Chapter 2
Momo lay down in her room. She was going to share it with another woman called Yoruichi. Momo felt a little envious when she saw her new roommate.
[She's got… a great body and I… Haaah…]
Shaking off those thoughts, Momo stood up and left for the deck.
[I think I need some fresh air.]
Once she stepped outside, she spotted Toshiro walking beside a tall young man with black hair and glasses. They seemed to be talking about something important. While speaking Toshiro glanced upwards and saw Momo. He then said something to the man, who also turned to look at Momo before nodding and leaving. Toshiro started walking towards Momo. Confused and curious, Momo didn't take any action and waited.
"Good that I found you Momo", Toshiro said.
"What is it?"
"I need you to come with me. We are going to discuss about the Grand Crimson Lotus."
Momo nodded and followed her new captain.
They went to the quarter-deck where the captain's quarter was. Inside were three men already as if they were waiting for them, a sailing chart spread in front of them on the table.
"Let me introduce you", Toshiro told Momo and gestured to the men from left to right, "This is Uryuu, the quartermaster; Kisuke, the ship's navigator; and Shuhei, the helmsman."
"Pleased to meet you. My name is Momo", Momo gave a smile to the men in greeting.
The left most man was the man she just saw earlier. The one in the middle had blonde hair sticking out beneath his striped hat. He seemed to be in the latter thirties. The last one had short black hair with some weird tattoos on his face.
[I wonder why he put a six and nine on his cheek.]
"Then let's get to business", Toshiro announced and pointed at the map.
Momo followed his gaze.
"This is a map of the area where the Grand Crimson Lotus was supposed to be lost but it wasn't lost. Instead it was hidden on one of the island near it by one of the surviving members who wrote it in his diary on to die with a couple of clues left behind."
After saying that, Toshiro turned around and went to the shelf behind him and took out a small book. He placed it on the table and stated:
"This is the diary he left behind."
Momo was about to take a better look at it when she felt that she needed permission first, She looked at her captain before proceeding with his approval. She took the leather bound book into her hands and started flipping through it.
[Hmm, I see. That's why he needed my knowledge of royalty.]
"This man was a direct subordinate of the king", Momo announced stunning everyone around her with her declaration.
"What makes you so sure?", someone from her left said.
It was Uryuu who spoke, his inquisitive gaze waiting for an answer.
"It's rather simple", Momo answered, "Look here."
Momo laid the book the table and spread out one of the pages and pointed at the inside.
"Do you see those lines here? They are not there for decoration, but are a series of number written in the 'Forgotten Number Notation'. It's a secret code that the monks had developed at the king's request."
"How do you know this?", Kisuke asked.
"I know a lot more", Momo replied.
"As I thought – I was right to bring ye here", Toshiro gave a small smile to her which quickly turned into a smirk when he turned to his men.
The three men had the look of defeat and Momo wondered why.
"Did you know that these three didn't want to take you on board at first? They thought that the rumours about yer extensive knowledge were false. And so we made a bet. If you would notice the 'Forgotten Number Notation', then that would prove the rumours true and they would obey me if it concerned the treasure. If not then I would step down as captain", Toshiro said and let out a wicked laugh.
"We didn't say a word about him steppin' down as Cap'n", Shuhei shrugged his shoulders, "He was the one who suggested it but considering the risks…"
Momo's eyes widened in disbelief:
"Why would you do something like that?"
"To prove those dickheads, that they should trust their Captain's intuition a little more."
"We get it, we get it", Shuhei responded irritated and looked at the other two for confirmation.
They nodded and gave their agreement.
"Then what else do you still need me for if you already knew about the code?", Momo asked getting annoyed with being used for a bet.
Toshiro shook his head, his face serious again:
"We know what code it is but don't know the meaning behind it. We can't decipher it."
This time Toshiro took out some papers from the stack on the table and spread them out.
"These are how far we had gotten but the code is incomplete", he told Momo.
The Ruby Princess took a closer look at the data.
[They thought it would be coordinates but they aren't and neither does it form the usual one number equals one letter.]
"Papa, what are you doing?", a small girl asked while tiptoeing against the table to see the work.
"Sweetheart, you know that Papa is busy right now writing a letter, so come back later, ok?"
"Ok", the little girl said but not before taking a good look at her father's papers.
Back in her room she scribbled down everything she saw.
"This code…", Momo whispered as realization dawned on her.
"Do you know something?", Toshiro asked.
Momo nodded.
"I have seen that code before. It's still used sometimes between the king and his closest subordinates."
"Where?", Toshiro pressed on.
Momo felt a headache coming up as she relinquished information that might prove troublesome to her mission. She rubbed her eyes with her right hand as if trying to massage her frown away. She gave a short reply:
"The General's house."
"The general…?", Uryuu echoed.
There was a sharp intake of breath beside him.
"You don't mean the General, do you?", Kisuke asked.
Momo closed her eyes and nodded in defeat.
"Then we go there."
Momo's eyes shot open.
[What did he just say?!]
Toshiro repeated his words:
"We go there and get what we need. It's as simple as that."
"Are you crazy?!", Momo cried out, "It's the fricken General! Do you know his well his house is protected?! He's got at least two guards always standing at the front and back gate! There are also guards within patrolling around the perimeter!"
Momo shook her head at the incredulous idea.
"Heh~, you seem to be pretty well informed about that place", Toshiro's gaze burned with suspicion but held a teasing glint as well as if he knew something.
Uryuu held his head as if he felt that rouble was brewing and Shuhei stared at the map as if it had become incredibly interesting to look at. Kisuke on the other hand seemed to be contemplating about something. Suddenly his face brightened and he spoke up:
"Doesn't the general have a party coming up tomorrow night? I hear that it's the celebration of Valentine's Day. "
""Celebration?"", Toshiro and Momo repeated.
Kisuke nodded:
"Apparently you need an invitation and only couples can enter, plus it's a masked ball."
"'Couples' you say?", Toshiro raised an eyebrow as he became thoughtful.
[Oh shit, I forgot that he does that every year.]
Slowly Toshiro's lips tugged upwards into a smirk and his head rotated 90° to Momo.
Momo backed away as Toshiro stepped towards her.
"We're paying a visit to the General's house tomorrow night", He said to his men without turning around and they left the room while accepting his orders.
Toshiro's eyes glinted mischievously and Momo felt a sense of danger from the man in front of her. Nervously she started stepping backwards again.
"N-no, I'm not gonna do it", she said before Toshiro said a thing.
Step for step she went until her back hit the wall.
"Oh yes you will", Toshiro said with a smirk creeping up his face.
Everyone within the whole ship looked up from their tasks as they heard an ear splitting screech resound through the ship.
"The wail of sirens", someone joked and the men laughed and returned to their tasks.
#####
Momo shivered as she looked at the grand house coming into view through the carriage's window.
[Never thought that I would return here.]
"Are you definitely sure that you know where it is?", Toshiro snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Uh-huh", Momo replied without turning.
"How do you know all of this stuff?"
This time Momo turned around. She saw curiosity beneath Toshiro's serious visage.
[Well, how do I explain this?]
"Uh… Let's just say that I've had some dealings with them before and I also know his daughter. She once showed me it when we went through her old stuff."
Toshiro frowned but then sighed:
"You and your mysterious dealings again… It's fine if ye want to keep yer past a secret as long as it doesn't get in the way of our goal. It's a good thing that it's a masked ball."
Momo nodded guiltily as she faced the window again; staring at the house she once lived in.
#####
Momo couldn't help but feel nervous as they stood in front of the guards waiting to enter. Toshiro swiped out an invitation from his inside pocket and they were let through. They had their masks already on, but Momo felt nervous about being recognized. Her left hand wound around Toshiro's right arm and her right hand clutched at her dress. Toshiro felt Momo's nervousness from the way she was gripping his arm. He put his left hand on hers and whispered a 'Don't worry' to her. He felt her relax a bit. They passed through the guests and went for a table near the corner.
One of the servants brought some wine around. Toshiro sipped at his drink and saw Momo glancing at him occasionally. She seemed to want to get something off her mind, so he took the initiative.
"What's wrong?"
Startled, Momo didn't answer immediately and blinked a few times before the question sunk in.
"I've been meaning to ask", Momo started once she felt that no one was listening in, "How did you get that invitation?"
Toshiro wanted to laugh at her curiosity but remembering that she avoided his questions as well, he wanted a little revenge.
"I have my ways", Toshiro said with a tone that told her not to ask any further but a small grin was tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Momo was about to pout at the answer but composed herself before acting like a child.
[Meanie, but considering that I don't tell him my secrets as well – should be only fair.]
"Do you still remember the plan?", Toshiro asked.
"We'll linger around for a while and slip off into the garden. From there we'll circle around and re-enter the building at the place nearest to the bedroom of the daughter", Momo answered.
Toshiro nodded in agreement. A brief pause ensued.
"Want to dance?", he suddenly invited her.
Momo looked up at him in surprise.
"Shouldn't we stay inconspicuous?", she tried to object.
"If we just linger around the people will become even more suspicious."
The answer didn't leave room for argument and Momo mentally sighed as she took her captain's outstretched hand.
He led her to the dance floor where he bowed and Momo curtsied to each other. Toshiro took Momo's right hand into his left and put his right hand on her hip. Momo rested her left hand on his shoulder and they started dancing to the waltz music.
Momo's dark red and black long-sleeved gown swayed whenever they turned. With her black heeled shoes, her height was just beneath Toshiro. Her hair was held up with an ornament and strands of hair were left to curl at the sides. They fluttered with the movement of her body. Her face had make-up on – she normally didn't do that – even though most of it was hidden by the glittering gold-on-red half-mask she wore.
Toshiro on the other hand wore a dark blue tailcoat over a blue waistcoat and white dress-shirt. He didn't dye his hair even though Momo complained that it was too eye-catching. He proved her wrong because quite a number of male participants had chosen to wear white curly haired wigs to show off their social status. He had opted for a silver-on-black half-mask to go with his outfit.
While they danced, Momo noted that Toshiro was leading her pretty well. He had not once stepped on her toes and dancing with him felt quite comfortable – though it felt a little awkward to gaze into each other's eyes to keep up appearances.
"You're not a bad dancer", Momo complimented.
"You're not bad yourself", Toshiro responded with a small smile.
Momo giggled a little at that and Toshiro frowned.
"What?"
"Oh, it's just that you seem to smile a lot more than what the rumours say about you."
Toshiro raised an eyebrow at that. It was true that he did not smile often but to hear someone say the opposite amused him somewhat, so he decided to tease her a bit. He drew her closer to him, leaned to her ear and whispered in a low voice:
"Well, that's because you're so charming tonight."
He saw Momo' cheeks redden at his compliment and smirked, making her turn redder with embarrassment and anger.
"You are such a jerk, you know", Momo scowled at him, making him laugh.
"You really are charming tonight", he repeated, leaving Momo unable to retort.
The music ended and the participants bowed and curtsied to each other. Toshiro and Momo felt that they time they danced was too short for the average couple and decided to also dance the next song. A different kind was played this time with a faster pace. Many of the couples couldn't keep up either because they didn't know the steps or because they bumped into others with their inexperience.
Though Toshiro and Momo didn't notice, their dance was a lot more elegant and smooth than most couples. Their steps were light and the way they seemed to gaze into each other's eyes while closely held together gave off a romantic atmosphere with the music played. Though in reality they were glaring at each other but no one else could see it from the distance with the masks. Soon enough they were attracting attention from the guests, especially the hosts of the night.
Once the music ended, they bowed and curtsied to each other and tried to leave for the garden. They didn't get far because another couple approached them.
"Good evening", the man greeted them first.
He gave a bow and the woman at his side curtsied as well. Toshiro and Momo followed suit with their own greeting.
"That was a lovely dance just now", the woman spoke.
Momo immediately recognized the voice. It was the wife of the General.
[If that's her then the man beside her must be…]
"I find it rather rare to see a couple dance so gracefully and in sync with each other", the man followed up.
[It's them!]
"Your attire is also very charming", the woman continued.
"Thank you", Toshiro responded, "You flatter us greatly with your compliments."
Momo gave a nod as she said:
"You humble yourselves with it. Your dress is even more enchanting."
The man's smile faltered a little when he heard Momo's voice which didn't pass by Momo and Toshiro.
[Did he notice…? No! Pleasedon'trecognizeme. Pleasedon'trecognizeme. Pleasedon'trecognizeme! I am wearing make-up and my hair is different and I'm wearing a mask – it should be fine.]
Momo felt uneasy but before anything could be said, the woman had already spoken.
"Such a lovely girl", the woman gave a warm smile, "Ah! I forgot to introduce ourselves. We are the hosts of tonight."
Toshiro's eyes widened with the unexpected encounter but he stayed composed.
"It's an honour to meet the famous General Tobiume and his esteemed wife Lady Tobiume", Toshiro responded as he bowed again, "This is my fiancé Hina and my name is Hitsu."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance", Momo smiled and curtsied.
"How about switching dancing partners with us for the next song? I'd love to dance with someone as skilled as you", the Lady Tobiume suddenly suggested.
Toshiro and Momo were thrown off track by the sudden proposal. They needed to find a solution quick and natural. Momo's brain raced for an appropriate rejection but Toshiro already acted.
"I am deeply sorry but I will have to refuse your invitation", he replied, "Hina was feeling somewhat faint after the dance and asked me to bring her out to the garden for some fresh air."
The woman seemed disappointed as her voice indicated:
"What a shame, perhaps then another time and must not refuse me then."
"Certainly", Toshiro nodded and gave a soft smile.
"Dear you shouldn't be so wilful", the man at her side scolded his wife with a hearty laugh.
He then turned towards the other pair and bid his farewell.
"I wish you a pleasant evening for the rest of the ball."
"Likewise", Toshiro's polite tone never faltered during the whole conversation.
Once the saw off the pair, they finally proceeded to the garden. Outside the air was fresh and the guests mingled with each other, chatting about various things and gossiping about various people.
"You're a great actor, did anyone tell you that?", Momo poked her partner.
"So are you but now let's get to business", Toshiro cut the conversation short.
There was a small maze cut out from bushes tall enough to hide a grown adult in the garden. Toshiro and Momo entered the maze as if simply wanting to take a walk. Inside it they sped up and Momo led them to another exit from the maze that was beneath the window of the room they would need to get in. There was a tree beside it, so they could climb up the trunk and enter.
They both took off their masks and laid them underneath one of the bushes. Momo took off her gown while Toshiro watched out for unwanted witnesses. She folded the dress and laid it with the masks. Beneath her dress Momo wore some a pair of shorts and an off shoulder shirt. Strapped on her legs were her daggers, a rope and a small bag. She gave the rope to Toshiro. Then she climbed up the tree with practised movements. At the trunk leading to the window she took out her dagger and forced it between the window and its frame. Soon enough the window opened up and she slipped in. Then she motioned Toshiro to throw the rope to her. Momo caught the end of the rope and held onto it as Toshiro climbed up. Afterwards Momo closed the window behind him.
Momo scanned the room for the desk that should contain the paper she needed.
"We're lucky that the moon is shining so brightly tonight", Momo remarked as she walked to the only desk in the room.
"It doesn't provide us cover when we leave."
"But it makes searching through the documents easier."
Paper rustled as Momo skimmed through the texts. Finally one document caught her eye.
"Found it", she announced and waved a piece of paper towards Toshiro.
He in turn nodded and they left through the window. Outside Momo put on her gown again. They were about to slip back into the darkness of the maze when the voices of the guards patrolling the area entered their ears.
[I forgot about the guards!]
Their masks were still underneath the bush and they wouldn't have enough time to get them and put them on. Panic started to rise in Momo but suddenly Toshiro pushed her against the wall, caging her with his arms and murmured:
"Play along."
Momo barely registered his words before his lips touched hers. A soft sensation filled her mind as he pushed his lips against her. There was a moment of blankness until realization hit Momo.
[He's k-k-k-kissing me?!]
Momo's eyes widened in shock but then the words he said before resurfaced in her mind and she understood his intentions.
['Play along' he said, so I should do that as well or else the guards might notice.]
Toshiro was surprised to find Momo respond to his kiss as her hands wandered up his chest to his neck and hair, pulling him closer.
The guard who arrived around the corner spotted the couple and were about to call out to them when they realized that the pair was making out. Uncomfortable at the shameless behaviour they retreated and decided to take a different route.
Once Toshiro and Momo were sure the guards had left for good, they broke their kiss panting heavily as they had not dared to breathe within the tension. They gazed in each other's eyes with conflicted feelings for a while. Toshiro was the first to break eye contact as he turned to the side. Momo still slightly dazed saw his cheeks colour pink and became embarrassed as well. They didn't speak but a mutual understanding passed between them: They would keep this incident under wraps.
This time, a lot more cautious than before, Toshiro and Momo snuck themselves back into the party. They mingled between the guests for some moments longer and helped themselves to the food before leaving and returning with the carriage to the ship.
#####
Gathered in front of the captain's quarter were Uryuu, Kisuke and Shuhei. They were waiting for their captain and Momo to finish changing. Why were they changing together? Because it was more efficient and they needed every second, in case they had to sneak into the party again.
Soon enough, the door opened and the trio was let in. Spread out on the table was the sailing chart, the diary and the stolen paper already and Momo was working hard to decode the diary.
"Is it the right one?", Kisuke asked without bothering to greet Momo, but it didn't bother her.
Time was precious.
"Yes, it seems to match", Momo replied, a smile surfacing on her lips, "However the language is the Nameless Language."
"It's still good. We won't have to go back again", Toshiro nodded in satisfaction, "Rest up tonight. We'll continue this tomorrow."
Everyone in the room nodded and left for their rooms.