White Peaches

Chapter 1

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'Hinamori...'

Toushirou Hitsugaya, captain of the 10th Division, stared blankly at the white expanse of wall that separated the lobby from one of the many patients' rooms in the Fourth Division's Medicinal Care Unit. Unblinking eyes slowly trailed up from the crack near the molding, to the small blood smudge in the center of the wall, and finally up to the off-white ceiling, not even able to take in the familiar sight in front of him as thoughts raced through his skilled mind.

Fourteen months. It had been fourteen months since Momo Hinamori-fukutaicho, Lieutenant of the 5th Division of the Gotei 13, had been stabbed in the chest by her former captain, Sousuke Aizen, and fallen into a coma.

Two months. It had been two months since Ichigo Kurosaki, Yoruichi Shihouin, Kisuke Urahara, Orihime Inoue, Yasutoro Sado, and Uryuu Ishida decided to take action without Soul Society knowing and killed Sousuke Aizen along with his accomplices Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tousen, former captains of the 3rd and 9th Divisions.

Despite the fact that all threat was gone and peace had been restored to Soul Society, Hinamori-fukutaicho was unable to awake from her fitful, torturous dreams. Retsu Unohana, captain of the 4th Division, had informed Hitsugaya that Hinamori was not capable of arising from her current state due to the fact that the emotional trauma she had endured, because of the betrayal of her adored and admired captain, had forced her mind into submission and hiding. Basically, Hinamori was there physically, alive and kicking, but emotionally and mentally she was horribly scarred and may never wake up from the nightmares that haunted her brain and burned images into the back of her never-opening eyelids.

Hitsugaya had spent an agonizing fourteen months by his childhood friend's bedside, waiting and praying for her eyes to flutter open.

Hitsugaya had spent a torturous three months, out of that seven, awaiting news about Ichigo and co. and their progress with their pursuit of Aizen.

But worst of all, Hitsugaya had spent two heartbreaking weeks, the shortest amount of time out of those three, pacing back and forth through the Care Unit's lobby awaiting news of Hinamori's current condition; which had taken a horrible turn for the worst.

"Taicho," Matusmoto began hesitantly; not wanting to force him out of his thoughts, but thoroughly irritated by the black and white blur constantly moving in and out the corner of her vision, "Hinamori-chan will be perfectly fine. You know she will. She's a strong young woman and-"

Turning an icy gaze towards his Lieutenant, Hitsugaya interrupted her encouraging speech before his headache got any worse. "Shut up Matsumoto."

"What?! I'm just trying to cheer you up!"

At the lack of response, Matsumoto settled for muttering a quick "stubborn brat" before stomping out of the building while Hitsugaya turned on his heel behind the slammed door in an attempt to continue his previous thoughtful pacing.

Before he could re-submerge himself in thoughts, however, a soft voice called out to him from the hallway to his right.

"Hitsugaya-taicho." Quickly snapping his attention to Unohana, Hitsugaya gave her a look that signaled for her to continue. "Hinamori's condition is still rocky, but we've managed to get it stable again for the night. Tomorrow will be another long battle, so please go get some rest."

"Is there-"

Gently putting up a hand to stop any protests, Unohana shook her head solemnly. "There is nothing neither you nor I can do at this moment but rest for tomorrow and prepare ourselves for the long day ahead of us."

After a few moments, Hitsugaya reluctantly turned away, his captain cloak swishing behind him softly as his hastened steps carried him out the building. Stepping out of the door, he took a deep, shaky breath of the fresh air around him and closed his eyes.

"What you need, taicho, is some sake. Allow us to pour some for you!"

Although severely startled, the white-haired prodigy calmly looked towards the three lieutenants standing a little ways away from the doorway. He hadn't sensed their reiatsu—perhaps he really did need some rest.

Coolly flicking his gaze over the sake bottles Matsumoto, Renji, and Kira held in their arms, Hitsugaya grunted at them before continuing down the path towards the 10th Division.

"Taicho…!" Matsumoto whined from behind him, her feet hurrying to catch up with his quick strides, "You're too stressed! Just a few drinks with us! No one knows you're just a little underage!"

A small twitch of his eyebrow was the only indication that he had heard anything as he hastened his steps, trying to escape the annoying pressuring of his underling.

"Yeah, Hitsugaya-taicho, you really do look tired. Nothing perks a person up like sake! We won't party too hard, we promise." Renji sauntered up beside Matsumoto and clinked the two sake bottles he was holding together. "Right Kira?"

"Uh…! Yes!" Fidgeting uncomfortably, Kira finally caught up with his two friends after much struggling with the four sake bottles and four cups he held in his hands. "But…do we really need this much?"

"Of course we do!" Matsumoto scolded the younger lieutenant but quickly returned her attention to her superior. "Please, taicho!"

Very stressed and exhausted, Hitsugaya stopped abruptly—causing Renji and Matusmoto to suddenly stop—and soon afterwards heard the crashing and breaking of sake bottles as Kira failed to stop in time.

Rubbing his head gently, Kira coughed through the heady scent of alcohol. "Ouch…"

"My sake!" Kicking Kira in his head, Matsumoto crouched down and gingerly picked up the two un-shattered bottles remaining.

"Matusmoto!" With a quick 'eep', Matusmoto dropped the bottle she had previously rescued. "Don't you have paperwork to do in the office?"

"Um…"

"Not only that," Hitsugaya continued on heatedly, "but you have your own individual report that is due to Yamamoto-dono tomorrow morning…"

"But-"

"…and…do I really look desperate enough to resort to drinking with you three?" Hitsugaya sneered coldly; his patience having reached the breaking point.

The three lieutenants shared glances before nodding sharply and replying with a quiet, "yes, you actually do, taicho", earning another glare and a whip along the shins from the violent twist of the Tenth Division Captain's cloak.

Once his white head disappeared behind the door of the Tenth division, Matsumoto snorted indignantly and turned to help Kira.

"It's a shame that he would rather resort to appearing to have a stick up his ass than drink with us."

With a loud thump and a horrified shriek, Matsumoto dislodged the sandal from her head and glanced over her shoulder in surprise. "Taicho! They almost fell out again!" Gesturing towards her large bust, Matsumoto pouted at the fuming captain's retreating figure.

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Hitsugaya sighed lightly when he finally reached his office. Slumping into the large, plushy, red chair and resting his elbows on the mahogany desk in front of him, he rubbed large, slow circles into his temples.

Very gently, and barely noticable, Hitsugaya sneezed. Damn that woman and her sake! The stench was buried deep within his clothes and it was making his headache worse.

After making sure that no one was around, he allowed his head to drop to the surface of the desk with a soft thud, flinching at the pain from the impact. A shuddering sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes; intent to clear his thoughts and relax his body.

"Shirou-chan…"

Hitsugaya whipped his head up, quickly grasping the back of his neck from the pain, and looked about the room as frantically as a trained captain could allow for his public appearance.

Hesitantly rising from his chair, Hitsugaya lowered his hand from his neck in favor of clenching the fabric of his hakama. "Hina…mori?"

He paused, perfectly still, trying to hear even the slightest sound.

Was someone trying to play games with his mind? Or was it really her? But it couldn't be her; she was in critical condition in the Intensive Care portion of the Medicinal Care Unit.

"Shirou-chan…"

This time it was much more clear, and the voice seemed to be coming from behind him. However, when he turned, there was noone there.

With cautious and ever so slightly trembling steps, he walked into the center of the room, concentrating his reiatsu and trying to find her own reiatsu. "Hinamori?" He repeated carefully, eyebrows knitted in concentration.

"Shirou-chan."

Whipping around and facing the door, Hitsugaya's eyes widened considerably before shrinking to a less noticeable, but still larger than normal, size.

"Hinamori…"

She stood there, hair thin and oily, skin pale and opaque-looking, eyes too large for her small face, and her yukata falling off of her sickly form; nevertheless, he was incredibly relieved and happy to see her.

"Hinamori…what are you doing here? When did you-?" He stopped abruptly as tears began to brim at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill. "Hinamori?"

And spill they did.

Fat droplets cascaded down her cheeks, leaving streaks of shimmering moisture in their wake. "Shirou-chan!" She covered her face in her hands and collapsed to her knees, her shoulders shuddering from the force of her sudden sobs.

"Hinamori! What's wrong?" Frozen mask of composure long forgotten, Hitsugaya flung himself to his knees and crawled to the sobbing girl's side. Concern laced his voice and swirled in the depths of his emerald orbs as he hesitantly raised a hand to her shoulder. "Hinamori, speak to me! Tell me what's-!"

The harsh clapping sound, created by Hinamori's hand against Hitsugaya's cheek, resounded through the room as wide green eyes stared at the tatami mats in shock. "Hina…Hinamo…Hinamori…?" He dragged his eyes up to her and raised a hand to his stinging cheek. She sneered down at him distastefully, her arm still raised from the strike she had given him.

"I hate you!"

He flinched openly at the harsh, biting words and dug his fingernails into the floor below him. "Hinamori…?" He couldn't usher any other name, any other word, any other sound.

Did she still believe that he was Aizen's killer? Did Aizen use an illusion on her, while she was in her coma, and brainwash her into hating him? Was he, himself, really that horrible for not being able to protect her? Was that why she was mad? Or was it something else? What could he have done?

"I fucking hate you!"

She swore. Hinamori swore. She never cursed, no matter how horrible something or someone was.

This couldn't be her…

…could it?

"Hina…Hina…?"

Before he could stutter out her name, she got up and ran out the doors, crystal tears flying in her wake.

"Hina…" Shock grasped Hitsugaya's lungs in a vice-grip, preventing all air from entering them for a few moments before he shakily got to his feet. "Hina…Hinamori... Hinamori… Hinamori!"

With a few unsteady steps he stumbled towards the door; the numbness of shock still posessing him. What was this feeling deep within his chest and being? Why could he barely speak, barely think, barely move, barely breathe?

Hitsugaya leaned heavily against the framing of the door when he finally reached it, still murmering her name as though it were a magical chant. Moving was so difficult, so exhausting, but he had to. He had to reach her. He had to talk to her. He just had to.

And then it happened.

He pushed himself out the door and spun towards the sound of her retreating footsteps, but she wasn't retreating. In fact, she wasn't even there. Suddenly her angry reiatsu crashed into him from behind, leaving him breathless as he spun the other way to meet her furious, heated gaze; tears still pouring silently down her cheeks.

"Hinamori…"

She held Tobiume, her zanpakuto, in her hands and raised it high above her head. He didn't have time to think to dodge. He couldn't have dodged if he tried. He couldn't have even tried.

"I hate you, little Shirou-chan." She whispered tauntingly as a smirk tilted the side of her lips in a horrifying manner that seemed so unnatural when placed upon her normally kind face.

"Hina…" He felt the cold steel of her sword cut deep within his chest, almost just as Aizen had done over a year ago. He didn't widen his eyes and he didn't twitch a finger.

The only sound that was whispered into the night, was the end of her name; sounding like a desperate plea as it dropped off his lips as slowly as he descended towards the wood in front of him. "...mori…"

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A/N: How did you like the first chapter? This story will (hopefully) be updated once a week. –crosses fingers- Please read & review!