Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights go to Tite Kubo.

Author's Note: Yay, an early update! There's happiness in the air! Thank you KnowledgeandImagination, ScienceAngel, Superanimelover1234, AznInvasionGirl, BLEACHISAWESOMEANDIMAWESOME XP, MoonLightView, Kaye. Shirogane, Neko-cheung, Pieps XD, feronia. wings, Samantha, and Amiru-chan for your awesome reviews! It's already chapter eleven and it's time for the turning point in the story to begin. What is it? Well, you just have to read and find out. Enjoy!

LEGEND

"Talking." "Thinking."

The Greatest Treasure

Chapter Eleven: Silent Sorrows

"Hey Bed-Wetter, hurry up or else we're going to leave you behind!" Hitsugaya called out into the house. Today, Matsumoto has invited the princess to go shopping with her. Of course, getting the raven haired girl to go means she gets to drag her white haired friend along as well. "Bed-Wetter Momo, do you hear me?"

Hinamori hurried to the door and pouted at the boy. "Mou, stop calling me by that name! I had to help Obaa-san make some boxed lunches for the three of us to eat later."

Toshiro noticed his grandmother at the girl's side, carrying the bento which are tied together by a single large pink flowery patterned cloth. Seeing her smile, the boy let out a sigh. He walked up to her and with a single hand, held the bundle by the knot. The elderly grandmother let go and placed a hand on his head. She ruffled through his snowy white hair. He smiled back at her. "Arigato Obaa-san..."

"You're welcome Toshiro," she replied, putting her hands to herself. "Be sure to thank Momo too, okay?"

He nodded with agreement. "I will."

"Oi Hitsugaya! Now you need to hurry up!" Matsumoto called out.

Hitsugaya turned to the strawberry orange haired woman and yelled back, "Shut up Matsumoto, I know!"

Returning his attention to the elderly grandmother, he and Momo gave her a short bow. "Itterashai Obaa-san," the princess said.

"Itterashai..."

Obaa-san smiled and nodded with agreement. "Have a safe trip you two."

The two friends joined up with Matsumoto. Together, they left the Hitsugaya residence.

"Sugoi, there is so many people here!" Hinamori exclaimed as the three teenagers are walking through the streets of Rukongai. "This place is not usually busy."

"Yep, you're right," Matsumoto replied. Holding up a finger, she turned to the princess and continued, "Do you know why more people are here than usual?"

Hitsugaya let out a sigh. He knows exactly what the strawberry orange haired woman is going to say next. Hinamori placed a finger on her chin and thought about it for a moment. "No, I don't know why."

The older teenager ran ahead and stopped them in their tracks by blocking their way. Holding her hands out on each side, Matsumoto proudly answered her question. "Today is the day when shops are doing large discount sales!"

The white haired boy sighed once more. Just as he turned to the princess to say something, he stopped. The raven haired girl clapped her hands together and just looked at Rangiku with great delight. He could tell from reading her chocolate brown eyes; she wanted to go check the shops. "Let's go Rangiku-san!" Momo exclaimed.

"Alright then, let's start shopping!" Matsumoto exclaimed, throwing a fist high up into the air as they continued walking together. She then pointed a finger at one of the shops. "Ou, let's start looking in there!"

"Hai!"

Leaving their white haired friend behind, the girls rushed into a clothing shop. Hitsugaya raised a hand and began scratching the side of his head. He thought, "Today is going to be one long day."

The boy sat on a nearby bench, waiting for Hinamori and Matsumoto to finish their window shopping. In the meantime, he just watched people pass by and chatting with one another. From time to time, he would speak to them himself. If he knew where they are, Toshiro would keep a close eye on the Princess of Seireitei in case something happens to her. "They are sure taking their sweet time," he thought.

"We're back Hitsugaya-kun!" Momo said as she and Matsumoto are running out of a store to join him. "You should have went inside. There is so much to see!"

"What are you talking about?" the large breasted woman interrupted. She placed her hands on her hips and continued, "If he were to go in there, he'll probably get crushed by the mob of people in there!"

Hitsugaya's eye twitched. He shot a glare at her. "You do know that I'm about as short as Hinamori?"

"I'm sure he's going to be alright," Momo replied. "Besides, I managed to survive in there."

Matsumoto folded her arms over her chest. "You're no fun. I was only teasing him."

"But it's still mean to say such comments..."

Suddenly, they heard the sound of grumbling. Matsumoto quickly placed a hand over her stomach and laughed. "Well, it seems like all the traveling, looking around, and fighting has given me quite an appetite!"

"I guess it's a good time to sit down and eat," Momo agreed. "It is about lunch time."

Hitsugaya nodded with agreement and stood up from his seat. Taking the bundle of lunch boxes with him, the boy turned to the girls and said, "Let's go find a good place to unpack our lunches."

"Hai!"

The three friends walked around for a bit until they found the perfect spot to sit and have lunch together. "Umai! Your grandmother's cooking is the best!" Matsumoto exclaimed after taking a bite from her rice ball.

Hitsugaya made a face. "I wouldn't call it Obaa-san's food anymore especially after you added some of your own ingredients in there," he commented.

The strawberry orange haired woman looked over at her white haired friend. "Hn, did you say something Hitsugaya?"

"Never mind..."

Hitsugaya took a bite out of his rice ball. Suddenly feeling a strange presence, the boy looked over to see Hinamori watching him with great anticipation. It made him feel a bit uneasy. "W-What?" he finally asked.

"How is the onigiri?" she questioned.

He raised an eyebrow for a moment. He placed the rice ball on his lap and replied, "It tastes good. Why did you ask?"

Momo then sighed with relief. "Thank goodness, I'm glad you liked it."

Hitsugaya wondered for a moment before a possible conclusion came into thought. "Let me guess, you made some of the food and wanted to know how it tastes."

"Yes, I was really worried I might have added too much salt in it. To be honest, it is my first time making lunch. Of course, Obaa-san had to help me and stuff...well, yeah. Thanks for telling me your honest opinion Hitsugaya-kun."

The white haired boy then looked up into the sky now beginning to cloud the atmosphere. His emerald-teal eyes narrowed. "It's going to rain soon."

Momo heard his comment and glanced up into the sky as well. "You're right," she agreed. "We better finish eating our lunches fast or else we're going to get wet."

"Yeah..."

The princess looked over at the teenager. "Is...there something wrong?"

Hitsugaya just closed his eyes and lowered his head. Shortly, a faint smile formed on his lips. "There is no point worrying over something that is not likely to happen."

"What do you mean by that?" Momo watched Toshiro leave his seat.

He stopped and replied, "My imagination tends to play tricks on me sometimes, that's all."

"Oh...I see."

The young white haired teenager walked over to his tall female friend. "Hurry up Matsumoto or else you're going to get soaked later by the rain."

The girl stopped eating and then complained as she touched her dirty gray coloured yukata, "Now that's not good. I just washed this yukata recently! If my clothes get wet, there is a chance that people are going to see my nak--"

"I don't want to hear that!" Hitsugaya snapped at her. "Now, hurry up and clean up!"

Matsumoto stood up and then put her hands to herself. "Okay okay, sheesh. You're such a grouch..."

"Uruse."

By the time they are heading home, the rain has already started pouring down. The three friends ran with their lunch boxes over their heads, trying to keep their hair from getting wet. "We're almost there right?" Hinamori asked.

"Yeah, we're only a few blocks away," Hitsugaya replied.

"I'm tired and my feet are sore. Can't we take a short break?" Matsumoto asked.

"Oh, stop bellyaching Matsumoto. It wouldn't kill you to run a little further."

The busty woman turned her head to the side and pouted. "You're so stingy and very inconsiderate Hitsugaya. That's not how you're supposed to treat a lady."

"Enough with the lady lessons and hurry up; you're falling behind."

"Hai..."

Just as they arrived, a group of people are present looking at something. The three of them stopped to catch their breaths. Hitsugaya asked, "What's going on here?"

A few of them turned around to see the presence of the white haired teenager and his two friends. There were citizens who turned their heads to the side while others just looked down on the ground. One of them managed to raise his head to meet with the boy's eyes and replied, "Something terrible has happened. Yo-Your home has been destroyed."

Hitsugaya took a step forward. "Destroyed? Someone came by and destroyed the hou--"

He suddenly remembered about the one person he last saw at home. Without anytime to waste, Toshiro dropped his bento on the ground, pushed him aside, and began to fight his way through the crowd of people. "Oi Hitsugaya!" Matsumoto exclaimed as she and Hinamori began cutting through the people as well.

"Wait for us Hitsugaya-kun!" Momo called out.

The boy wasn't listening at all. "Please be safe...you have to be safe," he repeated the two phrases in his thoughts.

By the time Hitsugaya made it to the other side, he froze looking at the place he once called home. The home partially collapsed to one side, leaving many broken debris and wood chunks to stick out or spread out all over the place. When Hinamori and Matsumoto got through, they too were shocked by the scene before them. Momo placed a hand over her mouth. "Oh no..."

"How could such a thing happen?" the older girl asked.

"Obaa-san..." Hitsugaya then turned to the crowd of people. "Has any of you seen Obaa-san?"

The people turned silent, unsure how to tell the boy. "Toshiro-kun, your grandmother's right here..."

The white haired teenager turned to a young lady who is kneeling right next to his grandmother. Judging by the way she covered with a thin blanket over her body and face, Hitsugaya's eyes widened. He quickly ran towards her with Hinamori and Matsumoto trailing behind. He got down on his knees and sat next to the elder. "This can't be happening. This can't be happening..."

He slowly extended a hand out and tried to touch her, but he couldn't. His fingertips began twitching and soon his body began shivering all over. He hugged himself tightly, struggling hard to not breakdown. Besides, he has managed to keep it together several years ago. He can do it again. Toshiro slowly raised his head up to the lady. He asked, "Is Obaa-san...?"

She closed her eyes and lowered her head. "I'm sorry Toshiro-kun, your grandmother...she's dead."

"Oh no Obaa-san," Momo whispered before turning her body to the side and began crying on Matsumoto's shoulder.

The older teenager only lowered her head and closed her eyes. While placing a hand on her side and the other on her back, she began to comfort the princess. "There there...Momo."

Toshiro slowly lowered his head and became silent. He didn't say anything for the next few minutes. He knew it all along that something bad is going to happen, but he never thought it to be something like this. Why didn't he listen to his intuition? Why didn't he stay behind so that he could protect her? He could have saved her life. "How did she...die?" Hitsugaya asked, without looking up. "Was it because of the house?"

"Her body has been crushed," the lady explained, "but the cause of her death is a fatal stab wound to the heart. As for the house, someone used some sort of blade object to destroy the place from the inside out."

"I see...Can you please help me bury her?" He finally raised his head and gave the lady a faint smile. "Obaa-san would appreciate that."

Momo stopped crying for a moment and looked over to see the expression on Toshiro's face. She could tell from his eyes; he's deeply hurt, yet he refuses to let anyone see it. He's trying to stay strong. "Shiro-chan..."

"Of course, anything for you Toshiro-kun," the lady replied.

The rain continued to fall on the land as if it is mourning over the same issue. It took a while, but eventually the elderly grandmother's body is buried in the same grave site as the boy's father is currently resting in peace. Outside of town, a small group of people have gathered for this occasion. Momo, Rangiku, and Toshiro stood in front of her grave in deep reflection and silence. The two girls stepped up first and placed their flowers: a violet lily of the valley(1) and a yellow daffodil(2) on the large patch of dirt.

Once they were done, they stepped back and allowed the decease's grandson could take the spotlight. Giving him some room, Hitsugaya stepped forward and stared down at the place where she is now resting. It is minutes later, he leaned over and placed his red rose in between Momo's and Rangiku's flowers. Uniting with his friends, the three of them got on their knees, placed their hands together, and mentally said a silent prayer. At one point, the princess opened an eye and looked over to see her friend's condition.

"He still has yet to shed a tear..."

All of a sudden, she stopped feeling the rain pour down on her. The girl turned to see Rangiku is at her side, holding a black umbrella over their heads. "Rangiku-san..."

She gave a short nod of agreement and faint smile. The two girls gave one another a warm comfort hug and glanced over to see their companion, who is a few steps ahead of them and not budged from his current spot. "He loves his grandmother very much," Matsumoto said.

"Yes, he does," Momo agreed. "She was his family..."

By the time he finished, Hitsugaya placed his hands down, stood up, and turned to the guests that came to bid their final farewells to Obaa-san. "She was a kind, wise, and carefree person who loves to do the things that will only bring happiness to her, her family, and her friends. She was that type of person. I remember the day when she rescued me from a long and suffering close to death experience. When I woke up, she promised me that she will always be there and I believed her. Over the past five years, she fed, nursed, and loved me like any other guardian and grandparent should do. She'll always have a place in my heart and in my thoughts," he explained. "What...I'm trying to say is...thank you. Thank you everyone for coming to see her for one last time. I also would like to personally thank you all for helping me get Obaa-san to her final resting place; I really mean it."

"Hitsugaya-kun..."

Hours later, after the last of the guests have left, Toshiro turned to Matsumoto and asked, "Is it okay if we could stay over at your place for a while?"

Even though he hasn't said it, the older woman knew what he's referring to. It is written all over his face. "Of course you two can stay. You're always welcomed."

"...Arigato."

"Thank you Rangiku-san," Momo said.

"No problem," she replied.

The three friends came to Rangiku's house and got themselves cleaned up. However, no one has spoken a word at all. Even when they're eating their meal, it was silent. Each of them had their respected worries to think about. "He's not eating..." Momo thought, watching the white haired boy just sitting there and stare blankly at his half eaten bowl of rice.

Right next to the girl, Matsumoto too noticed his behaviour, but she continued finishing her meal. The princess wanted to do something; anything to lighten up his mood even if it's for a brief moment. However, she feared that her efforts are not going to be enough to alter his depression. Hitsugaya placed his bowl and chopsticks on the table. Just as he stood up from his seat, the boy whispered, "Thanks for the meal..."

He was about to retreat to his room when Momo kneel up and suddenly said to him, "If you get hungry again later...you can always find some leftovers in the fridge."

Toshiro stopped for a moment. "Thanks...for telling me. I'll...keep that in mind."

Without another word, he opened the slide door and left the room, closing the door behind him. "Hn, this is the second time he has done that," Matsumoto said after placing her bowl and chopsticks on the table.

Momo looked over at the strawberry orange haired teenager and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Years ago, when he used to live with his parents, Hitsugaya's father passed away while he was out on a dangerous journey. He was only seven at the time."

"I see," Hinamori replied. "So, he lost his father around the same time I lost my parents."

"Hitsugaya never shed a single tear at his father's burial."

The princess stayed silent for a while with her head lowered. Just like her, Toshiro had to grow up quickly, but unfortunately, he did not live in a wealthy environment. So, he must also fight for survival. She then turned to Rangiku. "He shouldn't...He shouldn't be holding his feelings back! I-It's wrong."

Matsumoto let out a sigh and turned her attention to the slide door where Toshiro exited. "What can we do? It's not like he's going to open up to us easily."

"I-I just don't understand; why he would act that way? He loves his grandmother very much."

"Momo..."

Realizing that she spoke out of turn, the princess sat back down on her knees and said, "Gomen nesai...I-I wasn't really thinking."

Matsumoto gave her a faint smile. "Iie, it's okay. You just want him to return to his normal self again."

She slowly nodded. "Hai."

"For now, we'll just have to support him from a distance."

Momo twisted her body to the side. She is having trouble sleeping. She could understand Toshiro's emotions to a certain extent. After all, staying under the same roof as him and his grandmother made her feel like she is a part of the family. Hinamori immediately pushed her blanket aside and quickly sat up from her futon. She looked over at the futon next to her. Rangiku is resting there already deep asleep.

Letting out a small sigh, Momo got out of bed and left the quietly left the room. She needed some time to relax before trying another attempt to get to sleep. The princess went to the kitchen to pour a cup of water to drink. Once she is done, the cup is put away in the dish rack.

As she is returning to her room, she passed by Hitsugaya's. Momo stopped in front of it and looked over. She wondered if he's still awake as she is. So, slowly and quietly, the peach girl narrowly opened the slide door, enough for an eye to peek inside. At first, it was too dark to see what's going on in there. Luckily, a flash of lightning from outside struck, allowing the girl to see. Even though it's only for a brief moment, there she saw the white haired boy sitting on his futon, curled up into a ball. In her perspective, he appears to be in deep thought as he held onto his legs close to his chest. He then buried his face in between them.

"Hitsugaya-kun..."

Hinamori placed her hand on the handle and closed the slide door. After taking one final look at the door to his room, she let out a small sigh. The Princess of Seireitei quietly retreated to her room, leaving the boy alone for the rest of the night, probably holding back the aching tears from his broken heart.

References

Obaa-san - Grandmother, Arigato - Thank You, Bento - Boxed Lunch, Itterashai - I'll be back soon, Sugoi - Amazing, Hai - Yes, Umai - Delicious, Onigiri - Rice Ball, Yukata - a casual summer Japanese kimono worn by both genders, Uruse - Shut Up, Gomen nesai - I'm Sorry, Iie - No, Futon - A Japanese Flat Bed

(1) Lily of the Valley represents sacrifice, danger, pure love, humility, and sweetness. It is also the flower insignia for the fifth division in the Gotei 13.

(2) Daffodil represents mystery and egoism. It is also the flower insignia for the tenth division in the Gotei 13.

Author's Note: Gah, the intensity in this chapter! It's way over the top! Who is the one responsible for Toshiro's misfortunes? Will he be able to recover? Any guesses? Well, anyway...find out what happens in the next chapter of The Greatest Treasure. In the meantime, please review! Thank you!