13. Sleepless again
Over the next four weeks even Kotetsu Isane could not deny that she indeed had been able to improve class three's performance. Her personal highlight has been realizing that her students could be left alone for about five minutes with a patient without the side effect of killing someone unintentionally.
However more importantly, the fuku-taicho had finally mastered the technique of the instant healing kido spell one step further by controlling her reiatsu to the point to shaping and matching it to anyone else's. It had been tremendously difficult to do, because the book did not give any instructions on how to do that. The author of the book apparently assumed that the reader would be able to do just that. Why that was the case completely evaded Isane's mind.
While it was true, with Itegumo's help she could duplicate her own reiatsu and maintain it and she was sure that all taicho's in Seireitei were able to do that as well, to imitate someone else's reiatsu pattern was a completely different story. First, one has to feel the other's reiatsu, no matter how strong or weak, and figure out what the characteristics are of that particular energy. Even for the fuku-taicho with her high level of reiatsu control, this task alone is challenging - usually shinigami only feel and look for certain reiatsu patterns when they have to find someone quickly, normally their squad's captain. And as their reiatsu's are very unique and strong, even unseated shinigami could rise to the task.
The only way Isane could think of to achieve this high level of reiatsu control, was to ask Itegumo again for help. Like Isane, Itegumo was able to feel the different characteristics of reiatsu but, and this was the important part, it could also remember it. So Kotetsu Isane had spend the past four weeks practicing with Itegumo to imitate first her students reiatsus and then those of randomly chosen people in Seireitei.
During these four weeks Isane again did not sleep more than four to five hours per day, spending every minute either preparing and supervising classes, reading up case files for her regular meetings with Unohana-taicho or practicing with Itegumo. Being sleep deprived once more, signs of lacking sleep started to show on Isane's face. There were again these dark rings around her eyes and from time to time her brain would simply zone out. Unfortunately for the fuku-taicho, her tired mind started to wander into nowhere no matter who she had to pay attention to. So one Friday evening, while sitting together with Unohana Retsu drinking tea, she suddenly found herself suddenly taken by surprise.
"Isane, are you still listening?", the taicho worriedly asked, peeking into her assistant's face.
"What? Oh, I am sorry Unohana-sama. You were saying?"
"I was asking you to evaluate your class's progress. However, I rather like to know now, what is wrong with you!"
"Taicho - nothing is wrong with me. Though I admit I did not get a lot of sleep during the last week. I had to prepare several practical exams for my class - which they all passed by the way - and then I also prepared for this talk here. I am sorry for being inattentive, but I assure you, I am fine, " Isane smiled tiredly at her taicho, hoping she would be satisfied with this half truth and not demand more answers about her lack of sleep.
"You could have asked to postpone our meeting, my dear Isane, " Retsu scolded her slightly.
"Now, is there anything else that prevents you from sleeping? Are nightmares troubling you again? Or are you becoming sick?"
Seeing her superior's worried lock, Isane sighed and raised her hands up in front of her chest as if to hush and calm her down.
"No, taicho-sama. There is nothing else. I simply did not find enough time to sleep over the past few days. I haven't had a nightmare in a month and I am fairly certain of not being sick. However, you may let Hanataro or someone else run a basic examination on me to verify that."
Unohana Retsu expected the denial of anything being wrong, but Isane's offer to get checked did take her by surprise. After all, during the past month Isane hardly let anyone come close to her, and had to be forced to being taken care of while she was indeed sick. So this offer was unusual.
"Very well. I will ask Hanataro-kun to give you a basic examination. Though I admit, I do not understand why you would not let me do it myself."
"That is easy to explain - you are the best healer in Seireitei and I would never allow you to waste some of your precious time on me. Certainly not, when I am not even sick."
"Isane, I told you before that you could never bother me with such things. Your wellbeing is of utmost importance to me," the taicho responded wholeheartedly.
"Hai taicho, and so is your wellbeing to me. I could never forgive myself if I would keep you from resting or fulfilling your obligations. So please, let someone else do this. Please?
"As you wish, " Unohana nodded her agreement.
The rest of the evening went by rather uneventfully. Having finished their tea and their discussion, Hanataro Yamada was asked to take a closer look at his fuku-taicho. Timidly he did what was asked of him - after all, the last time he had to take care of a sick Isane ended with him having a bleeding nose. To his and Unohana's relief he could not find anything wrong with her besides a lack of sleep.
"Thank you Hanataro-kun, " Isane smiled brightly at him. "In that case I will just go home and get some sleep."
With that the fuku-taicho was on her way out of the squad, when all of a sudden she heard her taicho's voice from the other end of the hall.
"Isane, I would like to accompany you home."
"Unoha-taicho!" Isane spun around bowing slightly to her taicho. "Thank you for the offer, but that is not necessary. Besides, it is late and you need to rest as well."
"True, but I think I will sleep better knowing that you are indeed sleeping and not working during the night - a habit you unfortunately developed over the past weeks. So, I would like to bring you home and see you to bed."
"No, taicho-sama. Please don't!" The very thought of Unohana-sama tucking her in made Isane blush endlessly. After all, she was a grown woman. She did not need to be treated like a little child, who does not know, what is good for her.
"I promise, I will go straight to bed and not work anymore tonight, " Isane pleaded. Looking into her taicho's face, the fuku-taicho instantly lost all hope of going home alone instantly. The smile on Unohana's face told her enough not to say another word unless she intented to spend another night in one of the squad's bedrooms. Gulping down hard, Isane lowered her head shortly again before the two woman left for the fuku-taicho's private quarters.
"Are you also going to tuck me in?" Isane asked ironically as they both reached the front door.
"That is exactly what I am going to do, " Unohana responded in a light tone.
The shocked expression on her fuku-taicho's face told her, that Isane really did not want that. So she elaborated.
"Isane, you have constantly overworked yourself for the past month. And I want to make sure, that these dark rings beneath your eyes vanish as soon as possible. So yes, I will bring you to bed tonight and will only leave after being certain that you are asleep. Further I am ordering you not to do any work over the weekend. If I find out you disobeyed me again, you will have to face the consequences."
Oh, this smile was more than scary. Looking up at her taicho, Isane could feel her whole body tremble with fear, her short hair standing up on end and shivering all of a sudden, though it was not a cold night. Seeing her reaction, Unohana Retsu knew that Isane got the message and changed her facial expression to calm and serene again.
"I think, we better get in."
Nodding Isane opened the door and let them both in. Being a well organized person, all of Isane's rooms looked very tidy and neat including her desk with her research work. The thought of Unohana's inability to suspect anything without shuffling through her papers made Isane sigh silently in relief.
"I will wait here for you to change for the night, Isane."
Giving in on her fate, Isane nodded and left for the bathroom to get ready for the night. Not wanting Unohana to wait too long for her, she returned to the living room after only 10 minutes. Unohana then waited for Isane to get into bed before tucking her in.
"Sleep well, Isane."
"Thank you taicho-sama, " came the muffled answer before Isane fell asleep instantly.
"She must have been more tired than I thought, to fall asleep within seconds, " Unohana mused. She watched her fuku-taicho for a couple more minutes, making sure that Isane was sleeping peacefully before she left for her own quarters.