Chapter 6


"I'm telling you, this is too easy." Rukia pulled on Renji's sleeve. "What do you expect them to do, open the gate for us? And we don't even know if Hitsugaya-taichou is inside or not."

"We did it before, and we can do it again. We got Orihime-chan out, didn't we? So why not bust Sharon out, then find Hitsugaya and go home? Besides, if we find one of them, we'll eventually find the other." Renji shook his sleeve loose from Rukia's grasp. "And your brother said we only have two days. I'd rather not waste any time."

He didn't. Zabimaru made quick work of the wall, and they slipped inside.

In the silence that followed, Hitsugaya watched from a distance.

Too easy doesn't begin to cover it. It's almost as if they were inviting us in.

He followed silently.

They never saw the wall re-forming behind them.


"There's something that bothers me about all this." Sharon was sipping on a cup of tea. Kusaka sat beside her, still cloaked in Aizen's illusion. "It's about the other fellow. Kusaka, I think. Haven't you ever wondered why Hyourinmaru split like that?"

Kusaka sat up a little. "Split? Why would Hyourinmaru split? We achieved the same power, that's all."

Sharon looked at him strangely. "Not according to Hyourinmaru's version of it. Toshiro, I really think… ach, this is hard to say."

Kusaka's eyes narrowed. "What are you trying to tell me?"

Sharon let out a huge sigh. "You love too much." She continued hurriedly, "Not that I mind being on the receiving end! But that strong… emotion… well, an emotion that strong can cause all kinds of trouble."

"Care to elaborate?" He "loves too much?" Hitsugaya with the heart of ice? Are we talking about the same Hitsugaya I knew?

"Well, for instance, like the story Rangiku-san told me about how she found you, and you were practically killing yourself and your granny because you didn't know how to control your reiatsu, and she had to talk you into going to the Spiritual Arts Academy. Or how you come to Hinamori's defense all the time – it's obvious you see her as a sort of sister. And then there's this Kusaka guy."

"What about Kusaka?" He was intensely interested in what she had to say next.

"Well, I don't know how to put this delicately. You were so upset after what Hyourinmaru showed us, after all… and I know how you didn't want to talk about him or how he died and all."

"Go on." Kusaka-as-Hitsugaya tried to be nonchalant.

"He shouldn't have been there." Sharon was clearly uncomfortable at this point.

"What do you mean? We were friends, it's only natural that we should – "

"That's not the point. I mean, Kusaka shouldn't have been anywhere near where you were when you were trying to find Hyourinmaru. It got all confused. I know you know you have this incredibly huge reiatsu, so Hyourinmaru himself wouldn't have been a surprise. But what nobody could have anticipated is what would happen when someone you loved so much was there at the same time." She looked away. Her hands twisted in her lap.

Kusaka suddenly grew very still. "What exactly are you trying to say, Sharon?"

"I'm saying that he never got to find out what his own zanpakutou would have been like because Hyourinmaru was too big, the love was too big, it all got confused. Damn. I'm not saying this very well."

"Are you trying to say that Kusaka had no right to wield Hyourinmaru?" The tension made Kusaka's voice crack, just a little.

"I'm saying that if you hadn't forged such a strong bond of friendship with him, if you hadn't cared so much for him, he wouldn't have even seen Hyourinmaru when he came to you. When Hyourinmaru found you, he found two yous. He found the "you" you and the "you" that was the one you loved. And when you both called out to him, the part each called for is the part each got. You called for the strength to protect. He called for a power to obey him. And Hyourinmaru… split. It's as if the core of who Hyourinmaru is joined you, and his shadow joined Kusaka. And then the Central 46 interrupted and screwed everything up." Tears were coursing down Sharon's face. "Instead of trying to find out what happened and why, they decided someone had to die. That was incredibly stupid. They should never have killed Kusaka. They should have tried to understand instead."

Kusaka was dumbfounded. The idea had never once occurred to him that Hyourinmaru wasn't his by right – and that he only had Hyourinmaru because of Hitsugaya? Absurd. Even more amazing was that she was actually crying over him. She didn't even know him. She was grieving his death.

"Damned Soul Society polyglot. I'm talking English and you're hearing Japanese and I can't begin to guess how much meaning has actually gotten through. Toshiro, I'm trying to say it's not your fault. You didn't kill Kusaka. You're acting like you need to atone for a crime you never committed. Letting someone into your heart isn't a crime either. Sure, you're more vulnerable where that person is concerned, but the benefits outweigh the risks. And when something happens to the person you love, you share the grief. Don't try to carry it all on your own. I love you, Toshiro. Let me help you carry the grief. Don't shut me out." She reached to take Kusaka's hand in hers.

Kusaka shied back, as if her hand were a burning brand. This was too much. It made a lie of his life, of his death – of his need to get revenge, everything. Then he got angry. It was all Hitsugaya's fault, all of it. If he hadn't been Hitsugaya's friend, he would still be serving Soul Society. He would have a zanpakutou of his own, probably more powerful than Hyourinmaru. He would have risen in the ranks and achieved fame – if not for Hitsugaya Toshiro. And this, this woman – daring to say such things to him. Even if she didn't realize he was who he was, she had no right.

"I'm not listening to any more of this." Kusaka left abruptly, making sure the door clicked shut tight behind him. He would let Aizen deal with the woman in his own time. He would deal with Hitsugaya. And Hyourinmaru would be his alone.


This place is a damned maze. I can't even tell where Abarai and Kuchiki got to. Hitsugaya was carefully keeping his reiatsu dampened as much as possible as he followed corridors, seeking a way to the heart of the palace that was Los Noches.

A silvery voice giggled.

Hitsugaya spun around. Where was that coming from?

"To-saaan ~ ~ Mama says not to worry." It was almost like singing.

"Who's there?" Hitsugaya's eyes searched.

More giggles. "It's To-san's vessel. Mama says not to worry to you too."

Vessel? What the hell? "Where are you? I can't see you."

"Of course not, silly. I don't have a vessel or form yet, and Mama doesn't want a form. She doesn't like the idea of being bound. And you have To-san there on your back."

To-san? On my back? She means… "You mean Hyourinmaru?"

"Who else would I mean? My To-san. Mama said he'd like that better than calling him Papa so I said ok. Then she said 'stupid polyglot'." The voice giggled again. "But you'd better come. I think Mama's vessel is confused."

She means Oshidamaru and Sharon. "Can you show me where she is?" Hitsugaya was getting anxious.

"Sure, To-san's vessel. Just follow me ~ ~ " The voice glittered down one of the myriad hallways.

Forget Abarai and Kuchiki. They'll find us eventually. Hitsugaya raced after the silvery sound.


a/n: gomen minna... again... I promise we're almost done... it's just taken way too long to get back to this with life and illness getting in the way.