Soujun was about to respond when Unohana entered the room. A simple glance from the fourth squad Captain and the Lieutenant was on his feet, leaving the room. Neither himself nor Tama had noticed Byakuya leaving to retrieve the dark haired woman with the strange hairstyle.
"Byakuya tells me you have some unrelated injuries that we missed," Unohana hinted.
"It wasn't a hollow so it isn't Shinigami business," Tama replied.
"Hmm, I can see how you would think that. But there's more to being a shinigami than fighting against hollows. The main missions of the Gotei 13 are: Defending the Seireitei, deploying division members into enemy territory for combat operations, deployment of task forces as a defensive measure in the human world, and guiding earthbound souls to soul society. You can take me at my word on that. I am one of the founding members of the Gotei 13," she corrected.
Tama glanced to her before speculating, "so that must mean you're pretty strong."
"There are few stronger," Unohana confirmed before adding in, "but none as well versed in medicine. May I see these injuries?"
Outside of the room, Soujun stood with Byakuya who was rubbing the back of his neck. Concern filled the blue violet eyes as the elder man asked, "are you alright, son?"
"I guess—I mean—" the teenager trailed off before asking, "what kind of jerk does that to a kid?"
Soujun shook his head sadly as he agreed, "there are some horrific things that happen in this world. We try to uphold the law but it's difficult in the outer districts. There's not as much presence out there."
"Seems that way," Byakuya agreed while he vowed to himself, 'when I become a Shinigami—I'm going to change that. Rukongai citizen or not—no child should endure something that horrible.'
Soujun glanced knowingly at Byakuya and smiled at him, he nodded in agreement while confirming, "I agree there should be more of a presence out there. Perhaps an outpost or something with at least a five man crew maybe somewhere near each of the 75th districts. It wouldn't be as strong a presence as here, but it could reduce crimes in the outskirts of Rukongai."
Byakuya regarded his father for a moment, feeling as if there was something more coming with that statement. Soujun let out a bit of a sigh before admitting, "unfortunately your grandfather opposed the idea and it was never brought to the Captain-Commander's attention to be voted upon for implementing."
Byakuya growled lowly, his clenched fists shaking at his sides. He loved his grandfather, to be sure, but sometimes the old man was so stuck in the past that the teenager wondered how he could function. Rules were important, even he knew that as a teenager but some rules just served to punch those below them back down. Those were the rules he struggled with. Both turned their attention to Tama's room when Unohana emerged from it and went over to Soujun. She had a solemn expression on her face, which Byakuya was unfamiliar with and Soujun's breath seemed to catch in his lungs.
"It's what I feared?"
"It would seem so. We'll need to inform Captain Shihouin so an investigator can be assigned to this. From what she told me, there've been many girls in that district who have had this experience," Unohana relayed.
"You can see her again. She's likely going to be hungry but we don't have much to offer right now until the next scheduled meal time. However if you'd like you may use our kitchen," Unohana informed them. Soujun nodded and glanced to Byakuya. He gave a small nod of his head and re-entered the girl's room.
He closed the curtain over behind him and went to her, sitting on the edge of her bed. What could he say? What could he do? He'd never met anyone who'd survived something like that before. He didn't want to say or do the wrong thing and yet he felt that's exactly what he was doing by remaining silent.
"You don't have to tell me anything," Byakuya stated.
"I won't—if you don't treat me like a piece of glass about to shatter," Tama replied.
Byakuya gained a small smile and nodded as he replied, "fair enough, but if you're ever uncomfortable with something—if I'm too close to you, just let me know."
"Will do," she agreed with a slight nod. Byakuya nodded his head in acknowledgement of her and added, "Dad went to get some food for us all."
"Hmm, wonder what he'll bring," Tama thought out loud.
"Is there something specific you're hoping for?"
She shook her head from side to side and confirmed, "No, I just don't do well with coconuts. They make me sick."
Byakuya's eyes widened slightly before he nodded and stood from his seat on the edge of her bed. Walking towards the curtain, "I'll let Father know. Anything else you can't or don't like to eat?"
"Not liking it isn't a luxury I have. Food is food, I learned a long time ago not to be picky. For the most part I'm not. It's just my stomach rejects coconut," Tama elaborated.
Byakuya nodded as he left her room and flash stepped off, arriving in the kitchen and advised Soujun, "she can't eat coconut, it makes her sick."
Soujun gave a nod of his head as he stated, "I'll mention that to Unohana. It might be a food allergy. So no coconuts, and anything else?"
Byakuya shook his head 'no', before he admitted, "She won't talk to me about what happened—but I'm not so naïve that I can't guess."
Soujun momentarily closed his eyes. He glanced to Byakuya and stated, "if she does sleep in the room next to yours, Byakuya, you'll need to be ready to fight on a moment's notice if someone from that district comes by trying to-"
"They won't have a chance," Byakuya interrupted, his grey eyes met his father's bluish violet and the two had an immediate understanding. If her past did follow her, it wouldn't get past them, whomever it was. If someone invaded the manor the goal was clear: keep her safe. Soujun began plating the food he'd prepared along with some cups of water on a separate tray.
"She may also have night terrors. While it's best to let someone wake up from them naturally, some do pose a slight threat to themselves during these events. If she's going for a weapon, try to keep it from her," Soujun advised his son. Byakuya nodded again as he grabbed the beverage tray and headed back towards Tama's room. Soujun walked along side him carrying a tray that contained miso soup and chicken yakisoba.