Rating:
T
Pairing(s): Hitsugaya Toushiro and Kurosaki Ichigo
Notes: I
had the idea of writing this story after watching Die Hard 2. I do
try to keep the story in context and everyone in character, but there
are inexplicable facts even in the world of the original Bleach
story, so I might resort to using what I viewed more logical. Oh,
right, I have a fancy to Rangiku. Also, this might end up as a long
fic, so I'd need the first few chapters to build up the story, so be
patient.
Disclaimer: Bleach is awesome and all, so it certainly
can't be mine. I'm not making any money for this story.
It was later that night that an impulse to pensively enjoy the night kept Hitsugaya Toushiro awake. Leaning over the oaken balustrade of the small Moon bridge that was extended over the fish pond in his residence's garden, he spent the rare moment by feeding the Koi fish and thinking over Rangiku's suggestion that it should benefit him to temporarily leave the Soul Society in order that he could stay in the human world to achieve what she viewed as humanly fullness, as against living a common, hackneyed life of a genius against the established order, which he straightaway deemed pointless earlier during the day. With good conscience, he believed that leaving his division would only incite inconveniences and, not impossible, problems within the Court of Pure Souls; he thought that even his vice captain, Matsumoto Rangiku, while competent and perceived much in the nature of the tenth division's measures, should need a while to get used to the works of a captain and to be able to maintain the stability of the division—performance of some additional measures to prove her worth to other members of the division seemed inevitable—if successful, it would serve as not merely good points to her career, but potentially also as a means of cognition to fill one of the three currently vacant captain seats; otherwise, it would simply prove that her current position was as good as she could get; he had also been aware of and valued his well-being, enough to seriously consider Rangiku's suggestion. While with the other conscience, he wondered if he were simply taken by the intoxicating flow of his circumstance, if it were mere reasoning to conceal a flaw that he might have missed like an illusion or something enormous in size but too close to his eyes to notice as regards one conclusion that led him to accuse the former third division's captain, Ichimaru Gin, of what crimes he did not do. However, all things considered, Toushiro came to a conclusion that the idea in measurement was viable.
Upon realising that he had carelessly dropped too much fish flake, he tied its pouch, turned his body round, and leaned against the balustrade only to be surprised at the presence of the two people in front of him.
"Yo, Toushiro," said Ichigo, waving one hand, leaning against the opposite balustrade, wearing a white kimono with grey spiral patterns.
Ichigo was in the Soul Society to attend a meeting of the captains of the thirteen divisions to discuss what necessary procedures to take should they encounter the former captain of the fifth division, Aizen Sousuke, or his subordinates, as it was apparent what bond Ichigo had made with the whole ordeal of Aizen's treachery.
"It's Captain Hitsugaya," said Toushiro hastily. "More importantly, why didn't I feel your spirit force until just now?"
"Now, captain, don't forget that I'm also an accomplished Demon Magic user," said Rangiku, sighing. "Concealing spirit force, regardless of mine or others', is nothing for me."
"And why ever would you do that?" asked Toushiro sternly.
"Because... he—"
"I thought the scenery's rare so I wanted to take a closer glimpse of it, of your captive self," said Ichigo, grinning at the imagery. "So I asked Matsumoto-san if we could get here stealthily."
'People would normally call them a bunch of skilled perverts or something along those lines,' thought Toushiro after abruptly shrugging off his thought that they were both idiots.
"Smooth talker," said Toushiro, quickly regretting what he said. He certainly did not want any of the two, or at any rate, anyone, to realise that he was flattered by Ichigo's action. 'I hope that they don't notice it.'
"Is that all?" asked Toushiro.
"Well, I've heard everything from Matsumoto-san. It won't hurt to take a break momentarily from the Soul Society business—I'm sure it'll do you good," said Ichigo.
At that, Toushiro glared at Rangiku, implicitly giving her a question to what lies she had told Ichigo.
"Ah, I've just recalled of something important to do—if you'll excuse me," said Rangiku, leaving quickly with Flash Steps without giving Toushiro any time to retort or Ichigo to even acknowledge it.
"She sure's fast," said Ichigo.
"She would have made a captain, a good one as well, if it weren't for her exceeding laziness," said Toushiro, at the same time reminded of that very consequence of his departure from the Soul Society, that no one would do the paperworks. It was still possible for him to work on the papers, including Rangiku's share, even in the human world using one of the portable computers that Captain Kurotsuchi had modified in order that it would be able to connect to the Soul Society's network regardless of location; however, he was not sure if he would have as much time to work on them as he did in the Soul Society, with all the activities he would possibly have in the human world.
"You're leaving with me tomorrow?" asked Ichigo, walking towards Toushiro. He leaned beside him against the balustrade, both of his lower arms placed on its top surface, leaving his hands dangle.
"Why, does it concern you?" asked Toushiro, unsure of why he was talking casually with Ichigo.
"Stop being so uptight, Toushiro," said Ichigo.
"It's Captain Hitsugaya, Shinigami substitute, Kurosaki Ichigo," said Toushiro, getting irritated at the fact that now, not only Momo kept neglecting his title, Ichigo was doing so as well.
"Okay, Toushiro," said Ichigo amusedly.
"For all intents and purposes, just be glad that the Special Wartime Order has been lifted, otherwise I would have made you comprehend what degree of power the title merits by now," said Toushiro, unaffected by the fact that Ichigo had alone destroyed the Soukyoku cross and defeated two captains.
Ichigo recalled the way Captain Kuchiki had used to look down on him, and that it was in the words similar to the words of Toushiro's retort just now. While true, it would be assuming of him to say that words could not kill or that he was used to provocations—they did hurt him, if only a little. However, he was determined to not let them affect him now.
"So, you're leaving with me tomorrow?" asked Ichigo, attempting to ruffle Toushiro's hair.
If it were not for his reflex, Toushiro might have let Ichigo ruffle his hair; but instead, he deflected his hand off his head. He always thought that it was either of because he was not used to it or of because he had an extremely sensitive body that did not favour alien objects. And it was not his first time to reflexively refuse such gestures.
"It's reflexive of me," said Toushiro, rather disappointed with his action of refusal.
Notwithstanding, Ichigo gave it another attempt.
Toushiro was not sure whether to let Ichigo continue to ruffle his hair or to stop it. He liked the feeling, in spite of the fact that he also felt it unbecoming for a captain to be seen having someone ruffle their hair. For comfort, he let it go, in the end.
"So it would seem," said Toushiro, sounding mellower.
"You could stay at my place—on good days, it's clean, it's also got hot food, cold drink, and just about anything you'd need to healthfully survive," said Ichigo, still ruffling Toushiro's hair, about to mention that his sisters would gladly play with him until he realised that it might sound insulting for the white-haired child prodigy.
"Sounds hard to beat that, but I oughtn't impose. I'll have Matsumoto take care of my accommodations," said Toushiro.
"You won't impose. After all, a vacation should take more than one person to be enjoyable, because you would need them to share the fun with, to remind you of the vacation's point, and to stroll alongside; otherwise, it would be something else and more of what people would usually call a dismissal. Not to mention that you won't be able to live by yourself with that body of yours in my world—and there's also this law to protect orphaned adolescents, and with that, they'll send you to one of those gloomy orphanages!" said Ichigo, actually unsure if there were a law like that. "So, just stay at my place, Toushiro."
'Because everyone has their own pace? It's true that seeing differences and contrasts is needed in order that we could stay in check more,' thought Toushiro, discerning Ichigo's concept of a vacation.
"It's been quite a while since anyone's dared to insinuate that my body is short," said Toushiro. "And for that matter, I'll stay at your place and try my best to make your life utterly unbearable."
"That's great then—my Shinigami job would definitely be much easier with having a captain to fight alongside," said Ichigo, nodding to himself. "And I wasn't saying that you're short—it's just the fact that you're still... young."
"You've got to be kidding me," said Toushiro, at loss of words, not sure if he wanted to remind Ichigo of the fact that he had lived a great deal many years longer than Ichigo had. It was becoming clear to him that he would need a great deal lot of effort to not spend most of his time in the human world with Ichigo. He was glad Ichigo was with him.
It was a quarter past eight in the morning and Captain Hitsugaya was still nowhere to show up in the tenth division's office building; and Rangiku was unsure whether to go and look for him as she had not finished instructing the subordinates of their upcoming tasks for the day. Rangiku mused that it was usually herself who arrived in the office much later than her captain, not the other way round.
"Matsumoto-san, they'll open the gate in forty minutes. Should I go look for Captain Hitsugaya?" asked the officer of the tenth division's fourth seat, Jun Souma.
"Jun—I'll leave the briefing in your hands," said Rangiku. "Captain is probably still at his house."
"Affirmative," said Jun, knowing well only captains and vice captains were appropriate to visit a captain's residence unless invited.
It took but several seconds for Rangiku to arrive before the threshold of her captain's residence using Flash Steps. There was a serene air floating in the environment round the oaken house—an air that was formed by the existence of different elements comprising the sound of water falling into the pond, the overall sight of the place, and the smell coming from the two arrays of apple trees which formed a path along with the stone pavement from the gate to the porch. It made her drowsy.
"Vice Captain Matsumoto," called a petite maidservant of the house, also an acquaintance of Rangiku. "May I help you?"
"Mizuhara—is my captain inside?" asked Rangiku.
"Is he not in the office?" answered the puzzled maid. "I haven't seen him since daybreak—I thought he'd have left."
"Well, I'll just check his bedroom," said Rangiku. "If you'll excuse me."
Knowing the place like the back of his palm, Rangiku made it at her captain's bedroom in an instant.
"Captain?" called Rangiku. "Captain Hitsugaya?"
Getting no reply, she slided open the door; afterwards surprised by what she saw.
"Ca-Captain!" yelled Rangiku, her palms covering her wide-open mouth.
How could she not be surprised if before her eyes were his captain, asleep, curled against Ichigo, surrounded by empty bottles of sake? Beside her left hand-side wall were two luggages, which she supposed were containing her captain's belongings that he would bring to the human world.
Hit by the light, both Ichigo and Toushiro fluttered and began to wake up.
"Mmh... Ma-Matsumoto!" uttered Toushiro, beginning to understand his circumstance and remembering how he ended up spending the night drinking with Ichigo.
"Don't yell—it echoes in my head," said Ichigo. "Oh Gawd, my head hurts."
"I have pills to cure hangover," said Rangiku, taking a small bottle from God knows where. "Here, have one or two, depending on how bad the hangover is."
Ichigo and Toushiro each took one pill and swallowed it immediately. The pills worked wonders and they could feel their hangover diminishing rapidly.
"More importantly," said Rangiku, giving Ichigo a smirk.
"Oh, I-I was only helping Toushiro pack his belongings and-and we had a little drinks," said Ichigo.
"What? Oh, I was just going to remind you that you're not old enough to drink," said Rangiku, still smirking at Ichigo; then turned her look back at her captain. "Anyway, it's almost half past eight and the gate will open in about half an hour."
"What of the morning briefing?" asked Toushiro.
"Jun's taking care of it," said Rangiku.
"Well, I have to return these clothes to Kuukaku-san and get my Shinigami robe back," said Ichigo, standing up. "So, I'll catch up with you later at the gate."
Ichigo used Flash Steps to go to the Shiba residence, as it was quite far away. Sluggish Flash Steps if compared to Toushiro's or Rangiku's, but nonetheless decent.
"Matsumoto," spoke Toushiro.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Have you ever travelled by aeroplane?" asked him.
"Um... no," answered Rangiku. "But I hear it's expensive."
TO BE CONTINUED