Bitter
(A/N: More important note at the end, enjoy!)
Previously on Bitter
"Hitsugaya Toshiro, you have been apprehended for a transgression against the Gotei 13's specific rules."
The small captain remained in his cool, calm physical state, though the same could not be said for his mental state. He knew that somehow this would happen, though the question was racing throughout Hitsugaya's mind; 'why did I do it?' Was it out of pity? Out of doubt? Or even that he pained for Killua's friend? Either way, it was his own fault for getting his emotions in the way.
"I understand the consequences, Captain Kuchiki. I will not resist against," Hitsugaya responded in a monotone voice, emotions not evident throughout the squad 10's captain's voice.
The head of the noble family nodded, as the smaller one than he stepped in front of him, hands behind his back as Byakuya set the spiritual pressure seal bracelet on the icy captaitn.
"But Captain Hitsugaya, why did you do it? Why did you heal a mere human that was prepared to be sent off to the Soul Society?" Renji couldn't help but ask, though Byakuya was also wondering at the back of his mind, but knew that this would be for sure discussed at the vice captains' and captains' meeting.
'Why did I do it?'
"I'm sure there is a captains meeting soon, lets go." The 10th captain said, purposely ignoring the lieutenant's question as he dissappeared through the senkaimon.
Renji looked at his captain, a quizzical look plastered on his face, though Byakuya just motioned for him to walk in also into the portal to the Soul Society.
Nothing was being said on the way back to squad 1, it was all just a eerie silence. When the three made it through the large double doors that had it's respective number on it, all of the Gotei 13's lieutenants and captains were arranged in two lines.
Byakuya and Renji went to their respective areas, as if on que the large doors behind Hitsugaya slammed shut as the head captain started.
"We will now commence the captains and lieutenants meeting." Yamahmoto's voice boomed throughout the room. Toshiro was standing in the middle of the lines of the captains and lieutenants, right across of the captain commander. His shihakusho was still clean, though dried blood can be found here and there.
"Captain Hitsugaya you have done an action that no soul reaper has attempted, and that action is unforgivable to atone for. Soul reaper's jobs are to rid of hollows and send off the souls to the soul society, but you have done the opposite." The captain-commander's voice roughly lectured Toshiro in front of the Gotei 13.
"As for your punishment captain Hitsugaya, you are to kill the soul that fate you have changed, and to be stripped of your captains rank and to be no less than a seated officer in the 10th division." Most of everyone's eyes grew wider, and most of them were to object and ask for another option, though it would most likely be ignored. Though, what nobody took notice was the difference in the statue-like state Hitsugaya was in. His breathing stopped, he almost forgot to breath, but, stripped of his captains rank? It all had to be a joke right? But this felt all real, all too real to be exact. He heard the commander say something, and he agreed to whatever it was, and he got out of the trance right when he finally noticed that everyone was being dismissed. Almost immediately, he quickly 'walked' out of the first division and headed straight for the 10th division.
When he arrived there, he made no social interaction with his squad whatsoever. Hitsugaya went to his private office, whom he and Matsumoto shared. He quickly took off his captain's haori and packed everthing into a little box, due to him having little personal possessions. Right when he was putting a picture away, he looked at the photograph taken, it was him, Matsumoto and Isshin, way back when he was a 3rd seat and before Isshin dissappeared. He couldn't keep his mental and physical state as it as right now, it was too overwhelming for him. He threw the image at the other side of the room, and it hit with a shattering blow. Toshiro dropped down with a thud, his belongings falling beside him also. He gripped his white hair, not knowing what to do, his knees was brought up to his chest and he remained in that position for how long.
He didn't know what to do, even though the rules were simple; kill Killua and return and be looked down upon for who knows how long. His eyes was coverd by a shadow from his unruly snow white hair, and he didn't make any movement when the door opened.
Of course, it was Matsumoto, it was only them two who were allowed to come in the room without knocking or any sign of coming.
"Captain, are you in here?" Rangiku scanned the room, but a reflection of tiny shards of glass caught her eye. Walking over it skeptically, she saw it was the photo that Ukitake took before her captain dissappeared. She looked to it's respective area, only to see her capt-, ex captain on the hazel-glazed wooden floor, his knees pulled up to his chest and it seemed like he didn't notice Matsumoto's presence until she spoke up again.
"Captain.." The lieutenant said, sympathy in her voice, now understanding what he'd done. But in Hitsugaya's point of view, he saw that as pity. Another thing he did not like to be looked down upon, is that he would receive pity from many others, and he did not want that.
Before Rangiku could do anything, the white haired prodigy stood up, and spoke in a voice that had authority in it, though somewhat rushed, "I am no longer your captain any longer, therefore, when I'm gone, lieutenant Matsumoto, look after the squad." At that, he flash-stepped out of the room, then the building, into the Senkaimon, leaving Rangiku shocked to say the least.
It pained him so that he spoke to her like that, though it was for the best to avoid pity. His sandals landed on the dirt floor with a thud, dust dancing around the impact. Was he ready to carry out his mission that he failed earlier? The question that was earlier in his mind was floating around, why did he do it. Shoving emotions at the back of his head. Hitsugaya continued to walk around the cave; where he had previously saw Killua. The area was a desolate, no form of life or movement present. The cave continued to shoot upwards higher onto grass land-it was night, the sky was pitch black with sprinkled stars scattered about- the ex-captain remembered what Killua's faint spiritual pressure left like, cold and bitter. Though there was a sense of warmth included, which was actually comforting, although Toshiro wouldn't admit it.
He sensed it, and many, many others. It almost felt like they were at war, there was one being that almost panicked Toshiro, it was stronger than his own, maybe even stronger than any other captain, almost on par with the captain-commander.
The snowy haired soul reaper loathed his mission. He was tenth seat. And it would be most likely that he wasn't ever going to get his rank back. Why continue the operation if he was just going to be greeted with a demotion when he got back? Sure, he was still apart of the Gotei 13, but he couldn't help but scoff that he was going to get declassed and not get a chance to redeem himself. What was he thinking? Was he just trying to make an excuse that he just didn't have the courage in him to eliminate the boy that he had wrongfully saved? Hitsugaya scowled, he was thinking way too much of the situation. All he had to do was kill Killua, and return..that was all. Nothing less, nothing more.
He stopped in his tracks, he looked at his hands, it had begun to tremble enough that it was noticeable. What was he feeling? Betrayal? Pity? Sympathy? The prodigy couldn't understand what was happening to himself. It was just another soul. Toshiro ran as fast as he could, he didn't know what he was running away from, just that he was running towards Killua.
The trees started to grow less and less dense, and the grass had long altered into dirt, and continued to run, dust trailing behind him, until he saw the mansion like building that was almost poked with holes every yard or so. His chest was thumping so hard that he could hear it and feel it throughout his entire being, attempting to rid of emotions for just a second would be fruitless, as Hitsugaya took in a deep breath, not knowing of what would be in store for him.
(A/N: Very rushed, I know I'm sorry I had this moment and stopped writing for a day and wasn't wise enough to retype half of the chapter. And also it's short, BUT! Next chapters will be much longer, at least 10 or 8 pages long.. Well, enjoy this rushed chapter I accidentally created. Also thank you for the reviews guys! You're the ones who motivates me to write more and more! Plus more Killua next chapters! Well, until next time! Ja ne!)