The following day...
Tsukimori woke in the morning feeling well rested and ready for a girls' day. She dressed in something simple, a casual kimono colored in blues and light purple with pink lotus flowers. She smoothed out the front and looked in her mirror, almost wishing that she hadn't cut her hair.
"Maybe I should grow it out again."
Hurrying out of the barracks, she said hello to her squad mates as she passed them and found Rangiku, Momo, Nanao, Yachiru, Rukia, Kiyone and Isane waiting.
"Wow, Tsuki, you look great!"
Tsuki smiled. "Thanks. Sorry if you were waiting long."
"We've got all day, so no worries!" Rangiku wrapped an arm around her and smiled. "Let's go shopping!"
By the time night had fallen, they had visited every shop imaginable in the Seireitei, had eaten breakfast and lunch at a couple restaurants, and were spending the rest of their time out together at the bath house before grabbing drinks with the guys.
"Ah, that hits the spot!"
Tsukimori sank below the water, letting rest just below her shoulders. "That feels wonderful..."
"So, Tsuki, I've been wondering something."
Tsukimori looked at Rangiku. "Yes?"
"What's up with you and Shuhei?"
"What do you mean?"
"You seem really close. And from what I heard, you were even closer at the academy."
Tsukimori felt her cheeks burn and she looked away. "He was my tutor then and now, he's my lieutenant and sparring partner. That's all."
"Oh?" Rukia leaned forward, prodding her cheeks. "Are you blushing?"
"N-No?"
"If it's a question, Tsuki-Tsuki, then you're not sure!" Yachiru chimed in.
"Honestly, leave the poor girl be." Nanao said, sighing. "Obviously she's got feelings for them she didn't realize she had until now."
"Tsuki, do you like Shuhei?" Isane asked.
Tsukimori felt embarrassed and uneasy about all the questions, but they were making her think. 'Do I like Shu?'
"Well?" Kiyone chimed in.
"I-I don't know. I mean he's always been very mature and calm, he usually takes responsibility and tends to avoid violence when possible. He seems to be a very virtuous person. He's good with the squad, he works himself really hard, and he's been kind enough to be my sparring partner again. And it has been nice being around him again."
"But how do you feel about him?"
On the men's side of the bath house, separated from the women's side by a large wooden wall, Renji, Izuru, and Ikkaku were relaxing before meeting up with the girls for drinks later. They talked among themselves, then welcomed Shuhei when he joined them.
"Renji, I heard like Tsukimori kicked your ass the other day." Ikkaku prodded, smirking.
Renji groaned. "Don't remind me."
"You and Tsuki spar or something?" Shuhei asked.
"Ya, when you're busy she comes and spars with Izuru or I." Renji replied.
There was giggling and splashing on the other side of the wall and Ikkaku sighed. "Those girls can be so obnoxious sometimes."
"They do like to have fun." Izuru added. "It's nice to see they've gotten Tsuki to come out of her shell more."
"Tsuki, do you like Shuhei?" They could hear Isane ask, followed by Kiyone asking, "Well?" Upon hearing the question, the guys went still.
"I-I don't know. I mean he's always been very mature and calm, he usually takes responsibility and tends to avoid violence when possible. He seems to be a very virtuous person. He's good with the squad, he works himself really hard, and he's been kind enough to be my sparring partner again. And it has been nice being around him again." Tsukimori said.
"But how do you feel about him?" Rangiku asked.
"I honestly don't know." Tsukimori said. "I suppose at one point I greatly admired him and felt really close to him, but so much time passed that even after three years it's like we lost whatever we had. Even as friends."
Renji and Izuru glanced at Shuhei.
"It's been difficult getting used to being away from home again and Shu has been a real help, as have the rest of our squad, but..."
"But?" Rangiku asked.
"Even if I did have feelings for him now, it wouldn't matter. He's got a crush on someone else."
"Oh?" Rangiku asked. "Do I detect a bit a jealousy?"
The guys heard Tsukimori sigh and reply, "Maybe? I don't know. It's nice being around him again and I look forward to spending time with him every chance I get. I try to keep things professional as the 3rd seat, but sometimes it can be really hard. When I'm with him it's like everything will be OK, like nothing can ever hurt me. I feel safe with him."
"But he has feelings for another." Nanao said.
"Ya... And I know he does because of how he looks at her..."
"Oh, sweetie..."
"It's fine. Whatever else happens, Shu is still my lieutenant and my friend. Maybe it's best to keep things at that and nothing more."
Renji and Izuru sighed, looking at each other then at Shuhei.
"Damn." Ikkaku said, looking at Shuhei. "What are you going to do?"
'What am I going to do?' Shuhei thought.
"Shuhei, Tsuki has always admired you and always looked to you for guidance. You've always been her anchor, keeping her steady as she learned how to control her power." Izuru said.
"She's not the same with us as she is with you." Renji added. "She really cares for you, even if she won't admit it."
Shuhei sighed, unsure of what to say or do next.
Everyone finished enjoying the bath and got dressed, meeting outside in front of the bath house to head out for dinner and drinks. As they were walking towards the restaurant, Tsukimori sensed something wrong and stopped. Shuhei noticed she had and turned to her.
"Tsuki?"
Tsukimori scanned the area, her eyes widening when a surge of spiritual energy hit her from within the forest she had called home her whole life. "Yoshirou..."
The others had noticed the surge of energy and saw Tsukimori's demeanor change.
"What is it, Tsuki?"
Another surge crashed into her and the faint howl of a Hollow sounded.
"Yoshirou!"
"Tsuki, wait!"
The others looked at each other when Shuhei took off after Tsukimori, then sensed the Hollow.
"She isn't armed, is she insane?"
"We have to inform our squads."
"I'll go after Shuhei and Tsuki."
Everyone split up, Renji heading after Shuhei and Tsuki. "Tsuki, what are you thinking?!"
Tsukimori hurried through the forest, going as fast as her flash step would carry her to reach her home. When she reached the cabin, she stopped with wide eyes at the inferno blazing before her.
"No..."
Shuhei and Renji had finally caught up with her and stared at the blaze before them.
"Yoshirou!"
"Tsuki, wait!"
Tsukimori ran to the flaming ruins, calling out to the man who raised her. "Yoshirou! Yoshirou! Where are you?!" She searched every place she could reach, but she could not find him.
A Hollow's howl echoed nearby and Tsuki felt another surge of Yoshirou's energy.
"Yoshirou!"
"Tsuki!"
Shuhei and Renji took off after Tsukimori as she ran towards the Hollow.
Tsukimori reached the Hollow, seeing it had Yoshirou cornered. "Yoshirou!"
Yoshirou looked over, seeing Tsukimori that. "Run, Tsuki! Get out of here!"
"No, I won't leave you!"
Behind her, Shuhei and Renji were barely able to catch up to her when she called out an ability that no one had ever seen her use before.
"Kirin no mantoru!"
They stopped, watching as Tsukimori glowed with an ethereal light as a cloak of hide appeared at her back and a spectral bow manifested in her hand. They watched as she launched herself into battle, placing herself between Yoshirou and the Hollow.
Tsukimori shot the energy arrows from the spectral bow, but they did little to stop the Hollow. It swung its fist at her, catching her in the stomach and launching her into a nearby tree.
"Tsuki!"
Tsukimori hit the tree with enough force that she snapped it in half as well as the next three or four trees behind it. She slammed into the ground, skidding across it until slamming into a boulder. She coughed up blood, dazed from the attack, but when she looked up she saw the Hollow deal the final blow to Yoshirou before devouring him.
"NO!"
Shuhei and Renji were trying to reach where she had landed, but stopped and turned back when Tsukimori zipped passed them in a blind rage.
"Tsuki, stop!"
Tsukimori charged at the Hollow, leaping in the air above it and catching it by surprise enough to bring down her spectral bow and destroying its skull.
Shuhei and Renji felt her spiritual energy surging in a way they had never seen and realized that when she hit the ground, her limiter had been knocked loose.
"We have to stop her before she hurts herself!"
Shuhei grabbed the limiter and rushed back to where Tsukimori was while Renji circled around behind her.
""Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro!"
Shuhei and Renji saw that Rukia had caught up with them and watched as six pillars of light pierced Tsukimori, rendering her immobile.
"Hurry! Get her limiter back on!"
Shuhei nodded, rushing forward and slipping the silver bracelet back over her wrist. He stepped back as Tsukimori cried out in pain as the limiter took its hold over her. When she stilled and her spiritual energy was back under control, Rukia released Rikujokoro and Shuhei caught Tsukimori as she teetered forward.
"Tsuki?"
Tsukimori felt weak, but she regained her footing and pushed away from Shuhei. She stared at the spot where Yoshirou and the Hollow had been. "He's gone..."
Tsukimori was silent and distant after returning to the Squad 9 barracks. Shuhei told Renji and Rukia he would make sure she got home and promised to keep them updated. When it came time to explaining what happened to the captain, Shuhei did his best to speak for Tsukimori. Kaname understood the situation and asked Shuhei to write a report for the Head Captain as well.
Tsukimori was a completely different person than the normal happy, helpful, somewhat shy girl Squad 9 and her friends had come to know and love. She was cold, distant, unresponsive. She did her duties then would return to her room and sit by the window, staring out at the sky for hours on end. No one could snap her out of it, not even Shuhei.
Everyone felt completely useless and didn't know what they could do to help her. The only thing they really could do was give her time to grieve and hope that she returned to how she was before.