The fourth chapter is here!!

Disclaimer: It's sad and depressing but I don't own Bleach…

What If's:

What if Hinamori recovered from her coma before Hitsugaya went to the world of the living?

What if when Hinamori was in a coma realized that Aizen was a lost cause?

What if Hitsugaya suddenly hit a growth spurt and is about as tall as Momo?

What if Hinamori somehow got to convince Yamamoto to let her accompany him there?

What if she stayed with him in Orihime's place?

What if Hinamori was there when Hitsugaya met Karin?

Chapter 3: Questions and Answers.

After healing Rukia Orihime somehow convinced Hitsugaya and Hinamori to stay at her house.

"Ano, I only have 2 futons…" Orihime lied, really she was just helping Matsumoto play matchmaker.

"Oh, then I'm sure Taichou wouldn't mind sharing one with Hinamori-chan! Right, Taichou?"

A light pink started to envelope Hinamori's usually pale face.

"D-demo-" Hinamori started.

"You guys are childhood friends right? I'm sure you've slept in the same bed!" Matsumoto interrupted.

"D-demo-" Hinamori started again.

"I won't hear it!" Matsumoto shouted.

Once they were ready to go to bed Toshiro said,

"Don't wet the bed, bed-wetter…" And as always this led to an argument.

That night Hinamori could have sworn the air conditioning was on 0 degrees. She could feel herself shivering. Toshiro and herself had their backs facing each other, their situation a little embarrassing. Suddenly she felt an arm around her waist and pull her towards a source of heat. She gasped at the limb that had encircled her waist.

"If I was a mile away I would of heard you shivering… Baka Momo." Toshiro said lazily.

The whole night Hinamori could have sworn she was blushing the whole time.

The next day at school Hitsugaya and Hinamori were sitting on the roof. Whilst Hitsugaya was doing work, Hinamori was staring up into space enjoying the breeze and her company. Suddenly Matsumoto playfully covered Hitsugaya's eyes with her hands.

"Guess who?" Matsumoto asked playfully.

"What are you doing now, Matsumoto?" Hitsugaya asked annoyed.

"Oh my! You're incredible, Taichou! You got it on your first try!" Matsumoto said sounding surprised.

Annoyed Hitsugaya took off Matsumoto's hands from his eyes and glared at her.

"I can't imagine anybody getting that wrong." Hitsugaya said annoyed.

"What are you 2 doing here?" Matsumoto questioned. "Do kids wearing school uniforms have to come up here?"

"Hitsugaya-kun's giving his report, Rangiku-san." Hinamori said shyly behind them and standing up.

"Oh, Hinamori!" Rangiku said in fake shock. "Did you say how we kicked their butts after our limiters were removed?"

"Those guys were weaklings." Toshiro said bluntly. "They weren't Vasto Lordes. They probably weren't even Adjuchas. Even me, a captain, couldn't defeat Gillian class without releasing my limiters. Their level is that high."

"Mou, Hitsugaya-kun," Momo said getting up from her seat, "You make it sound like we can't win…"

"Maybe, we can't…" Toshiro responded.

"Having a lover's squabble are we?' Matsumoto teased.

"Rangiku-san!" Momo scolded.

"Wari, wari." Rangiku apologized jokingly.

Later Hinamori helped Hitsugaya and Matsumoto carry and set up a large screen. They were currently wearing casual clothes. Hinamori had her hair in a ponytail again, with a black spaghetti strap shirt with a huge dark pink heart on the front, a denim jacket that went down to her elbows and three quarter jeans. Toshiro was wearing a black polo with a white collar with long jeans. Rangiku was wearing a long sleeved green shirt with a yellow short sleeve cardigan on top and a brown skirt. They were staring at the screen as it was connecting. While it was connecting the door opened. They all turned around. It was Orihime.

"Wow… So cool…" Orihime said, "I mean, what is this, Toshiro-kun?"

"Damn, she came home at a really bad time." Toshiro said to himself.

When it did connect the person they were connecting to was distracted with something else (I don't know what she's doing). When she noticed she quickly put it behind her back.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" She said hurriedly. "This is the Technology Development Department's Technological Research Room."

"I'm Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro of the 10th Squad."

"We'll connect you now." The girl said.

The screen went from the girl to Yamamoto.

"Co-… Commander-General." Orihime stuttered.

"As usual you're quick with your work, aren't you Hitsugaya-Taichou. The reason we had you prepare this line so urgently was none other than… We've discovered Aizen Sosuke's true objective." Yamamoto informed.

A-Aizen… Hinamori thought allowing her knees shake a little.

"Aizen's… True objective?!" Hitsugaya said shocked.

"Evidently, yes."

"Oh… Th-this seems to be a pretty important conversation, so I'll leave the room." Orihime said nervously whilst walking towards the door.

"Wait…" Yamamoto said making Orihime stop in her tracks and look at the screen, "This conversation involves you humans as well, please stay and listen."

"Alright…" Orihime responded.

"It's been several months since Aizen vanished. As you know, the investigations of the 5th squad Captain's Office discovered that Aizen has used the Underground Central 46 Chamber searches to the "Seijoutoukyorin" and the "Daireisho Kairou" is ongoing. The other day, Ukitake, who was investigating the "Daireisho Kairou", discovered some clues.

Flashback:

"Hey, you're really working at it, huh." Shunsui commented.

"Kyoraku? What are you doing here?" Ukitake questioned.

"We had some free time, so we've come to assist you." Replied Nanao.

"That's it hope you don't mind." Shunsui said.

"Thank you." Ukitake thanked.

"Taichou" A subordinate called. "We found traces of Aizen-Taichou's spiritual power just now."

"I'll send it to the monitor over there momentarily." Another subordinate called.

"These are… Research materials about the Hougyoku and other related documents." Nanao informed.

"Well, Sosuke-kun was targeting the Hougyoku, so that's understandable." Shunsui pointed out.

"Ukitake-taichou, take a look at that." Nanao informed, "Its information that has no connection to the Hougyoku at all."

"This is…" Ukitake started.

End Flashback

"The information Aizen was looking at… What…" Toshiro began.

"The 'Ouken'." Answered Yamamoto.

"Umm… What is this Ouken?" Orihime inquired.

"'The key to the royal house', just like how it's written. There's a royal family in Soul Society as well. But even if you say 'king', because all of Soul Society was left to the Central 46 Chamber and they don't do anything at all, it doesn't really feel like they exist. In reality, Taichou, Hinamori-chan and I have never seen them directly with our own eyes." Matsumoto informed.

"That king's name is 'Reiou' and his existence is symbolic yet indispensable to all of Soul Society. While the royal palace is within Soul Society, it exists within a different space, and the Royal Guard defends it. The 'Ouken' is the key which leads to where the Royal Palace is located." Yamamoto said.

"So that means… Aizen-san intends to… That king…" Orihime stuttered.

"Kill him. Most likely, that's what he intends to do." Yamamoto further informed. "However, that is not where the problem lies."

"The book that Aizen looked at wasn't about where the Ouken could be found." Toshiro said.

"Undoubtedly so. The whereabouts of the Ouken are told only to the Captains of Gotei 13 orally. Therefore there is no such thing as a book that has its location recorded. What he read was literature describing situation when the Ouken was made. What he found out was how to make an Ouken." Yamamoto continued.

Flashback

"How to create an Ouken… In order to do so, one needs 100,000 souls, a heavily spirited area, in other words a zone whose radius extends one 'reiri'. This 'heavily spirited area' points to a spiritually unique point in the material world. This place is particularly favourable for gatherings of most spiritual entities… When there is a transition period between ears." Ukitake explained.

"Nanao-chan, where is this 'heavily spirited area' for the current time period?" Shunsui asked his vice-captain.

"Ah, yes, please wait a moment." Nanao responded before turning to the computer. "This is…"

End Flashback

"The heavily spirited area that Aizen will target is… Karakura Town." Yamamoto said ending the suspense.

Looks of shock enveloped everyone's faces.

"The 100,000 souls and heavily spirited zone whose radius extends one 'reiri' is difficult to imagine the details, thinking realistically, but I will put it simply… In the case that Aizen manages to complete the 'Ouken' as he learned from the document… Both Karakura Town and the land and people in contact with it, all of it will be ripped away from the world and vanish completely." Yamamoto informed grimly.

"Th… That can't be…" Orihime stuttered, "Stop… Isn't there anyway to stop that from happening?"

"Even if there is none, we will stop it." Yamamoto assured, "That is why the Gotei 13 exists."

Matsumoto gave Orihime a reassuring smirk and Hinamori gave a reassuring smile even though she was also getting involuntary shivers down her spine.

"It's limited, but there is still time…" Yamamoto said, "According to Kurotsuchi's report, the Hougyoku, released form it's seal within a soul, is in a deep sleep. Even using the prescribed methods, it will take 4 months for the Hougyoku to completely awaken. Unless the Hougyoku is awakened, Aizen cannot gather what he needs. It will be after that that he makes his first move. The showdown will be this winter! Until then, we must all strengthen out skill, and each man should make his preparations for the battle!" Commanded Yamamoto.

"Yes Sir." Hinamori, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto chorused.

"And Inoue Orihime… Aizen will be targeting the material world, so there will be times when we may not be able to hold them back on our own. We will need the strength of the material world as well… Could you relay that to Kurosaki Ichigo?" Yamamoto asked seriously.

"Yes sir!" Orihime said before running out of the room, determination in her eyes.

"Well, I'll go pass this on to Ikaku and the others." Rangiku said walking out of the room.

"Yeah, I'll go, too." Hitsugaya said turning and walking out.

"Yeah, me too." Hinamori said turning as well.

"Oh, could you wait a moment, Hinamori-fukutaichou?" Yamamoto asked, "The Shinigami Woman's Association would like to have a few words with you."

"Yes sir." Hinamori replied.

The members of the Shinigami Woman's Association walked in, actually Yachiru ran in with a big white box.

"Ne, Oldie give us some time to associate as women!" Yachiru shooed.

Ignoring the pet name Yamamoto walked out.

"Hey Peachy!" Yachiru called out coming up really close to the screen making Yachiru's head look really big.

"Hey Yachiru-san." Hinamori said sweetly whilst waving and sweat dropping.

"Yachiru-fukutaichou, remember what we came here to discuss." Nanao reminded.

"Oh right." The pink headed girl said as if remembering something then started whispering, "How's it going with you and Frosty?"

Hinamori turned a deep red. Before she could answer,

"He's appropriate unlike Shunsui-taichou; you two make a good couple." Nanao said pushing Yachiru out of the way and fixing her glasses.

"I heard from Matsumoto-san that you guys shared the same bed last night. How was it?" Kiyone asked excitedly after pushing Nanao out of the way.

"Remember if he breaks your heart and leaves for a 100 years you can forgive him…" Soifon advised after pushing Kiyone out of the way and referring to Yoruichi and herself, making Momo sweat drop.

"He's a nice guy…" Nemu said after lightly pushing Soifon away.

"He's cute too!" Isane said after pushing Nemu.

"Oi! It's my turn!" Yachiru said pushing all the females away. "So how is it going between you and Frosty, Peachy?"

"We're just friends!" Hinamori said waving her hands in front of her.

"Well then! Make the first move! Before you know it someone might steal him!" Kiyone said pushing Yachiru away.

"We all know he's got a hundred and one fan girls out there you would die 101 times to be in your position." Isane said calmly after pushing Kiyone.

"Stop interrupting me people! I'm the president anyway!" Yachiru shouted pushing them all away, "Anyway Peachy, you got a package!"

"Really from who?" Hinamori said interested.

"Well, on the card it said 'To: Toshiro Hitsugaya and Momo Hinamori, From: Grandma Hitsugaya'! I found it in your room!" Yachiru exclaimed happily.

"Thanks- Hey wait! What were you doing in my room?" Momo asked suspiciously.

"Trying to find evidence that you liked Hitsugaya-taichou." Nemu said after pushing Yachiru.

"Nemu! You weren't supposed to tell her that we were snooping through her stuff!" Soifon scolded angrily.

"I apologize Soifon-taichou." Nemu apologized bluntly.

"Well, anyway! See ya later Peachy!" Yachiru said pushing the two females away.

The screen turned black. Momo knew that Hitsugaya was probably waiting for her so she was going to wait for the colour of her face to go back to normal before leaving.

TBC! R&R

Please tell me if anyone is OOC!