Soul Society was quickly stirring with the news of the departure of the fifth and third division vice-captains. The remaining captains and vice-captains were in seperate meetings discussing what should be done. Hitsugaya's agitation was quickly rising as the captains argued about what should be done.
"How can we be so sure that Hinamori-fukutaichou went of her own free will?" Ukitake questioned, looking at the captains. SoiFon was quickest to respond with the answer everyone else was most likely thinking. "How can we be so sure she didn't? She'd go to Hell in back for Aizen! And even if she didn't go of her own free will, then why did Kira-fukutaichou go with her, hm? Why didn't he try to stop her, instead of going with her?"
Ukitake frowned, taking a moment to ponder that question before answering. "We've all heard his account of Aizen's betrayal; perhaps he isn't sure where his loyalties are; to Soul Society, or to his captain."
"Or to Hinamori." The captains looked to Hitsugaya, who had been relatively silent up to that point. Straightening, he looked to Yamamoto, who had allowed the debate to continue for some time. "Captain General Yamamoto, I request permission to lead a small group of shinigami to Hueco Mundo to retrieve Hinamori-fukutaichou and Kira-fukutaichou."
Yamamoto was silent for a moment, studying the young captain. He finally spoke. "No..I will not allow it." Hitsugaya's eyes widened, and he started to protest before the old captain held up his hand, continuing to speak. "Ukitake-taichou; you will lead a team to Hueco Mundo to retrieve the two vice-captains before they can reveal any knowledge to Aizen of our preparations for the war." Now, he looked to Hitsugaya. "If Ukitake-taichou wishes it, you may accompany him, only if you do not allow your judgement to be clouded in your haste." Ukitake and Hitsugaya nodded. "If the two refuse to come back, or if they resist, you are to use all force necessary to stop them."
Hitsugaya knew what he was talking about..if Hinamori and Kira refused to return to Soul Society, then their new task was to kill them. He gritted his teeth, but nodded his understanding. Yamamoto kept his gaze on the two. "You are permitted to take three others with you; it would be wise if they were seated officers, but every remaining captain will be needed here to finish preparations for the war." Ukitake nodded. "Sir. I already have three officers in mind."
---------------------
"I can't believe they did this!" Matsumoto paced back and forth, occasionally snarling her irritation as the remaining vice-captains watched mildly. "I mean, Hinamori I can understand, but Kira always put his duty as a vice-captain before everyone else!" Hisagi sighed, leaning his head back against the wall with a thud. Renji, who had been quickly sobered up thanks to Isane, narrowed his eyes as he stared at the wall.
"S'not suprising, actually. Kira's first priority since Aizen left has been Hinamori. If he thought she was in any sort of danger, I'd be damned well suprised if he -didn't- follow her." Matsumoto looked back at him, scowling before she finally sighed, releasing most of her anger in one breath. "Fine. But if I get my hands on either of them, they're going to get it." Renji blinked, then sighed himself. Hisagi lifted his head, eyes shifting to the door just before it opened. Matsumoto turned around, eyes widening. "Taichou! Ukitake-taichou! What are you doing here?"
Hitsugaya ignored her confusion. "Abarai, Hisagi, Matsumoto; get ready, give instructions to lower-ranking officers, do whatever you need to do. We're going to Hueco Mundo."
--------------------
Hinamori, who had spent the span of several human lives in Soul Society, was not quite sure what to think of the place where she and Kira walked. It was large and somewhat foreboding, and awe-inspiring in a chilling way. Studying the large ceilings, the dark-haired shinigami was silent for a moment. "Its so..big! Don't you agree Kira-ku---?" The girl had looked down from the white ceilings to speak to her friend, only to realize that he was no longer walking next to her. Turning around, she blinked.
"Kira-kun?" Starting to walk slowly back the way she had come, Hinamori continued looking around and calling him. It suddenly seemed to her that the hallways were much larger than they had been; it made her nervous. She murmered something to herself, or perhaps it was to Tobiume..she wasn't sure herself. She was not afraid of the prospects of an arrancar, but she felt that much less nervous with her friend nearby. At a sound behind her, Hinamori whirled around. "Kira-kun?"
"Lost someone, girlie?" Hinamori stiffened, watching the tall arrancar stepping from the shadows warily. "Who are you?" The arrancar grinned, and she flinched at just how much that smile reminded her of Ichimaru's. "Noitora, at your service." As he took a step forward, she took a step back, for some reason feeling devoid of the calculating calmness that she'd had facing the two arrancar prior to her arrival to Aizen. "I'm looking for my friend."
"Oh?" Another step forward, another step back. "What does he look like? Maybe I can help."
Another step forward, another step back, and Hinamori found her back suddenly against a wall. Her fingertips strayed to Tobiume, a comfort to herself, and a warning to him. "No, I'll find himself, thank you." On the bright side, he stopped walking. On the not-so-bright side, the slender shinigami found herself pressed tightly against the wall with the tall arrancar in front of her, grin even wider. Her hand moved to Tobiume again, only to be grabbed and slammed above her head with the other soon following.
Squirming, she tugged on her hands, finding it suprisingly useless considering he was holding both of her wrists with only one hand. Smirking, the arrancar bent down to be at eye level with her, tilting his head chidingly. "Now now, that wouldn't be very nice, Toy-chan; you wouldn't want to hurt one of Aizen-sama's top fighters, now would you?" Hinamori's eyes narrowed despite her sudden onset of fear. "I'm not a 'toy'."
"Oh, you aren't, are you?" Grinning, Noitora looked at her with his one visible eye, his fingertips toying with the loose sash around her waist. "The way I see it, you're Aizen-sama's little toy; sitting there, hoping he won't get bored of you or he won't break you." Gritting her teeth, she started struggling against his grip, attempting with more desperation to get free. He kept her pinned against the wall, grin widening more as she struggled. "I have a little secret for you though, girlie. You can be his toy, but he'll break you in the end." His hand moved up to the zipper of her jacket, toying with it as his face moved close to hers. "However, I don't break my toys." Hinamori closed her eyes, a noise close to a whine escaping her as she tried to push him off one last time while hoping that Kira would, by some miracle, come to her rescue.
She heard a sudden growl and a loosening of pressure, and she gave her struggling one last ditch effort, and managed to free herself. She didn't go far however, backing into another being. Her eyes opened to see a large sword pointing over her shoulder at Noitora, who was gripping his arm tightly where the cloth covering it was slowly turning red. Hinamori looked up, only seeing blonde hair and a white mask covering her rescuer's face. The tall figure's other hand rested lightly on her shoulder as they began to speak. "Noitora. I advise you to leave; you wouldn't want Aizen-sama to catch you trying to harm one of his guests, would he?"
Noitora gave the woman(for Hinamori could not deny the femininity of the voice) a dirty glare before suddenly grinning. "Of course not, Halibel." His grin turned to Hinamori, who looked to the side. Snorting in disdainful amusement, he turned on his heels and vanished back into the shadows. Inhaling sharply, the slender shinigami finally pulled away from the woman, turning and bowing politely, eyes squeezed shut. "T-thank you very much!" Halibel glanced to the wall as she sheathed her weapon before turning and glancing back to Hinamori. "Come; I'll take you to your friend." Hinamori nodded, following her.
Kira had apparently been looking for her as well, for the moment he saw her, Hinamori could see visible relief on his face. She was much less reserved about her relief after what had just happened however. Slipping past Halibel, the dark-haired shinigami flung herself at her friend, who caught her easily, scratching the side of his face as a faint blush crossed his features.He rested his arms around her shoulders lightly, not quite finding it in himself to embrace her. Glancing to Halibel, he smiled tiredly, mouthing his thanks to the lanky female arrancar. She acknowledged him with a simple nod of her head, turning and leaving.
As much as he'd like to have allowed his friend to stand there clinging to him, Kira doubted that either of them could remaining standing for much longer. Putting his hands on her shoulders so she would look up at him, he smiled down at her with all of the calm kindness he had in his body. "We should get some rest, Hinamori-kun." She nodded.
---------------------
"Is everyone ready?" Ukitake looked back at the four shinigami behind him, who all nodded. The blue light emitting from the portal behind him was sharpening and blurring their faces almost past his recognition...or perhaps they were good at guarding what was going on through their heads. It didn't matter. As he turned, Hitsugaya stepped up beside him, and the three vice-captains moved to stand behind the two captains. Each of the five shinigami took a breath that seemed to merge into one silent prayer as they stepped through the portal.