Child of the Hogyoku

Chapter 52

"Is this the place?"

Toushiro's eyes wandered round the large dark cavern. The air was moist and his ears caught the sound of dripping water.

Yes, The dragon replied, This is where we shall train.

Hitsugaya hardly believed the ears of his mind when he heard Hyorinmaru telling him to run off and go train on his own. After breakfast the dragon had said he wanted to commence with his own training and directed Toushiro on where to go.

Ichigo's gonna have a fit, ya'know Nieve sniggered.

He had woken up at some ungodly hour of the night and decided to give Toushiro a heart attack by waking him up too.

"I left him a note," Toushiro shrugged.

In normal circumstances he wouldn't have left the note but with Aizen after him and everyone paranoid over the Hogyoku so he thought he best tell them what's he's doing rather than them assume the worst.

He walked to the centre of the almost arena-like cave.

"So what're we going to do here?"

We shall begin our first steps to ban kai.

"What?"

You shall materialise me.

And me, you have a balance remember.

You are too weak.

And that means nothing. I wanna see the outside world.

The boy just let the two argue. It had been a month max since he learned Hyroinmaru's name and the dragon was thinking about Ban Kai.

"Are you sure?" He interrupted them.

I would not have asked you here if I did not think you are ready. Hyroinmaru reassured him, Now let us begin.


"I'm gonna kill him," Ichigo growled as he clenched the piece of paper in his fist.

He came back out where Yoruichi, Soi Fon, Rukia, Matsumoto, Renji and Byakuya were gathered in the gardens of the Kuchiki mansion.

"So where is he Ichigo." Yoruichi wanted to get this training started.

"Training somewhere on his own apparently," He waved the piece of paper, "He back before dinner," He read.

"Doesn't he realise the situation he's in!" Matsumoto growled furiously.

"It seems Hitsugaya's dislike of captivity hasn't changed." Soi Fon commented.

"The boy should not be hard to find," Byakuya said calmly, "The release of his Zanpactou will set off a big enough beacon."

"You're right Captain," Rukia nodded, "We should wait until he tells us where he is."

"Give me time to think of a suitable punishment." Ichigo glared at nothing in particular.

"Well I guess we'll stay here until then," The cat woman's smile made Byakuya darken his glare.


With a slow breath out he gathered his thoughts. He held the steel blade of Hyroinmaru in front of his face thinking about what he had read before.

Zampactou didn't have an independent reatsu supply which is why the user lends their power to them. He would have to give Hyorinmaru enough to be able to come into with world but he had the complication of doing this with Nieve also.

Focusing, the breeze in the cave turned into a gale, the temperature dropped. The hilt slipped from his hand yet a clang never reached his ears. He couldn't see them form but opened his eyes when he felt the air suddenly still.

He smiled as he looked up to meet with the kind crimson eyes of the dragon.

"Well done,"

"I think you could have done it with less thinking though,"

Tosuhiro looked over his shoulder at his white counterpart.

"I mean come on, you think of a textbook description."

"Unlike the non-thinking hollow."

Nieve was actually taken aback for a moment and Hitsugaya tied not to laugh.

"Coming down to my level, puff?"

"So what's this training?" Toushiro stopped the bickering.

"I'll keep a look out a leave you two to it," Nieve sat by the entrance.

Toushiro's eyes swapped between them.

"It's time to see if you are truly worthy of the power I offer." The dragon's voice was unusually harsh.

"Hyorinmaru?" Toushiro said now getting a bit worried.

A blade appeared before him.

"Get ready."

"Wait! What're-?" Before the boy could ask the dragon opened his jaws and swooped down.

Quickly he pulled the empty Katana from the ground and fast stepped back. He landed and looked at the dragon wide eyed.

"To get ban kai the zanpactou must submit to you," Nieve watched the boy panic, "Good Luck Kid."


The dragon's present made the air feel colder throughout the soul society. The gust of chilling air swept from the focal point as they expected announcing the boy's location. Matsumoto and Ichigo were gone is a second.

Renji sighed, "Better make sure they don't kill him,"

He was soon gone too.

"Rukia," Byakuya ordered.

"Yes, Captain." She followed.

Rangiku studied the cave entrance. It was in fact the one her captain and normally used for training. She had a bit of dayjar vu when she had to find him for a meeting once.

"Toushiro!" Ichigo barked from besides her knocking her from her thoughts.

"I expected you faster Ichigo."

Although for a different reason Ichigo was as confused as the others. As they arrived their eyes fixed on the black hared hollow of Hitsugaya. He smirked even though his weakness was obvious. His clothes were still cut parts of his skin singed.

"Would you have come faster if I's made my Reatsu obvious too?" he asked.

"Nieve?" Ichigo blinked.

"The one and only."

The other Shingami's hands landed lightly one the hilts of their backed away slightly.

"Toushiro's hollow guys," Ichigo looked round but non let down their guard.

"And how exactly are you here?" Renji glared.

"Kid's got a human balance in his soul. So when he materialises the dragon he brings me out too."

"Impossible," Rukia blinked, "He's had Shikai for less than a month there is no way he could materialise his zanpactou."

Nieve shook his head, "You forget lady he's got the Hogyoku round his neck. Do you really think impossible comes into his vocabulary."

"Why're you do beaten up?" Rangiku started to let down her guard.

Nieve's crimson eyes fell on Ichigo in a glare, "Savin' his ass."

"Yeah…thanks for that." Ichigo wasn't sure whether to say sorry too since his hollow was technically a part of him.

"You better be," He kept glaring, "Remind me to NEVER get in the way of a bankai getsuga tensho."

"He helped save you?" Renji looked in disbelief.

Ichigo nodded, "Him, Toushiro and Hyroinmaru."

"Imma good hollow," Nieve gave a cheesy simile.


Authors notes: I do not own bleah or the characters bar Nieve

bt shorter than usual but i was having a slight block with this chapter and i need to iron out some stoyr details before i can really get moving on this.

I realy aprecate all reviews so far it's reallllly nice and you make me happy. Thank you :)