Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Seireitei Monogatari ❯ Of Stars and Silence ( Chapter 102 )

Title: Of Stars and Silence

Pairings/Characters: Hitsugaya/Ichigo (lightly), mentions of others

Rating: K+

Warning: Takes place directly after the Shinigami appear in Karakura and before Grimmjow and company attack.

Words: 193

Description: Comfortable silence fell between them, neither needing conversation to be at ease with each other.

 

Dedication: For yaoihentaiqueen, who wanted a Hitsu/Ichi

 

 

For Inoue Orihime, it was a good idea. But for the rest of them dragged into the madness of the celebration, it was one huge and crazy mess. Especially for Toushirou, who wanted nothing to do with the loud music, the loud laughter, or the copious amounts of strange food and even stranger decorations.

 

Brightly colored bits of paper that the human woman had called “streamers” were streaked from wall to wall. Paper lanterns of varying colors were lit in every corner, giving the room a very rainbow appearance. Inoue was flitting around like a butterfly, trying to welcome the reluctant Shinigami.

 

Madarame had complained about the lack of booze, until Ayasegawa had given him the “frown of disapproval” for causing a beautiful woman like Inoue to appear upset. The third-seat had immediately shut up, only to goad Abarai into a spar. They were currently beating each other up in a macho way out on the street. Toushirou was just waiting for the local law to come and already had his response in mind.

 

No, he didn't know those idiots. And yes, feel free to haul them away.

 

Heh, served them right.

 

It was thoughts like that which secretly amused Toushirou. Especially now that he had retreated to the safety of the balcony, away from the volume and press of too many bodies in Inoue's small apartment. Not for the first time, he cursed his vice-captain in his mind for making him attend this party. It was sweet of Inoue to welcome them, true, but this sort of thing just wasn't something he enjoyed.

 

Leaning against the rail, Toushirou allowed his gaze to wander up to the cloudless sky, stars a sharp twinkle against black. They were in different positions here than in Soul Society. Although for some reason, he had expected them to be the same.

 

Behind him, the door slid open with a faint sound. It briefly let out the noise and bustle from within, something peppy playing on the stereo and Matsumoto's calls for someone to dance with her. Then, the door slid shut, surrounding the balcony in a muffled silence once more. Strong reiatsu, practically pouring from the visitor's pores, identified the other individual.

 

Kurosaki stepped up the railing on the other side of him, taking up a position that near mimicked Toushirou's. “You're hiding,” he said and tilted his head back to look up at the stars as well.

 

Toushirou snorted. “I am not,” he retorted defensively, fingers tapping against the chilled metal of the railing. One hand tugged at his collar, still having trouble getting accustomed to the feel of his clothes.

 

“You are.”

 

If he wasn't mistaken, Kurosaki's eyes were definitely glinting. He was teasing Toushirou. Lips firming, the captain humphed and turned his gaze upwards.

 

After a moment, Kurosaki chuckled and shook his head. “Why aren't you inside? Inoue was looking for you. She was worried you weren't having any fun.”

 

Toushirou rolled his eyes. “That is not fun,” he pointed out, though it was only after he furtively looked around to make sure the sensitive female was nowhere present. “That is madness perpetrated by idiots. I'd rather be out here alone.”

 

The substitute Shinigami's lips twitched, as though planning to smile but stopping halfway. “You don't seem to mind my presence,” Kurosaki pointed out.

 

Fighting the warmth that statement produced, the captain pretended nonchalance. “Well, maybe I'd rather be out here with you than in there with them,” he stated gruffly, making it clear that he was only grudgingly admitting that truth.

 

Kurosaki blinked at him, brown eyes warm as always. “Toushirou, I didn't know you cared.”

 

He didn't bother to correct the moron. There was no one around to hear the lack of proper title anyways.

 

“Yeah, well, don't put more in it than there is, Kurosaki. I still think you're an idiot.”

 

The smile twitched again. “Duly noted.” Kurosaki's gaze returned to the stars as a comfortable silence fell between them, neither needing conversation to be at ease.

 

Raucous laughter could be heard within the apartment. No one seemed to have notice their disappearance. Toushirou had no intention of returning to the celebration. He tapped his fingers a few more times on the railing and then moved just a step closer to Ichigo, able to feel the taller male's heat.

 

Ichigo pretended not to notice, though he too moved a smidge closer. Until they were bumping shoulders… well, elbows and shoulders.

 

They stayed like that for the rest of the night.

 

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