THIS MARRIED LIFE
CHAPTER FOUR: Dangerous Confessions
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Author's Notes: Drama, drama, drama. No lime so don't worry lol.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any part of Bleach, anime or manga.
Hinamori slowly drifted awake into the next morning and yawned.
"Hey sleepyhead"
She opened her eyes slowly to the sound and found herself staring into Hitsugaya's aquamarine eyes.
"Kyaa!" she yelped and shot upright, hitting Hitsugaya at full force with her forehead.
"Ow, ow, ow" she cried out as she rubbed her forehead in a soothing action.
"Baka! What do you think you are doing!" exclaimed Hitsugaya. The impact had forced him back and now he was in a sitting position with his arms crossed and a large red bump protruding from his head.
"Ah, gomen, gomen" she apologised quickly. Then she looked at Hitsugaya and realised that he was in her room.
"Ano, what are you doing in my room, Hitsugaya-kun?" she asked baffled.
Thud. Hitsugaya had fallen on one side onto his bed and was now snuggling into the blankets and pillows.
"…" he groaned, "this is my room baka. You came here in the middle of the night and climbed in. Took all the space as well." Hinamori brought a finger to her chin.
"Hmm? Really?" she observed her surroundings and discovered that she was indeed in Hitsugaya's room.
"Hmm, I wonder how I got here," she pondered out loud.
"Hitsugaya-kun," Hitsugaya mumbled something incoherent into his pillow. Hinamori nudged him.
"Oi, Hitsugaya-kun," she called.
No response. She leaned in closer and tried again.
"Hitsugaya-kun, you can't sleep anymore. You have a captain's meeting soon."
No response. Hinamori sighed exasperatedly and shook him on the shoulders.
"Oi, Hitsugaya-kun, wake up!" Hitsugaya shook her hands off and snuggled deeper into the pillow. Hinamori gave up and sat there, observing his sleeping form. An idea suddenly popped up and she bit her lower lip. She lowered her head and kissed him on the lips. Hitsugaya responded and parted his lips but Hinamori deliberately broke it off causing Hitsugaya to groan out in protest. Her laugh was followed by a yelp when his arm suddenly shot out and pulled her into him. Then he coyly flipped their positions around so that he was lying half on top of her.
"Yes Momo?" he asked.
"Captain's meeting soon" Hinamori managed to breathe out.
"Oh?" He leaned down so that their noses were touching.
"Mm hmm" Her eyes trailed from his eyes to his lips. Hitsugaya looked at her for a minute before leaning down and giving her a quick peck on the lips. He gave her a quick smile before getting off the bed to get ready. Hinamori let out a sigh of protest and sat up on the bed. Hitsugaya smiled smugly at her.
"Disappointed?" He teased with a smirk. She threw a pillow at him and crossed her arms in a stubborn manner.
"No" she retorted, looking away. Hitsugaya chuckled and continued changing. He tied his zanpakuto to his hip and walked over to the bed. Hinamori was still looking the other way.
"Momo" he called. She turned to look at him and was met with a knee-weakening kiss. She moaned and hugged him closer to her. A moment later they broke apart for air.
"Happy?" he breathed.
"Very," she responded. Hitsugaya smiled and gave her a few quick kisses on the lips before finally heading out to the meeting.
"Hinamori-fukutaichou, can I join your group for lunch today?" asked Kaemon Takahashi casually with a hand gesture. Hinamori smiled at him.
"Sure," she signed the last paper and set it down. "Shall we go then?"
They arrived at the food hall where Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, Matsumoto and Hitsugaya were waiting for them. Ichigo waved an arm at the two and smirked.
"Toshirou, is it ok for Kaemon to carry on like that?" Hitsugaya's scowl deepened. Takahashi noticed his scowl and leaned in to whisper something to Hinamori that caused her to laugh out loud. Ichigo looked at Hitsugaya and pushed a popping vein back into his head. The genius was positively fuming. Hinamori sat down next to Hitsugaya, a worried look spread across her face.
"Hitsugaya-kun, are you okay?" The entire group sans Takahashi turned to look incredulously at her.
"What?" she asked, bewildered. "Why is everyone staring at me?"
The food came a while later. Takahashi decided to initiate a conversation.
"A strange thing happened in our division this morning, did it not, Hinamori-fukutaichou?" Hinamori was confused at first but then started laughing as she remembered the event. Takahashi joined in the laughter. The remaining people threw a look at Hitsugaya whose eyebrow was twitching furiously.
"What happened?" asked Rukia who was now more curious than ever.
"Just a little stuff up in the morning training session" He chuckled as he talked, "it was one of those you-had-to-be-there events."
"Then why did you even bring it up then?" snapped Hitsugaya in a low tone. An awkward atmosphere clouded the group and everyone began stuffing their faces with food except for Hitsugaya and Takahashi.
Hinamori tugged on Hitsugaya's sleeves and brought a piece of sushi to his mouth.
"Eat, you haven't ate all day," she urged. Hitsugaya pushed her hand away gently and shook his head stubbornly.
"Not hungry." Hinamori sighed and placed the piece down on his plate. She set her chopsticks down on her plate and tried a different tactic.
"Well if you're not going to eat then neither am I" she announced, mock imitating his expression. They stared at each other – it was a battle of wills. A moment later Hitsugaya's stomach growled. Hinamori giggled and Hitsugaya sighed out an air bubble.
: A few weeks later:
Hinamori sat on the flowery hilltop and watched Takahashi train. He had been trying really hard to achieve his shikai lately and had apparently achieved it very recently. As soon as he achieved it, he asked Hinamori if she wished to see it. She had accepted and here they were.
"Are you ready?" he called out.
"Go ahead" she yelled back. He smiled at her and took his zanpakuto out.
"Kashou, faia fenikkusu!"
Hinamori stared in awe as a large phoenix made of red and orange fire materialized. The phoenix hovered above Takahashi for a moment before taking sight of Hinamori. It charged straight at her. Hinamori froze in confusion.
"What are you doing! STOP!" commanded a panicked Takahashi. But the phoenix didn't stop and continued charging full speed at her. Hinamori shook out of her shock and erected a defensive barrier around her immediately. It bounced off it and let out a wailing screech; it hovered around and stared at Hinamori. Then it headed full speed at her again. Hinamori and Takahashi's mouth dropped when it succeeded in breaking through the barrier. She quickly reached for her soul slayer only to realise that it wasn't there – she hadn't thought to take it with her. A scream made its way out of her mouth as she watched the phoenix charging at her. She braced herself for the impact. But none came - only an overwhelming feeling of spiritual pressure emanating from someone near her. She opened her eyes slowly.
"Hitsugaya-kun!" she exclaimed.
"Stay back, Momo" he ordered. Hinamori complied; she could tell from his voice just how angry he was. His spiritual pressure subsided. Hinamori looked past him to see that the phoenix had withdrawn and that Takahashi was standing there panting. Hitsugaya walked towards Takahashi, Hinamori trailed behind him.
Takahashi was met with a punch in the jaw from Hitsugaya and doubled over.
"Hitsugaya-kun!" exclaimed Hinamori.
"What do you think you were doing?" His voice was deceivingly calm and cool. Takahashi coughed and rolled over into a sitting position.
"Releasing your zanpakuto is forbidden in Soul Society unless it has been authorised by the commander. On top of that, you should never release your shikai around others unless you have mastered it – this is because you won't have full control as you have just witnessed. Since neither has happened, I am asking you what the hell do you think you were doing?"
"I-I'm sorry, I never meant to…" Takahashi broke off, unable to form his words. "It'll never happen again," he concluded. Hitsugaya scoffed.
"Takahashi, I'll say this once. If you hurt Hinamori or put her in any kind of danger," Hitsugaya began icily, "I will kill you." He stared him down for a moment before walking away. Hinamori glanced from Hitsugaya to Takahashi; she was caught between following Hitsugaya and helping Takahashi. I want to follow Hitsugaya but Takahashi is hurt Hinamori weighed the two situations, I'm sorry Shiro-chan but Kaemon-kun needs me more right now. She walked to Takahashi and helped him up.
"Are you okay?" she asked, genuinely concerned.
Further down the path, Hitsugaya eyed them discreetly as he walked. He scoffed when he saw Hinamori tend to Takahashi's wounds and returned his eyes to the path in front of him. So this is how it is huh?
"I'm sorry, Hinamori-Fukutaichou, I never meant for any of this to happen," Takahashi apologised profusely. Hinamori smiled a small smile at him and nodded.
"Don't worry about it, things like this happen," she assured him. Takahashi looked down.
"Since you're okay now, I think I should get going," she told him as she got up and headed towards the door. A hand reached out to grab her wrist.
"Thank you," he told her. Hinamori nodded before walking out.
Hinamori found Hitsugaya in his office doing some paperwork. He threw a quick glance at her before continuing his work.
"Hey," Hinamori greeted as lightly as she could. Hitsugaya ignored her and continued reading through the reports. So he is mad at me. She sighed and sat down on the arm of the couch.
A moment of uncomfortable silence passed between them.
"Why did you agree to watch Takahashi's shikai release if you knew that one: it was dangerous, and two: it was against the rule?" Hitsugaya asked; his tone dripping with indifference.
"I don't know," Hinamori answered honestly. Hitsugaya scoffed. Great, she nearly died for an unknown reason.
"I guess I just wanted to encourage him," she offered. Hitsugaya looked up from his papers.
"You're a vice-captain Hinamori. Vice-captains should encourage their subordinates but they should also know what's right and what's wrong." Hinamori frowned and was about to say something when they were interrupted.
"Sorry for this disturbance, Hitsugaya taichou, but is Hinamori-fukutaichou here?" A voice called from behind the door.
"Open up!" ordered Hitsugaya. The door slid open.
"Sorry for interrupting but…"
"I'll take it from here," Rangiku interrupted.
"Yes, of course, vice-captain Matsumoto," the shinigami bowed and slid the door close.
"Hinamori-chan, there's a note from Ichigo for you," she informed her, taking the folded piece of paper from her robes and handing it to her.
"Momo-san,
Takahashi Kaemon has withdrawn from Gotei-13. He leaves tonight.
Ichigo"
"What?" Without another word she ran out of the room.
Hinamori searched every likely area of Seireitai that Kaemon would be but it was all fruitless. She stopped to catch her breath when she sensed his spiritual energy. She turned around slowly and gasped when she saw him standing there.
"Kaemon-kun, I looked everywhere for you" she said breathlessly, "what's going on?"
"I was offered a place in the special ops team and I accepted."
"What? When?"
"When I graduated I was offered a space there as well as Gotei-13 but I accepted the offer by Gotei-13."
"What changed your mind? Why do you want to go to the Covert Ops Corps now? If it was what happened today then…"
"No. I'd be lying if I said that today's event's had no influence on my decision but it was something else that made my decision."
Hinamori looked at him with an eagerness to understand.
"It's just that," Takahashi exhaled loudly, "It's just that I feel that the Gotei-13 isn't right for me. I don't belong here." He tried to explain, his eyes pleaded with her to understand. To his relief, his reason seemed to sink into Hinamori. Her eyes dropped to the floor as she thought about his reason. Slowly she raised her eyes again and nodded.
"Is there nothing here that would make you want to stay?" she asked hopefully. Takahashi took a deep breath. If she only knew he thought. Then it occurred to him – he was leaving, what was there to loose?
"You tell me?" He asked, one eyebrow raised. Hinamori was confused.
"Huh?"
In one fast and impulsive moment, Takahashi had Hinamori backed up against the wall with an arm on each side of her face.
"What are you doing?" Hinamori asked, her heart beat faster as the fear inside her grew stronger.
"This," he said before closing his eyes and leaning down towards her lips. Hinamori's eyes widened and she quickly clasped a hand over her mouth. Takahashi noticed and stopped a breath's length away from her face. A small smile embraced his lips. He pushed against the wall and stepped back from a still shocked Hinamori.
"I think that was a clear enough confession," he commented sheepishly as he scratched his head. Hinamori was speechless, her mouth opened and closed a few times.
"I…I like Hitsugaya," she managed to blurt out. Takahashi chuckled.
"I know," he said, "in fact, the whole Seireitai knows. But I've always been a dreamer." He looked at her proudly and ruffled her hair – like how Aizen used to. Hinamori blushed a little.
"Is it that obvious?" She asked.
"Hell yeah," he responded with a laugh. He picked up his belongings and waved a hand.
"I guess this is goodbye then," he said. Hinamori smiled a small smile and nodded.
"I guess it is," she replied.
Hinamori watched Takahashi leave until she couldn't see him anymore. She smiled to herself and then headed back to her headquarters.
Hitsugaya woke up in the middle of the night, shivering slightly from the cold. He was about to pull the blankets over him when he realised that there wasn't any blanket on him. In fact, he wasn't even on his futon anymore but rather, he was on the tatami mat. What the? He looked over to his right and realised why. Hinamori had come in again in the middle of the night and taken over his bed. Hitsugaya sighed inwardly. Another cold night for me he thought. Then he remembered the extra blankets he had ordered Matsumoto to put in his wardrobe. Not another cold night for me the - at least I was prepared this time, he mused and congratulated himself on a job well done as he got up and retrieved the blanket from his wardrobe.
Hitsugaya made himself comfortable before propping himself on his elbows. He ran a hand through Hinamori's hair once before supporting his head with it. He couldn't help but think that this girl would be the end of him one day. He was simply just too scared of loosing her. Hitsugaya sighed inwardly again. And he nearly did today – if he was just a minute late she would have… no, don't go down that path, Hitsugaya Toshiro.
After Hinamori received the note, he concealed his spiritual pressure and secretly followed her. He swore he could have killed that bastard right then and there when he tried to kiss his Hinamori – the laws be damned. But as it also happened, he didn't have to do anything. Hinamori had stopped anything from happening and everything was resolved in a non-head-rolling-off-neck (preferably by Hyourinmaru's blade but Tobiume could have sufficed) way.
Hinamori shuffled in her sleep and pulled Hitsugaya into her. She sleepily lifted her head and punched her 'pillow' into shape before getting comfortable again. Hitsugaya groaned in pain, just another role of being boyfriend, he reasoned.
Hinamori slowly drifted awake into the next morning and yawned.
"Hey sleepyhead"
She opened her eyes slowly to the sound and found herself staring into Hitsugaya's aquamarine eyes.
"Kyaa!" she yelped and shot upright. But Hitsugaya was prepared this time. He lifted the pillow and quickly placed it between his forehead and hers. Hinamori rebounded and fell back onto the bed. She sat up slowly this time and rubbed her eyes. She observed her surroundings and realised that she was once again in Hitsugaya's room.
"Did I come to your room again?" She asked sleepily. Hitsugaya, who was sitting there with his arms crossed, nodded in response.
"Did I take all the space this time?" She asked. Then she noticed the extra pillow and blanket. "I guess you were prepared this time huh." Hitsugaya nodded in response again, causing Hinamori to sigh.
"Mou, are you still mad at me?" she asked. Hitsugaya looked away. Hinamori edged closer and rested her head on his shoulder and looked up at him.
"Hmm?" Don't look at her, don't look at her, don't look at her.
Hitsugaya sighed in defeat.
"Baka, I wasn't mad at you," he confessed.
"No?" she pushed.
"No, just annoyed." Hinamori sat up straight and looked at him.
"You were annoyed at me?" she asked. Hitsugaya shrugged.
"Shiro-chan! Tell me!" she demanded.
"Well, you see," he began in a low and serious tone, "the diverted attention was just not on." He mumbled. Hinamori's eyes widened and she burst out in laughter in spite of the situation. Shiro-chan is too cute!
She realised that Hitsugaya was glaring at her and she recollected herself and cleared her throat.
"Were you jealous?" She teased.
"No," Hitsugaya replied forcefully but with a slight blush. Hinamori giggled harder and couldn't help but give him a kiss on the cheeks.
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
Took a while for me to update, again. This is an example of my mood swings, lol, behold the fluff then angst and drama then fluff again!
As usual, please review. :No flames, don't mind "gentle" criticism: Thanks to the people who do. :D