A/N- This is just a little something I'm writing in my free time, in between revising for exams and rushing to meet coursework deadlines! My other fanfic is on hiatus because of those things right now, so please don't expect me to update this regularly! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the prologue, and please review with your comments!

The Frozen Rush of Waves

Prologue

"Someone once told me, that when you are about to die, the first thing you hear is the rush of the waves..."

"And then what?"

"The crash of drums..."

"And then?"

"Nothing."

The man frowned and his eyebrows knitted together. "Look, don't worry. We're going to get you out of here, I promise." His knuckles tightened around the bars separating him from the captive man.

A pair of sea green eyes gazed blankly at the floor. A sigh from the other sent his snowy hair ruffling gently in the slight breeze.

"They said it was Hyorinmaru that did this. You don't think-?"

"No." The word was barely more than a whisper. "If it was I'd know..." He reached one pale hand up and grasped the cloth over his heart. "...In here."

Hands tightened around the glinting metal bars. Eyes stared, full of pain, at the prisoner. After a long moment, the free man spoke again.

"There was ice everywhere. Six Soul Reapers were found dead, and you were found unconscious at the scene, the sacred artefact in your hands. There was no sign that anyone else had been there, and you were sighted going into that place mere minutes before the attack happened!"

What had started as a simple explanation of facts ended with the man slamming his fists against the bars in anger. Not only anger at the crime it seemed so clear that this man had committed, but also frustration that it seemed there was nothing he could do to help him now.

"Calm down, Renji." The vacant man spoke softly, his voice like the brush of a feather. "I..." He sighed quietly. "Perhaps I am fated to die here, like this..."

"But, do you want to die?"

Toshiro sighed again, then close his eyes. "No. I don't want to die..."