Author's Note~ finally an update! I apologize for taking so long; at lot has happened that kept me away and if you want the details, you can check out my profile.

Thanks are due to my beta, Whitecloud, for helping with this chapter.

DISCLAIMER~ I do not own Bleach at all other than my OC, Kenshin Hogasha.

Kenshin let out a yawn as he walked through the hall. He hadn't slept much last night; he was plagued by what Ikkaku had told him about Captain Kurotsuchi and his lieutenant. His thoughts were also on Nemu herself.

Nemu…Kenshin pondered why she was on his mind so much. It had only been a day, but Kenshin could not get her out of his mind. Kenshin had thought about women before, in fact quite a few had pursued him since his promotion to a seated officer. But those women didn't stay on Kenshin's mind for long due to his devotion to rising further through the ranks of Squad Eleven and none had kept him up until the late hours of the night like Nemu had. He couldn't get his mind off her pale skin, her soft voice, and especially her emerald eyes. Then he thought about her captain/father and the way he spoke to her. What kind of father would talk to his child that way? And what if what Ikkaku said was true; what if he was also physically abusing her?

He felt the need to talk to someone about it, someone with more information than Ikkaku or Yachiru would provide. Thus, he found himself outside his captain's office, knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" asked Kenpachi in an annoyed tone.

"It's Kenshin," he answered.

The door was opened a couple of seconds later by Yachiru who immediately made a jump for Kenshin. The Seventh Seat anticipated the action and quickly stepped to the side allowing the tiny lieutenant to rocket past him.

"Good job," Kenpachi commented. "I was wondering if you'd dodge her this time."

"I've been here long enough to figure her out," Kenshin responded.

Suddenly he felt a tiny foot connect with the back of his head and then he saw the floor coming towards his face. He hit the wooden floor face first and Yachiru jumped off the back of his head with a giggle.

"I stand corrected," Kenshin muttered into the floor.

"But you're not standing, silly!" Yachiru exclaimed from atop Kenpachi's desk.

"I hate you," he replied.

"Relax, kid, and get off the floor," Kenpachi said from his seat by the window after he stopped his laughing. "What do you want? Why aren't you training?"

"Captain Unohana told me to get more rest," Kenshin answered as he dusted himself off.

"And what if I gave you an order to train?" Kenpachi inquired.

"I'd say I'm more afraid of disobeying Captain Unohana than you, Captain Zaraki," Kenshin rebutted.

"Fair enough," Kenpachi said with a shrug. "But why do you look like you haven't been doing as she said?"

"I couldn't sleep; I've had some things on my mind. I was hoping I could talk to you about it, sir."

"I ain't a therapist, kid. You got problems, go see Captain Unohana," Kenpachi said dismissively.

"Not those kinds of things!" Kenshin rebuked. "I want to know some things about Squad Twelve."

Kenpachi visibly tensed up and gave Kenshin a scrutinizing look.

"I hope you're not thinking about joining them," he said with a light glare.

"My place is here, Captain," Kenshin said, not faltering under his captain's gaze. His answer seemed to satisfy Kenpachi.

"Well why do ya wanna know then?" Kenpachi asked curiously.

"When I went there to get my armor yesterday, I picked it up directly from the Captain," Kenshin explained. Kenpachi snorted.

"Kurotsuchi… what do ya wanna know about that freak?"

"Anything you can tell me."

"There isn't much kid," Kenpachi said with a sigh. "I don't like the guy, I can tell ya that much."

"How long has he been a Captain?"

"Around fifty years or so," Kenpachi answered.

"Why is he so…?" Kenshin began trying to find the right word.

"Psychotic? I don't know, kid. The guy is supposed to be a genius. Heh, I say he's crazy."

"What about his lieutenant?" Kenshin asked. This was the question he really wanted an answer to.

"What about her?" Kenpachi asked curiously.

"She seems… off. I've never seen someone show so little emotion."

"Yachiru could probably tell you more about her; she's the one that goes to all the Lieutenant meetings."

"Do you know anything about her captain abusing her?"

"Yachiru told me once that he threatened to pull her apart."

Kenshin took all the information in. He had hoped what Ikkaku had told him might have just been a rumor, but if Yachiru was saying the same thing, then just might have been true.

"Thank you, Captain," Kenshin said and then turned to leave.

"Don't mention it kid," he heard Kenpachi say as he opened the door.

"Oh, there's something else, Captain!" Kenshin said in realization. "I forgot to tell you yesterday; Captain Unohana wants you to come in for a physical."

"Why?" Kenpachi asked.

"She says you're overdue," Kenshin replied.

"I'll go when I feel like it," Kenpachi scoffed. Kenshin only shrugged and then left the office.

His captain had answered some questions, but not enough to satisfy Kenshin. He wanted to know everything he possibly could about Squad Twelve and, more importantly, Nemu Kurotsuchi.

There was still one more person he could see, someone much more informed than Kenpachi. With haste, he made his way to the Fourth Division.

"Captain Unohana, Kenshin's here," Isane announced as she entered her superior's office. Retsu immediately perked up at the sound of Kenshin's name.

"Please, send him in, Isane," she said with a smile. Her lieutenant nodded and let the boy into her captain's office.

"Good morning, Captain Unohana," Kenshin greeted.

"Good morning. Please, sit down Kenshin," she said, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk. The young man thanked her and sat down.

"Shall I make some tea, Captain Unohana?" Isane offered.

"Thank you, Isane, that would be lovely," her captain responded. The lieutenant left the room and set off to provide nourishment for her commanding officer and her guest.

"So what brings you here, Kenshin," Captain Unohana asked sweetly. She then noticed the light rings around Kenshin's eyes.

"Did you get eight hours of sleep like I instructed?"

"I'm sorry, Captain," Kenshin said, slightly hanging his head. "I couldn't sleep last night. I had something on my mind."

"Such as…?" Retsu asked curiously.

"When I went to the Twelfth Division yesterday to pick up my new gear," Kenshin began, holding his armored forearms for effect, "I met this girl."

This had Retsu really interested now. Kenshin was coming to her to talk about girls? Was it time to give him "the talk" she wondered.

"Go on," she urged.

"She's the Lieutenant of Squad Twelve," Kenshin said.

"Lieutenant Kurotsuchi?" Retsu asked in shock. Of all the girls Kenshin could have held an interest in, Retsu knew that Nemu was the most complicated and possibly the most dangerous.

"While I was there," Kenshin continued, "I watched as her captain verbally abused her. When I asked Ikkaku about it, he told me that her captain did worse than just talk down to her. I asked Captain Zaraki about it, but he couldn't tell me much so I came to you hoping you might know more."

"It is true: I do know much about Captain Kurotsuchi. Our divisions work together on occasion. However, Kenshin, I must ask: why are you interested in the affairs of a division not your own?"

Kenshin blushed and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He himself wondered why he cared so much.

"I…I don't know, Captain. I just do."

"Perhaps it is not as much as the squad itself, but Lieutenant Kurotsuchi that has you so concerned?" Unohana asked knowingly.

Kenshin's face reddened further. Once again, Captain Unohana had seen right through him. They sat in silence for a while as Isane brought them tea. Retsu thanked her subordinate who quietly stood back while the two continued their conversation.

"I kept thinking about her last night," Kenshin admitted with a sigh. "I don't know why…maybe it's because I've always been this way."

"And what way would that be?" Retsu asked curiously.

"I've wanted to keep everyone safe. Even before I became a Soul Reaper, I did whatever I could to protect someone who couldn't do it themselves," he explained. "It's how I met Rangiku and Gin."

"That is certainly commendable, Kenshin," Retsu commented.

"If what everyone is telling me about Captain Kurotsuchi is true, then I want to protect Lieutenant Kurotsuchi."

Unohana was silent for a few moments before speaking again.

"While I can not fault you for such an honorable decision, Kenshin, I'm afraid that Lieutenant Kurotsuchi may be the one person that you may be unable protect."

"Why?" Kenshin asked.

"Because Captain Kurotsuchi is a dangerous man," she answered. "He is invaluable to the Seireitei, but…he is not a good man."

Kenshin noticed that her usual demeanor had completely vanished. He had never seen Captain Unohana this way. He could see that bad mouthing one of her colleagues was not something she enjoyed in the least. Still, he wanted answers and pressed forward.

"So it is possible that he is abusing his lieutenant?" Kenshin asked.

Retsu sighed before continuing.

"Even if he is, Kenshin," she began patiently, "there is little you or anyone can do about it. The circumstances surrounding those two are… unusual," she said.

"What do you mean by that?"

Before Retsu could speak, another Soul Reaper entered the room.

"Captain, we need you in the infirmary; the Ninth Seat of Squad Eight is in critical condition!" he said.

Unohana got up from her desk and headed for the door.

"I am sorry, Kenshin, but I must go," she said before leaving with Isane close behind leaving Kenshin alone.

He sighed in disappointment. He knew he could always come back and talk to Captain Unohana again, but somehow he had a feeling she wouldn't tell him much. His business there done, Kenshin left the Fourth Division.

The walk back to the Twelfth Division gave him time to think. His captain couldn't tell him much of anything and Captain Unohana was less likely to share her knowledge- not that he blamed her; it really was no concern of his anyway. Even so, knowing he had no business knowing, he just had to. He would just have to ask Nemu herself. Still, he realized he couldn't just wander around Squad Twelve just to visit a busy Lieutenant for no other reason than to satiate his curiosity. He would need a genuine reason to go back there.

"Kenny-Two!" he heard an all too familiar little girl squeal as she seemingly dropped from the sky and onto her usual spot on Kenshin's shoulders. "Are you back already?"

"I think the answer to that is obvious, Yachiru," Kenshin said with a groan.

"It is?" she asked, appearing genuinely confused.

"Yachiru, do you know anything about Nemu Kurotsuchi?" he asked, ignoring her childish ignorance.

"Nope, she never talks. Why? Do you like her Kenny-Two?"

"Shut up! That's not it at all!" he denied, though, the blush on his face might have caused some to think otherwise.

"I need to think of a way to see her again so I can talk to her," he thought out loud.

"Why do you need to talk to her if you don't like her?" Yachiru asked with a tilt of her head.

"I don't like you, but I talk to you anyway don't I?" Kenshin replied.

"You're mean!" Yachiru said with a pout. "I'm telling Kenny!"

Then it suddenly hit Kenshin. His captain was the answer. He remembered how Captain Kurotsuchi told him to come back once his armor had been damaged. Even after his fight with Renji yesterday, Kenshin's armor was still as shiny and pristine as it was when he picked it up from the Twelfth Division. If anyone could damage the armor, it was Captain Zaraki.

"Thanks Yachiru," Kenshin said before plucking her off his head and running off leaving a very confused lieutenant of Squad Eleven.

Kenshin hurried to his captain's office, an excited smile present on his face. He didn't even bother to knock as he opened the door. Kenpachi cast Kenshin a confused look as his Seventh Seat marched his way.

"Captain, I want to fight you!" he said bluntly.

Kenpachi raised a brow and looked at Kenshin like he sprouted a second hand. Kenshin never came to him and directly asked for a fight out of the blue, but then again Kenpachi was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Ya got a death wish, kid?" he asked with an excited grin. "Alright, I'll oblige you!"

Kenshin gulped, despite his bravado. This was going to hurt.

Nemu walked out of the archive room holding several folders. Her captain had ordered her to look for some important research notes regarding one of his prior experiments. He seemed to be in fair mood today; he only experimented on one of his subordinates in the last twenty hours.

"Lieutenant Kurotsuchi!" she heard a voice call out. It sounded familiar. She turned around to see Seventh Seat Hogasha making his way towards her holding a box. He looked anything but alright, however.

Parts of his shihakusho were torn and stained with blood. There were several cuts and gashes all over his body. Judging by the way he was walking, she was also able to ascertain that one or two of the bones in his legs were fractured. Still, he didn't seem to mind at all.

"Seventh Seat Hogasha? What happened to you?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing, I just fought my captain for a little bit," he said nonchalantly. "Actually, that's why I'm here. My armor was destroyed during the fight and I'd like to get it repaired."

"Are you sure it is wise for you to be walking around in your condition?" she asked, looking him over once again. "Perhaps your business here can wait after you have visited the Fourth Division?"

"No it's alright, I'm fine. I've had worse injuries than this," he said with a grin.

"…very well then. I'll take it to Master Mayuri," she said as she held her hand out for the box.

"NEMU! Where are you?" Captain Kurotsuchi's voice echoed from down the hall.

"There you are!" he shouted as he rounded the corner and made his way to his lieutenant. "I said I wanted those notes today, you dolt!"

"Forgive me, Master Mayuri," the lieutenant said with light bow.

"It's not her fault, Captain, it's mine," Kenshin spoke up.

Mayuri turned to Kenshin and regarded his bloody appearance with a scowl.

"Who are you and why are you getting blood all over my floors?" he demanded.

"I'm Seventh Seat Hogasha, sir. You saw me just yesterday to give me my armor."

"Oh yes! The monkey from Squad Eleven," Mayuri recalled. "Well want do you want?"

"I'm here to get my armor repaired, sir," Kenshin said holding out the box he brought.

Mayuri took the box and opened the lid. His eyes widened in shock at what he saw. The once smooth and shiny bracers and greaves were now cracked and split in pieces.

"What in the blue fires of hell have you done, you buffoon?" Mayuri asked incredulously. "Even a fool like you should have been able to keep them from ending up in this state! Just what were you doing?"

"I was fighting my captain," Kenshin answered.

Mayuri looked at Kenshin in disbelief. As he continued to stare at Kenshin, disbelief became intrigue.

"You've fought that barbarian, Zaraki, and yet you are still standing?" he asked curiously. "You must have a very high pain threshold, given the extent of your injuries."

"Well, it's not the first time I've fought him," Kenshin responded, not liking the way Captain Kurotsuchi was looking at him.

"Interesting…" Mayuri said as a smile slowly formed on his face. "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind participating in an experiment or two for me."

Kenshin eyes widened in horror. The sudden fear caused him to forget his original purpose for being there. His mind flashed back to what Captain Unohana had said to him earlier. The last thing he wanted was to be a part of any experiment conducted by this man.

"It only seems like a fair trade," Mayuri continued, an eerie glee starting to enter his tone. "I repair your armor for you and you will assist me with my research. How about it? Given your current condition I will even abstain from an experiment that is potentially life threatening."

"Uh…I-I would, sir, but I…I have work to do back at Squad Eleven and-"

"Nonsense! Come now this won't take long at all. Nemu!" he ordered.

"Yes, master," she complied. She pulled out a needle from her sleeve and calmly walked towards Kenshin.

"Please hold still, Seventh Seat Hogasha," she said, her voice empty.

Kenshin looked to the needle with renewed fear. His fear of needles and the man in front of him were quickly becoming overwhelming. He started taking a few steps back and hoped his legs could handle the run he was going to make out of there. Before such an action could be taken, however, Nemu had flash stepped behind him and injected the needle into his neck.

Kenshin would have screamed, but whatever was in that needle suddenly made him very tired. Nemu released him and Kenshin fell to the ground. He tried to fight back the wave of exhaustion that struck him, but what that needle contained was much stronger then the anesthetic Captain Unohana used.

"That's right, just relax," Mayuri said, his voice a little more excited than usual. "It'll all be over soon."

"Kenny-Two!"

Kenshin didn't really believe in miracles and never had much reason to, but that all changed the moment he heard that name and the voice who called it out.

"There you are!" Yachiru said cheerfully as she hopped over to him. "Kenny was wondering why you took off in the middle of your fight. You don't look so good," she said as she knelt down beside Kenshin's body.

"H…help…me!" Kenshin struggled to say.

"You! Leave my squad at once!" Mayuri shouted at Yachiru. Yachiru regarded him with a curious expression before her smile returned.

"Okay, but I have to take Kenny-Two with me. Kenny wants to fight him again," Yachiru said as she hefted Kenshin up over her shoulder. "Bye-bye!" And then she was off with Mayuri shouting obscenities from behind her.

"Don't worry, Kenny-Two. I'll take you to see Braidy-Lady so you can fight with Kenny again!" Yachiru exclaimed cheerfully.

Kenshin couldn't believe Yachiru of all people had saved him. He would definitely owe her a weeks' worth of candy for this.

He was disappointed that his second encounter with Nemu didn't go as planned, but at the same time he was just glad to be out of there.

Finally, the drug stated to take its full effect on him. He was just glad he would wake up in a bed in the Fourth Division instead of lab table in the Twelfth.

Please let me know what how I did with Mayuri! I really want to get him right!

Till next time!