Degeneration of a Soul

Well here is the planned final chapter, but I have decided that there will be an epilogue of sorts. I'll be going back through the story to see if there are things that need to be cleared up. Thanks for reading this far, it was a good learning experience and I hope you continue to read my stories in the future.

Chapter 10

Solidification of Body

“Now some people say happiness takes so very long to find
Well, I'm finding it hard leaving your love behind me

And you see I can't smile without you
I can't smile without you
I can't laugh and I can't sing
I'm finding it hard to do anything
You see I feel glad when you're glad
I feel sad when you're sad
If you only knew what I'm going through
I just can't smile without you”

-Barry Manilow, “I Can’t Smile Without You”

Unohana smiled at Tomoya as she entered the young girl’s room. “How are you feeling today Tomoyo-chan?”

“I’m feeling very good.” She chirped and gave Unohana a bright smile. Unohana warmed, the girl was recovering nicely.

“Let me take a look at your hand.” Tomoyo stopped folding her origami and held out her complete, and healed hand. “Looks like you’ll be leaving soon.”

Tomoyo looked up sadly. “But I like being here with you.”

Unohana laughed softly. “I enjoy having you around. You cheer up my patients.”

“Do I cheer you up too?” She asked quietly.

Unohana smiled fondly at the young girl. She could tell the girl would make an excellent Shinigami in the future. She possessed so much strength. “Yes you do.” She said after a while. Tomoyo’s face brightened.

Tomoyo caught Unohana’s hand tightly in her own. “The Hollow is gone now right, Unohana-san?”

Unohana paused before nodding.

“Then why can’t I see nii-chan?”

Unohana stilled immediately. What could she say?

“Where is he Unohana-san?”

Unohana smiled sadly.

*

Byakuya rubbed the bridge of his nose. He didn’t want to be near the area where the final battle took place. Renji stood silently at his side surveying the destruction. “Where were Ichigo and Hitsugaya-taicho, when you can Kenpachi finished the Hollow off?”

Byakuya let his eyes wander over to the spot. It was still splattered with blood.
“Over there.” He answered briefly.

Renji nodded and headed over. Byakuya and Kenpachi were the only ones to see the end. He stopped abruptly and kept his distance from the spot. Ichigo had made it out of the battle with some severe injuries, Orihime saw to his complete healing. Hitsugaya hadn’t been so lucky.

*

Matsumoto gently placed Hitsugaya’s clothes onto his desk and looked over at Hyourinmaru. She smiled sadly. “You stuck with him right until the end. I thank you.” She bowed her head briefly and quickly exited the room.

*

Unohana sighed and looked deeply into the girls green eyes. They sparkled with hope. She sat down next to her. “Tomoyo, I am going to keep you here, to make sure that the Hollow Degenero is indeed gone. Hitsugaya suffered much more than you did.” Tomoyo looked down at her hands. “He’s finally able to rest, without pain.”

“That’s good.” Tomoyo said a sad smile on her lips. “I didn’t want him to hurt anymore.”

Unohana smiled.

“Will I get to see him though..?”

Unohana shrugged. “When you’re strong enough and I’m sure you’ll be okay. I’ll take you to where he is.”

“Were you able to save him Unohana-san?”

Unohana looked out the window and smiled softly to herself. “That’s one thing about my profession Tomoyo. It’s a secret I’ll share with you.” Tomoyo smiled and leaned forward. “Sometimes, and many healers have to realize this, sometimes, not all doctors treatments work.” Unohana brushed back Tomoyo’s hair. “My treatment for Hitsugaya didn’t work.”

*

“Onii-san! You should come eat breakfast.” Karin called from behind his door. “Don’t make me get dad to feed you! You know he will. You’re making Yuzu worry!”

Ichigo opened the door swiftly and smiled tiredly. “Karin, I’m trying to rest here. Tell Yuzu to save me breakfast and I’ll eat some later.” Before she could reply he closed the door. There was another knock on his door and he hesitated before opening. Rukia stood before him. “Hey…”

“How are you Ichigo?”

“Fine, just trying to catch up on more sleep.” Rukia nodded and leaned back a bit. “When are you heading back to Soul Society?”

“Now, I thought I’d say goodbye. I won’t keep you. Strawberries need their beauty sleep like the rest of us I supposed.” She teased and ran down the hall.

Ichigo’s eye twitch and he stalked back into his room and collapsed back onto his bed, mindful of his nearly healed injuries. He smiled though and wrapped his arm carefully around the still slumbering body beside him. He gently kissed his shoulder and let the touch linger for a few seconds. Soon enough he settled down to sleep again.

“Kurosaki…”

“You’re going to have to start calling me Ichigo at some point, Toshiro.” He mumbled against his shoulder.

Hitsugaya muffled a moan as he was pulled back into Ichigo’s body.

“Get some sleep.”

Hitsugaya didn’t need to be told twice. He was out like a light.

**

Ichigo looked down at the comatose Hitsugaya in his arms and sighed in relief. Holding the smaller man closer to his body he let his tears flow freely. “I was so scared…” He admitted softly. The destruction of the battle lay around them and he noticed Byakuya and Unohana coming. Feeling Hitsugaya’s chest expand with each breath he took Ichigo slowly got to his feet. He nearly fell. He realized that he had sustained more injuries than he had thought. That didn’t matter, he needed to get Hitsugaya to a safe place. “You’re finally safe…” He whispered to the slumbering man in his arms.

“Kurosaki-kun, how are you feeling?” Unohana asked as she quickly checked them both over.

“A little hurt, but I’m good. It’s him I’m worried about.” Ichigo said and reluctantly handed him to Byakuya. But he couldn’t hold himself up. He fell and succumbed to his need to sleep. When he woke again he was staring at the ceiling of his room. Quiet breathing came from his side and he turned to look at Hitsugaya. A jolt of peace ran through him and he moved closer to the other.

**

Hitsugaya felt himself waking slowly. He felt warm and comfortable. Hearing soft faint breathing behind him Hitsugaya gradually rolled himself over and faced Ichigo. Smiling fondly at the orange-haired man before him, Hitsugaya reached out slowly and touched Ichigo’s face. Trailing his fingers gently over Ichigo’s softened features from sleep Hitsugaya pulled his hand back and looked at it. He was truly back to normal. Sighing contentedly he rested his hand on the bed between them. He no longer felt the looming feeling of Degenero around him or within him. Sitting up quickly he finally realized that he was not in Soul Society.

Getting up, mindful of Ichigo, he looked out the window at Karakura town. It seemed like it had been forever since he had seen it. Resting his head in the palm of his hand he let his eyes wander over the neighbourhood Ichigo lived in. ‘I almost died…’ He sighed heavily and sat himself more comfortably on the bed. The simple touch of Ichigo’s blanks sent his skin ablaze with its touch. The air was filtered with Ichigo’s smell and he shut his eyes as he breathed it in. He found the light suddenly too bright and he could hear Ichigo’s family downstairs clearly.

Returning his gaze to Ichigo he couldn’t help smiling. ‘He really loves me that much…’ Tugging at his shirt he then realized that it was all he wore. He scoffed. “I knew I was small, I didn’t think I was that small.” He mumbled annoyed.

“Don’t worry, it’s just part of your character.” Ichigo said sleepily.

Hitsugaya’s cheeks dusted an impossible shade of red. “Did I wake you up?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Ichigo yawned. “Did you sleep alright Toshiro?”

Hitsugaya fumed slightly. “It’s going to take a while for me…getting used to you calling me by my first name.” He said.

Ichigo liked that Hitsugaya hadn’t scolded him like he would have done.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“About three days.”

“I need to use the bathroom.” Hitsugaya said.

“It’s right down the hall, can’t miss it.” Ichigo said moving more into the blankets.
Hitsugaya got up and turned around his blush still on his cheeks. “Do you have shorts or something?” He asked quickly.

“Top drawer…”

Hitsugaya found a pair and put them on quickly. He walked slowly to the bathroom. He didn’t want to bump into any of Ichigo’s family too soon. He used the bathroom and quickly made his way back. Leaning against the door he looked up at the ceiling and shut his eyes.

“You’re nervous around me aren’t you, Toshiro?” Ichigo asked one sly eye open. Hitsugaya opened his eyes and looked at Ichigo sharply.

“I am not!” He declared and lay down next to Ichigo once more. His heart was beating fast in his chest. “Do you know how hard it is getting used to your body after it’s been nearly disintegrated?” He asked softly. Ichigo immediately pulled him back into his arms. Hitsugaya loved the warmth of Ichigo’s body and reveled in it.

“You don’t have to think about that right now.” Ichigo said into his ear.

Hitsugaya shivered as Ichigo’s hot breath blew over his ear. Ichigo ran his right hand into Hitsugaya’s hair and kissed his temple.

Hitsugaya smiled. “What are you proposing I think about then, Kurosaki?”

“It’s Ichigo to you, and only you…” Hitsugaya whimpered as Ichigo kissed his neck and his other hand ran over his stomach. “If I were to propose something, it would be to see just how sensitive your body is…” He said and ran his hand up over Hitsugaya’s chest.

“Ah, Kurosaki…” Hitsugaya grasped Ichigo’s wrist tightly. His heart was beating so loudly he was sure Ichigo could hear it. “Not yet…”

Ichigo chuckled, “I won’t…” He kissed Hitsugaya’s neck once more making the snowy haired beauty inhale sharply. “I really wanna test out how sensitive you are…but we can save that for later.” Ichigo let his eyes wander over Hitsugaya again and smiled mysteriously.

“What?” Hitsugaya asked concerned.

“I’d been waiting for the opportunity to ask you out. Turns out it had to be in the most dramatic and most dangerous way possible.” Ichigo admitted. Hitsugaya’s eyes widened. “That and I didn’t know if captains could date anyway. You’re kind of intimidating too…” He chuckled then his expression turned more serious. “I had to see what you’d look like, when you were most happy.” He kissed Hitsugaya’s hand and pulled him to face him.

“I’m not the only one with an intimidating look.” Hitsugaya teased lightly. Ichigo chuckled again. Hitsugaya cuddled more into Ichigo. “It scares me, that I almost wasn’t able to do this.”

“It scared me too.”

Hitsugaya felt a weight lift off his shoulders and he felt tired again. “Kurosaki…”

“Yeah.” Ichigo looked down.

“Can you…” Hitsugaya blushed and met Ichigo’s dark brown eyes. “Please kiss me Ichigo…”

Ichigo flushed a little but held onto Hitsugaya’s chin. Their lips pressed together and Hitsugaya moaned quietly. Ichigo tentatively coaxed out Hitsugaya’s tongue and their kiss deepened. “I love you, Toshiro…” He said lovingly against his lips.

Hitsugaya held Ichigo tighter. ‘I’ll hold on, no matter what.’ He thought peacefully. “Thank you for saving me…Ku-Ichigo…”

Ichigo laughed. “I will make you say it!” He grinned. “Tou-chan.”

“That’s it Kurosaki! Who did you hear that from?!” Only Ichigo’s laughter answered his question.


Ta-da...I'm not going to leave it at that, the epilogue is begging to be written. Plus I'm sure a little more HitsuxIchi would be nice.
Again thanks for reading,
Frozen-Wings