Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights go to Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: Hey everyone, I'm back with another update! Thank you everyone for being so patient over the past week especially my wonderful reviewers: tlg, icyangel27, Yellow. Sunshineeh, KnowledgeandImagination, satomika, applestoapples, becomeafan, anime16, HyourinmaruIce, and superattackpea. Now that the war is over, it's time to check up on how everyone is doing. Here is chapter twenty-four of The Next Greatest Treasure! Enjoy!
LEGEND
"Talking." Flash Back.
The Next Greatest Treasure
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Aftermath
Swords swings, fierce yells, and agonizing screams are heard throughout the large battlefield when Toshiro and Momo made it to the top of the highest hill they could find. Then, taking out a black sphere from his pants pocket, he threw it up in the air as high as he could. All of a sudden, the sphere exploded into tiny little fragments. It is enough to get the attention of everyone nearby. "What the hell is that?"
"What is going on over there?"
"Wait a minute, what are Captain Hitsugaya and Princess Hinamori doing over there?"
"Wait, could it be...?"
Raising his voice as loud as he could, Toshiro yelled out, "My fellow allies of Rukongai and Seireitei, this war is officially over!"
Momo raised her aunt's sword up high for everyone to see.
"We have won this hard battle!" Hinamori exclaimed. "Queen Higashi Kyoko has been defeated!"
In a matter of seconds, the sounds of booming cheers were heard. "Alright Hitsugaya and Hinamori-chan, I knew they would come out victorious!"
Shunsui said to his long time friend.
Ukitake nodded with agreement. "I know, Kyoraku."
"Alright Hitsugaya and Hinamori!" Matsumoto cheered while arm hooking around Hisagi's neck. "Now that the war is over, we have to make plans for the wedding!"
"Y-Yes Rangiku, b-but organizing that stuff is going to take quite...some time," Shuhei replied while he is seeking oxygen. "Damn it, I-I...can't breathe!"
"Thank goodness the war is over," Izuru said. "If this battle were to prolong any longer, things could have turned troublesome for us."
"What are you talking about, Kira?" Renji asked. "The war is already over! Now, it's time to celebrate!"
"Yay!" everyone exclaimed. "Long live Captain Hitsugaya and Princess Hinamori!"
"Ouch!" Toshiro yelled out loud. He then turned his attention to the doctor who is tending to his injuries. "Unohana, can you please be a little gentler with the bandaging?"
Without any warning, his gut feeling started telling him to heed the woman's next words. It is like he is looking at someone with a murderous intent to kill him. "I'm sorry Hitsugaya, but it can't be helped," she replied. "Besides, this is what happens when you run off on your own when you're supposed to be in bed resting until you have fully recovered."
He let out a gulp. "Y-Y-Yes ma'am, I-I won't runaway like that again."
She then turned her attention to the raven haired girl, who is sitting on the mat beside him.
"As for you Hinamori, don't go around and do anymore reckless things. You could have been killed out there today."
"H-Hai Unohana-san," Momo hesitantly replied. "I-I won't do it again."
All of a sudden, she leaned close to her face. At the same time, Hinamori straightened her posture. "Are you sure?"
"Y-Yes, I am certain!"
As if an evil spirit has been exorcised, Retsu let out a bright smile. "Good, I'm glad we have a clear understanding with one another."
The two lovers nodded with agreement. "Y-Yes ma'am..."
After she finished bandaging Toshiro's injuries, Unohana said, "Both your treatments have been done. If you experience any complications, please inform me as soon as possible."
"Hai arigato, Unohana-san," Hinamori said.
With a short nod, she left the two lovers alone to tend to the other injured guards. Momo suddenly let out a relieved sigh. "No matter how many years have passed, I never have the confidence to go against Unohana-san's decisions."
"Tell me about it," Hitsugaya replied. "Even I'm a little intimidated by her."
There is a brief pause. "Hey Toshiro, how are you feeling?"
"My injuries hurt, but I'll live. Why did you ask?"
"Oh nothing, I'm just wondering..."
The Royal Guard Captain placed a hand on her shoulder, getting her attention. With a faint smile on his face, he said, "I'm going to be alright, Momo. Nothing bad is going to happen to me."
Hinamori smiled back. "I know; I just want a little...reassurance, that's all."
He then leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "How is that for reassurance?"
Momo grinned. "Oh, you silly thief..."
She wrapped her arms around his neck while he placed her hands on her waist. Just as they are about to kiss, they both jerked back. They turned their bodies to the side and winced in pain. "Ouch, who would have thought that having injuries would be such a nuisance?"
"Y-Yes, I have to agree."
Once the pain subsided, the two lovers resumed their attention to one another. They placed their hands together and looked into each other's eyes. "Okay, let's try it again."
Hinamori slowly nodded. Gently, Toshiro placed a hand on her cheek. Like two magnets of opposite poles, the young lovers closed the distance between one another. Once they are a mere seconds away, they closed their eyes and finally joined their lips together. During their make out session, Hitsugaya wrapped his arms around Momo with one hand placed on her hip while the other is on her back. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Hinamori draped her arms over his shoulders before she went back to concentrating on kissing her boyfriend.
Hitsugaya suddenly started moaning. "Mm, Momo..."
"Toshiro..."
"Aww, what a nice sight we're seeing," said a voice. Suddenly, the two lovers froze. They turned their heads to see their friends standing on the side with large grins on their faces. Momo turned pink while Toshiro shot icy glares at them. "If we weren't around and you were locked in a room, I bet you two are horny enough to have se-"
"Uruse Matsumoto, stay out of our personal lives!" Hitsugaya snapped.
"Hai hai, whatever you say..."
Hinamori's face turned a few shades darker. "Mou Rangiku-san..."
"Once we get back to the Hinamori Palace, there will be a stack of paperwork for you sitting on your desk," the white haired captain said.
"Eh, that's no fair! How come I have to be the only one who has to work?" the strawberry orange haired woman complained. "What about everyone else? They're just as injured as I am!"
"They all get to rest because they finished their paperwork before I even got a chance to tell them to. You, on the other hand, avoided your duties so that you can leisurely drink sake in your room."
Rangiku folded her arms over her chest. "You're so stingy! You were never like this back in the good old days when we were still living in Rukongai."
"If you were a little more responsible, then I would have never been this stingy in the first place!"
"Now, settle down you two," Gin said, standing in between the two old friends. "There's no point in starting a fight. Besides, we should be celebrating the happy times to come."
Hitsugaya let out a low growl before turning his head to the side and letting out a hiss. The Trio Knights let out defeated sighs while Momo and Ume looked at one another. Faint smiles then crept up on their faces. "Anyway, have all the Higashi Guards been dealt with yet?" Toshiro asked upon changing the subject.
"Yep, the guards, who gave us their utmost co-operation, are let off the hook. As for the others, they are going to be sent to jail. As we speak, Kyoraku and Ukitake are sending a handful of them back to the palace."
"I see."
"Are you sure it's okay to let the co-operative ones go?" Hisagi asked. "What if they're lying and decide to attack us again in the future?"
"My my Shuhei, after being in the Royal Guard for a couple of years, you still don't know how we do things around here?" Ichimaru questioned. "If they decide to attack us again, we just have to kick their asses again."
He then turned his attention to the younger captain.
"Am I correct, Hitsugaya-kun?"
Toshiro then shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose so..."
"I hate to burst your bubble, but I have to agree with Hisagi-san," Izuru asked. "What if they decide to attack us now? Right now, everyone is recovering from their previous battle."
"You do have a point, but you can't reason with them," Matsumoto said, "Ichimaru finds fighting a thrill while Hitsugaya is used to fighting at inconvenient times. They're used to it."
"Come to think of it, you are usually ready to fight at any moment as well," Hisagi pointed out.
"Really? You think so?"
He nodded with agreement. "Yeah."
Kira said, "I'm starting to think it's a Rukongai thing..."
"That's probably it."
"Anyway, it seems like Unohana-san and the medical team are just about done treating everyone," Rangiku said. "We should get ready to head back to the palace."
"Someone's excited to go home," Renji commented.
"Of course I'm excited, I've said it before." She pointed a finger up. While revealing a bright smile, she said, "Once we get back, I have to start making plans for the wedding!"
"You're not planning the wedding, Matsumoto!" Hitsugaya snapped. "It's too early to even think about it! We need to rebuild the palace, help the people who are in need, honour the deaths of our fallen comrades and...There are too many things to do! Even if the wedding were to happen right away, I'm not letting you to be my wedding plann-"
All of a sudden, he arched over and wrapped his arms around his stomach.
"Itte!"
Concerned for his health, Hinamori placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Toshiro, are you okay?"
Giving her a short glance, he replied, "I-I'm okay..."
"Taicho, you shouldn't get so worked up," Rangiku suggested. "You're going to reopen your wounds."
Little did she realize, everyone is giving her a stern look. On the other hand, Ichimaru let out a smiling grin. "Enough with all the chit-chat, everyone!" he said. "Now it's time to start packing our stuff. We have quite a bit of ground to cover before we make it back to the palace."
"Yes sir!"
As the Trio Knights, Matsumoto, and Ichimaru went to start gathering their belongings, Hitsugaya slowly stood up from his seat. Knowing that Hinamori is close by, he gave her a nod, mentally saying that he's alright to walk on his own. Just as he took a step forward, he lost his balance. Immediately, the peach girl ran to his side and quickly draped his arm over her shoulder so that he wouldn't fall. "T-Thanks Momo..."
She smiled. "It's no problem."
Hinamori then turned her attention to her cousin. "Ume, you're welcomed to stay with us even if it's for a bit."
"A-Are you sure, Momo-chan?" Princess Higashi asked.
The Princess of Seireitei nodded with agreement. "Yes, I'm sure of it."
She turned to Hitsugaya.
"You don't mind, right?"
He shook his head and replied, "I don't mind at all."
Ume cracked a smile. "Thank you Hitsugaya-taicho and Momo-chan for your hospitality. I'll be happy to stay with you for the time being."
"You're welcome," Momo replied.
With that said, the three friends walked together, catching up to the rest of their allies. Not too long after, they will start their journey back to the sacred land of Seireitei and Rukongai where the preparations of a new beginning are already taking place.
References
Hai - Yes, Arigato - Thank You, Itte - Ouch, Taicho - Captain
Author's Note: This story is about to wrap up! All it needs is the moment you've been waiting for! That's right; Toshiro's and Momo's wedding! So, stay tuned for the final chapter of The Next Greatest Treasure. In the meantime, please review! Thanks.