Byakuya's POV

Byakuya stared down at the trembling figure lying before him. He recognized the small body immediately, the medical bag he was carrying on his back, the jet-black hair that came down to his jawline, and the large, frightened eyes that where now staring at Byakuyas feet.

There was a pool of blood surrounding the young Shinigami, which was spilling out of the sword wounds covering him. Byakuya had not known himself to feel sadness towards other people's pain very often, but he could feel the knot in his stomach growing tighter as he looked upon the young man, who was just about at death's door.

Byakuya stepped over the boys body, and knelt down behind him. He tried hard to recall what his name was. He had only heard it once, and had not cared at the time, but ever since that day on the bridge, where the medic had approached him, fully prepared to fight, he had not been able to get him out of his mind, and began to notice him everywhere.

He slid a hand under the boy's quivering body, and pulled him up to his chest. He saw the many wounds that had cut through the his clothe and skin. Byakuya tilted the trembling medic's head upward, so that now those blue, even more fearful eyes were staring into his cold black ones. Byakuya stared at him for a moment, and then in a monotonous voice, queried,

"What is your name?" There was no response for a few seconds, but eventually the boy parted his lips, letting out a small, pain filled gasp , and whispered,

"Yamada….Hanatarou." With that, Hanatarou closed his eyelids and let his head fall back on Byakuya's shoulder, as he passed out.

Hanatarou's POV

All Hanatarou could do was stare at the two feet standing before him. He hadn't even heard the person approaching; all he could hear was his own breathing and the blood pounding in his head. He shivered from cold, and the fear that griped his heart. He was certain that this time, he would be killed.

He had almost died buy the hands of stronger Shinigami before, mostly the men from squad eleven, but this time was different. Usually, he would be able to heal himself after a few hours of lying and regaining his strength, but this time he feared he would not have the energy, and would bleed to death. He had maid the mistake of trying to fight back, when normaly he just waited for the beatings to end. That was exactly what the soul reapers wanted, and was all the motivation they needed to draw their swords and start slicing Hanatarou's delicate body. Now Hanatarou starred at the feet in front of him, presuming it was one of the Shinigami who had come back to finish the job.

He was not able to blink. The pounding of his heart doubled in speed as he the man stepped over his body. Hanatarou couldn't even move his gaze; he just starred at the space in front of him. His body began to shake violently as a hand slipped under his side and pulled him up. Hanatarou didnt even have the strength to cry.

"Why is he toying with me? Why wont he just end it?" Was all he could think as the unknown man tilted his head upward. Hanatarou's eyes widened in a mixture of fear and shock as he gazed into the emotionless eyes of Kuchiki Byakuya. He saw the frightening man move his lips, but it took a moment for the words that where spoken by the captain to register in Hanatarou's mind. After he received the question, he tried to summon enough strength to answer him, fearing that if he didn't the unforgiving man might destroy him right then and there, like he would have done that fateful day on the bridge. Spending the last of his energy, Hanatarou managed to force out two, painful words,

"Yamada….Hanatarou." darkness clouded his mind as Hanatarou fell into unconsciousness.

Authors Note

My first Hanaxkuya story.....well, actually my first story....ever. So please comment and if you want you can recommend characters or ideas you'd like me to put in the story XP