#just see how people treat hitsugaya

[tae-shimura-is-my-wife]

toshiro has canonically been confirmed to be older than momo. she used to be in one class with renji and izuru so that point genuinely doesn't stand

Actually my point still stands! In Toshiro's backstory we can see that he was way younger than Momo actually, to the point where Hinamori said this:

It's stated that Toshiro entered the academy younger than the average age (which is tween/teen years), meaning that he still was a child, most captains were young adults when they "won" this spot, meanhwhile Toshiro wasn't, meaning again that he was a minor when he became such, no dobut why he's called child prodigy in actual bleach timeline, not just in the past. In a interview Kubo said that he wanted a childlike character:

But yeah, it's totally possible to Toshiro be older than Momo meanwhile being a child! The reason is simple, it already was said that his reaitsu is way too strong, which made he age slower than anyone else, so he may be existed for a longer time, but he didn't grew up during this period. Since Momo and Hitsugaya were raised together, we can imply that he knew her since she was an infant, Toshiro literally saw her grow up meanwhile remaining a kid. So he's older existence wise, because his body and mental age still remains childlike.

[exo-raskreia]

Imma rant about Ichigo and Orihime cuz your blog has waken a outrageous fire in me!! And rightfully so! I agree with literally everything you said(btw Karin and hitsugaya are endgame for me too��🤭)

Ichihime makes literal sense and it genuinely sucks as a ship and i don't get why the shippers are satisfied with the results. I asked my friend who he wanted to be endgame and answered Ichigo and Orihime cuz they are a better fit. LITERALLY HOW?!! I didn't go psycho on him cuz if Ichigo and Rukia ain't your cup of tea then fine. But why are people answers automatically always Ichihime?? Is it cuz they are canon??? Where the hell was the build-up for it then?! It is nothing compare to ichigo/rukia or orihime with tatsuki/uryu. Idk if Kubo was trying to punk us by pairing them up or not. I feel like he didn't plan our their relationship properly! People say it was obvious from the beginning that ichigo likes her back but i sure as hell didn't see it! Maybe i'm just salty and refused to see the signs cuz Ichiruki is the best ship( and i had a crush on ichigo since forever soooo... 😖😖) ?? I've always been a rukia and ichigo fan rather cuz they actually had the chemistry and insane connection. I'm so mad that they weren't endgame. My girl Rukia was elite why didn't Ichigo went for her and vice versa?? Don't get me started on the poems, the speechs, the way ichigo always and always thinks of rukia. Like the ingredients for the cake was perfect, why the hell would you put gasoline in there💀💀

Some people say that cuz the show is shounen and not a romance, i shouldn't be upset about ichihime ending up together and not be mad of lack of their romance. I'm not expecting ichigo and orihime to have some epic EPIC love story or anything just make it more sense for ME at least. If Ichihime was some side-ship then i wouldn't care as much, but this is the MC of the show i want to see something greater than what we received! If they were to have a love story(ya know a real one) then they should've played it out like in Fruits basket

Ichigo and orihime actually remind me alot of kyo and tohru from fruits basket. And they're all very similar to think about it! Ichigo and Kyo: the grumpy orange haired protecters that have a heart of gold. Orihime and Tohru: the loveable sunshine character that are super traumatized but still manage to keep smiling. The only difference is that Kyo and Tohru actually have the emotional moments and had the chemistry and ya know they actually TALKED and were ACTUAL FRIENDS(as in kyo didn't treat tohru like a acquaintance) before dating. But since Orihime is so much like Ichigo's dead mom, their relationship would've been like Yuki and Tohru. I know the comparison might be dumb to do cuz they are very different anime and different genre but still!! Excuse me for caring so much about that my fav ain't canon. Yes this is a shounen anime but they could've at least squeezed in a bit of the love story of the mc to show they actually care about it. The MC of the show has a better and stronger bond with his bestie than his own wife. Like how is my girl Orihime not bothered by it?! Should've end up Tatsuku i swear. I mean they're literally Nana and Hachi!! 🍓🐶✨

I feel like orihime just exist to be his love interest and that's it! Girl had the potential to be a great character that ain't always there to be the love interest. Her becoming a housewife was insulting cuz what do you mean she ain't a robot destroying a city (i can't remember that scene from the earlier seasons but something in between those lines🤣) I do like Orihime enough but not that much cuz it's Ichigo this and Ichigo that. Like girl i get it. I wanted(and still do) him too but don't settle for being the second choice) HOMEGIRL YOU HAVE OTHER LUCKY DUCKS THAT WANNA BE WITH YOU!!

And another thing: I read somewhere that: just cuz Uryu had a crush Orihime that, that doesn't mean that Orihime should be together with him.... Okay then why can't that also imply to Ichigo and Orihime?? Like why just cuz "She'll fall for him in every lifetime" doesn't mean that he has to do the same too!! Rukia is already the queen of his heart mind you

BUT ANYWAYS!! It's a shounen after all so i shouldn't be expecting the mc to have a well-written love story and not to have high hopes of the MC love interest to be something more than that. But whatever at the end of the day they're CANON and have a kid together so all i can do is cry about it and live in fanfiction.

Ahem, I'm done with my rant thank you 😌 (And yes anti-IchiRuki fans I'll still be salty in my 40s cuz of the ending and I will never shut up about it just cuz they have canonically have kids)

No worries, anon! You've come to the right place! Let it all out~

Not surprised your male friend would choose Ori. Typical. For dudes like him, her appearance, superficial crush on Ichigo, & the word "canon" being slapped on are enough for them, despite there not being any actual chemistry between IH. It is also a common trope in other manga/anime, so they convince themselves that it was meant to happen, but it doesn't mean it makes sense for every story, especially not in Bleach's case; it doesn't make narrative sense if they actually looked into it.

(Canon ≠ good. Just look up what went wrong in 'How I Met Your Mother' or even 'Game Of Thrones' S8).

(While on the subject, since Rukia is a much better written character than Ori, if she had a body like Ori's, & Ori like Rukia's, even less dudes would care about IH 🫢, since they never even have good arguments in favor of it that aren't the 3 things I mentioned already up top).

Ichigo & Rukia had the most chemistry in the entire manga/anime, & it baffles me when people didn't/don't (wanna) see it. I went into Bleach almost blind when I first started watching it & IR really stood out. Their bond is right in your face, playing along the border between platonic & romantic, making you wonder what exactly it is, but knowing they aren't just mere friends. In the manga, I was constantly awed & amused by how borderline romantic it came off as, despite having already watched the anime (which did not do the manga justice in many ways; and then antis claim IR was mostly anime-based, PLEASE 🙄). Kubo really wasn't playing when it came to these 2. What a freakin' troll.

Haven't watched Fruits Basket, but I can see what you mean. Grumpy & Sunshine is a fun trope, however, as you said, IH just didn't have what it takes. If Kubo had wanted to, he could have properly developed IH at some points in the manga, such as the Fullbring arc, & it wouldn't have to be anything big, as Bleach is not a romance. He could have opened the arc with those 2 already going out, like them holding hands as they head to school or something, maybe showing some flashbacks of them talking things out, comforting each other since HM to show how they got together. Instead, in those 17 months since Ichigo lost his powers & contact with Rukia, you're telling me Kubo couldn't make IH bond? Instead, Ori's still pathetically pining after him while Ichigo is still thinking of, longing for, Rukia! How am I supposed to believe IH was meant to be endgame?!

Orihime had more chemistry with other people than the man she ended up with 💀. I personally ship her with 2 other men (Ishida & Ulquiorra). She was different with them. One selflessly cared for her, had her at the forefront of his mind in her own rescue arc (unlike Ichigo), while the other challenged her, found her fascinating & wanted to learn more... Not to mention they both protected her from Ichigo a couple times in the HM arc.

She really did have potential to be a great character but it all kept going down the drain, never achieved her dreams nor goals. She kept regressing as the story went on, especially when it came to Ichigo. She was never able to encourage him nor fully support him & was usually a complete damsel in his presence (he even seemed annoyed by her during the Ywach fight, which mind u, she was only there cuz there was no one else left & Ichigo had no choice?). She was more interesting whenever she wasn't around him. All her best moments were when she wasn't thinking about him. Saving Tatsuki? Bonding with Ishida in SS, standing in front of him to protect him in the Fullbring arc? Bonding with Ulquiorra (the only good thing she did the whole HM arc)? She could've done more in HM but didn't. In TYBW, she didn't do anything special, couldn't even encourage Ichigo & was treated like a ragdoll by Ywach. This is how Kubo wanted us to remember her. She was mostly reduced to fanservice by the end (and she's still not as popular as Matsumoto or Yoruichi in that department 💀). I sometimes think he didn't like her all that much with how he treated her character...

While watching the anime, I seriously had been hoping she'd get over Ichigo in the SS arc when she wistfully said Rukia was a very special person to him who changed his world (oh, boy, was I in for disappointment). Right off the bat, there was nothing interesting/exciting about her interactions with Ichigo (I was shipping her with Ishida by this point). He was just so blasé with her, I almost felt bad for her & it only kept getting worse. I then hoped she'd finally get over him after the traumatic experience at the dome in HM, but her ongoing silly crush made my eyes roll & lose hope in it. LIKE GIRL, HE'S HUNG UP ON ANOTHER GIRL, & U SHOULD'VE STOPPED PUTTING HIM ON A PEDESTAL BY NOW; HE'S NO PRINCE CHARMING & ESPECIALLY NOT FOR U WHEN HE BARELY GAVE U A SECOND THOUGHT IN UR OWN RESCUE ARC & ALMOST GOT U KILLED LIKE 3 TIMES & U HAD TO GET SAVED BY ULQUIORRA & ISHIDA, LIKE-

Orihime doesn't have anything in common with Masaki other than maybe their appearance (which imo, Masaki looks more like short-haired Matsumoto anyway?). Besides the cheerful part, their personalities are very different. Masaki was more like Rukia: brave, strong, selfless, teasing & annoying Isshin/Ichigo, etc... IR has actual dynamic parallels with IsshiMasa in the narrative... Kubo just copied IR moments, especially considering he wrote as he went... So, don't be fooled by those morons who go by appearance alone & even those weird lines in one of the novels (Oedipus complex anyone?) instead of the legitimate parallels between IR & IM shown in the manga, such as these:

What was going thru Kubo's head if he supposedly "intended" for IH to happen? Ichigo & Ori had more chemistry with other characters than with each other. Kubo went about this all wrong. Bleach not being a romance is no excuse for shoddily pairing up characters in the end. In a few scenes scattered throughout the manga, he could've implied them. Every time they interacted, their relationship should've progressed somehow. And he actually did this with IchiRuki. (In regards to Naruto, for example, Kishimoto at least admitted he didn't put enough effort into his ships by saying romance was not his forte & he's not good at writing female characters, but at least most of the ships made sense & esp NaruHina had actual good moments scattered throughout the manga...).

Sigh, I've said this before, but why can't more battle shounens be like Fairy Tail when it comes to developing the ships throughout the story? There'd be less drama. Even Gintama did a better job at developing the main ships, lol, that if they became canon, hardly anyone would've been surprised (they were somewhat implied if u squint, tho 🤪).

There are theories Kubo wanted to spite Shounen Jump for their treatment over the years so he ended things this way (and maybe to spite the fans too, since his manga sales had been on the decline for years). Ever heard of the "choosing unhappiness" theories? Basically, remember that Ywach said he'd come back at Ichigo's happiest moment? Well, he didn't come back at Ichigo's wedding with Ori, not even at the birth of his son. He came back when Ichigo reunited with RUKIA after 10 years.

So what could this be telling us? That Ichigo chose to be unhappy by not getting with the one person who made him the happiest. Rukia gave him that push by choosing unhappiness first (since she knew Ichigo couldn't make the first attempt to) & married Renji, who in turn, also gave Ichigo that push to go for Ori. IR chose unhappiness to defeat Ywach. Could this actually be what Urahara meant when he said he'd leave everything to "Kurosaki-san & Kuchiki-san" after his defeat in TYBW?! (we deserved the IR tag-team we never got in the final fight, screw Kubo)

One could also say his friends chose unhappiness to help too? Ishida becoming a doctor he'd never expressed interest in & seeming isolated from the friend group (maybe not agreeing with the farce they're all in), Chad becoming a boxer instead of using his fists to protect, Ori marrying a man who doesn't love her & she knows never will, Renji marrying a woman who doesn't love him & never will (and whom I think he doesn't love either? My view on that here)... Isshin is nowhere in sight, could it be he also doesn't wanna be a part of this farce in which his own son chose to marry a woman he doesn't love?

Still, everything about this ending is so wrong, makes no sense, a bunch of retcons too. Heck, remember the rebuilding of Sokyoku Hill in SS? Made Ichigo destroying it meaningless 🙄.

Anyway, I didn't mean for this post to be too long. There's so much to rant about lol. There's also so much to make fun of 👀. As I said in this post, IH was never popular & never will be. Kubo himself can't bring himself to give them content & his affiliates (like Shounen Jump, Studio Pierrot, etc.) can't be bothered either, as IH doesn't sell. Canon for almost 10 years & still no official couple/family arts nor merch 😂. If they end up getting thrown a bone in the future, the fact it took them that long would still be laughable.

In the end, it's best to ignore canon, its fans, & engage with what you like. It also doesn't hurt to sometimes make fun of Bleach's failures~ Kubo has made it so easy, can you blame us? 🤷‍♀️

Also, glad u like HitsuKarin as well 🤭. Would you believe it's my #1 Bleach OTP? I had brainrot for it a few years ago, like I literally scoured almost every bit of content that I could find, & while it's died down, I just know that if Kubo &/or his affiliates were to feed us HK content now, I'd eat it up like a starving dog-

Sorry for the late reply, anon! 😓 Been having brainrot for a different fandom, if u can guess

[an-angel-in-the-garden]

hello again. If you don't mind, can I request a part 2 of the headcanons of Toshiro Hitsugaya's mother?This time they confess to the reader and Toshiro's reaction to each one? see you soon thanks

Yes, you definitely can! I don't get part two's often, so this is really fun. In case you haven't read it, here's part one! Mild Trigger warning for mentions of illness and near death in Ukitake's part, nothing big but still there also threats of murder in Aizen's part

Komamura

He's so nervous about confessing, there's so many reasons you might reject him after all

It takes him weeks to work up the courage to actually say anything and until then it's just some quite pinning

Honestly, he'll ask for Toshiro's permission when he decides to confess

Komamura is very aware about how important you are to each other; you value your son and his opinion just as much as he cares about yours and Komamura wouldn't want to make either of you upset with his feelings

With permission from Toshiro, he'll finally talk with you about things

It's a heartfelt confession done away from all of the captions, he brings a small gift and a letter as a backup for if he gets nervous

" I know this might not be the best choice for us, but I want you to know that I care for you. As more than our head captain, as more than friend. I wish to fight for you, to protect and most of all love you in any form I can."

The note he gives you after is largely the same, but his handwriting is shaky and ends with " I hope you'll consider me."

He likes you! Loves you even and no matter what you say that won't change, reject him and he'll stay your friend, always willing to fight side by side, accept him and he's over the moon ready to give this his all

Ukitake

It takes him a little to even realize that what he feels is more than simple friendship or care

Ukitake expects so little and has learned not to want for much in life, but you have given him hope and now he's lost

He doesn't really think about what Toshio might think about this whole thing and nor does he give himself false hope on a relationship in fact Ukitake likely plans to never confess

It happens on accident after a rather bad bout of sickness, his breathing is short and rough he can hardly sit up and yet he can only think about you and how he promised to have tea with you the next day

The confession is nothing but babbled talks as he falls in and out of rest, not knowing that you're in the room worried about him

" I would hate to see them sad; I do my best to make things happy around her, that smile makes my heart race. I want nothing more than to see it for the rest of my life, no matter how short that time may be. To spend it with her would be worth everything."

He says more but it becomes harder to understand as his words slur together in sleep still the murmurs of your name are hard to ignore

It's up to you to make any moves as Ukitake wont, he worries about the pain it could cause, oh but if you do it means the world to him

This small joy to keep to himself is more than anything he could have asked for in this life

Out of all the people on this list Ukitake is the easiest for Toshio to accept, he's a caring man who wants to do things right and Toshio knows that he'd treat you well and still respect the positions you both hold

Aizen

just the worst one, Toshio will never really be okay with Aizen even if you claim to be happily in love, he will never trust Aizen, but he respects your choice enough to not cause fights all the time

With that Aizen is also the one who knows right away that he's in love, its obsessive once he decides to accept those feelings into his heart

There's a need to keep you to himself but given his current plan he knows that might not be possible without just kidnapping you sadly he knows that doing this would only make you and your son hate him even more

So, he makes a new plan, come out as a traitor and offer to work together in exchange for marriage to you

It's a confession full of both passion and threats

" You are my everything, the only one who could possibly stay by my side, to fight and rule together would be an honor. I can protect these worthless people, or I could kill them at your word and all you have to do is say yes. Marry me and this world and more shall be yours."

It's more a contract then a real relationship at first and Toshio will do everything he can to get you to not agree, you all could try fighting or killing him but it's clear that the best option is to simply go along with the plan

It's Aizen greatest pleasure and Toshio's worst fear but your happiness matters to them both and he wants his mother happy plus if it keeps Aizen leashed then he'll deal with it

It's not ever going to be smooth sailing in this relationship but with hard work and real attempts on Aizen's part, you can make it work

Hello hello! Happy holidays to you all! So like I planned to get this out sooner I really did but I got super hooked on a new game and have mostly been playing that. I also had a birthday this month! I'm 21 now! I already have some other things in the works and one of them will be an instruction to a new fandom I plan to write for. Anyway, thank you for reading and have a great day!

[ulquiorrapleasecallmetrash]

Good to see you again 😁

May I please request headcanons for Byakuya, Toshiro, Kensei, and Ichigo finding out about their girlfriend’s dream to become a chef but she is being discouraged by her parents?

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Ichigo, Byakuya, Toshiro, and Kensei Reaction To A chef! Reader Headcanons:

Fandom: Bleach

Rating: G

Warnings: none!

Admin Wisteria: I hope you enjoy these. <3

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Ichigo Kurosaki:

-He is very supportive of your chef dream. 

-Once he finds out that your parents don’t support your cheg dreams he would be upset.

-Would encourage you to go for your dreams anyways. 

-Will also comfort you as well. 

-Would love to try all of your food.

-His eyes will light up if you make him his favorite dish. 

-Would also help critique it the best way that he can. 

-Overall, he won't be too happy that your parents but he will give all of the support you need instead of your parents.

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Byakuya Kuchiki:

-He generally wouldn’t mind a chef s/o. 

-He would enjoy all of the dishes that his s/o would make for him.

-It gives him a very comforting feeling when he eats one of your delicious dishes.

-He would be supportive of your chef dreams, he just wouldn’t be as expressive about it as  other people. 

-He wouldn’t react much when he finds out that your parents doesn’t support your dreams.

-He would give a sympathetic look and a frown.

-I think he would gently explain to your parents why s/o would want to be a chef in a different way and hope they would understand.

-He would feel bad about your parents not supporting your dreams.

-But he would gently remind you that he is there for your support. 

-Overall, He will be supportive of you in his own way. He might be more quiet about it but the smile on his face when he takes the first bite of your dish says it all.

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Toshiro Hitsugaya:

-I think he would be the most realistic out of the everyone on the list.

-This isn’t to say he doesn’t support your dreams. 

-He just wants to make sure that you truly know how hard it is to become a chef and the consequences of being one. 

-He would somewhat see why your parents would be wary of you being a chef.

-But he would completely disagree about your parents completely disregarding your dreams though. 

-Will give you legit advice on how to approach the conversation if they complain about your chef dreams again. 

-Still, he will give you the support you need, He wants you to be happy but wants you to make sure you really want you to do this.

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Kensei Muguruma:

-He leans more on the realistic side of things. 

-He can understand why your parents would worry about your being a chef but that doesn’t mean her agrees about the way they treat your dreams,

-If he does see your parents treat you bad;y or harshly scold you for your dreams he will quick to defend you.

-But he will also want to talk to you alone and tell you why your parents are feeling this way. 

-He wants to be the nuetral person in this.

 -He wants give both perspectives as to why the other feels this way. 

-I think by the and of it, all of you will have an understanding of each other.

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[bleachbleachbleach]

[Bleach 072]

This scene is important to me for the express reason that Hitsugaya was apparently the one to tell Jidanbou about these rules. Because they are friends! We know this not from any in-story interactions but from one line in Hitsugaya's Souls profile:

[Souls 133]

I'll be honest with you, I've never actually read Souls and have never thought about where it ties to canon temporally, but the answer to that is apparently sometime before Hitsugaya confronts Ichimaru.

This amuses me because at this point we know all of five things about this guy, and one of the five is that he's friends with Jidanbou. We don't even know the name of his Zanpakutou (that's the "?" in his stats profile box), but we know he's FRIENDS WITH JIDANBOU.

I don't have the English version of this page, apologies, but basically it's just like, Hitsugaya is a shinigami who comes from Rukongai, he's the youngest Captain in history, and he's currently investigating the Rukia business and trying to bring Ichimaru's shit to light. By the way, he's friends with Jidanbou and taught him the "Rules of the City." (Then the bottom sidebar is about how Hitsugaya treats Hinamori like blood, and wants to protect her.)

Which honestly makes this Jidanbou connection even funnier because Hinamori, the reason Hitsugaya is even in this story and the only reason we know this much about him (through Hinamori's Academy flashback), gets a neat sidebar, but the line about Jidanbou is just thrown in at the end of the main narrative like, beeeeee-tee-dubs!!

I've always wanted to write fanfic about this, but I haven't yet come up with a premise that was actually interesting to me. I assume they get paired up in this way for the size kink, though internal to the narrative that only gets us so far. After that it's like, okay, they're both associated with West Rukongai, so there's that. They're probably both socially ostracized: According to himself, people in Junrinan find Hitsugaya off-putting because of his white hair and his, well, off-putting demeanor; people probably make fun of Jidanbou because he's enormous and speaks with a lisp (though this doesn't carry into the Viz)/doesn't come across as normatively cognitively developed. But I'm kinda like, okay, sure, whatever. The most interesting part about that for me is still that Hitsugaya has a casual friend at all, because what few relationships we do see are extremely not casual. But also BTW Jidanbou!

I still think my favorite version of this relationship is the one where, while Hinamori's been off at school, Hitsugaya casually mentions to her that he's friends with Jidanbou the Gate Guardian, with absolutely zero explanation, as a child might about a brand new ride-or-die friend, as though this were completely normal and natural for him, and that's all that's ever said about it. Hitsugaya is definitely someone who has a mental white paper for anything he's ever done, which is why I find the contrast/discrepancy so appealing.

If my life depended on writing Hitsugaya Jidanbou friendship, though, I'd probably start with the City Rules. Because:

Jidanbou has been guarding this gate for 300 years. We don't know how long Hitsugaya has been living in Junrinan, but we do know he would not have had first-hand experience with any City Rules more than ~35 years ago. Not that you need to go to the city to know the rules, but I think canon Hitsugaya establishes pretty well that he doesn't talk about things he's not interested in or things that he doesn't have personal verified knowledge of. So for the first 265 years, no one bothered telling Jidanbou very much about this place he was guarding (not even his brother). He's a utility, and one that lives outside the gates (FUGAIKUUUU)--also one that's not perceived as smart enough for that information to be meaningful. But that whole vibe is not really Hitsugaya's style, because he loves an infodump--but also because he has a bone to pick with the notion of instrumentality.

If we're making a point of saying that Hitsugaya taught Jidanbou the "Rules of the City" (in quotation marks), we're introducing an interlocutor's specific POV. I'm not saying Hitsugaya's just making shit up for the hell of it, but how important these rules are, why these would be the top 3, what their original contexts were vs. being pulled out like this, and what's a literal municipal code vs. a social more vs. just something Hitsugaya has personal commentary about, are up in the air. What I'm saying is, I feel like these have "a gigai is for eating beans" energy.

At minimum, I enjoy this because this is all information that is completely incidental not only to the main storyline but ALSO to the Detective Hitsugaya B-side. But I love that Bleach is consistently so, so interesting about all these characters and their POVs and the rules that do or don't exist in the world, particularly at these early junctures, where most of what we've heard about Soul Society is from Rukia, and a lot of it we've already seen contradicted; and we'll continue to as the arc unfolds. Who even NEEDS Kyouka Suigetsu??

[honeyflower15]

Hitsuhina Week 2024 - Day 2: Memories / Something Soft

Rating: K

Summary: Hitsugaya reminisces some old memories on his grandmother’s porch

Hitsugaya sighed as he sat on his grandmother’s porch. It had been many years since he had last sat in this spot. His first memories of this world were cold and lonely, his only solace being his grandmother. The others who lived in their district all feared him. Even as a small child, he faced kids running away in fear or adults looking at him with disdain.

Then she appeared and everything changed.

~X~

“What are you doing?”

Hitsugaya halted in his search for the herbs to look behind him. Nobody in their town spoke more than a few words to him. Usually, they just pretended he didn’t exist. Imagine his surprise seeing a girl that looked to be around his age looking down at him. “None of your business.” He brushed her off, not bothering to spare her a second glance.

“Do you need any help?”

He scoffed, the annoyance he felt rising. He had been fooled once by others who had pretended to be kind only to show how cruel they were. “Listen, you, I-“ he was ready to tell her off. To not treat him like he’s a dumb kid. He may have fallen for that trick once, but never again.

He had been ready to unleash his anger but halted when he realized something. She was looking at him. Even when the bullies had been tricking him, they avoided his gaze. Adults much bigger than both of them combined would cower. She didn’t do any of that. Her soft brown eyes were staring directly into his teal-colored ones. “Why?”

Her head tilted to the side, confusion showing on her face, but her soft gaze never wavered. “Why what?”

“Why are you looking at me?” His voice was soft, unsure of himself and his own question. He had grown so used to others turning away. The only one who didn’t seem bothered by him was his grandmother. So, why was she different? Why was she staring at him with such a kind look?

“What do you mean? You’re supposed to look at people when you talk with them.” Her answer was so simple, but it meant so much more to him. “You’re so weird.” She laughed, giggling at how weird she found his behavior.

He should have told her off. He didn't hold back his temper when the others in their district talked about him. If they were going to treat him like some kind of monster, then he would give them one. Except, he didn’t feel any malice from her. Her words, though strange, were kind.

It was her smile that sealed it for him.

~X~

The moment her lips twisted upwards and she looked at him with that smile, it was as if every cloud in the sky disappeared. He felt a warmth surround him; he wasn’t used to feeling. He couldn’t explain it, but that smile made him feel safe. It made him feel wanted.

From the first moment of meeting Hinamori, he knew he would do anything for that smile. It took him a few more years to realize the extent of those feelings, but they never changed. Even as they grew older, he found himself falling more and more in love with her.

It took him years for her to believe that he was the older of the two. He would always say once he was bigger than her, she would see, but that took much longer than either realized.

The two of them spent a lot of time together on this porch.

~X~

“Shiro-chan, look at what I have!”

Hitsugaya was lying on his side, resting after doing his morning chores. Summer was in full effect, and he was already wishing winter would come sooner. Most of the people around him loved this season, but he counted down the days until winter came. Yet another way that showed he was different from the others.

“Knock it off with that stupid nickname, bed-wetter!” He chimed back, not even bothering to open his eyes. He knew it was childish to demand she stop calling him a nickname by him calling her one right back, but he found he didn’t really care. Besides, they both knew there was no malice in his words.

“Why are you in such a bad mood? Are you not sleeping well again?“

He frowned, not enjoying that she was bringing up an embarrassing topic. He didn’t know why, but lately, he’s been having strange dreams of a field made up entirely of ice. It’s always storming and thundering, but he swears that some nights, it sounds like the thunder is speaking to him.

“I’m fine,” He finally opened his eyes but was surprised to see the young thing girl holding a big round green ball-like thing. “What do you got there?”

Brown eyes lit up when he finally noticed what she had. “It’s a watermelon! I got it when I went into town this morning.” She placed the fruit in front of him and walked into the home. She gave her greetings to his grandmother.

Maybe it seems weird to others that she’s going into his home and acting like she lived there, but both Hitsugaya and his grandmother were used to the girl coming over every day. His grandmother would even joke she practically lived there. The older woman had offered on many separate occasions for her to move in with them.

An offer that was rejected every time. While she loved coming over, she didn’t feel right leaving the sudo-family that had adopted her. Hitsugaya never voiced his opinion on the matter, but it didn’t escape either how his frown would deepen every time she turned down the offer.

Returning to sit beside him, she cut open the watermelon and handed him a slice. He took it, unsure of this new item. Sharp eyes examined the slice in his hands. The red interior seemed juicy, but the black seeds worried him about the taste. He’s never had it before, so he was apprehensive.

“I’m excited to try this!”

Her words only made his worries grow. “You’ve never had this before?”

“Nope!” He often wondered how she managed to survive as long as she did. “The store offered me a sample, but I wanted to wait and have the first taste with you!”

Taken back by her statement, he clenched his hands, momentarily forgetting the sweet fruit in his hands until he felt the juices start to run down his arms. “You’re so weird!” He chided her, hoping to hide his embarrassment.

She only laughed at this. “Maybe I am, but I don’t mind. Besides,” and there it was. She turned to look directly at him and showed him that beautiful smile he dreamt about when not haunted by fields of ice. “Things always taste better when I’m with you.”

His cheeks turned a color to match the watermelon. “Stupid! Don’t say weird things like that!” He cried out, scolding her for saying such things and making his heart race like it always does.

He chomped down, taking a huge bite out of the watermelon. “Hey, wait for me.” She lightly scolded him before taking her own bite. He merely grumbled, spitting out the many seeds he had consumed.

That’s how the two spent their afternoon. Talking about nothing in particular as, they spit watermelon seeds across the yard as the sun went down. When they were finished, she set to work on picking up the discarded seeds. “If we plant these, then we can have a whole field of watermelons for us to enjoy together!”

She showed him her hands full of the black seeds. She didn’t seem to care they were covered in spit and dirt; her excitement to grow them in their own field was overpowering everything else. He liked the idea of having their own watermelon patch growing in his backyard. The fruit was indeed tasty, but what he enjoyed most was their time together. He didn’t have the courage to say it out loud, but everything tasted better whenever she was around.

~X~

He smiled fondly as he finished a slice of watermelon he had cut for himself earlier. The fruit had remained his favorite to this very day.

So many memories were shared on this porch, some good and some bad. He remembers the fear when she told him she was leaving to become a Shinigami. He can still feel the heartbreak when she spoke of Aizen, and he realized what her feelings were for the older man. He also remembers the despair he felt as he collapsed beside his grandmother and told her what had happened during the war.

This porch saw so many moments in their lives.

“Shiro, what are you doing out here?”

As if materializing from his mind, she appeared. Momo was as beautiful now as she was when he first met her all those years ago. “Just reminiscing,” her laughter rang through his ears like the wind—so soft and warm and comforting—a sound he never wanted to be without.

“You’re so weird,” she came to sit beside him on the porch, her shoulder brushing against his as she adjusted the precise bundle in her arms. “Isn’t papa so silly, Natsumi?”

There she was. The whole reason they took the day off to visit their old home. Their daughter, Hitsugaya Natsumi, a beautiful baby girl with raven locks like her mother but with matching vibrant teal eyes like her father. She was nearly a year old, and they decided it was time for her to meet her grandmother.

He swore from the moment she was born that she was always smiling and looking happy, just like her mother.

He smiled as he watched the two most important girls in his life. He had sworn to protect Momo no matter what. He’d give up being a captain if it meant she would be safe. Now, that promise had a new person added in. From the moment he first held his little girl in his arms, he swore he would do whatever he could to protect that smile.

It seemed almost strange to him. The once sad, lonely little boy was just trying to make it day by day until a strange girl who believed the best in everyone, trusted blindly, but had a smile that shined brighter than the sun, could change his entire world. For the better, he might add.

“Shi…”

He was thrown from his thoughts as the two parents looked down at the baby girl in her mother’s arms. Her eyes squinted as she focused, lips quivering as she made little noises. Momo had been saying she was very close to speaking, making more sounds that seemed like actual words. Perhaps she was finally going to speak her first word.

“Shiro!”

Natsumi said happily, throwing her little arms in the air as she looked directly at her father.

Momo couldn’t hold back her laughter as she brought her daughter closer to her chest. “Yes, that’s right. Papa is Shiro.” She kissed the soft locks of raven hair.

Hitsugaya gave a halfhearted sigh. A kind smile on his face as he cupped his daughter’s cheek. “Yeah, I’m Shiro.”

It was a name he knew he would never be rid of but he’s found in his old age he doesn’t mind. Besides, the name brings back a lot of good memories.

[firebirdsdaughter]

Also…

… Just bc I feel bad saying I was lukewarm about him in my other tags… I do like Ichigo. He's one of the more well rounded shonen protags in that he's actually allowed to fail from time to time and while he's overly powerful, isn't treated as the super ultimate power, necessarily. He just happens to be a weird chimera of powers that allows him to to do things people of one aspect can't necessarily do.

And he doesn't insist he's the most powerful either. Him chronically trying to help everyone is his nature, not him looking down on them. He respects the powers of all the Captains and his friends, he just wants to help.

And everyone else is allowed to be strong, too. Kenpachi is an absolute wild card, and I think Byakuya's also up there (not favouritism, I swear—okay, maybe a little bit) if he's fighting without being conflicted (I've come to theorise that first big fight between them would have gone on longer/differently except Byakuya didn't really have his heart in it, he'd just convinced himself he did), Hitsugaya's got a massively powerful sword and he's probably just going to keep getting stronger. Renji and Rukia achieve their own bankais and defeat enemies on their own. Ikkaku and Yumichika are no slouches, either. Despite some questionable writing, Orihime is allowed to be strong as well, having powerful defence and healing abilities, and her kindness is often treated as a strength. Her having no killing intent isn't treated as a bad thing. You've got Shunsui, Ukitake, and bloody Yamato in the mix. Uryuu fights on even footing with plenty of super powered enemies, and though he does go out of focus, Chad is never made out to be the weakest or anything.

Like I liked that in the end, they defeated the overpowered invincible big bad through teamwork the Old Men Brigade set things up, and then even Ichigo couldn't get a hit in until Uryuu used what their fathers made to help (and I'm glad that it was Ichigo and Uryuu working together, bc that was super poetic).

I'm just rambling now, but the point is, Ichigo is a good example of making powerful protag who doesn't (always) come off as too overpowered.

It's often treated as more he happened to be the right combination of things or the right circumstances to prevail. Wasn't hypnotised, already had a little hollow in him, is just really bloody stubborn. He's also just a nice guy! He cares about people he befriends and will work his ass off to help them bc that's his belief.

Anyway, to complete in another direction (sort of), I was thinking about this bc of how when he reaches the Soul Society in the blood war arc, the first thing he does after getting Akon to help is go to see Byakuya. Probably bc he saw that Rukia and Renji were unconscious and Byakuya was fading, and probably knew he'd want to now they were alive, but like. While they're not personally very close, I do think Byakuya is one of the Captains Ichigo is closest to bc he's so close w/ Rukia and Renji. Just by virtue of that, he'll end up interacting w/ Byakuya more often. And he does respect him (I think he got over the 'I'll kill you' the moment Byakuya took Gin's sword for Rukia). He goes to check on him, and reassures him that Rukia and Renji are alive, even saying 'don't worry.' Like I said before, I totally think he would have lied there, if they hadn't been, bc he'd be well aware that information would completely break Byakuya. He thinks he's dying, he wouldn't leave him thinking he'd completely failed to protect them. But more to the point, he doesn't respond after Byakuya talks about how ashamed he is and begs him to help. He responds to the first question, but goes silent after that. And…

I love tranquil fury. I love it. I love this moment bc Ichigo's already fuming from sensing/hearing everyone being hurt. He's already super pissed. But to me there's some thing about the way he goes silent during that talk that feels like a switch is well and truly flipped at that moment. After that, he doesn't stop or pass go, just heads directly to Yhwach and is clearly completely enraged.

Bc until then, there's been a little bit of distance. He's angry bc he could hear it, he's even angrier when he gets in there and sees what's happening, but then he goes over to Byakuya and has one of the strongest, proudest, most level headed and noble people he knows break down in tears and beg him, while apparently dying, for help. The one who had previously told him that none of the Captains would ever need his help.

And that just hits the unstoppable rage button.

[unohanadaydreams]

With Mayuri's predilection for psychedelics and undermining his opponents, I think the Pernida fight would've been so cool with mushrooms.

Like.

Mayuri messing around with rate of decomposition of a mushroom to counteract Pernida's physical drawing of reishi which he would've started formulating from his extensive knowledge of Quincies reishi absorbing abilities before he necessarily knew Pernida was doing so physically. And better yet, using a certain mushroom to basically treat Pernida like a big old cancer growth. (Like, cue big, wide smile as Mayuri reveals the reishi that Pernida has been absorbing is the reason his advancement is halting. Because he would use that mushroom JUST to say that)

I don't feel he would need to win and would love to see him lose, but I think it just would've been even more fun--for me--and crushing--for Mayuri <3-- if he would've actually applied his exhaustive knowledge of quincy to the Pernida battle if only because he was under the assumption that he would be exclusively fighting quincy in the big quincy war. Don't even think he needs to recognize Pernida as a quincy early on even!

Honestly, appalling that Mayuri doesn't have more canon dabbling with mushrooms. Like using altered cordyceps in his fight with the zombies?? Creating a horrible malformation of a coffin mushroom that decomposes Giselle's zombies in 3 minutes rather than 3 years...................AH.

I feel like it would've fit TYBW more than the weird fantasy thyroid thing that hardly made sense and had me squinting for 15 minutes trying to cobble together even that vague description--fantasy thyroid thing--when reading descriptions of how Mayuri was using Nemu to beat Pernida and reviving Hitsugaya & Matsumoto.

Also, he would still get to make people trip balls and question their sanity, which is part of his pyramid of fulfillment.

ALSO roots and spores are very convenient when trying to bullshit that Mayuri was actually doing something All Along when he definitely was not.

[bleachbleachbleach]

RAYS I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

DID I MENTION I LOVE THIS SO MUCH? This piece is such a rollercoaster of emotions, especially because when I think of Hinamori drawing, the first scent that always comes to mind is that sweet, quiet scene in the Beast Swords arc where Hinamori and Tobiume are quietly drawing together. It feels like a way to slow the world down, and work with images as a meditative practice. To see Hinamori in a frenzy of illustration, so focused on trying to capture places and people and memories before they slip away entirely that she's hardly aware of what's around her, what she's saying--it's so unsettling, in the absolute best way, and I feel like that anxiety completely pervades the first half of the fic, and the reader can't help but feel viscerally a piece of what she's feeling, and a piece of what Hitsugaya's feeling in having witnessed her. And I love the second act, as well--the coming out of the fugue, and Hitsugaya trying to offer advice (offer Hinamori's advice back at her), a kind of sheepish return to the here and now even as that here and now is still shifting rapidly below the surface, memories still flooding away.

Every single line and character beat in this is pitch perfect. Like Hitsugaya's consternation at only being able to parrot Hinamori's advice back at her, and feeling like this is inadequate--and indeed, also the idea that Hinamori acts as though she's never heard her own advice. I feel like that sensibility is true of a lot of characters in Bleach, but feels especially poignant here, because Hinamori is given to thinking about others over herself but also in a state of forgetting a whole passel of others whom she holds dear.

I just love all of Hitsugaya's internal notes in this. Like, "the giant always seemed to have very few problems" feels like such a Hitsugaya thing to note, and such a Hitsugaya way to express that. It's an aside in the scope of the whole of the fic but it is so perfect. But I think my top favorite line in this regard comes early on: He lowers himself next her, as if sitting next to a dangerous animal that could snap at him any moment. That visual! #justrukongai things, maybe, even in Junrinan, but I feel like that description suits wary, maximally guarded Hitsugaya so well; it's such a familiar stance, and way to feel--except that he's never felt it with Hinamori, taking us back to that feeling of the unsettled and AAH. I feel like Hinamori, born empath, is more prone to soaking up the emotions of those around her, and Hitsugaya tends more toward trying to riddle them out through laser observation, but the potency of what Hinamori is feeling here, and how much it matters to Hitsugaya to know what is happening with her, makes her emotions paint over everything. As a reader, I loved loved loved this experience so much. I say this about basically everything, I know, but I think this is one of my favorites of yours, for sure. What a TREAT. <333333 Thank you for sharing this!

Slowly Fading

Prompt: different

Rating: K/General

Setting: 60+ years before the main story

Synopsis: Momo has been acting strange lately. When she comes over to visit, Toshiro finally confronts her about it.

AN: another month, another prompt for the OTP challenge by @yearoftheotpevent! I was very tempted to write something for the Valentine’s Day prompt, but this idea just wouldn’t leave my mind. This one is a melancholic story, not necessarily angsty but a bit of a downer. It came to me while i was thinking about what happens when a soul starts to forget their life in the World of the Living. How do they cope? Do they even realise it's happening? Do they even remember being human once all their memories are gone?

I admit, I have no idea what art supplies the Soul Society has, but for the sake of this fic I guess I assume they have pencils and sketchbooks? They usually have Edo period items in the Rukongai, but considering there's also a goggles and sunglasses shop there, I imagine they'd have a few 'modern' things too?

Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy it!

__________________________________

Toshiro hesitates at the doorway, watching Momo focus on her drawing. He can’t pinpoint the exact moment she started acting different, but in hindsight, it hadn’t happened suddenly.

It had been a slow thing at first, starting with her gaze softening at certain things – a type of tree in the forest, a stall in the Junrinan that sold hair combs, a mother and her child happily going about their day, a young girl rushing through a crowd back to sibling during a festival – but now it had progressed to strained smiles and a sudden focus on drawing and painting.

Just as with other times, she draws in haste, her hand almost a blur as she switches one colour pencil for another. Her back is arched over her sketchbook, and her head is so close to the page the tip of her nose is only a few inches from the paper. From his short distance, he thinks it looks like a landscape, but not of the forest before them nor of a part of the Soul Society he’s ever seen.

His frown deepens. Something about her drawing somewhere he doesn’t know makes him finally walk out on to the veranda. “Where’s that?”

She didn’t hear, or at least acts like she hadn’t. With a few strokes, she creates another tree amongst the many others that surround a lake. On its shore in the far distance are two indistinguishable figures, seemingly waving at the viewer.

“Oi,” he says, but still he doesn’t get her attention. He folds his arms. “You’re going wear yourself out, bed-wetter.”

She goes rigid at that. “Not now, Shiro-chan! I must concentrate.”

He barely manages to not flinch back; he’s never heard her so tense. In the rare moments where she said something out of annoyance or anger, she's always quick to apologise.

When the latter doesn’t happen, he thinks to go back inside and just wait for her to finish her drawing. Maybe then whatever maddening spell had captivated her would break and she’d remember what she’d shouted at him.

But he doesn’t go back inside. He lowers himself next her, as if sitting next to a dangerous animal that could snap at him any moment. He’s never felt this way around her before, as though she were another Junrinan resident he had to sneak around or to be cautious of. He always thought she could stand to be a bit tougher, but he didn’t like seeing her like this. He’ll take her crybaby moments over whatever this is.

His irritation gradually cools as he watches her draw, not really knowing why he’s here with her. Maybe it’s because whenever he’s angry or upset, she comes to his side. She’ll say some words, perhaps even hug him despite his half-hearted protests, but regardless she always comes to his side. He’s only ever had to comfort Granny in rare moments, he didn’t know how to do the same for others.

She stops drawing several minutes later, and whatever trance it holds over her breaks. She blinks down at her creation as her brows draw upward. It’s as though she isn’t entirely sure she was the one who created the drawing.

It’s not until he shifts his leg, his toe tapping her ankle, that she looks to him. “Shiro-chan…”

“Don’t call me that.” It’s the first time the phrase has been uttered without anger or annoyance. He folds his arms. “You finally done with that?”

Instead of answering his question, she grimaces. “I said something bad before, didn’t I?”

He only shrugs.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout at you.”

“It’s nothing,” he says. “I’ve heard worse.”

She doesn’t voice it, but he can sense that she wanted to say something to the effect of, ‘Even so, it wasn’t nice.’ Instead, she puts her sketchbook aside and turns her gaze to her lap.

Well, it was no use trying to brush this off and move on with their day as if nothing happen. “What’s gotten into you?" he asks. "You’ve been acting different for a while now.”

He can’t tell if she hangs her head in guilt or in contemplation. He kicks his legs idly to release some nervous tension building up within him.

Perhaps realizing he isn’t going to leave her alone, she shallows thickly, and her eyes mist with unshed tears. Her quiet admission almost goes unheard over the call of a nearby bird. “I’m starting to forget things.”

Toshiro quirks up a brow. “Huh?”

“From the World of the Living, I mean,” she clarifies. At his confusion, she sighs. “My friends told me that a Soul gradually forgets their time in the World of the Living. At some point, they don’t even remember being a human. They know they were born in the World of the Living, but they can't remember a single thing about their time there.” One tear falls and lands in between her hands, which are tightly clutching her yukata at the knees. “I don’t want to forget anything. I want to remember mother, father, and my sister forever. I’ve already forgotten how they sound, and now I can’t remember father’s face.”

With a trembling hand, she brings back her sketchbook and tilts it enough for him to see. “This is somewhere I know. I think I knew where it was a few days ago, but today…I don’t remember why we’d come here.” She taps a finger over the figures in the distance. “That’s my family. I have this memory, I think, of them on the other side of this lake. I don’t remember what I was doing…maybe searching for flowers? I don’t know why though, I…” She hiccups and drops her sketchbook into her lap. “I can’t remember anymore.”

What’s the use of remembering things and people you can’t go back to? He almost says it aloud, even has his lips parted to utter it, but her wide-eyed, glassy gaze tightens his throat. He knows he can be brutally honest with his words at best – and callous at worst – and it was often from a place of caring when it came to her, but he can’t bring himself to risk saddening her further.

What was he to do? If only Granny were here, she’d know. If he waits until she returns home, she can handle things. For some reason, that doesn’t make him feel any better. Did he not want to burden Granny with this? Did he doubt she could help Momo?

No, he realizes when his friend lifts her head to him, struggling not to cry. It’s because he is useless to help her. Why did he had to rely on Granny? Why can’t he do anything?

He’s never felt this way before, has only ever been concerned with getting by and ignoring the residents of the Junrinan. He never really felt this way towards Jidanbo, his only other friend; but the giant always seemed to have very few problems. And up until recently, Momo had been the same.

“I wish I were older,” she half sobs. “If I were, I could become a Shinigami and go see them in the World of the Living.” She sniffs and rubs her eyes, releasing two more tears. “It’s stupid to feel this way, isn’t it?”

“No.”

He hadn’t meant to answer so quickly. He can’t tell if she’s surprised by how quickly he answered or what he’d said. Maybe she expected him to say ‘yes,’ and the implication stings. Was he truly that much a pessimist to her?

She wipes away a tear. “But I’m going to forget everything anyway, so I should just…”

“You’ve told me before that it’s not stupid to feel about things that don’t matter to others, that if they matter to you then that's okay. If it’s true for everyone else, then…it’s true for you too.” He cringes at the flush warming his face. What person throws back the same comforting words they once gave to another? Had he no words of his own?

However, Momo looks as if she’s never heard her own advice before. She considers it, gaze falling to the floorboards and shoulder relaxing. Again he waits, but his heart thrums with anxiety. Had he made things worse? He really should have waited for Granny.

As if on cue, the front door slides open and the old woman's voice comes through to the back. She gives a cheerful recounting of how she got certain items and missed others, at first too busy putting food away to notice the awkwardness between he and Momo.

When she finally looks at them and takes in Momo’s teary eyes, she’s quick to put aside the rest of her shopping and sit with the girl. Toshiro excuses himself, saying he’d go get the peaches Granny was unable to buy. The old woman frowns, but gives him a slow nod.

No matter how far Toshiro walks, the heaviness in his chest doesn’t lighten. Not even when he passes the various locations they’d discovered together – the watermelon patch in a clearing, the bushes of hasukappu, or the lone peach tree near a stream. At said tree, he picks off a several fruits and stuffs them into his sleeves. They're not as good as the ones sold in the Rukongai, but if nothing else, Granny, can still make sweets from them.

He returns slower than he left, coming back just as the sun was starting to set. He expects the veranda to be empty, but Momo is still there, drawing. Trepidation makes him slow to approach, but she lifts her head when his shadow falls over her feet.

She’s not surprised like he expected. The underside of her eyes is still red from crying, but her gaze is neutral. “Why did you run off?”

She doesn’t even say his name, and something about that strikes him. He’s so used to hearing that dumb nickname.

Snapping out of his daze, he pulls a peach out from his sleeve. “To get these.” He hands the fruit to her. “They’re in season.”

It almost feels like a peace offering, to say he’s sorry for not helping her and for running off suddenly. His frown deepens at the twitch in one corner of her lip, and even more so at the breathy, failed attempted at a snort.

“What?” he asks.

That seems to make the floodgates open, and she chuckles with a wide grin. “You’re giving me a peach?”

He rolls his eyes at the implication. “Not my fault you were named after a fruit, bed-wetter.”

That turns her smile into a pout. “Shiro-chan!”

“You gonna take it or not?” he grouses, thrusting the fruit into her face. “It’s the best one of the lot.”

He didn’t know that for a fact, but it looks like one of the least blemished one of the fruits. She struggles to look petulant as she puts her pencil back in the box with the others and takes the peach. “Thank you. I’ll eat it later, it’s too close to dinner time.”

“Suit yourself.”

She puts it away in a cloth bag along with her pencils and sketchbook. “Speaking of dinner, I should probably head back.”

He hums in agreement, but neither of them moves.

The awkwardness returns, making him unsure if he should walk her to the front of his house or go inside to put the peaches away. He takes slow, shiftless steps up on to the veranda, but comes to a stand still when Momo is in his peripheral. She’s completely still while staring at the side of his face; he’s certain it’s in concern.

Did she still feel bad for shouting at him earlier? Or was his inner turmoil that obvious? Why did she have to be so concerned with him?

He’s not going to move until he says something, he realises. He shifts his head just enough to see her. “What did Baa-chan say?”

She finally blinks, as if he had broken a spell that froze time. She is slow to answer. “She told me she forgets things too. She can’t remember most of her earlier life in the Soul Society now, and she only has glimpses of memories from her life in the World of the Living.  It’s, um…It’s just part of being a soul. It can’t be stopped, it’ll happen no matter what. The best I can do is draw what I remember while I can still remember it, and write on the back what it’s about.”

A grim acceptance. He should be satisfied with this outcome, but he finds himself getting a little heavier. What had he expected Granny to tell her? The old woman is almost comforting, but she also didn’t sugar-coat things. Had he wanted her to do that for Momo?

The barest smile tilts the corners of her lips. “But my family is still alive, a-and they won’t forget me.  It’s also okay to feel sad about losing my memories, and it’s okay for me to be here and be happy too.”

Toshiro isn’t completely convinced that she feels better, but he can see the exhaustion is starting to hit her, and he finds himself tired as well. “Good, then.”

“She didn’t tell me that last part.” At his confused frown, her smile widens a fraction more, but it’s sombre. “I thought about what you said. I-I don't when I'll completely forget everything, or when I'll stop drawing my memories, but I know it's okay to feel this way about everything. I might be different for a while, but one day, when I've forgotten everything, I hope I can look at these drawings and remember something, even if it's only for a second."

He doesn’t want to tell her that drawings can fade too, or that she may lose her sketchbook one day. "I get it."

He leads her back to the front of the house and pretends he doesn't see the slight falter in her smile. For her sake, he wants to hope too.

[2dboisloyal-devotee]

i decide to post something and as my first post, it's about my first husbando.

>)~ONESHOT

This Wish I Hold (Yandere Toshiro Hitsugaya x GN reader)

Please make sure you're at least 16+ and proceed with caution, well the yandere jazz and all that is more apparent in the end anyway

Warning: fluff, manipulative behaviors, angst, reader's death

Momo Hinamori; the name of your savior from a dire situation and since then you had been trying to return the favor. By becoming good friends, you got along well with her.

It wasn't long around that time too when she brought you two together. Despite Momo calling him cheerfully in a nickname of 'Shiro', you met the renowned child prodigy, otherwise known with the 'cold as ice' alias.

White short spiked hair and a sharp turqoise eyes complement his striking appearance all the more besides just looking like a literal child. He narrowed his eyes. “...Captain Hitsugaya from the 10th division of Gotei 13. Nice to meet you.” The way he brought upon himself in a levelheaded manner made you quickly mutter an apology before introducing yourself....to which he just nodded at.

He soon excused himself, bringing Momo to block his way. “Geez, Shiro! That's not how you treat my friend!”He sighed. “What more do you want, Hinamori...? I'm busy already right now and it's not helping at all since I'm also doing the job she's supposed to do!” While he grumbled about someone named Matsumoto, you realized you would try to be good friends with him too as you thought it would be proper since he was a childhood friend with Momo, along with some other reasons rooted from curiousity.

And what better way to do that than helping with what was he frustrated about?

At first, Momo was a bit hesitant leaving the two of you alone because you just knew each other but after hearing your reassurance, she then left to take care of her business from Aizen. Arriving in his office, you were told not to be trusted on managing the important documents. He simply reasoned that he didn't want to have more incoming headache from it.

So you just stood there while thinking what could you possibly do before suggesting to buy his favorite drink to cool off or considering his instruction to do something about his useless lieutenant.

“Just do as you like without causing trouble,” he ordered sternly. His eyes were now focusing on the paperwork with furrowed eyebrows as if they were already a permanent part of his expression. So you followed what he said, getting to know many more people along the way and being friends with them. That still included you getting closer with Momo and Captain Hitsugaya.

You spent many breaks with them by eating lunch or snacks together, being told many stories from Momo about their childhood including the embarrasing parts which Captain Hitsugaya liked to get worked up over.

There was a tiny difference you noticed too. After gradually having spent time with them, Captain Hitsugaya's anger was only a flustered one most of the time. And that one was more warm to witness than his usual serious demeanor.

You were tidying up the paperwork on his table to a neat stack while he was stretching and you affirmed at the same time. “You're actually quite a warm person huh, Captain.”

He fell down along with his chair. “WHAt—”

“Uh sh—... Sorry, Captain. Are you alright?” Your hand was outstretching, but he already stood up so fast without sparing a moment to let you see the scene longer.

“I'm! Of course I am! That was because—and, what were you thinking, huh!? Saying something like...” He glared while blushing more apparent. Then he cleared his throat. “At any rate, that was rude to a Captain so don't say stupid things like that again.”

Whether he heard your explanation that you just wanted to say the truth as a praise or appreciation, he still turned around and replied. “Fine, I'll only let this one slide. And... Thank you.”

Momo often says Captain should change the way he acts around people because he could be rude sometimes, but you thought that he was fine as he was. Though, maybe you would save those words for another time as he seemed already agitated enough just by walking near you.

As days passed, you had to watch out for the right situation and even asked for permission if it was okay for you to say some stupid things like before. “Just say what you want. And you don't need to always say that, I won't let your words bother me that much anyway.”

It was becoming a fun routine for you and possibly him, judging by the subtle smiles you catched upon his relaxing face from time to time.

He was willing to loosen his creased eyebrows and smile even if that meant Matsumoto also got the chance to saw it herself then teased him for it, added with Momo who tried to play a matchmaker. He had tried not to let it show in public but failed many times and instead gave punishments of adding work to whoever teased him or you.

Bit by bit from fun to a fulfilling routine, you adapted quite pleasantly. It was overall rewarding. The Captain trusted you on many jobs. Yet he still managed to be considerate in his own way by taking breaks together every so often. It became a fact that he was getting more comfortable in your presence with how often he rested his head on your shoulder or lap and fell asleep.

Although because of the work schedule becoming busier, you had less time to meet Momo and even Captain Hitsugaya needed to remind you to rest. One time, your body still ended taking a toll so he stayed by your side almost the whole day. After few scoldings, he had taken care of you until you were back in good health. “Don't fall ill again, at least for a while... I don't enjoy seeing you like that.” He sighed.

It seemed like you couldn't fulfill those words. You got carried away and was too nonchalant of the world that could be in danger anytime.

Laying down on his lap, you coughed and came along a sharp pain in your chest as you tried to breath. “...will you end my suffering, Captain...?” Your trembling hand reached to his cheek with a pained smile.

“Stop.” He gritted his teeth. Toshiro knew that he would not be as capable as you said once you die. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

A ragged breath was let out from you before a choked gasp for the ache you felt. You spoke again. “..plea..se? I know, only you can numb the pain... Even thou—..gh you, such warm, person...” Toshiro quickly clutched your outstretched hand with a firm grasp as he voiced his rejection. “I refuse, and please, stop talking, (Y/n)! This isn't the time for ... Just—hang in there!!”

Deep down he knew that there wasn't any choice he could do anymore even after going through all sort of methods, left only a last resort for who knew how long. You were the one who gave those words a meaning and warmth to make him thought he was actually a warm person even after he had gone used to those ignorant rumors of him. He was in fact fine with you to be the one whom melted the guard he had built up like a chilling, rigid ice for years.

You should have taken responsibilities for making him feel this way. “Sor..ry.. honestly... I, want it to be, you..  who end..s it, please. Don't let it... end this way..” you responded. Your energy had been sapped away to every words and effort trying to keep your grip, then your eyes drooped...

At that second, your moment had become frozen in time. None other than in the eternally graceful ice he made himself, despite your words and self had gone cold. Finally he could do it using the reason you wished yourself. He will do anything it takes to have you keep your words true again.

He makes sure that you'll return.

[not-your-fucking-kacchan]

Just discovered your page and 😍🖤🔥!

If your asks are still going could you write a little piece with Shunsui from bleach? Maybe with a s/o who is more dominant with others in her squad and doesn't hold back, but for him is a bit of a pushover and gets all soft and smitten.

Sorry if that doesn't make sense haha 😅

Ofc! Had to do a lil research for this because I haven't watched bleach in so long lol

But thank you! I'm so glad you liked my bleach stuff! I'm hoping I get more onto the bleach and black clover fandom because as much as I love MHA, I also really love these other animes too, so your encouragement really means a lot <3

Also peep the Yu-Gi-Oh! Abridged reference 💀

Masterlist <3

Shunsui x Reader - Headcanons

The very thing that attracted him to you was your attitude and your intensity. He thought you were worth getting to know better because your personality seemed to switch completely when you were at work in comparison to when he would occasionally see you off duty.

You were the complete opposite to him, who just stayed on vacation-mode all the damn time. It was intriguing to see someone so 'model-squad member' - like get so shy and bashful when the adrenaline wears off and the responsibility is gone.

The first time he had seen you in action was like watching Soi Fon lead her squad. You were quiet and deadly, often silencing hollows with fast, overwhelming barrages of attacks from all directions as opposed to being flashy and strong like Kenpachi or Hitsugaya, though you weren't quite as strong as a squad leader yet.

Though when he saw you next, sitting in the shade and laughing with your squamates, he was even more interested than before.

He started hanging out with you more and more since then, and since he was your superior, you couldn't really get away, now could you?

He could never get used to the way that you would easily direct a squad of multiple people to work together perfectly, but every time he spoke to you, you would blush and refused to keep eye contact.

You couldn't even scold him for slacking off so damn much.

He's far too handsome and you're far too smitten to risk getting on his bad side and annoying him by being pushy.

When he walks in on a training session where you lead your fellow squad members, he's deadass got the words knocked out of him as he hears you barking orders and directing the group perfectly, being strict and merciless with them in a way he had never witnessed you act before.

He treats you differently after that. He's a little more teasing, but he definitely listens to you just a little more in fear of being yelled at like that, much like husbands will fear their wives' wrath.

After a while though, he clocks that you're literally a pushover for him, and of course this asshole takes advantage of it.

Cheeky bastard.

You manage to catch him drinking sake on the job once, and he only smiles like an idiot as you rattle his ear off about how unprofessional and irresponsible it is, amused at the way you don't raise your voice at him once. You do yell at him though, when he snorts at your reaction and ruffles your hair.

He just falls in love with you as you scold him.

You're already head over heels though, he's just infuriating sometimes.

He totally manages to convince you to help him with his paperwork, and you can't help but feel a little happy that you're helping him and doing something to make life easier for him.

He knows just how smitten you are when he finally clocks the difference between the way that you treat him in comparison to other squad members and even other captains. He knows you're not a kiss-ass, and you're stubborn as an ox, so why is he so different?

Not to mention your reaction when he flirts with you?? You get sleazed on by other men and it's all "huh? You little ****! You son of a ******* ***** ***** **** ****, I'm going to tear off your ****, and shove it right up your ****** ******* ******** ****, and then **** **** ***** on your **** ******* **** with *** ******* *** in the ***** ******* **** and **** ***** your ******* *** and **** ***** so then you'll have to **** sideways-!" but when he does it (albeit in a slightly more respectful and far less creepy way), you're all blushy and squirmy.

That's the main thing that tips him off, of course. You're just so intense and sometimes downright scary when you have to be, but then when you're with him, it's like having a skittish little puppy around.

Of course, as he confesses that he knows how you feel, and tells you that he feels the same, he's holding your chin and smirking like a little shit, even though he's a good foot taller than you. He knows exactly what he's doing to you, and he fucking thinks it's amusing.

He's grown so protective over you as well- he wouldn't dare pushing his luck with you and making you uncomfortable, or being too difficult for you and stressing you out, and every time he sees that you're upset he's immediately there to make you feel better.

The first time you kiss is something he'll never forget though, especially because of the squad of a moan you released into his mouth when he surprised you like that, and it had him chucking and laughing at you, his chest shaking while you pout and turn away from him, going bright red because of his teasing.

Honestly, he couldn't ask for a better, funnier, kinder, prettier partner, and you were absolutely obsessed with this himbo.

[humanoidtyphoons]

sometimes i think about the love is surrender monologue (it’s set to the kdrama goblin, which you can ignore) about that applies to hitsukarin, honestly. the vulnerability of love, the quiet build up of discarding their shields

something i don’t think i’ve ever been able to word quite right with how i see hitsukarin is that. i feel like they’d be very careful with each other’s hearts. on the surface, yeah, karin is upbeat and friendly, but i feel like she’s careful with her heart, because of the grief of masaki’s death, she’s... not good at being open. she put walls around herself to protect herself, as sweet as she is to yuzu, and as cautious as she is with ichigo. she gets angry and doesn’t explain herself to her friends, and... idk. i feel like it’s juxtaposed with the cheerfulness she has, because she’s young and still a bit naive, despite that jadedness, but i always found it quite easy to imagine that at fifteen, karin could be as surly as ichigo was, and guard their heart. so she’d be wary, and slow to fall.

and i feel like that’s the same with hitsugaya, to some degree. he’s so self-conscious, because of his youth, because of his relationship with hinamori, because of his past and being shunned by so many. he’s fixated on his reputation, and wants to be better, do better, but his own shortcomings catch him out every time. his temper gets the best of him time and time again. he finds it hard to make friends, and part of that is also because he’s a captain, but all his peers, all those captains, are just. so much older than him.

(bleach ends with toushirou much more comfortable around people, i feel, in that epilogue. and i do think, that does apply with karin too, breezily bringing coca cola, but that was dealt offpage much more, but even then, i still see them careful with their hearts.)

but that first hitsukarin episode, when karin just sees a kid, and treats him like just a normal person like her, even after she finds out that he’s a captain, i think, to some degree, he needs that sense of normalcy. for karin, she doesn’t need to hide that part of herself. for toushirou, he gets to experience a sort of unconditional friendship, karin doesn’t place any expectations on him on who he should be, and karin even gets tears in her eyes, confiding in toushirou. and i think it’s sweet that they get a second episode, maybe implying that they keep in touch or just: toushirou is in karakura town to help haru, and meets up with karin anyway. they open up to each other in a way they just don’t with other people.

i mean, they’re still careful with each other, but i just liked how they navigated their issues, and how much their friendship benefited each other from knowing each other. karin, the girl who hated anything spiritual, but got dragged into it, because she worried about her brother so much; doesn’t seem to hate ghosts so much after meeting toushirou. toushirou, the boy who tries to keep distance from people so they don’t think less of him, stays with karin and lets her stick around even though he’s a captain that’s using his holiday leave as an excuse to carry out his duties off-work and complains about it... doesn’t really do anything to avoid karin, when it would have been super easy for him to go to orihime and stay at her place like last time. it’s just. endearingly disarming that they meet at this crossroad. and continue to be drawn to each other afterwards.

so, love, an act of faith, and falling for each other, even though they have reasons to close themselves off. i just. love them.

[kanonsarchivedblog]

Redemption

Author's Note: What if Mayuri Kurotsuchi died during the Thousand Year Blood War? Who would take over the role of Captain of the Twelfth Division? This is an answer to that in the form a redemption for Urahara Kisuke and the Captaincy that had been wrongly stolen from him.

Word Count: 4,767

Characters: Urahara Kisuke, Hirako Shinji, Kyouraku Shunsui, Shihouin Yoruichi, Otoribashi Roujuurou, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Akon, Kurotsuchi Nemu

Ship(s): Hirako Shinji/Urahara Kisuke

Setting: Post-Thousand Year Blood War

Warnings: Major Character Death

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You can’t have peace without a war, that’s how the saying goes. It spoke true; the Seireitei, while in shambles, was calm. Peaceful. The sound of hammering in the distance, of laughter and voices calling out to one another. Rebuilding, slowly but surely- with the aid of Shinigami and civilians alike. And the occasional Arrancar. The dead were still being retrieved from the various fields on which battles took place upon. Last time the toll had been released, they were well into the hundreds. A devastating blow to them all- on both sides.

It was difficult; so many young Shinigami had been killed, but so had many young Quincy. Too many, truthfully. Some of their own Captains had been casualties of the war: Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had been one of the first to be slaughtered before their very eyes. Aside from him, the entire first division had been killed- all one hundred and six members, in the very beginning of the war. Following this had been Fourth Division Captain, Retsu Unohana- all for the sake of getting Zaraki Kenpachi to learn the true name of his sword and release his bankai, something that had nearly killed him. Their beloved Thirteenth Division Captain, Jushiro Ukitake had been killed somehow. Very few knew the truth of the matter-

That he had become the new Soul King. That, since birth, he’d been doomed to take over when the time came. A ticking time bomb, of sorts. But to the rest of Soul Society, he’d been another casualty of war.

Many others had nearly died; Captain of the Third Division, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, Captain of the Ninth Division, Muguruma Kensei, and both the Captain and Lieutenant of the Tenth Division, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto, had all become members of the living dead due to the the Sternritter Giselle Gewelle’s ability. Captain of the Sixth Division, Byakuya Kuchiki, had nearly been slaughtered by the Sternritter Äs Nödt. For all intents and purposes, the Lieutenant of the Third Division was dead, and yet he still walked: Izuru Kira, who lost not just an arm, but a lung and portions of other organs after having a hole shot through his torso. Their new Captain Commander, Kyōraku Shunsui, had lost his left eye and part of his left ear, as well as having a hole shot through his sternum, nearly killing him.

Many others had been injured just as grievously. But that was what war did. It took and it took and it took until there wasn’t anything left to take. War was greedy.

One other had been taken from their ranks. Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the Captain of the Twelfth Division, had been killed during the battle. Details were still coming in, but from what was known, he’d sacrificed himself in the final moments to save his greatest creation, Nemu Kurotsuchi, his artificially created daughter. It seems that even the coldest and most detached of people could, in the end, redeem themselves and save those who they held closest to their hearts. It was certainly interesting to hear.

After all, when Urahara Kisuke had been Captain of the Twelfth, Mayuri had been a right bastard to deal with. He could still remember that day he pulled him out of the Maggot’s Nest, and the following years. How they had worked well together, even if the bickering was nearly constant, as well outright insubordination.

Many would grieve in silence for those that had been lost. The Fourth Division was busy; Isane Kotetsu was now the defacto Captain. She was young, but strong, resilient. She would survive.

Somewhere within the Division sat Rose and Kensei, sharing a room. Izuru Kira had his own room- something that was necessary, given the extent of his injuries. Kuchiki Byakuya was being treated at the Kuchiki Mansion; Kyōraku Shunsui, at the Kyōraku Mansion. Somewhere below them, Aizen sat, chained back up.

Kisuke sat in the bed, studying the way dust danced within the sun’s rays that spilled through his window. He wasn’t injured, not really; Benihime had made sure that her master would be pieced back together completely. All that was left of her work were the thin, surgical stitches that stretched down his face, across his knuckles, over his joints. They didn’t hurt. At least, he didn’t think they did. If there was pain, he was numb to it.

He supposed he owed his thanks to Grimmjow for saving him. He’d thank him later. Right now, the Pantera was hunting for a certain Shark that sat within one of the many, many cells beneath Soul Society. He was accompanied by a Ram and a Wolf.

He could thank Mayuri for saving the Wolf. Coyote Starrk had been a savior. A sharp shooter and a hidden weapon in Hueco Mundo.

There was also Kurosaki Ichigo. That kid deserved all of their thanks, and more. Without him, they’d all be dead. He couldn’t help but wonder where he was, right now. Back home in Karakura Town? Or here, lingering with those he’d fought beside?

Slate hues closed, listening to the hammering and calling. To the sound of laughter and weeping. Of birdsong and creeping silence. He was tired. More so than he’d ever been in his life.

But now was not the time to rest, not with the figure lingering outside of his door. Five minutes, Shinji had been standing there, reaching for the door and dropping his hand, only to reach again. A sigh escaped Kisuke as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Come in, already!” He called, amusement shining in his words.

The door opened, and the blonde made his appearance at last. “Didn’t wanna disturb yer beauty rest, your highness,” he teased, lips quirking up in a crooked smile.

Kisuke could remember the first time he’d seen that smile. “I think I’ve had enough beauty rest to last a lifetime,” as if to prove a point, he stretched his arms up over his head, listening as various bones popped and creaked, as if singing a song of rest. “You aren’t here to give me the latest gossip, are you, Hirako-san?”

A shake of the head. “I wish I were,” Shinji sighed, closing the door behind himself as if that would give them any privacy. It wouldn’t, but it was certainly the thought that counted. “We were called in for an emergency meeting. Y’know how… Bad everything is right now.”

“You’re down three captains, and the new Captain Commander is on mandatory bed rest.” Kisuke answered with a shake of the head. “You’re fucked.”

“And now in the fun way.” Arms crossing over his chest, Shinji grimaced. He was still in pain, too, it seemed.

Not surprising; he’d taken quite the beating as well, from what he’d heard. “I have a question to ask you.”

No, the Soul Society will not get a discount on any products they purchase at the Urahara Shoten.” A joke, though it seemed to fall flat. “... What is it?”

“You know Kurotsuchi-taichou was killed.”

“Yes.”

“They’re without a Captain now.”

Slate hues widened before narrowing, understanding quickly settling in. This was the one thing he had never been prepared for. “Nemu could act as defacto Captain.”

“She can’t. She’s a child again.”

“Of course she is.” Damn Mayrui. “Akon?”

“Doesn’t have a Bankai. Or a Shikai. At least, not one that's on record.”

“Of course he doesn’t. Of course Mayuri would keep all of his underlings under a careful watch and not allow them to progress. Of course he would. He never did think about anyone but himself.” A bitter laugh slipped free, one full of anger and mourning. A scarred hand reached up to rub at pale blonde hair. “What are you asking, Shinji?”

“You know what I’m asking, Kisuke.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

A pause. Shinji sucked on his teeth, lips pressing taunt. “The Captain Commander wants to know if you’ll step in and take over the position of Captain of the Twelfth Division once more.”

A bark of laughter escaped Kisuke as he tossed his head back, baring his throat and chest. He knew this was coming. But to hear it spoken aloud? It made everything suddenly so real. “Central Forty-Six is going to disagree.”

“It’ll be overridden. We’re down three captains and Soul King knows how many Shinigami.” Shinji’s lip curled into a scowl as he shook his head. “We’re fucked.”

“We’re fucked.” Kisuke agreed softly, gaze slipping from Shinji to study the floorboards. “Whose idea was it?”

“It was agreed on immediately that you were the only one who could take over the Twelfth and not accidentally kill everyone.” The humor in Shinji’s tone brought a smile to both of their faces.

“You’re not wrong there.” A pause. “... I have some conditions, then.”

Shinji waved his hands. “Save it for the official meeting. Shun’s calling it in three days time. We’re all to attend, no matter what it takes to get there.” He pushed away from the wall and turned. “I’d love t’stay and all, but I gotta make sure my Division isn’t all dead.”

“You make a good Captain, Shinji.” Kisuke murmured, watching as his back tensed, as his head raised. “You always have.”

“... Get some rest, you ogre.”

The door shut, and he was alone with his thoughts once more.

━━━━━━━

Three Days Later

━━━━━━━

The meeting did not take place within the Captain Commander’s hall. The First Division was still being cleaned of bodies and blood. Instead, it took place within the halls of the Kyōraku Mansion. The grounds were lovely, sprawling, teeming with deer and birds and streams. It was easy to see the wealth and prestige that came with the name.

But it was nothing compared to the Shihōin estate that Kisuke had grown up on.

Speaking of, Yoruichi had joined him. He’d requested she be allowed to attend, and lo and behold, his request had been approved. The past three days, he’d been talking with her and Tessai, deciding on their plan of action.

Now, it would come to fruition.

“I know this isn’t the First Division, but it will have to make do for the time being.” Shunsui spoke, breaking the idle conversation that had been occurring and drawing all attention to him. He wore the Captain Commander’s coat, but beneath was a simple violet yukata- loose fitting to accommodate the bandages that wound around his torso. His head was still bandaged, as well.

No one looked to be in good health. Across from him sat Rose and Kensei, both of who looked uncomfortable. Rose was bandaged around his middle, as well. Kensei’s color was still returning to normal. Behind them stood, or in Kira’s case, sat. Kira didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. He didn’t seem to be paying attention. Hisagi looked ready to pass out at any given moment.

No one else was any better, aside from perhaps Isane Kotetsu. Akon stood behind the empty chair where Mayuri should

have been sitting. Rukia Kuchiki stood behind the empty chair that should have held Ukitake.

“This meeting, while formal, is occurring off the books. We are in a grievous state, and while peace may be here, there is always the chance that it could break at any moment. That is why we are here.” He cleared his throat, brows furrowing. “We are rebuilding, and we have a shaky alliance with both the Quincy and the Arrancar- for now. I do not believe that we are under an immediate threat. However, there are certain items that must be addressed.

“The first of which is the passing of four of our Captains. There will be funerals held for each of them within the coming weeks. They will be open to the public. They will be grand, as is deserving of each.” The finality in Shunsui’s voice left no room for argument. “Captains Yamomoto, Unohana, Kurotsuchi, and Ukitake will be remembered for the rest of time for laying down their lives to save Soul Society, as well as the… Hundreds of others who were lost in battle.”

Hundreds. The word is heavy within the room. Everyone had lost someone in some form, whether it be family, friend, or lover.

“Secondly, it is time to right the errors of our past. This is the reason this meeting is occurring off the books. I plan to contest the banning of Urahara Kisuke and Shihōin Yoruichi personally before Central Forty-Six.” Murmurs drifted through the room. It was one thing to bring up the idea, but another to say that it will be happening. “Which is why they were both invited to attend this meeting.”

Gazes turned, landing on the pair. “Ohayo,” Kisuke hummed, leaning his weight upon Benihime, who was in her sealed form. “I have questions about that.”

“Of course you do,” Sui-Feng muttered, though she remained silent otherwise.

He pointedly ignored the angry little bee. “I was made aware that you all agreed that I should take over my former position that had been ripped from me one hundred and… What was it, twelve? Thirteen, now? Years ago. A title that I had rightly earned before I was condemned for a crime that I did not commit, which we all are aware of now, yes?” A quickly, cursory glance around the room. “I know a few of you here were too young to remember what happened. But let me refresh your memory, shall I? Aizen was working on a way to create Hollows out of Shinigami and chose three of your captains and one of the lieutenants here, now, to test that on, as well as Hiyori Sarugaki, my former Lieutenant, Hachigen Ushoda, formerly of the Fourth Division, and Love Aikawa, former Captain of the Seventh Division.” The words cut like a hot knife through ice, stinging and causing a few to look down or away.

“But some of you were not too young. Some of you remember when it happened, and you did nothing to intervene. So for the last one hundred and thirteen years, I have been living in the World of the Living, aiding the Vizards. Miss Shihōin had been exiled from her own family, even if they did not want to do so. They had no choice. So!” Kisuke clapped his hands together, watching as Isane jumped. Oops. “My condition is that not only we be pardoned of this crime that we did not commit, but that Miss Yoruichi Shihōin also be allowed back within Soul Society. My shop will remain within the World of the Living in Karakura Town. Tessai Tsukabishi, the former Captain of the Kido Corps, who was also wrongly convicted, will also be pardoned. He will remain and run the shop, looking over it and the two Modified Souls whom I created and love as if they were my own children, Ururu and Jinta.

“Those are the conditions upon which I will accept the Captaincy of the Twelfth Division once more. If they are not met, you’ll just have to find someone else who is capable enough to run the Division and understand how Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s mind worked. No offense to Akon or anyone with the Twelfth currently, but I don’t think any of them could actually handle that. After all,” his voice quiets, head dipping, a shadow falling over his eyes. “I was the one who brought Mayuri out of the Maggot’s Nest. Should any of you

forget, I was also the Commander of the Detention Corps, as well as a member of the Onmitsukidō.” Chin raising, slate gaze swept across the room, taking in the silence that had fallen. “I’m not asking for a compensation fund. I’m not asking for a new Division. I’m not asking for a golden parade through the Rukongai. I want an apology. And I want for Central Forty-Six to admit their mistake.”

Silence met him. It was as if no one had expected for Urahara Kisuke to speak out, to give demands. As if he, too, hadn’t been wronged by the events of the past. As if he, too, did not deserve an apology. As if he, too, were not angry and bitter over the mistakes of the past.

“Lest you all forget that without me, you would not have had the Twelfth as it is today. There would be no S.R.D.I.. Mayuri would have died in his cell. And you all would be dead, now, because Kurosaki Ichigo wouldn’t have been born without Isshin Kurosaki, someone who I helped personally. And you would be down four Captains and one lieutenant.” Jaw set, he met Shunsui’s gaze with his own. “These are the requirements. And I will not settle for any less, Captain Commander.”

Shunsui shifted in his seat, a peculiar little smile curling at the corners of his lips. One that read ‘I anticipated this’, or perhaps ‘All is going according to plan’. “Of course, Urahara-san. It will be done.”

“Will it?” Kisuke countered, head titling, voice low. “Just what do you have on the Central Forty-Six that would turn their vote so quickly, Shunsui-san?”

A chill crept into the air as the Captains and Lieutenants sat straighter, stood straighter, cast their gazes down. No one dared speak, no one dared to break the silence that had gripped their throats and held them captive.

“That,” Shunsui began, rising to his feet slowly. “Is for me to know, and for you to never find out. That is all that needed to be said. This meeting is dismissed.” His face was pale; it was beyond time for him to retire. Another session of healing, no doubt.

Kisuke made his way out, Yoruichi at his side. “That was ballsy,” she murmured, gaze trained ahead. “But good.”

“I figured a history lesson was overdue.” Kisuke replied with a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “Go, I’m sure no one will mind if you-”

She was already gone.

“-visit your family.” Sighing, he began the slow walk back towards the Gotei Thirteen, gaze downcast. He could hear murmurings from behind him- surprise, shock, anxiety. A presence settled in at his side, shoulder gently bumping against his arm.

“Think it’ll happen?” Shinji asked after a good few minutes of walking in silence.

“He managed to convince them to let Aizen out.” He hummed, head rising to study the horizon. “I don’t know what he has up his sleeves, but… I believe there is a chance I’ll be back to torment you, Hirako-taicho.”

The grin Shinji sent him was brighter than the sun. He couldn’t help but smile, as well.

━━━━━━━

One month later.

━━━━━━━

“I stand before you today to contest a punishment that was given over a century ago,” Shunsui began, gazing up at the blank blocks before him. Behind them sat the members of the Central Forty-Six. “I am aware that I was here merely two months prior. A lot can happen in two months.”

“Like losing hundreds of Shinigami,” one voice spoke up.

“That is the casualty of war, something that you all seem to forget exists outside of your protected lives.” Silence met Shunsui. “We lost four captains. And while there are many who could step up the plate, one of those is impossible to replace.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“That Urahara Kisuke be allowed back into the Soul Society and be allowed to take his mantle of Captain up once again.” Shunsui fell quiet as yells met him. Anger, alarm, it all spilled out.

“URAHARA KISUKE? DESERTER.”

“LIAR, A DANGER TO SOUL SOCIETY.”

“HE’S BEEN IN THE WORLD OF THE LIVING FOR TOO LONG.”

He raised his hands, listening as the voices died down. “I understand your anger. However, merely a few years ago, the Vizards were pardoned. Why should Kisuke not be pardoned, as well as Yoruichi Shihōin and Tessai

Tsukabishi.”

“THEY’RE TRAITORS TO THE SOUL SOCIETY-”

“THEY ABANDONED US YEARS AGO-”

“THEY SHOULD BE KILLED-”

Shunsui raised his hands once more, his brow furrowed. “Maa, maa- please, allow me to speak.” Agitated silence met him as he cleared his throat. “I’m not Yamomoto. I haven’t been here since the beginning. I was just a child when this place was really coming together. But because of that, I have been able to witness the way everything has changed and grown. How we’ve become stronger, how more and more Shinigami join our ranks each year. I was a Captain by the time Urahara Kisuke joined our ranks, stepping out from the shadow of the Onmitsukidō. I was able to watch as he built the Twelfth up from the bottom, and watched as he created the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Without him, we wouldn’t have the Gigais that allow us to investigate further into the World of the Living, the Tenshintai. What Mayuri had to work with wouldn’t have existed without Kisuke. We wouldn’t have even had a captain to fill his place originally without Kisuke; he was the one who brought Mayuri out of the Maggot’s Nest.

“At the end of the day, you have to sit back and consider more than what those of the past did. At the time, there was no true solid proof that Urahara Kisuke, Yoruichi Shihōin and Tessai Tsukabishi were behind the hollowfication project that was, in actuality, spearheaded by Aizen. Their only crime had been being at the scene, trying to help their friends. When you consider this, along with how they have continued to aid us despite being stranded in the World of the Living for so long… Don’t we owe them this?” Murmurs began to echo through the tall chamber. Forty-six voices all talking, debating. Shunsui stood, hands folded politely before him as he waited.

He was right, and he knew it. After all, it had been his idea in the first place. Without Kisuke’s aid, they wouldn’t have ever had Kurosaki Ichigo to help them. Aizen would never have been stopped. Yhawch would still be alive, and they would all be dead or acting as prisoners. There wasn’t any real debate to be had other than stubborn old men wanting to keep history as it is.

“So, I ask once more: I wish for Urahara Kisuke to be allowed back into the Soul Society and be allowed to take his mantle of Captain of the Twelfth Division and Captain of the S.R.D.I. up once again as well as pardoning Urahara Kisuke, Yoruichi Shihōin and Tessai Tsukabishi of their wrongly accused crimes.”

Silence settled across the chamber. A pleased smile curled Shunsui’s lips as he relaxed.

━━━━━━━

Two weeks later.

━━━━━━━

The First Division was peaceful, calm, filled with idle chatter as the Captains and their Lieutenants gathered within the hall of the Captain Commander. There was no surprise written upon their features; they knew what this meeting was about. Even so, they stood, chatting amongst one another, until Shunsui made his way into the hall to settle in at the head of the hall. He used a heavy, cherry wood cane to aid him; it would not be a permanent fixture. Each day he grew stronger, healing from his injuries.

“Well, then,” he murmured, rolling his shoulders before raising the voice. “Would the new Captain of the Twelfth Division enter?”

The great doors opened, and standing within the entryway was none other than Urahara Kisuke, green and white striped hat nowhere to be seen. He no longer resembled the young, awkward Captain he had been one hundred and thirteen years ago. Now, he stood tall, still, gaze trained forward. He made his way in slowly, geta clad feet making soft ‘clacks’ with every step. Behind him, surprisingly, walked a black feline, trotting to keep up. He turned to the left, and stepped into the place where he’d once stood, where Mayuri had once stood.

“Very well. Now, since we are all here, our first manner of business…”

The meeting did not last long; many were still in frail condition, such as the Third Division. The walk to the Twelfth was quiet, calm. Yoruichi had slipped away, returning to her family for the first time in far too

long. She wouldn’t be taking up the mantle of Head of the Shihōin family; that title had passed to her younger brother. Instead, she’d become an aid to him, and split her time between the Soul Society and the World of the Living. Tessai didn’t want to return; he had no desire to come back. He’d handle the shop and keep an eye on Karakura, along with Jinta and Ururu.

Kisuke was pulled from his thoughts at the sound of a throat clearing. Head snapping up, slate gaze hues widening at the sight of his new lieutenant. “The last time I saw you, you were extremely little and didn’t have a nicotine addiction!” Kisuke greeted with a grin as Akon let out a bark of laughter.

“It’s good to see you again, too, Captain,” Akon replied, shaking his head as he fell into step beside Kisuke. “A lot’s changed.”

“I’d be more alarmed if nothing had changed. It has been over a century, after all!” His head tilts back, studying the sky. “It feels strange to be here again.”

“It does.” The sound of a little voice calling had both men pausing, glancing behind them, only to watch as a little black haired girl came bouncing over, nearly stumbling over her sandals. Nemu. Akon knelt down, arms open, allowing the girl to climb up into his arms. “Nemu, meet Urahara Kisuke. He’s taking over as Captain.”

“I remember him. Where’s your hat?” She asked, big dark eyes gazing up at Kisuke.

“Decided that it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear at a meeting,” he winked, and with a wave of his hand, it was as if the hat appeared out of thin air. Nemu’s eyes widened in surprise, mouth dropping open into a little ‘o’. “But I never wander too far without it.” Gaze turning, he took in the sight of the Division, how much it had changed, how large it had become. “Well…”

“Wherever you want to begin, I’ll guide you to it.”

A grimace. “Notes? Or did he burn them all again?”

“Surprisingly, he didn’t.” A shrug as Akon began to walk once more, carrying Nemu as if she were his own. Members of the Twelfth stopped where they stood and bowed low, murmurs of welcome echoing through the air. “I don’t think he had the foresight to do that.”

“Good,” Kisuke nodded, clapping his hands together. “Then let's get to work.”

“Aye-aye, Captain.”

━━━━━━━

That Night

━━━━━━━

The night air was cool here compared to the warm autumn air of Karakura Town. Geta clopped along the top of the wall idly with no true direction. That is, until the sound of a snicker drew the attention of the shoe’s owner. Head tilting, Kisuke glanced behind himself to find Hirako Shinji standing behind him.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Haunted by the past.” Kisuke replied, settling down on the wall. Was he in Shinji’s Division? He hadn’t realized he’d walked that far. “You?”

“Insomnia’s a bitch.” Shinji settled down on the wall, kicking his heels against the sturdy structure idly. “... It feels good to have you back.”

“Does it?” He mused, stepping closer before settling down, shoulder bumping Shinji’s before leaning against the other. “Never thought I’d hear you say that.”

“Fuck off,” Shinji teased, leaning his weight back against Kisuke’s shoulder. Together they sat, silence falling across them like a light dew in the early morning hours. Without speaking, Shinji reached over, taking hold of Kisuke’s hand. Calloused fingers drifted over stitched scars. “She did a number on you.”

“Benihime is a benevolent woman. I respect that,” Kisuke replied softly, watching Shinji’s fingers. “What about you? How’s your head?”

“I’ve had worse.”

“Touche.”

A chuckle slipped free from both men. Kisuke sighed, leaning over to rest his head atop Shinji’s own. “This is what you missed?”

“This and more.”

“It doesn’t feel right without Hiyori yelling at us. Or Love laughing. Or Hachi worrying…” Brows furrowing, he sighed. “But they like it in the World of the Living.”

curled Shinji’s lips as he pulled Kisuke’s hand up to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to his knuckles. “Some of it will be, Captain.”

[pinkhairedlily]

Blue Fire Tree

Prompt: Everlasting (last day omgggg) | Gift for @tinaillustrations ! Hope you like this fluffy piece! I enjoyed writing this one. 🤗| Happy HitsuHina Week! @hitsuhina-week 💛💙

“Fire trees should be blue not red,” Ichika mumbles while filling in the traced pattern of the tree on the canvass as Hinamori gathers her unruly red mane into a semblance of a bun. Her charge was a Shinigami apprentice and had the hodgepodge attitude of both of her parents. She was sarcastic, blunt, inquisitive, passionate, and kind.

Renji thought she was the best person to teach his daughter common spells to start off her training. Not that Hinamori disliked being the resident kido expert. She particularly loved the monicker, but there were times she felt she didn’t deserve the title. Like today when, for some other reason, Ichika and her was blindsided by arts and crafts.

“Wouldn’t you like the flowers to resemble your hair?” Hinamori clips the last of the strands and looks over the child’s shoulder. The colors spill out of the lines and the scenery seems to change from summer to winter.

“But blue is the hottest color. Imagine trees blooming with the brightest flames, the most intense warmth, and the most lasting flowers.” Ichika finishes the piece with a last dash of blue paint. The apprentice turns to her and asks, “Does it look so desolate?”

“No, not really. To me, winter has always been warm.“

Someone coughs behind them to get their attention. Hitsugaya Toushiro, captain of the 10th Division, stands awkwardly at the entrance of the dojo with a tray of tea and pot of biscuits. It doesn’t escape her notice that he used the tea set she gave last Christmas, and this observation makes her feel giddy inside.

Maybe I’m just appreciative of people who use my gifts, Hinamori justifies to herself.

“Hello, Captain Hitsugaya. Is that for us or for Vice-Captain Momo?” Ichika greets him as she takes the tray off his hands.

The blush creeps on the captain’s face just as quickly as his brows furrow in annoyance. He quickly glares at the mischievous remark of Ichika and redirects his gaze to his equally flustered childhood best friend. “This was not of my own good will. I was threatened by Byakuya to take good care of his precious niece, and it just so happens that this space is under my jurisdiction.”

Hinamori tilts her head in a slight apology. “I hope we don’t bother you too much. Would you like to join us for some art session? Ichika loves to paint today.”

He almost says something, but he stops himself. His stance goes from alert to rigid, and tension fills the air. “Maybe some other time.” Ichika glances from her current teacher to the captain and back to her teacher again.

“Oh, sorry for taking up your time.” Hinamori slightly bows, unsure of what transpired just now, and Hitsugaya nods in return. Before he is completely out of her sight, she calls out to him again.

“Shiro-chan?” He glances back at the sound of his nickname. “Thanks for the tea.”

He smiles in mild annoyance before he flash-steps out of their sight. “It’s Captain Hitsugaya to you.”

--------------------------

“Something’s bothering you,” Rangiku says to Hinamori as she slides beside her in the ramen booth. “Your treat in exchange for my wisdom.” She proceeds to order her usual ramen and sake combo.

“How was your trip to the Land of the Living?” Hinamori asks, obviously skirting the issue she wishes to raise.

“Kazui is subdued and gentle like his mother, but somehow, he manages to get into fights with bullies on the street. It’s his Ichigo genes.” The combo meal arrives along with two shot glasses. “How are you doing with the chaotic devil spawn Ichika?”

“She’s progressing really fast with the kido, but she gets so distracted easily. It’s cute though that Renji and Rukia are not pressuring her. Great parents. How nice it must be.”

Rangiku side-eyes her while slurping the thick noodles. “How nice what now – “

Hinamori plays with her empty bowl and fidgets with her chopsticks. “To not be alone.”

She chokes on her noodles and quickly downs half of the sake bottle. “Oh, this is great news! I have someone on my mind who would like to be in your company forever.”

Hinamori gives no response and instead continues fiddling with her bowl. “How nice it is to be also like Shiro-chan, content and busy enough to be single. How do I become like your captain, Rangiku?”

The smile fades from the woman’s face and is replaced by a bustling vein near her temple. “I’m sorry what did that short man do or say to you?”

“I asked him if he would like to do some art with us, you know, help me with babysitting for a few minutes, but he literally stiffened like a stick. Seems like he doesn’t want to waste time with kids or do any family-related activities. Or maybe he’s just too busy, captain duties and all.”

And yet he took the time to bring you tea, a voice screams inside her mind.

“That’s….rude,” an exasperated Rangiku remarks. She pours a glass for Hinamori and decides on a plan. “Unless you’re seeing him as….?”

“Huh? Oh no no no.” Hinamori downs the liquid in one gulp, suddenly embarrassed by her friend’s insinuation. “We’re just friends, childhood friends. I…don’t see Shiro-chan that way.”

“Sure, whatever you say Momo. Do you want me to introduce you to some people?”

Hinamori looks up at her, doe-eyed.

“I guess that’s a yes.”

--------------------------

Hinamori actually forgot about her request to Rangiku as she and her student started to settle in a rather serious kido training. The plan apparently was set to happen after a week when she came across a bulletin announcing her quest for a perfect match through a one-day interview application. This was the first time Hinamori wanted to be swallowed by the void and never return to Seiretei.

She finds herself visiting Division 10 HQ every afternoon but to no avail since coincidentally, Rangiku has some errands to do in Karakura, and won’t be back until the date of the interview. Or maybe it has also something to do with Hinamori avoiding Hitsugaya and having to do all the explaining. And so she had no choice but to wait for the inevitable day.

“Uhhh Vice-Captain Matsumoto, you said introduce, not organize a whole dating screening process!” Hinamori’s voice goes a pitch higher for each word, but Rangiku is too busy arranging the people lining up to notice her.

Her current captain, Shinji Hirako, chuckles beside the blondie, amused by the growing line of eligible Shinigami singles in their HQ. “You are quite the eye candy in our division, huh. Didn’t expect you’d have this many suitors.” He squeezes his vice-captain’s shoulder as form of reassurance. “You should have told me, Hinamori. I could have set you up in an arranged marriage.”

“Captain, that’s atrocious!” Hinamori protests. She walks over to Rangiku to disperse the line, but Yumichika and Ikkaku move to her side and grabs her midway through her litany of objections. They lead her to a makeshift container with two chairs facing each other and a table in between.

“This is ridiculous,” Hinamori mumbles her breath, her energy already defeated by the two dumbasses in front of her.

“Well to be fair, Hinamori, this is a long time coming,” Yumichika says.

“And the result necessitates this kind of method so stop mumbling and screen your admirers, babe,” Ikkaku supplies. Irritated, Hinamori chases them off with two fireballs.

The first ten Shinigami ‘applicants’ were too insufferable as they were clearly aiming for the prestige of her position.

“If dating a vice-captain would give me a higher seat in Gotei 13 then why am I still single?” she bats the question to the 11th person who sat across her. When they didn’t give her an answer, she sighs, “Next please.”

“Would you know what’s my favorite brand of tea?”

“Uhh, Robusta.”

“I believe that’s coffee. Next please.”

“Hello, vice-captain Hinamori, I brought you peaches. They’re my favorite.”

“I’m allergic to them. I’m sorry. Next please?”

“What are your strengths?”

“Well, I can do shunpo.”

“That’s basic Shinigami skills.”

“…………..”

“…………..”

“I’ll see myself out. Thank you for your time, vice-captain.”

“I know you’re traumatized by Aizen-“

The container collapses as Hinamori summons Tobiume.

--------------------------

“I think I will be forever alone.” Hinamori looks on as her fellow vice-captains clean up the mess she incurred over the unfinished statement earlier.

“I’m really sorry if I did the whole thing over the top,” Rangiku tells her sincerely. She hugs the raven-haired girl and waits in silent for the commotion to die down. “Though the last one was really foul, and you were valid to be angry.”

“I was afraid I’d burn down Captain Shinji’s quarters.”

“You can, just to piss him off. The whole process is so draining, huh?” Hinamori nods at the observation. Rangiku continues, seemingly voicing her own thoughts, “It’s hard to put yourself out there especially when they don’t know batshit about you. Would be easier if you have common interests or when they’re already your friend.”

The last phrase is said so pointedly that Hinamori’s mind automatically pictures Hitsugaya. She runs along with her imagination. How easy it would be indeed to spend the rest of her life with him. And as if her mind conjured him, the 10th Division Captain comes into view alongside Ichika. It looks like her student dragged him to the unfortunate event.

There’s an angry glint in his eyes that Hinamori noticed. It was the torn expression he wore when she wounded her knees back when they were kids, the same frown when she told him she would kill for the traitor, the same worried eyes when she almost died. But his eyes refuse to meet hers.

“You missed all the fun, Captain.” Rangiku stretches out her arms as she stands up. She gestures for the rest of their friends to come nearer so they could re-group and go home. “It was a bad plan, and I owe Hinamori one. So we’re kinda ready for your scolding.”

Hitsugaya stays silent throughout the shuffling of his fellow Shinigami, in fact he remains frozen for too long that Ichika elbows him to get a response out of him. “Come on, you ruminated one week for this, and I had to physically stop you from harassing the interested applicants.”

“Shut up, Ichika,” the silver-haired captain mutters.

“I’ll tell on you to Uncle Byakuya!” the redhead sticks out her tongue and runs over to the side of Rangiku.

More annoyed than ever, Hitsugaya grunts and storms off towards Hinamori. “I’m not here to scold anyone. I’m here for the….dating application,” he gulps amid the collective gasps that ran through the group and the muffled laughter of Rangiku who clearly foresaw this.

“Well, what can I say, but fucking finally!” The blonde swigs a new bottle of wine from inside her robes and goes to do a little crowd control.

Hinamori’s eyes get a little bit bigger, and she stares at him with mouth agape, but she lets him grab her hand, in a gentle manner that he usually does, and brings her to the farthest fire tree in the area.

“Shiro-chan, what did you mean……” She continues to stare at his hand who somehow refuses to let go of her yet.

Ironically, he is also staring at the same hand, unsure whether to let go right now before he can actually say something. “I don’t know why you had to go through all of that.”

“I’m..I’m still confused, to be honest. It was just a passing feeling of loneliness, and I rambled to Rangiku which she took seriously….” Hinamori knows she is starting to word vomit out of nervousness, but she halts when he finally lets her go. Maybe she has misunderstood his presence again.

Hitsugaya raises his palm to her. “Would you let me…uhhh…word vomit this time?”

She slowly nods, rather shocked at his insistence, and even more so when he chooses to ramble.

“Momo, I have a cold reiatsu. My touch is never warm. But I know you like green tea, steeped in warm water for exactly 10 minutes, and that you don’t put sugar. You are afraid of storms, and you need a blanket around you to calm down. You like watermelon, but I think it’s because I subjected you to multiple summers of conditioning. You’re my childhood best friend. You’re hardworking. You are a kido expert. You earned your right to be a vice-captain, and you’ll do greater things.

And I know it’s not enough to say that I know you, I’ve always known you, but will it be enough for you to allow me to stay beside you?”

Hinamori leans against the trunk of the fire tree, breathless from his train of words. “Oh my god, this is too overwhelming. I thought you hated being not single.”

“What?” Hitsugaya looks at her with a puzzled expression.

“You don’t like Ichika. Or doing art…with kids.”

“Well, Ichika is a brat to me, but she’s a good student and will be a good Shinigami like her parents.” He nurses his temples for the growing headache. “Momo, listen to me.” He steps closer to her and makes sure she’s only looking at him. “I panicked because I visualized you and me….and you know. It wasn’t right when I haven’t even told you anything yet.”

“Oh.” The moment of realization dawns on her. “Oh, that’s great.”

“So we can finally go back to how we were.” Hitsugaya lets out a shaky breath as he sits on the grass and watches as the red petals of the fire tree shower them lightly.

A blushing Hinamori crouches down to his level. “Well, not quite. You should know, Shiro-chan, your reiatsu has always been warm and comforting to me.” She reaches out to take his hand and intertwines their fingers.

Hitsugaya smiles as he silently thanks himself that he outgrew her by two inches so he could easily slip a kiss on her forehead. “It’s Captain Hitsugaya.”

--------------------------

Ichika tries to see beyond the wall of spectators but Rangiku is not letting anyone through. She huffs indignantly, wanting to know whether her incessant prodding and pestering of the oblivious Hitsugaya bore some fruit. She has no choice but to juice out all the details later on from her uncle.

On second thought, maybe she won’t have to. Blue petals swayed with the light breeze of the wind, and on the far edge of the Fifth Division’s HQ is a lone blue fire tree.

[recurring-polynya]

If you could rewrite the zanpakto arc of Bleach, and you didn’t have to make it fit into canon, what would it be like? Aside from having a lot of RenRuki pinning.

So I guess this is just a condensation of my complaining from when I was recapping that arc, but, uh, you asked for it. I know this is a lot of people’s favorite arc, and it really just wasn’t my jam, so please, don’t anyone get offended by this, it’s just, like, my opinions, man. Everyone knows my opinions are terrible, I love the Cap’n Amagai arc, for Pete’s sake.

0) The Zanpakutou Arc actually has a lot of good Renruki content, actually? So I probably wouldn’t change much about that. They fight back-to-back in one scene? They are very worried about Byakuya together? There’s a cute li’l scene where Renji lets Rukia into Byakuya’s office to rifle through his things and he says “Don’t work too hard”? And then in the companion Sword Beasts arc, there’s that bit where they are hanging out at B’s house together, eating dango.

1) To be honest, I just wouldn’t. Zanpakutou spirits manifesting is a prerequisite to bankai and I would like it to be treated as a serious part of the lore and the way this arc plays out is too silly for me. If they wanted to just do some goofy one-shots that very obviously exist in the same pseudo-canon as the Shinigami’s Cup, I’m fine with that. There are several very funny episodes in the follow-on Sword Beasts arc, I just don’t want it to be even remotely canon.

2) There were too many humanoid zanpakutou spirits. I am not here for it. First order of business, bring back Nue Zabimaru. Hozukimaru needs to be a big-ass sleepy dragon. Hyourinmaru should be a dragon most of the time, who occasionally turns into a dude, I can accept that. Kazeshini should just be a spooky voice in the darkness. Haineko should be a cat, not a catgirl, and get rid of those shorts. Tobiume: tree. Maybe sometimes a shrine maiden, but mostly a tree. On fire.

3) I am a character writer, first and foremost, and I would have focused this arc intently on building character by carefully curating the fundamental beef that each zanpakutou has with their wielder. For starters, I think that, for the most part, Muramasa should not have been able to seduce any of the zanpakutou spirits of the captains. Attaining bankai is supposed to be an intimate act of intense connection that some interloper shouldn’t be able to break. This was true of Byakuya and Senbonzakura in the actual arc, and I think it should also have been true of Kyouraku, Ukitake, Komamura, Yamamoto, and probably Unohana. (I am dying to know more about Unohana’s relationship with her zanpakutou, and I would probably hint at it without revealing too much). Soi Fon and Kurotsuchi treat their zanpakutou like shit, and I would dig into that. I think Hitsugaya’s arc was just about right-- Hyourinmaru wavered and was very confused, and ultimately came back to Hitsugaya without too much trouble. Hitsugaya is the youngest captain and his bankai is incomplete, and the vibe of it was that he does have a good rapport with his zanpakutou, especially given that his particular zanpakutou is ancient, venerable, and very, very powerful. Now, the place where the story really needs to be happening is at the vice-captain level, where everyone has all manner of intra-personal problems that Muramasa could tap into and amplify. Here are the conflicts I would zoom in on:

Sode no Shirayuki is McPissed that Rukia just... gave her to Ichigo and also almost let herself get executed

Zabimaru would be mad that Renji spent all that time training to defeat Byakuya and now what? He’s just, like, Byakuya’s li’l sidekick? Gross. In fact, if we keep the Byakuya-betrays-everyone aspect, I can see Zabimaru sticking with Renji (since he does have bankai) but wanting a piece of Byakuya and Senbonzakura and we could have a really cool confrontation at some point. Zabimaru should also be constantly trying to fight Zangetsu and trying to get Renji to fight Ichigo. Strike that-- Zabimaru should constantly be trying to get Renji to fight everybody.

Hozukimaru should be upset that Ikkaku hides the beautiful bankai that Hozukimaru gave him and also that he lost that pillar, wtf dude

I would have spent 96% of my animation budget making Ruri'iro Kujaku as beautiful and ethereal as possible and they (non-binary) should have just murdered Yumichika out of spite and fucked off to the Eternal Plane of the Extremely Beautiful

My Haineko would be raw as hell and would dig into Matsumoto for hiding behind alcohol and lightheartedness and I would have put some stuff in there about how maybe being the person your zanpakutou wants you to be is maybe not the same as being a good or emotional healthy person

I hated the idea that Tobiume criticized Momo for being weak after Momo said that her zanpakutou had really helped with her recovery. I would have gone way in the other direction, where Tobiume is extremely overprotective of Momo and wants to keep anything bad from happening to her

Hisagi something something I did not read CFYOW

4) I would not have been a huge coward with regard to Ise, Kotetsu, Iba, or Zaraki fuckin’ Kenpachi. We should have either gotten to see their zanpakutou or they should not have appeared. It would probably be really hard, but I would have done an off-putting, low-priority story thread of Yachiru having a lot of trouble concentrating, or, like, running off, and Zaraki has to go find her, that would hint at their ultimate relationship without being too blatant. Oh, Yoruichi, too, I just remembered Yoruichi was in this.

5) Look, if I were Ichigo and I had to go to Soul Society to save everyone from their own zanpakutou I WOULD BRING FUCKING ORIHIME AND CHAD!!! I wouldn’t being Ishida, but he would come anyway and be the most sanctimonious bastard about all that that you could possibly imagine. Anyway, then I would go in an absolutely wild direction and have Orihime and Chad and Uryuu find out that they do have Inner Worlds and embodiments of their powers and I would devote a lot of the arc to that.

6) Soujun should have been in the Kouga flashbacks, even if, only like, for a minute. Please let me see Byakuya’s dad in his infinite softness. I am begging.

7) I would get rid of Muramasa’s gross fingernails

[bleachbleachbleach]

Top 5 Zanpakutou

@crysuzumushi wanted to know about my top 5 Zanpakutou (I will tag @ippoddity​ to answer if she has time, but she’s busy this week!). I actually have a post in drafts talking about my fave Zanpakutou filler arc manifestations that I started in like... May, and never actually wrote. But! For actual Zanpakutou... hm! That’s a good question. I feel like it’s one I’ll just list five for and then realize I’ve forgotten about the 95 other, better answers.

Based on the ways their powers manifest (and this is where I show my brain weakness where I only remember things about my faves and I’ve completely forgotten other people with much cooler swords), I really like the weirdo swords.

Like, Kyouka Suigetsu? Holy shit, man. And how can you go wrong with illusions and water motifs? Sometimes I think about like, how do you train something like that? Or even discover the nature of such a power? But of course the answer is that it takes a certain type of person--a certain type of soul. And there’s only one person Kyouka Suigetsu could ever belong to.

Ruri’iro kujaku? Potentially terrifying. I love it. I also want to say Benihime, specifically for bankai (and the grotesque process of having forced its achivement), but my non-existent memory of 80% of TYBW won’t allow me to speak on that too much.

Hyourinmaru is not a weirdo sword, but he goes here, anyway, because he’s the only one I’ve really thought about as an entity (vs. an ability or an aesthetic). I have too many Hyourinmaru thoughts for this post, so I’ll have to remember to do them separately, but I think he probably is a weirdo sword. I think Hitsugaya goes out of his way to be as straightforward as possible, and then fails to be, and I think Hyourinmaru is like that, too. Since this post has mostly been about abilities, an example is like--Hyourinmaru’s powers seem fairly straightforward in that it’s ice, and then in bankai it’s more ice. It’s extremely visual. Like, what is Hyourinmaru? Welp, a dragon. Look, wings! There’s even giant timer flowers that exist... outside his user’s field of vision. (Hitsugaya can definitely feel them regardless of whether he can see them, but he fact remains that they are!! giant!!) Hyourinmaru’s powers feel straightforward and almost ponderous, because I swear half the time Hitsugaya prefaces his explanations of various attacks with “this takes a long time to set up, but...” 

But then, a lot of it isn’t really that straightforward. The ice double that Hitsugaya uses against Halibel bleeds, which... that’s fuckin’ weird. Ice that bleeds. Like, ‘Mayuri would be into it’ weird. (And I can’t help but wonder if he was inspired by Aizen’s KO in Soul Society arc, or Urahara with his inflatable gigai in the Advance team arc.) Which gets you to thinking about the ways ice-as-weapon is distinct from, say, some other sharp thing used as a projectile, and all of it’s a little weird. Ice is dangerous to a body because of what it can do to cell walls, to homeostatic processes. To have the heat skimmed from your skin is fatal more often than an encounter with an icicle, even if it’s the icicle you’re looking at.

Also, I love the like, 4-second scene at the start of the Zanpakutou Rebellion arc where Hitsugaya holds his hand out and treats Hyourinmaru like a horse. (Or I guess, he treats him like a dragon. If Hitsugaya ever encountered any horses, he’d probably treat those like dragons, too.) I think it’s adorable and I hope Hyourinmaru gets fed apples.

I also love Sode no Shirayuki, because I like the idea of a series of dances, and I think her bankai is fascinating (and, as Byakuya says, beautiful). Rukia’s recitation of her various shikai forms is also basically ASMR fodder to me.

Similarly, I love Komamura’s zanpakutou, but specifically because of the way he says the name of his bankai. Say it with me now: Kokujou Tengen Myoooooooooo!!! Make that my ringtone, please. 

I also feel like Zabimaru deserves a shoutout, because he’s one of the few we’ve seen manifested in manga canon, and I really love his scene with Renji in the Soul Society arc. And also because movie!Renji has an insatiable need for people to RIDE THE SNEK, and what is better than the Zabimaru Express? Nothing is better than the Zabimaru express.

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Fuck, I forgot about Senbonzakura!!! Welp, this is already too long, but Senbonzakura. A+ sword. Great times. Sharp edges. Beautiful fragrance. Would purchase again.