Forevermore

Chapter 1. Celebration

I don't own Bleach cause if I did Momo and

Toshiro would be in it a lot more.

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Momo Hinamori's brown eyes fluttered open.

She could tell by the pale, December sunlight filtering through her window, that it was around 7am.

She pulled herself out of bed and shook her dizzy head to clear it. The girl yawned and stretched before taking a cool shower and washing up. She got dressed into her normal shihokshou and brushed her long hair before tying it up in a small bun and pulled the blue cloth over it. She left her room, carrying her zanpakuto, Tobiume, and descended a flight of stairs to her office below. Lately, there had been so many Hollows to deal with, the Shinigami were even allowed to carry their zanpakuto.

There had been no time to settle the 5th divisions' issues after the former taichou had 'resigned'. Even after all this time she had been in a coma, they still hadn't done anything. Every time Hinamori thought about that traitor, her blood boiled with hatred, of him and herself. She had been a fool to believe Aizen's lies and she hated herself for betraying the whole of Soul Society.

But her best friend, the 10th divisions taichou had never blamed her, and all she really cared about was that he didn't hate her. Now, the poor 5th division fukuutaichou had twice as much work to do.

She sat down at her desk and stared glumly at the doubled pile of paperwork. She sighed heavily and began on the first page, sighing throughout the entire process. She was very anxious for tonight, it was December 20th, the 10th division taichou, Toshiro Hitsugaya's birthday.

With the thought of seeing her best friend in the back of her mind, Hinamori sped up her hands as they signed papers needy for approval. She worked hard all day, until several hours past noon. She hardly found time to breathe.

Around 4 o' clock, Hinamori had finished all the paperwork, so she went to her small, private kitchen to get something to eat. She cut off a small piece of watermelon and a fresh peach, and took them and a glass of water up to her room.

She slid open a door in the corner, and walked onto her balcony, where she sat on a small couch. This was one of those times when Hinamori wished she had a companion, like a cat, just to keep her company. Most people in Soul Society had suggested this for her, but she never knew where she could find one.

Not many Shinigami had pets that lived outside their zanpakuto. She had put the thought to the back of her mind for the time being.

Now, as she sat down, she noticed that there was a bit of snow falling but it no longer bothered her. After being around Hitsugaya so much she got used to the cold, and now often drinks cold water, eats colder foods, and enjoys colder temperatures. But she was not as accommodated to the elements of ice and water as much as the aqua-eyed taichou.

"Slow day today." She said to herself. There were hardly any other Shinigami outside; they were probably all inside trying to keep warm.

Which is another reason Hinamori liked the cold; because almost no one else did.

After finishing up, she stood and went back inside, closing the door behind her. It was now around 5 and she knew she should probably head over to the 10th division's building. If anyone else had went to wish him a happy birthday, they would most likely be gone by now. Everyone knew he had never been fond of a huge celebration for him; he liked his solitude.

Hinamori carefully picked up the present she had made for him, it had taken her so long to make it and she knew he would like something handmade over something store-bought, as would she.

But it seemed every year no matter what she gave him he loved. She just hoped that he liked this present, for she didn't think it was very good.

The brown-eyed girl carefully wrapped a piece of light blue wrapping paper around it and tightened a white ribbon around the paper; these were the only two things keeping the present safe. There was no box to put it in for Hinamori feared it might break inside of one. So the present had somewhat of an awkward shape, but she didn't care, she just hoped she could get it to him, undamaged, and just prayed he liked it.

Carefully securing the gift in her left hand she glided gracefully down the stairs and out the door of the 5th division's building.

Since there were not many Shinigami wandering the streets, it did not take the girl long to reach the 10th division's building. She looked at the darkening winter sky, almost 6. She went up to Hitsugaya's office and listened for a few seconds.

No talking, no snoring.

Good; Matsumoto wasn't here. Hinamori tucked her hand in her sleeve and put it behind her back.

She wanted to wait for the perfect moment to give it to him.

She knocked on the door, no answer. She knocked a bit louder and after another silence she wanted to say the normal greeting, stating her full name, squad and reason for being there.

But she knew Hitsugaya. If you knocked more then once with no response, he wasn't there.

Hinamori carefully opened the door to his empty office.

A neat stack of papers waited for someone to take them by the door. He had finished all of his paperwork; Hinamori knew where he went when he was done with paperwork, and when Matsumoto wasn't around. She quickly closed the door behind her and went up a flight of stairs.

Without even knocking, she opened the door to Hitsugaya's room. Empty, as she had thought, so there was no sense of knocking. Besides, she wanted to surprise him.

She quietly walked over to a small door at the side of his wall and silently slid through it. She was outside, on his balcony.

She looked around and finally found the black and white robes she was looking for.

The girl swiftly jumped up onto the roof next to him.

"Hello Shiro-chan." She said with a grin. He sighed and tilted his head towards her.

"Baka, it's Hitsugaya taichou." He responded in his normal tone. Hinamori sat down next to him and shuffled her feet. Hitsugaya knew she hadn't come all this way just to sit down on the roof.

"What is it?" He asked her.

"Hm? O-oh nothing." She replied quietly. He sighed at how stubborn she was, another reason he liked her.

"Then why did you come all this way?" He asked, although he knew the answer. She didn't want to give it to him, not yet. She fidgeted, trying to think of a reply. When none came to her, she decided to just give in to him now.

But before she had a chance, he stood up and said, "Alright, follow me." And with that he leaped from the roof in a flash.

"Wait!" She called out after him.

She hurriedly followed trying to keep up. Her steps weren't nearly as fast as a taichou's, let alone his.

Toshiro Hitsugaya was one of the fastest Shinigami in all of Soul Society. And right now, he was going at what she thought to be top speed. The white haired boy finally stopped when they were out of Seireitei, now he was in a snow-covered forest by a small frozen pond. He turned and waited for Hinamori to catch up.

Did I go too fast? He wondered if he should go back.

But a second later, Hinamori appeared in a final stride.

She was panting, hard, and the cold weather made her throat and mouth dry.

'You…could've…. waited…a little." She said between gasps.

"Baka." He murmured. "You've gotten a lot faster."

"Really?" She asked, her breathing slowing a little.

Hitsugaya just nodded and sat down on the hill they were standing on. Hinamori didn't know why he had wanted to come here, but it was his birthday.

She sat down next to him, and for a while they just watched as the snow began to fall again. It was when Hinamori realized something that she broke the silence with a small gasp. Her feet were lying on something different from the hill; it was slippery and as hard as…ice.

She then realized what it was, a small pond at the foot of the hill, and now, she knew why he loved this place; because this steep hill overlooked almost all of the wintry forest. But he only came here in winter, because when the forest is covered in a cold, white blanket, is when it looks most beautiful.

Thinking that now was the right time, Hinamori pulled out the present she was hiding, and slowly, shyly, brought the wrapped gift into his view. She placed it in his hands without a word, and her face turned slightly red.

He smiled, the smile he had only for her, the one he gave to her and no one else.

He carefully pulled the ribbon loose and let the wrapping paper fall to reveal the gift. His sea-green eyes widened in shock. Inside the paper, was a small, crystal sculpture of Hyorinmaru. The detail was indescribable; it looked so real; the ice dragons' eyes were made of the tiniest rubies. Hitsugaya couldn't speak it was too…amazing. Hinamori looked hopefully at him, questions buzzing around in her head.

Does he like it? Why is my heart beating so fast? Why isn't he saying anything? He hates it. She told herself.

He looked up at her with those beautiful aqua eyes.

"I love it." He said simply, still at a loss for words.

Hinamori's heart lifted and she smiled in pure joy and delight.

"But…" Hitsugaya tried to ask. "How did you…" He didn't finish.

"It's a secret." She smiled playfully. He put the sculpture on the ground next to him and slid his arms around her. Hinamori's heart stopped beating for a second then she returned the hug and whispered, "Happy Birthday Shiro-chan." They didn't need a big party just to say these words; this was their own celebration. Just as they let go of each other, the snow began to fall harder, and the wind blew stronger.

Hinamori coughed.

"We should go." He told her.

She nodded with a small smile.

He stood up on the frozen pond and took a step forward so he stood on the hill. He reached his hand down to help her up. At that moment, they heard a terrible cracking noise. A cracking that sounded like the sky would start breaking apart, a sound that made them both freeze.

"Hurry!" Hitsugaya shouted over the wind.

He pulled Hinamori to her feet, but it was too late.

A giant tree branch that was too weak to withstand the wind had broken off, and landed on the ice-covered pond. It started to crack eerily and the layer of ice fell away, Hinamori with it. Her feet slid away from under her and she plummeted down into the deathly cold water.

Hitsugaya quickly tightened his grip on her wrist, but the ground was steep. He began to slide down with her when he caught something with his other hand, a frozen tree root. He was submerged up to his waist and Hinamori was completely underwater. He quickly summoned up all of his strength and pulled himself up.

He felt Hinamori's grip on his hand loosen; she was loosing air.

He held her tighter and hauled her out of the water and onto the hill with him.

She was panting, choking out as she tried to spit water out of her mouth. She desperately took in air.

He embraced her to try and warm her cold, drenched body.

She shivered and gasped in his arms.

He felt her body heave with the effort of trying to inhale.

After a few moments of uneasy panting, Hinamori choked up a mouthful of ice-cold water, and bit by bit, her breathing evened.

She still shook though.

Hitsugaya had hardly even touched the water and he, the wielder of the coldest ice elemental zanpakuto, had felt the slightest bit cold. And he hadn't even gone under all the way. It had happened so fast that Hinamori couldn't even take a breath before she went under.

She was still shivering and her breath came in and out softly.

Hitsugaya laid one arm around her shoulders and the other under her knees, and he took her cold form back to the 10th division building, totally ignoring the slight weight that tugged on his right sleeve.

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A/N: Yes! I finally changed the format! thx so much for reading the first chapter! PLEASE review though plz!! chapter 2 is up!!