"...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..."
No comments:
Post a Comment