As Kotaishi cried out in pain, his bones creaking, he wondered for a split second if this was truly worth it. His master could be freezing out there in that dragon's storm and here he was playing as Hyourinmaru's chew toy.
Then he remembered that this was his own idea. It would be shameful to back out just because this oversized reptile was in a bad mood for whatever reason.
"N-no," Kotaishi gasped. He decided to keep his manners in check for once. He gave the dragon the best grin he could manage in his present state. "I forgot to say please." He laughed humorlessly.
Grunting under the force of Hyourinmaru's tail, Kotaishi said, "Look, I know you are worried and raging mad and maybe even scared for your master right now. I am a zanpakuto too, so you know that I feel the same for my own master right now. He's suffering the wrath of your storm as we speak. And the other Soul Reapers, Kisuke and Ukitake. Can you imagine the pain Sougyo no Kotowari and Benihime are going through?”
"We can help your master. He called to us--to my master--through you. He wanted Tsukiro to come for whatever reason. Do your master the service of letting his subordinate come to his aid as he ordered... Please, I beg you. One zanpakuto spirit to another. Please let them pass safely and we will help you and Toshiro Hitsugaya."
Kotaishi couldn't muster any more words. He was out of breath and Hyourinmaru was not letting up on his grip, disallowing him to replenish his air supply. His head spun and his eyes rolled back into his head.
Hyourinmaru loosened his grip and thought for a while; then he replied, "You cannot help my master. You lack the ability."
He chomped down on Kotaishi and flew to the gate he had entered from and flung him back through. His last words followed the leopard as he fell. "Do not come back to my realm or I will devour you."
-----
Kotaishi flew back several feet into his own world and landed in a huge pile of snow. The white stuff flew everywhere. Sighing, he sat up.
"Well. That went well."
Kotaishi? What happened? The storm isn't letting up. Did Hyourinmaru agree?
"No," Kotaishi stood and dusted himself off. "I am sorry. He will not let you pass safely. However, I did find out one thing before he threw me out."
What's that?
Kotaishi looked up at the moon shining in the black sky. "He told me that we could not help his master. He told me that it was beyond our abilities..."
---
Tsukiro sat in the cave with his head in his hands. He had just relayed what Kotaishi had told him to Kisuke and Ukitake, and he was at the point where he felt they had no choice but to turn back. It would be nearly impossible to beat back Hyourinmaru's wrath and make it to where Hitsugaya and Kita were.
Tsukiro felt another layer of cloth fall on him and looked up at Captain Ukitake as he settled his own mostly dry kimono over his shoulders. "Get some sleep, Tsukiro,” the captain instructed quietly. “Your body is not used to long campaigns and Hyourinmaru's assault on us has been a harrowing first experience.” He set his hand on Tsukiro’s head. “You and Kotaishi did well. Now, Kisuke and I will consider what to do next. But if we are to get anywhere, you and Kotaishi need to recover your strength.”
“That’s right,” Kisuke called over from his spot. “You’re too heavy to carry."
Warmed by the hand on his head, Tsukiro sent a tired glare towards his Otou-san, nothing else. Curling up on his side, he let himself succumb to his weariness. A glimmer of hope remained in a rapidly pessimistic outlook to the end of this journey.
-----
Continued in: Return to Las Noches (Kita -read comments)
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