Author's note
Another chapter! I celebrated the end of finals and went out last night so this chapter was a bit later than I wanted. I leave Seoul on Sunday so I may not update for a few days. I'm pretty happy with how this is turning out.
Some notes. I think that handsome is a way to describe looks for all people. If you read Austen, many of her female characters are described as handsome. I envision Tsubaki as one of those women. She's not beautiful or pretty but this has an attractiveness to her. Keep that in mind. I also want to convey her growth in accepting how she feels for Hanataro. This is a little hard for me and I hope the chapter makes sense. I'm a little idealistic in my romances...The next chapters will have more drama, I think!
Thanks to Squalo King, Rukiruki86, Mickey Swagmuffins (gracious that's unique), and Nasha Rei-kun. Reviews make my day! I'm glad you all like it so far! Keep sending in reviews!
Hanataro turned out to be the epitome of a gentleman caller.
Tsubaki assumed that he was afraid of the Eleventh's because their main form of communication was sending letters back and forth. Maybe he was just busy at the Fourth like she was at the Eleventh. Tsubaki had assumed he would hang out with her or whatever was typical for dating.
She had no experience in romantic endeavors; she was more familiar with one night stands after a night at the bar. Even then she hadn't been very successful.
The letters contained accounts of things done that day, observations about people in their divisions, medical advice from Hanataro, self-defense tips from Tsubaki, and questions for each other to answer. Tsubaki definitely thought this was different than how other couples got used to their partners.
It suited them, she thought. They hadn't really been aware of the existence of the other before meeting in the medical bay. And then they hadn't talked about anything. The letters made up for that. Neither of them brought up the question of what they were exactly.
Yumichika still didn't know who was sending the letters, not from lacking of trying. She had put aside her pride and confided in him about her concerns.
Tsubaki preferred the letters to speaking face to face. They had a sense of intimacy while keeping a distance that allowed her to be a bit more honest with herself.
Her one embarrassment was her writing skills. Growing up in the slums had put her behind academically. The schooling at the Academy was basic at best and she had slacked off in class. Being able to write and read official documents was not very helpful for penning love notes. Her responses lacked the finesse of Hanataro's.
On top of her chest of drawers sat a stack of dictionaries and kanji guides. Her scrawl looked rough next to Hanataro's flowing penmanship. But he never mentioned it or corrected her.
One letter mentioned the recent dwindling of medicinal herbs at the Fourth. Hanataro enjoyed using and learning about the old art of herbology. He was in charge of the supplies for the healers, so the duty of obtaining more fell to him.
She immediately thought of the smaller Shinigami struggling through the woods and somehow being attacked by wild animals. With his luck that was a serious possibility.
Her next letter to him suggested that she accompany him. His response was enthusiastic and went on about the how nice the weather would be that weekend and how he had always wanted company on his trips. Then he mentioned that it would make a lovely first date.
In her concern she hadn't considered she was for all purposes asking him on a date. Now her mind ran into a panic.
Yumichika would help her! He would know how she should act. The women's magazines she snuck into the barracks were no help. They assumed one would know the basics. Tsubaki was confused more than ever.
"I asked him on a date by accident." Without any further warning she threw open the screen door of Yumichika's room. "Help me!"
Sputtering into his tea, Yumichika glared at Tsubaki. "Don't you ever knock? Wait, a date? You asked him on a date!" Now he forgave her for being rude.
Thus began the torture of Tsubaki. "Where are you going? What does he like? We'll need to fix your hair. And your eyebrows. Do you own anything that's not black or work clothes? Any dresses? The date is in the woods? Really, Tsubaki?"
Yumichika tried to show Tsubaki how to make herself 'presentable', what to say in conversation, how to walk like a lady, and how to smile. It was a failure.
Most of his advice went over her head. Tsubaki was scrappy, scary, and aggressive, which was the opposite of how a girl 'should' act.
Well, fuck that. She'll do what she wants. She thinks Hanataro is cute but she likes herself the way she is.
If Hanataro told her he admired her when she had acted like herself and not how Yumichika said, then he must not care how girls acted.
But maybe she would do her hair…just in case.
The weekend came without event. She decided to leave her hair down and brush it smooth, a change from her sloppy braid. Tsubaki felt a bit out of sorts and nervous. She had donned one of her few yukata. It was a deep forest green with a pattern of flowers and small birds. It was plain but would hold up to hiking in the woods. Around her waist was a brown and gold obi tied in a plain knot. Her sister had sent her kimonos over the years but Tsubaki almost never wore them. Most were not long enough and didn't suit her.
Her sister must have a different image of her.
She turned to her mirror. Everything looked good, better than she expected. Even if you could see half of her calves and a bit more chest than acceptable.
The clock of her drawers told her she need to leave or be late for her date. She began the trip to the gates leading out to the wooded areas of Soul Society.
They had agreed to meet there for the sake of time. She arrived early and lent against the gate to wait.
"Tsubaki san!" Ah, there he was. Hanataro was running towards her. He had on his usual black Shinigami robes and a larger backpack. "Did you wait long?"
"Nah, just got here. You ready to go?"
"Ah, yes!" The pair began the trek to woods where Hanataro's herbs were. He knew the path very well, having been the one of the few volunteers for the job. Tsubaki thought a little higher of him. Most Shinigami didn't go out into the forest.
"You look nice," Hanataro's quiet voice drew Tsubaki from her thoughts.
"T-thanks, I don't dress like this often. It's from my sister," she was doing better at conversation.
"Your older sister, right? You've mentioned her before."
"Yeah, she's an entertainer in the South Rukongai so we don't see each other much. We're completely different; she's super short and ladylike."
"It'd be interesting to meet her. By the way have you ever been out here before?"
"No way, I'm stuck in the Eleventh usually. I'm too busy," Tsubaki got roped into all the jobs no one else wanted on top of her normal duties. "Do you always get stuck with herb duty?"
They had found the first of the herbs. "It's not so much getting stuck with it as choosing to. I like the quiet and calm of the forest," he answered as he bent to pick some sort of pale leaf. "Most people forget that Kido isn't the only way to heal. Herbs work just as well, sometimes better."
The pair continued on the trail, finding other herbs and flowers. Hanataro told her about the names and uses of the plants. Tsubaki had more fun watching Hanataro's face light up when he spoke. She was getting to know him better and felt more comfortable.
It was around two in the afternoon when Hanataro announced that they had found all they needed.
"But before we leave, I brought us some lunch. There's an old tree we can sit under ahead." Hanataro lead her off the trail to the biggest tree she had ever seen.
It must have been older than Chief Commander. The tree's limbs spread out far and its trunk was the size of small house. Green leaves waved overhead and vines climbed around the base. The tree's shade had created a small meadow underneath it. Hanataro lead her over to an exposed root where they sat down.
"I bought some of the red bean paste cake you like. Here," he handed her a couple of those cakes she loved. There were also onigiri in a container set between them. For a few moments all that could be heard was the quiet sound of chewing.
Tsubaki drew up her courage and decided to ask him a question that was nagging her, "Why did you want to go out with me? I'm as pretty or cute as other girls." She fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve, avoiding Hanataro's surprised look.
"Well, I was afraid to tell you this before but I've seen you around before. You've been to the Fourth quite a bit. You always looked so intimidating but cared about your friends."
Friends? He meant the idiots she brought to get healed after beating them in fights.
"And then you were so nice to me when those other Eleventh members bothered us and you saved me in the tunnels. I knew you were a good person then. You're pretty amazing!"
"Whatever you say. But you can think I'm 'amazing' and we'd still be friends. Do you really want to date me? Like doesn't that mean you like me, uh, r-romantically?" Damn this was hard to talk about.
He blushed then. "I do think you're handsome, Tsubaki. You're too strong to be just pretty. And I do like you romantically! I thought you understood that from my letters?" Oh god not the puppy eyes. "I should ask you why you'd agree to date me when I'm so small and weak compared to all the men in your division."
"T-that's besides the point," he didn't look satisfied with that. She sighed, "I don't like guys like me. I must be a failure as a woman but I like cute guys the best. Not brawny, tough guys." That was so embarrassing to admit. Tsubaki put a hand over her red face.
"We're a pair then. It doesn't matter that you are bigger or unladylike. There are all sorts of couples and we happen to be like this," he reached over for her free hand. Linking their fingers together, "If you're happy with it, let's be a couple."
Tsubaki looked over at him. He was to earnest for his own good. Throwing the regulations of the women's magazine and the advice of Yumichika to the wind, she followed her own instincts.
She reached for Hanataro's shoulder and drew him forward with their joined hands. This brought him almost into her lap. While he was still staring at her, she tilted his chin up and pressed her full lips against his thin ones.
It was a simple, chaste kiss but it made the two of them blush and break eye contact.
Hanataro snapped out of his daze when he remembered what time it was. "We have to go back now! I promised Captain Unohana I'd be back to help with restock tonight." He pulled her up as he hurried back to the trail.
That evening, the pair could be seen moving quickly through the streets of Seireitei still holding hands. Yumichika was on his way back to the barracks when he spied Tsubaki with Hanataro.
"Is that? It is! She's dating someone from the Fourth!" His cry of shock went unnoticed by the couple. Tsubaki was in for a long chat when she arrived back at the barracks.