"Toshiro…." Kit said standing in front of her brothers desk. "Toshiro…" She said again after several moments of silence. "TOSHIRO!" Kit yelled slamming her hands on the desk successfully snapping her Captain out of his daze. "Huh….what do you need?" He asked looking at her. Ever since that night 5 months ago Toshiro's been in a state of not caring and spacing out. "Last time I checked I'm not the Captain of squad 2." Kit said holding up the form. "You're lucky I check your paperwork before delivering it." She continued. "Oh….sorry." Toshiro said reaching for the form only for his sister to hold it out of his reach. "Maybe you should take the day off, you're more depressed than you was yesterday." Kit told him frowning. "I'm fine now can I have the form so I can fix it?" Toshiro said holding his hand out. "Don't lie to me Shiro I can tell that you're still depressed over Ryia." Kit told him frowning as Toshiro looked down again. "Do you…..really think she's dead?" He asked softly. "I told you what Takashi said Shiro, It'll take a while but Ryia will be fine." Kit said remember that night.
"It'll take some time, but I'll be able to heal her." Takashi said holding his queen in his arms as Kit held an unconscious Toshiro in hers. "Do what you must Takashi." Kit said watching as the dragon disappeared into the shadows. Looking down Kit looks at her brother, she ended up having to knock him out just so Takashi could take Ryia back to her realm
Kit closed her eyes bringing herself out of her memories and looked back down at Toshiro who went back to staring at a photo of him, Ryia and the kids that was taken at last year's birthday party Ryia planned for him. "You know, I heard that all three of them are getting promoted in a few days." Kit said snapping Toshiro out of his daze. "The kids….From what I heard they're all getting promoted to lieutenant." Kit told him only to make him look down at the picture more depressed. "Now what?" Kit asked getting more pissed at her brothers depressed demeanor. "It's just….she's not here…" Toshiro whispered frowning only to be welcomed with a hit on his head. "OW! That hurt you know!" Toshiro yelled holding his head as Kit's tail moved back behind her. "Then quit being so depressing….you should know her better then anything. Ryia isn't the type of person to die so easily." Kit told him frowning with her arms crossed. "Lieutenant Hitsugaya! I was told to inform you to report to squad 4 on the double by Captain Commander Yamamoto." A member called appearing outside the door. "Very well." Kit huffed before looking at Toshiro. "Try to do your paperwork correctly while i'm gone will ya." She said before dropping through one of her portals into squad 4. "You summoned sir?" Kit asked. "Yes, I believe there's someone here you would like to see." Yamamoto said turning around and moving aside allowing Kit to see Ryia sitting on the bed still somewhat pale. Looking over Ryia smiled softly at her friend. "Hey Kit…" She said softly as Kit stared at her.
"I recommend you rest a bit more before resuming your training Ryia, your spiritual pressure is still low." Unohana said catching the girl's attention. "Got ya, I was thinking of mostly catching up on my paperwork." Ryia said looking at the medic. "Don't push yourself, when you start feeling tired I want you to rest." Unohana told her. "Got it." Ryia said jumping off the bed only to end up in Unohana's arms. "Maybe you should rest here for a day…" Unohana said slightly worried as Ryia stood herself up. "I'm fine, just got up a little too fast." Ryia said smiling softly. "Then I want you to at least be in this wheelchair until your pressures back." Unohana said as Isane pushed the chair over. "Eh...that thing again?" Ryia frowned remembering the first time she had to use one all those years ago. "Yes, and if you don't use it like I instruct I will have you confined in here understood?" Unohana asked smiling at Ryia. "G-Gotcha" Ryia sweat dropped giving her a thumbs up as she sat down in the chair.
"So where do you want to go first?" Kit asked a few moments later as she pushed Ryia away from squad 4. "Squad 9, If I visit Toshiro first I won't be able to check on Shuhei." Ryia said rubbing her neck a bit where a large scar was still visible. "They've been worried about you you know. For the past five months Toshiro and Shuhei both have done nothing but screw up on paperwork and mope around." Kit told her. "And now that I'm back I'm going to be fighting with both of them to stay out of bed." Ryia said sighing as kit chuckled. "I heard that the kids are getting promoted here in a few days. They're all going to be lieutenants." Kit announced. "Even though I was never particularly happy with Yudai joining Squad 2." Ryia muttered. "You know, ever since he joined Soi Fon's been laying off of Oomeda. He's even back to how he use to look. "You mean he's not gorging have himself on food anymore?" Ryia asked a bit shocked. "Yep, it seems your son has done that Squad a lot of good." Kit told her as they entered the squad 9 office. "If you have paperwork set it down and I'll take care of it." A monotone voice announced from behind a desk full of paperwork. "Shuhei am I going to have to get a second lieutenant just to make sure your paperwork is caught up?" Ryia asked causing the room to go quiet. "Shuhei?" Ryia asked again only to jump as paperwork went everywhere. "Captain!" Shuhei yelled diving towards the woman only to faceplant into a protective barrier that placed itself around the shadow queen. "Shuhei!" Ryia called. "Ow….why'd you do that?" Shuuhei asked holding his now bleeding forehead. "I'm sorry, it wasn't me…" Ryia said picking up the familiar off of her shoulder and putting it in her lap. "He's assigned to keep me safe until i'm fully recovered." She continued as the barrier disappeared. "Recover?" Shuuhei asked standing up as Kit walks over and healed him. "While I am alive; my spiritual pressure is extremely low, don't tell me you didn't notice." Ryia explained frowning a bit. "Um…" Shuhei sweat dropped rubbing the back of his head. "Anyway, you're still going to be in charge of training, I'll watch but I'm not allowed to do any physical labor." Ryia explained rolling herself over to her desk.
"So, would someone please want to explain to me who did my paperwork?" Ryia asked picking up a paper from one of the small stacks. "I was trying captain...but it's more confusing than mine." Shuhei admitted hanging his head. "I should have guess….since the only thing you go on this form correct was the squad and captain." Ryia frowned before setting it down again. "I appreciate the help but next time just do yours, Captain Yamamoto was aware of the situation and wasn't going to hound you for it." Ryia said. "I was just trying to help…." Shuhei sighed. "I know and I appreciate it-" Ryia said before freezing looking towards the door. "Oh crap…" She whispered as a white-haired male jumped towards her only to land in the same barrier Shuhei did. "TOSHIRO!" Ryia yelled as Kit ran over to her brother. "Toshiro?" She asked picking up the unconscious captain that was bleeding from his head. Rolling over Ryia watched as Kit healed Toshiro. "What an idiot…" She sighed looking at the male.
A while later Toshiro groaned finally waking up. "Finally up I see." Ryia said smiling from her desk before wheeling over. "Ryia….is it….really you?" Toshiro asked in disbelief as her stared at her. "Yea...it's me, you're not dreaming." Ryia told him stopping next to him. "You was out for quite awhile...from what Kit said you've been running yourself ragged these past few months with me gone." She continued only to feel herself being pulled from her wheelchair and onto Toshiro's lap as he started sobbing into her. Smiling softly Ryia held him as he cried, he truly did love her. "Toshiro...I still have paperwork to finish…." Ryia said after a few minutes. "No…"Toshiro grunted keeping his hold on her. "I'm still a captain Toshiro, just like you, we have our jobs to do, when we get home tonight you can hold me all you want ok?" Ryia promised trying to remove his hold on her. "I've already lost you too many times, you're not leaving." He told her frowning up at her slightly causing the woman to sigh. "Toshiro I'm not going anywhere for a while. The only thing I'm allowed to do is paperwork and oversee the training. Yamamoto said he's not putting back on the mission roaster until Unohana has given her ok." Ryia explained smiling a bit. "Still." He said keeping his hold. "Toshiro….do I have to knock you out?" Ryia asked frowning at him a bit. "It's just, when...when I saw you….with that wound...I thought I lost you forever. I…" Toshiro said frowning as he thought of that night. Suddenly Toshiro winced as he felt his head get hit almost playfully. "You idiot….if you think something like was going to kill me I seriously need to put you in your place, there's only a handful of ways I can die Toshiro….another queen, light, an actual death battle, old age, or I kill myself. I'm not about to let any of those things happen. Remember, I'm stubborn like that." Ryia smiled softly looking at him as Toshiro stared back at her. True, he honestly thought she died, even after Kit's constant reassurance, but he's never loved someone as much as he did Ryia. "I'm sorry…" He finally whispered looking down. Smiling down at him Ryia pulled his head up and kissed him. "It's fine, just remember Toshiro, I'm never going to leave you alone, I promise." She whispered as Toshiro stared at her and pulled her close.
"Are you two done being lovey dovey or should I just drop you guys in your house?" Kit asked walking in with a stack of paperwork causing Ryia to frown. "Your brother's the one that pulled me up here." Ryia explain managing to get free from the male. "I just wanted to hold you.." Toshiro said looking at her. "Yea, hold me there all day and night and get both of us yelled at by old man Yama." Ryia deadpanned making Toshiro hang his head and Kit chuckle. "Kit I wouldn't be chuckling, he's behind you." Ryia continued as she turned her wheelchair around. Jumping Kit moved to the side bowing. "Captain Commander Yamamoto, I'm so sorry." She said. "Tell me Captain Arashi, how are you faring?" Yamamoto asked ignoring Kit. "Fine, it'll take some time but I should be back to full power in no time." Ryia said smiling a bit. "Just make sure you keep Captain Hitsugaya focused." Yamamoto said handing Ryia a piece of paper. Looking down Ryia instantly frowned. "Toshiro….why did you put me down as Captain Commander?" Ryia asked looking back at him. "Well...um….." Toshiro started nervously with a hint of pink on his cheeks. "Don't worry sir, I'll make sure his paperworks correct from now on." Ryia said look back at Yamamoto who just nodded before leaving. "Seems like a lot of people think you would make a great Captain Commander." Kit said smirking at her friend. "Yea right, I honestly have no plans to become the head captain I already have my hands full with the realm, kids and him." Ryia said pointing at Toshiro behind her. "What's that suppose to mean?" Toshiro asked frowning. "Whatever you want it to Toshi." Ryia smirked looking over at him causing his cheeks to go redder in anger causing Ryia to giggle a bit. "Anyway, have you seen the kids yet?" Kit asked looking at her friend. "Not yet." Ryia admitted looking over. "They're over at Jushiro's if you want to see them, I was heading there myself." Kit told her. "Sure why not?" Ryia said smiling up at her from the wheelchair as Kit started wheeling her out. "Toshiro, why don't you go correct your paperwork before you get visited by the other captains." Ryia suggested making Toshiro hang his head as the two left.
Arriving at squad 13 Ryia smiled at the 3 soon to be Lieutenants talking to Jushiro happily about their promotions. "You know, once you three become Lieutenants you won't have much time to sit around and chat so soak it up." Ryia said stopping Kaida mid sentence as 4 sets of eyes turned to her. "Mom/auntie!" The kids yelled jumping up and running over to her. "We thought you wouldn't come back!" Yuuki cried as she hugged her mother. " Honey you should know it'd take more than a little neck wound to kill me." Ryia said softly holding her daughter, son and niece. "How can you be so calm about this? We thought you was dead...Dad thought you was dead, no one knew anything about what happened….then you just show back up and act like nothing happened….This isn't one of your jokes mom!" Yudai yelled shocking the 3 older adults. "Yudai.." Ryia whispered looking at her son. Never once had Ryia seen him act like this or yell for that matter. "You can't just brush it off like a little scratch...you was gone for 5 months...For 5 months we didn't know anything about what happened. Then you just show up again in a wheelchair and a giant scar and want us to play it off and act like it never happened? We can't do that mom…" Yudai yelled more as tears rolled down his face. Ryia looked at looked into her son's once bright blue eyes, they almost mimicked hers, except, right now they held nothing but hurt. "Yudai I…." Ryia started only for the boy to run out of the building sobbing. "YUDAI!" Ryia yelled trying to get out of the chair only to find herself still too weak to. "I'll go look for him…" Kit said placing a hand on her friend's shoulder before leaving after her nephew. Ryia looked down, as Jushiro put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't let what he said get to you. Yudai was never one to show his emotions but they have to come out at some point." Jushiro said smiling down at her. "No, he's right, I take things too lightly, I act like things never happened because I don't want to deal with them. That's how it's always been….I don't want to deal with it I just act like it never happened.." Ryia said softly as 3 sets of eyes stared at her as she turned her chair towards the door and left.
"Yudai!" Kit yelled catching up to her sobbing nephew. "Yudai…" She repeated more softly seeing him against a tree sobbing. Sitting next to him Kit softly pulling him against her. "I don't get it….why does she act like this?" Yudai asked in between the gasps of breath. "Your mother has a very difficult time showing her true feelings, She hates it when people worry about her, so she puts up a front, She always has. She doesn't want you guys to worry about her so she acts like nothing happened." She explained. "Doesn't she get that it makes us worry more?" Yudai asked still crying into his aunt. "She does, but her way of thinking is different, she puts on a front so everyone thinks she's ok, she's not one to express her feelings, She's been hurt so many times that to her, showing her feelings is a weakness. She loves both you and Yuuki dearly, she'll put her life on the line a thousand times over if it meant you two would be safe. The same goes with Toshiro, that night…if she hadn't gotten in the way he would have been killed, she sacrificed herself to protect him, and her two children. When we was with Aizen, every time one of you two did something he didn't like, your mother took the beatings, just to keep you two safe. She knows that others worry about her, but this is a bad habit of hers, I'm not yelling at you for yelling at her, it's dangerous to keep everything bottled inside, you'll break at some point." Kit explained. "Then why does she keep everything bottled up?" Yudai asked looking down. "She vents, those times when you're locked out of the shadow realm is when she's releasing all of it." Kit explained looking at Yudai. "Just remember, she's not doing this to hurt you guys, she's trying to protect you in her own way." Kit continued. "I just wish she'd talk to us, we're not 6 anymore…." Yudai sighed as he felt a hand on his head. "I know you do, just give her some time ok?" Kit said smiling softly down at him only to receive a nod herself.
Ryia sat in the grass in a secluded field in her divisions grounds. So much has happened. She never thought that she would have children by someone who used her, defeat that person, fall in love again, become captain. She was sure if nothing, she would have died in the war. The way Aizen constantly kept her pressure drained and weak honestly scared her...but she survived. "Figured I would find you here Captain." A voice sounded bring Ryia out of her thoughts to find Shuhei sitting beside her. "You must have a lot on your mind to be sitting out here." He continued looking over at her. "Yea…" Ryia agreed softly looking at a single blade of grass. "I heard about what happened...I don't think he realizes that it's how you handle things. A lot has happened in the past 60 or so years. You've been through alot." Shuhei continued. "You say that as if you've known me for a while Shuhei." Ryia said looking over at him. "I do, You're a wonderful person Captain, If I had to go through what you did I'm sure I'd be dead by now, but you...you're still here, stronger than ever." Shuhei explained. "Then...why doesn't I feel like it? Things would have been far simpler if Aizen had let me kill myself that day." Ryia told him softly. "But he didn't, you have a purpose. There's Captain and Lieutenant Hitsugaya, your kids, Kaida, Captain Ukitake, the squad. Everyone here has come to care for you on some sort of level, I don't know if you've noticed….but even Captain Commander Yamamoto has changed." Shuhei told her. "Yea….I remember him being a grouchy old man who'd yell at the slightest things." Ryia chuckled. "Now he's more understanding, if you can change him then you're something special." Shuhei said looking at him captain with a deep concern. "I guess you're right…" Ryia said looking down at the ground under her. It was true, she has changed everyone here.