She sat on the hill, looking over the green field. Normally she would be playing with the boys running around like ants (from her perspective), but today she didn't feel like beating them. She wanted a challenge, but was unsure as to where to find one. Then she felt the air behind her ripple, and a large presence approach her. She didn't turn, but she tensed, preparing to attack whomever it was who had decided to sneak up on her. The presence stopped behind her, as if waiting for something.
He stepped through the Senkai Gate, and found her sitting on the hill, arms wrapped around her knees, watching the boys playing soccer below. Smirking, he started to walk towards her, noticing the slight change in her body language that indicated her notice of his arrival. Stopping behind her, he looked down at the field, before glancing down at her. She still refused to acknowledge his presence. Kurosaki stubborness, he thought to himself. Shrugging he sat himself down next to her.
She glanced over and her eyes widened slightly, but said nothing. The two of them sat there quietly for the rest of the afternoon, not a single word said. When it got dark he stood, offering her a hand up. She took it and they walked silently to her house. They stood at the doorway for a moment, gazing at each other, until with a small wave he turned and walked away, as she slipped into the house. When he was far enough away he reopened his gate, and returned to Soul Society.
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A week later she was sitting in the same spot, watching the same boys play soccer below her. She felt the presence and knew who it was instantly. She turned around to see icy green eyes meet her dark ones, and a small smile flitted over her face. Once more he sat down next to her, and they watched the game go on.
He looked tired, she noticed. His eyes were cold, but not as sharp as usual, his hair still chaotic, but not as gravity defying as before. His clothes were mussed, as if he hadn't had time to take care of himself. He glanced over and caught her staring, catching the worried look she had. He shrugged in response to the question in her eyes. A frown took over her face and she grabbed his shoulders, pulling him down so his head was in the comfortable cushion of her lap. Sighing in contentment, he felt the tension that had been keeping him from sleep melt away, feeling absolutely safe in the presence of this relatively powerless human girl. But his eyes drifted shut, and his breathing evened out. He was asleep before he could even notice the tender smile on her face.
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He came every week. She would be waiting for him. He would sit down next to her, and eventually fall asleep on her. She would smile tenderly at him, and soon began to stroke his hair while he slept.
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A couple months had gone by, the routine as unbroken as their silence. They were each starting to piece together the story of the other. She had figured out that he was broken from the loss of his long time sister figure, and confused from the loss of his long time enemy. She was concerned for everyone's safety. With her he had no responsibilities and could therefore accept the pain and let it wash over him. He was a security blanket, she knew she was safe while with him.
Then one day as he slept, she glanced down at his face she saw a small track of silver escape his eye. Softly she brushed up the tear, astonished when it was cool to her touch. She looked at it more closely and saw it was a small snowflake that had slid down his face, not the drop of salt water she had expected. An icy tear to fit a soul of ice. She saw more of the snowflakes fall down his face, but because he was lying horizontally they had no way to run off his face. Instead they congealed on his cheeks, not melting, rapidly building up. She softly cleared off the small drifts, so intent on clearing the sorrow from his face that she didn't notice it when his eyes opened and the green eyes stared up at her. For the first time, their silence was broken.
"Thank you," his usually harsh voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't used it in a while. She just smiled at him and nodded. It was then that he started to talk. He talked about his childhood in Soul Society, growing up with Hinamori. About her going into the Shinigami Academy, and him joining her a few years later. About joining the 10th division and rising through the ranks. Becoming vice-captain, then captain. She said nothing, just listened. And when he was finished she just smiled at him once more, before he walked her to her home and returned to his.
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The week after that was different. He looked better, she noticed. As if he was finally getting the rest he needed. Before he had seemed horribly driven, now he seemed almost complacent. As usual he sat down next to her. But this time he didn't lie down on her. Instead, after a few minutes had gone by, he grabbed her around the waist pulling her with his greater strength until she sat in his lap. She was startled for a moment, but soon relaxed into him. Their silence had returned.
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Another month drifted by, the only change this shift in position. Then one afternoon, as they sat comfortably on the hill, they felt the spike in reiatsu that was unmistakably Ichigo's. At this she began to shake, and although it quickly calmed down indicating victory, she still trembled. He wrapped his arms around her, the comforted becoming the comforter. She turned her head into his shoulder and shook with silent sobs, wetting his captain's haori. He didn't care. Her tears burned him. Not physically, but her mental distress agonized him. He held her tighter. The sobs became quieter, then stopped. Her red-rimmed eyes met his clear ones.
"Thank you," she echoed what he had said weeks before. Then she began to talk. About her discovery of hollows, her learning of her brothers secret, meeting him and others like him. Finding out about her family, the winter war, and most of all her fears. Her fear of losing everyone that she cared for. He understood her, and returned her smile when she finished. Using his cool touch he removed the red from her eyes and pulled her up, like he had that first time. They walked in silence to her house, both lightened by the understanding they had been given. When they reached her door, she expected the same wave she always got, but this time, as she turned away, he caught her wrist.
"Until next week?" The silence cracked. She grinned at him, and the light returned to her face.
"Yes, until next week." She confirmed. With that their silence was shattered, as the two broken children returned to their states of strong-willed adults. Their gaze broke, and they returned to their separate homes.
