Part Five – Confessions

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Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Bleach.


PART FIVE


Matsumoto sighed in frustration. Taichou has been grumpier than usual she thought. Ever since yesterday he had been brooding severely and was either found in the office burying himself in endless piles of work or training his division ten times harder then usual. When she had asked him what was wrong, he had grunted in reply. I bet it has something to do with Hinamori chan, it always has something to do with her. The vice-captain got up, I think it's time I pay her a little visit.

On the way there though she met Zaraki Kenpachi.

"Yo, Matsumoto san. Where is your captain, I would like a word with him."

"Captain is at the tenth division training centre at the moment, Kenpachi Taichou. Shall I accompany you there?"

"That would be great."

They arrived at the centre and whisked Hitsugaya out into his office.

"As you know, Toshiro, I have been asked to design some defence layouts for the living world and here in soul society. However, I cannot send many of my people out to the living world as they are mostly part of Seireitai's inner defence system."

Yeah right, you made it that way so you wouldn't have to leave Seireitai. Hitsugaya thought grimly, he had a bad feeling where this was heading.

"You have already been informed of the hollows attacking Ichigo and his friends in the living world so we need to send more shinigamis there to help" continued Zaraki.

"And you want me to send people from my squad."

"There is no need for that, we have already informed the fifth squad that their vice-captain will select four others to enter the living world with her."

"What! But you can't! It's against the rules to send a group of five people or more unaccompanied by a captain to a war zone. And Master Yamamoto has declared war. If you haven't noticed, the fifth division lacks a captain! Furthermore…" Whoa, Matsumoto was very right – Hitsugaya is hell passionate when it comes to Hinamori-fukutaichou. Zaraki thought as he listened to Hitsugaya ramble on, though rather heatedly, about everything that was wrong with this decision.

Zaraki grew impatient and put a hand towards him to stop his incessant ramblings. "Let me finish, Toshiro. As a result of everything you just said, Master Yamamoto has decided that you shall accompany them."

"But I'm not their captain."

"If you don't want to…"

"I will go." Hitsugaya said firmly, crossing his arms.

"Alright, that being settled, you and the other five will leave tomorrow. You will be accompanied by Ukitake, Shunsui and Renji." Zaraki stated. This time it was Matsumoto who intervened.

"If two other captains are going, then why does captain have to go?" She asked, ignoring the icy glare from said captain.

"Ukitake and Shunsui are on another mission – to bring back Urahara Kisuke. Renji has the job of informing Ichigo about current details. Hitsugaya's group has the responsibility of exterminating hollows around the area. By the way, you should inform Hinamori-san that you are going with her. She was told that a captain was going to accompany her but was not told whom." With that he left the room.

"Matsumoto."

"Yes captain?"

"Go and tell Hinamori what is happening" commanded Hitsugaya, ignoring the odd looks that Matsumoto was giving him.

"Don't you want to do that yourself captain?"

"Do I look like I have that much time? I have paperwork to do!"

"…"

"Well, aren't you going?"

"You finished today's paperwork already. Besides, taichou, since you will be working with her tomorrow, maybe you should consider making up with her. Today perhaps." Hitsugaya glared at her. Matsumoto sure does take liberties with me, he thought grimly.

"What makes you think that something is wrong? I am simply too busy" he said, refusing to admit the truth of the situation. Matsumoto scoffed.

"Oh please, if you two don't work it out soon, everyone will be bogged down by this oppressive atmosphere." She was met with a death glare which consequently made her decide that she rather liked her life and did not want to lose it over something so fickle. She let out an exasperated sigh.

"Hai, hai taichou. I'm on my way." She said, getting off her beloved couch and walking towards the door.

"Good," mumbled Hitsugaya, trying hard not to find reason in her words. He is going to have to work with her tomorrow. He brooded even more and slumped into his chair, a dark oppressive cloud lingering above him.


Matsumoto sighed as she stood outside of Momo-chan's room. She knocked gently.

"Momo-chan, can I come in? It's Rangiku."

"Of course" replied Hinamori. She was surprised to hear a knock on her door so late in the evening. Her heart had leapt at the prospect of the visitor being Hitsugaya but sank again when she heard it was his vice-captain instead. She moved to greet her.

Rangiku came in and sat facing her on the tatami mat.

"Rangiku-chan, is something wrong?" She asked, a sudden fear grasping her with the possibility that something bad may have happened in the tenth division.

"Nah, I just came to tell you something." Rangiku said quickly when she had noticed that Hinamori had suddenly tensed up.

Hinamori relaxed. Relief washing over her. "What did you want to tell me?"

"My captain was ordered to accompany you and the others to the living world tomorrow."

"Ordered, huh." Hinamori repeated sadly, she looked down onto the floor and toyed at it. Rangiku eyed her suspiciously.

"Exactly what happened between you guys?" She asked, genuinely curious. It wasn't like them two to have fights.

"We had an argument."

"Yes, everyone who has been around you two have gathered that much."

"He was mad at me for trying to fight Aizen without dissipating the barrier first. He said I was "putting myself in unnecessary danger." I got mad at him, even though I knew he was just worried." She fell silent. Rangiku could see the tears forming at her eyes. It was never clear to Rangiku and many other shinigamis how such an emotionally fragile girl could become vice-captain.

"But he wouldn't be avoiding you like this for that tiny thing." Something else must have been said to hurt Taichou's feelings, she thought, hell, she had done worse to him and he had forgiven her instantly.

"I reminded him that he was one of the many captains Aizen defeated so he had no right telling me what to do. Now he's so cold to me." At this she burst out into tears.

Ah. Rangiku understood now. She had hurt his pride. Hitsugaya's sole obsession was to see to it that Hinamori did not come to any harm and that he would always be there to protect her even in the tiniest measurement of danger. But when Aizen had defeated him, he had felt that he could not live up to this expectation and it pained him immensely. Nonetheless, he had maintained his stoic expression and acted with indifference. He could have cared less if others rebuked him. Coming from Hinamori, though, was an entirely different story.

"I don't think taichou is mad at you, Momo-chan." She said. Hinamori rubbed her eyes and looked at her.

"How come? Haven't you seen the way he's been acting towards me?"

"I think he is mad at himself. He feels unworthy to talk to you." Hinamori's eyes widened.

"What! Why?" Momo chan can be quite dense when it comes to taichou. Thought Rangiku as she looked at her.

"Because he couldn't protect you. He had failed, and you nearly died because of it…or so he feels."

"But it wasn't his fault, he was fighting Aizen! Even Kuchiki-taichou was hurt! He can't possibly blame himself, that's ridiculous. Everybody knows he's strong, he's a prodigal genius for heavens sake." Hinamori said forcefully, as though Matsumoto had just accused Hitsugaya of being weak.

"Perhaps you should say that to the captain, Momo-chan." She got up.

"It's getting really late and I'm beat. I'm going to go to bed."

"Thank you, Rangiku-san, for coming." Rangiku waved her hand dismissively as she was about to open the door. Then she paused and turned around to face Hinamori.

"Hinamori-chan, do you like captain? I mean it as in a more-than-a-friend sort of way?" When Hinamori remained silent and blushed furiously instead, Rangiku took it as a 'yes'. She looked back at the door and said "captain likes you too." With that she stepped out of the room and closed the door, leaving a stunned Hinamori behind.


Hitsugaya was dead tired. His mental toil had impinged on him physically but somehow it seemed apparent to him that he wouldn't be sleeping tonight. Why did I have to agree so quickly to go with her? He growled inwardly, she would probably be safer with another captain anyway. He blamed his damned protective instinct when it came to her.

He was about to put out his last two lamps when he heard a gentle knocking at his door. His heart picked up its beat by ten when he realised who it was. Stay calm He willed himself, she's probably here about tomorrow. Probably here to tell me that I have no right to protect her. He thought grimly. He was already sitting on the floor so he simply repositioned himself to face the door.

"Calm in" He knocked himself mentally on the head.

"I mean, come in." When Hinamori came in, she seemed oblivious to his mistake. Thank kami-sama. He thought gratefully. She sat facing him.

"Rangiku-san informed me of what was happening tomorrow." He nodded then looked away, his arms folded protectively in front of his chest.

There was a moment of awkward silence.

"She…She also told me other…things." At this Hitsugaya jerked his head back towards her. He gave her his full attention now and was looking at her intently.

"Such as?" Don't make me come after you, Rangiku.

"I know you reprimand yourself for not being able to protect me from Aizen. You shouldn't. No one could have protected me from him, we were all deceived by him. You couldn't have known."

"…" Hitsugaya was staring at the floor as if it was the most intriguing thing to him now.

"And when they did, no one defeated him, Shiro-chan, no one" stressed Hinamori, moving closer towards him in her desperation to get through to him.

"Besides, it makes no difference to me. You'll always be Shiro-chan to me. The person I grew up with, make jokes with, and confide in, " a wide smile formed on her face, "the person who loved singing random tunes whilst playing rubber dog bath games, the one who swore not to enter this 'stupid shinigami school' and then became captain." She received a huge glare from him but behind his glare she could see him softening, his resolve had begun to crumble.

"Thank you." She said after a moment. Hitsugaya had turned the slightest shade of pink. Hinamori laughed, then she thought of the question she wanted to ask the most.

"Rangiku also told me one more thing." She said, turning a slight shade of pink herself.

Oh man! How come every time a woman opens her mouth a waterfall of varying information comes out. That Rangiku. He cleared his throat softly.

"What else did she tell you?" He asked, looking only half interested, though all his five senses were on full alert. That baka vice-captain of mine had better not have said anything absurd.

Hinamori looked him in the eye.

"She said you like me…more than a friend."

"Wh…WHAT?" Hinamori felt deflated, so he doesn't like her that way after all. However, one look at his face brought up suspicions. Hitsugaya was so red, his head looked like a giant tomato. She stifled a laugh despite the seriousness of the situation.

On the other end, Hitsugaya was completely stunned. Of course he liked her but there was no way in a million years that he would admit it. Unless she felt the same way of course. Baka, Hinamori only thinks of you as her childhood friend. She said so herself didn't she, "you'll always be Shiro-chan to me." He looked at her, she was so pink that he thought she looked like a beetroot. If she's pink then I must look like a giant tomato. He was so embarrassed that he turned around so that his back was facing her, still sitting with his arms crossed protectively at his chest.

"Is it true?" She asked, hope and anticipation driving her crazy.

This has got to be the most embarrassing thing I'll ever have to do, well, besides proposing that is. Hitsugaya Toshiro! What is wrong with you? Well luckily proposing is a long, long time away…Stop it!

"Yes" he replied, hesitantly but nonetheless firmly. "But that doesn't have to change anything between us. We can still be really good friends. I don't want to put any pressure on you or anything…"

As Hitsugaya rambled on, Hinamori was staring happily at him. He likes me! She thought ecstatically, not hearing a word of what Hitsugaya was rambling on about. She snapped out of her reverie and decided to take action.

Hitsugaya, on the other hand, was still rambling on incessantly when Hinamori leapt and backed hugged him, swinging her arms around his neck. She pecked the now shocked silent Hitsugaya on the cheek.

"Watashi mo suki (I like you too)" she murmured happily into him. His fingers automatically moved to retrace the area she had kissed him. Slowly, he took one of her hands and directed her to move in front of him.

"What did you say? Did you just say…" He asked, eyes wide. He wanted to believe what he knew he heard her say a moment ago again, he wanted to be absolutely sure.

"I said I like you too." They stared at each other for a moment. Hitsugaya felt deliriously happy. He pulled her into him and hugged her tight, both laughing as they held each other.

That night Shiro-chan and Momo cuddled up and went to sleep together as they used to back in the Rukongai days, but instead of just friends, they went to sleep as a couple. That night, Hitsugaya slept more peacefully then he had ever done since coming to the academy.


End of Part Five


Hope you guys enjoyed that. Sorry it's a bit long but I got carried away.

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