Liking Oneself II: Thank You (Bleach Fanfic)

Self Reflection

A good deal of the "thanks" needed to be dolled out, but due to how late it was at night, Hitsugaya Toshiro instead returned to his division and headed strait to his room, collapsing onto his bed, his body heavy and stiff from exhaustion. He simply stared at the ceiling, rather then changing into his night ware.

As he stared at the ceiling, his dragon hummed in his ears and he decided to close his eyes and go into his inner world. "Hyorinmaru..."

"It is always good to see you young one." The dragon appeared before him, huge and magnificent.

"Thank you for always being in there and believing in me too." The young shinigami responded.

At this, the dragon lowered his head so that it was touching the small shinigami, resting lightly on top. "There is no need to thank me for something that should come naturally for any zampaktuo."

"Am I too hard on myself though." Toshiro asked.

Hyorinmaru chuckled suddenly at the small taicho. "Yes, you are too hard on yourself, despite the fact you are right in the idea that you don't have to like everything about yourself. There must be something deep down that you do like about yourself."

"I wish someone had said about myself that I can like about myself. Why did so many people spout off things that I really do hate about myself." The small taicho let out a deep sigh.

"I don't really understand that myself, as I understand the reasons behind why you dislike those things." The dragon simply remained there, talking slowly to the young shinigami. "Perhaps it has to do with the fact that there are positive things about those things you hate about yourself too."

"Like my looks?" Toshiro let out a disgruntled sound. "Seriously, my looks always got me looked down upon in the village, why should now be any different?"

"They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Take Matsumoto Rangiku for example..." The zampaktuo found himself quickly interrupted.

"Hold it, hold it, hold it." At this, Hitsugaya sat up, knocking the dragon back. "Listen to me. Matsumoto thinks of herself as pretty and such, so what does this have to do with the conversation. She's very picky about such things."

"Then what does that say, when she says she likes the way you look." The dragon gently nudged the small shinigami from behind.

"She's always picking about what I wear and the fact that my hair is a mess." Toshiro muttered, his cheeks puffing out.

"Yet she doesn't say things about your hair and eye color." The next words from the zampaktuo caused the small taicho to pause. "She did also say she likes the hair and eye color. Sure, other people didn't like the way you look, and others may well in the future, but in her eyes, she simply frets as any person who cares and worries about another does. Didn't your granny always fret over your messy hair too."

At that, the white haired youth found his cheeks flustering up at the comments. "What ever. I still hate my height."

"As she pointed out, you are still growing, so don't worry so much about it. You'll make yourself sick and then she'll be pestering you even more, trying to get you well again." The dragon laughed suddenly. "Also, she doesn't care that you messed up. She is one of those people who is very leniant on people's pasts and doesn't choose to hold it against them. You are the same way... that is, with everyone except yourself."

"Hai, hai..." The small taicho let out a deep breath, just as Matsumoto's voice suddenly caused him to be pulled out of his inner world.

The busty female glared at him from the sliding doors between their two rooms. "Taicho... I know you like talking to your zampaktuo, but goodness sake, it is late and you and I both need our sleep. You'll fret a lot less about your height if you acted in a manner healthy for your body." There was a slight pause at that point. "I love you, and good night."

Two teal eyes simply stared at her, while she waited for a response that at first simply couldn't come. Finally, the small taicho stated what he wanted to say. "Good night." There was a slight pause, and then he spoke up again. "I love you too, because you're family." At that, she smiled at him and closed the door, while he flopped back down on his bed.