Chapter 4: Horcrux Hunting
A year ago…
The ice captain narrowed his teal orbs over the imposing snow white marble building as he stood in the skies, invisible to all. Dressed in his shinigami robes and haori to display his status, Hitsugaya Toshiro closed his teal orbs to confirm his suspicions, isolating the dark reiatsu before revealing them a second later. The said orbs flicked back to their initial target, the Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
Where else to hide a Horcrux but at the most secure of wizarding buildings? Toshiro thought internally as he flicked out his own small golden key, small even in the captain's lithe fingers as his attention had caught something else. Hyorinmaru. Sephiroth. We are in the presence of another.
The ice dragons appeared in the Inner World as summoned as they too noticed the flow of reiatsu, two pairs of icy orbs widening at the recognition.
A dragon. Sephiroth growled as the ice captain and elder nodded.
It appears he serves as the last line of defense against thieves in Gringotts. Toshiro whispered.
Sephiroth rose an eyebrow, his icy blue orbs doing the same as his master. But why he would serve under the bank when he could fly in the heavens? Why would he subject himself into the depths of the earth when wings allow him flight?
Hyorinmaru growled silently. Young one, we are beings of loyalty to the point it is the embodiment of what we are; perhaps, it is best that we allow one of our dying kind to his wishes.
Yes. Toshiro agreed, but with a swift shunpo, appeared before the bank's tall and imposing wooden doors. But the Head Captain's orders and especially this one are to be obeyed. And perhaps, Sephiroth may not be wrong in his thoughts.
And with a soft sigh, the ice captain entered, teal orbs lingering at the silvery words engraved in the inner doors as the former transfer student read it, trailing behind a random wizard who had requested to see his vault.
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
A warning and a deterrent to thieves and wrongdoers who may potentially do so in future. The ice captain observed as he glanced at the array of goblins, all scowl-faced as they toiled over their respective papers, quills scribbling furiously. Ignoring the fumbling wizard in front of him, the ice captain soon found himself in the vaults of the famed bank, the passageways stone and dimly lit with flaming torches. Having left the random wizard and his goblin guide, the ice captain gazed in his surroundings, suspended near the roof of the caverns.
The dragon is deeper in the caverns. Sephiroth reported as the ice captain nodded. The Horcrux is also hidden in the same area, Master.
Following the caverns and seeing an occasional remains of a thief or unfortunate wanderer into the crevasses of the bank, the ice captain eventually came upon an isolated dungeon. Glancing at his dank surroundings, the chamber led to a larger one by the railing, appearing to run by a rapid yet small waterfall. Teal orbs narrowed over the seemingly innocent water, whispering a simple Invisibility spell on a stray pebble as the ice dragons rose an eyebrow at their master's actions.
Master? Hyorinmaru voiced as the ice captain elaborated.
It is the Thief's Downfall. Toshiro identified as he threw the now invisible rock past the flow of waters, only for it to reappear as it sailed past the water, breaking apart as it collided with the cave wall. Granger mentioned once, it is a defensive enchantment that washes away any concealment.
Would it work against you, Master? Sephiroth questioned as the ice captain thought for a moment before answering.
I do not know. Toshiro admitted. But I would rather not risk you being weakened by it if it does.
Rumbling in agreement, the ice dragons nodded as their master sidestepped the waterfall, appearing before a large vault, all three ice beings confirming the small but present dark reiatsu coming from within. Along with the feral one that nearing them with alarming speed.
He nears. Hyorinmaru growled in warning as the ice captain held his mask, heeding his wand guardian's and zanpakuto's warnings.
With a sickening stomp, the dragon appeared. Large and savage with spiked wings that were folded for too long, the ice captain was able to recognize it's kind, a Ukrainian Ironbelly, the largest dragon known to the Western Wizarding World. His once ruby red orbs were now a milky pink, as the ice captain could feel the anger in his person grow the more he observed the dragon. Scales dull in luster and flaky, the once handsome face of the dragon was scarred with vicious slashes from what could only be done by hot swords. At his rear legs, the fellow dragon bore heavy cuffs chained to iron pegs, hammered into the cavern floor.
Sensing the enormous fire in the dragon's belly, the ice captain forced himself to stand his ground, allowing the dragon ample time to take in the intruder.
"Who dares to enter my domain and trespass upon my lair?" The dragon growled fiercely as the ice captain rose an eyebrow, saying nothing as Sephiroth and Hyorinmaru appeared beside the captain, the serpentine and white dragon growling just as furiously.
"Watch your words, young one." Hyorinmaru growled as the guard dragon blinked at the ancientness of the voice. "You will to refer to my master with respect as I do, as a youngling and dragonling."
"You will stand down, Dragonling of the Serpens." Sephiroth continued as the dragon in question flinched at the title. "I am Sephiroth of the Fleurs, who serves the wizard and shinigami before you, my master, Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro of the Tenth Division, who is also master of Lord Hyorinmaru of the Heavens."
Bowing in respect immediately, the fire dragon allowed his steel-scaled body to relax. "My apologies, elders. I was not aware that you were still subservient to a master, for it has been many years since your deaths; Lord Sephiroth and Hyorinmaru."
"At ease, young one." Hyorinmaru relented as the zanpakuto nodded at his master. Toshiro seemed to hesitate for a split-second before allowing himself to nod back, teal orbs lidded as the ice captain retreated to his Inner World, the zanpakuto and wand guardian turning back to the fire dragon.
It couldn't have been more than several minutes until the ice dragons appeared before the ice captain once more in the icy landscape of the meadow, a new companion arriving with them in the tow, all in their humanoid forms. Transformed into the humanoid representation of his soul, the young man appeared to be the same age as Sephiroth, albeit a few years younger but still older than the ice captain.
The young man held an air of honor as he appeared before the ice captain, his blood-red orbs colored with anger and ferocious lust for destruction. Toshiro had seen those eyes before, it was the eyes of a monster with nothing to lose and would stop at nothing to destroy it's enemy. A mop of ebony locks nestled over the young man's yet coarsely handsome face, it's features pulled to a dark frown. Dressed for battle, the fire dragon wore ebony robes under steely armor, a white cravat around his neck as a belt and ruby clasp held his blade on his back. Meant to be wielded with two hands, the blade had a black leather hilt, a single large ruby at the end as the blade itself gleamed a ruby-tinted obsidian.
Gesturing for the young man to seat himself on a summoned ice throne that was warmer than the usual ice, the ice captain himself was seated on one, the ice dragons seated in ones as well on either side of the captain.
"Captain Hitsugaya of the Tenth Division." The young man greeted, his voice deep yet richly coarse. "I am Pyrrhus of the Serpens, one of the eldest in our dwindling clan."
The ice captain waved the formal words with a small shrug. "I am here to see within that vault in which you guard, Pyrrhus. What is it that you can tell me?"
"This vault belongs to the Lestrange Family, a Pure-blood wizarding family, subservient to Lord Voldemort. I assume you are referring to the strange energy within?" Pyrrhus nodded, as the ice captain rose an eyebrow.
"You are able to sense this?"
"I have guarded this vault before the reign of Lord Voldemort and longer, Captain Hitsugaya. Nothing occurs in these vaults without my notice."
"And of the goblins?"
"The goblins that have imprisoned me here are not kind, Captain Hitsugaya." Pyrrhus darkened as his company did the same, no matter how minuscule; from the growing frown of the captain and the soft growls of Hyorinmaru and Sephiroth. "A century ago, I was a youngling, still wet behind my ears as I took to the skies, masking at the beautiful heavens. But shortly after, due to a reckless wish to see them in times of capture, I was placed here, where I slowly grew with my scales dulled and my sight barely able to serve me."
"Do you wish leave from this prison?" Toshiro questioned, his expression indifferent.
"Do not take me for a fool, Captain Hitsugaya." Pyrrhus spoke, his ruby orbs narrow. "There is no gain without pain in compensation. What is it that you wish for return?"
Toshiro smirked ever so slightly as he hid his hands in his sleeves.
"Shall we deem negotiations, then; Pyrrhus?"
Toshiro was seated beside Lupin, a plate set out for him as the other inhabitants of the House of Black came down, seating themselves for the nightly meal. Meeting gazes with Moody, the ice captain merely shrugged with a knowing twinkle to the Auror's silent question as Mr. Weasley took the seat to his left, Sirius flanking him at the opposing end of the table. In the opposite end, the twins glared darkly at a ginger cat, to which was the source of the concurrent amusement between the ice captain and the Auror, Mrs. Weasley's children surrounding her as she prepared foods for all.
Passing a simple nod to the arrival of Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry; the ice captain turned to the table's main conversation, Mr. Weasley turning to him.
"It seems like your meeting with Fudge is to be before the entire Wizengamot, Hitsugaya." Mr. Weasley noted, as he read the letter having asked to see it several seconds ago.
"Wizengamot?" Toshiro questioned, bringing a cup of tea to his lips as the attention of the table turned to the ice captain and Mr. Weasley.
"Ah." The father of the Weasley family noted wisely, before explaining. "The Wizengamot is wizarding Britain's high court of law. They are the governing body that oversees hearings and trials of the Wizarding World."
So, another Central 46, then. Toshiro conjectured, closing his teal orbs for a moment before replying. "I see. I suppose they wish to address the issue of the renegade Dementors, Potter and I had encountered."
"I don't understand, doesn't the Ministry control the Dementors?" Harry cut in as eyes turned to him. "What were they doing at Privet Drive?"
"Exactly, Potter." Toshiro deadpanned, his voice carrying in the silence. "Why would Dementors that the Ministry of Magic controls be doing in your neighborhood, when you, coincidentally enough, happen to be? What are the chances of that were to occur?"
Green orbs narrowed, as the boy picked up the words. For his sake, the ice captain hoped he did, at least. "I don't understand. What does the Ministry have against me?"
There was some hope for the boy, after all.
"Show him." Moody all but ordered. "He'll find out about it soon enough."
Confused, Harry surveyed others in the room, all avoiding his eyes other than Hitsugaya, Mr. Weasley, Lupin, Moody, Black, and Shacklebolt; who pulled out the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. Reading the title, the Boy Who Lived looked all of the occupants incredulously.
The Boy Who Lies? It read before shifting to, Fudge: "All is Well."
"There have been several articles on Dumbledore as well." Black said dully, as if trying to comfort his godson, but realizing halfway, it was also bad news before continuing.
"Fudge is using all his power, including his influence at the Daily Prophet." Black continued, the ice captain refilling his teacup, appearing unaffected by the tension. "To smear anyone who claims that the Dark Lord has returned."
"Why?" Harry questioned.
"The minister thinks Dumbledore is after his job." Lupin revealed his voice hinted with sardonic undertone as Harry looked at his former professor with a ridiculed expression.
"What? That's insane, no one in their right mind would believe that Dumbledore…"
"Exactly the point." Lupin interrupted, as Toshiro watched, glancing at Moody who did the same to the ice captain. "Fudge isn't in his right mind. It's been twisted and warped by fear. Now, fear makes people do terrible things, Harry. The last time Lord Voldemort gained power, he almost destroyed everything we held most dear. Now that he has returned, and I'm afraid that the minister will do almost anything to avoid facing that terrible truth."
"But, there is a factor that we did not see coming." Black nodded, as the attention turned back to the ice captain. "Hitsugaya's timely arrival."
"What does Hitsugaya being here have to do with anything?"
"I would think you would recall my deal with Cornelius Fudge, Potter. After all, you were there with Granger and Weasley with the rest of my extended family." Toshiro shrugged, as he explained, noting the confused expressions. "Shortly before my departure from Hogwarts, I had made an arrangement with the Ministry of Magic, that with my induction to Hogwarts, interrelations with the Western and Eastern Wizards may be negotiable. With the condition that I was not to be harmed during my stay in Hogwarts and in exchange, the Eastern Wizarding World would not invade the Western one along with my teachings, relations could even be friendly."
"However, due to several events during the year, the Ministry and Dumbledore were unable to keep their side of the arrangement." Toshiro explained swiftly, this clearly news to all. "But, instead of invading the Ministry, my grandfather decided on a compromise, seal away all Dementors in control of the Ministry other than Azkaban, and we would reconsider relations and my previously renounced re-entry to Hogwarts."
"And with the appearance of Dementors at Privet Drive…" Harry trailed off, his green eyes widening at the ice captain, who hid a hint of a smirk.
"Wait." Hermione cut in. "Renounced re-entry?"
Toshiro shrugged. "My grandfather was preoccupied with other circumstances on the home front and as his heir apparent, I was too much of a target and liability to be halfway across the world to be attending the Halls of Hogwarts. And at the moment, my father and grandfather were less than pleased with the Western Wizarding World."
"Then how are you here now?" Ron blurted as a number of others glanced at the boy's lack of tact. But to their surprise, the white-haired child smirked.
"That's because with the new appearance of the Dementors, I can potentially declare war on the Ministry of Magic on behalf of why grandfather allowed me to 'visit'." Toshiro finished, all eyes on him. "With a clear violation of their agreement, I tracked the appearance of the Dementors, interfered, and had negotiated with the Headmaster to re-enter Hogwarts in another agreement."
"So, that's why the Ministry wants to meet with you, Hitsugaya?" Hermione nodded as she gestured to the letter in Mr. Weasley's hands. "To play diplomacy with you?"
"Perhaps." The ice captain shrugged, his expression indifferent before he turned to Harry with narrowed eyes for a moment before turning to Mr. Weasley and Black, addressing the former. "Mr. Weasley; is it possible for me to have a witness in stand-by to enter the meeting?"
"A witness?" Lupin echoed, raising an eyebrow in confusion just as everyone else in the room did the same, clearly confused.
"I… don't see why not, Hitsugaya, but why…?"
"Call it a precaution." The ice captain merely replied, before disappearing in a soft pop, startling a number of the patrons as he Apparated away.
The ice captain hung up from his call, having reported to the Head Captain when a soft knock echoed into the room, the captain's quarters for the time being. Closing the phone, the ice captain replaced the phone before bidding the guest entrance with a snap of his fingers. With a swing of the door, a pair of familiar heads poked in.
"'Gaya!"
"It's Hitsugaya to the both of you."
"You're as stiff as ever, aren't; Hitsugaya?" One of the twins sneered as the other snaked over to the ice captain, unmoved from his seat as he sipped his tea, appearing indifferent to the two. "You hear everything from Lupin and Black?"
"Right before your mother began to argue that I was too young, yes." The ice captain nodded, aware that the twins became of age this year. "And I suppose the two of you are in the Order as well, despite being in your last year?"
"Mum's overprotective a tad." Fred supplied as George continued. "She's always been like that. Would have taken in a whole bunch of abandoned pups, if Georgie didn't levitate them out for practice."
"She doesn't even know me." Toshiro replied bluntly.
"Don't matter." Fred shrugged as he reached for a cookie as George finished up the thought. "You're on the skinny side, an orphan, and sma… — George faltered at the icy glare pointed at him — …young for your year at least in appearance wise."
"I can see why she would be so protective over the two of you." The ice captain nodded, ignoring the mockingly, incredulous looks shot at him. "But I have no blood relation nor have I known her for long enough for her worry over like Professor McGonagall or Lupin for that matter."
"She does the same for Harry." The twins supplied as the ice captain shrugged, placing aside the issue for now.
"Speaking of 'arry, heard you saved him and his cousin."
"Hmn." The ice captain hummed, as he pulled out a thin brush, scrawling a note in Japanese as Fred peered over at the neat and small calligraphy, the other twin continuing to speak.
"And word is that you're joining the Order as well, Hitsugaya."
"That is confidential between us, Weasley." Toshiro retorted, his teal orbs still on the parchment. "I would rather not the three of them bother me for details of things not for their ears."
"I thought you would be for letting Harry, 'Mione, and Ron to be informed about the Order's plans, Hitsugaya." Fred noted as the ice captain looked up from his paperwork.
"Normally, I would have no qualms informing the three of them." Toshiro explained. "However, Potter, Granger, and your younger brother are better off if I were to leave them cryptic hints and be leading them to their answers. Information in this case is dangerous, and to be frank, the three of them are anything but subtle. And your mother has a point, they are children who do not have any freedom to execute magic outside of the school year, and have the capabilities of a Fifth Year as of current."
"How about you?" George pointed out.
"I am not restricted by the Ministry because I am not from here and hold reasonable influence to bypass things as I wish and are ordered to. And I have read every book in the Hogwarts library, and have mastered spells of N.E.W.T. level in my Third Year, which is technically my First Year." Toshiro stated, his tone matter of fact, without a hint of arrogance.
"Geez, 'Gaya. From the way you say things, the next thing you know, you're going to tell us that you're actually a ghost who has come to haunt us from the dead." Fred teased as the captain shot the twin an unimpressed glare, ignoring the laughter from his ice dragons as he corrected the twin on his name once more, for which he was promptly ignored.
"Or that you're a Muggle spy; like that one chap that 'Arry was telling us about!" George piped up, as Fred nodded. "The one with like the cool gadgets that the Muggles made up."
"Jim, right?"
"Or was it, Jeff?"
"I think it was, Jerry."
"Let's just call him, Jack."
"How about —…"
"If you're going to talk about nonsense, I suggest you do this outside of my presence, Weasley." Toshiro cut in, his voice cold as usual with a tinge of annoyance.
"Don't act like you're not interested, 'Gaya."
"It's Hitsugaya to the both of you." Toshiro glared as he snapped his fingers, the door of his room opening. And with a swift Kido spell that used a bit of reiatsu, the twins were promptly out of the room, the click of the lock banning their entrance into the room.
Before they had the idea, a cold voice echoed into the hall.
"You will only be running into a barrier if you try to Apparate or use Floo Powder to get in."
Why the bloody hell did he have to make it so hard to play a prank on him?
Toshiro looked up from his paperwork the next morning, within the musty and damp contents of his temporary quarters, having taken up the aged desk as his work place. Just as he was finished with another form, the doors sounded with a large bang, as if something had ran into the door, expecting it to open with the upmost confidence. Raising an eyebrow at the string of curses, the ice captain contemplated for a moment whether he should open it.
I don't think I can hold back throwing something at Mrs. Weasley if she calls me a child again. The ice captain growled as the ice dragons nodded in agreement recalling the remarks of their individual powers. However, as a mother, it is not surprising that she would act that way.
So, what will you do, Master? Sephiroth voiced as he gestured to the door, Hyorinmaru's gaze expectant.
I would have to tolerate it. Toshiro shrugged, replacing his pen and piles of paperwork before locking up his things, satisfying his ice dragons with that answer for now. For as long as I would need to for now, but she seems to have gotten the message to leave me be for now.
Swinging open the door and catching sight of who ran into his door, the ice captain held back a thin sigh.
Sporting red welts on their respective foreheads, the Weasley twins were sprawled in front of the door, with the Golden Trio and their younger sister laughing at their position, failing at stifling it aside. Quirking an eyebrow, Toshiro looked to Potter. "Tried to Apparate into my room?"
A nod with a hint of an amused smile was given as a response before the twins shot up, faces in mock anger.
"'Gaya! You're so mean! Why'd you have to put up a bloody barrier?!" Fred cried before George took over, brushing a tear from his eyes. "And to think we were going to wake you with our melodious voices and adoring wake up call!"
"I refuse that offer and with all fairness, I warned the both of you." Toshiro replied bluntly, ignoring the twins as he turned to the other four, still snickering. "So, what are all of you doing out here outside my quarters for? I doubt all of you have business with me."
"Mum insisted that all of us clean up the house a bit." Ron grumbled, as the ice captain noted the set of cleaning supplies off to the side. "Without magic. This is going to take forever!"
Glancing at the grimaces at the children's faces and the mischievous looks from the twins, the ice captain did not doubt those words for a completely different reason. After several hours of dusting, sweeping, and reorganizing the mess of the House of Black that rivaled the Room of Requirement in levels of a mess, the ice captain found himself wanting a shower. Covered in grime and dust that could have been older than himself, Toshiro excused himself with an icy glare for good measure to them all to deter any complaints, entering the closest room with slight haste.
Only to find Mundungus Fletcher look up at him with dinner-plated wide eyes, as if caught doing something that he was not suppose to. It was then that the ice captain sensed it, a dark reiatsu in the air.
A Horcrux. Toshiro identified as Hyorinmaru and Sephiroth were roused immediately. Where and how did it escape me from notice?
There, Master. Hyorinmaru nodded, as the teal orbs narrowed at the golden jewelry in the wizard's hands. The Locket of Salazar Slytherin. Flickering to the wizard who flinched at the scrutiny, the white-haired captain paid no heed.
The half-blood wizard was short in comparison to his cohorts; not much taller than the white-haired child before him. His hair was long and straggly ginger; eyes bloodshot and lugged with purplish bags, one could argue that he had less sleep than the ice captain. But for differing reasonings, of course. The wizard was shaking slightly, indicated by his grubby hands and possible lack of suitable alcohol and tobacco smoke, despite reeking of the drugs.
"Fletcher." The ice captain addressed, the tone icy and condescending. "I suggest you put down that down."
"W-Why the blimey should I give you the locket?" The thief stuttered, fumbling in his steps as Toshiro quirked an eyebrow.
"I never said anything about a locket."
"… Hit-su-gaya, y-you'd keep quiet 'bout this, wouldn't cha?" Mundungus half-begged and insisted, nearing the captain who noted the growing revolting stench. "… Not a word to Sirius or Remus, ri-right?"
"That depends." Toshiro shrugged, almost idly as if he was slightly amused by the wizard's flinch at the yew wand at his jugular, the sharp tip nicking the sweat covered skin. "Do you recall my words in the meeting of the previous night?"
The words rang clearly once more as the thief's bloodshot orbs widened.
"Exactly, Fletcher." Toshiro nodded icily. "Your loyalty may be towards Dumbledore, but mine is in neither. I can careless about the Western Wizards as I have made clear, and therefore, you. So, drop the locket and then, I will contemplate on ignoring your shady actions."
A sweet clink and the locket met the floorboards.
"Begone from my sight."
With a loud crack, the thieving wizard was gone, leaving the ice captain and the Horcrux within the Locket of Slytherin. Unwinding his scarf and nestling the Horcrux in his hands, a voice sounded, foreign in the ears of the ice dragons and Master alike as the cold metal of the locket brushed the ice captain's fingers.
It must be unfair.
What? The ice captain answered, more bewildered than confused; unaware of the suspicious glances between his ice dragons as he found himself in his Inner World, the icy expanse enveloping as the ice dragons hovered over their master, in their dragon forms. Who are you? How did you—?
Does it really matter? Does any of what you are doing really matter, Captain Hitsugaya of the Tenth Division? As a shinigami, you protect and save others, in their lives or afterlives, and what exactly do you get in return? The voice questioned, chuckling at the ice captain's flinch at his friend's mention, as thin angry veins of a deep violet began to crack into the ice at the captain's feet. Kusaka's death? Hinamori Momo's mental deterioration? The near deaths of all your colleagues all for Aizen? Sounds like a wonderful salary.
Red began to mar the ice captain's vision as Sephiroth and Hyorinmaru began to growl, their master oblivious as the fissures only grew deeper.
Kill them. Why risk your life to protect them? Weren't they as foolish as you said they were in the first place? Wasn't Soul Society no better than the depths of Hell itself, just as you said? Allow them to suffer just as you did. Let know true agony and allow the bloodlust of your enemies be spilt.
Kill…them…? The ice captain repeated, almost hypnotically, teal orbs glazed under the veil of his white bangs.
Run them through with your zanpakuto. Conjure and torture with the darkest of spells. You are the Master of the Ivory Wand, who would dare defy you? And as the Master of the Heavens, who dares to breathe within your subjugation of the heavens? Not even the ones who desire to be God…
None… The ice captain thought slowly, a sickened grin slacking over his lips before it disappeared, a massive roar of two enraged ice dragons taking the ice captain from the voice's allure.
Begone from this realm, trespasser! Hyorinmaru roared, his icy voice dark and dangerously hostile as he hissed. You dare to whisper to my master and will him to his self-destruction, and for that you will be fortunate to perish for the abomination you are, scum!
As if to pause in a millisecond to reply, the voice had no chance as the ice dragons hovered over their master, turning into their humanoid forms; Hyorinmaru bodily shielding a dazed Toshiro in his icy claws as Sephiroth snarled into the air, the weather responding in a storm of wintery turbulence.
Do not test us, Horcrux. Sephiroth growled. You are nothing more but a sliver of Dark Magic, my master is one who is one or better yet, several levels above your disgusting presence. Now as we command, begone from this realm!
A dark chuckle echoed as the voice seemed to reascend, becoming fainter as it was forced out. But none the less, the ice captain heard it all too well. Oh, so protective. The Heavenly Guardian, indeed, is one hard to tamper with, but protect your master well; Ruler of the Frozen Heavens and Guardian of the Ivory Wand. After all, I was able to make him take a look at what he was missing. All of the potential you withhold, Captain Hitsugaya, would make even Aizen tremble with fear at your potential.
And with a mad giggle, the voice was gone.