2. Hikifune's concerns
Captain Hikifune Kirio knew she really shocked a lot of people by announcing that Sarugaki Hiyori would become the new vice captain of the 12th Division. Hiyori herself was the most shocked person of all, Hikifune had to tell her three times before she dared to believed it. She also knew that some people could not appreciate her decision and she didn't blame them at all. Sarugaki Hiyori was the most complex Shinigami Hikifune had ever met. Despite of that fact Hikifune loved Hiyori like she was her own child. She had watched Hiyori grown for many years and saw her become stronger and develop herself as a Shinigami. She even saw Hiyori fall in love for the very first time in her life.
The one thing Hikifune was worrying about was the fact that she got Hiyori so far that she could let her guard down when they were alone together, but not yet for the rest of the Seireitei. There hasn't gone a day by when Hikifune didn't see the two different sides of her new lieutenant. Both were Sarugaki Hiyori, but she didn't seem to have a good balance between them. On one side you had Sarugaki Hiyori with fire in her eyes, screaming and yelling at everybody when something happened she didn't like. If you were lucky, she would not kick your ass and make you pay a visit to the 4th Division. Strong, full of anger and stubborn; that was the Sarugaki Hiyori the Seiteirei knew. Hikifune knew that sid of her to, but she also saw something behind all of that anger. So much pain and grief hidden deep inside her. The way Hiyori could lay in her bed when she was asleep, she always laid rolled up, with her knees to her chest and her hands were little fists. She looked like a scared little girl, and she was. Sarugaki Hiyori was always afraid, she just didn't or couldn't show it to anyone.
Hikifune hoped that her decision of making her the new vice captain would change her, but deep inside she knew that it wouldn't be so simple. The look on her face when she was given that chance was priceless. Hikifune knew that Hiyori would be an amazing vice captain for her Division. The most Shinigami in the 12th Division would not admit it, but they cared deeply for their new vice captain. Maybe because she looked like this little, tiny, young girl who needed protection against all the bad things in life. But she didn't act that way at all, in fact she didn't let a day go by without letting everybody know she could take care of herself without any help for anybody. Hikifune knew that this side of Hiyori was going to cause her total breakdown. She actually hoped that Hiyori would have had her breakdown by now so Hikifune could be there to pick up the pieces and put Hiyori back together, but it seemed like wouldn't be happening anytime soon and if Hikifune would be there, when that time came, because it would come, there wasn't much time left anymore.
Sarugaki Hiyori stepped into the main building of the 12th Division. She tried to follow the advice she was given by Urahara Kisuke and it sure did work a bit, but now she felt quite sad again. She could not exactly describe the feeling she had, but she knew Hirako Shinji's reaction was very dear to her, though she wished it wouldn't be. Hirako Shinji didn't seem to care at all about the fact that she would become a vice captain, that she had come so fare by working very hard. He wasn't impressed at all. Yet, she wanted him to be.
"I only want you to be proud of me"
"Who are you talking to, Hiyori-san?"
Hikifune had entered the building as well and wanted to walk to her office but she bumped into Hiyori. Hiyori on her term didn't expect anyone to be here because it was their day of. She shivered, turned around and saw Hikifune standing there with that always caring and friendly smile. She loved Hikifune more than anything in this world, she loved her like it was her own mother. Hiyori had found her home with Hikifune. Hikifune always knew if there was something wrong with Hiyori, she always knew if she was sad, really angry or just happy. Hiyori knew that she could not hide her feelings for the woman standing before her. When she looked deep in her heart she really didn't want to hide it either. She felt like crying and Hikifune gave her the feeling it was ok to do so. Tears came sparkling in her eyes and Hikifune didn't doubt for a moment. Within two steps she was standing right in front of Hiyori, just in time to put her arms around her at the moment she began to cry.
"He.. he just d-didn't care at all. I only.. only wanted to m-make him p-proud.."
Hiyori had the feeling she couldn't stop crying anymore. Hikifune didn't ask her any questions because she knew what was going on and who Hiyori was talking about. Hirako Shinji really could be a asshole sometimes, but he didn't mean to be one. But right now he had hurt her so bad and Hikifune pulled Hiyori close to her, while making little comforting noises.
Of course you wanted to make him proud Hiyori-san. You're in love with him.
But Hikifune didn't spoke those words out loud. This was something Hiyori had to figure out on her own.
Hirako Shinji walked slowly, very slowly. He thought about a lot of things, or actually he did not. He only thought about one person: Sarugaki Hiyori. He thought about the time he first met her, she was studying at the Shinigami Academy. She could not behave herself, she was a total rebel and people thought about sending her away. At that time Hirako Shinji was there a couple times a week to give some lessons and was a young Shimigami within the Gotei 13. He overheard a conversation about this girl and asked if there was a reason for her behavior.
"She's from Rukongai" was the answer and everybody agreed on that fact. Shinji could not believe what he heard. Where all the people from Rukongai bad? He came from Rukongai! Shinji knew people from Rukongai were discriminated, but this was going was too far. The behavior of the girl had a reason and it didn't matter is she was from Rukongai or not.
The next day Hirako Shinji began looking for this girl and he found her. When he asked her very friendly if she would like to talk to him she hit him on the nose. It hurt really, really bad. When Hirako looked in her eyes he saw lots of anger in her dark, brown eyes. This girl was marked, marked deeply with the things she had to go through in the past. He had a feeling she didn't come from the good side of Rukongai. He didn't ask her about it, instead he began visit her almost every day. She beat him up most of the time but it was ok. She needed to express all of that anger.
And now Hiyori still had that anger and Hirako Shinji did not know what marked her so deeply. Hiyori did learned at the Academy to handle her anger in her advantage and used it to achieve many great things in her lessons instead of using it to beat up people. With that she had received a place within the Gotei 13; in the 12th Division and Hirako met her once again. She didn't change much until a few hours ago.
Hirako Shinji kick himself about the way he had reacted to her. He rather wanted that Hiyori herself gave him one, but the fact that she didn't made it very clear that he had screwed up big time. In all those years Hirako did not see Hiyori crying once. He always thought that she just couldn't. The fact that she did at that very moment made clear that he had hurt her feelings more than ever before. Hirako Shinji always thought that Hiyori couldn't care less about him but now he knew better than that. She cried about him, because she wanted him to be happy and proud. He was proud of her. When he heard earlier that day from one of his Shinigami's, who heard on his turn from one of the Shinigami's within the 12th Division, that Sarugaki Hiyori would become the new vice captain he just smiled about it for an hour. It made him happy and he was grateful about the fact that Hikifune gave Hiyori that chance.
But then Aizen, his own vice captain, came along and worked totally on this nerves with lots of paper work that had to be done. Hirako was in the middle of something important when Hiyori came in. It just was the wrong moment and if Shinji did knew he could hurt her that much he wouldn't have said something like that at all. He just didn't think that she cared. Of course she did, why would she come running to him to tell him the big news anyway? Shinji kicked hard against a big stone that didn't move at all. Great, now he had a painful big toe too. He stopped walking and realized the thought brought him to the right place. The one place he belonged to be right now: the 12th Division.
Hirako didn't give up when no one open the door at Hiyori's place. He had this feeling that he just needed to see her. At Hikifune's place, Hikifune herself opened the door. Hirako found her a little bit scary, she was a lot like Unohana. Hirako has known Unohana for a very very long time, but she was still scary. Both woman were amazing in what they did and when Hikifune smiled at him, Shinji could not be relieved any more.
"She's sleeping, but if you want to see her, she's in the guest room. Down the hallway, then left, the second door. Go ahead" and Hikifune let him in without any further questions. The fact that she just knew that he came to see Hiyori made her scary, like she could read his mind or something. But it wouldn't hurt to just go see her. Maybe he could say that he was sorry and they could leave this whole thing behind them.
Sarugaki Hiyori laid in bed with no blankets on her. She laid there like she always did when she was asleep. Her hand were little fists and she held them before her mouth. She lied all rolled up, with her knees to her chest and her head down. Hirako Shinji walked in the room and closed the door behind him. He just stood there for a few minutes looking at this girl who had to be Sarugaki Hiyori. She was, but she looked so different. Hirako Shinji smiled because today he saw a different side of her for the very first time. In the corner of the room was a chair with a blanket on it. Hirako walked to it and picked up the blanket. He walked to Hiyori lying in bed and sat down at the edge of the bed. Carefully, he did not wanted to wake her, he spread out the blanket over Hiyori's body. When he came closer to her he saw no pony tails in her hair. Here blond hair was just hanging down and came to her shoulders. She looked nice, she looked cute this way. Though saying that to her face would probably get him killed. Shinji could not resist the temptation of striking his fingers against her cheek. He cared so much for this girl.
Hirako Shinji had the feeling he could stay up all night just sitting there. Because he had something nice to look at.