Call Of The Thunder (Chapter 1)
Hitsugaya sat bolt upright, sweat and blood soaking the bed sheets. He took a deep breath and held his head in his hands. He had refused treatment for his injuries - he didn't deserve more Soul Reapers wasting their energy on him - and they were becoming increasingly painful. He really couldn't deal with this. As if it wasn't enough for him to watch the man he loved die once, fate had to be so twisted and cruel as to bring him back, so that he had to end his life again. It wasn't fair. Why did he hurt everyone he loved?
Momo; he had nearly killed her, impaling her on his zanpaktou.
Kusaka; he had been killed by the stealth force once, only to come back to be killed all over again.
Ichigo; the firey haired boy had only been trying to help him, yet he still swung his sword at him.
Truth be told, Hitsugaya owed Ichigo more than he would ever admit. He was the only one who stood by him, helped him in any way he could, when the ouin was stolen. Even his own lieutenant didn't come after him, seek him out in any way. Hitsugaya lay back down and sighed. He would have to thank Ichigo for everything he had done... But he would do that in the morning.
Hitsugaya awoke to the sound of loud voices laughing and chattering in his office. He sat up, only to cry out in pain, clutching the bleeding hole in his abdomen. Gritting his teeth, he climbed out of bed, put on his kimono and his haori embedded with the Squad 10 insignia. He opened the door to his quaters and walked down the hall, towards his office.
Rangiku, Renji and Ichigo were sprawled across the floor, chatting and laughing. Renji had his arm slung round Ichigo's neck, an Hitsugaya felt a pang of jealousy. When Ichigo saw him come in, he flashed him a goofy grin, before bellowing 'Hi Toshiro!'
Histugaya gave a curt nod in response and walked briskly towards his desk, wincing as he sat down. 'Abarai, would you mind telling me what you are doing in my office. I'm sure you have matters to attend to within your own division.'
'Ah, well, there's a lieutenants' meeting at half past sir, so I thought I'd come and see how Rangiku was doing,' he flashed her a cheeky smile 'and make sure she wasn't too drunk to attend.' This was followed by a laugh from Ichigo and a smack from Rangiku.
'Why you -'
'You two are aware that if the meeting was at half past, you are already ten minutes late?' Hitsugaya's cool voice cut through Rangiku's antics.
'What?!' the two lieutenants said in unison, before bolting out of the door, flash stepping as fast as they could to Squad 1.
'Those idiots...' Hitsugaya mumbled.
Ichigo chuckled 'Yeah, but we wouldn't want them any other way.'
Hitsugaya looked up to see a fond smile adorning Ichigo's face, and he felt yet another surge of envy. He wanted to be the one to make Ichigo smile. Ichigo stood up and lent over the desk.
'Are you alright?' he asked, chocolate eyes brimming with concern.
Hitsugaya was mesmorised for a second, but quickly regained his composure. Ichigo was genuinely concerned for his well-being, and for some reason, knowing that made the tiny captain feel warm inside. But he be damned if he let it show. 'I'm fine, idiot.'
'Don't give me that. When you sat down just now, you were in pain. Are you still injured?'
'I have already said, I am fine.' Hitsugaya stated, eyebrows furrowing obstinantely.
'Jesus, you're stubborn...' Ichigo muttered to himself, before reaching over and lifting the small boy out of the chair.
'Ku-Kurosaki?! What are you doing?!'
'Well, someone's got to take care of you, since you're too stubborn to do it yourself.' He stated plainly.
'Kurosaki, I am not a child. I do not need someone taking - umff.' Hitsugaya landed unceremoniously on the sofa, Ichigo standing over him. He sighed before reaching down, pulling Hitsugaya out of his kimono top and haori in one swift movement.
'What do you think you are -' he stopped once he saw the look of utter horror on the firey teen's face. 'Kurosaki?'
Tanned fingers touched the boy's abdomen, circling the bleeding wound on his stomach. 'What did you do to yourself?' brown hues looking incredibly distressed. 'Why didn't you get this healed?'
Eyes downcast, Hitsugaya muttered 'I've caused too much trouble already.' Teal eyes widened as he found himself in the substitute's arms. Slowly, the snow crowned soul reaper relaxed, sagging into the touch, his head falling forward to rest on man's shoulder.
'You call me an idiot. Toshiro, that has to be the stupidest excuse I have ever heard.' Ichigo pulled back to look at the captain before taking his hand to haul him off the sofa.
'C'mon,' he said, his tone holding a hint of exasperation.
Toshiro gave him a questioning look.
'I'm taking you to Squad 4.'
At these words, the small boy yanked his hand out of the warm hold, backing away. 'No, no please,' he begged 'I can't go there, I've done enough damage.'
'Don't be ridiculous Toshiro'
'Please Kurosaki, you don't understand' he whispered, teal orbs wide and pleading.
Ichigo sighed; the small boy looked so helpless, backed up against the wall, begging and bleeding. He didn't have the heart to make the boy do anything. 'Fine, I won't take you to the Fourth.' Teal eyes brimmed with relief.
'Thank you.' he whispered
'On one condition.' the lithe body tensed up again, light muscles taught under the pale skin. He looked sharply at Ichigo, looking almost frightened at what the man was going to say.
'Hey, relax. I just want you to let me bandage you up instead.' Hitsugaya breathed a sigh of relief, the tension leaving his body.
'Alright' he said, walking over to the couch, ignoring the stars in his vision 'the first aid kit is on the shelf.' He vaugely registered Ichigo padding across the office to get said first aid kit; he was more focused on calming his swimming vision. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder, and saw a fuzzy mess of orange. 'Ichigo...' he rasped, one pale hand reaching forward, grasping in the air.
Ichigo took hold of the blanched appendage, a callused thumb stroking it gently. 'Yeah, I'm here. Are you alright? You're - Toshiro!' the white haired captain's eyes rolled and he slumped forward. Ichigo caught the dead weight, sinking to his knees whilst cradling the captain.
'Toshiro! Hey, wake up. Toshiro!' The snow topped captain moaned, but did not wake up.
Ichigo placed him softly on the sofa. A gentle but anxious look adorned the firey haired teen's face, as he looked at the tiny boy who wore a pained expression. Ichigo lifted one tanned hand to run it through the snowy locks, trying to soothe the distressed boy. After a few seconds of stroking the silky tendrils, the boy seemed to settle into a more peaceful slumber; his eyebrows smoothing out, his body relaxing.
Ichigo opened the first aid box with an audiable click. He disinfected the wounds, and just as he finished wrapping them, teal eyes cracked open. 'Ichigo...' he groaned. Chocolate orbs snapped up to the snowy captain's face.
'Yeah, I'm here. Are you in pain?' The small soul reaper shook his head and made an effort to sit up. Ichigo was there in a flash, strong arms supporting him, lifting him into a sitting position. The snow crowned boy looked pensive, like he was weighing up his words.
'I...I wanted to thank you. You were the only on who helped me when the Ouin was stolen, and I also want to apologise. I shouldn't have attacked you, especially after all you did for me. I -'
'Stop Toshiro. It's fine, really. You were in a difficult situation and you were just doing what your instincts were telling you to. But I do have to ask you something...' Ichigo trailed off, eyes downcast, looking uncertain. Hitsugaya nudged him, urging him to go on.
'Were you two together?' Teal eyes widened, he felt like someone had winded him. He couldn't breathe. No one was meant to find out about this. He feared others would frown upon him, exclude him, making him more lonely than he already was. His breath came out in short sharp gasps; he really couldn't handle this. Not so soon after having to kill his beloved, again.
All of a sudden, he was being held against a warm wall, strong arms embracing him.
'Woah, Toshiro. Calm down, it's alright. Shush, I'm here...' Ichigo rubbed soothing circles on the small of the panicing boy's back, murmuring cajoling words into the boy's ear; and, little by little, the snow crown soul reaper began to calm down, his breathing returning to normal.
'H-How did y-y-you know?' he stammered. Ichigo smiled warmly at the tiny captain.
'By the way you looked at him...' A sob escaped his lips and tears splashed down the diminuitive captain's cheeks. Never in his wildest dreams did Hitsugaya thinnk the brash yet traditional substitute would be the one to figure it out, to accept him. Ichigo let him cry into his Shihakushō, all the while holding the captain close, rubbing soothing circles on his back. The only thought passing through Histugaya's mind was that someone had found out, and accepted him for it. He never though that it would be possible.
When he stopped crying, he simply rested against Ichigo's chest, both emotionally and physically exhausted. Before he knew it, the gentle rubs on his back coupled with the soothing words being mumbled in his ear, sent him to sleep, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off of his chest.
Ichigo looked down at the unconcious boy in his arms. It was heart breaking to see the boy, who was usually so strong, so calm fall to pieces, all because the firey teen had found out about the nature of his relationship with his fellow ice weilder. Had he really been that scared of rejection?
He slipped the snow crowned soul reaper back into his kimono top and haori before carrying him back to his quaters. Once inside, Ichigo slid the lithe body under the comforter. He stroked Hitsugaya's hair away from his face and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. The tiny captain stirred at the touch, lavender flecked lids fluttering before the teal eyes cracked open. 'Ichigo... Stay.' the captain mumbled, a small hand reaching for Ichigo. As soon as the orange crowned man took the lithe appendage, it went limp in his grasp, as the diminuitive captain returned to sleep. The substitute smiled warmly at the slumbering boy, releasing the slack hand and going to the other side of the room, to where a chair was stationed. He pulled said chair next to the bed, slipping his hand into the one he had just let go of.
When Hitsugaya next opened his eyes, his vision was assaulted by an orange mop. Ichigo was sat on the chair, his upper body slumped onto the bed; his fire topped head resting on a bent arm. Hitsugaya allowed a ghost of a smile to pass across his features as he realised the firey teen had stayed with him through the whole night, as he had asked. He tried to lift his hand to run it through the orange mop, only to find it was trapped. He looked down and saw Ichigo's tanned hand holding his; the difference in colour apparent. Teal orbs looked at the dozing man infront of him with unhidden affection.
The tiny captain leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the orange hair's cheek.
'Thank you, Ichigo...'
Momo; he had nearly killed her, impaling her on his zanpaktou.
Kusaka; he had been killed by the stealth force once, only to come back to be killed all over again.
Ichigo; the firey haired boy had only been trying to help him, yet he still swung his sword at him.
Truth be told, Hitsugaya owed Ichigo more than he would ever admit. He was the only one who stood by him, helped him in any way he could, when the ouin was stolen. Even his own lieutenant didn't come after him, seek him out in any way. Hitsugaya lay back down and sighed. He would have to thank Ichigo for everything he had done... But he would do that in the morning.
Hitsugaya awoke to the sound of loud voices laughing and chattering in his office. He sat up, only to cry out in pain, clutching the bleeding hole in his abdomen. Gritting his teeth, he climbed out of bed, put on his kimono and his haori embedded with the Squad 10 insignia. He opened the door to his quaters and walked down the hall, towards his office.
Rangiku, Renji and Ichigo were sprawled across the floor, chatting and laughing. Renji had his arm slung round Ichigo's neck, an Hitsugaya felt a pang of jealousy. When Ichigo saw him come in, he flashed him a goofy grin, before bellowing 'Hi Toshiro!'
Histugaya gave a curt nod in response and walked briskly towards his desk, wincing as he sat down. 'Abarai, would you mind telling me what you are doing in my office. I'm sure you have matters to attend to within your own division.'
'Ah, well, there's a lieutenants' meeting at half past sir, so I thought I'd come and see how Rangiku was doing,' he flashed her a cheeky smile 'and make sure she wasn't too drunk to attend.' This was followed by a laugh from Ichigo and a smack from Rangiku.
'Why you -'
'You two are aware that if the meeting was at half past, you are already ten minutes late?' Hitsugaya's cool voice cut through Rangiku's antics.
'What?!' the two lieutenants said in unison, before bolting out of the door, flash stepping as fast as they could to Squad 1.
'Those idiots...' Hitsugaya mumbled.
Ichigo chuckled 'Yeah, but we wouldn't want them any other way.'
Hitsugaya looked up to see a fond smile adorning Ichigo's face, and he felt yet another surge of envy. He wanted to be the one to make Ichigo smile. Ichigo stood up and lent over the desk.
'Are you alright?' he asked, chocolate eyes brimming with concern.
Hitsugaya was mesmorised for a second, but quickly regained his composure. Ichigo was genuinely concerned for his well-being, and for some reason, knowing that made the tiny captain feel warm inside. But he be damned if he let it show. 'I'm fine, idiot.'
'Don't give me that. When you sat down just now, you were in pain. Are you still injured?'
'I have already said, I am fine.' Hitsugaya stated, eyebrows furrowing obstinantely.
'Jesus, you're stubborn...' Ichigo muttered to himself, before reaching over and lifting the small boy out of the chair.
'Ku-Kurosaki?! What are you doing?!'
'Well, someone's got to take care of you, since you're too stubborn to do it yourself.' He stated plainly.
'Kurosaki, I am not a child. I do not need someone taking - umff.' Hitsugaya landed unceremoniously on the sofa, Ichigo standing over him. He sighed before reaching down, pulling Hitsugaya out of his kimono top and haori in one swift movement.
'What do you think you are -' he stopped once he saw the look of utter horror on the firey teen's face. 'Kurosaki?'
Tanned fingers touched the boy's abdomen, circling the bleeding wound on his stomach. 'What did you do to yourself?' brown hues looking incredibly distressed. 'Why didn't you get this healed?'
Eyes downcast, Hitsugaya muttered 'I've caused too much trouble already.' Teal eyes widened as he found himself in the substitute's arms. Slowly, the snow crowned soul reaper relaxed, sagging into the touch, his head falling forward to rest on man's shoulder.
'You call me an idiot. Toshiro, that has to be the stupidest excuse I have ever heard.' Ichigo pulled back to look at the captain before taking his hand to haul him off the sofa.
'C'mon,' he said, his tone holding a hint of exasperation.
Toshiro gave him a questioning look.
'I'm taking you to Squad 4.'
At these words, the small boy yanked his hand out of the warm hold, backing away. 'No, no please,' he begged 'I can't go there, I've done enough damage.'
'Don't be ridiculous Toshiro'
'Please Kurosaki, you don't understand' he whispered, teal orbs wide and pleading.
Ichigo sighed; the small boy looked so helpless, backed up against the wall, begging and bleeding. He didn't have the heart to make the boy do anything. 'Fine, I won't take you to the Fourth.' Teal eyes brimmed with relief.
'Thank you.' he whispered
'On one condition.' the lithe body tensed up again, light muscles taught under the pale skin. He looked sharply at Ichigo, looking almost frightened at what the man was going to say.
'Hey, relax. I just want you to let me bandage you up instead.' Hitsugaya breathed a sigh of relief, the tension leaving his body.
'Alright' he said, walking over to the couch, ignoring the stars in his vision 'the first aid kit is on the shelf.' He vaugely registered Ichigo padding across the office to get said first aid kit; he was more focused on calming his swimming vision. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder, and saw a fuzzy mess of orange. 'Ichigo...' he rasped, one pale hand reaching forward, grasping in the air.
Ichigo took hold of the blanched appendage, a callused thumb stroking it gently. 'Yeah, I'm here. Are you alright? You're - Toshiro!' the white haired captain's eyes rolled and he slumped forward. Ichigo caught the dead weight, sinking to his knees whilst cradling the captain.
'Toshiro! Hey, wake up. Toshiro!' The snow topped captain moaned, but did not wake up.
Ichigo placed him softly on the sofa. A gentle but anxious look adorned the firey haired teen's face, as he looked at the tiny boy who wore a pained expression. Ichigo lifted one tanned hand to run it through the snowy locks, trying to soothe the distressed boy. After a few seconds of stroking the silky tendrils, the boy seemed to settle into a more peaceful slumber; his eyebrows smoothing out, his body relaxing.
Ichigo opened the first aid box with an audiable click. He disinfected the wounds, and just as he finished wrapping them, teal eyes cracked open. 'Ichigo...' he groaned. Chocolate orbs snapped up to the snowy captain's face.
'Yeah, I'm here. Are you in pain?' The small soul reaper shook his head and made an effort to sit up. Ichigo was there in a flash, strong arms supporting him, lifting him into a sitting position. The snow crowned boy looked pensive, like he was weighing up his words.
'I...I wanted to thank you. You were the only on who helped me when the Ouin was stolen, and I also want to apologise. I shouldn't have attacked you, especially after all you did for me. I -'
'Stop Toshiro. It's fine, really. You were in a difficult situation and you were just doing what your instincts were telling you to. But I do have to ask you something...' Ichigo trailed off, eyes downcast, looking uncertain. Hitsugaya nudged him, urging him to go on.
'Were you two together?' Teal eyes widened, he felt like someone had winded him. He couldn't breathe. No one was meant to find out about this. He feared others would frown upon him, exclude him, making him more lonely than he already was. His breath came out in short sharp gasps; he really couldn't handle this. Not so soon after having to kill his beloved, again.
All of a sudden, he was being held against a warm wall, strong arms embracing him.
'Woah, Toshiro. Calm down, it's alright. Shush, I'm here...' Ichigo rubbed soothing circles on the small of the panicing boy's back, murmuring cajoling words into the boy's ear; and, little by little, the snow crown soul reaper began to calm down, his breathing returning to normal.
'H-How did y-y-you know?' he stammered. Ichigo smiled warmly at the tiny captain.
'By the way you looked at him...' A sob escaped his lips and tears splashed down the diminuitive captain's cheeks. Never in his wildest dreams did Hitsugaya thinnk the brash yet traditional substitute would be the one to figure it out, to accept him. Ichigo let him cry into his Shihakushō, all the while holding the captain close, rubbing soothing circles on his back. The only thought passing through Histugaya's mind was that someone had found out, and accepted him for it. He never though that it would be possible.
When he stopped crying, he simply rested against Ichigo's chest, both emotionally and physically exhausted. Before he knew it, the gentle rubs on his back coupled with the soothing words being mumbled in his ear, sent him to sleep, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off of his chest.
Ichigo looked down at the unconcious boy in his arms. It was heart breaking to see the boy, who was usually so strong, so calm fall to pieces, all because the firey teen had found out about the nature of his relationship with his fellow ice weilder. Had he really been that scared of rejection?
He slipped the snow crowned soul reaper back into his kimono top and haori before carrying him back to his quaters. Once inside, Ichigo slid the lithe body under the comforter. He stroked Hitsugaya's hair away from his face and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. The tiny captain stirred at the touch, lavender flecked lids fluttering before the teal eyes cracked open. 'Ichigo... Stay.' the captain mumbled, a small hand reaching for Ichigo. As soon as the orange crowned man took the lithe appendage, it went limp in his grasp, as the diminuitive captain returned to sleep. The substitute smiled warmly at the slumbering boy, releasing the slack hand and going to the other side of the room, to where a chair was stationed. He pulled said chair next to the bed, slipping his hand into the one he had just let go of.
When Hitsugaya next opened his eyes, his vision was assaulted by an orange mop. Ichigo was sat on the chair, his upper body slumped onto the bed; his fire topped head resting on a bent arm. Hitsugaya allowed a ghost of a smile to pass across his features as he realised the firey teen had stayed with him through the whole night, as he had asked. He tried to lift his hand to run it through the orange mop, only to find it was trapped. He looked down and saw Ichigo's tanned hand holding his; the difference in colour apparent. Teal orbs looked at the dozing man infront of him with unhidden affection.
The tiny captain leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the orange hair's cheek.
'Thank you, Ichigo...'