Disclaimer:

I don't own Bleach or any ideas/characters. I only own references and images for my OC.

Chapter 16

Kimora POV

I felt the sunshine on me as Toshiro and I made our way towards squad one's barracks. Normally, we would have flash stepped, but with my injury Toshiro said he didn't want to risk it, so we walked. Truthfully, I rather enjoyed walking, taking in all the sights around me. I glanced sideways at Toshiro and saw that he had dawned his customary annoyed scowl as we walked through the streets of the seireitei.

"Ah… the lady has finally risen." I heard someone say from our right. I stopped walking and turned to look to our right, peaking around Toshiro who was almost blocking my view. He kept his face forward, but I saw him glance sideways.

"Shinji!" I said happily as he pushed himself away from the wall, beside him was his lieutenant, who I recognized as Momo Hinamori. She kept a few paces behind her captain until he stopped next to us. I watched as her eyes went to Toshiro, but than flickered away.

"Decided to let her be seen by people huh Toshiro. Though I was glad to see that the floors of the medical wing were no longer slick with ice." Shinji teased while winking at me.

I watched as Toshiro turned to glare at him "How many times do I have to tell you… It's Captain Hitsugaya." He growled. Shinji just laughed and shrugged. Toshiro's eyes moved to Momo and juts stared at her before turning back to look at me.

"We need to get moving, I would like to make it there before it gets too late, and the Head Captain is otherwise engaged." I chuckled at his words, knowing that he meant before my father started drinking his sake.

"Yes." I replied before looking at Shinji. "Catch up with you soon Shinji!" I said as Toshiro started walking away without another word.

"Floors slick with ice?" I asked him in a teasing tone.

"I don't want to talk about it." He mumbled to me as I laughed at him.

We arrived at my father's office not too long after and found him sitting at his desk leaning back into his chair. He did not acknowledge us, I stayed silent while taking a small step forward. Suddenly I hard a light snore come from him, and I clenched my hands while my eyes started twitching.

"Are you seriously sleeping!" I yelled startling him awake. He almost fell out of his chair looking around before his eyes fell on me.

"Kimura! Captain Hitsugaya!" He stood and made his way over to me, placing his hands on my shoulders looking me over. I watched as his eyes moved around me before he arrived at my eyes. I saw something flicker through them as he quickly cast his eyes to Toshiro before bringing them back to mine giving me his large smile.

"You look like you are healing nicely! You had us all worried there." He remarked while turning, heading back to sit in his chair.

"Yes. I'm sorry for the worry it caused." I started to say before he waived my apology off. "Father… I need to make a request." I started to say bringing his attention to me. "I need you to have Central 46 approve the removal of my seal."

Shunsui's face darkened at my request, he turned his face to Toshiro staring at him.

"Are you in agreement with this?" He asked.

"No, I would rather this not be the path taken." Toshiro replied while staring at the back wall.

"Why are you asking for this?" Shunsui asked me quietly.

I sighed before beginning to tell him the same thing I explained to Toshiro and Rangiku. "Because I cannot defeat Kohaku at the current level of power Okami, and I currently have." I placed my hands on his desk staring at him. "If I want to defeat him, I need our full strength. I am no longer a child, Okami and I are no longer at odds. There is no need for them to fear me."

I held my father's hard gaze before he cast his eyes down and sighed. "Okay." He whispered, I smiled at him, and I saw Toshiro bring his eyes to him shocked at his agreement.

"Head Captain…" Toshiro started to say but Shunsui raised his hand to interrupt him.

"She's right Captain. We cannot limit her abilities in a time like this." He turned his face back towards me before continuing. "I will make the request, it will take a few days, but understand this, yes you are no longer a child but that does not stop you from being my child."

"I understand father, thank you." I said sincerely placing my hand over his.

"Alright you two, I have to prepare how I am going to convince these old fools of this crazy plan."

Taking the hint Toshiro and I left the office, the doors closing behind me. I looked at Toshiro and saw the hard look in his eyes. He was angry, and he was angry with me, that much I knew. I went to place a hand on his arm but suddenly found myself being listed into his arms and him flash stepping us away. I grabbed onto his shoulder wondering where we were going.

I felt him slow down and start taking normal steps. I lifted my head as he carried me, taking the opportunity to look around. We were on a hill I had never been to before. The sun was starting to set, and the sight took my breath away.

Toshiro placed me down onto my feet, steadying me so I wouldn't lose my balance. Once he let me go, he turned and sat on the grass.

"Toshiro…." I started to say as I sat down next to him, keeping my body turned to face him.

I watched as he closed his eyes and clenched his fists. "Why are you putting yourself in danger?" he gritted out without looking at me.

"I'm not, I will be in more danger if I am not at my strongest." I placed one hand on his arm and squeezed.

"I will protect you; I told you that." He said as he turned his face to look at me. I sighed and smiled at him, I was about to respond when the air around us started to shimmer, I looked behind us and saw my zanpakutos appear, I didn't think they were visible to Toshiro but when he looked, he gasped. "Are those…" He started to say but stopped.

"You can see them?" I asked shocked that they allowed him to see themselves. I turned and looked at Shenron who was in his dragon form, and Tianma who was in her Pegasus form.

"You shouldn't make promises you cannot keep Captain." I heard Tianma say gently looking at Toshiro. "This is the path that must be taken. Any other path, the stars show only death." Toshiro stood at her comment taking a step towards her.

"How do you know?" He questioned.

"She can read the stars." I responded for her drawing his attention back to me. "If she is saying that then she is not wrong." I stood walking to his side so I could clearly see him.

"Without the full power of Okami, not even we can protect our mistress from this bastard." Shenron said from next to Tianma. The seriousness in his voice washed over me, feeling how scared they truly were that the next time we came across Kohaku there would be nothing they could do.

Toshiro grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. I felt him sigh as he bent his head to rest against mine.

"I will be there during the process." I heard him whisper to me "Do not think that you can convince me not to be there, don't bother trying."

Toshiro and I stayed there on the hill watching the sunset, talking, well I did most of the talking, he just humored me by listening. Shenron and Tianma were still manifested laying off to the side. I kept catching Toshiro turn and look at them every so often, I laughed at him causing his attention to fall on me raising an eyebrow.

"What's so funny?" He asked me.

"Are you uncomfortable with them?" I asked shyly looking at him, trying to read his eyes. He stayed silent for a moment before answering me.

"Not necessarily, just not used to zanpakutos manifesting and staying…." He explained to me.

"I know its odd, but they have been my closest friends since before I started the academy." I said nonchalantly.

"Wait… what?" Toshiro quickly said seemingly shocked by my words "When did you first hear your zanpakutos?"

I watched his face as he put his hand on my shoulder.

"Well…. I believe it was right after Central 46 placed the seal on me to restrain Okami." I thought back trying to remember exactly when I first heard them. "I was so young can't remember exactly."

"That's incredible. I know I was young when I first heard Hyorinmaru, but you were much younger, and you heard both of them." He said with shock in his voice. I blushed at his comments. I couldn't understand why he made me feel insecure. Normal I was confident and strong, but with him, I felt like I could actually allow myself to be weak for once.

"Someone approaches." I heard Shenron say as he lifted his head looking off into the distance. Toshiro and I followed his gaze.

Toshiro stood and made a move to stand between myself and whoever was walking up the hill. I tried to feel the spiritual pressure to find out who it was, but it was too weak, which confused me. I felt Tianma and Shenron shimmer and disappear before the person reached us. I stood behind Toshiro, fully prepared to follow his lead.

Finally, the figure came into full view, and the first thing I noticed was the orange long hair that blew in the breeze.

"Orihime?" I asked as I stepped from behind Toshiro who visibly relaxed.

Orihime popped her head up and smiled at us, smiling. She came running up to us and I saw that Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu followed slowly behind her. I turned my gaze to Toshiro who looked annoyed at the interruption.

"Oh! we found you! Rangiku told us that you would probably be here." Orihime explained as she finally reached us.

"I really have to stop telling her when I go." I heard Toshiro mutter to himself.

I watched as Ichigo and the rest of the group reached us at the top of the hill, I smiled at them all, while Toshiro continued to glower at them.

"What brings you all here?" Toshiro asked with an irritated tone.

"You're certainly grumpy… I figured you'd be in a better mood since your woman here is up and about." Ichigo said with a snark.

'Woman…' I closed my eyes and clenched my fists, trying not to wallop him on his head.

"Pardon me for expecting bad news." Toshiro replied sarcastically. "Please, regale us with what celebratory news you have come to provide."

I watched as Ichigo's brow twitched and his mouth forced a smiled. "Do you always have to be so damn snarky…..."

"This is general curiosity" Toshiro shrugged.

I looked to Orihime, starting to ignore those two before I got a headache.

"We wanted to see how you were… I was worried about you after that battle." She told me shyly looking down at the ground kicked the grass with her foot. I couldn't help but smile at her, for her concern. She barely knew me and came to the soul society to check on me.

"Thank you." I said as I reached for her hand gently watching her raise her head to me. "I appreciate your care, and I hear I have you to take for even being here." I smiled while I told her watching her blush at my compliment and thanks. She finally gave me the biggest smile that it was contagious.

"So, listen… speaking of that battle…." I heard Ichigo start to speak and I turned to face him. He had a hard stare set on me, which I met head on and stood straighter raising my chin. I felt Toshiro step halfway in front of me, but I put a hand to his back.

"What exactly are you?"

I stared at Ichigo, Rangiku told me his was blunt and to the point, but I was surprised by his utter directness. I respected him for that. I sighed, hoping that this day wouldn't come, that I wouldn't have to lose the new people that I had hoped would become friends. I looked to the ground but felt Toshiro's hand on my arm.

"You don't have to answer him" I heard him whisper to me but knew that I did. They needed to know what battle they had entered into.

"No… it's alright. It's only fair to them." I told him when I looked up at him.

I turned to the group and motioned for them to sit, which they complied finding comfortable spots on the grass as I sat in front of them. Toshiro moved to hit behind me, so his shoulder was pressed against my back. I took a deep breath before beginning.

"I'm sure, knowing Kisuke he didn't give you much information before you asked for your assistance in my matter." I smirked at them, knowing my old friend and his ways.

"That's another thing…. How do you know hat and clogs?" Ichigo said, I stared at him blinking for moments before breaking out into laughter.

"Hat and clogs! Oh, that's a good one." I finally composed myself wiping the tears away from my laughter.

"Kisuke was the captain of squad 12 when I was younger and living at the seireitei. As I grew older, he and I became close friends. I looked at him as an older brother." I smiled fondly, remembering all the antics Kisuke, Yoruichi and I had gotten into. "Before he was banished and Yoruichi left with him, the three of us were very close. He helped uncle Jushiro with my 'ailment', lets call it, and Yoruichi helped train me in combat and stealth."

"The truth is that I was found as baby by Shunsui Kyoraku, and he adopted me. When I was a bit older but still young it was discovered that inside me resided a five-tailed demon wolf. We are one in the same, but she can give me great spiritual pressure and take over my body as you all saw." I closed my eyes, trying to both summarize my tale but give enough detail.

"When Central 46 discovered what I had inside me, they placed a seal on me to ensure that I wouldn't become a danger to them. The same they did with Kenpachi Zaraki." I decided to gauge the reactions of the group in front of me and saw pity and confusion.

"As I grew older, I was entered into the academy to become a soul reaper. I completed the academy in three years and started to learn control over myself. Finally, as I grew older and stronger, Okami and I came to terms. She knew, she needed me, and I needed her. It was better for both of us to work as a team rather than against each other. We became friends, much like my zanpakutos, she is a part of me."

"As time went by, my father and Uncle Jushiro noticed others taking interest in me and started asking questions. For my safe keeping and well-being, uncle Jushiro and my father submitted me become part of the royal court guard, and I was accepted. For one hundred years I served the soul king, until I decided to come home, thinking it was safe. I was wrong."

I finished my explanation and waited for the downfall.

"So those old geezers put a lock on your powers because they were scared of you?' I heard Ichigo ask, and I looked up at him shocked. I saw he was clutching his fists and looked angry. "How could they? You were a child!" He shouted standing up. I watched in awe at his reaction. I had never had someone feel anger for me before. I didn't know how to feel.

"I sent my father to them to convince them to remove my seal. That is the only way I will be strong enough to kill Kohaku." I said.

"Well…. It sounds like you're going to need some backup…" Ichigo said smirking at me, I smiled at him, understanding that my new group of friends was not going to hate me like the others had.

A/N: hope you guys enjoyed it. Please review and let me know what you think. :) I have a few of these chapters already written, and I'm trying to make them flow, so any reviews would be greatly appreciated, but please be kind, it's my first bleach fanfic.