I still have no idea how long I was floating in the darkness. All I knew for sure was that I seemed to be cradled in a vast, empty abyss, bathed in warmth. I was so relaxed it was incredible. I quickly realized though why this sensation seemed familiar, when light began to draw me out of my cave like safe haven. I suddenly heard bickering voices. I stayed absolutely still fearing the pain it would bring. Oh fuck, what a great way to gain consciousness. Everything in the room began to turn from bright blurs into shapes. I had figured out that the arguing voices were Akako and Uta. Greeeeeat. I turned my head slightly so the two, who seemed to be at the base of the bed, didn't notice. Shuuhei was sitting in a chair at my side and noticed my movement. "I thought you were supposed to keep the peace?" I whispered. The two were so intent on insulting one another, that had no clue of me being awake.
Shuuhei remained still, he had obviously figured my plan to remain incognito for the time being, and whispered back, "I have for the last 24 hours you have been under. They had an agreement to not talk while they were waiting for you, the whole I am her friend and you can fuck off fight happened before that. Then it came to a lull, that changed about an hour ago," he sighed, "Maybe you could help. I am getting a headache, and I think someone is going to lose a limb."
I turned my head slightly again to see the two of them inches away from the other's face, screaming with disgust. Shuuhei was right, this was headache inducing. Okay, well, let's see how painful it is to move. Either way I have to shut them up. "Can you both please go change your tampons and take some Midol!? You just woke me up from a drug induced sleep, for crying out loud!" I snapped, slowly attempting to sit up. It felt like thousands of daggers were shooting through my ribs as the sheets fell down my torso and I propped myself up on my hands. I had black baggy pants on, and my black sports bra on. I must have been changed into my jogging suit to help expose the proper areas. Last time they tried to put me in a hospital gown I threw a fit, I hated those things. So Uta always brought something for me.
The screaming stopped, but Shuuhei was quickly shoved backwards in his chair. I only heard the crash as the two fought to get to my side. And I mean literally, fought. Slaps and elbows were thrown as I saw Akako set herself to pounce on Uta. Oh, Lord, "ENOUGH!" I yelled, making myself cry out in pain. Breathing hurt, that didn't exactly tickle. They froze. Akako had her hands on the side of Uta's head and neck, holding her at a 45 degree angle. Uta had her knee in Akako's stomach, a hand at her neck and the free arm wrapped around Akako's waist to hold herself up. Shuuhei was laying on the ground in the upturned chair and began to bellow with laughter. I had to laugh too. It was like a cartoon with the two of them in this position gawking at me. I winced in pain.
Someone apparently heard the ruckus and told the squad master. Retsu Unohana walked in flanked by little Hanataro. We all knew we were caught as Hanataro smile sheepishly at us. I turned and dangled my legs off the bed, waiting for the reprimanding. Akako fully dropped Uta and snapped to attention. Uta popped back up quickly and straightened herself out. Shuuhei picked himself and the chair up and moved out of the way. "I told the two of you, you could only stay if you remained quiet," Retsu said in her disapproving mother tone, "Mikazuki is supposed to be resting for another half day." She moved fluidly to my side, pushing the two out of her way with her mere presence.
"Sorry, Captain Unohana," Uta piped like a mouse.
"We apologize for the disorder we caused," Akako said out of gritted teeth glaring at Uta. Uta mad a face at Akako behind the captain's back.
"Yes, well you can apologize to your friend who didn't have the proper amount of time to heal," she stated taking her hands gently and straightening me out with the least amount of pain. She looked at me, "You would have been almost fully healed. But there seems to be minor breaks and deep bruising still in your ribs. Your knee, where you severed a muscle, looks healed, as well as the old wound. But your shoulder is still bruised considerably." I glared at them this time. They both quickly turned to look into different corners of the room, avoiding my death stare. "Your captain wants me to report to him the instant you wake. So I will send word now," She turned to the pair, their eyes wide from the sudden attention, "And if I hear one more noise out of this room. I am throwing the both of you out into the street." That was the last thing she said as she left the room. Hanataro closed the door behind her.
I groaned looking down at the black and blue rib cage. My shoulder looked no better. Buh, this is going to be a bitch to deal with till it heals. Akako stood directly in front of me, forcing Uta out of the way, "So what the hell happened!?! The asshole looks like a bulldozed piñata!" She didn't seem to upset by this.
Uta nodded wondering the same thing. I giggled half heartedly, my ribs wouldn't allow it if I had wanted to laugh and harder, "So I take it he's still not awake yet?"
Shuuhei spoke from the corner, "No, he's supposed to be under for the next day or two. Depending on how well he takes to the treatment. You really fucked him up." Uta continued to nod.
"Don't avoid the question," Akako squinted at me.
I snorted, "Ok, I was pissed at him for obvious reason," I motioned at the two of them, "And he said something that wasn't exactly forgivable in my book. So I had to beat the smirk off of his face." Akako raised an eyebrow, still not sure of what exactly happened, but pleased all the same. She knew that was all she was getting for the moment. Uta was still slightly confused.
We must have sat there for a while, simply staring at one another because the next thing I knew, in came Captain Kuchiki. I sighed again. I wasn't really ready for the conversation that was about to ensue. He nodded to me and turned to Uta, "Will you wait for Mikazuki outside please. She will be released as soon as I give the okay." Uta slumped and walked out the door. She knew that these rooms were more or less sound proof. But she would figure out something. He turned to Akako, "You should really get some rest yourself. You haven't left here in three days, Akako." She breathed to contradict the captain when Shuuhei grabbed her by the elbow, toting her to the door.
She grabbed the doorframe and pulled herself free, snapping her head back to look at me. "I will talk to you soon, I swear," I gasped trying to find the easiest way to speak. She nodded and walked out on her own free will, only after she sent a quick glare at the captain. He laughed and shook his head. We both stared at the door and I gasped again, "So am I going to be punished for this one?"
After he had made sure the last of my room inhabitants had gotten a fair distance from the room, the captain sat down next to me. We sat in silence as I hunched, not daring to move, staring at my limp feet. He broke the silence, "You are very lucky to have such friends like that. They are very far and few between." I scoffed in disgust thinking of the pineapple and heard the captain sigh through my wince, he had ignored my question, "I don't suppose you would like to tell me what happened? I know that wasn't all about yesterday's precursor events." I straightened out painfully, hoping that I would get some pain meds soon, and shook my head silently. The captain reached out and turned my chin towards him. He stared me in the eye till I couldn't take it anymore and pulled away, tears welling in my eyes remembering what that asshole had said. "It was that painful?" I nodded choking the tears away. I don't cry. I told myself repeatedly. "Well, I suppose I can get it out of him when he wakes. I couldn't ask much before he passed out. He is in a very bad state. He will recover though." Why did I suddenly feel guilty at the mention of his pain? That asshole deserved it, yet I felt guilty. "He may have betrayed you, but he is still your friend. Your family. You will cross this water in time."
How the hell did he always do that? I had to get up, I had to do something. This whole conversation was doing nothing but confuse me. I popped lightly to my feet and began to weeble and wobble. Healing took a tool on a body, ironically. I never took account for that. The captain rose and placed both hands on my waist steadying me. I put my hands on his and tried to force my eyes to focus, and my head stop spinning. Once my legs were used to bearing my weight, he shifted to the front of me and looked me in the eye. I muttered, "My sweat shirt." Byakuya looked at me puzzled, I pointed lazily behind him, "My sweatshirt is on the dresser."
I was still so woozy I never noticed the three peeping toms through the slightly opened door. The captain had picked up my sweatshirt and helped me slide into it. It hung loosely on my shoulders as I swayed slightly. Byakuya picked his hands up to my face and held my attention, physically and mentally. Too bad the three bodies had come crashing into the room. I turned quickly which caused me to cry out in pain and slump against the captain. It was moments like these that caused those sick rumors. Everyone thought the only reason I was asked to do so much by the captain was because we were bed buddies. They had no idea how far away from the truth they were. He held me up as my mind tried to fathom who the other two underneath Uta were. My life isn't nuts, nope not at all. I thought rolling my eyes. The two uniformed bodies that Uta was yelling at and beating were Kasai and his best friend Dotoro. Byakuya stared down his nose at me, his eyes laughing, "Don't ask me," I shrugged still using him as a crutch.
"I couldn't stop them, Captain!" Uta yelled clonking Kasai in the head, "Sorry, Miku."
"That's a lie! You were peeping too!" Kasai snapped resulting in another lump on his head as Uta grinned at us. She turned quickly to death stare Kasai. "Sorry, Sensei," he muttered angrily.
"What the hell are you two doing here?" I huffed trying to use my own two feet instead of balancing on the captain.
"We heard you were injured yesterday, Sensei," said the blonde haired Dotoro who was sitting on the floor next to Kasai.
"And when class was cancelled today, we got worried," Kasai said looking like a puppy dog at me. Uta thought he had a crush on me, and this probably didn't help that.
"Well, you should probably apologize to the captain for your behavior," I looked up at Byakuya, "Although I am really pulling at straws since my head is still spinning."
"Sorry, Captain!" the two practically screamed and bowed their heads nearly to the floor.
He waved a hand at them, "Never mind. This is the Kasai the two of you told me about?" Uta and I had mentioned him for when recruitment time would come, "It is a pleasure. And now you can put yourself to good use." The captain nearly dragged me to the two that were getting off of their feet, "Help your Sensei," he motioned to Uta, "Make sure she gets home safely." Uta stood at my side and I placed a hand at her shoulder, otherwise I was generally okay to stand. I was too stubborn to accept the use of a wheelchair unless I had a broken leg.
"Captain, is there…" I started but he waved a hand at me.
"We will talk later, you need to rest. And I mean it. Tomorrow you are not allowed to do anything. If you break my orders I will have you tied down," I laughed, he wasn't helping the rumor situation. I could imagine what the boys would run back and tell. She was falling all over him after he helped her get dressed, and then he said he was gonna tie her to the bed!
"Yes, Captain," I said as we exchanged nods, "Kasai come here, I don't know how well I can walk. Dotoro grab Hinoeuma out of the corner." I gave orders even as I threatened to pass out.
I limped out, half dressed with my shirt still open, with my hand around Uta's shoulders and Kasai's arm around my waist to steady me. Dotoro fell behind us trying to fathom how to carry a blade the size of Hinoeuma, which amused me to no end actually. I won't lie, though. I felt a deep pang of despair as we walked by the next room and I looked through the small door window to see Renji lying their attached to monitors, still bloody. Maybe I have gone crazy...