when the snow drifts (that's when the heart speaks)
Title: when the snow drifts (it's when the heart speaks)
Summary: "You didn't have to do that." He asked, his eyes only glancing just a little bit. "Isn't it amazing, captain?" Kuchiki replied, "Humans are so fascinating and remarkable that sometimes, I just want to be one."
Pairings: Toshiro Hitsugaya/Rukia Kuchiki
Settings:Continuation of anime episode 316
Author's Note
I just wanted to do something out of the episode where in there's snow and everything. =) So… here's a little one-shot I made while taking a break from the new fanfic I published. It would be nice if you'd read it; just check it out in my account.
Extra thanks to daybreaks for pointing out a few grammatical errors.
This has been bugging me since December and now, I think I actually have the motivation to type it in the computer. I'm trying to write the fourth chapter of Secondhand Serenade so if you have and requests or suggestions, just tell me. =)
Next chapter should be up soon.. =))) As soon as I post it in fanfiction.net.
So here it is! Hope you'd like it! =D
Disclaimer: Bleach is not mine.
when the snow drifts (that's when the heart speaks)
prologue
Dedicated to Denidene
Inspired by Drops of Jupiter (by Train)
i.
It was cold.
It was strangely cold despite the fact that almost a while ago the scorching heat is almost unbearable for someone like him. There was a sudden shift in the temperature, after all. An hour ago, the sun was still lingering up above but now, looking around him…
It's just different… way too different. Last time he checked the calendar (which was yesterday), it read "April 15" and there's no way in hell that it snows during spring. No way… unless the global warming was just that bad.
And he doubted that.
Either ways, there's someone he has to talk to because he'd bet with all of his life that this time, it's not Hyōrinmaru causing it. It was certainly not his zanpakutō. He has enough control over his powers to stop his reiatsu from leaking, and although he didn't cause it, that doesn't mean anyone else wasn't causing it.
In fact, he just has one person in mind.
And there's no way that he'd be wrong.
No, not this time.
ii.
And that was exactly how he found her sitting on the railings of some park in her shinigami form, her zanpakutō in her hand. This place's temperature was way colder than the place he had been recently. Besides the fact that it wass higher from the ground (it is in a cliff, after all), this is where the reiatsu originated.
She caused the snow.
Not him, Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
"Kuchiki." He called, voice filled with authority.
Her head swung to the side as she looked for the source of the voice, eyes blinking in confusion. Eyes landing on the white-haired captain who was leaning on the trunk of a tree, she got off the railings and bowed her head in respect.
"Captain Hitsugaya."
He nodded his head towards his direction. He doesn't have to say anything else, right?
Taking his nod as her signal to return to what she was doing earlier, Kuchiki returned to sitting on the railing, looking down at the humans who were playing at the street below with snowballs and snowmen.
As for him, Hitsugaya leaned his head on the trunk, relaxing a bit. The silence… it was a nice change. There wasn't anything else to do at this point. Besides, the cold temperature is cooling and refreshing but… he has something to ask.
And it was now or never.
"You didn't have to do that." He asked, his eyes only glancing just a little bit.
Kuchiki blinked her eyes in surprise and tried to look at him innocently and said, "What do you mean, Captain Hitsugaya?"
Hitsugaya snorted, rolled his eyes and retorted, "Are you even asking that? You know what I'm talking about."
The said girl furrowed her eyebrows and kept her lips firm as she spoke, "With all due respect sir, I have no idea what you are talking about."
Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes at Kuchiki as he snapped back, "I'm sure your brother won't appreciate it if I'd report to him and say that you haven't learned how to respect your superior officer. Don't play dumb with me, Kuchiki. That's an order."
Kuchiki narrowed her eyes at him and she looked like she was biting a complain or probably, an insult. Hitsugaya almost laughed at Kuchiki's expression as she sat down and hastily apologized, bowing down her head.
She was silent for a while, and didn't say even a single word as she lowered her gaze and continued looking at the park. It was an expected reaction because like him, she's just an ice-element wielder like him and they just don't like being… disturbed.
And it's not like he expected her to answer his ques-
"I just felt like it."
Oops…
He didn't expect that.
"Tch!" Hitsugaya replied, looking upwards, "Don't kid me around, Kuchiki! I thought you were smarter than that."
Kuchiki looked at him, expression looking like she's annoyed as she replied back, "I answered your question, captain. I just felt like it."
"That's impossible, Kuchiki." Hitsugaya replied as he glared at the raven-haired shinigami in front of him halfheartedly.
The girl sighed but caught herself and said, "If that's what you want, sir. I didn't mean to disrespect you."
Hitsugaya shook his head and continued his accusation, "But you did it. There is a reason. You used your zanpakutō to cause the snow for some unknown reason at that time and up to now. I want to know why."
For a short while, silence enveloped the two shinigami but Hitsugaya didn't enjoy it because the question just lingered inside his mind and just won't go away, and although asking Kuchiki would probably be stupid of him considering she didn't give him any proper answer...
He just has to try.
He has to.
Moments passed by and he continued to watch the girl watch the snow fall all over the town. It was crazy of her, releasing this much of reiatsu. It would attract hollows and at the same time, drain her.
He has to know wh-
His thoughts were cut off by the chuckle that Kuchiki had. It was surprisingly low for someone as petite (not small because he'd be calling himself small, as well) as her, he noted. He looked at Kuchiki whose chuckles were getting more quiet.
Rolling his eyes, he asked, "Kuchiki, I suppose you can answer now?"
The Kuchiki girl shook her head, looked at him and said, "I don't mean to disrespect you, sir but you might enjoy the view from here. It's okay if you don't want to but..."
He rolled his eyes and strolled, leaning against the railings and looked downwards where he saw kids playing a snowball fight with each other and chasing around. "What?" He snorted, "You're making me look at that? I expected more. Your captain speaks highly of you."
Kuchiki shrugged her shoulder nonchalantly and said, "I have no means to make you upset Captain Hitsugaya but this is my answer to your question a while ago, and considering you were spending your time with two humans a while ago..."
He raised his eyebrows at her and said, "That? As much as I respect humans, I have no time to deal with them. Besides, why were you watching?"
The easy answer is always the best, no matter what you heart wants to say
She shook her head and (in his opinion) ignored what he just said.
"Isn't it amazing, captain?" Kuchiki replied, "Humans are so fascinating and remarkable that sometimes, I just want to be one."
"You're beginning to sound like Captain Kurosutchi, Kuchiki."
Kuchiki kept quiet and didn't respond.
Taking that as his go-signal, he stood up straight and walked backwards a bit. After all, there is no point in trying to talk to someone when they are obviously amused with something else.
"Tch." He said, "If that's what you want. I'll be leaving then, Kuchiki."
...but no matter how much he wants to leave, he just can't.
At least not until he knows why...
He turned back and began walking reaching out for his zanpakutō when Kuchiki's voice stopped him dead on his tracks.
"Humans..." she started, her back still facing him, "no matter how dire their situation is, they move on. No one stops them. It's as if they were built to always have hope in them. They're not strong but they stand on, captain. That makes me respect them so-"
He interrupted, "Is that all?"
Kuchiki glanced at him but continued what she was saying.
"-much. They're just there, yet nothing would ever be the same without them. They have hope although sometimes, it's just a tiny bit of flame. I guess that's why it's nice to do something that would make it burst."
She sounded so wistful and deep down those words, he could have sworn he sensed longing. And deep inside, he felt like she wasn't only talking about the people playing in the park.
Somehow, he felt like she's talking about him and at the same time not him.
He'd be lying if he'd say he's not stunned. Truth be told, she's right. Every single word that came out of her mouth is right but... sometimes pride comes first, and it's too bad that he's one of the people who'd rather not say anything at all.
"Whatever you say, Kuchiki."
Silence followed because none of the two has anything to say at all. After all, they're just comrades and no way they're friends. It was just a mutual feeling of a superior and a subordinate.
Nothing more...
Nothing less...
He had his answer, and it's time for him to leave.
"I'll be leaving then, Kuchiki."
Turning around, Kuchiki bowed her head and said respectfully, "Thank you very much, Captain Hitsugaya."
Reaching out to his katana, he removed it from its sheath and opened the Senkaimon but before doing so, he turned back and looked at her, as in really look at her straight in the eyes and saw something in that pool of violet.
"You did a good job." He blurted out.
Her eyes snapped open as she looked surprise at the captain's choice of words and asked, "Excuse me, sir?"
"Don't make me repeat myself, Kuchiki." he reprimanded. "I'm sure your hearing is just fine."
And in her violet eyes, deep down, Hitsugaya could see a spark. It wasn't anything big but for him, it was enough. Yes, it was really enough for now. It wasn't anything large or noticeable but it was something.
And that is way better than nothing at all.
He stepped inside the Senkaimon to visit his grandmother when (for the second time) her voice stopped him.
"You too, sir. You did a better job."
He was shocked.
He didn't expect that from her but he shrugged off the feeling, anyway.
"You should go back soon," he said, instead of making himself looking like a fool, "your captain might be worried if you're gone too long."
He received a silent "yes, sir", and at that time, he was sure that he made the right choice.
"See you soon," he started as the gates begun to close, "Kuchiki."
Then he ran into the dark abyss, and strangely this time, it wasn't cold anymore. The cold sensation was gone as he begun running along the path of the enclosed corridor.
It wasn't cold because he knew, deep inside he felt warm.
fin.