He Who Is Wild: Chapter 6

Chapter 6 A Full Pardon
Time went by and spring had arrived at the soul society. Vegeta's wounds had healed and he had learned who to move around the Seireitei in broad daylight without being seen. By then Toushiro felt confident to inform his squad about Vegeta. At first they all feared the saiyan prince, but when they were told about the Menos, they all excepted Vegeta with open arms. Even Rangiku promised that she wouldn't blow his cover, although Toushiro had his doubts. In no time, Vegeta was revealed to squad 3's lieutenant Izuru Kira, squad 7's captain Sajin Komamura and his lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba, and squad 9's lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi with surprising acceptance. Amazingly, even squad 6's captain Byakuya Kuchiki and his lieutenant Renji Abarai were told of Vegeta and even more surprising they both gladly promised to help Vegeta. But it was a visit from Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends that really set the stage in motion for Toushiro to complete his plan.
Ichigo: "Sounds like the time we entered the soul society to rescue Rukia."
Ichigo and friends Uryu Ishida, Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado or 'Chad' told the young captain that he could ask them to help in any way at any time. As the days went by, Vegeta even began to teach Toushiro how to detect energy signatures made by Vegeta and his friends. The saiyan found that the boy was indeed a child prodigy as Toushiro was a fast learner.
Vegeta: "Now I'm going hide and I want you to find me after you count to ten, remember what I taught you and stay focused."
Toushiro: "Right!"
Toushiro closed his eyes and Vegeta dashed off. A few moments later...
Toushiro: "9... 10! Now lets see."
Toushiro looked around. Vegeta was defiantly quick on his feet. Then the captain closed his eyes and started to feel around for Vegeta's energy signal. It only took the captain of squad 10 three minutes to track down Vegeta who was hiding in a tree.
Vegeta: "Didn't take you long did it."
Toushiro: "Obviously."
Vegeta hopped down and pranced around the captain playfully. Rangiku watched the two. She couldn't help but smile. Ever since Vegeta arrived captain Toushiro Hitsugaya, one of the most serious captains around, was found smiling and even laughing more. The scene seemed it could last forever... But then...
                  "Attention all captains and lieutenants report to Sokyoku Hill immediately! An Arrancar has been spotted!"
That was all that was needed to be heard to send the soul reapers into battle mode.
Rangiku: "Captain!"
Toushiro: "I know Rangiku! Go on ahead of me, I'll catch up!"
Rangiku: "Right!"
The young captain turned to Vegeta. He may have been able to defeat a Menos, but an Arrancar was a different matter.
Toushiro: "Vegeta, stay here! Let us handle this!"
And the boy left before Vegeta could answer. At Sokyoku Hill, the Arrancar stood boldly.
Arrancar: "Well I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't show up."
All of the captains and lieutenants as well as some seated officers appeared before the Arrancar.
Arrancar: "Shall we get started then!"
Soifon: "First tell us who you are!"
Arrancar: "I'm Lechku Nechku, now lets fight!"
Lechku attacked before most of the soul reapers could draw their swords. Only Toushiro was quick enough...
Toushiro: "Reign over the Frosted Heavens, Hyorinmaru!"
A wave of water-like ice in the shape of a dragon flew down to the Arrancar. But he held up his hand and when the attack made contact, it was destroyed.
Toushiro: "What?!"
Soifon tried her hand next.
Soifon: "Shunko!"
Soifon managed to get two hits in on Lechku but was easily blown back before she could use her Shikai. Renji tried next.
Renji: "Roar, Zabimaru!"
Renji's attack proved to help little. Then Lechku crossed his arms and quickly threw them apart. In doing so, a giant wind gust was created. Small glowing energy blasts were among the wind and the second they made contact with something, they turned into arrows... Arrows that Toushiro had seen before.
Toushiro: "Those arrows! It can't be!"
Suddenly a blast hit him in the arm and the arrow sliced deep into his arm causing the young captain to scream out in pain.
Rangiku: "Captain!"
Izuru: "Captain Hitsugaya!"
Suddenly Lechku grabbed Toushiro's throat and shoved him to the ground. The captain looked up at the Arrancar and saw that it was grinning wildly.
Lechku: "So it would seem that you've seen my attack before! I'm curious as to how!"
Toushiro: "I demand to know... Are you with Aizen?"
Lechku: "No I work for Lord Coge, but it would seem that I won't get an answer out of you so I'll just have to kill you!"
Lechku griped his sword and slowly pulled it out as he called his Zanpakuto's name.
Lechku: "Slaughter them all, Muerte!"
Lechku released his Zanpakuto. He transformed into a four legged creature with a hunched back and long front legs with hands. Sharp fang-like teeth jotted out from its jaws and a large round skull. Then he spook to Toushiro with a high pitched animal-like voice.
Lechku: "Any last words!"
"Yeah I do."
Toushiro: "No!"
All eyes turned behind the captains. A path was cleared when the soul reapers moved aside and there stood Vegeta.
Kurotsuchi: "The ryoka!"
Yamamoto: "What!"
Lechku: "You! You're still alive?!"
Vegeta: "Yeah so lets end this! NOW!!!"
Vegeta roared violently and charged for Lechku. He rushed past the soul reapers and lunged at Lechku, knocking him off of Toushiro who looked on as a vicious battle was engaged right in front of him.
Toushiro: "Vegeta!"
But the only thing the young captain could do now was to stay out of their way and look on helplessly. The noise was so loud that Toushiro had to cover his ears as Vegeta and Lechku fought. The saiyan bucked as the Arrancar leaped onto his back and then bit down on the saiyans shoulder. Lechku swung under the prince and tried to get back on top of him, feeling Vegeta's teeth slam shut just inches away from his foot. However, he was unsuccessful in getting where he wanted and hung from the saiyans side. With a roar, Vegeta pushed the Arrancar off and turned to face him. He snapped his jaws inches away from him but Lechku slammed Vegeta's head into the ground and hopped right back on. The second he could move his head again, Vegeta quickly turned around and snapped at his side. His teeth finally clamped down on a leg and he pulled the Arrancar right off. The two stared at each other but kept moving around, roaring and snarling at each other. After a brief stand off, Lechku lunged out but was slammed to the ground. Vegeta snapped his jaws at the Arrancar, who only dodged them, and once again threw Lechku off of his back when he felt the weight. Then he reared up and came crashing down onto the ground but Lechku had dodged the attack.
Lechku: "Heh heh heh! Lord Coge is afraid of you?!"
Toushiro saw Vegeta's eyes grow even wider with rage and anger at the name Coge. The child prodigy knew right then and there that all hell would break loose. Vegeta roared with a glare in his eyes. Lechku charged for him, but the saiyan prince slammed his head across the Arrancars skull, knocking him off to the side. The blow was so powerful that it knocked the Arrancar temporarily paralyzed. But Vegeta didn't give Lechku a chance to recover. He walks over to the Arrancar and picks him up with his teeth and slowly crushes the Arrancars back and ribs. Lechku is killed instantly. Vegeta roars victoriously as he throws the body to the ground. Then he turns to Toushiro and slowly walks over to him.
Vegeta: "Are you ok, Toushiro?"
Toushiro: "Yes, but why are you...?"
But before Vegeta could answer, head-captain Yamamoto walked up with Kurotsuchi, Soifon and Zaraki next to him.
Yamamoto: "Now attack! Attack the ryoka!"
Zaraki bolted towards Vegeta with his sword ready. But then, just as Zaraki was about to bring his sword down on Vegeta, Toushiro puts himself between Zaraki and Vegeta and deflects the attack with his own. Somehow, the boy is able to push the giant battle-hungry man back and stood there in front of the saiyan, shielding him.
Zaraki: "What is the meaning of this?!"
Toushiro: "Stay back! Don't come any closer!"
Although he was injured, the young captain was determined to keep his stand.
Kurotsuchi: "I knew it! You've been helping the ryoka haven't you?!"
Soifon: "Captain Hitsugaya, is this true?!"
Toushiro: "Yes."
Yamamoto: "Then you have committed an act of treason!!!"
Toushiro: "Please, let me explain! He doesn't mean us any harm! He was only defending himself!"
Ukitake: "He's telling the truth!"
Renji: "Listen to him, head-captain!"
Rangiku: "Please, let my captain explain!"
Soifon: "Stand down all of you!!"
Yamamoto: "ENOUGH!"
And just like that the fighting, the yelling, the screaming, the arguing, all of it stopped.
Yamamoto: "I want all of you to return to your quarters until further notice! All captains are to come with me at once, especially you captain Hitsugaya as well as your lieutenant and the ryoka!" Without another word, Yamamoto led the captains, Rangiku and Vegeta to the great hall. Once there, all of the captains lined up in their usual position, that is except for Toushiro. The child prodigy knew this was going to happen. He was on trial for not only disobeying the head-captains orders, aiding a ryoka but also for attacking another captain. What was worst though was that Rangiku was also on trial for aiding her captain. Toushiro stood there, with his head held low. Behind him were Vegeta and Rangiku, who also had similar expressions.
Yamamoto: "Captain Toushiro Hitsugaya, I am very disappointed in you. I never expected you, of all soul reapers, to disobey my orders and commit so many crimes. Are you aware of the crimes that you now stand on trial for?"
Toushiro: "Yes I am. I disobeyed your orders, I aided a ryoka, I overthrew the balance of the Soul Society and I attacked another captain."
Yamamoto: "Correct! As for lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto's crimes, she stands accused of-"
Toushiro: "She had nothing to do with this! Rangiku was only following her captains orders, MY orders! I'm the one at fault here, not her!"
Rangiku: "Captain."
Yamamoto: "Is this true?"
Rangiku didn't want to speak.
Toushiro: "Tell the truth, Rangiku."
Rangiku: "... ... Yes."
Yamamoto: "Very well, you are here by excused of your crimes. As for the ryoka-"
Toushiro: "No! He was only defending himself, he doesn't mean us any harm!"
Yamamoto: "Silence!"
Toushiro: "But!"
Vegeta: "Toushiro!"
Toushiro stopped and turned to Vegeta. What Vegeta saw was that the boy was almost in tears, but he knew that he had to stand up for his own actions.
Vegeta: "Let me speak for my own actions."
Then, Vegeta got up and walked in front of Toushiro and stood before the head-captain.
Vegeta: "Head-Captain Yamamoto. Toushiro may have helped me, but my actions are my own and I would like to know what crimes I have committed."
Yamamoto: "You stand accused of entering the Soul Society without permission from the 13 Court Guard Squads and attacking two captains."
Vegeta: "I understand. Please, hear me out."
Kurotsuchi: "Why should we?"
Vegeta: "Because I have the right to explain my actions, or do I not understand the rules of trials."
Yamamoto: "You are correct. You do have the right. So please, explain yourself."
Vegeta: "I accept that I did enter the Soul Society unannounced, but I did not attack anyone as an act to do harm. I was merely defending myself as Toushiro said before. I was hurt and in a place that was unfamiliar to me, so when you approached me with swords drawn I feared you were going to hurt me. So I defended myself the only way I could and that was by using my hand-to-hand combat skills. That was wrong of me. So I, Vegeta, the prince of all saiyans, deeply apologizes for my actions."
Vegeta then bowed down before the head-captain. There was a silence in the room for many moments as Yamamoto was clearly thinking. Then he spook.
Yamamoto: "Captain Hitsugaya... Why did you disobey my orders?"
Toushiro: "I... I disobeyed because... Because the night after our meeting to discuss the ryoka Vegeta, I was... Attacked by a Menos. It somehow snuck up on me but Vegeta risked his life to save mine and killed the Menos. The reason I disobeyed was because... He saved me."
Yamamoto: "I see... So why didn't you inform us of this right away?"
Toushiro: "Because I was afraid that none of you would listen."
Yamamoto did not reply. He sat there quietly, deep in thought. Then...
Yamamoto: "Captain Hitsugaya... I have decided not to punish you for your actions and are hear-by excused from the crimes you stand accused of."
Yamamoto's words came as a shock to Toushiro. He was speechless. The only words he was able to speak were...
Toushiro: "Th-Thank you, head-captain!"
Yamamoto: "As for you Vegeta... Your actions today have shown me that you are indeed of no threat to us what-so-ever. I hear-by give full pardon to Vegeta with my deepest apologies."
Everyone gave out a big sigh of relief. Toushiro was overjoyed and wrapped his arms around Vegeta's neck. Vegeta was safe at last.
Yamamoto: "Also enlighten of captain Hitsugaya's bond with Vegeta, I hear-by bestow Vegeta the rank of squad 10's second lieutenant along with current lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto."
The news came as quite a shock to everyone but was happily accepted. For a captain to have two lieutenants was never before done. The meeting was soon over after everyone met the new and second lieutenant of squad 10. Toushiro and Rangiku happily informed the squad of this news who were all already very fond of the saiyan prince. Everyone celebrated, everyone but Vegeta. Toushiro was too happy to see this and he was completely unaware of what was going to happen.