A/N: HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR RIDDLES OF WATER!!! Lol....Enjoy!

Figure One:

First Degree

//Nothing is more important. Than those that we care for. Because once you look away. They won't be there any longer.\\

"Hey Koko... you sure you're ok?"

I lifted my head. Augustus was looking worriedly at me from across the room where we sat in the Enchanted. I nodded, shooting him a small smile, but kept my mouth shut.

"Well, you don't look alright," he said, standing up and making his way over to my seat. He sat down next to me and bent over so he could see my face.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about it. Just a bit... tired." I yawned. He patted my head and nodded.

"Alright then, whatever you say."

"You know, maybe you should talk to him," said Kara, frowning at me. They were all making such a big fuss out of this. They were overreacting.

"Look, it's nothing, ok? I'm fine. I just haven't been getting enough sleep. A couple of pills and I'll be all better. Quit making such a big deal out of it. You guys are making me feel like I've got some terrible disease or something." I looked around at all of them. None of them said anything, just stared at me. I sighed and turned to look out the window again. Nothing much was said for the rest of the ride back. When the ship pulled into port, they all stood up, chatting nonchalantly as if everything were normal, but the air about them were different. They were worried. I could tell.

As soon as I stepped off the last step, I began scanning the crowd for a crop of spiky white hair.

"Mina-chan!" someone sang, and the next moment, a pair of arms locked around my neck, pulling me backwards into something very squishy. Matsumoto.

"Ran-chan!" I turned and gave her a quick hug and a smile. Hitsugaya was nowhere to be seen. This puzzled me for a bit before my friends came up behind me, each with a very serious look on their faces.

"Would you please tell Hitsugaya that if he does anything else to hurt Koko – " Bryant said.

" – he'll have to report to us." Augustus finished.

Felix and Abigail looked anxiously at the two of them but kept their mouths shut.

"And tell him for us – "

" – that we'll know if anything happens to Koko."

Matsumoto's smile faded slightly, replaced by mild shock. But her expression cleared as she processed what they were talking about. She hitched a smile back onto her face and nodded.

"Of course! I'll let him know once we get back."

"Alright. Take care, Koko." Bryant ruffled my hair.

"Yeah, and remember to write," Kara added.

"Miss ya," said Abigail, giving me a quick hug.

"Feel free to come visit us anytime... if you ever feel the need to," Augustus said, giving me a swift pat on the back. Kara just smiled and waved. Felix, however, pulled me into a tight hug.

"Don't get too worked up over the dreams, kay? They're no big deal. Just know that I'm always here for you," he said. His voice was so quiet I doubt anyone else heard it except me. I didn't know how to respond. What did he mean 'they're no big deal'? I gave him a questioning look, but he just smiled and began to walk away like everyone else.

I turned to Matsumoto.

"Where's Hitsugaya-san?" I asked. Matsumoto paused for a moment.

"He... had some things he needed to do. So he couldn't make it." She phrased her words carefully, as if trying to make it sound as professional as possible. I frowned. There was something going on here, and I'm not sure I was going to like it. I let the question go for now, and began a light conversation about school. The whole way back, we spoke of nothing that had anything to do with Hitsugaya. It was as if Matsumoto was deliberately avoiding the subject.

When we stepped through the Senkai Gate, it was to find Ukitake-taichou and Kyouraku-taichou standing there, broad smiles on their faces. Looking at their faces, I felt a smile split my own face. I rushed forward, grinning madly, and came to a stop in front of the two of them. Two of my all-time favorite Captains here to see me back.

"Okaeri, Takamori-chan," Kyouraku-taichou said, mussing up my hair and smoothing it down again.

"Tadaima," I smiled impossibly wider up at the two of them. Ukitake chuckled and began to lead us towards his Division. I paused, looking down at the trunk I was lugging.

"Ne Ukitake-taichou, Kyouraku-taichou, I'm just going to drop this off at Hitsugaya-taichou's office, okay?" I started off towards the 10th Division, but they both rushed forwards to stop me.

"Er no, no! We'll take care of that for you," Ukitake-taichou said. He was really too kind. I grinned at him and shook my head.

"It's ok, I'll do it myself. I'll be right back, and I wanted to say hi to Hitsugaya-taichou." I turned and walked off towards the 10th Division again. I didn't see Ukitake-taichou and Kyouraku-taichou exchanging defeated expressions, nor did I hear them sigh.

I hummed all the way to the 10th Division, smiling and greeting whoever passed me by. I was just wondering where Matsumoto had went when I slid open the 10th Division Captain's Office's door.

"Tadaima Hitsug – " the sentence died in my throat as I dropped my trunk with a loud clunk.

Hitsugaya was laughing and sipping tea, and sitting next to him was none other than Hinamori. It looked more like a date than anything else, and what's worse is that he looked like he was having fun. Something that, up until now, I thought he was incapable of doing. And to make matters worse, his arm was around her. They were closer than what I thought would be comfortable for just two friends, and he was looking at her like he'd never looked at anyone else before. Hitsugaya's eyes widened as they met mine, and I could register nothing but shock reflected in them.

"Takamori?"

"Erm... hey! Um... I didn't mean to... er... interrupt anything... so... I'll just... go... now," I said, backing away with each word. Then I turned, and ran. I pushed passed people, running blindly towards the one place I knew I could safely hide.

The Senkai Gate was up ahead. Completely disregarding the guards' surprised shouts, I sprinted passed them, running right into the black oblivion, appearing a moment later, in a familiar candy shop.

"Takamori-san?" Urahara looked up from the cup of tea he was drinking, looking half shocked, half amused.

"C-can I st-tay here fo-or a b-bit?" I asked, breathing in ragged breaths, not even trying to hide the flood of tears pouring down my cheeks. I didn't notice they were there. I was confused. Why was I crying?

"Of course you can! Want to tell me what's wrong?" He patted floor next to him, and I sat down, wrapping my arms around myself, sobbing desperately. I shook my head.

"Alright then, I won't force you. Would you like some tea?" he asked, calling Ururu into the room. I nodded, dragging my sleeve across my face, sloppily wiping away the tears. I nodded again in thanks when Ururu handed me a cup of steaming tea. I took a sip and felt the warmth slide down my throat, into my stomach, warming my whole body. I sniffed.

"I-I'm sorry. To c-come b-burs-sting i-in like th-this," I said, stuttering as I tried to calm my breathing. I took another long drink, setting the half-empty cup onto the table.

"It's alright. We don't mind. Haven't had many customers these days, so it's nice to have some company. Though if I ever thought you were going to come and visit, Takamori-san, I would have expected a smile to that frown of yours right now," he said.

I didn't answer. The image of Hitsugaya and Hinamori kept popping up in my head. It hurt me so much, though I didn't know why. My heart felt like it was being squeezed so hard it was about to explode. I clutched at my chest, hoping this dreadful feeling would go away. Why? Why did it hurt so much to see them like that? They weren't even doing anything out of the ordinary. Well, maybe they were, but still nothing drastic. Why was I reacting like this?

"Takamori-san, you know... you won't ever forget the one you love, no matter how hard you try. The memories are imprinted in your heart, and whatever you do, they'll always be there," Urahara said, sipping his tea, staring at the opposite wall.

The one I... love? Is he saying that... I loved Hitsugaya?

Then, it dawned on me. My memories. Even though they were erased, they never really left because... I loved Hitsugaya. It was all starting to make sense now. The dreams, why they were all about him. Those weren't dreams at all, they were my memories. Things that had happened... locked in my heart.

But that raised several other problems. I knew that I loved him now, that was great and everything... yet hadn't I just seen him with that other girl, Hinamori? How was I supposed to face him now, after I'd see that? Would he even want to speak to me after I ran out like that?

"How about you stay here for the night, and after you've got everything sorted out, then you can go back to Soul Society." Urahara offered. I snapped out of my line of thought and nodded. That seemed to be a good idea. A night away from all of that seemed really tempting right now.

"Thanks Urahara-san." I smiled appreciatively and finished off my cup of tea.

The next morning, I woke up with a very bad headache. I groaned and buried my head in the pillow, wishing that the random images in my head would go away. They were all of Hitsugaya and Hinamori. And as much as I'd love to not care, I did. They hurt me much more than I would have liked to admit.

"Takamori-san! There's someone here to see you!"

I groggily got up, rubbing my eyes. I heard the door slide open and footsteps. My eyes fell on a pair of feet. Shinigami's feet. I froze. My eyes followed the pair of feet up all the way up to a pink sash. I gazed up at Matsumoto, a blank expression on my face. She looked half-angry half relieved, her arms folded under her inhuman breasts.

"Mina-chan," her voice was stern.

"I'm not going back... not yet," I backed away from her as she took a step forward. She noticed the movement and stopped mid-step. I continued to back away until my back touched the wall. Pulling my legs into my chest, I put my chin atop my knees, eyes downcast.

"Mina-chan..."

"I already know... that I used to love Hitsugaya. A-and I also know... that he's now in love with Hinamori. It's ok. It really is. I just... don't feel like going back yet," I said. She reached me in three long strides and wrapped her arms around me. I stiffened slightly, but relaxed soon after. Tears started to well up in my eyes again. I didn't stop them, letting them fall freely onto her shihakushou. I didn't try to hide the pain as I sobbed into her shoulder. She cooed softly in my ear and patted my back, soothing me. I clung to her like a lifeline, as if she was the only thing that could prevent me from going completely insane.

"You still don't remember... do you?"

I shook my head.

"But you know..." she sighed and held me tighter, her hands running through my hair. I was so confused. I knew where my memories were, yet I couldn't call upon them. I didn't remember, yet I knew. It hurt.

"Let's go back, and we'll –"

"NO!" I detached myself from her arms and pressed myself impossibly closer to the wall, eyes wide.

"No! I'm not going back! I don't want to. Please don't make me..."

I heard her sigh again. A hand landed on my head, patting down my hair that hadn't been brushed from the night before. She silently wiped away my tears and backed away. For a while, we just sat there. My sobs subsided into light hiccups and uneven breaths. My eyes felt heavy and puffy, and my face was stiff from the dried tears.

"It's not going to get any better if you just sit here, you know," Matsumoto said gently. I nodded, but didn't do anything else.

"Why don't you want to go back?" I shook my head.

"I don't – want to see him," I hiccupped.

"...you're going to have to see him sooner or later –"

"Then I'd prefer later," I shot back instantly. There was a slight pause.

"It's only going to hurt more if –"

"Let it hurt then."

"Mina-chan, you're being unreasonable." Her voice was no longer soft, but biting. She was frustrated and I knew it. At that moment, I couldn't have cared less. Let her be. It wasn't my problem anymore. I'm not going back.

I didn't reply.

"Takamori-san. Come with me at once. That's an order," Matsumoto rose to her feet. I shook my head silently. She swooped down and grabbed my wrist. I twisted my hand, struggling to break free of her grasp, but she was stronger, much stronger. She dragged me all the way across the room, with me flailing and cursing the whole way. Urahara opened the door and stared at the two of us, an odd expression on his face. I pushed myself to my feet and began to try and tug my arm out of her grasp. Matsumoto did not waver, only stood there, her iron grip clamped around my wrist. The skin there was beginning to hurt from all the wriggling, but I didn't care. I wasn't going back and that was that. End of story. Goodbye. Screw childishness. Screw immaturity. I didn't care anymore.

"Let go of me damnit! Let GO!"

"Minako-san. Mightn't you think it better to just go and come back to visit later?" Urahara asked. I glared at him. Traitor. He was supposed to root for me, not against me.

"NO! I'm NOT going back. Not for my LIFE! Now let GO! Get your hands off of me!"

"If you keep pulling, you'll dislocate a joint."

"I don't care if you pull off my arm. I'm not going!"

"Be quiet and come with me!"

"No!"

She was pulling me through the door. I tried to grab onto the doorframe, but she didn't give me have enough time to latch on, giving me a particularly harsh tug. I'd never seen Matsumoto so pissed before. In my mind, she'd always been the nice sort. Very cheery and laid back, never angry and aggressive. This was a whole new side of her, and I'm not sure I like it very much. She dragged me all the way down the street. None of the people could see us, so no one stopped to stare, for which I was grateful. After all, I'm supposed to be dead. Even if that were over two years ago, being seen still wasn't very smart. Who knows how long back these people's memories last.

Matsumoto had somehow managed to open a Senkai Gate with one hand and drag me through. We appeared back in Seireitei. The guards hurried forward, but paused as they saw the condition I was in. The skin on my wrist was rubbed raw and tears were trickling down my cheeks for the second time today. I was screaming and yelling, cursing and swearing at everything and anything, squirming like an earthworm on a dry day.

"M-Matsumoto-fukutaichou... what is the meaning of this?" they asked. She merely shook her head and walked passed them with me in tow. It was very uncomfortable, being dragged like this, not to mention the pain shooting up my arm from my wrist.

By the time we reached the 3rd Division Grounds, I'd given up. It was no use trying to get away from her. She was stronger and more experienced in keeping people in check. Following silently after her, I made no attempt to get away. After a while, her death grip loosened, but only slightly. The pain subsided a bit, but I still flinched at every little movement of raw skin against her hands.

"Rangiku-chan... where are we going?"

She stopped and I almost walked into her. I could see her shoulders move as she took a deep breath, as if to calm herself down. She didn't turn, but her voice was shaky.

"Back to the 10th Division. Taichou isn't there anymore, so you don't need to worry. All of your belongings are already in your room."

"When's he coming back?"

"He's at a meeting, so we don't know. But it won't be for some time yet. He wanted to get you from Urahara himself, but the summons was issued only minutes after that, so he had no choice."

"Oh..."

I stared at the pink skin at my wrist and bit my lip. Half of me was happy that I didn't have to see him immediately, but another half of me wanted to see him again. His annoyed expressions, his forever present frown. The dreams had showed me a decent amount of what he was like, however vague.

The 10th Division looked as it did before I left. The neatly organized bookshelves and the two sofas. Hitsugaya's desk in front of the shelves, lined with ludicrously tall piles of papers. He always had paperwork to do. Always. I'd never seen that desk empty, ever. Or, maybe I have, I just can't remember. By this time, Matsumoto had let go of my wrist, knowing that I would not try and run away again. I took in the details of the room slowly. Things had changed, though subtly. My eyes fell upon the spot where I'd seen Hitsugaya with Hinamori. A sick, shivery feeling crept through my system as I pictured the two of them standing there, Hitsugaya's arms wrapped tightly around Hinamori's waist.

My wrinkled my nose in distaste. It disgusted me, but I felt guilty for it. It was only human to feel jealous, though that didn't make it any the better. It was so confusing, jealousy was. I really didn't know how to feel anymore.

"Mina-chan? Are you feeling ok? You don't look very well," Matsumoto said.

"I'm fine. All that screaming took more energy than I thought," I replied weakly. Slowly, I made my way to the room I'd stayed in and pushed open the door. My belongings were stacked neatly against the wall. Without so much as a glance at my trunk, I hurried forward and flopped onto my bed. The silks seemed to pull me into the softness of the bed as I closed my eyes. Crying and screaming took so much energy. My eyes felt heavy and swollen, which they probably were .

When I awoke, the curtains were drawn and I was under the blankets. The moon was high in the sky, indicating that it was already pretty late at night. The lights were out, and I could barely distinguish the thin line of light that sneaked in under my door. I stared at it for a few moments before slipping out of bed and walking on tiptoes to the door. Carefully, I pressed my ear to the door, listening for the sound of rustling paper or a pen being set down. Hearing nothing, I slowly pushed open my door. Hitsugaya was sitting in his desk, pen moving fluently and silently across the page. As my head appeared in the crack between the door and the wall however, he paused and looked over at me. Our eyes met. Something passed between us and the air suddenly turned from semi-light to dense and awkward.

I was about to withdraw my head when his voice stopped me.

"Wait... don't go. I can explain."

A/N: HAPPY HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR RIDDLES OF WATER! It has been exactly 365 days since I first published Patterns in the Snow, and now we are already on the THRID volume. I'm so happy that you guys kept on supporting my story. It was a goal to get over 100 reviews per story, and you guys helped that dream come true, well not yet for this volume, but from the way it's going, it'll be no problem if all of you review! Thanks again for supporting my story! Please PLEASE review to tell me what you thought!

I love you all so much! And THANKS AGAIN,
Arelissa