I forgot to mention before that this fic is partly inspired by one about Hinamori when she was unconscious and there was quite a lot of zanpakuto/wielder interaction. I never got to finish it and stupidly did not put it in my favorites, so if anybody has a link to it I'd really appreciate the help :)

-Nir

The story spread quickly around Seireitei, but it stayed low-key and unexaggerated. It was an unfortunate event, not a scandal, and those who caught wind of it felt it would be disrespectful to bring it above the level of a brief murmur to passing acquaintances in the hallway. In spite of its delicacy, it managed to worm its way into the outer reaches of Rukongai.

"Shiba-san, it is unlikely that he will be able to hear you or even notice your presence…"

"I don't care. I wanna see him."

4th Squad was quite accustomed to dealing with large unruly visitors. Ganju Shiba was both of these things. He was led swiftly to Hanatarou's room along a roundabout path so as to avoid any delicate medical machinery or those patients who were fortunate enough to be up and walking around.

Isane waited outside the doorway while Ganju went inside, distant enough that the man would not feel crowded but close enough that she could keep on eye on what went on inside. If Ganju started yelling or even shaking the unconscious Hanatarou out of desperation, she would be on hand to stop him.

Minutes ticked by. Isane heard Ganju mumbled something once or twice, too quiet for her to hear. Though she knew it was rude to spy on visitors she couldn't help but sneak a quick peek inside the room.

Ganju was simply standing beside the bed, looking enormous and out-of-place is his colorful clothing, his riding goggles hanging around his neck and the dust from the Rukon streets powdering the floor beneath him. Isane had never seen someone look so helpless. The expression was completely inappropriate for Ganju's rough features. She knew scarce little about the relationship he'd had with Hanatarou, but it seemed to her that he regarded the healer as something of a younger brother, someone whom it was his duty to protect from all the harmful things in the world. She hoped he wasn't beating himself up over what had happened. Maybe it could have been avoided, but not by any action of Ganju's.

"Dammit…" She heard him growl. He turned around and she was momentarily embarrassed to be caught snooping. "Who did this to him?"

"It was… a couple of officers from 11th." She told him. "They're serving out their punishment right now, so…"

"Those bastards… I oughta…" Ganju clenched his thick fingers. His whole body was trembling with rage. Isane found she had unconsciously moved her hand to her zanpakuto's hilt. "I oughta break their fucking necks… What did they think they were doing?"

The vice-captain was relieved to see him take a deep breath. At least he was trying to keep himself calm. "Those guys… Why does he let them treat him that way? I told 'im over and over not to be such a doormat, and this was why…"

Isane looked past Ganju to the hospital bed Hanatarou lay on. He was just as pale and still as he'd been yesterday, with the exception of his left arm which had been moved when the IV was inserted.

"Someone should teach them a lesson. Show them what happens when they mess with guys they got no business messing with..."

"Maybe you should leave now, Shiba-san…"

"Guys who never did nothing to them! Hell, they'd probably be dead without guys like Hana!"

"Shiba-san!" Isane shouted, startling them both. Ganju had fallen silent, so she continued, more quietly now. "Shiba-san. Hanatarou would not want to you seek violent revenge on his behalf. Unohana-taicho said he would recover within a few months. You wouldn't want the first thing he hears about to be that you went a beat someone up because of him…"

Ganju nodded slowly, his eyes at Isane's feet. "Yeah… I guess you got a point there… Makes me so mad, though."

Isane offered him a sympathetic smile. "I know. It is terrible what has happened to him, but he is not dead. He doesn't need any retribution."

"Yeah, yeah. I got it…" Ganju rubbed the back of his head, suddenly looking very tired. "You guys better take good care of him…"

"Of course we will. Come now, Shiba-san. There's nothing more we can do for him right now."

--

Hanatarou figured the ubiquitous fog was a result of his unconsciousness in the real world. It dampened his robes, making them heavy so that just standing tired him quickly. Despite this he kept walking in a circle around the perimeter of the tiny island, his thin arms tucked into his robes, held close to his chest with the empty sleeves hanging at his sides. The only heat source he had was his own body, and he was desperate for relief from the cold. It was like a leech, sucking away at the meager warmth he sustained. Moving around only seemed to make it worse, and after a while he sank to his knees and curled into a trembling ball.

"You know…" The cool tip of Hisa's tail on his forehead, lightly brushing his hair to the side as it fell away. "If you become hopeless or sad, it will rain… and the rain will be cold…" A light drizzle had already begun to fall, making clear beads on Hisa's whiskers.

"I'm… I'm sorry…"

"Nooo…" Hisa's whispered breath was as cold as the fog. "You see, I like the rain… Let the rain fall if you must. I do not care…"

The drizzle continued. Hanatarou shivered and curled up tighter, trying to keep the last wisp of warmth from escaping.