Chapter Text
I slowly closed my eyes as I felt Yachiru stir slightly, hearing the people down below talking happily as they feasted on whatever they had down there – It really was turning into this huge party, and I only intended on the other four girls knowing about this place, now, it looked like all of soul Society was going to know about it. I looked down at Yachiru after a few moments, seeing her look up at me as I tapped her shoulder.
"Want to see something else that's cool? I want to sort of be away from everyone for a little while." I said, and I saw Yachiru nod slightly, a huge grin across her face as I watched her. I slowly closed my eyes as I felt Yachiru clamber off of my lap, then I got to my feet carefully, the sensation of Yachiru clambering onto my back overcame me, and I carefully linked my fingers together and she stepped onto the palms of my hands again. I slowly looked down at the people that were 'partying' below us, seeing that almost all of the lieutenants, captains, and even a fair few of the lower seats were here, I could even see Byakuya, much to my surprise. Kenpachi was down below as well, but for some reason Yachiru wasn't b-lining for him, even though I knew full well she was aware of his presence. I carefully dropped my way several steps down to the ground level, and I could tell no one was even that bothered with it, they all kept with their partying.
I heard Yachiru giggle as I began to walk into the shadows of the forest – I was not going to get lost, I came here every week, and by the happy looks that everyone had, I was now no longer the only one. Next time I decide to bring someone to somewhere that I find interesting, they were going to sign in blood that they were not going to tell another soul. I came to a halt several minutes later, to a small little pool of water that had the tiniest form of a waterfall. I felt Yachiru bouncing on my hands as I looked around slowly, my eyes setting upon the little waterfall as I set Yachiru down on the ground.
"What's here?! What's here?!" Yachiru asked in an overly loud and esctatic voice, looking up at me with her huge red eyes and a huge grin. I smiled as I looked towards the tiny body of water that really wasn't any larger than a large fish pond. "I can't see anything!"
"That waterfall, is actually connected to that lake back where everyone else is. If you dive into the pond, you can actually swim all the way through to the lake, if you can hold your breath long enough." I began, beginning to walk over to the waterfall. "But that's not the cool part of it all." I said, and I felt Yachiru grab me by the hand again, and she then began to drag me onwards.
"Show me! Show me!" Yachiru said, and I looked down at her. "Please, Mizi, please!" I smiled down at her after a few moments.
"Why else would I bring you?" I asked, and she grinned so hugely that it was amazing her cheeks didn't start to ache. I began to lead the way over to the small waterfall after a few moments, and I could feel Yachiru bouncing as she walked. As we got within two meters of the small wall of the waterfall, a small little walkway came into view, and it lead underground. I looked at Yachiru as she suddenly began to bounce up and down even more, clearly she was already very excited. I looked down at Yachiru with a smirk, then walked into the small walk way that stretched through to behind the actual waterfall, and to the little walkway that actually lead down and underground. It was very dark, almost pitch black as we stepped down into the ground, but then the tiniest streaks of light filtered through as we got down to the actual level of the small walkway, and I heard Yachiru squeak a 'wow' as she saw the interior of the little cave.
"So you like it?" I asked, my gaze tracing along the interior. The whole entire cave was bathed in a aqualine blue, and the tiniest amounts of light filtered through the area as the pyrefly like lights shifted through the walls of the area. The little cave was about ten meters in diameter, circular, and little waterfalls were spilling out of the walls and into the underground waterway.
"It's great! Much better than the lake!" Yachiru said, and I smiled slightly.
"Well, just promise you won't tell anyone about this place." I said, and I saw Yachiru look at me after a moment.
"Okay!" She said, and I smiled slightly, feeling her release my hand as she wandered into the other parts of the circular hall to look around at the pyreflies floating through the walls. I looked at the trunk of a tree that was starting to grow into the small cavern, I guess the trees here were actually ten meters below the ground from the looks of things. I began to head towards the tree trunk, and I set myself against it, leaning my head against the wood and getting myself comfortable.
The hours went by, and I had found myself in near slumber, my eyes were closed as I felt my mind beginning to untangle itself. I had sensed someone come by here a couple hours beforehand, but it was of no relevance to me. I felt Yachiru stir slightly, she was asleep in my lap, the little girl was very comfortable, she had fallen asleep about an hour beforehand, and she very rarely moved in the least. I shifted my hand to her shoulder slightly, resisting the need to stretch as I set myself in a more comfortable position. I could sense someone coming towards this place, so I decided to keep tabs on where they were, and I shifted Yachiru on me slightly, only gaining the tiniest of response from the girl as she shifted back where she was before I shifted her, which caused me to frown marginally. I felt the presence come closer, and I did nothing, I could sense that they weren't a hollow or anything. I did seem to drift off into slumber for a few minutes, for it seemed only a second later when I felt that the presence was right in front of me, essentially standing over me. I slowly opened my eyes after a moment, and I felt my stomach suddenly drop on me as I saw who they were. A slightly startled Toushirou Hitsugaya was crouched down in front of me, clearly, he had assumed I had been asleep. That painful feeling had come back, I could feel the stinging pain beginning to overcome me. I had not expected Hitsugaya to be here, he was the last person I had expected to see.
"Taichou., what are you doing here?" I asked after a moment, and the question seemed to catch the usually cool and collected captain off guard completely, his shock seemed to grow more intense. The sensation of feeling like a complete fool increased, and I could feel the agony beginning to eat at my insides.
"I came ..." He began, but he seemed to cut himself off as Yachiru shifted slightly in my lap. I kept my gaze upon the white-haired captain, seeing him seem to shift slightly in discomfort. What was it about the whole situation that had him all tied up like this? I'd never had this problem before when I would speak with him, and I was the one that actually was attracted to him. I saw him seem to take a breath, then he looked at me in the eye. I almost had to look away as that painful feeling just increased in me. "I apologise for this in advance." He said after a moment.
"Pardon?" I said, only to feel a sharp jolt run through my skin as he suddenly grabbed me by the chin and leant towards me before I could even blink, and I felt my whole body seem to freeze as his lips crushed against mine. I didn't know what to make of it, my eyes were wide, and I could feel his lips moving against mine as I remained frozen. I didn't even realise what was happening until that moment, and it was so confusing that I had almost been certain this was some very weird dream. I felt him break the kiss and pull away after several moments, and I watched him, the shocked look still across my face.
"I'm sorry, Rangiku told me everything." I heard him say, and I wasn't comprehending this tangent the shinigami-Taichou was on at all. "I didn't realise I was hurting you by ignoring you like I did." I blinked again, slowly beginning to comprehend what he was talking about. I felt his grip on my chin release, and I almost shivered as I felt him shift that hand to the back of my jaw line. He was still very close, I could feel his breath against my lips as he spoke. "I'm ... in love with you." I heard him say, and could feel heat rising to my cheeks as he stared at me with that certainty about him. "But I couldn't see, and I didn't realise until I heard Rangiku yelling at you when you left. I'm sorry." I felt that my stomach was full of butterflies, and it had been a long time since I had felt that. I saw a flicker of doubt appear in his face as I said nothing, and I could tell the shock had long gone from my face. I guessed I must have been taking too long to give him a response. I let a smile creep onto my face, and I saw him begin to look a little confused at my out of the blue reaction.
"You'll have to forgive my lack of reaction, you did essentially just wake me up." I said, and I saw that confused look suddenly vanish from his face completely. "And you're forgiven, tai-"
"Toushirou." He cut over me suddenly, and I blinked before I realised what he was saying, a smile creeping across my face as I did realise what he was saying. I was about to say something, but I didn't even get to opening my mouth to speak when I suddenly felt Toushirou lean forwards and kiss me. I felt my eyes close as I felt him pull me towards him gently, and I felt Yachiru stir in my lap, but I was too engulfed in bliss to truly notice. I felt Toushirou pull me into his arms carefully, and I felt him break the kiss again. "I love you, Mizuki." I heard him say, and I felt a small smile creep across my face.
"I love you, too, Toushirou." I said softly, and I heard him chuckle slightly, before he kissed me again, only this time I took part in it. We were both so blissfully unaware of the tiny little girl running away as she giggled, her little purple kimono not hindring her speed in the least as she left the both of us alone, undoubtedly leaving to tell a certain red-headed lieutennant about what she had seen.