After a long silence, Toshiro proactively spoke: "This is wonderful. I've finally... finally found you, Hyorinmaru."
"How regrettable. I, on the other hand, didn't want to be found by you."
Hyorinmaru said coldly.
"Why? Why can you say such heartless words without any wavering? Have you not always supported me with all your heart and soul? And I have always trusted you with my whole being. Aren't we the most important companions to each other!!"
Toshiro demanded loudly.
Scenes flashed through Toshiro's mind. He involuntarily recalled every bit of his time with Hyorinmaru.
He especially remembered when he first arrived in this Bleach world, not long after, before he had even become a Shinigami, he encountered a Gillian-class Menos.
Although Gillian are now like ants to Toshiro, back then, Toshiro was just as insignificant to the Gillian.
Toshiro could never forget that when he was helpless and desperate facing the Gillian, it was Hyorinmaru who awakened, granted him power, and enabled him to easily kill it.
Toshiro could never forget that when he first faced a captain-level Arrancar like Alfred, Hyorinmaru wholeheartedly cooperated with him in battle.
Toshiro could never forget that when he first faced Zaraki's challenge, Hyorinmaru personally materialized and fought by his side.
Toshiro could never forget that every time he was wounded after a battle, Hyorinmaru silently worried about him.
Toshiro could never forget that in his inner world, Hyorinmaru diligently trained him, wanting to impart all the power she possessed.
As every bit of the past surfaced in his mind, the more he remembered, the more he understood Hyorinmaru's devotion. Toshiro could never forget the touching moments they had shared.
"Hyorinmaru! Answer me!! Have you truly forgotten the memories we once shared!!!"
Toshiro shouted loudly.
Hyorinmaru slowly began to speak: "That was all in the past. The past is just the past. Now, things are different. We can never go back to how we were."
"Is that so?"
Toshiro asked sadly: "Tell me, Hyorinmaru, why did you leave me? Don't Zanpakuto all have their reasons for rebelling? So tell me yours. Don't say you were affected by Muramasa's power. I know very well that a guy like him couldn't possibly influence you."
"What you say is true. Muramasa's power indeed cannot influence me. I just specifically used his power to materialize earlier. I was never controlled by him. As for the reason for my 'rebellion'?"
Hyorinmaru thought for a moment and replied: "Perhaps I just got tired of it... tired of being alone in an endless frozen plain."
"Although you tried to come into the Inner World to keep me company whenever you could, the Inner World is, after all, not a real world. All your friends are in the outside world, always around them."
"At best, you could occasionally spare time to visit me. Especially as your strength grew and I could no longer offer you much help, the number of your visits dwindled. And you came and went in a hurry. So I could only remain alone in your Inner World, watching the scenery that never changed for a thousand years."
"Although the world of ice is very beautiful, no matter how beautiful the scenery, seeing it too much becomes boring. So I decided to leave your Inner World and see the outside world: the Seireitei, the Rukongai, the Living World, Hueco Mundo, all the places I've never been, to experience unknown sights."
Hyorinmaru explained her reasons to Toshiro, a look of loneliness, solitude, and yearning occasionally flickering across her face.
"I'm sorry. I haven't cared for you enough, haven't been able to always be with you."
Toshiro said guiltily.
Hyorinmaru gently shook her head and said: "No need to apologize, Toshiro. Although I chose to leave, I don't blame you. As a Shinigami, you have already done well by your Zanpakuto. You've done more than enough. So don't blame yourself."
"Hyorinmaru, come back with me. From now on, I will spend more time with you. I won't let you feel lonely again. So, I beg you... I beg you to come back with me."
Toshiro said sadly, a pleading tone creeping into his usually strong-willed voice.
However, Hyorinmaru still refused mercilessly: "I refuse!"
"I've already said, we can never go back to how we were. Even if I went back with you now, the rift between us could no longer be healed. Why do you insist?"
Hyorinmaru said, disregarding their past bond completely.
"Is that so?"
Toshiro sighed, looking up at the starry sky, then closed his eyes as if reminiscing about something.
A moment later, Toshiro suddenly opened his eyes, as if he had made some kind of decision.
Clang!
Toshiro suddenly drew the Zanpakuto from his back and held it horizontally before him.
However, Toshiro was not directly attacking Hyorinmaru. Instead, he said expressionlessly: "I'll say this one last time. Come back here, Hyorinmaru."
"And I'll say this one last time. I will not return to that sword and become a Zanpakuto to be wielded by you."
Hyorinmaru refused.
"Is that so? Then there's no choice. We can only face each other with blades and decide this by combat."
Toshiro put away his sadness and said coldly.
Regardless, even if it meant facing each other with blades, Toshiro would not allow Hyorinmaru to leave him.
"Fine. I'm also very curious about who is stronger between us."
Hyorinmaru raised her hand and conjured a sword identical to the one in Toshiro's hand, showing no fear of battle.
"Hyorinmaru, you are my 'thing'. I won't let anyone take you away, not even yourself! So if you want to leave, then go all out with the determination to kill me!"
"Don't worry about injury or death, because today, either you die or I die! As my Zanpakuto, even if I have to kill you with my own hands, I won't let you leave! So I will also fight with the determination to kill you!"
Toshiro roared, his expression ferocious.
At this moment, Toshiro seemed to be radiating a dark aura, as if he had darkened. Even Hyorinmaru found it chilling.
'Toshiro's state seems strange... Is this what they call 'darkened'? But even if it means death, he won't let me leave. So I'm really this important to Toshiro?'
Although the situation was a bit off, for some reason, Hyorinmaru was inexplicably happy about Toshiro's somewhat 'morbid' regard for her.
"Ha!"
Before Hyorinmaru could think further, Toshiro shouted and directly charged at her, swinging his sword.
Hyorinmaru quickly pulled her thoughts together and raised her sword to meet Toshiro's attack.
Clang!
Swords clashed, sparks flew. This clash marked the beginning of their battle!