A/N: Okay guys and gals, here's the fourth chapter for you all. Again, I'd like to thank each and every one of you faithful readers and I apologize if the next few chapters seem a little short, I'm trying to power through several chapters at once so I can post them easily with my internet lag and school work. So, it takes me a while to type up the chapters, and then it takes practically 10 minutes for one click to load the next step in the process of uploading it to FF, so I'm trying my best; hope you guys and gals are okay with it. :]
Italics is the thoughts or dream sequences
Bold italics is the surprise voice
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own any part of the Bleach franchise and make absolutely no profit whatsoever off of writing this story. No matter how much I wish I did.
Claimer: I do however own the OCs portrayed in this work of fiction. Sadly, I also gain no profit but faithful readers from the creation of these characters and the shenanigans they may get into throughout these stories I write. x3
Chapter 4: Let the Elemental Training Begin
Normal P.O.V:
Renji made his way to the 'desert' training area where he was told Kuchiki-taichou and Haruko would be training as Komamura-taichou was out on a mission and wouldn't be back until tomorrow. "Ugh, I can't believe I reacted like that; I even disrespectfully referred to him by his first name. Hitsugaya-taichou had the right to snap at me like that. Why do I need to be around Setsuko all the time anyway? Training with Hitsugaya-taichou is best for her to be in control of her Reiatsu and ice abilities. I can't help with that… Calm down, Renji; she still needs you for strength and stamina. Yeah, it'll be fine; you'll see her tomorrow. I have to apologize to her; I have to apologize to Hitsugaya-taichou as well…"
Renji grumbled to himself as he made it to the clearing, and bypassed the two training, with a simple grunt of acknowledgement and sat down on a rock, watching them train. Byakuya barely glanced at Renji, before returning to Haruko's training. Haruko on the other hand, couldn't help but to question Renji.
"Hey, what's up Renji?" Haruko asked, while multitasking, managing to avoid a few hits and throw some kicks of her own in retaliation.
"Nothing; don't mind me, I'm just observing." Renji muttered.
"Really, Renji; I don't believe you. What happened?" Haruko insisted.
'Ugh, it's fine, really. Tou- Hitsugaya-taichou had to train Setsuko today, and I would've gotten in the way if I hung around, so I came here. Hitsugaya-taichou was in the right, I'm just stubborn." Renji replied.
Haruko left it that, figuring out the gist of what happened and sighing, turned back to concentrate on not getting killed by Byakuya. Byakuya still said nothing, thinking perhaps he would be better off going back to the office to fill out paperwork, but didn't care to voice his opinion as Renji wasn't really bothering them, he seemed calm enough.
So, Byakuya and Haruko went about their training while Renji sat there on his rock quietly. He was silently brooding of course; he didn't disturb the two with his 'petty' problems though.
Setsuko's P.O.V:
Toushirou led me to the borders of Division 10 and through a secret passageway in the wall. We walked down a long pathway, which gradually got colder with every step; soon we came upon the end of the path and walked out the opposite opening into a shining forest of snow. It was shocking to say the least, as of course it had been snowing for a couple days now, but this forest seemed even more affected then the rest of the Seireitei.
"Wow… It's gorgeous…" I whispered, looking around at all the snow and ice around us.
Toushirou laughed behind me, and I froze surprised to hear that coming from him. I turned to see him smiling at me as I already had been covered in snow, and my excitement had of course raised a flurry of snow around me.
"Yes, this forest is eternally covered in snow. It's unbelievable, yes; however, it is just as I say. When I first discovered this forest, it was the middle of summer, and I had been looking for somewhere to cool off. Every time I came back it seemed as if it were getting even snowier."
"Did this forest help you to connect with Hyōrinmaru?" I asked, eyes sparkling like the twinkling snowflakes around us.
"Yes, that is true; which is why I have brought you here. I am sure you will benefit greatly from meditating here." Toushirou spoke with a slight smile at my excitement.
"Oh, thank you so much for doing this for me, Hitsugaya-taichou!" I squealed, jumping onto Toushirou to hug him.
"Yes; well, I had to abide by Yamamoto-soutaichou's orders. And, I couldn't very well leave a fellow ice-bearer to fend for themself and possibly destroy the world."
Toushirou said this, trying to hide his blush and act cool, playing off his shared excitement.
"Shall we get to work than?" Toushirou cleared his throat and asked.
"Oh; of course. Gomenesai, Hitsugaya-taichou. What do I have to do?" I apologized, letting go of Toushirou and backing up a couple steps, putting a respectable distance between us.
"Well, first off, we need to find a clear, comfortable spot to sit where we can relax and meditate. This is how we begin the acceptance process, and soon we can start the controlling process."
"Okay…" I looked around a bit, taking a few steps away from Toushirou; examining the area.
"What about here?" I asked softly, slowly coming to a stop in front of a circle of snow under a patch of sunlight, shining through a gap in the canopy of trees. Snow was falling gently, shining in the rays of sun. I turned to Toushirou with a smile, and bent down to brush away any fallen branches or pebbles in the way and sat down, legs crossed, hands folded in my lap.
I looked up to Toushirou, waiting for him to sit as well and instruct me on what to do next.
"I don't like the sun, that's why I love this place; the sun usually never gets in…" Toushirou said, disapprovingly glaring at the sun.
"I don't particularly like the sun either, but this is nice, don't you think? It's pretty, and it feels good on the skin every once in a while to get a little sunlight. Don't you think?" I smiled.
"I guess I can agree to an extent… Either way, I prefer to avoid direct contact with the sun if at all possible, I burn far too easily, so I shall sit here." Toushirou replied, eyebrows creased anxiously as he dusted off the spot directly across from me and sat in the same position as I was seated.
Toushirou closed his eyes, and I just watched him at first as he slowed his breathing to a steady state almost as if he were sleeping. He spoke slowly, "Calm yourself, slow your breathing, and clear your mind… Let yourself feel the energy within you."
I could see Toushirou's Reiatsu flowing around him like water, before freezing like ice, and disappearing from my line of vision.
"Cool… Okay, I'm going to try now." I said, as I closed my eyes and attempted to replicate what I had just witnessed Toushirou accomplish.
Toushirou's P.O.V:
I opened my eyes, and watched as Setsuko closed her eyes, took a deep breath in and slowly let it out, as she repeated this action a couple of times, her breathing managed to slow to a steady pace. She seemed to get the hang of it quite easily, however…
'Did she actually fall asleep?!' I thought, shocked as I looked closely and heard soft airy snores coming from her mouth.
"Geez… Way to take clearing your mind seriously…" I muttered, rubbing the crease in my forehead, sighing frustrated.
Suddenly, it got really cold; I could see her breaths puffing out like smoke and saw the snow rising around her again. Setsuko was shivering uncontrollably as she started mumbling in her sleep. "Is she having that dream again?" I wondered as I moved closer, listening to her mumbled words.
"Who are you? Why are you here, what do you want with me? Where did you come from; when did you get here, how did you get here? I don't understand… I can't… I won't! I don't want to hurt anyone! I don't want any of this; you can't tell me what to do, you don't control me… I control you!"
Setsuko soon began shouting at what I could only assume was the spirit she had been seeing in her dreams. What was happening though; was it speaking to her, ordering her to hurt someone?
The snow falling down upon her from the hole where the sun shone through, starting whipping past me, swirling around her and her lips moved fast as she started stuttering, her words not registering anymore. I could see her eyes moving behind her eyelids rapidly, the fear clearly evident in the sound of her voice and the look on her face.
"Setsuko, what's wrong? Setsuko, talk to me; wake up, SETSUKO!" I grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her awake, shouting in her face, starting to worry as she began screaming.
"AHH! Wh-what… H-Hitsu-Hitsugaya-taichou; what happened to me?"
Setsuko whispered staring up at me with wide doe-like eyes and tears streaming down her face.
"Shh… Its fine, you're alright now; don't worry about it." I spoke softly, doing my best to console her, as the snow around us began to calm slowly.
"I… I saw it again, it… there was a blizzard roaring around us, and it told me that I was causing it… there were people lying in the snow, they weren't moving… my parents; my sister… it said, I did it… it said I was out of control and that I would freeze the world… I don't want to hurt anyone Toushirou, I don't want to be the cause of hundreds of innocent deaths, I don't want to… I don't want to be bad… am I a bad person, am I going to kill people…?" She just kept babbling nonsense; I couldn't get her to stop. I couldn't even be mad at her for calling me by my given name… I didn't know what to do, she was inconsolable and she wouldn't stop crying. I didn't have a choice at this point.
I sighed, "I'm sorry, Setsuko…" I quickly, hit a pressure point behind Setsuko's neck and knocked her out. She fell limp in my arms, but didn't stop crying.
"It's not your fault, Setsuko; it's not your fault…" I knew what she was going through; the spirit of her Zanpakutō seemed to be getting angry that she was taking so long to accept it and learn its name. Her powers are out of control, and it's blaming Setsuko for it. If we don't do something about this soon, her dream may turn out to be a premonition…
I picked Setsuko up and carried her out of the forest and back to the Division 6 barracks and after asking a Shinigami the directions, brought her to her room, placing her in bed. Training will have to be cut short for today; she won't be waking again till tomorrow. Hopefully she will sleep at peace now.
'Don't dream, Setsuko; just rest tonight…' I thought as I pulled the sheet over her, and walked out of her room, closing the door and leaving the Division 6 barracks.
A/N: Fucking Angst! GODDAMNIT! xC Too much angst… I don't even know where it comes from! Someone help me… I'm sorry the chapter is so short; the next one will probably be just as short. Toushirou will be developing a close bond with Setsuko soon as you might be able to tell; Renji won't like that no doubt. Next chapter will be focusing on Haruko since we didn't get to see her much in this one. There will be some more jealous Renji of course, and caring Toushirou. Perhaps there will be another dream sequence? Setsuko will be unconscious for most of if not all of the next chapter. And, I'm sure there will also be much more angst as well… Gomenesai… I can't help it. It just pours out of my fingertips and onto the computer. I promise, there will be joy soon enough; relationships blooming after all this depression. xD Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Internet is being stupid, so this chapter will be slightly late so you may get two in one day. More tomorrow.
Ja Ne
Kalypso-Fox
