Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights go to Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: Gah, I'm on a fan fiction writing spree! It's another early update of this story. Yay! Special thanks goes to my wonderful reviewers: icyangel27, k a y - t h i, KnowledgeandImagination, tlg, peachesandstrawberries, applestoapples, satomika, becomeafan, HyourinmaruIce, MoonLightView, superattackpea, anime16, and athfdrizzle. They're greatly appreciated. What is going to happen next in The Next Greatest Treasure? Well, read and find out. Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking." Short Flash Back.
The Next Greatest Treasure
Chapter Seventeen: A Princess's Fight
"You want to help me rescue Toshiro?" Momo asked the Princess of the Higashi Region. "Why do you want to do this? We're not on the same side."
Ume lowered her head. "During my time back here, I realized something that I wasn't aware of before."
She raised her head, looking directly at the Princess of Seireitei.
"I fell in love with Aisu no Ryu."
There was a brief moment of silence. "Aisu no Ryu...you mean you have gotten attracted to..."
The dark coloured haired girl looked down on the ground and slowly nodded with agreement. "I recently found out that he's Captain Hitsugaya and also, to be honest, I didn't want to be involved in any of this."
She looked up again.
"It's my mother's doing. She forced me to do as she says. If she didn't exist, I would have not done this in the first place."
"Ume..."
"There's also the fact that I developed feelings for him. Considering that, I don't have the cold heart to harm him."
"I-I see..."
Noticing the raven haired girl showing mixed feelings about the situation, Ume reassured her. "It's alright Momo-chan; I don't plan on stepping in between you and Hitsugaya-taicho. Despite what I do, it's not going to change his mind." She let out a soft smile. "I understand that there is no room for me in his love life. He said so himself that he loves you dearly."
"Toshiro..." Hinamori suddenly let out a smile. "Thank you Ume for telling me the truth."
Her words caught her by surprise. "You're not mad at me?"
"I was a little upset, but there is no point for me to continue feeling that way," she replied. "Everyone deserves a chance, no matter which side they're on."
"Momo-chan..."
Who would have thought the Princess of Seireitei could be so forgiving?
The peach girl let out a soft giggle. "Before you ask how I could be forgiving, Toshiro was the one who taught me that lesson. Of course, that was back in the day when he was still living in Rukongai."
"Oh, now I understand why he's such an attractive person. He's physically a tough person while on the inside; he's kind and very sweet."
"Yeah, that's the way he is," Momo agreed. "I wish the best of luck to you; I hope you can find someone else who is just like him."
"I hope so too," Ume replied. "Now, let's go rescue him."
She nodded with agreement. "Hai, but wait a minute; what plan do you have in mind?"
The Princess of the Higashi Region lifted her mask up to her and let out a smirk. "You're going to dress up as Hi no Tori."
"Captain Ichimaru, you have finally returned to the palace," said one of the lower ranked members of the Royal Guard.
Upon noticing him, the Trio Knights, and the female swordsman enter the Grand Hall, they noticed that there are two particular people missing from the group.
"Captain, where are Hitsugaya-taicho and Hinamori-hime?" another Royal Guard member asked. "Aren't they supposed to be with you?"
"They'll catch up with us later," Gin replied as he walks past his subordinates. "Right now, we need to get our swords sharpened. If my prediction is correct, the Queen of the Higashi Region is going to send her army to attack the palace."
"What?" Kira asked.
"No way, you're serious?" Matsumoto asked.
After he stopped walking, the gray haired captain resumed his attention to his allies and nodded with agreement. "Considering that Hitsugaya-kun is able to rescue her, the next thing Queen Kyoko would do is try to take over Seireitei and Rukongai by force."
Rangiku gave him a stern look. "Sometimes I can't help, but wonder if there is ever going to be day where you don't see what's coming."
He let out a grin. "Who knows..."
She let out a defeated sigh. "I will go and gather up the rest of the army and the medical team together. The rest of you head over to the conference room and prepare for our plan of attack."
The other Trio Knights and Matsumoto nodded with agreement. At the same time, the Royal Guard Captain let out a grin. From there, the guards of the Hinamori Palace started getting ready for the possible fight that is to take place in the near future. "Everything is going well according to plan."
Momo took a deep breath. This is the moment of truth. If she is caught by the guards of the Higashi Castle, her future is as good as water going down the drain. She whispered, "Here it goes..."
She walked into the castle through the front entrance. The peach girl managed to pass a few guards with only having to use body gestures.
"Listen to me carefully Momo-chan, Captain Hitsugaya is located in the dungeon cell underneath the castle. In order to get there, you have to go to the washroom on the second floor. Nearby, there is a suit of armour. Close the headgear's lid and it will activate a secret passage to the dungeon. Then, use the passageway to get to him, do you understand?"
"Yes, but what about you? Where are you going to be?"
"Don't worry about me; I'll make sure I won't be spotted by them. That way, it will be harder for them to realize that you're not me."
"Are you sure about this?"
"I am one hundred percent certain this plan will work. This is my mother we're talking about. After living with her for all my life, I know how she acts and how she thinks from inside out."
"Okay, if you say so..."
At the bottom of the stairs, Hinamori looked back and forth. She also glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one is following her. "So far, so good."
She walked up the stairs to the upper level of the castle and made a right. Just as she was about to take a left at the next intersection, she stopped and retreated. After leaning against the wall, she quietly watched two guards walk past her. Once they were gone, the peach girl closed her eyes and let out a relieved sigh.
"That was a close one. Hopefully, there won't be any more close calls like that one."
"There you are Hi no Tori," said a voice.
Momo froze on the spot for a moment and slowly turned around. Behind her is the Queen's loyal servant, Nagara Koji. "Oh no, I just had to jinx it."
"Your mother would like to speak with you from her room."
With a silent nod of agreement, she followed him to where her aunt is. "Mou, I have to get out of this mess somehow."
She bit the bottom of her lip.
"Think Momo, think."
Koji opened the door for the female thief in disguise to enter the master bedroom. She saw the Queen of the Higashi Region standing in front of the tall window with her hands together behind her back. With a short bow to her, Nagara said, "Your majesty, she is here."
Kyoko turned around and walked up to Momo. Just as she passed by, she said, "Follow me, Hi no Tori; we're going to the dungeon cell and end the life of that pest of a commoner."
Her eyes narrowed. "Toshiro..."
"I see," Koji said. "Even if you intend to use him as a trade hostage, you don't intend to keep him for long."
"He's just extra baggage," the Queen replied to her loyal servant with a grin on her face.
Hinamori's hands turned into fists, not liking how they see her boyfriend as. Regardless, she managed to keep her temper down and obediently follow Kyoko and Koji. "Don't mind what she says and concentrate on your goal. She'll lead you to where he is."
Hitsugaya let out a hiss as he lay down on the cold floor in his cell. He stirred a bit before he clutched his stomach and started letting out deep breaths. Over the past few hours, he was able to break free of his shackles using a needle he hid somewhere in his robes. He raised his hands up to see them covered with blood. He clutched his right hand into a fist. "They're for sure going to come back. Until then, I have to endure the pain and stay alive."
All of a sudden, he heard a distant echoing sound. It was soon followed by numerous footsteps. His eyes narrowed with new found determination. After waiting for so long, here is his chance to escape.
"They're finally here."
By the time he heard the cell door open, Toshiro turned his head to the side to see Queen Higashi, Nagara, Hi no Tori, and a few guards walk up to him. "To think that you would still be able to do this much despite your injury, you have definitely gotten in my nerves." Kyoko said. "Look at you now, you even went far enough to hurt yourself even more. You probably can't even lift up a sword with those hands."
She let out an evil laugh.
"Oh well, I'll be glad to stop your miseries and end your life right here." The older woman then glanced over her shoulder to look at her daughter. "Hi no Tori kill him."
With that said, the female thief drew her sword out and walked up to the white haired teenager. Just as she was about to strike him down, Hitsugaya rolled over to the side and dodged against the assault. Noticing him resisting and trying to stand up, Koji interfered by kicking him down to the ground. Taking hold of his arms, he told Hi no Tori, "Hurry up and do your job correc-"
All of a sudden, he felt a sharp pain on his shoulder. The thief of the Higashi Region swung her sword down and injured his left shoulder. Upon noticing the open opportunity, Hitsugaya stuck out his leg and knocked the bodyguard off balance. Once he was sent down on one knee, the Royal Guard Captain and the female thief both created some distance between their enemies and themselves.
With a knee on the ground, Toshiro took a quick glance at Hi no Tori and began wondering about her. Why did she suddenly decide to defend him?
Angered by the overturned situation, Queen Kyoko took a step forward and demanded, "What is the meaning of this, Hi no Tori?"
"It's not Hi no Tori you're talking to," she finally said as she removed her mask from her face.
Suddenly, gasps filled the room. At first, Hitsugaya was surprised by the girl under the mask. But after considering what reckless and dangerous things she has done before, a smirk crept up on his face. "How come I'm not surprised?"
"You're talking to the Princess of Seireitei, Hinamori Momo."
References
Aisu no Ryu - Ice Dragon; Hitsugaya's identity as the notorious thief of Rukongai, Hai - Yes, Hi no Tori - Fire Bird; Princess Ume's identity as the female thief of the Higashi Region, Taicho - Captain, Hime - Princess
Author's Note: Well, what do you know? The princess is the one who saves the thief this time. LOL. How will things fair for Momo and Toshiro? Find out what happens next in chapter eighteen. In the meantime, please review! Thanks.