Hey, I'm back. I hope some have seen the actual movie and are wondering: Hmm, why is this person writing a story that is almost totally different from the movie? Well I'll tell you why.
Because making a remake of the movie is fun, not only for me, but people who enjoyed the movie and wanted another scenario. Or two. Or twenty. I don't know how many differences I'll make. But I just want you to know everything told from Rangiku's own feelings.
So without further delay, I now present to you the third chapter of Refusing The Truth. Enjoy!!
Refusing The Truth
Chapter 3
Hyourinmaru. An ice guardian that is reborn into a soul every few centuries. His current keeper is my Taicho, Hitsugaya Toshiro.
Hyourinmaru is a very powerful ice dragon that can even control the weather, almost instantly when released. I have learned, throughout my years serving as Fukutaicho, that Hyourinmaru is a heavenly being that only allows the strongest to wield him.
Of course I know that there possibly are others stronger than my Taicho, but none of them had the strength to be able to wield such a magnificent Zanpakuto at such a young age.
Hitsugaya is the most talented Shinigami I have ever seen, and that's why I helped him take that talent to the next level. Sure we met on a little awkward circumstances, but through it all he actually managed to become my superior. Heh.
I find it funny. But there still are things about my Taicho even Momo wouldn't know about. Like where did he come from? He never mentioned his past very often, and if I pushed it, he'd get this really irritated face and I knew to back off then.
Still. I can't help but wonder.
Back on the subject of Hyourinmaru, I have recently been told by this Kusaka guy's followers; two arrancar women, that he defeated Kyouraku with Hyourinmaru.
Now I'm on the thought that there are two Hyourinmaru's, not just one.
"It's logically impossible." Rukia said as we ran over treetops. "A Zanpakuto is a piece of the Shinigami's soul. There is no way a Zanpakuto, especially a heavenly being such as Hyourinmaru, can be shared by two Shinigami."
"But then how do you explain what those women said?" Renji asked. "I don't know, maybe Hitsugaya-Taicho went back and..." She was cut off when I snarled loudly.
"He would never do that to a comrade. Remember he is still Hitsugaya-Taicho, he's not the rebellion everyone thinks he is." I said through my teeth.
They looked at me like I grew a second head, and that ticked me off. "Quit looking at me like that!" I snapped. They immediately went back to looking ahead. I was so tired of people looking at me like I was a crazy bimbo.
I hated it. I got enough of the dirty looks from plenty of women, even some men, in Soul Society. I wasn't going to stand for the crazy look from my own friends.
I was so tired of the looks, the comments I hear, the feeling I got when a man even looked at me with that glint in his eyes. I just wish people wouldn't judge me just because of the way I look.
Like Taicho doesn't. He never judges a book by it's cover. He's always treated me like a woman, not a preppy slut. Which is probably what I was in other men's eyes, even some women.
I tend to ignore them because I know that Taicho would never treat me like that. That's one of the things I love about him. He's kind, courteous, hard-working, he may be a stiff but he has plenty of redeeming qualities.
Oh no! I think I'm blushing!! I can't blush when I'm thinking about my Taicho!! I don't think of him in that way!!
"Rangiku? Is something wrong? You look flushed." Renji said and I jumped ahead to hide my face better. "I-I'm fine." I shuddered out.
How could this be happening! First the King's Seal is stolen, then my Taicho disappears, Soul Society orders his execution, possibly two Hyourinmarus, and now I'm blushing as I think about Taicho!!
This week really sucks!
The arrancar women really know how to escape without a trace. Because hardly any trace of their presence is left. And it all leads to nowhere.
More importantly, Hyourinmaru's spiritual pressure has completely gone too. I can't help but wonder, where could he possibly being trying to reach?
How can one mystery have so many questions? And so many unanswered. Sigh. This is a captain's level mission, I don't have the strength to carry out a cat and mouse chase. I have too much to deal with.
I wonder how much Soul Society's already broken down, I'll bet they've already figured out more than half. And how much have we figured out?
Nothing!
I groaned out loud. "We've been wandering for hours, not a trace or sign of anything!" Ichigo groaned as well.
"Well there's not much to go on, all we know is the name of the thief who stole the King's Seal. I think we should take a chance and contact Soul Society." Rukia suggested and I stopped dead in my tracks, causing Ichigo and Renji to crash into each other.
"Are you crazy?!" I shrieked. "We can't take that kind of risk! If we so much as call Soul Society, they'll be on our tails in less than an hour! Then what'll we do?!" I shouted.
"Well we have no other choice! We can't wander forever! Hitsugaya-Taicho is wounded and dying out there!" I flinched. "If we don't take a chance, he could die before we even reach him!" Rukia shouted.
I looked down at the ground about a hundred feet below us. She was right. Taicho is alone and hurt out there. I shook the next thought out of my head.
"Alright." I said in defeat. "We take our chance." I said and Rukia pulled out her Soul pager.
Before she even hit a button, it rang. We all froze. The ID said Soul Society. Of course! Who else would it be?! The number was unfamiliar to me. I only knew about six divisions' numbers including my own. It wasn't a number I knew.
Rukia looked to me, and I hesitantly nodded. She hit the talk button.
"Kuchiki Rukia here." She answered and pressed the phone to speaker.
"Oh Rukia! I'm so glad you answered!" The shrill voice squealed. "Momo?" I asked. "Rangiku?! You're there too?! Oh thank goodness! I've been trying to contact you for hours!" She cried.
"Momo! When did you get out of the 4th Division?" Renji asked. "Renji? I got out just this morning. Unohana told me everything. She also told me you guys left." She said.
"Momo, what's happening in Soul Society?" I asked. "It's terrible here, everyone is in panic and nobody will drop their guard. Even the souls in Rukongai are restless. It's really bad. Everyone's thinking Shiro-Chan will attack again." I furrowed my brows.
"Momo, you don't honestly believe Taicho attacked Kyouraku do you?" I asked, almost rudely.
"N-No. But I do know he's innocent, just like you do! Which is why I called, I wanted to help you find him. While I was in the 4th Division, I looked in some of their secret files." She mumbled.
"Momo! You actually did some sneaking around?!" Renji mocked, I smacked his arm. "Shh!" I hissed.
"Yes, I did. And I found out something that you have to know, it might help." We all leaned over the phone.
"What did you find out?" Ichigo asked. "Well, Unohana was talking about a Shinigami name Kusaka Sojiro so I did a little digging. I found out that he was in Shiro's class but never graduated. It turns out that he was killed before he even took the test." She explained.
"He and Shiro were always competing and friends throughout the academy but when it came time to master Zanpakuto, they both inherited the same one." She paused.
"Hyourinmaru..." I whispered.
"Exactly. And it was strictly taboo for any two Shinigami to share the same Zanpakuto, the reason was unknown but the consequences were substantial." She said.
"So what happened to Kusaka?" Ichigo asked.
"As I said, he was killed. They pit the two against one another in a fight to the death and Shiro was the one chosen to take Hyourinmaru. Kusaka was eliminated by the stealth force." She stopped.
"But if he was killed, then how do you explain the thief who stole the King's Seal?" Renji asked.
"It's either a copycat, or the same man, only reborn. Either way, he obviously wants Shiro-Chan." She murmured. "What exactly is the King's Seal?" Ichigo asked.
"Nobody but the royal family knows that." I said.
"Now listen Rangiku. Soul society is searching all over for you. They think you've rebelled to the enemy's side. And no one is allowed to leave or enter Soul Society, they've sealed the gates."
They never seal the gate unless a fatal emergency is upon us. Soul Society must be in a real panic.
"Momo, we're trying everything we can. But we keep losing any lead we find, always getting dead ends. We need more info." I answered.
"His picture is that of a young man who has thin brown eyes and black hair. I'll try and find out what I can and contact you when I'm alone, but I can't guarantee I can give you much help from here." She said sadly.
"Momo. You've been a huge help to us right now. I thank you." I said truthfully.
"Rangiku?" She whimpered, I'd bet my entire paycheck she was crying right now. "Yes?" I asked. "I know I can't ask too much of you, and that you're already trying your hardest. But please..." She cried, and I felt my heart crush when she asked me.
"Please save Toshiro for me. He's the only family I have left... Please." Her whimpers got louder and I sighed.
"I promise Momo. I promise that I will bring him back. Although, I can't guarantee I can bring him back alive." I said honestly. I couldn't say I would bring him back alive. After this battle, we'll be lucky if we even make it back to Soul society.
"Thank you, Rangiku. You too Rukia, Renji, Ichigo. I only wish I could be more help. I have to go. Please save Shiro." She said and the line went dead.
Rukia closed the pager and put it away. We all stood silent for a minute.
"What're we waiting for?" I asked. "Let's go!" I cheered before heading off. I knew so much more than I did ten minutes ago.
So there are two Hyourinmaru's. Kusaka is after Taicho to get revenge for his death. Still, that leaves one question.
Where are they?!
Damn it! Another dead end! We finally get some info and we come across another road block! Why the hell is god punishing me?!
I mean I'm grateful to Momo for the information, but I still don't know where to start looking. Where can I start? Where do I go? What can I do when I get there?
"Rangiku! Look out!" Renji shouted and I shot my gaze ahead only to be smacked down to the ground, blood spit out of my mouth.
I coughed some out and held my side. I was hit pretty bad, and I didn't even see it coming. I must be slipping from reality. "Matsumoto! Are you alright?!" Rukia asked from above. "I'm fine!" I shouted to her. I looked up and saw a menos towering over me.
It roared and the very sound hurt my ears. Ichigo already went ahead and attacked it. The strike was powerful and took it down, only to reveal the other menos behind it. And the one behind it. And the one behind it.
There were at least twelve menos! Too many for the four of us to handle! I got up and withdrew Haineko, I was fine, not even a scratch.
I flash-stepped to the others and gazed at the giant group of menos. How could there be so many?
I heard a giggle and looked to the center of the group to see the two arrancar women! What do they want now?
"So you're the ones who summoned all the menos!" Renji accused. The blue one giggled.
"That's right, and this time, we're here to finish you off. Last time you could handle all those small fry, but these menos are harder to deal with when there's more than one." She giggled.
"So that's your plan, outnumber us and eliminate us." Ichigo smirked. "Well that ain't gonna work. Ban-" He called and his reiatsu burst out of him. "Kai!"
He reappeared in a new outfit and a black Zanpakuto. Tensa Zangetsu. The bankai version of Zangetsu. I've only seen it once or twice.
"Destroy them." The red one commanded. "Hollow!" They both shouted and the menos began walking towards us. "Hope your ready Ichigo?" Renji said and withdrew his Zanpakuto, Zabimaru.
"Always ready." Ichigo said with a smirk. I held out Haineko. Something feels wrong... I thought. There was a feeling in the air itself that made my skin crawl. The feeling...
Of frozen death...
"Taicho?" I whispered and looked around. "Rangiku!" "Getsuga Tenshou!" A dark blast came and cut the arm of the menos that reached for me. "Stop spacing! We're in the middle of a fight!" Ichigo called and went after the other menos.
Could they not feel the same thing I'm feeling? I chose to ignore it for a quick second and take care of the hollow before me.
"Unare, Haineko!" I called and it evaporated to ash and spread around me. I leapt for the menos and stuck at it's head, figured it was too slow to block it.
Instead it swung it's other arm at me, like swatting a fly. I jumped back.
"What the hell? Menos of this class can't move that fast!" I cursed and used the ash to cut off it's other arm as it flew towards me. The now armless menos screeched in pain and attempted to thrust it's mouth on top of me and swallow me whole.
With a flash-step I appeared behind it and cut it directly in half. It disintegrated and I looked toward the others. My eyes widened when I saw them all wounded and immobile.
"Renji! Ichigo! Rukia!" I shouted and tried to run for them but the next menos kick my side and I flew into a tree. I coughed out more blood. My vision began to get blurry. Why was this happening? What happened to the others. I attempted to crawl to one of them.
"R-Rangiku." Renji said from a few meters away. I could see him barely hanging on a tree branch. "Renji. Too many." I choked out, my voice was cracked.
"Even Ichigo's bankai won't kill them all, and I was knocked before I could use mine." He smiled slightly. "That's not fair." He laughed.
Why were we talking like this?! We were talking like we were gonna die. That ain't happening! I have too much to do! Taicho!!
I placed my hands on the ground on wither side of me and pushed myself off the ground. I felt like I was doing push-ups with a sumo wrestler on top of me.
"Hah ha! Look at you pathetic weaklings! So foolish to think you actually stood a chance. We warned you not to get involved, but you insisted on interfering. Now you pay with your life." The blue arrancar laughed, as if right in our face.
I felt like my world was crashing down on me. My reiatsu was going away from too much blood loss. I could feel Haineko going out of my reach.
"Hyourinmaru!!" I heard a male voice shout and I shifted my head to see a giant ice dragon fly right through the menos. I stared with wide eyes as I watched the dragon freeze and kill the last eight menos and retract back to it's master.
"T-Taicho?" I choked before forcing myself to sit up and leaned against the tree. Focused my sight at the sky and saw a man in a cloak. Wearing a mask.
"Now this isn't right. Killing four of our guests of honors in the final act. Shame, shame." He waved a disapproving finger. The two arrancar women bowed to him.
"Forgive us Kusaka-Sama. We thought they were interfering." The red one said. K-Kusaka?!
"Nonsense, we have to have them present for when I unveil mine and Toshiro's greatest moment in the history of Soul Society." Taicho?! He laughed and removed his mask. He revealed a young face, matching the description Momo gave earlier.
"K-Kusaka Sojiro..." I murmured. He actually heard me. "Ah, so this is Toshiro's current lieutenant, or is it ex-lieutenant?" He smirked and i clenched my teeth. Bastard! I raised my Zanpakuto and he instantly appeared in front of me and clashed his Zanpakuto with my own.
His looked so much like Taicho's. The only difference was the guard. Same shape, difference is that the guard was see through. Taicho's is not.
Suddenly something flowed into my mind from the contact. A vision of some kind. I could see a classroom. It's the Shinigami Academy. I see lots of students and a boy sitting by the window.
Taicho!!
"Hey! Toshiro!" A male voice called, and the boy looked up. "Hey Kusaka." Taicho said and smiled.
Other memories flowed into my mind. I could see a field and test dummies for training. I could see Taicho and Kusaka with wooden swords and flashing through the field and slashing through the dummies. Smiling and laughing.
Taicho looked so happy.
I suddenly flashed to a memory that was darker than the rest. I saw Kusaka... on a plain of ice. With Hyourinmaru!
"My name is Hyourinmaru. Boy. Are you the one who shall wield me?" The ice dragon asked. My eyes widened. I was seeing all Kusaka's memories, and this is how he got Hyourinmaru.
"Yes! I am your master now! Obey me! Hyourinmaru!" Kusaka lifted his hand and the dragon transformed into a Zanpakuto. Kusaka smiled a great smile.
The scene flashed to Chamber 46 where Taicho and Kusaka stood.
"The order is final, one of you must be eliminated. Two Zanpakutos are strictly forbidden to keep balance." One man said.
"You two must fight and see who is the one who deserves the Zanpakuto Hyourinmaru." A woman said.
"You mean fight to the death?!" Taicho demanded. "Two Zanpakutos are too risky to be kept alive, one of you must go!" Another man said.
"Then I give up Hyourinmaru but I will not fight Kusaka!" Taicho sounded so pained by this decision. "No! You will fight!" "Fight!" "One must go!" Fight each other!" "Go!" "Fight!" One right after the other and they were transferred to an area.
Kusaka turned to Taicho. "Toshiro. I want Hyourinmaru!" Kusaka shouted and charged for Taicho with it. "Taicho!" The memory flashed to the stealth force holding Taicho back, and four members gathered around Kusaka.
"It has been decided that Hitsugaya Toshiro will be Hyourinmaru's master." A member said and then Kusaka was struck and faded. "Kusakaaa!!" Taicho shouted and reached for him. "Toshiro? Why do I have to die?" He asked and faded away.
I was suddenly dropped back to the present and saw Kusaka in the same spot as before I was lost in his memories.
"Did you enjoy the show?" Kusaka asked and pushed harder on Haineko. I winced, my shoulder hurt as it pushed back.
"Since I can't kill you yet, I want to tell you some vital information. Tomorrow afternoon at exactly 1:00 P.M. I will be at an abandoned warehouse near Karakura. If you want to live to see tomorrow night, you'll be there." He smirked and jumped back.
"Our guest of honor is over the peak. We'll take our leave now. See you tomorrow afternoon." He chuckled before vanishing.
I looked to Ichigo and the others and they were all worn out and badly hurt that they barely kept their eyes open. I was no better. My eyes drooped, threatening to send me into darkness. I fought with it.
That's when I felt it...
I feel it much clearer than before...
It's so close I can taste it.
Winter...
My eyes open wide and I gazed at the peak just half a mile from my current position.
That's when I saw him...
Standing there perched atop the peak, in a cloak that was slightly torn. With blood stained in his clothes.
"T-Taicho..." I whispered. His gaze was piercing. I felt that I had to pinch myself in order to see if I was truly seeing him. The pain in my side was proof enough I was still awake.
He gazed at me with an emotionless face. I stared back and a small smile crept up on my face. Screw the pain! I lifted myself and stood up, leaning on the tree for support. "Taicho." I breathed. I was so happy right now I felt like the pain was gone and I was flying.
"Taicho, you're really here." I choked out, some blood spilling out. Before I could take that step towards him, he backed away.
"W-What're you doing? It's me. Matsumoto." I said but he still backed away from me.
"T-Taicho, where are you going. Don't go!!" I yelled. "Hitsugaya-Taicho!" Renji called. "Toshiro!!" Ichigo shouted. He still backed away and then turned his back on us. My heart stopped.
H-He's walking away from us. From me. N-No... I cried in my mind. I reached out for him and he was gone, his presence totally gone.
"NO! TAICHO, COME BACK!!" I screamed with all my might before I fell forward and lost all contact with the world.
No...
That's it! That's the chapter. A bit sad huh? Why would he just walk away from them like that? Has he really turned on them? That he'd really leave them for dead? Don't forget to review.
Find out next chapter.
Laterz!! RedPearlVoice.