Christmas Nightmare
~Awkward~
Staring at that crazy looking Santa, Ichimaru couldn't help but feel frightened. That one Espada, happened to have one of the greatest powers among all of them. Within the man's grip, Toshiro was struggling. "I used to be Santa you know."
Ichimaru couldn't help but feel his stomach lurch, from the site of his small child, being shook, almost like a rag doll. He had seen many things going on in the small child's mind, including his first crush, perhaps the fact his son finding his soul mate, to this. "Sheesh... chibi taicho... you need to curb your imagination."
He jumped in surprise, as the skull faced Baraggan launched a kido spell at him. Yes, Toshiro, when he really wanted to be, always had a rater wild imagination, and didn't always think things through. He couldn't help but pipe up, hoping that it might help the situation, as Toshiro's mind was in truth in control. "Let me ask you, how is an Espada supposed to know kido? Huh?"
"That is a good question," the boy responded, glaring at the man, as his mind tried wrapping around it. However, that should have been a warning sign to Gin, as he knew very well, what kind of circles the boy's mind might go in.
"Because I used to be Santa before I became hollowfied." The ex-Espada's response made Ichimaru what to palm slap his own face. To put it simply, Toshiro was using the logic of a child, to allow his fears to run rampant.
"Gin!" The boy hissed out his dismay, turning to him, fright in his child's eyes. Though, when this was over, the silver haired man knew he would never admit it.
Ichimaru let out a sigh. "Your dream kiddo, your logic, not mine... mine would have said... Santa become hollow, Santa lose kido ability." His mind wrapped around the logic that in a child's fantasy story, there was a huge separation of good and evil. Children feared when the two blended together. Of course, Toshiro had experienced this first hand through a good portion of his life.
"But this isn't a dream... it is in fact reality." Baraggan was really starting to annoy Ichimaru about the whole thing.
"Ah... posh it's not... don't even begin to believe this guy." Gin, in his own mind, begged Toshiro not to buy into the crap the fake Santa was peddling. Then again, leave this kind of dream, to the one kid, who never had gotten Christmas.
Baraggan though, began to shake Toshiro, and spill out another lie. "You know... I wouldn't have been turned hollow, if you had just simply believed."
"Believed in what!" While Toshiro didn't know what was going on, Gin knew that the fake Santa was leading to, much to his dismay. It was getting harder to get words in edge wise, possibly because the small taicho was really panicking now, without realizing it. The child simply couldn't control his emotions.
"Let me think, you never believed in me, you never believed in Christmas at all. You would just sit back, and let it go by, every year, taking sole enjoyment in watching others enjoy the season, but never really enjoying it yourself."
"Shut the fuck up!" The small boy snapped out, trying to get lose. If it weren't for the situation, Gin would have found that whole thing humerus The debacle continued, becoming harder, causing Ichimaru to speak up, telling the small taicho not to listen to him. However, the tirade went on. "My Christmas wish, is to find my parents that don't even exist anymore!"
Ichimaru found himself flinching at this, his eyes opening wide. Never in his life, had it occurred to him, that his son had desperately wanted something. Baraggan smirked. "Don't worry... I can send you to your death so you can see them!"
Gin found himself yelling out the boy's name, as Baraggan released his attack. His face twisted in horror, as he saw his own child, die in front of him.
At that point, Ichimaru sat up, the futon sheets falling away from him, his upper clothing laying beside his bedding. He faced the doorway, just as Jinta opened it up, letting the sunshine in, and making him realize he and the small taicho had slept in for some time. He glared at the red headed boy, only to receive a glare back. "Leave..."
At that, Jinta closed the door with a slam, and Gin placed a hand on his forehead, brushing away some of his silver hair. Glancing next to him, he saw that the small taicho had moved from his own futon during the night, and into his. His face twisted into a more realistic smile. "Shiro-chan..."
Toshiro moved a bit in his sleep. "Chichi..."
This startled Ichimaru, as he watched the small child, a frown passing over his face. He lay back down, and brushed some white strands of hair away from the teal eyes. "Toshiro... it's time to wake up."
At that, the two eyes opened up. The child taicho startled, sitting up himself, fright or irritation written on his face. "What..."
"You're the one who crawled into my futon last night, silly," Gin stated, sitting back up again, watching as the small boy's face turned red, and he began to move away. However, Ichimaru grabbed him, and pulled him into his lap. "Not so fast. I want to know how you're doing today." One hand reached up to scratch, only to be pushed away. "No itching."
Toshiro held out his hand, and watched as it shook rapidly "i really need to get my reiatsu replenished..."
"You never have been good at controlling it, have you?" Gin reached up and rubbed his head.
"You weren't effected by it?" Toshiro blinked a couple of times.
"No..." Ichimaru wrapped his arms around the small boy's chest, and leaned his head against the top of Toshiro's head. "I promise that I am going to protect you, to the best of my ability."
The small taicho found himself flinching. "You were acting so obtuse about your involvement yesterday."
"I was still in your dream world, when he got you kid. I saw you die in front of my eyes," Gin closed his eyes, simply keeping a tight hold on the child, and not speaking his mind, lest he give the boy the wrong idea.
It was then, that Tessai came into the room, with a bowl of rice porridge. "I sensed that the young taicho's reiatsu is having some problems. This should help get up his strength" When he had set it down to the side of the other two males, he got up and left.
Toshiro wiggled his way out of Gin's grip. "You can go get something to eat."
"I'm fine," Gin stated. "I've eaten more regularly then you, and I can better control my reiatsu better then you. Unlike you, I'm almost recovered." Hitsugaya's hand reached down, to pick up the spoon, only to have it shake uncontrollably Ichimaru took it from him, and scooped some food up. "Here..."
Instead of complying, Toshiro gave him a rather irritated look. "I didn't ask for your..." The bite was shoved into his mouth, and then the silver haired man thumped Toshiro hard on the forehead with the spoon.
"Seriously... you might not have asked for my help, but..." Gin found his head turning, as the door open. The orange haired substitute soul reaper was in the door way, along with Rukia. "It seems we have guests."
"Hey... Toshiro, how are you doing?" Ichigo asked, glaring at the man, as did the Kuchiki girl. "I still don't trust you Ichimaru."
Both came in, and sat near by. Rukia glanced the small taicho up and down, noting the visible rash on the small child's body. "That looks pretty bad."
"Hopefully the worst is over," Gin stated firmly, spooning up more food. "Open up."
Instead, Toshiro clamped his mouth shut, and turned his head away, his cheeks puffing out in ire. Ichigo shook his head. "Come on... Toshiro can feed himself."
"Really? You think I should put a spoon in his hand?" Ichimaru stated firmly, then said something that surprised every one. "Of, if a Hollow comes, maybe I should just place his zampaktuo straight into his hand, so that he can fight? Can you hold onto your zampaktuo, Shiro-chan?"
"Hitsugaya is a taicho of the gotei thirteen, which is more then you are now by a long shot." Rukia blurted out. "You have no right..."
She stopped though, when Toshiro held out the palm of his hand, which shook uncontrollably "He was simply stating the truth. If I am unable to hold a spoon, I'm going to be unable to defend myself."
"It's that bad then?" Ichigo stated.
Toshiro simply nodded his head, and opened his mouth, for Gin to pop the spoon into his mouth. The silver haired man let out a sigh of relief "Thank you."
It was then that Jinta opened the door, as Toshiro had the spoon in his mouth. He began to point a finger and say something, when Tessai grabbed him. "I've told you to leave them alone."
As Gin removed the spoon, Hitsugaya shook his head. "He's been like that since we woke up."
Rukia cupped her chin. "Might I ask, why you're letting Ichimaru Gin, who is a known traitor to help you?"
"It's either that, or ask for help from one of the shop people," Ichigo sighed. "That much is obvious." However, he cocked an eyebrow. "I do want to know what happened to calling Ichimaru a pedophile, Toshiro."
"Nani!" Rukia jumped at this, as Toshiro chocked on his food. She made to jump at Ichimaru, only to be grabbed by Ichigo. "Hitsugaya Taicho..."
"I don't think... there was another explanation for his behavior, simple as that," the boy stated, folding his legs up, and glancing at the ground. "However, if I find you lied to me Ichimaru, I will personally kill you."
"I think Rangiku has that right, whether I did or did not lie to you," the man stated firmly, spooning another spoon full into the boy's mouth.
"But... how do you... why do you trust him right now?" Rukia cast a worried look at Ichigo.
"Ichimaru said someone I know I can trust, can confirm it," the boy stated, another bite being shoved into his mouth.
"Let me guess, Rangiku?" the substitute soul reaper guessed.
"No..." Toshiro stated. "My grandmother... and I would rather not talk about what is going on."
Rukia gave a dangerous look at the silver haired man, but it was Ichigo's turn to hold up a hand to stop her. "I have an idea what is going on, but I'll give you the chance to explain to us, when you are in fact ready. We came to ask, if you had any ideas for the Christmas Party."
The small taicho gave them a weak grin, reaching up to scratch, as his hand shook, only to have Ichimaru grab his hand before he could. "I don't celebrate Christmas." He saw the rather disappointed look on Rukia's face. "That doesn't mean I won't come. I might actually get into the so called spirit this year, though it is doubtful. I just don't... it's never been something I felt like I belonged doing."
Author's note – Eighth fanfic to cross 100 reviews.
