Hi hi minna! I'm back! Phew… It's been a nice journey but we've almost reached the end. 2-3 more chapters and Frozen Memories will end. Sad, isn't it? But don't worry; I'm planning a sequel, so sit tight. I had some trouble figuring out what to write, but I think I know what I'm doing. Oh yes, for my new betas besides feathersnow and Kero, I've so far got two responses, and well, since I had no idea whom to chose, I'm picking both! Normally, I'd want at most three betas, but this time I'll make and exception. Congrats! Now enough of the small talk and let's carry on to the story. I hope you like this chapter as much as the last. Enjoy!

Special thanks to Oxygen Pirate, Alliana Lyrena, Primeval Eidolon Scar, Sesshoumaru Minion, Crazy Hyper Lady, Ana Regina, stealth67, 0Shay0, BankotsuAngel, Cerulean Soul, yuki-tenshee, feathersnow and Yukiko Tsukishirou for reviewing my last chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Hitsu-chan and the others. However I don't own the storyline and OCs, so ask permission first if you want to use them (If you even want to use them).

Frozen Memories

Arc 3: Crumbling Ice

Chapter 9: Fade into the Past

The bright flash of light that invaded his half muddled sight was painful. Blinking a few times, Hitsugaya finally managed to get his vision to clear and looked around his surroundings. It came as no surprise to him that he was in the fourth division compound, his wounds already cleaned and bandaged, not to mention the fresh white robe he was wearing.

What was surprising was the sight of Renhana lying on his bedside, head in hands and fast asleep. Even with his groggy vision it was easy to see that she hadn't slept in quite a while. The dark circles around her eyes were proof of that.

"You're awake," Hitsugaya turned to see Matsumoto enter the room. "You've been unconscious for a week."

"A week?" Hitsugaya said tentatively. It seemed like some time had already been wasted.

"Yes. She's never left your side for more than ten minutes, you know."

Hitsugaya didn't respond to Matsumoto's statement. Instead he looked at the woman lying on his bedside.

"You should do something about this family feud thingy," Matsumoto continued, "It may help somewhat. That way you wouldn't have a hopeful mother following you around twenty-four-seven."

Hitsugaya didn't ask how she knew. Matsumoto seemed capable of keeping this to herself. Not as if this was any secret anyway.

But know wasn't time to ponder on such things.

Renhana was waking up.

She stirred a little and woke with a start, head jerking up almost immediately and eyes coming into contact with his; ocean blue met hazel as they stared at each other, faces mere inches away from each other, neither daring to say anything to the other.

Hitsugaya was saved from further embarrassment at the compromising position when Unohana-taichou entered with her vice captain trailing behind her.

"Ah, Hitsugaya-taichou, it seems that you have finally woken up," Unohana-taichou commented, a serene smile evident on her face. Renhana immediately stood up, bowed at Unohana-taichou and flew out of the room.

Unohana-taichou did a few check ups on Hitsugaya's condition, muttering about how it was a miracle that he was alive after receiving such fatal wounds. But he paid little attention to what she was saying; instead staring out of the window, pondering on the advice that Matsumoto had just given him.

'You should do something about this family feud thingy. It may help somewhat.'

Matsumoto was right. It would help, especially since his time left here was limited. Not to mention he had spent a week bed-ridden and unconscious. It was about time to settle things with her.

"Hitsugaya-taichou, are you listening to what I'm saying?" Unohana-taichou asked.

Hitsugaya snapped back to reality when he heard Unohana-taichou's voice, immediately answering her question.

"My deepest apologies, Unohana-taichou," Hitsugaya said apologetically. "I confess that my mind wandered for a while there."

"That's all right. Your injuries are healing perfectly; you are able to leave the hospital in about two days. I merely wish to advice you not to overwork yourself for the time being."

Hitsugaya nodded his head. Unohana-taichou merely smiled at his approval and left the room to attend to other patients. Matsumoto soon left after being reassured that he wasn't going to die any moment just yet.

Looking out of his window, he could see the sky clearly. Captains had the privilege to keep their privacy and were normally situated in the highest floor of the fourth division hospital, away from all the hustle and bustle in the below levels, thus making this floor the closest to the sky.

Hitsugaya stared at the blue sky, looking at the clouds pass by. One hundred yeas had passed since he first came to Soul Society, and he had been a tiny boy of eight then. He had been short for his age and still was, not even hitting puberty yet. Smiling wryly, he remembered the good old days- when he and Hinamori first met, when time had passed by slowly and days where spent with his feet dipped in the stream and counting the days when his patch of watermelon would ripen and be ready to harvest. He had come far from being a normal little brat in the first district of Rukongai to the captain of the tenth division of the Gotei 13. Time had lost even more meaning then.

But now, he knew his days were numbered, and time had started to move again in a brisk fast pace he wasn't used to.

Renhana peeked past the wall, looking at Hitsugaya through the corner of her eye. It had been three days since he had been dismissed from the fourth division relief center, yet he was already up and working like he always did. It was as if the incident of the past months had not happened and nothing had changed.

As he rounded another corner, Renhana immediately followed behind, careful not to let the one she was trailing notice her. But she was sure he had noticed her many times before. He was just choosing to ignore her.

Peeking again, she noticed that he was using a different route this time. Following quickly behind, she was surprised to see him leave through the west Rukongai gate. Taking no notice, she followed him out.

He more likely had an errand to do out in Rukongai.

As they traveled further, Hitsugaya took a turn to his left and headed towards the forest. Renhana followed him vigilantly. She wasn't going to lose him.

Suddenly, he stopped in an empty clearing with only a stream that passed through it.

"Come out, Renhana. I know you are there."

Renhana was shocked to say the least. This was the first time since they had met in the first meeting room that he had wanted to speak to her willingly. Peeking from behind the tree, she saw that he was looking in her direction. It seems that he had known that she was there all along.

With a sigh, she appeared out from behind the tree line. Walking over to where Hitsugaya was, she wondered silently why he wanted to talk to her. It must be important if he hadn't wanted anyone to hear.

"We need to sort out a few things," he began, staring at her in the eye. She met that stare with her own.

"You need to stop all this nonsense. It's unbecoming of a vice-captain."

His words hit her like a hard slap to her face. She was unable to think of what to say, instead gaping at him like a huge idiot.

"W-what are you talking about?" she managed to stammer out after her initial shock. "I'm your mother for crying out loud! Why would my actions be…?"

"Does stalking and spying count as motherly gestures," Hitsugaya stated, cutting off her protest.

"Well, giving you the sweets was," she muttered below her breath, protesting weakly.

"I didn't ask you to give me those things; you gave them to me yourself. I didn't ask you secretly slip into my room just to give me little sweets."

That was enough to clam her up effectively.

"You were my mother in my living life, I'll admit that," Hitsugaya continued, ignoring the spark of hope that ignited in Renhana's eyes at the hope of still being accepted as her mother. "However, that was then. After I'm reincarnated, that role will fall to someone else. It's too late now to rekindle such feelings. Let all of this fade into the past."

The light in her eyes disappeared. Hitsugaya had just slapped it into her face that he was never going to accept her as her mother. Even with the explanation, she couldn't help but feel like her heart had broken into two, and she couldn't help but let the tears flow.

Turning around, she asked, "Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?" She wasn't going to let him see her tears.

Hitsugaya just nodded to the affirmative.

"Oh," was all she said, and she began to walk away.

She needed to go somewhere to fix her broken heart together.

Hitsugaya watched as she left the clearing. He knew he had broken her heart in the worst way possible, but that was that. There was no turning back now.

Looking around the clearing, he sighed.

This would more likely be the last time he saw this place.

But this was no time to reminisce on the events that will happen. Right now he had other things to do.

Turning around in the opposite direction, he made his way back to Soul Society.

Well, that's that. In truth, the clearing I spoke of is very like the clearing that was mentioned in Jedi Boadicea's 'Frozen Sky', where Hitsugaya finally achieved Bankai. I apologize to Jedi Boadicea if this offends you in anyway. The idea just came to me, and when I looked through the story, I realized that it bore similarities to the clearing mentioned in 'Frozen Sky'. Again, I'm so sorry; anyway, banzai on the fact that Frozen Memories has reached a hundred over reviews. Yay! So what do you think of the chappy? Review and tell me please. Next chapter will be the last. Until then, I bid you farewell!