A/N: I am sorry to everyone that has been reading this story. I had major writers block for this chapter. It will bridge the first part of the story to the ending, and was not going well for me. Aside from that it seemed that my Inuyasha muse had beaten or killed my Bleach muse at the time. I hope you will all stay with me to the end of this, and thanks again for reading and reviewing my work.

11 Recovery is painful

After a short stay in the hospital Yuri was returned to her duties. The squad was ready to welcome her back. Everyone stood in order at her return and gave her a respectful bow of acknowledgement. With a heavy heart she smiled tentatively and bowed in return to her fellow squad members. Lieutenant Matsumoto dismissed the squad members to their duties and help Yuri to her room while the captain retired to his office. Once she was in her room, Yuri sat silently in the center of the room looking around blankly. Without warning the young girl broke into great sobs of tears and fell to the floor. Rangiku immediately came to her side and tried to console her. After some hard crying the girl finally wiped her tears, thanked the lieutenant, and asked to be left alone to sleep. Rangiku left the woman as she requested and made her way to the captains office. Upon entering the office she noted the captain was sitting in his chair with his back to the door, and looking out the window behind his desk.

"Captain Hitsugaya, can I talk to you?" She asked softly.

"What is it Rangiku?" His tone was stern and agitated.

"It's about Yuri, sir." The captain turned in his chair and looked at the blond woman across from him. "She is not doing well."

"Does she need to return to the hospital?" He asked with slight urgency in his voice.

"No, sir. She is not doing well emotionally." She clarified for him.

"What should be done?" He tried to retain his professional demeanor.

"She needs you to be with her, sir." Her words were firm, and he looked at her in shock at her bluntness. "Nothing would be said about it sir."

"What do you mean?" He turned his chair away from her to look out the window again.

"Don't be so dense, Toshiro. We all know what is going on here. I have known for a while. We are not that stupid." She placed her hands on her hips in frustration.

"What are you saying, Rangiku?"

"I'm saying that no one would think less of you for being with her while she is recovering. As a woman I would encourage you to go to her. Her emotional state is very fragile right now. You should not leave her alone." The woman moved to stand in his line of sight, so he could not avoid her.

"Rangiku." He started while looking down at his hands. "Thank you."

"I am merely doing my duty sir." She smiled contently with her efforts.

Toshiro spent most evenings with Yuri for the first month after the battle in the human world had turned their world on end. After a few weeks Yuri was relatively normal again, her spirits were lifting and the past was almost behind her. The lose was a harder thing to bare then either of the pair had anticipated, but had made their way through it together. Once the squad was back on regular duty Toshiro had made his decision. He had remembered were his thoughts had taken him the morning that Yuri was attacked, and was determined to follow through with it. With a couple more weeks passing Toshiro had sent a message on to the one person that he knew would have the answers that he needed.

As the days drug on the young captain was concerned that his message had gone astray. At the end of the week, though, a messenger came to the captain on the training grounds where the squad was working that afternoon. As soon as the carrier had left he opened the note with great anticipation.

Captain Hitsugaya,

I apologize for not responding sooner to your message. Unfortunately, I have just returned from another stint in the hospital. I would be happy to meet with you, and answer these questions that you have. Please, join me for tea tomorrow afternoon.

Captain Ukitake

Satisfied with the letter, Toshiro folded the small paper and slipped it into his sleeve with a smile. He turned back to his squad and looked specifically at his lover with great contentment at a resolution. The day could not have concluded quick enough for the young captain. When night finally came he spent the evening with Yuri with great excitement. Although he had not revealed any of his plans to her, he was satisfied at the audience with the wise captain, nonetheless. He had to be sure of what could be done before discussing any of his plans with his young love. Things had to be confirmed before giving her any kind of hope. Just the thought of it brought his spirits up.

The couple had made their way to the secluded pool that they had spent so much time together. The squad was on leave for the next day and the pair was at liberty to spend some time alone and away from the barracks. Without any hesitation Yuri had striped down and waded into the warm waters first. A pleased smile came over Toshiro's face when she turned and waved for him to follow. It seemed that she had overcome her earlier despair and lose, and was making an emotional recovery at last. Quickly he divested himself of his own clothing and splashed in after her.

The pair slowly swam around the small pool and lightly played with one another. When the sun had gone down and the stars had come out, the couple made their way to the shore again. They lay together on the soft grass, arms wrapped around each other. Toshiro had not pushed any physical intimacy with Yuri since the tragedy that befell them, but it was not a concern.

Suddenly, Yuri sat herself up onto one elbow and looked down at Toshiro; a soft and lustful look in her eyes. He was slightly surprised but very encouraged by this turn of events. She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. Toshiro wrapped one arm around her back and the other across her shoulders. As he pulled her into the kiss more, she leaned against his bare chest, pressing herself tightly to him. For the briefest moment she kept her arms underneath her, but as her passions grew she snaked her arms around his neck. Before long both their hands were roaming the other in a frantic pursuit to find every inch of their partners body. Yuri threw her leg over Toshiro's hip, and he quickly took hold of her knee pulling her closer to him. In one swift movement Toshiro had rolled her to her back and was kissing down her collarbone, while still holding tight to her knee. His hand slowly traveled down the back of her thigh and caressed over her bottom.

Having not been in this position for such a long time Yuri immediately moaned in pleasure at his soft advances. Her senses had been put into overdrive and everything felt ten times more exquisite then they had before. Yuri's fingers fished their way into the silvery white locks of her lover and his lips slowly trailed down her chest, veering off course momentarily to give some attention to each of her nipples. The young woman moaned and arched into Toshiro's body as he sucked and nipped at each sensitive peak. The soft moans and gentle strokes of her fingers tantalized his senses, making him grow harder. Before long the couple was completely entwined with moans and breathless gasps for air. When he reached his limit of restraint he gentle pushed inside of his wet lover, causing her to moan loader at his sudden push. Her nails dug into his shoulders as he thrust deep inside of her. She moaned with each assault he made on her body and her climax was building quicker. She clung tightly to his shoulders and drove her nails deep into his strong muscles. The pain of her tearing at his shoulders spiked his ecstasy in the moment and quickly thrust him into the start of his climax. His enlargement made each thrust more potent and sensual, which pushed her to her end. With her screaming out her finish, Toshiro followed close behind.

The couple lay next to each other silently for a long time, until Yuri sighed happily. The young captain squeezed his arm tight around his lover and kissed her forehead. They fell asleep where they lay, holding tightly one to the other until the morning sun began to warm them. When they had awoken and dressed, Yuri stood before her lover and stroked his hair softly.

"Thank you, Toshiro." She said with her eyes down.

"For what?" He asked while lifting her chin to look into her eyes.

"You stuck by me all this time, and didn't forsake me." Her eyes were full of emotion and he could see she was about to cry.

"Why wouldn't I?" Toshiro asked firmly. "You think that I would have abandoned you."

"You could have. There is no commitment between us. I would not have held it against you." Her voice shook as she spoke.

"That would be dishonorable, and shameful." An edge of anger in his voice. "You mean more to me then anyone. I would not abandon you to despair alone. You are now my responsibility, and not as a member of my squad."

Yuri smiled sweetly at him and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. She took up one of his hands and pulled him with her as she made to leave.

That afternoon, Captain Hitsugaya made his way to the squad thirteen captain's quarters. He knocked firmly on the door frame and waited for a response. After a brief moment a soft voice called him to enter. When he pushed open the door the captain of squad thirteen sat at a table with a kettle and two cups already laid out.

"Sit down, please." The older captain offered his guest.

"Thank you Captain Ukitake, for seeing me." Toshiro replied while taking the seat opposite his host.

"Don't be so formal, Toshiro. I do not believe this to be a professional call that you have made." He raise a slender brow at Hitsugaya.

"You are right." Toshiro proceeded cautiously. "I am in need of your expertise."

"Really. In what?"

"I have some questions about the Soul Society and their way of doing things." He was vague intensionally.

"You know many of the laws and procedures of Soul Society, what could I be privy to that you do not know yourself?" Jyuushiro poured two cups of tea and pushed one toward the younger man.

"I have questions about..." He paused nervously. "relationships."

The older captain looked up in unrestrained surprise at the young man's odd question. Not one of the others captains would have ever figured that young Hitsugaya would have come asking questions about the opposite sex in such a serious manner, but to truthful he did have an edge on this conversation.

"What exactly do you want to know?" The captain pressed, keeping his appearance of ignorance.

"I am counting on your discretion in this matter." Toshiro said firmly.

"Of course Toshiro. You have my word, that our conversation is strictly between us."

"Thank you." He then relaxed slightly. "What are the regulations about two soul reapers having a non-professional relationship together?"

"You mean a sexual relationship?" Ukitake clarified.

"I am more interested in a committed relationship."

"I see. You are interested in any repercussions of say, a marriage." He clarified again.

"Yes."

"It is frowned upon." Ukitake said frankly, and Toshiro's face fell. "If...you are in the same squad."

"So, what you are saying is that we could not be in the same squad." Toshiro restated.

"It is not looked on favorably, because of any affect that it may have on the squad."

"Like with favoritism, and conflict of interest." HItsugaya nodded his head in understanding. "What about one of them resigning their position in the thirteen court guard squads."

"Not possible." Ukitake frowned. "Once a person has gained the abilities of a shinigami they are forbidden to leave the squads."

"Why is that?"

"Once a soul has gained the powers and abilities of a soul reaper they are deemed too dangerous to return to a 'normal' life. The one's that have tried to leave have been hunted and dealt with sternly." Captain Ukitake took a long drink of his tea, looking down at the table. "This is an odd line of questions, Toshiro. May I ask to what these questions pertain?"

"I would like to take a wife." He said with perfect frankness, and some pride.

"This is surprising indeed." Jyuushiro set down his cup and leaned onto the table. "Do I have the pleasure of knowing this soul reaper that has caught your eye?"

"How do you know that she is a shinigami?" Toshiro sat back slightly.

"I didn't figure you were thinking of resigning as captain." He smiled widely. "So, it goes without saying, that the fair lady must also be a soul reaper. I have to admit it makes more sense. Only a strong woman would catch your eye, Toshiro."

"You are very perceptive. This is why I have come to you." Hitsugaya smiled back. "She is a member of my squad, and it has been kept quiet up to this point."

"Yuri Kumari, right." Toshiro looked at the captain in shock. "Unohana told me."

"How?" He said with his eyes wide with worry.

"Don't worry. It was a private conversation. She had told me about your misfortune in the human world." Ukitake leaned back. "Unohana likes to keep me company while I am in her hospital. We talk of different happenings that come and go through her squad. She knew the moment she saw you that day, and thought it best to tell me, knowing that you would be right here someday."

"I see." Toshiro finally took up his cup and sipped at it with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"She also told me that when the time came, to let you know that she would be willing to take Yuri into her squad in order to accommodate the proper procedures. However, I suggest that the transfer be made well in advance to avoid suspicion."

"I understand. Thank you, Captain Ukitake. If you would thank Captain Unohana for me as well." He bowed to his companion. "I will have to talk with Yuri before we proceed."

The two captains finished their tea with a lighter subject. Some random hollow attacks had taken place recently and the hollows responsible have not been eliminated yet. Their whereabouts were a mystery. Squad ten was up for the next patrol and Captain Ukitake asked for a personal report upon their return. A brief talk about candies and treats in the human world and the young captain left happily. The two captains bowed respectfully to one another before parting ways, and the younger returned to his squad.