The sound of two soul reaper's foot steps pattered down a long hallway, stopping as the came to a fork in the road.

"Do you know which way?" Ichigo asked softly, turning to look at the other soul reaper.

With a nod, Toshiro indicated toward the right. "It's that way."

"Really?" The teenager cocked his head to his side. "You can tell all the way from here? Because I can't feel a thing..."

"Learning to sense spiritual pressure is one of the most basic skills of a soul reaper." Toshiro explained impatiently. "You learn it in the very first year at the Academy."

Ichigo's eye twitched.

"In fact, most students are able to do it fairly well at a very young age."

"Are you implying something by that?" Ichigo asked, his teeth clenched in rage.

The boy turned and sighed, his voice turning more serious. "Look, we don't have time for you to act like an idiot. Can we just go?"

Ichigo looked up, the light mood gone. The boy was definitely in no mood to be fooling around, that was for sure.

"Yeah... uh.. I'm sorry..." He gazed downward. It was really stupid to be acting like that now, Toshiro was probably really stressed enough, he shouldn't have to handle Ichigo being stubborn.

"Let's go." Ichigo said, trying to make up for it, and walked onward, expecting Toshiro to follow. But it was a second later that he noticed Toshiro standing there, looking angrily sideways at the floor.

"Um, Ichigo, actually, there was... something I wanted to ask you."

The teenager turned around, looking curiously at the boy. "Sure, what it is it?"

"Well," Toshiro tentatively began. "I wanted to know who else was coming, you know... to... help."

Ichigo blinked a few times. "Um... well, I know my friends from the world of the living are coming... and I think I heard Ukitake say Byakuya..."

Of course Ukitake's coming... Toshiro thought quietly, remembering what he had asked the captain. I'm so stupid, why would I ask him to do that??

"Oh and I'm pretty sure Hisagi is coming too."

Toshiro's eyes widened for a second, but then averted to the side, angrier.

Ichigo stepped closer to Toshiro, knowing what the boy was probably worried about. "Hey, I'm sure he doesn't hate you that much..."

"Tch, why not? He has every reason to." The boy frowned deeper. "After all, I did kill..." His hands clenched, unwilling to finish the sentence.

"Oh, Matsumoto..." Ichigo suddenly remembered what Ichimaru had told him. "Actually, about that-"

The teen was cut off as a blast filled the area. Jumping out of the way with a gasp, he could only hope Toshiro got away as well.

As the billowing smoke brushed away, Ichigo caught a glimpse of Toshiro sliding out of the dust, unharmed. In the center, however, stood an arrancar, tall, with a mask covering his eyes.

"You are not permitted to go any further."

The Substitute soul reaper tightened his gaze, holding Zangetsu in front of him.

"Ichigo,"

The teen turned to see Toshiro shunpo to his side. "That's a Primera Espada, one of the most powerful. And I can't do much to help with Hyourinmaru..."

"Hey..." Ichigo looked down at him. "Who do you think you're talking to? This guy isn't even an Espada, then I think I can handle him."

Toshiro glanced up, unsure.

"How far off is your zanpaktou?"

"Just down that hallway," Toshiro nodded the same direction as before. "But I don't think this guy is going to let us pass."

"Don't worry about it." Ichigo grinned. "I'll hold him off while you get your zanpaktou."

"But, Ichigo-"

The substitute turned forward again. "Just go. And underestimating me, I can handle this guy."

Toshiro blinked up at him a couple times, not willing to leave. But he knew Ichigo was right, this way the only way to do it as fast as possible at the moment.

"Fine then."

As Toshiro started to run away, Ichigo made a quick decision as the Primera began to lunge forward for an attack.

"Oh and Toshiro...

...your lieutenant isn't dead."

There was quiet. The clang of metal against metal resounded just before Ichigo had spoken those words, and the substitute held off the arrancar, facing the opposite direction from Toshiro, his eyes shadowed. The younger soul reaper's eyes wavered in shock.

"Now, GO!" Ichigo yelled forcefully to Toshiro, pushing the arrancar out and bringing the other soul reaper to his senses.

With a loss of words, the only thing Toshiro was able to let himself do was to do as Ichigo said. Turning, he ran down the hall, still halfway in shock. He didn't even know if what Ichigo said was true, but if Rangiku was alive then...

He trembled slightly, trying to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Right now, what he had to do was find Hyourinmaru and then go help Ichigo. Thinking about Rangiku will have to wait until later.

Opening the door where he knew his zanpaktou had been stashed, he slipped inside, glancing around for any sign of an enemy. Not seeing any, he searched around the room for traces of Hyourinmaru's spiritual pressure. It was a moment before, at last, he found the blade, leaned against the corner. Running his hand across the surface, Toshiro felt its cool texture, the chill that had always found its way to calm him.

He almost didn't hear the snickering behind him.

With a sharp intake of breath, he drew his sword, lashing out at the other arrancar. It was another Primera Espada. At this point, Toshiro knew Aizen was just toying with him.

The primera easily dodged, and blasted a hole through the wall. Using the situation to hhis advantage, Toshiro shunpoed through the hole, and then up against the wall of the corridor. With a wide open space, he could only hope the Primera took the bait.

It turned out the Primera wasn't as smart as others. Opening its mouth wide, a red light began to glow inside, growing slowly.

Wait.. wait...

The cero grew and grew, until it blasted. Just in the nick of time, Toshiro shunpoed, dodging the attack and reaching the arrancar who was still in the middle of the cero.

The blade of Hyourinmaru was a bout to come down through the arrancar's neck when it gagged on something. Looking down in surprise, Toshiro backed away as someone rose form the other side of the enemy, one of his two swords protruding from its stomach.

"It's nice to see you're back with us, Captain Hitsugaya."

Toshiro's eyes were wide. "Captain Ukitake?"

Bumbadabummmmm.... I really wanna go watch some soul eater now some im gonna make this short MY DOG IS TWITCHING IN HIS SLEEP AGAIN If you're wondering, the wound Toshiro had was really nothing important, and the only reason it was infected was because, well, gee, because he was laying in a dirty cell for a long time without any way to clean it! Not everything is actually evil's doing, you know somethings are natural.

Oh and Tousen hasn't shown up in here becuz I just have no idea wut he wud do. Probably just stand there and look stupid. But I won't forget him entirely.

Twin... I don't know why but I feel like I owe you a mention.... .... .... .... i like monkeys

Anywho... Plz review me!! I feel like recently my chapters have been getting worse, and I want to know if I'm right! Plz tell me what you think!!