Hinamori saw it, too. In that instant, she recognized who it was they'd been fighting. Frau. It wasn't as though they'd known each other long, but the recognition of it still shocked her. His normally smirking, even laughing, face had been contorted into dark hunger, but he was there.

And he was afraid. Whatever this was, he hadn't chosen to do it. This wasn't some savage side of him he'd hidden; this was something beyond his control. She had to save him.

She saw Hitsugaya raise his blade and knew what he was about to do. She couldn't. She couldn't let him. It wasn't right. "Hitsugaya-kun!" It was a scream. A plea, her face frozen in horror. What should she do? Should she jump in front of him, place herself between Frau and Hitsugaya's blade? Hitsugaya wouldn't strike her. She knew this. But it was dangerous there, too, that close to Frau, even bound by ice and kidou. Would Hitsugaya-kun listen to her? Would he kill Frau? She couldn't move. Someone, please, someone help me... What should she do?