Hi everybody

Hi everybody!! I'm emichii!! Erm… yeah the last chapters have been kinda dodgy so I'm really sorry!! I will do better, I promise!! I have Moderation Day today so I've got no school!! That means super-awesome chappies!! YEAAAHH!! The coming chapters will all have been carefully planned out, because we're heading towards the final climax now. ooh… scary. Here's chapter 12!! Read and review!!

Chapter 12: Nothing can stop me from killing you

"AIZEN!!" Hitsugaya screamed up at him. His voice was furious and so wrecked with anger and hatred, his blue-green eyes wide and angry.

Aizen said nothing, but the smirk and smug expression in his eyes made Hitsugaya even angrier. Hitsugaya gripped the handle of the sword over his back and pulled it out, yelling, "Reign over the frosted heavens… Hyourinmaru!!"

Karin had been on her knees on the ground, but suddenly at the mention of Hitsugaya's zanpakuto her eyes widened. Her hands were trembling so hard and she gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut, telling herself to pull herself together. Dammit.

This thick layer of icy coldness had spread throughout the corridor now and Karin was sure it wasn't just from the release of Hyourinmaru. She was so tired, so weary. She hated herself at that moment, wondering why the hell could she be so tired, so exhausted. It wasn't like she'd even fought Grimmjow properly.

She had done her best obviously but the most she had been able to do in the fight with the Espada was defend herself from Grimmjow's blasts. It had been bloody hard to fight in the narrow hallway, but now as she glanced up, she noticed it was no longer a hallway.

The result of all the cero blasts and fighting had collapsed the walls and there were bits of debris and wall hanging precariously everywhere she turned. She blinked in confusion. She was so out of it; she hadn't noticed what had happened here.

Grimmjow was now standing there, arms crossed, rolling his eyes in obvious annoyance that his fight had not only been interrupted but ended. From through the torn apart wall, Karin could see into the other corridor next to it, where there was a high platform, upon which the brown-haired enemy of Hitsugaya's stood.

Aizen… She only thought the name and the aches and bruises all over her cringed. She had only heard so much about him, she had only known the full extent of Hitsugaya's hatred for him. Karin paused for a moment on her hands and knees, finally seeing the blood dribble down to the ground from her wounds.

She glared so angrily down at them. They weren't even that bad. She had been injured much worse than this. After her fight with Kenpachi, she knew this was nothing. Besides, she had avoided the main impact of Grimmjow's cero blasts.

But she couldn't breathe. Maybe it was just being here, in Las Noches, maybe just the huge difference in Aizen and Grimmjow's pressure from her own. Maybe just the horrible gut-wrenching fear that was choking her, worse than it normally did whenever spiritual entities were around.

The cuts and scratches, bruises and gaping areas of blood made her breathe heavily as she gazed angrily at them. WHY?? DAMMIT, WHY?! She wanted to scream.

Why… why am I still so disgustingly weak?? I still… even after so long… even after so many numerous fights and training with everybody… I can't even stand up after these tiny wounds… dammit!!

Karin's head was lowered and her short black hair covering her face as she clenched her fists and struggled to find the strength to stand. But that horrifying flood of Aizen's spiritual pressure… it made her weak, she couldn't even lift a finger now.

Toushirou… she thought of him. He was there, so close, he had released his zanpakuto. He wasn't collapsed on the ground, swearing at himself for his weakness and struggling to stand up. No… instead he was pumped and so ready to beat the living crap out of Aizen.

She… loved him so much it still hurt even after he had accepted her. She admired him more than anyone, possibly even more than her Ichi-nii. He wasn't… weak and pathetic like her. He was ready to fight!!

Suddenly, Karin realized. Her dark eyes opened wide with shock. What had she just thought of? Toushirou… Toushirou is ready to fight!! He's going to fight Aizen!!

He can't. He mustn't!! I can't let him!!

"It's all right! I'll make sure he doesn't fight Aizen!! I… I'll do anything in my power to stop Toushirou."

Her words flashed back to her. She bit her lip as she felt her muscles ache. She wobbled as she tried to stand up.

Please don't. His pleading eyes. She remembered that.

I know my zanpakuto has barely any abilities, and that I'll probably only drag you guys down, but I know what I have to do, Toushirou. I know you, Toushirou. I need to be there to hold you back when you try to fight Aizen. She remembered her reply.

No… Karin felt every part of her body scream with pain as she fought with the heavy net Aizen had placed on her with his insane pressure. I have to… I have to stop him…

--

"Rukia…"

He didn't know what to say. As she turned to face him, he saw the mask that covered one eye; that began from her forehead, ran beside her nose and ended raggedly, across her cheek and just above her ear.

Dammit. He hadn't seen her in so long. He had missed her so much; there hadn't been a second when he hadn't thought of her. But he stared at her now, and didn't know what to do next.

Before, there was so much he had wanted to say. He wanted to tell her just how sorry he was, about how it was an 'accident' and he had been such a dickhead for trying to forget about her and everything, and giving up whatever hope he had. He wanted to… hug her and have her tiny frame in his arms. He wanted to make amends, somehow.

But now… he could say nothing.

The blue eye that wasn't covered by the partial mask, regarded him seriously. Rukia hadn't changed, aside from the mask that now so firmly sat on her face. Her shihakusho was in tatters, the sleeves and edges frayed and torn, the fabric worn and blood-stained.

All that time he had been stressing and hating himself for being the one that killed her, he hadn't thought about those tiny white particles that had begun gathering on her face when she had vanished. And now, here she was, something like an arrancar.

What had… Aizen done to her?! That bastard!!

Her spiritual pressure still felt like here, the pressure he recognized and loved so dearly, but it was also different. It had increased so much, and seemed to keep rising, so much that it made Ichigo wary of it. It was concentrated and rough, so intense she was neither an arrancar but also not an Espada.

Ichigo stared at her, this pained expression of sorrow and love over his face. She stared back and all she did was say his name, the same way she always did.

"…Ichigo…"

--

Hitsugaya gripped his sword as he ran towards Aizen, who was still standing up on the platform. He leapt up and was flying upwards towards him, lifting his sword up behind him to strike when suddenly he was stopped.

WHAT? He was shocked as he turned to stare at whoever it was with widened blue/green eyes. What he saw was the determined glare of Karin Kurosaki, right behind him, floating in the air for that brief moment.

She was holding onto his wrist, the hand he held his zanpakuto. Her grip was surprisingly strong but Hitsugaya felt the slight trembling in her fingertips as she grasped his hand.

"What are you-?" Hitsugaya sputtered. She had come after him so fast and he had thought she was unable to move too. "When did you learn shun-po??"

Her grim expression let out a tiny smirk. "Renji's been teaching me for the last couple of weeks but I haven't been able to do it until now."

Hitsugaya stared at her firmly but she easily met his stare. He was shocked at how strong her grip was. Especially considering he could feel the slight trembling in her hands and see all the cuts and bruises all over her. He saw the blood dripping slowly from her shoulder onto the ground which was a couple of feet below. He saw the red substance splatter on to the stone ground even so, and he grit his teeth as Karin made no move to let go of him.

"Sorry, Toushirou." her voice was soft and some new confidence in it. "I told you before… and I promised Urahara... I can't let you fight him!"

Hitsugaya heard the slight chuckling coming from Aizen and his eyes darkened in anger. "Dammit, Karin! Let go!! I have to! I have to kill him…!! For everything he's done to me!!" Hitsugaya grew angrier and angrier as he yelled out, his sword still clutched in his hand and Karin still holding onto his wrist. "I have to… I have to!!" He shouted, "He was the one!! He's the one who played us all along… he's the one I thought I believed but all along he was planning on betraying us!! He's the one who ruined Soul Society and took Kuchiki away!! He's the cause of all the suffering and confusion I've been going through!! And he's the one… He's the one who broke Hinamori's heart!!" Hitsugaya yelled.

He paused for a moment and Karin felt her grip lessen at the mention of Hinamori's name.

"It's all his fault! He did it!! …he's the one who stole Hinamori from me and destroyed her!! …Momo…!!" His voice became choked up and he turned his head to stare at Karin. The hatred and want for revenge was etched all over his face and the tears… the pained… tears of lost love shining in his eyes.

But when he looked back at her, what he saw made his heart break even more. For Karin also had tears in her eyes.

Hitsugaya opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't say anything. The tears built up in Karin's dark eyes and finally spilt. The grip she had on his wrist was also lost and she fell. Hitsugaya was unable to tear his eyes away from her as she fell, slowly back down towards the cold stone floor. He saw her battered body and the stream of blood that burst out as her exhausted body finally gave up. But most of all, he couldn't stop staring at the tears that trickled down her face.

The emotion in her eyes, hurt… real suffering and a bit of hated jealousy, as well as the tears of pain that she hated but had come anyway.

Hitsugaya stared back at her when all of a sudden; he felt the overbearing pressure of Aizen as the former Fifth Captain attacked! Hitsugaya swore under his breath and he immediately blocked with his sword.

Aizen's smile only deepened as his eyes dug deeper into Hitsugaya's, searching for signs of weakness. "You are as amusing as always, Captain Hitsugaya." He told him. He glanced down at Karin's body, lying there, battered and bloody. "Might I ask what that girl means to you?"

The mention of Karin made Hitsugaya's stomach tightened, as it reminded him of everything Aizen had done to Momo. He remembered the pain and suffering, and he remembered the tears he'd just seen in Karin's eyes. He remembered the crap sotaichou Yamamoto had put him through when he had discovered what he felt for Karin.

Hitsugaya's hatred rose as he gripped his sword harder, feeling Aizen's hand pushing onto it harder. Aizen smiled harder.

He suddenly stopped his attack and stepped back, pausing in the air. Hitsugaya stared in amazement as bits of mist began to gather and surround the ruler of Las Noches.

"Guess what, Captain Hitsugaya? I'm feeling extra generous today. I think I'll show you my zanpakuto."

Hitsugaya took a sharp intake of breath, as he glared at Aizen. He felt the pressure around him grow and tremble violently and he tightened his grip on Hyourinmaru. He gritted his teeth as he prepared for the battle of his life.

As the sweat began to gather on Hitsugaya's forehead, Aizen held out his sword and called:

"Shatter… Kyōka Suigetsu!"

--

"Rukia…!! I… I'm sorry!!" Ichigo burst out, unable to contain himself anymore. So many feelings, pent-up emotion and frustration poured out as he exclaimed, "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, Rukia!! For everything I've done to you! I'm sorry I… I killed you!! And I meant it then! I said back then… that I loved you! It wasn't a joke or a lie… but even so I still… I still did this to you! I was the one… who made you this way!! Who killed you and let Aizen take you away! And now he's… he's done who-knows-what to you! Rukia… I… I already know! I'm the one to blame…"

Rukia stared at him. There seemed to be a chill in the air and Ichigo felt such coldness settle on his skin and Rukia gazed at him. Finally, she opened her mouth and spoke. "Ichigo, I… I already know too."

Ichigo watched her in surprise as she took a single slow step up to him and looked up at him, tall and towering over her. "I know! I know you're to blame as well!! And I know Aizen is the one who planned it all from the beginning! I know what he's done to me, planning to turn me into some kind of weapon… but, Ichigo, you know what I despise most of all now that I've become this… this thing??"

Her voice was loud and hoarse as it rose and she let go of the emotions that were exploding from within, all the pent-up frustration she had hidden ever since she was bought to Hueco Mundo, all the sorrow and bitterness that tore away at her whenever she was alone.

"It was you, Ichigo! And damn right, you know it! You're the one who killed me and brought me here!! It's all because of you I'm like this now!!" Rukia spat out. Her small hands were clenched into tightened fists.

"I'm no longer a shinigami, what with Aizen doing something to me and my soul!" She unconsciously pressed a hand to her stomach, thinking of the Hougyoku inside her. "I don't belong here either! I'm neither a Hollow nor Arrancar nor Espada!! I have no place anyway anymore! I can't pass as a human, whether in a gigai or not!! I've become… this… this experiment of Aizen!!" Her voice was pained and full of suffering. Then suddenly, it grew louder and stronger and angry.

She was furious. At Ichigo.

"It's your fault!! Why, dammit, why?? You tell me you know you killed me! You tell me it's your fault and you know it but why the bloody hell would you have killed me in the first place?!" She cried out. Her one revealed eye flashed with anger.

"I… I hate you… Ichigo…" her words were weak and muttered, until she raised her head at him again and repeated it again, "I hate you!!"

"Whose fault do you think I've become like this!! It's not just Aizen's, you know it!! Look at this!!" She angrily placed a hand over the mask and the other one just under her chest. "Look at me!! I've become… I don't even know what I am!! I have no ability to live on my own anymore!! I depend on that cursed Hougyoku that's inside me once more!! I can do nothing but Aizen's will now!! Because… just 'cause he holds my heart in his hands!!"

Ichigo stared at her, his mouth open in disbelief. Rukia breathed hard, still angry but with visible tears in her eyes.

"Ichigo…" her voice was tired now, as she went on. "When you told me you loved me… I thought you must've just said it because I was dying. I remember the first time I came here… my only thoughts were how I wanted to see you. But now… looking at you brings me nothing but this great anger and hatred of you!!"

She started shouting again. "You think I want to hate you, Ichigo?? You think I like yelling and screaming at you like this, that I like hating you and wanting to kill you? If you do, Ichigo… then you… you're a fool!!"

"…you're a fool!!"

Ichigo remembered the insult she always threw at him. He knew all the times she had said it, he recalled when she said it cheekily and with a smirk and when she was annoyed and when she was pained. He remembered the way she said 'You fool' when he went all that way to rescue her from the sokyoku.

But never… never had he seen such sadness and bitterness and pain in her eyes when she said it, and felt the pain in her voice. Ichigo gazed down at Rukia, who was silent now, but only for a while. She seemed so unstable, spiritual pressure suddenly growing more intense, her voice always rising and falling.

"…If you really care about me so much… why… why did you have to lie?" She raised her head and stared piercingly through him. "You blamed everything on yourself, when you knew all along of the Hollow inside you that has been tormenting and torturing you ever since you 'so-called' killed me!!"

Ichigo's eyes widened suddenly at the mention of his inner Hollow. Yeah, it was the one thing Rukia always knew about and the one burden he was willing to share with her.

"Rukia…" he murmured.

Rukia suddenly stepped back as she felt the Hougyoku inside her thud, aching. Ichigo froze as the area around him grew colder and icier still as Rukia's unusual spiritual pressure built more and more with no signs of stopping.

"Sorry Ichigo… I have to kill you…" She said, as she slowly slid out the sword from her scabbard. Rukia held onto her zanpakuto and stood, in a ready stance, the sword pointing directly at Ichigo. She lowered her head so that she stared towards the ground, her black hair falling over her eyes so that Ichigo wouldn't see her cry.

"At least… Say you hate me when I kill you, Ichigo Kurosaki!!"

Eh?? EH?? Whadya think?? Did you like, did you like?? 'Cause I for one, LOVED IT!! YEEAAHH!! It was such an awesome long chappie; does it make up for the crappy chapter last week?? By the way, the next chapters will probably be more Hitsugaya and Aizen rather and Ichigo and Rukia, because the Aizen fight will be building up to the final climax between Ichigo and Rukia. I hope you'll enjoy everything to come 'cause I can guarantee it will be INSANE!! Thankyou so much for reading! Please review! emichii!!