Masks [ PRP Toshiro ]

[Sojiro Kusaka]

Watching with a vaguely bored expression he just sighed, hollows were always a pain in the ass to deal with when you first put your mind to them. First you had to open them to you, something irritating and time consuming, after that it was all just fine and dandy. It was just opening them to manipulation that was the utterly hard part, something that even now could prove more difficult than it should have. In the end it was worth it, usually all he had to do was wait out the inevitable aggression and refrain from attacking. On the whole he couldn't blame the things for wanting to rip him apart, he was presumed to just be another soul reaper, and in the case of this hollow the very first thing it saw in its first moments of existence. Even the dumbest of beasts wouldn't trust something its instincts told it was danger, it was tuned into hollows to be weary of a soul reaper. However Kusaka didn't much need the beast's trust, just its obedience. He didn't need the hollow to like him, or even want anything to do with him, all he needed was for it to listen to him. That fact was as plain as day to him, now if only this mutt would get a damn grip.

Cocking a brow as it screeched at him it was was so very clear the noises had little effect on him. Once a hollow would have struck fear into him, caused him to bow down and back away. Yet now in many aspects this was not that same person, he bowed to none, especially not a friend gone hollow. Right now Kusaka had no regard to this thing, his previous emotional turmoil all but nulled, only wisps of regret and sorrow here and there. In his mind this was nothing but an animal, this was not Hitsugaya. It was this rationalization that utterly changed his mood, and even if the rate at which he'd done so was surprising, well, in a way it was expected. To Kusaka anyone or anything strange in his life, anything not known, it all got a cold brushing off. The only thing right now that kept him treating this hollow as some disposable tool was the body it inhabited, though no mistakes were to be made, to him this wasn't his old friend, his body or not Kusaka felt nothing at all for it past that desire to bend it to his own will... It was the only way though, looking at this as his old partner would have maddened his already dark mind, something he'd not do.

Hissing and growling, all in utter defiance at him. He would cut through it, break down its own free will, this was nothing but a damn puppet, a way to a means of controlling and dealing with something that was more. He would either bend or break it, either way gaining dominance. No animal was going to force him into submission, the days of him following another's orders had long since passed from his life. He'd been rendered a loner, and as such the only orders he ever had to follow were his own, that was how it would stay. this thing before him was not the one in control, it may have felt such sooner, but sooner or later it would just give up and follow him without any question at all. Unlike every other hollow this was not exactly one he sought to control due to the power it held. Yes its strength was something marvelous, that was something Kusaka would admit without question or hesitation, but he had little to no interest in the actual hollow itself, he had other hollows for that... It was all just a way to control Toshiro, a brutally terrible way... But it had been the only way... Without it he'd have just been abandoned again, something he would never allow, not now and not again. Hitsugaya would stay, and he would help, that was all there was to it.

As he placed his hand on the mask the thing reared it's ugly head back, jaws open wide to catch his arm. The action hardly shocked him, a part of him had expected it, yet even as he sharply pulled back he proved to be a bit to slow. Thankfully he managed to avoid having the thing clamping down on him, instead though one of the longer fore fangs catching the top of his hand, dragging along to snag the side too. Wincing slightly he made little other action other than to look at the gash itself, well damn. Folding his arms he ignored the dull throbbing of it, just keeping his eyes firmly on the blue of the hollow's. Yelling at it at this point would cause problems, so despite his near overwhelming desire to lash out and attack both verbally and physically he metaphorically bit his tongue in restraint. “Now what was that for?” Despite that rolling old anger in his gut he kept that same deadbeat tone, no emotions, just a ghostly binding to it, something trying to insaner the creature. “I said calm down.” The emphasis stressed his point, he would control this mutt, whether it liked it or not this creature would accept and follow him. If he had to verbally corner it and pin it into submission then he would, but it would be easier and faster if it just got the point.

Pausing for the briefest of seconds as the thing once more screeched he slapped his hand into his face, blood smearing as he dragged it down. Yes, raise your spiritual pressure so that every damn soul reaper around could feel you! Utterly stupid beast! Had his anger not been throwing his somewhat placid (as placid as were possible with Kusaka) he may have been impressed at the hollow's strength, although then again it was something he'd predicted. Either way it was something that aggravated him more than struck fear to him, he was not some weak soul reaper, he'd trained damn hard... This would not force him to his knees, it would not even make them shake. As it crouched he merely stood there, arms once more folded and head healed high. “There's no need for this, I'm here to help.” Sighing he walked a step closer to the crouching form, holding his hands up in a more peaceable manner, an act, but a good one none the less. “You want to destroy me? Because I'm a soul reaper? A threat to your kind?” His tone had now softened to something similar to an individual talking to a dull puppy. He didn't know if it would understand, but hey, even stupid hollows usually had some comprehension of language.

“You're wrong, you are not my enemy.” It was blunt, yet there was still that more lulling tone to it. “I want to help you, soul reapers hunt you, and why? Because you follow instincts? It's no reason.” Silent promises, yet in his mind it was truth. He didn't care for hollows, even as someone who'd no longer think their self a soul reaper he didn't care for them, they were beasts, mindless monsters... Like himself? Cringing at the thought he mentally shook it off, there were indeed to many similarities, and it made him sick to the stomach. Regardless though instincts were important, especially in this godforsaken world he refused to call a home. “Do as I say and you'll be safe from them, join me.” This... Was true. As long as this beast obeyed him he'd not let any soul reaper cut it down, doing so... Allowing for such would... It would destroy everything he still held value in, an semblance of himself would be lost. If it followed his orders it would indeed be safe, all it had to do was bow down to him as hit stretched out a hand to once more place it on the mutt's mask. Call it stupid to repeat an action that had harmed the very hand he now sought to rest on the bests mask, red no doubt adding a deep contrast to the white if he succeeded. But he was the dominant party here, he needed no permission for this, and he would show no submission to it. His false confidence would not be seen through.

[Toshiro Hitsugaya]

“Now what was that for? I said calm down.”

It didn't seem to scare off the man. Oh well. Might as well try and rip it to pieces. But even then, it wasn't sure whether to attack the man or not. It was hard to decide. Perhaps the Soul Reaper could help it in the long run. Wait, that wouldn't work. The man would most likely kill it. A deep growl left its being as he stepped back a bit. Calm down... for what? It wasn't going to calm down so easily. No, there was no reason to calm down so easily, so fast. Who was this man anyways. What was he trying to do with it? What kind of business did this Soul Reaper have with a Hollow? Slay it? Hopefully not. With anyone or any living thing, they did not like the idea of being killed. It was such a horrible thing. To be murdered by something else. No one wanted that kind of fate. Many said they were not afraid of death, but deep inside, they were. It was a natural fear that everyone had. Even a monster such as it feared it, and that was why it was cautious.

Perhaps it was odd that for someone of above Lieutenant leveled, to have their full power cut eighty percent because of the power seal placed upon them, to have enormous spiritual pressure. Though, it all made sense. The power limiter was to limit Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure, not the Hollow's. From that, it was able to override the seal, and release the energy freely. Though, the idea was not one of the better ones. Who knows what else was out there. Maybe another Soul Reaper was within the area. This was a strong possibility, and the Hollow had just risked it all. Though with the man's words, it lowered it back down to almost nothing. This man wasn't budging, or making any form of motion or behavior it had wanted or expected. It's blue and black eyes held confusion, while it's actions held aggression. It couldn't pick which one. This was confusing it quite a lot. It hissed at the man as he became closer, but did not move its stance. It stayed low.

“There's no need for this, I'm here to help. You want to destroy me? Because I'm a soul reaper? A threat to your kind?”

It screeched at that. The man was right, it did want to just kill this man, to just tear him apart. To save itself from a possible threat. It wanted to stop it before it happened. What kind of help would a Soul Reaper give? It didn't make much sense to the beast's mind. The man's tone had tuned down to something more than just monotoned. Something the Hollow could actually respond to. It wasn't a loud voice, a tone it would react violently to, but rather a softer tone. It understood perfectly what he said, and his voice reassured its instincts that he was not as big of a threat as originally thought. The creature followed its instincts more than anything. It was what drove it. And as the an continued to use this tone, it eased up, but still, wasn't totally convinced of really easing up to the man.

“You're wrong, you are not my enemy. I want to help you, soul reapers hunt you, and why? Because you follow instincts? It's no reason.”

Now the Soul Reaper was trying to relate to the beast. It was trying to soothe the beast's troubled mind with words in which the Hollow understood perfectly. It rolled out a low his as the man continued speaking. It still didn't understand why he needed it. What kind of reason was out there that suddenly made it okay for Soul Reapers to interact with Hollows in the way he was doing it? It made very little sense to its mind, but it didn't' much care. Right now it just wanted to be sure the man wasn't going to attack it. That he wasn't going to try and kill it. The situation would loose the current stalemate there was between the new hybrid and the shady Soul Reaper. The man's next words made it raise it's body again in some form of surprise. What did he just say? It shook it's head and hissed loudly. Was it a trick?

“Do as I say and you'll be safe from them, join me.”

It stepped back and screeched again, though it wasn't as loud and aggressive as the one earlier. This one was more of a warning, as to tell the Soul Reaper that it didn't want anything to do with it. At this point, it thought it was a trick. Protect? What kind of Soul Reaper wanted to protect a Hollow? This man was just strange. It just thought he was just some hoax. This was a trick. It crouched down low again as it growled. The man's hand approached it's mask. Its jaws became ajar, a warning to the man as to not do anything stupid, such as attack. His tones ha calmed him somewhat. It was surprising how a simple change of tone could easily soothe the most ferocious of beasts. It was all a psychological thing. If you don't sound threatening, then you won't be threatened. It was that simple. It was a method that worked most of the time, this time being an example. The Soul Reaper's hands touched the white and blue pattered mask, the blood of his hands tainting the mask. It growled. What was next?

[Sojiro Kusaka]

As it screeched he nodded, apparently understanding he cocked a brow slightly. Well damn~ “Then know for all means that I’m a soul reaper only by blood, not by actions.” He was a soul reaper by birth and heritage, but he was no longer actually a soul reaper, not in his own mind anyway. “I am not your enemy.” All he was doing was trying to reassure this thing that he wasn’t out to try and destroy it. If he could just get the damn thing to trust him already then he could just pull the mask off, this was one of his present targets. Already he’d become sick of looking at this thing, it was nothing but a pest to him. The damn thing was just a beast, a monster, not something he should be stood here trying to reason with. Yet here he was, stood trying to reason with a monster. Perhaps it were ironic since this was exactly what any trying to confer with him was attempting, to him it really was laughably ironic in his mind that this were so. It was just a reflection of how others felt with him, saying that though his speech would was far more likely to get through. He could get this thing to see his way, though none would change his mind set.

It was confused, he could tell that much from the way it moved from him and screeched. “It’s no lie, I will ensure you’re safe if you stand with me.” He reassured. Stand with me.... He made it seem so much like this thing was his equal, like they were on par with each other and that Kusaka respected this monster. This was not the case. This thing was not on level with him, nor even the boy it was now a part of. Kusaka had no regard for it, this was some tool, it wasn't worthless to him of course but nor did he see it as something worth while to him. Had he found a better way then he'd have taken it... But this was the only way... He had to do it, he had to do this to Toshiro... If he hadn't then he'd have left, moved on with his life as if Kusaka were simply nothing. He'd done it before after all, there was nothing at all stopping him doing it again, more than anything it only bolsterd Kusaka's theory that Hitsugaya had though nothing of someone who'd once been his friend... This was why he'd done what he had. This was why he destroyed someone's life.

A satisfied grin spread across his face as the mutt allowed Kusaka to place his hand on its mask, yes its jaw was agape, open and ready to snap shut if Kusaka were to do anything it disliked. He did nothing though, instead he just stood there hand motionless. “Thank you.” Usually the comment would have been 'wise choice', however right now this thing needed to believe it had some say in the matter, that it wasn't slowly being backed into a corner. Kusaka was indeed rather good at manipulation, and this was a fine example of such. Slowly at first he'd push through its barriers, cutting down its defences until it let him in of its own free will. Already it was doing so. Perhaps it didn't know it but by allowing him to touch it like this the creature was stepping down, previously it had wounded; now it simply stood there. Patience in these things was sometimes better than pushing head on; patience saved you time and a hell of a lot of bother further down the line. This was the simplest method in this case and was likely to have the least repercussions on everyone.

“Now,” he began in that same near melodic tone. “Will you join me?” A request and an order at the same time. Eventually this beast would let him in, there was no debates on this, already it was letting him in slowly, opening up without meaning or intending to. Yes he made it seem like this thing had a choice, but it did not, there was no other solution other than it dropping down and admitting defeat. Once it did then he'd push it back into Toshiro's mind and face the full extent of what he'd actually done. To compensate he pushed up more barriers, more solid walls that he hoped beyond reason would not be fractured. Last time he had not expected things to the extent they were, it had taken him by surprise and caused him to feel so many things he'd been trying to avoid. This time he refused to allow for any of it to come to the surface. It would remain trapped below the surface, out of sight and out of mind. He was hardly content with this manner, though a person such as he really didn't know the meaning of that word, not, this way was simply the better way for him and thus it would be the one he chose.

If it stayed stood where it was then he'd slide his hand up its mask somewhat, a slow movement so as not to startle the hollow into thinking it was some kind of attack. If it howled and snapped he'd pull back to avoid, though if it showed any acceptance he would continue until the tips of his fingers curled around the top edge of the mask. There he would leave his hand to allow it to adjust for a moment. "Do so and you'll have nothing to fear. All you have to do is follow me." All it had to do was accept as he gave a light continues tug, leaving the pressure on it as he stood watching it. Again if it didn't attack he'd put a bit more strain on, though frankly nothing like enough to begin pull it from its face. "All you need to do is follow," he repeated quietly. He just made it seem so easy. Following didn't require thinking, just knowledge enough to follow, and that was something animals could do easily. If to this it accepted then he would pull one last time, this time every intent on ripping the mask right off this beast's face. It snapped or showed any signs of tiring to attack then he would not attempt such. He was reliant on it simply dropping its head to him and letting him.

[Toshiro Hitsugaya]

"Then know for all means that I’m a soul reaper only by blood, not by actions. I am not your enemy.”

It rolled out a hiss as he said that. Soul Reapers, by nature, were. No matter whether or not they wanted to help, they were naturally, the enemy. And therefore, it felt the need to want to stray away from him, or attack it. But with the tone of his voice and all, it was proving rather difficult to just attack him mindlessly, like during its first moments of existence. Now it was beginning to see the behavior this man displayed. It was quite different from the initial assumptions it placed upon the man. Very different. It was strange, and the difference confused it. Gah, this was too much to take in, along with everything else around it. All so new, so fresh, yet, it could not comprehend. It was rather hard for it to really see how all this fit into something, but did it have to? Not necessarily... to it anyways. It gave up figuring it out, and would just follow along. From everything so far, the man would not threaten it.

"It’s no lie, I will ensure you’re safe if you stand with me. Thank you.”

Those reassuring words were actually having some affect. You would think that because it behaved like a beast, that it thought like one. In most aspects, yes, it did, but not totally. No, there was a part of the Hollow that thought just like Hitsugaya would, but would incorporate instinct into the equation instead of rationality and logic. It shifted back slightly, a small hiss escaping the agape jaws. Why did this man want to touch it? Did it not learn from his previous mistake? It had given him a wound, and yet the man did it again. He was fool for doing so again, but the Hollow was less tuned into attacking the man now. One, it wouldn't be worth it since it was obvious the Soul Reaper would just get close to him again anyways, and two, this man was promising it something. It was a stupid monster, it knew what a promise was, but, accepting a promise from a Soul Reaper? Well, even it was going to have to think twice about it. Though as time passed, the wound became completely covered in the white foam that had been leaking from it, and now, it was slowly spreading again, though at a very slow pace. The Hollow was beginning to become settled in this place of the boy's mind, and was slowly taking complete control. It hissed loudly, not at Kusaka, or at anything, but just this progression the hollowfication was going through told it to do so. It screeched again. At this point, the sounds it was making sounded like it was struggling. Struggling to keep its dominance over the mind.

“Now, will you join me?”

It did nothing to that yet. It looked at the man and felt his hand slowly sliding up the mask that covered the boy's face. It widened it's already ajar jaws and released a hiss from them. It wasn't totally convinced yet, but whatever this Soul Reaper had to offer, it was an offer to take. Protection was something anyone would want. Protection from danger, something you didn't like, anything really. All harm would be blocked away from it if it were to follow along with this man. It didn't care about whether or not it would be an equal to him or not. It couldn't give a damn. It was a Hollow and he was a Soul Reaper. They were to different to every be at the same level, or to ever be equal. It was just impossible. It didn't know yet that it was a division of a Soul Reaper's soul, and it didn't know yet that it shared the same body as one, but eventually it would feel the boy. They will be very aware of each other's presence very soon. The man tugged at it's mask slightly. It growled loudly at that, but didn't make an attempt to attack him.

"Do so and you'll have nothing to fear. All you have to do is follow me. All you need to do is follow."

It closed it's jaws. It was still not totally trusting of the man, but he promised enough. Protection was all the beast needed. It wanted to be safe, like every other living, breathing thing. It was not just a monster to be slain, it was something more. A living thing. It was alive. It not a puppet, and it would not stand for such cruelty to it. It stood on two legs, trying to be leveled with the man, yet it was challenged by its host's short height. But it did not matter. The eerie blue eyes looked into the man's violet, though before another thought could pass through it's mind, the man jerked his hand back and the mask peeled off. As it did so, it screeched loudly, it's jaws snapped open. It was so confused, it didn't make any sense? Did this man lie to it? The dragonesc mask peeled off, but not without cracking and breaking off. It was not like tape that it just peeled off, it was like something hard stuck to something else. It was brittle. The man had taken off what would proportionally half of the mask, the remained still stick to the boy's face. Hitsugaya's mind slowly returned.

Slowly, the black coloring of his sclera receded into the back of the eye, taking the bright blue coloration of his iris with it, revealing the bright teal eyes of Hitsugaya. Though as his mind returned, the physical pain that was there returned as well. And it all came back suddenly. The remaining pieces of the mask that was there along the side of his face broke and fell off, as if it was deteriorating off his face. As the pain returned, Hitsugaya released a loud help and fell to his knees. On top of the pain, was exhaustion. What the hell had just happened? What was that thing? It was... terrible. His torso keeled over, but caught himself with his arms, panting heavily. He closed his eyes in response to a wince and curled his fingers into the dirt. The substance that had been growing on his torso had begun to break off as well, breaking even further as it hit the ground. The boy opened his eyes slowly, and saw a the bit that had been covering his left eye fall of into the ground. He opened his eyes wide, looking up at Kusaka with an angry, yet incredibly shocked expression with his eyebrows furrowed. A confused, angry grimace to say the least. Though before he could speak, his arms gave out and the side of his face hit the ground. He yelped, yet adjusted himself to look up at Kusaka.

"W-what the hell...." He said, his voice obviously signaling mixed emotions about everything. "What the hell... did you do to me?!" He wanted to know, so very badly. What had occurred. His voice became more desperate than angry. "TELL ME!"

He had the right to know. Kusaka had attacked him, and then put him through hell. Hitsugaya was not sure of what had occurred, at all. During the span from where the Hollow took over to the time he regained control of his mind, there was nothing. In the captain's mind it just felt like there was a rather large gap. Just a memory blank. He reached out his hand and grabbed the eye piece that fell from his face. He picked it up with shaky hands, and examined it. The more he looked at it, the more shocked he became, and his expression showed it, even though he wasn't even sure of it. Its shaped resembled a Hollow's mask, but, was it? Last time he checked, there were no Hollows around, but, what had occurred than lead him to be downing a white encrusted torso and face? It was strange. The last bits of white foam on his torso broke off, and as Hitsugaya pulled himself to his sword, the wound began to bleed blood. It stung. He hissed in pain as he reached out for Hyorinmaru, and grabbed it's hilt. Thankfully, the zanpakuto was not far from him at all. Turning over he lifted it and stared at it, in deep thought. He knew what he had to do now.

Despite the reoccurring pain, he quickly stood and held Hyorinmaru in front of him with two hands, one eye closed in pain, the other partially open, though eyes filled with the emotions of extreme anger, shock, and if yo looked really well, sadness an pain. This wall, too much, way to much. What game was Kusaka playing at. Toshiro wanted to know, so badly, with all his heart. He wasn't sure if he could even trust Kusaka anymore. What had just happened was sure enough that the last thread binding him together was beginning to strain due to the weight of all that he had been enduring, and it was a great load. He gripped the purple hilt and gripped it tight. He wasn't going to buy whatever Kusaka was going to sell at him now. No, not anymore. The man had crossed the line. Hitsugaya would by no means kill Kusaka, but the man had surely caused Toshiro more pain than he realized.

"Bastard... damned bastard!" He snapped out, his eyes sewed shut. He just needed to get all the emotions out. "What did you do?!" Just a repeat of what he last asked, but, he couldn't take any crap. "What are you trying to accomplish?!" That was a reasonable question. What is wrong with you?!"

He wanted to know the truth. No riddles or clues. Just straight up facts. But Kusaka wasn't liable to give those away. He just knew it. With all the crap Hitsugaya just had to take in and endure, he was going to fight back. He wasn't just going to sit back and let himself get beaten up. That's not who he was. He was going to keep soldering on until he was cut down for good. He wasn't going to let this damned wound get in his way, not the exhaustion, which was showing. The boy panted and shivered. An adult may have taken all this abuse a bit easier, but Hitsugaya was not, and alas, despite all the effort he had into making himself one, it was failing at he moment. Old barriers were falling part, and new ones were being set up. Kusaka's answers would help build them up. They were going to be used to help resist the man, instead of accept and helped. Hitsugaya had given him a chance, but there was no use. Kusaka had changed far too much, and and was far from any help. Though in the end, Hitsugaya would not want to try and harm Kusaka, not totally tear apart the friendship that was now being put to the ultimate test, if not, once again. He had a feeling it would break. Call him crazy for still having a shred of a bond with the man, but, despite his cold demeanor, he wasn't going to just let it burn. He was going to try to keep it there.

[Sojiro Kusaka]

As the mask pulled away the thing let out a screech before the mask cracked and fell away for the most part, to which he simply tossed the remains he held to the side. Watching as sclera turned from black to white, pupils for sharp blue to bright teal. All the pain likely hit him at once as he let out a keening yelp, why did it have to be this way? He just don't get it, this didn't make sense. He'd been directly linked to so many deaths, yet not one had phased him so much. Yes it would chip further into what he'd once been, essentially killing a part of himself over and over. He caused himself pain without knowing, yet this time he did know, very well he knew. Watching silently as the boy keeled over, shortly after his face hitting the ground, Kusaka's pupils contracted slightly. All the bravado he showed was just that, this.... Had gotten out of hand, he knew that damn well, yet also knew well enough that it could not be changed. Why dwell on it? It wasn't meant to be important to him after all, just another life he'd destroyed. Monsters did not care for the pain they brought, so nor would he. He just couldn't

"W-what the hell.... What the hell... did you do to me?! TELL ME!"

He didn't remember? Damn it... It was easy enough to deal with being yelled at, to have him utterly loath him. Yet having to actually explain well that was an utterly different matter, something far harder to contend with for him. Regardless, weakness was not an option for him right now, no instead he had to push on and be the beast he really was. That he could do, that persona was a part of him. “I told you, you simply didn't listen.” Just like everyone else... His voice was never heard. “I said I control hollows, and that I would make you join me. Could you not put these together, Toshiro?” He'd made it clear enough, but no, he just hadn't listened, not when it mattered. In the end none did, but hey, it was they who tended to suffer for it. Now was a fine example, had this boy listened then this problem would have been lowered. In basic terms Kusaka had told Hitsugaya before it had even happened, he'd just shut away the words as something he hadn't wanted to hear. That's what everyone did, they'd say it were to keep balance or some crap lie that, yet all it really ever could be described as was shutting away what you didn't want to see, what was utterly worthless with no sense of rights. That was all ignorance ever was, simply the desire not to accept the truth.

Watching mildly as he pulled his blade closer and hauled himself up, then point Hyorinmaru forward. Narrowing is eyes slightly his hand dropped to the hilt of his own blade, perfectly willing to draw it and retaliate if Toshiro did anything... Violent. Whilst he no longer had need nor desire to raise his blade against Hitsugaya he wouldn't just stand there and let someone cut him up, he was no fool and his caution in some matters had always served him well in the past. He did not trust Toshiro, not enough for his hand to stay away, not enough to rely on him. His trust in that damn thing, friendship, was gone, where was the need for it? All it did was get in the way, cause you pain that you didn't want nor need. It was pointless and he'd no longer have anything to do with it, he had no reason, no need. Over the last fifty years he'd become independent of the need of others, by being very literally alone he'd just pushed himself to rely only on himself, needing no others. Oh he wouldn't attack, but his guard would not be let down, it would never be let down. If he were to do such he would die, there were no questions.

"Bastard... damned bastard!"

Pausing his face hardened slightly as a sharp frown took his face. That was something he'd dreaded, expected no doubt, yet still that burned something chronic. How funny it was, now emotions were doubted, no doubt it was presumed that wouldn't hurt, or if it was though such it was done with the intention of causing such a thing. Whatever, with a snort he just gave a vile, yet oh so angry, sneer. It was good to know what the one who'd bee preaching about friendship thought, how easily the surface views could be faltered. “Thank you, no, really,” he hissed sharply. “I really needed to here you say that.” Voiced lowered he grunted slightly and looked away. That was all he'd needed to know to reassure him of what he'd already known. It was all based on that one word, one name, on term. It was something all others would call him, every other that shut him away as something wrong. He accepted that. To come from Toshiro simply finalized the rejection he'd known was there from the start. He didn't care, he'd never show the wound that word had just caused. It was his to nurse, his to brood on, and his to leave uncleaned. It would rot and fester, then he'd further blacken, none could stop it.

"What did you do?! What are you trying to accomplish?!"

He was repeating himself, and was likely to keep doing so until Kusaka gave in and simply told him. Very well then... He was going to have to verbal state just how sickeningly changed he was, prove once and for all that there was no good in him to be found. After all, how could anything good survive in him? He was black to the core after all, a feral savage who valued nothing and lived only for revenge. How could anything remotely good exist within that? “Killed you, as I said I would.” He responded bluntly, none, or at least little, of the underlying regret coming to surface. “Can't you feel it inside you? It's a hollow my old partner, your hollow.” The words left a bitter taste in his mouth, yet he said them regardless. There was no goading to it, just an utterly flat tone as he maintained his aversion of gaze, it was the best way to avoid any mistakes. No doubt he was going to have insults thrown at him, but frankly he wasn't going to give the satisfaction of shown hurt. He shouldn't even care anyway, the other boy had broken all bonds long before, the words of someone who didn't care couldn't matter. At least... They shouldn't “With this? Keeping you here~” Making that comment seem like a game he hoped it would seem like he was holding something back, frankly he wasn't. That answer was just about the top and bottom of it.

“What is wrong with you?!"

What was wrong with him? Everything and yet nothing, not to him anyway. “Nothing that concerns you,” he stated curtly, watching the boy from the corner of his eyes. What was wrong? He had nothing, and had been in such a way for so very long. He'd not even had an identity. He'd learned not to trust people, indeed he'd come to the conclusion that a life was worth nothing. If his had meant so little then how could any other? He'd always thought all lives were equal, believed in that whole greater crap, yet he'd been brutally taught that it all just meant nothing. There was nothing in this world that meant anything 'good' it was all just a pack of lies, there was no such thing as good, thus his own actions weren't 'bad'. On this he himself could conclude there was nothing wrong with him, when in fact there was everything as such. It really was such an easy thing to justify anything to your needs if you really tried, all you had to do was think about thinks in the right direction and you could pretty much twist anything to your own theory. This had become the basis of his life, and whilst yes it was unstable it was what he had, he wouldn't complain about it at all.

Tightening his grip on the hilt of his blade his brow creased into a heavy frown. “If you're going to attack me damn do it already!” He hated waiting whilst people weighed up their options to him, it felt to much like a judge and convict scene, something he loathed to feel after everything that had happened to him so long ago. Frankly he did expected the snowy-haired boy to attack,he'd only shown thus far was a simple coldness so far after all, all he wanted was for him to just hurry up and get on with it. He knew damn well his once friend would stand no chance if he were to do so. The exhaustion of that mental conflict... The one he himself had caused... The exhaustion of it along with his wound would pull him down. Hmph, he'd no doubt have to have that wound sorted too before it killed him or something. That wasn't his goal, he'd sent his message and accomplished what he now loathed, there was no need to just leave him to suffer more than he was bound to once the full implications of what had been done hit the young reaper. Then... Well it wasn't his concern... Was it?

[Toshiro Hitsugaya]

“I told you, you simply didn't listen. I said I control hollows, and that I would make you join me. Could you not put these together, Toshiro?”

His pants became deeper, his mind becoming ore lightheaded, exhaustion taking over. He wasn't going to stay conscious for very long. "Hollows... do not have anything... to do with me...!"

That was what he thought. He was a Soul Reaper and the other group were just Hollows. Hollows couldn't control Soul Reapers, so what connection was Kusaka trying to make? It didn't make much sense really, unless Kusaka was trying to make Hitsugaya Hollow bait, then, it would make more sense, but he knew that the man meant more than what he was giving off, and that was the annoying part. If only he could think better. His mind was just clouded with a whole bunch of crap that wasn't there earlier. It was just... hard to see through the haze of his mind. He could not think or see well at the moment, his vision becoming more blurred as his mind began to shut down once more, but this time of more bodily causes, rather than... whatever had possessed him before. The bloodloss was taking it's toll. His eyelids lowered slightly and his panting deepen slightly. It felt hard to remain standing. If only he could just fall down right now... his body was screaming to rest, and yet, he ignored it. He needed to hear what Kusaka had to say, which furthered the pain.

“Thank you, no, really, I really needed to here you say that.”

The grip on his hilt loosened. He couldn't keep his sword raised to this man. He just couldn't. He screwed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, trying to block out feeling anymore sympathy for him. This man... was putting the young boy through hell, but for what? Revenge? What? It wasn't making much sense! What had Toshiro done to deserve this? Was it because he couldn't join Kusaka, so, he felt the need to bring him here to see his face... yes... that could be it. Kusaka was probably lonely, his mind twisted in ways not imagined. Just, screwed over. There was nothing he could do. Damn it, he felt so helpless! He released a breath with his teeth clenched, his body feeling so heavy right now. Just... everything was on him. He couldn't shake it off. It hurt... it really hurt... Kusaka... He had nothing to say to the man at the moment.

"Killed you, as I said I would.”

That did make sense in a way. All the things that Kusaka was putting on the back of the small boy- it was suffocating him. It felt like it could kill him. It was just overwhelming. This shouldn't be happening to someone his age, regardless of his power and rank. It meant nothing when it regarded something like this. Nothing at all. So why, was all this pressure, all this was just overwhelming. No one his age should go through this, though, it happened. And when the vent occurred those many years ago, the same case applied here. They were both so much younger. If someone heard their story, they'd wonder why, but there was no questioning the law, it was above everything there was and ever will be. Though Kusaka's next words made everything make sense. His eyes shot open, and with a look of horror, his head raises and looked at the boy, his mouth slightly agape.

“Can't you feel it inside you? It's a hollow my old partner, your hollow.”

Kusaka, was so right. He stepped back slightly, almost stumbling. What did... he do to him? He shook his head, trying to not believe, but he knew it was true. Toshiro did not want to give Kusaka the satisfaction that whatever he had done worked. But, he could feel it inside him, his body. It was rippling through his being and pushing through his mind. It was a dull pain of sorts, but it was there. He couldn't hear it, but he could sure feel it. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. In fact, it was a very vile feel. Not so much painful, but, a nauseating feeling. The more he thought about it, the more its presence was known to him. The deeper he dug through his mind, the more of it's being was there, and it too, became aware. It let out a curdling screech. He could feel it press on in his mind to regain dominance. Hitsugaya's eyes widened sharply, pupils shrinking, gazing into nothing in particular, expression more shocked than anything else. It was so evident something had just shook him at that moment. Even as strong as he was, this scared him. Not terrifyingly, but, it made him weary of even himself. What did Kusaka do to him? That device he used... what the hell was it? That had to be the thing that had done this, but, even then, why? Before, it didn't seem possible, but, apparently it was, and Hitsugaya had become an example. He released his grip on the hilt and put it against his head, his expression just... shocked and confused, his head slouching to face the ground. Was it... really in him? It had to be. It felt too real. Definitely not a dream. This was probably the second division of his soul. Something made his soul feel that way, and this was it. Had he'd been much younger, something like this would have horrified him to no end.

“With this? Keeping you here~”

Keeping him here? No, he could not allow for that. He looked back up at him, his expression showing almost flat out irritation and disappointment. "I will not stay here..." He paused to breathe. "I... can't...!"

If he stayed, he was a traitor. If he went back, he would get medical treatment, the works. But was it wise? Perhaps, perhaps not, depending on how you looked at the situation. If this Hollow pressed on more, it might break through, and... that's what caused the memory blank. It took over his mind. It possessed him. That would explain the mask fragments he felt and saw fall of his face. They were parts of a Hollow mask. No, he could not allow for himself to be a puppet! He was stronger than that. So much stronger. He could not let this thing win. But the pain of everything It was so heavy... His vision blurred more, his mind became more hazed as he was on the very verge of passing out. Any second, he could collapse, and that thing could take over again. No, he had to stay awake. He dropped his hand from his head and looked at Kusaka, eyelids on the verge of shutting, yet the look of his eyes were filled with anger, confusion, and regret. Just so much to take in. The look on his face softened as Kusaka said those words, his expression taking on a more saddened look.

“If you're going to attack me damn do it already!”

He shook his head and dropped his zanpakuto to the side. He couldn't... he could never... despite it all... he could never. "No..."

Though with that, his eyes fell shut and his body fell forward, at an actually slow rate. His face was stuck on a mourned face. As if he had just grieved. His body hit the ground, the end of his haori flowing behind him and ruffled as they gently fell upon the back of his legs. He couldn't move. He couldn't think. There was nothing. Exhaustion, bloodloss, it was all catching up now. He thought this was going to be an easy mission, but it wasn't. It had turned into something ugly, it had turned him into something ugly. Now, there was a second part of him that could show a face. A face of evil, a face of violence, a face of blood lust. A Hollow's face, a Hollow's mask. At any given moment, it could reappear for the world to see, and Toshiro had no control. He did not want this. He never wanted this. He wanted Kusaka to have had a more sane way of looking at the world, but no one always got what they wanted. It was painful, it hurt, so much, but in his unconscious slumber, it all paused, even if it was for a minute, it would at least soothe some of the pain.

[Sojiro Kusaka]

"Hollows... don't have anything... to do with me...!"

Evidently he couldn't put these things together, ugh. "You're a soul reaper, you'll always have something to do with them!" It was logic, Toshiro just seemed to have abandoned that right now. Besides which there was far more to it than just that one point, it was what was below it. To Kusaka the answer was obvious, but his mind was twisted, his point of view totally misconforming with that was normal. What he found obvious.... Well it didn't mean it was. Perhaps once his views would have fit far better, in a manner they still did in a part of him. The core of his thoughts remained the same, assumptions formed on the same basis, and then they twisted. Things were so different and he just didn't care, or he didn't show it. Emotions made him weak in his mind, ironic as they were what drove him on so relentlessly, he was a wreck from them and simply didn't see it. He was what he was, a monster that had destroyed the life of perhaps the only person who cared for him, he'd show no pity to the boy though, instead shoving nothing but a cold anger in his face. It was what he did, how he lived. The world was cold, so he was colder, it was the way he'd survived, the only thing that had kept him up. He wasn't just in the darkness, it had claimed him, not fully, but certainly to the extent his actions were brutally vicious.

Watching his eyes widen he let out a low growl, more at himself than the obviously shocked and distressed boy. They say revenge is sweet, it probably was to someone like him, but what happened when you took 'revenge' out on someone you ha- No... Toshiro wasn't innocent here. He'd left, forgotten, said nothing, let his own friend die alone... One of perhaps two who'd ever accepted him and then had enough patience and compassion to push through all barriers to form a friendship.... He'd been the only person Toshiro had at the academy, and he'd just.... Abandoned him... 'Toshiro, we'll always be friends, right?'.... Knotting inside, his face dropped to a goading sneer, a defense, his defense. "Lies..." He murmured near silently. He had no friends, he was dead, everything taken from him say what he'd rebuilt for himself. With everything you could have half expected him to have changed his name, instead he felt he'd lost it entirely. He used it of course, if only so people didn't call him 'you', or 'thing'. Sojiro Kusaka was dead, he was not that boy, that boy was lost within a sea of darkness and was there now, drowning, it was suffocating. He was nothing, no one, a ghost, a memory, some beast returned who was no doubt to be slain once more, again alone in the cold. The only one he ever accepted being called that from, the only one who could give that word, his name meaning was Toshiro. Then he existed, in those moments he was real and he had rights, he was more than something to be brushed away. Yet he'd broken this boy and no doubt destroyed that, without intention he hadn't just damn well broken Toshiro, he'd destroyed the only thing he'd had left... The thing even he didn't know he had, and could no longer begin to understand. A friend.

"I will not stay here... I... can't...!"

He'd have flinched if he hadn't expected it, he'd known all along that Toshiro would have left, without a second thought he'd have turned away and left Kusaka here alone in that bitterly cold dark once more... He wouldn't allow it! What right... What right did he have to do that?! He had none, no one had any right to hurt him, not again, not anymore! "You mean 'won't'!" Maddened anger... And pain. Those words stung so much, they'd roiled up his fear of being abandoned again, though never to admit or even acknowledge it the notion terrified him. In some ways he'd have been able to understand it from the first time. Yes Kusaka felt an undying rage at it, but he could comprehend it if he so tried. This though, this was Hitsugaya's choice... He was the one who said he was linked to Kusaka, and yet he was willing to break that link. Words... How could they ever mean anything if Toshiro could do this! It wasn't f- Feh, nothing was, life just enjoyed fucking him over, it was like some sick sport with him at the torrential core... If only he could find the eye of the storm though... The peace in all that scorned him. "Leave me now and I'll find you again, you really don't seem to understand this very well at all, partner." He would not be left again, before he'd had no say, now he did. He'd given himself a voice, it was simply that his new one was hardened with a wall to keep everyone and everything out and away. At the core his reason for this was indeed loneliness, on the greater scale he just wanted Toshiro there... Around this intention though were false pretenses mixed with other truths, ones that had been twisted. He also wanted Shiro to be a part of this, of course he did. He still felt attached to the boy, he wanted him by his side. In all falseness though he just seemed like he was out for revenge against the boy, like his goal was to destroy his life and make him suffer. Wrong, so very very wrong, regardless though, that was now a part of this..

"No..."

Watching as the sword was lowered his brows lifted from their ever present frowning expression giving a more boyishly confused one, though shortly after they fell right back down, anger there stronger than ever. It was amazing how the the simple down turn of that aspect of his face could make him seem like someone utterly different, a person nothing like the one before when there was no tension to him. “Don't lie to me you damn bastard!” That answer, it was a trick, there was no other solution. What the hell kind of game was he playing? Was it just some ploy to get Kusaka to lower his guard before he attacked? No doubt about it.... Though it seemed right now there was no threat. The boy's eyes hooded before falling completely shut, face still pained as he fell forward. He made no move. He didn't step forward to catch him, to weary of it being a trick of some sort. Until certain it wasn't he stayed rooted, simply watching before at last walking forward. "Idiot." With a grunt he pushed the boy over with his foot, knocking him onto his back before flicking the sash attached to his scabbard undone, removing it and hooking it to his own back, he sheathed the long blade after. It was by no means some form of theft, just a simple defense, he wouldn't be caught off guard here, he wouldn't be stabbed in the back again, not again after he had been so long ago by this same boy, with this same sword.

Having assured things were safer he crouched and simply lifted the boy by his collar, shifting the material on his torso to look at the wound. It was bad.... But it could have been worse. This was fixable, it could be repaired with little long term damage, in the physical aspect anyway, mentally, probably not. Not his problem, it just wasn't. Grunting he rolled his shoulders slightly, he was done here, his goal here had been completed, he'd found and obtained what he'd wanted. The way he'd done so... Was not his concern. The boy had brought it on himself, Kusaka would not... Could not... Blame himself for this, it was foolish and plain ass pointless. Without pause for thought he tucked the boy under his arm, keeping hold of the back of his collar to stop him falling. Looking around with cold eyes for the final time he snorted before allowing a grin to spread on his face, this place had indeed been an ironic choice, yet one all to suitable. Graves were the places of death, and yet here a new life had been forged, that of a hollow. These places were where everything stopped. Yet this one had been where everything would start. This place had become the beginning of the end.

Though perhaps not the end he sought.