Warnings: this and that but nothing much.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Bleach.

After a long soak in the dragon's hot springs followed by a large meal thanks to Toshiro, who disappeared again soon after, Hyorinmaru had taken the orangette aside and lead him further into their cavern home. the two walked in silence the dragon never turning to see if the orangette was still following.

Ichigo was fine with that he had been trying to understand the two dragons. While Toshiro was something similar to the ice Captain the dragon tended to act a bit more childishly and seem prone to be very vocal at times and unlike the small captain this dragon Toshiro was even more prone to act out on emotional responses. Though Ichigo himself couldn't say much on that since he tended to do the same; he would like to have thought he had gotten better at reigning that impulse in. The elder dragon was more confusing, since Hyorinmaru was a zanpakuto back in his old world he had no idea how to compare the two. Except if he counted that time with the zanpakuto rebelling and nearly got crushed by that one's ice pillars but he could see that the blade was very loyal to the small Captain and very protective.

'it wouldn't surprise me if this one was just as bad as the other when it comes to Toshiro,' Ichigo mentally snicker. 'I should properly watch my step then.'

The further they went into the cavern the dimmer the ghost lights became until Ichigo had to grab hold of the trailing scarf so not to get lost in the darkness.

"I am sorry I forgot that humans have poor eyesight in the dark," came the ice dragon's apology. He hadn't turned around to see that Ichigo was having trouble nor did he say anything when Ichigo had grab the scarf. He did slow down though so that Ichigo wouldn't rush to keep up and maybe fall. "We need to be careful there are some ice cliffs coming up please watch you footing."

"ice cliffs!" the orangette stops dead in his tracks only to be pulled along. "You want to walk on ice cliffs in the dark? Are you insane!?"

"I can see the edge just fine if you wish I can carry you till we reach our destination," Hyorinmaru said.

"Nnno that's fine," Ichigo did not want to be carried.

"then please keep close," the dragon said as he continued on.

To Ichigo it seemed that the dragon had traverse the route they were on many times so it really shouldn't surprise the orangette that Hyorinmaru knew his way in the dark. What felt like hours but in truth was only thirty minutes they came upon a small tunnel. It looked to be a bit cramp for someone Hyorinmaru's size. It looked that way for someone Ichigo's size but if the orangette was surprise when they entered and neither head hit the ceiling he didn't say.

"I brought you here to ask something of you Ichigo," the dragon broke the silence turning fully to face the teen. "There is a secret that only a few know about dragons in general."

Ichigo waited but took to looking around him. the room they were in was not small but not big and what caught his attention was three pillars that held three jewels. Two if which were shining very brightly while the other was dim and cloudy.

"Those are called soul gems," Hyorinmaru's voice drew Ichigo away from the gems. "Not many know about them and only a few humans come looking for them. when a dragon is born the gems are hidden underneath the skin until a dragon hits maturity. When a dragon is alive and healthy it shines when one dies it becomes dull losing its radiance. Without a soul gem a dragon slowly dies or becomes insane. The gems are like a piece of our souls or to some our hearts."

"So one is Toshiro's and yours but whose is the other one belong too?" Ichigo asks not liking where this was going.

Hyorinmaru stepped behind one gem that was a bright white with stripes of teal.

"this is Toshiros, and before you ask it's because he isn't a full dragon that his soul gem isn't attach yet. Because of his human blood his gem was separated but I believe that when he is older that he'll be able to use the powers that his gem possesses." He says fondly.

He then steps behind the two others and his expression turns sad.

"These two are mine," he says placing a clawed hand over both gems.

"Huh? But I thought that a dragon can only have one?" Ichigo interrupts.

"Yes that is true however, this is why I am in need of your help." He says turning teal eyes on the orangette. "I am dying; I have slowed it down but soon my time will end. As you can see one of the gems is crack and dull but I have been placing my powers into another for Toshiro for when he is older but I'm afraid that I won't live that long to give it to him."

"So you're asking me to give him the gem?"

"In a way yes, but not in the way you might be thinking. You see Ichigo in order for this gem to be able to pass on to Toshiro is if it still connected to a living soul. What I am asking Ichigo is would you allow this gem to be placed on your body until such time that Toshiro can reclaim it."

"What?"

"I am asking if you would let me placed this gem-

"I heard you but why are you asking me this? Wouldn't someone who was another dragon be better or maybe giving it to Toshiro now?"

Hyorinmaru shook his head in the negative. He takes the healthy white gem the represents his power and hands it out to Ichigo. The white gem glowing as it neared the orangette

"No another dragon will only hoard it and would never give it back and others humans will only use it for greed. But you Ichigo are not like other humans. Your soul tells me that you would not take the power and use it for yourself. It won't affect you; you are only the container and you can use a portion of its power but Toshiro is the only one who can access the full power of it." The dragon places the gem near the orangette. "Please."

His words while not a plea had Ichigo reeling he couldn't understand why Hyorinmaru would ask someone he just met to do something like that. Ichigo wasn't sure if he even wanted to do it to begin with to him it felt like he was intruding on an another family's affair.

"I don't think that I am the best to be asking this," he says truthfully. "I think that you shouldn't think that you won't be around for Toshiro so you should just wait."

"I see, if that is what you feel then." The dragon says dejectedly.

Ichigo winch at the others tone as he finally saw how ill the other looked. But he was sticking to his choice one part being that he didn't want any more trouble following him and the other being that he thought that Hyorinmaru would still be living long enough for Toshiro to claim the gem and he figure that the two needed to have a little talk. Unbeknownst to Ichigo was that when they were leaving the cave Hyorinmaru had grab two of the three gems.

The walk back is awkward to say the least. Ichigo did feel bad that he couldn't help but he also felt that he wasn't his place. There are other better people out there that could help more than him. once they were back in the main cavern Hyorinmaru stops at one of the smaller caves.

"This will be your room until it is safe to return you back to the bottom of the mountain." He says.

"But I need to get back now, Kaien might be in a lot of trouble and my zanpakuto is still in that village." Ichigo says.

"I understand that you want to help your brother but the weather won't allow any to move freely in it. Even I can't fly safely in those winds now. Take heart that that villagers won't do anything until the weather allows it." He said then he continues on away from the stun orangette.

"Wait!"

"If you try to leave human then I will be force to make you stay," the dragon turned his voice full of authority.

"Screw that I need to get back now and-ACK!"

Ichigo didn't finish as he was roughly shoved into his new room by the ice dragon and before he could get to his feet Hyorinmaru had sealed the entry with several layers of ice that fixed itself after each time that Ichigo manage to make a crack in it.

"This ice barrier cannot be taken down by force human so sit tight until I return." The dragon said as he left.

"Son of a; get back here!" Ichigo shouted continuing to beat on the ice. "Hyorinmaru let me out! shit."

Ichigo continue to hit the ice wall until his knuckles became bloody shouting trying to get either dragons attention. He soon had to stop once his voice could no longer work and his energy finally reached nil. During all his commotion not once did Ichigo take notice of a small lump at the hollow of his throat nor that that was the area that Hyorinmaru had touched him when he was shoved. If he had he would have realized what the dragon had done and would have been infuriated that the dragon had taken his decision out of his hands.

He slumps against the ice wall resting his head. He tried to find ways out but came up with nothing. After another hour Ichigo got up and went to the fur cover bed. Mind and body too tired to keep up Ichigo falls asleep.

Outside his icy prison Hyorinmaru watches before going into the room followed by Toshiro. The smaller dragon saw the small lump on Ichigo and glared at his brother.

"Even though he said no you still went and did it; why brother? I am old enough to take my gem."

"I have my reason Toshiro and it is not your soul gem but another that he carries." The larger dragon said cryptically.

The white dragon knew that he was being told a half-truth but trusted his brother.

"So what are you going to do with him now?" Toshiro asks instead.

"I don't know; I guess that he will stay until the weather permits us to leave." the larger said.

"Fine by me," Toshiro said as he left the room but he cast a worried glance back at his brother.

Despite what his brother may think Toshiro was anything but blind to his surroundings. He could tell that something was wrong with his brother and had a foreboding feeling. He had hope that his elder brother would confine in him instead of an outsider.

"Toshiro," he heard his brother call. But when he turns to face him he is hit hard but him making him fall unconscious.

"forgive me brother," he heard Hyorinmaru say before darkness took him.

Hyorinmaru picked up his brother removing his hand that he had across the smaller one's forehead revealing a teal stripe white gem. He watches as it sinks beneath Toshiro's skin as he places him on the bed with Ichigo before sealing up the opening again.

What he had told no one was that he kept one power to himself when he had given the others to the replacement gem. This power he is able to see a little into the future and what he saw coming is what had driven his actions with both Toshiro and Ichigo. He already knew that he will not survive the coming onslaught of hunters and he rather that Toshiro never meet the one responsible for the scar on his face.

The dragon suppresses the memory of the hunter that scared him in the attempt to take his soul gem. It was due to his age and powers that he had been able to slow down the effects until now. Taking a deep breath Hyorinmaru begins to used what strength he has left as dark clouds cover an already cloudy sky.

oOooOooOooOooOooOo

Harsh winds blew through the village as the magic shield that once protected it fell apart. The Head Man of the village had been raging on who was the one responsible but no one had yet to find the person. What they didn't know was that the capture Prince had broken out of his cell and as a way to get in contact with certain people had used what magic he knew to take down the shield. It was also an act of vengeance.

Kaien of course had to keep his presence hidden, keeping his face covered by a deep hooded cloak, and had to return to his cell often so not to have the village ring the alarm. He wanted to take the place by surprise. He also still needed to find both Nejibana and Ichigo's Zangetsu. He was hoping to use the blade to find the orangette but it was taking him longer to find the damn thing then he liked.

It was why he was currently risking capture again that he was back in the inn tavern listening in on the gossip. He was also hoping that the Espada that was supposed to be close by would come by here where he could make contact.

The last few nights he had heard nothing of value. Tonight however he heard two things made his day and one thing only caused him a headache. Two drunk guards let slip where his trident and Ichigo's so called curse blade was and that two new comers were staying in another inn. what worried the raven was the name of another new comer one that was known to be ruthless and an infamous poacher.

Cang Du.

A hunter, mercenary, outlaw, and poacher to name a few that the man is known by. The most recently was the story of his attack on an ice dragon severely injuring it before it could get away. Unfortunately, the story couldn't be proven. If it could the man would be rotting in some cell somewhere. Isshin didn't take to criminals' well. All that he could do without proof though was banish him but is seemed that the hunter had been ignoring it.

'well I can take a wild guess as to why he is here,' Kaien though frowning. 'I have to hurry before this gets too out of hand.' The raven frowned even more when the Head man greeted the hunter.

'surprise surprise,' Kaien thought sarcastically. 'I guess that is to be expected need a dragon to be taken care of get someone who was known to hunt them.'

Deciding that staying longer would be a bad idea Kaien paid, with money that was graciously taken from the guard guarding his cell, and left the tavern. Keeping his head down as he walked the village streets before scoping out the building that house the two weapons before heading towards the inn that other new comers were staying in.

'I wonder who came? I hope it was someone in the top four hell even someone below Grimmjow would be helpful.'

"Damn it Stark wake up! Now is not the time to be sleeping!"

'guess that answers my question,' Kaien sweat drop at the shouting that he could hear from outside the inn.

He was thinking of just entering the front but he rather like the idea of scaling the wall. It didn't take long to find the right window.

"Not now Lilinette," came a lazy drawl.

Kaien would have snicker if a hand hadn't shot out of the window and dragged him back in.

"Look what was outside," the voice belonging to the first rank Espada, Coyote Stark said.

"Let me deal with him I'll find out what we want to know," his little sister Lilinette said.

Kaien started to sweat the girl's techniques to get people to tell anything were legendary back home and the raven wanted none of it.

"I rather you two didn't," he piped up. "Otherwise you wouldn't get paid."

"Ah your highness, so good of you to find us. makes it easier," Stark yawned.

"You wuss getting caught. And where is the other nit wit that was with you?" his sister asks.

"Ah well that's the thing stuff happen and I need help otherwise you wouldn't have been called," Kaien said avoiding the details.

Stark wasn't convinced, "anything else you care to mention Prince?"

"uh well Ichigo and I got drugged and while I was being prepared to be sold off he was sacrifice to the local dragon and now there is a dragon poacher fixing to head up and both our weapons are in another building and I was going to try and beat the hunting party there but I was wanting extra help." The raven said in one breath.

The Espada just stared at the Prince before Stark sighed. "Shinji was right that kid is a magnet for trouble, I guess it's a good thing then that I got Harribell and her group to head in this direction."

The last bit of news was surprising and good to hear. Kaien was glad that the officer thought ahead.

"Will she be here in time? I don't know when they are heading up and I have no idea if Ichigo is okay," the raven was itching to head out and quickly as possible.

"With the weather she might be held up, but if lily stays here the girls can deal with the village while you and me rescues the kid."

"Aww Stark I don't want to stay here I want to bash heads." The girl whines.

"I need you here Lilinette, so no arguing."

"Fine," Lilinette pouted.

Stark glance back at the Prince before getting up and holstering his twin guns.

"First I guess we get your weapons then we'll trek up a mountain in blinding snow in the dark, then face off an ice dragon that could mistake us for the village hunting party that it most likely knows is coming." He stops watching the raven. "Or we get your weapons then wait and follow the hunting party and once they reach the lair; let them deal with the dragon while we snatch the kid and get out of there. How does that sound?"

"Let's go with the second option," the raven slumped. Knowing that the First rank officer had a point.

"Glad we agree," the brunette said going back to his bed before the two other people in the room heard snoring.

"Well I guess that's that," Kaien said looking towards the girl.

"Yeah well try again later," she growled.

"I can't stay since I don't want them to find me missing yet. I 'll try again tomorrow but if he wants to go early have him find me in the village cells." He said from the window. One foot already out.

"Whatever," Lilinette said waving him off.

Kaien gave no other acknowledgement as he jumps down to the ground not caring that he just drops from the third story window. He quietly and quickly made his way back to his cell but soon had to double time it when he sees both the Head Man and Cang Du heading in the same direction. He just makes it when the two open the door. He hid his face and acted like his was sleeping.

"And here is the other one we came across. We kept him and gave the other to the dragon." He heard the village Chief say with pride.

"are you sure that no one will miss them?"

"Even if there is anyone it'll be awhile before then and by that time it'll be too late," The chieftain laugh.

"He seems to be too docile, have you had any trouble with him?"

"No only his brother had any fire, that orange hair brat even has a curse sword that takes the hand that tries to wield it."

"Oh, then consider it part of my fee then, but I'll still get the dragon." The poacher said before turning to leave.

"Ah, yes of course." The chieftain said hesitantly.

Kaien blew out a whoosh of air as the door closed. He had been worried there for a minute. Luckily, the poacher hadn't got in the cell to get a closer look but he was certain that the poacher was specious of him.

He had to get out of this village soon and get Ichigo back to the castle. Maybe there was something to the idea of keeping the orangette in the castle walls from now on.

He gets comfortable only intending to take a short cat nap before trying to reclaim his and Ichigo's weapons. Knowing that only Ichigo and quite possibly him and Shiro could pick it up was a small comfort.

'why does things have to get so damn complicated,' Kaien sighed.

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Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.