Author's note; I forgot to mention last time but the yukata Hinamori and Nanao are the kind of kimono that young woman seem to wear in the taishou era. Just check out what the heroine is wearing in Fushigi Yugi Genbou Kaiden to understand.

Other than that I proudly present you the second chapter of 'Heartbeat'. Long live HitsuHina!!!!!

Disclaimer;I do not own Bleach. Enjoy

Heartbeat 2: The witch with the aracnomantules.

A few days after his encounter with the witch named Hinamori Momo, Hitsugaya returned to the city he was born to, Aqua Timez the capital of the kingdom of Falis. Aqua Timez was said to be the most beautiful city in Uverworld. The center of the city was built in a vast lake, named Ivrin that's why Aqua Timez was known as The Water City. The one who took credit for the creation of this unique capital was the previous Queen of Falis who was known as the Snow Queen. The Snow Queen was a witch expert in the use of ice spells. She was the first witch who had ever ruled a country in the outer but she had made herself and her country extremely difficult to ignore. She had ruled for eight hundred years and she had changed forever the kingdom her father left her as a heritage.

Aqua Timez was her own creation. She wanted to create a capital that couldn't be compared with another, superior even to Velonica the Witch City. The ambitious queen called the best architects and best witches who could help in the creation of a town. And the city in the water became a reality.

Hitsugaya had fixed his eye in the beautiful crystal clear water of Ivrin Lake and watched the iridescence of light with water as the boat he as in crossed the waters with calm washes. However his mind was occupied with several questions which had to be answered. He hoped that the royal witch of the palace would be in her office and that she wouldn't be strolling in the city shopping and window-shopping. There was also the possibility of her being in the palace but slacking. That could do, he just wanted to ask a few things he didn't want her to make him a potion or a spell. She could do just that. The ship arrived at the dock and the young white-haired boy got out of the white and blue private boat of his and headed for the palace gates.

There were guards all across the path that leaded from the decks to the gates and when they saw Hitsugaya straighten immediately their bodies. The boy reached the gates he crossed them and then shuponed himself in. He had to greet his Uncle Ukitake Juushirou, who had officiated as a protector, but he wanted to relief his curiosity first. Despite the fact he hated everything childish he had to admit to himself that sometimes he got curious about some things in the way that a child did.

He finally reached Aqua Timez's royal witch's office, knocked on the door and waited for the permission to enter. No one answered so he knocked again. When he heard some strange noises from inside he decided to get in. He opened the big wooden door from white oak and stepped inside. The room was big and round in shape with bookcases covering all the walls. However the room was like a pigsty. There was no order in the books on the selves. The floor was filled with papers, spells, phials, alcohol smelling bottles, test tubes for potions, books, pens and flowerpots with plants who were moving in a very unresisting way. Near the door there was a big comfy sofa, which was occupied by a tall woman with long wavy blond hair, with very big boobs dressed in black. It was obvious that she was sleeping and that she hadn't heard Hitsugaya knocking or his entrance in the room. The boy sighed when he saw the woman sleeping making strange noises and approached her in order to wake her up.

"Matsumoto!" he bellowed with all the loudness he could master in his voice. The woman jumped surprised and a shriek escaped from her mouth. Her light-blue eyes searched for the one who had awoke her from her siesta. As soon as she spotted the young white-haired man looking at her frowning and with his arms folded in his chest she said annoyed.

"Oh you scared me. You shouldn't do thinks like that. What if I got a heart attack?"

"Your heart is not beating so there's no need for you to fear something like that." he replied coldly. The woman pouted her lips and got up from the sofa. She stretched her body and yawned a couple of times. Then she turned her attention back to the boy.

"Why did you come here?"

"I have some questions for you concerning your kind." Replied he. The blond woman looked at him with one eyebrow raising in question.

"Is it possible for a witch to be in a city in Uverworld and not cast a single spell just because a sign says that magic is forbidden?" The woman looked at him as is she was asking if he was crazy.

"That would never happen. She would use magic just because someone wrote that sign. You know we don't like you people from the outer, even if she was a witch from Velonica with a gardening calling she would definitely do something to piss the citizens off."

"Are you completely sure about that? I met in Serrafield a witch who didn't use magic even though she was chased."

"Then she wasn't a real witch." replied Matsumoto

"I saw her use a broom and she had a weird stuff in her sack like those witches use." Informed her Hitsugaya. She looked at the boy surprised and asked.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" he replied. "That's the reason I'm asking you, she wasn't acting very witch like. I noticed her from her clothes; she was wearing a yukata. You witches like those kind of clothes don't you? I saw her buying apples in the friendliest manner. She was kind for a witch and smiled in a sweet way not a wicked one."

" A witch would behave like that only if she had a beating heart and she had a character like that before her Witchkening." said Matsumoto puzzled "But I don't know how can a witch can unfroze her heart. I don't even know if a white class witch can do something like that."

"What if she really did have a beating heart? I've heard a rumor that there's a witch whose heart is still beating." said Hitsugaya quietly.

"Perhaps that could justify her behavior, but it's just a rumor… I can make a research if you want. You made me wonder myself. Leave it to me." She said and went back to the sofa.

"Are you not gonna start searching now?" he asked her puzzled.

"No, you woke me up remember? And I'm really tired I stayed up all night drinking with Kira Izuru and Hisagi Shuhei." Replied she with a yawn.

"Are they in town?"

"Aha!…"

"Did Kurosaki ran away from his crazy father again and Abarai, Kira and Hisagi are after him?"

"You know the usual story. Both of you like to wander in the countryside of your kingdoms." Hitsugaya frowned again and then left the room wondering how that woman passed through the royal test. Matsumoto opened her eyes and said.

" A witch with a beating heart huh? How could that be possible?"

One day later Hinamori found herself in a big room filled with expensive and elegant antiques. According to the witch agents who worked in the witch information's network a rich widow man had died and his family decided to sell in auction several object from his collections. Among all the other things there was a book written in the time of the five founders of magic and the magic kingdom Alice the first queen, Snowhite, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Pea-princess. It was a history of magic book. People who buckled with books especially with 'fairy-tale' books knew its title but it was an extremely rare book since it was written million of years ago. The one she had to buy in the auction was a copy, who some wise man provided them. Nevertheless the book seemed really old. It was black, worn out while the ones who were selling it had no idea what its real value was. It wouldn't be a problem to make it hers. Not that she had problem with money. Velonica was extremely prosperous and the palace granted a lot of money for the enrichment of the royal national library where Hinamori worked.

Two hours later Hinamori stepped out of the elegant white building the auction was held, holding gently and carefully the old worn book she was sent to fetch. As she had predicted there was no serious antagonism for the book. Out of all the antiques, which were stored in that big room that book was undoubtedly the most valuable item, yet it was sold for the least money.

While the girl was caressing the cover searching for signs of the letters, which formed the title her heart froze for a brief moment. Hinamori felt coldness overwhelming her body for that brief moment and then everything was back to normal for her. She knew what that meant. A witch was nearby, a witch with the worst intention for the fairy-tale like city in the water. Thankfully she had hied her stuff in an instrument's case. Quickly she opened the case and took out what could be considered as her magic wand and placed carefully inside the book after she casted a strong protection spell on it. Then she headed for the central square. Where else could a witch strike if not in the most centric part of a city? There everyone would know what she did and the damage would be greater than if it was done in the outskirts. In the center of a city you could always find the most historical old landmarks.

Hinamori reached the place before the show started. Unfortunately there were too many people who were still around since night hadn't completely arrived yet and they could easily get hurt. So the first think Hinamori had to do was to cast several spells to send away all those people. Once she started one by one all the people in the square started remembering important jobs they had to do or they suddenly remembered a new café they hadn't went yet or decided to go visit a friend. For that reasons the square was soon empty with the only exception being Hinamori. The girl sighed contented when suddenly someone exclaimed.

"Hinamori?!" She turned around puzzled only to find a gang of three tall men approaching her.

" Abarai-kun?" she said surprised. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We are searching for Prince Kurosaki Ichigo of Asterisk." Replied a man with blond hair, light-blue eyes and gloomy face who was named Kira Izuru.

"What about you?" asked the one who had noticed her first who had red hair caught in a ponytail, tattoos in his face and really weird eyebrows.

"I am here on business but something came up."

"Something that had to make you cast spells to the people who were in this square?" asked seriously the third man of the party who was the tallest with black, spiky hair a tattoo of the number 69 and a scar from claws in his right eye and his name was Hisagi Shuhei.

"That was necessary. A witch is on the go, I couldn't possibly let them be around." Apologized Hinamori.

"And how you know that this is the place, which is going to be attacked?" asked Renji with curiosity and excitement evident in his voice.

"Trust me Abarai-kun. This is the best part of the city to attack. This and the royal palace but no witch is crazy enough to attack the palace built by the Snow Queen. Not to mention she is alone."

"It's been a while since something interesting happened to us. A fight with a witch can pay me up for running after Ichigo all the time." Said Renji smiling widely.

"Renji we didn't come to Aqua Timez to fight witches but to find Ichigo-dono." said Kira wearily.

"Kira is right Abarai you are here to find Kurosaki." Said suddenly a deep hoarse voice known to them. They turned their heads and their eyes met a pair of aquamarine eyes looking seriously at them.

"C'mon Hitsugaya can't we have a little fun too? Let's say is a bonus for the work we are assigned to do." Begged Renji. "Who 's going to deal with the witch if we don't.

Hinamori didn't pay attention to the men and their arguments, she was occupied with other thoughts. The sky was slowly covered with heavy, gray clouds and the lamps in the streets had started to put off mysteriously.

"She brings something or someone nasty with her." Informed suddenly Hinamori.

"What?" asked in unison the four other men.

"I said that she brings something or someone nasty with her. There's magic in the air that put off the lights in the street lamps."

"So what about it?" asked Renji a little bit uninterested.

"Whatever loves darkness must not be trusted." Replied the girl.

"You should listen to your little friend handsome. She's pretty damn right." Said suddenly an unknown voice from above. The party lifted their heads and saw a woman with long blond and glass like blue eyes dressed in black and purple looking at them grinning widely, while riding her own broom.

"I was bored lately, so I decided to have fun with the citizens of Aqua Timez but unfortunately someone seems that noticed me and sent them away." Said the newcomer fixing her eyes in Hinamori for one moment.

"But that's okay. You guys seem to be a promising challenge."

"Hinamori-san, I beg you not to take part in this battle. Step aside please." Said Kira as he, his comrades and Hitsugaya reached the edges of their katana. Hinamori looked at them for a second and then said.

"Alright but you'll accept some help if it's necessary, alright?"

"If you think that we can't do else." Said Kira, as Renji smiled like he didn't thing her help would be useful at all.

"My my how gallant of you to ask of a young witch lady to step aside. Are you guys that confident? Well we'll see soon ." As she finished her sentence she snapped her fingers and out of nowhere purple lights appeared everywhere around them. When the light started to fade giant spider like monsters appeared. They were tall as a two-story house, they had a lot of legs, a pair of nippers and four eyes which were shining under the faint moonlight which penetrated the gray clouds in the sky.

"What are those things?" asked Renji surprised. Before anyone could answer to him the witch, which was still floating said noticing their surprise.

"You couldn't possibly think that I would come here and fight alone, could you? I'm not that much of an idiot you know! Attack ! "

Once she commanded her ugly giant fellows started marching toward the party. Renji was the first one to jump shouting at the same time, contented.

"Howl Zabimaru!" His sword then changed shape and as he move it, it extended and moved toward one of the monsters.

"Be careful they have a sting with deadly poison. And just for your information they are called aracnomantules." Shouted Hinamori to them.

"Is she going to be okay?" asked Hitsugaya Kira as they sliced several legs and giant monsters collapsed around them.

"Don't worry my lord. Hinamori-san is a witch she knows how to protect herself." When he finished his words a spider monster attacked Hinamori. Hitsugaya cursed silently and he would probably rushed to her side if the monster wasn't repelled back by an invisible force. The girl looked at him with serious eyes and then smiled at him reassuringly and he returned back to his own battle.

"They are managing well." Thought Hinamori. "But I can't sit here and do nothing, I've got my own pride as a witch. Let's see a little more light wouldn't hurt anybody. Except from the aracnomantules of course but isn't that what we want? They are too many and I guess she can call more."

Hinamori moved the stuff she was holding as high as she could and shouted.

"Shine!" The magic stuff shined with a white light and when she moved it again part of the light got separated from the big magic wand and stayed in the air above the aracnomantules and the witch. When the light shined all the monsters shrieked in pain and tried to cover their eyes.

"What the heck?" said Renji confused when all the spiders around him started to blunder. He turned his head towards his witch friend.

"They are too many." She apologized smiling. The man smiled and with a move of his hands his sword extended again cutting the legs of the suffering aracnomantules.

The witch was watching thoroughly but she wasn't contented. First the witch sent away all the humans who were in the square and now she helped at the elimination of the minions she had worked so hard to find.

"I must stop her. Without her light spell I have big chances of success. How can four men fight against million of aracnomantules at the same time. No matter how good they are the analogies are against them!" Finishing her reflection the witch raised her hand to strike Hinamori with a deathly spell. Before she could start though she had to move to avoid someone attacking her. As she moved her broom even higher she saw a man with orange hair and a vast sword half wrapped I bandages.

"Yo! Do you guys mind me joining you?"

"Ichigo were have you been?" exclaimed Renji as he delivered the final blow in another aracnomantula.

"How come you appeared now sir?" asked Kira who sliced the nippers of an aracnomantula who was about to attack Hisagi from behind.

"I sensed your spiritual pressure and I came to check you guys. Now move aside I'll finish those guys off." The runaway prince finished his sentence and unwrapped completely with one move the rest of his sword. Hitsugaya and Renji's party shuponed behind Ichigo while Hinamori's eyes widen in horror as she saw the prince shouting "Getsuga Tenso." and a blast of energy emitting in frightening speed from his sword's tip. The remaining aracnomantules turned into dust but at the same time the pavement, the fountain and part of the buildings around got destroyed too. Ichigo smiled self-contented while Hinamori had remained speechless and shocked.

The blond witch looked horrified at the orange-hair man who eliminated her army with one blow. Before she could call for more of her minions she noticed Hitsugaya in the same level as her. The white-hair boy threw a chain, which was part of his sword and captured her broom whispering "Shoten ni zase Hyourinmaru." Immediately ice emitted from the sword and through his sword's chain reached the broom and froze the witch. Unable to use any kind of magic the witch fall trapped inside the ice and she would scatter in thousand little pieces if Hinamori didn't use magic to make the ice prison and its prisoner fall quietly. Then she turned her attention to Ichigo furious and exclaimed as Hisagi went to inform the witch police.

" Are you out of your mind? You destroyed the square without hesitation and it's not even in your kingdom! Weren't we trying to prevent that? Isn't that why Kira-kun asked me not to take part in the battle fearing that my spells could cause unwanted damage?"

"Relax Hinamori-san. I'm sure you can do something to fix it." Said Kira trying to relax the furious witch, who surprisingly had turned red. Hitsugaya noticed that and watched the girl take deep breaths trying to calm herself. A few minutes later when Ichigo apologized after an unspoken exhortation from Kira, Hinamori started making circular moves with her white stuff. When she suddenly pulled it down strange noises from stones moving and arranging themselves into the pavement or debris being lifted in the air creating walls was heard. When everything went back to normal and water was heard again by the fountain's direction Hinamori sighed and told the astonished party.

"There won't always be witches willing to help you." Then she headed towards on of the roads, which leaded in a mercantile part of the town where the hotel she was to stay was. Kira, Renji and Hisagi, who had returned, bid their goodnights to her.

As the five men took a path, which would end in one of the ports and where they could find a boat to take them to palace Hitsugaya made a question to the fellow prince's followers.

"Are you familiar with that witch, Hinamori?"

"Yes we are." Replied Kira. "We had met her here once while we were searching for Kurosaki-dono. Since then we meet her quite often since she's coming to Uverworld for business."

"Do you know what she's into?"

"She once told us that she works in Velonica's palace. I think she does something related with books."

"I see."

At the same time that Hinamori went to confront with the witch a short black-haired witch with short hair and two long braids was entering the private rooms of Velonica's queen, Shihoin Heisoban Yoruichi. However she found them empty when she knew that she had to be there. Then she noticed a paper in a big desk, which was glowing. She took it in her hands and found out that it was a message from the queen addressing to her.

Dear Soi Fon,

When you'll be reading this letter I'll be away. I'm going to check on Kisuke so don't worry about me. Retsu is aware about all the matters that have to be taken care during my absence.

I'll see you soon

Yoruichi ja ne!

The commander of witch army read the letter and frustrated she said.

"Yoruichi-sama why didn't you take me with you…AGAIN?"

Author's note; Don't forget to review!

Till next time!!!