'Captain Hitsugaya, please come in. We have picked up on a strong energy coming your way. Have you made it into Hueco Mundo yet?'

The white-haired Captain quickly stopped running for a second as he looked around and tried to sense whatever it was the Shinigami on the other side of the Dangai were talking about, but after a few seconds, he had to admit failure. The Lieutenant standing behind him nervously looked around and let her head drop slightly when she too, couldn't sense a thing.

'No we haven't entered yet.' Hitsugaya's voice was calm, totally contradicting his body language, for he seemed to be backing up in a nervous manner. 'What is this energy you speak of? I don't sense a thing.'

'We don't know, Sir. All we know is that it just entered the Dangai, so please be careful.'

Again, the Captain tried to concentrate and within moments, he sensed the energy his subordinates had mentioned. It was a strong energy indeed, one that couldn't belong to a normal Arrancar.

'Captain, I sense it too,' Matsumoto whispered. 'It's closing in on us fast.'

Hitsugaya nodded and started to run again, with his Lieutenant tailing him.

'Wait a second; aren't we closing in on the energy by running this way, Captain?'

He sighed.

'Yes, we are. It doesn't matter which way we run; at this speed he or she will catch up with us even if we run back to Soul Society. Plus, I don't run from my enemies.'

'Maybe it's not an enemy, Captain. Maybe he is coming back.'

Hitsugaya shook his head.

'I would have noticed if it were him who was coming our way. It's easy to recognize a fellow Shinigami.' He said. 'No, this is a different energy. It feels like an Arrancar, but stronger. Maybe it's one of those Fracción-guys again.'

With caution, but also with enormous speed, the two Shinigami moved further forward, hoping they would be able to enter Hueco Mundo soon, but after two more minutes of running, there was still no end in sight.

'It's here,' Matsumoto shrieked.

The two stopped to look at the silhouette in front of them, still unable to figure out whom they were dealing with. Hitsugaya took a step forward and cautiously grabbed the handle of his Zanpaktou, ready for battle.

'Who is there?' He said calmly. 'Are you from the Fracción?'

The silhouette stepped forward as well, showing his features to the enemies in front of him. The long blue hair and white outfit were still unknown to the Shinigami, though they now knew that they weren't dealing with a normal Arrancar, as the Captain had predicted.

'You know the Fracción?' he asked. 'Then, you wouldn't happen to know someone by the name of Shawlong Koufang, do you?'

The left corner of Hitsugaya's mouth curled up in a smirk not many had seen from him. It was clear to him that this man was an enemy who was working under Aizen and that he could pose a serious threat if he wasn't defeated here and now.

'I killed him.' The Captain's answer was short and ruthless and the smirk on his face evolved into a grin. 'Was he your friend?'

Out of the many possible reactions to that provocation, Hitsugaya hadn't expected for the blue-haired one to start laughing. It wasn't a nervous laugh to hide any emotions; it was more of a maniacal laugh, as if he didn't care about the fact that his accomplice had been murdered.

'My friend?' Grimmjow didn't even try to keep a straight face as he mockingly pointed towards the Captain. 'He was my subordinate, nothing more. It's nice to know you killed him, though, for you will hopefully appear to be stronger enemy than that other Captain.'

'Other Captain?' Hitsugaya couldn't help but fall for the provocation Grimmjow had thrown his way. 'Who are you referring to?'

'Oh, you know,' he said while glaring at Matsumoto. 'That traitorous snake with the silver hair. We just fought and well, I won. None of you Shinigami can stop me, the sixth Espada: Grimmjow Jeagerjaques.'

At that moment, Matsumoto flew past her Captain and made an attempt to cut her enemy, but all he had to do, was take a step to his left, for the Lieutenant was slightly blinded by the tears that were coming up.

He grabbed her wrist and took a good look at her, wondering what she would taste like.

'I can see why he loved you so much,' he said quietly. 'You look like a fine woman. Care to come with me and look at that snake's body? If I'm in a good mood, I might just let you live.'

Before Matsumoto could answer the deviant, he had let go of her wrist and she could hear the clashing of metal. As she wiped away the tears and could once again see clearly, she saw how her Captain pushed back the panther-like Espada.

'Captain Hitsu-'

'Go away, Rangiku!' He yelled. 'Turn around and run back, that's an order!'

A fraction of a second, the Lieutenant couldn't move a muscle, for her Captain wouldn't use her first name unless he was serious.

'But Captain, I-'

'Are you deaf?' He raised his voice even more. 'It's an order! Now go!'

Unable to ignore an order given to her by her beloved Captain, Matsumoto flew past him once again and started to run as fast as she could, back to the Soul Society. As much as she wanted to confirm Gin's well being, the thought that there was another Shinigami in Hueco Mundo whom was hopefully taking care of him was what kept her legs moving.

'Captain,' she whispered as she saw the gate that would remove her from this dark path. 'Please come back safely.'

If only this Lieutenant had known the outcome of this battle, she would have never left her Captain's side, but she did and the question of whether she could have been of any assistance or not, would forever be left unanswered.

'What do you want with Matsumoto?'

Hitsugaya's voice had changed as soon as his Lieutenant could no longer hear him. Even though he had never met this Grimmjow, he exactly knew what he was after, for the story about Gin and Matsumoto was one he knew all too well.

Grimmjow jumped backwards and let his fingers play with his left ear, totally ignoring the small Captain's question.

'It's just the two of us now,' he contemplated. 'I'm all you need to focus on; if you don't, it will be like digging your own grave, Shinigami. It's time for my second experiment, so brace yourself!'

'It is you who should brace himself,' Hitsugaya hissed. 'I don't have time to be quarreling with you like this. Now, tell me: What do you plan on doing to Matsumoto?'

Grimmjow, while grinning, bit on his lip, probably to prevent himself from telling the Captain everything in excitement. It was only after a few seconds, that he noticed he had bitten too hard and when a thickened red fluid emerged from the small wound he had created, after which he licked his lips quite exuberantly.

'Let's make a deal: I'll tell you everything if you manage to win, how about that?'

Hitsugaya sighed with annoyance.

'Fine, let's get serious then. Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyourinmaru.'

The Espada assumed a defensive position, wondering what the small one would be capable of. Hitsugaya quickly flew towards him, ready to strike. All Grimmjow had to do, was move his upper body to the right. Hitsugaya stopped for a second, turned around and repeated his charging move.

After a few times of missing his target, the Captain held still, a few meters away from his enemy, whom was laughing mockingly.

'What were you trying to do? Are you really a Captain, or are you just a kid pretending to be one? You're a joke!' There was no response. 'Now, prepare for an attack of mine, I'm going to blow you to bits!'

Hitsugaya showed a crooked smile as soon as Grimmjow started to build up his attack from the palm of his hand and just before the blue-haired one could speak the words, he interfered.'

'Cer-'

'Rokui Hyouketsujin.'

'What the-'

The trap Hitsugaya had laid down when he had been charging towards his enemy, was now set in motion. Out of nowhere, a huge pillar of ice emerged from the floor, capturing Grimmjow in its thick crystal-like and rock hard material.

'Stay in there forever, scum.' The Captain said quietly. 'Though you will probably be killed by the Koutotsu, for it will arrive in about three days.'

As he turned around, ready to follow his loyal Lieutenant, he recalled the promise Grimmjow had made him and figured that it could never be fulfilled.

'Well, it doesn't matter now,' he said. 'Matsumoto is safe now, so whatever his plan was, he did not succeed.'

After he had taken a few steps away from the enormous ice-pillar, a cracking noise made him turn back to the enemy. As parts of the pillar slowly fell onto the ground, the laughter that came from it made Hitsugaya show that he no longer thought nothing of his opponent, for he hissed the words that should have granted him victory, acknowledging this Espada's strength.

'Bankai! Daiguren Hyourinmaru!'

As soon as Grimmjow was completely freed from the ice which had enveloped him, he readied his claws and charged at the Shinigami. Still a bit flustered by Grimmjow's quick escape from the Rokui Hyouketsujin, Hitsugaya suddenly felt a stinging pain emerge from his leg. When he looked at it, he noticed a chunk of flesh had been removed from his right calf. Seeing the white bone clearly, with the torn off flesh and muscles around it, added to the insufferable pain this Captain was going through. As much as he tried to stand on his right leg, gravity did its job as soon as he tried. Only when he used his sword as a cane, Hitsugaya managed to stay on two feet.

'Gun-' He muttered. 'Guncho Tsurara.'

All the ice that belonged to the broken down pillar, instantly turned into water and from that liquid, took on the shape of daggers that were all flying towards Grimmjow, who had just swallowed the last piece of Hitsugaya's flesh. He was enjoying his late-night snack so much; he didn't pay enough attention and found he had been cut in six different places, from his shoulders to his knees.

'You annoying little ice-brat!' He yelled. 'I'll make you suffer for sure now!'

He was fast, this Espada; too fast. Before Hitsugaya could react, the blue-haired one's claws had grabbed a hold of his left shoulder, pulling the skin and flesh beneath it. At first, it sounded like rubber that was being stretched, but soon after, the muscles and tendons produced a sound of their own while they were being ripped of the bone they used to be attached to.

The Captain fell to the floor, completely unable to move due to the excruciating pain that was flowing though his being. As he lay there, contemplating whether he could escape from this pinch, the foot that was holding down his chest gave the answer to that question away. He wouldn't be able to see Matsumoto again and he wouldn't be able to protect her in any way from now on.

'Now, stay still little Captain. I'm going to take one more bite and after that, the woman is mine, so that I can take her with me to Hueco Mundo and show her both your corpse and the one from the traitorous snake.'

As Hitsugaya failed at saying his last words, Grimmjow laughed with excitement.

'Oh, silly me,' he smirked. 'Now I've told you my plan, what if you're going to stop me?'

Knowing he couldn't do anything against the Espada, Hitsugaya squinted his eyes towards the deviant; showing him how much he despised him in the only way his body allowed him to.

Grimmjow slowly put his teeth against the neck of the Captain, right beside the visible bones in his shoulder. As soon as the sharp teeth pierced their way through the flesh, Hitsugaya screamed like he had never done before. Grimmjow only grinned widely.

'So long, little Captain.'

Kurotsuchi Mayuri was strolling through the Dangai, returning from Hueco Mundo to the Soul Society. When he noticed there were smears of blood on the floor, he slightly stepped up the pace and soon arrived at a severed body lying lifeless on the floor.

It was a body the Captain of the twelfth Division knew all too well. On the one hand, he felt great sorrow, for he had lost a fellow Captain, but on the other hand, he now possessed a great clue and subject when it came to investigating this experiment the Espada had spoken of.

'I will take excellent care of you, Captain Hitsugaya,' he said. 'Your sacrifice will not be in vain.'

As Mayuri started to gather the pieces of this Captain's body, he wondered where the Espada had gone. He could be either in the real world on in the Soul Society, this scientist wasn't sure. It all depended on where Matsumoto had gone.

After gathering the pieces of flesh and bone, he stood up and resumed his stroll, only to be blown away by a huge force that flew past him.

'Well, would you look at that,' he said quietly as he looked at the white cloth that was now already far in front of him. 'I never would have guessed you would have recovered so soon, your arm looks fine too. Let's just hope you can save the Lieutenant's life.'