Chapter 34: Healing

Orihime ran up to her friends after the fight was over. The twins having been safe with her when she'd invoked her shielding power. She still was unsure how to call upon her powers, as they seemed to appear when she was in incredible danger and she'd yell out the command without thought. When she had tried doing so actively, nothing had happened. "Is everyone alright?" she asked as she examined Ichigo to ensure he was safe.

"We're okay Inoue." Ichigo said as he looked her over. "Are Yuzu and Karin okay?"

"We're fine brother." Karin stated with a thumbs up. "Shaken, but not hurt."

Ichigo sighed in relief. He knew Karin was getting stronger with her powers, but Yuzu had yet to even show a hint of having any kind of power. "Thank goodness." he mumbled softly.

Both of the older captains gave each other a look as they watched the group interact with each other. "Idiots." Rukia said loud enough that everyone heard her. "You could have been seriously hurt." she said sounding angry.

"You do realize that Ichi and I know what we're doing. We have been fighting these monsters for years now." Verena told her. "Besides, he's the one that took down the menos the other day. Those two were nothing compared to That thing."

"Arrancar." Ichigo said off-handedly. "They're the only kind of hollow I've yet to fight Rukia, so I'm confident that I can fight and destroy anything up to that level."

"Arrancar are rare and far in between." Shunsui added to their conversation as he lifted the edge of his hat up to look the teens in the eyes. "They're powerful and hard for even a captain level shinigami such as myself to fight."

"Have you ever fought one before?" Karin asked the older man.

"Hmm..." Shunsui rubbed his stubble. "I think the highest level I've fought is a Vasto Lorde. Yami-gi is the only one to have fought such a monster."

Monster? The white haired hollow asked Ichigo. He's never actually met a monster, has he King? Ichigo stayed silent to his hollow. Wonder what he'd think you were if he met you in your bankai form with me and you merged. The hollow started cackling. We are essentially an arrancar in that form.

No, we are not. Ichigo said back to his zanpakuto spirit, catching him off guard. We're different.

Different? the hollow asked. Hmm... Yeah. We are. After that he went silent just as Jushiro began a coughing episode.

"Captain Ukitake!" Rukia called out with worry in her voice as she ran forward towards her captain. Ichigo and Verena watched as blood dripped from the captain's mouth as he removed his hand from it.

"Oh dear." Shunsui said softly as he helped his dear friend to sit until the coughing spell would leave him.

Orihime watched as the white haired shinigami captain's form shook and heaved as he coughed and coughed. He's hurt. she thought. But I didn't see the hollow attack him. Could he have been hurt before the battle began?

"Orihime, what are you waiting for?" Shonou said as she appeared in front of her. "Use us. We healed those students."

"But I don't know..." she began when she heard another bout of coughing begin along with slight wheezing.

"Calm down Juu." Shunsui said softly. "You've excited yourself enough for one day." He rubbed the other captains back in gentle soothing motions.

"I suppose." Jushiro agreed. He looked at the worried faces before him. "I'll be alright. I've grown use to this." He tried to assure them. But he found that his chest was hurting worse than usual.

"We'll have to go soon." Shunsui told them. "We will have to go to the fourth before returning you to your family home for a little while."

Being a little out of breath, Jushiro gave a nod in agreement. "Agreed." he stated as he tried to regain his breath when suddenly an orange shield surrounded his form, forcing Shunsui to release his friend.

"Shonou! Ayame! Santen Kesshun! I repel thee!" Orihime cried out.

"What the-" Shunsui began as he reached for his sword.

"Wait!" Ichigo yelled. "This is Orihime's power." he told the older captain. "She wouldn't have invoked it to hurt him."

"Shonou says I can heal him." she told Ichigo. "I think I can."

Ichigo gave her a reassuring smile. "I believe in you Inoue." he told her, gaining a wide doe eyed look from her.

Verena gave a nod. "If Inoue says she can heal him, then I believe her as well."

Shunsui shook his head. "Even Retsu said she couldn't heal him, and she the best healer we have in all of Soul Society." he said with doubt.

Ukitake touched his chest as he felt the tightness leave him. The rattling feeling in his lungs soon vanished as well. A sudden feeling came over him as he swore he could breathe even better than before. Not just a little better, but a lot. Testing his lungs, Jushiro took a deep breath and sighed as there was no pain in doing this exercise. It was then that he felt a sudden power come over him.

Papa! he heard his zanpakuto spirits yell out at the same time. The two children spirits grinned at him. You are gaining power Papa. We can feel your strength. It's immeasurable.

The spirits went silent as he came back to the now. The orange shield was gone. Shunsui was looking down at him with worry. Smiling, he spoke. "I can breathe much better now." he said gently. Looking from his best friend's worried face he looked towards the young woman who had helped him. "Thank-you."

Orihime smiled at him. "I couldn't just stand here and let you suffer." she said. "I hope you feel better very soon."

"We should go." Shunsui stated, wanting to get his friend to the fourth as quickly as possible.

"Agreed." Jushiro said softly as he stood up from the ground. "We will be back though." He looked at Rukia. "Continue to do what you are doing here. Keep these children safe and teach them what you've been taught. The more knowledge they have on what they are fighting the more likely they will be to survive their next encounter. Encourage them Rukia."

"Yes captain." she said as she watched him and Captain Kyoraku leave.

Ichigo scratched the back of his neck. "That actually went better than I thought it." he said sounding relieved.

"Ah-ha!" Verena yelled at him as she pointed her finger at him. "So you were nervous!"

"No I wasn't." he denied. Rukia began looking between the two before she began laughing quietly at them.

Leave it to those two to defuse a serious situation. she thought as a broad smile crossed her face. I do wonder though. She looked off to where the two captains had left. How did they even know about my situation? She felt an arm wrap around her neck and looked up towards Verena.

"Looks like you're stuck with us for awhile." She told the smaller girl with her own smile crossing her features. "Hope you don't mind the loudness of the Kurosaki lifestyle." Ichigo, who was back in his own body, grinned at her as he picked Yuzu up onto his back as Orihime and Karin grabbed up the bags from their shopping spree. Everyone looked at Rukia as she grinned back at them.

"Maybe I need a little loudness in my life right now." she answered. "Besides," she began as she pulled away from the orange haired teen. "you heard my captain, you guys are now my mission and I do take my missions quite seriously."

M-Angel: Yay! I did it! I finished another chapter to another story this week. Exhausted, but I got it done. ^_^ Also, forget what I said about stopping at 50 chapters. That's SO not gonna happen. I'll just write until I feel this story is completed.

GuestGuest - Thank-you. I'm glad my rendition of the story is to your liking.

Kyouki no kitsune - I like those two captains too. I know! I can't believe nobody uses Shunsui and Jushiro. They're awesome!

GunBlade2018 - Those two will show up a lot more now.

Cass - I'm glad you like my story.

Antex- The Legendary Zoroark - I'm glad you liked my unique hollow. I'm thinking up other harder to kill one's as we speak.

Magapanda34 - I'm glad it was worth the wait.

Amethyst Hazel - I am glad you like the slow and steady pace. Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long and will be longer.