Building Block
Toushirou thought Momo would be with him forever.
They had found each other on the back alleys of Rokungai. They had grown up side by side. They had seen each other every day.
He teased her. She would smile for him. He protected her. She looked after him.
In the new world where you woke up with nothing: no past, no memories, no possessions – they had found and lived for each other.
He had always thought that meant they would belong to each other forever (because here you were already dead) and the idea had never bugged him too much.
Everything about her was his. Her embarrassed smiles, fluttering footsteps, gentle voice, soft touch – everything, had belonged to him.
They were together all the time. She was older and bigger but he was stronger, and meaner when it came to it. She was weak and he took it upon himself to protect her because she was his and he wasn't going to let anyone break her.
Then she went off to the Academy. She had promised to write and at first, the letters came frequently. But then they slowed because time was put for her studies, and then they became repetitive, annoying, and – Aizen.
Aizen, Aizen, Aizen, Aizen!
It drove him up the wall, wound tight like a spring, and made him want to tear the pieces of paper into two – four - eight – sixteenth's – thousands until it became dust.
Shirou-chan, I met a really nice man today. His name was Aizen-taichou…
Shirou-chan, Aizen-taichou is captain of the Fifth Division, isn't that great? He must be really strong…
Shirou-chan, I saw Aizen-taichou again today. He was so kind…End. Repeat.
Shirou-chan, I bumped into Aizen-taichou today. He helped me up…
Shirou-chan, Aizen-taichou said I would make a really good Shinigami one day…
Again and again that name kept popping up. It was like everything had some kind of connection to 'Aizen-taichou' and it had been enough to make him want to scream.
Toushirou had always assumed when Momo grew up, figuratively and mind-set wise, it would be next to –him- and she would turn to -him- because she belonged to – him -!
But Momo was growing up. She was leaving behind the shy, flustered girl who had been growing next to him and becoming a woman in the Academy – in a place where he wasn't. And she was slowly slipping away from his fingers and leaving him behind.
But he wasn't going to let her.
So she wanted to be a Shinigami.
So she respected those who were strong in the Demon Arts.
So she looked up to and admired a – Taichou -.
Fine.
If she wasn't going to wait for him, then he was going to come after her – and surpass her. He was going to go to the Academy and defeat all those idiots who she thinks are strong and beat all those who think they are so smart. Then she could finally remember who it was she was supposed to be looking after and standing next to.
Then she could realize that she belonged to him as much as he belonged to her and he wasn't willing to let her go.
. : Ende : .