The final chapter for this story. :( I can't beleive its over! D: But there is going to be a sequal, so stay tuned!
And congrats to SapphireElric for guessing about Ryuu. Yes, he's the opposite of Toshiro. Her prize is having an OC in the sequal! wOOt!
Thanks to all who reviewed! -passes out figurines-
The battle was over, but it took until dawn to get everyone calmed down. The Shinigami and other souls released from Ryuu's spell were panicking, almost driven to insanity by the sudden change. Eventually, Unohana was sent to calm them down- a very angry Unohana, in fact, since she was unable to tend the seriously wounded. But it was over quickly, since every one- psychotic or no- quailed under her glare.
In a separate room of the Fourth Squad Headquarters, Isane was bandaging up Mitsuki, trying to get done quickly so that Mitsuki, Toshiro, and Kiyoshi could talk and get some things cleared up. Smiling slightly at them, she quickly left the room, hurrying to other patients so that Unohana wouldn't turn her wrath onto her.
"Are you alright?" Toshiro asked for the nth time that hour.
"Yes, I am." Mitsuki responded. "But could you stop squeezing my hand? You'll break it before long."
Toshiro relaxed, finally accepting that she wasn't going to die any time soon. After a slight pause, he looked at Kiyoshi, then back to Mitsuki. "So…you two are really siblings?"
Kiyoshi nodded, but Mitsuki was the one to speak. "Kiyoshi died a few years ahead of me, and was already a shinigami by the time I arrived in the Soul Society. He had heard rumors of a rouge Shinigami who was possessing people and using them to do his deeds, and he decided to gain favor to investigate."
"He had actually possessed me enough to make me join his cause." Kiyoshi continued his voice low and steady. "I had never intended to get Mitsuki involved, but it was too late by the time I found out."
Mitsuki nodded. "When we realized who the other was, it was, to say the least, a less-than-joyful reunion. If Ryuu had ever found out that we were siblings, than the results would have been disastrous- one of us would've died to avoid any sibling conflicts."
Toshiro nodded. "I see. So it was Kiyoshi's love and feeling of protection for you that overcame the possession and killed Ryuu."
Kiyoshi nodded, gently brushing a stray hair from Mitsuki's face. "It was too good to be true when I finally found her, even in the circumstances we were involved in."
His sister smiled, closing her eyes. "I'm glad that the two men I love the most survived this day." She murmured, finally falling asleep. Toshiro lightly kissed her forehead, and then looked at Kiyoshi. "No matter what your past was, you are welcome to have a spot in my squad if you are still interested in joining the Soul Society. You saved Mitsuki, and that's all that matters."
Kiyoshi shook his head. "No, I didn't save her- you did. I couldn't even repair her broken soul, and you managed to do that in a few short weeks. I should be thanking you."
The two shook hands, forming a strong alliance. Leaving Mitsuki to rest, Toshiro went to find General Yamamoto to ask about Kiyoshi joining his squad, and Kiyoshi went to find Unohana to ask when Mitsuki could return home to Toshiro's squad.
Yamamoto was at Sokyoku Hill, already assembled with Captains Soi Fon and Kenpachi. Yachiru was bouncing on Ryuu's body, happily singing a nonsense song of some dead dragon.
"Ah, Captain Hitsugaya, I was about to send for you." Yamamoto said, turning to look at the young Captain. "I believe that Noukon, your fifth seat, managed to vanquish the leader, correct?"
Toshiro nodded. "Yes sir. I watched the entire fight."
"Did you get any insight to why he did this, who his leader was, or how he knew how to posses the Shinigami?"
He shook his head. "No, sir. I believe that you'll have to ask Mitsuki when she wakes up, or her brother, Kiyoshi- they're both at Fourth Division right now, I believe."
Yamamoto nodded, gesturing at Soi Fon. Bowing slightly, she sprang off to find the purple-haired Shinigami. Yamamoto watched her leave, ignoring Kenpachi's growls of complaints that he couldn't get there first.
"Too many stupid attackers. Seriously, people should know to get out of my way when I'm trying to get somewhere." He grumbled, and then looked up. "Yachiru! We're leaving!"
Yachiru stopped mid-note, immediately jumping onto Kenpachi's back as he left. Toshiro waited patiently. "Anything else, sir?"
"No, that's it; just remember that there's a Captain's meeting tomorrow at noon." Yamamoto said, still studying Ryuu's body.
As Toshiro left, he saw Soi Fon return with a bewildered Kiyoshi, but Toshiro knew that Yamamoto would give him the benefit of the doubt. Confident that everything would go ok, he returned to the Fourth Division office to see how Mitsuki was doing.
Unohana nodded at him as he returned, but she had a slightly worried expression on her face. Alarmed, Toshiro ran over. "What's wrong?" he demanded.
The doctor looked at Mitsuki. "During her last attack, she put more Spirit Energy into the attack than intended." She said quietly. "It's extremely low, and I don't know if she'll ever get it back completely."
"But…she had been fine when I was in here earlier." Toshiro said. "Why did it deplete now?"
She shook her head. "It was low from the beginning. But with Isane, you, and her brother being in here, no one felt hers since everyone else's canceled it out. I only noticed when I came to check on her."
Toshiro stared at her, his hand gripping hers. "Just as long as she's alive, that's all that matters." He said, and Unohana smiled. They really were perfect for each other.
o0o
Three weeks later, Mitsuki was finally released. Kiyoshi had officially joined the Tenth Squad, and was among the party that welcomed Mitsuki home. The siblings immediately gave each other a hug when they were reunited, but all Mitsuki wanted to do was to spend time with Toshiro. Matsumoto hadn't let Mitsuki out of her sight, and even found time to tease the couple when mostly everyone had left.
"We finally have our fifth seat back." Matsumoto said happily.
Mitsuki shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know if I'd be any good. My Spirit Energy has practically disappeared, and Unohana thinks it won't come back."
Toshiro shook his head. "It doesn't matter. You're an amazing fighter, and are more than capable of doing the work." He hugged her, reassuring her that everything would be ok.
"It's so good to see two people in love." Matsumoto sighed, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "I remember that when you left, he bawled for hours."
"I didn't bawl." Toshiro said indignantly, glaring at her. "My eyes just had something in them, that's all."
Matsumoto grinned. "Yup, they did- it's called tears."
Mitsuki looked at him interestingly. "You cried?" she said. Turning to Matsumoto, she said, "I wish I would've seen that. Who would have thought that Toshiro would cry?"
The two laughed at the glaring Toshiro, who was regretting that Matsumoto had been the one to give him the letter. Giggling, Mitsuki hugged him. "Oh, come on, Captain Grumpy-pants. You know we tease you because we love you."
"I wish you wouldn't tease me at all." He retorted, but was already starting to relax. Matsumoto, seeing his reaction, squealed happily. Hugging them both, she said, "Oh, my Captain's in love alright. When are you two getting married?"
They immediately turned bright red, struggling to breathe. Seeing their faces, Matsumoto let them go reluctantly, skipping off. "I think this is a cause for celebration! Oy, Kira, Hisagi! Get over here!" she called, chasing after the two.
Mitsuki leaned against Toshiro, gasping. Though Matsumoto was one of her closest friend, she didn't like the crushing hugs that came with the friendship.
The last of the guests left, their buzzing talk not even reaching the two's ears. Mitsuki looked up at Toshiro, smiling. "Does everyone really think we'll get married?" she asked, sitting down on the couch. Toshiro joined her, playing with her hair. "I guess so." He said, "But I don't want to right now. I want to wait a little longer first…that is, if you want to as well." He rushed, blushing.
Mitsuki giggled. "Of course I do. But I agree- we'll have to wait. Let's see if we really last with all the pressure of our jobs, and then we'll talk about wedding bells, ok?"
He nodded, and she snuggled against them. Both of them knew they would last, but after everything that had happened, it was better to be safe than sorry.
Toshiro closed his eyes, a smile lingering on his face. "Mitsuki, remember the night of the shooting star?"
She nodded. "Umm-hmm. What about it?"
"Well…I was wondering if it ever came true."
She smiled. "Of course it did. My wish was to find a place I truly belonged, and I have. What about yours?"
"My wish was that yours would come true." He said. And then he kissed her.
Awwww, it's over. But I will be posting alternate endings after this, so its not all the way finished. Anyways, the sequal going to be called 1000 sparkles.
Please review!
