A/N: So! A new fic! Yaaaaaaay! Hopefully this will keep you HitsuHina fans satisfied while I work out my writer's block for "Oblivion". While this fic can be compared to "Oblivion" in that it switches back and forth between different first-person perspectives, this one shall have a far more simplistic writing style that moves faster, with less focus on random details and more plot and raw emotion.

The events described in this chapter are close to what happens in the canon, but I'm not including the Vaizaards in this one…I'm not that big of a fan, so they shall not appear (unless something changes). I also took a few other small liberties with what's already happened in the manga.

I apologize in advance if this chapter seems a bit choppy…I was racing to write this before the next chapter goes up, because, already, the stuff that's happened in the most recent chapters is gonna make some of this seem a bit anticlimactic:(

So…despite the fact that this is different from what I usually write, I hope you enjoy this fic, and please review!

(PS: Don't worry, my writer's block is not very serious, and "Oblivion" will be back soon! ^_^)

We All Fall Down

Chapter One – Pieces of a Nightmare

Hitsugaya Tōshirō

I hadn't expected it to be easy. It would have been suicide to have done so. For any shinigami, going into battle means being prepared for anything, barring absolutely nothing. For a captain, this mindset is even more vital. One must never, under any circumstances, underestimate the enemy.

But what about those on your own side?

What then?

It may have been foolish of me, but, even looking back, I'm forced to admit that nothing could have made me expect what was to happen.

-------------------

Hinamori…?

Here, now?

"What's wrong?" asked Tia Hallibel, either to mock me, or possibly out of genuine curiosity. "Just now, your attention shifted. What's bothering you?"

Awfully considerate for someone trying to kill me…

Dammit, focus! If I let myself be distracted, this was going to be a short fight. Despite the doubts I had, I had no choice but to ignore them. Dying due to my own carelessness would help no one.

"Hell if I know," I retorted, and launched myself back into the battle.

Hinamori Momo

Aizen-taichō is a liar.

Aizen-taichō betrayed us.

Aizen-taichō is our enemy.

I'd made myself say it, but I hadn't believed it. Why should I? Why did no one but me understand that he was not evil, that Ichimaru-taichō was the one who had made him kill all the council members and made him try to kill me and Hitsugaya-kun? Why did everyone insist on being wrong?

I had to come. I had to protect him, and I had to kill Ichimaru-taichō and set him free. And then everyone would finally see, and Aizen-taichō would be so proud of me…

But I had to live long enough first.

I looked down at Rangiku, who was barely conscious, yet writhing in the worst pain imaginable, causing more and more blood to spill from the ragged hole where her right side had used to be.

Shaking, I faced the terrifying monster before me. Allon, it was called. It had made that hole in Rangiku with no effort at all. Surely the same thing awaited me? Maybe if I attacked it first…

I was terrified. But if I waited for it to attack me, I would have no chance at all. If I struck first…I had a tiny chance.

For Aizen-taichō, I would take that chance!

Raising Tobiume, I charged forward.

Hitsugaya Tōshirō

I felt them slip away, one right after the other, the reitsu like candle flames pinched out but for the weakly glowing embers remaining.

Matsumoto!

Hinamori…!

I had to get to them…but I had to end this first.

Hinamori Momo

What a strange feeling…

It was as though I couldn't even register the pain of the hit. I only saw the blood shining on my robes, tasting it as it trickled out the corners of my mouth.

And then I was falling, and, as though from far away, I felt a sense of despair.

I'm sorry, Aizen-taichō…

But I was caught by a net of light, as bright as a star and as soft as a blanket. I hung slightly above the ground, dazed.

"You've done well, Hinamori-kun. But we'll take it from here."

It was Kira-kun who had spoken, and Hisagi-kun was with him.

The lieutenants of Ichimaru- Tōsen- and Aizen-taichō, all here…all together…

------------

But that was as far as my thought process went at the time.

Kira Izuru

I had only to look to see that Matsumoto-san was in far more immediate danger. And yet…after what I'd done to Hinamori-kun, raising my blade against her, I felt terrible to just leave her.

"Just hang on, Hinamori-kun," I offered weakly.

Somehow, she smiled.

"Don't worry about me. I'm okay," she replied.

But the whistling sound underlying her words told me she was definitely not okay. She had a pierced lung, which may have even been collapsed…

…but Matsumoto-san was so much worse…

Hitsugaya Tōshirō

"Don't patronize me, brat," snapped Hallibel. "I haven't even revealed to you a fraction of my power."

That's what I was afraid of. But Hinamori, Matsumoto – I have to go to them…

"Bankai! Daiguren, Hyōrinmaru!"

Kira Izuru

How is this possible?

In what seemed the blink of an eye, Hisagi- and Iba-kun were lying unconscious beside me. I moved back and forth between them, fighting back my rising panic. The one saving grace was that Yamamoto-sōtaichō had defeated Allon, only to vanish into another battle, however.

I knew it would only get worse from the point. It couldn't be long before Aizen showed his face…

Hitsugaya Tōshirō

"Hyōden Hyakkaso!"

As the snowflakes began to fall, I caught a flicker of confusion on Hallibel's face, quickly replaced by fear as icy flowers bloomed where the flakes touched her skin. In a matter of moments, she was locked in an obelisk of ice-flora, shut away from the world to die a bloodless death, alone.

I solemnly looked over the structure, as ever wary of its sinister beauty. After a moment, I turned away, replaced by new purpose.

Hinamori, Matsumoto –

But then the sky split open, unleashing hell from above. I felt the overwhelming wave of reitsu, and immediately realized: The obelisk! It's incomplete—

The ice exploded, and Hallibel flew at me once more.

Kira Izuru

Right above us, a gaping hole had appeared in the sky.

No, no, not now--!

It was too late to hope otherwise; they were here. Aizen, flanked by Tōsen and Ichimaru, stepped into our midst, surveying the surrounding bloodshed with complete indifference.

The intensity of their combined reitsu, especially Aizen's was enough to force me to my knees, right next to Hinamori-kun, who was stirring weakly, trying to turn her head.

I was numb with the realization: We're all going to die – now. It's – it's over.

Hinamori Momo

Aizen-taichō was here…!

Maybe everything would be all right after all.

If only I could stand up…

Kira Izuru

I was surprised when I figure moved passed me, and completely shocked when I was realized it was Hisagi-kun, walking towards Tōsen with his zanpaku-tō drawn.

Ichimaru appeared amused, while Aizen regarded him, uncaring. Tōsen frowned.

"Hisagi…is that you?"

"You'd better believe it."

Tōsen shook his head. "I won't fight you, Hisagi. You're in no condition for a fair fight."

'Oh yeah?" Hisagi-kun replied casually, then lunged forward. He and Tōsen were spun a short distance away in a clamour of resonating steel.

Aizen glanced after them, seeming amused now as well. "I'd say that takes care of him," he commented. "As for the rest—" his gaze swept over us and I couldn't hold back a shiver of disgust and fear.

"Put these pathetic creatures out of their misery, would you, Gin?"

Hitsugaya Tōshirō

Out of the corner of my vision, I saw Hisagi lash out at Tōsen, leaving Aizen and Ichimaru with the others at their mercy.

Gritting my teeth, I doubled the strength of my blows, making Hallibel begin to falter…

Kira Izuru

Ichimaru was not smiling as he came towards us.

'Gin," said Aizen. He had a loathsome smile on his face as he nodded towards Matsumoto-san. "Kill her first."

------------------------

I would never learn why Aizen gave that order. Maybe it was just a random selection to shove his power in our faces. Or maybe he and Ichimaru had had some sort of disagreement, and, having some idea of his past with Matsumoto-san, ordered hi to kill her first just to remind him who was in authority.

Whatever the answer, I don't think anyone could have predicted what Ichimaru did next.

----------------------

He froze, zanpaku-tō raised. He appeared troubled. He stood there for what seemed a long time, gazing at Matsumoto-san with an odd expression on his face.

Hinamori-kun seemed to be trying to say something, but her voice was too frail and her words stumbled over themselves.

Aizen said nothing, but it was clear he was becoming impatient.

Ichimaru suddenly lowered his blade to his side and turned slowly. "I—" he started.

But he never got to finish, for, in one lightning-swift movement, Aizen drew his zanpaku-tō and plunged it into Ichimaru's heart.

I found myself able to leap to my feet with a strangled yell of shock.

Aizen paid no attention, instead jerking the blade out of Ichimaru, his eyes hard and pitiless. "I have no more use for your weakness," he said.

Ichimaru's eyes flashed open, widening before he collapsed in a growing pool of scarlet, near to where Matsumoto-san lay.

Matsumoto Rangiku

"Rangiku…? Can you…hear me?"

…Gin…? What's going on…?

"I'm so…so-sorry…"

A dream?

"Rangiku…"

Why can't I answer, then?

"Rangiku…I've…I've always…"

Silence. Just silence.

Gin? Gin? Where are you…?

Kira Izuru

"A-Aizen-taichō…?"

His gaze came to rest on Hinamori-kun and his eyes became cold with disdain. His wrist flexed slightly, angling his zanpaku-tō so the fresh blood upon it gleamed.

In an instant, I leaped in front of Hinamori-kun, and the blade slashed across my front from left shoulder to right hip; I staggered back and fell, the white-hot agony making it difficult to breathe, overwhelming me and forcing me into a helpless state. I could only look on in horror at Aizen and Hinamori-kun, with nothing between her and his zanpaku-tō…

Hitsugaya Tōshirō

I slashed with Hyōrinmaru, expecting to meet resistance, but instead finding the metal biting deep into flesh, slicing across Hallibel's midriff, the blade disappearing in a curtain of blood, all but severing the Espada in two.

She looked up at me, her mouth opening as if to say something, but ribbons of blood spilled over her lips, preventing speech, and then she fell.

Immediately, I looked to where I knew Hinamori and Matsumoto to be, just in time to see Kira stagger abck with blood spraying from a deep chest wound. Now, before Aizen, all alone, was a defenseless ---

Hinamori!

Kira Izuru

"You – you didn't have to do that," Hinamori-kun said quietly. "He's not loyal to Ichimaru-taichō; it's okay. And Ichimaru-taichō is dead now; you killed him! So it's okay. You can come back now."

After a slight pause, Aizen laughed. It was a very quiet laugh, very soft – and completely terrifying.

"Once again, I underestimated you, Hinamori-kun," he said, the amusement clear in his voice. "You truly are loyal to the very end."

To the very end…

Aizen raised his zanpaku-tō –

My voice failed me as the blade fell, but my mind hollered, NO!

*CLANG!*

Hinamori Momo

Hitsugaya-kun?

He was crouched in front of me, holding his zanpaku-tō over his head. It was the same position he'd been in when he'd intervened to stop Kira-kun and me from fighting…

In one movement, he grabbed me by the arm with his free hand, yanked me to my feet – and then threw me away from him with all his strength. I rolled and skidded on the ground and stopped nearly thirty feet away. Even from that distance, I could see his eyes were blazing turquoise fury as he charged at Aizen-taichō.

"Hi—Hitsugaya-kun!" I cried, but my voice was hoarse; anyway, it didn't matter, they were flying up in the air, rising higher and higher and vanishing in a clashing of blades.

Kira Izuru

As I managed to struggle to a position on all fours, I noticed everyone, shinigami and Arrancar alike, had ceased fighting to watch the battle between Aizen and Hitsugaya-taichō. Even Hisagi-kun looked on. Tōsen was nowhere to be seen – but Hisagi-kun's zanpaku-tō was reddened to the hilt.

There was a palpavel rise in tension as Hitsugaya-taichō switched to bankai mode, while Aizen was showing no signs of even needing to switch into shikai. But there was never a second's pause as Aizen and Hitsugaya-taichō fought; the tow were a whirl of robes and metal and ice that reflected the sun –

Suddenly, Hitsugaya-taichō doubled over – Aizen had stabbed him. Since he was bent over, it was impossible to tell exactly where, but it must have been serious, for he faltered, then fell.

There were cries of dismay as Hitsugaya-taichō tumbled head over heels towards the ground.

Aizen began to descend as well, slowly, almost casually, in no hurry, certain of victory.

And that was when Hitsugaya-taichō righted himself and shot right back up towards him – clearly not as hurt as he'd pretended to be.

He flew up impossibly fast, and he'd timed it perfectly – Aizen barely had time to register what had just happened before Hitsugaya-taichō's blade stabbed into his stomach; the tip protruded from between his shoulderblades – a ceratin-death strike.

There was a resonating clatter of metal as the remaining Arrancar threw their swords to the ground.

Just like that, it was over – but not in the way any of us had expected.

Hinamori Momo

"Nooooooo!" I screamed, but my voice was lost in the ring of metal against unforgiving earth. I leaped to my feet, but found that to be a mistake as my head spun and I started coughing. Covering my mouth, I felt something warm and wet and sticky against my hand. I pulled it away to see dark blood staining my palm. I became even dizzier, and my vision began to turn grey at the edges.

In seconds, there was black, only black, black as crow's wings.

Hitsugaya-kun --- you --- killed ---

Why?

Why?!

Why…?

A/N: So! There you go! Haha this is like "Oblivion"…Momo passing out at the end of the first chapter! Hahaha…Please review and let me know what you thought…and, if you're new to my fics, feel free to check out my other ones as well, and send me some feedback:)

Hope to see you back next chapter! Peace!

~Raye Lynne