University A.U—A Battle of Conflicts

Part II

It was 10:00 PM when Momo ruthlessly threw her keys, the annoyingly heavy schoolbag along with the remains of her sanity across the hallway and down on the kitchen counter.

The door closed with a loud, violent thump and without minding the possibility she might have woken her very unethical neighbors, Momo let herself slowly fall to the floor.

The apartment complex she stayed at (if she could even call it that) was quite far from campus. The place was more or less a complete and utter dumpster. Questionable people made a habit out of haunting the streets at all times, probably seeking out the next best victim while depressed teenagers with alcoholic, unemployed parents had no shame getting high in broad daylight.

The occasional gunshot sounds used to scare her pretty badly, especially in the beginning. Now they were no more a source of distress than the bills she had to pay at the beginning of next month.

Momo hated everything about it. The lack of money had forced her to make do with the cheapest rent possible and students were generally known to be broke but unlike her, most of them had more than enough to afford a shared room back in the comfortable dorms.

She had a full scholarship that took care of her schooling fees, but since she had no one to vouch for her but herself, Momo was bound to double check the locks, properly force shut the windows and put on a brave face if she didn't want to end up sleeping under a bridge somewhere.

Tonight, more than ever before, she truly despised it.

Because for the first time in her life, she felt it was a place truly fitting for someone like her. Momo used to believe it would only be a temporary thing. That she would eventually manage to fully escape the life intended for a simple, poor little orphan. She thought of herself as somebody who would make it against all odds, swimming through mud until finally tasting the cleanest of waters.

Maybe she was...wrong. The shame and the crippling self–doubt overwhelmed her as hot tears started falling from her eyes. Maybe this is where she belonged after all, with the criminals and the bitches and with all of them, despicable human beings who spent their days abusing their bodies and selling what little they had left of their soul.

A place perfectly suitable for whores who slept with their teachers on the first day of school, completely disregarding any sense of morality.

It had been her most priced possession once, the one thing that set her apart from the rest. The worst part about it all? She didn't know why and it scared her more than any of those gunshots ever did, but...

She couldn't bring herself to regret it.

When Momo met him at the bar the other night, she could've sworn he was just a regular student. He looked about her age, maybe even a little bit younger. Today in class when he unintentionally put her on blast, she couldn't believe her eyes:

Doctor Toshiro Hitsugaya (an interesting name for someone with white hair) looked unbelievably misplaced sitting at the large wooden desk in front. He was tall, very handsome and he did look mature. But not in a teacher way at all.

And for good reason.

It was only after that she found out, as gossip unfortunately reaches even the ears of those who don't like to engage: he was some sort of miraculous neurosurgeon who graduated med school early. A prodigy.

Apparently, by the time she learned how to properly hold a pencil, he had already done it all. Including winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Who even does that?

Possibly more disturbing, this...this alien of a man had willingly, eagerly slept with her. Twice. No matter how much she tried to understand, it just didn't make any sense. Toshiro Hitsugaya was either a psychopath or...

Yep. That had to be it. There was no other explanation as to why somebody of his caliber would do such a thing if he wasn't mentally deranged or fucked up in some way or another.

Momo sighed deeply as she hugged her knees tighter to her body. Great, she had already resorted to the stupid coping mechanisms, as if trying to figure him out would rid her of the blame.

Either way, what happened between the two of them...it was improper. Unacceptable. She knew all that. And hopefully if she said it enough times, if Momo kept reminding herself of all the consequences, maybe then she would even come to actually believe it.

All she felt was guilt, the suffocating shame that accompanied a sour realization: if something she knew to be wrong felt so right, then which was it?

She had childishly wanted to fix it. But that silly ambition only lured her stupid self straight into his office. She should've known better. Her initial intentions had been commendable, at the very least. Momo had wanted nothing more than to have a talk with him. Try and clear things up as much as possible before it was too late.

However, things just had a very particular way of not turning out as planned. She closed her eyes firmly as a powerful storm of memories disheveled her mind.

A few hours earlier.

"We need to talk."

The heavy smell of alcohol along with the strange look in his eccentric eyes caught her off guard. Straightening her back, Momo stepped inside and reluctantly closed the door behind her.

It was too late to turn back now, and it wasn't like she could magically erase everything that happened either. She would sooner die dead in a pit somewhere than ever consider dropping out of med school. Not after everything she had been through to get to that point. There had to be a way to minimize the damage, right?

"Listen. I'm sorry...a-about the other night, I thought you were a student and," she licked her lips in frustration. She found it rather difficult to concentrate with the intense way he was watching her. Why was it getting so hard to breathe all of a sudden? She felt completely intimidated.

"Momo Hinamori, then."

"Huh?"

"You left without telling me."

"R-right. That is my name, yes."

It was the most inappropriate time in the world, but she couldn't help it. Hearing him say her name, hearing how softly it lingered on his lips, the same lips she hadpassionately kissed the night before...

What the HELL is wrong with me? Come on, Hinamori. Get a grip. This guy is your TEACHER. Stop fantasizing about his lips and finish what you came here to do.

...that's what she said.

Oh God. I hope they lock me up in Hell.

Momo cleared her throat anxiously, hoping to mask the sheer embarrassment showing on her face. "You're Toshiro—I mean Doctor Hitsugaya. Neurosurgery, right?"

For a second there, Momo thought she saw the smallest traces of something flash through his eyes. It was vaguely familiar, blending so seamlessly with his blue-green hues.

Her gaze became avoidant and suddenly shy. Coming here was definitely a mistake, she should've just gone straight home.

"Unfortunately."

Their eyes reconciled and as winter blue pierced autumnal amber, thousands of stars exploded in the back of her head. His forward answer made her knees tremble.

All of a sudden, he got up and slowly made his way towards the door. To where she was standing.

She felt him getting closer and closer by the second until finally, she could almost make out the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She coupled her eyes, afraid even to breathe. Momo felt a shiver run through her entire body, eventually settling somewhere in the lower part of her abdomen.

The heat was exhilarating.

If she were to peek, her eyes would undoubtedly be met with his collarbone. Their intimate proximity had all kinds of effects on her, all of them alarming. The eagerness of her reactions made Momo curse herself.

Suddenly, he leaned in.

She heard a slight ruffle of fabric, as though one of his hands started moving. He reached forward as she gasped with sound, only to be taken aback by the unexpected loss of warmth.

A single tick filled the harsh silence and by the time she mustered enough courage to look, he was already on the other side of the room. His back was turned, hands hidden in the pockets of his jeans. His eyes remained locked on the windows, contemplative and surprisingly, a little angry.

Did he just...turn the lights off?

Momo felt her pulse quicken rapidly, realizing she had to leaveleaveleave before she started hyperventilating into a stroke or worse. Kissed him again.

"I-I promise I won't say a word, I'll sit all the way in the back of the class and I'll keep my head down so you won't even have to see me and I'm really sorry, I don't want to cause you any trouble, Shiro."

Fuck.

That last part slipped out accidentally but she would have more than enough time to patronize herself on the way home.

Hopefully, he got the message. The damage was (done) minimized and now Momo had to get the hell out of there fast. She wasted not another second and turned around, shaking with intoxicating adrenaline, anxiously gripping the door handle. This would all be over soon.

"Quit apologizing so much."

All of a sudden, he was behind her and a startled choke escaped her mouth. There was no point left in wondering how she failed to even notice his movements.

He towered over her small frame from behind, his left hand resting on the wall in front of them.

Momo could feel his strained breaths tickling the sensitive skin of her neck, making her shiver all the way to the very bone. She did manage to notice though, how despite the rather compelling action, Toshiro wasn't blocking her exit at all.

She could leave at any moment, if she wanted to. Did she...want to?

She knew the answer to that terrified her. Maybe even more so than the reason why.

Momo slowly turned around and looked at him. In that moment, she felt everything inside of her shatter to pieces. His teal eyes reflected so much sadness that it took her breath away; he looked like one of the Ancient Gods she used to read books about back in middle school. His eyes revealed nothing but loneliness, just like those stories predicted. He was somebody so far out of reach people stopped trying. Have they ever tried?

He was so different from her and good and unbelievably acknowledged and yet so...painfully similar.

Tears started falling as she leaned in, softly taking his lips into her own. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in, welcomed him in the secret chambers of her heart, where there existed no boundaries, no consequences. Only the two of them.

Her entire being ached with a longing so pure it made her melt into the tenderness of his touch. And something else, entirely new and so powerful, she realized nothing could pull her away.

"You called me Shiro." He whispered between kisses, his hands now pressing on the small of her back, guiding her closer to his body.

Momo left out a small, quiet giggle as her tears reached the wetness of their lips. The salty taste completely dissolved in the overwhelming sweetness of her words:

"You have white hair. Did I offend you?"

"I'm not entirely sure." But she was.

What started as chaste, first kiss now escalated into unadulterated, heated passion. It wasn't long before her moans filled his ears, soft hands hungrily gripping and playing with silver locks.

Momo couldn't register all that was happening, but she somehow found herself pressed on top of his desk, panting and biting and calling his name as if it were a sacred prayer.

A prayer allowed for her alone. Only for her.

Momo slapped the sides of her face with the back of her hands. She was an absolute nightmare when it came to dancing, yet she had recklessly engaged in a dangerous waltz with the Devil.

Only he had alabaster hair and teal eyes and she hated herself. Maybe she really hadlost her mind. Maybe the entirety of her sanity abandoned her the moment she stepped foot in this hell hole. Ever since moving into this strange city, everything she thought she knew about herself turned into a blur.

All of a sudden, her cellphone started buzzing. Momo narrowed her eyes at the intrusion but took it out of her back pocket anyway.

If that asshole landlord thought for even a second she would pay one more penny than what they initially agreed on, he had another thing coming for him. Maybe if she was mean enough, he would kick her out and then the University would have no choice but to grant her a small bed in the basement. If she wasn't expelled by then. A girl could hope.

"Wait, what?" It wasn't the landlord, after all.

Unknown: Where are you?–Toshiro Hitsugaya

What in the world was he doing, texting her so casually like this? Was he an actual psychopath?

Momo: How did you get my number?

Unknown: I have a reliable assistant.

Right, she almost forgot about the voluptuous lady who busted Toshiro's office. Momo had been so busy throwing herself the most glorious pity party in the world that she completely neglected to panic over the important things.

Like the fact his assistant saw them getting it on.

The brunette had nervously pardoned herself right after she barged in and cancelled out their spell, but still. She could almost smell the flames of Hell burning.

Momo: Isn't that illegal?

The blonde bombshell looked her up, then. Well, it wasn't like Momo was hiding anything. Anyone could have found out her phone number if they tried hard enough. Universities were obligated to carry files about their students anyway. But to think he had asked her to do this, it was more than careless. It was stupid. Was he trying to get fired?

Toshiro: Don't you think we're way past that by now? Your address please.

Momo sighed as she closed her tired eyes for a second. The infuriating genius did make a pretty good point.

Momo: 23, Society Street. Don't text and drive!Getting blamed for your death is the last thing I need.

Toshiro: Just pack a bag and shut up. Don't wait for me outside. I'll text you when I get there.

Momo: Pack a bag? Are you going to kidnap me or something? Should I pack a rope and some tranquilizer too?

Toshiro: Is it really kidnapping if you agreed to come? Think about it.

Momo: Smartass.

Toshiro: See you soon, Momo Hinamori.

Funny, she didn't realize Hell was frozen over.

Momo decided she didn't want to sit and wait around for his text. She couldn't bare the suffocating feeling, she just had to get out of that wretched apartment. The anticipation was too thrilling, so a breath of fresh air seemed like the best alternative.

Looking at the night sky had always provided her with great comfort, ever since she was a child.

Seeing the stars, the moon, it all made her feel so delicately small. It reminded Momo of how insignificant and superficial her problems actually were.

Putting things into perspective, it didn't matter all that much that she might've fallen for the wrong guy. There were far more important things going on in the Galaxy than her messy love life. Besides, the concept of righteousness was bizarre and even unfair at times. What felt right to the heart often seemed wrong to the conscious mind and vice versa.

After a day full of adrenaline such as this one, Momo inevitably grew tired of all the overthinking and the blaming and the self-induced panic attacks. Because no matter how much she would have liked to deny it, when Toshiro was around, everything felt different. Even her own body betrayed her.

So now, in spite of all the reasons why she shouldn't have replied to his text, shouldn't have gone to his office, Momo found herself waiting for him in an eerie parking lot at 12AM pitch black, with nothing but her fragile heart as justification.

And it wasn't long before he finally arrived. When Toshiro saw Momo wondering around all by herself, his eyes hardened with annoyance.

She merely giggled in response.

He leaned to the side and smacked open the passenger door, a clear indicator of his disapproval. Momo hopped right in, closing it and throwing her small bag in the back of his car.

She felt like a stupid teenager all over again. Clandestine meetings under the moonlight, sneaky text messages. Would he pull out a ring too? That would be hilarious. She imagined it for a short second: Momo Hinamori, the orphan girl who tricked none other than Toshiro Hitsugaya into falling in love with her in the span of two days and ruined his life. That would make for an awfully dull story.

"I told you to wait inside."

"I know. I just didn't obey," she hooked her seatbelt and glared at him, "So, why did you come all this way for? I'm exhausted. All out of excuses, too. I'm not quitting med school if that's what you're after–hey slow down, where are we even going?"

"Where do you think." He licked his lips in frustration and rolled his eyes, clearly irked by her little speech. What an arrogant son of a bitch. He just had to be the kind of guy who drove using only one hand, too.

"Hmm. Are we trafficking my organs?"

"I didn't realize you were so eager to die."

"Death is kinder than prison."

His eyes unexpectedly softened with a certain kind of sadness and it broke her heart. "You're really beating yourself up, then."

Do you regret it?

"Not in the way you think," she confessed, looking anywhere but at him. "I-I don't know what it is about you. I'm not usually like this," seeing how talking about her feelings actually helped, Momo allowed herself a rare moment of vulnerability.

"I don't do things like this, I promise. I'm a good person, all my life I've tried to do the right thing but I don't know what that is anymore and and I'm scared, Shiro! What about your job? Your reputation? Everything you worked so hard for! You're—you're amazing and I'm just...not worth throwing all of that away. You just met me! You don't know anything about me! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I thought I told you to quit apologizing so much. Nobody forced me into anything. I'm here right now because I want to be. Dammit Momo! You talk too much and you're obsessed with crime and you call me Shiro but for some fucking reason, I just can't seem to stay away from you."

All she could do was stare at him. The words coming out of his mouth made her lips quiver and before she could stop it, hot tears started forming in her eyes. A muffled cry escaped her, but Momo quickly wiped them away.

He had a big enough ego as it was.

"That bad, huh. You know, I searched you up on Wikipedia, you're younger than me. Can you believe that? Also, when are you gonna tell me where we're going? We're not robbing a bank are we?"

Toshiro smirked, looking at her from the corner of his eyes. She smiled brightly at him too, leaning into the gentle way he stroked her left cheek.

"Ever seen a cracked skull before?"

It was a very dangerous game they played. But when has she ever been one afraid of a little danger?

author's note:

hey :) i might do something more with this story. just lemme know if you like it lol. medical shiro is adorable and so fun to write.

it rained like crazy today. september is really here huh. i hope everyone has a wonderful time this fall! also i'm thinking of a princess/prince hitsuhina oneshot, too. you see? this is why i need your reviews! talk to me so i know what to do with my life.

love you!