Proofed multiple times, but not Beta'd

Part Four- Reaction

Chapter Thirteen - Renegade

...

Toushiro allowed Ukitake to wrap an arm around his shoulders and sit together with him on the futon in his cell. Ukitake rubbed his arms gently and murmured a few soothing words, but Toushiro felt empty, hollow. There was a pit in his stomach and he didn't have enough emotions to fill it. His fingertips were cold and everything looked like it had been leached of colour. He sat with his back against the far wall of his cell and stared, without really seeing, out through the bars. He hadn't been executed yet, but he already felt dead. The rest of the trial had passed in a blur; he hadn't been paying attention. Yamamoto had argued long and hard with the head councilman, but it hadn't mattered; the execution was final. He had managed to push the date back by a few weeks. Toushiro didn't see the point in prolonging the inevitable, however. If he was going to die then he was going to die. He knew Hyourinmaru would berate him for thinking that, but it was a lost battle. He wasn't going to struggle against the current when it overpowered him so easily. He was too tired now.

"Are you listening, Toushiro?" Ukitake asked softly, squeezing his shoulder.

Toushiro blinked and tried to pull himself back together, but the pieces kept on slipping through his fingers. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?" he mumbled quietly.

Head-captain Yamamoto and the others were discussing the outcome of the trial. He saw the look that passed around the room. What a sight he must have been, he thought bitterly, so hopeless and pathetic. He took a deep breath, one last effort to control himself, and looked up; he could brood later when the others left.

Yamamoto cleared his throat, but the annoyed gesture seemed to be a force of habit, because his expression was soft as he regarded Toushiro. "We said that this isn't as grim as it seems, Captain Hitsugaya."

Toushiro stopped himself from snorting. Grim? He was going to be executed, try devastating.

"We can prove that you are innocent with the time we have been given-"

"They already know he's innocent," Kurotsuchi said, rolling his eyes. "The evidence that we provided was substantial enough."

Yamamoto tightened his grip on his staff as he watched Kurotsuchi slide closer to the bars of the cell. He squatted and stared straight into Toushiro's eyes. "I have a theory."

"When don't you?" Kyoraku grinned and stepped closer as well.

"If it's not Aizen behind this, then who is?" Kurotsuchi continued.

"I don't know," Toushiro mumbled, feeling his shoulder twinge slightly.

"I don't expect you to," Kurotsuchi continued, "How could you? I'll admit the puzzle has been tricky, but I am a hair's breadth away from solving it. Captain Kuchiki,"

The noble had been leaning against the far wall and raised an eyebrow a fraction when Kurotsuchi called his name. "Yes?"

"The reiatsu you found didn't match the hogyoku, but it was similar correct?"

Captain Kuchiki's eyes narrowed to grey slits. "I don't remember releasing that information-"

"Just how similar, I wonder."

Yamamoto grumbled softly, "Another hogyoku?"

"No, sir," Kuchiki sighed, shaking his head and folding his arms across his chest, "This reiatsu belonged to a living thing, a shinigami."

"A shinigami with reiatsu similar to the hogyoku?" Kyoraku mused aloud.

"Precisely," Kurotsuchi snipped, "A very powerful shinigami."

"Does this shinigami have any connection to the actual hogyoku?" Kyoraku asked, "Could Aizen have had another accomplice all those years ago? Was there someone we overlooked?"

"I don't think so," Kurotsuchi said examining his fingernails, "I didn't bring this up because I don't have enough evidence, but where do the strongest shinigami end up serving? And what does someone with all that power do with it?"

Yamamoto didn't pretend to hide his surprise. Ukitake's soothing strokes faltered and he ended up gripping Toushiro's shoulder tightly. Toushiro drew in a sharp breath; things had been out of his hands for a while now, but this... had he ever really been in charge? He felt himself frown; why would Squad Zero target his men? And if it was them, how could he get them to stop?

"Are you suggesting that Squad Zero is in league with Aizen?" the head-captain asked, purposefully lowering his voice.

Kurotsuchi shrugged. "Like I said, I don't have enough evidence to prove anything. But most likely this is the enemy we have to deal with."

"Why?" Toushiro asked, "What would Squad Zero gain by playing with us like this?"

Yamamoto shook his head. "You are aware that by even suggesting this you are committing treason, Captain Kurotsuchi?"

"I am aware," Kurotsuchi sniffed, sounding as if he had smelt something particularly foul, "But I do not care. Neither Squad Zero nor the Soul King seems to care for us. Where were they when Aizen racked havoc? Where were they when he tried to destroy the Soul Society? If we mattered to them, would they not have intervened? Unless, the organisation is more sinister than we thought."

"Kurotsuchi, what you are saying is-"

"I know. I will investigate more before I say anything else. Captain Kuchiki, you will help me."

Kuchiki raised his eyebrows sharply and turned questioningly to Yamamoto.

Yamamoto heaved a great sigh. "I expect you two to be discreet; there is a lot at stake. None of this leaves this room, are we clear?"

...

Toushiro settled back onto his futon. His head was spinning, thoughts shooting off in every which way possible. If Kurotsuchi's theory was correct then... then what the hell was really going on? Could Squad Zero really have it out for them, for him? And why? Why was it his men who had been attacked?

Kurotsuchi had hung back after the others had left. Toushiro had asked them not to tell Matsumoto or his squad about the execution order. He saw no need to worry them further. Kurotsuchi had asked him about Momo, believing that she had a bigger role than everyone thought. Yes, she had helped Aizen to escape, but Kurotsuchi had a different idea.

"She'll be back to for you, you know," he had said as soon as the door had swung shut.

Toushiro had a feeling that this was so. The way they had parted led him to believe that she wasn't finished with him. He told Kurotsuchi exactly what had happened in Muken and what she had told him the first time he had failed to apprehend her. They ended up talking for hours. Toushiro noticed small details while talking to him that he had overlooked and Kurotsuchi seemed to be fascinated, or at least pleased, that one of his theories was unfolding before his eyes. There was indeed more to Momo's role than either of them had thought. But how deep did all this really go?

By the time one of the guards came to lock Toushiro's cell and usher Kurotsuchi out they had begun to come up with a plan regarding Momo, with a few tweaks it could be easily perfected and then they would have some answers. Never would Toushiro have thought that he would ever work so closely with the only captain who constantly insulted and demeaned him, but here he was, committing treason with the very man who had once tried to experiment on him.

...

Toushiro missed Hyourinmaru. He felt absolutely lost without his zanpakuto spirit around. He could somewhat feel him, but he was distant. They couldn't communicate, and it hurt. He hadn't given himself a chance to think about it while he was talking with Kurotsuchi and the other captains, but now that he was alone he felt every bit the foolish, little boy everyone made him out to be. He took a few deep breaths and wrapped his arms around himself, trembling; had the cell always been this cold? He wished that he had Hyourinmaru; the dragon always knew what to say to make him feel better, or at least see reason. The pit in his stomach had re-opened and released a dark monster that gnawed at his insides. He should have felt worse than he did last night, where he had cried in his hopelessness, but now that a date hung over his head he didn't see the sense in fighting it. He had dug his own grave and in a few weeks he was going to rest in it.

Hyourinmaru would have asked him if he wanted to die. The answer to that was easy, no, of course. There was so much that he still had to do. He had to find Momo and make Aizen, or whoever was behind this pay, he had to make sure Rangiku would be okay without him; he had to tie up some loose ends within his division. He bit his bottom lip, pausing when his teeth dug into the faint bump left over from Ranigku's healing Kido. How was he supposed to face his lieutenant? What was he going to say? He had failed so miserably that he had been sentenced to death? How could he have done this to her... to his men? He clenched his jaw and managed to bite through the scar. As he tasted blood, as he dug his nails into his palms and clenched his jaw, he swore that he was going to figure this out before he was executed. He was going to get Momo, he was going to find out who was behind this all, and he sure as hell was going to make them pay for killing his men, and putting him and his division through hell.

...

The guards taunted Toushiro by unlocking his cell in the morning to allow visitors. They knew he knew that trying to escape didn't make any sense. He couldn't get far with his injured leg and collar or without his zanpakuto. They didn't have to use words to call him weak. A bowl of bland rice porridge and a cup of tea was pushed into his cell, but his stomach turned just by looking at it and he let it grow cold in the corner.

His first visitor was Unohana. She gilded into the room with a soothing smile on her face as a bumbling shinigami followed, carrying a folded massage table.

"Good morning, Captain Hitsugaya," she greeted, "How are you feeling?"

Toushiro sighed softly and rearranged his robe as if trying to look more presentable. "I'm doing well, thank you."

He noticed the subtle raise of her eyebrow. Yamamoto must have told her what the Central had ruled. But at lease she had the decency not to talk about it if he didn't bring it up.

"And your leg?"

He attempted to move it from its bent position, but it was stiff and protested the smallest movement. He grimaced. "Not much different than the last time, I'm afraid."

Unohana nodded. "Very well, we'll start with a massage and a bit of healing Kido." She helped him to stand up and walk to the table that the other shinigami had set up. He was glad that the shinigami had left after setting up when Unohana rolled the hem of his robe up to his hips and began to unwrap his bandages. The ugly scar that encircled his left thigh was puckered and still pink. His entire leg looked slightly swollen. He kept on forgetting how perceptive Unohana was, so he was a bit shocked when she put a palm on his shoulder.

"It's not as bad as it looks. We'll have you back to normal in no time at all," She said with a small smile.

Toushiro wanted to scoff and tell her that she was wasting her time healing a dead man. But he felt his throat close and all he could do was nod.

Rangiku arrived while Unohana was still working on his leg. She politely averted her eyes, but began chatting as usual, complaining about all the paperwork Toushiro had left for her. Toushiro thought that her voice was as good of a distraction as any from Unohana's painful Kido infused prodding. She perched herself on the table, next to his right shoulder and absentmindedly stroked his hair. Toushiro batted her hand away but she started back after a few minutes, so he gave up and let her do as she pleased.

"The gardening club is doing unbelievably well. Though, I guess that with all the rain lately the flowers are bound to extra pretty. They started with the garden in the courtyard right outside our office, and they didn't just plant daffodils. It's so pretty now; I'll have to take pictures for you."

"What kind of flowers?" he asked.

"Mmm, petunias, a few daisies...marigolds maybe, I don't know all the names. Oh and some sunflowers, too. Those got so tall, they're right outside our window. You'd love them!"

Toushiro allowed himself a small smile. "I probably would. It's good that the men are keeping themselves busy."

Rangiku grinned back, smoothing a stubborn cowlick from his forehead. "Your lip...again?" she sighed, wrinkling her nose, "Stop biting it. I'd prefer you biting your nails if you had to choose a nervous tick."

"... Sorry."

"You don't have to apologise, Captain," she smiled sadly as she grazed a fingertip against his bottom lip to heal him again.

...

Kurotsuchi was right. A few days later Momo appeared outside the bars of his cell. Toushiro jolted awake, hands flying to grab a zanpakuto that wasn't there.

"Hinamori," he hissed, bracing himself against the far wall as he got to his feet. "What do you want?"

Momo smiled sweetly at him as she raised her hand to the padlock that fastened the bared door. It unlocked and fell to the floor with a click and a thunk. Toushiro only felt a miniscule spike in her reiatsu, and his stomach twisted. He had been able to hold his own in their previous fight but now, he had neither Hyourinmaru nor his reiatsu. She stepped into the cell and towered over him. She had always been taller than him, but he didn't remember ever having to crane his neck so far back. He swallowed and balled his hands.

"What do you want?" he repeated.

"The same thing as last time," she said softly, "Join us. Your side as betrayed you; they sentenced you to death."

Toushiro bristled. "And just whose fault was that?"

She tilted her head, brown eyes imploring even in the darkness. When she raised her hand to his throat, Toushiro tensed. Momo had gotten stronger, but he had the physical advantage. He was smaller, but had more muscle mass. If need be, he'd strike hard and fast. She only pressed her fingers to the collar around his neck, however.

"Do you really want to stay here, with the very people that would cast you aside?"

He clenched his jaw. "They are still better than Aizen. What has he done to you?"

Momo frowned, an expression that he was not used to seeing on her face. It made his stomach clench.

"He has done nothing to me. Captain Aizen isn't the problem here. It's the Soul Society. I'm offering you a way out, Shiro. I hate seeing you suffer like this. The Seireitei isn't on your side. Please, please, come with me."

Toushiro lowered his gaze and shook his head. "If I did that, I would be proving the Central Forty-six right. I am not siding with Aizen. I will never join him."

"You've always been so dramatic, little brother," Momo sighed, shaking her head. He felt her press the collar into the centre of his throat and he gulped. "It's so silly; you'll never become a shinigami, you don't want to be a captain, you don't need bankai, you'll never join Aizen... sometimes I think you just like to be difficult."

Toushiro growled softly.

"I'll ask again, will you join us?"

Toushiro took a deep breath but didn't answer.

"Will you really stay with the people who would so easily throw you away? You would choose them over your family? That hurts, Shiro, that really hurts."

His gut twisted, clenched tightly, and he felt sick. "I... I never meant to hurt you."

Momo looked at him dead in the eye. "Then join us. Join us and I'll forgive you."

The clenching stopped and a spark ignited. She was supposed to have been the one asking for forgiveness, not him. She was the one who had left him and framed him. Yes, he should have been stronger and stopped her, but how could she have the audacity to act like he was the one at fault? He clenched his jaw and looked right back at her.

"What will happen if I join you?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Momo smiled like a spider which was pleased that a fly had gotten trapped in its web. "We'll give the Soul Society what it deserves."

"Which is?"

"Annihilation. To start afresh."

He took a deep breath. Momo was gone. He didn't know this person who stood before him. Momo would have never dreamt of hurting her friends; Kira, Abarai, Rangiku. He was going to make someone pay.

Momo pressed her fingers against the collar again. He felt her reiatsu flare again and it dropped away, falling from his neck to the floor without a sound. Toushiro felt as if his very blood rushed into his limbs. He took in a deep gulp of air, his lungs expanded as if he was breathing for the first time. Momo smiled at him and held out her hand. He glanced at it briefly then turned away and dropped to his good knee. Unohana would have his head for doing this; the rudimentary healing Kido he knew might do more damage than good, but at least this way he could numb the pain. Then, making sure to hide his reiatsu and that Momo could not see, he fashioned a small icicle – dangerously sharp.

"Your leg is still bothering you?" Momo asked, softly, almost as if she really cared.

Toushiro could not stand the person pretending to be his sister anymore. He was going to get to the bottom of this and he knew that it all had to start with Aizen. He leapt to his feet, pushing Momo against the wall. His leg throbbed but it was a dull, distant pain. Momo's eyes widened as he stood on his tiptoes and leaned heavily against her. He held his icicle to her throat and snarled.

"Take me to Aizen."

Momo snorted. "So what? So you can kill him? That went so well for you the last time-"

He pressed the icicle to her jugular. "I have nothing to lose; do you really want to taunt me?"

"You wouldn't kill your family."

He narrowed his eyes and ignored the tightness in his chest. "I don't know who you are, but you aren't my sister."

Since I took so long with the last chapter, planning and what not, I got a huge head start on the the remaining ones :) So, yay to frequent updates.

Of course Toushiro would eventually take things into his own hands when he's done moping around.

Reviews are always appreciated.

-Mymomomo