AN

Hello all and welcome to the first ever Beta-ed chapter of, well of any of my stories.

Give a big thank you to VioTanequil who beta-ed this with amazing speed and did a fantastic job!

Here's the chapter.

AN

"He left us for this?! That is just—that is just so predictable!"

Hinamori wished she could tell Tobiume to stop it but looking up at the facade of Las Noches, she couldn't help but agree with her indignant Zanpakuto. She felt, well, she felt rather worthless at the moment. She knew she was being silly but she couldn't help it. It was not as though Aizen was far from her thoughts, but there was a difference between remembering and seeing the palace where he had lived. It was like a confirmation of everything she had refused to see for so long. She felt dizzy and realized that her breath was coming in short gasps. Her eyes were stinging as well. She wasn't sure whether she was going to faint or break down or maybe she was going to do both, and it was just a question of which she did first.

Hitsugaya didn't wait for either. He bent down slightly and picked her up, cradling her in his arms. She turned her face into his chest, squeezing her eyes shut as though she could block out the image of the palace. Even Tobiume had fallen silent at her breakdown. She didn't even realize that they were walking until he stopped and sunk to his knees, still cradling her body against his. Hitsugaya was unique in that he was always cold. She didn't think he had ever felt warm to her. But instead of being odd it rather suited him. In this case, the light chill pushed through the madness. It was like when he refused to leave her, even when she charged at him sobbing and screaming. He sat there with her, running one hand up and down her back until she picked up on his steady breathing and calmed down.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice soft.

"Momo," he shook his head, "you've got nothing to be sorry about."

"But I do!" she cried, "I was blind and stupid and I shouldn't have cared so much!" She buried her face in her hands, "I loved him even when he was stabbing me! What kind of person cares that much about someone that almost killed them?"

"Aizen managed to fool a lot of people," he replied quietly, "I thought Gin was the one in charge, not him. He even managed to fool the Commander General—a lot. Do you know what he told me? He said that adoration is the furthest thing from understanding. He saved you, he was everything you worked for. There was no way you could have known."

"And everyone almost died because of me," she said, feeling even more miserable as the guilt set in.

"No," Tobiume corrected, "he almost died because of you. For you."

Hinamori shut her eyes and buried her face in her arms. She knew that Tobiume was right and that made it so much worse. She had known that Hitsugaya had been seriously injured because of her but knowing and seeing were two different things. Her scar was small, a little shorter than the width of her hand. His was much larger. She knew that the two of them were not the only ones to be scarred by Aizen, but she knew the scars he left them ran far deeper than just their skin. She was pulled back to the present by Hitsugaya wrapping his hands around her shoulders. Her head flew up, her tear bright eyes locking with his.

"No, everyone almost died because of him," Hitsugaya said gripping her arms and forcing her to look at him, "not you Momo, we're all alive because of you. When you figured it out you saved us all. Not anyone else."

"Tobiume—"

"Tobiume is a part of you," he cut her off, "You were the one who achieved Bankai. You were the one who killed Aizen and you are the one who's going to get us into Las Noches so we can save the rest of Soul Society."

"Do all Captains give speeches like that?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"You practice in front a mirror," he said before blushing at the confession, "I mean—"

"Let's go save the world," Hinamori said with a smile as they stood up.

No one said anything as the two Captains walked back to where the others were waiting. Hinamori slipped Tobiume back into its sheath as she walked to the doors. Swallowing thickly she rolled up her sleeves and pressed the back of her hands and forearms onto the surface. Gently, she pushed her Spiritual Power through the scars, trying to urge out the rest of whatever Aizen had scarred her with.

Nothing happened. She could hear the collective sigh of disappointment behind her and bit her lip, closing her eyes tightly. She kept her hands there and frowned, searching for her own Spiritual Pressure.

"I can do this," Tobiume said firmly.

"I can," Hinamori agreed.

"We can," she ripped Tobiume out of its sheath, "Snap Tobiume!" she shouted, the Zanpakuto roaring to life, "Bankai!" the blade lengthened and curved once more, the prongs vanishing as the blade streamlined itself. Hinamori pressed it to her forearm, "Blast! Tobiume!"

The pink energy lit up the sky like a beacon. When the dust and sand thrown up by the blast cleared, Hinamori lowered Tobiume and looked with satisfaction at the gaping hole that had once been the front door of Las Noches. Even the former Espada seemed impressed while the remaining Fraccion had gone much closer to matching the color of the sand below them.

Hinamori turned back to the palace and froze. Almost instantly the palace began to seal itself up, the hole growing smaller with every passing moment.

"We gotta go! Now!" Nel shouted, jerking them out of their stupor.

The group of them who were going into the palace dove through, landing in a tangle of limbs in the main hallway. The door slammed behind them, the ominous sound ringing through the hallway. Hinamori sealed her Bankai and her initial relesae before sheathing Tobiume, trying to hide her wince. Hitsugaya studied her with a knowing eye for a single long moment but she quickly hid her hand in her cloak. She didn't want to worry him anymore than he already was.

"Everyone be on alert," he said as they got to their feet, "any sign of trouble, release your Shikai. Those with Bankai need to be prepared to use them. Find your part of the key and get to the central office where Hinamori and I will be waiting."

They nodded, arranging themselves in their teams. The corridors were lined up nicely for their journeys, as if the palace wished to see how far they could get. For some reason that sent chills down even Renji's spine.They each took off down their separate hallway, heading for whatever waited for them down the corridors.

Hitsugaya and Hinamori traded glances before their eyes locked on the hallway that would lead them into the very heart of Las Noches. She jumped when he brushed back the folds of her cloak and took her hand in his, rolling her sleeve up to expose the skin underneath. His touch was feather light but it still sent tendrils of agony racing up her arm.

"Does this always happen when you use that attack?" he asked, his voice much rougher than his touch.

"No," she said, "I controlled it so that it would extract whatever was left of Aizen's reiatsu in my arm," she explained, "but it still did some damage."

He nodded, examining her hand. The burns were darker but they didn't seem too bad, at least not to his untrained eye.

"You should have let Orihime heal you," he scolded gently.

"I didn't want to worry anyone," Hinamori said softly.

He glared up at her, causing her blush to darken. He wanted to tell her that she was not a burden, that she was not burdening him or anyone else but the words seemed to stick in his throat. Instead he turned her hand so that her palm was cradled in his hand. He held his free hand out, just slightly above the skin, and summoned ice.

It was harder to do, a good deal hard to control when he wasn't doing it out of anger or sadness, but he managed. He always found it easier to do the impossible with her by his side. Slowly a spider web of ice slipped from his fingers and climbed up her arm, coating it from fingertips to the crook of her elbow like a glove. Hinamori let out a sigh of relief as the burning stopped and ebbed away until it was just a dull throbbing, barely noticeable at all.

"Thank you," she said with a smile.

Hitsugaya nodded and released the ice connecting her hand to his own. Both became aware of how gently he held her hand, how reluctant both were to move. Slowly Hinamori raised her eyes to meet his. People had always told Hitsugaya that his eyes were beautiful, or at least that they were intriguing. He had always thought they were rather like glass or a mirror, they were cold and distant and rarely showed the truth. He had never really liked his eyes.

Now Hinamori's eyes. Hinamori's eyes were something he had always found beautiful. They were the first thing he had seen when he arrived in Soul Society. They were the color of chocolate, like Granny used to get on their birthdays, chocolate and the color of the wood that made up her house. They always reminded Hitsugaya of everything Hinamori was to him. They reminded him of home.

"We should get to the office," Hinamori said looking away and down the hallway.

"Right," he said, trying to fight down the bitter disappointment and confusion coursing through him, "let's go."

The two Captains headed down the hallway, both miserable in their own thoughts. Neither would look at each other, though they both knew their thoughts were only of the other. Somehow with their silence and distance, it only made the task ahead seem more impossible.

Break

Walking down to the labs with Soifon was odd, that was the best way Grimmjow could describe it. Not that it was uncomfortable or unpleasant really, it was just very very odd. For one he had never realized just how short she was. He wasn't about to tell her but her head barely came to his shoulder. And then there was the way she held herself. She walked a bit ahead of him, obviously used to dominating the situation. He amused himself by watching the end of her cloth covered braid swing back and forth. He also slowed his pace. Not a lot, not all at once but enough so that by the time she realized he was behind her he was far enough to force her to stop.

"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded.

"Looking around," he said.

"We're in a hallway," she snapped, "What could you possibly be looking at?"

Not one to waste an opportunity, Grimmjow grinned wickedly.

"You."

It was totally worth the ass kicking he was going to get later. Her eyes widened in almost comical surprise before narrowing angrily. It didn't change the rosy pink flush that appeared on her cheeks. For a moment she was frozen in indignation, then she turned on her heel and walked ahead. Grimmjow learned that she blushed behind her ears as well, and for some reason he was even more amused by that, though he kept his reaction limited to the wide almost feral grin on his lips.

As for Soifon, she was obviously upset at her reaction to his statement which made the whole affair far more enjoyable in Grimmjow's eyes. He didn't see why he shouldn't have some fun, especially not if Ulquiorra was obviously going to get laid.

Grimmjow had no idea what Orihime saw in him, the former Cuatro Espada had always reminded Grimmjow of a clown. A really bad, really sad clown. As for her, well, Grimmjow really only had a passing interest in her. Oh, she had everything that usually piqued his interest but five minutes in her presence and he either wanted to kill her, himself or all of Las Noches. He was all for dysfunctional relationships, seeing as he was rather dysfunctional himself, but the crying was a bit excessive.

He frowned as the ground under his feet trembled. Soifon shifted her feet immediately into a fighting stance. Within an instant they had their Zanpakutos out.

"Don't release," Soifon ordered.

Grimmjow nodded and tightened his grip on Pantera, his eyes scanning for any possible threats. Soifon kept Suzumebachi in her hand but unreleased. He watched her feet shift slightly, her body aligning itself for the fight to come. It was then that he realized that she had been toying with him during all their little squabbles. He was honestly unsure whether to be impressed or terrified of her at the moment.

"Sting all Enemies to death Suzumebachi!" she shouted lunging forward. Her hand streaked out and buried the stinger hilt-deep into a Hollow that had half-risen from the floor. Before he could blink, hell, before the crest could fully form, she slammed Suzumebachi into the same spot. It took about two seconds for the Hollow to fall, half in half out of the floor. Apparently that was too long for her, "They must be drawing power from Las Noches," she murmured, "Go to your first release state."

"Grind, Pantera," he said as the blade split and shrunk at his command, forming two three-pronged blades that fit around his wrists. The blades rested between his fingers, looking very similar to the claws he had in his release form. He felt Soifon's back press up against his own. Even though she barely came to the base of his neck he had a feeling that she would be good to have in this fight. The floor began to tremble under his feet, "Here they come," he said looking down the hallway.

"Get rea—"

The hallway's walls slammed forward, shoving them into a box the size of a very small closet. Before they had time to inhale the ceiling came rocketing downwards as the floor vanished. It was like being in a laundry chute. The only question was, what was waiting for them at the bottom? Grimmjow gritted his teeth and slammed Pantera into the walls, trying to find traction.

The screeching of metal was enough to make his ears ache. When light appeared at the bottom of the tunnel he decided that his aching ears were the least of his problems. Drawing back his hands, Grimmjow slammed his arms out with as much force as he could generate. The claws embedded themselves in the metal, stopping his decent. Soifon collided with his back, almost dislodging him but not quite. He was forced to brace his legs on the edge of the chute or they risked being seen by whatever was down at the bottom.

"Fuck," he hissed, "you Soul Reapers don't have something to counter this?"

"Something's interfering with my power," she snapped back angrily, "its blocking me from accessing my Spiritual Power. I can't even get to Bankai."

"Well, that's just fucking great!" he said sarcastically.

"Shut up," she snapped, "How good's your grip?"

"Good," he said testing his hands, "Why?" he demanded suspiciously.

"Just hold still," she ordered, "I'm going to see what's down there."

He opened his mouth to ask how she was going to do that when she wrapped her arms around his body and maneuvered herself so they were chest to chest. It was good his mouth was already open because otherwise his jaw would have hit the ground when she wrapped her legs around his knees. Without any humility, not that he minded, she bent nimbly backwards so that her head hung at the base of the chute, still in the shadows but affording her a view of the ground. Her eyes scanned the deserted room below them for any possible threats. Not seeing any she pulled herself upright and looked at Grimmjow.

"I'm going down there," she said, "you need help or can you get down there yourself."

"I'm good," he choked out nodding.

She returned the nod and released him, falling to the ground and landing silently on her feet. The reaction was instant as soon as her feet touched the ground. A pale lilac colored mist filled the room. Soifon immediately held her breath as she reached one arm into the chute. Grimmjow's hand locked around her own immediately but a pair of other hands grabbed her feet. She was lost in the mist but kicked out none the less.

Her foot made contact with something at the same time that something else made contact with her stomach, forcing the air from her lungs. Before she could stop herself her body reacted automatically to try and replace the air she'd lost. She inhaled. Immediately the world went foggy and she felt her muscles go lax, no matter how much she wanted something else to happen. Grimmjow reacted instantly as well, his hand releasing hers before gripping her wrist.

Before whatever had her got a better grip, he yanked hard. Grimmjow felt her shoulder pull loose but when she didn't cry out he figured that was a secondary concern. He pulled her against him, pushing her body onto his shoulder to free up a hand. Ignoring everything that said he couldn't, he shoved against the corridors, forcing them to obey him. The floor locked into place, cutting them off from whatever was in the room below him. He eased the floor they were on upwards, getting them as close to the surface as he could.

Grimmjow peered out of the chute to see two Hollows making their way down the hallway. He ducked inside and pulled the floor over them, waiting for a moment before he dared to look out again. The hallway was deserted but he knew it wouldn't stay that way for long. He jumped out of the chute and raced down a different hallway, trying to find one that didn't look like it would collapse or be altered soon.

He felt Soifon shudder against him and realized that finding a stable hallway was not the priority. He ducked down one of the less well used ones and quickly lowered her off his shoulder. Her head lolled forward, even though her eyes were open he could see her pupils were dilated. Her muscles were completely lax, she was boneless in his arms and going dangerously pale.

He had no idea what to do. This wasn't an enemy he knew how to combat. His eyes flew up and down her body, desperately trying to find some kind of antidote. He knew she couldn't help herself, that he was the only chance she had. The weight of that realization was enough to make him want to just run as far away, as fast away as he could. But he didn't, something inside him rebelled and held him there. His eyes found the Zanpakuto that she had used on him and his panic ridden mind produced the answer.

Any poison I don't have some kind of immunity against I can stab myself with Suzumebachi, removing them instantly

An idea entered his head, but another statement of hers swiftly followed.

It would be a wise decision not to alienate me

"Fuck," he swore.

Well she had just climbed on him so he figured there was no alienation. He froze, hearing footsteps approaching them. Having been stabbed by Suzumebachi he knew how much it hurt. He hauled her up against his body and the wall, pinning her there. Grimmjow parted the folds of her robe. He grabbed her hand and angled the tip of her Zanpakuto above the exposed skin of her abdomen, resting the point there and bracing her hand against his own body. He pressed his hands against her cheeks and sealed his mouth over hers before pressing their bodies together, forcing Suzumebachi into her skin.

As he predicted her body reacted purely on instinct and she screamed into his mouth. He muffled the sound as best he could, holding her firmly against him. Suzumebachi worked fast. Moments after her scream died she pulled her head away, gasping for air. Her head fell forward, pressing into his chest as she took deep breaths, doing her best to muffle the sound. He peered around the hallway, trying desperately to ignore the feeling of her hot breath coursing down the opening of his shirt. The Hollows had moved on, obviously not hearing the sound of her scream.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Give me a minute," she panted before nodding her head weakly against his body, "Okay," she stepped away from him, testing her weight, "Okay," she said, her voice a little stronger, "I'm good."

He nodded and turned to go. Her arm locked around his wrist.

"Thank you," she said, her voice serious.

"Hey, I don't want to go back and have Ulquiorra throw the fact he managed to keep his girl alive in my face," he replied.

"So I'm your girl now?" she asked one of her eyebrows arching.

"Depends," he smirked down at her, moving closer once again, "You wanna be? I mean after all that time with kitties I don't know if you're ready for something a bit more," he brushed his finger along the exposed skin of her arm, not willing to push his luck quite yet, "shall we say wild?"

"Why do you think I stopped caring about cats?" she asked looking up at him.

Whatever they managed to infect her with was good because she obviously didn't mean to fall into his arms. Grimmjow wasn't going to complain about that but he wasn't going to kiss her senseless either. He had no desire to play with her when she was drugged, there was no fun in it. Instead he turned and hauled her onto his back, draping her arms over his neck. She made a muffled sound of pride-fueled protest but he ignored it as he wrapped his arms around her knees and took off down the hallway back where they came.

"Whatcha doin?" she murmured into the skin behind his ear.

"Saving the damn Shinigami race," he muttered angrily, "and giving you a piggyback ride."

"Y'should leave me," she said, "Get the key. I'll wake up in a bit."

"I'm not fucking leaving you," he snapped back in return, "We're getting that damn key and then we're going to open Aizen's office."

"And then?" she asked.

"And then you're not going to make me into a carpet," he replied dryly as they came to the room.

Grimmjow frowned and slowed his pace, as a thought entered his head and dread filled him.

"Shit," he muttered before jostling her to get her attention, "hey," he looked over at her.

"Mm?" she asked groggily.

"Do we even know what the key looks like?"