Wow finally reach the unlucky number! XD Haha the story is going to end soon. So sad. But still not yet! So continue enjoy reading it. :)
"What is the meaning of this? Do you even have any proof that I was with Hitsugaya?" Rukia shouted at the prison guard.
The prison guard rubbed his ears. "I can hear you, there's no need to shout, Vice-captain Rukia."
"Then answer my question!"
"I don't know too. The fifth squad was always very confidential about their investigations. I think they said something about sensing Captain Hitsugaya's reiatsu and stuff, and they somehow found out it was you communicating with them." The prison guard explained. "They have their inside men spying I guess." He turned and looked at the petite girl in the prison. "Did you really communicated with Captain Hitsugaya?"
"No, of course not." Rukia denied, but she was already in deep thoughts. She had no idea how the 'inside men' knew about their meeting. Maybe there really was a stalker, and he followed Rukia. But nobody knew where Rukia went every Friday. Nobody even saw her coming out from the forest. It was really secluded, so nobody knew. Nobody...
Rukia jerked her head up, remembering. There was one person who saw her coming out from the forest. It couldn't be...
The emergency bell sounded. People started running to the exit.
"What happened?" She demanded.
The prison guard looked around, equally confused. "I don't know..." He stopped a person. "Oi, you, what is happening?"
"They had just sensed the traitor, in fact both traitors' reiatsu. Not just sensed, but they were seen in soul society. They are now fighting their way to a certain destination, and we must stop them now. You should leave your post and help out too. They are strong people." The person continued running, wielding his zanpankutou.
The prison guard frowned. "What? Both of them arrive at soul society? Combined forces, huh?" He squinted his eyes at Rukia suspiciously. "I think it would be better if I stayed here guarding you."
Rukia stared blankly at space. Hitsugaya was here at soul society, where he was wanted by a thousand shinigami, inclusive of powerful Captains and Vice-captains. She bent down and prayed. Kami-sama, please protect him, and don't let him die. Please...
***
"Set upon the frozen heavens, Hyorinmaru!"
A plain of ice appeared, with shinigami ice sculptures popping out of it. Hitsugaya turned and continued his marathon to the fifth squad's headquaters.
Ichigo ran beside him. "You sure are one merciless captain, freezing your subordinates like this."
"Number one, they're not my subordinates. Number two, freezing them is the best way to stop them from harassing me without killing them." Hitsugaya answered simply, saving his energy to kill the person.
Ichigo seemed to have read his mind. He looked at Hitsugaya, and said. "You save your energy and just go directly to fifth squad. I'll stay here and take care of these runts."
Hitsugaya nodded. "Thanks." He said and increased his speed.
Ichigo scratched his head, staring at the amount of shinigami running towards him like an anthill of ants. "This is so freaking troublesome." He sighed, and slashed out at them, knocking them unconscious.
The first pile of shinigamis down, and the next pile ran towards him. Ichigo sighed again. "How many are they? It's so hard to just knock them unconscious without killing them."
"Shall we help you?" Ichigo turned and saw an orange hair female with big boobs along with a whole load of shinigamis.
"Who are you?"
"Captain Hitsugaya's loyal subordinates." The female answered, smiling. "I'm Matsumoto, Captain Hitsugaya's vice-captain. As Captain Hitsugaya's loyal subordinates, we're here to help our Captain."
Ichigo stared at the massive boobs. He averted his head and shook his head. He must not think like this! "Well, thanks a lot. I'll leave all this to you." He said, turning to help Hitsugaya.
"Wait." A massive figure blocked his way. It was Captain Zaraki. "Defeat me to pass, Ichigo."
Ichigo frowned. Fifteen years ago he had defeated the same captain while running away. "Alright, I'll beat you down again." Ichigo smiled. It was fun challenging him, though he ended up with a whole body of bloody injuries.
"I'll beat you down this time." Captain Zaraki said, pointing his zanpankutou at Ichigo.
Ichigo snorted. "Try."
***
The fifth squad's headquarters appeared in front of him. Hitsugaya increased his speed further, if possible.
"Where're you running to, Captain?" The voice he was waiting for sounded behind Hitsugaya.
"Ichimaru..." Hitsugaya clenched his zanpankuto. "I'm going to kill you!" He said, attacking the fifth squad vice-captain.
"Whoa, whoa." The vice-captain blocked easily, and backed a few steps.
Hitsugaya flared up. Killing a vice-captain should be a piece of cake to him! His reiatsu started increasing as his anger built up. "Bankai, Daiguren Hyourinmaru!"
Ichimaru received the impact head on, causing him to spit out blood. Hitsugaya's zanpankutou is freezing cold, but Hitsugaya's burning inside. Not a good idea to mess with the tenth squad captain now.
Hitsugaya charged forward, not wasting any time for Ichimaru to recover. He stashed at Ichimaru, who managed to block. Ichimaru's sword elongated and reached for Hitsugaya's heart.
Ichimaru smiled as his zanpankutou extended to Hitsugaya's heart but his smile faded as his zanpankutou turned to ice and broke to pieces. He looked up at Hitsugaya, confused.
"It ends here." Hitsugaya said coldly. "It's revenge for killing all my friends."
"You're good, Captain." Ichimaru said, as his body started to freeze. "But my captain's better. Better watch out." He smiled weakly. "It's not really my idea, I was just following him. He's my Captain after all. I have to obey him..."
Ichimaru collapsed onto the ground. Hitsugaya stared at the unconscious vice-captain. Did he said something about Captain Aizen? What had Captain Aizen got to do with anything?
Hitsugaya was still wondering when someone clapped from the back. "Congratulations, Captain Hitsugaya."
Hitsugaya turned around to see Captain Aizen. "W...what?"
"You're good, striking down Gin in only a few moves." Captain Aizen smiled benignly. "Even if it were me, I wouldn't be as efficient."
"What is this?" Hitsugaya stared at Captain Aizen, confused and frantic. He had confirmed with Ichigo that the culprit must be Ichimaru. Ichimaru is the fifth squad's vice-captain, so he might be the one who gave false information to the superiors, telling them they had found out that it was Hitsugaya who killed the people. Ichimaru was also the strongest vice-captain who had the power to become a Captain. So Hitsugaya assumed that person who killed so many strong victims was to be Ichimaru. There's no more candidates who were able to give false information. Other than the Captain himself, which was unlikely. Or was it?
Looking at the smiling Aizen, the truth hit Hitsugaya so horrendously that Hitsugaya wanted to puke.
"Don't tell me..." Hitsugaya said, voice shaking. "That it was you all the time." He turned and faced Aizen, and everything started to come in place. "You killed all those who were known throughout the entire school that bullied me. Then, when Naruto and me were eating Ramen, you were there and saw how Naruto stole my Ramen, so you used that as an excuse and killed him. You saw me depressed over Rukia, and learnt of Rukia rejecting me. So you tried to kill Rukia too." Hitsugaya clenched his fists. "You managed to stalk me while being seemed as a kind and caring captain. You killed so many people, and as the fifth squad captain, you took charge of all the investigations and gave them false information, accusing me. But of course no one would doubt you, captain."
Aizen smiled. "Wow, you really are very clever, Captain Hitsugaya. Not bad for a fifteen year old. Though it's too bad you only realised after you killed the wrong person."
"Why do you do this to me? What did I ever do to you?" Hitsugaya shouted.
Aizen shrugged. "I'm not sure why too. Why don't you ask your father?"
"Father?" Hitsugaya frowned. But he did not care anymore. This murderer in front of him killed thousands of people, and even tried to kill Rukia. Trying to kill Rukia alone was a crime unforgivable. Hitsugaya grabbed his zanpankutou and charged towards Aizen.
"I'll kill you, Aizen!" He shouted, stashing towards the captain.
Tall pillars of ice filled the whole room. "Did I get him?" Hitsugaya thought.
"Not bad. The ice are out of season but really pretty to see." Hitsugaya jumped up appalled at Aizen's voice. He was so sure he had stabbed Aizen. He tunred around immediately.
Blood gushed out. Hitsugaya collapsed, and the ice formed in the room crashed down, shaking the earth and destroying the building.
Aizen smirked at the bleeding Hitsugaya, and left.
***
Hitsugaya opened his eyes slowly. The light was blinding him, so he raised his hands to cover the light from his sight. A familiar figure appeared faintly in front of him.
"Ichigo, what happened?" He asked weakly.
"You were almost killed by that guy, and the ice you created were about to smash you to pieces. Thank goodness I rushed in and save you from dying in the heap of ice." Ichigo said.
"What happened to Aizen?"
Ichigo closed his eyes. "He got away."
"You let him go?"
Ichigo cursed. He knew Hitsugaya would go on rambling about missing the chance to kill Aizen. "I saved your life you idiot! Be more thankful!"
Hitsugaya glared at him. "You missed the golden opportunity to kill him! We might never get the chance to kill him again."
"Oh shut up!" Ichigo flared up. "I had a fight with Kenpachi that idiot and my injuries were no better than you!" He sat back and breathed out. "It's all your damn fault anyway. You're the one rushing impulsively out to soul society. It's due to your rashness that made it like this." He added quickly before Hitsugaya turned livid as well. "So now we have to plan a battle strategy, a good one that would allow us to break into soul society and receive Aizen head on, no one distrupting. And we will also be able to break into the broadcasting studio and broadcast the fight live. So while we are fighting Aizen, we can record all his words and wash our names clean."
"Oh wow it sounds so simple." Hitsugaya stated sarcastically.
"Well, it will be simple, having so many accomplices." Ichigo smiled at Hitsugaya's expression as the whole tenth squad appears from the door.
"What? Why are you guys here?" Hitsugaya demanded.
Matsumoto rushed and hugged Hitsugaya. "Captain~! Don't worry we will always be loyal to you! We will stay by your side no matter what!" She exclaimed sincerely, rubbing Hitsugaya's hair.
Hitsugaya allowed Matsumoto to hug him. He could not believe there's still so many people believing in him. He had thought he was alone all this time, with only Rukia, of course.
"Oh by the way, where's Ruki-"
"Put Captain Hitsugaya down. He needs his rests!" A firm voice made Matsumoto immediately let go of Hitsugaya and placed him comfortably on the bed.
Hitsugaya turned his head and stared. "Captain Unohana?" There's more people helping him now?
Captain Unohana smiled affectionately. "I'd always knew Captain Aizen was being very suspiscious, not allowing me to check on the victims. They did all the investigations themselves, not letting me to double check. I strongly believe that he is up to something unspeakable of, and Ichigo here had kindly explained everything to me. So I have decided to help you."
Hitsugaya bowed. "Thank you very much."
"You're welcome. You guys go on and plan your strategy, but only execute it when I say it's ready." A deadly aura formed around Captain Unohana. "I would not allow my patients to run wild before healing completely."
Hitsugaya and Ichigo gulped. "Yes, ma'am!"
Hitsugaya stared at Captain Unohana's retreating figure. Captain Unohana sure had a lot of authority. Wait, there was a very important question he had forgotten to ask. "Oh by the way, where's Rukia?"
Unexpected silence met this question.
Hitsugaya's veins twitched. "Answer me, someone..."
Matsumoto laughed wryly. "Well, Rukia-chan, she's kinda stuck."
"Stuck?" Hitsugaya raised his eyebrows.
"Yup, stuck."
"Stuck where?"
"The prison."
"What?" Hitsugaya shouted, almost jumping off his bed and knocking Ichigo, who was sitting next to him, down.
Captain Unohana appeared again, smiling her smile that gave everyone the chills. "Captain Hitsugaya, I would appreciate if you would not move around so much. Thank you."
Hitsugaya waited till Captain Unohana left. "Okay, Matsumoto, explain why on earth Rukia is in prison."
"Erm, well, apparently the fifth squad had found some confidential information about Rukia meeting you, so they took her away." Matsumoto said nervously. When Hitsugaya did not go mad she asked cautiously. "Tell me, did you really meet out with Rukia?"
Hitsugaya stared at Matsumoto. It should be safe to tell. "Yeah, I did."
Matsumoto blinked. "Then it's true! Hey it's your fault Rukia landed in jail!"
Guilt filled Hitsugaya's whole heart. He cocked his head. "You don't need to tell me that. I know." He said sadly. Maybe that time he really spent too much time with Rukia...
"I drew out the map of soul society." Ichigo said, raising a piece of paper. "Now let's plan our strategy." Matsumoto immediately gave an excuse and left quickly. "I'll prepare food for everyone!" She said and ran out of the room.
Hitsugaya glared angrily at the retreating Matsumoto. "Che, like she can cook."
The rest of the people in the room crowded around Ichigo's hand drawn map and started a heated discussion.
"Okay, we need to break into the broadcasting studio and the fifth squad headquarters. So how do we do it?" "I think we should arrive right on the fifth squad with the rest of the people guarding the outside so no one will come and help out." "No I think it will be better if we arrive from different parts of soul society. It will make them helpless." "Hmm, that's a great idea, but do we have enough people?" "I think we should break into the broadcasting studio first."
"I think we should save Rukia too." Hitsugaya said, cutting into everyone's speech.
"What?" Ichigo looked up as though Hitsugaya was crazy. "We have so much to do, and now you are here to add more workload to us by telling us that we should save a girl?"
"Shut up!" Hitsugaya shouted. "Rukia is not just any girl you idiot." Hitsugaya composed himself and continued. "I'm saying, while I break into the prison trying to save Rukia, the rest of you fight open a passage for me to pass through with Rukia, allowing us to pass through easily, without much effort. Then, together with Rukia, we can kill Aizen. Through all this distractions, breaking into the broadcasting studio would be the easiest. So while we are all fighting, a small group will break into the broadcasting studio and broadcast Aizen's confessions." He paused and looked around. "Any objections?"
Ichigo raised his hands. "Question: why does it have to be you who save Rukia?"
"Because the prison in seireitei limits one's reiatsu so that one cannot escape from it. But as a captain, my reiatsu is higher and therefore even after limiting, I can still save Rukia. Goodness do you even study? Of course you must always let a captain do the breaking in of prison." Hitsugaya answered irritably.
Ichigo blinked. This guy really memorises everything. "Alright, you win. But why does it have to be the two of you who fights Aizen?"
"Because both of us uses ice, so when we combine forces, our ice power can maximise to its full limits, allowing both of us to fight at the best conditions, therefore a higher chance to defeat Aizen. It's in the textbook, same elements power would be able to reach to its potential..."
"Okay, okay, no need to recite the whole thing." Ichigo raised his hands as signs of surrender.
Hitsugaya looked around. "Any other question?"
Everyone stared at the annoyed Hitsugaya. No one dared to defy the young captain.
Ichigo banged the table hopelessly. "Alright then, captain, we'll follow your plan. Now let's draw out the whole route. Everyone split yourself into three groups, two groups of people who are fighting, and one minor group for those who know how to work the broadcasting studio very well to break into it."
Everyone started breaking into groups according to self interest. In the midst of all the murmurings and Ichigo's "Hurry up, we don't have all day", Hitsugaya went to a corner and started his own planning, drawing out the map of the prison through memory.
Ichigo saw the boy leaving the group and sighed. The boy was so lovesick, all he thought was probably getting Rukia out of the prison. That's probably how he came up with this idea. Ichigo smiled. Hitsugaya might be dying inside not able to save Rukia until his injuries recovered.
He looked up. "Everyone ready? Great. Let's start planning."
Chapter over! Wow it's overloaded with events and information. Next chapter the big thing will happen. Do you guys want the fight scene, as in you want me to narrate how they fought and stuff? Or do you want me to skip it, and move on with the story? It depends if you like all of my previous (very little) fight scenes. If you liked the way I narrate it, then you can ask for more, but if you disliked it, you can tell me to save it and go on with the story.
So how about it? If no one review asking for fight scenes means no one want fight scenes. But I personally like fight scenes the best! ^^
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!