NOTE TO ALL READERS: This chapter was ALSO edited, but, again, not by much. It's probably going to be the same for the next chapters, so be mindful that it might continue to appear in the next chapters.
I don't like school. That's the first thing I thought of when I started this chapter. I kept on planning to make another chapter, but my school work keeps on getting in the way and I can't go to bed until a long time after 11 pm to 1 am. . I don't like it one bit. Buuuut, now I could finally work on my story since it's the weekend. –Sigh- I have never been so grateful! ^o^ But now's not the time. I AM GOING TO WORK MY BEST TO GET THIS NEXT CHAPTER! BEHOLD, THE CHAPTER THAT I AM JUST MAKING UP AS I GO ALONG!
Disclaimer: AS MUCH AS I LOVE BLEACH, I DON'T OWN IT. AS MUCH AS I LIKE SHUGO CHARA, I DON'T OWN IT!
Chapter 4
A comfortable breeze swept through the town, ruffling his soft, snowy locks. Birds chirping in the background, the average temperature, and the lack of clouds in the clear, blue sky created an almost perfect and relaxing atmosphere in Karakura town. Almost, being the key-word. Just then, a distorted-feeling reiatsu invaded his senses, to which he latched on to it and located its source.
Emotionlessly, half-lidded teal orbs hardened.
Time to get some answers.
~XoX~
Amu sighed, changing back to her regular self. Ikuto, just why are you doing this?
Ran, Miki, and Su floated up towards her, concern etched on their faces. "Amu-Chan," Ran spoke, softly.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she took on a determined faced. Turning to look at her guardian characters, she gave a nod, silently assuring them that she was alright. Ikuto is the enemy, the company he works for just wants to find the Embryo. This was nothing. But, the more she thought about it, the more her suspicion of his reasons for appearing more often than usual to draw in large amounts of people. He could just be gathering loads of people just so he could see if the Embryo is there, possibly after she purifies it, but at the same time, she noticed that he occasionally leaves once she arrives- as if he couldn't find something- or someone.
"AMU-CHAN!" Ran yelled in her face, rudely snapping her out of her musings.
Amu gave a slight cry of surprise, her surprise quickly turning into anger as she unsuccessfully flailed her arms around to catch her offending guardian character. "RAN!" She yelled accusingly.
As Ran dodged the fury of the appendages, Miki and Su, once again, floated on the side-lines, staring at the amusing scene, one face with concern and another with indifferent. Neither noticed the practically glowing teal orbs leaning against a tree in the shadows, watching their every move.
~XoX~
Matsumoto had practically skipped to the Seiyo Academy, humming all the way. She couldn't wait to tell Taicho what she discovered! How he never even noticed it, she would never know. She was so caught up in thinking about how her Taicho would react, like making him change his mind into thinking that she was actually doing something important, that she didn't even think about the consequences of her actions when she picks him up from the Academy. It was probably not the best idea.
So here she was, standing with one hand on her hip a few feet inside the gates, tapping her thigh impatiently. Finally, the bell rang and students practically poured out of the school. Matsumoto could've squealed in delight at all the cute, little kids, but she was too pre-occupied in finding her captain. She ignored all the gawks that she was getting and immediately rushed towards her captain's reiatsu- almost trampling the poor, grade students.
All of the guardians- Amu, Tadase, Nadeshiko, Yaya, and Kukai- were all enjoying each other's presence as they walked the path to the Royal Garden. Just when they were a few feet away from the door, they suddenly felt the ground start shaking.
"Wha-what is this?!" Amu yelled out, stumbling for a bit when Yaya gave a small, girly, scream and latched onto her.
"Earthquake!" Yaya wailed.
"Iie, it's not an earthquake," Tadase said calmly. He looked back at the direction they had just come from.
"What is it then, Hotori-kun?" Nadeshiko repeated Amu's question to the King, while regaining her balance.
Tadase didn't have the chance to answer because Yaya answered her question by unlatching herself from Amu and pointing at the same direction Tadase was looking at. "Look, look!"
A cloud of dirt was running in their direction, but that wasn't what paralyzed them for a brief moment. It was the person causing the trail to billow up in the first place- a very buxom person; a very buxom and busty woman to be exact. The same lady who was with the transfer student, Amu just realized. "Looks like you have some competition," Kukai joked to Amu. She soon realized he was talking about her running speed a few moments later.
The woman ran towards them, excitement clearly written on her face. Just as she was about to pass by them, she caught sight of Amu and literally screeched to a stop. As if she hadn't been running over 40 mph, she wasn't even panting. "It's you," she said, pointing at the bubble-gum hair colored girl in realization.
Said girl responded with an intelligent "eh?" and pointed at herself, confusion evident on her face. "Me?"
The woman didn't answer, but ran her gaze over the group. She bent her knees so that she was at least eye level with Yaya. With a serious face, she grasped Yaya's cheeks, moving Yaya's head this way and that. Yaya was confused, but she didn't seem that uncomfortable either. The unknown woman's serious façade broke. "So cute~!" she squealed and enfolded Yaya in a huge embrace, practically squeezing the life out of her.
Thankfully, Yaya was able to turn before she hugged her, so she was able to continue to breathe much easier than if she was being suffocated. Overpowered, she hung limply in the woman's grasp while the guardians were trying to get her out of the folded arms. Their actions were in vain.
That is, until a certain someone with white hair walked up to them out of nowhere silently, tapped the shoulder of the woman, to which she turned her head so that she could partly see the person behind her, but got quickly knocked out when that person karate-chopped her on the neck.
The arms around Yaya departed and Amu & Nadeshiko quickly caught her before she fell. Laying her down gently on the floor, Amu took out a paper fan, to which Miki commented about where she got it, and started trying to get some air into Yaya's comically limp and soul-less body.
Tadase and Kukai both looked at the group of girls, but then turned back to the person guilty of the 'attack'. Said person hung droopily from a student's hand who was wearing the standard Seiyo uniform. "Thank you, Hitsugaya-kun," Tadase said to the nonchalant white-haired transfer.
Toshiro briefly looked at Tadase before he wordlessly went into the Royal Garden, dragging the unconscious Matsumoto with him.
Though they were questionable about his actions- both about knocking out a woman who looked twice his age and going inside the Royal Garden without even asking-, they decided that he was responsible and respectful enough to not do anything horrible inside while they wait for their Ace to wake up. When she finally did, albeit a bit dizzy and clumsy, they made their way inside the doors. What they saw once they got a view of the two non-guardians blanked their minds.
The woman, now conscious, was standing up straight holding out something with both hands to the white-haired youth (1). The 'boy' was currently staring fascinated at the object she possessed in her hands.
A Heart's Egg. No, a Guardian Character's Egg to be exact.
The patterns of the delicate egg were enough to take their breath away. On the front of the egg sat a practically transparent, yet still visible, aqua-blue shield with sharp, strangely shaped designsthat alternated as it ran around the inside perimeter of the armor. A miniature, yet mighty, appearing ice serpent-dragon partially hid behind the shield, but it's head and part of its 'neck' stuck out over the top of the shield. The part of the body that was hidden behind the see-through shield was mostly visible. Its long tail/body exited the shield, wound around the whole egg until it reached the front; the tip of the tail between the chest and the shield limply hung down until it was completely visible beneath the shield. The serpent's wings spread out from the back of its body and the shield so that the shield looked as if it had its own wings and so that the tips of the wings stopped where it was partly see-able when you look at the back of the egg. A lighter shade of indigo covered the remaining spaces. Even though it was only a design, it looked so real and so detailed- every sharp edge of the dragon's scales and wings defined and said body parts gave a small glow, as well as the crimson eyes of the dragon.
One by one, they broke out of their trance- Kukai first, Yaya last. "That's so cool~!" Yaya shouted out, breaking the silence. But then, she started whining. "Yaya wants an egg like that!"
Nadeshiko spoke next. "It's beautiful, but we have yet to see what it's capable of," she stated, walking up to the platform.
The two Shinigami abruptly turned towards the guardians, as if just noticing their presence. "Ne, Taicho, are these your friends?" the taller of the two asked the smaller, leaning expectantly at her captain.
Toshiro shot her an annoyed glare. "They're not," he said slowly, clenching his jaw to prevent him from verbally lashing out on his subordinate.
"'Course we are!" Kukai interjected; unaware of the danger he was placing himself in. He walked up to Toshiro, and without warning, lazily put his arm around his shoulder. "We haven't talked much, but we are definitely are going to be friends!"
"So basically you guys aren't friends." That was Amu.
He flinched, and turned his head to look at Amu. "That's mean, Hinamori-Chan," he complained.
Toshiro, once about to give the sixth grader a piece of his mind, stopped when he heard her name. "Hinamori?"
The guardians heard his voice of surprise and turned to glance at him. "What's the matter?" Kukai asked, though as he expected, he got no answer from the mysterious youth.
"Your name is Hinamori-Chan?" The buxom lady asked.
Amu nodded. "By the way, who are you?" she questioned the lady.
The woman blinked, realizing that she had not introduced herself at all. "Me? I'm Matsumoto Rangiku!" she answered.
Tadase stepped in. "And what is your relationship to Hitsugaya-kun?" It was an innocent question.
Seemingly knowing it, she got rid of her own suspicions and winked. "That's classified information, little pri-," she was interrupted by a two pairs of hands covering her mouth. Amu and Yaya's to be exact. She pulled their hands away and massaged her face. "What was that for~?" She whined.
"Don't say that in front of him," Amu and Yaya whispered in unison.
Matsumoto blinked once again. "Hai, hai," she waved them off with a smile. A smile Toshiro knew all too well; the smile that says that she was going to do the exact opposite. Suddenly remembering his position, he harshly plucked Kukai's arm from his shoulder with an iron grip and practically shoved the appendage at the owner.
Kukai stumbled back, nursing his arm. He stared at his arm in wonder, and then turned back to the person responsible. "Man that hurts! You've got a strong grip!" he complained and complimented all at the same time as his arm turned slightly red from the hand that had briefly latched onto it.
Nevertheless, Toshiro ignored him and turned his attention to his still chattering lieutenant. "Matsumoto," he simply said.
She turned to look at him, and realizing what he wanted after he pointedly looked at the object she was holding, she gave his heart's egg to him.
He cautiously took it in his hand and a chilled, relaxing feeling ran over his entire body on contact. He brought it up slightly to peer at the complicated designs. The dragon, he noticed, had an eerily similar appearance to Hyorinmaru.
He thought back to the night before- when he was lying on his bed, lost in his thoughts, staring up at the ceiling.
Flashback
He couldn't go to sleep. He didn't know the reason why, but he just couldn't.
Unwillingly, his thoughts travelled backwards in time to when he saw Hinamori impaled on his sword. He unconsciously placed his hand over his scar. A ghost of the pain after being cut down by Aizen reminded him again of his failure at protecting Hinamori. Instead of protecting her, he did the exact opposite.
He turned to lie on his side. He clenched his fists, thinking of how helpless he had been. He wanted to continue his Bankai training, but he couldn't refuse this mission from the Head Captain. He thought about the last time he saw Hinamori- she had laid on the fourth division's bed, looking so strong, yet so fragile. As if a single touch could break and kill her in the coma state she was in. He was the one who stabbed her in the chest. He brought her into a coma. He lost control of his feelings and was tricked by that traitor, Aizen… He thought this over. He flipped it in his head, looking at it with different points of view. Pretty soon he came to a realization.
It was Aizen who almost killed Hinamori, he comprehended. Yes, it was by his blade that she was stabbed, but it was Aizen's blade that they were all tricked into attacking her. It was Aizen who tricked everyone. He mentally grabbed the foolish thoughts he once had and shoved them into the deep pit of his mind. After all this time, he finally found his answer. It was all Aizen. He wanted them to blame themselves for their failures. Now… he understood.
His foolish vow to kill Aizen- his desire to spill the blood of the traitor who broke Hinamori- caused him to only spill the blood of his childhood friend. Now, he is sure. Now, he knows. What he desires- it wasn't supposed to be killing Aizen. He sought after protecting Hinamori. Protecting everyone he cares about; protecting everyone around him. He…
End Flashback
Toshiro stared up at the skylight, the sun radiating warmth and shining through the glass. He really said it. What a childish wish. It was in fact so childish that he almost thought that he was mentally unstable during that night. The captain of tenth squad of the Gotei 13 actually wished to be strong enough to protect his loved ones. It was just a simple thought. And it cost him the attention of the guardians and a guardian egg. So much for not gathering attention, now he just made it worse.
He gazed at the egg, once again, in his hand- the sunlight seemingly making its turquoise color radiate. It was only a matter of time before it hatches. He had no idea what was to come once it did. He remembered his several nights 'talking' to his guardian egg inside his heart. It was actually more like Question and Answer. Though they've never really talked and met face-to-face, he has already grown a somewhat protective bond over his Heart's Egg. Besides Hyorinmaru, it was the only thing that is truly his, illogically speaking.
A sudden evil-sounding laugh echoed throughout the Royal Garden, breaking him out of his thoughts.
Returning to the present, he gathered his surroundings, noticing first the small, nervous group huddled together staring at someone in particular. Following their line of sight, he saw a particular King laughing evilly and started pointing at them to… "Bow down and become his slave"? He noted that a crown was on his head that was never there before. Not too far away from him was an almost hysterical well-endowed woman while the Queen's chair just smiled at the scene off to the side. Just by taking this in, he could make an accurate guess on what just happened when he zoned out.
"We told you not to call him 'Prince'!" Amu yelled out, caught between being nervous, angry, or frightened.
"Never trust her enough to actually take her words for granted," Toshiro said grimly.
Said woman had already calmed down to hear his words. "Mou, Taicho, that's mean," she pouted. "You could trust me most of the time, ne?" She winked.
"No."
"Eh?!" she exclaimed, through truthfully she wasn't that all surprised. "Taicho, you're so cruel!"
Just then, the character-changed King swung around and pointed at Matsumoto. "OLD HAG! Bring me my coffee at once!" Big mistake.
Several ticks later. "WHAT?!"
~XoX~
After the white-haired transfer exasperatedly dragged away a still fuming Matsumoto, Tadase transformed back to normal and all was at peace. "So, what do you think?" Nadeshiko asked.
Kukai rubbed his swelling cheek that he got after trying to stop the woman from hitting Tadase. "A little violent, but she's all right," he pointed at his cheek for further emphasis.
Nadeshiko gave a short giggle that she hid slightly with her hand. "I meant the Guardian Egg and Hitsugaya-kun," she corrected, removing her hand.
Kukai stared. "Oh," he said.
Tadase cut in, smiling in small amusement. "I believe he's capable to become a Guardian," he suggested.
Amu turned her head sharply towards Tadase. "Eh?" she exclaimed in surprise.
Nadeshiko nodded. "So do I," she agreed.
Amu did the same reaction, along with the same, "Eh?!" (Except louder)
Yaya and Kukai nodded- Yaya more vigorously. "I want to see the guardian character!" Yaya clarified.
"He seems like the type who's good at sports," Kukai mused out loud. "He was able to knock out that woman with only one hit." He emphasized this by karate-chopping into thin air.
"Soccer!" Daichi, Kukai's guardian character, popped out of nowhere and exclaimed. "Maybe he could play soccer!"
Kukai made an 'oh' sound, actually debating the idea. "Are you sure? Maybe I could ask if we could have a soccer match then!"
"Always the lively one, ne, Soma-kun?" Nadeshiko smiled.
"Of course!" Kukai exclaimed, giving a thumbs up and a grin, winking his eye.
They all laughed softly.
~XoX~
"WATCH OUT!"
A soccer ball sped towards a certain white-haired youth, who at the time was sending his report during his walk around the school grounds, the ball whistling through the air. He, having been alert for almost everything, merely reared his leg back and jerked the ball back where it came from, not even looking up from his Soul Pager. He did look up, however, when he heard a yell of surprise and a painful sounding smack, along with a heavy thud.
In doing so, he came across an amusing scene. One soccer player, who he presumably hit, was collapsed on the ground after being downed from a soccer ball on the face, an outline of red on his face showing where the ball hit him, and his eyes in comical X's proving that he was knocked out. A few inches away, another soccer player wind-milled his arms in an attempt to stay standing after losing his balance when the downed soccer player pushed him slightly as he fell down. His actions were considered useless when he finally fell towards the ground, grabbing another person's ankle and causing that person to fall after backing up from surprise, misjudging the weight on his ankle. Like a pair of dominos knocking each other down, several other soccer players fell before there was no one else nearby to grab onto, causing the last person to, unfortunately, collide face-first into the ground with nothing to soften the impact. Silence reigned over the soccer field. That is, until the star soccer player, also known as the six year guardian, started grabbing his sides and laughing hysterically.
"THAT WAS AWESOME!" he cried out between his laughing fits. He continued laughing, even as the dazed team members pulled themselves together and brought the player who got hit by the soccer ball to the nursery. After several minutes, he finally was able to recompose himself, albeit having a few tears in his eyes which he swiped away. He looked up at the still staring, white-haired transfer who had one eyebrow raised in mostly hidden amusement. "Hey, nice shot!" He called to the still stoic face. One day, he would make the boy crack. It was more of a vow than anything else. He suddenly remembered the earlier conversation he and Daichi had in the Royal Garden. "Yo, do you want to play soccer?"
Hitsugaya, meanwhile, was having a small flashback of the time when Kurosaki, Karin confronted him with her soccer friends. He felt a slight sense of deja-vu when he saw the soccer player fall back from a soccer ball to the face. He broke out of his thoughts when he heard a voice asking almost the same question Kurosaki had once asked. He sweat dropped. Why do these humans always want him to participate in these certain types of human affairs? Decided that he had enough of this, he walked away, therefore giving the answer to that question.
Once Kukai realized that Hitsugaya was ignoring him, he frowned, looked around, and grabbed the nearest soccer ball. Spinning the ball and grinning mischievously, he dropped the ball and swung his leg full power towards the retreating figure, adding a special curve to the ball.
Hitsugaya inwardly sighed. That boy just won't leave him alone. Almost nonchalantly, he turned to face the curving ball, and braced his chest just as the ball collided. It didn't exactly hurt, but he felt it. The ball bounced off his torso and as it fell towards at a specific height, he reared his leg back once again and kicked it, easing off a bit lest he broke it. It was more than enough, though, to push the soccer star a foot backward when he tried to puff his chest to weaken the blow. The unfortunate boy keeled over from the hit.
Kukai looked up with a slightly painful, but happy grin. He even had one of his eyes closed to show how painful it really was. Man, what a strong kick! He would be great if he went on the soccer team! He stood, or at least attempted to, up straight. His second goal: getting Hitsugaya to play in the soccer games. He was about to run up to the white-haired transfer, but noticed something important. Toshiro was nowhere to be found. Kukai blinked. How did that happen? He was standing right there! He surveyed the area, but couldn't find any sign of the strange youth. A chill suddenly went down his spine, as if something cold was radiating somewhere behind him. He turned around, only noticing the awed soccer players who were staring at him. He thought he saw a hazy outline of something small and boy-looking, but when he tried focusing on it more, it disappeared. He stared for a few more minutes, but soon shrugged to himself. It must be his imagination.
1) Take note that Matsumoto can not exactly see the egg, but she could see it through it's reiatsu. That's why she was able to find it and pick it up. Huh. I wonder what it feels like when you pick something up that you could only see by its aura- and so basically it's invisible...?
To be continued…
YAY! I AM SO HAPPY! I was able to create a chapter more than 1,000 words more than the last! WOOT! I have made nine pages… so the next chapter should be more than that, so about 10-12 pages… Yikes… that's a lot. I'm scared~! Thank you my fellow followers, readers, visitors, viewers, and more that I think is too long of a list to type down right now. Jaa Ne~!