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

Author's Note: GAH, AN EARLY UPDATE! After writing seventeen chapters and the prologue to this story, I have already broken my personal record of 373 reviews in a story! The last record holder was The Greatest Treasure. (OMFG, yes!) I would give myself a nice pat on the back on a job well done, but there's still a lot of things to write about before The Healing Heart can truly be complete. Hn, I wonder how many reviews I'll get by the end of the story? Who knows...

Anyway, special thanks goes to my awesome reviewers: becomeafan, yumi-2121331 (x2), MoonLightView, icyangel27, King of Heroes, michiHitsugaya, AIG -d e a d, lil'sayuri-chan, BreathexFreely, Samantha, DestinedDuelist893, RebelAngel91210, Epoch95, cool!, allan caldeini, KnowledgeandImagination, Neko-cheung, Kaye. Shirogane, athfdrizzle, monkeywinz, serenity095, chococat450, j cloud xD. Thank you for all your support and please do continue to review. It's greatly appreciated to the bottom of my heart. Ah...well, enough with all the delays; here is chapter eighteen. Enjoy!

LEGEND

"Talking." "Thinking."

The Healing Heart

Part II - Hardships and Love

Chapter Eighteen: Refusal

Momo recognized her: the person who is standing in front of Toshiro's doorstep. However, Hinamori is having a hard time trying to accept the fact; this woman looked a lot different than she was three years ago when they first met. Her once beautiful and long midnight blue hair looks uncombed and damaged while her once soft skin, suddenly turned dry and pale. Her clothes: they look outdated and ragged-like. Judging from the several bags under her eyes, she looked like she barely had any sleep at all. The peach girl wouldn't be too surprised if she mistaken her as a hobo who lives on the street.

"Oh sweetie, I'm so happy that I found you!" she exclaimed, opening her arms out to the white haired teenager.

Just as she is about to hug him, Hitsugaya responded in a negative way. With a whip of his hand, he flicked her away, ensuring that she doesn't make any contact. Megumi Hashibara then gave him a serious look.

"Toshiro, is that how you treat your moth-"

"Just answer my questions: what are you doing here and how did you know I live here?" Toshiro interrupted.

Hinamori is thrown off by her friend's attitude toward his foster parent. Never in her life she has seen him so angry before. It is nothing compared to the anger he showed when he saved her from the group of thugs several months ago. "I came looking for you," she explained. "I have talked with the police of your whereabouts. I missed you so much, my son. I want you back ho-"

"I'm not coming back with you."

"W-What? Why?"

"Cut with the act; I'm not stupid," Hitsugaya snapped. "You plan to take me back and use me as your money maker again."

"Have some heart Toshiro; I'm a widow now," she pleaded. She placed her hands together and continued, "You should know that because my husband died because of drug use and overwork. I'm in desperate need right now. Please help me."

There is a moment of silence where neither one have spoken. Momo could feel the mixture of tension and desperation in the air. She did not even dare to say a thing that could change the current flow. She knows it too well; it's a conversation she shouldn't interfere. "Where is all the money Touya left behind?"

"I..."

Just as she is about to answer his question, he immediately answered, "You used it for gambling and lost it all. At its worse, you're probably in debt."

"...Yes."

Toshiro bit the bottom of his lip. After placing his hands on his waist, he turned his head to the side and let out a short hiss. Moments later, he turned around and let out a growl of frustration. He marched back into the house, leaving the two females hanging. Eventually, Hitsugaya returned and handed her a few kan bills. "There, that's all you're going to get from me. So, use it wisely."

Thankful for his kindness, Megumi clutched her hand full of money, looked up and noticed the familiar face of the raven haired girl standing behind her adopted son. Returning her attention to him, she asked, "Can I stay here for the nig-"

His eyes immediately flared. He replied, "No, you cannot stay here. The last thing I want are more scars on me. Good night and don't you dare come back!"

Before she could say a thing, Hitsugaya slammed the door shut, preventing her from entering his home any further. He turned his body around, leaned against the door, and punched the bottom of his right fist against it. He didn't care in the world if she heard it or not; he doesn't want to see her again.

Shortly, he raised his head and noticed that Momo is still in his presence. Immediately, he lowered his head, feeling ashamed of his behaviour. After being in the middle of that conversation, he knows well that she has become very worried. He quietly apologized to her, "Sorry you had to hear that..."

"So, the reason why things are the way they are now is because..." Momo said.

He slowly nodded with agreement. "Yeah, after Touya died from overwork and drug use, I immediately ran away from home in North Rukon. Without him to look after me, I knew there is no way to resist against Megumi's demands. I came back here to Seireitei in hopes that...my old friends can make me feel better like they did when I lost my real family."

She could feel her eyes becoming watery from the emotional words that her friend just said. Without a moment to think about it, Momo quickly threw her arms around Toshiro. Keeping him close, she started sobbing for him. Hitsugaya could too feel his emotions surface. However, he refused to let it out in the open. Instead, he closed his watery emerald-teal eyes and did his best to calm down by taking a deep breath. Over the next few almost silent minutes, they stayed that way: together in each others presence.

By the time Hinamori mostly settled down, she wiped the dripping tears from her cheeks with a single arm and asked, "What are you going to do now? She now knows where you live."

"I..." He closed his mouth for a moment and then reopened it again. "I'm not sure..."

"Oh..."

He then let out a short chuckle as if living his life is a complete joke. "Even if I tried moving away again, she's only going to do the same thing as before. I-Is there no way for me to run away from her?"

"I-I don't know..."

He leaned forward so that he can rest his chin on her shoulder. "There are times I've wished I had the power to foresee the future. Using that strength, I can prevent tragic events from happening to me like being abused by the once caring and loving Megumi, losing a dedicated and strong Touya, and most of all, the car crash that killed my parents and...my sister, Miyuki."

Toshiro quickly closed his eyes and let out a despicable laugh.

He said out loud as if it's nothing, "But that could never come true; it's only a fragment of my own nativity! There's no way for me to change what has already happened! This is my reality: I was born and raised into a loving family that has a mother, a father, and an older sister. At the age of eleven, I lost all of them in an instant after a stupid drunk driver crashed into our car. After that, I've spent two long months, grieving for their loss and suffered in hopes that I will join them. However, it didn't happen; I eventually recovered and got new parents to love and care for. Just when I thought things are looking up for me, soon after that new life crumbled again. After losing her job, tha-that woman's persona turned upside down and went insane. Because of that insanity, she caused Touya's death and left me alone to suffer in her grasp!"

Hitsugaya cursed under his breath. He leaned back a bit so that Hinamori could see him clearly.

"Why do these things keep happening to me? Is it an act from the deity from above playing with my life like it's some sort of silly game to him? If it is, I don't want to play this game anymore. Just let me die already! I don't want to feel anymore pai-"

Momo suddenly slapped the younger teenager on the side of his face. At this time, a new set of tears dripped down both sides of her cheeks. She didn't care about his shocked reaction or even noticed he just covered the red slap mark on his cheek with a hand. All that mattered was that he listened to the words she had to say. "No, you can't die! Please...please don't say those words again, Hitsugaya-kun! Don't say that you want to die. Don't you even dare try to cut your life short! I-If you do that, y-you're only going to make...you're only going to make your sister sad!"

Upon hearing her mention about Miyuki, all negative thoughts soon turned to the memory of the car crash. He remembered the reason he's still alive today as told by Doctor Retsu Unohana: his older sister risked hers to save his. He slightly tilted his head forward, feeling guilt in his heart. If he were to really do what he had said and died, Onee-chan's efforts would have been worthless.

"Not only that; you're going to make your friends sad: Ichimaru-san, Hisagi-san, Abarai-kun, Kira-kun, Rangiku-san, and...me too, I-I'm sure of that. I-It's hard to imagine living a life without you around."

Toshiro slowly raised his head to look at Momo. "Do...you really mean it?"

"Yeah, I do..." she replied with a faint smile. "You still have a lot to live for. Besides, your parents and sister from above would want to see you grow up, finish your education, get a job, get a girlfriend, and hopefully raise a family of your own."

Thinking about the life he would live if he were to continue living made him laugh a bit. "It's so weird...thinking about it."

"It probably is, but only time could tell."

He then closed his eyes and let out a sigh. For some reason, he found himself at ease. What felt miserable and heavy, suddenly felt peaceful and content. Strangely, it had something to do with the girl that currently stands before him. She is always finding ways to make him feel the emotions that he showed back in the day when he lived with his biological family.

All of a sudden, Momo suddenly started apologizing to him, "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to slap and yell at you!"

"It's okay," he replied. "I-I sort of deserved it after thinking so negatively."

There was a moment of silence.

"Can...You do me a favour?"

"What is it?"

"I-I'm feeling tired from everything that has been going on today. Before you leave, can you make...sure that I fall asleep in my bed?"

She let out a faint smile. "Sure, I can do that."

"You can borrow my house key for tonight. It's on the night table next to my bed. Just make you return it to me tomorrow."

"Hai."

Momo slowly led the thirteen year old to his bedroom. He took off his sweater and his socks and threw them off to the side, not caring where they landed. He then sat down on his futon, pulled the blanket on his body, and soon lay down to rest his head on the pillow. During this time, Hinamori took a seat next to him and watched him try to drift off to sleep. However, it didn't work. From time to time, he would turn his head to one side and then shortly after, turn the other way. Having a good idea that he's restless; the peach girl suddenly took hold of his hand.

In response to her touch, Hitsugaya opened his eyes and turned to see a brief image of Miyuki sitting before him. When he blinked, the image faded, returning to the original person there: Momo. He then took a deep breath before slowly exhaling it out. He turned his head away from her and revealed nostalgic face. "Onee-chan would always do that to me whenever I couldn't sleep."

"Oh...do you mind?"

"...No, it's fine."

There is a moment of silence.

Toshiro whispered, "Just...don't tell any of today's events to anyone."

"Okay..."

Then, the atmosphere became quiet once more. The seconds soon turned to minutes as Momo stood by his side. At one point, she started rubbing the top part of his hand in hopes of getting him to relax. When she felt his grip on her went numb, Hinamori raised her head. Hitsugaya appears to have fallen into a pretty deep asleep. She let out a smile, content of her achievement. For a few more minutes, she will stay with him just to make sure he's truly sleeping. So, she laid down on her side right next to him.

She suddenly started yawning. Watching him made the peach girl feel tired herself. "Maybe...a short nap wouldn't hurt."

Momo slowly closed her eyes.

"After I wake up, it will be okay for me to leave him here. He will be sound asleep."

Japanese Word Translations

Kan - The currency used in the Bleach Universe, Onee-chan - Older Sister, Hai - Yes

Author's Note: There you have it; here is Hitsugaya in his meltdown moment. Good thing Momo was able to knock some sense back into him. Go Momo! Now, it's time for me to concentrate on the next chapter. You're going to scream with fluffiness. (Okay, maybe that's a little over dramatic...) Anyways, please review quickly! The next update is coming up in three days! Thanks.