Chapter 27: Beauty and acceptance exists within
Hitsugaya stood in front of his bathroom mirror that hung just above his sink. He reached to a corner of his sink side table and grabbed his hair wax. Uncapping it, he scooped a fair amount of hair wax and rubbed it between his hands and fingers. Eyes sharp on the mirror, he carefully but swiftly styled up his hair. Satisfied with it, Hitsugaya recapped his hair wax and placed it back where it was. He reached to the side of mirror and beside it was a small built in shelf. On the third level was a small cologne bottle. He raised the bottle up above him and slightly away from him. With one light press, Hitsugaya bathed in the cologne's fragrance. Carefully, Hitsugaya replaced the cologne and exited the bathroom in just a towel around his waist. Across him was his cabinet and hung on the cabinet door was his freshly pressed suit.
He sighed.
Such formal events hardly occurred and he was not used to such events. In fact, if he were not wrong, this would be the first time he actually attended a formal event. Hitsugaya walked across his room to his cabinet and looked at his suit under the transparent plastic cover. Below the plastic was his pair of black leather shoes to accompany his suit. Hitsugaya reached for the sleeve of his black tailcoat and wondered how he would look like next to Karin. He was sure they would look good. It was after all a formal event. She would be wearing a dress, not her uniform.
What would the other Captains say? What would the other Kurosaki family members say of it? He already had Isshin's so called blessing, but Hitsugaya had yet to impress Ichigo. Yuzu was not so much of a worrywart.
Hitsugaya looked at the clock hanging on the wall. He had half and hour more to be ready and present before the doors open. As for whether Karin would be his date or not depended if she wore his token.
Oddly, things just felt like they were falling into place a little too unexpectedly for Hitsugaya to handle. Yes he would love to date her but he couldn't possibly be backing out now could he? No he could not be. He knew very well he wanted to be with her. So why was this stomach twisting feeling ever so strong? Was he nervous? Was he scared?
Suddenly, a gust of cool wind rushed in through the open futon doors and flowed over Hitsugaya's bare back. Hitsugaya turned around and the shaking of tree branches and rustling of leaves magically tuned into his world of thoughts. For a good thirty seconds, the wind flooded his room and tossed up his towel around his hip lightly. Hitsugaya found himself having closed his eyes and taking in the fresh breeze that blew in.
You'll do fine, young master…
Hitsugaya opened his eyes and looked around the room. Hyourinmaru? Hitsugaya thought out as the wind slowly died down.
He waited but there was no reply from his soul slayer. Hitsugaya stood still for a moment. He could feel the faint presence of Hyourinmaru and his doing. Hitsugaya smiled to himself, something he had not always done so often. Could it be his zanpaktou approved of Karin as well?
Across him at the futon door that led to the outside, a stalk of rose lay upon a fresh pile of green leaves. Hitsugaya made his way to it and looked down at it. Like it had just awakened with beauty, dewdrops glimmered upon the large petals of the red rose. Hitsugaya bent down and picked up the rose. He had not held a rose before, nor really had seen one.
Hitsugaya smiled again. I guess I am not the only one who likes Karin.
Deep within the icy world that had both its beauty and fierceness, a soft purr emits.
Matsumoto stood in front of her full-length mirror and looked at herself clearly. Could she really pull it off? No one had really seen her outfit. It was not how they would have pictured her to wear something like that. Hair done up skillfully by herself, makeup elegantly put, Matsumoto smiled at herself for her ability to doll up. Even looking at herself in the mirror she knew she was a completely different woman.
Turning around, Matsumoto headed toward her dressing table and took a seat. Upon the table is a small black rectangular pouch. With a twist of the knob, Matsumoto flipped opened the cover and proceeded to place in her lipstick, eye shadow and blusher in. She picked up her earrings that lie in front of her and put them on.
"Mm? Where's my eye shadow stick?" Matsumoto said to herself as she pushed aside her perfume bottles.
Oh! Matsumoto opened her drawer and picked up her eye shadow stick. She flipped opened her eye shadow compact and placed it in the small compartment. She snapped it shut and placed it back in her bag. She turned toward the drawer and just as she was about to close it, she stopped and gazed. Within the drawer was a small red ring box that she remembered of its history. She picked it up and pulled open the lid of the small ring box.
Gin…Matsumoto thought of its owner. Before he had left for Hueco Mundo, he left an envelope on her dressing table. When he had done that, she had no idea. Accompanying the envelope was the small ring box she held right now. Inside the envelope was a five-page letter that contained his apologies and reasons that still until today baffled her. The letter, as of right now, lay in her little treasure box that she hid in her closet, in a little secret compartment. The ring, however, remained in her drawer, to remind her of him. Opening the lid of the box, a baby blue gem greeted the icy blue eyes of Matsumoto. Carefully, Matsumoto picked the ring up and placed the box on her dressing table. With care, she slipped the ring on her finger and placed her hand out in front of her.
A tear slipped.
Matsumoto snapped out of her aching heart and quickly grabbed a tissue from her tissue box. She dabbed the tear away and inhaled deeply. She closed her eyes and continued to dab around the areas under her eyes.
I can't let my make up run. Matsumoto thought to herself. She patted her cheek lightly, mentally telling herself to not let her emotions get the better of her. With the other hand, Matsumoto took the ring off and placed it back in the ring box. With great attempts to not look at it again the second time, she closed the ring box and placed it back in her dressing table drawer. Pushing the drawer back, Matsumoto got up and picked up her purse. She grabbed a perfume bottle and lightly sprayed herself before she placed it back down. She made her way to her futon door and as she slipped her feet into her pair of open heels, she slid up the long golden chain strap of her purse onto her shoulders.
After checking both heels, Matsumoto turned toward her full-length mirror once more. Heels, dress, purse, she was ready for the ball tonight. Matsumoto brought her hand up to her lips and kissed the tip of the fingers. Lightly, she blew a kiss to her reflection. She turned away from the mirror and reached for her bedroom lights. With a flick of the switch, the lights turned off.
Here's to a new change for me.
Matsumoto reached to her front door and before she opened it, opened her purse once more to check if she had brought the necessary accessories for touch up. Good.
She reached for the handle and then, rested her palm upon it. For a short while, she stayed like that. Her mind wandered back to the ring. She was doing herself a favour. She was doing Gin a favour. It would have hurt him so to see her ache. Matsumoto kept telling that herself over and over again.
"If you let go of what hurts the most, you'll be better off with your life."
Kuchiki Taicho…Matsumoto thought of. His presence, his strong demeanor, his very face sent a strange wave of sensation through her body. His words, though simple, they were true. It had bothered her quite a number of times ever since that day at the garden. Something about him told her he understood her heartache, as if he had experienced the same pain she felt. Matsumoto looked at the door and sighed. Deep within her heart, she hoped that it was only just admiration she felt for him.
Damn me for being a woman who knows the heart…
With a twist of confidence, Matsumoto pulled opened the door. She stopped.
"Taicho?" Matsumoto found herself to say. There was Hitsugaya standing on her porch looking out at the twilight sky.
Hitsugaya turned around to face his lieutenant. Around his collar was a loose white ribbon. Matsumoto smiled at her Captain.
"First time, Taicho?" Matsumoto giggled lightly as she closed the main door and locked it. Hitsugaya shrugged as he stepped toward her. He had spent fifteen minutes trying to tie ribbon but he failed at doing a good job of it. He gave up on it. The only person he could think of that could help him do a decent job of it was non other than his Lieutenant. There were just some things he could not do, but refuse to say it in words.
Matsumoto reached for the white ribbon around her Captain's collar.
She looks beautiful…Hitsugaya thought of his dear lieutenant. Instead of finding himself to be blown away, he found himself to be completely stunned by her great change. For the first time, she looked remarkable, as a true woman of beauty. She made him very proud.
"There you go, Taicho," Matsumoto smiled warmly at her Captain as she took a step back to take a good look at her Captain and his white bow tie.
My Taicho… he looks so handsome tonight. A wave of pride washed through Matsumoto.
Hitsugaya raised his hand and touched his bow tie. He smiled. Matsumoto laid her gentle eyes on her Captain's smile. It was so difficult to find him smile. And there he was, smiling in front of her. No matter what happened, her Taicho was still one of the reasons why she still fought on, why she still kept on smiling.
Hitsugaya looked up at his Lieutenant and stretched out his hand toward her. "Let's go, Matsumoto," Hitsugaya said, his smile still remained. Matsumoto felt her heart twist with happiness. He actually smiled and he still kept it for her to see. With a returned warm, loving and caring smile, Matsumoto placed her hand into her Captain's hand.
"Thank you, Taicho," Matsumoto said as they walked down the porch, her hand held onto her Captain's arm.
"For?" Hitsugaya said.
"For keeping that smile for me," Matsumoto answered him honestly. Hitsugaya remained silent for a few seconds.
"You deserve it. Besides, you look very beautiful tonight." Hitsugaya answered her.
"Thank you Taicho," Matsumoto held onto her Captain's arm, this time with two hands.
Hitsugaya smiled as they made their way down the path toward the bright lights where the hall was. Captain and Lieutenant, friends who respected each other greatly, entered the company of bright lights of a coming to be an eventful night.
"You're welcome, Matsumoto."
And the twilight hour disappeared into the evening.
I feel great pride writing this chapter. It has made me realize how beautiful their relationship as Captain and Lieutenant, and Friends, can be. And I honestly think Matsumoto is truly a beautiful woman here. :} I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
ps. Oddly, writing this chapter has lessened the pain of my cramps.
