A/N: Wow, thanks to all readers, and special thanks to all reviewers. You give so much fun and courage. I hope that all of you will like this chapter. ENJOY THE CHAPTER!.

Reminiscence

Chapter 3: The Test

Once again, the frosty wasteland lay before my eyes. But this time, It is different ….. It's not a dream…

It is a matter of LIFE and DEATH

Suddenly, Hyorinmaru floats out of its pouch, staying still in the mid-air. Then, as I reached out to grab it, my sword flew away to the end of the horizon, leaving me confuse.

"So you actually came" said a low, deep voice in my head "You are braver than I thought. Still, it doesn't change your fate."

As soon as the voice stopped, the dream continues… I wasn't paying attention and before I knew it … blue flower petals once again surround me. Thanks to my quick thinking, I hurled the dirt in the ground over me, creating a temporary barrier, protecting me from the petals. The petals touch the barrier, steadily turn into full bloom flowers and fell to the ground. Barely having space, I quickly maneuver out of the trap. Getting away a safe distance, I heard a chuckle

"Hahaha, well done, that that was only the beginning"

Suddenly, from under, darkness creeps out, covering everything. Then just as fast as it appear. The darkness faded away. I was in a totally different place. I mean, still there but instead of land, I was standing on a frozen lake, a slippery and unstable means of foothold. In the middle of the lake was an ice wall, which prevented me from seeing was on the other side of the wall.

Curious to find out what was behind it, I slowly walk toward the wall, afraid of slipping.

"Crackkkk" a small crack ran down the surface of the wall just a few seconds before (Breaking sound) it shattered into million pieces, shooting the shards out in every direction.

"Too easy" I thought, dodging the incoming shards. Moving too fast, I slipped on the icy surface and received two hits, one in my left arm and one on my right stomach. Bleeding, pissed off, I raised my head to the black clouds and yelled:

"IS THAT THE BEST YOU GOT, BASTARD!" Then I gasp at the sight I saw next… apparently it wasn't his best.

"Grandmaaaa!" I yelled out loud, shocked at the scene of the bloody body lay on the ground. I ran toward her, still can't believe in my own eyes.

" Who, Who did this to you?" I asked, pulling her up from the ground although I already know the answer.

"Hit..su, it's… it's … goo…good to see you here with me" Grandma said those last words then faint away. I raise my head to the sky, nose burning up, eyes blurred from tears and I curse Hyorinmaru.

"WHY, WHY, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN JUST THE TWO OF US!"

Swoosh

A searing pain suddenly appeared in my chest, burning like hell fire. I looked at my bloody left hand then at grandma. Her right hand becomes an ice blade, puncturing my lung. She pulled out the blade, stood up, leaving me lying hopelessly on the ground in a pond of blood flowing out from my wound.

"Grandma?" I said in short breaths "why would you do this?"

Grandma started melting; in a matter of seconds, all that was left was a transparent figure without a face: no eyes, nose, ears. The only thing that was on that face was a wide mouth, grinning at me.

I gathered up all of my strength to stand up, ran towards it, fist clenching so hard. But the second I got close to it, it changed again. This time, it is Hinamori. She was frowning and sobbing. Caught surprise, I stopped running and stood still, dazed. Seeing and opening, Hinamori stroke, her right leg turned into an ice spear. Luckily, I managed to dodge, only leaving a small gash on my cheeks. Think of a strategy, I rip off pieces of my torn clothes and used it as a blindfold. I put it over my eyes then stood still, waiting for a sign of movement. Suddenly, I heard something.

"7 o'clock!" I turn around, lunging my fist at the direction of the sound.

"Please" It said, "don't hurt Hinamo…."

It was too late, on contacting with my fist, the Hinamori-like figure shattered, leaving small ice clump on the ground.

"Humm, you are better than I thought. Still one more to go" The voice came again, this time I was teleported to an arena. It was on solid ground, the four walls of ice were created by very exquisite crafting technique. At the four corners were four ice giant statues. But one thing that caught in my eyes was the pillar in the middle of the arena. It was about 600 feet high, surrounded by a stairway leading to the top. Something was mounted up there but due to the excessive lost of blood, my eyes were too tired to look clearly.

The black clouds parted, creating a pillar of light shinning down to the ground. Slowly drifting down an angel, NO WAIT, IT WAS…

... TOSHIRO HITSUGAYA IN BANKAI MODE...

But wait, something is different, his eyes, they're … they're pitching black.

The black-eyes Hitsugaya spoke and out came the low, deep voice I heard from before.

"So you actually go this far, didn't you? Consider this last trial as a game, Yea, a game."

Confuse as hell yet I kept on listening.

"Let me tell you the rules … Hum, ok, on top of this pillar here is your Zanpakuto: Hyorinmaru. The blade is buried in the pillar leaving only the hilt out. You must pull it out in order to pass this last trial.

"Um" I scratched my head, feeling a bit less worried.

"That means if I pull it out of the ice pillar, I will gain the power?"

"Kinda like that" Black-eyes Hitsugaya said "However, we won't make it easy for you."

"We?" I asked, out of curiosity

"We" he said, loud and clear.

RUMBLE RUMBLE…. CRACK

A series of noises broke the silence. I turned around and saw the four ice giants moving. Getting a close look, I noticed that one was holding a sword, another was holding a hammer. The two others were holding ranged weapon: a bow and a chain blade.

"Ummmm… What is my weapon?" The black-eyes Hitsugaya threw me a small dagger

"WHATTTTT?" I asked, thought he was joking

…. I soon remember this was not a game at all.

He flew toward me with incredible speed, using "his Hyorinmaru" to slash a clean diagonal cut on my chest. The feeling of warm blood flow out against the cold weather stings like hell. I quickly dodge the incoming sword and hammer strikes, making a dash for the stairs. Keeping my balance on the stairs in the constant pounding of sword and hammer, avoid incoming arrows and warding off Dark Hitsugaya was a handful. Just when I reached two third of the height, something terrible happened. The giant with the chain blade hooked it to the pillar, thus pulling it down. I fell down first, from about 400 feet, I broke my left arm and my spinal cored. Even worst, the pillar broke into two separate parts and one of them fell on top of me. I coughed up blood, my lungs completely collapsed. I breathed short breathes. I was ready to give up. I saw Dark Hitsugaya standing over my head, holding his sword, ready to finish me off. I closed my eyes,

… Finally peace…

My life flashes before my eyes, … all my loved ones, all the fun times: Grandma, Hinamori, Matsumoto, …

FAREWELL….

Inside the darkness, a piece of my mind still lives, still think … but what would happen if I don't try. The world maybe cease to exist…? Nahh, Ichigo can handle it …can he?

I slowly opened my eyes, Dark Hitsugaya is still standing there. Using sheer willpower, I pushed the pillar away, stood up. Dark Hitsugaya swung his sword, puncturing my right shoulder. I grabbed the sword, not letting it go. Like a miracle, part of my strength returned. I unleash my reiatsu, yet it seems to increase to the equivalent of a low-class Vizard.

"How … How can you have this freak reiatsu ?" He said in cold sweat.

The reiatsu still increase, making the atmosphere heavier. It destroyed instantly the four ice giant and also the Dark Hitsugaya's wings. My body glows with white light, healing all my wounds, broken bones. I grabbed the Dark Hitsugaya's arm with my right hand, my left hand pulling out his sword out of my stabbed shoulder.

"Wait, wait … don't please" said Dark Hitsugaya, his tone changing "You don't have to do thi…"

Swoooshhh! A clean cut

The body split into two, slowly turned into dust. Disgust by the sight, I let go of his body.

I calmly walk toward the top of the pillar which had fell, taking the sword from the pillar. Hyorinmaru's voice sounded again, this time calmly:

"So you did it, didn't you?"

"Yes, yes I did, so why don't you tell me that ultimate technique now then"

Hyorinmaru didn't say anything, million strands of information went through my brain, all telling about the technique. I let go of Hyorinmaru, dropping him to the ground. I was in shock. After a few seconds, I picked up uyp and scold:

"What the hell, there is no way I'm gonna use that! I can win even without it!. Didn't you see my reiatsu just then?"

Hyorinmaru didn't reply…

"Fine, we're done here, let's go"

Sitting in a meditating stance, putting the sword on my lap, I slowly drift back to reality.

A/N: Geez, finish! (smile cheerfully), Hitsugaya is so cool. Now it's time for reviewing. Please click the button below and give me your opinion.