First Impressions (Tenma)

Shakaku strolled through the bust city streets, unsure of really what to do. She has studied, read, trained, studied some more and even talked with some of her classmates before leaving. She was bored. Sighing, she glanced into all the shops and restaurants, only slightly interested with all the merchandise being sold. Finally, she came to the outskirts of town where cherry blossom trees were in full bloom. Sitting on a bench that was overlooking a small creek, she rested her head on her hands and sighed through her nose. What to do, what to do, she thought.

Tenma was walking through a veritable forest of cherry blossom trees. He beautiful, small, pink petals where falling everywhere in a breath taking pattern of swirls. As he moved through the area he soon noticed a young woman sitting on a bench overlooking a small creek. She had shoulder length red hair and Tenma himself thought she was rather beautiful, however she looked remarkably bored at the moment so he decided that he would liven her mood up a little.

Moving quietly toward the young woman he gathered as many cherry blossoms as he could and when he reached her, proceeded to dump them on her head. He knew the act of completely and utterly random, which meant is nearly sure to bring a smile to her face. He looked at her with a completely serious look on his face to complete the image and waited for her to look up.

Lets see, Shakaku though. I have many of the bakudos down. I should start practicing hados, too. My zanpakuto is probably lonely without me. I should get some training in with my sword, also. Wait... what day was that exam on? Aww man! If we have a test I'm so screwed!

Shakaku was shaken from her thoughts when a mass of cherry blossoms fell on the top of her head and fell all round on her shoulders, lap and on the bench. Sitting straight, she looked behind her to find a man with hair that was just darker than her's smiling. "What was that for?" She laughed and shook all the flowers out of her hair. "Now I smell like a flower!" She grinned. Cherry blossoms were always her favorite smelling flower. Dusting off the petals from her legs she grinned up at the man. "Hello," She tilted her head and continued to pull the flowers out of her hair.

Tenma shrugged at her comment "Then you smell like you look" He replied simply as he tilted his head in response "Tenma Yamato." He offered as he reached down and plucked a cherry blossom she missed out of her hair and gently blew it into the wind. "The most elusive of the elements, you'll never know when it will arrive and when it will leave." He quipped with a small smile, he motioned toward the empty seat next to her "May I?" He asked politely, as another gust of wind blew his black and crimson hair about. He felt that today would be a good day indeed.

He took notice of her gorgeous amber eyes and rather lovely face and felt that he indeed, captured her perfectly when he complemented her earlier. He reached up and plucked an entire cherry blossom flower from the tree above them and offered it to her.

Shakaku smiled and motioned for him to sit and took the blossom from his hands. "Why thank you! I'm Shakaku." She twirled it by the stem and looked out at the massive amounts of cherry blossoms. "They sure are pretty this time of year. Where I came from, the blossoms never grew the way they do here." The wind brought the scent of the flowers to her and the man sitting next to her. She breathed in deeply. "This is my first time really venturing away from the Academy. Judging by your attire you must be a Shinigami and judging from mine you must know I'm a student." She grinned up at her company. "I can't wait till I graduate! There's nothing I want more than to finally join a squad and be use to someone! Sure I love studying and training and learning but it's not the same." She suddenly remembered the day of her exam and felt a little more at ease knowing that she had time. "Sorry. I'm rambling."

He sat down next to her and smiled softly, then shook his head politely "Please don't worry about it, I like listening to other people." He said as he gently played with the tassle on his sheathed zanpakuto. It was simply something to occupy his hand and it helped him think at times. He came up with a question rather quickly and he turned to look her in the eye "What squad do you plan to join?" He inquired as he showed her his first squad insignia "I didn't graduate all that long ago, I just recently learned my zanpakutos name." He said as he scratched the back of his head.

He began to look back and forth betweem Shakaku and the flower a few times before finally speaking. "It looks like I was wrong, before I had thought that when I had complemented you earlier, I had hit the mark when I compared you to the cherry blossom, but now I see it will take much more effort to find something beautiful enough to compare to yourself my friend." He said as he focused his crimson gaze towards the horizon, the sun was starting to set and a gorgeous display of orange and pink lit up the sky.

Shakaku giggled as she felt her heart warm with such a sweet compliment. "That's so sweet of you!" She grinned widely. People rarely complimented her. It was nice to hear someone say something kind about something about her instead of the work she did in school. Thinking about what squad she would choose to join made her frown slightly. "I'm not quite sure which squad I want to be in. I really love the morals of squad 3 and squad 7 but I love the idea of having a high and noble status and squad 1 is just that." She slouched in the bench and admired the sunset. "I don't want to be just some squad member. I want to be someone known. Someone that students will be learning about in the next generation!" Her heart flared with a determined passion. "But the thing is I don't even know where to begin." She set her jaw angrily. She knew working hard at her studies was important but everyone at the academy did that. There must be something different that would set her apart from everyone else.

Tenma couldn't help but begin laughing at her passion, not a mean way of course. More in admiration "I can tell you where to start Shakaku." He said as he took her hand and stood her up with him. He then turned to face her and placed his hand on her heart and smiled softly "Right here, you start there, and you'll be well known in the next generation...Because if you trust it, it will take you farther then you could ever dream." He turned back toward the sunset and frowned softly "Not even the sunset is good enough it seems." He muttered, knowing she would catch what he meant. He smiled softly as the wind stopped and the rose petal began to fall straight down around them in a beautiful array.

Tenma had been right earlier, thus far, it had been a good day "The sheer beauty of the sunset, the light hearted buzz from the cherry blossoms, and the amazing young woman standing next to me. A good day indeed I think." He muttered without meaning to. He hadn't managed to catch that he had said it aloud though, he was to focused on the scenery.

Shakaku nodded. She knew what he meant. What did her heart want? What was she meant to do? What squad was the right one of her? Questions buzzed all in her head that she almost didn't catch his low mutter. She managed to fit together the pieces she did hear and she was shocked by the outcome. Glancing around she wondered if there was another girl he was talking about or if he get her confused with someone else. Surely it couldn't be her. She smiled when she realized it could be no one but her. "You are a peculiar one, Tenma." She pulled his hand away from her heart and gave it a squeeze before letting it go. "A ladies man, I must admit." She laughed. Looking out at the sunset she made a decision. Whatever she chose she knew she would make the best out of whatever decision she makes, even if it's the wrong one.

Tenma smiled softly at her words and he turned to say something but was caught short. It was at that precise moment, with the sunset reflecting off of her amber eyes, and the cherry blossoms falling gently to the ground behind yanked the breath from his throat. He felt his heart skip a beat suddenly and he gently brought her hand up and gave it a gentle kiss, he was never one to turn someone to kiss them, so he hoped she got the message when he kissed her hand. He gave it his own squeeze and never brought his gaze away from her eyes as he spoke "The only wrong answer in this situation, is not choosing one at all." He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek to further hint toward his desire to kiss her, if she turned to look at him, he would do so. If she didn't however, he would simply let it be and admire the sheer beauty that was she.

She felt herself tense when his lips touched her hand and she froze when she felt them against her cheek. Her mind. What was it not working? It went completely blank from thought. When he pulled away, she turned to look at him, her eyes wide and she was afraid he would be able to feel, or even worse... hear, her heart banging in her chest. Her brain was still frozen within her skull. Nothing was going through her mind except for three things. The amazing scenery, the fact she needed to say something and Tenma. "Uhh..." Was all she managed to muster. She knew she was going to beat herself up about freezing later but she didn't realize it at the moment. Her breath came out lightly and her heart beat frantically. She sure hoped his brain was working because she wasn't positive when her's was going to kick in.

Tenma smiled softly and leaned in to a soft and gentle kiss. He didn't hug her close or anything as he felt that was too intimate for now, but the kiss was all that mattered at that moment. He felt his heartbeat go through the roof, and he felt something akin to a burst of fresh air hit him as their lips met. He ended the kiss shortly after, he didn't want it to be too long, or too short. If she wanted to do it again then she could always ask. He looked into her eyes as he pulled away and gave her a small smile as he brought his hand up and caressed her cheek softly. The sunset had just finished going below the horizon and darkness began to overtake the land.

None of that mattered to him though, for he had an absolutely beautiful young woman in front of him, and she was just as breath takingly gorgeous at night, as she had been at sunset. He took her hand gently and gave it a small squeeze, wanting to know her own thoughts.

Shakaku opened her eyes after the light kiss and leaned back on her heels. "Wow," she spoke in a whisper. That was all she could manage. She just realize the sun at dipped below the horizon and the first of the brightest stars began to show in the purple-blue sky. As he squeezed her hand she smiled. Then she began to laugh. "I'm sorry this is all just so crazy!" she brushed the loose hair from her face. She smiled up at Tenma. "I think we will be very good friends." She grinned up at him. Her mind was still a little dizzy from the whole situation. Sitting down on the bench to steady herself, she leaned back and looked up at the stars. "Kissed by two people in one week! I'm irresistible!" Shakaku giggled and patted the bench beside her for Tenma to sit.

Tenma raised an eyebrow curiously "Two people eh? Ah well, I'm not too worried about that." He said as he sat next to her and smiled at her. "But let me ask you this, do you think the chance to be more than friends is there?" He inquired curiously. He wanted to know what boundaries he could put pressure on and which ones to avoid. He wanted to be completely respectful to her and what she wanted. He looked up at the stars and spoke aloud "The most beautiful things in the universe, are the ones untouched by man.." He then looked down at her and smiled once more "With the exception of one incredible young shinigami." He told her as he kissed her cheek once more.

He enjoyed the feel of kissing her, it made him happy, and he hoped they could do so again if it was her wish. For now however he would focus on being a good friend and an even better shinigami.

Shakaku sighed and leaned back in the bench. "Oh I don't know." She looked up at the stars, already recognizing some constellations starting to come into view. "I really want to focus on becoming a shinigami first." She turned to Tenma and smiled apologetically. He was so sweet she felt horrible for giving him such a lame answer. It was true, though. Part of her wanted him to be involved with her for more than her looks. She wanted to be going somewhere before she committed to someone. "I really had a nice time tonight." She added. "I must admit I was getting lonely without anyone to talk to. I have been spending too much time on my own in the library or the classrooms or somewhere on my own. But I just want to be someone." She held her breath for a second. Holding her breath always set her mind straight; She was unsure of why. "I want to be a somebody before I get involved with anybody." She gave a dry laugh and leaned forward to rest her head on her hands as her elbows rested against her thighs.

Tenma understood every word, he was very similar. He nodded his understanding and stood up, he reached a hand down to help her up as he looked into her amber eyes "If you ever need help, a friendly spar, some kido lessons, just let me know." He said with a smile as he pulled her into a hug. He then pulled away and gave her a small wink with a grin "Don't be surprised if I hunt you down around the academy sometime though, if you want to be a shinigami, I'll push you into your studies until you are." He said truthfully. He then leaned down and gave her one more kiss on the cheek and smiled as he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.

Shakaku grinned widely. "That would be a great help!" She stood with him and brushed off any dust of petals the mist have missed. "I really could use the experience." She rubbed the back of her hand, embarrassed that she needed help. She didn't particularly like to ask for help but she wasn't going to let her pride get in the way. When Tenma hugged her she hugged back. She really felt close to him. She could trust him and she enjoyed that. "I suppose this is goodbye for now, then." She spoke, a hint of disappointment in her voice. She didn't want to have to go back to the housing barracks just yet but when she yawned she knew she would have to get some sleep soon. Her training, battles with hollows and all the days events wore her out. She couldn't help smiling as he kissed her again on the cheek. "I suppose I'll see you around sometime then!" Taking a couple steps back, she gave a wave. "It was nice meeting you Tenma. You saved me life from boredom!" She laughed loudly and turned. "Bye!" She called over her shoulder as she began walking back through the village and off to her barracks where she anxiously awaited much needed sleep.

Tenma smiled as she accepted his offer, he would look forward to helping her reach her goals. He also noticed the hint of dissapointment in her voice at them having to part way and that made him extremely happy and sad at the same time. It meant she wanted to spend more time with him, yet also that she was sad too. He felt his smile widen as she called out her farwell and he raised his own arm to wave goodbye. He hoped something good would come of their meeting here today, he felt like he could really like her.