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: Gah, I'm back with chapter eight! After receiving so many reviews from my lovely support team: KnowledgeandImagination, eye of destruction, FrozenIceCream, xMidnight-Spiritx and Chibiussa, I'm going to dedicate this chapter you all along with all the free virtual treats they can eat. Yay! Anyway, I will shoot myself down so that you guys can move onto reading this chapter. Enjoy!

LEGEND

"Talking." "Thinking. / Dreaming. / Flash Back." Character Narration.

After Years Apart

Chapter Eight: What I Wanted the Most

"Ne Shiro-chan, when is your birthday?" Momo asked.

"Birthday?" the three year old boy replied. "Why did you want to know?"

"So that I can prepare your present when it comes."

"Oh, that's nice."

"Don't tell me your parents don't celebrate your birthday!"

"Hm, when it is my birthday, they would say Happy Birthday. So far, it has been falling on a weekday. My parents were always at work."

"Is that so? Then, you can always celebrate it with me. I won't forget."

"Souka?"

"But in return, you must remember to celebrate mine."

"Yours?"

"Yep, mine's on June 3rd."

"What do you want for your birthday?"

"Hm, I know this is a bit selfish, but there is something I do want."

"Which is?"

"What I want for my birthday is..."

He opened his emerald-teal eyes to find himself staring up at ceiling, remembering the dream he had moments ago. "Momo..."

Sitting up from his futon, he turned to his alarm clock next to him. It is 8:00 am. "Shit, I'm late!"

Jolting out of bed, the white haired boy grabbed all the clothes to his school uniform and went to the washroom to take a quick shower.

It has been three months since she went back to America with the Granger family. Hitsugaya noticed a large difference wherever he went. Everything returned to normal; to the time before she came into his life once again. It feels rather dull, now that he thought about it. Nothing seem to interest him anymore. He knew that in his mind, he has become trapped within the world of his own happiness; the happiness where he shared with Hinamori Momo.

Opening the slide door as he panted with exhaustion, Hitsugaya entered the classroom. "Hitsugaya-kun, you're late for class," Unohana said after she stopped her lecture for a brief moment.

His classmates and peers started muttering to one another. He knew what they were talking about. The prodigy is late for class for once. That's what they said. "I'm sorry I interrupted class," Hitsugaya apologized.

"That's fine. Please now hurry up and sit down on your seat," Unohana said. "Now let's continue with the lecture."

"Wow, you're never late for class taicho," Matsumoto whispered to the white haired boy sitting in front of her.

"Shut up," Hitsugaya retorted as he elbowed his arm on his desk and rested his chin on the palm of his hand.

This is going to be a long day.

AFTER SCHOOL, SOCCER PRACTICE

"Man, it's so hot today," Renji complained as he spilled all the water from his bottle all over his head."Why do we have to practice today?"

"That's because we have the regional tournament coming up in a week," Kira explained after he draped a small dry towel over the back of his neck. "We won the district tournament about a month ago."

"Oh yeah, but still...I wish the tournament can take place later in the year when it's cooler."

"If that were to happen," Hisagi said, "we wouldn't have the national tournament."

"Point taken."

"It's not like we don't understand how much you feel. Today's June 2nd, one of the hottest months of the year."

"June huh," Hitsugaya thought, remembering the dream he had last night while he was ball juggling on his feet.

"Hey boys! We came to give you moral support!" Matsumoto called out to them as she and the rest of the group of friends arrived at the soccer field.

"We even brought refreshments," Orihime said as she held up a basket of food in front of her.

"Oi Toshiro! It's break time!" Ichigo exclaimed as he, Renji, Hisagi, and Kira joined the others.

"It's Hitsugaya-taicho Kurosaki!" Hitsugaya snapped. "Don't go around and call the shots! We had one a few minutes ago!"

"Aw, come on taicho," Matsumoto said. "Another break wouldn't hurt."

Sighing with defeat, Hitsugaya told the other players to take another break.

As they were eating their friends' homemade sandwiches, Matsumoto suddenly said, "Three months..."

"Three months? What about it?" Yumichika asked.

"Hinamori-chan."

"Oh yeah, it has been that long since she left Japan," Renji said.

"I wonder how she's doing," Orihime said.

"I'm sure she's fine," Ichigo replied.

"Yeah," Matsumoto said.

After listening to their conversation, the white haired soccer captain turned his attention to the passing clouds in the blue sky. "Momo..."

"Taicho, you really miss her don't you?" Matsumoto suddenly asked as her lips is near his ear.

Instantly putting up his guard, the prodigy gave her a quick glare. "What are you talking about Matsumoto?"

"I'm just talking nonsense," she said, playing along with his act. "But you know, is it really okay for you to leave things as it is? Who knows how much time will pass until you see her again. By the time you do see her, she will be taken."

"Baka, I'm not in love with her," he retorted, as he began walking away from the group of teenagers.

"Suit yourself taicho. It's your life."

AFTER SCHOOL, HITSUGAYA'S ROOM

He is doing homework on the kotatsu table when he noticed a familiar blue object trapped in between the futon sheets in his closet. "Hyorinmaru," he thought.

Dropping his lead pencil on his notebook, the white haired boy sat up, walked over to the closet and pulled the ice dragon plushy out. Taking it with him to the kotatsu table, he sat down and stared at it. After all these years, Hyorinmaru remained the same as it was ten years ago. "It has been a while old friend," he thought. "She must have forgotten to take you with her."

He missed her; her cheerfulness, her positive presence, and beautiful appearance. It's just not the same without her. He couldn't imagine living a life without her once again. It would kill him like right now. His yearning for the raven haired girl is slowly and painfully eating the soul out of him. Hinamori Momo is the one and the same girl he met ten years ago.

Obaa-san was right after all. He was and is still in love with her. Even though he said all those things when he was a three year old child, he clearly believed that she is the only one that understood him the most. He knew she was his number one. After seeing her once again ten years later and though time has changed, their relationship remained the same. It totally felt like a dream.

"Baka Shiro-chan," he muttered under his breath. "You should have told her the truth about yourself and how you're now in love with her. And...how you wanted her to stay."

"Toshiro, is there something wrong?" Obaa-san asked as she entered the room.

Noticing him holding the plushy in his arms, she said, "Your Hyorinmaru."

"Yeah, Momo forgot it."

"I see."

"You knew she's the girl I always waited for ten years, didn't you Obaa-san?"

"Yes Toshiro."

"Souka?"

"You said before, back when you were children, that you loved her. Do you still feel that way now?"

With a brief pause of silence, Hitsugaya looked up at his grandmother and replied, "Yes, I do."

With a faint smile on her face, he looked down at the objects she held out in her hand. It is his passport, a two way ticket to America, and an address book. "Obaa-san..."

"I'll wait for you here. Don't worry about me. Enough waiting Toshiro, it's time to go find her."

He really didn't know what to say. After all these years, Obaa-san continued to look after him. No wonder she's his next closest person in his heart. Gratefully accepting her offer, he said thank you. "Hurry up and pack up Toshiro. The plane's going to leave in three hours. I wish the best of luck to you and Momo."

"Hai Obaa-san," the boy said as he sat up from his seat and began packing his belongings in his sports bag.

Once he finished packing and was about to leave his bedroom, his eyes turned to the red eyed dragon plushy he once held tightly as if his life depended on it. "Let's go Hyorinmaru," he said as he took it by the body from the kotatsu along with him.

Just as he was about to walk out of the Hitsugaya residence, the emerald-teal eyed prodigy turned to the peach tree and looked at some of the leaves falling down from it. "I'll be back soon Tobiume," he said.

(A/N: This would be a great place to stop, but no...I won't. xD Anyway, enough with me yakking, just keep on reading.)

JUNE 3RD, AMERICA

She heard the doorbell ring. She rushed over to the front door and opened it to find a familiar face. She would not thought to have seen him again. "Hi-Hitsugaya-kun! W-What are you doing here?" Hinamori asked. "How did you know I was here? No, shouldn't you be at school in Japan?"

Before she could say anymore questions, the white haired boy was catching his breath. Once his breathing became more settled, he dug his hand into his bag and held out the familiar object in front of her. "Tanjoubi omedetou Hinamori," he said. "He was left behind in Japan."

She didn't understand a thing. Even though she accepted the ice dragon back into her hands, Hinamori is still puzzled about his logic. She asked, "Thank you Hitsugaya-kun. H-How did you know it is my birthday today? I don't think I told you."

"You did told me; ten years ago, back when we were children. We promised to celebrate each other's birthdays together."

"No way...he can't be."

It can't be true. She couldn't believe it. Everything came flooding back into her mind. With a hand covering her mouth, Hinamori said, "Then, you must be..."

With a smirk forming on his face, Hitsugaya replied, "We meet again, Bed-Wetter Momo."

"Mou, I don't wet the bed! I knew it; you really are Shiro-chan!" Hinamori pouted. "Demo...I'm pretty sure you didn't come all the way here just to give me Hyorinmaru or say happy birthday to me or even telling me the truth about us."

"She's right."

Suddenly placing his hands on each side of her shoulder, the two were caught staring into each other's eyes: soft crimson-brown and cool emerald-teal. "Hitsugaya...kun?"

He could feel his heart beating so fast against his chest. It's now or never. It's time to tell her. "Hinamori, I-I...you."

"Nani, is there something wrong?"

Just as she continued to listen to what he has to say, the girl noticed the young prodigy trying to keep his eyes from adverting somewhere else. With a final mental push, Hitsugaya told her what he needed to say. He looked into her eyes and said, "I-I...I love you Momo."

Suddenly, she felt time stood still for once in her life. She didn't realize he had such emotions for her. "You...love me?"

Gently holding up the older girl's hands with his own, he got her to look into his eyes, emerald-teal to soft chocolate brown. "I know this is selfish of me to ask you this, but please come back to Japan with me. Losing you the first time really hurt me more than I thought it would. I felt lonely. Yeah, I know I have Obaa-san to take care of me, but...the person I really needed to be at my side at the time was you. I-I don't want to lose you a second time because...I-I fear we may never see each other again."

"Hitsugaya-kun..."

"I-I miss you a lot; more than you could ever dream of. It's...just not the same without you."

Then, the shape of her lips soon formed into one that of a smile. "I would love to."

"Eh? That was a fast and easy way to get you to come with me Hinamori," Hitsugaya said.

Just as her eyes soften, she began explaining the situation. "To be honest, I-I didn't want to leave Japan at all. I learned to love the place just like the old times, back when I was still six years old. I came back here because I felt like I had to. I thought it was okay because my family's here, but it turned out differently than I expected."

She could feel her eyes beginning to water, but she didn't care. Hinamori allowed her tears to roll down her face. She needed to tell him what's in her heart. "The family I wanted to live with is the family that is living in Japan, the house where Tobiume grew. I want to live the rest of my days with Obaa-san and...and you, Shiro-chan. Thank you for coming for me," she said, gaving him a warm hug.

Feeling Momo's body shake, Hitsugaya closed his eyes and raised his arms to gently hold her and her head resting on his shoulder. "Momo..."

They didn't exchange any words for a few minutes. They wanted to savour the moment being together. By the time she finally settled down, he let go of her and asked, "What about your folks?"

"Oh yeah, I need to tell them. Let's go insi--"

Just as she was about to enter the house, Hitsugaya grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him. With swift movement, he placed his lips on hers. They immediately found themselves on cloud nine. With that, they stood there, pleasing themselves with this new and foreign experience. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he held her waist and pulled her close. They continued their hot and passionate first kiss. Who would have thought this would feel so good, Shiro-chan and I? By the time they broke apart, the white haired boy said, "Don't worry too much. We're in this together."

Giving him a warm smile, she held hands with his, intertwined, and pulled him into the mansion and shut the door behind them.

"What do you want for your birthday?"

"Hm, I know this is selfish, but there is something I do want."

"Which is?"

"What I want for my birthday is for us to be together."

"To be together huh."

"Yep."

"Then I'll make it happen. I promise."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"How will you do that?"

The three year old Hitsugaya gave it some thought, but then shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, but I'll think of something. I'll keep our promise just you wait Momo."

Hinamori, the six year old girl then smiled. "Arigato Shiro-chan."

References

Souka - Is that so

Taicho - Captain

Baka - Idiot / Stupid

Obaa-san - Grandmother

Hai - Yes

Tanjoubi omedetou - Happy Birthday

Demo - But

Arigato - Thank you

AznVKai: Sorry you guys, there's no preview for the epilogue. xD We know how it's all going to end, right? Yup, that means next week, I'll be posting one final chapter to this fan fic. Aww, I'm feeling all bitter sweet about all this. *sniffles* Anyway, the HitsuHina love is in the air. Gotta love that.

Also, this is very important stuff! Be sure to read this section! I MIGHT BE ABLE TO POST THE FINAL CHAPTER A LITTLE EARLIER IF YOU GIVE ME THE RIGHT MOTIVATION. (coughcoughreviewplzcoughcough) LOL. xD Please do. Thanks!