Touch the Horizon
Chapter Ten: Recovery
By: Light of the Firefly
OOOOO
Renji glared at the form in his hands, rereading the first sentence for the third time.
It still didn't register.
Not one word had sank into his brain. Damnit.
And the paper was getting crinkled from his prolonged grip on it.
Giving up, he set it to the corner of his desk with a little more force than absolutely necessary. He had been in the office alone, in perfect peaceful quiet, for well over an hour and had accomplished nothing. Nil.
He couldn't focus to save his life.
Moodily, he pushed up from his seat, working off his restless energy by pacing around the office a bit.
Nanao had left for a lieutenants meeting, and he had been unable to get himself in any kind of shape for paperwork since. With her in the room, sitting quietly at her own desk, he had been able to work.
At least he forced himself to, because he knew she paid attention to such things. He maintained the normalcy for her. He didn't want her thinking he was off kilter, and she would think so if he stared off into space all day like he had been for the past hour. She obviously had enough on her mind as it was.
The past few weeks have been…different. Difficult. Frustrating.
On the Sunday night that they had returned from the Real World, in her home, Nanao had told him her tale. It had caused a strange twist in his gut to hear it, in all honesty. That she had come face to face with the reincarnation of her previous captain. He winced a little at the thought. Renji was sure she was hurt and confused over this mess, but what could be done? He couldn't imagine being in a similar situation with Rukia, and her not knowing him. Forgetting their lifetime together.
It would be devastating to him, he was sure. He didn't know how he would react, but he figures Nanao certainly had a right to her tears that night. It all made sense in hindsight, now, the way she had acted when he had found her.
Looking back on the whole picture, it was plain to see. He had felt a bit foolish, too, for not catching on to the truth of the matter long before she told him. That was obviously not the Captain Kyouraku he met at the hospital. It was a whole new person, familiar and not at all at the same time. He was a different person, and a stranger to his lieutenant now. Maybe even to himself, but Renji wasn't sure how the memory lapse stuff worked when you were reborn. He remembered nothing of his previous life in the Real World, after all. It was rare for someone to have memories, but not unheard of.
The man at the hospital didn't seem like he remembered anything of Soul Society, when Renji looked back on his reactions. Sure, he had been hovering over Nanao, but maybe that's just because she was a pretty girl. The whole 'white knight' thing kicking in. Who knows.
He pulled the tie from his pony tail, and ran his hands through the long strands. He was developing a headache suddenly, and thought maybe it would relieve some tension.
He was pacing again without realizing it.
Renji thought over the night he had spent with his lieutenant after they returned, replaying it in his mind. They had stayed up late into the night talking the whole thing over. It was the most the two of them had ever sat down and spoken in the thirty years of working together, he mused darkly. Strange how morose things like that could cause a sudden kinship to begin. But he could plainly tell she needed to get it off her chest, to tell somebody.
He was glad it had been him, honestly. She was uncomfortable sharing her feelings, that much was plain to see in the uneasy way she held herself throughout their talk. Nanao had been tense, and avoided his eye contact, but she had still told him. Which, he had assumed, meant she was beginning to feel a little comfortable with him. Or at the very least, trust him a bit.
After their talk she eventually succumbed to an exhausted sleep, and Renji had left her home for a long, troubled walk to his own.
That was two weeks ago now. He figured she would have tried to put it behind her, move forward, try to forget about the whole situation. Two weeks…and she still hadn't snapped out of it.
He stopped his pacing at the window, and glared unfairly at the sunny day outside. It certainly didn't match his mood well at all. It was almost mocking.
What bothered him the most, what absolutely had him ready to explode, is how she had been behaving since. It was as if she decided to deal with it by pretending nothing at all was different, that there was no change in routine.
Come Monday morning his lieutenant was waiting in the office like usual. His tea was ready, as were the reports to sign on his desk when he arrived. Neat and orderly. Like usual.
And Nanao was…well, right back to where he had started with her.
Cold, aloof, and like a stranger all over again. Her voice held no warmth when she spoke and she didn't act even remotely friendly with him. She was a shell of what he knew she could be, staring at him with troubled, unfocused eyes.
It infuriated him. Hadn't they just shared a strange, emotional night together the night before? Hadn't she poured her heart out to him? Trusted him with her sad, dark thoughts? His shirt had been soaked with her tears, for god's sake. Didn't that form some sort of bond in her book?
Every attempt he had made for the past two weeks to get her to accompany him for a meal or to do anything, really, had been politely refused. Every attempt to strike up a conversation had been ended before it began. He tried to walk home with her, to accompany her to the trainings, to catch her in the library.
But every time he showed up, an excuse would roll off her tongue, and she would leave.
He was so angry with her, but more confused than anything.
He had assumed, he supposed, that after seeing her in her weakened state that night, she would have been more comfortable around him. Quite the opposite, apparently.
She had clammed up, seemingly closing herself off from him all over again.
He was so frustrated with the whole thing. What was wrong with her? What was going through her head? Was this a protective mechanism? Was she worried about getting too close to someone? Did she want to push him away? To refuse a friendship?
He didn't know. He had no answers to the puzzling way she was treating him at all.
Honestly, he didn't know her that well, only having seen a small slice of who she was. He had hoped and assumed things would be different from that night on, having had her speak so freely to him about her hurt over her lost captain, having her cry against him while he carried her back.
Didn't that make him a friend in her eyes? Shouldn't it?
She had leaned on him, and he had happily been a rock for her, but now it was day one all over.
He was ready to blow up, really. Nanao had reverted back to the damn listless, workaholic lieutenant he had known for the past several years. He thought it would be different, but if anything it was worse now. He could see the dull sorrow in her eyes, the dark circles underneath. He hadn't seen her eat much, and doubted she was sleeping well from the pale set of her skin. Her voice carried with the emotionless monotone he had grown to despise over the last week.
He had the strong urge to stomp up to her, grab her by the shoulders and violently shake her out of it. Which was the most disturbing part of this. That her regression affected him so much. It shouldn't really, he should let her deal with this however she could.
But this was unacceptable.
He wouldn't stand by while she was in a walking state of coma. He had watched Momo go through this phase, and it was even worse seeing Nanao so lost. It made him sick, he couldn't stand it. She looked more troubled than he had ever guessed she could and he couldn't let it go on.
The memory of her hot, wet tears against his skin was enough to make him damn sure he would pull her out of this slump somehow.
Staring blankly out the window, he caught movement on the street below, and realized it was Nanao returning from her meeting. The blackness of her robes stood out starkly in the bright sun.
He glared at her form as she made her way to their division building. Her gait was sure, but she kept her head down, avoiding the people walking by her. Her shoulders were slumped as if weighted by some unseen heaviness.
Renji gritted his teeth. She disappeared below, having entered the building.
He turned and began to sweep his hair back once again. Returning to his desk, he sat down heavily, and waited for her to come in.
No, he would not let this go on. He just had to figure out what would work. What would snap her out of this? Nothing he has tried so far has even gotten her to talk to him. He knew she was upset, but there had to be some way to pull her above water again.
He would be gone all weekend, so hopefully that would give him time enough to think on the matter. He would come up with something.
Because somehow, come hell or high water, he was going to see the woman underneath once again.
OOOOO
Nanao sat on her porch, staring off into the woods behind her home. It was a pretty scene, having the last home in the row, she was lucky enough to get the last building in the barracks.
She had been here for a while, having sat down here after she left work for the day and not moved since. She was trying to find the beauty, as someone told her once, to help make life a little easier when it got tough. To take in the simple way of things in nature, to relax.
It was a wasted effort.
She wondered what was wrong with her, and if she would stay like this always. Her mind raced with empty thoughts, her focus was out of sorts. She felt so alone it hurt, but couldn't stand anyone's company right now.
She sighed, and looked up into the dimming sky.
It was a nice afternoon, the breeze was a bit chilly, but the sun felt good.
She was bored, probably. That had to be it.
She had spent the past few weeks doing every possible thing she could think of to keep her thoughts occupied. Cleaned her whole home, worked with the trainees, cleaned the whole office, reorganized the file cabinets, read and reread several books, cleaned some more, and now here she was. Facing two days off, with no extras she could do to occupy her time.
God, this was going to be awful.
She had considered going to a few of the other squads and offering to help them with some paperwork. It would be appreciated, she knew, but it wasn't an idea she liked. She didn't want to be around anyone, she wanted something to do that she didn't have to interact with others. She needed the space, but at the same time she felt so restless she thought she might explode.
She needed to do something.
She felt Renji approaching suddenly and tensed slightly.
She knew he was a little hurt by the space she had wedged back between them, but she just couldn't do this unless she could pretend nothing was different. She had to do this. She needed the sense of false illusion. She couldn't allow the thoughts of the man a world away to affect her, or she would find herself wanting to go to him again.
And that was unacceptable.
She was an adult, and she had made a decision, and she would stand by it firmly. Footsteps approached.
"Ise." Renji's rough voice said by way of greeting, flopping down into the chair next to her.
"Captain." She responded, not needing to see his face to know he shot her a dirty look. She kept her eyes trained on the tree line, watching the leaves sway slightly in the wind.
"What are you doing?" He asked curiously, taking in the surroundings. He dismissed them just as quick. Nanao almost smiled. She was like him once, too.
"What can I do for you?" She asked.
"I wanted to let you know I'd be leaving tonight for the weekend." He watched her carefully for a sign that the thoughts of him going to the Real World were affecting her. Would her mind turn back to the man who was there, he wondered? She seemed carefully neutral, though, not seemingly affected at all. If her mind turned to what happened last weekend, she didn't show it.
Nanao nodded at his statement, as she had already assumed as much.
"Do you need anything before I go?"
She considered this, glancing over at him. "Actually, yes."
"Yes?" He seemed surprised.
She stood and went into her home, picking up the books she had on her table. She hated to see them go, they had been wonderful. The missing third book crossed her mind, and she felt guilty for not being able to send it back as well. She wasn't sure where it had ended up, really, that whole weekend was a big jumbled blur. She couldn't remember where it had been lost, maybe on the street in the rain, or left in the hospital room. She wasn't sure. Hopefully the elderly man in the library would not be too upset, she thought. He had been kind enough to let her take them with no forms of identification, after all.
Returning a few moments later, she handed Renji the two books.
"Could you return these for me? They're due back to the library at the university."
He stared at the books a moment, before reaching out and taking them from her. He glanced over the titles and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. These were nothing like Rukia's taste in reading.
"Ah, sure." He said, as she sat back down. "You could just keep them, it's not like you would get a bill sent to you."
His attempt at humoring her went unnoticed, as she turned a shocked look his way.
"I could never do that. They belong in that library."
He chuckled at her serious tone, he should have figured she would be a library advocate.
"Fine, fine." He stood then and tucked them into the crook of his arm. He met her eyes a moment. "Do you need anything else before I go?"
"No sir."
He nodded, offering her a half hearted wave by way of parting. "I'll see you Monday, then Ise."
She watched him walk away silently. She wasn't being fair to him, and she knew it. Maybe when he returned she could try to be a little livelier for his sake, she thought.
She sat a while and listened to the sounds of the crickets beginning to chip. A few of the birds were calling to one another in the distance.
Her thoughts drifted, landing on a snapshot she would do anything to avoid seeing in her mind's eye.
"There is no man-made music lovelier than the music of nature, Nanao-chan."
Nanao rolled her eyes. He was in philosopher mode, it seemed.
"I don't hear anything." She mumbled, grouchily. The corners of his lips tipped up in a smile at her words. He wasn't looking at her, his gaze still fixed far away.
She had found him uphill a good ways, far from civilization. He was alone, leaning against a huge, old tree, admiring the beauty of the view this spot provided. Sitting in the shade, his hat was laying forgotten to his left, sake bottle half empty next to it. She felt her temper stir.
"Your not listening right." He chastised.
"Sir, this needs signed. Yesterday." She waved the paper around in his face, which was staring off into the hills dreamily. "I received a notice from the 1st Division, they aren't happy about not receiving this."
The paper was gone before she could even register that he had moved, snatched right out of her hand. She blinked, and watched as he was tucking it into his robes, and her eyes met his. He had a challenging look in the dark depths, daring her to come after it silently.
"Sir…" She growled, fuming.
"Sit with me, my Nanao, and I'll teach you how to listen." He said, nodding to the spot in the grass next to him. "Unless, of course, you want the wrestle the paper back? That would certainly be just as nice."
She plopped down next to him, sighing in defeat. He knew how to make her abort work better than anyone. Forcefully, sometimes.
"How long are we playing this game?" She asked, leaning her head back against the rough bark. She stared up into the canopy of massive branches bursting with green above them.
"As long as it takes. Quiet, now, just listen."
Several silent moments passed, and she frowned in frustration.
"I still hear nothing, Sir. Can I please have the paper back?"
"Again, you aren't listening." He said, turning his face down to hers. His eyes were intense, making her realize he was watching her reactions closely.
"There's nothing to listen to. Its quiet." She argued.
"Not at all." He smiled fondly, "Your too observant, is your problem. You forget the simple things, the little pieces of life that make it all easier to bear. Close your eyes."
She glared at him, trying to see if he was going to try anything funny if she did. He had a completely innocent look plastered on, waiting for her to comply.
Knowing he was relentless in his quests to force relaxation upon her, she closed her eyes.
"Now, listen, Nanao-chan. Just listen." His tone had dropped to a deeper octave, one that commanded her easily. She let her tension ease, and opened her awareness to their surroundings with her eyes closed.
She heard the leaves rustle softly in the breeze, the birds chirping musically, the long grasses swaying, the crickets calling. She could feel the ground, cool and soft, beneath her, could hear the steady breathing of the man at her side. She took a deep breath of her own, the scents of the wild filling her.
She felt content, with the simplicity of their surroundings. There was no noisy talk, or demands of the job, there was no violence or let-downs. Nothing to concentrate on, or problems to figure out. Because, it all made perfect sense.
"Do you understand, now?" He asked quietly, and she could hear the smile in his voice. "We live a long life here. Too long, sometimes. You'll face obstacles you couldn't imagine. You will loose parts of your heart and soul that you don't think you could ever live without. You will have trials on your morals, the very fiber of yourself. Don't forget to enjoy the beauty in the world. Because, my Nanao-chan, there will be times, when it's the only beauty to see. And I hope that you can learn to."
Nanao shivered at the memory. At the time, she hadn't truly understood what he was saying.
But now? It finally made sense to her.
Sighing again, she rose to her feet. She took one last long look into the darkening woods and smiled sadly.
Maybe one day, she would know how to listen again.
But not yet.
OOOOO
Rukia chattered on about some new movie they were headed off to watch, as the three friends made their way down the street.
"Sounds dumb." Ichigo offered gruffly. She elbowed him in the ribs sharply. Renji snickered at the pained sound he made. That was his thoughts on the movie as well, but he knew better than to speak up. It was her turn to pick, and they always watched some horrible thing made for ten year old girls.
"It's not dumb!" She shrieked hotly.
"I said it sounds like it is! Geez." He rubbed the sore spot absently, his brows furrowed.
They flew into a heated argument then over their opposing tastes in movies.
Renji kept quiet, having been lost in thought since he arrived here yesterday. Both Rukia and Ichigo had commented on it, but he had nothing good to offer by way of explanation.
"Oh, wait, we gotta stop here." The redhead said to them, nodding toward the library.
"We have to hurry, we need good seats!" Rukia reminded him, which started off a whole new line of sarcasm from Ichigo.
The bickering grew louder as they came to the door. They followed him in, the bell chiming above their heads.
Both seemed to quiet as soon as they entered, as they followed the universal law of a library.
Renji walked to the old man at the computer and offered him the two books.
"I need to return these. They might be a little late."
"Sure thing, young man." His wrinkled hand retrieved them from him, not noticing the way Renji's eyebrow twitched at the name.
He scanned them through and tapped a few keys on the keyboard, and Renji glanced at his two friends who were talking quietly down the counter with each other.
It was still strange to see Ichigo as such an adult compared to them. He could easily pass for Rukia's father, not her lover. He wondered at what their future held for the two, as time was running out. It passed so differently for shinigami than it did for humans. In a blink of the eye, Ichigo would be gone.
And he wondered if Rukia would have to go through what Nanao had recently.
He winced slightly, hoping that day was far off still.
"The young lady who took these out, did she accompany you?" The old man's voice brought him back to the present, and he turned his gaze back to him.
"No." He said, wondering at his point.
"Oh. Will she be back in soon?"
"No. What's this about?"
"Well, I have a message I was asked to pass on to her." He fished through a drawer and pulled out a slip of paper. "Are you a friend of hers?"
Renji nodded. "Yeah we work together."
"Oh good. Could you get it to her, perhaps?"
"Sure." Renji was curious now, as he took the paper. He red over the sloppy writing.
Wrenko Tariku, it said. With a number scrawled below it.
"What the hell is this?" He snapped at the old man. "Is this what I think it is?"
"I'm only passing it along. Professor Wrenko is an employee of the University here, he wished to speak with the young lady." The man seemed a bit startled by Renji's outburst, so the redhead took a few deep calming breaths.
"Why?" He asked when he knew his voice was a little more gentle.
"I believe he had met her at some point and had a bit of an interest." Was the wry reply.
"Are you telling me that this man is interested in her?" He asked incredulously.
"I believe so, yes."
"Your kidding me right?" Renji asked, glaring. Not that Nanao couldn't attract attention, she certainly had the timeless elegance to do so. He was just shocked at that fact waved in his face. "Do you always encourage the staff here to harass your female customers?"
"It's not…" The old man let out a sigh. "He's a good man, Professor Wrenko is, I've known him a long time. Do not get such a bad impression. He only wanted to speak with the girl, that's all. Surly she could decide for herself if it would be worth her time."
Renji wanted nothing more than to laugh his head off. He could imagine how Nanao would react to some strange man hitting on her. The poor bastard wouldn't even have eyebrows left when she was done scorching his face with her angry kido.
"Listen pal, do yourself, and this idiot, a favor." He fisted his hand, the slip of paper crunched up in his grip. He dropped the wadded up ball on the counter top in front of the other man. "Tell him not to waste his time. Trust me."
Renji grinned as the old man's displeased eyes flickered over the tattoos on his face and neck. He knew the old man was biting his tongue to keep from saying what he really wanted to.
"I'll warn him of it." Was his forced polite reply.
"Good. Have a nice day then." He turned on his heel and marched his way past his friends and to the door.
"What the hell was that?" Rukia asked, at his side suddenly as they went out the door, her eyes gleaming like all woman's do when there is gossip involved. Ichigo followed behind, rolling his eyes.
"Some fool trying to pick up on Ise." Renji laughed. "Probably saw her sitting in the library or something. What an idiot."
"Yeah I don't think she'd be very receptive of that." Rukia agreed. "Maybe she would like some smarty pants professor, though. It would be her type, I imagine."
Renji was glaring at her without really realizing it. Her lips curved in a challenging smirk.
"Just shut up." He snapped, trying his best to ignore her antics to rile him up.
"What? Are you jealous?"
"Jealous! Ha!" Renji felt his irritation rise. Why would he be jealous?
"Guys, we're gonna be late." Ichigo commented, after glancing at his watch.
"What!" Rukia shrieked, grabbing both men by their wrists and dragging them hurriedly down the sidewalk. "Let's go! Come on!"
Renji, although peeved, was happy at least that her attention was elsewhere now. He didn't want to be questioned about his feelings regarding his lieutenant.
Because honestly, he didn't know the answers.
OOOOO
Monday morning was off to a strange start, Nanao mussed as she made her way to the 13th Division's offices. She could hear the shouting already.
"If I could shut you up for just two minutes, I'd die a happy man!"
Nanao winced at the loud shriek coming from the office in front of her.
"If I could shut YOU up for even a second, I'd die happy too!" Was Kiyone's angry reply.
"Moron!"
"Ape!"
Nanao sighed heavily, and reached for the door. She wasn't sure why Captain Ukitake had sent for her, but she found the prospect of listening to those two for any length of time to be comparable to torture.
Sliding it open, revealed the two 3rd seats both red faced and toe to toe. Captain Ukitake sat behind them at his desk, humming a little tune and easily ignoring the two screaming officers.
"Loud mouth!"
"No you!"
"No, YOU!"
"Excuse me?" Nanao asked loudly, to get everyone's attention.
The third seats both abandoned their arguing and beamed at her.
"Ah, Ise-san!" Jushiro's warm welcome made her smile a little against her will. "Come in, come in!"
She stepped into the spacious office and came to sit in a chair across from the white haired captain.
"Can I get you anything?" He asked, his dark eyes scanning her face. She wondered if he could see the wariness and uncertainty in her right now. She seemed to think he could, as his own features tightened slightly. She had a long, troubling weekend alone to think. With very little sleep, and not enough distractions. Although, returning to work today had helped some, she couldn't completely erase the shadows her eyes held. And this man would see them regardless, she was sure.
"Ah, no I'm-" She was cut off, though, unable to refuse.
"-Kiyone?" He asked, turning to the young girl behind Nanao.
"Do you want tea?" was Kiyone's quick, happy offer. "I make excellent tea!"
Naturally followed by Sentaro angry frown.
"I make it better! You can get the cookies!"
"No way!" She stomped her foot, and Jushiro simply steadied the vase on the corner of his desk with his hand, the stomp having caused it to tip. "I make the best!"
"You don't do ANYTHING best!"
They brushed out the door together, glaring daggers at one another. Nanao heard the bickering all the way down the hall until finally it vanished.
"It's always good to see you." He smiled gently at her and Nanao resisted the urge to fidget.
"You too, sir." She managed around the lump in her throat. "How are you feeling today?"
It was a lame topic, but effective in keeping the subject simple.
"Well today, actually." He said, still intensely watching her. "I have a favor to ask, actually."
"Of course, what do you need?"
"There's been some progress with some experimental treatments that the 4th Division has been working on." He began, and she nodded for him to continue. "Captain Unohana would like to try it out on me, you see. It would keep me away from the offices for at least three days, I'm told. Then off and on throughout the next few months. I'd have to stay in their ward so that they could keep a watch on the reactions I would have, I assume."
"Do you think it will be helpful? Have their studies been positive?" She asked, her mind already switching to the facts of the situation. "Are there bad side effects?"
"Don't worry so much, I'll be in very capable hands." Jushiro smiled patiently at her. "It all sounds like it will be beneficial in the long run, so I'm inclined to give it a shot."
Nanao's features were softening, her worry apparent. He let out a sigh.
"As I said, nothing to concern yourself with, Ise-san. The favor I need would be for you to keep an eye on the Division here in my absence. You wouldn't have to do much, just mostly sign papers for me. The third seats can handle everything else, they do mostly all the grunt work of the division. There are just some forms they can't turn in. And should they need anything of importance, I'd like someone experienced in my place to handle it."
"That's not a problem at all." She agreed, glad to be given a little extra work to look after. "I'll let my captain know when I return, but I see no problem with it."
"I'm glad, thank you so much."
A strange silence fell over the office between them then, both contemplating if they should speak freely or not.
Jushiro, for his part, knew she was deeply bothered by something, but couldn't seem to find the voice to start. She was such a private person, he hated to put her on the spot.
And Nanao struggled with her own dilemma. Should she tell him what's happened? Should she add to his burden in such a way? Or leave well enough alone?
Looking into his gentle eyes, she hated to say anything that would upset him. This man was so genuine, and always kind to others. He was the type of person that tended to make people feel a sense of protectiveness for him. Did she want to hurt him with her news? Did she want him to feel like she has been feeling since her return from the Real World?
"When will you need me, then?" Nanao asked, lowering her eyes away from his. She should tell him, he had a right to know, didn't he? But not right now, with this new treatment he was getting ready to undertake looming. Perhaps when he returned, she would talk to him. He would most likely offer the perfect advise to her anyways.
"Tomorrow morning, actually." He answered, frowning slightly at the picture she made sitting across his desk. She looked small sitting there in her dark robes, the sadness clung to her heavily today. She seemed so torn, as if there were words on the tip of her tongue she couldn't choke out.
He made a mental note to ask her about her troubles when he returned, now certainly wasn't the time. He could hear the bickering of his third seats approaching again. He knew she would only open up when it was just the two of them. It would have to wait.
OOOOO
"Nanao-san!" Rukia said, smiling brightly at the older woman leaving her captain's office. Nanao turned to see her walking towards her in the hallway.
"How are you?" She said politely, forcing a smile on her face.
"Fine, fine. You'll be hanging around here for a few days, I heard?" Rukia had just been running some errands for the division, and another squad member had told her of Nanao's fill-in job starting tomorrow.
"Seems that way." She agreed.
"I wouldn't be around much, they keep me posted in Karakura Town a good bit anymore. If you have questions, though, Kiyone and Sentaro would be able to help. They are more proficient than they act."
"Thank you."
"How's you head feeling, by the way? I haven't seen you since the accident."
Nanao's eyes widened at the question. Is that what Renji had told this girl? She had bumped her head? It was the truth, of course. But did he really leave the rest out? The two were very close, after all. She was shocked he hadn't informed her of any of it. She would have to thank him for being private on her behalf. She really hasn't given him enough credit for that ordeal.
"Ah, fine now. There was no pain after I got out of the gigai."
"I'm glad." Rukia seemed pleased with the answer, and Nanao made her way to the exit at the end of the hall. "Oh, by the way. You have apparently acquired an admirer!"
Nanao's footsteps froze at the words, looking back over her shoulder at the smug looking girl behind her.
"An admirer?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow. Just what she needed, on top of everything else.
"Yeah, some professor at the University." She said with a laugh. "He left you his number with the librarian. When we stopped to return your books, the old guy gave Renji the message. Spoke highly of your admirer, even. Renji was furious. It was pretty comical, really."
Nanao stared at the girl for a few heartbeats silently. She hadn't met anyone when she had been there. Who would…the lost third book floated through her mind. She wondered if it had landed in the hands of the man she had been desperately trying to forget about. Someone had asked after her, and left their phone number. A professor at the university? Could this guy be…?
"Don't look so stunned." Rukia was amused by the situation, at any rate. "Anyhow, Renji told the librarian to tell the guy to forget it anyways. I'll see you around Nanao-san!"
With a wave Rukia disappeared out of sight, leaving Nanao to feel like she was suddenly lost in the long hallway alone. It was so quiet, and she thought if there was anyone else around they would hear the blood roaring in her ears. It was certainly loud enough.
She turned, and walked numbly to the door.
Obviously, he had the third book and returned it. And then…he was asking about her, trying to find her. Wanted to speak with her again.
What the hell was she supposed to do with that information?
OOOOO
Poor Renji, I have a feeling I'm giving him a bad rap here. lol He's just trying to look out for her, after all! ^_^
My thanks, as always, to the reviewers of the last chapter. Sorry this took a while to get out, life has been a little crazy lately.
The next chapter is mostly done, just needs a few quirks and it'll be out soon!