Toshiro collapsed on the hard stone floor of the palace. The arrancars too, seemed affected by the violent transition from one dimension to the next and the weakest among them fell to the ground. Grimmjow kept a straight face but his flesh was pale, even Gin took a moment to recompose his smile.

Aizen, of course, felt no effects, and was on top of Toshiro before he had time to catch his breath. Aizen purposefully gripped his broken wrist, twisting it painfully. Toshiro's mouth set in a determined grimace and he met Aizen's eyes.

"No need to resist Toshiro, I'm on your side. I want you to remember. I want all of Yamamoto's dirty secrets to be revealed. Besides, you know the Soul Society will not send rescuers for you, but assassins. Its too late, to them you are already dead."

He watched as the realization struck the boy but the reaction was not as profound as he'd hoped. It was simply a cold acceptance of what was necessary.

"So you would still die to protect them?"

"Of course."

"Well I'm afraid I can't allow that."

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice."

Toshiro concentrated on the most powerful Hado spell he knew. He began the incantation. Every word, meant to increase the strength of the spell, drained more and more life out of him through the golden shackles. It took Aizen a moment to realize that the boy was slowly but surely committing suicide before his eyes.

"Stop it!" He tightened his grip around Hitsugaya's shattered wrist and struck him across the face but even when the words failed it seemed he was continuing the spell withing his heart. The shackles glowed, Hitsugaya grew paler and paler and his eyes closed.

"Damn you, you've done this to yourself." He drew his sword and prepared to slice the young captain's arms off. Toshiro opened his eyes in time to see the blade fall but it seemed to hit an invisible barrier. The shackles knew what Aizen intended, and there was no way they would allow their removal in any form.

There was only one way to remove them and only Yamamoto and Toshiro knew how. A satisfied smile spread over the boy-captain's face just as he went limp.

"Gin!" Aizen did the only thing he could think to do and that was to let his own spiritual energy flow into the boy to sustain him. Gin came to his side and took over as soon as he realized what he was doing.

"This is only a temporary solution you know." His subordinate said.

"I know, but I believe the power draw stopped when he lost consciousness. Give him enough spiritual energy to keep breathing then make sure he stays unconscious until we can figure out what to do with him."

Gin nodded and lifted the small captain off the floor and headed toward the medical room.

...

"Captain Hitsugaya?' Toshiro's eyes fluttered open, he made out the blurred face of his lieutenant. He tried to speak but no words would form. "Captain Unohana he's awake." He felt his body being jostled slightly as Rangiku rearranged her position holding her captain so as to be more accessible to the healer. Unohana bent low and Toshiro could just barely make out her features. He was still unsure where he was.

"Toshiro, I know you've been through a lot but I need to know how to remove the shackles on your wrist. We haven't much time, they're draining the life from you."

She sat back and he made out the interior of room, rough and abandoned looking. At the doorway stood a man with long dark hair and a white hiori. Toshiro suddenly realized Byakuya's scarf was wrapped around his own trembling shoulders.

"What is going on?" He managed to whisper.

"We're in the world of the living. We rescued you from Aizen and now we're trying to save your life."

"Why did you bring me here?"

"Because," the voice was Byakuya's, "we no longer trust the judgement of the Head Captain. We need to know what you know."

"And we care about you." Rangiku interjected, squeezing him just slightly closer to herself.

"Captain Hitsugaya, please, how do we save you?"

"I can't let you take them off, not if Aizen can still get to me."

"I assure you, you are well protected." the deep voice insisted.

"You have to be absolutely sure." Toshiro said, his voice faint and eyes closing again.

"Captain!"

"Rangiku, thank you, but there is no way to be sure."

"You can't just die."

"Of course I can, if it means protecting the world."

Her face was grave and pale but still a look of shock crossed her. "What secrets could be so powerful?"

"You have no idea."

"Then why did you fight the Head Captain, when he tried to erase your memories?" Unohana asked gently.

"Because he has committed such crimes– we need to reinstate the central 46 and– " His voice cut short, a cold pang shot through his heart and his muscles slackened.

"No!" Rangiku cried.

"Matsumoto, its alright." He shut his eyes, but they jolted open with another surge. He felt the energy from his lieutenant enter into him, but it was strange, not the same sensation of his subordinate's riatsu at all.

"I won't let you die." She said with resolve and love in her voice. Another jolt of the energy hit him and he shivered. This was not her power. His eyes widened.

"What is it?"

She asked through a soft smile.

"Rangiku, your spiritual pressure is different."

The young woman lifted her eyes to the healer, concern passing through them.

"Captain, I think the shackles are affecting your mind, please tell us how to take them off. Its clear we won't let you sacrifice yourself."

His body was shaking quite violently now so he just nodded and pushed away from his lieutenant to better face the fourth division captain.

"You have to stop my heart. They will only dissolve when my heart stops beating. You know the spell, as a healer, you must."

Unohana hesitated. "I do, but even so, its not without risk."

"There's no choice, if you are determined to have me live."

"We are." Rangiku said but her voice warm.

"Hitsugaya." Byakuya came from the door. "If this dosen't work, all those secret will die with you. Is there any way you can tell us before we try?"

Unohana spoke for him. "As long as we are all able to supply him with spiritual power then he can hold on as long as us."

Toshiro felt another jolt of energy from Rangiku. Still it felt cold and unfamiliar, he shiver inside Byakuya's scarf.

"Tell us Captain." she said. He stared up at her. Her arms were warm and gentle, her face radiant and smiling reassuringly down at him, but something was wrong about her. Something wasn't right.

"How exactly did you get me away from Aizen?" He asked after a moment.

"Do not underestimate our powers, Captain Hitsugaya, even your lieutenant showed great strength, you should be proud." He stared in the emotionless brown eyes of the sixth division captain.

"You're evading. What happened?"

"Nothing of consequence, but you must understand that we disobeyed a direct order, we were to take you back to the Soul Society.

"But surely they sent Soifon, where is she, what happened to her?"

"Our paths separated. Please, we haven't much time." More dark energy pour into him, now he was sure. The spiritual pressure was cold and painful to his soul, it could not be his lieutenants'.

"I'm still in Heuco Mundo aren't I?"

"Captain." Rangiku felt his forehead. "He's burning up."

"You must tell us now." Unohana said.

"No, I've already said too much. You aren't real!"

"He's delusional."

"No, you're all an illusion!" he broke away from Rangiku and stumbled to a corner.

"If we are, what can you do about it?" Byakuya asked menacingly.

"This!"

he raised his wrists and poured all his strength into the hungry shackles, the shackles that would never stop feeding on his energy until he was dead.

Byakuya swung out and struck him. The blow did not succeed in knocking him out, but the vision of the room, his lieutenant and the other captains faded and he found himself on a cold table with Aizen above him, his hand still raised from the punch.

"Insolent child." He said but Toshiro was already succeeding. He would hang onto his consciousness this time, to the bitter end. "You don't seriously think I'll let you die." Aizen said leaning in close.

Toshiro tried to push him back but found his arms strapped to the table. Aizen smiled then raised his eyes to a point past the table.

"Uluquiora, make sure he gets enough energy to sustain him during the procedure."

"Yes Lord Aizen." Toshiro heard the toneless voice and stiffened when he felt the small arrancar's hands on his shoulders. More energy flowed into him, dark and twisted, it made him want to puke.

"You don't know the spell." He spat at Aizen. "Only Unohana and the Head Captain can do that kido."

"You said stop your heart. That's what I intend to do, it doesn't mean I'm going to do it with kido."

At that moment another arrancar came in, pushing a cart with electrical equipment on it.

"You know, it's a astonishing what those humans have been able to come up with. Its called a defibrillator."

"And you know how to use it?"

"Oh, its easy to stop the heart, the hard part is starting it again, but its amazing what a certain quincy will tell you when you stop the heart of his friend." Toshiro stiffened.

"Oh don't worry, once we used the machine on Orihime, he worked hard to save her," he left a long pause, "and the boy triumphed. In the process, we learned just how to use the machine to accomplish our goal."

"How? I only just told you."

"Your perception of time in the illusion was skewed. No more questions, is he ready?"

"Almost." Uluquirro answered softly and Toshiro felt another overwhelming onslaught of darkness. He began to tremble and feel his heat pounding.

"He is ready." The espada announced.

"Excellent." The machine was pushed next to the bed. Another arrancar stripped Toshiro from his waist up and sticky pads were placed on his chest, one on his ribs, the other above his heart.

"Are you scared?" Aizen asked, placing a hand on the boy's head. He did not answer. "Don't worry, if all else fails, I will save you myself." And his hand fell over his heart to where the hogyoku was embedded. Aizen then stepped away and Toshiro closed his eyes in bitter frustration.

"All clear." An arrancar spoke. The machine hummed as it reached the desired level of power and he pushed a button. An electric shock passed between the two pads and through Toshiro's heart. He lay motionless on the table. The arrancar recharged the machine and held his finger ready for the second charge. He also had the needles of epinephrin prepared by the quincy at the ready.

"Wait." Aizen ordered. He watched the light of the golden shackles fade, slowly but surely. When their last glimmer disappeared, he gave the signal.

The arrancar pushed the button. Toshiro jolted again. Uluquiora pushed a finger against his throat.

"His heart does not beat."

"Again!" Aizen barked.

The arrancar repeated. Nothing. He used the epinephrin. Still nothing.

"Get the humans, now!" Aizen screamed, already preparing himself to use some of his new found powers to pull the boy back. Gin entered immediately shoving a dishevelled pair of teens before him.

"Save him, now!" Aizen ordered. Orihme and Uryu rushed to the table. Orihime quickly used her powers on him but he still did not wake.

"I don't understand." she said. "I've healed all his injuries."

But Uryu seemed to understand. He jumped onto the table and straddled the boy's body and began pumping his arms up and down on his chest.

"He may have no injuries, but his heart needs something to get it going again. Orihime, give him two breathes, now!"

Uryu stopped pumping. The girl did as she was told, nothing happened.

"Arancar!" Uryu ordered as if he were a doctor in a surgical room. "Recharge the defibrillator and add ten percent."

He pumped down again, Orihime gave two more breaths, then Uryu jumped clear.

"Shock him now!"

The arrancar obeyed, Toshiro jolted and this time he gasped. His eyes shot open, he looked around the room in confusion but eventually his eyes settled on the humans.

Despair crossed his features and Uryu got the cold feeling that he had done something terribly wrong in saving the boy's life. Toshiro's eyes closed again and the prisoners were lead away from the room.

...