Degeneration of a Soul

Disclaimer: I do not own bleach no money being made. But I do own the Chamber Of Regeneration...that is all!

Thank you everyone for reviewing! ^_^ sorry for any spelling errors here and within the rest of the story..I cannot catch all the little buggers. Enjoy!

Chapter Four

Ichigo’s Questions

“Why are you here Ichigo?” Renji asked seated quietly in front of him.

Ichigo shrugged. “You’ve got me. Apparently there are a lot of things goin’ on that I don’t know about, so why not fill me in, Renji.” He said eyes angry.

“You are here at Unohana-taicho’s request. Be quiet and wait until she comes to speak with you.” Byakuya said annoyed.

“Why can’t you ‘inform’ Ichigo than taicho? You know just as much as Unohana does.” Renji said angrily.

“She is the healer.” Was all Byakuya said before turning back to the reports he had brought with him. Most of them were concerning the attacks of the Hollow in Hitsugaya’s situation. This was trying his patience and making a fool of the Gotei for not being able to care for one of their captains. “May I remind you Renji that it was you and Matsumoto who were accompanying Hitsugaya to the human world. If you had done your duty better and put up a better guard, he would not be in this ‘condition’.” Renji’s head lowered.

Ichigo frowned, ‘what the hell is goin’ on?’ He said to himself. “What happened to Toshiro?”

Byakuya sent him a look and Ichigo scowled. He wasn’t going to get any answers out of either of them, especially the icy one sitting with a pile of paper in his lap.
Furrowing his brow even more Ichigo crossed his arms and looked out the window. ‘Why did Unohana send for them? What happened to the little midget? Hitting the floor irritated Ichigo stomped over to the window. Renji snapped back in surprise.

“Oi, keep it down, she’ll be here soon!” Renji hollered.

*

Orihime looked over Hitsugaya worriedly. His arms were slowly mending themselves but she was still frightened at his condition. Unohana stood beside her forlornly but kept a small smile on her face. Orihime didn’t know how she could keep such a strong façade while one of her comrades was this ill. ‘The duty of a captain I suppose.’ She thought sadly.

“Do not fret Orihime-chan. I trust in your abilities to help him.” Unohana said comfortingly and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re helping him.” If Orihime didn’t know any better Unohana had a touch of desperation about her.

“That’s not what I’m concerned about…well I am but. Are you okay Unohana-san?” Orihime asked turning to look up at her.

Unohana’s smile brightened. “You’re a sweet girl. I’m fine. I just hope this little friend of mine gets well.” Orihime nodded in agreement. “I will return in a short while. I have a feeling Kurosaki-kun is being a bother in my hospital.” Orihime shivered and laughed nervously. “Keep up the good work and I’ll be back again soon.”

*

“Tell me somethin’!” Ichigo demanded.

Byakuya pinched the bridge of his nose. “Here is something that will tie you over. A rogue Hollow has been running amuck in your world. Hitsugaya, Renji, and Matsumoto were sent to find it. Hitsugaya vanquished a Hollow which was not the one he was sent for. Which makes me wonder where you were Kurosaki,” Byakuya wondered. Ichigo seethed.

“Don’t change the subject, Byakuya.”

“One of our captains is injured Kurosaki. Kenpachi, Yachiru, and some members of his squad were sent out nearly two days ago to destroy him. They were unsuccessful. We are hoping your ryoka friend will be able to help heal him.” Byakuya said and turned back to his report. “Now be quiet. Some of us actually have work to do.” Renji snorted.

“Again, what the hell happened to Hitsugaya?!”

“Shut up!” Renji hollered and they got into a row of profanities.

The door slid open swiftly. The room fell silent except for a small chuckle from Byakuya. Unohana stood silently in the doorway. Renji dropped to his knees and bowed low. “I am very sorry Unohana-taicho for causing a disturbance. This idiot is as well.” Renji apologized and forced Ichigo into the floor.

“Well, just so you know, I have patients here. We do not need to add to the numbers do we?” Renji shook his head furiously. “Excellent, greetings Kurosaki-kun, I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“I think that’s a good thing.” He mumbled nervously.

“Now what are you yelling about?”

“How is he?” Byakuya asked.

“Orihime is doing her part. We will see if it works.” Unohana said calmly.
Byakuya nodded and left the room.

Ichigo gripped his hakama tightly between his fingers. “What happened to him, Unohana-san?” She sighed.

“Hitsugaya-taicho, was severely injured on his small mission to your world, Kurosaki-kun. A Hollow which, when it is actually able to hit you, is able to take your spirit energy in whatever amount it wishes; Hitsugaya was attacked by this Hollow. Because of this his body will degenerate by however much the Hollow decides to take. Kenpachi-taicho and his team showed me that when the Hollow is in battles, the Hollow will withdraw reiatsu extensively. It causes Hitsugaya-taicho much pain. I summoned both you and Orihime because I knew you would be able to help. You’re strong and she, is a very good healer.” Unohana said and smoothed her clothes.

“Hitsugaya was cut with his own Zanpakuto.” Ichigo’s eyes widened. “Since then it has become dormant and unresponsive.”

“Where’s he now?”

“With Orihime, I’ll bring you there when I deem him fit enough for visitors. Matsumoto has been waiting, and I’m sure, you would like to attend as well, Renji-kun?” He nodded and she smiled. “I’m glad he has this much support, I don’t know if he knows it though.”

Ichigo let the information sink in. The scariest part was the fact that trying to kill the Hollow could result in Toshiro’s death. This was a disaster.

“I would prefer you to hear the story from Hitsugaya. He hasn’t been able to tell us everything yet either, so this should be informative.” Unohana said rising from her seat. “For everyone,” she whispered.

*

Hitsugaya found himself awake again and the shield still humming soothingly around him. Noticing Orihime she smiled. “Hello Hitsugaya-kun, are you in pain?”

“Not really.” He mumbled and rolled onto his side.

“That’s good to hear. But just to be safe I’ll wait until Unohana returns.” He nodded weakly.

“What’re you doing here anyway?” He asked. Orihime gulped.

“Um, Unohana-san called for us. She said that she needed our help.”

“Us?” He mumbled and the door opened. Matsumoto burst in tears trailing down her cheeks. Hitsugaya groaned in annoyance.

“Taicho! You’re alright!” She exclaimed and took a seat beside the shield. “I wish I could hug you!”

“I would prefer it if you didn’t!”

“Well aren’t you looking better.” Unohana said kneeling beside Matsumoto. Renji and Ichigo took their places on the other side.

Renji sighed heavily. He felt his failure again.

“It wasn’t your fault, Abarai.” Hitsugaya said and sat up. The orange shield vanished and Orihime settled herself onto her own seat.

“I think it’s about time you told us what happened with the Hollow, taicho.” Matsumoto said seriously.

Renji nodded in agreement.

“I was attacked by a Hollow, one with a lot of experience in dealing with Shinigami.” Hitsugaya said running his hand through his hair. “It was probably best that Abarai and Matsumoto did not get attacked.”

“We were supposed to protect you taicho-.”

“And do you think I could have forgiven myself if I had let either of you take this curse!” Matsumoto shrunk back. Unohana’s mouth twitched from a smile. “I need to break it.”

“How?” Ichigo asked.

“Something I consider foolish.”

“So foolish that it could save your life, Hitsugaya-taicho?” Unohana asked.

“I would rather die.” He said softly. Matsumoto gaped. Renji’s eyebrows furrowed. Ichigo and Orihime glanced at each other.

Unohana spoke passively, “We are trying to save you Hitsugaya-taicho. This could be it.”

“I would never believe something a Hollow said. I would rather destroy him.”

“What did he say to you?!” Ichigo snapped.

“That I-.” Hitsugaya felt an unwinding in his chest. It wasn’t as painful as before but he now knew before hand when the Hollow would take his reiatsu. “It’s moving.” Unohana rose alarmed.

“You can tell now?” She asked and he nodded. “Are you in pain?”

“No,” he answered. They all watched as his pupils vanished. “It’s like, he’s trying to take away…”

Unohana knelt beside him and checked his pulse. Lifting his hand Unohana could feel little particles as cold as his body drifting through her skin and away into nothing. “Isane!” Her lieutenant burst into the room and knelt on one knee. “Get the Chamber of Regeneration open now.” Hearing her captain angry was never normal occurrence. Isane stood quickly and hurried down the hall.

“Unohana…” She looked down and noticed tears running down his pale face. “I’m...kind of scared.” Her smile vanished.

“I’m here. Matsumoto, Abarai, Kurosaki-kun, and Orihime-chan as well, I promise you that all of this will end soon, Hitsugaya-kun.”

“It’s not ending soon enough for me.” He admitted holding onto her hand tightly aware that it was wasting away into nothing.

Ichigo scowled. How would he be able to help, if attacking the Hollow only did this? What could help Hitsugaya if Orihime’s powers couldn’t even heal him? Noticing Orihime saddened by the event Ichigo sighed heavily.

Renji clutched his clothes tightly. This needed to end before Hitsugaya wound up dead.

There...I was nicer to our little Snowball in this one he didn't have pain...R/R!