Hinamori stared at Hisagi's fallen form in shock. She hadn't meant--she didn't want--she'd panicked! She would never do something like this! She could never hurt a friend! He'd frightened her, and she'd been working on kido. It was an accident.
She ran across the sand and dropped to her knees beside him. She pressed her fingers to his neck, but she didn't feel a pulse. They wouldn't believe it was an accident! The'd call her a murderer! They'd kill her like they were going to kill Rukia!
What was she going to do?
Then she saw his zanpakuto, still sheathed. He had attacked her, really, with his words. She'd just make it so everyone could see it, and they would understand why she'd hit him.
She drew the sword and turned it on herself. It was an awkward, almost impossible angle. If it wasn't a zanpakuto she knew there was no way she could get enough force to slice through even her shihakusho, but with Kazeshini--
Before she could change her mind she swung the blade into her shoulder. She cried out in pain as the deadly blade glanced off her collarbone and slashed across her chest. She dropped the zanpakuto reflexively and her hands went to her bleeding flesh.
"What did you do?"
Nanao's voice echoed in the walled yard, filled with a fury such as Hinamori had never before imagined. The girl hopped to her feet, and the red blast of Shakkaho shot through her shoulder, followed by a second almost instantly.
Pain burst from each point, even worse than the slash. Her earlier panic shifted to terror, and adrenaline rushed through Hinamori's veins as she jumped to her feet. She could see her death in Nanao's eyes. She'd never imagined the serious, responsible lieutenant could be so terrifying.
"Get away from him!" Nanao shouted at her. Red reiatsu radiated from her in deadly waves.
Hinamori raised her hands and stepped back. "I didn't mean--"
"Sokatsui!" Nanao shouted, sending a blast of blue flame at her. "I'll kill you, traitor!"
Hinamori jumped back, not quite escaping the attack. She stumbled and called out, "Bakudo 44!" Bringing up a barrier against Nanao's attack.
"Soren Sokatsui!" Nanao sent double the force of the first wave of flames, shattering Hinamori's barrier and bringing a scream to her lips. "He wanted to help you, and you attacked him! He felt sorry for you!" Three more red blasts of Shakkaho chased Himamori back to the far wall of the yard. "The crest of turbidity, seeping out. An insolent vessel of madness--"
Hinamori stared at Nanao in horror as the woman walked toward her reciting the chant to Hado 90. She wasn't fast enough to run, not in a race against Nanao. Her hand closed on Tobiume. Nanao didn't have a weapon. If she could close the distance between them...
Kira appeared in the open entry looking panicked. He shouted out,"Rikujokoro!" and Nanao was restrained just before she finished her chant.
Hinamori didn't even have time to breathe a sigh of relief before the six sided restraint shattered, and Nanao spun around to face her new attacker, but Kira had run to Hisagi and was calling up a healing kido.
Nanao stood for a moment, staring down at him, before she spoke in a voice that trembled, "Is he alright?"
Kira raised his head. "Send for Unohana," was all he said.
Nanao paused for only the shortest instant before pulling out her phone to contact the Fourth. There was no emotion in her voice as she requested the captain's help.