Chapter 21! Thank you to everyone that reviewed! I am sorry for the late update. Right now, I've been piling myself with books. I finished reading ''The Grapes of Wrath'' by John Steinbeck, I am currently reading the Vampire Diaries (first 2 books from the series) since the show was just broadcast on a channel. Honestly, I find the show better than the book (and if you even read the Vampire Diaries, which came out in 1991) mainly because Elena isn't the same as she's in in the book. I really don't like the book much because it rushes a bit and the character Elena pretty much gets everything that she wants and if she doesn't get it, then she gets cranky and sorta....bitchy...and I really don't tolerate that. But, the book ain't that bad so girls (I know most guys won't read books like these), go to the library or buy it or whatever and read it and check it out. Other than Elena, the book is pretty good. And 3rd, I ordered the book called 'IT' by Stephen King (I want to meet him....seriously....I'll drive to Maine for hours if I have to...) and it's a HUGE book...but I like big books. The book is more than 1000 pages long, but that's good cuz....I love ! :D Anyway, enjoy this chapter and this story is coming to a closing point soon...maybe in like....5 more chapters? I really don't wanna rush it, but I want to end it so I can write a new story AND I'm still pending on 'Diary'. Readers, do you want Diary? Enjoy & Review!

Momo was locked inside the bedroom she shared with him, hearing the voices suddenly fade away. It was a long five hour visit, but she was glad it was over. Sitting on the bed with her knees by her chest, she rested her forehead on her knees and closed her eyes. For an hour and a half she had been locked up, not wanting to go outside and watch Gabriela giggle and flirt around Toushiro.

Her eyes had burned with tears every time she saw her placed her hand on top of his, and he had given her a confused look sometimes. Maybe he doesn't like her and won't marry her?

"What am I thinking?" she asked herself, suddenly laying down on the bed and hugging his pillow.

He was in an arranged marriage by his parents…his dead parents. And a good child would always fulfill his dead parents' wishes., especially since that child hasn't seen his/her guardians for a decade or so.

Momo knew that letting go of Toushiro was going to be hard. She had grown so fund of him, she loved him for who he was, and had been even imagining their future! By contacting his family, she knew that she had done the right thing. Though never questioning him, Momo knew that deep inside him, he had wanted more than anything to go back and search for his family.

Was I in his way?

The thought ran around her mind like a racecar around its circular tracks. He was always so quiet, so calm (with the exception of engaging in a fight with Obi months ago), that she hadn't known whether he agreed with her decisions or not. Maybe he was too embarrassed to say anything to her, not wanting to hurt her?

I've always kept on thinking about myself…

She groaned against the soft white pillow. Had she made a mistake bringing him here to Seireitei? Had she made an even bigger mistake contacting his family and letting them know that he was alive and in perfect condition?

Of course they weren't mistakes! She knew better. He had saved her life before, tremendously. If it wasn't for him, she would probably be laying on the bottom of the river…dead. Because of him, she was given a second chance in life.

But he's going to leave me and marry her….

She wasn't sure no more. She was in love with him because of his great personality and faithfulness to her. How many men out there had those exact characteristics? It wasn't everyday that she would fall from a bridge, into a river, and then get rescued by a mysterious yet gorgeous young man who had been living all by himself (though with the company of some wild animals) for ten years.

The door shut, and finally the apartment was quiet. She sat up and got up from bed, fixing her dress and looking at herself in the mirror.

"…I look horrible."

Her makeup had been smeared by the tears. Unlocking and opening the door, she headed straight to the bathroom, not noticing Toushiro following her.

Once inside, she turned the faucets and quickly splashed the warm water on her face. Colored substances (mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, blush, and eye shadow) ran down with the water. Once she was finished, she grabbed a towel and wiped her face clean. Toushiro leaned against the door, watching her as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

I hate makeup…

Strange thoughts ran through her head as she walked out of the bathroom, not even glancing at him.

Toushiro's eyebrows furrowed, and more confused than ever, he followed her. In the matter of a few seconds, he was right behind her, wrapping his arms around her slim figure. He felt her head pull back and lean against his throat, and he noticed her tears suddenly well up around her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

It sounded more like a command, and she was shocked at his new tone. Opening her eyes, she turned around and looked at him.

"Nothing is wrong."

"No, something is wrong."

"Why do you ask if you know that something was wrong?"

Momo immediately regretted replying to him like that. He was only trying to help and now she made the situation worse by pushing him away, literally.

He turned her around in one swift movement, and for a second, Momo thought he was going to pick her up and throw her down the small apartment hallway. Instead, he just grabbed her chin and made her look up to him. Determination was read in his eyes.

"It has to do with Gabriela, doesn't it? I saw your expressions every time she held my hand and kissed me."

The last two words intensified her anger.

"Yes, it has to do with her. If you already knew why I was angry, then you shouldn't have asked."

Another reply that she regretted, but she couldn't help herself. She was so angry with him!

"…Because I wanted you to tell me first rather than me forcing it out of your mouth. Remember when you told me that whenever there's a problem, we could talk it out and not have an argument like how we're having now?"

She remembered, but didn't care. Escaping from his embrace, she went back to the room and decided that what was best now was a good shower and some sleep.

No change occurred the following day. After her shower, she had gotten to bed, not even glancing at him for at least a second. On the other hand, Toushiro had not spoken to her at all afterwards, however, he did kiss her lips goodnight, and when he did, she had quietly sobbed herself to sleep.

Hands deep inside his pockets, he walked over to the door and knocked. He waited for an answer, glancing around. The sky was dark, though rain has not poured yet. He hard a fussing sound behind the door, and a second later, it opened, revealing big gleaming eyes and long dark orange hair.

"Toushiro!"

Orihime opened the door more, she stepped aside and let him enter. The younger man looked inside before entering.

The heavy smell of strange chemicals filled his nostrils, and he noticed, once inside, that she had been cleaning her house.

"Sorry for the mess, I'm doing my seasonal cleaning today. Take a seat, and would you like anything to eat or drink?"

He sat down and shook his head. "No, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I made my super-duper soda-mix-juice today!"

A slender white eyebrow cocked up, and it suddenly hit him that Orihime's cooking was one (or maybe is) of the worst cooking ever.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

She pouted disappointingly, but let it go and sat down beside him.

"Did something happen between you and Momo?" she asked right away.

He wasn't surprised that she had known part of the reason of why he had visited her early in the morning without telling Momo where he was going (and she probably doesn't care, he had added). Every time he needed help with something and couldn't go to Momo nor Ichigo and Renji, he had always come to Orihime for help. He either came to her house or called her. She would always listen and helped him out as much as possible.

"Yeah, yesterday. We had an argument and she's not speaking to me anymore. This is the first time this had ever happened between us, and it's my fault."

Orihime frowned. "Don't say that! It is not your fault! Arguments happen all the time! It's a…..human thing. A natural thing!"

"…But I'm responsible. I'm sure Matsumoto told you already, but I found out yesterday that I have a fiancée. Her name is Gabriela Julitesz. She arrived with my grandmother. Our parents had arranged us to be married before my disappearance. Gabriela brought our rings, and that's when Momo had left."

He dig deep into his pocket and took out a small, silver ring.

It was beautiful, Orihime had agreed, but that single ring was causing so much pain to her friend.

"Do you want to get married?"

He looked at her confusingly. "I have to, don't I?"

Orihime sighed, tapping her lap lightly with her fingers as if she was playing the piano. "W-Well….it's all your decision, but if you don't want to, you don't have to…."

"But what about Gabriela and my parents? My parents are dead. They would be disappointed."

"But what about Momo? You're just going to marry some random girl and leave Momo heartless? I thought you were in love with her as much as she is with you."

"Are you saying that I don't have to get married?"

"I know it's an arranged marriage and that your parents proposed it, but how do you really feel? It's like….arrange marriage versus love marriage. Do you want to marry Gabriela just because your parents, that are now dead, want you to….. or do you want to marry Momo, the girl that gave you a real shelter and real food and took good care of you…the girl that you care for a lot?

"You obviously know the answer."

Her eyebrow cocked. "Then why don't you tell yourself the answer?"

"So what are you going to do now?"

Momo looked up, meeting Matsumoto's eyes. She nibbled her lower lip, her fingers playing with the zipper from her jacket.

"I don't know… If he wants to get married with her, then I'll let him! I'm not going to choose for him anymore."

Matsumoto glared at her. "What about you, then? You both love each other! So what if it's arranged! His parents are dead! Parents rather see their kids happy with whom they want instead of picking for them and making them miserable! So, Toushiro and this girl are going to live a happy married life and you're just going to do what? Become depressed and let them get away with it?"

Momo shrugged. "I guess so…..I've been heartbroken before… What difference does it make now?"

Once again, Momo Hitsugaya will not be happy with me. She's been asking for another fluff HitsuHina scene...but I couldn't do one for this chapter! It would be too rushed. But I did tell her that I have an unfinished/messed up HitsuHina one-shot somewhere in my PC, lol, and I actually do. It's called Exceptions and it's like three-six months old. xD I'll see when I can fix it and upload it. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. If you noticed any mistake, tell me! Right now, my allergies are killing me. Yesterday, my friend & I went to the library and it was pouring hard and we only had one umbrella -_-...and I had no sweater and it was pretty cold too. Yeah, that's my punishment....I know.

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