Summary: Hitsugaya would have done anything for Momo to be herself again—alive, happy, and with him. Right now she's alive and happy, but at the cost of her memories. Hitsugaya slowly helps her get through life while sparks fly in the air. Hitsugaya wants Momo back with him, but little does he know that a certain blonde lieutenant has his eyes on the same girl. Rated T for my potty mouth, just in case.
All righty, so this is my first romance-drama type fanfic. Please be kind and offer suggestions if needed, and please review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach
Chapter One: Let me hate the world
It was a perfect, beautiful, cliché day. The sun was shining beautifully and there was not a wisp of clouds in the blue sky. Light laughter found its way into the ears of the shinigami who were enjoying the fine day. A gentle breeze ruffled the curtains of the tenth division offices slightly. It was a perfect day.
Captain Hitsugaya Toshirou hated it all.
He hated sunshine and warm weather enough as it was, but today was the worst. At least if it was raining he'd have half a decent excuse to hate the world.
Hitsugaya laid his brush down and rubbed his eyes. Stupid, lazy, good for nothing lieutenant, he thought. Never doing her paperwork... but in his heart, he knew that Matsumoto was not the real problem.
Unohana Retsu had told the captains at a meeting last week that Momo's condition had been growing steadily worse. Apparently, Hitsugaya's beloved childhood friend was contemplating suicide and had lost the will to live.
"We will do everything we can to keep her alive," she had said. "But in the end, if Momo does not want to live we cannot force her."
"Why?" Hitsugaya had shouted. "Please, let her live!" For my sake, he almost added.
Unohana looked anguished. "Even if we force her to live, it will do nothing but harm. Her mind is thinking suicidal thoughts right now. The only thing we can do is kill her right now, if you really want to help her."
"Hell, no."
"Then let Momo make her own choice. Perhaps she will choose to stay alive for, ah, a special someone?"
"Maybe a special someone, but I doubt it's me," Hitsugaya thought aloud, "She'll just live to see Aizen again."
"Are you talking to yourself, Taicho?" Matsumoto asked lazily, as she was napping on the sofa.
"No."
"Don't worry. I have extra sake. Drink your problems away!"
"I am not one of your drinking buddies," Hitsugaya snapped. A vein by his neck was threatening to burst.
"You could be."
"That would be pointless and stupid. Why would I?"
"Because grownups drink sake, and you wanna be a grownup, right? So you can 'protect that innocent little girl...'" Matsumoto trailed off, quoting Kusaka.
Hitsugaya banged his head against his desk. "Leave me alone..." Just then, a black hell butterfly flew in threw the window.
Captain Hitsugaya, this is an order from Captain Unohana. Please report to the Fourth Division hospital immediately. Patient number 234, Hinamori Momo has woken up. Again, please report to the hospital at once.
The white-haired captain's head shot up immediately. "Don't get too drunk, Matsumoto," he called before shunpoing away.
"Have fuuuun!"
Did Momo really wake up? Hitsugaya asked his zanpakuto as he ran.
There was a slight pause. Yes, she did wake up.
Is she well?
Another pause. You will see for yourself.
Won't you tell me any more?
No.
Slightly angry, he ended the conversation abruptly, thoughts racing through his head. Just last week she was thinking about killing herself. Is she really well? If this is a prank, I will kill Unohana. Taking a deep breath, he walked into the hospital, wondering how Momo was.
"Let me see Momo!" he yelled at a nurse.
"You will have to see to it that these forms are filled out first," the nurse replied nervously. "Hinamori-fukutaichou has gotten well only several minutes ago. We would like for her to rest."
"Listen, I got a hell butterfly from Unohana. You better let me in, or—"
"Hitsugaya-Taichou? I would like to talk with you," Unohana said calmly, appearing suddenly and interrupting his rant.
"Finally."
The fourth division captain directed him into a waiting room. The room was wallpapered with pink and yellow roses and smelled like apple pie. It was comforting, but for Hitsugaya it was only nerve-wracking.
"I trust you got my message?"
"Yes," was the curt reply. "Can I see Momo now?"
"You need to understand something. What Momo will be like now is of her own choice, so do not object to it. Hinamori is not like her previous self now, she is very different, and I must ask you to respect that."
"Sure, sure."
"Momo asked me to carry out the treatment for her, and its effects are permanent. Now, are you sure you want to see her?"
"Yes," Hitsugaya replied firmly.
"I admit I was thinking about what you said to me at the meeting, for I too, would like Hinamori to continue living. What we did were selfish things, but she is alive." Unohana sighed.
"And that's the most important thing! Now, can I see her?"
Unohana looked sad for a slight moment. "The effects are permanent," she repeated.
"So what is she? Bald? I don't care."
"Come with me," she said with another sigh, taking him to Momo's room.
Momo! Are you really well? I'm sorry for knocking you out, and I'm sorry for not being able to protect you. It's my fault completely, but I'll find a way to make it up to you, I promise.
"You can go in now," Unohana whispered. "Please don't overreact."
Hitsugaya threw open the door and saw the small girl sitting on the bed peacefully, staring out the window. When she heard the door slam, she turned towards her guests and smiled in a way that broke Hitsugaya's heart.
"Hello, Captain," she said politely, taking note of the white haori. "I'm Hinamori Momo. What's your name?"
Hitsugaya felt his heart drop to the floor. Is that what Unohana meant by 'permanent effects?' Has Momo lost her memory?
"What's your name?" she asked again.
"Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro," he said, still shocked.
"It's nice to meet you, Captain Hitsugaya!" Momo flashed another smile.
No, we've met before.
"It's very nice to meet you as well, Hinamori-fukutaichou."
No, I know you, Bed-wetter Momo.
"It's a nice day, isn't it, Captain Hitsugaya?"
No. Why didn't you call me Shiro-chan?
"It's perfect, Momo."
No, it's the most horrible day of my life.
Very dramatic? Or not enough? Please R&R and give me feedback.