Hey guys! I'm back with a new story! ^^ This take's after Bleach: The Diamond Dust Rebellion. If you haven't watched the movie, don't worry. However, you won't know who Kusaka is. So I'll explain.

Kusaka was Toshiro's old friend and rival when they were younger in Shin'o Academy. Unfortunately, he was killed because he possessed the same Zanpakuto (Hyorimaru) as Toshiro. And that isn't allowed, so they were ordered to fight each other for the honor of bearing Hyorimaru. The Central46 members ordered his execution stating that Hyorimaru belonged to Hitsugaya.

In the movie they found out he wasn't dead because of the Oin.

Okay, that was all you needed to know. Now onwards with the story, enjoy!

-:-

The light shown bright through the clouds as Kusaka's Zanpakuto fell on the ground, shattering. "I guess it's true, you are the chosen one," he stated. Blood stained his haori. "You were ordered to kill me once, and you succeeded again, but I won't die easily for I will justify my existence." He began to disperse into blue energy due to having been impaled.

"We will always be friends," Toshiro stated as he watched Kusaka disperse into blue energy.

"Thank you, I needed to know that. One more thing—I left you a present." Kusaka then disappeared completely. Toshiro frowned at his last statement. "I left you a present."

The blue energy rose into the sky as Byakuya said it's finally over. "Who do you think won?" Yumichika asked Ikkaku.

Rangiku smirked. "Don't be stupid. Isn't it obvious?"

The blue energy began to ascend into the clouds, several streams of yellow energy converging at one point, and the Oin began to reform. As it descended onto the ground, Ichigo picked it up. "All of this despite its size…"

Seeing Toshiro standing still, Ichigo approached him. "Thank you for your help," Toshiro said.

"I don't think Kusaka has any regrets," Ichigo stated, tossing him the Oin, "He got a fair chance to settle things this time. It sometimes seems like life isn't giving a fair shake. No one can tell them how to get beyond that and they must figure it out themselves."

As Toshiro looked at the Oin, Ichigo started speaking again. "Kusaka had a second chance and he decided to come back here. He could have let someone else do it for him, but he wanted to settle this fight for himself.

"He stayed true to his feelings," Ichigo said as light broke through the clouds, "and he sure put all of us through trouble."

The white-haired boy chuckled. "We should head back, Toshiro."

Toshiro nodded, but Kusaka's last sentence was still bothering him. For now, he decided to let it slide for a while.

He turned towards Ichigo before stating, "It's Captain Hitsugaya to you."

As soon as he said that, a bright, mesmerizing light began to descend upon the tower the two were standing on, and a body began to descend with it. Toshiro and Ichigo stared and ran towards the light and body. The light soon faded and all that was left was the body of a beautiful girl. Toshiro stared at the body in awe before his eyes widened in shock.

"I-it can't be…!"

Ichigo looked at him in confusion before looking at the body of the beautiful girl that was lying before them and asked, "Do you know her?"

The white-headed boy never said anything. He knelt down and cradled the girl in his arms, gently holding one of her hands in his.

"Who is this girl, Toshiro?"

"Hinata…"

-:-

"How is this possible?" Rukia asked, still too shocked, seeing as her best friend was back after an entire year of disappearance.

"I don't know… Before Kusaka dispersed he said he had a surprise for me. After a while this blue light appeared and then suddenly, Hinata was there lying on the ground," Toshiro explained to Rukia.

"Can someone please explain to me just who is this Hinata that everyone is getting all riled up about?!" Everyone that was present in the room stared at Ichigo before continuing what they were doing before his outburst.

Rukia sighed and looked at Toshiro, who wore a worried look on his face, before turning to face Ichigo. "I'll explain."

Ichigo sighed before thanking her.

"Hinata…is-was the captain of the ninth division. Hinata and Toshiro were best friends at Shin'o Academy, along with Kusaka. Hinata also became my best friend when she became a Shinigami. She was a very kind, caring, and warm person, making everyone she came across fond of her. No one disliked her apart from a few jealous people.

"A year ago, she suddenly disappeared, leaving no trace behind. Everyone was devastated. Now that she's back, everyone is shocked. We all thought that she was deceased…" Rukia said, on the brink of tears. Toshiro was too, but he refused to cry in front of a bunch of people. Instead, a frown marred his face.

Hinata… The name echoed in his mind every single day and night since she had vanished.

Hinata was an extremely important person to him. Not only was she his best friend, but she was also his girlfriend. Yes, he did like her. He knew that. To be exact, he also told her his feelings a day before she had disappeared.

Toshiro and Hinata were currently sitting on a bench; Hinata was eating ice cream that he had bought for her. She had to admit, it was kind of like a date. Just the thought made her blush.

"Thanks for the ice cream." She smiled cutely and took a lick. Toshiro glanced at her before chuckling softly at the ice cream that found its way onto her nose.

"What's so funny?" She pouted, and he had to say, Hinata was extremely cute. Even if she was very strong and possessed a water type Zanpukuto (Usagi), not to mention that she was the captain of the ninth division, one couldn't tell at first glance. She was too kind, caring, and cute to tell. However, when she was in a fight or leading her team, she was confident, serious, and deadly.

"You have some ice cream on your nose."

Hinata blushed and wiped her nose, missing the ice cream. Toshiro shook his head and wiped the ice cream off with his thumb. They stared at each other's' eyes, their lips a centimeter apart. Toshiro closed his eyes and let his lips meet Hinata's. Her eyes widened before she smiled and kissed him back. It was a soft kiss; it wasn't rushed and but it was perfect, considering it was their first kiss.

"Hinata…I-I really like you, and have for a long time," he confessed. He was nervous because he was planning on confessing to her today. He just didn't know how to or when the right time was. So, he took this as a perfect opportunity to confess, just right after the kiss.

"I really like you too…Shiro-kun." She smiled brightly before hugging him, in the process getting ice cream all over his shirt. The lavender-eyed girl laughed and apologized. Toshiro only shook his head and kissed her on the cheek.

That was a day before she disappeared, the last day he ever saw her. He didn't know if she remembered what transpired between them or if she remembered anything at all. Who knew what could have happened to her during that one year? She was also still unconscious and probably too weak for questions.

"—iro. Toshiro." He blinked before looking at Ichigo, who was trying to get him to snap out of his daydream.

"You zoned out," Ichigo stated.

"I'm aware of that," he said in an irritated tone. Rukia sighed softly.

"Do you think Hinata still remembers us?" Rukia asked fearfully. She cared for Hinata. Hinata was always there for her when she needed help or was in trouble. When she vanished, Rukia was devastated and worried. However, even though she cared for Hinata, Rukia knew Toshiro cared way more. When Hinata had vanished, Toshiro was broken and devastated. He wouldn't even eat or do anything; he simply refused! She even saw him cry, but promised not to mention that, not that she would have anyway. He took it the worst.

"I…don't know," he said hesitantly. "I hope."

"As do I…" she trailed of uncertainly. Moments passed and everything was silent. The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Uryu soon came rushing into the room and all eyes were staring at him in query.

"She's awake."

Silence.

-:-

Sooo…what do you think? Should I continue? This idea came to me and I just had to write it. I love how this chapter turned out! ^^ Just had to say that…

I got the whole plotline figured out, and I know where this fic is going. I love HitsuHinata and I have written a one-shot for his birthday called, "Birthday Surprise," too. (Check it out if you haven't already, please!)

However, I decided I would write an actual story, so when this idea popped into my head, I couldn't resist!

Special thanks to my amazing friend and beta, Buckets Full O' Sunshine, for being my beta! ^^ :3

Okay, I'm out now, one last thing:

Review!