Yes, yes you all know that I apologize deeply for the long wait. But rejoice! The hiatus is over!! Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I am not Kubo-sensei and do not own Bleach. Songfic song by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.
Chapter 18. Face Down
Hitsugaya and Matsumoto had sped through the long shadows and made their way back to the 10th division.
By the time they had finally gotten back, dawn had already broken and the light was washing over them.
The two had stopped by the 3rd division and explained the condition of their unconscious lieutenant and their missing captain. They left Kira in the Healing Quarters and he was to be questioned when he woke.
Now, they stood over the small bed, Hinamori lay in, hardly moving except for the slight rising and falling of her chest. An IV was connected to her wrist and beeped regularly along with her pulse. Hitsugaya stared down at her and could not help but to think that he could have prevented all of this. He had his suspicions about who he thought to be Ichimaru's accomplice, but he kept his thoughts to himself; for now.
"If you hadn't come…Hinamori would be dead." He forced out the words quietly. "Arigatou, Matsumoto." He thanked his solemn lieutenant beside him.
"Not at all." She replied, rubbing the bandaged hand that had been injured in the quarrel. She remembered the Gin she used to know, the little boy with the bad habit of disappearing without telling her where he was going, that still had not changed. "Gin…just where are you about to go…?" She wondered out loud.
Hitsugaya had troublesome thoughts of his own. That letter from Aizen…how much of it was altered…and who altered it? Ichimaru, or was it Aizen himself? Hitsugaya thought it seemed highly unlikely that his suspicions about Aizen still being alive and plotting against them all to be true.
He remembered the day Hinamori had found out about his 'death', if he really was dead that is. Hitsugaya had not witnessed the whole scene, but what had brought him there that morning was the sound of Hinamori's agonized cry for her taichou. Could Aizen really still be alive? Could he really be behind all of this? But why? What would he be after? What's his goal? Are Hinamori and all the others just pawns for his game? Hitsugaya shook his head, not fully believing his own thoughts. But this wouldn't be the first time someone in Seireitei has committed treason or blasphemy. It's possible…
Hey girl you know you drive me crazy
One look puts the rhythm in my head
Still I never understand why you hang around
I see what's going down
Cover up with makeup in the mirror
Tell yourself it's never gonna happen again
You cry alone, and then he swears he loves you
No. Could Hinamori be in on this too? Could he be using her for something? Using bribes, lies, or threats to mess with her head? What does he want?
Hitsugaya tried to think of something Aizen would be interested in getting if he was behind this. But then he pushed the thoughts away, still unconvinced that anyone besides Ichimaru would be plotting this. The power of the Soukyoku to be released for Kuchiki Rukia's execution…plotting the destruction of Soul Society using that power…was that part real?
Again his mind flashed back to the morning not so long ago, when Hinamori's tortured cry had echoed throughout Seireitei and Aizen's blood had stained the walls. Then he pictured Ichimaru's smug face, grinning in triumph, as it always seemed to be. If it was real…If that is that bastard Ichimaru's plan…I…
His thoughts were cut off when a small black shape drifted past him to rest on Matsumoto's finger. "A Hell Butterfly?" She let the insect give her its message. "Reporting to all taichou and fukuutaichou," She quoted the messenger. "There has been a change regarding the date of execution of death row inmate Kuchiki Rukia. Enforcement of sentence will be 29 hours from now." Hitsugaya's eyes widened. "This is the final judgment. There will be no further change in date. That is all." She finished as the butterfly took off.
Without a word, Hitsugaya walked out of the room and Matsumoto hurried after him. "Taichou…" He stopped walking.
"The execution and the associated release of the Soukyoku…If that is Ichimaru's aim…" He avoided adding in Aizen's name. "Then I can't sit by and let this execution go on. Follow me, Matsumoto. We're gonna stop this execution."
And with that, the two of them were off.
The captain and vice-captain of the 10th Squad knew that their time was limited; the execution was noon that day, in less than an hour.
They had wasted the entire day yesterday, the night, and the morning hours. They had stopped frequently to give orders or to warn some Shinigami and now were trying to get to the execution grounds to stop the meaningless death of an innocent girl.
As they went, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto stopped and turned around as they heard a loud noise and saw a glowing, blue light, signaling that the execution was starting. "It's begun… We've gotta hurry, Matsumoto!"
"Hai." She agreed.
As the two went however, they were unaware of a silent shadow following in their footsteps.
Now Toshiro and Rangiku were running at top speed to get to Soukyoku Hill. They could clearly see the fire of the mighty bird beginning to take form up atop the tall, rocky hill.
Hitsugaya thought back to a few hours ago, before he and Matsumoto had left.
He stared down at Hinamori, watching her sleep, breathing slowly. He remembered how she had come to be this way; it was because he had hit her so hard, unintentionally.
Hinamori…I'm sorry you got involved in all of this. I will stop this I swear it. Get better please. I love you. He thought. And with one last glance at his best friend, he turned and left the room. "How is she?" Matsumoto had asked anxiously.
"Sleeping." He responded simply. Then, he turned and placed his palm into the air in the doorway. Silently, for he did not require the chant, the boy proceeded to form a barrier.
"That was Kyoumon…" Rangiku observed, when he had finished. "Why put a barrier on this room?" She asked.
"I can't predict who might do what." He answered. "It's to protect her from outside enemies."
"Outside enemies..." Matsumoto found it hard to believe that anyone would target or label Hinamori as an enemy.
"Let's go." He instructed.
Do you feel like a man
When you push her around?
Do you feel better now
As she falls to the ground?
Well I'll tell you my friend
One day, this world's going to end
As your lies crumble down
A new life she had found
The possibility that Aizen was behind this had still not sunk in as Hitsugaya continued to run.
Then, there was a sudden explosion and cloud of brown dust to their right on Soukyoku Hill, and the red blaze of the firebird was gone.
"Could that be the ryoka?" Rangiku asked.
"With such a huge clash of reiatsu at the Soukyoku… what else could it be?" He asked cynically. "Now that the situation's gotten this complicated, we'll have to appeal directly to the bigwigs and try to convince them." He decided, meaning that they were now going to go straight to Center 46.
"And to do that, we're going to tell them about the Aizen taichou matter directly?" Matsumoto asked her captain.
"Yeah, especially the hidden side of it." He added darkly, deciding to tell about Ichimaru and all of his suspicions. "Let's hurry!"
Then they took off with shunpou, leaping over rooftops and practically flying to get to their destination.
Hinamori raced after the taichou and fukuutaichou as fast as her weak body would allow her.
She tried desperately to keep up with them as soon as they began using shunpou. She was panting hard and her legs felt like they might give in at any moment, but she had come this far, she had followed them all this way, and she was not going to let her captain down. She was going to avenge his murderer, even if it was the last thing she ever did.
When she had woken up that morning, she was in the 10th division, lying on a white hospital bed. A small cart sat next to her bedside, with a few cups and her taichou's letter for her. She had gotten dressed into her shihakushou and then picked up the piece of paper. Several tears dripped down her cheeks and dampened the paper in her fingers.
"Taichou…" She whispered. Then her legs gave in beneath her and she collapsed onto the floor. She sobbed with tears streaming down her face. "What should I…" She trailed off.
Then she straightened up and wiped the tears away. She placed the folded paper into her shirt and placed her hands on top of it, pressing it close to her heart. Finally she stood again and the fragile little girl was gone. Determination blazed from within her heart and spread throughout her body, burning away any doubt or fear that used to reside there. She was not just going to stand by and let injustice take place. All it took was one small flame to spread and give her strength.
She knew that she would most likely be punished for her past actions and the ones she was about to take. But she had to do something, for she was perhaps the only one who knew the truth.
"After all, I have to make sure…" She did not finish her sentence out loud. …that Hitsugaya-kun pays for what he has done.
A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect
Every action in this world will bear a consequence
If you wade around forever you will surely drown
I see what's going down
Hitsugaya and Matsumoto had finally come to a stop at the entrance of Central 46.
The large, heavy doors were left unguarded and unprotected.
"The gate security personnel aren't here…" The orange haired woman stated, reaching behind her for her Zanpakutou.
"That's strange." Her captain agreed, reaching for the door. At simply the touch of the tips of his fingers, the doors pushed inward and opened. The two shared a bewildered glance, but entered nonetheless.
A long, wooden bridge lay between them and the next door. The loud echo of the doors clanging bounced back in the silence. Cautiously now, the two proceeded to walk over the bridge, blue water swirling beneath them. When they reached the next, unguarded door, suspicions rose even higher.
"No security here either…" Rangiku observed. Toshiro took a step forward and tried to push open this door as well but it did not budge.
"This one is locked from the inside." He announced. He glanced back at his lieutenant who understood what he meant automatically. She stepped back to give him space.
"This is 10th Squad's Hitsugaya Taichou. I want permission to enter the Central Office of 46 for an urgent audience."
The only response he received was 5 vertical and 9 horizontal, metal beams connecting and making the door almost impassible.
"The emergency defense lock is working." Matsumoto pointed out.
"Mm. This is getting stranger and stranger." Hitsugaya agreed. "What the Hell is going on…?" After he had pondered their options for a moment, Hitsugaya stepped up to the sealed door.
"What should we do?" Matsumoto asked him.
"No choice." Hitsugaya decided, reaching behind him and gripping the hilt of his sword. "Get back." He ordered.
"Don't tell me…" But there was no need for her to finish her question for it was already too late. The blade fell upon the metal bars sealing the door and crumbled them with one mere slash. The large door cracked and caved in as well, giving the two direct passage. "That's the door of the Central 46, you know!" Matsumoto reminded him, shocked. "Doing this…" She trailed off as her captain spoke.
"The alarm isn't sounding." He murmured, apprehensively.
"What?" Rangiku realized that he was right.
"Even though I busted the door open, the alarm isn't sounding." His suspicions rose even more, for he knew that something was definitely wrong, and he could no longer suppress the growing feeling that Aizen had something to do with all of this.
Only now was he truly grateful that he had thought to put the barrier up around Hinamori's room. Whoever's behind this would be likely to target her as well, since she was Aizen's fukuutaichou. And because she played her own part in all of this.
Yet he could still not shake the ominous feeling that Hinamori was in danger, and that it was possible that her captain was not dead, and might be causing that danger.
I see the way you go and say you're right again
Say you're right again
Heed my lecture
Do you feel like a man
When you push her around?
Do you feel better now
As she falls to the ground?
Well I'll tell you my friend
One day this world's going to end
As your lies crumble down
A new life she has found
"Someone took out the gate guards and walked right in there." Hitsugaya continued explaining his theory. "Then, that person locked the door and made it so the alarm wouldn't sound if people like us came."
"So that it wouldn't attract attention?" His vice-captain guessed.
The two of them ran straight forward as door after door opened for them. They raced down long spirals of stairs until they finally came to a dead halt.
"What the Hell is this…?" Hitsugaya's aqua eyes were doubled to twice their size in shock and horror. "What's going on?"
Hinamori stopped a little ways behind the two of them and heard their disbelieving comments.
What's going on? What happened? Is that…blood I smell? Questions flew around in her mind, but she remained silent.
Soon it was obvious that the stench was blood, but she knew that Hitsugaya and Matsumoto had not kill whomever it was. No, maybe not, but Hitsugaya-kun did kill…Aizen Taichou. She remembered bitterly. That's it. She felt tears form behind her eyes, but she did not cry. I can no longer deny that he killed him. Everything between us, Hitsugaya-kun, all of the good times and bonds of trust between us are over and broken. I've had enough of these lies and murders. I've had enough…
She remained hidden, but she had finally decided that everything between her and her former best friend was over.
Forever.
One day she will tell you that
She has had enough
It's coming round again
One day she will tell you that
She has had enough
It's coming round again
Hitsugaya felt another strong wave of terror wash over him as he stared at the bloody scene before him.
Whatever they're up to, whoever's behind all of this, weather it's Ichimaru, Aizen or someone else, I'm still getting the feeling that Hinamori is in danger. Whoever it is, I will put a stop to all of this. You've used Hinamori like a meaningless doll, pulling the strings and commanding her to do what you want. But I will put and end to it, I'll kill whoever's done this and lift the burden off of her shoulders so she can get on with her life and live it in peace.
I'll make sure of it.
Do you feel like a man
When you push her around?
Do you feel better now
As she falls to the ground?
Well I'll tell you my friend
One day this world's going to end
As your lie crumble down
A new life she has
Ichimaru silently crept up behind the girl, who was listening to the conversation of the 10th division's captain and lieutenant.
He remembered what Aizen had instructed him to do recently: You bring her here, and I'll finish her off. That will lure the boy here as well, and that's two less pests to stop us.
Ichimaru had not gotten much action for a while and he would have preferred to kill her that instant himself, but he dare not oppose his Master.
Face Down in the dirt
She said, 'This doesn't hurt'
She said, 'I've finally had enough'
Hinamori could not stop the waves of memories that assaulted her mind.
All of the times she and her Shiro-chan had been through together.
The games, the death of their grandfather and grandmother, the incident with the Hollow, going into the Shinigami Academy together and graduating.
The friendship they had had, the bond that was closer than brother and sister…it was all over.
I've had enough…
Face Down in the dirt
She said, 'this doesn't hurt'
She said, 'I've finally had enough'.
A/N: And there you have it. We all know what is coming next! (Cries)
Pleeease review!!