Chad put Toshiro down against a tree on the other side of Sokyoku Hill so that Orihime could begin healing him.
Orihime held out her arms.
"Shuno, Ayame! Soten Kishun, I reject!"
Toshiro was covered in an orange field as Orihime got to work healing his wounds.
"You sure took quite a beating," Uryu observed. "That Byakuya Kuchiki doesn't mess around."
"This is nothing compared to the state I was in after fighting Kenpachi," Toshiro replied.
"And yet you beat him."
"Fought to a draw, if we're being accurate," Toshiro said. "What about you? I heard you also fought a captain."
Uryu looked uncomfortable. "Yes. I managed to get away, and I posed as a Shinigami to get treatment for my own injuries at their hospital."
"Listen," he continued, "while I was there, I heard something disturbing."
Toshiro looked at him with a grave expression. "What is it?"
"A captain was murdered shortly after we arrived. A man named Aizen," Uryu said.
"Aizen," Toshiro mused. "Never heard of him. They think we killed him?"
"That's the thing," Uryu said. "They don't know."
"It is a certainty that we didn't kill him. We were all in the sewers when the murder occurred," he added.
"And a captain couldn't be murdered so easily," Toshiro said.
"Exactly." Uryu said. "Something else is going on here, and I think it would be very bad if we got caught up in it."
Toshiro looked up, lost in thought.
'Is this what Byakuya meant? Was he asking me to do something about this?'
"By the way," Chad said, "what happened to Rukia?"
"Oh," Toshiro said, snapping back to reality, "Renji took her away."
"Renji," Uryu said skeptically.
"Yeah. He risked everything to rescue Rukia."
"I find that hard to believe," Uryu said.
"And he wasn't the only one. Two captains also intervened to save Rukia."
"And that other captain, Kenpachi, he helped us escape," Orihime interjected.
"Hmph, imagine that," Toshiro said. He looked at Uryu. "We might have misjudged the Shinigami."
Uryu shook his head. "Where'd this sudden optimism come from?"
Toshiro smiled. "We won. What's left to worry abo-"
He stopped as a familiar reiatsu appeared nearby.
"Rukia?"
Renji was far from the execution stand now, but he continued to run at full speed.
The whole of the Seretei had gone to their posts in response to the chaos which had began at the execution. With his knowledge as a lieutenant he knew where to go to avoid running into other Shinigami.
The battle between Toshiro and Byakuya seemed to be over, but he could not tell who had won. The question fascinated him, but he kept his mouth shut for Rukia's sake. She did not need to think about either of them being killed.
He could feel other battles occurring elsewhere, battles between captains. He did not know why so many captains would be fighting each other, but he was not complaining. It meant that their truly dangerous pursuers would be otherwise occupied.
So he was quite shocked when a captain appeared in front of him.
Kaneme Tousen, the blind pacifist captain of Squad Nine, stood in his way.
Tousen had clearly been in a recent fight. His white captain's haori was gone, and there were bandages on his shoulder.
"Captain Tousen, what's wrong?" Renji asked. "Please let me by. I'm in a hurry."
Tousen did not reply. He held up a long white thread. The thread began to spin in a large circle around him, Renji, and Rukia.
Renji looked about frantically. "What are you doing?"
The thread expanded until it formed a dome around them. There was a flash of light, and they found themselves somewhere else.
Renji cursed as he saw where they had been transported to.
There were numerous formations of ice and debris from a recent battle, but there was no mistaking the execution grounds at the top of Sokyoku Hill.
"It's not the right season, but I think the ice is rather lovely this time of year," a deep voice behind him said.
He turned his head slowly, recognizing that voice.
Gin Ichimaru stood next to another captain who was admiring the scenery. He had dark brown hair, glasses, and the same friendly smile Renji had gotten to know so well over the years.
"Captain Aizen!"
Sosuke Aizen stopped looking over the ice and turned to Renji. His smile remained the same, but now it chilled Renji to the bone.
"How-how can you be alive?"
"Leave Rukia where she is, Renji, and back away," Aizen ordered him.
Neither Renji nor Rukia could move or respond. They were frozen in shock and fright.
"Attention, please," a disembodied rang out. Renji recognized it as belonging to Lieutenant Kotetsu.
"This is a message for all captains, lieutenants and seated officers, as well as the ryoka. There is a traitor in our midst."
As he listened, Renji felt his fear boil over into anger and drew his sword.
"Don't be a fool, Renji," Aizen said. "I don't want to hurt you. I just want the girl."
"I don't know why you want Rukia so badly, but the only way you're getting her is o ver my dead body!" Renji yelled. He leaped into the air, still carrying Rukia.
"Roar, Zabimaru!"
He swung his many sectioned blade down on the traitorous captain. Aizen nonchalantly raised his own blade over his head, deflecting Zabimaru.
Renji launched another attack as he landed. This time, Aizen caught the first blade of Zabimaru in his bare hand.
Renji could barely make out Aizen's movement as he sliced through Renji's zanpakuto like it was cheese. He didn't perceive any movement at all as the Squad Five captain proceeded to slice him across the back.
"What a pity," Aizen said as Renji collapsed to his knees, still holding Rukia in one arm and his broken sword in the other arm.
"I'll give you one more chance, Renji. Put the girl down and I'll let you live."
"Stop, Captain Aizen!" Rukia yelled. "I'll go with you! I'll do what you want! Just leave him alone!"
"Shut up, Rukia," Renji grunted. He was panting from the pain. "I won't let him have you."
He took a deep breath and looked up at Aizen, smiling as he did so. "You really thought I'd give her up after everything I went through to save her? You really are dumb."
The smile finally left Aizen's face. "So be it."
As Aizen raised his sword over Renji's head, a small wall of ice appeared between them.
Rewnji turned his head to see Toshiro standing with his sword drawn ten meters behind him.
"Toshiro!" Rukia cried out.
"Come on," Toshiro said, out of breath. He was only partially healed, and the long flash-step he had used to get back to the battleground had drained him.
Renji found the strength to leap back to just behind Toshiro.
"I'm sorry, Toshiro," Renji said, "I'm sorry you had to come."
"Don't worry about it," Toshiro said. "Let's focus on the problem at hand. I recognize Ichimaru, but I don't know who these other two are."
"The blind one is Captain Tousen, and the one with the glasses is Captain Aizen."
Toshiro narrowed his eyes at the Squad Five captain. "So that's Aizen. I heard he was dead."
"So did I," Renji said.
"I don't suppose you can get away from any of these captains," Toshiro asked.
"Afraid not. They're all a lot faster than me."
"And I can't fight three captains at once."
"What are you two doing?" Aizen asked. "Are you discussing strategy? I can assure you that it is quite useless."
"What do you want?" Toshiro yelled. "Why are you after Rukia?"
"Oh? I'm after something she has."
Toshiro glanced at Rukia, who looked confused.
"Something she has?"
Aizen chuckled a little. "You poor boy. Kisuke Urahara didn't tell you anything, did he?"
"Urahara?" Toshiro demanded. "What does he have to do with any of this?"
"He hid something in Rukia's body through her gigai, something I've been searching for. The key to removing the barrier between hollow and Shinigami. It's called the Hogyoku."
"Why would he do something like that?" Toshiro asked, his blade shaking with anger.
"All these questions," Aizen said. "Why are you flaring your reiatsu like that if you don't intend to fight?"
Aizen vanished, reappearing directly behind Toshiro.
Toshiro began to spin around in panic.
"Bankai!"
The wings of ice reformed as he turned to face Aizen. But no sooner had he come to a stop than his shoulder erupted in a fountain of blood.
Toshiro's eyes glazed over and he collapsed, his wings shattering.
Aizen looked down at the still figure at his feet. "You hoped to keep me talking while using your reiatsu as a beacon to draw the other captains here. Frankly I'm surprised. An hour ago you were willing to fight them all to the death."
Aizen's words were barely audible to Toshiro in his semi-conscious state. But he heard Rukia's cry of horror, and was dimly aware of Renji falling at his side.
Aizen grabbed Rukia by the neck and held her up.
"Toshiro!"
Uryu, Chad, Orihime, and Ganju had run out of the forest.
Toshiro struggle to lift his head even a few centimeters. "N-n…no…get away…" he said too softly for anyone but those close by to hear him.
Aizen looked down at him again. "So you're still conscious? Astounding, truly."
He looked back at Rukia. "Gin, make sure that we are not disturbed."
"Of course, sir," Gin said. He stepped in front of the ryoka and released his reiatsu, creating such pressure that all but Chad were unable to stand.
"Now, I think that's enough talking," Aizen said.
He removed a small, purple cylinder from his shirt and activated it.
Green spikes erupted around them, and Aizen's hadn turned green and plantlike.
Toshiro found his voice again and screamed as Aizen plunged his hand into Rukia's chest.
The spikes receded as Aizen let Rukia drop. In his hand he held a small crystal orb with a blowing blue center.
"I had originally planned to have the Sokyoku release the Hokyoku by burning your body to atoms. But as I expected, young Toshiro Hitsugaya prevented your execution. So I went over Urahara's research until I found the way to remove an object implanted in a person's soul without having to completely destroy their body first."
'He's talking again,' Toshiro realized. 'Now that he has what he wants he doesn't care about wasting time anymore.'
Aizen looked down at Rukia, who was shaking from the ordeal. "It appears that Urahara's method does not do permanent damage to the soul. That is unexpected."
"But I no longer have any use for you." He turned around and began to walk away. "Kill her, Gin."
Gin complied without hesitation, drawing his zanpakuto and pointing it at Rukia.
"Shoot to kill, Shinzo."
Toshiro finally managed to lift his head off the ground, but none of the muscles below his neck would move. Rukia closed her eyes reflexively as the blade approached.
She heard a cruching sound as the blade impaled flesh and bone, but she felt no pain. She opened her eyes.
Byakuya Kuchiki had pushed her out of the way at the last moment and had been impaled on Gin's blade himself.
"Byakuya … brother!" Rukia exclaimed in shock.
Gin frowned and retracted his shikai. Byakuya collapsed in a pool of blood as the blade left his body.
Rukia burst into tears as she kneeled over her brother. "Why? Why did you protect me?"
Byakuya did not respond. Instead, he looked at Toshiro, whose mouth was wide open in shock.
Toshiro nodded at Byakuya.
A shadow appeared over Aizen, who looked up to see what appeared to be a large dog in a captain's hyori swinging a massive zanpakuto at him.
"Aizen!" Captain Komamura screamed.
Aizen leapt out of the way of the strike and held up his hand.
"Hado number ninety. Kurohitsugi."
A large cube of black energy surrounded Komamura. Spears of the same black energy penetrated the cube from every direction.
When the cube dissipated, Komamura collapsed as well.
'Why are they all showing up one at a time?' Toshiro thought in frustration. 'No one can beat this guy on their own.'
He was unable to look up as a loud scream came from above.
Jidanbou hurtled towards the ground, carrying Kukaku Shiba on his shoulder. The head of the Shiba clan unleashed an energy blast at Aizen.
Aizen dodged the attack again. As he reached for his sword Soi Fon and Yoruichi appeared beside him. Soi Fon held her sword to his throat as Yoruichi held his sword down.
Other captains and seated officers began appearing, capturing Gin and Tousen as well.
Toshiro breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally," he whispered.
But Aizen merely smiled at his predicament. He looked at the Shinigami gathered, from the Head Captain to the lieutenants who held their blades to his subordinates' throats.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you all, but I really must be going."
A beam of yellow light shot down from the sky, enveloping Aizen.
A tear appeared at the light's source. As the Shinigami watched in horror, a pair of gigantic white hands pulled the tear open, revealing many Menos Grande.
Addition beams of light enveloped Gin and Tousen. The pieces of land on which the three traitors stood were ripped from the ground.
Ukitake stepped forward.
"You've joined with the Menos, Aizen. Why? Have you become that corrupt?"
"You're blinded by your self-righteousness," Aizen replied as he continued to rise in the air. "No one was standing heaven to begin with. Not you, not me, not even a god."
Aizen removed his glasses and moved his bangs back. "However, that vacancy on the throne of heaven will soon be filled. From now on, I will rule in heaven."
"Goodbye, Shinigami."
He spared one last look at Toshiro. "And goodbye, boy who sits upon the frozen heavens. For a human, you were amusing."
Aizen, Gin, and Tousen disappeared into the hole in the sky.
Squad Four medics rushed treat the injured Shinigami, including Renji and Byakuya. Meanwhile, Orihime was once again healing Toshiro.
"Sorry," Toshiro said to Orihime. "You just healed me and here I am in worse shape than before."
"Don't worry about it." Orihime assured him. "I'm not really much good at fighting, so this is how I help out."
"Hmm." Toshiro turned his head to look at Rukia, who was still by her brother's side. Head Captain Yammamoto was approaching her.
"Rukia Kuchiki," Yammamoto said, "we have determined that Sosuke Aizen murdered the entirety of Central-Six and posed as the high council to issue the orders to apprehend and execute you. In light of this fact, as well as today's events, your death sentence is hereby commuted."
"Head captain," she replied.
Yammaoto turned away and walked towards the ryoka.
Urtyu, Chad, and Ganju steeled themselves for another fight as they watched the head captain approach.
"Steady," Toshiro told his friends. "Don't do anything rash."
Yammamoto stopped in front of Toshiro. Toshiro looked the head captain directly in the eye, being careful not to betray any emotion.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya," Yammamoto said. "I recognize that you and your friends were merely attempting to save someone you cared about."
"However," he said gravely, "you invaded the Seretei, attacked and wounded many officers, including several lieutenants and captains, and destroyed the Sokyoku. These crimes cannot be overlooked, no matter how well-intentioned the motivation."
Chad, Uryu, and Ganju glared at Yammamoto as Orihime and Rukia stared at him in horror.
"Head captain, wait."
Yammamoto turned his head to look at Byakuya.
"Brother," Rukia said.
"Please, listen to what I have to say," Byakuya continued.
"If we were to kill this boy, we would be dooming ourselves."
Yammamoto looked at Toshiro skeptically. "Explain yourself," he demanded.
"I fought him," Byakuya said. "I have seen his power, and I believe that he is the one the legends spoke of, the heavenly guardian."
Toshiro's friends gave him a confused look, one which he reciprocated. Rukia, on the other hand, looked at Toshiro with a new expression, one of wonder.
Yammamoto also looked at Toshiro, bot in confusion or wonder, but in thought.
"Very well, I will consider your words, Captain Kuchiki."
The head captain walked away, and Byakuya turned to his sister.
"Rukia, there is so much I must tell you."
The ryoka were all invited to the barracks of Squad Thirteen as the Shinigami dealt with the aftermath of Aizen's treachery. Ganju did not join them, instead going home with his sister Kukaku.
Toshiro and the others were all surprised to find that they were considered heroes in Squad Thirteen. From the moment they arrived at the barracks groups of shinigami surrounded them and inundated them with questions about everything from how they got into the Seretei to how their powers worked.
It was too much for Toshiro, who was not used to crowds, and left as soon as he could. He went up to the roof of the barracks to watch the sunset.
'We did it,' he thought. 'And yet this fight seems like it's only just getting started.'
He recalled Byakuya's words. 'What in the world have I gotten myself into?'
"It is a gorgeous view."
Toshiro turned to see Captain Ukitake approaching him. "Do you mind if I sit next to you?"
"Not at all," Toshiro replied.
Ukitake sat down. "We haven't been formally introduced. I'm Jushiro Ukitake, Rukia's captain."
"Toshiro Hisugaya."
Ukitake smiled. "We seem to have a lot in common, Toshiro. We both have white hair. We both have 'Shiro' in our names, and we both care for Rukia."
"I guess."
The long-haired captain looked up at the sunset.
"I wanted to thank you, Toshiro, for saving Rukia."
"You also saved her. You held back the Sokyoku."
Ukitake looked down sadly. "I didn't get there in time. I waited too long to take action. I'm afraid that in the end, I did not have the same courage you and your friends showed, or Renji and Hanataro Yamada."
"How's Rukia?" Toshiro asked.
"Shaken," Ukitake said. "And who can blame her after everything that's happened. Not to mention Byakuya finally telling her the truth about his former wife being her real sister."
"But I think she's going to be fine. You, Renji, and Byakuya all surviving is a big relief for her."
"That's good," Toshiro said.
Ukitake looked down at Toshiro. "But there's something else bothering you."
Toshiro looked up at him. "Earlier, Byakuya said something about me being a 'heavenly guardian.' What did he mean?"
Ukitake sighed. "That is an old legend. Once every few centuries, a great warrior is supposed to arise to save the Soul Society. According to the legend, the warrior is supposed to have great wings and command over the sky."
"And just what is this warrior supposed to do?"
"I'm afraid no one really knows," Ukitake said sadly. "But it does seem that we are facing a crisis in which we'll need a hero."
They sat in contemplative silence for about a minute.
"Oh, I almost forgo!" Ukitake exclaimed.
"What?"
"I've got snacks!" he said, reaching into his sleeves. He handed Toshiro a package of crackers.
"I've also got candies!" He pulled out chocolates, cookies, and an assortment of other sweets from his sleeves to give to Toshiro.
"Hey! What?"
When he was certain he had given Toshiro all the snacks he had, Ukitake smiled and got up. "If you like those, come downstairs to ask for more. It's the least I can do."
Toshiro sat dumbfounded as Ukitake walked off.
"What am I supposed to do with all this?" He sighed. "Maybe one of the others will want these."
There were too many snacks for even four people to eat.
"So this is how they show appreciation in Soul Society?" Uryu asked.
"I think it's an Ukitake thing," Toshiro replied. He sat down in a chair in the corner of the room. "He likes giving things to children, I guess."
"Did you just admit to being a child?"
Toshiro glared at Uryu for a moment, but decided to let it slide.
"It's strange," Chad said. "For so long they were trying to kill us, and now they're treating us like heroes."
"Yes, well, a large part of what we were trying to do was to change how things work around here," Uryu said.
"Not to mention, we now have a common enemy," Toshiro added.
The others stopped what they were doing.
"Pretending it away won't make it any less real," Toshiro continued.
Uryu pushed his glasses up. "That may be, but I will not be there to fight this Aizen."
"Uryu…" Orihime said.
"I'm a Quincy," he explained. "There's a limit to how far I can go, and fighting alongside the shinigami is beyond that limit. If you mean to ally with them, you'll have to do it without me."
"I understand," Toshiro said.
They stood and sat in grim silence for what seemed to be an eternity.
"Hey, look at this, Toshiro!" Orihime said, attempting to lighten the mood. She held up a white dress. "Look what Uryu made for Rukia."
Toshiro was unsure how to respond. "It's, um, it's very nice. I guess it'll make a good going away present."
The others all stopped again.
"What do you mean, a going away present?" Orihime asked. "Isn't Rukia coming with us?"
"Maybe she would if they were still trying to execute her," Toshiro said, "but what would she do back in our world? Go back to school with us?"
He looked at Uryu. "Rukia's a Shinigami. This is where she belongs."
Uryu smiled and nodded.
Toshiro leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. "So what do you guys plan to do when we get back?"
Orihime put her finger on her chin in thought. "I hadn't really thought about that. What do you plan to do, Toshiro?"
"The first thing I'm gonna do is go out for ice cream."
"Ice cream sounds nice," Chad said.
"Yeah," Orihime said enthusiastically. "I wonder if they've come up with any new flavors while we've been away? I'd like to try some spicy ice cream!"
Toshiro smiled and looked at Uryu. "What about you? Feel up for some ice cream?"
Uryu grinned. "Are you saying that your zanpakuto can't even make its own ice cream? Then what good is it?"
"Touché," Toshiro responded. "Maybe that's Ukitake's power, to make food appear out of thin air."
The next morning, Ukitake led them to the senkaimon they would use to get back to Karakura town. Yoruichi joined them in her cat form.
"The senkaimon has been adapted specifically for you this time," Ukitake said. "In addition, we'll send a Shinigami with you to ensure you don't run into the cleaner."
"Thank you," Toshiro said.
"By the way," Ukitake said, holding out a small wooden object, "this is for you, Toshiro."
Toshiro took the object and examined it closely. It was a five-sided badge with a carving of a hollow-mask in the center.
"What is it?" he asked.
"A substitute Shinigami badge."
"You make badges for people like me?" Toshiro asked skeptically.
"Over the centuries there have been a few other instances where substitute Shinigami have been deemed useful," Ukitake explained. "They too were given this badge as proof of their status. You can use it to transform into a Shinigami whenever you need to."
He looked down. "Of course, such a mere token could never really repay you for what you have done here."
Toshiro looked uncomfortable as he stared at the badge.
He put the badge away. "That's all right. "Seeing Rukia safe and happy is all the repayment I needed. But thanks. It's an … honor."
Ukitake closed his eyes and smiled.
'What a remarkable boy. We really can count on him when the time is right.'
Toshiro turned his attention to Rukia, who Orihime was pressing to accept the dress Uryu had made.
"Hey," he said, walking up to her.
Rukia smiled at him. "Hi, Toshiro. You've certainly come a long way from that little boy who didn't want to be a Shinigami."
He returned her smile. "I guess I have. Have you worked things out with your brother?"
"I have. I didn't realize how much he actually cared about me until now."
"I'm glad," Toshiro said. He stepped forward and embraced her in a hug.
"Thank you, Rukia."
Rukia chuckled in surprise. "What are you thanking me for, silly?"
"You were my first real friend. Before you came into my life, I was all alone."
He looked back at Orihime, Chad, and Uryu. "And now I'm not alone anymore, all because of what you started."
Rukia looked stunned. Memories flooded through her
"No way am I fighting monsters like that again! Once is quite enough for a lifetime!"
"I'm not going to be bullied into being a superhero! I'm only eleven years old, for crying out loud!"
"Toshiro…" Rukia said.
She took the sobbing boy and embraced him tightly, lending him her shoulder to cry on.
"I'm so sorry."
Rukia took in the sight of Toshiro: gravely wounded, crying uncontrollably.
"I'm so sorry."
Her eyes began to water. 'All this time, I thought I ruined his life. But he never blamed me for his suffering. He thought of me as a friend?'
"I'll never forget what you taught me," Toshiro added.
Rukia pulled Toshiro close and hugged him.
"Thank you, Toshiro," she said while crying.
"It's time," Ukitake said.
A low-ranking member of Squad Thirteen stepped forward to guide them back to the world of the living.
Rukia watched as Toshiro and the others began to step into the senkaimon. Orihime waved at her enthusiastically.
"I'll see you around," she said.
Toshiro turned around and smiled at her one last time before stepping through the barrier.
"I'll be waiting."
They emerged in the air over Karakura Town.
"Ahhh!" they all screamed as they fell.
Toshiro reached for his sword, intending to use his Bankai, but a large cloth appeared below them, catching them before he could.
"Hello, everybody!" Urahara said, sitting at the front of the now-flying cloth.
"Urahara," Toshiro muttered angrily.
Urahara looked down. "From the tone of your voice, I'm guessing you heard all about me."
All eyes were on Toshiro as he glared daggers into the back of Urahara's head.
Yoruichi walked up to her childhood friend's side.
'You know he's not going to forgive you after everything you've done,' she thought.
"I think I owe you an explanation."
"You do," Toshiro agreed. "But not today."
"I'll hear what you have to say tomorrow. This is a happy moment I don't want to ruin.
Toshiro looked to his friends. "For now, just drop us off at the nearest ice cream shop."