Special thanks to BlessedRain for being my beta! =3 It's a sweet chapter, hope you'll like it! :)

5. Take a talk with me

Hirako Shinji really thought that that moment on the rooftop of the 12th Division was the end of his friendship with Sarugaki Hiyori. He hated himself and took his anger out on everybody around him, especially on his vice-captain Aizen, who he didn't like any way. He tried to talk to Hiyori about it whenever he saw her but she ignored him and turned the other way when she saw him. It almost felt like she was afraid of him and Shinji knew he was the only one to blame. Sometimes, when he was alone, he felt like he could cry. He made a total mess of it and he didn't think Hiyori would ever forgive him. But Sarugaki Hiyori was always full of surprises.

Urahara Kisuke was walking down the Seretei on a beautiful day. It was almost summer and the temperature was rising. He was happy because the last few days went really well in his position as the new captain of the 12th Division. Things with his vice captain Hiyori seemed to be getting better. She didn't abuse him any longer. Her protests were gone. But he felt like something happened to her. He asked her many times how she was doing but the answer was always that she was fine. He didn't want to push her. If she wanted to talk about something she could come to him and he would be more willing to help her. The day he read her file he understood her behavior. It was quite a shock for him to be reading about her background. But not only for him; also for Hirako Shinji. He didn't know what was between Hirako Shinji and his vice captain but there was a definitely a special bond between the two of them.

He was turning around to return to the 12th Division when he bumped into the girl he was just thinking about.

"Hello there. Beautiful day, isn't Hiyori?"

"Hello, Kisuke. Sure, I guess."

"Why don't you take the rest of the day off?"

"Why?"

"I don't know, maybe you could pay a visit to Shinji. I haven't seen you two together for a couple of days."

"Hell no."

"Why not?"

"Because I said so, idiot."

"Are you two in a fight?"

Hiyori didn't say a thing more. She wish she was in a fight with Shinji. That would make things so much easier. But this wasn't really a fight. She really didn't understand what happened on the rooftop. It seemed like he wanted to kiss her. But that was ridiculous. Why would he want to do that? He could get any woman he wanted. Hiyori concluded that he was just playing with her but she didn't like it. He really hurt her feelings. Maybe it had to do with where she came from. That wasn't a place she'd like to think about. She never told Shinji. She just wanted to forget about it. And she wanted to forget about what happened with Shinji. But a part of her fantasized about what would have happened if she didn't put an end to it. Would he really have kissed her? She couldn't understand why, but a part of her actually liked this idea. But it was stupid. Right? Oh God, no!

"…I think I'm in love with him…"

Urahara smiled at Hiyori. She really didn't seem to know she'd just said that out loud. It looked like she just realized that she is in love with the Captain of the 5th Division. She looked at him and her eyes got bigger as she realized what she had just said..

"Well if you are you should go and tell him, Hiyori-san"

Hiyori flushed. She was really glad that Kisuke didn't start laughing at her. He took her seriously and she appreciated that. Maybe he wasn't such a bad replacement after all. She knew there was no one that could every take Hikifune's place, but is seemed that Kisuke was really trying and maybe she could give him a chance. He thought that she should tell him. But she only figured it out seconds ago! The girl studied her captain for a moment realizing that she did want to see Shinji...

So there was only one thing to do. On to the 5th Division it was, then.

Hirako Shinji was doing the same old, annoying paperwork when he heard someone knock on his office door. It was probably Aizen, who would only serve to aggravate the blonde more.

"Aizen, I really don't have time for you annoying presence."

"Idiot, don't just assume that I'm your vice captain."

Well, that wasn't the voice of his vice captain.

Shinji looked op from his papers and there stood Sarugaki Hiyori. Suddenly, butterflies flooded his stomach, and a wonderful warmth filled his body to its very core. He came out from behind his desk and walked to her but couldn't think of anything to say. They stood facing each other in silence.

It was Shinji who finally brought the stiff quiet to an end, "h-how are you doing?"

"What's it look like Baldy?" She asked gruffly, before glaring up at him. "what about you?"

"Yes, fine. It's a beautiful day isn't it?"

The weather? Was he really talking about the weather? What was wrong with him? With every single woman he ever fancied he just flirted with them. But in the case of Hiyori everything was so different. Could it be that she was the one who he was falling head over heels in love with?

"Yes it is…"

It was quiet between the two of them again. Shinji wanted to explain himself about that night on the rooftop but he had a feeling that Hiyori didn't wanted to talk about that. And he didn't know what he could say about it because he still didn't want Hiyori to know what kind of feelings he had for her. But Shinji didn't have to say a thing because this time it was Hiyori who broke the silence.

"Do you want to take a walk? Outside? W-with me?"

She looked a little bit nervous, which the long haired captain found absolutely adorable. Shinji nodded and the two of them walked out of the 5th Division. He could not be happier with the sudden new chance Hiyori was giving him. They walked to one of the nicest places in Seretei. A beautiful field full of flowers and a river with clear blue water that flowed right through it. The best part was that there was no one near to be found.

Together they took a seat in the grass near by the river. Silence again, but it wasn't awkward at all. They both had a smile on their face and they were just enjoying the nice weather and each other's company.

"Hiyori-san… about a few days ago... on the rooftop..."

"What did you want from me?"

"I didn't ever want to hurt you."

"You didn't hurt me. It's just... you scared me a bit."

"I'm really, really sorry Hiyori."

Shinji really meant those words when he spoke them. Hiyori could see it in his eyes. And then she saw him reaching to take her hand. He did it in a very gentle way and it's was almost if he was waiting for Hiyori's permission. She gave him it without any hesitation. It was okay. She believed him and she had missed him. When they were holding hands Hiyori moved over to Shinji's side and the man reacted perfectly by putting his arms around her. This felt so right. So good.

"You're just a dumbass, Hirako Shinji"

"I know that."

Shinji had never been so close to Hiyori then this very moment. He wasn't planning of letting her go any time soon. He wanted to protect her against everything that could harm her. She had been through so much already. But he wanted to be honest with her as well. No more secrets between them.

"You never told me you grew up in probably the worst district there is in Rukongai"

Hiyori was surprised and quite shocked when she heard him. She looked at Shinji with a scared look in her eyes. You didn't have be a genius to figure out what kind of stuff Hiyori had to deal with in her childhood.

She didn't like this at all. She didn't want to be treated different because it this. She didn't want to lose the arguing and messing around with each other for fun. She didn't want Shinji to think differently of her. She didn't want all of this to happen. But before panic could take over Shinji spoke the only words Hiyori wanted to hear at that moment.

"But it doesn't change a thing and you really don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Hiyori stretched over and kissed him, a tiny one on the check. And then she saw him blush for the very first time.

"W-what what that for?"

Shinji could not believe what just happened. This was a different Hiyori than the one he always knew. He also liked and cared for that part of Hiyori, including her tantrums and outbursts. But this Hiyori was a Hiyori who let her guard down. Even if it was just for a little bit; it made her beautiful and he could see the relief in her eyes.

"It's because I hate you so much, dimwit."

And with her head laid down against Shinji's chest and closed her eyes. They were both praying this moment would go on forever.