Disclaimer- I do not own Bleach.
Chapter Four- Confrontation
Hinamori had been traveling through the Menos forest, battling both Hollow and Arrancar, and she was nearing the point of exhaustion. The enemies were unrelenting, they just kept coming. Finding herself surrounded by a group of at least twenty, comprised of both Hollow and Arrancar, Hinamori thought for the first time that maybe this trip might not have been the best idea. She still desperately wanted to confront Aizen however she was less sure now that she'd survive long enough to be able to do that.
Never the less she was still determined not to go down without a fight. Raising her zanpaktou she cried out, "Snap, Tobiume!"
The upheld zanpaktou was released into its Shikai form and Hinamori stared at her enemies, a determined look in her chocolate colored eyes.
"That's Hinamori," Hitsugaya thought to himself as he felt a surge of reiatsu. This was the first time he'd sensed her in several hours and he knew that she must be battling a tough opponent. That's the only thing that would make her lose the concentration necessary to maintain the barrier that had been shielding her reiatsu from detection.
"I'm coming."
Using his flash-step the young captain vanished.
Both arms dripped blood, the left was all but useless, and yet Hinamori kept fighting. Several Hollow had fallen and she was not yet ready to give up and accept defeat and death. Firing kidou blasts with Tobiume, Hinamori destroyed a couple more Hollow however she was suddenly knocked to the ground by an Arrancar. The attack took her by surprise and Hinamori felt something hot and wet trickling down the side of her head.
Glancing up Hinamori saw the Arrancar preparing to deal the blow that would end the battle. Clenching her eyes tightly closed Hinamori awaited the attack however several seconds passed and it did not come. Opening her eyes a fraction Hinamori caught a glimpse of white and her eyes widened completely as she realized what the glimpse of white meant. Hitsugaya stood in front of her, his sword blocking the Arrancar's attack and his captain's coat billowing out in the wind caused by the Arrancar's attack.
"What the HELL did you think you were doing?" As he spoke Hitsugaya was surrounded by a blue aura and ice began to wind its way up the Arrancar's arm.
"Toushirou," Hinamori said softly.
Swinging Hyourinmaru, Hitsugaya destroyed the Arrancar that had been about to kill Hinamori. Then he released the ice dragon, which laid waste to the remaining Hollow. As Hinamori watched the battle she couldn't help but marvel at how strong her friend had become. He truly was a frightening child.
Sheathing his zanpaktou Hitsugaya turned to face Hinamori, his eyes narrowed. "Do you have a death wish Hinamori?"
Hitsugaya's voice was calm this time however Hinamori would have felt better if he'd shouted at her. The angry outbursts that she so often heard from her friend she was used to and could handle however this quieter side of the young captain was far scarier.
"I just wanted to know why," Hinamori whispered, tears welling up in her eyes and sliding down her face.
Hitsugaya knelt so that he was eye to eye with Hinamori, who was still sitting where she'd fallen after the Arrancar's attack. "Idiot. Aizen already tried to kill you once. What the hell would make you think this time would be any different?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know," Hitsugaya repeated, his voice filled with disgust. "Well I'll tell you what's different. Absolutely nothing. Had you made it to Aizen's fortress then you would have died. Is that what you want?"
"I'm sorry Toushirou," Hinamori said, gazing at him , her eyes pleading for his understanding and forgiveness.
Getting back to his feet Hitsugaya offered Hinamori his hand. "Come on. We're going home."
Hinamori knew by the tone of his voice, which left no room for argument, that this wasn't a request from a friend. This was an order from a captain and after this last disastrous battle Hinamori knew that there was no way she could make it to Aizen's castle. She'd been a fool to think otherwise. Grasping his offered hand Hinamori allowed Hitsugaya to pull her to a standing position.
"You're a mess," Hitsugaya said.
Matsumoto was following Tomori and the rest of the group when she felt a familiar reiatsu, although it was weak and obviously radiating from a great distance away. It was Hyourinmaru, which meant that her captain was engaged in combat. Glancing at the others Matsumoto knew at once that they either didn't feel, or else didn't recognize, the reiatsu. It was so faint that it was impossible to gauge its power from here and they obviously couldn't link it to Captain Hitsugaya.
"Should I tell him?" Matsumoto thought to herself.
Glancing at the others once again and seeing that Tomori still wore a smug look on his face, Matsumoto decided that she'd let him lead them around obliviously for a little while longer. There was no hurry to inform him what a moron he was.
"The captain will be okay," Matsumoto thought to herself. "He can take care of himself and if I know him he's already found Hinamori by now."
Hitsugaya and Hinamori were silent as they made their way through the Menos forest. Each was lost in their own thoughts. Hinamori's thoughts were focused on the present and she was both depressed over the fact that she'd been unable to reach Aizen's fortress and at the same time touched that Hitsugaya had traveled all the way to Hueco Mundo for her.
Hitsugaya's thoughts, on the other hand, were focused solely on the future and what would happen once they returned to Soul Society. He'd traveled to Hueco Mundo against the wishes of the Head Captain and he was fairly sure that he'd be dismissed as a captain if not arrested for treason. Whatever the punishment Hitsugaya would accept it without protest, he'd decided this before leaving Soul Society. However he did plan to plead Hinamori's case to Head Captain Ukitake. He'd tell the Head Captain that she was suffering from severe stress on top of mental trauma and although he knew that this approach would most likely result in Hinamori being relieved of her duties as acting captain Hitsugaya was hopeful that it would keep her out of trouble.
As he made his plans Hitsugaya led the way toward Matsumoto and her group. He could feel the reiatsu of his vice-captain, as well as others he couldn't identify, and he'd decided to meet up with them so that they could all travel back to Soul Society together. However their progress was halted by the appearance of yet another Arrancar.
"Dammit but these guys are persistent," Hitsugaya said as he unsheathed his zanpaktou.
Hinamori went for her sword as well but Hitsugaya shook his head. "You don't have to. I can handle this guy."
Hinamori nodded and released her grip on the handle of her zanpaktou.
"Reign over the frosted, frozen sky Hyourinmaru!"
Hitsugaya swung his zanpaktou in a circle above his head, releasing the ice dragon.
"Found him!" Tomori said as he and the others felt a strong reiatsu radiating from nearby.
"It's about time," Matsumoto thought to herself, rolling her eyes. "The captain and Hinamori have been heading toward us for the last hour. I was beginning to think Head Captain Ukitake had sent me out with a bunch of incompetents."
"Come on," Tomori called out.
Nodding the group of Shinigami all used their flash-step.
Rushing toward the Arrancar, Hitsugaya stabbed his sword in the beast's chest all the way up to the hilt. The tip of Hyourinmaru emerged from the Arrancar's back and ice exploded from it from all sides, shattering the body of the Arrancar. Hitsugaya pulled Hyourinmaru free and watched as the Arrancar fell to the ground. Slightly out of breath the young captain sheathed his sword.
"Toushirou," Hinamori said. "Someone's coming."
Glancing up Hitsugaya saw the black clad figures approaching them. "It's Matsumoto's group."
"Oh," Hinamori said.
Hitsugaya opened his mouth to greet his vice-captain however his words fell short as one of the Shinigami accompanying her suddenly flash-stepped over to him. Surprised and completely caught off guard by the unexpected move Hitsugaya felt something close around his neck.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Hearing a gasp from behind him Hitsugaya turned around and found that the same thing that had happened to him had happened to Hinamori as well. She now wore a black band around her neck and a shocked expression on her face.
Reaching up Hitsugaya grasped the band that was wrapped around his own neck and pulled at it, attempting to remove it. However he found himself unable to break it.
"What did you do to them?" Matsumoto demanded, glaring at the Shinigami who was standing beside her captain.
"We sealed their powers," Tomori informed her. "And not even a captain class Shinigami can break the seal. Now they have no choice but to return to Soul Society with us."
"They never said they wouldn't come back," Matsumoto growled, her narrowed gaze focused on the Squad Twelve member, whom she heartily disliked at this point. "They made no attempt to run when they saw us."
"Well I couldn't very well ask them, 'hey are you going to come with us or do I have to use force'," Tomori said in his own defense. "I knew that the only chance we had of getting the collars on them would be to catch them off guard. I saw an opportunity and I took it."
"I warned you what would happen if you didn't treat him with respect." Matsumoto took a menacing step toward Tomori, who shrank back in horror, however she stopped when she saw Hitsugaya shake his head ever so slightly. Not having noticed the captain's actions Tomori thought she'd thought better of the idea and decided to cooperate. The smug look returned to his face.
"I think we should take their swords too Ryuu," the Shinigami standing next to Hinamori said. "Just in case."
"Good idea Taisuke," Tomori said to the Squad Three third seat. He turned to Hitsugaya. "Give me your zanpaktou."
"Not a chance." Both Hitsugaya's gaze and his tone were icy.
"With all due respect 'Captain' you should listen to me," Tomori said, although he made no move to take the sword by force. "You're already in enough trouble without adding to it by being defiant."
"Toushirou," Hinamori said, her tone confused. "What's going on? What did you do?"
"I came to get you," Hitsugaya replied as he untied the sash that held Hyourinmaru secured across his back. "Without permission."
Hinamori gasped as the full horror of the situation hit her. Her best friend was now in trouble because he'd came to help her and it was all her fault. Hinamori was so distracted by this realization that she didn't even notice when her sword was taken from her.
Tomori reached for Hyourinmaru however an icy look from Hitsugaya made him take a few steps back.
Turning his back on the Squad Twelve member Hitsugaya held out his zanpaktou to Matsumoto.
"Captain. . ."
Hitsugaya gave his vice-captain a meaningful stare, his vivid green eyes speaking volumes, and she accepted the outstretched sword without another word. Taking Hyourinmaru in her hands Matsumoto felt the full weight of the situation for the first time. Up until now she hadn't given a second thought to what would happen to her captain once he was found. She'd gone about this mission as though they'd just bring Hitsugaya and Hinamori back to Soul Society and then everything would go back to normal.
"Stupid," she inwardly berated herself. "That was so unbelievably stupid."
"Toushirou," Hinamori whispered, gazing over at her childhood friend. "I'm sorry."
Hitsugaya gave no sign that he'd heard her words. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, his hand once again gripping the black band that was around his neck.
"This is so humiliating," the young captain thought to himself, ignoring Hinamori's apology. He was angry over the whole situation and it was all he could do to remain silent however he'd been the one who'd made the decision to come to Hueco Mundo, fully knowing the consequences of his actions.
"Come on," Tomori said. "Let's go back to Soul Society."
All but Hitsugaya, Hinamori and Matsumoto nodded and the group began the trek back to the spot where they hoped the gate back to Urahara's shop would still be open. Tomori led the way while Matsumoto, Hitsugaya and Hinamori brought up the rear. Tomori was okay with this arrangement since he knew neither Hitsugaya nor Hinamori would dare attempt an escape at this point. To do so now, with their powers sealed and their swords no longer in their possession, would be suicide.