A/N: Once again SOOO sorry for the wait! You all know the pains of school I am sure...
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Songfic song by Barlowgirl.
Chapter 13. Never Alone
For once in her life, Hinamori had woken up late.
She leapt out of bed with a gasp when she saw just how late she was and practically threw on her attire and tied up her hair as neatly as she could manage. Scared, at the thought that she was horribly late, the girl dared to glance at the clock in her room and her eyes widened.
"Oh my goodness, look how late I am!" She shrieked. She quickly grabbed her Zanpakutou, as there were special orders that they were allowed to carry them, and she flew down the stairs and raced through the streets of Seireitei.
It was the day after her meeting with Hitsugaya and although he had reassured her yesterday, she still felt uncomfortable about what was going on with her captain. She had waited for him the previous night at his quarters in hopes that he would show up, but he did not. He was not even there that morning to wake her. It seemed that no matter where she waited or for how long, he had not shown up for almost three weeks now and his lieutenant was worried.
In fact, she had not even seen him in that much time, and whenever she searched for him she always returned unsuccessful.
Now, she was frightened and a dark feeling fluttered in her chest like a caged bird.
She knew not what it meant; only that nothing good could come from it.
I waited for you, today
But you didn't show
No, no, no
I needed you, today
So where, did you go?
Hinamori bounded over building rooftop after rooftop until she came to a long, tall staircase.
She dashed up it about halfway and then, decided that she would take a shortcut. She veered off to the left and raced through a small, rocky path, after which she leapt up again onto yet another rooftop and continued to rush along to the meeting she was late for.
You told me to call,
You said you'd be there,
And though I haven't seen you
Are you still there?
As she landed on the last rooftop, Hinamori gathered herself for a mighty leap into the air and she came onto the wooden floor of another level of buildings.
She stopped for a split second to pant for breath before carrying on. "I actually made it." She sighed as she began to run to the building where the lieutenant's meeting would be held. But as she was running, some unknown feeling seemed to force her to slow her pace, until it was no more than a walk.
Then, the brown haired girl turned around to lay her eyes upon whatever had made her stop.
The chestnut pools of pureness and caring melted like dewdrops into pools of shock and terror.
The building behind her was painted and streaked with blood, a trail of it led up to the very top, where a limp figure was pinned into the structure by a sword.
She screamed.
I cried out with no reply,
And, I can't feel you by my side,
So I'll hold tight to what I know,
You're here, and I'm never alone
Hinamori was completely frozen over in a state of horror and distress, and it seemed that her body was not her own anymore.
She took one shaky step forward, and then heard the shouts and pattering feet of other Shinigami who were racing to where her scream had come from. "Hinamori-kun!" Izuru called her as he, Matsumoto, Hisagi and Tetsuzaemon arrived at her side. He shook her and asked her what was wrong, but she was too frozen to respond; she could only stare at the limp body of her captain.
As the other three saw his corpse, appalled and disbelieving comments were made, about how impossible it was for Aizen to be killed. As Hinamori heard her fellows voices, filled with shock and sorrow, she unconsciously took a few paces forward.
"Aizen…taichou…" She murmured. "No…No…" Finally, her feet came to a halt. She lifted her hands up about chest-level, her fingers curled, as if she were imagining herself clutching her dear taichou's haori, as if he were there. "AIZEN TAICHOU!!!" She collapsed to the ground on her hands and knees, shivering. Who did this?… She asked herself silently.
As she wept, she did not hear the sound of another set of feet padding up to the assembled fukuutaichou.
"What's all this ruckus so early in the mornin'?" The five lieutenants turned around to face the noncommittal face of Ichimaru Gin. "Uh oh, this here's a serious incident neh?" His voice was almost tauntingly delighted, as if he was happy about Squad 5's loss, or as if he had planned and committed the crime himself.
Suddenly, Hinamori's tears stopped, and her eyes widened slightly, and she recalled the words that Hitsugaya had spoken to her not too long ago. It was after the ryoka had wounded Renji, he had snuck up on her and then warned her: "Be careful…be careful of 3rd squad. Especially…when Aizen goes out walking alone."
Realization flooded over Hinamori like a wave, and her chestnut eyes widened even more as she stared at Izuru's captain. She stared at his unwavering, static, grin, and the emotionless expression he showed. Surely he would be upset that one of his fellows was murdered? No. Hinamori knew the truth now; he had everybody fooled.
Precious memories flashed through her mind, how her former captain used to always be there for her, during battle, for comfort, for asking advice, or just being there to give her someone she trusted to talk to.
He would wipe her tears, and make her fears disappear…why did he have to leave her?
Although I can not see you,
And I can't explain, why
Such a deep, deep, reassurance,
You placed in my life, oh
We cannot separate,
'Cause you're part of me,
And though you're invisible,
I'll, trust the unseen
A tear slid down her face as rage and hatred boiled inside of her.
Her eyebrows furrowed and she gritted her teeth, and she clenched her fingers into fists.
"WAS IT YOU?!" She cried, quickly gripping the hilt of her sword and she darted forward in an almost invisible movement, tears streaking her face and falling behind her.
As she lifted her Zanpakutou to wipe the smile off of Ichimaru's face for sure, she found her sword had been stopped and metal clashed metal. She gasped, half in surprise, half in tears, as she gazed up at her old friend Izuru. His blue eyes gave her a stern warning and he shook his head, and behind him, Ichimaru smiled, as if he were amused by the poor, confused fukuutaichou's performance, and as if he knew that Izuru would step in.
She almost pulled her sword away and obeyed, but the fury that was rising inside of her was too great to overcome.
"Kira-kun…why?" She asked softly.
"I'm the fukuutaichou of the 3rd squad." He answered simply. "No matter what the reason, I won't permit anyone to point a sword at my taichou."
Again, the girl almost pulled back, but when she saw the captain laugh slightly and then turn to leave, she tired to push past Izuru and pursue him. But again, the blonde lieutenant would not let her pass and he shook his head at her; obviously he was serious about not permitting anyone near the 3rd division captain.
But that mattered not to Hinamori; she knew who had killed her captain, and she was going to get revenge if it was the last thing she ever did.
Determination overflowed her eyes as the man who was getting away with murder walked calmly away, and more tears were shed.
"I'm begging you, get out of the way, Kira-kun!" She pleaded.
"I can't do that." He denied.
She swallowed hard.
"Move! Move!!!" She shouted.
"Stop!" He retorted.
But her persistence did not waver.
"DON'T YOU HEAR ME TELLING YOU TO MOVE?!"
"DON'T YOU HEAR ME TELLING YOU TO STOP?!"
Hinamori could not take it anymore.
"Hajike, Tobiume!" With the two simple words, her powerful Zanpakutou was released.
I cried out with no reply,
And, I can't feel you, by my side,
So, I'll hold tight to what I know,
You're here, and I'm never alone
As she released her Zanpakutou, pink, crimson energy surged around her, and her resolve and the force it produced caused a loud, destructive explosion.
The other lieutenants covered their faces from the dust and debris falling all about them, while Ichimaru strolled calmly away through the brown powder. When it finally cleared somewhat, Hinamori and Izuru were visible again; each forced to slide back from the effects of the explosion.
"Releasing your Zanpakutou in a place like this…" The blonde boy muttered in disgust. "How irresponsible." But the brown-eyed girl paid no attention to his insults. She panted several times from releasing her sword's full power. "Do you even realize what you're doing?!" He was still trying to reason with her, for they had been very close friends, and he did not want her to get into any more trouble. "Don't confuse private matters with public ones, Hinamori fukuutaichou!"
But no matter what he did or said, she just ignored him and raised her sword. She brought it down through the air with full force, emitting a bright, blinding pink light to slice past, only inches away from Izuru. It was headed for the grinning captain, but it careened off course at the last second and smashed into a building.
"I see. In that case I have no choice." Seeing that she was serious about wanting to kill his captain, Izuru had no other choice but to fight her back with all he had.
The girl gasped a few more times, for now she was losing herself; her aim was off because she could no longer control her reiatsu. There was a blazing hatred in her eyes as she glared at Izuru, his captain and back again.
Then the other lieutenant sighed. "I will have to treat you as an enemy." With that he leapt into the air, Zanpakutou drawn. "Raise your head, Wabisuke!" He called forth his Shikai. The silver blade automatically transformed and hooked at the end.
As he brought his sword down on her, Hinamori prepared herself to block and deflect him, but neither of them ever got their chance.
We can not separate,
You're part of me,
And though you're invisible
I'll trust the unseen
Hinamori and Izuru both found themselves unable to move their Zanpakutou, and as the dust cleared away, they found out why.
Izuru's blue eyes widened, and Hinamori drew in a sharp breath once she saw none other than Hitsugaya.
"Don't either of you move a muscle." He warned, his aqua eyes fierce with rage, and some disbelief.
"Hitsugaya-kun…" The girl breathed. But he did not address her.
"Arrest them both." He ordered the bystanders and the three of them obliged. Hisagi grasped Izuru around the neck and shoulders, while Tetsuzaemon grabbed Hinamori's arms. Matsumoto roughly locked both arms securely around her throat.
"Hitsugaya-kun!" Hinamori panted in dismay. She felt so betrayed…
"Hinamori!" The white haired boy growled. "Is this the time to be fighting each other with swords?" His question stabbed into her like a thorn, guilt beginning to build up inside of her. "Shouldn't our first priority be taking Aizen taichou down from there?" He went on.
Hinamori breathed in again, feelings of misery, embarrassment, betrayal, and pain mixing within her chest.
"I'll make the report to the Commander-General." The young captain decided after a short silence. "Put these two in detention." He ordered the others. "Take them away." His tone was so cold and emotionless that Hinamori felt a stab of sheer pain go through her.
As Matsumoto and the others led Izuru and Hinamori away, Kira hung his head in shame, and Hinamori followed the two leading her slowly. She no longer had the strength to walk correctly, her senses had finally began to come back and she realized just how much of an idiot she was and just how much trouble she was in.
She glared hatefully at Ichimaru as they came near one another. He seemed to smile down at her in victory and triumph, and Hinamori could only suppress her pure loathing for him through her gaze before she closed her chestnut eyes, gritted her teeth, and looked away.
She was defeated.
Then, as they led their captive, they allowed Hinamori to lift her head and glance at her beloved captain as they passed.
As she saw for the last time his body covered and stained with blood, tears almost began to fall, and in her mind, she was screaming for him to wake up. She pleaded silently that this was all just a nightmare she had been living in, and that when she woke up everything would be all right. Or that she was just horribly ill and things would make sense when she got better.
But no matter how much she pleaded, and shouted and cried in her mind, nothing happened.
She did not wake up from a long sleep to see Aizen all right, nor did he suddenly come back to life and be standing there beside her as she wished.
He could not hear her silent pleas; no one could.
I cried out with no reply,
And, I can't feel you, by my side,
So, I'll hold tight to what I know,
You're here, and I'm never alone.
A/N: Okay, I know you guys are probably like 'That never happened in the anime/manga!' Well yeah, its MY fanfic! Like, I KNOW that she was supposed to meet up with Aizen that night, but this is MY fic and I am rewriting the series with some twists so it can fit her's and Hitsugaya's viewpoints better. So NO FLAMERS PLEASE!
So you can understand why chapters might take a while to update now cause I got exact lines from the anime. Its actually not that easy to find all the episodes with decent subs and pause it every 5 seconds to type what they are saying and then make it into a story. So please, bear with me!
Please review!!