Hinamori scuttled down the long sewer tunnel that led out of the 5th Division headquarters, oblivious to growled curses from Kira who had smacked his head on the low ceiling for the twenty-seventh time. Each carried a sturdy hurricane lantern to light their way as they followed Hanatarou's directions to the large chamber that apparently lay ahead. A shallow stream of water flowed gently downward through the centre of the tunnel. Thanks to the illumination they carried, their progress was considerably faster than Hanatarou's; and it wasn't long before they heard the sound of rushing water in front of them.
They entered a large circular chamber lined with stone. The ceiling was higher here, and Kira stretched gratefully, rubbing his head. Thirteen small tunnels (including the one they emerged from) emptied into this chamber. Their contents merged into a pool that fed a stream which flowed out of the chamber through a much larger tunnel. The floor and walls were polished smooth from the passage of water and debris over countless centuries, and a slippery layer of dead leaves coated the bottom of the chamber. Fortunately, the tunnels did not conduct toilet waste and only the musty odour of decomposing vegetation hung in the air. When Hinamori turned to look behind her, she noticed a number '5' crudely etched into the wall besides the opening they had come from. The other tunnels were similarly labelled – apparently the 4th Division's members used the tunnel system often and maintained the engravings for their own convenience.
Several minutes later, Hanatarou arrived; emerging from the number '10' tunnel. He slunk out of the pitch darkness and into the glow of the lanterns. Heedless of his filthy state, he embraced Hinamori again and profusely thanked Kira. Shaking, he recounted what had happened just minutes before.
"He said he didn't want me to hurt you, and wanted me to leave. I refused."
Hinamori was in tears with disbelief. In turn, she described her encounter with Hitsugaya that morning; while Kira squatted on the floor and sulked as the pair tried to comfort each other and make sense of the captain's actions. Then something occurred to him.
"Hanatarou, are you sure that Hitsugaya didn't follow you?"
"Y-yes. I know…he could have. He can shunpo, and it would have been easy for him to get a lantern…I don't know why he didn't."
Hinamori spoke. "We need to get you somewhere safe. Which of these tunnels is the shortest? We can always rush you back…"
But she was interrupted by a prickling at the back of her neck. An unseen presence was now coming towards them from the largest tunnel, and she recognised the spiritual pressure instantly. Hitsugaya was coming. And as surely as she could sense his presence, he could sense hers. Theirs.
For Hanatarou, it was already too late to flee. Hinamori pushed him behind her and screamed into the darkness.
"Hitsugaya...!"
There was no answer. Hanatarou and Kira turned to look down the tunnel as the presence drew closer. They could feel it too, and Hanatarou readied himself in preparation for being torn limb from limb.
"Hitsugaya...why...?!!"
Her cries were met by complete silence. The reiatsu was now nearly overwhelming, and if they were aboveground, the trio would certainly have been able to see him. However, they carried the only source of light in the tunnels. It was clear that the captain did not need any light of his own to approach them. The scene had an atmosphere reminiscent of a horror movie; with an unseen terror creeping up on its helpless victims. You could almost hear the scary 'dum-dum, dum-dum...' music in the background.
Hinamori held back a sob. Quietly, she whispered to Kira. "Go now...it's not your fight." The blond shinigami turned to look at her but did not answer. She saw him narrow his visible eye and slide across the chamber to position himself around the corner of the opening. Clearly, he had no intention of abandoning them.
"Please leave us alone...Shiro-chan," Hinamori continued, softly now. Her voice carried a note of desperation. Hanatarou quietly reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. For some strange reason, he was no longer afraid. In his heart, he swore that he would not deny his love for her; even if it killed him, for he would not be able to live with his conscience otherwise. When he bent to kiss her cheek, she began to cry. Yet this gesture of reassurance seemed to spur her into action. Hinamori drew Tobiume and swung it in an arc before her. "Hajike...Tobiume," she uttered; and several fine prongs grew and extended along its length. It now glowed red. With a sharp intake of breath, Hinamori focused her will into her zanpakutou and fired a bolt of flame into the darkness.
The orb flew down the inside of the tunnel. Red light reflected off the walls and travelled down and away from them, illuminating the interior as it passed. Both Hanatarou and Hinamori caught a fleeting glimpse of Toshiro Hitsugaya as the fireball passed him. The captain strode towards them steadily and without pause. Even in the red glow cast by Tobiume's blast, they could see the colour of his eyes. They were the fierce blue of a desert sky and just as merciless. What was even more frightening was the fact that the captain now carried two swords. One of them was Isane's. Then the captain walked out of the darkness and into view. Kira leapt out with his sword drawn, but Hitsugaya casually raised Hyourinmaru and hit him with an icy blast at nearly point-blank range. With a strangled cry, the man fell back from the impact and into the pool of water in the centre of the chamber. Almost frozen stiff, he could only struggle to keep his head above water and watch.
Hitsugaya tossed Isane's sword before Hinamori and Hanatarou. He continued to advance. Almost hysterical now, Hinamori fired another bolt from Tobiume, but the captain flash-stepped to one side and evaded it without even blinking. Through all this, Hanatarou realized acutely his status as the most useless shinigami in the whole of Soul Society and despaired.
"I was interrupted the last time I asked you. Will you leave Hinamori?"
"Leave us alone...!" Hinamori brandished her zanpakutou, unwilling to desert her beloved or battle her best friend.
"SILENCE!"
"NO!" Hinamori was resolute. She stepped forward to fight him, but was stopped when a slender arm slid around her waist. Hanatarou was calm and he knew what he had to do. He spun Hinamori around and pulled her into a final embrace. Unable to help herself any longer, Hinamori wept into his arms; and he stroked her head.
"It's okay, Hinamori...," he said. All Hinamori could feel was the warmth of his body pressed against hers. She could smell him too; Hanatarou smelled of tenderness and love, of detergent and medicinal herbs, and an honest day's toil. Even as Hitsugaya entered his final release only several metres away and filled the room with a miniature blizzard, the lovers still embraced as they shared their last moments together. Hinamori no longer felt the cold; for warm, gentle hands held her close. Hanatarou would not let her be fearful, as long as he still lived.
"Thank you, Hinamori...Goodbye..." Hanatarou closed his eyes, tightened his grip, and impaled Hinamori on his sword.
The events that followed were fast and confused. Kira tried to flash-step out of the pool, but only succeeded in swallowing water. Hitsugaya roared with fury and leapt forward. For the second time in her life, Hinamori looked down with tearful eyes at the hilt of her lover's sword protruding from her midsection. For her, there had been the brief sensation of violent impact; and then there was no pain. She had been betrayed in the past, and didn't have the spirit left in her to feel angry or upset or shocked any more...
No fear or sadness...but wait,...no... pain??? Hinamori blinked and watched dumbstruck as Hisagomaru was withdrawn. As it slid out the way it came, she could feel the curious sensation of her pierced organs knitting themselves back together and healing over. The zanpakutou was glowing too. Red light reflected off Hanatarou's face as he spun around to face Hitsugaya who was bearing down on him.
"Mitase, Hisagomaru!"
The zanpakutou spun once in his grasp and shrunk, still glowing, until it was barely longer than his hand. Then Hanatarou pointed it forward and an immense wave of raw spiritual power burst forth, engulfing Hitsugaya. Just in time, the captain swung his wings forward to shield himself and shards of ice were blasted in every direction. The room and its occupants disappeared in a white cloud of freezing mist. Somewhere in the midst of the chaos, Hanatarou's voice could be heard shrilly calling out.
"I love Hinamori, and this is my final answer: NO!!!"