CH11-Strong Enough?
"Hey, you awake?" who is that? Why does my whole body hurt? Sharp, painful memories flood my mind all at once. Panicking I jump up into a sitting position as I scan the room for my enemy. "Calm down, you're safe now. You need to be careful you suffered a lot of serious wounds." Looking down I see my body covered in only white bandages, a sheet, and a new pair pants. "How long have I been asleep?" I look up into the kind face of the squad 4 captain, her long black hair split into two separate strands come down in front of her where they combine into one. "It's been almost two months since you came in."
"Wow, wait if I was in here for so long then why do I still feel like crap?" A smile covers her face as she gently looks down at me, "Like I said you had terrible injuries. It came very close but luckily your very strong. I better have someone let the lieutenant and that rioka know that your awake." Turning she walks to the door. "Wait, what about To-Captain Hitsugaya?" She looks back at me and nods to the back corner before leaving. Looking in that direction I'm shocked to find him sitting in a chair fast asleep. "He hardly ever left. We had to drag him out when he had something to do." Renji leans against the door and despite his best efforts relief shines in his eyes. "Hey, ya I can tell he looks exhausted. I guess I had everyone pretty worried." Nodding he glances at Toushirou and shakes his head, "Especially Ichigo and him." Suddenly the door opens and Renji falls backwards into the hall.
"You idiot what were you doing leaning on the door!" Ichigo, who got out of the way, looks glares down at him. Renji jumps up and before a fight could start I interrupt, "Nice to see you both but if you haven't noticed someone is sleeping in here." I cross my arms and stare them down. Directing his attention to me Ichigo walks in followed closely by Renji. "Good to see you awake, you really gave squad 4 a surprise when they saw the wounds and that you were still alive." Looking up into their faces I realize just how scared they were. Shaking my head I open my mouth to speak when the captain walks in, "Renji your captain wants you, and Ichigo you need to return to the world of the living before someone reports you missing." Pushing them out they manage a goodbye before she closes the door.
After rechecking my injuries she leaves me to rest. Laying down I think about the past few weeks, I don't remember anything except that I fainted/blacked out and the nothing. Rolling over onto my side I wince as my weight falls onto my injured shoulder. Wondering about what happened when I returned to the soul society I jump when I hear movement in the corner. Putting pressure on my stomach to keep it from bleeding I sit up as Toushirou opens his eyes, "hey your awake." I smile warmly at him as he stands and walks over to my side. "How are you feeling?"
"Like crap." His expression turns worried and I quickly correct myself, "but much better then when I first arrived." He looks at me not believing me and I switch the subject. "I heard you were ignoring your duty as a captain." I shake my head at him which makes my shoulder shake, and not wanting to upset him again I stop a whimper in my throat. "You were more important." Blushing I look at my hands, "Did you even bother to check on Rangiku?" his silence tells me that he hasn't. A hand lands carefully on my shoulder and I look up at him. "I'm fine really." I put my hand on top of his, "I'm strong enough to handle these. It's nothing, honestly."
"If only I had gotten their sooner than you wouldn't of been hurt." His eyes grow dark and he looks away, unable to meet my eyes. Pissed I snap at him, "don't you be blaming yourself; it is not your fault. And even if you had gotten their sooner I still would've been injured." Seeing that I have yet to convince him I squeeze his hand, "Plus your timing was perfect. If you hadn't arrived then he would've just picked me up and walked away with me unconscious." Finally his gaze meets mine, but now it is cold and hard.
"You need to calm down. I'm alive and that will never happen again."
"Your right, he won't ever touch you again." Sighing I look away, his troubled gaze giving me goose bumps. "Captain Hitsugaya, you are wanted by the head captain." His hand jerks away from my shoulder and he spins around. "Oh, hello Kari. It's good to see you awake." Squad 11s lieutenant walks up to the bed and jumps up, "Captain he asked for you immediately, not whenever you felt like coming." Her legs swing back and forth as her wide eyes watching him leave the room with a last protective glance at me.
I hear the latch click shut and I fall back against the pillow as the tension leaves\\\ the room. "He sure does over react." Smiling at me, her eyes sparkling, I put a fake smile on my face. I feel like doing anything but smiling. But everyone is counting on me to get better; I have to suffer silently as to not worry anyone, especially Toushirou. Can I do it though…am I strong enough?