Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Bleach series in any way. All copyrights go to Tite Kubo.
Synopsis: When they were younger, Momo moved away with a promise to return to him someday. However, when she does come back, she doesn't remember the promise she made to. The same goes for him. How will they find each other once more?
Author's Note: Just as I promised! I completed the introduction to my new fan fic. I hope you enjoy this story. Anyway, without any further adieu, here's the beginning. Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking. / Dreaming. / Flash Back."
Prologue
She stood in front of him. Looking down at her fiddling fingers, she didn't know what to say to him. Tightening his grip on his light blue dragon plushy, he took the initiative to ask, "Why did you have to go?"
"My dad is offered a job overseas," the six year old replied, "and he accepted it."
"Overseas? Is it far away?"
"Yes it is."
"Will I ever see you again?"
"I don't know."
Suddenly holding out his dragon plushy to her, she asked, "Your Hyorinmaru."
"Keep it, but promise me that when you come back, you'll find me," he said. "I'll wait for you here."
Smiling at the three year old boy, she accepted his gift and rewarded him with a soft kiss on his forehead. "You're so sweet. Arigato."
"Momo-chan, it's time to go!" her mother called out.
"Hai Okaa-san!" she replied before turning back to him. "Well, it's time for me to go."
Slowly nodding with agreement, the boy watched her get into the car. Rolling down the window shield, the girl put her face out and started waving him good bye. As the car drove away, he suddenly started running after her. "Don't forget me! Always remember the house that has the peach tree, Tobiume!"
"I won't! I'll miss you!"
"Bye! See you soon!"
"Yeah! I promise I'll come back to you! Just you wait!!!"
By the time he ran out of breath, the boy watched the girl disappear from his life. "Ja ne Momo..."
TEN YEARS LATER
"You're going to love it here," her mother said as she drove the car to their destination. "I know you did when you were younger."
"But that was ten years ago," the sixteen year old girl replied. "Why did we have to leave America for this place?"
"That's because my boss decided to transfer me back here," her father replied. "I'm sorry for making you leave your friends in America, but I know you're going to be fine. You're certainly going to make new ones while you're here in Karakura Town."
Crossing her arms over her chest, she pouted, "No I won't."
"Now don't be that way Momo-chan," Okaa-san said. "Remember what I told you, always think positive."
"Hai..." she said.
For the rest of the ride, she looked through the window to view the scenery. "Momo-chan, we have arrived."
After Years Apart
Chapter One: Coming Back to Something Old
"Momo-chan, I'd like you to meet this little boy," her mother said as she placed her hand out to the young boy. "He's my friend's son. His name is H--"
"Shiro-chan," she replied. "You're Shiro-chan."
Blinking at the girl, the boy said, "Shiro-chan?"
"Yeah, your hair is so white like snow. That's why I'm calling you Shiro-chan."
"But my name isn't Shiro-chan, it's Hi-"
"I'm still calling you Shiro-chan either way. It will be your nickname."
"Souka?"
"Hai! It's nice to meet you, I'm Hinamori Momo."
Opening her chocolate brown eyes, the sixteen year old teenager soon found herself in her bedroom. Sitting up from her bed, she scanned the room. "Out of all the dreams I've had, why can't it be about my friends in America?" she asked.
Suddenly hearing a few knocks from the door, she heard her mother call out, "Momo-chan, it's time for breakfast!"
"Hai! I'm coming down in a few minutes!" she replied back.
With that said, she sighed in defeat and got out of bed to start her day.
KITCHEN
"Momo-chan! Are you ready yet?" her mother called out from the end of the hallway.
Running into the kitchen while carrying her school bag, Hinamori replied, "I'm almost done."
Holding up her wrapped bento, Ms. Hinamori said, "Are you sure you don't want me to take you to school?"
"I'm not a six year old Okaa-san," Hinamori replied as she took the bento and carried it to the front entrance. "I can take care of myself."
"Yeah you're right. You're sixteen now," she said as she watched the raven haired girl put on her shoes.
"Anyway, I better get going or else I'll be late on my first day."
"Hai. Have a good first day!" she said as she waved good bye to her.
"Ja ne Okaa-san!"
KARAKURA HIGH
She sighed in defeat as she walked into the school premises. "Who am I kidding?" she said. "Adjusting to this place is going to take a while. I miss America. I wonder how all my old friends are doing."
As she was busy thinking, she didn't notice that a soccer ball was headed towards her. "Watch out!" called out a voice.
By the time she looked to the side and noticed, her reflexes reacted causing her to lift her bag up, covering her face, successfully blocking the ball from hitting her face. "Gomen nesai! Are you alright?" a pale blond haired teenager said as he ran up to her.
"I'm okay," Hinamori replied.
Sighing with relief, he said, "That's good to hear."
After they heard the school bell ring, the male teenager said, "Well, class is about to start. I'll see you again some other time."
"Hai..."
As she watched him leave, Hinamori said, "He looks like a nice person."
CLASS 2-3
She yawned with tiredness. "Tch, you took another nap again Matsumoto?" the red ponytail headed teenager, Renji asked.
Stretching her arms into the air, the strawberry orange haired young woman replied, "Yep! And it's one great one as well."
"Ano Rangiku-san, shouldn't you be studying for the English quiz?" her friend, Orihime asked.
Waving her hand in front of her, Matsumoto replied, "Don't worry, don't worry. I'm ready for it anytime unlike some people here."
Turning to the bald headed teenager sitting on her right side, Ikkaku retorted, "Shut up."
Hearing their sensei entering the room, the students settled down as they sat on their seats. Picking up her white chalk, she began writing a name on the green board. Once finished, she turned around to face the class and said, "Now class, before we can start today's lesson, I would like to introduce you to a new student that will be transferring to our class."
"I hope it's a girl," black haired teenager, Rukia said. "There has been too many boys in our class."
"Well sorry for being a boy," her classmate, Ichigo retorted.
"I wasn't talking to you Ichigo."
"You bi--"
"Kurosaki-kun, please stop talking," said the braided haired sensei, Unohana as she gave out a scary aura around her.
Intimidated by her presence, Ichigo compelled, "Hai...Unohana-sensei."
Smiling back at him, she said, "That's good. As I was saying, this new student came all the way here from America. So please be nice to her everyone, okay?"
"Hai!" everyone said.
Leaning towards her left, Matsumoto whispered to the student next to her. "Ne taicho, are you curious who the new student is?"
Facing away from the large breasted woman, the white haired student, Hitsugaya replied with less interest, "Not really...it's just a new student."
"But you should. Maybe she could be your new girlfriend."
"Be quiet. You only say that because you always force me to date all the new female transfer students."
"Oh yeah..."
"Please come in," Unohana said as she turned to the door.
The students turned to the side to see the slide door open. From the door, the raven haired girl entered the room and stood in front of the class.
"This is Hinamori Momo," Unohana said. "She will be joining us from now on."
Bowing down to her classmates, Hinamori said, "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"Hm, she's pretty cute," Matsumoto said, smiling with amusement. "Ne taicho?"
"Shut up Matsumoto," Hitsugaya retorted.
"Demo taicho, you didn't take a look at her."
"Be quiet."
"Now Hinamori-chan, please sit right next to Hitsugaya-kun," Unohana said. "The one with the white hair."
"Hai sensei," Hinamori said as she approached the white haired boy.
Walking past him and sitting in her seat, Hinamori turned to him and said, "It's nice to meet you."
Slowly nodding with agreement, Hitsugaya replied, "Same here."
"Now class, it's time for the English quiz," Unohana said as the class awed.
LUNCH TIME
As she packed her books into her school bag, Matsumoto approached her desk and placed her hand on it to get her attention. Looking up at the strawberry orange haired woman, she said, "Yes?"
"I'm Matsumoto Rangiku," she replied. "It's nice to meet you."
"Ah same here."
"Do you want to eat lunch with us?"
"Us?"
"Me and a few of my friends. Don't worry, none of them bite. Well, maybe except for one person, but anyway do you want to come?"
"Well umm--"
"Great! Let's go!" she happily said as she grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the classroom.
"But Rangiku-san, I didn't say anything!"
"Daijobou, it's going to be fun!"
"Mou..."
SCHOOLYARD
"Hey everyone!" Matsumoto waved at the others as she and Hinamori walked up to them.
"Where were you, Rangiku-san?" Ichigo asked before he took a bite out of his sandwich.
"I was showing Hinamori-chan around the school. I decided to invite her to lunch with us."
"Souka?"
"Now Hinamori-chan, this is my friends. Most of them are your classmates in class 2-3," Matsumoto explained. "Starting from the right is Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Yo Momo," he said.
"He's a member of the soccer team with the number fifteen jersey, a forward. Next to him is Kuchiki Rukia also known as the richest girl in the whole school. That's because she adopted into the noble family."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Rukia said.
"Hai, same here," Hinamori replied.
"The person with the red pineapple hairstyle is Abarai Renji," Matsumoto explained.
"Oi, red pineapple?" Renji retorted as he was trying to hold back his anger.
"Ah gomen gomen, he's also a part of the soccer team. He's also a forward, wearing the number six jersey. Behind him is baldy Maradame Ikkaku and bob-cut haired Ayasegawa Yumichika."
"Matsumoto, I'm not bald," Ikkaku warned.
"And I like my hairstyle," Yumichika complained as he flicked his hair to the side. "I think it's beautiful."
"The girl in the long orange hair is Inoue Orihime and next to her is Yasutora Sado, but everyone calls him Chad. After him is the glasses boy, Ishida Uryu," Matsumoto continued, "followed by Kira Izuru."
"Oh it's you," Hinamori said.
"Yeah, it's me alright," Kira replied as he was scratching the back of his head. "Sorry again for almost hitting you with a soccer ball."
"It's okay."
"Hmm? You already know her?" Renji asked.
"Yeah, we just met this morning."
"He's a defender in the boys soccer team with the number three jersey. Next to Kira is Hisagi Shuuhei," Matsumoto said. "He's the only senior in our group and also a member of the boys soccer team; the midfielder player with the number nine jersey."
"I see," Hinamori said.
"Finally at the farthest left and leaning against the tree is the student sitting next to you in class, Hitsugaya Toshiro. He currently is the record holder for being the youngest member in our group."
"Souka?"
"He's also a child prodigy. He's actually younger than all of us by about three years. In other words, taicho's actually supposed to be a middle school student, but he skipped a few grades."
"Really?" she asked as she turned her attention to the emerald-teal eyed prodigy.
"Oh yeah, he's also the team captain of the boys soccer team, the number ten game maker and forward."
"Sugoi..."
"If you think that's enough, then you're easily mistaken. Taicho's also the number one most wanted guy by all the girls in the school and that excludes a few of us."
"I see, well it's nice to meet you all," Hinamori said.
With a quick slap on the back, Matsumoto got her to sit down next to her. "Come on there's no need to be nervous or act formal with us," Matsumoto said. "We're all friends here."
"Ah, hai..."
Opening her wrapped bento, Hinamori picked up her metallic chopsticks and started eating with the rest of the group. "Oi taicho, you should eat something," Matsumoto said, calling out to the white haired boy, "or else you're not going to grow any taller than you are now."
"Shut up Matsumoto," Hitsugaya retorted as he turned his body to the side, facing away from her. "I already ate."
"Eh, no way! Taicho eats so quickly."
"That's because you were busy introducing us to the girl."
"Oh yeah..."
"Just leave Toshiro alone," Ichigo said. "He knows how to take care of himself."
"It's Hitsugaya-taicho, Kurosaki!" Hitsugaya snapped.
"All these people are a little weird," Hinamori thought. "They're totally not like anyone from America, but in a sense, I think they're okay to hang out with."
AFTER SCHOOL
As she is walking out of the school premises, she noticed Matsumoto and her group of friends were standing at the front entrance, waiting for her. When she noticed, Matsumoto raised her hand and started waving at her. "Oi Hinamori-chan!" Matsumoto called out.
"Rangiku-san, everyone. What are you all doing here?" Hinamori asked.
"Khora! How long do we have to wait for her?!" Ikkaku snapped. "I'm getting tired of waiting."
"Shut up baldy," Matsumoto replied.
"BALDY?! WHO ARE YOU TO CAL--"
"I'm going to tattletale on you Ikkaku and tell your cousin Yachiru about this," Matsumoto warned. "You're not supposed to start a fight with those who are older than you."
"Ehh?! Ah, hai...gomen nesai Matsumoto."
Smiling back at the bald headed teenager, she said, "Now that's much better."
"Let's walk now," Rukia said.
"Hai!" Matsumoto said.
TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM HINAMORI'S HOUSE
"Well, this is where most of us have to part," Matsumoto said.
"Where do you all live?" Hinamori asked.
"Ikkaku and Yumichika live together on the northern part of road, Orihime-chan and I live together on the southern side. Kira, Renji, Rukia, and Hisagi all live just right around the corner. They're all neighbours. Finally, Ichigo and taicho both live somewhere down this road."
"So I live near Kurosaki-kun's house and Hitsugaya-kun's house."
"Anyway, we better get going now," Matsumoto said as she and the others waved good bye. "See you tomorrow!"
"Ja ne," Hinamori said as she waved back to the others.
"Well let's get going now," Ichigo said.
"Ah hai..."
"Oi Toshiro! Don't walk too fast! Who knows if someone bad comes out to kidnap you!"
"Shut up..." Hitsugaya retorted as he walked ahead at a faster pace.
"So Kurosaki-kun, do you get along with Hitsugaya-kun?" Hinamori asked.
"Yeah more or less," Ichigo replied. "It has been like this since he entered High School."
"Souka? Even though he doesn't look like it, he really is a mature person."
"Tell me about it."
As they were walking by Kurosaki-kun's place, Ichigo stopped to wave good bye. "Well this is where I live," he said.
"Your family runs a clinic?" Hinamori asked.
"Yeah, my dad does."
"I see. Well, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ja ne Momo."
"Hai."
Turning around and running up to him, Hinamori caught up with Hitsugaya. "Hitsugaya-kun," she called out.
"What is it?" Hitsugaya asked.
"Mou, why don't you wait for me?"
"There's no need to."
"You're definitely not like the others."
"Of course, I'm not them."
"Why are you so cold to others?"
"That's none of your business."
"Mou..."
"Why are you still following me? We just passed your house."
"Eh? Ah...you're right, but how did you know?"
"Your family name plate is on top of the mailbox."
"Oh..."
By the time she turned back to him, he already disappeared. "Eh? Where did he go?" she asked.
Suddenly feeling a breeze blowing through her clothes, Hinamori placed her hands on the bottom of her skirt so that it doesn't expose her undergarment. By the time she opened her eyes again, she looked to see a beautiful peach tree growing in her neighbour's yard. "Wow, what a beautiful tree and the fruit looks good to eat," she said. "The owner must have taken really good care of it."
With that said, she went inside her house. "I'm home Okaa-san! Oto-san!"
AznVKai: Prologue and Chapter One Complete! I think this is one of my favourite beginnings to my new fan fiction. I'm so going to have fun getting Hitsugaya and Hinamori to remember each other! xD I love how I integrated Hyorinmaru in this. Hehe, Shiro-chan's favourite ice dragon plushy. How kawaii. Don't worry, I will add Tobiume in as well. You'll find that out in the next chapter. Comments, suggestions? Please review! Thanks.
Chapter Two Preview: Under the Peach Tree
"She named this tree Tobiume," Hitsugaya said.
"Tobiume?" Hinamori asked.
Turning his body around to face her, he opened his emerald-teal eyes and looked up at the peaches hanging in the trees. "Yes, she did."
"That's a nice name."
"Yeah, I know."