CHAPTER TWELVE:
Coma
Silence had fallen upon the 4th Division quarters, and no one dared to do anything to break it. The door slid open before Captain Unohana stepped out. Her face did not let anyone read her mind, but she calmly walked over to where he was. Byakuya Kuchiki didn't move from his spot leaning slightly on the wall behind, but his eyes had opened the moment Unohana made her appearance.
"Orihime Unoue is taking care of her at this moment," she spoke softly. "She'll live, but I'm afraid she's immersed in a state similar to a coma."
No word was spoken after Unohana's statement, and the woman watched as the captain of the 6th Division walked away, the sketch of a smile illuminating her features. For she had seen something in his eyes that, for a moment, sow hope in her heart.
Relief.
Darkness surrounded her, the deepest one she had ever faced. Her body felt numb, as though it wasn't there at all. She couldn't feel. Her instincts seemed to be sleeping, for she sense nothing. All she could feel was fatigue, and despair. However, she didn't know why. The more she tried to think, the more she felt like giving up.
She didn't remember what had happened that had put her into that darkness, nor why she was feeling so sad. In fact, she didn't even remember her name.
She was lost… and alone.
Bum.
What was that? She was almost sure she had heard something. But what?
Bum. Bum.
There it was again… that sound. It was like a heart, beating lively yet… something she couldn't understand accompanied that sensation.
Bum. Bum.
Was it despair? No… It was something more complicated than that.
Bum. Bum. Bum.
The more the sound reached her, the more she felt it. Was it her heart? If so, why did she felt it so distant?
Bum. Bum.
Because it wasn't hers. But, for some reason, she felt the needing of reaching it. She wanted to touch it... why was it so far away?!
It didn't matter though. She didn't care about how long it would take her to find that heart, she would follow its beautiful sound forever if it were necessary.
"Have you actually thought that, maybe, it affected her the same way it did to you?"
Byakuya couldn't wipe Kurosaki's words out of his mind. Something about that kid had opened his heart again, for there he was now: catching Rukia before she could hit the ground, and earning himself a stab from Gin's zanpakuto. His hand encircled around it, and his eyes noticed then something that made his blood boil.
There was already blood on it, now dried, as though Gin wanted it to last.
Rena's.
"She is here just because of you."
He could feel people approaching, ready to support him and to take down the traitors.
A bright light suddenly turned up in front of her. And she didn't need to look closely to realize it was what she was hunting.
Bum. Bum. Bum.
The sound was way louder now, which only caused her to anxiously increase her pace. Or at least, that was what she tried; she was floating in the air, and didn't actually know how to move.
Bum. Bum. Bum. Bum.
But she knew that she was close… so close she could almost touch it.
Bum. Bum. Bum. Bum. Bum.
If only she could reach out.
Relief washed over her when her hand finally made contact with something soft.
Bum.
Bum. Bum.
Bum. Bum. Bum.
Oh, how wonderful that sound was.
...
Rena let out a soft breath, her eyelids fluttering open. Light was the first thing that greeted her, causing her to quickly shut her eyes. Her hand was still placed over the heart that had dragged her out of her coma.
Another hand was gently placed over hers. Feeling the sudden contact, Rena slowly opened her eyes once again, only to found herself face to face with him. Byakuya was staring down at her, his gaze holding something she couldn't place a finger on. It was then that she noticed how tired he seemed; his hair was loosely falling on his face and there were some scratched on his normally flawless skin.
Nevertheless, what caught her gaze was the spot where his hand was holding hers. Blood was splattered across his clothes, she could feel it on her fingers too.
Her eyes widened considerably, before she stepped backwards.
"What the hell has happened to you," the words left her parted mouth like a whisper.
"You shouldn't be walking around in your state," Byakuya commented, as though she had said nothing.
"You're talking. Look at you," a smirk was slowly forming on her lips. "You look like a walking death."
His face darkened at that, and a glare was shot her way.
"Why you…"
"Captain Kuchiki," interrupted a voice.
Unohana, who had been watching the two Shinigami argue –like the rest of the Shinigami around –, finally decided to stop such pointless conversation. She approached them, a gentle smile plastered on her rounded face.
"May I take care of your injuries?"
Once both captains were far enough, Rena crossed her arms over her chest and let out a breath.
"You idiot!"
The red-haired woman didn't have time to dodge. A yelp made its way between her lips before she turned around to face an angry-looking Yoruichi.
"My, Yoruichi, what was that for?" She demanded to know as she rubbed the back of her head, where the tanned Shinigami had punched her.
Her former sensei watched her closely.
"For letting your guard down."
Rena decided to let it go as her eyes landed on the person next to her.
"Soifon," she acknowledged, nodding curtly. A mischievous glint in her eyes told Yoruichi that she was up to no good. "I see you haven't overcome your crush on Yoruichi."
Rukia and Byakuya were immersed into a deep conversation when they heard it. Both Kuchiki immediately snapped their heads towards Rena, who was chuckling lightly at Soifon's red face. Byakuya's eyes widened ever so slightly at the sound, and his mind travelled back to where he used to hear it almost all the time.
"Brother, I'm glad you are back," Rukia confessed, smiling down at him. He was lying on his back on the ground, where Unohana had treated his wounds. "I think it's the first time I see her like this."
Byakuya's eyes darted towards someone then. He couldn't help but wonder how the orange-haired Shinigami had done to change her back to what she was.
"It wasn't Ichigo," Rukia said as though she had read his mind.
It was later that day, when everything had calmed down, that Orihime Inoue approached the red-haired woman. She was sitting on the trail of the window when the girl snapped her out of her thoughts. At first, Rena was about to tell her off. However, she remembered she was alive thanks to the annoying girl.
Rena glanced at her from the corner of her eye, but made no move to let her know she was aware of her presence. Her eyes drifted back to the night sky, where the moon was glowing with splendor. Its light washed over her calm features, and illuminated the almost unnoticeable scar that refused to leave the side of her neck. Without tearing her orange gaze from the moon, she lightly touched the damaged skin. It was made by one of the cuts Senbonzakura had draw on her body.
"I'm sorry, Rena-san," her quiet voice broke the silence that had been surrounding her for the past two hours.
Rena sighed, but turned towards her. One of her eyebrows was arched, as though she was waiting for Orihime to continue.
"I did my best, but that scar refused to disappear…"
The woman didn't say anything for a moment; she watched the young girl with no trace of caring about that fact. Surprisingly enough, the corner of her mouth lifted slightly forming the tinniest of the smiles.
"You're unbelievable, Inoue Orihime," she stated then.
"Uh?"
"You saved my life, and I have nothing to say but thank you," she paused, walking over to the mirror that stood next to her bed. "Besides, I don't mind; it's a reminder."
"For what?"
Rena met her own eyes on the mirror, determination glowed in them.
"To not leave anyone behind… ever again."
Alright I know this may be a bit confusing, but things will be explained on next chapter! Like, follow and review telling me what you think!
