Hey all. Just one more chapter to go.
Quick question, should I do a story on the other hinted pairing in this chapter?
I hope some of you figured it out.
-- M
Winter Fireworks
.o.
Chapter Four
How could I ever think of leaving the Seireitei, Shinso?
I love Tōshirō too much to do that. Even if I never tell him my feelings, or if I get rejected when I do, I just have to be near him. Just being able to see him every day is enough for me. I can get by. Retsu said she would help me and be there for me, and Byakuya has been watching me closely too.
And last night, Tōshirō hugged me!
I was just taking a walk to clear my head and he just jumped down, said sorry and hugged me.
I'll admit it, I wanted to jump him and take him right there.
The feeling of him, pressed up against me, head against my chest. My dreams were nothing compared to this moment. Of course, I controlled myself, no thanks to your annoying hisses, Shinso, and hugged him back. I can be very civilized when I want to.
…I can! Ask Byakuya! He asks me to join him for tea sometimes if I promise not to fill his cup to the brim with sugar. And I, being the nicest person I can be, do not fill his cup with sugar and act civilized instead. It isn't my fault if I do. He drinks very bitter tea and keeps nothing sweet around when I visit!
Like my little koi. My Tōshirō is sweet!
…No I'm not on anything Shinso. Do you want to go play with Kenpachi?
----
Hinamori looked angry as hell, though she tried to hide it, smiling at Tōshirō from across the table. They were in Tōshirō's quarters, Hinamori was making him breakfast when Gin took it upon himself to join them.
Gin continued twirling a lock of Tōshirō's hair as he ate, oblivious to Hinamori's glares and Tōshirō's obvious irritation.
"Gin," Tōshirō gritted out. "Quit it."
"Why?" Gin swept his hand through the snowy white hair until his hand landed softly on Tōshirō's neck. "It so soft."
"Why are you doing this? I simply apologized to you."
"Hm?" Gin propped his face on his free hand, the other still on Tōshirō's neck. "Can't I be with the one I love?"
Hinamori dropped her rice bowl and Tōshirō froze. "W-What did you say?"
Gin smiled all the more 'lovingly'. "You heard me." He shifted, keeping his old on Tōshirō's and bringing him face to face with him. "In fact, I love everything about you." He let his free hand slipped through Tōshirō's hakama, caressing his skin. "Like your smooth skin…Your beautiful eyes and…" Fingers travel up to Tōshirō's lips. "Your lips. Something I've dreamed about really. I simply love yo--"
Gin was just too close. No one touched him like this. No one. He could feal his heart pounding against his ribcage. He couldn't breathe. "Shut up!" Tōshirō pushed Gin away hard. "You don't love me! You don't know what love is!" Hinamori stared at him, eyes wide and he stood walking to the door to his back room. Not in front of her! "I'm not even gay! You and me it's just…Disgusting!"
And the door slid shut.
Hinamori stood and ran to the door. "Tōshirō! That was harsh! Come out and apologize!"
"Why should anyone apologize to him? He doesn't that's for sure!"
Hinamori gasped. Tōshirō was going to far! "Tōshi--"
"His favorite pastime is killing, let him kill himself! That's what I would love!"
Hinamori turned around just as Gin stood. She felt herself pale immediately.
His eyes were open, and she wanted to close her own. The last thing she was him exiting the room before everything went black.
---
Shinso.
I can't breathe.
What am I doing? What is this?
…Tears? I don't remember the last time I cried.
What do I do?
---
Byakuya put down his cup of tea for the morning, feeling the familiar reiatsu and slid open his front door finding Gin. Eyes open with tears filling them, falling and falling. Only a few people knew what Gin really looked like, fewer being able to hold his gaze like Byakuya himself.
"Gin. Explain yourself." It was mandatory of him to say that, even though he already knew the answer as he let Gin inside. Tōshirō. No doubt that boy had gone too far this time. As Gin stood in front of the small tea table near the sliding doors that led to the porch and garden, he let Byakuya sit first and fell onto his lap, hugging him close.
Byakuya sighed. This was usual of Gin. He always crossed his line of personal space, but they were good friends despite what other people thought, and, he simply got used to it. Gin didn't look like it, but he craved touch. He needed reassurance, caring and loving emotions to swallow him up when he felt death again. So he came to Byakuya who in turn, needed someone to teach him how to see the world in different views and not just from a wealthy side. He was learning like Gin, how to care and act human.
Friendship was the first step. And then they became even closer.
This was how Byakuya found out about Tōshirō and how Gin found out about Ichigo. Friendship didn't stop Gin from laughing though, and it sure didn't stop Byakuya from hurting him.
"Everything went wrong, Chiki," Gin said after a while.
Byakuya paused in raking his fingers through Gin's hair, an act the Gin found comforting, because of that idiotic nickname. He chose to ignore it. Gin was trying to pull himself together. "What happened."
"I got to close. Said I loved everything about him and he said it was disgusting. That I should kill myself." A bitter laugh filled the room. "Truer words never spoken."
Byakuya shook his head and started to reassure Gin, telling him the opposite of what he thought as he started crying again.
Rengi Abarai paused on the porch, holding a few documents that needed seals. "Taichou…?" He could see Gin and and his captain together and..Gin was crying. The documents lay forgotten on the porch as the red head ran to find Rangiku. He found her in the lieutenants lounge with, surprisingly, a blushing Ichigo.
"Oh!" Rangiku started, seeing Renji. Ichigo saw him too and stood immediately.
"I'll, um, talk to you later..Rangiku." Ichigo said, heading for the door, trying to make a straight face. He nodded at Renji.
"I'm telling you, he likes strawberries even more!" Rangiku called out. "Just give it t him!"
"Shut up!" Was the enraged reply.
"Uh," Renji said, blinking. He didn't even want to try and figure out what those two were talking about. It involved strawberries so it was probably stupid anyway. "I just saw Gin crying at Taichou's quarters."
"Why?" Rangiku stood crossing her arms. Gin never cried. Never.
Renji stepped back a bit, a little intimidated. "I heard something about Tōshirō saying something harsh." Hopefully I did the right thing, Renji thought as he watched Rangiku curse and rant about love and storm out the room. Tōshirō was in major trouble.
After a while, Gin sat up, wiped his eyes, laughing a little shakily. "S-Sorry Chika. I got a little overworked, huh?"
"Don't worry about it. Tōshirō had no right to say that to you." Byakuya stood, walking towards the door. "Stay here. I have to go teach Renji a lesson about eavesdropping."
Gin nodded and forced a smile.
With one last scrutinizing glance, "Don't do anything stupid, Gin. I'll be back."
And then Byakuya was gone.
---
Tōshirō is right.
My love-- No me, I am disgusting.
A man falling in love with a child.
What he said today, everything was true. I can't get his words out of my head. I can still hear him. The yelling. It was so painful. Hinamori even defended me. I couldn't say anything. All I could is just sit there with my open in shock and hurt.
A mistake. Hinamori fainted at seeing me. Tōshirō will probably blame me for that too. She isn't like Byakuya, Sōsuke, or Ichigo. They can handle my gaze. I wonder, would Tōshirō be able to handle it too?
But I don't think I'll ever find out, Shinso. I have to fullfil Tōshirō's wish. I promised I would do anything that would make him happy.
I'm sorry Shinso. This is the last time for us. Thank you for everything. I remember when hollows fell before us. Even snow is falling outside, Shinso. It's so pretty. It reminds me of Tōshirō's hair. Everything has to fall sometime, I realize that now, Shinso.
Now I will fall before you.
Byakuya. Tōshirō. Goodbye.
And thank you.
Shinso.
Heed me once more, Ikorose.
Shoot to kill.