I stood frozen where I was.

Did I hear him correctly?

I used my right pinkie nail to dig into my ear and turn it a bit, then took it out.

"Could you repeat that? I don't think I heard you right." I said.

Now he looked dead serious.

"You heard me. I'm not allowing you to become more than what you are." He repeated.

Anger was building up inside me like a volcano that was about to explode.

"Your reasons are...?" I asked, trailing off to let him complete them.

He took a step forward and looked like he was in my face practically in a rude way or something.

He placed both of his hands on the sides of my shoulders and grasped tightly. I couldn't feel my blood flowing.

"It took me ten years to just decide whether or not I would become a shinigmai or not and it took me an additional 4 years to become a shinigami and I've seen many of my friends die in the past 50 years...

"I can't let you be an addition to them. Especially knowing that I was the cause of it. All because I showed up in your life and got you killed when you decided to become what I am in just a few days...

"Do you know how I feel about the situation? You say you want to protect everyone, but can't you save their feelings and remorse for others by not going off and dying?" He questioned.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Could he hear himself?

His grip became tighter and I felt so disorientated now.

I tried to move my arms, but he was holding on too tightly and he was pressing a nerve on both of my arms that left me paralyzed.

This was a weakness of mine; when nerves, mainly my arms, are being pressed on, I'm partly paralyzed until they are let go of. It was my only weakness physically I knew of.

"You're hurting me..." I let out, wincing.

He suddenly realized my painful expression and let go.

He took a step back, a little horrified.

"I'm... Sorry." He apologized.

I swayed a bit, nauseated.

Seiryoku noticed my shaky posture and quickly came to my side.

"Are you... okay?" He asked, showing he was concerned.

I put my hand over my eyes, hoping that it would stop the room from rocking up and down.

"You... Pressed my nerves..." I said slowly.

Everything suddenly went black.

-Moments Later-

The sound of murmuring was easily identified as I came to.

I groaned a bit, slowly opening my eyes.

My vision was blurred at first, but cleared.

I first saw my father, than Seiryoku, than... Uryu?

I blinked a couple time, fully aware of my surroundings and such.

I was in he living room, laying on the couch, the three males around me, only Uryu was behind the couch since the couch's behind faced the front door's view and stuff. (Poorly worded)

I sat up and looked to Uryu, than to my dad. "What's Uri-kun doing here?"

"That's Uryu." Uryu corrected, showing a sign of irritance.

Dad looked down to me. "Ryuken sent Uryu here to retrieve you for your training, but Seiryoku-san is refusing to let you go."

I scowled at Seiryoku, than got up.

"I'll talk with you later." I said firmly and walked to Uryu.

"Do I need to bring anything?" I asked.

"Only your Quincy Cross." He said.

I raised my left hand, showing him I had it.

"Then let's go." He said and started for the door.

I started to follow.

"Seishou, think of what you're doing." Seiryoku insisted.

I stopped by the door frame and looked to Seiryoku. "I am."

I left the house.

-Creek-

I've never ventured here before, so it was new for me.

Ryuken was leaning against a stone wall, smoking.

I recoiled from the stench a bit. I hated smokers.

I didn't know why, but, I couldn't get rid of what Seiryoku said from my mind before I passed out.

Why am I thinking about what that doofus said? It doesn't mean anything. He's just a worry-wart. I need to think about my Quincy training.

Ryuken looked over to me from his black eyes.

He lets his arm hang with the cigarette.

"You're foolish." He said.

I blinked a couple times in confusement. "Excuse me?" I asked, trying to hide the anger already building up.

He shifted his body form the wall and dropped his cigarette and stepped on it, grinding it to the ground beneath him.

His cigarette wasn't even half gone. Why did he put it out?

"With your inexperience, you'll become that cigarette." HE said, his face straight.

I narrowed my eyes, trying not to glare intentionally. "I don't understand, sir. Do explain."

Uryu remained quiet and wore a straight face, too, which I could see in the corner of my eyes. But, in his own way, he was interested, but not surprised.

Ryuken held out his hand. "Give me your Quincy Cross." He ordered.

I clenched my fist. "Why should I? I know you're going to take it."

"It's my property. I could call the police and tell them you stole it. I have far more connections than you can imagine." He said.

"But why'd you drag me out here? Even if you do call them, I could easily run away. Somehow, I think you brought me out here for a differnet purpose instead of calling the police. It definitely doesn't sound like I'll be getting my training." I said.

"That was the original case; another purpose, that is. I was originally going to test your current skills, but decided it was a waste of time. I decided your philosophy was incorrect." He said.

It irritated me how he could still have that blank look and manage to piss me off at the same time.

"How did you decide that?" I challenged.

"As long as those arrogant Shinigami are arounf, the balance will remain the same. It's useless to change anything, so things must be kept like they are. you living your school life and I saving the living. The way thigns were meant to be. The way you're supposed to be weak."

I snarled and darted at him, my fist prepared.

I stopped when he just disappeared.

Where did his reiatsu go?

I suddenly sensed it behind me, but before I could even blink, I was gasping for air.

I had been slammed into a stone wall. And hard enough to make a crack in it.

I fell to my knees and hands and started coughing uncontrollably.

I could taste warm liquid with iron and salt in my mouth and I coughed again, it was blood.

When another cough came, I felt a sharp pain in my ribs and it began to hurt too much to be in this position, so I fell on my left side, but it also hurt, too.

"Nngh!" I whimpered through clenched teeth.

I coughed again and it sent a wave of pain throughout my entire torso.

"Uryu, take her back to the hospital for treatment. From the looks of it, she has a few broken ribs." Ryuken said.

I let out a growl, but it hurt. "Damn... you.."

-Hospital-

"You seem to have three broken and two fractured ribs on the right and two broken ones on the left. Your right humerus seems to be broken. But, oddly enough for all these injuries, no surgery will be needed from what I currently know. You have a bit of internal bleeding, but it seems to be healing fairly quickly on its own, strangely enough." The doctor said, looking at my x-rays by the counter.

I'm wearing a stupid cast and sling on my right arm and my chest is all bandaged up.

I looked stupid enough in that school outfit Uryu messed up, but this made me look weak and pathetic!

"What am I supposed to do with a busted up rib cage and arm!? I have a kendo tournament coming up!" I protested.

He looked to me and sighed, "It'll take two months, at the very least, for them to heal. I suggest you wait two weeks after you're healed to partake in any sporting activities. I'm very sorry."

I grinded my teeth.

"Isn't there some kind of medication that I could take to heal them in a week or soemthing? These last few weeks are prior to my strength and I need to take advantage. But I can't with these busted up bones."

"Sorry, Ms. Kotsu, but no. Now, do you want to call your house to ask a family member to pick you up?" The doctor asked.

"No. I'll walk home. It's the only thing I can really do now."

"Atleast wait here for your medication." The doctor said and left the room.

"Forget that.. I don't need anything to suppress the pain."

I got off the bed and walked out of the room.

-Streets-

Everyone stared, everyone whispered.

Some knew my name and reputation, so this was surprising for them to see.

Eventhough it was late and not many people were walking around, it still felt like a lot.

I hated this. The way I was being looked at. I wasn't being feared in any way, I was being sympathized.

I stopped and put my left hand over my mouth and coughed. I could taste blood in my mouth.

I took my hand away and looked into my hand to see blood.

I winced from the pain in my ribs.

I know now that I don't stand a chance against Ryuken... Or anybody in this state... And did he push me into the stone or what? I don't even remember the impact, because it was so quick.

I kept on walking and felt a familiar reiatsu nearby. No, there's other's and a Hollow's. How did I just now notice?

It took a moment, but I recognized the other's reiatsu. It was Rukia's, Orihime's, and Tatsuki's.

I could barely notice Tatsuki's, but yet Orihime's was more moticiable than usual.

Ichigo... He's fighting... I have to.. No, I can't. I'm injured and I'll only be a burden. I've been a burden this whole time... I should just go home...

This pained me so much; not being able to do a thing.

-Home-

I put my left hand on the doorknob and turned the knob. It was difficult to turn it the right way at first, but I got it.

I was right-handed, so this was tough for me.

I pushed the door and walked inside to see my dad in the entry hall, his amrs cross and looked stern, liek usual.

I shut the door behind me slowly, noticing something.

"Where's Siryuki-bozu?" I asked.

"Soul Society sent for him. He's not here." He said.

I felt a pain in my chest again and I winced.

"Why?" I asked, trying to ignoroe the pain.

"Since Soul Society has Rukia Kuchiki here as well, they decided it was best for only one shinigami to be here." HE said.,

I looked away a bit. "Why was she here in the first place then?"

"They noticed the increasement in Hollow's and thoguht'd it be more effective if two were at work, but then changed their minds." He answered.

I walked passed him and headed for the upstairs and started jogging up the steps.

"Like it matters anymore." I muttered and kept on.