Tears of the Clueless

Da Frick? Y U All So Affectionate?

We reached our destination to see Jushiro already discussing with the head captain.

"Yes?" Yama-Sama (it's easier to remember than Yamamoto-sama) asked in a voice that suspected something.

"Head captain, it seems there's been some problems with Ali and her classmates," Yumichika said, handing Yama-sama the note.

His eyebrow rose as he read, and I suddenly found my feet fascinating. I could feel Jushiro staring at me curiously. Yumichika and Ikkaku stood silently at my sides.

"Though I hardly find this such a problem that it needs my personal attention, I must ask, why would you be tempted to attack a fellow student without provocation?"

"I didn't-" I stopped myself, remembering that this man was the most important man here. "Please, sir, it wasn't without provocation..."

"Mmm? What did they do that needed to be solved with violence?"

I suddenly felt very stupid. To say that I punched a girl because she bullied me sounded incredibly childish now. I returned my gaze to my feet as I thought around for a response and they waited patiently.

"Er, well...." I mumbled, massaging my neck.

Note to self: stop acting all guilty when I get nervous.

"Do you have a good reason for me, Miss Heitsu?" Yama-Sama asked.

I decided to just go with the easiest response. "N-No... Sir..."

He sighed. "Please refrain from senseless violence in the future, Miss Heitsu."

"Yes, sir..."

"You may leave now, do not come back here without good reason again."

"Yes, sir..."

I turned around and hurried from the room, my neck burning.

"So what didn't you tell him?" Yumichika asked knowingly.

"...... That the girl was bullying me...." I admitted.

"What was the point of keeping that from him?" Ikkaku asked.

"Oh, I dunno," I said sarcastically, leaning against the wall. "Let me just barge in and say 'Hey, okay, so get this. This chick was being a douche and a meany, so I totally socked her right in the face.' Oh yeah, because that wouldn't sound childish."

"You've got a point...." They sighed.

"Besides, I'm used to bullies," I said with a sigh of my own. "I should've controlled my anger better. I don't know what happened..."

"Ali..."

My eyes widened and snapped to the newcomer. Jushiro had poked his head from the door, his features filled with concern.

The affection, the fatherly expression. I couldn't take it.

It wasn't normal for me to receive.

Please, please stop.

I stood there with a deer-in-headlights expression before finally bolting. The three of them called for me, but I just ran faster, feeling like a complete and utter moron.

I rounded a corner and ran smack into a hard chest. I stumbled back, dazed and disoriented, and a soft, cool hand took my wrist to balance me. I looked at whoever it was to see a very handsome man with long, black hair and weird white bar things in his hair. Something about him made me think of royalty. His skin was incredibly pale, and he had the darkest eyes I'd ever seen.

"I-Im so sorry!" I said, bowing, but- clumsy me- my head hit his chest and I straightened again, blinking. "S-Sorry!"

He had on a nearly emotionless mask, but something glinted in his eyes. Amusement? "Are you always this nervous?" He asked, his voice smooth as silk. I found myself blushing just as bad as I do around Renji as I stared at my feet. "What's wrong?"

His free hand- the other still had ahold of my wrist- gently took my chin and made me look up, and caused my cheeks to burn brighter.

His thumb brushed my cheek and he studied it. It was now glistening with something wet he'd collected from under my eye. A tear.

"I-Im fine!" I said quickly, using my sleeve to dry my eyes. "S-See? No worries!"

He stared down at me, looking unconvinced. His thumb started stroking the inside wrist of my captured hand in a gentle, soothing way.

"Such delicate features," he said in a soft voice, something strange with my last-second-created mental image of him as a strict man. No leeway. No affection. Cold. Stern. "A shame for pain to mar beauty..."

Wait..... Wut?

"Ali!"

We turned to look at Yumichika and Ikkaku, who had come running around the corner and stopped just before hitting us.

"K-Kuchiki-taicho!" Yumichika said in surprise.

Taicho... Captain? Another powerful big shot? Well, aren't I just learning all kinda of things today.

Kuchiki dropped my wrist, and his expression turned steely as he looked at them. The amusement sparkling in his eyes was gone. Replacing it was something like cold annoyance. He suddenly fit my mental image of him perfectly.

He nodded coolly to the both of them, and spun around, walking down the corridor without another glance to me.

"What did Byakuya Kuchiki want with you?" Ikkaku asked, he and Yumichika seeming just as confused as me.

"I... Have no clue..." I mumbled, strangely enough wishing he'd come back.

What's going on with me?