Chapter 14: Rukia

'Hurry!' the raised voice of Lieutenant Isane could be heard and both white haired captains opened their eyes, 'Get out of the way!'

It was unusual to hear the usually quiet Lieutenant get so agitated.

Unohana suddenly entered the room from the back but she didn't stop at Ukitake, instead she walked through the room to look out the other door, 'Please make way,'

Toshiro could sense Byakuya's reiatsu and he glanced at Ukitake's drawn face, knowing that they'd both assumed the same thing.

Captain Kuchiki suddenly walked through the door, followed by Lieutenant Isane. Unohana guided the pair to the bed next to Ukitake.

While this was happening, Toshiro and Jushiro found their eyes locked on a small figure clutched tightly in blood stained hands.

Kuchiki Rukia.

Ukitake felt his breath catch as his eyes took in the two blood soaked shihakushos and the pale face of his subordinate.

Byakuya laid Rukia down on the white bedding gently and then stepped back, allowing Unohana and Isane to approach the bed.

'Are you hurt, Captain Kuchiki?' Jushiro asked worriedly.

'No,' when Ukitake heard Byakuya's negative answer, he could hardly believe it. He didn't want to believe it, because, if the captain was uninjured, then all of that blood was Rukia's.

'She's been stabbed in the side of her chest and slashed across the back,' Unohana spoke calmly, methodically checking over Rukia's limp body, 'Both wound are very deep but her spine is uninjured,'

'Right,' Isane nodded and rushed off to get what she believed would be necessary.

'Captain Kuchiki?' Unohana turned around, 'Please take a moment to return to the Sixth Division to clean up,'

Byakuya only nodded before exiting, his eyes never leaving Rukia.

A healing kido lit Unohana's hands as she began her work.

An hour later, the calm woman turned from healing Rukia and faced the two other captains in the room, when she spoke, they heard her relief, 'Kuchiki Rukia is in a stable condition. Her life is no longer at risk,'

Ukitake felt like passing out as all the tension in his body was suddenly released. Toshiro bit back a sigh and brought his hand to his head.

The knowledge that Kuchiki would be okay was almost enough to push the doubt from his mind. Although he didn't want to admit it, it was possible that the person who attacked Ukitake's subordinate was Kurayami. She had the skill to complete such an action without letting her reiatsu flare or leaving any trace on Rukia's body. However, she also seemed like the type of person who, if she aimed to kill, would kill, and not leave the victim any chance of survival.

She knew about Unohana's skill, he thought to himself, So if she did attack Kuchiki and then left her for someone to find, then she would've known that Unohana would save her. And, if that's so, then why?

His thoughts were interrupted by Abarai Renji who burst through the doorway, scattering various Fourth Division members on his way.

'How is she?' he was out of breath, fear filling his voice, eyes wide.

'She should be able to return to her duties in a week or so,' Unohana smiled at him.

Renji was relieved, but he also felt guilty and useless. His childhood friend had almost died and all he'd been able to do was keep the Sixth Division in line for a while. He was jealous of Captain Kuchiki despite himself.

'Matsumoto,' Toshiro noticed that his Lieutenant had arrived behind Renji.

Rangiku looked at the unconscious Rukia, and the clearly depressed Renji and then nodded at her captain, taking Renji's arm, she led him out of the room, 'Come on,' her voice was bright, 'Let's go for a drink!'

Renji nodded and some of the self-loathing lifted from his face.

Ukitake turned to Toshiro, 'Captain Hitsugaya, you should go back. I'm fine now and there's nothing we can do for Kuchiki,'

Toshiro blinked, coming out of his dark musings and nodded, 'Okay, are you going back now too?'

'That's right,' Ukitake got off the bed carefully and called for his Third Seats, 'Let's go now,'

'Yes sir!' they both ran to his side and tried to aid him in walking back to the Division Barracks, Jushiro glanced back at Toshiro as they walked out of the Relief Station, once again thinking that something was bothering the young captain, 'Believe in your friends, Captain Hitsugaya,' he wasn't sure why, but those seemed like the best words to say at that time. Then he turned and continued on his way to the Thirteenth Division barracks.

Toshiro stared at the other white haired captain's retreating back. Confusion swept through him and his frown deepened. Knowing that he would be unable to go and speak to Kurayami again for a couple of days – there were more reports to do and a captains' meeting to attend – he sighed and walked back to his office.

In her unconscious slumber, Kuchiki Rukia felt cool hands begin to ease her pain. She tried to remember what had happened, but the only image that came to her mind was a blade piercing her chest just after her back had been cut open.

She then remembered Ichigo's concern and smiled internally.

Idiot, she wasn't even sure if the thought was directed at the carrot head or herself.

A sudden feeling of urgency swept through her.

Remember.

That one thought repeated, echoing through her head.

Why can't I remember? not understanding the importance of what exactly she'd apparently forgotten, she tried to focus her hazy mind.

The shinigami managed to recall Byakuya's careful hands as he picked her up off the ground and carried her back to the Seireitei. Then a cold feeling, one completely opposite to the healing kido, enveloped her. A gray feeling, and then she thought she heard someone laugh.

Author's Note:

I bet there's a certain someone who's incredibly angry at what happened to a certain Kuchiki Rukia . . . Nee-sama!