Honey Tea

By Kinny Riddle

Beta Read by Davan Trask Bleach and all its characters are the copyright property of Kubo Tite, Shueisha and Shonen Jump. This fanfic is solely for the purpose of reading enjoyment and not for profit.

Part Two

Summary: Hitsugaya caught Hinamori's cold after his visit to her the previous day. Hinamori decides to repay the favor.

Hinamori Momo had the best sleep she ever had for ages. Already her cold was gone and she's feeling better again, the whole fifth Division is delighted that their ever cheery lieutenant is back to normal again and able to take charge of the squad while their captain was away. All day, they saw their lieutenant busy directing the division on drilling and training the newcomers with a vigor not seen for a long time, occasionally they would see her standing aside and rubbing her right cheek, looking rather dreamy, but was soon back to her normal self again whenever anyone approached her.

It was later that evening when Rangiku came and check up on how Hinamori was doing.

"Ah! Rangiku-san!" Hinamori ran towards Rangiku as she approached the division entrance.

"Konbanwa, Hinamori-san, you seem energetic today."

"Yeah, I had the most wonderful dream last night, I felt so warm after having that dream that I feel so much better today!"

"Hmm," Rangiku said with a smile, as though she knew what was going on, "So, what was the dream about?"

"Eh?" Hinamori exclaimed.

"You said it was a wonderful dream, so what did you dream of?"

Hinamori blushed at being asked to describe what her dream was about, it was just too embarrassing to say.

"Ah…I…well…this is…ah! Isn't Hitsugaya-kun supposed to be with you, where is he by the way?" Hinamori tried to change the subject away from her dream.

"Ara? Didn't you hear? Our taichou has got a cold this morning and couldn't work."

"Eh?" exclaimed Hinamori.

"He actually insisted he's fine and went to work, but he just collapsed. We had to drag him back to his quarters." Rangiku said amused. "You should have seen him yelling 'I'm fine' and struggling to break free."

"Sonna, Hitsugaya-kun got a cold." Hinamori lowered her head, "It's all my fault."

"What are you talking about, Hinamori-san?"

"Eh?"

"Taichou didn't visit you to make you feel guilty; he visited you in the hope of helping you feel better."

"Rangiku-san…"

"Don't worry about taichou; he's not the prodigal captain of the Gotei 13 if he succumbs to such a cold."

"Okay," Hinamori replied solemnly.

"How about this? We can go pay Taichou a visit and repay his favor for visiting you yesterday, if this makes you feel better."

"You're right, Rangiku-san," Hinamori felt energetic again after hearing Rangiku's suggestion. "Shall we go?"

"Hitsugaya-kun…Hitsugaya-kun…wake up, Hitsugaya-kun…"

Hitsugaya was abruptly awakened from his warm bed; he slowly opened his eyes and saw Hinamori sitting by his side.

"Hi…Hinamori? W-w-what are you doing here?" Hitsugaya stammered at the sight of Hinamori. Then he realized he is dressed in his nightgown and wonders why.

"And what am I doing sleeping at this time of day?"

"Rangiku-san told me you caught a cold."

"Ah yeah, I remember now." Hitsugaya remembered how Rangiku and the other seated officers forcefully dragged him all the way back to bed, insisting that he take some rest.

"Here, Hitsugaya-kun, I've made you some honey tea, it's quite warm." Hinamori hands Hitsugaya a warm cup.

"Ah…thanks." Hitsugaya carefully held the cup and began sipping.

"Ne, Hitsugaya-kun can I ask you something?"

"Hmm?" Replied Hitsugaya as he sipped the tea.

"Do you…like me?"

Hitsugaya sprayed the tea he just drank in shock at Hinamori asking a question so directly. "W…w…w…How…wha…?" Hitsugaya stammered as he saw Hinamori looking intently at him.

"Do you hate me then?" Hinamori said sadly.

"Wha? Of course not! Why would I hate you Hinamori?"

"Then you like me?" Hinamori's face started to blush.

"Eh?" Hitsugaya blushed as well.

"……"

"……"

There was silence for a long while, then without warning, Hinamori leapt forward and moved her face towards inches of Hitsugaya's.

"Ne Hitsugaya-kun…"

Hitsugaya could feel Hinamori's deep breathing, and tried to look away, "Hi…Hinamo…Mmmm?"

The next thing Hitsugaya knew, Hinamori had moved in to kiss Hitsugaya.

Hitsugaya closed his eyes, not believing what was happening to him. He wished deep down that this moment would last forever.

Hitsugaya could feel Hinamori let go of the kiss after what seemed like an eternity.

Hitsugaya opened his eyes, but instead of seeing Hinamori sitting in front of him, he saw Ichimaru Gin, captain of the Third Division instead.

"Ara, our cute prodigy taichou has finally admitted his feelings. That sure was a sweet kiss."

"Sweet? Ichimaru! D…did you just…?" Hitsugaya's face flustered, a different kind of flustering than before when he was kissing Hinamori or who he thought to be Hinamori.

"Hmm? What's wrong with kissing a cute boy like you?" Ichimaru gave out his creepy smile as usual and began to open his never before open eyes.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Hitsugaya screamed as he found himself waking up in his bed again.

Hitsugaya panted as he tried to catch his breath, "A nightmare?"

That has to be the creepiest nightmare he just had, and with that creepy Ichimaru of all people, Hitsugaya shuddered. "If I ever see that bastard grinning at me with those eyes, I'll kill him for sure."

"Hitsugaya-kun?"

"WAH!" Hitsugaya yelled again as he now noticed Hinamori was by his bed,

"Hi-Hi-Hi-Hinamori…wh-wh-when did you arrive?"

"Just a moment ago, Rangiku-san told me you had a cold. So I came over to see if I can help. You were sleeping soundly, so I didn't want to wake you up. But you suddenly yelled, that scared me, you know."

"Ah…I…I see…Sorry…" Hitsugaya squirmed and shut his eyes.

"Here, Hitsugaya-kun, I've made you some honey tea, it's quite warm." Hinamori picked up a cup on the bedside table.

Hitsugaya opened his eyes feeling awkward, that line sounded so familiar.

"Hitsugaya-kun? What's wrong?"

"Ah, it's nothing. Thanks." Hitsugaya took the cup from Hinamori's hands and slowly sipped. 'Must be my imagination,' Thought Hitsugaya.

"Ne Hitsugaya-kun, can I ask you something?"

Hitsugaya froze and stopped sipping; it was his dream all over again.

'It…It can't be, could it,' He can't help but have a feeling of déjà vu.

"Hmm?" Hitsugaya tried to reply coolly as he sipped the tea, his heart beating faster by every second.

"What kind of dream did Hitsugaya-kun have? Was it a bad dream?" asked Hinamori with a concerned look.

Hitsugaya sighed with relief that it was not that question.

"Ah it's not really a bad dream, just weird."

"Really? I'm glad Hitsugaya-kun is feeling okay now."

"Thanks," Hitsugaya, now feeling relaxed, went on to sip his tea again.

"Ne, you called out my name in your dreams, what was I doing in there?"Hitsugaya sprayed the tea he just drank, just when he thought everything was going to be okay and let his guard down, he got hit by surprise.

"E…eh? I well…you…" Hitsugaya thought of the kiss in the dream and blushed bright red. 'I can't say it!'

"Hitsugaya-kun? Your face is all red. Do you have a fever?" Hinamori stood up and slowly approached Hitsugaya.

"Hinamori! D…don't come any closer…w…what do you think you're doing?" Hitsugaya could feel steam would come out from his head if he allowed this to go on further.

"Hm? Just checking your forehead to see if you have a fever." Hinamori continued to move closer.

"St…stop it! Can't you listen? I said stop!" Hitsugaya struggled to move away, but his body would not listen, he didn't know whether it was because it was his illness or "hormones" at work here. "Ah!" Hitsugaya froze when he felt Hinamori's cold and soft hand landing on his forehead.

The next few seconds were like an eternity for Hitsugaya, he could feel himself suffocating from the intense atmosphere. "Hi…Hinamori…"

"It's a bit hot; I'll go get a wet towel." Hitsugaya breathed again when Hinamori let go of her hand and stood up again.

"That wouldn't be necessary, Hinamori-san."

At this moment, the door opened and there stood Rangiku, carrying a wet towel.

"Rangiku-san, thank you so much," Hinamori said slowly.

"I just remembered I need to do something, so I got to go now, here fetch." Rangiku winked as she threw the wet towel towards Hinamori while walking off.

"Rangiku-san! Ah…ah…" Hinamori tried to catch the towel but Rangiku threw it too high up, so she slowly walked towards the bed, trying to catch it when it lands. Her eyes were fully transfixed on the towel that she did not notice Hitsugaya's yelling,

"Oi! Hinamori! You're going too near the bed…"

"KYAA!" As expected, Hinamori lost her balance and fell on the bed face down.

"Ouch…you okay, Hitsugaya-…" Her face and Hitsugaya's were now inches apart. They both froze.

A long silence was only broken shortly by the wind blowing outside. 'This is even worse than the dream.' Hitsugaya was sweating all over now. He could feel Hinamori's breath, he could smell her sweet scent, he could feel her soft, 'Ah! What am I thinking? Must stay rational…rational…rational'…

"Hitsugaya…kun…" said Hinamori with a very red face.

'Could…could it be?' "Hina…mori…"

"AH! GOMEN!" Hinamori woke up from her trance and stood up her face remained red.

"It…it's nothing…"

"Ne, Hitsugaya-kun, you should get some sleep," Trying to change the subject, Hinamori placed the wet towel on Hitsugaya's forehead and tucked him in.

Hitsugaya did not argue with her, for he really was feeling tired.

"O…okay…" He looked at Hinamori again, "Ne…"

"Eh? What is it?" Hinamori answered with a startled look.

"Thanks for visiting," Hitsugaya smiled and slowly nodded off.

Hinamori stood there watching Hitsugaya sleeping soundly, she blushed at what she was about to do.

'I'm such an idiot', Thought Hinamori. 'Why did I apologize?' Hinamori could feel her heart nearly stopped when her lips was inches from Hitsugaya's. 'I ought to be bolder…Hope this time it works…' Slowly she approached Hitsugaya's face, making sure Hitsugaya didn't wake up, and kissed him on the cheeks.

"Thanks for yesterday, Hitsugaya-kun."

Outside Hitsugaya's quarters, Hinamori stepped outside and saw Rangiku standing by the door smiling.

She winked to Hinamori and said, "So that's what your dream is about…"

Hinamori blushed and said nothing for a while, then smiled and said, "But it's all thanks to Hitsugaya-kun that I got better."

Matsumoto smiled, "I see. Well then, I guess I'll escort you back then. Shall we go? I want to see the new Soul Candy you bought anyway."

Hinamori nodded, "Okay." And they walked off towards the sunset.

THE END

Kinny's Notes: A special cameo by Ichimaru, it just pops up in my head while thinking of how to end Hitsugaya's dream scene as hilariously as possible. Originally, I had wanted to write an angsty nightmare scene where Hitsugaya dreams of something terrible happening to Hinamori, but that'd be too angsty and take the comedy out of the overall story mood. Think of it as a treat for any Ichimaru x Hitsugaya fans out there. (One thing that Bleach loses to Naruto for me is its lack of yaoi couples. lol ) But I still prefer Ichimaru ending up with Rangiku.

Speaking of Rangiku, I made her into the reliable big sister type, I must've played too much of those bishoujo visual novel games, hence a similarity in my narration style from those games (more like books with voices). Overall, the idea for this story came from me going through one of the short webcomic from the Japanese fan art sites (they really provide loads of fanfic inspiration, trust me). It's basically two short webcomics from the same artist I think, I forgot the address, but the premise is the same: one with Hitsugaya visiting Hinamori sleeping and the other one the opposite. If anyone should come across the site, I'd be grateful if anyone could give me the address so I can give that artist some due credit.

Perhaps it's from these fanart sites that inspired this "out of character" Hitsugaya, as my beta reader, Davan Trask has noted. I also noted I may have unwittingly used more Japanese terms than I would have permitted, if anyone feels annoyed by the narration being distorted, I do apologize. I'll be using this as a lesson to write better next time, since I rarely write.

Once again, very special thanks to Davan for beta reading in the shortest time possible.