic fantasies.
Ulquiorra simply rolls his eyes at the display.
.. ღ ..
When the two royals and Orihime meet again for dinner later that day, she cannot resist sneaking glances at them from time to time, giggling under her breath. When they look at her in confusion, she simply looks away quickly, squealing.
"Is something the matter, Miss Orihime?" Karin finally asks, looking rather concerned about her peculiar behavior.
"Of course not," she squeaks in return, blushing horridly as she glances at them again.
Even so, the two cannot help but discuss her on their way to their bedroom.
"You don't think..." Karin's eyes narrow as a new thought hits her. "You don't think she has some sort of crush on you, do you?" Unable to help herself, she scowls and wraps her arms around one of his possessively. He chuckles at her paranoia.
"I've only ever talked to her briefly during dinner, and even then it's only a few lines," he tells her, patting her arm reassuringly. "She could hardly have any sort of infatuation with me."
She nods, but even so, plasters herself to his side. Shaking his head, he slips the arm in her hold around her waist, keeping her close.
"You needn't worry about this," he assures her. "And, we have more serious matters to fret over," he reminds her.
Her eyebrows furrow at the reminder. Their war council had still not made any progress over Orihime's capture, and they all seemed at a loss over what to do so far. The situation is too delicate to be taken lightly, and yet there seems no way to handle it properly in their favor. Even with all of their minds working together, it is impossible to think of a favorable solution.
"You're right," she agrees with her husband, sighing. "There really does seem to be no way to send Miss Orihime home safely. Even with the council working so diligently..."
"Oh, I don't mean Miss Orihime's case," he cuts her off, shaking his head. As they arrive at their bedroom door, he flings it open, and then places his hands behind her knees, picking her up as she shrieks in surprise. "Didn't we agree to try for a baby?" he asks, smirking devilishly. "And I've yet to see any progress."
Flushing, she swats the back of his head. He leads her inside, kicking the door shut behind him.
"It's impossible to believe there was ever a time when I didn't love you," he tell her tenderly, softly laying her on the bed and jumping on top.
.. ღ ..
"Hey, hey! Toushiro!"
He gritted his teeth furiously as Hikaru nonchalantly waved him over. He was sitting in his cell so casually, as if referring to a prince so easily wasn't anything major. It irritated him.
"Keep your voice down," he hissed. Hikaru blinked.
"Why?" he asked, not bothering to lower his voice. "The guards just left."
"There are other prisoners here," he reminded him icily. Hikaru waved an airy hand.
"They're half dead. They're not telling anyone anything." He patted the ground next to him in the cell. "Come on."
Looking left and right, Toushiro opened the lock again, and then strode towards him, sitting down where he had indicated with his back against the wall. It was the closest they had ever been, he realized.
"...You smell," he blurted out. Hikaru scowled and slapped his arm.
"Well, excuse me," he said sarcastically. "You're a real sweet talker, aren't you? You try sitting in this rotting cell for weeks without one shower and see if you come out smelling like roses. Maybe next time you can bring me a bucket of water and some soap, if it bothers you so much."
Toushiro shifted awkwardly. He felt kind of regretful that he had said that. It was rude. But Hikaru didn't really seem bothered by it aside from the sarcastic retort.
"So, tell me, oh sweet smelling one," he teased, "what's the outside world like nowadays? Did I miss anything major; the apocalypse, doomsday, Armageddon, a lunar eclipse?"
Toushiro's brow furrowed. "Not particularly." he supplied. Hikaru rolled his eyes.
"Okay, I get that you're not much of a talker, but I kind of want a little more than that."
"..." He couldn't really think of anything to say. Hikaru huffed, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Fine, fine," he relented. "We'll just find something else to talk about. You got any ideas?"
"...What's a lunar eclipse?" he finally asked, looking confused. Hikaru blinked at him a couple of times before throwing his head back and bursting out in laughter. Toushiro glared at him ferociously, his pride wounded, and he noticed.
"Oh, no. I'm not laughing at you," Hikaru said, waving his hand in front of his chest. "I just forgot that a lunar eclipse is a human and Earth thing, you know? Sometimes you guys act so much like us that it's easy to forget."
Toushiro froze at those words, seeing the truth in them. They did act a lot alike. In fact, he would say that both humans and Leoans were practically one and the same when it came to behavior, survival instincts, food, clothing. The only difference was that he had been taught since young that humans were trash and Leoans were superior. And that hardly seemed plausible when he thought about it. How could they be the same, and yet so different?
"A lunar eclipse is when the moon goes all black," Hikaru explained, not aware of his inner inquiries. "The sun doesn't shine on it 'cause the Earth's in the way." Toushiro nodded, vaguely understanding such a simple definition. "Now I've got a question for you."
The young prince looked at him warily. "All right."
"So...are we friends now?"
He was taken aback completely, not having expected that at all. "What?"
Hikaru put a finger to his bottom lip, raising his head and looking thoughtful.
"Well, you've come to visit me three times now, and you've brought me food and fed me. I think that warrants a friendship." He grinned. "So, what do ya say?" He held out his hand for a shake.
Toushiro stared at it for a few moments before angrily swatting it away. He was used to this – people coming up to him, attempting to befriend him in order to win his favor and hopefully get something in return. Being the prince of a planet was a rather lonely occupation, but he had had enough of people thinking they could pull one over on him.
With rage bubbling in the pit of his stomach, he stood up to leave. Hikaru quickly grabbed the back of his shirt.
"Wha…? Where are you going?" he asked in alarm.
"Let go," the royal replied icily. Yanking himself out of his hold, he spun around to glare at him. "I didn't come here to be taken advantage of," he spat out.
"Taken advantage of…? What the hell are you going on about?" the confused prisoner demanded.
"I'm not a stranger to those who attempt friendship simply for the benefits," he retorted.
Hikaru took a moment to process this before rolling his eyes.
"Geez, Toushiro," he said flatly. "Do you have to take everything so seriously?" His expression softened a little as he looked into his eyes. "I just like having someone to talk to, you know? It gets kinda lonely around here."
"So…you're not attempting to gain something through this relationship?" Toushiro asked suspiciously for clearance. Hikaru lightly punched his arm.
"Nah. Just a little company. We'll be…what's the word?" He snapped his fingers a few times as he racked his brains. "Conditional. Yeah, that's it. We'll be conditional friends."
Toushiro hesitated before taking his seat beside him once again. "And what exactly would that imply?" he asked curiously.
Hikaru shrugged. "Only that you visit me every once in a while. Of course, you'll have to bring me food, too. But that's mostly for your own benefit. I can be a real ass when I'm hungry."
"How can not consuming food make you a donkey?" Toushiro asked in wonder, slightly confused.
For the second time, Hikaru burst out laughing. Wiping at the tears in his eyes, he repeatedly thumped Toushiro on the back.
"Oh, you're a funny guy, Toushiro. I can tell we're gonna be great friends."
"I don't appreciate lesser beings mocking me," Toushiro snapped, and when he stood up this time, he strode across the cell and unlocked the door, actually intending to leave.
"Leave if you want, but we both know you'll come back!" Hikaru called after him playfully.
.. ღ ..
"Hikaru! Hikaru!"
"Mmm...Go away," he mumbled sleepily, swatting at the person attempting to shake him awake. She had only just dozed off moments ago, too, as the warmth of the afternoon had made her eyelids droop heavily.
Toushiro scowled.
"Wake up," he hissed. "The guards have just departed for their rest."
"Toushiro...?" Hikaru murmured, rubbing at his eyes as he sat up a little straighter. "What's going on?"
"Come," the monarch answered. Standing up from his crouch, he gestured with his arm that the prisoner follow him. Hikaru's eyes widened, and Toushiro couldn't help but smirk.
His mother's death anniversary had passed the last day. Early morning, he had set out to her grave, sullen and saddened as he neared the burial grounds of the royals. As his steps crunched against the path, he had only fumed at Aizen's refusal to be there with him.
"I'm a busy man," he had excused himself, a playful smile on his face. "Run along by yourself now, Toushiro, and let me work."
So, with a scowl planted on his face, he had hurried to her site. How could Aizen have dismissed him so easily? This was his wife! But, as he neared the grave, his rage had bubbled down to melancholy. Standing at that marker alone had made him think a lot of things, and the first thought his mind had jumped to had been his new friend, Hikaru; the boy who was rotting away in a dangerous prison cell out of sight from humanity, and the boy who had it much worse than him. He didn't know why, but he had suddenly been hit with the urge to do something special for the young prisoner.
"I want to show you something," he whispered now, carefully leading a stumbling Hikaru out the cell door.
"Should you be doing this?" Hikaru replied in a hushed tone, his eyes flitting left and right furiously in fear.
"I am the prince of this country," Toushiro said cockily. "I may do whatever I desire." His expression dropped for a few moments. "Of course, I cannot take you too far. Aizen will know only too well if a prisoner goes farther from the grounds than a secured location. But, I assume you might appreciate the sunlight."
The prisoner beamed at him, no longer jumpy as they sneaked stealthily out the back exit of the prison, one that exited straight to the back gardens.
Sunlight hit his face so suddenly that he had to shield his eyes from the rays, hissing in discomfort at first. He was so unused to the light now, having stayed in such a darkened area with no sightings of the sun for so many days. But, little by little, as Toushiro waited patiently, he moved his arm away from his face cautiously, his eyes squinting as he took small steps with them, too.
"Would you like to walk and stretch your legs?" Toushiro asked, a warm glowing in his chest as he noticed the look of complete and unhidden awe on Hikaru's face; it was pure and unguarded, and he knew by just that simple gesture that his gift had been more than appreciated.
Hikaru nodded slowly, still trying to absorb everything with widened eyes. Gesturing to him, the young prince walked ahead, into the trees and shrubbery, and his friend followed, still a little clumsy from being given so much space to roam after having no chance to spread his legs since his capture.
"So, that's the palace, huh?" His first words, playful and even as usual, gave Toushiro a sense of relief, and he nodded in confirmation at the very large and extravagant building his companion was pointing to. They were so close to it, and its beige colors almost his it completely under the yellow rays of the sun and the cover of thick tree leaves. But, Hikaru still whistled under his breath, impressed.
"With that puny little prison they had me holed up in, I never imagined it would be so big," he commented. "How do you not get lost?"
"Practice," Toushiro answered nonchalantly, choosing not to take offense today, as he would have on any other visit. He didn't want to ruin this for his friend by nit-picking at the little details of his usually careless words.
"I think I would always get lost, no matter how much I – whoa!" Hit with a dizzy spell from the sudden excitement he was not used to, he stumbled. His back hit a nearby tree and he slid down the stump, flopping onto the ground, his breathing labored.
"Are you all right?" Toushiro asked, letting a small amount of his concern show through.
"I'm awesome," Hikaru replied, beaming up at him through the pants. He even managed to send him a thumb-up sign. "Just out of practice with all this."
Toushiro took a seat beside him, also leaning his back against the tree. There was really no point to his continuing on, as this whole trip had been for Hikaru's benefit, after all. He had no problems with simply lazing under the shade of the leaves for the entirety of the day, if that was what the boy desired. The two settled in comfortably.
"Hey, Toushiro?" his friend said. He turned to him curiously, and was shocked when the prisoner placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for this. Really." His eyes were warm. "It means a lot, and I promise I won't give up on myself."
A little flushed from the rather embarrassing speech, he simply smiled over at his young monarch friend. And Toushiro, contrary to what he had always believed, didn't find it all that hard to return.
Well, here it is. The tenth chapter - gosh, it really doesn't feel like it to me. Feels more like I just started this story. Maybe because I have a lot of fun writing it, actually. This is for you guys to celebrate my birthday; I turned 17 today! Also, it was the second day of school, so I felt like a schmuk...-_-
So, lots of you wanted to read more about Toushiro and Karin's interactions in the past, so here's a few. I'll put up more when they tie in with more of the present timeline - you know, the usual style of this story. I hope I didn't confuse anyone with the change in "she" to "he" in that last flashback. I used "she" because we know that Hikaru's a girl, but I switched to "he" because it's told in Toushiro's point of view and he thinks Hikaru is male :)
Plus, hopefully, Shizuku700, this quelled some of your worries as to why Toushiro was so cold to Orihime. It was really nothing major, but it defines his character and his relationship with Karin. He loves her so much. Aww...