A/N: I'm sorry about the really short chapter last time. This one is a little bit longer. But only a little bit. But two chapters will be put up at a time, so maybe that makes it better? And they are supposed to be on the short side; they're drabble-ish, after all.
And in response to Enflamed. Mask's question, this is primarily a Turn Back the Pendulum arc story, which means that it won't reach Aizen's defection until near the end. I don't know when that'll be. I'm just kind of making up things as I go along, although I do have a general outline of what's going to happen. It's very, very general though. Although I think I have an ending in mind already...
Anyways, enjoy.
11: Present
"Good morning, Sensei!" Sakura walked into the training facility, looking around the room until she saw the chestnut-haired lieutenant in a corner. Sousuke was standing with his back to her, something in his hands.
"Hello, Kuchiki-chan. Just a moment, please." He fiddled with the object he was holding in his hands momentarily, and then turned around, a warm smile on his face. "I heard it was your birthday today. Happy birthday." Sousuke held a neatly wrapped package out to her, motioning for her to take it. Sakura's eyes widened in surprise.
"Ah, no, I couldn't possibly accept, Aizen-sensei," she stuttered, looking embarrassed. "You didn't have to get me anything, really!"
Sousuke chuckled. "Please. I insist. It is your birthday, after all."
Looking into her sensei's warm, sincere eyes framed behind his square glasses, Sakura decided to accept his gift. It was only polite, after all. Taking the wrapped package from his outstretched hand, she looked at it curiously. "What is it?"
He smiled. "Open it and find out."
The dark-haired noble tugged at the strings holding it together and slowly peeled off the white wrapping paper. Opening up the box, she found a pair of fingerless gloves, much better than the ones she was currently wearing. "Aizen-sensei… thank you. So much. I really appreciate it." Sakura looked up at him, slate-gray eyes glowing with gratitude.
"You're very welcome," Sousuke replied, smiling down at her. "I noticed your gloves were a bit worn out, so I thought you would like new ones."
"Yes. Thank you," Sakura repeated, removing her old, tattered gloves and trying on the new ones. She pulled the soft black fabric over her hands gingerly. "They're wonderful."
"I'm glad you like them," Sousuke said. Then he laughed. "But now that you have these, promise me you won't go hurting your hands any more, even if you can cover it up."
Sakura laughed. "Of course, Sensei."