Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. This show and comic series belong to Tite Kubo.
Now was the moment of truth. Hyourinmaru's den of dragons is scouring the forest surrounding Karakura with the sole purpose of destroying gargoyles. At this time, Zangetsu and Hyourinmaru crouched in the village with Karin and Toushiro seated at the shoulder, the former hidden by a long black neck. Some bushes rustled directly behind, looking in the area Karin spotted silver scale and burnt orange fur just outside the village.
Both groups stood and stared at one another, the dragons calm but the humans nervous with hands twitching to the weapons at their sides. One soldier moved to free a sword form his waist, at this motion Zangetsu cautiously growled low in his throat. The humans stepped back waiting to see who would make the first move.
"This could take all day," Karin whipered chancing a peek around Zangetsu's neck. The dragon hummed in response, knowing the fragility of this period. Both dragons knew this was a test: would the soldiers in the Sereitei army let the dragons be or would their misplaced fear destroy any chance of peace? The captains and Rangiku stood at the side of the army staring in awe at the sight. The tension was broken with a cough in the crowd and set the soldiers off. The front row of soldiers raised their weapons and charged the dragons. Zangetsu roared in fury, his patience with humans finally wearing out save for two.
"Stupid humans," the roar set the other soldiers to charge. It seemed that no matter that the dragons saved their lives, they simply could not coexist in peace.
"Zangetsu wait," Karin begged but her pleas were drowned out by the army and growls, several coming from the bush behind them.
Toushiro watched on complete calm over his features, but Hyourinmaru sighed the evidence before him that any chance of peace was impossible. The soldiers moved closer and Toushiro glared at the group but noticed the captains attempt to order a halt to this fruitless attack but ignored for the fear of dragons.
"Hyourinmaru lower your head," Toushiro whispered and the dragon looked back at the human on his shoulders. The boy's eyes were glowing a harsh blue and the dragon was sure that any human who stared into those eyes would be frozen in fear. The snow dragon complied, laying his head flat to the ground so the boy could stand towering over the approaching army. In complete calm, he gathered a palm size ball of kido in his right hand which he clutched in a fist making the energy more dense and strands of orange glowing rope could be seen snaking out of the closed fist.
A calm breath and Toushiro threw an orange spider net over the entire army ensnaring the group of soldiers and halting them in their attack.
"Fushibi," Toushiro yelled the attack. He closed his fist in his end of the net and forced the group of soldiers to stick to one another sending a burst of spiritual pressure coursing through the strands of webbing snapped the army out of their mindless attack. A dead silence fell over the gathered villagers as Toushiro glared at the army raising his spiritual pressure even higher sent shocks through the net and the entire army could feel the fury of the powerful boy and knew their captor could electrocute the lot of them in a moment notice.
"You pack of morons!" Toushiro yelled out sending small shocks to keep their attention and show them the dragons were not what they needed to fear. Karin stared at Toushiro never having seen this burst of rage from her usually calm friend. The dragons looked at him in awe but not surprise, they knew what lengths Toushiro would go to protect Karin, and this army unwittingly moved to attack her by going for the dragons.
"Your very lives are saved this day because these dragons destroyed the monsters attacking you. This is how you repair their bravery! Attacking with intent to kill the very creatures that saved you, if that was not bad enough you attacked a civilian who has lived in this village her entire life." Zangetsu lowered his head to reveal Karin staring at the army. You could almost hear the hearts of every captured soldier stop for a beat. It was no secret the lengths the boy would go to protect his childhood friend, and yes that would include electrocuting every threat which rose against her, even an army.
"Now I do believe you owe this young woman an apology." He growled jerking the net forward until the group fell to the ground as a single lump. "What do you say?" He calmly growled, glaring at the group with such anger the soldiers knew their lives hung on their next words.
"We're sorry." The group apologized, most voices out of synch and most being a grumble of noise Toushiro still understood their apology. He accepted it no matter how weak and pathetic it was.
"I guess that will do," he sighed and jerked the net forcing the group clumsily to their feet gaining their full attention. "Now this village looks like it has been in a war zone. I'm sure there are injured and homes need to be mended. Get to work and get out of my sight." He growled with a final shock of energy, Toushiro dispelled the net freeing the army. The soldiers took a small look at the dragons before them, then the riders and immediately disappeared running for their lives with only a cloud of dust in their wake.
"Gee, wish we could get them to move that fast all the time." Captain Kyouraku whispered using his hat to swat away the billowing dust.
"We could, Shunsui, but that would mean threatening them with death all the time." Captain Kuchiki answered. As more of the dust settled only a small group of humans were left in the lane at the edge of the village: Chief Yamamoto, Rangiku, Rukia and Renji standing beside the captains.
"Can I take a nap now?" Karin asked feeling her eyes droop as the adrenaline from the fight and her energy plummeted in the wake of the stand off.
"Of course," Toushiro answered giving her a smile.
"Thanks." Karin stretched her arms and pulled her legs from the chain to slide down the black dragon's shoulder to make a bed of his muscled arm. Zangetsu accommodated her as he gently curled on his side using his wing to drape over his body wrapping her in a warm cocoon. The dragon lay his head around his curled form keeping a wary eye on the remaining humans in the group.
"Now what?" Shunsui looked to Byakuya watching the captain.
"Captain Kuchiki, you were right in the clearing." Renji exclaimed in surprise evident in his wide eyed gaze. The black dragon curled up shielding Karin with his body. She felt safe enough to sleep on a dragon. Upon seeing this and the previous fight all animosity toward dragons disintegrated in his views. He would work with the dragons; after all two children befriended the creatures so they can't be bad.
"I shall go." Byakuya stepped from the small group with calm and confident strides on the outside, but caution on the inside, he drew closer to the dragons. Zangetsu growled watching the captain. Hyourinmaru snapped a growl toward his fellow dragon silencing his protest, then waited for the human to continue his approach. Toushiro climbed down from the dragon shoulder to stand beside him, keeping a hand on the fur. Byakuya strode forward stopping ten feet away.
Hyourinmaru cautious and slowly stretched his tail to the waiting captain. Byakuya watched this slow movement as the tail stopped within his reach. It was clear the dragon was waiting for the captain to initiate the conversation. With a careful hand, Byakuya stretched his hand and grasped the tip of the tail in a gentle hold. His hand closed around a mass of fur, icy cold to the touch.
"You wished to speak, human?" Byakuya snapped his head up to the dragon. The deep voice surprised him. He read in Soken's diary about the dragon's communicating through physical contact, but it didn't seem real until he heard the dragon speak for the first time. The captain studied this dragon very closely. Soken described two dragons to be blue with golden wings. These dragons were black and an icy white. Could this dragon have known the dragon described in Soken's book?
"Yes, do you know of a dragon named Muramasa?"
"How do you know that name?" The dragon hummed keeping his head angled away from Byakuya, so the human would not fear Hyourinmaru to attack.
"I read about such a dragon in Soken Ishida's journal. What relation is he to you?" Byakuya asked his fear easing away, once he found the dragon to be non-hostile. Zangetsu looked on at the two then at the remaining humans, still keeping their distance, and he too confirmed they were no threat and so he turned his head in closing his eyes to follow Karin in a gentle nap.
"Muramasa was my predecessor and he was like a father to me and many dragons. Sadly, he has passed on for the past 300 years." Hyourinmaru lamented and inclined his head to Zangetsu who opened an eye at the words.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Byakuya exclaimed. Shunsui stepped up, leaving the others still flabbergasted a good distance away, and placed a hand on Byakuya's shoulder to understand what was being said. It was getting very confusing to only hear half of the conversation.
"As am I," Shunsui exclaimed, having heard of the passing of Muramasa. "So, may I ask what happened after all of that?"
"You seem to know a great deal from this captain's words. More than any human should rightly know. How do you know of this?" Hyourinmaru kindly asked.
"It seems that Soken Ishida had left a diary and recorded all of his life especially the part of the dragons. Which makes us wonder, what exactly happened to make relations between us so impossible?" Shunsui asked gazing up at the snow dragon.
"I am able to show you our history if you wish." Hyourinmaru exclaimed, the two captains nodded their heads. "Very well, this is our history." Hyrouinmaru stated then he sent the vision of their history to the two captains.
Toushiro moved away from Hyourinmaru now unable to understand the dragon's growls. He walked over to Rangiku and Chief Yamamoto.
"Captain Hitsugaya, I would like to have a few words with you." Chief Yamamoto demanded then turned toward his cabin. Toushiro began to follow but was halted with Rangiku's hand on his shoulder.
"Chief Yamamoto, may I have a few words with my charge before he speaks with you." Rangiku kindly asked with a smile and Toushiro gulped. He knew that tone and he knew that he was in for an earful.
"Very well, Rangiku." The Chief lamented, he knew better than to get in between her and her charge. "Send him along to my cabin once you are through with him." With that, Yamamoto strode away while Rangiku gripped his shoulder and dragged him off to their cabin.
...
Yuzu ran out of their cabin with Kon following her. The battle had ended more than an hour ago, but Kon refused to allow them to leave for fear that something else would pop up. This fear was dismissed when several soldiers ran into the cabin calling for anyone that needed medical attention. They explained how the battle was over, and they were to get all wounded to Dr. Unohana at the medical cabin as soon as possible. Yuzu helped the men organize everyone before she ran out to find her sister.
"Those soldiers said they were on the East side of the village." Kon panted running alongside Yuzu. The pair turned the corner and stumbled to a stop. Right in front were more than two dragons. The black dragon Zangetsu was curled up but his head was caressing the neck of a silver dragon. Right beside him a snow white dragon was standing extending his tail to Byakuya speaking in a language the human and fawn were unable to decipher. Beside the white dragon was a burnt orange dragon conversing with Shunsui who was grasping her tail. Shunsui laughed after a particular growl from the female. She snorted in a manner that seemed to indicate her laughter as well.
"Oh my gosh," Yuzu gaped at the scene before her. The silver and black dragons looked toward her and she froze.
"You don't have to be afraid," Kon placed a hand on her arm giving her an encouraging smile. "They're friendly dragons. They won't hurt you."
"What . . ." Yuzu gaped at the group, the burnt orange dragon gave the girl a passing glance before returning to her conversation with Shunsui. The silver dragon kept her eyes on her. The human girl heard several growls emanating from the silver dragon, then be answered by the black dragon. The silver dragon turned back to her and tilted her head to the side.
"Who is that girl?" Sode no Shirayuki asked the black dragon. She noted how the human was standing beside a faun morphed into a human boy.
"I don't know at the moment." Zangetsu answered looking toward Yuzu once again. She looked approaching with small steps, her head swiveling side to side.
"Where is Karin?" Zangetsu perked his head up with the name from this young girl.
"How does she know Karin?" Zangetsu stated, making Yuzu stumble back with the loud growls that reached her ears.
"Are you sure they're not dangerous?" Yuzu asked Kon at her side. The silver dragon snorted in disgust turning away from the pair. The black dragon softly bellowed to the silver female, but she answered with short, snapping snarls. The black dragon answered with a sigh, then softly thrummed his voice apparently easing the silver dragon as her stance softened and she turned back to the human. She rolled her eyes and laid down beside the black dragon.
"Yuzu," Shunsui called to the girl waving a hand to her. "I didn't see you there. Come here, there's someone you should meet." The captain motioned for her to approach the orange dragon, but she hesitated. The elongated head of the dragon towered over her gazing down to her with soft eyes. The dragon purred softly in her throat. Yuzu giggled at the sound, mimicking a cat perfectly. The orange dragon hummed then lowered her head so it lay flat on the ground. Even without understanding their speech, Yuzu knew this position meant the dragon meant no harm.
"Okay," Yuzu stepped up to Shunsui walking to his side. Shunsui gently placed Yuzu's hand on the tip of the tail of the dragon. Yuzu was amazed at the softness of the fur, gently running her thumb along the spine. The dragon giggled.
"That tickles," Yuzu jumped nearly falling on her bottom with the voice sounding from the dragon.
"You can speak." Yuzu gasped. Shunsui burst out laughing, but the silver dragon huffed in annoyance.
"Of course we can speak! You just can't understand our language." Sode snapped to the human. Yuzu gulped at the annoyance.
"Calm yourself, Sode." The black dragon spoke up to his mate, "she meant no harm. After all, this is the first time she has interacted with a dragon."
"Oh alright, Zangetsu," the silver dragon lamented with a heavy sigh.
"This is Yuzu Kurosaki," Shunsui introduced to the group. She blinked up now recalling why she approached the group.
"Oh," she gasped, "do you know where my sister is? Her name is Karin and she's got black hair."
"Child, we know who Karin is," Sode exclaimed to the child.
"Did you say sister?" Zangetsu asked opening his golden eyes wide. In his mind, all siblings resembled one another at least a little. Yuzu looked nothing like Karin.
"Yes, we're twins in fact." She smiled up to the dragon. Zangetsu pulled his wing back to see Karin sleeping on his arm. He looked up to Yuzu, then back to Karin. There was no resemblance between the two. "Karin!" She gasped running up to her sister. Zangetsu allowed her, being very careful not to startle the girl for she was at his side looking Karin over as much as possible from her standing on the ground. Without a second thought, Yuzu climbed onto the dragon's arm to get a better look at the sister she hadn't seen in over two months.
"Perhaps you are her sister," Zangetsu stated. Yuzu stiffened as she heard the voice very close to her, she looked over her shoulder at Zangetsu's head which was a little more than an arm's length from her. Yuzu could only nod in surprise at her boldness. "Your sister is well, just tired. She needs rest."
"But first she needs to see Dr. Unohana," the two looked back to see Toushiro walking straight to Zangetsu, standing a ways behind was Isane on the wagon openly gaping at the sight. "Come on, Yuzu." He easily picked Karin up from Zangetsu's arm then walked back to the wagon Isane was driving. Genlty he placed Karin on the padding before stepping back to motion Isane to drive to the medical cabin.
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A/N: Only the epilogue is left. Do you guys think I did good with this chapter. This is one of the hardest chapters I have had to write. I must say that I am not very good with endings. I guess that's why I like series and sequels so much, the story has no ending just tying up loose ends between the seasons. In the epilogue I have a summary of what happens after this chapter.
Disclaimer: this story is inspired by the movie "How to train your dragon." I don't own, so stop asking.