Three Days Later...

Sajin knelt before the memorial of Tousen's friend. The early morning breeze wafted through his fur as he stared down at the memorial in deep thought.

Coming here wasn't as painful as it was three days ago when Rukia visited him. But there was still a mountain of hurt residing in him whenever he wondered what kind of person Tousen's friend was.

It was a mystery that intrigued him to no end. Despite the numerous times Tousen talked of her, Sajin barely knew anything about the woman. All the wolf knew was that she used to be a shinigami, and she cared for Tousen a great deal when he was only a citizen of the Rukongai.

Shinigami usually couldn't interact with the Rukongai's populace due to a variety of factors, but that never seemed to stop her and Tousen.

Made Sajin think she was the kind of person who'd still care about others despite the burden.

Was he wrong? Most likely, Sajin thought to himself. But to imagine this mysterious woman had embraced such ideals he himself would cherish and look up to was somewhat comforting.

He just hoped Tousen hadn't thrown away every memory of her.

The skies were colored a dark blue as the sun peeped over the horizon. Birds were chirping their songs and the crickets hummed. The cacophony of it all filled Sajin with peacefulness. But his ears flicked to the new sound of footfalls behind him.

Still kneeling before the memorial, Sajin turned and saw a man's face that had three scars running along his right cheek, and the number "69" tattooed on his left one. The man had a lieutenant's badge and sleeveless kosode. This was Tousen's lieutenant, Sajin thought.

"It's good to see you so early in the day, Hisagi," Sajin rumbled before he roused to his full height.

"Good to see you too, captain." Hisagi craned his neck upward at the wolfish face overshadowing him.

Sajin noticed the tiredness in Hisagi's voice and the dark flaps of skin hanging beneath his eyes. The wolf was worried about the young man. "Are you managing alright?"

"I'm fine." Hisagi nervously rubbed his hair and smiled. "I'm managing just fine."

A lie. Sajin could easily tell the opposite was true. But he let the lie slide for now, and decided to stay in case Hisagi needed an ear to listen to him.

There was silence between the two as they stared at the memorial of Tousen's friend. Only the howling of the winds and chirping of birds made any sound.

After a long moment, Hisagi turned to the wolf captain and spoke. "Tousen was a good man."

"Hm?"

"I mean, despite his betrayal, Tousen was a good person. At least to me and everyone else in the ninth division."

"I can attest to that," Sajin rumbled in approval. "He was very kind and understanding towards his subordinates. I try my best to be as well."

Hisagi smiled warmly. "And he always talked about justice whenever he could."

"Ah yes." Sajin laughed a little. "Someone could be talking about lunch, and he'd find a way to somehow connect it with the philosophical implications of achieving justice."

Hisagi snickered, remembering those discussions very well. Tousen was a man who eagerly wanted to improve not just the Gotei 13, but Soul Society as a whole despite how flawed everything was.

"But there is one thing I miss the most about Tousen," Sajin rumbled as he stared at the memorial with sadness. "He gave me the courage to have confidence in myself. When I hated my appearance, when I despaired at how utterly different I was to other people, he was there to remind me I was so much more than what my own thoughts were telling me."

Hisagi lowered his gaze onto the hilt of his sheathed zanpakuto. He feared its destructive power, and by consequence, his own potential for killing. His fear was so great, he seriously considered abandoning his dream of following in the footsteps of the captain who saved him when he was only a child. He truly thought about leaving the Gotei 13.

But it was Tousen who prevented Hisagi from making such a terrible mistake. It was Tousen who said: 'Those who do not fear the sword they wield have no right to wield one at all.' Those words gave Hisagi the confidence to let himself know, deep down, he was a good person.

Hisagi wondered where he'd be without Tousen. The thought alone made his eyes water, and the veil of stoicism he clung so tightly to crumbled. He buried his face in the wolf captain's haori, and all of the sadness, anger, and loss he had felt in the past few days were let out into tears.

"It's so… so hard having to lead an entire division knowing full well you're not qualified. Tousen gave me so much confidence and now he's gone…"

Sajin widened his eyes, somewhat stunned that Hisagi was holding onto him as support. But the wolf expected this would happen; he saw the torment in the lieutenant's face so clearly before. Sajin returned the embrace with his beefy arms, engulfing Hisagi completely in a bulky mass of muscle and fur.

"Whether or not you're qualified is of little importance," Sajin rumbled with sadness in his deep voice. "You're a lieutenant, second only to a captain. I imagine most of the ninth division is looking up to you, now with Tousen gone. Keep your head held high, at least for them."

Hisagi looked up at those golden eyes staring down upon him, that confidence he always yearned for slowly getting stitched back together.

"And if you need help with any of your duties as acting captain, please don't hesitate to reach out for me," Sajin added. "You're not alone in this."

Hisagi nodded. "Thank you Komamura. You don't need to be so helpful, but… thank you."

The two broke away from their embrace and stood in silence as the winds howled about. Hisagi wiped the tears from his face with his forearms, embarrassingly smiling. "I'm sorry for all my crying, Komamura. It must've been really pathetic."

"I don't think it's pathetic at all. I personally wish for the ability to cry myself sometimes," Sajin rumbled. He didn't envy crying, but the act of it never failed to arouse curiosity in him. He wondered what it was like. Throughout his life, he's seen so many people cry, but he never could himself.

"You're so strong, captain. I can imagine why you don't cry."

Sajin chuckled at Hisagi's words. "I think you misunderstood me a little. My inability to cry has nothing to do with strength. I just physically can't cry. I am a canine, after all."

"Oh…"

A long period of awkward silence hung between the two as Hisagi felt dumber by every passing second. Even though Sajin no longer wore his helmet, it was sometimes easy to overlook the captain's animal characteristics. He acted so unbelievably calm and mature—so much more than many others.

But soon, Hisagi felt curious about what Sajin said. He turned to the massive wolf. "So if you can't cry, what is it like to feel despair?" Hisagi's face darkened with pain when he uttered those words. "The kind that destroys you from within and makes everything seem so hopeless."

Sajin took a deep breath and stared up at the skies above, pondering this question. "I suppose… I suppose despair feels relentless. No matter how many times you try to ignore it or force it away from you, it always resurfaces; and you have no control over it whatsoever."

"Yeah…" Hisagi locked eyes with the wolf captain, stunned at how relatable his words felt. "Crying is a lot like that."

Sajin studied the young lieutenant's face that was stained with tears, and it became readily apparent just how much Hisagi was suffering. Sajin felt guilty that he wasn't there for Hisagi when he needed someone to lean on. The wolf was so self-absorbed for the past few days, he hadn't realized how painful Tousen's betrayal must've been for Hisagi.

Sajin felt an obligation to make things better for the young man he shared so much with.

"Do you need anything now, Hisagi?" Sajin lowered his head closer to the lieutenant with gentle kindness. "I can help with training your soldiers, or any other responsibility you have trouble with."

Hisagi's heart beated faster at the captain's offer, happiness rising in his chest. Being the only bastion of leadership in the ninth division was stressing his nerves to a breaking point. He desperately needed the help, especially from another captain. But Hisagi remembered a promise he made to his lieutenant colleagues he was close to, and his cheeks warmed with embarrassment at what he was thinking of asking the wolf captain.

"Actually, my lieutenant buddies invited me to drink and hang out with them. I promised I'd be there. I was wondering if you… if you could come with me."

"Drinking with friends is not a part of a captain's duty."

"No, it's not." Hisagi looked away nervously.

"But." Sajin patted Hisagi's shoulder, smiling. "If it makes you happy, and if it's what you truly want, then i'll come."

Hisagi's face brightened with excitement and he eagerly hugged Sajin, wrapping his arms around the wolf's massive frame as much as he could. "Thank you so much! I was hoping you'd come along. You're just so calming to be with, Komamura."

Sajin rubbed Hisagi's hair with a single large paw that covered the entirety of the young lieutenant's head, thankful to be so appreciated. He looked forward to spending more time with Hisagi. Though he couldn't help but think that drinking was largely a waste of one's time. The wolf didn't mind much, however. There were probably a lot of shinigami who needed help dealing with their inner demons after everything that had happened. Drinking was most likely among their methods of coping.

Sajin just wanted to be there for others—to not be so self-absorbed with his own problems as he used to be. He wanted to shoulder any burden others would have a hard time carrying.


Rangiku and Kira sat on the wooden floorboards of the break room inside the 10th division as daylight filtered in through the windows. Rangiku stared down at her bottle of Sake. She turned to Kira.

"What happened to Shuuhei?"

"He said he wanted to stop by somewhere else," he lazily replied.

"Hmm," Rangiku hummed. "Usually he's so excited whenever I invite him to come over, but I can see why he wouldn't want to."

She took a swig of her Sake, gulping it down. She sensed something nagging inside her. It made her feel so weak. She usually could ignore such annoyances with drinking, but this feeling still persisted like a cloud hanging over her.

Kira's head was lowered in shame, and it hadn't lifted an inch ever since he came here. He couldn't forget the time he attacked Rangiku, or how he was practically led around the Seireitei by Gin like a leashed dog. She had already forgiven him with her usual cheerfulness, but he still felt guilty at how easily manipulated he was.

The two lieutenants felt the floor tremble as they heard the sound of footfalls getting progressively louder. The two knew someone was coming, but who it was remained a mystery.

Whoever this was must be a very big boy, Rangiku thought.

In the doorway, appeared Hisagi and the bulky form of Sajin. The captain had to duck down and tuck in his shoulders in order to fit through the narrow space. His golden eyes peered into the room and his pointy ears twitched.

"K-Komamura!" Rangiku bursted into smiles, spilling some of her Sake accidentally.

"Hello, lieutenants," Sajin rumbled. "I hope I'm not disturbing anything with my presence."

"Definitely not, Komamura. There's more than enough space for you." Rangiku strode up to the wolf captain and placed a bottle in one of his paws. "And here's the biggest bottle of Sake we have. Though I'm not so sure it will satisfy you." She giggled.

Sajin looked down at the bottle almost disappearing in the grasp of his massive paw. "It will have to do. Thanks."

Kira lifted his head slowly, amazed that the immensely shy Sajin of all people was visiting. He remembered the seventh division captain always seemed to avoid everyone because of his canine appearance.

All four were seated on the floor. The atmosphere between them was warm and friendly, but tinged with the trauma of everything they've been through recently.

Hisagi spoke with seriousness in his eyes, "I notice there's something that binds us together. We've all been led astray by those we once looked up to. We cherished every word they've told us only for them to completely bullshit everything they said. I believe it's time for some self-reflection, guys."

Rangiku gulped down a torrent of Sake, thinking about the love of her life. "GINNN, YOU BASTARD!"

Kira lifted his bottle to his lips before meekly shouting, "Y-Yeah!"

Sajin and Hisagi looked at each other in bemusement before Rangiku continued her tirade. "I was the only one who understood you! But you just had to run away without me for the millionth time, you fox eyed looking BASTARD!"

Kira took another swig. "A-And he's so manipulative despite being somewhat of a nice person!"

Kira smiled with the bottle of Sake in his mouth before he collapsed on his back upon the floor, his eyes lazily staring up at the ceiling.

"Kira!" Hisagi worriedly shouted.

"Oh dear." Rangiku stared at Kira's foaming mouth with indifference. "I always keep on forgetting Kira is such a lightweight when it comes to Sake."

Sajin went over to check on Kira, and confirmed the blond haired lieutenant passed out from the Sake. The massive wolf gently lifted Kira and placed the lieutenant in his lap that was large enough to accommodate a fully grown man. Sajin felt a little embarrassed he was doing this, but he really didn't want the skinny lieutenant to sleep on the floor.

Sajin turned to Rangiku. "Are you alright yourself, Rangiku?"

"Me? Of course!" She loudly proclaimed, giggling and spilling her Sake. "I was just airing out my frustrations. That's all."

Sajin's golden eyes bore into Rangiku, staring at her with sadness. He knew she was lying. He remembered Hisagi acted the same way, forcefully smiling in order to hide his pain. But Sajin chose to ignore her lie, and instead focused on the resting lieutenant cradled in his lap. Whenever Kira's eyes fluttered, so did the massive wolf captain's heart.

Twenty minutes passed as Hisagi and Rangiku continued drinking. The two lieutenants first talked about mundane topics, but soon, the topic of their conversation turned to Tousen. Rangiku said something vulgar about the blind captain, and Hisagi responded by slamming a fist upon the floor, enraged.

"Tousen is NOT a sex addict!" Hisagi angrily shouted.

"Of course he is," Rangiku said while playfully sticking her tongue at him. "I like to think his discussions of justice were all just sexual innuendos."

Sajin blankly stared at the two lieutenants, puzzled completely by the direction their conversation took. He took a sip from his bottle, cringing from the taste.

"No, he is not!" Hisagi responded, fuming with anger, "He is a good, respectable man!"

Rangiku rolled her eyes. "Oh please Shuuhei. Surrendering to your insatiable desires every once in a while doesn't hurt."

Hisagi narrowed his eyes at Rangiku before stuffing his bottle of Sake into his mouth, desperately gulping down its contents. He wanted to scrub his mind from her words and forget about them. Unfortunately for him, he drank more than he could handle, and collapsed on his back upon the floor much like Kira did earlier.

Rangiku giggled. "Always acting tough, but you two boys are only just lightweights."

Sajin looked at both Kira and Hisagi, imagining all the pain they're going through. The massive wolf never admired those who drown their problems with Sake, but he still felt strongly for these lieutenants. He even felt they were his responsibility.

"Well, I suppose I'll take the two back to their divisions so they can rest," the wolf rumbled.

Sajin placed Kira beside him on the floor before standing up and placing his shoulder weights on a table on the far side of the room. Sajin went back to Kira and hoisted him up in the crook of his arm. The massive wolf cradled him, taking great care not to squeeze the skinny lieutenant too tightly.

Sajin then went to Hisagi and effortlessly lifted him up onto his left shoulder. Hisagi's legs were dangling from Sajin's back, but were never close to touching the floor.

"Good bye, Rangiku," Sajin rumbled.

Sajin was about to leave the room until his ears twitched to a loud thump behind him. Rangiku was on her back, softly moaning.

"Rangiku," Sajin said unamused. He saw right through her act. "Please get up off the floor. You're perfectly fine."

Rangiku moaned even louder, putting her hand against her forehead as if in great pain.

Sajin deeply sighed. He knew what Rangiku wanted. He went over to her and lifted her up onto his right shoulder that was unoccupied. "You could've asked politely, and I would've allowed you to come with me regardless."

"Oh. Sorry." Rangiku giggled as she made herself more comfortable riding on Sajin's shoulder. "I just couldn't resist being lifted and carried by a big burly man~"

Sajin didn't know what to say about that. The massive wolf hadn't planned to carry three lieutenants, two of them drunk out of their minds. The rational part of his mind told him this was ridiculous, even more pointless than drinking.

But despite that, Sajin tightened his embrace with Kira, and huddled Hisagi and Rangiku closer to him. The massive wolf's heart warmed with affection.

Sajin remembered he promised himself that he would carry any burdens that were too heavy for everyone else. What he was carrying now wasn't heavy for him in the slightest.

Sajin ducked with his lieutenant trio clinging onto him as he lumbered out of the narrow space that was the door.


The sun beamed down on Sajin and the three lieutenants as the massive wolf walked upon the Seireitei's streets. There were many shinigami who stared at the odd sight, unable to take their eyes off the wolf captain and the three lieutenants he carried. Sajin didn't mind the attention; he was used to it. Though, what he did mind were the warm hands tugging upon his right ear, sending shivering sensations throughout his fur.

"Rangiku, please stop playing with my ears." Sajin heavily sighed.

"Sorry." She withdrew her hand with a sheepish smile. "It's just WILD to me that you've hid your face for so long, but it turns out you're just a giant huggable puppy!"

"Not a puppy. I am a fully grown wolf," Sajin said with irritation in his rumbling voice. He opened his maw, showing off his razor sharp teeth.

"What's the difference?"

Sajin almost stopped, not believing he heard such a ridiculous question. "It's like calling me a child. I'm not a puppy who needs to be hugged all day."

Rangiku giggled. "But we still love indulging in our childish ways, even as adults. It brings us joy and nostalgia. There's no shame in that."

Sajin lumbered on in silence, not knowing what to reply with. He realized he's been hugging an awful lot ever since Tousen left him. For most of his life, he always felt a nagging feeling inside him that compels him to hug. Sajin wasn't surprised. Wolves like him are very social animals who instinctively seek close bonds, especially in their youth. But Sajin remembered with bitterness in his heart, that as a puppy in his younger years, he wasn't hugged much at all.

Sajin was somewhat happy to see this hugging behavior of his was accepted, even if it seemed quite strange. He really needed it; perhaps more than he'd like to admit.

Hisagi and Kira moaned in pain and writhed a little as they slowly regained consciousness. The two lieutenants were confused as to why they were lifted high up from the ground and moving mid-air, until they realized what was happening. Their faces reddened with embarrassment.

"S-Sorry, Captain Komamura!" The two lieutenants shouted.

Sajin smiled, revealing some of his fangs. "Don't worry yourselves. It's alright."

The wolf captain's kindness still couldn't prevent both Hisagi and Kira from feeling awkward in the situation they found themselves in.

"Don't you think…" Hisagi reluctantly said, trying to find the words. "It's pretty strange to see three lieutenants carried around by a captain?"

Sajin hummed to himself in contemplation. "Can any of you walk?"

"No!" Hisagi and Kira shouted eagerly.

"Well… alright then." Sajin chuckled at the sudden change of tone from the two. "I'm taking both of you back to your divisions so you two can rest."

Hisagi and Kira breathed out a sigh of relief. They couldn't feel much of anything in their legs, which made walking a rather ambitious idea for them. And though the two wouldn't admit it out loud, they felt somewhat calmed and comforted by the massive wolf. Neither of them wanted to leave him.

Sajin continued on his way towards the closest division, which was the ninth. In the meantime, his pointy ears easily picked up the moaning coming from Hisagi and Kira—the former slung over the wolf's left shoulder, and the latter cradled in one of the wolf's arms. Sajin spared a few concerned glances towards the two lieutenants. He pitied the amount of pain they subjected themselves to earlier.

"All three of you should really stop drinking," Sajin rumbled with sadness.

Hisagi and Kira weren't so enthused about abandoning the pastime they frequently did together. Rangiku laughed off the wolf's suggestion.

"Oh please. It's not a big deal. Everyone drinks, even Ukitake! I've seen him have a few sips here and there," she said.

Sajin turned to Rangiku who was slung over his right shoulder, across from Hisagi. The wolf's golden eyes bored into her.

"I've also seen many who turn to drinking, and it doesn't help whatsoever. They drink in an effort to ignore what pains them, only for their problems to inevitably return. It's a never ending cycle—one that makes everything worse," the wolf rumbled.

All of the lieutenants were shaken by those words. The three knew well enough that Sajin was talking about them. Truthfully, they had to admit: They didn't indulge in drinking because it was enjoyable, but rather to share their suffering in solidarity.

Rangiku lowered her face until it sunk into Sajin's broad shoulder. Her usual smiling faded away. "But what else can I do to stop thinking about Gin? When everyone else hated him, even despised him, I was the only one who understood the person he was, ever since we were just kids. So why did he leave me?!"

Rangiku's eyes beaded with tears as she continued. "I just don't want to be judged for still grieving over him after everything he's done."

Sajin leaned his furred head upon Rangiku's blond hair as a show of support, now understanding why she relied on drinking so much. Hisagi stretched his arm across and patted her shoulder, while Kira's face saddened even more.

Eventually, Sajin broke the silence between them all, and spoke in his rumbling voice. "I won't lie to you and say I respected Ichimaru as a captain and colleague, but neither will I judge you if you miss him dearly. In fact, I think a lot of people are mourning just like you. I'm sure Hisagi and Kira can relate. I am mourning as well."

Rangiku nodded somberly. Sajin continued. "But you can't hide from the pain forever. Someday, you'll be forced to confront it one way or another. I just hope you know you're not going to be alone in confronting it."

"I guess… you're right," Rangiku reluctantly said. She swiped the beads of tears off her face. "I'm sorry for being such a burden."

Sajin smiled. "Don't worry about that. Despite our power and responsibilities as Shinigami, we need someone to lean on every once in a while. There's no shame in that."

Rangiku considered this, thinking for a while before she giggled, amused that the captain repeated what she said to him earlier. Her old self was returning slowly, bit by bit.

Sajin was so happy that he made Rangiku feel better, he stuck his tongue out from his mouth without knowing, like an overly excited puppy. Embarrassed, he quickly retracted it back, hoping none of the other three noticed.

As Sajin lumbered on with his lieutenant trio clinging onto him, the massive wolf thought back to the days when he wore his helmet and kept away from others. He wouldn't have thought he'd grow so close to these three lieutenants. He used to think he was a shy and lonely beast—only deserving of living life as an outcast. And yet here he was, carrying these lieutenants around and being depended upon not so much as a captain, but rather as a friend. Sajin was immensely proud.

"I hope none of you are embarrassed with me carrying you all," Sajin rumbled as he passed by a few shocked Shinigami. "I'm enjoying this so much more than I could imagine."

"I'm enthralled, Sajin," Rangiku said with a grin.

"Yeah," Hisagi said as he smiled. "I'm usually against cute things like this, but I feel so relaxed and calm now, Captain."

Kira looked off to the side in deep thought. "It kind of makes me feel like a kid again."

"Is that a bad thing?" Sajin asked.

Kira thought about this. A few seconds later, he hugged Sajin with as much strength as he could muster and smiled warmly. "No. Not at all, Komamura."

Sajin returned Kira's hug with pure happiness, his hidden tail wagging uncontrollably.

Maybe Rangiku was right, Sajin thought. Maybe he was just a giant, huggable puppy. He used to think being referred to as such was shameful and embarrassing. Not anymore.

Sajin only wished that Tousen could be here side-by-side with him to see and witness what he was doing. Sajin imagined the blind man would've been proud of him; perhaps even a little amused.

The massive wolf continued walking as Shinigami marveled at the captain who was carrying the three lieutenants around. The mood between the four looked totally different to what one would've expected after the catastrophe that had occured. Most either smiled or giggled, their spirits lifted by the heartwarming display.

Sajin turned a corner, nearing the ninth division, when he suddenly came upon a man wearing a captain's haori and kenseikan on his hair. He was the Sixth division captain. The wolf noticed how incredibly tired his colleague looked.

"Greetings, Captain Kuchiki." Sajin smiled and bowed slightly, careful to not upset the balance of the lieutenants he was carrying too much.

"Hey, captain." Hisagi smiled while nervously rubbing his hair.

"Hello." Kira meekly waved with an amused expression.

"Hi, Byakuya-kun!" Rangiku shouted.

Byakuya stared at the wolf captain and the three lieutenants, utterly astounded by the sight in front of him. He wondered if Renji spiked his morning tea.

"How… novel of you, Captain Komamura," Byakuya said, blinking his eyes in an effort to make sense of what he was seeing.

"I suppose it is." Sajin chuckled in his rumbling voice, which the three lieutenants felt reverberating inside them. "These three—or rather two of them—have drunk so much, they can't walk for the time being. That's why I'm carrying them."

"I see," Byakuya said; still confused as ever about the wolf captain's reasoning. "Well, don't let me get in your way and impede you. I imagine it's a struggle heaving around all that extra weight."

Sajin laughed, smiling even more and baring his fangs. "Not at all. I don't feel any heavier whatsoever. On the contrary, I feel so much more comfortable."

Byakuya remained silent and simply nodded to the massive wolf.

Sajin lumbered past Byakuya, the three lieutenants still clinging onto him affectionately. "I must leave you now. The sooner Hisagi and Kira get their rest, the better," the wolf rumbled.

"Bye, Captain Kuchiki!" Hisagi said.

"See you later, I guess." Kira waved at the noble captain lazily.

"Bye bye, Byakuya-kun!" Rangiku shouted, laughing with excitement.

Byakuya closed his eyes and sighed deeply, tired out of his mind. He still couldn't understand Sajin, nor could he have ever expected his wolf colleague to be so affectionate.

Byakuya couldn't help but turn and look back at the massive wolf and the three lieutenants. As the four furthered their distance away from Byakuya, so did a certain longing deep inside him intensify.


For Sajin, the rest of his day went by smoothly. He helped train shinigami from the 3rd and 9th divisions while Kira and Hisagi were asleep, recovering from their alcoholic binge. Training shinigami who weren't in the 7th division was an extremely rare occasion for Sajin, but it was one he enjoyed nonetheless.

When Sajin returned to his own division, he was visited by a Hell Butterfly that was sent from Byakuya. That alone was highly unusual for Sajin, but what stood out even more was the Hell Butterfly's message. The sixth division captain asked the wolf for help with administering patrols from both the 7th and 6th divisions for the outer Rukongai districts, so those regions can be better protected from Hollow attacks.

Sajin was surprised. He couldn't remember the last time another captain went out of their way to ask him for assistance. The wolf was happy, even somewhat excited to oblige.

The place of the meeting was stated to be Byakuya's residence, the Kuchiki manor. Sajin used shunpo until he reached a trail that led him there. As he walked, he could see the last flecks of sunlight fading away amidst the night sky.

Upon reaching the estate, Sajin was quite astonished. Not so much by the house itself—although it was truly massive and showed no lack of intricate workmanship—but rather the natural beauty of it all. There was a wealth of smells the wolf enjoyed with his sensitive nose.

Both Sajin and Byakuya greeted each other and sat on a mat near a sakura tree before beginning their work. The two captains had detailed lists of members who were serving in their divisions along with a detailed map of the Rukongai. It was a lengthy process, but the two synergized quite well together.

When they were almost finished, Sajin noticed how fatigued Byakuya looked, reminding the wolf of the tiredness the wolf saw in the noble captain earlier today. Sometimes Byakuya would lower his head and close his eyes as if teetering on the edge of sleep. Sajin would've usually brushed this off, but given the circumstances, he was somewhat concerned.

"When was the last time you slept?" Sajin asked.

"Why do you ask?" Byakuya tilted his head in confusion.

"You seem tired and yet you still continue to work."

"I'm a captain and head of a noble clan, Komamura," Byakuya said, slurring some of his words. "I'm a very busy man. Just for tonight, I've scheduled calligraphy lessons for Captain Kyouraku, and a sparring session for the Kenpachi—"

"The Kenpachi?!" Sajin leaned forward, staring at the noble captain with bewilderment.

Byakuya wondered if he just said all that. A few seconds of pause confirmed to him that he did, indeed, say all that ridiculous rubbish.

"Maybe… I'm a little tired," Byakuya said.

The noble captain lowered his head and closed his eyes, dozing off before he knew it.

Sajin looked at his colleague with sadness in his golden eyes. The wolf could tell Byakuya was forcefully overworking himself, and Rukia's execution most likely had something to do with it. Sajin contemplated what he could do to help—to at least relieve some of the inner turmoil that the stoic captain must've been suffering from.

Then an idea came to Sajin, and the wolf couldn't help but giggle to himself.

Sajin stood up, went over to Byakuya, and picked him up. The wolf carried the noble captain effortlessly, bridal style.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Byakuya shouted, his eyes shot open in shock.

Sajin smiled, his fangs showing. "You were defenseless, so I simply took advantage of that."

Byakuya angrily glared at the wolfish face hanging above him. He struggled moving his muscles, mostly due to exhaustion and the wolf's strong grip.

Sajin looked down at the captain he held in his arms as he felt his heart beating faster and harder with compassion.

A few moments of silence passed between the two before Sajin spoke in his rumbling voice. "My apologies if I shocked you too much. My only desire was to ease whatever pained you—just like what I did for those lieutenants earlier today. Carrying those three around made my heartache for Tousen more bearable to manage. Even now, carrying you is just as comforting."

Byakuya wanted to disagree. He wanted to shred everything the wolf said into thousands of little pieces and send them all into oblivion, Senbonzakura style. And yet, he felt that same affection he saw so clearly between Sajin and the three lieutenants earlier today. He didn't want to admit it, but this feeling soothed his own heartache he was suffering from considerably.

"I suppose… this is a little bit comfortable," Byakuya reluctantly said.

Sajin smiled excitedly, his pointy ears flapping to the mood he was in. The massive wolf sat down and placed Byakuya on top of his lap. The noble captain was comfortably supported by the wolf's bulk, like he was lying down on a bed of fur and muscle.

The two captains rested underneath the branches of a cherry blossom tree as large swaths of pink petals swayed whichever way the wind blew.

Byakuya struggled to stay awake as his eyes opened and closed repeatedly. He had a strong desire to succumb to the warmth the massive wolf was giving off, and fall asleep peacefully. But he still felt the heartache that stressed him out for the past few days, almost breaking him.

Byakuya looked up at the wolf with desperate eyes. "May I ask something of you, Captain Komamura?"

"Of course."

"Would you find it reprehensible if a brother could not be there for his sister to support her?"

Sajin knew what Byakuya was talking about, and it filled the wolf's heart with sadness. "I wouldn't call that reprehensible, just tragic."

"No…" Byakuya said, anger rising in his voice and his hands balling into fists. "It is reprehensible. It was me who left Rukia to fend for herself against Soul Society with barely a peep to help her. It was me who preached the law while Rukia suffered under it. I chose pride over my own sister."

Sajin stared at the noble captain he had in his lap and sighed heavily. "No need to be so harsh on yourself, especially after saving her from Gin's blade. I imagine Rukia forgives you and looks up to you as a brotherly figure. You just need to spend more time with her."

"But how can someone like me socialize with her competently?" Byakuya asked in frustration. "Me and Rukia are two completely different people, like polar opposites. I don't know what topics we would mutually be interested in for conversation—"

"Just be with her."

Byakuya was surprised by the wolf's interruption. "What? You think it's that simple!?"

"Yeah." Sajin smiled. "Doesn't matter if you two can't relate. Staying with Rukia and keeping her company is your duty as a brother, even if you can't perform it well."

Byakuya widened his eyes. When Sajin's argument was worded like that, Byakuya couldn't find the willingness in himself to disagree with the wolf. It was a lot like his duties as captain of the sixth division and noble head of the Kuchiki Clan, after all. You don't give up after hitting a brick wall. You persevere, you adapt, and you change.

Byakuya wondered why he hadn't done any of these things for the one person that meant the most to him ever since Hisana passed away.

The two captains remained silent, Sajin sitting underneath the cherry blossom tree, and Byakuya lying down in the wolf's lap. Sajin looked up at the pink petals from the branches above. The petals were so bright and colorful, they contrasted against the night sky, and the wolf's breath was taken away by the sight.

"This place is astounding, Captain Kuchiki," Sajin rumbled, still looking up at the night sky and the pink petals.

Sajin waited for a response from the noble captain, confident that his colleague was thankful for the opportunity to boast. When he didn't get any response, he lowered his head in curiosity, and found the noble captain fast asleep, softly snoring and his eyes closed shut.

Sajin's heart was warmed so much by the sight, the wolf felt like his muzzle was on fire, as if he was blushing.

Before Sajin could've done anything, Byakuya held onto the wolf's haori with one of his hands, and while still sleeping, he whispered, "I will be there for you, Rukia…"

Sajin was so moved by this, he pulled the sleeping Byakuya closer, almost hugging the noble captain with the warmth of his massive bulk.

At first, the wolf wasn't quite sure what to do with the sleeping captain. But now, however, he had a clear goal: He wanted to put Byakuya to a more comfortable sleep in-doors, safe and secure from the outside elements.

Sajin stood up, lifting Byakuya in his arms effortlessly, bridal style. The wolf lumbered towards the front entrance of the Kuchiki Manor and went inside. The wooden floorboards trembled underneath his immense weight with every step he took.

Sajin thought his search for Byakuya's room would be easy. However, much to the wolf's annoyance, this was anything but easy. The rooms and hallways were oppressively small for him, to the point he had to crouch in order to get through in some places. It was a nasty surprise, given the house's massive outward appearance.

Sajin cringed at the irony.

But just as bad as the lack of space was the layout itself. It confused the wolf's senses when he ended up in the same place he was a few minutes ago, almost like he was walking in a maze. Not knowing exactly what he was looking for certainly made things harder for the wolf—he never visited this house before, after all.

Eventually, Sajin ended up in what he assumed was the kitchen, judging by the various cooking utensils and pots. As the wolf looked around, his ears flicked to the soft pattering of footsteps behind him. The wolf turned around, Byakuya still firmly held in his arms, and saw Rukia staring at him with her mouth agape and eyes widened.

"G-Greetings, Rukia." Sajin smiled nervously.

"Nii-sama? Captain Komamura?" Rukia asked, not understanding what she was seeing. "W-What are you doing, Komamura?"

"Captain Kuchiki sort of fell asleep unexpectedly when I was with him." Sajin laughed a little, so completely embarrassed.

Rukia stared at Byakuya's peaceful sleep. "I guess that's not surprising. He hasn't slept in days."

Sajin hummed in agreement. "Could you lead me to his room, please? I imagine his futon would make for a better sleep than my arms."

"O-Of course!" Rukia smiled, still somewhat shocked. "Right this way."

Rukia led the way throughout the house with Sajin in tow, and Byakuya still snoring softly in the massive wolf's arms. Both Rukia and Sajin talked about the history behind the Kuchiki manor—Rukia in particular sharing many tidbits of information that intrigued the wolf. It amazed the two that Byakuya never woke up despite their talking. The noble captain truly hadn't slept in a long while.

The two reached Byakuya's room, Sajin marveling at how vast it was. It certainly provided Sajin with more space to move about with his massive frame. The wolf tucked Byakuya into his futon, covering the sleeping captain with blankets.

Rukia stood by the shoji doorway and looked at the two captains, her heart beating with sadness. "I've never seen Nii-sama so weak and vulnerable before… It's kind of unthinkable, really."

Sajin turned to Rukia after finishing tucking in Byakuya. "I don't believe it's unthinkable. We captains love to put up a façade of stoicism, but we're just as vulnerable as everyone else."

Rukia looked down in deep thought, not knowing what to respond with.

Sajin walked up to her and placed a large paw on her shoulder that weighed heavily on her. "Byakuya needs you, Rukia," Sajin rumbled beside her. "I think he would appreciate it if you could stay with him. It's something he wanted to do himself for you, but he couldn't."

Rukia looked up with her eyes widened at the wolfish face that towered above her. Sajin smiled reassuringly in response and patted her shoulder. The wolf lumbered out of the room, leaving Rukia and Byakuya alone with each other.

Rukia stood where she was, still awed out of her mind. She wondered if her brother—the one person she looked up to the most—truly wanted to spend time with her.

Rukia went over to Byakuya and sat beside him as he slept. The noble captain turned his head a few times, but his eyes remained firmly shut.

Rukia clasped one of Byakuya's palms with both of her hands. It was strange seeing her brother so vulnerable in someone else's arms, and yet it made him look relatable in a way Rukia hasn't seen or felt ever before.