So, since I started the IchigoxRukia fic, I've been mulling over a HitsugayaxHinamori fic… so I finally got it down. I don't think I have Hitsugaya's personality just right, but give me time (plus, it's easier to do Ichigo since you see so much of him in the manga). Sadly, I don't know what happens after chapter 270 in the manga (since there isn't more yet ::cries::), so I made up my own fight with Aizen (p.s. can't wait to read the real thing!). I really tried with the honorifics this time, since I was lazy with the last fic. I originally posted a different version of the first chapter, so this is the edit, which is better. So enjoy!

--

I sat quietly, hardly able to listen to Yamamoto-sama. It wasn't as if I didn't want to, but I couldn't help but only be able to think about Hinamori's absence.

"You all are also to be informed that Hinamori-fukutaichou has been relieved of her duties due to her continuing illness." I snapped to attention, my eyes now focusing on Yamamoto-sama as he spoke. "Furthermore, she will be moved to a special sector of the 4th division in order to help with the healing process. No Shinigami outside of the 4th division will be allowed access."

"What?" I stood, sending Matsumoto into a panic.

"Hitsugaya-taichou!" Matsumoto grasped my sleeve, trying to pull me back to my seat.

"Hitsugaya-taichou, please take your seat. There will be no arguing; the matter is already decided."

I sat down slowly, feeling the shock cramping my muscles. Damnit! How could they expect to take Hinamori away like that without me objecting?

"What were you thinking?" Matsumoto hissed.

"Shut up," I replied sharply, glaring at her.

"Hitsugaya-taichou, I know…"

"You don't know anything." I shut my eyes, blocking out the pathetic look she was giving me. Taking a deep breath, I concentrated on calming myself until the meeting was over. I made sure to be the first one out, waiting for the 4th division to exit.

"I thought you'd be waiting for us, Hitsugaya-taichou," Unohana paused as she saw me standing there, Kotetsu at her side.

"Tell me this wasn't your idea, Unohana-taichou," I whispered.

"Many people believe this is the best for Hinamori-fukutaichou." Unohana always had the same tone in her voice, the grace and calm.

"Why were not all of the captains asked for their opinion on this?" My jaw started to clench tighter, making my voice even harsher.

"You mean to say, why were you not asked?" Unohana smiled, much to my vexation.

I couldn't think of any retort, my anger starting to cloud my eloquence. This was all Aizen's fault! If he had never done that to her… Damnit! "When does the treatment begin?"

"She's already been taking into the custody of the 4th division." She turned away from me. "And please, Hitsugaya-taichou, do not be so foolish as to try to see her."

"If you let her die…" My fist clenched, crescent moon marks pressed into the skin of my palm.

"It's not up to me, it's up to Hinamori-fukutaichou."

--

"So, you gonna move your office here now?"

I turned my head to see Renji standing there, hands on his hips. "What are you doing here?" There went my icy tongue again.

Renji looked at the door I had probably been sitting in front of for at least five hours everyday. "Just came to say hi to Hinamori-san."

"It's not as if you can see her." I caught my voice before it sounded too forlorn, mentally berating myself for showing that much emotion to Renji.

"No, but, I can still feel her reiatsu, so I'm sure she can feel mine." Renji touched his hand to the door and smiled softly. It was almost inaudible, but his lips moved to release the words, "Feel better, Hinamori-san."

I wished that I could show the level of affection Renji did. After all, he had only been classmates with Hinamori; whereas, we had been together since childhood. Damnit. My eyes must have given my thoughts, making Renji cleared his throat. "Hitsugaya-taichou…"

"What is it?" I focused on a knot in the wood of the door.

"If I know one thing about Hinamori-san, it's that she absolutely hates it when you get all broody." He crossed his arms over his chest. "So, my suggestion would be to send warm, cuddly reiatsu her way instead of your usual icy exhaust."

"I don't think I need to take advice from a vice-captain."

Renji shrugged. "Whatever. Oh, and Kuchiki-taichou wants to see you." He waved and began walking away.

"Hinamori…" I sighed out, leaning forward until my forehead touched the door. "This is ridiculous… how am I supposed to protect you with this wall between us?" I sat like that for a long time, contemplating what Renji had said. "Forget it. I'll see you tomorrow, Hinamori…"

I stood up stiffly and slow, my joints aching from all the sitting. It wasn't an exciting idea, seeing Byakuya. But I assumed I had to, so I made my way to the 6th division and knocked on the door, entering. "Kuchiki-taichou, you wanted to see me?" I was a bit surprised to see Ichigo sitting with him, but from Ichigo's body language, it wasn't a pleasurable visit.

"Yamamoto-sama has chosen Matsumoto-fukutaichou and yourself to accompany Kurosaki-kun."

"Where?"

"To finish Aizen."

My lips stretched into a smile that I had never used before, bringing discomfort to both Ichigo and Byakuya. It was vengeful and full of hate, a smile that only people like Aizen or Gin let grace their lips. "Very well, then, Kuchiki-taichou."

Ichigo eyed me. "Tōshirō, mind taking a walk with me?"

"Are we done, Kuchiki-taichou?"

"Yes, just report to the west gate tomorrow morning at sunrise."

"Let's go, then, Ichigo." I turned quickly and exited, that smile still plastered on my face. Kill Aizen. We walked together down the walkway, away from the 6th division and out into the deserted streets.

"Tōshirō, what the hell was that about?"

"It's Hitsugaya-taichou. And I don't know what you're talking about."

He grasped my arm, turning me to him. "I don't want you coming if you're going to be like this, Tōshirō."

"This is how I am, Ichigo." I finally looked at his eyes and, for the first time in a long time, became afraid. I could swear he was about to hit me.

"I heard about Hinamori-san," he stated firmly.

My insides started to churn. "This has nothing to do with her."

"Oh, it doesn't, huh? Then why did you get that look as soon as Aizen was mentioned? She wouldn't-"

"You have no idea what you're talking about!" I balled my fists. "Stop right now, Ichigo, and let me do my job. My motives are my business."

Ichigo's jaw tightened and he hung his head slightly.

"I think we're done." I turned away from him and began walking.

"Tōshirō."

I stopped.

"What if I could get you in to see her?"

My heart seized up in my chest. See her? It's impossible! "This isn't like your rescue missions. Hinamori isn't being kept against her will."

"But she's being kept against your will."

I turned back, wanting to see deception on his face, but only finding him smiling sadly. "Why would you do this?"

Ichigo shrugged. "For some reason, you've become a giant ass since she went away, so I thought maybe it'd help you get your head on straight."

I laughed lightly. "You really have some nerve, Ichigo."

"Yeah, well, I say what I think. Can't help it."

"Well, then… how are we going to do this?"

--

"Hanatarō, you sure this is possible?" Ichigo eyed Hanatarō.

"Unohana-taichou is only there from noon until five. After and before, we have alternating members from the 4th division. Midnight until one is my shift, so…"

"Man, Hanatarō, you really planned this out." Ichigo smiled and patted his back, finally turning his eyes to me. "Do you still think you can do this, Tōshirō?"

I stood, moving right in front of Hanatarō. In one swift motion I punched him in the stomach and then kneed him in the face.

"Tōshirō!" Ichigo grabbed me, pulling me away from Hanatarō. "What the hell are you doing?"

I ignored his question and kept my eyes on the now bleeding Hanatarō. "If we're caught, we tortured you into letting us in. If we aren't, you had a bad fall down the stairs."

"Yes, Hitsugaya-taichou." Hanatarō cleared from blood from the side of his mouth.

"Now, let's go." I struggled out of Ichigo's grasp, his mouth still screwed up in a frown.

The three of us walked quietly down the halls of the 4th division. Most of the Soul Society was asleep by then, allowing us to move unnoticed through the walkways. Hanatarō stopped, pointing towards the door I had spent much of my time outside of. He took a key from his pocket and unlocked it, handing me the key. "She's right in there. Please make sure to lock it behind you and again once you've left."

"Thanks, Hanatarō." Ichigo patted his head softly and followed me into the room, closing and locking the door behind us. "You didn't have to hit him so hard," Ichigo whispered.

"It had to be believable." My voice was shaking… my whole body was shaking. She was right there, across the room, in a bed against the wall.

Ichigo leaned against the door. "Go, I'll stay right here."

I nodded, unable to make my voice sound again. I walked achingly slow to her side, sitting on the bed. She looked terribly pale, thin as a bamboo shoot. "Hinamori…" I hesitantly took her hand in mine, waiting for her brown eyes to flutter open. But the waiting never ended, and her eyes stayed closed, her reiatsu feeling so weak. "I missed you, Hinamori."

Suddenly, Renji's words popped into my head, and I closed my eyes, concentrating on the memories we had together; eating watermelon and spitting the seeds at each other, the name Shirō-chan, our days running around Rukongai. "I want all those things back, Hinamori. But will you hate me if I kill Aizen? Will I lose you because you lost him?" I opened my eyes, only to see no change in her physical appearance, but… her reiatsu seemed to be pulling at me.

"I don't know what I can do for you, or what you want from me… but no matter what happens you need to know that I…" The nervousness ate at my stomach. She may be unconscious, but I still couldn't seem to force the words out of my mouth. Without warning, tears started to form in my eyes, my whole mind screaming that this would be the last time I ever saw her. Whether it was true or not, I had to do it. "I love you, Momo… and when you wake up, I'll tell you that."

I sat there and watched her breathe for a while, her chest rising up and down in short spurts. How did it get so bad? Weeks after Aizen left she had just started to deteriorate… every time I'd see her she's start crying, shaking… and now this. In my heart, I blamed Aizen, blamed him so much that I wanted to rip him apart. But killing him the way I wanted to… it wasn't the way that Hinamori would want me to.

"Yo, midget, I think we should get going." Ichigo had moved beside me, glancing between me and Hinamori.

"Don't call me that," I replied weakly, standing. "Alright. Goodbye, Momo." I let go of her hand and hesitantly reached to touch her face. It felt so warm and soft, a feeling I would remember for the rest of my life. I turned and started walking away, Ichigo close behind me.

We slowly opened the door, checking the surrounding. No one. "Thank you, Ichigo."

He read my face for a moment, but then smile. "No problem."

Yes, thank you, Ichigo, for showing me what I'm actually fighting for.

--

There was no other word for this but bad. Everyone; Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, Matsumoto, and I were bleeding. Well, not to say that Aizen wasn't also injured, but I was almost positive he was toying with us, egging us on to the end, especially since his zanpakutō was full of illusions.

"Fuck this." Ichigo threw himself to his feet.

"Giving up already, Kurosaki-kun?" Aizen laughed softly.

"Nope." Ichigo gave his idiotic, signature smile and laughed. "I'm just done playing around." I saw him reach up near his forehead and suddenly his face was covered by a… hollow's mask? No, it couldn't…

"Hitsugaya-taichou, what is that?" Matsumoto wheezed, her breathing shallow.

"I don't… I don't know…" I felt Ichigo's reiatsu increase to an unimaginable level and I tried to watch him. He was moving ridiculously fast, using attacks I'd never seen. Was this the full extent of his power? Or was it only a piece of what he could do? But after ten seconds, his power level began fluctuating. "Shit!" I ran forward, guessing that Ichigo had reached his limit. Just as I had guessed, the mask broke, leaving him open for Aizen's attack.

"Tōshirō!"

Too late. It was pointless to yell for me. Luckily, Hyōrinmaru blocked him, barely. Only two petals left, shit. I waited for the illusion, and as I thought, he multiplied in my mind. "Sennen hyōrō!" The ice pillars flew up, enveloping all of his doubles. One broke out. It must be him. I ran forward, stabbing Hyōrinmaru into him. "Ryūsenka!" I pulled back Hyōrinmaru, ready to make the last strike.

"Tōshirō!"

I was about to yell for Ichigo to shut up when the iced Aizen shattered… not from my blade, but from Aizen's himself. The only reaction I could muster was moving my head to the left as he brought his blade back up, slashing me from my left hip all the way up to the left side of my face. The blood spewed.

I could hear my name and my eyes closed from the pain. I was too cocky and now I would pay for it. I flew back, rolling across the floor from the impact.

Someone gathered me in their arms. "Tōshirō!"

"Ichi…" I choked on the metal taste in my mouth.

"You idiot…"

"Go…" I thought about trying to push myself from his hold but it was useless. The feeling in my limbs was starting to leave.

"Rukia's in. Right now, I have to get you out of here."

"N… No." I swallowed hard. "Kill… him, Ichigo…"

"Tōshirō…"

The cold crept into my chest. "Thank you… Ichigo…" I forced my eyes open, only seeing a blurry image of his face. "Tell Mo… mo I'm sorry…" I couldn't hear his reply. All I could hear was the beating of my heart slowly deteriorating.