Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights of this series goes to Tite Kubo.

Author's Note: OMG, I can't wait to read the next Bleach chapter! Gah! Anyway, special thanks goes to Epoch95, The Sweet Peach, WhitePrincessOfHope, icyangel27, serenity095, tanithhh, AznInvasionGirl, cool!, KnowledgeandImagination, BLEACHISAWESOMEANDIMAWESOME XP, Kaye. Shirogane, applestoapples, chococat450, Neko-cheung, Samantha. Thank you for your awesome reviews! Now that Toshiro and Momo are friends, it's time for their friendship to improve. Find out what happens in chapter four! Enjoy!

LEGEND

"Talking." "Thinking." Voice Message from Toshiro's Older Sister, Miyuki Hitsugaya.

The Healing Heart

Part I - Hope and Friendship

Chapter Four: Rehabilitation

It has been three days since Momo Hinamori has been staying at Seireitei Hospital and things have been going quite well. Even though it took a little while, she has finally became friends with her snowy white haired roommate, Toshiro Hitsugaya. Currently, they are sitting in their respected beds, playing video games together on the television. Suddenly, the words YOU LOSE is displayed on the right side of the screen while the words YOU WIN is displayed on the left. "I can't believe this! I lost again!" Momo exclaimed.

Turning his attention to her, Toshiro let out a smirk. "I told you I would beat you again."

She placed the controller on her lap and folded her arms over her chest. "How can you defeat me at such a state?"

"I just got the better strategy, that's all. You, on the other hand, need to polish it up."

"Mou..."

All of a sudden, they heard a knock on the door. Turning their heads to the side, the two roommates watched it open. It is when an elderly woman entered the room. Toshiro slightly tilted his head to the side, trying to figure out why she is doing here until Momo said, "Obaa-san, you came to visit."

With one look at the happy peach girl, he resumed his attention to the elder. "So, that's her grandmother..."

After taking a seat next to her granddaughter, she placed the bag (which she brought with her) on her lap. She asked, "How are you doing, Momo?"

The raven haired girl smiled. "I'm doing great. What about you?"

She smiled back. "I'm able to manage."

"That's good to hear."

The elder then noticed her snowy white haired roommate sitting in the bed right next to her. She smiled at him. "It seems like you've made a new friend here."

Hinamori glanced at Toshiro and then resumed her attention to her grandmother. She replied, "Yeah, his name is Toshiro Hitsugaya."

The white haired boy gave the elder a short head bow in which she replied back by doing the same thing. Resuming her attention to her granddaughter, Obaa-san said, "Are you hungry right now, Momo? I packed a snack for you to eat."

As older woman began to take out the contents in her bag, the raven haired girl placed a hand on her stomach and looked down. "I guess I'm a bit hungry. What did you bring me?"

Once she is finished, Obaa-san put the bag aside and placed the two stacked rectangular boxes on her lap. She opened the lid on the top one and showed Hinamori what's inside. "Sliced watermelon."

Upon hearing that comment, Hitsugaya took a quick glimpse to the side and saw the fresh juicy fruit in the container. He gulped and slowly turned his head to the side. Aside from loving his family, he also loves eating watermelons. Poking into a slice with her fork, Momo held it upwards and took a bite out of it. "Mm, it's so delicious and sweet!"

"I'm glad you like it. Feel free to eat all of it."

"Hai!"

As she watched the peach girl happily eating, Obaa-san looked over and noticed the young white haired boy taking short glances in hers and her granddaughter's general direction. Having a good idea what he's after, the elderly woman left her seat and stood in between the two beds. Facing him, she opened the lid on the second container and held the other batch of watermelon slices and fork out for him to see. She asked, "Would you like some, Toshiro?"

"Uh no, it's alright," he replied, turning his head to the side. "Besides, it's yours and Hinamori's food."

The grandmother smiled. "Daijobou, I have the another half of the watermelon stored inside the fridge at home. I can have some then."

"Are you sure about this?"

She nodded with agreement. "Go right ahead."

Accepting her offer, Hitsugaya placed the container of his favourite fruit on his lap. Picking up the fork with his right hand, he used it to stab a slice of watermelon. After holding it up to his mouth, he wasted no time putting it into his mouth and eat it. "It tastes delicious. Thank you for letting me have some."

"It's no problem."

Resuming his attention to the watermelon, he continued to happily eat. Minutes later, the boy finished devouring all the snacks inside the container. "Sugoi Shiro-chan, you ate all the watermelon slices so quickly," Momo commented.

Upon hearing that comment, he turned his head to the side and gave the raven haired girl a stern look. "Is that the nickname you're planning to call me from now on? If it is, don't ever call me that again, Hinamori."

"What? I think it suits you."

"I think the nickname is just plain ridiculous."

"Oh come on Shiro-chan, let me call you by that nickname. In return, you can call me by the nickname you choose."

"I don't care about stuff like that. I just want you to stop calling me Shiro-chan alread--" Suddenly, he stopped midway. Placing his right pointer and thumb on the bottom of his chin, Toshiro thought for a moment. After placing his hand down, he grinned at Hinamori. "Fine, you can call me by that name whenever you want. I'll just retaliate back with the nickname I have decided to call you by."

Momo blinked a few times. "Okay, what is my nickname then?"

He folded his arms over his chest and let out an amused smirk. "Bed-Wetter Momo."

"Mou, that's a bad nickname," she pouted. "Please think of another one!"

"Too bad, Bed-Wetter; you're stuck with it no matter what you do," Toshiro replied. "Besides, you did say that I can call you by the nickname I choose to name you."

There was a short pause. "Okay, you do have a point there, but at least tell me why you decided to refer to me as a Bed-Wetter."

"I thought you knew; I call you that because you have a tendency to get emotional over the littlest things."

"You make it sound like I literally wet the bed."

Hitsugaya shrugged his shoulder. "Probably, unless you want to confirm that you still do at this age."

"No way!"

As the two children are nitpicking at one another, Momo's grandmother merely smiled at them. She is happy to see that her granddaughter is looking all lively and well especially at a time like this. Suddenly, she heard the sound of the slide door opening. Obaa-san glanced back to see the doctor and nurse has entered the room. "Unohana-sensei," Isane said as they watched their patients converse with each other.

The black braided woman smiled. "It has only been a day and he has already loosened up to this extent. That's good to see."

"I guess so..."

She walked up to Hitsugaya and Hinamori. She interrupted, "If you two continue to talk like that, people around you are going to start to think that you're a couple or something."

Immediately, they stopped and turned to the doctor. Without any hesitation, Toshiro pointed a thumb at himself and then pointed a finger at the raven haired girl. "Me date her? I can't imagine the scenario. Besides, why would I have an interest in someone like her?"

Unohana placed a hand over her mouth and giggled. After putting it down on the lap, she replied, "Hitsugaya, I was only trying to get the both of you to stop talking with one another for a moment."

The white haired boy gave her a look as she turned to her female patient. She blinked and asked, "Is there something wrong, Unohana-sensei?"

She slowly shook her head. "No, there's nothing wrong. I just decided today would be the day where you start your rehabilitation."

Upon hearing her say that, Toshiro slowly turned his head to the side, feeling a bit down. Unlike him, there is no need for her to stay in Seireitei Hospital for a long time. Eventually, there will be a day where his new friend will be well enough to leave and return to her normal life. From there, he will once again be the one left behind. "Hitsugaya-kun, do you want to watch me walk again?"

He snapped back into reality to see Momo smiling at him. He gave her a stern look. "Are you mocking me?"

Hinamori suddenly held her hands up in mock stance. "No, I have no intentions of mocking you at all! Believe me, there is no way I have the heart to insult you because you're still on a wheelchair. Besides, you're going to recover and walk again, right?"

It is when he glanced away and began to doubt the prospect of getting back into normal condition. He mumbled, "I suppose so..."

When she heard that, Unohana closed her eyes and smiled. After so long, he has finally started thinking about getting better. At the same time, Isane is helping Hinamori get on her wheelchair. After she is done, the tall woman turned to her doctor. "Unohana-sensei, we're ready to go."

Retsu nodded with agreement. "Alright then, I'll take her to the cast removal room right now. In the meantime, please bring Hitsugaya and Ms. Hinamori to the rehabilitation room, okay Isane?"

"Yes ma'am!"

With that said, the doctor placed her hands on the back handles of Momo's wheelchair and began pushing her out of the room. Hinamori half turned her body around to see her grandmother and Hitsugaya watch her leave. She gave them a reassuring smile.

When they are gone, Isane pulled out his wheelchair and set it on the side of his bed. "Let's go, Hitsugaya."

One glance at the woman and one at the elder, Hitsugaya closed his eyes and let out a defeated sigh. With the help of his uninjured arm, he slowly transferred seats from the bed to the wheelchair. Just as the nurse is about to place her hands on the handicap chair, Toshiro has already placed his hands on the wheel bars and moved it on his own. As she watched him leave the room, Kotetsu let out a sigh of defeat. Despite how things went well so far, he's still not willing to allow anyone to get too close to him.

"He still has a long way to go..."

With her hands on the support handle bars on her sides, Hinamori slowly took small and simple steps forward. At a steady pace, she is walking on her two feet again. Kotetsu and Unohana, who are closely keeping an eye on her, both smiled with content. "From now on, I want you to start practicing like this. At the same time, I would like you to do some light ankle twisting exercises on your injury. It should help you walk again."

Momo nodded with agreement. "Hai, arigato Unohana-sensei, Isane-san."

"It's really nothing Hinamori," Isane replied. "We're just doing our jobs, that's all."

Just as the peach girl placed her injured foot on the floor, she quickly lost her balance. Sensing danger, she arm hooked the left side of the bar and kept herself from falling to the ground. The people who are concerned for her let out sighs of relief. Momo turned her attention to Obaa-san and Hitsugaya, who are watching her from nearby, a thumb up. "It's alright; I-I'm okay..."

Toshiro folded his arms over his chest and gave her a stern look. "She's quite the clumsy one."

Hinamori's grandmother took one glance at him and smiled. "Momo is absent-minded sometimes, but do bear with her."

He took a short glimpse at the elder before resuming his attention to his roommate. He let out a sigh. Taking out his cell phone from his right pants pocket, he flipped it open and started pressing a few buttons. Obaa-san couldn't help, but watch what the white haired boy is doing. After hearing a few buttons being pressed, she heard a message play back.

Hey Itoto-chan, how are you doing at home? Yeah, I know it sucks to be sick, but what can you do? The only way to get better is to sleep, eat, and take your medicine just like Okaa-san told you to do. You better be doing that or else I'm not taking you with me to the movies tomorrow! You got that, Toshiro? You have to get better!

She heard stories from her granddaughter of the boy's recent loss and troubles. She mentally said a pray in hopes of his recovery as she returned to watching Momo from the side. Once the raven haired girl made it to the end of the bar handles, she let out a sigh of relief. It is when Unohana approached her. She said, "Okay, you can take a break."

"Thank goodness..."

All of a sudden, Isane approached her and held out a pair of crutches. "Use these; they will help you walk properly."

Momo nodded with agreement and accepted her offer. "Arigato Isane-san."

As the girl tried walking with her new crutches, she lost her balance. Without any warning, she moved all the way to the side and bumped into Hitsugaya's wheelchair. She half collapsed on his lap. When her elbow made contact with his left arm, Hitsugaya quickly bit the bottom of his lip, trying to hold back his yell. However, it was no use. "It-t-t-te! Hinamori, get off of me already!"

"Ah, I'm so sorry Hitsugaya-kun! I didn't mean to hurt you!" she apologized, getting off of his lap. "I-I just don't know how to use the crutches properly yet."

"Well, you better get used to them quickly." He turned his head to his left, placed his right hand on his left arm, and hissed between his teeth. As allowed Unohana to further inspect his injury, he continued, "I don't want something like this to happen again."

"I understand..."

"The good news is that the accident didn't cause any more damage to your injury," Retsu explained. "So, you're still fine, Hitsugaya."

Hitsugaya gave her a silent nod. In the meantime, Obaa-san suddenly approached her granddaughter and said, "I have to go home now."

"Oh, okay then," the peach girl answered. "Have a safe trip home."

"Please do take care of yourself, Momo."

"I will."

Just as she walked past the white haired boy, the elder stopped and turned to him. "It's nice meeting you again, Toshiro."

He slowly gave her a nod. "Same here."

Obaa-san smiled. "Get well soon."

With that said, the two roommates watched her leave the rehabilitation room with Doctor Unohana at her side. They soon turned their attention to Isane Kotetsu. "Well, it's time to take you both back to your rooms."

They glanced at each other and then to the nurse. Hinamori replied, "Alright then, let's go Shiro-chan!"

The white haired boy made a face. He retorted, "Oi, it's Hitsugaya to you, Bed-Wetter."

By the time Toshiro and Momo returned to their room, they soon found that it is currently occupied by the familiar person who has been waiting for a while. Noticing their presence, her face lit up. Running up to them, she placed her hands on her hips and asked the white haired boy, "Where have you been, Hitsugaya? Don't tell me you have been hiding from Kotetsu and Unohana-sensei again."

"It's none of your business," Toshiro retorted as he moved himself all the way to the side of his bed. "There is no need for you to know where I was."

Rangiku gave him a look before turning her attention to the raven haired girl. "Hey Hinamori, oh...I see that you're already on crutches."

She smiled and nodded with agreement. "Yeah, Unohana-sensei told me to use these; it will help with my rehab."

"I see."

"And about Hitsugaya-kun's whereabouts, he was actually in the rehabilitation room watching me learn how to walk again."

She blinked a few times before turning to him. "Really, is that true Hitsugaya?"

He shot her a strange look. Toshiro asked, "Yes, is there something wrong with that?"

The strawberry orange haired woman didn't answer right away. She just stared at him for a moment. "Don't tell me that you have beco--"

"Whatever you're going to say, it's not true."

"But Hitsugaya, I haven't finished my sentence! How are you supposed to know what I'm going to say is correct?"

"There is no need to wait because I can easily read you."

"Stalker!"

"Shut up Matsumoto, you're so annoying!"

As the two friends continued to bicker with one another, Hinamori is stuck in the middle, trying to figure out what to do. "A-Ano, there's no need to fight you two," she said. "Besides, it doesn't solve anything!"

It is when the two neighbours stopped talking. They turned their heads to look at the raven haired girl. Matsumoto then started laughing. "Oh, don't worry about us," the strawberry orange haired teenager replied. "This is how we usually talk to one another."

"R-Really?"

"No," Hitsugaya answered, folding his arms over his chest. "I act this way because you're always pushing my buttons."

"Why would I do that?"

"I don't know; you tell me."

"I see," Momo replied.

"Either way, it's nice to see you somewhat back to normal."

He raised an eyebrow. "What does that supposed to mean?"

"It means nothing."

Toshiro gave her a glare and warned, "Matsumoto..."

Completely ignoring him, she walked over to Momo and arm hooked her by the neck. Drawing her close, she whispered in her ear, "Thanks Hinamori for befriending him. He's already recovering quite nicely."

Once she let go, the younger girl replied, "Iie, it's really nothing. I'm just glad to lend you a hand."

With a smile on Rangiku's face, she walked to the door. "Oi, where are you going?" Hitsugaya asked.

"I would love to stay a little long and chat with you both, but I have to go home now. I don't want to keep my folks and my dinner waiting! See you soon!"

Before either of them could say another word, she already left. "Well, that was a short visit," Momo said as she turned her attention to Toshiro.

Hitsugaya let out a defeated sigh. "I wouldn't be too surprised if she has been searching for us when she found us missing from this room."

As he was transferring seats from the wheelchair to the bed, the raven haired girl find it quite surprising to see him to be very independent. "Hitsugaya-kun, doesn't it hurt whenever you do that?"

He took a look at her and replied, "Once in a while, but I can handle the pain just fine. It's not like I'm completely paralyzed or anything."

"Oh..."

Toshiro gave her a stern look. "What? You thought I was?"

"Initially, yes...but now that I know, I'm relieved."

"Relieved for what?" he asked, watching the girl slowly sit on her bed and rest her head on the pillow.

She gave him a warm smile. "You can fully recover and eventually do everything you were able to do before."

Upon hearing that comment, he remembered it. Despite getting better and leaving Seireitei Hospital, it doesn't change the fact that his family is not going to be there for him anymore. "Maybe, who knows..."

Japanese Word Translations

Obaa-san - Grandmother, Hai - Yes, Daijobou - It's Alright, Sugoi - Amazing, Sensei - Teacher/Doctor, Arigato - Thank You, Itoto-chan - Little Brother, Okaa-san - Mother, Itte - Ouch, Ano - Um, Iie - No

Author's Note: Momo's recovering, Rangiku's happy to know that her friend's mental condition is improving, and Toshiro's worried about his roommates departure in the near future. What choice will he make: allow her to leave or make her stay? You just have to wait and find out what happens in the next chapter. In the meantime, please review! Thanks.