Chapter 20: Hollow Bastion: Restoration Committee

"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask about how you knew those Heartless were there." Sora spoke up after a moment.

"Yes, I remember." Toshiro gave a light sigh; he'd been hoping to avoid the question for a later date. "When training at the Shinou Academy to become a Soul Reaper we're taught to sense something called Spiritual Pressure. Every living creature has a Spiritual Energy of some kind, and the more powerful they are, the stronger their Spiritual Pressure."

"You said Spiritual Pressure was the power of a Soul Reaper, right?" Sora questioned.

"Any living being has it, it's just more noticeable when in use."

"In use?"

Toshiro let his own power flare for a brief moment and Sora gasped as the wind was knocked out of him. Donald and Goofy nearly fell over from the sudden force. The Soul Reaper stopped so they could take a moment to recover, looking a little sheepish. Perhaps he'd let out too much at once.

"Oh, that…" Sora coughed, trying to get his breath back. "Right, forgot."

"Sorry, I thought it best to demonstrate."

"Nah, it's okay. Anyway, so you can sense the Spiritual Pressure of the Heartless?"

"Yes. To be honest, it's not all that different from what the Spiritual Pressure of an average Hollow feels like. Each individual has separate Spiritual Pressures and I can recognize those of my fellow Captains, their Lieutenants and most of my squad. For Hollows, though, we just focus on recognizing the basic feeling of their Spiritual Pressure to find and kill it. The Heartless have a much darker Spiritual Pressure than Hollows, which I suspect is due to them being formed from the darkness in people's hearts."

"Probably." Sora shrugged. "But that's a pretty neat technique, now we'll never be ambushed."

Toshiro smirked slightly as Sora laughed at his comment, deciding not to ruin the mood by explaining that when the Heartless hid in shadows he could not sense them.

"What about Nobodies, then?" Donald asked.

"They're a little harder." Toshiro admitted. "Since they're just the shell left behind when a person becomes a Heartless, they feel mostly empty. I almost mistook one for a normal soul nearing the point of becoming a Hollow, as that's what it feels like to me, before I remembered there aren't souls here. They're also hidden far better than the Heartless due to that empty feeling."

"But you can still sense them, right?" Goofy spoke.

"Yes. Don't worry, I'll let you all know if one is coming."

By now they had reached Merlin's place, or so Sora had said, and no Heartless had approached them. Toshiro was sure they would have been drawn to his Spiritual Pressure just then. Then again, they weren't Hollows, and they were after hearts, not souls. The two were closely tied, though.

Sora pushed the door open and stepped inside with his three companions close behind. Donald and Goofy flanked the Keybearer while Toshiro hung back a little, glancing outside cautiously before stepping over to the side of the door instead and waiting. Sora's friends would surely want to greet him first before noticing the newcomer by the door.

Three people sat around a large computer, backs to the door. A blonde man in a white shirt and blue pants was typing away rapidly on it. To his right was a taller man with long brown hair and wearing all black with red belts around his waist and a fluffy white collar on his jacket. The girl to the blonde's left had braided brown hair down to her waist in a pink bow, matching her long pink dress.

Yuffie, realizing Sora had decided to come here first rather than fight Heartless, was the first to jump up.

"Meet the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee." She said excitedly. At her voice, the other three turned around.

"We missed you!" The girl in pink said in a soft tone.

"Well if you aint in top shape." The blonde man snickered, part of his mouth holding tightly to a stick. Replacement for cigarettes?

Smiling, Sora approached the three, glad to meet them again.

"I knew it." The brown haired man said suddenly, arms crossed.

"Knew what?" Sora questioned, smile fading as confusion took over.

"A while back, everyone suddenly remembered you guys, all at the same time."

Toshiro blinked in surprise. He remembered something Naminé said about Sora's memories being lost. Had that affected those who knew him too? No wonder they needed Roxas to return to Sora.

"Wait!" He heard Sora shout, hurt. "Does that mean you forgot about us?"

"So where have you guys been all this time?" Yuffie asked, obviously trying to get away from that little detail.

"We were sleepin'." Goofy explained, though even he looked skeptical.

"Where? In cold storage?" The blonde man asked sarcastically.

Toshiro snorted at that, as it was fairly accurate considering where Sora was, and attention turned to him standing by the door. Whoops.

"Who the Hell is that?" The blonde asked.

"Oh, right." Sora waved Toshiro over and the Soul Reaper hesitantly stepped over to the group. "This is Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya. Captain, this is Aerith," The girl in pink, "Cid," The blonde, "and Leon." The brown haired man.

"Pleased to meet you all." Toshiro said, bowing slightly as was normal for meeting new people in his world. They looked a little surprised at his gesture.

"Captain, eh? Of what?" Cid looked interested.

Keeping silent as his way of saying it was none of their business, Toshiro was instead about to ask a question when Sora cut in.

"He's a Soul Reaper from a world called the Soul Society." Toshiro turned on him with a glare but the brunette continued. "We're trying to get him back home." It was then Sora noticed the cooling temperature and looked at Toshiro. "What?"

"I was willing to share information on who and what I was with you considering you need it to find the Soul Society, but I had not intended on telling such things to everyone on every world." The Soul Reaper growled.

"Oh…sorry. But you can trust these guys! They know all about other worlds and the Keyblade and all that. They're helping the King out."

"Never heard of Soul Reapers though." Leon mused aloud, the others in the committee nodding in agreement.

"And I don't plan on explaining." Hitsugaya snapped.

"And here I thought you were polite." Cid grumbled. The temperature dropped more. "If it's you doin' that quite it! You'll mess up the claymore system! Ya know, the one helpin' the town out and all that."

Toshiro reluctantly reigned in his power to let the temperature return to normal but quickly walked away instead, returning to his position by the door.

'Sora says they can be trusted.' Hyorinmaru remarked.

'That doesn't mean I will. Some of the things I told Sora I shouldn't have, but I need his trust to get home as quickly as possible. It does not mean he can tell everyone who asks.'

'Have him swear not to. Surely he understands enough of your power to know not to cross you.'

Toshiro smirked slightly at that, looking back at Sora.

'Once he's done I probably will, and the animals too. If I must I'll have the committee members swear it as well.'

'They'll only do so if you allow them information.'

'A little at a time…they don't need to know as much.'

Tuning back into the conversation, Toshiro saw Cid stand up and walk towards Sora, causing the brunette to step back nervously.

"Don't go thankin' us just yet." The blonde warned.

"Hollow Bastion's got a problem. A big problem." Leon said gravely.

"You mean like Nobodies and Heartless?" The Keybearer questioned in a serious tone.

"That's right." Yuffie sighed dramatically.

Sora turned to the ninja and Cid finally backed off. Having calmed down, Toshiro stepped a bit closer so as to be part of the conversation.

"Sounds like you could use our help." The Keybearer offered.

"Then let's cut to the chase." Leon said, also stepping closer. "Sora, Donald, Goofy, we were hoping you could give us a hand around here. The Captain can help if he wants."

"I will." Toshiro replied to that. "Seeing as Sora already blurted out what I am, I' more willing to give out information. I've already had experience fighting creatures similar to the Heartless and am fully prepared to fight the Heartless themselves as well."

"Thank you very much, Toshiro." Aerith smiled gently.

"I prefer to be called Captain Hitsugaya. On my world you don't call someone by their first names unless your good friends and they give you permission."

"Alright then, Captain."

"You know I'm in!" Sora cut in.

Nodding, Leon walked past them and to the door, turning back to glance at the four going with him.

"Follow me to the bailey, there's something you four need to see."

Toshiro was already following after him when a puff of white smoke appeared before him. Startled, Toshiro backed away only to run into Sora. The two boys looked to see who had caused the surprise and saw an aging wizard in blue robes and blue house shoes with a long white beard. He had a long stick in his hand and round glasses in front of his eyes.

"Oh! I thought it was you!" The wizard exclaimed, glancing at Sora as the Keybearer righted himself and stood next to Toshiro. "Right on time."

"It's Merlin!" Donald said happily as he and Goofy stood on either side of Toshiro and Sora.

"I would refrain from doing that in the future." Toshiro grumbled, dusting himself off.

"My apologies Soul Reaper." Merlin noticed Toshiro glance at him cautiously. "I was one of the few who met the last Soul Reaper to be dragged away from Soul Society along with Yen Sid and another man…hm…can't seem to recall his name. Anyway, no need to be alarmed, I wish no secrets from you. I'm here for Sora."

"Wait, you're not the first Soul Reaper to get dragged away?" Sora turned to the white haired Captain.

"Apparently not. The last one was a few decades ago, so Yen Sid told me, and he also happened to be from my squad when I was just a third seat."

"Oh, does that make you The Toshiro Hitsugaya, prodigy of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?" Merlin seemed interested.

"Yes, that's me."

"Wow, you're famous." Sora grinned.

A sad expression came over Toshiro's face before he returned to his cold disposition and motioned for Merlin to go on with what he was doing, not wanting to explain how he was truly more Infamous then Famous as the freak of the Rukongai. Being a prodigy only seemed to make it worse, but with him as Captain no one ever said anything.

"Right, yes, of course." Merlin cleared his throat and turned back to Sora. "Oh, did you give them the cards dear?" This he directed at Aerith.

She put her hands to her mouth in surprise about forgetting before reaching into a pocket in her dress. There she pulled out three cards and handed one each to Sora, Donald and Goofy.

"They're presents for you. Leon thought you might like to have them." She said with a sweet smile. "Sorry we don't have one for you, Captain."

"It's fine."

The trio looked at the cards in confusion before reading the words on the back, Sora doing so out loud.

"Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee Honorary Member!" A smile quickly grew on the brunette's face. He turned. "Thanks Leo… uh."

"He's heading to the bailey." Toshiro reminded.

"Crap, that's right!" Sora stuffed the card into a pocket and was about to take off.

"Just a moment Sora." Merlin stopped them. "What about your magic?"

"Er…I guess…I forgot it while I was asleep…" He laughed nervously.

"Now, what am I to do with you?" Merlin sighed, amused. "I suppose I can lend you a few spells but use them carefully."

"Thanks, Merlin!" Sora stood still and summoned his Keyblade, which had reverted back to normal by now, and Merlin waved his wand at it.

"Since Captain Hitsugaya uses powerful ice attacks with his zanpaktou, if I remember correctly," Toshiro nodded his consent, "I've given you Fire to start with instead of Blizzard."

"To the bailey!" Donald quacked and bolted out the door.

The other three weren't far behind, Toshiro slowing a bit so they could lead him through the town as he had no idea where he was going.

Back in Merlin's house, Yuffie, Aerith, and Cid approached the wizard.

"So you know what he is, right?" Cid questioned.

"Correct." Merlin replied. "However, I made a promise to the last Soul Reaper kidnapped from his world that I would not reveal any top secret information. Which, I may add, is almost everything."

"Dammit…"

Hm, watch yourself, Merlin. Appearing out of nowhere in front of a Soul Reaper isn't a good idea, lol. Anyway, Sora gets a lesson on Spirit Energy and Toshiro meets the Restoration Committee. They also learn that Merlin was one of the three people to meet the last Soul Reaper to be taken from the Soul Society along with Yen Sid and Diz...actually, make that four because Mickey sort of met him for a little bit. Right, Organization XIII shows up in the next chapter and there's a slight hint about who the Soul Reaper is through them, because they know about him too. Enjoy!