A very special thanks to BlessedRain for being my Beta from now on! =3

4. Some of Hiyori's past

Sarugaki Hiyori was released from the 4th division the next day. Hirako Shinji did not talk about Hikifune with her because he didn't want to push her too much. Days went by and Shinji saw that Hiyori had changed. She was far too quiet. Shinji went by every day to keep an eye on her. Every time he asked her she said that she was ok. He knew she was lying but didn't said that to her. She looked tired and Shinji had a feeling that she didn't slept very well. But a few days later the anger in Sarugaki Hiyori came back. Reason for that was the replacement of Captain Hikifune. Urahara Kisuke became the new Captain of the 12th Division and Hiyori was not happy about that.

It's was a late night and Kisuke sat outside of the 12th Division. His first week as a Captain didn't go as he would have liked. Everybody seemed really nice and at first but when he meet his Vice-Captian things got totally out of control. Sarugaki Hiyori was something. Right away she made clear that she wasn't going to except him as her Captain. He tried to talk to her but she didn't gave him a change. Now he sat here with two black eyes. This little girl could fight like hell. He just let her in the hope that it would become better in a couple of days. But it did not and Kisuke didn't know what to do anymore with here.

"You look absolutely terrible Kisuke. Some of Hiyori's work?"

Hirako Shinji walked right to Urahara Kisuke and smiled at him. He felt so sorry for him because he knew how out of control Hiyori could be. But he also understood where Hiyori was coming from. She just wanted to make clear, in a very bad way, that no one could ever take Hikifune's place.

"She absolutely hates me"

"No she does not, she's just making clear that you can't take Hikifune's place"

"That was never my intention"

"I know that. Just give her some time"

Shinji took a seat next to Urahara Kisuke and the two men looked at a beautiful clear sky. It was a beautiful spring day. Shinji knew that Kisuke was hurt by the unpleasant welcome from Sarugaki Hiyori. He did not deserve it either. Maybe Shinji should talk about it with Hiyori. But things seem so good between the two of them and he didn't want to mess that up either. He never spoke to Hiyori about the new feelings he discovered for her a few days ago. It would not be a very wise thing to do when there was already so much going on in her life. He also though he didn't stand a chance. But on the other hand: she wanted him to stay with her that day in the 4th Division. Could that mean something? Properly not. But it meant a lot to him for her to say those words out loud. Sarugaki Hiyori had some serious trust issues so for her to let Shinji in, even it was only for a little while, was a big deal.

"I read her file today"

Shinji looked at Kisuke and the words that came out of his mouth just now. Yes there are files of every shinigami in de Gotei 13. It was only normal that Kisuke came in possession of it as the new Captain. Hirako Shinji than realized that he knew so little about Hiyori and where she came from. He knew she was form Rukongai, just like him, but she never told him in which district she grew up. Could it be in here file? Shinji wanted to know. Maybe it could explain some of her behavior.

"Anything interesting?"

"She form Rukongai, district 80"

Hirako Shinji felt he was going to be sick. He knew that she properly came from the wrong side of Rukongai but the 80th district was a hole other story. It was the most dark, terrible district there was in Rukongai. It was full of murders and rapists. And Hiyori, Hiyori was a girl. Shinji thought he could just vomit here right now. You hadn't have to be a genius to figure out what happened to girls who grew up in district 80 of Rukongai. She never told him. He bullied her. He fought with her. He made her ridicules at some points. He had never felt more ashamed in his life. And now he realized what happened that day that she came to tell him that she became vice-captain. She was proud of herself. And she needed him to tell her she was proud of him to. And he reacted like a asshole. He needed to say he was sorry. And with no words he left Urahara Kisuke.

It didn't take long for Shinji to find Hiyori. She was sitting on the roof of here on place in the 12th Division and it no time Hirako Shinji sat next to here. Hiyori looked surprised and Shinji opened his mouth to say he was sorry but then changed his mind. If she knew what he knew right now she'd maybe sent him away. He felt like touching her. Put his arms around her. Even kiss her. But he didn't do all of that. He had to control himself.

"You gave Kisuke a hard time today didn't you?"

Hiyori was surprised. She looked at a different Shinji. He looked like he was really upset but it wasn't about Urahara Kisuke. For one moment she thought he was going to say something different but maybe she was just imagine things. It was true. She gave Kisuke a hard time today but he was just so irritating. She didn't like him at all and things where just going way to fast. Hikifune just left and here replacement was already here. Some part of Hiyori thought that Hikifune would come back if they didn't find a replacement for her. It was ridicules but when Urahara Kisuke was announced as the new Captain of the 12th Division she knew for sure Hikifune was never ever going to come back. It hurts and she took it out on Kisuke. Maybe it was wrong but she just couldn't care.

"I never told you this Hiyori-san but I am really proud of you for becoming vice-captain"

Hiyori eyes spread wide open. Why did he said this? Why now? Was he playing with her? She looked at him and felt that he meant it. What was wrong with him today? Normally he would be so mad and drag here down to apologize to Kisuke. Hiyori thought it was really sweet of him to tell her this but she didn't understand it.

"You seem upset you know"

"I'm fine"

"No you're not"

"You're right, I'm not"

Hiyori felt that she shouldn't ask any further than this. It's was very clear that he didn't wanted to talk about it. She never saw him like this. Something of someone really got the best of him. Hiyori and Shinji didn't spoke for a while. They just sat there together and it felt really nice to do so. After what could be a hour of so Shinji moved over a little bit. He had a grin on his face and this could not mean anything good. Before she knew it he reached out to her and took her hair bands out of her hair. Her ponytails where no longer there and her blond hair fell down to the height of her shoulders.

"Shinji! What are you doing you loser!" but she did laugh about it.

"I just think you look nice this way"

What was this? Did Hirako Shinji really tell here just now that she looked nice? Hiyori could feel that she began to blush but she really, really didn't want to. Hirako Shinji was a real womanizer. He could get anyone if he wanted. He flirted with every single woman in the Seretei. But he never said anything like this to her. Did he really meant it or was he just making fun of her?

"Ooooh Hiyori-san! You're blushing!"

"I AM NOT"

But Hiyori felt that she really was. Screw him. But inside she was also laughing about it. She hit him in his stomach but not nearly as hard as she would normally do. She laughed at him and he laughed back. It seems that whatever made him so upset he had forgotten about it. Just for now. Hiyori was glad that she could take his mind of it. And she was glad this could take her own mind of the things they were happening right now.

Shinji had said the words before he could swallow them back in. But she took it pretty well. He knew that she thought he was only playing around whit her. She didn't know that he meant every single word of it and that the one thing he wanted to do the most right now was kiss her. But she did start blushing. Did that mean anything? No. He didn't want to fool himself. They were friends. He looked at her laughing and decided that he could make her laugh even more. Shinji started tickling Hiyori and she absolutely didn't stand a chance against that.

"N-n-n-n-o S-S-S-S-Shinji s-s-stop it! S-s-s-stop it!"

Tickling and laughing Hiyori and Shinji got really close when Shinji decided to stop. Hiyori now lay on the rooftop and Shinji lay almost on top of her. Something changed in the atmosphere between them that moment. It got a tense suddenly. Shinji couldn't stop his feelings any longer. He still had one of her arms into his hand. He bent over really closely to her and was about to kiss her when Hiyori brutally made an end to this scene.

"W-what are you doing? Let go of me!"

Oh boy. Because of his nerves he might had pinched her arm a little to firm. And he was on top of her. And about to kiss her. This was all wrong. He gave her totally the wrong impressions! As quick as he could he let go of Hiyori arm and gave her the space she needed. He needed so say something. He didn't wanted to think that he.. he wanted to hurt her in any kind of way.

"H-Hiyori. I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to.."

But Hiyori had already left the rooftop and at this point was following her properly the worst idea ever.