Lighting cracked through the sky and a clap of thunder boomed loudly as Hitsugaya left his office and made his way towards training ground 37. He cursed the weather. If it rained, their date would be cut short, and he might not have time to explain everything that needed to be said to Hinamori.

Hitsugaya felt the first few raindrops land on his head. They increased in intensity and by the time he reached his destination, it had escalated to a torrential downpour and he was soaked through. So much for a serious conversation, Hitsugaya thought bitterly. He almost turned back several times, but if Hinamori was already there, he didn't want to keep her waiting.

Hinamori wasn't there when he arrived. She probably gave up, he reasoned, but decided that, as long as he was here, he might as well wait for a few minutes. He headed towards a large tree, hoping that the branches might give him some respite from the storm. It wasn't until he was a few feet away from the tree that he realized that someone else was already there. But it wasn't Hinamori.

Sakura was curled up in a ball at the base of the trunk, hugging her legs for warmth. Hitsugaya's heart went out to her. He took off his haori and draped it over her shoulders. She noticed his presence for the first time, and looked at him out of her deep blue eyes.

"What's this for?" she asked, indicating the haori.

"You looked cold," Hitsugaya said, sitting down beside her. "And I know how much you hate the rain." When they were little, Sakura adamantly refused to step out of her house when it was raining. She hated being wet. Once, she had almost broken his arm after he had shot her with a water gun. Hitsugaya smiled at the memory.

"I don't mind it so much anymore," she said. "Years of living on the streets of Rukongai will do that you."

"I didn't know that," Hitsugaya said sadly.

"There's a lot we don't know about each other," Sakura replied coolly. They sat in silence for a few moments, watching the rain.

"So what are you doing here?" Sakura finally asked, and Hitsugaya was glad that at least she was making conversation.

"I was supposed to have a date. You?"

"Me too."

"Oh." More silence.

"So how are things going?" Hitsugaya asked as casually as he could. "I mean, between you and Kira."

"Oh, they're alright," she replied nonchalantly. "And you? How are you and Hinamori doing?"

"We're doing ok," Hitsugaya lied. He looked at her, but her face was impassive. Her rain soaked hair was matted to her forehead. She clutched his haori more tightly, pulling it around her as a gust of wind rushed through the grounds. Hitsugaya longed to apologize, to make everything right, to bring things back to the way they had been, but he didn't know how to do it. He wasn't good with words and emotions.

It was then that Hitsugaya realized something. The rain drops that were pouring from sky weren't the only things soaking Sakura's cheeks. If he looked closely, he could see silent tears streaming from her eyes.

"I'm sorry Kira stood you up," Hitsugaya croaked. "Don't blame him, it's because of this rain…" but Hitsugaya was cut short.

SMACK! The sound of Sakura's slap reverberated across the deserted training ground. Hitsugaya was momentarily speechless. But Sakura sure wasn't.

"What makes you think I'm so upset about him?" she asked painfully, releasing her grip on his haori, allowing it to fall to the ground. Hitsugaya still did not understand.

"Why else are you crying? You said you weren't afraid of the rain anymore?"

"You big fat dummy!" Sakura cried before she jumped on him. And then she was kissing him, a powerful, forceful kiss that held years of pain and anger, joy and laughter. Every emotion she had ever felt for Hitsugaya poured out of her. And Hitsugaya responded in kind. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her close, not wanting to let her go again, ever. This felt so right. Nothing he had ever done with Hinamori had felt this real, this intense, this passionate. And Sakura, in his arms, felt the same.

After a while they broke apart. Sakura blushed slightly and Hitsugaya smiled gently. They both knew that nothing would ever be the same between them. But they were ok with that.

"You know, you are still the most unromantic boy I have ever met," Sakura teased.

"And you're still the most violent girl I know," Hitsugaya reminded her. And they simultaneously broke down in a fit of laughter. When they had calmed themselves, Hitsugaya turned to her, a suspicious grin on his face.

"I almost forgot, there's something I wanted to tell you."

"What's that?" she asked playfully. Hitsugaya tapped her on the arm.

"Tag, you're it!"

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Meanwhile, three people were entirely oblivious to the rain. They were too drunk.

"An then, I loo' him right i' th eye and say," Hisagi said, slurring his words horribly. But what exactly he said remained a mystery, because Hisagi chose that moment pass out completely. His head fell on the table and he started to drool.

"Ew, gross Hisagi!" Matsumoto screamed as Kira fell out of his chair in hysterics. He stayed on the floor, too drunk to bother picking himself up.

"Neh, Kira," Matsumoto said, not nearly as drunk as her two companions (her tolerance was markedly higher), but still drunk enough to drop most of her inhibitions. "When was the last time you spent any time with Hinamori? You two used to be really good friends."

"Huh?" Kira asked, slightly crossed eyed. "Um, I guess I haven't really seen her since I started dating Sakura. But she was with Hitsugaya taicho, so, yeah." Matsumoto leaned over the table to shove her face into his.

"Well, why don't you go see her right now?! I hear she's still in the office. Poor thing had a butt-load of work to do. She might enjoy the company."

"Ok! I will!" Kira said with conviction. He tried to stand several times, but failed in the attempt. On the fourth try he managed to get to his feet with the help of the table, and stumbled aimlessly out the door.

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Hinamori watched the rain driving against her window and sighed. She was exhausted. She had done most of the paperwork, but there was still some left, and at the moment, it seemed more appealing than stepping out into the monsoon.

She leaned back in her chair, deciding that she deserved a break, and allowed her mind to wander. In particular, she wanted to think about Hitsugaya. She had thought that dating her best friend would be a good idea, and it was for a while, but part of her wished that she hadn't started the whole silly thing in the first place. Hitsugaya wasn't any warmer to her now than he had been before. Although he smiled at her sometimes, deep down, she knew that those smiles weren't really for her. It wasn't that they didn't care about each other. She loved him and he loved her, but as siblings, not as lovers. They had just been together too long. And they weren't really all that compatible. Hinamori had finally come to realize that most of her affections for him were precisely because of their past together. If she met him today, she wouldn't have the slightest interest in him. And while that history was a valuable thing for a friendship, it made romance awkward.

Hinamori was awoken from her musings by a creak in the hallway. She stiffened, but a second later the door was thrown open to reveal a very drunk, very wet, Kira. Water dripped off him and puddles formed on the floor as he grasped both doorposts, willing himself to stand. Unfortunately, his will wasn't as strong as his body, and he slowly started to fall, despite his grip on the door.

"Kira-kun!" Hinamori said, forgetting about formalities in her concern and running to her friend's side. "Are you alright? Here, let me help you." Hinamori may be small, but she was fukuataicho of the Gotei 13, and was therefore surprisingly strong. She wrapped Kira's arm around her shoulder, supporting his weight, and led him to the couch.

"Arigato, Hinamori-kun," he thanked her gratefully.

"Kira taicho, what are you doing here?"

"Huh?" Kira asked, not fully processing her question. "I came to see you. We're friends aren't we?" Hinamori was still worried about him.

"Yes but…"

"And friends spend time together. I haven't seen you in months, Hinamori!" he insisted, leaning closer to her. Hinamori could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Kira taicho, I've been busy, we both have. And you're so drunk, let me take you home…"

"Ah yes, you've been busy. With that little rat of a taicho." Hinamori puffed up at the insult to Hitsugaya.

"How dare you Kira taicho! Don't insult Hitsugaya-kun like that!" Kira cowered at her rage.

"I'm sorry," he said, throwing up his hands to protect his face. "Please don't hurt me." Hinamori rolled her eyes. Kira was so pathetic when he was drunk.

"And you're one to talk," she continued. She wasn't done yelling at him yet. "You haven't come to see me because you spend all your time with that tramp!" Kira dropped his hands. But instead of getting mad, he actually looked depressed.

"It's true, I do." Hinamori was taken aback by this, but Kira wasn't finished. "I spend so much time with her, but I don't think I make her very happy. And, to be honest, she's a little violent for me. I thought she was a sweet, shy girl, but once she warms up to you, it's like, man, call out the guards, there's a terror on the loose. She can never compare to you." If Kira had been sober, he never would have said any of those things out loud. But one thing Hinamori had learned through years of knowing Kira was that he didn't lie. Ever. He always stood on principle, for better or worse. He may hide many things, but once they were out in the open, he couldn't lie about them. Even when he was drunk. Or actually, especially when he was drunk.

"What do you mean, Kira taicho?" Hinamori asked in a shaking voice. Kira looked her straight in the eye.

"I love you Hinamori-kun. I always have, and I always will." And with that, the sake got the better of him and he passed out on the couch.

Hinamori pondered his confession for a moment. It wasn't exactly a secret. Everyone in the Academy knew that Kira had a crush on her, but she thought it had faded over time. Well, she was wrong. She looked at his snoring form and giggled lightly. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you too, Kira-kun," she whispered. Boy, was he going to be surprised when he woke up.

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Somewhere else in Seireitei…actually, there isn't too much to write about because there wasn't a whole lot of talking going on over there. Midori and Renji were way too busy…well, you know.

It's not over yet! I'm still going to do one more chapter.