Hiya, people-it's chapter 6. might be a little confusing but please read and review anyway.

As always, i don't own Bleach.

0-0-0

Hitsugaya opened his eyes to find himself in his inner world.

It was the same as always, a vast plain of ice stretching out as far as the eye could see until it disappeared into the horizon. It was snowing lightly, snowflakes softly landing on Hitsugaya's already white hair. Though on the outside it seemed unchanged, Hitsugaya could tell that something was wrong. For one, the air itself seemed to crackle with tension.

For another, Hyorinmaru was not there to greet him. Hitsugaya spun around slowly, searching for the dragon who always took the opportunity to accost Hitsugaya with sarcastic comments about his height whenever the two met face-to-face. But there was no sign of his companion. Reaching behind him, he realized the zanpaku-to wasn't there in his sword form either.

Something was definitely wrong.

"Hyorinmaru?" No response, only the howling of the wind.

"Hyorinmaru?"

"Don't bother, Hyorinmaru ain't here righ' now, bu' ya can leave a message if ya want."

Hitsugaya instantly spun around, recognizing the voice. But to his shock, the voice did not belong to Ichimaru Gin. Instead, a boy was standing a few feet away, smirking. He was the height as Hitsugaya, and also had white hair. However, his skin was the same shade as his hair and his eyes were the yellow and black of a hollow's. He was dressed similar to Hitsugaya, only the colors were reversed: the robe was white with a black obi and over it was a black captain's haori with white patterns. Slung across his back was a zanpaku-to that looked similar to Hyorinmaru.

"Shit," breathed Hitsugaya. "You're my inner hollow, aren't you?"

"Correct," grinned the boy. "Guess ya really are a tensai."

"What did you do to Hyorinmaru?"

"Don't worry, that ol' dragon won't bother us, he's lettin' us talk in peace." The boy smiled again, and Hitsugaya was getting unnerved.

"If you're my inner hollow, then why are you acting like that bastard Ichimaru?"

"Ach, don't get all freaked out on me, I'm just playing with you," said the hollow-boy, dropping the accent and the smile. "I don't know why anybody would want to be like Ichimaru anyway, he follows that jackass Aizen around like a puppy. Pathetic!" The boy spat on the ground in disgust.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds, yellow eyes boring into green. Then Hitsugaya came up with another question.

"Did Aizen create you by using the Hogyoku?"

"You sure got a lot of questions don't you, Hitsugaya-kun?" Hitsugaya gritted his teeth at the demeaning honorific. "Aw, don't look at me like that Hitsugaya-kun; I am you after all, so there's no point in being formal is there? But to answer your question, I suppose that I was created by Aizen using the Hogyoku; though it's more like I've always been here, but was only just awakened."

"I see…"

"Well, it doesn't matter anyway. The only way that Aizen's repulsive name even comes into my mind is when I'm making up detailed plans on how to destroy him."

"You hate Aizen?" asked Hitsugaya, confused. "But he created you; I would have thought that you would be all 'It is the will of Aizen-sama' like the other hollows."

"Baka," said the hollow-boy, rolling his eyes "whatever gave you the opinion that I was anything like other hollows? You are known as a prodigy, why shouldn't I be one as well?" Hitsugaya had no response, so he said nothing. "And yes, I want to kill that bastard Aizen just as much as you do. So, if you'd just let me take over this body, I could have him out of the way in no time at all. I can't believe that you haven't killed him yet—how pathetic!"

"Believe me, I've tried," muttered Hitsugaya sourly.

The hollow-boy read the unspoken question in Hitsugaya's eyes and continued ranting. "He 'created' me to serve him, wants me to obey him unquestioningly like those other fools, so that he could use my enormous power to give him what he is too weak to take by himself." The hollow's angry tirade grew in volume, until he was screaming, his yellow eyes blazing with rage. The hollow's reiatsu was increasing in bursts, causing the already cool air to drop to below freezing temperatures. "I wield enough strength to make the world tremble at my feet, why should I use it to help somebody else rise to glory?! The only one who has both the strength and will to be the undisputed ruler of heaven, earth, Hueco Mundo, Soul Society, and everything in between is me and only me!"

Hitsugaya cut him off mid-rant. Even though he had only met his inner hollow a few minutes ago, he had no doubt that his other self could— and would— continue on this topic until he passed out from lack of oxygen. "Okay, I get it—um… do you have a name?"

"Nope," the hollow-boy replied, suddenly returning to cheerfulness. "Don't want one, don't need one."

The two boys returned to contemplating each other in silence, though the hollow-boy was still shaking with rage over the subject of Aizen.

Hitsugaya's thoughts were whirling rapidly, as he tried to think of a way to turn the situation to his advantage. In here, I'm unarmed and facing a power-hungry hollow. In the real world, I'm facing a power-hungry ex-shingami who controls a giant army, as well as the hogyoku, and has also captured Momo. His brain was weighing the options, though none of them were particularly appealing to him. At least my inner hollow doesn't seem too intent on attacking me, while I know that Aizen would not hesitate to kill me…or Momo. As much as I hate to admit it, I don't have enough power to defeat Aizen, not to mention Tosen and Ichimaru alone. Though I might not exactly be happy about it, an alliance with this hollow might be my only choice…

He snapped out of his daze. "Listen hollow," the young captain said slowly. "As a rule, we might despise each other, but surely you can see that it is within both of our interests to work together, at least for now. The hollow-boy regarded him with a piercing yellow gaze. "Go on."

"Well, from what I have heard about the substitute shinigami, Kurosaki Ichigo, I know that with viazard, the shinigami must fight their inner hollow for control. Whichever side wins gains use of the body, as well as the powers of the other.

The hollow-boy said nothing, only continued to stare at him as Hitsugaya explained his thoughts.

"Well," Hitsugaya continued "The way I see it, we both need each other. You can't act outside of this dream plane without the use of my body. I cannot rescue Hinamori and escape from Heuco Mundo alone, and if I die, then you will never be able to reign over the heavens. We both want to destroy Aizen."

Hitsugaya stared his other self in the face, willing for him to understand. Though it was unnerving to gaze at a reversed version of himself, he could see comprehension in the yellow eyes that were fixated upon him.

The hollow-boy nodded. "I see…"

"So, here's my deal," said Hitsugaya. "You lend me your power, so that we can finally obliterate Aizen from this world and return to Soul Society. Then, we can fight and settle the business of who is stronger once and for all."

The hollow-boy grinned, his smile showing far too many teeth to be natural. "I like that plan, especially the part about annihilating Aizen."

"I thought you would, you are supposed to be a genius after all." said Hitsugaya with a tiny smirk.

"Whoa, wait a minute—did you just make a joke?!"

"Of course not— now do we have a deal?"

"Ya got it Hitsugaya-kun," said the hollow-boy insolently.

The two shook hands, the hollow-boy's skin was cool against Hitsugaya's. "Nice doin' business wit'cha Hitsugaya-kun." said the hollow-boy, smiling again as he slipped back into impersonating Ichimaru.

Hitsugaya sighed—what had he gotten himself into?

"It's not Hitsugaya-kun, it's—"

"—Hitsugaya-taicho, I know, I know."

The boy-genius was seriously starting to consider the wisdom of the deal when the world began to spin around him.

"I guess th' drug's startin' ta wear off," said the hollow-boy. "Take care of ya self now."

The world of ice and snow was slipping away; the darkness shrouding his mind was beginning to lift. As Hitsugaya began to enter the world, he could hear the voice of his inner hollow.

"Give 'Aizen-sama' my regards, 'k Hitsugaya-kun?!"

0-0-0

whew, that was a long chapter-i'm exhausted! i know that it was a little confusing, but i hope you got the general point. anyway, you know the drill by now, press that review button, or i will send my army of ninja monkies after you!

next week: find out why Aizen needs Hitsugaya for his oh-so-evil scheme!

happy thanksgiving everybody!!!

-stormwolf527