His Heartbeat

Hinako woke up with a raging hangover. The sun was streaming in through the open drapes that she had forgotten to close last night. Little men with hammers were banging away at her brain and Hinako thought about trying to go back to sleep and ignoring them. They were persistent, so Hinako gave up and went and got some headache pills. Every movement was painful, jarring her pounding, aching head. She made it to her kitchen and went to the cabinet, searching for the pills. She found the bottle, shook out a few pills and washed them down with orange juice straight from the carton. She hoped that Satomi wasn’t up yet. If her little sister caught her drinking from the carton, Hinako would have to listen to a lecture about how disgusting that habit was.

“Morning!” A horribly bright, chipper voice broke the silence in the kitchen. Hinako spun around to look for the source of the voice and immediately wished she hadn’t. The little men in her brain pounded even harder. Hinako grabbed her head and shut her eyes to stop the room from spinning.

“Who the hell is here?” Hinako asked through gritted teeth. She didn’t hear anyone come in, so it must be a shinigami. The question now, was who. The voice was female, so Hinako guessed it was Rukia.

“You sound like Renji this morning. He was cranky, too.”

Right in one. It was Rukia and by the sound of her voice, she found Hinako’s predicament pretty funny. The only thing that kept her from yelling at Rukia and throwing her out of the house was she wanted to hear how bad Renji was. She hoped the stinking rat was suffering more than she was.

“I heard you met my captain last night.” Rukia glided down from her perch on top of the kitchen counter top. She began to root through the cupboards for Hinako’s favorite cereal. Finding it, Rukia poured some in a bowl, added milk and a spoon and placed the bowl down on the table. Hinako gave a little smile of thanks and sat down to eat.

Wait…Rukia’s captain? What the hell was she talking about? The last thing Hinako remembered was the sight of Renji running like the devil was on his tail back to the Soul Society double doors. Hinako spooned more cereal in her mouth.

“What are you talking about?” Rukia was barely able to make out what Hinako was saying. A mouthful of Cheerios could do that. Rukia watched Hinako, trying to see if she was kidding her or not. Seeing as how Hinako was barely awake and not a morning person, Rukia decided that her friend wasn’t joking and really didn’t remember meeting Jurisho Ukitake last night.

“My captain, Jurisho Ukitake. You met him last night when he came to bring Renji back home.” Rukia went on, seeing the look of confusion on Hinako’s face. “Big guy, long white hair, copper colored eyes…wears shinigami robes with a white haori with his squad number on the back?” Hinako shook her head no.

Something in the back of her brain tickled her. A vision of running into a light pole and bouncing into a very large man, came to Hinako. Hinako searched her memory of last night for anything else but that was all she could remember. Hinako finished her cereal and pushed the empty bowl away from her. She toyed with the spoon, wincing as the bright light bounced off it’s silver surface. She tossed the spoon in the bowl.

“Are you able to see into my dreams?” Rukia shook her head no, smiling as she realized what happened last night. Hinako must have thought her time with Captain Ukitake was a dream. Rukia crossed her arms, sat down across from her friend and waited to hear the end of this. She was glad Renji wasn’t here. He would never let Hinako live down what happened last night.

“Are you sure?” Hinako paused while Rukia nodded. “I had the weirdest dream. I swear, that sake that Renji brings has more kick than the stuff we have here.” Hinako rubbed the sleep from her eyes and continued. “Well, I dreamt about this guy you described but I sure as hell didn’t meet him.”

Hinako’s eyes widened as a thought came to her. Was Renji so drunk last night that he actually used a Kido spell on her by accident? She asked Rukia that question and had to wait for Rukia to stop laughing.

“Renji is terrible at Kido! If he would have used Kido on you, you probably would have been blown to bits.” Rukia wiped the tears from her eyes. That was the funniest thing she’d heard in ages. “And besides, there is no Kido that causes you to hallucinate or makes you dream.”

So, he wasn’t a dream. He was real and she’d hugged him and listened to his heartbeat. Realizing that she’d also kissed him…twice, Hinako let out a groan. And she made a fool out of herself, walking into a light pole and bouncing off of it. He must think she was the most stupid woman in the living world. Oh, well. What did she care? It wasn’t like she would be seeing him again.

Leaving Rukia in the kitchen, Hinako went into the bedroom to get clothes and then headed to the bathroom. Their apartment was small, only one bedroom, so it had been Satomi’s turn to sleep on the couch last night and she was still asleep. Hinako looked fondly at her sleeping sister. Satomi was a lot younger than Hinako but she was the more mature of the two. She would never get drunk with a shinigami and then kiss Rukia’s captain…twice.

After getting showered and dressed, Hinako felt a little more human. Running a comb through her hair, Hinako decided to let it air dry. Her head was still pounding a little and she didn’t think she was up to styling her hair this morning. Or really, this afternoon. Looking at the clock and seeing it was after 1pm, Hinako made the decision never to drink with Renji again. And she would keep the promise…this time…maybe…unless he brought some of that excellent sake like they’d shared last night.

Oh, who was she kidding? She enjoyed kicking back and tying one on with Renji every now and then. And Rukia didn’t mind, so there was no problem there. The headaches, on the other hand, now, that was a problem. Hinako threw the comb on the ledge of the sink and went back into the kitchen.


Satomi was up. Hinako could hear two distinct female voices, talking quietly in the kitchen. She ruffled Satomi’s hair as she passed by her. Smiling up at her big sister, Satomi spooned another bite of cereal in her mouth. Hinako rummaged around in the fridge for the raspberry tea she loved so much and finally found a bottle near the back. After digging it out, Hinako went to the table and sat down. Her hopes for a nice long conversation were dashed by the sound of her front door crashing open.

“Oi, Hinako!” Renji’s voice rang throughout the small apartment. Damn it! Hinako was still hoping that the rat was hungover and wouldn’t be showing up at all today. She turned in her chair, ready to give him a piece of her mind when Rukia jumped out of her chair and kneeled on the floor.

He was here.

Hinako’s heart stupidly skipped a beat. Her face flushed as she watched him walk through the doorway to the kitchen. Hinako wanted to tear her eyes away from him, but no matter how hard she tried, his copper colored eyes drew her in. He was staring back at her.

If Jushiro thought Hinako couldn’t be prettier than she was in the soft light of the street lamps, he was proved wrong in the light of day. Long ash colored hair hung over her shoulders, framing a face who’s odd blue eyes were gazing into his. He could see that they had chips of yellowish gold in them and got lighter in color the closer they got to the irises. Her face was colored with a pretty blush and she was worrying her bottom lip.

Devastatingly handsome in the moonlight, Hinako would have sworn up and down that there was no way this man could be any more handsome. She was wrong. His hair, that she had perceived was gray in the moonlight, was really a bright white. And it looked so soft and she wanted nothing more to run her fingers through it. He was pale, almost unnaturally so but that didn’t detract from his looks.

But, there was something more about him, something that she couldn’t hear or touch from where she was sitting. Hinako wanted to feel and hear his heartbeat, again. Finally, she’d remembered meeting him last night, and it brought an urge to get up and press her ear to his chest, to listen to that steady, soul stirring beat.

“Oi! Hinako! Didn’t you hear me talking to you?” Renji brought down his fist, none too gently on the top of Hinako’s head. Reaching up but hitting nothing but air, Hinako broke her eye contact with the handsome Captain.

“Stupid! Of course, I heard you! And you are so damn loud, I’d be willing to bet the neighbors heard you, too. Even if you are in your shinigami form.” Hinako rubbed the top of her head.

“Captain Ukitake.” Rukia was still in a kneeling position on the kitchen floor. “What brings us the honor of your visit?”

Jushiro looked at Renji, a silent exchange between the two men. Renji had found out some information on a Hollow that was stalking Hinako’s sister and he talked Ukitake into coming into the world of the living to help deliver the information. Actually, Renji didn’t have to do much talking. Once Jushiro heard where Renji was going, he’d practically forced Renji to take him. Renji moved to Rukia and leaned down to whisper in her ear. Her eyes grew wide and Renji grabbed her arm and pulled her into the living room.

Hinako didn’t notice them leave the room. She was to intent on the little black butterfly that was flitting around Jushiro’s shoulders. Hinako watched it intently. She had never seen a butterfly up close, let alone a black one. Standing up and moving behind Jushiro, she first tried to coax the butterfly on her finger. Satomi watched her, shaking her head. Jushiro was facing away from the two sisters, so he didn’t see the exchange between the two but he could hear their conversation. As he listened, a broad smile crossed his face.

“What do you think you’re doing, Hinako?” Satomi gave Hinako an exasperated look. This was just like Hinako. She loved animals and wanted to either bring home every stray she saw or feed every stray cat in the neighborhood. “Don’t touch it!”

“Why not?” Hinako was wiggling her fingers at the butterfly, hoping it would come close enough to her so she could reach out and capture it in her hands.

“Do you know anything about it, its powers or why it’s even here?” Hinako shook her head no, never taking her eyes off of the butterfly. “Exactly!” Satomi hissed at her sister. “All the more reason for you not to touch it.”

Throughout most of their adult lives, Satomi had always been the more level headed one. Satomi was going through college, getting her second degree, while Hinako dropped out and never went back. She had managed to get a good job, though, in spite of having almost no training. Satomi had moved in with Hinako as soon as things got too much for her at home. Welcoming in her sister with open arms, Hinako would never admit to anyone that she had been lonely and was thrilled to have another person around. Although, right now, Hinako wished her sister wasn’t here. She just had to see this butterfly up close.

Hinako was getting closer to Jushiro. He could smell her shampoo and he took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he let her scent wrap around him. Her body brushed against the back of his haori and her fingers brushed his broad shoulders. It was almost as if she’d forgotten he was even here. She was concentrating that intensely on capturing the butterfly.

"It's just a butterfly, Satomi! What harm can it do? Is it going to grow fangs and bite my neck?" Hinako asked sarcastically.

Satomi glared at her sister "Might knock some sense into you if it did." She muttered under her breath. When Hinako got an idea in her head this firmly, nothing short of doing it or at least seriously attempting it would change her mind. "This might actually be fun..." Satomi mused to herself as she watched her sister trying once more to coax the fluttering butterfly onto her finger.

She thought back to another time Hinako had tried to do something, against her advice. They had been out hiking in the woods on a cool autumn day, enjoying the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. Hinako wanted to go just a little further, across the stream that was nearby. Satomi told her older sister they shouldn’t, since the only way to cross was an old fallen tree that was slick with moss. Hinako insisted and proceeded to cross. Everything was fine till she got half way. Her foot slipped and she went into the icy stream. She had gotten soaked to the bone and complained all the way back of how cold she was. Satomi had fought so hard not to laugh. She loved her sister, despite her silliness. And now was no different as she watched her sister track the black butterfly.

The butterfly moved around to the front of Jushiro and Hinako moved with it. "Damn! I almost got it. It's a slippery little thing. Come here, sis. Help me trap it."

It was near his chest and Hinako made her move. She reached out her hand and instead of making contact with the butterfly, her hand landed on Jushiro’s chest. Her body froze as she realized what she had done. Maybe he wouldn’t notice where her hand was. Right, Hinako thought to herself. He is a Captain in the Gotei 13. She was pretty sure he would notice a woman’s hand on his chest.

“You missed.” His voice was just as she remembered it. Soft and sensual.

A blush crept up her neck, heating Hinako’s face. This was so like her, not thinking before she acted. She moved her hand away from his chest, slowly. She had felt his heartbeat again. Hinako had no idea why the feel or sound of his heartbeat drew her to him. She was embarrassed at what she’d done, but she hadn’t wanted to move her hand away from that strong, steady beat.

“Put your hands together.” His voice broke the silence of the kitchen. Satomi sat in a chair, forgotten. Hinako brought her hands together, palms up. She still couldn’t make eye contact with Jushiro. Briefly, she wondered what he was doing, when she felt his hands brush hers.

Jushiro had captured the Hell butterfly, cupping the delicate creature between his long, slender fingers. Hinako could hear a soft wisping sound from between his hands. He opened his hands and the Hell butterfly landed in her open palms. It was pure black, with purple stripes on the bottom of its lower wings. The delicate wings tickled her palms and she smiled at the feel.

Jushiro moved his hands to cup hers. They were warm and calloused at the fingertips. His touch was doing strange things to her body. Shivers of pleasure raced across her skin and up her spine. She wasn’t sure if he knew he was stroking the back of her hands, but she didn’t want him to stop.

“What do they do?” Hinako whispered, as if talking too loud would break the spell that had woven itself around the two of them. The creature was walking back and forth across her palm. Jushiro had moved his hands from underneath her own and now was stroking her forearms. She prayed he wouldn’t stop.

“They are the messengers of Soul Society. We use them for important announcements or to send messages to each other. Much quicker than walking all over the Seireitei looking for someone. They are also used for unlocking the gate between Soul Society and the living world.”

His voice had almost dropped to a whisper, forcing Hinako to move closer to him to hear him. Their foreheads touched and she could smell his unique scent, cherries and wood smoke. His long, white hair tumbled over his shoulder, trapping them in a world of their own. He nudged her forehead with his, causing her to look up into his eyes. His hands wrapped around her elbows and he pulled her closer to him, her hands touching his chest.

His eyes, those copper colored eyes. She could drown in their depths. How could she feel something so strong for this man in just a few hours? Hinako never believed in love at first sight, but with Jushiro, it was different. When she crashed into the light pole last night and bounced into his chest, time seemed to stop once she heard his heartbeat. Was that love at first sight?

No, she couldn’t call it love. But, Hinako had feelings for this man. What they were, she didn’t know. If anyone asked her how she felt about Jushiro, she knew she wouldn’t be able to answer them. All she knew, was she wanted to be with this man. To feel his touch, to breathe in his scent, and most of all, lay her head on his chest and let his heartbeat soothe her.

Jushiro had never felt this way about a woman before. By not living his life to the fullest, he had become a lonely man. When his lieutenant’s wife had been possessed and killed by a Hollow, he had almost been jealous of the fierceness of Kaien’s love for his fallen wife. Kaien had put his own life on the line to avenge his precious wife. Jushiro had no one in his life that was precious to him, like Kaien’s wife had been to him.

He needed to understand how he felt about Hinako. His emotions were all jumbled up inside of him, threatening to burst to the surface. He didn’t believe in love at first sight, but there was something that drew him to this woman. Maybe, he was confusing the job of protecting this woman, with the feeling of love. But, he couldn’t convince himself that it was the true reason. When he’d kissed her, the feeling of coming home was overwhelming.

Her eyes, those strange blue eyes with yellowish gold chips in them. They changed with her moods and he could see the confusion in them. He wondered if she was as confused about her feeling for him as he was with her.

Letting go of the butterfly, Hinako placed her palms on his chest. She could feel his heartbeat quicken from her touch. Without a conscious thought, Hinako shuffled her feet until her body was almost pressed against his. His hands left her elbows and moved slowly up, until he was grabbing her shoulders. She licked her bottom lip and sucked it into her mouth, worrying it with her teeth.

Jushiro’s breath hitched at Hinako’s unconscious nervous gesture. His mind was screaming at him to taste her lips, to see if the feeling from last night was real or imagined. His head swooped down and his mouth claimed hers.

The kisses that they shared last night were nothing compared to this. Their first kiss last night was just a taste, a simple, gentle kiss. Their second kiss was a quick, passionate one. This kiss, however, was heaven.

Renji went back to the kitchen to get Hinako. He and Rukia had decided that they would talk to Hinako first, explain about the Hollow that was stalking her sister and tell her about the plan to catch it and dispose of it. Rukia followed closely behind Renji and bumped into his back when he stopped suddenly. She grabbed onto his shinigami robes to stop herself from falling.

“What the..” Renji halfway turned around and put his finger to his lips, silencing her. She peeked from around his back, stunned into silence. There, in the middle of the kitchen, was her Captain, holding Hinako off the ground, in a passionate embrace. Rukia looked at Satomi. She was smiling at the couple.

Renji leaned down to whisper in Rukia’s ear. “I guess I won’t have to convince him to help us, after all.”