Ichigo glanced over the corner of the wall, pressing his back to the hard surface as he heard footsteps. He fingered Zangetsu for a moment as an Arrancar walked by, but chose to remain unnoticed. A headache had begun to pound in his brain as he tried to be patient. Stealth was by far not his forte.
Having managed to successfully sneak his way in Las Noches, Ichigo was on full alert. Although, he almost completely sure Aizen already knew of his presence. The only thing that kept him from being slaughtered by Arrancars to this point was the Lord's arrogance. Ichigo could only hope that that arrogance lasted long enough for him to get to Toshiro.
It had only been a few hours at most since he had ran off to Las Noches, and finding his way through the white halls was by no means an easy task. Taking a slow, deep breath, he focused his mind, trying the best he could to find a trace of non-hostile spiritual pressure. Due to his lack of skill in this area of expertise, he figured it made sense that he couldn't find Toshiro's reiatsu anywhere. But he had at least hoped he could find Hinamori's. And if luck was on his side, Toshiro would be with her.
A small victorious grin spread on Ichigo's face as he finally sensed a weak and fragile reiatsu that he recognized as Hinamori's. Checking that the next hallway was free of enemies, he turned and sped down it, keeping one hand near his zanpaktou in case of attack.
By the time that he reached the end of the corridor, the substitute was beginning to get antsy. While knew that Aizen wouldn't bother trying to stop him purely out of arrogance, it was discomforting to be getting through without a battle yet.
Sighing, Ichigo decided worrying wasn't going to get him anywhere. Turning he placed his hand on the door leading into the next room, the chamber where he sensed Hinamori's reiatsu. Turning the knob, he peeked inside.
The small girl was sitting alone on a couch, hugging her knees to her chest and her head buried in her arms. Ichigo stepped in quietly, hoping a million times that it wasn't a trap.
"Hey..."
The substitute stopped short as the girl turned her head. Black eyes gazed evilly at him, and a wicked smile spread across her mouth.
"You fool..."
The "girl" stood, and slowly her appearance began to change. Ichigo backed away, but knew the only option was to fight. Brown hair fell away, peachy skin disintegrated, revealing a gray marrow-like skin.
It must be a specialized hollow. Ichigo thought. Dammit, why couldn't Aizen just let me off easy?
Hollows that could disguise their reiatsu were probably one of the biggest problems at the moment, considering how easily it could fool Ichigo.
A blast of cero forced the substitute to dodge as the wall behind him was blasted away. He unsheathed Zangetsu and blocked the arrancar's next upfront attack. By then, its appearance had changed completely.
A mask with blue markings around the nose and mouth shone in front of Ichigo. Pushing it away, he side stepped around the broken wall, shunpoing further apart.
Frustrated that he had been deceived, Ichigo released Getsuga Tenshou, blowing away the smoke that had risen from the explosion. With a small huff, he stood out of his battle pose to see the arrancar hissing, blood spilling out of its side.
Well, at least it's not too strong. The soul reaper thought. However, the victory did not last long as the ripped flesh along the hollow's side began to form back together.
"Instant regeneration?" Ichigo's eyes opened wide. The arrancar released a mad cackle and charged forward with more speed than Ichigo had anticipated. Catching his breath, the substitute expected to feel the blow against Zangetsu hard, but he paused when no attack came.
Shocked, Ichigo saw the Arrancar before him, blood spurting from wound in his chest, where a thin blade protruded from its skin.
Ichigo straightened up as the opponent fell, revealing the man standing behind it, retracting his zanpaktou's blade.
"I-Ichimaru?" Blinking out of his surprise, the substitute soul reaper immediately brought up Zangetsu, on full guard.
As Gin stepped forward, his eyes slanted and mysterious, his face was completely unreadable.
"If you wish to rescue Toshiro Hitsugaya, you'll have to come this way."
"Wha- what?" Ichigo found himself even more shocked, not believing the words he had just heard.
"You will have to move quickly."
Ichimaru began to turn the other way, leading the way. Unmoving, Ichigo just stared in shock, not comprehending.
"What?" Gin turned and looked back. "That is why you're here, isn't it?"
Snapping himself back, Ichigo rebuked testily. "What makes you think I'm going to trust you? You're working under Aizen."
"Hmmm..." The same creepy smile etched itself across Ichimaru's face. "I suppose you have no reason at all to trust me. But if you wish to save Hitsugaya, you don't have any other choice."
Momo struggled fruitlessly at some rope that held her hands behind her back.
"Really, Ulquiorra, I don't believe those bonds are necessary." Commented Aizen, standing above the glowing screens in the surveillance chamber.
The green eyed Espada nodded and undid the ropes, that bound Momo, and then respectfully left the room.
"Tch.... Aizen..." Her small voice sounded odd in a threatening tone, and the upper lord smiled softly at this.
"Now now, Momo, when did you stop calling me captain? That hurts my feelings."
Her face contorted in rage Momo contradicted him harshly.
"Don't you try to mess with my feelings like that again, Aizen. Any admiration I ever had for you disappeared the moment you laid a hand on Toshiro."
"Oh come, we both know that's not completely true."
Her fist clenched angrily, Momo continued. "It is now. Where is he?! What did you do to him? And why did you bring me here?"
Aizen smiled again. "So you want to see him?" He gestured her over. "He's right here."
Glancing apprehensively at Aizen, she stepped forward and looked into the screen the lord had pointed to. Slowly, her brown eyes widened as she saw her friend, laying alone in the small cell.
"The cameras we have around here allow me to see everything I want. The reason I brought you here is simply a precaution. As long as I have you, I have complete control over Hitsugaya."
Momo shuddered at the evilness in Aizen's voice, but did all she could to remain calm. Just being in his presence was crushing her spirit.
"And it seems Gin has betrayed me. Oh well, he shall pay for that later."
Rubbing her arm sorrowfully, Momo's thoughts rushed together hopelessly. Why is it that I always just cause more of a problem? Why can I never do anything to save Toshiro??
Awww Poor Momo... Well next chapter I think should be long, but I hope I don't rush it... Ichigo gets to give a speech... Hooray for him.
I STILL HAVEN'T found my shirt! On the other hand I haven't been looking for it, so I suppose it makes sense. Wutever... I'm sad.
I have to go help make dinner. So HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY EVERYONE. At first I was going to publish this chapter without the actual story and just saying I was going to discontinue it. I really wanted to know what ur guys' reaction would be. But then I decided not to... no april fool's jokes for me
DID you ppl kno the horrible things you can do to peeps?! I luv them/
Plz review me!! It would make me so much happier!! PPLLZZZZz
