On The Wings of An Angel

Chapter 24: Chosen Bride

A/N:bleach? Not mine! Come on guys!

Hikaru's eyes widened in awe. She didn't even hear her Taichou utter the commands for his attack. She was just starting to breathe a little more at ease when the crystal ice prison started to crack. She stared at their enemy in disbelief. He shook the glistening ice crystals off like it was just annoying dusts.

'That wasn't even impressive, Tenth Division Captain. But I must give you some credit for it. I did not expect that you could use that attack without the usual preparations that you shinigami captains are so fond of doing." The man said, raising his eyebrows in disappointment. Hikaru absent-mindedly clung to Toushiro's arm tighter. Her mind is being torn in two. One part of her is screaming for them to run, the other part, probably the vaizard one is screaming for her to quit stalling and fight. Her whole body is a humming mess of pure nerves. Toushiro must have sensed it for he glanced down at his shivering vice-captain.

"Hey kid, I would appreciate it if you would let go of my bride. I don't fancy other men putting their hands on her." The proud man challenged, his eyes full of burning malice for Toushiro. The Tenth Division Captain straightened his stance and changed his grip on Hyourinmaro. He pointed the blade directly at the enemy and with eyes, cold as the ice he wields, said with dead clarity, his voice hard and strong each word uttered with conviction.

"Come within an inch near her and you will know the strength of my blade." Hikaru stiffened and gathered her courage. Her captain should not always end up protecting her. She is a shinigami in her own right, the daughter of Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia. Granddaughter of Kurosaki Isshin. She wields Tsubasa. She knows that deep inside her she has the same fire that her parents have. She would not shame them by being a bystander while the people she love fights for her.

"Listen, I don't know what you want with me or my brother but you would have to kill me first before I become your bride and I know that even in death I wouldn't let you have me." Hikaru said darkly, letting go of her captain's arm and shifting Tsubasa in her fighting stance, one leg sliding gracefully infront of her, her right arm drawing against Tsubasa's cold blade while she aimed her zanpakuto at her enemy. There was a complete change in her reiatsu as well. It nearly matched Ichigo's flaring one but hers is more contained, emanating from her willowy frame cloaking her with power. Toushiro looked at the young woman by his side, he couldn't help but admire the hellish beauty she creates before his eyes. Hikaru had transformed from a meek girl into a warrior who is ready to die in battle.

"Just what I would expect from my bride. I was not mistaken when I chose to wait for you to grow up. Such beauty and power you wield, and you will be mine." There was a resounding clash as Hikaru's Tsubasa collided with that of the enemy who seemed to be taken by surprise but nonetheless looked pleased.

"Aoi. That is my name, my dearest Hikaru." Hikaru twisted her body and got herself ready for another attack, her golden eyes sparked with anger, he even had the guts to tell her his name. Hikaru struck, Aoi was fast. He evaded every blow Hikaru dealt and parried her attacks. Clearly he has the advantage of technique and experience but Hikaru has the strength and the skill to drive him in a corner. Toushiro couldn't interfere. Hikaru was unbelievably fast, if he steps in he might hurt her. He could only watch while he grip Hyourinmaro tighter, making himself ready for an opening to attack and praying that Hikaru won't fall prey into the hands of the man who clearly wanted to take her.

There was a massive flare of reiatsu as Ichigo used Getsuga Tenshou on his enemy. The moment was enough for Hikaru to get distracted and stop in her tracks, a mistake she couldn't afford to make as her opponent was every bit as strong as her father. Within a heartbeat, Aoi was behind her, his sword on her neck even as he lowered his lips to her left ear. She stood frozen, unable to think or move.

"I enjoyed our little game Hikaru. I want you so bad I'm taking you with me right now." Hikaru felt fear like she never felt it before. Her reaction was to withdraw within herself, thus drawing out her hollow. The next thing Aoi knew was that his right arm was nearly severed and a masked Hikaru now stands behind him lifting her sword for a finishing blow. Aoi smiled despite his injuries and used a technique similar to shunpo to transport himself a few feet away from Hikaru.

"I should enjoy taming your hollow Hikaru, be ready when I come to get you again, some other time. It seems like my subordinate was done for, as expected from your father." He smiled, dark blue eyes appraising Hikaru in a new light. Ichigo, still in his battle mode turned just in time to see Hikaru go vaizard.

"Teme! Who do you think you are coming after my family like that? You bastard!" Ichigo went after Aoi, leaving vaizard Hikaru and Toushiro behind.

Hikaru was about to follow her father when she heard Toushiro call her back.

"Wait!" It was one word but it made Hikaru stop. Slowly, she turned to look at her captain. Toushiro was not sure what to do. He had seen Ichigo fight with his vaizard mask on and he was not much different, personality wise although the difference in the reiatsu is notable. However, the first time he saw Hikaru go vaizard, she almost murdered Renji. His grip on Hyourinmaro had not changed. He would fight Hikaru if need be but he is not sure if he can hurt her.

"Calm down Hikaru." He tried to use his authority as a captain, wishing that he could at least get that through her.

"Eh? Who are you to command me?" Hikaru haughtily replied, Tsubasa slung carelessly over her shoulder, one hand on her hips.

"Come back Hikaru. Drop your mask." He tried again. Toushiro had never been good with words and what should be pleas turn out to be orders when he says them.

"Ohhh... Don't think that just because she is so fond of you, I will be too. Tsk. Might as well test your blade neh? I'm sure she would love to!" Hikaru came at him without warning. She nearly cut his chest open as his shinigami robes tore at the front when he barely had time to block with Hyourinmaro.

Toushiro! Don't get distracted! Hyourinmaro scolded.

Ah! I know! He weakly replied.

Maniac laughter ensues as the Hollow Hikaru continued to attack Toushiro. He can't make himself attack. He was just blocking every blow and running away from his vice captain, much to his rage. With great effort on his part, he released Hyourinmaro's bankai. He will not risk Hikaru going berserk. He had to make sure that she will not hurt anyone else. Just as he was about to freeze his vice captain, unexpected help came.

"Stop, Hikaru-chan." Isshin's words were soft but there was power behind them. Hikaru stopped dead in her tracks. Blood red eyes peered out from the mask that made her a vaizard.

"Old man." She hissed under her breath. She raised her sword and then faltered. Hikaru doubled back, Tsubasa dissipating into a thousand feathers of light. She peeled off at her mask while bent over. As the last piece of her mask fell off, Hikaru fell on her knees and pitched forward. Toushiro caught her just before she hits the ground. Hikaru looked up at her grandfather, "Oji-chan... gomen..." she uttered before letting the darkness claim her once more.

Isshin took Hikaru from Toushiro's arm, his usual goofy face set into a hard and serious one but his eyes were soft as he gazed at his granddaughter.

"No, I am sorry my dear Hikaru. I'm sorry you had to suffer like this." Isshin almost whispered while Toushiro tried to be as invisible as possible, somehow there was a familial aura between the grandfather and his grandchild that he just didn't want to intrude. He suddenly remembered his grandmother.

"Hey Kid, thank you for bringing her here safely. Where is my son anyway? I sensed his crazy reiatsu earlier." Isshin inquired, giving Toushiro a look over. Somehow he didn't miss the look of pure concern in the Tenth Division Captain's teal eyes over his granddaughter.

"He went after the man who called himself Aoi. He said he wanted Hikaru-san to be his bride." Toushiro answered, his fist clenching unconsciously as he recalled the haughty way Aoi had been so sure that he could take Hikaru anytime.

"Ah, just what I feared. But I doubt that Ichigo would be able to catch him. He is neither shinigami nor hollow. Aoi is not even human either, but then again, so is my family." Isshin sighed despite himself. If what he is seeing is true, then Toushiro had to know that part of his family as well. Not that he is ashamed of it or anything, he kept things as secret to protect his children and their children but apparently they'd still been discovered and thus secrecy is no longer a protection for them. He needed as many allies as he can get to protect his family and Isshin would be an idiot if he refuses Toushiro's help.

"I'll tell you about us when Ichigo gets back. We better get Hikaru-chan back to the house. Her reiatsu had been unstable lately neh? My poor granddaughter." Isshin reverted back to his old goofy self, crooning over Hikaru like she's some baby in his arms, Toushiro suppressed his will to go bankai on Isshin. He is sensible enough to know for a fact that he would not survive a battle with the enigmatic ex-shinigami. Somehow, there is something sinister with the way Isshin hides behind his goofy antics. Just look at Gin, or Urahara. Both men have such carefree attitudes that nobody can really gauge how dangerous it is to cross them. Not that anyone would even dare to get in Gin's way, with his sadistic grin and all bu then again, something in Isshin just screams bloody dangerous to Toushiro.

A/N: I was planning on making it longer but then again i was afraid no one would stick around to read it if i take much longer time to post again so here it is. I hope it's a bit of an enjoyable read nonetheless! i'm getting back into my stories now and i really hope to finish this before i move on with my naruto one ^_^ thanks for reading!