Two weeks had passed since they'd last encountered a soul reaper. But in those two weeks Toshiro's dreams had gotten much worse, waking him several times a night, most of the time soaked by snow. The name Hitsugaya rolled over in his head and sometimes he looked at Kenpachi and wanted to call him Zaraki. He felt the ice dragon even in his waking hours, calling to him ceaselessly, across some invisible void, in pain, alone, desperate. Kenpachi suffered too but said nothing. Toshiro felt the instability of his "spiritual pressure" as the woman had called it. But they were determined to escape it all, keep running until the world looked normal again.
"We could just fight them all." Toshiro said one night. "It would make for some entertainment."
"I suppose you're right." Kenpachi said chewing on some timothy. "But then it would all be over too quickly. This way, we get to spread out the fun, one by one."
"Hmm, good point."
But despite their cavalier words, their situation was serious. They knew the home of the soul reapers lay in the west, and it seemed no matter where they went now, they could find them, so maybe it was time to do some recon. They would continue west, where more and more people new of soul reapers and their powers, and maybe get a glimpse of this Seireitei place.
They made their usual hasty camp and Kenpachi left to get some food while Toshiro started the fire. His friend returned almost as soon as he got the flames going. In his arms he had a bundle of food and two long objects wrapped in cloth. He threw them down and their was no mistaking what they were.
"Where did you get those?"
"I relieved a couple thugs of them."
"But I thought we decided swords were no good. The fight ends too quickly that way."
"Look at yourself kid, there's something wrong with you. Your ribs are still cracked and your neck keeps reopening– you ain't healing so what will you do if you get more injuries huh? We use swords until this whole soul reaper thing is over."
Toshiro sighed. He put his hand against his neck and felt the dampness on the bandage.
"Dammit. I don't get it." He said getting a dry cloth to wrap around.
"I don't either but until you start healing like normal you better be careful."
"Fine." He munched on the food Kenpachi brought then lay down. His eyes began to close, but he could still see Kenpachi's solid figure, sitting with one arm draped over a knee, the flames illuminating those dark eyes and that rigid scar that ran the length of one side of his face.
This time there was no ice dragon. There was a well lit, cozy room. He was at a desk, piled with papers, and on the couch was the woman, Rangiku. She was asleep and he felt annoyed. But then he gazed at her a little longer and he felt love for her, a friendship that had survived many battles. She woke and he turned back to his papers before she caught him looking at her. A black butterfly fluttered into the room. It landed on her finger, her eyes lit up with concern and she was on her feet in an instant.
"Captain, we've been called to face an enemy." They ran out of the room. He was moving at incredible speed, the world flashed past him, nothing but coloured blurs. Then they were at the edge of a giant gate. There was a monster, people were calling it a Hollow, and another soul reaper was fighting it. He had his hair spiked up, was wearing an eyepatch but even from this distance he knew it was Kenpachil.
Kenpachi Zaraki.
The white robe with the number eleven on it was stained with black blood of the hollow. But the enemy was huge, and even fore this man it was difficult.
"Stay back Rangiku." his lieutenant nodded and took a few steps back. He pulled the sword from his back and cried, "Bankai!" And amazing rush of energy hit him. Ice furled around his limbs and the dragon shot from the end of his blade. He was in the air, flying, baring down on the monster, roaring at Kenpachi to get out of the way. The big man had no choice, he was struck and fell back. The ice hit and the beast froze. A moment later, it shattered into nothingness.
"Awww, its all over," said a small, pink haired girl who came out of no where and helped Kenpachi to his feet.
"Maybe its time you talked to you zampakuto, Zaraki." Toshiro said smugly, sheathing his sword.
"Shut up. Next time don't interfere in my fight." Toshiro didn't bother responding. He walked away followed by his lieutenant, Zaraki cursing behind him.
"Zaraki!" Toshiro sat up sharply. He felt the pain of his broken ribs. The ground was frosted beneath him but he was cover in sweat. Across the pit of glowing embers, Kenpachi awoke, his hand already reaching for his sword. The sky was pale, dawn was close. Kenpachi looked across the fire pit to his companion who was breathing heavily.
"What is it Kid?"
"I saw us. I saw us with the numbers on our backs, and swords, and I called you Zaraki."
"Woah, you were just dreaming."
"But it was so real." he fell silent, going over every detail in his head. Zaraki kicked dirt over the rest of the embers and rolled his things together.
"Come on, since we're up, we might as well get moving." the boy said nothing but followed obediently, clutching the white robe in his arms.
"What is that?" The two had come to one of the most crowded areas they'd ever been to. It was really a series of communities but no space in between them, hardly any trees or private spaces, it was claustrophobic. The inhabitants called it the Rukon district. And at the far edge was a massive wall, and beyond that a great hill.
"Hey, you." Toshiro grabbed the arm of a young girl as she passed by. "What is that place?"
"What, you mean you don't know? That's the seireitei, where the soul reapers live."
"Oh." she walked away and he exchanged looks with Kenpachi. "What do you think?"
"I think you go see what you can find out from the local kids and I'll hit up a few taverns."
"Fine. I'll find you in a couple hours." Toshiro walked away and Kenpachi lost sight of him in the crowd almost immediately. So many bodies, so close together, it was disgusting.
He made his way into a buzzing tavern and slammed down some coin for a drink. He waited. His eyes scanned the crowd, looking for the right person to ask. There. A group of young men came in, rowdy, mouthing off about how sweet soul reapers had it. Kenpachi decided to try a subtle rout, threats would come later if necessary. They needed to play it cool.
"You guys look like you could use some sake." he said, dropping more coins on the counter and nodding to the barman to serve them. The men sat next to him and thanked him. It didn't take long until he had them explaining everything they knew about soul reapers.
"How long you been here?" One asked.
"Ten years, but a lot farther away where we don't hear anything about soul reapers."
"Oh, well ten years ago is when it happened."
"What?"
'The soul reapers were almost wiped out. The captains I was telling you about were taken. There was a battle in another dimension and not all of them came back."
"Really?"
"Yeah, this guy, Aizen– ". Kenpachi stood. He heard the commotion outside and knew instantly what was happening. The temperature in the tavern dropped several degrees.
"Hi." Toshiro said approaching a small group of kids and adopting a more child like tone. "Can I play?" They turned and looked at him.
"No way." they walked away. He kicked the dirt angrily. This always happened.
"Stupid kids." he muttered.
"The sword probably doesn't help." the woman's voice startled him and he whipped around. It was her, Rangiku Matsumoto. He reached for the hilt at his back but didn't pull it out yet. Her face was gentle but then her eyes alighted on his neck.
"You had that wound when I saw you last. I know why it isn't healing."
"I have to go." he said awkwardly. The images from his dream were still vivid in his mind, he knew he wouldn't be able to face her with his usual clear mindedness.
"There's a reason you came here."
"Yeah, to get answers, but not from you."
He flash stepped away. He'd done it a few times since that night, practising on Kenpachi, scaring him when he appeared out of no where. Now he reached out for the spiritual connection and flash stepped to the tavern.
He didn't make it that far.
Someone else met him at top speed. Like before, he didn't know how to control it and couldn't dodge. The other person was ready, grabbed him mid air and they crashed to earth.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya." It was a woman, small, dark haired with even darker eyes and she was wearing the same kind of white robe that he and Kenpachi had. She had him pinned against the earth.
"What do you want?" He hissed, the pressure on his ribs was excruciating.
"So you really don't remember."
"No!" He screamed and he felt a rush of cold. He pushed her away and felt some of the cold transfer to her in the motion. She yelped and leapt back, looking down at a bit of frost bitten skin on her hand. Toshiro was startled, she saw it in his face.
"You have this power, even without your zampakuto? Some part of you must remember."
He just shook his head, speechless.
"You are Captain Hitsugaya." She said. She didn't plead with him to understand like Rangiku had done, she just stated it as simple fact.
"Who are you?"
"Soifon, captain of squad two,"
"And that white robe you have?"
"My hiori, it's the uniform of the captains." Toshiro got a chill. He felt the bundle at his back.
"I...." he stopped trying. He was at a loss.
"Come with me."
"No."
"You don't have a choice." And suddenly he was surrounded, countless men all in black, and all appearing out of no where with flashstep. "Don't resist, Toshiro."
"Like hell." He had the sword off his back but she already engaged him. Their blades clanged, the black men were moving.
"Out of my way!!!" The voice thundered and he knew Kenpachi had arrived. Men when flying, then they were side by side, Soifon backed off.
"Zaraki!" she exclaimed, but he didn't wait. He was already barrelling through the crowd, Toshiro behind him. "Don't let them get away!"
There was no chance of escape. With flash step the soul reapers could cut them off at every turn. They stood back to back and prepared to fight.
"Son of a bitch!" Kenpachi cried and Toshiro felt his spiritual pressure fluctuate.
It doubled, then tripled, and kept going. He felt it like a weight on his limbs, and so did the other soul reapers.
"Control your spiritual pressure Zaraki or you'll destroy the whole area!" Soifon cried. But whatever was happening was beyond Kenpachi's control. Toshiro staggered beside him and the other soul reapers couldn't even get close to him.
"Scatter, Senbonezakura." thousands of pink blades shimmered around them, but still Kenpachi's spiritual pressure kept them at bay. The newcomer also wore a white robe and a blue scarf, his skin fair but his hair as black and Kenpachi's. More people arrived, some in the hioris, some in black kimonos. Ragiku was there, and the girl with pink hair beside another captain with a shining bald head. There was no way out.
"Ken..."
But the man didn't answer. He was lost in whatever was happening. Toshiro was having trouble breathing.
"Enough!" A voice rumbled. Then the weight of spiritual pressure became too much to bear. It wasn't Kenpachi's someone else, someone much stronger.
Toshrio fell to earth as if gravity had increased ten fold. He saw from the ground an old man, a wooden staff before him and a long white braided beared. His eyes were hardly open but it was undoubtably him who radiated this incredible energy. Kenpachi remained on his feet, it was a battle of wills and Toshiro was sure he was going to get crushed in between them.
"Kenpachi Zaraki! Stand down!"
The buildings around them began to disintegrate. All the regular people were fleeing.
Kanpachi never responded, just increased whatever that power was.
"Gha!" Toshiro gasped.
"Captain!" he heard Rangiku cry. "They're killing him!" There were a few more long moments where Toshiro thought his breath might stop altogether, then something happened. A man had appeared next to him, his long white hair flowing over his white hiori and the pressure receded. He gently lifted Toshiro into his arms and flashed away to a place behind the old man. He could breath again, but his whole body shook weakly, he couldn't move. With Toshiro clear, the old man unleashed everything he had.
Kenpachi dropped.
"No..." Toshiro whispered but his consciousness slipped away from him.