Okay so its a bit of a shorter chapter but I wanted to get this going again. Sorry I didn't update before I took off but here you go!
The bar was deserted as Gin walked over and gratefully sank into a chair, leaning his head back against the leather and allowing his eyes to close fully. It had been a while since he had been so thrown off--and by Toshiro Hitsugaya no less. He thought he would have dealt with it better as opposed to now where he felt like he wanted nothing more than the world to stop reeling. One of his hands remained locked around Shinso, like a child taking comfort in an old familiar toy. Gin didn't care, he wasn't going to use any of his power until he was far far away from the place.
The sound of footsteps was not enough to get him to open his eyes and raise his head, nor was the familiar feeling of spiritual power. The footsteps came close to him and Gin allowed one eye to open, though it was hardly necessary, he already knew what he'd see and the fact Hitusgaya was that much taller from his current angle was not something he needed visual confirmation of. Closing his eye he shifted to get more comfortable and let his hand drop. He might feel like vomiting but he sure as hell was not going to let Hitsugaya know it. For a moment neither man spoke. Gin's patience, never exactly a strong suite of his, snapped and he smiled before speaking.
"You gonna tell me who brought you back?" he asked finally. A rough sigh caused his grin to widen, "I was thinkin it wasn't you. You might be good--better than any of us gave you credit for--but you ain't that good."
"I'll tell you what you want to know," came the low response, voice controlled and almost tight, "after you get Hinamori out of here."
"Touching," Gin said, "but the Guard won't go for it."
"Then make them," he said. Gin opened his eyes to see anger radiating from Hitsugaya's, "I know you both were sent here because of me--especially her--so tell them I'll co-opperate, they just have to get her out of here."
"Oh you'll co-opperate," Gin said, "we know how Hisana gets when she's grumpy--"
"There doesn't need to be any fighting," he broke in.
"As long as she's gone," Gin finished, "you really think she'll do that?" he asked, feeling slightly amused at the idea that he thought for one second that Hinamori would actually quietly leave, "you're an idiot--"
"Get her out of here."
Gin had never been terribly good at taking orders. Years of being given them by a variety of people should have changed that but the defiance he had felt even from his earliest moments had always been there, like a knot in his stomach. He could obey orders, he simply did not like to do it. He could do a lot of things he didn't like to do.
However, it would take a hell of a lot more than resurrected, older body to make Gin Ichimaru obey Toshiro Hitsugaya.
"My my, you think with all this newfound maturity you'd find it in your heart to forgive her," he shrugged, "I always said just because you acted like an old man didn't mean you were one--"
"Get. Her. Out," Hitsugaya said, his teeth gritting together, "whatever you have to do, do it."
"All I probably have to do is tell her how bad you want her gone," GIn said lacing his fingers together.
For a moment hopelessness surged in Hitsugaya's eyes. For a moment he looked painfully young, for a moment he looked a thousand times more innocent than Gin had ever seen him. His gloved hands which had been balled into fists loosened slightly, a change he doubt he would have seen if he hadn't known to look for it. And then, as if some invisible string had been pulled--or as if he had remembered something--his features hardened and his hands tightened. He gave Gin a curt nod of confirmation.
"Whatever it takes," he repeated.
"Say the magi--" Gin stopped and looked around as he found himself quite alone in the darkened room.
He wondered if Hitsugaya really thought that what he said would work or if he still knew that there was no force on earth that was going to make Hinamori leave New Orleans.
On the roof of the bar Hinamori leaned her forearms on the narrow railing and tried not to sob. She couldn't stop the tears that trickled down her cheeks but she could at the very least keep from breaking down completely again. Her fingers knotted themselves together as she looked out at the lights around her. The buildings here were taller and old in a completely different way then in Soul Society. Part of her missed the Court. She had loved the place even when she had been betraying everything it stood for. She squeezed her eyes shut and fought the sob that tried to break free from her lips. There were many many reasons why Hitsugaya should be angry at her, why he should hate her--but something told her that none of the obvious ones were why he wasn't talking to her. He didn't even seem angry when she looked at him.
He seemed frightened.
She rarely saw Hitsugaya look scared of anything but he looked scared. Scared of what? Of her? Not likely, they weren't under any illusions, it was Aizen that had guided her sword to Hitsugaya's chest, not her own hand. He had been scaring neighborhood kids and easily able to kill her without much effort before he'd even set foot in the Shinigami Academy--not that such a thing had crossed his mind. No, it was something else that was scaring him. But Hitsugaya faced evil traitors and crazed murderers without much fear. he was too practical to be terrified of things and certainly to remain that way for long. When the other kids in an effort to scare him told him there were monsters in one of the cabinets he locked himself inside just to fight it off. No, something else was going on, something worse then monsters in wardrobes or evil men who hid behind the guise of kindness. Anyone with half the sense they had could tell. Why else would all of them have been sent there.
But Hitsugaya was--
was
was not
was not on their side.
And that, to Momo Hinamori, was the most hopeless thing of all. She couldn't say way exactly, after all it was not as if they had never been on opposing sides before. In fact they had been enemies before. Maybe because now she was the one of them who wanted so desperately to be on the same side. Had Hitsugaya felt this way when she had been on the other side? Hinamori felt ill at the thought. What a terrible feeling and she had only felt it for a few moments. He had felt it for so long. Her throat tightened as she shook her head angrily. No, she couldn't dwell on past mistakes. She couldn't. Even if he wasn't on their 'side' they weren't really on opposing sides--not yet anyway. She could still help him, somehow she could still help him.
Hinamori reached up and swiped at her cheeks, repeating the gesture when she felt new ones take their place. Taking a few deep breaths she fought herself under control and opened her eyes, looking down. She froze as she recognized a familiar head of midnight hair. Craning her neck she was sure it was Hisana. Sure enough when the woman's hand came into view a bright band decorated her finger. Hinamori felt her brow furrow. Why was Hisana out here with her wedding ring on? It was an obvious sign of who she was, usually she left it off. Angling her head Hinamori got a glimpse of what Hisana had on and felt her eyes widen. The way Hisana was dressed and the hour at which she was heading off, Hinamori had a feeling Byakuya's wife was doing something very un-Elder approved.
So Hinamori did the only thing her pounding heart could permit and followed her.
The music thrummed around her like a living thing.
It was only by grace of training and her sometimes questionable taste in music that Hisana did not appear disgusted by the place she had walked into. Everything was sharp. Black walls, blacked out windows, black floor--most of the clothing people wore. But that was the base layer. Over that was white. Gossamer fell in tumbles from the ceiling, it covered the bar like a ghost and draped the twisting rail that encircled the balcony. Hisana's eyes went up there first, immediately picking out a mop of bright red hair. Almost instantly two men were at either side. These were low level help, not worth the glance she spared them. They stood there waiting so Hisana did as well.
She didn't have to wait long.
There were no words to describe the way the woman moved. It was as though the world around her ceased to exist, or existed only to submit to her. In the sea of black clad gyrating bodies she wore white gossamer, thin and long enough to move with each sway of her hips. Porcelain skin made her seem ephemeral in the sharp darkness as hair dark enough to glint blue in the light fell from her hair past the small of her bare back. When she raised her eyes they were a sharp and startling shade of blue that seemed almost to glow, the same way the red haired man's had done. She did not stop as Hisana's front but walked around her, close enough for Hisana to feel the warmth of her skin.
"You've kept us waiting," the woman said, her voice sending chills down Hisana's spine as fingers ghosted the back of her neck, "follow me."
Hisana walked after her. The woman led her easily through the crowd and up the wrought iron staircase nearby. Hisana followed her up, remaining two steps behind so as not to step on the train of the dress she wore. They stepped onto the balcony where the music was somehow a good deal quieter. A handful of figures lounged on couches that were, unsurprisingly, white. The red haired man looked over at her but made no move to get up, showing that though her dealings had been with him he was not the leader. The others kept their eyes on her but made no move to say anything as the woman walked over and seated herself, eyes locked on her as well.
If they were expecting her to cower or look afraid they had another thing coming. She returned their gaze evenly, her violet eyes refusing to give an ounce of fear or shame. If anything they blanched a little at their gazes being met so directly, as though they were unaccustomed to being challenged. Hisana tucked the information away from later, though she did not let any surprise show on her face.
"What do you want with us?"
Hisana focused on the red haired man. His tone sounded almost bored, but slightly strained as well as though he was fighting to give off the air of not caring while caring a great deal.
"Soul Society was previously unaware of the existence of more Vizards," Hisana said, her voice steady.
"Not aware," the woman spoke up, her voice still hauntingly melodic, "is it because you did not feel our Spiritual Pressure or because you did not know where to look?" she stopped and seemed to consider her next question, "and what," she said shifting in her chair before leaning forward, "made you aware of us?"
"That is not your concern," Hisana said, loathing the fact the Guard had felt it 'prudent' to keep that information, "what matters is that we do this as peacefully as possible--"
"No."
Hisana turned her eyes to the first man who stood up. Silvery hair brushed his jaw as he fixed her with almost opalescent eyes that sparked with something HIsana would have called fury if the man did not look as cold and apathetic as the rest of them. He walked towards her as the others traded looks behind him, obviously a bit unsettled by the turn of events but the man did not seem to care. Hisana met his gaze squarely as he walked over to her and stopped when he was almost in front of her.
"We have no interest in Soul Society," he said, "it does not matter what made you 'aware' of our existence, all that is important is that you return to Soul Society and inform them that we are not a threat."
"You are hardly in a position to be making demands and considering how annoyingly hard its been to get this close to you, I will be judging what your 'interest' is in and how far you are willing to act on that interest."
"Miss--"
"Lady," she replied, her voice scathing, "Lady Hisana Kuchiki."
"Noble," he said, "very noble. Well, Lady Kuchiki, I assume our next meeting will be just as unpleasant and, hopefully, just as short."
He nodded to two body guards who moved into position, hands slipping into their coats. They either had guns or something else and even Hisana was sure that making such a scene was not something she wished to do. No, besides she had gotten enough information to depart without the night being a total loss. She turned and gave a frosty smile to the two body guards before exiting with them. They escorted her to the outside and returned inside, only to return a moment later with Momo Hinamori. For a moment Hisana was surprised, before she immediately wondered why the idea of the younger woman following her was surprising at all.
"Next time inform me when you want to tag along," Hisana said turning and walking down the street. Hinamori quickly walked after her, "what did you learn?"
"I'm not safe," Hinamori said, "and Hitsugaya's afraid of something?"
"Of you?"
Hinamori shook her head quickly.
"Is he afraid of them?"
"Maybe," she said, "but I don't know. Who are they?"
"People from Soul Society," Hisana said, "not good at taking orders and weak enough so that we didn't notice they could be a problem before they became one," she said quickening their pace. Hinamori turned her head to glance behind them to see what they were running from, "don't look back," Hisana ordered ducking down an alleyway.
"Should we--" Hinamori began.
"No," Hisana cut her off, "just keep walking."
Hinamori nodded and hurried alongside her. Hinamori wanted nothing more than to look behind her but she knew whatever she saw was something she wasn't supposed to see. Suddenly one of Hisana's hands wrapped around her upper arm. Hinamori's eyes flew to the violet eyed woman in surprise moments before Hisana looked over her shoulder and clear over Hinamori's head.
"Take her, I'll deal with them."
Hinamori felt a strong push that threw her off balance and into someone's chest. For a moment she was wildly hopeful that it would be Gin but the cool feeling that immediately registered against her cheek could only belong to Hitsugaya. He was still dressed all in black, the gloves still concealing his hands. He had his hood up but she knew just as well the shocked expression painted on his features. His black gloved hands had come up to brace her, making sure she didn't fall and hurt herself. But what was pressed to her shoulders did not feel like skin, it felt harder than skin. Before she could look up at him however, Hitsugaya had wrapped his arms tighter around her.
"Hold on," he said, his voice still low and quick, "this will feel weird."
"What are you--" Hinamori's words were lost to a shriek as he threw them into sonido and the world vanished around them.
When she became aware of the world again, Hinamori was far too scared to look for a moment. She was aware first of the fact that the blackness around her was thanks to his clothing and the fact she felt so terrible meant she wasn't dead. The next thing she was aware of was the coolness and the smell of him, the oddly minty, sharp smell that seemed to always come from him as if someone had found a way to bottle the smell of winter itself. Then she was aware of the death grip she had on him--that and the fact his arms were equally tightly around her. Though the fabric of his jacket she could feel the odd sensation of his arms, as if it was not skin under the fabric but something else.
Cautiously she raised her head. His face was still concealed but she knew he had been looking at her because the moment she gave the indication of being alright his hands dropped immediately to his sides and he stepped back out of her death grip. She forced her hands to break and to let him step back, though one step was all he took before he turned and looked over the edge of the roof they were standing on.
He looked back at her.
This time Hinamori found that she was the one who couldn't speak. At least he had a reason, she had none except that words had seemed to fail her. He continued to look at her for a moment longer before his voice came from under the hood, just as pained as when he had spoken to her before.
"Its not safe," he said, "you have to get out of here."
"But--" she began.
"Go back to Soul Society."
she opened her mouth again to protest, to tell him.
"Go," he said before she could get the words out, then he vanished with the dull echo of sonido.
"But I can't loose you again," she whispered to the night, clutching the cool charm of her necklace.
