Disclaimer - I don't own Bleach or any of its characters.

Blessings That Come Along

Chapter 1 - Young And True

1. Game Of Love

It was suppose to be a simple, harmless game that they played when they were drunk. No one was suppose to remember and no one else was suppose to get involved.

" I dare -hic- Momo to go up to -hic- the kid genius and kiss him."

She immediately sombered up. " W-w-w-w-what did you say, Kira-kun?" she stuttered.

" You heard me -hic- right. Go kiss your boy -hic- friend."

" He's not my boyfriend!"

" Of course not," Matsumoto laughed noisily, slinging an arm around her. " That's what they all say ..."

" Hitsugaya-kun and I are just friends."

" Uhhhhhhhhhh." Hisagi was barely able to lift his head. " Friends? More like - like - like - "

" Lovers?"

" Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh ... That's the ... the word."

Cheeks red and not from the sake, Hinamori stood up quite steadily. " There is nothing between him and me," she told the three shinigami firmly. " And I'll prove it to you by accepting Kira-kun's dare because I know he won't even let me kiss him."

On the contrary, Hitsugaya did let her kiss him and he actually encouraged more kissing from her.

2. Better

" I don't see what's so special about this Captain Aizen," he grumbled.

" He's one of the best Captains around," Hinamori exclaimed, blushing furiously. " He's smart. He's brave. And he's really, really strong! What's there to not like about him?"

The frown on Hitsugaya's face became more pronounced.

" Just watch me. I'll be the best Captain there ever was in Seireitei," he declared. " And I'll be sure to be a thousand times stronger than your Captain Aizen!"

3. Not So Bad

Today was possibly one of Hinamori's worst days. She ran into the 11th Division twice and that alone ruined most of her morning. Someone had stolen her lunch and she had to go all day without any food. Someone else 'accidentally' tossed ramen into her hair. All the papers that needed to be signed mysteriously vanished from her desk. She was particularly clumsy today, tripping over random things. Her teammates seemed ruder than usual. Even Captain Aizen seemed a little disappointed at her.

She was going to take a nice, long shower, finally get to eat something and momentarily rest from all the work before returning back to her office to finish the paperwork. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice Hitsugaya passing by her until he said, " Good night, Hinamori."

Hinamori swiveled her head just in time to see a shadow of a smile and then he was gone.

After everything that has happened to her, the small hello and smile from him was more than enough to compensate for everything that went wrong today.

4. Snowflake

He always reminded her of snow. Not only was it was part of his element but it was almost symbolic.

They were sitting on the genkan, the entryway, of the Tenth Division, watching the snow and simply doing nothing, when out of the blue, she said, " You remind me of a snowflake."

If she had turned to look at him, Hinamori would have seen surprise fluttering across his face. Instead, all she heard was a scowl from him. " So I remind you of something wet, cold and insignificant?" he asked dryly.

She wasn't able to tell him how there was no two snowflakes alike and how there will never be another Hitsugaya Toshiro like him either.

5. Protector

" Well, look who it is. It's the Bed-Wetter."

Hinamori closed her eyes, mentally and physically preparing herself from what was about to happen. But no, she wouldn't show any fear. Lifting her head high, she turned around to face a gang of boys that lived in the same orphanage as her.

" Aren't you going cry?" one boy, presumably the leader, sneered. His hand suddenly darted forward and grabbed a fistful of her hair. She cried out in pain.

" Leave me alone!" she yelled, attempting to break free.

" No need to be so loud," the boy said, slamming her against the wall. " You can yell and struggle all you want," he laughed. " Because no one's going to help you anyways. They don't even care about - "

Quicker than the eye could see, a rock cut through the air and hit the boy right in the forehead. He yelped, releasing Hinamori's hair.

And there he was, casually tossing another rock in his hand.

" Leave now." His icy blue eyes burned with a rage that she has never seen before. It's no wonder the boys ran for their lives the next minute.

" Geez. Your hair is all messed up." His callous fingers were surprisingly gentle as Hitsugaya combed through all the snarls and tangles from her hair. For some reason, she was holding her breath until he finished.

" Thank you, Shirou-chan," she smiled brightly at him.

" Who else will save a bed-wetter like you?" he mumbled, a slight pinkness colouring his cheeks.

6. Comfort

The sight of her in her night clothes and with wet cheeks caught him off guard. " Hinamori? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

She hiccuped and rubbed her eyes, which had dark circles underneath them. " I - I just needed to be near someone," she whispered hoarsely. Even her normally cheerful voice had changed.

Everything had changed since Aizen betrayed the Soul Society. The rest of the captains were baffled. His whole division was in disarry. Trust and honesty was frayed from fellow shinigamis. But it was his vice-captain took the hardest hit.

" I was wondering if - if ..." Hinamori stopped, biting her lip.

He waited patiently, knowing that hurrying her would be a bad means to get to finally open up to him. He would wait all night if that's what it took for Hinamori to heal.

Suddenly, she burst into tears. Each sob that raked through her chest raked through his too. " I'm sorry," she gulped." I've been such a burden to you. I'm sorry, Shirou-chan. I'll just go ..."

His arms encased around her before she could say another word. " Don't worry," he murmured in her ear. " You can stay here tonight."

7. Dreams

" You look like a mess," he commented. " You better rest for a bit."

" But Shirou-chan, I have to finish these papers by tomorrow and I - "

" - And I told you to rest, didn't I?" he finished her sentence. The look on his face meant that his word was final and there was nothing she could do that will change it.

She sighed, secretly delighting in his company. The overload of being a vice-captain was finally catching up with her. She allowed him to direct her to the cozy sofa in the office. She briefly heard him saying how he would make some tea for her and how he would talk to Aizen about all the work she was getting.

It had been long since they had a conversation like that. Being in two seperate divisions, they didn't have to the time to talk and socialize, not to mention him being a Captain and her being a vice-captain.

Closing her eyes, she relaxed, thinking of clear, blue eyes, an ice dragon flying in the sky and glistening lips hovering above her own ...

By the time she woke up, night had already fallen and she didn't finish any of her work. Sighing at the fact she will be staying up all night, Hinamori sat up from the chair, only to realize that the mountainous stacks of papers was gone and so was Hitsugaya.

8. Sleeping Beauty

" I'm afraid that she may never wake up again."

Those words sliced through all his barriers, tearing them down as if they were thin sheets of paper.

" I'm sorry, Hitsugaya-taichou." Captain Unohana was sympathetic. " I'll leave you two alone." She left them, leaving more than just empty silence.

Fists clenched in his lap, he simply sat there, helpless, angered and devastated. Helpless at the fact that he couldn't do anything to help her. Angered that Aizen did this to her. Devastated that he will never see Hinamori smile at him again.

Reaching out, he grabbed her pale hand. It was so cold, as if all warmth has been taken away from it. Finally, he could no longer bear it.

" Hinamori ... please, wake up," he begged. " You can call me Shirou-chan if you want ... I don't care ... just wake up ... It's my fault ... I wasn't strong enough to protect you ... please ... Hinamori ... "

In his ramble, Hitsugaya didn't realize how he had been leaning forward. And now, his face dangled mere inches away from hers. Shock registered in his brain but it was instinct that took over as he finished leaning all the way and sealed his lips over hers with a kiss.

It was only when he withdrew, did he hear her quiet voice.

" Shirou-chan?"

9. Peaches

Everyone just assumed that she has a thing for peaches. Heck, her name is translated into peach.

Her favourite fruit is peaches (next to watermelons of course). Her favourite colour is peach pink. She smells like peaches and tastes like them too (according to Hitsugaya, she does). The ribbon tied in her hair has a peach design on it. She even planted a peach tree outside the Fifth Division office.

Everyone just assumed that she has a thing for peaches.

But they were wrong.

Hinamori Momo had a thing for short, white-haired, ice-elemental prodigies that gave her peaches. Peaches that utterly scrumptious whenever he shared them with her.

10. Thief

Of all things for her to steal, she had to steal that.

Hitsugaya raced across all of Seireitei, searching for the culprit that stole his most precious thing to him. He growled, thinking of the many excruciating things to do to that person once he finds her.

" Hinamori!"

She turned around, confused and innocent. She had that same look when she stole it from him. He panted, slightly exhilerated from the running and glared at her.

" What's the matter, Shirou - "

Without warning, without any hesitation, he grabbed her and planted a kiss right at the corner of her lips. What seemed like an eternity later, he released her.

" That'll teach you to steal my heart," Hitsugaya grinned in response to her deepening blush.