Ch12

Netto's mind wandered to a familiar cave where a large dragon stood in front of him. "Taiyo," he said softly.

The dragon stood in front of him like a tall pillar of light. Standing in front of him it was like standing in front of an old friend, he didn't feel afraid in fact he wanted to catch up. He had to admit his shikai was kind of cool and majestic.

Despite the radiance of the dragon he was not afraid, instead he looked up at it in awe. The dragon peered down at him, its bright eyes like to burning suns that peered into his soul. "You've been training well."

He nodded, Taiyo's voice was soft and smooth and lit up the room. "Yeah. Sensei and Toshiro have been teaching me well." In reality both have been pushing him to his limit each day until he was too sore to move. It was tough but he was getting the hang of it.

Taiyo nodded. "Keep training, you'll need it against your upcoming threat."

He stared at the dragon. "What kind of threat is it?"

Taiyo stared at him calmly. "An old family secret."

"A-An old family secret?" He looked to the ground thinking about what it could be. Could it be about Rockman? He shifted where he stood, he didn't tell many people that he originally had a twin brother who died when he was young. However, with knowing about how hollows were made he was having an odd itch that it might have something to do with it.

No it can't be, he died really young he wouldn't be a hollow.

He shook his head. "I'll try to figure it out."

"The sooner you face it the better," Taiyo said. "Continue to train yourself."

"Got it."

It wasn't easy, each day Yoruichi and Toshiro pushed him to his limit. Each day he went to day more sore than the previous day. Though the hot spring he bathed in each day was a bit of relief and helped him grow a bit of muscle.

The dragon looked down at him. "You want to protect people and to protect others. Continue to master my power and become more disciplined. Only then can you unlock your true potential."

He looked up at the dragon and nodded. "Can you help me?"

The dragon looked at him curiously but nodded. "I can. But first you must show me your resolve. Not just the resolve to help others but to become a Shinigami."

"I will," he said firmly. "I'm learning a lot of things but I promise to do my best."

The dragon chuckled. "I can see in your heart that you enjoy helping your friends. You'll do anything to help them."

"Yeah I will," he said.

Taiyo looked at him calmly. "I expect you to push yourself harder to become stronger. You entered the world of Shinigami, as my partner I expect you to do your part in this partnership."

"I'll do my best," he said

Taiyo looked him in the eyes and nodded. "Then show me. Show me how well you can use my power."

He woke up and rubbed his head. "Man this training really is something," he muttered as he quickly got ready.

After he finished getting dressed he heard the door open from behind him. "Good morning Netto!" Rangiku said in her usual cheery voice.

Turning around he yelped as Rangiku shoved his face into her rather large bosom. "G-Good morning Rangiku," he muttered his face red as he pulled away. I'm sort of getting used to this. But there was no way he would tell that to Toshiro's face who always looked irritated when he was with the lieutenant.

Rangiku smiled at him. "Netto-kun when are we going to relax together?"

He scratched his head. "I don't know. Toshiro said if we did he'd have an aneurysm." It was true everytime he and Rangiku laughed or she shoved his head into her bosom Toshiro looked annoyed and pissed.

"Oh he's just exaggerating," Rangiku said. "Come on we should relax sometime."

"Fine," he sighed. "We'll have to ask Yoruichi thought."

"Don't worry I'll make it work," Rangiku said. "You know it's nice to have fun people to talk to. Especially if they can tell me fun stories about our captain."

He laughed. "Yeah me and Toshiro met a while ago. It's surprising how much he has changed, not that it's a bad thing."

Though deep down he could tell Toshiro was still that nice kid he met all those years ago. No as Captain Hitsugaya he was much more serious and mature, though still fun to be around.

Rangiku nodded. "Captain has to learn to how to relax. I saw the way you two played soccer in the human world, it was nice seeing him like that."

"Well he obviously seems very busy here," he said. Seeing Toshiro work and train hard was kind of inspiring. He had a lot to achieve for a person his age meanwhile I'm slacking in school. "Well anyway I better get going, sensei will punish me if I am late."

"Be safe," Rangiku said before giving him one last hug.

His face reddened but he managed to leave the room without totally embarrassing himself. Racing through the Soul Society he passed by various other Shinigami, for the most part everyone here seemed nice and didn't give him any problems. But on the other hand he mostly just stayed in the tenth division and left for training with Yoruichi.

When he arrived at their training location he found his teacher meditating on a rock. "Sensei I'm here!"

Yoruichi got up and grinned at him. "Good come on lets practice some more."

He nodded and drew his zanpakuto. "Shine brightly Taiyo!" His sword burst into a ray of bright light that lit up the training area.

He swung a ray of light at his teacher who easily dodged it. Each day the two spared and she pushed him to his limit.

Yoruichi came at him, he managed to block her attacks but she was quick and managed to land a few hits on his chest.

He winced but didn't drop his sword. Using his shikai he sent a wave of light at his teacher. Yoruichi leaped in the air and came at him with a kick.

He managed to get out of the way of the attack but his teacher quickly went for another strike this time with a knife at his side.

His heart raced as he quickly swung his blade, a burst of light flashed through the area as his blade made contact with his teacher's knife. He winced as he felt a fist in the gut and fell down.

"Not bad," Yoruichi said as she extended a hand.

He nodded as she helped him up. "Sensei you are fast."

Yoruichi laughed. "That I am. Don't worry though you are improving."

After a quick break Toshiro came in. His friend was wearing his captain uniform with his zanpakuto strapped along his back.

"Hey Toshiro!" He said.

Toshiro nodded. "Hey Netto. How was training?"

"Your friend is doing well," Yoruichi said.

He shrugged. "Yeah I'm doing my best."

"Well lets practice your swordsmanship," Toshiro said as he drew his sword.

He gripped his zanpakuto and charged at Toshiro. The white haired boy easily blocked the attack and countered.

Toshiro was quick but he was able to somewhat keep up with his attacks. Man he is quick. His friend swung with deadly precision not giving him the chance to collect his thoughts.

He had to work by instinct as he blocked and parried the attacks. I guess this is the strenght of a captain. Of someone who has spent years training and honing his skills.

Toshiro's blade came from the corner of his eyesight. His arms ached but he managed to block it in time. Their blades met, the force of the hit reverberated throughout his body into his aching arms.

Eventually Toshiro pulled away. "Not bad."

He winced as he massaged his hand. "You hit hard."

"You get used to it," Toshiro said. "How's your relationship with your zanpakuto?"

He shrugged. "Ok I guess, he's friendly. Want to take a soak in the hot spring?"

Toshiro sighed. "Fine."

He grinned as the two stripped and got into the warm waters. "Personally this is my favorite part of training," he said. " A nice relaxing dip in the water."

Toshiro nodded and avoided his gaze. "Y-Yeah but you shouldn't relax too much."

"Yeah yeah I know," He said as he noticed his teacher strip down and enter the water.

"Oh sensei have you spoken with my grandfather lately?" he asked. By now he was used to seeing her naked even if he did do his best to avoid looking at her body and feelings certain emotions.

Yoruichi shook her head. "Not in a while. Why?"

He shifted in his seat letting the warm water envelop his body. "Well I've been talking with Taiyo and he has been telling me that I should look into my family's past."

Rubbing his head he sighed. "Sensei I don't know if you know this, Toshiro I know you don't but I used to have a little brother who died at child birth."

Toshiro looked up at him. "Really?"

"I think your grandfather mentioned something like that," Yoruichi said. She frowned at the pool. "Is it something your parents talk about often?"

He shook his head. "No. It's more of a family secret these days."

Toshiro looked up at him his gaze tense. "I see. Netto do you know much about this twin brother?"

"Not much except that his name was Saito and my father used his DNA to create my net navi," he said. "It isn't something they like talking about."

Yoruchi and Toshiro exchanged a look between them. "What was it like?" Toshiro asked cautiously

He rested in the water and told them the story, Yoruichi looked as if she had heard it before but Toshiro's furrowed as he got into the details.

"I see." Toshiro sighed his gaze hardening. "It could be a possibility then."

He frowned. "But Saito never suffered and besides Rockman doesn't hold his anger."

"Netto your navi was made with his DNA but did not have Saito's soul," Yoruichi said calmly. "I'll see what Tadashi has to say about it but we'll have to be careful for anything."

His heart sank as he looked at the waters. "Got it." No Saito couldn't have become a hollow. He forced himself to not think about it. The thought of his brother's soul suffering made his heart sink. If you are hurting I'll help.