3rd chapter of memories~ yeah!! Finally got to do this thing… I finally got the hang of my new school now! Yeah! I hope you enjoy this chappie!
Hehe… there's gonna be a little bit of a twist in this chapter… but your gonna have to read to find out! I've decided that this is going to be the 2nd final chapter to the story… Which means the next chapter will be the last! I've posted a poll on my profile that says sequel to Memories. I wanted to know if you wanted a sequel. If you do, I need to know earlier so that I can start working on it…
Thank you toSchwarze Prinzessin, and Black-Alice-Stars for your ideas. Just to let you know, I've decided to mix up your ideas with a little character twist! It'll appear in this and the next chapter!
Thanks to all those who have review for this story! I really appreciate it! Enjoy this 34 paged story~
Funny Disclamer
Sakura: What am I doing here?
Me: To do the disclamer.
Toshiro: Why her?
Me: Because I said so… *glares at Shiro-chan * got a problem with that?
Toshiro: *Gulp* No ma'am…
Sakura: Stop threatening him!!
Me: *Suddenly grows bigger* Wanna join him?
Sakura: *Stutters* N-No ma'am….
Me: I'm CRAZY!
Sakura & Toshiro: =.="
Shuuhei and Sasuke walks in.
Sasuke: What's going on?
Shuuhei: Why is Easily cackling like a madwoman?
Me: *Still cackling like madwoman but stops when Shuuhei says it. Eyes Sasuke and Shuuhei and suddenly glomps them and Saku-chan and Shiro-chan laughs like hell* Kawaiiiiii~~~
Sasuke: What the?! Get off me you crazy author!!
Shuuhei: Same goes for me!
Me: *Glared at the two* I'll make a yaoi fic about you two*
o.O
Sakura: *Sweat drop as she watches Sasuke and Shuuhei being cuddled by me* As long as it's not me…
Toshiro: Aa..
Me: *Mumbles* Do the disclamer already!
Toshiro and Sakura: Tch, Whatever. Easily1994addicted does not own Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto or Bleach by Tite Kubo.
Sakura: *Mumbles* If she did, I would be caught in a harem show… *See's Easily's fav stories* I'm gonna kill the person who got her hooked to sakumulti fics…=.="
=.=
Memories III
Life and Death
=.=
His eyes widened when he saw her. Her breath ragged and small cuts were noticeable on her pale skin all over her arms and legs. Her eyes were brimming with tears as she smiled softly at him. His heart wrenched when he saw her taking a step towards him. He stepped back by instinct. She flinched visibly and her eyes saddened.
He now understood the rule of why Shinigami are never meant to interact or befriend humans. It was too heart wrecking to see her eyes filled with hurt. He knew he had to leave now. If he didn't, he would be breaking one of the Shinigami's law… and she would forget him forever.
No. He would not allow that. He was selfish. He wanted to be with her. But he knew if he took her with him, he would be taking her from her family and friends who loved and adored her. He loved her. Yes. He did. But he couldn't bear to watch her emerald eyes sad whenever she would remember her old home.
There was only one choice for her. He lowered his head, hiding his turquoise eyes that were just filled with overwhelming sadness and determination. Sadness of her memory loss of him. Determination to let her live.
=.=
"Hollow's trying to rip the sky?" 8th Division Captain, Kyoraku Shunsui exclaimed ridiculously, spluttering out some saliva that coincidently landed on Byakuya and Toshiro.
Byakuya calmly wiped the side of his face while Toshiro's eye twitched as he wiped his. Mayuri and Soi Fon snickered.
Yamamoto cleared his throat, gaining the captains attention. "Hitsugaya-taichou, Matsumoto-fukutaichou and Hinamori-fukutaichou shall further investigate this case. You will travel to the human world half an hour after this meeting is dismissed. Subsitute Shinigami, Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia will also be involved in this case."
Jushiro raised an eyebrow at this. "So many?"
Yamamoto nodded. "The number of hollows are alarming and I want to know the reason Aizen has decided to tear open the skies of Karakura Town."
"If I may, So-taichou." Mayuri interrupted. "May I be sent to the human world as well to investigate the already damaged sky? Just to see even further exactly what Aizen is looking for." He finished; eyes gleaming with hope to study another phenomenon.
Yamamoto shook his head. "They will be sufficient. I am sure Urahara is enough to help them."
Mayuri gritted his teeth at the name of his former captain.
Yamamoto stood and faced the other captains. "I am afraid that we must all be on guard once again. We will never know what is going on in that man's head. So we must be prepared." His voice reached everyone's ears, causing muscles to tense. "Meeting is dismissed."
=.=
"A crack in the sky?" Naruto exclaimed stupidly. Kakashi sighed, Sai shook his head, Sakura giggled while Tsunade looked like she wanted to throw something at the hyper yet stupid blonde(No offense towards Naruto fans!).
"Yes Naruto." Tsunade gritted her teeth and went back to serious mode. "Several patrolling Jounin and ANBU has reported a crack in the sky which gives out a dark incomplete-like chakra."
"Incomplete-like?" Sakura raised an eyebrow.
Tsunade nodded. "It's been confirmed that the energy flowing out of the crack is lighter than normal chakra. And there have also been reports of… large and hideous looking hands scraping the crack making it bigger. My latest team of jounin reported to have seen a huge white mask figure which was shrouded by something similar to a black cloak beyond the crack." She said taking out a scroll from her desk and giving it to Kakashi. "That is your primary mission."
"Primary?" Naruto repeated.
Tsunade nodded. "The reason I've called your to investigate this is because there has been sightings of Uchiha Sasuke and his new team close to the cracks location." Naruto and Sakura held their breaths. " Remember. Only try to bring him back if he is there. If he isn't, then don't try to find him. Got that?" Eyeing Naruto.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, nodding.
Eyeing all four shinobis' in front of her, Tsunade leaned back in her chair. " This is an S-ranked mission. Don't fail. Dismissed." All four nodded and left the room. Except Sakura.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow in question. Sakura's lips were pressed into a firm thin line. Her eyes showing fear and concern. Knowing her apprentice well, she knew it wasn't about going on an S-ranked mission.
"What is it, Sakura?"
"I've been getting a bad feeling since that crack appeared… And that feeling just doubled when you said it was getting bigger. And also.. about Sasuke..." She cast her eyes sideways.
Tsunade's eyes softened. Tsunade knew Sakura loved Sasuke to an extent. But she also knew that ever since she started to remember Toshiro the past five months, her love for the Uchiha had dissolved to mere friendship. How Sakura could still love someone she knew only for a few years and hasn't seen him since, she didn't know. But she did know Sakura was happy with the memories she had with him.
"Don't worry Sakura. I'm sure it's nothing." Tsunade said soothingly, giving her a reassuring smile. Sakura smiled back and left the room.
Still wearing the smile on her face, Tsunade reached for her cup of tea… that cracked just as she touched it. Her smile faded and she looked towards the sky.
"Dear God, please let her be safe."
=.=
"Yes!" Rangiku exclaimed as she stepped out of the shoji doors and into the real world, Toshiro and Momo trailing closely behind. The doors disappeared as they walked towards the Uruhara shop. "We're finally here!"
Ururu and Jinta greeted them outside as Jinta glared at Toshiro who smirked.
"When did you get so tall?!" He practically shouted at the once short captain.
Toshiro had grown another few inches. He was now 5'6''.
"Toshiro's grown taller?" Ichigo suddenly appeared at the door.
Rangiku and Momo stepped back, not noticing him approaching while Toshiro just glared.
"That Hitsugaya-taichou to you. And why didn't I notice your reiatsu?"
"Oh that? Rukia's been complaining how I don't know how to suppress my reiatsu so she's been teaching me how. Since it is Summer vacation." Ichigo replied with a scowl while scratching his cheek. "Speaking of which…" He trailed off.
"Ichigo! Get back here! You still haven't completely suppressed your reiatsu yet!" Rukia's voice came booming from the shop along with Uruhara's laughter.
Ichigo sighed while Rangiku and Momo giggled while Toshiro tried not to grin. The four entered the underground training area under the shop. (I have no idea what it's called. It's the place where Ichigo trained to get Rukia back…)
"Hollows trying to rip the sky open?" Uruhara exclaimed quizzically. Her rubbed his chin in thought. "Well that's new… My guess is that they found another world and by ripping the sky, they can create a tunnel heading there."
"Is that even possible?" Rukia asked.
"Well, it is a possibility… Just to be safe, you guys should check it out." Uruhara said looking at Toshiro and the others.
Toshiro nodded. He had been having a bad feeling since Yamomoto explained the case. And that feeling just grew tenfold when Uruhara suggested the idea of another world.
"I'll send this suggestion to So-taichou. Everyone get ready. We don't know what's going to come out of that crack." Toshiro said standing up and calling his hell butterfly.
When Toshiro left the room, Rangiku suddenly exclaimed;
"Shiro-chan's in love!"
"What?!" Ichigo and Rukia shouted making Momo and Uruhara laugh.
"With who?" Rukia asked.
"A girl from his--"
"I don't think Shiro-kun would like it if you spread his life around like this, Rangiku-chan…" Momo cut her off.
"But--"
"He is rather protective of her. Remember what happened to Ikkaku and Yumichika?" Momo questioned.
All color immediately drained at the memory of what Toshiro did to the seated officers of the 11th division for teasing him about Sakura. Lets just say, that incident happened 2 months ago… and Ikkaku and Yumichika are still at the 4th Division Barracks recovering.
"Right…" Rangiku said shaking her head at the memory.
Rukia, Ichigo and Uruhara simply looked at them weirdly before shrugging but still curious as to whom Toshiro fell in love with.
=.=
"That is one big and creepy crack." Naruto said slowly, his eyes scrutinizing the crack. They had arrived at the scene where a team of jounins had been investigating the crack.
Beyond the crack was darkness. Like shadows just waiting to come out and wrap the world with its darkness.
'Somethings not right about that crack.' A voice in his head said.
'K-Kyuubi?!'
'I don't plan on taking over your body right now. But I can feel something close to spirit energy coming out of that crack.'
'Spirit energy?'
'Tell your friends not to get too close. I saw something moving beyond that crack.'
'What?!'
"Guys, get away from the crack! I saw something!" Naruto exclaimed immediately pulling Sakura away from the crack.
Sakura turned to Naruto quickly as the jounin scattered away from the now, growing crack. "What did you see?"
"Something moving." Naruto said narrowing his eyes.
"Hn. Wasn't that just your imagination, dope?" A voice cut through the air.
Team Kakashi's eyes (sans Sai) widened as they turned towards the person who spoke. Sakura's eyes hardened as her emerald eyes stared into deep onyx.
"Sasuke…" Naruto growled.
"Hn, dope." Sasuke smirked.
"What are you doing so near to Konoha?" Sakura asked, surprising everyone including Sasuke with her completely emotionless voice.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow briefly before regaining his cool composure. Since when did Sakura talk like this to anyone, let alone him? "I do not have to explain to you, Sakura." He smirked. "Going to cry again? Confess again?" He said taunting the girl. (GAH!! It feels so weird making Sasuke as a bad guy… T.T Forgive me Sasuke…)
Naruto clenched his fists, as Kakashi got ready to attack and stop Sakura in case she went on a rampage. Surprisingly Sakura laughed.
Everyone stared at Sakura confused. She was laughing when Sasuke taunted her? Karin fumed behind the bushes and decided to make herself known.
Karin walked out the bushes glaring daggers at Sakura. "What are you laughing at?" She asked annoyed.
Sakura abruptly stopped laughing and looked at Karin. Taking in her appearance and smirked at Sasuke.
"Ara, Sasuke. I didn't know you were interested in girls like her." Her smirked widened when she saw a barely visible twitch from him. "And I'll tell you this Sasuke. I love you. I really do…" Sakura's eye's softened.
Sasuke smirked and was about to retort when she continued her sentence; " I really do love like I do to if I had a brother."
Sasuke paused. That was not what he was expecting her to say. Naruto, Kakashi and Sai stared at Sakura, not knowing what too say. Sakura smiled kindly at Sasuke.
"I realized that within the last five months, I never really loved you more than how a sister would love her brother. So I'm going to say that whatever you do, I'll support you, and I'll be there when you need me." She said smiling widely before turning to Naruto. "Naruto, you don't need to keep that promise to me. Thank you for trying."
Sasuke finally realized what Sakura had just said and his eyes softened. 'She changed.' And he let out a small smile that only Karin could see since she was right beside him.
She glared at Sakura but stopped when she realized there was not even a single hint of lie in Sakura's emerald eyes.
'Maybe she's not so bad after all.' (Yeah. I decided to not let Karin be the bad guy. I mean in almost all the fics I read, Karin is always the bad guy and I just read the latest chapter of Naruto and kinda felt sorry for her…)
Sakura closed her eyes, her heart pounding at what she had just said. She opened her eyes and smiled fondly at her teammates.
'I'll always keep my friends close, Toshiro-kun.'
Sasuke opened his mouth but was cut off by a loud roar coming from the crack. Everyone jumped back just as a large claw-like hand came out from the crack and grip the edge of the crack. The hand pulled it wider until the crack grew massive and a tall and large figure with a white mask stepped out, destroying trees around it.
Sakura's eyes widened as the creature continue to walk out of the crack, followed by hundreds of smaller yet hideous looking creatures with masks on.
The creatures let out roars of satisfaction before the hundreds of creatures exclaimed;
"So much high reiatsu! It's gonna be a feast!"
=.=
"These hollows are getting annoying!" Ichigo exclaimed, killing off ten hollows in one swing. There were hollows everywhere. Luckily, there were only low ranking ones… except for the Menos Grande currently disappearing into the crack.
Toshiro cursed as he killed another bunch of hollows only to meet with another bunch. "Where did these hollows come from?!"
Rangiku, Momo and Rukia were fighting hollows while their backs faced each other, making a circle. Rukia killed another hollow before answering; "I spotted another crack leading from Hueco Mundo to here. And it's still open!"
Rangiku cursed. "This is just great. Can it get any worse?!" She exclaimed, swinging her sword.
Momo just kept slicing of hollows, occasionally releasing her shikai but stopped when the crack got bigger and a vortex like thing began to suck hollows into the crack. She sighed and glanced at Rangiku.
"It just got worse." And the 5 Shinigami got sucked into the vortex.
=.=
"Chidori!!"
"Rasengan!!"
The two techniques hit the large creature but had no affect on it. Naruto and Sasuke cursed as they avoided the smaller yet still big creatures attacks. Somehow, the amounts of creatures coming in were increasing. The jounin team had already left to warn Konoha and send in a back up team.
Sakura's punches seemed to have an affect on the creatures as they were immediately knocked out but there were too many so they couldn't just count on Sakura's inhuman strength. Kakashi, Sai, Karin and the newly arrived Juugo and Suigetsu were trying hard just to survive.
Sakura cursed in her head as she landed another punch on a creature.
'Shit! Even with my perfect chakra control, I'll run out of chakra soon seeing if the amount doesn't lift up!'
Sakura was too caught up in her thoughts, she didn't notice another creature snake its tongue in behind her. Sasuke however noticed this and cursed.
"Sakura, behind you!"
Sakura was a second too late as the creature successfully wrapped its tongues around her neck and body, lifting her up and choking her.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed panicking as he tried to rush over to his teammate but the creatures didn't allow him to pass through. Sasuke, Kakashi and Sai tried to do the same but were blocked by the creatures.
The creature chuckled as it tightened its grip on her. Sakura whimpered as she tried to inhale enough oxygen to live.
"Not so though are you now, huh, girly?" It sneered at her. "Your reiatsu smells delicious. You'll be my first meal here! Be honoured…" It snickered but stopped when he suddenly jerked his head up at the larger black creature. "He's gonna do a cero here?! Is that guy crazy?"
Sakura lifted her eyes to the large creature, seeing a strange red energy form in front of its mouth. The red energy grew bigger and took form of a large static ball. She closed her eyes. She knew they were goners. There was no way Konoha-nins could do anything against something they couldn't harm unless they used chakra-enhanced strength. She smiled softly as an image of her friends filled her mind and Toshiro.
'I'm going to join you soon, Toshiro…"
"Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyourinmaru!"
The large creature was cut in half and the creature that held Sakura captive disappeared. Sakura coughed trying to take in as much air as possible. Sasuke was at her side, draping an arm over his shoulder and lifting her. A hollow was about to strike them but a flash of black and white cut it into half.
"Snap, Tobiume!"
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
"Growl, Haineko!"
"Zangetsu!"
Cries from hollows filled the air as the number of hollow decreased as the large hollow dissolved into thin air.
Toshiro continued to kill the hollows trying to get to the unconscious pink haired medic. His mind was on overdrive. When he saw Sakura being chocked by that hollow; he snapped, immediately releasing his zanpak-to's shikai form. His eyes were filled with hatred and vengeance as hollows kept coming at him. In the back of his mind, Hyorinmaru kept screaming at him that there was a possibility that the pink haired girl wasn't even the Sakura from his memories but he ignored Hyourinmaru and continued to attack the hollows.
Finally, the number of hollows decreased and only a bunch of hollows, probably 20-60 more circled each shinigami. (=.=" That totals to about 300.. means it's a BIG bunch! Haha!)
Toshiro glared at each of them. He raised Hyourinmaru and pointed it to the slightly larger than average hollow.
"To all hollows here." He said loudly, gaining everyone's, hollow, shinigami and shinobi, attention. "Even try to touch her and you're as good as dead." He said, glaring at every hollow in his view.
Hollows shivered and decided then and there was a 99.8% chance of loosing their lives if they continued their attack. With that, the hollows flew off and into the crack, leaving Konoha, the shinigami's and the shinobis'.
Toshiro sighed as he deactivated his shikai and turned to Sasuke who was carrying a now unconscious Sakura in his arms now. Sasuke stiffened and tensed when Toshiro looked at him but relaxed when his turquoise eyes softened as they landed on Sakura.
"How is she?" Toshiro suddenly asked.
"She's fine…" Sasuke replied looking down at Sakura, missing the relieved look on Toshiro's face… that unfortunately, Rangiku noticed and glomped Toshiro in a bone crushing hug… or in this case, Toshiro suffocating in Rangiku's breasts.
"Aww!! Is this the Sakura you've been thinking about, Shiro-chan?!"
Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi and Sai immediately drew their weapons, glaring at the shinigami. Ichigo and Momo raised their hands.
"Hey, hey, calm down…" Ichigo said, sweat forming as the shinobi glared at them.
Kakashi growled. "How do you know Sakura?"
Toshiro escaped Rangiku's hug and faced the 4 glaring shinobi.
"I was a friend of hers before I died." Toshiro said making Naruto blink several times.
" A friend before you died?" Sasuke scoffed. "That's impossible. How can someone who died be standing right in front of us?"
"Shinigami are dead souls trained to kill hollows, those creatures that just fled." Momo explained.
Sasuke was about to retort when Naruto cut him off.
"Are you Hitsugaya Toshiro?"
Toshiro blinked before nodding slowly. He felt his heart lift that the pink haired girl was indeed the Sakura from his memories and for the fact that Sakura actually talked about him.
"Don't tell me you actually believe him, dope." Sasuke stated scoffing inwardly. He knew Naruto was dumb. But not to the extent of believing dead people becoming death gods! Naruto scowled and ignored him.
Then Naruto smiled and took out his right hand. "Name's Uzumaki Naruto! I'm Sakura's teammate along with Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke-teme and Sai-teme!"
Toshiro stared at Naruto's hand before smirking and shaking it. "Hitsugaya Toshiro, Captain of the 10th Division. My lieutenant is Matsumoto Rangiku there." He said, pointing to Rangiku who was smiling and waving at them. "That's the lieutenant of the 5th Division, Hinamori Momo, shinigami of the 13th Division, Kuchiki Rukia and stupid official substitute shinigami, Kurosaki Ichigo." Toshiro introduced them. Ichigo twitched slightly glaring at Toshiro who completely ignored him.
Kakashi's eyes wrinkled showing he was smiling beneath that mask of his. Sasuke was beyond lost so he just listened to them. Sai was flashing his fake smile while Karin, Juugo and Suigetsu decided it was high time they find a place to rest for the night.
"So, I'm curious as to how Sakura-chan was when she was a kid before I met her. Do you mind sharing?" Naruto asked grinning from ear to ear.
Toshiro's eyes darkened slightly as he looked away.
"I just began remembering her starting five months ago. I haven't fully recovered all my memories yet."
"Recovered?" Kakashi questioned.
"When you die and have reiatsu or spiritual energy inside of you, you immediately loose your memory of your life when you were alive." Rangiku explained. "It's extremely rare for those with reiatsu to have their memories of their life."
"So you--" Sasuke started but stopped when he felt Sakura shift in his arms.
"To…shiro…kun…" She mumbled.
Toshiro's eyes softened even more when he heard his name. He smiled slightly. 'She remembers…'
He stepped forwards and brushed a few strands of Sakura's hair away from her face before lightly placing his lips on her forehead. Rangiku and Momo smiled while the others watched with curiosity. Sasuke was uncomfortable, feeling like he wasn't where he was supposed to be at the moment.
His lips left her skin and he turned towards Rangiku. "Lets go."
"Eh?" Rangiku was confused. She was absolutely sure her captain would want to spend more time with Sakura or at least until she woke up.
"Why so fast? Why not just stay for awhile?" Naruto asked. He wanted to see Sakura's happy reaction when she saw Toshiro.
Toshiro was silent. Then he spoke. " It'll just be harder for me to leave." With that, he summoned his hell butterfly and opened a portal to Soul Society. He stepped inside, leaving the portal open for Rangiku and Momo.
Momo turned to Naruto. "Please don't be offended. Hitsugaya-kun just doesn't want Sakura-san to forget him." She said and entered the shoji doors.
"What she meant was, if So-taichou ever found out that Taichou was having a relationship with someone alive, he would erase Sakura-san's memory of him. It's a rule. Tell Sakura-san sorry for him…" Rangiku smiled sadly before leaving as well.
Rukia and Ichigo smiled slightly before entering the portal as well. Then the shoji doors closed and it was as if there was no sign of the shinigami visitors.
Naruto and the others were staring into space when they heard a sob coming from the pink haired medic.
"S-Sakura-chan? Y-you heard?" Naruto asked taking a few steps closer to his teammate.
Sakura's head visibly nodded and Sasuke sighed. "We'd better get to Konoha."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "You're coming?"
Sasuke nodded and quickly jumped on a tree with Sakura in his arms, the rest of Team Kakashi following closely behind. All the way back to Konohagakure, Sakura cried silently into Sasuke's chest.
=.=
And that's the end of this chapter!
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What are you doing? It's finished.
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Nah I'm just kidding ya! Haha!! (dodges keyboards mouses and CPU's) Sorry, Couldn't help but tease you guys abit XP. What can I say? I'm hyper and I just finished exams!
=.=
Toshiro stared out the window when he saw the cherry blossoms in full bloom, dropping gracefully to the ground.
'To...shiro...kun…'
Toshiro shook his head. That incident in the Shinobi world had passed 3 months ago. It turns out that Aizen had been trying to find powerful shinobi to turn into hollows.
'To…shiro…kun…'
Toshiro gritted his teeth. Even after 3 months, her voice still haunts him. She had only said his name and it was enough to go crazy. He stared at his mountain of paperwork. He had been slacking off these days, preferring to train or take long walks along the gardens. He knew he would be called in for a meeting to explain his behavior… and that was when he will tell them his decision.
He looked down at his hands at the black necklace in his hands. It adorned a silver snowflake design as its main and 2 cherry blossoms at each sides of the metal snowflake. He had gotten the thing 3 months ago, a few weeks before the incident in the shinobi world. (Refer to end of chapter 2) He remembered Sakura had given it to him for his 4th birthday. He didn't know who gave it to him. But he now regretted not following the warning that had come with it.
'Your enemy shall drive you both apart'
'To…shiro…kun…'
He closed his eyes remembering how Rangiku and Momo had reacted when he told them he was planning to retire from being a shinigami completely. He couldn't blame them for being mad at him. He is after all letting his emotions take over his life. And currently his emotion wants him to completely forget the pain.
And what better way than to have your memories completely wiped out than retiring?
He leaned back in his chair. It would be fine for him to forget Sakura just as long as she would forget him. She had many friends with her. That Naruto would be enough to make her forget him. And that Sasuke could love her like he could not. He had already seen the look of love in his eyes when he turned to Sakura. So he knew Sakura would never be left alone.
"Taichou."
Toshiro turned to the door to face Rangiku with a cross look on her face as she crossed her arms over her chest. Toshiro stared at her for a while before turning his attention back to the falling cherry blossoms. So it was time.
"Kucihku-taichou wanted to talk with you in his private office."
'I guess its time for me to say good by—wait. What?'
"Huh?" Toshiro was dumbfounded. Kuchiki Byakuya wanted to talk?!
Rangiku shrugged. "I have no idea. He scared me though. He suddenly came to the 10th Division gates when I was about to look for Momo and asked me to tell you to meet him in his private office for a talk." She said and left, obviously still mad about Toshiro's decision to retire.
Toshiro sat there for a few minutes, wondering what on earth did Byakuya wanted to talk to him about. After a few minutes, Toshiro stood up and made his way to the 6th Division Headquarters and Barracks, completely oblivious to the pair of teal eyes watching him.
=.=
"Forehead-girl, open this damn door this instant!!" Ino screamed as she banged on her best friend's front door.
Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi and Shikamaru sweat dropped at her behaviour, but anything was worth it. Sakura hasn't been out of her apartment since the incident with the white-haired shinigami 3 months ago. And 3 months of sulking was getting Tsunade worried and the Konoha General Hospital in an uproar.
After a few more bangs to the door, it finally gave and creek open. Ino peered inside only to be meet with about 20 kunais headed her way. Ino fell on her butt as the rest dodged the kunais.
"Is she trying to kill us or something? Troublesome woman." Shikamaru mumbled as he dodged the last of the kunai.
Kakashi held the doorknob. "Get ready, who knows what kinds of traps she had used to barricade herself." Kakashi said, slightly amused at the first trap she used until a thought came to him. 'If she's already using a jounin level trap… Don't tell me she has ANBU level traps as well!' Kakashi sighed and pulled the door open… only to meet another round of kunais.
Kakashi sweatdropped as he and the others dodged every single kunai. 'She really wants to be left alone.'
After the kunai attacked stopped, Naruto foolishly thought the traps were over and stepped inside the apartment where her tripped over a wire and several kunai were dropped directly on him. Luckily, Kakashi and Sasuke deflected them. Naruto and Ino were literally quaking in their shoes as they looked around warily for any other traps.
Shikamaru who knew Sakura best when it came to traps and such, felt the wall beside him until his fingers brushed against a thin wire. Using the light from the door reflecting on the wire, he noticed there it was attached to a string meant to trip intruders. He pulled the string and immediately, hundreds of kunai and shuriken embedded themselves from their hiding place to the location of the string that was supposedly the target. Shikamaru felt beads of sweat trickle down his forehead as he tried to calculate the number of traps they would need to disable to get to Sakura's room. Knowing she didn't want to be disturbed, he estimated about 3 to 4 traps in each hall way. And there were 4 hallways to get to Sakura's room so… they had to disable 16 more traps to get to Sakura's room.
Shirkamaru sighed as he put a hand to his head, already feeling a migraine coming. "Troublesome woman."
=.=
Byakuya stared at the falling cherry blossoms outside the window of his private office. The words of the unknown visitor last night still rang fresh in his head.
'Sakura is dying knowing she cannot see him again!'
Byakuya shook his head. Why him? Why not Matsumoto or Hinamori?
'Because you had been in love once and you know what it is like to loose the one you love!'
Byakuya sighed and thought about cancelling his appointment with the white-haired tensai shinigami.
"You wanted to talk Kuchiki?"
'Too late.' "Yes. Come in and have a seat."
Toshiro fidgeted. He was wondering what on earth Byakuya wanted to talk to him about. He never usually had a casual conversation with the man. So he was confused.
Byakuya sat uncomfortably in his chair opposite the equally uncomfortable Toshiro. They sat in silence for a few minutes, unknown to the growing crowd that had gathered outside the door… including Rangiku, Renji, Momo and Kyouraku Shunsui-taichou.
Toshiro was practically suffocating in the tense air. He was about to speak when Byakuya spoke first.
"I have heard of the… incident in the Shinobi world." He started.
Toshiro stiffened.
Byakuya closed his eyes. "I had a visitor last night. He had said something along the lines of Sakura-san's condition in her world."
Toshiro raised an eyebrow. Her condition? A visitor that got past heavy security?
Byakuya eyed Toshiro warily. "It seems that for the past 3 months, Sakura-san has barricaded herself in her apartment without going out for any food or water. She had put up traps all around her apartment to discourage any visitor that tried to see her. She has completely isolated herself from any contact with her friends in that world."
With each word, Toshiro began to feel dread fill up inside him. He had thought she was happy with her friends. Guess the genius was wrong.
"That's not all." Byakuya said and a new fear began to manifest in Toshiro's heart. "Her health had been disorienting and she might just die of starvation."
With that said, Toshiro stood up, raw fear clear in his eyes. He was positive if Sakura died, she would hold reiatsu in her soul. And that meant she would forget him. He was about to race out the office when Byakuya said something that sent his blood into frenzy.
"Aizen has gotten word of your attraction to her and has sent his minions to turn her into a hollow."
"WHAT?!"
Toshiro never felt so angered in his life. Sakura's life was in danger and Byakuya thought he should've told him first instead of So-taichou.
He glared at Byakuya. "Why didn't you tell So-taichou about this?!"
Byakuya eyed Toshiro calmly, although inwardly, the reaiatsu pulsing out of his comrade could match So-taichou in shikai form made him flinch slightly. Key word slightly.
"The man said he had already informed So-taichou and that he had already sent shinigamis' to protect her." Byakuya replied.
Toshiro slid into his seat, sighing with relief. He could trust Soi Fon and Ichigo to kill the arrancer that was assigned to turn her into a hollow.
"But I do think there are any shinigami there." Byakuya said.
Toshiro glared at the Kuchiki heir. He knew how important Sakura was to him. Why did he have to fill doubt in his heart?
"Why may I ask do you doubt that this man had not asked So-taichou to guard her from Aizen?"
Byakuya calmly leaned back in his seat. 'He really puts too much faith in Yamamoto-taichou.' "I do not doubt one bit this man had told So-taichou. What I do doubt is that So-taichou had released the order for shinigami to protect Sakura-san."
Toshiro felt as if a meteorite hit him. Of course So-taichou would release the order… right? Shunsui and Jushiro's voice came floating back into his head.
"Old man Yama refused to take back the execution of Lisa and the others."
"He believes in the laws of Central 46 too much. We couldn't make him budge."
"Think Hitsugaya-tachou." Byakuya said sternly. "Do you really think that So-taichou would send shinigami to protect one girl?"
With that, Toshiro shunpo out the office to the 1st Division Headquarters and Barracks, startling the eavesdroppers outside. Shunsui, Rangiku, Momo and Renji all turned to stare at Byakuya who in turn glared at the bunch of high-ranking shinigami. He was slightly surprised Yachiru or Jushiro was not there. Suddenly Renji stood up and pointed at Byakuya.
"Who are you and what have you done to Kuchiki-taichou?!" He shouted.
Byakuya glared at him before pointing his zanpak-to at Renji making him sweat and run.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
"AHHHH!!!! FORGIVE ME TAICHOU!!!!"
=.=
Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Ino and Shikamaru sighed heavily as they looked back at the floor that was covered with kunais and shurikens. Kakashi and Sasuke sighed. She really didn't want anyone to come here.
Ino tiredly opened Sakura's bedroom door. By now, she simply did not care if there was another trap waiting for them. She just wanted to find Sakura, comfort her, maybe go for some ice-cream or even a padicure. Heck, a trip to the hot springs would be nice!
Throwing the door open, Ino prepared herself for any kunai or shuriken. But to her surprise, non came. Ino mentally sighed in relief before spotting her pink-haired best friend under the dark covers of her favorite comforters.
Sasuke and Naruto quickly joined Ino as they tried to pry Sakura away from the bed as Shikamaru and Kakashi opened the windows. Kakashi coughed at the dust that had accumulated.
'Sakura was always a neat freak. For her apartment to be a mess… that guy got her good.' Kakashi thought, his eye dropped a little at the thought of having an emotionless medic on his team.
"Come on, Sakura! Get out from there!" Ino whined as she tried to pull off the covers.
Sakura merely grunted and pulled the comforter back in place. Naruto was starting to loose patience and Sasuke was annoyed. The three successfully pulled the covers away from Sakura after trying for the last 10 minutes.
Sakura shivered at the sudden cold that hit her body. Sasuke was immediately at her side, pulling her to him and rubbing his hands up and down her arms, trying to heat her too cold body.
Naruto joined at her other side while Ino dragged Shikamaru to find something for Sakura to eat. Kakashi went to report to the Hokage, while Sai miraculously appeared and watched.
Sakura hid her face from view, not wanting Sasuke or Naruto see just how much she had been crying. She had been crying since she got home from that mission 3 months ago. She never stopped except when she was asleep. She was never this emotional when Sasuke left… which proves just how much she still loved him.
"Sakura-chan…" Naruto's voice called out to her.
She bit her lip. She's such a fool. She even made her best friends worry. Even Sasuke came back because he was worried for her. She felt tears trickle down her face. God. Just how much could she cry?! She already cried for 3 months!
Sakura's shoulder shook and Sasuke tightened his grip on her. He remembered Tsunade and Ino saying she was upset when he left. But not to this extent. He mentally sighed. He now knew he realized his feelings for her too late.
(Yeah. One-sided love from Sasuke. This is punishment for what you tried to do to Sakura in the latest chapter of Naruto. I mean. I don't care if you killed—whoops! Almost slipped there. Don't wanna cause spoilers for those who hasn't read the latest chapter for Naruto! Sorry~)
Naruto watched worriedly. He then sighed and glared at Sai, telling him to get out of here. Sai cocked his head to the side but shrugged and left anyway. He tossed Sasuke a knowing look before leaving himself, hopeful that he could catch some ramen with Hinata.
Sasuke bit his lip, mentally scolding himself for volunteering to talk to her. Tsunade would be a better job since she had experienced the lost of the person she loved.
Sasuke took a deep breath. "Sakura, you shouldn't beat yourself up like this."
Silence. Sasuke sighed. He was no good at this.
"We're worried about you Sakura. Naruto stopped being loud, Yamanaka stopped gossiping, Nara actually doing work, Kakashi wasn't late and Sai stopped calling us by his stupid nicknames" Sasuke paused remembering how Sai had used his first name instead of his usual 'chicken ass'.
Sakura lifted her head a little. Sasuke nearly cheered. A response!
"The point is. You taught me that revenge isn't going to bring back the dead, so I've decided to just stop, forgive and forget. So, even if you cry your eyes out, he still wont come back." Sasuke paused wondering if he did the right thing when she shifted uncomfortably. Sasuke stroked her hair gently. "You don't have to cry. Naruto, the others and I will be here. We'll take care of you. I won't leave again."
Sakura felt like crying again. She really was stupid. She really didn't deserve her friends' attention. Yet, she craved it. Maybe, with Sasuke's help, she'd be able to live again. After all, that was what Toshiro-kun wanted. Not to mention…
"Sasuke?"
"Hn?"
"Thanks."
Sasuke smiled a little. "Hn."
"and Sasuke?"
"Hn?"
"Your hands are on my breasts."
"…"
"…"
"OH SHIT! FUCK! SORRY!!"
Naruto, Kakashi, Sai, Ino and Shikamaru laughed and smiled as they heard Sakura's giggle.
=.=
"Why do you not believe him, So-taichou?!"
Toshiro was mad. No. He was beyond mad. He was utterly and royally pissed. No matter how much he respected the old man glaring at him, he really wanted to choke the guy with that stupid walking stick/zanpak-to of his.
Yamamoto continued to glare. "There is no evidence that the girl or her world is in danger. There is no reason to act on unknown statements." His voice was strict, leaving no room for arguments.
"But wasn't unknown statements the thing that saved us when we were in danger?!" Toshiro argued, refusing to back down. Sakura might get hurt. Damn Aizen.
"Hitsugaya-taichou. You will be stripped of your status if you continue this behavior of yours! You have been ignoring you work as a shinigami in favor of that girl! She is a nuisance. If Aizen wants her, then he can have her."
Toshiro stilled. The other captains in the room, including Soifon, Sajin Komamura, Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Kenpachi Zaraki were surprised at the statement given. Toshiro then glared full force, his reiatsu pulsing through out his body. Somehow, Toshiro's current reiatsu was able to rival So-taichou's reiatsu when he was in Shikai form. But Toshiro didn't even activate his shikai. In fact, his zanpak-to was nowhere to be found near him.
Yamamoto knew he was pushing his luck. His mind wandered to his visitor's words last night.
'The more closer Sakura gets to death, the higher power Toshiro will achieve. Who knows, he might even surpass your bankai in his shikai form. Even I don't understand it but those two are bonded to a level that only gods-real gods- could break.'
Yamamoto inwardly swallowed. He eyed Toshiro warily. Loosing him could mean Aizen could get him with Sakura as hostage. After all, it looks to Yamamoto that Toshiro was willing to do anything for Sakura.
"I don't care if you strip my powers as a shinigami. But I will find a way to save her from Aizen." Toshiro said; deadly calm that it sent shivers to all captains' backs. He turned sharply and left the meeting room.
At that moment, Shunsui, Byakuya and Jushiro entered the meeting room.
"Hey, I just saw Hitsugaya stomping his way back to the 10th Division. Something happen?" Shunsui asked.
Byakuya managed to control his smirk as he noticed Yamamoto's fear in his eyes. Jushiro wondered what was going on with a dum look on his face. (XD I couldn't help but put that in~ Jushiro's just so cute~~)
=.=
Team 7 managed to get Sakura to eat ramen with them the day she finally went out to get some sun. Sakura actually ate 10 bowls of ramen putting Naruto to shame as he finished his 5th bowl. When Sakura had ordered another bowl, Team 7 had given her a look that said; 'A worse version of ramen eating Naruto' to which she shruggred saying she hadn't ate a single thing for 3 months.
"How'd you survive without food for so long, Ugly?" Sai asked, calling her by his favourite nickname for her.
"My chakra automatically makes food for me to digest. So in simpler terms, I've been living off chakra."
Kakashi made a mental note to report this to Tsunade later… much later.
"That is not healthy." Sasuke commented.
Sakura stuck her tongue out as Naruto smiled. She was already beginning to be like her old self.
"So, what are you planning to do now, Sakura?" Kakashi asked, his nose hidden in his precious book.
Sakura looked in thought for a moment. "I guess I should clean up the house first." She smirked. "I never would've thought that THE copy-nin Kakashi and UCHIHA Sasuke would have trouble disabling my traps." She snickered.
Kakashi and Sasuke glared half-heartedly at the snickering woman. She finished her 11th bowl of ramen and stood up. "Well, I'd better get going." Sakura said. "See you guys tomorrow at training." She waved as she walked off to her apartment.
The rest of tem 7 chatted happily about Sakura… that is until Teuchi came out and asked who would pay for Sakura's ramen. Suddenly, Naruto found himself alone at the ramen bar with Teuchi glaring at him. Naruto pouted, "Why are you guys so mean to me!?"
Sakura sighed as she opened the door to her apartment. Her thoughts drifted back to Toshiro and she released another sigh.
'Can I really move on with him still in my thoughts?'
Sakura walked towards her living room, picking up the countless kunai along the way. She dumped them on a spot near the couch and sat on it, ignoring the nagging feeling in her chest. She felt something move in the house and abruptly stood up. She scanned the house, searching for any possible threat. After finding none, she relaxed slightly, though the nagging feeling didn't go away. Sakura turned around to meet teal eyes looking at her intently.
Sakura stepped back in shock as the man with teal eyes approached her swiftly. She fell into a fighting stance, mentally kicking herself for not training. Her chakra was almost out too since she had just started eating. The man stepped out from the shadows and Sakura's eyes widened.
"Kitamori-jiisan?"
Hitsugaya Kitamori smiled at Sakura. His shaggy white hair still spiky despite his old age. His age marks still showed and he was exactly like Sakura remembered him before. She knew he was once an ANBU captain who retired due to old age but damn, she didn't even sense him!
"Hello, Sakura-chan. It's been quite a while hasn't it?" He asked, he smiled warmly at her.
Sakura relaxed fully but still tense enough to jump into a fighting stance again just in case. The nagging feeling still hasn't gone away. Hearing Kitamori's words, Sakura's eyes saddened. Of course, since she didn't want to remember Toshiro, she didn't visit Kitamori anymore. And she felt guilty.
"Yes… It has, jiisan" Sakura said quietly. She smiled at him guiltily but turned confused at his sudden serious face.
"But I'm afraid the time to catch up is not now." He said. "You are in grave danger Sakura. An arrancer, one of Toshiro's enemy is coming to kill you. So you must be wary of everything."
Sakura's eyes widened. Someone was trying to kill her? She shook her head. It was fairly impossible.
"Do not think this is impossible, Sakura" Kitamori said sternly. "Aizen is a type of person who would do anything for his goals. He will kill you to kill Toshiro." At this, his eyes softened. "Toshiro loves you, Sakura. He really does."
At this, Sakura felt like crying again. If Toshiro really loved her, why didn't he stay with her? Even just for a little while.
"Sorry, jii-san. But I just can't handle things right now."
"Sakura, you are in danger. I need you to promise me you won't travel alone okay?"
Sakura stared at the old man before nodding hesitantly. Kitamori smiled and disappeared in a poof of smoke. Sakura sighed as she sat down on the couch. Sakura didn't want to think of danger. Not now. She's still recovering for pete's sake!
A beeping sound made Sakura shake her head and pick up her pager. Tsunade was calling her. Sakura sighed and headed towards the Hokage tower, not noticing a grinning man in the trees.
=.=
Toshiro was cursing like there was no tomorrow. His reiatsu was pulsing throughout the whole 10th Division. Most officers stayed clear of the room of the pissed and locked up Captain.
Somehow, Mayuri had developed a machine that prevented him from opening a portal to the human world or shinigami world. Truly, now was not the time to test his fucking experiments.
His mind was reeling at the thought of seeing Sakura as an Arrancar or a hollow. He really didn't want to even imagine the look on Naruto's and the rest of Sakura's friends faces. But he did, and it was driving him mad by the second. The loud thumps of bodies falling caught his attention as he put down the vase he was about to throw.
The door opened and Toshiro's eyes widened like saucers. There stood his own grandfather, looking 20 years younger and carrying an unconscious Rangiku in his arms. He sat the woman by the wall gently before turning to Toshiro.
"We don't have much time. Lets go." He said and opened a portal and stepped in. Not hesitating one bit, Toshiro grabbed Hyourinmaru and stepped into the light portal.
=.=
Toshiro and Kitamori rushed through the trees heading towards Konohagakure. Toshiro's heart was beating wildly in his chest as they neared the town. They sneaked into the massive town and headed straight for Sakura's apartment. Entering, only dust greeted them. Cursing, Toshiro called out her name only to be met by silence.
Kitamori frantically searched the town for Sakura's signature, breathing a sigh of relief when he found her at the cemetery. The two quickly rushed towards the cemetery, hoping, praying they weren't too late.
She ran through the dense forest. Her wounds slowing her down as the one who hunted her laughed, his grinning face sneered at her attempts to escape.
His katana extended and pierced through her stomach, causing her to cough up blood.
"Shit!"
She ran off, frantically trying to reach the gates of Konoha.
Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke and Sai raced towards the cemetery. Sakura was in danger; her chakra signature was proof of that. It was slowly wavering and fading, making Kakashi and Sasuke curse, praying to the gods to forgive them and let Sakura live.
Naruto had a panicked expression when he felt Sakura's chakra almost completely vanish only to come out again. He cursed himself for letting her go alone on that mission, even though it was only a C-rank one, he should've know those things from before would come back to get her.
She entered the place she once called sanctuary since she had started to remember him a few months ago. She avoided the extended katana that was trying to pierce her heart. She hid her chakra quickly only to pulse it back when her pursuer appeared right behind her. She avoided being hit by his katana as she ran towards the grave she hoped to die next to. If the man wasn't going to give up till she died, she wanted to die beside him.
Toshiro, Katamori, Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke and Sai reached the cemetery at the same time. Glancing at each other briefly, they rushed towards the slowly disappearing chakra. What greeted them halted their advance.
Pinned to the ground was a bloodied Sakura, covered in Cherry Blossom petals. Clothes tattered as blood soaked the already red parchment. Toshiro was closed to breaking but not there. She was still alive; her slow breathing was proof of that. But if she was not healed soon…
Toshiro rushed towards Sakura, picking her up in his arms. He barked at the stunned shinobi where the hospital was. Immediately following them, his pink haired love in his arms.
As she was struggling for life in the emergency room where the hokage had arrived. Shinigami from soul society arrived as well. Unohana Retsu immediately set to help the pink haired girl, while others helped to defeat hollows gathering around Konoha. Toshiro sat outside the emergency room, eyes fixed on the doors as Momo sat beside him, trying her best to cheer the emotionally unstable Captain.
When Tsunade and Unohana came out, they had grim looks on their faces that Toshiro didn't like one bit.
"I'm sorry, Hitsugaya-taichou… But we did all we could." Unohana said, turning her head to the side.
"You may see her if you wish." Tsunade said, turning around and headed towards the office to discuss about the appearance of Hollows with So-taichou. All the while, trying her best not to cry for her daughter.
Toshiro entered the room, telling Momo to wait outside. Seeing Sakura laying on the bed, bandaged and looking so lifeless was like a stab in his heart. Why did he have to remember? It wasn't worth it.
Sakura turned and smiled weakly at him. It made his heart clench. "Toshiro-kun…"
"Sakura…"
She smiled even wider. "You're here… Thank you, for trying your best."
Toshiro cast his eyes down as he approached her. "I couldn't save you."
"No one could, Toshiro." She said as she sat up slowly. She only had a few more minutes in her life. And she wanted to tspend it with Toshiro. She already told Tsunade she had a letter for Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi and the others. But she wanted to talk to Toshiro. "I heard that you could send souls to this Seireitei?"
His brain clicked at what she was trying to say. "You'll loose your memories."
"As long as I can see you…"
"Sakura…"
"Toshiro-kun… Please…" Sakura pleaded, feeling her energy fading.
Toshiro could see her soul forming the chain on her chest as he took out his zanpak-to.
Sakura's soul smiled at him. "Wait for me."
Toshiro let a sad smile grace his lips. "I will."
And he performed the konso, crying as Sakura's soul left the Shinobi world and into Soul Society. Momo came in and hugged Toshiro from the back. Kitamori smiled as he watched Toshiro and Momo from a tree.
"Soon, you'll be able to see her again."
=.=
Owari~~ Finally. So sorry for the wait. And I apologize if there's any crappy grammar or spelling. Hope you like this chapter! The last chapter here I come! Wait for it!
Thanks to all those who reviewed!
Kitamori – North Forest