Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights go to Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: It took a while to finish, but I'm happy I got the chapter done on time. Thank you all for being patient especially to my many reviewers: Angel-chan1992, MoonLightView, Samantha, Onineko Hikari-chan, tlg, The Sweet Peach, LookThroughTheGlass, AznInvasionGirl, Pieps XD, KnowledgeandImagination, Tamashi Aisuto, WhitePrincessOfHope, Kaye. Shirogane, BLEACHISAWESOMEANDIMAWESOME XP, Supreme cookieeater NANCY, Mariliisa, Pandabear_N2*. You're all the best! Anyway, I've kept you all hanging for long enough. Without any further adieu, here is chapter sixteen. Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking."
The Greatest Treasure
Chapter Sixteen: Force
"There is no use resisting," the money dealer said, taking a step forward. He extended a hand out to the princess and her companion. "You have two choices: co-operate or rebel."
Matsumoto narrowed her eyes as she and Hinamori stared at them. Moving a hand around the flooring, her fingertips came into contact with a handle. Using this opportunity, the two girls slowly got on their feet. The taller woman exclaimed, "I choose the second option: I'm rebelling!"
Without warning, she threw an empty jug of sake in his direction. As he broke the object with a sword, Matsumoto grabbed the princess' hand and pulled her deeper into the house. "She's getting away with the princess!" one of the Rukongai people said.
"Let's get them!" another exclaimed.
Just as the angry mob is about to charge into the premises, the dealer raised a hand out, blocking their way. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll lure them out. You all need to stay here and block all the entrances and exits. They have nowhere to run."
Meanwhile, the two girls ran into Hitsugaya's room. Dropping to her knees, Hinamori is panting while Matsumoto went to the corner of the room, appearing to be searching for something. "W-Why are they after me?" Momo asked.
"If one hands you over to the Royal Guard, they would get a five million kan reward for their efforts," she explained.
"Five million kan?" The princess is shocked to hear such news. General Aizen is willing to reward that much money for her return yet Hitsugaya, who must have known from the start, didn't comply with his demands. Actually, he made sure that her secret is not told to anyone, but himself and his companion, Matsumoto. It only reminded her of what kind of person her boyfriend really is: caring, sometimes overprotective, and forever loving.
The slide door fell down because it got sliced diagonally by a cut from a sharp sword. Momo quickly ran to Rangiku's side with fear while the woman is still searching through her hidden compartments. On the other side of the door, is the money dealer. "Let's stop this game of cat and mouse," he said, stepping into the room.
"I think not," Matsumoto replied as she turned around, drawing out her katana from her secret compartment. Placing one hand on the sheath while the other is on the hilt, the strawberry withdrew her sword out. Wearing the sheath back of her sash, she kept her eyes on her opponent.
"Hn, are you sure it's okay for a woman like you to handle a sword?" the money dealer asked.
The strawberry orange haired girl smirked. She answered, "Don't underestimate me; I'm quite skilled with it."
"Rangiku-san..." Momo said.
"Stay close Hinamori, okay?" Matsumoto whispered.
She silently nodded with agreement and resumed her attention to the dealer. He quickly charged at the tall woman in an attempt to stab her. Matsumoto held her blade vertically to her left side and defended herself. She ran up to him and swung her sword towards his face. The cloaked dealer ducked, bent his knees all the way down, and extended his leg out. Just as he is about to trip the princess, Matsumoto stomped on his leg, ceasing his movements. Leaning over, she elbowed him in the face. He is sent back against the flooring. When the woman sword user is about to slash him, he defended against her attack by holding his blade horizontally. Then, blades clashed against one another.
Hinamori ran off to the side, keeping her distance away from the main battle. She wanted to help Rangiku, but whatever she does might get in her way. All she could do now hope that luck is on their side.
Matsumoto tumbled across the floor as the dealer kept slashing downwards with various attempts to cut the woman. However, she wasn't even touched. When she got on her feet, the strawberry orange haired woman pushed his chin upwards with a single hand, sending his feet off the ground. She continued her combination by grabbing the sides of his head and kicking him in the gut with her knee. The dealer is sent to the floor, clutching his stomach. Pointing the tip of her blade on the bottom of his chin and said, "I hope you get the point now; I won't ever hand over the princess."
Suddenly, a grin appeared on the dealer's face. "Oh really, are you sure about that?"
Just as she is about to reply to his comment, the sword user heard a voice from behind. "Rangiku-san!"
"What's wro--Ah, Hinamori!" Matsumoto asked as she looked back. The peach girl has her hands held on her back. She has been captured by the people of Rukongai. She turned back to the money dealer, who got back on his feet. "Let her go!"
"Sorry Matsumoto, but I can't comply with your request," he replied. "Now, if you don't want her to get hurt, you better hand yourself over as well. This is what you get for associating with Aisu no Ryu."
The woman cursed in thought. She had no other choice, but to give herself up. Dropping her sword on the floor next to her, Matsumoto raised her hands up. "Alright, you win."
A grin appeared on his face. "Now that's a good girl..."
"General Aizen!" Ichimaru happily said as he opened the door and waltz into his office. "I have great news to tell you."
Raising his head up to see his loyal subordinate already at his desk, Aizen placed his ink brush on the table. With his hands held together, he asked, "What great news you have for me?"
"Well, this is a report from one of the guards. Apparently, one of our allies has found the princess," Gin replied. "The guards have also said that they arrested the person who has been keeping her safe."
"Hn, that is great news," the general said, smiling with amusement. Leaving his seat from behind the desk, Aizen walked past Ichimaru added another comment, "Let's go see how she's doing. It has been a while since we last saw her."
"Yes General Aizen; it has been a long while. I probably have forgotten her face already."
"Now, that's mean to say..."
Ichimaru grinned. "I suppose so, but it can't be helped. She has been missing from Seireitei from quite some time."
After she has been taken back to the palace, Momo went to her chambers to change back into her usual, rich attire. She got separated from Rangiku and has no idea where she is right now. Either way, she's not going to sit around and wait. She needed some answers and clearly, it is something dangerous or else Hitsugaya and Matsumoto wouldn't go through great lengths to protect her.
From there, she decided to go to the throne room. Walking through the hallway, she couldn't help but feel, very nostalgic. It has been a while since she last walked through the premises of the Hinamori Palace. By the time she arrived, the princess walked across the room and placed her hand on the throne chair's handle. She showed a soft smile on her face. "I'm back home Oto-san, Okaa-san..."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Just as she turned her body to the side, two familiar faces entered the room. "Hello Hinamori-hime. It has been a while," Aizen humbly said. "I'm glad to see you safe and sound."
Momo faced them and nodded with agreement. "Yes, it's nice to see you again General Aizen and Captain Ichimaru."
"You really worried us princess," Ichimaru replied. "Life just isn't the same without you."
"I see." She lowered her head and smiled. "Thank you for finding me..."
The two elite members of the Royal Guard smiled back.
"However..."
The expressions they wore was soon dropped.
Momo raised her head and asked, "I haven't seen them. Where are Kira-kun, Abarai-kun, and Hisagi-san?"
Aizen replied, "Don't worry about them Hinamori-hime; I asked them to run a few...errands. Unfortunately, it will be a while before they come back."
"So ka?"
He nodded with agreement. "Hai."
She then thought about his disappearance since yesterday. "I-Is Aisu no Ryu here?"
"Hn, now why would you ask for the person who took you away?" Gin asked.
"So Toshiro is here, captured by the Royal Guard. He's probably locked up somewhere," Momo thought. Putting her hands up in front of her, she took a step forward. "H-He didn't take me away. Please, I want to see him."
It is when Aizen lowered his head for a moment. Looking back into the princess' eyes, he apologized, "Gomen nesai Hinamori-hime, he's already dead."
Her eyes widened as a hand is placed over her mouth. Momo took a step back. "No...It can't be true."
"I'm sorry, but we had to," Gin replied. "He was a threat to everyone in Seireitei. They wanted to get rid of him badly."
"What's wrong princess?" Aizen asked.
"He's not a bad guy!" Momo shouted. "He-He only wanted to save his people! Over the past few years, Rukongai has been suffering because of us! That's why he started stealing! General Aizen, is there any way for me to see his body or something?"
He slowly shook his head. "His existence is long gone. His body is burnt into ashes and blown away in the wind."
"No...no, he...NO!"
But before she could finish, tears of sorrow have already appeared in her eyes and drip down her cheeks. The news is too overwhelming for her to handle. Covering her face with the palm of her hands, Hinamori ran past the two elite guards. They turned around and watched the whole scene as she went out the door. "Now that's harsh," Gin commented. "It is quite evident that she has feelings for the thief."
"Yes, I do agree," Aizen replied.
"Are you sure it's okay to break her heart when he's still alive?"
"It's necessary to do such actions. Besides, she's going to get married anyway. As for our little prisoner, he won't be living for a long time anyway."
"Hn, good point there..."
The cell gate opened and Matsumoto is thrown in with her arms shackled onto her back. After is slammed to the ground, the strawberry immediately rolled over and yelled at the guards, who closed the gate, "You idiots, is this how you're supposed to treat a woman?!"
"Oh shut up and be quiet like the other prisoners!" one of them shouted back.
Seconds later, after the guards of Seireitei left the room; the female teenager sat on her bottom and complained, "Ou, what jerks! When I get out of here, they're going to pay for this!"
"Who is this woman?" asked a voice.
Matsumoto blinked a few times before glancing back to see she's not the only one in this cell. As a matter of fact, she's sharing with three other people: a red head, a pale looking one, and a body tattooed person.
The pale blond haired one replied to the red head, "I have no idea..."
"She looks like a Rukongai Citizen," the third person commented.
"Who are these guys anyway? Oh whatever, I can't stay here. They probably captured him," Matsumoto thought. "I have to go save Hitsugaya and Hinamori."
"H-Hinamori and Hitsugaya? You know them?" one of them asked.
Matsumoto stopped and turned around to face them. "Yeah, I do know them. Who are you guys?"
"We're Hinamori's childhood friends. Kira Izuru," Kira replied.
"Hisagi Shuhei," Hisagi said.
"And I'm Abarai Renji," Renji added.
"We met up with Hitsugaya a while ago," Kira explained.
"Really?" A smile appeared on her face. "Anyone who is Hinamori's friend is also mine. My name's Matsumoto Rangiku."
"Matsumoto-san, what has been going on out there?"
"What happened to them?" Hisagi asked.
"Hinamori has been forced to return home while Hitsugaya's probably in prison," Matsumoto explained. "Hn, I guess that he's been held somewhere else."
"Why would Hitsugaya be in prison?" Renji questioned.
"Actually...he's Aisu no Ryu."
There was a short pause. "W-What?"
"You mean the notorious thief, Aisu no Ryu?" Kira quickly asked.
"Yes, he is; the one and only," Matsumoto replied.
Hisagi sat there dumbfounded. "I can't believe it..."
"That little shrimp is actually the thief we've been having trouble capturing for so long?" Renji asked. "He's one sneaky brat."
"Anyway, I would love to stay, but I have found to him before it's too late." Matsumoto backed against the wall and slowly climbed her way back onto her feet. "Most likely, he's going to get executed by the Royal Guard."
"Wait Rangiku-san..."
She turned to the short haired man. "Hn?"
"Let us help."
"We care about Hinamori-kun," Kira said.
"So in return," Hisagi added. "We'll help you set Hitsugaya free."
"Besides, it's the least we can do," Renji commented. "Even though that kid is Aisu no Ryu and all, he's someone we couldn't hate..."
Matsumoto smiled. "Arigato."
"So how do we get out?"
After thinking for a while, the strawberry orange haired teenager turned to them and said, "It may take some preparation, but I think I have just came up with the perfect idea to get us out of here."
References
Kan - the Bleach currency, Oto-san - Father, Okaa-san - Mother, Hime - Princess, So ka - Really/Is that so, Hai - Yes, Aisu no Ryu - Ice Dragon; Hitsugaya's codename as the notorious thief
Author's Note: Okay, just to clarify things...Momo still does not know about Aizen's plan to takeover her kingdom and is the naïve/emotional type. So, give her some slack, okay? Anyway, Aizen has come up with a heart breaking lie to get Hinamori depressed. Gah, he's so evil...but on the plus side, Matsumoto has met the Trio Knights and they're teaming up to escape together. As for Toshiro, you're just going to have to wait and find out what happens to him. You know the drill; please review! Thanks.