A/N:

This is starting to get old, right. Me saying I'm sorry for being so late and all that. Well I will say thank you to everybody that reads this.

I should have posted a long time ago, but I hit a major writer's block and had no idea about what or how to write.

Well here it is, longest chapter yet. And I thought I should tell you that this story will get longer than the original plan. After writing this chapter there is no way I can wrap it up in the next. Sorry, you will have to wait a little longer, but I have a hope that the next chapter will come faster.

Chapter 9 - I am not going anywhere

Why is it so dark? I cannot see anything. Hyourinmaru? Hyourinmaru, where are you? This is not good. I have always had him in my head. It has never been silent before. I feel so empty without him.

I cannot move, my body will not listen. I can feel something. Someone is touching me, it is two of them. One is cold, it is pleasant. I feel home in this touch, like ice is covering me, wrapping me in its blanket, shielding me from harm, shielding me from the pain that is burning me from the inside. The other touch is warm, not too warm, though. It does not melt the blanket, not at all. It makes the blanket stronger, making sure that the poison inside my blood will not hurt me anymore. I feel like falling into it, let it take me away and keep me forever. It is not home, not in that way, but it is something I have known all my life.

I can hear noises, many noises. I cannot open my eyes to see where it comes from, but I do believe I know who is speaking. One voice is calm, slow and cold in a way. It is reasonable and tactical. The other one is soft, caring and warm almost hysterical, but peaceful at the same time. It is like the touches, well-known and almost home.

We are moving, I do not know how fast or which way, but I do know we are moving. We are moving fast, they seem to be in a hurry, but I do not know why. Of course they are hurrying; over half of the group is wounded badly, and some are already dead.

There is that warm touch again. So welcoming, but why can I feel this if the group are running? Wait a minute, we have stopped. Why have we stopped? Maybe we have reached our destination. So then it would not be strange that someone else is holding me. I can feel their breath near my ear again, warm. The person is saying something, but I cannot make out the words. Still it sounds familiar…

No, no do not let go. Why is the one thing that is keeping the pain away let go? It burns, it hurts. I can feel my body shaking slightly; it is probably not even noticeable. There is that warm feeling again so comforting and loving. Of course, why did I not notice before? It's so obvious…

The pain is too much, I just want to sleep, let the pain be less pressing for a while. It feels like I am starting to slip away again. The pain seems to fade slowly… My thoughts… It seems… they will not… I just… I need… remember…

Hinamori…

Unohana's POV

Maybe it would be a good idea to tell the sou-taicho about the little incident yesterday? Then again, what he does not know will not kill him. The yonbantai-taicho smiled a little sickening sweet smile to herself before she took a little sip of her tea. I wonder what I should do next, it might be fun if… no, no. Silly me, that would not be possible. That type of poison would not be found here. And if that would be the case, whoever had it would not live long. Unohana slowly shook her head, before she took one more sip, fore then to put the cup on the small table before her. She decided it was time for meditating.

After a few minutes her fuku-taicho, Isane-san, came running in red in the face and stuttering. "T-taicho. I… I have s-something i-imp-important to tell you!"

Of course the taicho did not make this any better. Let us have a little fun. I was slightly bored. Slowly Unohana turned her head and looked straight at her fuku-taicho, as going black and a devilish smile curling up her lips. "Whatever seems to be the matter Isane-san? It has to be something rather important since you are disturbing my meditation time, yes?"

I love to see her get all flustered when she does not know what to say. But I should end my little game soon. Isane-san has no habit in disturbing me when I say I wish a break. The taicho sat for a while waiting for her sub-ordinate to speak again. "It is group that the juubantai-taicho brought with him to defeat the menos. Three are already dead, and the people that are hurt are more or less stable…" Her she Isane-san was cut off by her superior. "And why is this so important if they are stable?"

"No, no, t-that is not it. It is the taicho. He… he is badly wounded and needs help." This caught Unohana-taicho's attention. Hitsugaya-taicho is badly hurt? This menos had to be rather serious. Well we better hurry then, if this has made Isane-san forget her manners. She slowly stood up and looked straight at her fuku-taicho. "Lead the way, Isane-san."

Ukitake's POV

Ukitake sat inside his office with a nice cup of tea and enjoyed the, for once, silent atmosphere that was surrounding him. Both of his 3rd seats had gone out on some errands, so he just sat and enjoyed the lightness of the room. This all would have been very well had it not been for this feeling that lurked inside him. Toshiro's reatsu had acted wired for a little while now.

He knew that the little taicho and his group had come back, since he could both feel Hinamori, Matsumoto and Ichigo's reastu as well. And while normally Torshiro's reatsu would be both strong and clear, this was weak and hard to notice. But not like it was being masked, because he knew very well that if the other Shiro wished so he could hide it well enough to go without being found. No it was something else. What is really unpleased is the fact that it is dropping, not like it is fading away, but actually getting weaker. And it is almost gone, but the rest feel so close. In fact they are at Unohana's, so I will just see what may have caused this.

Ukitake stood up from his chair and made way to Unohana's area. He got there quite fast, even before Unohana herself had managed to reach her guests. The first that struck him was that he heard some moans of pain coming out of most of the shinigamis mouths. Most of them seemed to be stable at the moment, except those who were already dead and the thing that shocked Ukitake the most. In the arms of a tall man with green hair, form the reiatsu he gathered that it was Toshiro's zanpaktuo, laid said man.

The taicho was frozen in place, starring at the man in front of him. He could see the blood losing its grip on Toshiro's skin and clothes for then hit the ground beneath him, making it a horrid color of muddy red. This is not right, how could this have happened. Did the sou-taicho do any research at all? This man is far too strong to be brought down by a mere menos.

The next thing that happened was that simultaneously as Ukitake moved forward to look at his almost-name-brother, Kyouraku arrived, a worried frown upon his brow. "Ukitake, what is happening? I sensed your reatsu increase drastickly, just like before an atta… Are you okay?" The other man stared at his friend for a while wondering what could have made his reatsu jump like that. Ukitake looked up from the unconscious man with a weak, but grateful smile before he took a little step to the side. "I am okay, but Hitsugaya-kun is not." The other man looked at the little, bloodstain shape in front of him. "But…. How... It was a menos." Just as Ukitake was about to answer, Unohana came towards them, a bit faster than she would usually. "Oh, dear… We have to hurry and get them him into surgery now. The rest will be put in the hospital."

As they were about to walk into the building Ukitake asked Ichigo to stay behind with him and Kyouraku. I will ask Matsumoto later, she will know the difference better, but since this one do not know the order of them he will make it easier to understand that creature's power. He looked after the group that went inside and saw Hinamori clutching herself, holding some kind of fabric in her hands. Poor girl, I will let her be. She needs to be with Toshiro now.

"Kurosaki-kun" Ukitake started. "I need you to tell me a bit about the monster that Toshiro fought. Its strength, ability and so on." The teen thought for a little while before he replied. "Well, it was really strong. The first guy was dead in seconds, and you see Torshiro's beaten up good. The body couldn't be moved fast, but the arms could. And it could move claws as an extension of its arm. Toshiro also said something about it being poisonous. I saw some part of the battle, and it was though. That guy," Ichigo pointed behind him to signal who he meant. "is seriously strong, and even he had problems. I tried to fight it as well, but it didn't go as good. That was some serious butt-kicking." Some sort of light tingled in the orange haired man's eyes. Was it respect and admiration? Ukitake could not tell. "Thank you, Kurosaki-kun. You can go now, but please do not tell anybody else yet. First we have to inform the suo-taicho of situation. Toshiro managed to kill it, yes?" The teen stopped in his tracks and looked at the two men. "Yes, as I said he kicked some ass!" Then he went inside Seireitei's hospital.

"We should talk to Matsumoto-san before we go to the suo-taicho." Kyouraku said. "Yes, indeed we do, but firstly let us give her some time with her taicho to get a briefing about his condition." Ukitake answered. The two friends had started to their way into the hospital following the others. The question is what that state may be.

Ukitake looked up slowly trying to sense his young friend's reatsu, he could not find it…

Unohana's POV

"Everyone out! I only want myself and my fuku-taicho in here. We need space!" Unohana glared at the group in front of her. "You have injured shinigami on your backs, you need to get them to their rooms so my team can look at them as well, but I am needed here." After her little speech only three were left, Hyroinmaru, Hinamori and Matsumoto. "Matsumoto, as a fuku-taicho you are expected to take over you taicho's duties when he is incapable of it. Go and look to your men." The orange haired woman looked uncertain for a second before she bowed her head slightly and turned around. "Don't you let anything happen to him Unohana-taicho." Then she was gone.

Just as Unohana turned to Hinamori to make her leave Ukitake, Ichigo and Kyouraku turned the corner. She looked to the other taicho for help and he gave her a small smile in return. "Hinamori," Ukitake said gently while placing his hand on her shoulder. "We need to go now, so Unohana-taicho can help Toshiro." Unohana could see the tears welling up in the girl's eyes again, but she nodded slightly. However she did not move, she just looked at her friend before her sobs started to rag her body and Kyouraku had to lift her to remove her. Unohana could still hear the young girl's cries as then turned a corner far away. The young man with the frown on his brow had turned and went with them.

Oh dear. Hinamori-san is so tired, but her fear has trapped her in her own mind. She will not be able to rest before she knows more about her friend. Then my young friend, I will make sure to not disappoint you. She looked at the last person standing before the door. The tall man with green hair and an ice tail dragging behind him. "And you, I will guess you are his zanpaktuo?" The man looked up from his master's face and nodded. "You are right indeed, Unohana-taicho. I am Hyourinmaru, the ice dragon. I would like to stay by my master's side." Unohana turned and opened the door to the surgery room. The bond between a zanpaktuo and a master is so strong. It is painful for both parts to be apart. For a bigger chance for survival Hitsugaya-taicho will need his other half. "You can come, but do not get in our way." Unohana looked up to the man, and opened the door to the surgery room.

As soon as Hitsugaya was laid on the table Unohana noticed a difference in the man's reiatsu. It seemed like the fight left him, and his powers dropped rapidly as she tried to save his organs from all the harm come to them. ''We are losing him!" She called to Isane who stood beside her. Just as they were going to start emergency energy transmission, the tall man with the peculiar hair color came over and placed a cold hand on his forehead, and after a little while the taicho's reatsu started to rise again. He did not regain much power, but just enough for Unohana and Isane to start on the organs, and later the other injuries he had. It is amazing how he is still alive after all this. The damage is so severe and he was still able to fight.

Everything is different now. It is cold, but not the good kind of cold. Not the one that helps me calm down. This is stressing. It is pressing itself onto me, refusing to let me breathe correctly, and refusing me the bliss I long for.

At the same time it is hot yet again, but not the comforting and well-known heat of Hinamori. This is scary, it is so forceful and it is everywhere. Every vain in my body, every bone, every organ, every limb. I cannot escape it.

My thoughts will obey my orders now, but still I can feel no contact to anything. Just my own conscious and the dark emptiness that surrounds me, it is like cotton. It will not let any sound come, no matter how much I scream. What do I scream? I do not know myself. Maybe my thoughts have bigger power over me, than what I have of them. If I try to concentrate then maybe…

My mind does not betray me as much as I initially feared. It is not screaming out of fear, agony or begging for relief. My voice, or the thoughts, in this darkness nothing I am to assume nothing, is calling a name. It may be several, but two is repeated steadily, more often than the rest.

Whose names are these? I know them so well, yet I cannot recall them. No! I will not bow for the pain; I will not be weak in the search for bliss! I will remember those names! I will! I have worked to long and hard to be beaten by my own insecurity… I refuse to let this stop me… my strength is still here… only hidden somewhere in this woolen sea. I just need... a little to remember those names… those familiar names..

I cannot do this. I no longer have the strength, and the darkness is so calming… So calming.

This touch… who is it? It feels like home, like it has always been by my side. It is within my reach, but I still cannot grab it. It is… It is…

Little one, you cannot give up now. You always fight until the job is done, and this task still needs your strength. Yes, the monster itself is gone, but what about the reports? You need to tell the suo-taicho about this monster. Or what about you squad, your friends, Hinamori? Your job is not done. Fight, little one! Let me help you.

I can feel the strength coming back to me. I cannot move, I cannot speak, but I can fight. The darkness will not get the better of me; I have still a job to do. I have people I need to be strong for. Hyourinmaru, Hinamori, my squad, Matsumoto, Ichigo, Ukitake, the other captains all the people in Soul Society. I will fight Hyourinmaru, with your help, and the help of my friends, I will survive.

Ichigo's POV

"What do you think Kyouraku? After what Kurosaki-kun and Matsumoto have told us, I must say I feel a bit disturbed." Ichigo looked between the two older men in front of him. "I know what you mean, Ukitake. This thing was too strong to be a menos. What I do not understand is how the suo-taicho and the men out on watch could have been so wrong about it."

What the hell, are they talking about? Stronger than what? What kind of mistake did they make? Ichigo just stood there dumbstruck, until Kyouraku looked up at him with a little sigh. "What do you know about the different menos groups, Kurosaki-kun?" Ichigo had to think for a second. Le'mme see… It was something about… Hmmm… then suddenly he snapped his fingers together and got rid of his strange thinking face. "Toshiro told me about it. Something about 3 groups with different strength, and that the strongest one was even stronger than a taicho from Seireitei. It was something else, but I really can't remember.'' Everyone's faces fell a bit at the mentioning of the young man, but Kyouraku soon broke the silence. "Well, for starters let us just name the different groups. The first, and weakest, is the Gillian. They are big and they all look the same. After that comes the Adjuchas. These are quite big as well, but they are also more intelligent and stronger than the Gillian. And the last is the Vasto Lorde who is even stronger than a captain. This has the size of a human." During this little speech Ichigo looked more and more unsure, but at the same time he seemed to understand, until… "Then what about the thing Toshiro fought? That thing was strong. Just look at him!" He pointed towards the surgery room.

At this point Ukitake had gotten up and went to the open door. "This is where our problem starts." He turned and looked at the group. "We do not know what this thing was." What the hell? How can they not know? Aren't they supposed to know everything, or something? "However," Ukitake continued, "from what Kyouraku and I have gathered from you and Matsumoto-san we think we have some kind of solution." Here he took a pause, which was not appreciated by Ichigo. "Yeah, and? What is it?" Here Kyouraku took over. "The thing is, Hitsygaya-kun should have been able to take that menos without all of these injuries. If we think strictly out of appearance this should be an Adjuchas. Though it's not too hard to beat, and surely not able to cause such damage to someone at Hitsugaya-kun's level. Out from the injuries on him and the level of damage done to the whole team, we belive that it is as strong as a Vasto Lorde."

Once again the room went quite. A Vasto Lorde? Toshiro said something else about them. "Wait! Toshiro said that you would need atleast TWO captains to beat a Vasto Lorde!" they all looked at him, and then proceeded nodding. "Hell. That guy is strong." At this Kyouraku smiled a little. "Yes. I always said that he would be stronger than me within a hundred years, but now… I think it is time for me to rephrase that."

Hinamori's POV

They keep saying he is strong, but everybody has their limits. There was so much blood, everything was so red and…. Hinamori trailed of her own thoughts and clutched tighter around the fabric in her hands. She shivered as she remembered the scene opened her eyes as is to will the images away. She looked at the other people in the room without noticing them as her bottom lip started to tremble again. He was so lifeless, he did not move. He barely breathed when Unohana-taicho and Hyourinmaru went into that room. What if… Once again Hinamori forced the thought to an end. She knew thinking like that would not help, but she also knew how bad those injuries were. She just did not know which voice to listen to.

Rangiku-san sat down beside her and pulled Hinamori into a tight hug. She started to stroke Hinamori over her hair and back in a weak attempt to comfort her. It ended in Hinamori turning in her arms and flinging herself into her friend's arms and sobbing hard. "Hush, Hinamro. It will be alright. Taicho is too strong and stubborn to go like this. We both know he hates leaving before a job is done. And wouldn't you agree that he still has more work to do here." Unable to speak, Hinamori just nodded. Rangiku-san is right. Toshiro would never leave when he still got a job to do. I just have to believe it. But the sobs did not stop, and her mind kept screaming that he was too weak, and fought for too long. It did not matter whatever she tried to yell back. It drowned in the angry shouts.

She clung even harder around the fabric in her hands, wrenching small blood drops out of it. They hit the floor, and made a horrid sound that nobody else seemed to hear. Stop it! Stop it, stop it, stop it! I cannot listen to this. STOP! She cried to herself, begging the blood to stop. After a moment Rangiku noticed the little plopping sound of something wet hit the floor. She looked down and saw the little red stain that started to form there. She then looked to where it was coming from frowning immediately and her eyes showed worry. "Hinamori, are you hurt?"

At this Hinamori was torn between a humorless laugh and a harder sob in her friends bust. How can she think about that when Toshiro is in there, and none of us know whether he will be okay or not. Hinamori took a few deep breathes before answering, carefully. "No, Rangiku-san. My only injury was h-healed by T-To-Tos…" The woman cut her off. "It's okay, Hinamori. I understand. But where is the blood coming from?"

Before Hinamori was able to answer, they heard someone coming down the hall and looked up to see Unohana walking towards them. Her face, what does it say? It shows no emotions at all. Please Unohana-taicho. The strict woman reached them and they all turned to her. "What is the status, Unihana-taicho?" Ukitake asked. "Well I do not know how to start so I will just begin. He has lost a big amount of blood; already here most would have been dead." Wait! He is alive, or is the other injuries to much. "The blood that is left was badly poisoned. I managed to get rid of most of it, but some the body has to remove itself. He has several severe injuries: a hole through his stomach, a deep scratch down his arm that went down into the muscle and a similar wound on his back, from shoulder to hip, he also has a bad wound from his tight all the way down to his feet at one leg. Here the teeth, I suspect it was teeth, braised his calf bone and gave it crack. Some of the flesh is gone as well. He has some broken ribs, a broken collarbone and a broken wrist. The hole in his stomach moved and ruined some of his organs and it would have killed him shortly after it was inflicted if not for his healing. He also has a bad concussion, but I do not know how that will affect him after he wakes up."

At Uniohana's words Hinamori lost her grip around the fabric and shot out of her seat. "A-are you saying h-he is-is a-al-alive?" Hinamori was hopeful, and she was sure she could see a small smile on Unohana's lips. "Yes, he is very weak, but alive. He is in the ICU and I will only allow one visitor at the time." Before anyone moved Ukitake asked. "Do you know how long it will be before he wakes up?" At this Unohana sighed a bit. "I am not sure. He has already surprised me greatly, I will not say. We will only have to wait." The next one who spoke was Rangiku-san. "I think Hinamori should be the first to visit him." At this everybody nodded and Unohana stepped forward towards Hinamori. "Come with me, I will take you to him. ''

I beg you Toshiro, do not take too long.

A/N:

What do you guys think? Hope you will review now that you have read.