DISCLAIMER:
I don't own Bleach or these characters, just this story line.
CHAPTER 3:
Standing on the side-lines I watched as Squad 4 cleaned up the mess left from the fight between the hollow and the two soul reapers. Thinking back to last night I thought the tears I was holding in would start to rain down my face.
Last night:
Running through the Rukon district I couldn't stop my imagination from going wild, Momo never sent her spirit energy wild so something must have gone wrong. As we started to grow nearer to Momo's spirit energy I soon recognised the area we were headed to. It was the place that I had found the Captain all those years ago. Stopping for a minute I sent the few members of the squad that I had brought with me to go and make sure that no hollows were nearby and if they found any they knew what do. Continuing on I soon reached Momo and I felt like collapsing. Momo was kneeling on the ground, the worst of her injuries seemed to be small scratches and bruises but what caught my attention was the unmoving form of the Captain. "Momo, what happened?" stepping forward her head shot up and I stopped, her eyes were completely blood shot and she seemed to be straining to keep herself awake.
"It's all my fault, all of it is my fault," by the sound in her voice I knew that she had been crying and screaming so much that it caused her to look the way she did. Stepping forward I slowly unwrapped Momo's arms from around the Captain's still body and that was when I noticed how unmoving and unnaturally cold he was. Ignoring Hitsugaya I slowly lay Momo down on the ground, soothing back her hair until she started to relax.
"Now, can you tell me what happened?" speaking only in a whisper as she explained everything that had happened from when her and Toshiro had come to visit their Grandma to now, when Momo was completely drained of energy and Toshiro of life. Nodding I rested my hands over her eyes and the moment I felt her drift off to sleep I moved towards the Captain's body. "Oh Captain."
Now:
"Lieutenant?" blinking my eyes I saw that Hanataro was standing before me, a look of worry evident on his face.
"Yes sorry, what is it 3rd seat Yamada?" running my hand through my hair I noticed the sweat that was running down his face and remembered that he was the one in charge of cleaning up the Captain and ensuring that Momo was well.
"Oh… I just thought you would like to know that Lieutenant Hinamori is awake," nodding at him I was gone in an instant.
Standing behind Momo I watched as she slowly ran her hand over Toshiro's. Not daring to move my eyes locked onto the Captain's unmoving face and colourless cheeks. Breathing deeply I stepped forward and rested my hand on Momo's shoulder. She instantly pulled her hand back and turned her head to me. "Oh Rangiku, it's just you," seeing her let out a breath I began to feel worried for her. Bags were evident under her eyes which still seemed blood shot like she had been crying. Pulling up a chair I sat down next to Momo and looked at her closely.
"Are you alright, you really should be resting," seeing her turn her eyes away from me I thought she would start crying.
"I will rest after…" not needing her to explain I knew exactly what she was talking about. It took at least 24 hours after a soul reaper died for him to dissolve into spirit energy and Momo wanted to stay with Toshiro till the very end.
"Where is he, let me see him!" hearing the voice of someone I didn't expect to see I turned around just to see Karin Kursosaki burst through the doors, her black settling around her face and making her seem like a wild girl.
"Karin," at that she saw me and recognised the form lying behind me. She didn't say anything and soon all of us were in tears and grieving for the Captain that Momo and I didn't even question why she was here.
Later, just as the sun was starting to set was when it started to happen. It started with his sword; Hyourinmaru vanished into light blue lights and I started to hold my breath as the Captain's body started to disappear. Standing there Momo and Karin started talking rapid fire, telling the body that we would never forget him and would forever try to make him proud but I couldn't find the words to say anything. When only his shoulders and above remained I felt like I had a thousand things to say but I had no time so I said the one thing I could. "Goodbye Captain," and then he was gone. It was official; Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of Squad 10 was dead.