Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights of this series goes to Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: Early update! OMG, I just melted after reading the latest Bleach Manga Chapter. I totally loved it. *wipes tear from corner of eye with finger* It's so beautiful. He really does care about her. *sigh* If only he is able to get away with it. Blast you Sosuke Aizen!
Anyway, special thanks goes to my dear reviewers: yumi-2121331, becomeafan, icyangel27, Epoch95, DestinedDuelist893, AIG -d e a d, Neko-cheung, tanithhh, Ai Angel (x2), monkeywinz, KnowledgeandImagination, applestoapples, cool!, Little Night-Star Hood aka Little riding hood, King of Heroes (x2), j cloud xD, sweet miracle' michu 17, serenity095, HyorinmaruIce, lil'sayuri-chan, MoonLightView, chococat450, athfdrizzle, michiHitsugaya, Rikku Deathberry. Thank you all for taking the time to comment my story. Please do continue to support me! Without any further delay, here is chapter twenty-one. Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking." Flash Back.
The Healing Heart
Part II - Hardships and Love
Chapter Twenty-One: Gone
"Please come back again soon!" the waitresses said while they bowed down to the customers who are leaving the dessert shop. Little did they know, a few of their male co-workers were checking them out from behind the cash register.
One of them let out a short whistle. "I never get sick and tired of it; watching them do that."
"Oh yeah, you got that right," the other agreed, continuing watching the girls. He then turned to their white haired co-worker, who is standing not too far from them, wiping the table surfaces clean. "Oi Hitsugaya, you're missing out on the good stuff."
Toshiro responded by standing upright and giving them a stern look. "If you think wasting my time looking at girls is good stuff, you're sadly mistaken. Besides, check out who is behind you right now."
Once they turned their heads, they immediately realized they were confronted by their female co-workers. "Oh shit..."
With their hands on their hips, the girls grabbed the collar of their shirts and yelled into their ears, "You think it's amusing to check us out while you guys have nothing else better to do? You should be ashamed of yourselves!"
"You got that right!" the other girl agreed. "Even if you asked, we wouldn't date you."
"Fortunately, there is someone in this room who can control his hormones. So, there is no need for us to worry about being outnumbered."
The boys then turned their attention to Toshiro. They pleaded, "Come on Hitsugaya, help us here!"
He raised an eyebrow at them, thinking that they're crazy or something. He retorted, "Do you really think I'm stupid? There is no way I'm going to commit suicide over something that I didn't even do."
"Oi!"
"But really Hitsugaya, hel-ow!"
As the two female co-workers started beating up the male ones, the thirteen year old teenager let out a sigh of defeat. Putting his hand into his pocket, he took out his cell phone to check the time. It is seven thirty in the evening. After putting it back where it belongs, he began walking toward the employee's lounge room. He said out loud with a short wave, "My work shift is done for today, I'll see you tomorrow and have fun dealing with Sasaki and Anzai."
"Bye Hitsugaya," the girls replied happily before resuming their attention to the other two boys. "Now it's time for pay back!"
"Ack!" they exclaimed, agonizing over the pain they were inflicted with.
Meanwhile, Hitsugaya quickly got changed back into his school uniform, put on his outdoor jacket, signed off, and came out of the lounge to find his fellow co-workers still in that conflict. He gave them a stern look before leaving the place without a sound. Looking up into the sky, he watched the stars and the moon glittering above him. At that moment, he said a silent prayer before walking home.
Along the way, he noticed Hinamori's house. He stopped in front of the gate and began thinking about the raven haired girl. He passed through it, walked up the stairs, and stood in front of the door. Toshiro raised a gently clutched fist out. He was about to knock on the door, but he quickly pulled away. "Maybe now isn't a good time," he thought. "Besides, it's dark and...I don't want her to get a bad night's sleep."
Deciding that he will try approaching her tomorrow, the white haired teenager turned around and began leaving the house. Just then he saw a beam of light shine on him. Wondering where it came from, he stopped, turned around, and noticed an elderly woman standing at the door.
"Hinamori's grandmother..."
"Toshiro," she said.
Immediately, he gave her a short bow. "Konbanwa."
With a short nod in response, she asked, "Are you here because you want to see Momo?"
Upon hearing her name, Hitsugaya slightly tilted his head off to the side. "Well, that's only if she is at home right now."
Obaa-san let out a smile. "Why don't you come inside for a moment? She will come back home very soon."
"Ah no, it's alright," he quickly replied. "I can always talk to her at school tomorrow."
"I insist you come in. Besides, there is something I want to talk to you about."
Hitsugaya blinked. "You want to talk with me?"
Questions filled his thoughts as he sat on the couch in the living room of his friend's house. What did Momo's grandmother wanted to talk to him about? She came into the room with a plate of watermelon slices in her hands. Worried about her health, Hitsugaya immediately stood up from his seat, dash over, and assisted her. Once the dish is on the low table, the elder and the teenager sat down on their respected seats. "Have some Toshiro," Obaa-san said.
He looked down at the filled plate of his favourite fruit snack before raising it up again to look at the woman, who is smiling at him. Finding that there's no point trying to deny any longer, Hitsugaya gave her his thanks, picked up a slice, and began eating. What seemed that minutes have passed by, the white haired prodigy ate until he finished his third slice.
Just as he is about to pick up another one, he heard her ask, "Momo hasn't been acting like herself today. Do you have any idea what is going on with her?"
Hitsugaya froze for a moment before pulling back. With his head held low, thoughts about the raven haired girl resurfaced in his mind. He has a very good idea why she has been acting strange. Besides, it has something to do with him. "I-I'm sorry," he suddenly apologized. "It's because of me that she has been not acting like her usual self."
"So ka? Then you're here to apologize to her, am I correct?"
Toshiro slowly nodded with agreement. "Something like that..."
"Momo, you seem to be spacing out a lot lately. Is there something wrong?"
The peach girl snapped back to reality and noticed the elderly woman's concerned look on her face. Quickly placing her hands up, she shook them along with her head. "Iie, it's nothing! I'm totally fine!"
"Are you sure about that?"
She placed a hand on the back of her head and let out a hesitant laugh. "H-Hai Obaa-san!"
Though she had said that, it only worried her. The grandmother let out a defeated sigh. "Alright then, but if you need anything, I'm here to listen."
"Ah y-yeah..."
She let out a faint smile. "Well, it's about time for you to go to school now."
With a short nod of agreement, the young raven haired girl picked up her bag from the other seat and ran off toward the front entrance. "I'll be back soon!"
"Have a safe trip, Momo."
"Hai!"
"Hope you two will be able to sort your problems out."
"I hope so too because I want to continue being...Hinamori's friend," Toshiro quietly replied.
She let out a smile. "That's good to hear and I'm sure she'll forgive you. She's not the kind of person who would stay mad at someone for a long time."
"If only you knew the full extent of our problem..."
For the next few minutes, they ate and waited for the return of the sixteen year old teenager. By the time it is eight o'clock, Hitsugaya decided to go home for the night and try talking to her again tomorrow.
"Thanks for letting me stay here for a while, but I have to go home now," he said, bowing to the elderly woman.
She gave him a nod. "Be careful on your way home, Toshiro."
"Hai, ja ne..."
With that said, the white haired prodigy left the Hinamori residence and began his ten minute journey to his apartment with his mind clouded with thoughts about his new found crush.
"She's probably hanging with her friends, trying to forget the whole incident between us. So, there's no need to worry about her."
He arrived at his destination and began walking up the stairs.
"Who am I kidding? Even if I said that, my thoughts won't listen to me. Come to think of it, Hinamori is not the type of person who likes to stay out late. Besides, she's always worried about her grandmother at home."
Hitsugaya walked through the hallway, passing by doors until he arrived in front of the door to his home. Taking out the house key from his pants pocket, he put it into the doorknob, and unlocked it. Opening the door with a clockwise turn, he stepped into the house and immediately slammed the door behind him.
"Where the hell is that Bed-Wetter?"
Without any warning, the phone started ringing. In response, he quickly took off his shoes, ran through the hallway and into the living room. Snatching the phone from its charger on the low table, he held it against his ear and answered the call. "Hello, this is Hitsugaya speaking."
"Hitsugaya-kun!" replied a familiar voice on the other line.
"Hi-Hinamori?" he said, starting to feel a bit uneasy. "Why are you calling me?"
"Don't listen to her!"
He raised an eyebrow, trying to comprehend what she's talking about. "Listen to who?"
"Don't listen to your mo-MWFFF!"
"Hina-" he suddenly yelled with great urgency in his voice. "Hinamori! What's going on your si-"
"Hello Toshiro," interrupted another voice. "Are you worried about her?"
Hitsugaya's eyes widened upon realization as to who is he now conversing with. His eyes narrowed with sudden anger. He cursed, "You bitch, what did you do to Hinamori?"
He could tell that Megumi Hashibara let out a short chuckle from the other line. "Daijobou, she'll be alright as long as you listen to my instructions."
The thirteen year old bit the bottom of his lip, feeling mad at himself. He should have seen this situation coming. He should have been more careful and most of all, he should have looked out for Momo a little more. Now, he has to pay the price and listen to every word that his foster mother tells him. "Fine, I'll listen to you. However, if something did happen to her while I'm coming to you, I'll make sure to kill you."
"We'll see about that..."
He let out a short hiss.
"Be sure to arrive at Seireitei Train Station alone by nine o'clock. You have twenty minutes to get there. If you don't arrive on time, you're going to lose her."
"Okay, I'll be there," Hitsugaya replied. "Now, let me hear Hinamori's voice again."
There was a silent pause.
"Fine, it's the least I could do because it could be the last time you speak with one another."
Toshiro didn't respond to her comment and waited for Momo to be on the phone.
"Hi-Hitsugaya-kun..."
"Hinamori, you're going to be alright," he replied while staying in a calm manner as possible. "I'm coming..."
"Shiro-chan..."
"I have to get going..."
"...I understand."
He let out a faint smile on his face. "I'll see you then..."
"See you..."
"Ja ne."
There was another pause before the familiar hateful voice of Megumi is heard once more. "Well, I hope that's enough motivation for you to get going."
He let out a low growl. "Shut...up."
Though he didn't see it, the white haired teenager knew she is grinning with amusement. "Anyway, I'll be keeping in contact with you through your cell phone. Be sure to keep it on."
Not long after, the phone line got cut off. After pressing the off button on his phone, he sat there with his teeth grinding against one another. His free hand formed a tight fist before slamming it onto the table. "Damn it!"
Never in his whole life he has been so angry at someone. She just had to push his tolerance to its limits so that he would snap. Out of all people, she decided to threaten his friend's safety. Without anymore time to waste, Hitsugaya dropped the house phone on the floor, ran to the front entrance, quickly put on his shoes, and ran out of the apartment.
"Hang on Hinamori, I promise I will come to rescue you no matter what. There is no way I'm going to allow another person in my life be lost."
Japanese Word Translations
Konbanwa - Good Evening, Obaa-san - Grandmother, So ka - Really/Is that so, Iie - No, Hai - Yes, Ja ne - Good Bye (informal/casual), Daijobou - It's Alright
Author's Note: O.O OMFG, what a turn of events! It's madness! Why must you keep on putting us on the edge of our seats, AznVKai? I can totally imagine you all saying that. LOL. Will Toshiro be able to rescue Momo from his evil foster mother? You just have to stay tuned for my next update! In the meantime, please review! Thanks.
P.S. If you haven't noticed already, I have posted the first chapter of my new HitsuHina story, The Knight and his Princess. Please take the time to read it! Thanks.