I do not own Bleach

Chapter 29

Ukitake, Kyoraku, Nanao, and Kira were in Ukitake's office. They were discussing routine paperwork when there was a knock on the door. Ukitake rose to answer it. It was Orihime.

"What brings you here, Miss Inoue?" Ukitake asked.

"Captain Ukitake, have you seen Vice-Captain Hinamori? She didn't return to her apartment. I checked at the tenth division building and I couldn't find her. Ichigo, Captain Hitsugaya and Matsumoto are all gone as well. I'm worried about them." Orihime said.

Ukitake was about to tell her that he was sure they were all right when the communicator on his desk began to beep. Sighing, he reached over and pressed a button to answer it.

"Captain Ukitake, this is Vice-Captain Matsumoto requesting immediate assistance," Matsumoto's voice said frantically.

"Calm down Vice-Captain. What happened?" Ukitake asked.

"We were ambushed by three arrancars. Captain Hitsugaya is dead, Ichigo Kurosaki is badly wounded, and Vice-Captain Hinamori has been abducted!" She was becoming hysterical. Everyone's eyes widened in horror.

"We'll be right there!" Ukitake said. Kyoraku turned to Nanao and Kira.

"You two inform the Captain-Commander of what's happened." He said; Nanao and Kira bowed and rushed off.

"Orihime, come with us," Ukitake said. They rushed out and made their way to the coordinates of the source of Matsumoto's transmission. When they arrived they found Ichigo lying on the ground, unconscious but with his wounds bandaged. Matsumoto was sobbing over the lifeless body of Hitsugaya. They rushed over to her, looking on with sadness. Orihime's eyes filled with tears.

"What happened?" Ukitake asked.

"Ichigo and I felt Momo in distress and came to help her," Matsumoto said, "When we got here, Captain Hitsugaya was already dead. He was probably dead for a while beforehand. We fought the arrancar. I won against the one I was engaged with, but Ichigo and Momo refused to let me help them. Momo used her Bankai and was about to defeat her opponent, but then the arrancar Ichigo was fighting knocked him out and began fighting her. She was about to defeat him too when I blacked out. I'm not sure what happened exactly, but when I woke up things were like this." She breathed heavily, having just said so much at once.

Orihime bent down slowly over Hitsugya, when she suddenly gasped. "Rangiku, he's still alive!"

"What? How? I checked him several times and he was definitely dead!" Matsumoto exclaimed, both shocked and happy.

"He's just barely alive. There's something strange…Momo's reiatsu is clinging to him and its patterns are similar to mine. Its like she gave him new life! Hold on, I'll see what I can do." Orihime summoned her fairies to create a golden field of healing around him. After several minutes, his eyes slowly flickered open. Matsumoto teared up and pulled him into a hug.

"Oh Captain, thank god you're alright!" she burst out.

"Get off of me Matsumoto," Hitsugaya said, still slightly disoriented.

"It's a good thing that Momo was here," Orihime said, "I don't know what it was, but something about her Bankai seems to have given you new life, allowing me to heal you."

"Momo…" Hitsugaya muttered, suddenly his eyes widened, "Momo! Where is she? Where's Momo?" He said, turning his head to look for his true love. The other's looked at him sadly.

"I'm sorry Captain…" Matsumoto said quietly. Hitsugaya's eyes widened in understanding.

--

Momo woke up to find her arms and legs bound in some material that seemed to inhibit her reiatsu. She was unsure of where she was.

"Ah, so you're awake my dear little Momo," a sinister voice said. Momo froze and slowly turned around. Standing in front of her was none other than Aizen, flanked by Ichimaru and Ulquiorra.

"You…" she snarled at him. He smiled evilly.

"Now is that any way to speak to your old Captain." He said.

"You're no captain of mine," Momo growled. "Not after what you've done to Ruby and Toushiro!" Aizen continued to smirk.

"I must confess that I was surprised when I found out about your new powers. I never would have expected my sweet little Momo becoming so powerful." He reached over and patted her head like he used to, but unlike those times in the past, she recoiled at his touch rather than being comforted. He bent down to her so that he was face to face with her.

"Join me," he said, "I know of your secret feelings. You crave more power, and I can help to obtain it. Being with the shinigami is holding you back. If you wish to realize your full potential, you have no choice but to follow me." Momo spat in his face in response. Aizen wiped his face off.

"So be it," he said, lifting her up by the collar and taking her into the hallway, "we have other ways of ensuring your loyalty to us." He opened a door to a darkened room, at the center of which was a table with grotesque crab-like arms.


Thanks for reading everyone! In case you're unaware of what's happening, go reread chapter 14. Also, the clue I gave you 'AKIBNA-BUITOEM ISARMLI MIREHOI' is an anagram for 'TOBIUME-BANKAI SIMILAR ORIHIME'. Makes sense now right? Her bankai is really utilitarian. Thank you to my reviewers, ccccookie, momo hitsugaya, Kazeek, Snowy Peach Tsubasa, blackshadowonthemoon, girl-of-anime, and iceypeach. Please review!