DID U GUYS READ THE NEW CHAPTER OF BLEACH!!!?? I won't spoil anything, BUT GODDAMMIT ICHIGO Y WERE U JUST STANDING THERE!!???? HOW COULD U LET TOSHIRO DO THAT!!! ARRRRGGGGGGGG!!! HEAD CAPTAIN TOO!! Y DIDN"T U STOP HIM FROM TRYING TO ATTACK AIZEN AGAIN!!!!! AGGGGGG! HORRIBLE PEOPLE! ok... he's not dead... at least he's (probably) not dead... I need to stop now b4 I spoil anymore... forgive me...

Because I do actually appreciate my readers/reviewers A LOT, I'm going to try to make my chapters longer and more.. satisfying... I feel guilty that I have such good readers and I don;t deserve it.. (Um, twin, your not on my list of ppl I appreciate. You laughed when I told u what happened to Shiro-chan in the latest chapter. I'm still mad at u. I will never forgive you. Toshiro will never forgive you. This is the only AN mention u get. SUCK IT UP)

Anyways, enjoy the next chapter!! (Evil smiley face)

Ichigo glanced behind him at the doors of the squad one barracks as they closed behind him, stepping into the chamber that held the captain's meetings. He greatly appreciated that the Head Captain allowed him to join the meeting as a guest, but that didn't mean he wasn't nervous. He felt the eyes of Zaraki Kenpachi on him, but he didn't dare look at the Captain, lest he get a hint that there was a possibility of a fight.

Silently ignoring the piercing glares of Soifon and the look of contempt on Byakuya's face, Toshiro moved to the center of the room, much like he did constantly in front of Aizen. Thick chains ceased rattling as the boy came to stop in front of the Head of the Soul Society.

The boy's face remained placid, empty. Cuts, bruises, and scratches were scattered around it, and his snowy hair had become crusted with dirt and dried blood.

"Toshiro Hitsugaya,"

Dark black eyes stared deeply into blank teal ones, searching for a hint of fear or remorse. With a lack of avail, the Head Captain spoke again.

"The crimes you have committed may not be unheeded. There are laws that must be upheld, and they call for an immediate execution."

Soifon shifted her feet in anticipation as Ichigo and Ukitake frowned in worry. As the words left the mouth of the Captain, an indifference surrounded the child, unaffected by any of those comments.

"However,"

Toshiro didn't move a muscle, listening intently to the Soul Reaper above him.

"Given the circumstances with Aizen, there is a possibility that your sentence may be of lesser gravity, given that you explain the events that occurred."

The small female captain frowned as she heard the words from the head captain, but she knew it was not the time to protest. All eyes stared intently at the young soul reaper, but Toshiro didn't give any answer.

Ukitake's expression deepened, his face lined with concern. He's not going to defend himself, he won't betray Aizen... why? The man thought to himself softly

"What about lieutenants Matsumoto and Hinamori," Captain Kommamura asked, "What happened to them?"

At this, Toshiro's hand twitched. As silence of anticipation hovered in the room, the boy turned his head slowly until he stared Kommamura straight in the eye.

"Matsumoto,"

Empty eyes gazed emotionlessly.

"I killed her."

Silence. Eyes widened and breaths where taken to quickly. Ichigo couldn't believe the words had just been spoken. But the boy's expression told him it was true. The few words he had said, all of it had to be true.

"You- you killed your own lieutenant!?" Soifon shouted. She stepped forward towards the Soul Reaper. "How dare you! What gives you the right?!" Her gray eyes narrowed in rage as she advanced. "You're supposed to be a captain, under no-"

"Enough, Captain Soifon!"

The Captain stopped at the voice of Yamamotto. Seconds passed as she glared at the small soul reaper, until she finally stepped back into her position. With this, the Head Captain spoke again.

"Hitsugaya, do you not wish to defend yourself?"

Toshiro remained speechless. The verification he had given Komamura being the only words he would say.

Yamamotto closed his eyes in conclusion.

"Very well then. You will be taken back to your cell while we discuss your sentence."

Three guards entered the chamber, walking swiftly to where the boy stood. Without any resistance, He allowed them to steer him out of the room, leaving the remaining captains speechless. Making one quick decision, Ichigo followed the group, sighing as the barrack's doors closed behind them.


"Ichigo!" As the Substitute Shinigami was walking behind the guards bringing Toshiro to his cell, he turned at the sound of his name.

Two soul reapers came running, Rukia and Renji. Stopping in front of him, they stared as Toshiro was led away.

"Ichigo, I heard they let you into the Captain's meeting, that's strange." Renji said blatantly after the group had disappeared.

"Yeah, I don't know why they did, but that doesn't really matter." The orange haired soul reaper replied.

"Did anything happen?" Rukia asked slowly, reading the expression on her friend's face.

With a small nod, Ichigo explained what had occurred during the captain's meeting, and his two friend's eyes widened in shock when he told them what Toshiro said.

"There's no way... Captain Hitsugaya would never..." Rukia stopped, putting her head in her hands.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Renji looked at Ichigo. "Did he say anything about Hinamori?"

"No," Ichigo replied. "I'm going to talk to him again, and try to figure out what Aizen did to make him like this."

Renji nodded. "We've been through a lot with him. I can't believe he's a murderer."

With another nod in response, Ichigo began to walk away, but he noticed, despite Renji's surprisingly calm demeanor, the Soul Reaper's fist was clenched in rage as he comforted Rukia.


By the time Kurosaki had made it to the prison barracks, the guards had already left the cell and were stationed outside. In their uniformed voice, they told the Substitute that the boy had unexpectedly passed out after they strengthened the barrier, probably from having that much spiritual pressure sealed away.

After they agreed to let him inside anyway, Ichigo entered the dark cell room once again.

It seemed strangely cold, colder than it should be with all the seals on Toshiro's spiritual pressure. Hesitantly, he stepped in and closed the door behind him, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim light.

Surprise jolted him when he realized there were two people in the cell.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed as he saw who the second figure was. A tall man, with long blue hair and ice formed around his body, there was no doubt of his identity.

"You're.. Hyourinmaru..."

The materialized Zanpaktou nodded as he knelt by his unconscious master.

"but- how... how can I see you?"

Hyourinmaru rested Toshiro's head on his cheset as he replied. "My master's inner world has shattered." Sadness reflected in his golden eyes as he untangled grime from Toshiro's hair. "Right now, it is taking all of my energy to appear here in human form, and I can't stay long."

Ichigo stared disbelievingly at him. "But why?"

"Because..."The zanpaktou paused, his eyes narrowing.

"Because my master won't speak for himself. He has locked away all of his emotion so deep down even I can't reach it. But I am a part of his heart, and I know.. that you aren't like the other Soul Reapers."

Slowly getting over his shock at seeing another's zanpaktou, Ichigo straightened up and replied, "How so?"

Hyourinmaru pulled softly at some dried blood that wouldn't come out of Toshiro's hair. "You don't care about the Soul Society laws at all, and you will do anything to protect your friends. So I must ask you... please...

...Please save my master."

"Eh?" Ichigo's face blanked in surprise.

Hyourinmaru's eyes tightened. "His condition has weakened me, and, I hate to say it, but I'm too weak to save him right now."

The zanpaktou turned and gazed at Ichigo, his expression worried. "So I have to ask you... no... I beg you... Please.. save Toshiro."

The substitute shinigami blinked in shock.

"Aizen's been controlling him by threatening the life of his childhood friend, Hinamori. Toshiro would do anything to protect her."

Ichigo took in too much breath as he realized what must've happened. "So... Matsumoto..."

The zanpaktou nodded grimly. "Aizen made him choose. His childhood friend, or his lieutenant. Toshiro couldn't lose Hinamori, but his decision crushed him.

And to top that off," Hyourinmaru's hand clenched angrily, "That bastard tortured him. More and more until there was nothing left to feel the pain. My master will never let himself feel anything. He doesn't want to feel the pain."

Ichigo stared at the pair in the cell. He couldn't believe that Toshiro had been forced through so much. And being captured by the Soul Society, there was no doubt that that had made everything even worse.

Suddenly Ichigo's eyes widened as he heard the door open loudly.

"HITSUGAYA!!"

"Hisagi?! Izuru?!" The substitute shinigami blinked in surprise as Hisagi stormed in, grabbing the bars of the cell where Hyourinmaru had just disappeared.

Teal eyes slowly opened.

"YOU KILLED HER!?"

Ahem, well... Hisagi isn't very happy...

I know... it's kinda ooc for Hyourinmaru to say that to Ichigo … He's has too much pride and all that yada yada... but thats kinda the point... hyourinmaru is getting desperate.

For everyone who gave my art suggestions, I finished Toshiro doing oragmi, ITS ADORABLE... I'm working on a wolf one, but I haven't gotten around to coloring yet... it feels like that's gonna take a lot of time and I'm procrastinating... I'm finding drawing Toshiro in his cell surprisingly difficult, which I shouldn't but for some reason I do. I'll try to work harder on that one. I don't have any of them up yet, but if you go to my deviantart page which you can link to from my profile I'll get the pics up soon.

Anyway, please review me and I really wouldn't mind more things to draw. I just had two snowdays and I'm bored as hell.