Flashback

It was a warm and very beautiful April morning when Aimi went into the forest to sit a little by the stream. It was April 20th, her birthday, and she had no one left to celebrate with her. Aimi was still young and accepted it like an adult. Her gaze wandered off into the distance and she smiled when she saw the numerous cherry blossoms raining down on the stream and playing in the wind. Aimi hummed a melody and imagined that the cherry blossoms would dance to it. She did not notice that anyone was approaching, she was too busy with the beautiful sight. Today she had her hair up like a real lady. She wanted to look pretty on her birthday. Aimi brushed a hanging strand from her face and tried to catch one of the falling petals with her hand, but she couldn't. She laughed softly and enjoyed the warm rays of the sun. Finally she heard a crack behind her and turned around. There was a young man with silver hair standing there, maybe a year or two older than her. Aimi got up and smoothed her kimono. Then she smiled gently at the boy. The latter stopped and just looked over at her in silence. He had a grin on his lips and almost resembled a fox, Aimi noticed with amusement. She walked slowly over to him and was about to speak to him when suddenly a black-haired boy appeared and ran over to her. "Happy birthday Aimi-chan" he smiled dearly and handed her a box of chocolates. "Thank you, Shūhei-kun" smiled Aimi and took the box with a slight red sheen on the cheeks. Then she looked again at the boy with the silver hair, who was about to leave. He knew when he was undesirable. "Stop ... wait. What's your name?" Aimi asked and the boy turned to her. "Gin Ichimaru" he replied and disappeared into the trees.

"What an idiot, I don't like the guy. He's acting up just because he already has an officer rank," Shuhei said meekly and looked at Aimi, who wasn't here with her thoughts. "Aimi" he said loud and clear and she turned to him, confused. "What's happening?" she asked and Shuhei sighed deeply. "You don't even listen to me. What's the matter with you? Today is your birthday after all." he said and Aimi just shook her head. "Not just my birthday. A year ago today my brother Seiji was devoured by a hollow. I've told you so many times before," said Aimi and started to cry. "You don't understand me at all," she sobbed, dropped the box of chocolates and ran away. "Aimi-chaaan" called Hisagi after her and picked up the box. He wanted to run after her, but he knew he couldn't catch up with her anyway, she was the fastest girl he knew.Aimi ran as fast as she could and stopped at some point. She was still in the forest and so she stepped back to the water. Her pinned up hair had come loose so that her long blonde hair was now on her shoulders. She knew that none of the other children could catch up with her, so she just sat here and continued to cry for a while. "I think you look prettier when you smile" she heard and looked around. And again Gin stood there and looked calmly at her. He came over to her this time and looked down at her. "Have a smile," he said and grinned. Aimi looked at him, then back at the stream. "I don't feel like it," she said, sobbing softly and tried to stop. Gin looked up at the sky and then got up. "It's a shame that there are no kaki trees here," he said calmly and Aimi looked over at him, confused. "Only cherry trees everywhere" he sighed whereupon Aimi jumped up and looked at him. "I like cherry trees, I like to watch the blossoms fall from the trees." said Aimi. Gin looked at her and raised his hand. Aimi was frightened and thought he wanted to hit her. She closed her eyes and winced. Gin, however, had only reached out to the air. Aimi opened her eyes and looked at his hand, which he now held out to her. In the palm of his hand was a blossom in full splendor. Aimi first looked at the flower then at gin. "How ... how did you do that?" she asked admiringly and Gin just kept grinning. He leaned forward a little and fastened the flower to Aimi's hair. Aimi blushed and looked at him calmly. "Happy birthday ... Aimi-chan" said Gin and breathed a kiss on her lips. Aimi closed her eyes for a moment and smiled gently when he had pulled away from her. "I tell you, much prettier when you smile," he said and sat down by the stream again. Aimi stopped there and touched her lips, perplexed. That was their first kiss and probably the best birthday present ever. Gin didn't think about it anymore, he was a boy who didn't deal with that for long.

Meanwhile, Hisagi was still looking for Aimi and got there at the exact moment when Gin and Aimi kissed. Shuhei clenched his hand into a fist. "What is this sleazy guy actually thinking. That he can have everything he wants?" Shuhei said quietly to himself and waited a moment behind the trees. Finally he turned and ran away. While he was thinking about the situation, he ran into Toshiro. "Baka! Can't you watch where you're going?" said Toshiro and looked annoyed at Hisagi. Hisagi just said "shut up dwarf" and wanted to go on. "Who do you call dwarf here," said Hitsugaya indignantly and attacked him. So the two squabbled until Aimi finally intervened. "Are you crazy? What's that supposed to mean?" she asked and pushed the two apart. "The dwarf has started," said Hisagi and rubbed his cheek."He's not a dwarf Shuhei, that's Toshiro and he's very nice. You just have to treat him well," said Aimi and gave Shuhei a head-nut. "Ouch, how did I deserve this" he said and Toshiro laughed, but then got one too. "stop it. Today is my birthday, I don't want anyone to argue," said Aimi. "No, more likely kisses" Hisagi muttered indistinctly and stepped a stone aside. "All the best Aimi-chan" smiled Hitsugaya and held out his hand. "Thank you," she said and smiled sweetly. When she got home that evening, she went to bed, very tired.

Flashback end