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Harribel could never forget the fox-like face of Ichimaru Gin.

A smile and two squinting eyes were permanently carved to his pale face. But instead of conveying friendliness, this happy façade tended to instill uneasiness. Wonderweiss was down right scared of him, rolling himself into a tiny ball and trembling in fright. It certainly didn't help that Ichimaru would act oblivious and speak to Wonderweiss in a casual manner. In general most of the Arrancar didn't like Ichimaru and treated him with suspicion.

Still she couldn't imagine why Toshiro would go search for Ichimaru. It made no sense.

"Something terrible happened," Inoue explained while they were dashing outside the courtyards of the Fourth Division. It hadn't been difficult to bypass the Fourth Division shinigami as Harribel's strength returned, however the commotion was sure to bring reinforcements. "Rangiku-san didn't make it," Inoue said softly. "Rangiku-san is Toshiro-kun's vice-captain and they were always close. He kept denying it after he heard the news, but... something must have happened and he just disappeared!"

They stepped into an alleyway, the shadows of the night momentarily hiding them.

Inoue was panting, sweat gathering on her forehead, though not from exhaustion, but from fear. She bit her bottom lip, remembering what Byakuya-san had informed her. "Soul Society was sealed so no one could get in but someone from the Kidou Corps reported that a portal opened. Captains are the only ones that can break a spell that powerful, and since Toshiro-kun was missing, it's presumed to be him. I think he wants to avenge Rangiku-san."

Harribel had never met Matsumoto, but she knew that Toshiro cared about her. She was probably one of the important people that he alluded to and though he had strive to save her, he had failed. The realization of this failure must have been heartbreaking, Harribel realized. Empathy filled her then as she realized the extraordinary amount of pain and sadness he was going through.

"You believe he went to find Ichimaru?"

"Where else would he go? Kira-san mentioned that Ichimaru Gin was the last person he saw before he found Rangiku-san."

Harribel was quiet as she stared at the wall opposite her. It was just like before when she felt the abrupt disappearance of her fraccion's spiritual energy and realized that they were gone. Anger and grief blended together and she had momentarily been driven towards revenge to help ease her pain. Toshiro must be experiencing that as well.

"I know I probably shouldn't ask this of you, Harribel-san, but you're the only one that can help Toshiro-kun! I realize that you are an Arrancar and an ex-Espada but I know that not all Arrancars are bad- Ulquiorra-san showed me that- and Toshiro-kun told us that you can be trusted."

Her words startled Harribel. She had never spoken a word to Inoue, even when Aizen had introduced her to the Espada. Harribel had admired her powers- the ability to turn back time- besides that she had no contact with her.

But here she was placing all her fate on a stranger, wagering on a hollow.

"Please you have to help Toshiro-kun. Rangiku-san is already gone and Kurosaki-kun has completely lost his senses. I don't want to lose someone else," she said her voice cracking.

"How have the other captains reacted?" Although it made reasonable sense to conclude that Toshiro had left Soul Society, it made no sense that the Gotei-13 had simply ignored this. Unless. "They couldn't."

Two tears rolled from the corner of Inoue's eyes, down her cheeks. "Several captains were sent to Hueco Mundo to search for him," she said remembering how Byakuya-san had left along with Kenpachi-san "T-They were ordered to bring him back or silence him."

Shock paralyzed Harribel. She didn't think that the Gotei-13 could be so ruthless, but apparently they could. Instead of risking the lost of previous information, the Gotei-13 was forcibly bringing Toshiro back, or else permanently silencing him. She quickly learned why Inoue had come to her. She didn't fear that Toshiro would be killed in battle with Ichimaru but that the Gotei-13 would get to him.

"How could they?" she held her shaking fist, trying to fight back the anger. She needed to be reasonable and logical in order to find Toshiro, she couldn't scum to her emotions otherwise all would be lost. Harribel took a breath, forcing herself to think, reviewing the information she had been given so far.

"Did he got to Hueco Mundo to find Ichimaru?"

It didn't make sense though. Toshiro had specifically stated that the environment in Hueco Mundo constricted his powers. Would he be that foolish- going to Hueco Mundo in such a disadvantage? Granted, Harribel had felt the ache and indescribable pain of Toshiro's spiritual energy; and she knew that at the moment Toshiro was acting on emotions. Again she reviewed the information, discovering something.

"You said he was acting in denial after his vice-captain's death?"

"Y-yes..."

Harribel started walking, her mind quickly thinking ahead. "I need to see the last place Toshiro was at."

Inoue stared at her in confusion. "I think it was his office. But Harribel-san...?"

"There's no time to explain take me to his office."

Toshiro's office was relatively simple with a polished desk in the middle and another desk to the side. She guessed that the desk in the middle was Toshiro's since the one at the side was overfilled with paperwork and what looked like bottles of sake. Approaching the middle desk, she looked through the stacks of paper, seeing nothing of interest. "Look at the second stack," she told Inoue. But Harribel already knew that they wouldn't find anything.

The desk was relatively clear, as though Toshiro had finished putting away his belonging and getting ready to go. The door was unlock- which was odd, since he had taken the time to fix his belongings and something told her Toshiro always locked up- so it definitely meant that Toshiro had left in a hurry.

"You said that Ichimaru was seen before his vice-captain was found dead.... Did anybody tell Toshiro about this tonight?"

"No, I don't think so. I was with him most of the day, and whenever anyone mentioned Rangiku-san he changed the subject." Inoue continued to ask several questions but Harribel wasn't listening. It was strange that Toshiro began to seek revenge after two weeks. He must have found out that shred of news just now, otherwise he wouldn't have acted in denial but in rage.

But what was it? How did Toshiro find out about Ichimaru? From what Inoue describe he was kept in the dark around the death of his vice-captain, and had probably assumed that she had died because of lack of medical attention. Since Toshiro was trying to save his vice-captain he felt as though he had failed and felt responsible, consequently he acted in denial.

It just didn't make sense that he would randomly act on revenge when he didn't know that his vice-captain was murdered. He must have gotten some some strong evidence and Harribel needed to see it to confirm whether Toshiro did indeed go to Hueco Mundo.

Her line of vision caught a sight of yellow and she bent down noticing a large yellow envelope dropped by the second desk. Harribel probably wouldn't have paid it a second thought, since this desk was clustered in paperwork but sheets of paper were scattered throughout the floor.

She picked up the paper, realizing that it was a formal report. The date said that it was from today.

"What is it?" Inoue asked realizing that she had gone unusually quiet.

"It's an MIA report."

"It's the same for me too," he finally answered after the lengthened pause. "I want to protect those people important to me."

Everything was clear now.

"Inoue, who is Hinamori Momo?"

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Gravel crunched underneath his footsteps as he walked into the desolated battlefield. It resembled nothing of what he remembered, rather it was empty and forsaken, like ancient ruins. Hitsugaya walked into the Fake Karakura Town- a lone soul in the middle of nowhere- seeing nothing and hearing nothing. Oddly enough he was reminded of Hueco Mundo, with the illuminating full moon and the toppled over buildings.

Hitsugaya darted his head to the left, hand already on Hyorinmaru as he thought he heard something.

In all honestly, he hadn't imagine the Fake Karakura Town to be so unrecognizable. It was going to be difficult to investigate the whereabouts of Hinamori. Since Hitsugaya was acting as the commanding officer for the Fifth Division, he received the blunt of the paperwork. Merely two hours ago he had gotten an alarming report.

Hinamori was missing.

Of course, Hitsugaya knew that he could be facing court martial for acting without orders but at the moment he didn't care.

The further he walked into the empty field, white fog continued to thicken. Contour lines of the tumbled buildings provided some vision but besides that he could barely see anything. Still Hitsugaya continued the will to find Hinamori fueling him.

Again there was another noise, as though a rock had slipped down a slope. Hitsugaya darted to the noise, holding Hyorinmaru defensively. He wasn't expecting anyone to be here, but he couldn't help the uneasiness creeping over him.

The fog continued, creating a sort of mystery in the battlefield, as though there was a secret he was unaware of.

There it was again. A footstep, he was sure of it.

"Who's there?"

Silence.

By this point Hitsugaya figured that it would be best to leave and return when the sun had risen and chased away all this fog. He couldn't recognize and see anything.

There was a sound of rushing then, harsh rushing as though someone was approaching him at full speed. Instinctively, Hitsugaya threw a blast of ice towards the sound.

"Ah wait!"

That voice.

He was running then, running almost wildly until he saw the distinct silhouette of a short person. Hitsugaya stopped, short of breath. "H-Hinamori?"

Hinamori, his childhood friend looked at him, a smile on her face. "Hello Hitsugaya-kun!"

What was going on? Hinamori was here in the middle of nowhere, in perfect shape, not the critical condition that Kira had described. Her brown eyes glimmered with happiness- just like they used to when they were growing up in Roukongai. The panda eyes had disappeared, along with her skinny, fragile body. This was the old Hinamori- the happy and carefree Hinamori that he remembered.

"I know what you're thinking, but its alright, it's really me."

His mind reverted back to the report. "Hinamori... you disappeared."

After reading the report Hitsugaya had abruptly left. There was no investigation conducted, since Soul Society was completely sealed- no one could get in or out- and as a result no investigation was ordered. He knew that he had to go, then, go to the Fake Karakura Town to find some clues whether she was still there or was taking as a war prisoner. Hitsugaya had expected to possible find a few things, he never expected to see Hinamori in front of him.

She approached him, softly touching his hand. "I'm sorry I worried you Hitsugaya-kun, but everything's alright. During the battle Ichimaru-san brought me to Aizen-taichou..."

Suddenly the shock of seeing Hinamori in front of him shattered and he bit back an angry shout at the name of that bastard. "Aizen? You've been with Aizen?"

Perhaps Hinamori had realized his anger because she let go of his hand, turning her back to him. "Hitsugaya-kun, Aizen-taichou saved me-"

"Because he's trying to use you! Didn't he deceive you and hurt you? To him you're only a pawn, nothing else," he held his shaking fist looking at the ground.

"So you would rather that he left me to die?" the counter attack was so impressive that Hitsugaya found nothing to say. No he didn't want Hinamori, one of his friends, to be killed but at the same time he couldn't help but realize that this was all a trap in some way.

"Aizen-taichou explained everything to me," she turned around then a flicker in her eyes. "He's trying to create a better world Hitsugaya-kun, don't you understand? Aizen-taichou understands that people are suffering and miserable because of this current system. Soul Society is controlled by the power elite, while the average people are left with nothing. But Aizen-taichou is going to change that. He has to abolish this system and create a new one!"

"He's lying Hinamori. Don't be deceived by him again. He's only targeting you because of your feelings towards him."

Hinamori said nothing until she gasped out loud as though remembering something important. She approached him again, reaching for his hand and dragging him through the fog and ruins. "C'mon I almost forgot to show you someone."

Instantly he thought of Aizen. There would be a wicked smirk on his face when he saw him. He would make some stupid remark about seeing him so soon, while continuing some bogus story how he saved Hinamori with no motivation- Hinamori eating every word. Hitsugaya knew there would be another battle between him and Aizen and he could only hope that Hinamori won't get in the way.

Hitsugaya had expected all this. He had expected arguments and shouting, drawing out of swords and the shed of blood. He was already making accounts of what he should say to Hinamori to make her see reason. However, he wasn't expecting his breath to stop short and his legs weakening.

It was as though the world had suddenly come crashing down; and because the world had collapsed, he could no longer think or act.

"M-Matsumoto?"

She turned around, a warm smile on her face, the light in her eyes shining. At once she raced the short distance between them picking up her captain in a bone crushing hug. "Taaaichou!" she screeched swinging him about and ignoring his protest to put him down.

"Sorry taichou," she answered. "But I really missed you. What took you so long anyways? I was getting tired of waiting-"

Her words stopped as she realized that his hold around her neck had tightened and he was hiding his face behind her shoulder.

It was really her. Matsumoto was here and everything was alright.

He just had to wait that's all. He just had to be patient for once. Matsumoto had simply gone missing and though her absence was great in these last two weeks, Hitsugaya knew- just knew- that she would be back, he only needed patience. In Soul Society everyone had sobbed and offered toast to Matsumoto's name, lying that she was gone but he knew that it was all an act, some ploy. Matsumoto couldn't be dead, she just couldn't.

He let go of her after what seemed an eternity, and hastily wiped his eyes.

Again Matsumoto smiled, crouching down to be exactly at his eye level. "I'm sorry I made you worry."

"You should be sorry about that paperwork you left behind," he answered back. His body was still shaking and he found he couldn't put on his mask of indifference.

"Ichimaru-san brought Rangiku-san to Aizen-taichou," Hinamori said standing a short distance from him. Hitsugaya turned to look, an incredulous look on his face. "He told Aizen-taichou to please save Rangiku-san. Aizen-taichou did so."

"Is this true?" he questioned her. Like Hinamori, Matsumoto had no visible wounds on her and was clearly in no danger. She looked like the cheery, optimistic person that she had always been.

"It's true taichou," Matsumoto said her voice serious. "I don't know why but Gin took both Hinamori and me to Aizen. There was an Arrancar with tremendous healing abilities that was able to treat us. We spent nine days there until Aizen finally let us go."

"What?"

Hitsugaya found it beyond amazing that Aizen would act in any benevolence. Aizen was ruthless, not caring who he had to hurt and destroy, so long as he got his way. There must be some plot. That was the only explanation.

"I don't understand anything either taichou," Matsumoto said looking just as confused. "But he told us some stuff about what he was doing before he let us go. The only place we could think of going was the Fake Karakura, in case someone returned for a survey or investigation."

"Why didn't you attempt to return to Soul Society?"

He knew that the Kidou Corps had sealed an entry or exit to Soul Society, but he thought it was strange that neither Matsumoto or Hinamori- who had excellent kidou abilities- wouldn't attempt to open a portal by themselves.

"Oh taichou what's with all the questions?" she said with a laugh ruffling his hair. "What matters is that you found us. See I knew that you would be back. Isn't that what I said Hinamori?"

"Yes Rangiku-san was quite certain that it would be you that returned. We just had to wait."

A smile tugged on the corner of his face. "Anyway we have to get out here."

Hinamori and Matsumoto both agreed. Matsumoto mentioning out loud that she could go for a good bath and a hot cup of sake. Hinamori worried how behind her division and how long it would take for things to go back to normal.

And everything was perfect just as it should be.

The fog lessened as they walked to the clearance and Hinamori's and Matsumoto's voices began to lessen until finally they became silent. Hitsugaya whirled around then, seeing nothing but empty terrain. Both Hinamori and Matsumoto were gone.

"Hinamori, Matsumoto, where are you?" he yelled out but only silence greeted his shout.

Immediately, trepidation washed over him. Where had they gone? They were here only a few minutes ago but they had suddenly disappeared without any sound.

"Don't worry Hitsugaya-kun, they're safe."

The fog parted and he realized with an uncontrollable anger who it was. It was Aizen along with his two subordinates, walking easily in the deserted battlefield. He held his shaking fist, tasting bile on his tongue.

"Why are you treating me so angry? Didn't you hear what Hinamori-kun said? I saved both her and you're vice-captain. You should be thanking me."

His hand was already on the hilt of Hyorinmaru, ready to strike him down. Hitsugaya knew that that Aizen would never save Hinamori and Matsumoto out of benevolence, he was planing something. "Where are they?"

Aizen chuckled. "I'll tell you their location if you tell me the location of the Real Karakura Town."

That bastard. He was planning on using them as hostages- their state versus the state of Soul Society. And it wasn't fair- Hitsugaya had to think- it wasn't fair that he had to choose one when the other was more valuable. It wasn't fair that he had to pick the lesser of the items when Hinamori's and Matsumoto's lives were far, far more valuable.

Perhaps Aizen had sense his hesitation because he approached him then, placing his hand underneath his chin. He smirk, seeing the fear in his eyes. Immediately Hitsugaya swatted his hand away, looking appalled.

"Would you rather live with the guilt of knowing that you could have saved them?" He turned around then, pulling out his sword.

Hitsugaya said nothing.

Aizen tried another approach. "Hitsugaya-kun, let us put away these disagreements between us. Both Hinamori-kun and Matsumoto heard my plans for the future and they agree in them. You will too. If you only listen."

"No. It's nothing but a sick plan to make yourself a tyrannical god. You have already deceived and used us, almost murdering Hinamori in cold blood. You betrayed Harribel," he said. "Nothing you say could make up for all the crap you've done."

He was silent then and Hitsugaya noticed the fog was quickly returning until out of no where a wave of strong water washed through. The sudden lush of water surprised Aizen but he recovered, disappearing out of sight. Hitsuagay reached the top of a collapsed building and turned around when he felt a familiar presence.

"Harribel." How long had it been since he last saw her? It seemed way too long.

She looked at him, her eyes blazing in anger. "Are you alright Toshiro?"

"Yes I'm fine. But Aizen took Hinamori and Matsumoto-"

"Toshiro," she said slowly. "I don't think anyone was here."

Hitsugaya continued to look through the area, seeing nothing but the broken down buildings. "They were here," he argued. "Hinamori and Matsumoto were right here."

She sighed and suddenly her green eyes seemed very distant then, sad and filled with pain. It was the look on her eyes that made Hitsugaya realize that something was wrong.

"This fog distorts the mind. You were probably placed in a hypnotic spell by Aizen."

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