Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Of Earth and Ice ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

*Three Days Later*
Kyoko once again fought the urge to cry. She should have known that this was too good to be true. Being named Third Seat right out of the academy? It must be a mistake or a cruel joke. Instead it was real. And it was horrible.
*Flashback to two days earlier*
The day she met Captain Hitsugaya was without a doubt the worst day of her life. Captain Matsumoto had taken Kyoko to the Squad Ten barracks to get settled in. The first odd thing she noticed was the men gossiping as the Captain and Kyoko walked past them. She should have known then that things were only going to get worse. Once she and the captain got to Captain Hitsugaya’s office the Fourth and Fifth seat officers were already there waiting with the captain. Cpt. Matsumoto introduced Kyoko to Cpt. Hitsugaya and the other two officers as her protégé. The first words out of her new captain’s mouth were rude and uncalled for:
“Since you were her mentor Rangiku, I can assume she learned only two things: How to be lazy and how to be perverted. The only good thing I can see so far is that your revealing sense of fashion has not rubbed off on her.”
Shocked and hurt by the man Cpt. Matsumoto clearly had high regard for, Kyoko was about to say something but Cpt. Matsumoto beat her to it, “ Now that was just rude Toshiro. You don’t even know her. I’ll have you know I taught her everything you taught me and without sake too.”
Kyoko could see then and there that it was only going to get worse by the way the other officers were sneering at her. But then Cpt. Hitsugaya spoke again and Kyoko wanted to just fade away and disappear.
“You did her a favor in not teaching her to drink, Rangiku, but the fact is I don’t want a whore in my barracks. This is fair warning that I will not tolerate any more of your practical jokes. If she is indeed what I think she is, then I will send her to your squad. With a demotion. Thank you for bringing her over Rangiku, but we have it from here.”
Cpt. Matsumoto huffed, but left after giving Kyoko a wink. Alone, facing the men who openly mocked her, Kyoko stared at the floor as tears of humiliation ran down her face. She refused, however to make a sound. She did jump though, as her new captain’s voice rang out coldly.
“Third seat Kyoko, you are welcomed into this squad on the condition that Rangiku is not pulling a prank on my sqaud again. Tommorrow eight am you will report here for a list of the duties you will be in charge of. Here is a list of policies and rules this squad obeys. I expect them to be memorized before the week is out.” He handed her a small stack of papers that she took with trembling hands, “This is not the academy where everything will be handed to you for getting the highest marks. You will train with Akira and Hachi here to keep your skills in shape. Are there any questions?”
“No Captain Hitsugaya,”Kyoko said without letting her voice quaver.
“Look at me when you address me,” the captain snapped.
Kyoko jumped and snapped her head up; her face still wet with tears, “Yes Captain Hitsugaya,” she said clearly, and then ran out of the room.
*End Flashback*
Her new captain was cruel, and Captain Matsumoto had just left her to the sharks. Kyoko had no idea how she was going to face Captain Hitsugaya in a few minutes time. She was so humiliated. And angry, which was an emotion she didn’t feel very often. But mostly, she was scared. She didn’t want to lose her seat and be sent back to Hanging Dog. She would die there. Kyoko’s thoughts stayed gloomy as she walked to Captain Hitsugaya’s office. She knocked politely on the shoji and waited.
“Just a minute Kyoko,” her captain called, “We are almost through.” Five minutes later the shoji opened and Captain Matsumoto walked out. She looked miserable as she walked past, not looking at Kyoko. ‘Oh no’ Kyoko thought ‘He already tried to send her back to Captain Matsumoto and she was so ashamed of my behavior that she wouldn’t take me back and now I’ll be kicked out….’
“I know what you’re thinking Kyoko, so get in here before you begin to hyperventilate,” Captain Hitsugaya called through the shoji.
Kyoko hurried through the doorway and shut the shoji. Then she bowed to her captain and waited to be addressed.
“There was a huge misunderstanding that I have just cleared up, Kyoko-san. Please sit down. This may take a while,” said Captain Hitsugaya.
Kyoko looked up in surprise, but followed his request, wondering why his tone was so gentle. She saw the tea service sitting nearby, so she busied herself fixing him a cup. After handing him his, to which he nodded in thanks, she quickly fixed hers and finally set her eyes on her captain. She realized, with a start, that she hadn’t really looked at him before. His white hair was rather long in the back and spiky on top. His eyes were mesmerizing, and so sad her breath caught in her throat. His face was very handsome, and his shoulders very broad.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“What,“ Kyoko gasped. He couldn’t have possibly said what…
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, “About yesterday, about what I said and insinuated. I didn’t realize how wrong I was until you ran out of the room. I immediately sent a hell butterfly to Rangiku and she agreed to meet me this morning. She told me that your assignment was legitimate and that I was an ass for treating you that way. I am so sorry.”
Kyoko jumped up and her tea cup went flying as he bowed his head to her, “Oh Captain you mustn’t bow to me. I’m no body. If you really are sorry then please stop bowing. A Captain shouldn’t bow to someone from Hanging Dog.”
He chuckled deeply as he straightened, “It seems Rangiku was right about you. You are very forgiving. Thank you. But you are wrong. A man must bow in repentance to a woman whom he has gravely injured. Even if she happens to be from Hanging Dog. Did you know that I grew up there before I joined the academy when I was still a boy? I became a Captain at age thirteen. So I am not any higher than you by birth, but only by rank. So no more talk like that.”
Kyoko blushed as he focused his slightly crooked smile on her and make her feel more comfortable. Now she knew why Captain Matsumoto held this man in such high regard. “Are you and Captain Matsumoto in a feud? Is that why you thought I was a practical joke?” Kyoko asked curiously.
Captain Hitsugaya blushed slightly and cleared his throught before speaking, (Kyoko thought he looked cute being embarrassed) “Ah actually, Rangiku has been sending prostitutes into my barracks to tempt me out of my solitude. None of them have been as beautiful as you so I thought that you…..ah I mean…” he began to stutter as he realized he had called her beautiful.
Kyoko giggled and blushed, “I know what you mean Captain. Thank you, but I am not as skilled as a prostitute.” Then it was Kyoko’s turn to blush and stutter and the Captain’s turn to chuckle at her.
“Come to Lunch with me today,” he said.