Fourth fanfic on this website. I started this a long time ago, and it's been through three rewrites. I've been rewriting it again, because the Mary Sue litmus tests showed me where I was going.

I guess this chapter is just here for the sake of… cuteness?

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, and never will.

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"MATSUMOTO!!! Get moving right now!" Matsumoto Rangiku jerked awake to the melodic tones of her patient, soft-spoken captain.

"You should have been up an HOUR ago!!!" Hitsugaya Toushirou continued his tirade as he raced around the tenth squad office, yanking the curtains open. She squinted as the harsh sunlight hit her eyes.

"Aaagh... taichou, it's so bright..."

"I have a meeting today! The mission forms need to be filled out! Look at the time!" the prodigy yelled, not paying any attention to her. "And you are drunk! Again!"

Matsumoto struggled to kick her brain into working mode. Alcohol and sleep clouded her thoughts. She pinched her arm in an attempt to rouse herself.

Meanwhile, Hitsugaya was hurrying, trying to complete papers, swear, and yell at his fukutaichou simultaneously."I don't have enough time to do this! You finish these forms! If you don't, I'll-"

He suddenly stopped. A bun-haired girl in Shinigami attire had entered the room."Shiro-chan? I heard someone yelling in here. Is everything all right?" Hinamori Momo asked, looking worried.

Her friend immediately regained his composure. "Everything's fine, Hinamori. I was just trying to finish some work."

Matsumoto smirked. Only an ignorant idiot wouldn't have heard of her captain's supposed crush on the fifth squad fukutaichou. Almost everyone agreed that the rumor was true. All, that is, except the subjects of the gossip.

Hinamori apprehensively nodded. "Um, okay. If you're sure, Shiro-chan-"

"Hitsugaya-taichou."

"Yes, Hitsugaya-taichou. Anyway, I was just wondering. Kira-kun and I are going for a walk. Would you like to come with us?"

The questions brought his feverishly stressed mind to a screeching halt. Here was a chance to spend time with her, observe that earnest, adorable manner that was all Hinamori. He desperately wanted to say yes, but he knew in his quickly sinking heart that he couldn't.

Hiding his disappointment, the captain replied, "I-can't, Hinamori. I have a meeting," silently cursing it. He quickly scanned her face to see her reaction to this news. Did she look disappointed because her love for him was the same as his was for her? Or only because they were friends? He couldn't tell.

"Oh. Okay, then. I'll see you later, Shir-"

"Hitsugaya-taichou."

"I'm sorry, Hitsugaya-taichou! I keep forgetting!"

"It's fine," he said gruffly, inwardly loving the cute way she apologized.

After Hinamori exited, Matsumoto pounced on her captain. "'I have a meeting'! Jeez, I could have gone for you, and then you would have been free to stroll Soul Society with the love of your life!"

"Shut up. Do the paperwork." He was about to leave when his fukutaichou suddenly noticed an important fact.

"Hey, taichou," she said slowly. "Why are you rushing around? Normally on my hangover days, you let me sleep in while you finish the paperwork. Unless...you woke up late. And maybe you did that because..." An evil smile was spreading. "... You were dreaming about, oh, I don't know, a certain person-"

"Shut up!" He shunpoed away before she could see his burning cheeks.

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Yeah, the OC's not in this chapter. But she'll be in it soon.

Review, please. Thanks.

TideDrop