Thanks for all your lovely reviews, they mean a lot to me

Thanks for all your lovely reviews, they mean a lot to me!

The chappie's a lil short again cuz I've got more than one update to do, but at least I'm getting better with my update timing.

Also, if anyone's interested, I'm on Gaia- my nick there is TentenHyuga02. So if you're a fellow Gaian, dun be afraid to pop by and say hi!

"Kusaka, what's going on?" Hitsugaya stood with his dainty hands on his hips, pinning his former boyfriend to the rusty, mangled fence with a turquoise glower.

The taller male could easily jump the rusted fence in the dead-end alley, but he had never been able to turn away from those beautiful, enchanting eyes that long ago had captured his heart and soul. "Nothing. I've just missed you, little one."

Hitsugaya growled in frustration. "First you appear out of nowhere- I believed you dead for centuries- then you ask me to the dance. Now you're completely avoiding me even as you claim you missed me. Now what the hell are you really up to?"

After centuries, Hitsugaya had only seen Kusaka once, when he suddenly showed up as a new student. He had been to school only one day, and had hackled Hitsugaya until he surrendered and agreed to go to the stupid masquerade dance. Hitsugaya only said yes because he wanted to know what Kusaka was up to- why he suddenly appeared after all this time, what really happened to him centuries ago, and what he was up to now. That was why he had to go with him, to give closure to a painful past and bitter betrayal.

"I do miss you, little one. I've thought about you everyday since my banishment. I'm really, really busy right now, though. I have big plans for the future. I'll tell you what they are at the dance. It'll be a surprise for you. Think of it as my gift of atonement." Speaking low, the former shinigami came forward and reached out to touch Hitsugaya.

Hitsugaya snarled and stepped back, out of his reach. "You betrayed me, broke your promise. You chose power over me, over us. So you can't possibly care for me as you claim to." His heart twisted painfully in his chest.

"I've wronged you, and I'm sorry. Everyday, I've lived with regret. I was young and stupid. So incredibly stupid. I gave up the greatest treasure-you." Here Kusaka sank to his knees. "Can you give me another chance, my little one?" He took Hitsugaya's soft, dainty hand in both of his large, calloused ones.

Hitsugaya kept a tight rein on his emotions, but this was too raw, too personal, and too painful. He could not suppress the fine trembling of his body. "You've already asked me that last time. My answer has not changed. You-" His voice grew softer. "You really hurt me, Sojiro. I've cried too many tears over you already. I've moved on. There's someone else in my life now. But, for the sake of what we once were, I'll hear you out. At the dance, as you apparently wish. Do not ask for my heart. I can not give you that, ever again."

He tried to pull his hand free, but Kusaka would not let go. "One night, little one. That's all I want from you. One night to re-live our happy time together, before I screwed up the greatest thing I ever had." With a chaste, gentle kiss to the back of the slender hand, Kusaka let Hitsugaya go. He stood up, walked around the petite taichou, and left without a word.

Hitsugaya did not watch him depart. He just stared at the ground where Kusaka had stood, struggling to hold back the tears shimmering in his vibrant turquoise eyes.

Tbc…

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Reviews are always appreciated!