"Squad 11 5th Seat, Yumichika Ayasegawa, it has been decided that you are currently unfit for duty," Head Captain Yamamoto said darkly. "You will turn in your zanpakuto, which will be returned once you have been deemed fit to return to active duty. Dismissed."

Yumichika stared at the Head Captain. He couldn't be serious? A few scuffles and he was unfit for duty? His eyes drifted towards Captain Unohana, who looked back at him sadly. His own Captain grunted disapprovingly and stormed out of the hall, pissed off that he had lost one of his best fighters. Captain Kuchiki didn't look at him as he strode past, wearing the cold, emotionless expression that he always did. The Captain of Squad 9 bowed his head and lowered his hat further over his eyes. Captain Ukitake patted him lightly on the shoulder. None of the other Captains had been present.

"5th Seat Ayasegawa," Captain Unohana said softly, approaching his slowly. "If I may have a word."

Feeling as though he was unable to speak, he merely nodded and followed her to a corner of the large meeting hall. The room was ridiculously huge, as were most of the buildings in the Squad 1 barracks. The Squad 4 Captain waited until they were alone before speaking.

"I'm sorry," she said. He didn't speak, but instead looked at his feet. "It is not due to your fighting abilities," she continued. "We believe that your current mental state many bring harm to your fellow squad members."

"My mental state?" Yumichika repeated, lifting his head to look at her square in the eyes.

"Yes. I have not told the other Captains, but the abilities of your zanpakuto -," he drew breath sharply. Did she really know? "I have no intention of telling anyone that your zanpakuto is kidō based, Mr Ayasegawa."

"Thank you," he mumbled in reply, looking down again.

Captain Unohana waited a few moments before continuing. "The abilities you possess are quite terrifying, however, the down side is that when you absorb you enemies Spiritual Pressure, you also take a part of them within you. Do you understand?" She took his silence as a 'no' and kept talking. "It means that part of their personality lingers in you for several days. And it bleeds through. When I examined you earlier, I felt and extremely aggravated and volatile Spiritual Pressure – one that wasn't yours."

Yumichika swallowed, remembering the bastard he had used his full release on. The asshole actually thought that he and his friends had a right to repeatedly touch him in very inappropriate places. He had snapped when one of them had grabbed him from behind, groping his crotch while still having the nerve to lick his cheek. He had made sure that he wouldn't remember the event either by giving the man a nasty bump on the head.

"I understand that tensions are still high, even with Aizen having been defeated. Things are only just beginning to return to the way they were and your actions will not do anything to help keep the peace. I hope you understand at least that much."

Still unable to find his voice, Yumichika nodded. A pair of small, soft hands cupped his cheeks, lifting his head so that he was once again looking at the Squad 4 Captain. She smiled slightly, letting her hands fall away.

"Take this opportunity to go on a holiday," she suggested warmly. "Somewhere nice."

"Yes, ma'am," he said meekly.

"And," her smile dropped. "I'm going to need your zanpakuto."

Yumichika swallowed, his hand tightly gripping the lavender hilt of his sword. While he wouldn't hesitate to admit that Ruri'iro Kujaku was a cocky, arrogant asshole most of the time, he warmly welcomed to gentle words he gave him when necessary. Ruri'iro had helped him through some very dark times, and he wasn't happy at the thought of letting him go.

-Honestly, I'll still be here. I'm part of you, remember?

-I know.

With a heavy sigh, he drew the sheathed sword out of his white obi and placed it gently into Captain Unohana's waiting hands. She smiled apologetically, patting him on the shoulder lightly before walking out of the hall. Finally alone, Yumichika choked, fighting to hold back tears. It had been almost six months since Aizen's defeat. Everyone had settled back into routine, and they were as close to peace they would ever be.

Some people would definitely regard his actions as over the top, but very few people knew about his past. Captain Unohana knew, that's why she had been sympathetic towards him. The only other person who knew was Ikkaku. Yumichika stopped. Ikkaku. His brow furrowed and he balled his hands into fists. He clenched his teeth and stormed out of the meeting hall, determined to find the bald man.

It took no time at all the complete his quest. The man was standing outside the Squad 1 barracks, leaning casually against the wall. He was picking dirt out of his ear as Yumichika approached, and flicked it away when he saw the dark haired man coming towards him.

"Hey Yumi," he called out waving. "How'd it -," he got cut off when Yumichika slammed his fist into Ikkaku's jaw.

"You asshole!" he yelled, kicking Ikkaku before he could answer. "Why the fuck weren't you there to defend me?"

"Yumi, I -," Ikkaku started, but Yumichika kicked him again, this time in the face.

"Fuck you!" Yumichika spat before sprinting away towards Squad 11.

He had run because he knew he couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He let them run freely down his face, evaporating instantly as he used his flashstep to get away from Ikkaku. When he realised where he was heading he stopped. His barracks were not where he wanted to go in his current state. While he thought about an alternative place to go, he didn't notice the person behind him until he spoke.

"Hey, Yumichika," said Shuhei loudly. Yumichika froze. "How did it go?"

Yumichika turned slightly and Shuhei saw his face. Before he could speak, Yumichika used his flashstep to vanish again. Shuhei sighed, scratching his cheek awkwardly.

"That bad, huh?"

God, that was embarrassing. It wasn't like he particularly liked Shuhei, but it was his policy to look good at all times. And no one looked good when they cried. Not even him, although he was close. In an effort to avoid possibly coming across anyone else, he dashed out of the Seireitei and kept running until he was deep in a forest past the Rukongai.

He stopped, leaning against a large rock while he caught his breath and brought his Spiritual Pressure back to a controllable level. He was just regaining his composure when there was a loud crash and two large Hollows appeared behind him. Instinctively, Yumichika reached for his zanpakuto, but only grasped at empty air.

"No zanpakuto eh?" one of the Hollows said in a grunting, brutish voice.

"Easy kill," said the second one stupidly.

Yumichika sneered. Neither creature was remotely beautiful, and he had no desire to look at them for any longer than necessary. As the two beasts approached him, he smiled in the most elegant way he could manage. "I am not an easy kill," he said, raising his hand to point at the closer of the two Hollows.

"Hadō 4: Byakurai!" he cried. Blue lightning sparked and flew in a deadly concentrated line from his outstretched finger. It hit the Hollow square in the face, shattering its mask. The monster howled and disintegrated.

The second Hollow immediately turned tail and ran, but Yumichika flattened his hand, so that his palm was facing the retreating beast. "Hadō 73: Sōren Sōkatsui." A mass of blue fire crashed into the Hollow, engulfing it and killing it instantly.

Yumichika scoffed. They had been no challenge to him whatsoever, even without his zanpakuto. This only served to prove that he was still very talented at kidō, even though he never used it. He brushed a stray hair away from his face and was about to turn back when he felt an immense Spiritual Pressure fill the air. He looked over his shoulder and saw a large rip in the sky, and it was growing rapidly.

"A Menos?" he breathed. There was no way that he had released enough Spiritual Pressure to attract a Menos Grande. Nor was his kidō powerful enough to take one down unassisted.

Just as a giant foot thudded into the ground, Yumichika was gone, running as fast as he could. If anyone from Squad 11 saw him now, he would have been a laughing stock. Not that he particularly cared at the moment. When he heard a familiar whistling, rushing sound, he went cold. He spun around and saw a cero forming in its open mouth.

"Damn it!" he spat, picking up his speed and running further into the forest. Moments later, the Menos released the cero. Yumichika ducked behind a wide tree, but the range of the attack was huge. The cero caught the left sleeve of his shihakshou, burning through it and scolding his arm.

Swearing, he tore the smouldering fabric away and started running again. The ground shook beneath him as the giant Hollow took a step forward. Why the hell was it following him? There was no way his Spiritual Pressure was high enough to attract a Menos in the first place, so why was it even here? Glancing over his shoulder, he saw another cero forming.

"Shit!" His arm, although relatively uninjured, stung when he moved it, and he would prefer to avoid pain if at all possible. If he was hit by the second cero, he would be killed. Still considering his options, Yumichika's thoughts were interrupted when a wave of what looked like pink petals swooped up and over the Menos, cutting it to pieces. Moments later, he was hit with a surge of Spiritual Pressure, strong enough to force him to his knees, panting.

"5th Seat Ayasegawa, what are you doing on my property?" said a monotone voice above him.

Yumichika looked up, seeing Captain Kuchiki standing above him, glowering. He hadn't even noticed that man approach. He unsteadily got to his feet and bowed slowly before he spoke to the man.

"Forgive me, Captain Kuchiki. I didn't know you owned land out here," he said coolly.

A moment of silence, then. "I should also apologise. I am what attracted the Menos and it would appear that you got injured due to my negligence," he said indicating the ruined shihakshou.

"That you, Captain Kuchiki," Yumichika said, bowing again.

Byakuya frowned. He took a step forward and looked down at Yumichika's bare arm. "This however, is not from the Menos," he said, pointing. Following his gaze, he went cold when he realised that Captain Kuchiki was talking about the dark bruise on his bicep.

"That is-," he started hurriedly, but was abruptly silenced when the Captain wrapped his hand around the bruise. He drew breath sharply, the sudden contact shocking him.

"A bruise from being grabbed roughly," Captain Kuchiki finished for him. "Who did this?" he asked coldly. Yumichika looked at his feet. Annoyed, Byakuya tightened his grip on the injury. "Who. Did. This?" he repeated menacingly.

"C-captain Zaraki," Yumichika whispered. There was a pause, then Byakuya slowly released him.

"What happened?"

When Yumichika didn't answer, he grabbed his shoulders roughly. Yumichika yelped in surprise, answered and said in a small voice. "Sometimes, when the Captain gets drunk, he also gets violent and wants..." he trailed off, but Byakuya had understood where he was going.

"Has he ever raped you?" he asked, no emotion in his voice. Shaking, Yumichika nodded. "How many times?" no reply. "How many times?" he repeated, raising his voice.

"L-lots. I...I don't keep count anymore," Yumichika's voice was barely more than a whisper.

Byakuya frowned, showing emotion that rarely crossed his features. He knew that Zaraki was a brute with primal, animalistic instincts, but he had never thought that he would go as far as raping one of his subordinates. And a male one at that. He glanced at the man shaking in his hands. While he wouldn't deny that Ayasegawa had very feminine features, he wouldn't mistake him for a woman, even in a drunken state.

His thoughts drifted to the rumours that he had heard about the man's history in the Rukongai. If they were indeed true, it would explain why he was so nervous when answering Byakuya's questions.

In an effort to be sympathetic, he gently patted the side of Yumichika's head. Although the action was awkward, it had the desired effect. Yumichika stopped shaking. However, now he looked to be on the verge of tears. Surpassing a sigh, Byakuya pushed gently on the man's shoulder, indicating that he should follow.

"I do not think that it would be wise for you to return to your barracks tonight," he said. "I will have a room prepared for you at my home."

Relief washed through Yumichika like warmth. He had been dreading his return to the Squad 11 barracks. The news of him being removed from his position, even temporarily, would surely be reason for the other members of the squad to ridicule him for something other than his looks.

He mumbled a thank you then silently followed the stoic Captain back to the Seireitei. They walked through the wide streets without coming across anyone and it wasn't long before they arrived at his estate. Yumichika let his head hang shamefully he whole time.

The two men walked silently through the empty house. After several minutes, they passed Rukia in a hallway. She opened her mouth in surprise when she saw the ashamed 5th Seat following her brother, but she was silenced with a look. She simply stared at them as Byakuya lead him around a corner.

The Squad 6 Captain showed him to a large guest room that opened onto the estate's vast garden. For a guest room, it was quite exquisite, and larger than his quarters at the barracks. The wall at the back of the room was covered in a beautiful painting on peacocks and blooming cherry blossom trees. The bathroom was large, the bath itself being big enough to easily accommodate four people.

"I will have someone come by soon with a change of clothes and a new uniform," Byakyua said from the door. "They will see to your injury. I will also put in a request for permission for you to go the World of the Living."

"The World of the Living?" Yumichika repeated, slightly confused.

"Think of it as a holiday," the Captain said smoothly before exiting the room.

Yumichika stared at where he had been standing for a few moments before glancing around the room again nervously. It was just beginning to sink in that he was in Byakuya Kuchiki's house – Lord Byakuya Kuchiki. He felt increasingly nervous as he stripped out of his dishevelled shihakshou and folded it neatly in a corner, setting aside with his orange collar and sleeve.

In a hope to find something to wear while he waited, he wandered into the bathroom. As he passed by the large floor-to-ceiling mirror, he caught sight of his reflection. Usually, he only looked at his face in his small hand-held mirror. Seeing his full body brought a cold realisation.

There were dark, purplish bruises scattered all over his upper body, seemingly more concentrated around his hips and shoulders. There were hand-shaped bruises around his biceps where he had been gripped by strong, powerful hands.

He shivered and looked away, drawing his thoughts back to what he was looking for. He found a deep crimson yukata folded on a shelf behind the door and carefully draped it around his shoulders. He pulled it tightly across his chest, making sure that none of the bruises were visible before tying it.

Yumichika went back to the mirror and carefully pulled the coloured feathers he wore off his face. He placed them beside the sink before turning the tap and allowing the water to warm up. After a few moments, he bent over and splashed the warm water over his face, washing the dirt and sweat away. He would bathe properly when he had a change of clothes.

Wandering back into the bedroom, he decided to sit on the shaded veranda and look out at the garden, he sat down and sighed, thinking about what Captain Kuchiki had said to him. A holiday in the World of the Living. Captain Unohana had also suggested that he take this as an opportunity to take a holiday. He smiled slightly to himself. What a novel idea.