Note From Ambie: HIYA! So yeah...it's Summer Vacation, and I'm taking a break from my Persona Story. My friend has written her own Bleach Story that involved an OC of my creation (she was only in there for short moments at a time and wasn't a MAIN character.) Since my friend did not know anything about my OC, I thought to myself one day: "I wanna write a story with my Soul Reaper in it." I did al sorts of "research" to figure out the captains and Lieutenants and how Shikai and Bankai work, and stuff like that! Once my "research" was complete, I started this story of awesome-ness! So please enjoy! ^_^!

Disclaimer: "Bleach" does not belong to me in any way.

~*~*~*~*~

"Tell me: what's his status?" A black-clad girl with brown pigtails and mix-matched eyes questioned as she dashed down the halls of the Squad 4 Barracks alongside a group of four other squad members carrying a stretcher. A man with dark hair wearing the same, black kimono lay atop the white stretcher with closed eyes. His Zanpakuto's thick blade had been crushed and the man himself was unconscious and covered in his own, red blood.

A light-haired girl with beaming blue eyes, wearing the same, black outfit shook her head. "I'm not sure, I arrived too late to receive any details." She explained calmly, as the group carrying the stretcher entered an empty room. They gently laid the unconscious man on the bed.

"Help…" He whispered as he began to awaken from his unconscious state.

The brown-haired girl nodded, "Don't talk." She said soothingly and looked over the bloody man. "C'mon we need to get him hooked up now! We can't be wasting any time!"

The light haired girl nodded as did the rest of the group. They all hustled around the room and calmly hooked the dying man to many different kinds of machines. As the last machine was being hooked up, the man's eyes shot open and he screamed in pain and his body went limp. The brown-haired girl's eyes widened and she searched for his pulse, but he had none; the man was gone…

A loud BEEP echoed through the white, hospital room and a woman with black hair and blue eyes entered the area. Her hair was long and braided in the front, over her chest; even though she seemed displeased her kindness was obvious. With her was a taller woman with short, white hair and gray-ish eyes; she also appeared displeased.

The black-haired woman shook her head with a sigh. "You've failed this training exercise." She turned to the brown-haired girl.

"C-Captain Unohana I—"

"I must say, Kohaku, I'm rather disappointed in you." The black-haired woman—now known as Unohana—said calmly. Kohaku—the brunette—did not look up. "You did much better than this last time."

"I-I know, I—"

"What's the matter Kohaku?" The white-haired woman questioned. "Is something—"

Unohana silently lifted her hand, "It's ok Isane, just let me handle this."

The white-haired woman nodded, "Yes Captain."

Unohana smiled and returned the nod to her lieutenant; she then turned back to Kohaku. "Look at me please." She said and Kohaku obeyed; she looked up at her Captain seeming as though she might cry. "Although the man 'died' I was pleased with how calmly you handled the situation; that itself deserves praise."

Kohaku managed a smile, "Thank you Captain."

"However that man would be dead if you moved at that speed." Unohana continued. "You must be both calm and quick in an emergency situation such as this training exercise. If you're the medic in-charge, you've got to work with the other medics in the area. You communicated with them well, but you did not do the main job as you're supposed to."

Kohaku nodded slowly. Truthfully she knew exactly what her Captain was saying, and she realized the mistake she had made in the training exercise; she did not dare touch any of the Hospital machinery. Sure she was placed in Squad 4, but Kohaku felt as though she was better suited for fighting rather than healing. She knew she had potential; her Shikai was powerful. Kohaku's Shikai was meant to inflict damage to her enemies and Aoiaroshi—her Zanpakuto—did not have any healing abilities. Having cleared her mind, Kohaku bowed to Unohana formally. "Please forgive me Captain. Next time I promise I'll do much better."

Unohana smiled kindly and gently laid her hand atop Kohaku's head. "I'm glad to hear that. Just remember that a situation like this training exercise can happen at any moment." She explained. "When it does, I want to be able to trust you to the patient, no matter who it may be. Do you understand Kohaku?"

"Yes Captain, thank you."

Unohana nodded and removed her hand. "Very well, for now you're dismissed." She said and she and Isane exited the training room and Kohaku picked up her head and breathed a relieved sigh.

"Phew…I'm glad that's over." She said and walked over to Zill, the 'patient' who was still playing dead. Zill and Kohaku were well acquainted with each other. Both of them had had their turns in saving one another; back in her Academy days, Kohaku was not much of a fighter and Zill had helped her out many times. There were also a few times when the tables were turned and Kohaku had to save him, simply because he would tire himself out very quickly. He was her superior, but her friend as well and almost her father. Kohaku rolled her green and blue eyes and pushed Zill out of the bed. "Hey Nimrod! You do know that the training exercise is over, right?"

Zill stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. "What the hell? What gives you the right to push around your superior?"

Kohaku sighed in annoyance. "You always haveta pull that one on me, huh?"

"You know that I can get you in major trouble don't you?" He questioned, disregarding her previous comment; like usual. "I could just waltz right up to your Captain and say; 'Kohaku is—'"

"'Kohaku is insulting me, I think you should hand her over to the Discipline Committee.'" She said, finishing for him. "Trust me Zill; I've heard that one before. Anyways, why are you always the one who plays the dying guy? Couldn't Captain Unohana get anybody else…preferably someone much more attractive?"

Zill's purple eyes went wide in shock and he fell to the ground, landing on his butt. "Wha-what!? H-How could you say something like that Kohaku!? Don't you think I'm the most attractive person in the entire Soul Society cuz I—"

She cut him off with a laugh, "HA! Are you serious!?" She continued to laugh. "You look like my frickin' Grandpa! No matter how much you don't wanna believe it; your hair is thinning and turning gray!"

Zill stood up and walked over to a nearby—and random—mirror. He stared at his reflection and ran his fingers through his hair with a pouty look. "Do you—do you really mean all the mean stuff Kohaku? Do I really look like your Grandpa?"

She smirked and walked up behind him at pat his back and simply stated, "You sure do."

At that Zill's shoulders slumped—even more than they originally were. He sighed and grabbed his Zanpakuto. When his hands touched the sword's hilt, the broken blade returned to normal and he placed it back in its sheath that was held around his waist on the left side; he turned to Kohaku and smiled. "I hate to ruin your mood, but you do understand what Captain Unohana was saying don't you?" He asked seriously. "Some day you're going to have to touch those machines. I know you hate 'em, but if you don't even approach them, lives are gonna be lost."

Kohaku looked down with a slow nod. "Yeah, I know…but I really hate them."

Zill pat her on the head kindly. "It's understandable that you feel that way, but you're in Squad 4, the medical squad. In order to do you job, you've gotta operate those machines." He removed his hand and smiled. "I'd better get home to Hanabi now; she wants me to help her with dinner. You should come by and eat with us sometime, she's been asking about you y'know?"

Kohaku smiled and nodded as Zill walked out of the training area. At a young age, Kohaku's parents were sent to the human world to help battle a very powerful Hollow. Usually they were a few of the strongest Soul Reapers in the Soul Society and they were sent to the human world often; they'd usually return after a day, but that time when Kohaku was a mere child, they did not return. Being a young girl, Kohaku just figured that her parents were clearing the entire human world of all the Hollows; how was she to know that Mom and Dad had been murdered? They were always so strong and they rarely ever received a scratch.

Kohaku fought away tears that were beginning to threaten her vision and she walked to the window of the hospital room and saw Zill happily talking with another Soul Reaper. She smiled sadly to herself and thought back to when she had learned the news of her parents' deaths. It had been Zill and Hanabi who had told her. Kohaku had no siblings and when her parents died there was no one to take care of her. When Zill and Hanabi learned about her situation, they happily offered to take her in. The two of them had been married for a long time, and they tried to have a child, but it never worked; Hanabi could not get pregnant and they really wanted a child. However, the Higher-ups would not allow the two of take Kohaku in because they were not of relation to her.

Kohaku was eventually sent to stay with her Grandfather who was still a very active Soul Reaper. She and her Grandfather had always been close, and Kohaku enjoyed living with him. For many, many years, Kohaku was happy, but that happiness was shattered when her Grandfather was attacked by a group of Soul Reapers who had betrayed the Soul Society. He was lucky to be found, and he was immediately sent to the Squad 4 Barracks. While he was there, the Soul Reapers of Squad 4 quickly began to work on him. They were able to stabilize him, and he was on the road to recovery. However, one day while Kohaku was visiting with him, something went wrong and her Grandfather's recovery had been ruined; he quickly slipped back to the state he had been in when he was first sent to the Barracks.

For some, unknown reason, Squad 4 became unable to stabilize him again and they were forced to stop; everything they attempted just made matters worse. By that point, Kohaku knew her Grandfather was not going to make it; she was right and he died that night. Eventually she was told that he had died because of a machine malfunction; they had used a busted machine and they did not know. Kohaku found it ridiculous, but she knew that that was the only explanation; Squad 4 would not ever give up on a patient unless they knew there was nothing they could do.

Some good came out of that incident; it made Squad 4 more aware and they began to do regular machine checks weekly, and nothing like that had happened since. By the time her Grandfather died, Kohaku was able to be on her own and she attempted to live her life normally, but she could not get over her anger at Squad 4 and their machines. That was why she refused to use any of the Barracks' machinery; she feared that she'd miss a problem and they would cause another death.

She sighed and cleared her mind; it was okay to think about it, but it would not change anything. She knew that what was done, was done…she could never go back and bend the incident to her will. Kohaku exited the hospital training room and headed back to her house; she really needed some sleep to lighten her mood.

~*~*~*~

The next morning, Kohaku awoke to the sound of steady knocking on her door. Reluctantly she opened her mix-matched eyes and made her way to the door; she did not bother fixing her hair or even dressing into her Soul Reaper outfit. "Yeah?" She asked when she opened the door.

A familiar sigh was heard, "No wonder you weren't answering; you were still asleep. Do you have any idea what time it is, Kohaku?"

She blinked a few times and saw who the voice belonged to; it was Amaterasu, her childhood friend. "No idea…what time is it?" She questioned.

Amaterasu rolled her eyes. Her dark hair was pulled back into a single ponytail and she had it parted to the right side; covering her right, green eye. Around her hips her Zanpakuto—Kade—rested on the left side. She wore the regular clothing of any other Soul Reaper. "I dunno what time it is either; I'm just here to tell you that you've not been around. Maybe you should get fixed up?"

Kohaku shrugged. "I really don't think I'm doing anything today; so I don't see the point of—" Fast-paced footsteps were heard approaching Kohaku's home, cutting her off in mid-sentence.

"Kohaku! You're needed in the Squad 4 Barracks; Captain Unohana sent for you herself." The owner of the footsteps and the second voice was Isane; the lieutenant of Squad 4. If she had been sent to get her, Kohaku knew it had to be important.

Kohaku nodded. "Understood Isane; I'll be there as soon as possible." Isane nodded back and flash-stepped away, leaving Amaterasu and Kohaku alone again. Kohaku saw the expression on her friend's face and scratched the back of her head with an awkward laugh. "Guess I was wrong."

Amaterasu smirked and shook her head. "Guess so." She stated simply. "I'll see you later," she said and flash-stepped away.

"C'ya," Kohaku said after Amaterasu was gone. She quickly headed back into her house and got dressed into her Soul Reaper clothing. Once the black outfit was on, she tied the white belt around her hips and put on her green, blue and purple sword carrier; she placed Aoiaroshi into her sheath and slid it through the correct holes on her back. Kohaku quickly pulled her brown hair into pigtails with one green and one blue ponytail-holder; the green one pulling back her left side, and the blue holding her right. When she was satisfied a few seconds later, Kohaku exited her house.

Right as she closed her door, she flash-stepped to the Squad 4 Barracks; she arrived in less than one second. When she reached the building, Kohaku rushed inside, only to be stopped by her Captain. She bowed formally, "You asked for me Captain?"

Unohana nodded, "I did Kohaku." She stated calmly. "I need you to tend to a patient; he arrived here this morning with minor injuries, but those injuries were enough to render him unconscious. I need you to go to room 212 and watch over him. If he awakens, explain the situation to him; his file should be on the table in there." She explained. "You will be put in charge of him until he recovers, do your job well."

"Yes Captain." She replied and received another nod from Unohana who then headed down the hallway. It was strange, but the Barracks seemed busier than usual; Kohaku wondered if anything was going on as she rushed to room 212. She got there very soon and walked inside. When she entered, she saw a man with red hair pulled into a single, high-sitting ponytail laying in the bed. His eyes were closed and he had strange, black tattoos along his forehead and down his slightly exposed chest. As she neared the unconscious man, she saw that he wore the lieutenant badge for Squad 6 on his left arm. Seeing the badge and symbol on it, Kohaku knew who the man was; it was Renji Abarai. He and Kohaku had met each other a many times, and she had the hugest crush on the guy. However, he rarely acknowledged her existence when they were around each other.

She walked closer to Renji and got a closer look at his attractive face. "Why didn't I realize who it was sooner?" She asked herself in a whisper. "Who else in the Soul Society has that bright red hair and those crazy tattoos?" She shook her head and walked over to the table and picked up a tan folder; she skimmed through the papers within and learned that Renji had been training with another Soul Reaper and managed to get his ass kicked in the process. A small smile played across her lips. "Reckless as usual Renji…" She whispered quietly.

After an almost silent sigh, Kohaku made her way over to the chair that placed next to the bed and sat down. She removed Aoiaroshi from her back and rested her against the chair and just stared at Renji; slightly out of boredom, but it was mostly because he was so sexy. As she stared at him, she snickered to herself quietly. She had always wanted an excuse to touch Renji's face, and she realized that now was the perfect time. With another quiet snicker, Kohaku got out of the chair and neared Renji. When the Squad 6 lieutenant was within arm's reach, she laid her right hand on his face and 'took his temperature.' She blushed when she touched him, even though she knew he could not see her. "It looks like his 'temperature' is relatively normal." She whispered mischievously but did not remove her hand. Instead, she gently rubbed his face; she was pretty shocked at how soft his skin actually was. "Wow he—" She was cut off when Renji began to move around; she quietly gasped and quickly pulled her hand away.

After a couple of seconds, Renji's dark eyes opened slowly and he looked around. "Huh? What—"

Kohaku gasped and began to turn red when he faced her; she cut him off. "Uh…yeah, you're in the Infirmary." She babbled. "Apparently you were training with another Soul Reaper who was stronger than you." She walked over to the folder lying on the table and looked through it again, "Um…it looks like you suffered from a minor concussion and broke a couple of ribs. You're supposed to stay here for at least a couple of weeks; no training and not too much movement."

"I see…so I lost then."

Kohaku put the folder back on the table and headed back to the chair next to the bed and sat down. "I suppose, considering you were sent to the Infirmary and the other guy wasn't."

Renji growled in annoyance and turned his head to face her. "Yeah…I got that; no need to repeat obvious information!"

Kohaku crossed her arms and glared at him. "Hey! I'm just doing what I'm supposed to; no need to get a bitchy with me Renji Abarai!"

Renji growled again and turned the other way. "Who's getting bitchy?"

"You better watch yourself, or else I'm gonna make those injuries worse!"

He turned back around with an amused expression. "You? What can somebody on Squad 4 do?"

Kohaku growled and stood up; she slapped Renji across the face hard. "For one I can do that!"

"Ow!" He complained. "What the hell was that for!?"

She rolled her eyes and sat back down angrily. "I'm sorry but you were just begging for it! You know I coulda slapped your chest over your broken ribs and I don't think that'd be comfortable, now would it!?"

He smirked and shook his head. "Some medic you are. Aren't you supposed to be looking out for the patient's needs rather than slapping them!?"

"Yeah I'm supposed to, but you were still begging for it." She explained with her head turned away from his smug expression. "Now don't piss me off again and you won't haveta worry about being smacked, got it!?"

"Whatever…"

She nodded and faced him again, but this time she wore a cute smile. "Good!" She exclaimed and stood up. She grabbed the white covers that covered Renji and she pulled them down to get a look at his nice, toned, tattooed chest. This move seemed to come as a surprise to him, because he quickly looked at her with a shocked expression. "Calm down Renji. I'm just looking over your injuries so I can get to work on fixing you up. Believe it or not, I am trained for this kinda thing!" She looked at him with a smile; he just rolled his eyes and turned away from her. She shook her head and ran her hand across his chest; more for her enjoyment rather than for figuring out how severe the brakes were, but she was doing it for that too!

He sighed after a few seconds of awkward silence. "Listen, I'm sorry for yelling at you right when I woke up."

Kohaku quit messing with his chest and felt his head in the area the file said was problematic; she felt a large bump and noted that he had been bleeding but it had since dried up. "I hope your sorry, cuz you and I are gonna haveta get along for a few weeks. So why were you so worked up?" She questioned, doing as she was taught; to talk to the patients as she worked with them.

Renji sighed; now facing her. "I dunno…I have this 'thing' with losing. I knew that I lost, but hearing you confirm it set me off, you know?"

"I suppose." She said kindly with a smile and grabbed his white ponytail-holder. When she saw a confused look play across Renji's face she spoke, "Trust me, when I take this down your head won't hurt as much. Ponytails pull your hair back tightly and they can give you headaches; I'm sure you know that though." She said and removed the ponytail-holder from Renji's red hair and ran her fingers through it for a few seconds. "I'm sorry too…slapping you like that wasn't very nice or smart."

He shrugged simply. "Whatever…it didn't even hurt anyways."

"Yeah it did cuz you said 'ow' and I left a big red mark on your face." She laughed embarrassedly. "That probably didn't help with the major headache you must have. Like I said; I'm sorry." She covered him back up and headed for the door.

"Where are you goin' Kohaku?" Renji questioned which made her stop in her tracks excitedly; he did know her name.

She turned around and looked at him with a grin. "To get you some ice for you headache." She said; pointing to her head when she said the word 'headache.' "I'll be back real quick; I promise!"

He nodded. "K, I'm holding you to that."

"No worries!" She exclaimed with a happy giggle and headed downstairs to get ice. As she was on her way she could not get rid of the happy smile on her face; she decided that she wouldn't mind being put in charge of Renji for a couple weeks. She only wished that it could be longer.

~*~*~*~

Ambie's Second Note: TA-DA! So that was Chapter One! Did you like? If so, tell me in a Review! Yeah...in case you weren't sure, Kohaku=Me. I would've used the name Ambie, but the random American name REALLY agrivated me, so I changed it to Kohaku! ^_^!