Chapter 7

Staring at the lava flowing towards him unexpectedly, he could do nothing but to stare in awe. He didn't expect this. No way, he kept telling himself that this of skill was unseen and unheard of. He mind is in total blank.

"Hitsugaya! Run! Hitsugaya!" Hinamori was shouting at the top of her lungs, but unfortunately, Hitsugaya couldn't hear her voice from where he was.

Hinamori's tears were flowing against her will. She had willed herself to be strong, so that Hitsugaya-kun need not be worried for her all the time. Wiping away her tears, she clutched her both hands tightly and pressed it against her chest, praying for her Hitsugaya, hoping that he could hear her voice, her support for him and also, give him strength to win Ryuumaru.

"Hinamori." wispered Hitsugaya.

Holding his sword tightly by his both hands, he willed himself to calm down.

"Bankai." wispered Hitsugaya.

"Finally, you are going to use your bankai eh? You shouldn't look down on me you know, you should actually use your bankai right from the beginning." said Ryuumaru as he began to laugh histerically.

"Shut the crap up."

Hitsugaya rushed towards him as he knew that since he is still at a disadvantage situation, he must do something to change the position he is in. The question is, what must he do.

"Hyourinmaru!Stop the flowing lava.Freeze the whole stadium!" shouted Histaugaya.

"What!" said Ryuumaru.

Hitsugaya's soul cutter froze the whole stadium.Mutters of awe could be heard from the audience and fellow Shinigamis.

"Now...you have really done it. You froze the whole stadium!" said Ryuumaru to himself, laughing openly with his face facing towards the sky.

'Good, I have managed to stop the lava. Now, for the next critical attack.' thought Hitsugaya.

Hitsuagaya then again started running towards Ryuumaru and a few meters before reaching him, he jump into the air with a strong leap and then pointed his sword towards Ryuumaru accompanied with a strong shout.

Ryuumaru suddenly stopped laughing and looked up at Hitusgaya, his eyes filled with a stronger muderous intent.

Hitsugaya shouted even louder. But, Ryuumaru caught hold of his sword and threw him opposite the stadium.

'Shit! I gave him a chance to attack me!" Hitsaugaya said to himself, "My backbone must be broken by now."

But the attack didn't stop there as Ryummaru continued walking towards Hitsugaya and held him up by his Shingami uniform collar.

"You lose."

"What? The result is not out yet! How dare you-"

Hitsugaya's speech was cut short as he was knocked hard against the wall which caused his forehead to bleed profusely. His vision became blurry and he started to feel slightly giddy.

"Let me tell you something. I touched your sweetheart before." whispered Ryuumaru into Hitsugaya's ear.

"What?" said Hitsugaya corsely as he could not really speak out loudly after being beaten up so badly.

"I don't want to say it the second time." said Ryuumaru as he kicked Hitsugaya ruthelessly several times, "Now for the final blow, are you ready for it?"

'Final blow? Am i going to die right now? ' asked Hitsugaya mentally.

Before much could be taken into consideration by Hitsugaya, Ryuumaru was already standing high above him and said, "copycat bankai."

"copycat bankai!" whispered Hitsugaya in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was actually hearing. He had never seen such thing called copycat bankai before, at least not in his life time.

"copycat, Ichimaru Gin's bankai. Shisou's best techinque. Shoot him to death." said Ryuumaru malicly.

The last blow was directed at Hitsugaya without any mercy, it's a fatal blow.Hitsugaya could only see the bankai coming directly to him but can't do anything about it. His soul-cutter also could not do anything but to see its owner getting unreasonaly bashed up by Ryuumaru.

"Oh no...this won't do. You can't kill this captain, he is our future." said the 13th duvision captain, Ukitake Jyuushiro.

Ryuumaru could only look at awe as Ukitake stop the attack of Ryuumaru only be using his hands. Ukitake quickly took up Hitsugaya's body and walked away.

"What the heck!" said Ryuumaru to himself.

The audience quicky disappeared as the fight was stopped midway. No one dared to make any unrespectful comments as the one who stopped the fight was Ukitake, a captain rank Shinigami.

"Please give him immediate attention, Unohane san." said Ukitake as he held out Hitsugaya's body.

Unohane took Hitsugaya's small body and said," Yes, rest assured that he will be well in a week's time."

3 days have passed uneventfully as Hitsugaya remained on the bed motionlessly, with Hinamori by his side every single day without fail.

'Please wake up...Hitsugaya...' Hinamori prayed as she sliently thought to herself as tears started to form. Beads of tears fall from her face as she faced the floor with hands on her lap as she continued crying. Because she was looking downward, she didn't notice Hitsugaya's hand move slightly.

'Hinamori..she's crying...I must stop her.' sweared Hitsugaya.Therefore, with great efforts he forced his hand to reach up to her face and wiped away the tears for her.

Hinamori felt a hand on her face and immediately looked up to find Hitsugaya frown-like face is back and can't help herself from rushing to hug him.

"Shirou-kun!You are awake!" yelled Hinamori so loud that Hitsugaya felt that his ear drums scream for help. Hinamori stretched her arms and reach to hug Hitsugaya tightly. Hitsugaya was shocked and was at loss to how to react under this kind of situation and just took full advantage of this situation and hug her back gently by putting his right hand on her head and his left hand on her waist and gently pulled her closer to him. He let his head rest on her shoulder, with soften eyes and gentle voice, Hitsugaya says," I am back."

Hinamori finally realize the poisiton she is in and begin to blush a little as she started to pull herself out of Hitsugaya's hug. But Hitsugaya's grip suddenly tightented on her and just refuse to let her go no matter how much strength she use.

"Mou! How come you got so much strength even after you just woke up? Now let me go!" asked Hinamori.

"You know I won't, Momo.I want to ask you if..." his voice grew fainter as he speak.

"yes..please say." repiled Hinamori.

Hitsugaya 's head turned away from Hiamori's sight as he continued his question," Did...did Ryuumaru that bastard touch you?"

Hinamori expression turned from one of confusion to shock and repiled," No, he didn't." and then quickly adding,"Did Ryuumaru tell you anything?"

"Huh?No, no, he didn't." repiled Hitsugaya as his stiff shoulder relaxed a little.

"Hinamori, you know what?"

"Yes?"

"I like you a lot."

Hinamori closed her eyes in satisfaction and let herself slowly savour the words.It made her feel so warm and comfortable inside. If the time would stopped now...as she fervently wished that everyday would be as peaceful as today.

"Momo" Hitsugaya called out.

The sudden change from calling her surname to her name itself made her feel closer to Hitsugaya, who always seems to far away from him. There was a slight but uneasy pause between the young couple.

Finally breaking the slience, Hitsugaya continued with confidence, "I am going to challenge Ryumaru one more time.This time, I am sure to win!"

Hinamori's eyes widen as she heard the expected words she feared the most. But, it was expected after all as she heaved a heavy sign as she sliently accepted the fact that Shirou was going to risk his life again.

"Shirou. Be careful, I'll be awaiting your return, safe and sound." said Hinamori softly as she let another sign escaped her mouth agian as she continued, " If you come back in the state same as today, you'll get it from me! You get that clear?"

Hitsugaya was obviously shocked at her sudden outburst. The,no 'his' usual Momo wouldn't get so angry easily, at least not as angry as today. Just by stating this piece of fact to himself, change the usual frowning face into a innocent-looking boy face, restraining with a lot of effort to stop himself from laughing.

Observing that Hitsugaya's face was facing in her opposite direction with his shoulders shaking almost too vigrously, his left hand was pressing against his stomach as his right hand struggle to keep his mouth shut.

Suddenly worried, Hinamori cried out,"Shirou! Are you ok?" Answer me, Shirou!"

As she used her right hand to try to turn him around to face her, Hitsugaya suddenly started laughing, to the extent that he is using his right hand to wipe away his tears.

Seeing that he is not in any danger, she mentally said to herself 'Thanks the kami-sama'. Then she asked Hitsugaya,"Why are you laughing? Hm..." As she put her hands on her hips and bent down lower, lessening the gap beween Hitsugaya and herself unconsiously.

Hitsugaya made a deep sounding voice which sound like 'hmpt' and lifted his face so suddenly that Hinamori got a deep shock that she almost fell backwards if not for Hitsugaya swift agility that saved her. Hitsugaya's right hand was under her waist as his left hand was on her holding her head.

"Did you just called me Shirou?" asked Hitsugaya, with malice in his voice.

Hinamori was blushing furiously that she was in no place to reply his question as he continued," Slience means yes."

Hinamori was being forced into a corner by Shirou and had no choice but to give him a slight nod as Hitsugaya helped her back as he returned to sit on the beds, with Hinamori in between his legs comfortably.

"Hey, Hinamori.Bent down a little."

Hinamori was quite curious about why did he ask her to bent down out of the blue, but did as she was told. Then in a speed as fast as lightning, Hitsugaya kissed her as if tomorrow was the end of the world, which in fact might be.

Hitsugaya deepened the kiss as he trust his tongue inside her mouth.Hinamori went out of breath but Hitsugaya realized that and broke the kiss.

"I hope that time would stop now." said Hinamori ruefully.

"I know" repiled Hitsugaya as he closed his eyes and heaved a sign.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"oh..I see...revenge, is it not?" said Ryuumaru,sitting in a chair in a poistion that allows him to slouch his shoulders and put both his legs oh the table in front of him.

Hitsugaya had sent him a challenge invitation, which is also quite expected from Ryuumaru's point of view. But, he did not expect it to be so soon. Whatever it is, here is it and Ryuumaru can't possibly reject it. Man's pride is concerned in here, he reminded himself.

He threw the piece of paper on the ground which read 'Meet me at the same place, don't forget to bring your soul-cutter. The time is today afternoon.'

Ryuumaru prepared himself by just bringing his soul-cutter along with him, on his shoulders.On the other hand, Hitsugaya, was already there.

The sun was in the sky, releasing a heat so hot that you could feel your skin burning even if you had only stand under the sun for about a minute. Two men stood there, staring at each other.

Author's Note: I am so sorry that I took so long for your update. I guess that the next chapter would be the last chapter...maybe...I do not know if you guys find this OK, so drop me a review, will you?Thankie