Hey Everyone, I'm back!

I know it's been about three months since I last updated, but I've been pretty busy with school and family issues.

But on the plus side! I finally know how I want to end this fanfic! So it shouldn't take that much longer for the final two chapters to be out!

Anyway, without further delay, here's chapter 14!

~ H-Mira

Chapter 14: Seduction

After my conversation with Matsumoto, I spent the next few days trying to come up with ways to make you notice me. And I was drawing a blank. I didn't know the first thing about dating or flirting, so how the hell was I supposed to come up with the perfect way to seduce you? Not to mention that I had to do it in a subtle way so as not to scare you off, but still make it noticeable enough so that you actually notice me… God, why did this have to be so damn hard?!

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that maybe it was best for me to just stick around and wait for an opportunity. Some break in conversation or another that would allow me to…. Show off? I guess? I swear, this was the most stupid thing…. But, if it meant a chance with you, I had to bear through it.

And so I commenced my operation…

Flashback, Not so smooth

"So you're out here training again, huh?" I asked as I looked around the squad five training grounds at the damage your zanpaktou had caused. "You only just got out of squad four, you know. So you should try and take it a little easy."

"Says the one who was out training the day after he was discharged." I heard your voice say from behind me. "So you're really not one to talk, Hitsugaya-kun."

"Yeah, well, my injuries weren't as bad as yours, so-" I began as I turned around to face you, only to lose my train of thought as soon as I saw you. Rather than your hair being in its usual bun, it was now cut short into a bob. "Y-You cut your hair…"

"Y-Yeah, I did…" you shyly replied. "I thought it was time for a change, you know? Plus, I… didn't want to wear that hair cloth anymore."

So now that cursed haircloth was finally gone. And, with that, so was the last remnant of Aizen from you…

"Ah, I see…" I answered, trying hard not to show how happy I was that you had finally thrown that haircloth away. "Well, it, um… It looks good…"

"T-Thanks…" you stuttered in response. "At first, I wasn't so sure… I thought it might have been missing something… I don't know…"

That gave me an idea.

"Hmm, no, you're right." I said as I approached you. "It is missing a little something."

"O-Oh, really?" you asked, taken aback. "Like what?"

"Something like… This." I replied as I withdrew Hyorinmaru from his sheath and used his powers to conjure up a rose made of ice. I then placed the rose behind your left ear and added "There. Perfect".

A heavy silence then enveloped the air around us as you stared back at me.

"Um… Hitsugaya-kun…" you began as you looked shyly off to the side. "It's kind of… cold. And I think it's starting to melt…"

"O-Oh, yeah right. S-Sorry" I stuttered as I quickly removed the ice rose from your hair and internally facepalmed myself. I'm such an idiot I remember cursing to myself. What the hell was I thinking? Of course she wouldn't like that. Why the hell did I do that? Man, and they call me a genius...

"A-Anyway, I should really get going…" you mumbled before turning to leave the training grounds. "See you around, Hitsugaya-kun." you added just before you shunpoed away.

Okay, so that was a completely and utter failure.

At the time, I couldn't help but realize that my current methods were getting me nowhere. I needed something, anything, to just… help. I needed help. And an opportunity.

And in times of need, isn't it just great when subordinates come to your aid?

"Hinamori-fukutaichou! Are you still here?" I heard a voice call out from somewhere off to my left. Curious, I turned around to see one of your seated officers rush towards the training ground. "I-If so, I was wondering if you… wanted to go to the festival-"

The officer's words died in his throat as soon as he laid eyes on me.

"O-Oh, Hitsugaya-taichou… You're here." he resumed, half taken-aback and half scared. "I… Um… was just looking for Hinamori-fukutaichou…"

"Is that so?" I began as I started to glare at the seated officer. "And just what did you want to ask Hinamori?"

"N-Nothing, really…" he replied as he desperately tried to hide something behind his back. Having a feeling what it was, I quickly reached behind him and grabbed the flyer from his hands before he even had the time to blink.

"There's a festival going on this weekend in Jurinan, huh?" I said as a smirk made its way onto my lips. "Hinamori would definitely love this. Thanks for letting me know. I'll make sure to bring her."

"B-But I was going to…" I heard him mumble under his breath.

"Do you have something else to say, officer?" I asked with a menacing glare as I let out some of my spiritual pressure.

"N-Nothing! Nothing at all!" he stuttered under the heat of my glare.

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking my leave" I stated just before vanishing from the area.

Fortunately, I had a pretty good idea of where you had run off to. So it didn't take me long to track you down.

"Hinamori" I called out from directly behind you, nearly giving you a heart attack as you were making your way into the fifth division office.

"H-Hitsugaya-kun…" you began as you tried to regain your composure. "Don't scare me like that…"

"Oh… right. Sorry." I answered as I looked off to the side and ran my hand through my hair. "Anyway… There was something I wanted to ask you."

"Hmm? What is it?" you asked in response. "Was that why you were at the training ground earlier?"

"...Yeah. That's why." I lied, preferring not to tell you the real reason I was there. "A-Anyway, I was wondering…. Have you heard about the festival going on in Jurinan this Saturday?

"There's a festival!? Really!?" you excitedly asked. "Wow, I haven't gone to one of those in forever! And, as luck would have it, I have this Saturday off too!"

"Then it's settled. I'll drop by at around 6 and we can head off from there." I replied. Well, that was easy I thought to myself as I turned to leave.

But before I could, I heard your voice from behind me.

"W-Wait a second… Pick me up…" you mumbled as I looked back at you. "So then.. Will it just be the t-two us going?"

In that instant, I panicked.

Sure, I wanted it to be the two of us, but…. How would you take it if I said that?

So, instead I said…

"Y-Yeah…. and Oba-san, of course" I stammered as I tried to play it cool. "I know she'd love it too, so…"

"A-Ah, yeah. She would..." you replied, with what I almost swore was a hint of disappointment in your voice. "Alrighty then, see you Saturday."

And with that, I left.

The days leading up to Saturday both passed by excruciatingly slow and breathtakingly fast. On one hand, I was looking forward to being able to spend the time with you…. And Oba-san. I couldn't remember the last time we went to a festival like this… Plus I figured it'd be a nice way to relax after a tiring week of paperwork.

But, on the other hand, I had never been more nervous for something before in my life. True, Oba-san would be there, so it wouldn't be a real date or anything…. But… I knew this was my one and only chance. If I couldn't convince you at the festival, then I probably never would...

And that terrified me.

So much so, that even when Saturday came and I went to pick you up, I was so nervous that I couldn't bring myself to maintain a normal conversation with you. All I could do was nod in response as you lead our one-sided conversation, not trusting myself to not sound like a complete idiot.

Well, not saying anything at all was probably pretty stupid too. But you seemed happy enough to continue our one-sided conversation on your own, so I didn't see any harm in slowing letting my voice come back to me.

And it eventually did, once we met up with Oba-san and made our way to the festival. I guess having her around was enough to finally calm my nerves so I could relax a little and enjoy the night. In fact, it seemed like I wasn't the only one who felt that way. Even you seemed to relax a bit once we met up with Oba-san.

In any event, it didn't take long to get caught up in the atmosphere of the festival. Hell, we were there barely fifteen minutes and you were already excitedly dragging us from stall to stall…

"Wow, look at this one!" you called out as you pointed to a flashy stall up ahead. "I bet they have some really cool stuff there!"

"Hinamori, can you slow down a bit? I think Oba-san could use some rest" I said as I looked over to my winded grandmother. She wasn't use to so much exercise, so all the walking around was starting to take a toll on her.

"Oh, sorry!" you replied with an apologetic look. "Say, how about we go sit down over there? I can even go back to the drink stall and get you some water."

"That would be lovely, dear. Thank you" Oba-san replied as she gratefully sat down. And with that, you took off back towards the food stalls while I stayed to keep Oba-san company.

"Feeling any better, Oba-san?" I asked as I sat down beside her.

"Yes, this is much better. Thank you" she answered with a smile. "Now, tell me, Toshiro. Why did you bring an old lady like me on your date with Momo? Surely you'd both rather spend the time just the two of you."

"D-Date?" I stammered in response. "J-Just what are you talking about, Oba-san? Hinamori and I are just-"

"Toshiro, I'm old, not blind." she cut me off before I could finish. "It's obvious that this was meant to be a date between the two of you, so don't you even try to deny it. Now tell me, why did you bring me along?"

"... I panicked." I answered in all honesty. "She asked me if it was going to be just the two of us, so I panicked and said that you were coming as well. Pathetic, I know. Especially after I finally worked up the courage to ask her, but… well…"

"It's fine, dear. You don't need to explain." she replied with a sweet smile. "Say, want me to fake back pains when she comes back? So you'll both finally have an excuse to be alone? I use to be quite the actress in my day, I'll have you know. I doubt she'll even suspect a thing!"

"I appreciate the offer, but it's alright" I said with a small laugh. "I was a little nervous at first, but I think having you around has definitely been for the best. Believe it or not, I could barely even speak before we came to pick you up."

"Oh, I don't need to believe you, dear. I saw it for myself firsthand." she added with a laugh. "But, I guess it's to be expected. After all, it's not exactly an easy thing to do."

"Yeah, tell me about it" I replied. "I mean, it's not like I can just go up to Hinamori and tell her that I've been hopelessly in love with her for as long as I can remember. I think it'll require a bit more tack than that.

"Yes, I would say-" Oba-san began, only to stop mid-sentence with a look of shock on her face.

And I knew that there was only one thing that could cause her to make a face like that.

Quickly, I whipped my head around to catch a glimpse of your kimono as you ran back into the crowd. With a nod from my grandmother saying that she was alright, I ran as fast as I could after you.

I couldn't believe it. You heard me. After all these years, you finally heard me.

And it just had to be like this…

No, I had to catch you. I had to explain. Maybe, if I did, things would go back to the way they were before…. But that was probably wishful thinking.

I didn't know how much you had overheard, but clearly it had been enough. I just hoped it wasn't enough to ruin our friendship for good… Because I had already lost you once, I couldn't bear to lose you again.

"Hinamori, please!" I called out as I pushed my way through the crowd after you. "Hinamori!" However, I was doubtful that you would even hear me over the noise of the crowd.

As a continued to chase after you, I faintly noticed that we were nearing the end of the festival grounds. Knowing this would be my chance, I quickened my pace and the second I was out of the crowd, I used a flash step to catch your wrist.

"Hina...mori…" I gasped as I tried to catch my breath. "Listen, I-"

But then you looked back at me, with tears rolling down your cheeks…

So I let go of your wrist…

… and I knew I had lost you.