A/N: I am so sorry this is so late! Really! Writers block sucks dirt.
Well, thank you for reading this very late chapter. Chapter 12!
There are a few time skips, just giving you a warning.
Disclaimer: All Bleach characters and terms belong to Tite Kubo. I only own my characters and plot line!
The moon was high in the night sky. Its silvery light shone in the dark outside. The bright light of it poured in through the window. Creating more shadows then not. The light fell across my face as I peered up at the pale moon.
Swallowing I turned to look at the other side of the bed. Toshiro's still form lay next to me. With each deep breath his chest moved underneath the blanket. I continued to watch him for a moment studying his relaxed features. Heaving a heavy sigh I laid back on my side of the bed.
'Just go to sleep.' I silently ordered myself. I forced my eyes to close and my stiff muscles to relax. 'Sleep.' I thought, blanking my mind. I took deep soothing breaths trying to stop the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach.
Finally I sighed opening my eyes. Giving up on the very idea of sleep I stared up at the wooden panels of the ceiling. I let my mind wander over the events of the past week. The wedding. The treaty. The moving of the Guard Divisions into the Soul Society.
The fact that I now lived with my husband who was, and still is, a complete stranger to me. Our having to share a bed didn't seem to bother him but it bothered me. I glanced at said man. His deep breathing had suddenly stopped and had become shallow. Brow forwarding I continued to watch him.
"What's wrong?" I jumped in surprise. "Uh, nothing." I answered, voice sounding loud in the dark. Toshiro's eyes opened turning to me. His gaze ran over me. "Then go to sleep." He told me.
He laid his head back against the pillow closing his eyes. Anger suddenly spiked through me. "Easy for you to say." I growled under my breath. "What?" "Nothing." I fell back against my pillow snapping my eyes shut praying for sleep.
(Time Skip)
I snapped my eyes open almost on cue with the alarm. I pressed the off button and sat up. Like every morning I found Toshiro already gone and his side perfectly made up. Taking a deep breath I threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. "Time to start the day." I murmured, rushing around the room.
Once ready I stepped out into the hall. The few shinigami milling around bowed deeply to me. I quickly bowed back and made my way towards the front of the barracks. When I was almost at the doors I heard a voice call me. "Mrs. Hitsugaya." Turning I found Matsumoto, Toshiro's Vice Captain, rushing to my side.
"Uh, hi." I nodded to her, hand on the door. "Where are you going?" She asked as she followed me outside. "To my Divisions barracks. Why?" I asked, stopping at the edge of the porch. "Oh, well..." She rubbed the back of her head. "I was just wondering if you would be willing to join me for breakfast."
Shocked I stayed silent as she went on. "But since you have to get to your-" "No, I have time." I told her. After all it was the first friendly thing anyone had done since I moved here. "Oh, great!" She smiled brightly. "Come with me!" She chirped, hooking her arm around mine.
Quickly dragging me back into the barracks she led me to Toshiro's office. Matsumoto slide open the door revealing an empty office with no sign of my husband. Ushering me inside she led me to a table under the window. "Oh, well isn't this nice." I smiled sitting down at the table.
It had three plates laden with food and a small vase with one rose in it. "Um...Why are there three plates?" I asked as Matsumoto took a ceramic bottle out from under Toshiro's desk. "Why that's for Toshiro, of course." She answered heading over to the where I sat.
"It's Captain Hitsugaya to you." A voice spoke from the door way. Freezing in place I stayed silent as the two shinigami spoke. "What's the meaning of this? And how many times have I told you not to keep your liquor in my desk?" Toshiro snapped, stepping into the room.
"Well, I thought we could all have breakfast together." Matsumoto told him, unfazed. She walked over and poured some of her liquor into my glass. I kept my eyes trained forward practically ignoring the silent figure behind me. "I guess it's fine." He murmured sitting before me. I glanced at him as Matsumoto took the seat underneath the window.
Swallowing, I looked him over as he dug into the meal. Glancing down at my own plate I realized how hungry I was. Grabbing up the chop sticks I gave a frustrated sigh as I tried to remember how to handle the thin wood. The two shinigami watched me as I floundered.
"Just stop." Toshiro ordered, reaching over. He grabbed my hands and positioned the sticks in my hand correctly. Then still holding my hand he showed me how to scope up the food then brought it to my lips. Surprised I stared at the food then at him.
"Come on." He said, knocking the rice against my mouth. Nodding, I let him feed me. "See." I nodded and swallowed the hot food. "Awww." Matsumoto piped up. "You guys just had a moment." She smiled at us.
Toshiro and I glared at her with flustered expressions. She giggled as I trained my eyes on my meal and her Captain stayed silent. Minutes passed as we ate in silence. "Oh!" Matsumoto spoke up again. I raised an eyebrow as she stood. "I think I hear someone calling me. Well, I better get going then!" She cried as she backed towards the door. "I didn't hear anything." I pointed out just as Toshiro snapped. "Matsumoto!" She smiled and giggled running at top speed out of the office. "What was that about?" I asked as I turned back to my meal. Toshiro sighed, shrugging.
We avoided eye contact as we sat in silence. Biting my lip I glanced up at Toshiro's serious expression. He was about to finish his last bite of egg when I finally spoke. "So..." He looked up at me. "Yes?" "Um..." I paused, wracking my brain for a topic.
"Any plans for the day?" Toshiro raised an eyebrow. 'Well, wasn't that lame.' I thought, mentally chiding myself. "Only the usual. Supervise training. Do paper work. Go over the plans for the watch. More paper work. And try to get Matsumoto to get her own work done." He answered, giving a side long look to the tall towers on said Vice Captains desk.
I chuckled and shook my head. "At least she knows when to sharpen up." I pointed out. A tiny tug appeared in the corner of his mouth. "Your right about that. If only she could do that without my having to shout." I nodded in agreement. "So what about you?" Surprised I paused for a moment.
"Don't really know. Probably morning exercises, then whatever Captain Suborn orders." I told him shrugging slightly. "Ah, yes. You're in the second Division." He said, mostly to himself. I nodded an affirmative. "Although," I started, sitting up straighter. "I'm pretty sure sometime next week we're going to start the briefing of the shinigami."
Toshiro looked startled. "What?" His brow creased. "Yeah, there's been multiple Captain meetings. Supposedly." I, myself, was now confused. "They didn't tell us about this." He murmured, looking off to the side.
"Well, isn't that the whole reason we're here?" I asked. "Yes, but they, your Captains, haven't spoken to us about starting the training." "Oh." We fell into silence once again. Him deep in thought and I myself pondering over what had just been said.
Toshiro quickly finished his meal and stood. "Um...I enjoyed the meal and the company," He paused. "But I must really be getting to...something." He told me, sounding preoccupied. I nodded robotically and watched him leave. Resting my chin on the heel of my hand I sighed. "What did I just do?" I murmured, out loud.
(Time Skip)
"Is anyone in there?" Shrieking loudly I jumped. Whipping around I found Saaya at my side. Hands on hips she looked annoyed. "What in the hell is wrong with you?" I snapped, rubbing my abused ear. "I've been trying to get your attention for a while now, Maadi." She snapped back.
"Well, sorry. But that is no reason to scream. IN. MY. EAR!" I shouted at her. She cringed and held up her hands. "Okay, I get your point." Sighing, she dropped to the ground next to me.
"What's on your mind?" She asked, playfully slapping my thigh. "Nothing." I shrugged, watching the guards who were stretching getting ready to train. "See that's the problem." Saaya started. "Now that we're in the Soul Society there's nothing to do. The shinigami got this place covered!" She gestured around us.
I stared at her, disbelieving. "You're joking. You were just complaining about not getting enough off time. Now your complaining that there's nothing to do?" I shook my head. "It's not like we've been here long anyway." I muttered. "I know. I'm a cry baby." She smacked my shoulder.
Wincing, I scooted away from her. "But enough about me. How about you and the new hubby?" She poked my sore flesh. I glanced at her with raised eyebrows. Sighing, I mentally winced as my mind automatically went back to this morning. "What about us?" I asked softly.
"Oh, come on. Tell me!" She slouched against my side. "Stinky feet? Bed wetter? Oh, oh I know! He snores! He does doesn't he?" I laughed as she bounced next to me. I looked up at her pleading gaze. "None of the above." I answered, standing.
"Well, then what?" She cried, frustrated. I ignored her, stretching one last time before stepping onto the sand field of the training grounds. Saaya growled behind me. I barely had enough time to turn around, laughing, before she pounced.
"Hey!" I shouted as I dodged her flying fist. "Why." I dodged her round house kick. "Won't." I jumped out of the way as she lunged at me. "You." I hoped over her flying leg. "Tell me!" She finally finished. Grinding out four more punches she hissed in annoyance as I dodged them all.
"Be-" My foot got caught. Looking down I saw her out stretched foot. "Cause!" I landed hard on my palms. Using them as leverage I tucked my body in on itself and rolled. Landing back on my feet a few feet away I winked at Saaya. She sucked her teeth and shook her head.
"You're too good at this." She pouted. "You mess with the bull you get the horns!" I mocked, I mimicked the burly animal. She laughed shaking her head. "Ahem!" Freezing, I slowly took my curled index fingers out of my hair.
Turning around I was confronted with the unamused face of my Captain. "Uh...Good afternoon Captain." I bowed swiftly. Captain Suborn's jaw muscle twitched irregularly as I straightened. "I would like to speak with you for a moment, Kendella." She told me, tight lipped.
Nodding, I followed her. Only once glancing back to see a dumbfounded Saaya. Whatever my Captain had to speak to me about had to be important. The usual relaxed demeanor of the older woman was replaced with a tense aura of edginess.
As we walked briskly I realized she was leading me towards the meeting room. It had been supplied for the Guards by the shinigami. "Why are we-" Captain Suborn's hand shot up silencing me. She pinned me with her steely gaze. She opened the door ushering me in first.
I stayed silence even though I had a thousand questions bubbling in my jugular. "Please sit." Turning I found myself in the presence of all ten Captains. Nodding, I did as told. I took the chair that had been pulled out for me by the fourth Captain.
"Uh. Thank you, sir." The aged Wiccan nodded and faced the front of the room. My Captain and the First stood before the long table I sat alone at. "Maadi Fio Kendella." The First Captain stated. I nodded thinking that this wasn't normal. The elder woman leaned staring me down.
Swallowing I held her gaze. The woman's grey waves bobbed as she nodded. "Let me start off by saying I personally appreciate your sacrifices for us to be here. And I realize that as a man and woman commit to each other information must, of course, be shared. But I do not believe that what goes on in the Guard is required to deepen your bond with Captain Hitsugaya." She took a deep breath. I sat there stunned.
Was this all because I told Toshiro about the briefings? "Wait," I held up a hand. "I mean no disrespect but, what exactly is this all about?" The First Captain raised an eyebrow. "This morning I got a letter from the First Captain of the shinigami. He was wondering why they were not informed about the briefings being planned for next week. They are not next week, Kendella."
Shocked, I stayed silent. "We are asking you not to share information not only because some knowledge is strictly for the Guard but to avoid misunderstandings like this." My jaw had hit the floor. 'I was pulled out over this?' "I understand completely. I sincerely apologize for creating such a situation. It won't happen again." I stood bowing deeply.
"Thank you, Kendella. You are dismissed." I saluted the Captains quickly exciting afterwards. Once outside I paused and looked back at the door. There were raised voices behind the wooden barrier. 'Sacrifices, huh?'
A/N: Thanks for reading!
I hoped everyone enjoyed even though I'm not too thrilled with this chapter. Admittedly this might be a filler chapter. Hmmm….. *Deep Thoughts* I promise to try and make the next chapter a bit more eventful. So please look forward to it!
Music of the day:
Avril Lavigne- My Happy Ending
Josh Groban- To Where You Are
Cross Gene- La Di Da Di
Hoobastank- The Reason
Hayley Westenra- May It Be
RENT- La Vie Boheme