Aiyoku

Author's note : Sorry for a bit of oocness in this chapter... its kinda hard to guess what the characters will be like when they're older. Please don't forget to read and review, they make the update fairy come faster :P Yay for mostly-dialogue chapters! :P
Enjoy,
Serpia-chan

Disclaimer : Ukitake doesn't own a pink slut shirt, and I don't own Bleach


Chapter 3 : Observance

Hinamori pushed open her front door and stepped aside to let the silent captain into her home. The sounds of the party drifted from the distance, but Hinamori was very glad to be home, even if she wasn't going to get the peace and quiet she had hoped for. She glanced at her childhood friend, noticing his changes for what seemed like the first time.

Hitsugaya Toushiro was a good foot taller than her, at around 6'3 or so. He was well built, the thinness of his younger days gone completely. His eyes had remained that brilliant teal color, but somehow seemed to fit his face better. He wore his rather spiky white hair in a loose ponytail at the nape of his neck. Hinamori quickly realized that he had grown up to be a very attractive man, even if his attitude hadn't improved at all.

She beckoned for Toushiro to sit on one of her western-style chairs, but Toushiro chose to sit on the tatami floor instead. His rumbling stomach alerted her to the fact that he was hungry. She left him sitting in the living room without a word and slipped into her spacious kitchen to make a pot of tea and prepare some quick snacks. She returned a few moments later with a large plate of watermelon and a hot pot of tea. Toushiro's face took on an amused look as he eyed the watermelon. He gracefully lifted a piece of watermelon to his mouth before ripping into it like a savage animal. Hinamori smirked as she sat across from him.

“Jees Shiro-kun, you'd think that a captain would have better manners.”

Hitsugaya responded by promptly spitting the seeds out at her in a childlike manner.

“Shut up, and don't call me that.”

Hinamori frowned, brushing seeds out of her hair. He hadn't changed all that much...

“What did you want to talk about, Toushiro?”

He set down the rind and glanced up at her.

“I wanted to apologize for not showing up to that stupid party. I don't do parties... and also, I wanted to congratulate you. I would have earlier, but I didn't quite know what to say. I mean, you, a captain. Its like hell froze over.”

She tossed a zabuton cushion at him.

“Seriously, Toushiro, what do you want?”

His face returned to his typical frown and he cleared his throat.

“I wanted to talk to you about your division. I'm not going to suggest any vice captains or anything like that, your judgment is best there. I just wanted to warn you. You aren't a child anymore, Hinamori, and the division members are going to treat you differently.”

“What do you mean? The division members are already pretty used to me being in charge. I mean, I've been in charge for what, 200 years now?'

“Thats not really what I was alluding to. You're attractive, and the you're a girl. You might not get the respect you want now that you're captain. Also, I would not choose a male captain. Having a captain of the opposite sex.... complicates things.”

Hinamori's eyebrows raised. Was Toushiro blushing?

“You think I'm attractive? That's new... how many times in the past have you called me names, hmm?”

Toushiro blushed a little deeper, and stared at the floor.

“I was younger then. That was almost 250 years ago...”

Hinamori poured herself a glass of tea. She grimaced when she sipped it, it was cold. When she thought about it, the entire room was cold. Was Toushiro doing that?

“Toushiro, maybe you should lower your reiatsu... you're freezing my tea.”

Toushiro chuckled a little and attempted to lower his power a bit. When he was finished, he took another piece of melon. He held it out to Hinamori.

“Want a bite? You haven't ate anything yet. You've got to be hungry... I mean, you threw up everything in your stomach earlier, so you've got to be starving by now.”

Hinamori shot him a look of disdain and shooed the hand holding the melon away.

“Thanks for reminding me. I really appreciate it.”

“Sorry, Momo. I didn't mean any offense.”

Hinamori sighed and set the cold tea down beside her. She knew she should set it on the table, she would almost definitely knock it over later if it was left there, but she didn't really care. For some reason, being in Toushiro's presence was depressing her. She couldn't help but think of the state of deterioration that their relationship was in. They hadn't really spoken a lot in recent times, and had almost no contact during the war, both were to busy to pursue friendship. But now, in peaceful times, why was he still so indifferent towards her ? She needed to know, or needed him to leave.

“Toushiro, did I do something to offend you?”

Toushiro's face contorted into a look of pure surprise.

“No.... why?”

“You don't ever talk to me anymore. You never come to visit, and even when I try to talk to you, you're so.... cold.”

“...”

“Don't give me that look! I'm serious. Toushiro if you aren't going to say anything, then you can leave. I don't really feel like making small talk tonight.”

Toushiro looked a little defeated, but he looked at her defiantly.

“It isn't because of anything you did, alright? I just don't want to interfere with your life anymore, I've caused you enough trouble.”

It hit Hinamori like a brick. She knew immediately that he was referring to the time that he had nearly died, almost taking her with him, when he thought he had discovered a conspiracy plot headed by Ichimaru Gin. They had been very wrong, the last war had resulted from that mistake. Hinamori wasn't sure if she wanted to hit him, or hug him.

“Shiro.... you're so stupid.”

Toushiro's face held a look of surprise yet again.

“Momo.... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come here.”

He made to get up and leave, but Hinamori grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back down.

“I don't think so buddy, you and I are going to work through this. So sit back down.”

He complied, gulping at the town of her voice. He poured herself another cup of tea, and sipped it gently.

“Toushiro, what happened then wasn't your fault. We all got fooled by him. If anyone should have seen what was going on, it was me. I was closest to him, and I knew everything about him. At least I thought I did. If you're going to blame someone, you bastard, blame me. I don't really see why you felt that forcing yourself out of my life was something good, something desirable. If thats your only reason for ignoring me like you have been doing, I should kick your sorry ass. Got it, Shiro?”

Toushiro gulped again. He hadn't seen her this worked up in a long while. Pleasant little Hinamori-chan was all but terrifying when she was like this. If he said the wrong thing....

“There are more reasons than that, Hinamori, but thats the main one.”

“While then, what are the others?”

“I'd prefer not to discuss....” Hinamori shot Toushiro a look, “Umm.... well, you see... I really didn't want anything I said to get in the way of you becoming a captain...”

“What do you mean, Shiro?”

“Well, I suppose its rather obvious that I have fairly strong feelings for you, and I didn't want that to look bad on you. So, to avoid everyone else finding out, and to prevent the gossip that would ensue if they found out, I chose to avoid the situation completely.”

“Shiro..... you have feelings for me?”

Toushiro's teal eyes met Hinamori's wide brown ones. The look of shock in her eyes was undeniable, which surprised him a little.

“Yes, I thought you knew. I mean, I was kinda obvious about it.”

“...”

“Do you want me to leave, Hinamori?”

“No. Stay. I just.... I....”

Toushiro noticed that her eyes were watering. She wasn't really going to cry, he hoped. She hoped that she wasn't going to cry as well. She was unsure of what she felt, perhaps it was relief, maybe it was shock, but she thought it might have been the feeling of despair. The one wall that kept them from being together, and from destroying their lives, had finally broken down. Toushiro liked her.

“Oh Toushiro... why can't you just hate me? It would be so much easier...”

“What do you mean, Momo?”

“We can never be together, no matter how much I like you, or if you like me. I know that much at least. Captains can't be with captains...”

“Thats not really an observance that most captains adhere to...”