(Day 2)

Rukia did not wait for the last syllable to leave the Head Captain's lips. If she did, she wouldn't be able to keep her composure. His words of parting followed her out of the door, cutting off when it fell closed behind her.

She was mad. No, mad couldn't begin to describe it. She was furious. To hear her peers talk about her lieutenant like that. As if he were the greatest threat to the Three Worlds since Yhwach. You would think that, after a few decades, they would know him. But, after what she has heard today, Rukia wondered if they had even met him.

Ever since she had stabbed Ichigo all those years ago, lending him her power to save his family, he had done nothing but prove how loyal he is to those he holds dear. He has fought in two wars he had no business being in-and was the deciding factor in both of them-because Soul Society wasn't up to the task of winning it on their own. The sacrifices Ichigo had made, both in his social life and spiritual health, to keep other's safe was unfair to have forced upon a human. One that wasn't even an adult to boot.

Deep inside, she wasn't surprised. She knew Ichigo experienced hardships due to his heritage and strength. During his time at the academy, he had let it slip occasionally the amount of flak he got from other students and even teachers. From the harmless name-calling and avoidance to unfair punishments and serious accusations. One of which had even landed him in the holding cells of the Second Division for a week.

But she had thought, once he had graduated, it would lessen. The Gotei Thirteen was full of people he knew, especially the captains, lieutenants and seated officers he was familiar with. Rukia had been certain they would keep their people in line and reprimand them when necessary. To teach them to be better.

Today her eyes were opened to the harsh reality. No one cared about what Ichigo had done for them. All they were concerned about were his potential to turn his power against them and how to keep him in line.

'Rukia, wait!'

A breeze had her hair and haori whip forward. She blinked, looking up to find her husband standing before her. His hands were on her shoulders, gently squeezing her mind back to the world.

'I wanted to talk to you but you were gone so fast', Renji said. 'You doing alright?'

She scoffed, 'They plan on ripping Ichigo's soul asunder, how do you think I'm doing?'

'It will be fine, Rukes. Captain Kurotsushi said he had adjusted the extraction method specifically for Ichigo's weird soul structure–'

'No!' Rukia snapped. 'You don't understand. It is not possible! His soul will collapse in on itself!'

'I know that's what Urahara said but that was ages ago', Renji said. 'Meanwhile, Kurotsushi has been researching the possibility for decades–'

'Kurotsushi doesn't know the truth!'

Renji frowned, 'What are you talking about?'

'Do you seriously think Urahara or Ichigo would divulge everything they know to Kurotsushi?' Rukia asked. 'Of course not! They needed a trump card in case Kurotsushi claimed to have found a way to do it. They left out information!'

'Who told you this? Ichigo?'

Rukia shook her head, 'No... Getsu did'.

The name pulled an old memory up to the front of his mind. One of a Vasto Lorde coated in blood, ripping apart a power-tripping Zanpakutō. One that had come awfully close to doing the same to them.

'Rukes, you can't trust what that thing says–'

'Getsu isn't a thing!' Rukia snapped back. 'And if you were to spend a few minutes with him, you would know that!'

'I have!' Renji hissed back. 'Multiple times, even. That thing is dangerous!'

'So is Zambimaru and Sode no Shirayuki!' Rukia countered.

'But our Zanpakutō cannot take control over our body or materialise on their own'.

'A skill he hasn't misused in over five decades!'

'It was just awaiting the right moment. You heard what Captain Kotetsu said, once Ichigo was one step away from death, it took over and lashed out'. Renji shook his wife gently by the shoulders, 'Open your eyes, Rukes. That thing has just played an act, it cannot be trusted'.

Rukia smacked his hands away, stepping back. 'You're wrong'. Before Renji could respond, she took off with shunpo.

'Rukia!' Renji watched his wife leave, knowing better than to chase her a second time. After a few decades of marriage, he knew better than following a snowstorm. He would have to wait for her to calm down.

With a sigh, Renji turned around and headed back to his division.

Rukia, on the other hand, wasn't heading towards the Thirteenth barracks. She was too agitated to focus on her work, to be a good example for her subordinates. Her mind wasn't helping her, either. Continuously feeding her more reasons to be mad. She had to do something to calm herself down.

Without her conscious consent, her feet brought her to the Fourth.

Even before Ichigo had become a permanent resident of Soul Society, Rukia gravitated towards him whenever she got upset. He was her safe space. She knew he wouldn't judge her for whatever she may have done. Ichigo listened to her vent her frustrations and then gave her his opinion. Which, more often than not, made everything sound so simple it made her a feel stupid for being so worked up over it in the first place. He would always make some joke to ease her mind and trick her into their usual banter. Somehow, he always knew exactly what do to.

'Captain K-Kuchiki?'

With a start, Rukia was pulled from her musings. 'Oh, Lieutenant Yamada. I hadn't seen you'.

The healer eyed her with concern, 'A-Are you feeling well?'

'Yes, I'm fine', Rukia dismissed.

The look Hanatarō gave her bordered on blatant skepticism. It didn't stay long, though, quickly morphing into realisation.

'Oh. A-Are you here for Lieutenant Sh-Shiba?'

She hesistated. Ichigo wasn't even awake. Even if he were, she doubted he could help her like he usually does. Still, she didn't know where else to go.

'...Yes, I am'.

The lieutenant offered her one of his nervous smiles, 'He isn't awake yet b-but I'm sure he will ap-p-preciate the visit'.

The lieutenant led her to the room and opened the door, allowing Rukia to enter first. Thanking Hanatarō with a polite incline of her head, Rukia walked inside.

Once she passed the door, her eyes immediately shot towards the dark figure at Ichigo's bedside.

'Tensa-san?'

The spirit looked up, his eyes barely visible from under his hood. 'Captain?'

Rukia walked over. 'How are you here?' she asked. Reaching the bed, she stopped, placing her hands on the railing. 'I'd heard you were locked up downstairs'.

'They locked Getsu up downstairs', Tensa corrected, his voice even. 'So far, no one has had problems with my presence here'.

Rukia saw the spirit's hand tighten his grip on the railing. She didn't ask how he managed to escape, or how Getsu hadn't. For now, Rukia took comfort in the spirit's presence.

'Uhm...T-Tensa-san, Captain K-Kuchiki?' Hanatarō addressed. 'I n-need to check up on Sh-Shiba-san. Could you p-please take place on the sofa?'

'Of course', Rukia said. She made to move towards the couch, only to find Tensa hesitating. 'It is only us in here'.

'I know'. The spirit shook his head and stepped away from the bed. 'I swear, Getsu's instincts are rubbing off on me', he muttered as he followed the captain of his wielder.

Hanatarō was already busy with the examination when the two were seated. The two watched the healer work in silence for a short while. Rukia was the one who spoke first.

'They told me Ichigo suddenly collapsed with severe spiritual energy depletion. Is that true?'

Tensa nodded, 'Yes. Somehow, without anyone of us realising it, Ichigo has been starving himself to death'.

'Wait, starved?' Rukia repeated. 'He is almost always eating to maintain that stupidly large reserve of his. How can he starve himself?'

'He was not hungry, he–' Tensa sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'We should have known something was up after our spar with Grimmjow. He usually raids the kitchen of the Shiba Estate but this time he went straight to bed'.

'Hindsight is twenty-twenty', Rukia said. 'But he fought Grimmjow-in what I assume bankai-for hours on end and he wasn't hungry at all?'

The spirit shook his head, 'The opposite. We had the idea we had just eaten'.

What kind of sickness causes this? Rukia wondered. 'And Getsu?'

'What about him?'

'I heard he, uhm...took over'.

'Ichigo fell unconscious and foreign energies are invading his system, Getsu did not think twice about taking control'.

'And when he did, he found himself in the Fourth, surrounded by unfamiliar people and their signatures, in absolute chaos', Rukia finished. No wonder he lashed out.

Tensa turned his head to face her properly. Even with the hood casting a shadow over his face, she felt the piercing gaze he aimed at her. 'You are upset', he noted aloud.

'Of course I am', she huffed. 'The way they treat you, especially Getsu. It's appalling'.

All she got in response was a low hum that perfectly matched the powerlessness she felt. The spirit turned away from her, staring at the bed.

'I am aware of your habit to talk with him...I cannot help you in his stead'.

'Oh, no!' Rukia was quick to dismiss. 'That hadn't been my intention at all!'

'Good'.

Hanatarō finished up and Tensa was back by the bed. The lieutenant excused himself and left them alone.

'I...' Rukia searched for the right words. 'Ichigo has always been there for me when I needed him. And I assume he has always been there for you, too'. The way Tensa's other hand tightened around the railing encouraged her to continue. 'Ichigo may not be able to help us in his state and I do not wish to pile my burdens onto you, not when you are one of the two suffering the most'. She sat down beside the spirit. 'However, if you wish to vent...I'll listen'.

Tensa did not respond. Made no noise or shift in acknowledgement. Rukia deflated.

'I...I am being torn apart'.

Rukia straightened at the whispered confession, giving the spirit all her attention. Tensa let go of the guardrail and grasped the front of his coat, near his heart.

'I can feel his desperation...his need to be with us and his rage to being caged. I did not want to leave him down there, not when he was hollowfied but–' Tensa stiffened, hand tightening its grip on the fabric. 'I had to. Ichigo is our priority and one of us has to be with him'.

Rukia reached out, rubbing circles on the spirit's back. 'And since Getsu is hollowfied, he couldn't go'.

Tensa allowed her to provide support. 'A hollowfication that was caused by being separated'. The pain subsided a little and he heaved a breathe. 'I had hoped I could soothe his distress, let him know Ichigo was safe and recovering but he– I cannot get through to him'.

'You made the decision that was best for your wielder', Rukia said. 'I may not know Getsu as well as you but he would have done the same in your shoes'.

Tensa rubbed his face, trying to gain some semblance of composure. He hadn't intended to say so much, never thought he could to someone who is basically a stranger to him.

But she wasn't. Her spiritual pressure was as familiar to him as Ichigo's. Their souls connected in a way that no one could put into words.

She was safe. She was trustworthy. She knew the truth.

And Tensa found himself opening his mouth to speak more.

'My concern is Ichigo's response once he wakes'.

Rukia frowned, why would he be worried about Ichigo waking up? She looked at the bed again. Sure, he looks like a three year old but–

'Nell'.

The spirit nodded, 'What if he doesn't remember me? What if he doesn't remember Getsu?' What if Getsu scares him?

'He won't'.

'You cannot know that', Tensa said.

'I do', Rukia stated with more confidence than she probably should have. 'I have never seen a Soul Reaper with such a close a bond with their Zanpakutō as Ichigo'. She paused, thinking how to support her claim. 'When he woke up in the Rukongai, it was you who he remembered first, wasn't it?'

The faintest bit of tension faded from the spirit's shoulders. 'It was'.

Rukia smiled, 'Then I am sure it will be alright', she said. 'Even if he doesn't remember you, I know he will never be scared of either of you'.

'You are most likely correct', he said. 'He always has had a knack for knowing who he could trust'. He eyed the captain, 'Thank you'.

'It was no trouble'. Rukia raised to her feet. 'If there is anything I can do…'

To Rukia's surprise, the spirit let his eyes fall.

'Actually...' Blue eyes strayed towards the child in bed. 'Do you plan on visiting often?'

'As often as my duties will allow', Rukia answered. 'Why? Do you want me to bring something?'

It appeared she had struck gold. 'A few books, if it is not too much trouble'.

Rukia couldn't help but chuckle, 'I will see what I can find'.

'Thank you, Captain'.

'It's no problem', she dismissed. 'See you later'.

'Likewise'.

#

TO BE CONTINUED

BLEACH – Tite Kubo