Here is another new chapter. Hope you enjoy. I did refer to a gun reference and alcoholic references which I have explanations for at the very bottom of the story. So thank you for waiting and hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN BLEACH OR HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD!

Chapter 9: About Momo

It is bit after twilight, but who could tell what time of day it was when the world outside was covered in black smoke, torn down buildings and roaming dead people on the street. A pair of sad, determined eyes stares out from the window awaiting her fate, the path that she herself chose to be the right one.

Pale skin slowly darkens as the infection spreads downwards to her elbow. Soon it will infect her whole right arm. Dr. Unohana wraps up and past the elbows so if it spreads it will still be covered.

"There's not much time…" Dr. Unohana said. Looking very depressed as she wanted to have done more for the girl who looks sadly out to the world which she could not have, but she did all that she could.

A knock on the door told her that there was no time left. Her orange haired friend stood there with an unwavering expression as he held an undrawn sword in his left hand. A girl stood behind him wearing black with her hair in a long braid holding a briefcase.

Six hours ago…

"Momo, are you really ok with this? What about Toshiro?" said Ichigo, worried about a friend and everyone else's feelings when they find out what's about to happen.

"It's the only way," said Momo, finishing the contents of the letter, "I know it will hurt Shiro-chan, but if I tell him the truth, he will be persistent about coming along and I can't let that happen." Sealing the letter, she handed it over to a black butterfly, which flew as fast as the speed of light to its destination.

Dr. Unohana was also present and did this as her final help for Momo also warning her, "It won't be easy. It will be very painful, but you'll have to bear with it. Do you still want to go?"

Momo's expression hasn't changed ever since she decided that it was what she wanted to do.

The butterfly came back in 40 minutes. A letter held by its feet addressed from him.

To the suffering test subject child, Momo

I am pleased to hear you are in search of my help. Studying you, helping you with your problems is a blessing to my experiments, ears. I will be sending you an escort in 2 hours.

I advise you to say your farewells to your beloved ones as your time with me will not be just a quick visit to the hospital but a long session of tests…and healing your arm.

From the ones who cares about your arm,
Dr. Kurotsuchi

P.S. Your escort will be in possession of a liquid that will slow down the infection for the time you are going to travel to get to the wonderful, full of excitement Kuromu Island.

Three hours later…

"Before I leave, I want to spend my time with everyone else," Momo said getting up from the bed and looking at bit pale, but still healthy.

Ichigo was discussing with Orihime and Ishida about their choice of weapon.

Orihime being all hyped up helping out with choosing, cheerfully said, "Ishida-kun, since you're the Captain of the Archery Team, you're best weapon would be a bow and arrow," Handing him the bow and arrow.

Ishida being as he is thought, Why is she so happy?

Ichigo replied as if he could read his mind, "Are Zombies really that interesting, Orihime?"

He turned to see Orihime imitating the zombies who were chasing after them.

Oh, that's why…Ishida thought. He is clearly worried about Orihime's state of mind when Orihime herself is nowhere concerned about the flesh-eating zombies and just staring at both of them.

What should I do? Orihime pondered. Her face lacked the emotions that her mind was going through, ..Momo...Momo is in danger... she recalled the last memory she saw Momo in the back of the truck clutching her arm and the small view of zombie skin she remembered seeing on her arm. "Nee, nee Ichigo~! Don't you think this is perfect for me?" she said holding up a Calico M950 with a smile on her face.

Both Ichigo and Ishida were amazed by Orihime's lack of fearing the situation they are currently under. "Su—sure." He said with sweat marks pouring down his head, scared whether Orihime would be able to tell the difference between enemy and friend.

"I think that's perfect for you."

All three turned heads to see their injured friend who had a panic attack last night and no one was allowed to enter.

"Momo!" Orihime jumped for joy and ran for a hug, Momo...you poor child... crying tears of joy.

Ichigo tried not to give face and gave a relieved smile as did Ishida who was finally happy to see Momo out of bed and walking for once. Rukia, Rangiku and Toshiro were checking out the more extensive weapons that the Kuchiki household seemed to keep stock. Renji came out of the kitchen with a piece of bacon sticking out of his mouth but still happy to see Momo up.

"Are you feeling better, should you be up already?" Renji worried for Toshiro and the rest.

Momo gave a good nod and playfully flexed and made face, "I think I got stronger even."

Small laughter filled the air to distract Momo of her sad parting later on.

"I just fixed dinner come and get some." Renji led them all to the kitchen. Orihime put down the gun and followed. The smell of dinner even drew in some lost mice that were looking at heavily armed weapons in the basement.

"Momo!" Toshiro, Rukia and Rangiku said in unison and went over to give more hugs. Toshiro fisted his hands from remembering what happened before her panic attack. He let his rage dissolve and put on a smile just for her and hugged her lovingly, which got warm smiles from everyone at the dinner table.

I won't ask...I won't ask.. Like a mantra his was spouting Toshiro repeatedly said it over and over his mind until he got is soaked into his bones before letting go of Momo and sat next to her.

Dinner was pleasant, it was delicious and all they did was talk about fun memories. Everyone enjoyed their time, especially Momo. It wasn't like it was the last time she's going to see them, would it? Her plans made that seem possible but there is still a small sliver of chance she could see them again.

After dinner, Momo stayed behind to do the dishes while the rest laid out their plans for the night. Rangiku decided to help with dishes.

"So, how's it going? You think we shouldn't worry about your health anymore?" Rangiku said right on target even though she had no idea what Momo was going through. Momo hesitated ever so slightly but regained posture and replied with even breathing, "My arm doesn't hurt as much anymore. I think it's healing. I can do the dishes at least." She said with a smile.

Rangiku was glad to hear that. "Are you and Toshiro doing anything lately?" she said hoping for something juicy.

All Momo did was blush at that comment and fired back at her question, "Wh-what about you and Gin-san?"

Rangiku's smirk slowly faded and her hands followed suit and slowed down. All she gave Momo was a small smile that seemed to hurt to put on. "Gin and I are complicated."

That was all what was needed to be said. Momo slowly stopped her hands as well and just end up giving Rangiku a hug. Then after a while she asked, "Why is it so hard to just want to be together?"

Rangiku was too sad and sympathetic to understand why Momo said that. She understood why herself but not why Momo had mentioned when Momo had also referred to herself when she said it.

"That's how it is now. With what's happening to the world, it is this way for a reason."

Momo disliked it and so did everyone who thought that Aizen was not playing fair by destroying the world and attaining his own happiness while not caring for others.

Their hugs were lost when they were summoned by the gang. "Whenever you guys are done, we'll be waiting for you to join us!"

They both smiled and wiped off each other's tears which they didn't know spilled from their sad lost eyes. They quickly finished up the dishes and joined everyone else.

At the lab...

..drip...drip...drip...

Droplets of unknown substances slowly drip away in the elaborate chemical set up. His dark sunken eyes stare up at his open roof where the polluted clouds gather above his lab. As he breathes out a deep breath smoke comes out of his lips as his hand rests on his leg holding a cigarette. His glasses don't reflect even a speck of light that tries to shine through the clouds.

Footsteps are heard from behind him as it slowly approaches him. "Aizen.." Kaname called out but Aizen did not bother moving from his chair.

"What?" feeling very annoyed from being disturbed.

"Have you found the cure yet?" Kaname asking as he does. He is a constant reminder to Aizen that the world is about to end and if he doesn't find a cure soon to his own zombies he too will die along with the rest of the world.

"..he..he..hehe...hiihhahahahahaha..." Aizen's madness gets to him for a split second before he spoke out, "Cure huh? I still need to make that cure huh..?..."

Kaname is now clearly very worried about for the sake of the world that if Aizen does not find a cure soon then he cannot take it back with him to the President.

The door from the main entrance opened and Gin walked in holding a bag full of alcohol. Kaname looked from the top of the stairs, "Bought some new stuff huh?" and slowly walked down.

"Hm..uh yeah.." looking down at this stash. "Thought I'd try some new stuff." Giving Kaname his signature smile, while they both know that he's depressed at the moment and conflicted with how they were going to work things out.

"Give me your best Daiquiri with the strongest rum you've got, Gin." giving him a smile that tells him that he'll be your drinking buddy just for tonight.

Gin let a sigh of straight relief that he didn't think he'd had in his system. "Well then, I'll let you know, I just got some Bacardi 151, so be prepared." He smiled his ever so sly smile and made Kaname laugh a little.

Aizen could hear their laughter but let them since he knew the end result of everything that was about to happen.

Back at the mansion...

Ichigo was sitting on the huge veranda looking out at the horrible scene the world had become in a few weeks. The clouds swirled and looked as if preparing for a storm.

Is there really no way we could turn this back to the way it was before? He thought to himself.

A rope dangled about in the distance, a good few metres from the veranda. Ichigo did not notice it until it moved about more. He looked up and it just disappeared into the clouds until a slim figure came down the rope. The person landed soundlessly on the veranda even from a great distance.

They looked at each other for a moment. It was a girl, just a bit shorter than he was and she was holding a briefcase.

"Where is Momo Hinamori?" she demanded in a monotonous voice.

It was time...Dr. Unohana knew it...Ichigo knew it...Momo realized it...

He took the sword he let leaning on the railing up and held it in his hand, "This way." Ichigo led the way to Momo's room in front of her door. He knocked the door twice and didn't say anything as that was the only signal it could give Momo to make her understand that he's ready and that she should be ready.

Everyone at this point should be asleep so the only ones aware of this event were Momo, Ichigo, Dr. Unohana and the girl who came to pick up Momo.

The door opened and there sat Momo near the window, they turned to look at the girl who came as the letter had said.

"Hi, my name is Nemu Kurotsuchi. I am Dr. Kurotsuchi's assistant." She put the briefcase on the bed and opened it. Inside was a needle and a substance, indicated by the letter that it was to slow down the infection of the venom. "It takes a while for the substance to be active, but don't worry. Nothing should happen."

Nemu prepared the needle and injected it just above where the venom started.

Momo didn't feel anything but otherwise she stood up and followed Nemu to where the rope was waiting for them. Ichigo blocked the doorway unmoving.

"Move Ichigo.." Momo said, but he didn't and he couldn't. All he could do was grip his undrawn sword tightly and hope Momo would not leave at all and the unknown substance would be enough for Momo to survive.

Momo did not hesitate and her gaze did not falter when she glanced at this sword.

"I'm sorry" Momo said quietly but loud enough for Ichigo to hear and unsheathed his sword.

Lightning flashed and thunder grumbled, glass broke and windows flew open and blood was spilled, shelves fell over and feathers flying everywhere.

"NNGGAAHH~!"

A scream was all that it took to wake up the whole household. Multiple footsteps ran down the hallway to the only room where one person who was injured and soon to be missing resided.

Lightning flashed again and thundered. There stood a lone figure, wet with rain and something dark. A sword in one hand, an arm in the other. The small white haired male searched for the one thing he could only see, but it wasn't there. She wasn't there.

Rain splattered heavily on the veranda as two black shadows run to the edge. One shadow stops to look back and it was only at this time that the world, being so kind, enough to reveal the moon for our strong willed girl, to let the moonlight reflect off the tears that are mixed with rain down her sad stricken face.

Sorry the word echoed softly throughout the world as the shadow left the ground and into the pouring sky. The white-haired male who stop functioning and the one holding the sword dropped the arm. The only thing that could be heard now was the thunder that wouldn't stop crying for our heroes.

Calico M950 – a 9mm semi-automatic pistol - US

Daiquiri – a family of cocktails whose main ingredients are rum, citrus juice and sugar or other sweetener

Bacardi 151 – strong rum with 151 proof alcohol content or 75.5% ABV (alcohol by volume)

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