Part 1: The Intervention
The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting shades of deep purple and gold as night settled in the Soul Society. The quiet streets of Seireitei were bathed in the soft, blue glow of the moon, the air cool and still. Toshiro Hitsugaya, captain of Squad 10, sat atop the roof of his barracks, staring out over the endless rows of buildings that stretched beneath him.
Twenty years had passed since the Winter War—twenty long years. The world was different now, quieter. The last remnants of chaos had faded into history, and the peace they had fought for was, for the most part, maintained. The realms were healing and the special humans they once considered comrades finally had the luxury to live normal lives.
And yet, no matter how much time passed, no matter how many victories and losses he had weathered, Toshiro felt a sense of unease, a hole in his existence.
He sighed, closing his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Another sleepless night, Captain?" a voice echoed up from behind, but Toshiro knew the figure was approaching before she even spoke.
Opening his eyes, he watched Rangiku Matsumoto, his longtime lieutenant and friend, appear beside him. Her expression was casual, but her eyes gleamed with that familiar mischievous spark as she sat down.
"What are you up to now?" he asked, his tone dry.
"Nothing," Rangiku grinned. "I was just thinking how you could save everyone from this depressing mood if you just man up and ask her out already. You know, if you're so worried about someone else snatching her up."
Toshiro frowned, but before he could respond, the strawberry blonde's grin widened. "Don't even try to deny it. I can read you like the back of my hand."
He turned to her, "Is it that obvious?"
"You've been moping since Rukia went on a date with that noble last month," she said, crossing her arms. "We're way past obvious. The betting pool gets bigger every year."
His heart skipped a beat at the mention of the raven-haired captain's name, but he scowled at the reminder of the two sources of his irritation.
"It's the first suitor she actually agreed to go out with," he muttered, looking away.
"Oh, please," Rangiku scoffed, "He's all flash and no substance. She probably just went so the clan gets off her brother's back. I heard Captain Kuchiki wasn't happy about it, so they definitely won't be seeing each other again."
She leaned closer, a playful smile spreading across her face. "And let's face it, you've become one of Seireitei's most eligible bachelors since your growth spurt. I'm sure Rukia would agree, considering she's slashed your shirt off in almost every one of your training sessions."
"Shut up," he snapped, but his cheeks flushed at the implication. "It's not like that."
"You've been crushing on her for almost a decade now, and she's finally catching up. What's the problem?"
Toshiro swallowed, resisting the urge to speak. There was a tension in his chest, something he had long buried beneath the weight of his duties, but his lieutenant had a way of digging beneath the surface and exposing things he wasn't ready to admit.
"I almost kissed her," he finally said, his voice low. "Once. She pulled away before—"
"And you never tried again?" Rangiku interrupted him with a playful smirk. "I didn't take you for a coward, Captain."
He glared at her, his ice-blue eyes narrowing. "You're overstepping, Matsumoto."
She tilted her head, her expression softening. "I'm just saying… maybe you should stop overthinking your feelings and start acting on them. I don't think your advances would be unwelcome now, but even if she says no, neither you nor Rukia would let that come in between your friendship."
Toshiro bit back a retort, but his heart ached in his chest. He couldn't deny the truth in her words—not entirely. He had never felt this way about anyone before. It had started innocently enough, a fleeting attraction that caught him off guard one night at Ukitake's farewell party.
The older man had pulled them aside, slurring through a drunken speech about how proud he was of them both, before stumbling off and leaving them alone together. It was then, standing beside her in the quiet that followed, when the fireworks from the Shiba Clan lit up the sky, casting an ethereal glow over her face, that Toshiro had first seen her differently.
But over the years, their interactions became more frequent, more comfortable. With every conversation, every shared glance, he found himself drawn to her in ways that unsettled him. As Rukia blossomed into her role as a captain, exuding a strength and confidence that matched his own, his attraction turned into respect and admiration.
Then, without noticing, she had become someone he could talk to, someone who understood him in ways few others did. As much as he tried to push it down, the connection between them had evolved, and with it, so had his emotions. He cared for her in ways that went beyond duty, beyond camaraderie.
Toshiro did his best to bury those emotions, uncertain if there would ever be space for them in the world they lived in, with all the responsibilities they carried. There had only been one time that he acted on his feelings.
They were sitting by the waterfalls where they trained, taking a small break. She laughed at something he said—so loud and carefree—that he couldn't resist the pull of her violet eyes once they met his teal ones. He had leaned in, hope rising in his chest when her gaze flickered to his lips, only to be crushed as she turned away and broke the moment.
Neither of them ever mentioned it again.
"You should stop meddling," he said, though his voice lacked its usual conviction.
Rangiku gave him a knowing look. "Oh, I would never meddle." She winked at him. "Look, how about you take her out to the festival in Rukongai next Friday? Just you and her. It'll be date."
Toshiro opened his mouth to protest, but her grin only widened.
"I already talked to her lieutenant. We'll take care of the squad, and I'll even do your paperwork. This is a rare offer from me, so you better take advantage of it," she said with a smirk. With that, she hopped off the roof, leaving Toshiro alone with his thoughts.
A date. With Rukia.
The words swirled in his mind as he stared up at the stars. Could he really do this? Would she even say yes? Doubt gnawed at him, but one thing was for sure—he was determined to do better than that noble. After all, Rangiku was right; this might be his one chance to show her how he felt.
Now, if only he could figure out how to ask her out without getting killed by Byakuya in the process.