A/N: And.... I'm back with another update. ^^ ENJOY
Figure Twelve: Wear
//One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art ~ Oscar Wilde\\
My heart was beating irregular patterns against my ribcage but I couldn't blame it. After all, my breathing wasn't exactly normal either. Walking alongside me was Kyouraku-taichou. He kept shooting me furtive glances as if worried about me. I turned my head slightly to give him a small smile. He only put a hand on my back and propelled me forward. We were well before the summons time, but I couldn't sit there and wait any longer. It was nerve-wracking to just pace around the room or drum my fingers against my legs, and finally, Kyouraku-taichou said we could go earlier. It never hurt to be a couple minutes early, right?
"Toushirou..." the name escaped my lips in a gasp. He was standing there too, Matsumoto by his side, in front of the 1st Division doors. Most of the other Captains and Vice Captains were there as well. I simply froze under the intense gaze of everyone there. All of them seemed so mesmerized with my appearance that none seemed to notice the doors slowly open by themselves.
"Well, it seems everyone is here half an hour early today. This is certainly rare..." Soutaichou stood at the end of the hall as always, staff in hand, looking as old and wizened as ever. He waited until everyone took their respective places in line before tapping his staff twice on the ground and the doors slowly slid close with a bang. There was a silence in which everyone just seemed to turn and look at me before looking quickly back at Soutaichou.
"I assume that everyone knows why we are all here today." Soutaichou took one sweeping look around the room before nodding himself.
"Hitsugaya-taichou... step forward please." He did so. It didn't help that he was standing so close to me, only a few people away. I couldn't help be keep glancing at the side of his face, couldn't help but marvel at his.... pure-ness even in this situation. He was always so calm and in control. He always knew what to do and I loved him for it.
"As you all know, the next war is not very far off, and we know that Aizen is planning again to attack us directly as a blow to the King of Soul Society. We need to be ready, and have as many allies as it is possible. The Enchanters will be invaluable to us in this battle. With their aid, victory is, if not ensured, very likely. And for that reason, and not any other, I have considered moving Takamori-san back to the 10th Division, on the condition that Takamori-san swear the allegiance of the Enchanters to us. That in times of need, we will aid each other whatever the costs." He looked at me. I stared right back, frozen in place. What was I supposed to do? I couldn't speak for ALL the Enchanters, much less promise something like this.
"Takamori-san?"
I resisted the urge to look down at my hands and held his gaze as steadily as I could.
"Erm... well I can't speak for all Enchanters, Soutaichou-sama, so..." I trailed off, not really knowing what else to say. Soutaichou nodded in understanding.
"Then do you perhaps know someone who can?" I frowned, thinking hard. Who was there that could speak for all Enchanters in general? I shook my head. There was no one that could speak for all Enchanters. Soutaichou nodded once more.
"I see..." he said. I almost raised an eyebrow. Almost. He gave us what seemed to be a smile under that long beard of his.
"Then... I must choose a different approach. The only other approach. I hope you do not mind, Takamori-san." He actually gave me a small dip of the head. I blinked at him, not knowing what I should do. He never lowered his head for anyone. What was he going to do? It had to be something huge.
"Hitsugaya-taichou."
"Hai."
"Do you love Takamori-san?" My eyes widened and my cheeks turned about 15 shades of red in the time span of three seconds. I lowered my head and twisted my hands together nervously. How was he going to answer?
"Yes, I do." My head shot up. He didn't seem embarrassed at all. He looked... proud, if anything. My mind reeled. What the hell was going on here? Was it some sort of dream or something? This didn't seem like a dream though. I clearly remember waking up this morning. I pinched myself, and silently cursed as pain coursed under my skin. So I was awake. But then... why?
"And Takamori-san, do you love Hitsugaya-taichou?" My brain seems to have hit the pause button. It went completely and utterly blank. How the hell do I answer that question? I closed my eyes for a moment before opening it again.
"Yes." I was surprised at how calm and collected I sounded, for all the turmoil going on inside my head.
"Then it is settled. We will have... a political engagement." Silence followed. It was the loudest, densest silence I've ever heard in my whole life.
A political engagement? What did he... wait... engagement... engagement... ENGAGEMENT?!
Hitsugaya stood there stiffly, though I noticed that his cheeks were slightly flushed as well. I bit my lip before I said something stupid. Engagement? As in like a marriage kind of engagement? Oh crap. I didn't think he would take it this far. It's not like I don't want to be with Hitsugaya, it's just... an engagement?! At my age?! Isn't that... illegal or something? But did they even have rules like this in Soul Society? Oh right... Soutaichou is the law. Whatever he says is absolutely fine. I took a deep breath and chanced a look up at Hitsugaya again. He hadn't moved.
"Well? Do you accept, Hitsugaya-taichou?" I kept my eyes on him, half curious, half scared of what he was about to say. But to my surprise, he turned to me and looked me straight in the eye before he began to talk in a very steady, controlled voice.
"If Takamori-san doesn't mind..." My jaw dropped. I didn't care if all the Captains and Vice Captains were watching. Did he just... what I think he did? I could clearly hear my heart beats in my ears now. The colors around the room just became ten times more radiant and everything seemed to slow to a stop.
"Are you... proposing?" My voice was shaking and the shock was evidence in every syllable. He only blinked slowly back at me, his mouth set in a straight line.
"Yes, I believe that's what he's trying to do." Kyouraku-taichou's voice successfully broke the spell that I was under. I tried to control my breathing. He let out a small chuckle and pushed me forward a bit.
"So what's your answer?" he asked. I heard the hint of a jibe in there. I stood there, not knowing what to say, what I could say. I wasn't even 20 years old and yet... marriage? Wasn't there something... wrong about this? But then again... Hitsugaya didn't seem much older than me. I knew he was though... maybe hundreds of years older... I never actually bothered to find out his exact age...
"Takamori-san?" I blinked and looked around, realizing where I was, I flushed a deep red and looked back at Hitsugaya. He was still looking at me, though there was something in his eyes that were not there a moment before. A certain light to them that I'd never seen, ever. And it was that that made me open my mouth.
"Yes."
"So you accept this proposal?" I nodded. How could I not? I loved him after all.
"Good, the ceremony will be held after you have graduated from the Academy. We will discuss the specifics when the time comes. For now, you will be moved back to the 10th Division. Please contact your Enchanter comrades and tell them about your current situation and our situation," he put particular stress on the last two words. I nodded wordlessly.
"Then I believe we have sorted everything out. Meeting adjourned." Tap tap, went the staff, and the great doors creaked open again, allowing everyone out of the stuffy hall chamber. I stood there, not knowing exactly what to do, or even what to think.
Hitsugaya and I were engaged... ENGAGED... as in... going to get married. How did that just happen? I blinked rapidly, trying to piece everything together in my head, but nothing made sense. What was this?
"Takamori?" His voice snapped me out of my trance and I looked up. My eyes searching his before he led me gently out of the hall and towards his Division. As soon as we reached his office, he pulled open the door, ushered me inside and closed the door behind me. Without even a word, I was roughly pulled to him. Shock coursed through my body, as my mind went numb, successfully paralyzing my limbs. But I felt him. His arms wrapped tightly around my waist, his head once again on my shoulder. His scent whirling around me. I could only close my eyes and relish the moment. I was back... after a month. After what seemed to be a surprisingly short amount of time. As we stood there, it felt like I never really left at all, and all those days spent pondering what he was up to was just a far-off dream or something that I'd imagined. It didn't seem.
"Toushirou...?" He hadn't moved and I was beginning to loose feeling in my arms.
"Toushirou?" Finally, he loosened his grip on me and took a step back, but he refused to look up at me.
"I thought... I'd never see you again..." His voice was quiet. Certainly, this was a side of him that he rarely shows, if even at all. He hid it so well behind that uptight and respectable mask of a commanding officer. I laughed, then forced him to look at me.
"I told you... I'd never leave, right?" His eyes bore into my own as his face descended. His forehead connected with mine in a familiar gesture and he ran his hands through my hair. He was smiling. I couldn't help but smile as well, raising a hand and lightly tracing his features. His eyes, his nose, his lips. He kissed my finger softly before closing his eyes and pulling my hand down to his.
"Four years..." he said. I smiled. Yes. It's been four years. Four years since my death and boy am I glad I died... as weird as that sounds. Serendipity would be the best word to describe the events that occurred during those four years, even though I wasn't really 'looking' for anything, and I'd sort of been pushed into the middle of all this Shinigami business. Not like I was complaining though.
"I never thought –"
"That you could fall in love with anyone other than Hinamori?" I said. He opened his eyes. But then he smiled and shook his head lightly.
"Nevermind..." I rolled my eyes.
"It's true, isn't it? You're just too chicken to admit it." I smirked. He raised an eyebrow at me, a smirk playing at his lips too.
"Chicken? You think I'm scared of admitting that I love you?" I blushed at the last three words. I couldn't help myself. I just... wasn't used to hearing him say it so much. I nodded nonetheless.
"Then pray tell, how do I prove it to you?" I bit my lip, blushing hard. I shook my head, not trusting my voice to operate correctly if I tried to use it. Did he know what kind of effect he had on me, or was he just trying to make me nervous?
"Taichou~! Oh! Am I disturbing something? Then I'll just –" It was Matsumoto, although she had a devious smile on her face that told me she knew exactly what she was walking in on. I had a creeping suspicion that she'd been listening behind the door.
"Matsumoto..." Hitsugaya had released me the moment he heard Matsumoto's voice. His voice was that of just controlled rage.
"Ah, Taichou, no need to be so uptight! Today's a great day! We should all go celebrate in the hot-springs!" She bounced into the room and gave me a one-armed hug. I smiled exasperatedly up at her. Nothing could dampen that woman's spirits... nothing. But just for the fun of it, I'll play along, just this once.
"Yeah. The hot-springs sound great. Toushirou-kun, you're coming with us, right?" I grinned. He glared at the pair of us before giving a dejected sigh and accepted. Matsumoto cheered as I watched her jump around.
"But before that, Mastumoto." Hitsugaya raised his voice to something close to a holler, so she could hear him over her own whoops and cheers. "You have to finish all the paperwork on your desk." She came to an abrupt stop and saluted him.
"Sir yes sir!" She said, happiness leaking from her voice, before she bounced over to her desk and began to work at an eyebrow-raising speed. I knew she could get stuff done if she wanted to but this... this was insane!
"Takamori, you should go and get your stuff from the 8th Division," Hitsugaya said as he walked towards his desk. I smiled at his back before saying a quick 'bye' and dashing out of the room.
After exchanging a few lengthy 'thank-you's and 'goodbye's, I was finally able to go back to the 10th Division. Upon arrival, however, I found only Hitsugaya sitting at his desk. It was empty as was Matsumoto's desk. No way... was that way too fast...
"You guys are finished already?" I asked incredulously. Talk about super-human. He nodded, resting his head on his hands in a very uncharacteristic gesture. He almost looked like a tired schoolboy trying to doze off in class.
"How are your grades in the Academy? Did you receive your last exam score back yet?" I frowned. Is this the only thing he wanted to talk to me about? I knew perfectly well that this was one of his ways of displaying affection, but that didn't stop it from annoying me slightly. I sighed.
"My grades are fine. And no, my last exam score has not come back yet, but I'm confident that I did, if not great, at least above average. I studied hard for that exam." He nodded, eyes still closed. I slumped down on the couch and stretched out.
"Have you been keeping up with sword practice?"
"Yep. I don't know if I got any better though... none of the students in my year are... quite as good as you are." I felt a smirk lift my lips on the last part of the sentence. He just nodded.
"We'll need to pick up on that. We don't want you falling behind." I rolled my eyes. Typical Hitsugaya. Always worried about things that he really didn't have to worry about, but then again, that's what made him so endearing and lovable. He tried to pretend like he didn't care.
"Have you read all those books I gave you yet?"
"Yes, and I've gotten some new ones with Kyouraku-taichou's help. These are fascinating." I took up one of the volumes I'd recently checked out. It was about the specifics on channeling reiatsu. And it wasn't limited to only fighting and kidou either. You can do all sorts of stuff with your reiatsu. Like send messages for instance. Apparently in medieval times, Shinigami used to release set amounts of reiatsu in a pattern to convey messages to all their comrades who could feel it. Much like Morse code except with reiatsu pulses instead of sounds and beeps. I don't understand why they don't do that anymore and use the Hell Butterflies. Well, I guess you had to put the butterflies to some use.
"That's good..." his voice was beginning to trail off. I looked up. It looked like was falling asleep. He looked so unbelievably adorable right then that I had to suppress the urge to hug him.
I lifted my legs onto the sofa and turned onto my side so I could see him. My eyes drooped as I too felt tiredness rush over my being. The light seemed to be getting dimmer and dimmer as my consciousness slowly slipped away.
"Mina-chan~!" I shot up from the sofa, but groaned almost immediately as the colors before my eyes contorted and my head gave a resentful throb. Putting a hand up to my head, I slumped backwards onto the arm of the sofa again.
"Ran-chan?" I shielded my eyes from the bright lights above and flipped over.
"Oi, weren't you the one that wanted to go to the hot-springs? Get up and get ready then." I groaned again. Bossy smart-ass. Mumbling curses under my breath, I grudgingly got up and shuffled over to my room to get ready. But just as I was grabbing a change of clothes and brushing my hair, I distinctively heard Matsumoto's voice. Pausing, I frowned, trying to decipher her words.
"... you excited, Taichou?"
"Urusei Matsumoto."
"Ne, ne, Taichou, if we go in the co-ed baths, you might get to see Mina-chan naked!"
I blushed, hard. I heard Hitsugaya sputter as Matsumoto teased him. I unconsciously folded my arms in front of my chest, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Suddenly, I was more aware of myself than ever. I wasn't pretty, or anything special. I wasn't fat, but I wasn't model-skinny either. I didn't have... Matsumoto's assets, nor anything that could be considered out of the ordinary.
I was just... normal. But for someone like him? He was... the most beautiful boy I'd ever seen in my whole life. Didn't he deserve someone equally stunning? Next to him... I was... nothing.
I sighed and reluctantly finished brushing my hair. Grabbing a light summer kimono and a small towel, I headed out of my room. Once out, I found Matsumoto with her stuff, and Hitsugaya walking back in, his clothing and towel in hand.
"Let's go!" Matsumoto eagerly lead the way out of the room and through the now dark corridors and streets of Seireitei. Outside the living quarters of the Divisions, life was bustling and rowdy. Matsumoto babbled away as she led us to what seemed to be her favorite Onsen.
Ducking under the entrance flap, we applied for some lockers and after a slight scuffle over whether or not we should go to the outdoors co-ed bath or the indoors gender separated ones, we decided on the outdoors one. Agreeing to meet outside, we went our separate ways to take showers before entering the hot springs.
As I striped off my clothes and locked them away, Matsumoto talked on and on about how long she's waited for a hot springs trip, and how Hitsugaya refused to let her go because of all the work she's missed. I only listened and laughed at her dramatic stories and poses.
When finally, she did manage to calm down enough, she had to ask the one question that I was hoping and praying she wouldn't ask.
"So... Mina-chan... are you excited about seeing Taichou naked?" I glared at her whilst blushing bright red.
"N-no! I-I mean... y-yes b-b-but... wait... I didn't mean that – I don't really – UGH!" Matsumoto was laughing. She patted my head as she smiled widely down at me.
"Ah... I see how it is. Well, let me tell you now, Mina-chan, you won't be disappointed! Let's just say that... he makes up for his height in... other ways." And with that she giggled and skipped off to an empty shower stall, leaving me redder than ever, with my mouth wide opened and a half embarrassed, half shocked look on my face.
"W-what the..! Ran-chan!"
I sighed as I wiped myself dry and put my hair up in a loose bun. Matsumoto still giggling beside me. My face stubbornly refused to cool down, even after the shower. I'd turned the water as cold as I could but... nothing. My cheeks were still as red as an overripe strawberry. I pouted, rubbing my face dry.
"Now, now, Mina-chan, don't be like that. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Taichou wants to see you too!"
I glared at her best I could, given my current condition.
"That doesn't make it any better!" I said with my teeth gritted tightly together. She only chuckled and gave me a small pat on the head. I nearly growled. Wrapping the towel tightly around myself, and making doubly sure that everything that needed to be covered was covered, I followed Matsumoto out into the co-ed hot spring. There wasn't much people there, and it was a fairly large spring, so it looked quite empty. Hitsugaya was already there, in a corner where he sat, his eyes closed, his head tilted back to rest on the rock. His breathing was deep and steady, almost as if he was asleep.
"Taichou!" Matsumoto waved fervently, successfully drawing the attention of almost everyone in the spring. Men did double takes as women looked on with jealousy and spite. Who could blame them? Matsumoto wasn't what you would call... unnoticeable, especially in the hot springs.
"You don't have to shout, I'm not deaf you know." Hitsugaya frowned as he sat up a bit straighter. Matsumoto almost jumped into the water, giving a huge sigh as she was nearly completely submerged in water. I kept quiet, hoping against hope that Hitsugaya wouldn't look my way. But as I lowered myself gently into the water, he turned and his eyes fell onto my face. I couldn't help but notice it flicker down over the rest of my body before he caught himself and looked away quickly. I raised a hand and clutched my towel closer to my body, cheeks rising in color.
"Ah... nothing's more relaxing than a night in the hot springs, ne?" Matsumoto leaned back and closed her eyes, smiling contentedly. I made a noise of agreement as I gradually began to relax. I lowered my hand and leaned back as well, letting my eyes fall half shut, staring at the patterns the steam made. Something touched my arm. I glanced to the side, forgetting exactly who was sitting next to me. Hitsugaya. Realizing who it was, I promptly jumped and pulled my arm away before blushing yet again and frowning, wondering why I was so jumpy. Maybe it was the fact that it was the first time we had been in such close proximity with such attire... or lack thereof.
He seemed indifferent, only sending me a confused look before shutting his eyes once more. Faintly, I heard whispers from across the spring. Straining my ears, I caught a couple sentences.
"Isn't that Hitsugaya-taichou?"
"Yeah, I think it is... but then that's Matsumoto-fukutaichou."
"Yeah... then why is Takamori with them? I didn't think they were that close."
"I know... it's so weird, she hasn't even graduated yet, and she's already so close to members of the Gotei 13. It's so not fair... she must have done something to get in, bribed them or something."
"I think so. I never liked her, she always seemed a bit odd to me, and all that Enchanting stuff... it's abnormal."
"I don't know what Hitsugaya-taichou sees in her... she's so useless."
I bit my lip, looking down at the steaming water. I knew there were people that thought of me like this... but I didn't expect... I guess it was inevitable.
"Oi... you two are loud. If you're going to talk, then keep it to yourselves. Don't disturb everyone around you with your useless gossip." I looked up, slightly surprised. Hitsugaya didn't even open his eyes, but a frown creased his forehead. He opened one eye and gave the pair of a girls a look, at which they both shut their mouths and spent the rest of their time whispering behind their hands and shooting us glances now and then.
Slowly, people left in pairs and groups until there was only the three of us left. We'd come late, it had only been about half an hour, maybe a bit more. Matsumoto didn't look like she planned on leaving anytime soon. We'd agreed to book a room the inn upstairs and head back in the morning, that way, we could stay longer and take a day off. Both Matsumoto and I agreed that a day off would do the white-haired captain some good.
"Takamori...?"
"Hm?" I opened my eyes and looked at Hitsugaya. He was regarding me with a slightly worried look.
"Don't mind them. They're not worth our time." I blinked and stared at him for a few moments, slightly confused, before the events earlier replayed inside my head. I nodded, looking back down at the water. I didn't want to think about it.
"Oi, look at me." I raised my eyes. He met mine with his own and gave me a small smile. I couldn't help but smile back. He was so perfect. I could never ask for anyone better. Indeed, there was no one better out there, of that, I was sure.
And the best part was... he was mine.
A/N: Okie. So there's another chapter. T^T The series is ALMOST OVER. NOOOOOO. But there are still a couple more chapters to go. So enjoy it while it lasts, ne!