For ecadiuu, who requested Hitsugaya and Hinamori on a date in the Living World.

Captured Kiss

"How are they doing that?"

The couple had attracted quite a crowd with their showcase. Passers-by were gathering around them to witness the way they were owning this arcade game. It was one of those games where a moving row of targets (in this case, little cardboard mice) passes through and the player uses a toy rifle to shoot down the targets. There were 4 rows and the cardboard mice are worth different amounts of points, depending on their size and how fast the row was moving.

The moment Hitsugaya and Hinamori picked up their toy rifle in a co-op round, they were on alert mode. Once the row of cardboard mice started moving, bang, bang, bang. They picked them off one by one, their aim as sharp as a master of Kyudo*. They were unrelenting, only stopping to change to another pre-loaded rifle that the station master handed them in wide-eyed, opened-mouth amazement. Accumulating an immense number of points caused the machine's music to go off relentlessly and loudly, attracting many curious passers-by who wanted to find out what the fuss was all about.

When the timer went off, one and a half minutes to be exact, Hitsugaya and Hinamori had accumulated enough points to redeem one of the top prizes, and more. They put down their toy rifle and smiled smugly at each other, unaware of the stares and gazes they invited. Elatedly, Hinamori scooped up the tickets that the machine was spitting out and carried the pile to the redemption counter.

"What a power couple," Hitsugaya heard someone say.

They had more than enough tickets to redeem the top prize, which was a PlayStation 4 but they had no idea what it was and doubt that they could actually use it back in Seireitei so Hinamori picked a dragon plushie instead and gave the rest away to a little boy (who exclaimed with pure joy and hugged her).

"You were very impressive back there Momo," Hitsugaya complimented as they made their way to another attraction. "How did you learn how to shoot like that?"

"Well, you know those targets they always make us shoot during Kido practice?" Hinamori asked. "I was a good shot at those and I guess the skills carried forward."

"No wonder. I think we even tied."

"No way, I got more points than you!"

"Hmm, I don't think so," he teased.

"I want a rematch!" Hinamori demanded.

"You sure? We might have to wait a long time for the ride then," Hitsugaya pointed out.

Hinamori looked at the queue for the supposedly scariest ride in the whole amusement park and let the rematch slide. It was a long line.

"Fine," she acceded and eagerly pulled Hitsugaya to join the queue with her.

The captain and vice-captain were not usually in the World of the Living. Today was different; it was their well-earned day off. Hinamori desperately wanted to visit the World of the Living but Shinigamis weren't allowed to do so unless on authorized missions. Nevertheless, they were still granted permission as they had completed all assignments and there weren't any pressing matters in Seireitei. Besides, Urahara Kisuke owed Hitsugaya a favour and the latter got him to lend them a Gigai each. It was a perfect opportunity for a date in the World of the Living.

They thought about what they should do and Ichigo suggested they visit an amusement park since that's what a lot of dating couples do (despite Hitsugaya never mentioning the fact that they were on a date but Ichigo isn't dumb). And that's how they ended up here. Hitsugaya won't admit it but it was actually a good idea. They had already visited some rides which were nothing less than exhilarating and visited the Haunted House which was not very scary at all (they were Death Gods after all). After earning a whole lot of points in the arcade, they could call this a good day.

"I really love the World of the Living," Hinamori said out of the blue.

"That's a bold statement. You've only seen a fraction of it."

"Exactly! And I love it so much already. Imagine exploring more of it. Will you visit the World of the Living with me again?" Hinamori asked expectantly.

"Anything for you."

Hinamori giggled and laced her fingers with his.

After a moment of silence, she said, "I wonder how it was like…when we were alive."

"That's a more than a hundred years ago."

"I know. I wonder what the World of the Living was like then."

"It was probably the Meiji period, so a lot of reforms," Hitsugaya answered as a matter-of-factly.

"That sounds boring," Hinamori pouted. "Hey, for all you know, maybe we were royalty."

At Hitsugaya's raised brow, she continued excitedly, "We were born in the 1st District of Rukongai after all. So perhaps we were royalty or we resided in the Imperial Palace. Maybe you were the prince, and I was the princess or maybe—"

"Don't get ahead of yourself now," Hitsugaya said with an amused smile. "Come on, the line's moving."

"Oh!"

The white-haired captain shook his head at her wild imagination and ushered her along. Even if they were royalty, he doubted he was a prince. He wouldn't be surprised if she was a princess though. In that case…Hitsugaya thought it was more apt if he were her royal guard who has sworn his allegiance to the princess.

If they were royalty that is.

The supposedly scariest ride in the amusement park was confirmed to be the scariest ride. It boasted an almost vertical drop and 360 degree loops. Hinamori was laughing throughout the ride and if there was one thing better than the rush of adrenaline, it was her happy laughter.

When they've tried almost all the attractions in the park, Hinamori suggested grabbing a bite.

"Toushirou, let's try crépes!"

"Crépes? What's that?"

"I don't know!" she answered honestly. "But Kuchiki-san recommended those to me. She told me she tried them the last time she was here and swears that it's delicious. Come on, I see one over there."

She dragged him over to crépes shop and ordered them a chocolate-banana crépe and another one with mixed fruits. They found a remote area to enjoy their sweet treat, with Hinamori munching away at hers.

"What do you think?" she asked Hitsugaya after swallowing another bite.

"It's…too sweet."

"I knew you'd say that," she chuckled. "I think Kuchiki-san was right thought, it's really delicious."

"Hinamori, you've got chocolate syrup on your lip."

"Huh? Oops…"

She was about to wipe away the stain with the pad of her thumb but Hitsugaya held on to her wrist.

"Let me," he offered.

Hinamori assumed he was going to wipe it away with his thumb as well but Hitsugaya had something else in mind. He hooked a finger under her chin and brought her chocolate-stained lips to his. He kissed the side of her mouth softly and grazed his tongue over the chocolate stain, licking her lip until he could no longer taste the sweet flavour. For good measure, he kissed her full on the mouth before parting.

He saw her fierce blush after breaking the kiss and smirked at how flustered she looked.

"People will see…" Hinamori whispered out.

"Everyone's too busy to look at us," he countered.

"Then…did you know you have whipped cream on your mouth?" she teased.

"Oh really?" Hitsugaya asked, feigning belief. He knew there wasn't any whipped cream on his mouth and it was just her ploy to do the same thing to him. He welcomed it though.

"Let me help you too."

Leaning in, Hinamori licked her lips, causing Hitsugaya to wait in anticipation. But Hinamori had something else in mind. Just as he was about to close his eyes, she swooped down and took a bite off his crépe, chewing triumphantly when he widened his eyes in surprise.

"Yours is delicious too, Shirou-chan," she said teasingly.

"Now you owe me a kiss."

"Hmm…" she hummed as she eyed him playfully.

The rest of their date went by eventfully, with the two of them catching a couple of shows and returning to certain rides for seconds. It was near evening when they decided to head back to Soul Society. Hinamori was reluctant but spending a full day in an amusement park was exhausting. Before they left though, she wanted to get a memento.

"Shirou-chan, can we take a picture?" she asked hopefully. She knew Hitsugaya wasn't always keen on taking pictures.

"Huh? Why would you want to take a picture?"

He could be so clueless sometimes.

Hinamori replied, "It's our first date in the World of the Living, I just wanted a keepsake. Please!"

It was hard for Hitsugaya to refuse when she looked at him with such hopeful eyes so he merely sighed and acquiesced.

"Fine."

Without missing a beat (as if she predicted that he would say yes), Hinamori whipped out her Denreishinki and opened the camera function.

"Here," she said and passed the phone to Hitsugaya. "You should take it, your arms are longer."

Hitsugaya took the phone from her and held it up in front of them so that a roller coaster was captured nicely as their backdrop.

"Ready?"

Hinamori nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist, getting ready for the picture. A split second before Hitsugaya pressed the button, Hinamori turned her head and planted a short kiss on his cheek. It took him by surprise definitely, which was perfectly caught on camera. The raven-haired girl quickly took her phone and grinned at the picture she saw. Her partner's eyes were slightly widened in surprise at her sudden kiss and the picture captured his expression perfectly. It was the exact moment his expression changed and it was rather amusing. Hinamori's lips can be seen pressing softly on his cheek and though it was barely noticeable, her mouth was curled up in a smile. And with the roller coaster in the background and sun dipping into the horizon, one could say it was picture-perfect.

"What do you think?" Hinamori asked, holding up the picture to Hitsugaya.

He had to admit, it was a good picture. Although he thought it would be better if he had prepared for the kiss.

"It's…not bad," he confessed and blushed lightly.

His admittance earned him a beam from Hinamori and at this point, he was already thinking of ways he could bring her on another date in the World of the Living.

End

I always had a headcanon that Hitsugaya and Hinamori were royalty when they were alive.