17 Ways of Erase and Rewind
Disclaimer: Bleach does not belong to me.
Special thanks to my Beta Chancewriter who makes my crazy ideas understandable and readable. You're THE best!
Warning: SPOILER ALERT! This story ignores manga 423: Farewell swords; Ichigo has powers and Rukia is right there living in his house like Isshin's third daughter. A/N at the bottom, italics are for thoughts, and I went a little overboard with the cursing but it's justified (I swear!). This chapter is rather special (I'm not telling you why, you'll have to find out on your own), but anyway, enjoy!
PLEASE STOP BY MY PROFILE PAGE, I have a Poll for you to take (I need your urgent opinion on a matter)
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Chapter 13: I dare you to Move.
It was not usual that he revealed his master plans to the other Vizards, especially master plans that included the crazy pig tailed girl in a romantic way. So when she left in the morning to see Kisuke to continue with their research on the Hollow Mask, Shinji took the opportunity to have an unofficial meeting and announced what he was going to do.
The de facto leader of the Vizards expected shocked faces and yelling about why in the world he was going to do it, but when he was done talking Shinji only found smiling faces and supportive gestures, like Love saying something like "About time," and Mashiro asking about the details and Kensei lecturing the green haired girl for gossipping.
Basically Shinji had decided to let them know about his plan because he needed their cooperation and his complete silence in the matter, so he could prepare everything he wanted for that night. The countdown for 'MP' Day – as Hachi had named it- was 3 days from that day: December 15th, 8:30 p.m.
Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next?
December 13th: Moments that can be locked in a silver and diamond circle.
Hiyori hated girly things. Giving her jewelry, clothes, bags or shoes for Christmas, birthday or any other holiday would be a certain kick in the chest or worse, not even mentioning what she would do to any person that give her chocolates for Valentine's Day. But while Shinji lay awake in bed looking at the ceiling and caressing Hiyori's hair, he knew there was no other choice. This girly thing had to be done if he wanted everything to happen properly.
I'm the biggest fan of getting my ass kicked, and what I'm planning will get me the beaten of a life time, Shinji thought closing his eyes and stopping his hand to pretend he was sleeping because he had felt her awakening. She moved her little body from his arms and walked to the bathroom, and he couldn't avoid half-opening his eyes to look at her slim figure in one of his shirts, it was probably 4 or 5 sizes bigger than her, but she looked beautiful with her messy hair and sleepy eyes.
In a flash the girl came out of the bathroom already dressed and approached the bed carefully.
"I'm leaving Baldy." She whispered to the man 'sleeping' in the bed.
She turned her back to leave, but his arms pulled her right back to the comfortable mattress. "It's too early." He faked a yawn and pulled closer to his chest. "Why don't you skip the research and stay with me all day in bed?" And he started kissing her neck. If she would agree, he would be in trouble because there was a lot he needed to do today, but Shinji knew Hiyori wouldn't waste a day doing nothing. Nonetheless he had to offer.
She pushed him away a little too gently for being Hiyori and he growled in annoyance. "Be serious, idiot. I can't stay in here all day, and believe me, you either!" He pulled her closer again and this time she let him.
"I miss you midget." He said in a serious voice.
"Shinji," She said against the crock of his neck. "You see me every day, in the morning and in the afternoon, it's not like I stay there forever."
"Yeah, but-"
"No buts. Stop being clingy for crying out loud!" And she sat up, slapped his forehead but after a couple of seconds kissed him. "I'm leaving, see you at dinner."
"Yeah, yeah." He said importuned. "It's like I am the lazy husband and you're the working wife." And he sat up giving her a toothy grin before she opened the door.
"You ARE lazy," And giving him a last look she said, "and you wish I was your wife, idiot!" With that she left the room.
You have no idea the words you're uttering Chibi.
Shinji sighed, got dressed quickly and left the warehouse without having breakfast; today he was in a hurry. So his feet hurried himself to the commercial district of Karakura, he passed countless of stores until he found the street he was looking for: Roxas Boulevard, an entire street of the most expensive and more beautiful jewels in the entire Karakura area. Shinji took a deep breath and entered. 'Vendome Aoyama' looking through the crystal counters at the pieces they had up for display.
"Could you show me your engagement rings? Only the rare pieces, please." Shinji asked in a tone that showed his actual age, not the age that his body looked.
The sales girl took out a couple of princess cut diamond rings that had strange frames or unusual color, but nothing really caught his eye. So he left to go to the next store, and then he went to the next and the one after that, but nothing was unique enough. The tall Vizard knew the moment he had decided to go ring shopping for Hiyori that he would have to get something that reflected her personality, but that was traditional in some sense or she wouldn't wear it. Well, actually he was not even sure that if she liked the ring she would agree to wear it.
Shinji had passed five hours on that street and he had accomplished nothing. The only store left in that street was a fairly small family store and he hesitated about entering or not, but at the end he did. And at the second he looked into the area where the rings were he was glad he did. There stood a silver ring with a mount that gathered in a left circle and a red diamond filling the hole in the middle. The ring made a curvy circle that made everyone who watched it think of the tale of a snake. It was rare, unconventional and beautiful; the perfect ring for her.
Shinji bought the ring, but stared at it. It was too big for Hiyori's small fingers.
"Don't worry about it." The owner told him in a friendly voice. "You just have to tell me your girlfriend's ring size."
It would be impossible to explain to that man why Hiyori didn't have a ring size, so he decided to get help. Lisa? No, too tall. Mashiro? No, too curvy. Orihime-chan? She wasn't an option - she was curvy and tall. But in a matter of seconds his brown eyes shone, he knew who would be perfect: Kuchiki Rukia. His feet received the message before even his mind had considered, and Shinji found himself walking through a familiar path that led to Karakura's High School and a certain orange haired teenager.
"Oi Ichigo." Shinji greeted him while the Shinigami representative walked to school with a short girl playing with a mobile phone.
"Hirako?" Ichigo looked surprised; the leader of the Vizards never visited him. Shinji gave a couple of steps and ended up right in front of the couple.
A Cheshire cat grin plastered Shinji's mouth and ignored the boy completely. "Kuchiki-san how is this idiot treating you?"
Rukia left her interest in the phone and responded in her acting voice. "Kurosaki-kun is very inconsiderate towards me."
"Teme!" The teenager resorted in anger. "What are you saying? That I mistreat you?"
"Exactly." Rukia smiled another fake smile.
A vein was throbbing in Ichigo's forehead. "Stop the show! Hirako knows who you are!"
"Idiot!" That was more like her normal voice and her normal expression, "Someone from the school could be overhearing."
The pair continued to fight for a couple of minutes and Shinji couldn't do anything but stare at them. For the first time he understood why all the people said he and Hiyori were in love when they fought endlessly, they probably would look like these two did - undeniable and irremediable love hidden between the bickering.
"Eto…" Shinji didn't have a lot of time before Hiyori arrived to the warehouse, so he interrupted the couple with a goofy expression. "Actually, I'm here to ask you for a favor Kuchiki-san."
And he revealed everything in a short version leaving Rukia flushed and excited, and Ichigo cold in shock.
"Of course I'll help!" The raven haired girl announced excitedly.
Ichigo could only stutter. "I-I d-don't understand. A wedding? You and Hiyori?"
A white sketch pad and two markers were out, and after just seconds Rukia revealed a picture of two blond bunnies getting married. "This Ichigo, is a wedding." And the Shinigami started a whole lecture –pictures included - of what a wedding was.
Ichigo could only scowl and grunt something like, "Horrible half assed bunnies."
He left the couple with the promise that they would go to the store and try a similar ring to check the size of it because the shop owner had said something about being bad luck if anyone else tried the actual ring.
Shinji arrived at the warehouse at almost 6 pm running into a scowling blonde in the door of the place.
"Baldy?" The girl asked with a confused tone. "Where were you?"
He passed one of his arms behind her shoulders. "I went for a jog. After all Lisa and Rose are always talking of how fun the exercise is."
The littlest Vizard took the hand of the arm that was touching her and crushed the fingers, so he moved the arm back to his body in a second.
"The hell! What's wrong with you midget!"
"You're getting too chummy with me" And an evil grin was on her face, "I have to keep reminding you to watch those pervy hands."
He loved and hated when she behaved so Hiyori-ish, a new adjective created to describe her. Because there was no other explanation or description for when in a moment he could hug, touch, kiss, caress any parts of her body and in another one he couldn't even breathe the same air.
Shinji was tired, hungry and mentally exhausted, and frankly it was all her fault – even if she didn't know it, - so, some kind of retribution was needed here. He grabbed one of her arms when she had already turned and pulled her back into his embrace.
"Shinji! What's with you lately?"
He smiled and cupped her face with one of his hands. "I've already told ya I'm missing you." And he closed the space between them for just a moment, pulling back and hearing incoherent complaints from her. "I thought you didn't like what me and my pervy hands did to you."
The remarked won a punch in the stomach leaving him with no air; the girl ignored how he crouched in pain. "Baldy, how about take out? Your treat."
He nodded.
Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be
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December 14th: Location, location, location while we daydream.
He was sure that this time he couldn't run this particular task by himself. Not that he minded being alone, but a second or a third opinion on the matter didn't hinder, but Hiyori didn't actually liked what the other girls normally did, so having Mashiro and Orihime there to choose a location on where he should propose was not so much help.
"Awww, how about a sunset proposal on the beach?" The young girl said with stars for eyes as she imagined someone asking her, "With the wind in both of your hairs and the warm sun covering your backs you get on one knee and propose!" and the redhead squealed like the school girl that she was.
Mashiro on the other hand, was role playing Romeo and Juliet – playing both roles - and saying something like, "You should get a balcony! Maybe we could install one here on the warehouse."
Shinji raised an eyebrow and kept hearing the suggestions from both girls but only out of sympathy because he couldn't picture Hiyori in any of the scenarios they were painting: taking her to the ice ring or proposing from a giant screen in a basketball game or hiding the ring in dessert at a fancy restaurant making it easier for Hiyori to choke on the ring and thus earning himself an ass-kicking of a lifetime.
When both women started to practically plan the world's biggest, corniest wedding (she hadn't even said yes and they were picking the classic Sixteen Candles peach coloured bridesmaid dresses and the clichéd hued pink flowers,) they followed each other to the busy streets for inspiration on the invitations. The blond Vizard sighed.
"Still don't know where I'm going to do it." He voiced to himself. "I guess the restaurant idea is not half bad."
"Idiot." A dry voice spat in the back of the room. "Every time I have a chat with you about Hiyori I reaffirm my idea that you're just too stupid when it comes to things that have to do with her." Lisa said not taking her eyes off of her magazine.
"So you have a better idea?" The blonde ex-Shinigami wiggled an eyebrow.
"Yes I have plenty, but I'm not saying a word." The woman sentenced. "You are not honestly playing with a proposal on the beach? She would drown you for even attempting something like that. You, of all people, know Hiyori better than us, but you're taking the easy way out and listening to suggestions." And she emphasized the last word rudely.
Shinji stood there frozen for a moment. Lisa was right. Hiyori would hate being taken to a romantic place, only counting on the romantic factor, but if he would take her to some site that had meaning to them…
Shinji gave a side glance to the brunette that had resumed the reading of her magazine. "Arigatou, Lisa." He simply said and left the room. Lisa chuckled. "He's not such an idiot when it comes to her after all."
"So you approve them getting married?" Rose's voice had scared the uniformed girl, making her jump and drop her magazine.
"I never said I didn't." She replied readjusting her glasses together with her composure. He showed a tender smile.
"You never said you did." And he picked up the magazine for her from the floor, changing his expression noticing that the XXX element of her reading material was missing to be replaced by a bridal magazine. Rose raised both eyebrows in a questioning look.
"Oh shut up. I was only curious of what this thing was, it's human nature. And besides, she is going to need assistance."
"Whatever makes you sleep at night, Lisa." And her comrade turned and started to walk away.
Taking a chapter from Hiyori's book, Lisa threw her white shoe at his head, but he tilted his head an inch to the side and she missed. "Idiot."
Shinji went to his room where he needed to deliberate the matter, really think deep about it without distraction or racket, but he was surprised when he found the source of his normal noise sitting on his bed reading some papers. He blinked a couple of times.
"Hiyori?"
"No, I'm Aizen Sousuke. I have escaped my imprisonment and I'm here to read in your bed Hirako-Taichou." Said the girl not even looking at him with sarcasm in her voice and imitating Aizen's courteous manners.
"How did you get in? I was in th-"Fuck! Did she hear what we were talking about? The ex-Captain mentally panicked.
"I saw Bobbies and Mashiro having a screeching party, so I skipped the living room," and she pointed at the window. "I entered through a more express way."
Phew, that was a close one. "And did you have to make a mess in my bed midget?"
She rolled her eyes and didn't reply. He walked to the bed and moved some papers as he settled his head on her tiny lap. Hiyori scowled at his audacity, but didn't remove him. Instead she put her hand that wasn't holding her papers on the top of his soft locks.
"Did Kisuke kick you out?" He asked in a matter of fact voice.
"Sorta."
He raised his head to look at her face and when he was about to speak she did.
"Did you know that today is the anniversary of the day that we traveled to the real world as Vizards for the first time?" Her voice wasn't sad; it was more toneless.
He denied with his head and she dropped the documents on the bed and positioned both hands on his head to caress it. It wasn't a weird gesture coming from any other girl, but for Hiyori, it was a complete different experience.
"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Fine." And she frowned. "But the stinking bump said I wasn't focused enough, so he sent me back here. The nerve the lazy ass has!"
A scene flashed to his memory, 100 years ago the first time that he and Hiyori felt well enough from the Hollowfication to leave Kisuke's shack, they went out to explore the streets in the middle of the night, until they reached a park. Shinji had looked at her curious expression and explained what a park was. She narrowed her eyes and ran to the place where the amusements were positioned, focusing in the seesaw.
"And how does this work?" She had said, eyeing it suspiciously.
Not being able to resist, Shinji had grabbed her tiny waist, raising her petit body and positioning her on one of the sides, and he ran to the other. Obviously, she practically flew in the air because of his weight, but pushing his long legs to move up he changed the sides of the seesaw making the movement the game the way it was suppose to be.
Her eyes opened wide at first and then she smiled. It wasn't big or particularly shiny, but it had been the first thing beside tension and anger that had reflected on her lips since the Hollowfication.
"HEY!" A slap to the back of his head made him comeback to the present. "Are you paying attention Baldy? Or should I let you daydream more?"
"You didn't have to hit me, idiot." He said rubbing his head and changing his expression to a lewd one. "A kiss would have sufficed."
She was going to reply with a snarky remark or a blow, but he had taken her by surprise.
"Have you ever thought about moving out of the warehouse Hiyori?"
"What?" Her scowl was present again on her face. "Are you kicking me out or something? Because this place does not belong to you personally, flat-face!"
He took a deep breath. "No, I didn't mean that." And he poked her nose in a tender way. "Just you and me, you know, to be a little more alone, to have more privacy."
"Why would I like to be alone with you?" And she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I think we should do it." He was talking with hope that she would understand what he was saying way deep into those words.
"I think I made you even dumber with that last slap." She voiced, a little amused.
He chuckled and got up from the bed. "Maybe you're right." And he pulled her up from the bed. "C'mon we haven't trained together in a while."
She gave a wicked grin as she got up to follow him to the training grounds.
Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here
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December 15th (8:00 am to 6:00pm): Sappy words that melt the heart of every girl, except for this one.
Since the moment he opened his eyes he felt edgy, annoyed and nervous. His normally stone pulse couldn't stop shaking and for some reason he felt the temperature had increased like 50° from yesterday's weather. So it didn't take too many sassy remarks from Hiyori to get him edgier, more annoyed and freaked out with nervousness, picking a fight just for the sake of doing something. It had been the same tiresome argument that they had been having lately, but multiplied by 100. She, as usual, was being stubborn and intransigent, but this time he didn't let her have her way, so it erupted into a big fight over who was right and who was wrong. The topic: I'm staying late at Kisuke's…AGAIN.
Yes, the fight about her spending so much time in Urahara's shop was something Shinji had planned for maybe 2 or 3 weeks, and of course, the fact that today over all the other days had been picked by the Urahara to keep their research for 2 hours more than usual, was the key piece for everything working out at night that very night. But what he didn't count was his lack of control over his state of mind – normally his temper was completely in check - and as a consequence the enragement of the petit Vizard towards him. So when she uttered something like "I'm not only staying late Shinji, I'm going to stay for the whole night! Maybe you'll learn something with me gone for a day and I'll enjoy the pleasure of not looking at your ugly face!" his mind started to think of some way to fix his crumbling plan. Shit! The whole thing would be ruined if she didn't return today, so he picked up his cell phone and called plan-ruining Urahara and explained everything as best and fast as he could.
"Do not worry Hirako-san; dealing with the unexpected is my specialty."
Shinji rolled his eyes. "Geez, don't give yourself too much credit Kisuke."
"Ok, ok. If you don't want my help, I'll let Hiyori-san take her own deci-"
"Shut up, you know you're going to help. Don't fake otherwise." Shinji didn't even bother to try to hide his annoyance.
Urahara was going to reply on the same line, but the door opening in his house made him change his voice completely. "Of course Tsukino-san is always great doing business with your company!" His cheery voice completely fake.
"She had just walked in, right?" Shinji tried to confirm.
"Yes, that type of product is rather special, but don't worry, I know you'll take care of it. You do your part and I'll do mine."
"Thank you." And Shinji hung up.
"Being a pest to clients over the phone now?" She asked in irritation.
"I like that particular client. He has always been kind to me in moments of need." Urahara said while he showed her a warm smile. "Is something the matter Hiyori-san? You look upset."
A flush reflected on Hiyori's cheeks. How in the world could he read her so easily? She hadn't even behaved differently.
"Your silence tells me I was right in my previous assessment." And he padded the pillow on the floor next to him.
Normally Hiyori would have kick his face and shouted, 'None of your business', but instead she sighed, took a seat and began speaking.
"Something is the matter with Shinji."
The shop owner took a sip of his tea and decided not to interrupt her.
"He's been acting weird all week; mysterious, secretive, busy, and this morning he picked a fight out of nowhere with me. You don't understand." She said as if Urahara had questioned her. "HE picked a fight, not a teasing-let's-annoy-Hiyori-forever-kinda- fight, no, a real one." The girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Maybe finally I'm getting on his nerves." And even when she chuckled, Urahara could see the sadness in her eyes and voice.
"Ridiculous." And the girl turned his way. "Hirako-san loves you over everyone or anything, Hiyori-san."And she blushed at his words finding the wall very interesting all of a sudden. "Probably he didn't sleep well or he's been having a stressful week. ALL of us can have those you know."
The silence lingered, but a hard punch in the arm made Urahara weep in pain.
"Seriously," Hiyori uttered with a scowl, getting up and opening the door, "Saying so much crap in a single sentence. Move your ass. We're wasting day light."
He smiled and nodded. Their little chat had worked out; she would be home by 8. Hope you're ready by then Hirako-san.
If he had thought this morning he was feeling bad, the middle of the day was even worse. Shinji had gone to sit in the living room with a notepad and a pen. He knew he had to prepare something to say to her. What exactly? He had no idea, but it had to be something with meaning behind it. However, to his surprise, Kensei, Rose and Love approached him and without asking for it, started to quote the cheesiest love lines ever.
"If I could rewrite the alphabet, I would put U and I together." Kensei grinned in the blond's direction.
Love also took part providing 'help'. "Shinji you should say something like 'Excuse me ... do you have a band-aid? Cause I scraped my knee when I fell for you." And he began to laugh uncontrollably. Shinji kept quiet and narrowed his eyes even more.
Rose with enchantment in his voice started reciting, "You should say: I only have one thing I want change about you. And she would ask: What? You reply: Your last name. Or before you get on one knee you tell her: Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time."
Obviously they were mocking him, well; Kensei and Love were, because Rose's personality was just like that. He got up from the couch leaving the three men snickering at his expense and walked in the direction of Hiyori's room - no one would bother him there.
He threw himself unceremoniously onto the bed, rubbing his eyes with his long fingers. He was making an imaginary list of all the things that should be ready: The park rented only for his use: checked, their dinner for after: checked, the ring – and his hand traveled to his pocket - checked. The only thing missing was the girl and the actual proposal.
This had been so much trouble; frankly he didn't even know why he was bothering so much, probably she wouldn't even appreciate it at the end. A mental image of her smiling, those cute smiles, that belonged to none but him made him open his eyes and reflected a look of determination.
Who cares if he had spent a lot of his money on this? Who cares if he was tired, upset and dying of nervousness? Who cares if he couldn't find right now the perfect words to voice in a theatrical speech? She, the girl he loved, deserved what he had done and even more. Hiyori had been through so much. She wanted the engagement ring, the wedding, being a wife, the virgin bride and everything that came after, he knew it, so he would give it to her. He would give her everything she could ever dream of, that had been his vow and he had kept it until now.
"The only thing I hope is that she doesn't kill me before I finish asking her." He said out loud to himself. He looked at the clock on her wall. Just 2 more hours and she would be here and his hands started trembling again.
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
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December 15th (7:56 – 11:59): Marriage Proposal Day
Hiyori hated Urahara Kisuke with all her heart. Forget Aizen or Gin, at least with them she knew what she was getting into in the Winter War, but the imbecile bump had practically thrown her out saying he was going out. Oof course he was Hiyori thought with annoyance. The only thing her ex-Captain wanted was for her to patch up things with Shinji; well she didn't feel like it. This time she hadn't even done anything wrong in the first place. Going to Kisuke's wasn't a recreational activity, she was really trying to make the Vizards –especially the idiot, ass, Baldy - stronger.
So her tiny feet drove her to the warehouse, but in order not to increase in size and intensity her already bad mood, she took refuge in her room instead of looking for the blond like she normally would do.
Shinji had felt her reiatsu come into the 'house' and his already sweating brow become even sweatier and he could feel his mouth dry up like cotton. He was a mess. The man couldn't believe a simple thing as a proposal could make him so anxious and panicky. The de facto leader of the Vizards needed to calm down, so he took 5 deep breaths and waited for the midget to go through his door, but a girl barging in and shouting at him to continue this morning's fight never came. He then tried to feel her spiritual pressure. Maybe she was in the common area talking to one of the others, but no, she was in her own room completely alone.
Tensing the muscles on his face and scowling – in a very good impression of Hiyori's demeanor - he left his bedroom to look for her, but first he checked for the engagement ring in his pocket because he didn't know if he would get a chance to come back for it.
Opening without knocking he found a very calm girl staring at the photographs he had put on one of her walls, but at the sight of him she changed her expression.
"Get out asshole." She didn't yell but she sounded very unhappy.
He ignored her. "Get dressed. We are going out." It sounded more like an order than a petition.
"The hell I'm going out with you." She muttered in a final note and turned to leave her room.
Usually with her reacting this way wouldn't be a problem, he would do something unexpected and spontaneous and she would give in to him, but today Shinji was unable to feel his normal relaxed and carefree self, and her refusal was making him more distressed if it was possible.
So he followed her until he reached her in the middle of the warehouse, and he grabbed her hand to make her turn.
"I wasn't asking Hiyori. I need to speak with you. It is important and I don't wanna do it here." He hadn't raised his voice, but she was surprised of the tone he was using.
The girl didn't understand what was going on, the fight from this morning wasn't even a big deal to begin with and her acting like she was acting right now wasn't new or different. And that's where it hit her.
He was going to break up with her.
Her honey eyes were made of fury and she clenched her hands. The son of a bitch was going to break up with her in a different place, so she didn't want to make a scene where the other Vizards could see. Kisuke had been wrong, today was not Shinji having a bad day; he had been acting weird all week, jumpy, anxious, annoyed, clingy… he had found someone else she was sure and didn't know how to end it with her. How else could he explain the call he got from a jewelry store? A called she was forced to answer because he was taking a shower. Two days ago she thought she was getting a stinking expensive present she didn't want, but the time went by and she didn't receive anything, so probably it was for another girl, a short girl with black hair the sales man had said on the phone call. It was crystal clear now. THE BASTARD! She screamed in her head. But if he thought, she would do things easy for him he was completely mistaken.
"Fuck you." She answered
Shinji's anxiety was reaching new limits and he could feel his body sweat and his hands tremble
"Stop behaving like a spoil brat, and listen to me."
"Not interested!"
"Well get interested Hiyori, go and do what I'm saying!" She was glaring at him, and he was returning the same kind of look.
She pulled her arm from his grip hard, leaving a red mark from the force she had used and walked to the living room where the other 7 Vizards were.
She smirked. "You have things to tell me? Well do it in front of them if you have the courage?" She was daring him with anger and bitterness.
What the hell was wrong with her?
"Hiyori… Let's go." And he re-grabbed her arm, but this time she freed herself easily.
"I already tell you I'm not going anywhere with you. If you have ANYTHING to tell me be a man and grow a pair!" She replied showing her overgrow fang while she bite her lower lip.
"Idiot, I need to talk to you. Besides I told you before, what we are going to do is not up for discussion, we are doing it my way and that's it!"
"No, no, tell me now and here. You even have a lovely audience." There was poison in her words. He glared at her furiously again, "I thought you said it was important Shinji. C'mon tell me."
"No."
"What are you afraid of? Of being portrayed like the bad guy. Don't worry, I'm sure the others would understand."
Shinji had no idea what she was saying and he wasn't sure if it was due to the fact that he was nervous that she didn't make any sense. "I told you. I need to talk to you ALONE!" This time it wasn't his normal volume.
"Say it, Shinji. Don't worry about my 'feelings'."
"No."
"Say it!"
"Hiyori-" Lisa tried to talk.
"Do not meddle!" The girl yelled at her. "If Shinji wants to announce something to me, he can do it in front of everybody. I don't care I'm a big girl."
"You're an idiot" Shinji emphasized in a low voice.
"WHAT?" He was breaking up with her, and HE was calling names to HER. That was rich. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
"I said you're a complete idiot Hiyori!" He said looking at her. "Do you really wanna know what I was trying to do with you and me alone?"
Her breathing had become audible and her face wasn't big enough to have her scowl. "Yes."
It was just like usual when it came to Hiyori, Shinji planned and she came and overturned everything. The story of my life he cynically thought.
He chuckled and looked at her straight into her eyes. "I was trying to ask you to marry me."
With two words he had broken her entire angry face and her eyes simulated plates. "Mm-ma-marry you?"
In the list of things Shinji probably would do, she did not see this one coming. She had thought she had hate Urahara Kisuke the most, well that had changed now. It was a tie between Hirako Shinji and herself.
The other Vizards looking at the situation took the tense silence between the blondes as their cue to leave the living room.
"Don't forget the poem." Rose whispered.
When the last one had erased their presence by going into the training grounds, Shinji gave a couple of steps and grew closer to her. "You do know you ruined my proposal, don't cha Chibi?" He was amazed at how relaxed his tone was now.
Hiyori was finding the dirty floor very interesting at the moment, so her eyes were hidden by her bangs. Shinji cupped her chin to raise her face in his direction and to his surprise tears were forming in her eyes.
"Why are you crying honey?" He never called her anything close to affectionate, not even alone, and not because he didn't like it, he did, but she hated it. However, under the strange circumstances a bit more tenderness wouldn't be bad. Shinji brushed a tear that was leaving a teardrop. "You thought I was going to do something else, didn't you."
She nodded. He put his arms around her.
"Stupid brat. How many times I have to tell you that I'm not leaving you. Never going to happen, understood?"
She nodded again, drowning a sob.
Shinji spoke now directly into her ear. "I'm going to ask you now dummy. Try to be nice and act like a normal girlfriend, okay?"
Hiyori weakly punched his back where her hands were. "Like you are a normal boyfriend."
"Fair enough." And he faced her, pulling away from the hug. "Ready?"
For a third time in just a couple of minutes, she nodded and brushed the last tears with the back of her hand.
He knelt right before her and took her tiny left hand in his large ones. "Sarugaki Hiyori, would you marry me?"
There it was, the smile he loved. "What do you think Baldy?"
"I don't know. I kinda need a yes or no answer."
"Yes." She whispered.
Shinji narrowed his brown eyes. "You expend 94% of your time here shouting left and right and now you decide to tone it down."
"YES!" She screamed with a tint of pink decorating her cheeks and ignoring his teasing.
"Much better," he said pulling her closer and looking for her lips, but remembering something he broke the kiss. "I forgot I have something for you." And he pulled a little black box from his pocket and handed it to her.
She examined and opened it. It was her engagement ring. The dumbass! It was beautiful.
"But you have to try it on!" and he took it from her and slid it onto her ring finger where it fit perfectly. "Rukia helped me with the size," He explained, "taking into consideration you're a mini girl you're hard to shop for."
Hiyori motioned a kick that didn't reach him because she was very busy admiring her finger.
"I'm glad you like it, Honey."
"Stop calling me corny names Hage Shinji!" And she slid off the ring.
"What are you doing?" And he glared at her. "Put it back on. I don't wanna see that ring leave your finger, ever."
"I can't wear it all the time!" She complained "I'll probably lose it."
"I'll buy you another one"
"But I like this one!"
The tall man was prepared for this argument. "Let's make a deal."And he pulled from his pocket a thin necklace of the same silver tone of the ring. "You have to wear it on your neck or finger. I don't care, but you are wearing it!"
"That was more an order than a deal." She spat.
"Deal?" And he extended his hand to shake on it.
She sighed. "Do I have a choice?"
He shook his head.
"Deal then, stupid Shinji." And she gave him her hand and with a swift movement he pulled her closer.
"Now Miss I-never-listen I'm taking you were I was going to do it anyway"
She chuckled and he reached for her hand to entangled it with his.
"So Hiyori…" and they started walking in the direction of the park. "… you have a ring on your finger. Can we have sex now?"
"WHAT?"
"You said and I quote: 'The day I see a ring one my finger-"
But a kick that sent him crushing into the near wall stopped his speech.
"I said virgin BRIDE, not fiancée. Are you Baldy and deaf?"
Shinji stayed sitting rubbing his face.
"It was worth the try."
And remembering what she had overheard from Rose's whispering she asked:
"What poem you were supposed to tell me?"
While he was getting up from the floor, Hiyori could see a very light pink in Shinji's cheeks
"Never mind, Roses' usual crap."
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
.
A/N: Yeah I know, my story has become an OOC and fluff paradise, but I tried to compose it with the proposal, that is something I can see happening, not in the manga, but goes according to their personalities, right? Shinji being a romantic is something I just can't avoid! He has to make up for Hiyori not being one.
So what does Shinji give to Hiyori? An engagement ring! Awwww.
Erase and Rewind? Mmm this one is a toughie, it wasn't like she had a bad experience with marriage, maybe it had been something she has been waiting for many years and it's finally here.
Have you noticed? We are almost done (sooooo sad), and I have good news: 14 is already in the making, so I hope it doesn't take too long like this one did.
Thank you SO MUCH for the faves, alerts, and reviews. I apologize because I've been working nonstop and my internet is down at home, so I haven't been able to reply, but I'll do it as soon as I can I promise.
Luv ya all!
Kate.