Title: When two fools collide

Rating: G, romance

Pairing / Characters: Hitsugaya Toushirou / Matsumoto Rangiku, Unohana, Isane

Word Count: 610 words

Warnings: Nothing

Summary: An injured Hitsugaya, a frantic Rangiku, and confessions of love

A/N: I seem to be stuck on a romance track. Don't ask me why.

FOR CELLI, WHO STILL DOESN'T LEAVE ME ENOUGH REVIEWS…

'Where is he? Where is he? Is he here?'

Unohana took one look at Matsumoto's wild eyes and disheveled appearance and tried to calm her down.

'Please Matsumoto-fukutaichou, he's perfectly all right, resting comfortably. There's really no need to worry.'

Matsumoto grabbed Unohana's hands. 'I need to see him, please, Unohana-taichou, let me see him for a few minutes…'

It was clear to Unohana that short of sedation, nothing else would help. With a sigh, she led the frantic young woman up the stairs, down a quiet, picture lined corridor, and to a door near the end of the hall way. As she gestured for Matsumoto to enter, she said 'Keep it short please, Matsumoto-fukutaichou. He does need to rest.'

'Thank you, I will.' Matsumoto inclined her head as Unohana slid the door shut, and only once she was sure they were alone, did she walk towards the bed where an injured Hitsugaya Toushirou lay, eyes closed.

He wasn't asleep though, as she soon found out.

'You really made a racket down there, Matsumoto.'

Matsumoto crossed the room in a few steps and slapped him upside the head, gritting her teeth.

'I made a racket? I made a racket? Half your squad is in hysterics, the division is in rack and ruin, you're lying in bed with burns and cuts and bruises, you could have died out there, and I'M MAKING A RACKET? YOU LITTLE CREEP, WHY I BOTHERED TO COME UP HERE AND –'

'Matsumoto, shut up,' Hitsugaya told her calmly, putting a finger over her lips.

Matsumoto flushed deeply, and didn't move an inch.

'Do you really think you let me down?' he asked her gently. 'I trust you to watch my back, you know.'

'Yes, and this is what happens when I do,' Matsumoto whispered. 'I nearly get my own captain killed…'

'Idiot. Don't you see? It was either you or me, and when it comes down to that, there's only one choice, really. If it had been you lying in this bed, I would never have forgiven myself…'

'But I should have kept you safe… what kind of lieutenant am I if I can't even do that?'

Hitsugaya sighed deeply, and sat up, turning in the bed so they were face to face. Reaching out with his good arm, he traced the outline of her cheek, the curve of her jaw, the fullness of her lips.

'I would have lost a part of my soul if you had died out there. When I saw that hollow go for you… I've never been so scared in my life. The only thing I wanted to do was to make sure you were safe… I can't live without you, don't you realize that yet? I love you.'

Matsumoto's flush deepened. 'I love you too, why else do you think I was so upset with you?'

Hitsugaya pulled her into his arms, hugging her as she leaned her head against his shoulder. Neither of them noticed Unohana glance into the room before silently closing the door again.

'Well,' Isane said grumpily, 'she was certainly desperate to see him.'

Unohana smiled mysteriously. 'Of course she was, she had to tell him that she loved him.'

Isane looked incredulous. 'That's all? That she loved him?'

'What else makes fools out of people? Love. And those two are fools, Isane.'

Unohana's smile deepened. 'When two fools collide, there's nothing on earth that ca stop them. You'll realize that soon.'

Isane flushed. 'I have no idea what you're talking about, Unohana-taichou.'

Unohana laughed. 'I'm sure you don't, Isane.'

She walked down the corridor, leaving her blushing lieutenant just standing there with her mouth open.