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Past Melodies	By : shadoesong Category: Bleach > General Views: 1028 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters, nor do I profit from this story.

Chapter List
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- 2
- 3
Chapter 2
The training grounds had been seeing a lot of activity from the Captain-class shinigami. The area had been specially shielded by the Kido Corps for that purpose. After the Winter War, serious training had been started. One Captain, in particular, had been obsessed with getting stronger and mastering his Bankai.
Hitsugaya Toshiro had chosen an area enclosed by rocky cliffs. He chose this location because the weather was not only effected by his zanpakuto's release, but Aika's could effect it, too. He could call a blizzard while the small woman could call a thunderstorm. The geography would help contain the powers they called.
He remembered her telling him that Sereitei had suffered from raging thunderstorms when Aika's powers began to manifest. The old man had forbidden her to enter the Shino Academy, though. In the end, her Ojii-san was ordered to have her trained enough to control them. It took her about two centuries before she did join the Shino Academy. Even then, the dark skinned woman didn't have his blessing.
When Aika arrived, Toshiro was already practicing. His powers turning the already cold temperature even colder. The short woman was glad she chose the long sleeve haori. She was not fond of the cold. The long sleeves afforded her some warmth since her shihakusho was modified to take advantage of her fighting style, Hakuda.
Her kosode and shitagi were sleeveless, resembling Captain Soi-Fon's. These were belted over a pair of form fitting pants. Instead of sandals she wore Chinese shoes and white socks. She wore black, elbow length, fingerless gloves with an amethyst on the back of each hand. Her zanpakuto, in the form of a wakizashi, was strapped across her shoulders.
She chose to watch the short Captain for a bit. He was so focused on his training he didn't notice that the woman had arrived. Toshiro was driving himself hard, muttering every once and a while under his breath that he could do better. The small woman soon realized he wasn't going to pause his training unless she interrupted him.
When he released a torrent of ice daggers, Aika released her wakizashi. She extended her sword, lightning crackling along its length, taking out every single dagger effortlessly. The white haired man spun, an angry scowl on his face, dropping into a battle stance. Realizing who it was, he straightened, sheathing his katana.
“You're late,” came the terse response, rather than the customary greeting. His turquoise gaze never met her violet one. Instead it danced around her, resting on anything but her.
“No, I'm not. You didn't notice my arrival,” Aika replied. Her breath fogged the air in front of her.
“Are you ready to begin?” he asked. His brows furrowed when she shook her head. Toshiro truly looked at the small woman before him for the first time in a long time. What he saw caused him concern.
“Your reiatsu is too low. You should visit the 4^th,” he suggested. “We can spar another day.”
She tensed. Her childhood memories of having to stay there for extended lengths of time were not happy ones. Though, it didn't occur to her that she could have a healer restore her reiatsu. Perhaps because of those same unpleasant memories. They would definitely be able to help her. She sighed and nodded.
“I didn't think of that. I'll make a point of doing so,” she promised. Aika needed to speak to Captain Unohana, anyway. The dark skinned woman paused. She walked over to stand in front of him. “I was hoping we could talk, instead.” His mind, though, was already occupied by training. His eagerness to get back to it apparent. He hesitated, so she spoke again.
“Toshiro...” Using his name caught his attention. He caught her wrist as her hand rose to brush his cheek. He sighed, looking Aika in the eye for the first time.
“Do you have plans for evening meal?” he inquired. Letting her hand go, he turned away from her.
“No.” He winced when he heard the rejection in her tone at his actions.
“Meet me at my quarters. We'll talk then,” he told her. Being this close to the small woman was affecting him more than he thought it would. Maybe he could gather the strength to be strong again by supper time. The white haired Captain glanced at the small woman out of the corner of his eye before going back to his training.
Toshiro was, among others, partly responsible for Hinamori Momo's injuries. She was still convalescing in the 12^th Division. The Lieutenant wasn't allowed visitors, either. The stress, worry, and guilt were taking a toll on the short Captain. Aika understood what he was going through, knew that that was the real reason why he was acting like this. She knew better than most people, considering the events of her past. The dark memories haunting her for the first time in years. It didn't mean she enjoyed being pushed away and rejected.
“I look forward to it, Captain Hitsugaya,” she growled. The dark woman turned away abruptly, leaving the area using shunpo. Her cold tone didn't give away how hurt she felt. Aika didn't witness the short man's shoulders slump. The grip on his sword tightened as he poured his emotions into his attacks. He told himself it was for the best.
You do not for one moment believe that to be true, whispered Hyourinmaru in his mind, but Toshiro simply ignored the ice dragon.
Rin and Daisuke were training in a remote corner of Kisuke's old training area, away from people such as Renji who knew of the place and were training themselves. The woman had set up a minor barrier to help shut out reiatsu, since Daisuke was training with his Bankai. She herself was sealing away her reiatsu so she didn't set him off accidentally.
She remained hidden among the high cliffs as she watched her friend train, Gilepsi curled up in her lap. Though his control was growing, he still couldn't help himself if someone with Captain-class, or even Lieutenant class, spiritual pressure was at close hand when he was exhausted.
Watching him, the brown haired woman mused at how much he looked like a werewolf, a mythical creature that humans had imagined. He wasn't covered in fur, but he had the furry ears and tail that were the same colour as his hair. He wore gauntlets that were tipped with sharp claws. They were, also, equipped with retractable daggers that were located on the back of his hands. He had removed the top of his shihakusho while he was training, so all he wore were his hakama.
Training would end soon, since the woman could see that he was having trouble maintaining his Bankai. She was eager to leave and stretch her legs, which were growing cramped from sitting still for too long. Maybe do some training by herself or with Byakuya if he wasn't too busy with paperwork.
Suddenly, she felt her barrier shatter when someone entered it. She was about to stand and tell Daisuke to seal his Bankai, when she spotted Aika moving towards them, fast. Her eyes widened when Daisuke's head snapped to the small woman as she ran toward him. Her reiatsu, though lower than usual, flared tantalizingly.
“Daisuke!” Aika called out, unaware of the danger.
“Aika, get away from him!” Rin screeched, standing up abruptly.
Instead of listening, her friend looked at her in confusion. It gave Daisuke the opening he needed. When he hurled himself at his prey, the small woman was caught completely off-guard. She cried out in surprise and pain as Daisuke's claws sank into her, raking them down her front. Much to Rin's horror, Aika was unable to grab her own zanpakuto and fight back.
The brown haired woman used shunpo to get in behind Daisuke. She grabbed his shoulders and tore him off of the shorter woman, making him round on her, instead. The power boost that he had received from Aika would make this battle difficult, but her aim was to keep Daisuke away until the small woman's wounds had healed.
“Hado #1: Sho!” Rin yelled, pointing two fingers at her opponent.
The spell pushed Daisuke away from her, slamming him into the wall. Rin took the chance to check on Aika's condition. Panic filled her when she saw that her wounds were not healing, and for a second she thought that she was dead. Until she saw the rise and fall of the other woman's chest.
She's not healing! Rin thought in dismay. Why the fuck isn't she healing?!
There was no opportunity to leave and take Aika to the Fourth Division, however. Even if she had the skill in shunpo to outrun Daisuke, it would do no one good if he were out running around Sereitei. It would only put more people, and the man himself, at risk.
When Daisuke leapt from the rubble, Rin had no choice but to leap backwards to avoid him. She was without her zanpakuto this time, since she had only planned on helping Daisuke train and not doing much herself. She wondered how long she could survive with Hakuda and Kido.
That's when Toshiro appeared. Rin didn't have time to breathe a sigh of relief as her opponent's dagger whipped past her face, missing her nose by a hair. The Captain was crouching beside the small woman.
“Why isn't she healing?!” he demanded, his voice filled with panic.
“I don't fucking know!” Rin screeched. “Take her to the fucking Fourth Division and get someone that's good at Kido down here to help me fucking deal with him!”
She felt her foe's claws rip into her chest, tearing away half of her top and leaving red, swelling lines along her stomach. Rin had paid the price for responding to Toshiro. She would only survive for so long, now. She prayed that the Squad 10 Captain would send help quickly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him gather Aika into his arms and disappear.
Now that she knew Aika was out of harm's way, she could use the more dangerous spells and not have to worry about friendly fire. Hopefully, it would buy her time to use high level Bakudo spells and stop his rampage. She ducked out of the way of Daisuke's attacks and held out her hand.
“Hado #63: Raikoho!” A massive wave of yellow energy slammed into Daisuke, throwing up dust everywhere.
“Bakudo #61: Rikujo-” Her next spell was cut off.
“Too slow!” Dokuga laughed, his voice merging with Daisuke's.
Her opponent recovered quicker than she had anticipated and hurtled out of the cloud of dust. She hissed in pain when his claws tore into her upper arm. She was now desperately trying to put distance between them.
I should have realized that he's more powerful than usual! she thought angrily. Dammit! I need something stronger!
Be careful, Rina, Futago's voice was filled with fear.
That bastard Dokuga's nothing for you to defeat! Akuma howled with rage.
Unfortunately, there were few spells more powerful than Raikoho and Soren Sokatsui. At least spells that she could use successfully and at full power without the incantation. She cursed herself for focusing on Daisuke's training more than her own whenever she was in Soul Society, and not helping out with Karakura Town.
“Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro,” a voice spoke from above. Six bars of light slammed into Daisuke's middle. His eye widened with shock, and he wasn't the only one who was surprised by this turn of events. Seeing that the Kido was already breaking, though, she gathered her wits and spoke.
“Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!” The golden chain of Kido wrapped around the enraged man, further trapping him. With the combined might of both spells, Daisuke was unable to break free. He resorted to yelling fury at Rin.
“Let us go!” he snarled. “The Angry One will pay!”
“I think I've played with you enough,” Rin muttered as she walked over to him. “Tanma Otoshi.”
Daisuke's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his whole body went limp, head lolling with his chin against his chest as the spell rendered him unconscious. She then turned to Byakuya, who was walking towards her.
“There are few times where I've been happier to see you, Kuchiki.” She looked at her injured arm, gritting her teeth in pain. “Damn, I think his poison has become more potent...”
Her eyes rested on her friend and she watched as Daisuke's Bankai melted away. The noble Captain walked over to stand by Rin. He eyed her wounds with concern. She had clamped her good hand over the wound on her arm, which was deep and bleeding a lot.
“Rin? What is going on? Why did Esaki attack you?” he demanded to know.
“I- Shit, I'll let him answer that. It's not my story to tell.” She shook her head.
She moved forward to revive him, releasing her hold on her binding spell. The poison from his attacks was going to render her useless soon. It definitely felt more powerful than usual. Normally, she wouldn't fail this quickly when she was struck by it. Byakuya put his hand on her shoulder to stop her.
“Is that wise?” he said in a hard tone.
“Yeah, it's fine,” the angry woman scoffed, shrugging off his hand. She knew the dark man was going to feel terrible about what happened.
“Let me do it, then.”
The woman shrugged wearily, gesturing him forward. After releasing him from his own spell, the noble Captain bent to revive the prone man. He stepped back, making sure he was between Daisuke and Rin. She rolled her eyes at the noble's back. Too fatigued to say anything.
Daisuke gasped awake, bolting up into a sitting position. He searched wildly about him before resting his worried gaze on Byakuya and Rin. The angry woman had stepped forward from behind the noble.
“Where is she? Is she all right?” Daisuke implored, scrambling to his feet.
“She is on her way to the 4^th,” the noble Captain said. Rin scowled.
“What the fuck, Daisuke? I think your poison changed,” the woman snapped. She found that it was getting hard to breath, plus her arm was now useless. A burning sensation was also starting to spread throughout her body. Daisuke looked at her in surprise. He couldn't recall ever changing his poison. In fact, he didn't even realize that he was able to change it.
“What? It shouldn't-” The dark skinned man was interrupted by Dokuga.
Too many were becoming immune to us.
Why didn't you tell me, Dokuga?! Daisuke scowled.
Why would we need to? The tall man shook his head in exasperation.
“Dokuga just informed me it has,” he replied to Rin.
“Huh. Well, that explains why it's getting hard to breathe...” Byakuya caught her as she passed out.
Toshiro couldn't get his mind back to training, guilty about his coldness towards Aika. He was debating about going after the small woman when he suddenly felt her reiatsu disappear. Alarmed, he took off in the direction she had gone. He felt Asaje's and Esaki's reiatsu clash violently, alerting him to the fact that something was very wrong.
When Toshiro arrived, the first thing he saw was Aika crumpled on the ground. Rin and Daisuke were almost fighting over top the small woman. Blood was starting to soak through the small woman's haori. That's when he realized she wasn't healing. He must have said that aloud, because Rin began screaming at him to take her to the Fourth.
He scooped Aika up in his arms and launched himself towards the exit of the training grounds. As he left, he spotted Byakuya heading their way. Seeing that Rin had back up coming, he disappeared using shunpo.
The trip to the Fourth was a blur, masked by panicked thoughts, hopes that the new Captain hadn't perished. When he arrived at the infirmary, he yelled for Captain Unohana. Aika was immediately rushed into a room where she could be treated, leaving Toshiro to wait outside. Not long after, Byakuya rushed in with Rin in his arms. Daisuke dashed after them, his single eye wide with horror.
“I need to see Captain Unohana! I have information for her! It's about Aika!” the tall man said.
Toshiro immediately stood and walked over to confront him. Knowing that Daisuke was the cause of Aika's injuries.
“Esaki, what happened?” he demanded to know. The other shook his head.
“I'm sorry, Captain, but I can explain after. We don't have any time,” he replied.
Isane soon came and took him to see her Captain. Faced with no options, Toshiro sat back down. His foot tapped impatiently as he waited for news about his former subordinate. The noble Captain soon came to join him. Unfortunately, he couldn't tell the white haired man what had happened, either.
Finally, Daisuke came plodding into the room. His right arm, the one hit by Rin's Kido, had been bandaged up. Both Captains stood to meet him.
“Now that the women are being treated, you can explain what happened,” Byakuya said. The tall man clenched his eye shut with a pained expression on his face and began to explain.
They listened intently as Daisuke told them about the abilities of his Bankai. He also explained that Dokuga had changed the poison without his knowledge, making it worse for his two friends. The Captains shared a look once he was finished.
“Is there a chance that the poison nullifies their abilities?” Toshiro asked. Daisuke glanced at him. “Kawasuzu's zanpakuto did not heal her, like it usually does.”
The Small One's abilities were not affected by our poison. We believed that she intended to protect her pup, Dokuga growled irritably. Daisuke felt relieved. He knew that this meant that Aika's baby was probably safe.
“No, her abilities weren't affected,” Daisuke told the Captain. Toshiro's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Then why...?”
The tall man only shrugged, feigning ignorance. He would leave it to Aika to explain to him later, should she wish it. Unohana entered the room, interrupting their conversation. All three men looked at her expectantly, awaiting her news on the women.
“Captain Hitsugaya, Captain Kuchiki, Esaki-san,” she greeted all politely. “Captain Kawasuzu and Asaje-san will completely recover with the information you gave us, Esaki-san.”
“Does that mean...?” Daisuke trailed off.
“Yes.” Unohana nodded.
The dark man almost collapsed in relief. It earned him sharp looks from the other two Captains. They sensed that something deeper was happening. When the fourth Captain turned to resume her duties, Toshiro scowled fiercely.
“What the hell is going on, Esaki?” he growled. When Daisuke only shrugged, the white haired man swept his legs out from under him and grabbed his collar. Planting his face centimetres from Daisuke's, he snarled.
“It's your fault Asaje and Aika are in here! You know more than you're telling! How dare you! You could be charged for attacking a Captain! You're only making it worse by lying and ignoring direct orders!” Daisuke flinched. He was well aware of how it looked.
“I'm sorry, Captain Hitsugaya, but I promised her that I wouldn't say anything,” he said, remaining steadfast. “And I promised not only as a friend, but as a shinigami obeying a Captain's orders.”
“You mean Aika?! Dammit, what the hell do you mean?!” the white haired Captain snarled, a tiny bit of desperation leaking into his tone as his grip on Daisuke tightened. Byakuya stepped in, putting his hand on his fellow Captain's shoulder, before it could escalate.
“Captain Hitsugaya,” he said, a hint of warning in his tone.
The small Captain gave Daisuke one last shake, then let him go. Daisuke watched as Toshiro took a few steps away, running his hands through his hair. The dark skinned man was perplexed at Toshiro's overreaction. He realized that the short Captain called Aika by her name rather than the customary last name that he normally used with everyone. It suddenly hit him that he was probably looking at the father of Aika's child.
“Esaki, you will be under my custody until this matter is solved,” Byakuya told the tall man.
“Hai, Captain,” Daisuke agreed, still staring after the short Captain.
“This issue will not be resolved until the morning,” the noble Captain continued. “It is best that we leave this in Captain Unohana's hands, for now.” Byakuya turned and led Daisuke down the hallway towards Rin's room, leaving the Squad 10 Captain behind. When Daisuke passed the small Captain, he stopped to say something.
“I think she'd be happy if you were the first person she saw when she wakes up,” he said. The tall man continued on before Toshiro could answer. The Captain watched him for a second, then glanced towards Aika's room. The white haired man walked toward it. He leaned against the door frame, watching the small woman as she slept.
Toshiro couldn't help but think that Aika looked even tinier and more fragile. Pushing her away was supposed to keep her safe. Did he make the right decision? Did the short Captain need to rethink his decision about Hinamori, too? He sighed, knowing that these questions wouldn't be answered today.
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Past Melodies