RUKIA'S POV

Hitsugaya stared at me as if I'd grown another head. I frowned at him wondering what the hell was the problem.

"Nani?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you start being so informal?"

I flushed, realising my mistake. I must have been dwelling on Renji too long. I quickly got down, bowing my head in apology.

"Gommenesai Hitsugaya Taichou." I murmured. "I didn't mean -"

Hitsugaya sighed. "Please get up, you frankly look quite ridiculous."

I brushed my hair out of my face, feeling my face turn a darker shade of red. Being a member of the Kuchiki clan, must be rubbing off me. I felt stupid standing in front of him.

"Anyway." Hitsugaya muttered, but loud enough for me to hear. "I prefer it if you're informal."

My eyes widened. Did he just say what he thought he said? "What did you say?" I asked.

Hitsugaya waved a hand aside. "Nothing nothing." Hitsugaya said irritably. ""Jeez Kuchiki do you need an explanation for everything?"

He was annoyed, I could tell so I stayed silent. He seemed to get more irritated at my silence.

"Well?" Hitsugaya asked impatiently as I stayed silent.

"Umm well what Hitsugaya Taichou?" I asked nervously.

He looked like he was ready to explode but he somehow managed to contain it. ".Going?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes! Um yes! Of course! Yes so er...." I was interrupted from my incense blabbering when he suddenly grabbed my hand. I stared at him, wondering what the hell he was doing and why I was feeling so nervous about it. I love Renji...don't I?

"Lets go then." Hitsugaya sighed.

Without further ado, we shunpoed towards the festival, not eager to miss out on the delights and treats in store.

My eyes widened at the spectacle. For the first time since Renji's death, I felt a true smile paint on my lips. From the corner of my eye, I could tell that Hitsugaya Taichou was struggling not to laugh at my face. It was wonderful, taking in all the smells, sights, tastes. The music playing in the background was joyous and I wanted to go on every ride there was.

I turned to him, giggling like a little girl. I wanted to share my enjoyment with him.

"Hitsugaya Taichou, lets go on the Ferris Wheel!" I grinned.

To my surprise and annoyance, he shook his head. "I'm not going, I don't feel like it."

I stared at him, the bright smile fading from my lips. Why was he being so difficult? Sure, Renji would have complained but he would have complied. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I had to stop comparing Renji to Hitsugaya Taichou. This was getting ridiculous.

My lips tightened. "Fine. I'll go by myself then."

A/N: For the sake of the story, lets pretend there's no height limits for the Ferris Wheel LOL!

I glared at him before walking off. I could feel his burning gaze on my back. I didn't care anymore about the past, I just wanted to have fun. Why did I have to be paired up with Him of all people? He was always so serious, he needed to lighten up a bit. Not for the first time, I wished that Inoue or Rangiku was here. They would know what to as the Ferris Wheel came into sight, I smiled proudly. It was truly a magnificent sight. I loved going on the Ferris Wheel ever since I went on it once in the human world with Ichigo, Chad, Inoue, Tatsuki and Ishida. I could still remember the exhilaration I had felt, I loved being so high at the long queue, I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for the queue to shorten. Finally, there was only a few people in front of me. I grinned excitedly at the thrill I would get. I love fast rides. Looking back at the crowd, I wished that Hitsugaya Taichou would have just come with me. I felt like an idiot coming by myself.

"Kuchiki!"

I squinted at the crowd, concentrating hard. Did I just hear my name being called? And did I just see a white haired guy running towards the Ferris Wheel?

"Hey where did you come from?"

I turned around in surprise, to see Hitsugaya Taichou glaring at me, holding his sides and panting out of breath. Looking at him, I felt relief rush through me. At least I wouldn't be alone.

"I'm with her." He pointed at me, once he got his breath back.

Members of the crowd looked at me and him in disbelief. They let him through to join me but I could hear the mutterings and whispers get louder.

"That guy is so rude!"

"How old are they? I'm guessing they're 12 judging from the size of the girl's breasts..."

Twitch.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY?" I yelled at the crowd in anger. How dare he be so rude about me!

Many members of the crowd backed away in fright. However, the young woman who said that seems unperturbed. I looked at her with dislike, she was your typical Whore. Blond hair, massive tits, her face plastered with too much makeup...you get the point. She stepped forward with a smirk on her face.

"Come on honey, admit it. You'll never compete with me." She giggled, a high pitched irritating giggle. "Your boyfriend's pretty hot though, you do have taste."

I glared at her in annoyance, feeling my cheeks redden. Why the hell does everyone put me with the cold Hitsugaya Taichou? I fumed silently.

"I'm not -"

"Next please!"

The man at the gate, motioned Hitsugaya and I through but thankfully not the idiotic bimbo who had spoken so rudely. It was true though. I was ugly and disgusting. As I sat beside Hitsugaya, I smiled. This was it, let this be the best god damn ride of your life Kuchiki Rukia.

"Don't let her get to you." Hitsugaya whispered.

I turned to him in confusion but at that moment, the ride started.

"YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed.

30 minutes later, Hitsugaya Taichou and I were back in the open. I giggled to myself. On my insistence, we had gone on the ride three times.

"How was fun was that?" I laughed then added quickly. "Hitsugaya Taichou."

He looked amused at my laughter. "Better than I thought it would be."

"A compliment at last?" I teased him.

I couldn't believe what I was doing. I was joking with Hitsugaya Toshiro. We had only been mere acquaintances for years yet I was actually having a conversation with him. Smiling to myself, I saw the candy floss stall. I was about to walk over to it when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of red hair. I froze, thinking I was mistaken when I saw a man walking in the opposite direction with a red ponytail and tattoos.

"Renji." I whispered. My heartbeat was going crazy. It was him, it was really Abarai Renji alive again. I could hear Sode no Shirayuki calling out to me.

"Rukia, it's not him. Renji's dead..."

I blocked her voice out of my mind. The only thing that mattered now was Renji.

Hitsugaya Taichou saw the changed expression on my face. "Kuchiki?" He asked, worried.

Renji. Please forgive me.

Like a mad person, I ran crazily. I needed to see him, my heart ached for him. He was the one that haunted my nightmares for weeks...then suddenly there he was right in front of me. Suddenly, he turned around confused. My heart sank. It wasn't Renji, of course it wouldn't be. Renji's dead, why on earth would he be in Karakura Town?

My eyes stung with tears. Oh you are such a fool Kuchiki Rukia!

I felt someone pull my hand. Looking up, I saw Hitsugaya Taichou, his expression so dark and angry. For the first time, I felt afraid of him. He looked ready to scream at me, ready to hit me. Ready to kill me.

"Come on, we're leaving." He said abruptly, but I could hear the trace of anger in his voice.

I let him lead me out of the festival, not daring to voice my opinion. The moment we were quite a far distance away from the festival, he let go of my hand and turned to me with some ferocity in his eyes.

"What were you thinking?" He said dangerously.

"What...."

"You know Abarai is dead Kuchiki, yet you still run." His cold voice terrified me.

I was lost for words, I hated the fact that he had spoken so bluntly to me. It was all a blur. He somehow managed to control his reiatsu but for once, I was speechless. The fact that I kept silent, seemed to anger him further. He clenched his fists so hard that he drew blood.

The silence was dark and heavy, I could feel my eyes watering but I pushed the tears away.

"ABARAI RENJI WAS KILLED BY AIZEN! FACE IT KUCHIKI RUKIA! MOVE ON!"

I flinched. He was actually yelling at me. Why? From my fear, I felt new courage and anger bubbling. How dare he tell me to forget Renji? Let go? Impossible.

I turned to Hitsugaya with a defiant look in my eyes. "I don't care what you think. I love him and I will never stop loving him. What about Hinamori? Do you care for her at all HITSUGAYA TOSHIRO?"

This time I was the one that was yelling and he looked shocked that I had even brought up the subject of Hinamori. I knew that I was pushing the boundaries but I had already gone to far to back out now. I hated the fact that he was trying to forget about everything Hinamori and Renji had done for us.

"Don't you dare speak to me like that!" He snapped at me.

I grabbed his collar so he was lifted up into the air.

"I can say whatever the hell I like! Now you listen to me!" I hissed. "Renji and Hinamori died for us! I love Renji and I'm not afraid to say it. What about you, will you forget everything that happened with you and Hinamori? She saved your life Hitsugaya!"

I let go of his collar, panting hard. It was the first time I hadn't addressed him by his proper title. I could feel the tears streaming down my face and I made no effort to stop them. I couldn't bear him, his overshadowing presence, telling me what's right or wrong.

"I wish Renji was alive instead of you." I whispered bitterly.

He looked shocked at my words but I quickly shunpoed off to the hotel. I made no effort to change my clothing. I collapsed on the bed exhausted, sobbing into my pillow. I felt as if I was going mad. I didn't know what to do.

"Renji." I whispered, crying. "Oh Renji."

Still sobbing my heart out, I finally managed to drift off to sleep.

HITSUGAYA'S POV

I stayed staring at the moon, after Kuchiki had left. I hadn't meant to lose it on her. The moment I saw her hopelessly run after "Renji" I had lost it. Yet her words still echoed in my head.

What about Hinamori? Do you care for her at all HITSUGAYA TOSHIRO?

It was true, I had immersed myself in paperwork and acted normal but no matter how hard I had tried to fight it, I had to face the truth. I couldn't forget about Hinamori, still cared for her. I still loved her.

"Momo." I whispered.

This time the tears did fall.

WOAHHH THAT TOOK ME AGESSSSSSSSSSSSS! :O

I just have a free period todayyyy.

How was that? I tried to make it as long as possibleee. I've been working on a page every day hehe.

PLEASE REVIEWWWWWWW! Otherwise I'll stop writing =P

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