Chapter 11: Miracles

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! Enjoy the chapter!


Hinamori was nervous all day. Would her plan really work? Would Shirou-chan wake up from his coma? There was only one way to find out.

All through the school day Hinamori could think of nothing else. Even her friends could not lead her away from her train of thought.

The long-awaited bell finally rang. Not waiting to say goodbye to her friends, Hinamori grabbed her school bag and ran out the classroom door. She had to wake her piano teacher up as soon as possible.

Skimming her way to the hospital, Hinamori entered the white building and, upon seeing Nurse Kobayashi, was led into the dining room. Hitsugaya was already there, lying quietly in a chair. He looked strange without the wires and machines hooked onto him. Sick patients stared expectantly at the newcomer, and Hinamori felt she should say something.

"Ano, I'll be practicing my piano here today, not only to entertain you but also to try to wake my friend up from his coma," the girl said nervously. Feeling more at ease, Hinamori put her piano book down and began to play, feeling strangely conscientious about her skills.

For a while all was silent. Nobody spoke as they listened to Hinamori play her piece, making mistakes and playing scales, hoping her audience would show some sign of her classmate waking up. This went on for two hours to no avail. When Hinamori stopped and her audience clapped, there was still no sign of Hitsugaya waking up. Resigned, Hinamori cleared her things up and prepared to leave. Maybe her playing wasn't good enough. Wait…was that movement she saw?

Hitsugaya's P.O.V

The nurses are bustling about. They've been telling me that I'm going to be moved to the dining room tomorrow morning for a surprise. As if I know when 'tomorrow morning' is. What do they want with me anyways?

Centuries seem to pass before the nurses come for me. I feel them picking my body up, giggling things like, 'Hitsu-dearie's so light!' and 'Does little Hitsie drink milk every day? He should!'. I feel my vein pulsing yet again. Their nicknames for me are even worse than Hinamori's 'Shirou-chan', and if the nurses want me to drink milk, they should give me milk! I sound like a baby.

The nurses suddenly deposit me in what seems to be a chair, as I am sitting upright. I also hear Hinamori's voice, nervous as ever. She seems to be addressing an audience and is about to play a piano! Just get on with it, I think impatiently. I need to see whether you're getting better or not.

To my surprise, Hinamori starts playing the C Major Sonatina by Mozart! Is this a dream? It doesn't seem like one.

The tune is sweet, but there is no loud of soft. That's Hinamori alright. I feel like smirking.

I listen to the music for a moment before it hits me. Hinamori is making mistakes, so why am I not correcting her? A part of me says it's the coma, but I ignore it. I want to play the piano, to see my students again! What will Matsumoto, Yachiru, Yumichika, Nanao, and all my other students do without me? I have to wake up!

The piano stops, and I hear clapping. Hinamori probably deserves it, but I have to show her what to improve on. I clench my fist and people gasp-what are they doing now?

Hinamori is suddenly beside me, shaking me. "Shirou-chan, wake up!"

I have heard enough.

Normal P.O.V

"Shirou-chan, wake up!" Hinamori pleaded. Had she really seen him clench his fist, or was it a trick of the light?

"Don't call me 'Shirou-chan', bedwetter Momo!" an all too familiar voice yelled. Everyone laughed and clapped as Hitsugaya jumped out of his chair, seething. He observed the room, blue-green eyes widening.

"I'm…awake?"

"Yes, and it's not a dream!" Hinamori cried with happiness, hugging the boy. "Welcome back!"

In the meanwhile nurse Kobayashi watched with a smile. When the ruckus had died down, she called, "Hitsugaya-san, could you please follow me for some check-ups now…?"

"I have to go," Hitsugaya said to his student. "Wait for me outside-I want to talk to you."

After the check-up

"Thank you for waking me up, Hinamori," the boy said as he pulled his shirt on. "Just so that you know, I heard everything you said during my coma."

"Oh yeah?" Hinamori blushed, thinking back to her talk of the prom.

"Yes, so I wanted to know…would you like to go to the prom with me?"

Hinamori's shoulders sagged, and she looked down. How could she tell her piano teacher that she had been bullied into going with someone else? Hitsugaya would probably laugh at her…she was about to turn away from her dream.

"Sorry, I-I'm going with Daisuke, he was so nice recently," Hinamori lied, spreading her palms open nervously. Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes.

"You're lying, aren't you? And what's that?" the boy pointed to his classmate's wrist, where her scar from Daisuke was. Hinamori quickly hid her wrist. Could she tell another lie now?

"Alright, the truth is, I never liked you that way," the girl said quickly. "And I got that scar from cleaning in your house." Her heart tore in two. How could she lie like this? So I won't get Hitsugaya hurt, she decided sadly.

Hitsugaya turned away, his heart skipping a beat. So Hinamori had never loved him at all…maybe he should act as if he'd never heard that. He turned back to Hinamori, expressionless.

"Oh, I see…I guess I'll just ask someone else, then." The two were silent. Finally Hinamori said, "Do you know why I was playing that Sonatina?" Hitsugaya shook her head; he didn't say a word for fear that he would break down.

"It's for a Summer Talent Show I signed up for," the girl went on awkwardly. "I know I made a lot of mistakes, so I was just wondering…could you teach me again please?"

"Sure," how could he say no to this girl? "I'll do it."

"Hitsugaya-san, we suggest that your friend leave you so that you can get more rest," a nurse called. The pianist acknowledged this and bid farewell to his pupil. As Hinamori was about to leave, however, Hitsugaya caught her arm and spun her around.

"If you never cared for me," Hitsugaya said. "Why did you bother visiting me, cleaning my house and playing piano for me?"

Hinamori's eyes filled with tears. Turning away quickly, the girl mumbled, "Neighbour's concern," before running out of the room. She swore never to love Hitsugaya again.

After a while Hitsugaya exited, thinking. He would kill whoever had asked her to the prom and the person who had put a Despak on her wrist. Hopefully it wouldn't be put to use anytime soon…

Two Weeks Later

Hinamori practiced hard, and before long the day of the auditions had arrived. Although she was prepared, she still worried.

"What if I make a huge blunder or forget the music?" Hinamori asked her piano teacher as she waited for her turn.

"Don't worry, you'll do fine," Hitsugaya assured her. "If you panic like that you will mess up for sure. Just remember the tips I gave you and you'll pass with flying colours, I'm certain."

"Hinamori Momo," a voice called.

"Good luck," the boy said, and the girl smiled bravely as she marched into the room.

"Hello, Hinamori-chan. Aizen-sensei gave you permission to come here?" Kominara-sensei asked, and Hinamori nodded. "Alright, what are you going to do today?"

"The piano, Mozart's K545 Sonatina in C Major," Hinamori replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Oh, that's nice. Begin whenever you want," with that the teacher sat back.

Hinamori seated herself, calming herself down before putting her hands on the keyboard. Better get this over and done with, she decided, and began to play…soon she was done and the teacher clapped.

"Well done, check the bulletin board tomorrow for the results," Kominara-sensei said. "Ja ne."

At Hitsugaya's House

"Shirou-chan, I was so scared!" Hinamori buried her face in her teacher's chest, crying. "Even when I followed your advice, I still made mistakes." Hitsugaya's eyebrow twitched, annoyed, but he decided to ignore it. Comforting Hinamori was more important.

"Everyone makes mistakes, don't worry about it. I was scared, too."

"About what?" Hinamori stared, and Hitsugaya almost started. He'd nearly given himself away!

"Your-your playing. I was worried about that," the pianist stammered, and Hinamori glanced at him curiously. She had never seen her classmate this flustered before. Looking at Hitsugaya's shirt, the girl jumped back.

"Oh, gomen nasai! I've cried so much, your shirt is wet! It's as if you've been sweating!"

Hitsugaya shrugged, running agitated fingers through his hair. "I can always change later."

Glancing at her watch, Hinamori stood up, smiling weakly. "Well, I should be going home to start on my homework. Unless…I can accompany you?"

"If you want."

Hinamori needed no more encouragement. "Alright!" she sat down and extracted a huge pile of homework. "Let's start on English first."

The two enjoyed the rest of the afternoon in each other's company.

The Next Day

"Hinamori-chan, you passed the talent show auditions! Congrats!" Rukia grinned. "We knew you could do it!"

"Wha-? Lemme see," pushing her way to the front of the crowd, Hinamori gazed at the bulletin board. Her name really was there! Then her eyes travelled to the name below and then to the same person walking by, casually whistling a tune.

"Mou Shirou-chan, you didn't tell me you were trying out for the auditions, too! You're so mean!"

"Don't call me 'Shirou-chan', bed wetter Momo," the boy grumped. "And I didn't tell you because you didn't ask me."

But Hinamori was already hugging the boy. "We're in it together, we're in it together!" People passing by whistled. "Go, shorty!" Ichigo yelled, grinning.

And around the corner, someone scowled.


A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review!

Japanese Dictionary:

-chan, -san, -kun: -chan is addressed to girls or kids around the same age as the speaker, and –kun is the same, but for boys (or kids). –san is the polite form for both genders and all ages.

Shirou-chan: Hinamori's nickname for Hitsugaya. Although 'shirou' means 'white', 'Whitey-chan' would be more accurate in this case.

Ano: Um

Sensei: Teacher ('Aizen-sensei' literally 'Teacher Aizen')

Ja ne: Goodbye

Gomen nasai: Sorry

Mou: Hey