Chapter 11: Push and Pull
Toshiro watched from afar as Sesshomaru fired a blast of yoki, intercepting the leader panther who the captain had recognized as to be most likely to be Karan, the fire-wielder of the four panthers. Noting the reiatsus of Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango; the ice captain rose an eyebrow.
What are they doing here? Jaken informed me that they did not take part in the war fifty years ago. Toshiro mused.
Perhaps they found out about it through Myoga? Hyorinmaru suggested as Toshiro shook his head.
As far as I know, Myoga and Totosai are ignorant of the second arrival of the panthers. But seeing how Toran was intent on killing me despite not being blood of the Inu no Taisho, I will not put it past her to include Inuyasha in this war as well, whether Sesshomaru likes it or not.
Lady Kagome seems to not be with them, Master. Hyorinmaru noted as Toshiro found the pieces placing themselves together.
Bait. Toshiro labeled as he watched the chaos below.
The uplifted dust and destruction due to the yoki blast subsided as the four below in the empty village turned to meet Sesshomaru, to which Inuyasha growled at the sight of his older sibling.
Ignoring his hanyou brother, Sesshomaru glared his golden orbs in a rare display of irritation at Karan. "What is this, Karan? I am the one you have business with, or is it these people?"
Smiling, Karan ignored the questions as of late, as she eyed Sesshomaru and then, Toshiro in the skies, on A-Un. "So, the aniki of the Inu no Taisho has arrived. Along with the captain. The inheritors of the Inu no Taisho, we'll be waiting at the castle!"
And with a series of swift leaps and lithe flips, the panthers escaped.
With one annoyance gone, another presented itself blatantly as Inuyasha pointed his unsheathed Tessaiga at Sesshomaru, in an interrogating gesture rather than in a questioning one.
"Sesshomaru, why're you here?" Inuyasha snarled.
"That is my line." Sesshomaru snapped right back, displaying his irritation more evidently than usual as Toshiro sported a visible frown, dismounting as he landed without a sound beside the Lord, having sent A-Un away, decidedly not to heed the beast for this battle. "Get out of here, you fool."
"W-What?" Inuyasha cried confusedly, as the thought of his older brother wanting him to get out of the way rather than kill him was odd for a thought, but the reality of it happening? What was going on?
"I won't have you getting involved in this war." Sesshomaru snapped at the confused hanyou, not bothering to explain.
"I don't need your permission!" Inuyasha retorted childishly as he continued, confirming the captain's thoughts. "Kagome's been kidnapped by those cats!"
"Fool." Sesshomaru almost spat, as he lifted his arm, wielding Tokijin, sending a condensed barrage of light blue yoki to the hanyou. Blasting him back into the empty homes of the village, Inuyasha shouted from his sprawled form.
"W-Why, you!" Inuyasha cursed. "What the hell are you doing taking it out on me for?!"
Only Toshiro seemed to notice the Lord of the West's patience for his younger sibling snap, as he stole a glance to the monk and youkai-slayer, with the kitsune and nekomata.
"Silence, Inuyasha!" Sesshomaru snapped darkly as an anger-filled gold glare silenced all at it's ferocity, to which the hanyou recoiled. "Just remember this… You lost your heart to a mortal woman and ended up under a seal. You have no right to be a part of this battle."
Arriving at this moment, Jaken cried out to his liege, only to be interrupted with a ice shuriken at his throat. "Lord Sesshomaru, this is not the time for us to be picky for allies, we should —!"
"Silence, Jaken." Toshiro glared with equal ferocity as the ice captain shunpoed away with Jaken, taking the annoying kappa with him, Sesshomaru having already taken his leave.
Toshiro cursed under his breath as teal and golden orbs flickered over their surroundings, annoyance and slight irritation glinting in them. You walk for a few minutes for just a moment of silence to think and you get yourself surrounded by this. Grunt panther youkai crawled and surrounded the threesome as the eldest of the panthers smirked with mirth. Standing beside the ice captain, Sesshomaru glanced at the equally unfazed captain before speaking, noting Jaken's tightened grip of his staff.
How annoying. Toshiro growled mentally as his ice dragon too followed his master's example.
They seem to be keen in attacking us.
Then we shall retaliate with greater ferocity to those who are foolish enough to proceed with their actions. Toshiro declared darkly as the ice dragon's roar of triumph echoed in his mind.
"You ordered me to come. And you won't let me see your so-called Master?" Sesshomaru baited with slight iciness in his words.
"All in good time." Touran replied with an amused smile. "Until then, will my company do?"
Neither daiyokai bothered with an answer, as Jaken spoke up, the taller of the white haired beings sparing him no indication of hearing as the smaller merely glanced before flickering back to the ice-wielding panther.
"Allow me to deal with this, Lord Sesshomaru. I'll show you the power of the Staff of the Two Heads!" True to the kappa's words, a wave of fearsome flames burst from the staff, only to countered by spray of icy reiatsu, similar to the ice captain's. Ice spears formed from the spray, the reiatsu increased as the kappa was overpowered by the blast. Sent tumbling, Jaken screeched in terror as his eyes caught the spears, their dagger-like tips gleaming for blood.
With a burst of speed and reiatsu, the ice captain stood in the kappa's defense, the ice spears stilled as they hovered above the captain. "You should know better than to wield ice against me, Touran. Surely, you have done your research."
The panther laughed mirthfully as she held out a hand, an elongated spear of ice forming from a condensed form of her reiatsu, effectively cutting aside the spears that have returned to her. "Most impressive, Hitsugaya. You sure have a powerful ally there, Sesshomaru."
"He is none of your concern." The Lord of the West snapped coldly as he parried blades with the ice-wielding panther, white and blue sparks ricocheting from the perceived stalemate.
"This brings back memories of the last time we fought." Touran remarked as both wielders were unfazed by the sparks, almost amused even by them. "It ended up in a draw then. But not this time."
"I would hardly call that a draw." Sesshomaru snapped with steel. "You merely retreated."
"And many of your men also died." The panther countered as Toshiro glanced at the kappa who had retreated behind him, nodding for the green youkai to grab his haori. With a simple exchange of glances of cold teal and icy gold, the ice captain shunpoed away with the vassal, the last thing the kappa seeing, his liege majestically overpowering his adversary.
Do not underestimate milord! Jaken thought as the daiyokai's thoughts resonated in their minds.
You deal with Touran, I shall separate and cover more ground. Toshiro sent to the taller, as the captain shunpoed farther away. We will be more efficient in ridding of these vermin separated.
Very well, take Jaken with you. Sesshomaru replied swiftly as he severed the mental link, pursuing the feline in the opposite direction only to find the second-eldest panther before him, as the captain turned to the kappa gripping his haori.
Inuyasha is ignorant of the events of fifty years ago. Toshiro resonated mentally as the village homes blurred in the dark night as he slowed his shunpos, but not enough for the kappa to realize, his large orbs closed.
Following his master's thoughts, Hyorinmaru continued. But Jaken is not. The only question is, would Inuyasha help Jaken if he is placed in a situation that he is in danger?
Toshiro paused a moment mentally before answering, sensing that the human companions of the hanyou's disappearing, leaving the hanyou alone like a beacon of light in the night. Inuyasha may hate his brother but I doubt that the hatred would extend to Jaken or myself, annoyance perhaps, but not a killing intent.
The scent of flowers is near, Master. Hyorinmaru noted as the ice captain nodded. With a burst of speed that sent winds billowing behind him, Toshiro made no indication of hearing the kappa's crying voice as Jaken's grip loosened, sent tumbling within the vicinity of the hanyou as the captain disappeared.
Koga cursed as he collided a kick with the male panther's blow, yellow sparks of yoki cackling in the collision as the two held their standstill for a moment before they receded, the wolf making no time to recover before charging once more.
"Move!" Koga demanded, as the just as loud panther replied with a charge of his own.
"No way!" The panther retorted back, throwing quick blows at the wolf's feet in an effort to slow him, the panther was eluded as the said wolf was too swift, dodging them. Growling at his prey's escape, the panther gasped as the wolf lifted his leg for a fearsome kick. Quickly lifting his arms in a counter, the panther shot bolts of electric blue lightning, missing his target once more, connecting with a large Royakan, who fell in a limp heap of smoking fur.
"Royakan!" Hakkaku, the wolf youkai underling of Koga shouted, his bald head of nothing but a tall white mohawk waving, having dodged the electricity in time.
"Is that thunder?" Ginta questioned beside his comrade, his grey hair with a front ebony tuft dancing in sync with his startled movements.
"It would seem so." An icy voice answered as eyes turned to the ice captain, who stood a distance from Koga's knelt position, both facing the still crackling panther who sneered.
"You thwarted my lightning, wolf. I'm impressed." Shuran barked with a laugh before turning to Toshiro who wore his usual glare at the laughing panther. "And you must be Captain Hitsugaya, you are much smaller than Toran said you were."
"I am not here to converse with my stature, panther. My status is more than enough to do away with your disgusting presence." Toshiro snapped chillingly, as the surrounding panther youkai felt chills travel up their spines, the wolves suppressing their own fear as they too felt the pinprick of fear crawl up their backs. Flickering to the wolf, the teal orbs blinked, as if sending a silent question.
Nodding in recognition, Koga compiled without protest.
The wolf knew a child when he saw one, don't get him wrong, but his instincts told him that this was no ordinary brat. Deciding that his instincts have yet to fail him, the wolf bit his tongue at the white-haired child's question, dodging the following barrage of lightning a suitable distance away with the captain shunpoing beside him.
"He's slow on his feet, however, his lightning is deadly." Koga relayed with a scoff as the captain nodded, having figured that much already. "So, then what do you suppose we do?"
"It would make no difference to kill him now, seeing how you have yet to do so." Toshiro replied, as he ran a hand through his hair, a cold wind billowing over the goose-bumped flesh of his company. "I can give you an opening, will that suffice for you to be able to take it?"
Grunting an agreement, Koga dodged once more behind a small boulder with the captain following with an enviable shunpo.
"What's wrong?" Shuran barked with glee. "Don't hold back. Come at me, you dogs!"
With a final glance at the boy he had temporarily allied with, the wolf jumped toward his opponent with a cry, his legs almost too swift to see.
Hitsugaya Toshiro observed the wolf for a moment, his claws held up in a readied stance for incantation. The ice captain was well aware that the wolf was wary of him but had decided to follow through with his instincts, despite being well aware that the captain was a larger threat than the panther.
The said wolf had bright and fiery pale blue orbs, his long ebony locks held back with a leather cord, a thicker version was banded over his fringe, just above his pointed ears, similar to the captain's. Over his person, the wolf wore a light brown pelt in his necessary areas, corresponding with his shoulder plates and lower legs, latched on his silverly black chest plate. A red hilted katana decorated his waist, but judging from the lack of calluses on the wolf's claws, Toshiro noted that the sword was rarely out of it's sheath.
Seeing the superior air and armor on the wolf, Toshiro's teal orbs narrowed.
This wolf youkai is most likely the head of the wolves, or in the very least, a youkai in the upper rankings of his kind.
Nodding at his master's thoughts, the ice dragon rumbled his thoughts. He appears very protective of his posse, as small as they maybe. Perhaps the panthers had taken someone of the tribe?
No. Toshiro shook the thought. Touran mentioned needing mortal soul and flesh to resurrect their master, a wolf youkai fits nowhere in that category. It must be that priestess.
Lady Kagome? Hyorinmaru questioned.
As mortal she maybe, she contributes her share of value, if she is truly the incarnation of Lady Kikyo, by wielding the ability of seeing the Shikon no Tama. It may be that the wolf and Lady Kagome are allies. Toshiro argued but with icy indifference. However, that is the extent of her usefulness, judging from her actions in our previous encounter.
Perhaps, Master. However, she does possess potential. The monk and the youkai-slayer seem to be competent enough alone. Hyorinmaru noted as Toshiro nodded.
All possess potential, Hyorinmaru. It is just the matter of the individual of whether they will take on the potential to improve. Besides, if our speculations are true, then Lady Kagome resides from an era in which Soul Society exists. Unlike in this past, there is no order and only anarchy; she has, considering how long she has been here, yet to grasp this. Toshiro countered, as the ice dragon growled in agreement, as the ice captain turned away.
Lifting a single claw, Toshiro paid no heed to the awe in his audience's eyes, as he began his Kido spell. With a pointed finger at the distracted panther, who was currently engaging the wolf, who too along with his posse watched with awe, the captain incant. A bright yellow spark colored the former shinigami's fingertips, breaking into six, thin beams of light as they slammed into the surprised panther's midsection. To the panther's surprise, he was immobile and held in place by the Kido, unable to summon his lighting to break free.
Deciding that these panthers were existing for long enough as annoyances, the captain incanted low, loud enough for the spectators to know that he was saying something but too low for them to decipher exactly what. "Way of Binding: No. 61: Six Rods Prison of Light! Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!"
At the panther's sudden immobility, the wolf smirked as he sped toward the panther, his legs conjuring whirlwinds in the dust. With a swift but powerful kick, the wolf had the panther at his knees, the captain's Kido fading as the two retreated from one another.
"Had enough?" The wolf taunted, unfazed as the ice captain appeared beside him without a sound.
"I believe you had stalled our attention enough, Shuran." The captain deadpanned icily, as teal orbs sent shivers down the panthers' spines, leader and grunts alike. "Begone from our sight."
Not needing his underlings to see anymore of their leader being told off by a wolf or worse yet, a child dog; the panthers retreated with the order from their leader. "Everyone, retreat!"
"Heh, serves you right!" The wolf scoffed as the panthers disappeared from sight, before turning to his posse, clearly asking about Royakan. "How's the big guy?"
"He's breathing." The mohawked one reported as the other followed up. "I don't think he fainted, but more like he's asleep."
"Then leave 'im." The wolf shrugged, before turning to the captain, the icy teal meeting the piercing pale blue. "The name's Koga, the Leader of the wolf-youkai of the East."
"Hitsugaya Toshiro." The said person replied in turn. "Captain of the Tenth Division of the Thirteen Court Squads of Soul Society."
"Never heard of it." Koga remarked.
"Nor have I of your tribe, Koga." Toshiro replied back off-handedly, flicking aside the remark. "I presume you are here to rescue, Lady Kagome?"
"Damn right!" Koga affirmed. "No way am I going to let her be with that mutt, who can't even protect her properly! Tch!"
Nodding as if understanding the wolf's intent despite the vulgarness of his words, Toshiro merely glanced at the wolf leader's lackeys who neared their leader, and another to the said leader before shunpoing to the gate of the castle, much faster than any of the youkai could follow with their eyes, widening at the sight of extreme speed.
"Then, come. Koga, Leader of the Wolf Youkai."
The moon is full tonight. Hyorinmaru noted as the ice captain glanced up into the black, a single moon filtering it's light over the midnight contrast. It was indeed as the ice dragon had said, the moon presented herself in her full celestial body, bright and pure as she watched the earth from afar.
If only they knew what a foolish move that is, to challenge us in the peak of our powers. Toshiro replied as the dragon snorted a laugh. Winter and seasons of rain was obviously the captain's ideal circumstances of combat, however, with his ability to control weather, it merely increased his power. But in the situation of a normal day of regular weather, the captain was most powerful in the night, when the temperature dropped to the low and when the moon was in full view, just as the Head Captain's zanpakuto was brightened at the sun; his was in the moon.
Turning away from the lovely moon, the ice captain found a less appealing image before him. A deformed and misshapen corpse, garmented loosely in it's former armor, and judging from it's aged panther stench, the captain was certain that this was the corpse of the Panther leader, the four leaders' infamous Master. Speaking of the four, knelt before a red ceremonial table that was between a pair of fires, were the said four, the eldest in the front, followed by the other female felines flanking her, the youngest male doing the same as their grunts followed in suit, seated in perfect rows.
With a faint pink glow, a small sacrificial toast was the centerpiece, the highlight of the table and ceremony.
The Shikon no Tama shards from Lady Kagome. Hyorinmaru nodded as the panthers continued, not yet noticing the captain. It seems that these shards are more troublesome than they are worth.
It is more than that. Toshiro shook his head as he gestured with a chin toward the panthers. It is absolute anarchy. If a power is given directly to the common, it is to be expected surely as there is no one to tell them otherwise, to stop or to regulate on what to do or not to do. The Shikon no Tama was troublesome on it's own; however, Lady Kagome's actions of shattering it, made it anarchic, each shard equivalent to being the same as having the entire jewel.
If I were not your zanpakuto, I would have mistaken that you would have wanted Lady Kagome dead. Hyorinmaru deadpanned as his master snorted.
Do not mistaken my words, Hyorinmaru. Toshiro replied. I may see her as an incompetent priestess compared to her predecessor, but she is currently too valuable to be killed off.
All that he needed, the ice dragon and his Master severed conversation, the ice captain shunpoing to the Lord of the West's side, having made his appearance. Greeting each other with silence, the ice captain held up a claw, pausing the lord in his movements.
"It seems that the Panther Leader has been resurrected."
Nodding toward the panthers, a reddish-pink barrier obstructed the Inu-daiyokai from entry, it's called protection restricted to the Master, in likelihood. The captain watched with shinigami orbs, as the soul collectors of Hell were obstructed by the Shikon no Tama, which glowed with an innocent twinkle.
Then with a disgruntled cry, the corpse moved.
With narrowed teal, the ice captain watched darkly, as the corpse moved a disorientated claw over the table of offerings, clumsily taking the table and its contents whole, crushing it as the corpse promptly consumed it almost with gusto, to the daiyokai's disguised disgust.
Contrast to their disgust, the four de facto leaders smiled in triumph, at the corpse's movements, cries of joy that their master had been resurrected. Icy teal orbs narrowed further as the reiatsu of the corpse grew, an ominous turquoise aura surrounding the corpse as it made it's demands for blood clear. "Give me blood…flesh…and soul!"
So that's what the jewel does. The ice captain observed, his claws hidden in the sleeves of his robes. The jewel hears the desires of it's possessor, whether they be of moral or immoral taint, and grants it. Whether it leads them to their deaths or temporary power.
Sounds like something that would be banned in Soul Society. Hyorinmaru noted playfully, as his master send a scowl.
More like placed into the Central 46 to quarrel over who 'deserves' it. Toshiro snapped, as he was taken from his thoughts by a cry.
"Kagome!" Koga cried with a risen fist toward the barrier.
Well aware of the results of the wolf's efforts, the captain instead turned to the captive mortals. Concealed in a neon blue barrier, the kidnapped villagers along with the mortals of a certain hanyou's party were revealed, each turning their heads in confusion, obviously having no idea where they were.
It seems that you were correct in your thoughts, Master. Hyorinmaru noted as the said master merely replied with a mental shrug. The villagers seemed to served the same purpose as Lady Kagome and her friends, only with that wolf youkai, Koga.
Yes, and now; we're only missing two members for the event. Toshiro noted lightly, as he watched the show before him, well aware of the lessening distance of the hanyou and an annoying kappa. With a gnarled and wrinkled claw, the Panther Leader made a grab for what seemed to be the monk, youkai-slayer, and Kagome. The monk seemed defiant as he made to unravel his rosary beads, only to have the Panther Leader make him freeze up in a literal sense, with a simple spell.
Ho. Toshiro breathed, amusement glinting in his thoughts. It seems the Panther Leader has more power than a meaningless corpse.
I would hope so, Master. Don't you remember what we are? Hyorinmaru countered with a hint of mirth as Toshiro sent a small huff, but more amused than annoyed.
Falling to his knees, the monk was trapped within the containments of his own body, making no sign of hearing or acknowledging the youkai-slayer who knelt at his aid, worry evident. As if to say, since the monk and the youkai slayer were preoccupied, the corpse moved on to Kagome, the said priestess eliciting a cry in fear as the gnarled claw reached for her, the Panther Leader, crying for blood as he did.
And cue the hanyou. Toshiro remarked as the hanyou made his presence known, fangs outspread in the cry of the untouched priestess, his red robes billowing as he wielded his blood-red blade, catching the eyes of the two daiyokai which narrowed darkly.
What is that? Sesshomaru thought. The color of Tessaiga is red.
So, then Inuyasha had gained new powers to hold back his youkai blood, and I believe this is one of them. Toshiro remarked as the teal orbs narrowed at the large blade, as the hanyou swiped it with a full swing at the barrier, removing it with a clean stroke, the barrier destroyed and the red on his blade gone with it.
The blade counteracts the barrier by veiling the blade with reiatsu, therefore, allowing the wielder to break any barrier they wish to enter. Toshiro observed as teal glanced at the lord's sheathed blade when the said orbs widened before returning to its' icy glare.
I see. The ice captain addressed in his Inner Mind, his zanpakuto silent.
Deciding to discuss the topic for another time, the captain exited, the cries of Jaken calling the captain and his liege pulling him away. Sending a glance to Jaken, who quickly bounded towards the unmoved captain and lord, the ice captain held his tongue, as Jaken paused for breath.
"I had searched for you, my lord!" Jaken addressed his liege before turning to the captain with an angry glare. "Captain Hitsugaya, if you had not gone so fast, I wouldn't have—!"
"Informed Inuyasha of the events fifty years ago and survived?" Toshiro finished for the kappa who gulped heavily, having taken in consideration the captain's appearance before his power in his scolding. "Yes, I suppose it was an ill mistake in my part, right; Jaken?"
That was not a question. Jaken thought as cold sweat grew at his back.
"N-No, I apologize, Captain Hitsugaya." The kappa retreated as the ice captain merely blinked at the kappa, before returning his icy glare toward the panthers, Jaken changing the topic as he addressed his lord.
"That Inuyasha… Where the hell did he learn how to wield Tessaiga like that?" Jaken commented offhandedly. "I was surprised."
In the midst of the conversation, the trial in rescuing the miko was at hand as the ice captain made no move to do more that observe as Koga leaped aside with the miko in his arms, leaving a half-crushed Inuyasha under the Panther Leader's decayed claw. With a glance to the now standing foursome underlings who had successfully resurrected their master, the ice captain had only one thought to himself.
And I thought Soul Society was loud and filled with insanity.