A few days had past since Kita's choice, but that didn't stop Zeshin from keeping up with the events that have transpired. He figured he would start with checking in on the Seraph, but first he would need a bargaining chip for the Soul Reapers. He opened the gargantua and proceeded to Los Noches. More specifically, the cave where the sick soul reaper was hiding.
A few days had passed since Juushiro had been rescued. Each day he awoke, expecting to be found, but fortunately, with only a flicker of reiatsu he had remained hidden. Juushiro breathed out, slowly, hoping not to further aggravate the ache in his throat.
Cursing succinctly in his mind, the captain lurched to the side, grasping the edge of the bed to stay upright as he hacked again, as he had been each time he woke up. Sweat beaded his brow, but steel flashed in his green eyes as he bore with the pain in his finger. It was more important to not fall on his shoulder or black out. Finally, it passed.
Sitting on the bed on shaking limbs, Juushiro closed his eyes and began a gradual shift into meditation, hoping to gather more reiatsu today.
Zeshin walked into the mouth of the cave and looked around cautiously. He immediately saw his target in the back, but due to the injury in the throat he was unable to call out, so instead he flared his reiatsu a little bit to make his presence known.
Zeshin's spike of reiatsu broke into his concentration and started a fresh cough. Wiping the bit of blood from his lips, Juushiro looked over to the front of the cave. His eyes narrowed slightly as he sat back up. Was it Toshiro or the guardian?
He approached Juushiro and hoisted him up, then he started to drag him to the front of the cave. He was hoping that the soul reaper would understand.
Juushiro didn't protest. Sighing, he leaned heavily on him and tried to keep himself from coughing again. He didn't need to black out again.
They left the mouth of the cave to an area that was a bit more open so that Zeshin could open the gargantua. They would have talked while on the way, but that was impossible, so silence it was. An hour passed when they reached the other end. It opened up just inside of the First Division.
Even if he wanted to, Juushiro could not repress the long sigh of relief at returning home. He smiled softly, thinking Retsu would soon be furious at him.
Feeling a shift in the reiryoku around the soul society Yamamoto stood from his chair. Two men came running into his office his vice captain along with them.
“Captain Commander. It seems Captain Hitsugaya has returned and he has Captain Ukitake with him.”
Yamamoto nodded and walked from behind his desk, staff in hand as he followed his vice captain out to where their visitors appeared.
Juushiro nodded weakly as they appeared. "I'm back, Yama-jii," he called out hoarsely. He coughed deeply, more blood dribbling from his mouth, and breathed in. "I hope Kita's still alive. She didn't kill..." The captain's vision wavered and he fell back against his companion, hacking again.
Yamamoto did not ask questions when he saw the two captains. He knew there would be time for that after they were seen by Unohana. After all, neither of them looked as if they could muster up a small conversation at this point.
Yamamoto looked to one of his men, “Captain Unohana, now!” He orders the man.
The man nodded and rushed out toward division four as fast as his feet could carry him.
A few minutes later Retsu walked quickly into the first division. Seeing the two captains she shook her head. Hitsugaya with a hole just under his throat and Ukitake looking as if he was tortured by a few dozen people.
She made hast as she walked over to the two of them. She lifted Juushiro’s arm from around Toshiro’s neck and led him toward a near by couch. She shook her head as the two walked.
“I send you off for a little R and R and you come back to me worse than when I last saw you. I will you ever stop jumping into the middle of things before you think what it could do to you?”
Before she could turn to look at Toshiro, four of her officers ran in with stretcher.
“Take Captain Ukitake back to division four now. See to his illness and wounds. I will be right behind you.”
She looked to Toshiro. He looked a little less then enthused about what was going on. The look in his eyes became sterner and more focused ‘if that were possible in his case’.
“That injury of yours needs to be tended to as well.”
Zeshin lifted his chin implying that she go ahead. This lady was nice to offer to help him, or maybe it's a type of 'thank you' for bringing back their friend.
Retsu walked over to him and looked at his wound. “How did you get this?” She asked looking to him. When he did not answer she realized it had damaged his vocal cords. She sighed and started cleaning away the ice he sealed his wound in as she slowly healed the area as she went.
Once she had the ice all cleaned away and no bleeding was occurring she noticed it went completely through him. She sighed again and continued to heal him. Once she had everything out of her way she let her healing Kido take over and heal his injury. It was only a matter of time and Toshiro was back to normal. Or well at least the hole in his throat was healed. Now to see if he could speak.
“Tell me how you acquired that injury. It looked as if someone placed their hand through you.”
He rubbed his neck for a moment before replying, "That is not your business to know soul reaper." He looked at the old man, "I have delivered your friend, all I ask is that the Seraph be kept safe. If she dies, you all die. No realm will be kept safe."
Retsu tilted her head and looked on at Toshiro. "Are you alright Hitsugaya?"
That name again. Why? He turned to look at her, "My name is Zeshin, I am not this Hitsugaya everyone speaks of."
He then looked back at the old man, "What say you?"
Yamamoto gruffed and stepped toward the young soul reaper.
"Do I have your word? Will she be kept safe?"
"The Seraph is safely locked away. But I can make no promises as what will happen to her if she acts out again."
"You better keep her alive and unharmed. She is very important to the Gods, and to me."
Yamamoto could sense that Toshiro was not the one standing before him. It was indeed the Guardian.
"If she is so important to you how was it Sousuke was able to get a hold of her, young man?”
"I thought Father....Aizen was trust worthy, but I was wrong." A pained look crossed his face. Suddenly massive ice wings appeared on his back and from them a long tail.
"Just keep her safe, old man." Zeshin took off into the air and vanished.
Retsu sighed lowering her head. "I am sure you will get this sorted out, Yama-jii." She turned and walked toward the exit. "I need to get to Ukitake and get him cared for. I will keep you informed of his progress."
Yamamoto nodded as she turned and exited the division back to her own.
