I watched as light filtered into my eyes, which were strangely open. It was an odd sensation to be sure, but what met my eyes was white. Not the white from light, but the color white. Sure there were other colors that met my eyes, but the white struck me.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" I heard and my gaze shifted to look at what the voice was talking about.
"Two. Why?" I asked, though my response felt slow.
"How are you feeling?" the voice persisted.
"I'm fine. What about you?" I asked sluggishly, my eyes drifting to the source and then I froze. "T Taichou!" I shouted, realizing it was him who had been speaking. This felt surreal. I was laying down, not far from the kitchen.
"Hm, she seems fine for now," another voice said and I looked over to see Urahara leaning in. He placed his hand on my forehead, as if checking my temperature.
"I I'm f fine, honestly," I stammered. "I just fainted," I explained.
"Fainted?" Toshiro repeated back. I sat up, shaking my head, trying to convince everyone that I was fine.
"Ya, I just saw a bit too much blood is all," I replied, then felt my muscles begin to shake. I quickly flopped back down and forced myself to cover my eyes with my arm.
"Huh?" I heard the both of them hum. I let out a sigh, preparing myself to explain the 'phenomenon'.
"Ever heard of how some people are terrified of the sight of blood?" I asked, still keeping my eyes covered. "I don't have that." I could almost felt them deflate. "I have a case that when I see blood, the blood in my veins rushes away from my head and I get very light headed and end up fainting. Simple as that."
"Oh," I heard someone mutter.
"But why were you doing that to yourself?" I figured it was Toshiro who asked me the question and I frowned.
"Because I can 'subject' myself to this 'torture' for a bit and we happen to have two injured lieutenants who need their injuries cleaned and treated. I wanted to feel useful instead of moping about from this latest defeat," I commented harshly, finally uncovering my eyes and sitting up with a fierce glare on my face.
"I see," Toshiro muttered. I thought I saw a small smile form on his face. I blinked a few times, rubbing them, but his 'smile' was gone. At least, I think he had smiled. Perhaps I imagined things.
"Well then, shall we continue this 'torture'?" Urahara-san asked with a teasing tone and a gracious smile.
"You're going to be the end of me Urahara-san," I remarked with a grin. "Well, once my head stops spinning I'll get back to work."
I kneeled and then pushed off the ground, standing, albeit a bit shakily.
"Not in this condition," Urahara remarked.
"That's why I said after I recover," I responded. "Are you going deaf old man?" I muttered.
"What a thing to say to your elder," he said and I realized that he had picked up on my words. I harrumphed.
"Well, whatever," Urahara responded, rising and then, holding out his elbow to me, spoke. "Let's get you to somewhere you can rest."
"Oh. Hai," I said, reaching out and taking his arm. He slowly guided me to a room and had me lay on the futon.
"Now just rest," Urahara said before sliding the door closed.
"Sure," I muttered sarcastically. I closed my eyes, concentrating on getting that weak feeling under control. I don't have a lot of time to be in recovery. Especially since I determined that I am going against the timeline.
The sensation of lightness slowly fled and strength returned to my limbs. I sat up but paused as a soft knock reached my ears.
"Tala-san, I'm coming in," a voice outside said. I instantly knew it belonged to Toshiro. The door slid open and I looked at his face as he came in and then sat across from me.
"What do you need Taichou?" I asked.
"How are you feeling?" he asked and I furrowed my brow. He gave me a quizzical look and I leaned forwards, studying his face.
"Nani?" he asked as he slightly leaned back.
"Are you really Hitsugaya Taichou?" I asked, genuine but with a bit of teasing tone. Since when was he concerned with my condition? It was amusing, and I couldn't pass the chance to tease him about it.
"What do you mean!? Of course I'm Hitsugaya Toshiro," he responded with an annoyed and agitated tone.
"Hmm. The Hitsugaya I know is pretty cold and uncaring," I remarked.
"I can care about people," he said in a humph.
"Course you can," I replied sarcastically.
"I can," he remarked.
"Right," I responded, my tone heavily laced with sarcasm.
"Tch. Anyway, since you are feeling well enough to fight with words, you should be able to move now," he said. I began to open my mouth to ask why that was important, but he began to speak again. "We're heading back. Now," he stressed the last word.
"Where to?" I asked, both curious and surprised. He glanced at me with an expression of annoyance.
"Where do you think?" his eyes and body language seemed to say. I placed a finger to my chin in a thoughtful manner, then it hit me.
"Oh, right. Back to Soul Society," I said, answering my own question. He sighed, seemingly in relief but still annoyed that it took me a bit to figure it out.
"Can't we leave tomorrow? After Matsumoto Fuku-Taichou and Abarai Fuku-Taichou recover? Or else how will they get back?"
"Tala-san." He said in a authoritative tone.
"H hai," I stammered, sitting up a bit straighter.
"My orders are to have you return immediately. The others can join us later," he said sternly and I knew that this tone meant 'do not argue back'. I sighed in defeat.
"When do we leave?" I asked, submitting to his command.
