This one's a really short chapter. I'm sorry about that. Since it's so short, I'll upload the next chapter now too.

It's only short 'cause I had writer's block while I was trying to write it. -_-'

Anyway, enjoy it and its shortness. After all, Toshiro is short, but we all love him~! XD

Oh, and sorry it's a day late; my internet crashed yesterday.

And disclaimer goes here, as usual.

Captain Hitsugaya slammed onto the ground, rolling, while his zanpakuto was wrenched from his hand from the force of the impact. He made himself rise and retrieve his sword, then charged at the enormous hollow with a yell. Rangiku and Renji had engaged the menos and were attempting to hold it still while Toshiro attacked. However, the captain wasn't fairing too well. The menos was completely unfazed by his half-hearted attacks. It was clear that Toshiro's mind was elsewhere as he was swatted away yet again.

"Captain" yelled Rangiku, putting her weight against the hollow. She and Renji had originally intended to have Toshiro finish it off, but obviously that was not going to happen. He was currently lying on the ground, his zanpakuto several feet away. "What are you doing? Get up!" Upon receiving no response, she looked at Renji, who nodded. Working as a team, the lieutenants managed to defeat the hollow without even using their shikai.

-X-

Toshiro groaned as he pushed himself into a sitting position. He didn't bother grabbing his zanpakuto; he knew Renji and Rangiku had already beaten it.

"Captain, what-?" Rangiku asked, concerned, as she walked over to him. She stopped when Toshiro held up his hand.

"Tell me, where is she? And I want the truth this time," he murmured, his eyes shielded. He needed to know the answer now; where was Hinamori? He'd known from the beginning that she wasn't on some mission, but he'd forced himself to believe the lie. Now that he was so distracted he couldn't even defeat a hollow, he figured it was time for him to learn the truth.

Apparently Rangiku agreed, because she sighed and sat down with a nod. Renji took a seat next to her but refused to meet the inquiring eyes of the captain.

"Fine," Rangiku agreed. "You do deserve to know, I've thought that all along. But we were ordered to keep it a secret. I suppose now that I can't sense even the slightest trace of her spiritual pressure it can't do you any harm. But you won't like it."

Toshiro's eyes narrowed, but he nodded and listened as Rangiku began to speak.