I do not own Bleach

Chapter 24 Just Before the Storm

Hinata walked up to Ichigo. Reaching down, she picked him up princess style. She was sensing for Hanataro and had just found him, but before she left to find him she called out, "Aunt Kitty, when do you plan on coming out?"

A deep chuckle came as a black cat came out shaking its head. "I need to stop being surprised; only you would notice me when I had my spiritual pressure suppressed." She jumped up onto Hinata's shoulder and looked down at Ichigo. "I'm so sorry that I was late Ichigo."

Hinata took a look at him before she took a step towards Hanataro.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a friend who can heal him."

Aunt Kitty was already shaking her head, "No, I have a safe place where he can heal and I can train him a little more before Rukia is sent to her trial."

Hinata looked towards Hanataro one last time before nodding and allowing aunt Kitty to lead her away from the main part of the Seireitei.

. . .

Hinata found that her legs where shaking when they stopped outside a hidden cave. Aunt Kitty looked back at her when she stopped. Her eyes went wide and she raced back to Hinata and shifted to her human form in time to catch the collapsing girl.

Hinata, with half closed eyes, looked up at Aunt Kitty. "I'm tired."

"When was the last time you slept?"

"Seven. . . eight. . . days?"

"Silly girl" She quickly took Ichigo out of Hinata's arms. "I'll be right back." As fast as she could, she took Ichigo into a healing room and placed him on a mat before running back out to pick Hinata off the ground. The poor girl had fallen asleep by the time she came back out. She gave a smile as she scooped her up. Hinata wasn't even supposed to be here. She was in more danger then all the others. Kisuke had tried so hard to make sure that she wouldn't end up here. Well, that just meant she would have to keep her safe then.

. . .

Hinata drifted awake to find herself surrounded by steam and her body submerged in water. She saw her gigai just outside of the water. She looked down to see that she was being supported by Kido. She was still so tired. What had woken her? It took her a moment to realize that Ichigo's spiritual pressure was leaving. He was still injured, but she noticed that Aunt Kitty had just taken off after him. He would be safe. Sleep once again claimed her.

. . .

Hinata didn't know how long she had been asleep. She rubbed at her eyes and looked around, finding Aunt Kitty and Ichigo were nearby, and Ichigo was fighting his sword again. While she slipped back into her gigai, she listened to the sounds of Ichigo's battle. Still feeling tired, Hinata found a place to lie down and once more drifted off to sleep.

. . .

Nikko and Masaki were waiting for Hinata with a picnic in the grass, enjoying the sunlight that had been absent for so long. Masaki stood when Hinata appeared, caught her in a hug, and kissed the top of Hinata's head. Nikko joined them, wrapping her arms around Hinata's middle from behind. Hinata slowly relaxed, enjoying the warmth of her mother's arms. After a long moment, they broke apart and sank onto the picnic blanket.

"I'm so happy that you're not sad anymore!" Nikko said, grabbing Hinata's hand, her eyes shining.

Hinata smiled. "Yep. I've been protecting my friends."

Masaki smiled too. "You're so strong, sweetie."

Hinata frowned. "Nikko, what is Ichigo doing with his sword right now?"

Nikko tilted her head to the side, a puzzled look on her face. "He's learning Bankai."

"What's Bankai?"

Nikko smiled. "You know how when you say my name you're using Shikai?"

Hinata nodded, still looking troubled.

"Bankai is the next level."

"Oh," Hinata said, nodding slowly. "Will you teach me Bankai, Nikko?"

Nikko giggled. "You already know Bankai, Hinata. My name is just a little different."

Hinata stared at her. "Will you tell me then?"

"When I'm in Bankai form, my name is Meimei Kagayaki. Meimei means 'invisible.'"

Hinata nodded, smiling. "Your names are so pretty, Nikko."

Nikko smiled, squeezing Hinata's hand. Masaki stroked her daughter's hair, absentmindedly detangling it with her fingers. They sat like that for some time, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Hinata laid back and gazed up at the sky, grateful for the break. She hadn't realized how stressed she'd been the past week or how much energy it had taken to hide her presence within the Seireitei.

"Are you alright, Hinata?" Masaki asked, leaning over Hinata and blocking the sun.

"Yep! I'm just a little tired." Hinata sat up and hugged her mom, a question suddenly popping into her head. "Mommy, what's daddy like?"

Masaki was startled by the question, but smiled as she played with Hinata's hair again. "Your father is a wonderful man. He works hard, is very loving, and does all he can to help people. He loves to play games and make people smile. You're a lot like him."

Hinata closed her eyes and tried to imagine his face. She'd only ever seen his back when she'd gotten close to him. "Do you think he'll like me when he meets me?"

"He'll love you, darling," Masaki said with a smile.

Comforted, Hinata spent the rest of the day with them, making flower circlets with Nikko and chatting with Masaki. It surprised her when they told her that it was time to go.

"I want to stay!" Hinata said, hugging Masaki again.

Nikko tugged on her hand. "We want you to stay too, but it's time for you to go back to your friends now. They need you."

Hinata knew it too. She could feel the faint traces of Chad's and Uryu's spirit energies. Both of them were injured and being held captive. With a sigh, she gave both Nikko and her mother a final hug.

. . .

Yoruichi smiled when she saw that Hinata was awake. Ichigo was nearby, still fighting his sword. "You okay there, kid?" Yoruichi asked, offering her a hand. Hinata accepted and allowed Yoruichi to pull her to her feet.

"I feel a lot better," Hinata said with a broad smile. She turned and looked towards Ichigo and Zangetsu. "How is Ichigo doing?"

Yoruichi looked towards Ichigo too. "He's fine. I just hope he's ready in time."

Hinata nodded and turned, heading towards the cave's entrance.

"Where are you going?" Yoruichi asked, grabbing Hinata's wrist. The girl turned and looked at her, brown eyes wide.

"The others need me more than Ichigo does. I'm going to go meet them."

Yoruichi let her go, surprised. "Be careful," she whispered, watching the determined child jog out of the cave.

. . .

Uryu opened his eyes feeling stiff and sore. Blinking, he tried to adjust to his new surroundings. He was lying on the bottom bunk of a small room and light trickled in from a barred window. He sat up and noticed bandages wrapped tightly around his arms. I'm alive, he thought, remembering the battle from the previous night and shuddering at the memory.

"Hi! You're awake?!" a familiar voice said.

Uryu fell back against the wall behind him, startled when he saw a head covered in bandages hanging down from the bunk above him. "Whaaaaaa! Who are you? A burglar?!"

"No no no, what would I steal from an invalid in a jail cell? It's me!" Ganju said, lifting some of the bandages covering his eyes.

That reminded Uryu that someone had changed his clothes while he'd been unconscious. Panicking, he searched for Hinata's chopsticks.

"Looking for these?" another familiar voice said.

Uryu looked up, his heart racing. "Chad!" Chad was holding Hinata's chopsticks out to Uryu.

"They almost didn't let me keep them," Chad grunted, handing the silver hair pieces to Uryu. "You were holding them when they brought you in."

"Thank you," Uryu said breathlessly, clutching the chopsticks in his fist. Neither of his companions looked like they'd had an easy time once they'd been separated. Then again, Uryu hadn't fared much better. Briefly, he remembered that Orihime was still out there somewhere on her own, but Chad was speaking again.

"There's been a development. The guards have been talking. A captain was murdered. They don't know who did it but . . ."

They stared at each other, silent as Uryu digested this new piece of information.

"He's not dead," a cheerful voice said, drawing their attention to the entrance of the small cell. Hinata peered at them from outside the bars, grinning one of her brightest smiles. "The body they found was a fake."

"Hinata!" Uryu cried, rolling off the bunk and rushing to the bars.

Hinata giggled. "Sillies. You all went and got yourselves hurt!"

Uryu opened his mouth to answer, but Ganju appeared at his side and asked, "Who is she? Is she related to Ichigo?"

Uryu jumped and turned to glare at him.

"They're cousins." Chad grunted, joining them at the bars.

Uryu pushed his glasses up, momentarily forgetting that his hands were cuffed together. Hinata saw the chopsticks clutched in his fingers and absently reached a hand through the bars. "You brought them . . ." she said, surprised, but before he could give them back to her, a group of guards ran past Hinata spreading an alert.

"Lieutenant Hinamori isn't in her cell! Everyone search the building!" one of the guards hollered as he sped past.

Hinata snatched her hand back and stared after the Shinigami. Uryu was surprised that none of them seemed to notice that Hinata was even standing there. "Umm . . ." Hinata said, biting her lip, "I have to go guys."

"Wait!" Uryu yelled, causing her to turn slightly.

"Don't worry," she said with a smile. "You're safe here. Somebody else needs my help right now."

Uryu tried to reach out through the bars, but Hinata was already running down the hall, her long orange hair dancing as she rushed away. Clenching his fist around the chopsticks once more, he ground his teeth and cursed the loss of his quincy powers.

. . .

Captain Ukitake paused to catch his breath, frustrated. They had moved up Rukia's execution once again and Byakuya acted as though Rukia deserved her fate. Closing his eyes, he sucked in a steadying breath and counted to ten.

"Are you okay, mister?" a child's voice asked.

Ukitake opened his eyes in surprise and found a young girl with bright orange hair gazing at him, her expression serious. "Where did you come from, little one?" he asked, reaching out to ruffle her hair.

"Why are you sad?" the girl asked, dodging his question.

Ukitake was speechless for a moment. Who was this child? How did she know how confused and upset he was? "I'm just an old, sick man," he answered her at last.

The girl frowned. "No, you're sad. Did something happen to Rukia?"

"How did you . . .?"

The girl suddenly gave him a hug. "I'm sorry, mister, but I have to go. Gin needs me. You shouldn't be sad though. Ichigo's going to save Rukia."

Ukitake stared after her as she ran off. Ichigo? Wasn't that one of the Ryoka still loose in the Seireitei? She had mentioned Captain Ichimaru as well. Who was this child? Confused, he continued towards Sokyoku Hill.

. . .

Hinata was too late. Momo had found Gin already, and Toshiro had found both of them. Picking up her pace, Hinata raced through the streets. Toshiro was fighting with Gin. She flew into their midst, skidding to a halt just as Gin's blade extended. "Stop!" she cried, trying to pull on Gin's arm as his blade flew towards Momo who lay a short distance away. There was a look of horror on Toshiro's face; he wouldn't be able to block Gin's sword in time.

There was a loud clank, and all of them turned to see Rangiku blocking Gin's blade with her own. Gin's eyes, which had widened when Hinata appeared, opened all the way in surprise when he saw Rangiku. Rangiku panted from the effort of blocking Gin and a small crack appeared in her blade where his had made contact.

"Why are you fighting?" Hinata demanded of the two captains, her voice shaking. "Why are you doing this, Gin? You're just hurting yourself more!"

Gin glared at her. "It's none of your business what I do."

Toshiro stared at the both of them, shock written all over his face. This was the third time he'd seen Hinata interfere with Gin.

"Why are you being so mean?" Hinata cried, and angry expression appearing on her face. She pointed to Rangiku, who looked exhausted, and said, "You're just going to hurt her more if you don't stop it!"

Gin glanced guiltily at Rangiku. "There's no other way –" he began, but Hinata cut him off.

"There's always a better way than betraying your friends!"

There was silence. Gin couldn't believe that Hinata was interfering again. She didn't understand that he was doing this to protect them all. Why wouldn't she leave him alone?! Furious, Gin turned on his heel and shunpoed away. She was ruining his only chance to stop Aizen.

Hinata watched him go, and then turned to look at Toshiro and Rangiku. Both of them were staring at her, dumbfounded. "Please," she begged, "he's not a bad guy. Gin's making some bad choices right now, but he thinks he's doing the right thing."

Toshiro didn't know what to say to that. He watched as Hinata wiped at the tears sliding down her cheeks and then as she ran off, leaving him and Rangiku to deal with the emotional Momo.