Away From You

Summary: Her body was shaking, her forehead was scalding hot, and her skin was a sick color. She was slumped against the bar unconscious. It was his worst nightmare. HitsugayaXMatsumoto

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.

VI. Whiskey Lullaby

How many years had it been since she had last seen her bright smile? Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro looked out into the night sky. Five years ago he would be searching all of the bars in Seireitei to find his busty vice-captain. At the moment he should be sleeping. All of the paper work had been finished, both his and his new vice-captain's. His aquamarine eyes searched endlessly through the dark for something to get her off his mind. Finally they settled on the sake bottle at the corner of his desk.

He chuckled to himself and restrained his arm from reaching it. "I need to get some fresh air."

Hitsugaya wandered the narrow streets before he came across the 8th division's vice-captain. "Ise-fukutaichō," He addressed formally. The reserved woman bowed to her superior. "Are you looking for Kyoraku-taichō?"

Ise Nanao shook her head. "No, not today. He's doing his paper work at the moment. I just went to get him some sake. Are you looking for Matsumoto-taichō?"

The white-haired captain's face started to heat up. "No." He responded firmly. "Just to… get a drink." Nanao was slightly stunned to hear the captain would be getting a drink. Maybe it came with the new growth spurt? He was already taller than her, but shorter than her own captain. "Excuse me." He said, dismissing himself and disappeared into the night.

Finally the 10th division captain stumbled into the bar where he always found his former vice-captain. The bartender, Bunta, recognized the stoic captain immediately; he was the one that always paid for his vice-captain's drinks and dragged her back to their division. "Looks like Ochibi grew!" The old bartender shouted. Hitsugaya frowned as he walked toward the older man. "So what can I get ya?"

Right as Hitsugaya began to reply, he heard a moan come from the person next to him asking for another drink. "Sorry, Ran-chan. I gotta cut ya off some time." Answered Bunta.

The stoic captain's eyes widened as he took a closer look and saw the person he cared most about. "Matsumoto?" He asked softly. He knelt down next to her and carefully examined her condition. Her body was shaking, her forehead was scalding hot, and her skin was a sick color. When she looked like she was about to speak to him, her body collapsed and she was slumped against the bar unconscious. This was his worst nightmare.

"Matsumoto!" He shouted, trying to wake her up. Hitsugaya turned to look at the bartender. "How many? How many times has she been here?!"

Bunta had never seen the captain so distressed. "E-every day… for the past year or so. And it's not just her usual sake, she started to take the hard stuff."

The captain pulled out a small sack of gold from his uniform and tossed it onto the bar. "Don't everlet her in for the rest of the year." The bartender's eyes widened slightly at the amount of money the captain had paid him and slowly nodded. Hitsugaya picked up the unconscious woman off her stool and into his arms and transported them to the 4th division.

A few moments later, Unohana Retsu appeared before the anxious 10th division captain. "She'll be fine. She'll have to stay here for a week or so. Her body was already in bad condition from her constant drinking she suffered from alcohol poisoning. Good thing you acted so quickly, Hitsugaya-taichō. If not, she might've died."

"C-can I go see her?" He asked nervously.

Unohana smiled softly and nodded. "She's not awake, but I'm sure she would love that." She led him to Matsumoto's room. "Don't you think she deserves to know your feelings?" She asked when she stopped him from entering.

Hitsugaya looked away. "There are no feelings." He replied.

"Do you really think that?" the older woman asked before disappearing.

He sighed, stepping into the cold room. "Matsumoto," He whispered her name softly. He sat himself on the stool next to her and began to stroke her soft strawberry blonde hair. Her fever was nearly gone and her skin was turning into a healthy pink. "Are you stupid?" He clenched his fists. "Seeing you like this… is my worst nightmare."

There was a still silence filled with only the beeps from the machine.

This is my last chapter for probably a while. Other stuff is coming up at school so that is definitely gonna stop me from updating. But six chapters to fill in the time and a new drabble one shot coming up later. Be happy! See ya next time!

- Byousoku Isshun

Inspired by: Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley