The next day.
Rukia was watching over the rebuilding of the 13th division barracks when she realized what time it was.
"Okay everyone take a break for an hour"
"Right lieutenant Kuchiki"
She nodded at them before she left the division grounds.
"Maybe I should visit the captain. The head-captain did tell me yesterday that he was in the 4th division"
Making up her mind, Rukia flash stepped to the 4th division and walked in.
"Hi lieutenant Kotetsu"
"Oh hello Rukia. What brings you here?"
"The head-captain told me yesterday that my captain was here"
"Ah yes, how kind of you to come see him.
-Follow me"
Rukia followed Isane down the halls to the right room.
"Here it is."
"Thank you"
Isane then walked away to take care of her other patients while Rukia took a deep breath before opening the door.
Even though she knew he would be there, she still couldn't believe her eyes at seeing her captain who she thought had died, sitting there on the bed with a book.
"Captain..."
Hearing that made Jūshirō look up and when he saw his lieutenant standing there, a smile appeared on his face.
"Hi Rukia"
He closed the book and placed it on the table next to the bed as she came closer.
"I'm glad to see you captain
-I couldn't believe it at first when the head-captain told me about you"
"It's hard to believe but here I am and it's thanks to Akon"
He then gestured towards a chair that Rukia sat down on.
"How's everything with the division?"
"Everything is going well. We're working hard on rebuilding the barracks just like all the others.
-It will take time but once its done, they will be even better than the old barracks"
"That's good to hear"
Jūshirō then got this serious expression on his face.
"How many people did we lose?"
"A lot, sir. Captain Unohana and captain Komamura were thankfully the only captains that lost their lives"
"Who else?"
"Lieutenant Kira was badly injured but he's on the road to recovery thanks to lieutenant Kotetsu. Captain SoiFon, lieutenant Hisagi and some of the others that went to the palace are all going to make full recoveries as well.
-But many seated and Unseated officers lost their lives in this war including 6th seat Kajōmaru"
"I see.
-So I guess all Quincies are gone"
"The few that survived left as soon as they got to know Yhwach was dead and they promised to leave the Soul Society alone"
"That's good news"
"Yes.
-By the way captain. Do you know hoe long you have to be here?"
"A few more days at least. Lieutenant Kotetsu wants to make sure I've fully recovered from what the 12th division did"
"I understand.
-The others will be happy once you return"
"They don't know I'm alive?"
"I haven't told them yet. I wanted to come and see for myself that it was true about you before telling them"
"Then please tell them when you go back. I don't want any of them feeling sad over something that didn't happen, in this case my passing"
"I will. I'm also sure the head-captain is gonna let captain Kurotsuchi tell the other captains about this on their next meeting"
"I'm sure about that as well"
Rukia had to leave about ten minutes later since she wanted to grab something to eat before her break was over.
Later, the captains and the second-in-commands of divisions with injured captains had all gathered to go over the progress of the rebuilding.
"Okay, a report from each captain on the rebuilding, said Shunsui"
"The 2nd division barracks weren't that badly damaged and it should be done in another week, said SoiFon"
"The 4th didn't suffer that much damage either and the part we had to rebuild is almost done, said Isane"
"The 5th has to be rebuilt almost from scratch but we've gotten quite far the past weeks, said Shinji"
"The 6th was only partially destroyed and should be done by tomorrow, said Byakuya"
"The 7th is gonna need at least two more weeks before it's done, said Tetsusaemon"
"Only the editorial part of the 9th was heavly damaged and had to be rebuilt from scratch but we should be done soon, said Mashiro"
"The 10th is in a state similar to the 7th, said Tōshirō"
"Same with the 11th, said Kenpachi"
"Some of the research department was completly destroyed but we are taking this as a change to expand a bit, said Mayuri"
"The 13th is in the same state as the 2nd, said Rukia"
"Good to hear everything is coming along well, said Shunsui.
-I want all divisions to keep doing what they can to rebuild their barracks as quickly as possible since there are other parts of the Seireitei that also needs to be rebuilt"
"Yes head-captain!"
"Also. Kurotsuchi and Kotetsu, I believe there is something that should be shared with everyone here"
"I knew you would bring him up, said Mayuri"
"What are you talking about, Shinji asked"
"The head-captain wants me to tell you that Ukitake is still alive"
"WHAT?!"
"How is that possible, we saw him give his life to replace the Soul King, said SoiFon"
"Oh nothing special. I just had Akon bring him to the intact part of the lab and work on restoring what he gave up to that Mimihagi"
"You mean like you did to Momo, said Tōshirō"
"Correct. That's exactly the method Akon used"
"So were is he now, Byakuya asked"
"At the 4th division, said Isane.
-He was brought to us two weeks ago and I'm glad to say that he's going to be fully recovered in a few days"
"Will he be able to return to his position, SoiFon asked"
"Yes. Despite the removal of Mimihagi, his spiritual pressure is as strong as ever so once he's released from the 4th, he can come back"
"That's good news, said Byakuya"
"One less person to worry about replacing, said Shinji"
The meeting ended not long after that and Rukia returned to the 13th to tell her division about their captain.
"Everyone, put down what you're doing for a moment"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to her.
"I just came from a meeting were the other lieutenants, the captains and I were informed that Captain Ukitake is still alive"
They all looked at her as if she was joking.
"Are you serious, Sentarō asked"
"Yes. Captain Kurotsuchi asked 3rd seat Akon to used a method they used once before on lieutenant Hinamori to save our captain.
-I also went to the 4th division were he is right now and I can confirm that it is true"
Everyone looked at each other before cheering in happiness.
"He needs to stay in the 4th for a few more days but he will be able to return to his position as our leader.
-So let's work hard to show how far we've come with the rebuilding when he returns"
"Yes ma'am!"
Everyone then went back to work and Rukia couldn't help but smile.
Knowing that their captain was alive seemed to light a fire in all of them that hadn't been present for the past weeks.
