Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ For The Love of a Friend ❯ Friends of Friends ( Chapter 36 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach and the characters depicted therein. The characters in this story are not mine, mostly. I make no money from the publication of this work.

Friends of Friends

Hanatoro only nodded in response to Toshiro's request. He didn't move or act. Not certain what to do next, Toshiro said, "I need a cure for my headache."

"What sort of headache is it?" Hanatoro appeared only slightly curious.

"It's a headache. My head aches, badly," Toshiro said. What more could he say?

Hanatoro smiled a little and said, "There are many types of headaches. Did someone hit you in the head, did you eat something that didn't agree with you? Did you sleep badly?"

His jaw tightening, Toshiro tried to be clear. "I did not sleep well and perhaps I drank some sake." That was as much as he was prepared to say.

Instead of any exclamation, the 4th Division officer simply nodded and then turned to the shelf behind him, pouring something into a glass. "Drink this and then plenty of water," he said as he handed the glass to Toshiro.

The drink had a slight fizz to the glowing orange colour and Toshiro drank it then gagged at the taste. Shutting his eyes he felt his head almost explode with a convulsive 'thump' and then most of the pain vanished. His vision cleared and he could reason without pain. The relief almost made him babble effusive thanks, but common sense prevailed and he simply nodded, pleased that he could do so without incurring more pain.

"How is Lieutenant Hinamori progressing?" he asked, trying to appear casual.

Hanatoro frowned and then said with some hesitation, "She had a new visitor today and after the visit her manner changed."

A new visitor? Why didn't the man just tell him instead of making him ask questions. "Who was it?"

"A member of 12th Division," Hanatoro replied, the small frown deepening as he spoke.

That seemed rather peculiar. Why would anyone from that Division wish to visit Momo? She had little to do with other Divisions while serving under Aizen as she had devoted nearly all her time exclusively to him and his desires. Why would someone from Kurotsuchi's Division suddenly take an interest in a woman recently recovered from a near fatal attack from her loved Captain?

There was something more to this. "Who was it?" Toshiro asked sharply.

"Akon," was the quiet reply.

The new information didn't help. Akon was a rather quiet and obedient person who didn't display much personality or independent thought.

"I'll go and visit Lieutenant Hinamori now," he said and then thanked Hanatoro. As he began to walk to Momo's room, he passed the linen room and before he could consider anything else, he turned the knob of the door and walked in.

Soi wasn't there. He hadn't expected her to suddenly appear in the room despite the fantasies fuelled by his imagination. Shutting the door, he leant against it, remembering the passionate encounters they had shared in this room. The feel of their bodies pressed against each other, the hissed words and pleasure. All in the past and the way the situation was between them, there was little chance of anything happening in the future. He had the experience and the memories but not the woman. The last few encounters they'd had complicated the situation further. The mixture of emotions he experienced each time he'd seen her almost made him long for the steady life he'd had before he became involved with Soi, but then he would have still worried about who would have guarded Momo while he was in the human world.

In the room he tried to face the situation honestly. The only thing he would change, if he had the opportunity, was he wouldn't ask the stupid question. Asking Soi if he should marry Momo was the beginning of the problems they now faced. All the bitterness had begun at that point and the relationship had soured quickly.

How was he supposed to understand 'the rules'. He'd never dated anyone. Momo had been his main focus and she'd treated him like a younger brother. Matsumoto was no help. She'd hated talking about love and romantic feelings. The only time she didn't mind talking about love was if it was love for a friend, but trying to get her to talk about Gin was one way to stop a conversation with little effort. For minutes afterward she would become quiet and refuse to look at him, her eyes seeking something she'd seen in the past which he could not share.

Even now, when she talked about her husband and her love for him, she was lost for words. For a woman who normally had plenty to say about everything and everyone, it struck him as slightly amusing that the thought of the 11th Division Captain robbed her of speech and the ability to communicate effectively. To have a person love you that much might be frightening, but he wished he could experience it. He wanted Soi to love him with that depth of emotion and he would return that love, with enthusiasm.

Thinking of that marriage and his comments he once more thought about matrimony. He didn't think Soi wanted to marry him, she barely liked him, but he wanted the whole thing: wedding, kids, forever. Forever would be a long time, but with Soi as his partner boredom would possibly never enter into his life again. Or to be exact with Matsumoto, Zaraki and Soi in his life, he might wish for times of boredom or a secure place to hide.

He closed his eyes and tried to imagine a time when the Winter War was over. Zaraki might burst into his office and carry off Matsumoto whenever the urge took him. Then he thought about that. Whenever the urge took Zaraki. Would he manage to get his lieutenant to help out with any work? Would Matsumoto even turn up for work? Not that she helped much, but even the minor assistance she offered was better than none at all.

And then Soi. Assignations between meetings. Pinning her against the wall in a vacant room, or would she do the pinning? Waking every morning to feel her warm body against his and watch her open her eyes and scowl at him. Originally he thought she might smile, but the scowl would be more like her. He liked it when she scowled at him and when the frown creased her forehead, just before she removed his clothes. Those expressions were genuine and couldn't be faked. Most people never bothered to learn to fake anger or confusion.

The situation had been permitted to grow progressively worse and he was partly responsible. From now on, it would change. It might be a blow to his pride, but he resolved to apologise. Not in any form that would admit he'd done anything wrong, but in a manner that indicated he was prepared to forgive Soi. He'd watched Zaraki apologise without doing so. The man had a talent for implying he was sorry without committing himself to any words or actions that might make him appear to have acted in the wrong way. How did he manage it?

He groaned and leant his head against a shelf. Trying to copy Zaraki had about as much chance of success as any useful legislation being passed by a government filled with selfish and self seeking individuals.

The main problem was pride. Her pride, his pride. As a Captain it might be considered a sign of weakness to admit to any fault. As he thought about it he couldn't remember any time when one of them had admitted to a fault, except for Ichimaru commenting that he hadn't realised he'd failed to kill Ichigo and he hadn't meant it. The only Captain he'd heard apologise was Shunsui who apologised again and again to Nanao, often for trivial reasons. From his new comprehension of the situation, he knew it was because it was easier to apologise to the woman than to experience her extended displeasure. He was reasonably certain no one else would manage her as successfully, or would desire to try.

Raised voices attracted his attention. It sounded like Momo, but with her voice filled with rage, hate and sorrow. It made her sound like she was someone else. A crazed someone else.

Matsumoto was visiting Momo. What had happened that could possibly cause this reaction? Speedily he left the linen room and began to run toward her room, hearing the sounds of a struggle. He rounded the corner only to see Momo sticking a knife into Matsumoto and then attempting to stab her again with a knife in her other hand.

Without hesitation he grabbed Momo, having trouble believing this was happening. She struggled and heaved against him, trying to break his hold, stamping on his feet, trying to bring the back of her head in contact with his nose to break it. The few times they'd fought previously she had not shown this level of determination, skill or knowledge of fighting dirty.

“Let me kill her. The blade is poisoned and she will die, she will die,” Momo was screaming hysterically.

While holding the struggling woman he quickly looked at Matsumoto who was staring at the knife she held in her hand, red staining the blade and blood seeping from the wound in her chest.

“Quick, Iemura, Hanatoro. Momo's stabbed Matsumoto,” he yelled loudly. Hours seemed to pass before he heard the thud of running feet approaching.

His friend in his arms was fighting him, and almost managed to break free. Speedily he uttered a binding spell which seemed to have no effect. Matsumoto, his friend and lieutenant gave him one last despairing look clutching her hands to her chest before she collapsed to the floor as people flooded into the room, too late.

Hanatoro quickly jabbed a needle into Momo who subsided into unconsciousness in seconds while others clustered around Matsumoto, obscuring her from his sight. It wasn't possible to see what was happening, whether she was still breathing or had succumbed to this new and unexpected attack. Wanting to drop the woman he was holding so he could check on her victim, Toshiro forced himself to place her gently on the bed. She'd be fine. She'd survived up 'til now. There would always be some fool to look at the pretty, apparently guileless face and be convinced to protect her and believe the best in her. He was done with that.

By the time Momo was in place, Matsumoto had been removed from the room and he tried to follow. Again, so soon after she had been restored to life from near death, she was facing it once more. Her former lover and her friend had betrayed her. It was one way to kill trust, if that was the intention. Two people who had been regarded as close friends had been instrumental in attempts to kill her. If she died he didn't care what Zaraki did to him. He'd deserve it all.

He recalled Matsumoto's words the day before, when she had expressed an anger against Momo he had never guessed. Some of her comments returned to him and in view of this latest incident he was forced to agree with many of her observations.

As he attempted to open the door, a fourth Division member spoke to him hesitantly. "Captain, while I appreciate your concern, please remain here. Let those who are experienced in these matters work, uninterrupted." The deferential request contained a certain amount of pleading.

"Don't let her die," he said numbly. Once more he was excluded from the place and he could only wait and fear what would happen. The few days that had passed since his lieutenant was restored to health had passed too quickly and he was again faced with the prospect of losing her.

Rage burned through him. This was unjust. Momo had nearly died, stabbed by a man she trusted absolutely and now she was acting in the same manner, but through misdirected anger. Poisoned blades. How had she obtained any weapons in 4th Division? Why would she need them? It wasn't like Momo to carry any fighting implement except her zanpakuto and poisoned daggers seemed out of character. Where did she obtain them?

Suddenly, his mind took a mental leap and he remembered his earlier conversation with Hanatoro. Akon had visited Momo and then her attitude had changed. Had the man delivered the blades along with the poisoned words that turned Momo into a raging, incoherent virago intent on killing one of her best friends? Was that the solution? If so, what was the motivation?

It seemed strange. Matsumoto had that very strange dream earlier in the day and he was positive he'd seen something when they'd forced entry into the room; and now this attempt to kill her. Was there a link? But why would Akon do that? Toshiro couldn't think of any example of hostility from that man, only from his Captain who for all his earlier words seemed to bear a hatred of Toshiro's lieutenant.

The sinking feeling he experienced at this realisation made his shoulders tense. 12th Division again. The attacks were aimed purely at Matsumoto and throwing discredit on everyone near who seemed always to disappoint her by not preventing the attack, or failing to save her. He remembered the strange reaction Captain Kurotsuchi had to Zaraki's demand to marry his lieutenant. Was there an enmity there of which he was unaware?

He began to pace agitatedly through the hall. This was taking too long. It couldn't be another endless period of waiting. It was barely two days since she'd recovered from the injuries she'd received in Hueco Mundo and that experience, coupled with Momo's long period in 4th Division while he waited for her to regain consciousness, made him desire instant recovery. It might be silly, but it would make a pleasant change from all the conflicts these incidents had roused in him.

He noticed someone standing in front of him. Looking up he saw the worried face of Shunsui. "Is Ran okay?"

Shrugging he replied bitterly, "I don't know. Momo stabbed her with poisoned blades. I think Akon might have given them to her." If he shared his assumptions it was possible another person would see the flaws.

"Why would he do that? Why would Momo attack Ran? She loves Ran, or I thought she did." Shunsui seemed genuinely confused.

Toshiro hadn't had time to wonder. What could Akon have said to Momo that would make her attack her friend? Momo had been denying reality for all this time, but what could be said to her to force her to try to kill? She hated killing but did it as part of her duties as a Shinigami because she knew that the death of a Hollow would protect innocent lives.

"I don't know," Toshiro admitted. "it doesn't seem like her." Then he realised something else. "How did you find out? It didn't happen long ago."

"I think everyone knows," Shunsui said.

A feeling of dread began to claim Toshiro. If Shunsui knew, then it was likely that both Yumichika and Ikkaku would also be aware that Momo had attacked their Captain's wife. Zaraki had charged him and them with taking care of Matsumoto while he was absent and the day after he left she was stabbed and he was only a room away. This was bad. He didn't have the leisure to worry about Matsumoto. There were other matters that needed his attention.

Quickly he yelled at Shunsui, "We've got to protect Momo!" and raced toward her room. He was amazed to see Kira already standing there, looking depressed and grim with his sword drawn.

"One of us should be inside in case they decide to come through the roof," Shunsui said quickly.

It made sense. "I'll do it," Toshio agreed. Entering the room he quickly glanced around to find that as yet no intruders were present.

Shunsui stuck his head in and muttered, "I'm going to stand guard at Ran's room as Kira's here. She's in a weakened state and while they mean well, I don't think anyone in 4th Division will be able to protect her from an attack with weapons developed by 12th Division."

The situation was rapidly becoming unreal. One woman attacked another and now there were fears of assassinations. He wondered how 10th Division would react to the news of Ran's attack and then felt a completely unexpected stab of fear. 11th Division would leave the assassination of Momo to their superior offices, but they might use it as an excuse to exercise the rivalry they held with 12th Division. His Division might riot and he couldn't be there to stop them. Hell was rapidly setting up a base in the Seireitei.

He almost returned to try to stop his Division from rioting, but knew he would not expect Kira to be able to fend off the assaults from Yumichika and Ikkaku. Both men were formidable fighters and while neither usually interfered with a one on one fight, one might fight Kira while the other killed Momo. It was too problematic and he knew that Soi had removed her protection from Momo. That was only to be expected as their agreement was broken and she hated him. Did she hate him as much as she hated Momo? Should he expect the 2nd Division Captain to also arrive and try to kill the woman she claimed to find so annoying? It seemed very unlikely but with all the disasters in train, would one more be noticed?

While these thoughts chased each other through his mind his eyes were scanning the perimeter of the room, occasionally looking at the ceiling. He could hear Kira moving around outside and the murmur of hushed voices but little else. Would the two men try stealth? It wasn't like them and he'd never seen any sign of covert action when they'd fought the Arrancar in the human world. They'd rushed into fights as if worried that if they didn't get involved someone else might take the fight from them.

The white walls didn't move, but he heard a startled exclamation from Kira and then noticed a hole appear in the ceiling. He expected to see Ikkaku descending rapidly to take revenge but instead the elegant figure of Yumichika leapt into the room.

"Oh, you're here Captain Hitsugaya. It's a pity but I'll kill the traitorous female and then we can fight. You understand, I have to do this for the honour of my Captain and 11th Division." Yumichika raised one eyebrow in an amused fashion as he drew his zanpakuto in a determined manner. "I like Lieutenant Matsumoto and take this responsibility seriously."

"I can't let you do that," Toshiro said, keeping his voice firm. "Lieutenant Hinamori is under my protection."

"Then, Captain, I will either kill or disable you first," Yumichika said unmoved.

It seemed unreal. Only last night they had been drinking and complaining about women and love and now they were preparing to fight. How could events move so quickly from acting like friends to committing to kill each other.? Quickly he realised that he would only be able to use shika in the confined quarters as his bankai would destroy the room and possibly a large portion of 4th Division. Then he thought again. He was uncertain about the shika that Yumichika possessed and it was a small room. It might be too dangerous and one of them might accidentally, or on purpose, hurt Momo.

"Plain fighting. No special moves," he demanded, his voice strangely hoarse. If his opponent disagreed he might have to force the issue, but wasn't sure how that would work out.

Yumichika glanced around the room and slowly nodded. "It will be a pleasant change to fight a Captain," he said and smiled, but without humour. "Are you certain you're not worried about waking her?" Rudely, he jerked his finger in Momo's direction.

Waking Momo was a secondary concern. If he was attempting to save her life, he didn't care if she woke. The anger he was experiencing was partly directed at her, but he wasn't prepared to admit to it. The low level of irritation he regularly felt in her presence was increased by recent events and her blind devotion to a man who had tried to kill her. How could she persist in her delusions with all the evidence?

How could he? His delusions about Momo were now shattered and he would never regard her with the same simple idealism he had developed while they were children. She'd irritated him even then, but it had been easy to overlook many of the flaws that were now obvious because he didn't know the man she idolised. That had changed once he'd joined the Seireitei. He too had been impressed by Aizen when he'd met him originally and had gained some understanding of Momo's obsession, but as time passed the enchantment had diminished. Partly due to his friend's inability to gain some perspective but also partly because of Matsumoto's increasingly strange reactions when she was in any kind of proximity to the man. At the time he had only noticed it subconsciously and had wondered occasionally why his respect for his fellow captain faltered after each encounter. Hindsight explained so much, but all the same, Momo was now privy to the same information he possessed. Why did her infatuation remain so strong?

Why was he thinking this when he was preparing to fight? He had not chosen this fight, but it almost seemed inevitable. Some long ago event had triggered a string of additional events which meant he was facing a potential friend to defend a long term friend over an attempt to kill a friend who was as close as a sister. Friends fighting friends. Kira was probably fighting Ikkaku, one of his friends. These battles should never have commenced. All they would do was promote further hate and insecurity.

"I don't want to fight you," Toshiro suddenly said.

"If you let me execute the woman we won't need to fight," Yumichika explained reasonably.

Shaking his head he responded, "Hasn't there been enough death? Why are we fighting each other when war threatens so soon?"

Yumichika leant on his blade, looking down at Toshiro with consideration. "Captain Zaraki loves his wife. She almost died once before and his reason was severely threatened. Under my watch she was attacked again, by a supposed friend: Aizen's discarded mistress."

All this was true and he nodded but then said, "Aizen tried to kill both Momo and Matsumoto. There must be a reason that he desires their deaths. I wonder..." then pulled himself up before he could say anything further.

Who would be able to believe that 12th Division's Captain was in contact with the traitors who had directed this drama? That Momo was Aizen's tool to kill a woman who posed some unknown threat, and then he anticipated that she too would die from an act of revenge. Some quick and cruel words from a 12th Division officer set the course and two women were meant to die. Two women that Aizen had already tried to kill and failed.

"Are you hinting at something? Why not say it? If we're going to fight we may as well know what we're fighting about.”

“Does anyone know the reason they fight?” Toshiro was astonished to find he was asking this question.

“It doesn't matter the reason,” for some reason Yumichika sounded bored. “Fighting is not about philosophy.”

Of all the answers that might have been uttered by Yumichika, he had not expected this one. Everyone fought for a reason. It didn't have to be an important reason. Though most of the people he'd encountered until now prided themselves on their reasons for entering into combat. Until now he would have sworn that this man had formulated many reasons why he fought, but this flat denial seemed wrong.

“I once had a reason and then someone changed my mind and I had a more compelling reason to fight. That's gone now and revenge seems the only possible motive to fight.” His face was as grim as his voice and Toshiro wondered what had passed between the man and Rukia to make him sound so fatalistic.

Maybe a few kisses, surely nothing more. It would be unlike Rukia to become engaged to Renji if she was is a serious relationship with anyone else. Not that he knew her very well and he might misunderstand the situation completely, but she didn't seem the type of person who would act in that manner. Then again, who had been behaving in their normal manner for some time? Even he could barely recognise the person he had become but then he didn't want to return to that uninformed person who had loved Momo so foolishly.

“I refuse to fight you,” was the next thing Toshiro said. He briefly uttered a kido under his breath hoping that the man would not see his lips moving. This might not be the fairest way to overcome this situation, but it might prove to be the fastest. The spell was completed and the effect, immediate.

Yumichika was caught, unsuspecting that a Captain would use subtlety instead of brute force. He pulled against the bonds and glared heatedly at the head of the 10th Division. “The use of kido is not permitted by my Captain,” he hissed angrily.

Shrugging, Toshiro said, “I don't want to kill you, even if you want to die.” That possibility had presented itself to him very clearly. Losing a trained and inventive fighter at this time was not an option, despite the fact he had come to like this man. “You have to live so you can protect Matsumoto when I'm busy.”

Yumichika raised one eyebrow with a sarcastic tilt. “As I did so well earlier?”

While it was partly true that both of them had proved to be , there were so many factors at play which had caused this set of events to occur that Toshiro laughed bitterly. “If Matsumoto dies, and Zaraki finds out, there is no place we can hide. You can die then.”

A lowering of the eyelids acknowledged Toshiro's comment, but a small, triumphant smile crossed his lips. “I might be caught, but do you think you will be able to catch Ikkaku so easily?”

Now that he felt relatively assured of Momo's safety he noticed the sounds of struggle that were clearly coming from outside the room, somewhere. Kira and Ikkaku, long term, if not friends, at least comrades, were fighting and he could hear the clash of steel against steel.

“Do you dare go and help? I'll struggle, this kido will fade and if you're not here to protect the little murderer, she will die.” Yumichika brightened considerably at this idea.

He was torn. If he didn't help Kira, Ikkaku might defeat him. To be honest, he thought the competition uneven. Ikkaku was a more skilled fighter, but Kira had some talents that his opponent did not possess. If he left the room and Yumichika freed himself, Momo would die. If Ikkaku defeated Kira and entered the room and Yumichika was free, Momo would die. He glanced from Momo back to Yumichika who was staring at the girl with his mouth twisted at one side.

He had only seen one other person look at his friend like that. Soi had worn that expression of disdain when she had looked at Momo, as if she was observing an inferior specimen.

Instead of being universally admired, as he had thought, it was now clear his friend was less than popular. He swallowed, feeling the bitterness of recognition slide down his throat as it filtered through his being. Was it possible that many people hadn't liked Aizen before he was proven to be a traitor? The world was now rotating on a different axis and he was still trying to learn the rules.

“Fight me. Kill me so honour is satisfied. Some of my actions may be questionable, but let me die a warrior's death.” Yumichika was not pleading, but the tone of his voice indicated a strong request.

What should he do? Now he had the upper hand but fighting Yumichika might not be the best solution. Yet, to defeat him as he did, was that fair? Did fairness count? He was trying to protect Momo?

“Ran would fight me.”

She would. She'd rush into the battle without considering the consequences and he'd have to save her, again. Then she would widen her eyes at him when he scolded her, pretending she had done nothing wrong and as he finally spluttered to a standstill she would ruffle his hair, smile and make some joke.

He wished she would.

Until now he had suppressed the anger he'd felt when Matsumoto had once more been attacked and was near death. He'd restrained Momo rather than kill her swiftly, but his fury at her remained. An ache was developing between his shoulder blades from the background tension of the unacknowledged emotion and maybe Yumichika offered a chance to exercise his muscles. The man could fight, he knew that, and until now he had not had much chance to observe him closely. He'd fought his Captain and that has proved very interesting, but each person had some skill or style which, if he learnt it, could only enhance his own.

“Okay,” he exhaled slowly.

Yumichika tensed suddenly and then obviously forced his shoulders to relax. “Okay?”

“We'll go to the roof and fight. No shika, no bankai, just straight fighting. Neither of us can release our zanpakuto's,” he spelled out the conditions carefully.

A slow, considering nod greeted his offer. “Straight fighting. I agree.”

“If I win, you will not try to kill Lieutenant Hinamori,” Toshiro thought he should make it very clear.

The man lowered his eyes as did not speak for a few minutes. “Captain Zaraki would insist that the woman dies, no matter what bargains are made, if his wife dies.”

The reminder made his throat tighten. Opening his mouth he tried to speak and could feel that his voice would break if he spoke. He coughed and tried again. This time his voice came out higher than he wished. “She won't die. Matsumoto won't die.” It sounded almost as if he was voicing a wish rather than stating a fact. He hated that. It sounded weak when he wanted to appear strong and decisive.

He wished Matsumoto were there to annoy him. There was something about the way she acted that while it irritated him beyond belief, it also made him feel assured that one person would listen to him, even if she totally ignored what he said.

A small sound drew his attention back to Yumichika. “Excuse me, Captain. Are we going to fight, or does the wall at which you are staring hold secrets of which I am unaware?”

In spite of his strict control, his mouth curled slightly at the sides from the sarcastic comment. “All walls hold secrets.” He tried to appear disinterested.

“Do they?” Was that confusion he heard in the man's voice?

“If I release you, will you go directly to the roof?” Toshiro said swiftly, trying to change the subject. “No attempting to kill the lieutenant on the way?”

The small smile that greeted this question was both sad and resigned, but then firmed into almost genuine pleasure. “I don't often have the opportunity to fight any Captain other than my own. Why would I waste it to kill some girl who will soon die anyway?”

Toshiro was curious about the assurance but decided not to follow it through. The sooner he defeated Yumichika, then he could find out how his lieutenant was faring. He released Yumichika who bowed slightly and then left the room through the hole he'd already made.

After a quick reassuring glance at Momo, he followed, drawing his zanpakuto on the way. Knowing that 11th Division would use any technique that gave them advantage, he wanted to be prepared. As he came through the roof, he saw Ikkaku and Kira, their blades locked. Ikkaku was smiling, while Kira looked as dour as ever, but determined.

The 11th Division 3rd seat darted a quick warning glance at Toshiro and Yumichika. “Don't interfere. This is my fight and I want to finish without interruption.”

“We've got our own fight and why do you need to remind me?” Yumichika sounded short, as if he was offended at being reminded . “Have I ever become involved in one of your fights?”

Ikkaku gave out a hard laugh. “No. But there's always a first time. I didn't think this guy had the balls to face me in a fight," he said nodding toward Kira.

"You didn't give me the right motivation before," his opponent flexed his shoulders and pushed back.

Ikkaku laughed again. "The man needs motivation. Why did you even leave 4th Division if you don't want to fight at any opportunity?"

"As you've told me many times, I don't know how to have fun," Kira said dryly.

Apparently ignoring the comment, Ikkaku continued, "First you fight Hinamori, to protect Ichimaru and now you protect the same woman you fought and who tried to kill Ran, who happens to be your friend as well. Next you'll be fighting Ran to protect me."

"If Ran survives," the words caught in Kira's throat and he coughed.

"You're still talking?" Ikkaku pushed Kira back and lunged at him in one move. A quick spin to the left meant that only the man's sleeve was pierced by the stroke meant for his heart.

Despite his inclination to watch the progress of that fight, Toshiro turned his attention to Yumichika. "Does it annoy you when people constantly remind you not to do something you've never done?"

The 5th seat made a small moue. "You get used to it, or so I've heard. I haven't yet."

Nodding Toshiro replied, "I don't think you do. I pretend I have."

He thought back to some of the times Matsumoto teased him and made jokes about him forgetting to do the paperwork, or leaving it all for her to do. She hardly lifted a brush most of the time, but he didn't care. Feeling a sharp jab in his chest near where he thought his heart resided, he recalled that once more his friend might die. He didn't want to go through this again. Fighting Yumichika might distract him, as fighting his captain had given him something immediate on which to concentrate.

Even as he thought this, he, like Kira was forced to move out of the path of his opponents blade. This man was much lighter and shorter than Zaraki and would play to his strengths. Like the man, the fighting style might be more subtle and his words might be more lethal and off putting than the general slagging he had received from Zaraki.

"Will this be a boring fight?" Yumichika asked.

"Only if you make it so," Toshiro said and then turned his blade sideways as he hacked at the steel rushing toward his ear. Placing enough force behind the riposte separated their blades and he stepped back and bounced lightly on the balls of his feet.

"Will I too be a recipient of your athletic moves?" The small arch of the eyebrow and tiny grin on his opponents face made him almost smile back.

The man had watched him fight Zaraki and the Hollows and possibly used the opportunity to assess his strengths. "I change my strategy, depending on my adversary," Toshiro assured him. If it was not possible to use shikai or bankai, adjustments would be necessary.

He turned and ran in the other direction to hear a startled cry and the sounds of running feet following him. "I never expected to see a Captain run from battle," Yumichika called loudly.

Hearing the man approach, Toshiro stopped abruptly and launched his body backwards until he was behind Yumichika. He had tried a similar tactic with Zaraki, and Yumichika must have remembered as he turned quickly, but not fast enough to prevent a small wound from forming in his shoulder from the tip of Toshiro's blade.

"We're further from the others and can have a bit more space," Toshiro said innocently, as if that was the only explanation for his move.

Yumichika nodded. "A young, attractive and clever opponent is better than a dull, ugly one."

At the word attractive, Toshiro felt the colour flood his face. If the man called him pretty, then he wouldn't hold back. It was bad enough being young, but to be told you were both young and pretty was insulting. The smug look on Yumichika's face alerted him to the trick. The man was trying to find a weakness, and his obvious discomfort was proof that the man had succeeded. He quickly adopted a defensive stance ready for the next attack.

“Akon is captured and will face trial.” The strong, but breathless voice of Shunsui echoed through the air. “He tried to gain entry to Ran's room, but I captured him. 1st Division Shinigami are on their way here. You may as well stop fighting. It's over.”

“Why spoil a good fight for a bad reason?” Ikkaku's voice was steadier than that of the Captain, but not much.

“Why let someone else make your fights for you?” Shunsui asked.

Toshiro turned to Shunsui. What was the man saying? Both Ikkaku and Yumichika were open mouthed.

“What do you mean?” Yumichika found his voice first.

“12th Division,” Shunsui said blandly.

Toshiro found he was nodding as his brain processed the idea that his theories might be confirmed by those two simple words. At least he hadn't imagined the string of coincidences.

An ugly red colour rose in both the faces of the men from 11th Division. “Are you saying the attempt on the Captain's wife is due to 12th Division?” Ikkaku demanded.

Toshiro could understand what the man was feeling. At first it seemed clear who was at fault, but this changed the situation completely. Shunsui seemed convinced that there was a force behind this that was shaping events. To stop the inevitable fall into chaos, it was important that these were identified so they could be known. A known enemy was easier to guard against than an invisible foe.

“Prove it,” was Ikkaku's demand.

“The poison is one developed within 12th Division,” Hanatoro said.

Toshiro had not seen him arrive and felt a shock at hearing his voice. This confirmation of the origin of the poison made him wonder why that fact hadn't been concealed.

“Only members of 12th Division have access to the poison and of 12th Division, only the highest seated officers are permitted to use it.” The more facts disclosed made him question why it was so easy to trace the poison back to its source.

“We're frigging dupes? You mean we're working for the freakshow?” Ikkaku sounded both incredulous and offended.

Yumichika shook his head in denial. “I'm not working for them. Never.”

Toshiro took a deep breath and said, hoping his voice would remain steady, “If you keep trying to kill Momo, then you are working for them.”

He'd never seen shoulders sag in unison before. “We'll stop trying to kill the idiot if she stops trying to kill Lieutenant Matsumoto. If she tries, we'll kill her and then we're coming for you, Captain Hitsugaya. Nothing personal.” Ikkaku's voice was heavy.

A loud clattering of sandals on floor boards announced the arrival of the 1st Division members. Before any further words could be exchanged the 11th Division members were taken into custody and the hallway rapidly emptied.

“This is bad,” Shunsui remarked.

Toshiro nodded. What would happen next?

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