Title: The Cost of Time Apart
Author: Full Shadow Alchemist
Fandom: Bleach
Pairing: Hitsugaya/Hinamori
Rating: K, K+…?
Genre: Famirrrryyyy, Friendshiiiiiipp, Sadneeessss
Theme: #8, "Longing of Childhood"
A/N: I seem to be incapable of writing anything happy for them.
The Cost of Time Apart
In the human world, when a person has suffered a mortal wound and survived, there will usually be some sort of disability they'd have to contend with for the rest of their lives. For example, say you fell down some stairs and broke your spine at the bottom. On the off chance that you survive, doctors say that it's likely are you will never walk again. Regardless of if they're proven wrong or not, in the Seireitei as a Shinigami, the worst you get with being impaled on the off chance that you survive is some rehabilitation.
The healers had repaired all of the damage to her body while she had been under. The worst of the damage had been done to her spinal cord, which Unohana had taken care of herself, funnily enough. Hinamori, when asked why she though it was funny, had no real answer.
She didn't have a real answer for much, nowadays.
Illusions shattered and faced with nothing but the cold reality of having been lied to, Hinamori took it surprisingly well. Something cold overtook the look in her eyes though; it took the edge off her normally clear gaze. Hitsugaya was too far away to offer any real comfort. If he raised his hand and tried to reach her, he'd just touch the screen. It would be cold under his hand. Then again, judging by how pale she was, it might feel the same as her.
In the evening, she returns to the Fourth Division for a check up and leg exercises. At the moment, she had the third seat running drills for the division, because just walking took too much out of her. She needed to relearn how to walk, Unohana had said. Even in death, the spine controlled the body's ability to move. After having it severed, her body lost touch with her brain, and needed to start over from scratch. With her division's help, she will make a complete recovery and eventually reach her former ability completely.
It was difficult, especially considering her schedule. She only had time for rehab in the evenings, while during the day and a great deal of the night, she was managing the Fifth's crumbling interior affairs.
She should really thank Hitsugaya for his help, huh.
In the fitful sleep she does get, she dreams of him. During the times when she notices the sun setting, she remembers them. She recalls the little boy and girl, and the tall grass they used to run through to play hide and seek in. At least when he was in a good enough mood to act like a child.
His grumpy face that used to make her laugh…
She wants to see it again. More than that though, she wants to be the one to go to meet him there.
…She still has a lot of work to do.
