Chapter 37
Renji had awoken briefly only to continue to sleep a little while later. Toshiro felt some warmth traveling through his blood stream due to the alcohol. After Claudia had left the rooftop, he stayed up there alone for some time. The sky was beginning to lighten in the distance as Unohana appeared in front of him.
"We're taking Abarai-fukutaichou back to the Seireitei, Hitsugaya-taichou. Yamamoto-sotaichou expects a full report once you return."
"I'll have everything for him then." Toshiro replied as the captain of the fourth division disappeared once again.
"I'm sorry to keep popping up like this," came a voice from behind him, "but if you're going home, send me there too. I don't want to be stuck here."
Toshiro turned to see Kima's spirit on the roof with him. The chain that bound her to this world had already appeared in her chest. "Of course. I can't leave you here."
The blonde smiled brightly as she moved a bit closer to him. "Don't worry so much, Shiro-chan. I'll find you if you don't find me first."
"I believe you. I will find you. You can count on that."
"We'll see each other soon. Probably sooner than you think, I bet." Kima said, tilting her head a bit. "If Matsumoto-san will let me near you, that is."
An honest smile lit Toshiro's face as he took a step closer to the spirit. "I'll make sure she does. I've sent a message to the Ronins. They should be up-"
"What did you call us up here for, Whitey-san?" Kento bellowed, quite drunk.
"Any minute now." the captain finished. "You can go on, if you'd like."
Kento blinked several times before turning to Rowen and nudging him with his elbow. "Am I crazy or do you see her there too?"
Rowen rolled his eyes before replying. "You're crazy, Kento, but yes, I see her too."
"What are you still doing here, Kima?" Ryo asked. "I thought you'd moved on already."
The blonde spirit shook her head. "I was putting it off long enough to say goodbye. I think you guys deserve that much."
"It won't be goodbye forever." Sage said. "Claudia made that clear. We'll be seeing you again, Kima. You can count on that."
"I expect to get some of your cooking when I get back, Cye." she giggled.
Cye nodded in response. "Only if you come back though. Otherwise you don't get free meals." he said with a wry smile.
"Take care, Kima. We'll be waiting on you to come back." Ryo spoke in a serious manner.
"Don't take shit from anybody, girl." Kento slurred. "I expect you to get stronger while you're gone."
The blonde giggled once again. "You don't have to worry about that. It's not like I'm going to be sitting on my ass the whole time."
"It's time to go, Kima." Toshiro said softly.
Kima nodded as she stood directly in front of him. The captain removed his zanpakuto and turned the butt toward her. The seal on the end of the hilt began to glow a soft blue as the white-haired man stared at the spirit in front of him. She was staring back, emotion thick in the air.
"Once I perform the konso, you'll end up in Rukongai. There are many spirits there and many districts, so don't get discouraged. You can tell where the Seireitei is by the giant walls that surround it." he explained. The spirit nodded but was otherwise silent. "Don't be scared."
"I'm not." Kima replied. "You'll find me. I trust you."
Toshiro nodded as he raised the hilt of his sword toward her forehead. She waved to the Ronins as she cocked her head to the side and smiled. As soon as the captain touched the seal to her skin, a blue wave passed over her before it looked like her spirit began to dissolve. Toshiro lowered his arm as she disappeared. It was done. It was time to go home.
"I guess this is goodbye then, eh cap?" Kento asked, resting an arm on Cye's shoulder.
The white-haired captain nodded. "It's time that I head back to the Seireitei and conclude my mission. I'm sure there's more than enough work that needs to be done."
"We can't thank you enough, Hitsugaya-taichou." Ryo said, bowing to him.
"There's no need to thank me. I was just doing my duty as a shinigami." Toshiro said, bowing back. "Aizen is not done with you. He's merely diverted his attention for the moment. He'll be trying to perfect giving the hollows shinigami abilities through use of the Hogyoku. We'll be seeing each other again."
"We expect you to have Kima with you when you come back." Rowen said with a grin on his face.
Toshiro nodded as a set of sliding doors appeared in front of him. With a final wave to the Ronin Warriors, he entered the door. When he stepped through to the other side of the door, his feet touched down on the marble of the Seireitei. He was home.
...
The stuffy temperature of the office was making him uncomfortable. The amount of paperwork he was dealing with was ridiculous. Who would've thought an intervention mission would've led to so many reports and forms? Sighing, Captain Hitsugaya paused in his writing to gaze absent-mindedly out the window; an act that was becoming more frequent in the past three weeks.
Three weeks of searching and he'd yet to find Kima within the Rukongai. Even though it was vast, he'd have thought he'd have found some sign of her. Claudia had been reassuring him that she would turn up and she would find him if he couldn't find her. He was sure that the brunette was right, but he was discouraged none the less.
Toshiro glanced back from the window briefly when he heard his door open. His icy blue eyes returned to the gardens outside when he saw that it was Hinamori. She'd taken to checking in on him at least once a day since his return. He had a feeling that Rangiku had something to do with it. The captain sighed as he rested his cheek in his hand.
"Why so glum, Shiro-chan? You're home now and the battle is over for the moment." she asked, sitting on the corner of his desk.
He simply gave her a withering look before sighing again. "There is something that would dishearten me."
"Kima-san hasn't turned up yet, has she?" Momo asked, a saddened look coming over her face.
Toshiro shook his head. "Nothing. I've looked and looked and there's no sign of her anywhere."
"She'll turn up, Shiro-chan. It might take some time, but she'll turn up. She's a strong woman, from what you've told me. She'll find a way back to you."
"That's just it, Momo." Toshiro said, becoming suddenly nervous and wringing his hands. "What if she wanders into the rougher parts of Rukongai? There's no way she'd know which those are and the riff raff there are not to be toyed with. She has no soul reaper training."
Momo sighed. "You really do love her, don't you Toshiro? Have faith in Kima-san. She'll find a way back to you. I know she will."
The white-haired captain rose to his feet and stretched just as Rangiku walked through the door. The strawberry blonde had a giant smile on her face as she crossed the floor to his desk, leaning over it unscrupulously.
"Ohayo, taichou! You look well. Ohayo, Hinamori-kun!"
"I'm going to the captains' meeting, Matsumoto. I expect the rest of this paperwork to be done by the time I get back. I'll be going out to Rukongai to look for Kima, so that'll leave you plenty of time to do it in."
Rangiku's face fell to one of protest as her superior started toward the door. Her shouts of protest fell on deaf ears as Toshiro exited his office and headed toward the division one building. Both women were left alone in the silent office as Rangiku sighed and sat down behind the desk, pulling out the secret stash of sake.
...
"I have called you all here to discuss the issue of one Claudia Preston. She has shown the abilities of a true blood shinigami and has returned with Abarai-fukutaichou to the Seireitei." Head Captain Yamamoto began. "Some of you have taken more quickly to her than others. My next statement is made as commander general and I will have no oppositions. Claudia-san has used bankai and has the ability to become a captain."
"I have not personally seen her in battle. Hitsugaya-taichou, Zaraki-taichou, and Kuchiki-taichou have all aided in her training and agree that she has potential. I believe that with the proper training, she could take one of the vacant captains' seats. I will summon her to me to speak of the challenge I will present. Now, I want a report of the happenings of the battle with the arrancar."
Toshiro stepped forward from his place among the other captains. Bowing, he spoke. "Sotaichou, it wasn't apparent until just before the final battle that the arrancar was a ploy created by Aizen. He was using the warlords and the gates of the Dynasty to hide the entrance to Hueco Mundo. Aizen has further plans than merely placing a gate within the Seireitei."
Yamamoto furrow his brow. "Please continue, Hitsugaya-taichou."
The white-haired captain nodded. "I believe that Aizen has every intent of gaining the ten armors and somehow siphoning their powers for his own use. If this were to occur, both the human world and Soul Society would be destroyed."
"Soi Fon-taichou."
"Hai!"
"Dispatch the intelligence force immediately. I want to know if there is any way to find out what Aizen is planning and if we can stop him. I am going to challenge Claudia-san to a duel to test her abilities. It is your duty to be present during this exam. You are dismissed!"
...
It seemed as if the entire Gotei 13 and the academy had shown up to see the battle between Head Captain Yamamoto and the unknown true blood, Claudia Preston. The white-haired captain could see her down below with Renji, Kenpachi, Yachiru, and Ikkaku. Toshiro had opted not to sit in the specified section with the other captains. He was hoping that maybe Kima could've gotten in by some miracle of fate.
"I see you're not with your fellow captains, Hitsugaya-san."
Toshiro turned to see a familiar face standing next to him. "Hai, Shuten-san. After being away from them for so long, it's hard to readjust to the title again."
The Ancient chuckled. "You're sure it wouldn't have anything to do with looking for Kima in the crowd?"
"I'm positive." the white-haired man protested, flushing slightly.
"You don't have to lie. I'm laying low for the moment, so I won't tell anyone." Shuten said. "It's been three weeks since you've last seen her. You're missing our little Destroyer."
Toshiro nodded as he turned his attention back to the battle. Claudia seemed to be doing well, surviving just barely. He and the Ancient were both silent as they looked on. It could easily have been a slaughter had Claudia not had any training prior to her battle with the commander general.
"You do realize that Dais is also here, don't you?"
The captain of the tenth division whipped his head toward the Ancient. "You don't think he'll try to start anything, do you?"
Shuten shook his head. "I doubt it. Urahara and myself have been keeping an eye on him. He won't give you or Kima any trouble."
Toshiro nodded. "Good. I would hate to cut my brief period of peace short by having to kick his ass again."
Shuten laughed. "I'm sure that Kima would be upset as well."
Captain Hitsugaya turned his attention back to the battle only to see Yamamoto halt the attack of Ryujin Jakka mere centimeters from Claudia's face. The battle was over and she'd passed the test. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he saw the brunette look grateful as she bowed in thanks to her new commanding officer.
"Well, it would appear that Claudia passed the test."
"It would seem so. After she undergoes the correct training, there are three possible captains' seats she could fill. The hardest part is over now."
Kenpachi was carrying her off of the battlefield as she was exhausted. Shuten had disappeared once again into the crowd. Perhaps after Claudia began her training, they could all search for Kima together.
...
Toshiro sighed as he, Renji, and Claudia were taking a break from their search. They had cleared the fourth and fifth districts and still found nothing. Renji and Claudia were talking back and forth, the redhead finally asking the brunette to marry him. The white-haired captain rolled his eyes when she said yes. That answer was a given.
"Freaks." he mumbled, slightly jealous.
"Don't be mean to them! That was sweet!"
Toshiro turned to find the owner of the voice as Claudia launched from her seat to engulf the woman standing before them in a bear hug. "Kima!"
The blonde grinned as she returned the hug. "The one and only."
Renji was also grinning. "God, are we glad to see you. We were getting tired of walking."
"I'm so glad that I could've been of some service." Kima retorted, rolling her eyes. "Nobody's going to get weepy on me, are they?"
"No," Claudia replied, "but I have some good news for you."
"Oh yeah? What would that be?"
Claudia could barely contain her excitement and the blonde could see that. "The head captain granted me one request for passing his test. I'm going to become a captain and you're going to go into the soul reaper academy."
"Me?" Kima asked. "Back to school? I never thought I'd see that happen. I'm glad to be of some use though."
A smirk settled on Toshiro's face. "That means starting from scratch."
"Look at you." Kima teased. "I'm back less than five minutes and you're already patronizing me. You're going to be one of my superiors too. This is going to be fun."
"Once we get you squared away at the academy, you'll be granted access to the Seireitei. You can visit us any time you want." the captain explained.
Renji elbowed her in the ribs in a playful manner. "You have to address us by our titles in public, but that doesn't mean you don't get bedtime privileges."
Kima turned bright red as she smacked him in the back of the head. "I swear, you're getting as bad as Kento!"
Claudia giggled as she drug her fiancé with her a few feet in front of them to return to the Seireitei. Toshiro remained behind with her, eventually losing them in the crowd. He slyly reached down and entwined his fingers with hers, pulling her a little closer. After over a month, he'd finally found the one he was looking for. A smile formed on his lips.
"What are you so happy about?"
"What do you think I'm so happy about?" Toshiro asked, stopping and turning her to face him.
A small smile placed itself on her face. "I know. I'm happy too. It's been horrible being by myself for over a month. I've rather gotten used to company."
The captain scooped her into his arms, crushing her against him. The smell of her hair filled his nostrils and for the first time since her death, he felt complete. Toshiro could feel her trembling against him and moved her far enough away to see her crying.
"I think I can sneak you in before we pay a visit to the academy."
"So I'm going to get a personal tour of your quarters?" Kima asked.
"Yes, I think so."
...
The sun was sinking behind the hills when the blonde finally cracked an eye open. The shadows had begun to stretch across the floor and walls as she rolled over to see Toshiro still sleeping. Kima smiled as she examined the peaceful expression left on his features by sleep, a lock of white hair falling into his eyes. He was nude, covered from the waist down, his arm draped lazily over her. The blonde smile gently as she huddled a little closer to him. She giggled a little when she felt his arm pulling her closer, nuzzling his face into her hair.
"I'm surprised that you're awake already." Toshiro muttered in a groggy tone.
Kima giggled as she turned to face him, planting a kiss on his nose. "I've always been one of the earliest risers. It's not going to change in the afterlife."
His icy blue eyes were lit by a warm emotion as he stared at her. He swiped her bangs out of her eyes gently, her soft skin under his calloused fingers. "It's good to have you back. I've missed you, Kima."
"I've missed you too, Shiro-chan. Now, what is this about starting at the academy?"
Toshiro chuckled as he pulled her closer. "Claudia requested that Yamamoto-sotaichou allow you into the soul reaper academy. You'll train to be a shinigami."
"So I'll become one of the division members?" Kima asked, kissing him lightly.
"Probably not my division though. It would be a conflict of interest." Toshiro smiled.
"Would it now?" the blonde grinned, rolling him over onto his back. "I don't see why it'd be a conflict of interest."
The captain grinned as well as he rested his hands on her hips as she straddled him. Unaware that Matsumoto and Hinamori were peaking in, he rolled her over onto her back as Kima gave a startled squeal. Both women blushed as they pulled away from the door.
"I've never seen taichou act like that." Matsumoto said, her voice wavering.
"That's something I never wanted to see in my whole entire life." Hinamori admitted, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"I never imagined his butt to be…" Matsumoto commented, dropping off at the very end.
"…so white." Hinamori finished.
...
Holding the sword overhead collecting lightning
My heart shines with loneliness
What should I aim for?
Who should I love, my love?
Where's the answer?
Anyone is a distant traveler in this town
Becoming like a lost child, tomorrow also
I'll keep walking
The instructor was so boring. Kima was doing just about anything to keep her eyes open. She had even taken to pulling lint off of her red and white uniform. God, Kido was the most boring subject to be invented. She seemed to be excelling in all of the other subjects at the academy. Why the hell was a spirit bomb so hard?
Kima sighed as she began to scribble on her paper. Doodles again. Somehow the kanji of the Ronin Warriors and doodles of their weapons always made it into her notes. Okay, so she missed the guys. It's not that she hadn't made friends here. Claudia and Renji were still around, not to mention Toshiro, but with official duties, who had much time? The blonde had taken to drinking with Ikkaku and Tetsuzaemon. That was interesting sometimes.
"Hagashi-kun! Please pay attention!"
"Hai, sensei!"
What the hell? Why did the instructor always have to catch her? Kima couldn't wait until this damn class was over. The other younger shinigami always cast her wary glances. That didn't even count for the rumors that were going around at the academy about her. Rumors didn't hurt her feelings, they just pissed her off. If they wanted to say something to her, why didn't they just say it or ask her about it or just fight her? That would've been much better.
"What's with that one? Why is she always with the shinigami?"
"I heard she's sleeping with Hitsugaya-taichou."
"Is he even old enough for her?"
"I don't know. He's one of the youngest captains in the Gotei 13. I guess they would be close to the same age."
Kima growled under her breath. "I can hear you, you know. Why don't you just say whatever it is you want to say to my face?"
"Oh, Hagashi-kun! We didn't realize you could hear us."
"I'm not deaf." Kima snapped. "Why don't we settle this on the practice field?"
"Hagashi-kun!" the instructor shouted. "This is the last time I will tell you. You may be here by request of Preston-taichou, but you will follow the rules and respect the other students!"
Kima nodded as she sat back down. Finally deciding that today's class was complete bull shit, the blonde was glad that she was sitting by the window. Time to put those armored ninja skills to work. Making sure that no one was watching her, Kima slid the window open and dropped right out of it with her books in her arms.
Unreachable dream, flower petals dance in the storm
Becoming wind, becoming rain, before I realize
The heart is a samurai, emptiness embraces the armor
Take it off, dress only in your bravery
The grounds of the academy were beautifully kept. The trees and shrubs seemed to always be green. No brown or dry spots ever seemed to be there. All the flowers appeared to be in perfect bloom. As she wandered through the trees, she saw the different classes doing their different zanpakuto exercises and kido forms. It was hard to believe that she'd been in the academy for six months already.
Kima had been able to meet her zanpakuto's spirit. It had been two months since she'd been acquainted with Tennoharuka. The falcon was a smart ass, to say the least. He'd been popping into her mind daily to annoy her. Toshiro had told her that all zanpakuto spirits were different and that Hyorinmaru spoke to him frequently, even materializing from time to time.
"You shouldn't be skipping class, you know."
"Yes, father. It's just for today, Tennoharuka."
"Don't you think Hitsugaya-taichou will have something to say about this?" the falcon asked.
Kima shook her head. "Shiro-chan knows that he can't tell me anything. He's just as stubborn as I am."
"Whatever. As long as you graduate from the academy and I get some use, we're fine. I've been noticing that there's something inhibiting your kido skills."
"I've been noticing that too. Any ideas on what it could be?" the blonde asked.
"It wouldn't have anything to do with that thing around your neck, would it?" Tennoharuka asked.
The shinigami in training lifted her kanji orb from underneath her uniform by the chain, looking at it closely. "I wouldn't think it would cause something like that. I mean, I'm dead. It can't still control me, can it?"
If the spirit could shrug its shoulders, Tennoharuka would be doing just that. "How do I know such things? I'm not the expert of the armor. Maybe you should ask that other guy. What's his name? Shuten?"
"I'll ask him when I can find him again. He seems to make himself disappear at the worst times."
Gaps between buildings, when I look up at the moon
My sweet eyes are rubies
If blazing red
Transparent future, my love
Anyone is a distant traveler, a secret dream
Surpassing even a miracle
Continues to stay afloat
Making it into the closest division headquarters she could find, Kima was greeted by Ikkaku and Yumichika as well as a bottle of sake. The bald third seat grinned at her as he held up a bottle for her.
"You're here early today, X-chan!" Ikkaku shouted, well on his way to being intoxicated.
Yumichika flicked his hair. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
Kima rolled her eyes. "What am I, ten? Jeez. You guys are worse than my mother."
It was then that Kenpachi and Claudia walked out of the eleventh division training room. Kima had since taken a seat and a swig of sake. The brunette blinked in surprise as she caught the blonde in mid slurp and Kenpachi just laughed.
"Decided not to stick with class today, X-chan?" Kenpachi asked, laughing.
Kima gave a big smile and shook her head furiously. "Nope. All the students in my class are so caddy. I can't stand them, so I decided to come keep you guys company."
Claudia chuckled as well. "So, how are classes going, Kima?"
The blonde shrugged. "Everything's going fine except for kido. I just can't seem to get it. What is it other than a kamehameha wave? I don't see the point."
"Demon magic could come in handy." a voice came from a little further down the wooden walk. "You should take it more seriously."
Kima licked a drop a of sake off her chin. "Says you. I just can't make it work with me for some reason."
Ikkaku gave a drunken giggle as he turned his attention to his drinking buddy. "Maybe you're just slow. I mean like…learning deficiency slow."
"What?" Kima asked, quirking an eyebrow as she slapped him in the back the head.
"You heard me!" Ikkaku barked, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well at least my bankai isn't overcompensating for something else!" Kima shrieked.
Everyone was silent for a few moments before laughter erupted and filled the air. The third seat turned visibly red as if he were about to explode. Kima was giggling madly, the sake starting to take effect.
"You don't even have a bankai! How can you make fun of me?" Ikkaku shouted, Yumichika giggling into his hands.
"Very easily!" was the retort.
The heart is a samurai
Emptiness embraces the armor
Take it off, dress only in your bravery
Kenpachi chuckled as he turned to his lieutenant, who was perched on his shoulder. Then he looked to his sibling figure who was standing next to him. A calculating grin adorned his face as he made himself comfortable against one of the wooden posts.
"What would you say if I wanted to put you in my squad, X-chan?" he asked, the grin still on his face.
"Yay, yay! X-chan will be with us!" Yachiru chanted as she clapped her hands together.
Kima seemed to ponder this for a moment. "I guess so. Being in squad ten or squad three would be a 'conflict of interest.' What the hell, let's do it, Kenny."
Ikkaku's mouth dropped open at this. "What? You'd been in division eleven? What the hell! I had to work for this position! And why the hell do you get to get away with calling Zaraki-taichou 'Kenny'? Unfair!"
"I don't know," Kenpachi mused, "I haven't seen her in action yet, but I might even make X-chan my fourth seat."
The bald man fell over as Yumichika let out a laugh. "At least the seat with the ugly number will be filled! X-chan can have it!"
"That means, by number, I'm stronger than you feather head." Kima grumbled. "What do you have to say about that?"
"I say that Tennoharuka could catch up to Hozukimaru quickly. That's all." Yumichika said with a shrug.
"Says who?" Ikkaku shouted, enraged. "You? We'll prove whose stronger right now!"
Kima watched as the bald man leapt to his feet, drawing his zanpakuto. The blonde rolled her eyes as she kept her seat. "You're drunk, baldy. Sit back down."
"I am not bald! I shave my head!"
"Keep telling yourself that." Claudia smirked as she folded her arms over her chest.
Toshiro shook his head. "You're one to talk about being drunk."
"I'm not drunk." Kima commented. "I'm happily intoxicated."
"Keep telling yourself that." the white-haired captain snickered, copying Claudia's words.
Kima reached up and took his hand, pulling him down next to her, and planting a large wet kiss on his mouth. Toshiro blinked at this in surprise. "Now you can say I'm drunk."
Claudia giggled. "I see you two disappearing in the near future."
Toshiro grinned a wicked grin as he rose to his feet, scooping Kima into his arms. The blonde squealed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. It didn't take long for the captain to shunpo to his quarters.
Love…is strange
Sword of the heart is gentle
Lonely heart
Someday somewhere overflowing tears fall
Wiping them away, thinking that I want them to flow
The heart is a samurai, emptiness embraces the armor
Take it off, dress only in your bravery
Kima was wrapped in a sheet as she pulled her knees to her chest. Gazing out the window, she let her mind wander. Toshiro sat next to her, bare-chested, as he followed her gaze. He hadn't seen her think this hard in a while.
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
The blonde shook her head. "I've just been getting some kind of…reverberations lately. That's all."
"Reverberations?" Toshiro asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Nodding, Kima lifted the small black orb by its silver chain off of her neck. Such a small thing had caused them so much trouble; would cause them so much trouble in the future. She just wanted to fling the thing away from her or bury it somewhere where no one would ever find it. Sighing, she let it drop by back to her chest.
"Is there any way we could throw it into an active volcano?" the blonde mumbled, resting her head on his shoulder.
Toshiro chuckled. "I don't think it's as easy as that. Perhaps it's just calling out for the Ronins' armors since they'd been together for so long."
"Maybe that's it. Maybe the armor of Destruction misses its friends." Kima suggested, closing her eyes.
The captain found himself playing with her long hair as she sighed in contentment. It was still early in the afternoon, so he'd have to return to his duties. Matsumoto had probably blown up the tenth division building already…or spilled sake all over his paperwork. The woman was a great asset, but he found himself wanting to kill her sometimes.
Kissing Kima's forehead, he gently slid his shoulder out from under her head. The blonde pouted up at him as he moved to redress himself. "Don't give me that look." he said, trying to suppress a laugh. It would only encourage her. "I'll see you tonight. Please don't drink too much with Ikkaku and the others."
Kima sighed as if it were an impossible request. "I guess I can hold myself back. You'll be home on time, won't you?"
"We'll see. If Matsumoto-fukutaichou hasn't done more harm than good, I should be back on time." Toshiro admitted as he slid the door to his quarters open. "I love you, Kima."
"Love you too, Shiro-chan. Have a good rest of the day." she called after him, smiling broadly as he closed the door. "Now, time to go interrupt Claudia and Renji."
Unreachable dream, flower petals dance in the storm
Becoming wind, becoming rain, before I realize
The heart is a samurai, emptiness embraces the armor
Take it off, dress only in your bravery
...
Darkness hugged the small dank space lovingly as it seemed to pulse like some living thing. Except for the occasional dripping of water, the cave's inhabitants went otherwise undisturbed. A strange sort of pressure filled the place for it being relatively vacant. The insects and bats that dwelt there went on about their daily rituals as if the newcomer wasn't even there.
A strange silvery light resonated from the back of the chamber, putting up a small sort of force field around what was emitting the light. After six month, there would surely be some sign of decay on the body that lay in that force field, but that assumption was incorrect. In fact, the body looked no different than it had six months ago when it had "died." Scavengers knew well to stay away from this place. Even the insects left the body undisturbed.
Despite this spiritual warning, a new creature to the resting place crawled on its belly only to stop as close as it dared. Covered in bright red and deep green scales, the snake's pale eyes began to glow, showing everything that it was seeing to its master. A laugh could be heard echoing through the cave loudly, causing the insects to scurry away and the bats to let out screeches of protest.
On the rock slab, the armored body continued to lay still. It gave the appearance of a cadaver. Only the snake was watching close enough to notice the right hand. The fingers twitched and lifted for an instant before they were still once more. The body inside the armor wasn't dead, and therefore still bound to it. Could they have been fool enough not to realize the warrior was still alive? Another laugh echoed through the chamber, making the bats give a hasty retreat. The soul could be brought back to the body. That was simple enough. This information must be passed on to his master and he would definitely be pleased.
"So it is true what they say." the snake hissed. "Destroyer is alive. It would appear that the old proverb is true. You can't kill what's stronger than death."
...
End?