Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Bleach series in any way. All copyrights go to Tite Kubo. I do own is my OCs.
Author's Note: Thank you all for reading the previous chapter. Special thanks goes to Lil' Evil Angel, xMidnight-Spiritx, eye of destruction, rurukachu, and katara Y.O.U. who reviewed. Without any further delay, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking. / Dreaming. / Flash Back." Character Narration.
After Years Apart
Chapter Five: My Sister, My Brother
"Shiro-chan," Momo said. "Are you an only child in the family?"
"What does that mean?" the boy asked.
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"Oh, no. It's only me."
"I see. I don't have any brothers or sisters myself. When we're together, it feels like I do."
"Huh?"
"I feel like I have you as my little brother."
"Is that good?"
"Yeah, that means we're close friends."
"Close friends?"
"Yep, close friends who will always remember each other wherever we go."
"It was only a dream..." Hinamori opened her chocolate brown eyes to find herself in front of the sleeping face of Hitsugaya Toshiro. "AHH! HITSUGAYA-KUN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Hinamori snapped as she quickly got out of bed and threw her pillow at the white haired boy, waking him up.
"OI! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?!" Hitsugaya snapped as he got the pillow off his face. "Ah, Hinamori..."
"YOU PERVERT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?"
"Nani? Baka Hinamori, you're at my place," Hitsugaya said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Remember?"
"Eh? Your place?" Hinamori asked.
Suddenly remembering the events that have happened last night, she depressingly replied, "Oh yeah...that."
Scratching the side of his white hair, Hitsugaya got out of bed and said, "Anyway, now that we're awake, let's get changed and go to the living room for breakfast."
"Ah hai..." Hinamori said as she watched Hitsugaya grab a few clothes from his closet and leave the room.
BREAKFAST
"I've called the school already informing them about the news. You'll be absent from classes for about a week at most," Hitsugaya said before he took a bite out of his omelette.
"Souka?"
"I'll be bringing your homework with me everyday in the meantime."
"Arigato Hitsugaya-kun."
"Anyway, I better get going," Hitsugaya said as he carried his soccer and school bags to the front entrance.
Following him to the front entrance, she watched him put on his shoes. "Ano, Hitsugaya-kun..." Hinamori said.
"I have soccer practice after school. So, I won't be able to come home until around 5:00pm. I'll inform the Matsumoto and the others about this so that they could come over to keep you company."
"Ah arigato."
"In the meantime, stay put in the house until I come back, okay?"
"Ah hai..."
As he was about to leave the kitchen, he pulled out a box of tissues he got from his room and placed it on the table. Wonder what this is all about, Hinamori asked, "What's this?"
"Those are in case you need them. There are just some things that even a prodigy like me could not do. Like me, I had some time alone to let my all sorrows out. It's the only way to get over it and move on with your life. Just remember, you have your friends and family to support you."
She felt touched by his words. He's so considerate when he's feeling sorry for others. He understands that the most because he too lost his parents like her. There's also the fact that she has such a great group of friends. She even has a family to watch her; her grandmother, Obaa-san and her little brother, Hitsugaya. Feeling tears swell up in her eyes, she quickly grabbed a tissue and began whipping the tears away.
"I...understand."
"I'll see you later, Hinamori."
"Itterasshai Hitsugaya-kun," Hinamori said as she watched him leave the house.
CLASS 2-3
"NO WAY TAICHO!" Matsumoto exclaimed as she slammed her hands on her desk while standing up. "ALL THAT HAPPENED?!"
"Matsumoto, you're so noisy," Hitsugaya retorted. "Of course it happened."
"Poor Momo-chan," Orihime said. "I can't believe something like that has happened to her."
"What's even more amazing, Hitsugaya-taicho offered to let her live with him," Renji said.
"Like brother and sister," Rukia said.
"Really? I thought it's more like a happy married couple," Matsumoto said.
"Matsumoto!" Hitsugaya snapped.
Waving a hand in front of her, Matsumoto replied, "I'm only kidding taicho."
"Anyway, we'll visit her after school," Orihime said. "Leave it to us."
"Arigato."
"You know, you've been quite nice these past few days," Matsumoto said.
"Hah?"
"Maybe Hinamori-chan's affecting you quite a bit."
"Shut up..."
"Anyway, we should all go visit her and help her move her belongings," Kira suggested.
"That is the plan."
"Alright then!" Ichigo said. "Girls, you are to meet Momo after school and have a nice chat with her. Some of us boys have soccer practice so we'll join her later. As for the rest of you, ehhh...I guess do whatever you want until we arrive at Toshiro's place."
"It's Hitsugaya-taicho!"
"Whatever."
"Tch..."
AFTER SCHOOL, HITSUGAYA'S PLACE
The doorbell rung. "Momo, can you get the door please," Obaa-san asked.
"Hai Obaa-san," Hinamori said as she opened the front door. "Ah, Rangiku-san! Orihime-chan! Rukia-san!"
"Hi Hinamori-chan!" Matsumoto said as the girls entered the premises. "Sorry to barge in like this."
"Ah, no it's alright..."
"Taicho told us that you're here. So we decided to drop by and visit."
"Ah hai."
"So where do you sleep?"
"Well umm I don't really have a room at the moment. It's probably the spare room next to Hitsugaya-kun's."
"Huh? Taicho's been mean again by making you sleep on the floor alone?"
"Ah no...I was sleeping in Hitsugaya-kun's room for the night."
Suddenly feeling the strong grip of the strawberry orange haired woman, Hinamori became startled by Matsumoto's loud voice. "EHHH?! YOU SLEPT WITH TAICHO?! Did you have sex with him in the process?"
Realizing what she meant, instantly her cheeks started turning red as a cherry. "Mou Rangiku-san! Of course I didn't! He's only thirteen years old!"
"Anyway, let's go to his room and find out!" Matsumoto said as she rushed in deeper into the house.
"Mou..."
HITSUGAYA'S ROOM
"Wow, he really keeps his room tidy and neat," Matsumoto said as she sat down in front of the kotatsu table, inspecting the room. "Nope no evidence of sex."
"Mou...I told you already, we didn't do such things last night," Hinamori said as she and the rest of the girls sat down with her.
"Who knows; all boys want to do now is make love to whatever attractive girl they see."
"Mou, why are you like this Rangiku-san?" Hinamori said, trying to avoid the subject.
"Well, taicho has been acting all nice lately that's why."
"What's wrong with that?"
"He usually isn't like that. I thought something good happened to him. So I thought it was this."
"Come to think of it, Hitsugaya-kun has been acting all sympathetic around me lately. It probably is because of my recent loss."
"Anyway, we heard the news."
"Ah...yeah."
"We're sorry for what happened," Orihime said.
"Oh no, don't be," Hinamori said. "It's not your fault that all this happened."
"You're very lucky, you know that?" Matsumoto said. "Taicho looks out for you."
"Yeah, I guess I am, but you all look out for me as well."
Arm hooking around Hinamori's neck, the strawberry orange haired Karakura student pulled her close to her. "Of course! If taicho isn't around, I'll take you in. You're always welcomed at Rangiku's and Orihime-chan's place!"
"Arigato."
"Anyway, taicho told us that you wanted to move a few belongings from your house to this place."
"Yeah, you know, like my clothes."
"In that case, why don't we go there now?"
"Eh?"
"You don't want any of the boys peeking at your girl stuff right?"
"Ah, hai..."
"So, let's go already!"
HINAMORI'S ROOM, HINAMORI RESIDENCE
"So this is your bedroom at your place," Matsumoto said as she and the other girls started looking around the place.
"Mou, Rangiku-san, at least help me while you're here," Hinamori said as she started packing her clothes into the luggage she found in her closet.
"Ah look at this! It's so cute!"
Turning to where Matsumoto is, she saw her holding a familiar object in her possession. "Wow kawaii," Orihime said. "What a cute dragon plushy."
"That's Hyorinmaru," Hinamori replied.
"Hyorinmaru, awww...what a cool name for a cute dragon plushy," Matsumoto said. "Who gave this to you?"
"A friend of mine."
"Friend? You mean your boyfriend or something?"
"Ah no, he's just a friend. The unfortunate thing is I don't remember his name or what he looks like."
"Since when did you have this?"
"I think it's about ten years ago."
"Ten years?" Rukia asked. "Wow, that's a long time ago."
"Yeah...I know."
"Are you going to see him again some time soon?" Orihime asked.
"I wish I could if I remembered him."
"So that's where you went Hinamori," Hitsugaya said as he and the rest of the boys suddenly entered the room.
"Hitsugaya-kun!" Hinamori exclaimed. "Ah gomen...I said I was going to wait for you and Ran--"
Sighing with defeat, he gave Matsumoto a dangerous glare before walking up to Hinamori. "Did you get what you needed?"
"Ah hai," Hinamori said as she grabbed Hyorinmaru from Matsumoto's hands.
Noticing briefly the blue object in Hinamori's possession, Hitsugaya asked, "Hm, you still keep plushies?"
"Mou...yeah, so what if I do? I'm pretty sure you have your own when you were younger."
Headed towards the door, Hitsugaya whispered under his breath, "Yeah I do, but it's not here anymore."
"Eh? Did you say something Hitsugaya-kun?"
"I didn't say a thing," Hitsugaya said before he walked out of the bedroom.
"There goes Toshiro again," Ichigo said. "Just when you thought he warmed up, he just freezes you again."
"Hitsugaya-kun..." Hinamori said.
FUNERAL
It turned out to be one of the most depressing days in my whole life; attending and saying my final farewells to my parents at the funeral. Watching the coffins get buried in their graves, Hinamori could only helplessly allow her tears to run down her cheeks. "Oto-san, Okaa-san," Hinamori said before she half turned to cry on Matsumoto's chest.
"It's okay Hinamori-chan," she whispered.
Watching the raven haired girl cry, Hitsugaya could only remember the pain and suffering he was inflicted so many years ago. "Okaa-san, Oto-san..." he thought to himself.
HINAMORI'S ROOM, HITSUGAYA'S HOUSE
There was a knock on the door. "Ah hai?" Hinamori asked. "Come in."
Opening the door to her room, Hitsugaya entered the room.
"Ah, Hitsugaya-kun. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Hitsugaya replied. "I just brought some dessert."
"Ah, ice cream! Arigato Hitsugaya-kun!" she happily said as he handed her the small bowl.
Sitting down next to the raven haired girl, he watched her taking spoonfuls of ice cream into her mouth.
"Mm it's good," she said. "Is it homemade?"
"Yeah, it is."
"No wonder it tastes a little more flavourful than the usual ones," she replied before she took another bite. "I know I've said this before, but thanks for taking me in and all. I'm feeling a lot better now. I can cope with the loss now that I have a grandmother and you as my little brother. Eh?"
"Hm, what's wrong?"
"I'm not quite sure, but I get the feeling I've said this before, but I don't exactly remember when."
"Are you sure it's just your imagination?"
"Maybe it is...oh well."
After scratching the side of his head, Hitsugaya stood up from his seat and walked towards the door. "I'm going back into my room."
"Ah hai..."
"If you need anything, I'm next door."
"Hai, arigato."
NIGHT
There was a knock on the door before it opened. "Hitsugaya-kun," Hinamori said.
Sitting up from his futon, Hitsugaya looked at her and replied, "Hm, what's wrong Hinamori?"
"I--I can't sleep."
Sighing with defeat, Hitsugaya shoved a little to the side to permit her to sleep with him. "Come in..."
"Ah hai," she said as she crawled into the futon bed next to him.
Lying down next to him, Hinamori could feel the warmth from Hitsugaya's body. "It's soothing and comfortable. It feels like all my troubles are gone," Hinamori thought. "Good night Hitsugaya-kun and thank you."
Watching her soon fall asleep, Hitsugaya too soon closed his eyes. "Good night Hinamori."
References
Nani - What
Baka - Idiot / Stupid
Hai - Yes
Souka - Is that so
Arigato - Thank you
Obaa-san - Grandmother
Itterasshai - Have a nice day
Taicho - Captain
Oto-san - Father
Okaa-san - Mother
AznVKai: Hope you liked it. Please review. Thanks.
Chapter Six Preview: All the Way from America
"Shiro-chan..." she muttered in her sleep.
Turning to the plush toy that is wrapped in her arms, Hitsugaya said, "Tch, she really does still sleep with her plushies."
As he was getting out of bed, something just came into his thoughts. Suddenly stopping to take another look at the blue dragon plushy, all the memories of his past started coming back to him. "Hyorinmaru, Momo..."