I do not own Bleach

Chapter 26 The Betrayal

The ground was shaking as they ran up. The others cast nervous looks at each other.

"What is happening up there?" Uryu called out over the group.

Hinata turned and ran backwards while talking to them, "Oh, Ichigo just showed up!"

There was a sudden increase of pressure that quickly faded. Orihime gave a squeak. "And that?"

"That was strong people running away!" She turned and began to run forward again, "We don't need to worry. Aunt Kitty is almost there!"

"Aunt Kitty?" Chad asked.

"Yep, Aunt Kitty. You have all met her!"

"You mean Mr. Yoruichi?" Orihime chirped up.

"Mr.? No silly, Aunt Kitty is a girl."

Uryu pushed up his glasses as he spoke up, "You are referring to the black cat that came with us right?"

"Yep!"

The three exchanged a look before looking at Hinata's back. An unspoken agreement passed through all of them. They would agree not to disagree with Hinata.

Several minutes later an earthquake shook the ground followed by a blinding light. "Ichigo," was all Hinata said, but it caused the group that was growing tired to pick up the pace again in a hurry to make it to the top.

. . .

"Are they beyond those dead white trees?" Ganju asked, confused.

"I can't see past them," Uryu said, irritation creeping into his voice.

Orihime glided forward to where Hinata stood, saying, "I don't need to see. No matter how strong Ichigo's spirit pressure gets, the scent is the same."

Hinata's head tilted to the side as she gave Orihime a puzzled look. Uryu groaned as she too began to sniff at the air. Chad interrupted them; "I don't sense Rukia's spirit pressure."

"She got away," a familiar voice chimed.

"Yachiru!" Hinata cried, forgetting about Ichigo's scent. Everybody looked up and found the tiny, pink haired lieutenant sitting on a branch above their heads.

"Then why is Ichigo still fighting?" Chad asked.

"He must be up against a powerful adversary," Uryu mused. "She won't be safe until he's broken the enemy completely. He has to crush all hope of executing her. It's the only way. That's why he's still fighting."

Hinata smiled and grabbed both of their hands. "Don't worry. Ichigo is going to win! Let's go watch him!"

Together they began making their way through the trees. However, before long there was a loud explosion that caused all of them to halt, protecting their faces with their arms. Orihime stumbled forward and Uryu reached out to stop her, but Hinata pulled his hand back. "It'll be okay, Uryu. She'll be fine."

Uryu glanced at Hinata, hoping she was right. "You better win, Ichigo," he whispered.

. . .

Hinata inched out of the trees ahead of the others, eyes zeroing in on Ichigo. He was injured, but he hadn't lost yet; he was still fighting. She let out a sigh of relief, then froze. Ichigo's spirit pressure changed and . . . it didn't quite feel like Ichigo. Tilting her head to the side, she tried to figure out where she had felt that spirit energy before. Loud laughter came from his direction and Ichigo shouted, "I have no name!"

Hinata's eyes widened. It wasn't Ichigo speaking, it was a hollow! His spirit pressure was now similar to Ulquiorra's, but at the same time it was still Ichigo's. His opponent seemed to realize this as well, but a moment later, the spirit pressure vanished and Ichigo was himself again. Hinata smiled; the battle would be over soon, and Ichigo was going to win.

"What's going on?" Uryu asked, squinting at the area where Ichigo was hidden by the power of his opponent's sword.

"It's almost over," Hinata told them all cheerfully.

In the next moment, there was a blinding clash of spirit energy. Nobody but Hinata seemed to notice the flower petals that seemed to be falling from the battlefield. She stepped forward and reached out a hand, catching one of the shimmering petals with two fingers. Surprised, she realized that it was a shard of the other man's blade. It quivered in her fingers, tugging as if it wanted to return to its master. She released it, and smiled. Ichigo had won.

Orihime ran past, hurrying to help heal Ichigo as he talked with the man he'd defeated. Before she arrived, Ichigo cried out "I won!" before collapsing backwards right into Orihime. Hinata giggled and led the rest of their group forward.

"Hmmm . . . you're in good spirits for someone covered in blood . . . Ichigo," Uryu said while pushing up his glasses, a slight teasing tone in his voice.

"Uryu! Hinata! Chad! Ganju!" Ichigo cried, staring up at all of them with a smile. "You're all okay. Good."

Hinata knelt next to Orihime and took Ichigo's hand, smiling.

"Are you hurt, Orihime?" Ichigo asked.

"Huh? Oh, no!" Orihime said, waving her hands frantically. "Uryu protected me, and . . . Mr. Zaraki even gave me a piggy back ride!" Orihime was blushing now. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Ichigo. Thanks for not getting killed. I'm so glad you're alright."

Ichigo smiled. "Thanks, Orihime."

His eyes then wandered over to Hinata. There was a look of pain on his face as he looked at her. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this. I was supposed to protect you."

Hinata smiled down at him. "You don't need to."

Her statement didn't seem to make him feel better as his eyes closed.

. . .

Renji cradled Rukia in his arms and dashed through the streets of the Seireitei. She was safe now, and that's all that he had wanted. The further they got from the Sokyoku, the more he was able to relax. Slowing just a bit, Renji realized he wasn't alone. He looked up and found his way blocked by Captain Tousen.

"Captain Tousen?" Renji spluttered. "What are you doing here?"

The blind captain didn't respond, but instead pulled a band out of nowhere and whipped it around himself, Renji, and Rukia.

"What?" Renji cried, confused as a fierce wind blew and their surroundings vanished. Next thing he knew, they were back on Sokyoku Hill.

. . .

Hinata stiffened, an overwhelming feeling of dread coming over her. She felt Uryu turn towards her in concern as she sprang to her feet and grabbed Chad, who was the nearest person, by the robes and buried her face in his back. Chad grunted and looked back at her in surprise.

"What's wrong, Hinata?" Uryu asked, drawing Ichigo's attention to her as well.

"He's coming," Hinata whispered, recognizing the spirit pressure. "The scary man will be here soon."

"What scary man?" Ichigo asked, confused.

Hinata pointed a shaking finger at the hill they had just left. Ganju was supporting Ichigo's weight as they left. "He's up there. He's . . . Ichigo, he's a really bad man. He scares me."

As she had spoken Ichigo had walked closer to her. She let go of Chad and clung to him. She had felt the rise in the scary man's spiritual pressure, but it was almost smothering her now. She had never felt anything so evil before, not even in Hueco Mundo.

They all turned to look back up at the hill when the Seireitei was suddenly filled with a voice as if it were coming out of a hidden speaker system. "All captains, assistant captains, seated members of all thirteen court guard companies and all Ryoka, this is Isane Kotetsu, assistant captain of fourth company."

The others all stiffened, listening intently as the situation was explained. Hinata trembled and clung tighter to Ichigo. She didn't like this at all. With the increase in her shaking, Ichigo had looked down and began rubbing circles into her back. "What's that got to do with us?" Ichigo asked, confused.

Uryu explained while Hinata tracked the evil man's spirit pressure. He wasn't alone. Gin was with him, and so was the man with the pretty black skin. Also, the red headed man that had fought with Ichigo was trapped by them. Rukia hadn't gotten away.

"Ichigo . . ." Hinata whispered, glancing at the hill. "Rukia. . . the bad man has Rukia!"

Ichigo spun, ripping her hands from his robes as he did so and stared up at the hill. "That's not possible. Renji . . ."

He began to run back towards the hill, but Hinata grabbed his sleeve. "No, Ichigo! You're not ready to fight him!"

He pulled free. "I came to save Rukia! I didn't just win those fights to let her die now!"

Tears trickled down her cheeks as she watched Ichigo run off, determination in his face.

"Idiot," Uryu said, staring after Ichigo.

. . .

Aizen smirked as the Kurosaki boy and Lieutenant Abari both fell to the ground. Didn't they know that their efforts were useless against him? He redirected his attention to Rukia Kuchiki, who sat a short distance away, frozen from her fear.

"Get up, Rukia Kuchiki," he commanded, advancing on her. He yanked her upright by grasping her execution collar. "Oh, I see. You're weak from the impact of my spirit pressure. Aw . . . but there's no need to worry. It's just easier for me if you walk on your own two feet."

There was a clanking sound behind him. The Kurosaki boy wasn't finished. Amused, he turned to face the orange haired boy once again.

"Ichigo," Rukia gasped.

"Poor thing. He's still conscious," Aizen chuckled.

. . .

Hinata dug her feet into the ground and pulled against the back of Chad's and Uryu's robes. She hadn't been able to stop Ichigo, so the least she could do was stop her friends! "No! You can't help Ichigo this time!" They shrugged her off. "Others are arriving to help Ichigo. Stay here! Stay safe!"

Uryu turned, eyes flashing. "We came to save Rukia, Hinata." He was startled when she fell to her knees, sobbing. "Hinata!"

"We can't help . . . Uryu, you . . . you can't. . . fight. . ."

Uryu froze. Could Hinata sense that he didn't have his quincy powers anymore? He knelt in front of her. "Hinata, calm down. We all came to help Ichigo. That's why we're all here."

She shook her head wildly, her orange hair coming loose from the chopsticks. "It's not safe. We can't help right now. He's too . . . the bad man is too strong."

Uryu reached out to console her when the whole sky seemed to shake. He looked up, followed by the others, and was horrified to see a giant garganta opening over their heads. Hinata looked up as well and squealed in fright, diving forward and burying her face in his chest. "Menos," Uryu whispered in awe as the gaping hole in the sky revealed several ginormous hollows. A loud scream rent the air as the hollows cried out, and behind them appeared a giant eye. "Menos Grande!" Three beams of light shot out of the garganta towards Sokyoku Hill.

Hinata pulled her face away from Uryu to peak up at the sky too. "Ulquiorra," she whispered. Uryu glanced back at her, confused, but his attention was drawn back to the garganta where three figures were being sucked towards the world of the hollows.

. . .

Ulquiorra stiffened, feeling a harsh tug on his spirit pressure. He glanced around, making sure he was alone before releasing a small amount of energy and recognizing the link Hinata had made with him. He closed his eyes and sent a surge of pressure her direction, hoping she got the message. Stay put; it's not safe here.

He felt her pressure withdraw, then surge back towards him. I'm scared. The bad man is going to be there soon.

Ulquiorra was startled. How did she know about Aizen? Shaking his head, he sent another message before breaking off the connection. I'll be fine; stay with your brother.

Their connection went slack, but the tension in his shoulders seemed to multiply. He gritted his teeth and continued through the halls of Los Noches. It was time to prepare to meet Aizen.