Hmmm... nothing much to say this time around.

Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters belong to Tite Kubo. I only have the OCs I've created to spice things up a bit.

Kagami shifted uncomfortably in her bed in the Fourth Division. She was to remain there indefinitely, she'd heard. When left in a hospital room all day, there was nothing to do but listen to what people had to say beyond the door. For example, she knew many of the medics didn't believe she'd ever be able to fight again. Kagami scoffed each time she heard it. They obviously didn't know her very well. She was a fighter, if she did say so herself. Nothing could keep her down for long, not even Hisagi's death or losing her arm.

"She won't be Third Seat anymore, if she can even be a Soul Reaper after this." More whispers permeated the doors to her room and Kagami merely held back a wry laugh. She was Third Seat of the Ninth Division until told otherwise by Head Captain Yamamoto.

"You're dead wrong," she murmured. The thin wooden door was pushed open and Kagami watched as Mika entered the room. The blond woman wore a pleasant smile and was carrying a tray with medical supplies. It must have been time to change her bandages, Kagami figured.

"How are you feeling?" Mika asked pleasantly. It seemed to be her opening phrase every time Kagami saw her. Honestly, it was becoming annoying.

"Same way I was two hours ago." A slight frown crossed Mika's features as Kagami pushed herself into an upright, sitting position. "So, who says I won't be able to keep my position?" Mika's face flushed and her eyes averted to the ground.

"You heard that?"

"Yeah. So, who said it? I'll prove him wrong."

"You won't be fighting anyone for a few weeks, if not months," Mika answered sternly. It took everything in Kagami not to laugh at the feeble attempt at authority.

"Sure thing. Let's just get this over with," she muttered.

Mika sat beside Kagami on the bed and began unwrapping her bandages. Normally, Kagami would have had a problem with her upper body being so exposed. Because this was part of Mika's job, though, she put up with it. Kagami watched as the blood-stained wrappings fell from her body and to the floor. It seemed every move she made reopened the wound a little. She found it highly annoying, knowing it was slowing the healing process. Once all the wrappings were off, Kagami looked at her left shoulder. Bone, blood and jagged tissue were clearly visible, making Kagami almost wished she hadn't looked. It was no better than last time. Mika glanced up at Kagami's face, seeing the frown and narrowed eyes.

"Why do you stare at how badly your wound is if you know it will only upset you?" the medic asked. Kagami didn't take her gaze off her shoulder as she began to speak.

"This is my reminder. My lieutenant died for me. I'm lucky I lost only my arm in that fight. This way, I can remember his sacrifice."

"That's very noble of you."

"Lieutenant Hisagi was nobler."

"I'm sorry for you loss. Were you two close?"

Kagami finally took her eyes away from her wound. "You could say that."

"Well, I'm sure Lieutenant Abarai will get to the bottom of what happened," Mika said reassuringly.

Kagami resisted the urge to shake her head, but a small frown managed to form on her lips. She knew Renji wouldn't get to the bottom of anything if he didn't believe that Tousen was back. There was much more to this than he knew.

"How's his investigation going?" Kagami asked.

"I haven't heard much, but I think someone said he was going to the Rukon District tomorrow. He might be checking out the scene of the attack." Mika had begun wrapping the new bandages on Kagami's shoulder and around her torso.

"Stupid."

"Huh?"

"What does he think he's going to find? The sword is gone."

"You know it's standard procedure."

"I guess, but I know he won't find anything there."

"Who knows?" Mika answered with a shrug. "He may find something you didn't notice during the attack." She continued to wrap Kagami's wound, causing the red-haired Soul Reaper to cringe when the bandages were pulled a little too tightly.

"He just better be careful, or else I'll have to go save his ass," she mumbled with a chuckle.

Mika laughed along with her, thinking it was a joke. Kagami's eyes drifted to stare out the window, at the night sky. The stars were twinkling brightly and the moon was full. It brought her a little more peace of mind as she could remember many nights when she'd watch the skies with her friends during the academy days, when they weren't all cramming for exams together.

"All done," Mika said, pulling Kagami out of her thoughts. "Try to get some rest."

"Yeah," Kagami murmured as Mika left with the dirtied bandages.

As the door shut behind the medic, Kagami couldn't help but wonder how long it'd be before she could fight capably again. She pressed her hand to her left shoulder lightly, wincing at the sharp pain. There was always a dull ache, especially when she moved. The Soul Reapers of the Fourth Division called it Phantom Pain. Kagami often wondered if that was meant as a sick joke, considering all Soul Reapers were technically phantoms.

She worried for Renji, now that she'd heard of his destination for the next day. He wouldn't find anything to lead him to Tousen. He didn't believe Tousen was even alive, and that was where the trouble began. Kagami swore under her breath, knowing her once-close friend would soon hit a dead-end in his investigation; Hisagi's death would be meaningless. She took her hand off her shoulder, clenching it into a tight fist. With a scowl, she tore her gaze away from the night sky, to the kodachi that was leaned against the wall near her bed. It was her zanpakuto. As Kagami stared at the sword, a slight smirk crossed her lips.

'Don't do anything you'll regret when you die.' Hisagi's voice rang in her ears as she slid off the bed and silently walked to her zanpakuto. The white tiles were cool beneath her feet. Kagami lifted the sword from the ground and held it by the sheath.

"I won't regret this."

Please R&R.