Chapter 5

Even though Momo got better over the next few days, Toshiro did not breach the topic of her past again. She got up this morning feeling rather refreshed.

"Land ho!", Hiyori yelled out to those on deck.

Hiyori was the girl who had also previously alerted Toshiro about Aizen's ship. She was half-a-head shorter than Momo, dressed in faded green pants and a light blue shirt with an orange sash around her waist. Her blonde hair was tied to into pigtails, though hers seemed more like spiked-tails.

"We're finally getting there", Momo muttered as she headed for the captain's room.

The captain had apparently called for her. She knocked, heard a 'come in' and entered. Standing over the table was Toshiro with Kisuke as they pointed out various things about the route and the islands they were heading to.

"The map shows that the islands' connected by long hangin' bridges at several points. Pretty close to each other. By my reckoning we should take the route by land instead of water, Cap'n", Kisuke suggested.

"The map's ain't good enough for t' land route 'n the sea atta other part is treacherous. Ye there's any locals there?", Toshiro mused.

"Didn't Shinji say he's been 'ere before?"

"Apparently he got stranded there once 'cause of a storm. He's lived 'ere till a boat picked him up and left him at port."

"He'll be the guide then?", Momo joined their conversation.

"Kisuke, could you go call Shinji? I still need to talk with Momo."

"Ay Cap'n."

Once Kisuke left the room, Momo asked:

"What do you need to talk about?"

"How ar ye feeling?"

Toshiro did not look up from the map as he spoke.

"Fine, so?", Momo answered lightly and crossed her arms.

"Fine?", Toshiro looked up this time and glared at her, "You were bedridden for three days! And on the fourth day you just say you're fine?! That was no ordinary fever but you just got out of bed this morning and start walking around the deck like nothing's happened! You should have at least waited for Hanataro to get a check up again."

Momo wasn't expecting such an outburst from the captain and was stunned for a moment. The young man in front of her sat down on the chair behind him, his face turning stoic again. Momo felt that arguing wouldn't do much at the moment and opted for the apology.

"I'm sorry to have worried you."

Apparently her answer was wrong because Toshiro immediately retorted with a 'who was said I was worried about you?!'

Actually that morning, her cabin mate Yoruichi came by to see how she was doing. Yoruichi had snickered about how the captain decided to let Momo stay in his room until she got better instead of bringing her back to their room. Apparently she heard it from Hanataro. She had left with a sentence that said 'The captain really cares about you!' Momo had laughed it off but now that she thought about it…

"Anyway, I don't think that we are going ashore today. I'll let the crew rest before setting off tomorrow afternoon", Toshiro changed topic.

Right then Kisuke and Shinji entered while discussing about the island.

"… and I know me way 'round those parts. Just some trickiness with the local, see, they ain't too bad t' get along with but like their distance from large groups", Shinji was answering a question when he walked in.

"Are ye up for it?", Toshiro immediately go to the point.

"Make no doubt of it Captain!"

"Good."

#####

It was early afternoon when the ship finally anchored down at the beach.

Shinji led the party that would try to batter with the locals for food and drinks, while restocking on other things.

Time flew by and evening came. It was the time that everyone was looking forward to. The captain had given his consent in letting them celebrate. They had gathered underdeck in the dining room next to the kitchen, the largest room on board. It was just large enough to fit the whole crew in which made it very cosy. Unexpectedly for Momo, it was Izuru who brought the cask of rum and heaved it onto the table. She didn't expect the Boatswain to be a drinker since was a 'ball of negative energy' – courtesy of Momo.

Izuru poured out glasses to everyone. Shuhei lifted his glass to give a toast.

"Here's to ourselves and to our next merry meeting!"

Everyone responded with a yell and the merrymaking began. Cups were raised and clinked, emptied and filled, drunken and spilt. The sailors conversed and laughed in threatening yet light tones. They sang songs they all knew, told stories of the past and the current rumours. Momo enjoyed herself greatly that she didn't even notice the glass count go up at an alarming rate. It was no surprise that should end up very drunk in the end. As the pirates delved into the topic of seniority, experience and age, Momo's curiosity perked up.

[Surely he's over twenty.]

Such a thought floated around in her mind as she rocked on her chair back and forth.

"Say, how old 's the captain mates?", Momo threw out the question with a slurred tone and leaned back.

"T' cap'n? He's just turned nineteen this 'ear!", Shuhei answered her.

"What?!"

Momo's chair wobbled and she grabbed the table rim in a hurry. She ended up with her upper body leaned over the table and looking at Shuhei in disbelief. Suddenly she laughed out loud and slammed her hand on the table top several times.

"I can't believe it!", she said in between her laughs, "He's younger than me!"

"Eh?!"

This time it was the crew's turn to be astonished.

"How old ar ye?" someone insensitively asked, but Momo didn't care.

"Twenty…", she answered offhandedly but her expression suddenly turned dark, "Ya know, yer not supposed to ask a lady her age. As it chances, I'm generous t'night or I would've sliced the dolt who asked that question's balls inta pieces and fed 'em to the sharks. Add to this I woulda peeled the skin off his sausage and burned his hair into patches."

A shudder ran through the group as Momo finished her little speech. Just as sudden, Momo's visage brightened up again and she laughed out loud. Her face was flushed red and she sported a bright smile.

"Little Shiro's back!"

"Little Shiro?", the crew echoed and followed Momo's gaze.

The person Momo was looking at was none other than Captain Toshiro. The young man had just entered the room to find himself getting called 'little Shiro' by the Ruby Princess herself. Captain Toshiro stood stunned at the doorway as his expression slowly turned into disbelief.

"What did you just call me?", he barely uttered out.

"Why it's little Shiro of course if yer younger than me!", Momo stood up and bounced over to the captain and swung her arm around him while raising her glass in the air.

Toshiro was frozen by the happenings, something else and the shock of disrespect still in his system. Meanwhile, Momo drank her rum empty and gave a content sigh. She proceeded to ruffle Toshiro's hair with her other hand and pulled him down to her chest to hug him tight. She rubbed her head against his hair while saying:

"Oh my! Shiro you're so fluffly! So fluffy!"

Like a satisfied cat she purred 'he's so cute!' and then collapsed on him with a smile. Toshiro barely caught her as she slipped off his shoulders. He finally snapped back to reality.

"She's out cold", said Yoruichi who was nearest to them.

Toshiro face had turned pink at the embarrassment. No one said a thing, because the captain's frown had dangerously deepened. His silence sent more waves of danger-warnings than if he had furiously yelled at them. He carried the sleeping Momo without another word out of the room. Once the captain left, everyone finally dared to breathe. They had unconsciously held their breaths to remain under radar. No one dared to think what the captain might have done otherwise.

At the captain's quarters, Toshiro laid Momo down on his bed. The unsuspecting girl was sleeping peacefully while her lips spread into smiles now and then. She murmured a 'Shiro's so fluffy' and Toshiro wondered what the heck the Ruby Princess was dreaming about. He was never called by a nickname before except when he was young, but that was another time. Momo could have called him 'Toshi' or 'T' or 'Hitsu' or whatever! From all the different pairings Momo could have thought up, she had to choose his childhood's nickname. The word 'Shiro' held many memories for him, nostalgic and painful. Unlike what the crew thought, Toshiro was angry at himself for being shocked at someone calling his nickname. As he watched the sleeping girl, he noticed something.

"Why do I feel like I've been bringing her into my room often?", he muttered his thoughts out loud then shook his head, "Guess I need a break."

He gave a tired sigh and laid himself down next to Momo, falling into a restless sleep.

#####

Toshiro woke up feeling drained. He had dreamed of his childhood which led to bad memories. It could definitely be attributed to yesterday's nickname disaster. Beside him Momo was still in dreamland. He slowly shifted over to the edge, careful not to wake Momo. He had set his feet on the ground when he felt his sleeves being pulled at. He turned around to look and found Momo tugging at his shirt with a sad face. She was still asleep but the next words she muttered made Toshiro lay back down.

"…on't go Shiro! Please don't leave me…"

Momo whimpered in her sleep and a tear trickled down her face. Toshiro was worried. He thought that she must be having a nightmare. His hand moved to Momo's face and he wiped the tear stain away gently with his thumb. He took her other hand and held it tightly as he softly whispered into her ear:

"Shh… I'm here. Everything is going to be fine. I won't go away, alright?"

Momo gradually calmed down and a smile formed on her face. Toshiro laid there for a while and pondered over Momo's words. After Momo's breathing steadied and he deemed it safe, Toshiro quietly slipped away to leave.

Outside on deck people were starting to move about, completing tasks that they had been assigned. They had been allowed to sleep in and the sun was already pretty high up. Downstairs breakfast was being served. Toshiro felt rather hungry, so he went straight to the smell wafting out from the kitchen.

"Good morrow Yuzu", he greeted the young girl working in the kitchen as he entered.

"Morrow Cap'n! How was ye night?", Yuzu asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Toshiro grumbled at the cheekiness:

"Careful lass, just because your brother is that person, don't expect me t'go easy on ye."

"Aye, aye Cap'n! I'll be careful next time!", Yuzu laughed unfazed by the threat and went on to make some sunny-side-up eggs.

"The usual Cap'n?"

Toshiro nodded and sat down on the chair in front of the counter. The kitchen counter resembled the counter of a bar. On one side were the chairs and the other side was the heart of the kitchen.

When Toshiro got his plate, He saw a smiley face staring back at him.

"Yer…", Toshiro irritation was growing but he didn't speak any further and let it slide.

Suddenly Momo burst into the kitchen with bed hair and all.

Toshiro was surprised to see her already up and seeing her panicked state he wondered what was going on.

"Wha–"

Toshiro didn't even get to finish his first word when Momo interrupted him.

"I'm so sorry Captain!"

Mom did a ninety degree bow towards Toshiro and stayed like that.

"I overstepped my bounds yesterday! Please forgive my disrespect! I'm sorry for giving you a nickname like 'Shiro' of my own accord!"

Toshiro twitched at hearing the name again and sighed a sigh of 'so-that's-what-it-was-about'.

"It's fine so stop bowing."

Momo peeked through her fallen bangs and slowly straightened herself. Her face was red from embarrassment at the memory of her disgraceful behaviour. Even though Toshiro deemed it fine, she couldn't help but feel guilty at embarrassing the captain in front of his whole crew. She was also angry at herself for letting herself go like that. What annoyed her more was that she had used her childhood friend's nickname thoughtlessly. It was his name after all.

"I'm really sorry for calling you 'Shiro'!", Momo repeated.

At the mention of the nickname, Momo noticed Toshiro freeze up before finally replying that it was fine already and she should stop. Something inside Momo stirred and a small grin formed on her lips.

"You really forgive me for calling you 'Shiro'? Really, really? I can't believe that I actually call you 'Shiro' in my drunken state. Though 'Shiro' really fits your hair colour."

Momo's devilish grin spread further with every flinch Toshiro made when she said 'Shiro'. He nearly choked on his water on the last 'Shiro'.

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!", Toshiro finally burst out.

"No way I would call you 'Shiro' just for fun because of your reactions", Momo replied with an exaggerated innocent tone.

Gone was the thought of not using that name anymore.

"You…", Toshiro felt speechless at Momo's character change.

"Hey Shiro, what's the plan today?", Momo blatantly starting using the newfound nickname.

"Stop calling me 'Shiro'!", Toshiro retorted but nevertheless answered her question, "We're setting out once preparations are finished. We'll try to explore the route set by Shinji and Kisuke and update the map."

"Okay. Can I go ashore and look around the beach? I won't go far."

Toshiro nodded.

"Thanks Shiro!", Momo shouted while leaving a flabbergasted Captain behind.

"That girl…", Toshiro grumbled with great irritation and a string of curses started forming his mind.

Yuzu who had been watching the whole scene silently giggled to herself while pretending to cook. She most certainly didn't want the captain's wrath raining down on her – which he would certainly do even if her brother one of the most fearsome pirates in these seas. Not to mention her father was the famous pirate general during the Three Seas War – a territorial war between two alliances that led to many casualties. Though it was something from his youth, approximately 30 years ago, it had a lot of impact on the current generation pirates.

Her mother was also a famous person. As the daughter of the military's highest ranked general, she had learned various things from a young age. It did occur to Yuzu that it was strange how her father and mother could meet when they were worlds apart. It was something of a happy end for Romeo and Juliet she guessed.

While Yuzu was in her thoughts, Toshiro had finished his breakfast and left. Yuzu barely managed to catch his expression while leaving. It showed a small smile. Yuzu felt that she was seeing things. The Captain? Smiling? Yuzu rubbed her eyes. Even if the captain did smile, Yuzu hoped that he wasn't turning into a masochist. She truly hoped that he did not actually like how Momo treated him just now. Yuzu shuddered. She had better get back to work before she started hallucinating again.

#####

"What do you mean Momo's disappeared?!", Toshiro's calm voice was showing signs of anger.

The man in front of Toshiro fidgeted underneath his captain's piercing gaze. At the rate it was going, the man felt that he would soon have a real hole drilled into him by a bullet.

"W-well, the missus seemed t'be collecting some shell when she with a suddenness let go of 'em and ran toward the big stones nearby. She seem t'be shouting somethin' and didn't come back. Puff, she's gone Cap'n."

"That girl… She's gone off and put herself into trouble this time. Did the drinking have an effect on her after all? She did not exactly have a good night's sleep to ward off her hangover", Toshiro muttered to himself.

"Cap'n?"

"Get Ikaku, Yumichika, Shinji, Renji, Hiyori and Hanataro here with their weapons", Toshiro commanded.

"Aye!"

Toshiro turned around to call out to Uryuu and Shuhei.

"I need you two to watch over the ship and get ready for any emergency. I'm going to look for Momo. The way she disappeared is too suspicious. I'm leaving command to you."

Uryuu and Shuhei gave their consent and Toshiro went back to his room to get some things.

The party assembled and left for the place where Momo was last seen.

"A cave?"

The words left Toshiro's mouth before she realized it.

"Not exactly", Shinji answered, "If memory serves me right, it should leads to some'ere – though where's the question."

"Them traces left behind indicate more persons than one", Hiyori reported her findings.

"Kidnapping?", Toshiro mused.

"Very likely Cap'n", Hiyori nodded, "There're signs of struggles."

Hiyori pulled out something small.

"The Ruby Princess's earing", Toshiro recognized the ruby set golden earing.

He tried to peer into the dark cave and saw only black. The cave entrance was big enough for four people to enter simultaneously but seemed to get narrower further inside. They took out an oil lamp and Shinji led the way.

The cave was dark and damp. The smell of the sea wafted in at irregular intervals and thus creating air currents that could be felt inside the corridor. The cave narrowed as expected, but two people could still comfortably pass through side-by-side. The walls were wet and the ground was slippery. The whole thing led them to a wider space after a while filled with small stalactites and stalagmites. The paths branched off into two from there.

"Left or right Shinji?", Toshiro asked.

"It ought t'be left. The right would just loop around t'nother cave entrance near the beach."

"Then let's go", Toshiro said, not wanting to waste any more time.

Just as Shinji had said, the path led to the outside. The exit was inside a forest.

"Ah! I remember!", Shinji suddenly called out, "There's a small village near 'ere."

"It's probably 'em who kidnapped the Princess", Yumichika deduced.

"Circumstances points to it", Shinji agreed.

Toshiro nodded and motioned them to proceed.

They advanced through the thicket and followed small paths laid by the residents and animals. Shinji occasionally warned about a plant or two that might cause inconveniences. Swords cut through branches blocking the way and the unexpected animal encounter was dealt with it. They avoided any use of guns to stay unnoticed. Soon enough they saw smoke rising up above the tree tops and the village appeared though the forest. They stayed near the forest edge and observed the situation.

"What's going on?", Toshiro asked as he saw the commotion in the village.

Several people were running around and shouting to others. They were dressed in simple clothing covering only the barest of the body with leaves, pelts and cloth. Lines of paint coloured their skin making it seem like tattoos. Many of them had masks hanging on their hips.

"They seems to be gathering the residents fer something", Shinji responded after observing for a while.

"Let's follow them from the outside", Toshiro announced and started moving into the direction the villagers were going.

Toshiro's group moved along the forest edge while observing the people. They found the whole village gathered near the village entrance. The entrance directly led to a small clearing between the huts where an unlit bonfire was. An old woman exited one of the huts while the others waited outside. A young girl came up to her and gave her a bowl and cloth. Together they entered the hut again.

"Seems the Grandmother's tending t' one", Shinji concluded at the scene.

"Could it be Momo?", Toshiro contemplated.

"S' likely."

"Why dun we jus enters upfront all treathnin an' jus make 'em hand over the Ruby Princess, Cap'n?", Renji suggested with Ikaku nodding beside him in agreement.

"Ar' ye stupid? They might just take Momo hostage instead."

The two men fell silent at the rejection but Shinji intervened

"Naw Cap'n, that might just actually work."

"What do you mean?"

Shinji explained his thoughts quickly to the group and Toshiro gave his consent after going over it in his mind.

They sheathed their weapons and left the hiding spot to enter the small village. The moment they stepped foot through the entrance, one of them noticed and the villagers turned around with their men pointing their spears at them. A somewhat elderly man stepped out of the circle. Shinji stepped forwards and greeted them.

Toshiro stood alert some steps behind and watched Shinji negotiate with the tribe's leader. He used a language Toshiro was not familiar with – probably the local's native language. Shinji turned around and mentioned Toshiro to come over. The captain stayed vigilant as he walked to his subordinate.

"What is it?", Toshiro asked once he stood beside Shinji.

"They said somethin 'bout Momo's similar to them great ancestor."

"Ancestor? Similar?"

Shinji nodded and Toshiro felt confused.

"Did you ask them why they kidnapped Momo?"

"Aye. They says that Momo followed them and slipped, so they carried her 'ere to be treated."

"Can we trust them?"

"Aye. This folk's always truthful. Lying would dishonour them or something. Had t' be quite careful in the days to not be discovered lyin'. Else I'd be one of them decorations on their spears now."

As Shinji made the last comment, Toshiro glanced at the spears carried by the men. Small skulls and bones adorned the spear's staff at different lengths for each person. Toshiro inwardly grimaced at what the various things could be.

"Can we see her?"

"Nay, not yet. Though once the Grandmother finishes we should be."

"Then we wait."

Several minutes passed before someone finally left the tent. It was the young girl from before. She ran up to the tribe's leader and whispered something in his ear. The leader in turn nodded and faced Toshiro's group. He said something while pointing at Toshiro. Shinji nodded and turned to his captain.

"Cap'n, it seems the Grandmother asked them to let you into the hut. He especially said 'the man with the white hair'."

Toshiro was surprised. He wondered how the old woman knew that they were outside and even his hair colour. Could she see him? Or did she notice the commotion outside? Nevertheless, Toshiro took the chance to enter enemy territory. He did not fully trust them.

Inside the hut it was dark. Not dark enough to make one blind, but dark enough that coming in from the sunny outside would render one blind for a while. Toshiro had to blink a few times and wait a bit before his eyes adjusted. Lying on a stray bed covered with a cloth was Momo. A cloth was wrapped around her head and a small piece of cloth lay upon her forehead. Beside her, the old lady from before sat and took the cloth off her forehead. Then old woman turned around. Toshiro gave a bow like Shinji instructed him to do and sat down. He tried to look at the old lady but his eyes strayed to the unconscious girl more often than he liked.

"Boy."

The first word that she used to address Toshiro stunned him. It wasn't the choice of word but rather the language she used.

It was the Nameless Language.

Toshiro's knowledge of that language was not as extensive as Momo but he could speak it enough to get by, he supposed.

"Yes Grandmother", Toshiro answered.

"Boy, what you seek is already near and yet you do not see it. I wonder if it is destiny or fate that led to the crossing of you and that girl. I can only tell you that you will have to choose in the near future between two paths. One will leave hurt but give comfort. The other will leave sacrifice and yet give happiness."

"Is that not the same?", Toshiro couldn't help but ask.

The old lady was speaking in riddles to him. It felt like being at a fortune teller's place, but strangely he was also getting a bad premonition. What the grandmother said contained misfortune either way. It made him sigh inwardly.

"Boy, you may not understand yet, but you will when the time comes."

"I see."

Toshiro did not wish to discuss the topic any further.

"How did you learn this language?"

"This old grandmother's position inherited the language from a long line of ancestors. It is an almost forgotten language of this village, before it reformed to the current one."

"Ugh…"

Behind the woman, Momo stirred awake.

"Momo!"

Toshiro got up and went over to her. He gently laid her back down.

"You shouldn't get up yet. They told me you hit your head when you fell. You idiot, how could you be so careless?"

"Ahaha, Shiro is worried about me", Momo laughed and put her bandaged left hand on her chest.

"Now is not the time for jokes", Toshiro scolded, "And you even hurt your hand!"

"Now, now. Don't be like that. I'll be careful next time."

"Ya better be."

Momo finally noticed her surroundings and the old woman beside her. She was silent for a while as she gathered her memories together.

"Hello Grandmother", she finally spoke in the Nameless Language

"You knew she could speak that language?", Toshiro asked.

"I heard you talk before I actually got up."

"Child, you look just like our revered ancestor."

The old woman smiled and took out and old rolled up piece of paper from a box.

"This has been passed down in this village from elder to elder with its story."

On the unfolded paper was a portrait of a woman in her mid-twenties. Her features greatly resembled that of Momo's. Beside her was a man of similar age, who had white hair and aquamarine eyes. Characteristics that reminded of Toshiro but he did not resemble him otherwise.

Momo immediately recognized the man in the picture, though the woman also poked her memory but nothing definitely came.

"This is the first generation king. It was said that he married someone from outside the country but the books do not tell much of it. He is a legend that established the current kingdom and made it proper. The various kings and queens after him tried to do the same but did not reach his level."

"The first king, but is that really his wife? If so then…"

"The woman in the picture is our revered ancestor. She made our village prosper with her husband's help. At that time the village was about to be destroyed by invaders. They created plans that toppled the enemy and saved everyone. Then a natural disaster almost swallowed the village, but they warned us and guided us. During a plague our revered ancestor personally gathered the plants and herbs from the dangerous places and made the medicine that saved everyone. At that time, the tribe was much larger than now. It was much later that our people split and led to the current times."

"Though I didn't understand everything just now, I get the fact that she seems to be a great woman", Toshiro remarked and the old woman nodded.

"You children are direct descendants of them."

"Wait, wait, wait. I get the fact that Momo might be one but me? It's only the hair colour. The eye colour is off."

"The stars have shown me that you are one."

"…"

"Don't be so shocked Shiro. During the reigns of different kings and queens there were also some illegitimate children who've had their own descendants. I could be just as well one of them."

"Don't call me Shiro – And yes, you might be right."

The old woman slightly shook her head with a wry smile as she listened to their conversation.

"If that is the answer you wish to believe in then I will not interfere."

Toshiro and Momo fell silent at the woman's words. They were each contemplating about the words on their own.

Finally Momo spoke to which Toshiro could only give his agreement:

"This is quite the discovery."