Full Bloom.

Part 2

She was starting to get bored.

She sighed and kept telling herself that inn less than five years she was getting out of this place to became a shinigami. Then, she'll be free to do whatever she wanted with no restrictions. There would be no need for her to be stuffed in a suffocating place like this. With only polite stiff dialogues between her teachers and classmates.

The only person who would try to strike up a friendly conversation was that moron, Kyourakou-sempai. But then again, its always more like being hit on than converse and she was hardly flattered since he'd probably do the same to anything walking on two legs. Its was a good thing he didn't flirt with four-legged creatures, then she'd be really offended but she wouldn't scratch out the possibility.

If only she hadn't promised her mother that she wouldn't come back home unless she was in that black uniform of a death god.

Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed that she had stopped and was staring out the windows of the corridors at the green training fields.

Ever since she could remember, it had been only just the two of them. She had always depended on her mother and no one else. Even when they came to live with others in the alley, she didn't have much to do with them. Beside the two of them there was an elderly woman and two men.

Her mother was a remarkable woman. She had a bit of everything in her. Strong when strength was needed, soft when comfort and compassion was called for and wise and motherly when she spoke to her daughter.

Needless to say, Nanao was devastated when it was decided to send her to the spiritual institute as soon as her spiritual powers were discovered. She had always thought that they were worried about food supply since she wasn't given a clear reason why she couldn't stay a few years more before going to the Shiniagmi Academy. That is until her mother explained it in what she called her 'first and last' letter.

…I feared that would never stop being a child, that you would bond your existence with mine. You must have noticed that you and I must part ways at some point in our existence. A mothers duty is to merely bring her child into the world, guide him until he is old enough to take lead over his life but you refused to make the choices.

I was forced to make a last decision for you, so don't disappoint me, Nanao...

To grow up was what her mother wanted her to do, and grow up she will. Even though she knew it will take a bit of time to accomplish that, she couldn't help but wonder…

"Ise-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan."

When will he grow up?

She pushed herself away from the window and turned to the opposite direction of the where that irritating voice came from.

Ignore him, Nanao. He's just born an idiot.

"Ise-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, wait up."

Spontaneously, she started to take wider, faster step.

"Oh no you won't get away this time."

Her instinct of survival were on red alarm. She freed her legs and began running like the wind. She took a few turns but she still knew that she didn't lose him and with her last turn she ended up in a very crowded corridor. Surely she'll lose him here.

She called out an apology whenever she bumped into someone until she couldn't continue running. She didn't seem to notice that she ended up in the deserted training dojo of the ward of the sixth years. She leaned a shoulder against the wall to catch her breath.

"Seems that I've lost him."

"Who?"

She snapped her head in the direction of the soft deep voice that scared her out of her skin. She let out a strangled yelp but immediately calmed down when she realized that the other person in the dojo wasn't Kyourakou.

"You weren't running away from a teacher, were you?" He said in a scolding tone. Ï might tell on you."

He wasn't as large, but he wasn't by any means small. He was tall with a thin, tight complex. A pair of warm hazel eyes smiling at her with a teasing glint. She noticed his light, soft hair and instantly became aware of her own disheveled hair.

She pulled the two sticks out of the shell-like hair ornament that held her hair in place, "It wasn't a teacher." She then noticed that he held a wooden sword in hand.

"Sorry to have disturbed your training…"

"No worries, my partner isn't here yet."

Silence fell between her and the stranger. She decided not to bother him any longer and leave as she soon as she fixed her appearance.

"I found youuuuu."

She froze in place as two arm came out from either sides of her head to tight embrace her neck and pull her against the chest of her persuader. She felt his breath, more hot than warm probably from the chase, against her behind her left ear.

"You lose."

She couldn't move, her body was paralyzed by the awkward situation she was in. She never knew when did he start this pathetic chase game of his, but this has gone too far. She told herself that she shouldn't put up with this pervert anymore. She really didn't want to do this but it seems that her body had betrayed her, refusing to follow the logic of her reasoning.

"Shunsui-kun, you should let her go. She looks like she's about to faint." The other gave her a genuine concerned look with sympathy on the side.

"Oh," Kyourakou groaned with disappointment, "but her cheek is so tempting. Even you wouldn't be wanting to let go once you've felt how soft it is."

His friend was mumbling an 'Excuse me, What does that mean?' while kyourakou was busy emphasis his point but rubbing his right, rough cheek against Nanao's left.

That was when the flat of her hand hit him square on the face, the pain forcing him to let go to nurse his wounded nose.

"Ow, ow."

She took a step back away from him, holding her cheek. She surprised at her bravery to actually hit a senior but didn't regret it on bit. "Kyourakou-senpai, Do…Don't do that again."

"You must have seen that coming, Shunsui-kun." The other man laughed as he walked over to stand beside his friend. He placed a comforting hand on the other's shoulder.

"How cruel, Jyuu-chan."

"Seriously, Senpai." She scoffed, trying to regain her composure even though her face was still red. "You shouldn't be forward."

"Its no use trying to straighten this one." 'Jyuu-chan' bent down to collect her hair ornament that had fallen out of her hand when she was Shunsui's hostage.

"Here," He said as he extended his arm. "This is yours."

"Uh,…um." She didn't know why, but she felt like she should be very polite when talking to this man.

"Y…yes, Thank you." She took the ornament and hurried to bow in gratitude.

"I'm Ukitake Jyuushiro. Shunsui-kun's friend and training partner."

"Ise Nanao, we have kidou classes together."

""Well then, I'm the class next to yours. Just incase you need rescuing."

She found his smile contagious. She smiled back courteously. She glanced at the clock, "I should be going, class starts soon."

Jyuu nodded and turned to walked over the wall to take out another wooden sword from one of the sets that was hanging there. He threw it at Shunsui and faced him in a fighting stance."So that you finally knew her name, can we begin?"

Wait, What does that mean?

She voiced her question.

Jyuu straightened from his position and faced her "Oh, Shunsui-kun went out earlier to get you so he can introduce us to each other so then he can know your full name. But somehow he ended up chasing you to here."

She stood still for a whole minute before turning to other. "You mean all this trouble was just to know my name, Kyourakou-senpai."

"Well," Shunsui drawled out with a lazy smile on his face. "It wasn't suppose to be that troublesome, you're the one who seemed to want to play around."

She began grinding her teeth to powder, "If you wanted to know my name, you could have tried to stay awake while sensei took the attendance."

Still smiling he answered. "But Nanao-chaaan, Its no fun without a long chase."

TBC..

Is it as stupid as they say?