Well, here we go again. Here's to hoping this lives up to the excrutiating amount of time I always make you guys wait. This one doesn't outright give anything away, but it definitely solidifies most of the smaller clues I've been dishing out. Enjoy.

Chapter Ten

Dream Catcher

When Retsu Unohana stepped out of the infirmary, she was met with six sets of prying, expectant eyes, and she couldn't hold back the smallest of smirks at the irony of it all. "I never would have expected our young guest to gain such popularity so quickly," she commented knowingly, gaining even more pleasure from watching the various degrees of denial and frustration upon the onlookers' faces.

Renji Abarai was leaning against the wall next to the door, doing his absolute best to look annoyed at having been dragged below deck, while Captain Matsumoto was glaring pointedly at Kisuke and Yoruichi, neither of whom seemed perturbed in the least. Shuuhei Hisagi and Izuru Kira were huddled awkwardly to the side, and Retsu had the distinct feeling that they hadn't a clue as to why they were here. More than likely, they had been with the woman captain when she spotted Kisuke carrying their hostage to the sick bay and had followed her in hopes of finding out what had made her so sober so quickly.

"How is he?" Captain Matsumoto asked, instantly deserting her prey in favor of the concern that leaked through her half-concealed, gray eyes.

Her smirk dissolving into a thin frown, Retsu turned her attention on Yoruichi and then to Kisuke. When neither one of them so much as batted an eye lid, she sighed. "He is sleeping soundly. The young prince is watching over him."

"That much is obvious," Renji couldn't help but grumble. "How'd he get asleep? That's what I want to know."

"Perhaps the ones you should be asking that particular question of are Shihouin and Urahara," Unohana less-than-subtly chided.

Kisuke offered up a sheepish grin, while Yoruichi seemed strangely lost in thought. Retsu had to admit, when those two had hauled the boy through these doors, she had forced herself to refrain from pointing fingers until after she had isolated the problem, but now that she had done just that, she wasn't exactly sure what to make of it. "Don't look at me like that, Retsu," Kisuke whined playfully. "We didn't touch the kid, honest. He passed out in the middle of a conversation. Surely you've dug up the problem by now."

A single, ebony brow rose accusingly for a moment before the seasoned woman let her suspicions ebb away to be replaced by professionalism. "There is no problem to be 'dug up,' Urahara," she replied, her tone frank. "He is in perfect physical health."

Silence came over the group for a second or two as those gathered mulled over the careful way Unohana had phrased her reply. Unexpectedly, the silence was broken by a pensive Izuru. "Just physical…?"

That captured Rangiku's full attention, enough so that Retsu was sure she didn't notice the bleak expressions that passed over Kisuke's and Yoruichi's faces as they chanced a knowing glance at each other. Convinced that, at the very least, this incident hadn't been intended, she decided there was really no point in withholding any further information, even if the Narcissus' two intelligence gatherers clearly knew more than they were letting on.

"If our hostage is suffering from anything, it's nightmares," the healer clarified. "I spoke with the young prince, and it seems that he is well aware his companion has a habit of avoiding sleep for that very reason. Usually he has more control, but I can only assume the alcohol he consumed robbed him of some of that self-discipline. Did anything startling happen, perhaps, pushing his body beyond what his inebriated mind could keep under control?" Although no one responded to the indirect barb, the lot of them had the decency to appear chastened, and Retsu softened her tone slightly. "When he wakes, he will be fine excepting for the likelihood of a small hangover, but I'd prefer if he remained in the infirmary for a few hours afterward. If you have anything to say to him, it can be said in front of myself or the young prince."

Having said what she came out to say, she was just about to step back into the sick bay, when Captain Matsumoto suddenly grabbed her arm. The shamelessly energetic woman hadn't been quite herself since Gin Ichimaru's capture; Retsu knew how much of an understatement that was, and she knew that better than most. So it was that much more surprising to the healer when she looked down past the protection of the young captain's concealing hood, into Rangiku Matsumoto's eyes, and saw the sheer unbridled and unrepentant amount of emotion that melted into the pale irises, a display the likes of which Retsu had only seen directed at one person before.

"Unohana… Did Hanatarou say … what kind of nightmares…?"

"He did not," Retsu replied wearily, having been caught off guard for a moment. "That is Hitsugaya's to share, and his only. Now, if you're all finished here, I believe you have a ship to fix. The health of a hostage means little if he can't be transported to the drop point."

No one argued as Unohana went back to her work, but Renji risked a suspicious glance through the closing door. "We're all talking about the same person, right? The crazy bastard who dropped the mizzen topgallant in the middle of a storm, the insane Loyal that killed three of his own…?"

"No, we're talking about the other hostage that we took out for a drink," came Rangiku's scathing retort. "Why the hell would you ask something like that?"

"Defensive, much?" the redhead growled back. He hadn't exactly had the best of days, and now he was supposed to play nice with their hostage just because he was some sort of insomniac? "I just wanna know what kind of crazy ass bastard can do all of that, acting arrogant as hell, and then get all weak-kneed over a couple of stupid bad dreams."

"Maybe the real question," Shuuhei Hisagi hedged softly, "is how bad a bad dream has to be to make a person like him weak-kneed."

"You're trying to get me out of the way." The accusation left no room for argument. "Why?"

"And what could have given you that idea?" returned another figure, his back turned on the intruding visitor as if not giving him the satisfaction of even seeing his expression.

"You're sending me on a pointless mission with a pointless goal that could easily be handled by any number of lesser attendants. But you chose me anyway," the first countered, eyes narrowing. "And I'm supposed to believe that you'd send me away just a few days after the wedding with pure motives? Not to mention the most recent addition to the prisons…"

"Are you implying something?" the second figure chuckled. "I merely thought you'd be tired after so many days of constant festivities. You've always been partial to the sea; I thought you'd enjoy a well-deserved rest."

"I can rest here, at the palace," the other insisted, though his voice cracked ever so slightly. "You want me out of the way, and I want you to tell me why."

The second man paused for a moment before letting loose an exaggerated sigh, as if he were amused with the defiant acts of a young child rather than the accusations of an unexpected guest. "I don't need you out of the way for anything. Even if you were to watch my every move, you would still be powerless to change anything I might have planned. I'm sending you away to prove a point that I believe you've forgotten over the years."

The intruder stiffened though he refused to back down. "And what point is that?"

"You seem to be enjoying yourself recently, expanding and manipulating your miniscule sphere of influence. I can only let you continue for so long before intervening," came the smooth and shameless taunt as the second man slowly turned to face the first, a dangerous smile glinting in the poor lighting. "Consider this to be a journey of enlightenment. I will teach you the most important lesson of your life." He stepped closer and closer as he continued, until the two were only inches apart, eyes locked.

"Everything you will ever own, everything you will ever see, smell, hear, or touch, everything you will ever think, everything you will ever love, and everything you will ever hate… They are all mine." His hand shot out, firmly taking hold of his visitor's jaw as he leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"You are mine … Toushirou."

Toushirou Hitsugaya knew he was in a bed in the sick bay, and he knew that Hanatarou Yamada was sitting beside him. His companion's soft breathing and the return of that putrid smell of mixed blood and sweat he'd tried so hard to avoid told him that much. What he didn't know was how he'd gotten there. And that was a rather disturbing thought.

Slowly, cautiously, he opened his eyes, and when nothing immediately came out of the shadows to kill him, he tried to sit up. He didn't get very far before he was pushed unceremoniously back down, Yamada's face directly above his, looking down at him with a worried frown. The push hadn't been that forceful, and truth be told, even half asleep as he was, Hitsugaya could have easily pushed back, but he didn't. Something in those plain, dark eyes told him he shouldn't even try.

"You're awake," Yamada stated the obvious, his voice shaky.

Hitsugaya just huffed. "When did I fall asleep?"

"You didn't. That's the problem," his companion replied without missing a beat. But quickly, his worried expression grew pained, and he added, "You… You lied to me. You said you were sleeping better."

"I lie to everyone," the white-crowned servant evaded, not quite meeting Yamada's eyes.

"Not to me."

This time he stared down the prince with unbridled determination. "I lie to everyone."

Yamada didn't try to argue again, and for that, at least, Hitsugaya was grateful. Instead, the hesitant prince sat back down with a self-depreciating pout. "I thought you'd be feeling better because we're on a ship and everything. S-Sorry…"

"Idiot."

"I know," Yamada sighed. "Unohana gave me some herbs that are supposed to help you sleep. Do you think they'll work?"

"No."

Hitsugaya's curt, less-than-friendly answers and uncharacteristically obedient demeanor seemed to finally catch his companion's attention as he let out a strangled snort of mixed exasperation and pity. "Was it bad?"

It was obvious to the grouchy patient that Yamada was asking about whatever nightmare had had the privilege of waking him up this time. He just snorted. "It was relatively tame." He was silent for a moment, mulling that thought over. Maybe tame wasn't the right word. It had just been … less physical. And he really didn't want to think about it either way. "What happened?"

The sixth prince was quick to jump at the chance to change the subject. "One of the pirates carried you in on his back and said you'd just collapsed on the dock. Unohana was pretty mad. She kept complaining about treating human beings like animals," he smiled warmly as he went on, and Hitsugaya couldn't hold back a perturbed grimace. "She asked me to help because we know each other, so when I heard what happened, I knew right away what was wrong. She told me I could watch over you and make sure nothing happened while you were asleep. She went outside to tell the others about it a while ago, but she's been helping with repairs ever since. I think the ship will be ready to sail within the hour."

The grudging patient looked over his partner one last time before he accused him. "You trust her," he grunted. "You trust that Unohana woman, and she actually trusts you back enough to leave you unwatched."

Yamada affirmed the statement with a hesitant nod. "Isn't that why you … hit me?"

"I knew you trusted her. I didn't know she returned the gesture. I didn't know anyone on this ship returned the gesture. I thought you were the only idiot."

The prince's frown deepened in concern and a little confusion. Hitsugaya knew he must have been wearing his own frustration all over his face, and it was not at all comforting to know that Yamada was reading him so easily. "Well, we can't escape, right? Not from a whole pirate crew. Maybe they just don't think we need a constant watch."

"Never trust a hostage, Yamada. It's not something you do."

"She's a nice person. Maybe she just doesn't belong on a pirate ship?"

Hitsugaya's breath hitched involuntarily. "Neither does their captain."

Yamada's jaw just about unhinged. "You think she trusts you?"

"She shouldn't."

"But she does."

"Idiot."

The Prince curled up in his chair, pouting into his knees. "Me … or Miss Rangiku?"

"Both."

Another sigh. "I know."

"That's why you're an idiot."

"Back to name calling so soon, Hitsugaya?" smirked a familiar hooded figure as she approached the isolated bed in the corner of the sick bay. "I take it that means you had a nice nap."

Hitsugaya snorted, pulling himself up into a sitting position and just daring Yamada to try and stop him a second time. He didn't, and thus the royal servant turned his accusing gaze on none other than Rangiku Matsumoto. Speak of the devil…

"You don't have to be so rude, you know," she huffed. "I didn't have to come, but I did anyway. You're not going to pass out like that again, are you?"

"Only if I'm assured it will cause you grief," the servant replied, blatantly insulting as ever.

"Not a morning person, I take it?" The woman's smirk only grew at his aggravated scowl. Seeming to decide that she'd baited him enough, she turned to Yamada and handed him a small package. "I thought you might be hungry after sitting around down here for so long, so I brought out some snacks from the stores. It should tide you over until our friendly neighborhood ass is ready to get out of bed. We're setting sail at first light, and it will take us about three days to reach Port Resurrección. There's no point in hiding our route from you this time, so as soon as we leave port, you'll be free to come up on deck. After that, the trade will be held, and as soon as we have Gin, you'll both be free to go."

Was Hitsugaya imagining things, or did she almost sound disappointed?

"Though, don't be surprised if by that time, you don't even want to leave. Us pirate folk can be very … persuasive, hm?" she fluttered mock-seductively, running a hand along the curves of her shapely hips.

Oh yeah. Hitsugaya was definitely imagining things. Especially the warmth that traveled up between his thighs as he forced his gaze back to her face. "Is that how you convinced Kuchiki to stay?" he returned coldly, not in any mood to play around.

Captain Matsumoto's eyes instantly turned cold, flashing with a frigid intensity that Hitsugaya himself would have been hard pressed to imitate. She leaned forward, gripping the edge of the mattress with a dangerously tight hold. "You think I seduce my hostages into joining my crew? You can only dream of being so lucky," she seethed through clenched teeth. "If you're so curious about him, I'll tell you why he's here. Byakuya joined this crew because your bloody country screwed him over and killed his wife and sister! He doesn't have anywhere else to go! None of us do! And if you damn well can't see that, then maybe I was wrong about you!"

With that, she let go of the bed and stomped out of the infirmary, refusing to look back.

And it was too bad that she didn't. Otherwise, she wouldn't have missed the pale, disbelieving look her two victims had shared as her words slowly registered and began to tear at the very walls of their reality.

"He didn't know," Hitsugaya uttered, his tone flat. "The bastard didn't know."

"…Miss Rangiku looked really angry."

"Damn it! Let her be angry!" the royal servant snapped at his companion. "Damn that bastard! Why the hell would he-!? None of them know. She doesn't know. She thinks the bastard…" He flopped back down in the bed, covering his face in his hands. "Damn them all! Why the hell do they keep talking?! Why do they keep making everything more difficult?! This was supposed to be simple!"

"But it's not."

"...Idiot."

Yamada sighed, a soft, weary, defeated sigh that seemed to deflate him as his shoulders sunk. "Do you want to try some of Unohana's herbs?"

Hitsugaya didn't move right away, but after a moment, he nodded once through his fingers, and Prince Hanatarou Yamada set about mixing the provided ingredients into a relaxing tea.

Chapter Ten End