It was a curse.
Momo Hinamori was cursed by the cruel, irrational logic of the world.
"Don't you dare screw with me!"
Three days had passed since that hellish reunion. Toshiro Hitsugaya—having finally awakened after undergoing limb regeneration treatment under the care of Squad 4 and Squad 12—was in a state of utter devastation.
While he slept, things had progressed to a point of no return. The Hueco Mundo invasion force he had pinned his hopes on had already departed. He found himself forcibly reassigned to the Karakura Town Defense Force, rendered unable to move.
But most crushing of all was the verdict handed down by the newly reformed Central 46 after reviewing the previous battle reports.
The order: Execute Momo Hinamori.
The fact that the highest judicial body of the Soul Society had issued a death warrant for her—labeling her a traitor on par with Sosuke Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tosen—transformed Toshiro into a demon of grief and hatred.
"Die, you damn aristocrats! Rot in your holes, you pieces of trash! 'Firm resolve'? Don't make me laugh! You were all slaughtered once and you still haven't learned your lesson, you bastards!"
"Captain, please, stop! We'll all petition for a commuted sentence later, I promise...!"
The surrounding Soul Reapers covered their ears to avoid hearing their Captain's blasphemy, yet in their hearts, they all felt the same. Central 46's aggressive, cold-hearted decision was largely an attempt to reassert the authority that had crumbled during Aizen's rebellion. It was obvious to everyone that since the previous massacre was so recent, no proper trial had been held. Reversing a decision tied so deeply to the "prestige" of the Council would be nearly impossible.
What made the tragedy even more certain was a formal report submitted by Kisuke Urahara.
Hogyoku reaction detected within the soul-base of Momo Hinamori.
The report was shocking, hinting at the existence of horrific human experimentation. It wasn't a seal like the one Urahara had placed within Rukia Kuchiki; it suggested a "soul-fusion" with the hyper-substance. He warned that the target's soul would undergo unimaginable changes.
Of course, given their last meeting, there was no doubt as to whether Momo Hinamori had desired this herself.
"I'll kill him... I'll kill you... AIZEN!"
What would happen to Central 46's decision? What would become of the Hogyoku?
Kisuke Urahara had secretly requested Toshiro's cooperation, claiming he had a "plan," but as the final battle loomed, the path to saving Momo Hinamori remained shrouded in darkness.
***
"You... you're an Espada, aren't you? Tell me Hinamori is safe!"
High noon, October 14th. The war began with a heavy heart. In the simulated Karakura Town, Toshiro found himself facing a dark-skinned female Arrancar who introduced herself as Tier Halibel. Even fighting at full power with his Bankai, he was being pushed back. This formidable enemy seemingly held the answers he sought.
"If the Army Leader does not remain standing, the Espada will be disbanded."
"I see... Then she's... thank God."
"But you will not reach her. Not unless you defeat me!"
In that brief moment of relief for his childhood friend, Toshiro let his guard down. Halibel's transcendent composure shifted, and she released her Zanpakuto with a surge of intense emotion.
"Smash... Tiburon."
A shell of rushing water enveloped the woman. As her spiritual pressure skyrocketed, the 3rd Espada emerged from the bursting torrent, discarding the remnants of the mask on her face. She stood tall, wielding a massive, streamlined blade in one hand.
"Give up, boy. Lady Hinamori's heart is with us."
"Don't talk crap!"
With every clash of their blades, Toshiro felt his body and mind creak under blows heavier than any he had faced before. The anxiety and impatience accumulated from Hinamori's misfortunes were deeply eroding his resolve.
"Tch, I get it now... The way you guys are so attached to Hinamori... it's just another cage Aizen built to keep her trapped!"
"A cheap provocation. I am following Lady Hinamori's wishes by putting Lord Aizen's orders above all else. I will not be a burden to her!"
Toshiro gasped at the Arrancar's words. These monsters truly revered Hinamori as their superior; some, like Halibel, even seemed to harbor genuine affection. While he felt a flicker of pride for his friend's ability to charm even Hollows, it was quickly overtaken by a sharp sense of irritation.
"So Aizen comes first, huh? Then I guess you know that Hinamori nearly died three days ago because of that bastard's twisted experiments!"
"What!?"
Her emerald eyes widened. But she was a warrior of the highest caliber. Halibel suppressed her shock instantly, slamming her spiritual pressure against Toshiro like a physical weight.
"Ola Azul!"
"Gah! Damn it...!"
"Evolution requires sacrifice. I have not heard of this experiment, but it is true that Lady Hinamori has obtained even greater power. A terrifying, majestic strength befitting of her status!"
"You... damn you!"
Toshiro flew into a rage. Do they have any idea what she went through for that power? Her trembling, delicate shoulders... her cold skin... and the sensation of her blood splattering against him. It was all burned into his brain like a waking nightmare.
And they called that a "sacrifice"?
"Don't screw with me! Tell me where she is while I'm still feeling merciful! I have to... I have to save her!"
Driven by pure passion, Toshiro thrust his blade toward the frozen, overcast sky.
"Wait, don't tell me...!"
"I'll leave your mouth free so you can talk... Arrancar!"
"Hyoten Hyakkaso!"
Ice flowers bloomed upon the enemy's skin. One by one, they opened. By the time the hundredth flower had bloomed, Tier Halibel, the 3rd Espada, had been transformed into a towering pillar of ice reaching toward the dark clouds.
It was Toshiro's ultimate technique, one he could only use by pushing himself to the limit. No matter how strong the foe, escaping it was no easy feat. Toshiro didn't even stop to catch his breath before pressing his interrogation.
"Shawlong Qufong... Yammy Llargo... Luppi Antenor... I was interrupted every time I tried to get answers from them. But you? You're going to talk!"
Despite his demands, the female Arrancar remained silent, her eyes closed within the ice. Toshiro, losing his patience, prepared to flare his spiritual pressure to intimidate her.
But then...
"It is time... I am sorry, Lady Hinamori."
"What? What do you—"
Just as the woman whispered an apology to Toshiro's childhood friend, a massive Garganta tore open the sky above the fake Karakura Town.
The nightmare was beginning, heralded by a demonic roar from the abyss.
***
"Look, both of you. Look at these vibrant, deep purple eggplants."
That was a scene from "Aizen's Farm" over a decade ago. It was a touching memory of their first successful harvest.
"The happiness of harvesting vegetables you've raised with your own hands is truly irreplaceable."
"I understand completely, Captain Tosen! The thrill of preparing the soil, sowing the seeds, watching the sprouts for years—decades even—and finally harvesting the fruit... just thinking about it makes me... oh!"
"Exactly. I knew you'd understand, Hinamori."
"Yes, sir!"
"Wait, am I the only one who's supposed to call out how weird this is?"
The memories of my passionate discussions with DJ Ichimaru came flooding back. For anyone, the moment you harvest the fruit you've spent so much time and effort raising is special.
And now.
I—Momo Hinamori—was on the verge of harvesting the second crop of a "fruit" I had been cultivating for a hundred and fifty years.
『—It's Toshiro, it's Toshiro, it's Toshiro—Just wait, I'm going to make you suffer so much more—haaa, haaa—』
『Shut up, you pebble! You're being so loud I can't hear the sound of that little ice lizard's despair!』
My Zanpakuto spirits, Tobime and Momodama, were usually at each other's throats, but right now they were perfectly in sync, sharing my vision and basking in the delight of the moment. Honestly, I wish they'd behave with a bit more grace, like me. It's embarrassing for their master.
『Master, your face is twitching. It's quite unladylike.』
...This is my "Brainwashed Heroine" performance. Don't lump me in with you free spirits.
That's right! Right now, I'm acting out the role of a girl driven mad by Lord Aizen's evil schemes. Therefore, it's perfectly acceptable to let a little of my... let's say "unhealthy" penchant for pleasure slip through!
"Heh... hehehe..."
I can't help it; usually, I'd have to suppress this kind of creepy snickering. Ah, the joy of being able to freely expose my true nature, my hobbies, and my values. Freedom for the psychological minority!
...Phew, calm down. Stay cool, Momo.
It's fine. I just finished watching the best "Ulquiorra/Orihime" drama back at Las Noches, so my heart is feeling wonderfully full. My reunion with Toshiro after the "Momodama Explosion Incident" was only a few days ago, so my "Toshiro-nium" levels are already quite high.
In today's "Main Toshiro Event," there's no way my emotions will spin out of control before I've even done anything.
Now then, let's start with an aperitif. Show me your face, Toshiro...
...Glance.
—Grin—
『...Master, if you keep smiling like a villain this early, that poor boy is actually going to die.』
"Ah!"
Tobime's voice snapped me back to reality, and I hurriedly looked away from Toshiro. Good heavens. Just one look at him and my iron-clad logic starts to crumble.
Toshiro, you terrifyingly beautiful child!
I suppressed the insane spiritual pressure Momodama was pumping out and tried to steady my heart. But the boy, having caught my eye, hit me with a critical strike to my soul in a voice cracking with sorrow.
"Hina... mori..."
...
AAAAAAAAAH! I love you so much, Toshiro! What was that voice? What's with that face like you're about to cry? Are you trying to kill me with cuteness!?
(No, I have to hold it in...! Patience, Momo!)
I fought with all my might to keep the corners of my mouth from curling up to my ears. As Tobime said, I have to be careful with this performance; if I push too hard too fast, Toshiro's mind might actually snap and leave him a hollow shell. I can't have that.
Ichimaru often misunderstands me, but my goal isn't simply to watch someone despair like some petty villain. That's just a form of self-love used to mask one's own inferiority. To someone like me, who is enjoying this reincarnation into the world of Bleach to the fullest, that kind of pleasure holds no charm.
The root of my joy is my love for Toshiro. Sometimes the means and the ends get swapped around, but it's all to bring out Toshiro's greatest charm—his "clouded expression"—so I can witness his most brilliant radiance. Where is the love in breaking his heart permanently?
That's why I must endure. People suffer because of love...
"Alright, everyone. It's time to work."
Feeling satisfied with my own internal monologue, I decided to move the "script" forward before my excitement got out of hand.
Right on cue, Wonderweiss launched his attack, taking out Captain Ukitake in an instant. That's another event checkmark for the "Originality/Scenario/Role" (OSR) value I need for the fight against the Old Man.
Fura also managed to extinguish Captain-Commander Yamamoto's "Fortress of Fire" with his breath, successfully recreating one of his few canon moments.
On the battlefield, Wonderweiss's roar released Halibel, who began to pressure Toshiro. Baraggan was also fuming, likely seeing my plum-blame flames in the distance and losing his temper. Stark was hitting Captain Kyoraku with Ceros quite relentlessly... though I doubt he'll actually manage to take down the future Captain-Commander. Good, no major plot holes so far.
And then, just as Lord Aizen, Gin, and Tosen were finally free to act...
"The party's over, Sosuke."
True to my expectations as a "reader," Shinji Hirako and the Vizards made their entrance in a perfectly stylish group pose straight out of the manga.
They were so cool (standard observation).
Now, "Toshiro screaming my name" is almost here, but there's one thing I can't forget: for the sake of the eventual battle against Yhwach (or rather, to prevent the collapse of the world), I need Ichigo to defeat Lord Aizen.
To prepare for that, I need to accumulate as much "Heroine OSR" as possible through my tragic performance. I can't just end this with a simple display of overwhelming spiritual pressure like last time. If I do, Lord Aizen won't get his canon "Defeat Flag."
For those of you familiar with the "Final Battle System" for crossover/meta-fics, I don't need to explain. It's the calculation where the "Protagonist OSR," "Heroine OSR," and "Villain OSR" must reach a certain total for the protagonist's side to win.
One famous example is how Ichigo couldn't win against Byakuya with just his Bankai because he left Rukia's protection to Renji, causing her "Heroine OSR" to drop; eventually, he had to make up the difference with a "Hollowfication" bonus.
In other words, to make Ichigo win against this buffed Lord Aizen, I have to step in for Orihime—who used up all her OSR during the Grimmjow and Ulquiorra fights—and boost Aizen's "Villain OSR" by letting myself get hurt. I'm essentially taking the role of the canon Hinamori and Rangiku.
So, instead of a "Total Power Fantasy," I have to play the "Tragic Heroine Fighting Alone" to maximize the points. Since this is all because of the power-up I gave Aizen and the Momodama mess, I suppose it's my own fault...
Well, a tragic performance is necessary for the best "Hinamori!!!!" anyway, so I can at least enjoy the drama.
Most of my "Heroine OSR" is directed toward Toshiro, but in the original, Hinamori was split between Aizen and Toshiro (6:4), and Rangiku was Gin and Toshiro (9:1), and neither were related to Ichigo, so it should be fine (probably?).
Alright! Time for the main event. It'll be hard to act like I'm struggling while fused with the Hogyoku, but that's probably a needless worry.
I hate to rely on others, but the grudge has been building up long enough. It's time for the "Official Cheat Character" to get serious.
***
"The game is over, boy!"
"Don't screw with me... Don't screw with me! DON'T SCREW WITH ME!"
Toshiro Hitsugaya lashed out with his blade at Tier Halibel, who had been freed by the enemy reinforcements' special ability. He spat out curses at everything around him.
"Damn it! Get out of my way! Move, you monster!"
"Do not mock me, Soul Reaper! What soldier would let an enemy pass through to the General?"
"Shut up and move! She... Hinamori is...!"
Driven by his emotions, he tried to fly toward the woman he loved, but the female Espada stood in his way every time. With his heart in turmoil, Toshiro couldn't find the strength to bypass the Arrancar's top tier; only the hollow clashing of steel echoed through the air.
"Damn it... Hinamori..."
What was that? What had happened to her?
Toshiro didn't recognize that version of her.
That wicked, pitch-black, sickening smile... that wasn't the face of his sweet childhood friend.
"Lady Hinamori...!"
However, even Halibel seemed disturbed by her superior's abnormal behavior. Even as she fought Toshiro, an unmistakable look of confusion flickered across her face.
"Look, Tier Halibel! Are you still going to talk about 'sacrifice' after seeing Hinamori like that!? Can you still swear loyalty to a monster after seeing how much he's corrupted her!?"
"Shut up!"
His incoherent, furious shouting actually struck a chord, shaking Halibel's resolve. Seizing the moment her posture wavered, Toshiro accelerated, slipping past her guard.
But she was no common soldier.
"You won't escape!"
"Cascada!"
"What!? You...!"
"I told you, I will not fall for your cheap provocations!"
Re-centering herself on her duty, the female Arrancar recovered instantly. She tenaciously kept Toshiro pinned to the battlefield, constantly watching for a fatal opening.
She was strong. Toshiro gritted his teeth at her power—and his own weakness.
She wasn't going to fall for his ultimate ice technique a second time. The area was already filled with moisture, making the conditions equal for both of them. At this rate, he'd never reach her. He'd never be able to free her from her suffering. He couldn't let that happen.
And yet...
"It's time for the Ice Dragon to fall!"
"Trident!"
"AGH!"
She was too strong. He couldn't defeat her. Toshiro was losing his cool, his mind consumed by a maddening sense of urgency.
He needed anything. Any way to break this stalemate.
Was there no one? No one to help him save Hinamori?
"What's with the long face, Shorty?"
It's unclear if the heavens heard the boy's desperate plea.
But the two girls who suddenly appeared before Toshiro looked like the only two lights in a world filled with misfortune.
"Wha—who are you people?"
"Don't get it twisted, kid. We aren't your friends. We're just the enemies... of your enemies."
"If you get it, then hurry up and get over to that thick-browed woman Shinji's beating on! Didn't Urahara tell you the plan? You're in the way!"
One wore a school uniform and glasses, the other a tracksuit with freckles. Despite their modern human appearance, both carried Zanpakuto at their waists and radiated spiritual pressure on par with a Captain. Toshiro had never seen or heard of them.
Are these people the 'plan' that shady man mentioned?
Clinging to the one name he recognized—Urahara—Toshiro watched the backs of the masked Soul Reapers as they charged at Halibel.
Under normal circumstances, a Captain would never make such a choice. But to the Toshiro of today, they were a lifeline he had to grab, no matter how suspicious they seemed.
"I owe you one!"
Toshiro thanked the mysterious reinforcements and flew through the sky. He had only one destination: his childhood friend.
"I told you... YOU ARE NOT ESCAPING!"
But just as that low female voice reached his ears, a massive wall of water erupted from the flooded battlefield.
"Gran Cascada!"
"I am the 3rd Espada! I am Lady Hinamori's third trump card! I won't let Soul Reapers who can do nothing but kill Hollows... bother her with your presence!"
"Damn it...!"
He had been careless. He knew she had a trump card. Exploiting his momentary lapse, Toshiro was surrounded by a swirling tsunami along with the two girls who had come to help.
But in that instant—just as the torrent was about to consume them—everyone felt a familiar, loathsome spiritual pressure weigh down on them.
"Lord... Aizen...?"
His legs shook. His breath hitched. It was a terrifying, overwhelming presence.
To Toshiro, it was the target of a hatred so deep he could never kill him enough times.
The man whose name the female Arrancar had called acted as if he were simply kicking a pebble out of his way.
"You've outlived your usefulness."
With a single stroke, he cut down his loyal, elite subordinate.
"Gah... h..."
"Allow me to apologize, Captain Hitsugaya. My subordinate put on a rather pathetic display."
With the 3rd Espada falling behind him, a spray of blood in the air, the great villain looked down at Toshiro with cold eyes. Faced with such a sudden turn of events, the would-be avengers stood frozen. The man's thin smile deepened.
"To make up for it, I've prepared a masterpiece for you—one many years in the making."
"...A masterpiece...?"
"Exactly, Toshiro."
A chill ran down his spine. Toshiro knew this feeling.
It was the same terrifying sensation of being submerged in a cauldron filled with all the malice in the world.
Stop. Please, stop.
He didn't need to know the whole plan. Just looking at the dark glee in the man's eyes told him everything he needed to know about this "masterpiece."
"What's wrong? Weren't you looking forward to... a touching reunion?"
Toshiro's silent plea went unanswered. The villain glanced behind the boy and summoned a girl.
It was his precious childhood friend, her lovely face defiled by a sickening, wicked smirk that mirrored the monster before them.
"Now, Toshiro Hitsugaya. Show my Momo..."
"—the beautiful sight of your despair."
The stage was set.
As he watched the boy struggle to breathe at the sight of his transformed friend, Sosuke Aizen's eyes shone with a light that was nothing short of demonic.