Author's Note: Sorry if bringing Kusaka back in sounded kind of random and weird. You're probably thinking, "What the hell!? Why is he there!?" You're in good company, because that's exactly what Hitsugaya's thinking too at the moment! I'll try to come up with some alibi for my attempted "twist," so, yeah. All in due time, and I'm really sorry if bringing him back sounded lame, but I had no better ideas. And Ichigo will have competition now, right? (And yes, Kusaka's from the movie. I've actually taken a strong liking to the IchiHitsuKusa love triangle by this point.) By the way...I know this sounds completely stupid, but how do you check your PM's? I have no idea how to...

"K...Kusaka..."

Hitsugaya stared up into the raven-haired man's face, his eyes wide with both confusion and surprise. It had been so long ago since he had last seen his former fiancée, so he hadn't been expecting his sudden appearance. And, just exactly what was he doing here, in Hueco Mundo, of all places? Was he dreaming?

Slowly and uncertainly, Hitsugaya reached up with a trembling hand to touch the youth's face, withdrawing it quickly upon contact. It was real flesh, it felt warm to the touch. He wasn't just some random illusion or a mirage, he was really...

"I've missed you, Toshiro," Kusaka smiled, reaching out and rumpling his hair affectionately. "Looks like you really did become a taichou like I asked you to. You're still Soul Society's little prodigy, eh?" He sighed, continuing with a small laugh, "I wish I could have been there to see you become the juuban tai taichou, even if you aren't anymore."

This unconditional warmth...his voice, Hitsugaya thought to himself, still staring at Kusaka in disbelief. The way he laughs, that smile of his, his warm eyes, the way he makes me feel at least somewhat safe...

It really is Kusaka, isn't it? Isn't he?

"It's really me, Toshiro," Kusaka added, seeming to have read the boy's doubtful thoughts. "It's really me."

"Kusaka...!" Without warning, Hitsugaya suddenly flung his arms around his neck. This was extremely uncharacteristic of him, but he couldn't help himself, though he wasn't about to stay like that. "I-I'm sorry," he muttered, quickly pulling away, slightly embarassed. "It's just that I've...Well, I've missed you, and...and..." He decided it'd be best to switch the subject now. "And what are you doing here, Kusaka!?"

"I could ask you the same thing myself."

Hitsugaya looked down, muttering with a hint of shame in his voice, "Soul Society traded me in exchange for temporary peace."

Kusaka raised an eyebrow. "What is it with Soul Society?" he sighed. "They always seem to be against the two of us, don't they?"

"I-It's not entirely their fault, I...I agreed to it as well, and..."

"It's alright, Toshiro. You don't have to worry about them anymore, it's not like they ever cared about you or anything like that."

"What are you saying?"

"Look, Toshiro," Kusaka continued, looking the boy straight in the eyes. "Soul Society doesn't want anything to do with the two of us anymore. If they find out I'm here, I'm sure you know what'll happen. They're not as great as they make themselves seem, they're shinigami, so what? All that stuff with the Gotei 13, and what for? To protect a so-called "King" that none of us have even seen before? To protect humans who continue to deny our existence? I still haven't forgiven them for taking you away from me, Toshiro, and they still continue to treat you like shit. It's the last straw for me. But let me tell you something. I'm not loyal to Aizen, either, though he apparently thinks I am. You can't trust anyone in this world, not Soul Society, not Aizen, not his Arrancar. You've got to stick with me, okay, Toshiro? There's no doubt that Aizen plans to hurt you as well. I've failed you already, and I don't want to see you suffer anymore, understand?"

"Then answer me when I ask you a question, Kusaka. I don't want to repeat myself again."

A small smile made its way into Kusaka's features as he patted Hitsugaya's head again. "You're just the way you were back in the old days," he laughed. "Still a stubborn, blunt one, aren't you?"

"Shut up! You're pretty stubborn yourself!"

"Ah, I guess you're right...But anyway, about your question. I'm not exactly too sure how I got down here myself. Probably some kind of fluke in my death or something, whatever it was, I'm not sure..." At this point, he placed the mask back on his face. "That's why I have to wear this. I don't want Aizen to recognize me. If he does, he'll take Hyorinmaru, as he's already done to you, which leaves you practically defenseless except for your kido."

There was a sudden noise from somewhere down the hall, the sounds of several Arrancar shouting and approaching the area.

"Quick, Toshiro," Kusaka whispered, grasping Hitsugaya's hand tightly and pulling him to his feet. "We've got to hurry and get out of here. Aizen won't be happy if he finds out what's happened."

"Kusaka-"

"Shh!" the raven-haired youth clamped a hand tightly over Hitsugaya's mouth, quickly pulling him behind a wall. "Conceal your reiatsu. It'll give us away in a second."

"Mmph."

"What's that?"

"Mmph."

"Speak up."

"MMPH!"

"Oh! Ah, sorry about that, Toshiro." He hastily took his hand away from Hitsugaya's mouth, but promptly placed his finger to the boy's lips to signify that being quiet was essential and could potentially be a matter of life or death. Kusaka peered cautiously around the corner of the wall, inhaling sharply. There was an Espada in the group. A certain blue-haired Espada with eyes in a similar shade.

Shit.

The group of Arrancar stopped at the sight of their fallen comrade's corpse on the ground, the wound on its neck still gushing blood.

"Hah! Stupid idiot! He had to go and die."

"Shut the fuck up, all of you!"

"Y-Yes, Grimmjaww-sama..."

The sixth Espada knelt by the fallen Arrancar's corpse, reaching out and brushing his fingers against the wound, frowning in distaste and wiping his newly blood-stained hands on the garments of one of the other Arrancar standing near him.

"Ha!" he scoffed, standing back up. "I can still feel that one masked freak's reiatsu around the cut. It's likely he's taken the little shinigami bitch with him too. Go and find them. I'll tell Aizen about this...And let's just say that he won't be happy about it." He laughed briefly before glaring at the group, which were all still staring stupidly back at him. "What the fuck are you guys still doing here!? Go look for them!"

"Y-Yes, Grimmjaww-sama!"

The group dispersed, and Grimmjaww disappeared.

"Shit," Kusaka muttered. "They're onto us now." Taking Hitsugaya's hand again, he quickly led him down another hallway, moving past the Arrancar before they had a chance to notice their presence. "Follow me."

After a brief while of running through what seemed to be an endless maze of corridors and hallways, Kusaka finally stopped at a room, opening the door and gently pushing Hitsugaya in. "I heard Aizen mention that this was where he planned to keep you," he whispered. "Stay here. Promise me you won't try to leave. If you do, and he catches you...Anyway, just...Just stay here. I have to leave now."

"Kusaka, stay with me," Hitsugaya begged. "If they find you..."

"They won't," he insisted firmly. "Don't worry about me, Toshiro. I'll be fine, okay? I promise you." He placed a soft kiss on the boy's forehead before turning away. "I'll come back for you when I get the chance, and we'll get out of here together. See you around."

And then he was gone.

"DAMMIT! Why the hell does this always happen!?" Ichigo growled in frustration. Renji, Matsumoto, and himself had successfully infiltrated Las Noches (again), but they found themselves at another annoying hindrance - From this point forward, the pathway through the castle split into three different branches.

"Relax, Ichigo," Renji snapped. "We'll just have to split up again."

"Yeah, and get the shit beat out of us in the process!"

"Shut up! You're just mad because you nearly died last time!"

"Both of you shut up!" Matsumoto interuppted. "If we're going to find taichou, then we're obviously going to do what Renji said."

"Fine," Ichigo grumbled. "But try not to hide your reiatsu too much, okay? It'll suck if we end up being unable to find each other again later."

"Good. Then let's go and find Hitsugaya-taichou."

So off the three of them went, each taking a different path - Renji down the first, Matsumoto down the second, Ichigo down the last.

As she hurried along down the dark hallway, Matsumoto couldn't help but feel a little doubt with herself. Obviously, Ichigo and Renji had already been to Las Noches, and they probably were better at figuring their way around, and had more battle experience. She herself had only fought Arrancar twice, and she hadn't fared very well against them at all. She was beginning to wonder if she had thrown herself into a hopeless mission, but her taichou's life was at stake. She had resolved to herself that she'd do her best to help him out, like he had for her over the years. Although he was strict towards her, it didn't change the fact that the two of them were close friends, and she would hate to see him trapped in Las Noches forever.

A sudden sound from behind her interupted her thoughts. Footsteps?

Instantly, the fukutaichou of the tenth division's hand jumped to Haineko, gripping the katana and ready to sheath it at the slightest provocation.

What was this uneasiness she was feeling? She didn't want to have to already face an Arrancar, she wasn't exactly ready for such a battle yet.

But this reiatsu was different. It wasn't an Arrancar.

"My, my...I never expected 'ta see you of all people here...What d'ya think yer doin' anyway...Rangiku?"

She instantly jumped back at the sound of the all-too-familiar voice, instantly unsheathing Haineko.

There was a silence.

"Gin...?" she called out uncertainly.

She heard him laugh in that mocking way of his, though she couldn't exactly pinpoint where it was coming from. "Go ahead an' put that sword away, will 'ya? I'm not here 'ta fight 'ya."

"Then get out of my way," she retorted through gritted teeth, her fingers curling tightly around Haineko.

"Hmm...'Ya want to save little Hitsugaya-kun, eh? Can't let 'ya do that, either, Aizen hasn't had his fun with him yet, an' interuptin' him wouldn't be very nice, hmm?"

"Gin, tell me where he is!"

"Nope."

"Gin. Please."

"Don' wanna."

"Then I'll force it out of you."

"I don't want 'ta have 'ta kill you, Rangiku..."

Matsumoto stiffened as Ichimaru appeared from the shadows, swallowing with both fear and dread.

"...But if 'ya insist on it so much...Then it ain't my fault."