Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I do not. I also do not make money from writing fan fiction. This is something I had believed was lost forever. This is a repost.

Chapter 7: Tears


Ganju sat with Hanatarou the rest of the night. In the morning he felt he had to go home. Hanatarou's Captain promised that he would be safe. He reluctantly left knowing his sister and the girl would want to know that their friend was safe. He made his way back to the compound.


"Captain did you see those wounds, the markings on his back?" Lieutenant Kotetsu looked up from the seventh seat laying on his stomach so she cane change his bandages.

"Yes, I saw. His attacker left his name, or most of it," Captain Unohana nodded grimly at her second, "We must find Keiji Akita." Isane knew that this man was not going to live to see the sunrise, assuming he hasn't taken off. The lieutenant knew a quick execution would be preferable to what she would do when he is found.

"Isane please inform Captain Yamamoto and Captain Zaraki," Her eyes were steely. She softened her face and placed a comforting hand on the little medic's head.

"Captain, h-he fought back. I am sure he could have been a lot worse," Isane smiled weakly through watery eyes, "I'll go send word to the captains." She finished replacing the bandages and gently rolled him onto his back. Then she left the room.

"Little Hanatarou, why do you put up with so much," The woman furrowed her brow while talking to her sleeping subordinate, "You think I don't know about the bullying. Why do you chose to suffer in silence?"


Yuzu slept more peacefully for the rest of the night. When she woke up she seemed to not remember her dream or sending Ganju flying across to room or any of the events of the previous night. She was retried by a servant early. The servant lead her to a formal sitting room. She is asked to sit and there she waits. She waits for what feels like an eternity, uneasiness eating away at the pit of her stomach, "Something's wrong?"

Kūkaku was royally pissed, she waited up all night for her idiot brother to return, or at the very least send word. By sunrise she'd had it and fully intended to go find him and kick him all the way back home. …But he saved her the trouble by walking in just at the right moment.

Ganju had left as the sun began to ebb just above the horizon. He should have taken Bonnie, but then he might have run right past Hana. He made it home by about 6:00 am and walked in with his head down. He followed his sister's reiatsu, though he knew where she would be and he knew she would be angry even without reading her aura.

When he entered the formal sitting room there was a very ticked Kūkaku, and a very ill at ease Yuzu. His sister was on him in a flash his face was smashed in the floor she had his arm twisted painfully behind his back, "Baby brother, may I ask why you failed to send word that you and Hanatarou were safe. I have been up all night, and where the hell is your shirt..."

Kūkaku finally eased up on the bone crunching pressure, "Well."

"I am sorry sister," Ganju didn't look up but the tears were evident in his voice. She finally got off him, but he didn't move, "I used my shirt to slow down his bleeding. Hanatarou was attacked. Some bastard carved him all up. The son of a bitch cut his name into Hana's back!" Ganju was growling as he shook with fury, "It was another soul reaper! That piece of slime! They haven't found him yet, but they know who it was. Hanatarou'd treated his wounds yesterday. And this was the thanks he got! I think all those guys in squad 11 should be castrated then beheaded!"

"Do you mean he—what exactly was the attacker's intention?" His sister sounded stern.

"His Captain and the Lieutenant wouldn't tell me who the man was but they all but told me that the patient molested our little Hana in the examination room yesterday." He was enraged, but also sounded indignant.

"WHAT!" Kūkaku and Yuzu both gesticulated at once.

"But he-did he, was he? Oh Hana," A very stunned Kūkaku looked pleadingly at her brother.

Ganju clarified, "No, I don't think so, but some of his injuries indicate that the man tried, and Hanatarou fought back hard. His skull was cracked according to Lieutenant Kotetsu that wound looked self-inflicted. He-he musta head-butted the guy really hard." Ganju was finally looking up with a sense of pride toward Hanatarou, "He fought hard. He's a good kid, and he's sticking up for himself more. I only wish he didn't need to."

Yuzu was drinking in the information. She finally got a stern look on her face, "Take me there!" It wasn't a request it was a demand. Kūkaku grinned. Ganju looked at her his smile faltered. She repeated herself firmly if not annoyed, "Take me to Hanatarou." Her eyes were molten and many emotions swam in the deep dark pools ranging from concern for Hana to hatred for this mystery man that hurt her Hana. 'What am I thinking? He's not my anything, but I need to know he's gonna be alright!'

"Please, please take me to him," She looked between the two of them. She still looked stern but her voice was fragile and torn. Ganju nodded as he finally got off the ground. He winked at her sheepishly, "I'll take you just as soon as I can get this blood washed off."

Kūkaku nodded, "Yuzu you should have some breakfast before you leave. No point in going if you end up fainting." The girl nodded. They were lead away to the informal dining room. Ganju joined them looking and smelling much fresher. They ate quickly and silently.

"Are you going to be ok? You look tired Ganju." Yuzu asked with a worried look on her face.

"Nah, I'll be fine I can sleep later," He reassured, "What kinda man would I be if I couldn't go a few days without sleeping. Sometimes you have to push yourself."

Kūkaku rolled her eyes at her brother's posturing, 'He's such a male, and a lousy flirt no less.'

"Well we better go," Ganju bowed to his sister in respect, Yuzu mimicked him. He turned crisply and started for the stairs that lead to the surface. Yuzu only just realize the she had been hundreds of feet below the ground. She squinted as they reached the outside. The compound was well lit but there truly is no substitute for the sun. Suddenly Ganju blew a piercing whistle. Yuzu actually covered her ears and shut her eyes. When she opened her eyes she saw a cloud of dust as it settled she saw a giant boar standing next to Ganju. Yuzu was terrified at first.

"Yuzu, this is Bonnie, she will be taking us to the seireitei," He patted the pig's great back and looked proudly at his companion.

"Hello Bonnie," Yuzu timidly held out her hand. Bonnie gently sniffed her small hand. The boar's whiskers tickled. Yuzu was helpless to stop the giggles that ensued. Bonnie moved closed to investigate the small creature that was emitting such a strange noise. The great pig nose made contact with the front of her Kimono. She put her hands on the thing's snouts to stop Bonnie before the pig knocked her to the ground. She is pleasantly surprised to find the snout to be soft and velvety. Bonnie seemed to appreciate Yuzu's touches she nuzzled the girl and let out a squeal.

Ganju gave a pleased chuckle, "She likes you, That's a very good thing. She is an excellent judge of character. If Bonnie don't like you then that means there's something wrong with you, well except for Kūkaku. Bonnie doesn't like her because she is always threatening to turn her into pork barbecue."

Yuzu slapped her hand on her mouth to stop a loud bout of laughter. She gently scratched behind Bonnie's ear (making the great boar very happy), "Bonnie's really nice. She's the nicest boar I have ever met."

"She's beautiful ain't she!" Ganju was quite proud of his pet, Yuzu didn't know about beautiful but she didn't want to not say anything to offend either pet or owner.

"She's the prettiest boar I've ever seen," It wasn't a lie since she had nothing to compare her to. Ganju seemed pleased with her praise.

"Well lets go."


Ichigo was forced to wake early when a certain cherubic version of himself crawled up onto his chest and screamed, "POTTY! DADDY!" Ichigo groaned and rolled out of bed with Ichiru under his arm. He tended to carry his son like a foot ball when he was half awake. He snagged the diaper bag and found the bath chamber. Since they were in there he took care of Ichirou's morning bath and dressed him.

"Juice?" Ichirou looked at his father expectantly. Ichigo found a juice box in the diaper bag. He absently poked the straw in, handed it to Ichirou then sent him into his aunt's room. Then he went back to take care of his own hygiene issues and dressed.

He walked out to find a piss Karin, She had a large purple stain running down her front and her hair was sticking out at odd angles. "Thanks for the wake-up call," She snapped at Ichigo and handed over the squirmy tot who was also wearing his juice.

Karin turned to go get washed up only to bump into an already dressed Captain Kuchki. Her face turned bright red and she offered an apology. There was a slight tinge of pink on the captain's face, but it went unnoticed. The man unconsciously followed the scantily clad young woman (scantily clad by Byakuya's standards. Which was pretty much anything less then a full kimono or a shinigami uniform. Karin was wearing an over sized tee-shirt and loose fitting shorts.) Karin grumbled as she plotted her revenge on her jerk of a brother.

Ichirou saw the stoic man, "Ba koo yah!" He wriggled away from his father to give the man a hug.

"No Ichirou! Your sticky!" Ichigo squawked but it was too late. The juice covered munchkin wrapped his arms around the royal leg of one of the most respected and feared clan heads in the soul society. Strong arms reached down to lift the tiny Ichigo look-a-like.

"Your father is right, you are sticky. Perhaps we should get you a fresh shirt." The man smiled. It was very small, but it was there. Ichirou kissed the Kuichki. The man's smile widened. This was a face Ichigo would have never known could exist on the flat unemotional Captain. That was until the last time he came to the soul society.


...It was Ichirou's second trip to the seireitei. Ichigo stopped by the captain's office to see Rukia. Apparently she spent all of her free time with Renji, to Byakuya's great annoyance.

Ichigo was surprised to find the Captain so receptive of a loud, hyper twenty-one month old. At first he didn't seem to be.

Rukia was making over him, "How cute, he has really grown." She tickled the little boy's stomach. Ichirou squealed and Byakuya shot a glance their way.

"Sorry Byakuya," Ichigo had said, "We didn't mean to interrupt your paper work."

"BAKA!" Ichirou tried to imitate the man's name. Everybody blushed except the Captain who merely raised an eye brow. The man got up. Ichigo fought the instinct to step between his son and the powerful shinigami. Captain Kuichki lifted the boy off the ground and held him at eye level, at arm length, "My name is pronounced Bee-ah-ku-ya Kuchi-ki." He slowly enunciated his name.

"Ba koo ya Kuchi ki," Ichirou tried out the name. He smiled into the stoic eyes of a man who's exterior was always the appearance of stone. The man smiled. It was slight. The boy reached for his hair. The man brought him close to allow Ichirou to explore his long silky locks. He was rewarded with a powerful, chocking hug around his neck. He cleared his throat, "Your son is quite strong."

Ichigo decided this was the cue to take his son back, but he was wrong for once. The captain took a seat behind his desk and gave the boy a dry ink brush to play with. His stony expression had returned except in his eyes. They were warm. Renji and Rukia looked stunned.

"Y-yes he is quite strong, and a powerful psychic," Ichigo said proudly, "It can pose a problem at times. He attracts many hollows." Ichigo was surprised to see an expression of deep concern in those normally cold eyes.

"Is that so?" again he quirked his brow, "I assume you take care of all of them."

"Of course, they are mostly weak, though there have been some dangerous hollows show up, and with Orihime expecting again she can't do much."

"Orihime is pregnant again!" Rukia squealed. All the men covered their ears in pain. Ichirou joined Rukia in squealing thinking it was a game. The he giggled and buried his face in Byakuya's black silky hair. "When is she due? It is a boy or girl? Do you have a name picked out. Can I throw a shower for her? You know next time I'm in town."

"Yes she's about six months along, it's a girl, no not yet, but Orihime wanted to know if we could call her Rukia, and the shower is Orihime's deal you'll have to talk to her about that."

Rukia eyes grew starry and she stopped listening after the name request, "You-you want to name the baby after me." Large tears fell from her eyes and splat on the floor.

"A-are you alright, Rukia?" Ichigo was worried he has offended her.

Rukia jumped up and glomped Ichigo, "Of course I'm fine, I'm honored actually! Thank you. You have my blessing to use my name." She pulled herself off of the stunned man.

She wiped her tears away. Byakuya nodded his approval. He actually looked just as honored as Rukia. Ichigo stayed to visit for over an hour. Byakuya dominated Ichirou the whole time. When it was time to go he lifted a sleeping Ichirou off his shoulder. A clear liquid pooled in his now messy hair.

"Gosh, I'm sorry," It seems that Ichirou drooled into your hair. Ichigo fought the urge to laugh.

"Your kid sure leaves quite the impression," Renji teased the embarrassed father. The three capable of openly showing their feelings laughed...


Yuzu was a lot less frightened of riding Bonnie then Hanatarou. It was scary for her, but it was also exhilarating if she weren't so worried about her friend's welfare she would have had fun riding her.

Ganju and Yuzu were escorted to the fourth division to visit Hanatarou. Yuzu was very nervous, she felt the power surrounding her. She felt insignificant. Her head cast down she slowed her steps while keeping them in sight. She knew it was foolish to let herself lag behind, but she only slowed down even more. Soon Ganju noticed he asked their escort to wait, and ran back to get his friend.

"Yuzu! You don't want to get lost here. I'd hate to have to tell Ichigo I lost his sister again," He smiled a friendly smile, "What's wrong kid?"

"I don't belong here. I'm-I'm weak," Yuzu looked worriedly.

Ganju could not help but laugh. Her brow wrinkled in frustration at him, "I'm sorry. I did not mean to laugh, but are not weak. You just need training." He patted her shoulder and pushed her toward the hospital, "Now I think Hana will appreciate your visit." She nodded and allowed herself to be lead to the boy she was so worried about.

Byakuya was not at breakfast with Ichigo, Karin, and Ichirou, but a hell butterfly fluttered in the window and landed on Ichigo's shoulder. He stood up suddenly and startled his sister, "What is it Ichigo?"


"Yuzu is here, she's in squad four."

"Is she hurt? Why did they take her there?"

"She's not hurt. She's there because Hanatarou is-was attacked," Ichigo looked out the window, "We-we should go."

"Is that Yamada? The klutzy medic?" Karin finished her meal and started to clean up the mess her nephew had made of his own breakfast, "He is a nice little guy, who would hurt him?"

"Yes I don't know who the bastard was," Ichigo gritted his teeth, "Hanatarou found Yuzu."

"That was what Yoruichi had said," Karin agreed.

"I already owe him so much, how am I going to ever repay him."

"We all owe him, you, me and Dad. And Ichirou," She smiled, "He gave us our sister."

"Are you ready for this?"

"No," Karin would never be ready.

"Huh?"

"I'll be f-fine, but little Ichi- needs to be washed up again." Both look at the little boy with egg smeared across his face and down his shirt.

"He-he-he, I'll get him, cleaned up," Ichigo grabbed the boy up and went to his room. Karin tried to clear up the table but a servant came in to do it. She never got used to other people doing her chores. She did this every time she was at the Kuchki manor. She sat glumly and waited for her brother.

"Karin?" Rukia's chipper voice pierced the air. She walked into the room with a smile on her face, "Oh Karin, what's wrong?" Rukia came to attempt comforting, Karin hated that she glued on a fake smile.

"Nothing, just nervous, and the boy who found Yuzu. He was hurt. Did you hear about it?"

Rukia's face darkened, "Yes. I heard I was going to walk over with you. So I could sit with him while you catch up with your sister."

"Wookia!" Ichirou tackled the petite woman. She was helpless but to giggle as the boy planted kisses on he cheek.

"My aren't you forward," A big grin crept across her face.

"Can we pway?" He giggled into her neck.

"Maybe later," She cuddled the boy, "I can't wait to have one of my own."

"Rukia! What are you saying?" Karin shocked into a smile.

Rukia blushed, "No, no, It's not like that. I'm not," She just smiled, "But someday I hope to have the chance."

Ichigo walked in on their conversation, "So when is the bum gonna ask you to marry him?"

"Yeah-yeah! It's none of your business" Rukia stuck her tongue out at her friend, "Lets go Karin. Leave the loud mouth carrot behind." The women got up and silently left with Ichirou in tow. Ichigo followed.


Yuzu sat quietly next to a sleeping Hanatarou. Her hand crept into his, in his sleep he squeezed it. She her heart leaped, "Oh, Hanatarou. What did they do to you."

She sat there in tears her first true friend was badly hurt and helpless she couldn't do anything. Ganju stood behind her for a while finally.

Yuzu asked if he needed to go rest, "Please go home and rest you can come for me later I'm not going anywhere."

He nodded deciding she needed to be alone with him, "I'll be back before dark."

Unohana walked by Hanatarou's room on her way to her lunch break. She decided to pop in and check on her seventh only to find a small girl holding his hand. She was quite pretty. Her eyebrow quirked. "So this is the source of your love sickness," She whispered to herself. She chuckled, 'Later I will stop and see this mystery woman.' She chuckled to herself and left the lovers alone.

Hanatarou felt pain. His back was on fire. His head was pounding, but he felt very happy he did not know why. He felt a soft warm hand slip into his slightly rougher hand. He squeezed it and smiled, 'I smell flowers.' He willed his eyes to open his mouth to speak, but they just refused.

He heard a female voice is was slightly distance, "Oh, Hanatarou. What did they do to you."

"Yuzu! You came!'

Even without the strength to communicate any other way he showed his appreciation of her visit. A pink blush spread across his face. This was of course mistaken by the nurse that came in to check on him as fever.

Hanatarou felt the sensation of freezing as an ice pack was placer on his forehead. He shivered, but he still felt Yuzu's dainty hand.

"Hanatarou, please wake up soon," Yuzu pleaded.

'I will, I promise!'