The Frozen Flower, a Bleach fanfiction
Warning: Most characters and places belong to the Bleach manga and anime series.
Only some are my own creations.
Thanks for your support and reviews :)
Important characters until now:
Shinigami
Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro
Zanpakuto: Shikai: Hyorinmaru; Bankai:Daiguren Hyorinmaru
Captain Ukitake Jushiro
Zanpakuto: Shikai: Sogyo no Kotowari; Bankai: unknown
Captain Kyouraku Shunsui
Zanpakuto: Shikai: Katen Kyokotsu; Bankai: unknown
Humans (or living in the Real World)
Kurosaki Karin
Special abilities: strong reiatsu, soccer, and Hollow self-defense techniques (taught by Ururu)
Unknown
Scarlet
Special abilities: controlling crimson butterflies
Weapon: her butterfly necklace that transforms into a metallic boomerang
The wolf
Special abilities: controlling shadows (it/he is a shadow)
Woman with turquoise eyes
Special abilities: Ice? Wind? To find out...
Last time
Real World
The shadow travelled from wall to wall and suddenly attacked. Kyouraku dodged it. He smiled. "Hey, you still didn't tell me your name."
"Does that matter?" the dark wolf asked nonchalantly.
"Well, it would be a shame if I killed someone without knowing their name."
"Do you think a mere Shinigami like you can kill a shadow? No one can harm a shadow."
"Oh, really?" Kyouraku's humorous expression disappeared. "What if I tell you that I can also control shadows?"
He felt the wolf's surprise and, without waiting any longer, called, "Kageoni."
Kurosaki Clinic
"Kyaaaaa!" Yuzu dropped her bags full of boxes and food. She touched Karin's elbow wound, which was actually a butterfly bite. "Karin-chan! You're hurt."
"I know, and it hurts more when you touch my wound."
Yuzu ignored her statement and looked in the room. "Where is Toshiro-kun?"
"He is sleeping."
"On the couch?" Yuzu walked to the empty couch.
"No. He looked very exhausted, so I let him sleep in my bed."
"Oh, Karin-chan!" Yuzu exclaimed with an exaggerated, girly voice.
"It's not like what you think." Karin seemed annoyed. She told Yuzu about what happened, because Karin knew she couldn't hide it. Yuzu suddenly became serious. "Karin-chan?"
"Hm?"
"Should we tell Ichigo-nii-san about this?"
Yes, Karin wished. "No", she said. Ichi-nii and Rukia-nee are having a good time. I don't want to ruin it. Besides, didn't I train myself for this? I can't always depend on Ichi-nii. Karin always wanted to be helpful, bit she wasn't during Toshiro's fight. Next time, I will be useful. I'll do it all alone...
Yuzu was uneasily observing her sister. "Karin-chan, I know what you are thinking, but that person wasn't an ordinary Hollow. We never know-"
"I will be all right, Yuzu."
Ukitake's memory
It was a beautiful day. The radiant sunlight covered Soul Society. Birds were chirping cheerfully on the cherry trees. The kois in the pond swam peacefully. A boy sat next to it. His hair was in a ponytail and he was wearing a black kimono.
"Hey, Jushiro!"
"Kyouraku-san..."
"Stop using honorifics. You are too polite, Jushiro." The young Kyouraku gave Ukitake a friendly tap. "You sure you should be outside? You've been very sick lately. Your hair even turned white."
"I'm all right, Kyouraku. You don't need to worry about me." Kyouraku looked at his friend, who was staring distantly at the water. "Is it about that girl?"
Ukitake blushed and replied hurriedly, "Huh? What do you mean?"
"You know, the day she left, you had the worst fever you ever had. That's where your white hair came from, right?"
"..."
"You should cheer up a little bit. You'll soon graduate from the Academy and become Shinigami."
"It's been a year already..." he told himself.
Kyouraku remained silent for a moment, then smiled. "I know! Why don't you come with me? I'll introduce you to some new girls. Don't worry, they are all really pretty."
"..."
Kyouraku sighed. Suddenly, they heard screams. Not really happy ones.
Ukitake stood straight up when he heard the scream. The captain was relieved to find out that it wasn't his friend's.
"And I won again, Shadow." Kyouraku pierced the wolf. It finally stopped moving. "So, will you answer me?" The shadow laughed. "Sorry about that, pal, but I'm not the type to respect game rules." Kyouraku's expression became darker. "I see", he muttered, before shunpoing toward his enemy with his scimitars. Before their edges touched the shadow, the wolf suddenly disppeared. This time, the captains were convinced that it didn't hide himself behind other shadows.
"So he fled", Kyouraku stated. Ukitake didn't answer. He was too surprised by a familiar reiatsu's appearance.
Urahara Shop
"Did you feel that reiatsu?" Urahara tilted his fan. Kurosaki Isshin replied, "It seems that they came to take revenge."
"No, I'm talking about your daughter's reiatsu", corrected the shopkeeper. Isshin suddenly exclaimed joyfully, "Of course! Oh, Karin-chan is finally fighting against a strong enemy. Daddy is so proud!"
"My, my, aren't you even a bit worried about her getting hurt?"
"Not at all. My Karin-chan is strong."
I am weak, Karin thought, while watching her injured friend. Why can't I at least have a healing power like Orihime-san's?
Karin tried to think about other things and stared at Toshiro. It was the first time she saw him sleeping. White, messy hair, a child's face, a small body... He was lying still on her bed, in his gigai, wearing a T-shirt.
His arms are so skinny, Karin suddenly thought with a smile. I wonder how many meals does he have per day? She yawned. What time is it? It should be midnight already... Karin didn't check the time, because she was already dreaming about becoming stronger.
Yuzu carefully closed her room's door. Smiling, she climbed down the stairs. The girl was too happy about her sister to be aware of the black shape that came out of her own shadow.