Chapter 10: Thirst

Matsumoto winced as she pulled herself up into an unstable stance, standing only a short distance from Hitsugaya. Desperately trying various Hados to try and dispel the barrier, dread began to steadily set in her voice as nothing seemed to even make a dent in the mysterious phenomenon. As soft footsteps grew louder, she shifted her glance from her captain over to Hitto, sadistically taking his time as he strutted towards them.

Why has no one come? Surely they have noticed that we are missing, can they not feel the spiritual pressure? Maybe they feel that a captain and lieutenant should be more than capable of handling what should be only a trivial issue. But that barrier...

Matsumoto stole a glance down at Hyorinmaru, still glistening in the moonlight. I can't let Hitto see, or take hold of that Zampaku-to...

"Haineko!" Matsumoto shouted, losing a bit of her balance as she directed the particles around her towards the shallow dirt near to discarded Zampaku-to. In attempt to divert suspicion, she directed most of the dust toward Hitto and his bird to create the illusion of attack, while still using a small portion to blow dust on top of the blade. Hopefully, it would remain hidden there to anyone who wasn't already aware of it.

"Surely you've seen by now that your Zampaku-to cannot harm me or Oniguru," Hitto snapped back, watching the various particles of the thin dust blow away as Oniguru quite effortlessly rerouted them into the night air. "What is your real plan, Ranigku-san?" Hitto baited her, now only a few steps out of reach.

Watching the small particles of her blade begin to collect and form at the hilt, Matsumoto swung her Zampaku-to at Hitto's chest with her remaining energy, hoping to catch him off-guard. But it instead served to drain her of her only remaining energy, causing her to topple over to the ground, panting slowly as she tried to catch her breath. Hitto had dodged the blow easily, staring as Matsumoto hit the ground.

"You know," Hitto leered as he bent down slowly to Matsumoto's eye level, "I would have been able to sit perfectly content waiting for you to come to me on your own Rangiku."

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Matsumoto's flushed forehead as she tried to regain her bearings, strategically analyzing Hitto's position above her. For the first time in a long time, she felt completely helpless and physically drained of any fleeting surge of energy. She felt as though she was putty, waiting to be molded to Hitto's twisted designs. Unable to find the will to speak, Matsumoto's gaze shifted to her trapped captain as he still attempted to use his various tactics to escape his electrified prison.

"While you two may think it's a secret," Hitto hissed in an agitated tone, "I know everything about what you two have done."

Matsumoto gasped as her eyes widened, still fixated on her captain, who too had stopped dead in his tracks. It seemed as though simultaneously, Toshiro and Rangiku came to the same chilling conclusion; this attack wasn't over power or frustration. This was about Matsumoto. All of this was about Hitto's unrequited affections; wounds which became infected and excruciatingly painful as the climate of Toshiro and Matsumoto's relationship changed from close comrades, to sexual and intimate.

"Hitto!" Hitsugaya screamed, now struggling beneath the weight of the slowly shrinking barrier, draining away his vast spiritual pressure. "You can't get away with this! I won't let you harm Matsumoto anymore, as a captain, and as her..." Hitsugaya paused for a moment before letting out a vicious scream in agony. Blood spattered out between his lips as the barrier began surging, now closing tightly around Hitsugaya's body.

"Finish that sentence Captain, and I will kill you," Hitto sternly warned Hitsugaya, watching as he writhed in pain, trying to break free.

Tears filled Matsumoto's eyes as she watched in horror, veins tracing outlines in Hitsugaya's face as he tried to fight back against the excruciating pain, the effects of the barrier still draining every ounce of his spiritual pressure. "Please! Don't hurt him anymore Hitto! Whatever it is that you want you'll have it I promise!" Matsumoto shrieked as she continued to watch, seeing Hitsugaya's will to fight slowly dwindling.

Hitto began to snicker as he lifted Matsumoto to her feet by the cloth on her shoulder. His eyes flashed in the moonlight as he glanced from the battered form of Matsumoto, and back over to the chaos that was slowly consuming Hitsugaya. "What I would like more than anything is to here, let what so unfairly came to me, be bestowed upon our thieving Captain."

Matsumoto felt a massive pulsing heartbeat echo in her head as the words rang in her ears. Anxiety sunk deep into her soul, pulling her center of gravity towards the ground, causing her legs to tremble. She finally worked up the strength to clear her throat and ask, "What are you saying?"

Hitto, smiling a devious smile, lifted one of his hands to her cheek placing it gently on the side of her face before slowly stroking her skin from the jaw to the side of her neck. He wrapped his arm around Matsumoto's waist and pulled her in close, gently placing a kiss on the free side of her neck. She felt a cold sweat form just beneath her hairline as every hair on her body stood straight up in terror. "I can think of no greater torment for our captain than to let him watch helpless while I please you more than he ever could." Matsumoto growled slightly, using what was left of her energy to slap Hitto's hand away and try to push him back. She knew that if she had to struggle for too long, it would not be enough. She felt him grab at her belt, slowly pulling the captain's Haori out from where it had been tucked in before throwing it carelessly into the dirt.

Suddenly, A bright light erupted just next to Hitto and Matsumoto, swirling up into the night sky. Surprised by it's brilliance, Hitto released Matsumoto from his grip and looked over to see the crumpled up Hitsugaya, tidal force waves of spiritual pressure billowing off of him. He had stopped struggling beneath the barrier, even while it pressed harder and harder against his body as the release of his power grew in intensity.

"Let. Her. Go. Hitto." Hitsugaya growled as he slowly opened his eyes, looking into the moonlight with a sapphire glow.

Hitto stepped back, intimidated slightly and weighed down by the remarkable resolve and massive power his captain still maintained. But he did not stand down completely, and soon regained his offensive stance. He looked over to see Matsumoto had backed towards a nearby tree, a fire spread to her eyes, ignited by her captain's power. Hitto confidently snickered, even as a slight tremble remained in his voice as he spoke. "What can you do captain? You're alone, dying. You're trapped in Oniguru's barrier. And..." Hitto swept his foot across the ground, clearing the dust off of the semi-hidden Zampaku-to before bending down and clasping his hand around it's hilt. "You have no Zampaku-to." Looking back over at Matsumoto, anger brewed in her gaze as she watched him grab hold of Hyorinmaru. Hitto bent over to pick up the captain's Haori, draping it over his shoulder as he turned back to face Toshiro. As he inched towards Hitsugaya, wading through the spiritual pressure that was flooding the area, he let out a devious sigh. "Perhaps it would be best to kill you before I do anything. Just to be safe. I mean, then I would be the Captain and no one, not even Matsumoto, would be able to defy me." He lifted Hyorinmaru to the sky, "And to make it just that much more personal," the moon catching the shine of the blade as it rose, "I'll kill you with your own Zampaku-to."

Before she could think, Matsumoto screamed out as she watched the blade fall towards Hitsugaya. As it was about to slice, a blood curdling shriek arose from the edges of the forest. Both Hitto and Matsumoto turned abruptly to see Oniguru, flapping it's wings spastic-ally as if in deep pain, a large gash spewing dark blood as it frantically moved about. "What is this?!" Hitto yelled, fighting the urge to run to his precious Zampaku-to. "I won't let you live...I won't let you have her...Hitsugaya!" As he moved to once again slice at Toshiro, a long black chain, appearing from seemingly nowhere, wrapped itself around the blood covered blade. With a quick jerk, the Zampaku-to fell to the ground, leaving Hitto completely exposed and very confused. He looked up into the sky as a silhouette floated overhead, landing just in the distance. As the figure stood, Matsumoto could make out the familiar features.

"Hisagi!" she yelled out in relief.

Without a seconds pause, Oniguru thrust it's giant beak towards Hisagi, only to miss him as he leaped into the air. Hitto, sweat trickling from his brow, roared in anger, sprinting from his attack position over towards the battle in attempt to save Oniguru.

"Raise you head, Wabisuke!" a cry shot out through the darkness as yet another shadow appeared on the battlefield. Toshiro looked to the young Soul Reaper that had appeared just next to the barrier, standing very still, his hook shaped Zampaku-to aimed right at him.

"Kira! What are you doing?!" Matsumoto yelled out, still not fully grasping what was happening around her. Kira's gaze met captain Hitsugaya's as he tried to analyze what had surrounded the captain's body. Hitsugaya remained crouching on the ground, fighting back against the draining effects of the barrier.

"That barrier sucks spiritual pressure!" Matsumoto explained as she wobbled towards the two of them. "None of our attacks can break it. And while it engulfs the captain, it's using his energy to heal that bird!" she stopped just short of the barrier, looking down at her weakened captain.

Kira smiled, bowing his head a little as he thought, "We might not be able to break it. But the weight of even a barrier must be held up by it's keeper." He looked over to where Hisagi was now fighting, the giant bird swooping in for the kill and missing every time. He took an offensive stance, gripping tightly onto Wabisuke's hilt as he continued, "And if that weight is too heavy...even the most difficult barrier will fall." With a massive swing and a loud clang, Wabisuke struck the barrier, causing live sparks to fly past Matsumoto and Kira in a frenzy. He wasn't thrown back however, as Matsumoto had been, possibly because it was his Zampaku-to that contacted it, not his body. As the sparks settled, Matsumoto fearfully gazed down at the captain, but he was unharmed. Kira struck the barrier again and again, listening to the distant sounds of Hitto, Oniguru, and Hisagi fighting for their lives in the distance.

A loud wail from Oniguru cut through the night air as the glaze of the barrier began to tingle on Hitsugaya's skin, slowly melting off of his body before completely dispelling. Gasping as the fresh air coated his body, Hitsugaya fell completely to the ground for the moment, allowing the tenderness of his exposed skin to interact with the elements. Matsumoto knelt down next to him, placing her hand on his bare back to ascertain his condition. He reached out, grasping tightly onto his Zampaku-to that Hitto had carelessly discarded as he charged towards Oniguru. Clouds began to swirl overhead, consuming the light of the moon and letting an unsettling dark blanket the night. Kira smiled at Matsumoto before flash stepping over to Hisagi to join his fight.

"Are you alright Captain?!" Matsumoto panted as he slowly let her hand run over his back. She could feel how tense the muscles in his body had been, possibly from the exposure to the barrier.

"Matsumoto." Hitsugaya whispered as he stood up, looking up at his distraught lieutenant. "I'm sorry. This is all my doing. I have to be the one that finishes this...for you."

Matsumoto nodded slowly, looking out just in time to see Hisagi sink his Kazeshini into the belly of the bird once more. It's pearl mask shattered in the moonlight, causing the gigantic bird to wail as it took to the skies to retreat. Hitto watched in devastation as Kira pinned him against a tree, allowing him only to helplessly watch. With a nimble jump, Hisagi was again airborne, driving his Kazeshini deep into the bird's skull. With feathers flying every which way, it's massive bloody talons grasping for anything, the bird slowly began to disintegrate into nothing. As it disappeared, the bird shrieked out into the night, the sound traveling well beyond the confines of the forest. Hitto began shouting as well, damning the captain, Matsumoto and her comrades.

Hitto fell to the ground in sorrow, looking at the empty sword that lay on the ground next to him. Trembling, he let out an enraged roar, standing erect as he grabbed the blade, swinging wildly at Kira, who easily dodged every uncontrolled slice.

"Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyorinmaru!" Toshiro chanted, watching the ice begin to form around him once again. Toshiro scowled as he charged towards Hitto, who was still distracted by his grief. Kira, noticing the storm tearing across the open space, jumped out of the way, standing next to Hisagi at the edge of the forest. At the very last second, just as the massive ice dragon bared down on Hitto, he lifted his weakened blade, as if to try and block the enormous attack. But it was too late. When all the ice shards had fallen, Hitto lay on the ground, several icicles piercing into his chest and torso. Gasping for breath, he looked up at his captain now standing over him with his Zampaku-to back in it's unreleased form; an insult. As if he knew Hitto couldn't fight back any longer.

"You...stole her from me, Taichou..." Hitto spat at the captain, blood trickling out from in between his teeth as he tried to stand.

"She is not an item to be stolen Hitto. And you couldn't give her what she needed even if you tried." Hitsugaya lifted the tip of his Zampaku-to to the tip of Hitto's nose, daring him to stand.

His vision beginning to blur, Hitto noticed Kira and Hisagi slowly approaching, as well as Matsumoto, a bit more energy in her stance as she stumbled towards the two of them.

"Most of the Soul Society would be happy enough to have you on trial Hitto. Siding with the hollows? Attacking your fellow comrades?...You would have no trouble getting imprisoned." Hitsugaya sighed, closing his eyes as he began to make his final decision. "But you hurt Matsumoto...your friend, my lieutenant...and as I tried to say before, the woman I love." His eyes shot open, sending a chilling sensation down Hitto's back. "You even tried to sexually assault her when you realized you could never get her on your own...this I will never forgive...

...and I won't let you live another worthless second."

As quickly as a sudden twitch, Hitsugaya had thrust his Zampaku-to through Hitto's throat, watching as the life began to slowly drain out of the wretched man before his very eyes.

"Captain Hitsugaya!" Kira and Hisagi shouted out, now running towards the two, looking down upon the dying body and Hitsugaya's emotionless face, small spatters of blood on his cheeks next to his battle wounds. "Why did you kill him, Captain Hitsugaya?" Kira asked, placing a hand onto Hitsugaya's shoulder. There was a long pause as Hitsugaya slowly pulled his blade out from Hitto's neck, flicking it slightly to whisk the blood off of the blade.

"Evil doesn't deserve life." Hitsugaya turned, sheathing his Zampaku-to and slowly walking away from the scene. As he moved away from the battlefield, he looked up at Matsumoto as he passed. Her hair was mussed from the fight, but still managed to shimmer in the moonlight. The glimmer in her eyes shone bright as small traces of tears began to form in her lower lids. Her Kosode was slightly tattered, and she looked completely exhausted, mentally and physically. She lifted her arm up, holding the captain's haori in her hand, finally returning it to the right hands, Toshiro's hands. "The body stays Matsumoto." Hitsugaya ordered as he passed. "We're leaving."

As the Four of them walked back towards the distant Seireitei, Matsumoto stole a quick glance back at Hitto's body, abandoned and lifeless in the middle of the icy covered field.

It's over. All of it...over.