Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, this show belongs to Tite Kubo.

I want to thank all my reviewers, you guys are so great with helping me in my writing and leaving so many good comments.

A/N: I'm hoping that this chapter will answer some of your questions.


Karin kept Masaki running in a gallop for several more hundred feet, the only noise in the forest being her rapid hoof beats. When Karin felt she was safe enough in the forest, she slowed her horse to a fast trot then came to a complete stop. Karin looked around the forest and stared at tree after tree after tree. There appeared to be no clear path in any direction and Karin couldn't tell any difference between the way she came and the path she had to go.

"Maybe I should have thought this plan a little more clearly." Karin mumbled to herself, her actions finally sunk into that stubborn brain of hers. Masaki snorted as if to say "you think so?!"

"Well, it's too late to go back so I better find out what direction I'm heading." Karin pulled out a compass from one of the saddle bags – at least she had the sense to carry a compass with her. She focused on the compass arrow rotating wildly before stopping at the North which is directly in front of her.

"So if North is that direction then I came from the South." Karin pointed behind her to get her bearings. Izuru had said that Ichigo was attacked in the forest to the East of Karakura.

"That means I have to make a right turn and keep heading straight. If that monster is still there, then I should run into it eventually. And, if it's not there I'll head back to the village in a couple of hours. I'll just keep my compass out so that I won't get lost." Karin explained to herself, now only realizing how stupid her "plan" appeared to be: if only she had thought through a little more instead of letting her childish pride over take her good sense. Oh well, can't cry over spilled milk.

Karin urged Masaki into the East direction and they continued to walk for a few minutes. Karin kept them on the correct path but this was harder said than done, since trees don't exactly grow to be convenient when going in a straight line.

'Before I get to those things, I really need to practice that new technique. I know that I can do it again, but I just don't know how many times I can repeat it.' Karin reasoned in her mind, looking over her shoulder where the bow and quiver were strung across her back.

'I have ten arrows. I don't believe I'll need that many but I will need to practice so I'm going to have to be very careful.'

Karin came across a small clearing that was roughly a few hundred feet in diameter. The clearing had a few stumps near the edge of the clearing and sweet green grass for Masaki to graze.

"This looks like a pretty good place to take a break." Karin spoke to Masaki. Masaki breathed a heavy sigh as Karin hopped from the horse's back. After a hefty shake to release the leaves and vines from her mane and tail, Masaki allowed Karin to remove the saddle and saddle bags. The moment the horse was free she sprinted around the clearing then rolled in the grass and flowers. Karin laughed watching Masaki act so excited about being in a simple field.

"Alright, now I need to practice." Karin exclaimed to herself. She looked around and saw a nice big tree on the other side of the clearing. Karin approached the tree and looked at it: it was a pretty good size tree that was about the same width as the barrel she used to practice Uryu's arrow. This would be a good tree to practice on, Karin glanced behind her and was relieved to see Masaki had settle down nibbling on some grass. Masaki watched Karin take about twenty big steps away from the tree removing her bow when she was at the appropriate distance. Karin then removed one of the arrows, placing it in the notch of the bow and aiming for the tree. Masaki watched Karin release the arrow and miss the trunk by a good two feet. Masaki neighed and snickered at Karin's failure, Karin glared at her horse.

"Hush up, you. It was my first try." Karin huffed. The horse ignored her and went back to eating the grass.

"Okay, let's try this again. I know I can place the Kido on the arrow whenever I want but it will be useless if I can't hit my target." Karin aimed, released the arrow, and missed again. Karin watched her second arrow sail two feet on the right side of the tree, landing harmlessly in the forest with a sharp thunk.

"Maybe I should try aiming for two feet on the other side of the tree?" Karin reasoned. Making her adjustments, Karin aimed the third arrow and released the arrow. Karin watched the arrow fly in the direction and embed in the tree.

"Hey, I hit it." Karin turned to Masaki; the horse glanced up for a moment before returning to the sweet grass.

"Yeah, you're a bunch of help, Masaki." Karin deadpanned. Karin noted that the arrow had just landed on the far side of the trunk like it did in the barrel. It was barely a hit, but a hit is a hit.

"I have seven arrows left, and I don't know how many monsters are here." Karin removed her quiver and quietly counted the arrows, like she suspected she still had seven arrows. She would definitely have to use these very carefully.

"At least, I know that I can hit an object even though I have to aim two feet to the left." Karin begrudgingly admitted to herself. She stretched her arms in the air contemplating if she wanted to try that Kido spell again.

"Toushiro always taught me to be very careful when I recited those Kido spells. I can only use a limited number of them and I certainly don't want to be left too exhausted to fight or even run." She continued to think out loud, stretching her arms to clasp them at the back of her head.

"I'm sure nothing will be harmed if I add only a little bit of power to the spell. Alright, I'll do it. Who knows maybe it was that Kido spell that made my aim more direct." Karin decided raising her bow with a notched arrow once again.

Karin focused on the tree and felt her energy gathering around her arms and arrow, she began the spell.

"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man!" Karin focused on the red ball of light making it much smaller than the one yesterday. She didn't hear the sharp break of the twig just behind the tree she was aiming for. But, Masaki heard it. Masaki jerked up with her ears straight forward listening very hard. She jumped when she heard the second noise like a foot step, neighing and snorted she reared up and began to paw at the air.

"Inferno and pandemonium-" Karin stopped the spell when she heard her horse shriek a sharp and long whinny.

"Masaki, what's wrong?" Karin asked then she too heard the foot step, a loud and echoing sound that was accompanied by what sounded like hundreds of voices screaming in different pitches at the same time. She didn't turn around instead she focused on her horse that was growing more agitated backing up a few paces. The horse finally had enough when the screeching echoed through the woods a second time. Masaki turn and ran as fast as she could out of the clearing and into the forest.

"MASAKI!" Karin called to her horse but Masaki continued galloping away from the clearing back toward the village.

Karin took a big gulp when she heard another loud stomp, turning to her front she stared in shock as a creature standing ten feet tall stepped from the forest directly in front of her. It was completely black with four legs – they looked to be long bear legs with cracks marking every inch of each leg. The body of the beast was hunched over with the front paws turned in toward another, she heard as it breathed a deep sigh then gave out another terrifying screech. Karin saw the face of the monster raise and stare at Karin. Just as Rukia had said it had a white mask with red holes for the eyes and a pattern of red and black splotches on the mask like tears raining from the forehead to the chin.

"I guess you're the monster that attacked my brother." Karin glared at the beast all of her fears leaving in an instant – if this was due to more of her stubborn pride or the sudden adrenaline rush she didn't know and she didn't care at the moment.

"I'll make you pay for what you did to Kaien and Ichigo!" Karin yelled at the creature and aimed the bow and arrow toward the creature. Her energy again gathered around her body as she started the spell over again, speaking it a little faster than before. As she spoke the spell she adjusted the arrow two feet to the left side of the beast, just to make sure she didn't miss.

"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado 31: Shakkaho!" Karin released the arrow watching it fly with the red ball of energy directing it. Just like before in Karakura, the arrow plunged into the white mask of the beast with a vicious screech. The arrow continued down and Karin saw the energy blast when the energy erupted, red cracks appeared all over the monster before it exploded turning into dust.

Karin stood in the same spot, then smirked at the pile of dust falling to the ground along with her arrow.

"Well, not only does it work but it saves an arrow!" Karin exclaimed in triumph. Her victory was short lived when another screech sounded through the woods.

"There's a second one!" Karin watched in stunned silence as a second black monster similar to the first emerged. This one was smaller with more of a fox-like body, it's mask was fox shaped with some red marks running down the left side. The glowing red eyes seemed to squint at Karin.

Karin quickly notched another arrow and began a second incantation.

"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man!" Karin's energy started gathering around her arrow tip, she paused the incantation when the fox monster ran across the clearing to circle behind her. Karin quickly leaped out of the way as the jaws of the mask opened up and ripped a chunk of grass and dirt from the earth. She quickly finished the incantation, altering the spell slightly.

"Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws! Hado 33: Sokatsui!" Karin yelled aiming for the fox head six feet in front of her. Blue energy appeared on the arrow this time encasing the entire arrow as Karin released the arrow and watched it embed in the forehead of the mask with deadly accuracy with a loud crack. An echoing sound of thunder erupted accompanied by a shriek of pain as the blue energy ripped through the fox-like monster, shattering it into dust.

Karin was left in the clearing alone staring down at the rubble that used to be the black monster.

"Okay," Karin exclaimed in between big gulps of breath.

"It's – good – to know – that – technique – works – with any spell." Karin collapsed on her back in exhaustion. She was teetering on the edge of consciousness when she heard another sound.

"What now?" Karin complained as she looked at the edge of the clearing where the black monsters had emerged. As she watched, her eyes grew wider with every passing second as she saw a long black neck slowly stretch above the tree line, this long slender, black, glistening neck ended in an elongated black head with two horns on the nose tip and a thin film over what would be bright yellow eyes. Shielded eyes that were currently staring at Karin lay out on the grass. The dragon breathed and a deep, resonating cry echoing from the mouth. Karin quickly rolled from the ground, stumbling to her feet, her eyes never leaving the dragon head. She watched the dragon head weave to one side as if to get a better look at her.

Karin quickly drew another arrow from her quiver, setting it in the bow and aiming for the creature.

'Okay, this beast has a really TINY HEAD! I can't hit that. So, I need to find something that I can hit.' Karin continued staring up at the dragon as it bent it's head toward her from over the tree tops, even though it was well over fifty feet away, Karin took a few steps back. She gathered her energy around her focusing it on the arrow. The dragon watched and Karin saw two giant wings emerge on either side of the neck above the tree tops.

'THE WINGS! THERE'S MY TARGET!' Karin shouted in her head.

"But I don't have time to chant the spell." Karin whispered as she continued to draw her energy around the arrow.

'Toushiro told me that there were some people who could do the spells without the chants, I could try that. But, he warned me that those spells were not nearly as powerful as reciting the spell. Oh well, I have to try!'

"THIS IS FOR MY MOTHER! ONE OF YOUR KIND KILLED HER!" Karin yelled up at the beast, it momentarily glanced down at her its shielded eyes widening for a second.

"HADO 33: SOKATSUI!" Karin released the arrow with a stream of blue light trailing it like a comet tail. It soared toward the dragon that tried to dodge but emitted a mighty screech when the arrow made contact with the joint of the wing. Karin could see the arrow explode on contact, clearly damaging a critical bone in the wing. The dragon snarled at the wound, then slowly transferring the gaze back to Karin. She watched one shield of the eye draw back showing a piercing yellow eye with a black slit for the iris. The dragon reared its head back taking in a deep breath and shooting two curved beams of blue light that sliced through the trees with ease.

Karin managed to dodge the blasts but could not dodge the long black tail sweeping through the clearing. The tail slammed against Karin's body sending her flying through the air and crashing through a tree where she fell unconscious.

The dragon snarled at the girl's prone form then glancing back at its damaged wing. This dragon would not be flying for quite some time.

……………

Toushiro walked out of his house with the uniform of the Sereitei army shortly after Captain Kuchiki dropped it off. His outfit is a black shirt and black pants similar to Captain Kuchiki and Shunsui Kyoraku. Toushiro also had a white sleeveless cloak that hung down to the middle of his calves. Captain Kuchiki called this cloak a Haori, he said it signified the Captain class within the army.

"Now, I'm officially a Captain. I wonder if this is such a good idea." Toushiro mumbled to himself. His quiet musings were answered.

"Well, now I wouldn't be so down cast over this development." Shunsui Kyoraku walked up to Toushiro in the middle of the street walking with him toward Chief Yamamoto's office.

"Why is that?" Toushiro asked the older man.

"Well, it has its perks, doesn't it?" Kyoraku playfully asked, Toushiro raised his eyebrow for the first time he took a good look at Shunsui Kyoraku. He was also wearing a black shirt and pants with what looked like white peeking out from under the pink Kimono.

"Why don't you tell me?" Toushiro asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Shunsui answered while his expression became very guarded.

"You're wearing the same outfit as Captain Kuchiki and me. Shunsui Kyoraku are you a Captain in the Sereitei army?" Toushiro bluntly questioned the older man. Shunsui sighed adjusting his straw hat lower on his head staring at the ground for a moment. Glancing back up, Toushiro watched Shunsui smile at the younger boy and show two fingers to resemble the letter "V".

"Right you are!" Shunsui laughed again, Toushiro sighed looking down the street.

"Is there something wrong with that?" Shunsui asked noticing how depressed Toushiro seemed to become.

"No, but I was always taught to respect other people by calling them by their titles, Captain Kyoraku. Why did you keep your position hidden from the villagers?" Toushiro asked this subject had been bothering him since yesterday. If anyone hid their identity it was most likely to keep something a secret, and this bothered Toushiro more than he let on.

"We never said because we wanted the villagers to be comfortable around us, Captain Hitsugaya. We have found that people are more open when they don't know a person is in the military." Captain Kyoraku finished explaining.

"I see, however the trust is broken when villagers find out you have deceived them for so long." Toushiro stated causing Captain Kyoraku to pause and think.

"This is very true but if the villagers knew right away what our rank was, then they would have kept their distance away from us as much as possible. There's something you should know Captain Toushiro Hitsugaya." Shunsui continued and Toushiro nodded his head to show he was indeed listening.

"I am a person first and a Captain second, the same as you. The title Captain is just that – a title. It doesn't change who I am, just like it doesn't change who you are. The only thing this title does is give us a little more power than the rest of the army and in some places the title means absolutely nothing. Don't forget that." Captain Kyoraku finished explaining. His words seemed to ease Toushiro's fears when his face relaxed into a smile. They both heard a commotion coming from the far side of town. Toushiro watched as a cloud of dust and neighs barreled down the street heading in their direction. He recognized this beige horse with black mane and tail instantly – Masaki.

"WHOA, MASAKI, WHOA!" Toushiro stepped in the path of the horse as she slowed to a stop in front of the boy. The horse was skittish and jumpy as Toushiro patted the nose and face trying to ease the fears.

"I wonder what this horse is doing out here with no rider?" Captain Kyoraku noted with a hand stroking his chin. Toushiro gasped when he noted that Masaki had her bridle on but no saddle and no Karin in sight. Looking the horse over very carefully, Toushiro's fears were confirmed when he plucked a small vine of ivy from the horse's tail.

"This plant it is ivy." Toushiro mumbled and Captain Kyoraku stepped closer to the boy fingering the vine between his fore finger and thumb.

"Karin what have you done?" Toushiro whispered in shock. His teal eyes became hard and cold as he suddenly pulled Masaki behind his house toward the stable.

Toushiro put Masaki in the stall next to his own horse – a dapple gray stallion with a white mane and tail named Winter Storm. Securing the stall and giving Masaki plenty of water, Toushiro moved over to his horse just as Captain Kyoraku walked into the stable.

"Come along, Winter." Toushiro led his horse out of the stall and began to gather the saddle and bridle from the hooks near the door.

"Captain Hitsugaya, what are you doing?" Captain Kyoraku asked watching Toushiro continue to gather various other items along with a map and compass into a pair of saddle bags that he set on the ground beside the saddle.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to go find her." Toushiro stated to a surprised Captain Kyoraku.

"What? You're not serious." Kyoraku's statement was answered when Toushiro started to put the bridle over Winter's head then moving to the saddle.

"You're a Captain now, you have responsibilities." Captain Kyoraku kindly reminded the young boy.

"Captain Kyoraku, you just said I'm a person first before I'm a Captain. Well, Karin is my best friend and we've been friends since we were toddlers. I am NOT leaving her out in the forest alone." Toushiro explained while he secured the saddle bags on the back of the saddle.

Captain Hitsugaya and Captain Kyoraku heard Rangiku run up to the stable.

"Toushiro! What's going on?" Rangiku ran into the stable pausing at the entrance watching Toushiro continue to secure more items to the back of the saddle.

"I have to go for a little while, Rangiku." Toushiro kindly answered.

"The villagers said they saw Masaki run down the street and Karin wasn't riding her. Is that true?" Toushiro answered Rangiku's question by pointing to the second stall where Masaki stood drinking a pail of water then eating some oats.

"How do you know Karin is in the forest?" Captain Kyoraku asked the boy as he started to lead Winter out of the stable.

"I know that ivy vine that was tangled in Masaki's tail. That type only grows in the deep part of the forest near a clearing. I know how to get there and I should be back before too long." Toushiro exclaimed, at the moment he was too shocked to be angry at Karin. He could get angry at her when he finds her safe and sound, maybe even a little bit hungry.

When Toushiro was outside the stable, he walked Winter to a tall stump which he used to jump onto the horse's back. The horse snorted and shook it's head at the additional weight.

"Wait just a moment." Captain Kyoraku tried to detain Captain Hitsugaya.

"Rangiku, I want you to go to Yuzu's house and tell her that Karin is over here. Say that she'll be spending the night over here after Masaki threw a shoe."

"Toushiro, I don't think Yuzu will believe that story." Rangiku admitted with some doubt.

"She will - Karin's done it before when she rode Masaki over some rocks. That night she stayed over at my house. Yuzu will not suspect anything and she won't be worried." Captain Hitsugaya looked down toward Rangiku as her stormy eyes showed her worry.

"Everything will be fine, Rangiku. I'll bring Karin back and she will regret ever leaving the village." Toushiro firmly stated. He started to ride Winter out onto the street when Captain Kuchiki stopped him.

"Where are you going, Captain Hitsugaya?" Captain Kuchiki asked looking up at the young boy.

"I'm going to go find Karin. She's gone off into the forest by herself, and I have to bring her back." Toushiro answered pulling Winter to a stop.

"Chief Yamamoto is requesting a meeting with you. You are in no position to deny his request." Captain Kuchiki stated in his monotone voice. Toushiro closed his eyes in deep thought. No one defies the chief without serious consequences. So, who is more important: Chief Yamamoto or Karin Kurosaki? Answer: Karin Kurosaki hands down.

"Chief Yamamoto will have to wait until I bring Karin back." Toushiro answered making Captain Kuchiki's eyes widen in shock for a moment.

"Denying a direct order is considered to be an act of treason. There will be grave consequences." Captain Kuchiki warned the boy. Toushiro looked down his own eyes showing no emotion.

"That must be a record then, an act of treason all under 24 hours of becoming a Captain in the Sereitei army." Captain Hitsugaya morosely spoke looking down the street more determined than ever to bring Karin back.

"Well, this isn't exactly an act of treason." Captain Kyoraku stated causing three heads to turn toward him.

"How is that so, Captain Kyoraku?" Captain Kuchiki asked.

"Well, a Captain's duties are to protect a village's citizens, isn't that right?" Captain Kuchiki nodded his head to affirm this statement.

"Well, Karin Kurosaki is a citizen of this village and she is in grave danger. The way I see it, Captain Hitsugaya would be neglecting his duties if he were to leave Karin out in the forest alone. If she stays out there too long, then she will die. So, Captain Hitsugaya would be fulfilling all of his duties by going out to her rescue." Toushiro, Rangiku and Captain Kuchiki stared at Captain Kyoraku's confusing reasoning. In a way it made sense that is if you twisted that rule into a pretzel.

"That is a stretch even by your standards, Shunsui." Captain Kuchiki exclaimed.

"It may be, but you must admit I am correct." Captain Kyoraku smiled over at his fellow Captain. Captain Kuchiki answered after a long sigh.

"You are correct." No soon had Captain Kuchiki spoke these words had Toushiro sped Winter in a full gallop down the street of Karakura and into the forest.

'I'll find you Karin, just hold on.' Toushiro promised in his mind spurring his horse to run faster.

………………

The great black dragon glared down at the girl's prone form then back to his damaged wing. Upon closer inspection, the dragon was relieved to note the wing was not broken. The damage was minimal even though there was quite an explosion when that arrow hit.

The dragon glanced back at the girl on the ground again, as it contemplated the girl's actions. Shaking its head, the dragon dropped to all fours and turned from the clearing in search of a lake. The dragon hissed and snarled in pain when the injured wing brushed up on a tree or branch. After a short walk, the dragon came upon a small lake where it bent its head and took in several long gulps. The slim body glistened under the rays of the afternoon sun. The dragon then curled its long legs under the body and extending the wing so it could have better access to it. After another inspection of the wing, the dragon turned toward the lake and gathered a large amount of water in the mouth. It started to expelling hot air causing the water to boil in the open mouth, after boiling for a moment, the dragon allowed the water to pour over the injured wing. The burning water cleansed the wing and halted the bleeding. After another blast of hot air to seal the wound, the dragon stood up from its rest by the lake and walked back toward the clearing. As it walked, it made sure to fold the giant wings over its curved back to shield the wound and allow time to heal.

Appearing back in the clearing, the dragon looked around spotting the saddle and bags that the girl had removed from the horse that had run away. Walking further to the edge of the trees, the dragon looked at the girl where she lay next to a fallen tree. She looked to be about twelve years old, still a child and trying to take out a dragon. The dragon continued to stare at her then glancing back to the saddle pack. With a deep sigh and a quick shake of its head, the dragon unfurled its wings and gently lifted the saddle back with the slim tail to place it on the back. The dragon then walked over to the prone form and gently picked her up using his forked tongue to wrap around her body. As gently as holding a fragile egg, the dragon placed the girl on his back between the shoulder blades where she would not be able to move. The dragon folded the wings back over the back shielding the injured wing and the unconscious girl.

The forest heard a long deep voice expel a deep sigh.

"What am I doing?" The deep gravelly voice spoke to the air, after another sigh the dragon walked back into the forest the long tail drifting behind in a gentle swaying motion.

A/N: Okay, here is Chapter 3. I am enjoying writing this story, and I'm so glad so many people enjoy it too.

Now, if someone can tell me the name of the dragon, I will send you an entire tree of cookies (or at least I'll try ).

I usually don't get stories out this fast but I have a wave of inspiration and it will not be denied, so here you go.

A/N2: This story was inspired by the movie How To Train Your Dragon - a wonderful movie and worth every penny.