1/2
True to his word, Ichigo brought Toushiro to see Shinji. Toushiro wasn't very happy about it; he had agreed, but Ichigo had dragged him away from his office while he was in the middle of reading through a report that was due in two days.
He stood stiffly as Shinji eyed him up and down. Ichigo stood to the side, chewing the inside of his cheek.
"Well, this is interesting," Shinji said at last stepping back and shoving his hands into his sleeves.
Toushiro folded his arms across his chest. "Interesting how?"
He shrugged a single shoulder. "You are technically a visored, but you and Hyourinmaru have already reached some sort of agreement without any training."
Toushiro turned to his boyfriend. "I told you. There's nothing to worry about."
Shinji made a sound at the back of this throat. Both Ichigo and Toushiro turned to him.
"What?" Toushiro asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I think you should still train. You know get used to this knew Hyourinmaru, learn your limits."
Toushiro narrowed his eyes. "He's not going to turn on me, if that's what you're concerned about."
"Well-"
"He's not."
"Hollows are unpredictable."
"Hyourinmaru is not a hollow-"
"He is now, Shiro. The pill was supposed to be temporary..." Ichigo mumbled, shaking his head.
Toushiro took a deep breath. "I don't need training. Hyourinmaru and I have been working together for almost a century now." He turned to leave.
"I think you should still test the waters, Captain Hitsugaya," Shinji sighed.
"I trust Hyourinmaru. He will not hurt me."
"Shiro, at least consider it."
"No."
Ichigo sighed and quickly apologised to Shinji before trotting to catch up with his boyfriend.
He tried over the course of the next two weeks to convince Toushiro to train with Shinji, but he was firm in his decision. Eventually, frustrated with Toushiro's stubbornness, Ichigo cornered him at his desk. He pushed all his papers into a messy pile and took their place. Toushiro glared at him in irritation, but with Ichigo sitting cross-legged on top of his desk he couldn't do much else.
"I'm not going to train with Hirako. End of discussion."
"It's not 'end of discussion'. Shiro, it's for your safety."
"I trust Hyourinmaru.
"Hyourinmaru is a hollow."
Toushiro clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes.
"Are you scared?" Ichigo tried a new approach.
Toushiro took a deep breath and sat back. "No."
They were going in circles. "Then why-"
"You must realise how insulting this is. Hyourinmaru is my zanpakuto, he's a part of me. You and Hirako are both insinuating that I can't control my own powers."
"We're not, babe. I'm just worried, hollows are not... they need a reason to submit to you and-"
"Was our life or death situation not enough then? If Hyourinmaru didn't hollowfy I would have died and he would still belong to that Quincy."
"I'm not saying that... but he's still a hollow-"
"He's my zanpakuto first."
Ichigo sighed. "Shiro, this isn't a matter of pride. It's what's best for you."
Toushiro bristled. "When you say you don't trust Hyourinmaru, you might as well be saying that you don't trust me."
"That's not true."
Toushiro snorted.
Ichigo sighed and scratched the back of his neck, unsure what to say. They stared at each other for a few minutes. Toushiro's jaw was set; he wasn't going to give in any time soon.
"Shiro, I trust you... it's just that hollows make me nervous. I know Hyourinmaru is part of you. But so what my hollow and I had to go to hell and back because of him. I know you feel confident, but I can't help but worry about you. Please, please let Shinji train you."
Toushiro groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fine. But this is just for you."
This prompt was donated by Daygon Yuuki
-Mymomomo