CHAPTER 9: DON'T LET ME BE THE LAST TO KNOW

It had been ages since she had last went on an assignment. Tayomi was absolutely itching to go on a mission, but there were none for her. For the past few days, the Gotei 13's headquarters were extremely peaceful, free of panic. Rukongai was tranquil, without any attacks from hollows or other strange spirits. In short, everything was fine and nothing was wrong. Tayomi felt strange as she usually went on missions at least thrice a week and this week, she had not gone on a single mission at all. Though peace was good, life had been dull these few days and she was hoping for a bit of excitement to spice up her boring day. Just then, 3rd Seat Miyako informed her that Captain Ukitake wanted to see her in his office. Tayomi instantly stood up, walking to his office, wondering whether it was concerning a mission.

She knocked on Captain Ukitake's door, cautiously opening it. Tayomi looked at the man who discovered her Shinigami powers and recommended that she enrol in the Spiritual Arts Academy. Even though it had been eleven years since they first met, Captain Ukitake still had a warm smile on his face and looked at her the same way he did eleven years ago. She was well aware that he treated her like a daughter and she treated him like her mentor. Although she wished that he treated her less like a child, but she was used to it and she liked feeling loved, since she was deprived of it ever since her parents died and led a childhood without much love.

"Tayomi-chan! Do you know why you're here?" Captain Ukitake beamed.

"No…" Tayomi shook her head.

"I have good news for you! Recently, Captain-commander Yanamoto had decided to start a special training program for Shinigami… It'll take place in the Human World and we Captains were expected to choose only one member from our Division to take part in this special program." Captain Ukitake explained excitedly. "The training program will strengthen your skills as a Shinigami greatly and it'll give you a chance to learn more about the Human World. You will be expected to report to us daily on your analysis of the Human World. So, I just want you to know that I've recommended you to represent our Division and join this program! Even Captain Aizen agreed that you should go for it…"

"Really?" Tayomi exclaimed. "Wait… So you recommended me for this program and Captain Aizen recommended me as well… Sort of?"

"Yes!" Captain Ukitake nodded. "Isn't it great? You'll finally be able to push your potential to the limit! I'm not sure how long it is though… Captain-commander Yanamoto said it might take a few months, maybe even years… It depends on the situation in the Human World."

A few months… Maybe even… YEARS?

Once Tayomi left Captain Ukitake's office, she was greeted by many of her fellow members of the 13th Division, congratulating her one by one. She had been given such a great opportunity to push her limits and become stronger than she already was. It was such a rare chance for her and she knew that she should be squealing excitedly out of the door, but inside, she felt the complete opposite. Sure, she was honoured to receive such a chance, but she was aware of what it meant. Captain Ukitake's words rang in her ears incessantly. It was going to take months, maybe even years. The more she thought about, the more upset she felt. She moped all the way back to her office, as her comrades stared at her in surprise. They had expected to see her practically bounce off the wall with happiness, but they had just seen her drag her feet, as if she was not a bit delighted. Tayomi locked the door and sat on her chair, before resting her head on her desk, trying to contain her emotions. Just then, her communicator vibrated and she checked it. It was a message from Kiseida, telling her that she was involved in the special program too, representing the 8th Division. Tayomi smiled a little, replying her best friend that she was representing her Division as well. Kiseida would be going with her and she felt a bit better, but the sadness was still present in her heart. In a week's time, she was not going to see her friends for a long time. She was not going to see him for a long time. The fact that she would not be able to see him everyday killed her.

She decided to get it off her chest and told Hinamori to meet her outside the 5th Division's barracks. Once she got to the 5th Division's barracks, she spotted Hinamori waiting for her outside. Hinamori's face was full of concern as Tayomi hardly sounded so serious. Usually, her messages were spammed with smiley faces, but this time, there were none. Hinamori ran over to her junior, asking her what's wrong. Holding her tears back, Tayomi told Hinamori everything that had happened, including the fact that she was chosen for the special training program. Hinamori smiled, congratulating her and asked her why she sounded so sad about it. Tayomi kept silent for a while and Hinamori thought for a moment, before realising exactly what was holding Tayomi back.

"Is it Shiro-chan?" Hinamori asked.

Tayomi nodded. "I don't know how I'm going to tell him…"

"Well…" Hinamori sighed. "You have to tell him yourself. He wouldn't be happy if someone else told him, rather than you. Just tell him everything you feel, alright?"

"Okay… I'll try…"

Tayomi dragged her feet back to her Division's barracks. Hinamori watched her mope back, like a zombie. She felt worried and concerned. Tayomi had never been like this before. Usually, Tayomi was bouncing off the ground with excitement, always hyped up and cheerful. Today, she was the complete opposite, filled with anything but life and energy. It was as if her strength was sucked out from her body. Tayomi sighed and looked down at her feet, walking all the way back to her office. She lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling, wondering how to begin. Somehow, she had to get the words out of her mouth and tell him that she was leaving. She was afraid of his response. Would he be angry? Would he never want to speak to her again? She knew she had to tell him and no matter what was going to happen, she could only keep her fingers crossed and hope he wouldn't be angry. She quickly texted him, telling him to meet her under the tree where they usually met at night.

Hitsugaya waited for a few minutes, before Tayomi finally arrived. Tayomi was trying very hard to act as if nothing was wrong, skipping towards him and forcing a smile on her face. He seemed to know that something was wrong, Tayomi never skipped with such little energy and her smile appeared to be fake. Sighing, he asked her for the reason behind their meeting. Inside, his heart was beating quickly. Was Tayomi about to reject him or scold him? He waited for her to speak.

"Tayomi, what's wrong?" Hitsugaya asked.

Tayomi was completely silent. She tried to speak, she tried to tell him everything, about how she was chosen for the program and how she knew that he was not, about how much she would miss him and how she hated being separated from him for so long. Instead of words coming out of her mouth, tears flowed out from her eyes. With her head bowed down, she began to shiver, sobbing uncontrollably. She began to cry profusely as her tears trickled down her cheeks with speed, falling onto the grass below and making soft noises, like rain hitting the ground. Suddenly, it really began to rain and lightning streaked across the sky. Hitsugaya and Tayomi stood in the rain, with her crying till she could not speak. Hitsugaya quickly held her in his arms, stroking her hair and letting her bury her face in his chest.

"Tayomi…What happened?" He asked.

"I… I…" Tayomi sobbed. "T-that special t-train-n-ning p-program… I g-got s-selected…"

"That's good… Then what are you crying for?"

"B-because I d-don't w-want to g-go… It's g-going t-t-to take m-months… M-may-b-be e-even y-y-years… I c-can't d-do w-with-th-out y-you… A-are y-y-you an-g-gry?"

"Silly girl, I'm not angry…" Hitsugaya sighed. "But you have to go… It's good for you. It's such a rare chance that not even I got…"

"I-I kn-know…B-b-but I-I-I'll m-m-miss y-you…"

"I'll miss you too…" Hitsugaya continued, stroking her hair.

"S-s-susu-c-c-chan…W-w-will y-you f-forget me?"

Hitsugaya shook his head.

"I love you." She whispered, after she had finally calmed down.

"I love you too…"

Hitsugaya whispered back into her ear, before kissing her on her lips passionately, pressing her lips against his. He could feel the rain falling on them, but it did not matter. He slowly backed away, his nose still touching hers. Holding her tightly, his arms still around her, he kissed her again on her forehead.

"Promise me something…" He spoke softly. "No matter how long it takes, how hard it gets… Come back to me…"

Tayomi looked up at him, tears still on her face.

"After you're done with the whole special training program, please… Come back to me… I'll be waiting for you always…"

Tayomi nodded and the both of them continued standing in the rain, holding each other for the last time before she left.

Author's note:
Well... So they're going to be separated for quite a while T.T
Next chapter is going to be rough... We are finally at chapter 10 and you'll find out what the main conflict is! Something will happen and it's going to affect both Tayomi and Hitsugaya, causing them both sadness for a very long period of time. Stay tuned for the next chapter and please keep reviewing! Thanks! ^.^