Ryuji's Feelings

Seireitei,

"I see them!", Said one of the Shinigamis who were running towards an unconscious Kira Izuru and other Shinigami.

"On to them! Faster!", Another one of them said as they all sped up to Kira.

"L-Lieutenant Kira?!", The Shinigami, 3rd seat of Squad 3, Riku Togakushi, noted in shock while standing near Kira.

"He has even defeated our Lieutenant?!", Another Shinigami asked in shock.

"Not just that! He has defeated all the others too!", Another Shinigami yelled as he pointed out to the other Shinigamis who were on the ground, passed out.

"Get all of them up! Let's call Squad 4 for medical assistance! See if anyone is awake!", Riku ordered.

"Y-Yes!", The other Shinigami said before dispersing to get the unconscious Shinigami up.

'Lieutenant Kira… Is that Ryoka so strong that he can defeat you?', Riku thought.

"Hey! This one's conscious!", A Shinigami yelled out loud.

"What?! Where is he?!", Riku asked as he ran to that guy.

"Here! He's from our Squad as well!", The Shinigami said, pointing out to a bruised-up man with raven hair holding a Katana i.e., Ryuji.

"Did you check it thoroughly?", Riku asked.

"Yes! Look at this!", The Shinigami showed the symbol of Squad 3 imprinted on the Shihakusho of Ryuji.

"Alright! Hey! Wake up! Who did this?!", Riku asked Ryuji while tapping his cheeks a little.

"Hmm…Togakushi?", Ryuji shifted a little before opening his eyes and looking at Riku.

"Yes… It's me! Listen to me! What happened?!", Riku asked Ryuji.

"The Ryoka named Ryuji… L-Lieutenant Kira, me, and the others… went to engage with him. H-He knocked us out and… defeated L-Lieutenant.", Ryuji replied with a scared face while taking breaths between words.

"Do you remember how the Ryoka looked?", Riku asked Ryuji.

"Sir… He's beat me to death… How could I ever forget him… I remember him, sir… I remember him from head to toe…", Ryuji replied while taking breaths between words again.

"Get Lieutenant to Squad 4's barracks to get medicinal help and get him to our barracks. Tell 4th seat to gather the information about the Ryoka.", Riku ordered pointing to Ryuji.

"Hai!", The other Shinigami responded before picking up Ryuji.

"M-My Z-Zanpakuto!", Ryuji pointed to the Katana that fell off.

"Keep it close! We'll get help as soon as we can!", One of the Shinigami replied, keeping the Katana over Ryuji's chest.

"T-Thank you…", Ryuji replied weakly, holding on to the Katana and letting the Shinigami carry him away.

Barracks of Squad 3,

The Shinigamis carried Ryuji by his arms and legs. They brought him inside the barracks and placed him on the ground. The 4th seat of Squad 3, who was checking his blade, noticed them bring Ryuji in. He sheathed his Zanpakuto and walked to the Shinigamis. He took a look at the barely conscious Ryuji, holding the Katana.

"Who is this?", The 4th seat asked the others.

"Lieutenant Kira and the other Shinigamis who went to engage the Ryoka were defeated and rendered unconscious.", The other Shinigami replied.

"What?! That's impossible!", The 4th seat said in shock.

"That's what we all thought… But what we say is true.", Another Shinigami replied.

"Only this guy is conscious enough to tell us who that Ryoka is…", One Shinigami said pointing to Ryuji.

"Get up!", The 4th seat ordered as he picked up Ryuji by his Shihakusho and held him up.

"Huh…", Ryuji let out a deep breath as he shook to consciousness.

"Have you seen the Ryoka?!", The 4th seat asked Ryuji.

"Huh? Y-Yes…Yes.", Ryuji replied while stuttering in fear.

"How tall would he be?", The 4th seat asked.

"M-My height…", Ryuji replied in the same manner.

"How fair would his skin tone be?", The 4th seat asked.

"M-My skin tone…", Ryuji replied in the same manner.

"How old would he be?", The 4th seat asked Ryuji.

"M-My age…", Ryuji replied.

"Did he give his name?", The 4th seat asked.

"Y-Yes.", Ryuji replied.

"He did? What name? What name did he say? Tell me! What name?!", The 4th seat yelled out in frustration.

The scared stuttering lips of Ryuji gained energy and turned upwards, resuming a smirk. The eyes that bore fear shone with confidence. The very terrified face of him emanated a sense of triumph. Overall, Ryuji knocked off the hands that the 4th seat had on him and stood tall like a boss.

"His name is Ryuji…Kurosaki Ryuji.", Ryuji told 4th seat with a smirk.

"…", The 4th seat looked at his subordinates in shock.

"I hope the identities I gave matched.", Ryuji asked as he pointed to himself.

"Y-You are…", The 4th seat started.

"You asked all that but forgot one thing… How powerful would he be?", Ryuji asked the 4th seat.

"Get him!", The 4th ordered his subordinate, who attacked Ryuji.

Ryuji ducked the slash and caught the subordinate's arm. He pulled the subordinate toward him and caught the back of his head. In a flick of a second, he bashed his head into the wall of the barracks, causing a hole in it.

"…", The 4th seat looked at this in shock.

"This is a sample of his power.", Ryuji said with a smirk.

"Raaawwwrrr!", The other Shinigami roared as they came at him with their Zanpakuto.

"Hmm…", Ryuji pulled out the Katana i.e., his Zanpakuto that transformed into its original size and blocked all other Zanpakuto.

"W-What the?", The 4th seat exclaimed in shock.

"Get off… Hado #31. Shakkaho!", Ryuji said in annoyance before blasting all those Shinigami away with Kido.

"Ryoka! How dare you challenge me, 4th seat of Squad 3, in my own barracks?!", The 4th seat asked in rage.

"Oh, Kami! How foolish of me to challenge the 4th seat of 'Squad 3' in Squad 3 barracks!", Ryuji mocked him.

"You B***ard!", The 4th seat cursed as he drew his Zanpakuto, launched himself into the air, and swung his Zanpakuto on Ryuji.

"Hmm…", Ryuji smirked as he blocked the swing with his Zanpakuto.

"Tch.", The 4th seat twitched his lips in frustration and he jumped back and landed on the ground.

"Begone…", Ryuji said with a smirk as he appeared behind him.

"Huh?!", The 4th seat looked back in shock as he saw Ryuji use a Kido on him before losing consciousness.

….

….

….

"Damn… The injuries from Kira hurt… Must find some medicine.", Ryuji told himself, looking at the injury on his shoulder.

"Hmf…hmm…", One of the Shinigami moaned as he regained consciousness a little.

"Hey… Do you know where I can get medicine?", Ryuji asked him.

"What?", The Shinigami asked in confusion.

"Do you know where I can get medicine?", Ryuji asked with intensity as he picked him up and held him up close.

"I-I-In the B-B-Barracks of S-S-Squad 4!", The Shinigami replied in fear.

"Hm…", Ryuji hummed in acceptance before knocking him out.

"…", The Shinigami fell like a tree that had been cut.

"Now… How do I get into Squad 4's Barracks?", Ryuji asked himself as he looked at the door of Squad 3's barracks.

Barracks of Squad 4,

Squad 4…

The Division is the medical/supply division. They are responsible for both treating the injured and doing most of the manual labor, such as cleaning the Seireitei. Members of Squad 4 administer emergency first aid to injured division members and transports them to the General Emergency Relief Station. This Division is further divided into teams that have specific assigned jobs. While other division members use their spiritual power only for fighting, members of the 4th Division possess spiritual powers that are used to tend to wounds and provide relief.

Like all the other barracks, the 4th Division Barracks house the offices and living quarters of the Shinigami of the 4th. However, the 4th Division Barracks also houses the Sogo Kyugo Tsumesho (Coordinated Relief Station), which is the primary medical facility of the Seireitei and Soul Society at large.

"Move aside! Move aside!", Shinigamis shouted as they brought in the members of Squad 3 inside the Sogo Kyugo Tsumesho on stretchers.

"Ah… Be careful!", Other members warned them.

"Sorry!", One of the Shinigamis apologized as he placed the injured Shinigami on beds.

"Please place the new patients on the beds here…", A woman respectfully told them.

"Lieutenant Kotetsu… These members of Squad 3 were injured by Ryoka!", A Shinigami belonging to Squad 3 informed her.

"Alright! We'll treat them with the best of our efforts.", Isane replied to them.

"He's injured too… Please send him to the ground after patching him up! I'll go help the others!", The Shinigami said, pointing to Ryuji, who stood next to him.

"Hm…", Isane nodded as the Shinigami ran off.

"…", Ryuji watched the Shinigami runoff.

"Now, shall we get you injured healed?", Isane asked Ryuji, taking in his appearance.

She noticed Ryuji's coal-black eyes that shone with confidence. She saw his spiky raven hair which was captivating. She saw his handsome face shaped like was sculpted by the gods. She saw his body, very well-built and sexy. She saw his arms, strong like the pillars of heaven's palace. Most of all, that sexy smirk of his is what captivated her.

'H-He's so handsome…', Isane thought to herself as she blushed a little.

"Please…", Ryuji replied to her, holding his shoulder, before taking inside her appearance.

Isane was a tall and well-endowed young-looking woman with grey eyes and short messy silver hair with strands on the right side of her face that are shoulder-length and styled as two thin braids, with two more on the back of her head. She wore a thin dangling red earring on each ear and a standard Shinigami Shihakusho with her lieutenant badge on her left arm.

'She's… gentle and pretty.', Ryuji thought to himself.

"P-Please follow me.", Isane said as she took him with herself.

"…", Ryuji followed her to a room where many Shinigamis were admitted, especially Kira.

'It's good that he's still unconscious…', Ryuji thought to himself with a sigh.

"What are you doing, Isane?", A female voice was heard from behind.

"…", Ryuji turned around with Isane to see who it was.

"Ah! Captain Unohana… This Shinigami was injured during the battle with the Ryoka. I brought him here to tend to them.", Isane noted and explained as she saw the woman.

"Is that so? Then, make him sit on that chair. I'll take a look at him.", Unohana told Isane with a kind voice as she looked Ryuji up and down.

"Ah! It's not much of a hassle for Captain to get involved.", Isane told Unohana.

"It's alright, Isane. I am a Captain but I'm also a healer.", Unohana told Isane.

"…", Ryuji took in Unohana's appearance while she conversed with Isane.

Unohana had the appearance of a slender and very youthful woman with blue eyes and black hair. She wears the standard Shinigami captain Shihakusho apart from using an obi instead of the normal sash, which hides her well-endowed bosom. Her hair is long and is always worn as a large braid down the front of her body.

'She's… kind and beautiful. But, I can feel that she's hiding something… Something sinister.', Ryuji thought to himself, looking at Unohana's smile.

"Hai! Please sit down.", Isane told Ryuji.

"Hmm…", Ryuji nodded before sitting down.

"Now… I will be removing the top half of your Shihakusho.", Unohana told Ryuji.

"No need… I'll remove it right now, Captain Unohana.", Ryuji said as he pulled down the top, showing off his muscles, built quite well for a teenager.

'He's…', Isane thought to herself while blushing.

'Ara Ara… This is interesting.', Unohana thought to herself with a smile to herself.

"…", Ryuji looked at the two.

"Ara Ara… This is a troublesome injury.", Unohana noted before starting to heal Ryuji.

'Incredible… To think that she could heal me this fast… She must be one hell of a Kido master.', Ryuji thought to himself as he witnessed his injuries disappear in Unohana's healing.

"We're done here… You can-", Unohana's statement was interrupted by Kira coughing violently.

"Kira-kun!", Isane called out as she and Unohana went to check on him.

*cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough*, Izuru coughed up again and again before opening his eyes.

"Kira-kun! Are you alright?!", Isane asked as she held him.

"Let me take a look…", Unohana said as she kept a hand on Izuru's head.

"What is it, Captain Unohana?", Isane asked Unohana.

"It's just a side-effect of the attack he took. He will be alright with this…", Unohana replied while starting the healing process.

"Thank goodness… It seems that he is okay… Where did he go?", Isane noted with a sigh before around to find no sight of Ryuji.

"Hmm…", Unohana hummed as she went into deep thought.

Somewhere else,

Ryuji moved from building to building, sneaking away from Shinigamis. The routine has become a bit boring for him. Also, despite being healed, he needed to rest as the sky had started to show the true color of the universe. Ryuji looked down at his hand, holding the medicine that he stole from Squad 4 barracks. With a smirk to himself in the success of his plan, he sped up more.

"Ryuji…", Yoruichi called him from behind.

"Yoruichi…", Ryuji noted as he stopped in his tracks.

"It was very clever of you, beating up nearly 1/3 of Squad 3, including its Lieutenant and 4th seat by using their own identity.", Yoruichi told Ryuji.

"Thanks…", Ryuji replied with a smirk.

"But… You must be careful. The more people see your face, the easier it is for them to find and attack you.", Yoruichi warned Ryuji.

"Do you think I didn't consider that fact? Why do you think I went to Squad 4 WITH the 3rd seat of Squad 3?", Ryuji asked Yoruichi with a triumphant smirk.

"What do you mean?", Yoruichi asked Ryuji.

"Except Kira, every Shinigami I've fought was knocked out. It'd take them some time for them to wake up. At that time, I cemented my fake Identity as a member of Squad 3 by entering the Squad 4 barracks with the 3rd seat of Squad 3, the decision-making authority if both captain and Lieutenant were unavailable.", Ryuji started.

"Giving you a cover that is believed at the face of it. That's quite some planning…", Yoruichi praised Ryuji.

"Thanks… Now that I have the medicine… It's time we move forward, towards Kuchiki Rukia.", Ryuji stated, looking at the Senzaikyu, the prison where Rukia was held.

"That is true… But first, there is something we need to talk about.", Yoruichi told Ryuji with a serious face.

"What?", Ryuji asked Yoruichi.

"You're fighting style… It's more aggressive than before… Usually, you wait for your opponent to throw his guard down and attack. But, against Kira, the 4th seat, or the other Shinigami, you were so offensive. That was not like you.", Yoruichi noted to Ryuji.

"What about it?", Ryuji asked Yoruichi, looking her straight in the eye.

"I see...", Yoruichi noted looking Ryuji deep in the eye.

"Yoruichi…", Ryuji spelled the name with a warning tone.

"You're hurt. And you're beating them up to forget it.", Yoruichi continued.

"Yoruichi!", Ryuji spelled with her name again more intensity.

"I know Kukaku breaking up with you is painful but-", Yoruichi's statement was interrupted.

"YORUICHI", Ryuji said sharply, startling Yoruichi a little.

"…", Yoruichi could feel the pain and anger inside Ryuji's eyes.

"…", Ryuji sighed before walking inside the Storage room next to them.

"…", Yoruichi followed him silently.

"…", Ryuji sat on a soft material on the boxes and relaxed.

"…", Yoruichi made her way next to him and sat there.

"Yoruichi…", Ryuji said as he patted Yoruichi, making her go *meow*.

"What?", Yoruichi asked, enjoying his pats.

"It hurts…", Ryuji said, closing his eye.

"I know… But, focus on the task at hand for now… Ichigo needs you… Also, make sure to get rest. I sense tomorrow being more troublesome.", Yoruichi replied, lying down and closing her eyes.

"Yeah… Good night…", Ryuji told her before closing his eyes.

End of Chapter - 11