Chapter 9:

As I starred at Kuchiki Byakuya in complete shock, I heard him sigh as he sheathed his zanpakutō. "Pathetic. Seems he escaped." He walked inside the room, behind him was an extremely tall human male. By the description Kurosaki gave me before, I felt confident in saying this was the man named Sado.

The Captain of the 6th division stepped aside as Sado came in and the human immediately ran to Kurosaki's aid.

After a gasp from Kurosaki, I heard the substitute shinigami speak softly. "Chad. I'm glad you're safe.."

I attempted to sit up, but the pain in my arm and stomach was too much, I could barely lift myself a few inches before I had to fall back down, coughing lightly as I did.

Kuchiki walked toward me and knelled down, examining my, now bleeding, arm. When he reached down to touch it, my guess is to see if it was broken, the touch made me gasp loudly in pain and he immediately retreated.

The Captain narrowed his eyes, still staring at my arm. "Do you have any other injuries?"

I nodded, as much as I could in the position I was in. "From what I can tell, a couple broken ribs, at least." My voice sounded cracked and hard to understand, but from the way his eyes moved from my arm to my stomach, I assume he understood. "My shoulder is dislocated as well." The Captains eyes flickered to the shoulder I kept lifted off the ground, nodding slowly.

Knowing we couldn't stay for long, I once again tried to sit up. I was able to make it almost into a sitting position before the pain became too much, right as I was about to hit the ground again though, the Kuchiki placed a hand on the middle of my back and steadied me.

I was completely stunned, but when he put pressure on my back, I took the message and tried to sit up again. It hurt, but I was able to make it. I definitely wouldn't be able to stand up though.

Although I knew we shouldn't risk the time for it, I wouldn't be able to do anything with a dislocated shoulder. "Captain Kuchiki, I'm terribly sorry for any trouble our mission has caused you." Right as I was about to ask him to help with my shoulder, he spoke.

"Orders sent me, that's the only reason why I'm here. Nineteen hours after hearing nothing back from you, Urahara Kisuke sent word to Soul Society, and they sent me. This place has many barriers though, it took me some time to find." He looked over towards the human and Substitute Shinigami, noting that with Sados help, the bonds holding Kurosaki were being broken.

I nodded my head, my confusion about why he was here cleared. I don't know why I'm disappointed about his reason though... "Sir, I have a device that Urahara gave me before leaving for Hueco Mundo, it's supposed to be a way to get back to the Human world. If you could please help with my shoulder, I can use it to get us out of here before the arrancar alerts everyone to where we're at."

The Captain seemed to understand, but he seemed hesitant. He looked to be debating something for a few moments before answering. "I don't have very much experience using kido to heal, however, if that's what y-"

I quickly cut him off, with how he hesitated, and how I felt that the lack of experience actually meant no experience, I wasn't about to have him experiment on me. "No thank you. It'll hurt my broken bone quite a bit, but I simply want you to put it back into place, it will heal on its own after a week or so afterwards."

He seemed confused, and I could practically see him trying to figure out how he'd put a bone back into place.

I sighed quietly. "I take it you've never done it before? Or had it done to yourself for that matter?"

The Captain shook his head slowly. "I tend to let the 4th division handle any healing that needs to be done. You're correct though, it has not happened to me before."

Nodding my head again, I was about to tell him what needed to be done for it when Kurosaki walked up to us, free from his bonds with the help of Sado.

"I can do it, Shinobu. My dad taught me all kinds of medical stuff when I was a kid so I know what to do." When he knelt next to me, he cringed slightly. He obviously had broken bones as well, but considering he was still able to walk, I hoped they weren't too serious.

"Thanks, Kurosaki." Not knowing what else to really say, I shifted myself more so I faced the substitute shinigami, ignoring the pain it caused me.

I could see the 6th division Captain staring intensely at us as Ichigo grabbed my broken arm by the elbow gently, placing his other hand on my shoulder.

"You might want to hold onto something for the pain, it might help to bite something as well to keep yourself from yelling." I nodded my head, I knew holding onto something wouldn't keep my from yelling, or even help much with the pain, so I lifted my good hand, getting ready to bite before I came to my senses and put it back down.

Normally, I'd have no problem just biting my arm or hand to distract myself from another form of pain, but doing so would make me have no hand to wield my sword with, and I wasn't going to put myself in a defenseless position. I looked around me for anything I could use instead, the first thing that came to mind was unsheathing my Zanpakutō and simply biting on the scabbard.

I was just about to reach for my katana after seeing no other option when a hand appeared, only a few inches away from my face. My wide eyes looked up, following the hand to it's owner: Kuchiki Byakuya.

Right as I was about to ask him what he was doing, he spoke. "Just bite. I don't care how hard, just get it over with already." He sighed softly when he finished speaking, obviously growing impatient and wanting to leave.

I stared at him in shock, never in a million years would I have expected an offer like that, especially not from him. When I gave Kurosaki a glance, he seemed equally shocked, but simply shrugged, ready to pop the bone back into place.

Although it was awkward; and completely rude might I add, to bite a Captain, I didn't exactly have much of a choice at the moment. After licking my lips, I sighed softly to try and hide the blush I felt heating my face.

I leaned forward to close the last couple inches between his hand and my lips. I used my own hand to shift his into a position where I could bite an area that would cause the least amount of discomfort, the area between the knuckle of his thumb and wrist.

I didn't bite down or put any pressure on it yet, but I did open my mouth and rest my teeth on the area I would; I kept my hand on the opposite side of his to keep it in place.

Kurosaki didn't wait for a sign from me to say I was ready. He simply used all his strength to pull on my shoulder, holding my elbow in place, and within the moment the bone was in place.

There were no words to describe the immediate pain I felt. I've had this done to me once in the past, but it had been almost 60 years since then, done by a professional that also used Kido to numb the area. The pain was simply... agonizing. I bit down more harshly than I ever thought I would. I also tightened my grip on his hand as well, my fingernails digging into the Captains rough palm until it bled. I didn't even realized that I screamed until the initial pain subsided, leaving a sensation almost as if my shoulder was on fire.

It was only when I heard the Captain grunt softly in pain that I realized the coppery taste in my mouth. I opened my eyes, not even remembering shutting them. Quickly, I let go of the hand in front of me, and unclenched my teeth as well.

My uninjured hand immediately covered my mouth when I saw the wounds I inflicted, gasping softly. Four small indents marked his palm, small drops of blood falling from them. The area that I bit made half his hand very red and bloody, it definitely didn't fit compared to the Captains pale skin. "I-I'm so sorry Captain Kuchiki! I didn't m-mean to, I just-"

The Captain raised his voice slightly to speak over me. "I don't mind, I told you that when I offered." He placed his hand at his side again as he stood. "How's your shoulder now?"

Kurosaki and Sado both stood next to me as well, the orange-haired man speaking before I could answer. "Sorry about that Shinobu, my dad always said that it's best if the person doesn't see it coming, so..." He trailed off, not having any other excuse.

I shook my head at the substitute shinigami, "It's fine, it was probably for the best anyways." I attempted to move my injured arm slightly, but my shoulder was too stiff to move at all, however, it definitely wasn't dislocated anymore. "My shoulder will be fine after a while, thanks you two, I really appreciate the help."

They both nodded, the Captain speaking first. "There's the chance the arrancar will come back any minute, we can't afford to stay here any longer. How does that device Urahara Kisuke give you work exactly?"

After attempting to stand up again ended in failure, I simply dug into my shihakushō and grabbed the device, thankful it didn't seem broken from the fights I got into. "As far as I'm aware, all we have to do is simply press the button." I placed the device into the Captains outstretched, uninjured, hand.

He turned the object around in his hands a couple times before pressing the large diamond-shaped button on the back.

As soon as he did, a large gust of wind swept around the room, and the device split in two. The objects then threw themselves at either side of the room, and just as if Urahara had spoken the incantation again, a black void appeared in front of us. Thankfully, it seemed to scale down to the size of the room and wasn't larger than a doorway.

The Substitute shinigami and human both began walking towards the garganta, wanting to get back to the human world as soon as possible. I tried to stand again to follow them, but only lasted a moment before I fell back down. Dammit, like I don't have enough bruises already, I'm definitely going to get one on my ass now too. Why won't my damn legs hold me?!

I saw Sado and Ichigo vanish into the garganta. I was frustrated that I couldn't follow after them, but that frustration turned to shock quickly. An arm went around my back, another under the knees that were spread in front of me. As I was carried off the ground and against the chest of Captain Kuchiki, I gasped.

I felt his chest vibrate softly as the 6th division Captain spoke. "Relax, Shinobu." He paused for a moment, shifting me around in his arms a bit. It took me a second to realize he was trying to put me in a position where his hand wasn't putting pressure on my arm. Once he seemed satisfied with the positioning; which was me trying to fight the temptation of laying my head against his shoulder, with his hand on my middle of my back rather than my injured right arm, he continued speaking. "Let's just get out of this place already, who knows how long this garganta lasts anyways."

I bowed my head, letting my hair fall over my shoulders to hide my blush, I hated the feeling of being so useless. "Thank you, sir..." As he began walking, I just starred at my injured arm laying on my lap, glad the Kuchiki put it there rather than letting it hang off my side.

As soon as we walked inside the garganta, it closed behind us. I could just barely make out the outline of the men walking ahead of us.

When I looked at the ground, I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. While I struggled to make a half-decent pathway for me and the Substitute shinigami to walk on before, the path we were walking on now was absolutely flawless. It was thick and stable; rather than my thin pathway that kept breaking apart in most areas. It made me jealous.

I was expecting a silent and mostly awkward walk back, but less than a minute into the walk, Captain Kuchiki spoke. "They didn't..." He hesitated, trying to collect his thoughts, and a few moments later he continued. "They didn't do anything to you, correct?"

I looked away from my lap and at the Captain, brushing my hair out of my eyes with my good arm. I was just about to simply point to my injuries before I thought about what other meaning those words could have. I couldn't be completely sure though, so I simply asked. "Anything as in... what exactly, sir?"

He seemed a bit shocked by the question, and I realized I was right about the other meaning. It made my cheeks heat up again, but I ignored the feeling. Renji always told me I was somewhat slow when it came to these things. The Captain sighed softly before answering. "As in abuse, other than the physical injury sort." His eyebrows pulled together, as if he was unsure if he explained it correctly.

I shrugged, although only one shoulder actually did the motion. "Not necessarily... the arrancar that escaped earlier is the one that seemed to take an interest in me. I'm kind of lucky because of it though, if it wasn't for him wanting to keep me as a pet," I practically spat the word, before continuing, not without noticing that the Captain narrowed his eyes angrily. "they probably would've just killed me right away. He did something to me though... it felt like I was poisoned, my zanpakutō couldn't get rid of it all either, I still feel the effects some. But no, other than watching me sleep for over 20 hours, he didn't do anything to me." As an afterthought, I added: "Not that I know of anyways." It made me seem like an idiot, but I couldn't help but giggle softly after I said that.

Captain Kuchiki sighed, seeming to relax a bit. "Once we get back to Seireitei, I'll take you to the 4th division right away." I assume he saw me opening my mouth to oppose it, so he spoke up, his voice sounding more commanding. "It's not just for the broken bones, Shinobu. If that poison is still in your system, we're not taking any chances."

I sighed softly, knowing it was only smart to go to the 4th division. "Fine. All it really did is make me weak, lightheaded and not able to really sense any reiatsu." I just hope I'm wrong in assuming it's the reason why I can't walk right now...

The Captain nodded, obviously not changing his mind about taking me to that division.

As the conversation seemed to come to a close, I looked back on everything that happened while in Hueco Mundo.

I was still extremely confused about... well, almost everything. Why did they want Ichigo so much? How did those arrancar grow so much more powerful than even the espada the shinigami has faced before? At least, I could only assume they were. If Kurosaki wasn't able to even get a hit in now, when he was able to take on so many arrancar in the past, I could only guess they were more powerful.

I let out a breath I was holding, deciding to think about it all later. Without really meaning to, I placed my head in the crook of the Captains neck. If it wasn't for me being half asleep the moment my head touched his skin, I'd start freaking out and would've quickly moved to a rigid position until I could walk again; but all I really did was mumble an apology before my eyes slid shut of their own accord.

Before completely losing consciousness, I could've sworn I felt something soft against the top of my head, but it was gone as soon as it came, and I was fast asleep not even a moment later.

-End of Chapter 9-

Authors Note:Hope y'all enjoyed! Please review to let me know what you think!

Also, in case some of you haven't seen the message on my profile: I am looking for a beta for this story. Any of you interested, read the message on my profile and let me know please! :)

Look forward to Chapter 10!

It may be delayed just a few days more than normal, just because it is my birthday next week. But, it should be updated shortly after the 11th of July. Sorry!

-The Neko Lover