Hiya, Larxene here This is the entry for Cherryblossom hime's contest. Yes, I know it's rather late, but I've been swamped with homework and studying for finals recently...0.o Yup, this chapter is rather short, but it's the best I could do given the circumstances. This is most likely going to be a two-shot, but it may be a three-shot if I'm lucky. Anyways, here's Hypothermia! (and yes, it is a Hitsuhina fic)

I slogged through the snow, my breath misting in front of me. It was freezing outside, and shivering, I pulled my coat closer. Matsumoto had forced me out here an hour ago, saying that I needed to clear my head.

"It's your birthday. You need to have some time to yourself! Everyone knows you've been working harder than everyone since Aizen betrayed us." She said, shoving me out the door.

"But I don't have time! There's still paperwork, training, and who knows what else before the attack!" I protested, trying to stop her from pushing me out the door.

"Too bad!" she said, and with a final push I was kicked out of my own office.

I sighed. After that, I had wandered outside the walls of the Gotei 13 headquarters, remembering the days when Hinamori and I played out here, without a care in the world.

Glancing up at the sky, I made a mental note to start heading back. The clouds were a dark grey, pregnant with snow and ice. Another storm was coming, and from the looks of it, it would be a big one. I picked up the pace, squinting from all the white. Seeing the walls of the Soul Society in the distance, I started toward them, angling my path toward the gates.

Soon, my solo travel was accompanied by a flurry of soft snowflakes. I smiled, and stopping, I tried to catch one on my tongue. Blinking, I shook my head, wondering just what I was doing. Turning back on my course, I continued.

o0o

Hinamori giggled, helping Matsumoto hang up the giant banner. They had been planning a surprise birthday for Toshiro, and now that he was out of the office, they were able to get the decorations up. Several others from the squad were in there helping as well, chattering excitedly.

A blond-haired girl walked up, holding a box of something-or-other. "Matusmoto-san, where do I put these?" she asked shyly.

Matusmoto examined the contents of the boxes. "Oh, those are hung from the ceiling. Just use a little kido to stick them up there- they'll stay."

"Ok. Thank you." She said, bowing slightly, than trotted off.

Climbing down off the ladder, Hinamori looked around. "It's starting to look amazing." She said, clapping her hands together in excitement.

Matusmoto nodded, eyeing the work. The blond-haired girl had rallied up several others to scatter the hanging snowflakes from the box on the ceiling, and two others were arranging the giant pile of presents into a sculpture of a dragon, using Kido to make sure they didn't fall. The banner she and Hinamori had hung was up, sparkling greatly and prominently displaying its message: Happy Birthday Captain Hitsugaya!

"Alright, we're almost done! Hinamori, once we're done, go find the Captain, ok?" Matusmoto asked.

Hinamori nodded. "Alright. He shouldn't be too hard to find with hair like this."

Matsumoto giggled. "Just don't let him hear you say that."

o0o

I hadn't realized how far I had traveled. Several minuets later I still hadn't gotten any closer, and a small trickle of fear went down my spine. The snowfall had gotten harder, and it wasn't going to let up soon. Panting, I picked up the pace, jogging to keep myself warm and to ward off the fact that I might not make it to the walls before the blizzard struck. Oh of all times to listen to Matsumoto….

The blizzard struck.

o0o

Hinamori looked over the rooftops, worried. She hadn't found Toshiro yet, and since she normally ran into him whenever she was looking, she was getting a bad feeling in her gut that something wasn't right. Going over to the gatekeeper, she waved up at him. "Have you seen Captain Hitsugaya recently?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No. He left some time ago but hasn't returned." Seeing her look, he quickly said, "Don't worry, missy. He probably returned through some other gate."

"Alright- thanks." She said, still worried. Thinking he may have gotten to the companies stable ahead of her, she started back when the blizzard started. Blindly, she struggled forward until she ran into a wall. Sighing with relief, Momo found the door and tumbled inside. "It's gotten crazy out there." She panted.

Matusmoto looked at her expectantly. "Where the Captain?"
Hinamori froze. "He's not back here with you?"

"No. Oh no, don't tell me…" They stared at each other, horror in their eyes. Toshiro was still out there? They raced to the hallway, gathering all the coats, scarves, earmuffs, and snow boots they could find. Putting them on, they raced back to the others. "Here, wear these. We've got to go find the Captain!" Matusmoto yelled.