Author's Note

This is the first story I've actually written down, so I would love feedback! I was unsure about putting this online but wanted to see how my writing is. I've also chosen to work on my own character development by using an original character. It felt odd to only used she/her and not to include details. Thank you for reading!

I'll be continuing this story and working to improve my style.

She had already been a member of Squad Eleven for a while, when she first saw Hanataro. Her friend was knocked out during a training, or as most sane people would put it, mindless fighting. Being a semi-considerate friend, she dragged her comrade's unconscious body to the Fourth Division. After all, he was a childhood buddy. Tsubaki's large stature and stern eyes seemed to frighten off any of the meeker squad members. Though this wasn't anything new, she was cursed with the piercing eyes of a predator and had somehow managed to grow to a whopping six feet and two whole inches.

Instead of speaking to a healer, she dumped her friend onto a random bed in the main room where the low priority cases went. Tsubaki didn't know much about healing or such but assumed he had a concussion. Going out into halls, she found a niche to settle down in for a nap.

The sensation of a cool hand on her forehead woke her up. Grabbing the offending appendage was pure instinct but managed to draw a yelp from the person. Green eyes followed a path up the slim arm to the flustered face of Hanataro. This was the precise moment Tsubaki was a goner.

Most people wouldn't think it but Tsubaki was attracted to cute things. She didn't like feeling threatened or being submissive, so her types tended towards the more intellectual of feminine males of the Gotei Thirteen. If this information were ever to come out she would be humiliated. The mindless brutes of her division were her only choice. At least there she could beat up any overly familiar men and not be scolded for her behavior. Her weakness of Hanataro's appearance was the result of denying her preferences for so long.

He wasn't much to look at, small and plain; certainly nothing to write home about. Tsubaki didn't see his appeal at first either. She was too focused on 'why is he touching me' instead of 'tiny, cute person is touching me'. Of course she scolded him for waking a sleeping person and telling him to mind his own damn business. Hanataro's face lost its slight smile and was wary of the awoken fighter. She merely tapped him on the head and strode off to see if her idiotic friend had awoken yet. There were better things to do than hang around in the halls of the Fourth being annoyed by too cute for their own good weaklings.

Tsubaki woke up later that month from a dream about, of all people, that cute healer. She rolled over with a grunt to face her small collection of stuffed animals that no one knew about. When she wasn't sleeping they were shoved under her futon.

A nameless nurse shouldn't be racing through her mind! Think about anything else! Tsubaki had to regain her aloofness. The last thing she need was to become the laughing stock of the Eleventh Division.

All day his face followed her. As she ran drills, ate lunch, fought some assholes who thought she was an easy target, and as she took her evening bath. This pattern didn't change all week. Obviously this was because she wasn't used to seeing cute things and not because she liked him or something.

The warm sunshine kept her dozing as she attempting to practice some sword play by herself one morning. That was how Yumichika spotted her, staring off into space with her sword touching the ground. It was obvious that something was up and he had to know. He was the division gossip and had a reputation to uphold. He was constantly checking up on Tsubaki, who was a diamond in the rough if you asked him.

"Any reason you're trying to catch flies?" That got her straightening up and snapping her jaw shut. Tsubaki's harsh glare focused on Yumichika. "Really dear, you've been out of it lately. If you already weren't antisocial enough, no one's heard you talk at all this week."

Tsubaki huffed in indignation. She wasn't antisocial! She had talked! Well, only to the cafeteria workers… "What, you miss my lovely voice?" she growled out. She was known for her husky voice that could have been sensual if she didn't always look like she was about to kill someone.

"Of course, no one else humors me like you do," Yumichika retorted. "Don't try to deflect. You have to dish what's been on your mind!" He was pretty desperate for a real conversation that wasn't about fighting. The Eleventh wasn't known for their wit.

Her brow wrinkled and she looked off at the training fields to avoid his knowing gaze. "There's nothing to dish. Now let me get back to training."

"You're no fun. And stop making that face, it'll stick."

Tsubaki grunted in reply and the two sparred for a bit. She would try to act like her usual self and humor Yumichika, if only because he was one of the few people she could call a friend.

After a rousing fight over in the Eleventh, Tsubaki found herself back at the Fourth. This time she was there for herself. It felt like she thrown out her shoulder. Whatever it was, it hurt like hell. Sadly, her unintentional death stare was scaring off the division members before they could even talk to her. I forgot who wussy these guys are. I'm just wasting my time. Accepting that her shoulder would have to wait, Tsubaki stood up to leave when the unknown star of her dreams appeared. Shit.

"Ah, Eleventh san!" Well, he didn't seem as scared as the others.

"Hey, fix this would you?" She pointed at her right shoulder and sat back down.

"Y-yes, of course!" He checked over her arm and shoulder, only blushing a little bit which surprised her. Her uniform wasn't very modest; it was an open sleeveless kimono that showed her chest bindings underneath and the typical hakama. Hanataro frowned when he came to a place on her arm that hurt particularly bad. Using medical kido, he held his hand over it until Tsubaki felt the pain lessen.

"You had a fracture and muscle strain, Eleventh san. I would recommend not using your arm for the rest of the day." He smiled slightly at her.

Putting on her restrained face, which wasn't very good for talking to others, she said, "Thanks. And it's Tsubaki, not Eleventh san." She stood up then and promptly towered over Hanataro who looked like he had forgotten how tall she was. Wanting to leave, Tsubaki made for the exit.

"Uh, I'm Hanataro!" She glanced over her shoulder at him but continued on her way. Manners or talking to boys weren't strong suit. It had never really been an issue before.

When she arrived back at the Eleventh's barracks, Yumichika was there to greet her. "Something good happen?" He was curious about how Tsubaki was managing to smile while maintaining her usual death glare. It wasn't very beautiful to look at.

He received no answer just a quit mumble about 'cute things'. She was an odd one for sure.