Chapter 3
Hinamori Point of View
I look up at his face and realize how much bigger he is than I am. Last time I saw him, I was one inch taller than him and took pride in that fact.
"Shirou-chan…did you grow?"
"Yes."
"That's not fair." He lets out a noise that I suspect is a contained laugh.
"It is about time that I grew taller than you. It was beginning to become ridiculous."
"I guess so…It's still not fair though."
"Stop saying that. It is perfectly fair. You have been taller than me the whole time we have known each other. It is my time to be the bigger one. Maybe now…" He paused trying to think of a way to say what I was thinking.
"Maybe now what?" I ask to make him go on.
"Maybe now I can take better care of you."
"What do you mean?"
"I let him hurt you Hinamori. I wasn't there to protect you. I let myself be distracted by Kira and I…"
"Stop…just stop…" I begin to sob into his chest and he runs his fingers through my loose hair.
"I like this."
"You…like…what?" I say in between sniffs.
"Your hair down. This is the first time I have seen it out of a bun since we were kids."
"Really…I don't."
"Why not?"
"It gets in my way. It's annoying."
Hitsugaya's POV
"Well I like it no matter how annoying it may be." A silence passes between us. Her just sitting on my lap. Me hugging her petite body in my arms. I feel whole for the first time in a long time. My emptiness began when I had her arrested. Then grew when she accused me. The was completed when I saw her bloodied on the floor behind Aizen Souske. I thought I would never see her again. That she would always be in a coma or just out of my reach. Or that she would hate me for not protecting her.
"Shirou-chan?"
"Hm?"
"What are you thinking about?"
"The past…the present…the future."
"Could you be more vague?" I laugh at this question.
"Yes actually I could. I could say stuff." There is anther pause. "what are you thinking about."
"You." She says bluntly. I am surprised by this statement.
"What about me?"
"I am trying to decide if you are real or not."
"What do you mean?"
"You are too kind and forgiving Hitsugaya-kun. If someone did to me what I did to you, I would hate them. I would never forgive them or treat them kindly like you are to me."
"Maybe I am really not nice at all." She tilts her head back to look at me and I see confusion in her eyes. "Maybe I just missed you so much that I don't have the strength to be mean."
"Huh?"
"You mean everything to me Hinamori. When I couldn't see you…" I hated to admit this to her and I knew she might take it as guilt. "I froze myself into my room and would only come out to grab food and then I would freeze myself back in my room. I didn't talk to Matsumoto for two weeks and she was so concerned that she actually did paperwork." I pause and look at her expression trying to figure out how to formulate my next sentence. "I cracked…I could not hold up my icy exterior and I was so depressing that even Hyorinmaru retreated from my mind. But now that you are here…in my arms again…I don't feel empty or sad anymore…I just feel…complete. If I lost you, I would never forgive myself." I turn my gaze to the window and realize that I have been here a lot longer than I thought. I set Hinamori back on the bed and rise to my feet.
"Wait where are you going?"
"I have to leave Momo…It is getting late and you need to get some rest."
"Please don't leave…I don't want to be left alone anymore…I…I'm…scared Hitsugaya-kun. Please don't leave. Can't you just sleep here…for tonight?" I think about the thought of Matsumoto with free reign of the Tenth division and everything she could do with that power and it makes me shudder. But then I look back at Momo and he pleading eyes and I just cannot say no.
"Alright…but just for tonight Hinamori." She lays down and I slide in next to her, my arm around her waist.
"Goodnight Shirou-chan."
"Goodnight bed-wetter."
The next morning
Captain Unohana must have come in this morning. There are two plates of breakfast food and two glasses of water sitting by the bedside. I look down at the body that is still in my arms. It didn't take her long to fall asleep last night after I laid down with her, even though I stayed awake for half the night either watching her peaceful state of lost in my own thoughts. Having her body next to mine felt natural. Her form snuggled closer and closer to me during the night and I did not mind in the slightest, which sort of surprised me. I have always known that I loved her but thought it would be awkward being with her in that way.
"Good morning." Her voice brings me back to reality and I look down at her face. I let a smile break out across my face.
"Good morning."
"I like this." She says mimicking my statement from the night before.
"You like what?" I say mimicking her question just as she had mimicked mine.
"Your smile. I haven't seen it very much since you joined the Gotei 13."
"Hm."
"What does 'hm' mean?"
"I will make you a deal. I will smile more if you leave your hair down more."
"But it bugs me."
"Well then I will stop smiling."
"No don't. I like your smile."
"And I like your hair down."
"Ugh…fine…I give up. You win." I let another smile grace my lips.
"Good. Are you hungry?"
"Sort of."
"Captain Unohana came in earlier and brought in some food."
"Uh-huh."
"You seem like you are still tired."
"No just thinking."
"About what?"
"Hitsugaya-kun…"
"Yes."
"It's nothing…never mind."
"Tell me."
"Well I was just wondering if…"
"Yes."
"If you are going to have to be the one to fight Captain Aizen." My whole body tensed as she says that name. The name of a traitor. The name of the person who hurt her like this…both emotionally and physically.
"Possibly."
"I don't want you to get hurt Hitsugaya-kun. Can you promise me something?"
"Anything."
"If you do…promise you will come back to me safely alright."
"I promise."
Matsumoto's point of view
"The Captain didn't come home last night. I wonder where he is."
"Probably had a sleepover with a certain lieutenant." Renji says with an upset look on his face. "Why was he the only one who got to see her yesterday? I was her childhood friend also."
"As was I." Izuru adds, nodding his head.
"Yes but she didn't ask for you specifically. Now did she? Plus…Hinamori has always been very close to the Captain. If she only wants to see him, I am fine with it. I am just glad he is not freezing himself in his room anymore. As long as the Captain is happy, so am I."
"Why are you so concerned about his happiness? Captain Kuchiki is never happy and I am just fine with that."
"First, I consider the Captain and I friends. Second, when he is happy, he doesn't yell at me as often and I get more breaks." I hear the door open and my head turns toward it.
"Toshirou? Oh hey Rangiku."
"Ichigo? What are you doing here?"
"Looking for Toshirou."
"He is not here. Try fourth division. Also don't call him Toshirou. You know how much he hates that."
"Thanks for the advice. So fourth division eh? What would he be doing there?"
"Visiting Hinamori."
"Oh…" He just stands in the doorway for several more moments.
"Anything else I can help you with?"
"Uh no but Renji?"
"Yea."
"Have you seen Rukia?"
Ichigo's POV
"Did you check Captain Kuchiki's manor?"
"No…but is she there for sure?"
"I don't know. I gave up keeping track of that girl a long time ago. Why don't you check?"
"I don't really wanna."
"Why not?"
"Byakuya and I are not necessarily on the best of terms right now." I remember the conversation we had the last time we spoke…
"What are your intentions with my sister Kurosaki?"
"Intentions?"
"Yes."
"I don't know. Why?"
"Because if you even think of taking advantage of her, I will not hold back or take mercy."
I shudder just remembering it.
"If you are that scared of my Captain then I will check for you. But you know for a boyfriend you sure are a wuss."
"Forget it. I have to go talk to Toshirou. Later." With that he turns around and walks out.
Hitsugaya's POV
"Hinamori is free to go. I suggest that she stays somewhere where she feels comfortable and where not to many people will come all at once."
"She will be staying in the spare room at Tenth. Thank you Captain Unohana."
"You are welcome Captain Hitsugaya." I exit the office and find Hinamori waiting for me in the halls.
"You are all set. Ready to go see where you will be staying for the next few weeks?"
"Uh-hu but Hitsugaya-kun I have something to…"
"Toshirou!" I turn my head and see a head of orange hair running towards me. I automatically know who it is.
"Kurosaki…How many times do I have to tell you? Captain Hitsugaya."
"Sorry but I have a matter to discus with you regarding the situation in the real world." My eyes widen slightly as I realize what he is talking about. Aizen and the Arrancar.
"Kurosaki, meet me at the Sougyoku hill in one hour and we can discuss it there. Right now I have to get Hinamori situated."
"Oh hey there. I don't think we've met before. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. Substitute Soul Reaper."
"Hi." She says shyly from behind me.
"Goodbye Kurosaki. I will see you in an hour." I push past him. "So Hinamori…what were you saying?"
"Oh…it's nothing."
"I know you want to ask me something."
"What would happen if I resigned my position as lieutenant?"
"Well…" I have to think about this for several moments before I answer. "I don't really know Hinamori. Are you thinking about resigning?"
"Yes. I don't know if I can be in fifth squad anymore."
"Well, when that day comes, I am sure there will be a place for you in tenth squad."
"Really?"
"Yes. But only when you are sure it is what you want to do and only when you are positive you are ready to come back to work."
"Oh thank you Hitsugaya-kun!" She says as she embraces me tightly. Maybe her being there will make Matsumoto work harder for fear of her position.
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So there it is Chapter 3! R&R so I know how I'm doing!