Chapter 8 – Fighting for you, part 3

Ichigo's POV

"Saving us? How is he saving us?" The girl looked up at him, a tint of annoyance in her eyes. "It is not many that have seen him use this. It is effective, but the risk is quite high." What is it with people here, and talking in riddles? Heck, it's damn annoying! "Damn, can you stop with the riddles? What is this risk?" Now, Ichigo was quite mad. Why do I have to be in here while he's out there fighting? "The risk with this technique, although it is effective, is that he can't control it. The flowers will bloom on everyone and everything they touch, and end up crushing them." The orange haired boy turned so his body was turned towards Hinamori. "So… He's saving us because…" The girl sighed. "He is saving us by closing us in here. That way none of the flowers would be able to touch us." But flowers, seriously? How can that be dangerous? His doubt must have showed on his face, because the girl said. "You just watch."

When he looked out of the ice prison he could still see the figures outside its walls. He could also see the scene. The place were Toshiro had standing before was now abandoned, but you could clearly see where he had stood. The ground below was covered in blood, dripping from him, and dripping from his shihakushō. The menos hadn't moved an inch. It stared right in front of him, flashing its teeth and wriggling its arm all over the place. While he stood there he could hear a faint plopping noise. He looked around trying to find the source. Over him he could see a figure flying in the air, wings on the back, sword in hand. It took him a second, but he understood that it was Toshiro floating over there in his bankai. As he looked up he also found out that the noise was drops hitting the ice. The drops were the blood still streaming from the wounds all over his body. Abruptly the defuse shape disappeared and flew high up to the sky.

Toshiro had just started to announce the words of a kido. The next thing they knew they heard a high crash and Toshiro's body was rived to the top of their sanctuary. They could see blood streaming from his hand, and a shuttering sound as the man hit the ice. Another sound that was heard was a hiss escaping Toshiro's gritted teeth. Man, how much beating does he plan to take before… Ichigo's thought was cut short by a high cry coming from beside him.

Hitsugaya Toshiro's POV

He let the hiss that was building in his throat, but shortly after he regretted it as he heard a loud scream. Little one, you need to finish this now. Your body is all, but falling apart. Do you wish to put them through more suffering? Of course not, Hyourinmaru! I know I have to fight; I just need to gather my last strength so I can manage to perform this technique. He looked down at his friend and pressed forth a reassuring smile. "Do not worry" I will be over soon." He mouthed to her, hoping she would understand.

Hyourinmaru, I need to borrow some more of your strength. You will always have me here to help you, master. Just as Toshiro was ready to pull the thin tip of nail out of his hand, the menos started to yank him towards itself. The motion was so fast that he did not have time to react before one of his legs was in its mouth. As the teeth started to close he could feel them burry themselves in his flesh, and the bones in his arm and shoulder hurt so much. Little one, we need to finish. Toshiro did not know where his strength came from, but he managed to lift his other leg and kicked the menos so its grip slipped and he was free. As the leg was pulled out the teeth made deep red lines all the way down his leg from his middle thigh. His hakama ripped as well.

Let us end this now, Hyourinmaru! Yes, master. I could not agree more. He gripped his sword tight and shut his eyes to focus. He let all the united energy of him and Hyourinmaru run through his body, capturing him in a white glow. Then he opened his eyes and they glowed as the ice. Toshiro lifted Hyourinmaru up in the air and a white flash shattered the sky. He shouted: "Hyōten Hyakkasō!" The next second small snowflakes started falling from the sky. Only one little difference: this snow turned in to ice flower as soon as it came in contact with anything of a substance.

Matsumoto Rangiku's POV

This is horrible! The taicho never uses Hyōten Hyakkasō, this has to be serious. The fuku-taicho looked up from the fragile girl in her arm, the tears where streaming down her face. A horrible realization hits Rangiku when she looked forward. The flowers did not just cover the menos, crushing it under its weight, it also blocked their view. The last thing they saw was the bloody form of the taicho.

They stood there in utter silence for a moment, before Hinamori whispered. "Matsumoto, do you think he's alright?" I am afraid…No! I will not think like that! Instead she put on a cheerful face and answered. "Of course, he'll be alright. He is the taicho after all!" She saw the smile that crept up her friends face, but noticed it didn't reach their eyes.

Out of nowhere a gut-wrenching roar conquered the silence. It made them all freeze in horror. Just as soon as the growl had come, it disappeared. Leaving them afraid of the scene that would lie before them. They heard ice shatter and at once they saw up to see if their ice prison fell. It didn't so they turned their gaze forward again. Then the ice started too disappeared around them, and when they saw the result of the fight they all stood in silence. No! No, taicho! NO!

Hitsugaya Toshiro's POV

First it was silence, and then the flowers disappeared. After a moment the ice shattered, but when it was gone, it was no trace of the menos left. Its body had been frozen as well and had shattered and melted with the ice. We did it, Hyourinmaru. The young man thought drained, feeling the little he had left of strength leave his body. Yes we did, master. You should be proud. And the others are they alright? The taicho noticed his ice wings started to disappear slowly, but surely. Yes master, no more harm has come to them. That is good to hear. His ice grew heavy and his body limp. Hyourinmaru, you know what to do. Hai, little one. And right before his eyes closed and all around him went dark the taicho managed to think on last thought. You were right Hyourinmaru. I do love her.

Then he fell.

Hyourinmaru's POV

Master? No answer. Little one? Still no answer, so Hyourinmaru knew. He knew that his master would not respond. His sword had fallen out of his master's hand and the wings of ice they were able to make together were gone, and he knew they were both in mid fall. You know what to do. Yes he did, now that his little one no longer could do anything it would be his job to get everyone back to Seireitei.

Hyourinmaru needed to collect himself for a short moment before he could do it. He did it so rarely, and Hyourinmaru wasn't even sure that most Shinigami was aware of this ability. He had no time to worry about that though, and neither would he have time to explain. With a lot of effort and energy he managed to push through the shields of both the sword and his companion's mind.

Then he was able to see everything through his own eyes. For a little second he allowed himself to think about the last time he had been free from his sword. He reminded with shame the way he had acted towards his strong master. Then the moment was over and he went after his other part, catching him before he hit the ground. It was with horror he saw all the damage that had come to the young man's body. Deep cuts and big bruises covered almost every part of his body. His blood dripping down at the ground, making the small ice tabs that was left red. Hyourinmaru knew the pain the man had gone through before he got this peace. He felt how he shivered with pain from the poison in his system.

Do not worry, little one. I will get you back to Unohana-san soon. When he touched the ground he looked at the ice dome for a second before he looked back to the young man in his arms. He heard gasps behind him and a scream. Hyourinmaru understood who screamed, and knew what his master would have wanted to do next.

Hinamori's POV

No, nonono! Hinamori stumbled forward, tears clouding her eyes and sobs shaking the body, making it almost impossible to move. Hinamori had understood everything as soon as she caught a glance of the green-blue hair. The figure stood with his back towards them, but she could see the white hair sticking out on one side, and the puddle of blood gathering at his feet. She screamed. Yes, she had screamed a lot today, but nothing like this. Hinamori noticed that Hyourinmaru turned and kneeled in front of her as she approached him. The scream died out, but she had no control over her body, as soon as she saw her childhood friend Hinamori started running. Toshiro, why aren't you moving? Why are your eyes closed? Why haven't you told me that everything is alright now, and that we soon will be home? That everything will be alright?

When she reached him she threw her arms around him and sobbed hard into his neck. Hinamori did not stop to care about his blood sticking to her robe. "Please wake up, Toshiro. You promised you would be alright; you said that it soon would be finished! Please Toshiro open your eyes!" Hinamori sat there for a while, crying and screaming into his neck. It was then the horrible realization hit her. "Hyourinmaru! He doesn't breathe!"

More tears fell from her eyes and she lifted her face from his neck to stare at his face. Hinamori noticed the cuts and raised her hand to his face. It wasn't before she had let some of her fingers glide over the small cut on her friend's cheek that she noticed it was soaked with blood. Toshiro's blood… so much has left his body. While staring at Toshio's face Hinamori brushed away a few strands of hair that had fallen into his eyes. She lowered her head back to his ear for a few seconds and whispered choked by tears, but still slowly. "I need you to wake up, Toshiro. I haven't told you that I love you yet."

Just after Hinamori raised her head from her love's ear, the zanpaktou, addressed earlier, came to them and picked the slender young man's body again. Then they started running back to Seireitei. It was no need for saving strength now.

Ichigo's POV

He's down. That guy who everybody has been so high about is down. He isn't breathing and he has lost a lot of blood. And weren't the claws venomous, or something? He had fallen a bit back in the group, beside the once that carried the corpses. Man, look at all those wounds. How the hell! As they ran he saw the trail of blood that followed the Zanpaktuo. What was that guy's name again? He is kind scary in a way, and freaking strong. That prison thing he used last time we met was scary.

Wait… The Zanpaktuo is a mirror of its master's powers. If Toshiro is able to wield… that ice guy, then he has to be strong. The sudden realization made him stop dead in his tracks for a minute. "Hey! What are you doing? We need to hurry back with the wounded!" At this Ichigo snapped back to reality and was soon next to the guy who had yelled at him. "Hey. Toshiro, he's strong, right?" The other guy, he was a bit shorter than Ichigo with black hair, looked at him as if he was dumb or something. "Of course he's strong, man. How do you think he managed to become a taicho that young?" They were silent again. Hell, I'll never get on the wrong side of him. I need to see him fight for real soon! On the rest of the way back Ichigo was torn between a smirk and a sad pout. Just hope I'll get the chance.

A/N:

First you guys, I am SO SORRY! I really thought that I would get this done, but so much has happened and I did not have any time. Please, do not hate me! I am really sorry for this.

Good news though, now there are only two chapters left and both of them are planned already. It will be started as you read this. Still I do not know how long it will take me to write these. My little devil, whom I love, has told me to make the next chapter a long one. The reason is that it's in this chapter everything will happen. Not saying more.

I will thank the ones of you that still read my stories though, sorry for the long wait.

I feel horrible for this, but I will request a little review from you guys. Please? Can't do anything without them.