Chapter 8

You feel for her

Disclaimer Blah: I don't won bleach, but if I did I would have episodes and manga done chibi style. (They're so cute!)

Rating Blah: M* if you don't know why by now that's pathetic

Author's not Blah: sorry this is so late, and thanks for 1,212 reviews. I'm honored that many people would care to read my writing. For those of you that read my stuff, I've added on a story updates section to my profile to keep you informed. you can even yell at me when i promise something and its late (like this chapter).
Sun-sun: If you flame I will kill you. This does contain yaoi.
Me: Where did you come from?
Sun-sun: Aizen-sama is displeased this chapter is so late and would like to speak with you. *grabs my collar and drags me through a gargantua*
Me: Wait! There's a perfectly good explanation in my profile! HELP!!

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"Taicho can I leave early?" asked the cheery fukotaicho Matsumoto.

"Hai," muttered Hitsugaya, not even bothering to look up. The answer caught Matsumoto off guard. Hitsugaya felt a hand touch his forehead.

"What are you doing Matsumoto?" Hitsugaya sighed, looking up at the concerned woman.

"Checking your temperature. You sound sick."

"How so?"

"Well you just told me I could leave early. All I've heard you do since we got back was sigh, and you didn't yell at me once all day." Matsumoto stooped down to look her captain in the eyes. "What's wrong taicho?"

"Nothing," Hitsugaya said signing another document and placing it aside. He took another stack of reports and began filling out the necessary information. When he looked back up, Matsumoto hadn't moved. She pouted, making Hitsugaya's blood rise.

Stubbornly, he pushed himself from the table and stood up.

"I'm leaving early. I'll see you in the morning Matsumoto." He swept out of the room leaving a chill in the air. Matsumoto frowned down at the stack of paper that still needed to be finished. Something must really be wrong if he left paperwork undone.

A mischievous grin slowly spread as Matsumoto got an idea. She was going to spy on Hitsugaya until she figured out what was wrong.

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She could see Hitsugaya between the bush branches. Masking her rietsu, Matsumoto slunk forward.

They were in a small park by the third division. Hitsugaya was gazing up lazily at the moon that had appeared not that long ago, his back resting on a grassy knoll.

He felt confused, lost, and…happy? Was that the right word?

It had all started with that soccer game. Hitsugaya still couldn't understand why he had decided to help. She was so ready to do anything to win. He remembered that scowl that was so like Ichigo's. He recognized that determination. It stared back at him every time he looked in the mirror. Then she got her zanpaktu. Training her had been interesting. He had never seen anyone (besides himself) catch on so quickly. It made him worry and the reason why was still a mystery. Why should he care if she got hurt in battle? She was a shinigami now and that was part of the risk. However, that arguement did not stop his stomach from knotting up and going cold. He sighed.

Matsumoto watched her taicho musing. He must be very distracted. Even if she was masking her rietsu, her captain would have felt her by now. That was when she heard much heavier breathing.

Cautiously, Matsumoto poked her head from the bushes to see her little taicho fast asleep. She smiled. He was so cute when his features were soft and calm. Quiet as a mouse Matsumoto started to tip toe away.

"Mmm…"

She stopped, turning around.

"Karin," he mumbled in his sleep and turned over. "Karin?" thought Matsumoto, baffled. Suddenly, her mind clicked, piecing together the puzzle. Her taicho was sighing, distracted, he had a lost look in his eyes, and now right here before her eyes had mumbled Karin's name in his sleep. Her taicho was in love!

It took most of Matsumoto's will power not to let out a squeal that could wake Hitsugaya. She dashed off. This gossip was just too good not to share.

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Byakuya handed Renji and Rukia both cloaks.

"Thank you Nii-sama," said Rukia throwing the garment over herself.

"No thanks is necessary Rukia. That filthy brat will never survive Hueco Mundo if left to his own devices," replied Byakuya icily.

"You ready Renji?" Rukia asked over her shoulder.

Renji wasn't listening. He was facing the senkia gate that would lead to Urahara's shop. One hand gripped his hilt in a white knuckled grip.

The three stopped, feeling an icy breeze behind them.

"Hitsugaya-taicho! What are you doing here?" Rukia asked the white haired captain.

"I was about to ask you the same thing. There's a very powerful rietsu in the real world right now. The soutaicho asked me to investigate it," replied Toshiro. "So why are you going to the real world."

"I…" began Rukia.

"Hitsugaya-taicho," said Renji, "We are going to Hueco Mundo to help Ichigo. Please don't try to stop us."

"I wasn't going to Abari," replied Toshiro. He looked over at Byakuya and raised an eyebrow. "But I never expected you to be helping them Kuchiki-taicho."

Then a miracle happened. Something so rare and dangerous that those who have seen it don't live to tell the tale. Byakuya smiled. "Of course I am helping them. I like Renji know what it is like to have love. If it was my Hisani in Hueco Mundo, I would not hesitate." Rukia could only gap in amazement.

"Love?" asked Toshiro, who had not heard of Renji and Ichigo's relationship.

Rukia snapped out of her shock and answered, "Renji and Ichigo are lovers." Toshiro raised his white eyebrows. Love?

"Let's go," Renji said as the gate opened.

The three ran into the senkai gate, leaving Byakuya behind.

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While Renji and Rukia ran to Urahara's shop, Hitsugaya shunpoed to the strong rietsu. It was an arrancar and definitely espada level. He felt his breath quicken when he felt Karin's rietsu spike next to it. She would never be able to defeat something with that amount of power. He quickened his pace, dragging behind him a wind that buffeted the trees and people he passed.

He rounded the corner in time to see a dark-skinned woman fling Karin into a brick wall. The girl slumped down, spitting out a glob of blood.

"I don't want to have to hurt you," said the only female espada, "You will come with me conscious or not."

"Not if I can help it," screamed Toshiro, launching himself at the woman. Lightning fast, her blade was out and stopped the blow aimed at her head. Hitsugaya jumped back from his opponent as she pushed him off.

"Karin Run!" he yelled looking at the girl, who shakily stood up from the ground.

"Toshiro look out!" screamed Karin, just in time to see him shunpo away from Halibel's attack. He jumped into the air, Halibel followed behind closely.

"Bankai."

Karin was transfixed on the figure above her. The ice wings that stretched from Hitsugaya's back made him look like the angel of death.

"KARIN! I thought I told you to run!" called Hitsugaya from the sky. Karin scowled angrily at the idea of running away, but it wasn't like she had much of a choice. She ran towards Urahara's shop in hopes of finding reinforcements.

Halibel made to take after Karin, but Hitsugaya jumped in front of her.

"I'm your opponent. Stay away from her." Halibel stepped away from the boy, sending him a small glare of annoyance over her collar. Hitsugaya attacked throwing out an ice dragon at her head. She jumped away and shunpoed behind him. As she swung at his head he ducked and made to strike her abdomen. Halibel skipped away from the blow, and threw another attack at Toshiro. He caught her sword in one of his wings, trapping it there. Before she could pull out, he encased her sword arm in ice.

"Cero," Halibel said emotionously. Hitsugaya barely had time to melt the ice around her hand and jump back before a red ray of energy almost destroyed him.

He knocked away a slice at his throat, flying higher into the sky. He felt the presence of three new arrancar emerge below them. Hitsugaya looked down briefly to notice three women on the pavement looking up at them.

"Lady Halibel!" yelled one that looked like a tomboy.

"I never ordered you to come here," said Halibel to her fraccion.

"We felt your rietsu spike. Aizen-sama said you were in a fight with a captain, and to get the girl while you finish him," replied Sun-sun monotonously. Halibel dodged more attacks from Toshiro while continuing the conversation.

"If Aizen-sama commands it then get her and return to Hueco Mundo immediately," Halibel instructed.

The three took off after Karin's rietsu, which was sadly still running towards Urahara.

"NO!" Hitsugaya made to run after them, but Halibel swung, stopping him. She noticed the frantic look in his eyes. The only word to describe it was panic. Hitsugaya's face grew angry and he fought recklessly with the woman blocking him.

Somewhere in the city he felt the three arrancar reach Karin's rietsu. It spiked, as Karin battled with the three. Then it diminished and was pulled into Hueco Mundo.

"Move!" he yelled thrusting his blade at her. Halibel reached up, grabbed it, and cut across Toshiro's front, leaving a long wound.

"You feel for her," muttered Halibel stepping into the gargantum behind her before Toshiro could attack again.

Toshiro looked at the place where the woman had been, his eyes full of angry tears. Halibel's words were worse then the cut on his chest.

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