The Search Ends

Toushiro: "Vegeta?"

Goku: "Uh-huh... Vegeta... Remember, he and I were rivals in the beginning. We did not like each other at all! The only reason I initially let him live was because I wanted to fight him again. Blame my saiyan blood. I just got a thrill fighting someone so strong! ... ... And even when we started working together, we still had our moments. I'm going to tell you something, Toushiro, that I've never told anyone else... Vegeta is the one and only person who knows just how to get under my skin... And boy did he get under my skin at times! But in the end, I forgave him. Not just because he's a saiyan like me... But more because I know that some of the things he does aren't really his fault. I mean, he grew up surrounded by hatred and evil... He didn't know any other way. Just think of it through his point of view. You grow up around those who expect you to kill anyone or anything on a whim and for no reason and then, boom!-You're suddenly expected to do good things and protect people you don't even know with no reward or personal gain for doing it!? Think of the shock he must have had! ... ... Or still has, I don't know... It's like sitting in a tub of hot water for a few minutes and then getting thrown into cold water in a heart beat for no real reason! That's actually happened to me once before and trust me, it's not fun!"

Toushiro chuckled with Goku. Meanwhile, the search in the Soul Society continued. By now everyone who cared to was looking. Ukitake, Shunsui and Nanao were searching from the rooftops. Byakuya searched alone. Yamamoto stayed in his office, gazing out over the Seireitei. Most of the lieutenants and seated officers searched around the Rukon District, asking anyone if they had seen the saiyan prince. Soifon even had her Stealth Force out in mass looking for Vegeta. Having searched every part of the Seireitei and the Rukon District already, Levi, Eren and the rest of their friends and comrades from their world began searching the woods. With their ODM Gear, they covered a lot of ground. Every now and then the Squad 9 captain and second lieutenant would stop and Levi would whistle for Vegeta. He understood if the saiyan prince wouldn't come to Toushiro, but perhaps he'd come to him. But there was no sign of the prince anywhere.

Eren: "*Sigh*... I think Toushiro might be right, Captain. I don't think Vegeta's in the Soul Society anymore."

Levi: "I'm beginning to think that myself."

Eren: "We've searched EVERYWHERE and there's not even a single hair anywhere."

Levi: "Not a hair, not a foot print or a claw mark... I wonder if Toushiro's having any luck?"

Suddenly, Armin came up to them in a hurry.

Armin: "Eren! Captain Levi! You better come quick!"

Eren: "What's going on, Armin?"

Armin: "Just hurry! We need your help!"

Meanwhile, Toushiro and Goku were still talking.

Goku: "But you've changed him more than I could."

Toushiro: "Yeah and I go and ruin that in a few minutes."

Goku: "These things sometimes happen, Toushiro. There's nothing you can do to stop it. All you can do is make things right again."

Toushiro: "Still comes back to me needing to find Vegeta. By the way, is he here?"

Goku: "Here-here or living world here?"

Toushiro: "Heh, Goku."

Goku: "Heh-heh. I know what you meant. But I'm sorry to say that he's not here. Even if he was suppressing his energy all the way, I'd still be able to sense his life-force. I'm sorry, Toushiro. But Vegeta's not here."

It didn't take long for the young captain to realize what this meant.

Toushiro: "... Then that means he still IS in the Soul Society... But why? He knows how to open a Senkaimon, and I've seen him do it a number of times. Why didn't he leave?"

Goku thinks he knows why.

Goku: "... I think it's because he WANTS you to find him... He's waiting for you to track him down and say what you really wanna say."

Toushiro: "Well he's not making it easy."

Goku: "Nor is forgiveness. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is just say sorry. And it takes a strong person to be able to say that and mean it."

Toushiro: "No shit. I wonder if I have the strength?"

Goku: "Only one way to find out, huh?"

Toushiro: "Yeah, right... But first I gotta FIND him."

Goku: "Oh yeah, that ain't gonna be easy. But I'll help ya."

Toushiro: "Thank you, Goku."

Suddenly, the moment was interrupted. Toushiro's soul phone beeped. When he answered, it wasn't good.

Toushiro: "Rangiku?"

Rangiku: "Captain! You need to get back here, right now!"

Toushiro: "Why? What's going on? Did you find Vegeta?"

Rangiku: "No, but we've got a bigger problem! You remember that Vasto Lorde that attacked us a few days ago?!"

Toushiro: "Yeah?"

Rangiku: "Well he had a brother, named Namgilima... and he's come to avenge his brother's death!"

Goku: "What?!"

Toushiro: "Are you serious?!"

Rangiku: "He's got an ARMY with him! Hollows, Gillians, Adjuchas! Vast numbers of them! It's all out war!"

Toushiro: "Shit! Just hang on!"

Rangiku: "Hurry, Cap-"

Static. The line was disconnected.

Toushiro: "Rangiku? Rangiku?! Dammit!"

The young captain got up and began to head back!

Goku: "Toushiro, wait!"

Toushiro: "I can't, I've gotta go back!"

Goku: "I mean wait for us! Let's gather up the others! Sounds like you'll need the extra help!"

Toushiro: "Yeah-Ok!"

Toushiro and Goku hurried to round up the rest of the Z-Fighters. They were going to need every bit of muscle they could afford.