Tuliro
By REDROSES13
Disclaimer: I do not own bleach.
AN: This is a fictional battle between Hinamori and the reigai Hitsugaya. I was inspired when I saw the episode when Hitsugaya was battling the reigai Hinamori. I gave the reigai Toshiro a different personality than the real one to make a difference in the way they act. Note this: the reigai are slightly weaker than the real ones. But in my opinion, even the reigai Hitsugaya won't hurt Hinamori. However, that's not the case here. :) And Byakuya did not battle the reigai toshiro in this fanfic.
Chapter 1
Hitsugaya was nearly close to his destination. However, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure sitting on top of a roof.
Hinamori?
His curiosity grew and he came closer. Just as he thought, it was her.
"Shiro-chan."
He didn't bother to correct her.
"Hinamori?"
"What are you doing here?" She was supposed to be resting right now. But something just doesn't seem right..
"Well..When I woke up the people from Squad 12 who were looking after me were all gone. Where did everyone go?" She asked.
"You still don't look well. I think you should rest." He replied with concern hinted within his voice.
His suspicion only grew stronger. Her reitsu was somehow different.
"No. I'm all right." She gave him a reassuring smile.
Her sweet smile erased all the doubts he had.
"No." he replied. "Multiple battles are going on right now. We might find ourselves in a battle as well. You better somewhere safe."
He couldn't bear the thought of her being injured again.
"Thank you." She stood up. "But really, I'm all right."
Before she had the chance to stumble forward, Hitsugaya instinctively reacted pulling her back from falling.
"You're tottering." he said supporting her weight. "Don't strain yourself. You need to rest right now."
"I'm sorry.. Shiro-chan." she responded.
He felt his chest contract when she leaned on him but it didn't feel right. The doubts only increased. This wasn't Hinamori. Impossible.
"I'm so sorry."
He expected it. A part of him expected it for her to draw her sword on him. He purposely allowed her to get closed to him for the reason he know to well. He blocked it by stopping the tilt of her zanpakuto. When he saw the silver bracelet, he knew his suspicions were correct. It wasn't the real her. He felt his heart dropped. Disappointment.
"It's no use." he simply said. "You can't kill me."
"But can you kill me, Shiro-chan? Are you going to try and kill me...again.?"
The last word echoed in his mind as he remembered the memory that cursed him everytime he closed his eyes. His sword piercing through the person he swore to protect. Her voice faintly calling out to him as he cradle her againts his chest.
Shiro-chan... why?
He remembered it too well and he let loose of the tilt.
"Ah!" the reigai Hinamori yelled.
Damn it.
Her blade penetrated his skin and dwelled deep into his chest. He felt it. The sharp sting. He gasped and staggered backwards.
"I'm really sorry. It's not my fault." he heard her say.
Damn it.
"It's Kageroza's fault for coming up with this idea." She raised her sword.
Hitsugaya ran leaving a trail of blood. He glanced behind him and the reigai was still chasing him. He dodged her swing and managed to leap to the other side of the roof. She followed and unsuccessfully smashed the yellow, roof stiles. His hand went to his back ready to pull his sword but when she looked up at him, he was unable too.
Her eyes.
The reigai suddenly appeared behind him and striked him down. He laid there, on the ground.
"Forgive me, Shiro-chan." she said, looking down.
She lifted her zanpakuto. "Snap, Tobiume."
Hitsugaya barely made it on time as the fireball blast the ground where he was a second ago. Debris flew everywhere. All of the sudden, Hinamori stood in front of him.
How?
She seemed suprised when he stared at her expecting an attack.
"Snap, Tobiume!" came behind him.
His head snapped as the fireball came contact with his skin. His body flew backwards followed by another explosion.
"Shiro-chan!" the other Hinamori exclaimed.
"Is that me?" she asked bewildered as the reigai stared back at her. She saw blood dripping from her sword.
"You hurt Shiro-chan, didn't you!" their zanpakutos clattered together at contact. "Unforgivable."
"I... didn't do it because I wanted too!"
As Hitsugaya ascended from the ground, he was baffled as he watched the two of them battling each other.
"Shiro-chan!" one of them called out.
"Shiro-chan! Help me!" the other yelled.
As much as he loved Hinamori, he couldn't figured out which was the real one.
"Bakudo #4: Hainawa!"
A crackling, yellow rope was generated from the reigai's hand and came directly to Hinamori, binding her arms.
"Help me, Shiro-chan!"
He was losing his mind. For the third time of his life, he didn't know what to do.
"Don't let her trick you! She's an imposter!"
"No! I'm not an imposter!" the other one exclaimed. "Quiet, imposter!"
She came at her with her blade, ready to strike the Hinamori that was binded.
"Believe me, Shiro-chan!"
His body jumped infront the helpless Momo. "Stop it!" he shouted.
It all happened quickly. Two zanpukutos pierced his body. His blood splattered everywhere and it was amazing how he was still alive. Hitsugaya grinded his teeth from the pain.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
"Snap, Tobiume!" Both of them called out.
His eyes widened as two fireballs came directly at him destroying the wall and burning everything on its path.
"We're so sorry. This is Kageroza's strategy."
"We're weaker than you, Shiro-chan. He said if we made you drop you guard then we could defeat you. Because you could never attack us, Shiro-chan."
"We're so sorry."
"Please don't hate us for this." they raised both of their swords.
"So you're both reigai?" he whispered relief flooded his system. "That's good."
"What? Good?" they were suprised. "Why do you say that?"
"It's not good! We tricked you!"
"That's all right. Because I didn't have to get the real Hinamori involved in this mess." he replied closing his eyes.
Hinamori.
"I don't ever want to hurt her again."
He heard them gasp at his confession.
"I see. Then we'll make this quick." they replied.
"Shunko!"
Before they could register what happened, Yoruichi kicked them into the other side of the wall.
No!
The smoke cleared.
"We came close but I'm glad."
"I wish... I were the original."
With a poof, they were gone.
Yoriuchi picked up the red marble and turned around to face Hitsugaya. "You're way too naive."
"Tch. You were here in the Soul Society the whole time?" he asked.
"Yeah. I had business to take care of and you?."
"I still have unfinished business too." he said clutchin his wounded chest.
"Hey! Don't over do it!"
"I'll join you shortly." He ignored her. Then he was gone.
The sky was cloudless and the gentle breeze caressed Hinamori's cheeks as she wiped her sweat off her shiginami sleeve. Other battles were happening all around them, battle cries and the constant thunder of destruction. The battle was also taking its toll on her body as she felt the pain of the wound from his sword resurge throughout her chest. The smoke finally cleared off as the Hitsugaya imposter attacked her and she desperately blocked it with her sword. She knew her strength was weakening when he slowly pushed her back against the wall of the building. Her whole body was on fire, the pain in her chest only grew stronger and her eyesight becoming blurry. Despite of her circumstance, she still had the power to call upon her sword.
"Snap, Tobiume!" she called out with a fierce determination, gripping the tilt of her blade.
The imposter widened his eyes not expecting her move and draw back quickly to the far side of the other wall. As expected, a huge fireball came at him with amazing speed that he barely had enough time to dodge. Hinamori cursed under her breath as her opponent came unscathed.
"Surrender. It's pointless to continue if we both know the outcome of this battle." He said drawing his sword and coming dangerously at her direction; his turquoise eyes glow blue with menace.
"You will not hurt me… no… You can never hurt me, Shiro-chan." Her voice cracked with desperation.
"I may have his appearance and abilities but do I have to remind you over and over again, I'm not him. Tch, what a pain."
She grimaced at his reply and looked away.
This was not the time to feel sorry for yourself. You're better than that! Remember all the training for the past two weeks.
And with renewed strength she charged at him again. He blocked it as both of their blade clashed struggling for power. Her thoughts raced inside her head trying to form strategies to defeat him or at least caught him off guard.
Their surroundings were once again clouded with dust as both of them collide again and again. The sound of their blades echoed throughout the building. Time passed and he had the upper hand. The battle dragged on. Hinamori could barely keep up but she managed to defense herself from getting more injuries.
He was getting annoyed. Why won't this girl go down!
"I'm getting tired of this." He said pointing the tip of weapon at the sky. "Sit upon the frozen heaven, Hyourinmaru!"
A white streak of light from his zanpakuto flew above the cloudless sky, then the gentle breeze turned into more ferocious wind and black, thunderous clouds gathered churning as lightning began to appear followed by the crackling thunder. Hinamori's face paled as the revelation of his formidable power compared to hers. She felt her body drained out of energy, her knees wobbled, and her breathe was wedged between her throat as she was awe at the marvelous sight. However, her rate raced with excitement when the thought of actually battling her childhood friend-though it's not really him—without him holding back his abilities for the fear of hurting her brought adrenaline all over her body.
She was almost giddy.
No, you're supposed to be afraid! She thought surprised at her own reaction.
The regai Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes. "You're not scared."
"I wanted this ever since Shiro-chan and I started sparring together… He always went easy on me even though I urged him fight me more seriously." She smiled.
"You'll regret it.. The real one was weak, always acting on his emotions..And that was his greatest weakness."
Before she had the chance to protect herself, he flew down at her with incredible speed that almost matched the 2nd division captain with his weapon fixed upon her. Her body reacted to the threat and dodged also releasing fireballs at him. He easily countered her attack with his blade and before she could react, slashed her from behind.
She gasped and nearly doubled backwards from his strike.
He saw her body response and jump onward to the corner for safety.
Hinamori's body screamed with agony.
NO. You can't go down this easily. Remember...
"Hado #4: Byakurai!" She pointed her index finger releasing a highly-concentrated lightning bold at his direction plus two, another fireballs acting as a distraction.
"Guncho Tsurara." He whispered.
Multiple ice daggers came contact with her attacks at mid air and created an explosion that almost threw her off balance but scarcely regained her footing.
Now's my chance.
"Hado #32: Okasen!" A huge, powerful yellow orb illuminated from her blade as the energy swiftly traveled directly to her opponent.
She prayed that he was hit because she began to feel the mild side-effects from using the medium skill kido and the loss of blood from the two wounds. The smoke finally cleared and she brought her zanpakuto protectively in front of her body while trying to stop the bleeding on her chest.
I got him! She thought when she saw him bent over pressing his palm on his left shoulder.
The reigai clutched his wound not believing that she really did got him. He scowled at himself for lowering his guard and he descended himself to the ground. His knees almost gave out but remained his balance by leaning onto the wall. He glanced at Hinamori and her condition wasn't good either. He noted that her body was long past its limit depicted by her constant gasps for air and the way her composure slightly swayed. Despite the sharp pain, he managed to show a smile. He underestimated her. He didn't expect her to actually wound him or managed to stay conscious after the injuries he had caused her.
She saw him smiled and the red glow from his eye vanished. She pondered. Why?
Reigai or not, emotions surged through his body like someone trapped him on an electric chair and electrocution him. It felt like tiny sparks crackling within his body blocking the pain. He never felt anything like this before.
"Tch."
Then as fast as the feeling came, it disappeared leaving the imposter to fascinate at the new discovery. He dropped his sword signaling his surrender, his frozen wings shattered, and he slumped against the wall. So that was it. His will to fight and his facade evaporated the moment he was injured.
What's the point?
He was proud for her. This realization bewildered him. He could have easily killed her from the very beginning but the look of determination on her face prevented him. His body and his mind prevented him from inflicting any more serious damage on her.
Maybe I am as weak as he is.
He sighed. I guess this is it.
He opened his mouth to say his farewell. "Hinamori, I wish…." However, the wind carried the rest of his voice as the lightning flashed across the sky for the last time and the clouds finally cleared; then he felt nothing.
She wanted to rush to his side and tend to his wound but her feet remained rooted to the ground preventing her to move. She saw his mouth moved but didn't—couldn't—hear him for the wind and the crackle of thunder covered his voice. Then she saw him disappear with the wind leaving behind a crimson, round jewel, and a red stain of blood on the wall.
She won. Just barely. Hinamori felt like laughing, rejoicing that she had protected herself successfully against a formidable adversary but the ache in her chest and from her back only increased. The scene of the nisemono Hitsugaya so helpless seem so real that she thought it was really her Shiro-chan. A moment passed and the she felt a drop of water. Her hand came up involuntary and the rain drops softly came down.
Hinamori gazed at the clear blue sky. It's raining.
The touch of the tender shower washed away the image of the reigai and she sense a new relief. With a soft sigh, her zanpakuto changed into its regular form as it crashed onto the ground with a vibrating echo. Finally her knees gave out and her body dropped faced down with a thud.
AN: well? What did you think? Worthy to continue? Express your opinion by reviewing.. :)
Byakurai: pail lightning.
Okasen: Yellow fire flash
Hainawa: Crawling rope
Nisemono: imposter
Zanpakuto: sword