Several hours later, her high spirits had withered. She couldn't find him anywhere. Not in his office, not in his apartment, nor under his favorite tree. Sniffling in disappointment, she trudged back to the complex that housed fifth division. On the way, she passed tenth division's barracks. She stared sadly at Hitsugaya's closed window, as if waiting for him to magically appear before her eyes.
Sighing in defeat, head hung, she rounded a corner and went down a level. Matsumoto's window was open- she was home. She was sure to know where Shirou-chan was. At the very least, hopefully, she wouldn't mind some company. Hinamori sure could use some.
Wiping her eyes with her sleeves, she stepped close to the door and was just about to knock when she heard voices. Her heart dropped; Matsumoto had company. Male company. That wasn't surprising- this was Matsumoto, afterall.
The woman was renowned across Seireitei for her savage, skillful lovemaking. Many men had graced her bed- her liaisons were no secret. Everyone from Ichimaru to Byakuya had dallied there. Of all who could have been in there, Hinamori never expected to hear HIS voice.
Hinamori's face flushed red, thinking of the activities within. Tears welled in her brown eyes, and the hand raised to knock clenched in her yukata, right over her heart. In her distress, her reiatsu spiked, but she suppressed it.
She could feel their familiar reiatsus, hear their voices, but she had to see if it was true with her own eyes. She needed visible proof before she would believe it. Wiping futilely at her tears, she crept to the window, heart thudding. Body pressed against the siding, she peeked in, lower lip quivering.
Matsumoto lay sprawled on her back on the bed, glorious body naked. Her long hair fanned out like a copper and gold halo. Her mountain-sized breasts rose and fell with her relaxed breathing. Hitsugaya lay with his shorter body atop hers, head pillowed on her bulging breasts. His small fingers twined in her strawberry blonde locks, and she lazily ran a hand through his thick, soft spikes.
"I love you, Shirou-chan." Matsumoto purred like a cat full of cream.
Hinamori's heart twisted- that should have been HER saying that. Those large, mesmerizing turquoise eyes should be sparkling up at her. She covered her mouth with one hand, tears falling faster.
Hitsugaya straddled Matsumoto's hips, keeping a thin sheet around his slender, supple body. He kissed her softly. "I love you, too."
Hinamori's reiatsu spiked higher this time, and she did nothing to stop it. She gasped, sobbing, as daggers tore through her heart.
Aqua and blue eyes flew to the window. Hinamori squeaked and ducked. "Hinamori." Hitsugaya said softly, staring wide eyed at the open window. He was shocked and surprised, looking like he'd just seen a ghost.
"I never told her about us- I didn't think she felt like that about you. If I had known, I would've said something. But you were both in so much pain…"
Hitsugaya frowned. "Neither did I. I do love her, but like a sister. She's the only family I have."
Matsumoto cupped his soft cheeks, stroking her thumbs over the delicate skin. "She's still hurting."
Hitsugaya closed his large teal eyes and sighed. "I'll go to her." His long, dark lashes fluttered open and he kissed Matsumoto's cheek sweetly. "I'll be alright. I promise."
Matsumoto hesitated-Hitsugaya wasn't as well as he pretended, and she didn't want him in a potentially painful situation. After a moment, she held him close in her strong arms, letting him collect himself.
Hinamori ran, blinded by tears, both hands clutched to her chest. How could he do this to her? When had he taken up with Matsumoto? Surely, he had to know how loose Matsumoto was. There were no strings attached in her affairs.
Why would he choose Matsumoto over her? Grasping the front of her yukata, Hinamori laughed dryly through her tears. She didn't have huge, bouncing breasts, copper and gold hair, or wicked curves. Hinamori knew she was pretty in a cute, innocent bunny sort of way. She was rather plain. Cute, but plain, with brown hair and brown eyes.
She was nothing compared to the vibrant flame that was the tenth division fukutaichou. Matsumoto oozed sexiness. She was beyond pretty- she was gorgeous, in the full grown, Play Boy Bunny sort of way. Every man's wet dream come true. Of course, Hitsugaya couldn't resist a creature like that. And Matsumoto never tried to impale him on her sword.
That thought was a knife of grief in her heart. Hinamori wailed, choking on a sob. Not paying attention to where she was going, she stumbled then fell to her knees, thin body shaking with her cries, tears plopping like rain onto the cement.
"Hinamori." She jerked at that soft voice.