Hey guys! Chapter eight is here!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it...everything belongs to Tite Kubo. No copyright Infringement intended.
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Letting Momo jump off his back and sit down, Toushiro sat down as well, "We're taking a small break." He muttered.
Momo nodded and leaned herself against a tree. 'What's wrong with me? I've been homesick for the past couple of days and when I finally get the chance to complete my mission...I let it pass...I'm so sorry Kira...and Renji...I don't know what came over me...'
The whole time Momo was in thought, Toushiro was analyzing her. He noticed that she had become somewhat different since seeing her comrades...like reallity had just placed itself back around her. She was quieter than usual...and had this somewhat hurt expression on her face. He watched her clench and unclench her fists, his guess was that she was thinking about someone special...he wondered who it was...a friend? A lover?
Taking a deep breath he mentally shook his head free from those thoughts...he didn't care...Nor did he want to know.
Okay, so that was a lie. It seemed like the more he was around this girl, the more he wanted to know about her. Why was she so distant at times, why did she always want to block out her emotions...who betrayed her...and...who the hell was she thinking about?
Narrowing his eyes he got up and started walking.
"Are we leaving?" Asked Momo. He noted her voice was somewhat distant...great, just what he needed.
"No, I'm getting some lunch." He mumbled and continued walking away. He didn't bother trying to bring her along. She would stay with him...at least, he hoped she would...afterall, he did have her sword...and he was her criminal...He smiled. He liked the way that sounded...He also loved the way she got so possessive in the woods...like she was jealous or something...
He started to frown, what the hell was happening to him? He knew he was being rather selfish for keeping her as hisprisoner but he tried leaving her once and felt extremely guilty...not to mention he was pumbled by rocks afterwards by the extremely pissed off girl...
Letting out a growl of frustration he punched a near by tree. Which left an indent as well as a crack in the middle of it. He had to get her off his mind, sighing he started trying to look for a near by river...they'd have to go into town soon.
He sighed once again. Going into town meant a bigger chance of getting caught. But he knew they had to at some point. The river, would be ending soon, as well as the forest.
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Gently hopping from tree to tree Matsumoto made her way through the forest. 'I'm comming Gin...just wait a little longer...Please Gin, let me follow you...' She thought eagerly and sped faster.
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"Rukia! Hey Rukia!!" Yelled Orihime. Rukia turned around, "Oh, hey Orihime!"
Orihime smiled, "You look like you were in a hurry...am I keeping you from something?" Rukia blinked, "Well, I was going to complete some paper work...but it's not that important! Did you need me for something?"
Orihime smiled sheepishly, "Actually, I was hoping if I could talk to you...do you mind?"
Rukia shook her head, "Not at all... why don't you come with me!"
Orihime nodded and politely let Rukia lead the way to her office.
"So, what'd you want to talk about Orihime?" Asked Rukia as she sat down at her desk.
"Well, to tell you the truth...I'm a little worried about you..."
Rukia's eyes widened in surprise, "Me? Why?"
Orihime sighed, "Ichi...I mean Ithink you work to much. It seems like everytime one of us tries to catch up with you, you run off before we can say anything...is something bothering you?"
Rukia covered up her shock quickly and smiled, "Oh, no it's nothing...but you're right I have been fairly busy...it's just the job of a lieutenant doesn't come easy...."
Orihime smiled, and in the most sincere way shook her head, "Please don't lie to me Rukia..."
Rukia couldn't mask the new shock that overwhelmed her features, frowning she sighed and started to play with her lieutenant badge..."It's...just....lately I've been feeling......weird...I don't know why...maybe I'm sick or something..."
Orihme's eyes widened, "You're sick?!! Should I call a doctor? Do you want me to heal you myself?!"
All of a sudden Isshin busted in, "OH NO! MY POOR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW RUKIA IS SICK!!! WHERE ARE YOU HURTING? IS EVERYTHING OKAY? ARE YOU PREGNANT?!!"
Rukia and Orihime were staring wide eyed at the man now infront of Rukia when Karin came running in. "FOUND HIM YUZU!!! I TOLD YOU WE SHOULDN"T HAVE LET HIM GO OUT ON HIS OWN!!"
Karin kicked him in the head and turned to Rukia, "Sorry about that, guys. It won't happen again...at least I hope it won't...you never know with him. I'll keep him on a leash from now on..." And with that said, Karin dragged her crying father out of the office and back to their own place.
The only thing Rukia and Orihime could hear was this;
"BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! MY LOVING DAUGHTER-IN-LAW RUKIA IS SICK AND NEEDS TO BE TREATED!! SHE COULD BE CARRYING A LITTLE KUROSAKI!!!"
"SHUT UP DAD!!"
"OW!! OH MASAKI! WHY MUST THEY HIT ME SO HARD?!"
Orihime turned back around to Rukia, "That was....odd...."
Rukia nodded, "I'm going to have to have a talk with Ichigo about where his father can roam in Soul Society from now on..." She mumbled.
Orihime smiled, "So, back to the matters we were discussing before...um that happened."
Rukia sighed, "I've been feeling weird around...Ichigo. I don't really know how to explain it....But lately he's become.....I don't know.....Special?"
Orihime chuckled, "Silly, you're not sick! You have a crush!!"
Rukia's gasped, "A crush? No way!! Never! Not Ichigo!!"
Orihime sighed, "I'm afraid so Rukia...But hey, it's not that bad! Once you an Ichigo get together, we can have a double date, yay!!!!"
Rukia knitted her eyebrows together, "Wait a minute...me together with Ichigo? Not gonna happen!! I won't let it!!"
Orihime looked at Rukia confused, "Why are you in such denial? You like Ichigo don't you?"
Rukia was silent for the longest time before walking over to her window, "I...guess..."She mumbled before sighing, "This is just so confusing..."
Orihime smiled sincerely, she had gone through that stage a couple weeks ago with Uryu. Walking over to her friend she put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "It gets better with time Rukia...You're in denial right now...but soon, you'll be able to see things more clearly..."
Rukia smirked, "You act like you've been through this kind of stuff...I guess that answers my next question then..."
Orihime blinked, "Which was what?" She asked.
"Have you considered Uryu more than a friend...as in do you like him?"
Orihime could feel a blush coming on. She giggled a little, "Yes...I actually find him very attractive! I've been meaning to tell you for a couple days now! Because I too have gone through the denial bit but it was a little different!!! But now that I know you like Ichigo, we can stay up late and talk about the guys!! Yay!!!"
Rukia blinked a couple times before smiling, "Thank you, Orihime..."
Orihime nodded and grabbed Rukia's hand as she started walking towards the door, "Let's go have lunch Rukia!! Uryu showed me this really cool place in the middle of the Seireitei that has the best food I've ever tasted!! But I gave them a few new tips to try with their cooking!! Matsumoto has been by there a couple times and said it was delicious!! Come to think of it, I haven't really seen her around anymore...I wonder if she got a mission, or whatever it is that you guys go on..."
As Orihime continued to ramble, Rukia's mind went back to a certain orange haired captain. 'Ichigo...I wonder if you feel the same way...if only I could tell you...but I can't...it seems like whenever I'm around you now, I can't help but want to be closer...but I don't want to jeopardize our friendship...Tch. Brother always said that feelings were a bother. Now I'm starting to know why.'
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Hitsugaya had just returned from catching lunch when he realized Momo was no where in sight. Quickly looking around for her, he couldn't find her. He tried to find her reiatsu but noticed that it was being blocked.
"I'm up here." Said a quiet voice.
Toushiro looked up into a nearby tree and sighed in relief. There sitting in a branch, was Momo. Narrowing his eyes at her he set down the fish and started a fire. "Don't do that again."
Momo smirked, "Why, are you scared I'll run away?" Toushiro rolled his eyes but didn't reply. After cooking the fish he hopped up on the same branch Momo was on and handed it to her. She took it and they ate in a comfortable silence.
"What were you thinking about earlier?" Asked Toushiro.
Momo shot him a side glance, sighing she shook her head, "It was nothing."
"You're a terrible liar you know..." He said.
Momo glared, "Well, I don't see how it's any of your business..."
Toushiro glared back, "And I'm telling you that I'm making it my business."
Momo sighed, "Just back off before I kido you're ass."
Toushiro smirked, "You won't do it."
Momo laughed, "I wouldn't be so confident if I were you, I've done it before..."
Toushiro raised an eyebrow, "I happen to be a very good judge of character thank you very much."
Momo held back a laugh, "Oh really?" Toushiro nodded. Momo raised an eyebrow, " And what you see me as?"
Toushiro shrugged, "Eh, the usual. Annoying, loud mouth, pain in the ass..."
Momo growled, "It takes one to know one." She replied, trying to keep from pushing him out if the tree.
Toushiro snickered, "I also forgot sarcastic and rude..."
*Thump*
"Ow!" Yelled Toushiro as he fell out of the tree, clutching his head. "You didn't let me finish dammit!!"
Momo glared, "Like I need to know anymore, those were all insults! You're such a brat! I'm not any of those things and you know it!!"
Toushiro sighed, "Well, if you would have let me finish I would have also said that you were kind and caring! But you can forget that now!!"
Momo's glare softened just a little, "I still don't think it's very accurate." She spat.
"Well of course it's not." Said Toushiro as he climbed back up the tree. "That's because I was just judging you on you're outward personality...Now if you want me to see the real you, just look into my eyes."
As Momo did, she noted for the first time how intense they were. Like they were looking into the deepest part of her soul and reading it like an open book. She quickly looked away.
"So...what did you see?" She asked.
"You're probably not going to like my answer." He mumbled.
Momo raised an eyebrow, "Try me."
Toushiro sighed, "I see a scared little girl who was broken by some emotional attachment...a death maybe? And now she's put up walls all around her to try a block everyone out so no one else can ever get close to her ever again."
Momo gasped as her eyes widened in surprise. She quickly looked at Toushiro in complete shock before diverting her eyes to the ground."You know nothing about me!" She said and jumped down, "We should keep going..."
Toushiro closed his eyes, "In a few more minutes." He said as he leaned back in the tree.
Thinking that running would help ease her mind from the painful memory of Captain Aizen, Momo shook her head, "No, I want to leave now."
Toushiro yawned, "Well, I'm not ready yet."
Momo glared as an idea popped into her head, smirking she shrugged, "Fine but when the Stealth Force arrives and captures your sorry ass, don't expect me to be on your side again."
Toushiro didn't say anything.
Momo glared again, "Ugh! You're such a pain in the ass!!"
Toushiro smirked, "Takes one to know one...." He said mockingly.
Momo growled, "So when are we leaving?" She mumbled.
Toushiro smiled, "You know what...I think we'll stay...I'm tired of running for today. If Stealth Force comes...then I'll just have to fight them off..."
Momo's eyes widened. "So you're just going to waste a whole half of a day because you don't feel like running?"
But once again Toushiro didn't reply.
"I'm talking to you!! Answer me dammit!" She yelled. But he still didn't say anything.
She was about to pull his hair and yell at him again but when she got a little closer to him, she found him alseep. Or at least that's what he looked like he was doing.
"Did you really go asleep that fast?" She said in an disbelieving tone.
But there was only silence for a reply.
Quietly jumping up on the tree he was in she poked his chest slightly. He didn't move, narrowing her eyes slightly she listened to his breathing, it was even and slow.
Wearily excepting that he was asleep she smiled slightly. He looked somewhat peaceful and serene. No doubt he was tired, if she remembered correctly he spent all of yesterday out running her and all of today trying to out run Stealth Force...Which wasn't exactly a very easy thing to do. Especially with her on his back.
Sighing she guessed she would let him sleep, but not before taking her sword and binding him in kido.
But when she went to touch her sword, which was on Toushiro's back, along with his own, she was met with a shock that ran through the tips of her fingers to the tip of her shoulder. 'What the...aw man! He already used kido on it! That bastered!! Now I can't touch it!'
Glaring at the sleeping said boy, in front of her she used her hand to try and kido him as well...but realized her kido wasn't going through.
Knitting her eyebrows together in confusion she leaned closer to him. 'Why isn't my kido going through? There's no way he can...unless...unless he countered it by using a forcefield kido...Damn! Can't I win at least one battle against this guy? He takes my sword, he takes my freedom, he takes me hostage and now he takes my last defense and any hope I have of getting away! Damn you Tou--'
Though she didn't get to finish her thought because her eyes were now connected with amazingly colored teal eyes. Which looked thoroughly amused.
"Can I help you with something?" He asked as he quirked an eyebrow.
Momo could feel her face heat up as she started to notice how close she was to him. Their faces were mere inches apart. Shaking her head rapidly she tried to move away but ended up losing her balance.
Closing her eyes she tried to ready her self for the impact she was about to make with the ground. However it never came...Quickly opening one eye she came to see that Toushiro had swiftly circled his arms around her and pulled her back up.
"Um, thank you." She mumbled...Toushiro just raised an eyebrow, "I'm still waiting on an answer you know."
Momo sighed, "I was trying to bind you in kido again...though I should have known you wouldn't really be asleep."
Toushiro smirked, "I'll have you know I was very much asleep until you ruined it by trying to take you're sword...."
"Well, I had to try something..."
Toushiro just rolled his eyes, "Whatever. I guess you know now that it's useless trying to take you're sword or bind me anymore... So I can count on you to not try and wake me up this time?"
Momo glared but inside she was feeling rather guilty. 'So he really was asleep...maybe I should have just let him rest and tried to take my sword later......I know he's trying to hide it...but he does look extremely tired...'
Nodding she jumped down from the tree and huddled around the fire that Toushiro had used to cook the fish.
Toushiro nestled himself comfortably in the tree and went back to sleep. Momo sighed as she looked around for something to do to occupy her time. Sighing she got up and began to explore.
"Where are you going" Mumbled Toushiro, she could tell he he was half alseep.
Momo grinned, "For a walk, I'll be back soon."
She waited for him to reply but instead all he did was roll over in his sleep. How he did that without falling she may never know. So she continued her walk. She went deep into the forrest until she found herself a nice little place to rest. She had probably wasted a good three hours and was wondering if Toushiro was up yet. If he was, would he be worried about her? Or would he think that she had run away....Smiling to herself she guessed that she would start to head back.
If only she remembered the way she came...
"Was it the tree with the moss on it or was it the tree with the whole in it that will lead me back?" She mumbled as she stared at the two trees.
"Neither, it was the evergreen that had a family of squirrels in it..." Came a voice from a tree. She looked up to find Toushiro sitting above her.
Slightly surprised she smiled, "How long have you been following me?"
Toushiro shrugged, "A couple minutes...you're fairly easy to catch up with."
Momo rolled her eyes, "And how was you're afternoon nap?" Jumping down from the tree to walk beside Momo, he shrugged again, "It was alright."
"Oh? So what woke you up? You looked like you could have slept the rest of the day away."
Toushiro's gaze went towards the ground, "I...um...fell out of the tree..."
Momo started to laugh and Toushiro felt himself blush a little, "It's not funny bedwetter! It hurt!" This only caused Momo to laugh harder.
Crossing his arms, he walked a bit faster, "If you're just gonna laugh all day then I'm going back to camp!" He mumbled.
Trying to pull herself together, she took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, it's just...too funny!!!" She said and laughed harder.
Toushiro rolled his eyes.
"Baka!" He mumbled.
They continued to walk around the forest until it was dark, then they made their way back to camp with dinner. After dinner they stayed up a bit longer just talking and having the occasional fight here and there. Then they went to bed.
However it didn't last long because a few hours into the night, Momo started tossing and turning. Her usual nightmare had come back.
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* Looking around her she saw everybody fighting. Ichigo, Rukia and their human friends were fighting hollows of all sorts. Menos Grandes, Vaste lordes, Arrancar, and Espada. Renji and Kira were fighting Ichimaru, former Captain of squad three, while Byakua, Urahara, Youruichi, and the rest of the soul reapers were helping Ichigo. Captain Unahona and Isane were on the ground, away from the fighting exhausting themselves to try and heal all the injuries that were appearing like clockwork.
And Momo noticed that she was doing nothing...she was just standing there unable to move. Looking up she spotted the person she was looking for. Calling out his name she held back the tears that threatened to fall, "Captain Aizen please stop! Don't hurt anymore people! This isn't you!" She yelled. She had hoped he would come to his senses and go back to being the loving, caring and and kind Captain that she had known and loved. But sadly all he did was laugh, "Are you really that pathetic Momo? I am this close to finally becoming the most powerful man in the world! There's no way in hell I'm giving this up!"
Stubborn as Momo was she shook her head, "You don't have to lie! I know Gin's been making you do this! It's okay, I forgive you! I love you! Please, Please don't hurt anyone else!"
Sighing Aizen took out his Zanpaktou, "Silly Momo, you'll just never learn will you? You mean nothing to me, you never have! The only thing you were ever good for was following orders like a mindless puppet!! Now DIE!!" he yelled as he ran at her with his sword.
Not knowing what to do, she just stood there in fear, she didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't want to die either...
"Momo watch out!!" Yelled Renji as he jumped in front of her. The sword went through Renji's stomach and stopped just short of Momo's nose. Looking up at Renji she felt hot tears spill down her face, Renji slowly opened his eyes and looked at her, "Who's side are you on Momo? W-Why didn't you m-move?" And with that he collapsed as Aizen pulled his sword out of him.
"I hate being interrupted." he mumbled as he moved his sword to finish Renji off. Though he never got the chance, without a second thought Momo stabbed her sword through Aizen. He did the same. Now it all depended on who hit the right spot.
Coughing up blood Aizen looked at her, she was crying now. "I'm so sorry Captain, I'm sorry..." She kept repeating over and over again. Feeling himself begin to stumble backward Aizen took one last look at his former lieutenant and fell towards the ground.
A powerful light exploded in the sky, one that sent shivers down Momo's spine. Captain Aizen was dead. She killed him.
All of the hollows started to disappear back into Hueco Mundo, sending out cries of despair over their fallen king. Momo could feel everything get dark, she had just enough time to pull out Aizen's Zanpaktou out of her before she too, fell to the ground.
The only thing that went through her head was Aizen's last look on his face, it matched the same caring face he used to have when times were much happier. He was at peace now.
She gripped Aizen's sword as hard as she could, this was the only thing left of her former Captain, and she'd be damned if she let it go. *
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Everything was quiet until Toushiro was awoken with a piercing scream. Quickly running over to Momo he held her to him. She was still half asleep and was squirming like crazy.
"Hinamori!! Hinamori! Wake up! It's just a dream!" He yelled. Momo gasped and opened her eyes which were now piercing into his own.
Toushiro's eyes widened, she looked so scared and hurt. He didn't know what to do, she seemed so fragile at the moment. He was afraid that if he moved she would break. Break into a million tiny pieces.
Gently he moved her closer to him, she circled her arms around his waist and clung to him as tight as she could. And for the first time in many months, allowed herself to cry.
Sighing he rubbed her back, "Let it out Hinamori, let it all out." And she did. She let out all her pain and suffering while Toushiro whispered soothing things to in her ear. She finally went back to sleep, but Toushiro couldn't, not after what he just witnessed.
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Hey guys! Whoo! Chapter eight! I know I had more HitsuHina in this chapter than any other pairing but for the IshiHime fans, a surprise will be in the next chappie!
Please leave a review telling me how you liked the chapter!
xoxoxo
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