Degeneration of a Soul

I was in a IchixGrimm phase but I won't be able to write a oneshot until I get over what happened in ep 167 of Bleach. Oh well we shall see. Anyway brand new story that will be updated depending on interest and when I'm not barreled with work and needing to work on Memoria :p hope it's interesting.


Chapter One The Beginnings of Disintegration

Karakura town seemed at peace, to the normal human eye. People went about their regular business unaware of the spirits and monstrosities ready to take their soul energy. This was one such night, where a renegade spirit decided to hunt for its next soul. It tore through the forest rampaging. Its roar shook the ground and terrified the little spirit running from him. “Please leave me alone!” They cried desperately. Running out of the park she made a quick dash around a corner and halted immediately, a small figure stood in her way.

“You had best get out of the way.” He said walking past her. She looked back catching only the symbol for ten on the back of his coat.

“Wait-” She had no time as the Hollow barreled around the corner but ice encased the Hollow’s limbs halting its actions.

“Shinigami bastard!” The Hollow roared attempting to bite the short Shinigami but the glint of a sword shone and the Hollow halted. As the zanpakuto was dragged forwards the Hollow vanished into nothing and the white haired boy re-sheathed his zanpakuto.

“Thank you so much.” The girl said gratefully bowing her head.

“You don’t need to worry anymore. You’ll be in a safer place after this.” He said respectfully. Before he could send her off a claw pierced through her stomach, making the Shinigami’s teal eyes widen.

“Do you feel safer?” The new Hollow asked pulling the spirit of the young girl back towards him. “Does this make you feel better?” The Hollow laughed hard and leaped into the air dragging the screaming spirit along with him.

“Che,” scoffed the young looking Shinigami before flash stepping after the vile spirit. “Where’s that damn substitute shinigami Kurosaki, he should be dealing with strays like this.”

Coming to an abrupt halt above the town he looked over the city searching frantically for the Hollow. Holding out his cell phone he finally got a signature and again used flash steps to reach the location. Landing before the Hollow the spirit of the little girl had vanished into particles before his very eyes. Gripping the hilt of his zanpakuto he growled low in his throat annoyed by the laughter of the Hollow. “Oh my, have I annoyed you, shinigami?”

“You’re a worthless use of existence.” He replied removing his zanpakuto from its sheath and pointed it at the Hollow.

“Aw, come now Shinigami, we should at least introduce ourselves.” The Hollow chuckled. “I wish to know the name of such a decorated Shinigami.”

“Hitsugaya Toshiro, tenth division taicho.” He introduced and launched an attack upon the medium-sized Hollow. Deflecting a tentacle Hitsugaya aimed for its head but another appendage came straight for him which he barely blocked. The Hollow laughed harshly and Hitsugaya found himself flying back towards the ground. Quickly gaining his bearings he evaded the Hollow once more and came to stop atop a tree.

“You’re particularly rude aren’t ya? I never even got to introduce myself.” It grumbled meeting the icy gaze of the captain.

“I don’t find it necessary.” Hitsugaya said a little annoyed. The Hollow leapt up and his tentacles whipped out nearly snagging Hitsugaya catching the tail ends of his haori. Hitsugaya flew forward and slashed the Hollow’s head but it dropped below him. A strong grip enveloped around his ankle and Hitsugaya went flying into the ground.

“Come now boy-taicho, I know you can put up a much better fight.” The cold ruthless humour of the Hollow sent weird shivers down Hitsugaya’s spine. The levels of power reeling off of the Hollow were abnormal, they weren’t like any other Hollow he had felt. Dusting off his clothes Hitsugaya looked up scathingly. “Come on boy-taicho, show me a good time.”

Hitsugaya found himself under a barrage of attacks from the Hollow’s tentacles and sliced as many as he could to pieces. Howls of pain from his opponent echoed through the night, unknown to those of the living. He flew upward towards the Hollow and drove his zanpakuto into its chest and tore it through its flesh relentlessly, the screams of the little girl sounding in his ears. However, the Hollow started to laugh. Hitsugaya frowned and leapt back away from it suspiciously. The spirit energy inside the Hollow only seemed to be increasing.

“Do you have some kind of new trait, Hollow?”

“New trait? Scared Shinigami?” It taunted as its body started regenerating itself quickly. Hitsugaya strengthened his defense but the Hollow charged at him too quickly. Deflecting the hit as much as he could Hitsugaya found himself once again plummeting towards the earth but this time the Hollow was ready. A sharp pain flared across his back and he braced for another attack before swerving into the trees landing hard on a branch. Heaving for air Hitsugaya leaned back against the tree his vision still seeing doubles.

“Are you feeling the pain boy-taicho?” The Hollow laughed his voice nearing him steadily.

Hitsugaya slowed his breathing by taking deep breaths before peering out beyond the tree. Spotting the Hollow he landed on the ground a fair distance away. “How did you regenerate, Hollow?”

“I eat spirit particles thus I am able to regenerate, at the expense of those poor unfortunate souls however. I think yours would be quite tasty and last me a long time.” The Hollow’s eyes shone a deep red in the moonlight. “I’ve lived a long time, collecting souls, keeping myself alive, adding you to the many victims would be a reward I’m thinking.”

“Try it,” Hitsugaya challenged pointing Hyourinmaru at the Hollow.

“My pleasure!” It roared and flew towards Hitsugaya.

“Soar in the frozen sky, Hyourinmaru!” A massive dragon of water flew at the surprised Hollow and crashed into its body. Hitsugaya felt a massive amount of reiatsu coming towards him and sighed. ‘Way to take your time.’ He though tiredly. The wound on his back still pained him and he slowly made his way over to the wounded Hollow. “Finished yet?” He asked touching the Hollow’s head with the tip of his zanpakuto.

The Hollow’s eyes darkened but it did not vanish. Hitsugaya frowned. Trying to flash step back out of the way of the foul appendage his body was wrapped tightly. The hard coil tightened around his small body and forced the air out of his body. “Silly Shinigami, I regenerate remember? Or are you too tired?”

“Let me go!” Hitsugaya roared but Hyourinmaru fell to the ground and the Hollow laughed.

“You’re so tiny, boy-taicho, I feel sort of bad for ya, cursing you with what I’m about to.” The Hollow teasingly sympathized. Hitsugaya struggled against the tightening appendage but found his body becoming weaker by the second. “You have such a pretty Zanpakuto, Hyourinmaru was it?” Hitsugaya’s eyes widened. “Ha, don’t be so shocked, like I said, I’ve done this for a long time.”

“Hitsugaya-taicho!” Called the other Shinigami somewhere up above them.

“Oh, so your help finally arrived, a little too late I’m afraid.” The Hollow laughed and Hyourinmaru slashed through Hitsugaya’s chest.

“Hitsugaya-Taicho!” Renji roared and released his Bankai.

Blood erupted from Hitsugaya’s mouth, and his vision became hazy. “Listen up boy-taicho; only when you realize who kindles that ice-encased heart will you be free of my curse.” Hitsugaya heard barely as he started drifting into unconsciousness. “I think you’ll be a good long-lasting supply for a while, good luck, boy-taichou. I want to see how long you last.” Hitsugaya could feel himself falling. The pain was barely noticeable now, and he really wanted to sleep. Reality crashed down on him though as he felt someone catch him. HItsugaya looked up blearily trying to focus his vision.

“Don’t worry Hitsugaya-kun, I’ve got you.” Unohana said and Hitsugaya yielded to his injuries and passed out.

Unohana sighed heavily as the Hell Butterfly flew past her face. A worried Matsumoto burst through the door. Renji took Hitsugaya from Unohana and looked down at his pained face. “Taicho!” Matsumoto cried coming to a halt before them.

“Come, Matsumoto-chan, lets bring him back to Soul Society.” Unohana said calmly and Matsumoto followed without complaint. However she was concerned. She felt unnerved by the situation.

“Hold on a second Unohana-taicho.” Matsumoto retrieved Hitsugaya’s zanpakuto and sighed. ‘What happened here?’

“We have to hurry now Matsumoto-chan, go on Abarai-san I shall be there shortly.” Renji nodded and walked through the gate. “What is it Matsumoto-chan?”

“Is it, the same as the little girl?”

Unohana nodded gravely.

*

Unohana took a deep breath of relief as she finished up her work on Hitsugaya. “I think that will be good for now, the rest is up to him, you may all rest.” She told her members helping her. They bowed their heads and left the room. Turning her attention back to Hitsugaya he looked more at peace but she was still worried. ‘I have seen this condition before, but I cannot place it.’ Unohana came out of her thoughts as the door opened. “Ah, Matsumoto-chan, he is resting but you may sit with him if you like. I need to go look over some papers, I should be back in a little while.”

“Thank you, Unohana-taicho.”

“It is the fourth division’s duty, think nothing of it.” Unohana said and walked out the door sliding it closed softly behind her.

*

Renji sat silently at his desk. Byakuya had noticed this a while ago but now it was concerning him. “What’s wrong?” He asked passively.

“Huh-oh, nothing,” Renji said rubbing the back of his neck a weak smile on his face.

“If you’re so worried why don’t you go and make your worry go away.” Byakuya suggested signing another paper.

“Nope, I have work to do.” Renji said and got back to his report.

Byakuya lifted his gaze slightly. The red-head was really bothered by what happened. Byakuya looked back down at the unsigned report, there had been another case like this a long time ago, he read about it. Unohana was probably checking out the case. Still, Renji was annoying him and creating a melancholic atmosphere. “Renji, get it out of your system, you’re distracting me.” Was all Byakuya said and Renji vanished out the door. Sighing heavily Byakuya sat back in his chair. Something was nagging at him. Shutting his eyes for a second he shook it off and went back to signing the reports.

*

Hitsugaya woke slowly feeling much better than he had previously. “Ah, taicho, you’re finally awake!” Matsumoto cheered and wrapped her arms around him.

“Matsumoto, you’re suffocating me!” Hitsugaya attempted to say but her chest got in the way.

“Oh, sorry, I just got too excited. Renji, he’s awake now.” Matsumoto called and Renji came through the door quickly.

“I’ll go and get Unohana-taicho.” Matsumoto nodded and looked back at Hitsugaya who had a far off look on his face.

“Hitsugaya-taicho, are you alright?”

“I think so,” he said softly sleep nagging at the corners of his brain again.

“Ah, Hitsugaya-kun, I’m glad you’re awake, how do you feel?”

“Surprisingly very well,” he answered sitting up with little difficultly. He did notice Unohana’s frown however which didn’t surprise him. “I take it that isn’t a good thing, Unohana-san.”

“We shall see.” She said the unrelenting smile still on her calm face. Hitsugaya nodded and she proceeded to check him over. “So far I see nothing wrong.” She paid specific attention to his back and chest as those were the two most severe injuries. She sat beside him and wrote on a piece of paper. “You’re free to leave whenever you wish.”

Hitsugaya nodded and rose up from his bed. Still a little unsteady from healing he grabbed his new clothes. Unohana was about to go through the door after Renji when Hitsugaya stopped. “Taicho?” Matsumoto inquired stepping closer.

Hitsugaya’s hand flew up and gripped his yukata tightly. “Hitsugaya-kun?” Unohana asked. His labored breathing made her ears twitch. Hastily making her way over to him she caught him just as he collapsed and immediately checked his pulse. ‘Pain in the chest.’ She thought but it slowly began to fade and a troubled expression overcame her soft features. ‘This is just like that case.’ She thought solemnly. “Matsumoto-chan, if he is still like this tomorrow I will be furthering his treatment, he will be staying here tonight.”

“Yes, taicho.” Matsumoto answered dutifully. ‘Something is really wrong, did his injuries not heal?’

*

Hitsugaya woke again in the hospital bed and he growled weakly. “Ah, taicho, how’re you feeling, again?” Matsumoto asked coming to sit beside him.

“What are you still doing here Matsumoto? Don’t you have some things to do?” Matsumoto poked her index fingers together and pouted.

“You’re not going to send me back to work when I could look after you will you?” She asked.

Hitsugaya rolled his eyes.“I think I’m going to get up and walk around for a bit, I’m sick of lying down.”

“Need to do something taicho-.”

“Hentai! Get away from me!” Hitsugaya grumbled and ran out the door. Heaving slightly he tightened his yukata and made sure that Matsumoto wasn’t following him. Sighing in relief he took off down the hall. Feeling a familiar presence Hitsugaya stopped and looked into the room it was coming from. Eyes widening in shock Hitsugaya slowly made his way inside and came to look at the little girl from the night before.

“Hello nii-chan.” She greeted holding out her hand. Hitsugaya nearly gasped. She smiled sadly and took it back. “It doesn’t hurt.” She said courageously. “So don’t you worry nii-chan.”

“I’m really sorry.” He apologized, “for not being able to save you.”

“I told you not to worry nii-chan.” She huffed crossing what was left of her tiny limbs.

Hitsugaya pushed a chair close to her bed and he took a seat. “Tell me, what happened to you.”

As she told him her story Hitsugaya began to feel a nagging once again in his chest. Attempting to pay attention the best he could Hitsugaya felt a jerk inside like something was being ripped out and the Hollow’s laughter filled his ears.

“Nii-chan?” Asked the little girl her voice growing faint as time progressed. “Are you okay?”

“I think I need to get back to Unohana.” He murmured trying to stand. His body weakened and he toppled to the floor.

“Nii-chan!” The little girl cried.

The last thing he saw was the face of the Hollow, laughing, and its words echoing through his mind.