CH8-Clearing
"And here we are." Pushing a branch out of our way I usher him into the little space. The grass was soft and green, the trees provided cover and the stars were perfectly visible here. Moving to the middle of the clearing I look up, "I stumbled on this place a while ago, and I always used to come here. It calmed me and I always felt peaceful." Turning my head I look over my shoulder but quickly look away when I catch him staring at me. Hearing approaching footsteps I turn and look up at him. "Since when do you have a giaga?" I ask as I try to make sense of it. He has on a white shirt, jeans and a black jacket. Normal clothes look very odd on someone who is always wearing the same black soul reaper outfit and the captains' vest.
"Why wouldn't I have one?" his puzzled gaze reflected the stars as his hair seemed to shine with moonlight, "Maybe because you hardly ever leave the soul society? Don't you ever get bored?"
"No." His voice tells me that he is very confused by my question, "Why do you get bored?"
Before I can contain it I burst out laughing, "No, never. Between trying to keep out of trouble and figuring out this bet and babysitting your lieutenant I'm always busy." Bending over I try my best to stop laughing.
"You haven't changed much." Sucking in my breath I straighten up, "Well you're exactly as I remember you. Always so serious, and never enjoying the freedom we had." Looking me in the eye I blush seeing the light in his eyes.
"You are much different. You continue to grow in strength, but not in size though."
"Oh your one to talk shorty." Chuckling he steps closer and wraps his arms around me in a hug. Slowly I put my arms around him and as soon as I do my red face goes a soft pink. No wonder I don't feel so embarrassed, we always hugged goodbye when we had to leave. Standing there for a few minutes he steps away, "we should go back. We've been gone a while." It's midnight, already! Following him out of the clearing we head back to the soul society. What just happened there? I shouldn't be this shaken from a simple hug, it didn't mean anything as a child, it was a just a friendly gesture…was it? In the clearing just now at first felt like before, but then it was like there was new sense of urgency. "Stay with Ichigo tonight ok?" looking I see that we have stopped in front of his house.
"But why?"
"I'm not sure what condition Rangiku is in and since I have a captains meeting I don't want her getting you into trouble."
"Oh, okay. So I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow you are to stay here and watch for hollows." With a nod and a smile he continues on towards the soul society. Looking up I walk over to his window. Grasping a branch I haul myself up the tree and throw myself into his room. Landing on the window sill I start to wobble as he jumps across the room, "What are you doing!"
"Captain told me stay here. And that I had to watch for hollows tomorrow. You got school don't ya?" I smile at the anger on his face and sit on his bed. "Yes I do. Can you keep yourself out of trouble tomorrow when no one is around to help you?"
"Don't worry about me I'll be fine. I'll be out of my body so no one will see me." Yawning and stretching my arms I walk into the closet throwing a goodnight over my shoulder I lay down. Falling face first onto the bed I feel something moving underneath me. Jumping up I throw it against the door and smash it with my pillow. "Oh, hi Kon. Sorry about that." Opening the door I gently push him out and close it.