Chapter 13
It was late that evening when she woke. She looked out the window and sighed, sitting up. "Are you alright?" She turned to see Urahara sitting beside her, gauze and bandages in his arm. "Yes, thank you."
"Are you hungry?" She looked down and nodded. He stood and left the room, returning about fifteen minutes later with a bowl of shiro miso and a cup of tea. She sipped the soup slowly, worried about an odd feeling she had in her stomach. "I'll change your bandages after you eat. You should have stopped earlier." She shrugged, not really feeling like saying much.
"Ishida's worried about you. He's in the next room. He told me to wake him the instant you woke up, but I thought you might want a moment to compose yourself before you have visitors."
"Thank you." She laid down the spoon and looked into the soup, the fall into despair evident in her eyes. "You'll be alright. You don't need to look like that."
"I was supposed to be at Izuru's house tonight. When I'm having a bad day he sleeps next to me. Now I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
"Just get on with life. There's nothing else you really can do." Urahara's voice was careful and she looked over, smiling. "I'm sorry. I really wish that I could have met you another day, where I' was happier." He shook his head. "When people are at their most horrible moments is when it's best to meet. You will know more of the person from their basic emotions from one day than a million years with them putting on a show for those around them." She looked over, nodding.
"You're interesting." He looked at her, flipping his fan over his face and laughing. "Why do you say that?"
"You're a shinigami living in the human world. I can sense hollow reiatsu in you. It's unusual." He nodded. "Yes, but trust me, I'm not nearly as interesting as anyone would want. Those around here keep getting bored with my pranks." His eyes narrowed mischievously. "Pranks?"
She was getting interested. Talking about him was more fun than talking about herself. "I once sent bombs to everyone's houses with hidden messages. "They were just messages, but aparently they didn't like the blood all over the rooms."
"Blood?!" Aoi stared as Urahara nodded. "It wasn't really blood. It just looked like it." Aoi smiled, shaking her head. "I can see Orohime taking that badly."
"Actually, she took it the best out of the three. Ichigo panicked. I thought he was going to have a heart attack!" Aoi grinned, nodding.
She took another sip from the spoon and Urahara smiled. He figured if he lightened the mood she'd eat better. She needed to get liquids into her system.
She'd had the bandages changed and was borrowing a shirt from Urahara until she could get her haori fixed. She frowned when she knew that meant until the next time she returned.
She was happy that they all were there to see the shinigami off. Ichigo was talking happily with Renji, she'd thought they hated each other. Urahara was talking with Hitsugaya about something and she walked up to the sky, looking out at the clouds.
"Aoi?" She turned, seeing Ishida there before her, shifting uncomfortably, looking down at her. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I'm sorry that you were injured." She smiled and shook her head. "Urahara took good care of me, I heard you were the one to take me back." He was surprised by her lack of care at her own injury. "I was."
"Thank you for caring for me after my negligence. I should have been more careful." She bowed and Ishida just stood there for a second, pushing his glasses back up.
"I hope to see you again sometime soon." He nodded politely and Aoi did the same, smiling. She turned to see Hitsugaya smiling at her. "Ichigo was right. This place is full of perverts." She raised an eyebrow, watching the shock, then embarrassed blush cross the young Taicho's face.
"Urahara, it's been a pleasure to meet you." She bowed, him doing likewise. She watched as he removed his hat, looking up at the sun. "It's about time."
Hitsugaya looked over at Matsumoto, who opened the gateway. "Ja Ne." He spoke before running through, followed by everyone, Aoi going last to look at the newest people she'd met one last time. She smiled before taking off.
"You seemed to like Ishida." Matsumoto looked at her with a smile.
Aoi looked over and nodded. "He's quiet. Not as brash as some of the others. Matsumoto, when we get back and have some time, can you tell me more about Urahara-san?" Matsumoto looked over before laughing. "You're full of surprises!"
"There's a lot of good looking guys in the shinigami, and in those that they know! I can't help but to have my interest caught!" She smiled, failing to notice the sigh from Renji.
She stepped out of the Senkai gate, a smile on her face and a spring in her step. She was giggling with Matsumoto when a shimmer of yellow caught her attention. She looked over to see Kira walking to them.
"Renji, Please go and give your report to Yamamoto then return immediately to the third squad's office." He turned and walked away, not another word said. Aoi watched, her heart in her throat.
"Izuru?" He turned, his eyes never reaching her, before turning back and walking away.
So he was serious. He'd severed her. Matsumoto patted her back, sighing. "I'll beat up Byakuya later. I'll get you good and drunk tonight." She smiled sadly and Aoi nodded, her head low.
"Aoi, is there anything wrong?" She looked up at Byakuya, standing before her, his eyes for once locked on hers. She hated it.
Her eyes were dark, her face the picture of despair. He didn't want to admit it, but her sudden change in appearance worried him.
"Nothing I should concern you with, Taicho. If it's alright, I need to go to the fourth squad for a bit. I'll report to you right after."
"That's fine. I'll see you then." He nodded, dismissing her. She immediately took off, going to see Unohana.
She walked in, feeling the sting from her wound as she walked in. She knew it was getting infected. It hurt like a bitch, but she knew that after she was patched back up she'd be going straight back to work. It would help keep her distracted.
"Unohana-Taicho?" She walked into the office, seeing Unohana, Isane and a young boy, all smiling. "Oh! Ohayo, Aoi-Fukutaicho. What do you need?"
"I was injured during a mission yesterday. It was mostly healed there, but I would appreciate it if you took a look at it." She smiled and Unohana looked over. "Hanatarou, can you take care of this?"
"Hai, Taicho!" The young man nodded. Unohana looked at Aoi with a smile. "This is Hanatarou Yamada. He's quite skilled." Aoi nodded and Hanatarou took her to the next room.
"Where's the wound?" He asked as Aoi sat on the table. "My hip." She reached down and untied her haori, holding it open just enough to show the bandaging. He frowned, walking up and lifting the back of the haori. "Was it a circumferential wound, or is it all the way through?"
"Both." She sighed and Hanatarou bit his lip. He carefully removed the bandages, gasping when the injury was exposed. "What happened to you?"
"Accidental friendly fire from a quincy." She sighed. Hanatarou nodded. "Ah, Ishida-kun." Aoi nodded. "You have a slight infection, the burn itself is mostly gone, but the healing work done on the hole was very crude. I'll see what I can do." Aoi sighed. This may take more time than she'd hoped.
It was nearly three hours later that she left. She darted through the door into the office. "I apologize for my tardiness, Taicho. What is it you wish of me?"
She was in a lot of pain. Hanatarou-kun did a lot of healing, but it was damaging to the wound to fix some of the damage done by the healing itself. "Ah, Aoi. Take this to the academy." He never looked up, his eyes reading the print on a paper in his hand. He motioned to a stack with his other hand and Aoi nodded. "Hai, Taicho."
By six that evening the pain in her side was nearly unbearable. She walked in, her hand on her side and grimaced. "Taicho, would it be alright if I took a break?" He looked up at her, a little surprised seeing as she'd never asked before. "Actually, we're done for today. Are you alright?"
"Yes, Taicho. Just a little pain." Byakuya stood and walked over to her, his hand on her shoulder. "One of your jobs as Fukutaicho, or as captain, is to let those around you when you're having trouble. I'll ask again. Are you alright?"
She slid down the wall, holding her side. "No. I was injured in the real world. It's been healed, but it hurts." She pulled her hand from her hip, seeing blood.
"You've been bleeding for a while. Look." He stepped back, allowing her to see out on the walkway.
Bloody footsteps. "Gomen-nassai. I'll clean the mess as soon as I can cat-"
"You won't. I'll have someone else take care of that." He reached down and picked her up, causing a hiss from her. He looked at her side and frowned. "This is why you went to see Unohana this morning." It was more of a statement than a question, but she nodded all the same. "Did she not tell you to rest for the day?"
"She didn't. I knew, but I couldn't just sit back. I needed to keep busy." She realized who she was talking to and fell silent. She was surprised when they were nearly instantly there.
"Unohana-san." He spoke as he opened the door. Isane was there, Unohana was nowhere in sight. "I'm sorry, she's gone out. What's happened?" She looked at the blood that trailed down Byakuya's white haori and stood quickly, walking over. "She was injured yesterday. She had it healed, but failed to rest for the day." Isane shook her head. "Please, Taicho, bring her in here." She was taken to the next room, laid out on a table and hissed as the haori was removed. Byakuya looked, sighing at the sight of her wound. "What happened?"
"I was hit by a Quincy arrow." Byakuya shifted, Aoi felt anger flow from him, though his face didn't change. "I destroyed the Menos he was aiming for."
"This is going to hurt." Isane whispered as she set the light.
What was said about it hurting was a deranged understatement. Isane ended out cutting half of her side away, regrowing what she could as she could. "Quincy arrows have a tendency to keep injuring after the healing is done. The only way to completely heal the wound is to remove it and regrow. Byakuya-sama, please go home. This may not get done tonight." Byakuya stood back, but didn't turn. "I'll stay with my Fukutaicho."
Isane nodded as if this were a regular occurrence. She went to work. Removing the area a little at a time then growing it back. Each cut took about three minutes to make, about half an hour to heal.
It was indeed nearly seven the next morning when the task was completed.
Byakuya thanked Isane before picking up Aoi and left.
After the lack of sleep, trying her best to keep from screaming every time she cut, and everything else, Aoi fell asleep as soon as she was lifted.
She woke around four that evening, surprised to find two things. First, there was a bowl of soup and a mug of tea on a small stand beside the futon. Second, she wasn't in her own house.
She walked to the door and opened it, finding a maid outside her door. "Oh, Milady, you're finally awake!" She smiled and Aoi smiled back. "Where am I"
"My house." She turned to see Byakuya walking to her. "Taicho, that wasn't necessary. I'm sorry to intrude." Byakuya looked at her and sighed. "You're barely holding yourself up. Go back to bed." She stepped back, waited a few minutes till she was sure he was gone and re-opened the door. "Where's the restroom?"
She was surprised to hear that Byakuya had gone to work, and had ordered his house staff to watch and protect her, mostly from herself. She knew, the instant that the maid came in with another mug of tea and onigiri that she wouldn't be allowed to leave that day. She ate quietly and laid down, going back to sleep.
It was around seven that evening, Aoi was starting to go stir crazy. She wasn't used to being inside for a whole day. She had talked the staff into letting her sit by the door, at least it was outside. She could see the sky.
"Aoi, you were ordered to rest." She turned, Byakuya standing beside her. Wow, he was fast. "I've never had a day where I didn't see the sky. I was used to being inside for five or six hours while I slept." She looked up at the sky, looking at the clouds.
Byakuya sat beside her, looking out as well. Aoi looked over, smiling, before looking back out. "Did I miss anything important?" He remained quiet for a moment before responding. "No."
"You're really talkative, aren't you?" She smiled, her eyes still watching the clouds. "I see no reason to talk about useless things." Aoi nodded. That was fair enough. She decided on a change of topic.
"I've heard that you make your Fukutaicho take random classes." Byakuya looked over, just for a second before looking back out. "Random?"
"Calligraphy was the one mentioned." She nearly giggled as she remembered the conversation. "There is a lot of paperwork involved in my class and Renji doesn't have the most legible handwriting." Aoi nodded. "I think it's great. Sometimes after being introduced to something, even something you believed you had no interest in, you find that it's more interesting than you'd believed."
She glanced over, finding Byakuya looking at her. "That, I'll agree with." She smiled before standing. "If it's alright with you, I'd like to go back to my quarters. It's less... uncomfortable." Byakuya looked almost confused. "You don't like the room?"
"No, it's not that, it's just..." She couldn't speak. Nothing came out of her mouth, even though her mind was screaming out reasons. He was so difficult!
"If there's no reason, then your request is denied. It will just be until Unohana has a clears you for work." Aoi nodded. "Is there a time estimation?"
"Three days. It would have been done today if you'd told me about the wound when you got here." He looked at her and started to stand. "Byakuya-Taicho?"
He looked down at her, looking up at him. "Please, don't leave yet. I'm still not used to being alone after being here." Byakuya stilled.
"You want my company?" She could hear the surprise in his voice. He wasn't used to that.
"Yes, just for a little while longer." She smiled up at him, almost surprised when he actually sat back down.