To Nettie: ARE YOU HAPPY I UPLOADED!! =='

To everyone else: I AM SO FLIPPIN' SORRY FOR THIS LATE UPDATE!!! =[

But I have a great reason: well ya see…the story's too long to relay…^^'' I'm disappointed in all you readers…-.-

ANYWAY…this chapter is dedicated to my reviewers…especially musicbee and KurokamiHaruhi who truly made my day…week…night – same thing.

And once again…this was typed up by Paralysistracks she didn't put in page breaks this time O.o'' and ignore the changing quotation marks…

Anyhow…enjoy~

p.s. Last chapter explanation: It was Rino and Hitsugaya's birthday and yes its on the same day…

Chapter Fourteen: Piñata Taichou

'Ohayo minna-san' Rino said brightly as she entered the main room.

Koutarou and Matsumoto fixed her with a somber stare.

"What?"

"WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY!"

Rino cringed, 'It's okay… the only person I ever told was Touya-kun,' she soothed. Her joyful aura dissolved replaced by a composed silence.

Hitsugaya stared at the floor with renewed interest, his arms folded across his chest.

Rino suddenly stood up and without notice, threw herself at Urahara's knees.

'WILL YOU HELP ME GAIN BAN KAI?' She asked.

'Ban kai, you say?' Urahara adopted a thoughtful look. Before Hitsugaya could protest, the shop keeper held up a hand.

'There is a way you can do it in three days, but, the chance of succession is very low.'

'I'll do it,' Rino replied, a determined look in her eyes, 'whatever it takes.'

Matsumoto could sense the anguish around Rino, 'She's going to lose it if she isn't able to get stronger.'

Hitsugaya frowned, 'Are you sure, Kaiyuki?'

'Yes.'

'Fine.'

Noon...

Rino huddled into a ball as she nursed her emotional wounds.

'You shouldn't cry by yourself.'

Rino bit her lip, 'What would you know?'

He placed himself beside her, 'After all, there are only so many prodigies in the world. We should stick together.'

Rino laughed quietly, puzzled at this change of character.

'He kissed me, you know…' She sniffled, 'it wasn't the other way around.'

Silence.

Finally, he replied.

'I know.'

'Taichou…'

'Yes?'

'Can I call you Toshirou?'

'No.'

Rino scowled.

'There are only so many prodigies in this world,' she mimicked, 'so we should stick together.' She paused.

'And sticking together means first names.'

'No.

'Yes.'

'No.'

'Yes.'

'NO!'

'YES!'

Matsumoto, Koutarou, Urahara, Yoruichi, Tessai, Ururu and Jinta crept into the room one by one as the Taichou and subordinate onslaughted each other with 'YES!' and 'NO!'

Seven pairs of eyes swung from boy to girl as the exchange increased in volume.

'FINE!' Hitsugaya finally concluded.

Rino smiled triumphantly, 'Okay Toshirou-kun.'

The pair froze when they finally noticed their gathered audience.

Blushing, they silently brushed past the audience. 'We need to train' the pair excused in unison, leaving the gaping crowd behind.

That afternoon

'This is going to help me achieve Ban kai?' Rino eyed the suit skeptically. 'What's going to happen?'

'Well,' Urahara said, holding his invention lovingly, 'It forces your zanpakuto to materialize and then,' he paused to create a dramatic effect.

'That's for your zanpakuto to decide.'

Rino eyed her zanpakuto warily. The ribbons glinted in the artificial light.

'So all I have to do is stab that suit?'

'Yup!'

'Okay,' She took a deep breath. 'Here goes…'

Somewhere in the real world

'She escaped?!' A voice shrieked. 'You let her escape?!"

'Yes mum… Sorry.'

The woman instantly calmed down.

'That's okay sweetie,' she cooed. Her red hair tumbled past her shoulder framing a perfect face with large, almond-shaped green eyes. 'You'll kill her anyway… Right?'

'Yes mum.'

She blew a kiss.

'Now where is your idiot brother?' She demanded, giving the word 'mood swings' a new meaning.

'Yosai is with Mizuyaki-sama.'

'Oh, the black-eyed werewolf,' she snorted, examining her nails. 'Well, get him for me later, okay?'

'Yes mum.'

Under Urahara shop

Koutarou calmly surveyed the scene before him… there wasn't one.

The first thing Kaisoumiraa did when she materialized was throw her arms around Hitsugaya Toshirou.

'So this is your cru-'

'Shut it Kai!' Rino interrupted, hastily preventing the silver-haired girl from finishing her sentence. She turned to Urahara, eyebrows raised.

'This is going to help me achieve ban kai?!'

Urahara shrugged helplessly, 'It's up to your zanpakuto.'

'That's right,' Kaisoumiraa taunted as she fixed the white-haired Taichou with a scrutinizing look. 'Anyway, I can see why you li-'

'Shut it.' Rino cut in once again. 'Stop playing around.'

Kaisoumiraa paused, silver eyes gleaming.

'Fine… Let's play.'

Rino shivered at the tone.

'Okay…'

Two hours later…

'They're still at it…' Koutarou muttered as the clash between Rino and Kaisoumiraa continued.

'It's still her first zanpakuto,' Yoruichi whispered in awe. 'She can't have picked the right one on the first go… right?!'

As if on cue, the blade shattered. Rino back flipped away before parrying with another zanpakuto.

The audience sighed.

This was going to take a long time.

Hitsugaya Toshirou

Prodigy versus Prodigy's reflection… Who's going to win?

He sighed, allowing his eyes to follow Rino's swift movement.

She held a Haineko look-a-like in her hand. The field was spotted with them, along with Hyourinamaru and other various zanpakutos in shi kai state.

Koutarou gave a start when Rino's blade split and she picked up Hakuko.

'Is that her shi kai?' he asked, his unbreaking gaze still trained on the girl, 'copying other zanpakutos?! But she never used shi kai on me…'

Hitsugaya wondered to what extent was this ability able to mimic.

Kaiyuki Rino

'What's with all this zanpakutos shi kais?! I've never seen half of them!'

Kaisoumiraa smiled, reading her thoughts.

'I document all the blades you've touched with mine and their shi kai… as long as you know their name.'

Rino blocked another blow, and she could start to feel the strain on her blade.

'What if they haven't achieved shi kai?'

'Doesn't matter… They get one eventually, so I'm able to get it anyway.' She shrugged.

Rino's eyes widened, 'So you could foretell someone's shi kai?!'

'If you put it that way, then yes.'

'So you foretold mine before I achieved it?!' Koutarou blurted out.

Kaisoumiraa nodded, then deftly broke Rino's blade… or more like staff.

Rino cringed, and picked up a Hyourinmaru. Hitsugaya closed his eyes, as exhaustion curled itself around him.

Late that night...

'Okay! That's enough,' Urahara shouted as he broke the form of Kaisoumiraa's materialization. The suit collapsed to the ground.

Rino swayed slightly as blood dripped out of her wounds. Gold-streaked ringlets plastered to her neck with sweat, and her robes hanging in tatters: she looked like she needed a good night's rest.

Hitsugaya, who had been dozing lightly, opened his eyes. He looked taken aback.

Rino smiled weakly, 'I will achieve ban…' she fainted before finishing her sentence.

Hitsugaya caught her before she hit the ground, and then turned to face Urahara.

'She's going to die if she keeps this up.'

'We noticed,' Yoruichi put in, 'I didn't think she'd work so hard…'

The woman shook her head, 'But she won't stop, will she?'

'I'll try talking to her,' Hitsugaya replied.

Next morning – Kaiyuki Rino

'Pain… the pain, ow, the pain.' Rino opened her eyes, only to be enveloped by blinding light.

'Perfect, more pain, I mean pain… ow.' She blinked rapidly, her vision adjusting to the morning sun streaming into the room.

'Huh… I'm in an actual bed.'

The sound of breathing reached her ears, and it wasn't hers. Rolling over, Rino was greeted by a face full of white hair.

Crying out in alarm, Rino forgot to stop rolling and tumbled straight off the bed and into the lap of Hitsugaya Toshirou.

He woke up with a start, to see a bandaged, barely dressed Rino, sprawled on his lap.

Their next cry was in unison.

'AAAAAH!?'

Rino struggled to get off the boy who at the same time was fighting to stand up.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,' Rino repeated over and over again as she got into an upright position. Her gold streaks caught the morning rays of light as her ringlets tumbled over her shoulders.

'You scared me!'

'Sorry,' Hitsugaya muttered, not looking at her, his cheeks the palest pink, 'I was, uh, guarding you.'

Rino raised an eyebrow, 'Guarding while asleep… Toshirou, as my Taichou, you should be ashamed.'

He seemed unable to say anything, so he just stared at the floor.

Rino glanced down at herself. She blushed bright red and leaped onto the bed, hastily tugging at the sheets around her.

Hitsugaya, still leaning on the bed, sighed.

'Kaiyuki-'

'Rino,' she corrected.

'Rino… I think,' He paused.

'You think… Yes, I know.'

The blush deepened.

'That's not what I mean,' He replied, scowling.

Rino laughed.

'What I'm saying is that-'

'is tha-' a grin spread across her face.

'STOP INTERUPPTING ME!'

'Sorry.'

'Now,' the Taichou frowned, 'I think you should stop trying to achieve ban kai… at least not in such a sho-'

'No.' Rino cut in resolutely.

'But-'

'No.'

'YOU MIGHT DIE!'

Rino dove deeper into her sheets.

'Toshirou, if you were betrayed by Matsumoto, it would hurt, yes?'

Silence.

'Yes… It would,' he replied softly.

A single tear trickled down her cheek.

'Would you kill yourself to rid the pain?'

Hitsugaya was silent at this.

'It hurts,' Rino whispered. 'So bad… I want to be stronger, so that next time… it won't hurt so badly.'

Hitsugaya darkened as his thoughts wondered to Kusaka.

'You wouldn't want to know me then…'

'Will you betray me?' Rino asked quietly.

'No… not in this life at least,' Hitsugaya replied. 'I wouldn't be able to bear the guilt.'

'The guilt, huh?' Rino laughed awkwardly. 'Then the Ayakos must be made of stone.'

'So I'm an ice cube?' He said, recalling the clearing.

Rino blushed, 'I didn't mean that…'

'Really?' Hitsugaya wryly remarked.

'Yeah, you're more like a… a, piñata!'

'A piñata?' he echoed in disbelief.

'Yeah,' Rino giggled, 'On the surface, good looking.'

She paused.

'And bashed open… Even better.'

Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow.

'Out of all the confessions I've ever heard, I've never been described as a… piñata.'

'That wasn't a confession,' Rino hurriedly clarified.

Hitsugaya smiled wryly, 'I know… That's what I like about you… you don't barrage me with hugs and kisses the second I step into your sight.'

Rino smirked, 'Now I know how to annoy you.'

He scowled in return, 'Don't even think about it.'

The mood dimmed slightly.

'I will achieve ban kai in three days… and you won't stop me,' Rino stated softly.

'I know. And afterwards…' he hesitated, 'you can bash me all you want.'

Rino smiled.

'Oh, I will. I want to see what lollies spill out.'

Hitsugaya stood up. 'Well, I tried…'

'…and failed.' Rino added.

'Orosai.'

He strode to the door.

'Wait!'

'What?'

Rino snuggled into her pillow.

'Stay… I don't want to be alone again.'

Hitsugaya slowly sat back down.

'Fine, but if I disappear-'

'You won't,' Rino interjected, 'or you'll be more than bashed.'

'Threatening isn't a good habit.' He remarked.

'But it works.'

A sigh.

'You should get a bit more sleep… it's still early.'

'Fine, but one move and you'll be the one in bed.'

'Threats again… but fine.'

'Night.'

'Morning…'

Breakfast – Kaiyuki Rino

'Ohayo!' Rino exclaimed as she marched into the room, bandage-free.

Hitsugaya followed, a faint smile on his lips.

'Ohayo, Kaiyuki-san, Ohayo Hitsugaya-taichou,' Urahara lightly called. He turned to face Rino, 'Are you going to continue?' He asked seriously.

'Yes,' she replied, her tone resolute.

Yoruichi, Matsumoto and Koutarou stared at Hitsugaya-taichou.

'I tried,' he muttered, sitting down.

Rino smirked, kneeling down beside him, 'And failed.'

Matsumoto glanced at Rino, then at her Taichou. She exchanged a secretive smile with Yoruichi.

Koutarou bit his lip and stared at his breakfast.

'I'm ready,' Rino announced, running through the last of her warm ups.

'Very well… Let's go.'

Rino slowly climbed down into the 'basement'

Wasting no time, she stabbed her Zanpakuto.

A scowling Kaisoumiraa materialized, hands on hips.

'All that love and you blocked me out! You wouldn't even listen to my advice!'

'You were talking?' Rino grabbed the nearest zanpakuto, shooting the materialization a puzzled look.

'YES!'

'Oh well… It's in the past, now let's do it.'

Kaisoumiraa nodded. She snickered as they passed the white-haired Taichou.

'Piñata… hurt my master and you got me to talk to.'

Hitsugaya winced. Piñata…not your dream nickname.

'Piñata?' Matsumoto curiously inquired.

'None of your business.'

Sorry…that was a weird ending…anyway here's the preview: Special thanks after =D

Chapter Fifteen:

Rino stumbled into her room, a triumphant grin on her face.

'Please don't do this ever again.' Hitsugaya muttered as he set her down, 'I don't think our hearts could take it.'

Rino laughed as she hurriedly dressed her wounds.

'Shintai Kaisoumiraa… my ban kai.' She whispered.

Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes, 'Shintai… interesting. NOW GET TO BED!'

'Yeah, yeah Piñata boy, what do you think I'm doing?' Rino grumbled as she settled into bed.

'Annoying me?' he muttered.

Rino grinned, 'That, I could arrange.'

'Please don't.'

'Night Toshirou, see you in the morning…'

'Just don't die…'

'In my sleep? I'm a bit too young.'

Hitsugaya scoffed, 'That only worked when you were alive… 120 years old isn't exactly young.'

'121 years old… Thank you very much.'

'Orosai! Just sleep!'

'Hai! Toshirou-taichou.'

No cliffy either…how nice of me – And now you know her Ban kai O.o' But I'm not telling you what Shintai means…yet. Anywayys...'

SPECIAL FREAKING THANKS TO: xxParalysisMelody, frozen ice cream, machao, KurokamiHaruhi, stormwolf527, JaggerjaquesShizuka, KikmaruEijiFan15121, musicbee and finally, KuranAkarixx.

You people are an awesome existence on this planet…try not to die =D

--Melodicxstar--