Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Bleach series in any way. All copyrights go to Tite Kubo. I do own is my OCs.
Author's Note: Thank you all for taking the time to read the previous chapter. Special thanks goes to hello who reviewed. Without any further delay, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking. / Dreaming. / Flash Back." Character Narration.
After Years Apart
Chapter Three: Sea Shore Memories
"Wow, the breeze here feels nice!" Momo said as she held her arms out to feel the wind through her hair and clothes.
Turning around to see the little boy standing a few steps behind her, holding his dragon plushy with one hand and the other, holding an umbrella.
"What's wrong Shiro-chan? Why are you holding an umbrella?"
"I hate this weather," he said.
"Oh, because it's too hot?"
"Yeah..."
"So, if you don't like summer then you must like winter."
The boy slowly nodded with agreement.
"No wonder you're just like snow. Ah look, our mothers are calling for us. They have watermelons, your favourite!"
"Ah yeah..."
"Hinamori-chan, Hinamori-chan, Hinamori-chan! Wake up!" Matsumoto exclaimed as she nudged the raven haired teen awake.
"Huh, Rangiku-san?" she asked.
"Wake up already, we're almost there."
"There?" Hinamori said as she rubbed the sleepiness out of her eyes. "Where?"
"Are you half-asleep or something? We're going to the beach, remember?"
"Oh yeah..." Hinamori replied.
"Good thing Zaraki is nice enough to give all of us a ride there by tour bus."
"It's more like threatening the driver to drive us there," Ichigo mumbled from the seat behind them.
"Tch, that's the least of our worries," Renji said. "At least we're going somewhere. It's better than staying back in Karakura Town doing nothing all day."
"Hey Ichi-ichi!" Yachiru exclaimed as she suddenly appeared from in front of Zaraki's right shoulder. "Let's play with Ken-chan once we get there!"
"Oi, don't tell me it's another sword fight," Ichigo said.
"How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," Ichigo replied. "Darn, I have to find a way to avoid them..."
"Being at the beach is my kind of fun!" Ikkaku stood up and declared with a wave of his wooden stick in front of him. "It's a great place to start a fight, right Zaraki?"
"Of course it is," Kenpachi replied with a large snickering grin.
"Yay! Another battle with Ichi-Ichi and Cue Ball!" the small pink haired girl cheerfully exclaimed.
"Who are you calling cue ball?!" Ikkaku snapped.
"Ah! He's being all scary again!"
"Ano, we're not here to fight Kenpachi-san," Orihime said. "We're here to relax."
"Relax, tch...how boring."
"Fighting and relaxing can be both done at the same time while we're there," Yumichika said. "It's not restricted to exclusively one activity."
As the group of teenagers and adults were having fun chatting about the beach, Hinamori noticed in the back of the seat sat the white haired boy, looking out at the scenery through the window. Walking up to the young teenager, she sat right across from him. "Hitsugaya-kun, is there something wrong?" Hinamori asked.
"Yes there is something wrong," Hitsugaya muttered with an arm brushing the sweat off from his forehead.
"Huh?"
Fanning himself with a sakura tree patterned hand held fan. "Out of all places, why does it have to be the beach?"
"Daijobou Hitsugaya-kun?"
"Tch..." the white haired boy turned his head the other direction.
"Don't worry about taicho, he's always like that whenever we go to the beach," Matsumoto said. "He just hates the hot weather."
"The hot weather?"
"Yep, he actually prefers to go to places where it's cooler."
"If you don't like summer, then you must like winter," echoed the memory in her thoughts. "Winter...it's just like him."
"Ah, we made it to the beach!!"
THE BEACH
"I got it!" Ichigo exclaimed as he bumped the beach ball over the net.
Taking a huge leap into the air, Renji spiked it down onto the sand right next to Rukia's foot. "Alright! That's 10-9!" Renji exclaimed.
"Khora, you bastard! It's your fault for not getting it!" Ikkaku exclaimed.
"Well sorry!" Ichigo snapped back. "How am I supposed to get it when Rukia's in the way!"
"Oi! Don't treat me as if I'm an obstacle!" Rukia snapped.
"Stay out of this Rukia! This is a man's fight!"
"Yeah! Stay out of it!" Ikkaku agreed as he pulled out his wooden sword. "Let's fight!"
"Bring it on! I'll kick your sorry ass once again!" Ichigo agreed as he dodged the bald headed teenager's first assault.
Sighing with defeat, Renji said, "Here we go again."
"Ano, Kurosaki-kun...we shoudn't be fighting right now," Orihime said.
"Leave them Inoue-san," Ishida said. "They'll stop fighting soon enough."
"They always do that anyway," Chad added.
"Ah, hai..." Orihime replied.
"This is boring," Matsumoto said. "Wait, I know what to do!"
Picking put a large plastic bag from the ground, the strawberry orange haired woman slammed it on the table where Hinamori, Hitsugaya, Hisagi, and Kira were sitting. "Eh? What's in the bag Matsumoto?" Kira asked.
Pulling down the plastic bag, she revealed a large juicy watermelon. "We're going to play a game with this," Matsumoto said. "It's time to destroy the watermelon blind folded!"
"Alright let's play!" Renji said.
"I'm in," Ichigo agreed.
"Same here, this is going to be fun," Ikkaku said. "I'll kill the watermelon first."
Suddenly feeling a cold vibe from nearby, everyone soon turned to see a rather angry Hitsugaya. "Uh oh, Toshiro doesn't like that," Ichigo said.
"Umm, Rangiku-san," Orihime said. "By any chance did you take that watermelon from Toshiro-kun's fridge at his place?"
"Yeah, how did you know?" Matsumoto asked.
"Oi, Hitsugaya-taicho is going to snap," Kira said as the boys started backing away. "You know he doesn't like anyone destroying or eating his watermelon."
"I'm only kidding taicho," Matsumoto said as she waved her hand at him. "I only did that to get him to be angry at us. He has quite a unique ability to making the atmosphere around us to be cooler than usual."
"MATSUMOTO!" Hitsugaya exclaimed.
"Ehh!! I got to go now before taicho really gets angry!" Matsumoto exclaimed as she ran away.
"Oi oi, you really shouldn't tick him off," Ichigo said as he scratched the back of his head. "He can kill someone in that state."
"Crazy watermelon lover of a child prodigy," Ikkaku said.
"What did you say Maradame?" Hitsugaya warned as he suddenly grabbed the collar of his white shirt.
The atmosphere really has gotten cool; almost cool enough to make the area snow. "Ehh, nothing..."
Letting go of him, Hitsugaya soon walked off somewhere away from the group of teenagers. Sighing with relief, Ikkaku said, "Tch, no matter how young he is, he knows how to put someone in their place. Sometimes I even wonder if he really is a child."
"Ah yeah," Renji agreed.
Concerned for the white haired teenager, Hinamori stood up from her seat and started following him. "I'll be right back you guys," Hinamori said. "I'll go check on Hitsugaya-kun."
Watching her leave the group, Matsumoto suddenly appeared next to Orihime and said, "You know, I think Hinamori-chan has a chance to get taicho to open up."
"Eh, Rangiku-san! How did you get here?" Orihime asked.
"You think Momo has the capabilities to get him to open up?" Ichigo asked. "What makes you say that?"
"I'm actually not sure. I guess it's just a feeling," Matsumoto said, smiling with pride. "We'll be lucky if these two have fallen in love with one another. By then, he won't spend so much time getting all pissed off at me."
"Eh, even though that may happen, I don't think he's going to change that mood at all. You're the one who always gets him to snap," Renji said.
"Huh, did you say something?"
"Iie, nothing..."
BEACH SHORELINE
"Oi Hitsugaya-kun!" Hinamori said as she called out to the white haired boy who was at the shoreline, looking out into the ocean.
"Hinamori," Hitsugaya said as he watched her stand next to him.
"Are you okay? You seem very angry back there."
"..."
"You know, they really want to be your friend."
"As if...they're only friends with me because I'm a prodigy."
"That's not what it sounds to me. Rangiku-san and everyone else really respect you for who you are. They really do want to get to know you better."
"Maybe I don't want to make friends."
"Hitsugaya-kun..."
"When I was younger, I never really made a lot of friends. Even the adults have trouble being around me. It's probably the way I look. I'm probably the one of the only people who have natural white hair and emerald-teal eyes. There's also my personality; they always think I'm cold."
"I don't think you're like that at all Hitsugaya-kun. I really don't."
Giving her a small smile on his face, he looked up into the blue sky and said, "You're the second person aside from my family who said that."
"Really? Who's the first?"
"Her..."
"Her? You mean that girl you've been waiting for?"
"Yeah. Even though I don't remember her face or name, I remember all the things we've done together. One of those things is going to the beach."
"The beach?"
"I hate the hot weather because it's too warm for me. However, when I'm around her, I can ignore it."
"You really like her, don't you Hitsugaya-kun?"
"Hn, yeah. She is my closest friend."
She could tell; whenever he mentions anything about here, there's this glimmer in his eyes. Clearly, she knew, he really had very strong feelings for her. That girl is one amazing person. Out of all people, aside from his family, she is the only one that got to see the true him. As for her, she considered herself to be lucky.
"If I were her, I would like you to have an open mind. Maybe that way, you'll be able to make a lot of friends."
"Maybe..."
Smiling at the white haired boy, Hinamori decided to gave some fun. Bending over towards the sea water, she stroked her hand through it, splashing Hitsugaya in the face. "Oi, Hinamori!" Hitsugaya snapped.
Giggling with amusement, Hinamori said, "Lighten up a bit, it's just water!"
"Tch, you're going to ask for it!" Hitsugaya said as he bent down and did the same.
"Ah! It's cold!"
"Of course it is!"
As Hitsugaya continued to splash her, Hinamori continued to shield herself with her arms, leaning back. By the time she leaned back far enough, she could feel her own weight falling backwards. "Ahh! Hitsugaya-kun!" she exclaimed.
"Hinamori!" Hitsugaya exclaimed as he suddenly grabbed her hand.
Pulling her towards the other direction, Hinamori managed to avoid having to fall into the water. However, Hitsugaya wasn't so lucky. "Hitsugaya-kun! Are you okay?" Hinamori exclaimed as she knelt down to see the white haired teenager pop his head out of the water, gasping for air.
"Do you think I am alright?" Hitsugaya retorted.
"Well you don't look hurt."
"I'm wet now no thanks to you."
"Ah, I'm sorry."
Sighing with defeat, Hitsugaya brushed his now wet bangs off to the side of his face. "It's okay. It's my fault for falling into the water in the first place."
"No but, you saved me from falling first," Hinamori said as she held out her hand in front of him.
Taking her hand, Hitsugaya was pulled out of the water. "I said it's okay Hinamori," Hitsugaya said as he stripped his T-shirt off so that he could drain all the excess water.
On the other hand, his actions caused the raven haired girl to slightly blush. "He works out quite a bit..."
Turning to see the dazed look on her face, Hitsugaya gave her a stern look and said, "Oi Hinamori."
"Ah, gomen Hitsugaya-kun!" Hinamori snapped, trying to hide the blush. "I wasn't checking you out or anything!"
"Hah? What are you talking about?" Hitsugaya asked.
"Ah, oh...it's nothing."
"Let's get going. The others are waiting for us."
"Ah hai!"
BUS RIDE BACK
"Achoo!" Hitsugaya said as he sneezed.
"Daijobou taicho?" Matsumoto asked. "It seems like you got a cold or something..."
"It's nothing," he replied. "I was at the habour when some idiot bumped into me and I lost my balance."
"So you accidentally fell into the water."
"Yeah."
"Gomen Hitsugaya-kun," Hinamori whispered.
"I already said it's okay Hinamori," Hitsugaya retorted. "Just drop the subject already."
"Ah, hai..."
"Anyway, what should we do tomorrow?" Renji asked.
"Well, tomorrow's Sunday and we should go to the city!" Matsumoto exclaimed.
"I'll pass," Hitsugaya said.
"Eh? Why not?"
"Oh don't tell me it's soccer practice," Ichigo said.
"It's not that either. I canceled it."
"Oh you canc--wait a minute!"
Renji and Ichigo exclaimed at the white haired teenager, "YOU CANCELED SOCCER PRACTICE?!"
"Why is it Hitsugaya-taicho?" Kira asked.
"That's none of your business," Hitsugaya retorted. "Just be happy I did that so you all would have more time."
"Ah hai..."
OUTSIDE OF HITSUGAYA'S AND HINAMORI'S HOUSES
"Ja ne you two!" Matsumoto said. "We'll see you again tomorrow!"
"Bye Rangiku-san!" Hinamori called out to her as the tour bus drove the others to their respected houses.
Turning to the white haired boy, Hinamori said, "I had a great time at the beach, did you?"
"I guess..." Hitsugaya replied.
"Well, I better get going now. My parents are expecting me home very soo--"
"Hinamori," Hitsugaya said as he suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Looking at the white haired boy, Hinamori asked, "Yeah, Hitsugaya-kun?"
"Can you...do something for me?"
"Ah, sure. I don't mind, but what is it?"
"I want someone to come with me somewhere with Obaa-san."
"Is that it? Sure, but where are we going?"
"To my parents' graves."
References
Daijobou - Are you alright
Taicho - Captain
Hai - Yes
Iie - No
Gomen - Sorry
Arigato - Thank You
Obaa-san - Grandmother
AznVKai: !!! Aw, Toshiro needs a hug. How is Momo going to comfort him? More HitsuHina love is coming up in the next chapter! In the meantime, please review! Your comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Chapter Four Preview: The Never Forgotten Day
"The day when she left my life is also the day when my parents died."
No wonder he pushes everyone away; he's trying to be strong on his own. "Oh...I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay. As we were going home, a truck just happened to pass by. The driver probably didn't notice us and continued driving. Then they were hit. As for me, I was protected by their bodies and managed to survive somehow."
"That's such a terrible thing that happened to them."
"Yeah, I know. Maybe that's one of the reasons I'm waiting for her; I wanted to tell her about this incident so that she can help me feel better."