Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights of this series goes to Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: Gah, so many reviews; so many people to thank. Anyway, *takes a deep breath* here it goes. Special thanks goes to tanithhh, becomeafan, King of Heroes, lil'sayuri-chan, yumi-2121331, icyangel27, BreathexFreely, Samantha, KnowledgeandImagination, MoonLightView, HoneyFlower15, applestoapples, Epoch95, cool!, monkeywinz, ScienceAngel, AznInvasionGirl, Neko-cheung, serenity095, Kaye. Shirogane, athfdrizzle, SMILES208, chococat450, and finally j cloud xD for your awesome support! Well, enough with all the delays; here is chapter twelve. Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking." Voice Message by Miyuki Hitsugaya.
The Healing Heart
Part II - Hardships and Love
Chapter Twelve: Recognize Me?
By the time she regained consciousness, the raven haired girl found herself staring at the familiar white ceiling above her. Slowly, she sat up and began looking around. "I-I'm in my room," she concluded.
Shortly, the memories of what happened a while ago became clear as day. However, she began to doubt. There is no way that he would be here. Besides, he moved away three years ago.
"I must be imagining things..."
With that said Momo left the safety of her bed, walked over to the door, and opened it with a single turn of her doorknob. From there, she walked through and went downstairs to see her grandmother. So far, she is nowhere to be found.
"Obaa-san, doko ni iru no?"
By the time she entered the living room, she noticed someone is sitting on her sofa and it is not her elderly relative. However, the peach girl couldn't help, but get the feeling that she knows this person with snowy white hair. Just as she is about to go to another room, she heard him reply, "Oi Bed-Wetter, is that how you greet someone after not seeing them for so long?"
Hinamori stopped and resumed her attention to him. "Wha...?"
Finally, he shifted his seat to the side so that his emerald-teal eyes and her chocolate brown ones could meet face to face once more. With a smirk on his lips, he continued asking, "Don't you recognize me?"
After taking a closer look at him, she does recall someone looking awfully similar to him. The only difference about them is that this person is definitely taller (close to her height), appears quite fit for his age, and has a slightly deeper toned voice. Before long, she said a name, "Sh-Shiro-chan?"
In response, he gave her a stern look and corrected, "Oi oi, it's not Shiro-chan and stop calling me by that ridiculous nickname."
It is the same tone he uses whenever one does not address him properly by his last name. He is the only person she knows who would take the effort to say that. She placed a hand over her mouth and said, "Oh my gosh, it really is you!"
Hitsugaya shrugged his shoulder saying as if it is the most obvious thing in the world. "What else do you expect: a stranger?"
"What brings you here?"
"A while ago you were about to get raped by those thugs. I just so happen to be in the area and saw the whole thing happen in front of my eyes. Noticing that you are practically bed-wetting again, it left me no other choice, but to step in and beat them up."
"Do you really have to say it that way?" Hinamori asked as she took a seat right next to him.
Toshiro crossed his arms over his chest. "More or less..."
"Mou..."
"By the way, nice PJ's you're wearing."
Hinamori took a look at herself and suddenly felt her cheeks heat up. "Di-Did you...?"
It is Hitsugaya's turn to turn a few shades darker. "Oi baka, why would I do such a thing? It's obvious that your grandmother had to change you into a set of dry clothes."
"Oh..."
"Don't ask me random questions like that!"
"Well, I had to ask just to make sure!"
He let out a frown on his face, feeling a bit uncomfortable about the situation. So, he changed the subject. "Anyway, after they were crying to their mothers, you fell unconscious. As a result, I had to take you back to your house."
"B-But how do you know where I live?"
He gave her a strange look and replied, "Isn't that obvious? I stopped by at your house on the day when you, Matsumoto, and I went out to Seireitei City, remember?"
"Oh yeah, I sort of forgot..."
Hitsugaya let out a sigh of defeat and turned his head to the side. He muttered, "Tch, I'm already hurt that you have forgotten about me, but now this? You sure really know how to break people's hopes."
"I-I-I'm sorry...I hurt your feelings. I-I-I was just surprised. I-I never thought that you would come here and visit. So, what I'm trying to say is..." She let out a smile on her face. "Well, it really is nice to see you again after all these years."
When he resumed his attention to her, he let out a light snort and a faint smile. "I guess I could forgive you, but it's only because you're the first person I saw in a long while."
"Eh, you haven't got in contact with Rangiku-san?"
"How am I supposed to know where she is right now? When I went to her house, no one answered."
"Oh, it's probably because her parents aren't home at the moment," Hinamori replied. "As for Rangiku-san, she moved away a while ago; just months after you left town."
"Hn, then it's safe to assume that she kept in contact with you?"
Momo nodded with agreement. "As a matter of fact, we're both currently attending the same high school."
"Hn, how come I'm not surprised about that?"
"I-I'm not sure..."
There was a silent pause.
"Anyway, I should get going," Toshiro said as he began leaving his seat.
"What already?"
"Sorry, but I have to besides..." He slowly turned his head to the side and continued in a whispered, "...my folks are probably worried about me right about now."
"That's right; he has parents now. Of course, they would worry about him," she thought. "Well, I guess I can't stop you."
"Then, why don't you ask them to let you stay for dinner?" Momo's elderly grandmother asked as she entered the room.
Hearing what she said, Hinamori turned to Hitsugaya and said, "That's a great idea! I'm sure if you asked them nicely, they'll let you stay."
"Thanks for the offer, but I don't want to be a hindrance to you two," Toshiro replied.
Momo shook her head. "You're not a hindrance at all; you're never one in the first place."
After taking a look at the slightly pleading expression on her face, the white haired teenager raised his hand and placed it on the back of his head to scratch it. As his eyes turned away, he let out a sigh of defeat. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to stay a little longer...but just to make sure, I'll ask them."
Hinamori smiled as she watched him take out his silver cell phone from his pants pocket. With his right thumb, he flipped it open and began to press a few buttons. Once he pressed the talk button, he placed the electronic device against his ear and listened to the ring.
Shortly after, he said, "Hey, it's me. I guess you're not home at the moment. Well, just to let you know, I'm right now at a friend's place. Don't worry about me; once I finish eating dinner with them, I'll come back home before curfew. Ja ne."
With that done, he closed the cell phone cap and put it back into his pants pocket. When he resumed his attention to the peach girl, Momo asked, "Are you sure it's alright to tell them like that?"
"It's alright; during this time, they're still at work. As long as I come home before curfew, they won't get mad at me."
The sixteen year old girl smiled. "That's good to hear."
Glancing to the side to see her grandmother leaving the living room and entering the kitchen, she told her former roommate from Seireitei Hospital to sit and relax as the Hinamori family set up dinner. For the first few minutes, Hitsugaya sat on the sofa and watched the raven haired girl walk in and out with various dishes, plates, and utensils to put on the low table which is positioned in the center of the living room. By the time she walked out the third time, he stood up from his seat, walked over to the entrance into the kitchen to see what they are doing.
"Momo, can you go to the garden outside and cut some green onions for me?" Obaa-san asked.
"Hai!"
She then picked up a pair of scissors from one of the drawers and left the kitchen through the other exit, leaving the elderly woman alone. It is when Hitsugaya stepped into the room. Walking to her side, he asked, "Do...you need any help?"
Obaa-san turned her head to see the white haired teenager. As she resumed her attention to stirring her vegetable soup, the woman smiled. "You can help me bring out the soup once it's done."
Hitsugaya silently nodded with agreement and waited. Two quiet minutes passed by.
"Thank you for bringing her back home safely, Toshiro."
Upon hearing her sudden comment, the now fourteen year old boy took a quick glance at her before turning his attention away once more. "Iie, it's nothing. Besides, it's the right thing to do when a friend is in need."
"You're so kind."
"I suppose..."
"Obaa-san, I'm back!" Hinamori replied upon returning to the kitchen with a handful of green onions. "Oh Shiro-chan, you're here too."
It is when he folded his arms over his chest and turned his body to face the raven haired girl. With a stern look, he replied, "Oi Bed-Wetter, stop calling me that. It's Hitsugaya."
"Hitsugaya, huh?" Momo lowered her head which caught the younger teenager's eyes. She raised it once more and asked, "Didn't your last name change after you got adopted?"
Toshiro then turned his eyes away from her. He replied in a softer toned voice, "It did, but...I tell people to keep calling me Hitsugaya."
"And your parents are okay with it?"
He slowly nodded with agreement. "Yeah, they don't mind."
"I see..."
"Please do continue calling me Hitsugaya."
Momo smiled. "Alright then, Hitsugaya-kun."
There was another short pause of silence between the former roommates of Seireitei Hospital.
"So, how is your relationship with your second parents right now?"
"It's...alright, I suppose."
Noticing Hitsugaya's strange behaviour, she became worried about him. "Are you alright?"
Snapping back to reality, the thirteen year old teenager turned his attention to the concerned raven haired girl. "Ah yeah, I'm fine..."
Before she could ask him further, her grandmother said, "Momo, the green onions..."
"Ah sorry Obaa-san!"
The younger Hinamori handed her the home grown vegetables for her to chop up. Once the last ingredient is added into the soup, she stirred it for a few seconds and then said, "Alright, it's time to eat."
With nods of agreement, the two teenagers set up the last dishes onto the low table in the living room. Sitting around it, they gave their thanks and started eating their meal together.
"Thanks for letting me have dinner with you and your grandmother," Hitsugaya said as he is putting on his shoes in the front entrance. "The food was delicious."
Hinamori smiled. "Feel free to come back and visit whenever you get the chance."
Once he is done, he turned his body to her. "Sure, that's fine..."
"When I see Rangiku-san at school tomorrow, I'll tell her that you came by to say hi."
"That would be appreciated..."
Momo placed her hands together on her lap. "Well, I hope to see you again soon."
"Same here."
"Bye Hitsugaya-kun."
"Ja ne Hinamori..."
With a short bow of thanks, the white haired teenager opened the door and left the household, leaving the peach girl behind. As she watched him go, Obaa-san walked to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder, catching her attention. "He definitely did some growing up over the past few years."
"Yeah, he did..."
"It's nice to see that he's doing well."
She nodded with agreement. "I'm glad too to see him living life to the fullest."
The elder smiled. "Now, let's head back inside Momo."
"Hai Obaa-san."
Shortly after, Hinamori closed the front door.
The doorknob turned clockwise before the door slowly opened. After walking into his home, Hitsugaya gently closed the door behind him and locked it. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. He is glad to see his friend again. However, he didn't like the way he acted in front of her. He lowered his head and bit the bottom of his lip.
When he turned his head to the side, he opened his eyes and noticed his answering machine has picked up a call while he was gone. Extending a finger out, he pressed a button and listened to the message.
You have one message: "Hey, it's me. I guess you're not home at the moment. Well, just to let you know, I'm right now at a friend's place. Don't worry about me; once I finish eating dinner with them, I'll come back home before curfew. Ja ne..." Tuesday September 9, 6:45pm.
Toshiro suddenly leaned his back against the door and let out a light snort. With his head leaned forward, he whispered, "Of course, no one will be home to answer any of my calls..."
Putting his hand into his pants pocket, he took out his cell phone and flipped the cap open. After pressing a few buttons, he played one of the many voice messages his deceased older sister has sent him.
I thought I was never going find my way back! Today, I went sightseeing all around Osaka with my friends until I got separated. Oh man, I totally didn't know my way around. I thought I was a goner until a nice couple guided me back. I thought I was a goner! But don't worry Itoto-chan, I'm alright now. I'm back in my dorm room safe and sound. Anyway, I better go to sleep now. I'll talk more about it when I get back home in about...eh, three days? Anyway, good night Toshiro.
Hitsugaya closed his cell phone cap, put it back into his pocket, and began walking deeper into his home. When he arrived in the bedroom, he picked up his night clothes which were left on his futon and began changing. By the time, he took off his shirt; he took a moment to look at himself. Parts of his chest and back were covered with several healing bruises and scars. Toshiro let out a small hiss, cursing the pain he's enduring. Resisting it, he put on his night shirt and buttoned it together. He then let out sigh and closed his eyes.
"...It's all because I'm the only one who lives here."
Japanese Word Translations
Obaa-san - Grandmother, Doko ni iru no - Where Are You, Baka - Idiot/Stupid, Ja ne - Good Bye (informal/casual), Hai - Yes, Iie - No, Itoto-chan - Younger Brother
Author's Note: Le Gasp! O_O What happened between Toshiro and his second parents that got him to be that way? Well, I'll tell you this much; it's not pretty. You just have to wait and find out in the next chapter. In the meantime, please review! Thanks.