Surge
By: WhisperedSilvers
Prompt: "I felt it too."
Summary: Rukia's almost execution became the catalyst that caused the Soul Society to question what was right and what was wrong.
Into the Crossfire
When Rukia woke, she noticed her ceiling was not white, but stained glass twisted into a vine of lotus flowers. She blinked a few times before turning her head to the side; she was in a makeshift futon that was tucked neatly into the corner of his office. Hitsugaya decided to sleep on his couch, the builders were still working on expanding his bedroom and she swallowed thickly.
Captain Unohana released her from the medical unit three days later, with orders to rest for at least three days before moving about. She wasted nearly a week in her bed, just to recover enough energy to move about. The sunlight glinted dimly through the windows, her eyes focused on the small ray of gold—the sun hadn't risen yet.
Crunching her abdominals she sat up. Running a hand threw dark locks, she pursed her lips—this was it. She couldn't stay in her bed for so long, she didn't like feeling unproductive—it was like itch that she couldn't scratch. A shock of white came hazily into focus, she blinked once and her sight sharpened. Aqua-colored orbs fixed onto violet orbs and with dark lashes half-lidded, he slowly, leaned back.
"Are you alright?"
Rukia paused, "I'm fine," She tried to focus on the blood rushing to her legs, "Just need to walk a bit."
Hitsugaya nodded, he stood up and she wondered when did he crouch down to speak to her? He stepped back a few paces and studied her carefully.
She forced back a twinge of irritation. She was low on reiatsu, not suffering a chronic disease. Rukia sat up and was surprised at the lack of feeling in her legs. Internally she winced when she felt the familiar 'pins and needles' sensation, exhaling lowly, she started to walk around the office ignoring the small inkling of discomfort. It took exactly three minutes for her to gain back the feeling of her legs again.
Hitsugaya spoke up, he was sitting at his desk now, his hand under his chin, and he wasn't quite sure what to say, so he spoke his thought aloud, "You look better."
She turned her head to look at him, her eyebrows furrowed, "What?"
"You don't look like you're in pain." He stated, he arched a brow, "Perhaps rest was all that you needed."
"Perhaps," Rukia tilted her head slightly, "What," She licked her lips before she continued, "What did my brother say?" She added in after, "Yesterday."
Hitsugaya stared at her before it clicked, "Matsumoto told you."
"Yes."
He sighed before running a hand threw his hair, "Your brother, unfortunately is still recovering. He lost a lot of blood in the attack. When I told him that you will stay with me, he didn't object." His fingers brushed a scroll before unraveling the parchment, "I suppose he couldn't, Head-Captain Yamamoto was in the room. His lieutenant on the other hand was quite vocal about his…displeasure."
Her jaw twitched but said nothing.
He caught the small movement and continued, "However," He focused his eyes on her small figure and frowned, "The clan didn't seem too bothered with the arrangement, why is that?"
Rukia stilled.
She wouldn't lie to him, she couldn't.
"The Kuchiki clan," The words left her mouth bitterly, "Does not care for something insignificant—as this."
—as me.
His eyes narrowed, "Elaborate."
"I am adopted,"
He knew this and nodded.
"From the streets of Inuzuri."
It was like a stone dropped into his stomach and suddenly he found it hard to inhale. He knew what it was like to live on the streets; he knew what it was like to struggle, and to feel hope and everything good slip threw your fingers. It was…hard to hear that such a small woman came from the streets that practically salivated with danger.
She knew loneliness.
She knew hatred.
She knew rage.
She knew fear.
Rukia allowed that sentence sink in for a moment before she continued, "The Kuchiki clan has no need for a street-rat such as myself, " A flash of forlorn passed as soon as it came against the shadows of her face, "I was merely an obligation."
He nodded, "Your sister."
"Yes."
Hitsugaya didn't know what to say and it was quite surprising that the snow-haired captain was rendered speechless. Words seemed insignificant to the neglected sister of the Kuchiki clan and he wanted to do something, say something—his tongue lay limp in his mouth.
It was silent for a minute, one painstaking long minute.
"Tea?"
Her lips curled up, "Sure."
Matsumoto fortunately or unfortunately—Hitsugaya wasn't sure—appeared after the tea finished brewing and the sun was burning brightly behind him and it was eight in the morning and she was early.
"Captain!" Matsumoto came bumbling in, she carried a scroll in one hand and her other hand with a bag of—snacks?
"Matsumoto," A beat passed, "You're early."
"I brought a gift for Rukia," She turned her head to look for the small woman, "Where is she?"
"She went to change," He replied, "While the tea was brewing."
Rukia came back into the room in loose black sweatpants and loose white racer-back top, her hands shoved deep into her pockets and her hair brushed her neck uncomfortably.
"Rukia, I brought some breakfast for you." The blonde smiled sunnily, she took a seat on the couch and patted the empty space next to her.
The raven-haired woman gave her a small smile and sat next to her, "Thank you, Lieutenant—"
"Rangiku, Rukia."
She paused when she brushed the edges of the plastic bag, "Rangiku, thank you."
"It's not a problem," She grinned, "Captain I brought some watermelon squares if you want."
His ears burnt and Rukia's eyes widened fractionally at the small brush of red.
"Dammit Matsumoto," He grumbled before taking a seat on his makeshift bed, "I can't let you near people for one minute without you spilling my personal information."
She laughed and it sounded like bells. Rukia's ears twitched, "Isn't this…dessert?"
"Yes," She shrugged, "Lots of westerners eat dessert for breakfast. I thought you would like some custard and dango. You need some sugar—it'll make you smile."
Rukia felt warm wave of appreciation cover her being for a second. It was like a blanket of light covering her being and then disappearing with a wind that was colored silver.
With quick fingers, she grabbed a stick of dango and slowly chewed the sweet dough. The sugary delight warmed the ice that was shattered in the depths of her soul; a sip of tea had her nerves calm and her mind clear.
"Here Captain," Rangiku handed her captain a scroll before adding in brightly, "Straight from Head-Captain Yamamoto himself."
Hitsugaya swiftly unraveled the parchment, his mouth quirking up slowly and his lieutenant felt a sliver of apprehension.
"Captain?"
"It's an approval scroll."
"Approval?" She blinked, "For what?"
"Approval for us," He motioned the smaller girl, "To enter the Byakko Mountains."
"You're going there?" She raised her eyebrows; she bit the inside of her cheek.
"I know."
He answered her unspoken question without even looking at her.
Matsumoto didn't say anything after; she only hoped that her Captain knew what he was doing.
X
The Byakko Mountains was rumored that Byakko himself, ruled the terrain, with the grace of gazelle, the ferocity of a wolf and with the silence of a grave. Within the eastern district of Rukon had a small dirt pathway that led towards the mountain range. Rocks and mud splattered across the moss cluttered path. It was humid. Water thick in the air and it swallowed Rukia's just-healed lungs in a sheet of vapor. The clouds were grey and drooping, the heavens screaming of threats of downpour and she shivered when she felt a breeze brush her arms.
"Have you ever heard of the Itsumade?" Hitsugaya suddenly questioned, his hands twitched when a prickly branch brushed his bare skin.
Rukia thought for a moment, "Is it something like the Sōkyoku?"
He shook his head, "The Sōkyoku is a double blade, a weapon if you will. Then it is engulfed flames—this vaporizes a soul. The Itsumade is a fire-breathing bird-like monster."
"Is that even real?" Her tone was slightly incredulous.
Hitsugaya grimaced for a moment, a drop of water splattered onto his face. It began to rain, the water collecting onto his snow-colored hair, darkening the strands into a silvery sheen—ethereal. "From what we understood, the Itsumade was supposed to be a myth. But as we all came to recognize—myths do not die so easily."
Rukia's violet-colored orbs watched the almost untouchable being in front of her, if she could even have a fraction of that strength he possesses—there were so many things she could do. Even with the raw power he exudes within his arms alone, he remains seemingly fragile from a distance—the rain makes his form look somewhat tragic. She composed herself, "What does that have to do with the Byakko Mountains?"
"The Itsumade feasts on the weak," He noticed her flinch, but continued anyway, "Souls that are damaged, reiatsu-drained or just weak-willed are targeted. He is silent like Byakko himself, but unlike the tiger who thrives in playing with it's prey—Itsumade attacks in one swoop." His hair weighed heavily onto his forehead, he brushed the strands away, and "There have been rumors that he lives along the mountain range. Byakko may be extinct, but you can still hear the Itsumade's screech when climbing the cracks of the mountain."
Her fingers tingled, but she remained silent.
"What I am saying is that," Hitsugaya sighed in acceptance, "We need to get to the spring quickly, because once your presence is detected on that land itself," He narrowed his eyes, "He will target you."
Rukia nodded, "How far is the spring?"
His feet stopped, in front lay the beginning of the incline, the rocks were grey-toned, with purple abrasions and fog began to trickle down the cracks. "Without flash steps, three hours." His tone was flat, "The spring is underground, it's like a cave," He raised his pointer finger and motioned it upwards, a white leaved branch brushing against a small opening inside the rock. "There. We need to get inside that opening. That opening is the second floor of the mountains, from there we will enter a forest, do not use any kido—at all."
She inclined her head in understanding.
It was a long climb, maybe an hour or so—her uncut fingernails stuffed with the dirt of the rocks, her hands felt raw, and she felt vulnerable. She grabbed a small vine, lifting her foot and hooking it onto a small jutting rock, she pulled her self higher. The air was getting colder and wetter. The fog warmed her throat and it was easier for her to breathe. She blinked, water clotting onto her eyelashes, the rocks were getting slippery. Her nails dug into the harden soil and her she made her movements more steadier.
When they both reached the leaved opening, Hitsugaya parted the leaves before crawling inside and Rukia followed suit.
Unlike the perimeter of the mountain, which was cold and wet—inside the mountain was warm and wet. Almost like a rainforest. It was dark as they walked inside, a white light emitting from the cracks of the cave and she swallowed. The cave looked man-made. Carved onto the walls were groves that prevented the water from dropping into a waterfall.
As she walked further and further into the cave, there was a small opening in the left grove; the same white light from the cracks of the cave illuminated the small area. Entering the opening all she could see was trees, there were lots of trees and grass and green. The vegetation was certainly flourishing; it really was like a rainforest.
Towards the edge of a river there was a field of gold, she squinted, no it wasn't gold, it was a field of wheat and when bathed in the warm sunlight it shone like gold.
"This place is incredible." Rukia was barely aware of what she was saying as she watched the very colorful flowers speckled throughout the dirt clearings.
"It is," Hitsugaya, agreed, "It's also very dangerous. Byakko owns this part of the forest, that is why it is prosperous."
"Should we be expecting a visit from the Great White Tiger himself?"
He shook his head, "Byakko is extinct or so his remains tell us." He grabbed a branch of the birch tree and plucked a green leaf, "Itsumade on the other hand hasn't detected us yet, and this leaf will tell us if he did."
Rukia stared at the smooth edges of the leaf, it look like an ordinary leaf. "How?"
"When the Itsumade catches wind of us, this leaf," Hitsugaya held the foliage in the direction of the sun, "Will burn and turn into ash."
She hmm'd in understanding.
"Let's go."
Hitsugaya grabbed his sash where his zanpakuto was held, he walked five paces before sliding among the dew-slicked grass, with his seal sword, he grabbed the blade and jutted the blunt of his weapon against a tree and when an abundance of leaves fluttered around the couple, dancing in the wind, he grabbed a few and shoved them into the pockets of his kimono.
Rukia watched him with wide eyes. The ever-graceful Captain almost danced with his zanpakuto—just like how she danced with hers.
It was one more mile before she began to see a weeping willow tree brush a cave's opening. With the sunlight glimmering against the greenery, it almost seemed like a painting and she was almost ashamed when she touched it.
"Inside." Hitsugaya said pulling the branches away from the opening and motioned his head for her to enter first.
All she could hear was the sound of rushing water. Gurgling and bubbling before she could even see it. Even with her zanpakuto tucked into her obi, her hand closed over the handle and she swallowed. It was dark, far too dark to see anything and cautiously, she walked forward, her feet slightly tapping onto the ground—stability was her main concern.
"Faster, Rukia—we do not want to stay here longer than deemed necessary."
She nodded even though he couldn't see. Her movements were quicker, the sound of the water rushing had gotten louder, a shade of blue light emitted from behind a rock and hesitantly she walked over.
It was the most bluest shade of sapphire, the spring itself looked it was glowing—it is glowing, Rukia's eyes widened. With rocks surrounding the pool of water in a protective manner, the waterfall poured into the spring, with a white haze misting the area and then falling. The reishi simply blazed silver when swirling in the water, like smoke twirling in air. There was simply no need for light, the reishi emitting from the spring itself was enough light to illuminate the cave.
"Well?"
Rukia released in audible yelp, she turned around to see Hitsugaya with his arms cross under his chest, she replied quickly, "Well, what?"
He looked at her as if she were an idiot, "Get in."
Her tone was incredulous, "What?"
Hitsugaya's eyebrow twitched, "Get. In. The. Water."
"I have to get in?" Rukia inquired dubiously, this was not good. She turned back towards the spring, she tried to rake her brain for a suitable rebuttal, but unfortunately her mind came up with nothing. He never said she had to soak herself in the spring—she thought she would just have to drink the water! If she had known that she had to be submerged in the water, she would've refused and gained her reiatsu back the normal way.
Hitsugaya watched as her face paled and how her hands shook. The obvious signs of distress and he couldn't understand why she was so afraid—
"I can't swim." Rukia's voice nearly muted, interrupted his thoughts and suddenly she felt very embarrassed.
Hitsugaya's teal orbs blinked in quiet surprise, sooty eyelashes brushed his cheek, and unintelligently he responded, "Oh."
Rukia tightened her fists. She felt incredibly selfish and disgraceful. Here, Captain Hitsugaya spent four hours scaling up the mountain and searching for this underground spring—just so her reiatsu could recover. Now when they've reached their destination, she couldn't even find the courage to even put one foot in the water—she just couldn't do it.
Hitsugaya walked toward her and she snapped her head back so she could see his movements. He grabbed her shoulders and now she was facing him and she felt really awkward—
"Just," He paused, he, himself didn't know what to say, he swallowed and motioned her towards the spring. He felt her shoulder tense and her eyes wide with apprehension, "Just look at me, okay?"
He honestly had no idea what he was doing.
When he walked forward, she took a step back and he kept this up until her foot hit the ridge of the spring. Her shoulders stiffened and her eyes were almost accusing. His warm hands curled tightly around her shoulders, "I won't let go."
Rukia felt a current run through her, it was almost comforting, It was an electric current he was somehow emitting threw her clothes and she felt something inside her twist uncomfortably.
Hitsugaya pushed her into the water, she shrieked and instantly her hands clawed onto his sleeve in a death-grip, "Hitsug—"
His knees immediately plummeted onto the ground, hard bone cracking against the rocky pavement, his hands still grabbed underneath her shoulders and he exhaled sharply, "I got you, I got you."
Half of Rukia's body was submerged in the water, her hands glued to his biceps, every muscle coiled with tension and her breathing started to increase—rapidly. Fear started to accumulate and the only grip of reality she had was Captain Hitsugaya's warm hands on her shoulders.
Hitsugaya squeezed her shoulders and that was the only warning she got. Swiftly, he released her shoulders, she yelped loudly, amethyst orbs flashing with panic and fear, her hands lost their grip on his arms and his hands trailed from her shoulders down her forearms and locked within her fingers.
This happened within the span of a few seconds.
Now Rukia's shoulders were underneath the water, her head above the surface and her hands locked with Hitsugaya's. She had to force her breathing to steady, her eyes locked onto teal.
"Easy, easy." He hushed her, "It's fine. I'm not going to let go. "
Rukia exhaled shakily, before she eyes him warily, "A little warning would have been…reassuring."
Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow, "The element of surprise is always reassuring."
She shook her head; too tired to argue with him, she tried to focus on a point on the cave behind her instead of the water she was currently floating in.
"I have to go underwater, don't I?"
It was a statement not a question.
"Yes." The man with snow-colored hair, gripped her hands tighter, "Duck your head under. You will not drown."
I will not allow it.
He was startled for a moment, Hitsugaya wondered if it was he, who had formed that thought or the silent Hyorinmaru.
But when Hitsugaya looked at Rukia, her eyes frosted with determination—she had willingly given him her trust—her nails dug into his skin and she inhaled sharply before she ducked under, with her hands gripping his, he had to lean over just so her hands could be inside the pool.
He wouldn't let go—he couldn't.
The spring glowed almost lavender for twenty seconds. The spirit particles swimming towards the small woman, absorbing into her being, even with the water so clear, he couldn't see her, just light emitting from the being's hands and she quickly broke the surface—gasping for much needed air.
Hitsugaya moved swiftly, pulling her up and hooking his arms under her shoulders, yanking her out of the spring and onto the ground.
His tone was harsh, pestilent even, "Rukia, look at me. Look at me!"
Her eyes flickered open at the callous command. Visibly, he wilted in relief, his head fell back and he looked at her, exasperated.
She coughed, spluttered, the water wasn't even inside her being, but it felt like an invisible hand squeezing onto her lungs, which was quite ironic, even with her element being of cold and ice—water, it was satirical to know that she had a fear of being kept under. The tightening of his hands on her shoulders left that part of her body numb, only when he did release her shoulders did the cool feeling of blood rush back to the tightly constricted area—she was on land, the earth itself, she wasn't in the water, only then did she inhale shakily.
Despite Rukia's thundering heart, she sat up, contracting muscles that were still straining to breathe, wiping a hand from her face, she removed the water that was sliding almost slowly down her cheeks, she frowned, her head certainly felt a lot heavier, why, and then she glanced down.
Her hair now reached just under breast, it left tangled mess on the back of her head, she lifted a section of thick, black, dark hair, and she wondered aloud, "Was this supposed to happen?"
Hitsugaya furrowed his eyebrows and then realized that her hair had grown significantly long, "I theorize that as your reiatsu reserves were filled quickly and to the brim, the excess reishi particles must have enhanced parts of your body as well. Do you feel any different?"
Rukia shook her head, "My head is just a lot heavier and the surge isn't affecting me—considering how close you're standing to me."
He reminded her, "The surge only affects us if we are from a certain distance from each other," Then he added in thoughtfully, "At least that is all we know of."
"Right." Rukia stood up, she felt much lighter—physically and mentally. Who knew reiatsu-drainage could lead her to acquiring such pessimistic and cynical thoughts and feelings. She felt good—like herself.
"You look much better," Hitsugaya indicated a matter-of-factly, affirming her own thoughts and for a moment she was startled. Then she brushed it off. "Your reiatsu is much lighter, calmer even—stronger."
"I would like to think I'm in perfect health, Hitsugaya." Rukia said softly, she touched her zanpakuto with her pointer finger pointedly.
He stood up and assessed her, "Thinking and being are two different things, Rukia."
She ignored the silent insult, lifting her hand in front of her, and flexed her fingers. Her bones clicked with movement, the tension left her shoulders and she sighed. Much better.
Suddenly, Rukia felt the earth beneath her shake, rumbling and groaning—widening her stance she looked over at Captain Hitsugaya, panic seeping into her eyes and she grasped the hilt of her zanpakuto.
Within the span of a breath, Hitsugaya yanked the leaves out of the pockets of his kimono, black smoke covering the foliage before incinerating in front of him, despite his calm façade, turmoil was clearly churning in his stomach—he knew for a fact, that no one, no one saw the Itsumade, and lived to tell the tale.
"Captain—"
A loud screech rendered her deaf for a few minutes, the groves within the cave drizzled with large pebbles and fine dust.
"It's here—somewhere," Hitsugaya's words were jumbled together—almost mindless, when he grabbed her by the forearm and ran out of the underground cavern, dragging her along with him and she struggled to keep up with the frantic Captain, "It's found us, how did it find us?" He was mumbling to himself absent-mindedly, brushing past the willow branches that hid the opening, he maneuvered himself with Rukia till they were near a boulder of some sort that concealed their short statures, he needed a plan—he needed think of plan, and quickly.
Rukia, whom was perplexed by Hitsugaya's hasty and nearly panicked movements, looked at him with incredulity. His hand was attached to her forearm, with a durable grip, he seemed to be constructing a plan, teal orbs glancing at the angle of the trees—
She spoke quickly, "Captain, if the Itsumade uses fire, wouldn't it be appropriate to travel near the river?"
Hitsugaya's train of thought paused for a moment, he hadn't considered traveling towards the river, they wouldn't get out of Byakko's terrain today, that he was sure of, however….
"That is correct. However, judging from the circumstances of the topography, it would corroborate to be a disadvantage. The trees are a fire hazard; it would destroy the river, hindering the flow and burning the forest. Consider the angle of trees, which section of the forest would be less precarious for the animals, the vegetation and for us to travel by?" Hitsugaya asked, his tone methodical and he looked at her which such scrutiny—she felt it was as if Captain Kurotsuchi himself examining her under a microscope.
She blinked at the question, it was true, she hadn't considered the safety of the environment, and she felt almost ashamed that she didn't. The intensity of Hitsugaya's words—more than his gaze, forced her to think critically.
Rukia was by no means a tactician, she lacked the skill that made her a genius, nonetheless, she was intelligent, she was quick on her feet and she learned to manipulate the situation to play into her favor and use her opponent's weakness against them.
When she joined Squad Thirteen, Captain Ukitake had made it a habit rather than a chore of playing shōgi with her at least twice a week, he told her that it would help her become a better military tactician—she didn't understand why she needed to be educating this thoroughly in tactics, but who was she to argue with her Captain? She would bow her head and obliged to her Captain's wishes.
Never once did she regret playing.
Rukia also did see her brother play shōgi with Renji when she was living at the compound; her brother's movements were meticulous, like serpent ready to strike it's prey. She would like to think of herself something like a fox, silently awaiting the destruction of her prey—clever—but deadly.
Rukia spoke low, her voice vibrating under the winds of the forest, "The leaves, we could use the smoking leaves as a diversion—it would burn out quickly and the grass wouldn't catch. The treetops, we could use the treetops to maneuver our way out of the Itsumade's path. Thirty-five degrees south there is another cave, even if it is a bit of distance away from the exit we could—"
"We could be undetected because the cave is reiatsu blocked—sekkiseki," Hitsugaya's eyes widened fractionally, as he finished her sentence. He could've slapped his face, why didn't he think of that? "That's brilliant, Rukia."
It was his sheer tone of gratification that warmed her cheeks, she looked away—it's been a while since she heard such genuine appreciation.
It didn't take long to gather the leaves, with random intervals of Itsumade screeching, Rukia felt her heart twist in anxiety, when the smoke started to fly into the air—then disappeared. Hopping onto the treetops they made there way to the cave, it wasn't easy. If they used shunpo or even the slightest bit of reiatsu—the Itsumade could track them. Reiatsu leaves a trail—a colored trail in the eyes of anything other than a shinigami, animals for instance. The cave was within a mile's distance and Rukia nearly leapt towards the smoothened cavern with much vigor, but deciding that it would be quite juvenile to show such visible anticipation—she curled down the instinct to sprint towards the shelter.
A flash of red caught the corner of her eye and on instinct she jumped near the Captain. The fire almost singed her arm, inhaling sharply—the screeching became louder, and her hands were shaking.
Gods—her hands were shaking.
"Rukia!" Hitsugaya's voice was firm, but with faint undertones of adrenaline, grabbed her arm and yanked her to his side. She stumbled of course, her feet tripping over the uneven flooring of the thick branch, she cursed silently and steadied herself next to him.
It was here—Gods, she nearly choked; the Itsumade was within a meter's distance. She didn't even have to see it to feel the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. It pulsed with reiatsu, dark and suffocating—focus—she had to focus on something—anything—she couldn't breathe, and abruptly, Hitsugaya was in her face.
"Rukia, look at me," He commanded, his eyes were wide, but his hands were steady, "We are going to get out of here, do you understand me? Do you understand?"
If she held onto that small thread of hope—
Rukia nodded frantically, it didn't help her heart that was quite literally ready to jump out of her chest.
"Don't focus on it's reiatsu, it will suck you in and render you immobile—don't look into his eyes, it will paralyze you. You're going to be fine, just okay."
A wave of fire blasted in between and suddenly it didn't matter—they removed the hold they had on their reiatsu.
The bird was yellow, with red tuffs on its chest, behind it's ears, even on its tail—bigger than the trees—with it's grand wings it flew circling it's prey and when it roared—Rukia's eardrums began to ring. It moved with gold fire, almost blinding with flames, swallowing the presence of the sky. She focused on a fixed point on its beak—whiter than snow.
With a hungry screech it shook the trees of its very leaves and she had to get to solid ground. Fire was released from its mouth covering the area with thick blazes; she was stuck in a forest fire. She couldn't even see Hitsugaya from the profuse black smoke, or even from the raging flares and that shouldn't have sent her anxiety to rise in notches—he's a Captain—she needed to worry about herself.
Rukia unsheathed Sode no Shirayuki and coughed. The smoke was burning her eyes, clouding her lungs and her skin was beginning to blister. Run. She needed to find Captain Hitsugaya and get the hell out of here.
She twisted her zanpakuto downward.
It's been months since she last called out her shikai, it made her blood sizzle and the cracks of her nerves crackle with delight. With quick stabs to the earth, she lunges her left knee forward.
Finally.
"Dance: Sode no Shirayuki! Tsugi no mai: Hakuren!" A burst of white built in the tip of her blade, forming into a sphere before it exploded in one blast, a cold rush of air icing its way through the crossfire. Using Flash Steps, she immediately began to search for Captain Hitsugaya—like a spider she allowed small tendrils of reiatsu—picking up for his presence—everywhere.
Where was he?
She couldn't find him—couldn't locate his presence.
Shards of ice interrupted her vision. Rukia looked up and unexpectedly she felt a small inkling of silliness—of course he wasn't on the ground, he was in the sky.
His bankai was something else.
Half of his body was transformed into a dragon; ice enclosed into a claws from his arms to his legs and with a swinging tail—teal orbs glowed neon—wings, wings that grew like a fan—fluttered in the air like a moth's wing. He was ferocious, with a snarl curled and white hair that made him look like a Spirit himself.
Hitsugaya flung his hands up, over and below. Dragons of ice came coiling like ropes, trapping the bird within a prison of some sort and it roared spitting fireballs that were the size of boulders—she was moving before she even realized it.
"Hakuren!" Instead of pointing her zanpakuto in front of her body, she pointed it upwards, creating a wall of white air—fireballs collapsing into steam. His eyes snapped toward the ground and instantly he spotted her small figure—her zanpakuto fluttering like silk ribbons.
The ice ropes snapped. The bird was furious, who dares to enter his reign! He swooped down exhaling a river of lava, squawking his wings shoved a force of wind that had Hitsugaya tumbling down towards the ground.
Rukia had to think fast, "Juhaku." She iced the ground, solid ice incasing the lava, like a hardened diamond burning and glittering in white. She didn't have an intended target; she had to get rid of the heat that tried to swallow the earth.
Placing her palm above her head she aimed before reciting the incantation, "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hadō thirty-one: Shakkahō!"
A red ball of fire emerged from her hand and struck the bird in his chest. Rukia could hear the crack of bone, the sparks of flesh cooking and she fought back a wave of revulsion when it wailed.
Ice curled against its wings, Hitsugaya froze its feathers—Itsumade should've been tumbling down, falling even, with that pressed amount of weight, but then he crackled his wings—ice shattering into snow and he growled.
He dove.
His beak coming down like a spear, cutting threw the wind like it was made of paper, he slammed his bill onto the ground, creating fissures among fissures of rubble. Hitsugaya may be in the air, but with the rapid jackhammer plunges that the monster hammered onto the ground—dust flew into the air like a tornado.
Unfortunately, Rukia wasn't so lucky—she couldn't steady her stance; she was thrown back into the trees. She groaned at the impact and blinked, a dizzying blur of colors swarmed her vision before it sharpened into shapes, nausea hit so hard that she felt a blood vessel pop in the pit of her stomach.
Her leg was broken—both of her legs were broken.
Faintly she could hear Hitsugaya scream her name, but all she could focus on was the Itsumade in front of her—it's tail flickering in a blue flame—smoke? She could smell it. It made her disorientated, the smoke, pitch black and her lungs were burning—like someone poured boiling water with a meticulous hand—she wondered if this is what her Captain felt like.
Itsumade snarled, the fires that were burning on the ground raised like a volcano spewing magma—raising to new heights, she tilted her head—the fire raised about the height of a Menos—how incredible.
It was like everything moved in slow motion—sparks crackling, burning in front of her—burning—everything burning and she couldn't find Hitsugaya.
The smoke was too thick—heavy in the air—heavy in her mouth.
The monster moved closer to her, like it was Byakko himself that was about to make the kill.
A crack was heard.
Rukia felt something touch her neck, something soft and fuzzy—startled she turned her head. It was a tail, turning her head, her eyes widened when she saw a fox. It's coat, white, as her blade, and his eyes—blue—pale blue, almost like ice itself. His tail, seductively curled around her throat, caressing the skin gently—the muscles in her body clenched, she silently waited with horror, for the animal to snap her neck.
But the tail lay playful around her neck, not even bothering with the Itsumade that was mere inches away from them—not even caring that the forest was burning and that the smoke nearly clotted the atmosphere.
With one ear-shattering roar the Itsumade released a torrent of fire, she closed her eyes and waited for her fate, but Rukia, she didn't feel a single thing.
XOX
When Rukia opened her eyes, she was in her inner world—at least what looked like her inner world. When she visited Sode no Shirayuki in her inner world, it was snowing, small snowflakes fluttered from the cotton-threaded sky and the sky would gleam shades of lavender, pink and blue. She would be in a field of snow, with wooden lodges around and small lanterns that glittered like candles in the ice. A frozen lake—white crystalized flowers and pine trees. With the moon illuminating shadows on footsteps.
But this time, she was in the mountains, the snowy mountains, but it wasn't snowing—no, the sun had risen, she pursed her lips, perhaps an hour or two after dawn because the sun glimmered gold against the evergreens, the snow reflecting like blue lights and she wasn't cold.
"Sode no Shirayuki!" Rukia called out, her voice echoing, birds—there were birds that fluttered in flocks.
"You called, Lady Rukia?" Sode no Shirayuki's voice came from behind her, she turned around, an eyebrow raised and dark amethyst orbs glittered in the sun.
"What happened?"
It was a simple question, but it pinpointed all the inquiries that she needed answered in one shot.
The beautiful woman replied simply, "You have acquired a yokai."
She blinked, "What?"
"To be blunt, you have contracted with a spirit."
Apparently, Rukia's brain decided that now was the time to stop producing brain cells. She tried to rake over her thoughts to come up with a plausible response, regrettably, she couldn't. The smoke had interfered with her cognitive process.
"I apologize, Sode no Shirayuki, but would you please explain to me what is going on? I have no memory of what occurred in the last five minutes of my supposed demise."
The light-haired woman seemed almost amused, "Well, while the Itsumade was thinking of a way to destroy you, I was about to step in and manifest—by the way, how are your legs?"
Rukia looked down, "I can't feel them."
"They're broken." She murmured crouching below, her hands pressed onto her legs and the small-woman hissed.
"Despite what happened to your outer body, sometimes you can feel the pain in here." Sode no Shirayuki sighed, "Just don't think about it, Lady Rukia—it will feel numb until you reach the outside world."
She nodded.
"In the Byakko Mountains, not just the Itsumade reside here, many other spirits, demons, and contracts from the Gods themselves inhabit here. When the Itsumade began to prey on you, a kitsune caught wind of your soul and attached him to your essence. I saw no need to interfere. He would protect you just the same."
"Wait, why would the kitsune attach itself to me?"
She pursed her lips, "I do not know." A gust of wind caressed Rukia's cheek, she was cold—why was she cold? "Perhaps you should ask him."
Something inside the dark-haired woman stilled, "He's here?" Her violet-colored orbs brightened, "In my inner world?"
"Yes," A slight pause, "He is on the highest cliff, only a few minutes away."
When Rukia turned about, the snow crunched beneath her feet, inhaling the cold air as it sent shivers down her spine, she steeled herself—eyes clouding into gems—untouchable. That's what she aspired to be—untouchable, invulnerable—impenetrable.
"I'll see you at the top." Sode no Shirayuki disappeared into scattered snowflakes, before Rukia could ask where.
Rukia blinked. Her zanpakuto seemed annoyed. This was her domain after all; to share her inner world another wandering spirit seemed a bit irksome. But she didn't question it; nonetheless she began her journey towards the highest cliff.
Her legs were numb, in the outside world they were broken—she would need a caste, two castes—how embarrassing. She stared at the snow that glittered from the sunlight of the morning, she needed to distract herself from the numbness of her legs, or she would feel the pain of the crushed bone.
The rock underneath her foot was much harder than the ones she just passed; she paused in the midst of her step, just for a second and she began to walk again. Rukia's eyes flickered above, where icicles hung like glass ornaments on the bluish rocks.
She stopped. The kitsune in front of her lay on a small patch of snow, the fox curled into a lazy position, with it's tail curled underneath his chin and his sky blue, opaque orbs watching her with keen interest. Rukia's feet refused to budge and so she stood there with her eyes wide.
Suddenly, the kitsune stood up and began to stride towards her, he circled her the way a shark would when they target their prey, and then his tail curled upon her legs—he nuzzled.
"Mistress," He purred, Rukia's mouth dried, hesitantly she crouched down and warily brushed the fur of the fox and the animal hummed with delight.
He leant towards her touch and sighed almost blissfully. His blue orbs flickered towards hers; "I've been looking for you for a very long time, mistress."
"Looking for…me?"
The kitsune nodded, "My name is Akari. My previous master perished many moons ago. I have been without a ruler for a long time."
Rukia paused mid-stroke; before she continued to pet the fox, she replied with quiet wonder, "Please call me Rukia, Akari. My zanpakuto tells me that you attached yourself to my essence? Why did you choose me as your mistress?" The word came out funny; she did not like when anyone addressed her with such high honorifics—she was not worthy.
Akari huffed before he flopped onto the ground in a playful manner; a muted giggled escaped Rukia's mouth, he was soft and warm.
"Well Lady Rukia, your zanpakuto," He hissed, "Is not too very keen on us sharing your inner world. She is a very stingy woman." He sniffed.
Snow began to fall, flakes dusting over the two figures, Sode no Shirayuki appeared behind Rukia with a scowl uncharacteristically plastered onto her graceful features. "I am not stingy."
The fox snorted, his tan colored nose twitched, "Of course," Akari leaned toward Rukia in a possessively playful manner, his teeth baring at the snow-woman. "Now as I was saying before we were interrupted Lady Rukia—"
Sode no Shirayuki scoffed, not amused.
Rukia was bewildered at their banter—if she could call it that.
He ignored her, "When the Itsumade descended from the cliffs of Byakko," He snarled, "My senses began to heighten. I knew I found a worthy ruler, I began a search for reiatsu—not reiatsu—I began searching for a soul," He paused before he chuckled, "It's very difficult to explain, I apologize."
Rukia smiled lightly, "It's alright, please take your time."
Akari nuzzled his head onto her lap before continuing, "My senses began to heighten knowing that there was someone in the mountains. I immediately started a search for an essence of a soul—reiatsu if you will. There were two I discovered, though similar in nature, one of the souls wielded incredible power, however his soul was too in tune with his zanpakuto spirit—it wasn't quite what I was looking for," He flickered his soft bluish-grey orbs towards startled amethyst, "But when I locked onto yours, I knew you were the one. Your soul was pure—clean, even with a zanpakuto spirit—that you have bonded so closely with—I had to imprint on you."
Rukia blinked, her mind was rapidly absorbing the new material that the kitsune had revealed to her, and "You chose me because my soul was pure?"
Akari nodded, "Not everyone has a pure soul. There are many people who are good in this world, but not many of them are honorable. You are untouched—too genuine, like the element we wield in—snow—untainted. It was something like a flood or something."
"Snow?" Her eyebrows furrowed, the word flood was tucked neatly into the confines of her mind, she would need that piece of information for later, her eyebrows smoothening into understanding, "You're an arctic fox."
The kitsune nodded, "Yes."
Sode no Shirayuki placed a hand on the back of her shoulder, "You must be careful Lady Rukia, foxes revel in trickery—mischievous things they are."
Akari looked appalled even as a fox, his sharp teeth curled, "I would never pain my mistress, zanpakuto."
Rukia's lips thinned, "Alright Akari, if I am to be your mistress—you are to treat Sode no Shirayuki with respect."
Akari looked wounded, his blue eyes wide with innocence—when the dark-haired woman turned to her zanpakuto she added, "That goes for you to, Sode no Shirayuki."
"You two are to share my inner world. Please cooperate."
"If that is what my mistress desires, I shall heed to your command." Akari lifted himself off of the small woman and bowed his head toward her stature.
"As you wish, Lady Rukia." Sode no Shirayuki inclined her head.
Suddenly, Rukia stood up, her eyes wide with panic—Gods; she couldn't believe she forgot about Captain Hitsugaya, "Hitsugaya—I have to—Is he alright?"
"Lady Rukia, when you arrived in your inner world—time has stood still in the outside world," The lavender-haired woman soothed, her hands resting on her shoulders, "The kitsune can heal your legs, when you return—you must act quickly."
Akari curled his tail around her legs, "I will assist you mistress, please summon me when you are ready—"
The world in front of her began to fade, the snowy mountains disappearing, the golden sun, the snow, the numbness—the wind, gone. From pure white her vision flickered back to the smoke, the blinding smoke—the rage of the Itsumade in front of her, his beak pointed towards her and his loud footsteps that shook the ground.
Hot—too hot—it smothered her, her eyes watered and unexpectedly she was brought back to the pain of her legs, her broken legs and she couldn't see Hitsugaya—the smoke was to thick, the fire spewing like a geyser in Hell itself broke the tree branches and it began to tumble around her.
"Akari! Come forth!" Rukia spluttered, the smoke coated her lungs. A gold light began to swirl around her legs, covering her limbs and the bird launched forward—its beak ready to swallow her whole.
She stood up and used shunpo to flicker to the left, inhaling sharply into the black smog, she used Flash Steps to the back of the Itsumade, and whispered, "San no mai, Shirafune."
The blade of her zanpakuto skewered the Itsumade, the bird squawked, but she placed her feet firmly onto the bird, ice clotted from the blade's incision on flesh—spreading, the frost covered the bird into a glacier—yanking the zanpakuto out of it's body—the ice shattered into glitter.
The fires and the smoke vanished—the remains of the burnt trees, the scarcely covered grass—she could breathe.
Rukia's head snapped back, she had to find Captain Hitsugaya—now. She looked towards the front, the back—the perimeter she couldn't find him.
"Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?" Her voice clear with distress, panic and anxiety rippled in her eyes as she searched frantically for the snow-captain.
Violet-colored orbs frosted over with determination—she will not leave without him.
There is a bit of Shintoism in this fanfic.
The Itsumade is fire-breathing-bird-like monster. There is no true description to the monster itself, so I played with the features and it's powers. I tried really to keep the characters in character—
I really didn't want to go into parallels with this fic, there was only one animal I could actually think of that linked—that was similar to Rukia and that was a fox. This is not Naruto. There will be some similarities, for example, Tsukuyomi is actually a moon god and Amaterasu is a sun goddess. So if these names happen to pop up—they actually are gods and goddesses.
Kitsune is a fox spirit. Akari means something among the lines of "divine power." Byakko is a white tiger, which ruled the mountains outside the Seireitei, at least in this fic.
I split this scene into two, maybe three parts.
The next chapter is what transpired during Hitsugaya's disappearance, because I mean—he wasn't in the rest of this chapter for a reason.
Note1: Thank you for the cute messages on tumblr! :D
Note2: No, I don't have a beta for those of you whom were asking.
Please leave a review!
