AN: Hey, guys. Nothing really much to say…Thanks to the reviewers (seriously I read them) Well, this chapter, nothing much really happens (in the way of romance/humour)… I know, I know, I'm sad as well…but you know, we need to do plot thickening and all that cool stuff.
Oh yeah, some spoilers here from manga chapters… 204 - 206
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach…
A Summer Job – Employing
The old captain sat there. Nothing new, just sitting. This time, however, he was thinking about a new matter. Who were there amongst the vice-captains whose skills could actually be considered captain level?
The old man mused to himself.
Well, there was his vice-captain, but Yamamoto knew that his vice-captain probably performed better as a vice captain. The next one to come up was Gin's vice-captain. Kira. He could probably pass for a captain. Hmm…Kira would be an OK choice. The problem was, was that if he knew Ban Kai already. The old captain shrugged. Probably not.
The other vice captains were pretty useless. Hinamori Momo was a formidable fighter, however putting her in the tournament would pose a very high threat to all those involved, thanks to the protectiveness of the tenth division captain. Well, she was out. Anyway she probably couldn't handle it, with Aizen's loss and all.
Next up was, Hisagi. The shinigami that had been the most popular, and one of the strongest in his grade at the shinigami academy. He definitely was a candidate. His skills were sharp in all areas, he was brave, and had excellent leadership qualities. However, Yamamoto had heard a rumor that he had been beaten by the rank of 5th officer. When the old man had first heard that, he nearly fainted. A fifth officer beating a vice-captain? However, when he heard that the fifth officer was from the 11th division understanding dawned upon him. That 11th division, under Zaraki Kenpachi definitely had promise.
Speaking of which, he had also heard rumours that Ikkaku had achieved his ban kai. Ikkaku was definitely going to be a candidate.
He listed those names in his head that he needed to have a special talk to.
Kira, Hisagi, and Ikkaku.
He sent his vice-captain to get them.
"Shiro-chan…"
Hitsugaya groaned.
"Shiro-chan…"
Someone was calling him. It was a sweet voice.
"Shiro-chan…"
This time Hitsugaya opened his eyes to look full in the face of Hinamori. He nearly fainted again. He thought Hinamori was beautiful. In the past few decades he would never admit it to himself. However, after those past few decades he had done some growing up. He now, would allow himself to say that she was pretty. Only to himself of course – no one else. That would take another couple of decades.
"Shiro-chan, what's wrong?" Her eyes gazed down on him in concern.
Gazed down on him? Why was she looking down on him, like he was lying down? Hitsugaya moved slightly, and felt where he was lying down. On her lap. Another near faint. Luckily, Hinamori chose that time to wave her hands in front of his face.
"Uh…Ok, ok, I'm alive…" Hitsugaya sat up slowly, reluctant to leave his position on Hinamori's lap. He sat up with his back facing towards her, remembering what she had asked that had made him faint.
Hinamori looked at her childhood friend. Well, his back.
"Shiro-chan…"
"What?"
"Why-…"
"And don't call me that."
"Were you in my room last night?"
Hitsugaya's genius brain was ticking faster than the speed of light. He tried to conjure up all these excuses, but all that came to his mind was the pressure of her lips upon his. Hold on. This question she asked just now was a bit different to the one before…
"Um," she blushed deeper, "What were you doing in my room last night?"
Maybe, just maybe, there was some slim chance that she didn't know.
"Um…" Hitsugaya put on his best disbelieving voice and turned around, "Hinamori, I wasn't in your room." Looking her straight in the eye, he said, "Dreaming of me, maybe?"
That was a flirting tone. Hinamori couldn't believe her ears. Shiro-chan, flirting. It was too good to be true. Maybe she had just interpreted it wrong.
Hitsugaya looked up to see Hinamori's face light up temporarily, then cloud over.
"Oh…" She looked, almost, sad. "That's what it must have been."
"What must have been?"
"Um…", she returned to her usual shy self, "I had a dream about you."
"O-oh…" Hitsugaya stuttered. Ok, things were definitely getting out of hand. He had to say something, had to say something. "Um, what was it about?" OK, so he had to say something but not THAT!
"Well…" she didn't look him in the eye. "I had a dream that you came to me." She paused. "You were being very sweet." She blushed furiously. "It just seemed so real, so I had to ask you…'cause you know, how dreams sometime seem so real, and, umm, yeah…Don't worry, it was just a dream."
Hitsugaya nodded, he didn't know what to say. But he did know that he could not tell her that it wasn't a dream, because if he did, it would…it would…make things so awkward between them. People just don't walk up to some other person and go, 'Oh, guess what, you know that dream you had about me and you kissing? Yeah, well, you know, it was actually real…' That was just way, way to random. Not like he cared about him and Hinamori kissing. No, not at all.
"Anyway, I have to go now, Shiro-chan." She stood up.
"Stop with the Shiro-chan." He sighed, and stood up. They stood there for a moment. Hitsugaya felt relieved and ashamed at the same time. Relieved because Hinamori was just doing that stuff last night because she thought it was a dream…Ashamed because he had lied to her.
"Oh, wow, Shiro-chan you really are getting taller." Her sweet voice cut through his melancholy thoughts.
"Huh?" He looked at her. Actually, it was true, he could see her whole face without having to crane his neck. "Oh, yeah…"
"And, you look a bit older. More, hmmm…handsome…" Hinamori giggled.
"Whatever." Hitsugaya strolled off casually, pretending not to care about her compliment, even though, for some unknown reason his heart was beating at an absurdly fast rate. He lifted one hand. "Bye."
"Bye, bye, Shiro-chan!"
A large drop of sweat formed rather quickly on the captain's head. She would never stop calling him that. But secretly, he liked it. There was no way that he was going to tell that to anyone.
As he made his way to his office, he bumped into the orange haired shinigami.
"Watch where you're going, Kurosaki-taichou" Hitsugaya was still slightly annoyed at Ichigo for laughing at him for no particular reason. Everyone else – he could keep his cool. For some reason Ichigo just ignited his temper.
"Now, now, no need to talk dirty." Ichigo smirked. "Imagine what would happen if, suddenly, the whole 10th division found out where their captain really was last night." With that, the new captain swaggered off, noting with mild surprise that it had begun to snow.
Hisagi, Kira, and Ikkaku made their way to Yamamoto's quarters. Just as they were about to reach the undercover area, Ikkaku swore.
"What's the deal with this snow? My head's cold."
"Well, don't shave it then, baldy."
"I don't want to hear that from you, tattoo face."
"Shut-up. It's art, not a tattoo."
"Art my ass."
"Yes, your ass, on your head."
Kira looked at the two of them and sighed loudly. All he really wanted to do was concentrate on his emo haircut. That definitely rocked over these two guy's hair arguments.
The two of them stopped their bickering and glared at the sigher.
Kira looked up at them. "Pfft…Don't include me in your lame arguments about hair. Mine is the best anyway."
"Your hair?" Hisagi spluttered out.
"Well, excuse me for not having an emo hair cut like yours." Ikkaku joined in. "It's not even dyed black!"
Just as Kira was about to release his soul slayer Yamamoto motioned for them to come inside.
"…"
"I had originally desired to just give you guys a general conversation outside, but it seems we can't have that due to this unexpected…er, weather." Yamamoto frowned. Probably some poor shinigami that had tried to flirt with the 5th division vice-captain, and had unfortunately got caught. He nodded sagely to himself. That must be it.
The three vice-captains followed the captain inside his quarters while glaring at one another.
"The reason why I have called you here should be obvious."
"Captain's positions?" It was Kira who spoke up first.
"Nah… he wants us to clean the toilets." Ikkaku answered in a bland voice.
"..."
The vice-captains returned to listening mode.
"Anyway, which of you wants to become a captain?"
"…" No one moved, or said anything for that matter. Even though they knew it was about the vacant positions when asked the question they stood there, dumbstruck.
"Ok, let me ask it like this: Stay here if you want to become a captain."
Yamamoto watched as Kira and Ikkaku started inching backwards towards the doorway.
Zip…
Kira and Ikkaku were gone. Hisagi just stood there, wondering why the other two had left. Those two could have qualified as captains. Hmm…This wasn't predicted. Oh well, the less people trying out, the easier.
"So, you want to be a captain, Hisagi?"
"Yes, sir."
"Since your captain isn't here to enter you into the tournament, I shall see to it." The old man paused before saying, "You may leave."
"Thank-you sir."
The old man watched the vice-captain's retreating form. Let's see if you really can handle being a gotei-13 captain.
As soon as he was out the door, Hisagi flash-stepped to catch up to Ikkaku and Kira.
"Guys, what's the deal?"
Ikkaku and Kira slowed down. Kira spoke up first, while looking at the ground. "I don't feel like I'm strong enough for the responsibility of captain."
Hisagi shrugged. That was expected. But Ikkaku. Ikkaku probably was better than every single vice-captain in the whole gotei-13. And, Hisagi knew, that somehow, Ikkaku had gotten his Ban Kai. That was a sure ticket to captaincy.
"Well?"
"My only wish is to serve under that man, Zaraki Kenpachi."
"Oh…" Seeing the usually joking Ikkaku so serious made him feel awkward. "Well, be seeing you guys around."
Renji yawned. That was such a boring vice-captain meeting. It was so boring, that even now, half an hour later, it got to him. He scowled, and kicked a rock along the footpath. He looked up to see where it went, then doubled over as the rock came flying back at him.
"What the fu…"
"Tsk, tsk. Shouldn't kick rocks around, Renji."
Renji grimaced, then grinned. "Ouch. Dammit Rukia, did you really have to kick it back that hard?"
"Yes."
Renji straightened up, then scratched the back of head. "I'll never understand you," he muttered to himself.
"I can explain myself with the help of a few drawings."
"Ok, stop." Anything but her drawings. "I understand you."
Rukia grinned evilly.
"What do you have on today?" she asked sincerely.
"Humm…Nothing…I was going to go visit our old place. Want to come?"
"Sure…"
As they walked towards their childhood Rukia made no mention that she actually had been there just the night before. Actually, just being there didn't really mean anything; Renji knew she visited by herself from time to time. However, if she happened to be with a captain named Kurosaki Ichigo, it would turn into an entirely different story.
She laughed in spite of herself as they continued walking.
Renji stopped and frowned at her. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, nothing. Let's keep going."
AN: Argh…2:50AM… too tired… please review… come on peoples… XD…Hmm, next up some serious talking between these childhood friends…and unexpected visitors… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZ IchiRukiness is gonna come soon...I promise XD