A/N: Ok, here I am, uploading this long forgotten story. I needed to read the whole thing once again to remember what I had in mind and what I had already said. I hope you like this chapter, personally I enjoyed writing it... the second part in particular. Keep ur fingers crossed for more of it in the near future. :)
"BUT DAD!" Matsumoto objected, indignation and hurt written all over her face as she stood up from her chair and gazed at her father's eyes with disbelief. "You can't do this! We can't just…"
"Yes, we can." The king cut her off unabashedly from his place behind the desk, then unfolded a pair of glasses and placed them carefully on his nose, pulling a couple of papers to him. "Now, if you'll excuse me…"
"No, I won't excuse you! You're not listening!"
"Rangiku…"
"NO! I can't accept this! I won't accept it! You have to do something, you have to…" she paused and inhaled deeply in a pathetic attempt to stop the trembling of her hands "We have to help him."
The kind sighed softly, then leaned back in his chair and removed the glasses from his face to look up at his daughter's determined expression.
"I am going to say this once, Rangiku, and I am not going to repeat. Hitsugaya Toushiro was a talented warrior and possessed a brilliant mind like no one I have ever met." He stopped for a moment to take a long sip from the cup of tea that was steaming quietly next to his stack of paperwork. "However, he is and always has been just a boy. It is a sad loss, but I have no intention of risking anyone's life over this child, no matter how close friends you two were. You'll find someone else to befriend. By the way, your fiancé…"
BANG!
The room fell silent as Matsumoto's clenched fist landed with incredible force on the desk. The furniture shook dangerously, the wood's soft screech almost sounding like a helpless pained lament that cursed the cruelty of the princess. Rangiku didn't care. If she could, she would trash everything in this room to tiny fragments and she would scream and cry and kick and hit all the while, not caring about anything, and after she'd finished, she'd collapse on the floor and weep. She wasn't completely sure what she was feeling - whether anger, frustration or indignation – but whatever it was, it was so strong that she wasn't sure what she'd do if she allowed herself to move a single muscle. So she stood still, her eyes burying in her father's ones as she both pleaded and demanded of him to do as she asked. The king, however, didn't even flinch as he contemplated his daughter's actions.
"Control yourself, Rangiku." He said, pronouncing each word clearly.
"Why would I? Why would I act respectfully if you're basically sentencing someone to death out of laziness."
"All I'm thinking about is your and our people's safety and you know it."
"Toushiro is one of your people!"
"You're blinded by your feelings. Rangiku, you know that sending anyone after that kid would end up causing war…"
"The challenge for the war has already been sent! Or have you forgotten the attack in the woods, father? Have you?"
The king sighed.
"You know well enough you can't throw yourself head first in something, without planning. And I'm afraid that until we have figured out what to do, your friend…"
"Will die." Matsumoto cut him off, pursing her lips into a tight line. "Right."
"I am sorry as I said earlier," he replied, intertwining his fingers on the desk in front of him. "But there's nothing we can do for Hitsugaya Toushiro."
Matsumoto burst out of her father's room with her eyes throwing daggers at everybody who attempted to get in her way, even unintentionally. Her hands were clenched into tight fists and she could not calm her breathing as the anger washed over her in cold and hot waves. Five minutes later she found her friends gathered in the garden, waiting for the news. They were sitting around a large fountain, Ichigo and Rukia on a small bench next to each other, Kyouraku standing near an ornamental bush and Nanao sitting on the verge of the fountain, as far away from her suitor as possible.
"What happened?" Ise asked, standing up as she saw her friend approaching with a stiff, tensed gait and hands clenched into fists at her side. Matsumoto didn't answer immediately. She walked silently towards the fountain, then placed her hands on its edge and gazed at her own pale reflection as she tried to collect herself.
"He won't do anything about it." The words finally tore off her trembling lips as closed her eyes and let her mind sink in the endless abyss of her own helplessness "I should've known…"
"Rangiku…" Nanao began, her own austere attitude shattering to pieces like a broken mirror as she saw the expression of the princess' face. "There must be a way to persuade him that…"
"No." Matsumoto shook her head slowly. "My father is horribly one-track minded. He's anchored on the idea that Toushiro is not worth the risk and he will not be argued out of it."
For a couple of moments no one said anything, all of them lost in their own thoughts as they searched for a solution. Finally, Rukia shifted in her place, her eyes lightening up as she threw an ambiguous look at Ichigo's direction. The strawberry seemed to understand and nodded silently, a small smirk making its way on his face
"Maybe we don't need the king's help." Kuchiki interjected, raising a brow as she followed the other women's disconcerted expressions with a her determined eyes. "Apropos, it would be better, as a small group can always travel faster and hide easier."
Matsumoto stood up straight, her brows furrowed and her expression slightly boggled.
"What are you saying?"
"It's what I'm suggesting, actually." Rukia corrected, her lips curving into a furtive smile as she slowly placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. "If there's no one here to help us, then I'm guessing we'll have to do it ourselves."
"This is insane…" Nanao began but Matsumoto cut her off before she could finish, the determination in her voice almost startling.
"I'm in."
Rukia nodded thoughtfully.
"I thought so." She said, her eyes gliding calmly between the others "Anyone else game for this cloak-and-dagger plan?"
Ichigo just smirked, shrugging as he glanced at the girl next to him. Kyouraku chucked the brim of his hat and stepped forward:
"When are we leaving?"
Rukia looked at the princess, her brows raised with expectation.
"Tonight." Matsumoto said simply.
"You should give up. There's no way for you to escape from here." Akane pointed out, tilting her head to a side and letting a few black locks fall in her eyes as she watched Hitsugaya's moves. The boy didn't seem to mind her as he continued walking around his bed as much as the chain around his ankle allowed him, checking every single corner, crack and hole. His pale lips were pursed into a tight line and an obstinate expression had hardened his otherwise soft features.
Akane was sitting on a chair next to the opposite wall, her hands folded in front of her chest and her legs crossed. A hint of petulance was sparkling in her dark blue eyes as she tried to stay appeased to the angry rattle of the chain and the, in her opinion, foolish denial her captive was showing towards his predicament.
"I said…" she began again, louder this time but before she could finish, Hitsugaya had turned around to face her, his teal eyes shining dangerously.
"I heard what you said." He retorted and she could swear she felt a waft of winter air wash over her. He then turned around again and continued his pointless exploration of the room, his shoulders slumping almost inconspicuously. Akane raised a brow, uncrossing her legs and arms as she leaned forward a bit, a look of curiosity now taking place on her face. Her dark blue eyes followed his movements, her mouth curving into a small smile as she once again took a mental note that he was a rarely attractive toy. A nebulous feeling of annoyance crept into her stomach as she reminded herself the toy would never belong to her, but she chased away the thought as quickly as possible. For a minute or so there was silence, except for the chain's never-ending rattle, until she decided she was bored and tried again, aiming for his temper:
"In that case I am marveling your stupidity." She broached casually. "Without your zanpakuto or any other type of weapon, there's no way for you to get out of here."
"Oh, really?" he said, walking to his bed and sitting down with his face in her direction as he eyed her with a hint of haughtiness. "Then why are you still here?"
Akane opened her mouth to reply, but shut it up quickly as she realized there was nothing she could say. She had no time to get angry, however, as Hitsugaya got both of his bare feet on the bed and let out an annoyed sigh:
"I am not who you are looking for. You're wasting your time." He insisted, trying to prove his point as he looked intensely at the woman.
"You are the one who's wasting your own time, Ice-wielder. And mind this, you don't have much more left."
"This is ridiculous!" Hitsugaya snapped, his jaw clenching.
"You're upset. But that's an understanding."
"I'm not…"
"Don't try to deny it. I saw your expression when my sister told you the truth." Akane smiled to herself, swirling a black lock around her index finger and continued. "By the way, I saw pictures of your mother. You look a lot like her."
Hitsugaya just closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to chase away the fretting thoughts that flooded his mind. His long slender fingers twitched slightly on his knees before he clenched them into fists and inhaled deeply.
Akane clicked her tongue and stretched slowly before getting on her feet and walking gracefully to the window, very much aware of the fact that her captive's large jade eyes were following her.
"If I have to be really honest, I do not understand. Back there you were the captain of the royal guard and the princess' personal bodyguard, is that correct?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at the boy who hadn't moved from his place on the bed. She didn't really need any confirmation from his side as she already knew those facts from trustworthy sources but there was a certain pleasure in seeing the expression of one who could only guess how much more his captors new about him. Hitsugaya's face however didn't change the slightest bit as he merely nodded, disdain sparking deep into his jade orbs as he did so.
"And how did you feel about your job?" Akane continued, biting her lower lip for a second as she waited for his response.
"That's none of your business."
"Oh, but do tell me, I'm curious. Otherwise I cannot fathom your reasons for refusing our generous proposal." She turned around to face him and leaned against the wall next to the window. Hitsugaya's expression changed and instead of the cold, composed face, a bold, mocking one replaced it.
"How about you, then?" he asked, placing his elbow on his knee and resting his cheek in his palm. "How does it feel being the younger sister? The one who will never be anything more than a figure in the shadow? The one who will always do all the dirty work and watch as her sibling receives all the applauses, the congratulations and all the prestige? You must be really patient and generous. And very, very obedient."
Akane's eyes widened and she felt the blood rush into her face.
"Shut your mouth, boy!" she yelled, her hands clenching into fists at her sides as she attempted to make her voice sound as threatening as possible. "You are in no condition to behave as though you…"
"If I'm a "boy" then you are a "girl" and I have no reasons to be afraid of a mere girl." He replied calmly, a soft laugh escaping his lips as he realized she had already lost her temper. In a split of a second, Akane was standing in front of him, her dagger against his neck. Hitsugaya didn't even flinch as he raised both brows and smirked at her flushed face and bared teeth.
"Oh, my. Did I just hit a nerve?" he asked, his eyes widening provocatively despite the innocent voice in which he asked the question. She pressed the tip of her weapon a little harder against his unprotected skin and a droplet of blood trickled down his neck. Again, he showed no real reaction and just raised his brows in a silent dare.
"I can kill you right here. Right now." She hissed, her face inches away from his as she bowed over the bedside.
"You know better, girl." He snapped. "If you truly believe I am the one you need, you will not do anything to harm me and you know it."
For a couple of seconds nobody moved. Then Akane withdrew her dagger and sheathed it, standing up straight as he trying to collect herself. Hitsugaya just watched her do so, a playful flame in the depths of his eyes being the only signs of his little triumph. She glared at him and silently made her way back to her chair and sat down, unmovable as a statue. She could still feel the anger seething inside her but it was already subduing, chased away by a new feeling – worry. She could not scare this person, she realized. He was no afraid of her, or pain, or death. He would not give up, he would not give in. As she watched him examine the chain around his ankle, she realized that her captive would not rest until he found a way out. Or died, trying.
Suddenly, Akane felt something she never thought she'd experience towards a person she hardly knew: respect.
