Trials
We finally arrived at Princess Hinamori's Palace 2 long days after rescueing Ichigo. Ichigo was reunited with Rukia, which they both have a crush on each other, and Orihime wasn't reunited with anyone. Orihime and I suffered from dehydration and starvation. So we got put in the nursery home.
"It will take you a few days to be fully recovered from your dehydration and stravation. Until then, don't move around too much and drink as much water as possible." The nurse said.
"Arigato." Toshiro said.
IN HINAMORI'S POV
One of my maid's shook me from my mid-day nap [if I don't take a nap, I'll be a bitch for the rest of the day]. I groaned and opened one eye.
"What?" I said, weak from the lack of sleep.
"I have some good news m'lady." She said. I sat up and stretched my arm over my head and yawned while rubbing my eye.
"Well, it better be important because you woke up from my mid-day nap." I said. My maid smiles.
"Oh it is. I have a visitor awaiting to see you." She said. I raised a tired eyebrow.
"A visitor?" I said. She nods. "Ugh. Send the visitor in, please. I don't feel like getting up."
"Of course, m'lady." She said and went to my door. I laid back down and closed my eyes. I didn't care if it was my father coming to visit me. I just wanted some sleep for God's sake!
I heard some footsteps that arrived at my side of the bed.
"Wake up." He whispered. I groaned and didn't open my eyes.
"Go away." I moaned.
"Ok, I see how it is. This is how you treat me when I just came back from rescueing Ichigo." He said. My eyes popped open and I stared at Toshiro's ocean blue eyes.
"Shiro-chan!" I said and wrapped my arms around his neck in a tight hug. He groaned.
"Not to tight, bedwetter." He said. I let go of him.
"Oh, gomenesai." I said. Then I realized something.
"Wait, you're injured?" I asked.
"Kinda. I am dehydrated and I'm still recovering fully from getting kicked around so much." He said.
"Dehydrated? Are you ok?" I said, getting worried. He shrugged and slanted gaze to the ground.
"I guess I'll be ok." He said.
"Shiro-chan." I said. He raises his gaze to me and looks me in the eye. I put my hand on his cheek, turning his head so he faced me.
"I'm just glad that you're still alive." I said.
"Thanks to Orihime." He said. "I was stabbed but Orihime saved my life just in time." He said.
"Well then we both owe her." I said.
"Why do you owe her?" He questioned. I lifted my other hand and traced the scar on the side of his neck.
"Because I don't want to loose you. I love you, Shiro-chan." I said. He smiled and came closer.
"I love you too, bedwetter." He said. I leaned in and we both shared a kiss that we both missed dearly. He put his hand on the side of my neck and we kissed one more time before seperating for air.
"How's Ichigo?" I asked.
"He's fine. He was reunited with Rukia." He said and sat down next to me.
"Rukia? I thought she was with Renji and I thought Ichigo liked Orihime?" I said. He shook his head no.
"No. Ichigo and Rukia like each other. Orihime is the third wheel because Rukia used Orihime to get closer to Ichigo. And with that going on, Orihime and Renji we both ignored by Ichigo and Rukia." He explained.
"Oh, poor Orihime. I know she liked him. But I guess that double-crossing strawberry was too blind to see that." I said. He smirked and put his forehead to mine.
"Yeah, I know. Even I could see that." He said. I turned my head to the side and put my lips to his. He slipped his tongue into my mouth and swirled it around mine. I gripped his shirt. We parted for air, for our kiss was long.
"Sorry to interrupt, Princess Hinamori. But, Lord Aizen needs to speak with you." A maid said. I looked at her.
"Ok, arigato. Tell him I'll be there in a moment." I said. She bows and walks out. I look back at Toshiro.
"Come with me?" I asked.
"Sure. But get dressed first, bedwetter." He teased.
"Ok." I said. He got off of my bed so that I could get out. I quickly got dressed and we walked down the hall to the Meeting Chamber. Our hands found each other and he squeezed my hand in his. I squeezed back and we walked into the Meeting Chamber. Aizen sat in his chair and some of his servents stood around him.
"Ah, I see that Toshiro came back safely." Aizen said.
"Yes, he did. And I am glad of that." I said.
"But your journey will not get be greatly rewarded." Aizen said. Toshiro closed his eyes.
"What do you mean?" I asked. Aizen looks at me.
"Ichigo Kurosaki is a theif and now is a traitor to the Soul Society. Whoever partners will him will be executed. Toshiro Hitsugaya...you are sentenced to death." Aizen said. Toshiro didn't say anything. It seemed that he accepted his trial.
"What? How can that happen?" I said. I will not, out of any circumstances, allow him to die.
"Hinamori, you passed a rule that whoever rescued Ichigo will be executed. And you also passed a law that no one belove a slave. Therefore, Toshiro has broken a rule and a law." Aizen said. Toshiro opened his eyes and glared at me.
"I thought you weren't against Ichigo." He said.
"I'm not! Aizen's lying!" I said. It was true though, Aizen is lying. He was the one who passed the rule.
"No, I am not. We both passed the rule together, Hinamori. I came up with it and you agreed with it." Aizen said and stood. Toshiro lets go of my hand.
"You lied to me?" Toshiro yelled.
"No! I did not agree to the rule, Aizen!" I said, looking between Aizen and Toshiro.
"Hinamori, there is no use in lying anymore." Aizen said, walking over to us.
"But I'm not lying!" I said.
"Toshiro, do you accept your trials? Do you accept being executed?" Aizen said. I looked at Toshiro, who closed his eyes. There was a long period of silence before he opened his eyes, looked at Aizen, and answered his question.
"Yes. I accept my trials. There is not point on fighting." He said.
"But, Shiro-chan!" I said. Toshiro glares at me and I shut right up.
"Don't call me that. Don't look at me or talk to me. You are no longer my friend, Hinamori." He said.
"Send Toshiro to his chambers." Aizen ordered to some guards. 2 guards came up to Toshiro and led him to his chambers. I watched them leave out of the door before whipping around to face Aizen.
"Why did you lie? You knew I never agreed to that!" I yelled.
"Easy, there, Momo. I did lie, yes. But you were the one who did pass the low on no slave love. Yet he broke it and he must pay for it." Aizen said.
"I don't care! I love him! You can't just take him away from me." I said, tears coming in my eyes. Aizen gently grabbed my jaw and leaned in.
"Watch me." He whispered and walked away. I turned. I will not let this happen. I will free Toshiro, even if it means giving up my life. I stormed down to the Prison Cells.
REGULAR POV
Momo walked into the Prison Cells and started searching for Orihime and Ichigo. Instead, she found Rukia and Renji. She came up to their cells.
"Do you know where Ichigo and Orihime are?" She said. Rukia looked at her.
"Yes, 2 guards took them out of their cages." Rukia said.
"Yeah, the guards said something about Orihime getting executed because she is now a traitor because she saved Ichigo." Renji said.
"Did they say where they're going?" Momo asked.
"Um, didn't they say the were going to the Main Ground, nee?" Rukia said and looked at Renji. Renji kind of gave her a glare and looked away.
"Yeah. But anyway, what are you planning on doing, Hinamori-chan?" He said.
"I plan on stopping her execution. And Toshiro's." Momo said.
"Wait, take us with you!" Rukia said. Hinamori looked at Rukia. She wanted to help Ichigo. But just him and not Orihime. Hinamori could read her eyes. Momo looked at Renji.
"Renji, you're coming." She said and unlocked the door. Renji walked out and before Rukia could, Momo closed the door and locked it.
"Hey! Momo, what the hell?" Rukia said.
"Knock it off, Rukia." Renji said. Rukia looked at him. "You've been ignoring me and Orihime because you've been to focused on Ichigo. Now it's my turn to help my friends." He said.
"C'mon, let's go." Momo said. They walked out of the Prison Cells and headed down the Main Ground. A crowd was formed around a scene and they were all shouting "Die, traitor!", "You don't deserve to live!", "Let you die in hell for all I care!". Momo and Renji looked at eachother before pushing into the crowd.
"Sorry, excuse me. Pardon me, coming through." Momo said.
"Get outta the way. I'm walking here!" Renji said. Momo and Renji finally made it out of the crowd. A guard helped Orihime onto a wooden stage, where a rope was hanging. Momo looked around for Ichigo, who was trying to fight out of his guards grips.
"Orihime!" He yelled. Orihime ignored Ichigo and let the guard put the rope around her neck. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Stop!" Momo yelled. Everyone shuts up and everyone stared at the Princess.
"P-Princess." A guard said. Momo furrowed her eyebrows in anger.
"Let her go." Renji said.
"But we are under direct orders from Prince Aizen." Another guard said.
"I don't care what Aizen says. Let her go or you all die." Momo threatened. The guards paused then rushed to free Orihime. A guard undid the rope around her neck and untied the rope that was tied around her wrists.
"No more executions or trails for Orihime Inoue and Ichigo Kurosaki." Momo said. "Disobey and you'll be executed by myself. Am I clear?" She said. Every guard nodded fast. "Good. Now go away, there is nothing to be seen here." Momo ordered the crowd. They all groaned and walked away. Ichigo broke free from the guards grip and he ran to Orihime.
"Orihime, daijoubu?" He asked. Orihime looks at him, her blue eyes full of tears.
"Ichigo, forget about me. You're having fun with Rukia." She said.
"Orihime, Rukia will never get in the way of our friendship." He said. She turned away from him.
"That's not what I mean." She said.
"Nani?" He said.
"Ichigo, I love you. But you're too blind to see that because you've been hanging out with Rukia too much. So much that you started ignoring me and Renji." She said. Ichigo was wideyed in shock.
"Ichigo." Rukia said. We all looked at Rukia, who was somehow out of her cell.
"R-Rukia." Ichigo said. Rukia softly glared at Orihime then looked at Ichigo.
"Who are you going to choose?" She asked. Ichigo looks between Rukia and Orihime.
"If I were you, I'd choose Orihime because she's been there for you all of this time. She took care of you and made sure that you smiled everyday from the bottom of your heart." Renji said.
"I'd go for Rukia. She's brave and practically the girl of my dreams. She stays so calm during rough situations and thinks out a clear plan." A guard said. Momo glares at the guard, who scampers away.
"I know who I will choose." Ichigo said. We all looked at him. Ichigo looked at Orihime then at Rukia.
"Rukia..."He said. Orihime closed her eyes and walked off of the wooden stage.
"Rukia, I'm sorry." Ichigo said. Orihime stopped in her tracks. "You're not the one I choose." He finished. Rukia stared at him, confused.
"But, why?" She said. Ichigo looked at Orihime.
"Renji is right. Orihime has been there, doing those things for me. She's always been at my side." He said. Orihime turned around and looked at him. Ichigo walked off the wooden plate form and slowly walked over to Orihime.
"She's kind and sweet. She's always full of determination. And she's a good person to have around. But I don't just want to be her friend." He finally got close enough to her that their foreheads we touching. Orihime's eyes were fixed on his. "I want to be by her side, 24/7. Orihime..." He took her hand in his. She looked at his hand. "I love you." He said. Orihime looks at him and smiled through the tears that were still rolling down her cheeks. Momo and Renji looked at each other, happy with the decision that strawberry has made. As the 2 new lovers kissed on the scene, Renji and Momo led Rukia back to her cell.
"Renji, I'm sorry." Rukia said. Renji looked away and rubbed his arm.
"It's ok, Rukia." He said. Rukia shook her head no.
"No, it's not. I was so focused on Ichigo that I didn't realize you and your problems. I am truely and deeply sorry." Rukia said and bowed. Renji smiled and lifted her head up.
"Don't bow to me, Rukia. I'm no on special." He said. Rukia slants her gaze to the ground.
"You're not a king or anything, but you're something special to me." She said. Renji furrowed his eyebrows.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked. Momo slowly started to back up. She knew what Rukia was confessing. Rukia was in love with Renji.
"I mean that..." Rukia looked at him. "I like you. Very much." She said.
"Well, you have a hell of a way of showing it." Renji said and took his hand away. Rukia raised an eyebrow and stood up straight.
"Lemme guess, you don't believe me, baka?" She said. Renji closed his eyes and held up a fist. He hated being called baka.
"Oh, struck nerve, did?" Rukia said and smiled.
"Would you shut up?" Renji said, through his teeth.
"Why don't you make me, baka." She said. Renji snapped open his eyes and glared at her. He opened his mouth to say something but before he could, Rukia put her lips to his and kissed him. Renji's eyes were widen while her eyes were closed. Momo turned and walked away.
"Orihime and Ichigo saved from execution. Now only one to go." Momo thought.
"So tell me something, Toshiro." Aizen said, walking around him in circles. Toshiro, who was changed to the wall, kept his glare on Aizen. "Tell me, why you are trying to steal my friance?" Aizen continued. Toshiro didn't answer. Aizen signaled for the guard to whip Toshiro's chest. The guard lifted the whip and whipped it at Toshiro's chest. A long, thin strand of blood was planted on his chest. Toshiro tightly closed his eyes shut and bit his lower lip, preventing a scream.
"Tell me, now." Aizen said, grabbing Toshiro's jaw. Toshiro opened his eyes and look at Aizen.
"...I'm...not trying to steal her." He said. Aizen gripped Toshiro's jaw. "I love her. And she loves me also." Toshiro said.
"Yeah, well, she has a hell of a way of showing it. Nee, Toshiro?" Aizen said, taking his hand away from his jaw. Toshiro coldly glares at him.
"Oh, glare at me all you want. If Momo really cared for you, she'd try to stop your execution." Aizen held up his arm and looked around. "I don't see her or anyone else her objecting to your execution." He said.
"Maybe he is right. Maybe Momo doesn't really love me. Or maybe she's making a plan. I don't know. But something is telling me I shouldn't give up on her. Is she making a plan? Or does she not love me? Guess I'll find out later on today during my execution." Toshiro thought.
"C'mon, let's leave Toshiro alone. We'll see him in 2 hours." Aizen said, smirked and took his leave with the guard. Toshiro glared at the door before looking at the chains around his wrists. He lightly yanked on them. Hmm. The ends of the chains were bolted to the wall. No point in trying to free himself. It'd probably break his arms. He closed his eyes and thought of a plan to help him survive his execution.
Toshiro's execution
Aizen walked Toshiro out on a wooden plateform. It's the same plateform where Orihime was supposed to get executed. A second later a crowd formed. Momo was in there, wearing a big hood so it covered her face. She looked at Orihime, who also had a hood on. Orihime looked at her and nodded. Then Orihime looked at Ichigo, also wearing a hood, and nodded. Their plan is being spilled into action. They just hope it works.
"You all know that Toshiro Hitsugaya was one of the 2 people who saved Ichigo Kurosaki a few days ago." Aizen boomed. The crowd booed.
"And therefore, he must pay a consequence for that. And by that I mean, execution." Aizen said, turning to Toshiro, who was scanning the audience. The crowd cheered in agreement. Everyone but Ichigo, Orihime, and Momo. Momo squints her eyes at Aizen. She felt so much hate for him now. She knew she didn't know Toshiro's side of the story [about Toshiro supposedly killing Aizen's friend]. And she had to know who was lying.
"Well, you guys will see our most favorite slave..." Aizen looks at Toshiro. "And our most hated traitor finally fall." Aizen said. Toshiro turned his gaze to Aizen.
"Guards...put the rope around his neck and get this execution rollin'." Aizen said, walking off of the platform. Momo nods at Orihime, giving her the signal. Orihime gripped her gloves in her fists, concentrating her spiritual energy into them. Toshiro sensed it and spotted Orihime. He sort of smirked as the guard placed the rope around his neck. Orihime yelled, surprising everyone, and punched the ground. Momo and Ichigo were fast enough to dodge the exploded Earth as rocks shooted up from the ground. The crowd got hit and some villagers started retreating while yelling and screaming. The guards charged for Orihime. But Ichigo easily appeared infront of them, knocking them out. Then the three of them turned to Aizen, who signaled a forgotten guard. Momo quickly turned to the guard, who pull the levar down. Then the platform beneath Toshiro dissapeared. Momo turned to Aizen, full of rage.
"AIZEN!" She yelled. Aizen knew what would happen if she got angry, so he ran inside and the 3 of them chased after him. Aizen ran into a dead end.
"Crap." He said and turned around. The 3 of them stood infront of him. They were soon joined by Rukia and Renji.
"You have no where to go, Aizen." Rukia said. Aizen sort of gulped.
"And by that, you will die, right here, right now, and right in this spot." Momo said. Then they all pulled down their hoods and revealed themselves. "
"And we will have the pleasure of killing you." Ichigo said.