Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bleach characters mentioned in this series. All characters belong to the original author Tite Kubo.

However: I do own Haruka Kaenbyo and Umeko Fujiwara.

Warning: Spoilers may be present.

Hitsugaya awoke to a headache that was worse than the one he had fallen asleep with. Just opening his eyes to the blinding light that filled his bedroom made his head throb. He laid there for the longest time before he noticed the chill to the room. He sighed. He'd done it again. His room was covered in a half inch thick frost and it was his entire fault. His entire squad had to know he was upset because it was rare for him to be able to freeze over the entire room in a single sleep; and he'd done it twice in one day.

Hitsugaya sat up even though the pain that radiated throughout his body made him want to lie down again. His eyes were still shut tight against the bright light that made his headache worse. He could feel himself shaking but he did nothing to stop it. It wasn't like anyone could see him locked in his bedroom. He opened his eyes slowly, allowing them the time to adjust. His head was killing him and his entire body was sore even though he had done nothing but lie in bed for hours. He glanced at the clock and attempted to read the time. It took him a few minutes to figure out the numbers for his vision blurred with every throb of his headache. He'd only been asleep for little over an hour which meant that the day was still young and he'd probably be needed for something soon.

He stood up, the sudden rush blinding him and making him kneel over in dizziness. He felt the need to puke but choked it back. Hitsugaya had had many headaches in his time but never had any been this bad. The slightest sound was like crashing thunder. The smallest change in the lighting was like being blinded. He had to get to Unohana quickly but since just walking made him dizzy he did not dare try to use shunpo to get there. He had to use the wall to steady himself. He hadn't even made it out of the barracks when his legs gave in. He willed himself to get up before anyone saw him there. Hitsugaya pushed open the door to his barrack and headed outside. The light blinded him for a couple of minutes, intensifying the throbbing in the back of his head. He could feel his breathing get heavy but he did not stop. He continued to walk towards the medical department.

Eventually he gave into the pain and collapsed.

Haruka was walking around Seireitei for no particular reason. Gin had to accompany Kira in some important trip to Rukongai and wouldn't be back until dinner. She was okay with it because she had already awoken from her nap by the river before Kira had arrived.

Haruka walked down a street and realized she was hungry. Gin was going to treat her to dinner that night but it would be hours until that happened. She sighed and down another street towards the dessert shop that she loved. The area was pretty abandoned considering it was lunch time, but Haruka didn't mind. She turned the corner and stopped dead in her tracks, amazed at what she saw. Lying unconscious on the ground was the captain of squad 10.

She instantly ran to him to check what was wrong. She kneeled on the ground next to him. She gently grabbed his shoulder and rolled him over onto her lap. Without even having to check she could tell he had a fever. He was still and his breathing was shallow.

Haruka began to worry. How long had he been here? Did no one notice him lying here?

She laid him on the ground and stood up. She then proceeded to hoist him onto her back and ran towards the medical department as fast as she could.

"Captain Unohana," Haruka nearly yelled as she barged into the hospital.

Lucky for her, Unohana had been in the lobby. "Yes, Captain Haruka?" Unohana asked as she looked up to see Haruka standing in front of her with an unconscious Hitsugaya on her back. "What happened to him? Is he alright?"

"I don't know," Haruka stated. "I found him unconscious on the street and I have no idea how long he had been there. But he does have a high fever. Captain Unohana, help him. Please."

Unohana nodded and took the boy from Haruka. Unohana walked down a hallway and laid him on a bed in an empty room. Haruka followed Unohana and sat in a chair in the room. Haruka watched in silence as Unohana examined him.

Haruka didn't know why she stayed. It wasn't like she was obligated to. She had fulfilled her obligations by simply bringing him to the hospital. But she couldn't leave his side. Even after Unohana had told her that he would be alright, but needed rest, she stayed. She sat by his side in silence as the hours ticked by. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there until Gin walked into the room.

"I was looking for you all over," Gin stated. He was holding a plastic bag in his hand. "I ran into Unohana near the ramen shop. She told me that you found Captain Hitsugaya unconscious on the street and refused to leave his side. I brought you dinner; I thought you might be hungry. Spicy miso ramen."

Haruka took the bowl and chop sticks he handed her and took off the lid. "Thanks," Haruka stated as she began to eat. "I don't know why I stayed here so long. I guess I just lost track of the time. I'm sorry. I was just worried about him. I've never seen him so weak."

"It's not like him to collapse in the street," Gin said. Haruka noticed that Gin wasn't smiling. "He must have been in really bad shape."

"Unohana said that he'd be fine," Haruka replied, still eating. "I hope he will be."

"As do we all," Gin replied. "We don't want to lose a captain now do we?"

Haruka smiled, the type of smile that you made when there was nothing else to do. "Of course not," Haruka replied.

Gin had asked her if she wanted him to walk her home but she refused, stating that she'd rather stay there. She didn't understand what compelled her to stay by his side but she did. She sat in the small room for the longest time. At one point she got up and walked to Hitsguya's bedside. She sat down on the edge of his bed and continued to sit in silence, thinking about nothing and everything at the same time. She rested her hand on his cheek and watched as he slept peacefully. She had never seen him so peaceful before. She laid down next to him and continued to watch him sleep. Eventually she drifted off too.

Hitsugaya awoke to an unfamiliar room. It was dark, probably night time. He vaguely remembered collapsing in the street. He looked around to see he was in a hospital room. Someone must have found him. His headache had subsided. It was still there but it wasn't bothering him as much. He sat up and reached for a cup of water that was sitting on a table next to his bed. That was when he noticed her.

Haruka was lying on the side of his bed, fast asleep. He had to blink a few times to make sure his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. When he had determined that she was actually there he began to wonder why.

Why is she here? And how long has she been here? And how long have I been asleep?

She stirred slightly but remained asleep. Hitsugaya lay back down and stared at the ceiling. He was honestly confused as to why she was in his room. He was even more confused as to why she was lying on his bed. He had believed that she hated him. He grabbed the extra blanket that was lying at the bottom of his bed and pulled it over her. He watched body moved with each breath she took. He sighed quietly, knowing perfectly well that even though she was here, she wasn't his. He gently pushed her bangs out of her face and continued to watch her as she slept. He didn't know when it was but eventually he drifted back to sleep.

The next time Hitsugaya woke up Unohana was standing next to him.

"Oh, you're awake," Unohana stated as she switched the IV. "It's pretty early, you can go back to sleep if you want."

Hitsugaya didn't reply to what she was saying but instead looked at the side of his bed. Haruka was still lying there asleep. "Why is Haruka here?" Hitsugaya questioned.

Unohana laughed. "She found you unconscious on the street. She's refused to leave your side since."

"How long have I been asleep?" Hitsugaya asked.

"Only about a day," Unohana replied. "But don't you worry; Gin's been bringing her food."

The sound of Gin's name made Hitsugaya's head throb again. He detested the guy, and the fact that he had been in this room while he had been asleep made him want to puke.

"Well, I must be going, I have other patients to check on," Unohana stated as she left the room. "I'll have someone bring you some breakfast in a bit."

Hitsugaya sat in silence. He had already slept too much to go back to sleep and it had been much too early to do anything else. He doubted Unohana would even let him out of the bed after he had collapsed. His headache was still present, but its intensity had plummeted.

"Captain Hitsugaya," a drowsy voice said from next to him. Hitsugaya turned to see that Haruka had awoken. "You're okay, thank god."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Hitsugaya replied. "Unohana told me you saved me. Thank you. But she also told me you didn't go home after. Why didn't you leave?"

Haruka yawned. "I don't know actually. I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Well, now that you know, why don't you go to your barracks and rest," Hitsugaya stated, suddenly feeling dizzy again. He laid his hand on his head. "It's still quite early."

Haruka noticed the look of pain that flared across Hitsugaya's face. She moved closer towards him and rested her hand on his cheek. "I'm not going to go."

Hitsugaya looked at her confused, his hand still on his head. His headache was returning to its original state. He tried to fight it but ended up leaning forward in pain.

"I'm won't leave your side because it's obvious that you're not alright."

Arigato. Reviews welcome.

- Haruka Shinigami