This one is for a fellow reviewer, Cody. To be honest, I've never watched The Notebook but I hope this drabble is good enough. I should probably provide some context; this takes place after the Winter War but before the Quincy Blood War and as usual, there is an established relationship.

Kiss in the Rain

Hinamori Momo stomped her way to the 10th Division's quarters, a piece of paper crumpled in her hand. She didn't care that it was pouring heavily and her robes were getting soaked with each step she took. Someone was going to bear the brunt of her anger and she knew who that poor, unfortunate soul is going to be.

"What is the meaning of this?" Hinamori asked through clenched teeth, trying her best not to let her anger flare before she got her facts right.

She slammed the piece of paper on the 10th Division Captain's desk, startling him a little because despite her rising reiatsu, her appearance caught him off guard. Hitsugaya looked at her in surprise, which was replaced with confusion when he saw the ire in her brown eyes. When her eyes darted down to the piece of paper pinned between her palm and his desk, he followed her gaze.

The document was titled "REASSIGNMENT" and it wrote, "With immediate effect, the mission to Hueco Mondo to investigate the abnormal surge in reishi concentration is hereby reassigned to the 10th Division. Subsequently, the 5th Division is assigned to watch duty."

Realization finally setting in, Hitsugaya knew what this was about and he had been dreading this. He knew Hinamori was going to confront him and he just didn't want things to be complicated. So he tried to explain the situation to her in the most matter-of-factly way as possible. It proved to be a wrong call.

"Hinamori, this reassignment—"

"Did you call for this reassignment?" Hinamori interrupted.

There was a pause before Hitsugaya replied, "Yes."

"Why?"

Her voice had dropped to a whisper and the anger dissipated into hurt. Hitsugaya could see it in her eyes and even though it pained him to see her wounded, he knew it was for the better.

"We have too little information about the case, it's too dangerous—"

Something in Hinamori snapped when she heard that godforsaken word.

"You don't trust me," she said, not as a question but as a statement she knew was a truth, which was what made it worse. "After all this time, you still don't trust me."

"It's not that…" Hitsugaya tried to explain but he knew the situation was falling right out of his hands.

"Then what? You don't think I can handle it. You think I'm weak…" Hinamori said, her voice cracking at the last word. "You're just like the rest of them."

It hurt her to say it out loud as much as it hurt him to hear it from her lips. Whatever vestiges of anger she had vanished. Instead, she only felt the ache that came with knowing Hitsugaya didn't trust in her abilities and her strength even after she tried so hard to prove herself. But it seemed that all that has been in vain.

"Momo, don't say that. I do trust you, but—"

"But what? But I need to rest more? Train more? That's exactly what I've been doing!" Hinamori exclaimed, her voice rising as her anger flared again. "I'm not the only one who was hurt in the Winter War! Kira-kun, Hisagi-san, Rangiku-san, they were hurt as well! What makes them any different from me?! This mission is what I need!"

"Damn it Momo, grow up! They—"

"What do you think I've been trying to do?!" she shouted. "You tell me to grow up, don't you think I know that?"

She looked at him with watery eyes, her remaining anger contrasting with her otherwise gentle features. Hitsugaya wished he could take back those words.

"…I just want to protect you."

"No, you just want to keep me in here where you think I'll be safe. But all I ever feel cooped up in here is uselessness. All I do is waste my time. I'm suffocating, Toushirou…"

Before Hitsugaya could say anything else, Hinamori turned away. She escaped into the black night, stepping into the heavy rain and flashes of lightning. It hasn't rained so heavily in Seireitei for a long time.

Hitsugaya wasted no time in going after her in the rain, knowing that if he didn't try to fix things now, he might not get the chance anytime soon. He ran as fast as he could and caught her elbow before she could flash step away. Hinamori tried to pull away but he had a vice-like grip on her. He turned her around to make her face him, noticing that her tears were mixed with the rain.

"Momo, look at me."

"No!" she said stubbornly, futilely trying to get away.

"Damn it Momo, listen!"

When she ignores him and still squirmed in his grip, Hitsugaya decided that he's had enough of it. Forcefully, he grabs Hinamori's nape and crashes their lips together. She doesn't give up trying to escape but Hitsugaya was stronger. He kisses her roughly as she shuts her eyes and pushes him. In his tight embrace, she strikes his chest but not enough to make him let go. It was only when she grew tired of hurting him that she gradually stopped. Hitsugaya breaks the kiss as abruptly as he started it and cradles Hinamori's face in his hands, all the while breathing heavily.

"You can't do that…" Hinamori almost stammers out. "You can't just insult me and then kiss me like nothing's happened…"

"I need you to listen to me," Hitsugaya says. He continues when Hinamori finally looks at him. "I'm sorry for what I said. I thought I knew what was best for you, but I didn't realize that all I was doing was shutting you in. You're right, I'm not doing you any good by keeping you away from missions. I'm sorry. I just can't afford to let you get hurt…not again."

Hinamori collects herself before answering, "Toushirou, I know you care about me…but I don't always need to be sheltered. I appreciate you trying to protect me but let me take care of myself sometimes. Even if you can't reassign the mission back to the 5th Division, at least let me accompany you."

Hitsugaya nods.

"Will you forgive me?" he asks.

"You're forgiven," Hinamori replies and pushes back his wet fringe.

She gives him a smile that he knows so well and despite the rain still pelting down on them and soaking them to the core, they share another kiss in the rain.

End

This turned out longer than expected. I felt that the "grow up" retort was apt because it's canon that Hinamori said she couldn't wait to grow up because being young just means you're vulnerable. So it's understandable that she would be hurt by such a comment.

On another note, I've finally caught up with Bleach and I really hope Hinamori gets to redeem herself this arc! It's long overdue, Kubo.

Next chapter will be a happier one, there's too much angst so far.