The room was a simple one, small, sterile, and utterly lacking any sense of being lived in at one point or another. It was a nice change from Tanaka's over the top dwellings and Nanao hadn't minded in the least walking in, lying down on the hard functional bed, and falling instantly into a dead sleep. It had taken all of two seconds to get Nemu to leave. All she had to say was that she was not in fact in need of medical attention and Nemu had been on her way. She was pretty sure she'd just gotten all of her birthday and Christmas wishes rolled into one when she was given the opportunity to sleep. So she didn't altogether blame herself for wanting to throw a tantrum like a five year old when she was woken back up.
"What?" she whined borrowing her head further under the pink fabric she'd been using as a blanket.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think it was Shunsui-kun under there," said a warm female voice.
"Five more minutes," Nanao said tiredly. Surely whoever it was would be kind enough to allow her five more minutes.
"You can't," the voice said again. "Nanao for all we know you could have a concussion, fall asleep, and slip into a coma. You've got to wake up, and let me help you."
"Didn't hit my head," she muttered curling up tighter in a ball. "Go away."
"Nanao," the voice said exasperated and this time a hand came down to shake her awake. Unfortunately, that hand made contact with her side sending her arching up and hissing in pain, both from the contact and then the sudden movement. "Sorry about that," Matsumoto said looking at her sheepishly.
Nanao shifted slowly and felt all her muscles give out pitiful cries of discomfort as most of them had cramped up during the course of her short sleep. "What are you doing here?"
"Haven't seen me in weeks, and that's the kind of greeting I get," Matsumoto huffed. "Now I'm definitely going to publish the pictures I just took of you curled up under Shunsui-kun's haori in the Seireitei paper."
"Do whatever you want," Nanao said, settling back down into the bed. She was too tired to think, let alone have a witty conversation.
"Wait, the Ise Nanao doesn't care if everyone knows she's been sleeping in her Taicho's clothing desperately mooning over him during the long, lonely, quiet nights?" Matsumoto asked in play shock. "What's next, an open declarations of love?"
"Sure, fine," Nanao said not even really listening anymore, "Just stop talking."
"Nanao, we have to take care of your injuries first," Matsumoto said with a sigh, suddenly serious as she forced Nanao back into a sitting position.
"I'm fine," Nanao said sleepily.
"Shunsui-kun said you'd say that," Matsumoto retorted, rolling her eyes and reaching out to pull the haori away from her. Nanao let it go reluctantly and tried to be a better patient, at least for the moment anyway. "Wow," Matsumoto said letting out a low whistle when she took in Nanao's fully bedraggled appearance. "What did he do to you?"
"It looks worse than it is," Nanao said shivering at the loss of warmth. "Most of this was done getting back to the Seireitei."
"Come on, we're getting you into the shower," Matsumoto said standing up from the edge of the bed.
"It's just some mud," Nanao replied stubbornly, still feeling sleep tugging at her eyes. "How'd you even get in here? I thought I was on lock down."
"You are, but Taicho told me what happened at the meeting, and I rushed right over, and Nemu-san owed me a favor from last years SWA fundraiser," Matsumoto said with a shrug. "Really I don't think Kurotsuchi cares who gets in, he's just having fun telling Shunsui-kun no. Says he has specific orders from the Soutaicho not to let Kyouraku-san anywhere near you. If you ask me, the Soutaicho is really being too harsh about it. Shunsui-kun has been worried sick the entire time you were gone. He'd probably calm down if they just let him be with you."
"I asked the Soutaicho to keep him away from me," Nanao admitted as she watched Matsumoto pick up a brush from the little vanity in the corner of the room.
"You what?" Matsumoto asked spinning to face her. "Why would you do that?"
"Tanaka isn't going to give up," Nanao said with a sigh. "I don't want him to get hurt. Nor do I want you to get hurt, you shouldn't be here either."
Matsumoto stared at her for a moment and it quickly became a glare as her grip tightened on the handle of the brush. "You really don't get it do you?"
"What?" Nanao asked, honestly taken aback by the sudden emotional shift.
"You don't want to see us get hurt? What about us having to watch you get hurt? Are we just supposed to sit back and think that's ok?" Matsumoto demanded. "You can't keep doing this! We're your friends, your family. We want to be there with you, and all you keep doing is brushing us off, making us all helpless. For kami sake, you have that collar on. You should know best of any of us, that the worst feeling of all is feeling powerless! That man out there, being turned away at the gates over and over again, has been thinking about nothing else, but you for weeks. He's been blaming himself for not being able to protect you, and then what do you do but go ahead and confirm his worse fears. That you don't think he can protect you either."
"That's not it!" Nanao yelled feeling her own emotions rise. "That's not what it is. It's that I can't protect him, or you, or anyone else! I'm sorry I left, and I'm sorry you've been worried, but I would do it all again, because if you haven't noticed the only person that stayed at my side, that went with me, is dead and there was nothing I could do to save him." Nanao stopped there, sucking in a breath, and forcefully pushing down her tears. "I won't watch either of you die for me, and don't you dare lie and say you'd be able to let me do it for you. I understand how you feel, if I were you I'd want to shake me too, but if you were me you'd still send me away."
"Nanao," Matsumoto started still sounding raw, but at least some of the anger had drained from her tone.
"You can hate me if you want. So can Kyouraku Taicho for that matter. It doesn't make a difference as long as you're alive and happy, and Tanaka isn't anywhere near you," Nanao said lowing her head to face her lap.
Matsumoto let out a cold laugh at that. "You think either Shunsui-kun or I will be happy if you aren't in our lives?"
"I can't risk losing you all," Nanao said looking up and attempting to run a hand through her knotted hair. "Otherwise what's even the point of me living through this?"
"And we can't risk losing you," Matsumoto said with a weak smile. "I suppose this is one of those, we're going to have to agree to disagree, moments. Come on now let me help you. I'm not leaving until you look at least slightly less like a banshee."
"Banshees are majestic creatures," Nanao said, attempting a joke as she tried to lighten the mood, and went to lie back down.
"I'm serious, Nanao-chan," Matsumoto said stepping towards her. "If you don't get in that shower in the next minute, I am walking out, helping Kyouraku-san break in, and then letting him be the one to strip you naked and clean you up."
Nanao ignored her and pressed her face back into the now slightly dirty pillow.
"Or maybe that's exactly what you want, you naughty girl," Matsumoto taunted coming closer. Nanao had enough energy to turn her head in the pillow and give Matsumoto a dark look, but still didn't move. "I mean who could blame you, wanting those big masculine hands running warm lather all over your body, maybe slipping and dipping a bit too low a few times? Warm breath on the back of your neck while he makes sure he doesn't miss a spot?"
"Sounds fine to me," Nanao said evenly, calling her bluff.
Matsumoto raised an eyebrow, and let a grin spread across her face. "At least you're finally admitting it." Then she started building a light kido in her hand.
"What are you doing?" Nanao asked confused.
"Sending a kido flare out," Matsumoto said with a shrug. "It was my signal to Shunsui-kun if you were being difficult to handle and he needed to break in and come help." She was about to release the kido before Nanao struggled out of the bed and grabbed her arm. "Something wrong Nanao-chan?"
"I hate you," she said, even as an exasperated smile crossed her lips. "I'll get in the shower, just get rid of that kido."
"I knew you'd see it my way," Matsumoto said in a delighted tone. "Shunsui-kun will be let down to know he was this close to getting to molest you in the name of legitimate health concerns."
"It's not like he's ever needed a reason before," Nanao said rolling her eyes as she dragged herself towards the bathroom. She gave one last forlorn look at the bed, but saw Matsumoto's hand move for a kido and kept moving.
"Don't lie, you always liked it," Matsumoto said laughing as she followed Nanao in.
"I hardly found him drunkenly grabbing my boob, when I was trying to support him and get him home after a night out, a turn on," Nanao said honestly.
"Oh, you pick the one bad move," Matsumoto said rolling her eyes. "How about the time we all went to the pool and he had to help you with the sunscreen because the rest of us disappeared or were already all wet? That was a good feel up."
"I knew you guys set me up for that!" Nanao exclaimed shooting her friend a dirty look.
"Oh don't look so upset," Matsumoto replied waving her hand dismissively as Nanao started to lift the destroyed nightgown over her head. "You looked like you were enjoying yourself, well until he went too far up your thigh and you nearly took his eye out with your book. Holy shit!"
"What?" Nanao asked turning quickly and almost toppling backwards as she wrenched the nightgown the rest of the way off her head.
"Nanao, what happened to your back?" Matsumoto asked looking worried.
"It had a brief but intense run in with a kido chain," Nanao said dryly. "It's fine."
"That sure doesn't look fine," Matsumoto said moving behind her to get a better look. "It's a good thing Kyouraku isn't here. This would send him right off the deep end. When did you get that? It doesn't seem like it's fresh."
"I helped some children escape Tanaka," Nanao said glancing over her shoulder and down her back. "He took it personally, and I had a painful encounter with a pissed off guard."
Matsumoto frowned at her injuries, but simply motioned her to the stool and grabbed the showerhead. Nanao sighed tiredly and glanced back at the door leading to the bed, but sat down all the same and let Matsumoto douse her, hoping it would be fast and she could go back to sleep. If nothing else, Matsumoto was efficient in helping her get her hair clean, and was gentle with the wounds on her back. Nanao washed the rest of her body going more slowly over her torn up legs and feet and was thankful that Matsumoto, being a fellow shinigami, didn't feel the need to comment on every injury. As much as Mori was a sweet girl, Nanao was relieved to have someone helping her that actually knew how to react to injuries and didn't have to keep a constant stream of useless chatter in the air. Matsumoto finished re-bandaging her back and walked out into the other room bringing a yukata back with her.
Nanao took it sleepily and realized with surprise that it was one of her own. "How did you get this?" Nanao asked slipping it on, even as her muscles protested every movement she made. "Wasn't it in my apartment?" Perhaps she'd left it at Kyouraku's, but she couldn't remember ever having worn it over there, or taking it off over there for that matter.
"Yep," Matsumoto said cheerily. "I'll bet you'll be wanting to get to bed now."
"But you don't have a key," Nanao said suspiciously as Matsumoto took her arm and started pulling her back into the other room.
"Yes, well, Shunsui-kun might have broken into your apartment right after you and your brother left to see if there were any clues as to where you both would be hiding," Matsumoto said quickly.
"He did what?" Nanao shrieked back.
"Don't worry, he got the broken lock replaced," Matsumoto said with a shrug. "It just made getting your clothes simpler as he now has a key."
"You're telling me that Kyouraku broke into my apartment and rummaged through the whole thing?" Nanao asked sitting down on the bed.
"Pretty much, though I yelled at him and told him you'd be upset if he didn't clean up after himself," Matsumoto said with a smile.
"If he didn't clean up? Rangiku-san, the man just went through all of my personal belongings!" Nanao said trying to make her see the point.
"So?"
"So? It's Kyouraku, and he probably went through my freaking underwear drawer," Nanao said flopping back on the bed, and then instantly regretting it when her body flared in pain.
"So what? The man has seen women's underwear before. Oooo unless there is something in your underwear drawer that he's not supposed to find. Does Nanao-chan have kinky secrets hiding in her home?" Matsumoto asked smiling gleefully.
"No!" Nanao cried indignantly. "I most certainly do not! It's just an invasion of privacy, and now I'll have to wash all of my underwear because who knows where his hands had been before he decided to go rifling through them. Thank god I don't keep a diary."
"In all likelihood, he probably didn't search your underwear drawer look for your hiding place," Matsumoto said with a laugh. "Although he might have just searched it for fun. I think he was mainly looking through your papers and books, trying to find out if you'd written anything in reference to your past. You can't get too mad at him. He was a little crazed when your brother took you."
"He didn't happen to go through my closet did he?" Nanao asked glancing up at her.
"I don't know," Matsumoto replied, grinning wider. "Why? What's in your closet that I didn't see when I picked up this yukata?"
"It's nothing," Nanao replied stubbornly.
"I'm just going to go look if you don't tell me," Matsumoto said easily. "And Shunsui-kun will probably follow me, so it might just be better to get it out now."
"It's nothing, alright," Nanao said exasperated. "There just might be a box that has some of the things Kyouraku has given me over the years that I refuse to admit I kept, ok?"
"You kept all that lingerie?" Matsumoto asked shocked.
"No!" Nanao said instantly. "Well, not most of it anyway, and that's beside the point, none of it is in that box. It just has stupid things in it, some dried flowers, some of the poems and things he's drawn, and some photos. He just doesn't need it going to his head."
"Ok, memento box, boring," Matsumoto said rolling her eyes. "You kept the lingerie?"
"None of the tacky gaudy crap," Nanao said defensively. "Some of it was surprisingly tasteful, and I didn't see any reason to just throw it away as long as he was under the impression that I threw it away."
"Hence the fear of him rooting through your underwear drawer," Matsumoto said laughing. "The tasteful stuff must have been Ukitake-san's influence while I was busy."
"Ukitake-san's influence? What does Ukitake-san have to do with Kyouraku buying me underwear?"
"You think he didn't drag us along for advice whenever he got the chance?" Matsumoto asked giggling. "Given I always volunteered, but Ukitake-san always got frustrated when Shunsui-kun forced him along, something about not wanting to have to wonder what you were wearing under your clothes every time he saw you. Turns out it's probably whatever he picked out too. Did you keep the string thong with the heart made out of purple rhinestones?"
"I think I lent that one and all the crotchless underwear to a hooker and never asked for it back," Nanao said dryly.
"Damn, that one was my favorite," Matsumoto said smiling. "I'll have to tell Ukitake-san you appreciate his taste in undergarments."
"Don't you dare," Nanao said instantly, and then grumbled, "That man has serious personal boundary issues."
"I find Ukitake-san keeps personal boundaries very well," Matsumoto said putting on a confused face.
"Not Ukitake-san, my Taicho," Nanao clarified rolling her eyes.
"First time you're noticing?" Matsumoto asked sarcastically as she sat down at the end of the bed.
Nanao just made a sound of displeasure and lay down curling up on the bed and loosing the will to talk anymore. She was tired and her Taicho was a pervert, nothing new there. Nanao grabbed the pink haori and dragged it over herself again, giving Matsumoto a look that dared her to say anything about it. Matsumoto just smiled innocently and kept her peace. Nanao was already falling back asleep when her voice rang out again.
"Are you really ok, Nanao?" Matsumoto asked seriously. "And I mean for real, and not just physically."
There was silence for a moment while Nanao tiredly contemplated her answer, and then said, "No, I'm not ok. My brother is dead and I've murdered a couple people and everything on me aches, but then again I'm home and you all are safe so I suppose it could be worse. I'll survive."
"It won't hurt forever," Matsumoto said quietly. "I should know. Just remember your friends aren't going anywhere whether you'd like us to or not. You've got to let us help."
"When I need an ouchie kissed I'll let you know," Nanao said yawning and almost thankful that the darkness of sleep was shortly going to swallow her up. All the better to stop thinking.
"You'll have to go to Shunsui-kun for that one," Matsumoto said with a smile. "He'll get jealous if I'm the only one getting to kiss you all the time."
"You're ridiculous," Nanao muttered closing her eyes.
"Completely," Matsumoto agreed easily. "Get some sleep, I have a feeling we're going to have a jail break in the morning."
"We better not," Nanao said sharply, tying to rouse herself again.
"Oh come on, we'll bust you out for breakfast, prove to Shunsui-kun you're ok, and have you back in time for lunch. I highly doubt Tanaka is going to jump us in broad daylight."
"No," Nanao said simply. "I'll see him when Tanaka is formally charged and arrested. Not a moment sooner. Just tell him whatever he needs to hear."
"Fine," Matsumoto said with a huff, "but I am not responsible if a jail break still occurs. Get some sleep. You still look like you got stampeded by hollows." The last command was rather pointless though, as Matsumoto soon realized Nanao had already fallen back asleep. She smiled indulgently and pulled the pink haori up higher on Nanao's shoulders. It was good to have her friend back in one piece, even if that friend was too stubborn for her own wellbeing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Well?" a voice asked from the shadows, as she started striding away from the 12th.
"You're liable to scare a girl hanging out in dark secluded places like that," Matsumoto said as she identified the voice.
"Kurotsuchi finally threatened to call Yama-jii if I didn't stop harassing his people," Kyouraku admitted with a slight smile.
"I hardly call getting people drunk harassment," Rangiku commented grinning.
"That's what I said!" he replied enthusiastically. "A few more drinks and they'd have slapped me on the back and let me walk right in, no questions asked. The 12th is full of lightweights. That would have been more pleasant for everyone. How is she?"
"A little beat up, but she'll survive," Rangiku answered honestly.
"Define a little beat up," he said, as they started moving again, Shunsui apparently intent on walking her back to the 10th.
"You want a rundown of each individual injury?" Rangiku asked raising an eyebrow.
"Preferably, yes," he said sincerely.
"Do you ever think that the reason she is so insistent on doing things on her own is because you smother her?" she asked seriously.
"I do not," he defended. "Ok well occasionally, but I think it's called for in this situation. She could hardly stand and I barely grazed her back."
Rangiku winced at that, knowing exactly what he was referring to. "Her back is a little hurt," she admitted.
"Rangiku-chan," he said impatiently.
"Apparently letting those kids go earned her a beating by way of kido chain," Rangiku admitted slowly.
"Right," Shunsui said tilting his hat down over his eyes. "So Tanaka better hope that he gets convicted and arrested, or I take him out myself."
"Oh, Shunsui-kun when you get all violent and manly it really gets me going," Matsumoto said overdramatically and fanning herself. "I don't think Nanao would appreciate you going anywhere near Tanaka. She was sort of adamant that we all stay away from him."
"I'm not giving her back to him," Kyouraku said.
"I don't think she was really planning on going back," Matsumoto said rolling her eyes. "But I'm sure a little pleasant persuasion on your part wouldn't hurt anything."
Shunsui grinned at her as they walked along and said, "No problems with that on my side."
"It might be harder than you think," Rangiku replied smiling. "Nanao's pretty upset you broke into her apartment."
"She noticed the yukata was hers, huh?" Kyouraku asked rhetorically. "How angry was she?"
"More worried that you'd gone through her underwear drawer than anything else," Rangiku said wiggling her eyebrows at him.
"Now why didn't I think to do that?" Shunsui asked laughing. "She is not allowed to disappear again. You know I wasn't in a healthy emotional state if I forgot to search such a pivotal spot. Does Nanao-chan have naughty secrets she's worried about me discovering?"
"More like she's worried you'd recognize some of it," Rangiku said conspiratorially.
"Recognize?" he asked confused, and then understanding crossed his face. "She kept the lingerie I bought her all these years?"
"More like she selectively kept the lingerie Ukitake-san helped you pick out," Rangiku clarified.
"Why the stuff Jyuu picked out?" he asked looking outraged.
"Calm down, it's not because she knew it was from Ukitake. It's just Ukitake's taste run more along her own. You have to admit we've gotten her some outrageous stuff over the years," she said smiling.
"Well when I thought she was throwing it all away it was more fun to at least see the scandalized look on her face when she opened the box," he said easily. "If I'd known she'd keep some of it, I would have bought her things I thought she would actually wear. Kami, I hope she kept the black lacey one. I picked it, but Jyuu agreed it was tasteful."
"You could always pop over there and find out," Rangiku suggested.
"It's only fun discovering it if it's actually on her," Shunsui said wistfully. "Hmm, knowing this little fact is going to make it a lot harder to concentrate in the office."
"Like you concentrate in the office anyway," Rangiku pointed out giggling.
"Yes, but at least before I could sleep. Now I'm going to have to spend quite a bit of time thinking of creative ways to either get her to strip or get a good look underneath her uniform," he replied thoughtfully.
"That or you could just use the key to her apartment and 'accidentally' let yourself in at an opportune moment," Rangiku said shrugging a shoulder.
"I like the way you think," he said. "She'll probably blast me into the 4th for about a week, but I'm thinking it'd be totally worth it."
"Technically, with the collar she can't blast you anywhere," Rangiku pointed out.
"Another good point," he said grinning. "So many more things to add to the list of things to do before I die. Perhaps I'll drag Ukitake with me to the living world tomorrow and get her a welcome home present."
"You do that, and she'll know I told you and start throwing out the stuff for real," Rangiku said giggling.
"Maybe I'll save if for a few weeks then," he replied easily. "Use it as a gift on our first date."
"Someone is Mr. Confident now," Rangiku said. "I'd suggest you give it at the end of the date, if you manage to convince her to go on one, otherwise she's liable to slam the door in your face."
"Not if, when," he said tucking his hands into the sleeves of his white Taicho haori. It was actually rather strange to see him without pink on. "I'm not letting her get away again. I'm going to convince her I'm serious."
"By buying her underwear?" Rangiku asked lifting an eyebrow. "You've got a long way to go."
A/N: Ahhh, late to work again for me. You're reviews keep me happy on otherwise crappy days! Although this week has been good so far. FionaH93, I'm honored that I won out over X-Factor, also don't worry about this story ending soon, I already have 238 pages written and it's not done yet. Lol, I might need to learn how to be more concise.