A/N: Hey guys! Wow I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was to be able to hear from you all again! Some of your reviews literally brought tears to my eyes, you are all amazing humans. Do not underestimate how inspiring you are, truly it's because of you all that this story is going to see its last chapters. Okay well that's enough babbling on my overemotional part, without further ado Chapter Thirty-Five!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
…
It was snowing the morning of his eighteenth birthday, the flakes falling soft and gentle upon the earth below, painting a pristine picture just beyond the panes of the window. Hitsugaya blinked sleepily against the coxing of the sun's morning rays, the light filtering down upon his bed like the world's most subtle alarm clock. The blankets wrapped securely around his frame were warm, the mattress cozy beneath him. He was almost tempted to roll over and go back to sleep when he noticed that Hinamori's bed was empty. Frowning the young man blinked slumber's persistent fog further from his mind, pushing himself up onto one elbow and observing the room.
It was completely decorated.
Blue and white streamers curled festively across the ceiling while a bouquet of balloons had been fastened to the spoke at the end of his bed. More streamers were taped to the bedside table where they cascaded toward the floor like a multi-colored waterfall. A 'Happy Birthday' banner had been suspended across the top of the door, high enough that it would not impede any comings and goings from the room. Toshiro gave his head a shake, touched at what was clearly Hinamori's handiwork while at the same time thoroughly impressed that she had managed to do all this without waking him. He wasn't that heavy of a sleeper, was he?
Speaking of Hinamori, where was she? Her bed had already been neatly made, her shoes missing from their usual spot by the door. It was then that he noticed a slip of white paper taped to the center of the door, his name written neatly across it in blue ink, a large smiley face drawn underneath. Definitely Hinamori, he thought to himself, the corner of his lip twitching. What was she up to? Curiosity overcoming comfort, Toshiro pushed the blankets off him and slid off the mattress, batting the overenthusiastic balloons out of his way as they drifted in his direction. It was brisk in their room, the freshly fallen snow having brought with it a chill that had goosebumps dotting up and down Hitsugaya's exposed chest and arms. Absentmindedly he reached for his Death God's sweatshirt hanging over the back of his desk chair, tugging it over his head before crossing to the door and pulling the note from its confines.
Happy Birthday Shiro!
He rolled his eyes at the nickname but continued reading, a small smile on his face in spite of himself.
I hope you enjoyed the decorations! I'll be waiting for you at the place where we had our first breakfast outing! See you soon!
Hinamori
She was talking about Urahara's Hitsugaya noted right away, his mind flicking back to the morning of her first day of classes at Ryouta. That seemed so long ago now and so much had happened since then. He had found out she was a girl for one, he thought wryly, folding the note and placing it on his desk. And he'd fallen in love with her for another.
Toshiro blinked, the sudden thought catching him off guard.
Fallen in love…
That had come out of nowhere. Did he love her? He cared about her a great deal, worried about her safety, and was undeniably happier when she was around even if she was acting ridiculous… Did those things add up to love?
Hitsugaya gave his head a shake, a light film of crimson settling over his cheeks. He was being ridiculous dwelling on thoughts like that. Regardless of the depth of whatever his emotions were for Hinamori, she was expecting him at Urahara's. He could figure this out later when he had time to sit back and examine it carefully and logically. Hasty conclusions would only cause problems.
His stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, reminding him that he still hadn't eaten. Releasing a breath, Hitsugaya shoved all of those thoughts into a carefully locked mental trunk before yanking a pair of jeans and an old soccer jersey from his drawer, returning his sweatshirt to its place a top the whole ensemble before sliding his shoes onto his feet and heading out the door.
Hopefully Hinamori would blame the red of his cheeks to the kiss of the brisk air and the bite of the wind outside.
It was a beautiful morning. The tree branches had iced over and now resembled captured bits of crystallized lightning as they caught and refracted the morning light a hundred times over. It was quiet, the majority of Ryouta's students still sleeping beneath cozy blankets or quietly sipping morning coffee from the comfort of warm dorm rooms. It made for a peaceful walk, Toshiro's footprints adding to the few that had already made their mark across sidewalks yet to be shoveled.
Urahara's came into view as Hitsugaya reached the main road, the normally busy intersection rather calm at this hour of the morning, people preferring to stay indoors rather than risk slippery driving conditions. A few moments later and he was across the street and pulling open the door of the restaurant, the usual bell signaling his arrival.
"Well it's about damn time."
Hitsugaya blinked, startled. Everyone was there, grinning at him from two long tables that had been pushed together to accommodate them all. Ikkaku was the one who had been nice enough to speak up, but even so the cue ball was grinning like an idiot from his place between Yumichika and Chad. Hisagi, Renji, and Ichigo were there as well, along with a bleary-eyed Kira looking like he could use a few more hours of sleep. Rangiku had already gotten up from where she sat beside Rukia and Orihime, prancing toward him with her arms outstretched.
"Happy birthday!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in her usual Rangiku fashion. Fortunately, at this point in his life Hitsugaya was well-practiced, ensuring he took a quick extra breath before the well-endowed girl smothered him. The young man tolerated the hug for a moment before extracting himself and raising his eyebrows.
"Did you put his together?" he asked her. Rangiku shrugged, tossing a strand of long ginger hair over her shoulder.
"Hinamori did all the real work," she answered. "I just rallied the troops." Hitsugaya shook his head. Of course Hinamori had.
"Happy birthday Hitsugaya."
Speaking of whom….
Toshiro glanced around Rangiku to where Hinamori was standing close behind her, a small, nervous smile on her face.
"Thanks," he answered, returning her smile with one of his own.
"Did you like the decorations?" she asked, looking a bit apprehensive. He nodded his head.
"Yeah but…"
"But?" she inquired, her brows furrowing.
"How did you avoid waking me up with those clumsy feet of yours?" he asked dryly, raising an eyebrow. Hinamori's cheeks immediately puffed in anger.
"Clumsy feet!? I do not have clumsy—"
"Oi!"
The girl was interrupted by Renji who had risen from his spot at the table and was now glaring impatiently in their direction.
"They're waiting to bring the food 'til you morons sit down. If you two aren't over here in the next two seconds I'm coming to get you myself," he called, ignoring the fact that they weren't the only customers in the restaurant and earning himself a few annoyed stares for his trouble.
"Tch, so brash," Yumichika muttered to himself, answering Renji's responding glower with a flippant hair toss. Hitsugaya snorted.
"Let's go," he said to Hinamori and Rangiku, starting in the direction of the table.
"Don't think I'll forget you said that," Momo hissed to him. "I'm still mad at you."
"No you're not," Hitsugaya answered under his breath, raising a hand to Ichigo who was waving them over. Hinamori loosed an exasperated sigh but didn't argue.
The morning divulged into an episode of fun, friends, and good food with a few minor incidents, not the least of which was Renji and Ichigo attempting to wrestle Hitsugaya into a ridiculous pair of 'happy birthday' sunglasses, complete with glittery frosting and a row of birthday candles. Hinamori, much to his chagrin, got the entire thing on camera. Ikkaku continued to shoot disdainful looks at the fruity beverage Yumichika was consuming beside him, as though convinced the drink was not manly enough to deserve a place at the table. By that logic, Yumichika was also not manly enough to deserve a place at the table, but some things were really best left unsaid.
As the meal drew to a close, Yoruichi brought a large chocolate cake from the back room, the pastry smothered in white frosting and adorned with blue script reading 'Happy Birthday Toshiro' in beautiful cursive calligraphy.
"Almost a shame to cut into it," Momo murmured from beside him, looking sadly at the cake that was about to be demolished by the knife Renji held a bit too eagerly in his hand. Fortunately Rangiku seemed to notice this as well.
"Give me that, you're going to kill somebody," she told him, snatching the knife from his hand.
"And you're going to kill me!" Renji snapped in response, yanking his hand away from the knife that passed just centimeters from his fingertips. Rangiku shrugged nonchalantly, though a wicked grin spread across her lips and she brandished the knife at the pineapple as though challenging him to some sort of birthday dual.
"Go Rangiku!" Orihime cheered from her end of the table while Ikkaku and the others egged Renji on.
"Guys!" Kira quipped, glancing nervously back and forth between the two. "C-careful! Someone is actually going to lose an eye!"
The whole matter was settled when Chad, taking advantage of his massive size, simply plucked the knife from Rangiku's hand and cut into the cake, ending the dispute before things could spiral too far out of control. From beside him, Hitsugaya noticed Hinamori breathe a tiny sigh of relief.
Just as Chad was beginning to distribute the dessert, Hitsugaya felt his pocket buzz and he reached down, pulling out his vibrating phone. 'Unknown Number' flashed across the screen though this time Toshiro simply rolled his eyes and shoved his phone back into his pocket. If Kazuo thought that trick would work a second time, the man would be sorely disappointed.
"Not taking calls today?" Yoruichi asked from where she stood looking over his shoulder, white frosting dotting her mouth thanks to the large portion of cake she'd helped herself to. Hitsugaya shrugged.
"I don't see how its any business of yours, but no," he answered. Yoruichi's eyes glittered in amusement.
"Play nice Toshiro or I might start making Kisuke charge you for your meals," she told him dryly, a feline's coy smile curling the ends of her lips. Hitsugaya frowned, glancing around the restaurant.
"Is Urahara not here today?" he asked. He hadn't seen the restaurant owner once that morning, an unusual absence that left the establishment feeling much quieter than normal. Yoruichi's smile faltered just the slightest, a gesture Toshiro might have missed if he wasn't paying such close attention.
"He's out on business today," she answered him before the grin returned in full. "Not that it's any of your business of course." Toshiro rolled his eyes, not missing the friendly jab hidden in the words he himself had spoken just moments before. Yoruichi winked at him before turning and vanishing back into the kitchen.
The rest of the meal passed in a flurry of laughter and conversation, and it wasn't long before the group was pushing back from the table, pulling on coats and warm winter hats. They said their happy birthdays to Hitsugaya with pats on the back from the guys and hugs from the girls.
"See you at the Winter Festival tonight?" Hisagi asked, raising an eyebrow inquiringly as the group headed toward the door.
"Well—" Hitsugaya began before both Hinamori and Rangiku interrupted.
"Yes," they said together, affirming Hitsugaya's plans before he fully realized he had them. HIsagi laughed, waving and heading off down the newly shoveled sidewalks, several of the others dispersing in similar fashion until only Rangiku, Orihime, Hinamori, and Hitsugaya remained. Rangiku went in for another hug and Hitsugaya let her, patting the girl awkwardly on the back a few times before squirming away.
"Happy birthday," she said to him again, her eyes concerningly mischievous. "Orihime and I have a shopping date so you two have fun." Orihime blinked in confusion.
"We do?" she asked, her head tilting to the side.
"Yup," Rangiku answered, slinging her arm through the other girl's and steering her back in the direction of campus. "See you two tonight!" she called over her shoulder.
"Apparently," Hitsugaya mumbled under his breath, though he wasn't actually annoyed. Quite the opposite in fact. The surprise birthday brunch had left a rather warm feeling in his stomach and though he wasn't one to show much outward emotion, he appreciated his friends actually waking up at a decent hour to celebrate.
"You didn't have plans today did you?" Hinamori asked him, looking adorable in a white pom hat. How had he ever believed she was actually a guy?
"Schoolwork," he answered with a shrug. Hinamori made a face.
"It's your birthday," she told him flatly. "Schoolwork can wait." Hitsugaya's mouth quirked.
"So I take it I do have plans?" he asked her dryly, feeling a slight satisfaction at the blush that colored her cheeks.
"M-maybe," she stammered, finding a way to sound sheepish and vague at the same time. "We'll need to take your car."
…
She really had outdone herself, Toshiro couldn't help thinking as he looked around at the little picnic Hinamori had prepared. The girl had directed him to a public park about ten minutes from Ryouta's campus where they had then hiked up a couple of hills, slipping and sliding the whole way, before cresting the top of a final rise and arriving on a lightly forested hilltop. Hinamori had then taken off the backpack she'd been toting this entire time and from it had pulled a blanket which she spread upon the ground, before going back in and pulling out a canteen.
"Hot chocolate," she told him with a smile, offering him the jug. He took it allowing her to pull two cups from the backpack before sitting down on the blanket and gesturing for him to do the same. He did so and she promptly took the canteen back from him, filling up both their cups with the steaming, delicious smelling beverage.
"It's really hot," she warned. "Don't burn your tongue." Hitsugaya nodded, blowing on the drink before bringing it cautiously to his lips.
It was nice here, the silently falling snowflakes and complete absence of civilization making him feel comfortably isolated, far away from the stress and secrets life at Ryouta brought with it. Here both he and Hinamori could be themselves, he more relaxed, she actually female. It was an odd thought, he acknowledged. What a bizarre situation he had found himself in.
"What?" Hinamori asked suddenly, her head tilted as she looked at him.
"Hm?" he inquired, glancing up from his hot chocolate and giving her a confused look.
"You're smiling," she told him shortly. Hitsugaya shrugged.
"Okay. And?" he asked. Momo rolled her eyes.
"You don't usually just smile to yourself. It's weird," she answered. Hitsugaya quirked a brow.
"You don't like it when I smile?" he asked her, hiding the teasing undercurrents beneath his flat tone.
"I didn't say that!" Hinamori protested, shaking her head so fast some of her hot cocoa sloshed over the side of the mug and onto the blanket below. "Aw, look what you made me do!"
"I had nothing to do with that," Toshiro responded, bringing his mug back to his lips and taking a sip. Momo pouted, her large brown eyes frustrated.
"You could be nicer you know," she grumbled. Toshiro shrugged, figuring he could push her just a little farther.
"It's my birthday," he retorted simply, throwing in a casual shrug for good measure. "Technically that means you have to be nice to me."
SPLAT.
Hitsugaya blinked, having not expected the snowball that made solid connection with his collarbone and now melted down the front of his winter jacket in big wet drops. He shivered. Some of it had made it inside his coat, soaking the material underneath and spreading goosebumps across his chest. Slowly his eyes rose to Hinamori who was looking all too proud of herself, already reaching for another handful of snow.
"Oh no you don't!" Hitsugaya exclaimed, launching himself at her while Momo shrieked and dashed away, completely upsetting her hot cocoa mug and staining the snow brown with its contents. Toshiro gave chase, bending down midstride to scoop a handful of snow into his palm, bunching it into a ball and taking aim between Hinamori's shoulder blades. The girl was quick however and zigzagged through the snow, making herself as difficult a moving target as she possibly could. Hitsugaya let the snowball fly but Hinamori swerved out of the way at the last second, the projectile splattering all over the trunk of a nearby tree instead.
"Missed!" the girl shouted gleefully over her shoulder. As if he hadn't noticed.
"Yeah keep running bedwetter," he said under his breath, scooping up another handful of snow and sculpting it between his palms. They'd left the blanket far behind them now, heading into a more heavily forested part of the park, the ground dipping and rising beneath their feet. Hitsugaya had to check his balance more than once as he tromped his way clumsily through the snow, trying to get a good angle on Hinamori while not falling on his face at the same time. It was a task that was proving itself surprisingly difficult. Still Hitsugaya was nothing if not an athlete and this time when he let the snowball fly, his aim was true.
Perhaps a little too true…
Hinamori turned her head at the same moment the projectile collided with it, coating her face in a wash of frigid snow and knocking her off balance. The girl shrieked as she tumbled sideways and off her feet, gravity doing the rest as it pulled her down the sloping hill at an alarmingly quick pace. Hitsugaya cursed, the bottom of his stomach dropping out as she finally rolled to a halt but did not make any immediate movements to get back up again.
"Hinamori!" he called, taking off down the hill, slipping and sliding his way to her side. She was facing away from him and he dropped to his knees beside her, placing his hand on her shoulder, worry and guilt pelting around his insides like a hive of angry wasps. "Hinamori are you—!"
SPLAT!
A scoop of freezing snow was suddenly being shoved into his face as Hinamori rolled over and deposited a fistful of the fluffy white powder directly into his forehead. He blinked in surprise, sitting there dumbly for a moment as the snow melted, creating tiny rivulets that dribbled down the bridge of his nose before dropping onto the ground below. A gale of laughter burst from the girl's lips as she doubled over, the sight apparently too much for her to handle.
"Y-your face!" she managed to wheeze between giggles. "You should see your face!" Hitsugaya immediately flushed, wiping the remnants of the snowball from his forehead and glowering at her.
"You idiot! I was actually worried about you!" he snapped, crossing his arms defensively in front of his chest. Hinamori seemed not to hear him, lost in the whirlwind of amusement that consumed her entire being. Hitsugaya allowed his eyes to rest on her, his frustration of moments before melting away as easily as the snowball had. Snow sparkled in her hair, her cheeks tinged a pleasant pink color, large brown eyes glittering with tears of laughter, and that smile… He loved that smile.
He loved her.
It wasn't a question so much anymore but a statement. A proclamation. One he wanted to make sure she knew.
"Momo…"
Her name left his lips like a prayer, the tone of it causing her giggles to at last peter out as she set those brown eyes on him.
"What?" she asked, a dash of concern sneaking into the word. "What, are you okay?"
"I'm…yes," Hitsugaya answered, his tongue suddenly feeling much too large for his mouth. He swallowed, determined to get this right. "Momo I—"
Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz!
The sound of his phone vibrating in his pocket might have been a gunshot for the way they both jumped. Hinamori giggled again as Toshiro sighed exasperatedly, his hand grazing the offending pocket.
"Did you need to check that?" she asked, nodding toward the phone. Hitsugaya shook his head.
"No, it's not important," he answered. Hinamori frowned.
"Are you sure?" she asked, her head tilted to the side. "You might as well look." Hitsugaya sighed but assented, pulling the mobile device out of his pocket. His turquoise orbs settled on the little screen, his chest tightening as he read the now familiar words blinking at him in black, digital font.
Unknown Number…Unknown Number…Unknown Number…
Kazuo really was being infuriatingly persistent. Unfortunately for him, Toshiro had nothing left to say. With a roll of his eyes he shoved the device back into his pocket, the vibrating ceasing a moment later.
"Told you it wasn't important," he said in response to Hinamori's inquiring look. No need to tell her who had likely been on the other line. He didn't need her fretting over him on top of everything else. She smiled and nodded, accepting the hand he offered to pull her to her feet. The two of them stood there, covered head to toe in snow, their cheeks tinged red both from the cold and otherwise. Hinamori beamed at him, reaching up and brushing some glittering flakes from his locks.
"Up for one more adventure?" she asked him, nodding her head back in the direction of the car.
"Winter festival?" Toshiro asked, cocking a brow. Momo's brilliant grin was response enough.
…
Rangiku knew she probably didn't need as many new shoes as she had purchased, but the sales on spring and summer items were simply too low to resist. Really it was an investment, she told herself, lugging the ridiculous amount of shopping bags from her car and up the stairs to her apartment. Orihime, having been a much more frugal shopper, had already scampered on ahead, being a good roommate and ensuring the door was open for Rangiku and her parcels.
She would have missed the note on the door entirely if Orihime hadn't said something about it.
"It looks like someone left a letter for you!" the orangette said brightly as Rangiku dropped her packages with a small groan.
"Hm?" the ginger girl asked, rubbing the small of her back with both of her palms.
"There, see?" Orihime answered, pointing toward the front door currently propped open with Rangiku's second pair of snow boots. Matsumoto frowned, looking in the direction her roommate implied. Sure enough there was a note taped to the door, her name scrawled across the front in all too familiar penmanship. Rangiku felt her heart turn to lead in her chest and she froze, the mountain of packages in front of her sliding from her mind. She straightened, making her way slowly toward the front door and staring at the letter as though it was a bomb that might explode at any moment.
"Rangiku?" Orihime asked, not missing the look of stone that had carved itself across the other girl's features. Rangiku didn't answer as she reached for the note with trembling fingers. She yanked it from its confines, unfolding the sheet and reading the words scrawled there with a nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"What does it say?" Orihime's voice was quiet now. Cautious.
Rangiku's lip trembled and she crumpled the letter into her fist, feeling as though she'd left her heart somewhere underneath her shopping bags.
"I have to go," she mumbled to Orihime, knowing her roommate deserved some sort of explanation but not at the moment able to give her one. Without another word she turned and walked back out her front door, the paper in her hand acid on her fingertips that was somehow burning a hole in her heart.
…
Hey all! Thanks so much for reading, I appreciate each and every one of you! I hope that was an enjoyable chapter and I'll do my best to have the next one up either Saturday or Sunday of next weekend. I hope everyone continues to be in character, I've had to reacquaint myself with these characters a bit so sorry if there's a little rust there. See you all in Chapter Thirty-Six!
~Phoenix