Sins of the Unholy
Chapter 10: Hyorinmaru
Sitting within the Squad room, reading over reports, Toshiro Hitsugaya finds his mind preoccupied. Glancing over at his Lieutenant, for once he's surprised to find her signing documents he'd placed there just yesterday.
It's been a few days since the scene in Hyorinmaru's world. The older Zanpaktou's chilly person has slowly been seeping out into the physical world and many are noticing. The dragon within roars every so often, almost in a sorrow filled way. Toshiro rubs at his chest as an ache seems to radiate from it.
"Captain! I've finished my reports! Bye!" Yell's Rangiku as she pulls away from her desk with a small stack of papers in her hands. He barely passes her a glance before looking back at the report before him. Rosters for when squad 10 will be patrolling Karakura town.
"We must speak Master." Toshiro perks up at the call from his Zanpaktou. Looking at the blade propped up in the weapons rack.
"Have you processed?" Asks Toshiro allowed as he set his pen aside. Closing his eyes he enters into his inner world. The world has been set right, the pale moon shines above them and the Ice capped land stands intact and glistening. The wind blows around and the snow begins to fall gently.
"That is not my Kiseichu, nor is that your Juno." Hyorinmaru appears before the captain and he frowns. The Zanpaktou before him stands tense and hardened. His eyes glare down at Toshiro and the Captain feels like a child again under the watch of the dragon all those years ago.
"We are at an impasse and she will not let us in again. We are losing them to a poison and it's strong enough to affect our world." Hyorinmaru's voice echoes along the landscape and Toshiro nods at the assessment. Since the meeting, Juno had been scarce. Pleasantries and affection are shared, but it's all for show and less about the emotion.
"Because they are our world, Old Friend. We will not come back if we lose them." Speaks up Toshiro finally as he begins to walk the land. His hand trails over the rock formations and notices a lone tree. Moving over to it he frowns as he sees a crack along the trunk.
"This is them, it still lingers." He runs his hand along it and pulls his hand back quickly. A trail of blood rolls down his long fingers and he looks to Hyorinmaru who has come up beside him. Toshiro makes no move to stop the bleeding before looking at the tree again.
"We will train with them, take them to the cave and strengthen them. Make Juno strong so that we can prevent our downfall. We bow to no one, we fall to no one." Hyorinmaru's words are strong as he reaches out and runs his claws down the crack. Light emits and slowly the crack begins to fix. Once the crack is finished, Hyorinmaru's claw lays along his Master's shoulder. The Captain looks up and frowns.
"We'd fall to her."
Opening his eyes on his office, Toshiro sets aside his work and moves to stand. He feels anxious as he looks over the empty office. Moving to the weapons rack, he pulls Hyorinmaru down and slings him along his back. Securing the star at his chest, the Captain of Squad 10 leaves his office and makes his way along the area.
He spots many of his members moving from one area to another. Many have tasks in preparation for the upcoming missions in Karakura, while others prepare to head out into the surrounding areas. Many who spot him either stop to bow or nod as they pass him quickly.
Hyorinmaru hums along his back and the captain stops just outside the compound. He waits to see if the Zanpaktou will speak up but it just seems to humm louder. Looking around he sees others of different squads but nothing to throw off his scenes.
"Easy Old Friend."
"Captain Hitsugaya." Coming up from behind, Captain Kensei Muguruma, Captain of Squad 9 comes up to stand with him.
"Captain Muguruma." Toshiro acknowledges turning to look at him. The buff captain stands with his arms crossed as a few of his own squad join him.
"On your way to Karakura?" Toshiro asks as he looks over them, each wears a bag with zanpaktou's at the ready.
"Yes, we're first up for patrol. Is there anything we should be looking for in particular?" Gruffs out Kensei as he waves his hand to allow his members to keep going. Kinsei lays a hand on the hilt of his zanpaktou and flexes his fingers in his right hand.
"Besides what the Head Captain said, keep an eye out for things that don't look like Hollows. We think they look like Kirin's...even Tengu's." Toshiro's words are broken as he relays what he can remember Juno speaking of. The sword at his back hums louder and Toshiro glances back.
"Keep in touch, we'll come as soon as we can." The buzzed haired captain nods before following his men to the waiting Senkaimon.
Juno kneels with Captain Isane. They sit within Squad 4 as Isane uses a healing Kaido along Juno. Juno sits eyes closed as the soft green glow washes over her and Isane breaths calmly. A few others in the room watch on, but none speak out or make any sudden movements.
"Ryuzaki, why is it that we can feel emptiness?" Isane opens her eyes to look over the woman before her. Juno's hair is up in a bun, while she sits in her black and white Shikakusho.
"Something is off Isane. Kiseichi is drowning in fog, more than the normal amount. He's become so violent and I cannot control him anymore. Not properly." Juno opens her sorrow filled eyes and slumps under the green glow.
"Something is there, finding out what it is that's drowning him. Do not let your Zanpaktou control you, you control it and it the end you will find a medium that works for both of you." Isane's kind words strike fear in the woman. She clasps her hands together, she rolls her joints and digs nails into the tops of her hands.
The green glow recedes and Isane reaches out and touches her hands. The movements stop for a moment but Juno looks away.
"I've begun to push away, he influenced Hyorinmaru's world and showed them..." Her words stop and she pulls her hands away. She looks frightened to Isane as she slowly puts distance between them.
"Show them what Ryuzaki, we cannot help it if you keep information away. If this war is real, if what you're seeing comes to pass. What will happen when they become true? Will you blame yourself for what you know we could have prevented?" Isane's words are strong and her presence straightens up to her full Captain's height.
"Go to your Captain, sit with him again and open Juno. Our former Captain was strong when she advised you, I wish I could be that strong for you. I'll do what I can." Isane gives the girl a small nod before standing. Juno follows and bows deep to the woman as her and her squad members begin to leave.
Juno stands before her and Toshiro's quarters. Taking a deep breath she finally reaches to open it and walks into the entryway. Several pairs of waraji's lay in a row and Juno smiles as she takes off her own and walks on tabi covered feet into the house. It's quiet and slightly cold within.
Moving from room to room, Juno goes looking for Toshiro. She spots Hyorinmaru placed within the weapons rack just within the hall. She smiles at his display and takes a deep breath before pulling Yume no Kiseichu from her belt and placing it just under the other. The two together seem perfect and she smiles gently as ice begins to travel down and encompass her zanpaktou.
Heading into the bedroom, a small smile graced her lips as she sees her husband laying down. He's propped on his side with his back to her. The back door is wide open and the breeze that blows in seems to be regulating the room. His long body is stretched out along the floor and Juno moves to walk around him. She sits down before him and takes in his sleeping features.
No worry creases his face, his gentle features breath deep before letting it out slowly. His white hair lays along his face and Juno reaches out to tuck it away into the spikes. Stubbornly it falls back and she sighs as she pulls back.
"How am I to nap with such distractions before me?" She smiles as he pulls his arm from under his head and reaches out to Juno. Placing her small hand into his larger one, feels like home. She brings her other hand up and begins to run her fingers over his long fingers, palm and even back of the hand.
"Is Matsumoto teaching you bad habits, husband?" She questions as she looks at the sleepy man. He huffs as he pulls his hand back and lays along his back. He keeps his eyes on her and she moves so she can look at him better.
"Hardly, the day that happens assumes I'm dying." He groans out and she laughs as his relaxed posture seems to contradict his words.
"I'm sorry Toshiro, I know this has not been easy for you." He closes his eyes and lays out his left arm beside her. She smiles at the gesture before continuing.
"I want to be ready, but I'm afraid of what will happen. He wants power, I want to just be able to live." She moves to lay along his arm and wraps her free arm over his chest. She listens to him breath deeply before closing her own eyes and joining him in his nap.
Comments, Questions, Concerns
Hi all!
I am a bit late, said I'd get this up Sunday but I got busy. So enjoy this chapter. Seven more to go to finish part. 1! Hope you all are ready for the incline, we have a few battles for ya and a visit from an old friend and his family.
Enjoy and Thank you!
*Updated* Chapter 7 was missing from this! I'm so sorry, I have deleted and reposted them in order as needed. I'm so sorry all, if you were reading it before the change. If you are reading after, enjoy it.
