Chapter 3


Hitsugaya took a deep breath as he and Sharon crossed the threshold into his quarters. He was not entirely surprised to see Sharon's things in a pile in the corner. He doesn't lose any time, does he? Even while we were meeting, she was dumped here. A part of him didn't mind – the end goal was to have her move in with him, after all – but he resented that they couldn't have done this in their own way, in their own time.

Before he could say it, Sharon said "I am so sorry about this." He reached out to her, and she relaxed into his arms. Even his growth spurt before she came to Soul Society had merely narrowed the gap in their heights, and he was still at least six inches shorter than she was. He laid his head on her shoulder for a few minutes until she was ready to release him.

Her eyes were moist when she pulled back. "What now?" she asked. Hitsugaya ran his hand distractedly through his hair. "We think of a way to approach the problem. But first, put away your things. It looks like you'll be staying a while."

Sharon simply nodded. She went to put her things away in the bedroom. At least they would be able to sleep together – even if if didn't involve sex, and it probably wouldn't while they were working on things – and that was one small bonus Hitsugaya didn't mind one bit. Often at night he found himself with a curious ache in his middle that had less to do with wanting sex and more to do with wanting to be in her arms, a loneliness he hadn't had a name for until he met her. They had only had that particular experience once, in tandem with Hyourinmaru and Oshidamaru, and he hoped at some point to see what it meant to be her partner without his dragon's help.

Hitsugaya shook himself out of his reverie and pulled out his blade, then sat cross-legged in the living area with it across his lap. Sharon joined him, sitting to his right, and gently placed her hand across Hyourinmaru's hilt. He nodded, and they both closed their eyes.


:So it comes to this.: Hyourinmaru intoned. Hitsugaya and Sharon found themselves in a strangely not cold depression – it was too small to really call it a cave – near the plain of ice Hitsugaya recognized instantly. Hitsugaya gazed over the coiled length of Hyourinmaru, glistening blue-green in the diffuse not-quite-sunlight that filled this place. He couldn't help feeling affection for his long time partner. "Yes, it does, I'm afraid. We could use your insight. What do you think of what Sou-Taichou had to say?"

:In many ways he is wise. In many ways he is a fool. I respect his authority, but this is no small task he has set.: At this, Hitsugaya blinked. Why was this so difficult even for Hyourinmaru? :It is unwise to force a dragon. You ought to know that well.:

Sharon tilted her head to the side. "I heard him, but what I think he said didn't make a lick of sense. I could have sworn he said that you know that it is unwise to force a dragon?"

:There is something you need to remember and something she needs to see.: Hyourinmaru opened wide their minds, and Hitsugaya and Sharon realized he was showing them a particular memory – a memory of when Hitsugaya had claimed his precious zanpakutou.


It came in a rush of images. They were together in the cave. They were seeking – and then the plain of ice again, just as he had seen it before joining the Spiritual Arts Academy, the time Matsumoto found him before he could freeze old Granny with his out of control reiatsu.

What do you seek? Are you the one who's going to wield me, boy?

Hitsugaya remembered. He would never forget that moment. But it was very different, "seeing" things from Hyourinmaru's point of view.

"I'm going to protect…"

"That's right!"

What the hell was that? Hitsugaya thought.

"There's someone I want to protect by borrowing this power."

"Yes! Yes! Obey me!"

Oh no. It can't be.

"That's all this is… I want to protect!"

"I will wield your power!"

I can't believe this. I can't believe that's how it happened. I can't believe Sharon is seeing this.

A schism. A blurring. One Hyourinmaru became two, light and dark, ice and shadow. To one, the power to protect. To the other, the power to compel. One Hyourinmaru but two at the same time.

"What a coincidence. I'm really happy we were able to obtain the same power."

Hitsugaya hadn't wanted to remember. He didn't want to remember what happened next. But the images kept coming.

"He's my friend! I don't want to fight him!" The Central 46. He remembered, now, how they objected to his best friend sharing his zanpakutou. "I will abandon Hyourinmaru!" The echoes from among the occupants of the Chamber. Fight. Suitable personality. Fight. Appropriate ability. Fight. Hyourinmaru is such a power. You should feel honored. Fight. Fight. Fight.

A single strike. He had rushed toward Hitsugaya, yelling "I want Hyourinmaru!" Hitsugaya had raised his sword in defense. One stroke. His friend was frozen. Then the Secret Mobile Corps with the pronouncement. "It has been decided that Hitsugaya Toshiro will be the wielder of Hyourinmaru."

Stop. I don't want to see anymore. I don't want her to see any of this.

"The fight's not over yet! Hyourinmaru is mine!" The Corps were holding Hitsugaya back while they finished killing his friend. "Wait a second! Give me another – " They stabbed and sliced him, Hitsugaya screaming protest. "Why do I… have to die?... I ... fought … for Soul Society…"

STOP I said, I don't want to go through this again.

The Hitsugaya of memory was screaming. One Hyourinmaru-blade was dissolving, just like ice crystals in sunlight.


"Hyourinmaru." Sharon's voice cut through the onslaught. "Hyourinmaru!"

The flow of images slowed, then ceased. Hitsugaya was sobbing, cradled in Sharon's arms. She held him tight and let the racking grief flow.

Hyourinmaru's voice was nearly a whisper. :You needed to know.: He winked out, and so did the plain of ice. They were back in Hitsugaya's living area.

"Come on, Toshiro. We might as well get some sleep." It was already dark outside. "We can deal with this tomorrow." Sharon looked at Hitsugaya steadily, her eyes filled with compassion.

"Yeah," he replied noncomittally. I really don't want to deal with this, ever, but now I get to explain it all. Thanks so much, Hyourinmaru. His eyes had a lifeless expression.

Outside, a horizontal crack opened by Hitsugaya's window. A figure stepped out wearing a cloak and a mask. The man bore a sword whose hilt looked uncannily like Hyourinmaru's.

"Hitsugaya. At last."


AN: And if most of this chapter sounds really familiar, well, it's because the memories are derived from the flashback sequences in the DiamondDust Rebellion combined with the Drama CD account. So sue me. Copyright Kubo Tite. But it's important to see it from Hyourinmaru's point of view.

Hitsugaya: This is no less embarrassing than it was the first time. Why did you have me cry?

Satscout: Because that's the natural thing people DO when their friends die. And I know you have a heart.

Hitsugaya: Do I really want to know what you do to me in the next chapter?

Satscout: No.

Hitsugaya: ...