And Then There was Hope

[tasogaretaichou]

Another one for my ShiYori claim, srsly trying to write these mostly in order to make more sense.

Theme: 7:00 - Hope, increased insight and perspective.
Title: And then there was Hope
Author: tasogaretaichou
Character: Hirako Shinji and Sarugaki Hiyori
Claim: Romance/Pairing
Fandom: Bleach
Rating: PG for language
Disclaimer: Bleach =/= mine


The first time Sarugaki Hiyori actually met Hirako Shinji, she'd already beaten his thin face into the ground once before. She'd seen the youth wandering around the streets before, and she didn't like him. It wasn't really something that she could explain -- not that Hiyori really thought things like that needed explaining -- but something about him just rubbed her the wrong way. Maybe it was that shit-eating grin he was always wearing, or the way he seemed to think he had some right to call her an "uncouth monkey". Something like that, at least, before she'd seen to it that his face met the ground hard. Idiot.

Plopped on the ground at the edge of the street, she watched the throes of people passing by in the early morning -- 7 AM or so, she assumed, munching on yet another scrap of food she'd gleaned out of a trash bin. "Peaceful place", huh. Yeah, that was a load of shit, all that crap the shinigami had told her as he'd walked away after letting go of her hand. At least, she thought it was the shinigami. Like so many others, her memories of the time immediately after she came to this place were so fragmented and hazy that for the most part she didn't even think on them. All she really knew was that this place -- Rukongai, she knew it was called -- was far from the happiness she was relatively sure she'd been told it would be.

Her momentary reverie had been broken by the sudden impact of a slightly larger body settling itself down beside her on the edge of the street. Glancing up with an irritated look -- how dare whoever it was interrupt her meal like that -- her dark eyes narrowed even further to see that same familiar build topped by blond hair. Great. It was him again. Shoving the food into her mouth again, she took a moment to study him further. He looked.... different. Diminished, somehow, as though something had stripped him of confidence and left an emptiness in his wake. Scrubbing a fist across her mouth, she jammed one bony elbow into his ribs.

"Hey. The hell's wrong with you?"

It was probably the first time she'd actually spoken to him, and when he didn't answer immediately she simply dug her elbow in harder until it produced the desired result, which was a yelp and his attention turning towards her as he scowled back. Or... she assumed that was supposed to be a scowl. It really seemed to lack much of the vehemence that she normally put behind a scowl but then maybe that was just him. His face seemed more fit for that irritating grin.

He sighed, the harshness fading away slightly from his form as shoulders sagged. He looked... defeated. She was about ready to hit him, and tell him that he was a guy and guys weren't supposed to be pussies when he started to speak.

"My family.... they're... they're all dead. Hollows...."

Scowl lessening slightly, she continued to munch on the bread, nodding faintly. It was something she'd heard dozens of times, despite the fact that it didn't happen as often in these districts as it did in the rougher ones. Despite the intercedence of the shinigami, Hollows still appeared here. Still attacked occasionally and when they did there was always fallout. It was just to be expected here. Hollows or not, people died. They died every day, and he was a god-damned idiot if he didn't realize that.

Pulling back a thin arm, she balled up her fist and slugged him hard in the back of the head, sending his face crashing into the ground. Turning back to her bread, she continued chewing, seemingly oblivious to his heated protests at her beating. "Quit being such a pussy."

"The hell did you do that for, you little brat!?"

His angry retorts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of half of her loaf of bread as she shoved it in front of his face without a word. Blue eyes widened for a moment in surprise. Food was valuable, especially to those like him -- and her, obviously, given the way she was going at that bread -- who possessed ample spiritual energy. And... he was hungry, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Being on his own... that was something he'd never really had to deal with before. Sure, he was something of a risk-taker at times, and he was by no means pampered, but there was a certain degree of security that came with knowing where your next meal was coming from.

Reaching out, he took the offered piece of bread and took a bite, resisting the urge to grimace at the dry texture. Things were going to be different, and he had to get used to that. Nodding at her, he muttered a "thanks" around the mouthful of bread. And received another whack to the head for his trouble. Stupid girl, the hell did she have to keep doing that for?! Shinji would have asked her just that, only she cut him off.

"Quit being such a fucking pussy. You're a guy, aren't you? So quit being a god-damned pansy."

It was simple enough for her. Like it or not, they were in this together, and they'd just have to keep up the hope that they'd be able to keep surviving.

Comments

[tasogaretaichou.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that would be pretty hardcore awesome. Though you've also got to consider all that Ichigo is currently dealing with PLUS the fact that he doesn't know Grand Fisher was defeated, seeing as Isshin did that. So it might be that he just doesn't know she'd be there.

[twosen.livejournal.com]

Good point, although wouldn't all souls end up in soul society anyway once they're dead? Or I guess she could be already reincarnated, hence there'd be no point trying to look for her in SS... or just that Ichigo hasn't had time to sit down and figure out how things work in SS!