Toshiro inhaled sharply but got a mouth full of dried dirt and began coughing violently on the floor of the cave where he lay. It was fairly open and enough light flooded in to let him see that he was alone but for the guard at the entrance, and that neither Pantera or Hyorinmaru were in sight. Shifting slightly, he found his hands and feet bound.
"You finally awake?" He heard the deep voice and turned back to the opening. He couldn't quite clear the dirt from his throat and continued coughing. Rough hands grabbed him and he struggled back until he felt the cool rush of water running over his face and he obediently opened his mouth to catch the refreshing droplets. He spit out the rest of the dirt and drank all that he was offered and finally fell back against the stone floor refreshed but still feeling exhausted. He didn't understand how he could possibly be this tired.
"What...do you want?" He asked, staring up at the vastal lordes but he was turning back to the opening and calling for someone else. Another figure entered, tall, lean, very humanoid but his face still a solid mask enveloping his whole head. Toshiro recognized him at once as one of the lead vastal lordes running the forest– if not their leader entirely. Despite his weakness, he sat up again and tensed in preparation for an attack.
"So, you have returned."
Toshiro just glared at him.
"Still not talking?"
"He spoke earlier." The guard said.
"Hm, interesting." The leader swooped down on Toshiro and hauled him to his feet. Again, Toshiro struggled, but in vain. The leader however, only seemed to look him over and the let go. Without his support, Toshiro immediately fell back to the ground, pain shooting through bruised limbs.
"Well, you made it here, but it seems just barely. Getting through his barrier sapped almost all of your strength."
"Who's barrier?"
"Ah! That's the first I've ever heard you speak, Toshiro. Though you must have spoken at one time for us to have learned your name. Do you know mine?"
"Creed."
"That's right. So tell me, how did you manage to get through his barrier when you're not even hollow?"
"Who's barrier?" Toshiro repeated.
Creed regarded him for a moment, crouching down closer to his face to read his eyes. Creed's own were mere pinpoints of light in the shaded slits of his mask.
"Hmm, you aren't lying, you really don't know."
Toshiro just shook his head to confirm.
"Well now, this is a mystery."
He reached out and grabbed Toshiro's wrists. The young captain flinched and tried to pull back but in one swift motion Creed had cut his bonds. An instant later his ankles were freed as well.
"What are you doing?" Toshiro asked suspiciously.
"Well, you did spend a long time slaughtering us after the cataclysm, we had to be cautious, but it looks like you can't even stand."
Toshiro again just stared back, not having received much of an answer.
"We're going to help you." Creed said finally.
"Why?"
"Why? Because as far as we know every single being in Los Noches is dead and you're our best chance at stopping the thing that killed them before it gets to us."
The shock rolled over Toshiro. Dead? Everyone? He had been too late, he had failed Grimmjow. He felt the cold spread through the pit of his stomach then Creed blurred and the cave became one big mesh of monochrome colours. His small body collapsed once more in exhaustion against rough stone.
Toshiro next woke to a crackling fire and some food being tossed to him. He didn't question what it was, he'd learned to forage for food other than hollow meat in his ten months down here, but he hadn't the energy to even register what he was swallowing, he just knew he needed sleep. And if it was hollow meat– well, it wouldn't be the first time he'd had to resort to that. He ate all that he could manage and washed it down with a liquid that burned like fire going down but that caused heat to spread through his limbs, easing the pain from his bruises and returning some strength to muscles.
"How long have I been here?" He asked Creed when he determined that was in fact who was hovering over the fire.
"Two days. Feeling any stronger?"
"Some."
"The creature raised a barrier. Nothing can get in and out of Hueco Mundo."
"Why would he do that?"
"Only thing we can think, is to keep someone in." Toshiro's head shot up at this. "Yes, as far as we know your precious King is still alive. For some reason the creature didn't want him escaping."
"Then we have to go."
"No. If we take you now you'll just get killed and then he'll destroy us as well."
"Well he hasn't yet. Why?"
"We...don't know."
"Then we go. If he hasn't left that palace, then there is a reason."
Creed considered.
"I'll send a scout."
"Too long. I want to go now."
Creed stood. "No."
"Then I won't help you."
"Ha! You couldn't get there on your own right now if you tried."
Toshiro got to his feet defiantly. Creed stood and watched him. Toshiro walked over to the cave entrance.
"Where is Hyorinmaru? Where is Pantera?"
"If you can't even sense your own zanpakuto, then that should tell you something."
"Shut up." He took another step but a hand clenched over his shoulder.
"Don't make me tie you up again."
Toshiro whipped around angrily to face the hollow. He tried to pull out of his grasp but the other just hauled him backwards into the cave and pushed him to the ground none too gently. Infuriated, Toshiro made to get up again but Creed's voice stopped him.
"Stay down. I don't care about the King, but clearly you do. If you want to help him, then you'll wait until you can stand a chance, let alone stand up for longer than a few minutes. Rest."
Toshiro was still angry but when he heard the order for a scout to go, he let himself give into sleep, determined to wake up with more energy.
SOO, Sorry that this is so short and so long in coming. I have been extremely busy and I just updated my other stories and I didn't want anyone to think I had forgotten about this one so I decided to submit what I had even though it's really short. I love these characters and want to do them justice so I may on occassion take my time but I also don't want to abandon you, my readers, so hope this tides you over and sorry again, thanks for the reviews so far, always greatly appreciated