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Zanpakuto Tales	By : shadoesong Category: Bleach > General Views: 1542 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters, nor do I profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8

Later into the night, Rangiku came into Rin's makeshift room. She was mildly surprised to find the Captain awake and working steadily at her desk with her back to her. At the least, she had expected her to be in bed. It seemed the woman was suffering from insomnia.

"Rin?" She spoke, wondering if the other was actually doing her work or just sleep walking. The woman glanced over her shoulder questioningly.

"Rangiku? What do you want? And why are you here so late at night?" Her eyes were wide, as if she were trying to keep herself awake.

"I can't sleep. It seems that you can't, either. You're worried about Captain Kuchiki?" Rangiku asked, padding over and resting her hand on her friend's arm.

"No... I mean... I sensed him. He's following his own motives for now. There must be some other reason you're here, though," Rin murmured, breaking eye contact and standing up. She took her arm back and leaned against the desk, waiting for the other to continue.

"Hinamori-san and I were going on patrol. I thought that maybe you would want to join us," Rangiku replied. "Just to get your mind off things. Maybe we'll run into some zanpakuto and you'll get to fight," she added with a small smile. Rin shook her head.

"Not now. I have reports to finish." Her friend blinked.

"Are you... Are you being responsible?"

"Shut up," the Captain muttered.

"Well fine. Where's Aika, then? I'll ask her," Rangiku said, pouting slightly.

"Good luck with that. She's with Hitsugaya. Their happy time, I suppose." The woman snorted. Rangiku giggled.

"Okay. I'll check in on you later, then." She waved, turning to leave.

Jinsoku Koshi looked up at the orange haired shinigami that stood before him and his partner. He wielded a large, cleaver-like zanpakuto. His eyes narrowed as he watched the man dodge the ice dragons his partner was sending at him. They were spotted, and the shinigami landed on a column of rock to confront them.

"Who are you?" He demanded to know. The green haired man looked up at the teen.

"You're Kurosaki Ichigo, correct?" He asked, rather than answer the question.

"Yeah. How do you know my name?" Ichigo asked, resting his zanpakuto on his shoulder.

"You seem quite strong..."

"And?" The teen seemed to be growing annoyed with Jinsoku's partner's indirect answers.

"Muramasa-san had warned us not to fight you, Kurosaki Ichigo," Jinsoku replied, speaking for his partner.

"Really?" Ichigo showed no signs of being surprised by this. "Why would he say that?"

"We would like to know why, as well," the kirin zanpakuto replied. His partner stepped forward, pointing his sword at Ichigo. The man jumped when he was suddenly surrounded by four ice dragons. Electricity crackled around each of them. They circled around the column Ichigo was on a couple of times before slamming into him. A loud crack of electricity bolted up along the length of the ice column, trapping the teen. Jinsoku and his partner were about to turn and walk away when they heard the teen.

"Bankai!" The ice column shattered and dark reiatsu rested on the zanpakutos' shoulders. They watched with indifferent looks on their faces. The taller man was the first to speak.

"Bankai, you say?"

"Yeah. What's it to you?" Ichigo yelled down to them.

"Is that katana a zanpakuto?" He asked.

"Yeah..." The teen said slowly, raising an eyebrow. The green haired man's eyes went downcast.

"A zanpakuto... What's its name?" He asked, his gaze returning to the teen. A guarded look came into their opponent's eyes and he snapped.

"Why do you care?" When the others eyes went downcast once more, the teen's expression softened ever so slightly. "What is it?"

"You aren't my master, are you?"

"What are you talking about?" Ichigo questioned, a confused look on his face.

"We have no business here. Not if you are not my master," the tall man spoke. He then turned and walked away.

"Wait!" Ichigo called him back. "Don't you know who you belong to?"

"I do not. I don't know my master's name, nor my own. Sennen Hyoro." Several columns of ice rose up around Ichigo and began to circle him, slowly closing in as they did. The green haired man continued walking once more. "Farewell."

"Hyourinmaru! Your name is Hyourinmaru!"

"Toshiro?" Ichigo cried. The small Captain had appeared on a ledge beside the two zanpakuto. Aika was beside him. He jumped down to land in front of Hyourinmaru.

"Your name is Hyourinmaru. And you are my zanpakuto." The two stared at each other evenly, their gazes giving away nothing. Finally, the taller man let out a single chuckle.

"Hm. We are confronted by children? Don't make me laugh. There's no way a mere child such as yourself could be my master," he said rather coldly. Toshiro's eyes widened and his hands clenched into fists.

"Are you serious? Have you forgotten about me?"

"Child, did you truly think that I would believe you?" Hyourinmaru asked. The pair stood staring at each other for a second. Finally, Toshiro spoke once more.

"Did that freak Muramasa do something to you?"

"That's unrelated. I merely lost all of my memories when I was released from my master."

"All of your memories?" Toshiro asked, hurt and surprised.

"I am currently working under Muramasa, but my real goal is to find my true master." The small Captain's eyes widened.

"Your true master?"

"That's right," Hyourinmaru answered. "Because my power is so vast, only a truly powerful shinigami can wield me. At the very least, he cannot be a child such as yourself."

"My powers may still be immature, but... that doesn't change the fact that I'm your master!" Toshiro cried indignantly.

"If you persist on insisting that you're my master, you will have to prove it to me." Hyourinmaru raised his sword slightly and disappeared. Toshiro was able to follow his steps. He turned when he saw that his zanpakuto had appeared behind him. He barely drew his sword in time to block the attack before leaping away.

Hyourinmaru swung his sword, sending an arc of ice towards the Captain. It hit at his feet, narrowly missing Toshiro. The attack threw up plenty of dust and rock, though, obscuring Hyourinmaru from the Captain's view. Toshiro's eyes widened when a blade sliced through the dust. He flung himself out of the dust cloud to avoid the attack. Using a nearby rock as leverage, Toshiro launched himself at his zanpakuto. Their swords connected and Hyourinmaru pushed his opponent away, sending him into the air.

"Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!" A bolt of yellow energy was sent hurtling at the zanpakuto spirit, binding his arms to his sides. Hyourinmaru glanced at Toshiro as he landed.

"That won't work." Steam rose from the binding as they were encased in ice. Toshiro's eyes widened when the bonds shattered easily.

"What?"

Cold air twisted around the zanpakuto spirit, swirling above their heads and into the sky. Black storm clouds gathered, blanketing the sky. Snow began falling, whipped towards the small Captain by the rising wind. An ice dragon rose up behind Hyourinmaru.

"Stop it, Hyourinmaru!" Toshiro yelled as the pillars of ice began closing in around Ichigo. "I am your opponent!" He held up a couple of fingers before him.

"Hado #31: Shakkaho!" A red ball of energy formed and was sent flying towards the tall man. Hyourinmaru casually caught the ball, freezing it upon contact.

"Couldn't you hear me when I said that won't work?" He asked, crushing the ball of frozen energy. The ice dragon behind him reared its head and roared, attacking the small Captain when he lunged at his zanpakuto.

Toshiro was pushed into the defensive. He held up his sword, grunting every time the dragon's head slammed into it as he was pushed back further. Finally, the struggle was lost and he was slammed into the ground by one of the ice dragons. Spikes of ice grew up from the point of impact. The zanpakuto spirit watched as Toshiro pushed aside a block of ice, freeing himself. He was using his sword to keep himself standing.

"Zanpakuto... I've been told that the zanpakuto released from their shinigami are being controlled by their instincts." Toshiro stood straight, pulling his weapon from the ground. "Tell me, Hyourinmaru, what do your instincts tell you to do?"

"My instincts?" He asked in confusion.

"Yes. Your instincts. What is it that your soul desires? Or have you forgotten that as well?" Closing his eyes, the spirit replied.

"I seek a place where I belong."

"Where you belong?" He reopened his eyes as the young Captain asked.

"Yes, I believe I desire a place where I belong."

Toshiro paused, memories of his past clouding his mind. He remembered that, as a child, the other kids from his village were afraid of him. Though he didn't know why they were driven away, he had done nothing to them. Was it because of his silver hair? His turquoise eyes, perhaps? Or maybe... his cold personality?

He remembered what had first driven him to become a shinigami. He had gone to the store for his grandmother, one day. He noticed that she was growing thin. It had become worse ever since he had started having strange dreams. The shopkeeper had asked him to leave as soon as his business was finished. He didn't want the strange looking boy hanging around his shop.

Before he knew it, a woman garbed in black was berating the shopkeeper for his rudeness. Knocking Toshiro down in the process. She rounded on him next, grabbing the back of his green kimono and lifting him into the air. She was scolding him for sitting on the ground and crying. Toshiro tore himself free and dashed away.

That night, he had had the same dream. He was in a snowy world. Before him, a huge ice dragon towered above him. He heard a voice, but the howling of the wind drowned it out. He couldn't hear him, whoever it was.

When he awoke, the woman from the shop was there in his house. She quietly told him to conceal his reiatsu as he slept. Pointing out that it was harming his grandmother. Though Toshiro hadn't realized it, the room was freezing cold and his grandmother was shivering. The woman, who he would later come to know as Matsumoto Rangiku, then suggested he become a shinigami. She proceeded to tell him that he would kill his grandma before long if he didn't learn to control his reiatsu.

Toshiro protested, but she cut him off by placing a hand to his chest. His eyes widened when she asked if he heard a voice. He knew then that the decision was made. He would become a shinigami and learn to control his abilities so he didn't hurt his grandmother anymore.

"Reign over the frosted heavens," Toshiro pointed his sword skywards as he spoke, "Hyourinmaru!"

Lightning crackled from the clouds above, responding to the small Captain's cry. The tall man's eyes widened as an ice dragon, like the ones he had been wielding, rose up from behind Toshiro.

"He can use my powers?" Hyourinmaru murmured in disbelief. "Child, why?"

"You still can't remember anything? Then let me show you. I don't know what will happen when I use it in Shikai form, but..." He fell into a fighting stance, ready to lunge. "Ryu Senka!"

Toshiro leapt forward, the ice dragon curling around him as he hurtled towards his opponent. Contact was made, and a huge, four petaled ice flower grew. Toshiro and his zanpakuto were in the centre of it. Within, Toshiro was frozen in mid air, his sword point inches from Hyourinmaru's throat.

"Remember!" The small Captain yelled. "Remember who heard your voice! Remember where it is you belong! Hyourinmaru!" The spirit's eyes widened with realization as memories flooded him. He did remember.

"Master..." He murmured, his expression softening. The whole ice flower began to glow before shattering into many pieces. A white beam of energy shot into the clouded sky, dispersing the storm. Now in the form of a huge ice dragon, Hyourinmaru watched his master. Toshiro was floating in the air before him.

"Do you remember now?" The small Captain whispered, a smile on his features. "Now then, I'm no child. I'm Hitsugaya Toshiro..."

In response, Hyourinmaru threw back his head and roared before transforming back to his human form. He flew over to his master, holding him gently in his arms. As he smiled tenderly down at his master, he felt Jinsoku Koshi. Looking up in alarm, he realized he was in trouble.

As Toshiro confronted his zanpakuto, Aika gazed at Jinsoku Koshi. The spirit jumped to the ledge. His anger making his mane and tail spark and crackle.

"Jinsoku..." Aika began, despair choking her. She reached out to cup his cheek with her hand. She snatched her hand back when a bolt of lightning struck in front of her. She looked at him, eyes wide with shock. "Why?"

"Draw your weapon. You will answer for your betrayal." A sword materialized in his hand.

"What? No, I will not draw my sword."

"Then you will die." He lunged at her in attack. His anger was making him careless. He wasn't using any of his grace or speed. Aika sidestepped his attack. As the sword passed by her, she lashed out at the pressure point in his wrist. The sword went flying, imbedding itself in the rock. Suddenly, a blast of cold sent the two hurtling into the rock face next to them. Aika decided to take this fight somewhere else. Aika stopped a couple kilometres away. Jinsoku close behind her.

"Betrayal? What are you talking about?" She asked as she turned to face him.

"You abandoned me!" The kirin rushed at her again. This time he disappeared just before reaching her. Appearing behind her, he meant to run her through with his sword. Aika jumped straight up. She used the sword as leverage to then flip over her opponent to land behind him.

"Never!" She denied vehemently. "You are a part of me! I would sooner part with my head, or hand, or leg than give you up!"

He turned to look at her. He could feel the truth in her words. The kirin shook his head in confusion. Why did he feel this way? Why couldn't he remember what Muramasa said to him? His thoughts were interrupted when a voice came from above.

"Heh, I knew we couldn't trust you and dragon butt!" Akuma stood on one of the rocks jutting from the ground, the moon casting her already shadowy form into darkness. Her eyes glowed eerily as she licked her lips. "Good thing I decided to take a walk."

Aiming her pistol at Jinsoku, she fired. Without using an incantation, Aika threw up a barrier around the kirin, deflecting the shot. Jinsoku looked at her in shock. Why did she save him if she abandoned him? Making a decision, he attacked the shadowy woman. Unfortunately, Akuma was ready for him.

Using shunpo, she disappeared, reappearing behind him. She shot a ball of fire point blank at his back. He dodged most of the blast, his right side catching most of it, rendering his arm useless. Taking advantage of the distraction, Aika released her zanpakuto.

She came in low, slashing at Akuma's Achilles tendon, trying to slow her down. Akuma cried out in pain, lashing out with her other foot, meeting only air. Without using the incantation, the short woman used a binding spell.

"Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!" As Akuma started to struggle against the chains of energy wrapped around her, Aika began an incantation. Knowing that that wouldn't keep the zanpakuto contained for long.

"Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro!" Six bars of yellow energy slammed into Akuma's middle, immobilizing her. "Now you're Rin's problem."

She then quickly rushed to Jinsoku's side. The kirin looked up at her with confusion written across his features along with pain. Aika began to sing as she placed his head in her lap. She sang the song that her mother sang. Jinsoku Koshi recognized it immediately. The confusion melted from his features as he smiled. Hyourinmaru arrived with Toshiro in his arms. He was clearly concerned about the kirin. Jinsoku looked up at them.

"I'm sorry."

"Welcome back," Aika said with tears in her eyes. Looking up at Hyourinmaru, she smiled. "Why don't I take Toshiro while you take Jinsoku Koshi."

She stood up when he nodded, taking the small Captain in her arms. She watched Hyourinmaru pick Jinsoku up carefully, the kirin clenching his teeth in pain. Just as they were about to leave, Rin showed up.

"A present for me? Seriously, you shouldn't have." Akuma glared at Rin with murder in her eyes, making her master stick her tongue out at her before glancing at the others.

"Good. You kissed and made up. You look ready to start the Honeymoon." Smirking at the four of them. Aika shook her head and smiled.

"It's not starting out very promising, if that's the case," she said as she looked down at the unconscious Captain in her arms.

"Really? That's how mine started out," Rin said as she scratched the back of her head.

"Yes, I remember. Poor Byakuya-sama." Her friend turned and left before Rin could comment further.
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Zanpakuto Tales