Faded Memories
By: Sakura-Moonlight
Summary: Hitsugaya goes through his memories to dig out the exact reason why he stuck by Hinamori's side, and realize the truths he forced himself to believe were anything but true. HitsuHina
Author's note: First long story in like... a year? I usually don't have the inspiration to finish one, but this one I will! For sure! Please R& R, encouragement is great! Flames... not as great. Sorry if they're too OOC, but it's meant to be this way!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, but I own this weird twisted plot that was inspired by another story!
Chapter 1
Friendly Reminders
Memories are the key to one's heart,
And one's heart is the password to the soul.
Hitsugaya Toushiro was a man of his words, whether or not he can carry through them depends on how determined he was of the task. Right now, he wasn't fighting a hollow or anything, or protecting another from harm. It was a promise he made to himself. About 30 minutes ago.
Matsumoto had reminded him of that simple fact around then, doing the usual light teasing that Hitsugaya had learned to deal with by leaving the office almost immediately. But this time, it was different. What the lieutenant had to say was important somehow, and he couldn't help but want to listen.
"You are going to visit Hina-chan again?"
He wasn't anywhere even near the 4th division, nor did he made any movements to insure her that he was. He had spun around then, and were about to leave the room.
"She's still not awake."
Those words froze him. It was one thing to hear Matsumoto's voice so serious all of a sudden, however, this was Hinamori she was talking about here.
"Whether or not she'll wake up, will all depend on her will to live."
Unohana's words pierced him then. If it did depend on her will, then wouldn't she already be awake by now? Desperation, anger, confusion, yet horror overcame him.
Unless she didn't want to live. Not anymore.
It was hard to convince himself, so Hitsugaya didn't.
"I'm leaving, Matsumoto."
Of course, he didn't do that. Some things Matsumoto did know best about him, and at that moment, she knew he'd stay. To listen.
"Shouldn't you visit her taichou? Unohana-taichou said that she needed someone who really cares about her to be at her side."
Hitsugaya didn't know, he wasn't injured too often and had never been in a coma quite like Hinamori's. However, he had some sort of a clue to realize that when you were, you wouldn't exactly know who was beside you. He was unsure now.
Someone who really cares about her…
Was he that someone? Of course. Who did she have left? Her old classmates Kira and Renji were both lieutenants as well, and though they did care about her well-being, Hitsugaya couldn't bring it up to his mind to think either would be willing to risk their own life. Aizen had betrayed her severely, being the reason why she wasn't beside him right at that moment, smiling as usual. And him?
He failed to protect her.
It was a simple fact, staring at him right in the face. It wasn't a game of blame, but a game of responsibility. He promised himself he'd protect her every since they were young, though Hinamori took the first steps in that matter, he didn't give up on that promise. But now, he was sure he had failed. She was in a coma for god sake!
He wished it wasn't true.
But it was.
And he couldn't do a single thing about it.
"Taichou? Why Hinamori-chan? Why do you want to protect her so badly?"
If it was any other situation, he would've just answered: "Because she's my best friend," But he was utterly speechless at that, unmoving lips and his feet just felt paralyzed below him.
"Was she that special to you?"
Of course. But why? Why had she been special? He couldn't tell. But he so desperately wanted to know. "Is she more than your best friend?"
Normally, Hitsugaya would've frozen Matsumoto to a statue, or at least have threatened to. She usually backed off after then, but the question was no longer in a light the lieutenant intended.
"Do you hate her?"
Of course not! It never occurred to him before, but now, he figured he did have a reason to.
But he doesn't.
He probably never will.
"Can you live without her?"
And that was the question. Hitsugaya had left then, feeling empty and betrayed, his mind swirling around that one single question. Around all of them.
Why was she the most important person to him?
And it wasn't often Hitsugaya didn't wish he was the prodigy of Soul Society. Because he had a brief idea of what was going on here…and for the second time in his life…
Geniuses don't make mistakes…
Hitsugaya Toushiro had wished that he was wrong.
Next time: Hitsugaya goes through his childhood thoughts to find out why he is now a shinigami.
Hope you enjoyed it! Review and tell me what you thought of it!