This story is one of my personal favorites. Color plays an important part in this story, especially in the last three chapters where major events occur. It is to emphasize the feel of the event. Three colors specifically are used. Red means danger and fear. Gold means warmth and love. And grey means despair, sadness, and possibly even death. Keep this in mind while reading and you just might be surprised at how you see the scene in your mind.

Solace

"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." - Bruce Lee

Toushiro: "That had to have been the most pissed-off-disappointed-outburst-that-wasn't-caused-by-me moment I've ever seen from Vegeta. Congratulations, man. I thought I was the only one in this club."

Levi: "Please, Toushiro... I'm really not in the mood for your sarcastic wit today."

Toushiro: "After that chew out, I'm not surprised."

Deep inside the forest outside of the rukon district, Levi and Toushiro just rested inside a secretive cove that only Toushiro knew about. Essentially a hole surrounded by thick rock walls with a small pool and a waterfall, it was the perfect place for some peace and quiet. Toushiro often came here for such a reason. Only he knew where it was and how to get in, and no one else. Not even Vegeta. It was one of the few things Toushiro kept secret even from his long time best friend. He's never brought anyone here before, Levi is the first. Yesterday the human soldier got into some trouble that really upset the saiyan prince and he lashed out at him with angry words. Since then the Squad 9 captain has been feeling pretty blue. The soldier just stared at his reflection in the water while Toushiro just walked across a fallen tree trunk, one of many within the lush cove. Levi was pretty upset. Not only was the mistake he made yesterday just stupid, but it really brought home the truth. His friends had all these amazing powers and abilities... While he had none. He was just a simple human. Toushiro jumped off and sat down next to the soldier.

Toushiro: "Cheer up, Levi! The important thing is you're still alive, right?"

Levi: "Yeah..."

Toushiro: "Geez, lighten up already. So you got yelled at by Vegeta this one time. Big deal!"

Levi: "Easy for you to say. He likes you more. You've probably never been screamed at by him."

Toushiro: "First of all, he likes you just as much. Except for you, me, Val, Ebony, Sunrise, Cabriola, Flame Curry, Paurakou, Jess Light, and just a few others you haven't met yet, everyone else who are his friends Vegeta met through someone else like Goku or me. He has a hard time making friends on his own and he cherishes those he makes. Sometimes a bit overkill, but he cherishes them none the less. And second don't put money down on that 'I've never been yelled at by him' line there. I stopped counting after 15, heh-ha-ha!"

Levi had to chuckle at that. The idea of the Squad 10 captain being yelled at by his own second lieutenant at least 15 times was amusing.

Levi: "It's still weird though that I, a man in his thirties, is being treated like a shitty brat."

Toushiro: "You might be in your thirties but Vegeta's in his mid fifties. Compared to him, you are a kid."

Levi: "A 17 to 20 year age gap doesn't make me a kid to him. Young adult would be about it."

Toushiro: "Still younger."

Levi: "Eh, good point."

Toushiro: "Don't take it so personally, Levi. He may have been yelling but he was actually really worried. Unlike me, you don't have any powers or abilities. So things that are dangerous to me are lethal to you."

Levi: "I can take care of myself, Toushiro."

Toushiro: "I know that. Erwin's told me the kind of antics you used to do back then. I have no doubt you can get yourself out of some situations on your own. Just remember though that you're no longer dealing with Titans who's intelligence levels were either mild or just not there. The dangers here are far more cunning and powerful. You saw this yourself in the past, when you were alone with Cell and then fighting Coge, remember? You've gotta pick your battles a little more carefully now."

Levi: "I know... I just wish Vegeta would lighten up on the momma bear act he's got going on."

Toushiro: "Momma bear?! HA-HA! I LOVE THAT! Oh my god, I'm gonna use that ha-ha-ha-ha!"

Levi just chuckled as he watched Toushiro continue laughing at that comment. The young captain rolled onto his side as he laughed.

Toushiro: "My sides are killing me! That's by far the best thing I've heard him get called so far, and I've called him my fair share of things that would normally get someone else strangled!"

Toushiro recomposed himself shortly after that.

Toushiro: "Ahhh... I understand where you're coming from, Levi. Vegeta did overreact yesterday. I mean, it was a mistake! Stuff like that happens! ... Although, and don't get mad at me here, even you have to admit that it was a stupid one."

Levi: "*Sighs* Yeah, it was... Looking back on it, it was an utterly stupid mistake that I should've known better than to make."

Toushiro: (While picking up a flat rock) "At least you'll never do it again. Look at it this way..."

Levi watched as the young captain tossed the rock towards the pond. The flat rock skipped across the surface of the water a few times, leaving many ripples along the surface, before finally sinking down into the water.

Toushiro: "Every now and then we'll come across a few bumps along our paths through life that cause a few ripples here and there. Sometimes there's nothing we can do to stop them and all we can do is wait. But just like the ones made by that stone, eventually those ripples will fade with time and everything will go back to normal. We just have to be patient."

Levi: "Huh... I didn't expect something like that from you, Toushiro."

Toushiro: "Hey, I can be pretty witty with words myself. You just don't see it that much because Vegeta often beats me to it, which I don't mind. It's nice to hear him say those kind of things because he's got the experience to back it up and give it a body. But you get what I'm saying, don't you?"

Levi: "Yeah, I do."

Levi picked up a small pebble and tossed it in the water too.

Levi: "Right now I'm going through one of those ripples and all I can do is wait. Eventually Vegeta'll calm down. I hope."

Toushiro: "If he doesn't, then the next one who'll be screaming is me right in his ear. Or better yet I'll just ask Goku to do it. He's got the strength to back it all up."

Levi: "What about Bulma?"

Toushiro: "Trump card."

Levi started laughing along with Toushiro. There was only one thing Vegeta truly feared: his angry wife. After the laughing faded, Levi smiled to himself. He really was fortunate to friends like Toushiro and the others. The soldier then just looked around at the cove, admiring the beauty and the tranquility of this lush peaceful place.

Levi: "This really is a beautiful place, Toushiro. It's so quiet and tranquil. How'd you find it?"

Toushiro: "When I was a kid, and I mean a real kid. Way before I even considered becoming a soul reaper. It was always my little spot where I'd come just to get away from everything. And even after I joined the 13 Court Guard Squads I still came here, more so than ever. It's a great place to come to if you are looking for some peace and quiet. It's also a good place to train."

Levi: "How many people know about this place? It wasn't exactly easy to get in."

Toushiro: "I've asked around. Most didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about. Those very few that did have no idea how to even get in here. I'm the only one who actually knows how to get in."

Levi: "You, Vegeta and now me that is."

Toushiro: "Yeah about that... Don't tell Vegeta about this place, ok?"

Levi: "Huh?! You mean he doesn't know?!"

Toushiro: "Even I need my secrets from him. To tell you the truth, Levi, you're the first person I've ever brought here."

Levi: "Really? You've never brought anyone here? Not even Momo?"

Toushiro: "Not even Momo. That's why this place is so special. It's unspoiled."

Levi: "So why'd you bring me here? The more people that know about it, the less unspoiled it'll become."

Toushiro: "I admit, I did hesitate in deciding to bring you here. This cove has been my secret getaway for so long, I was kinda being greedy. But I decided that you need a place to come to as well, a place far from your troubles and somewhere you know you can just relax in. It's how I've stayed sane all these years. Besides, Vegeta and I have our own little secrets. This can be just ours."

Levi: "Heh... Thanks Toushiro."

Toushiro: "Come here whenever you like. You know how to get in. And as I said earlier, this place is also a good place to train. You see that waterfall?..."

Levi gazed up at the magnificent waterfall that roared down which Toushiro was pointing to.

Levi: "Yeah? What about it?"

Toushiro: "When I first became a soul reaper, I didn't have a good handle of my powers then. So I came here and trained whenever I could. In the beginning, I could only freeze the base of the waterfall and even then it wouldn't freeze all the way. Now I can freeze the whole thing and this pool solid with just a swing of my sword."

Levi was actually surprised to hear that Toushiro once couldn't freeze that waterfall. After all, when he was helping evacuate the humans from Levi's old home, Toushiro incased a 9 meter Titan completely in ice. No one but the young captain of the 10th Squad could even accomplish something like that. And yet at one time he couldn't even freeze a simple waterfall.

Toushiro: "It's like they say. Train hard enough with goals in mind and you'll accomplish anything."

Levi: "Wow... That's incredible, Toushiro."

Toushiro: "There's also a cave behind the waterfall that goes deep underground. It connects with the underground cave and tunnel systems. But this exit isn't easy to get to either."

Levi: "The Soul Society has an underground too? Do people live down there?"

Toushiro: "No, this isn't anything like your old underground. Its just caves and tunnels that stretch across the whole of the Soul Society. Biggest thing living in there are rats and the occasional snake. Small fish too as there are a number of small pools with hidden connecting tubes all around, but nothing worth catching unless you're freakin' starving. And that reminds me, don't you dare be going in there alone, Levi. It's very easy to get lost, and unless you've got luck on your side, you're screwed. We sometimes use those tunnels to sneak up on our enemies and I've actually lost a few men down there because they didn't know the tunnels. So don't go down there without someone who knows those paths. Yoruichi, Urahara, Vegeta and Val know those tunnels best. I know most, but there are three tunnels I just can't reach yet. So, please, don't go down there alone, Levi."

Levi: "Heh, I won't, Toushiro."

A snowflake suddenly landed on Levi's nose and he sneezed. Toushiro looked up and saw that it was starting to snow.

Toushiro: "I guess winter's finally arrived."

Levi: "Yeah..."

Toushiro: "We should head back."

And the two of them headed home, making it back just before it really started to come down.