Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights of this series goes to Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: O.o OMG, the review count is over six hundred and I thought it was going to receive that much by the end of the story. There goes my bet for that one. LOL. Anyway, thank you my dear reviewers for supporting me especially Ai Angel, sweet miracle 'michu 17, yumi-2121331, monkeywinz, Ougon 22, little Night-Star Hood, HoneyFlower15, icyangel27, KnowledgeandImagination, Epoch95, DestinedDuelist893, cool!, Kaye. Shirogane, athfdrizzle, applestoapples, Samantha, lil'sayuri-chan, bengarakoushi, k a y - t h i, serenity095, maili-chan. A rainstorm of HitsuHina cookies for you all! Yay! Without any further delay, here is chapter twenty-six. Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking." Dreaming, Flash Back or Voice Message from Miyuki Hitsugaya.
The Healing Heart
Part II - Hardships and Love
Chapter Twenty-Six: Nostalgic
Seireitei High School's bell rung throughout the premises, telling students to hurry into their respected classes. "Oh shit, we're not going to make it!" Renji exclaimed as he and his friend, Izuru ran through the hallway.
"It's your fault for getting into a dispute with Kuchiki-kun!" Kira pointed out.
"What do you mean it's my fault? Rukia is the one who started it!"
"There's the classroom!"
"Argh, hurry!"
By the time they have arrived at their destination, they were panting with exhaustion. The looked at the front of the classroom to see that their teacher hasn't arrived yet. They sighed with relief and headed over to their seats. However, they were blocked by most of the female students of their class. "I wonder what's going on over there," Kira said.
Abarai merely shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows..."
Once they got closer, they noticed the girls swarming over the white haired prodigy. "What happened to you?" one of them asked.
"Are you alright?"
"Who did this to you?"
"How could the person do something so horrible to Hitsugaya-sama!"
Toshiro let out a sigh of defeat. "I got involved in a car accident over the holidays. My injuries are not serious or else I wouldn't be here right now."
"How long you have to wear that forehead brace?" a second girl questioned.
"If things go well, I'll get them off in a week or two."
"Do you have anymore injuries?" another girl asked.
"Yes, I have a rib cast on which may take a little longer to get rid of."
"Aww, you poor thing..."
"Alright break it up!" Renji said loudly causing the girls to turn to him and Kira. "You're blocking our way!"
"No way Abarai!" a girl retaliated. "Can't you see that we're feeling sorry for Hitsugaya-kun?"
"Yeah, have a heart!" another girl exclaimed.
"Now, there's no need to start a fight," Izuru said, trying to calm both sides. "Abarai-kun doesn't mean any offense to Hitsugaya. Besides, we already know the news about his case."
"Oh..."
"Can you please move aside a bit so that we can take our seats?"
"...fine."
They moved aside. "Arigato..."
"Sheesh, it's not like he's going to die anytime soon," Renji said.
"Well, that's why they're the girls of the Hitsugaya Fan Club."
Both of them took their seats at their desks. "No kidding..."
A few minutes later, they saw the girls leaving the fourteen year old alone. Hitsugaya let out a sigh of relief before turning to them. "How are you holding up against them?" Kira asked.
"If I stayed with them any longer, I think I'm going to snap," he replied.
"You're looking less stressed these days," Renji said.
"Yeah, it's because I haven't been working lately."
"Did you get fired or something?"
"No, I'm on medical leave," he answered. "I informed them of my situation and they decided to give me a break. I'll go back to work after I fully recover."
"That's good to hear."
He nodded with agreement. "Yeah..."
Renji and Kira then turned to the empty seat that is beside Hitsugaya's. "She hasn't woken up yet, huh?"
He lowered his head, closed his eyes and, slowly shook his head.
"I see..."
"Hello class," the teacher said. "I hope you all enjoyed your winter breaks. Now that you're back here, it's time to get back to work!"
She took a look at her attendance and then another to all the students that are sitting in their seats. "Hn, Hinamori-chan is not here."
It is when Toshiro raised a hand up.
"Yes Hitsugaya-kun?"
"Can I speak to you privately? It's important that you need to know."
"Alright then, let's talk about it outside the classroom."
With a nod of agreement, the white haired teenager pulled back his seat and stood up. Walking to the front of the class, he left the classroom with his homeroom teacher, leaving the students to talk amongst themselves. A few minutes later, Hitsugaya returned to the classroom and quietly took his seat. On the other hand, the teacher came back to her spot in the front of the class. "Now class, settle down; it's time to focus on today's lesson. Please open your books to page 173."
"Ara, you're already out of the hospital Hitsugaya-kun?" Ichimaru asked after noticing him and his fellow classmates walk up to him and his companions.
Toshiro shot him a glare. "Yes, I've been out for the past two weeks already."
"By the way," Matsumoto asked, "I saw you this morning coming out of Hinamori's place. What are you doing over there?"
"He's probably helping her grandmother like the good citizen he is," Hisagi suggested.
"Actually, I live there now," Hitsugaya corrected.
"Oh...so that's why you're there."
There was a short pause. "Eh, you live there now?" everyone except Ichimaru exclaimed.
"You mean Hinamori-kun's grandmother adopted you?" Kira asked.
"Yes, that's exactly how it is."
"Then that means you have become Hinamori-kun's younger brother now."
"...and future boyfriend," Matsumoto teased.
Toshiro shot her an icy glare while the others gave her questioning looks on their faces. The red headed teenager asked, "Rangiku-san, what are you talking about?"
Feeling the eyes of the young prodigy still kept on her, the strawberry orange haired woman replied, "Oh no, it's just me talking a bunch of nonsense."
"I see."
She then folded her arms over her chest and gave Hitsugaya a pout. "You're so stingy."
The fourteen year old teenager retorted, "Shut up..."
"Anyway, did you hear about the recent news in the city?" Hisagi asked.
"Oh yeah, that famous band is going to play on stage later in the day!" Matsumoto said excitedly. "Are you guys planning to go?"
"Count me in," Renji proudly replied while Kira nodded with agreement.
"Sorry everyone, I can't hang out with you this tim-" Ichimaru apologized before Rangiku interrupted him.
"Oh don't you dare run away at the last minute! You're coming with us whether you like it or not, Gin!"
"You're so strict, Ran-chan."
"Are you sure nothing's happening between those two?" Renji whispered to Kira and Hisagi.
The older teenager shrugged his shoulders while Izuru shook his head. "I have no idea."
"Are you joining us Hitsugaya?" Matsumoto asked.
"Sorry, I can't come with you," Hitsugaya replied. "Obaa-san told me to come straight home so that I can get ready for my medical check up."
"Oh, so...you're going to visit Hinamori along the way."
He slowly nodded with agreement. "Yeah..."
There was a brief moment of silence amongst the teenagers from Seireitei High. Neither of them really didn't know how to comment the young prodigy. "Is that so? Sorry that none of us are unable to go there with you," Gin finally replied. "So, be sure to send our regards to her."
Hitsugaya then gave the older prodigy a serious glare while Ichimaru responded with a grinning smile. Suddenly, Matsumoto slapped him on the back of his head.
"Itte, what was that about Ran-chan?"
"That slap is for being inconsiderate," the strawberry orange haired woman replied while placing her hands on her hips. "I think it's nice of him to visit her since she is his older sister and future girlfriend."
Toshiro then glared at Matsumoto. "Now, look who's being inconsiderate."
"Matsumoto-san, there's no need to tease Hitsugaya like that," Kira said. "It's not like he has an interest in her or anything."
Upon hearing that comment, the white haired teenager lowered his head and changed his gaze away from his companions. Most of them have noticed it. Renji leaned over to the pale blond haired teenager and corrected, "Kira, I think he does..."
Turning his attention to him, Izuru replied, "Eh, really?"
He nodded with agreement and pointed a finger at the fourteen year old for the older teenager to see.
"Oh..."
"When did you start feeling this way?" Hisagi asked.
"I don't know when it started," Hitsugaya quietly replied, "but it was recently when I realized I...have strong feelings for her."
"I see."
"Well, best of luck to you," Ichimaru said. "She might not forgive you for involving her in such a mess."
"Gin! That's so mean to say!" Rangiku exclaimed.
"It's alright Matsumoto," Toshiro replied. "I'm aware of that. The least I want right now is for her to get better."
"Hitsugaya..."
A few of them let out sighs of defeat before starting to eat their lunches. From that point on, the group of teenagers didn't say a word to one another.
Hitsugaya entered the household and closed the door behind him. "Tadaima..."
"Okaeri Toshiro," the elderly grandmother replied after joining her adopted child at the front entrance. "How was school today?"
He replied, "It's alright, I suppose...except for the fact I had to explain what has happened to me several times today."
"That's expected since you came into the classroom with your cast and forehead brace on."
He slowly nodded with agreement. "Yeah..."
"Thank you for telling the teachers about Momo's case."
"You're welcome."
"Why don't you get changed into something more comfortable before we go visit her?"
"Hai Obaa-san."
With that said, the fourteen year old teenager walked past the elderly woman and retreated to his half completed bedroom. After picking out a few articles of clothing from the wardrobe, he stripped out of his uniform and got dressed in a pair of dark gray baggy pants, a black T-shirt, and a blue hooded zipper jacket. Once he is done, he hooked his school uniform onto an empty hanger and put it away in his closet. After carefully brushing his hair a few times in front of a mirror, he picked up his cell phone (which he put aside while he was changing) and put it into his pants pocket. He took one final look at himself before leaving the bedroom.
A minute later, he went downstairs to meet with his grandmother again at the front entrance. "I'm ready now," Toshiro said.
Obaa-san nodded with agreement, signaling the young prodigy to open the door for her. She stepped out first before he followed right behind and closed the door on his way out. They started walking to Seireitei Hospital.
Along the way, the elderly grandmother quietly watched the fourteen year old teenager walk ahead of her. She let out a smile, knowing that he is quite eager to see her granddaughter. She called out his name. "Toshiro."
Hearing his name being called out, he stopped and turned around. "What's wrong Obaa-san?"
"Before we go there, I want to go somewhere else first."
Hitsugaya blinked. "Somewhere else?"
She nodded. "Daijobou, I just need to buy something for her. You can help me pick them out."
Though he wasn't quite sure what she is talking about, he reluctantly said, "Okay..."
With that said, he began following her lead in another direction.
"Unohana-sensei, are you finished with her daily care yet?" Isane asked as she entered Hinamori's room to find her superior there.
"Yes Isane," the female doctor replied after turning to her. "I just finished a few moments ago."
The tall woman then stood next to her. She took a moment to look at the sleeping raven haired girl resting in her hospital bed. "It's really unfortunate this had to happen to her."
"I do have to agree, but this is how life goes. Sometimes it can treat you nicely while on other occasions it's just plain mean."
"I see."
Just then, the nurse and the doctor heard the door open. When they turned their heads to the side, they saw Hinamori's grandmother and Toshiro enter the room. "Hinamori-Obaa-san, Hitsugaya."
"Konnichiwa Unohana-sensei," Obaa-san greeted. "How is she today?"
"In terms of her physical injuries, she's healing quite nicely, but as you can see, she still hasn't woken up yet."
After taking a quick glance at her granddaughter, the elderly woman resumed her attention to Retsu and slightly lowered her head with slight disappointment. "I see."
"Unohana-sensei," Isane said.
With a silent nod, Unohana said to the white haired teenager and his guardian, "It's time for us to take our leave to check up on our other patients."
She then turned to Toshiro. "We'll get to you once we finished everyone's check ups."
Hitsugaya gave her a silent nod. "I understand."
"If you need anything, do not hesitate to call us," Isane said.
"Hai arigato," Obaa-san replied.
With a short nod of agreement, the two hospital employers left the family of three alone in the room. Once the door was shut tight, Hitsugaya quietly walked to Momo's bedside. In his hands is a small bouquet of oak-leaf geraniums. "Hey...it's me, Hitsugaya. I came with Obaa-san to see how you're doing."
There is no response from the raven haired girl, but he expected her reaction to be that way.
"We got you these oak-leaf geranium (1) flowers. If you were able to see them, I'm sure...you'll like the gift."
A short pause filled the room.
"I came back to school today and explained mine and your situations to the teachers. As for your other friends, I told them too. A few hours later, most of the students have already found out what has happened to us."
He let out a hesitant laugh.
"The funny thing is Matsumoto wasn't the one who spread that story. It was some other gossip girl who did it. If it weren't for...um, the fan girls, I would have been labeled as the bringer of bad luck."
Hitsugaya let out a soft sigh.
"Toshiro," said Obaa-san, "can you do me a favour and exchange the water and the flowers in the vase?"
With a short nod of agreement, he walked over to the small table and single-handedly picked up the vase filled with dying lily of the valley and took it to the washroom. Once he is about to come out with clean water in the vase and the new flowers in it, the young prodigy stopped in his tracks, quickly took a step back, and hid behind the door. From a distance, he watched the elder Hinamori sit at her granddaughter's bedside. By the looks of things, she appeared to be very sad.
"Come back to us safely Momo."
He closed the washroom door so that he can lean his back against it. Slowly raising his head up, he began staring at the light while thinking about the nostalgic moments they've shared.
"Here, have a slice of peach. It's good for you."
He took a look at Hinamori, then looked down at the peach, and then to the raven haired girl again. Finally, he raised his right hand out and accepted her offer. He ate the fruit slice from the fork. Once he is finished with it, Toshiro handed the utensil back to her. "T-Thanks..."
"No problem," Momo said. "You can have some more if you like. Besides, I don't think I can finish it all by myself."
"Let's make a promise."
Hitsugaya blinked. "A promise?"
She nodded with agreement. "Yes, now give me your pinky."
Despite having doubts in his mind, he did as he was told. Toshiro extended his right little finger out and crossed it with hers. As the fingers are hooked together, Momo said, "I promise to visit you whenever I have the time. I will also promise to do this until the day you leave the hospital. Now, it's your turn to hold your side of the bargain."
He adverted his gaze away for a moment, contemplating whether to go along with this or not. Eventually, he brushed the thought away from his mind, looked up at her, and replied, "Um...I promise to concentrate on recovering from all my injuries. Also, I promise to...not cause anymore trouble for Doctor Unohana and Kotetsu."
Hinamori smiled and let go of her little finger from his. "There, does that make you happier now?"
Once more, he looked away. "I guess..."
"Now let's not worry about tomorrow and have fun for the rest of the day, okay?"
Toshiro slowly nodded with agreement.
"I had a great time having you around too. Th-Thank you for everything, Hinamori. Now, it's time for me to return this to you."
Then, he watched Momo held out her hands. He placed the necklace in the palms of her hands and let go of it. Just as she closed her hands into a fist, she asked, "I-I don't mind you hanging onto it a little longer."
"It's alright; I already have something else to remember you by."
Hinamori blinked with confusion. "What would that be?"
When she said that, Hitsugaya let out a smirk on his face. Stuffing his hand into the back of his right pants pocket, he took out his silver cell phone. With a single finger, he flipped it open and started pressing a few buttons. By the time he stopped, he showed her a picture stored into his portable device. "It would be this."
Once Momo got a closer look at it, she blushed and jerked back. What she saw was a picture of her sitting on the bench eating her melting Popsicle. "S-S-Since when did you take that picture, Shiro-chan?"
"Isn't that obvious, Bed-Wetter?" Toshiro asked. "I took this picture on the day when we went out to the city with Matsumoto. We stopped by at Seireitei Park before we took you home for the night."
"Mou, delete it! I don't like it!"
Just as she tried to grab the cell phone, Hitsugaya moved his arm to the side so that she would miss. "Too bad, I'm keeping it!"
"Toshiro, it's time to leave!" he heard his new mother call out to him.
Using this opportunity, he turned around and ran towards the people he would someday call his parents. He got into the back seat of the car, put on his seat belt, and pulled down the window to take a last look at his companions, the doctor, and the nurse. He smirked at Hinamori and said, "You better not cry when I'm gone."
Momo pouted. "What are you talking about? Who would cry for you?"
"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?"
"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."
She placed a hand over her mouth and said, "Oh my gosh, it really is you!"
"So, what happened before things became the way they are now?"
Toshiro was about to open his mouth to answer that question, but he kept them remained closed. After thinking about it for a few moments, he finally answered, "I-I don't want to talk about it...at least for now."
"Oh, it's fine; whenever you're ready, I'm right here to listen."
He gave her a faint smile. "Yeah, thanks for listening to me...Hinamori."
She smiled back. "It's nothing."
The white haired teenager then stood up from his seat. After hanging his school bag over his shoulder, he said, "Anyway, it's time to take you home. Your grandmother is going to start wondering where her groceries went."
"Thank you for protecting me..."
Hitsugaya placed the vase off to the side so that he can take out his cell phone from his pants pocket. After flipping the cap open, he pressed a few buttons before playing one of his sister's voice messages.
Yo Toshiro! Remember the time we went to the amusement park with our parents a few years ago? I want to go there again for old times's sake. Will you help me persuade Oto-san and Okaa-san to go there next weekend? Message me back!
Hitsugaya pressed the right and select buttons to listen to another message.
Yes, we did it! We're going to the amusement park next weekend! I'm so excited! Just thinking about it gives me that nostalgic feeling inside. It feels great and it makes you miss it...
Once the message finished playing, Toshiro closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "Feeling nostalgic is right," he mentally said, thinking about his sleeping friend. "I miss her..."
Japanese Word Translations and References
Arigato - Thank You, Obaa-san - Grandmother, Itte - Ouch, Tadaima - I'm Home, Okaeri - Welcome Home, Hai - Yes, Daijobou - It's Alright, Sensei - Doctor/Teacher, Konnichiwa - Good Afternoon, Oto-san - Father, Okaa-san - Mother
(1) Oak-Leaf Geranium's flower meaning is friendship.
Author's Note: Everything's almost back to normal for Hitsugaya. The only thing he needs now is Momo to return back to his life. Well, stay tuned to the next update. Please review! Thanks.