Chapter 4. Found

I do not own Bleach :(

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He must have been running for three days now, and his shunpo was having less and less effect each time he used it.

Again, he closed his eyes, and followed the white light. It was still weak and faint, but it was getting larger, he was drawing nearer.

He was almost there.

He opened his eyes again and ran on ahead. The boy did not even notice the small, red trail of blood his torn feet left behind him. The forests he had been through were starting to become smaller. They went from wide woods with oak trees, to long strips of forests with birch and pine.

The change in the environment was strange, and somehow, it felt familiar to the boy, like he had been here before…

Suddenly, he stumbled over a thick root, but he just lay there, not wanting to get up again. He panted and leaned up against a thin tree behind him, and before he knew it, he had un-willingly drifted into sleep.

He was standing in the same forest when he re-opened his eyes.

The only exception was that he was not alone, nor the same.

Hinamori was at his side. They were dressed in their Academy uniforms, and carried their Zanpakutou with them.

"Come on Momo, not much farther."

He was saying, pulling her arm. The girl collapsed to her knees and panted.

"Shiro-chan, that's what you said hours ago. I'm tired and I don't think that I can…"

She was cut off when he jerked her arm again.

"Come on," He repeated determinedly. "We're going to make it."

"This is not how I planned on spending my Spring vacation." She mumbled, but stood to her feet and wearily followed after him.

He led on, but the weight of his Zanpakutou was not helping much. But he knew that they were getting close, for the trees were becoming less thick, thus meaning that the forest was coming to an end.

After about half an hour more of trudging along through the woods, the two finally stepped out of the forest. A long stretch of endless rock and mountains lay before them, Hinamori's eyes widened in shock.

"Here we are." He spoke softly.

"This looks just like the training area at Urahara-san's shop!"

The white-haired boy nodded.

"And this is the place where we can train, without anyone else getting involved." He stepped forward, gripping his swords sheath. "We have one week to train and become stronger, and then, when we go back, we'll be undefeatable."

Hitsugaya awoke with a start, his memories flooding over him.

He had brought Hinamori there so long ago. There, they had trained together and discovered new strengths, and overcame weaknesses.

That was where they had taught each other their skills and told secret strategies. He was almost there now, and he was going to find her.

And it was only now, that Hitsugaya noticed that he had slept for almost a full day. He clenched his fists and growled.

"Damn it! I've wasted too much time!"

He rose to his feet and set out again, running faster then he ever had in his life. The golden sun crept slowly towards the West; as yet another day came to an end. Eventually, the thin trees became smaller, until finally, they stopped altogether. The final small bushes dissolved into an endless stretch of rock, and only now did the boy realize his problem.

How am I going to find her in time?

He closed his eyes again to try and calm himself.

Then, he located the small beam of light. It was much fainter now, but he knew he had to go NorthWest now. He ran towards the wasteland and leapt from rock to rock, the cold night winds blowing past him. He frequently halted to search the landscape from the top of a mountain, and tried to sense the slightest hint of her rieatsu.

"Hinamori!" He called out into the night.

His voice echoed and returned back to him, with no response. He cursed under his breath and continued on his way.

A terrible feeling was slowly spreading throughout his body. He could not describe it, for it was too confusing. But he knew that it was the feeling that something bad had happened, he felt it deep down.

Something was wrong, he felt alone, a feeling he had never felt when Hinamori was there.

Even if she was not next to him, he still felt her presence, no matter how far away, he felt her, alive and breathing.

But now…

"Hinamori!!"

He called out again, his voice laced with fear and loneliness.

He stopped again, but this time, when he shut his eyes, the white light had vanished. Fear stabbed at him like a dagger. As he opened his eyes again, his gaze scoured the mountains.

Then, the sharp tang of blood flooded his senses.

He followed the scent, and finally, his gaze rested upon a small crumpled form, lying limply on the ground, drown in a pool of her own blood.

"HINAMORI!!!"

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A/N: Okay now that holiday break is over I'll be updating a little slower but stay with me!! Next chapter is coming up soon! Please review!!!