Sins of the Exiled

Chapter 3: Toshiro Hitsugaya

Toshiro and Captain Rukia Kuchiki walk the broken grounds of the Soul Society. Rukia watches the other Captain closely as they look over the smashed ground. The battle from a few hours ago was in the process of being investigated. Rukia moves to come stand with Toshiro as he looks over the busted up garden grounds.

"How is the girl?" Rukia asks as Toshiro moves further in and looks to the ground. Scattered flowers mixed with broken earth. Blood is splattered along the grass and chunks of wall nearby. He toes at what looks like the start of a flower crown, the flowers also splattered in blood.

"Captain Kotetsu is unsure if she will make it through the night." His words sound angry as he stomps down on the crown. Rukia looks away and spots Captain Hirako. He clicks his tongue before strolling up to the two.

"Mighty bold of them to show up like that. Just to steal some reishi and slither off." He twiddles his fingers as he looks over some of the damage. Toshiro turns away from them all before stopping just along the path.

"You're sure it was her blade?"

The question hangs in the air and Rukia feels terrible. He knows the answer just as well as she does. The blade was unmistakable, the only true royal blue sheathed blade and hilt. She turns to Toshiro and gives a small bow.

"I'm sorry Captain Hitsugaya, I should've never left her out of my sight." She stays low waiting for any acknowledgement. All she receives is silence and it cuts deep. Glancing up, she watches as the Captain leaves the area not bothering to glance back.

"Seems our poor young Captain is at a loss for words." Comments Hirako as he leans over to look at Rukia.

On autopilot Toshiro makes his way to Squad 4. He takes the appropriate turns and finds himself on the outside of the operation room. The large window allows him to see in, and allows him to watch as Captain Kotetsu works on Saki. The green light around the girl highlights her pale features and Toshiro feels his world tilting on its axis.

"Captain?" Turning to the voice, Toshiro looks over Tsuki. The boy's glasses are gone and he does nothing to hide the tears falling. His shoulders hitch as he sobs before the Captain.

"It wasn't... Juno, I ... don't believe... it." The boy forces out as he moves closer to Toshiro. The Captain opens his arms and holds the boy. Tsuki grips his haori and cries into his chest, the shakes wrack his body and all Toshiro can do is hold him and lay a gentle hand on his head.

"It was just the blade, Juno would never do this. I refuse to believe she's helping them." Toshiro battles with himself, to take Tsuki away and give him some relief or stay and wait for the outcome, like the boy would want. Closing his eyes for a split moment, he takes a deep breath and waits out this round of tears.

Gently he leads Tsuki outside. The night is slowly setting in and Toshiro pauses as Tsuki stops. Gently, Toshiro's hand moves to his back and he presses. Tsuki shakes his head and presses back into his hand.

"No, if she wakes up alone, she'll be scared. Saki hates it when I'm not there." His words border on frantic, rising high in pitch as he tries to back peddle back into squad 4.

"Easy Tsuki, breathe, I understand. But right now, we can't do anything. Let's wait it out here for a moment and then we'll go back." He tries to ease the worries of the boy but the tears start again and Toshiro feels at a loss for how to proceed.

That night Toshiro visits Hyorinmaru. When he first steps into their shared world, he's not surprised to see it still broken and in the midst of a heavy snow storm. Toshiro moves to find a place to sit and simply basks in the snow. He hears the growl all around him, carried along on the wind, holding out his hand as he waits.

The large dragon swirls around him before coming to press its nose up against the outstretched hand. The storm still rages but the dragon's cry is somber as he wraps itself around his master.

"We felt them, why was it fleeting?"

"I'm sorry old friend, we're no closer than we were weeks ago." Toshiro pets the dragon as it's head tries to lay across his lap. Toshiro forces a smile as he watches his friend.

"How do we stop this?"

"The same as we have always, we weather the storm and get ready to strike." Toshiro lays his head along the dragons and lets himself feel. The pain of losing Juno ever present in his mind now joined with the pain of his broken family.

Looking up from her desk, Matsumoto watches her Captain come in looking as prim and proper as any other day. As he moves to sit at his own desk, she sees it. The dark smudges under his eyes, an icy chill fills the room and she pulls her pink shawl over her chest.

"Captain, I've got office duty. You should be with Saki and Tsuki." She pushes herself up to come over to his desk. He hasn't moved since sitting, simply looking over the ground reports from the attack. Reaching out she closes the case files and lays a hand on her Captains shoulder.

"Captain?"

He doesn't move out from under her hand, he doesn't stop her from moving the files out of sight. It's a slight hitch from the touch that she finally looks down to him. Eyes normally so clear are clouded, red rims them and it's then that anger strikes. He rises angrily gripping the ends of his desk before launching it at the wall. She backs away shocked as he loads up a kido spell and blasts it to dust.

The scream he emits is one of a wounded animal, forced to be caged after years of mistreatment. The heavy cold blankets the office and it's like a storm has been let go within the small space. He grabs at his hair as he screams into the storm that surrounds him and nothing she knows will help to sway her angered Captain.

She skirts around him, making for the door, a commotion can be heard from outside. She slips out as he yells again and comes face to face with Squad 10's seated officers.

"Lieutenant?"

"Keep the soldiers away for the day, if you need anything send a hell butterfly to me. Does anyone have a report on Saki?" Rangiku knows reading the pages will bring no comfort.

"They said she held on, was able to talk to the Captain...but..." Her heart sinks and she feels his spiritual pressure spike. The officers cower just a bit but she stands tall and pushes back the tears.

"Take the squad out and get them training, when the next attack comes, I want Squad 10 ready, willing and able!" She yells out as she dismisses them and hardens herself for the war to come.

Comments, Questions, Concerns

Um...I'm sorry