Black Princess

I sat there thinking about the fight in class and the encounter this afternoon. Perhaps I was just too paranoid and I overreacted, oh well. The sun was setting under the mountains and I was tired.

Usually, I would stay there until the last minute before curfew because I just wanted to avoid people that were roaming around the campus. Tonight was different, it was the end of the year celebration and I wanted to climb up a tree and watch the fireworks.

I was excited but not expecting it to be fun, you know? I hurried to the eastern side of the academy and scurried up a tree that was the closest to the fireworks, but far enough to not let anyone know of my presence.

"Aren't you hungry at all, Hime-san? I could smell those kabobs a mile away from here," said Shirobarakaze.

Normally I would scold her when she called me Hime-san, but she did have a point. I skipped lunch and I forgot to bring food for the occasion. But I couldn't go into the crowd and get food. I would get burned alive for just showing my face there. Finally, I gave up. The food was just to tempting and my stomach won't shut up. I jumped off the tree and sneaked into the campus gathering. I was so close to the tables when I heard a voice say "Why is the Demon here?"

The whole gathering started shouting and panicking.

"Do you think she came here to kidnap someone for here snack?"

"I think we should drive her back to her cave!"

I gave up and quietly slinked back to my tree before I burst into tears. I can't wait for tomorrow, then I'll leave this damn place forever. Those people there were the monsters not me. I silently sang while I watched the fireworks. I didn't notice thatt I was digging my fingers into my palm until a voice said "Kurohime - san? Are you up there?"

***

Toshiro was sitting on the field, staring at the beautiful skies when he a haze that flickered throughout the crowd. Then he saw her, standing close to the table reaching for a plate.

"Ohmygod! The Witch! what is she doing here?!"

"Go back to hell, Demon!!!!!!!!"

Kurohime's head perked up and scanned for the person who made that comment. What she did next was surprising. Instead of storming up to the student, she cringed and looked like someone had stuck a knife through her. It looked like she was about to cry. Then, in a flash she was gone.

Toshiro had an urge to follow her, but the fireworks were starting. But for some reason didn't care, he wanted to find out why she disappeared.

"Master, what are you doing!?"

Toshiro didn't answer but he added an extra step to his shunpo.

When I see your smile, tears run down my face. I can't replace . . .

Toshiro stopped in his tracks immediately. It was that voice he heard that afternoon. But it sounded like sadder now. It made him want to find her even more now. He hurried on into the dark forest.

I will never let you fall. I will stand up with you forever. I'll be there for you through it all. Even if saving you sends me to heaven . . .

Toshiro stopped at the base of a tree and called "Hinamoto –San? Are you up there?" The song stopped and a blackish-grayish head poked out of the branches then retreated back. The leaves rustled and she leaped out of the trees towards the northern side of the campus.

What she left in her wake was baffling. He found millions of white rose petals scattered across the trail. The scent was so intoxicating and beautiful as the wind blew them into the sky.

***

I ran away from him and swore loudly. Why is he so persistent to follow me? Stinkin' stalker. Sometimes I swear that if heaven heard me they would cover their ears and fear for their immortal lives.

"Maybe he just wants to be with you," teased Shirobarakaze.

"Yeah, and then everyone is going to think I'm a princess and hollows stop eating people," I snapped.

"Then maybe he just want to hear your pretty voice sing or run his fingers through your silky hair," said Shirobarakaze.

" S-Shut up, you know this is a sensitive place for me. Say anything else and I'll smack your head until it lands into the Seireitei." She can be so annoying sometimes.

"Fine, Miss Cranky," said Shirobarakaze.

I wanted to watch the fireworks so bad, but if I go back he'll find me. But I could always release Shirobarakaze and make my own fireworks, but then again the whole school would sense my reiatsu and bring torch this place. Bored, I took out my drawing notebook ( I always have my notebook on me ) and finished one of my past drawings. In the picture I was wearing a white kimono with the sleeves billowing out and in the background was a maiden with pale lavender hair towering over me. My hand was stretched out as if calling out to her and the wind was swirling around me.

I was drawing rose petals in the wind when a voice said "Nice drawing, Hime-san" and this was not Shirobarakaze. I turned around and found a smirking Toshiro Hitsuguya.

I held back a yelp and coolly said "Shouldn't you be back at the show?" He didn't answer but sat next to me. Then he turned to me and looked at me for while. "Shouldn't you be there too, Hime-san?"

***

"Shouldn't you be back at the show?"

"She draws very well," said Hyorinmaru

But Toshiro wasn't paying attention to his zanpaktou. He was mesmerized by her features again. They looked more pronounced in the gentle light of the moon and her long hair, he noticed, was a blackish-grayish color that swayed in tune to the breeze. Her lips looked like a soft blossom that has just sprung into bloom.

He was drawn to her sad yet peaceful face, those sharp eyes and the softness of her voice caressed him, drowning him in its mysterious depths. The girl looked like she could dissolve at anytime. She was hiding something and he was going to find out.

Then he remembered that she had asked a question, so he hastily said "Shouldn't you be there too, Hime-san?" She stayed silent and then said "I have no use for such frivolous activities, I'm graduating from the Academy and will be transferred to the punishment force." Toshiro thought he detected a hint of bitterness in her response.

"Master, she is graduating tomorrow, but aren't you too?"

"Yes, but I'll be entering the Gotei 13, not the Omeitskido."

"Its such a shame you did not meet her before this afternoon, she is such a temptress don't you think, boy.I can see why you have taken such an intrest in her. Oh look she is nodding off already. You should go carry her to her dor-."

"I may be tired, but that doesn't mean I can't hear you two debating," said Kurohime.

Toshiro was at a lost for words. How could she hear his zanpaktou in HIS mind? Could she read minds? "Baffled, aren't you, Toshiro Hitsuguya? I'm surprise you didn't know this in the first place." She turned her head towards him and her eyes. Her eyes were not that fiery purple-red color but rather a silvery- blueish color.

"This is half the reason they call me Demon, the Witch," she said. Her face was cold but he could tell she was blushing slightly.

With that she took her leave. Toshiro watched her gracefully glide across the field and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.

"Master, are you ok?"

But right now he did know if he was ok or not.

***

I hated that I was blushing and to make things worse Shirobarakaze was laughing her head off in my head. A Temptress?!?! I'm not pretty at all. In fact he should be running at the sight of me.

"Well, you are kind of pretty, and you singing and drawing isn't making it easy for him.

"you're not making this easy for me, Shirobara." Shirobara was the nickname I used when I was frustrated or angry at her.

" Too bad, Hime-san. You know I think he might have even fallen head over heels if you stop being so stiff. Maybe if you've had been a little more gentle with him . . . "

"Don't talk nonsense, Shirobara. No one can fall in love that fast and if it is true then it's probably an infatuation."

Shirobarakaze sighed. "You're probably right . . . as always. Though it would be funny if that happened."

I ran off to my dorm before the night guard could see me and then I sneaked into the covers before my dorm mates could tattle on me. Its not that they hate me, they just listen to rumors too often, so they just leave me alone.

"Hime-san? You know you liked those compliments that Hyorinmaru and Toshiro were giving you, even though you eavesdropped on them.

I sighed and said "Shut up, Shirobara, I'm trying to sleep here." But inside I knew she was right because I was a fool.

***

Toshiro was about to leave also when he noticed something lying in the grass. He went over to pick when he realized this was Kurohime-san's notebook. He quickly leafed through the pages and stuffed it into his robes.

"Master, what are you doing? Isn't that the girl's notebook?"Hyorinmaru asked.

"yes, I going to read it then return it to her later."

Hyorinmaru almost choked on his words, "Why would you do that?! The right thing would be to return it to her."

"I want to learn more about her, that's all. I can't enter the girl's dorm room. I'm male, she's female."

Toshiro first looked through her music and lyrics. He didn't know much about music though so he just looked at the lyrics. They were beautiful and would sound even more beautiful if she was singing it herself. There were not many upbeat songs. There were more melodic and sad ballads than upbeat tunes. Just like herself.

Toshiro then looked through all the drawings in the notebook. There were many pictures that she drew of herself and the detail was absolutely stunning. But in every picture she had that sad, lonely look and she looked so fragile. The woman in the in the background was probably her zanpaktou.

In every picture there was Kurohime-san and scenery. But at the end of the note book was a happy picture of Kurohime, another girl with golden hair, an older woman who was their guardian, and an overly furry cat. But Kurohime appeared to be laughing. This was the first time Toshiro had seen her smile.