Disclaimer: I do not own bleach, or the characters.

Warning: If you like Yamamoto then you shouldn't read this, because in this chapter he is a total butt hole.

Note: It took me a while to figure out who to start this chapter with, and what was going to happen, but I hope you like it. :]

A Failed Mission

Nothing is stronger then revenge

Byakuya glanced down at the white-haired boy in his arms in confusion. He didn't understand why he did not deliver the finishing blow; he just couldn't. Something inside of him had compelled against it.

In his fight with the short white-haired boy, he had started to feel. Although the white-haired boy's sword had sliced at him endlessly, causing him great pain, he did not wish to hurt him. How unusual. He cut anything standing in his path, but this one small boy changed something inside of him.

The boy's face was etched with pain when Byakuya cut him. The boy's wailing distress still rang in Byakuya's ears. His heart squeezed in anguish for the boy. Byakuya shifted him in his arms, tucking his dark cloak around the boy for warmth against the cold wind howling against him. He wished he had not hurt the boy. He did not understand what was happening. He didn't understand his feelings.

His emotions seemed to be resurfacing from their dormancy, swirling around, consuming him. Byakuya's eyes grew soft when he looked at the boy's sleeping angel-like face.

After striking the boy on the head with the flat side of his katana, Byakuya heard footsteps fleeing from nearby in the forest. He didn't give any notice to who ever it was. He picked up the boy and started running alongside the uneven dirt path. He shifted his course toward the forest, heading to his closest hide out.

He had to stop the boy's heavy bleeding. The boy's breathing was raged, his heart moving in a fast, unsteady pace. Byakuya tightened his grip on the boy when he felt him about to slip from his arms.

Byakuya ran even faster against the wind pushing him in the opposite direction. The faster he reached the cave, the faster he could get out of the wind howling and slicing branches.

"Hina...Matsumo..."

Byakuya's face swung down, his eyes widened looking at the boy. He was muttering something about being sorry, and asking for forgiveness. The boys face was so pale, and his body so fragile. Byakuya had to get to the safety of the cave. The white-haired boy shuddered against the cold before going back to mumbling quietly.

Byakuya could hardly comprehend what the boy was muttering. He tilted his head closer to the boy's mouth.

"Kill...must....kill." Byakuya managed to hear. He wondered if the boy was thinking about him. Then he heard the boy mutter that names again, clearer this time. Hinamori, Matsumoto. Who were they to him? Byakuya growled in jealousy, the green-eyed monster roaring inside of him. Anger swirled around him. Byakuya shook his head to clear his mind. He didn't understand why he was jealous over this short white-haired boy. Why would he even care enough for him to want to heal him? To want to keep him safe?

Byakuya reached the bottom of the mountain, his cave close by. He did a quick sweep around before continuing. He was always cautious. He proceeded up the mountain, the wind getting louder and fiercer. After a while he finally reached the cave, one of his many homes.

* * *

Matsumoto collapsed on the wet forest floor after running for what seemed like forever. It started raining by mid-day, the dark clouds thundering in anger. Her energy was spent; she couldn't move under anything to protect herself from the cold droplets pouring down. The weather fit her mood perfectly.

She didn't know if it was her tears that continued to run down her face or if that was just the rain. The pain engulfed her. She screamed in anguish, too weak to do anything else.

"Hitsugaya-sama! Why? Why?" She cried out, her voice hoarse. Her body was curled in a tight ball trying to keep the torturous pain from ripping up her heart even more.

"Who's there?" Screamed a deep voice a couple yards away from her.

Matsumoto ignored him. Nothing mattered but Hitsugaya-sama, and he was gone. She didn't want to live, but she had to avenge his death. Matsumoto continued to scream and groan in pain.

"Come here guys! It's Matsumoto-san. Bring her to Unohana-sama. " The voice was right next to her. The man was probing her for injuries, searching for the cause of her pain.

"What happened?"

"Is she wounded?"

"The fuck's wrong with her? I don't see no blood. Fuckin-"

"Let's just take her back..." Disturbed the same deep voice that first found her.

Matsumoto felt herself being lifted up, and she started to feel dizzy. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she was left with the vacant darkness that seemed to consume all of her.

A Day Later...

Matsumoto felt a warm hand cradling her cheek. "Wake up Matsumoto." Whispered a gentle voice. "When is she going to wake up?" Asked another voice in anticipation.

Matsumoto was surrounded in darkness. She didn't know where they were. She didn't know what to do. She was so lost.

"Y'all better wake 'er up soon, th'old man wanna see 'er." A deep voice said.

"She'll come around give her time, Ichimaru-san." The soft whisper-like voice replied.

"Yamamoto-sama is screamin' at me to wake 'er up! I'ma get the punishment if she don't. Wake 'er up, or I will...." He threatened.

Matsumoto finally managed to open her eyes, the darkness that consumed her only a second ago was gone. Pain and loneliness set in its place. She curled into a tight ball, keeping everything away from her wounded heart.

"Get up Matsumoto, comon, you have to see Yamamoto-sama." The soft voice said.

Matsumoto looked up and saw Unohana-sama. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

An arm wrapped around her waist and hoisted her up off the bed. "I'll carry ya' if ya' can't stand." Ichimaru Gin said. He was the only thing keeping her up. If he let go she would fall down because she was too weak to do anything. He cradled her to his chest and walked away towards 13 Gotei.

Matsumoto tried to give Unohana-sama a genuine small for all that she did, but her muscles wouldn't cooperate with her. She managed to lift a corner of her mouth up into a smile.

Unohana saw Matsumoto trying to give her a smile of gratitude, but her half smile didn't even reach her eyes. She seemed so far away, so spaced out from reality. Unohana returned a smile, then sat down to discuss with Isane about Matsumoto and why she was acting like this.

"Come in." Said a gruff voice on the other side of the door. Gin opened it for Matsumoto. She was standing beside him, Gin's arm was around her slim waist, helping to support her weight.

They walked in together, side by side. Matsumoto didn't want to talk to Yamamoto-sama. She knew that he was going to yell at her for disobeying orders and following Hitsugaya-sama.

Gin bowed his head respectfully, and Matsumoto imitated his movement.

"Matsumoto Rangiku, who allowed you to participate in Hitsugaya's mission?" Yamamoto growled, squinting his eyes at Matsumoto.

"N-no one sir...I...went on my own." Matsumoto managed to say. Her voice was hoarse and almost whisper-like. Her eyes lowered respectfully when he stood up.

Gin tensed when Yamamoto-sama was a scant distance away from Matsumoto with his hand raised. Slap.. "Learn to follow your orders!" He roared in her face. Her face was turned, her cheek burning, but the pain was nothing compared to what was happening to her inside. He slapped her across the other cheek. "Disobey me again you fuckin' wench and I'll kill you." He added. Then he slapped her again. There was so much force in that blow that she was flung from Gin's arms and landed on the other side of the room.

Gin was about to step in and stop it, but he did not want to get on the old man's bad side. He stood there watching Matsumoto lying in pain from across the room.

Yamamoto was smoldering in anger. He hated people who disobeyed him, and he hated Matsumoto. He went across the room and grabbed her neck. He lifted her up above his head and slammed her against the wall. "If you want to stay here, then I suggest you learn to do as I say." He let go and walked back to his seat, leaving her groaning in pain.

Gin went to help her up. He brought her back to where they were standing before, supporting her with one arm.

"Now." Yamamoto-sama said in a composed tone."Did something happen with Hitsugaya Toushiro?"

Matsumoto flinched when the name came out of his lips. She didn't want to talk about him. It hurt so much to even think about him, let alone say his name.

"Well...?" The old man said inquiringly.

"He...He's..." Matsumoto couldn't say it. It was like a bad dream, and if she said it then that would confirm it, make it real.

Yamamoto-sama raised his brow, before he could spout fire at her she muttered something that he couldn't catch. "What was that now?"

Gin's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. "She said he's dead." He answered, seeing Matsumoto's distress over the conversation. She didn't want to talk about it.

"He is...is he?...What about Kuchiki Byakuya?"

"He, he killed him!" She hissed.

"So he's still alive, huh.... Were you helping Hitsugaya fight? Or were you just watching?"

"I...I was just...watching..." She said, her voice full of remorse.

"And you didn't go after Kuchiki? You just let him go?!?" He howled, his voice booming louder after each word.

"He...he would've killed me!" She said, aspirated.

"Do you-"

"I will avenge Hitsugaya-sama!" She interrupted, her hands in a fist of anger for what happened to Hitsugaya-sama.

"Then why didn't you do it? You had your perfect chance!" He growled back, furrowing his eyebrows.

Matsumoto sniffled, but she kept repeating to herself that she wouldn't cry.. "I'll get stronger. I'll find Kuchiki Byakuya. And I'll kill him." She huffed before pushing Gin's arm away and leaving.

She ran through the door and shut it with a loud bang behind her.

Matsumoto continued running, her muscles protesting against her. Matsumoto ran up to Hitsugaya's house, then stopped. She started to shake. She never came to his house alone...she was always with him...Always...

"Matsumoto?!? You're back? Is Hitsugaya back too? Or did he catch you and tell you to go back?" Hinamori said anticipating.

"Hinamori...." Matsumoto burst out in tears, then cried out. "He's gone! Dead!"

Hinamori stood still. The words seemed disbelieving. "What?" She gasped.

"He..." Matsumoto couldn't continue, tears streaming down her face.

"Matsumoto! Hinamori!" Screamed a voice from behind, full of concern. "Whats wrong?" Gin came running toward them. He reached them the same time as Izuru Kira.

Gin put his arms around Matsumoto, "It's alright, hun."

"Whats wrong? Matsumoto? Hinamori?"

"Hitsugaya's dead." Gin answered for them.

"Not my Shiro-chan..." Hinamori denied. "No...you're lying. You're lying!"

Hinamori broke out into tears, as Kira held her in his arms, trying to comfort her.

"Les get 'em inside," Gin said to Kira.

"No," Matsumoto pushed against Gin's chest. "Let me go." His arms tightened around her for a second, then let go. "Hinamori.." She said reaching her hand out.

Hinamori looked up, her expression full of pain and sorrow. She was shaking almost as bad as Matsumoto.

"He... he said that he loves you.." She conveyed. Hinamori's eyes widened, her lips trembled.

"I d-don't want to talk about him like this...he's not dead!" She said backing away towards the house, tears rolling down her face.

Matsumoto backed away from Gin and Kira, turned around, and ran. She kept running, her tired legs barley able to support her.

She ran to a corner of the woods surrounding Soul Society. She dropped to her knees and cried her heart out. Pain, sorrow, anger, they all seemed to swirl into one strong emotion.

"I love you... Hitsugaya Toushiro... I love you." She cried, finally saying his name. "I love you... I'll avenge you, my beloved Toushiro." She swore, clenching her hand in a fist. She wiped away her tears, got up and started walking away towards Kenpachi's house.

"I'll get stronger... I'll avenge you..."

-

Wow, that didn't take forever. I'm really sorry... it seems like I'm always apologizing for taking my time... I hope you liked how it turned out. It took me about an hour to figure out how to start it, but I managed somehow to finish it. :] Please tell me how you thought it turned out. I appreciate you reading my fic, thanks. :D And thank you Psy-chan and Shi-chan. Oh, and I don't want to say when the next one will come out, because I'm not sure. I also don't want to jinx myself... hopefully I'll write it soon...

~Scattered Cherry Blossoms