Chapter 28
In Seireitei…Renji
The hougyoku kicked the red haired hard and sent him flying across his maze and ignored Renji's grunts when his legs sprawled in odd position. Zabimaru only nodded solemnly with anticipation. He too thinks that his wielder needed that sort of violence as Renji refused to listen whenever the white monkey tried to tell him about Rukia's condition. It's just a matter of time that the blue haired felt annoyed with his attitude that triggered the uncalled action.
"You listen to me you insolent BRAT!!! Rukia is alive and she is in Hueco Mondo under my care! So shut the hell up and don't give me that pathetic look and quickly snap back so that you can go to war and save her YOU MORON!!!" the hougyoku yelled as he stood firmly next to Zabimaru.
Renji was stilled for a few minutes. The hougyoku and Zabimaru exchange looks as they couldn't see his expression under his red bangs. Out of a sudden, they heard chuckles before it turns out to a bloom laughter coming from the sixth squad vice captain. However, instead of a normal laughter, it was filled with insanity and the sound creeps every soul within its reach.
"Don't freakin' lie to me…I…I saw her and her body…her blood," and before Renji could complete his words, a loud 'thud' can be heard across the place and Renji was sent flying…again.
"As I said, you stupid BRAT!! Rukia is alive and what you saw earlier were their plans to bring her back to Hueco Mondo without being followed. Tell me something, can't you feel trace of her reiatsu with me? She is alive and until you can get that fact across your head, I'm going to hit you and make sure that you wish you are out there in real world instead of in here…with me," he replied with a sick and twisted smile on his lips.
Renji seemed to focus on something when he felt it. Rukia's reiatsu was faint but still… it was there with the blue haired boy. For the first time he looked at the hougyoku with a sharp eyes.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked, unmasked his curiosity as he began to recover from his shock.
"I am the hougyoku. Imposturous as it seems but I have evolved from a stone into…this," he showed gesture of his being.
"But that IS IMPOSSIBLE!!! How the hell I'm going to trust your reason when it is…ARGHGHHH!!!" Renji's screams was deafening that Zabimaru flinched. The blue haired flashed a wicked smile as he watched Renji crawled into a ball…in pain.
"Did you not know about my power and what I can do? If it is not impossible for me to create arrancars, then it is not impossible that I can be like this. I've been with Rukia for quite sometime that our power seems to favour each other. Part of her is with me and part of me is with her. Aizen needs Rukia to make me a full element so that he can create his self bred army. Understood?" he sneered.
For the longest time Renji stayed still until slowly and tiredly, he got up and faced the two beings that watched his every move. The hougyoku almost let out a smile when he saw a glint of hope shined in Renji's eyes.
"If you ever lie to me…" Renji narrowed his eyes while watching the grinning hougyoku.
"Don't be a fool. You know I'm right."
"Yeah, whatever…"
In Seireitei…Ichigo
Ichigo covered his face with both hands and cried silently. He ignored the collapsed debris, the heavy rain and the thunderstorm, raging wildly in his inner world. Zangetsu watched his wielder with a grim face. But hope flashed in his eyes as he watched the lady in white make her way gracefully towards Ichigo…
"I let them die…I let them die…I let them die…Mom...Rukia…" and Shirayuki leaned closer to Ichigo while listening to his whispers, repeated softly as he rocked himself to and fro.
"You did not let anyone died…she is still alive…Kuchiki Rukia is still alive," Shirayuki said as she bent down to Ichigo's level. Her words rang inside the orange head.
Ichigo eyes snapped open to locate the source.
"W-Who?" he asked with bewildered look.
"Shirayuki…Kuchiki Rukia zanpakatou's soul," she replied as she stood up slowly.
Ichigo's eyes were wide when he saw the lady in white with her covered eyes like Tousen as her soft voice ringing through his mind.
"I-It can't be!! W-why? H-How?" Ichigo was beyond shocked that he stuttered.
"The hougyoku borrowed his power in order for me to find you, Kurosaki Ichigo," she replied.
"Huh?"
"The hougyoku power had evolved greatly for him to use it freely. Shards of Kuchiki Rukia soul had embedded into him while his power into hers. At this moment, Kuchiki Rukia is safely guarded in Hueco Mondo. She is alive…"
"BUT RUKIA IS DEAD!!!" he shouted as he stood abruptly.
Glistened of sweat and tears were evident on the substitute shinigami. Ichigo was breathing heavily as his eyes transfixed at Shirayuki, daring her to repeat her news about Rukia. Slowly he gripped both his knuckles till it turned white, waiting for the other to speak.
"To you and everyone else in Seireitei…yes, she is dead. But that was the plan from the start to capture Kuchiki Rukia and bring her to Hueco Mondo without alarming her friends," and Shirayuki nodded towards Ichigo, "and other Shinigami to retrieve her from there," she replied softly.
Ichigo was loss at words for a few minutes. His mind swirled on the new information and tried to accept the fact that the raven haired shinigami is still alive. But when he remembered the way Ichimaru Gin dragged her like a rag doll through the gate, he snapped.
"Don't. Fucking. Lie. To. Me!!!! I saw her!! I was there when he…DAMMIT!!!" he yelled covering his ears as if he could listen to her shrill scream when Gin's zanpakatou pierced her.
Zangetsu moved next to Shirayuki and glanced at her from corner of his eyes but the woman stood proudly, unaffected by Ichigo tantrums. The weather in his inner world grew harsher and the place shook violently.
"Is this what you truly are, Kurosaki Ichigo? A self claimed protector who is unable to accept the truth and indulge in self pity, ignoring that Kuchiki Rukia is waiting for you to save her?" asked Shirayuki suddenly.
Ichigo let loose his hand and it swayed a little when he dropped it.
"Lady Shirayuki…" Zangetsu voice trailed off when Shirayuki cuts him off.
"Kuchiki Rukia has a lot of faith in you Kurosaki Ichigo…to save her from Aizen. Yes, she will die… but only in Aizen's hand. His real plan is to combine the hougyoku power with Kuchiki Rukia in order to create his new self breed arrancars. There is noguarantee that she will be alive afterwards. Are you willing to let her go? To die in such a place? Far from her family and friends?" she asked slowly.
Ichigo body shook violently as his emotions overwhelmed him. For God's sake he loves Rukia!!! She came into his life and change his world so there is no way that he will let her die. No freaking way!!!
"How…how will I know you speak the truth?" asked Ichigo slowly gripping his fist. His voice was cracking but there was a trace of hope blooming.
"Your bond with her is too strong to break. By right, you already knew that she's alive when you saw me…even before I introduce myself. You can feel her, do you not?" she replied gently.
For the longest of time, Ichigo stood static to the ground. His eyes were still hidden by his orange bangs but slowly the other two felt that there was a slight change in the weather. Shirayuki and Zangetsu silently waited when out of a sudden Ichigo raised his head and began to smirk.
"Yeah… you are right. I have a strong feeling she is still out there and alive. I can feel her through your presence. Honto arigato... Heh, I guess now it's my turn to save that midget…again," he said as his eyes glint with full determination.
"If you want to find her, please prepare yourself for the war. It is pointless to save Kuchiki Rukia now. She is taken care by the hougyoku and he will be the one who will help her to get stronger. When the time comes, Kuchiki Rukia will fight side by side with you," she added.
"What did you mean she is taking care by the hougyoku? That thing is just a stone," the orange haired stated, confused when the white lady referred to the stone as 'he' not 'it'.
"The shards of Rukia embedded to him is part of her soul. Therefore, the stone is now 'alive' and took an image of a young man. He was attached to Rukia before and even now his fondness to her is no secret."
Upon hearing that, Ichigo's eyes narrowed.
"Fondness? What type of fondness are you talking about?" he asked curtly.
Zangetsu began to frown as he recognized the irrelevant of the question towards the current matter. Suddenly both Zangetsu and Ichigo almost swear that they could hear a faint sinister chuckle from the white lady.
"He cared for her deeply and he show it to her whenever he has the chance. Not only he wanted Kuchiki Rukia to acknowledge his presence but also how he felt towards her. A very persistent being and an affectionate one…if you know what I mean…" she said softly.
With that, Ichigo pointed his index finger towards Zangetsu and yelled at him.
"You better make sure you make me strong enough to fight and get Rukia safely back here old man!!! What the heck with that midget??!! I had enough trouble to get her away from the white short captain and now she got another one!! And that thing is not EVEN HUMAN!!! Argghhhhh!!!" and that was when Zangetsu lifted his head to the sky.
"The rain has stopped…thank you Shirayuki," he whispered softly to the retreating form of the lady in white…
In Hueco Mondo…
Rukia look up in amaze as the 'tower' was actually a huge ice blocks with sharp edges and softly she runs her fingers at the surface. Her eyes peered to find him but he was nowhere to be seen. Slowly Rukia closed her eyes and let her fingers move in circle, touching the solid ice as she called to him.
"Toushiro…Toushiro..are you in there? Can you hear me? Toushiro…please…let me in…let me save you…," she repeated like a prayer and her voice rang in desperation….desperate to see him again.
Rukia's eyes snapped open in shock.
Slowly her hand was sinking into the cold surface and in that moment, her heart soared as she knew that deep down…part of his unconscious mind recognized her and accepted her. With a stronger determination she called to him again… and slowly, she was drawn into the ice blocks and bit by bit making her way to the dying ice prince…
As Hyoruinmaru saw the smaller Kuchiki slowly been absorbed by the huge ice block, he swiftly landed on one of the high area and began to watch the worsening of his surroundings.
"Save him, Kuchiki Rukia…it is only you that can save him…" the ice dragon whispered slowly.
Rukia could feel bit by bit, the hard form of ice around her shifted to a colloid in order to let her pass through. The more she whispered his name, the faster she was absorbed into the thick ice. She followed the fluid motion until she came to a clearing. She glanced to her back briefly only to find the ice had solidified again.
'Here it goes,' she said to herself as she began to scan at the area.
It took her few seconds to locate him.
"TOUSHIRO!!!"
Rukia screamed his name and dropped to her knees when she saw an ice sculptured figure, complete with shinigami uniform and a captain haori, resembling the young 10th Division taicho as it sat on one of the ice beds. Her heart crushed as tears streamed from her amethyst eyes, saddened by the measures taken by the young captain the moment he lost her. Rukia stood up and slowly she made her way to him, staggering in the process before she finally collapsed in front of the figure. Rukia lifted her blurry eyes only to meet a glazing blue figure covered with ice and seemed lifeless to the world.
"Oh God…no…no…Toushiro…no. Please God…no," she sobbed and brought her hand up and held his once handsome face in her hands.
"Toushiro…it's me, Rukia…please…wake up. I'm still alive, see?" she said moving an inch further away from him to show her being before she close the distance between them and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
"I love you Toushiro...please wake up. Don't do this, don't choose death and leave me here alone…Toushiro please….," she whispered in his ears.
Rukia was blinded with her tears when she felt a sudden brisk of wind caressed her cheek. She blinked her tears and focused to the figure when she felt it again. The warm breeze caused her eyes widen in shock in sudden realization that the white haired captain was breathing. With her heart started to fill with hope, Rukia leaned closer to his ear and whispered ever so slowly to him.
"Come to me Toushiro. I'm still alive and waiting for you. Aizen took me away just to complete his mission. He lied to you and the others using his powers. The fact is…I'm still alive. I'm trapped in Hueco Mondo. So, wake up and fight for me, Toushiro. You know we couldn't live without each other. So, please…".
Rukia wrapped her arms around him and with one final look, she began to kiss him. She closed her eyes as her lips touched his cold one as tears cascade down her cheeks. She kissed him for the longest time and drowned in her own mind when she snapped back as she feel his lips began to return her kisses and his hands enveloped her petite body tightly, afraid that she will disappear if he let it go.
"Toushiro!!!" she shrieked gripping the side of his face in her hands and look at him intently.
His eyes were closed but slowly a small smirk was evident in his pale face. The ice started to dissipate off off him and returned his original figure.
"Toushiro!!!" she screamed again just to ensure that she was not dreaming.
"Yeah…yeah. I'm still here. No need to shout Rukia. I'm not deaf you know…" his voice croaked as he opened one of his eyes showing her his emerald orb.
Rukia narrowed her eyes at his smartass reply and was about to retort back before his hands brought her closer to him again and laid his head on her shoulder.
"I'm not hallucinating am I? I can see you, hear you and touch you and even it's impossible to happen, it's so hard to deny that you are really here," he said as he release her and rested his forehead on hers. She could feel his frown as his eyes bored into hers.
Rukia smiled softly and lift up his chin. She trailed her fingers along his face and watch in fascination as he sighed. She knew he is still afraid to truly believe that she was here, in front of him.
"My power is not strong enough to find you here. I have to borrow the hougyoku powers to bring me here to you," she replied.
Hitsugaya looked at her perplexed.
"Hougyoku? But how?" he asked.
"When I woke up in Hueco Mondo, I came to learn that the hougyoku is not a mere stone anymore. He's alive with a soul, which he got it from me and in return, I obtained a part of his power…" she replied and before she could continue Hitsugaya voiced out.
"…and the hougyoku now is not a pure element anymore, as if missing a piece…" Hitsugaya rubbed his chin in deep thoughts, "….and to ensure the hougyoku is a complete stone again, Aizen took you away from me. Oh. My. God," as it dawned to the prodigy, he shouted out of a sudden, " Rukia!!! He'll kill you!!!" Hitsugaya eyes widen and quickly circled his hands around Rukia bringing her onto his lap, causing the girl to squeak in the process.
"Toushiro! Calm down! It's not that he will kill me today!" she replied as she tried to wriggle off off him, "He probably need time especially to fully waken the power of hougyoku in me. Until now, I only managed to use a little amount of its original power, so Aizen will find a way to increase my power to the maximum in order for him to be able to combine the hougyoku," she huffed after failed miserably to free herself.
"But still…I won't let you stay there any longer. I'll talk to Yamamoto Genryusai about this and I will lead a team to retrieve you from Hueco Mondo. Give me a full hour and I promise that I will bring you back here safe in my arms," he said with a nod more likely finalizing his plan to himself.
Rukia narrowed her eyes and out if a sudden, she smacked the white haired captain.
"OWWW!!! What the hell was that for?!!" he yelled.
"That's for ignoring what I said!"
"What do you mean by that?!"
"I told you that there is still time to rescue me Toushiro. Just concentrate to get stronger and focus on preparing the winter war. In the meantime, to fully utilize the hougyoku power, I will request to fight the arrancars there…" Rukia rolled her eyes when Hitsugaya growled in dislike, "…in order for me to get stronger and reach my bankai. Aizen will never harm me before that," she replied while hiding the fact about her actual 'request' which is to fight the ex-captains and her will to reach higher level bankai.
Hitsugaya lowered his eyes and was in a deep thought trying to contemplate her words. Part of him wanted to save Rukia there and then but another part understood well her wisdom in her words. If he joined the preparation for the winter war, not only he could save his Rukia, but he will have all the power and time to annihilate Aizen. Hitsugaya tilted his head and his eyes softened before her. Rukia let out her breath she held, glad that the youngest captain accepted her reasoning.
"Ne, Rukia…" he said as his eyes bored into her. A genuine smile formed in his lips.
"What is it, Toushiro?" her eyes showed concern as she heard his pleading voice.
"Promise me that you'll wait for me," he said.
"Huh?" Rukia raised her brow in confusion.
"Just promise that you'll wait for me to save you. Don't you ever die on me there. Understand?" he stated with a hint of seriousness.
Rukia smiled and couldn't help herself from bending down and brush her lips on his cheeks.
"Of course I'll stay alive. Who else will spend the rest of their lives with you if it's not me?" and Rukia laughed at his shocked eyes and continued,
"But that, my dear Hitsugaya taicho, is a promise which will goes the same to you. Promise?" she asked him as her hands caressed his cheeks.
Hitsugaya was overwhelmed with her words and affection that she only showed it none other than him. Slowly he lowered her to his level and let his lips brush hers softly.
"Yeah…but in the meantime," he said huskily and Rukia's heart quickened when he began to place her on his ice bed. Strange enough, the moment her back touch it, it seems it became soft as if she was on a real bed.
Rukia was startled by Hitsugaya longing look before he dived and placed forceful kiss on her lips. But her eyes glint mischievously when she felt he nibbled her lower lips, trying to get her permission to further explore her mouth. Hitsugaya growled when Rukia playfully sealed her lips, preventing him to enter her.
"Rukia…" his husky voice warned her and she was amazed to see him panting from merely a kiss.
"Wha…" she smiled and her sentence was cut off as Hitsugaya dive in and let both of their tongue swivelled with force. He kissed her hard. Rukia knew he was pouring his worry, loneliness, lust and love and it amazed Rukia that she could figure it out simply by his kiss.
Slowly Rukia's hand snaked around him, and pulled him closer, trying to close the small gap between them. Hitsugaya growled in anticipation and lowered himself in between her legs as he began to trail his kisses to her neck. Rukia let out a long sigh as she felt him sucking her neck and traced kisses along her chest. She moaned softly as his hands roamed her body and slowly tugged her shihakushō. Both Rukia and Hitsugaya were totally obvious to their surrounding until they were startled by a scream.
"RUKIA!!!!"
My Note:
I'm sorry sorry sorry for the late update. I know there's no excuse but I just got my dream job and trying to adapt for the last few weeks. So truly apologize for the wait. Anyway, it's not gonna be long now. Another few more chaps to go. Plus, I have tonnes of ideas for another HitsuRuki pairing. Wait and see!!!!!
p/s: To Blackbelt….hope u still write more stories for HitsuRuki…Conversing the Dragon is one of the best!!!!
