Again sorry for the wait! I snuck this in during some free time instead of studying cause I love you guys :3 But if I fail Spanish I am blaming you all. XD Jk, jk.
Disclaimer: Uggg! Again? Fine. I don't own Bleach!
Chapter 16. Going Under
The long shadows just kept growing and growing as Hitsugaya raced through the streets of Seireitei, back the way he had just come only about an hour before.
He had just gotten back from the murder investigation and had retreated to his office with Matsumoto. He settled down and worked on some paperwork, for he had agreed to take over the 5th Squad's business.
Once he had discussed a few things with his lieutenant, a knock had come at the door of the office. One of the officers of the 10th squad had informed him that Hinamori, Kira and Abarai were missing from their cells. He and Matsumoto had followed him to Hinamori's prison cell; the one particular cell that Hitsugaya was not hoping he would have to go to. He had led his captain and lieutenant the white haired boy's childhood friend's cell, and fear rose in Hitsugaya's stomach.
In the cell where Hinamori should have been kneeling, there was nothing; it was completely empty. There, a guard apologized for being responsible for her absence. A large, gaping hole had stared at Hitsugaya, the full white moon fitting perfectly into the shape.
He could tell right away that Hinamori had escaped, and no one had broken in, which relieved him the slightest bit in knowing that no one was after her. The rock walls at the edges of the circle were facing outward, as if someone had pushed through them with great force.
And that theory was what led him to believe that she had used her Hakufuku, Kidou Demon Magic, for she was a master at it, and no one else in the whole of Soul Society could manage to take down such strong, indestructible stone. He had sent Matsumoto home and took off.
Now, as he raced through the empty streets, the fear that had overcome him before doubled, not knowing what his friend intended to do now that she was free.
Hinamori, don't rush into this. He thought.
He quickened his pace, and strode to the only place he could think of that she would go.
Hinamori clutched the letter closer to her neck as if it were the most precious thing in the world to her, which now since her captain was gone and her friend was a traitor, it might as well be.
For the first time, she began to realize the true detestation she had for her so-called 'friend'. She simply could not bring herself to believe that he, of all people would do this to her.
Not only had he hurt her in one of the worst ways possible, but he had lied, and murdered innocent people. He just doesn't care, does he? Tears of utter pain and betrayal formed behind her eyes and steadily began to creep past her lashes.
She would make him pay; that was for certain.
Now I will tell you what I've done for you,
50 thousand tears I've cried,
Screaming, deceiving and bleeding for you,
And you, still won't hear me,
Going under
Hinamori recalled the words Aizen had written for her.
When I first read the taichou's letter, I distrusted my eyes. I couldn't believe it. Demo…its true, isn't it? I will believe the taichou. Aizen taichou, the one who murdered you, was…Hitsugaya-kun. She thought to herself, gritting her teeth, a single tear sliding down her face.
Suddenly, she heard rustling and footsteps behind her. Concealing her reiatsu even more, she leapt swiftly into the branches of a nearby tree. Once the patrol had passed by her, Hinamori took the opportunity to rest for a moment and rethink her captain's last words.
Why Kuchiki Rukia has to be executed, why that date is continually being moved up…while I was investigating those issues, I arrived at one truth. I want you, at least to know…in my place…
She knew that it was because the murderer was trying to get his hands on an object she had never known of called the Hyogyoku. Oh Rukia-san, Gomenasai. I was going to revolt against the execution along with Ukitake taichou, Kyoraku taichou and, Hitsugaya-k…and the others. But, I can't now, there's something that I must do. I pray that you will forgive me, and I pray that your friends, the ryoka will be able to save you. With the final words of apology for her old friend, she leapt from the tree and proceeded to her destination.
I know that Hitsugaya-kun will have figured out that I'm gone by now, and he'll probably come looking for me. I bet he'll offer to help me, and that it wasn't him who killed Aizen taichou. But…as much as I don't want to believe it, he is the one who killed him, and I don't need anyone, especially him, anymore.
Up ahead, she was almost there, and she could already catch the faint presence of Ichimaru.
However, it seemed that Izuru and…someone else were there.
She hurried on.
Don't want your hand this time I'll save myself,
Maybe I'll wake up for once (wake up for once)
Not tormented daily defeated by you
Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom
I'm dying again,
Hitsugaya was there now, in the place he expected Hinamori to be, the place where she had found Aizen dead only yesterday.
He was standing in the center of all the buildings, right out in the open.
Now he found himself, not only waiting to confront Hinamori, but also the 3rd division's captain. He had faintly sensed his spiritual pressure, as well as Izuru's and he had know from the instant he saw Kira's cell that someone had broken in to get him out.
And it just so happens that they were coming his way. He folded his hands into his sleeves as he heard the approaching footsteps. Hitsugaya fell silent, listening. He quickly realized that there were two sets of footfalls, and even if there had been only one, they came down far to heavily and noisily to be Hinamori's. Finally, the captain and vice-captain of the 3rd squad emerged from the shadows before the 10th division captain.
Good. Hitsugaya thought. At least I can deal with these two before Hinamori shows up. He thought.
"I knew I'd find the two of you together." Hitsugaya's tone was almost mocking, contemptuous. Ichimaru seemed just as relaxed and happy as ever. However, Kira obviously did not expect to see him.
"H-Hitsugaya taichou…" He said in shock, worry and guilt creeping across his face. But Kira was the least of his problems right now, and Hitsugaya spoke to Ichimaru next.
"It's just like I'd thought." Hitsugaya continued. "Only Kira's cell had been unlocked from the outside. If you wanted to let him go secretly, don't you think that was a bit careless, Ichimaru?!" He accused. It was easy to see the sheer shock on Izuru's face now, his eyebrows furrowed and his azure eyes wide, although, his captain was still static.
"Well, well, aren't you puttin' a strange spin on things?" It was hardly a question, more like a matter-of-fact statement. "I did it that way on purpose so you'd know." His voice went from calm and cool, to menacing and acidic. Hitsugaya dismissed the threat with a fact of his own.
"I'm glad I got here before Hinamori." His aqua eyes narrowed into slits like a cat's, ablaze with hatred. " Before she gets here, I'm going to kill you." He stated, reaching behind him and gripping the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it and do battle, even if he was outnumbered…
But it was too late.
At that instant, Hinamori's shadowed figure appeared before him, separating him from Ichimaru and Kira. She landed lightly and nimbly before him, also like a cat. Although he knew that she would arrive eventually, Hitsugaya did not think that she would get there so soon. He had wanted to take care of the other two before she showed up…
Still, he was shocked because he had not been expecting her to get here so quickly. He loosened his grip on his sword, and then let go all together. "Hinamori?!" He spoke aloud. Dammit! It's too soon…she's so reckless; she'll get herself hurt. Or worse…
"Finally…I found you." Her voice was barely audible, hardly a whisper. The long shadows reached her and clouded her face, making her ominously unrecognizable.
This was not the Hinamori he had grown up with, who had that cheerful, bright smile that seemed like a comet. Every feature of her body as she stood up now, every lithe, eerie, ghost-like movement betrayed the fact that she was the same girl he grew up with.
"So this is where you've been." Her voice was dead. It was flat and cold, and full of pain and silent agony. Hitsugaya winced.
"Stop, Hinamori!" He told her as he realized what she was about to do. "You're no match for him!" He tried to reason with her as she gripped the sheath of her sword. He kept trying. "Leave it to me and stand back!" There was almost a beg in his voice now. But she drew her sword nonetheless, and he prepared himself to spring forward. Then, his eyes widened as Hinamori turned, swinging her sword through the air and stopping it at his throat.
"Aizen taichou's…murderer!"
I'm going under (going under)
Drowning in you (drowning in you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break through
I'm going under
Hitsugaya's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared into her distraught, tortured eyes, seeing the grim seriousness behind the chestnut pools of hate.
"Why him?" She asked, tears taking their places at the edge of her eyelids, waiting their turns to fall. Her voice was so stained with hurt, so tainted by betrayal that Hitsugaya could hardly recognize her. He wanted to look away and avoid those indescribably tortured eyes, but he could not.
And now he was even more shocked and more confused then before. Does…does she think that…that…I killed Aizen? He asked himself in his mind. There was no other explanation.
"I know everything now…" The teary-eyed girl went on. "From this letter the taichou left me." She raised a hand to a piece of paper, folded into her shihakushou. She then recited bits and pieces of the letter her captain had left her. She retold what was written on the paper, as if she had memorized it all precisely as to not miss one little detail, no matter how insignificantly small.
She went on to explain about the Soukyoku, and how Aizen had written about its powers and what the execution was truly about. She recited the name of the person who had supposedly planned this all out in order to obtain power. "Hitsugaya…Toshiro…" Hinamori spoke his name, as firmly as anyone in her position possibly could.
He gawked at her in total disbelief, unable to speak. He wanted to knock some sense into her, to tell her that it was all a lie, and that he would never ever do anything so treacherous and horrible to anyone, let alone her.
But she went on. "The letter continues to say this. 'Tonight'," She quoted. " 'I have called him out to the eastern Great Sacred Wall. I must stop his plot, no matter what the cost. If he will not stand down, I am prepared to cross blades. However, if I should die, Hinamori-kun, could you find it in your heart to carry out my last will and defeat him? That is my final wish.'"
Hitsugaya's eyes were frozen on her; he was trembling with shock and frustration. What can I do? How can I make her listen? Hinamori ignored the tears on her lashes and went on quoting her long lost captain.
" 'Not as taichou of the 5th Squad, but as an ordinary man, I beg of you'."
Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies
(So I don't know what's real)
(So I don't know what's real and what's not)
Always confusing the thoughts in my head
So I can't trust myself anymore
I'm dying again
Her entire body was quivering now, especially her right arm and hand, the hand that held her sword to her best friend's throat.
"Hina…mori…" Was all that he could whisper. He could feel the metal of her blade against his skin, shaking furiously as she shivered with dread.
Then without warning, Hinamori raised her Zanpakutou above her head. She scream, a shriek of pain, confusion, hatred, guilt, loss, and so, so much more. Tears streaming down her face, the brunette brought her sword down, and Hitsugaya's aqua eyes widened and he dodged at the last second.
When her blade connected with the ground, an enormous explosion shook the ground and consumed the area in a thick cloud of dust, as a blindingly bright light flashed through the air. It was like a volcano eruption and an earthquake happening at the same time.
The spectators from the 3rd division seemed undisturbed.
Well, one of them did.
Hitsugaya found it impossible that such a small, fragile, and hurt girl who had not eaten in days and was being lied to and betrayed could possibly put so much force into the swing of her sword. The white-haired boy gritted his teeth and growled in frustration as he returned to the ground from his jump to get out of the attack-range of her sword.
If she made another swing like that, not only would everyone in Soul Society be rushing out, but she was using so much energy. He could see that the effort it took out of her was having an effect on her, and she looked like she could barely stand.
He tried to talk her out of it. "BAKA!" He barked at her. "Think carefully! If he dies, he wants you to fight in his place?! Do you really think Aizen would say that?! The Aizen I knew…was neither an idiot who'd go alone to a fight he had no chance to win, nor a coward who'd make his subordinates clean up his mess!" Hitsugaya was shouting now.
He could see her, kneeling in a cloud of dust, too weak to stand, panting and sobbing. But the resolve in her eyes told him she was not giving up. Not yet.
"But…" She shook her head, trying to dislodge the fact that her friend had killed her taichou, tears flying from her face. She never wanted to believe it was him, not Hitsugaya, not her Shiro-chan… "But that's what the letter said!" She wailed. "That was Aizen taichou's handwriting! I didn't want to believe it either!" She voiced her thoughts.
Hitsugaya ground his teeth helplessly as he watched her fall to pieces. She was so confused…so betrayed…those were the only words that seemed to describe her tonight. "But that's what Aizen taichou said!" She cried, launching herself forward towards him.
She slashed her sword, weaklier, less effectively now, and he speechlessly dodged every blow.
And every blow she swung took more and more strength from her, and more tears from her eyes.
I'm going under (going under)
Drowning in you (drowning in you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break through
I'm…
Finally, Hinamori swung the blow that had pushed her far beyond her limits.
She trembled and he stared at her in horror. Not at the fact that she was trying to kill him, but at the fact that she looked as though she were just going to stop breathing any second now.
"I…I…I…don't…know what…to do anymore…" She stammered, gasping for air and trying to speak at the same time as she sobbed. "Shiro-chan…" She pleaded, tears streaming down her face. He just stared at her in mute horror and helplessness.
"Hinamori…" He managed to whisper in shock. He just did not know what to do…
He thought frantically of what he should do, but her agonized scream cut off his thoughts immediately. His reaction was a last minute leap into the air as she somehow managed to swing her sword at him once more.
Hitsugaya gritted his teeth and growled. This is no good. He thought to himself while still in midair; contemplating. She's so confused she can't judge right from wrong. But…there's no way Aizen would write a letter like that. Someone forged Aizen's letter! To make Hinamori and I eliminate each other. It would make this person's plan – whomever it was – a lot easier if two of the troublesome pawns took each other out.
Then, Hitsugaya's eyes glanced downward and came to rest on Ichimaru. Realization struck him like a punch to the stomach. His eyes widened in understanding and shock as he saw that wicked smile stretched across his utterly annoying face. He showed his teeth, curling them against his lips deviously, like a fox.
"So that's it…" The white-haired boy murmured his words to himself, still suspended in the air. "This too… This was all your doing too…ICHIMARU?!" His furious muttering exploded in a roar of accusation and rage.
As his weight began to give into gravity and he came back down to the world below, the aqua-eyed boy gripped the hilt of his Zanpakutou.
But the second he was about to draw the blade, Hinamori with her sword ready, had leapt into the air in front on him; defending Ichimaru.
He wanted to shout at her, to tell her that she was being deceived, to let her know that he would never do anything like what she thought he had done.
But there was no time…
So go on and scream,
Scream at me, I'm so far away (so far away)
I won't be broken again,
I've got to breathe I can't keep going under
I'm dying again,
Hitsugaya stared into her eyes for one, heartbreakingly drawn out second before he did the only thing he could do in the situation, the only possible reaction and reflex.
He braced and tightened his left hand, pulling it over to the right side of his body, gaining force and speed as he brought it back over.
Then, but with much more force then intended, he struck Hinamori.
He could feel his knuckles drive themselves into her left cheekbone for a split second, and then her weight was gone.
He had miscalculated the sheer power of his blow, and overestimated her.
He was of high-ranking, captain level, with much more strength than the fragile, exhausted, and torn girl.
His hit flung her to the ground, and she let out a short shriek of pain that was abruptly cut off as her body collided with the floor, about 20ft below. She landed with a sickening sound and did not regain her feet.
As Hitsugaya landed, he whirled around to look at her, to see if she was getting up, if she was all right.
She was not.
"Hinamori?!" He shouted. His tortured aqua gaze flew towards her motionless form. He could faintly smell the rusty scent of her blood; he tasted it in the air. His irises trembled in fear as he saw that she made no attempt to get up.
She did not want to get up, ever again, she just wanted to die right then and there and have it all be over with. She did not want to live any more; she did not deserve to. She gave up trying to breathe and just lay there and waited. What good am I? She thought weakly. I couldn't even prevent Aizen taichou's death and now I'm fighting Hitsugaya-kun because of it. It's all my fault. I'm a horrible creature…
Slowly, she slipped into black nothingness, not knowing if it was unconsciousness.
And not caring if it was death.
I'm going under (going under)
Drowning in you (drowning in you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break through
I'm going under (going under)
I'm going under (drowning in you)
I'm going under.
A/N: I hated writing this chapter! I hated making them fight! (cires) I am so sorry!
Stay with me for chapter 17!
Please review!!