Chapter 23. Return

Ano...yeah...I still do not own Bleach.

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Blackness almost overcame him, but Hitsugaya snapped his eyes open immediately.

The stargazing that he had recently been a part of had almost caused him to fall asleep. But he had to tend to Hinamori's wounds.

As he shook his head to clear it, his eyes were suddenly drawn towards a large mountain-like rock in the distance.

This had been his landmark; they were almost there.

Relief drowned out all of his other feelings for a moment, and silently, he thanked the ice dragon. Then he returned to mending his friend's injuries. He found out that not only was her right arm broken and her left shoulder torn to ribbons, but her right ankle was broken as well.

The icy cocoon around his left arm was beginning to melt, letting fresh pain prickle his bones. But he was just thankful that neither of them had broken their necks. They were all getting out of this place, and they were all getting out alive; that is what he hoped.

The dark sky soon lightened a shade or two, signaling what would have been morning. Hinamori still had not woken up, nor had she stirred at all in the night. But Hitsugaya knew that she would be fine, for he knew for a fact that she did not give up easily. Although he could not say what they had been through in the past days had been 'easy'.

Hunger no longer wrestled his stomach, for the feeling of hunger had drained away long ago. The only thing that made the white-haired boy restless was once again the lack of water, but he had no time for this now; they were almost there. Dry throat aside, Hitsugaya concentrated on the area of sand up ahead, looking for the place that seemed right to re-open the portal. Hyorinmaru continued to fly on, and Hitsugaya knew that the dragon was certain about where he was going.

Finally, the mighty creature began to lower himself to the ground, steadily slowing down as he dropped to the sand below. His powerful wings stirred the sand that had not been touched for countless millennia. As he settled down, the dragon lay flat on his breast and stomach, as to make it easier for his master and his friend to step off.

Hitsugaya carefully cradled Hinamori into his arms, trying to avoid her wounds, and at the same time not applying pressure on his own. Quickly, he hopped off of the beast's back, and stumbled for balance yet making sure not to hurt the precious girl in his arms. Riding on Hyorinmaru for as long as he was made his legs feel like they were filled with cotton.

"Arigato, Hyorinmaru, without you I never would have made it this far." He was truly grateful, and his companion knew this. The dragon's only response was a faint nod before he melted away and returned to the Zanpakutou.

Gently, Hitsugaya lay Hinamori down on the ground beside him. He remained standing and crossed his wrists, wincing as pain stabbed his left arm but he ignored it. His palms pointed to the empty air before him, which was where he intended to form the portal back to Rukongai. As he began the incantation, a green light began to develop around his hands.

"Soar, mighty falcon who stretches his wings far above the mountains. The lethal tiger pounces with flexed claws and the wolf prowls with fangs gleaming. Blood stains the earth as the battle begins, and that which was concealed becomes unlocked. Art of Sealing No. 88, KAIHOU!"

The marshy green light floated from his hands and swirled itself into a circle in front of him. It shimmered there for a moment, unmoving, and then the glowing beams brightened shockingly, and Hitsugaya flinched at the sudden change in shading.

This world was eternal night, and after being there so long, resting his eyes upon actual light was overwhelming. It was like giving a blind creature the privilege of sight. As the colors pulsed before him, the glittering shape suddenly widened and a white beam crackled like lightning; the portal had opened.

Brushing off the intense affliction that throbbed in his left arm, he gingerly lifted Hinamori in his arms and with no regrets, he stepped into the light and entered the portal back home.

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Dawn sunlight filtered through the windows around the room, causing the white room and walls to turn pale.

Hinamori was thankful for the clean, white sheets that enveloped her in a cozy bundle. The materials and fabrics were cool and fresh, although the warm beams of sun comforted her even more. She tugged the sheets closer to her body with her left hand, but winced as she was reminded of the wound on her shoulder.

Hitsugaya and herself had returned about three days ago, but Unohana taichou had strictly forbidden Hinamori to move from the bed for at least a month. The medicines and remedies that the 4th divisions taichou used were baffling, without them, Hinamori would have been stuck in bed for almost three months, which in Hinamori's point of view was far too long without doing anything.

Her entire body ached, but right now she just wanted to savor the soft, comforting feeling of the sheets, the fluffy pillow supporting her throbbing head, and the soothing mattress underneath her. She closed her eyes and was on the border of slumber, when a knock sounded on the door. Hinamori slowly pulled the sheets away from her mouth.

"H-Hai?" She said shakily.

Her voice was cracked with tiredness. She did not see her, but Hinamori heard Unohana's gentle whisper sound from across the room.

"Hinamori fukuutaichou, you have a visitor. Guess who?" She let out a small laugh of amusement.

Hinamori's heart lifted as she heard light footsteps gradually traveling across the wooden floor to her bedside.

Unohana closed the door respectfully behind her and let the two alone.

Love and happiness flooded over her as Hitsugaya's warm hand closed around her small, cold one.

Her right arm was still in pain, but her hand went limp as she let his touch comfort her.

She could not see his face, for white sheets blocked her view for the most part.

But she knew he was smiling, he was always smiling when he was with her.

And as the reassurance of his presence overflowed within her heart, she smiled too.

"Hitsugaya-kun…"

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A/N: Well there you go! They have finally returned home! I hope you enjoyed some romance and fluff!!! But be warned, I am not done yet! Plenty more fluff...

I had a great time coming up with the Kidou phrase lol.By the way, Kaihou means open.

Please review!!