When Sakura regained consciousness, she was in her bed back at the apartment. She sat up suddenly, wincing at the agony in her side but forcing herself to ignore it as she rushed from the room.

She steadied herself against the doorframe as a wave of dizziness threatened to send her back into oblivion, but she fought against it, her eyes slowly focusing on the crowded room. Captain Hitsugaya and his vice-captain, Rangiku Matsumoto were seated on the ratty old sofa, with Renji kneeling on the floor near by and Ikkaku in the corner, looking angry.

Every head turned to look at her as she stumbled through the doorway. Renji stood, coming to her side and slipping an arm around her. She didn't wave him off, grateful for the support.

"Where's Yumichika?"

"In the other room." Ikkaku's voice was cold, and Sakura knew he was barely containing his anger.

"Why hasn't he been sent back to Soul Society for treatment? Or is squad 4 on the way?"

Captain Hitsugaya shook his head, pale blue eyes clouded and troubled.

"There has been unusual activity at the gate, and so it has been shut down for the time being. No one may go to or from the human world until we receive word."

Sakura gaped at the small Shinigami.

"Did you explain the situation?"

"I did."

"Then what the hell are they thinking?"

"Takahashi!" Hitsugaya stood, his eyes icy cold. "They are protecting the interests of Soul Society and the human world. There are procedures that need to be followed."

She opened her mouth to tell him exactly what he could do with his procedures but Renji squeezed her good arm in warning and she took a deep breath, reigning in her anger and searching for control.

"If they remove my seal, I can heal him. I've done it before." She glanced at Renji, and he nodded.

Hitsugaya shook his head. "Ikkaku suggested that earlier but the request has been refused."

"I see."

The room fell silent. Sakura met Ikkaku's eyes and knew they were both feeling the same thing; white hot, impotent rage. With no one to fight and nothing to do, they felt helpless, and nothing made them more angry.

Sakura straightened, shaking Renji off gently.

"What's the plan, then?"

Hitsugaya rubbed at his spiky white hair, looking irritated, though she knew he was just as frustrated as she was; she could see it in the way he moved.

"Matsumoto, Madarame, Abarai and I will patrol the area in case other Arrancar are on their way. You will stay here with Ayasegawa."

"I'll need supplies. I'll go to the Urahara Shop."

"Then Renji will escort you." Hitsugaya's voice brooked no argument, and Sakura was suddenly too tired even to try. The pain in her side and arm was only growing worse.

"Fine. Renji?" She started walking towards the door. Glancing briefly at the captain, Renji followed her, his handsome face creased with an angry frown. Ikkaku caught Sakura's eyes as she walked passed him, but she looked away, too filled with roiling emotions to speak.

Urahara was happy to lend her the needed supplies, including a few of his own concoctions that she knew would work better than anything he sold in his store. Sakura intended to leave once they'd got what they needed but Urahara insisted that he tend to her wounds before she left. She tried to argue but he looked at her in such a way that she gave up, throwing her hands up in exasperation, and wincing as that re-opened the wound on her side. Urahara gave her the knowing, amused look of parents and superiors everywhere and Sakura had the sudden, childish desire to stick her tongue out at him. It must be the blood loss.

As they sat in a quiet back room, Urahara carefully re-bandaging her side, Sakura tried to calm the mess of pain, humiliation, and rage that burned inside her. Urahara broke the stiff silence.

"No matter what they might teach you in the 11th Division, not all situations can be overcome with fighting."

"Don't you think I know that?" Sakura snapped.

Urahara grasped her chin, surprising her and making her gaze into his eyes. Every time she really saw her sensei's face, she was surprised at his appearance; it always seemed so much more youthful and attractive than she expected. He fixed her now with a firm, knowing look that almost made her squirm.

"You're not helpless, Sakura, even with your powers sealed away. Do not let this incident convince you otherwise."

His fingers released her, and she went back to staring at the wall. Urahara's voice was softer when he continued. "You will tend to your friend, and he will recover."

He finished tending to her wounds in silence, though when she went to leave his store, he waved his fan at her, a smile just visible beneath the shadow of his hat.

"Do not think I am not remembering all that you owe me, Sakura."

She couldn't help but smile at his cheek, though it was strained.

"You're an old bastard, Urahara."

He smiled. "That's what they say."

Renji walked her home in silence before leaving to join the others on patrol. He stared down into her face, looking as if he wanted to say something, before shaking his head and disappearing into the cool night. Sakura, her body buzzing with adrenaline and pain, staggered into her apartment, pulling a bottle of pills from the bags of supplies and downing two of the blue ovals in one dry gulp.

Yumichika was still unconscious when she slipped silently into his room, supplies in hand. Carefully, gently, she removed his kimono and stared down at his ruined side. The others had done a fair job at patching him up but the dressings were already dark with blood. Biting her lower lip in concentration, she peeled back the ruined bandages and gazed critically at the deep wound. It was a long sword slash, deep but with neat edges. Sighing, she pulled a small side table close and covered it with the tools and items she needed.

It took her a long time to stitch up Yumichika's side, and she was still unhappy with the job. She did not want to put permanent stitches in place as she strongly suspected he was bleeding internally and would need to be re-opened when they could finally get him medical treatment, so she had to make do with the less hardy temporary stitches. But she'd patched him up as best she could, covering his side with thick, heavy bandages that were coated with one of Urahara's concoctions. She had faith in these at least.

It was as she was examining the wound on his face that Yumichika stirred, moaning softly as his good eye fluttered open. His gaze roved around the room almost wildly and Sakura wasn't sure he was fully conscious. When she took his hand, however, his eye swivelled towards her face and settled. His lips, now dry and cracked, parted and Sakura hushed him softly.

"Let me get you some water."

She'd come prepared, and reached out to grab a glass from the nearby table, holding it to his lips and helping him lift his head to drink. His silky black hair slipped through her fingers as she supported his head.

He sipped the water, coughed, sipped a little more and then settled back against the pillows, looking pale and feverish. Sweat beaded his brow and his skin was hot to the touch. Sakura dipped a cloth into a bowl of ice water and used it to gently clean the blood from his face, careful to avoid the ragged edges of his wound, before refreshing it and placing it across his forehead.

"Is that better?"

He nodded slightly then winced, his usually delicately handsome face screwing up in pain. Sakura's heart clenched.

"What the hell happened, Yumichika?" Her voice was strained, the words rushed, and she bit her lip, trying to control the rush of emotions that were threatening to overcome her.

His eye closed then reopened and, this time, his gaze seemed a little stronger.

"Will it scar?" One long-fingered hand gestured to his face.

Sakura laughed, though tears sprang to her eyes. She turned her face away.

"As if I'd let that happen." She stood up suddenly. "You need to rest. I'll just be outside. . ."

She stopped at the feel of his hand on her arm. His one good eye stared into her violet depths intently.

"Don't leave."

She knew it pained him to say it.

Careful not to jar his wounded side, Sakura gently slid into bed beside him, lying on her side so that she could watch his face. He flashed a wry smile.

"I always knew I could get you into bed, Sakura."

"As you always say, who could resist your beauty? Right, Yumi?"

"Don't call me that." He muttered, his voice heavy with sleep.

"Okay."

She watched him until he fell asleep, and then she stared up at the ceiling until pain and exhaustion lulled her into unconsciousness.