13

The Storm

…

Toshiro woke up. The events of last night became a bullet to the head. At first, his mind screamed against it. He flew from bed and down the halls, stopping at where Katashi would be. The futon was empty. It hadn't been touched since yesterday morning. Slowly, Toshiro sunk to his knees, hand gripping the doorframe as his last line of support.

"Toshiro?" Ukitake asked. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"He's…really gone," Toshiro whispered.

Ukitake nodded. "It was for the better."

The young captain's face remained in a state of blank shock. The look was one Ukitake remembered well, as Katashi had worn the same expression at the discovery of their father's death. It hurt his heart to see it.

"Captain," Ukitake heard Matsumoto say. Her voice was so soft, it could barely be heard. She came over to them. "Captain?" she repeated.

He suddenly stood, albeit shakily. His muscles wouldn't quite agree with him and the movement was awkward. He turned. Ukitake restrained a gasp. The boy's face had turned as hard as stone. All emotions were erased. Looking between them, he said, "I see."

His tone chilled Ukitake to the bone. "What do you mean, Toshiro?"

"I see what Katashi meant by not knowing sometimes being better," Toshiro answered. "I understand now, but now he is not here."

Toshiro pushed past Ukitake and Matsumoto, heading for the door.

"Captain, where are you going?"

Toshiro did not look back at them. "I need to be alone."

Once he left, Matsumoto said to Ukitake, "I'm scared for him."

"As am I," Ukitake agreed. "I believe that I need to contact Soul Society and report Katashi's death. After that, I will talk to Ichigo."

"Why Ichigo?"Matsumoto asked.

"Because," the man replied, "one of Katashi's last requests was for Ichigo to protect Toshiro. He will want to know this. Maybe he'll be able to do something."

Matsumoto nodded. "I'll go tell Orihime. She's going to be hysterical."

"I would wait a little longer," Ukitake advised. "Let her have another few hours of peace. After being told that the plan will commence, this could push her over the edge."

"Understood," the woman said. She paused. "Captain Ukitake, do you think everything will be alright?"

"In time," he answered. "In time."

…

"Griiiiimmjow!" Ira and Ari whined in unison.

"Urahara said we should get farther away," Ira pointed out.

"We're only a town over," Ari finished.

Indeed, they were walking along the streets of the town next door. They occasionally received an odd glance-after all, they were quite the sight, especially considering their virtual rainbow of unusual hair colors-but were otherwise ignored. At least Kaeliel wasn't with them at the moment. Emotionless mask still in place, Grimmjow led the two over into an alleyway.

"You know that we have to stay close by," he reminded. "If we want our way, we will stick this out and strike when the time is right."

The two set him with firm violet gazes.

"Do you understand?" he asked.

"Yes," they sighed.

"Good," he answered. "In any case, our forces may be growing. Nel Tu also resides in Karakura. Surely, she will run once she discovers their plan. We can catch her after that. She would be a…valuable addition."

"Because we need a former Tercera to complete our number sequence," Ari jabbed. A small smirk drifted onto his face.

"It's a shame what happened to Ulquiorra, though," Ira commented. His gaze drifted downward. "I guess that's what happens when you become too human for your own good."

Grimmjow snorted. "Do not forget. It was a force of humans and Shinigami that wiped out the first wave of Espada and, as Arrancar, we have some piece of humanity in us."

"But you're the strongest," Ira protested, "and the least human."

Grimmjow actually frowned at that. He clenched his seemingly normal left hand, nothing but skin slipped over bone armor. "Ira, Ari, you would do well to keep such observations to yourselves."

They blinked in mild astonishment. Did Grimmjow just…? Comprehension hit them in synchronized waves. Glancing to each other, they nodded, then ran up to grab either one of Grimmjow's hands. They began to lead him back out into the street.

"What are you two up to?" he questioned.

Grins stretched across their faces. "Nothing, big brother."

Grimmjow rolled his eyes at their antics. "I will not ask."

"It would be less suspicious," Ira insisted, "for us to pretend you are our older brother, preventing others from questioning why a grown man such as yourself would be escorting two children."

"And Kaeliel can be our cousin!" Ari added enthusiastically, glad that the purple-haired man was not there to argue at the moment.

Ira bobbed his head so fast it almost snapped loose. "Like one, big, seriously twisted family."

And also, they thought, so you could have the chance to feel more human again.

…

Rubbing a hand against his forehead, Ichigo looked up at the sky. Thick clouds were forming overhead. He may not have been very good at sensing reiatsu, but this had Toshiro written all over it. Karin had said the same thing the second the storm began to roll in.

Now, finding the boy was another matter. Ukitake warned that Toshiro was very unpredictable at the moment and, while he respected the young captain's wishes for some time alone, the look on his face had left the older unnerved. For a moment, Toshiro was an exact copy of the former Ulquiorra Schiffer: cold and lifeless. Hope had been eradicated. Purpose was gone. He was simply…empty.

The wind began to blow harder. Ichigo could feel that Toshiro was close by. He scanned the area. Then...there! The boy was standing on the overlook. From this vantage point, he seemed to be the king of the skies. The storm swirled above him impatiently, as if waiting for his signal, while gently tousling his snowy hair.

Ichigo picked up his pace and ran to the top of the hill. He slowed once he got within ten feet. "Hey," he called. "You should get out of the storm."

The boy didn't so much as flinch.

Walking to his side, Ichigo grabbed Toshiro's shoulder.

"Go away, Kurosaki," Toshiro snapped apathetically.

"I can't do that," Ichigo answered. "I promised Ulquiorra—Katashi—that I would look after you."

"…Go away, Kurosaki."

"No."

That seemed to be the breaking point. Toshiro spun on him, eyes alit with cold fire. A small hurricane came to life around the small boy. Ichigo took a step back in surprise.

"Toshiro!" he called.

"You're not needed here," Toshiro responded in a terrifyingly level tone of voice.

Pushing an arm in front of his face to buffer the wind, Ichigo cried, "Obviously, I am. Look at this storm! You've gone crazy!"

"I am perfectly under control," Toshiro defended.

"You know, I never took you as someone to lie to themselves," Ichigo answered.

Toshiro's fists clenched. He stared hard at the ground. "Just leave."

"I can't," Ichigo refused softly. "Not when you're like this. What kind of friend would I be then?"

"A respectful one," Toshiro said.

Ichigo fought to take another step closer. "Listen, I know what's it's like to lose someone. I lost my mother to a Hollow when I was nine. She gave her life to save me. That's what Katashi was trying to do for you."

The words became a sword shoved through Toshiro's heart. He doubled over, gripping his head as his control slipped even further out of his fingers. The storm became absolutely violent. The two would soon be blown off the top of the overlook. Through the rain and chaos, Ichigo just barely glimpsed Toshiro's huddled form. His eyes were squeezed shut tight.

"Toshiro!" Ichigo screamed.

The boy sank to the ground. The blackness was split by painful flashes of color and light.

…

Toshiro was pushed out of the way by Katashi. "Run, Toshiro!"

Fear clenched his heart. He couldn't move.

"Run!"

A heavy pressure forced Toshiro to the ground. Struggling, he looked up. His big, innocent eyes widened in pure horror. Katashi was being lifted off the ground by a shadow monster, the claw crushing him.

It was one of the few times Toshiro had heard Katashi scream.

A loud growl boomed in his ears, like thunder, but the words were indiscernible. At first. The longer he watched, the more clarity the situation gained. Horrible, painful clarity.

The creature's bone mask alone was enough to scare Toshiro stiff. The rest of it was some grotesque, twisted, nausea-inducing mutation. He was amazed that his brother could stare straight at it without flinching. In fact, he looked…determined. And angry.

"Leave Toshiro alone!" Katashi growled.

The monster howled in laughter. "You are in no position to make demands, pathetic human. I am a powerful Hollow. My hunger cannot be satisfied by such a small child. The both of you would merely be an appetizer."

A new, dense pressure joined the first. Toshiro could hardly breathe under it all.

"Oh, so you have some reiatsu, do you?" the thing taunted. "That little trick may have warded off other Hollows, but it only makes you look more delicious."

A long tongue slithered out to slide across Katashi's face. Toshiro was too terrified to look away.

"Yet, this defiance…" the Hollow trailed. The bone mask grinned. "I have to break it."

Katashi shouted something, but Toshiro had no hopes of hearing what it was.

"We'll see if we can fix that," the being roared. It shifted Katashi inside its claw until one talon was braced against the boy's arm. It squeezed.

Katashi let out another painful scream as the bone broke. Toshiro could hear the crack from where he was. The monster only sneered.

"Cry, little boy. Cry."

"I…will not," Katashi retorted. His voice was still strong despite the immense pain.

The Hollow threw Katashi into the air, letting him drop several dozen feet before grabbing him with its tail. Like a snake, the appendage constricted. Katashi did not cry.

"Can't even scream now?" that voice mocked.

"Stop it!" Toshiro couldn't prevent the words from leaving his lips. "S-Stop!"

Katashi's eyes met his. Run, they seemed to say. Save yourself.

"Would you cry if I hurt that small child?" the Hollow asked, sadistically curious.

Katashi glared at it. Another squeeze left him coughing weakly. The tip of the tail pressed itself against his throat.

"Go ahead," the monster encouraged. "Say goodbye."

But it was obvious that Katashi's limit had been reached. His eyes were closing. His breathing was slowing.

"No? Shame, then. Oh well, he will be joining you soon enough. Now…cry."

It only took that one last constriction. Tears fell down Katashi's deathly pale cheeks. The rest of him had gone limp. The Hollow grinned. The tip of its tail twitched over Katashi's neck. Crack!

Katashi's life blinked out.

"Humans," it scoffed. "So easily broken. Although I will admit, you put up a better fight than most."

The shattered body fell to the ground.

Dead.

…

The storm roared. Ichigo reached out to the boy, managing to grab his arm.

…

A desperate face. A pale hand reached out. "I will never leave you, little brother. I promise on my heart!"

…

"Toshiro!" Ichigo shouted. He pulled the young captain closer, using his own body to block the storm. "Toshiro, calm down!"

…

Why, Katashi? Why?

…

The rain was freezing. Ichigo stayed strong.

…

Why did you protect me?

…

"Can you hear me?" Ichigo demanded, raising his voice over the storm.

…

Why were your last words said to defend me?

…

"Wake up!"

…

Why…

…

"Toshiro!

…

…do you keep leaving me…

…

Arms wrapped tighter.

…

…alone?

…

"I'm right here," Ichigo said. "Now snap out of it!"

Two teal eyes shot open. The wind died until the hurricane was reduced to a mere rainstorm. Ichigo sighed in relief.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked.

Toshiro couldn't answer. Ichigo, concerned by the lack of a snappy remark, shook the boy's shoulders. His stare remained blank.

"Alright," Ichigo sighed. "I'd say it's safe to say you've burnt out."

The rain only attributed to his metaphor.

Ichigo picked up his cell phone while trying to shield it from the rain. He watched Toshiro carefully as he made the call. "Captain Ukitake? Yeah, this is Ichigo. I found Toshiro….Yes, that storm was him. Do you mind if…?"

The words were lost to Toshiro. He remained completely inactive. His only response was to blink as Ichigo hefted him off the ground.

"Yeah, you're totally out of it," Ichigo confirmed. He began his long march through the rain. "Come on, Toshiro, we're going to go back to my place."

…

Sorry for the momentary OOC-ness. It will soon be amended, I swear. This was more of a connection to something Ulquiorra noticed earlier, about how the dreams/memories caused personality lapses.

Thanks: -SoManyUpsAndDowns-, Windschatten69, Hatsune-chan, fan girl 666, and rachel-angelhero.