"What the hell is going on" Toshirou curses hearing the shouts out side the 10th division "Sir Ikkaku Madarame just ran passed here with Rukia Kuchiki in his arms he was shouting that she's hurt and in need of medical assistance" a normal squad member informs him when he asks.

'She's hurt' he thinks before taking off in the direction of Squad 4 "What happened" he storms up to Ikkaku right as Captain Unohana takes Rukia into a room "She was covering our asses Captain Hitsugaya" Ikkaku explains sighing sliding down a wall closing his eyes in exhaustion.

"Damn it" Toshirou curses punching a wall "Hey why do you care anyway Captain Hitsugaya" Ikkaku suddenly asks and Hitsugaya turns in slight embarrassment "Oh I see you like her don't you" Ikkaku grins but doesn't say anything else much to Toshirou's relief.

"I'm not going to fight over Rukia it's her choice to be with who ever she wants to be with" Toshirou turns to Ikkaku with a serious expression "Your right she'd never be with me anyway" Ikkaku admits "Just because she won't be with you doesn't mean you can't be friends" Renji pops up from behind Captain Hitsugaya.

"I know that already Renji but will she really accept me as a friend" Ikkaku asks staring at the door which blocked him from seeing how Rukia was doing just then Captain Unohana exits the room "She's fine" she smiles and Renji jumps forward first not letting the others in.

"Sorry but I'm one of her best friends" and with that he shuts the door much to Captain Hitsugaya's annoyance "Hey Rukia how are you doing" Renji asks "I'm fine just a bit sore nothing to bad" Rukia explains sarcastically pouting slightly as she sits on the bed in a plain white yukata.

"How long do you have to stay here" Renji teases her lightly which causes Rukia to frown even further "A couple of days" she whines childishly much to Renji's amusement "Well you have a couple of visitors that I'm sure would love to stay with you" Renji grins out before opening the door and letting the two in.

"Captain Hitsugaya, Ikkaku" Rukia gasps out upon seeing the two before remembering "Oh that's right Thanks Ikkaku for bringing me here" Rukia smiles softly at Ikkaku and he waves it off "It was nothing" he says before bowing out leaving only Captain Hitsugaya alone with Rukia.

'Will she really go to Ikkaku' Toshirou thinks seeing the interaction between the two "Captain Hitsugaya" Rukia's soft voice calls out to him breaking him from his thoughts "What happened" he rattles off instantly "Oh well I used a bit to much energy and got scratched by a hollow" Rukia explains flippantly.

"Damn it Kuchiki that's just reckless" Toshirou curses storming up to the girl and gripping her hand much to Rukia's shock "I'm just beginning to see you as a friend I don't want to lose you" he admits suddenly before turning away in embarrassment causing Rukia to giggle as Toshirou flushes red.

"You didn't really want her did you Ikkaku" Renji prods the bald-headed man "At first it was just the thrill of having something I couldn't have but then" Ikkaku trails off "But then she asked if we could be friends and now I don't know anymore" Ikkaku finishes shrugging sullenly.

"Ikkaku do you like her as a friend or more" Renji asks "I'm not sure" Ikkaku shrugs once more "Well if you decide you like her more than a friend good luck" Renji pats Ikkaku on the back before taking off towards Squad 6 to inform his Captain of their return and Rukia's condition.

"Captain Hitsugaya you don't have to worry I'm stronger than I look" Rukia holds out her hands to assure Toshirou that she was telling the truth "Then why are you in here sitting on that bed hurt" Toshirou turns back around "Because if that arrancar hadn't of been there I wouldn't have been hurt" she huffs out.

"Wait arrancar" Toshirou pauses in thought "Why was there an arrancar there" he asks Rukia and she shrugs "I have no idea but she wasn't as tough as some others that we have faced in the past" she points out remembering the fight vividly "Was there anything else odd happening" Hitsugaya asks.

"I don't know she said something but it was under her breath so I didn't quite catch what it was" Rukia explains "Oh yeah" she suddenly jerks up remembering "When I returned back from finishing off the arrancar it was like chaos had reigned there were hollows everywhere much more than I had sensed just moments before" Rukia explains.

"Hmm that is really odd" Toshirou hums to himself before turning and exiting the room with a small get well to Rukia 'Geez boys are so weird' Rukia thinks to herself before yawning 'I guess I should get some rest' she thinks laying down and instantly falling asleep thanks to the medicine.

"How's Rukia feeling Captain" Rangiku runs up to Toshirou once he's outside of Squad 4 "She's alright though she should be asleep by now thanks to the medicine she was given for the pain" Toshirou shrugs turning towards Squad 1 and flash-stepping in that direction to alert the Head-Captain what he had found out from Rukia.

"This is Toshirou Hitsugaya requesting an audience with the Head-Captain" Toshirou calls out to a squad member who instantly runs inside to gain the required admittance after a few moments the Lieutenant of Squad 1 comes out to usher Toshirou into the Head-Captain's office.

"What is that you wish to tell me Toshirou Hitsugaya" Yamamoto asks in a deep gravely voice and Toshirou stands up straight after bowing "Rukia Kuchiki encountered an arrancar but not only that there were more hollows than there should have been" Toshirou explains.

"I see that is cause for alarm" Yamamoto sighs "Is that all" he asks and Toshirou nods "Yes sir" before dismissing himself from the Head-Captain's office "SHIROU" a girly voice yells out to him and Toshirou barely dodges the incoming attack from one of his friends.

"Momo how many times do I have to tell you it's Captain Hitsugaya" he sighs staring at the pouting face of Momo Hinamori Lieutenant of Squad 5 "When you become taller than me I'll stop calling you Little Shirou" she retaliates much to the amusement of Shuhei Hisagi.

"That's enough Lieutenant Hinamori we need to get back to work" Shuhei reaches over and grasps the girls arm lightly before dragging her away causing Toshirou to let out a little laugh at the indignant expression on his childhood friends face 'Sorry Momo' he laughs softly to himself.

Heading back to his own Squad he runs into no one else along the way 'Hmm seems way to quiet' he thinks feeling suddenly on edge as he creeps through the halls of Squad 10 on his way to his office pausing when a creak sounds he looks around cautiously but when no other sound meets his ears he continues on.

-Hueco Mundo-

"Aizen" Ichimaru Gin greets the brown-haired brown-eyed man "Where have you been Gin" Aizen asks staring at the fox-like man from the corner of his eye "The world of the living" Gin shrugs nonchalantly much to Aizen's amusement "Did something happen" Aizen asks narrowing his eyes.

"The little Kuchiki Rukia has regained her Soul Reaper powers and seems stronger than before" Gin lick his lips at the thought of getting his hands on the little woman that had defied him at every turn "She's an interesting creature isn't she Gin" Aizen remembers how tough she had acted in front him.

"Yes" Gin whispers softly in the large room admitting only to Aizen and himself of his fascination of Rukia Kuchiki "Perhaps someday you'll have her as you wish" Aizen breathes out feeling the approaching reiatsu of Ulquiorra Schiffer his 4th Espada and falls silent as Ulquiorra pauses outside the door.

"Lord Aizen" his emotionless voice calls out from the other side silently asking permission to enter the room "Come in Ulquiorra" Aizen lets the Espada in and Ulquiorra bows low before Ulquiorra even speaks Aizen sighs "What has Nnoitra done now" Aizen asks staring at Ulquiorra with a piercing stare.

"Well it's really him and Szayel but they have gotten rid of Neliel and she has completely disappeared no one can find her" Ulquiorra explains and Aizen sighs "I will think of a fitting punishment for them but until then leave" Aizen commands and Ulquiorra instantly leaves the room as swiftly has he had come.