AAAH! SORRY FOR THE LONG UPDATE! I had finals to study for, then I went to visit family and my parents didn't let me bring my laptop. Anyways, here's the next chappy!
And don't forget to grab your muffins! -hands out muffins-
It had been two days since Mitsuki had left. Two miserable, guilt-ridden days. Toshiro was in his office more than ever, doing his paperwork and even Matsumoto's without complaint to get his mind off of her. Only when he was done did the pain wash over him, and he'd pull a note out of his pocket and re-read it. He didn't know why he did, since it made him feel more hollow than ever, but he supposed it must have been because it was his last link to her.
As promised, Ryuu had returned Unohana, who had immediately spread the word about the possession. Her kidnapping had only reinforced the facts, and everyone who had fit the personality she described were rounded up and placed in a special cell that they couldn't escape from until their possessor was found. About this, Unohana had no idea- she just remembered being kept in a black room until shoved out into the surrounding countryside by an old, forgotten mansion. This only caused Toshiro more grief- Mitsuki was the only one who knew where he was, and she was gone.
After a Captain's meeting regarding the new threat, he returned to his office. Once more, he pulled out the note and read it over again, trying to find some hint to where she had gone.
Dear Captain and Matsumoto-
I am sorry, but I must leave this place. It is only causing me more pain, more sadness than I can bear, and I must leave. I guess I resign from my fifth seat as well, since I am most likely not coming back. I wish you all the best of luck with your lives, and may you never have to face the things I have gone through. Matsumoto, please don't give your Captain too much grief, and please keep smiling. Captain, just be yourself. I hope you find someone who you truly understand and will cherish your whole life.
-Mitsuki
The note had been delivered to him by Matsumoto, who had looked upset. Yachiru was with her, crying. Toshiro had accepted the note indifferently, but when he saw the silver dragon necklace tucked inside the letter, time seemed to freeze. Slowly, he touched the pendant, and then broke down crying in front of them. Matsumoto, though startled, wiped away her own tears and comforted her Captain, while Yachiru cried harder than ever. Eventually, the three stopped, and Toshiro gave Yachiru some candy to cheer her up. She accepted it, sniffing, then went back her own division and Kenpachi.
As he remembered, he fingered the necklace in his pocket, then finally got up and replaced the letter. Even though Mitsuki had left no hints on where she was going, he was going to go find her and apologize and ask her- no, MAKE her- return. After telling Matsumoto he would be gone for a while, he set off toward the Shinigami Academy. Ryuu's base had to be around there, somewhere, since Mitsuki had returned quickly after she escaped. Determined to make things right, the miles whisked passed him as he closed the distance between him and his destination.
o0o
Mitsuki paused, leaning against a tree. After her wild, tear-filled flight, she had gotten lost and had spent the past two days getting back on track. In a way, it was a good thing- if she had arrived in the state she was in, she would have been killed quickly. Now she was more calm and composed, and able to think straight. The bad thing was that if her Captain was going after her-which she highly doubted- than he'd be able to find her quickly since she wasn't that far off from the walls of the Soul Society.
She had just finished practicing with Hogosha Chuusin, careful to not let her spirit energy flare up this close to Ryuu's stronghold. She easily masked her current aura, and after taking a breather she set off again. Jogging swiftly through the trees, she quickly came upon the old mansion in the middle of a clearing. However, she knew this was false- though the mansion was rather ruined and moldy, underneath the foundations was a clean, thriving building where she had been beaten beyond repair. Shuddering from the memories, she closed her eyes to calm herself once again. Opening them, she quietly walked around to the back to a dead tree. Though it looked real, it was just a hologram- she passed through it and started down the stairs.
Her feet making no noise, she descended down the close spiral toward Ryuu. After several minuets she finally reached the bottom level where she was greeted by the same white hallway that she used to walk down. The evil was so thick she felt like she could reach out and mold it into something- when she thought harder about it she realized that she wanted to shape it into a dragon made of ice and water. Pain piercing her heart, she forced herself to continue walking. Pass five doors; take a right, down another hallway and go up to a set of brown wooden doors. It was the central control center, the place where Ryuu taught his unfortunate subjects. For a moment she stood there, than silently swung the doors open.
The only thing in the room was a small crystal ball on a platform. She knew what it was used for- controlling his little slaves. Shivering, she walked on, a strange force propelling her to a side room. Her breath catching in her throat, she slowly extended a hand and swung it open. It moved to reveal a small room, with a person in it. Long, pink hair extended past her waist, her back facing Mitsuki. She was dressed in a shinigami uniform, complete with the zanpaku-to, yet Mitsuki knew who they were despite it.
"Ch..Chiyo?" she whispered.
The person turned, revealing herself to be Chiyo. They stared at each other, than Mitsuki ran forward, crying. "It IS you! Oh, Chiyo, how'd you come back? How are you here?" she cried, hugging her friend.
"I…I don't know. I remember it being dark, so dark…then I appeared here." She responded, staring down at her old friend. "What happened?"
Mitsuki shook her head. "I don't know. But come on- I'm going to get you out of here. You're going to be ok." She said, gripping her hand firmly. "I'm not letting you go again."
Chiyo's back, and Mitsuki is overjoyed! And I decided to be evil and wait until I get 50 reveiws before updating next. Seriously, I got more story alerts and favorites than I can count, and not many people are reveiwing. So, either review or wait forever!!!!!
And the next treat is pudding. :)
