There always comes a point in time when you have do things for yourself, or make decisions that might just affect more than you. It sort of sucks but then, when had life ever really been fair. Never. My life came to an end in the Heian era, and I was reborn in what we call the Soul Society. I don't really remember how long I'd been there or how I'd managed to survive before that man came to me and brought me into the Soul Academy. All I really remember was his face. The face of an old man who'd seen more than his share of blood and death. A man who was haunted by what he'd seen and done. Back then I'd loved him as a father. That was before he took me away. Before he began to drink and before he scarred me. By that time I was merely a teenager, young and unchallenged and untried by the life I so desired to lead. My name is Ami- just Ami. I have been abandoned, taken in, loved, and hated. And yet here I am on the edge of a true and final death. I had meant to blink, but as my eyes closed I fell.
I gasped, lurching up in bed as the falling feeling woke me once more. No I wasn't falling, I had been asleep. A dream, nothing more. I knew I'd had this dream before but I can't remember when, it's always this way. Elusive- that's what the dream was. Shaking my head slowly, I slid out of my futon and, being careful not to wake the others changed into my usual robes. Sliding on a choker, I silently slipped out of the fourth division barracks and went for an early morning walk.
Souske Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tousen, had disappeared into Hueco Mundo with none of us having seen or heard from them since. The wounds caused by betrayal weren't easily healed, but slowly heal they did. All the building's that'd been damaged had been repaired or replaced. Life was gradually beginning to feel normal, more like a scab than a gaping wound.
"If only the red alert protocols would be let down then we'd be back to normal." I sighed, "but they won't be- not until HE is dead." I sighed, another hopeless situation. "but there's always hope that they die in Hueco Mundo, save us all a bit of grief" I continued to walk around fourth division, until I heard a crash and curses comming from the healing ward, as I passed it. Curiosity won over any bit of self-preservation I had. Walking quickly over, I opened the door and gaped at the caos within. THe men from eleventh divison must have gotten into an arugement or had been drinking again, for most of them were in a brawl. I flinched as a few men were thrown past me.
"Don't you dare run! Coward!" A man cried, rushing out the door to pummel those who'd flown through it but a moment ealier. I winced at every sound made by hands comming into contact with flesh. Memories that I'd thought had been washed away by time, flooded my mind. Instinct and long developed habit called for me to run, and for the first time in over a hundred years I obeyed without question. I rushed through the buildings that made up fourth divison and as I did so other healers, who'd woken up to the noise pushed past me to see what it was that was causeing a commotion. Others, those who'd been here for at least a years or more, groaned and growled about how many times eleventh divison did this.
I ran allng the Captain's corridor only to almost crash into the taichou herself, as she walked down the hall, serenly, like there wasn't any sound in the world but a calming flute or the wind brushing through the sakura trees. I bowed, to her. "Taichou" I recieved a small smiled, as she breezed easily passed. Isane, and her younger sister- a third seat in thirteenth divison followed behind her.
I straightened to find Hantarou standing besde me, a gaze filled with respect and admiration lock on the backs of the three women. "Unahana Taichou is amazeing." He murmured.I nodded in agreement. Hantarou and I walked together to our usual healing room, as we did so a sudden and absolute silence descended upon the fourth divison barracks, and a wave of pure reliefe filled my breast. Yes, Unahana Taichou was amazeing but she was also just as frightening.
The hours flew by as Hantarou and I reported to our everyday duties. According to the rumors floating around those who'd fought were sent back to their divison on the understanding that they should not be returning anytime soon. A couple of people had said something about an or else in there too, but I ignored that. as long as it didn't affect my being in anyway I was perfectly fine to continue on with life as though nothing had happened. As I finished up tending to my latest patient, a boy from the academy, as hell butterfly fluttered through the open windows, landing on Hantarou's shoulder.
"EHHH?" He yelled jumping. I shook my head at the typical reaction. When would he ever learn to be descrete? I wonderd absentmindly as I sent the patient off with a small and meaningless smile. "ami-san. Unahana-Taichous wants to speak with us. Isane- fukkitaicou said it was important. something about an assignment." Hantarou said, hey big eyes wide.
"When?" I asked, as I waved in the next patient.
"Today!" He exclaimed wavving his hands around in slight panic. A jar ttoppled over, and with a start Hantarou carshed to the floor in order to save the balm. Walking over, I plucked the jar from his hands and set it back on it's shelf.
"I meant what time." Hantarou gulped loudly. "N-noon."
Glanceing at the time I nodded, "Alright." The patient walked in and I silently began to treat the girl's wounded leg. a sparring accident, she told me as she looked around nervously. clearly it was her first time here, she was so chatty. And to make matteres worse Hantarou was almost useless, pranceing nervously around and knocking things over with his nervous energy. When noon came around Hantarou tripped and stumbbled the entire way there.
"Exucse us." I called lightly tapping on the wooden part of the sliding door. Footsteps were heard within and the door slid open, revealing a smileing Isane. "Come in." She said, stepping aside as I walked and Hantarou stumbbled through. We both bowed to Unahana Taichou and sat where she guestered. A group of four male healers, all of them seated officers, and a young woman who has just joined the divison sat on the other cushions that were for such meetings. "Forgive me for being so late!"Hantanrou cried as he sat down. He head hung in shame.
Unahana Taihcou merely smiled. "No need to worry. You're right on time." Something about her smile tipped me off, that something wasn't right. The room was silent for a long while as we looked at one another and at the captain. Finally she looked at us, her gaze gentle but solem.
"As I am sure you are all aware of, there was a ruckus this morning. The cause was the members of eleventh divison who'd been staying with us as they were ingured. After in incident I took the liberty of addressing the reoccuring problem to the Captains. They agreed that the measures I had taken so far were alright, however after this most recent occurance I made a decison, and announced it to the other taichous. Not a single member of squand eleven are allowed within my divison unless they are mortally wounded."
This announcement surprised us all, and as we stared at our taichou in absolute shock Unahana Taichou continued without pause, "Of course they were very much against the idea, however I remained vilgilent. Instead I proposed to send a single team to live at the eleventh divison barracks to work as the full time healers of that squand. "
Dread filled my stomach, she wouldn't do this to me would she? The only being in the world who knew the entirety of my past. Unahana continued as she gazed at us, knowing that as those who served under her, we would have to obey or leave. "That is why I have called you here. Satou, Atobou, Lein, Tanaka, Mei, and Ami; you are some of my best healers- therefore you are now to serve Kenpachi Taichou and eleventh divison to the best of you abilities." She turned her gaze to Hantarou, "Hantarou, you will be the one in charge of makeing sure that they have all the supplies they need. Before they go and durring their stay."
With those words, the world as I knew it fell into pieces. And nothing but shattered remains lingered.