(Day 3)

The sun had barely come out of hiding when Isane made her morning rounds. Starting at the rooms that were the farthest away, she worked her way back to her office.

Most rooms were, fortunately, empty. Still, she went inside to see if they were ready for use, should they be needed. In some, she encountered one or two of her subordinates. The rest-which were only two hands full-actually had patients residing in them. Of those, it was a fifty-fifty of who were awake and who were still sleeping.

After half an hour, Isane reached the last room. She gave the door a gentle knock before entering.

She had expected Ichigo to be still asleep. His spirit by his bedside or resting on the couch.

What she did not expect was for her eyes to fall on an empty bed.

'Kurosaki-san?' Isane stepped inside, scanning the room for any signs of her patient and his spirit. Panic began to rise. What if Ichigo's state had been the result of a failed assassination? What if the perpetrators had come to finish the job? She went over to the bed and placed her hand on the mattress.

Cold.

Calm down, Isane. Don't assume the worst. Taking a deep breath, she used her sixth sense to search the room. To her relief, the only signatures she found were that of Ichigo, his spirit, her lieutenant and herself. She focussed on the two who were missing and followed their signatures.

She tracked the feint traces of spiritual pressure the two had left behind, leaving the room and going down the hallway. When it rounded a certain corner, she already knew where they had gone.

Increasing her step, she hurried to the basement door. She gave the handle a yank and it opened, confirming her suspicion. Taking two steps at a time, Isane flew down the stairs. Her heart beating in her throat.

The ball of her foot touched down on even flooring, eyes locking on the figure slumped against the other end of the corridor. Pushing off into a shunpo, Isane knelt down before the hooded spirit.

'Are you okay? Are you hurt?'

He jumped at her sudden appearance, head snapping up in surprise. The overhead light caught his face, revealing some of the features the spirit had been trying to hide.

Dark brown hair that reached down to his shoulders in messy waves. Soft angles and fair skin, the face of a man in his late teens or early twenties. His eyes, Isane couldn't quite see, the rim of the spirit's hood keeping them obscured.

Before she could angle her head to catch a better view, Tensa realised he had been looking straight at her. He turned his face away, tugging his hood more firmly around his head.

'I am fine', he murmured.

Isane let her hands glow with a kaidō, 'Are you sure?'

The spirit nodded, 'I am merely tired'.

She was a little sceptical but didn't press further. It seemed he was still shy and apprehensive, she didn't want to break whatever report they were building.

'What are you doing here?' She asked. 'And where is Shiba-san?'

'The answer is the same for both', Tensa replied. 'We missed Getsu'.

'Get...su?' Isane repeated. She looked at the cell, finding the Hollow stare at them. It's tail was curled around a pile of white fabric, the tip twitching sporadically. 'You don't mean?'

'You have seen yourself, the pain he was in', Tensa said, grasping at his own chest as he spoke. 'I could not let it go on any longer'.

'You–'

It happened so fast.

The moment she had raised her voice, the Hollow had launched itself at the bars. Tensa threw himself between the captain and the cell without hesitation. Isane stared with wide eyes at the Hollow. It was growling and snarling, its arm reaching through the bars.

'Getsu'. Tensa's voice was stern, edging on scolding. He was completely unfazed by the sudden attack. 'You are not to harm anyone, do you understand?'

The Hollow snarled again, its claw taking hold of Tensa's coat. To Isane her surprise, the young man wasn't pulled towards the bars. The Hollow tugged gently, not even tearing the fabric.

'Being angry at someone and actually harming another are two very different things'. Tensa put a hand on the one holding his coat. 'She is a healer. She is responsible for overseeing Ichigo's recovery'.

At the mentioning of Ichigo, Getsu's eyes widened briefly. A soft, crooning noise emitted from his mask.

'She was merely under the impression Ichigo was in danger by my hand'. Tensa had removed Getsu's claw and held it in his hands, playing with the Hollow's spiritual energy a bit. 'Does that not prove how invested she is in Ichigo's wellbeing?'

The tension slowly seeped from the Hollow's shoulders.

'Why do you not wake him?' Tensa suggested. 'I believe Kotetsu-san came here to check on his recovery'.

Getsu eyed the captain with distrust. Not quite believing every word the Other had said to be true.

Tensa patted the claw again, 'Like I have told you yesterday, I can take care of myself.'

Grunting, the Hollow finally pulled back. He gave the captain one last look before returning to the back of the cage.

Isane released a breath she hadn't known she had been holding. Tensa turned to her, his previous confidence disappearing.

'My apologies, Kotetsu-san', Tensa said. 'Getsu can be very protective of us'.

'Protective, you say?' Isane looked past the spirit at the Hollow. The lizard-like creature was nudging the pile of white with the back of his claw. 'Well...its host is named "one who protects" right?' she said unsure.

Soft groans got everyone's attention. The white pile of fabric moved to reveal a child. Ichigo was tossing, his hands pushing the Hollows's claw away. Getsu was persistant, however, and easily forced the child to waken proper.

Eyelids raised, showing sleep clouded, brown eyes. There was a scowl on Ichigo's face as he continued to bat at the offending limb. 'Stop~'

Getsu abandoned his nudging quest. Ichigo sighed, snuggling under cloak now the annoyance had ceased. He yelped when he was pulled into the air, eyes wide and limbs flailing.

'I'm up! I'm up!' he cried, a hint of laughter seeping into his voice.

At once the boy was released. Ichigo squealed as he landed in the pile of fabric, giggling as he rolled to the floor. 'Again! Again!'

'Ichigo'.

The child stilled, head craning to look at who had spoken. 'Oh. Hey, Tensa'.

'Shi– Kurosaki-san?'

The child looked up and gave a sleepy smile. 'Morning, Kotetsu-san'.

'Why are you here and not in bed?'

Big brown eyes drifted towards the floor. 'I couldn't sleep'.

'So coming here solved that?' Isane asked.

Ichigo hummed, fingers tangling in the white mane. Absentmindedly, he began to braid the strands. 'He doesn't like it here, makes him think of that place'. The last part was spat with anger. 'Why is he in a cell? Did he do something bad?'

'Uhm, no. It's just...uh'. Flustered, Isane looked around for help but neither spirit's seemed intent on helping her. 'I'm here to check on your recovery. Can you come here?'

Blinking at the sudden change in subject, Ichigo mumbled a dazed "O-Okay". The boy wriggled in his spirit grasp, trying to get free. The Hollow made a noise and didn't let go. 'I'll be right back, don't worry!' Ichigo tried to reassure. The Hollow shook his head, some grunts making up his reasoning. Ichigo patted the other on his head, 'It's okay, it's okay'.

He can understand him?' Isane asked the other spirit.

'Why are you so surprised?' Tensa replied. 'They are from the same soul. Vocal capabilities have no influence on our ability to understand one another'.

A bit bashful by the scolding, Isane turned back to the small lieutenant. 'So, Ichigo. You coming?'

The boy shook his head. 'He doesn't want me to go'.

Isane looked at Tensa for help. The hooded spirit turned to the cell.

'Getsu, she cannot perform her examination at a distance. Ichigo needs to come here'.

The Hollow growled, holding Ichigo even closer. The child pouted, drawling complaints at being held like a doll.

'You can come with'.

Isane wanted to object. She didn't want the Hollow anywhere near her if she could help it. Unfortunately, it were those words that seemed to get the Hollow to agree.

Getsu raised, bringing Ichigo to his chest. The child giggled as he bounced just two feet above the ground.

Isane took a step back as the Hollow sat down before the bars, setting Ichigo before him. He kept a claw around the boy, staring at her. Ichigo looked at her expectantly, the tension completely going over his head.

Swallowing hard, Isane knelt down and held out her hand. 'Your hand if you please, Kurosaki-san'.

Ichigo obediently stuck his arm through the bars. Isane took the offered hand in her own, placing her fingers around his wrist. Her eyes widened in surprise. Pressing her fingers a bit firmer to the skin, she felt again.

'Is something wrong?' Ichigo asked.

'Uhm, no...' Isane shook her head. 'The opposite, actually. You are recovering much faster now'.

'Really?!' Ichigo looked over his shoulder. 'You hear that, Getsu? I'm getting better!'

The Hollow crooned, one claw rising to land on the orange mob of hair and mess them up even more. Ichigo pulled his hand back and used both to swat the offending limb away.

'Are you hungry?'

Ichigo blinked, taken aback by the question. 'Yeah...'

'Shall we get something to eat then?'

'Can I eat here?'

'But don't you want to get your food yourself?'

'Do I have to? Yesterday it was brought'.

Realising she wouldn't be able to get the child away from the Hollow, Isane had to cut her loses. Ichigo was a lot sharper than she had given him credit for. If she pressed the issue too hard, he might become wary of her.

'The food cart cannot go down the stairs', she told. 'But if you really don't want to come, I will bring ut to you. What would you like?'

'Can I have some toast?'

'Of course you can'.

'Thank you!'

When the woman had left, Ichigo turned to the hollowfied spirit. 'She didn't answer my question'.

The spirit scoffed and glanced at the direction Isane had left.

'Oh... Is she scared of you?'

Gold met brown and the Hollow nodded.

'Well, that's just dumb', Ichigo declared, crossing his arms with indignation. 'I don't think you're scary and I am like–' He stopped. How old was he again? Never mind, not important. '–definitely much younger than she is', he settled for. 'So just ignore her, Getsu. Her opinion doesn't matter'.

The hole in the spirit's chest ached at those words. Pleased, Getsu nuzzled the mob of orange tressed. Ichigo scrambled away from the Hollow's lap, patting his head to fix the mess the other had made. His annoyance didn't last long as something caught his eye.

'You have a tail!' Ichigo rushed to the black tipped appendage, watching in amazement how it moved. 'May I touch it?'

With a shrug, Getsu moved his tail closer in consent. Ichigo knelt down and gingerly poked it with a finger. When the spirit didn't pull away, the child placed his hand on it.

'Huh, it's not scaly', he observed. 'Kinda like your mask'. As the child continued his inspection, Getsu was content to watch him. Featherlight touches alternated with firm grips, fingernails grazing the skin on occasion.

A glint of devious intent shone in golden eyes as the spirit moved his tail, causing the child to lose balance and fall on top of it. Ichigo gave a shout in surprise and clutched the appendage he landed on. Getsu then moved the tail.

Ichigo quickly understood the game the spirit had invented and laughed in joy as he tried to stay put.

#

TO BE CONTINUED

BLEACH – Tite Kubo