"Come in," Retsu said when a knock came at her door.
The door opened and the visitor stepped inside, causing Retsu to drop her book and run to embrace them.
"Yuki, you're alright!"
Yuki hugged her mother sensing that she could see a clear difference in her. "Hi, Mom. Sorry for worrying you."
Retsu looked her daughter up and down and smiled in relief. "You look so well again. What changed? What brought you out of depression?"
"Believe it or not, it was Ikkaku. He went with me to see Himori yesterday and talked with me for a bit. What he said was what pulled me out of my depression. I feel like myself again, like this weight has been lifted."
Retsu touched her cheek and smiled. "My daughter is finally back."
Another knock came at the door and the two Unohana ladies turned to find Jushiro standing in the doorway.
"Yuki!"
Yuki ran to Jushiro, the man whom she had seen as a father her whole life, and buried her face into his chest. "Jushiro, I missed you."
"I missed you as well, Yuki. You seem back to your old self! That is wonderful news!"
Yuki looked up at him and smiled. "I'm all better now, ready to move on and live for Himori."
Jushiro smiled and planted a kiss on the top of her head. "That's my girl. Are you joining us for the afternoon tea with Head Captain Yamamoto?"
"I'd love to."
"Then, Retsu, if you are ready, let's go."
Yuki with the two people who had saved her life that day so many years ago, one on each side of her, and she couldn't be happier. It was amazing how quickly she bounced back from her depression and the two captains could see a clear change in her mannerism. She was happy again, but there seemed to be a hint of something else. They made their way through the Seireitei to the Head Captain's quarters and when they knocked on the door, Chojiro opened it for them and they filed inside.
"My, my, this is a pleasant surprise." Yamamoto said, looking over from where he stood by the banister of his patio.
"Grandpa Yama!" Yuki called excitedly and ran to the old man, not caring that his lieutenant was there still.
Yamamoto opened his arms and hugged the young woman when she reached him, something he rarely did with anyone but her. "It is good to see you are back to your old self, dear girl." he said, looking down at her. "I trust that you are ready to move forward now?"
Yuki nods. "Of course, Grandpa Yama."
"That's my girl! Now, let us have some tea. We have much to discuss."
-O-
Yuki had had a wonderful day with her mother, Jushiro, and the Head Captain. As she walked back to the Squad 11 barracks, she heard a commotion and saw everyone scrambling to their stations. Apparently, there had been another attack on Rukongai citizens and they needed help. It was all hands on deck and everyone ran to receive their orders from their captains.
Yuki hurried to her barracks and quickly joined the rest of her squad. She found everyone in the courtyard, looking to Kenpachi and Yachiru for answers.
"Captain, what's going on?" she asked, pushing her way to the front.
"You got me." Kenpachi said. "All I know is that Kensei Muguruma and a few of his subordinates are going to check things out. The rest of the squads are to wait for further instructions."
"Yuki was summoned, though, Kenny! Remember? Kensei asked for her to assist them on their mission."
"Captain?" Yuki asked, confused.
"Oh yeah. Muguruma asked that you accompany him when he goes out to the Rukongai. You better get going."
"But why me?"
"Something about your healing skills were some of the best in the Soul Society and your training with Kuchiki, blah, blah, blah. Just get going, Yuki, and come back safe."
"Yes, sir!"
Yuki turned away and hurried off towards the Squad 9 barracks.
'Be careful, Yuki.' Kenpachi thought, feeling a sickening sense of worry building in his stomach. He knew that she would be fine, but a nagging feeling just kept eating at him.
-O-
"Good to see you, Yuki. How have you been?"
Yuki looked at the man who stood before her. He was handsome, standing at five feet ten and a half inches tall and weighing 165 pounds, short silver hair, toned muscles and a tattoo of the number "69" on his chest.
"I've been well, sir, thanks for asking. And you? How have you been? It's been quite some time since we last talked."
"I'm well, considering. Just been busy with the usual captain business." Kensei replied, stretching and trying to nonchalantly flex his muscles.
Yuki giggled at that. "I see you've been working out as always. Captain Zaraki said that you had asked for me to accompany you?"
"Oh, yes. Between your fighting skills and your healing skills, you would be an asset to my team on this investigation. I would like for you to come with me." Kensei said, having an ulterior motive as well. "Do you accept my invitation?"
Yuki smiled, feeling the praise making her cheeks blush. "Of course, Captain Muguruma. When do we leave?"
"Now."
-O-
"Sir, there's a Hollow attacking nearby!" someone said.
"Then let's go get it, boys!" Kensei said, leading the charge forward.
Yuki followed close to him, keeping up with his pace at his side and earning an impressed smile from the Captain of Squad 9. When they reached the location, Yuki saw in horror as a young boy told his friends to run while he fended off the Hollow, only to be grabbed.
Kensei leaped into action and using his shikai destroyed the Hollow. He seemed proud of himself, then noticed the young boy on the ground nearby, crying. He went over and attempted to cheer him up, but he did so in a commanding and somewhat hostile way with a devilish grin on his face. This made the young boy cry even more and Yuki couldn't take it. She flash stepped in front of Kensei and stood right in front of him, her hand on his muscular chest.
"Captain, back off, alright? You're scaring the poor thing."
"He needs a little toughening up, Princess." Kensei said, smirking down at her as he tried to ignore the warm sensation rising in his stomach.
Yuki's brow twitched and she leaned in a little closer, getting right next to his ear with her chest pressed against his. "Kensei, if you don't, this Princess will throw your ass back to the Seireitei." she said, glaring up at the man.
Kensei's cheeks flushed, the feeling of her breast pressing against his chest making his whole body begin to burn, the sensation growing stronger the longer she stayed there. He took a step back, dumbfounded, and watched as Yuki proceeded to sit with the young boy and pull him into her arms.
"Hush, it's alright. That mean old scary Kensei can't hurt you now." Yuki said, sticking her tongue out at Kensei in a playful, teasing manner. "Now, that was really brave of you to try and save your friends like that, but you could've gotten hurt. Next time something like this happens, try to leave it to the Soul Reapers, OK?"
The young boy nodded.
"That's a good boy. Now, my name is Yuki Unohana. What's your's?"
"S-Shuhei H-Hisagi."
Yuki smiled, reaching up and wiping away the tears on his cheeks. "Shuhei Hisagi. That's a good strong name for such a good, strong and brave young man. Did you ever think to join Shino Academy when you're older? I think you could do great things for the 13 Court Guard Squads."
Shuhei looked from Yuki to Kensei. "Thanks for stopping that monster, mister."
"No problem, kid."
Mashiro returned with her report, having found ten empty shihakusho- the Soul Reapers' uniform- near where the Hollow had attacked. They needed to continue their investigation, but Yuki wanted to heal the young boy's scratches first. Kensei and the others watched as Yuki moved her hand over Shuhei's arms and legs, healing the scrapes and bruises left from the Hollow attack.
"There, you're all better now." Yuki said, smiling. "We have to go now, Shuhei, but maybe I'll come visit your village later and I can check up on you guys. Sound good?"
Shuhei smiled and nodded, hugging her. "Thanks, Yuki!"
Yuki stood, ruffling Shuhei's hair before she joined Kensei and the others. As they walked away, she heard Shuhei comment on Kensei's tattoo and that he wanted to become stronger like him and join the Academy to learn to fight and protect people. Yuki smiled at that and felt a sense of pride in helping that young boy. She sensed good things would come of it.
When they reached the location off the shihakusho, Kensei pondered on what could have happened to the men and women that wore them and noted that they couldn't have simply been taken off.
"It fits the reports, Captain Muguruma." Yuki noted, squatting down to look at the uniforms. "It's like they completely vanished into thin air, only their clothing left behind."
Kensei couldn't help himself but look at her ass, noting that it was toned and well rounded, and blushed when she stood and turned back towards him. "I agree. Heizo, send word to Squad 12 that we need someone to collect data. The rest of you, set up camp. We'll collect the shihakusho and return them to central command."
While his men went about their business, Yuki went about making them something to eat. Kensei watched her as she moved around, a sense of lightness to her steps like she was walking on water, and it was hard to believe that the tiny little girl he had first met so long ago had grown into such a beautiful young woman.
"So, Captain Muguruma, you still have yet to tell me why you have that number tattooed on your chest." Yuki asked, looking at him.
"Well, the '6' is the kanji for 'Muguruma' and the '9' is for my squad." Kensei explained, then came over to her, placing a hand on her waist and pulling her in closer. "Although, I've heard rumors going about that people think it's something... less professional and more of a personal thing I like to do."
Yuki felt her cheeks burn a bit. She knew full well what he was hinting at, having heard about it from some of the women in the Seireitei who were sexually active. She looked up at him, she herself standing a few inches shorter than him. "And is it true?"
Kensei leaned in, his lips barely brushing the skin on her neck. "Would you like to find out? Beautiful woman such as you wouldn't make it easy to say no."
Yuki's body flushed and someone cleared their throat. Heizo had returned, reporting that they had sent Hiyori from Squad 12 to gather reishi samples. Yuki stepped away from Kensei and started to hand out the small meal she had made for everyone.
"Thank you, Yuki. Oh, by the way, your mother asked that you return quickly. She has some business to attend to and she needs your help."
"Oh, OK. Thank you, 3rd seat Kasaki."
Kensei chuckled at her professionalism, knowing it must be hard for her to when he had just teased her like he had. But then again, they had done that a lot lately and she always remained professional. "Stay a bit to eat with us, then you can go ahead and head out. I think we'll be fine from here on out."
Yuki looked at him. "Are you sure, Captain?" Her cheeks were still red, causing Kensei to smirk.
"Ya, it's fine."
Yuki nodded and sat with the Captain of Squad 9 and his men, eating the food she had made for them. Once they had eaten and started to turn in for the night- each taking different watch shifts- Kensei helped Yuki get her things together before she left.
"It was good to have you along today, Yuki." he said, walking her to the edge of their camp. "I was rather impressed with how you handle that boy. Are you serious about visiting him?"
Yuki nodded. "Of course. I just wish things had worked out better when I was a child and someone like that had come along to help me decide what to do with my future. But I am happy and grateful that Mom and Captain Ukitake came along when they did. I owe them my life. Shuhei Hisagi has a presence about him, something that makes me think he'll do great as a Soul Reaper and if I can help develop that, then it'd be worth it."
Kensei smiled at that. "You are quite the young woman, Yuki Unohana. It's amazing that you were such a little thing when you came to us years ago and now look at you. Your mother would be proud."
Yuki smiled. "Thank you, Captain."
Kensei knew it was now or never, so he took a deep breath and decided to ask her. "Say, when this is done and over with, would you care to go out to dinner with me sometime?"
Yuki blushed. "Like a date?"
Kensei rubbed his neck and nodded. "Yeah, like a date."
Yuki felt her blush deepen. "Sure, I'd like that."
Kensei smiled and put an arm around Yuki's waist, pulling her in. He leaned down and lifted her chin up, gently but firmly pressing his lips against hers. "Good. I'll see you soon."
Yuki nodded and watched as Kensei stepped back, his own cheeks flushed, and turned away to go back to his tent. She touched her lips and smiled before she turned away and started to head back towards the Seireitei.
-O-
Later on, shortly after Yuki had returned home, she had heard news that Kensei and his men had disappeared. She asked her mother to let her join the search party and help them, which Retsu had agreed to. Yuki went with a team of various captains and lieutenants to investigate. She led them to the camp that had been set up, but then they sensed a Hollow nearby and Lieutenant Hiyori Sarugaki's spiritual pressure nearby. Yuki shot off in that direction and found that it wasn't an actual Hollow, but it was Kensei in a Hollowfied form, attacking Hiyori.
"Yuki, help!"
"Hang on, Hiyori!" Yuki called back. She and Hiyori had been good friends for a long time and trained together. She leaped forward, trying to reach Hiyori before Kensei could deal a final, devastating blow.
"Captain Muguruma, stop this at once!" she called, trying to reach him. She drew Hyoko and tried to stop his attacks on Hiyori. "Kensei, look at me! Stop this, please!"
Kensei couldn't hear her over the Hollowification process that had taken complete control over him and he attacked her blindly. Yuki tried to parry his attacks, but the added power from the Hollowfication overwhelmed her and he threw her into a tree. Yuki slammed through the tree and skidded to a halt a few hundred feet away, quickly losing consciousness.
"Yuki!"
-O-
Yuki woke up in a bed within the hospital of Squad 4, a pounding in her head and her arm in a sling. She looked around, seeing her Captain sitting on the floor with his back to the floor by the door, and she smiled when she saw how nervous he made the nurses.
"You shouldn't try so hard to be scary, Captain." she said.
Kenpachi looked up and grinned. "It's fun though. I like watching them squirm."
Retsu entered the room and hurried to her daughter's side. "Yuki, you're awake!"
"Hi, Mom. What happened?"
"You don't remember, do you?"
"I remember going to help find Captain Muguruma, but then when we found him he attacked us. There was something wrong with him, like it was still him but he was part Hollow. It was like it was the real Kensei Muguruma, but the power of a Hollow overtaking his mind and body. He was attacking Lieutenant Sarugaki and he threw me into a tree when I tried to stop him. After that I don't remember anything."
Retsu sighed and sat on the edge of her daughter's bed. "Sweetie, you need to know what else happened..."
Yuki listened as her mother told her of what had transpired. Captain Kisuke Urahara and Kido Captain Tessai Tsukabishi had been arrested for experimenting with Hollowfication and attacking Sosuke Aizen- lieutenant and now Captain of Squad 5- when he uncovered their plans. The people who had been part of the experiments were all the people that had gone to find Kensei and the others and included Kensei among them. The Hollowfied Soul Reapers were to be executed as Hollows, but before they could do anything, someone broke into Central 46 and broke out Urahara and Tessai and the Hollowfied Soul Reapers had disappeared as well as some equipment from Squad 12's barracks.
'Kensei and the others are gone?' Yuki wondered.
'Yuki, are you alright?' Hyoko asked, reaching out to her.
'I don't know, Hyoko.'
"Yuki, are you alright?" Retsu asked.
"I don't know, Mom."
Kenpachi stood and stretched. "Well, I'm heading back. I just wanted to check on you. When you're ready to come back to the Squad, we'll be waiting."
"Thank you, Captain." Yuki said, then looked at her mother as her captain left. "Are Kensei and the others really gone?"
"I'm afraid so, sweetie."
Yuki looked out the window. 'Why did this have to happen?'
