Disclaimer; I don't own Bleach. Nuff said.

The petals had stopped falling. She noticed it, the fact working its way into the forefront of her thought process, stopping her actions, pausing her hands, dissipating the energy she had summoned.

There was a flash of deep red and she cried out, staggering, trying to breathe as she hit the ground, hands instantly clutching her stomach as if it were the root of all her pain.

And then it was as if the sky was falling, cracking open, tearing apart above her, darkness creeping in like spilt ink, blotting out the vibrant greens and pinks and leaving her in nothing but grays and blacks and deeper blacks and darker grays. Hinamori dug her hands into the soil, pushing herself up, forcing herself to stand even as something tried to keep her down, tied to the ground. She struggled against the force, coughing and unable to quell her need for air, desperately trying to stand against whatever it was that kept her down. "Tobiume!"

Silence, everything was silent but for the roaring in her ears, as if the world was tumbling over and her head spun, her vision blurred, nothing was right everything was falling, fading, dying and then silence, real silence, nothing but the ground beneath her, grass tickling her face and nothing moved not even her until she couldn't stand it any more and she had to move, had to breathe, had to find out if the ground was dark because her face was that close to it or because the sky had run black.

Hinamori was suddenly aware of how loudly her heart was pounding, but it seemed to get fainter and fainter and she gasped, drawing one dirt filled breath of air as she forced herself to turn over, face the sky.

She was rewarded with a loud crack, her head spinning, and nothing but thick darkness.

Then nothing but silence.

There was an ominous cracking sound and captain looked at vice captains as vice captains looked at the captain, each one instinctively reaching for their respective zanpakutos only to be confronted by a chorus of No's as the respective spirits tried to calmed their respective wielders.

Hyorinmaru was the first to realize what had happened and Hitsugaya whirled around, reaching out to grab Tobiume from Hinamori's bedside, to see if it was true. But he drew back his hand with a growl, the heat the blade was emitting already tangible in the air.

Wabisuke and Kira stood in silence.

If Tobiume was broken...

Abarai and Hisagai were by her side in and instant, calling for Unohana, trying to ascertain if she was still breathing, hoping, praying, still unsure if they should touch her, unwilling to be the idiot who forced her awake and shattered her mind.

But if Tobiume was broken...

The thought echoed over and over and over in their minds as they waited for the healer. She arrived quickly ushering them into a corner of the room, away from the girl who was suddenly lying there far too still. Unohana set to work as best she could, battling against the rising heat in the room as vision fogged. "Hitsugaya-taichou, if it's not too much of a bother, do you think you could do something about this?"

He glanced up and the other three were quick to spot the utter lack of anything on his face as he nodded curtly. It was how he dealt with things, was the reasoning, and Abarai glanced over at Hinamori yet again as the room started to cool down little by little.

But it was only a temporary measure and it didn't last long at all. There was another crack, louder, sharper, more distinct as the snapping of metal and Hitsugaya frowned, withdrawing Hyorinmaru at once. "I'm sorry. Tobiume is resisting it."

She kept her eyes on the girl but no one missed the look of concern that crossed her face. "I see. There is very little I can do then." Unohana looked at them with a small smile, but it was clear she wasn't as calm as she sounded. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

They understood, they knew, had been surprised she hadn't just kicked them out in the first place. Kira bowed shakily and left first, hands nervously clenched into fists by his side as he forced himself to walk away. Abarai stood rooted to the spot, unwilling to move away from the girl but Hisagai grabbed him by the arm and pulled him along behind him as he left, muttering something to the effect of 'stand by her later, idiot.' And Hitsugaya growled lowly, staring down the healer.

"I won't leave her."

"You think you can stand the heat?"

"I'm going to have to."

She sighed, averting her eyes from his icy gaze. "So young, so stubborn." But she smiled regardless, and it wasn't as sad as the one before. It was good that someone was going to be beside her no matter what. Maybe it would help her get through this. "If it gets too much, you will have to leave. I won't have you coming down with something too."

"Understood, Unohana-taichou."

What are you doing?

I can't.

...Tobiume?

She can't. Not here.

You don't sound like yourself.

It's no good, he's still here. Still here. Can't get rid of him.

Tobiume!

...So she is failing you...

Black. Black was dark. It was comforting. It was nothing. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, trying to hold onto the darkness even as she felt herself being thrown backwards, hitting a tree, falling to the ground. Her eyes slipped open as she gasped for breath and light flooded in. Bright, warm, blinding. Illusionary. Robbing her of sight and breath in one.

She was thrown again and this time hit dirt, skidding back as she forced herself to her feet, to get used to the light, get used to the heavy feeling that was now her body.

Coldness settled in, darkening the light, but it was short lived as another crack boomed in the sky. The light returned its blinding glare on her and Hinamori wavered, trying desperately to remain on her feet. Fire was raging, licking at her fingers, the trees, the grass. It surrounded her and the light, exhaustingly hot and unbearable, forcing Hinamori to her knees even as she clung desperately to the form before her, the light, trying to stand.

"Hinamori-kun, you're getting blood on my robes. Do desist."

She froze, shaking hands winding tighter into the fabric of the light as tears graced her face. Knees hit dirt, eyes wide and blind. But she didn't have to see, not to know who had said that. She knew, had always known, would always know.

Tobiume roared but it was silent against the light, dulled by the raging flames. Hinamori didn't hear it, too caught up in the blinding light, the form in front of her, the sound of that voice. The all too familiar word escaped her before she knew what was going on.

"Captain..."

He turned to face his busty vice captain, wearily eyeing her as she stood over him. She looked annoyed. "What?"

"I've been standing here for twenty minutes! If you're going to sleep, then do it in your room!" She huffed, crossing her arms as she glared at the short captain before her. "Hinamori doesn't need you falling asleep outside her room. I'll wait with her for a while, you get some real rest."

"I can't. Not when she's like this." He shot a glance over his shoulder, at the door the blocked them from the oppressive heat that Unohana was currently working in. "I can't leave her."

"Captain... She's not going to see it like that." She wanted to add that she was worried too, but knew he'd deny it.

Hitsugaya sighed, standing up and grabbing Hyorinmaru as he did. "If I can't do anything, what makes you think you can, Matsumoto?"

"Ah, captain!" The blonde giggled, pushing him down the corridor heartily. "Because I'm a woman! She doesn't want to wake up with the boys all staring at her!"

"...Whatever. I'll be back soon."

As soon as he'd disappeared around the corner Matsumoto sighed herself, letting the cheerful smile fall. She made her way into the room, glancing at Unohana as she worked around Hinamori. "How is she?"

"Unchanged. Tobiume has made no move either. But I think... If we are to know what happened, then someone needs to talk to Tobiume." Unohana brushed sweat away from her forehead, watching Hinamori struggled for air, even with a respirator. "I've sent Hanatarou-kun to fetch someone to do that, but if you'd like Haineko to try first, then you have my permission."

The healer looked defeated, unable to ascertain exactly what was wrong with Hinamori or why Tobiume was acting strangely, but Matsumoto nodded meekly. "I think we'll try."

Do you hear me?

Hear? Hear. Yes.

...It is hard for you to talk?

Yes. Suppressed.

You are being with held? There is nothing that could separate a zanpakuto form the one it is bound to though...

No. Not with held. Just apart. She doesn't see.

The trials she is undergoing are affecting her?

No. Told Hyorinmaru. He's still here.

'He', Tobiume?

He won't leave. She doesn't see. Can't get him out. Tried.

Who is it?

Him. He won't leave her. She's running to him. I tried.

It isn't over yet, Tobiume.

It is. She can't, won't. I can't force her. I have to... She's making me burn.

You wield fire, you were born to burn.

Not like this. This isn't fire. This is something else. Not me, not right. Haineko, she can't hold out.

She will die.

Can't, won't, don't. You don't understand.

Then help me.

Can't. Nothing to say. She is mine. I won't give her to him.

Tobiume...


Stay strong, Tobiume...

A/N:

First set is Hyorinmaru, second is Haineko.