Bleach belongs to tite kubo but OC's are mine and my friends.

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Chapter 7

Something's Wrong

"Nothing seems to be wrong with you Captain Starchaser." Unohana reported softly. Pyanfar was sitting on a bed in the infirmary stripped down to the white robe that was worn by Soul Reapers beneath their black kimonos. It made the girl feel exposed and she longed to replace the comforting black over the white.

"I'm going to let you go back to your barracks but please take it easy. I think that last mission you went on wore you out more than you think." Unohana instructed. "Also you are to help Captain Noelia in the Great Library in researching these strange beasts that are attacking the Rukon District. That should be easy enough on you."

Goody, dusty old books…what a joy. Pyanfar thought. Unohana was leaving the room and Pyanfar knew it was finally time for her to put her uniform back on. She hopped down from the bed and retrieved her kimono and quickly put it on. Then she threw on her captain's jacket and then she tied her blue and green headband across her brow. Finally, for the cute and innocent touch, she stuck the two half black, half white flowers into her hair just next to the black stripe that split it unevenly.

She left the Squad 4 barracks as fast as possible for she hated the place with all of its sharp objects and strange medicines that did weird things to the body. It creeped the girl out and it was just as well when she was five steps away from the door that she finally relaxed.

Pyanfar took on a leisurely pace and put a bit of swagger into her stride as she passed many shops surrounded by subordinate Soul Reapers and nobles. If they did see her, the girl wanted to make sure they knew she was a captain and a well regarded one, even if she really wasn't. Looking better than you actually were did often have its advantages.

Up ahead, the crowd suddenly parted as if they were avoiding something deadly or dreadful. Pyanfar smiled to herself for there was only one person who could do such a thing. And she was right. Walking down the tunnel the crowd had made for him, Byakuya Kuchiki strode with an elegance that was rare in a man. His eyes met hers and as they passed one another, the Squad 6 Captain turned around and followed her, not too close, not too far behind.

In a nonchalant voice, Byakuya said, "You were absent from the Captain's Council. It's disgraceful to miss something that important."

"I have a good excuse. Ask Unohana about it. She'll tell you that there appeared to be nothing wrong with me and that my latest mission must have worn me out even though I did nothing exciting, except a rather boring capture of a criminal." Pyanfar responded in a teasing yet annoyed sounding tone.

She couldn't see Byakuya's face, but Pyanfar knew that it had not changed. He asked again with the same tone, "Fainting is not a good sign. Yamamoto won't let you do anything special for awhile. Better get used to the Library."

"I heard."

"Might I come to your office so you could explain in better detail as to what happened today?"

Pyanfar shrugged. She knew exactly what her lover meant and would welcome it happily. (And for all you dirty minded-freaks this does not mean what you think it means!!) The two rarely got alone time with all of their business as Captains and because of Pyanfar's excuse to get some rest, this would be the perfect time to get together.

After a while of walking, the two reached the Squad 3 barracks and quickly went inside. The sun was setting and the air was becoming cool and chilly. It took only a few minutes for the two to get to the Captain's Office and Pyanfar opened the door.

"Captain!" Izuru called as he came running down the hall. "I didn't know if you would be coming back tonight- Captain Kuchiki! I didn't expect to see you here."

The tall man was as silent as ever and Pyanfar forced a smile onto her face; sometimes her lieutenant could be a little intrusive. She responded to Izuru's question, "Yes, Izuru. Unohana said I just needed rest. And I'm going to right now."

Izuru stared at her in confusion for a moment and then realization crossed his face. "Oh. Well then, its good you're back Captain, and I uh…I'll go take care of the rest of the paperwork."

The lieutenant walked away briskly, not looking back. Pyanfar sighed in frustration. Izuru was clever, but sometimes he had his blonde moments. (Duh he is blonde-haired) The two captains progressed into the room and Pyanfar went quickly to her desk clearing it off and muttering to herself. Byakuya smiled slightly and he watched her fiddle with the enormous piles of paper. There was one thing that the Squad 6 captain couldn't understand and that was how one girl could be so organized, yet so messy. And it didn't help that she was a procrastinator either.

After a few minutes, Pyanfar had finally organized her desk in a way that she had liked and she took a seat on one of her two elaborate window benches. Byakuya however did not sit down. He observed as she threw her feet up and leaned back in a carefree way that the man would never ever do around others. After a moment Pyanfar looked his way and asked,

"So you want to know exactly what happened today, don't you."

Byakuya rolled his eyes and then replied, "Yes. I almost blurted out my feelings in front of the entire Captain's Council today when I heard the news."

Pyanfar snickered then said, "I fainted. That's about it. Izuru found me and he called Squad 4 and I got checked up and I'm supposedly fine…"

The Squad 3 Captain trailed off but she tried to hide it. Unfortunately, Byakuya noticed. Concern crossed his face mixed with a more fatherly "you're going tell me" look and Pyanfar sighed. She would feel like she was in trouble if she didn't tell him, and so she replied reluctantly,

"Yeah…I uh…heard a voice before I fainted." The girl fidgeted and sat up, her green eyes wide and shinning. She continued, "At first I ignored it, but it was persistent and so I thought maybe it was Izuru playing a trick. So I got up, and was headed towards the door and I must have collapsed…and I dreamed….I think."

Byakuya's expression did not change but his eyes were searching her as if he was suddenly wary of her. Pyanfar closed her eyes and bowed her head. She said almost to herself but loud enough for her love to hear, "Byakuya, am I going crazy?"

The Squad 6 Captain smiled slightly and replied, "You've been crazy for a long time."

Pyanfar smiled slightly too, but she felt the man's concerned but wary eyes burning into her skin. She realized she shouldn't have told him about the voice. It did make her sound crazy. She put a hand to her head and said in a lighter tone of voice,

"That trip must have really taken out more on me than I thought huh. Hearing voices, it's ridiculous. With my luck it was probably only the wind. That's it! It was the wind! It must have been-"

A gentle hand touched the top of her head and Pyanfar looked up to see Byakuya kneel down to her eye level. He said softly, "Don't start raving on me Pyanfar Starchaser, it's a little odd. Should I be worried about you?"

Pyanfar stayed still a moment, then she took his hand in hers and looked into his eyes and after another moment, "No, I've told you many times Captain Kuchiki, I can take care of myself."

Byakuya glanced at the ground, and then rose to his feet. "You get a good night's sleep. I can't visit you tomorrow because of an all day meeting I have, but I'll send someone to check on you."

Pyanfar nodded and Byakuya turned slowly and left the room leaving the girl to her own thoughts. She got up and walked into her bedroom that was attached to the office, and then closed and locked the door tightly. The girl threw herself on the bed, her face hitting the soft pillow, and muttered into it,

"You idiot! Now he thinks I'm crazy! I really messed it up big time!"

"You didn't mess up. He doesn't even like you. He would rather hide his love for you than show it. If everyone knew, then he could get away from that meeting and come spend time with you."

Pyanfar jolted straight up, eyes wide. She whipped her head around the room and saw there was no one there; only the darkness. The sun had set now and night had fallen making the shadows creep with eagerness. She was the only breathing person in the room.

"I must be tired; I'll go to bed right now." Pyanfar said to herself. "I'll be all better in the morning."

The captain slipped out of her normal uniform and put on fresh white robes. Then she lay down in her fluffy bed and closed her eyes. Her mind strayed to thoughts that had laid buried deep in her mind for days and weeks. Every trouble and painful feeling haunted her mind like the rush of a waterfall that would never dry up.

Then, a small picture slowly appeared from the darkness; A young boy with large brown eyes and dark brown hair. Tears fell unchecked from those chocolate eyes and gently disappeared into his ragged brown tunic. The tattered blanket that was held in his arms dropped to the dusty earth as the boy let go and reached out, but he tripped and came face first with the ground. The boy did not cry out in pain but stayed on the ground sobbing. Suddenly, the vision was replaced by another. Houses burned before her and blood soaked the earth around her as it leaked from the bodies of her kin.

Pyanfar's eyes flew open and she sat straight up. She stared around the dark room as a tear slid down her cheek.

"You left him. You let him die. All because you selfishly said you couldn't take it anymore. You left him in her clutches and took your family's prized possessions. THEIF! TRAITOR! MURDERER!"

The Captain hugged her knees and began to sob.