In Hueco Mundo, Las Noches, a cell.
Momo Hinamori stood up. It hurt. Horribly. She gritted her teeth and leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. She felt so tired and weak, and yet.
She was determined. She didn't want to feel weak and useless. She didn't want to be in this place. Someone had been here. She knew it because when she had woke her manacles had been unlocked and there was food.
She pushed away from the wall and took a step. She cried out in pain a fell to her knees. She bent her head. Do I have no pride? No dignity left? Is this really how weak I am? she thought. She shook her head, No.
She got to her feet and ignored the searing pain from her side. She made her way to the food and sat down beside it. She ate in silence. Grateful. But miserable.
Will I die here? Everything still makes no sense? I have been taken away from my home. I have been stripped of my dignity as a soul reaper for I lost and am alive. My lieutenants badge was even taken. I have been stolen away from my friends. I have lost Toshiro.
Are they looking for me? Are they going to save me? No. I don't want them risking their lives for my sake. If I am to escape this place I will by myself. However in this condition I am hardly capable of walking. Never mind running, flash stepping, fighting.
Besides I don't have Tobiume. I feel so lonely. Like I have lost everything I hold close. I hope everyone's okay. I can't even tell how long I have been here for no sun shines. It's such a dark and miserable place. Why am I here at all? What- her questioning thoughts were cut short however by a sound.
Of footsteps. Approaching. Momo froze.
She didn't want to be scared. She didn't want to feel weak. It had crossed her mind to use kido but the energy it would take in her condition she knew would be risky. The footsteps stopped outside her door.
Momo stood quickly and put her back to the wall. She stared at the door. She had to squint as the lighting was not great. She felt herself trembling slightly. She hated it even though she knew she had a perfectly good reason to be scared. She was defenceless.
Is this where I die? Have they come to kill me? she thought. The door opened and her eyes quickly adjusted to the light. There was two figures who stood in the doorway.
They were male as far as she could tell. One had jet black hair, similar to hers. He was slightly taller then the other. The other had deep, blue coloured hair. Both appeared to be about Renji's height. They both stepped forward into the room and walked until they were a metre or so from Momo who had her back against the far wall of the cell.
She could see them clearer now. The one with the jet black hair had eyes the deep blue of the others hair and vice versa. The one with jet black hair had an arrancar mask covering the left side of his face and the deep blue haired one had one covering the right side of his face. Both appeared quite expressionless, as if bored. The one with the black hair stepped closer.
"W- What do you want?" asked Momo, her voice quiet and slightly hoarse after being unused.
"My name is Osamu and this is Daiki. Both of us are arrancars who serve under the espada, Yasuo Himura. We are to escort you to someone to heal your wound," said the black haired one, bowing slightly.
She was confused. Why do they want to heal my wound? They could kill me right now so why didn't they?
"Please. Come with us," said the one named Daiki.
Momo hesitated. She knew she couldn't trust them. She didn't move an inch. Osamu leaned forward slightly his hand moving towards her arm.
"Don't be scared," he said softly, smirking cruelly.
"I'm not scared," Momo told him, angered.
She felt like she was being teased. She pulled her arm away from his reach.
"If you behave you can have a reward," taunted the other, Daiki.
"Ah yes. Don't you wan to see your zan pactuo? I'm sure you miss it," said Osamu smirking.
Momo froze. Everything did for her. H- How did they get Tobiume? Do they really have her? she thought to herself.
"We're telling the truth. If you come and don't try to escape we might consider giving it to you. Don't you want the pain to go away. It looks quite sore. Doesn't it hurt?" asked Daiki. Momo frowned.
She did want to see Tobiume. Maybe then she wouldn't feel so lonely. B- but what if it was a lie?
"Come on," said Osamu impatiently taking one of her arms.
His grip was tight and Momo knew she wouldn't be able to escape it. Daiki took her other arm and they exited the cell.
Please don't come for me Shiro. I don't ever want to see you hurt again. I especially don't want it to be my fault.
Momo sat up. Her side didn't hurt anymore. It was a relief at the very least. She nodded in thanks to her healer, a gentle woman whose face was half covered in an arrancar mask. The woman bowed and left the room.
Momo's hand went to her side and she pressed gently. Nothing. It had been healed very well. Momo had always been skilled at kido, however she had never used it on clothes.
She muttered under her breath and was relieved to see the fabric around the previous wound was present once again. She couldn't do the same for her sleeves however.
"You didn't have to do that," said Osamu walking into her view. She remained silent.
"Yes. We have different clothes for you," added Daiki walking to Osamu's side.
"I do not want different clothes," Momo commented calmly.
She didn't want to get worked up. She hated seeing people like this, bullies, gaining satisfaction from their victims. They laughed.
"It was not an offer. It was a statement. You will wear them," said Osamu commandingly.
"I don't want them," Momo repeated losing her temper.
She didn't want to be ordered around by these people. She decided that they were plain cold. They did not have hearts.
"They have been mad especially for you. Be grateful you are receiving such attention," said Daiki warningly. Momo was confused. She was getting attention. Why?
"Why is that? Why am I wanted at all! What are you trying to achieve!" she asked her frustration growing.
"All will be told in time," said Osamu dryly. Clearly he wasn't in the mood for this.
"So you refuse to tell me?" Momo asked. She had to get away from them. Catch them by surprise.
"We are bound by loyalty to Master Yasuo. We cannot tell you even if we wanted to!" yelled Daiki.
"So really can you just-" began Osamu.
"Hado no. 73 Soren Sokatsui!" Momo yelled and she flash stepped away as quickly as possible.
"Damn!" was all Osamu and Daiki could say before the blast hit them.
Momo felt a bit tired. It had been level seventy though that wasn't what had made her tired. She hadn't regained all of her strength yet and in her condition it had been a bit exhausting. She flash stepped as far away as she could, careful to head away from any other spiritual pressures before stopping to catch her breath.
She put her hands on her knees and bent over. She had no idea where she was. She knew she was a good distance from those two arrancars but despite it she didn't have much time. She hid her spiritual pressure with great care and sat down.
She began chanting as quick as she could. She finished even sooner than she had anticipated. She quickly recited her message. She repeated the chant and recited a different message.
She then released both. I hope the hell butterflies make it to the soul society, she thought to herself. She then hid all traces of her spell and continued. She wanted to make it appear she had just tried to escape and had not sent the hell butterflies.
She continued avoiding spiritual pressure so no suspicion would be raised. About an hour later she slowed down. She had spent the last hour racing through these corridors, avoiding arrancars.
She peered around. It hadn't crossed her mind to check out any of the rooms she passed. She quickly dismissed the idea. It was too risky. Even though she escaped to send the hell butterflies there was no point in getting captured again, especially because of a foolish act on her behalf.
She had thought she would get caught ages ago. Suddenly Momo felt a chill go down her spine. She felt like she was being watched. She warily looked around her. She sensed nothing.
She had a bad feeling and went to flash step away. However something grabbed her wrist before she could. She froze with fear and quickly turned to face them.
It was a girl. She had bright pink hair and was about the same height as Momo. Her eyes were a bright violet. Her mask went from just above her eyes to the back of her head. It resembled a sort of helmet. Two thin, elegant horns that were curly came out from either side.
She wore the normal arrancar clothes. Black and white. Her skirt was short and had black vertical lines on it. Her top had a single, thick black line running down the middle and the sleeves of it were long and puffy at the shoulders.
She was pretty in a sense. Her face was expressionless. Momo noticed the slight regret in her eyes. She didn't realise arrancars even felt feelings like that. But to Momo it was clear in the girl's big, violet eyes.
The girl's name was Hiromi Tsuki. She was the espada number five. The number was printed on the right side of her waist and her skin was visible where it was to show it.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly to Momo before sonidoing away with her.
Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo (which is not me).