The Festival

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. If that were the case, Momo would be involved in the manga again already (darn you Kobo Tite, where is Momo?)

The full moon shone eerily over Heaven, spilling its silver light into the darkness, illuminating the smirk slowly formed on Hitsugaya's lips. Now was the perfect time. Hinamori had left an hour ago and by now, the festivities should be well underway. Judging from their departing steps, the guards were leaving also. Just a little bit longer…

The minute the soft thumping of their shoes was gone, Hitsugaya sprang up and quickly, but silently, crept away. Keeping to the shadows, he cautiously opened the bedroom door. Not a soul was in the hall. Not that it would be mattered much, as he was sure he could take on a guard or two without alerting anyone.

The darkness his cloak, the young vampire slipped away toward his freedom.

Hinamori smiled her fake smile while she struggled to keep from yawning as the old withered prune of a Minister of War droned on to her about battle tactics. This was for Council sessions not festivals! She was having a great time, talking with her sister Sakura while they visited the various stands that had been set up. Why oh why did she have to endure this? Sakura, who was standing next to her, just smiled sympathetically. She did not blame her sister Hinamori for being bored.

Hinamori's eyes suddenly fluttered open with alertness. The Minister, who had just finished his first stack of notes, looked at Hinamori curiously. "What concerns you, Hinamori hime-sama? Or have you finally seen the wisdom in my tactics? If that is the case, then allow me to-

"Please Minister, begging your pardon, but there is some business my sister and I will have to attend. I beg your excuse," Sakura softly said, smiling in a way that would make any man sink to his feet.

"A-ah," the Minister said, completely bedazzled by Heaven's most beautiful angel. Smiling, Sakura turned to her sister. "Let's go, Hinamori-chan," she gently said while pushing Hinamori to the exit gate of the palace grounds.

Hitsugaya breathed a lungful of fresh air. How wonderful it was to finally be free and without the constraints of walls! Though you will miss her blood and presence, that nagging voice in his head piped up at his moment of exultation.

Opting to ignore it, the vampire started moving out again. Just because he was out of the doors did not mean that he was home free. He would have to sneak through the palace grounds unnoticed and judging from the size of the palace, the grounds were bound to be huge. Not only that, but he might bump into some awry celebrators. Not that it would matter; they would pose no challenge whatsoever.

Determined to make his way back to Hell and ignoring his heart's protests toward his decision, Hitsugaya set off once more.

They were at the very edge of palace grounds now. Hinamori just stared at her older sister's face curiously. "Why are we here?" she inquired as five year-old would, staring at Sakura's face with large eyes.

Smiling softly, Sakura just said, "You'll see," before disentangling her hand from Hinamori's. In a reassuring manner, she gently said, "I have to go see something, so please don't move from here, 'kay?" With that, she disappeared.

Hinamori's eyes went wide with shock. Her sister, her beloved sister… was leaving her? Had she just been betrayed? Panicking, she screamed, "Sakura-ne-san!" and attempted to run after her, but suddenly vines shot out of the ground and held her in place.

Sakura smiled regretfully from behind a broad oak tree. "Gomen nasai, Hinamori-chan. But it's for your own good," she whispered before slipping away into the shadows of the night. He will be here soon.

Skin tingling at the prospect of freedom, Hitsugaya quickened his pace. He was using shunpo now and did not care that he was giving off reiastu. He was almost past the palace grounds. He could feel it. The reiastu in the air was getting less and less potent, to the point where it was almost non-existent. Just a little bit more….

Hinamori felt hopelessness envelope her. Her older sister, her wonderful, kind, loving older sister had just abandoned her. Just like she had abandoned her duties as first princess long ago when…

Too shocked, she slowly fell down onto the ground, her knees weak. The vines instantly loosened their hold on her and retreated back into the soil.

A single tear fell off her face. Then another. Then another. Soon, Hinamori was crying, shoulders shivering against the cold and loneliness as she let out her despair. Her sole blood relative… had just left her like everyone else.

Flashbacks

"Sakura-ne-san, when I grow up, I'm going to be just like you!"

"Hai, hai, but to do that, you must refrain from hitting anyone."

"D-demo, Akira was being mean to me!"

"Hinamori-chan, are you hurt?"

"I-it hurts so badly!"

"Here, this will make the pain go away."

"Oka-san! Otou-san!"

"Hinamori-chan, I'm right here."

Sakura-ne-san! Y-you aren't going to leave me to, are you?"

"Of course not, I'll never leave you."

"Promise?"

"It's a promise."

End Flashback

Blood pounding as he realized he was almost out of the palace grounds, Hitsugaya suddenly stopped stock still as he recognized the doubled over figure on the ground.

It was Hinamori.

Whenever he had seen her, she had always been neatly dressed and cheerful to the point of being naïve. Now, her eyes were downcast and filled with loneliness and despair. Whereas just this morning she had been upbeat and bright, now she resembled a tossed away doll. Despite his strong longing to escape, Hitsugaya could not help but feel a twinge of pity. Who had done this to her? For some reason, his stomach suddenly felt sick and he felt the urge to rip whomever had done this to Hinamori to bits.

Hinamori was unaware of his approaching reiastu until he was almost right in front of her. So even Hitsugaya was leaving her. First her sister, now him too? Then again, it was to be expected. Afterall, he was a vampire. Most likely heading back to Hell.

If there's no one left in Heaven…. Hinamori thought as she lifted here eyes to look at Hitsugaya's shocked eyes. Then maybe…

Hitsugaya could only stare at Hinamori's eyes. They were absolutely mesmerizing, like mirrors to her soul. Combine that with the slightly disheveled kimono that was revealing a bit too much of her legs and he could not move at all.

Dammit legs, move! Hitsugaya shouted at himself. So what if she looked helpless? But he knew full well the answer. It did matter to him, even though they were enemies, that there were tears in her eyes currently. Why? He had not idea whatsoever.

"Take me," Hinamori whispered softly, head hanging low. Hitsugaya's sharp ears barely caught the whisper, but he still heard it. Dumbstruck, he just stared into Hinamori's begging eyes. Bad idea, he soon realized when he found himself unable to tear his eyes away from hers. They were so desperate a lonely….

Unconsciously, after she had made eye contact with Hitsugaya, Hinamori felt her body rising as she walking toward him in a daze like trance. Slowly, she came closer and closer until she was only a foot away. It was at that moment that Hitsugaya realized their proximity.

"O-oi-!" he started, but it was cut off by Hinamori's plea.

"Take me to Hell with you!"

At that moment, a circle suddenly lit up around the two as a barrier trapped them inside. Too say Hitsugaya was shocked would be an understatement. Around the barrier, inscriptions in some language were rapidly forming and a warm light was rising from the ground. A musical voice in the background was singing something that sounded like gibberish, though Hitsugaya did catch the words "contract" and "forever."

The ground suddenly opened up and before he knew it, Hitsugaya was falling in, along with Momo, into the darkness.