Tatsuki went flying back towards the left. Everyone that had surrounded them was surprised, but they were able to catch her before she landed on the floor, and then slowly laid her down.

Renji ran over and knelt beside her feeling guilty. She was unconscious, with a red mark on her chin where he kicked her. He gently felt around it and sighed in relief as he discovered that her jaw wasn't broken.

"If there's some ice around someone go get it," he wanted to make sure there was as little swelling as possible. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone run to another room.

He heard a voice above him, "Dude, what did you kick her like that for? Sure she gets rough in a fight, but that's no reason to knock her out like that."

"I didn't do it on purpose. If you were paying attention I tried to make the blow land somewhere else. But I couldn't move that fast." Damn gigai. He carefully picked her up and set her down on the side of the dojo where there seemed to be some more comfortable mats. The guy returned with the ice pack and he set it gently on her chin.

He looked at her as he held the ice to her chin, the bangs of her blue-black hair fell over her eyes and he brushed them back a little. Since her eyes were closed he couldn't see what color they were, but her personality made him believe they would be warm and caring, and sharp when she was angry. Yeah, he definitely didn't want to be around when she was really angry. Her nose was small, and well defined; her lips were slightly pink, setting off her slightly tanned skin perfectly.

As he pulled his hand away from her hair he saw her brown eyes were open. He tensed a little, what would she think to wake up and find him touching her like that? Especially since he's the one that knocked her out in the first place. He backed up a little, prepared to go even farther if he had to.

She woke up to an aching head, and a killing jaw. She felt someone's hand on her head and opened her eyes and found Renji in front of her. Wait, was that him that was touching her that way? "Hey, don't touch me like that!"

She sat up quickly and then regretted it as her head swam. She fell back onto her elbow and held her head groaning. Which was another mistake making her jaw ache even more. "Ah man, you sure kick hard."

"Sorry about that, you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I've had worse injuries." She tried not to move her jaw very much as that would make it worse, and then Renji put a pack of ice on her injury. She took it from him and held it firmly in place. "Thanks."

"Least I could do. Tatsuki, what happened? We were going at it fine and then you stopped."

Tatsuki's eyes widened a little as she remembered what happened. What did happen anyways? What was that voice? "It was nothing, just got distracted." If someone found out she was hearing voices, they'd think she was going crazy. But was she going crazy? No, it was just the one time. It's not going to happen again.

"You sure? You looked kinda pale for a second."

She glared at him.

Ah crap, he did it again. Ichigo said not to question what she said, and he did it as he did before. He gulped as he saw her glare at him.

"Do I really need to repeat myself Benji?"

At that time the sensei of the dojo came in, saving him from a beating, and the mockery of the others who heard her call him Benji again.

"Ok everyone, line up."

As the rest of the students lined up, Tatsuki slowly stood up. Renji reached for her hand to help her up and she swatted it away. The sensei noticed Tatsuki's slow movements and came over. "You alright Arisawa?"

"Yes sensei." She bowed to him then stood up straight looking at him.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, I was sparring and got clipped on the chin. Nothing big."

He turned her chin slowly to look at her jaw, and then looked into her eyes for a sign of a concussion or other head injury. "Well, it looks like nothing a good night's sleep won't cure, but I think you should sit today out just to be sure."

"But sensei…"

"That's my final word. I'm not going to let you risk permanent injury because you don't want to rest." He turned to everyone else, "Who was she sparing against?"

Renji stepped forward and bowed. "Me sensei, I'm sorry I hurt her."

"Who are you?"

"Renji Abarai, I'm a visitor in town and challenged her to a sparring match."

"Hmm, you must be pretty good to be able to spar with our dragon girl. But please be careful. And stick with her for the rest of the day and be sure she does rest. If I know her she'll just go home and practice on her own."

"Yes sensei."

"I don't need a babysitter!" Tatsuki looked livid.

"I'm not going to hear anything else Arisawa. Cool down right now, and go home, or go for a walk. Anything as long as it doesn't involve you straining yourself. And don't give Abarai a hard time either." He walked towards the rest of the class to begin the lesson of the day.

Tatsuki glared at him again then walked over to the corner and started her cool down. He knew she wouldn't accept any help from him as she did before the match, so he did his own cool down exercises and then went to the shower and quickly washed off his sweat. He knew that if he didn't come out first Tatsuki would just leave without him so he couldn't watch her for the sensei.

After he came out he put the gi back and then bowed to the sensei and walked out of the dojo just in time to see Tatsuki turn a corner. Dang she's fast, he thought girls take forever in the bathroom.

"Hey!" he yelled and ran after her.

Tatsuki heard him but she kept going. How could the sensei send her home with a babysitter like a child? She didn't need him hanging around her all day. She was fine, she didn't need any help. She's never needed help, and never will. She can handle anything that comes her way on her own.

She felt a large callused hand on her shoulder, "Hey, sensei told me to stick with you today." She shrugged off his hand.

"I don't need your help, I don't need anyone," she continued walking away, but he fell in step beside her.

"I know that, I'm looking after myself here. Ichigo said he'd kill me if I hurt you. Imagine what he'd do if he learned I hurt you then let you walk around by yourself?"

She looked up at him in surprise. That was the first time that she said she didn't need anyone and didn't get a remark about her stupidity and stubbornness.

"What?"

She looked away and started walking again, "Nothing."

He walked with her in silence for a few minutes then asked, "Don't get mad at me for asking this again, it's just friendly concern. Are you sure you're alright?"

She thought about getting mad at him again, but decided against it. "Yeah, I'm fine."

He looked down at her for a few seconds, and then looked away, "Alright then."

They continued walking in silence; she didn't even know where she was going really. Just wandering aimlessly, she hadn't had a day off from the dojo in a very long time, and didn't know what to do with the extra time.

"So you have any other interests besides martial arts?"

She looked at him. Why did he want to know? "Not really, school and martial arts take up the majority of my time."

"Hmph, that sounds like me really. When I'm not on duty, I'm training. Well, mostly anyways," he blushed a little and she smirked.

"Oh, and what do when you're not doing either."

He was silent for a little while, "Hey, you hungry?"

She laughed and let him change the subject. "Sure, as long as you're buying."

"Eeh?"

"Well you are the guy right? And you owe me for knocking me out."

"Well you do have a point there. So where would you like to eat?"

She took him to her favorite ramen stand where they ordered large bowls, she got pork, and he got beef.

As they ate they talked about martial arts mostly, but they did talk a little about their other hobbies. She learned that Renji enjoyed futsal, and was trying to assemble a team in his division. She told him about how she actually enjoys drawing.

But as the meal progressed, she could feel a churning feeling in her stomach, and also a slight increase of the tingling feeling that she had gotten used to over the week. The feelings were ruining her appetite and so only ate about ¾ of what she usually would eat.

"You're not going to finish that?"

"Nah, you can have it. I'm full."

"Alright, don't mind if I do." He took her bowl and started eating the leftovers. From the corner of his eye he noticed her rubbing her stomach, as if she was feeling sick.

He turned to her, "You alright?"

"Yes! Get it through your think skull, I'm fine!"

He paused and stared at her in shock. How did he deserve that one? It's been a while since he asked her that question, and this time it was something totally different from her injury.

The shock must have shown on his face because she quickly apologized.

"Sorry, I have a few things on my mind. I need to get going home," she stood up. "Thanks for the food, I'll see you around."

She then started to walk away. Renji quickly paid for the food then hurried after her. "Wait, I'll walk you home. Before you protest, your sensei did say for me to stay with you today. But since I know you don't like the idea, I'll just take you home and leave you in peace for today as long as you promise not to strain yourself. That a good compromise?"

Tatsuki turned to him and scrutinized his face. "Fine, if that'll get rid of the babysitter charade, you can tag along."

"Good, I'll also feel less guilty about hitting you," he half smiled at her.

She half-heartedly laughed at that and started walking home. She was quiet the whole way, which was a little unusual, but she was also slightly hunched forward, which was even more unusual. He'd been watching her for a whole week, so even though it was a very slight difference, he could see it. It almost looked like she was trying to favor her stomach, like she had a stomach ache. But since he ate some of the same food, he doubted that it was the food itself that was the problem.

He hadn't checked her reiatsu at all today, and did so now. The result did not comfort him. The reiatsu leftover from the hollow seemed to have grown a little. It wasn't really much of a difference, but the fact that it was stronger than before, wasn't good. He wasn't sure on what to do though. Tatsuki would never admit that something was wrong. She took pride in taking care of herself, plus she wouldn't want to worry anyone.

They reached her house without him deciding what to do, "Well I hope your day gets better."

"I'm sure it will, bye Renji. Thanks for the match, we should do it again sometime," she smiled and rubbed her jaw a little, which was starting to bruise. By tomorrow she'd have a lovely black and blue mark.

"Next time I'll try to be more careful," he smiled a little.

"Don't you dare hold back on me; I'll hate you forever if you do."

"Ha, you got it. Bye Tatsuki." He waved and went on his way, looking relaxed and calm, but his mind was far from it.

As Tatsuki closed the door, she rested her arm over her stomach. The pressure in her stomach built some on the walk here, and she hopped Renji didn't notice it. That guy was rather observant and persistent.

She climbed the stairs to her bathroom and lifted up her shirt to expose her stomach, it really didn't look any different than before except that 2 inch scar on her stomach. The scar itself didn't bother her, she could come up with a really good story as to how she got it, but the feeling she was getting from it bothered her. She didn't know what to make of it.

"You still haven't figured it out yet?" the sinister voice was back along with a cackle.

She gasped, "Who are you?"

"I'm hurt, you honestly don't remember me?"

"Well I've never had evil voices talking to me before," she was starting to get angry, which is why she was brought to sarcasm.

"Heh, but I'm not just some evil voice. My name is Kyōgeki."

She gasped. No, it couldn't be.

"I see you're starting to get it. Yes, I'm the hollow that attacked you last week."