Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor any of the Bleach characters. There are a few OC (like the whole Kurayami family), but the rest of the characters are works of the mangaka of Bleach.

Haruna got home earlier than usual that day, and her brother was surprised to see her alone. He walked up to her and saw that she had a troubled face.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Mmmm..." she couldn't find the words to say.

"Did something happen today at the Academy? You're home early, and you're alone too. That's not usual."

"Yeah..." she finally managed to say. "Something really weird happened today."

"Did you have a fight with Kyoraku and Ukitake?"

"No," she said with a half smile. "That's not what happened."

"Then?"

"Well..." she hesitated a bit. "Today, after lunch, Captain-commander Yamamoto came to our class, and called me, Shunsui, and Juushiro. Then he told us he's going to personally train us." She waited for her brother's reaction.

"Huh?" he tilted his head. "So... You three are going to be his personal students?"

"It seems so."

"THAT'S GREAT!" he exclaimed and gave her a tight hug. "He must have seen great potential in the three of you if he decided to train you personally. You'll do great, Haruna. I'm sure of it."

"Thanks," she said.

"What's wrong? You don't seem very excited."

"Yeah," she replied, looking at the floor. "I have my doubts."

"Doubts?"

"Yeah. Like... Will I be able to meet his expectations? And what if I'm not really that strong? Shunsui and Juushiro said they'll stick with me, and that we'll get strong together, but what if I'm pulling them behind? I don't know if I can do this." She was about to cry.

Hayato hugged her and patter her head. "It's okay, Haruna. I know you can do it. You're strong, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. The Captain-commander chose you to instruct personally. That's a proof of your strength. And your friends have faith in you, so have faith in them too, and depend on them to help you get stronger. You can do it."

"Thank you," she said and hugged him back.

"That aside," he said once his little sister had calmed down, "it must be great that the three of you didn't get separated. You seem to be really fond of them."

"Huh?" she said blushing. "I guess so..."

He laughed. "You've changed a lot after you met them, Haruna."

"Really?"

"Yeah, no doubt. You're more... Outgoing. Yes, that's the word."

"I never noticed..." she stared at the floor.

"It's okay," he patted her head and disheveled her hair. "It's a good change, and I'm proud of you."

She blushed and smiled. "Thanks, Onii-chan!"

"No problem," he smiled back. "I'm sure Mother and Father feel the same way."

"Yeah," she said with a gloomy smile.

"Oh yeah," he suddenly remembered something. "Remember to take the day off next week."

"I know."

A servant came close to them and bowed down on one knee. "Ojou-san," he addressed Haruna. "There are two young men who want to see you. They are wearing the Academy uniform. One of them has white hair, and the other one has black curly hair."

Haruna and Hayato looked at each other.

"Tell them to come in and lead them here," Haruna said.

"Yes," the servant said as he stood up and left the room. Soon the servant came back with Kyoraku and Ukitake.

"Yo, Haruna," Kyoraku said.

"I thought you guys went home," Haruna said smiling.

"We were going to," Ukitake said, "but we thought we would just..." Ukitake didn't finish his sentence.

"Are you okay?" Haruna asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "Just feeling a little faint."

"Seriously," Haruna said. "If you're feeling faint, you should have gone home."

"But," he started to say.

"I know," Haruna said with a sigh. "Both of you were probably worried about me, am I right?"

"Hah," Kyoraku laughed. "She saw right through us, Ukitake."

"Yeah," Ukitake said, now with one hand over his head.

"Midokawa-san," Haruna addressed the servant that had brought the two young men in. "Could you bring a chair for him, please?"

"Yes," the servant said and left the room. In a couple minutes, the servant came back with a chair and placed it behind Ukitake.

"Thank you," he said politely and sat down.

"I'm sorry," Haruna said.

"Huh?" Ukitake and Kyoraku seemed confused.

"I made you guys worry. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Kyoraku said.

"No, really," Haruna said. "I'm really sorry. I promise I'll do my best so..."

"Haruna," Ukitake said, looking at her straight in the eyes and with a very firm voice. "We'll stay with you no matter what."

Haruna blushed and look away, but she immediately turned her head back and smiled. "Yeah."

"Heh," Kyoraku said. "I guess we really didn't have much to worry about."

"You're right," Ukitake's voice was getting fainter.

"Juushiro, are you sure you're okay?" Haruna asked in concern.

"Yeah..." his voice was barely audible now.

"Onii-chan," Haruna looked at her brother. He moved even without her saying anything else.

Hayato was already next to Ukitake, checking his temperature, pulse, and pressure. "He's just tired. Haruna, help him get to the First room and let him get some rest. When his fever is gone, he can go home."

"Okay," Haruna said as she moved. Kyoraku moved as well and helped Ukitake get up. The two of them took Ukitake to the First room and helped him lie down on an empty bed.

"Get some sleep," Haruna said and smiled.

"Yeah," Ukitake replied. "Sorry."

"Let's go, Shunsui," Haruna said. The two turned around and left the room to let Ukitake sleep in the quiet.

When they rejoined Hayato, there was a female Shinigami standing next to him, talking to him.

"Yumi-chan!" Haruna got excited when she saw the female Shinigami.

"Haruna," Yumi said equally excited.

"You're back from your mission already?" Haruna asked.

"Yeah," Yumi replied cheerfully. "It was pretty easy."

"If it was easy," Hayato said shaking his head, "how did you hurt your leg?"

"You hurt your leg?!" Haruna exclaimed.

"Hayato!" Yumi exclaimed. "I told you it doesn't hurt!"

"Onii-chan, have you looked at it?" Haruna asked.

"No," Hayato replied.

"Hehe," Yumi laughed. "I just got here, actually. I wanted him to check my leg."

"You're so much trouble, Yumi," Hayato said. "Sit on that chair."

Just as Yumi sat down, the servant named Midokawa came in.

"Hayato-sama," he said kneeling down. "An urgent patient has just arrived. His arm has been severely injured to the point that you can see his bones."

Kyoraku flinched at the description of the patient.

"Haruna, take a look at Yumi's leg," Hayato said calmly. Then he left hastily with the servant, telling him, "Prepare the Fourth room."

Haruna put her hand on Yumi's leg and said, "Where does it hurt?"

"Right under the knee," Yumi replied. She flinched when Haruna lightly pressed the spot.

"You broke your leg," Haruna said.

"Ehhh?" Yumi exclaimed.

"Yumi-chan, did you fall or hit something really hard with your leg?"

"Mmm... Now that I think about it..." Yumi said, trying to remember something. "On my way back, I do remember hitting something really hard, but I can't remember what it was."

"It was probably then that you broke it," Haruna said in a serious tone. Then, in a lighter tone, she said, "Sheesh, Yumi-chan. You're so clumsy. No wonder Onii-chan is always worrying about you so much."

"Hehe," Yumi goofily laughed, her cheeks slightly red. Then she saw Kyoraku and stared at him for a few seconds. "Ahh, we've met before, haven't we?"

"Yes," Kyoraku replied. "Back when you had a 'little scratch' on your arm."

"Oh my," Yumi said. "I'm Sato Yumi."

"Kyoraku Shunsui."

Yumi smiled. Haruna noticed Kyoraku was acting different.

"Shunsui?" Haruna walked up next to him. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know," he replied.

Haruna put her hand on his forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever." Then she thought for a few seconds. "I think you're a little disturbed."

"Yeah," he said. He seemed to be disgusted. "I don't know how you can keep so calm."

"Is it because of the patient that just came in?" Yumi asked him.

Kyoraku nodded.

"Shunsui," Haruna said calmly. "Onii-chan and I... We're both doctors. We're used to this kind of thing, and we've seen worse things. That's why we can remain so calm."

Kyoraku looked at Haruna in the eyes. It must have been so hard for her, too, having to look at all these things from such a young age...

"Shunsui," Kyoraku's thoughts were interrupted by Haruna. "You should go home and get some rest. It has been a long day."

"Yeah. I'll be off then. Please take care of Ukitake," Kyoraku said and turned around.

"Umm, Shunsui?" Haruna called him before he could leave. "Sorry you had to hear that. And thanks for worrying about me and coming to check on me."

"Heh," Kyoraku's goofy side came back. "Anything for such a cutie." Then he left without hearing anything else from Haruna.

"Seriously," Haruna was pouting. "He's always joking around." Then she smiled. "But I'm glad he's back to normal."

When she turned around, Yumi had a weird expression on her face, as if she were worried about something.

"Yumi-chan?" Haruna called her. "Are you okay? Does your leg hurt a lot?"

"No," Yumi replied, "that's not it. I'm fine. I'm just worried about that guy."

"Yeah," Haruna said, "me too..."

"Well," Yumi said more cheerfully. "I hope he gets better in expressing his opinions."

"What do you mean?" Haruna asked, confused.

"It's alright if you don't know," Yumi answered.

Please tell me your thoughts on the story so far hehe c: