Author Note: Thanks goes to thunderyoshi for another wonderful review. Thanks goes to MarishkaTheUnderdog for becoming a follower to this story. Hope you all enjoy it and let me know what you think.

Chapter 7:

Irina

I've never met anyone so gentle in my entire life. The skilled Squad Four Captain glanced at me with soft gray eyes. Captain Hirako hung back, giving her enough room to work. Shifting my gaze in his direction, I could see the guilt written all over his face. I didn't understand what could make him feel that way. He had no idea about the danger that waited for us in that forest.

Thinking back on the words of my fellow female squad members, I wondered if what they had said was true. Did he really take a liking to me? If it was true, why? Did he feel the need to protect me because of what happened in the past?

"You are pretty lucky, Irina." Captain Unohana stated.

"How so?" Captain Hirako asked.

"The burn isn't as bad as I first thought. The real problem is the gash in her forearm. I can heal it all; but she's going to have to take it easy for a week or so."

Hearing the verdict only disappointed me. My first day as an official Soul Reaper and I'm already on the injured shelf, fan-freaking-tastic. As if people in the Academy hated me enough, this was going to piss some people off within the squad. Especially since our Captain was in my own personal chambers, hovering over my injuries. I'm sure that rumor would spread quickly enough.

"Understood."

Captain Unohana turned to look at my Captain for the confirmation to heal me. He nodded and sat down slowly in the only chair in the room. The familiar warm tingling sensation engulfed me. Soon the throbbing pain in my leg and arm was gone, replaced by just an achy soreness that was so much more tolerable.

Arisa's fear stricken face flashed before my eyes and I had to know if she was okay, if my interference had saved her life in the end. Turning my head to look at him directly, his soft brown eyes never left mine. "Is Arisa safe?" I asked in a shaky voice.

"She is fine."

"Good..."

I immediately noticed the change in his expression. The resentment and anger surfaced. Did he blame Arisa for my getting hurt? Though true, I didn't blame her. I blamed my lack of battle experience. "She's healed as best as I can do." Captain Unohana interrupted.

"Thank you..." I said softly.

"You're welcome. Try to be careful next time. Oh and Shinji..."

"I know...I owe you..." He replied looking away from her.

"No...I was going to say take care of this one."

Her smile lit up the entire room and I suddenly felt completely out of place in my own home. She turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my Captain. I moved to sit up. Laying down wasn't going to get me anywhere; plus, I wanted to see him more clearly. "She's very kind." I commented tucking falling hair behind my ear.

"Oh trust me you really don't want to piss her off. She's got a dark side to her."

I let out a soft laugh. There was no point in hiding what I obviously wanted to talk about. I had to know if it was him and he needed to know that I intended to pay that debt back. When I opened my mouth to speak, the words wouldn't come out no matter how many times I begged for them to appear.

"Thank you for bailing me out of trouble..." I finally said even though it wasn't what I wanted to say.

"No need to thank me..."He replied getting up from the chair, not meeting my gaze at all.

"It's not the first time you saved me, is it?"

My own question surprised me. It hadn't fully been a day in the squad and I was already asking personal questions; but I had to know. I had to know if it had been him all along. Seeing him at the Academy brought on the familiarity of the situation back to me, only for it to intensify the second I walked into his office.

Shinji

Hearing her question only made the past that much harder to think about. I wanted to tell her the truth; but I didn't know if I could handle her anger towards me once the truth was out there. As if my body had a mind of it's own, I turned to look her in the eyes.

The color had returned to her skin and those ever luring blue eyes of hers sparkled against the dim light of the room. She was tempting beyond belief and the fact that she had no clue was intoxicating, unlike anything I've ever experienced.

"So you remember...?" I asked softly.

"Not everything and I wasn't entirely sure it was you until the board at the Academy stated that you specifically asked for me." She answered folding her hands together in her lap.

"Damn those stuck up power hungry jackass'." I cursed annoyed that they told her information she wasn't supposed to know.

Irina blinked several times at my outburst. I couldn't tell if she wanted to laugh or get angry with me for saying it. She moved her legs over the edge of the couch to push herself to stand upright. "I wasn't supposed to know that, was I?" She asked cringing in pain as she stood completely up.

"No and to be honest, I was hoping that you wouldn't remember...so you wouldn't feel like you owed me anything."

"I do owe you...whether you care or not, you saved my life and I'll forever be grateful for that."

If only she really knew what happened, those words would never have been spoken. I didn't deserve her gratitude, nor did I deserve the admiration reflecting in her eyes. I couldn't lie to myself about what was happening. Over the years of checking in on her, I somehow formed a one-sided bond with her that could never be spoken of...to anyone. "Irina...there is no need for it. I saved you...because I happened to be there."

The hopeful look on her face was lost, replaced by disappointment. I turned away to step outside, not wanting to see the hurt expression any longer. Closing the door behind me, I could hear her sobs. Instantly, they latched onto my chest and applied weight. Sulking away, I left in hopes she'd ask to transfer out. It had been the worst idea to have her placed in my squad. It was an even worse idea to think that I'd be able to handle working with her.

"Why the gloomy look, Shinji?" Hiyori's voice sounded the second I walked passed the office.

"Not now, Hiyori..." I replied completely ignoring her.

"Don't be a dumbass!"

She lunged and kicked me straight through my own front door. Rolling over to jump back to my feet, I stared her down. Daring her to try something else. She crossed her arms over her chest. "What the hell are ya doing here, anyway?" I grumbled.

"You really are a dumbass aren't you?"

"What are ya talkin' about?"

I brushed my uniform clean of the wooden debris and started to clean up the mess. Irina's wounded body plagued my mind of thoughts of just how easily I could have lost her for good tonight. "Shinji, that girl needs some guidance and what did you do? You pushed her away."

"Were you seriously spying on the our conversation?"

"Ugh, don't be dramatic. I had my reasons for being there."

"Do tell, Hiyori!"

At this point, I was just getting down right pissed off at her. Not only did she eavesdrop on a private conversation, she kicked me through my own front door insulting me in the process. She leaned against the wooden door frame. "I'm not going to explain my actions to you; but I will give you this bit of information I came across."

"And what would that be?"

"If you hadn't asked for her specifically, they were going to place her in Squad Eleven."

"Why? Her zanpakuto is kidō based!"

Hiyori pushed away from the door frame and took several steps in my direction. Squad Eleven were barbarians and would completely ruin everything good in her. They would turn her into a heartless killer and that was something I wouldn't let happen. Her reasons for becoming a Soul Reaper were pure and justified. "Shinji, think about what's best for her...not yourself. If she were to leave, they would no doubt put her in Squad Eleven and in no time at all...she wouldn't be Irina anymore."

"Why did you tell me this?" I asked wondering why she'd tell me something so important about someone who wasn't herself.

"Figured you'd want to know...and because I know what it's like to feel alone. She needs you, Shinji."

Not allowing me answer, she vanished. All my thoughts came flooding in at once. If I continued to push her away because of my growing attraction, then she'd eventually leave; but there was no way I could let her be ruined by Squad Eleven. Just what the hell was I going to do?