First I would like to thank GakuenAngel12 and Renrinrin for for adding my story, really guys; thanks!
Oh and I found out that on my laptop, when I press option ; it automatically makes the '…' thing :)
Also, I would like to apologize for this taking so long, over the past few weeks school has gotten hectic, two essays to plan, and essay to write, and art project, bio extra credit, two quizzes, another test, 5 minute Macbeth and the list just keeps going.
Stay tuned and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach
*~Graceful Melody~*
I opened my eyes, regaining consciousness, to see a pink haired girl sitting on my bed. Out of reflex I twitched, but did not say anything.
"Morning Gracie~!" Yachiru called, loudly but half heartedly.
"What time is it?" I asked. Maybe it's just me but I don't see the sun through my window, and it's too quiet.
"Uhm," Yachiru stalled as if unsure of what to say next, "it's 4:30 in the morning…"
"Why are you up? Are you alright? Is everyone okay?" I asked, worry getting to me.
"You wouldn't ever betray seireitei, right?"
I gaped at her, where does a question like this even come from? Since I have been here I have been in the greatest care and welcomed, not treated as a prisoner or unknown random person who just so happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Of course not, you are all so nice to me! Why would you think that?"
"I had a nightmare that you joined forces with Aizen," Yachiru said looking away from my face.
"It was only a bad dream, I couldn't imagine ever doing that to everyone."
"Okay," she agreed, though did not seem quite sure.
"Look at me," I ordered her.
When Yachiru turned her head towards me I was finally able to see the tears in her eyes, just begging to spill over. It was too much and I reached out to hug her, comforting who I presume to be my first legitimate friend here. I pulled away when she started to calm down and looked her straight in the eyes.
I held my pinky up to her with a big smile on my face, "I can pinky promise you that I will never betray soul society."
She cocked her head to the side like a lost puppy, "what's a pinky promise?"
I giggled slightly to myself at how different my life and the culture here is, "it's when two people cross pinky's. It's a bond that represents a promise."
"Oh okay! That sounds cool!" Yachiru said, finally reverting back to her normal peppy self.
We crossed fingers with huge smiles on our faces.
"Well I think I'm going to go back to bed now! Cya later!" She called after she jumped from my bed onto the floor.
"Later!" I called while she walked out.
So that conversation took roughly ten minutes, ew, it's almost five. So do I go back to bed or get ready to go in an hour? I asked mentally.
Celest, being the only one awake, answered for me, 'if you go back to sleep, what are the chances of you waking back up?'
'Good point,' I replied back.
I hopped out of bed and realized that my kimono disappeared and my old clothes were back on. I started to materialize in my inner world to ask Celest what was going on but a sharp pain shot through my skull. I dropped to my knees it was so bad, comparable to waking up with a hangover then a tornado ripping apart your house, getting hit by a truck and stabbed all at the same time. Those just being things I named of the top of my, now aching, head.
I stopped my attempt to materialize into my inner world and slowly the headache went away. After what seemed like forever, I decided it was time to try again. This time though I made it in with no problem or pains.*
"Weird," I said out loud as my kimono appeared on my figure.
It was a little different, I could tell. After releasing my bankai the kimono became tighter, no longer with wide open sleeves but they were tight on my arms. The sash around my waist was tighter; although normally tight clothes bother me, this was very comfortable. It fit me perfect and hugged every curve without it being promiscuous.
The realization hit me that I never took off my old clothes, being so caught up in my umpteenth change of clothes my observational skills became dulled and I failed to notice that my old clothes were still under the kimono. Stripping those off my body, I tossed the kimono back on and decided to make some breakfast.
Halfway down the hall I began to smell bacon, I turned the corner to the kitchen and saw a bald man standing over the stove.
"Your name is Ikkaku, right?" I asked, leaning against the doorway.
He jumped, but sighed when he saw me, "oh it's just you. Do you think.…" He trailed off.
"No I wont tell anyone that you can cook," I said with a smile.
"Thanks."
"If you're that worried let me take over, or set the table or something. Just sit," I added.
He shrugged and sat down at the seat near the door.
When I grabbed myself a plate and set out one for Ikkaku, other members began to file in. It being nearly 5:30 now, I suppose that the day stars early here. I decided it would be best if I left the room now, wouldn't want to get caught up in a fight over food.
"Gracieeee~"
"Hi Yachiru," I said, not really enthusiastic this morning and very out of it thanks to the weird headache.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
I mumbled something incoherent and I walked off. No sooner to turn around and call out, "I'm calling you Chi from now on!" in a completely bipolar manner.
`So, it's almost 6. I'm heading to the tenth division to help with paperwork, and I just almost ran into a wall. My head is still throbbing slightly as a left over part of that weird headache. What the heck is going on with me? Am I going crazy? Nah too late, I answered myself.
*~Narrators Verse~*
Meanwhile…
'So you are absolutely sure it was safe to show her everything so soon?'
'Of course! We knew she could have done it in a day if we made her, it's just her memories are going to come back slowly. If she did it that fast then those other five connections would have ripped open too soon, for both parties, and left them practically vegetables.'
'Didn't she try to connect to us earlier? Why did you kick her out?'
'I didn't kick her out, I though she disconnected it.'
'No… why would she have a headache then?'
'It's probably just a freak thing.'
'Yea.'
*~Graceful Melody~*
'So yea it's probably it, a freak thing,' I concurred with myself.
When I ended my mental ramblings I found myself at the 10th division office, much faster than I hoped to arrive here.
"Whatever," I mumbled and knocked on the office door.
"Come in," was the reply I heard, presumably from the captain himself.
"Good morning Captain Hitsugaya," I greeted with a smile on my face.
My good mood returning now that I am no longer scatter-brained.
"Morning. You can work at Matsumoto's desk, she probably wont be coming in until later, if at all."
"Oh… okay."
'He sounds like he is in a bad mood,' I thought.
I took a look over the first sheet on the desk, no signatures needed, but quite some math. 'Just simple algebra, basic probability and oh… I may need a calculator.'
"Excuse me, but do you have a calculator?"
"Check the desk," was his stern reply.
'Definitely in a bad mood, maybe he will talk to me later.'
First drawer, empty bottle of… alcohol? Okay, second… same thing. As I pulled out each drawer I went about doing so louder, a vein began to pop on captains head.
"Could you-"
"Found it!" we yelled at the same time.
Our gazes met, he looked furious. I smiled at him and shrugged.
"Do you have a garbage bag anywhere, a big one?" I said talking with my hands to emphasize the big part.
"No…?" He replied as a question.
"So… many… bottles. Ugh, I'll be back soon," I transported out of the room to the storage room I saw on the way in.
"Graciela!" I could barely hear Hitsugaya scream a few seconds later.
`Hurry Gracie, hurry. Now where did you see the… oh here they are!`
"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry, don't kill me!" I called, transporting back into the room.
Hitsugaya looked so mad I didn't even want to know what was on his mind.
"Drop the bag. Sit. Work. Be. Quiet," he said staring into my eyes and quite frankly what felt like my soul in a icy demeanor.
I nodded my head, with my eyes closed in a smile to break the gaze.
'Back to math,' I thought sitting down slowly; his eyes following my every movement until I was fully back into the seat.
The area of the region to observe is 204 square miles, what is the likelihood of these events occurring: A hollow attack if the average distance between where separate hollows attack is 3 miles, a spirit that has not yet received soul burial when in an area of 50 square miles there are roughly 200 souls undetected that are wondering aimlessly or if an espada shows up. An espada would only show up if there was an extreme show of reiatsu in the human realm, or if more than 10 soul reapers were in said specific area at one time. Once those statistics are calculated, find the chance than all would occur at the same time and apply it to different high population areas throughout the world and mark them on the map provided to more thoroughly send out soul reapers to check on areas.
'Oh god… if all the questions are like this then I may just risk that headache again.'
"Tea?" Captain Hitsugaya asked me.
I jumped; woken from my state of mind, "oh! Uh…sure."
'He probably thinks that I'm an idiot now… hmm let me check.' I thought, holding back a smirk.
'Hyourinmaru, why did you suggest I ask her help again?'
'Greaaat,' I thought, blushing.
First day on the job and already people have doubts.
"I'll be back in a few."
"Okay," I said as he walked out of the door, leaving it open slightly.
'Next sheet… Okay this one isn't so bad. Simple interest rate stuff, I= Prt. Okay so the 10th division gets 10,000 dollars to invest in a human bank of their choice, one that preferably has world wide access. The captain and vice captain have the cards to access it as well as the head captain. Since the account is a 'big buisness' they receive a .3 percent rate of increase over the course of a month. The only times that increase can come about s from opening to closing bells for the stock market. Over the past three years the rate has dropped to .23 percent, over the past ten years what is the gross rate of interest?'
Working very diligently I failed to notice someone had walked into the room until, crash.
I heard someone moan in annoyance, so I lifted my head to see who it is.
"Vice Captain Matsumoto? Have you come to help?"
"Don't tell Shiro I was here. Oh and you look pretty today!"
"Thank you?" I said.
But she was gone by the time the last word was out of my mouth. I shrugged it off and got back to my work, being disrupted not more than five seconds later.
"Matsumoto was here, wasn't she?" Mr. Bad Mood is back I suppose.
"Yep," I replied without looking up.
I wrote down the last numbers on this sheet and put it on the pile of sheets I have done. The pile was a good three inches thick, and I have had enough for now.
"I think I'm going to take a break. Do any of these papers need to be delivered anywhere?"
"On the back of the packets it should have where they need to go."
"Okay, be back later," I said while grabbing the other pile which was seemingly double the size of mine. It has been almost three hours since we started, apparently doing so much paper work allows Captain Hitsugaya to get them done faster.
*~Frozen Harmony~*
"So much for her tea," I stated as I sat back down; glancing toward the other cup.
'You know you think she's cute,' Hyourinmaru commented when Graciela left.
'First off, shut up and I don't. Second, why are you showing up now when we could have had a decent conversation hours ago.'
'Talking with Graciela's zanpakuto, hollow and Celest. Do you know she can read minds?'
Fighting back a blush I took a sip of my tea.
'Ho, ho master. You're blushing, so you were thinking thoughts of her I suppose…'
I gave him the cold shoulder for awhile before I felt his presence disappeared.
Which gave me the chance to wonder, 'had she been listening to my thoughts the whole time?'
The strange feeling bloomed in the pit of my stomach however, and told me that she isn't the kind of person to do such things.
'This is getting more frequent, is it because of Graciela?'
'So you were thinking of her!'
'Shut up!'
*~Graceful Melody~*
'Hyourinmaru is really nice!' Ry commented.
'Finally! I can connect and sense you guys again, where were you?'
'Talking with Hyourinmaru, the old dragon is actually pretty funny.'
'Wait where's Celest?' I questioned.
'I dunno.'
'Yea, I think she is feeling guilty about something because she has been acting really weird today.'
'Hm, well when you guys see her wish her luck from me with whatever she is dealing with.'
'Okay!'They replied in synchronization.
"Hey Graciela!" Renji called.
"Didn't I tell you to call me Gracie?" I responded.
"No, but now that I know, I shall."
"Okay Mr. Formal. Anywho, here is some paper work I need to deliver from the tenth division."
"Alright, thanks. I'll go give it to Captai-"
"RENJI!" The girl who first found me yesterday walked in yelling.
"Shit," Renji half whined half whispered.
"I'll leave you to to deal with that." I walked off toward the office, hearing some screams, crashes, pleads, laughing and someone singing. Today, and the people here for that matter, just became a lot more interesting.
I knocked on the door, "delivery Captain Kuchiki!"
"Please come in."
"Here is the paper work that we have finished from the tenth division, I'll most likely be back later with more," I said to him respectfully.
"Thank you," he replied without looking up.
I took that as my signal to make my retreat and transported to the next division's office.
I figured that the next few captains wouldn't mind so much, and I was not in the mood to talk to anyone really. Quickly heading to the 13th, 8th, 5th and 9th; dropping off the appropriate paperwork. I transported to the gates of division ten and decided to walk around for a little before heading back to the office.
While wondering aimlessly I took in the surroundings and beauty of this place for the first time. The gardens were exquisite, with fountains in the direct center of each and one large fountain in the middle of the main courtyard. From where I was sitting on the side of said fountain, just one look up and I could see all three stories of the barracks and the large arched doorway to the courtyard. The view from the rooms is definitely better than the ones back in the eleventh division; to be honest I think that the small view I had from my room is of these very same gardens.
'The gardens of the sixth division are prettier and you know it,' Ry added.
I just rolled my eyes and turned my head to the left where I heard someone coming from. That someone being Captain Hitsugaya; and he did not look happy.
"Ah, sorry! I was just heading back to the office now!" I called scurrying away.
He stopped me by tightly grasping my upper left arm, I looked up slightly to meet his eyes. Wait looked up? He seemed shorter than me yesterday when we were sitting on the roof.
"Can you read minds?" he bluntly stated. Okay, so not what I thought he would say.
"Uh, yea. Why?" I asked, resisting the urge to face palm.
"Have you looked into mine?" He asked sternly.
Where was he going with this? This isn't 20 questions and he probably knows as well as I do that there is more paper work to do, so why all this nonsense?
"What information exactly did you find? Why did you do it?" Hitsugaya asked getting angrier, his grip on my arm tightening.
"If you would kindly remove your arm I would be glad to answer you," I replied stiffly and made sure that I sounded very irked. He complied and I continued.
"When I completely embarrassed myself earlier with the whole calculator and garbage bag thing, plus being all jumpy; that's when I looked into your mind. I just wanted to see if I was making a good impression or not and when I checked it seemed like I wasn't so I left your mind alone."
"Make a good impression, huh," his eyes softened as he looked away, as if reminiscing about something.
"Come on let's get back to the office and get you another cup of tea," Hitsugaya said with a slight smile.
Somewhat freaked out by his random show of friendliness, I held my mouth and nodded my head; yes. Turning around to walk with him.
When back at the office I sat on the couch, "might as well be comfortable," I mumbled to myself.
"I swear we have been working for another 3 hours! Can't we break again for tea?" I pleaded.
"No! It's only been one!" Hitsugaya argued, the workaholic side of him kicking in.
"Well go check then!" I argued back in a pleading manner.
"…Fine."
A few seconds later and, "you were right," he admitted begrudgingly.
"Cha-ching. Now do you want honey and sugar or just honey? It's my turn to make it."
"Just honey. But don't take too long, I know some of your powers so it should take you less time to make it than it took me," he said as I walked out the door.
Somehow, after the fountain incident, him and I started to get along a lot better. I was happy for it too, the more friends the merrier I am; which is always a good thing. I walked into the kitchen with a smile and thought once more, 'I guess it could be considered as acting friendlier to me, if friendly counted as only talking to me once every three ours. But hey, it's a start.'
Grabbing the items needed to make Hitsugaya's, and my own, tea; I transported back into the office.
"Finished faster than I thought?" Hitsugaya stated as a question.
"Nah," I responded matter-of-factly, "I'm going to give you a show," I completed with a smile.
He shot me a questioning glance, finally looking up from his paper work.
I picked up the cups and putting the tea packets and water into the cups I super heated my hands. The water boiling at a rather quick rate. Figuring that it was safe enough to to look up for a second, I glanced toward Hitsugaya. His eyes were open in amazement, I smirked in triumph but my gaze quickly turned quizzical. Hitsugaya's mouth started to form to say something, or yell. Before the first sound could even make it out of his mouth I felt the boiling tea on my hands.
"Ow!" I screamed and flung the cups off of my hands.
Soaring over to the pile of completed paper work on the floor, I realized the severity of what would happen. Quickly I managed to transport over to the pile but I wasn't fast enough to freeze the tea. Hitsugaya and I both watched with wide eyes as the paper slowly absorbed the tea into it, dying the pristine white paper a mucky brown.
The temperature in the room dropped significantly, and since I didn't do it I suppose that it must have been Hitsugaya.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Oh my gosh, I am so so so so so sorry! I can try to dry these out, or maybe find a way to extract the tea! Ah crap, I'm so sorry Captain Hitsugaya Taicho!" I couldn't tell you how many times I said that, but eventually the temperature in the room returned back to normal, and Hitsugaya gradually moved his way over to me.
He grabbed my arm, and I winced expecting him to be holding it in a tight vice, instead, "c'mon, it's been a long day. I think we both need a break. Worry about this later."
'W-w-w-what?' I thought. Mr. Serious just said that we could take a break. What has got into the Captain?
"Uh what?"
"I think you heard me just fine, come on. Lets go get some lunch."
"So you're not mad?"
"That's debatable, though I know that you know you will be recopying those papers later," he added with a cocky smirk.
"What if I decide to disappear like Matsumoto?" I asked, challenging him in a joking matter.
"Well then I would just have to find you and bring you back. Then either strap you down or freeze you legs to make you stay… though I don't think those would work on your now that I think about it."
"You are such a little kid!" I said, laughing.
"I am not. What I am, is right when I say that you are going to come back to help me after lunch."
"Yea…" I admitted bashfully.
"Now come on, lets go to the food court cause I don't think that it is the best idea to let you cook after what just happened," He joked.
I pouted and crossed my arms and began to walk briskly in front of him.
"And I'm the little kid?" He asked condescendingly.
I spun around ready to retaliate he interrupted me, "you're it."
That stupid gut feeling acted up again, but I ignored it like usual. It's not like it means anything, it's probably just hunger pains.
He shunpo'd away and I sent a message into his mind, "oh it is so on."
I began to track his spiritual energy, as well hidden as it was, I found it in the first spot I searched for it; it was kind of obvious anyway. I headed for the food court and I transported to him, well, to where I would land at least 10 feet in front of him. I opened my mouth to say something, but didn't realize how fast he was going. Hence he shunpo'd straight into me.
"Ah crap, my head," I whined once I collected myself.
"Sorry for that Graciela," Hitsugaya added.
"Jeez Hitsugaya, just call me Gracie already. No need to be sorry, it was an accident after all; and partially my fault," I said.
Realizing my mistake, "Oh sorry, Captain Hitsugaya!"
"Nah it's alright, you're a guest here, besides I already know that you show respect to me. Calling me my title isn't the only way you can show it," he said getting up from the cobblestone walkway.
Now things are getting fishy, and this stupid gut feeling grew even worse. What exactly is making him warm up to me so quickly? He was practically a block of ice when I walked in this morning.
'I am so telling that one to Hyourinmaru,' Ry laughed.
"Oh…okay." I said through my blush.
I quickly scrambled to get up, partially to hide it.
"What's your favorite food?" I started at him on a dubious manner.
By now, these random acts of.. whatever they are; have started to become normal. I'm even getting used to them and no thanks to the gut feeling, which told me that things were actually going the way that they should between Hitsugaya and myself.
"What?" He asked.
"You are being very different, almost uncharacteristic," I answered, "or, maybe this you is how you really are and I just met him?"
He gave me a look saying 'are-you-crazy?', "or maybe not. Oh look, food!"
My eye twitched slightly, he was acting way too weird.
"Captain Hitsugaya are you dating the noob?"
The whole of the food court erupted in laughter over this comment.
"What's a noob?" I said curiously.
My question was only met with more obnoxious laughter though.
My response was to roll my eyes, as for the captain well, "show some respect!" he glanced at me.
I caught on, "o-oh ya! I could take you, so I suggest that you please… be… quiet."
The room started to laugh again but I wouldn't take. When I get mad, I get mad, "shut up!" I screamed.
Everything went quiet except, of course, the man, "oh you're a feisty one now are you? You wouldn't want me to hate you Ms. 'I-could-take-you.' Of course, if you were referring to taking me into a bedroom, because with your feisty attitude I am more then willing to take you."
His lecherous gaze shifted all over my body and I cringed, but it only helped to fuel the spark.
"Are you taunting me because I'm more powerful than you? Because I'm making you feel insecure so trying to bring me down is giving you some giddy sense of high?" I said, walking up toward the man. On closer inspection I took note that the man had light green eyes and black hair.
"Doing this is just stupid, and wrong. People have hated me my whole life and the way I died should have made me a hollow. I thought being here would allow me to finally find some peace, but hey I guess there are some bad apples in every bunch." I finished, just as furious as before but now exhausted.
"Why you little-," he whispered under his breath.
"What was that?" I screamed.
I was going to become violent when I felt an arm on mine, assuming it was Hitsugaya's, I took his warning of not to continue with this guys games.
"Whatever, I should stop wasting my time with people like you," I concluded and transported to the tenth division fountain. Not without sending Hitsugaya a mental message of where I am going.
*~Frozen Harmony~*
'What is this strange feeling in the pit of my stomach? It's making me act very differently; I feel so immature!'
'Master, do you think that it's because Gracie is bringing out the side of you that you forced away so long ago?'
'...No.'
Before I knew it, I hit into something. Bouncing back slightly, I looked down to find Graciela sprawled out on the floor of the food court.
"Ah crap, my head," she whined while holding her head.
"Sorry for that Graciela," I added, offering her help off the ground.
"Jeez Hitsugaya, just call me Gracie already. No need to be sorry, it was an accident after all; and partially my fault," she said. Immediately after, she corrected herself, "oh sorry, Captain Hitsugaya!"
"Nah it's alright, you're a guest here, besides I already know that you show respect to me. Calling me my title isn't the only way you can show it," I said.
Wait, what's coming over me? Yea, I don't mind that she calls me Hitsugaya only; but she still needs to show that respect to me, even if she is a guest here. I'm her superior so-
'Sorry to burst your bubble Master, but she's probably stronger than you; so in that respect she may be your superior.'
'Technicalities..'
"Oh…okay." she said while attempting to hide her blush.
"What's your favorite food?" I asked her when we walked into the food court. The smell was intoxicating and I couldn't help but let that question slip. The reason I couldn't help it, is cause of the persistent feeling in my gut; and it's just been getting worse!
When I noticed her stare that said, 'who-are-you-and-what-have-you-done-with-Hitsugaya' I had to ask, "what?"
"You are being very different, almost uncharacteristic," she paused for a moment "or, maybe this you is how you really are and I just met him?"
I gave her a an incredulous look, "or maybe not. Oh look, food!"
My hand twitched slightly, that was strange; since when do I sound excited. Oh that's right, ever since the feeling in my gut decided to stay for good.
"Captain Hitsugaya are you dating the noob?"
I looked over to find who directed the question at me. Whoever he is, he has black hair and green eyes that held back a lecherous personality.
The whole of the food court erupted in laughter over this comment.
"What's a noob?" Gracie asked curiously.
Though her question was only met with more obnoxious laughter.
Her response was to roll her eyes, as for me? I wouldn't stand it, "show some respect!" he glanced at me.
She caught on after a second, "o-oh ya! I could take you, so I suggest that you please… be… quiet."
The room started to laugh again but Gracie wouldn't take. I was going to quiet them myself, but she beat me to it, "shut up!"
Everything went quiet except, of course, the man, "oh you're a feisty one now are you? You wouldn't want me to hate you Ms. 'I-could-take-you.' Of course, if you were referring to taking me into a bedroom, because with your feisty attitude I am more then willing to take you."
His lecherous gaze shifted all over Gracie's body and I saw her cringe. I glanced over to the man, and sent a cold glare his way.
'Since when does Yamamoto allow pedophiles into seireitei?'
'Hyourinmaru, now is not the time!'
"Are you taunting me because I'm more powerful than you? Because I'm making you feel insecure so trying to bring me down is giving you some giddy sense of high?" she said while walking up toward the man.
"Doing this is just stupid, and wrong. People have hated me my whole life and the way I died should have made me a hollow. I thought being here would allow me to finally find some peace, but hey I guess there are some bad apples in every bunch," she finished, just as furious as before but now, she looked exhausted.
I saw his lips move, but no words came out. At least I couldn't hear them; who knows how low he said them.
"What was that?" GRacie screamed; really in his face now.
I interjected by placing a hand on Gracie's arm when I felt that she would start getting violent. Thankfully she heeded my warning.
"Whatever, I should stop wasting my time with people like you," she concluded and disappeared in a flash.
'Where-'
my thoughts were interrupted, 'the divisions fountain.'
"You," I said pointing at the man, "report back to my division in fifteen minutes. We will be having a talk and then going to your captain. If you aren't there, then I will send Graciela to personally get you. Who knows what she would do to you seeing as she doesn't get mad. Ever. Wouldn't want her to actually use her powers on a sorry pathetic soul like you."
With the last threat I shunpo'd away to the tenth division fountain. Gracie sent me one of her messages and I'll be honest, they are very useful.
"Gracie…" I started but stopped once I noticed that she is crying.
The feeling in my gut twisted around painfully, which compelled me to go comfort her.
"Hit-sugaya. I'm sorry I got so mad, can you please tell the man that I am sorry, I didn't mean to over react. I-" I cut her off.
"No Gracie, you had every right to do that. I think that I should take you back to the eleventh division," I helped her up.
"But the paper work," she started.
"Hey, the paper work will always be there tomorrow," I added with a smile.
"Wow, I thought I would at least get out of it," she added, a smile now on her face and a giggle slipping through her lips.
'Which by the way, are a shade of rosy red.'
'Hyourinmaru! Shut up! Go talk to Celest or something!'
'Alright master…'
"I can transport us to my division if you'd like."
"Sure." I shrugged.
Before I could blink we were there, and a felt a wave of nausea but held it off for Gracie's sake. She turned the door knob to her room and walked in with a, "thanks."
I nodded to her back and began to walk down the hallway.
"Wait," I heard her call.
When I turned she was crying again, this time harder.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" I asked.
"Can I talk to you? Everything just kind of came cashing down on me with what the man said," she forced a laugh here, "after fifty years of holding in my emotions, anger just blew up in my face and Ry is busy so she can't help-"
"May I come in?" I asked walking towards her.
I was actually very surprised, and strangely; somewhat proud, with the way that she handled herself while upset. She talked straight, walked pretty much normally and the only indication that she is upset are the tears pouring steadily from her face.
She nodded her head and walked into her room as a response. When inside she led me to the couch, I sat first and she sat dow next to me, crying in her hands. I felt the urge to do something I have never done before, not even with Hinamori. I placed my arm around Gracie's shoulders and brought her head to my chest. Shocked, her head shot up.
"It's alright, just cry until you feel better."
He lip started quivering, her facade finally shattering ,and in what seemed to be extreme sadness; she burst. Waling into my chest and shaking. Her tears now starting to soak though my haori, but strangely, I could care less about anything else; only her.
After that thought ran through my mind, the gut feeling lessened to nearly nonexistent.
Slowly her tears stopped and she gently picked her head up and rested it on my shoulder, my arms now lightly holding her around the waist. This position felt so natural, and a wave of nostalgia hit me; but over what I had not a clue.
"Do you mind if I tell you a little about myself?" She asked.
"Of course not," I said shocked.
Normally people would just start talking, Gracie really is something else, courteous and nice all the time, a raging madwoman when upset, beautiful, powerful and a mystery all at the same time.
'Who called it!' Hyourinmaru and.. someone else, called form my mind.
'Is Celest with you?'
'No..'
I fought a blush as she continued, "I died when I was seventeen. I was an only child so I can't even imagine how upset my parents were when they found out their only baby was dead. I danced my whole life, had guys falling over me and a group of close, true friends my whole life. Everyone else, like I said before, were so envious of me it turned into hate. At the time I didn't realize their two faces, especially the two my 'closest friends' had. One night at the light house we were playing a game of spin the bottle and when myself and the chosen guy walked to stand at the eastern most point of Long Island, they pushed me off the side of the rocks. The fall broke my back and cracked my skull, their last words were the last things I heard, 'Let's see how well you can swim, you're- you're good at everything else!'" Gracie began to sob again.
"All that I wanted was to live a happy life, but I never even- never even made it past my eighteenth birthday."
Her sobs grew in volume as, what I suppose, memories flooded back to her.
Again, doing something else I have never done before, I picked her up and placed her in my lap so I could hold her in my arms.
In response her croaked a, "thank you Hitsugaya, thank you so much," as well as throwing her arms around my neck and crying more.
"It was nothing and after this, call me Toshiro. First name basis, promise?"
Surprised she picked her head up and stared me dead in the eye, apparently content with what she found there, she held out her little finger, "promise."
Grasping her little finger with mine it was a sealed deal, and as the gut feeling stirred again, I realized that this promise in turn will mean more to us than a promise has ever meant before.
*LOL, innuendo XD