(A/N: And we return to the Karin-verse again and we begin to wind down to the end of the saga.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach
3rd Person pov
In the world where Ichigo wasn't supposed to exist Hitsugaya and Rangiku were using the house that Orihime never bought as somewhere to keep residence. Hitsugaya walked out the front door and saw Tatsuki calling for someone. However, it wasn't a name he recognized.
"Ichigo!" Tatsuki called, "Ichigo!"
"Arisawa-san," Hitsugaya called out to the girl.
"Ah, Hitsugaya-taicho," Tatsuki bowed, "Konichiwa,"
"Konichiwa to you too," Hitsugaya replied and after a brief pause added, "Who's this Ichigo that you're looking for?"
"Oh he's a friend," Tatsuki responded knowing that if Ichigo's identity was revealed to someone like Hitsugaya there would be trouble.
"Really I saw your class roster when I first arrived here, I don't recall anyone in your class with that name till recently." He answered tapping his finger to his arm, "Care to tell me the truth," Truth be told I'm worried about Karin and if this Ichigo has something to do with it I'll…
"Oi, Tatsuki!" Hitsugaya and the girl being called out to turned to see a panting Ichigo coming up the road.
"Oi, Ichigo there you are," Tatsuki said.
Ichigo's pov
Crap, Toshiro's with her, he'll recognize my spiritual power for sure this is bad
Who cares we'll just kick his ass if he tries anything
We will not, I yelled at my hollow for suggesting such a thing
Che, you never let me have any fun
"So you're Ichigo," Toshiro said, extending his hand, "Nice to meet you,"
Does he know, just stay cautious Kurosaki, I shook his hand, "Nice to meet you too,"
Hitsugaya's pov
I knew it, Vast spiritual pressure, he has something to do with it. I reached my hand into my right pocket and grabbed my soul pager. I flipped a switch and transformed into my Shinigami form just like that.
"Ah Hitsugaya-taicho," Tatsuki panicked.
"Huh, where'd he go?" Ichigo was playing dumb, but I saw the surprise in his eyes when I transformed.
"I know you can see me," I said, "No matter how much you deny it," I drew out Hyorinmaru. "Both of you explain to me what is going on." Ichigo stepped back and then I saw it, a substitute Shinigami badge. "Tell me what's going on."
"You have to swear you won't report this to Soul Society," Tatsuki said to me.
"That depends on the answer," I said.
"You explain it to him," Ichigo said to Tatsuki, "I seem to get a sword to my throat every time I try to explain things." I turned towards Ichigo, holding Hyorinmaru.
"Hold it there Captain Hitsugaya, just calm down and I'll explain, you trust me don't you," Tatsuki put a hand on my wrist.
I put Hyorinmaru away, "Very well." Tatsuki explained to me the situation, with some interjection from Ichigo. That would explain Karin's missing reiatsu as of late. "I see," I said when the explanation is over, "Will she be all right in your world?" I asked Ichigo.
"So long as she stays undercover and close to Rukia I don't think they'll be much of a problem." He said.
"Hmm, you know I'm interested in hearing the differences between this world and yours Kurosaki Ichigo, would you care to explain them to me?" I requested.
"Well I would, but Tatsuki sort of has me reserved for the next couple hours, but I'll drop by afterwards." Ichigo said.
"Okay then later," I said. He and Tatsuki then headed down the road. I looked up at the sky, up at the clouds covering it. She'll be all right, after all, I'm there and so aren't I? Still I won't forgive myself for letting that Arrancar that I saw suck her into that dimensional wormhole. I will find it and kill it. Suddenly my Soul Pager went off, I watched as the Garganta opened directly in front of me and an Arrancar merged through. I recognized it. Recently there had been an attack of several Arrancar. There were three of them. Abarai-fukutaicho, Madarame and Yumichika and Matsumoto and I each had faced off against. There was also a numerous amount of hollows that the others were taking care of. I remember each Arrancar clearly: Vladimir, Dimitri and Artemis Elaggod. They were brothers. The one before me was the youngest one, Artemis. He had a giant muscular build, and was hunched over like a primate because of his massive arms. His mask fragments were around his mouth covering it like a steel plate. He had unkempt brown hair and his Zanpakuto was a giant dagger. He was the one that had contended with Abarai, but all three had first presented themselves to me. Only Vladimir the eldest of the group had released his Resurreccion. There was one time that I dodged an attack of his and caused some sort of spatial fluctuation to occur miles behind my position. That must've been the dimensional warp that Ichigo described. Karin had told me that she was off somewhere training, but when I couldn't feel her presence even from a long distance I became worried and now seeing this Arrancar again reminded me of that battle and how after I had injured Vladimir that all three had retreated. It was payback time now.
"Ah it's you again, young Shinigami," Artemis' eyes curved up to indicate his joy.
"You will pay for what you did to Karin," I simmered.
"I see so the mission was a success after all." He chuckled.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
Artemis continued to chuckle in that deep voice of his, "You see when Espada's Ulquiorra and Yammy returned to Hueco Mundo and chose not to kill Karin, we were dispatched not to kill her, but to send her elsewhere," his next words filled me with hate, "Somewhere where she would not be in Lord Aizen's way."
"Sit upon the frozen heavens. Hyorinmaru!" I struck forward, but Artemis used Sonido to get behind me. I turned around to block the incoming impact but he struck forward at me with his powerful fist. I went flying backwards, and by the time I stopped myself he had struck me again from above. Damn it, I have to pull together, he's not even using his Resurreccion and yet he's annihilating me. As I went careening down below I noticed that I was over a lake. That's it. I turned my direction and plunged myself into the lake.
3rd Person pov
"Where are you Shinigami, get out here and fight!" Artemis demanded. Suddenly thousands of Icy needles were fired from under the water, shredding the Arrancar with hundreds of lacerations. Hitsugaya jumped high in the air, soaked to the bone and cut with Hyorinmaru freezing the Arrancar solid. Hitsugaya landed on the ground panting as the Arrancar came slamming to the ground a frozen mass. Suddenly a crack formed in the ice and Artemis broke out. His hair had ice forming in it and his wounds were cracking from the ice that had seeped into them. "Bastard!" Artemis growled, "Climb! Hielo Gigante!" (A/N: Spanish for Ice Gigante) Artemis' head was covered by a horned helmet. The horns of which seemed to be made out of pure Ice. Artemis' body had been coated with a dark blue armor. In his right arm was a giant. Two canon-like structures sat atop his shoulders. His hollow hole was vibrant and noticeable up by his left shoulder. His left arm seemed to have two claw like protrusions sticking out of it. Also, Artemis' size had grown to that of a Gillian. "Let's see you defeat me now, Shinigami." Artemis declared and swung down his axe on Hitsugaya who shunpoed backwards.
"Bankai," The temperatures nearby dropped below freezing as Hitsugaya emerged into his Bankai form, "Daiguren Hyornimaru!"
"Give it up Shinigami, my Resurreccion is called Hielo Gigante. No amount of Ice will be effective against me. You will not be able to defeat me with a Zanpakuto like yours."
"I wouldn't be too sure," Hitsugaya said calmly, "Hyorinmaru is the most powerful Ice based Zanpakuto in all of Soul Society," he floated up to eye level with Artemis and raised his sword arm to the sky as the weather patterns began to change. "Also you seem to underestimate Hyorinmaru's power. It's true that it is in essence and Ice based Zanpakuto, but Hyornimaru can also control the patterns of the weather. The power of all of nature's storms are at my disposal." The rain suddenly came down hard, "The most powerful of which," he said as a loud boom thundered across the sky, "Is Lighting!" A powerful bolt of lightning struck Artemis dead on, shattering his axe and frying to a crisp.
"Shi-ni-gami bastard," Artemis groaned as he faded away. Hitsugaya floated back down to the ground and put away his sword. Suddenly Artemis' Zanpakuto clanged to the ground. Hitsugaya picked it up. I should bring this to Urahara, if what Kurosaki Ichigo said is true, then we must defeat all three of these brothers and use their Zanpakutos to open the dimensional gates. I gripped the handle of the weapon, We'll get you home Karin, you will not be trapped in an unknown world because of my lack of foresight.
(A/N: Well at least we know Hitsugaya feels responsible about what happened to Karin. And there's not one Arrancar responsible for her disappearance but 3, I am such an evil genius. Will justice be brought by Hitsugaya's hands or will he require help to eliminate the other two Elaggod brothers? I love making Hitsugaya so badass ^o^ he's my 2nd Favorite Bleach character. If all goes well, the story may be completed before the end of the weekend, so keep your eyes peeled. Draconichero18 out. R&R).