Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights go to Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: I'm back with today's update of The Next Greatest Treasure. Yay! Special thanks goes to my reviewers: icyangel27, Yellow. Sunshineeh, HyourinmaruIce, satomika, KnowledgeandImagination, becomeafan, applestoapples, anime16, tlg, and superattackpea for all your constant support! The war is at its peak! What is going to happen next? Well, read and find out what happens in chapter twenty-three! Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking."
The Next Greatest Treasure
Chapter Twenty-Three: Game Over
Blades are clashing against one another as Rangiku and Koji compete for dominance. At the same time, Captain Ichimaru is carefully watching the battle unfold in front of his eyes. All of a sudden, he turned his head to the side to see several Higashi guards trying to cut him down. A grin appeared on his face. "You guys need to work on your ambushing skills."
With several swift swings of his sword, Gin ran past and incapacitated each and every one of them. As they fell to the ground, he flicked his sword off to the side. His opponents' blood that was on his blade ended up splattering all over the place. He then changed the grip on the hilt of his blade and intercepted the one-on-one battle. He clashed his sword against Nagara's and Matsumoto's. For a brief moment, the three swordsmen stared at one another. Then, a series of sword exchanges began.
The Queen's loyal servant grinds his teeth together before taking a few steps back. Because he is outnumbered, he is losing the battle. Just as Rangiku is about to strike him, Koji collided into the woman and forced her back with a fierce push. During her moment of vulnerability, he tried to stab his poisonous needles into her gut. However, Ichimaru did a roundhouse kick to his hand. As a result, Nagara loses his grip on the acupuncture needles and were tossed aside.
When he resumed his attention to the gray haired captain, he noticed his opponent has his sword high up above his head. Anticipating where he is going to be striking, he quickly bent down, stuck a foot out, and hit it against Ichimaru's ankle. Feeling off balance, Gin quickly planted his hands on the ground and did a cartwheel to the side. While he got back on his feet, Matsumoto charged in for the attack. "You're finished!"
Just as she is about to stab him in the abdomen, Koji did a body twist with a single foot. During the process, he took out three poisonous needles from under his sash and threw it towards her. Aware of the dangers of being hit by it, Rangiku evaded the attacks by moving to the side. She retaliated by attacking from a different angle. However, she did not anticipate loyal servant's next moves.
With a swing of his sword, he opened a wound on her left arm. As the woman winced in pain, the jet black haired swordsman took out another set of acupuncture needles. Taking aim at her, he threw them. Just when he thought it is going to make contact with her, Gin stepped in and knocked the needles off to the sides with a few swings of his sword. Nagara frowned at the former Rukongai citizen. Then, he commented, "You're very annoying, Captain Ichimaru."
In response, he grinned and raised his sword up with a single hand. "I'm very aware of that."
After a brief moment of silence, the two swordsmen charged in and made their moves at the same time. As a result, their blades clashed against one another once, twice and a couple more times. Thinking that his opponent has gotten used to his fighting pace, Ichimaru decided to kick things up a notch. He suddenly stepped back and watched Nagara miss. With quick use of his feet, he turned his body off to the side and managed to cut a major vein.
All of a sudden, Koji dropped his sword on the ground before his right arm hanged limb on his side. He let out a hiss and glared at Gin. "You bastard..."
"It is over," Ichimaru said. "You're not able to fight anymore."
However, he begged to differ. The Queen's loyal servant took out another set of four poisonous needles and held it towards the side of his face. "I won't let this fight end. Long live Queen Higashi!"
The Royal Guard Captain assumed battle position. "You're one sad servant, you know that?"
He then let out a defeated sigh.
"I guess I have no other choice, but to personally end your miseries."
The captain's words ticked him off. "Shut up!"
Just as he is about to throw his acupuncture needles, Ichimaru dash in front and swung his sword. Instinctively, he took a step to the side, avoiding the strike. Despite the change of movements, Gin still managed to stay close. He swung his sword again, forcing Nagara to take another few steps back. At that moment, Koji lost his footing and fell backwards to the ground. When he let out a hiss and looked up at the Royal Guard Captain, he noticed something. Gin has shown a innocent-like look on his face.
Wondering what he is looking at, he looked down to see his side. Suddenly, his eyes widened. For some reason, one of his acupuncture needles, which were tossed aside, ended up piercing through his clothes and into his skin. A few seconds later, his body began showing symptoms of the deadly poison. The bags under his eyes, his lips, and his finger nails started to turn purple while his skin turned pale. "D-Damn...it..."
Eventually, he lost consciousness and fell to the ground like a rag doll.
There is a brief moment of silence before Matsumoto walked to Ichimaru's side and look down at the deceased servant of the Queen. "That is one sad way to die during a battle," she said. "He got killed by his own weapon."
"Yes, but he deserved it," Gin replied. "Besides, I warned him before not to carry dangerous weapons like that."
Rangiku placed a hand over her injury and let out a minor hiss.
"Are you going to be alright, Ran-chan?"
"This injury is nothing compared to what we've all been through a long time ago."
He turned his body to the side and suddenly let out a grin. "Really now?"
"Yes."
There is a short pause.
Matsumoto suddenly asked, "Do you think Hitsugaya and Hinamori need our help to defeat Queen Higashi?"
"No, I think they're going to be just fine," Ichimaru replied. "Instead, let's go and help Izuru and the others on handling the Higashi Guards."
She then nodded with agreement. "Hai."
Momo let out a fierce yell before clashing blades with Queen Kyoko. The princess and the Higashi ruler exchanged sword swings with one another until a third member joined the fight. Hitsugaya forced himself in and horizontally swung his trusty long sword towards Kyoko's stomach. In response to his assault, she took a step back and dodged. When she resumed her attention to the young princess, Momo has already begun her follow up attack. Thinking quickly, she thrust her short sword towards her niece's gut.
Aware that the short sword has poison on it, the thief of Rukongai took hold of his girlfriend's sash. Using all his strength, he pulled her off to the side and away from the deadly weapon. At that moment, Kyoko followed up her assault by piercing her longer sword through the young captain's abdomen. Seeing the horrifying scene in front of her, Momo screamed his name from the top of her lungs. "Toshiro!"
In response to the sudden pain in his gut, Hitsugaya pulled down his mouth mask, arched over, and started coughing out blood. "Damn it," he cursed before looking up at her in the eyes. "She managed to cut open my old wound."
Seeing the determined expression on his face, Kyoko's eyes narrowed. "His eyes are not dead yet. He is still able to fight."
All of a sudden, the white haired captain grabbed onto the blade of her sword. After realizing what he is trying to do, she tried pulling it out. However, his strength is too much for her. She is unable to withdraw her sword from his body. He said, "I'm not letting you get away."
Remembering about the Princess of Seireitei, she turned her head to the side only to find out that Momo is on the offense. It left her no other choice, but to abandon her sword. She let go of it, freeing Toshiro from her grasp. With only her poisonous sword at hand, she resumed her fight with the raven haired girl.
In the meantime, Hitsugaya slowly withdrew the pieced sword from his flesh bit by bit. As more time passed by, the more pains and aches he feels. He bit the bottom of his lip, preventing himself from screaming as he continued his work. After a few seconds, Toshiro finally pulled out the Queen's sword and tossed it aside. While he is clutching his arms around his wound, he arched over and gasped for breath. He muttered under his breath, "Shit that hurt..."
Once his breathing is steady, he raised his head up to see Hinamori fighting against Queen Higashi. He let out a hiss.
"If Momo gets a single cut by that sword, it is game over for her. I have to do something and fast!"
He checked his surroundings to see what he could use until he spotted some rope on the ground. He rushed over and hastily picked it up. Taking a kunai out from the inside of his kimono, he tied one end of the rope onto the short weapon. Once he is done, he twirled it into the air in a similar fashion as a lasso several times. After taking aim at the blade of the Queen's short sword, he threw it. When his attempt is right on target, he immediate pulled on the rope and forcefully stripped Kyoko of her weapon.
Higashi turned her attention to the white haired teenager and let out a hiss. "Even in his current state, he is still an annoying brat..."
Then, without any warning, Hinamori charged in and elbowed her in the gut. After watching her wince in pain and take a few steps back, she did not hesitate to start her chain of attacks. Momo closed the distance between them by stepping in. She then jumped into the air and twisted her body. Riding the momentum, she did a roundhouse kick to her face. As a result, Kyoko is sent flying off to the side. After rolling on the rough ground several times, she finally stopped motionless.
Tired from her recent moves, Hinamori panted. After a few moments, she held onto her sword's hilt with both hands and assumed battle position. She patiently waited for her aunt to get back on her feet. "Queen Higashi won't give up that easily," she thought. "She won't ever stop until both Toshiro and I are killed and permanently out of her life."
"Neither of us have the murderous intent to end someone's life," Hitsugaya thought as he raised his sword out in front. "How do we defeat someone like her?"
Once he noticed the Queen's hand twitch, the young captain of the Royal Guard hissed between his teeth.
"Damn it, there has to be a way to stop her!"
After a moment of struggle, Kyoko picked up her lost (nonpoisonous) sword and stood up. She let out a few pants before assuming her fighting pose. During this time, Hitsugaya walked to his girlfriend's side. "I...will never die," she said. "Do you hear me?"
"Aunt Kyoko, please give up," Momo said. "There's no point in continuing this fight. Everyone is tired and hurt. The last thing we all want is for our people to suffer."
"I don't care. I want the throne!" she exclaimed. "I am Seireitei and Rukongai's rightful heir to the throne, not you or your white haired fiancé!"
"Damn it, she's pissing me off," Hitsugaya cursed under his breath.
Hearing his comment, Hinamori turned to her boyfriend and said, "Please Toshiro, don't try anything that you're going to regret later."
He bit the bottom of his lip. "I know, but her arrogance isn't helping..."
Taking out a small bag from the inside of her kimono, she threw it at the two lovers. In retaliation, Momo cut it open with her sword. As a result, a cloud of dust is expelled from the bag. Hitsugaya and Hinamori immediately closed their eyes, placed their arms over their faces, and began coughing.
"Shit, I can't see!"
"M-Me neither!" Momo said.
Using their moment of vulnerability, the Queen took hold of her sword and swung it across Momo's back and upper arm. However, her attack didn't cease there. She swung her sword in the other direction and managed to slash across Toshiro's chest and lower arm. In a matter of seconds, they let out painful yells and screams before collapsing on the ground and soak in their mixed blood. As they lay on the rough Earth, they tried to move, but their bodies won't listen. They are left with no place to run or defend themselves with. All they could do is keep eyes on the Queen, waiting to see what she is planning to do next.
She walked up to them and said, "This is game over for the both of you."
Kyoko raised her sword up in the air.
"At least, you two won't be lonely when you die." Hitsugaya and Hinamori let out low growls of frustration. If only they are able to retaliate, they can change the outcome of this fight. "Sayonara Princess Hinamori Momo and Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro."
"No, we won't let this war like this!"
After forcing their bodies to do as they say, they countered against Kyoko's attack. Hitsugaya threw a hidden shuriken towards her face. As she evaded the move, Hinamori quickly grabbed the loose rope on the ground and pulled it towards the Queen's feet. Noticing that the attached kunai has roped around her ankle, Momo pulled the rope even harder. She fell down to the ground.
The two lovers slowly sat up and let out pants of exhaustion. Just when they thought she is down for the count, Kyoko stood up again. "Damn it, we barely have any strength left to hold ourselves in battle," Toshiro said.
"You two are very annoying brats," Higashi commented. She glared at them. "This is the last time you two will get in my way! Now, die and rest in peace!"
Just as they prepared to defend with their swords, they saw the Queen take a step forward and suddenly let out a deep gasp. Their eyes widened with surprise. Neither of them expected that a sword would be piercing through her heart from behind. When everyone took a better look, the culprit turned out to be none other than the Princess of the Higashi Region. Momo interrupted the silence, calling out her name. "Ume..."
Queen Kyoko suddenly coughed out blood. She croaked, "H-How...dare you...try to kill...me..."
"Sorry mother," the princess apologized, "but this is for the best..."
She let out a small grin. Just as she is about to say something, the Higashi Region's ruler suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed onto the ground.
There is a moment of silence where no one said a thing. In the meantime, Hinamori is helping her boyfriend get back on his feet; Momo draped his arm over her shoulder and a hand on his waist. With silent nods of agreement from each other, the two lovers slowly approached the lone princess standing in front of her deceased mother. "Ume," Momo said.
"It feels weird," she replied. "I hate her for all the things she has done to me and my people."
When she turned her attention to them, they notice tears coming down her cheeks.
"I should be happy that she's finally gone, but...I'm crying for some reason."
"Aww, Ume..."
Feeling sympathetic, she looked at Toshiro. Knowing what she wanted to do, he gave her a silent nod. He let Momo walk over to her cousin and give her a loving embrace. After her moment of mourning is over, the Princess of the Higashi Region wiped her tears away. Noticing her deceased relative's sword is on the ground; she picked it up by the hilt and then turned to the white haired captain. "Thank you for your help, Captain Hitsugaya."
She then turned to her cousin.
"Same goes to you, Momo-chan."
Hinamori smiled. "It's really nothing; that's what friends and family members do, right?"
Ume smiled back. "I suppose so..."
The two girls suddenly let out a few giggles. She then resumed her attention to her cousin's fiancé. She presented her mother's sword to him.
"Now that my...mother is finally dead, you can tell everyone else that this war is over."
He looked down at the sword and then to her. He asked, "Is it really okay for me and Momo to take the credit?"
She slowly nodded. "I think it would be best things happened this way. Besides, it will definitely help you two when it comes to getting recognition by the upper class."
He let out a defeated sigh. He is left with no other choice, but to accept it. He put away his own sword before taking hold of the Queen's sword and said, "Thank you, Princess Higashi."
"You're welcome, Captain Hitsugaya."
Noticing that his horse is standing nearby, the peach girl walked over and guided the animal to her cousin and boyfriend. With a silent nod of thanks, he got on his horse. Shortly after, Momo put away her sword and got on the horse as well. After giving the sword to his girlfriend, Toshiro took hold of the reigns and commanded his animal companion to run in the direction he desire. Ume watched the two lovers fulfill their final duties before they could rest.
"Words cannot describe your acts of kindness and bravery. My dear cousin, my future cousin in-law, from the bottom of my heart, thanks for freeing my people...and myself from my mother's control."
References
Hai - Yes, Sayonara - Good bye (formal)
Author's Note: And it's game over for Queen Kyoko and her servant, Koji! The war is finally over! Yay! Find out what happens to everyone in the war's aftermath in my next update! In the meantime, please review! Thanks.