Juliet: So chapter two. Hopefully this fic is better as I write it the second time around. Anyway I don't own Bleach or anything from Bleach. I'm not making any money from this. Kitsune is mine and Marena & Zurui belong to some friends of mine.

Chapter Two: Learning My Skills:

Life changed for Kitsune after that.

Her classmates, who had once avoided her simply because they found her strange, now openly tormented her.

Insults against her, she could ignore, but when they insulted her father, she could not stand by. She didn't mean to react so harshly, her body just moved with its own will.

She walked home alone one day, her left eye swollen shut and her lip split open, stinging. Blood trickled from her nose, and she could taste it on the tip of her tongue.

She stopped at the third barracks. She knew what was happening within: Kira, her Iduka-chan, was rushing around with Zurui on his heels. Kira had been so busy, lately, taking care of both his duties as a lieutenant, as well as the captain duties that Gin had abandoned. Zurui, as third seat and because of his devotion to Kira, was doing his best to help. Marena, still in her numb state of shock, attended to her own duties, silently.

Kitsune had not heard her sister speak more than a few words at a time, since their father's disappearance.

She shook her head, unable to show up at home looking the way she did now, and she continued on to her new haven: Fourth Squad.

Unohana was kind to Kitsune, willingly teaching her, healing her wounds from fights, and giving her encouragement or consolation. Isane, Unohana's lieutenant, was just as sweet.

Kitsune secretly hoped that when she graduated from the academy, she would be placed in 4th Squad.

"Unohana-sama?" she asked, softly, peeking in the office door. Unohana smiled,

"It's nice to see you again, Kit-chan. Please, come in."

Kitsune opened the door fully, and stepped inside, wincing at Isane's gasp.

"Oh those look terrible!" the shy lieutenant exclaimed.

"I… uh…. I got into another fight."

"That much, is obvious." Unohana replied. "Isane would you mind…?"

"No, of course not, Unohana-taichou."

Isane knelt beside Kitsune and healed her wounds. Kit let out a sigh of relief as the throbbing pain faded away.

Unohana handed her a warm, wet cloth to wipe away the blood.

"You're graduating soon, are you not?" she asked, gently cleaning away the crimson stains.

"Um… I'm actually only a 4th year student."

"I see. Do you know which division you will be assigned too when you do graduate?"

Kitsune shook her head,

"Probably 3rd, since my family is there."

Unohana nodded,

"How are your classes?"

Kitsune blushed, and looked away.

"I…er… I have problems with kido." she admitted, sheepishly.

"Even healing?"

"I don't know, we haven't tested over that, and they only taught us how in theory, we've never actually attempted it."

Unohana smiled again,

"Come with me then."

She led Kitsune and Isane to the ward for minor wounds. People who came here were usually taken care of quickly, but there were a few shinigami here who were still waiting.

"You, of Squad 11, what's your name?" she asked. The man looked up, he had a small but deep gash above his left eye and it was bleeding heavily.

"Tao Li, Unohana-taichou."

"Well, Tao Li, would you mind if this girl attempts to heal you?"

Tao Li examined Kitsune and then nodded,

"Yeah, that'd be fine."

"Thank you." Unohana turned to Kitsune. "Now, go on, try to heal him."

Kitsune took a deep breath and stepped forward, holding her hands over the wound. She closed her eyes and focused her spiritual pressure. Healing was different from Bakudo or Hado. It was not offensive or defensive; it did not require complex incantations or focus. All it took was the will to ease another's pain.

Unohana and Isane watched at Kitsune's spiritual pressure flared and her hands glowed with a soft, pale green light. The wound in Tao Li's head closed and Kitsune, instinctively sensing that she was done, opened her eyes and lowered her hands.

"Well done, Kitsune-chan!" Isane gasped.

"Tao Li, you're free to leave." Unohana said. He nodded, gave a small thank you, and left.

"How do you feel, Kitsune-chan? Are you tired?"

"No, I feel fine. It took almost no energy at all."

"Good, let's continue."

Kitsune healed everyone in the ward and then Unohana moved her to more serious wounds.

The sight of blood didn't faze Kitsune at all, she was so determined to help the injured. Healing minor wounds even after an extended period of time didn't affect her at all. Healing larger wounds though, began to tire her after a couple of hours. This was still amazing, especially since it only affected her energy by a small amount. With practice she could be a healer as talented as Isane, and maybe even Unohana herself.

I must convince Yamamoto-taichou to place her in Squad 4. Unohana thought.

Kitsune looked up,

"Anyone else, Unohana-sama?"

"Not today. It's not good for you to over exert yourself so early. However, your healing capabilities are extraordinary."

"Thank you… It feels good to find something I'm good at." Kit said, with a small smile.

"Then come back tomorrow and we'll develop your talents more. But now it's late. You should go home, before Kira-fukutaichou begins to worry."

Kit nodded, said her goodbyes and headed out.

She slid open the door of her home, stepped inside, and was immediately greeted by Kira.

"Where have you been! I was so worried about you!" He exclaimed, embracing her.

"Sorry, Iduka-chan. I was training with Unohana-sama."

He didn't say it aloud, but Kitsune knew what Kira was thinking: I can't bear to lose anyone else.

She sensed an emptiness in the house,

"Where's Marena-nee-chan?" She asked, looking around for her sister.

"She was sent to the Human World with a small squad. There's been an unusual amount of Hollows lately."

Kitsune blinked,

"She'll be back, right?"

"Yes, Kit, she'll be home in a few weeks."

Kit smiled, glad to see her Iduka-chan returning to normal. Despite this she could still sense a sadness within Kira that would probably never really disappear. Just like her brother's anger would never fully fade.

She yawned, today's exertions wearing down on her. Kira kissed the top of her silver hair and smiled sadly; Kitsune looked so much like Gin…

"Good night, sweetheart, you look exhausted."

She nodded,

"Good night, Iduka-chan."

She kissed his cheek and headed for her bedroom.