"Tobiume? Where are you?" Momo called. This couldn't be the world inside her mind. It didn't look right. There were no trees. It was too open-there was only grass for miles. Where was the sun? There were clouds covering the sky-but she still couldn't feel the sun. It was cold. Very cold. Not Shiro-cold, but deathly cold. Even though the grass was green. Where was the tree in the middle of her world, where she felt Tobiume the strongest? Where was that huge plum tree? There was no answer to her thoughts. She began to panic. Momo hadn't been alone in her mind before. Always, even before she knew she had shinigami powers, there had been Tobiume's voice, to guide her. To comfort her when times got rough. To encourage her when she needed it. To understand her. To listen to her troubles. To snap her out of it when she was depressed. Where was Tobiume? Momo cupped her hands to her mouth and stood on her tiptoes.

"TOBIUME!!!!!!!!!"

Yet, there was not an answer.

Momo gasped as she woke up, finding herself in a sitting position, and in a cold sweat.

"Momo-what's wrong?"

She looked towards the sound of the voice, and registered white hair. She looked him in his deep, turquoise eyes and whispered desperately.

"She's gone."

THATS ALL FOR THIS CHAPPY. haha-yeah right. I wouldn't be so mean to you guys. End of author's note.

The words echoed throughout her mind with a finalty that snatched at her and tore her heart with a sinking sensation. He was listening now-he looked worried.

"Who's gone?"

"Tobiume. Shiro-chan, she's gone. She left." Momo replied broken-heartedly. His white eyebrows furrowed together.

"What? Don't be stupid, baka. A zanpakto can not leave its weilder. They are a part of the weilder's soul. If either were to leave the other, the soul would be ripped a part," he said a matter-of-factly. Before Momo could respond, the door to the infirmary opened. Captain Unohana surveyed the scene warily, and then handed over a sheet to Hitsugaya.

"Vice Captain Hinamori, you are released into the care of Captain Hitsugaya for the next week. However, it is imperitive that you rest the entire week before resuming your paperwork duties."

What? The question bounced around in her head as Shiro signed the paper and handed it back.

"Captain Unohana?"

The Captain looked over at her.

"Yes, Vice-Captain Hinamori?"

"Wasn't I supposed to be released to my quarters today?"

Captain Unohana hesitated, and Shiro watched her with the same look as Hinamori, only with a more demanding expression. Apparently he didn't know the reason for the situation either.

"Well, as you were resting these past few days, we took a few more tests to make sure you were alright. Before, we had believed your spiritual powers were completely intact, along with the rest of your soul. However, when we took those tests, we found that your spiritual powers had deteriorated. They are nearly none-existent now. This is puzzling, because, as you can see, your zanpakto still has its form, and your aura has not changed."

Momo felt her gut begin to plummet, while Shiro's frown seemed to get deeper and deeper. Captain Unohana paused, scanning both of them before going on, gentling her voice.

"It is very unlikely that your powers will return, Hinamori."

What? But Tobiume had said that she would return. No. This couldn't be happening. Momo suddenly felt like she had stepped off the edge of a cliff into oblivion. Everything she had ever worked for-all gone. The worst part-that one of her closest friends, her closest ally in battle, may not return. The reality was far too strong for her to grasp.

"In normal circumstances, you would have been sent back with your grandmother. However, as Aizen has targeted you, and seeing Captain Hitsugaya's reaction, we have decided that in order to keep Captain Hitsugaya in condition to fight, it would be best if you were put directly under his protection."

So that was it. In a few days she had gone from valuable fighting officer to a liability. Tears welled up in her eyes that she refused to let fall. She felt a warm hand on hers, and Shiro's aura wrapped around her, comforting her. Captain Unohana was wise enough to take her leave at this point. Momo could feel Shiro's eyes on her, but she refused to look up. He might see how conflicted she was.

"Let's go." He said, his rough voice gentle. Her hands balled into fists, and she pushed the tears back. She took a hold of her zanpakto and stood up.

"Yes, let's."

Her voice sounded strangled. Absolutely strangled.