CH12-Six Months Later
Lightly setting my foot down I make no noise as I sneak up on Toushirou. Only a few feet away I hop onto his back wrapping my arms around his neck, my feet only a foot off the ground. I feel him startle and laugh softly in his ear, "I got some good news. Guess what it is?" he turns his head to see my face. "You actually passed your classes?" I jump off his back and cross my arms glaring at him, "Of course I passed my classes. There was no way I was going to re take them, try again." After a moment's pause he guesses, "You've been assigned a body guard?" I start to laugh but stop when I see that he is serious.
My mouth drops open and I turn my back on him. Why did he have to bring that up, its' been almost seven months and we haven't seen even a trace of Aizen or Ichimaru. I feel his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Angrily shaking my head I pull away and face him. "Why can't you leave the past alone and focus on today, the present." Walking up to me he exposes my shoulder and the ugly scar that's left of the wound from Ichimaru. His gaze never leaving mine as though that's all of the proof he needs. "Ya it's a scar, a lot of people have them." I move his hand away and cover my shoulder, "It's been six months."
"That doesn't mean he won't try again."
"No it doesn't, but I am stronger now than I was all those months ago." Opening his mouth to protest I quickly put my hand over his lips. "Can't you ever stop worrying?" He removes my hand but traps it in his. "So what is the good news?" Smiling brightly I give in, "Well since you refuse to guess, I got assigned to squad 10."
"So now I'm solely responsible for you, great." Sarcastically he rolls his eyes and smiles at me. Suddenly he leans down and kisses me on the cheek. Pulling away he walks past me and calls, "Come one or we will be late." Stunned I follow automatically. What just happened there? Did he really just do that?
Thinking the whole way I don't notice that we are in the barracks till Rangiku jumps out in front of me, "Hey congratulations! You made it five straight months without getting fatally wounded!" I lift my head and glare at her, biting back a comment as I notice the drunken look on her face. I grab her arm, spin her and lead her to her room. "Hey what are you doing?" Unable to see straight she allows me to lead her. Laying her on her bed she groans, "Ugh, my head hurts."
"That's what happens when you drink too much." Rolling onto her side she quickly falls asleep. Closing the doors I climb up onto the roof and take a seat. Pulling my legs up I hug them to my chest as I watch the stars. Eight months ago my family was killed and I almost followed them, six months ago I found out that they were murdered and I was close to death again in the same place. What can I expect from my future? What am I going to do about Toushirou? And what am I going to do about Aizen and his experiment? I stare at the rising moon debating on what I should do, whether I should run and try to protect everyone by being far away or should I stay here and allow others to protect me. Sighing I retire to my room. Quietly slipping inside I tiptoe around objects hidden by the dark. A slight noise stills my breaths and I turn my head, I almost jump out of my skin when I see the familiar face inches from mine.