Chapter 9.

Knock, knock, knock.

Kensei jumped. Exhausted by the day, his body finally get the better of his anxieties, and he had dozed off. Looking at the clock above the main door of his office, he saw that it was just 4 a.m. I would have slept for 1 hour... He rubbed his eyes and went to open the door.

"Muguruma-Taicho" greeted the shinigami. "I was told that I will find you here..." he said more to himself than to Kensei. "I come to tell you that Asagi Komorebi is out of danger. Most of her wounds have been treated, she now needs a rest. Unohana-Taicho will allow you a visit only at the end of the morning for a few minutes."

Kensei, whose brain was spinning in slow motion, only registered this "Asagi Komorebi", "out of danger", "visit" and "late morning". He ignored the rest. He then thanked the shinigami and closed the door. A glance at his desk dissuaded him from getting back to the paperwork so he simply went to collapse on the couch and finally reassured, he fell asleep.

"Shuuhei, do you think he's dead?"

"Kuna Fukutaicho! Don't do that you'll wake him up."

"I have been doing this for 10 minutes and he still has not woken up. Doesn't that worry you?"

"What worries me is if you wake him up..." Hisagi muttered.

Kensei refrained from growling. Even though he was used to it, he hated being woken up by Mashiro. That's why he always tried to be up before her.

Beside him, Mashiro was desperately trying to get a reaction by pushing his shoulder with her forefinger. Until Kensei grabbed her wrist.

"Mashiro if you don't want to find yourself scouring all the toilets in the division this week I advise you to stop this. Right away," he finished threateningly.

"Hihi, see Shuuhei, he's not dead" she said standing up.

Kensei growled.

"What time is it?" he asked, straightening up.

"Almost 9.20 am" Hisagi replied, looking at the clock.

Kensei rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn. Sitting on the couch he gazed at the clock for a moment. Then he stood up, did some stretching, and walked over to his desk where he examined the new paperwork that had just arrived.

"Nothing urgent?" he asked, watching the many files.

"No" Hisagi replied.

"Good. Will it be okay for you?" he asked, turning to him this time.

"Hai Taicho" Hisagi replied confidently.

"Don't hesitate to ask Mashiro to give you a hand if needed, even if it's more of a kick she needs, he finished muttering.

"I heard everything Kensei!" she cried from the next room where she had taken refuge.

He looked up to heaven.

"Shouldn't you be training the new recruits?" he asked rather than getting into her game.

She appeared in the doorway.

"I wanted to know if you were dead before. That way you wouldn't have made me do it" she said sulkily.

"Go right now Mashiro!" Kensei snapped.

"Haï, haï Kensei, no need to scream while I'm next door" she said as she stepped out into the hallway proud to have annoyed him this early in the morning.

Kensei shook his head.

"I'll be in 4th Division if you need me" he said to Hisagi. "I'm doing it as quickly as possible."

Then he left, but instead of going directly to the 4th Division, he went home first. He took the opportunity to shower and get his other haori before getting caught without it by the Soutaicho.

Shortly after his departure, Mashiro reappeared in the doorway of the office.

"Shuuhei, do you think Kensei is in love?"

"Kuna Fukutaicho, it's a personal question, I don't know if..."

"I'm glad he's found a girlfriend, since I've been trying to fit him in."

Hisagi, uncomfortable, shifted more and more in his chair. Mashiro's last question finishes him off:

"Shuuhei, what is your type of woman?"

About one hour later, Kensei was heading towards the 4th Division. He hoped Captain Unohana would let him visit Asagi. "Late morning" she said, so it should be okay.

A bouquet of flowers in his hand, he felt a little silly. He hadn't known Asagi for a long time after all. But on the other hand, he could not see himself coming empty handed.

When he arrived at the 4th Division, he immediately found Lieutenant Kotetsu who showed him Asagi's room and asked him not to prolong the visit too long. Kensei thanked her. He also took the opportunity to apologize for his anger the day before.

He had no trouble finding the room, but Asagi was not inside. Kensei placed the flowers on one of the tables in the bedroom and then left. Isane told me that she was in her room.

"Excuse me" he asked a young shinigami from 4th Division who was walking down the hall. "Do you know where the patient in that room is?"

He seemed to think for a moment, then his face lit up.

"Are you talking about Komorebi-san? She went to visit her student. Room 119, a little further down the hall on your right."

"Thank you."

He followed the directions to the bedroom. The door was ajar so he looked inside. Asagi was sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to Kensei. She was talking to her student while holding his hand. The young man, staring blankly, kept his head down. Knowing that the conversation was serious enough, he didn't interrupt them and leaned on the wall next to the door. From where he was, he managed to overhear some of the conversation.

"Sentomaru-kun, do you understand? It wasn't your fault."

She seemed to pause.

"This all happened because of the hollow. You are in no way responsible for what happened to your comrades."

"But Komorebi-sensei..." the student began.

"Sentomaru-kun, I assure you, no one could have predicted what happened. And no one could have prevented it."

Her last sentence had been said so softly that Kensei had difficulty hearing it. "Looks like he's not the only one feeling guilty."

"Still I should have done something! I..."

And only sobs were heard afterwards.

Kensei clenched his fists. He had already experienced this feeling of helplessness and guilt the night he had become a visard. He was remembering the incident when he was interrupted by Captain Unohana.

"Mugurama-Taicho? Have you found Komorebi-san?"

"Yes she is in there."

He paused as the student's sobs were heard.

"I did not dare to interrupt them" he explained.

The captain looked at him with one of her knowing smiles. One of those who made you feel young and ignorant in front of her.

"You know" she said after a while, "losing a comrade is never easy. However, as shinigami, the risk we take is up to our choice. It does not alleviate our grief, but it makes it easier for us to accept the death of our comrades. But when it comes to a student, it is quite another thing..."

She paused as if to choose her next words.

"I'm afraid she'll take a long time to come to terms with the death of her students. Without suffering an emotional backlash, I mean..."

Kensei was silent. Inside the room, the student's crying had subsided. The captain entered. Kensei waited outside while pondering his colleague's words.

After a brief exchange, Asagi told her student that she would come back to see him and then she left. She was surprised to see Kensei but said nothing and just bowed her head. Kensei noticed how tired she was. He broke the silence:

"How is he?"

"He blames himself for what happened. He doesn't understand why he got away with it and not his comrades."

Not sure of what to say, Kensei asked her "Shall I take you back to your room?"

She nodded. After a few steps in silence Kensei said "He'll get over it, you know. It will take time and a lot of effort, not to mention a lot of empty runs but he will recover. He is lucky to have you and to have the support of his comrades. You'll see, they will all stick together and they will come out stronger."

Asagi took the time to analyze his words. "Thanks" she told him. "You're right, I can trust them for that. They are a tight-knit class after all."

For the first time since arriving, Kensei saw her face regain some color. I wonder if she knows about the two groups we found... But Kensei didn't have the courage to break the little comfort he had just given her. It can wait a little longer he tried to convince himself. But the further they went down the hall, the more confident his resolve lost. Better that she learns from me now than later in a conversation.

He stopped in front of her and spun around to face her. But just as he was about to speak to her, she froze. Eyes wide, her face turned livid. She was completely terrified. He realized she was staring at something behind him.

He turned. Outside the bedroom door, a shinigami was watching them. He did not take his eyes off Asagi. Kensei scowled. Okay, I don't know who you are but something tells me we're not gonna get along.

A carnivorous smile came to stretch the lips of the mysterious shinigami. It was quickly replaced by a facade smile but it did not escape Kensei. He clenched his fists. The shinigami walked towards them.
"Asagi. I'm glad to see you're okay. I learned what happened to you. I was worried."

Much to her astonishment Kensei saw Asagi lower her head and curl up on herself. He had never seen her so scared. As if he had only just realized the presence of a captain, the shinigami then took an interest in Kensei.

"Muguruma Taicho, I heard that you personally took part in the rescue of my former colleague. You have my gratitude."

What do you mean old colleague? Kensei was puzzled. The sight of this shinigami had completely paralyzed Asagi. Yet the man had an open and very cordial attitude towards him. He suspected Asagi wouldn't tell him anything about this man so he decided to learn a little more himself.

"So you are a former colleague?"

"Yes. Asagi and I were in the 1st Division together, if I may say so" he chuckled. "I am Tetsuya Nishio, sector manager. Nice to meet you."

Sector Manager ? He turned his head to Asagi for confirmation but she was still paralyzed. She worked for a sector manager and yet she has been transferred to the Academy?

Kensei went from surprise to surprise with her. Then he realized that Tetsuya was staring at her a little too closely for his liking.

"Nishio, I imagine you haven't seen Komorebi-san in a while, but..."

"Indeed Muguruma Taicho. Besides, I was wondering if you would not agree to entrust Asagi to me for the rest of the day. Her former colleagues are also worried so I would like to be able to make sure of her good recovery so that I can reassure them, you see."

Kensei blocked. Did this guy really just cut him off? Did he really just tell him to leave?! Leaving him alone with Asagi on top of that?!

Kensei did not see her but she was on the verge of unease. He took a deep breath. As unbearable as this guy could be, he was a sector manager and therefore untouchable. Well almost... At least not without good reason and Kensei couldn't risk such an incident now. So he was going to have to play it diplomatic this time.

"Well to tell the truth, I was escorting Komorebi-san to her room and unfortunately her visits are limited. Order from Captain Unohana" he said more emphatically. "Also you must be registered on a list before."

And I will not fail to say that you are excluded from it he added inwardly.

"Oh I see" Tetsuya replied, quickly hiding his contempt. "Well in that case, I'll come back another day. Asagi, Muguruma Taicho" he greeted them and left.

When Kensei laid eyes on Asagi again, she was still just as prostrate.

"Asagi? Is everything alright?"

The moment Kensei put a hand on her shoulder, she immediately pulled away. The fact that she instinctively put her hands up to her face did not escape Kensei. Out of her torpor, she rushed to her room.

Kensei waited a few seconds then followed her. He found her sitting on the bed with her back to him. With her arms around her waist, she stood there as if to protect herself better. Kensei considered closing the door to ensure a private conversation but he didn't want her to feel trapped and more threatened than she had been until now. He then simply pushed the door, but didn't slam it. As she had rejected him outright earlier, he also decided to take a little distance in his attitude.

"Komorebi-san, if I..."

"Asagi" she said turning her head slightly towards him. "You can continue to call me Asagi. I don't want you to be so formal with me. Not at a time like this" she said more to herself.

Kensei could see how much she was taking over her right now. For the first time, he saw the fragile woman in front of him, so far from the confident teacher he had seen until now.

"Asagi" he began softly "I don't know exactly who is this man, but if he causes you any problem, I won't hesitate to..."

"No!" she said jumping out of bed. "No no. Absolutely not."
She had said that looking him straight in the eye where he could see that terror again. Neither of them dared to break the silence that had settled in after that, until Asagi's gaze landed on the bouquet of flowers Kensei had brought back.

"You brought me flowers" she whispered.

Kensei suddenly stared at her until he remembered the bouquet. "Yes it's from me, and my division" he felt compelled to add. Embarrassed, he rubbed the back of his head as usual. Dumbass, he cursed himself. But he was glad to see a smile reappear on Asagi's face. They were interrupted by Lieutenant Kotetsu who knocked on the door.

"Excuse me, but I have to change your bandage Komorebi-san." She turned her head to Kensei. He then felt too much in the room.

"I take my leave."

He looked at Asagi for a long time but didn't add anything and left only after a brief nod. Once in the hallway, he walked towards the entrance where he asked to forbid the visits from Tetsuya Nishio. Then he told himself that a little visit to his great friend Shinji and his nosy side would be useful.