This is what I'm currently working on. I should warn you that I'm a big IchiHitsu fan.
Title: Ulterior Motives
Warnings: Major OOCness with Hitsu's head (but then I'm not mature in my mind either).
"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Toushirou says moving towards an uncharacteristically subdued carrot-top. He took the shrug as a silent answer.
"Shouldn't the same be asked of you, too?” Ichigo quips back, turning his head to face the diminutive captain with concern etched on his usually scowling face. "I know that you'd have to do all your captainly duties -and by the amount of papers that I saw Matsumoto hiding in the closet, it must be a lot of work, " Ichigo starts not seeing the aggravation marks sprout across Toushirou's forehead. "But didn't you just fight a Bounto, which by your own admission wasn't easy, in a life or death battle and according to Rangiku-san you never really seem to get enough sleep, unless she spikes your drink with children's NyQuil."
It wasn't so much as the wording that was use during Ichigo's rant as it was the tone that made Toushirou, who had been planning with Hyourinmaru about increasing the humidity for the next few days, still. Both him and his inner companion stopped their brainstorming and stared at the tall shinigami as a theory began to form in their collective mind.
'I did wonder why they chose our division as their base of operations.' the dragon supplied mentally to his companion. His voice in that sly tone that Toushirou knows means that earlier thoughts of mischief have been redirected. Slightly amused himself he decides that maybe a test would be okay.
As Ichigo has finished talking about whatever it was he was talking about -the bits he did listen to seem to have been about how scarily friendly his fukutaichou is when drunk, to which he repressed a shudder- he figures out the best way to go about it.
"Kurosaki," he says after a moment or two of silence, "why exactly did your friends come here?" Moving slightly towards the taller shinigami.
"Che, and I thought you were the genius." Answers Ichigo in a derisive tone that Toushirou is sure he used to rile him. He doesn't fall for it though, okay maybe a little, for he's more focused on Ichigo's movement away from him.
'Maybe he expects to be jumped on?' Hyourinmaru smirks, liking the sudden tension Toushirou's question causes.
"No, boke." Toushirou says in a way that tells Ichigo exactly what he thinks of that statement and its stupid attempt to divert his attention. 'More like pitiful' the dragon agrees, now more eager to discomfort the teen.
"Just because I call you an idiot, doesn't mean I think you're slow' Toushirou retorts neutrally, once again closing the space between them. ’He's moving away again,' the captain inwardly smirks, slightly fascinated at the slight uneasiness flared briefly in Ichigo's eyes.
"I'm aware that you have what Kuchiki called a 'white knight' complex which would explain why you think that a militia that has lasted over 2 millennia is in desperate need of your help to survive," he says with a hint of scorn, which was reminiscent to his reactions when learned of the reference. "But that still doesn't explain why you came here." His distaste of that, that word still ringing through his body.
'Must be the word association, ' Hyourinmaru grumbles understanding his master's dislike,’ let’s get back to playing. We've got him on the run' to which Toushirou, noticing Ichigo’s crossed arms and shifting stance, had to agree.
Lowering his face momentarily to hide the smirk he knows is on his face, he lifts his head to stare head on to brown pupils and taking a step forward.
“Its just cause, your place was closer.”
“Hmm, “ Toushirou mumbles, quietly staring at the eyes above until a faint flush begins to rise from Ichigo’s cheeks. “I don’t think that’s it.” he answers blandly.
In a flash, the flush of embarrassment becomes one of anger. “What do you mean by that?” Belligerence in every word.
"When I was informed that your group was in my division, I assumed that it was due to an emergency towards one of your group. My men informed me that while the Quincy was wounded, he was not in dire straits. To which brought about the question: if it were not for emergency reasons, why would they come to my division? If treatment was needed, the 4th division is better equipped to handle it. Also, Abarai's captain is fairly deft at the healing arts. Then I began to notice some somethings.
"First, the Quincy's wounds showed that he’d been injured for quite some time. By his own acknowledgement, he’s been walking aimlessly for some time and was becoming delusional. The old blood and scabbing attested to the fact that his body was beginning the slow process of healing on its own to which Inoue later confirmed herself.
"Second, the amount of time between when you found the Quincy and the when you meet Matsumoto. By the description given Sado had given, you were in an area that was between the 7th and 8th divisions. Sado remarked upon the fact that the three of you had walked the entire time out in the open and I find is strange that with Seireitei on high alert and 4th division members scouting for injured that they kept consistantly missing your group.
"Third, I'm aware that though you don't know the whole area, you are familiar with where certain places are. Of those, other than the 11th and 6th, the 4th division hospital is where you spent most of your time." By the end of his explanation, Toushirou was standing so close to the teen he had to crane his head up to continue eye contact.
Ichigo, in his flustered state, continues to babble something as Toushirou concludes that there is some merit to hypothesis.
'So, do we can we keep him?' the dragon asks in a begging tone. 'Just think of the fun we could have. Plus, look at him.'
To which Toushirou had to agree. Unusually colored hair, not that he can pick, topped what already showed signs of being a strong, fully capable, dangerously handsome man. Eyes, which usually are brimming with confidence, are filled with anxiety, fear, and something that Toushirou's seen before but usually ignores.
'Yes, remind me to keep him blushing. It's super cute.' Toushirou mentally responses laughingly with Hyourinmaru.
"Do you have a crush on my fukutaichou, Kurosaki?" the petite captain says sternly, his facial expression not showing any of his internal glee.
Ichigo at a loss as to how to answer could only continue to flush bright red and stammer out vowels. Willing to take pity on the poor boy, Toushirou mournfully decides to end his playtime.
And with a smile that would not look unusual on a large serpentine animal's face, Toushirou reached up and pulled the blathering idiot down to shut up his nonsense. And if the distinctive noises that Ichigo was giving where any indication, he really didn't have much to complain about.
need to fix the ending definitely.
Reply
