Chapter 8: Always There for Each Other

*I'm feeling a lot better if anyone cares to know and I've finished my online class with an A. I got my ears pierced again last week. I'm also going through some... stuff; it's exhausting but in a good way. So if you guys could give me an encouraging word with your review, that'd be great.

Cinimichaela: I loved your review. It gave me the encouragement I needed to finish the chapter. You have no idea how happy it made me feel. I have so many things planed for Ryouji ranging from cute fluffy to serious angst, so we'll be seeing a lot of him and you'll just have to wait and see. ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, just a lot of OCs.*


"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help." ~Epicurus


Naomi had to hand it to him. Ikkaku was very good at not appearing nervous or worried over his best friend's health. On the outside he stood, leaning back against the wall, not far from Yumichika's room with his arms crossed and his visage relaxed. But Naomi detected subtle clues that gave away his true feelings.

His reiatsu was clam for the most part but it occasionally flickered in a manner most peoples' did when they were nervous. She saw his jaw clench and his breathing sounded like he was forcing it to remain calm and steady. He was worried, possibly more than Naomi knew, about Yumichika.

She tore her attention away from him and looked down the hall. Captains Ishida and Harumi were waiting beside a door that leads to Captain Flynn's room. From the details Naomi was able to scrap together Captain Flynn had received the brunt of the damage from the attack. Apparently it was so bad that he needed both Unohana and Isane's healing abilities.

The lieutenant's green eyes went back to Yumichika's door. If he only needed the help from the seated healing officers then there was hope that he wasn't in such bad shape.

When the pair had first arrived the Fourth was in a chaotic mess. It was chaos but it was a special kind of organized chaos that came when an emergency was afoot. Ikkaku stayed behind to find Yumichika and Naomi went to see what happened to the Third Division.

Thinning columns of gray smoke wafted the wreckage. Almost a third of the building was in charred shambles. The part that was damaged was the office of the captain and lieutenant. Some other members of the Division had been hurt but nothing more the shallow cuts, mild burns and bruises. They were more shaken then actually hurt.

Naomi stayed a good enough distance away so as not to be in the way but still see what was going on. Members of the Second Division were crawling about looking for clues just like last time. There were other people from other divisions helping those from the Third, either clearing wreckage or helping the injured. Naomi was about to go back to the Fourth when she noticed Soi Fon holding something between her fingers and handing it to Yoruichi.

It was a red chrysanthemum.

Naomi bolted back to the Fourth Division before anyone could notice she was there. This was the second attack and the second time a chrysanthemum was found at the scene. The young woman sighed quietly. No one knew what the colored chrysanthemums represented so that meant no one knew that the red flower represented her family. That did not stop the fear and nervousness of being blamed from bubbling up inside her.

"Naomi?"

Both Soul Reapers jumped at hearing a new voice. Naomi looked to see Shinobu standing near holding a tall glass of water in one hand. She noticed his left foot was heavily bandaged.

"Shinobu? What are you doing here?" She inquired.

Her friend sheepishly smiled, "I was doing some training and I broke my ankle pretty bad, so I came here to have it fixed. Then things suddenly became hectic and people were screaming about the Third Division being attacked."

Shinobu turned his attention to Ikkaku next, "I guess that's why you're here. Lieutenant Ayasegawa must be hurt pretty bad."

He didn't say anything but gave a terse nod. Something about this kid did not sit right with him. Something was off and it was starting to make Ikkaku feel unsettled.

"I've got to go. I'm going to try and find someone to finish healing my ankle so I can get back to work. I'm sure Captain Shihoin has everyone scrambling about looking for evidence and everything," Shinobu excused himself and continued walking down the hall.

The door of Yumichika's room slid open and Iemura stepped out, rubbing the bridge of his nose. A few seated medics scurried out of the room as well.

"Before you ask, he's doing fine. He's sleeping and only has a few wounds. From what I saw Captain Flynn took the worst of it. Anyway, you're free to see him," the medic said before either Naomi or Ikkaku could ask.

"He wasn't poisoned or anything like Naomi had been was he?"

Iemura shook his head, "No, but we did find something strange and that was water in his lungs."

"Water?" The other two said in unison.

The medic nodded, "Copious amounts, enough to significantly impair his breathing. We were able to remove all the water though. We'll be keeping him under observation for any complications that may arise from what I suppose I could call a near-drowning."

After telling them that and checking a few more things he took his leave. Yumichika was sleeping peacefully in the hospital bed. He did have a few minor wounds and Ikkaku could hear a slight rasping coming from his friend with each exhale. To be honest Yumichika did not look that bad. But he had seen Yumichika in states far worse than this. States that if Naoko had seen them he would've had a heart attack. Speaking of her...

"It's times like this that Naoko usually pops up."

As soon as that sentence left his mouth Yumichika's phone began to ring and the caller ID was none other than the Quincy herself.

"Call and the devil will answer," Naomi muttered as she picked up his phone to answer. It would be rude to let it go to voicemail and it might arouse Naoko's suspicions that something was wrong.

"Naomi?" Naoko was surprised that her best friend answered her boyfriend's phone. "Where's Yumichika?"

"He's..." She trailed off unsure how to answer that. If she told Naoko the truth the Quincy princess would want to come here to be with Yumichika. That could complicate things like the investigation of the culprit or group behind the attack.

But Naomi could not lie to her best friend... could she?

"He's unavailable at the moment. But I'll have him call you back as soon as he can," she said quickly, hoping to sound convincing.

Naoko seemed to buy it, "Oh, well alright. I only called because I've been feeling like something's wrong, you know? But I guess it was just me overreacting. I'll talk to him later, goodbye."

Naomi snapped the phone shut with a tired sigh.

"Naoko is not going to appreciate being lied to, Naomi," Ikkaku pointed out.

The young lady sighed again, "I know. So much for honesty between friends. I love the girl dearly. But we both know that if she knew what happened to Yumichika she would barge into Seireitei with guns blazing, figuratively speaking. That is not something we need right now. We have a terrorist or a team of terrorists on the loose and a hell-bent revenge seeking Quincy is the last thing we need."

"Maybe or maybe not. We could put Naoko's tenacity to good use and find whoever did this."

"I'm not putting my best friend's life in danger," she argued.

"I didn't have a choice with mine," he replied firmly.

There was a pause of stilled silence between them. Naomi looked at him first with widened eyes then said eyes darted away, hurt and angry. It did not take a genius to figure out that what he said had hurt her.

"I'm sorry Naomi. I didn't mean—" But she cut him off with a wave of hand.

"I know, I know you didn't," she sighed and sat down at the end of Yumichika's bed, setting her face in her hands. She knew this day was going to be trying but she did not expect any of this.

Seeing her mother again.

Meeting her little brother for the first time.

The Third Division being attacked.

Yumichika being hospitalized.

A red chrysanthemum being found amongst the rubble of the Third.

That last thought made Naomi flinch. That flower... was it a sign that her father had been a part of this? Did he do this as a way of punishing her because she came back? He had plenty of spies at his disposable so it was possible he knew Yumichika was her friend. The best way to hurt someone was by hurting those around them.

Ikkaku was watching Naomi. It was becoming eerie how still she was, almost like a statue. The only movement was from her chest as she breathed. She may have said that what he said didn't matter but he was beginning to think that it did. Unless something else was bothering her.

"Naomi? What's wrong?" There were probably a dozen different ways to answer that obvious question.

She sighed again and ran her fingers through her short flaxen locks before looking up. "I visited the scene of the attack and I saw that they found..."

She steeled herself to say this, preparing for how he would react, "a red chrysanthemum."

The lieutenant cringed and waited for him to start throwing accusations about how this was her fault and etcetera.

But he surprised her, "So?"

Wide, stunned green eyes looked up at him. Did he seriously not think that her family, and by extension she, were responsible for the state his best friend was now in?

"But the flower... And my family..." She started but this time Ikkaku cut her off.

"Naomi, come on. I know you would never do anything to hurt Yumichika or Captain Flynn. I may be the kind of guy to jump into a fight but I'm not the kind to jump to conclusions," he said simply, having no idea the balm his words put on Naomi's conscious.

The young lady's shoulders sagged with relief. She smiled tiredly and chuckled, "And I thank the gods above for that."


She tried her damndest not to let her nerves get the better of her but Sakura shuffled nervously outside Stanley's door. She could barely feel his reiatsu, it was there but at times it wavered and almost felt as though it were going to go out.

But he's stubbornly holding on like the trooper that he is, she thought when his reiatsu flickered then steadied again.

Captain Diallo Harumi leaned against the wall and watched his fellow captain pace about fretfully. He knew she viewed Stanley as a younger brother and, despite all the times he annoyed him, Diallo found himself viewing the American the same way. He was a bothersome childish pest that many would think the robust African man would be glad to be rid of.

But that was simply not true.

Diallo found he was fearful at the prospect of losing Stanley. He was a good man who smiled and laughed, spreading that cheer around to those in need of it. A friend to all and a leader to his division, he proved that by risking his life to save his lieutenant.

"You're worried too," Sakura said. It was not a statement but a quiet observation.

He nodded, "Yes. I worry for his health. He can be an annoyance but he is still a good captain and it would be a shame to lose him."

Sakura knew that was the closest she was going to hear him admit he was scared of losing Stanley. The two men may fight but the Quincy knew there was an undertone of care and friendship underneath it all. She knew that some people showed their care for each other through violent but playful bickering.

Stanley's door slid open and Isane stepped out looking a slightly drained but fine. She didn't have the despondent look of someone who had lost a patient so that gave Sakura some hope.

"How is he?" That was the first thing out of the female captain's mouth.

Isane gave her tired but slightly hopeful smile, "We've pulled him through the worst of it and now the rest is up to him. Captain Unohana is finishing up, I don't think she'd mind if you two wanted to visit Captain Flynn."

Diallo and Sakura felt their worries and fear drain away and relief wash over them. Stanley would live that was for sure. The man was stubborn with a strong will to live and always persistent in whatever he did. The pair then quietly stepped into his room.

Sakura nearly cried when she saw him and Diallo didn't fare any better. Their smiling, joking, russet haired American lay still in a hospital bed while hooked up and connected to various machines. IV lines were connected to his hand, a breathing mask was over his mouth and nose and they could see wires connecting him to machines to measure and keep track of his vital signs.

Sakura could see layers of bandages around his chest peeking out from the folds of his yukata. There were more bandages wrapped around his neck, parts of his arm and probably more around his legs. Splashes of blue-violet bruises decorated the visible parts of his skin along with lighter patches of pink and red but the rest of his skin was unnaturally pale.

He looked so small and frail. To Sakura, a mother, he looked like a lost, hurt little boy not a confident, strong man he normally was. She lightly set her hand against her mouth and walked over to the other side of his bed and sat beside him.

Captain Unohana stood beside Captain Harumi, "Captain Flynn's condition is stable and slowly moving away from being critical. If everything goes right he should not have any permanent damage. I will return again to check on his condition."

She laid a comforting hand on the dark man's arm. He nodded, "Words cannot accurately convey our gratitude for everything you have done for him but thank you."

The healer smiled serenely and left. Diallo took a seat on the floor beside Sakura, who had remained quiet and still. The African man could see worry, relief, a faint flicker of joy (probably because he was alive and would recover) and guilt.

Diallo looked at her with a touch of curiosity and questioning. What did Sakura have to feel guilty about? Did she blame herself for Stanley getting hurt? That was the most likely reason. Those two had a big sister/little brother like relationship while Diallo acted as an older brother to both of them. He still has no idea how their starting acquaintance evolved into their current relationship but he was not going to complain.

He gently set his large hand against her back in what he hoped would be a comforting gesture. Sakura relaxed slightly at the reassuring touch of another. A reminder that she was not alone and that someone else cared about Stanley as much as she did. She rewarded Diallo with a soft appreciative smile.

Sakura then leaned over and gently stroked Stanley's spiky russet hair, "We're right here Stanley. You can rest easy, everyone is fine and so are you. We'll always be here for you."


*I'm sure this qualifies as a fluffy chapter. I've been busy lately so if any parts seem rough I apologize. But at least I made it long to compensate for the last chapter that was so short. Yes, Stanley Flynn and Diallo Harumi are my OCs. I regret not giving them more active roles in my past fics but I may remedy that when I go back to revise/redo my older fics.

Since I won't be seeing you guys until July 12th, I wish you all a Happy Fourth of July now.

Enjoy your summers and stay cool, please review.*