"Hi… Hiromi?" His hand trembled as he slumped forward to cradle her motionless form. He rested her head gently against his arms and her body on his lap.

Amid the darkness, he saw her Mona Lisa smile. "Yes. Who else?" she asked weakly, the rare rebellious attitude she emitted slowly blooming.

"Why?" His voice shook. "Why did you do it? Why?"

"Because…" She looked down. "Because I love you."

Her answer was so simple, so pure, that Hitsugaya felt his heart break into tiny little shards, piercing him from the inside. He remembered how he had thought of love as a petty thing, a distraction from his loyal work to protect. And yet… This girl had broken through the icy barrier he had set about himself. From the moment she smiled at him from what seemed like so long ago, she had won him over. He just didn't accept it until recently.

He felt the tears drip down his cheeks, felt them emerge. He broke into loud, hacking sobs as her reiatsu grew weaker and weaker. The only girl that had managed to win him over was dying.

"I love you too," he wept.

A weak smile formed upon her face. "I know, Toshirou, I know."

Her entire body was now appearing and disappearing like a bad connection. Weak, she slowly lifted herself up to him. Hitsugaya felt her icy yet feverish lips brush momentarily against his own… Then she dissolved into a shower of golden light.

"No." Hitsugaya shook his head. "No!" His head was now whizzing more rapidly. "NOOOOOOO!"

He embraced the air, hugging nothingness, as if trying to bring her back from oblivion. It was no use.

Harribel observed the scene with interest.

Hitsugaya's gaze turned upon her. Rage coursed through his body.

"You," he snarled. "YOU! YOU'RE THE REASON FOR ALL OF THIS!"

Then he tore through the air at her, swung Hyourinmaru… and cleaved through her neck. Her head pounded onto the floor. Hitsugaya tore at her motionless, headless body, disemboweling it, unable to gain satisfaction.

"T-Taichou?" Matsumoto was standing before him. "Is… is she gone?"

Hitsugaya nodded curtly, and then promptly began to bawl.

He felt Matsumoto's arms around him. "I'm sorry," she whispered in a soothing voice. "It's alright, let's go back now."

She let go, sauntered over and picked something up from the ground, then returned to him.

"Here." She thrust something into his hands.

A cherry blossom and corsage sat in his open palms.