I'm really happy for the positive remarks from some of you! I'm glad to be able to squeeze in some time for writing while I use the rest of my time to study. As I said before, writing really reduces my stress...

Thank you!

Interlude

Part I

He dreamt about having a soft, warm, pink lips against his cold ones. Everything felt so perfect, as a dream should be. It moved slowly, passionately and he reacted the same way. Who was the owner of it? It didn't matter. All he wanted was for this dream to last forever, and ever, and ever. He felt loved for once, unlike in reality, where everyone just walks away from him. Everyone. Everyone including-

"...Shiro!" The person moaned softly.

Shiro? Ah, only Momo would call him that. So he assumed that it was Momo that he's making out with. The dream was really perfect. Momo in reality wouldn't do this. Momo in reality do not exist anymore. Momo in reality is...

He tightened his hold around her waist, as her soft hands caressed his face and slowly moved to comb through his hair. He moved down, to nuzzle his nose against her neck, breathing in her aroma. How much he desired this? It's uncountable.

"...Momo..." He whispered hotly on her neck, as he pecked her neck.

Suddenly, the same pair of hands pushed him off, causing him to fall.

Fall back into darkness.

Hitsugaya Toushiro woke up. Waking up have never been so gruesome. His eyelids were heavy and his head hurt like a bitch. He raised a heavy hand to hold his aching head and groaned. Just what the hell happened?

The door opened and a blonde male entered. "Hitsugaya-san, seems like you are awake." He kicked the door open as his hands were holding a tray. "You were drunk yesterday, I coincidentally saw you lying along the streets so I brought you home. Well, drink this, and some pills to make you fell better." He settled the tray on the table beside his bed.

Toushiro tiredly took the cup and pill, swallowing the medication and taking a huge gulp of water. "Thanks, Urahara." He wiped the trail of water that escaped his mouth with the back of his hand. "...Why was I lying there..." He mumbled, trying to recall yesterday, but his headache protested. With a groan, he dropped down on his bed, snuggling into the covers again. Hyou jumped up to the bed and cuddled against him. "Morning, Hyou." He mumbled.

Urahara chuckled. "Well, I shall leave now. Sleeping at your couch wasn't the best idea..." He turned around. "Oh, by the way, it was a black hair female who requested me to take care of you as I found you. Bye." And he left, with a glint in his eyes.

"What..." Toushiro mumbled softly, not knowing what the male implied.

Outside the apartment, Urahara chuckled and took out his phone. "Put a password on your phone, Hitsugaya-san." He then typed out an address and sent it to someone.

Rukia snuggled into her cover as her tired eyes stared at the clock. It's morning, and she didn't get any sleep. Not after what happened yesterday night. There are just too many things in her mind for her to fall asleep. Why did she kiss him? Was it just because she was into the moment? Was it because she was mesmerized by his innocent drunk face?

No.

"I... " Like him. She couldn't say it loud.

Her heart beats faster whenever she's around him. And that itself is the proof. She could still remember how his lips felt against hers, and how his scent lingered in her nostrils. But he didn't kiss her because he was returning the feelings. He kissed her because he was drunk, because he thought that she was Hinamori.

"...Momo..."

Rukia buried her face into the pillow. Why did she expect so much? It was obvious that she was unable to replace that person in his mind. Rukia was no one. She's not special towards him. She's just a colleague. A teammate. Nothing more, nothing less.

Her eyes blurred again as tears threatened to escape. How many times did she cry? She don't know.

"Gotta be strong..." She muttered and fought back the tears. Her mind drifted off to another situation. She subconsciously touched the bite mark on her neck, recalling the incident yesterday. His actions and behavior certainly seems abnormal. His usual cerulean eyes were indeed yellow and feline-like yesterday. His canines was sharper and longer too. And the way he acted... Was cannibalistic. He was like an animal, looking at his prey, her. And the thought of it made her shiver.

It was really unusual... And with all these in her mind, the kissing and unusual characteristics, she gave up and forced her face into her pillow once again with a groan. She then turned her head towards her phone on the table, which vibrated.

"What...?" She opened the message, and saw an address, with 'Visit Hitsugaya-san, will you?' at the end. The female sat up immediately, face flushed. "T-t-this is his address?"

But why would she visit him? It will definitely be unusual and awkward... And worst if he remembered the previous night's incident. But it will be a good idea, right? She could question him about his behavior yesterday.

"Go... Please..." He begged. "I don't... Wanna... H-hurt you..." His voice hitched.

Rukia's lips parted, as she recalled what he said yesterday.

Toushiro took off his clothing with anger, tossing them on the bed, leaving himself half-naked. He stomped into the bathroom and rinsed his face.

"Hah..." He released a huge breath and glanced up to the mirror. He looked horrible. His eyes were bloodshot and hair messed up. He finally remembered. He remembered finding a piece of limp, with that bracelet on it. That fucking Aizen. He killed her, his Momo. He fucking killed her and ripped her arm off. Toushiro gritted his teeth. He lost control and let a small part of the beast escape within him. And he attacked his teammate.

He lost his composure. And that was not okay. Hitsugaya Toushiro is a calm and cold man. That was so not him.

He remembered that much only. Everything was fuzzy after that. He was too tired to recall anyway.

He took the small towel hanging beside the basin and wiped his face.

"Hinamori." He muttered and clenched his teeth, gripping the towel hanging around his neck until his hands turned white.

Then his doorbell rang, followed by the barking of Hyou.

Rukia panicked after she rang the bell. What if he remember what they did yesterday? He will definitely be disgusted by her and everything will feel so awkward. The raven-haired female shook her head in denial. No, he was drunk. So he should not recall it.

Right?

But how is she going to talk to him without blushing and feeling bitter? She slapped her cheeks. No, she's going to question- no, interrogate him. She must dig out the truth! While in her dilemma, the door opened and a small, white puppy ran towards her. Rukia gasped and bent down, picking the adorable animal up. She cuddled it in her arms and the puppy licked her cheeks while wagging his tail happily. Rukia giggled, not noticing the person standing right in front of her. The furry animal then struggled out of her hold and jumped down, running toward a pair of legs.

Rukia looked up, to find a pair of teal orbs staring down at her blankly. She froze initially. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was messy. A towel hung over his neck and he's shirtless. A loose pair of track pants hung at his waist, revealing his black boxer underneath. His head was leaning against the door, and his white bangs covered one eye. She gulped.

He looked horrible.

Horribly sexy.

"Isn't it a free day today for our squad. Why are you here." He said softly, yet kind of harsh at the same time. Rukia tried to shoo away the indecent thoughts and looked straight into his eyes.

"I have questions, sir." She internally clapped for herself for keeping the determined and strict expression. Toushiro stared at her. He clearly know what she meant.

"Come in." He muttered and stepped aside, allowing her to enter the apartment. Rukia was amazed. Even though this is a condominium, she didn't expect his apartment to be so well furnished and clean. She settled her handbag on the coffee table and took a sit on the couch. Hyou jumped onto her lap instantly and nuzzled against her stomach. She smiled softly and lifted the puppy up.

"What is your name, little one?" Hyou barked back happily, as if answering the woman.

"His name is Hyou." Toushiro answered as he re-entered the living room with a bottle of water (Still shirtless). He dropped down on the other side of the couch, staring at her. "So, what do you want?"

Rukia bit her lip as she hugged the puppy. She took in a deep breath, telling herself not to show any weakness or sorrows. She then turned towards him, with a determined face.

"What happened to you yesterday?" She finally asked.

Toushiro stared at her for a moment, then turned away. He took a huge mouth of water before closing it and tossing it on the table. "... Looks like I have no choice huh." He mumbled and sank into the couch. She saw it, and he have to spill the beans.

"You know about that incident few years ago?" He asked.

"Hn..." She nodded.

"Aizen's betrayal was not because he likes to kill. He did it to experiment. He was creating something incredibly dangerous for his own benefits. I found this out as I investigated. His goal was invincibility. To be stronger than normal people, to have senses keener than normal, to be agile and fast, and to have higher regenerative speed than normal. Basically, it changes humans into a beast. "

Rukia's eyes widened. "He- You-" She gasped.

"Yes, and no. On that day, a massacre happened. Because he tried out his invention on people. However, this invention was very demanding. It needed a perfect vessel to stabilize it. And many didn't meet the criteria." he gritted his teeth. " Those people he experimented died from the sudden change in their body and could not handle it."

"But you..."

"The two shots that was fired towards me. The bullets were the solid form of his invention. And after the substance entered my body, it dissolved immediately due to my body temperature. And people still wonder why they can't find the bullets." He rubbed the scar at his abdomen. "I'm a fail product. I do not have high regenerative speed and I have attacks often. I might be lucky to survive the previous time, but I may not in the future. All these seizures and pain I've been experiencing was torturing me." He hugged himself protectively. "The beast inside me have been asking me to release him... I-I managed to keep him trap for the past few years..." His voice hitched. "But I failed yesterday. I've let a small part of it escape, and I hurt someone." He smiled with sorrow as his brows furrowed.

"It's not your fault! You saw..." Rukia shouted.

"And I let my emotions take over me."

"You were just upset!" Rukia argued.

"Just because I didn't have control over myself-"

"It's because you lost someone you love!"

"AND HURT OTHERS?" He stood up suddenly, breathing became erratic. "Wha-what if Kurosaki didn't appear?! YOUR HEAD WOULD BE SEPERATED FROM YOUR BODY NOW."

Rukia's hand flew to her neck.

He grabbed the bottle on the table and poured the contents over him. His hair, entire body became drenched and it didn't calm him down. He clenched the bottle so tight that it crumple with protest and he threw it on the floor hardly.

"I've injured you... You... You are not suppose to be here... Not one is suppose to be near me... Isn't that why I've created a barrier around me...?" He said softly within breaths. Toushiro turned and started to walk away.

Without hesitation, Rukia grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to the couch. He dropped down on the couch with wide eyes as the female embraced him. She pushed his face into the crooked of her neck and rested her chin on his wet head.

"No." She breathed out softly.

End of Interlude Part I

You guys want HitsuRuki moments? I give you HitsuRuki moments! Ah, I guess I'm a little too soft eh? Well, this is part of the plot. So I have no choice but to include it.

Oh, and enjoy the cliffhanger, thanks. -smiles-