Log; Complete

[backwards.livejournal.com]

When; February 25th, very backdated~
Rating; G
Characters; Hinamori Momo [hajikemomo] & Kira Izuru [backwards
Summary; After all the commotion of the week, Kira stops by for a quick visit to see how Hinamori and Nell are holding up.
Log;

With the advent of warmer weather, Nell's request, and the fact that she hadn't expected anyone else to want anything from her, Hinamori was wandering about the kitchen in a kimono, making herself tea. Nell was fast asleep and had been for some time, and the vice captain didn't begrudge the small arrancar that after spending all today taking her about the City, exploring the newish layout of Xanadu.

Yesterday had been one headache after the other, even if she couldn't quite place why some of it had caused her such annoyance. It had probably all been Aizen, anyway, which was just all the more reason not to think about it.

Struggling slightly to pull down a box of biscuits, she bemoaned her own height for a moment, all the more so when her attempt only caused the packet to bounce off her head on its way down. With a gentle frown she retrieved it from the floor, making a mental note to tell Yachiru off for putting things so high up - just because the other vice captain had no qualms with hopping on counters, honestly. With a sigh Hinamori turned her attention back to the boiling kettle, even as she felt a familiar presence in the building. It looked like she might need another cup. At least those weren't stored too high up.

Approaching the door to Hinamori's apartment, Kira's thoughts seemed to be on everything but the present. He had been up late the other night talking with Kotetsu, and while he was glad to have helped a friend, hearing her talk about what had been bothering her served only to remind him of things he thought he had finally been able to push to the side and forget about. The picture from Uzura had been relatively harmless, but on top of the curse and the gruesome image of Dorian's death courtesy of the same deity he had traded with for Hinamori's life, it was just one more unwanted occurrence, the repercussions of which he didn't want to deal with.

Even so, it reminded him of his friendship with the fifth division's vice captain, and was part of the reason he was standing in front of the door to her apartment now. He couldn't do much about Aizen, but he could at least make sure she wasn't alone to dwell on the things he said after the fact, had they bothered her.

That in mind, he raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door.

Another cup was brought down swiftly to sit next to the kettle, the tray carried through and left on the table as the small shinigami moved to get the door. Smiling softly for the benefit of her friend as she stepped out of the way, allowing him entrance, she murmured a greeting, adding, "I was just about to have some tea, if you'd like." She was honestly glad to see Kira, even after yesterday's awkwardness and Uzura's attempt at... Whatever it was she did.

The smile on her face was almost automatically reflected on Kira's own, out of relief that she didn't appear to be troubled. "Tea sounds nice." he replied as he made his way inside, turning to face her again after looking around briefly. "Is Nell staying somewhere else today?" He had assumed the arrancar would still be with Hinamori, but everything was a little too quiet for that to be the case.

"No, she's here." She shut the door quietly, ushering him towards the sofa and the table where the tea was. "She's asleep though. I took her to see Xanadu earlier." Hinamori pulled back the kimono sleeves as she knelt down to pour the tea out. The small arrancar had been so frantic yesterday despite Hinamori's best attempts at helping her that sleep had been the only thing that had calmed her. And then today she'd sat there frowning until the vice captain had suggested they go outside.

She sighed softly, readjusting the kimono sleeves. "I hope she cheers up soon. Not that I mind wearing kimono and singing to her. It's just... Sort of odd."

"She probably just needs some time." He said, taking a cup of tea offered to him with a nod in thanks. "I don't really blame her. All these curses are enough to tire anyone out." He thought of Kotetsu, and then looked over to Hinamori, a hint of concern showing on his face. "What about you? Have you been holding up alright?"

She knew all about being tired, worried about her talk with Isane before - she'd promised a way out, but it wasn't really something she could give. Sipping at her own cup the smaller shinigami claimed a seat on the sofa, smiling back at his concern. For some reason... Hinamori felt like she didn't have nearly as much to worry about as she normally did. "I'm alright, aside from taking care of Nell. I think she could wear out Yachiru."

He laughed quietly at that, not doubting what the vice captain had said for a second. "If she ever gets to be too much to handle, let me know?" he offered, "She doesn't seem to mind spending time with me every once in awhile… And it's nice for a change of pace." It was, too. Fond as he was of order and neatness and bad as he was with children, he couldn't help but admit that spending time with the little arrancar wasn't bad. Then again, after spending as much time as he had as vice captain to Ichimaru, he had come to better understand how to deal with those who tended to be spontaneous.

"That would be appreciated." She allowed herself to sit back and relax, nabbing a biscuit in the process. "She could probably do with knowing she has more than just me to turn to if she needs it." Not that she minded babysitting the small girl, but sometimes the fact that it was so much like her Rukongai days spent chasing after Hitsugaya that it often left her wondering if being here was wrong. Pushing those thoughts from her mind though she adjusted the obi so she was sitting more comfortably. "How have you been, anyway?"

"Fine." It was the answer he had come to give unthinkingly to that question, but after a pause, "Tired. Just a little. Things are…" He trailed off, thinking. "Different." Vague, but true enough. He lifted his gaze to meet her eyes, still thoughtful. "Ah, and yesterday… Sorry about that."

Yesterday... Yesterday. She'd already started blocking that out, partially for Nell's benefit. "Mm, it's not your fault at all! I know what curses are like." The smile she offered was slightly nervous but still kind as she held the cup carefully, savouring the warmth. "As long as you and Isane are okay."

Oh.. Right. That, too. "It's alright… I think Kotetsu will be okay, too. Ikkaku-san and Yumichika-san have been bothering her too much, is all…" For the most part, anyway. "But I meant… I mean, the…" He began to doubt whether it was such a good idea to bring the picture up after all. Grimmjow hadn't seemed too pleased with it, among other things… Maybe it was for the best to just forget about it. "Ah, um. Never mind." He finished quickly, cheeks inexplicably turning a light pink as he looked down at the cup of tea in his hands.

She blinked, a little confused at his reaction, trying to think about what had happened that would make him apologise. It's not like he'd told any of the sex stories, and she had avoided reading any of them. Did he mean the incident with Uzura, then? But that was no need to blush, was it? Unless she was going to take Ikkaku seriously, and Kira had already told her to ignore him... Still confused, she smiled again in that clueless manner of hers. "If you're talking about Uzura... It was a nice picture. And I think I set her straight about us being friends." Or at least, she hoped she had. Hinamori really didn't want Ikkaku and Yumichika teasing Kira too.

And she really did like the picture. It had been a nice reminder that she still had her friends with her.

"Yes, but…" What? He wasn't sure himself, really. That kind of picture wasn't something he would want displayed, no matter who it was with or what the circumstances behind it were. Even so, it was harmless in comparison to what Uzura had done in the past. He should have been counting his blessings. Still… So many people had mentioned him smiling. It was annoying, none of their business, and maybe it was just getting to him. He frowned, taking a drink before setting his cup down and forcing a smile to his face before looking at the other shinigami. "You're right, I'm just sorry if it caused you any trouble."

"No trouble..." Hinamori wasn't really comfortable with everyone being able to see the picture, but still. There hadn't been any damage done, despite Uzura's misunderstanding. "There's no need to be sorry. We had fun that day, and that's what matters, right?" She took her own thoughtful sip, dropping her gaze. "You never have any need to apologise to me, Kira-kun."

"Yeah, we did." His smile was small as he finally managed to look at her again, unable to help but find humour in her next words. Apologizing was something he was so used to doing it was almost innately part of him. Down to his soul slayer, even. He cast a sidelong glance at Wabisuke; it had been slower to respond to him since the trade he had made with the deity, not as a side effect but out of irritation on the sword's part, he was sure. "I'm glad you feel that way." He folded his hands in his lap, thinking for a moment before speaking again. "Ah, what do you think of that new deity? Siran?"

The smile she'd been trying to hold onto slipped slightly as the smaller shinigami murmured quietly, "We'd never stop apologising to each other, otherwise."

But glancing sideways at him she was quick to find the shaky expression, to ignore the events that had come between them. Hinamori didn't want to think about that part of their friendship, the thoughts rising unbidden despite herself. So keeping the smile in place and shrugged gently, trying to find the right words. "I have... Distrust. She's too quick to offer things, to try and be nice. It unnerves me. I don't like any of them, though, to be fair."

Her words were true, almost painfully so, and he looked away, finding a spot on the carpet to focus on. "Mm... I know what you mean. It's the type who act friendly who seem to turn out to be the most dangerous..." He sighed and tore his gaze away from the floor, looking back to her, reaching to touch her hand gently. "Bad memories... We've all got them, but... Let's keep doing our best to move forward. Maybe they'll make us stronger." His smile was small, but genuine.

The touch was a little surprising but she couldn't help but smile back, blush present ever so slightly in her cheeks. "Bad memories make the good ones better." Hinamori glanced away nervously, wondering when things had gotten to the point that it was awkward trying to find something normal to talk about, but managed to turn her attention back to her friend. "But I'm sure you didn't come here to talk about that," she murmured, giggling softly.

"Mm.... Really, I just came to see how you were doing. Nell, too. Things have been so hectic." He said, voice a little more cheerful than usual now. "After talking to Kotetsu, I just thought I'd make sure. Hopefully we'll get a break, now, though."

"I hope so too." The past week had been a blur, though the vice captain was sure it was more blurry than it should have been for some reason. But she'd been feeling that way about the past few months, as if she'd done nothing much at all but merely existed for the most part. "I'm sorry you couldn't get to talk to Nell though. But she was really tired. And I'm glad Isane is feeling better."

"I'm glad she finally has a chance to rest." He continued the conversation, though he found himself distracted. Hinamori seemed... somehow different. Her eyes, the way she carried herself. It had been in the back of his mind the whole time, but it only seemed to become more apparent with each moment. It was nothing specific that he could identify, and the things he did see were only slight, but... "... You're sure you're alright?"

Did she look pale? Or was she blushing too much, or- Hinamori glanced at the other shinigami questioningly. She didn't feel anything other than slightly tired, the result of walking around so much with Nell. And she doubted the biscuit packet to the head could have done any real, lasting damage. "I'm fine. It's just been a bit of a long day so I'm a little tired? It's a shame Nell doesn't really like anyone else, otherwise I could have taken a break. But it doesn't matter! We had fun." The smaller girl smiled slightly, adjusting the obi again. "I promise I'm okay though."

He watched her for a moment longer, not quite convinced but willing to let it drop. If she wanted him to know, she'd tell him. "Okay." he replied quietly, casting a glance at the clock on the wall. Right, Kotetsu was-- "Ah, sorry, Hinamori. I have to go now." He rose, nodding to her in thanks as he did. "Thanks for the tea, I owe you. I'll... see you later, okay? Tell Nell I said hi."

Hinamori rose with him, reaching out to take his hand for a second. "You don't owe me anything, Kira-kun. I'll let Nell know." She paused a moment, wondering if she should - could - say how glad she was that he'd stopped by, even if just for a short while. But all she managed was, "Be careful," before she let go, smiling softly against his unreadable expression.