Chapter 8
The guard came late that day with the mail. Toushiro thought about leaving the letter under his pillow to read after dinner but he decided against it. He quickly scribbled Year 5 Day 1549 on the envelope and followed Shunsui out of their cell. He got his tray of food and sat down at their usual table before opening the letter.
Dear Toushiro,
Justin kissed me again last night. That's the third time he's kissed me and it's the third time I haven't felt anything. Mom says that when you kiss someone you really like then you feel something kind of like fireworks exploding without all of the gore of course. But nothing like that has happened with Justin. Mom says it's cause he's not the one for me. Dad is glad of course and tells me I should go ahead and dump Justin. Mom says that it's up to me. What do you think?
Love, Rukia
Toushiro sighed. What was he supposed to tell her? He figured she might as well go ahead and dump him. But how was he supposed to say that without sounding like her dad? Toushiro didn't have anymore time to contemplate what he was going to write before the letter was snatched out of his hands from someone standing behind him. Toushiro leaped out of his seat to face Mayuri's evil grin.
"Give it back." Toushiro's voice rang loud and clear throughout the lunch room. Everyone froze. At 22 years old, 6 feet 3 inches, and 230 pounds, Toushiro was someone to be reckoned with. Especially considering that he wasn't a punk kid that didn't know how to use the muscle he had. Toushiro had received constant intensive training from Gin, Byakuya, and Shunsui for the last five years. He was disciplined. He had already calculated his odds of winning against Mayuri and knew that it was going to be a good fight but that he would end up on top. Mayuri wasn't as young as he used to be. He'd be slower and there would be a little less power in his punches and kicks.
Mayuri grinned and shrugged. "Why should I?"
"Give. It. Back. NOW." Rukia's letters were the only thing that reminded him that he still had a family and a home to return to. Mayuri had made a big mistake by threatening that connection.
Mayuri shoved the letter into his pocket. He spread his arms in a 'come and get it' gesture.
Toushiro crouched slightly and fell into battle mode. Byakuya had honed his instincts to react to any situation. He had taught Toushiro the importance of speed. Speed was more valuable than muscle. And with his friend's help he had found the perfect combination of both. He waited. It took all three of his friends and three years to teach Toushiro the level of patience required to fight appropriately.
Mayuri was getting agitated. Toushiro could tell by the slight limp in his grin. Toushiro raised an eyebrow to entice him more. Byakuya had always stressed to let your opponent attack first. Even if you have to stand there for an hour NEVER attack first. That way when your opponent attacked you can spin away and turn the tables on them and become the attacker. Of course, that would only work if you had achieved the level of speed Toushiro had.
Mayuri sighed, defeated. He took the letter out of his pocket and held it out toward Toushiro as he walked forward. Once he had gotten close enough, he spun his body to the right as he swung his leg up to kick Toushiro in the head. But Toushiro wasn't so easily fooled. He saw Mayuri's muscles bunch up as he began his attack. Mayuri's foot might as well have been going in slow motion. Toushiro caught it easily and started to lift Mayuri's leg up unnaturally high.
Mayuri struggled as he realized what Toushiro was trying to do. His grin was gone. He swung at Toushiro's face with his fist. Toushiro instinctively let go of his leg and ducked. He punched Mayuri in the stomach before Mayuri could take advantage of his lowered position.
Mayuri stumbled back and wondered where that scared little kid had gone. The one that had curled up into the fetal position and let Mayuri punch and kick him. It seemed that kid had turned into a decisive fighter. Maybe he shouldn't have messed with the kid.
Toushiro punched Mayuri in the nose and grabbed onto his shirt collar before he could fall backwards. He wrapped his leg around Mayuri's and pulled his feet out from under him at the same time letting his shirt go.
Mayuri fell flat on his back with an 'oomph' and stared up at Toushiro, stunned. Toushiro turned and walked back to his seat and sat down calmly. Mayuri stood up and shouted "Guards! Guards!"
The guards pushed through the now unfrozen crowd to stand in front of Mayuri with their hands on their hips. "What is it, Mayuri?", one sighed tiredly.
Mayuri pointed at Toushiro and then at his bleeding nose. "See what he did to me? I believe that calls for three days in a detention cell."
The guards looked towards Toushiro. "Well kid? What do you have to say about that?"
Toushiro looked at the guards and swallowed his bite of a roll before speaking. "I say that I saw Mayuri trip and fall and bust his nose on the corner of that table. What do you say, Shunsui?"
Shunsui shrugged. "I had my back turned but I distinctly heard what sounded like Mayuri's face hitting that table. Did you see anything, Byakuya?"
Byakuya nodded. "I saw Mayuri trip and fall. Then blame Toushiro on his own clumsiness. How about you, Gin?"
Gin's grin widened. "I saw Mayuri fall", Gin said in a sing songy voice.
Mayuri glared at them all. "They're lying! Every last one of them!"
The guards shrugged. "Well they've never lied before. But you have. Get lost Mayuri before we take you to a detention cell."
Mayuri glared but turned swiftly on his heels and stalked away through the crowd.
After the guards had left, Shunsui slapped Toushiro on the back. "Well done, kid."
Byakuya nodded once. "You did well."
Toushiro grinned. He felt a swell of pride as his teachers complimented him. He couldn't wait to tell Rukia. Which reminded him...he got up from his seat and picked up the slightly crumpled letter. He smoothed it out carefully and put it safely back into it's envelope.
/
Year 6 Day 2001
Rukia sighed as she laid down on her bed with Toushiro's newest letter lying on her stomach. She picked it up and smelled it again. She could faintly smell what she remembered his unique scent being still left on the letter. She smiled a little. Over the years he had become a constant friend. Someone she told all of her secrets to. Except one: Rukia was falling in love with Toushiro. That was the one secret she was afraid to tell him. To tell anyone. She knew she was only sixteen. Toushiro was twenty-three. She wanted to make sure that this wasn't an infatuation. Something that would go away in a year. She wanted to be sure that what she felt was real before she told anyone. But how was she supposed to know when he was so far away. She looked down at his letter and smiled. He wasn't far away. He was right here with her. Like he always had been.
A knock sounded on the door. "Come in", Rukia called as she sat up and placed the letter on her nightstand. Her mom, Tiffany, came in. She smiled fondly at Rukia and sat down on the bed next to her. She ran her fingers through her daughters hair softly. "Your hair is just like your father's."
Rukia smiled. "Are you okay, mom?"
Tiffany smiled. "Of course. I'm just so proud of you. You're growing up so fast." She sighed and looked at the letter on the nightstand. "I just wish Toushiro was here with us."
Rukia nodded sadly. Tiffany patted her leg before standing up and going to the door. "Now you take good care of that car now."
Rukia smiled remembering her birthday present. "I will. I promise."
Tiffany nodded and left the room. Rukia pulled out a piece of paper and began to write her next letter to Toushiro. She had to tell him about the new car she had gotten for her sixteenth birthday today.
Sorry it's been taking me so long to update. I had a busy week this week. I hadn't even turned my computer on in a week. That's a record for me :) I know this chapter is a little boring but I wanted to make sure I had the transition from 15 to 16 years old for Rukia. The next chapter will get a little more exciting I promise. But tell me what you guys think :)
9/18: Okay so I know I haven't updated in a while and it's because I've been tossing a lot of ideas around in my head about what I want to happen. Im sorry it's taking so long but I want the story to come out good so be patient with me :)