Champion Requiem

The second division's walls shined with the moonlit blood of unseen bodies as its captain strode silently through the halls.

Soi Fon's blank expression held back the fury that was hotly and silently coursing through her body. How could her elite division have been wiped out so easily and quickly? The Mobile Corps. were supposed to be among the top protectors of Seireitei, rivaled only by the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13. How could there not be a single survivor? Why couldn't they stop whatever enemies that must have marauded through the halls of her division? She wanted something to lash out at. She needed someone to kill.

It was a complete disgrace. Ten members of her most skilled squadron were assigned to watch over the Captain-commander, and another ten to ensure the protection of her division. And from what she had witnessed within the past three hours, her select few had done nothing to maintain their objectives. Yamamoto was assassinated by his own lieutenant and her division was a crimson blood-bath; as the leader and organizer of the men who were supposed to prevent such atrocities from occurring, Soi Fon felt like an utter failure.

She silently arrived at her office, her teeth clenching as she saw the doors to her quarters in splinters on the floor. Her hands tightened into fists, her well-trimmed fingernails all but grinding crescent-shaped troughs into the skin of her soft palms. Her desk was overturned, important documents strewn about her room, irreplaceable paperwork coming to rest in scarlet puddles on the floor.

She continued forward, her mind idly wondering where the bodies of her men were; surely this blood had to have a source? Her eyes trailed along the wall, her silver irises following five thin lines of blood that slashed across the dark yellow paint of her office. She realized with some disdain that the quintet of red streaks came from the fingers of one of her subordinates. She stepped closer, seeing a white fingernail embedded in the clay wall. She grimaced at the thought of the helpless man's futile struggle, the once proud assassin screaming and clawing at the flat surface as he was pulled violently to his demise.

She sighed heavily and drew her sword, turning around to finally face the pink-haired Espada who had been following her since she'd entered the building.

"My, my," Szayel-Aporro Granz said with a smirk as he looked into the steeled eyes of the captain in front of him. "And here I thought I had done an impeccable job of sneaking up behind you."

"Don't even think for a second," Soi Fon began, her voice as hardened as her eyes, "that youcould catch me by surprise."

"And I wouldn't want it any other way, Captain Soi Fon." He drew his long blade from its lavender sheath. "I would be quite disappointed in you if you weren't drastically more skilled than your subordinates…" his mouth turned up into a wicked smile, "…I'm happy to see that you'll be a wonderful test subject."

She rushed at him, her zanpakuto swinging out in a wide and aggressive arc. He side-stepped the blade and swung out with his own, intercepting her sword and sending sparks as the two weapons clashed into one another. Soi Fon growled loudly and pushed the Espada away, following him as he flew backwards through the corridors of the second division. She slashed Suzumebachi forward again and again, driving Szayel-Aporro ever backward; despite her insistent advances on him, the pink-haired Arrancar cackled loudly with amusement as he blocked her sword strikes.

"Captain Soi Fon!" he called out as he ducked a high swinging slash, "You should train your men to fight as well as you do! I didn't even need to have Aizen hypnotize them! I was able to retain the pleasure of killing them all to myself!"

He was trying to aggravate her, she knew it. He was taunting her well-renowned pride by insulting her skills as a commanding officer. Her face was twisted in anger and a desire for vengeance as the burst from the halls of the second division and into the warm night of Soul Society. Szayel-Aporro continued to evade her sword as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop. He was eventually able to place a distance between himself and the shinigami captain by dashing several buildings away.

"At least," Soi Fon began, her voice trembling in rage, "the men you 'so easily' killed would have had the courage to fight back. You just seem to enjoy the retreat, Arrancar." She was trying to goad him in to fighting back, to hurt his pride like he was destroying hers.

"I have always been more of a thinker than a fighter, Captain. I prefer to take a step back and observe my opponent before I meet them in combat. However," he continued, his voice drenched with rancor, "the men of whom you speak only fought valiantly for the first few minutes. After they realized how hopelessly outmatched they were, I was able to witness the once proud Secret Mobile Corps. run in terror as I—"

"Sting him to death, Suzumebachi!"

Her enraged scream cut him off as her zanpakuto made its transformation into the venomous glove that struck fear into the hearts of her opponents and death in two blows. He had angered her to the point of white-hot fury; no-oneinsulted her elite division like he did. She would drive her stinger through him over and over until his blood was completely replaced by her toxins and he lay dead at her feet.

Szayel-Aporro was obviously taken aback by her sudden release. He didn't even have time to react as she drove the golden dagger into his chest, his eyes widening in fear and surprise as the black hornet's crest appeared over his heart. She had rushed past him with the attack and was already rushing forward to place the second black death-mark on his white uniform. He was barely able to bring his blade up to block, but the force of her strike sent him flying backwards and through the wall of a nearby building. She rushed after his falling form, flinging herself through the debris of the wall as it fell around her. Her eyes searched the room swiftly and she soon found the white and pink shape of her enemy. He broke through another wall and flew off, the shinigami once more following him outside.

He disappeared in a flash of sonido, hoping to lose the woman who was trying with all her might to end his existence. Soi Fon was not about to be disposed of—the former protégé of the "Goddess of Flash" would not be outrun so easily. She stepped in and out of sight as she pursued the fleeing scientist, each burst of shunpobringing her closer and closer to her prey as the two of them passed over division after division. With a final flash, she was running parallel with Szayel-Aporro. His eyes widened in shock as she swung her foot out and into his ribcage, sending him plummeting into the walls of the twelfth division below.

She lowered herself into the hole formed in the building, relishing the appearance of her disheveled opponent. He began backing away from her slowly, his white outfit torn and dirtied, his face twisted in fear, his legs carrying his body clumsily into a large and empty room. Soi Fon stepped forward slowly and deliberately, glaring at her frightened opponent. She knew he was a scientist and that he had done his research on her zanpakuto; he would know what the second sting would do to him. She wouldn't need to waste her breath telling him about his death.

She rushed forward, her golden hand shooting forward faster than his blade could block it. The tip of her stinger entered his flesh in the exact center of the preexisting crest, the venom releasing itself into his bloodstream. She watched as his eyes widened and trembled as she pulled the needle from his chest, the second crest turning white with his demise. He groaned out in pain and his eyes rolled into the back of his head as the venom quickly ended his life. Soi Fon stepped back and watched for his body to fall to the ground.

But his eyes rolled forward as his mouth erupted into a wide and awful smile.

"Gotcha, Captain Soi Fon."

He brought his sword down along her chest, spilling her red blood upon the floor.

He knew better. He knew he should stick to the plan, but he couldn't simply pass by the building without checking on her first. He had to know how she was doing.

Hitsugaya Toshirou slowly and silently walked the empty halls of the fourth division, praying that Hinamori was okay.

As he approached the room he'd last seen her in, his mind began replaying all the memories he held of his lifelong friend—something it had been doing more and more of lately. She had been one of the first people he'd ever met when he arrived in Rukongai. Granny had taken him in that day, his small body shivering in the cold winter rain as the old woman stepped out into the streets and offered him sanctuary. He would never forget that moment, when the young girl with the milk-chocolate colored hair came up to him, wrapped him in a warm blanket, and called him a "whitey midget".

He and Hinamori Momo had been a sibling-like duo ever since, coming up with small and teasing nicknames for one another as the years went on. She'd maintained the use of "whitey", knowing full well that he hated the color of his hair with a passion. And one of the happiest days of his young life had been when he'd overheard Granny mention that Hinamori had once wet the bed. "Bed-wetter Momo" would become his end-all insult for years to come. Even when he'd reached his captaincy, he would still resort to calling her this under his breath.

But ever since Aizen had betrayed Soul Society, Hitsugaya had tried to think of anyone but his old friend. The last time he'd visited her, she'd done nothing but talk of "Captain Aizen" and his eventual escape from the clutches of Ichimaru Gin. He'd said little while she ranted on about how her captain was being tricked, and smiled politely at her fantasies of Aizen one day returning to Seireitei. He'd always hated his inability to speak up and tell her that she was delusional, but she was mentally fragile and he didn't want to hurt her by revealing to her that Aizen was never coming back.

Until his last visit.

During the battle of Karakura town, Hitsugaya had been grievously injured and spent a full day on a bed in the fourth division. When he awoke he was informed that the battle had been a crushing defeat and that his lieutenant, Matsumoto Rangiku, had been killed in the fight. He'd slowly risen out of bed, silently grieving at the loss of his friend and subordinate. He walked the halls of the medical wing aimlessly, blindly strolling to the room of his adopted sister. He found himself blankly listening to Momo prattle on about her Captain Aizen for almost an hour before he'd snapped. He stood up quickly enough to reopen the gash over his chest, but he shouted at her despite the blood flowing freely from his wound. He yelled that she was idiotically worshipping a traitor and that he would never be coming back for her. She'd stared at him blankly for almost two minutes before she looked away and sternly told him to leave.

Looks like I was wrong, Momo.

He reached her room and took a deep breath. He was afraid of opening the door, afraid that Aizen had returned to finish what he'd started, that Hinamori would be dead in the hospital room. He slowly slid the door open, reticently peering at the bed she'd spent the last four months. His heart dropped as he saw the white sheets of the bed unoccupied, his long-time friend gone from the mattress. He sighed heavily as he walked across the room and sat on the bed. He could feel the tears form as he imagined her dead body at the foot of Aizen's throne.

"I told you he would come back, Toshirou."

His head snapped up at the voice. There she stood, her frail body standing in the doorway, Tobiume drawn and pointing at him from across the room.

"H-Hinamori?" he stuttered in shock. "What are—?"

"I told you and you wouldn't believe me," she interrupted. "He came to me today, Toshirou. He told me that he's forgiven me and that I could be his lieutenant again."

"Forgiven you?" It was incredulous. She believed that she'd done wrong in his eyes? No wonder she'd stayed so depressed for the past months. "Hinamori, you've done nothing wrong. He's an evil man and he's tricked you—"

"No, Toshirou. He's good. He's my Captain Aizen."

"Momo, listen to yourself!" Hitsugaya was practically shouting at her. It hurt him so much to see her like this. "You have to get a grip. Soul Society is in ruins!"

"No…"

"He's killed the Captain-commander and taken over Seireitei, Momo!"

"No."

"He's trying to kill us all. Even you!"

"Shut up, Shiro!"she screamed at him, her petite features curling in anger and hatred."Snap, Tobiume!"

She'd lost it. He was trying to talk sense into her, but she was too far gone, too absorbed with her fantasies of Aizen to listen to reason. Her zanpakuto quickly reshaped itself, gaining three prongs along its sides. She swung viciously, a purple and yellow ball of energy flying out from her blade. It scorched across the room, Hitsugaya barely dodging as the dense fireball blew away the wall behind him.

"Hinamori, what the hell are you doing?" Hitsugaya cried out to no avail as his oldest friend sent another blast of energy into his chest. He withdrew Hyourinmaruin time to block the fireball, but the force of the attack sent him flying out into the courtyards of the fourth division. She quickly followed him out, a ball of red kidouforming in her small left hand. He opened his mouth to once more plead for her to stop, but she'd already finished the spell.

"Hadou 31: Shakkahou!"

The red flame shot out with incredible speed and Hitsugaya only hardly managed to leap out of the way of the destructive blast. He landed hard on his knee and looked up in time to see that she'd sent forth another ball of energy from Tobiume. He brought his own blade up to block, but the blast was too strong and too well timed. He took the blast straight to his shoulder and was sent flying backwards against a wall. For the past few months, he'd only seen her as "poor little Momo", lying alone and depressed in the hospital bed. He'd forgotten that she was a lieutenant, that she wasAizen'slieutenant.

And that she was a damned good one.

He could hear Hyourinmaru screaming to him, calling out to be released. And as much as he wanted to oblige, Hitsugaya couldn't bring himself to release his zanpakuto against Hinamori. Not unless she gave him no choice.

"Momo, listen to me!" Hitsugaya was in a full-out retreat now, Hinamori angrily and blindly slashing at him. "You've gotta realize what you're doing! Why are you trying to kill me?"

"Because you want to kill Captain Aizen!"

"He's no longer your captain anymore!" Hitsugaya once more tried to reason with her, but his words again fell on deaf ears.

"Yes he is!" She screamed out as she slashed his shoulder, releasing a full stream of blood. Toshirou was shocked at the blow as he fell to the ground; she'd completely gotten through his defense. He hit the ground on his knees, his hand holding his body off the ground as he tried to catch his breath. She landed across from him, her eyes filled with anger.

"Momo…" He began, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Why can't you listen to me? Am I not important to you anymore?"

"Be quiet, Toshirou." Her voice began to quiver. He was suddenly getting through to her. He saw his chance.

"Remember the time we ate all that watermelon, Momo? You tickled me until I threw up and it was all red?"

"O-of course I remember that, Shiro," she smiled slightly, her sword lowering gradually as she recalled the summer day she'd visited little Shiro and Granny after she'd been accepted into the academy. Hitsugaya stood slowly as he continued to talk her out of her anger.

"And remember the party when I became a captain?"

"Yes, that was so much fun. We all stayed up too late that night. You looked horrible the next day, like you hadn't slept at all. I felt so bad for you. You must have been so nervous in front of all those…" Tears began to form as her words began to fail her. She dropped her sword completely, the tip of the blade resting in the pale dirt beneath their feet. She looked up, her normally bright eyes dark in shame and sorrow.

"Oh, Shiro. I'm so sorry. I was wrong. I'm so sorry for hurting you…"

Hitsugaya smiled sadly as he realized that Hinamori Momo was finally beginning to understand everything. He began to walk towards her, wanting so badly to embrace her, his friend he'd wanted for so long to return to him.

The long blade shot forward over his shoulder and into her stomach.

Hinamori's eyes widened as blood began to spill from her soft lips. Hitsugaya was so shocked he couldn't bring himself to move. He could only stare as the elongated zanpakuto retracted itself from the flesh of his friend, leaving her to fall to the ground in a helpless and bloody heap.

"Well now," the oily voice of Ichimaru Gin called out from over his shoulder. "We can't have you going all softie on us. Can we, Momo?"

author's note

sorry for the lull there, kiddies. it's been a LONG and BUSY month in the jta residence. turns out my week of snowboarding extended itself. my bad. new semester starting up though, so i'll be at the computer more often for the next couple of months.

yeah, yeah. our shinigami friends are dropping like flies, i know. big sorry to any hitsuhina fans out there, but... homegirl had it comin'. i mean, come on. "aizen-taichou! aizen-taichou!" she earned it. and i seem to be beating up on soi a lot lately. poor girl. whatever, she's a tough cookie- she can handle it.

made a little joke in there referencing my other story. if you haven't read it, i recommend you check it out. then you'll realize why lil shiro was so tired after his captaincy party.

if you liked this or any of the other chapters, please review. it lets me know that my imagination is still working after twenty-something years. speaking of imagination, finally saw 'spirited away'... that movie was trippy as fuck. got my imagination pumped, but still trippy as fuck. o/t: reviews plz.

oh, andbsvp.you still owe me. lolz.

if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it,

jta~!

champion requiem - mos def