This is it; This is the fourth chapter but I don't know if I should continue the story. Read and review if you want to and let me know if you want it continued.

Chapter 4-The Nightmare

Komamura found himself in his office. He had slept briefly, but had awoken after only just a few short hours. He hadn't even dressed much yet; he only wore his hakama. The sun had not even risen again and he was working. He wasn't sure why, but this recruit had made him slightly uneasy. He was almost too familiar, as if he had met this boy before. What is it about Koji Shimizu that made him so uneasy? Komamura sighed, which sounded more like a weak growl. Maybe was over-thinking things or just getting paranoid. Was he unjustified? After what happened with Aizen and Kaname...

A burst of reiryoku snapped him out of his own thoughts. It was brief, like a small flash, but enough to gain his attention. Komamura stood, and his chair scraped back as he moved around his desk and to his Third Seat's room. Rather than just enter as he had done before, he pressed his ear to the door and listened. Koji took deep, labored breaths, as if trying to stop himself from crying.

Worried, Komamura knocked.

"Come in," Koji said in a slightly choked voice.

Komamura entered and saw Koji on his feet, wiping his eyes and putting on a falsely brave face.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, sir," Koji lied.

"You do not need to lie to me," Komamura said. He moved over and sat on Koji's bed. Koji sat beside him and looked down at his own feet. "What is wrong, Third Se... Koji?"

"Just a dream. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be bothering you with this. I didn't mean to wake you."

"I wasn't sleeping."

Another uncomfortable pause formed between them and Koji said after a few seconds, "Is it bad for a Soul Reaper to have nightmares?"

"No."

"Do you?"

"Sometimes." Then, he said, "What was your nightmare about?"

"It's not important."

"If it wasn't important, then I wouldn't have asked."

Taking a deep breath, Koji said, "It was about my father... I remember when he was killed... It was a Hollow. I watched it rip my father apart and..." He was starting to cry and shake with fear. "I'm sorry, Captain. I shouldn't be acting like this."

"It's understandable that it scares you; if it didn't, then I'd be even more concerned," Komamura explained. "And I'm glad that you can talk to me about this. It shows a level of trust that I like to have with my subordinates."

Then, as he had done so often now, Komamura put his hand on Koji's shoulder... but he did it in a strange way. He put his arm around Koji and Koji looked up at him. It was that same feeling as the first time he had done it... and, forgetting himself, Koji moved his head onto Komamura, surprised at how warm Komamura's fur felt. That's when he noticed that Komamura was shirtless, but he found that, right now, he didn't care. Yet, as a matter of professionalism, he hurriedly sat upright once more.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"If you want, you can sleep in my office while I work," Komamura said. "To my knowledge, it is not a good idea to be alone when you have bad dreams."

Koji nodded. "Thank you, Koma... Captain Komamura."

Komamura nodded and led the way.


Eh, short and sweet. I figured it would be a nice side to show of Koji after that weirdness when he fought Renji. Please read and review and let me know if I should continue it. I'm willing to take any kind of advice and criticism.