Bleach - One shot - Light of the World

[sativa]

Title: Light of the World
Fandom: Bleach
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Wordcount: 480
Pairing(s): Nanao-centric, hints of Shunsui/Nanao

31_days June 2nd Prompt: When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things

Light of the World

Prisms split the light, made it dance and shine and bend with color. Prisms were a toy, meant to educate, but what child cared other than it sparkled with mysterious qualities? Nanao picked up the crystal from her desk and marveled at the sheen and polish it still held though it was her own hand that now carefully executed that task. It had been a gift from an old friend, and she had kept it with her through her academy years and now as vice captain of the 8th division.

It was a paperweight kept to remind her of her origins and a handy tool to beguile the likes of Shunsui whenever she needed his attention and to knock him back to his senses. She smiled, her lips quirking in memory as she recalled the first day she had seen a prism, the light dancing with rainbow colors across the dirt path. She had crouched down next to it, attempting to poke the wavering pattern with her finger while her other hand held the fabric of her robe off the ground.

The old man had laughed with a toothy grin. His eyes had sparkled every bit as much as the prism. He had enjoyed putting her acumen to the test, and she had delighted in making up stories to explain the phenomenon in an attempt to make him laugh more. He had been the light of her world when she first arrived in Rukongai, taking her in, teaching her the ropes of this new world and existence.

She had loved him.

When he died, she had left with only a stone weighing down her pocket and a purpose in her step. She was going to protect whenever possible, aid whenever allowed. She would hone her skills as best she could so another grandfather would never die before his time, before he was no longer needed. She had gone to the academy and put her knowledge to the test, her creativity serving her well in spell casting, both with visualizing the result and tweaking the basics to serve her present need.

She suppose she should put away her childhood, move on with her life, but the weight was comforting in her hand, and it soothed the ache and pain of her headaches and the back aches of working to many hours. She was no longer a child, but she could still remember those days, taking them out one by one and carefully storing them away again. She was an adult now and while she couldn't save everyone, she could save a few one report at a time. And if it made Shunsui laugh each time she played with the light of the sun streaming through the window or the light of her oil lamp, she treasured the sound, and stored it away with the rest of her childish dreams.


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Comments

[squidgeesushi.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous! A little abstract, but I like that. You've captured Nanao's character well; I like the way you've portrayed a softer, more vulnerable side that she keeps hidden away and you've also touched upon the motivation she has for doing what she does. Many people note the fact that she is very driven in her work, but few focus on what actually drives her. A few typos, but in general nicely phrased and well written.

[advent-child97.livejournal.com]

ahh sweet.. i like this