I was inspired to write this story after reading CrazyOnDisplay's HitsuRuki OneshotsDrabbles. I was craving for more HitsuRuki (my current obsession!) and decided to make one of my own. I hope you like it.
Both their stances are as hard as ice
Yet hearts are soft as snow.
Her love is forbidden
His heart is broken
And together, they build a home.
It was the last day the special shinigami troop was staying in the real world. The war has finally ended with them as victor. Now that peace starts setting in little Karakura Cho, the newly appointed members of the Central 46 sees no more reason for powerful shinigami of captain class, lieutenant class, and other seated officers to remain in the realm of the realm of the living. They were to return by dusk of that day. Trying to get the best out of their remaining day, the group decided to split up and meet again by the time the sun sets.
Matsumoto Rangiku went crazy over shopping, dragging an equally enthusiastic Inoue Orihime, followed by a reluctant and uniterested Arisawa Tatsuki.
Madarame Ikakku, stuck with the Asano siblings Keigo and Mizuho, and Kojima Mizuiro, went out to get drunk, hoping to pick up a fight along the way.
Ayasegawa Yumichika strolled along the shopping district in search for beauty and skin care products that could help preserve his…pretty face.
Abarai Renji, seeing that it might be the last time, challenged substitute shinigami Kurosaki Ichigo to a final spar, hoping to redeem himself from a loss a long time ago.
Kuchiki Rukia was in the sidelines, watching two of her closest friends show how much they treasure each other like real brothers through their own odd way (well, in the form of a spar).
She has finished saying her goodbyes the day before, avoiding excessive shedding of tears on the day itself, wanting beautiful memories to be the only ones ingrained when they left.
She also wanted her comrades to make the most out of their last day, and saying goodbye does not really count as a fun activity. She has said her farewells to Jinta, Ururu, Tessai, Yoruichi, Kisuke, Karin, Yuzu, Isshin, Tatsuki, Mizuiro, Keigo, Chad, Uryuu, Orihime…and Ichigo.
It had been tough saying goodbye to them, especially to him. She has finally accepted to herself that she has indeed grown fond of the orange-haired substitute, idiot though he is.
But it is forbidden.
Loving a living soul would have been her biggest error if she failed to stop it.
What would her nii-sama say?
What spiteful comments would the Kuchiki clan whisper to each other behind her back?
Will she get executed for real this time?
Would that idiot rush headfirst to risk his life and save her again?
No, she would have none of it.
It is against the law, and she firmly believed that Fate decreed a different path for her, seeing as loving Ichigo leads to a dead end.
She stood up and left the underground training area. She needed some air. She needed some comfort. She needed someone to talk to.
She walked out of the Urahara Shoten and roamed around town amidst the winter chill. It's nearing sun set, and she wanted to see the view of her last living world dusk. She swallowed a soul candy and traveled to that building where a lot of memories have been created – those that were forgotten, those that remained, and those that were created again. She arrived at the Karakura High School and found it empty. It was a Sunday after all. She leapt up and climbed the rooftop – presumably the best place to watch the spectacular change of colors in the sky. There was a welcoming silence; still, she couldn't help but feel lonely. As much as she wanted to be alone, accompanied only by her thoughts, she also wanted someone to talk to.
She sighed and turned around, only to stop midway. Her eyes widened seeing someone whose presence she didn't even feel when she arrived.
Hitsugaya Toushirou was leaning against the rooftop railings, his eyes staring off into the distance, a thoughtful look on his face. He was the least affected of their upcoming departure because he wasn't really attached to anyone in the living world. After giving the rest his permission to do anything they want for the day, he had been on that rooftop. And that was before the sun even rose.
"H-Hitsugaya taichou…"
The white-haired prodigy was broken out of his reverie at the mention of his name.
"Ah, Kuchiki," he said without even looking at the raven-haired girl.
Spending their time together during the course of this mission has done wonders for their relationship. They were mere strangers to each other in Seiretei, only bowing slightly in respect and acknowledgement as they pass by each other. Now, they are comfortable friends, to say the least. Rukia looked at the young captain's face. In his emerald eyes, there was pain.
'He must be thinking of Hinamori…'
Hinamori Momo betrayed Soul Society for Aizen Sousuke.
Upon gaining entrance to Hueco Mundo, she turned against her own men and fought for the traitor…
Hitsugaya and Aizen stood face to face again. But before the captain of the tenth division could launch an attack, and to his astonishment, Hinamori let out a battle cry and released Tobiume, running straigt towards him, determination in her eyes. Hitsugaya went on a defensive stance when a brief flash behind the little lieutenant caught his eyes, followed by a spray of blood and a low whisper of "What a nuisance" from the traitor ex-captain, turning a traitor once again to the woman who fought against her own kind for him.
Thus ends the fate of Hinamori…
"Are you thinking of her, taichou?"
He didn't answer.
Rukia didn't know why, but whatever pain it was that she was feeling, she decided to disregard it and put it aside for later contemplating so she could try and pour some light to the now dark world of the forlorn little captain. Maybe it was her innate sweet spirit…her selflessness, for which she is loved by many, although she is not aware of it.
"If there were things the war has taught me, those are to stop dwelling in the past, and to never burden the heart with guilt when we know we couldn't do anything to change something that's over," started the raven-haired shinigami. "Instead, we should start doing things the right way without the self-loathing in our hearts, so we can look forward to a bright future."
The white haired captain looked at his subordinate.
"I know how it feels…losing someone that's important…" she trailed off.
'Shiba Kaien..', the captain thought.
"It was hard and painful, and I carried the guilt for a long, long time before I realized that hating myself wouldn't do any good, much less bring him back to life. And I know, he would have wanted me to continue living my life," she said.
"Sh-Shirou…chan…I-I…I'm sorry…" were Hinamori's parting words.
"I'm sure she would have wanted you to live yours, too," she said a she slowly looked at him.
He knows her story. He wonders how she could still face the world after all she has been through. And he respects her for that—as a comrade, as a shinigami…as a woman.
A small smile tugged at his lips, 'She's right. She wouldn't have wanted to see me miserable '
Then it began to snow. Rukia's violet orbs visibly brightened as she looked up at the sky. She couldn't suppress the smile that forced its way to her face. She closed her eyes and took in her surrounding, letting the snowflakes rest on her face.
"I love the snow," she started. "For some reason, the rain has always had a bad impression on me, but the snow erases all traces of negative thoughts the rain brings. Ironically, my heart feels warm when it snows. The snow makes me smile." She paused and looked back at him. He sees a faint tinge of pain in her eyes, caused by her own share of problems, but the smile on her lips was so genuine, he couldn't help but return it.
'She's so brave…so strong…Fate has been cruel to her yet she still manages to smile…for reasons as simple as this. She deserves better.'
"I wish there's snow in Seiretei, too," she said as she stared back at the heavens.
"Ah," he replied.
She looked at his emerald eyes to see a look of understanding. He understood what she told him. He understood how what she has gone through. He understood how she felt. They both lost someone special; they share the same pain. Silently, they promise to themselves to always be there for the other and help ease the burden
"Does the snow make you smile, taichou?"
"Toushirou – call me that. No, it does not. Not before. But starting today, I promise to smile when it snows. Will you make the same promise, Rukia?"
She smiled again. "Yes, Toushirou."
"It's time."
Rukia woke up the next day. She was back at the Kuchiki manor – back in Seiretei. She couldn't help but feel something is amiss. She walked down the hall to find everybody gone. She went outside to see…to her utter shock…everyone gathered in the middle of the garden staring up at the sky.
Snow is falling.
And there is only one person capable of doing this. So, as she remembers her promise to the person who is perhaps doing the same thing, she smiles.
A new beginning from bitter endings
They shun the world from their own without caring.
The ice prince and the winter princess, as the chilly wind blows
Walks together, hand in hand, towards their little home of snow.
END
There. That's my first HitsuRuki fic. I hope you liked it. I want more! Haha! Please review! Thanks for reading! Sorry for the errors again!
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