17 Ways of Erase and Rewind

Disclaimer: Bleach does not belong to me.

Special thanks to my Beta Chancewriter who makes my crazy ideas understandable and readable. You're THE best!

Warning: SPOILER ALERT! This story is up to date with manga 423: Farewall swords. A/N at the bottom (It's the last one, so please stop by), italics are for thoughts, and, some cursing like usual my excuse it's that is justified (I swear!)

* Chancewriter's note - Rain in autumn is actually quite a normal occurrence.

Chapter 17: Rewind, erase and pressing play

Still remember this moment
In the back of my mind
The time we stood with our shaking hands
The night you danced like you knew our lives
Would never be the same
You held your head like a hero
On a history book page
It was the end of a decade
But the start of an age

.

It was a cold autumn night in Karakura. The rain had appeared characteristically* in this time of the year and it was falling heavily against the windows of the Vizard's warehouse. A small sized girl with freckles on her cheeks and thick, disheveled blonde hair that went just after her shoulders was trying, unsuccessfully, to sleep.

It was funny and wordy to point out that even when she was sleeping in a king sized bed with soft sheets and incredibly comfortable pillows, she was on just one side of the mattress leaving the biggest space available for an invisible person. Hiyori had tried sleeping on her back, to the left, with her hands pillowing her head, with her legs tossed to the side, face down and hugging a pillow, but nothing had worked. She had closed her eyes and tried thinking of nothing besides sleeping; nevertheless the off button in her mind wasn't functioning that particular night.

Tired of tossing and turning she sat up in the bed bending her legs just a little in order to place her hands over her knees and to continue being safely guarded by the warm sheets on this cold night. Of course in the back of her mind she did know why she couldn't sleep, but she refused to accept it, she would not be one of those girls that depended heavily on her lover. No way, Hiyori wasn't that person and a silly task like sleeping wouldn't be hampered for an idiot that ran to help out Shinigamis as a favor. Idiot Baldy she muttered frowning and tensed her cherry lips. It took the imbecile leader two seconds to say yes to Kyoraku's request to help on a crappy mission and he left promising that he would be back in a couple of hours.

Idiot Baldy x 10! Like she gave a cat's ass if he came back in an hour or in 3 days.

At the thought of Hirako Shinji, Hiyori took a cold trembling hand to her, also, cold trembling lips, remembering the soft whispering of his lips over hers. Kissing her was the last thing he did before leaving. He had kissed her goodbye in front of everybody. Hiyori reinforced her already furrowed eyebrows.

Idiot Baldy x 100 Like she would be worried if he never came back. If a simple Hollow killed him, it would be because of his own stupidity, and besides, she would kill him when he returned home for his stupid 'romantic' gesture.

This time Hiyori chuckled.

"Lies." She said to herself in an amused tone.

How long had passed before anyone believed those words, that she didn't care whether he was fine or not? Maybe 40 – 70 years, or maybe even before he kissed her for the first time she had cared for his wellbeing. After all, they were friends since the day he had stolen the Hollow she was killing in the Rukongai. Of course, Shinji being Shinji had said, in a not so modest expression, that he had SAVED her from being hollow-food, but she had had everything under control when the student Shinigami saw her and killed the thing with an asauchi sword.

Hiyori chuckled again.

However, her mind dropped the memory of the first encounter she had with the Shinigami to be and focused on her previous thought originated by her own touch on her mouth. A sweet and sour memory that she couldn't believe that by this time she hadn't either blocked or forgotten: the first time Hirako Shinji had kissed her.

.

Long live the walls we crashed through
All the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming, "long live all the magic we made"
And bring on all the pretenders
I'm not afraid

Hold on to spinning around
Confetti falls to the ground
May these memories break ?

.

The 12th Division Captain's office had always been bright, shiny and ungodly neat. Those characteristics were faithful to one of the owners of the room, Hikifune Kirio, but didn't quite reflect Sarugaki Hiyori's personality, especially in a day like that day. With millions of paperwork to be done in front of her, the Fukutaichou was sitting at her desk staring unfocusedly at a point on the white wall.

Suddenly the door of the office opened wide to reveal the Captain of the 5th Division with his tall frame, white haori and normal toothy grin plastered on his face. Hiyori didn't see him or perceived that he had entered the place, or if she did, she didn't show it.

"Is Kirio in the can? Cause I need to talk to her." He demanded in an annoyed tone, not bothering to say proper greetings to the Lieutenant. Expecting her legs to come crashing into his face or at least a stapler to his stomach, Shinji took cover behind one of the blue comfortable couches, but nothing came and the girl didn't change her blank expression.

"Eh, eh, Hiyori?" He said coming close to her desk and holding a moving hand in front of her. "Are you here?"

For the first time she moved her eyes to look at him to acknowledge his presence.

"Ah, Shinji. Are you looking for Hikifune-san? She is not here, she is on a mission. She would be back on Monday." She sighed and returned to looking at the point on the wall, acting most unlike the Hiyori he had ever seen.

What is wrong with the shrimp? "Are you playing a rock or something, retard?" He asked trying to annoy her like he usually did and in the way he enjoyed so much, but the staring girl stayed quiet and still, and she just denied with her head.

Shinji rolled his hazel eyes, annoyed by her lack of response, ANY RESPONSE, and noticing something even more peculiar than Hiyori sitting still he put his face very close to hers grabbing her chin and examining her cheeks like he was using a magnifying glass.

"Are you blushing Hiyori?"

Finally the normal Hiyori appeared in response to those words, and with wide eyes and frowning expression the girl curled her hand into a fist and punched the Taichou in the face.

"WHAT IS IT TO YOU IMBECILE?" Her regular 'calm' voice and gestures had returned in an instant, "AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY OFFICE? DON'T YOU HAVE ANY MANNERS? SAY HELLO TO THE PEOPLE YOU'RE VISITING!"

Shinji got up touching his face with apprehension because of the hard punch it had received. Mmm at least she is her normal self again. I do wonder what happened with her he thought. "I'll say hello to you the day yer worthy to." An in a childish gesture he stuck out his tongue.

And just like he had predicted she threw her stapler at his head, making him fall to the ground with an audible thud and a painful injury that might be the start of intense brain trauma.

"You stupid monkey! That really hurt!"

"Good." And Hiyori's mischievous smirk played with her cherry lips. "You'll know better than being a complete dumbass to me next time you come into MY office."

"No I won't." He murmured to himself hiding his moving mouth with his long hair and for the second time he got up from the floor of her office, but this time he knew that staying in close proximity of the tiny Lieutenant could be bad for his health, so he laid his body lazily on her couch.

"I told you Hikifune-san is NOT here, take a hike Hage Shinji!" She said moving to the living room area and leaving her desk, "And take your stinking feet off my couch."

"It's not your couch, is Kirio's and unlike you monkey-demon, she is nice to her visitors and let them rest from the long journey they had to make." He gloated in comparing both women and remarking how much better the Captain was.

"Long journey my ass! Your office is close to here."

"Ha! A Lieutenant and she don't know shit. I was on a mission idiot and I just returned. "He said in a bored expression. "Besides ain't ya supposed to be in the same mission as her?"

Hiyori blushed more notoriously and crossed her arms in front of her chest and murmured something very low. He noticed there was something she didn't want to reveal, so naturally he pushed more. "I'm sorry what was that?"

"I SAID SHE LEFT ME BECAUSE I WAS DISTRACTED!" Now she wasn't only blushing she was embarrassed and mad.

"Why are you distracted Hiyori?" He asked as he sat up, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

Hiyori murmured again very angrily, but his mocking expression made her repeat herself while she turned her back on him and returned to her desk, but stopping to look at the window behind her working table.

"I have an appointment." And she didn't elaborate any further.

"An appointment? With who?"

"A boy."

"Which one Hiyori? They are like 100 724 920 801 boys in Seretei. Is it a scouting appointment? Cause you and Kirio always steal the best newbies. I'll have to tell Sousuke to follow ya."

And when he uttered the last part of the sentence he could tell the anxiety he had provoked in her even when she wasn't facing him. At that response he lost his normal expression and got up, walking after her.

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing asshole. Go back to your office. Megane-Fukutaichou is probably worried sick trying to track you down." She said trying to make him leave the office without her having to reveal anything.

"Don't change the subject Hiyori. I know you better than anyone. What is it with this 'appointment'?"

"Shinji…don't."

And he pulled her arm to make her face him. Her eyes were almost close, the flush still there and her overgrown fang was pinching her lower lip. Shinji scowled and used his authoritative voice when he spoke a simple. "Tell me."

"I have a…" and she shallowed hard like she was in pain and finished the sentence really quickly, muttering something incoherent like, "…datetonightwithaboy."

Hiyori knew Shinji was fast. After all, the Baldy was the person who trained her in Hohō, but because she didn't see him fighting seriously everyday she tended to forget how fast he really was, until she mumbled the words about her date and he was gone in a flash.

"He is only being overprotective. It's not like he would be jealous or something." She talked to the fragrance left by his presence because he was nowhere to be seen.

Hirako Shinji didn't get mad for the romantic adventures of Sarugaki Hiyori. He frankly didn't care. However, it could be said that her 'appointment' tonight would be her adventure number one, but in theory he didn't care, he had never cared and will never care. Then, why he was furious? Why after he had squeezed the truth from her, he had gone straight into training, in a berserk mood, even though he was exhausted from the long mission? Lying to himself would not cut it anymore, apparently. Didn't she get it? He had gone right to her office in the minute he had come back to let her know he was okay. Of course he knew Hikifune wasn't there, although he originally thought Hiyori wasn't there either, but he had to check anyway and he was relieved that she was.

"Stupid! Blind! Grouchy! Brat!" he yelled while he aimed at the targets with his zanpakutou and a couple of kidoh spells. He finished and dropped to the floor letting Sakanade rest at his right side. His resistance and denial ruled his head one more time. Hiyori was his friend, nothing more, nothing less, his annoying, tomboyish friend, his best friend. Who in his right mind had invited a girl-boy to a fucking date? He wouldn't, so who?

He had to know! No, he didn't. He wasn't going to follow her and the mysterious, probably very disturbed boy into their outing. He was going to go to Shunsui's office, drag him into a bar, grope a couple of waitress (and maybe Lisa-chan) choose another girl and go to his bedroom to have a happy one-night-stand.

That was his plan, his brilliant and fun plan.

Then why he was looking for her reiatsu and hiding his? Why had his feet brought him to the 12th again instead of going to the 8th? He looked closely at a girl leaning on the rail of that Division. A girl with a purple yukata, light pastel green sash, blonde hair wrapped into a careful bun and red glowing lips.

Fuck! he thought, tensing his muscles even more and realizing that the girl was actually Hiyori. And before he could decide whether or not to approach her and mock the normally angry Shinigami for her attire –even when she looked beautiful- a generic man with black short hair and a kind smile stood in front of the girl and began talking to her. Hiyori had half smiled and half scowled at the boy, but continued talking to him and started walking to a restaurant in the Rukongai. Shinji could feel his usual relaxed face become a frowning party and decided to follow them instead of going with his original plans for the evening.

He watched the boy open the door for Hiyori, pull out her chair and spoke to her like she was a normal girl, without taking not even a single punch, kick, or an insult; instead her half smile was drawn on her painted lips. Now Shinji was mad. He had been longer with the her, he had treated better, he had even saved her of mortal peril and Hiyori had NEVER, ever, ever, gave him nothing that wasn't a scowl or a blow. Who does that nobody Shinigami thought it was to steal her from him like that?

Wait.

What?

No.

I didn't mean steal. I don't have her, so he couldn't steal it from me. Hiyori is not mine to begin with and even consider her in that way was a bit unsanitary, right? He tried to convince himself while he was still watching the couple eat. Spying so openly at Hiyori was sick. She was a grown woman, well, sort of a grown woman, at least she was old enough to choose who to date, but her inexperience in the love field could make her fall in love with a moron, and Hirako Shinji as her best friend had to protect her from imbeciles and perverts.

And suddenly an idea formed into his mind. Taking her out on a date could be a simple bet. Probably this boy and his friends had known about her reputation and had dared each other to see who would ask her out, and this jerk was the only brave enough. Shinji grinned. Of course, it had to be that, and he would supervise this date, so he wouldn't take advantage of his friend. Therefore, the fact that he was behind them on their way back to her barracks made perfect sense. He was helping her, like usual, the silly midget.

The couple was standing at the entry of her bedroom, so Shinji took advantage of knowing her north window was a little loose and entered the room and placed himself behind the door to overhear what they were saying.

"I had a really good time with you Sarugaki-san." The boy said looking at her.

Hiyori kept the –in Shinji's opinion- idiotic gesture she had the whole night and replied. "Yeah? Whatever."

Shinji gave his Chesire's smirk. Like she actually had fun with you!

"Mmmm… Hiyori-san." And the boy kept quiet for a second for the daring, evaluating if she would kill him or not for calling her by her name, but when she didn't say anything he swallowed audibly and went on. "I've been thinking about doing something the whole night, and I was wondering if you would let me."

Hiyori blinked a few times and raised an eyebrow giving him a questioning look, but out of nowhere her silent question was answered by the mouth of the boy on hers. Her inquiring eyes became full with surprise and her mouth felt warm against the other. She was speechless.

Shinji was too. In the precise moment the Shinigami had kissed her he had looked at the window to see the romantic scene at first hand. It took all his self control and a punch to the wall –breaking it- to not go outside and killed the stupid kid kissing Hiyori. So with rage in his eyes he sat on her bed and waited for her to come in, after all his reiatsu was spiking so high due to his wrath, he had made it very clear that he was there, and besides she had some explanation to give him.

However, to Shinji's imaginary surprise Hiyori had been so concentrated in the kiss that she hadn't noticed the change in his spiritual pressure, neither did the boy. They separated slowly and her cheeks looked like rubies.

"I really like you Saru-, Hiyori-san." He expressed timidly.

She didn't answer. She wasn't even sure what her emotions were toward him or anyone at this time. She was beyond confused and excited, and the only thing she wanted more was to enter her bedroom and talk to Hikifune-san because when it came to girly stuff, she was the one who could guide her. Taking strength out of her normal character she looked at the boy and uttered a final, "I have to go. See ya later." She opened the door and went inside without even letting the guy answer her.

She leaned on the door closing her eyes and didn't bother turning on the light. The kiss floated in her mind like an airborne plague. This had been a terrible idea. The kid wasn't so bad, but she didn't feel comfortable at all the entire night and the latest event had made it even worse. Besides that, why in the world would that Shinigami be interested on her in that way? She wasn't what anyone would call a conventional girl and there was someone she wanted to kiss and it wasn't the boy who had expressed love for her seconds ago. She kept her weird thoughts until a voice made her jump and she ran to turn on the lights.

"Had fun on your date?"

Hiyori took a deep breath and spoke slowly hiding her fright. "What in the name of everything that is doom are you doing in MY room Shinji?" Hiyori looked at him with her normal scowl, but a not-so-normal look was sent in her direction in return.

"I asked you a question first. Did you enjoy your time with that boy?" He voiced the words with a hateful glance.

"What is it to you if I did or didn't?"

He chuckled in a mocking tone. "For what I could see you did."

"For what you could see?" She took an even more defensive stand and blushed. "Were you spying on me? Who gave you the right of doing that?"

Shinji narrowed more his eyes further until they looked liked straight, angry lines on his face. "So what if I was spying?"

"Could you drop the idiotic questions! What are you doing here Shinji? And why would I have to explain myself to you?" She advanced to the bed in a threatening way.

"You have to and that is enough."

"No, it is not." All the frustration she was feeling for the weird date and the feelings she had never dared to even recognized, were aimed at the man in front of her. "I have NEVER asked YOU for an explanation about those bimbos you pine over day and night. Why would you demand an explanation for a simple and harmless date?"

"You haven't asked for an explanation because you didn't want one, but I do." He pushed his beautiful hair back and stood up pronouncing with a sardonic tone, "And you wouldn't call harmless the kiss he just gave you."

Her breathing became heavier and she opened her mouth a little in surprise and deep anger. "Yes, especially coming from the man that has slept with every pretty girl in Soul Society."

Shinji chuckled and began walking forward. Hiyori feeling the menace ahead, countered each step he gave with one in the opposite direction until she hit the door with her back. She didn't have any place to run and he was still advancing to meet her.

Hiyori was not a coward so she raised her head and stood tall and look at him straight in the face reluctant to show any type of fear or doubt. Shinji stopped just millimeters before her and bended his head to encounter her face really close to his.

"You really hate not being part of that group, don't you?"

"I will kill myself if I ever become a member." She spat completely serious.

He chuckled again. "I know when you're lying, Hiyori, and every single syllable of that last sentence was a lie."

Still scowling, she put her hand on his chest in an attempt to push him away, but he grabbed both of her wrists to stop her.

"Do you want me to tell you a little secret Hiyori-pyon?" And at the use of the term of endearment she fought hard to make him let go of her hands, but he didn't. "I want you to be part of that group." And he kissed her.

In the second his lips touched hers she stopped struggling and focused on the kiss. For the second time a boy had kissed her without her expecting it, but there was something different about this one, it felt nicer, sweeter and filled with a thousand words that hadn't been said. But unlike the other one this one also came with raillery and not exclusivity. Hiyori would be nothing special, and even if she would treasure this kiss as it was the most sacred thing in the world, for him this would be nothing more than another scratch on his bed post.

On the other hand, Shinji had lost control of his body in the second that she had walked into the door. He hated the fact that she hadn't said at first sight that the idiot who had stolen her first kiss was an asshole and that she would kill him the next time she saw him. That would have been normal. That would have been acceptable, so he wouldn't have to act on his real feelings, feelings he knew he had for some time, but he was completely sure that wouldn't be reciprocated and that would only bring him problems in the long run, after all Hiyori was not the type of girl that would take him as a boyfriend, he already knew that part. However, he wasn't expecting to ask her rude questions or to treat her in a mean way, and definitely he wasn't expecting to steal a kiss from her after another man had done the same a couple a minutes before. But there wasn't anything else he could do, his warm mouth was already tasting hers and he had liked the taste. Honey and milk mix with vanilla and cinnamon. But feeling the lack of air in his lungs, he was forced to move his lips from hers. Although the idea was to make them comeback, a hard slap on his cheek stop him.

Neither did anything for a minute of two. He was in shock. She had hit him for kissing her. SHE had hit HIM. Something didn't register in his mind. Hiyori had hit him, a real hit, with real intention to hurt him. He had been slapped for doing the exact same thing the other guy did, but THAT nameless Shinigami was safe and sound. He, the person who really loved her, that had protected her, that had been with her for good and worse, he had been slapped. Shinji just couldn't believe it. Anger took a hold of his body and was about to yell, about to scream, but a drowned sob made him looked at her, forget about his anger and he was surprised all over again.

Hiyori was crying.

No! That is not possible! Hiyori does not cry! He mentally said without moving a muscle. But in order to convince himself he placed his hand under her chin and raised her face to look at her in the eyes. Tears were falling from them. The girl was biting her lip trying to stop the sobs and her entire body was shaking.

He tried pulling her into his arms, but she shoved him hard trying to run away from him, so he tried again and succeed hugging her from her waist and putting the other hand in her soft hair.

"Hiyori, why are you crying?" He asked in the sweetest tone he could muster. She didn't answer. The whole situation was odd. She never cried and he had never been this affectionate toward her. Hiyori was his exception to his normal behavior with girls, not because he wanted, but because she had made it like that.

Even though he had her completely enveloped in his arms and the feeling of his touch was intoxicating, she tried to get away from him again. She had never grasped the idea of how much she hated and loved Hirako Shinji until the moment he decided to make her one of his hussies. She had dreamt too many times of being kissed by the lips that had kissed her tonight, but not like that. A confession of love and undying devotion was supposed to come first, but she had to remind herself that a confession would be only a dream. THIS was her reality.

She felt how he tightened the embrace and muttered right into her ear with a low and breaking voice. "Hiyori, sweetheart, tell me why you are crying."

His fake concern only made her madder, so she gathered all her breath and slowly let it out before she spoke as best as she could. "G-get..off me Shinji."

"No."

"I'm telling you to get off."

"No, I won't until you explain to me why are you crying."

She was infuriated. He was playing with her and also was asking for an explanation? Who did he think he was? All of her negative emotions were concentrated in her next words.

"Do you really want to know why I am crying?" He nodded. "I'm crying because an asshole is playing with my emotions like I wouldn't have any. I'm crying because a son of bitch that had faked being my friend is taking advantage of a situation I clearly had never understood. I'm crying because for once in my life I went out with someone who respected me and liked me and didn't call me monkey and my time was completely ruined by a cretin who has to be the one that rule sex in Soul Society for the sake of himself!"

She looked at him straight in the eyes with complete hate. "I'm crying Shinji because you kissed me."

He let go off her just like she had fought for and concentrated his gaze on his shoes. "Do you really hate me that much Hiyori?"

"Yes."

"Really?" and he raised one hand to caress her check and erase a treacherous falling teardrop. "Just answer me this, why does he get to kiss you and I don't?"

She narrowed her eyes and slapped his hand away. "Because he is not interested in playing with me."

"How do you know that?" And his tone changed from being hurt to being outraged. "And how do you that know I will?"

"C'mon Shinji don't play good guy with me. I know you. I have watched for years how you utter empty love words to every girl promising you'll never treat them the way you did with the last and the silly dim tweets believe you. And what do you do? You use them and then ignore them. Don't believe I'm so naïve."

"It wouldn't be empty words if they were for you."

Hiyori chuckled and continued in a mocking tone. "You should get an award for being such a good actor. But honestly, you shouldn't waste your gift with me. Go out and try to convince another stupid girl, because this one already knows you."

He didn't reply right away. But her words were hurtful. He was jealous and angry; he was also annoyed and wanted to hit that thick head of hers for not really looking and not realizing that he did love her and that for her he would leave anything behind. So he had no other choice he would have to be blunt about it even if she probably kicked him out even faster.

Shinji walked to her bed and sat on it. He patted the mattress trying to make her sit with him. "I suppose I have to really talk to you."

"If you wanna talk, then talk." She said crossing her hands over her chest. "Say whatever you want to say and then leave."

"I promise that after I'm done I'll go, but you have to listen and," He patted the bed again. "Sit here."

Unconvinced and still mad, she walked slowly to the bed, but she didn't sit next to him. Instead Hiyori left a big space between them, it was so big that easily another person could fit between them. Shinji smiled and moved closer.

"You are so dumb Hiyori." She was about to retort, but one of his fingers cut her off. "You would listen, remember? Or I won't leave."

"I will listen, but you're insulting me an-"

"There is a reason. Shut it and let me talk." He said looking at her with that odd glance that made her turn to any other place were his eyes weren't. "I did follow you tonight and I did say a lot of things I didn't mean, but what I did mean was the part about not being empty words when it comes to you. You drive me crazy in more than one way midget." And not being able to resist he took his face in his palm and caressed her freckled cheek with his thumb. "You're not like every other girl. For me you're special and yes, I'm jealous and I don't want you near that boy ever again because," and he came close to her face. "I don't like sharing you."

"Shi-shinji. I'm not a thing that you have!" And she tried to pull away. "Don't you dare to kiss me again or I would kill you, you hear me?"

"I won't kiss you unless you ask me to. I promise." and he laid his head on her shoulder. "But I do hope you let me do it right now, Hiyori." His long hand reached for hers and entangled.

Hiyori still didn't get what was happening and due to shock she wasn't reacting like her normal self. She should kick him where the sun doesn't shine for being so 'friendly' with her, but something – the part of her that was comfortable having him on her shoulder - told her not to move. Things had changed very fast in the entire day, but a question whispered in her neck didn't give her time to keep thinking about the strange day she had had.

"Do you have feelings for me Hiyori?" She looked at him from the corner of her eyes, his dark caramel orbs hidden behind his closed eyelids.

"Of course I have." And she grinned. "Hateful feelings."

Hiyori felt him grin too. "Typical of you. I bare my soul and you mock me or answer with sarcasm. Be serious Chibi-chan. Do you love me?"

The blonde Fukutaichou frowned. "How could I lo-"

He cut her off. "Because I do." And he raised himself to look at her. "I do love you and before you screech I'm not lying, I swear."

The frown was lost in the face of Hiyori and a sad expression took over. He noticed and touched her face again. "I don't want to make you cry again Hiyori."

"I'm not crying, you king of the morons." She retaliated. Ha! Like she was that weak to cry over every single argument they had, idiot Shinji. "What do you want with me then?"

"I want an answer, because if you do love me, I want to ask you for something."

"Ask for what?"

"Ah, ah, ah, ah." He said playfully and poked her nose. "That, you'll discover when I get my answer." Hiyori was the portrait of indecision. On one side she wanted to know as she was curious too, but on the other she didn't feel anything for the imbecile sitting next to her, or at least she won't confess so easily to him, but something made her change her mind in a second, letting her girly side win, that before tonight was nonexistent.

"I won't hurt you." He said "I promise I won't. Please trust me."

The girl did the exactly same thing she did when Shinji was in her office; she frowned and mumbled something completely inaudible. He threw her a dirty look and she sighed annoyed.

"Ok, ok I have feelings for you, big deal, get over it dickface." And she rolled her eyes.

"You already said that. " And his usual smirk was there. "The question is whether you love me or not."

"Do you enjoy making me miserable Baldy?" And in the same monotonous tone she added very fast. "yeah, yeah Iloveyou… Can you tell me what do you want?"

"To stop seeing that… boy." And he uttered the last word with disgust. "But that is not what I wanted to ask you in the first place. My real request is a simple and plain chance."

"A chance?" She repeated disregarding at purpose the thing about the guy who had kissed her first.

"To try to make you happy." And his entire teeth were visible with those words. She chuckled.

"You're so cheesy dumbass. Does this really work on those bimbos? "

"Hiyori. I'm being serious here. Are you willing to give me a chance or not?"

She remembered one of her biggest concerns when it came to the idiot Baldy and pinched her mouth with her fang as she stared at her knees. "But… would we be exclusive? No more stupid girls around?"

"Or weird looking boys taking my girl to dinner to a cheap restaurant." He said in a matter-of-fact voice and she directed a glare, but he ignored her and answered her question cheerily. "Definitely yes."

"Ok." She said with a small hidden smile. "You have your chance BUT you only have one, so use it wisely, dumbass."

He smiled a truthful smile and ran a couple of fingers in her messy bun. "Enough emotions for today. I think I'll see ya tomo-." He hadn't noticed that she had gotten closer. "Do you want something Hiyori?"

She nodded.

"What do you want?"

The female Shinigami pressed her lips together and spoke very lowly while she was as red as a lobster. "A kiss."

It didn't take him one second to send his lips crashing into hers. Shinji felt happy, really happy. Hiyori felt weird but also contented. When she was left behind this morning by Hikifune she had never thought that this evening would turn out like this.

When Shinji broke the kiss, he didn't let her go. He pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "So I have you for myself until Monday." It wasn't a question; it was more like a statement to let her know.

She scowled. "Of course not you idiot! Hikifune-san didn't take the entire squad, it was just a reconnaissance mission…a Captain and he doesn't know shit." She said remembering his words.

"So when do you wanna tell people about us?" He smirked ignoring her taunting.

"Mmmmm… I think we should wait and take things slowly."

"Yeah, 'specially wait for you to go talk to that kid that asked you out and tell him to stay the hell away, that you already have someone." And he winked at her lustfully.

"Idiot Baldy."

They stay still and quiet for a couple of minutes. He was still touching her head and hair protecting her from the cold as he breathed in the smell of her hair.

"I'm comfortable like this, maybe I should stay for the night."

She punched him very hard in the stomach.

She was being her normal self, the normal annoying and rude girl that had made him fall in love with her. "Don't you even dream about it pervert."

"Hiyori! It's raining!" He complained about the punch and about being away from her with that sentence. "Do you want me to get sick?"

"I don't care."

"Well you should, tiny shrimp," he said in a lecturing tone, "If I get sick and I keep kissing you, you'll get sick."

"Well then if you do get sick, you're not coming near me."

"Really?" He eyed her incredulously. "I was under the impression that you enjoyed kissing me." He brushed his lips with her nose to later give her a small kiss and after that he threw himself unceremoniously onto the bed .

"Hey! Off of my bed Hage Shinji!" She said pulling his black shihakushou without any result.

Shinji raised his head and pull her down, but unlike her attempt, his got the result he wanted. In a second she was next to him on the bed. "Why don't you make me?"

Hiyori felt angry at his daring, but it was nothing when she noticed a hole –the size of a fist- in her wall. Shinji following with his eyes the place that she was looking gave a nervous laugh.

"Ahh that...An involuntary jealousy action, but after all it's your fault for kissing that kid."

She gathered all her strength in her right leg and kicked –literally - him out of her bed, and that kick was only the beginning of the beating of his life.

.

Long, long live the walls we crashed through
All the candlelight shined just for me and you
And I was screaming, "long live all the magic we made"
And bring on all the pretenders
I'm not afraid

.

Even more than the beautiful picture of the his wife sleeping, the thing that overwhelmed Hirako Shinji the most was the sweet expression she had on her face while she was dreaming. He was standing at the foot of the bed looking at what was the most precious to him – Hiyori. She wasn't aware he was there and her breathing was steady and deep being completely proof that she was indeed having a very good dream.

"Hiyori… Sweetheart I'm home, and you're in the middle of the bed." He whispered with his hot breath on her neck while he moved her as delicately as he could and re-positioned her in his arms as he climbed into bed. For a long time, he had just stared at the little Vizard that had been with him since he could remember. A medical term that someone would use to define him would be that he was utterly and irremediably in love.

He clutched Hiyori closer to him. He still remembered when he was in the same position as he was today, but on the top of a broken building and he would have given anything for her to be okay; his reiatsu, his mind, his body, even his life. Funny how he did, he had given his life and his entire being to her.

He closed his eyes once again. He hoped that after all these years of trying to prove to her – and to himself- how much he loved her that she could tell. That he was able to erase his image of a coward and of a useless liar; that his real love had transpired and he had passed from a smooth talker to a doer, just like she was; that since he did the oath his actions had proved to her in front of everybody that his feelings were true. He knew by now that it was impossible to make her forget about the time Hikifune left her or the Hollowfication or her fight against his hollow. Those events had happened and he couldn't erase them, but what he could do was to build new memories, new situations that were in her best interest and that was what he had done all these years.

He had understood since 'the big time Hiyori didn't listen' that the girl didn't need a protector. She needed a partner and he was the perfect candidate for that job.

I'm glad you stuck around, little bokke. I'm sure you had fun watching me go through all that trouble for you, I bet you laughed your ass off he mentally told her.

He had made a promise and he had kept it. More than 50 years since the winter war had passed and he had tried with every fiber of his being to make her happy and he had showed her how much he really loved her.

He had kept the silly promise he had done on the name of her yellow sandal that had fallen away along with the lower part of her body; funny that the stupid sandal he made the pledge on was destroyed along with the ruins of the fake Karakura. It would have made a good souvenir.

What a pity.

.

Singing long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life
Fighting dragons with you
And long, long live the look on your face
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered

.

A/N: As a psychologist I believe that most of our actions are driven by the unconscious (I'm a Freudian sue me!) and this chapter took me 2 weeks to write because I kept falling asleep on the top of my laptop (and another week to get out because your beta Chancewriter is lazy and busy ;p), BUT I'm sure that in the bottom of my unconscious mind I didn't want to finish! Because I can't believe 17 ways is over! So sad!

Sorry about the waiting guys, hope this is a fitting ending. I really wanted the first kiss in here and what better way, right?

I have a bit of clarification when it comes to the honorific used by Shinji after the kiss – 'Pyon' (that was the same that Chappy used with Ichigo if you guys remember). I was looking for something very lovey-dovey in Japanese and I found that. Here is the meaning exactly: -pyon.- A slang honorific, indicating that the speaker is being very cutesy/sweet/lovey-dovey with the person he is addressing.

If you guys noticed, the last part after the flashback is over (Shinji's part) and is a bit similar like the prologue, which is completely intentional! Because originally this history was Shinji centric, but like usual when I plan something it NEVER works out the way I intended and it instead ended up being a third person narrative that focused more on Hiyori's thoughts.

Well that is it for me guys. Thank you for staying with me for over 17 chapters + prologue. Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I had writing it.

My readers are the best, don't forget a last review and we see around in another stories!

Luv

Kate