The two turned around to see a piercing aura in Tsukiro's eyes. His hands were clenched but inside his heart clenched tighter. "Don't act like I can't hear,” he snapped. “I heard you say 'she can't kill.' So tell me what's going on. If it's about my captain, don't you dare keep anything from me, because if he's dead it'll be on my shoulders to tell his other subordinates."
Tsukiro stared down the two of them, refusing to break his gaze until he was told what he wanted to know.
Juushiro sighed, watching something break inside Tsukiro. Again. Something breaking inside another he’d hoped to protect.
Because of Sousuke Aizen.
It deepened his own sorrow. Faces he recognized and knew well flashed before him. Rangiku, Kira, Abarai. Those closest to him. Rukia, Kaien. The strange laugh echoed out. His throat burned, recalling the attack that had hindered him. Hyourinmaru's long stare. Toshiro's death. And Kisuke's horrified denial. So many souls broken, wounded.
All for what, Sousuke? What makes it worth it? he cried out on the inside.
... -it'll be on my shoulders to tell his other subordinates."
Those last words shook Juushiro back from his own dark thoughts. Back to his vow when it had begun. When he had seen Rukia start to fade from the toll of Kaien's last choice and farewell.
He had already learned that he couldn't be the key to bringing them out of the abyss from Sousuke's actions. No, he couldn't heal them. That had to come from within. But he would continue to do the little he could for those most hurt.
Juushiro walked over to Tsukiro, setting a hand on his shoulder. "You won't be alone when you tell them. That wouldn't be fair to you or to the others."
Tsukiro continued to glare up at him, his reiatsu spiking and spinning around him. Juushiro continued. "Toshiro Hitsugaya is gone from this world. I am sorry, Tsukiro. We should have acted sooner to aid his mission."
His reiatsu finally died back down, but Juushiro could hear his teeth grinding from gritting his teeth too hard.
"Breathe, Tsukiro. He left something for you."
He turned back to the stiff shopkeeper. "Kisuke, forgive me, my friend, but it must be asked, is there a way, with your research and time with her, is there a way for… Kita to stab Toshiro…" his throat closed, but he forced himself to continue, "through the heart, for him to be alive even if his own zanpakuto believe he is gone?"
