Although he would never admit it, Hitsugaya was a child. And children need love, care and support. Hitsugaya knew that but he pushed it to the back of his mind, knowing that as the years pass he would grow wiser, more mature and more independent. But for years, he struggled with himself. It wasn't easy, constantly having to act like an adult. All those decades and no one to talk to. All those decades suppressing all his problems.
And then, he'd met her. She would listen to his problems, play with him so that for a short while he could use his energy in something meant for someone like him. She was his best friend.
Now they sat there on the railing and he told her all about the Winter War, which had just ended, their fight with Aizen and her brother losing his powers.
She had listened quietly and carefully as he told her every gruesome detail and his thoughts every moment of that period. But he had left one part out, she knew.
"Toshiro, you're not telling me something," she'd said quietly after a brief silence. He breathed out, knowing that he was too proud to bring it up himself and thankful that she'd done so for him.
"During the battle with Aizen, we managed to trap him and I had my sword through his chest but…" he trailed off with his eyes shining with unshed tears.
"He used his zanpaukto didn't he," she whispered, he nodded as the tears fell, "it was Hinamori wasn't it," he nodded again as the tears fell freely and he sniffed.
She came over to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, she knew he was too proud to sob openly but she was relieved when he leaned towards her. She knew she was the only one, the only person he would open up to. The only one he dared to look pitiful in front of.
After a few minutes he coughed and stopped crying, blinking any last tears away. "She, she's better now. Recovering in fourth division with the best medical equipment you can find. I want to visit her everyday but…"
"I know Toshiro, I know," she kept her voice soft and even.
After another half an hour of tears and telling, they parted ways and as he opened the Senkai gate, Toshiro glanced over his shoulder at Karin.
His heart had once only consisted of his love for Hinamori but lately, something had joined it there. He had wondered before whether what he felt for Momo was true love and not just over-protectiveness.
But now, as he watched Karin make her way down the hill he put a single hand on his chest. This aching feeling in his heart would not go away until he returned to the tomboy, so that must have been love he decided. And with a small smile gracing his lips, he returned to his office.
Meanwhile, Karin stopped as the Senkai Gate closed. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes closed painfully as she felt his presence disappear. Just like Toshiro had, she placed a hand over her heart, hoping to see him again soon.
That night when Karin stared out of her window at the moon she whispered, "Hitsugaya Toshiro I love you."
Somewhere in Soul Society, a captain finished up his paper work and leaned back in his chair, turning his head to gaze out of the window at the moon and whispered, "I love you Kurosaki Karin."
Right then, two people in two different dimensions shared a small smile.