Author's Note: I have a plot and ending in mind for this story, but to be honest with you all I'm not sure how I'm going to get there. Oh well, I'm sure I'll have fun finding the right path. I hope you all enjoy.

Special thanks to the following people for all their wonderful reviews and concrit: Kazes, Sam, archiemouse, WinterVines, and JenovaJuice97. You guys are great.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, but oh how I wish I did.

Chain of Memory

Chapter 2: Blame

Even though Shunsui was focused on getting to Nanao-chan as soon as possible he could see evidence of hard battles having been fought. The closer he came to Squad Four the more people he saw. This was an unwanted but familiar reminder to the battle weary captain that no one really wins this kind of war. All he could do was be thankful that all the worlds were still relatively intact and hope and pray that Nanao-chan would be okay. With that thought the pink clad captain sent out a prayer to every deity listening.

When Captain Kyouraku arrived at Squad Four he made his way inside. Unsure of where his wounded Vice-Captain would be he made his way toward one of the healers supervising a triage area. Once the healer spotted the worried Captain of Squad Eight he gave him his full attention. "Excuse me. I'm looking for Vice-Captain Ise. Could you tell me what treatment area she's in?" Shunsui asked with unusual seriousness.

"Sir, I believe that she is in room Eight in the south wing," the weary healer answered.

At this news Shunsui visibly paled. He new that the south wing was for severely injured patients. This was horrible news. How bad was his Nanao-chan hurt for her to be placed in that wing. He had never dreamed that by trying to keep her out of the final battle that he would be placing her in danger.

With a nod to the young man Captain Kyouraku made his way to the south wing. The walk down those long hallways took a much longer time that his earlier journey to Squad Four even though the distance was considerably shorter. Shunsui wanted to see his Nanao-chan more than anything, but he was afraid of what was waiting for him behind that door.

When the uncommonly somber captain reached the door he found that he had begun to tremble again and his breaths were very labored. There was no way he could enter the room until he had gotten himself under control. So he sat with his back to the wall in front of that detested door. Pulling on his vast experience he closed his eyes and took deep breaths doing his best to blank his mind.

By the time he opened his eyes his breathing was once again under control and he was content to see that his hands were no longer trembling. Standing he moved to the door and knocked quietly. As he stood there waiting he couldn't help but imagine the worst. When the door opened a fraction he saw Captain Unohana looking out. Realizing who the visitor was she opened the door completely and stood aside allowing him entrance. Kyouraku walked in and the first thing he saw was his wonderful Nanao-chan.

She was as pale as the bleached sheets she rested on. Her ebony hair splayed on the snowy pillow. With her eyes closed he expected her to look peaceful in sleep, but her brow was furrowed in pain even in unconsciousness. As he took a step closer he could also see that she was shivering even though the room was quite comfortable. Lying there she looked fragile and delicate, nothing like her usual self.

Forcing himself to look away he glanced at Unohana and asked, "How bad is it?"

"She had several broken bones, some slash wounds, and was stabbed twice. However I am worried about the blow to her head the most," the gentle healer answered calmly.

Upon hearing that long list of injuries Shunsui became light headed. He shuffled his way to the lone chair beside the bed and sat down heavily. "Will she be okay?"

Unohana could see that the unusually stoic captain was worried so she gave him all the reassurance she was able to at this point, "I believe that she will make a full recovery, but it will probably take some time. I have given her all the reiatsu her body can hold at the moment. It will take some time for her to absorb it, but when she does it will speed up the healing process. I have also reset all her broken bones and healed the gashes. I wasn't able to heal the stab wounds due to an anticoagulant that I believe was intended to poison her, but I have already sent a sample to Captain Kurotsuchi's lab. The only thing I can do for her head wound is give her more reiatsu. She will have to do the rest on her own."

Captain Kyouraku could do nothing but nod after hearing the chances that she would be okay. He knew that his Nanao-chan was a fighter and that she would do everything that she could to win. He just didn't know how much strength she had after the battle she had just fought. After hearing her list of injuries he knew that that battle had been a hard one. He could do nothing but hope that she was stubborn enough to win this new battle and come back to him.

"Captain Kyouraku, I am going to check on Ukitake-san. I will be back in a few hours to check on Ise-san. If anything changes please tell Hanaro-san. He will be in the hall if you need him," Unohana informed him quietly.

The plaited captain stopped before walking out the door and said, "Kyouraku-san, Sometimes when people are unconscious they can still hear you so if you wanted to talk to her it may help," and with that said she continued out the door.

Shunsui wasn't sure what to do next so he just sat there for a few minutes and wondered how wanting to keep his Nanao-chan safe could have ever landed her in this position. With a deep sigh he stood and moved the chair closer to the bed and sat down once again. With his thoughts filled with worry for the woman he loved she stared down at her. Seeing the furrow of pain on her brow Shunsui gently ran his fingers across her forehead trying to smooth away her pain no matter how futile an attempt.

Wanting to do everything he could to help her get better he began talking to her while he continued to run his across her face and through her hair.

"I'm sorry Nanao-chan. I didn't think this would happen. I only wanted to keep you safe, and in doing so I only managed to hurt you more. I know you don't believe I'm serious when I tell you how wonderful you are or how beautiful your are. Not even when I tell you that I can't live without you, but all those things are true. I'm not always serious when I say them, but I always mean every one of them. I don't know if you will ever be able to forgive me for this, and that's okay. I don't deserve it anyway, but if you would just come back to me I'll do most of my paperwork and you can yell at me all you want about trying to keep you safe. I love you Nanao Ise. Be strong. Fight. I know you can."

The following days continued in much the same fashion. Every six hours Captain Unohana would come in and check on Nanao and continue to give her reiatsu. With the help of Captain Kurotsuchi Unohana had been able to heal both stab wounds. Captain Kyouraku had only left her side for an hour two separate times and only when either Captain Ukitake or Vice-Captain Matsumoto was there to speak to the fallen Vice-Captain. There was never a time when someone wasn't talking to her, and even though her brow was no longer furrowed in pain and she appeared to just be sleeping peacefully she hadn't yet woken.

On the fifth day the pink clad captain could be found in his usual spot beside Nanao. A second chair had been brought in for his best friend Captain Ukitake. Ukitake had been spending most of his days in her room doing his best to support his friend. When the door opened Shunsui looked up to find the snowy haired captain entering the room.

"Shunsui-kun, has there been any change?" asked Ukitake.

"Not really, but she has been restless today. Unohana-san thinks that is a good sign," the unusually somber captain replied.

"I see that your voice is starting to return," Ukitake noticed.

"It is. I think Unohana's tea is helping," Shunsui answered.

Ukitake noticed that his friend's gaze rarely left the restless woman. Knowing that his friend would talk when he was ready he lapsed into silence.

After what felt like hours his friend began to speak, "What if she never wakes up Juu?"

With absolute certainty Juushirou replied, " She will wake. You just have to give her time."

"But what if she doesn't," Shunsui persisted.

"She will. She would miss you to much if she didn't." Ukitake stated confidently.

Shunsui couldn't stop a quiet snort at his friend's statement. "How could she possibly miss me. I put her in this situation to begin with."

Ukitake began to reply, but was cut off sharply as the rustling from the bed grew louder. Both men looked to the young ebony haired woman just in time to see her eyelids begin to flutter. It was another few seconds before her eyes slid open and they could see the violet orbs beneath her lashes. With a groan she closed them again and raised her hand to her head. Ukitake moved to dim the lights so she could open her eyes once again without being blinded.

Shunsui leaned down to be eye level with her and asked, "How are you feeling, Nanao-chan."

Nanao's eyes flew open with surprise as she noticed them for the first time. As they stood there starring at one another she replied, "Okay, I guess, but I have a horrible headache."

"We'll get Unohana to make your head stop hurting," Shunsui assured her.

The still serious captain nodded to his friend who was still standing at the door, and at that signal Ukitake left to get Captain Unohana.

"Are you hurting anywhere else, Nanao-chan?" Shunsui inquired.

"I don't think so." Nanao replied after only a slight hesitation.

Then she completely surprised her captain by asking a question of her own, "Why do you keep calling me Nanao? Is that my name?"

Shunsui was so completely blindsided by her question he had no response. He just stood there starring at her.

Then she asked a question that shattered his heart utterly.

With wide frightened eyes she asked, "I'm sorry, Who are you?"

Author's note: I'm really sorry that was a nasty cliff hanger. I didn't realize that it was going to be so bad. This chapter was already longer than I anticipated and it wouldn't have fit right if I made it much longer. I will do my best to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Please let me know what you think and even if it's worth continuing. Please Read and Review. Concrit is always welcome. See you next time.