Disclaimer: Toushiro is mine in my dreams... that's it.
The longest day of the year was also going to be the hottest day of the year. Hitsugaya just happened to be spending it dispatching Hollows. It was difficult for him to remember when he last fought this much. They didn't seem to stop. He had somewhere he wanted to be tonight and he didn't want to be late. He wanted to spend the end of the day with her.
Hitsugaya studied the Hollow. He wasn't about to be late because of it. He had made a promise and he didn't want to back out on it. He hadn't been able to see Summer as much as he would have liked since the festival. The mission seemed to get in the way. He didn't want to admit that the mission was wrapping up. Everything was coming together. It meant he would have to go back to Soul Society without her. Carefully planning his next move, Captain Hitsugaya called out Hyourinmaru and quickly dispatched of the Hollow.
...
"Taicho, where are you going?" Matsumoto asked as he headed for the door.
"Out. Take care of any Hollows that come up," he said as he closed the door behind him.
Orihime walked into the room. "What's wrong with Toushiro-kun?"
"I wonder," Matsumoto said as she looked at the window and watched her captain walk away.
...
Tara opened the door and placed a bright yellow lei over Hitsugaya's head. He looked at it and then at her. Tara was wearing one too.
"She was worried you wouldn't come," Tara told him as he walking into the apartment.
"Something came up," he said.
"Good to know you made it. If you had hurt her today, I would have had to hurt you," Tara said. Hitsugaya wasn't sure if she was serious but he wasn't ready to push his luck.
"I have no intentions of hurting her," he said.
"I don't think you do." Tara paused. "We're like sisters. I've seen her hurt before and I don't want to see it again."
Hitsugaya thought of Hinamori. "I completely understand." Tara smiled at him. Hitsugaya followed her into the living room. He could hear Summer talking but he didn't see her.
"I'll go find her," Tara said as she left Hitsugaya alone. He wandered over to the fish tank in the corner and watched the 4 festival fish while he waited. He saw her reflection in the glass and turned to watch her.
He heard her say goodbye and she looked at him. "Sorry. That was my parents."
Hitsugaya shook his head. "It's ok." He looked at her a moment. "Summer, I'm sorry I haven't been around a lot lately. Work's been hectic."
"It's ok. Tara and I have been really busy lately. We have to get ready for classes." She took is hand and led him out to the patio. "It's such a nice night," Summer said as she looked out at the sunset.
Hitsugaya jiggled the contents of his pocket. He had never really given anyone a gift before. He took her wrist and clasped the bracelet to it. Summer looked at it and saw that it was a charm bracelet. She smiled at the daffodil charm that fell from it.
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
"Happy Birthday."
"Summer, where are you?" Tara called from inside the house.
"Hide me," Summer said with a giggle. Hitsugaya looked at her. "She's trying to do worse than this to me." Summer tugged on his lei.
"What is this?" he asked.
"A few weeks ago I mentioned to Tara that it would be fun to have a Hawaiian themed party. I never thought she would actually do it."
"If I have to wear this, you have to wear one."
Summer scrunched her nose up at him and went inside. Hitsugaya looked out over the railing. He felt like he was being watched. The laughter brought his attention back to the party. He walked in and saw that she was right. It was worse than just a lei. Tara had her put on a grass skirt and had a lei bracelet on one wrist. His bracelet glistened on the other.
"They're always like that," The chef said as he walked over to Hitsugaya. "Summer will get Tara back with something worse. Probably just one day out of the blue, knowing Summer." The chef looked at his watch and walked away. Hitsugaya followed him into the kitchen.
"Is there anyone else coming?" Hitsugaya asked.
"Didn't Summer tell you? It's just the 4 of us." The Chef picked up a bowl and began whisking.
"We hadn't talked about it really."
Tara walked in to get the table ready. Hitsugaya walked back out to the living room. She was standing in the middle of the room, staring at her cell phone.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
She started to say no but she decided to tell him. "Another anonymous text. This one just says Happy Birthday." He started to say something but Summer shook her head. "I'm not going to let it spoil my day. I'm not going to let it bother me."
...
The Hawaiian theme was in their meal too. The chef has cooked a menu inspired by the tastes of Hawaii. The table had been decorated with Hawaiian party favors. Hitsugaya watched her all night. She didn't let it bother her but it bothered him. All through dinner she had laughed and talked like nothing had happened.
Hitsugaya walked back out onto the patio with her.
"Thanks for coming and thank you for my bracelet," Summer said as she took his hand.
Hitsugaya looked at her. He couldn't resist as he brought his lips to hers. Everything faded for him but her. What was it about her that drew him in? What was this feeling he felt? It was something he had never experienced. He didn't want to let her go but he knew that some day, it would have to end. He wasn't ready for it to end just yet.