火に入る
Going into the Fire
I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one. ~Henry Ward Beecher
Michiko, Hana no Tenshi, Toshiro and Hyourinmaru hurried through a narrow and dim lighted passageway, doing their best to locate Ichigo's spiritual pressure. The sense of his reiatsu was weak at the moment, but then suddenly it sparked up rapidly as if that presence was just an inch away from them. What was it? Michiko thought. It was so immense it sent shivers up their spines.
"Did you sense that?" Toshiro asked them.
"Yeah." Michiko replied with a nod, still bewildered.
"That was Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual pressure. He's probably still in this labyrinth." He figured. They were about to continue when Michiko suddenly felt Hana's hand grab for hers. It compelled her to halt. She turned around and gawked at the now white Zanpakutō.
"May I speak with you for a moment?" Hana no Tenshi asked meekly, her voice so soft that not even the high ceilings of the cave could make her voice resonate any louder than a mere whisper. Toshiro and Hyourinmaru halted when they noticed that the other two didn't follow.
"Hey, come on you two." He called out. Michiko looked at Hana with sympathy. She told Toshiro to see if he could find out where Ichigo was and that they would catch up momentarily. He and his Zanpakutō went on without them, giving privacy for them.
"What's on your mind Hana no Tenshi?" Michiko asked. Hana's head was down. She stared blankly at the ground, little drops plopped down. She inhaled deeply and regained her composure. When she brought her head up, Michiko could still see the tears in her poignant eyes. It was obvious she was holding all that water back. She suddenly brought her head down, bowing in penitence.
"I'm so sorry." She lamented shamefully, letting only a few tears to go down. Michiko was silent for a few moments, all her equanimity intact, completely unaffected by Hana's action.
"About what?" she asked. Hana looked up with surprise and confusion.
"Huh?"
"What are you sorry about?" Michiko asked again. Her puzzlement grew.
"Mistress Michiko, don't be silly, you know what I'm sorry for what I did, and I'm sorry for hurting you I'm— "Michiko abruptly ceased Hana's atonement.
"Forget it." she said impassively.
"W-what?" Hana asked. Before any of them could say anything, Toshiro came running back to them.
"Michiko, Hana no Tenshi, I've located Ichigo's spiritual presence, he isn't too far away, let's go." He called.
"Alright we're coming." She called back. Michiko turned around and began walking.
"We're leaving." She said to Hana. She was as confused as ever. Was she forgiven or was she still hated? She could not help but think about this as they scurried through the darkness.
###
As they continued they saw some light up ahead. They were soon outside of the dark labyrinth and their attention was immediately caught by the sight of relentlessly raging flames that reached all the way up to the murky pale blue sky. No way… that's…
"It's familiar isn't it?" Toshiro asked her. "Head Captain Yamamato's Ryuujin Jakka."
"The presence is so strong; it's the first time of seen its power." She replied feeling a bit overwhelmed as she beheld the wild yet somewhat lovely blazes. The seas of flames were ebbing, swaying in the gentle breeze which was also fairly warm because of those flames. The scorching crackling sounds could be heard from their position, even though they were far away.
"The Head Captain and Ichigo are there. When I use Hyourinmaru and need you two stay close to us." He said. The two girls nodded in understanding. Toshiro dashed up in the air, accompanied by Hyourinmaru. Michiko and Hana no Tenshi leapt up next, staying just a bit away from them.
###
Meanwhile inside the raging inferno, Ichigo, Ukitake, Shunsui, Yoruichi and Yamamoto were still there, trapped and were basically helpless. Ryuujin Jakka wouldn't let them leave easily. Yoruichi had tried digging a way out using Shunko, but she was intercepted again by Haineko and Tobiume. The entrance she had made collapsed leaving the other four to break out. They had attacked the flames at least a dozen times yet nothing worked. Ichigo knew what was at stake now. Head Captain Yamamoto explained that Murumasa was actually trying to break him from his incarceration so he could enter his mind. The information he took from his mind was shocking; a way to free his master Koga Kuchiki. The place he was kept was in Karakura town. He knew he couldn't let Murumasa run away.
Still determined and not daunted by their failures, Ichigo put on his hollow mask and charged at full break neck speed. The fire was alive. It fought back. He fought back as well, lashing out at the flames. He managed to gain some distance from it. He felt the immense heat fleeting from him as he reached the pale blue sky. But, when it seemed he was free, he was snatched and dragged by down into the blazing hellhole. The fire swirled around him, over and over like a ball of twine, encasing him.
"What the hell?" he uttered. The pyre suddenly became more enraged and more flames wrapped around the fire ball. The blaze grew even more intense now. The heat skyrocketed, enough to burn off Ichigo's hollow mask. He screamed in agony.
The four who were not in the flames; Toshiro, Michiko, Hyourinmaru and Hana no Tenshi, came rushing in, just in the nick of time.
"Reign over the frosted heavens Hyourinmaru!" Toshiro summoned. An ice dragon sliced right through the flames. Although it was weak compared to Ryuujin Jakka, it was enough to free Ichigo from the fire and to make and entrance for Michiko and Hana. Ichigo smiled.
"Toshiro, Michiko, I'm glad to see you guys."
"We came as fast as we could." Toshiro said. Their feet returned to the ground.
"Michiko, Captain Hitsugaya, are you both alright?" Ukitake asked.
"We're alright, my injuries healed." Toshiro assured.
"Yes and I was able to reclaim my Zanpakutō, Hana no Tenshi." said Michiko.
"We've been stuck here because of Ryuujin Jakka." Shunsui informed.
"He got to your Zanpakutō as well Head Captain?" he asked with shock.
"Where is Murumasa?" Hyourinmaru asked.
"He's gone." Ichigo responded dejectedly. "By now he's probably in Karakura Town."
"Karakura Town?"
"He's trying to revive this soul reaper that was his master." he replied. Hana heard and then began recalling the Murumasa's visions.
"I understand now, that was the person I saw." She uttered to herself.
"What do you mean?" Michiko asked.
"When I was healing Murumasa's injuries I managed to tap into his subconscious and view a few flashes of his memories. The person I saw might've been his former master." she explained.
"Listen everyone, this is an emergency. Our first priority is quickly aiding Ichigo Kurosaki in escaping from this place." Head Captain Yamamoto said.
"Wait a sec, why me?" Ichigo asked.
"If you feel responsible for this situation it is your obligation to bring Murumasa to justice." He replied.
"I want to come with you." Hana suddenly interjected.
"You don't need to Hana no Tenshi." Hyourinmaru said.
"The Zanpakutō Rebellion might've been built on a lie but that suffering Murumasa dealt with is real. I can feel it he's very unstable he could seriously hurt himself or others." She argued.
"You are to stay here Hana no Tenshi, Ichigo is more than capable to handle things alone." Michiko ordered firmly. She shot a cold glare at her. Hana turned meek.
"Yes my lady." She replied obediently.
"Okay now let's get you out of here Ichigo." Michiko said raising her blade. Hana followed.
"Kori Bara (ice rose)." They said in unison. Like snowflakes the white petals landed on the flames and began to douse and weaken them. They relentlessly fed the Kori Bara spell their energy to keep Ryuujin Jakka at bay. Toshiro and Hyourinmaru went next.
"Bankai." Toshiro summoned. The icy dragon wings formed on his back.
"Bankai." Hyourinmaru said next. He returned to his usual state, a mighty ice dragon and soared into the air. He was suddenly strangled by the blazes.
"Hyourinmaru!" Hana called to him worried.
"Hana don't worry we have to keep this up." Michiko reminded. She started moving towards the flames. "Toki Bara (winter rose)." She casted. Ice flowers started forming in the fire, putting them out slowly. Hyourinmaru froze the fire that constricted him and fired a wide ice beam, helping put out the rest of the flames. The dome of fire was now all frozen. Toshiro dashed forward.
"Ryusenka!" he said, striking the ice wall and creating a small passageway. "Hurry now's your chance!" he called to Ichigo. Again, he put on his hollow mask and moved through the passageway in break neck speed. The fire chased him, but he was already far away. The ice was consumed in flames. Now that Ichigo was on his way, the next task was regaining control of Ryuujin Jakka.