A/n: Thanks for the favourites, follows and readers. Hello again, I am momentarily back from the dead *rises from the grave*
Warning: Swearing, violence and grammar errors.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach - that is all... But the following OC characters are all mine :D
Chapter 54: Colours of the sky
"Okay! Now all we gotta do is buy this!" Tahani bought a pair blindfolds from the store owner and grinned when she saw confusion in Renji's features. Excellent, her simply devious idea was getting him curious but puzzled. She automatically grabbed Renji's hand and dragged him along through the crowds with a smirk on her face, "Now follow me!"
There was nothing better than this; a bottle of sake, a blind fold and a devious plan in the back of Tahani's mind.
Renji fell silent but Tahani didn't question it once. Normally she would've been curious, but she didn't care at the moment. As soon as Tahani's eyes noticed the familiar division, her smirk widened and she let out a cheerful yell.
"Ah... home sweet home..."
"Uh Rosa..." Renji began nervously as Tahani turned back to face him with a raised eyebrow. It looked like someone had too much to drink tonight. His face was as red as his hair, "I didn't realise we were going back to your room..."
"What are ya talking about?" Tahani wondered dryly, "I was thinking that it was too boring in that dumb festival... Don't tell me that you weren't feeling bored either." When she heard no denial from the redhead, her smirk simply widened with glee. "Good, so anyways – I thought it would've been better if we did something we both enjoyed ya know?"
Then Renji understood. His brows drew together as he tried to connect the pieces together, "So you want to have a spar? In these clothes?"
"Well I would say we can take the dumb kimonos off and fight in just our underclothes." Tahani suggested with a frown, "I can deal with ya being shirtless and all-"
As Tahani looked back at him with a smirk, she saw that his face went ten shades darker. Wow, ever since that last time... Tahani was sure that he would've gotten over his little problem. It was amazing; it looked like the deep red coloured cherries. Now if only he was sweet like a cherry then he would've been the cherry of Soul Society.
"Anything, but that," Renji seethed with a glower. Obviously he remembered the last time Tahani teased him from Urahara's basement. Ah good times... it had felt like yesterday when she was standing in the basement and she was having a nice old chat with the pineapple.
The raven haired woman chuckled to herself, "It was just a joke I promise; there should be some spare shihakusho around yer size in there." She led him through the barracks before she stood in front of her own room, "Alright Renji – yer know where those clothes are, get two bokken while yer at it... and I'll get changed out of this stupid thing." As soon as Tahani went in her room (she was surprised it wasn't locked), she sighed to herself in annoyance.
This wasn't like her – to be all giddy like a high school girl and quite frankly, it annoyed her. She was meant to have told him by now, but Tahani had no idea why she was holding back. Rukia even said that Renji cared about her – he would listen and he wouldn't judge. A huff escaped her lips, trying to shake her current moments in the back of her mind.
Tahani didn't want to be bothered by her stupid soft side. For now, she would get dressed like she planned to and have some damn fun. It was something she had needed for a while now. Replacing the expensive kimono with her regular shinigami garb, Tahani exited her room and saw Renji behind the door as if he was about to knock.
His eyes widened with alarm, lowering his arm. "Are you ready?"
Normal Tahani would've answer sarcastically, but she didn't for some strange reason. "Yep – we got our sake, the blindfold and the bokken – let's go outside, I don't wanna make a mess after just cleaning the damn dump." The pair silently stalked through the barracks, often gazing at the light from the festival to distract themselves. Ditching the festival was probably worth it, since Tahani got to spend time alone with – Whoa! Dangerous territory there Rosa!
While Tahani was scolding herself, Renji raised a brow in her direction. "Are you alright? You're unusually quiet."
Ah crap. The raven haired woman halted with concern, before flashing a grin to get her current thoughts out of her mind, glad that the sake was covering her flush.
"Nah I'm good," Tahani waved her hand to change the topic. Once they stood in the cool night air, Tahani passed a glace to her comrade, who's cheeks remained flushed from the sake. "Anyways, put on the blindfold around ya eyes."
The lieutenant cleared his throat, "Sure." With quick reflexes, Renji caught the spare blindfold and wrapped it around his eyes to cover his vision. As he fixed his blindfold, Tahani grabbed the spare bokken that Renji brought over and went to tying her own blindfold to shield her vision. This was going to be fun alright – but it wasn't going to be fun if she got distracted all the time.
They were going to have spar blind and drunk, only depending on their already dulled senses in order to win. As Tahani finished tying the knot, she took a final swig from the sake before placing the bottle on the field. Using her other senses, she could tell that Renji was only a few metres away from her.
A knowing smirk crossed her face as she held the bokken, "Are ya ready for a challenge Renji?"
"Ready when you are Rosa," Renji retorted with determination colouring his tone.
Here it came, "Alright then!" Tahani charged towards her partner, bringing the bokken to hit his form but it met with the familiar weapon. Right now, Tahani could sense that Renji was preparing an offence and she jumped back to feel a breeze graze her face.
That was too close for comfort.
Tahani laughed at the challenge and she swung her bokken in front of her, scowling when it slipped through empty air. She heard the whisper of the breeze to locate Renji's weapon, raising her bokken to defend herself from the blow. It smacked through forcibly, making the woman stumble back with surprise crossing her features.
Was she this drunk to stumble?
"Come on Rosa," Renji taunted confidentially as Tahani tried to regain herself. "Don't tell me that the sake worn you down?"
Yet Tahani refused to back down, fighting against the lieutenant, "As if I'm gonna lose that easily!" Since he was by her side, Tahani knew that there was only one thing she could do. As Renji went in to attack, Tahani dodged most of the blows, blocking only went she knew that she couldn't. It was hard to completely focus when she couldn't see his next movements.
Finally, Renji went for Tahani's side again just like she wanted. She blocked immediately and as his weapon met with hers, Tahani suddenly jumped back from his range. Her ears picked up his feet shuffling unnaturally, due to his guard being lowered. As soon as she heard him grunt in displeasure, Tahani used the opportunity charge at him to kick out her leg.
It hit him, her foot connected with his gut and sent him flying.
"Heh," Tahani scoffed, lowering her weapon so that she could pull off her blindfold, "I never thought that yer one to fall for that-" Something blunt slammed into her gut and took the breath out of her with a menacing sting. Tahani let out a cough and she instinctively raised her bokken above her chest so that Renji wouldn't hit her again. She held the block with a chuckle, "Ya bloody bastard, ya got me good!"
"I never thought that you were going to fall for that," Renji corrected and even though Tahani was blind she could tell that he was smirking. "Come on Rosa; let's call this one a draw."
"I guess so," Tahani pulled off her blindfold and saw that Renji already pulled off his. He had his confident smirk over his face, "Besides I think being hit in the gut is gonna make me puke." Tahani dropped her weapon and took a seat out in the field with a cool sigh.
"You better not idiot," Renji retorted just as he plopped beside her. "'Cause I'm not gonna carry you home – no matter how much you beg."
"Say wha?" Tahani's eyes went over to him and she attempted a childish pout – which failed miserably by the way. "Come on, ya not gonna leave me in a place full of bloodlust men are ya? Imagine what they would do to a woman that was drunk and alone."
It appeared as if Renji stiffened but he rolled his eyes, "They would probably run from you because you would kick their ass."
A pause. "Yeah that's true," Tahani chuckled to herself and she went back to staring at the sky. It was just like every other night, peaceful and very starry. Staring back at the sky made Tahani think about Laria, if she was doing okay since she would most likely be stuck back in her room finishing paperwork.
It seemed that not even after life and death situations, the brunette would never change.
"Thinking about Laria right now?" Renji wondered, sparing a glance towards Tahani who suddenly gazed in his direction. Was she that obvious? How the hell hadn't he been able to tell that she occasionally thought of him in that way?
In a way, Tahani was glad.
"Yep," She finally replied, "Well to be précised, I was thinking about the old days – like when we met and all..." Her voice died down when their gazes locked, and her cheeks turned hot. Was it her, or did this place just get ten degrees hotter? "But... I have a feeling that it has nothing to do with the way ya looking at me."
"Tahani..." Oh crap, when Renji said her first name it was serious. Tahani's expression turned serious along with the topic, "When that Yammy guy hit you... I felt angry – angry at myself for being unable to help you... I know it sounds stupid because I knew that you were strong on your own but..."
Tahani felt impatience itch her spine. He wasn't a mumble-man by nature, but he seriously needed to speak up, "Oi Renji, just get down to the point."
"I've come to care a lot more about you Tahani," Renji confessed in response, the irritation almost mirrored in his features. Surprise flashed in Tahani's eyes as he so bluntly admitted the truth, "And no – not like how I care about Rukia or my other friends. I really actually like you..."
So there it was. Rukia was right all along – as always, the bloody Kuchiki was damn right. But what could she say? If she could say anything, then what would she do? How they be together in the future? In the past, Tahani never thought about this stuff but damn it, ever since she had these stupid, girly, feelings.
She had never felt so damn frustrated!
Finally, Tahani just went with her instincts – the terrible ones at that. "Renji ya damn idiot, ya beat me to the punch for a change," Her eyes softened lightly but she felt her own chest clench at her own voice. It didn't even sound like her voice like she was listening to someone else speak for her, "I care yer too - too damn much for my liking. I think I felt like this for a while and its weird and new-"
Something pressed up against her lips for a second, and her cheeks burned in embarrassment when the lieutenant pulled away, his cheeks probably just as red as hers.
Renji cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry – let's just blame our weird actions on the sake. I just knew that you needed to know – just in case one of these days that neither of us make it in the future. We may be strong, but we both know that we're soldiers to our deaths."
"Yep," Tahani nodded with acceptance as a sly smirk formed in her features. A lighter feeling floated in her chest and for once the raven haired woman didn't reject them. At last he knew how she felt, and finally she would lose the feelings. A sudden pop from the sky made Tahani's midnight eyes glance up to see the colours explode in the sky. She leaned against Renji with a lazy smile on her face, "It's all the sake's fault..."
-:-
"Captain Hitsugaya."
Suddenly alarmed by her voice, Hitsugaya turned back to see that Alfero's attention wasn't on him but rather the sky above them. Now that he noticed, the world around them seemed to pause just to look up at the fireworks.
Finally, Hitsugaya's turquoise eyes flicked upwards to see the familiar work from the Shiba family. As the fireworks went off, many people around them cheered but the two superiors from the tenth division remained silent. Every time they were reminded of Kukaku Shiba's work, Hitsugaya always thought back to Captain Shiba.
Sure, he often got to Hitsugaya – especially when Alfero timidly hid behind him – but Hitsugaya found him to be a father figure. Alfero did as well, judging from the nostalgic look in her chestnut eyes, staring quietly above them. Back then Hitsugaya found Alfero to be annoying due to her frightened nature – until the day they went on a hollow patrol in the living world. After that they both respected each other mutually but it wasn't until Alfero became his third seat when their relationship improved.
Hitsugaya silently wondered if the captain was with them right at that moment. Would their relationship be the same? Or would he still keep his distance from her like he did in the past? Alfero had constantly proved herself to meet his standards, always filling out the work and obeying his orders. Heck – she even found out about Rie Kuri... the one mystery that Hitsugaya never thought that he would found.
Then Hitsugaya thought about Rie and wondered if she would've been with him at the moment if she was alive. Rie never did like loud noises, always flinching whenever Hitsugaya so much raised his voice at her. The fireworks probably would've frightened Rie and she would've hid behind Hitsugaya.
Just like Alfero once had in the past.
"Thank you for coming Captain," Alfero announced sheepishly as she scratched the back of her head with reddened cheeks. Hitsugaya stared back at his third seat with a scowl of suspicion sketching into his features. Why was Alfero red? Was she feeling ill? Maybe it had to do with what she had said to him when he was nearly died.
"I really do... I really do have feelings for you..."
For some reason, the thoughts of the words made him feel warm on the inside. His stomach did a strange little flip of happiness. Hitsugaya normally wasn't one to understand subtle phrases that Alfero often spoke of, but hearing this was like a day visiting Granny with amanatto.
It made him feel happy.
"Captain?" All of Hitsugaya's senses came down to him and he looked to see that Alfero was staring up at him with a raised eyebrow. His surprise got to him, almost flinching when the brunette leaned closer and frowned, "Are you alright?"
Annoyance crossed the captain's face, making him jerk away from her the second he realised that he was lost in the back of his mind. He turned away with heat flooding his cheeks, cursing himself for losing track of the situation. If the situation had been grave, he would've been in a hollow's stomach just for being careless.
"I'm fine."
Yet it felt like he was on fire. It was kind of ironic, someone like him feeling feverish. Maybe Hitsugaya was the one sick and had to go visit Unohana. After all, he had been doing a lot more paperwork since he offered to take over the Hinamori's work. He found himself questioning why he always felt like this towards Alfero – he didn't know when it begun, but every time he encountered her, his feelings intensified.
Every time she was nearby, Hitsugaya found himself staring at her longingly. He saw the small quirks that made her different from anyone else. There was the spark of determination in her chestnut eyes when she set out to do a task or how she tried to stand tall against him, even though she was a head shorter than him. Sometimes Hitsugaya silently enjoyed the way she would flush in embarrassment due to his praise.
Then there was her smile; at first Hitsugaya didn't really notice it but as he spent time with her, he began noticing. Her smile reminded him of the fireworks; it was only there for a moment before it flashed in the dark.
Hitsugaya saw this smile more often and noticed that there were some differences in her smiles. The most common smile was the one that broadened with glee when he praised her. However his favourite one was the rarest – the one he saw when she was looking at the night sky with the countless stars.
Slowly the captain paused and realised what he just thought of. Why was he thinking of this about his third seat? She was his subordinate – a working officer that trained all her life to get to her current position. He never thought about Hinamori like this – considering that he cared about his childhood friend a lot. It wasn't like he...
Suddenly, the realisation struck him like a lightning bolt.
"I've got to go," The prodigy stammered, his stern face almost faltered. Alfero turned back to him with confusion. "I'll see you for tomorrow Alfero." Before he could get a response, Hitsugaya darted away from his third seat.
It was hard at first, since the crowded area was starting to get to him, but Hitsugaya forced himself into some opened space and used shunpo to safely get away. As soon as the distance was far enough, the captain let out a sigh of irritation.
Hitsugaya wasn't an idiot, but right now he may as well be one. After all these years as the icy child genius; the youngest captain in the history of Soul Society, he actually felt human for once. He believed he started to feel something for Laria Alfero. Only one word stuck in his mind like glue at his realisation.
Damn.
A/n: So we have Hitsugaya and his slowly developing feelings for Laria. Speaking of Hitsugaya, what do you guys think of the recent chapter? In my opinion, I loved the ultimate trio working together and I can't wait for Byakuya's time to shine. Hurray!
Also, that's the end of the festival filler and have an entirely different filler based on the Bleach movies.
28-04-2016*
Please Review.
