A/N:- Yet another apology for the insanely long interim periods between chapters; however, I am now happily settled into my new accommodation so hopefully things will flow a little faster now….
One Thousand Paper Cranes
Chapter Four – Desperation
The two women looked down on the sleeping man compassionately; his hand still clutched around a half-finished paper crane and the moonlight making his face seem as pale as to be dead.
They never would have even attempted to ever leave his side but desperate times called for desperate measures.; even brief separation from him was an effort so great it taxed them to their very limits and they knew they didn't have long before he woke and realised they weren't there any longer.
Kissing him softly on the forehead one of the women withdrew one of the hundreds of finished origami creations scattered all over the floor while her companion prepared a brush and ink; in thin spidery writing they marked the crane with the number 10 and the name Hitsugaya Toushiro.
Stealing softly from the room they crept across the dark streets of Seireitei towards their goal, with every step they took they felt the pain of distance increase until their breath was laboured and their faces streaked with sweat, but not once did either even think of turning back until their mission was complete.
Placing the tiny paper bird on the sleeping chest of Hitsugaya a silent tear rolled down the cheek of one of the women, she reached a hand out as though she wanted to wake him and demand he give the help they so desperately needed. But she knew, even as her sister pulled her away, that to speak with him was to violate every single law of nature that existed for them. Even this cryptic leaving of clues was edging close along the boundary and they both knew it; feeling some relief they turned for home and practically flew back until they were once more stood in the silent room with the sleeping man.
"We'll save you…our Jyuushiro…"