Hi, Minna! Sorry I didn't update sooner. I was having exams (I got 8th position in class! Whaaiii!)and had a slight writer's block. Even though I DO plan the storyline and what to write during for the chapter, I sometimes lose that little touch on writing. Anyway, I hope all you people who were expecting this story to update will forgive me…As a peace offering I give you a somewhat longer chapter. Hope you enjoy! Note: I will only be writing the disclaimer from now on. I hope you guys don't mind.

Special thanks to blank, Primeval Eidolon Scar, SM, SadisticHumour, Lucifer, Yozora Nozomi, Alexys, Jay Kamiya, whee!, Yukiko Tsukishirou, Crazy Hyper Lady, H.E.Y.T.S., Crazy Chick 963, stealth67, Rain2708, BankotsuAngel, LiL DraGoNs2er, oxXxSHoRTy CHaNxXxo, OShayO and Sesshoumaru Minion for reviewing my last chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach and its characters, but the OCs and storyline do belong to me.

Frozen Memories

Arc 2: The Real Key

Chapter 6: Unbounded Truth

As they walked to the Senkaimon that would send them to the Human world, Hitsugaya took this moment to reflect on the events that had recently taken place upon the reappearance of Aizen.

After having reconfirmed with the messenger on the validity of the message, Yamamoto sou-taichou had given out orders to Hitsugaya, Getsushirou, Renji and Ichigo to go to the Human world to prevent Aizen from carrying out whatever he planned at all costs. They had been allowed to bring their vice captains if they thought that their second could be of any help. As they had been about to leave, Ryuuhara had protested vehemently on Hitsugaya's going.

"Wait," Ryuuhara had said. "Why not have Zaraki-taichou go instead of Hitsugaya-taichou. Even though Zaraki-taichou hasn't mastered Shikai yet, his reiatsu is quite formidable. He would be able to hold out against the Arrancar as well as Hitsugaya-taichou."

"What makes you say that, Kiyoshirou-taichou?" Yamamoto sou-taichou had questioned, an eyebrow raised. "Why does Hitsugaya-taichou need to stay here?"

"It is not an established fact that I'm the O-tenkagi as of yet. There may be a chance -no matter how small- that the hypothesis made by the investigation isn't fully correct. You're basing what you know on only one phrase. It would be safer if Hitsugaya-taichou –as he is also a candidate in this introspection- to stay here for incase." That had been her reply.

There had been an uncanny silence before anyone said anything. When someone finally said anything, it had been Urahara that dispelled the silence.

"Kiyoshirou-taichou," he had said, eyes hooded, no one able to see whether he had had any doubts about the hypothesis. "I know you're concerned, and Zaraki-taichou could make a good substitute, but it would not be wise to send someone who has no Bankai to face Aizen. Hitsugaya-taichou's Bankai has improved since his last encounter with Aizen, so it would be wiser to send Hitsugaya-taichou."

Ryuuhara had been about to protest further, but Yamamoto sou-taichou had silenced her by promising to have the investigation team check the diary again to make sure. She had looked like she was going to say something then, but decided against it and chose to say nothing. She had however looked at Hitsugaya quite pointedly as he left the first meeting room. There had been something in that stare that unnerved him, but he couldn't name that feeling.

They were not far from the Senkaimon when Hitsugaya was pulled out of his musings by Getsushirou who suddenly pulled up to walk beside him. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Matsumoto -which he opted to bring with him- distracted by Renhana; why Getsushirou had brought her along was a total mystery. They walked in silence for a while before either said anything. It was no surprise that the one who instigated the conversation was Getsushirou.

"Why do they call you Hitsugaya-taichou when we both have the same first names?"

"Quit the wisecracks and cut to the chase, Getsushirou," Hitsugaya said dryly. "I'm not here to satisfy your curiosity."

"Can't we be more civilized?"

"Aren't we civilized enough already?"

"You're quite a prick."

"At least I'm not an antagonist."

There was a long silence before either spoke. This time Hitsugaya was the one that started the conversation.

"What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't be cheeky. Why are you even talking to me?"

"You were the one that started this conversation."

"Oh forget it."

Hitsugaya couldn't have been more annoyed. It felt as if Getsushirou was playing with him. He would have liked to punch the man in the eye for all he cared; but they were reaching the door, and it wouldn't do his honor any good to hit the man in front of anyone. However, before they reached the Senkaimon, Getsushirou turned to face him, straight in the eye.

"Look, I know you hate me to the seven hells, but I would like it if we were at least a bit friendlier."

"That's not for you to decide."

"I'm your father for god's sake. Can't you…"

"Would a father abandon his own flesh and blood in the middle of nowhere?" Hitsugaya remarked dryly, cutting Getsushirou off.

The man was staring at him wide eyed and gaping. Even Renhana had stopped rambling, and was looking at him with the same expression as Getsushirou- shock. But before either could come up with anything to say, Hitsugaya had entered the Senkaimon with Matsumoto following behind him.

Byakuya flipped though the diary for what seemed to be the fifth time. Upon Ryuuhara's insistence, Urahara had asked him to search through the diary again for any other references to the O-tenkagi. As if he himself hadn't done that.

Just to be on the safe side, he had checked the book more than three times. Now, as he closed the book with a resounding snap, he was quite ready to say that the phrase found earlier on was the only reference to the O-tenkagi there was. As he was about to put the book back onto the shelf, he noticed something sticking out of the spine of the book.

Carefully, he pulled out the mysterious object. Upon further inspection, the object was a piece of rolled parchment, yellow from spending decades in the library, just like the pages of the diary. Suddenly, it struck him; there had been a rip after the initial phrase, but since the phrase was complete they thought the ripped off part was only blank. They should have known better. One glance at the words written on the paper was enough to confirm his suspicions.

Getting up, he made his way to the first meeting room. He had to tell the others there about this.

He knew who the key was now.

And it wasn't Kiyoshirou Ryuuhara.

The sight that greeted the Shinigami was expected by all except Getsushirou and Renhana –they didn't come during the last assault, and were staring at the sight before them, mouths slightly agape.

Like last time, time had frozen over to leave those that had nothing to do with this battle unscathed. All around them, people were suspended in a frozen-like state, with some of them placed in quite a precarious position.

As Hitsugaya and Matsumoto ran past the frozen people towards the door, he could see Getsushirou and Renhana running along the left hand side of the square. On the other side, were Ichigo, Rukia and Renji-who had decided not to bring his vice along with the excuse that he'd get in the way. Hitsugaya and Matsumoto had taken a more noticeable position, running straight through the middle of the square.

As they approached the door, they could make out two figures that were Aizen and Gin. Suddenly, Hitsugaya heard battle cries from the left and right of the square. As he stopped to look he could see Getsushirou and Renhana facing off with the Arrancar called Ulquoirra; Ichigo and Rukia were handling the Arrancar Grimmjow and Renji was taking care of Wonderwyce. That left only him and Matsumoto.

Giving her a nod, and with the help of shunpo, they moved to the front of the door. Upon seeing them, Gin suddenly disappeared. Matsumoto quickly drew Haineko to block Shinsou as he reappeared in front of her, leaving only Hitsugaya to fight Aizen. Withdrawing Hyourinmaru, he looked at Aizen and waited.

All the man did was smile.

"Hitsugaya-taichou, what a surprise. I thought you wouldn't be here," Aizen said, the smile still evident on his face.

"What makes you say that?" Hitsugaya replied dryly, eyes narrowed and his grip on Hyourinmaru tightening.

"I thought you would have figured out already. I'm disappointed." Aizen sighed, shaking his head as he withdrew his sword as well.

"Figured out what?"

Suddenly, Aizen disappeared. Hitsugaya immediately brought his own sword to deflect the blow that was meant for his shoulder, but quickly redirected his sword to block the real Aizen's sword that was aiming for his middle, and took a quick sweep at Aizen. The man disappeared again and reappeared in front of the door, clutching his bleeding side. Strangely the man was still smiling.

"Well, it seems like you've developed quite a six sense to be able to parry Kyouka Suigetsu's total hypnosis," he said, getting up from his crouched position.

"But," Aizen continued. "It seems like you also haven't figured who the real key is."

Hitsugaya raised a brow but didn't have time to ponder on what Aizen had said as the man disappeared yet again. Closing his eyes, Hitsugaya focused on Aizen's reiatsu and parried another blow that was directed for his neck, slashing Aizen's shoulder. But despite the wound being deep, Aizen still threw blow after blow at Hitsugaya, with some of the coming into contact with the boy.

Because Hitsugaya was closing his eyes, he could not see how the others were doing, but their reiatsu were still present, thus confirming that they were still alive at least. Hitsugaya charged at Aizen this time, but the blow was parried easily. Suddenly Aizen stopped moving and Hitsugaya opened his eyes. He wasn't surprised that they were standing in different places as they had been moving about during the fight.

As Hitsugaya looked at Aizen, he still didn't understand why the man was still smiling when he was sporting quite a few serious injuries. As Hitsugaya was about to strike again, Aizen suddenly spoke.

"Do you know what the prophecy about the O-tenkagi is?"

Hitsugaya didn't answer, and Aizen didn't seem to need him to answer.

"The O-tenkagi is a spirit of the highest purity and contains a power beyond capacity, that's what you uncovered. But there's more to it. He will have wield a dragon made of winter purity and bear the color of purity, is the continuation to that."

Hitsugaya looked at Aizen as if he were a ghost. He had to be kidding. If it was true then… he would be the key, right? As if he had read his mind, Aizen answered that question.

"Yes, Hitsugaya-taichou, you're right."

Hitsugaya heard Matsumoto scream his name, telling him to watch out. But it was too late; in that one moment when he had let his guard down, Gin had pierced Shinsou through him. Blood was leaking out of the wound, and he could feel his consciousness slipping away.

It didn't help that he was standing on top of the array in front of the door.

"Are you sure about this?" exclaimed Urahara.

They were in the first meeting room, when Byakuya had burst into the room saying that he had found something.

"It seems like we were wrong after all," Yoruichi murmured, letting out a hiss.

"A dragon of winter's purity would mean Hyourinmaru, and the color of purity is white," Byakuya explained quickly. "There's no mistaking it for anyone else."

"Then, the key is…!"Soi Fong cried, but was cut off when two messengers burst into the room.

"Kiyoshirou-taichou is not in her room!"

"The door is opening!"

A solemn silence descended upon the captains in the room.

"The O-tenkagi was Hitsugaya-taichou after all," Yamamoto sou-taichou commented sullenly.

How's it? Good? Bad? How's the fight scene? What do you guys think? Did that clear up some of your questions and expectations? Please review and tell me. For now, I hide under a rock and plan the next chapter.