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Falling Together
Chapter Seventeen: The Heart Breaking Reunion
RELIEF NOTE: Yeah…that previous relief message was just a…lie! Yeah! LOL. Oh well, here's the new chapter. Please enjoy it. :D Is this one sad? I'd like lots of reviews! Sorry for such a delay on chapters…I'm just too busy.
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"Damn! Why does it have to so hot!" Isshin groaned as he stomped through the sand dunes. He was sweating and his clothes were all drenched from his perspiration. "Why? Why? Why…?" He muttered in disgust, walking in such a sluggish way. Ukitake who was in front of him let out a small grin.
"Because we're in the desert, Kurosaki!" He chimed in with merriment. Unfortunately his high-pitched voice did not bring laughter to Isshin who was drowning in his own tears.
"Now! Now! Once we get to the palace, I'm sure there will be plenty of beverages!" Kyouraku whistled and continued to walk. Hitsugaya rolled his eyes as he found the three adults annoying as little children. "What's up with that look?" The man asked, staring at the white-haired boy. Hitsugaya shrugged. "Oh, come on! Be happy!" Kyouraku laughed, slapping him on the back. The slap was unexpected, and so Hitsugaya fell on the hot sand, face-first, and he could hear the laughter ringing from the three men's mouths.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" The boy shouted threateningly, taking out his sword. He was clearly pissed off. One, because of the heat. Two, because of the three stupid people acting so childish. And Three, because his dark scarlet face was a funny sight. He gritted his teeth, and swore that he would kill them.
"ALL OF YOU BE QUIET!" A woman's voice shouted from behind. All four men stared and found Soi Fong walking away from them, and a following Urahara who seemed too silent today. Sheesh. Kurosaki-sama needs help, and this is what they give him. She thought to herself in displeasure and marched off. "By the way, Urahara…when we get there, don't get in my way." She replied in an agitated voice. The sandal-hat nodded and continued to follow her footsteps.
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Ichigo appeared before the white kingdom in the desert. His heart raced as he could sense her reiatsu flowing out of the walls. "Rukia…" He replied in a concerned tone. The doors opened before him, and he entered the palace, ready to confront Aizen and Ichimaru.
"Ah…Welcome, Kurosaki-sama." Aizen's voice echoed throughout the area. Ichigo stared above the ceiling and found the man sitting promptly on thin air.
"Aizen…" Ichigo whispered with anger.
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"Here we are!" Urahara replied with glee after finding the palace. Soi Fong rolled her eyes as she found him quite irritating. "Uh. Sumimasen." The man smiled embarrassed, completely forgetting her second rule. No talking.
"So this is it…" Isshin replied with happiness, forgetting that the heat he had detested existed. Kyouraku and Ukitake raced in while the rest of the soldiers scattered through the area. Soi Fong shouted some inaudible words at them and followed.
"Stupid adults." Hitsugaya replied entering the palace as well.
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He could sense others entering, and so he found it only natural to send out some reinforcements. "Ichimaru, go to the northern gates…A woman and a rather shady man will be there…they are not to be taken lightly." Aizen smiled and Ichimaru quickly disappeared from his sight. "You." He pointed at a woman no older than sixteen. "Go to the southern gate…I suspect you'll have a reunion there." Aizen responded. She nodded and disappeared as well.
"W-What about us, sir?" The other soldiers replied. He let out a tiny grin.
"Do whatever you want." He replied.
Ichigo stared at him talking to his army. It was a little annoying, being left out and it was more annoying that they weren't fighting yet.
"Sumimasen, Kurosaki-sama." Aizen replied after everyone disappeared. "I will prepare your fight in a short while."
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At first he could sense the familiar reiatsu that leaked throughout the prison cells, but then he didn't know. It was a long time since he had ever met someone from long ago. So he ignored the familiar power, but still was aware of it. He ended up in the Southern Gate without knowing, and wished to escape the putrid odors of carrion quickly. "Damn it." He growled with disgust, walking throughout the hallways. Seeing unsightly torturing devices and fresh rotting bones. Fuck…He replied and sighed. "I'm lost."
"Do you want me to help you?" A woman's voice whispered without emotion. He felt his spine crawl as he heard her. It was her. No doubt about it. "Shiro-chan?" She asked in a polite manner. The boy turned around, and found the person he was looking for right behind him.
"H-Hinamori…"He replied with shock, finding her right there. Behind him. "Is…it really you?" He asked walking up to her. A small pleasant smile approached her face as he caressed her warm pinkish cheeks.
"Yes. It is me…Shiro-chan." She smiled, laughing such a bitter laugh. He could sense something was wrong. "What's the matter?" The girl replied, finding him step away from her. She continued to follow him, until there was a dead end and he had no choice but to stand there watching her come near him. "Shiro…chan?" Hinamori whispered, the smile still plastered onto her face. "Is something the matter?" She asked.
"You're not…Hinamori." The boy replied, and the girl stopped immediately after hearing his statement.
"W-What are you talking about?" She asked, flushed. The boy took out his katana and gazed at her with a depressed expression. "I…I am her! I'm Momo Hinamori!" She replied, hoping to convince him it was truly her.
"The Hinamori I knew…" He whispered in a dangerous tone. "Didn't conceal a sword underneath her kimono." Her eyes widened and he glared at her. The two stared at each other, not knowing what to say to the other. And it was the time, when the two decided it was best to fight against each other.
"…Very well." The girl whispered in a dark tone. "If I couldn't convince you…then I am no longer Hinamori to you." She replied with ease, and took a defensive stance. He prepared himself as well by taking his own fighting pose.
"You're not Hinamori!" The boy shouted. "She would never attack me!" He replied with fury and she froze.
"Come and fight." The girl muttered under her breath, and touched her blade. It's gleaming silver attracted her eyes as she cradled it lovingly. "If you can beat me. I will tell you something." She smiled and suddenly thrust her katana towards him.
The boy quickly dodged her attack, and aimed at her heart. Unfortunately her skills were just the same as hers, so she avoided his pierce and aimed for his cranium. "Damn." Hitsugaya hissed angrily and disappeared. The girl looked around, hoping to find some shadow that would reveal his whereabouts. Unfortunately she found him behind her, with his sword ready to tear through her stomach.
Shit! Hinamori grumbled and vanished as well. She had seemed to startle Hitsugaya and catch him off guard, so she was able to give him one cut. Blood fell from his sleeves and it angered her. "How…?" She responded angrily. He gazed at her running towards him. "How are you this weak?" She asked and continued to thrust her sword towards his chest. Hitsugaya kept on dodging her fatal hits and then managed to land a sharp blow on the back of her arm. She hissed in pain.
"Weak, you say?" The boy asked with a smile on his face. She growled angrily and took tighter hold of her weapon. "You say I'm weak…but who are you to talk in such a superior way?" He asked. "You're clearly not Hinamori." Hitsugaya added and closed his eyes. "I will end this now."
"I'm not finished yet!" He heard her scream, and a burning color of pink surrounded her. "Snap…Tobiume!" She shouted and ran towards him with full speed. He closed his eyes and breathed heavily. I will end this now. He whispered to himself, and summoned his own spirit.
"SOUTEN NI ZASE!!! HYOURINMARU!" He cried, and a gigantic ice dragon appeared around him. The girl stopped and stared at the serpent slithering around Hitsugaya. Tears strolled down her eyes. "Go…Hyourinmaru." Hitsugaya whispered and the dragon stared at Hinamori.
It was a direct attack. And the water that dispersed from Hitsugaya's Hyourinmaru managed to slam her against the prison bars. She squeaked in pain and could feel the water pushing her body to the limit, punishing her with intense power. …Hitsugaya…She thought to herself and closed her eyes. The water was suffocating her. It was drowning her. And she never expected to die by his hand.
After a few hours passed, the water disappeared and he found the young girl desperately struggling for a breath of air. There was a moment in which he pitied her state, but he found it incredibly hard to pity her after she had disguised herself as Hinamori.
"Tell me." Hitsugaya replied angrily while pointing his sword vertical from her throat. She stared weakly at him. "If you know Hinamori…tell me. Where is she?" He demanded, and pressed his blade against her neck. She winced feeling the cool cutting edge touching her skin.
"…I told you that I would tell you something if you beat me. And I keep my promises very well" She whispered and sat up. There was hardly enough time for her to tell him everything. But it was enough to tell him the truth. "…Hinamori…is dead." She replied with soft tears flowing down her cheeks. Hitsugaya dropped his blade and stared at the girl who sobbed. "She's alive…well barely…but if you're looking for her personality…it is long gone." She replied wearily.
"TELL ME! WHERE IS SHE! I'll save her!" Hitsugaya angrily grabbed the girl's collar and threatened to kill her if she didn't tell where Hinamori was.
"You already have…" She smiled, crying. He stared at her with horror. "I'm sorry…but I told you the truth…I am Hinamori." She murmured , coughing up blood. He could feel his fingers shaking wildly. He…He killed her. "Don't feel sad." The girl smiled lightly. He stared at her with confused feelings. "At least you saved her…"
"H-Hinamori…" He grumbled and kneeled down beside her. She was dead. And he found it hard to depart from her, even if it was such a grotesque scene. He could smell the scent of cherry blossoms as he leaned on her corpse, apologizing for his stupidity. "I'm sorry." He replied, kissing her on the forehead. "I'm sorry."
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"I see…so she's gone?" Ichimaru replied, shrugging. He was defending himself from Soi Fong's angry blows absentmindedly, and her strength didn't have any effects on him. "So that stimulant, didn't help after all." The man sighed shaking his head. I guess it's time. Ichimaru thought bitterly to himself and vanished from Soi Fong's view.
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"Kurosaki-sama…please enter this room. I'm sure you'll find her here." Aizen replied calmly and opened a door that lead to a white room. Ichigo stared at Aizen warily and entered. Please…enjoy your time…while it lasts. The man laughed to himself and shut the door.
Chapter Eighteen Preview
Unexpected Betrayal
Ichimaru finds it interesting that Hinamori died when she took the stimulant that Aizen concocted. A muscle-developing drug that allows the user to gain three times the power needed to crush any opponent, but it's side effects can be very dangerous. Feeling the need to question his captain, Ichimaru suddenly finds himself thrust into a dangerous conflict. Will he succeed against Aizen. Or will he fail like Hitsugaya's long dead friend?