Chapter 6: Broken Routines
Disclaimer: I wish I could own Bleach, I want to own Bleach, but I don't, so there.
A/N: Not much to say. Read and enjoy!
As the weeks went by, Hinamori slowly got into a routine. Go to school, come back, do homework, practice piano, have some fun, chat to her friends on the telephone, read, have dinner, practice more piano and be in bed by 12 am. This routine continued until one evening, Mrs. Hinamori looked at her daughter.
"Momo-chan, don't you think it's time you started planning?"
Hinamori was silent for a moment as she finished a fluent F major scale. That done, she turned to face her mother. "For what?"
"Your birthday party, of you, don't you remember?" Mrs. Hinamori held up her hand. "Friends, birthday cake, games, music, food…" she counted, ticking each item off with her fingers.
"Oh yeah…it's my birthday in two weeks time…" Hinamori said. "And I really need a break. I can take advantage of this opportunity…" closing the piano, Hinamori brushed her teeth and got her birthday invitations ready, wondering all the time who she was going to invite…
The next day
"Oh yeah, your birthday is in two weeks time," Rukia recalled. "On the 20th of October, right?"
"Yeah," Hinamori replied. "Which guys do you think I should invite?" although she blushed a little, Hinamori stood her ground.
"Hm…up to you, really," Isane said. "You should invite Ichigo, Rukia likes him."
"N-no, I don't!" Rukia retorted. "There's nothing between us!"
"In denial, as usual," Tatsuki teased.
"In that case, let's invite Ishida, too! He and Ichigo are good friends!" Inoue added.
"Which other guys do you plan on inviting?" Isane asked.
Hinamori blushed. "Maybe Renji-kun, Kira-kun and…ano…Hitsugaya-kun."
"I thought you hated the guy," Tatsuki blinked, confused.
"Well, you'd start to become fond of a guy if he were your piano teacher for a month," Hinamori said defensively, then covered her mouth as she realised what had just slipped out.
"So you like the baka now?" Tatsuki grinned. "Hinamori's finally into guys!"
"Meaning that you're into guys too?" Hinamori retorted weakly.
"No, just saying you are," Tatsuki smiled sweetly while her friend made a face. At that moment a blur caught Hinamori's eye, and breaking away from her group of friends, the girl ran the rest of the way to school, yelling, "Hitsugaya-kun!" she suddenly disappeared, and everyone stared.
"Yup, Hinamori-chan's lost all her marbles," Rukia said coolly.
"Because of Hitsugaya-kun?" Inoue asked innocently.
"Because of Hitsugaya-kun," Isane confirmed, tutting.
With Hitsugaya
Using Shunpo, Hitsugaya skimmed his way to school, watching people flash by him. Look at them, carrying out normal, care-free lives. On his way, he saw Hinamori blushing.
What for? He thought, then heard her voice, "Hitsugaya-kun!" the boy immediately slowed down only to let Hinamori run past him, Shunpo style.
Hitsugaya couldn't believe his eyes. Hinamori was using Shunpo! Guessing the reason, Hitsugaya ran, ignoring the murmurs of the people.
"Hinamori, stop! I'm right behind you!" the boy yelled.
He watched as the girl turned, and to his shock, stopped. Abruptly. Collision was inevitable.
"Oof," Hitsugaya crashed into Hinamori, and there was so much force that the two flew through the school gates and landed, Hinamori on top. Students surrounded the odd couple before realising who it was, laughing and returning to their business. Seeing Hinamori, Ichigo, Chad and Keigo hurried over. Ichigo reached out a hand to help Hinamori up.
"Gee, are you okay? That was a rough land-" the orange head stared at the white hair underneath Hinamori's chest and guessed who it was.
"Actually I think I should leave you to have your…um…fun time," Ichigo said, smirking. "Bye then."
"Wait, it's not what you think!" Hinamori yelled, but Ichigo and co. had already left. She took the chance to roll off Hitsugaya, who was half-suffocated.
"Gomen ne," she muttered sheepishly. "Should I take you to the nurse's?"
"No, I'm fine," Hitsugaya said, getting up and brushing himself off. "You do know that you've got Shunpo now?"
"What? Was that when I felt light-footed…almost like the Greek messenger Mercury?" Hinamori asked.
"If you see it as that, yes. It's probably because of the reiatsu, or spiritual energy I give off when I demonstrate piano for you," Hitsugaya shrugged. "All my students have Shunpo, you know? Because of me. You have to be emotional when you play. And…to use Shunpo, you have to feel like you really want to run."
"Hontou ni?" Hinamori felt like she was in another world. Getting Shunpo from someone else whose reiatsu 'overflowed' when they played piano? How ridiculous.
At that moment the bell rang and everyone hurried to their classes. It was only when the teacher was in the classroom that Hinamori remembered about the invitation. I'll just tell him when we have our piano lesson later, she thought, and left it at that.
After school, at Hitsugaya's place
"Hitsugaya-sensei, I need to ask you something," Hinamori began, twiddling her thumbs nervously.
"Fire away," Hitsugaya grunted as he opened the piano. Hinamori watched his white hair and piercing blue-green eyes for a moment before she spoke.
"I'm having a birthday party in two weeks time, and I was just wondering…if you could come, too. The details are in here," she held out the invitation.
Hitsugaya took the invitation awkwardly. He had never gone to a birthday party after the car accident because it had been his birthday then, but somehow, this seemed different. Hinamori was so care-free and fun-loving; it was hard to not get in the mood, too. He nodded, attempting a smile.
'Sure, I'll come," he said, trying his best to be enthusiastic. "When is it?"
Hinamori laughed, putting her teacher at ease. "Thanks for trying so hard to be enthusiastic, Shirou-chan," Hinamori smiled. "It should be on October 20th."
"Don't call me Shirou-chan!" Hitsugaya gritted his teeth. "Bed wetter Momo," he added, grinning in an annoying fashion.
"Whatever," Hinamori snorted, and then shrieked as she slipped on a piece of paper that had fallen off the table. She fell, but Hitsugaya caught her first, ending in a classic bridal kissing pose. Then time froze.
Hinamori gazed at Hitsugaya. Looking close, she realised that the boy's wild hair made him look good in a desperate sort of way, and his blue-green eyes gave him a cute, rebellious look. The tiny strand of white hair hanging in front of Hitsugaya's eye made Hinamori feel that there was so much to him that she didn't know. Hinamori started as her teacher leaned forward. Overwhelmed, the girl wrapped her arms around his neck.
At that moment the doorbell rang. Setting Hinamori on her feet, Hitsugaya rushed to answer the door, fingers running through his hair. What had he nearly done? Opening the door, Hitsugaya sighed. The mail. Just one with an 'URGENT' written on it. Ripping the letter open, the boy read the contents, getting grimmer and grimmer with each word.
Hinamori had been disappointed yet relieve when the doorbell rang. They had been so close to kissing…but then again, maybe Hitsugaya wasn't the one for her…
The girl snapped back to reality as her piano teacher returned, looking grim.
"Gomen ne, I'm afraid I won't be able to attend your birthday party," Hitsugaya said.
Hinamori blinked. "Why not?" she asked.
"I've been invited to a piano contest which is in two weeks time, on exactly the same date as your birthday party," Hitsugaya replied apologetically, then turned business-like. "But then again, I've never liked birthday parties…"
"You're so ungrateful sometimes," Hitsugaya turned in surprise to see his pupil shaking with fury.
"I don't mean it that way," Hitsugaya protested desperately.
"Yeah right, as if you mean anything at all! Just go mope around with your piano affairs, won't you? Don't bother about me!" Hinamori snapped.
"Now that you mention it, I think I'll do just that, bed wetter Momo," Hitsugaya said coldly. "I was such a fool for thinking that you could be such a good student after all."
Hinamori ran out of the room too angry to shed tears. At least they hadn't kissed; Hitsugaya was too cold and distant. Now her routine was truly broken.
Hitsugaya heard the front door slamming. Sighing, he went back to the piano and played a piece, his fingers skimming over the notes as he weaved a sad, mournful tune. He had to stop thinking about Hinamori. He just had to.
A/N: Thanks for reading. Please review, I'll be really happy if you do so! looks hopeful
Japanese Dictionary:
-chan, -kun, -san: -chan is used for girls or kids who are around the same age as the speaker. –kun is the same but for boys (or kids), and –san is a polite form for both genders at any age.
Ano: Um
Baka: Idiot
Shunpo: In this fanfic, Shunpo is a flash attack, but in the anime/manga, Shunpo means 'flash steps'.
Gomen ne: Sorry
Reiatsu: Spiritual energy
Hontou ni: Really
Sensei: Teacher (e.g Hitsugaya-sensei literally 'Teacher Hitsugaya)
Shirou-chan: Hinamori's nickname for Hitsugaya. 'Shirou' means 'white', but since it's a nickname, 'Whitey-chan' would be more accurate.
