SILENT CRIES OF DESTINY
Part 9.
Well, got diagnosed as having a severe sinus infection and stayed in bed for two days. On top of that, where I live has had two cases of swine flu break out. It wouldn't be that bad except I live in a town that has less that 1,000 people in it. So I might not be able to update as much as I was doing.
As usual, I do not own Bleach. Tite Kubo does.
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Ichigo, Orihime, Uryu, and Chad all stayed for about a week, seeing Hanataro every day, but had to go back to the world of the living promising to see him when the date of the beach trip was to take place. Since the Soul Society had a truce with Hueco Mundo and the arrancars that had survived, there were fewer hollow attacks so it seemed like every day, more and more people were invited to the trip.
"...So now that Nemu is going because Captain Kurotsuchi wants her to collect samples for him, Vice Captain Ise wants to go to keep Vice Captain Kusajishi from replacing her as Vice President of the SWA, and Captain Kyoraku wants to go because his Vice Captain and Captain Ukitake will be there and after finding that out, Vice Captain Matsumoto wants to go, since most of her drinking buddies will be going and is dragging along Captain Hitsugaya who convinced Vice Captain Hinamori to come and Vice Captain Kira made double sure to tell me he was going..."
"Um, Captain Kuchiki, no offense, but am I guessing we're going to basically leave the Soul Society without any high ranking officers?" Hanataro asked softly.
Byakuya looked at the boy then bowed his head. "Yes, I guess we are." Every day, much to the shock of everyone, Byakuya had also visited Hanataro and told him of all the new additions to the vacation he had set up. He inwardly groaned. The purpose of the trip was to actually take Hanataro into a private training ground in the woods by the house and start training him. He had talked about it to Unohana, but since she took up her newfound mother role in Hanataro, she had convinced him to take a few of his friends so he wouldn't be tempted to train the boy harder than he could take.
Hence the massive group that was coming. Once word got out about Captain Kuchiki's generous offer, the higher up Soul Reapers jumped on the chance. Byakuya hadn't minded when it was just the friends Hanataro had, but now he was pissed at the selfish way his fellow Soul Reapers were acting. Hanataro smiled each time Byakuya would tell him of who else was coming, but he could see the defeated look in the boy's eyes. He hoped Hanataro wasn't thinking that he would be asked not to come because there wasn't enough room.
"Captain, how big is your beach house by the way? I mean...uh...I could just sleep on the couch or a cot or the floor if there isn't enough room." Hanataro began playing with his sheets, refusing to look at man beside him.
"There's plenty of room Hanataro and I think some of the girls want to share rooms to do those girl things they do. Don't think that just because you're not a high ranking officer, you won't get a room. And if anyone thinks otherwise, then they'll sleep outside." Byakuya's eyes softened. "I keep telling you that this trip is for your benefit. I may be training you there, but I'm also going to make sure you get plenty of rest. Your mother strictly told me to make you have as much fun as possible. Even though she's going herself, she told me she doubts she won't have time to check on you, what with the moochers getting themselves hurt."
Hanataro began to laugh at Byakuya calling his guests "moochers." It strictly was not a word that belonged in the Noble's vocabulary. Byakuya smiled. Hanataro was starting to get comfortable around him. He still couldn't get him to just call him Byakuya when they weren't on duty, but Unohana had told him to give Hanataro time. He was still having trouble calling her mother as well. The boy had freaked out at first when Byakuya had told him he knew about his and Unohana's situation, but as more and more people gently became aware, he had relaxed.
"I was told your injuries are healing faster than they should and that you'll have most of the bandages off in about a week. I'll let you rest another week, then we'll take the trip. It's actually convenient for Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends because the week we're going is their spring vacation. Does that sound good to you?"
"Their break starts April 2nd. Could we perhaps go a day early? I mean, you know, to make sure everything is in order for everyone to arrive. It wouldn't be good to get there and things start to go wrong the minute we arrive, right?" Hanataro weakly smiled.
"If that is what you want. I'll let Rukia know that we're going a day early. No doubt she'll want to make sure everything is perfect too." Hanataro nodded and Byakuya saw the relief in his eyes. He narrowed his. He had remembered April 1st was Hanataro's birthday and that Unohana had told him he got bullied and tricked a lot on that day. Byakuya instantly knew why he wanted to go a day early. He mentally made a note to talk to Rukia about this. He seriously doubted Hanataro had even had an actual birthday gift given to him much less a party. He'd have to correct this.
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"Hanataro, will you quit scratching your arm? You moving around is making it harder to dress the rest of your injuries." Isane grumbled as she wrapped one bandage around the boy's leg, careful not to do it to tightly. Ogido's eye was just now beginning to heal after Hanataro accidentally kicked him.
"It's itchy from all the dead skin." he whined, scratching the arm, now free of its cast. True to Unohana's word, Hanataro's injuries healed in the time she predicted. His casts came off but under Hanataro's request, he wanted cloth bandages to be wrapped around the parts that had been broken, so as not to move them. His hand and wrist still hurt when he tried to move it, despite it being healed, but the extra support helped.
During the week before the trip, everyone who was going stopped by to see Hanataro and show him the new swimsuits and beach gear they were going to take. Hanataro pointed out to Rin about his blush when Yachiru stopped by, showing them her new bikini Yumichika helped her pick out. Rin kept denying it but Hanataro wondered how redder Rin could get after actually seeing Yachiru in the thing.
Since her growth spurt, she had filled out, much to the dismay of Kenpachi, who kept constantly coming by the 4th Division to ask what the heck bras, skirts, bath loofahs, and strange things called sanitary napkins really were and if Yumichika was really pulling his leg about what those things did. After Unohana showed the Squad 11 Captain what happens to girls when they got older, Kenpachi immediately put Yumichika in charge of Yachiru and strictly told him the only times he would get involved in the "girly" stuff was if she needed money for "that stuff" as he put it and if someone made her cry.
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"Now if anything comes up, we'll be able to come right away, got it Byakuya." Unohana warned, as she gave Hanataro a huge hug and kissed him on the forehead.
"Nothing will happen, Retsu. I'm sure we can survive a day until you all show up. I'm glad Hanataro suggested we leave a day early. I need to make sure some things are set up properly." Byakuya smiled lightly and unbeknownst to Hanataro, gave the Squad 4 Captain a wink. "Are you ready?"
"Y...yes, sir!" Hanataro's head snapped up and picked up his bag. "I mean...Byakuya." he said quickly after noting the look in the captain's face. Hanataro turned around and smiled at his mother, before stepping into the gate to the world of the living, where the Kuchiki beach house was.
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OMG this took forever to write. Sorry its not as lively as the rest of the chapters have been.
As I said, it might take me a while to update. I feel really bad and it hurts to see bright lights right now. I am off this weekend from my job so if I'm feeling better, I'll try to post a few chapters to make up for the past few days.
As always, thanks to my reviewers.
Review please.
