Entangled
Author's Note: Yeah, exams are done ^_^ So happ-eh~~ That gives more time to read, write, and draw! :D Hope everyone's summer is going as well or will be :)
So this chappy, there is small hints of foreshadowing, just be careful HOW you interpret; there are different levels of vieiwing them considering when they will actually take place. Hint, hint. Had fun writing this chappy.
Major thanks to my lovely reviewer: kitkathappiness. I really like your long reviews ;) Which I will reply to a.s.a.p.
Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and never will. If I did, I'm pretty sure it would have turned into something like Momo getting kidnapped and Toushiro being the Prince Charming to save her ;)
The cherry blossom trees swayed gently in the wind, rustling. The air was sweet and enriched with the fragrance of sakura blossoms. She sighed in content as a soft breeze flew by, fluttering her hair. Sakura petals glided through the air like a soft fury and littered the ground.
"Kaa-san! Kaa-san! The trees are crying!"
The voice was young, and child-like; filled with mirth and an untainted innocence that it could only belong to the pure of heart. Momo was sure it was a girl as she came closer to her and pulled on her kimono. "Why trees crying?"
Momo tried to look down but a bright light prevented her from viewing the girl's face. She could faintly see white but that was it. She struggled to see past the light but the more she searched the girl's face, the more she disappeared.
Momo found her body moving at its own will and bending down to kiss the girl's forehead. "They're not crying Miyu-chan. They're giving you gifts," a mature female voice soothed. It was like a soft caress and Momo could feel the little girl's nerves sooth.
"Okay! Me give gift to Tsu-nii!" the little girl exclaimed and Momo felt her disappear. She looked out but could see nothing but the cherry trees. It was as if the girl was being hidden away from her behind the onslaught of petals. But still, she felt two presences in front of her. Like hazy lines, they shifted and Momo could see flashes but could never catch more than glimpses of colours: white, brown, auburn, and emerald.
"That's a clever explanation," a deep male voice whispered in her ear. Momo could feel her heart turn erratic at the sound but it was familiar. "I don't think I've ever heard of that one." He sounded amused and pleased.
Two strong arms wrapped around her and a weight pressed into her back. "I thought it would be nicer if they were gifts," the female voice giggled. "Miyu-chan would appreciate that."
She could feel his body rumble as he chuckled. "Hm…they do give gifts don't they?" He remained quiet, his breath tickling her back. "I will always be with you," he murmured. "No matter what."
Her breath hitched and at the moment thunder crashed in her ears. Everything ebbed away like a froth of bubbles, slowly disappearing and fading. The sakura trees diluted into baby breath pink and the spiraling storm of petals raged on.
The last thing she heard before the rumble erupted was the soft murmur again.
"…I will always be with you…"
And that's when she faded into black.
…
"Momo! Momo! Darling, wake up! It' s just a dream!" a frantic voice called out.
Momo snapped her eyes open. Her erratic heart leapt and continued to beat fast, causing her to twist her head in confusion. "Wh—where am I?" She looked in front of her and yelped as she came face to face with dark brown eyes.
"Shh, it's okay honey," her mother crooned. "It was just a bad dream…"
Momo panted and realization dawned on her as she realized she was safe in her own bed, in her own room. She eased herself up against the headboard, clutching her head. "What happened?" she groaned. It felt as if something was trying to crack her head open and she winced.
"I was about to wake you up before you started thrashing about," her mother said softly, sounding worried. She looked skeptically at Momo. "Did you have a nightmare?" Momo stared at her mom. She was dressed in her white doctor's coat with the car keys sticking out of her hand, obviously ready to leave the house. Her long raven hair was tied in a strict twist with a few strands precariously hanging out. By the way her dark brown eyes searched her, Momo knew she was analysing her like she did to her patients.
"It's fine, Okaa-san," Momo alleviated. She smiled when she still saw her mom's anxious look. "I didn't really have a nightmare," she explained lightly. "It was just…." Momo bit her lip, a loss at words. Why was she scared? The dream had been fine, comforting, relaxing; everything but a nightmare. But how come she was so nervous and apprehensive?
Natsuki Hinamori didn't buy it at all. "Do you have a fever?" She leaned forward and pressed the back of her hand against Momo's forehead. "You feel a little warm, but not much." She pulled back and looked at Momo apprehensively. "Are you sure you'll be alright? I can stay home and watch over you…" She began to take out her cell phone of her coat pocket. "I can make a few arrangements," Natsuki muttered.
"Wait, Okaa-san!" Momo said. She brushed a stray bang out of her face. "I'm fine. I must've been tired from yesterday," she added.
Natsuki looked at Momo curiously, and then sat on the bed. She sighed and her shoulders sagged. "Momo, I'm sorry I wasn't here yesterday," she apologized. "I understand it's not easy with me working night shifts at the hospital, and especially since you're alone." Natsuki brushed the bangs from Momo's head, sweeping them to the side gently. "You'll come to me if you need anything, right?" she murmured.
Momo nodded. It was true. Since her mom worked at the hospital most of the day and had started taking a few of the night shifts because of the shortage, Momo had barely seen her. She didn't complain though. She knew how stressed and tired her mom was when she came home. She barely had time to kick out her heels before falling on the bed in exhaustion. And since she knew how hard her mom was working to support them, Momo didn't want to burden her mom anymore. Even though she had to admit the house was very quiet by herself.
Natsuki smiled at her. "That's my peach; soft on the outside but hard on the inside." She laughed when Momo wrinkled her nose in embarrassment. Her dark eyes drifted down and she spotted something. "This is pretty," Natsuki commented as she fingered the pendant. "Where did you get it?"
"What?" Momo looked down and her eyes widened. Tied around her neck was a cherry blossom pendant. Its pink glaze twinkled and felt cold against her skin. Momo hadn't even noticed it before. It seemed so familiar but she couldn't place from where it came from. "Um… I got it for my birthday…from one of my friends," Momo said quickly, trying not to fumble.
Natsuki quirked her head to the side, a little skeptical before she got up and dusted her coat. "Well, it's very pretty." She turned to Momo. "On the weekend we'll do something special; just you and me. Okay?"
Momo smiled. "Ok, Okaa-san."
Natsuki walked out the door, while calling from the back. "I left sandwich rolls from the cafeteria on the counter for lunch. The peach pie is still in the fridge. And don't forget to call Kitomi-san! She wants to know if you can babysit Suri next week!"
"I will!" Momo called out and she heard the jingle of the keys and the door shut. Outside, the whir of the motor started before dying down as it grew further away. As soon as all went quiet, Momo flopped back on her pillow, turning on her side so she could snuggle with her blanket.
I wonder what that was all about…It puzzled Momo that she had even been scared. She had never had a dream like that before. When she tried to remember it, she found it hard to see, as if she was searching through a storm. It was unclear, but the familiar erratic pick up of her heart still remained.
Momo blushed and hid her face in the blanket. Mou…why am I feeling like this? All she could remember was the warm feeling of being in someone's arms as they wrapped around her and whispered to her from behind. It made her heart pound and her breathing pick up.
I should just get up and start getting ready. I don't want to be late. Momo got up but when the blanket fell off of her, she gasped. Instead of wearing her pajamas, she was wearing a white sun dress.
How come I'm wearing a sun dress? Momo's heart began to race again, and she got out of bed racing to her chestnut-dresser. She checked herself in the mirror and everything seemed to be fine. I wonder why I'm wearing this though…She tried to remember what happened yesterday, but like her dream, it came out in a blank. She must've been exhausted if happened.
Maybe I'll ask Kira or Renji if they know…Momo glanced at the clock.
"Ahh!" she shrieked. "I'm going to be late! Again!"
…
"It rained last night?" Renji scratched his head and glanced at Kira before skeptically looking at Momo. "I don't remember it raining last night…"
"Are you sure you don't have a fever, Hinamori?" Kira asked worriedly.
"I'm fine guys," Momo said flustered. She had ran from her house with a waffle in her mouth and ended up bumping into Kira and Renji. After they picked her up, she relayed what happened yesterday and how she couldn't remember much from last night but from when they had seen her off.
"I can honestly say that I am not sick," Momo said pointedly. "But…I can't remember something from last night." She bit her lip. "And I don't know what it is…but I can feel inside, it's something important." She sighed with defeat and finished chomping on her waffle, dejectedly.
Renji said, "Didn't you say that your mom wasn't there yesterday? Maybe you were angry that you were alone and forgot about that." He shrugged his shoulders. "If that'd happen to me, I probably wouldn't want to remember a crappy birthday," he said bluntly. He paused and looked at Momo. "Sorry."
Momo shook her head absentmindedly, mulling over his words white eating the waffle. "I wasn't alone…" she muttered.
"Maybe," Kira added hastily, "you have suppressed something unpleasant in hopes to forget about it. But your subconscious is slowly resurfacing it." He stopped when they gave him equally blank looks. Kira sighed. "Consider it similar to how one would forget a nightmare or a dream."
Momo blushed, thoughts slowly resurfacing from before.
"You may have had a dream a long time ago, but it will slowly come back. Not everything stays repressed forever," he pointed out.
"Wow Izuru….since when were you ever that smart?" Renji stated. Kira flustered, "Considering the amount of time that I pay attention in Psychology more than you, quite long!"
Renji laughed and slapped his back, "I'm just teasing ya." He stopped. "Wait, they teach that in Psychology?"
Kira sighed in defeat and walked ahead as the bell had already rang leaving Renji to catch up. The bell rang loud and clear, pulling Momo out of her thoughts.
Maybe you were angry that you were alone and forgot about that…
She ran up the stairs. I wasn't alone, she thought. I'm certain that it definitely wasn't something unpleasant. Her mind flashed back to her dream, already a fading memory. That wasn't unpleasant either…
Momo tried to think further, but as if something was stopping her, she couldn't do more. Like a wall, she couldn't recount anything from the previous day. She grimaced as she felt a sting go through her head. It was as if she got closer, something would berate her, stopping her from hurting herself.
Maybe I should forget about it for now…she found herself thinking.
The warning bell rang again. "Oh no!" Momo exclaimed. "Homeroom's going to start!" She pulled her shoes from her locker, slipping them on hurriedly and closed the door before running off with her bag in tow.
Not everything stays repressed forever
…
The day passed by quickly after that for Momo. She breezed by her classes with sparing thoughts from last night. It did help, though, that the invisible wall in her mind would reprimand her with a quick little sting and then she was off day dreaming of other things, like food, and how she would spend her birthday dinner with her mom.
At lunch, people had wished her belated wishes for her birthday yesterday. Though when they asked her what she did all she could do was smile and say, "Oh, you know, the usual." It was satisfactory enough as they nodded and then resumed whatever had been occupying their minds before.
Renji and Izuru had kept her company as well, talking with her and filling her on what happened yesterday after they had apparently "walked her home."
"It turns out," Kira said while picking up his riceball, "the cultural festival play for our class will be Snow White."
"Really?" Renji munched on some taiyaki. "Why aren't they doing a legend like they usually do?" Momo was curious as well. Their last play had been the Princess Kaguya.
Kira shrugged. "They wanted to try something different. Plus, some of the female sempais wanted to see a Western tale with dresses and all."
Renji rolled his eyes. "Pshh, girls," he said as if it was explanation enough.
"I think I would like that," Momo piped up. She had read some of the Grimm Brothers' works and quite adored the stories of princesses and princes. "Snow White is one of my favourite stories and I love the ending."
"Well," Renji said, "that's because you're a girl, Momo. No offense but we need more manly plays, like Kintaro. Not everyone is into this kid-stuff. Come one, we're in high school now."
"Well, there will be time for 'manliness' when we go on the overnight trip to Taro beach. It's in two weeks I believe…" Kira said.
Renji's eyes lightened up. "Now we're talking! A trip away from here is what we need." He swivelled his head and nodded his head at a table of girls to the right from them. "Then I can put the moves on Tsuki." As if she heard her name, she turned around and saw Renji looking suggestively at her. Tsuki scowled at him before flipping her dark blue hair away from him and resuming talking. However, Renji wasn't fazed as he leaned back in his chair coolly nodding. "She wants me."
Momo resisted the urge to roll her eyes and laughed. "Of course, Renji. How could she not?" Kira joined along with her, leaving Renji looking at them with a wary eyebrow.
"What'd I say?"
…
After lunch, it seemed like a flash. Momo left the cafeteria with a light breezy feeling in her stomach, almost feeling as if she could just jump out the window and fly. She had her much easier subjects after lunch; Japanese Literature, Art and Home Ecc.
In Art, Hiro-sensei, a free spirited wacky teacher with a brush in her hair, had left them with the instructions to paint "what they wish to see." When she saw the blank looks on the class' face, she went into detail with grand hand gestures of what they could paint; from "what they believe the world will be like," to something they "wished to eat in the future." Even after they had looked at her questioningly, she had shoo'ed them away, leaving her to paint her "next masterpiece."
Momo hummed a tune to herself as she set out the paints. She immediately understood the assignment and was glad that the teacher had put no barriers of what "exactly they had to paint." It gave her more freedom and she could feel a new idea already forming in her mind.
With anxious hands she rushed to collect the brushes before sitting on a stool and staring at the blank canvas. Momo reached out for one brush, dipping it in gray before running it along the stark white. It fell in great sweeps and grew in little swirls.
Momo bit her lip as she reapplied the brush. She could feel the excitement in her hand and anxiety as she shook her leg, struggling not to just rush and finish the sketch in a matter of seconds. As if retracing old, invisible lines she drew small bunches of petals and the thick wooden skeleton underneath them.
After that, she proceeded to draw line underneath, adding arms and legs. It was lying casually against the tall structure, almost as if waiting. A head was added with spiky hair shooting up. But instead of moving forward, Momo hesitated and brought her brush back up to the head. She defined the angles, creating sharp lines. The hair was given more definition as she added shade, almost as if she knew exactly where they hid from the light.
"Hmm," a voice appraised. "Very well done at applying the Elements, Momo."
Momo spun around and saw her art teacher eying the drawing as if it was the most curious thing in the world to her. She twisted her head to one side. "You should put more angles on this side for the branches."
"Branches?" Momo turned back to her painting and her eyes widened. Now finally surveying what she had been doing, she could see a tree being formed as if it sprouted from the ground fully grown. Its tall thick trunk stood in the middle while its branches bend low.
"Yes," her art teacher said. "I do assume this is a tree and that those are petals right? Good job in putting them in groups. Most people draw them individually." She laughed like it was an old joke.
Momo nodded, still unsure how she had actually drawn a tree.
"And…what's here?" Momo could hear the amusement in her voice. "A boy?"
Momo's heart picked up as she looked at the side and realized that, yes, there was a boy sitting casually against the tree. She had even drawn clothes and what seemed like a sword at his side, lying precariously without a care in the world.
"Is that what you want to see Momo?" her art teacher asked.
"Um-I-I don't—no, what?" Momo shook her head. "I don't know how that got there…." She flustered before looking down, trying to hide her blush.
She laughed. "Well, I would think well about that. Art reveals what needs to be seen." She winked and walked away.
…
Momo had left Art class with a flustered and very red face the caused raised eyebrows from Kira as they walked to Home Ecc.
"Why the red face?" asked Kira. "Did your fever grow worst?"
Momo furiously shook her head. "No-no! Not at all!" It was more like confusion inside. She couldn't stop thinking of what her art teacher had said. "Um, Kira…" she looked down at her hands, twisting them around. "Do you know Hiro-sensei?"
"The art teacher? What about her?"
"Is what she usually says true?" Momo asked. "Cause…she told me something…and I-I…it's weird…" Momo managed to sputter out. Kira looked up with a thoughtful look. "Well, usually you have to take what she says like a grain of salt. Not too much." He looked down at her. "Sometimes she can say something well thought out but she's usually quirky."
Momo still looked down, flustered and fingered her pendant. "Oh."
Kira laughed. "Don't worry, Hinamori. I'm sure it'll all be fine." He noticed something. "Hey, Hinamori," Kira asked, "where'd you get that necklace?"
"Huh?" Momo was caught off guard. She looked down and the cherry blossom pendant winked at her. She didn't even remember leaving it on; she was so accustomed to its soft weight that it seemed like too much to take it off now. "Oh," she brushed her hair behind her ear. "I got it..for my birthday…" she shyly said.
At that moment, Renji casually walked up towards them. "What'd you get for your birthday?"
Momo opened her mouth but before she could say anything, Kira beat her to it. "Hinamori's pendant." Momo fumbled as Renji bent low, scrutinizing it like it was a foreign object.
"Is it...from a guy?" he asked. Even the tone was even, she could sense the threat under it.
Momo laughed hesitantly. "Oh you guys…you know I don't have a boyfriend." She moved backwards. "Pshh, me with a boyfriend? That's absurd!" When they stared at her strangely she tucked the pendant lower and walked quickly past them to the classroom.
"C'mon," she said quickly. "Don't want to anger Terada-sensei!"
They mutely followed behind her but she could feel their gazes boring into her back. It was all she could do to breathe a sigh of relief.
…
Home Economics had started rough at first since Momo had done everything possible to evade the conversation away from her pendant. But, at the beginning of the class, Terada-sensei, an elderly man who loved to bake assigned them a project. The class was to make a cake of their choice during the allotted time given. Most students had groaned at first but rushed to fetch the supplies needed. Thankfully, it diverted Kira and Renji's attention away from their previous conversation as the three worked hard together to create a simple pound cake.
But that did not mean Momo was in the right mindset. Her art teacher's words still echoed in her mind along with thoughts of her pendant which led to many fumbles. Momo had accidently spilled the flour and also caused the batter to splatter everywhere.
She had tried to laugh it off when the boys exchanged wary looks but it didn't escape the notice of Terada-sensei. He had made the trio stay longer after the dismissal bell to clean up all the stations even though they had finished the pound cake.
"Wash down all the counter tops Hinamori. Abarai and Izuru put away the materials and sweep up the mess," he ordered. Terada-sensei watched over them with crossed arms like an army general. "I hope you understand next time to treat your kitchen area and appliances with care," he said gravely.
They nodded and Momo resumed wiping the countertops, clearly trying to avert her eyes from Renji and Kira's curious ones.
Five minutes after the bell when Terada-sensei had "graciously" allowed them leave, Momo was the first to dash out the door. She had purposely ignored Renji and Kira after they began to call after her and ran down the stairs.
She couldn't face them after all she had put them through without thinking properly about it herself. Momo quickly scrambled to open her foot locker and rushed to slip off her shoes. She stumbled and almost fell back when she felt arms steady her.
Momo tilted her head up slowly and met Renji's eyes. He did not look happy.
"No more running Hinamori. We got to talk," he said grimly. Kira came up from behind with an equally worried face. Momo pushed herself up, leaning against the lockers. "What do we have to talk about?" she asked hesitantly, trying to play ignorant.
Renji frowned. "Don't try to evade the truth Hinamori. It won't work with us."
"Well…" Momo picked up her shoes and switched them. "What do you want to talk about?" she asked meekly.
"Why are you acting so out of it? And refuse to tell us why?" he asked, his brown eyes narrowing. Momo lifted her bag and shrugged it on her shoulder. "I'm…not out of it," she said defiantly.
Renji opened his mouth but Kira interrupted. "Maybe you're not feeling well," he reasoned, looking at Renji before turning back to her. "Is something bothering you?"
Momo started walking out with them following behind. "Um…I guess I really have a lot on my mind," Momo said softly. "But…I'm fine."
"That's bull," Renji interjected. "No more running around the bush Kira." He turned to Momo. "What's going on?"
In the front of the courtyard a huge crowd was forming. Loud squeals could be heard and it looked like it was surrounding someone.
She turned around to face Renji. "I am fine, Renji. There's nothing wrong."
He narrowed his eyes. "I won't believe that Hinamori. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that something is wrong."
Kira muttered, "Hey guys I think someone is coming towards us."
"Not now Kira," Renji said, his eyes still on Momo. "Is someone bothering you Hinamori?" His eyes glanced down to the pendant. "Does it have something to do with that necklace?"
Momo instinctively backed away, placing her hands around the pendant. "It's none of your business Renji," she said testily.
"It is," he stated. "So tell us the—."
"She doesn't have anything to tell you," a voice coolly said.
Momo's heart leapt and instantly turned erratic. As if a trigger word was spoken her mind turned to haze and the wall broke down inside as memories of last night came tumbling down. Everything around her turned into static as she could only focus on what was flashing through her mind.
"This is for being away from you all this time."
"Bedwetter, it is me. Shiro-chan."
"Don't you…ever do something like that again…baka."
"Do you promise to be with me, forever…Momo?"
She hesitantly turned around and came face to face with one of the most striking boys she'd ever met with even more beautiful emerald eyes.
"…I will always be with you…"
And that's when she faded into black.
Author's Note: Oh, repitition. What a bother, huh? ;)
Anyways, chapter 2 is in the making. But I do have to make a small anouncement. Over the summer, other than going to summer school I will also be concentrating on my drawing. Drawing is equally as important to me as writing is. So updates won't be...as on time as they should. Though they never were...-_- But I will always be writing! :D So rest assured that this story will be completed someday, hopefully this yeat! (Look at me already talking about finishing this story when this is only chapter 1 -_-) But don't worry, I'm drawing Hitsuhina pics so that's fine.
And to top that, I will also be working on my one-shots and, hopefeully, HOPEFULLY, finishing On Metal Wings We'll Fly. The Archives should hopefully have the second shot soon. :) Check both of those out please~
Reviews and Constructive Criticisim encouraged, loved and cherished! PCE