Welcome to chapter 10 of To Be With You!

I know this is a bit late in comparison to my usual update time, but I had a little case of writers block, so I hope that you'll all forgive me!

Anyway, without further delay, here's the chapter!

Chapter 10: Awaiting The Battle

Once the Seireitei recovered from the initial shock of Aizen's betrayal, they were quick to take action. Only a few weeks had passed since he left, and the head captain was already preparing an attack force that was to be situated in Karakura town. And because of Matsumoto's constant insistence that we go, it was eventually decided that I was to lead this attack force while preparing for the battle to come.

To be honest, I was conflicted when I heard the news of my new mission. On one hand, being stationed in Karakura would allow me to fight the Arrancar on the front lines and better prepare myself for the final battle. Plus, the idea of killing Aizen's subordinates was really appealing…

But deep down, I still didn't want to go. Because I knew that if I left for Karakura, I would also be leaving you. And after everything that happened between us before you fell into a coma, I desperately wanted to make sure that I was the first person to see you when you woke up…

However, as you know all too well, the head captain's decisions are final. So when the order came for me to leave the Seireitei… to leave you… all I could do was obey.

And then, barely two weeks after I was first stationed in Karakura, you woke up and asked to speak with me…

Flashback, Thinking of You

"So, that's Aizen's plan…" I muttered to myself as I thought over what the head captain had just told us. I then turned to face Matsumoto and added "Matsumoto, we should go now and inform Madarame and Ayasegawa about this."

"Right" she said before heading towards the door. "Orihime, you should find Ichigo and let him know too."

Inoue nodded in response before following Matsumoto out of the room. And just as I was about to exit as well, the head captain spoke again.

"Now, before you go, Hitsugaya-taichou" he began as I turned to face him once more. "There is someone here who has been waiting patiently to speak with you."

And just as I was about to ask who it was, the words tied in my throat. Because, just at that moment, you stepped out from behind the head captain and walked towards the camera…

"H-Hinamori…" I stuttered as I stared at you in shock. "Y-You're awake…"

You nodded in response. "Yeah… I woke up a few days ago…" you replied as you smiled weakly at me.

"Ah, I see…" I said as I started to take in your appearance. "So… how are you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm feeling a lot better now" you answered as you continued to smile at me. "I'm pretty much good as new. See?" you added as you motioned to several parts on your body. "I'm fine."

"That's good to hear…" I replied as I offered you a slight smile.

But the thing is, you weren't fine. And it was obvious that you weren't to anyone who looked at you.

Because you looked like someone who was on the brink of death...

After hesitating for a moment, you spoke again. "I'm sorry, Hitsugaya-kun…" you began as you lowered your gaze to the floor. "I… I doubted you. I accused you… And I… attacked you. I'm so sorry, Hitsugaya-kun… And I understand if you never want to see me again. Really, I'm such a-"

"Oi, I've already forgotten about all that and so should you." I interrupted, which caused you to look back up at me once again. "That's behind us, alright? So don't worry about it and just get back to bed, would you? Go and get rid of those bags under your eyes."

"Hitsugaya-kun…" you whispered as tears began to form in your eyes. "Yeah... I'll do that… Thank you…" you added as you began to wipe away your newly fallen tears with your hands.

The truth was… I hadn't actually forgotten about what happened between us at all. In fact, it weighed heavily on my mind every time I thought about seeing you after you first woke up.

But, that wasn't because I blamed you for what happened. No, I never blamed you for what he put you through…

I was just worried that you still blamed me.

I didn't know what I would do if you still thought of me as a traitor…. All I did know was that I would do whatever it took to convince you otherwise.

Fortunately, it never came to that. And the second I heard you apologize to me about what happened, an immense sense of relief flooded into me. You were still the person I always knew you to be…

I guess I really should have believed in you more.

"Because, you know" I said as I watched you wipe the tears of relief from your eyes. "You already look like a kid. I mean, look at Matsumoto. You'd have to sleep for a hundred years to catch up to her."

Hearing this, you immediately stopped what you were doing. "H-Hey!" you exclaimed as you pouted at me. "That's not fair! Rangiku-san's a freak of nature and you know it! And like you're one to talk about growing, Hitsugaya-kun!"

"Hinamori!" I shouted back, annoyed that you of all people had mentioned my height. Once I had your full attention, I sighed and then added with a slight smirk "How many times do I have to tell you? It's not Hitsugaya-kun anymore. It's Hitsugaya-Taichou now."

You simply nodded back at me with a small smile on your face. And after a moment had passed, you spoke again.

"Say, Hitsugaya-kun… Can I ask you something?" you quietly asked as your gaze shifted off to the side.

"Hmm? Sure, anything." I responded as I looked at you with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

"Are you going to… fight Aizen-Taichou?" you asked as you refused to meet my gaze. "And are you going to kill Aizen-Taichou?"

"Yes, I am" I stated in response. "After what he did-"

"Please…" you interrupted as you lifted your head to look at me once again. "Please, don't kill Aizen-taichou! I know that what he did was bad… but… There's just no way he would do something like that! Someone has to forcing him to… Yeah, that's it! I bet Ichimaru and Tosen are forcing him to-"

But I never got to hear the rest of what you were going to say. Because, before you had a chance to finish, the head captain used a powerful kido spell on you to take your consciousness from you.

"I apologize for this, Hitsugaya-Taichou" he said as he held your limp form. "I only granted her request to speak with you because she was so desperate, but it appears that it was too soon…"

"It's fine" I replied a little too quickly before bowing to my superior. "I appreciate you letting her speak with me. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking my leave."

"Hitsugaya-Taichou-" he began in response but was cut off as I ended the transmission.

All alone in the room once more, the only thing I could do was clench my fist in anger. "Aizen…" I muttered to myself as I thought back on the conversation I just had with you. "I will kill you for this…"

For the few weeks that passed after that day, I just couldn't get you off my mind. It seemed like no matter what I tried to distract myself with, be it training, hollow hunting, or exploring the world of the living, it just didn't matter… Because my thoughts would always return to you all the same.

It was during this time that I also managed to find a spot in the world of the living that reminded me of all those times we spent watching the sunset together in Junrinan all those years ago. It was a nice spot that overlooked the rest of the town and offered the best view of the sunset…. I'm sure you would have loved it.

And maybe it was because of how strongly I associated the place with you that I subconsciously found myself wandering there every evening as the sun was about to go down. At first, as soon as I realized where I was going, I would immediately turn around and head back to where I was staying. But eventually, I just gave in and decided to sit on the fence and quietly watch the sunset before me… The sunset that reminded me of you.

I continued to do this for quite some time. And eventually, I found myself looking forward to my daily visit to this area overlooking the town. It was just so calm… warm… and peaceful. Just like you…

But then again, I guess the spot was more well-known than I thought it was, since this girl kept bugging me whenever I was there.

"Hey, Toshiro, I knew you'd be here!" I heard a female voice shout from off to the side as rushing footsteps could be heard coming in my direction. "Looks like you're back again, huh?"

"Go away" I harshly replied without even turning to look at her. "Can't you see that I want to be alone?"

"Oh, come on, Toshiro, don't be like that!" she exclaimed as she finally caught up to where I was sitting. "Besides, if you really wanted to be alone, you wouldn't be hanging out here waiting for me to finish soccer practice, now, would you?"

"How many times do I have to tell you," I began with a sigh. "That's not why I'm here. Besides, who'd want to wait around for a kid like you?"

"Hey! Did you honestly have to put it like that!?" she shouted back at me. "And my name's not Kid, it's Karin Kuro-"

"Don't care" I interrupted as looked down at my soul phone as it scanned the area for hollows. "Just leave me alone"

"But Toshiro, we're friends, aren't we?" she replied as she place a hand on my shoulder. "After all, we're going to play soccer together in the match this Saturday, right?"

"I don't remember ever agreeing to that" I bluntly replied as I brushed her hand off my shoulder.

"But you keep coming here! So you must have some interest in playing with us!" she retorted with a smug look on her face.

"I already told you," I began as I closed my soul phone and looked at her for the first time that evening. "That's not why I'm here."

"Then why do you keep coming here?" she questioned as she looked at me in curiosity.

"The reason is because…" I replied as I turned my attention to the sunset enveloping the town below. "...this place has the best view of the sky. It brings back… memories."

And at this, I couldn't help but let loose a small smile as I began to lose myself in the memories and moments I spent with you all those years ago. Back to when it was just us, and only us…. And no one else.

Before Aizen… Before the betrayal… And before everything that happened in between.

Back to when I was yours and you were mine….

"You know, when you talk like that, you sound like you're really old." the girl blurted out all of a sudden, causing me to be pulled away from reliving my memories of you.

Without another word to her, I abruptly stood up and began to walk away.

"H-Hey! Where are you going!?" I heard her shout from behind me as I continued to walk away from her.

"Somewhere else" I replied without stopping.

"U-Um, can I come too?" she asked as I began to hear her footsteps follow after me.

"Now that would defeat the purpose of me leaving, would it?" I answered as I neared the path that lead back into town.

"H-Hey! That's not fair!" I heard her shout from behind me. "Well, will you at least come to the game on Saturday?"

I merely shrugged as I continued on my way into town.

And before I knew it, the date of the final battle got closer and closer…

Which meant that the day where I was finally going to avenge you was soon going to arrive.

...Or, at least, that's what I thought at the time.

If only I knew then that what I was counting down to wasn't the day where I was going to avenge you, but to the day where I was going to hurt you in the worst way imaginable….