Aiyoku

Author's note: I am sorry this took so long to get out, i was tied up with amv-making. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, it is appreciated very much. Please don't forget to review in the future, it really inspires us authors to continue our stories :D
Enjoy,
Serpia-chan

Disclaimer : Since Ukitake still isn't wearing a pink shirt that says slut, I still don't own Bleach :P

Chapter 2 : Inauguration

Hinamori sighed as she waited for the young girl to finish up. Although she knew that the girl was only doing her job, she wondered why Seireitei did not have a more capable robe-maker. Hinamori was aware that her new white robe needed to fit her, but she did not see much reason in measuring every possible measurable area on her body. How was her thigh circumference relative to her torso length in any way? She relaxed internally when the pleasant female told her it was over. Desperate to leave, she thanked the girl for her cooperation, and fled the cramped store.

Hinamori had never had much patience for what she viewed to be a waste of time. Shopping for robes, however much they may be needed, was one of those practices she despised. Rushing past other shinigami without pausing to greet them, Hinamori reminded herself that she was currently rather late for her pre-inauguration meeting with the other captains. It was here that she would be formally introduced as a captain, and would be welcomed into the circle of trust that held up the Gotei 13.

Stopping before the great wooden doors leading to the captain's hall, Hinamori fixed her hair and regained her composure. She pushed the heavy doors forwards, and silently made her way into the large room. Captains were lined to either side, and Kuchiki-taicho stood at the head of the room. Hinamori quickly made her way towards him, and sat in seiza position before him, as she had been instructed to do earlier. He smirked before commenting on her tardiness. She felt a hand on her shoulder as the stoic taicho passed her, making a short speech her past accomplishments and affirming that she had a place as a captain of the Gotei 13. Hinamori shuddered when he mentioned her past captain, and couldn't help but catch a look of sympathy aimed towards her by Ukitake-taicho.

Finally Kuchiki motioned for her to stand. She did, and was promptly “formally” greeted as a captain by the rest of the captains. It felt odd for her to be spoken to so formally, as if she were a stranger, especially from people she had known for a great many years. She paused when Hitsugaya Toushiro grasped her hand in a firm handshake. Her eyes met his, but he looked away, murmuring his congratulations, and she was whisked off by Kyouraku-taicho. When Hinamori finally rid herself of the drunken captain's company, her white haired friend was nowhere to be found. Sighing, she allowed herself to be swept up once again in conversations of potential vice captains and division politics.

When Hinamori finally left the impressive hall, the sun was already low in the afternoon sky. Her true inauguration ceremony, and her robing ceremony, we only an hour or two away. She sprinted home and dashed on some makeup, threw on a cleaner set of robes, and fixed her hair. It was quite tangled, and she felt ashamed that she had entered the captain's hall with it in such a state. After achieving the look she wished, Hinamori cooked a bit of food and gulped it down. It wouldn't do for her to have to compete in conversation with a loudly rumbling stomach. Once she had finished, Hinamori left the small house, locking the door behind her.

A crowd was gathering on the terrace outside the Academy by the time Hinamori arrived. The young robe-maker from earlier spotted her and pulled her aside, prepared to make final adjustments to the pristine white robe. After the girl was finished with her, Kuchiki-taicho seized her arm and all but dragged her into the courtyard of the Academy, where other captains had already gathered, locking the gate behind him. He spouted off some instructions, but Hinamori heard none of them, her head was spinning from the noise and the speed at which things were progressing. Shy by nature, the thought of being recognized as a leader was making her nauseous. The thought of having to be paraded around in front of all of Rukongai was making her positively ill. Hinamori suddenly heaved, throwing up the contents of her stomach into a nearby bush. Kuchiki-taicho wrinkled his nose in disgust, but did not comment at the display, but Kira shot Hinamori a look of concern. Embarrassed thoroughly, Hinamori looked at her feet.

Soon the embarrassment was replaced with panic as she was led to her position in the line of captains, and was further replaced by pure shock at the number of people waiting outside the gates. She marched with the other captains all the way to the 5th division building without looking at a single face in the crowd, heart beating hard enough that she thought it might pound right through her robes if she did not settle down. Her division was waiting for her outside the building, all dressed in uniform and in order according to rank. She was then led by Kuchiki-taicho to the head of the large crowd, the young robe-maker following with the glistening white robe folded in her arms. Kuchiki stopped at the very front and center of the crowd, and reached for the white robe held by the girl. He shook it out of its folding, 5th division kanji proudly displayed for all to see. He then beckoned for Hinamori to take off the 5th division armband that she wore. When she placed it in the outstretched hand of the robe-maker, the girl whispered for her to turn and face the crowd so that Kuchiki-taicho could slip the white robe over her shoulders. The weight of the robe was surprising, but Hinamori's face portrayed a look of pure pride.

The 5th division cheered as their new captain made her way though them, and then through the crowd behind them. Startled when light caught a pair of glasses on a 5th division member, Hinamori had to remind herself that Aizen was dead. Even so, she walked with a hand firmly resting on the hilt of Tobiume, her zanpakuto. The thought that she was stealing the division from him flitted through her head more than once, but each time she assured herself that she had earned this right, had earned her division. Broadly grinning captains met her on the other side of the crowd, congratulating her again.

It wasn't long before the music started up, and the sake began to flow. Hinamori was not very interested in the party, but did enjoy a glass of fine sake while she engaged in conversation with captains Abarai and Kira. It wasn't the type of conversation the friends would have once had, but it was conversation nonetheless, and Hinamori was glad to have it. She had missed the joys of having time to spend with friends. She searched the scene for Hitsugaya-taicho, but he was nowhere to be seen. It was not unusual for him to flee all forms of heavy socialization, but Hinamori was still rather hurt that he hadn't made an appearance.

Soon Hinamori began to tire of the abundant festivities, and made her way out of the dancing crowd in the direction of her home. Tomorrow was another day, and she had to rise early. It would be her first day as 5th division captain. Although her friends were sad to see her go, Hinamori managed to escape using exhaustion as an excuse. Glad to be on her own as she walked, Hinamori's thoughts drifted. She thought about the past, and what she would give to have those days back. She thought about the war, and cursed it. She thought about the woman she had become, how she had finally managed to fight her way to the top. She thought about many things, and failed to notice the tall man crouched on her roof. She snapped back into reality when the man landed in front of her, nearly scaring her out of her wits.

“Hitsugaya-kun!!! What the hell are you doing?”

The white-haired man frowned, teal eyes piercing into her.

“Hinamori-taicho, I'd like to talk to you.”

“There's no need to be formal, Toushiro, we're old friends. Anyways, come in, I'll make some tea.”