A/N: Hey guys. This story just randomly popped into my head one day and I decided to write it. Yes, I do know that this is very short. Only 2 pages of a Word document! Those of you following Execution Order… Well…I'm sort of stuck on that, so you'll have to wait a little! Enjoy the story. And please leave a review!
Chapter 1
"Come on out little captain! I know you're hiding!" the espada sneered, his spiked tail lashing out, knocking down several trees in the process. The espada was already in its released form and it resembled some kind of scorpion. His mask curved around his head and over his shaggy black hair like an oversized crown, and two large horns curved from the sides. Hard bone-like armor covered his hands and bare feet, which arched to become poison-tipped claws. On his chest, right underneath his hollow hole, the number 106 was imprinted.
The espada looked up and saw a flash of white in one of the trees. He grinned devilishly, and sonidoed up, tail poised to strike. The espadas red eyes suddenly interlocked with icy turquoise eyes. Those eyes, he thought. So…- His thought was cut off when he saw a blade at his throat. "Reign over the frozen heavens, Hyourinmaru!" Ice shot out of the tip, first closing over the clawed hand reaching for the blade, then slowly inching up to cover the whole body. As the ice began to slowly cover the tail, a drop of midnight poison dripped onto the blade. Then the ice shattered, leaving nothing but powdered snow.
Hitsugaya Toshiro stepped out of the shadows, pushing his white hair back and surveying the damage. "Well, that should be the last of them," he said, glancing up. Moments later, his lieutenant appeared behind him.
"Taicho! We've gotten ours!" she said, her eyes bright. Rangiku noticed that her captain was being unusually quiet. Usually he would nod or something, but he stayed still. "Taicho, what's wrong?" she asked, stepping closer.
"Matsumoto, stay back."
"But…"
"NOW."
Rangiku had only heard this tone a few times before, and she knew it meant business. "O...Ok" She took an uncertain step back, then shunpoed back a few meters.
The chibi captain sighed. He could feel something was wrong. But what? He gripped Hyourinmaru's hilt harder, and just as he was about to bring it up, the blade shattered. Turquoise dust fluttered to the ground, and in a tiny flash of blue light, it was gone. Just like that.
Toshiro stood rigid with shock. He didn't even acknowledge the woman behind him. "Taicho! What- what happened to Hyourinmaru? Taicho!"
For a second, Toshiro didn't respond. Then he straightened. "Matsumoto, I'm fine." He *sheathed* what was left of Hyourinmaru. I can't feel him anymore. Where is he? He couldn't have died! That's impossible! His mind's eye suddenly saw the moment when that drop of poison splattered onto Hyourinmaru. So that's what happened. I can't believe I didn't see that!
"Taicho?" Rangiku asked nervously. The captain sighed. He would ask Kurotsuchi about it later. "I'm fine. Let's go back. Call the other groups in."
She nodded and her hell butterfly flew to her. While his lieutenant was doing that, Toshiro jumped down from the tree and began inspecting the damage. Just how powerful could that poison be? How could it be so strong that it would break such a powerful zanpakuto? He just couldn't understand. Something white in the bushes caught his eye. As Toshiro walked over, he saw it was the poison-tipped end of the espadas tail. The only part that was left. He was just about to pick it up when he suddenly felt somewhat woozy. His eyes began to flicker and the last thing he heard was his annoying lieutenant screaming, "Taicho!" before he blacked out.