Chapter Nine
When Toshiro woke up once more, he glanced around the room and panicked when he noticed he had been moved again. It was a long chamber like room with lots of windows around the sides. The whole right hand side was rimmed with holes with small shooters sticking out them while the left side appeared to be spiked. The ceiling was shaped in a rectangular formation and everything appeared to be unbreakable. After squinting for a minute, he then noticed the ceiling was actually a huge screen, due to it flashing and a camera then being adjusted by the freaky pinked haired scientist. Then they camera fell on Aizen, who sat impatiently in his throne, tapping his fingers on his arm rest as he smiled smugly at seeing Hitsugaya staring, clearly startled.
A jade eye twitched as Aizen sat up straight and smirked. Next to him stood Grimmjow, who he was silently giving orders to. The Snowflake let out a frown as Aizen turned back to him, the screen flickering slightly when the door was slammed shut.
"Hitsugaya, as you can see, your training begins today." Said Aizen.
"What kind of training is this?" hissed Toshiro, "It looks more like a torture chamber than a training room."
"This is to train your endurance Hitsugaya." Replied Aizen smugly. Toshiro narrowed his eyes, furious.
Mayuri put on a smug expression. He had made one hundred electronic beetles that had a one hundred year lift time. If the portals were mixing up time, surely some of his electronic beetles would get through? Yes, they did. Five of the beetles had gotten through in total and had already infiltrated the Huecho Mundo palace. He was surprised that Five of them had managed to get into the exact time frame that they were in but yet again things like that happened. He watched the beetles on five different monitors, one was following Ichigo, Rukia and that traitor Gin Ichimaru. One had broken into Byakuya and Soi Fon's cell. The third one had attached to Hitsugaya and the forth was with Karin, the last one was actually spying on Aizen.
He looked at the screen containing the three he had been followed and smirked.
"From the data I had received, Ichimaru Gin should be dead." Said Mayuri, putting on a maniac grin, "I guess he would be an interesting specimen for experimentation."
He then looked at Byakuya and Soi Fon's screen to see their whole top half had restricted movement but the could still stand and communicate with one another. Then examining Karin's he saw that blue haired Arrancar known as Grimmjow Jeagurjaques leading her into a room with windows and just as he turned his focus to Toshiro's screen-
The screams and cries of pain fills the monitor and even Mayuri had to cover his ears. He looked a bloody state, to sharp spike coming out of his shoulders and energy balls that looked similar to ceros were being fired at him, burning, scraping and bursting open pieces of flesh. The one thing that piqued Kurotsuchi was that Hitsugaya had a mask and a hollow hole. There was another cru of pain as another cero like ball hit him and then Mayuri raised an eyebrow as the Snowflake raised his hand slightly and fired what he knew as a 'Bala'. Then there was another cry as the spikes behind him pushed further into his flesh and then he looked up and fires a cero upwards, this time forming it in hid mouth before firing. Something shattered about him and the was a loud screech as the room dimmed slightly. Hitsugaya turned his head towards the shooters and then received one of the blasts directly to his face.
Then there was screaming as a door opened and Karin was pushed in along with him.
"I see. I must figure out how to fix the shifting space immediately…" muttered Mayuri, turning to his large computer and began his research.
The Snowflake looked round to see his beloved Raven in the room with him and panicked instantly. He felt the spikes in his shoulders deepen and he winced, but refused to cry out in the presence of Karin. He looked at the shooters to see them now aiming at her. His eyes widened as he forced himself to move, a small whimper leaving his lips as he felt the sharp pain of the spikes leaving his shoulders and the balls of energy meant for Karin hitting him instead.
Karin let of a horrified scream as Toshiro collapsed in front of her and then looked up in time to see another attack launched at her. She dodged quickly and her eyes went red in fury.
"How… dare you…" she screeched. She raised her hand and a flare of flames left it, destroying the ball with hardly any effort at all before she kneeled down next to the Snowflake and pulled up his sleeves, revealing to black lines running up his arms.
"So these are the markings Grimmjow was talking about…"thought Karin, recalling what Grimmjow had told her not long before she was brought here, "According to what he said, these marking were put on Shiro by Aizen himself, preventing him instantly healing himself."
She looked up as she sighed. She didn't want to resort to it, but she was going to have to. She raised a hand to her face and summoned forth her mask, making a low growl as she felt the unfamiliar presence of her hollow appear over her face.
"Whatever you do, don't get yourself killed…" said a voice in her head.
"Yea, yeah…" Karin responded, before blocking off and while keeping Toshiro in her arms, she let a flare of Reiatsu spread round her, instantly forming fire and circling round her. The balls of energy disintegrated before they could reach her but she was still aware of the spikes that were getting closer and closer. Toshiro opened his eyes a crack and noticed this too, before putting his mind to work. If Karin was able to destroy the balls of energy but couldn't destroy the spikes, then it was his job to-
"Reign over the frosted heavens, HYORINMARU!"
"Shiro, don't-!" But it was already too late. A blade had materialized in his hand and an ice dragon had spurted out of it, much to Karin's dismay. It soared over the flames and crashed into the oncoming spikes, freezing them. Then clapping began behind their backs.
"Congratulations, you figured out the puzzle." Said Aizen, looking at the ice on the spikes. "I do believe I prefer this Hyorinmaru to the original."
Karin snapped her head towards the ice once more and true enough, the ice was different. It was black. Blacker than the night sky.
"It's a beautiful sight. The black goes with moon white hair." Continued Aizen, "I also noticed that your flames have changed slightly too."
Karin shot him a glare before she shot a flame at him angrily, only to get it deflected by powerful Reiatsu. Karin grimaced and feel to her knees under the pressure, sweat running down her face as she felt her energy draining from her. Toshiro tensed momentarily before he dropped his sword and collapsed just before Karin too collapsed. She glared and the slowly closed her eyes."You… You…" She whispered, feeling her consciousness leave her.
"Goodnight Kurosaki Karin."
Then the world went black.
Byakuya furrowed his brow in worry as he felt both Hitsugaya and the younger Kurosaki's spiritual pressure flicker and then fade, but could tell that they were still alive. Soi Fon remained frustrated and was half-caring. She took the child-like position of tucking her head between her knees.
Byakuya remained his cross legged position and sighed.
"… This is bad." he said after a moment of thought. Soi Fon shot him a glare."Are you trying to tell me you JUST noticed?" she spat. Byakuya shot her a cold glare. He was getting fed up with her childish temper tantrums.
"Be quiet." he ordered."
"I WILL NOT!" She screeched, her eyes narrowing and if looks could kill people, the noble would surely be dead. He ignored her and stared at the beetle on the wall. It was a miracle it could even get in her, the barrier's should of killed it-
Byakuya let a knowing smirk cross his features.
"Kurotsuchi Mayuri."
Soi Fon's expression became confused.
"What's… going on?" she said, looking at the wall, "It's only a bug damn it!"
She kept her eyes focused on the beetle as it suddenly beeped and a voice came out of it.
"Well done Kuchiki, I never thought you would get it so quickly." said a voice from the beetle; Mayuri.
"Why hasn't anyone come from the soul society yet?" questioned Byakuya.
"We are not to blame," he replied, "there is a problem through Senkimon's and Garganta's, making it impossible for us to get through. There is a shifting time rift and if we went through it we might end up in a completely different time, which would not be helpful to any of you."
"Well, how long will it be until you fix it?" said Byakuya, "Because if you do not worry Kurosaki Karin and Hitsugaya Toshiro may become a threat to the soul society."
"I can see that." came the dry reply from the mad scientist, "From the data I have received, I have estimated the time to fix the time rifts shall be… two days."
Toshiro opened his eyes and looked round, widening his eyes. It was clear he was back in Szayel's lab, the question was why? He began struggling with his binds but then stopped as he felt the pink haired lunatics presence next to him.
"You should relax more Hitsugaya, I am only healing you."
"Then why the hell am I bound to a lab table?" hissed Toshiro, beginning to struggle once more
"Because I knew you wouldn't stay still and let me." snapped Szayel, "Now be still!"
Toshiro let out another low hiss as he felt the wounds in his shoulders being poked and prodded. He turned at head to the side and closed his eyes, but he didn't shut them early enough to see the figure next to him. She was unconscious, breathing heavily at the mask covering her face. Raven hair splayed beneath her and was slightly tangled and a line of sweat ran down her forehead. Toshiro's eyes flashed with anger.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HER?"
Szayel covered his mouth with his hand and leant over so his lips were against his ear.
"I'm afraid when she used her ability to protect you it took a turn for the worst." he whispered slyly, making the Snowflake go rigid, "She risked her life to save YOU, YOU are the source of her pain. If only YOU had been stronger, YOU could have protected her."
Toshiro clenched his eyes shut and tried to block him out, but it was futile.
"If YOU really wanted to protect her, YOU would try and become stronger, but YOU are just a hopeless, used-to-be Shinigami that couldn't even defend himself in a TRAINING session!"
Toshiro shook his head from side to side, his eyes screwed shut.
"Enough!" he cried suddenly, forcing himself to hold back tears, "enough…"
Szayel pulled back but before he left he gave a jab to one of his wounds and grinned evilly as he winced.
"Better get stronger before she ends up getting herself killed protecting you." said Szayel walked out the room and switched off the light.
Toshiro remained still before he began shaking and burst out in tears. He made a promise to himself, in the bleak darkness.
"I will become stronger Karin… become strong enough for me to protect you. Not me…"
A/N: TA DA! I present you a new update *since I have my memory stick back lol* Sorry I took so Long XDD Hope you enjoyed and I hope to see your names again XD