Author's Note: Oh my, I was updating faster than I realized, and now, we're already on Chapter 18! Only two left to go after this one, and this fic will be all done! Also, thanks for your feedback about my question on which fic I should revive next. I decided to do A Royal Pain in the Ass, and since there was only one chapter left for it, write the ending for Shattered Ice as well. So look forward to those in the near future!
As soon as their lips met, the first thing that came to Ichigo's mind was something along the lines of, What the hell?
It had been so sudden and so unexpected - what was going on? What had Hitsugaya kissed him for? Not that he minded, of course, but he was still confused as to exactly why this was happening. Before he could react, the young captain quickly pulled away, his face flushed a pretty pink.
"Toshiro, I-"
Before he could finish the sentence, the sky seemed to explode.
Alarmed, Ichigo looked upwards at the sky, confusion and shock flashing across his mind again. The formerly blue sky was rapidly being swallowed as dark clouds rushed forward, swirling above them in a rapid, circular motion.
Hitsugaya didn't look very surprised, however, although somewhat curious. The sky was now completely gray with the clouds, and much to the strawberry's surprise, a single snowflake slowly drifted downwards, slowly in a lazy spiral pattern. It was one of the strangest snowflakes Ichigo had ever seen before; it seemed to be in the shape of a four-pointed star which reminded the strawberry vaguely of Hyorinmaru's hilt and it was glowing with some strange sort of light. Finally, it landed softly on Hitsugaya's hand.
As soon as the snowflake touched Hitsugaya's skin, the boy's eyes went wide for a moment, before, without warning, he slumped forward, suddenly unconcious.
"T-Toshiro! What's wrong!?"
Confused, Ichigo's arms shot out to catch him, holding his body tightly in his arms. What was happening?
"Kurosaki Ichigo."
The substitute shinigami blinked, even more confused and bewildered now. Someone was calling to him. A deep, rumbling, yet chilling voice - it took him a moment to realize that this voice belonged to Hyorinmaru. His grip around Hitsugaya's body tightened. What was going on?
"Kurosaki Ichigo...come to me."
"What? What do you mean? How do I...?"
His questions seemed to be answered, as the next thing he saw was a blinding flash of light. Then he felt as if he was being engulfed in a bitter chill that he had never felt before. It was harsh and biting, but oddly enough, something in him knew that it would not harm him.
The light disappated, and Ichigo blinked.
He was on a plain of ice.
He looked around, seeing nothing but a wide, seemingly endless expanse of glacial landscape. The ground was covered entirely with a coat of thin ice and pure white snow, and a frosty wind wrapped itself around him for a moment before blowing off on its way.
"Where am I?" he wondered aloud.
"Kurosaki..."
Ichigo turned at the sound of his name and the familiar voice. He saw Hitsugaya standing there, dressed completely in white. Behind the child prodigy was a large dragon of ice with glowing red eyes, which he assumed to be Hyorinmaru.
"Toshiro? What's happening?"
"I'm not sure," Hitsugaya admitted, "But I think you're here for a reason." He nodded to Hyorinmaru, who slithered towards Ichigo in a fluid, serpentine motion, flexing its wings gracefully. Startled, Ichigo took a step back.
"He won't hurt you," Hitsugaya spoke calmly, and comforted by this, Ichigo let the dragon approach him.
It seemed to be observing him, looking him up and down and all over, its frosty breath sending chills down his spine. Finally, the dragon drew its great neck back for a moment, before stooping downwards in what looked strangely like a bow.
"Your highness."
"You...Are you talking to me?" Ichigo spluttered in bewilderment.
Hyorinmaru nodded.
"My master has finally been able to find you after centuries of searching, Kurosaki Ichigo," it continued, "In order to show you my eternal gratitude, I will, with all my ability, grant you the power of the heavens."
"Powers? What powers? What are you talking about?"
"You already know, your highness."
Still confused, Ichigo turned to Hitsugaya as if to ask for answers. He didn't know what the dragon meant by saying his master had been searching for centuries, or what he meant by needing to show gratitude. And the power of the heavens? What was that supposed to mean?
Suddenly, it hit him - what Urahara had told him days ago, back in his shop.
...It is said that this guardian possesses incredible power that could turn entire dimensions to ice and wipe them out in the blink of an eye. If you have this power on your side, think of how invincible you could become. All you need to know is how to get the guardian to use this power – that is, for the little guardian to receive a kiss on the lips from a so-called 'true love,' that is, the incarnation of his former lover…
"N-No," the strawberry murmured, "It can't be...You've got to be mistaken...I'm not good enough for this..."
Hyorinmaru gave Ichigo a curious look. "Do not doubt yourself, Kurosaki Ichigo."
"But-"
Before Ichigo could protest, Hyorinmaru cut him off.
"The two of you must return to Soul Society now. You are needed there."
Ichigo opened his mouth again, about to speak, but before he could, the flash of light returned, engulfing the icy plain. He saw nothing but this light for a few moments before finally, when he opened his eyes, he was on the solid ground again, back in Soul Society.
Hitsugaya was still in his arms, the same position that they had been in before their little visit to what was probably the white-haired boy's inner world.
By now, the snow was falling heavily, and he could hear the confused shouts of both shinigami and Arrancar alike.
"Toshiro?" Gently, Ichigo gave the boy a small shake. With a moan, the dark lashes fluttered open, the emerald eyes coming into view again. Hitsugaya looked at Ichigo for a moment before slowly pulling himself out of his arms.
"What's happening?" Ichigo whispered, as a bolt of lightning sliced through the snow and clouds, striking the earth with a deafening roar. The wind was picking up now, whipping the snow about in the air, almost like a blizzard.
"The power of the heavenly guardian," Hitsugaya answered quietly. He reached behind his back, taking his zanpaku-to and holding it out to Ichigo.
Ichigo stared at it dumbly.
"Take it," Hitsugaya insisted.
"No, I can't," Ichigo answered, still confused, "It's your zanpaku-to, isn't it? How could I...weild it?"
"Only you can fight with Hyorinmaru now," Hitsugaya insisted, still holding it out to the strawberry, "I know it. And you must. You don't have the help of your hollow anymore, but now you have Hyorinmaru's. There's no way you can fight Aizen without it."
"What makes you so sure?"
"I just know," Hitsugaya answered firmly, "I am the heavenly guardian, after all. So it seems, anyway. I know exactly who is meant to take my power for his own, and I know it's you."
Uncertainly, Ichigo reached out, taking the zanpaku-to in his hands. It felt strange, as if some new power was flowing through his veins as he took Hyorinmaru. He suddenly felt strangely sure of himself as he held it. He wasn't sure if it would work, but they would never know until he tried.
"Are you sure I can use this?"
"Positive," Hitsugaya replied as-a-matter-of-factly, "However, there are two conditions. One, the heavenly guardian - me, in other words - must be present in order for the power to continue to exist. If I die, the power dies, too. Two, the power outlasts its weilder. If the weilder - in this case, you - dies, then it will be passed on to the one who defeated him."
"And once I'm done, how do I get it to stop?" Ichigo asked.
"Only heaven decides."
"How do you know all this?"
"Because I do."
"So, if I was able to release your power," Ichigo began, "...Then it means I'm your...'true love'...right?"
Hitsugaya gave him an angry glare, a blush springing to his face. "Shut up," the tenth-division captain snapped heatedly, crossing his arms over his chest, "Whatever, Kurosaki, just go defeat Aizen and get it over with."
A grin spread across Ichigo's lips as he stood, Hyorinmaru in his hand.
"Just wait," he answered, ruffling Hitsugaya's snow-white locks affectionately. "This time, I definetely will."
