The reason I did so well after Souske betrayed me is because it wasn't hell…

I lived on because I was sure hell would never be in my world again….because I was sure I could look to a bright future…

But here I am…in hell again…

-Momo Hinamori

Story:

Momo was much calmer now. Unohana had her drink some water and left her to her thoughts for a minuet while everyone else in the room was silent or just doing their own thing.

Mayuri was creepily staring at Momo until Unohana stared at him.

Kenpachi fell asleep and was woken up by Ukitake.

Byakuya was just standing there as Komamora tried to figure out what he was thinking.

Shunsui was sneakily drinking sake as Soi Fon glared at him for drinking in a so-called "captain's meeting"

And the head captain was surprisingly still awake as he watched Momo with eyes closed.

Hitsugaya was doing his usual thing as he stared at Momo as well; but not with the creepy craziness as Mayuri, which is what prevented Unohana from taking any action to stop him. He was also keeping an eye on Kenryu, who was also staring at Momo; only with a small grin.

Hinamori was still shaking when she looked the head captain in the eye "I can already guess what you want me to do…"

Kenryu chuckled slightly "You're not going to decline…are you?"

Momo flinched the moment he spoke, causing Hitsugaya to give him his 'shut the hell up' look.

"Tch! Why is Kenryu here? We already know how to send her there." Kenpachi was standing up and took notice of Momo's frightened spiritual pressure. He was frankly quite disgusted with it. Or he actually felt some protectiveness of her since Yachiru favors her above all of her friends.

The head captain relied curtly "Because in case anything happens then he'll be able to take immediate action"

Kenpachi spat at the window, earning him a frown from Unohana.

"I take it you chose it because there really is no other option…." Momo still had the slight hope that there was a way she wouldn't be able to do it.

Yammamoto nodded solemnly "Unfortunately, yes…."

Momo shut her eyes tightly as she gripped the sheets harder "So…when do I start?"

"Sometime today; whenever you're ready of course…" He glared at Kenryu for a moment as ways to tell him not to even speak to her. He then added "and from now on, you'll be put into Hitsugaya's care; I imagine it will be difficult for you after we start the process. Plus, I don't like the idea of you sitting alone somewhere when there is an obsessed criminal not in his tightly secured prison…." There is a reason the underground prison has top security, while the squad cells do not.

Hitsugaya released his tensed grip as he did a small sigh; at least the head captain agreed to his request.

Momo started to move her sheets "I'll do it right now. If it's acceptable I mean…" she found it hard to even speak considering the situation; every word she spoke sounded awkward to her.

The head captain nodded in understanding, but he was considering ordering her to rest a little while longer. Even though Unohana had cleared her health wise, her mental condition from the last incident was still to be determined.

But Momo's desperate look on her face is what made him understand that she just wanted to get it over with. Those wide, terrified eyes…filled with hopeless desperation.

It made Hitsugaya walk over to her and put his hand on her shoulder "I think you should actually rest a little longer…"

Momo looked at him and Hitsugaya tensed up from the look of her face up close; she looked like she has been depressed and sleep deprived for days.

Momo just pushed his hand away and looked toward the floor.

"Perhaps…we should just send her for five minutes at most. We don't know how her soul will handle the voyage. After that we can properly analyze the situation a little better…and then take procedures with fewer casualties and a higher success rate…" Byakuya actually spoke for the first time in the meeting.

His suggestion was being highly favored as it spread throughout the room. It was possibly the best move they could make right now.

-x-

There it was again; the burning world filled with ash. The sky stained by fiery red hues. The air filled with harsh crackles and sizzles. The heat devastating to where it left anyone parched in the first second of their arrival; hot enough to make your skin peel.

How is it…that I always end up here again…?

She was actually able to think past the fear that resided in her head. The black clouds lay thick inside her head as her breaths came in rasping pants.

The heat…it was painful to just be close to them; her entire body felt as if it was going to melt and peel away.

The objective of her going into hell was so she could find the kuseiko and bring it back to soul society. Kenryu told them as to how in some cases Momo came back with some burnt ash in her hands or some rusty old relic from the world. He has reason to believe that; just like her injuries; items and objects could also be on her person.

But it is a known fact to Momo that she has never actually stepped one foot away from where she ends up in hell. All she always ended up doing was just standing there waiting for…anything; anything to happen; anything to get her out.

As she stood there she could already feel the burning sensation of the ash the waraji served no protection. What was to happen if she took a step?

Would she burn?

Would something come out of the ground to harm her?

Would the burning ash corpses come quicker?

….Would the flames devour her?

Regardless; she has been ordered to retrieve the kuseiko and in order to that….she had to move; to take the first, frightening, foreboding step in hell.

She took it slowly; despite her body telling her not to. She then took another step, then another….then another. The flames seemed to be drifting toward her as she did so, and then the sound of the feared creatures were heard through the roaring of the flames.

She was present; the prey and they were present; the predators. The only thing you can possibly depict from the arrival of the two is simply "hunt".

To hunt is to kill the prey and the predator to devour.

To hunt is for the prey to run and the predator to chase.

To hunt is to either live or die.

Momo continued regardless; that was because they were behind her; not in front. The prey should run if that was the case.

Momo's heart was beating hard; hard enough for it to burst. She could already hear it as the sound rang above the other noises of the burning world. Before much longer of her hesitant steps did she began to hear the growls of the rotting ash. The scent of their putrid, decaying bodies starting to waft in her nose;the threat of injuring her making her quicken her steps.

To be reasonable; she had almost completely forgotten about the object she was supposed to find.

She then stopped dead in her tracks as she realized they were now in front of her too; they had used the extravagant flames to creep In front of her. With them now cornering her all she can-no….COULD do was just stand there. The growls and grunt were now clearly audible and they seemed to be in more number than usual.

At some point the familiar sensation waves and waves of pain came to her again; and just like that time; screamed in agony.