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

Synopsis: After getting a sprained ankle from a staircase fall, Momo Hinamori is sent to Seireitei Hospital to seek treatment. It is where she meets a young boy who is experiencing a much worse condition, physically and mentally.

Author's Note: Those of you who often check my profile page, may have noticed that I planned to have this story posted in the near future. Well, enough with the waiting; I have finally completed my written storyboard and can start typing few of the many chapters for this fan fiction. Yes, it's planned to be VERY long. It is going to be my longest story yet! (I think...) xD Anyway, the reason for the lengthiness is because this story is planned to come in two major parts. In other words, it's two stories combined into one! Yay! *throws confetti into the air and blows on a kazoo*

This story is dedicated to my dear supporting fans and all the HitsuHina lovers out there. Without any further adieu, here is the prologue to The Healing Heart. Enjoy!

~ LONG LIVE THE HITSUHINA LOVE ~

LEGEND

"Talking."

Prologue: Injury

Rays from the warm sun shine through the window and onto the sleeping face of the thirteen year old girl, who is sleeping in her nice and comfy bed. The raven haired teenager winced for a moment before she rolled her body to rest on the other side. She did not want to wake up; it's too early or that's what she initially thought. Suddenly, the annoying sound of the alarm clock is heard. Momo Hinamori quickly extended a hand out from under the blanket and slammed her hand on the top of the clock, silencing it. Stirring in bed a few times, the peach girl finally sat up and began her day by doing a few body stretches.

Once she is done, Momo got out of bed, walked up to the window, and opened it. Placing her hands on the windowsill, she closed her chocolate brown eyes and felt the gentle breeze blow through her hair and her pink peach patterned pajamas. She took a deep breath and exhaled the carbon dioxide out of her system. After opening her eyes again, she let out a bright smile. She has a good feeling that today is going to be a wonderful one. With that positive thought in mind, Hinamori turned around and went deeper into the bedroom. Now is a good time to be getting ready for school.

After Hinamori took a shower, she blow dried her hair for a few minutes before getting dressed in her school sailor outfit. With one look at the large mirror, Momo checked herself from every angle, looking for anything that seem to be out of place. Luckily, there isn't. The raven haired girl then leaned over and began to stylize her hair. She put it up into two low pigtails on each side of her head. Finally, with one final look at her completed outfit, Momo smiled, feeling content about her appearance. Without another moment to waste, she grabbed her school bag from the chair and ran downstairs to the living room.

"Good morning, Granny!" she greeted the elderly woman, who is just finished setting up the table for their breakfast.

Obaa-san smiled to see her granddaughter looking all cheerful like she usually is. "Good morning Momo. You're up early."

The peach girl placed her bag on the floor next to her, took a seat behind the table, and placed her hands together. After saying a short prayer, Hinamori picked up her chopsticks and bowl of rice and began eating. Moments later after she swallowed her first load of food into her stomach, Momo turned to her grandmother and answered her question. "Yeah, it's my turn to clean up the classroom. So, I have to be at school earlier than usual."

The elder watched her resume her full attention to filling her belly. "I see."

Once she is done, Momo placed her chopsticks on the empty bowl and then said her thanks. "Gochiso-sama!"

Just as she grabbed her school bag from the side, Hinamori quickly left her seat, and rushed out the living room, Obaa-san got on her knees and called out to the girl, "Momo, your lunch is on top of the shoe cabinet!"

From the front entrance, the peach girl is putting on her shoes. Once she is done, Momo stood up and noticed her wrapped up lunchbox, sitting on the cabinet. After picking it up with one hand, she picked up her bag with the other. She turned her head to the side and called back, "Okay!"

"Have a nice day at school!"

"I will! Itterashai!"

Momo used her right hand to open the slide door. She took a few steps out before closing it again behind her. Judging on how the day is progressing so far, her gut feeling seemed to have predicted the truth. She began her journey to Seireitei Junior High School.

Once she arrived in her classroom, Hinamori found that she isn't the only one who came to school early as she did. Standing in the front of the class, writing two names on the bottom corner of the chalkboard, is a pale blond haired teenager. Noticing the girl's presence, he turned his body to her and greeted, "Ohayo Hinamori-kun."

"Morning Kira-kun. You're here early," Momo replied as she approached him.

Thirteen year old Izuru Kira nodded with agreement. "Yeah, it's both our turns to clean the classroom today."

The peach girl placed a hand behind the back of her head. She let out a hesitant laugh and replied, "Oh yeah, I forgot..."

With that said, Hinamori walked to her desk and placed her belongings on it before returning to Kira's side. Handing over two board erasers to the younger teenager, he asked, "Can you clean these while I go out to fill the watering pail?"

Momo gave him a nod of reassurance and watched him open the slide door, step out, and close it behind him. With a smile on her face, the thirteen year old girl headed over to the large glass window and opened it. Holding the erasers outside, she began to clean them by pounding the bottom of the brushes together. When she heard the door open once more, Hinamori glanced back to see Kira has returned with his half filled watering pail. As she continued her cleaning duty, her friend from early grade school watered the plants.

Once they were done, they both left the classroom together to head over to the janitor's room downstairs to dump the excess water from the watering pail. The peach girl is currently carrying the pail by the handle with both her hands. "Are you sure you're fine with carrying that all by yourself?" Kira asked, walking through the hallway.

Hinamori turned her head to him and replied, "Don't worry Kira-kun, I can handle this."

"Well, alright then, but tell me if you don't want to carry it anymore."

"Hai!"

Just as they turned at the corner, Momo did not notice a pair of seniors racing each other up the stairs. They pushed the girl aside, causing her to lose her balance. Sensing danger, Kira extended a hand out and tried to get a hold of the peach girl, but Hinamori eventually tipped over the other direction and began tumbling down the stairs. "Hinamori-kun!" he exclaimed, worried of her well-being.

At the bottom of the stairs, Momo laid on her side, clenching her hands onto her right ankle. She felt a large jolt of excruciating pain coming from there, leaving her to swallow her cries by grinding his teeth together. She feared that if she moved it, it will hurt even more. Izuru quickly came to her side and asked, "What's wrong?"

She slowly opened her eyes, looked up at the concerned teenager and said, "M-My ankle...i-it hurts..."

With a nod of agreement, he replied, "Stay here, I'll go get the nurse."

"O-Okay..."

Without another moment to spare, Kira left the injured girl to call for help.

After her grade school friend came back with the nurse, she checked Hinamori's condition and confirmed her injury to be possibly more serious than it seems. Just to be sure, the ambulance is called to pick her up. Momo is eventually sent to the nearest Medicare Center from the school, the well-known and prestigious Seireitei Hospital. Sitting on a wheelchair, the peach girl stared down at her right leg. It is covered in a white cast. According to what her doctor has told her, she got a fairly serious sprained ankle injury and may take a few weeks before it completely heals. In the meantime, she is to stay in the hospital for a while and wait for her grandmother to come and discuss the matter with the doctor. "You can stay in this room for a while Hinamori," her assigned nurse, Isane Kotetsu said.

Looking back at the tall gray haired woman, she gave her a short nod. Isane pressed a button at the side, causing the door to automatically open. The two females entered the room. The first thing Momo saw is a young boy with snowy white hair. He is lying in his hospital bed with his head facing the window. As she is wheeled closer to her bed, the raven haired girl studied the child, who is dressed in blue patient pajamas. Despite being unable to determine if he has any bandages under his clothes, from what she is able to see, he is wearing casts which covers his lower left arm and most of his right leg. He also has thick bandages wrapped around his forehead and a few small Band-Aids on several places on his cheeks, neck, arms, and fingers.

Not long after she transferred seats from her wheelchair to her bed, the nurse left the room, leaving the her and the boy alone together. There is an eerie silence that filled the room. the raven haired girl isn't quite sure whether to interrupt the white haired child from whatever he's doing. However, it wouldn't hurt to introduce yourself. "Hello," she greeted. "My name's Momo Hinamori. What's yours?"

There was no response from the boy for the while until his emerald-teal eyes met with her chocolate brown ones. From that point on, Momo has a good feeling that her relationship with her new roommate is going to be alright. Just as she is expecting his introduction, all he said was...

"Shut up."

Japanese Word Translations

Obaa-san - Grandmother, Goschio-sama - Thanks for the Food, Itterashai - I'll be Back Soon, Ohayo - Good Morning

Author's Note: Ou, what a brutal start to their first meetings. Oh well...Poor Momo, she's hurt with a sprained ankle injury.

It reminds me of the time when I sprained my ankle back when I was around twelve years old. I went to the hospital to get it checked and after long hours of waiting, my bones are not fractured. My mother told the doctor to not give me a leg cast to wear because it would take longer for me to fully recover. So, for about a week, she used ointment and massaged my ankle, trying to straighten my twisted ankle ligament. At the same time, I gradually did circular ankle exercises to strengthen my ankle and help me walk normally again. I had to use crutches to move around for a while. (I missed my bowling trip with my class because of that. T.T Also, my elementary school doesn't have an elevator. So, I had to walk up and down the stairs to and from my classroom.) Oh, the bittersweet memories...

Anyway, back to the story; Momo's injury is nothing compared to Toshiro's. What could have happened to him? Any guesses? Well, you just have to wait patiently for my next update. In the meantime, please review! I want to know what you think of the story so far. Thanks!