Title: Pure Zero

Genre: Drama

Characters: Shinji, a surprise quest... well, some people may be able to guess it, Momo

Summary: Byakya has failed Renji and Rukia... or has he.

Rating: K+

Date Posted: 07/30/12

Pure Zero

Four of the captains managed to lose their Bankai, to have them stolen off them by their Quincy opponents. Shinji moved towards where he felt one of the Quincy was located and found himself thankful that he had another trick up his sleeve other then his Bankai. He could feel Hinamori Momo approaching him and he turned to look at the small female.

"Is Shiro-chan going to be all right?" Momo piped up, her eyes filled with worry.

"That child prodigy is an idiot and I have to now deal with this mess of Momo-chan worrying about his safety." Shinji turned his head to grin at the small female shinigami. "You forget that Hitsugaya Toshiro is a taicho and..."

"But he just lost his Bankai," Momo interupted.

The man sighed before scratching his head. "If you would have let me finished... he is a child genius, the youngest taicho in the history of the Gotei Thirteen. He isn't a fool. Plus, he has Matsumoto Rangiku watching his back and she isn't a fool either despite the fact she pretends to be one."

"If he's so smart then why did he go and lose his Bankai. Only an idiot would do that!" The small female began to bounce back and forth with anxiety.

"We need to focus on our opponent and then if he needs rescuing we can see what we can do." Shinji felt like mentally kicking himself. "Why did she have to repeat what I was thinking? The kid really isn't an idiot, but he does pull some stupid moves that someone of his intelligence level shouldn't be pulling. He's worse then Ichimaru about letting his childishness get in the way at the worst times. Then again, he doesn't know how to act like a child."

Trust was something he had worked hard to gain with Hinamori, but trust wouldn't ever change the girls personality. She would always be someone who would worry and react to the smallest things. Upon coming across their opponent Shinji had an idea that Momo would unintentionally do something that would cause him to need to save her. And that unfortunately ate up the time he could keep his mask on.

"There goes my trump card." Shinji held an unconscious Momo under his arm. He had to make the decision there to fight an opponent he couldn't fight or get his subordinate to safety. His eyes widened upon seeing the

However, before he could make his decision someone moved in between him and the Quincy. He blinked a couple of times as he saw a captain's haori... a haori with the symbol for the zero squad. The person turned their face to look at him and a Hollow mask was upon the persons face. Shinji found himself flinching at first, but then something familiar about the reiatsu he felt hit him. "It can't be..."

The woman tilted her mask up. "It is good to see you alive Hirako."

"Hikifune Kirio..." Shinji recovered himself, but found himself frowning. "I am guessing that one of the requirements to become a member of the Zero Squad is to have a Hollow form."

"The members of the Zero Squad gained their Hollow forms a different way then you Vizard did." The woman watched as his face didn't change despite his irritation. "What? You didn't think we didn't pay attention to what was going on in Soul Society?"

"I think the better question is why the Zero Squad has been moved out. Their duty isn't to protect Soul Society, it is to protect the royalties."

"Obviously we felt we needed to move in order to protect the royalties. Simple as that."