A/N: I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry! I'm really sorry for the late update. My parents aren't that supportive of me writing, and schools been completely overwhelming recently. Thank you so much for reading this story. I hope there's been an improvement in my writing? :) Haha~

Uh, and about the previous chapter, I have no idea how they knew it was Hitsugaya; it's up to your imagination (heh, the pathetic excuses of a clueless authoress)

For your very coolios suggestions, arigato to AmbrosiusSchuyler, Hayai-chan, bladescream, Assault Godzilla and cool-girl027; big thanks!

Disclaimer: I can barely speak Japanese prooperly; how do you expect me to own an anime and a manga?

Credit: My Japanese sensei, and Snowy Peach Tsubasa :)

The HitsuHina Alphabet

J is for Ja Ne

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," said a soft voice.

A snowy haired Taichou shoved the door open roughly, scaring the poor Fuku-Taichou half to death.

"Shiro-chan! Be more gentle or you'll break that door!"

Hitsugaya looked at his childhood friend coldly. Hinamori quickly looked down, staring at an extremely interesting piece of paperwork on her desk. The Taichou marched briskly over and slammed his palms down on the desk before her; Hinamori jumped out of her seat in fright.

"Only an hour from now, where will you be?" There was an edge to the Taichou's voice that Hinamori couldn't quite put her finger on.

"I- I- N- No where! I won't be anywhere else." She started to shuffle around on her seat uncomfortably.

"Is that so?"

The Fuku-Taichou nodded meekly.

"I see how it is."

Hinamori bit her lip. If it had been under any other conditions, she would have almost definitely asked Hitsugaya what he was talking about and if something was troubling him. However, this time around Hinamori knew exactly what was troubling him. Questioning him would only lead to her answering unwanted queries, so the girl stayed silent. It was this very action that made Hitsugaya even more suspicious though. The information that he had received was from a very reliable source (if you call Matsumoto reliable) and Hinamori's nervousness almost seemed to confirm it. Casually, Hitsugaya changed the subject.

"So, have you been catching up with other people lately?"

Hinamori blinked. It seemed an innocent enough question, though it was almost definitely the start of an upcoming onslaught.

"Um, just a few close friends."

"Oh, does that include Kira Izuru and Abarai Renji by any chance?"

The girl started fiddling with the end of her sleeves, not daring to look up at the Taichou in front of her. There were so many thoughts crowded in her head. Almost like a busy bus with people tripping over each other. No one thought stood out; it was a mess, a jumble.

'Does Shiro-chan know already?'

The boy looked at Hinamori triumphantly, though he seemed angry to some extent too. Forcing a smile onto his face, he said:

"So it does include the two of them?"

"N- No, Shiro-chan!"

"It's Hitsugaya-Taichou."

Then all was silent. Fifteen minutes had already passed. Hinamori's eyes darted around before she abruptly stood up. She gave the child prodigy a small smile.

"Shiro-chan, I have to go now. Ja Ne!"

She walked quickly to the door and exited. Hitsugaya walked quickly and sat down in the chair that Hinamori had been sitting on. He closed his eyes and opened them seconds later. In those seconds, something had changed within his icy, cold orbs of only seconds ago. Now, deep concern could be seen.

'Why Hinamori? Why did you have to--"

Hinamori looked up at the pale blue sky. Judging from the position of the sun, she decided it was almost time for her to meet with Kira and Renji. Hinamori shook her head quickly, some of her hair coming loose from its bun.

'How did Shiro-chan find out about me, Kira-kun and Abarai-kun?'

Instead of answering her own question, she made her way to the Sixth Division. Renji was already outside with his zanpakutou by his side. He grinned and waved at the girl.

"Oi! Hinamori!"

The girl waved back. Soon the two of them started walking together towards the Third Division. Kira didn't seem to be as eager as Renji as he was still inside his division. Telling Hinamori to wait outside, Renji quickly dashed in and was dragging Kira out by his ear only a moment later. Hinamori stifled a laugh.

"Do you think we should go now?" Asked Kira when Renji finally let him go.

"Yeah! We don't want Yamamoto So-Taichouto to get angry at us for being late!"

However, Hinamori was silent. Another thought had finally got onto the busload, and this particular passenger could've been wearing a brightly colored shirt; this thought...it stood out.

'What if... Shiro-chan got the wrong idea?'

"Anou, you two go ahead first. I have to go and see someone first."

The two nodded in approval. They seemed pretty sure about who the dark haired girl was planning to see, and they both smirked inwardly. The only thing they feared was having the Fuku-Taichou come back in tears.

Hinamori felt foolish as she knocked on the door to her own office. Instead of having someone reply and welcoming her in, Hitsugaya came and opened the door for her. Hinamori didn't enter the room though.

"Shiro-chan-"

Silence.

"In half an hour, where do you think I'll be?"

It was the reverse of the question Hitsugaya had asked her. Hitsugaya continued to stare at the girl in silence. Hinamori didn't speak either. It wasn't long before Hitsugaya finally chose to answer the question.

"A mission."

Hinamori's mouth formed a small 'o' shape. Hitsugaya hadn't gotten the wrong idea. So he wasn't being jealous. But then, what was it?

"How did you fi--"

"Matsumoto."

Hinamori began to ponder the situation carefully in her head. Few things actually made sense to her, but there was still a big knot that was still to be untied, and it was this knot that would answer all her questions.

"Then... Shiro-chan, why are you so upset about this mission?"

Instead of exploding like any other person would, Hitsugaya gave Hinamori a steady gaze before explaining in a normal tone.

"Bed-wetter, this mission was given to Renji. He was allowed to pick two people to go with him. Why on earth did he pick you? I don't want him to put your life at risk!"

'And I don't want anyone else protecting you but me."

With an equally steady gaze, Hinamori answered truthfully.

"We decided it would be fun. It would be like a reunion sort of thing for us. After all, we did work together back at the academy."

It was a reasonable explanation. Now that Hinamori was sure Hitsugaya wasn't taking things the wrong way, she left the room with a smile on her face.

"Well, Ja Ne Shiro-chan!"

But Hitsugaya wasn't smiling.

"I'm back!"

"You sure took your time…"

"Gomen!!"

The three shinigami looked at each other. They were finally going to work together again. It felt so long since they had actually achieved something together, and the thought just brought a smile to all their faces. Renji's loud battle cry echoed around all of Soul Society.

"All right! LET'S GO!"

The door to the human world opened before them. The three of them advanced towards the door slowly. Suddenly, a voice in the distance called out a single word

"Wait!"

Three heads turned to look at Hitsugaya, standing alone behind them. He ran up to Hinamori and looked her worriedly. He opened his mouth to speak but saw Renji and Kira out of the corner of his eye. Hitsugaya clamped his mouth shut and glared at the two of them. Getting the not-so-subtle message, the two of them waved to Hinamori and entered the door first. Hinamori and Hitsugaya were left alone.

"So, is there anything you have to say?"

Hitsugaya blushed.

"Be careful."

Hinamori's face soon turned the same shade as Hitsugaya's. She looked down and then said the words that she had already said two times that day.

"Well, I should go now. Ja Ne!"

And she left to the human world, as Hitsugaya stood in front of the door until it slowly faded away.

Ja Ne.

Those two syllables could never convey everything Hinamori had wanted to say; those two syllables only meant a plain goodbye.

Ja Ne.

They were the last words Hinamori had said to Hitsugaya before she went on her mission. No one knew how long it would be until she returned.

Ja Ne.

It is often said; sometimes there are words that are best left unspoken. There were words that Hinamori didn't say. Though 'Ja Ne' came out of her mouth, she really wanted to say something else. She really wanted to say three words that meant something completely different.

Ja Ne.

But this was one of those times when unspoken words should have been spoken. The three words that Hinamori wished she had said would lie in her heart until a later time.

Ja Ne.

At that very moment however, only two simple syllables were imprinted in Hitsugaya's memory… until his little bed-wetter finally comes back.

'Ja Ne.'

A/N: Eeek; this is the opposite to last chapter. This time it wasn't as sad as I had expected it to be. Though the theme was 'Ja Ne', I mixed a tiny bit of jealousy in... very tiny. :) Anyone wanna take a guess at what the 'three unspoken words' are? Cookie if you're right!

On a very different note: AH! I've finally done 10 chapters! 10! Only 16 more to go! K, K,K...? Help strawberrii please~

&. strawberrii