Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach (as if it wasn't obvious since this is a fanfiction.) :)
Karin was sleeping beside Toushiro as he continued to watch over her. Even though he saw the white dragon calmly sitting on his left side and the black dragon lying down near the lake, Toushiro still did not feel safe or secure. Toushiro looked between the two dragons, and noticed he heard the two breathe in deep growls.
The white one kept trying to approach him, but Toushiro would always tense and prepared for an attack when the dragon growled again. The white one seemed to growl and hiss again, glaring at Toushiro when he heard the black dragon growl in response. The two growled and snarled for a few moments when the white one glared at Toushiro then glance at Karin's sleeping form. With a final growl, the white dragon flew out of the clearing into the sky. Toushiro relaxed slightly, now he was left with an injured black dragon. He felt slightly better knowing that the black dragon wasn't able to attack so he draped his arms over his bent knees and thought long and hard on the events over the past hour.
Karin was angry with him when he attacked the black dragon. But, he had every reason to attack; the way its head towered over Karin, it was in the perfect position to eat her in one bite, therefore it was his duty to attack the beast before it could hurt her. So, why was Karin angry with him?
Also, it was strange when he was ensnared by Karin's Kido Toushiro clearly heard a deep voice speaking from the direction of the ice dragon. Toushiro sighed for the third time in the past hour. He had asked for an explanation, but so far the dragons had said nothing. As soon as he asked for an explanation, Toushiro picked Karin up and carried her a few feet away from the black dragon. At this movement, he thought he heard the black dragon sigh because he was now out of reach of both dragons.
After the white dragon left, the black dragon's bright yellow eye kept staring at Toushiro almost like it was thinking of a plan. Toushiro stared back into the yellow eye neither one blinking while they observed each other. The black dragon yawned then stretched its long neck on the ground. Toushiro heard the dragon sigh deeply and a translucent black film slid over the eye. It looked like the eye was still open, but the film shielded the eye. Toushiro then heard the dragon's breathing even out in a steady rhythm. Listening to the dragon breathing for several more minutes, Toushiro believed the dragon to be asleep.
Toushiro stood up stretching his arms and legs. Glancing down at Karin for a moment, Toushiro walked a few steps away from her.
"I better call Winter over here." Toushiro whistled to his horse across the lake with a short whiny the horse trotted across the lake. Winter did not glance at the sleeping dragon as he continued toward Toushiro.
"Hey, Winter." Toushiro petted his horse along the neck Winter nudged his hand for more attention.
"I need to go get the bags, so I need you to watch Karin." Toushiro explained, the horse walked over to Karin and stood near her bending his head down to eat some grass. Taking a few more steps away from Karin, Toushiro's focus was on Karin so he didn't see a slim black tail sneak over to him until it wrapped around his leg.
"WHAT!"
"Calm yourself, boy." Toushiro heard a gravelly voice coming from the dragon.
"How are you speaking now?" Toushiro asked the dragon.
"In order for a dragon to communicate with a human there needs to be physical contact." The dragon explained lifting his head up to look Toushiro in the eye. "That is why you did not understand us before."
"Okay." Toushiro hesitated looking down at the tail wrapped around his leg.
"I am no threat to you." The dragon exclaimed.
"I have a problem believing that." Toushiro answered.
"You humans are far too simple minded." The dragon sighed in frustration, "You determine the nature of any creature only by the appearance." Toushiro stared at the dragon.
"You assume we are dangerous because of our looks." The dragon declared.
"Well, you look far too dangerous to be gentle. I mean you have massive jaws, razor sharp teeth and claws that could rip any creature apart. There's also the little point that you breathe fire. You would not have so many deadly attributes if you weren't supposed to use them." Toushiro answered and the dragon sighed again.
"You are just like the others." The dragon sighed again then rested his head on the ground.
"You have attacked humans." Toushiro defended his actions causing the dragon to huff a deep breath flattening the grass in front of him.
"We do not." The dragon exclaimed a small growl escaped his throat. "Have you even seen a dragon attack a human?"
"You attacked Karin." Toushiro explained his glare boring into the eye of the dragon.
"How do you know?" The dragon queried at the white haired boy.
"I found the clearing where Karin was when she was attacked. There was a tree broken in half with the force she was thrown and her bow and arrow near where she fell." Toushiro glared at the dragon even harder.
"You are incredibly intelligent, boy." The dragon commented not even bothered with Toushiro's dislike.
"I've been told." Toushiro folded his arms in front of his chest.
"I don't fault you for attacking me, boy." The dragon explained which confused Toushiro.
"Really?" Toushrio asked, his glare softening toward the dragon.
"Yes, if I saw my love in the presence of my enemy I would have attacked as well." The dragon exclaimed. Toushiro sighed and sat on the ground in front of the dragon.
"Is there something wrong?" The dragon asked slightly perplexed.
"You can see it too?" Toushiro asked. The dragon chuckled a little.
"I can see it very well, but you seem disappointed." The dragon answered.
"It's nothing." Toushiro draped his arms over his bent knees.
"You do not act as if it were nothing." The dragon stated to the boy.
"I am not going to talk to a dragon about my private life." Toushiro firmly stated to the dragon.
"There is nothing else to do, boy." The dragon stated again. Toushiro looked at the dragon his eyes became more thoughtful as he stared harder. Karin had called out two names after he attacked the dragons.
"Karin yelled two names I am guessing one of them was yours." Toushiro questioned the dragon.
"Your deductive reasoning skills are impressive." The dragon complemented.
"So, I suppose your name is Zangetsu?" Toushiro guessed and the black dragon smiled.
"It is. Your friend could not even guess my name." Zangetsu stated with laughter.
"And now, should I guess your name?" Toushiro nodded his head to Zangetsu's question.
"Your name is Toushiro."
"Not that hard to figure out." Toushiro answered.
"I am surprised to see you, here." Zangetsu stated causing Toushiro to frown for a moment.
"Karin is my best friend. Of course I came out here. I left as soon as I knew she was gone." Toushiro explained.
"I was referring to your uniform." Zangetsu pointed out to Toushiro's black shirt and pants, his haori was being used to support Karin's head while she slept.
"What about it?" Toushiro asked.
"I have seen that uniform before. Does it not mean that you are a member of the Sereitei army?" Zangetsu asked. Mentioning the army caused Toushiro to frown even more staring at the ground in front of him.
"Yes, I am a member of the Sereitei army." Toushiro admitted with a sigh.
"And that haori, it signifies you are a captain." Zangetsu deduced again.
"Yes, I am a captain in the army. But I haven't been one for twenty four hours." Toushiro answered.
"So how were you able to leave your post in such haste? And, why do you seem so depressed about it?" Zangetsu asked. Toushiro sighed again, he couldn't believe he was about to spill to a dragon but it was better than holding it in.
"I have not earned this position. It was suggested that I would make a good captain due to my maturity and dedication to my duties. Besides, our village was having more trouble and there weren't enough soldiers to protect the village. So, our village chief suggested that I accept the position in order for our village to be in a better position to be defended." Toushiro explained looking back up to Zangetsu.
"Is there something wrong with being a captain?" Zangetsu asked the white haired boy.
"No, it is just that there have been captains in our village for several months and we were not aware of it. I did not feel it appropriate for the captains to conceal their identity when it was not necessary." Toushiro finished explaining.
"I see. Did the captains explain their reasons?" Zangetsu was a very good listener.
"Yes, they explained that they would not have gained the trust of the villagers if it was known they were captains." Toushiro answered.
"I believe they are right." Zangetsu gave his opinion.
"Yes, I know. There are very few people who open up to the military, so I understand. It just feels like we were lied to, and it's hard to trust them again." Toushiro stated he was feeling better now that he had talked his troubles out. He sighed and finally relaxed.
"Do you feel better now?" Zangetsu asked he was a very perceptive dragon.
"Yes, I do," Toushiro answered then glanced at Karin and sighed again.
"You love her very much." Zangetsu stated making Toushiro scowl at him.
"Is it that obvious?" Toushiro asked. Zangetsu chuckled at Toushiro's expression.
"Boy, a blind man could see how you feel toward the girl." Zangetsu declared.
"Then, I suppose that Karin is blind because she doesn't see it."
"How so?" Zangetsu asked, obviously perplexed at this thought.
"She thinks of me as a good friend." Toushiro glumly stated suddenly becoming depressed again.
"She will see in time, I am sure of it." Zangetsu encouraged Toushiro.
"I hope you're right." Toushiro exclaimed then looked up when he heard flapping of wings from above. He jumped when a piece of meat was dropped in the center of the clearing. The loud noise started Karin awake.
"What's that?" Karin wiped her eyes looking around at Toushiro sitting close to Zangetsu and Winter Storm grazing beside her.
"Glad to see you're finally awake." Toushiro exclaimed to Karin, she looked over at him smiling up to him.
"Yeah, I needed that sleep. I can't believe I dropped like that." Karin shielded her eyes when Hyourinmaru landed with a strong blast of wind blowing twigs and leaves in a flurry.
"You should not have used up so much energy on those Kido spells." Toushiro chastised her.
"Well, excuse me if I didn't want to see my best friend be pounded by a dragon." Karin stated pointing at Hyourinmaru as he looked around the campsite. Hyourinmaru extended his tail out to Karin so he could speak to her, she grasped his tail.
"Are you feeling well?" Hyourinmaru asked Karin, Toushiro glared up at Hyourinmaru but stayed where he was watching the dragon very closely. Toushiro would watch how Hyourinmaru acted around Karin.
"I'm doing better, I was just really tired." Karin explained.
"What you did was foolish." Hyourinmaru growled in response.
"Well, I wouldn't have had to use up so much energy if you didn't lose your head!" Karin glared up at him, gripping his tail when he tried to pull away.
"Boy, tell your friend that she is INSANE!" Hyourinmaru yelled at Toushiro.
"I've been telling her that for years."
"HEY, I'M STILL HERE YOU KNOW! AND I'M NOT CRAZY!" Karin yelled back at them. Zangetsu could only laugh at her reaction.
"Yes you are, Karin." Zangetsu stated amidst his chuckles.
Karin scowled at him then she looked at the chunk of meat that was dropped in front of her.
"Hyourinmaru, what's that?" Karin pointed to the black blob in the early night.
"It is dinner." Hyourinmaru simply stated trying to pull away but she continued to hold on.
"Yes and what is dinner?" Karin asked again, Hyourinmaru sighed in exasperation at her persistence.
"It is wild oxen. I have brought enough for you humans as well as Zangetsu." Hyourinmaru simply stated. Toushiro started to get up with Zangetsu's tail still wrapped around his ankle.
"Where are you going, boy?" Hyourinmaru asked watching Toushiro very carefully.
"I have to go get my saddle bags. I left them on the other side of the lake." Toushiro stated and started to move away when another thump turned his attention toward the white dragon.
"I took the liberty of gathering your things while I was away." Hyourinmaru explained pointing to the saddle bags including the quiver and arrows. Hyourinmaru nodded his head toward Zangetsu to release Toushiro. Toushiro walked toward the bags and looked through them very carefully, everything was still there. He looked up to the dragon and started to speak but was interrupted from a loud growl that did not come from a dragon.
"Oops, I guess I'm a little hungry." Karin sheepishly stated while scratching the back of her head letting go of Hyourinmaru's tail.
"When was the last time you ate?" Toushiro asked and she looked down a little embarrassed.
"Well, it was this morning." Karin looked down refusing to meet Toushiro's disapproving gaze.
"You haven't eaten since then, no wonder you're tired." Toushiro looked down to the wild oxen and thought about how to divide dinner up. He began to cut some pieces off for Karin and himself.
…………
Rangiku was pacing in the cabin of Chief Yamamoto very worried about Toushiro Hitsugaya and Karin Kurosaki.
"Why did you not inform me before this, Rangiku Matsumoto?" Chief Yamamoto asked clearly disappointed in her actions.
"Well, you see Chief Yamamoto. Toushiro is very strong and he can defend himself on any dragon he faces, but Karin doesn't have that type of strength. Besides, there is nothing that could keep him here when Karin is out there. I was expecting them back before now. They're not here and it's past dark." Rangiku began pacing again nearly pulling her hair out in her worry.
"Captain Hitsugaya does not have the freedom he once had. His disappearance will have consequences." Chief Yamamoto's words froze Rangiku to the spot since she didn't know the risk of his actions with the army.
"Now, now Chief Yamamoto, if you want to blame someone for Captain Hitsugaya's disappearance then you should point your finger at me." Captain Kyoraku defended causing Chief Yamamoto to glare at the senior captain.
"And you felt your position in the army gave you permission to send Captain Hitsugaya off?" Chief Yamamoto fiercely glared at Captain Kyoraku.
"Well, you see the boy was going and there was nothing we could do to stop him. So, I encouraged the boy." Captain Kyoraku explained tipping his hat toward the Chief. Captain Kuchiki shook his head and made his thoughts heard.
"You did no such thing you twisted the law until it fit your own needs." Captain Kuchiki stated in a monotone voice.
"Yes, but you agreed and when two captains of the Sereitei army agree on a matter pertaining to a junior officer then it is determined to be a legitimate order." Captain Kyoraku defended.
"Yet, you took that law out of context. That order is regarding an emergency in time of war." Captain Kuchiki explained.
"So, you do not believe that we are in a time of war? What with these new creatures coming out? There simply wasn't enough time to receive official orders and I couldn't simply stand by to let such a young captain be labeled a traitor for performing his duty." Captain Kuchiki and Chief Yamamoto both stared at Kyoraku and the manner in which he twisted another law.
"Yes, since I cannot argue with Captain Kyoraku's line of reasoning this was seen as my agreement toward Captain Hitsugaya's decision. As Rangiku Matsumoto earlier stated, Captain Hitsugaya's talents are impressive enough to be confident for his safety." Captain Kuchiki calmly explained while Captain Kyoraku smiled like a fox.
"Well, I can see how you were able to agree however Captain Hitsugaya is not here when it is well after the sun has set. Due to the late time in the evening we are unable to send out a search party for the missing Captain Hitsugaya and Karin Kurosaki. We must wait until morning." Chief Yamamoto sadly explained to the group in his home.
"We understand, Chief Yamamoto. Thank you for your time." Captain Kuchiki explained then promptly bowed to the Chief while Captain Kyoraku moved to Rangiku still standing in shock. Captain Kyoraku led Rangiku out of the cabin and starting to lead her to her house.
"I can't believe he won't do anything." Rangiku sadly stated as she willingly let Captain Kyoraku lead her to her home.
"Well, did you expect Chief Yamamoto to endanger even more villagers to send out a search party?" Captain Kyoraku tried to reassure the strawberry blonde woman.
"No, but I just want Toushiro back here as soon as possible." Rangiku whined staring up at the starry sky and stopping in the middle of the street just in front of her cabin. Captain Kyoraku looked up where Rangiku stared at the stars.
"The stars are nice out." Captain Kyoraku commented when Rangiku remained silent, he continued, "You should feel a little better knowing that Captain Hitsugaya and Karin are looking at these same stars around a nice warm campfire." Captain Kyoraku smiled over to her as she transferred her gaze.
"Thank you, Captain. That does make me feel better." Rangiku thanked him.
"Well, can I improve your mood even more by inviting you out for a few drinks and then come to my cabin so you won't be lonely?" Captain Kyoraku asked Rangiku. Rangiku slowly turned toward him with her smile plastered on her face but a growl was heard in her voice.
"No, thank you." Rangiku growled through clenched teeth, desperately trying to keep her calm in front of the officer.
"Are you sure?" Captain Kyoraku pushed his luck causing Rangiku to promptly slap him leaving a bright red hand print on his left cheek.
"I'm sure." Rangiku turned to her cabin and entered leaving Captain Kyoraku to rub his throbbing cheek.
"A simple no would have been good." Captain Kyoraku explained then looked up to the stars.
"I know you two are safe. Just come back to us soon, you two." Captain Kyoraku whispered to the sky before returning to his own cabin.
………….
Karin and Toushiro were eating roasted wild oxen over a campfire while the two dragons watched them. Zangetsu had finished eating his share and was resting while Hyourinmaru was sitting with his tail slightly twitching.
"So, what did you do while I was sleeping?" Karin asked to make conversation in between bites of oxen after a pause Toushiro answered her.
"I didn't do much because I was watching you and thinking." Toushiro answered and Karin looked over at him.
"About what?" Karin asked Toushiro, she hadn't seen his outfit yet so she didn't know his position had changed in the village.
"About you helping Zangetsu and the white dragon," Toushiro answered and hearing Hyourinmaru growl in disapproval.
"His name is Hyourinmaru." Karin informed her best friend. "But, I see you finally met Zangetsu." Karin indicated the resting dragon picking his head up when they were talking about him.
"Yes, but we haven't officially met. I guessed his name." Toushiro answered putting down the extra meat that he wasn't able to finish.
"Oh, I tried to do that and I couldn't figure it out." Karin admitted.
"Yes, he said that." Toshiro huffed and Karin put down her extra meat since she was full from the big dinner.
"Well, I'm not a genius." Karin glared over at him with her arms crossed.
"Karin, I have a question that's been bothering me: why did you protect Zangetsu?" Toushiro asked Karin when he heard the black dragon growl in annoyance.
"Zangetsu is not a bad dragon, in fact none of them are. If you knew what really happened and what was going on, then you wouldn't hate them either. Besides, Zangetsu saved my life." Karin's explanation confused Toushiro.
"What did he do?" This intrigued Toushiro since this was the first he heard that.
"Well, he took me to their den and there were many dragons standing around this column. One of them was a black dragon with large red-tipped spikes and it tried to attack me, but Zangetsu saved me." Karin smiled over to the black dragon who growled in response.
"He didn't mention that part." Toushiro admitted and was beginning to feel bad for attacking him. Toushiro looked back to the black dragon before he directed his gaze back to Karin. Karin looked over to Hyourinmaru as he extended his tail for Karin to speak to him.
"Child, I returned to ask for that information you possess regarding our war with the Gargoyles." Hyourinmaru asked making a stern look appear on Karin's face.
"Will you allow me to help?" Karin asked making Hyourinmaru sigh.
"What are they talking about?" Toushiro asked looking over to Zangetsu extending his tail to the boy. When he held onto Zangetsu's tail he heard their conversation.
"I already told you, it's too dangerous." Hyourinmaru stated with more force than before in the cave.
"Then, I guess you don't want to know what I know." Karin exclaimed.
"Karin, what are they talking about?" Toushiro asked, maybe he could weasel the answer out of her.
"Oh, it's nothing much just an important notice regarding their history with the gargoyles."
"What are gargoyles?" Toushiro asked.
"That's right we never gave you an explanation." Zangetsu stated nodding his head toward Hyourinmaru.
"Do you want to know?" Hyourinmaru asked. Toushiro thought for a moment and agreed to the question.
"Sure, it would help." Toushiro answered. Toushiro released Zangetsu's tail and waited for Hyourinmaru to extend the tip of his tail toward the young boy.
"Then watch." Hyourinmaru ordered as he started showing the dragon history. Toushiro felt the cold and watched the vision.
Karin waited while Hyourinmaru showed Toushiro everything that happened regarding the dragon history. Karin wondered when he would be finished with the vision. She was about to ask when Toushiro popped awake again. Hyourinmaru pulled his tail from Toushiro who looked up at the ice dragon then into the roaring fire.
"Well, what did you think?" Karin asked him. Toushiro snapped awake from his shock as he tried to process the information he just learned.
"How could such a misunderstanding become so widespread?" Toushiro asked in disbelief. Karin scooted over so she could pat his shoulder.
"Well, like they said the dragons can only speak with humans when they have human contact. Like you noticed they look scary and anyone would hesitate when one would approach." Karin explained to him.
"So what did you see when they showed you?" Toushiro asked Karin as she suddenly became very nervous.
"Well, I said I would tell them only if they would let me help."
"Karin," Toushiro sighed and Karin knew what he would say.
"Toushiro, I heard it all from Hyourinmaru and I don't need to hear it from you. Those gargoyles are attacking my family and I won't stand by and let it happen." Karin firmly stated, she was beginning to get annoyed at saying the same thing over and over.
"Karin, the way to help your family is to help the dragons. You can't help fight, what would Yuzu and your father do if you had to be gone all of the time?" Toushiro was the only person in the world who could hit that one spot that could melt Karin into a puddle.
"Okay." Karin turned to Hyourinmaru with a clearly irritated look on her face. "I'll tell you what I know." Hyourinmaru extended his tail to talk with Karin.
"Child, what do you know?" Hyourinmaru asked in his booming voice.
"First of all, my name is Karin. And, what I saw that you missed is the reason so many of your kind has been killed off." Karin answered making Hyourinmaru give his full attention toward Karin.
"Muramasa said the only thing that could destroy the gargoyles is a dragon's power. If there were no more dragons in the world, then there would be nothing to stop the gargoyles in their attacks. And, whoever started this would be able to destroy and take over whatever he wanted because there would be no one to stand up to him." Karin calmly answered to the dragons.
"How did we miss such vital information?" Hyourinmaru sighed.
"It's okay sometimes it takes a third set of eyes to find something that everyone else missed." Karin comforted the big dragon.
"Thank you. Still, that does not answer who is doing all of this." Hyourinmaru mused.
"You can find that out later. But, I'm pretty sure if you find the person who started this, then you can repair the relations between dragons and humans." Karin explained with a small hope in her voice.
"Thank you." Hyourinmaru thanked her. "It's time to go to sleep. Zangetsu and I will return you both to your village in the morning." Hyourinmaru pulled his tail back and froze the camp fire plunging the camp site into darkness with the only light being the stars.
"Come on, Karin. You did what you could." Toushiro explained and Karin nodded. She reluctantly lay down on the ground with Toushiro a few feet away in between both dragons. Karin closed her eyes and fell asleep to the deep breaths from the massive dragons.
It seemed to be several hours into the night when Karin suddenly sat up in a drowsy state she rubbed her eyes and looked around the campsite.
"What was that?" Karin asked. Toushiro woke up at her question.
"What's going on?" Toushiro asked her as he too rubbed his eyes.
"Do you hear that, Toushiro?" Karin asked and he listened very closely.
"I don't hear anything." Toushiro answered.
"Are you sure? I thought I heard some type of whistle." Karin stated then she heard it again. A low high pitched whistle that tickled her ears, Toushiro heard it very clearly when he jumped up and walked over to Winter Storm and his saddle bags.
"Wake up the dragons." Toushiro quietly demanded of Karin. Karin ran over to Zangetsu and started shaking him trying to wake him up.
"Zangetsu, wake up." Karin asked as she heard the dragon groan then the outer lid rise up and the second translucent layer lower revealing his bright yellow eye that seemed to glow in the dark of the night.
"What is it, child?" Zangetsu asked as he sighed again.
"Do you hear that?"
"Child, I have ultra sensitive hearing so I hear lots of things." Zangetsu sleepily stated in a drowsy annoyed tone.
"Do you hear a whistle?" Karin asked as she heard it again, the whistle seemed to be growing louder. Zangetsu slowly picked up his head turning his head in several directions in an attempt to listen to the sound.
"I do not hear any such thing. It was nothing. Go back to sleep, child." Zangetsu yawned and started to lay back down then snapping his bright yellow eyes open he stood in a jerk. Hyourinmaru mirrored Zangetsu's motion as he heard the sudden noise.
"Boy, send your horse away." Hyourinmaru demanded as he brushed his tail against Toushiro's back. Toushiro was writing something on a piece of paper and wrapped the paper around Winter Storm's harness.
"Winter return to the village and give this note to Rangiku." Toushiro explained then pushed the horse away. The dapple gray horse disappeared into the dark forest. Zangetsu had gathered Karin's saddle bags onto his back. Hyourinmaru spread out his wings cooling the area of the campsite.
"Boy, hurry up and finish gathering your things." Hyourinmaru quietly roared to Toushiro.
"I know." Toushiro quickly gathered his things and threw them on Hyourinmaru's back. Hyourinmaru bend down low to allow Toushiro to climb on. Toushiro hesitated for a moment then climbed on a little reluctantly.
"I never dreamed that I would be climbing onto a dragon." Toushiro mumbled as Hyourinmaru quickly jumped into the trees flying up and grasping onto the top trees with his wings spread out and his tail swinging out for balance.
Karin looked up staring at Hyourinmaru and Toushiro now well over 100 feet in the air. Zangetsu quickly grasped Karin in his mouth and flew up to clasp onto the branches of a tree mimicking Hyourinmaru's current position. Toushiro was slightly annoyed at Karin's current position.
"Zangetsu, I know you're not going to harm Karin but I would appreciate it if you would get her out of your mouth." Toushiro growled through his teeth glaring at the black dragon. The dragon immediately placed Karin on his back at the base of his neck and just above his wings.
"Stay silent." Hyourinmaru ordered the group.
"See, I did hear something." Karin harshly whispered up to Zangetsu's head causing the dragon to look up at the sky shaking his head for a moment. Everyone's attention was drawn to the ground when two figures stepped out of the forest into the clearing. Zangetsu kept his shield over his eye so he could watch the pair without being seen.
"Zangetsu, watch them closely." Hyourinmaru requested of the black dragon that nodded his head in agreement with the white dragon.
The two figures were two men: one was tall and stocky with dark blue hair, and the second man had dark green long hair and was much shorter than the blue haired man. They both were wearing white shirts and white pants. Karin and Toushiro had never seen anyone like them before.
"Come on Ulquiorra, we've been looking for those gargoyles over the past twelve hours. Let's just go one home." The taller man complained looking around the campsite.
"Our orders were to search and locate the missing gargoyles. Those are two of the original gargoyles and master would be very displeased if they disappeared, Grimmjow." Ulquiorra stated in a monotone voice.
"Well, they aren't here so why don't we go ahead and get back. Or at least take a break until morning." Grimmjow complained.
"We cannot. Master is adamant about finding those gargoyles." Ulquiorra answered.
"Well, why isn't this whistle working? He said that it would draw the gargoyles straight to us." Grimmjow complained snatching a long whistle from Ulquiorra's hand.
"I do not know, but in a few hours it will not make a difference. Those masks will only affect the gargoyles for 48 hours at a single time. When the 48 hours are complete then the masks will disintegrate and the gargoyle will return to stone." Ulquiorra explained to his taller friend.
"Yeah, yeah I know. But, it's strange that they've been acting like this. They were supposed to stay near the castle. I can't think of a reason why they would suddenly wander off." Grimmjow tried to figure out the confusion of their current situation.
"I do not know but we will have to watch the remaining gargoyles with more care and not allow them to disappear like they have done now." Ulquiorra appeared to turn from the clearing with Grimmjow following a few moments later.
"Hey, I didn't know they would run off that guy said they would be obedient and would never stray from their orders. Are you saying that he's lying to us?" Grimmjow requested to the back of Ulquiorra's retreating form.
"No, but something is drawing the gargoyles away and we must determine the cause to ensure no more gargoyles disappear." Ulquiorra's voice drifted in the wind as the group hiding in the trees heard the two men disappear into the forest.
Karin and Toushiro looked at each other then at the dragons they were currently sitting on.
"Hey, Zangetsu, do you know what they were talking about?" Karin asked trying to look up at Zangetsu's shielded eye.
"This is an interesting development." Hyourinmaru stated to the group. He remained in deep thought ignoring the questions of the humans.
"So, what are you going to do?" Karin asked but he did not answer.
"Do you know what they were talking of, Hyourinmaru?" Toushiro's question was ignored the same as Karin.
"Zangetsu, is your wing healed?" Hyourinmaru asked the black dragon.
"It is well enough but I will not have my speed." Zangetsu answered causing Karin's eyes to grow very wide.
"Why are you asking that, Hyourinmaru?" Karin looked over at the white dragon then stared at Zangetsu.
"Why is he asking that?" Karin demanded to Zangetsu.
"Karin, Toushiro, you will be delayed in returning to your village. This is a more critical development and we cannot waste time." Hyourinmaru exclaimed causing Karin to grow even more worried.
"What? You can't be doing what I think you're about to do?" Karin asked with panic rising in her voice staring at the dragons.
"Karin, what's going on?" Toushiro asked Karin.
"I think they're about to fly." Karin answered and Toushiro widened his eyes.
"There is no other choice." Zangetsu answered as he opened his wings to their full span and the trees bent even further.
"Hold on," Zangetsu ordered as he began flapping his wings.
"TO WHAT, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY HANDHOLDS!" Karin yelled as she felt the dragon leave the trees closing her eyes tight she heard Hyourinmaru leave the trees next to her and the trees snapped back to their upright position without the massive weight of the dragons.
A/N: Okay, I think I'll stop here. If I continued then the chapter would have been way too long. But, I promise the next chapter will have their first flight and I can't wait to post it. So please be patient.
This fanfiction is inspired by the movie How To Train Your Dragon.
Please review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.