Title: Spring's Dawn
Characters/Pairing: HitsuHina
Summary: "Why do you have your arms behind your back, Hitsugaya-kun?"
Author's Note: I know this isn't terribly fluffy, but none of them will be, and I don't think it's in Hitsugaya's nature to be gushy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Personally, Hinamori isn't sure exactly what the rather uncomfortable, slightly stretched look on Hitsugaya's face means when he walks into her office. It's almost like he's been holding it in one attitude for a very long time, and has suddenly decided to wear his face a different way; that makes no sense, since Hitsugaya looks just as grumpy as he ever has.
And, of course, she also has no idea why he's holding his arms behind his back. Hitsugaya's never held his arms like that before…
"Good afternoon, Hitsugaya-kun!" Hinamori greets him cheerfully, smiling from behind her desk. As usual, she doesn't address him by the proper honorific and, for once, Hitsugaya doesn't really seem to mind, managing a small quirk of a smile that somehow brings to mind Hinamori's memories of him as a small child.
"Hi, Hinamori," Hitsugaya mutters awkwardly, a slight pink tinge entering his cheeks. He still keeps his hands fixed firmly behind his back.
Curious, Hinamori stands, the coal black linen of her hakama swishing and puckering at her ankles as she draws to her feet, slipping out from behind her desk. She shoots a slightly wistful glance outside the window—it's a beautiful spring afternoon, glorious and resplendent with the sweet perfume of flowers blanketing the air, and she's trapped inside by the paperwork. Evil monsters should be slain, Hinamori decides. Maybe I can get Hitsugaya-kun to help me with that sometime.
But for now…
"Hitsugaya-kun, why do you have your arms behind your back?" Hinamori asks innocently, smiling a little bit; Hitsugaya certainly smells like he's been outside—Hinamori knows he doesn't particularly like this time of year since the pollen makes him sneeze, but the smell of the flowers has managed to cling to him.
As Hinamori tries to walk around him to answer her own question, Hitsugaya rotates on the spot, expression growing decidedly shifty. "No reason," he responds evasively, in the sort of tone that makes Hinamori sure he's lying.
"Then why won't you let me walk around you?" Now, the flavor of triumph enters Hinamori's voice; she knows she has him caught.
The tinge of color in Hitsugaya's cheek is now approaching red. "I just," Hitsugaya mumbles awkwardly, "I just… wanted to give you these."
His face is defensive to hide his embarrassment, as Hitsugaya draws his arms out from behind his back, to reveal a spray of may blossoms, brandishing them like a weapon.
To say Hinamori is elated at this gift would be an understatement. Her reaction makes Hitsugaya decided that it was—almost—worth the embarrassment of having to walk all the way through the Fifth division with a bunch of flowers in his hands.