The Final Challenge
90 years later.
Life is always changing and the Gotei 13 fall victim to this as much as any. Lower members of divisions are usually swapping in and out but the farther up the ranks you go the longer it seems that persons been around.
Toshiro was still the Captain of Squad Ten but had changed from his younger self, now he was a man. Standing almost as tall as Kenpachi, his body large and powerful, his face rigid and rugged. He continued his lover's relationship with Rangiku, kept in close contact with Mayuri and Kiganjo, a heated rivalry with Seigen, but a sibling relationship with other Captains Sajin, Kenpachi, Matsuri ,Soifon and Byakuya. At the same time he continued learning skills from them all the while learning from Unohana, Shunsui, Ukitake and Head-Captain Yamamoto.
And all this time his training was kept secret except to those few involved.
Toshiro's training over the past century was as follows:
His first fighting task was to defeat the First Division Lieutenant, Chojiro Sasakibe. Despite being only a Lieutenant Sasakibe displayed skills as powerful as a Captain which Toshiro learned from battling him. While a tough first task Toshiro managed to accomplish it relatively soon, within 3 years. But would only move on when he decided for a certain he could defeat the Lieutenant no matter what.
His second task was to defeat the team of Captains Shunsui and Ukitake. First separately and the together. And even though Ukitakr was sick and Shunsui a goof both had the battle experience and power one would expect from some of the first Captains. This together took more time to accomplish especially when he had to fight them together. But between each battle Toshiro continued learning healing from Unohana, Hand to Hand combat and Kido with Yamamoto as well as overall history of the Soul Society, as well as his training with other Captains. It took a great deal of effort but Toshiro eventually managed to defeat the two. Shunsui once claimed that Toshiro would surpass him in 100 years, he was wrong. In total he managed to defeat them individually and then together in a total of 90 years.
And now Toshiro was on his third task defeating Captain Unohana in combat. It was hard for Toshiro to come to terms with fighting her, his 'mother' figure. But when her identity as the First Kenpachi 'Yachiru' the most deadly of all, Toshiro's eagerness to fight was restored.
And this is where we find him now.
There was darkness all around. Yachiru Unohana stood amongst the dark liquid of her bankai as it ravaged and destroyed everything around her. Normally this gave her an edge in battle the only other ability able to snuff it out completely being the Head-Captain's fire but now there was another.
A cold wind was blowing all around Unohana, suppressing her devastating liquid. She shielded herself in her bankai but the cold just kept closing in. Pushing against her bankai forcing it to get smaller and smaller. The cold wind began to blow and hit Unohana in the face along with several snowflakes.
Then a sudden storm blew up and shattered her bankai completely as if it was glass. She fell to her knees as a snow storm warped all around her with snow and ice starting to cling to her body. Within Several seconds of being exposed to the cold Unohana dropped her sword and fell to her knees, shivering from the cold.
As she stood there shivering she hear another sound. The sound of feet crunching against the snow. Unohana picked her head up when she realized someone was standing over her. Toshiro was standing there.
He reached behind his back and pulled his Captain's coat off his back and placed it on Unohana's shoulders. The second his coat was around her the blizzard around them stopped, signaling the end of the battle. Toshiro picked Unohana up in his arms and carried her upstairs where everyone else was waiting.
In the room upstairs was where Yamamoto and Toshiro's other teachers were waiting. The four of them turned to see Toshiro walked into the room with Unohana in his arms. Once entering the room Toshiro put her down on the ground and began healing her. Over this past two hundred years he was able to make his skill nearly as great as hers.
"Good job Toshiro." Said Shunsui as he and Ukitake complimented him on his victory. Once Toshiro was sure Unohana would be fine he stood up to be recognized but when he looked to the Head-Captain he met the old man's judging eyes.
"What was that?" he asked.
"My challenge, sir. You told me to defeat Captain Unohana and I did."
"You hardly touched her." Yamamoto said." You sat back and let your spirit energy do the work for you. You hadn't even the need to draw your sword."
"Head-Captain." Said Ukitake stepping up." I don't understand. Toshiro completed the assignment, he was victorious."
"It's true Head-Captain." Said Unohana standing up." Toshiro defeated me fairly." But despite everyone's words Yamamoto was still disgruntled.
"Have I upset you master?" asked Toshiro stepping forward." Tell me what it is and-"
"No!" Yamamoto exclaimed silencing him. He turned and faced Toshiro now." It's nothing." He said calmer." Nothing is wrong. Go." He waved him off. "Return to your barracks and wait for further instructions."
Toshiro glanced around at his fellow teachers each looked as confused as himself but nodded to him assuring he should go.
"Yes, sir." Said Toshiro and he turned to leave. One his way out Unohana returned him his coat with a smile which he accepted with one. Then Toshiro exited the building.
In the aftermath of his leaving Yamamoto sat down in a chair and began rubbing his eyes.
"What's troubling you, sir?" asked Sasakibe to him. The others in the room came and crowded around him.
"That boy." He answered." He's hardly had a real challenge in years. His strength has grown too great."
"I'll say." Added Shunsui." He's certainly stronger than us, maybe even you old man." Yamamoto turned his head and glared at Shunsui.
"What's he's trying to say, sir." Said Ukitake stepping in." Is that Toshiro's learned much in the last hundred years. He's beyond the level of any other Captain."
"He might be even as strong as yourself." Said Unohana. Yamamoto sat back, thinking on that for a moment.
"Then I do believe." He finally said." It is time." He stood up.
"Time?" everyone else question.
"Do you mean?" asked Sasakibe. Yamamoto nodded his answer.
Meanwhile Toshiro returned to his barracks.
He walked through the door and ran his hand through his hair, exhaling as he did so. As he made his way deeper into the office he realized someone else was in there.
"Captain!" said Rangiku as she jumped out her desk and ran over to him." Your back." And before Toshiro could do anything she was hugging him tightly."Oh Captain!" Rangiku jolted and stepped away from him." You're cold as ice."
"Are you that surprised?" he asked. He walked past her and made his way over to the window where a tray of drinks and glass cups were waiting. Toshiro grabbed one of the cups and set it down and then began filling it with ice. Then he grabbed the pitcher of water and began pouring.
"But I've never felt you that cold before." She said walking over." What happened? Were you in a fight or something?" Toshiro stopped pouring and picked his head up.
"Hardly a fight at all." He responded. He picked his cup up and drank from it.
"You're just joking with me?" Rangiku stated. Toshiro turned and looked at her with a smirk on his face. She walked over and the two prepared to kiss when suddenly there was a knocking at the door. Toshiro pulled his face away from Rangiku causing her to nearly fall over.
"Come in." He said to the door. The door opened up and there stood Nanao, Lieutenant of Squad 8.
"Good Afternoon." She said.
"Good Afternoon Lieutenant." Toshiro answered.
"Nanao!" exclaimed Rangiku." It's good to see you, how are you doing?!" Rangiku walked over to her friend as Toshiro walked over to his desk.
"Quite well actually." Answered Nanao." My Captain and I are going out for dinner tonight and would like to know if you and your Captain would like to join us?" Rangiku looked at her strangely for a moment.
"Is this a couples thing or a work thing?" she asked. Based on the way it was said she couldn't differentiate the two.
"Couples."
"Like a Double Date or are we going to swing afterwards?" Toshiro could hear that across the room and spit out his drink in response.
"Just a couples date." Nanao answered fixing her glasses." Captain and I always say we never go out with other couples."
"What about Captains Zaraki and Soifon?"
"They're not exactly our kind of people, besides you know how they get when their drunk." Rangiku nodded her acknowledgement." So can we expect you this evening?"
"What time?" asked Rangiku.
"Seven."
"We'll see you then." And with that Nanao turned and left as Rangiku turned back into her office. She walked over to her desk where Toshiro was standing.
"Are we going to swing afterwards?" he repeated to her.
"I just thought it would be interesting." He raised his brow at her in confusion." Besides I'd never really allow it. You get Nanao and I get Shunsui, who's the clear winner there huh?"
"Me." Replied Toshiro." Because I get Nanao." Rangiku blew on her tongue and walked away. As she walked away Toshiro noticed something he hadn't when she was standing there. The Lieutenant's desk still had a stake of papers on it." At least Nanao can get work done around here!"
Toshiro went a whole week without hearing or seeing from Yamamoto. No mention of his training and this made the Tenth Squad Captain curious. He did not go and press the manner with the General he knew that if he waited long enough his next task would appear.
Lo and behold it did.
Toshiro walked into his office one morning to find it empty. Everything was in its proper place where he'd left it the night before but there was something new. When Toshiro went to his desk he found a folded sheet of paper on it.
He picked it up and opened it, finding something written on it.
It read:
'Meet me in the Munken ' and it was signed by the Head-Captain. After having waited without word Toshiro was relieved and confused but was also in wonder at what his next assignment would be.
So Toshiro packed up his things and headed over to the Prison. Just as he made his way out the door Rangiku appeared and blocked his path. Toshiro froze up upon seeing her.
"Morning Captain." She smiled. Then she leaned up and kissed him. She looked at his confused face and then looked down to see the note in his hand." What's that?" She asked pointing to it.
"Nothing." He responded hiding it from her." Excuse me for a while Rangiku I have to deal with something." He slid past her and out the door.
"What do you have to do?" She called to his retreating figure.
"Nothing." He called back." Just look after everything while I'm gone!" Rangiku would have said more but Toshiro was gone and out of sight.
The Captain of Squad Ten walked across the Soul Society, entered the prison andinto the munken finding it to be completely empty except for one thing. Head-Captain Yamamoto was in the center of the room, seated at a desk.
"Come on in Toshiro." Called Yamamoto." Don't be shy now."
"So this is the munken." Said Toshiro looking around as he walked over to Yamamoto." The place where we keep our most dangerous criminals." He now came up from behind Yamamoto and stood next to him.
"You've been paying attention to my lessons." Said Yamamoto." That's good to know." He was sitting behind the desk with a stack of papers before him and a pen in his hands." Here." He turned to Toshiro. "Take a seat will you?" Yamamoto stood up and Toshiro sat down, Yamamoto putting the pen in his hand and guiding his strokes along the paper." There you go. Nice and easy, it's relaxing isn't it?" He turned and took several steps away." Doctors say a man in my conditions has to keep himself relaxed."
"Your condition, sir?" asked Toshiro turning and looking at him.
"I'm old Toshiro." Yamamoto responded." I know I don't look it but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart. My body and mind are slowly down." Toshiro looked at him and watched as a grim darkness fell over his face." I've seen the Grim Reaper in my sleep." He turned his back to Toshiro completely now." Do you know what he looks like Toshiro?"
"General?" asked Toshiro getting up from his seat." What are you-" But then in one quick instance Yamamoto swung around and drew his sword shooting a blast of fire at Toshiro. But the Captain of Squad Ten had quick reflexes and dodged it easily. Toshiro was out of the way but the desk and chair were in ashes.
"You dodged that very well." Commented Yamamoto.
"What is this?" asked Toshiro. "Some kind of trick?"
"No trick Toshiro." Said Yamamoto." The time has come. The time for your final challenge."
"Final Challenge?" Toshiro repeated." You don't mean-"
"I do. Defeat me in combat and you will be given leadership of all the Gotei 13." Toshiro took a deep breath.
"I-I do not think I am ready." Toshiro said not facing him.
"Nonsense!" bellowed Yamamoto." You are ready. You've been taught well, you have learned well." Toshiro looked up and looked over at his masters." Your destiny lies before you and I am the only one standing in your way."
"I've seen this moment in my dreams." He said." To finally fight you master I would-"
"No!" Yamamoto yelled." I am not your master anymore. Now it is only Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto." He pointed to himself." And Tōshirō Hitsugaya." He pointed to the younger Captain." In the battle for Supremacy of the Gotei 13. Do you accept?" And Yamamoto's words lit a fire in Toshiro's heart.
"Yes!" he answered.
"Then let us begin!" And with that Yamamoto lunged forward and swung his blade. Toshiro reached back and freed his sword from its sheath, swinging it down and blocking Yamamoto's blade.
Then Yamamoto stepped back and swung his blade forward again but Toshiro blocked once more. Toshiro advanced this time swinging his blade down but Yamamoto put his up and blocked. The old man parried Toshiro's blade and lunged it forward but Toshiro jumped back and dodged the tip of Yamamoto's blade, it cutting his shirt slightly. The Toshiro quickly jumped back and swung his sword down.
Yamamoto instead of blocking jumped out of the way. When Toshiro turned to face him he saw a fireball as high as the ceiling coming at him. If Toshiro wasn't a smarter and quicker man he wouldn't have been able to dodge that but he quickly shunpoed away and reappeared behind Yamamoto. The fireball flew back and hit the wall engulfing everything in an inferno and once it died down left a large black mark on those spots it covered.
The Old man turned around and observed Toshiro who stood behind him, Toshiro was standing there panting. The younger man looked over to see the spot where he had been standing covered in soot, if he hadn't been faster he'd have surely been killed.
"Mast-" began Toshiro but stopped himself, remembering what had been said before." Genryusai what was that about? I understand your enthusiasm is as great as mine but that attack could have killed me."
"I am aware." He nodded. "That was the point."
"What?" asked Toshiro confused.
"I tried to kill you with that attack. And from this point on many more."
"You can't be serious."
"I am serious. And if you are not I suggest you get serious, because if you don't you will surely die."
"Mas-Genryusai I'm not going to kill you." Toshiro was fine with fighting Yamamoto but he assumed this would be like all the other challenges he'd faced. He would never imagine it could go this far.
Yamamoto grunted and then charged forward punching Toshiro in the face, sending him flying back into the wall.
"I've held this position for over 1,000 years Toshiro." Said Yamamoto as he marched towards him. Toshiro picked his head up, his nose bleeding from that punch." This place is built upon my blood. Do you think I would just hand it over to you!"
"No, No." Toshiro said. "I don't want it to be this way."
"You don't always have a choice." Said Yamamoto as he stood in his place. Yamamoto viewed Toshiro as soft. He had great strength that no one else in the Gotei 13 could equal so when fighting them he would hold back so as not to really hurt them. This gave Yamamoto the impression that Toshiro would not be hostile enough to attack someone who was coming at him with the intent to kill. If he was going to lead and give command he would have to be hard and ruthless. This final test would prove if Toshiro was ready for the job, not just to Yamamoto but to himself." This ends one way Toshiro. Either you die or I do!"
Upstairs Captains Unohana, Kyoraku, and Ukitake along with Lieutenant Sasakibe watched the battle continue.
Yamamoto picked up his blade and swung it forward, firing more fire at Toshiro. But the Captain of Squad Ten managed to shunpo out of the way and the fire engulfed the spot he was just standing in.
Yamamoto turned his head and watched as Toshiro shunpoed around the room, along the wall. But with a simple shrug of his shoulders Yamamoto sent a blaze of fire around the room. Toshiro put up his sword and blocked, saving himself but revealing his position.
When Toshiro looked next Yamamoto was before him in the air. Yamamoto swung his blade but Toshiro blocked. Toshiro with all his strength pushed Yamamoto back. Both their blades swinging back, fire and ice shooting out of them and onto the ground below.
The fire and ice fought one the ground as their masters fought in the sky above. Yamamoto advanced swinging his blade again and again only for Toshiro to dodge and block each time.
Toshiro put his sword up and clashed with Yamamoto's, both blades hanging over their heads. But then Yamamoto swung his body forward and head-butted Toshiro.
The younger Captain fell back, both losing their swords as Yamamoto tackled Toshiro to the ground. Toshiro was slammed onto the ground with Yamamoto on top of him. Then Yamamoto grabbed Toshiro by his shoulders and punched him in the face, then reared his arm back for a second swing. But when he swung Toshiro caught his fist and then swung his elbow forward hitting Yamamoto in the face.
Yamamoto stumbled back and Toshiro advanced on him. Toshiro swung a punch but Yamamoto ducked under him and then punched Toshiro in the chin with an upper-cut. Then Yamamoto punched Toshiro in the chest. But the younger Captain grabbed onto Yamamoto's arm and pulled him closer. Then Toshiro punched Yamamoto in the stomach, then an open hand strike to the face.
But then Yamamoto swung up and wrapped his hand around Toshiro's throat. Toshiro reached forward with both arms and grabbed Yamamoto by his shoulders. But all the time Yamamoto's grip tightened on Toshiro's throat.
But then something distracted Yamamoto from the fight, there was a red light shining up on his face. When Yamamoto looked down he saw the light coming from Toshiro's right arm and it was cracking.
Then there was a large explosion and the red blast engulfed both the fighters in it. Toshiro escaped the blast first but at the cost of his right arm.
When the younger Captain turned around he saw Yamamoto standing in the same spot. His cloths were burned as well as his body but he still stood there with a strange smile on his face. Toshiro did not wait with his other arm he quickly began healing the one he lost. Yamamoto picked up his head and looked at the younger man.
"The forbidden Kido, Ittō Kasō." He said." Normally it would cost someone a part of their body to do that but with your healing techniques it's no problem for you." Toshiro ran his healing hand over where his arm should be and then it reappeared." You have me at a disadvantage." Yamamoto said taking a step closer." Makes me happy."
"What does?" asked Toshiro.
"Seeing you here and doing that. Let's me know you are serious about this whole thing. So it's about time I get serious as well." Looking to his left Yamamoto saw his sword which he bent down and collected. At the same time Toshiro looked over to see his sword nearby so he quickly retrieved it.
Then Toshiro turned and watched Yamamoto as he extended his blade out to the side.
"Bankai." Said Yamamoto greatly surprising Toshiro." Zanka no Tachi, West." And Toshiro watched as Yamamoto's blade became black and the old man's body erupted in fire, a fire hotter than the sun. The Flames reached as high as the ceiling. And the more spirit energy Yamamoto put into it the hotter they got.
Toshiro knew the only way to combat this was to fight fire with fire, or rather fire with Ice. He wouldn't kill the Head-Captain, no matter what happened he would not. But if Toshiro wanted to live he'd need to fight with his all.
"Bankai." He proclaimed." Daiguren Hyōrinmaru." And the ice wings formed on his body, but they were much different now form when he was young. The wings were large and powerful extending nearly the entire length of the room. Along with that Toshiro's great spirit energy allowed him to create a blizzard all around himself.
The fire and ice started to mix and collided as the two looked each other over.
"Are you ready?!" Yamamoto asked.
"Yes." Toshiro nodded. Then the two fighting for supremacy charged each other and clashed in the middle of the room, their powers of fire and ice following them and colliding as well.
The Final Battle had begun.