Sacrifice

12 years later

The Captain of Squad Nine Shuhei Hisagi sat on the deck just outside his office. It was a quiet morning but a sunny one. And with not much else to do Shuhei decide to step out of his office and practice on his guitar.

There was a time when he wasn't so good at playing so he used to go off into the mountains or woods. But he'd gotten better in recent years. With a light finger he strummed across the cords, hitting each note perfectly.

"Captain." Said a voice. Shuhei's strumming stopped and he turned around to see his Lieutenant Shusuke Amagai standing there. He was a former member of Squad Two and when he first heard about it Shuhei thought that would be pretty intimidating. But Shusuke was a likeable guy and a bit of a goof which was a relief from the tight and stuffy Lieutenant he'd had before. And his experience in the Patrol Corps carried over well to being second in command of the Security Division and the Elite Commando Unit. Besides Shuhei liked having a younger guy around it allowed himself to pass some lesson just as Captain Tousen had done.

"What is it Lieutenant?" Shuhei asked tilting his head over his shoulder to view him. Unlike his Captain Amagai did not wear a sleeveless uniform. And there were a few pieces of paper tucked under his left arm.

"The Head-Captain is here, sir." He answered." He's asking to see you." Shuhei's eyes bugged open. With his Lieutenant by his side he flew across the barracks and to the entrance of the Ninth Division. There he came upon Head-Captain Hitsuguya but he wasn't alone. The Third Seat Koga Kuchiki along with the Fourth and Fifth Seats of their Division had been called out. There was a grim look on Hitsuguya's face as he turned to Shuhei.

"Captain Hisagi." His voice rumbled like thunder as he turned to him. Amagai stepped aside as Shuhei stepped towards the Commander, gulping down fear as he stared into those ice colored eyes.

"Yes, sir?" he squeaked. Toshiro laid a hand on Shuhei's shoulder.

"I have an important mission for you and your Elite Squad." Toshiro glanced back Shuhei and to the four officers standing behind their Captain. Shuhei expected the details to be explained to him then and there. But instead the Head-Captain turned around.

"Follow me." He commanded. And before anyone knew he disappeared. The seated officer struggled to use their shunpo to keep up with their Captain, and their Captain struggled to keep up with the Captain Commander. And before they knew it the Gotei 13 was far behind them, then some of the nicer part of the Rukongai, and then any and all signs of civilization before the Head-Captain stopped.

He was completely silent the entire trip. Not bothering to look back to see if he left his subordinates in the dust, keeping his eyes locked and forward on what was in front of him. They finally stopped on the farthest section of the Northern District. Far away from any villages or towns, now on the outskirts of the forest.

"Head-Captain?" Shuhei said as he approached Toshiro's back. The Young Commander said nothing but walked forward and into the woods. Confused by concerned Shuhei followed after him, with his subordinates right behind him.

It got darker and darker the deeper they went into the forest. And the visual that once was Hitsuguya's snow white cloak soon began to fade to black. Then he tried to feel for his spiritual pressure but soon found it gone.

"Head-Captain?" He whispered into the darkness.

"Sh." He heard the gruff voice of the Head-Captain beside him." Keep it down." Shuhei turned and glanced at the area around them. There was something out there. Something that only the Head-Captain could see.

"What should I have my men do, sir?"

"Spread them out." He answered, his voice still low." Keep their spirit energy down." Shuhei kept his eyes forward but raised his right arm, and slowly extended his fingers from his balled hand. The subordinates followed and began spreading out as ordered. Shuhei prepared to do the same but was stopped by Toshiro's arm." You stay with me." The Captain simply stood back and nodded.

He watched as his men spread out in front of them, until they faded into the darkness of the forest. And then everything went silent. The only sounds he could hear were the small pebbles shifting about on the ground below them. Shuhei even had to lean in to hear Toshiro's breathing next to him.

But then all at once the area around them was alive with light, as an explosion appeared on their right. When the light settled, and there was only smoke and fire remaining Shuhei looked forward to see one of his own in the middle of it.

He took a step forward ready to protect his man but was caught from behind by Toshiro.

"GET DOWN!" he roared. And took Shuhei to the ground with him. With his back on the ground and looking up Shuhei say three dashes of light shoot over the sky above them.

Toshiro was back on his feet first. Raising his arm and pointing at the dense forest before them.

"Shakkaho." He commanded. And the red ball of Kido that formed in his hand was enough to wipe out the entire spot before him to nothing but dust.

Shuhei slowly propped himself back to his feet, first looking forward and then around them for any sign of their invisible foes.

But then suddenly he saw the Head Captain dropped to one knee.

"Commander!" he yelled jumping towards him. Toshiro was on one knee, his hand clutched over his chest. A clear hole had been shot right through him with blood pouring out.

Shuhei quickly turned in the direction he thought the attack came from. Pulling his sword from it's sheath and without calling it's name opened up his Shikai.

He waited after that. Waited for any sound, any movement he could see. And he quickly saw it, coming right at him. He began to swing kazeshini, ready to take the head clean off of whoever it was.

But then Koga Kuchiki cam stumbling through the bushes. His uniform was ripped and he was bleeding from the head just above his left eye. But that was nothing compared to Lieutenant Shusuke Amagai in his arms.

"Captain!" Koga exclaimed upon seeing him.

"Third Seat!" Shuhei yelled." Get over here!" Koga stumbled forward, dragging Shusuke behind him." What's going on here? Did you see anything?!"

"Nothing, sir." Koga panted." At first all was quiet but after that explosion" He turned his head away to view the surrounding area but then he saw Toshiro knee deep in his own blood. "HEAD-CAPTAIN!"

"Don't worry about him. "Shuhei said grabbing his third seat by the arm." Keep your head about you." Koga's face returned to the normal sternness of the Kuchiki clan. He set the Lieutenant down and then drew his blade.

Captain Hisagi gulped down a breath. Whatever it was, it was coming in fast. Even worse it was all around them, and he couldn't tell how many there were. One or two, maybe even as many hundred. They had two other men still missing or possibly dead, the Lieutenant was wounded badly, even the Head-Captain looked unable to stand.

But to his surprise when Shuhei looked back he saw Toshiro already on his feet, his body glowing in blue spirit energy. The noises around them suddenly became louder, they were coming in fast. Toshiro reached for hyorinmaru on his belt.

"Gentlemen!" he yelled." Prepare to defend yourselves!" He swung up his arm releasing his blade, and bringing a barrage of ice with it.

Lieutenant of Squad One Rangiku Matusmoto was waiting at the gates for their return. She had seen Toshiro disappear through those gates with Captain Hisagi and his Squad. He had said little upon his sudden exit, but whatever it was it must have been important. But he could have probably just over-thinking this like he always does.

The gates opened wide and Rangiku could see their force returning. She let out a smile as she looked forward scanning the crowd. They had left with their heads held high and marching to victory but now their heads were hung low with no joy in their eyes. Something had happened.

Captain Hisagi was at the head of the group. His head hung low to the ground, his eyes glued there. His usual sternness appeared to have been replaced with something else. Beside him was his Lieutenant Shusuke Amagai, who was carrying a wounded member of their Division. No doubt there was some battle but she counted five, the top five members of Squad Nine had returned even if they were being supported by each other. But she could not see the sixth.

Toshiro was taller than everyone else in this group she should have been able to see his white hair bobbing over all of them. But he wasn't there.

Curious she stepped forward towards the Captain.

"Shuhei. What's happened? Where is my Captain?" And at the mention of that the two could not meet her eyes." Where's Toshiro?"

And Shuhei was the one to answer her. He pulled his right arm up to showcase something to her. The White Captain's Cloak with the Symbol of the First Division on it. Shuhei brought his other hand up and cradled it as if it was a person.

"The General." Was all he managed to say. And that was all the needed to be said. Rangiku reached out with shaking hands and took the coat by its sleeves. Her hands began to tremble and her eyes began to water.

And thus it was that the 2nd Head-Captain of the Gotei 13 Toshiro Hitsuguya was gone. The Captains had gathered and prepared to decide what to do next. And the only place to start was at the beginning. Rangiku was outside the door listening to everything being said.

"Captain Hisagi." Sajin said." What happened?"

"I do not know." Shuhei shook his head." He spoke very briefly of our mission, only demanding that I and my officers go with him. But whatever he feared out in that dark forest, we found it."

"What was it?" Renji asked.

"I don't know." Shuhei said with another shake of his head." They were too fast for us to see or keep track of. And whatever evidence we might have had of them died with the Head-Captain." He kept his head low, his hands hiding inside his coat." He died bravely. Died so that my men and I could live." He paused a moment. He'd said that to hopefully provide some closure, but it brought very little.

But Rangiku couldn't blame Shuhei. It was the heat of the moment no doubt and Toshiro had to make a quick decision.

"It should have been the other way around." Soifon said stepping up" It was he who helped get you that Captain's position. You more than anyone should be grateful to him!"

"Be quiet Soifon." Captain Seigen jumped in.

"Don't act like you care." She yelled turning to him."I know you never liked him! You're probably happy he's dead." Now that was something Rangiku hadn't thought of. Seigen had been at odds with Toshiro ever since he arrived as Captain of Squad Twelve. Those feelings did not disappear entirely when he became Head-Captain.

"Why you-" he began to retort.

"Enough!" Sajin yelled silencing them all." Do you think this is the right time to be bickering amongst oursleves?! Do you think you're the only ones angry right now?!" Of course Sajin was mad. He should have been there, he wanted to have been there. Perhaps he thought he could have changed this if he had been or maybe he couldn't have. But there was no use thinking about it now.

Silence overtook them now. And it was Unohanna who spoke next.

"He should be buried." She said. But there was no body to bury, no sword. The only thing that remained was his cloak and the memories of him. So in his honor Toshiro was given a tombstone but the controversy came in whether it should be in Squad One or Squad Ten. He was the Captain of Squad Ten before the Captain Commander. Rangiku wanted him buried there, buried in the place where it all began.

In the end they left she decided for it to be put it in a neutral spot beyond the Squad Four barracks just overlooking the cemetery. Everyone from all across the Divisions seated and not seated came to pay their respects.

Many had known him well. The Captains had all watched him grow up, all had taught him in one form or another. It was hard to believe that suddenly he was gone. He had grown up around them and had always been there for him. They were his true family.

Yushiro Shihouin had gotten his Lieutenant's position because Toshiro had vouched for him. He tried not to cry when he approached the grave, trying to keep his composure to keep some dignity in front of the other officers. Captain Kuchiki kept him in line. He put a hand on Yushiro's shoulder when he was being too emotional and Yushiro quickly corrected himself. He would do his best after this. Do his best to make Head-Captain Hitsuguya proud.

When the ceremony was over most returned to their Divisions, ready to mourn in their own way. The Captains all met together, ready to act as one for whatever had to be done.

But after the sun had set a lone visitor came to Toshiro's resting place. Kiganjo lumbered over to the grave with a bottle in his left hand. And sat himself down next to it. As he sat down he pried the bottle open.

"Let's drink." He slurred. He turned the bottle upside down, pouring it over Toshiro's grave." Get drunk." He chuckled slightly to himself as he brought the bottle back to his lips. He had only come back to the Gotei 13 because Toshiro was here, his friend. That was the only reason Kiganjo didn't fall back into his old habits. But with him gone he'd probably start skipping meetings and events. And it wouldn't be much longer until he left all together.

In the Squad One barracks were the Captains. In their lifetimes already they had gone through two Head-Captains and now they must choose a third. But there wasn't much of a choice this time.

Amongst the murmuring of the Captains Ukitake stepped up.

"Everyone." He began." It will be very difficult to replace Toshiro. He was picked by Yamamoto himself, overlooking the regular position for becoming a Captain. But we shouldn't forget Toshiro did leave his choose of successor if this should happen." He turned his attention to his old friend of Squad Eight. And all the other eyes in the room soon went with him. But Shunsui had nothing to say." During our last crisis Toshiro picked him if the worst had happened. And it has." Shunsui let out a sigh. He didn't want the Head-Captain's position, he was glad when Yamamoto had picked Toshiro. He was young, powerful, head-strong all the things needed. But who would have thought it was to be his undoing.

"Alright." Shunsui agreed." I can't argue with a direct order." He moved across the room and took his position in the Head-Captain's chair." There." He said once he was firmly planted into the chair." Now if that's all we needed to talk about you're all dismissed." He finished with a wave. He was clearly depressed, it could be heard in his voice. But then again so were they all. So with nothing left to discuss the Captains turned and made their exit.

Chojiro had been present at the meeting as well. The whole time remaining silent as the grave. But Shunsui was his Captain now just as Toshiro and Yamamoto before him. However there was one who couldn't say the same.

Rangiku had been in the back room this entire time. It had once been Toshiro's office. And she sat in the seat that was once his, clutching the cloak that was once his as she heard them talking.