Mint Meets Chocolate

Chapter 4: Chilled

The ice seeped through my clothes and hair sending chills down my spine. I was on a plane of ice again, a sea of white protruding against grey skies, wind roaring in my ears. In the distance a figure stood alone, his hair whipping in the cold winds. A smile stood out on his face and his hand was cast open towards me. A welcoming gesture. My steps quickened and i ran towards the figure, standing against white. But when i reached there... He was gone.

My eyes snapped open and i found myself awake, laid out on the small uncomfortable futon that had been given to me for sleeping. I groggily sat up and felt around for my blanket to return to a state of cozy unconsciousness however as hard as i tried, even being as sleepy as i was, couldnt return to that dream where Hyourinmaru's appearance in it had made a first for me. Unlike some of the girls in the cave, i didnt admit to such emmbarrassing things like dreaming of others when i had a lot more i had to accomplish as a zanpactou. This didnt mean however i didnt have them. But i kept these things to myself. And telling them was not on my list of priorities. Especially if Heineko found out. She seemed to have a knack for reading people, which wasnt good. She has a habit of claiming Hyourinmaru hers so dreaming about him was not acceptable.

I groaned as i sat up once again, slowly leaving the comforts of my bed as i glanced down the hallway to the groups of zanpactou there, who were currently returning from missions given to them by Muramasa. I felt somewhat annoyed that i didnt get any missions but lately a lot more had been going on in my mind so it was better that it doesnt affect my jobs. I stumbled through the door as i tried to tune out the loud noises coming from the end of the cave, adjusting myself to the concept of sleeping. It was a foreign to zanpactous as we didnt usually get tired in our spiritual form, But physical bodies on the other hand required work, time and a lot of taking care of. Sometimes more then it was worth in my opinion but hey, i didnt make up the rules. Muramasa said these forms would help us more. I thought it a waste of time but i didnt object.
As i made my way down the hall i found myself nodding curtly to another zanpactou my age, who smiled shyly as i passed. I didnt remember her name but i doubt she remembered mine either so it was alright. I passed down the hall leading to a fork in the road. I saw the crowd of returned zanpactous and figured i didnt want to get involved in that so i headed down the left towards the center of the cave.

It was deep and not many zanpactous traveled this way but i felt like a walk and i wanted to think without interuption. I didnt want to admit to myself that the one in the dream was Hyourinmaru but he did have a uncanny resemblance. I shook my head and continued to walk aimlessly, my mind nagging at me. And wasnt ice his element? That iced heart... it had to have been his right? I bit my lip and thought back to the dream, the fields of white still vivid in the back of my mind. It seemed familiar.. Like the day before, before that heart had- No. It was a coincidence right? But how many of these similarities could there be? I turned another corner and winded down the right to a darker less lit room, a single torch left on the wall but otherwise empty.

I hadn't been there for longer then a minute when I heard a faint tapping noise. Was i imagining things now? I stopped midstep and turned around as the faint clicking drew closer. I shook my head and took another two steps forward before i saw a shadow pan across the wall making me freeze in my tracks again. I knew i hadnt imagined it that time. Was somebody else here or my imagination? The steps seemed to split into two patterns of two people walking casually down the hall. Who would be so far in the cave? I turned around and opened my mouth to ask but my bravery fled and i found myself for a minute, wanting to flee. In a split second decision, I darted behind the wall quickly as a two shadowed figures danced past my vision, my breath held in its place as I prayed to not be seen by them. The steps slowed and I realized they had gone to a halt, clicking heels and padded feet stopping around the corner of the dirt wall I hid behind. Close enough for me to see strands of turquoise gliding past.

Hyourinmaru? What is he doing here? I held back a small gasp as I came to the realization. If the other was who she believed it to be, this meeting was private and being caught now would be set with a terrible price.

"You called me so far Muramasa. It isn't like you. What is it you want?" The voice, eloquently recognized as Hyourinmaru's asked, his tone impatient.

"You sound displeased by it. I'll make it quick but I have a job for you." Muramasa responded, sounding equally as impatient. "I need you to-"

"I didn't come to be ordered around. You said you had information for me." Hyourinmaru growled. I was surprised by his bitter tone, and I couldn't figure out why he would say such things. Muramasa was the one who had granted us release from our prisons. He saved us. So why was there such hostility? Did he know something I didn't? No, I couldn't question the leader after his efforts to help us zanpactou. For a moment I considered turning around and sneaking away however I wasn't that quiet and even so, my curiousity got the best of me.

"I will tell you. But not until after you finish." Muramasa chastised. His voice was convincing however Hyourinmaru seemed unaffected by this.

"Funny it seems to be less of a priority to me." Hyourinmaru spoke daringly. I wasn't sure how he was able to defy Muramasa so well when to us zanpactou, Muramasa's voice was enough to tame a wild beast. For a moment the words faded and I could hear only a small peaceful hum of Muramasa's tone however I snapped back to reality in time to catch Hyourinmaru's next words. "The next job can wait, but I too have goals. I wish to find my master." He stated firmly.

"and you will, but the job will come to importance. You want to do it" He stressed the last words and they sounded so sure and strong. Who could defy such a voice?

"Theres always more jobs. But the information on the other hand…." Hyourinmaru's voice seemed to quiet to the point where I had to strain forward to hear the words. "That is priceless to something like me..." I leaned forward to barely catch his words, almost giving myself away. But the tone of his voice had caught me and for a second, I swear I saw minted green eyes meeting mine.
His voice had a hint of something I couldn't quite place a name on. A feeling I recognize through my old master. Not quite sadness however all the light tone left from it. It felt like… Hopelessness.
But as quickly as it came, it was gone again and his voice returned to the usual sarcasm it held. "If you want me to do something, I need something too."

Muramasa let out a chuckle that bounced off the dirt walls, sending a chill down my spine. Did his laugh always do that?
"Your lack of motivation startles me." Muramasa sighed disapprovingly. "I thought you out of all of them would be up to the task"
"I never said I wasn't up for it. I just need the motivation, as you said." Muramasa clicked his tongue in a scold, like a parent to a child.
"Hyourinmaru. I asked you to do this task. Wont you do as your asked for once?" There was a paused silence before Hyourinmaru answered, his voice losing the defiance in his tone. "Fine." He muttered, sourly. Muramasa's smile was evident in his next response.
"Good. Come then, I prefer no company"

I slipped out of the way as his shadow left down the hall with Hyourinmaru silently following. Did he realize I was there? Why hadn't he called me out? Did he feel me but not my location? I bit my lip and slowly came out of hiding with a deep feeling of guilt. I should have trusted Muramasa more, it was rude of me to easedrop after all he'd done for us.. and yet, a weird feeling settled in my stomach as Hyourinmaru's final words set in my mind. What became of Hyourinmaru? He was so defiant of Muramasa one minute.. I was sure he wouldn't bend in his opinion. But yet in the end…

"fine…"

Had he given up? Why fight so long to give up so suddenly? The obedience in his tone had startled me, and I couldn't help feel chilled by Muramasa, something I hadn't felt before around him. Turning towards where I came, I ran down the corridor of the cave, a chill down my neck following me even after I escaped.

Well here you go guys, a few chapter as promised. Ive been away for a while but im going to be writing chapters every week again so look out for them and let me know what you think.

Im going to spend next week planning so the next chapter wont be next week but the week after on a Saturday so i can draft out what i want to do for the next upcoming chapters. Im going to add canon events but ill be twisting things around a little to fit the story. And almost all chapters will be consistantly from Tobuime's view unless a bonus chapter wanted otherwise. Im going to write a christmas oneshot for a side bonus so be on the lookout for that too. Lots of love to my beta, Mira-Chan and hugs to my reviewers and supporters. Love you guys :) Enjoy the chapter!