M.S.A.A. pt. 82

"...I feel like I'm dying. My body is on the verge of what I think will be total collapse. But head is pounding, my heart racing, and everything thing else has a numb pain to it. I hope that whatever the Hell this crazy lady wants me to do will be over soon enough, because I don't want to take anymore of this. I want to home, with my friends, with my family, and with whoever else means something to me. I want to taunt Virginia, laugh with Kayla, sing randomly with Bianca, talk with Cree...and just be near Toshiro. What they said, about him going on a mental break down, could it be true? I mean, I know Toshiro can overreact sometimes, but to that high of a level? No...it just isn't like him. I'm not worth throwing your life away for, or at least threatening to. I want him to be ok...God, where ever you may be in this Hell...please...Let them find me!..."

January 14
OUR WORLD
Virginia's Perspective
"Alright, now Kayla, this time, be sure to watch your feet, we don't need you tripping again." Virginia comments.
"Oh be quiet, if you had been standing where I had been, you would of tripped too." Kayla replies.
"Now don't go getting into a stupid argument you two, you know that this is a big deal." Cree says.
"We know, we know." Kayla and Virginia say at the same time.
Bianca sighs.
"I hope she doesn't go into another screaming fit again." Bianca breaths.
Cree nods.
"Yeah...I hate seeing someone in so much pain." Cree agrees.
"Especially when they don't deserve it." Virginia comments.
"Exactly." Kayla says.
Bianca nods bitter-sweetly, looking ahead to see the door to Mariya's close.
Virginia gulps.
"Well, here goes nothing." Virginia comments, walking ahead.
As she reaches for the door, it suddenly opens, taking her by surprise as she jolts back.
Though the others relax as they see the same female nurse from the day before. Not the mean male one that had thrown them out, but the one that had introduced them to the room.
She blinks, then smiles, pushing a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.
"Why hello girls, came to pay Mariya another visit?" she asks.
Bianca nods.
"Yes Ma'am...um, can you tell us something?" Bianca asks.
Her eyes widen slight.
"I guess it depends on what you want to know." the nurse replies.
"...Have Mariya's screaming fits gotten worse?" Cree asks.
The nurse falls silent, probably taken back by the question.
"Uh...um...well..." the nurse trails, looking back towards the door, "Yes...it seems that each time, she coughs up even more blood then the time before. Luckily they're spaced out enough that she doesn't have to worry about bleeding out, but it does seem very serious."
Virginia feels some of the color in her cheeks fade from hearing the grim details.
"Do you guys have a reasoning yet?" Kayla asks.
The nurse shakes her head.
"No, she doesn't respond to the medicine given, which is worrying considering how strong it is. To tell the truth, her actions look like something totally different that I've seen before." she replies.
"What?" Virginia asks.
The nurse doesn't reply for a moment.
"The blood, the way she's contorting, her blood pressure and heart rate...her screams...they all remind me of how someone looks when they're being...electrocuted."
The girls eyes widen.
"E-Electrocuted?" Cree stutters.
"Yes, but that's impossible, given the fact that isn't happening to her...it's so strange..." the nurse trails.
Virginia looks over at Bianca, who gives a nod in reply to her gaze.
"May we see her now, Ma'am?" Bianca asks.
The nurse blinks.
"O-Oh, y-yes, of course." she replies, stepping aside to let them through.
Kayla grins.
"Thank ya Miss." Kayla says as Cree opens the door.
The nurse smiles warmly.
"Your welcome dear, you know where the button is just in case." she replies, walking away.
Bianca waves after her until Virginia shuts the door behind them. They turn, and fall silent as they spot Mariya. Virginia's eyes widen as she sees the air mask over her face, the fogging that appears every now and again the only thing telling them that she's breathing somewhat normally. Cree walks ahead with her, their eyes widening as they spot the splotches of blood stained in the covers over her chest, and around her head, dried blood running down her chin. Some of her hair is bloodied now, tinted a slight crimson.
Bianca shutters.
"Mariya..." she trails.
"Wow, she looks banged up." Cree comments, "Well then, let's get this over with so that we can keep her from going through more pain."
Virginia nods.
"Sounds good." she replies putting her hand in Mariya.
"Let's get her back." Kayla says with a grin.
The others nod, closing her eyes. As they did before, they focus themselves as Cree enters them into Mariya's abandoned mind.
Virginia blinks, looking up to find them back in the dank space from before.
"Ugh, just as dark and creepy as last time." Kayla comments.
"Kayla, did you really expect anything better since yesterday?" Cree asks.
"Well, no, but I can have dreams, right?" Kayla replies.
"Alright, does anyone see a lump like last time?" Bianca asks, changing the stupid subject.
"Nope, I can't see anything in here." Virginia comments, "Hey Cree, you think you can use Hebi Denkou to-"
Without warning, Virginia feels herself falling over, her feet soon above her head. With a thud, she lands on her back.
"Ack!" she breaths, "That hurt."
Cree brings out her sword causing it to light up to see what Virginia fell over.
"Hey, you found the lump." Cree comments.
"Told ya you'd do the same thing." Kayla  comments with a smirk.
"Oh shut up." Virginia groans as Bianca helps her up.
"Alright, now what do we do?" Bianca asks.
"Well, I'm making the guess that these things have something to do with connecting her soul to her body, all we have to do is prove it." Cree says.
"And how the Hell are we supposed to do that?" Virginia asks.
"Maybe we should try to run our pressure through the lumps and see where the energy takes them." Bianca comments.
The others turn and blink, taken back by what Bianca said. The staring causes her to blush slightly.
"Wh-What? It's just an idea!" Bianca says, "S-Stop staring at me!"
"O..k..then." Kayla says, "I say Virginia does it, considering that she's a T.P. Soul Reaper."
"Ugh, feels weird to be called that." Virginia says as she kneels before the lump, "Here goes nothing...I guess."
Reluctantly, she puts her hand onto the smooth surface, her eyes widening as she finds herself now moving fast down a tunnel looking place, light flashing. She covers her eyes.
"G-Guys, what's happening?!" she yells.
No reply.
She grits her teeth as she suddenly comes to a halt, looking around to see where she is.
"Wait a minute..."
She recognizes the place. It has a red tint to the space, looking as if it's a never ending void. She looks down, seeing the abyss below, as she seems to be floating in mid-air. She looks back up, her heart beat picking up.
"M-Mariya?! You here?!" Virginia yells.
She doesn't hear a reply, dashing her hopes a bit. She turns, cuffing her mouth with her hands.
"Mariya! It's me, Virginia!" she yells, "Say something! I know you're there!"
Nothing.
She sighs.
"Mariya..." she trails.
...Vir...ginia...
She jolts her head up, whipping around.
"M-Mariya?!" she yells.
...Heh...man, I'm going insane...I hear Virginia....
"Mariya, it is me! What's this red void?!" Virginia yells.
...No...it's not possible...there's no way...you could be in my mind...
Virginia's eyes widen.
"Y-Your...mind?" she trails.
She shakes her head, tightening her fists.
"Mariya...are you alright?" she asks.
...Well...I'm not dead, if that makes you feel better...
"Mariya, be serious."
...I've lost at least two pints of blood over the past week....Though they're spaced out, so I'm alright...I'm definitely not as groomed as I usually am, but I can get over it...
"Alright, how about mentally?"
Mariya doesn't respond for a moment, putting Virginia on edge.
...Tell me Virginia...the truth, alright? Pity won't really be needed at this point...
"What is it?"
...How's Toshiro?...
"He's...fine...why?"
...Did he really...have a breakdown?...
Virginia's eyes widen.
...Bijuu came down yesterday, talking about how Toshiro began freaking out, even began to freeze himself...please...is that true?...
Virginia doesn't respond.
...Oh my God, he did?!...Oh my God, Oh my God-
"He's fine now Mariya! Really, he's fine!" Virginia interrupts, "Now, he's just been focusing on one thing!"
...What could that be Virginia...
Virginia sighs.
"He's focused...on well...saving you."
Mariya doesn't respond for a moment, taken back by her words.
...Virginia...tell him something for...me...
"W-What?" she asks.
...Tell him that stone...can have weak points...especially where it counts...
Virginia blinks.
"Uh...is that supposed to be some saying to make him feel better?" Virginia asks.
...Just give him the message Virginia-
Her eyes widen as she hears Mariya's voice cut out.
"Dude?" Virginia says.
She hears Mariya's breathing become rough.
....G-Get out...Virginia...
"What? Why?!"
...The...B-Bijuu....GO!...
Without warning, the void begins to fall apart around Virginia, her footing breaking.
"A-Ah!" Virginia yells.
...Goodbye...
"Mariya!"
Her eyes shoot open, thrown back by the force of Mariya's mind pushing her out.
"Ack!" she breaths.
"Virginia, are you alright?" Bianca asks, kneeling beside Virginia.
She pants.
"M-Mariya...kicked me out..." Virginia trails.
The girls gasp.
"You talked to Mariya?!" Kayla asks.
Virginia nods.
"W-What do you mean she kicked you out?" Cree asks.
"She made me leave...her inner mind." Virginia pants.
"Why?" Bianca asks.
"S-Something about-" Virginia starts.
Her eyes widen as a breeze begins to go by, looking up with everyone.
She gasps.
"Uh oh...." Kayla trails.
The light from before.
"We need to get out...NOW!" Cree yells.
They get up, running until they find themselves back in the hospital room, all now panting.
"Great...Virginia...did you get any info...from Mariya?" Bianca trails.
"I'll tell ya on the way home, looks like we're gonna have to split for now." Virginia says as she walks towards the door.
Cree blinks.
"Why can't you tell us now?" she asks.
Virginia turns towards them.
"Cause, it's about to get crowded in here." Virginia replies.
"Huh?-" Kayla starts.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
They whip their heads around as Virginia pushes the button hard, watching Mariya scream her head off.
"S-Shit, not again!" Bianca stutters.
"C'mon, the doctors will be here soon." Virginia says.
"O-Ok." Kayla says as they turn away from Mariya.
"U-Ack!"
Virginia turns, her eyes widening as she sees blood running down Mariya's face. She clenches her fists, wishing she could do something as she grabs her bag. And only seconds later, the doctors rush in again, this time running past them as they easily give in, allowing the door to shut behind them.
Cree sighs.
"I never want to hear that again." Kayla comments.
"...Neither do I." Cree agrees.
Virginia looks back at them.
"Let's get her back." Virginia says.
They nod in agreement, walking down the hallway with Mariya's screams behind them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toshiro's Perspective
"London? As in London, England?" Haruna asks.
"Yes, London, England." Toshiro replies, "Please, can you give me some information about their dungeons and tunnels."
"Uh, I guess Sir." she replies, "Sir?"
"Yes Haruna?" Toshiro answers.
Haruna doesn't reply for a moment, thinking to herself.
"Does this...have anything to do with...my Captain, Sir?"
Toshiro blinks, looking up at her. Haruna, Yattamori's 7th seat, has always seemed to have a respect for her, though it seems that only recently she's become really caring for her, and since Yattamori's disappearance, she's been just as depressed as everyone.
He sighs.
"Yes, there's a high possibility that they're keeping her there."
Haruna blinks.
"You mean you've narrowed the search that much?"
He nods.
She sighs, giving a small grin.
"Good, I miss Captain Yattamori." she say.
"Trust me, you aren't the only one." he comments.
She chuckles, looking through some files.
"Alright Sir, here's what I got." she says, pulling a stack of papers out of a drawer.
He blinks.
"Damn...that's a lot of papers."
"Well, the most known dungeon in London, as I'm sure you know, is the London Tower, which was used as one around 16th century to the 19th century." Haruna says, looking over the papers, "A lot of bad stuff happened in there, a Queen was held there, people were stoned, the guillotine, all sorts of dark crap."
"Are there any tunnels, passage ways?"
Haruna chuckles.
"It's a famous building that used to be home to the Country's loyalty. Yes, it definitely has all that Sir."
"Got any layout maps?"
She pulls out a piece of paper, laying it in front of him.
"But of course."
He grins, taking a side to look over it.
"So...what made you come to the conclusion she may be there?" Haruna asks.
"...Mahinahime."
She blinks.
"Excuse me Sir?"
He looks up at her.
"Mahinahime, she has something to do with this, as you know. Well, while looking through information, I found a slip that had information saying that Mahinahime loved the fashion of Victorian England." Toshiro explains.
Her eyes widen.
"You're connecting Mariya to the Princess?"
"Think about it, Mariya has been targeted because they don't want her to find out something about Princess Mahinahime." Toshiro says, "So, it would make sense that their twisted leader would take her someplace that has something to do with Mahinahime. It makes too much sense."
Haruna thinks, then chuckles.
"Wow, when she said plain sight, she meant plain sight, huh?"
"Seems like it." he replies.
She grins, before to fades.
"Captain Hitsugaya?"
"Mhmm?"
She doesn't ask for a moment.
"Something has been bothering me since they took her...." she trails, "They've wanted to kill her for years, so why would they just take her and keep her alive?"
He sits there for a moment, a lump forming in his throat. Though he sets his composure, and looks back up at Haruna.
"Means only one thing." he says.
"What would that be?" she asks.
"They're planning something..." he trails, "And it's gonna be big."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plink...poink...plink...
"Ha...ha...h-ha.."
Blood drips from her chin, landing right on the tail of her bodice bow. Bits of electricity run through her body, causing her to shutter drastically.
"N-Ngh..."
"Hehehe, good job Shukaku, though it seems she's still conscious." 
"I guess she's learned to cut off her Spiritual Pressure before the shock comes on...Guess she is smart."
"Shukaku, the Mistress will be upset to see that you injured her before we take her-"
"Oh, shut up Houkou!"
"But, why are you putting her through all this anyway?"
"Houkou, be silent."
"Why? I mean, she didn't do anything to us. In fact, weren't we the ones that started it all?-"
"SHUT UP HOUKOU!"
Mariya looks up, panting hard.
...This female...
"What are you guys yelling about? The Mistress is waiting." she hears Kenta say.
"Houkou is talking up crap."
Kenta sighs.
"Shukaku, for now, you must just let it go, now, get her out."
Shukaku grits his teeth.
"Fine, Raijuu, get her out."
"Whoa, whoa man-"
"Just get her!"
"Fine, fine, We'll get her."
She pants, coughing some more. Though, she quiets as she hears the doors open.
"C'mon girl, time to meet the Mistress."
She responds by glaring up at them, Houkou becoming still as a pole as she notices the power somehow sparking in her eyes, even though all in all...
They're lifeless.

M.S.A.A. pt. 81

"...Is it strange, knowing that before you lays a person that you've been searching for? Well, it seems that in a way, that will probably Virginia's and the others reactions when they see my body at home laying unconscious on yet another hospital bed. I wonder which one I was went to this time, Union or Regional...Hell, maybe they got so frightened that they took me to Riley in Indianapolis. Well, whatever the case is, it's seems that I'm gonna be trapped in this damned place for a while...I hate this, I hate all of it. I want to go home, return to the Sereitei, and see my friends...I want to see Virginia and Cree, Kayla and Bianca, Momo, Aneko...I want to see Toshiro...Damn it...Why is this happening to us? What is it that I've done in my life to myself a target of these damn Bijuu? It makes no sense...I just wish I could-..Damn it, now what do they want with me?..."

January 14
OUR WORLD
Bianca's Perspective
"This absolutely sucks..." Virginia mutters.
"Will you be quiet, we're in school right now." Cree says, leaning over to whisper at Virginia, who sits besides her.
Bianca looks back at them, grinning at their argument.
...Seems that even now that she knows, she won't stop whining...
"Ms. Leivy?"
She blinks, looking back to see Mrs. Nigmen looking down at her.
"Y-Yes ma'am?" she asks.
Mrs. Nigmen  grins.
"Something wrong dear, you seemed distracted today." she asks.
"W-Well, not really." Bianca replies.
Mrs. Nigmen smiles.
"Well, that's good. Any who, I wanted to ask if you could do something for me."
Bianca blinks.
"Really? What?" she asks.
"You're good friends with Ms. Mariya Shecker, correct?" Mrs. Nigmen says, holding up some papers, "Well, I heard she was in the hospital again, so I was wondering if you could take these to her family so that she'll be able to work on them once she wakes up."
Her eyes widen, taken back by being asked to do something involving Mariya. It's now been about a week since Mariya disappeared, and about two days since Virginia learned that she was actually alive. Since, they've been trying to find where Mariya may be, but with school occurring, they had to come back so they wouldn't also be rushed to the hospital for no good reason. It's been hard on everyone, especially Toshiro, who stayed back this time.
"Ms. Leivy?"
"Oh, s-sorry Ma'am! I'll take it to her." Bianca says as she takes the papers.
Mrs. Nigmen eyes her for a moment, concerned. But, she doesn't investigate further, and turns and walks off. Bianca sighs, looking over the papers with her own. It seems that until Mariya gets back, she'll have to be the one to do her work. It's the least she can do at this point for her to make it easier on Mariya when she gets back.
If she gets back.
Without warning, the bell rings, pulling it from her thoughts as she automatically goes for her things, as she does everyday at the end of class, and the end of the day.
"Dang, that was too long of a day." Virginia whines as they walk out of the class.
"It would of been better if you would of just kept your mouth shut." Cree comments.
"Hey, I was quiet when I needed to be." Virginia argues.
"Really? What did we learn in Science today?" Cree asks.
Virginia falls silent.
"You don't know, do you?-" Bianca starts.
"Yes I do!" Virginia protests.
"Then tell us." Cree says.
"W-Well...we learned...um..." she trails, "Planets!"
"Nope, black holes." Cree answers, "Pay attention, and you may know stuff like that."
"Oh shut up!" Virginia yells, pouting.
"Guys...do you think...we should go visit Mariya?" Bianca asks.
Cree and Virginia blink, looking at her.
"Visit?" Cree asks.
"Y-Yeah, I mean, she's in the hospital right now right?" Bianca answers.
"But that's just her body, right?" Virginia asks.
"Well, yes, but you must admit, it'd be nice to see her."
"See who?"
The three turn to see Kayla walking up to them, already holding her things, considering her locker is right next to her last period.
"Mariya, she's in the hospital." Cree answers.
"Oh, but isn't that just her body?" Kayla asks.
"See, I'm not the only one here." Virginia says.
"Virginia, please, don't tell me that you don't miss seeing Mariya." Bianca says.
"Well, I do, but-" Virginia starts.
"-Then isn't it worth it to go visit her in the hospital?" Bianca interrupts.
Virginia and the others look at one another, before Cree sighs, and nods.
"Alright, we'll go." Cree replies.
"Great, and just to make it up to you guys, I'll give you guys a ride." Bianca answers with a smile.
"Good." Kayla says with a grin.
"Yeah, 'cause we were gonna make you do it anyway." Virginia says, running ahead.
"Wait, what?!" Bianca calls after her, "Virginia!"
----
"You girls may come in now if you wish." a nurse in purple scrubs says with a smile.
"Thanks a lot Ma'am." Cree says, leading the group.
"No problem, oh, and if anything happens, just press the button next to the door, alright?" she replies.
"Alright, thanks again." Virginia replies.
With a grin, the nurse walks off, leaving them alone outside of Mariya's room.
"Well, here goes nothing." Kayla comments, opening the door
With a soft click, the door unlocks, not making a single noise as it swings open, revealing a nicely lit room, the burnt yellow making the room seem warmer as the sun pierces through the blinds.
"Looks like we got here before her parents did." Bianca comments as she sits her stuff in a chair besides the door with everyone else.
"Yeah, she said they usually get here around 4, so they should be here sooner or later." Cree says.
"Makes sense, see Abigail and Tyler before heading...this way..." Kayla trails, spotting Mariya.
The others look up, falling silent as they see Mariya laying unconscious in the bed. Cree looks at Bianca and Virginia as Kayla walks ahead of them. Bianca follows close behind, soon coming to be right beside Kayla to look over Mariya.
She looks simply asleep, her shorter, wavy chestnut locks and bangs laying perfectly around her, beautifully framing her content face. She appears calm, her breathing steady in rhythm, her heart beat nice and relaxed. Against the sunlight, her lightly tanned skin shines with a healthy glow, the appearance of no scars or injury somehow putting them all at ease. Bianca looks down her body and notices something. Around Mariya's neck is her cross necklace, and a pendant, quite like Toshiro's, rests beside it, the design the exact same as her other.
"Man...it's like...seeing a phantom in a way." Virginia comments.
Cree nods.
"Yeah, hard to believe that even though she's right in front of us..but at the same time..." Cree trails.
"No where to be found in the Soul Society." Kayla finishes, "Man, I wish she was awake. I want to hear her speak again."
"Same here, I miss singing randomly with her." Bianca comments with a sigh.
"I never thought I'd miss it, it was always like she was trying to rub in that she can sing like Christina Aguilera...Is it bad that I secretly liked to listen to her sing?" Virginia asks.
Cree chuckles.
"Probably no, and I bet she'd love to hear you say to her once we get her back." Cree replies.
"No way am I telling her, then she'll sing more." Virginia mutters.
"Hey, guys." Bianca says.
They turn to look at her.
"What is it Bianca?" Kayla asks.
"Well, I was just wondering...is it possible to communicate with Mariya...through her other body?" Bianca trails.
They blink.
"What?!" they say at once.
"Well, her body must be connected to her soul somehow!" Bianca says.
"So...if we find the link...we can-" Cree starts.
"Talk to Mariya-" Kayla continues.
"-And get her to tell us where she is!" Virginia finishes.
They look at each other for a moment, before laughing.
"Alright, now, who's gonna look." Kayla asks.
"I say Cree does it, she's the only here that can, or at least knows how." Virginia proposes.
Cree nods.
"Ok, I'm going in." Cree says, "Here, you guys hold onto my hand so you can see what's going on."
"Right." the three say at once.
Cree nods, before taking Mariya's hand.
Holding onto her other, Bianca blinks as they suddenly find themselves in a dank space.
"Well, it's dark here, that's for sure." Kayla comments.
"Virginia, does this look familiar at all?" Bianca asks.
Virginia shakes her head.
"No, there's no stones lining the walls. To tell the truth, I just think that this is the inside of the empty body." Virginia answers.
"Inside?" Cree asks.
"Y'know, where the Soul would be if Mariya was in this body." Virginia replies, "Now, what should we be looking for?"
"Well, anything that stands out probably, maybe something of color or light, maybe of a different shape-" Kayla starts, before being cut off, tripping over something, "Ack!"
"Kayla!" Bianca says, running over to Kayla's side, "You alright?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine, but I think I may of found something." Kayla comments as Bianca helps her up.
They blink.
"Whatcha find?" Virginia asks, walking closer.
Kayla runs her hands along the floor, before touching something.
"EEEK!" Kayla yells as she jolts up, "I-I-I-It moved!"
"What, moved?" Cree asks, "Here, wait a sec, maybe I can use Hebi Denkou to make a light."
Moments later, her sword appears in her fist, the blade slowly beginning to glow as Cree pumps some Spiritual Pressure into it. Moments pass before they get a clear view of what Kayla touched.
"What the heck?" Virginia asks.
A lump. A lump in the ground.
"What is this thing? Out in the middle too." Bianca says, looking around to see the large area stretches on passed her view.
"Hmm...hey, wait! Look!" Cree calls, pointing in the direction Bianca is facing.
On closer examination, Bianca blinks as she sees that there are more of the same uproots going further down into the abyss looking darkness.
"Well, there's a lot of them, so what are they?" Kayla asks.
"Who knows. I certainly don't." Virginia replies, resting her hands on her hips.
Bianca sighs, looking down the row of lumps. She blinks as she notices something in the distance.
"Guys..." she trails.
Her eyes widen as she sees it getting closer, and fast.
"Guys, get out, now!" Bianca yells.
They look up.
"What?" they ask at once.
"Cree, break, now!" Bianca yells.
With that, the world around them shatters, leaving them panting a bit. Virginia looks over at Bianca.
"Dude, why'd you make Cree get out?! We could of seen what happened!-" Virginia starts.
"No Virginia, Bianca did the right thing. We didn't know what the light was, for all we know, it could of hurt us." Cree interrupts.
"Well, I wanna know what the light even was, I mean, seriously, she looks completely the same as when we left-"
"A-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Their eyes widen in alarm as Mariya screams at the top of her lungs.
"HOLY CRAP!" Kalya yells as she trips, falling on her butt.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!" Virginia yells.
"B-Bianca, the button! Push the button!" Cree yells.
"R-Right!" Bianca answers, turning to run towards the red button on the wall.
Frantically, she pushes hard on the button, lighting it up as she lets go.
"Good, now they should be here any minute-" Cree starts.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
They whip their heads around to stare at Mariya, who's contorting oddly in the bed. They quickly run over to her side.
"M-Mariya! It's us!" Kayla yells.
"What's wrong?!" Cree yells.
She lets out another bloodcurdling scream.
Bianca grits her teeth.
...What's going on?!...
"B-BASTARDS-AHHHHH!!!!!!!"
Their eyes widen.
"W-Wait a sec, could this be what she's experiencing-" Cree starts.
"In the Soul Society?" Virginia finishes.
Without warning, Mariya begins to cough, their eyes widen as as blood appears, trailing down her cheek.
"M-Mariya!" Bianca yells.
She responds with panting, tears appearing on the rims of her eyes.
"G-Guys....n-ngh!" she trails.
"Mariya, we're right here!" Virginia says.
Mariya falls silent for a few moments as a tear rolls down her cheek.
"Toshiro..."
Their eyes widen.
"Mariya-" Kayla starts.
Suddenly, she jolts up.
"A-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"What on Earth could they be doing to her?!" Cree yells.
"She must be in great pain-" Bianca starts.
"Girls, get out of the way!"
The turn around, seeing a bunch of nurses and doctors rushing in.
"We need to get her back to normal, now! Nurse, heart rate?" one doctor shouts.
"159 bpm doctor." a reply comes.
"That's way too high."
"I need 5 mcg/mL of procainamide, stat!"
"W-Wait, what's going on?" Bianca asks.
"Sorry girls, you need to get out now. Your friend will be fine, we've encountered this with her before yesterday and today-" a nurse starts.
"Wait, she's done this before?" Cree asks.
"BP is 136!"
"Where's that procainamide?!"
"Mariya!" Virginia yells.
"Go girls!"
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!" Mariya streams again, before panting as some more blood trails, "...Guys...where are...you...."
Their eyes widen.
Did she...sense them?!
"MARIYA!" Kayla yells, before their pulled back, lead out of the room by nurses.
"We'll let you know when she's better, now go!" the nurse yells as he pushes them out with her bags, shutting the door quick behind himself.
They pant, turning towards the door.
"S-She...was looking for us." Kayla trails.
Cree nods.
"We must of made a connection in her mind...maybe the lump...was it." Cree trails.
"Yeah, maybe." Virginia agrees.
Bianca just stares at the door.
...Mariya...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July
SOUL SOCIETY
Toshiro's Perspective
"Captain! How's the work coming?" Rangiku asks as she sticks her head out from behind the door to Toshiro's office.
"Not now Rangiku, I'm busy." Toshiro replies, not even looking up from the map.
"Aww, c'mon, I wanna know your progress." she pouts, standing in the doorway.
He sighs.
"Well, I've got good news, and bad news." Toshiro says, "Good news, I've been able to eliminate a lot of places where she could be."
"That's great, now...what's the bad news?" 
"The places I eliminated...made up the entire Soul Society." 
Rangiku blinks.
"W-What?!" she stutters, "That's n-not possible, is it?!"
"There's no place like what Virginia described in the Soul Society, meaning it must be in the World of the Living...which leads to even more bad news." 
"What?"
"Well, in the World of the Living, there are places like that Virginia described-" 
"That's good!-"
"-All over the world!"
Rangiku falls silent.
"Oh..." she trails.
"There's at least 500 places fitting the description in each continent except Antarctica." Toshiro says, "They've got our hands tied now."
"Hiding in plain sight..." 
Toshiro blinks, and looks up at Rangiku.
"What?"
"That's what they always do, right? Hide the answer in plain sight." Rangiku answers, "Captain, tell me, which continent has the most?"
"Uh, let me see..." he trails, "It's Europe."
"Start there, you just eliminated  at least half of your chances of failing."
He stares at her.
"Now, with the fact of 'Plain Sight' in mind, keep searching Sir." Rangiku replies, "You'll find her Captain."
For a moment she just stares back at him, before giving a sigh, standing straight as she turns away. He doesn't say anything, watching her exit.
"Rangiku."
She blinks, turning her head.
"Yes sir?" she asks.
"Not a word to anyone." he answers.
Her eyes widen, before she chuckles, turning back.
"Of course Sir, good luck." she replies, shutting the door behind her.
He sits there for a moment, before giving a sigh.
"Thanks, I'm gonna need it." he comments.
He looks over maps of Europe, from England, to Turkey, Austria, and Sweden, even peaking into Greece to see if there's literature that looks more prominent then the others.
Minutes pass, and he sighs, no where closer then where he had been when Rangiku left. More minutes pass, then an hour, and he groans, rubbing his head.
"Damn, I suck at thinking plain sight." he says to himself. 
He flicks at a stack of papers, and eyes something. Curious, he pulls it from stack.
"Welcome all...to Scotland's...Edinburgh Vaults?" he reads, hoping he pronounced the word right, "Why would they promote a vault, that stupid...it's.."
He blinks.
"Simple...Plain and simple."
He turns, looking through records.
"Edinburgh Vaults..." he trails, "Got it!"
A small entry on the subject.
"Theses are once forgotten vaults located in Scotland that were discovered to run all under the city of Edinburgh. Squatters and other low level peasants called this place home, even some children are reported to of lived in the chambers...Recently became popular, and has become a huge attraction to the city." he reads.
He sets it down, thinking it over.
"A hint, there must be a hint...Why would they take her to such a popular place?" 
His eyes widen.
"Popular..." he trails, "What is the most popular dungeon attraction in Europe..."
Minutes pass, and he finally finds a location.
"No way...they could of taken her there?" he asks.
The London Tower.
"Why would they take her there, what connection would it have with her?" 
Without warning, he hears something fall from the top of a far stack.
"Great." he groans as he gets up.
Walking around to see the file, his eyes widen as he sees its the Mahinahime file.
"Ah crap, I hope nothing fell out." 
Picking it up, a paper falls out. He blinks, leaning over to pick it up. He glances at it, before his eyes widen, looking back on it.
"...W-What?" he stutters, "No...way..."
One of Mahinahime's favorite styles of dress was the current look of Victorian Europe, specifically those in Great Britain....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Heh, she's fun to make pissed. She lights up a lot." one Bijuu comments, laughing.
"Raijuu, cut it off, Mistress will become angered if you kill our prisoner." Sokou comments.
"Well well well, the weakling is finally learning his ABCs..." Raijuu replies, taking Sokou's high collar, pulling him up and slightly off the ground, "Don't go talking smart, could get you killed."
Sokou gulps, glaring up Raijuu as he sets him down.
"Alright boys, let's go say our daily hellos." Shukaku says with a smirk.
Raijuu grins.
"Yes, let's I would love to start my day on a good note." 
"You call the prisoner screaming in pain a good note?"
Raijuu blinks, turning to see someone walking towards him. He laughs, giving a large laugh.
"Aw, Kenta, boy! You're back!" Raijuu says.
Kenta grins.
"Yes, I am, the Lady called me back, and I must say, I am glad to be back, and no longer in that horrible uniform." Kenta replies as they start down stairs.
"Yeah, know whatcha mean bro. But, tell me man..." he trails, pulling Kenta closer to whisper in his ear as they turn into a darkening hall, "Spill, how does our puppet look to you?"
Kenta laughs.
"She nice." Kenta replies, running his hand across an open cell door.
"How nice?" Raijuu asks with a smirk as they slow.
"Oh, she's great, quite a looker, has a more innocent, cute look to her." Kenta replies, "Man, I must say, out of all the jobs she's given me, I must say that seducing that little cutie is the best yet-"
"You lay a hand on her, you're dead, got it?"
Kenta and Raijuu blink, looking over into the cell.
"Whoa, man, I heard that you did, but I didn't actually believe it!" Kenta says, looking in closer.
"Yeah, that's right, little old Sokou over here nabbed her about a week back." Shukaku comments, gesturing at Sokou.
"No way, he did?" Kenta asks.
Sokou nods.
"Damn, your gas must be dangerous then. I may just borrow some to use on Virginia-"
"DO THAT AND I'LL GRIND YOUR HEAD UNDER MY HEEL!" 
Kenta jolts a bit, looking back into the cell.
"Will you calm down chick, y'know Yattamori, you aren't really in any position to be yellin' at me." Kenta replies, "So you should really be quiet."
Mariya sighs walking away from the door of the cell. Kenta looks her over. Her long hair flies free, the two ribbons she had used to hold it up tied around her wrists, bloodied. Her white haori is more of a dusty gray now, looking to be splattered with paint, actually being her blood. Blood trails run from the side of her mouth, and her eyes seems a bit lifeless, the warmth in her hazel eyes faded. Her uniform has burn marks and rips running up and down the sleeves and legs, even the bow holding her bodice is ripped up in places. Her pendant is missing, and her choker seems a little faded. Her arm bands are covered in blood spots, held behind her back by cuffs, restraing her.
"Hey, Mariya, I heard your little boyfriend had a panic attack when he found out we took ya. Almost froze himself over." Shukaku laughs.
Mariya grits her teeth.
"He isn't my boyfriend for the 80th time you 4th grade bafoon. And don't joke about him." Mariya replies.
"Why not? I mean, other then Virginia, it seems that he's one of the main ways to get to you. Though, if that's not the case, then I guess we could always kill him-" Raijuu starts.
"Shut up." she interrupts. 
Raijuu raises an eyebrow.
"Oh, alright, let me think. We could um, strangle him-" Raijuu continues.
"Yes, strangling would be fun." Shukaku comments.
"We could stab him multiple times." Raijuu adds.
"That would be fun as well." Kenta replies. 
"I said shut up!" Mariya says.
"We could always gas him." Sokou comments.
"Ha! Go Hitler on his ass." Kenta laughs.
Mariya begins to shutter in anger.
"Oh, wait, I got a better idea!" Kenta says.
"What's that?" Shukaku asks.
"We could drown him, use his power against him! Ha, it would have such irony." Kenta answers.
"Yes! No, no, no, wait, I got it." Raijuu comments.
"Yes?" Sokou asks.
"We lay a fake dead body of her out, and while he's freaking out and crying like a baby, we decapitate him!" Raijuu laughs.
"Yes!" Kenta laughs.
Mariya snaps.
"YOU LAY ONE FINGER ON TOSHIRO AND I'M GONNA SEND YOU ALL TO HELL, YOU SHITTY JACK-ASSES!!!" Mariya yells, her eyes glowing blue.
Kenta smirks.
"You're forgetting your Spiritual Pressure, Mariya." Shukaku comments.
Her eyes widen.
Without warning, Mariya is encased in bright shocks of electricity, blood-curdling screams escaping her throat at an uncanny pitch.
"A-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Damn, what happened?" Kenta asks with a laugh as he watches the show.
"You see those handcuffs she's wearing?" Raijuu asks over her screams.
Kenta nods.
"Well, they're made to react to Spiritual Pressure. When they detect it, they send out an electric shock." Sokou explains, "Basically, it uses your power against you. More you got, the pain you're given."
"So, how many amps are you sending through her?" Kenta asks.
"Probably around 55mA." Shukaku answers, "Not quite enough to kill, but can still get a point across."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Mariya still screams, the light vanishing soon after.
Mariya coughs, blood splatting on the floor of her cell.
"Oooh, Damn, that's the new record of blood." Shukaku says with a smirk.
She glares up at him, panting hard as the blood drips from her chin.
"D-Damn....y..ou..." she trails, the light in her eyes completely disappearing as she falls to her knees.
"And she's..." Kenta starts.
"Uh..." she breaths, falling silent as she comes to lay chest down on the ground, the small puddle of blood soaking into her hair.
"Out." he finishes with a laughs.
"Damn, it's fun to see such an apparently powerful Soul Reaper look so weak and helpless then fall to lay out cold before you." Raijuu comments with a smirk.
"Yes, makes me feel that Nekomata would enjoy seeing this." Shukaku comments.
"Alright lover boy, let's go, the Lady will be waiting." Kenta comments.
They laugh, walking off as Mariya resparks some, still in throbbing pain. Her pants are hard, her heart beating too fast that she can barely get air into her lungs to satisfy them. Her eyes, almost dead by the looks of them, flutter barely open, tears escaping.
"T-To...shiro..." she trails, a little more blood escaping her lips, "...Save...m-me...guys"

M.S.A.A. pt. 80

"...Can people really be connected in ways we can't imagine? Like invisible threads binding us to other beings, guiding us on a destined path. If we think about it, it does, in many more ways then one, act this way, life. Though, it seems, that when it is cut abruptly, then others tied along will fall to depths not meant for them, filled with despair or hopelessness. We are not meant for darkness, or despair. So, fate mends itself with time, bringing us back from what we have experienced in past times, showing us light once more. In this instance, what do we do? What do we say to mend ourselves now, knowing that something has been lost?...Believe in a brighter tomorrow, in a world that will amend itself and show life....And most of all...Believe...in me...."

July
SOUL SOCIETY
Virginia's Perspective
"How close are we?" Virginia asks.
"Why are you asking that? You've been to Toshiro's Office before." Kayla comments.
"I know that...but..." Virginia trails.
Cree blinks, looking over at her.
"But? What are you butting about?" Cree asks.
Virginia looks away, slowing her pace as they begin to round a corner. In response, the others slow, taking notice of the different feeling in the air.
"...Well, isn't he...still recovering? From that outburst..." Virginia asks.
Kayla and the others at her, blinking.
"Yes, he is, but he is better." Bianca says.
"But do you think we should go and see him....I mean, seeing us...may remind him even more of..." Virginia says.
"Mariya?" Cree finishes.
Virginia nods.
Kayla sighs.
"Well, he'll just have to deal with it for now. It's not our problem at this point." Kayla comments.
"We do have to take into account his emotions and his actions." Cree comments, "It's what we must do for Mariya."
The others fall silent as Virginia begins walking ahead with Cree, Bianca soon following. Kayla, being stubborn as she is, waits a bit before running after, groaning some.
Virginia walks a bit ahead, hoping to just get it over with.
Though, turning the next corner entering the Squad 10 office areas, she's pulled back by the collar.
"H-Hey!-" Virginia starts.
"I know you're nervous about talking to him, but remember that if you keep calm, and talk naturally, then he should be absolutely fine." Cree interrupts.
Virginia blinks, then looking away.
"I just don't want him to freak out again." Virginia says.
"He'll be fine. I mean, he has spent the last four days in the Squad 4 barracks recovering from the shock." Cree replies as Bianca and Kayla catch up.
"Besides, Momo came by and said he was calmer when it came to bringing up the topic." Bianca adds.
Virginia sighs.
"Alright...I'll keep my head, I promise." Virginia promises.
Cree nods.
"Great, now let's go." Cree says, gesturing as she takes back the lead towards the building.
Virginia grins bitter-sweetly, following quietly.
Moments later, they find themselves at the door to his office, standing silent. They look at each other and sigh.
"Well, here goes nothing." Kayla comments.
Bianca nods, slowly reaching her hand out, knocking on the frame.
No one replies.
Virginia leans over to whisper to Cree.
"Maybe he isn't here-" Virginia starts.
"Who's there?"
They blink, looking forward as they hear Toshiro's voice.
"Never mind." Virginia mumbles.
"Toshiro? It's us." Cree says.
There isn't a reply, though they do hear him moving inside, his footsteps becoming closer by the moment. After a pause, the door slides open, revealing Toshiro. He looks the same, a bit of bags under his eyes, some of the light still missing, though he seems under control and calm. He tries to give a grin, but it's half hearted.
"Hello guys." he says, his voice seeming to lack it's usual volume and life.
"Hey there, how ya feeling?" Kayla asks as Toshiro moves to the side, allowing them in.
"Better." he replies, "I guess I'd better apologize for what happened a few days ago."
"Oh no! You're fine, really." Bianca says.
"I mean, everyone was upset, it's easy to understand your actions." Cree agrees.
Toshiro blinks, then looks away.
"I see..." he trails.
Cree looks over at Virginia, gesturing her forward. She shakes her head, causing Cree to glare at her for a moment. After a second, she sighs.
"Toshiro, I really don't think you should be so down." Virginia comments.
She blinks, looking at him to see that he's not paying attention, probably thinking about the past few days.
"Uh, Toshiro?" Virginia says.
Their eyes widen in disbelief as he walks off from them, turning his back as he walks to his desk.
Virginia's jaw drops.
....You gotta be kidding...he's that out of it?!...
He sighs, taking Virginia from his thoughts as she notices him fondling something in his hand.
She taps Cree, gesturing at Toshiro.
"Cree, look." Virginia whispers.
Cree seems to spot it too, walking closer to Toshiro, resting her arms on his desk as she eyes it. Virginia follows, realizing what it is as soon as she sees it.
"Toshiro." Virginia says.
He blinks, finally out of his trance.
"H-Huh, what?" Toshiro stutters, looking around, before he sighs, "Sorry, I zoned out again."
"You took it." Virginia comments.
"What?" he asks.
Taking him by surprise, Cree takes the item from his hand, which seems to be strung around his neck. The others blink as they see the pendant in her palm, the lime green standing out among his uniform.
"Her pendant..." Bianca trails.
"No wonder no one could find it at the scene, he must of taken it before he was brought to Squad 4." Kayla comments.
"Kayla." Cree says, silencing her, before turning back to Toshiro, "You took this from the scene without telling anyone...so that you could keep it to yourself..."
He doesn't respond, taken back.
Virginia sighs.
"It's the only thing that was left by Mariya...you wanted to have something of her's..." Virginia adds, "It seems fair that you should have it, considering that you were the one that gave it to her, if I remember right."
He nods.
Cree releases her grip on it, allowing it to drop back against his chest.
"I remember...Mariya told me that you wore it everyday after her death, and would apparently wear it out only on the day she died..." Cree trails.
Toshiro looks away, not wanting to think about it.
"Toshiro." Bianca says.
He looks back up.
Kayla chuckles, patting him on the shoulder.
"That's not gonna happen again Toshiro." Kayla says with a grin, "We'll be sure to find her. Alive."
For a few moments, he just stares at her, before chuckling himself, looking down at his desk. His hand takes hold of the pendant, tracing the arrow on the front as it reflects the light. The slight smirk on his face vanishes, looking over the designs.
"Did she ever tell you about the necklace other then that?" he asks.
They blink.
"Uh, no." Bianca answers.
"Well, she found my pendant in my things while looking for something I had hidden from her. When I came in, she was just staring at it, and when I told her to give it back, she didn't want to give it up. It took me about three days to get it back from her." Toshiro explains, "She seemed drawn to it, she loved the design on it, and the color. She told me once that it was because of this that her favorite color became lime green."
"Toshiro..." Virginia trails.
"Eventually, she did ask me why I wouldn't give it to her." Toshiro continues, "I told her that I had received it when I was baby, and it was one of the last things I had that reminded me of my mother."
"So wait, your mother gave you that necklace?" Cree asks.
He shakes his head.
"No, she didn't. If I remember correctly, she told me that a woman had given it to me the day I was born, and said it would protect me. I asked her to give me her name, but she refused, saying that the woman didn't want me to know...though, she did tell me a few things about her." he answers.
"Like what?" Kayla asks.
"...She apparently was a younger woman, probably looking that of an older teenager in your world. She was apparently dressed in strange clothing, stained in places with blood...Though, she was kind, and proper, and had apparently helped my mother as she was giving birth, so she was also intelligent..." Toshiro trails off, "...She was courageous...and by my mother's standards...very beautiful..."
"So, this beautiful woman helped your mother give birth to you, and then gave you the necklace...how was she courageous?" Bianca asks.
Toshiro falls silent for a moment.
"...She saved both of our lives..."
"Huh?" Cree says.
"The woman protected my mother and I from being killed...Mother, if I can remember correctly, told me once that her wound was right to the heart...and she probably died soon after disappearing from our village..." Toshiro replies.
Their eyes widen in shock.
"I gave Yattamori the necklace for her 40th birthday, because from my mother's description, she sounded a lot like her to me." he finishes, "I never guessed that it actually carried the curse of meeting the same fate as the woman that saved me."
"There is no curse to the pendant, that was just a random chance of coincidence!" Virginia says, "You couldn't control Mariya's fate by giving her a simple necklace."
"Yet she's gone." Toshiro comments.
"She's not dead-" Cree starts.
"How do you know that?!" Toshiro interrupts, his voice more powered with irritation.
They're taken back by his outburst. He breaths hard for a moment, his hand clenched tight around the pendant, before he seems to calm, running his other hand through his hair. Virginia eyes the other girls. It seems that even though he is better, he still is concentrated on Mariya and her disappearance. And the idea that it seems above all things...
She's dead.
Virginia sighs, gently moving in front of Cree, leaning over to be at eye level at him as he looks away. She rests her hand on his fist, causing him to whip his head up, meeting her glance. She gives a simple grin, her actions seeming to calm him a bit as his fist relaxes a bit. After a moment, she rests his hand on the desk.
"Toshiro...do you think I can...hold her pendant for a moment?" Virginia asks.
He blinks, taken by surprise, as do the others. Though, reluctantly, he takes hold of the chain, lifting it over his head. For a moment, he stares at the pendant, before looking back up at Virginia, as she holds her hand out.
"I'll give it right back, I promise Toshiro." she says calmly.
With a sigh, he nods, dropping it into her palm.
Suddenly, everything disappears, taking her by surprise.
...Wh-What the-
"LET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!"
Her eyes widen, whipping around at the sound of a voice, and the followed screams.
She blinks, finding herself now in a dank and dimly lit area, seeming to made of stone. She touches her hand to one, running her fingers along the smooth, cold, moist surface.
...What is this place?...
"I'm..sorry..."
She looks ahead, and her eyes make out an outline of something ahead. Picking up her speed, she walks closer, trying to get a better view of the thing. It's now she recognizes something.
"I'm sorry...guys..."
Blood...blood stains on the pale face of a person, their hair strewn at random about their face. Their pants are forced, coughing up bits of blood with each expelled breath. Though, after a minute, the breaths are normal, the blood found to be in small amounts, barely even injuring to the body. Finally, Virginia catches colors.
Chestnut...glaring hazel...and a flash...
..of blue
"Damn my luck...guys...I'm...so sorry..."
 "Virginia!"
She gasps, whipping her head up to see everything before gone, back in Toshiro's office.
She pants.
"V-Virginia, are you ok?" Cree asks.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." Virginia replies.
"What happened?" Toshiro asks.
"First, tell me something...when you have a vision Cree, does it mean you're seeing what's happening at this moment, or in the future?" Virginia says.
Cree blinks.
"Uh, either, why?" Cree answers.
Virginia isn't quick to reply, though, moments later, she begins to chuckle, before it swells into full laughter, clutching her forehead. The others stare at her, a bit taken back by her actions. After a moment, Kayla shakes her.
"Dude, what are you laughing at?" Kayla asks.
"Man, Toshiro, you're dumb..." Virginia commen
He blinks.
"What is he dumb about Virginia?" Bianca asks.
"Because..." she trails, "...Mariya...she's..."
Their eyes widen.
"M-Mariya? You saw something about Mariya?!" Cree says, taking hold of her shoulders.
"SHE'S ALIVE, THANK GOD!" Virginia yells.
Toshiro raises from his seat.
"She's what?!" he says.
Virginia runs at him, taking hold of his collar.
"She's alive, stupid! She's been alive this entire time!" Virginia snaps.
He blinks, not replying as he taken back by her actions.
"How do you know?" Bianca asks.
"I saw her, well, I saw her trademarks. I mean, who else do we know with long wavy brown hair and very scary hazel eyes when she's pissed, which sometimes flash blue?" Virginia asks, "No one, but Mariya!"
"No way..." Kayla trails.
"Well, where is she?" Cree asks.
"I have absolutely no idea, I just know it kinda looks like a dungeon, y'know one of those medieval looking ones, made of rock and stuff. Dark, low lit, know it?" Virginia asks.
"Yepe, Toshiro, do you know anyplace like that?" Bianca replies.
He slowly shakes his head.
"N-Not that I can think of. I mean, back before good order was put in place by the Head Captain and the Royal Family, there were many small jails to house those that were against the Soul King and causing trouble." Toshiro says.
"You think they got her locked up in one of those?" Kayla asks.
"It's a good idea." Cree replies.
"No, it's not possible." Toshiro comments, "Soon after we were established, the jails were abandoned and destroyed, so that they couldn't be used in situations like this."
Kayla groans.
"Well, this sucks." she comments.
"At least we know that Mariya is alive. That, and the description of where she is." Virginia says.
The girls nod.
"That's right...though, I don't get it." Bianca says.
"What?" Cree asks.
"I mean, aren't they trying to kill her? Why would they just take her prisoner?" Bianca asks.
They look at one another.
"Who knows...maybe they've changed tactics." Kayla comments.
"That's a good guess, but I have a feeling that whoever their leader is has a more elaborate plan then what it looks like." Cree comments.
"Yeah..." Toshiro trails.
Virginia notices the change in his voice.
"Got something on your mind?" Virginia asks.
"Yeah...Virginia..." he starts.
She blinks.
"Y-Yes?" she replies.
"...Was she injured?"
They all fall silent, eyeing Virginia.
She sighs.
"...Yes...though she wasn't mortally wounded...she did look to be spitting up blood." Virginia trails.
His eyes widen, as do the others.
"At the beginning, she was screaming...and after a few minutes, she seemed alright..." Virginia continues, "And through her breaths, she kept apologizing, and cursing her luck..."
"Mariya..." Cree trails.
"Well, looks like this time, we'll be the ones doin' the savin'." Kayla comments, grinning.
Virginia smiles.
"Yeah, we're gonna get her out of there." Virginia says, looking over at Toshiro.
After a moment, he nods.
"Alive."

M.S.A.A. pt. 79

"...Life, in itself, is a circle, as we've been preached many times in past. Though, what we fail to realize, is that life, is also like a pond. Unlike what most think, that life flows like a river does or even a stream, it actually acts more in the way of a pond. Yes, life does move along, but at the same time, it stands still. We remember all that has happened to us in our lives, they are not lost or forgotten easily with time. Yes, some memories are foreign, especially those of our earliest years, but they do remain, resting at the bottom of our subconscious. Life happens all around us, and if we do allow our lives to flow like that of the river...instead of the pond, we may loose all of which we may of held dear in our lives. So, if that is the case, then, why would we be here in the end? What is our mission? Ask yourself this, and you may find that the river has opened...to the pond of humane existence..."

July
SOUL SOCIETY
Cree's Perspective
"C'mon, the strange Spiritual Pressure was coming from this way!" Momo yells, running slightly ahead of Cree.
"Momo, are you sure you felt Virginia's Spiritual Pressure?" Cree calls as they round a corner.
She looks back at her, Momo's big brown eyes filled with concern as she nods.
"Yes, she has a very distinct Spiritual Pressure, just like Toshiro does." Momo replies.
"Maybe that's because they're both an ice type zanpakuto user." Cree says.
"That may be right." Momo agrees.
"Wait!"
Momo and Cree look up, stopping suddenly as does the rest of the group as they spot someone in front of them.
A slender and very youthful woman with sea blue eyes and ebony hair is the one standing before them. She wears the standard Soul Reaper Captain uniform apart from using an obi instead of the normal sash, her white haori having sleeves unlike Mariya's. Her hair is long and is worn as a large braid in front, ending about at the lower part of her waist. Unlike most Soul Reaper who carry their zanpakuto in their sash, she has a large string attached to the sheath of her zanpakuto and carries it over her shoulder.
"Who are you?" Cree asks.
"C-Captain Unohana..." Momo trails.
"Hello Lieutenant Hinamori." Unohana says, walking closer, "I advise you not to come any closer, there's a high content of anesthetic vapor in the air concentrated in this area."
"Anesthetic vapor?" Cree repeats.
"Captain, do you know if the girl Virginia may be there? I sensed her Spiritual Pressure around here." Momo says.
Unohana shakes her head.
"Unfortunately, until the vapor clears, we won't be able to check out area for damage, considering that once you breath in this vapor, you will instantly pass out." Unohana replies.
"Dang it, what if Virginia is injured? We can't just let her lay there, she could be killed." Cree says, gritting her teeth.
"I'm sorry, Cree, I think it was, I have sent for Squad 12 to see if we can get some type of gas masks, but until that time, we can't enter the premises." Unohana says.
Momo sighs.
"Maybe...we should go and find Mari, she will want to know about an attack on Virginia." Momo proposes.
Cree nods.
"Yeah, you're right. Right now, my friends Kayla and Bianca have gone looking for her. She should be here soon, if not in the next few minutes-"
"Cree!"
Cree looks back with the sound of her naming being called, her eyes widening as she spots Bianca and Kayla running towards her. She turns all the way around, as they run up, panting slightly.
"Guys, where's Mariya?" Cree asks.
Kayla looks up, standing straight up as Bianca holds her knees.
"W-We couldn't find her, she wasn't at home, the office, or the training grounds." Kayla answers, "We checked everywhere." 
"Did you ask Toshiro if he's seen her?" Momo asks.
"Well, we were, but..." Bianca trails.
Cree and Momo look at one another, now a bit more nervous.
"But what Bianca?" Cree asks.
Bianca sighs, looking up at her.
"We couldn't find him either." Bianca replies.
Their eyes widen.
"Wait, you couldn't find either of them?!" Momo says.
Kayla nods.
"Either they're hiding in plain sight, or they went someplace together without telling anyone." Kayla says.
"No, Mariya wouldn't do that." Cree says, "Even if it was secret, she would at least tell one person where to find her in case of an emergency."
"Maybe she told Aneko where they went." Momo comments.
"Did you guys ask her?" Cree asks.
"Yepe, didn't have a clue." Bianca says.
"It's true, I don't."
The four turn to see Aneko, Mariya's Lieutenant, walking up, her arms crossed across her, something she does when she's worried or nervous, as Cree has noticed.
"Well, where could they of gone?" Cree asks.
"They did leave together from the Captain's Meeting earlier today." Unohana says.
"Really?" Momo asks, turning to look at the Captain.
She nods.
"Yes, but it didn't seem like they were in a rush to get anywhere. They acted normal, if not a bit off from the information given at today's meeting." Unohana answers.
"Information?" Cree repeats.
"Yes, I guess I shall tell you, considering our circumstances at this point. Under the Head Captain's orders, you girls have been placed under protection." Unohana explains.
"What?" Cree says.
"Under protection?" Bianca starts.
"The Head Captain's orders?!" Kayla interrupts.
"That's correct, five squads were given you four girls to keep an eye on." Unohana says, "For instance, Cree, you were placed under the protection of Squad 5."
Cree's eyes widens, as do Momo's.
"My Squad?" Momo says.
"Yes." Unohana says.
"What about us?" Kayla asks.
"Kayla was placed with Squad 8, and Bianca with Squad 13. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one Squad Member wasn't following each of you." Unohana answers.
"Wait a minute, why did you say five Squads when there's only four of us?" Bianca asks.
"Because, the girl, Virginia, was assigned to two Squads."
"T-Two squads?!" Cree says.
"Mhmm, Squad 2, and Squad 10." 
"Why did she get two?" Momo asks.
"Because Captain Yattamori requested it." 
"Wait, what?" Kayla asks.
"You see, Captain Yattamori was originally also assigned a Squad for protection." Unohana starts.
"Let me guess, Squad 10." Aneko says.
Unohana nods.
"That's correct. Well, after that was said, Captain Yattamori requested that her protection be given to Virginia, for she felt that out of all of you, she's at the highest risk of being injured or even killed by the Bijuu for some reason." Unohana explains.
"But why? Is anyone, she's at the most risk, she's been the main target since before any of us got here. Heck, their leader is suspected to be the one behind her death!" Cree says.
"Because..." Unohana trails.
Kayla blinks.
"What?" she asks.
Unohana looks over at her.
"All that I want to focus on is keeping my friends safe. They're the ones I believe need it. If any of them were to injured or killed....I wouldn't be able to forgive myself..." That is what she said prior to asking for specific protection for Virginia." Unohana says.
Cree and the others stare at her.
"Mariya..." Momo trails.
They look over at Momo.
"She doesn't want any of you guys put in harms way. She'd rather take the fall if need be, she'd rather be the one injured or killed. That's the selfless person she's always been, ever since we were kids." Momo explains, "Now, seeing that your friend Virginia is being targeted, she taking the path that will protect Virginia best, even though it also means she may have a higher risk of being mortally injured in the end, or worse."
"Why? Why does she have to do that?" Cree asks.
"Because, she has taken responsibility for your welfare." Aneko answers, "She probably made it her duty to make sure that you will be safe and that you'll be able to return home." 
"That's stupid!" Kayla says.
"She's just putting herself at higher risk." Bianca continues.
"It's just how Mari has always been, she can't instantly change her ways." Momo comments.
"It just aggravates us." Cree replies.
"Maybe Captain Hitsugaya knew that, and took her off somewhere to talk to her about it where he would know they wouldn't be attacked." Unohana comments.
"That is a possibility, I mean, taking into account his personality, it does sound like something he would do." Kayla agrees.
"Yeah, but until they get back, we're at a loss, aren't we?" Momo asks.
"Yepe." Bianca answers.
They all take a deep sigh. Aneko turns, rubbing her temple. Though as she looks forward, her jaw drops.
"No way." Aneko says.
The others look her way.
"What is it...Aneko." Bianca starts, trailing off as she spots what Aneko does.
Cree gasps.
Virginia.
"W-Wait, but I thought...she was that way." Momo trails.
"How could she be running towards us?" Kayla asks.
Cree looks over Virginia. She seems upset, her baggy blue eyes somewhat bloodshot as if she's been crying. Her breathing is rough, her pants forced to get air into her lungs, and keep her at her fast pace. As she runs passed, she seems oblivious to the fact that they're right there, not even glancing in their direction.
"V-Virginia!" Cree yells.
"She'll be knocked out!" Momo yells as she watches Virginia.
"Wait, that's not possible." Unohana comments.
"What?" Kayla asks.
"Look." 
They do, and their eyes widen to see Virginia still running at the same pace, not even phased by the vapor.
"How is she still running?" Bianca asks.
Cree looks up again, and her eyes widen.
"Guys, look up!" she says.
 They comply, looking in the area Cree's gesturing to. Their eyes widen, spotting what Cree has noticed. Above, it seems that crystals float in the air, sparkling like diamonds in the light of the passing sun.
"S-She froze the vapor?!" Momo asks.
"Seems that way, let's move." Cree calls, running ahead of the group, taking them by surprise.
After a moment, the others nod.
"Right!" they comply, following swift after her.
Eyeing ahead, Cree follows that path of the crystals to track down Virginia's movements. Soon, she finds herself on the path leading to one of the larger areas, kinda like a four way stop on a road. She pants, quickening her speed as it seems the crystals multiply drastically, meaning that the amount of vapor must be large in quantity. Finally the opening comes, and she stops, too stunned to keep moving.
"Oh my God..." she trails.
All around, lay Soul Reapers, unconscious, and not moving. She looks closer, seeing some from Squad 2, as well as others from Squad 10, strewn all over, some even having their zanpakutos drawn, ready for a battle it would seem. Her trance is broken as she hears the others fast steps, seeming to come to a quick stop around her as their eyes also land on the Soul Reapers.
"What the hell...happened here?" Bianca trails.
"Aren't these two the ones assigned to Virginia?" Kayla asks.
Aneko looks over, gesturing.
"There's Virginia." she says.
They follow her finger. Seeing that Virginia was looking around, entering the rooms of the buildings surrounding the area.
"What is she doing over there?" Unohana asks.
"We don't know, here, let's go over there. She'll probably know what happened here-"
"EEEEEI!" 
They whip their heads around, to see Momo shaking, her eyes widen.
Cree rushes over to her side.
"M-Momo, what's wrong?!" Cree asks.
She trembles, raising her arm to point straight in the distance at something. Cree follows, and her face goes pale as she spots it.
"No way..." she trails.
Momo pulls away from her grip, sprinting towards the being laying on their stomach ahead of them.
"What was that about?-" Kayla starts.
"T-Toshiro!" Momo yells, kneeling beside him.
Their eyes widen as they follow after Cree, soon coming to stand over Toshiro and Momo.
"So, this is where Toshiro was?" Bianca asks.
"He must of been caught by the vapor like the rest of these members." Unohana says, sitting beside Momo.
"Seems he also was beginning to pull out Hyorinmaru too." Kayla comments, gesturing to how Toshiro is gripping onto the hilt of his zanpakuto, the blade pulled out a good sum.
"So, he was going to attack someone." Momo says.
"Yes, but who?" Aneko asks.
"Well, since the vapor has vanished, we should be able to wake him up." Unohana says.
Momo complies, beginning to shake Toshiro slightly.
"Toshiro." Momo says.
Instantly, his brow begins to furl, his eyelids beginning to twitch as they want to open. After a few moments, his eyes open, hazed over. He blinks, and sighs, releasing his grip on his hilt. Then, looking around, he spots Momo, his eyes widening a bit.
"H-Hina..mori?" he trails, his voice cracking a bit.
"Yes, yes, it's me. Toshiro, are you alright?" Momo asks as Toshiro tries to push himself up, rubbing his head with hand.
"Y-Yes, I'm fine." he says, sitting up, leaning slightly towards Momo.
"Toshiro, what happened here?" Cree asks.
He looks over and blinks.
"Cree..I thought you'd be able to tell me that." he answers.
"You mean you can't remember?" Kayla comments.
"Well, it's fuzzy..." he trails.
"Calm down, remember, he did just wake up after all." Unohana says.
"Right, just give him a minute, he'll tell us what he can when he's ready-" Aneko agrees.
"TOSHIRO!" 
They all look up, turning their heads to see Virginia walking towards them, her stride fast.
"V-Virginia-" Cree starts as Virginia kneels beside her.
"Toshiro, where is she?!" Virginia yells, pulling Toshiro up by the collar.
He blinks, his look that of shock.
"Virginia, calm down!" Kayla says.
"You've got to know where she is, tell me now, Dammit!" Virginia yells, not listening.
Aneko and Kayla take a hold of her arms, pulling her off Toshiro, though she fights back, screaming her head off.
"Virginia, who are you talking about?!" Momo yells.
Virginia suddenly falls silent, her eyes filling with tears as she begins to whimper and tremble. Cree's heart picks up.
"Virginia...?" she trails.
Tears begin to trail down her face.
"Toshiro!" she yells, "Where's Mariya?!"
His eyes widen as the others gasp, even Unohana taken by surprise.
"M-Mariya?!" Kayla yells, "Why was Mariya here?!" 
Virginia looks over at her.
"W-We were walking home, she had split off from Toshiro to walk with me, and s-she said that she was gonna take me to the tea house...when a B-Bijuu, an ugly Bijuu that looked like a rooster a-appeared." Virginia begins, "I-Instantly, Mariya began feeling faint, because of the fumes coming from h-his body, but she said she'd fight him off anyway, s-she even got out Mamori Koudoutai."    
"Then what?" Bianca asks.
"W-Well, t-then these guys showed up, but as you c-can see, they weren't much help, mo-most fell only after being here about five seconds a-at best." Virginia says as she gestures, "M-Mariya then realized how dangerous the situation was, a-and ordered one of the only S-Squad Members to...to.."
"To what Virginia?-" Aneko starts.
"To get me out of there!" Virginia snaps.
Their eyes widen.
"I-I tried to stay, told her that I w-wasn't affected by the vapor, b-but, she just looked over at me and gave me one of h-her bitter-sweet g-grins, and said..."I know...I...just can't risk....you getting hurt... Don't think badly...of me..."..." Virginia trails, the tears becoming heavier, "Then, she o-ordered him again, and b-before I knew what was happening, I was u-up in the air, and she just grinning u-up at me!"
Cree feels her heart skip a beat.
...She doesn't want any of you guys put in harms way. She'd rather take the fall if need be, she'd rather be the one injured or killed. That's the selfless person she's always been, ever since we were kids...
"So...she let you get away..." Momo trails.
"T-The last thing I saw was her turning away from me, b-back towards the Bijuu and r-readying her sword!" Virginia says, crying.
Toshiro isn't paying attention, in his own little world.
...T-TOSHIRO!
"S-She had gone into Shikai" he comments.
They all turn to look at him.
"She what?!" Aneko says.
"S-She was attacking the Bijuu as I was coming around the corner. I-I called out her name as I went for my sword...and then..everything went black.." Toshiro continues, "The last thing I remember clearly is hearing her yell my voice...she was turning to face me..."
He gasps.
"What?" Unohana asks.
"She hadn't carried out her attack...she turned towards me before she had..." Toshiro trails, grasping his head with his hand.
"Then, the Bijuu must of..." Kayla trails.
Virginia screams.
"N-No! Don't, she couldn't be!" Virginia yells.
"Virginia, it's just a possibility!" Bianca says, now standing a few feet away, probably looking for clues.
"It's not even that!" Virginia snaps.
"Virginia-" Momo starts.
"I'm not going to except it! She's too strong!" 
"But she's nowhere to be found Virginia." Aneko says, her voice wavering.
"They...They took her..." 
They look back at Toshiro, his eyes wide in shock.
"Toshiro..." Cree trails.
"G-Guys!"
Cree whips her head around, to see Bianca on her knees, facing away from them.
"Bianca? What is it?" Cree asks, walking over towards Bianca.
She stalls as she sees Bianca trembling. She turns to look at Cree, tears lining the rims of her eyes.
"Look." Bianca says, sniffling.
Cree reluctantly takes something from Bianca's hand, turning back before looking to see what it is.
Instantly, all the light in her eyes vanishes, her olive skin becoming as pale as Virginia's as she looks up.
"C-Cree?" Kayla stutters.
Cree replies her hand slipping, the object falling from her hands, landing with a ping, bouncing once or twice.
Aneko gasps, covering her mouth with her hands to stop herself from screaming.
"N-No, it can't..." Momo trails.
Toshiro says nothing, the light in his eyes long gone as he spots it.
Mariya's Pendant, the one she never takes off.
"Oh my God!" Virginia shrieks.
"This can't be happening!" Kayla yells.
"It's not!" Virginia snaps.
"Virginia-"
"No, I won't accept the possibility that Mariya may be dead!" Virginia yells, sobbing.
Tears begin to form at the rims of Kayla and Momo's eyes, Bianca trying her best to stifle her crying behind them. Cree grits her teeth, clenching her fists. She glances over at Aneko, seeing sadness reflecting in her eyes. Then, she looks over, her eyes widening.
"T-Toshiro?" she stutters.
They look down, and are shocked, seeing Toshiro trembling, his eyes shifting wildly.
"Dead..."
Cree gasps.
"Toshiro-" she starts.
"M-Mariya...she may be...dead?" he trails.
"It's only a possibility." Unohana comments.
"Mariya..dead..." he says, to far off to probably hear them.
...Toshiro...
His eyes widen more then ever, something snapping.
Without warning, his Spiritual Pressure goes out on control, the blast sending them flying back a good amount of feet around him, landing on a freezing ground. Cree whips her head up, watching him. He's grasping his head, his uniform blowing around him crazily in his blizzard.
"Toshiro!" she hears Virginia yell, looking over to see her near, standing somehow.
"I was right there...I could of done something..." he trails.
"No, Toshiro! This isn't your fault!" Aneko yells, her arm protecting her face.
"She's dead...it's my fault..." he shutters, large pieces ice beginning to form off the walls and ceiling of the buildings. 
"Stop-"
"MARIYA!!-" he starts, the ice shattering into millions of shards.
"STOP TOSHIRO!"
Cree and the others blink in surprise, watching as Momo somehow wraps her arms around Toshiro, her hair whipping wildly as it's come undone. Toshiro blinks, seeming to notice her.
"M-Momo-" he stutters.
"Please, stop...it's not your fault..." Momo trails, trembling, "...Mari wouldn't want you to do this."
He gasps slightly, the blizzard he had formed disappearing. Cree and the others don't move as the ice slowly begins to recede, watching.
Momo holds him close, a tear running down her cheek as she opens her eyes, looking to see it all over. After a moment, she pulls him away a bit, looking over him. Her eyes widen slightly as she watches him, his eyes still wide and without life, and he somewhat mumbles.
Unohana hurries over, looking over him quickly.
"Captain Hitsugaya is in shock, we need to get him to Squad 4 now." she assesses.
Momo gasps.
"W-What?" Momo says.
"I'll explain the details when we get there. Lieutenant Hinamori, follow me." Unohana says as she helps Momo get Toshiro standing, holding him up.
Momo nods.
"Yes ma'am." Momo says, putting his arms around the back of her neck.
As they begin to get ready to flashstep, Toshiro holds his head down, not known to them but looking at Mariya's pendant, which he had picked up sometime. He clenches his fist around it.
"...Ma..ri..ya..." he trails, before disappearing towards Squad 4.
For a minute or two, everyone remains as they are, silent, and unmoved. 
"Oh my God..." Cree trails.
They all look at her.
"I know...I've never seen...anything like that." Bianca says, standing.
"I never imagined seeing him...freak out like that." Kayla adds.
"From what I've seen of him, I never thought he could even do something even to close to that." Virginia says.
"It seems that something in his mind as he thought about the possibility of Mariya being dead snapped." Aneko says, standing, "I've only encountered that once before."
"Wait, he's lost control like that before now?" Kayla asks.
"When did that happen?" Virginia asks.
"Well, I wouldn't say he lost control before. He's snapped before. But at the time, his power wasn't released, his real emotion was." Aneko says.
"What do you mean by that?" Cree asks.
Aneko sighs.
"He sobbed."
They gasp.
"No way, Toshiro cried?!" Kayla yells.
"That's too hard to imagine." Bianca comments.
"I know, but it did happen...14 years ago..." Aneko trails.
They fall silent as they realize.
"The day Mariya died..." Cree trails.
Aneko nods.
"Yes, that was the day."
Cree sighs, looking in the distance, hoping that this day, hasn't become a new anniversary.
"Mariya..."