Hitsugaya explained to the girl that she had considerable reiatsu for a common human, and that was why she could see spirits. The hollows were attracted by her power, and that would go on if he remained in the real world.
“You’ll be fine in Soul Society. Considering that you already have spiritual power, maybe you’ll even become a shinigami like me, someday”, he said, trying to cheer her up.
“What about Hiei? Who’s going to look after him? My parents never liked him much…”
“Fine, leave it to me. I must stay a few more days to make sure that the hollows won’t return anyway… I’ll find him a new owner.”
“Thank you, Toushiro-kun!” She hugged him, making him blush.
“It’s Hitsugaya!!” He sighed and waited for her to say goodbye to the dog before performing the Soul Burial.
He touched her forehead with the tip of his zanpakuto’s hilt and she vanished into a big luminous circle on the ground, from which a black butterfly flew away. Hiei yelped, sad, but then looked at Hitsugaya.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Come on, we need to find someone to take care of you.” The dog barked friendly as an answer and walked aside with the shinigami into the streets, limping because of its broken leg.
“You don’t talk much, do you, Hiei?”
The dog replied with another short bark; Hitsugaya smiled.
“Good. Me neither.”
