A/N: Wasn't that last chapter heart-wrenching?! Man it was hard to write. But don't worry no more emo stuff for a little while! I hope you like this chapter!

Chapter Twenty

Moriko laid in the cool bed, tossing and turning waiting for morning. She opened her eyes, sun peeked through the blinds. Moriko smiled and hopped out of bed. She wanted to go straight to the infirmary, but she was covered in blood. Moriko sighed and stood up. She left the room and strolled down the empty halls to the laundry room. She peeked her head into the room, no one was in there. It was too early so Moriko didn't expect anyone there. She walked over to the stack of clothing and pulled out one set. She left the room quickly then made her way to the shower. Moriko stepped into the bath house and undressed herself. She looked at her body, blood stained her legs and there was a dark bruise across her shoulder and going down her arm. Moriko sighed then walked over to the bath. She dived into the water, it seeped into her skin, the red blood revealing a peach color. Moriko put her left hand into the water and gasped, it stung. She looked at her hand, then touched it. There was a long thin cut going horizontally across her palm. Moriko stroked it and sighed. She turned her shoulder and touched it. Even the slightest touch made he shoulder sting, she sighed again. Moriko ducked her head under the warm water and ran her fingers through her raven black hair. Moriko spent no time in the bath house. She came out, quickly dressed and left the bath house. Something rattled her zanpactou, she pulled it out of its sheath. A small red fox hopped out and jumped onto Moriko's wet head. It's warm heat dried Moriko's hair, while it dug it's claws into her hair straightening it as well.

Moriko quickly walked down the halls, slowly getting closer to the infirmary. Moriko looked down at her hand, then pulled out a long white cloth. She wrapped it around her hand, blood began making it turn a bit pink. Moriko stopped at the large white doors, the squad four sign written across it in red letters. Moriko pushed the door open, very few people were sitting in the waiting room. Unohana had told Moriko that Toushirou's room would be the last one in the second right hall. Moriko quickly strolled down the hall, stopping at the last door. She placed her hand on the knob, her movement hesitant. She didn't know if she could go in, what if he was still asleep? Moriko closed her eyes and twisted the knob. She pushed the door open and opened her own eyes. She saw Toushirou wide awake, a black book in his hands. Everything was white, except the book. She could barely tell Toushirou from the room so she was grateful he held the book. Toushirou looked up and smiled. A thin bandage went across his nose, and some were wrapped around his right arm. Moriko sweetly smiled and stepped in.

"You're up early today." Moriko said, they both laughed a bit. Toushirou looked at her, she seemed to be fine until he saw her left hand. Moriko sat in a chair and, he grabbed her hand. Moriko gasped in pain, he peeled the thin cloth away from her skin. He stared at the cut then looked back at her.

"What did you do to yourself?" He asked holding her hand gently. Moriko looked away, he frowned.

"I told you to stay inside the office!"

"But I was the one who saved you!" Moriko said back to him, Toushirou loosened his shoulders. He looked at her then smiled.

"You did? Ichigo said Renji saved me." He said, Moriko shook her head.

"I got the cut from your zanpactou. I carried you all the way from the forest to Unohana-Taicho. I waited all night for you." She said reliving the moment. Toushirou nodded at every word. He looked out the window then back at her.

"So where is my zanpactou right now?" He asked.

"It's in your room." Moriko answered. Toushirou looked at her again, he touched the cut.

"Then how did you get this?" Moriko groaned.

"I opened the Senkaimon holding the blade!" She said. Toushirou smiled and patted her on her shoulder.

"Thank you." He finally said after a moment of silence. Moriko smiled then he pulled her in for a hug. His forearm slightly touched Moriko's left shoulder, she flinched at the pain.

"I see. It's that bad." He said pulling away.

"You want to see it?" Moriko asked, Toushirou blushing.

"If it's alright with you." He said. Moriko turned around and pulled her sleeve down. A dark purple went up her shoulder and down her arm. Toushirou sighed, he placed his hand on it. Moriko thought it felt better when he touched it since he had a cool touch.

Moriko visited him everyday for about an hour. Each day the bruise eased up a bit and the cut got smaller. The bruise was just across her shoulder and the cut almost gone when it was the day Toushirou got to leave the infirmary.

Moriko laid in the bed asleep until she sat up quickly.

"Oh my god! Today is the day Taicho leaves the infirmary!" She exclaimed. Moriko pulled on her uniform and hurried out the door. She ran down the halls almost slipping onto her face, until she stopped abruptly at the large white doors. She pushed the doors open, Toushirou standing right there. He was dressed in his captain's uniform, a few bandages around his arm.

"Taicho!" Moriko screamed running into the waiting room, pulling him into her arms.

"Don't squeeze me too hard! I might burst." He joked, Moriko pulling away. The two walked down the halls going to Toushirou's office. They stepped into the office, Rangiku burst from the doors.

"Oh Taicho! I thought you died!!!" She yelled pulling him off his feet. Toushirou squirmed in her grip.

"Rangiku! Let me go!!" He managed to say, Rangiku setting him on his feet. Toushirou looked at her and she drooped her shoulders.

"But I did the paper yesterday!" She complained.

"And you're right-handed! It was your left hand that got hurt!" She added. Toushirou looked down at his hands, he lifted the one with the bandages.

"This is my right one." He said. Rangiku looked at the hand dumbstruck and groaned. She left the room, her orange hair hanging over her face. Moriko looked at Toushirou and they both laughed.

"She's not the brightest flame is she?" Moriko asked through a laugh.

"Not really." Toushirou said. The two sighed and got up. They both walked over to the bedroom, Moriko opened the door. The two ran over to the bed and fell face-first onto the soft comforter. Moriko flipped over and pulled a pillow into her grasp. It was the only black pillow in the array of white. This pillow was warmer than the others, since it was a cool. Toushirou crawled over to Moriko and nuzzled her under her neck, they both laughed. Then his laugh faded, Moriko looked down at him. His eyes were closed, Moriko smiled. Since they were both on the edge Moriko decided to pull him up the bed. That didn't really work out because since Moriko's arm was still a bit weary she couldn't lift him onto the bed.

"Geez. What the hell do they feed him in the infirmary? He's getting heavy." She said to herself.

"I heard that." Toushirou said getting up from Moriko's grip, she flushed a deep red. The two laughed and crawled up the bed. Toushirou peeled his captain's cloak off and tossed it onto the small stool and laid down onto the cool bed. Moriko laid her warm onto cool exterior of the pillow, gently closing her eyes. For once, she fell asleep peacefully.

Spring flowers will bloom once the cool mist of winter has passed.