Rukia rubbed her hands together on her lap, brushing away some cold. She glanced around the room, a little impatient. She and Renji had been waiting for the other two to come, and it was beginning to take too long.
"What do you think is holding them up?"
Renji turned at her question. His eyebrows knitted in worry. "I don't know, but I heard Izuru was pretty upset."
Looking down, Rukia sighed. "I suppose you're right. I still can't believe that capt- that Hitsugaya would do that."
"I can." The red head replied softly. At the questioning glance from Rukia, he continued. "Ichigo mentioned that Hitsugaya was protecting Momo. Then what do you think he would do if he was given the choice between Momo and Rangiku?"
Realizing what Renji was saying, the small black haired shinigami finished for him. "He would choose Momo."
"Yeah," The other lieutenant responded. "But it would still be really hard for him. That's probably why he was so shut down earlier, so he didn't have to face those feelings."
"But that's not the point." Renji and Rukia both spun at the sound of Hisagi's voice. Steeping into the room, the other shinigami continued. "What matters is that he killed Rangiku, nothing else."
Following the man was Izuru, who looked as miserable as ever, but was up and about at least.
Renji shook his head. "But you can't just judge off of that. We both know that Hitsugaya isn't a bad person. He's just thrust into this situation that is forcing him to do things he doesn't want."
"How do you know that he doesn't want it?"
"What? But-"
"Aizen betrayed us, Ichimaru betrayed us, and Tousen betrayed us. What makes you think he isn't just like them?"
"Because he wouldn't do that! He grew up with Momo, he would never do anything to hurt her, and he absolutely hates Aizen! He would never-"
"But if he-"
"ENOUGH!"
The arguing shinigami stopped as they heard Rukia raise her voice. "We didn't come here to argue Hitsugaya motives, we came here to help decide on who's coming with the rescue party."
"There's no way I'm going on a mission to save him." Hisagi spat.
Shaking his head Renji corrected the lieutenant. "Actually, you may want to."
With Hisagi and Izuru's full attention, The red-head continued. "The twelfth squad has come to believe that Matsumoto may still be alive."
Eyes widened around the room, and Hisagi and Izuru's almost begged for more information.
"While they haven't been able to sense her spiritual pressure, obviously, they haven't been able to confirm that it has disappeared. Therefore, they think that it's possible that killing Rangiku was just an illusion on Hitsugaya, something Aizen did just to break him."
"So you're saying that she still might be alive?!" Hisagi yelled in shock.
"Well, yes, but-"
"Then I'm going." The lieutenant interrupted Renji.
Sighing deeply, Rukia spoke heavily. "Captain Ukitake already has Ichigo and Captain Kuchiki on the team. He's also allowing the humans Chad, Uryu, and Orihime to join. If Hisagi joins, no one else can come."
Stopping, the lieutenant of squad seven turned to Izuru, his eyes wide.
"Izuru… did you want to…"
The blond looked down sadly for a few moments, until he finally shook his head.
"It's okay" He gave a small smile. "If Rangiku is alive, I trust you to bring her back."
Hisagi's expression softened. "Thanks."
Skeptical, Rukia faced Renji. "I thought you wanted to go?"
"Apparently, that doesn't matter." Came his response, his face blank.
Gin tugged restlessly at the white garments he wore. The creepy smile that was constantly spread across his face was faded once more as he stared at the small body of Aizen's most coveted prisoner, who had fallen asleep curled into a small ball.
It was almost hard to believe how much Toshiro looked different. Aizen had changed him from the spirited, stubborn, compulsive, and even arrogant captain into this. Into being chained and empty, unable to believe in anything, without the tiniest scrap of hope. Dried dirt and blood was everywhere, and Gin couldn't help but wonder.
Did he look like this, all those years ago?
Ichimaru rubbed his head, trying to suppress the memories that tried to use that opportunity to jump back into his mind.
Please… let me out… please…
The man remembered his voice struggling to even manage to say those words. He was so much younger, and he didn't see how disgusting the world could be. He had been desperate, and would do anything to be let out. But no matter how he begged, Aizen kept him in.
Gin grunted. He didn't need flashbacks right now. Sighing slowly, he opened the gate and stepped inside, walking towards Toshiro. Pulling the same canteen of water out of his robes, he offered it to the exhausted boy, who had just begun to wake up. While under other circumstances, he should've recovered by now. But when Aizen had forced him to attack the Hogyoku, it had taken so much energy that he could barely stay on his feet.
Slightly apprehensive, Toshiro drank from the canteen, but relaxed as he tasted plain water.
I'm going to have to make my move soon Ichimaru thought No matter what, I won't let him go through what I went through more than he already has. I don't care what Aizen does to me.
OKAY!! So I'm hoping by next chapter I can get the exciting things started again, I know these past couple chapters have been a bit of a bore. Sorry, sorry, but they were kinda necessary.
I HAVE A TOSHIRO T-SHIRT, but I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE!! I spent two hours last night searching for it, BUT I CAN'T FIND ITTTT!!!! It's soo sad….
Plz cheer me up, I haven't been able to do anything today… I made fail pancakes this morning, and I haven't been able to draw anything all day AND I CAN'T FIND MY T-SHIRT!!!!!!!!! Plz save me
