Toshiro was standing on a hill, looking out at Karakura Town. He remembered how her face lit up when she looked out on this same city. He remembered how beautiful he thought she had looked but he also knew this couldn't go on much longer. She was unconscious right now from a previous battle. He was going to back to the Soul Society tomorrow. Her voice rang in his head and her face looking toward the sky appeared in his mind.

"Please Captain Hitsugaya.. Do not push me away.. I know you think of me as some noble brat but.. One thing no has even given me.. Was a chance"

He shook his head as the memory made him begin to second guess his decision. He felt like he had been punched in the center of his chest, the memory of her saying that tore him up on the inside. He had felt bad for her at that moment. She was trying to be nice to him, give him someone to rely on when no one else could and this was his thanks. It was cruel but he could not be the same kind of friend as she could be to him. Such a delicate soul should not be near the ice cold Toshiro Hitsugaya.

"I am truly sorry... Rukia"

Toshiro walked with Unohana to Rukia's room in the Fourth Division Barrack for the time being. She stopped at the door, nodded to him, then turned and left, knowing that she should leave the two of them alone. He slid open the screen and looked at her. She looked at him with that stoic Kuchiki look on her face, her bed was near the window and the setting sunlight shining past her hair made her look like some kind of goddess. He was tounge-tied only for a minute, but noticed the glint of happiness in her eyes. He hated he was going to have to destroy such a spirit.

He leaned against the the doorway,"How are you doing? Are you feeling better now, Rukia?"

"Yes, Captain Hitsugaya, I am feeling much better. They should be releasing me soon"

"That's good"

She nodded then there was an long akward silence between them. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, it was now or never.

"Rukia, I think it would be best if we kept our relationship on a professional level"

The glint was gone. Her eyes became lifeless and dull. She looked at her sheet. "I understand"

He stood up straight and went to leave. He looked over his shoulder,"Goodbye, Kuchiki"

Rukia looked out the window, feeling empty at the moment. She understood, it hurt, but she understood. Rangiku stuck her head in,"Hiya, Rukia!" she said with so much energy you could get pumped just by hearing it. Rangiku was shocked when the girl didn't respond so she tried again,"Rukia?" She said with less energy and a bit more sympathy and gentleness.

"Huh? O-Oh.. It's you Rangiku" Rukia looked at the big chested Lieutenant with eyes glazed over with tears and they were obviously real.

"Rukia.. Wha-What happened? Why are you crying?"

Rukia franitcally started wiping her eyes as she smiled at her friend,"I-It's nothing. Do not worry about me, I'm fine"

Rangiku sat down on the girl's bed and pulled her into a hug. The fragile looking girl cried into her shoulder. Rangiku just sat there and rubbed her back, comforting her.

"Let it all out, Rukia.. Then, if you feel better, you could tell me what happened"

Toshiro walked down a hall his eyes looking as distant as his mind was. He kept seeing the look in Rukia's eyes when he said that. It tore him up but.. He couldn't return the love that she could give him and he knew that. He loved her, this was true, but his love could never match hers. He heard feet coming toward him and turned around to look at the person running toward him.

"Captain! How could you break that poor girl's heart like that?" It was none other than his lieutenant. "She's been through so much! Why would you get that girl to fall for you and just turn her away like that?"

"My personal matters with Kuchiki is none of your concern, Rangiku. Stop finding your way into my private matters"

"That's not fair, Captain! She's been through so much and here you are trying to turn her away when all she does is love you!"

"I can't give her the same love she gives me, okay?" Toshiro finally snapped then looked at the floor,"I will never be able to know how to love a girl like Kuchiki"

"Let her help you.. She loves you, it means she'll try and help you to love. If you still can't love her then the two of you must move on but.. Give her a chance"

One thing no one has ever given me.. Was a chance

Toshiro tried to shake away the memory but it just made the memory more clear view. The two of them were standing side by side, it was after a battle. After a kiss. He looked at every detail of her face, it looked sad like she might cry. Her voice was steady and sad,"Please, Captain Hitsugaya, Do not push me away.. I know you think I'm just some noble brat but.. But the one thing no one ever gave me.. Was a chance" Toshiro had looked at her in shock, how could someone not give a noble a chance? "Don't worry, Kuchiki, your chance will come some day" She looked at him,"I'd hope it would be sooner than later"

Toshiro looked at his lieutenant,"Don't you have some paperwork you need to do?"