A/N: Hey guys! I'm finally back with an update! I feel like this chapter took forever and I'm sorry. This is not the end however, I will have one final chapter to come so be on the look out for that soon! In the meantime I hope you enjoy this one, and as usual, let me know what you think!

There was a sensation, like that of falling in a dream, his body preparing for impact, and with a jolt he was conscious again. It was like waking up, but instead of bright light assaulting his optic nerves, everything was black as night. He couldn't see anything but the darkness, and he wondered for a moment if he'd perished. Maybe this was the next life, floating in a black abyss with no worries, cares or responsibilities. After a moment though, he realized that he could still feel his body, so he couldn't be dead right? He couldn't move, but if he focused, he could hear something.

It was the sounds of the 4th division infirmary if he was correct, and if he was indeed still alive it would only make sense that he was there. Nothing was immediately recognizable, just the sound of shuffling and distant voices that were vaguely familiar, but the smell in the air around him was a dead giveaway. That strange smell of antiseptic and cleaning chemicals was unmistakable. But if he was alright, why couldn't he open his eyes? Why couldn't he sit up and move around? He didn't feel pain from any injuries, in fact, he was feeling pretty good. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't even bend a finger. Feeling helpless and trapped in his own body was a new experience, one that he didn't like at all, and he felt himself growing angry and aggravated.

The feel of a soft hand, much smaller than his own, distracted him from his growing frustration.

"I don't know if you can hear me...but I'm here. I'm right here with you." Squeezing his hand as proof as well as a gesture of comfort.

Rangiku. He felt a rush of relief knowing that she was alright. Having her there, talking to him and brushing hair away from his face, it calmed him quickly.

"I'm sorry Byakuya...I'm so sorry... I'm such an idiot." Her voice cracking with tears.

"There's so much I need to tell you...things I need to apologize for...I'll be here waiting for you when you wake up, so please...don't make me wait too long ok?" She said quietly, sniffling between words.

"Matsumoto, what are you doing out of bed?" Captain Hitsugaya's unmistakable voice rang out.

"It's alright Captain, I'm fine. I just wanted to see with my own eyes that he was alright." She responded.

"You're going to give me a heart attack you know that? I came back to find your bed empty and no one had seen you. You could have at least waited for me to walk you down here."

"I'm sorry, but I really couldn't wait. Captain...he saved my life...I needed to know before I drove myself crazy."

"Rangiku...you are crazy. Now lets get you back to your room, you should be resting yourself. I'll walk you there. I'd like to stay and visit with you for a bit longer, but I have to be getting back to the office soon."

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine right here. I'll go back on my own in a little bit...I promise. I just want to stay a little longer."

"You'd better go back. I'll be sure to stop by later and check that you have. I'm glad you're going to be alright. And as much as I'd love to let you take your time with recovery, I need my lieutenant back as soon as possible." His tone dropping from firm and strong to soft and endearing.

"Understood. I'll be back before you know it. Don't work too hard without me ok?" Her tone light and teasing.

"Bye, Matsumoto."

"Toshiro...thank you."

He felt like he was eavesdropping, but he couldn't avoid hearing their conversation even if he tried, so he decided there was no need to feel guilty.

"I didn't have the heart to tell him, but I'm not going back to my room. I can rest right here at your side...I don't need to be in a bed. Besides, at least this way I'm not worrying myself to death over you." She said when they were alone again.

"Unohana says he'll make a full recovery..." That was Rukia's voice. He must have eventually slipped into dreamland because he surely didn't remember hearing his sister come in.

"Yeah...I'm so glad to hear that." Sleep still clinging to her voice. She was still there, just like she said.

"I think it's very kind of you to stay at my brothers side like this...I wish that I could be here more often myself. Thank you for making sure he's not alone." Rukia said.

"Honestly, Rukia, it's no problem. He saved my life...it's the least I could do. I keep expecting his eyes to open any second now." Her voice hopeful and hand squeezing his. He tried to squeeze back, but was still unable to get his body to obey his commands.

"That would be wonderful. But as long as he'll be alright, I'm fine with him taking his time to come back to us...he could use the extra rest. He's always working so hard, and he never takes time for himself...I worry about him sometimes. Especially as of late."

"As of late? Why's that?"

"I don't know what it is, but something has had him all worked up recently. I can't figure out what it is...and I don't want to intrude in his personal affairs by asking...but he's been acting strange in recent weeks. Hell, even Renji has noticed it. I don't know how he did it, but he made Byakuya come home from work early the other day, and actually relax and get some rest." She sounded both confused, and even a little hurt.

"I'm sure whatever it is, it'll work itself out soon. It's very sweet of you to worry about him so much. He probably never says it, but I'm sure he's glad to have someone around that cares about him like you do. And I'm sure he worries about you too. Don't let it bother you that Renji was the one to make him take care of himself, I'm sure he would have done the same if you'd been the one to demand it." Her voice even and calming, trying to reassure his sister.

"You're right. I guess I should just be glad that Renji also looks out for him. Thank you Rangiku, you're really easy to talk to." He could hear the smile on Rukia's face.

"I'll listen anytime you need me to."

"I have to get back to work. Please, be sure to send a Hell butterfly if he wakes up. Goodbye Brother. Get well soon." The feel of lips brushing his forehead.

"Matsumoto-san? Wake up please." The soft tone of the squad 4 captain.

"Oh, Captain Unohana. I'm sorry...I must have fallen asleep."

"Indeed, you should be resting in bed lieutenant. Visiting hours are over."

"I know...but I don't wanna leave him. I promised to be there when he wakes, and I can't do that from my room." Her tone pleading.

"Well, I suppose I could have you moved to this room as well...but only if you'll promise to rest properly."

"I can promise to do my best? Would that be good enough? I just don't know how much actual rest I'll be able to get until he wakes up." She said with honesty and sincerity.

"May I ask you a personal question Matsumoto?"

"Sure."

"You care deeply for him don't you?" The healer asked.

"I do...and I still need to tell him that." She whispered.

"Ah...I see. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get the chance to tell him." Her tone soft and warm. He could hear the smile in her voice.

"Now. If you'll excuse me, I need to check his vitals. Then I'll get your room change made."

Practiced hands checked his pulse, the stethoscope cold against his skin, before fastening a cuff around his bicep and pumping it full of air. Those things were always uncomfortable, but in his current state, it was even worse. With his body so weak, it felt like his arm was going to fall off, the pressure from the cuff causing it to go numb all the way to his fingertips. Luckily, once that was over, it seemed that she was satisfied with her findings and she left him alone.

"His heart rate is up a bit, but it's nothing to be concerned with. For now I'd say he's doing just fine, it takes time to recover the amount of spiritual pressure he used up." She said matter of factly.

"I'll have a bed brought in for you soon. Get some rest lieutenant, and try not to worry too much, he'll be fine."

"Thank you captain, it means the world to me...he means the world to me." She said quietly, the second part more to herself than Unohana.

Her presence returned to his side, the feel of her fingers brushing hair away from his forehead and behind an ear was so...intimate. He pictured her staring down at him, blue eyes a swirl of emotion and blonde hair a mess. Hearing her say that he meant the world to her caused a rush of emotion, and he was sure that his cheeks had flushed, even if just a little. There were butterflies in his stomach, and his heart beat wildly. If he could just open his eyes. He'd wait long enough for the surprise to register on her face before pulling her close and kissing her like his life depended on it.

There was a small commotion as her bed and the items from her room were moved into his but she was by his side every second, never letting go of his hand. When it was finally quiet again, he felt her move close, and felt the weight of what he assumed was her head, on his chest. The smell of her shampoo rushed through his nose and he knew for sure.

"Hearing your heartbeat, so steady and strong...it makes me feel calm." Letting out a heavy sigh.

"I didn't sleep with Shuhei..." She blurted suddenly a few minutes later.

"I was going to...but I just kept thinking about you...and I just...I couldn't. I called things off." Nuzzling her face into him, the sound of tears creeping into her voice.

"I shouldn't have walked away from you that morning...but you just let me. I thought that meant that you didn't really care one way or the other. So when Shuhei asked me out, I figured it would get your attention...and you'd come to me and tell me not to do it...that you wanted me for yourself...but you didn't." Taking a deep breath and allowing the tears to escape, his robe absorbing the moisture.

"And so then I started to think that maybe you really didn't want me after all, that maybe I really meant nothing to you after all this time...so I went out with him again...and when you still didn't so much as bat an eye, or make a fuss...I convinced myself that it was over...that I needed to move on and forget you...but I couldn't. Now that I think about it...I don't think there's been a day in the last year that I haven't thought of you at least once."

And here he thought that her going out with Shuhei meant that she didn't care about him. This was all a huge mess of misunderstandings, and all because neither of them had the guts to say what they were feeling that morning. He should have been a man and told her what was on his mind, if she rejected him so be it, at least he would have known. They could have avoided all the hurt and pain they caused one another.

"I was being a complete brat the last time we talked...I'd decided that if you couldn't be open about whatever there was between us, then you didn't deserve me in the first place...that was selfish of me. I know that it isn't that easy for you...with your family and your reputation...I made a big deal out of it...but honestly, I was just trying to find a reason to justify to myself why I should forget about you."

He wanted nothing more in that moment than to sit up, pull her into his arms, and tell her that everything was going to be alright. He wanted to assure her that he wasn't mad, that he wanted the same as her, that he did care for her, that he did want her. He wanted her more than anyone or anything, no matter what it would take.

"I need you to wake up...please...so I can tell you all of this...so I can finally tell you that I've fallen in love with you..."

There was no way for him to tell how long it had been since he'd first come back to consciousness, but it didn't matter. As far as he was concerned, it had been far too long already. He needed to get his body under control as soon as possible. She'd asked him not to keep her waiting, and he would do everything he could to grant her request. If only so he could tell her that he was in love with her too.

"Byakuya!" She woke with a start, bolting upright in her infirmary cot.

As the terrible dream she'd been having faded away, reality came crashing back to her and she realized that there were quite a few pairs of eyes on her person. Screaming out the given name of a captain, especially one that wasn't yours, tended to draw attention in such close quarters. And close they were, there was barely enough room on either side of her for someone to sit, other cots placed within a few feet of her on either side, and at either end. The room was close to capacity between the injured and the staff running around and it was quite loud, the noise making her head pound.

"Bya- Kuchiki...where's Kuchiki? Is he alright? Please tell me he's alright!" Throwing back her blanket and making to get up out of the bed. She needed to see him right away, but a sharp pain ran through her legs when she tried to get up, forcing her to stay put.

"Matsumoto, it's alright. You're safe, and you're going to be fine. Please try to relax, your injuries have not been completely healed yet." Toshiro's voice drawing her attention.

"Captain...what happened? Can you tell me if Captain Kuchiki is alright? Can I see him? Please?" Doing her best not to let the panic she was feeling seep into her voice.

"I don't know much...as far as I am aware, he's been taken in for surgery. Inoue was only able to heal him and yourself enough to move you from the living world back here, after expending so much energy on Captains Hirako and Otoribashi, before she needed to rest. Captain Unohana and her Lieutenant are working on Kuchiki now. Inoue told me she'd be by to finish with you soon."

"Surgery?" Were his injuries that bad? Had she missed something?

"I don't have all the details, but I'm sure he'll make a full recovery, he's a fighter. Right now I'm more worried about you." He said softly, placing a hand over hers.

"You really had me worried you know that?" The look in his eyes as soft and sincere as his voice.

"I'm sorry captain. But thanks to Captain Kuchiki I'm alive. I'm going to be fine, I promise." She said reassuringly, wrapping her fingers around his and squeezing.

"Rangiku, I know that he saved you and you're worried about him...but am I missing something? You've been acting sort of strange lately. I can't really say how, but is there something going on that I need to know about?"

She met his gaze for a fraction of a second before looking away, wringing her fingers together and staring at the blanket in her lap. Lying to Toshiro was never easy, and he could usually see right through her, but she had to at least try.

"No...everything's fine captain." Trying to sound non nonchalant. She wanted to tell him, but there were too many people around them, they were too close.

"You never could lie to me...I don't even know why you try." He said dryly. How the Hell did he always know?

"If you don't want to talk about it right now that's fine, but at least admit it."

"Can we talk about it later? This isn't the best time or place." Gesturing to the room full of people.

"Of course."

She could always try to weasel her way out of talking later on, but it was Toshiro. He was her little brother, and she wanted to tell him, to ask his opinion no matter how much he hated talking about personal things. And because he hated it, she knew for a fact that he would keep her confidence on the matter, he was no gossip. Besides that, he was great at looking at things from all sides, usually helping her figure things out, even when he wasn't trying to. And hey, if she couldn't trust her captain with her secrets, then who could she trust?

Before she knew it, Orihime was cheerily making her way through the room towards her bed. After only a few hours of rest, the girl was fresh, bubbly, and bright again. Oh how she envied her friends youth. Not that she was old. She might not be in the bright eyed and bushy tailed stage of life that the redhead was in anymore, but she was definitely still young by Soul Society standards. She would just love to have the energy and short recovery time of being that age again.

"Rangiku-chan! I'm happy to see that you're doing well, are you ready to let me finish healing you?"

"Orihime! I'm more than ready...thank you for healing me in the first place." She said with a wink.

"Oh, of course." She replied, looking down at the ground shyly.

"I'm just...so glad...that Renji got me there in time to save you and Kuchiki. It would have broken my heart to lose either of you." Quiet tears escaping her eyes.

"Oh you sweet girl. Don't cry Orihime...there's no use thinking about what could have happened, because it didn't, alright? Cheer up, we're going to be just fine thanks to you." Pulling the younger woman into her embrace.

"Yeah, you're right, I should focus on the here and now. Thank you Rangiku-chan." She replied with resolve, putting on a brave smile.

"Speaking of Bya- uh, Kuchiki...do you know how he's doing?" Catching herself before she could say his name for the second time that day.

"I checked in with Unohana-san and Isane-san a little bit ago. He's doing better, but he's not out of the woods yet. I'm afraid it's still a waiting game. I promised to assist once I finish with you."

"Then let's not waste any time, shall we?" She asked, laying down and getting comfortable.

They continued their conversation as the soft glow of Orihime's Santen Kesshun covered her, easing all of her aches and pains and slowly but surely making her feel whole again. The difference between her healing shields and the kido of healers like Unohana was hard to describe. While the kido patched things and forced the healing process along, closing wounds fast enough to keep them from scarring, Santen Kesshun was the exact opposite. That golden glow turned time back instead, returning the injury to a state and time before it occurred. It might sound crazy, but she always seemed to feel a little younger after being healed by Orihime.

It turned out that the thorn that pierced Byakuyas heart had left behind one of the plants seeds. Every time they tried to heal the wounded muscle, the plant would start to grow and feed on it. That was why surgery was necessary, but according to Orihime, it was still giving them trouble. The trick was they needed to remove it without killing him in the process. She believed in Captain Unohana's skills and with Orihime joining them, she was sure he would be alright. She just hated the idea that she couldn't be with him.

Once she was healed up, she was moved to a quite room to rest. Even though her wounds were healed, she still needed to recover quite a bit of her spiritual pressure. The problem with that, was that it left her feeling bored and restless. She couldn't stop worrying about Byakuya and it was driving her mad. By the time Toshiro told her that he was finally out of surgery and in recovery, she thought she might start pulling her hair out. Thankfully it hadn't come to that.

"So Matsumoto...are you going to tell me what's been up with you lately?" White hair and green eyes moving into her line of sight. She didn't want to have this conversation right now, but he wasn't going to let her get out of it. All she really wanted was to go to Byakuya so she could be there when he woke.

"Well...alright...so...Byakuya and I have been...meeting up, on the weekends for awhile now." She started, watching the look on Toshiros face start to get serious.

"It was all strictly platonic of course...just dancing and drinks at the club...but then a few weeks ago, somehow, everything changed and we crossed the line into physical intimacy." Pausing to see if Toshiro was ready to burst a blood vessel.

"Is he the one who left the marks on you?" His teeth grinding together.

"That's not important here captain."

"I beg to differ...but continue, please." He said nonchalantly.

"I don't know, I guess the next morning we were both a little shocked to wake up next to one another...and suddenly the implication of what had happened was looming over us...so I ran. I behaved like an idiot and ran away before he could reject me...or accept me."

"So what was all this business with Lieutenant Hisagi then?" He asked, perplexed.

"I was trying to make Byakuya jealous...and when he didn't react like I thought he would, I tried to convince myself that he wasn't worth my time...that I should forget him...that he meant nothing to me."

"Of course he means something to you. Rangiku...as long as I've known you, you have never slept with a man you didn't intend to be in a relationship with. As much as I hate talking about it, I do listen when you tell me about the men you see."

"Hmm...now that you mention it...I guess you're right! Thanks captain!" She could feel a genuine smile taking over her face. Once again, Toshiro knew what to say, and she was feeling much more confident about confessing her feelings to Byakuya.

She'd wasted no time in rushing to his side after that, getting out of bed and finding her way to his room as soon as her captain turned his back. He'd told her that he was alright, but she needed to see it with her own eyes. Hearing that he was ok gave her a sense of relief, but nothing compared to the relief she felt at seeing his chest rise and fall with the steady rhythm of his breathing.

From that point forward, she spent every waking moment at his side, holding his hand, talking to him and sometimes laying her head on his chest. His heartbeat in her ears was so reassuring, reminding her that he was alive and that he would wake soon. Her own hear rate picked up whenever she thought of seeing those gorgeous grey orbs flutter open and meet her gaze. The thought of telling him everything and having him tell her he felt the same, that he wanted her to be his, had her going crazy with both anxiety and anticipation.

She was sitting quietly, his large hand clasped between her two smaller ones, head tipped forward, her forehead resting against his hip, when visitors she didn't know arrived. One look told her exactly who they were, even if she didn't know their names, they were definitely members of the Kuchiki clan.

"Hello." She greeted them, standing a giving a bow of respect in their direction. If she wanted to be with him, she was going to have to learn to deal with them. Best to start off on the right foot.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" An older woman with gray hair, fancy silk robes, and her nose turned up in the air, asked her.

"I am Matsumoto Rangiku, lieutenant of the 10th division of the 13 court guard squads. I am visiting with Captain Kuchiki, hoping to thank him for saving my life when he wakes."

"My dear, I'm sure he was just doing his job. Go back to your room and rest, leave him be." She replied dismissively, looking down her nose at her.

"This is my room too, so I won't be going anywhere. If you'd like to visit with him alone, all you needed to do was ask." Her tone taking on an edge that she was trying to hold back. One thing she hated was being told what to do by people who believed they were better than her, just because they had money.

"We're here to move him home to the Kuchiki manor, where he will be cared for by the best physicians in Soul Society. It's a shame that it's taking so long for him to recover from this, I don't know why he insists on being treated here." She said with a look of disgust as she took in their surroundings.

"May I visit him there, please?" The words were out before she could stop them. The idea of him waking without her...or worse, not waking at all, had her heart beating triple time.

"You are grateful for him saving your life, I understand. But Byakuya does not need your company or your appreciation. He doesn't have time to waste on a woman like you, he should be busy finding a suitable bride and ensuring the Kuchiki line. You can dream sweetheart, but he's out of your league. Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to finish the arrangements for his transfer home."

Her blood boiled beneath her skin at the older woman's words. Who the hell did she think she was? If only she knew how much time Byakuya had been "wasting with a girl like her". They could move him, and keep her away, but they were going to know how upset she was about it.

"Captain Unohana is the best physician in Soul Society, and Orihime Inoue is the best healer in any world. Please, take him home if you insist. But know this..." Speaking in a low and deadly tone, reaching for Haineko's hilt. She chose not to respond to the woman's words about her.

"If he ends up dying in the care of your doctors and I don't get to say goodbye...It will be my Haineko that comes for your heads...all of you." Brandishing her blade before them.