All You Need

AN: Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

She hated Valentine's Day. Hated it with a passion. All the happy couples, all the chocolate and the gigantic teddy bears, she hated it. She hoped that wherever St. Valentine's was, he was burning in hell.

Other than that, today was a normal day. She had a hit to perform later. She had paperwork to do. Today, Valentine's Day was meaningless. And that was that.

She had to finish her paperwork quickly, so she could go and work. An enemy of the Soul Society needed her attention. She was performing the hit without any backup. He was an old man so it would be an easy job.

She missed Yoruichi. She was currently in the World of the Living with Kisuke. She hated how far away she was, but she'd be back again soon enough.

She grew tired of signing papers, so she decided to get a head start on the job. The bastard had been hiding from the law for decades and decades. Murder, arson, theft, you name it he had done it. He was due the death penalty for all he had done, and since no one had been able to catch him, she was sent in.

He was so old now it wasn't even funny. He'd take no time at all. Justice would be served in minutes. Backup? For an old geezer like him? Not necessary.

He lived in an old and tiny home. She stayed in the shadows, using shunpo as she went. She quickly made her way into his house.

"Get out of my house." Startled, she realized he had known she was there. How could he have tracked her so fast? He'd have to have been looking for someone sneaking in. After all these years on the run, he had to be suspicious of everything.

She had been thinking too long. That's what the intense pain in her head told her.

'This bastard is a million years old, and he managed to hit me?'

The tousle continued on, longer than it should have. He was old, but running was what he did. And he was stronger than any old man deserved to be. He landed a hit on her side, effectively cracking a rib, and she cursed at her foolishness. She should have had backup.

She managed to stab him in the arm, with Suzemebachi, and he cursed loudly and pushed her, sending her flying into a bookshelf because she was so small. Lights popped behind her eyes. Was she really getting her ass handed to her by an old man? Shaking herself, she charged at him, effectively stabbing him a second time, ending his life.

She got up to shunpo away, but the pain in her head stopped her. She had hit it twice, hard.

'I need to get home.' She tried standing again, but it didn't work. She was too dizzy. Now that she was coming down from her adrenaline high, she began to feel more pain then already.

'My side hurts. I think I broke a rib. Why does my head hurt so badly, if I only hit it twice?' She raised a shaky head and felt the back of her head, wincing. Her hand returned covered with blood.

'Look at that,' Suzemebachi murmured, 'The old man split your head.'

"Kuchki Taicho. What can I do for you?"

"Where's your Captain?"

"She's on a mission."

"When did she leave?"

"About an hour ago."

"Did she take backup?"

"The guy's a million years old." Omeada laughed, "I'm sure she can handle him."

"For what reasons was he wanted dead?"

"For murder, arson, and theft. Among other charges." Omeada answered evenly.

Byukuya gave him a stern look.

"So she's alone with him, and she's been alone with him for an hour? Excellent work Lieutenant Omeada. Do you have any idea of when she will return? If there is anything left of her, I should like to take her to dinner." After watching the color drain from the fat man's face, he left in search of her.

She needed to get up. Her head just hurt too bad. She was lucky she had gotten off this well. He had been stronger than she had thought he'd be. She'd taken no backup. She had gotten cocky. What if she hadn't have killed him? He could have hurt her even worse.

That didn't happen. But it could have. She had let her guard down. She never let her guard down.

'There has been a lot on your mind.' Suzemebachi soothed. She shook her head, which hurt.

'I can't let my guard down. Not even if there's a lot on my mind.'

'Maybe you're just tired of being on guard all the time.'

'What's that supposed to mean?' She searched for her sword blindly. Her eyesight was going blurry.

'You aren't completely opposed to the wedding. Part of you likes the idea of being in a set. Of being a team. You've always done everything yourself.'

'That's stupid. I don't need anyone.'

'You can't move right now.' Suzemebachi growled, 'so you need someone to find you. So you don't die, you know.'

'Shut up. My head hurts.' She rested against the shelf. Hopefully she would feel better if she rested awhile.

Footsteps echoed outside the house and she froze. Who was that?

"What happened here?' Byukuya murmured softly.

"I had my guard down." She explained simply. He surveyed her quickly.

"He cracked my rib and my head. That's all."

"Can you stand?" She snorted in response.

"Yeah, I can stand, that's why I haven't come back yet. Hey, put me down!"

"You can't stand and you want me to put you down? That's illogical." He picked up her sword and adjusted her in his hold. She glared up at him.

"Really? I'm being carried like a damn bride, and an old man got the drop on me. Today isn't going like I had hoped."

"With all due respect, you will be a bride soon."

"Yeah, like you'll really carry me into your house." He paused. She paused. Was he really planning on carrying her over the threshold? This was an arrangement, not a marriage.

"This marriage will only be as good as we make it. I don't want to skate through this. I want to make this work." He started going back, leaving her speechless.

"You want to make this work? I don't think this can work."

"It's a pity you aren't even trying. What if you and I actually grow fond of each other? You refuse to give this a chance." He set her down, and she realized that they were at the Fourth Division. She was already being worked on.

'Give him a chance.'

'Shut up Suzemebachi.'

'Do something. Anything that two Captains wouldn't do.'

Isane was tending to her head and it kind of hurt. Okay it really hurt.

'Grab his hand. He can hold your hand while they heal you.'

"No.'

'Do it.'

'No.'

'Grab his hand. Give him a chance.' Sighing, she reached over and grabbed his hand.

"The procedure is that painful?" She glared at him.

"No." He said nothing. Isane continued healing her skull, and he held her hand.

'See aren't you glad he found you?' Isane healed a particularly tender spot and she winced. He squeezed her hand comfortingly.

'Okay, yes. I'm glad he found me.'

AN: Review and lemme know what you thought:]