Because You Are My Destiny

~*~ The empty spaces in your heart were made so another persons love could fill them ~*~

"Hitsugaya-kun?!"

"It's Taichou."

Hinamori was startled out of her reverie by the unexpected visit. Hitsugaya held the document in his hand and explained the need for a stamp. The Fuku-Taichou nodded, taking the document and making her way quickly to the Fifth Division's office. With a soft thud the intricate shape of the Fifth Division's stamp appeared on the paper alongside many other beautiful stamps. Rushing back to the room where Hitsugaya was waiting, Hinamori notice her childhood friend was being fascinated by something in the corner of the room.

It didn't take her long to notice what it was.

"Hitsugaya-kun! What are you doing?"

The Taichou had knelt down next to a rosebud that refused to bloom. A perfectly white envelope lay next to it. He picked it up, flipped it over and was about to open it. Hinamori rushed forward and snatched the envelope away. Hitsugaya frowned.

"What is it?"

"You can't open it!"

"What is it that makes it so special? What does it say?"

"I… um… I don't know."

The prodigy's frown deepened. Then he asked one more question.

"Have you ever opened it?"

Hinamori shook her head. No wonder the envelope was in such perfect condition; it hadn't even been opened before. Hitsugaya turned his eyes towards a nearby window, noticing the healthy sunlight that was streaming in. He picked the rose up off of the ground and carried it outside with Hinamori following, envelope clutched tightly in her hand. Hitsugaya stared at the rosebud, perplexed.

"I wonder why it hasn't bloomed."

Hinamori sighed in agreement; would she ever find the one she was destined to be with? With Hinamori suddenly strangely distracted, the Taichou snatched the envelope from her hands with a single smooth movement. Hitsugaya waved it in the air.

"So why can't I open this?"

"Because the rose hasn't bloomed yet."

As quickly but with as much detail as she could, Hinamori summarized the story Obaa-chan had told her and how the rose would only blossom when she came to realize who the one she was destined to be with was. The Taichou raised an eyebrow before pulling Hyourinmaru out from its sheath.

"Maybe you just haven't watered it enough."

"Hey-! What are you doing?!"

Unlike the normal situations when Hitsugaya would release Hyourinmaru's shikai, this was a moment for calm and non-destructive motives. With the chain with the crescent moon appearing off the end and moisture suddenly appearing with the air, Hinamori was lost as to what the Taichou was planning to do. Hitsugaya pointed the blade at the sky and a large rain cloud slowly began to appear. Hinamori looked up in awe.

"It's… raining."

A few drops fell at first, but then more and more until the poor little rose was drenched. Hyourinmaru was a zanpakutou that could control the weather, so making it rain wasn't the part that surprised Hinamori.

It was the fact that the petals were finally opening; the rose was blooming.

Hitsugaya's cloud continued to shower the rose until it was fully opened. Unlike all the other roses in the garden which were all one color for the whole flower, this rose combined all different shades of pink. The outside was a dark pink color that almost looked red while the center of the rose was a delicate baby pink. Hyourinmaru's shikai disappeared as did the cloud.

"Now can I open the envelope?"

The Taichou unsealed the envelope carefully, taking care not to rip it. Hinamori, finally shaking away all the shock she had felt rushed up to Hitsugaya to read the message as well; after all, it was given to her. The message inside was folded in half. Hitsugaya took the sheet out and unfolded it. It read:

Toshiro, look after her or else I will never forgive you!

Obaa-chan knew all along.

The two of them stared at each other for a long moment, neither of them making a single movement. Within themselves, they always knew that they were linked. It was only now did they figure out their connection was more than 'childhood friends'. They closed the distance between them, letting the rest of the world fade in the background.

It didn't take a genius to see that the two of them were meant to be together. Something bound them, something profound. They had never been able to put a name to it, but now they could Their kiss ended just long enough for four whispered words.

"You are my Destiny"

A/N: And that is how strawberrii's (would-be) entry in the Destiny Competition ends. Thank you to everyone who has read and supported this story!

&. strawberrii