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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 21, 2024 20:39:37 GMT -6
"Reaching Out for A Friend": (continued) Toshiro was in his room in the Tenth Division barracks, standing over a whistling kettle of boiling water as he prepared himself a cup of tea to end the day. He hadn’t gotten everything he wanted to do finished, but it was a good start. He had planned on visiting the Miyazaki headquarters to take Shiori up on her offer several days ago and see what the clan of priests and priestesses was like. That hadn’t happened as of yet and he felt a pang of guilt in his gut over it. He didn’t want Shiori to think he was avoiding the place. Or her. She was kind and sweet and was honest when she offered him to visit. He made a promise and he wanted to keep it.
Maybe tomorrow would be the day.
Toshiro finished his cup of tea off with honey and lemon and brought it over to the living room, sitting at the kotatsu where a book had already been placed. It was a book on the history and secrets of zanpakuto, written by Oetsu Nimaiya–the father of zanpakuto–himself. He had never met the man, and frankly he would have loved to. He had many questions about Hyorinmaru that not even he could answer as the sword’s master. But the living legend was in the Soul King’s realm serving in Division Zero. Unreachable and untouchable. So Toshiro would have to settle with a book filled with his thoughts and philosophy on his own creations.
He found it interesting that zanpakuto–despite being a part of a shinigami’s soul–was something a person created. Though while Nimaiya may have been credited with the creation of zanpakuto, Toshiro thought it seemed more like he “discovered” them. He certainly talked about zanpakuto in his book as if they were living creatures he had studied for centuries. Maybe he had.
Just as Toshiro was about to crack open his book and take a sip of his tea, there was a knock at his door. For a minute he expected Rangiku to slam the door open uninvited and shriek at him about something or other for the better part of an hour. It took him another minute to realize that was not going to happen. He shook off the feeling of emptiness in his gut and stood up, walking over to the door.
Toshiro slid open the door to reveal a young girl with long dark hair and violet eyes He blinked at her. She was dressed like a noble but he had no idea who she was.
“Uh… can I help you?”
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Post by Makino Tori on Oct 21, 2024 20:51:07 GMT -6
Before long, she found herself at Captain Hitsugaya’s quarters. The cold air around the door was a clear sign that he was inside, the icy reiatsu unmistakable. With a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked softly, the sound barely more than a tap on the wood.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, she heard the faint shuffle of footsteps, followed by the door creaking open.
Toshiro stood before her, his sharp turquoise eyes narrowing as he took in her appearance.
Makino bowed her head slightly, her usual confidence tempered by the urgency of her visit. “Captain Hitsugaya,” she remained bowed, her voice steady and respectful, “please forgive me for darkening your door so late in the evening, but my visit is of the utmost importance.” She paused for a moment, choosing her next words carefully. “You do not know me, but you know the young man I am here to speak to you about.”
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 21, 2024 20:52:53 GMT -6
Yeah, definitely a noble, Toshiro thought to himself as he listened to her. He tilted his head at her. Normally he wouldn’t leave a child to stand outside in the dark on their own, but this was his barracks and he knew she was safe. Not to mention… he had no idea how she even got in his barracks in the first place. And now she claimed she was here on behalf of a friend of hers. Someone he knew.
“Did Ashimitsu put you up to this?” Toshiro peeked his head around the corner of his doorway, looking down the open-air corridor. He couldn’t see or sense anyone in the shadows. “No, not even Ashimitsu would be foolish enough to send a young girl in the dead of night for a prank.” He turned back to the girl. “How about you start with your name and who you’re here for, and we’ll go from there.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Oct 21, 2024 20:53:34 GMT -6
Makino blinked, confusion flashing across her face at the mention of Tsukiro Ashimitsu. "Captain Ashimitsu?" she asked, shaking her head. "No, Captain, he didn’t send me. Why would he?" Her brows furrowed as she tried to understand why Toshiro had assumed that.
She straightened herself and bowed again, deeper this time. “I apologize for the confusion. My name is Makino Tori.” She met his eyes as she rose. "I understand your caution—entering this late, I didn’t give the best impression. But I have a particular set of skills that allowed me to get here unnoticed. I am not here as a prank, I assure you.”
She took a breath, gathering her thoughts before continuing. “I’ve come to speak with you about Haku 'Katsumi' Yamamoto. He’s… in a difficult situation, and I believe you may be able to help."
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 21, 2024 20:53:49 GMT -6
Toshiro’s eyes widened for a moment when she mentioned his… shadow of sorts. The old man’s adoptive grandson was a social butterfly. Not as overwhelming as Rangiku had been, but he could still chat up a storm. That on top of his hair and his name… The attachment Haku had developed to Toshiro was unavoidable, to say the least, though he couldn’t really say he minded.
“Oh, I see. I didn’t realize you were a friend of his.” Toshiro stepped aside to let her in. “Come inside. I still have hot water left for tea. You can tell me what’s wrong while I make you a cup.”
Makino walked into the room, she could not help but be a little nosy and look around; it was actually rather roomy. Her attention was then pulled from the room to his offer of tea. “If you do not mind that would be nice. It’s a little cooler tonight than normal.”
“You’ll have to forgive me if I can’t tell the difference,” Toshiro said with an air of humor, though he didn’t laugh at his own joke. He nodded to the kotatsu as he made his way to the kitchen. “The heater is on in the kotatsu. It’s set on low.”
As Toshiro fixed Makino a cup of tea he said to her, “So, what has Haku-kun gotten himself into this time?”
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Post by Makino Tori on Oct 21, 2024 20:54:39 GMT -6
Makino offered a faint smile at Toshiro’s humor, though she quickly returned to her more serious demeanor. She stepped toward the kotatsu, sitting carefully as the warmth from the heater below eased the tension in her body. She watched as Toshiro moved to fix her tea, taking a deep breath before she began.
“We were training the other evening. Nothing serious, just two friends training together,” she said, her tone soft but filled with concern. “But this time… something happened. His asauchi, it reacted in a way I’ve only seen one other time. It was like—" she paused, searching for the right words, "it was like his zanpakuto spirit was trying to take control.”
Her gaze fell to her hands, fingers fidgeting nervously. “At first, I thought it was him just showing off, but Haku seemed… scared of his own zanpakuto spirit. And apparently, he was. Because he broke it so to protect me.” She looked up, her eyes pleading for understanding. “That’s why I came to you, Captain Hitsugaya. I’m afraid he’s lost faith in himself, and I don’t know what to do to help him.”
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 21, 2024 20:54:59 GMT -6
Toshiro took a moment to digest and reflect on what Makino was saying about Haku’s unfinished zanpakuto. His spirit went wild even though it wasn’t fully housed in the asauchi? Trying to take control? And then Haku…
He walked over to the kotatsu and sat down, placing Makino’s tea in front of her. He was silent for a moment longer as Makino thanked him and took a sip. “He… broke his asauchi?” When Makino nodded at him, Toshiro let out a whoosh of air in a heavy sigh, shaking his head. “I… I’m not sure I can relate to having a wild zanpakuto spirit. Hyorinmaru is surprisingly… docile… for a dragon spirit. He is prone to bouts of anger, as I am, but nothing violent and especially not directed at me. The only zanpakuto I can think of that might do such a thing is… Ichigo Kurosaki’s. Given that his zanpakuto is a dual spirit, being a hollow and a Quincy, I can understand how, in theory, a zanpakuto might fight for control. Especially if they feel that the Soul Reaper is not ready for their power. It might be a sort of… self-preservation. Controlling its own master to save both of their lives. At least, that’s my gut theory based on what I’ve read in this book.”
He pushed the book towards her. “This book is The Spirit Within by former Captain Oetsu Nimaiya, the creator of zanpakuto. I’ve been reading it to get some insight into how I can reconnect with Hyorinmaru. Which brings me to my next point…” Toshiro tilted his head at Makino. “You came to me of all Captains and Lieutenants in the Gotei. Haku flitters around more than a hell butterfly. Nearly everyone in the Gotei knows or has met him. The fact that you chose me and you chose this late at night… Haku’s zanpakuto is an ice type, isn’t it?”
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Post by Makino Tori on Oct 21, 2024 20:55:43 GMT -6
Makino’s gaze fell, her fingers tightening around the teacup as she nodded. “Yes… Haku’s power is ice,” she admitted, her voice carrying a trace of shame. “And Haku… he despises it. He gets so angry any time it presents itself.”
She looked up at Toshiro, her eyes clouded with quiet pain. “It’s hard to say this, but Haku seems to resent his zanpakuto’s ability. I think he feels as though his power will never live up to his grandfather’s legacy. I’m afraid he’s convinced that his abilities are weak by comparison, and instead of viewing them as a gift, he sees them as a burden.”
Makino let out a small sigh, the weight of Haku’s internal struggle evident in her voice. “That’s why I’ve come to you, Captain. I don’t know how to help him understand the strength he possesses, and I’m afraid if this continues… his zanpakuto might take control, or worse, refuse to ever respond to him again. He needs to accept it, but I’m not sure how to guide him through that.”
She hesitated for a moment, her tone softening. “I thought… maybe you could help him. Not just with understanding the power of ice, but with accepting all of this.”
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 21, 2024 20:56:10 GMT -6
Toshiro hummed and leaned his head in his hand. He nodded slowly. “I wondered if something like this might happen. Him having an ice element spirit is not that surprising. But regardless of what he got, he would not have been happy with anything less than a fire type. He may be adopted, but he is Yamamoto’s grandson through and through.”
He finished his cup of tea then looked over to the mantle above the small fireplace. Several pictures sat there. One of him and Momo, one of him and Rangiku, one of the three of them, and one of him, Momo, and their grandmother. “Being a soul from Rukongai, blood ties don’t mean much. I don’t remember a lot from my human life, but I remember being sick and dying early. My parents are most definitely dead by now as well, but I’ve never found them, nor do I have much desire to anyway. Momo and my grandmother not being my biological family never bothered me.”
He turned his gaze back at Makino. “Haku may have been a soul from Rukongai as well, but all he knows is noble life in the Seireitei. And being adopted by the most powerful and influential shinigami in history… That’s a heavy load to carry. No matter what anyone says, no matter how much he achieves for himself, Commander Yamamoto will always be in the back of his mind. He will always be compared to him and there may always be a small part of himself that compares himself as well. Whether that holds him back or pushes him to greater heights is ultimately up to him.”
He hummed and pulled the book back towards him. “But perhaps he and I can be of some help to each other. I will speak with him within the next two days and see where he’s at mentally. Maybe I can get him to open up.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Oct 21, 2024 20:56:28 GMT -6
Makino bowed her head deeply, her voice soft with gratitude. "Thank you, Captain Hitsugaya. It means the world to me that you're willing to help." She raised her head slightly, a warm smile touching her lips. "Haku… he's like a brother to me. We may not share blood, but the bond we have is just as strong. I was born here in the Soul Society, and even though I come from a noble family, I understand what it means to create a family through the bonds you make."
She glanced at the photos on the mantle, understanding the significance they held for Toshiro. "Haku’s been through so much, and I know the weight of his grandfather’s legacy weighs heavily on him. I think that’s why I’m so afraid for him. He pushes himself to live up to that image, but… I worry it might break him if he doesn't find his own path, and with us joining the Academy in a few more weeks I am afraid that this conflict within him is going to get worse."
Makino’s expression softened even more as she added, "I’m relieved to know that you’ll speak with him. I truly believe if anyone can help him understand, it’s you."
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 21, 2024 20:57:22 GMT -6
Toshiro nodded with a slight smile. “I will do my best. If nothing else then at least I can be a mentor to him with respect to his powers. If his reiatsu truly is that out of control, then it needs to be dealt with. I know the dangers of that personally. And out of control reiatsu is one thing I know I can help him with at the very least.”
He ran his hand over the book once more. “What can you tell me about his ice powers? Do they display any significant traits, or is it just raw, cold energy? Does it behave in a certain way?”
Makino sat there her head shaking, “I am sorry Captain, I am not that familiar with zanpakutos so when it comes to behavior I am at a loss. I can tell you that when it does act up it spreads out across the ground and even starts to cover Haku’s personal space and person. It even froze his hand to the hilt of the blade, and it did burn him, his hand is bandaged because of it.”
Toshiro blinked wide, teal eyes at Makino, sitting up straight and stiff. “It burned him? Like fire or… like frostbite?”
“I’m not a hundred percent sure,” Makino shook her head again with a frown. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you more information.”
“No, that was helpful. Thank you…” He was silent for a long moment before he muttered, mostly to himself, “Ice so cold it burns, huh? I can see how Haku was initially upset but… once he gets to know his powers better, he may find he connects with them more than he realizes.” He shook his head as well. “I’m not sure I can remember a time that my ice caused frostbite that quickly. Ice–even natural ice–has to be very cold for frostbite to set in that instantaneously. It’s almost as if his ice is made of liquid nitrogen, from what it sounds like. There is also a temperature at which fire is so hot that it feels cold due to the damage to the nerves. Ice and fire, despite their differences, can act very similarly. Though I’ll have to see it for myself to be sure.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Oct 21, 2024 20:57:39 GMT -6
Makino listened intently as Toshiro spoke about Haku’s struggles with his zanpakuto, absorbing every detail. His insight on Haku’s connection—or lack thereof—made her realize how complex the bond between Soul Reaper and zanpakuto truly was. Her curiosity began to stir, and she couldn’t help but ask a few questions of her own.
“Captain Hitsugaya… if I may ask,” she began, her tone tentative but eager, “are all zanpakuto spirits difficult to bond with? I mean, for someone like Haku, it seems like the spirit is almost fighting against him. Is that normal, or is there something special about Haku’s situation?”
She paused for a moment, then added another question. “And… when a Soul Reaper first acquires their zanpakuto, can they tell what kind of spirit it’s going to be, even if it doesn’t show its power right away? Or is it something that develops over time as they connect with it? I’ve always wondered how one comes to truly understand their zanpakuto’s power.”
Her gaze flickered with genuine curiosity, and she shifted slightly in her seat, leaning forward just a little. “Is there a way to know from the start what kind of zanpakuto you’ll have? Or does it always come as a surprise?”
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 21, 2024 20:58:22 GMT -6
“Judging from my own experiences, plus what I’ve read from Captain Nimaiya’s book, every shinigami is different. Every zanpakuto is different. There are no two zanpakuto that are completely alike, and so there are no bonds that are completely alike,” Toshiro explained, flipping through the book to the chapter on bonds.
“I can’t speak for other shinigami, or even other ice element wielders like Rukia Kuchiki, but for me Hyorinmaru tried to offer me his name immediately. Even before I knew what was going on. I would have dreams of standing in a frozen wasteland, a towering dragon of ice with crimson eyes before me. The wind howled and the blizzard in that frozen land never ceased. It was so loud that not even the dragon’s roar could be heard over it. It drowned out everything. And then, once I had become stronger, learned to control my reiatsu in the academy, one day that howling wind just… stopped. I could hear the dragon’s voice clearly. That’s when Hyorinmaru told me his name and from that moment on, I could perform Shikai.”
Once Toshiro had finished his story, he let the thoughts sit for a moment before he continued, looking at Makino sternly. “I only realized later that it was my lack of control and my immaturity with my abilities as well as my lack of physical strength that prevented me from hearing that voice. If I had tried to use Hyorinmaru’s powers before I was ready, it likely would have been the end of me. Perhaps for Haku it is not a matter of physical strength and ability, but an emotional and spiritual strength he must gain. Accepting one’s own nature is often the hardest battle anyone has to fight. I am sure there are still many shinigami in the Gotei right now who still struggle with that battle and because of it have not risen to their full potential.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Oct 21, 2024 20:59:26 GMT -6
“So does one have to have an asauchi to hear their zanpakuto spirit?” She paused for a second. “Or can the spirit talk to them through them?” She lifted her cup to take a sip of her tea and then quickly lowered it.
“Or Hell! Can the spirit work through them without anything?” Her head whipped around and looked at Toshiro with wide eyes, “Excuse my language.” She apologized watching Toshiro from across the table.
Toshiro couldn’t help but stifle the snort that nearly came out of him from watching her reaction. He covered his mouth and coughed into his fist. “Well, no. You don’t need an asauchi to hear your spirit. I didn’t. Granted, I couldn’t understand what Hyorinmaru was saying, but I could hear him in my dreams. When I slept I was transported to the inner realm. That was while I was still in Junrinan, long before I joined the academy.”
He flipped through the book again to the chapter on asauchi. “Nimaiya stated that zanpakuto were formed from an asauchi. An asauchi is a blank zanpakuto that can become any other zanpakuto. A Soul Reaper pours their energy into the blade and makes a connection with their zanpakuto spirit. When the bond is fully realized, the spirit becomes housed in the asauchi and the blade transforms into the identity of the spirit residing within it. But Nimaiya had a hypothesis that a zanpakuto spirit could be housed in something other than an asauchi if the item was something the Soul Reaper held close to them. It had never happened… until Lieutenant Naomi Kato. I have never seen her use her abilities, but her zanpakuto is housed not in a sword, but in a tattoo she has on her back. Apparently, the spirit chose the ink to be housed in since she did not have an asauchi. So there are still things we don’t know for certain about zanpakuto.”
“So,” she looked down into her tea, “could a recurring dream maybe be the spirit reaching out.” She looked back over at Toshiro. “Because I keep having this recurring dream about a hummingbird and my brother Kouen’s zanpakuto zapped me the other day when we were training.”
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 21, 2024 20:59:57 GMT -6
Toshiro hummed and shook his head. “The dreams about a hummingbird I’m sure could be related to your zanpakuto spirit. Your brother’s zanpakuto zapping you, I’m not sure. I’m not sure why another person’s zanpakuto would trigger any sort of reaction unless it was part of that shinigami’s power.” Makino giggled softly, “maybe it was mad at me because I beat them in a sword fight.” She sipped at her tea again.Toshiro gave a soft chuckle and closed the book, setting it aside. “Well, for whatever reason it happened, I’m sure you’ll find out when you enter the academy. The start of the year is only a month away, isn’t it?” Makino nodded, gently pushing her teacup forward. "Yes, and it will be here before we know it," she said with a bright smile, rising from the table as Toshiro stood as well. She bowed her head respectfully to him. "I should be on my way now. I’ve taken up enough of your time. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Captain, and for the tea. I truly appreciate it." Toshiro nodded to Makino and walked her to the door. “It’s no problem. I will be sure to talk to Haku. Do you need an escort home?” Makino looked over her shoulder at Toshiro a small smile across her lips as she pulled her scarf up over her head and covered the lower half of her face. “I think I will be fine. I got in here after all. Thank you again, Captain.” She gave a slight wave and disappeared into the shadows. Toshiro blinked, trying to see where she walked off to, but she was gone as silently as she had arrived. He shook his head and sighed, ruffling the top of his hair. “How the hell did she get in here anyway?”-END- "Backfire"
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