DISCLAIMER: I do not own BLEACH. If I did I would be doing a whole anime season on HitsugayaxHinamori!

Hinamori woke up in the hospital ward of the 4th division. The white washed walls made her feel sick. She rolled onto her side and pulled the thin, white cotton sheet over her shoulders and stared blankly at the doorway. It was open.

Slipping out of the bed, she winced as she put weight on her sprained ankle and was glad that it was bandaged tightly. She didn't want to leave the room in a mess, so she made the bed and walked out of the hospital room, not knowing where she was going.

It was a foggy night and mist shrouded Hinamori as she walked toward the lake where she had fell in on her first day at the Shinigami acadamy. When she got to the lake, she dipped her feet into the clear water and mused at some thoughts. Presently she slid all the way in and took a deep breath.

She dove under and opened her eyes to the wonder of the underwater world. She loved swimming...how, if, you stayed in the water an instant too long your life could be taken away. It fascinated her why she wasn't afraid of drowning while she was afraid of dying by sword.

Hinamori's eyes stung, and she surfaced for breath. Her thin, white hospital dress clung to her sides as she skimmed the water toward bank and pulled herself onto the green bank of the lake. She stood there for a while, looking at the moon's reflection on the water and then stood up to go to another place full of memories.

This time she came to the wall where Captain Aizen had faked his death. Her finger traced the curve that the fake blood had traveled down, and she bit down a cry of pain as a jagged piece of rock cut her finger. She quickly sucked on the finger and tasted the salty taste of blood.

Using her other hand, she pulled off the ribbon and cloth that held her hair into a bun. Her black locks cascaded down. Hinamori was a bit surprised. She had never noticed it had grown this long. Her olive green eyes searched the sky for an answer for why she felt so betrayed, battered, and broken. (HA! 3 b's!)

"Hinamori..."

Hinamori wheeled around to see Hitsugaya with a hand on his Soul Slayer's hilt. "Hitsugaya!" she exclaimed, quickly hiding her finger behind her back.

The white haired captain looked skeptical and asked, "Why are you wet?"

"Huh?" Hinamori asked and then her eyes widened. "I went swimming," she said reluctantly.

"And where did you go swimming?" Hitsugaya asked, desperately trying to keep his voice from rising.

"In...in..." Hinamori hesitated and then finished, "In the lake."

This time Hitsugaya exploded. "Baka! Why in the lake? Why not in the swimming pool?"

HInamori faltered in her answer under the aquamarine eyes. "It was because I fell in the lake the first day I came here."

Hitsugaya's eyes softened as Hinamori sneezed. "You should go back to the hospital ward."

"No!" Hinamori winced as she heard her voice come out cold and sharp. Hitsugaya looked surprised.

"Why not?"

"They're caging me," Hinamori said. She tugged at her hair. "I feel caged. Nobody's letting me have freedom. It's like you're keeping me in check in case I'll betray you."

Hitsugaya had to stop himself from flinching as Hinamori hit right on the spot of what they were doing.

"I can't be kept inside," Hinamori said determidly and sneezed again.

"We really should get back," Hitsugaya quickly, said whirling around and speeding away. Hinamori limped behind him. Her ankle was really killing her.

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Sunsun128: YATTA! (Yay!) Another chapter. Wheeeeee!!! -does the macarena-

Hitsugaya: Crazy woman!

Hinamori: Shiro-chan! -pinches his cheek-

Hitsugaya: That's Hitsugaya-taicho!!! -blush-