Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo does.
It had only been one week. That's all. Seriously only one week and already Toushiro was ready to be as far away from Kisuke Urahara as he possible could get. Sadly that won't be happening for another month and a half. Then he and Karin will be returning to Karakura . . . at which time he will leave for the Sereitei. Toushiro paused at the door of the shop thinking about his future.
With a sigh, Toushiro stepped into the store and dropped his bag at the door. Toushiro walked over to the couch and fell back. Once they returned to Karakura, he would need to leave for Seireitei. Who knew how long it would take him to get through. The typical training period for the army was 4-5 years. He promised Karin that he'd be done in one year. That was going to be a very long year.
How could he leave Karakura? It is his home. Everything he could ever want is there: Winter Storm, Rangiku . . . and Karin. Toushiro opened his eyes to stare at the white washed ceiling. It was going to be really hard to leave Karin. Speaking of which . . .
'Now where is she?' Toushiro thought sitting up to look around the living room.
'This is strange,' Toushrio stood up and stepping toward the hallway, 'I've been back for five minutes and haven't seen anyone.'
"Where is everyone?" Toushiro asked aloud walking further into the store combined house. As he walked down the hallway, he could hear some voices drifting through the walls form the back yard.
"You are not supposed to be out here, Karin." He heard Ururu softly speaking. His eye twitched for a few seconds. He should have known Karin would be doing more before she was ready. True she had gotten considerably better in the last few days, but she still needed rest. It seemed that rest was the last thing on her mind.
"Don't worry so much, Ururu." He heard Karin's voice coming from the backyard. He casually made his way to the back until he was standing in the frame of the back door. Karin was standing with a bow and arrow in her grasp. She seemed to be trying to use the bow before her arm was ready. Toushiro remained silent as he quietly stepped onto the back porch gently closing the door behind him to keep his presence unknown to the two young women in the yard.
"Toushiro will be back any minute now. You know his routes are taking less time each day." Ururu reminded Karin. Toushiro had to agree with the quiet girl. His first day he spent most of the morning getting lost on the south side of the city, and barely managed to finish his route before sunset. He has been completing his routes in less time with much help from Rin and a better grasp on his energy detection techniques. Now he finished all of his deliveries just before lunch, just under three hours.
"We don't need to worry about Toushiro." Karin casually answered raising the bow for a target about twenty feet ahead. Toushiro watched her stance, her arm holding the bow was straight and her right arm catching the feathers of the arrow looked very strong. Karin took a deep breath and slowly drew the arrow back. Toushiro watched her right arm shake from exertion causing the arrow to fall from the firing notch. She growled in frustration, lowered the bow then tried again after a deep breath. Sadly each time came with the same results; her right arm lacked the strength to set the arrow for a clear shot.
"Darn it," he heard her exclaim under her breath in frustration. It was hard for him to watch. Only a week ago she was shredding gargoyles with one arrow, and now she could barely pull it back. After another failed attempt, Toushiro made his presence known.
"You should be in bed," Toushiro's words made Karin shriek and drop the weapon on the ground. She spun around to see Toushiro stepping down from the porch and walk over to her.
"How long have you been there?" Karin asked. Her lowered voice indicated she was ashamed of her weakness as opposed to breaking any rules.
"Long enough to see that you aren't able to use that bow and arrow," Toushiro gently picked the weapon up and cradled it in his hands. Karin refused to look him in the eyes. It hurt him to see her like this. Karin was always so strong, she didn't need anyone's help and she made sure everyone knew it. Now, however, she was weak and she felt shame for her weakness.
"I was just trying to shoot an arrow . . ." Karin mumbled, the end of the sentence whispered so low Toushiro could not hear.
"Karin you're not strong enough yet. Kisuke said that you need more rest before you should be out for extended periods." Toushiro tilted her chin up so he could look her in the eyes.
"I know," Karin whispered. She was surprised when Toushiro placed the bow and arrow in her hands. She looked between the weapon and Toushiro standing before her.
"So it's okay?" Karin asked with a small hope flickering in her eyes.
"Just this once, after one shot you're going back into the house to rest." Toushiro demanded of her. Despite his strict rule, Karin beamed with joy and she returned to her stance before Toushiro interrupted.
"Okay," Karin breathed and raised the bow and tried to aim. But this time was no different, her right arm wobbled so much it dislodged the arrow. "Not again," Karin complained lowering the bow to her side. Toushiro silently observed her failed attempts.
"Let me try something Karin," he stepped in front of her and pulled her right arm so it was extended straight. To her confusion, Toushiro pressed on her hand to see how much pressure she could apply on her arm.
"Does this hurt?" Toushiro asked pushing her arm so that she had to take a step back or fall to the ground. Karin looked down to her arm then shook her head.
"Not a bit," she watched Toushiro step back and removed the bow from her left hand. "Why?"
"Because, I may know how to help you . . . now try to hold the bow with your right hand and pull the arrow back with your left." Toushiro gently instructed placing the bow into her right hand. Nodding her head, Karin took her stance once again but this time her right arm braced the bow and her left arm pulled the arrow back. While she aimed, she made sure to aim about two feet to the left of the target, just in case. In one fluid motion, Karin let the arrow fly toward the target and hit on the edge just inside the zone.
"It worked." Karin cheered looking back to Toushiro.
"Yes, now aim for the barrel." Toushiro requested. Karin blushed for a moment but complied. The bow and arrow were staring the target down when she released the arrow and watched it miss the target entirely.
"I learned that I have to aim the arrow two feet to the left to hit any target." Karin exclaimed with a sigh.
Jinta stepped out onto the back porch, followed closely by Kisuke and Tessai.
"Your aim stinks," Jinta snickered. The glare Karin directed at the red haired boy could have curdled milk. With a huff Karin set the arrow, aiming for the barrel, and released the arrow watching it cut through the air. Jinta dropped to the steps in roaring laughter while Karin glared at the arrow sticking out of the ground having missed the target by two feet to the right.
"Told ya!" Jinta cackled even harder.
"As if you could do any better," Toushiro snorted stepping up to stand behind Karin. "Try that again." Karin glared at Jinta once more before she complied with Toushiro's request replacing a new arrow in the bow and readied her stance. He stepped up to her and placed his arms over hers. Toushiro guided her hands to aim for the target. Pulling the arrow back, he waited for a moment before he released the arrow. Karin and Toushiro watched the arrow plunge into the target with a thump.
"Well, Ms. Karin it appears that you are feeling better to be out here in the middle of the day." Kisuke stepped out from the porch smiling at how Toushiro still stood beside Karin, seeming to have forgotten the bow and arrow lesson.
"Kisuke's right, you should go inside Karin." Toushiro stepped back taking the bow from Karin's hand.
"Wait, I still need to show you that new technique." Karin reached for the bow trying to trick Toushiro into letting her stay outside for a little bit longer.
"Do you mean this?" Toushiro pulled an arrow into the bow and called a small ball of red kido to appear on the tip. After a moment of gathering energy, Toushiro released the arrow watching it soar through the air and demolish the target with a large boom accompanied by smoking wood chips. The arrow continued striking a tree in the far distance.
"That is far too simple." Toushiro crossed his arms keeping the bow under his arm. Jinta froze on the porch, his eyes wide as saucers staring at the splintered wood smoldering on the ground.
"Impressive," Kisuke stepped down from the porch carrying a cup with red liquid sloshing inside. Karin spotted the cup and dashed behind Toushiro. Toushiro looked back to Karin hiding behind him then up to Kisuke still advancing with the drink.
"Now, it's time for your medicine." Kisuke motioned the cup to Karin.
"But that junk makes me throw up." Karin complained peeking over Toushiro's shoulder, using him to protect her from Kisuke.
"It's the safest way to remove the poison. It's not completely free from your system." Kisuke pleaded with the cowering girl.
"What do you mean the 'safest' way?" Toushiro raised an eyebrow to Kisuke at his statement.
"Well, safest for me," Kisuke admitted to the young captain.
"Does the other way involve needles?" Toushiro requested recalling the cuts where Kisuke removed the poison from her lungs.
"Yes," Kisuke slowly answered staring Toushiro in the eye.
"Karin," Toushiro stepped away with a firm voice "take the medicine." He quietly ordered moving to set the bow and quiver of arrows on the porch. Karin groaned as she, reluctantly, accepted the outstretched cup from Kisuke's hand. She made a face when she swallowed the disgusting liquid.
"I can't believe this is the only way to remove this poison." Karin groaned. Toushiro simply shook his head observing how Ururu guided Karin back into the house to continue her rest. Toushiro scowled at the closed door when Karin disappeared inside. Her strength was not returning as he was expecting.
"She will be fine," Kisuke reminded Toushiro as he appeared beside the young captain. "Now, it is time for your training." Kisuke smiled and Toushiro's scowl grew deeper with more intensity.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rangiku stomped down the street in dismay. One week without Toushiro and she was quickly growing even more depressed. She no longer had to worry about deceiving Yuzu. Rangiku explained the situation to Yuzu six days ago and was surprised with her reaction.
-Flashback-
Rangiku stood before Yuzu in the Kurosaki home. The gentle, trusting eyes gazing up to her caused the guilt from her lies to weigh heavier on her conscience.
"Hello, Rangiku what can I do for you?" Yuzu's gentle question broke Rangiku's heart and the truth spilled from her lips before she could stop.
"I'm so sorry, Yuzu!" Rangiku bowed low to the child. "Karin and Toushiro left the village the other day and they haven't come back yet." Rangiku felt tears pricking at her eyes. She waited for Yuzu to break down and cry and yell in outrage for the deception. She waited, and waited, and waited for a reaction that never manifested.
"So Karin is out of the village with Toushiro Hitsugaya?" Yuzu asked Rangiku. She slowly straightened her back, blinking at the Kurosaki twin.
"Yes," Rangiku slowly answered. Yuzu's gentle smile nearly made Rangiku fall out.
"Then what are you worried about? Toushiro will make sure Karin stays safe. However, I am disappointed that Karin left without saying anything. Oh well, I'll scold her when she gets back." Yuzu simply exclaimed with a gentle smile before turning back toward the kitchen. Without another word, Yuzu continued fixing the meal she was cooking for her and her father. Rangiku was so stunned with her gentle acceptance that she blindly nodded when Yuzu offered Rangiku to join her.
-End Flashback-
Rangiku paused in front of Chief Yamamoto's office cabin. She stared up and down the street looking for something to do. She had gotten so low that she was starting to hang out with Captain Kyoraku, something she swore to herself that she would never do. However, desperate times call for desperate measures.
She was snapped from her thoughts when a cloud of dust came stampeding into the village. The creature making all of the commotion slid to a stop right in front of Rangiku. She blinked down to a man riding a giant, hairy, brown boar. The man was carrying a rolled pallet draped across his back with a brown sash holding it together. He jumped off of the boar and stood before Rangiku. She blinked and he blinked then looked up and down the street. The crowd of villagers ranging from soldiers to civilians gathered around the newcomer and his strange steed.
"May I help you?" Rangiku slowly asked the man still looking up and down the street.
"Yes, my name is Ganju Shiba and I'm looking for Rangiku Matsumoto. I have a message from Toushiro Hitsugaya." No sooner had the words left his mouth that Rangiku grabbed the man by his collar and pulled him to look her in the face.
"I'm Rangiku. TELL ME WHERE TOUSHIRO IS RIGHT NOW!" Rangiku yelled into the man's face.
'And I thought Kukaku was bad,' Ganju thought in his mind while Rangiku shook him back and forth.
"He's in Kingdom Rukongai." Ganju managed to answer in between her forceful shakes.
"What's he doing there?" Rangiku asked dropping him so fast Ganju was left to fall flat on his face. He struggled to his feet shaking the dizziness from his head.
"I was told to set up a kido portal so you can ask him that for yourself." Ganju stumbled to his feet looking back into Rangiku's stormy eyes.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Rangiku yelled nearly throttling him if he hadn't dodged out of her grasp.
"Of course, just point me toward a dark room in a secure building." Ganju explained. Rangiku thought for a moment then looked behind her to Chief Yamamoto's cabin. Her eyes lit up at the perfect location for a portal.
"Come with me." Rangiku grabbed Ganju before running into the cabin to speak with Yamamoto.
It took several hours for Ganju to complete setting up the portal. Chief Yamamoto agreed to the use of a spare room in his cabin. He supervised Ganju's work while Rangiku paced behind him. She had paced back and forth so many times, Chief Yamamoto half expected a trench to be embedded in his floorboards.
"Are you done yet?" Rangiku asked for the umpteenth time. Ganju scowled at the floor with her constant badgering. He would have yelled at her but he still had the imprint of her hand on his cheek from the last, and only, time he did so.
He made a final stroke of yellow on the floor board then stood up. "I am finally done." Ganju exhaled in relief as he dusted his hands off.
"Finally," Rangiku shoved him out of the way to stare down at the yellow markings arranged in a circle with some matching symbols on the wall at the corner of the darkened room. "So, how does it work?" Rangiku glared down over to the man stretching and flexing the kinks from his arms.
"I'll show you." Ganju answered stepping up to the corner. Rangiku reluctantly stepped aside to allow him to pass.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Toushiro collapsed on the grassy yard as he took a moment to rest from his training. Each day the training became more intensified and challenged him to his limit. He was starting to see the effects
"Okay, I think it's time to take a break." Kisuke exclaimed standing over Toushiro's form. He glared back up to his trainer and slowly stood back up.
Two explosions of fire in the sky drew their attention upward.
"What's that?" Toushiro asked glancing to Kisuke studying the explosions.
"That was a signal from Kukaku." Kisuke walked back to the house calling out to Ururu and Jinta. He left Toushiro standing in the backyard completely confused as to what was going on.
"What's the signal for?" Toushiro asked the empty yard before running into the house. He found Kisuke gathering Jinta, Ururu and Karin to prepare to leave the house.
"What's going on?" Karin asked Ururu as she led her to the door. Jinta, Kisuke, and Toushiro followed up behind to stand at the porch.
"Kukaku would signal us when word reached your village. It appears that the kido portal is ready and set up for immediate use. I had assumed that you wanted to speak with your friends as soon as possible." Kisuke answered briskly walking away from the yard and down the dusty street. The others left the yard to follow Kisuke leaving Toushiro standing on the porch.
'This is it,' Toushiro took a deep breath before he ran to catch up to the group to go speak with Rangiku for the first time in over a week. 'I am going to be in so much trouble.' Toushiro thought as he caught up to Karin trailing alongside Ururu and Jinta.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Rangiku stood with her arms crossed over her chest and her foot pounding a steady rhythm on the floor boards.
"He is going to be in so much trouble." Rangiku threatened in a deep voice as she watched Ganju kneeling on the floor.
"Okay, let's get this set up." Ganju placed his hands on the floor and the markings began to glow. Rangiku stepped back in shock as beams of blue light shot up from the floor markings to join the floor to the ceiling as a cylinder of hazy blue glowed in the corner.
"Connect me with Kukaku Shiba in Rukongai." Ganju slowly stood and addressed the cylinder. "Kingdom Rukongai, Division 1." Ganju called out and Rangiku stared on in shock as the cylinder folded in morphing to brown then green, finally opening back full into a cylinder with dark brown coloring. Rangiku blinked when the face of a woman appeared in the dark coloring. Her hair was standing up in all directions with a white bandage attempting to tame the wild locks.
"Ganju it's about time you got that portal set up." The woman shouted from the other side of the light beams.
"I'm sorry Kukaku. It took longer than I thought to find this village. It's nothing more than a tiny speck. I'm shocked that I actually found the place." Ganju calmly answered the woman. The woman snorted in response to his excuse.
"Have you managed to find that woman Rangiku?" The woman's harsh voice grated on Rangiku's nerves.
"Yes she's right here," Ganju stepped aside to pull Rangiku up to stand before the cylinder of light.
"Hello, I'm Rangiku Matsumoto," she carefully waved her hand toward the face.
"It's nice to meet you, I'm Kukaku Shiba." The woman nodded her head then her attention was directed to an area at the back of the room.
"I don't mean to be a bother but Ganju said I would be able to speak with Toushiro." Rangiku watched the woman turn back toward her with a smirk on her face.
"He's right here," the woman stepped out of view and Toushiro appeared in the cylinder looking up to Rangiku. Rangiku stared into the cylinder looking over every inch of her charge that she could see from the slender window.
"Hello Rangiku," Toushiro politely bowed to his guardian through the beam of lights. Rangiku was relieved, proud and irritated all at the same time.
"Toushiro it's so good to hear you again." Rangiku paused for a deep calming breath, "are you alright?"
"Yes, Karin and I are well." Toushiro paused as well, waiting for the hurricane he knew was sure to follow her calm exterior.
"Are you safe, Toushiro?"
"Yes ma'am." Toushio was exhibiting his best manners to appease his guardian.
"And, how is Karin?" Rangiku slowly asked glancing to her right she noticed Yuzu enter the small cabin followed by Captains Kuchiki and Kyoraku. Word about the new kido portal certainly traveled fast around the village.
"Yes, she is safe. We are both staying with a store owner named Kisuke Urahara. He has been very accommodating to the both of us and we are receiving excellent care." Rangiku heard a loud snort explode from beyond the beams at Toushiro's answer. A slap and quiet scolding soon followed.
"I am so glad to hear that," Rangiku took in a deep breath closing her eyes to gather her thoughts. "Toushiro Hitsugaya . . ."
Toushiro gave an audible gulp before he bowed, averting his eyes from the woman standing on the other side of the beams.
"Yes, Rangiku."
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I HAVE BEEN ABOUT YOU?" Rangiku shrieked toward the beams. "I CANNOT BELIVE YOU. FIRST YOU RUN OFF INTO THE WOODS TO GO AFTER KARIN. Of course that was a very good thing and I am very proud of you for that, but TO ONLY SEND A SMALL PIECE OF PAPER WITH WINTER STORM TELLING US YOU ARE SAFE AND NOT SAYING HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE YOU TO COME BACK! YOU NEVER EVEN SAID WHO YOU WERE WITH AND HOW YOU WERE GOING TO TRAVEL! YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO TRAVEL IN THE FOREST ALONE AND NOT CARRY ANY PROVISIONS! THERE HAD BETTER BE A DAMN GOOD REASON WHY YOU SENT WINTER STORM AHEAD BY YOURSELF. Well? I am expecting an answer." Rangiku glared at Toushiro after having released all of her worry and stress that had built up over the past week. During this entire rant, all of the people in the room took a step back not willing to get caught up in the storm of the woman's fury.
"I understand, Rangiku, and I apologize for causing you to worry." Toushiro began making a slight bow straightening before he continued speaking with his guardian. He was expecting the furious rant so he took it in stride and he knew she wasn't really angry at him. Anger was just her way of expressing worry. "Things have become very complicated. I found Karin just before sunset on the day I left Karakura." Toushiro paused glancing past Rangiku to the people standing in Chief Yamamoto's cabin: Yuzu, Ganju, Captains Kuchiki and Kyoraku and Yamamoto himself. Toushiro then turned behind him to note all of the people in the room: Kisuke Urahara, Tessai, Jinta, Ururu, Karin, and Kukaku Shiba. Toushiro took in a deep breath before he continued his talk with Rangiku. He must be very careful in what he spoke in front of the current audience.
"Karin became injured in an unknown attack and we were in desperate need to find a kingdom with a doctor. We stumbled upon Kingdom Rukongai where Kisuke has been able to treat Karin."
"Wait," Rangiku interrupted Toushiro from continuing, "Karin was injured under your watch?" Toushiro looked down to the floorboards in shame with a small nod of his head.
"But Toushiro, you would never let anything touch her. How did this happen?" Rangiku asked in surprise. "You wouldn't even let a dragon come close to attacking her.
. . . . . . . . . .
Kisuke watched Toushiro speaking with Rangiku inside Kukaku's home through the kido portal. If Rangiku's reaction was any indication, it appeared that Karin's injury was a freak accident.
"As I said before Rangiku the situation spiraled out of control before I could do anything. Karin was injured in a moment of my carelessness." Toushiro slowly explained to his guardian. Even after this explanation Rangiku was still blinking in surprise seeming to find it difficult to consider that such an injury could have happened.
"What could have happened? Were the two of you caught up in an earthquake . . . a tornado? Besides a freak weather anomaly is the only thing that could be out of control." Rangiku was still going on about how Karin's injury could occur. Toushiro's response to his guardian impressed Kisuke. To Kisuke it looked like Toushiro was answering all of Rangiku's questions without revealing their allegiance with the dragons and the part Gargoyles played in Karin's injury.
"As I said before the situation spiraled out of control, Rangiku. Karin is here and she's safe." Toushiro looked back to Karin and motioned for her to speak into the portal.
"Hi Rangiku," Karin waved to the strawberry-blonde in the portal.
"Hi Karin."
"Hi Karin," Yuzu jumped in front of Rangiku before the older woman could say anything else. "I was very disappointed in you when I found out you had left the village. Really, Karin, that was very dangerous and very thoughtless. What could you have been thinking about when you left?" Yuzu nailed Karin to the proverbial floor with her sweet voice and glaring eyes piercing her twin sister's resolve.
"Well, Yuzu," Karin rubbed the back of her head in uncertainty trying to think over what she would tell her twin. "I wanted to take revenge for Ichigo's injuries and-" Toushiro jumped up and pulled her from the portal before she unwisely notified Ganju of his brother's death.
"It's okay Yuzu I have already scolded Karin for her thoughtless actions." Toushiro eased the fear from the young blonde twin's eyes while maintaining a strong hand clasped over Karin's mouth despite her struggles and muffled grumblings.
"Okay, thank you Toushiro. I'll talk to the two of you later, okay." Yuzu smiled with a wave and stepped out of the room to do whatever she was planning to do. Toushiro glared down to Karin giving her a silent warning to watch what she spoke.
"Well, it looks like everyone else has had their say. I guess that leaves us," Shunsui Kyoraku stepped forward into the window of the kido portal with Byakuya Kuchiki just to the left of him.
"We would like to speak with Toushiro Hitsugaya in private, if you please." Byakuya kindly ordered to the people in both groups.
"I think that would be a great idea. We need to get Karin back so she can rest." Kisuke hurried up to Toushiro and gently led the young girl out of the cellar. Toushiro looked behind him watching as the small cellar room was slowly emptied, Kukaku being the last to step out of the cellar.
"Chief Yamamoto I promise we won't be too long." Shunsui Kyoraku was carefully motioning for the chief to vacate the small room. "We just need a small talk with Captain Hitsugaya, then we'll return your cabin to you."
Toushiro had to hold in a snort of laughter at the thought that the Chief of the village had been shooed out of his own home and office.
"Now that any spectators have left the rooms we can get down to business." Shunsui stepped back up to the portal and waited for Byakuya to begin.
"Captain Hitsugaya we would like to be informed of all that has occurred since the time you left Karakura. I should inform you that I am well aware that you are traveling with dragons, and we found a diary of Soken Ishida describing the existence of the gargoyles." Toushiro stared wide eyed at the two captains.
'How did they know?' The only thought running through his skull from the surprise of their news.
A/N: Finally!
I know that not a lot has happened in this chapter but some things needed to be explained for the story to continue. Next chapter I promise we will come back to the dragons and see how they are progressing. I am going to try and have them leave Kingdom Rukongai in the next chapter.
On a side note: of course Kisuke Urahara would know about the gargoyles. He knows about everything!
Anyway, I apologize for taking so long to update this story. I have not and I will not abandon or forget this story. I enjoy writing for it too much. I have just been hitting a rather large wall in creativity and inspiration. Fortunately, I am making some progress and will update some of my other stories.
A/N2: I am still open for any suggestions about new dragons you guys want to see.
Disclaimer: This fanfic is inspired by DreamWorks' "How To Train Your Dragon."