Ahhhhh… summer… the days loop together until you have no clue what day of the week it is… I had a total spaz attack when I realized today is Monday, and I need to update…
But, I believe unless I have a sudden change of mind, that they'll give Toshiro's sentence this chapter, woo. Doom is fun.
Did I mention that my Toshiro plushie came? I've been hugging him so much… I love him…
Staring at the blank wall beside his bed, Toshiro once again found himself wishing for a bigger window. At least a window he could actually see something through from his bed, he thought. The lack of fresh air and being cramped into stuffy barracks for a month was beginning to get on the boy's nerves.
With pillows propped up behind his back, the boy was undeniably comfortable, though the constant uneasy hammering of his heart kept him from rest. Knowing that the Captains were reaching a decision unsettled Toshiro, and he was anxious, after so long, to know their verdict.
"Toshiro?"
The boy's gaze swept to the other side of him, meeting Momo's big brown eyes. She gave him an encouraging smile, albeit forced, as she held out a bowl of steaming broth.
"Um, Captain Unohana thought you should have something real to eat…"
Eyeing the bowl cautiously, Toshiro tentatively took the soup from her, knowing all to well the risks of even something as innocent as broth when under the care of Unohana. Slowly, the boy took an experimental sip from the bowl, expecting the sour taste of one of the conniving captain's medicines. When no such taste came to his mouth, a rush of relief spread through the boy, and Toshiro gulped the rest down thankfully, the warm liquid easing him.
Momo studied her friend's cautious and then relieved expression somewhat comically. Toshiro had grown much too accustomed to expected the worst of the most simple things, and that much was depressing, but the mere change of expression was enough to momentarily take Hinamori's mind off of the impending situation, and brought a thin smile to her face.
When Toshiro finally brought down the now empty bowl and set it on the bedside table, Momo's smile had vanished. The grim look in her childhood friend's teal eyes reminded her of his position, and she fought valiantly to keep the tears from her eyes. She fully knew of the chances of his execution, and had stopped herself from crying in front of him since the moment he had first woken up.
Her eyes cast to the floor, Momo failed to noticed her friend's stare until he leaned forward to meet her brown eyes. She gave a small jump as she looked up once more, and felt an immediate twinge of guilt as she saw the tight and concerned expression that lined his face.
"Momo?"
Nice going, idiot, now you made him worry… she berated herself. But as she looked into his crystal-like eyes, her will power wavered.
With a rush of emotion too strong for her to stop, Momo came forward, wrapping her arms around Toshiro and enfolding him an a tight and inescapable embrace. The befuddled soul reaper squirmed slightly, caught off guard by sudden movement. After a few moments of complete silence, the boy slowly relaxed, and brought his arms around Momo as well.
Not a single word was exchanged between the two, but the mere expression of their bond was enough to remind Toshiro of what he wanted to live for. While there wasn't much left he could do about whatever decision the captains reached, he at least found himself wanting to stay as he was forever, living with the shame of his actions, but having friends to help him through it.
It wasn't long before he felt small droplets falling over onto his back and shoulder, and he solemnly noted Hinamori's small sobs as she embraced him.
Ukitake stared at the hard wooden floor silently, brooding over the words previously spoken.
"And so is the decision I have made. There will be no further discussion on the topic, and the sentence stands."
The Head Captain's words thundered across the room, and Ukitake knew arguing would be pointless. Heaving a sigh, he took a glance around. Most of the captains present didn't seem to mind whatever the ruling was, but Kyouraku and Unohana seemed just as solemn as Ukitake. On the opposite end of the line, Soifon seethed with rage, thinking the verdict too soft for such traitorous deeds.
The Head Captain raised his chin and announced his next command.
"Bring Hitsugaya here, if he is able, so we may tell him of the complications of his fate."
Two guards stationed at the entrance nodded curtly, and exited the room, knowing to complete the Head Captain's commands without hesitation.
Momo, once more only sitting on the chair by her friend's side, gave Toshiro a curious glance as he repeated his question.
"I mean, why is he here? Doesn't Kurosaki still have a life in the real world to attend to?"
The two had begun a small and pointless conversation, both attempting to avoid heavier topics, but his words caught Momo slightly off guard.
"Well, I suppose…" She pressed her mind, thinking back to the Substitute Shinigami she hadn't become very familiar with. "…Well I'd think that he probably wants to know what the captains decide about you before he leaves."
Toshiro shot her an incredulous glance. Still holding strictly to the idea that he and Ichigo were only acquaintances, the boy shook his head in disbelief. He didn't even know why he brought the teenager into their small conversation, but the mysterious actions of Ichigo Kurosaki continued to burden the small and close-minded soul reaper.
"I mean, he went through all the trouble of rescuing you," Momo winced as she used the word trouble and rescue, seeing the boy almost flinch. "So I suppose he would want to know if it was for nothing or not."
The boy only gave a thoughtless nod, lost now in his own pondering.
Momo opened her mouth to speak once more, hoping to make up for the words that had come out wrong earlier, but they were lost before they left her mouth as she turned at the sound of the door opening.
Two guards, as serious and unemotional as ever, gazing only at Hitsugaya, stood at the entryway.
"The Head Captain requests that your presence, if you are able-bodied." The last part was added with a glance down at the bandages that covered the boy's chest..
Toshiro's eyes were wide at the summons, but Momo had immediately gotten to her feet, dismay across her face.
"Have they made a decision then? What do they want!"
The guards were silent, and Momo took a step forward, her eyes narrowed in rage and determination.
"Momo!"
Stopping in surprise, the girl turned abruptly, feeling a hand tighten around her wrist. Halfway out of the bed, Toshiro grasped her wrist and pulled her back, his wide eyes telling her to stop.
Stifling a sob, the girl nodded and helped him get to his feet, her face lined with worry.
"Are… are you sure you can make it?"
The boy turned and gave her a reassuring glance, at least, as reassuring as possible as he trembled slightly.
"You don't have to…" Her words drifted away as Toshiro stepped forward, straightening himself and ignoring the searing pain that spread across his entire body. The boy was going to go there, no matter what. His eyes told her he would keep his pride as he accepted whatever decision had been reached, and not be told as some weak cripple unable to even take a step out of bed.
As the boy vanished behind the door, the white hospital robes matching his silvery hair, Momo sank back into her seat, allowing tears to fall from her eyes as her fear of their verdict only grew.
Forced once again into a worried state, Ukitake raised his eyes to the doors that opened no less than half an hour later. He dreaded it as the small soul reaper stepped into the barracks.
The boy's eyes, though not as broken and heartless as the last time he had entered the room, were focused only on the Head Captain, his anticipation for the moment hidden deeply.
"Hitsugaya,"
Throughout the room, all eyes were glued on the small soul reaper, who seemed slightly unsteady on his feet, such a long time in a bed taking its toll. But Toshiro stared at the Head Captain wordlessly, his eyes not reflecting the wretched pain that the mere task of walking had wrought.
"We have come to a decision as to your sentence, and it will be carried out as soon as you have recovered from your injuries."
Confusion flashed in the boy's eyes. They didn't need him to be in full health for an execution.
"Your sentence, Toshiro Hitsugaya, is to be exiled from the Seireitei."
WHOOOO! Lil shiro will live! … But. For. How. Long? Bwahaha I am evil… they'll give a longer explanation of the verdict in the next chapter, but I have to go eat a grilled cheese samich (I luv spelling sandwich like samich) so toodles, and plz review, LET LIL SHIRO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HIS FATE!
Oh, and I can tell you the title to the sequel now, lol, The End of Freedom: Exile! Whoopdey doo!
2 chapters left! Review plz!
