Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or any of the Bleach characters used in this fic. They all belong to Tite Kubo: the genius behind the captivating manga that started it all. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.

Heartless

Chapter 1: Breathe

A/N: I had no intention of uploading this until I finished with Vindictive, but all that has changed since I need another project to "stress over." I promised more KuroHana to several people, so here you all go. Enjoy it to the fullest, as I've worked for several weeks on just this first chapter. After much deliberation and searching, I have decided that the theme for this fic will be "This Night" by Black Lab. Also, this story takes place after Aizen's defeat, and after Ichigo looses his Soul Reaper powers.

I sincerely hope that the fruits of my labors will do all the characters justice.

They had all anticipated, and dreaded, that the day of inevitable farewell. Yet, no one had expected such a simple thing to be so mournful. The mass of Soul Reapers who had been in contact with the Ryoka boy had easily gone back to their usual duties, choosing to put the past behind them as they went. Rukia Kuchiki, however, had been unable to do such a thing. She had returned to the Soul Society in tatters, so to speak, having promptly fled from the Senkaimon the instant it had opened.

Perhaps Rukia's inner turmoil was none of the captain's concern, but her kind heart insisted that she go and try to make the girl feel more at ease.

After having met Byakuya at the gate to the Kuchiki Mansion, she had been granted access to the grounds to search for the sorrowful child. The search had, quite simply, been far less challenging than Retsu had initially anticipated, as Rukia had been found beside Lady Hisana's memorial stone out in the garden.

"Sister... First, I lost you," Retsu heard her whisper, her hand gently stroking the characters engraved upon the stone. "And now... I've lost him, too."

The gentle captain had the urge to touch Rukia's shoulder, to offer words of comfort, and yet, it just didn't seem right to interrupt. She felt almost guilty having overheard so personal a thing, which she was sure that the mourning girl wouldn't take in stride. With a quiet sigh, she turned on her heel, deciding instead to return her attention to her own tasks. Namely, caring for the wounded, and delivering medication and herbal soups to Captain Ukitake at his Ugendo quarters.

"Did she speak to you, by any chance?"

As the voice and a gentle hand reached her, Retsu turned to find Byakuya standing behind her, his gaze cast towards the sobbing girl who sat among the budding lilacs. When he turned to face her, Retsu silently noted that his eyes were as clouded over as the sun on that cold day, filled to the brim with worry. A soft smile of reassurance graced her features as she shook her head.

"She didn't even know I had come," she replied quietly. "It is my advice, Captain, that you allow her some time to grieve before approaching her with such a tender subject. It seems that she cared deeply for this Ichigo Kurosaki, and now, having lost him, she is in pain." Retsu smiled once again as a dark look overcame Byakuya's face. "She will come to you when she is ready."

Truly, Retsu felt confident in having offered such words to Byakuya, but a part of her was unsure. There was always the chance that Rukia would keep her feelings to herself, which would, undoubtedly, stress her even more. As she headed off to her own Division, Retsu quietly shook such doubt from her mind. Doubting herself simply would not do. She had offered sincere words of truth and belief that she could not take back now.

As she walked briskly down the streets of the Seireitei, the sound of stomping feet and rolling wheels reached her. Retsu turned, with a start, a laughing Yachiru Kusajishi zoomed past her with a bright pink cloud of dust trailing behind, what appeared to be, a scooter. Almost as swiftly as the tiny lieutenant had passed, Ikkaku Madarame shot down the street after her, shouting curses and threats as he chased her down for his zanpakuto.

Although she didn't approve of such vulgar talk, Retsu couldn't help but smile at the fact that Yachiru was playing "keep away" with such important items.

The walk back to the Fourth had been quite a pleasant one, even if the sun was shut away by a clump of rain-filled clouds. To her surprise, she had been able to enter the Division with minimal distractions, as she had only been approached by her lieutenant, who had given her a list of medications for the patients. Upon thanking Isane, she hurried through the hallways to her office wherein she kept Captain Ukitake's various pills and herbal teas.

Upon filling a basket with her delivery, the captain marched promptly out the doors, making a beeline for her fellow captain's quarters, as she was already running ten minutes late. It was a habit and a priority, each week, to make the delivery by noon. As she glanced across the lake to the Ugendo, she failed to notice the man standing in her path until she slammed into him, losing her grip on the basket.

She watched as the basket, and its precious contents, hit the ground with a hard thud as her own descent was halted by a strong grip having wrapped itself around her waist. Retsu glanced up with a smile as the smiling man guided her back to her feet. It wasn't unlike him to be wandering about at this time of day. And, by the look on his face, it was a fairly safe assumption to say that he had been waiting for her.

"You'd best be careful," he chided with a grin. "You never know who you might run into on these streets."

Retsu smiled, gingerly taking him by the arm as he retrieved the basket. "So I've heard," she laughed lightly, guiding him back across the bridge to the Ugendo.

With laughter echoing between them, the two captains entered the quarters, seating themselves upon the cushions that had been set in front of a small table for them. Retsu watched as Captain Ukitake unpacked the basket, shoving the various herbs and pills into the cabinets before setting a cup of tea and a small bowl of red bean soup before her. The captain smiled gently as she watched the steam rise from the dishes. Although he knew better than to prepare meals before her visits, she had learned that Jushiro's offers were not to be refused.

"How is Kuchiki?" Jushiro quipped, raising his own glass to his lips. "I imagine she must be heartbroken over losing contact with Ichigo Kurosaki like this... Though I can't say I didn't see it coming."

Retsu nodded, images of Rukia's shuddering form flashing before her eyes. "I meant to visit with her today," she whispered, staring blankly into the steaming broth, "but it just didn't seem right to interrupt her at such a time."

Jushiro nodded, his white hair falling over his left shoulder. "Of course. She's suffered a great loss. I can see why you hesitated to speak with her." His head turned, eyes staring out at the cherry blossom trees that hung in an arch over the window. "Rukia is... far more gentle and fragile than anyone will admit. In fact," Jushiro turned, his eyes cast to the floor, "I often wonder if anyone, besides myself and Byakuya, notices such a thing."

Such sorrowful, yet strong, words could only have been spoken by a man of Jushiro's caliber. A man who, unlike most of the world, took an interest in each of his subordinates. For him to even think of ignoring them, as so many captains did, would be like sanding against the grain of a fine wood. It was simply unnatural.

"I believe... Rukia will be just fine. She just needs some room to breathe."

This was going to be up about two weeks ago, but everything else caught up with me, and fanfiction wouldn't let me post anything. (And to St. Harridan, you are a nag. You're amazing, though.)