Happy New Year!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach

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Prologue

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Zanpakuto, the blade of a Shinigami's soul connects with its wielder with a bond—they are one yet apart… different yet the same.

Both a living irony… shares everything, is a part of each other...

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Zanpakuto's has a secret that had never made known even to those whom they shared souls with-it is an unspoken law among Zanpakuto's … a taboo. Not even once has it been done…

Not a single being knows that Zanpakuto's dwell in a different world, not like the world inside the person who wields them...

From the very beginning they know each other in a world of their own where they live peacefully, in perfect harmony. They exist in their alternate world before they could resurface and dwell in the deepest, most remote part of the soul—a living being compatible with them or shares a tinge of spirit their original wielder had, if and only if that Zanpakuto is, according to the world's language, reincarnated.

Confusing? Let us elaborate on it further…

In Kokudo Tamashiiyaiba or the Soul Blade Realm, where the Zanpakuto's dwell, existed long before any being including the King himself. No, Zanpakuto's are not gods, but they are technically immortals. It may have appeared that when the Shinigami dies so does the Zanpakuto, but no, it certainly doesn't go that way.

When the Shinigami dies a, let's say after having such a fierce battle, and the Zanpakuto was sliced or perhaps shattered, the Zanpakuto will go into a deep sleep. They would be in a certain secluded area within Kokudo Tamashiiyaiba, slumbering until they would need to resurface again. It's another thing, however, if the Shinigami died a peaceful death. The Zanpakuto would head back to Kokudo Tamashiiyaiba and live with the rest of the Zanpakutos peacefully, until of course they would resurface again.

Their dimension is more complicated than the way of thinking of Central 46 in Soul Society, or even worse, the King and his works.

All that can be said is what has been mentioned above and it is for certain that their appearance is exactly the same as the spirit form they show to the one whom they share soul with…

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Love, intimacy, such big convoluted words are not known in Kokudo Tamashiiyaiba… of course there is still the cliché 'exemption to the rule' thing...

As different as this pair was, their closeness was seen by others as more like mere companionship, friendship—nakama.

They can never do anything beyond staying close together, they have to be contented with that... though they want more.

They were inseparable, but then as the time came for one of them to finally resurface, as hard as it was, they have to say goodbye, even for a short while.

It was the female who went ahead of the male…

And it was not a long wait before his time to resurface finally came.

"I will be seeing you… Shirayuki." These were Hyourinmaru's last words before he fell into the locked world of the one he'll share his soul with…

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a/n: Hi! What do you think of my first HitsuRuki attempt? Though this is just the prologue, what do you think? Please tell me what you think... Reviews and Constructive criticisms are Highly Appreciated. D

Thank you! Have a Blessed New Year!