Author's Note: HI guys. Really sorry for the long wait as I am lacking of creativity and am at a loss as to how to continue the story. But, well, my computer is now fixed and I really hope that it stays this way, so well, let's continue to chapter 9.
Chapter 9
Hitsugaya force himself to stand up, ignoring the excruciating pain his injuries that is signaling to the brain to ask him to just surrender this inevitable match. His body his dirtied with blood and his white hair seems to be dyed semi red as his hair is matted with dried blood. As he stood up, he struck his sword into the ground.
"It's time, master." Informed his soul cutter.
"Yes. I know." Replied Hitsugaya.
He started to close his eyes slowly. The atmosphere started to change bit by bit as the once aggressive and hostile atmosphere is no longer sensible. Hitsugaya felt his heart clam down, he is spiritually relax.
While Hitsugaya is trying all his might to clam himself, Ryuumaru stared in disbelief as he stared at Hitsugaya, who is closing his eyes.
'What an idiot.' Ryuumaru thought coldly.
Ryuumaru then begin to advance his attacks on Hitsugaya , kicking and punching in whatever way he could, causing bruises to surface and more blood was spit out only. While Hitsugaya seem to be ignorant of all this as his face showed no sign of pain and his eyes are still closed.
'Why isn't he responding to my attacks? Is he dead?' thought Ryuumaru as hundreds of questions swam in his mind.
Ryuumaru was still punching and kicking the badly bruised Hitsugaya, sparing him no mercy.
'Now, the final attack' thought Ryuumaru as his fist,with all his remaining strength left, went to forward to Hitsugaya's face. However, just before the Ryuumaru's fist could even touch a single hair on Hitsugaya's face, a single long, icy arrows flew past, scratching Ryuumaru's fist as blood surfaced on the top of his hand.
Ryuumaru began to back-stepped, his left hand holding his injured right hand as his expression betrayed his shocked look. Suddenly, more arrows appear before him, as it was too sudden, Ryuumaru had no time to defend himself as the arrows pierced through his lean body.
Though Ryuumaru, who was caught in a surprise attack, he did not fail to keep his wits around him as he began to use his infamous 'copy-cat' attack to copy Hitsugaya's ice arrows. The ice arrows then appear expectedly and begin to aim for Hitsugaya, whose eyes are still closed, as if in medication. But as the ice arrows drew nearer, Hitsugaya was determined to protect himself and willed his own ice arrows to destroy Ryuumaru's copied ice arrows. However, Ryuumaru, who was again caught in surprise intelligently create a defense barrier to protect himself from the scattering shards of the ice arrows.
Hitsugaya began to open his eyes, in a very slow speed, willing his eyes to get used to the light so that it'd not blind him. There was something different about Hitsugaya, his eyes seem different, there is a certain gleam in his eyes that made him seems cold and evil.
Hitsugaya begin to walk closer to Ryuumaru as he ask him,"How is my 'Monogatari no Ougi'?"
"What? That is your ougi? I thought you have revealed your ougi already?" said Ryuumaru rhetorically.
"Have you have mistaken ougi for bankai? My dear taichou."replied Hitsugaya, his voice revealing no emotion.
Ryuumaru remained slience as he knew he did mix up Hitsugaya's ougi and bankai together.
"Now, it is my turn to attack you. Be prepared for it." Said Hitsugaya.
"Ice arrows pin down his shadows with steam touching his injuries." Said Hitsugaya as he continued, "part 1 and 2 and 4 of the story."
Ryuumaru was confused over his words and stood at the same spot blankly. Ice arrows quicky surfaced again and Ryuumaru knew that he got to run to prevent being hit from the ice arrows and to save his life.
'Run….I've got to run!' signaled his brain.
However, his legs are not willing to move as if his legs was stuck onto the ground. Ryuumaru turn back and look and saw several ice arrows at his shadow. The meaning of the words of Hitsugaya begin to dawn on him, but before he could think of a solution to release himself, he soon felt really hot. It is as if he is in the steam room. Before he could make sense as to what was really happening, excruciating screams of pain were heard as hot steam began to burn his open injuries. This torture, to Ryuumaru, lasted for more then 5 minutes.
"Release." Hitsugaya ordered as he began to create a distance between Ryuumaru and himself.
"You…"said Ryuumaru panting painfully, "you…are going to regret it."
"Am I?"
Ryuumaru stood up again, with small injuries all over his body as he picked up his sword from the floor, "Why are you walking away? Come back here this instant or I am going to chase you!"
'chase' was the word needed as Hitsugaya smirk to himself and begin running even further. Ryuumaru wasted no time and started chasing him.
Ryuumaru chased after Hitsugaya for what seems like eternity. Soon, Ryuumaru could not take it anymore and began to slow down till he stopped running totally.
Hitsugaya sensed that Ryuumaru was tired and exhausted, begin to advanced his attacks quietly by whispering,"Expansion."
Ryuumaru felt weird as he begin to become more and more stiff, he look around his body curiously and found pieces of ice stucked in his body but ignore it as he thought that it was the damage done by the previous attacks. Hitsugaya stood there, putting Ryuumaru under heavy scrutiny. Ryuumaru then soon begin to feel more and more pain, until he could not take it anymore and collapsed onto the floor, rolling in pain.
"Burst." Said Hitsugaya. Immediately after Hitsugaya said that, the pieces of ice that Ryuumaru found in his body just now begin to expand in size, tearing the wounds aready present, and break into pieces, putting Ryuumaru in extreme pain.
"Damn….you!" said Ryuumaru, who was in extreme pain as his words were hardly audible.
"Ha, damn you back. You are simply no match for me." Replied Hitsugaya with a smirk
"You're going to regret this, Hitsugaya Toushirou." Said Ryuumaru, as he stares hard into Hitsugaya's eyes with a hint of hatred and anger.
Then, Ryuumaru disappeared.
'The illusion trick again, since I have blocked his copy-cat attacks, it seems that he still has his wits around him. That wouldn't last for long, I expect.' Thought Hitsygaya.
"Part 3 of the story" said Hitsugaya calmly. As he had suffer injuries from the Illusion attack from Ryuumaru earlier on in the fight, he knew what to expect from the attack.
"Can you possibly catch me?" a voice whispered into his ear.
"Try catching me." Said the voice as he giggled evily.
Hitsugaya stood there calmly, giving no signs that he was at all nervous or scared. In fact, he was waiting for the opponent to attack him.
'Why isn't he reacting at all?' thought Ryuumaru, 'in that case, then I shall attack and kill him'
Ryuumaru went towards Hitsugaya with the intention to harm him. When he attempt to kick Hitsugaya, he realized that he was being blocked by a barrier and sprang back twice the strength he put into the kick.
'Strange' thought Ryuumaru.
Ryuumaru tried his attack again, this time with more strength into it. He was determined to kill Hitsugaya.
Again, without fail, he felt the barrier erecting from Hitsugaya blocked his attack again, and with a force twice of Ryuumaru's attack, push Ryuumaru away.
This process was repeated a few times and it is always Ryuumaru who got further and further each time, cauing the increase in injuries.
Finally, when Ryuumaru could not take it anymore, asked Hitsugaya,"What did you do?"
"Nothing." Hitsugaya simply replied.
"Don't tell me that it was nothing when it was something."demanded Ryuumaru.
"Fine.I'll tell you then. It's one of my ougi attacks, are you satisfied?" replied Hitsuagaya.
A long, pressurizing slience followed.
"Why are you doing this now? Why didn't you use this attacks earlier on? You could even have used it in the previous battle.Why? Answer me!" demanded a angry Ryuumaru, as he shouted.
"Why, indeed."said Hitsugaya, followed by a short slience,then he continued," It's because you force me to. This Ougi was actually not to be used. I personally despised using this attack. Does this answer your answer?"
"No and Yes.Tell me what are the sacrifices of this attack."
"It makes the user have a heart of ice." Repiled Hitsugaya.
A moment of realization hit Ryuumaru as he asked, "What about Hinamori?"
Hitsugaya clenched his fist so tightly that his vein was obvious above the surface and
a hint of sadness is shown on his face as he answered Ryuumaru's question," I, do not have Hinamori in my mind or heart, at all."
"What! Do not joke around with me, you asshole! Don't tell me that you do not have Hinamori in your mind when all this while, you're fighting to protecting her!" a agitated Ryuumaru yelled at Hitsugaya as he grabbed Hitsugaya's collar.
"Let go of me, let's continue with the battle."
While at the spectator's stand, Hinamori, who has been observing the match all this while was still stunned by what Hitsugaya has said earlier. Thousand of questions flooded her mind as she thought of what Hitsuagaya has said regarding her. But most important thing to her now as she put aside her personal concerns is that, how Hitsuagaya is doing now and what is causing him to speak in this manner.
The battle continues as two blood-clothed men stood under the sky, although the weather was approaching winter, they do not feel cold due to the aggressive fighting.
"Are you ready for the next blow?" asked Hitsugaya, in a cold, icy tone.
The question asked by Hitsugaya was left unanswered as he started attacking Ryuumaru," Part 1 and 2, hold him, part 4, bring him to the undead hell."
"Another Ougi by him? If so, then what is the 'part4' as mentioned?" Ryuumaru asked himself.
This time, Ryuumaru did not try to escape as he know that however he trys to escape, Hitsugaya's ice arrows will eventually hit his shadows, making him unable to move.
Ryuumaru's body temperature begin to increase drastically, from warm to hot to very hot.
Ryuumaru screamed in pain as he injuries and skin burn and he ached for coldness again. He collapses.
"Stand up. You are not allowed to die so easily." Said Hitsuagaya as he kicked Ryuumaru to wake him conscious.
The constantly observant Hinamori was looking at Hitsugaya, a expression of worry can be seen from every inch of her face. She stares at Hitsugaya, her childhood sweetheart and found him to be ruthless, cold and, just like ice.
Her heart was deeply broken. Every single inch of her body hurt as she attempts to deny the fact that she has just witness which is the most painful and unbelievable scene of her entire life.
Ryuumaru begin to awake from his unconsciousness but his mind is still blank and did not react immediately. But a slight movement from his opponent was just all that Hitsugaya needs to know that he has already gained conscious.
Without wasting even a second, Hitsugaya pointed his index finger of his right hand skyward while using his left hand to hold the sword, which is facing Ryuumaru, as if sliently telling him not to move.
"Let the climax come. Part 7, Ryuumonmaru." Hitsugaya said calmly.
Immediately, a mighty roar was heard and a dragon descended from the sky, positioning itself behind Hitsugaya, its head bowing slightly.
"Finish him." Hitsugaya ordered.
The dragon roared again, only that this time it is more mightier, it then rushed towards Ryuumaru, obeying its master orders.The dragon of ice begin doing all part1 to 6 of the Ougi by first piercing him and his shadows with the ice arrow follow by using hot steam to make it more painful for him.The attacks did not stop there, but Ryuumaru was barely awake by the time the steam has subsided. The final straw came when the steam was then condensed and then used as water droplets to widen his injuries, causing him to yelled out for mercy.
It only lasted for a second before he collapsed, his eyes wide open. It didn't even require Hitsugaya to take his pulse to know that he is dead. Hitsugaya then kept his soul cutter and slowly walk towards Hinamori.
From far, Hitsugaya seems totally bloodied except for his black shinigami uniform, which successfully cover the blotches of blood save for some cuts across his chest, revealing his flesh.
Hinamori stared at Hitsugaya walking towards her, she ordered her eyes and body not to face him, but failed so. Hitsugaya was two foots apart from her and he stretched his arm, yearning to reach to her.
Hinamori, on the other hand, didn't know that Hitsugaya has reverted back to his usual self started to retreat slowly, her teary eyes revealing fear and pain. Hitsugaya took another step forward, but before he could accomplish his goal, he fainted backwards.
Hinamori's eyes widen in utter shock as she rush forward with her right hand stretched out, hoping to catch Hitsugaya to lessen the impact, shouting, "Hitsugaya!"
Hinamori managed to prevent Hitsugaya from completely falling onto the ground, and lay Hitsugaya's head on her lap while she gently touched his cheeks.
Without realizing that someone was standing behind a pillar observing them, Hinamori quickly carried Hitsugaya to the sick room and ask the captain of the 4th group, the medical group, Unohana Retsu, to attend to him immediately.
Ryuumaru laid on the ground, most properly dead, as the person who was hiding behind earlier picked him up roughly and throw him over her shoulder, Matsumoto Rangiku then make her way to the more deserted side of soul society and started to dispose his body by using a demon art which send the object to another dimension and sent Ryuumaru off to another dimension for good forever.
A few days later
Hinamori was so busy taking care of unconscious Hitsugaya that she could not even get 8 hours of sleep, which caused her eye bags to darken and become swollen-looking significantly over the days.
It was 2 hours after the sun has risen. The morning breeze was flowing from the outside window calmly, making the loose curtains float in the mid air gently. Hitsugaya is still unconscious, Hinamori noticed as she went to close the windows in case Hitsugaya catch a cold. She then went to sit beside him on a chair placed there since Hitsugaya went into the sick bay. It was quiet and peaceful, as the sunlight passed through the window, with the birds chirping cheerfully. Hinamori's right hand gently touch Hitsugaya's cheek, and smiled ruefully to herself.
Soon enough, Hinamori fell into slumber beside Hitsugaya with her head on his bed and right hand on Hitsugaya's left arm.
Hitsugaya was dreaming.
He is in his soul cutter inner world, unable to stand up. 'I am too weak.' Hitsugaya thought, 'Hinamori is better off with the other me. He can protect her.I can't. His eyes were starting to close, all he wants now is to sleep forever.
"Is that what she truly wants?" a familiar voice rang in Hitsugaya's mind as it woke him from his drowsiness.
"…" Hitsugaya was unable to reply that question.
"You want to leave her to that heartless, empty you out there?"
Again, Hitsugaya was speechless.
"Then she is my prey." The voice laughed.
At once, Hitsugaya was fully awoke and replied, "No. I would not leave her to such cruelty."
Hitsugaya stood up and was gone.
The breeze was still flying through the windows of the sickbay peacefully and gently.
Hitsugaya's right hand shook a little. Being a light sleeper, Hinamori woke up immediately with a jerk.
"Hitsugaya!" Hinamori shouted and shook Hitsugaya gently and anxiously.
Hitsugaya's eyes begin to flicker a little until it fully open.
"Hitsugaya!" Hinamori said ecstatically and went forward to hug Htsugaya.
"Hey! I am still injured!" exclaimed Hitsugaya.
Hinamori apologized and quickly release Hitsugaya.
"Do you want anything to drink? Shi- Hitsugaya Taishou?" asked Hinamori in a polite tone.
Hitsugaya nodded,and Hinamori went to get him a drink.Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed as he observed Hinamori.
He then got out of his bed slowly, making sure he was not creating any noise and made
his way towards Hinamori.
He stood behind her and hugged her so suddenly that Hinamori, who was about to turn and give Hitsuagaya his glass of water, dropped it.
"Hitsugaya?"
"Momo, why are you treating me like this?"
"Treating you like what?" asked a puzzled Hinamori.
"You know it, so don't ask me." Replied Hitsugaya, with a frown on his face.
Both were slient for a long time. The atmosphere was tense.
"Say something, you are making me anxious like this." Said Hinamori.
But Hitsugaya remained slient and kept his gaze hard on her, causing her to lower her gaze, unable to look straight into Hitsugaya'a face. Hitsugaya then stretched forward and hugged her tightly.
"I am sorry to have made you worried during the battle. But that was the only way to totally defeat Ryuumaru and to save you. I am sorry." Hitsugaya held her tightly from the back at her waist and whispered a apology at her ear, causing Hinamori's eyes became slightly moist and her face, blushed. Hinamori then turned back to face Hitsugaya and looked deep into his eyes.
Then, with peace and serenity surrounding them, Hinamori kissed Hitsugaya lightly on his lips .
Well, that surely gave the 10th division captain a little surprise and the tip of his lips begin to crook upwards slightly. Taking full advantage of that situation, Hitsugaya then went forward to kiss Hinamori on the lips, hard. Hinamori's eyes widen in surprise, but in truth, she was ecstatic but she couldn't show it as her mouth was pre-occupied. She responded to Hitsugaya's kiss and gave in to him as he cupped her chin between his fingers to separate her lips so that his lips were able to mate with her. Hinamori's hands then reach out to Hitsugaya's neck, lingered there for a while and then went further down to his back.
They remained in that position for a minute or two and finally let go of each other, leaving each breathless. Then, Hitsugaya's famous frown returned and said, "Well, I think we had better get some rest."
Hinamori's eyes were dreamy but was interrupted and before she could recover from the delicious moment a while ago, she replied meekly, "Yeah, I think it's a good idea."
Hinamori then began to pick up the pieces of crystal clear glasses on the floor. After she was done with the floor, she turned towards the sick bay door and begin to exit.
"Hey." Grunted Hitsugaya.
"Yeah?" replied Hinamori.
"Where should you be going?" asked Hitsugaya flatly.
"Home, to my division." Replied Hinamori in a equally flat tone.
Hitsugaya smirked evily before heading towards Hinamori and picked her up bridal style and put her on his bed, and laid besides her. Hinamori looked slightly perplexed and confused as to how to react, but before she could think of any possible excuse to get her out of this horribly embarrassing situation, Hitsugaya's arm was warped around her as he used his free hand to cover the blanket around them and then warping them around her waist.
"Sleep." Hitsugaya ordered.
Author's Note:Well, this is the end. I am so sorry for the long wait and really grateful for the reviews that you guys had send me despite the disturbingly long update. The next chapter shall be the last. I hope that you'd look forward to it!