A/N: Thanks to all of you who reviewed! To those who commented on the lack of humor, stick with me through these first few chapters which are on the more serious side. I swear it'll totally be worth it. And, because of a combination of putting off writing my Theory of Knowledge essay, and because I'm having too much fun writing this, here's the next chapter already. Don't forget to review!

Tossed Aside
Chapter Two: The Broken Chain

Nanao opened her eyes with a soft groan of agony.

"Taichō," she called weakly, her voice hoarse from disuse.

She blinked in the blinding light of the room, becoming acutely aware of the throbbing pain that ripped across her chest every time she drew a breath. Slowly, she turned her head to the side to find her hazy vision filled with pink.

"Taichō!" she called once more, panic seizing her as the memories came flooding back.

In the chair beside the bed, Shunsui awoke with a start at the sound of his beloved fukutaichō's voice. "Nanao-chan!" he exclaimed, tipping his favored straw hat out of his eyes. He scooted closer toward her, coming to sit on the edge of the chair.

She reached a hand out to clasp the front of his robes, her eyes watering at the effect it had on her battered body. She needed to know that this was real, that he was real. Nanao's heart flooded with relief at the solidity of his frame and the familiar sound of his voice.

"Taichō, you're alive," she whispered, then as an afterthought, "I'm alive." Shunsui thought it sounded as if she couldn't quite believe what she was saying.

Nanao reluctantly unclasped his robe, moving her hand sluggishly toward the nightstand, groping for where she hoped to find her glasses. Shunsui grabbed her slender, bruised hand in his much larger, calloused one. He gently placed her hand back by her side on top of the sheet.

"You shouldn't move so much, my little Nanao-chan or Unohana-san will wipe the bed pans with me." He picked her glasses up and slid them gently onto her nose. Her eyes, finally able to focus, met his gaze. Though he was smiling, she could tell he was worried.

"Unohana Taichō and Ukitake Taichō are alright, then?" she asked, her gaze flickering around the ward, attempting to make out any friends or acquaintances lying on the beds. She was surprised to see that she appeared to be the only patient in the vicinity.

"Yes. Unohana-san's head was banged up pretty badly, and she had a few shallow claw wounds. It was a good thing Jūshirō found her when he did or else she probably would have gotten trampled by the remaining hollows. She allowed one of her subordinates to partially heal her, but refused to rest when the ward was so full. She's still up and about, but she looks dead on her feet."

A frown creased his face, but he replaced it with what Nanao would call a good imitation of a careless smile.

"Jyū-chan," he continued, "having sufficiently boosted his ego by playing the hero is now resting with minor injuries. You know how fighting affects his health. However," he winked at her, "if he cares half as much for Unohana-san as I do for you my lovely-Nanao-chan, I cannot blame him for rushing to her aid."

Nanao attempted to shoot him her usual glare, but there was no true venom behind it. Her eyes narrowed as she finally took in his appearance.

"Ah, Nanao-chan, how I've missed your beautifully critical gaze," Shunsui chuckled under her scrutiny.

"You look terrible, Kyōraku Taichō," Nanao croaked. Her eyes took in the extra-rumpled fabric of his haori and the extra growth of stubble on his chin.

"More so than usual you mean, my adorable Nanao?" he asked, scratching his chin. Nanao turned her head slightly to conceal her blush. She often commented on her captain's appearance, if only to hide the fact that she was secretly attracted to everything about it. Nanao turned back to Shunsui.

"Honestly Taichō, you looked like you haven't slept properly in days," she commented, concerned. It was unusual that Shunsui, who slept more than any other person she knew, would miss his favorite pastime.

"That's because he hasn't," interjected a serene female voice. "He has been here ever since you were brought in, almost two days ago. It took a great deal of convincing to assure him that he could leave your side for an hour to bathe and change clothes after the battle." Nanao turned her head to see the placid face of the Fourth Squad captain.

"Unohana Taichō!" Nanao remarked in surprise, trying to hide how touched she was by the healer's information.

"How are you feeling?" Shunsui inquired, taking in the dark circles under the plaited-captain's eyes.

"I am well enough," Unohana returned steadily. "I am more concerned with how Nanao Fukutaichō is fairing right now." She turned toward Nanao, her fingers brushing the hair away from her forehead. "The cut on your head has healed nicely, and there was no scaring. How does everything else feel?" The healer's gaze darkened in concern.

"The pain is nothing I can't deal with," Nanao said, her eyes avoiding the captain's piercing gaze.

"Does it hurt when you breathe, Nanao-san?" she questioned calmly.

"Honestly, Unohana Taichō it's nothing I can't deal with."

Shunsui snorted next to her and Nanao shot him a wilting glare. Determined not to worry either captain, Nanao went to sit up. As she pressed her hands into the mattress, it felt as if she had been ripped in half. The pain was blinding, all-encompassing, and instantaneous. A scream of agony was ripped from her lips and her weakened arms gave way beneath her. She braced herself for a painful impact from the short drop her torso had to make to reach the mattress, but found herself supported by two sets of hands.

"I think you can take that as a 'yes' to your previous question, Unohana-san," Shunsui said dryly.

"Nanao," Unhohana said, gesturing for Shunsui to hand her a glass of water. "You cannot move like that when your wound has not been properly sealed. We could only wrap the wound, because you fought against the reiatsu of anyone who tried to heal you while you were asleep." She raised the glass to Nanao's lips, and Nanao drank greedily, suddenly realizing how parched her throat was.

"Nanao, I believe that while bravely defending Kyōraku Taichō, your soul-chain received some damage. You are very talented with kidō, correct? When that power is not in use, if I am not mistaken, you are able to feel that energy within you at all times?" Nanao nodded slightly in response to the healer's questions. "Do you feel that energy at all now?"

Nanao closed her eyes and searched for the flowing, liquid warmth that usually filled her veins, helping to keep her grounded in any situation. All she could feel was a faint trace of her normal energy and try as she might, she could not call it to rise and flow to her fingers as it was generally so wont to do.

She bit her lip and drew a deep breath, trying not to panic. For one whose power was constantly present, the loss of the energy felt almost as if the hollow had taken off a limb instead of merely slicing her torso open. The ache in her chest where Nanao knew her soul chain rested grew more painful the harder she tried. When she could no longer bear the pain she slowly opened her eyes.

"There is power there," she whispered. "But I cannot draw it forth or raise its level as I usually can." Unohana squeezed Nanao's hand in comfort.

"That at least indicates that your powers will return with time," she said calmly. "However, I am concerned at your current reiatsu levels. Your wound needs to be sealed as soon as possible. Since you consistently rejected the reiatsu of others during sleep, it would be best if we attempted the procedure while you are awake." The captain brought Nanao's blanket up under her chin once more, covering her bandaged torso. "Since healing of this magnitude can be a very…intenseexperience, I suggest that you get some more sleep before we attempt anything."

Nanao nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Taichō," she whispered quietly.

Unhohana smiled her usual tranquil smile of acknowledgment and closed the light-weight privacy curtain around Nanao's bed. Shunsui glanced at his fukutaichō, noticing her avoidance of his gaze.

"Are you alright, Nanao-chan?" he asked quietly. She nodded silently, closing her eyes and settling back into the pillow. After a few moments, Shunsui got up amidst the rippling sound of silk. Nanao heard his footsteps fading away as he headed down the ward.

At his departure, Nanao was struck with a severe feeling of loneliness.

Nanao had never been an exceptionally social person, but she had her small group of trusted friends and the respect of most of the shinigami in Seireitei. Even when she did find herself alone, she had always had the presence of her kidō. And now, she was stuck in a hospital bed, useless and unable to move. Even her Taichō, who had not left her alone since her promotion, had left her.

As the pain and her swirling emotions overwhelmed her, Nanao could not prevent a single tear from rolling down her cheek.

Just then, the sound of footsteps accompanied by a familiar reiatsu interrupted her thoughts and the curtain surrounding her bed parted once more. Surprised, she turned her head to see her Taichō, still in his rumpled pink haori slump back into the wooden chair near her bedside.

"Kyōraku Taichō?" she whispered in confusion. He leant back in the chair, propping his feet up on bed, next to her side. He tipped his hat down to cover his eyes, in his accustomed napping pose. From beneath the brim, Nanao smiled inwardly as she heard his deep voice rumble, "I'm not going anywhere, my sweet Nanao-chan."

Nanao drifted off to sleep, lulled by the familiar sounds of Shunsui's snores.

A/N: Click the button and review…or else I'll sick the gorgeous, but deadly, Byakuya on you!