"My, my that does not look good" Yuzu glanced up at the portal when her blood froze as she met the gaze of a male whom she met long ago, her throat went dry "I didn't know the Sinners were still able to escape Hell" Kyoraku stiffened recalling something and he turned to the burnet who was hyperventilating "calm down" he said catching her before she could hit the ground, "calm down it's okay, I'm right here. I promise I won't let them hurt you" Kyoraku said running his fingers through her hair as she clung onto him shaking from head to toe.

She had died there…of course she would remember.

"I wouldn't make promise you couldn't keep, Shinigami" he glanced up and his long grey eye narrowed.

"Would you like to test that, Togabito-san?" the male bolted forward as he drew his Zanpakuto blocking the flames that were durable enough to be solid enough to clash with a blade. "You're a 1000 years too young to win against me" he stated with no real arrogance, he pulled the girl close and jumped up as the ground exploded caused by 4 tentacles that bent flying straight for them and Yuzu whimpered as her hand tightened around his Kosode.

"Hand that girl over"

"Over my dead body" Kyoraku answered as he maneuvered through the tendrils of limbs and flames

"That can be arranged."

Yuzu woke with a start, a hand pushed her to lay back down which was then that she noticed the Haori draped over her body and the pillow was actually a lap. It took several minutes for her to gather her thoughts and realized that the man had kept his word and he hadn't let the Togabito take her. Yuzu tried to shake away the vivid memories of her mild moments when she was conscious in that place off as they were extremely painful.

"…When they came for us, I only thought that Onii-chan would protect us from anything even monsters" she spoke up voice quiet "I woke up only to hear that Karin-chan had been saved…my brother had already entered Hell so I thought it was going to be okay" her body began to tremble "I didn't think they would tell me of their crimes and the reason why they were dammed…hic…the people they hurt…hic…I would have preferred if they tortured me…hic…"

"It's alright now" Kyoraku said as he ran his fingers through her hair

"But in the end, I died…the air was really heavy with every breath my lungs burned, but if I didn't breathe I'd die" Yuzu sniffled as she did her best to stop her tears "the piercing pain in my chest was less scarier than the pitch darkness I was engulfed in after that" she spoke quietly "Onii-chan did save me, although I don't know how non one talks about it. Like Kaa-chan, it's a taboo topic that no one spoke about it as if it never happened…I was okay with that as long as my brother didn't blame himself"

"He will always blame himself, you should know that better than anyone" Kyoraku stated wondering how the teen would be handling the death of hundreds of Shinigami. The day went by in silence, they just remained in each other's company trying to settle down with the peace of the moment. But that changed abruptly when the front door was thrown open, Kyoraku drew his Zanpakuto as the girl was on alert when they were met with orange.

"Yuzu!"

"Onii-chan?" Kyoraku lowered his swords allowing the teenager to come closer and pulled his sister to a tight embrace causing her to be flagger basted "Onii-chan, that hurts…" the teenager didn't seem to be listening "Oi! That hurts Baka!" Kyoraku blinked startled watching as the Substitute Shinigami crumpled onto the ground as he nursed his gut, the burnet tried to regain her breathing "what was that about? You were suffocating me to death!" he cringed visibly "Onii-chan…"

"Sorry…Urahara-san spotted multiple Togabito Reiatsu in Town, I came as soon as they were able to open the Senkaimon"

"Oh I see" she said and looked around "where's Otou-san? I thought he'd be acting like a madman" Kyoraku could see that the only reason she was jumping in joy and squeezing her brother like a teddy bear was because she didn't want him to feel any more remorse than he already felt.

"Uh, he's not coming back…"

"The least he could have done is sent a letter, honestly he's a terrible father" Yuzu sighed "anyhow, will the Senkaimon be open or is Soul Society still in Quarantine?" she asked looking at the orangette.

"Urahara-san just lifted the barrier so I could slip in through, but they should have it down completely by tomorrow" Ichigo answered as he stood giving a stretch "Ukitake-san will be glad you're alive" Kyoraku perked up at this instantly. "Everyone thought you were dead, it was Rukia who held onto the hope that you were probably the Shinigami Yuzu found, I guess she was right. Although I think you should call for confirmation" he said shuffling through his sleeve "here you go"

"Thank you, Ichigo-kun"

"No problem, besides I owe you big time for protecting my sister" he wouldn't be saying that if he knew of his less than honest intentions, well basically thoughts. However, he's relieved to find that his old friend is well and quite healthy and things were running eventful in Soul Society yet they would speak of the War results after he got back. "Sorry, I can't say anything I promised Ukitake-san that I wouldn't say anything." Ukitake knew him all too well…

"I knew it" he stiffened startled "you were going to leave without saying goodbye" glancing at the girl she was sitting on the stairs and he admits, that maybe just maybe she figured out how he ticked – she was quite the sharp little thing yet oblivious in certain topics particularly involving attraction towards the opposite sex.

"I left a letter"

"That's not really a goodbye, y'know" she pouted.

"Well then" he knew he would regret this later and she would abhor his existence, but he scooped her face and planted a kiss on her lips "how was that?" her face flared up red, her hand shot to her mouth and he turned to leave not noticing the troubled expression that crossed her face. Yuzu sat down on the stairway where Ichigo found her the next morning.

"What are you doing here, Yuzu? Where's Kyoraku-san?"

"He already left…"