Chapter 12

"Look at that Captain! Isn't that sweet?"

"Well, at least it has blackmail potential."

"Oh, don't be such a meanie!"

"I'm no meanie. It never hurts to have good blackmail on some people."

"You are. Oh look, he's tightening his hold around her. That is so romantic!"

"No, it's called possessiveness."

"That's the same. You think we should wake them? They look so peaceful."

"Well, they won't look peaceful if Kurosaki finds them like this."

"That's true."

"Would you two shut up!"

"Oh, he's awake."

"No wonder with you squealing around the whole time."

"I didn't squeal. Okay, a little but not that much."

"Make them go away!"

"See, now you woke her too with your squealing."

"I didn't squeal this time. It was your nagging that woke her."

"I don't nag. It's called constructive criticism."

"Both of you, get out!"

"See, now your nagging made him angry. Don't be angry, Renji. You know my Captain can't help but nag around all the time."

"I've told you I don't nag!"

"You so do, Captain!"

"I'm going to kill them!"

"Now she is angry too. Good job, Matsumoto."

"It wasn't my fault! I didn't do anything."

"Toshiro, move it!"

"Sorry, but you have to get up if you don't want to explain this here to Ichigo. He wanted to come over and we thought it a good idea to give you a heads-up just in case. Looks like we were right."

"Of course I was right. I said we would find them both here."

"No, you said we would find them somewhere completely naked."

"He is at least half naked. And she is wearing his shirt. That counts."

"Renji, make them go away."

"I would love to but they are like cockroaches. No way to get rid of them."

"Oi, watch your mouth."

"Watch yours. Outside!"

"Down boys! Okay. Tatsuki, get off your boy-toy and change into something that doesn't look like it belongs to the guy you just slept with. Renji, get up and put on some cloths. Captain, you make some coffee and I'll do the clean up in the meantime. Ichigo should be here in half an hour."

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

One day he would kill them both.

He felt Tatsuki move on top of him but he didn't let go of her.

"Renji, cut the crap! Let go of her or I will tell everyone about that little incident you had in the Fourth with Isane!" Rangiku said in a stern voice and his eyes flew open at her words.

He instantly let go of Tatsuki and hurried to get up.

"Don't you dare!" he growled, his head trying to explode from the sudden movement.

"Try me. Now move it."

He looked around to see her standing at the foot of the couch with her arms crossed under her ample chest. Toshiro stood next to her, an evil grin plastered on his face.

Resigning himself to his fate he slowly made his way into the bedroom with a hangover straight from hell.

What the fuck was going on here?

One moment he was happily sleeping on his couch with a small woman tugged against him, and next he hears these two bickering.

Wait!

Why had he been sleeping on his couch with Tatsuki in his arms? They were friends!

The door of his bathroom opened to show him Tatsuki standing there in her shihakusho, her hair left open and her eyes squeezed shut in pain.

"I will never again drink that much." she mumbled under her breath while slowly walking towards him.

His head was spinning. Why was she here? And why had they drank together?

She now stood before him, one hand holding her head.

"Please tell me you have some pain meds here?"

He could only nod, his mind still trying to come up with some explanations.

Okay, obvious they had drunk together last night. And they must have fallen asleep on the couch. But why had she worn his shirt?

"Where do I find them?"

What? Oh, pain meds. She wanted pain meds.

"I'll get them." he told her and almost stumbled into his bathroom to get the meds he stored in the cabinet there.

When he entered the bathroom he stopped dead in his track at the sight of his tub being filled with water and the towel carelessly thrown on the ground.

It all came back at once.

The Kuchiki mansion. Her being trapped in her Inner World. Him taking her home. The bath. Their talk in the kitchen. Him lying on the couch with her sitting on his stomach.

And the Sake. Lots of Sake.

He was relieved to know that nothing had happened between them. They had decided to be friends and friends don't just sleep with each other.

"Renji?"

Her voice brought him back to reality and he shook his head before he got the meds and went back to her.

She was now sitting on the edge of his bed, her head in her hands.

"Here. Take two." he handed her the pills and went for his dresser to get a uniform.

"Thank you, Renji. For everything." she suddenly whispered and he turned to look at her.

She still sat there but was looking away from him.

Acting on impulse he went over to her and knelled down, his hand cupping her cheek to make her look at him.

"Listen, Sweetheart. There is no need for you to thank me. I'm always here for you, you hear me? No matter what, I'll be there." he said with as much sincerity as possible.

If he hadn't been already on his knees, he would be after she finally looked at him with tears glistering in her dark blue eyes.

"Oi, Renji! You should hurry up. Ichigo is coming." Toshiro called from the other room.

Sighing, he swiped away the lone tear that had escaped her eyes.

"You're alright?" he asked her quietly.

"Yeah."

She took his hand and gave it a light squeeze before letting go. He got back up and watched her leave the room.

He had no idea what to think or feel. His head told him one thing and his heart another.

Sighing again he put on his shihakusho and haori before he pulled his hair back into it's usual ponytail.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

She stepped back into the living room where she found Toshiro and Rangiku sitting on the couch, both sipping from their mugs. The smell of fresh coffee hung heavy in the air and her hungover mind and body began to finally wake up.

Toshiro pointed in the direction of the kitchen without saying a word, just smirking behind the white mug in his hand.

She had just purred some into her mug when she heard the front door open and the chaos started.

"I will not stay there, Kurosaki- kun! I will treat them but I won't stay with them!"

"Would you calm down, Inoue? There is nothing I can do. The old man made his decision. And it's not that bad there. Yachiru is there. Look at the bright site. You won't get bored there."

"Bored? Of course not. All I'll be doing is patch them back together while trying to stay alive! And I am happy to see Yachiru again but I don't have to stay there to see her.

"No one will hurt you there, okay? Even Kenpachi isn't that suicidal. The Head-Captain gave you into his care. So he is responsible for your safety."

"Orihime, Ichigo is right. Nothing will happen to you there. And most people from the Eleventh are really nice. Everyone in Seireitei knows you and no one will dare to lay a finger on you."

"Thank you Rukia, but it doesn't change the fact that I don't get why the Head-Captain insisted on me staying there."

"He thinks you'll be able to teach Kenpachi some manners."

"Yeah, right. No one is able to do that. We are talking about Kenpachi Zaraki."

"I know that, Kurosaki- kun. That's why I don't get why I still should stay there."

Tatsuki stepped around the corner now holding her own mug. What she saw made her laugh.

Toshiro and Rangiku were still sitting on the couch, nursing their mugs while Orihime was marching up and down with her arms flying all around her. Rukia stood on the other side of the room looking through Renji's shelves that held all kinds of books. Ichigo was right next to Orihime trying to calm her down while at the same time running his hands through his hair. But what made all this even more amusing was Renji's utterly confused look when he stepped out of his bedroom.

So far no one had noticed them and when his eyes landed on her she motioned him to come to her.

He did and when they were both in the kitchen she turned to purr him some coffee.

"What is going on here?" he asked confused.

She turned back towards him, handing him the steaming mug.

"Obviously the Head-Captain decided that Orihime will be the Eleventh Division personal medic and that she will stay there for the time so she can teach Captain Zaraki some manners. She is upset because of this, Ichigo is trying to calm her down while being pissed about the whole thing himself and Rukia tries to stay out of it since she knows that there is nothing they can change. And Rangiku and Toshiro obviously are having a fun time watching all this." she summarized for him and by the disbelieving look on his face she could tell that his thoughts were very similar to hers.

"Okay, all we need is bread, sweet bean paste, butter and cheese." was all she said before she turned towards his fridge and started to rummage through it.

Luckily she found everything and started to put it together.

"Do I even want to know what you are doing?" Renji asked from behind her.

"Saving our sanity. Watch and learn."

Taking the sandwich she had just made she walked back into the living room.

Nothing had changed in the last five minutes. Orihime was still ranting with flying limbs, Ichigo trying to talk her into calming down, Rukia arranging the books, Toshiro and Rangiku staring at the ranting pair with grins on their faces.

She walked up to her best friend and stuffed the sandwich into her mouth in the middle of her rant. Silence filled the room while all eyes grew wide at her action.

"Just give her something to eat and she will calm down." she said before turning back around to retrieve her cup from Renji.

She sat on the couch and closed her eyes in hopes of the meds finally taking effect.

"Orihime, could you help me get rid of this headache?" she asked after a few moments.

No chance she could live through the day like that.

"Of course. Did you get hurt?"

"Yeah. By lots of alcohol."

The orange glow of Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka surrounded her and she instantly felt the pain ebb away.

"Why did you do that?" her friend asked a little accusing.

"I just had a very bad day yesterday." she mumbled in relief.

"Oh, what happened?"

"Nothing major. When did you arrive here?" she asked to distract her friend from the other topic.

"Just a few hours ago. Kurosaki- kun picked me up and took me to the Head-Captain."

The glow vanished and she felt like a human being again with her hangover gone.

She opened her eyes and saw that everyone had taken a seat. Renji and Rukia sat next to her with Ichigo sitting on the arm of the couch. Orihime had taken a seat beside Rangiku.

"Okay, Renji, Ichigo. We have to get going. The Head-Captain wants to continue the meeting from yesterday." Toshiro said while getting up.

She looked over at Renji and saw the pained expression there at the prospect of that meeting while suffering of a hangover.

Rukia must have seen it too as she suddenly grabbed Ichigo by the arm and dragged the protesting Captain out of the apartment.

Orihime looked around in confusion until her gaze met hers and she nodded her head into Renji's direction. Realization dawned on the strawberry blond's face and as soon as the door closed behind the bickering pair the orange glow engulfed Renji.

His face was priceless in that moment as his hungover brain hadn't processed what was going on so far.

Within seconds his facial muscles relaxed in relief as the pain lessened.

"Thank you." he said when the glow vanished and he got up to join the still smirking Toshiro at the door.

"No problem, Abarai- kun."

He gave her one last look and the two left, leaving her alone with Orihime and Rangiku.

"You know Tatsuki, you should tell Kurosaki- kun about you and Abarai- kun." Orihime said as soon as the men had left.

Sighing she got up to get herself another coffee, speaking on her way to the kitchen.

"There is nothing to tell him. Renji and I are just friends. But you know how protective Ichigo can be and I just don't want to have to deal with him throwing a tantrum."

It was the truth. No need to wake a sleeping dog with no reason.

The front door opened again and she heard Rukia coming back.

"All right. Enough of that drama. Rangiku, we have to go. The Lieutenant's meeting remember?" the small dark haired woman said.

Tatsuki went back into the living room, her coffee in hand. Rangiku had gotten up and was halfway to the door when both stopped.

"Oh, Tatsuki? Could you escort Orihime to the Eleventh? And take your Zanpakuto with you. You should have it with you all the time so your connection with it can get stronger." the busty blonde said before waving over her shoulder.

Shit! She had totally forgotten about her Zanpakuto in all the chaos.

Where was it?

Had she left it at the Kuchiki mansion?

No. Renji had given it to her before they had left. So it had to be somewhere here.

Sprinting into the bathroom she looked around frantically but found no trace of it. The bedroom came next. But there were just Renji's strewn clothes and papers.

The kitchen! They had been in the kitchen for hours last night. Running out of the bedroom she was stopped by Orihime who stood right in front of her with her hands stemmed on her sides.

"What is going on here, Tatsuki? And don't 'nothing' me. I get here after two months to find you again in Abarai- kun's home sporting a nasty hangover and wearing his hairband. You don't greet me or really talk to me and now you are running around like a child who lost his toy. Tell me what is going on!"

Sighing, she pulled the other woman into a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry. I'm searching my Zanpakuto. I don't know were I left it." she mumbled into her friends shoulder, feeling slightly guilty for treating her like that.

"It's okay. I'll help you search it. What does it look like?"

She stepped out of the embrace after Orihime padded her back and took a step back.

"Completely black. Black sheath, black hilt. I still had it when Renji and I got here yesterday." she explained and saw Orihime look around the room.

"You mean this one over there?" she pointed towards the sideboard that stood next to the front door.

She turned and gasped in surprise. There it was resting on Renji's stand, the sun glistering on the shiny black sheath.

Orihime smiled warmly and went over to it.

"Tatsuki? Didn't you say it was completely black?" she asked confused.

"Yes. Why?" now it was her turn to be confused and she slowly walked over to her friend.

"Well, because it isn't."

She could only stare at her sword as it lay there illuminated by the sun. To her defense, it had been dark last night when she had first seen it.

The sheath was completely black like she had said but the black wrappings of the hilt were interlaced with dark red. The tsuba was rectangular with a geometrical pattern and it too was black and dark red.

"Tatsuki, what is going on?" concern was laced into her friends voice and she took a deep breath before she walked back to the couch and sat down.

"I just materialized it yesterday evening and somehow I ended up in my Inner World and had no idea how to get out of there." she said quietly, memories of the darkness around her flashing before her inner eye.

"Oh God. How horrible."

"Yes. Renji got me out of there and then there was some chaos when the Head-Captain came to investigate what was going on."

"Really? The Head-Captain?"

"Yeah. He came and inspected my Zanpakuto." and she told her a short version of last night's events.

"So, basically everyone was burned by your shikai but you, Abarai- kun, Rukia and Kurosaki- kun?"

"Yep. That sums it up. But enough of that. We need to get going."

"Where?"

"Well, I have to get you to the Eleventh and then I have to go over to the Sixth to apologize to Captain Kuchiki. After that I have training with Captain Hisagi." she said and got up, taking all the cups that were left on the table into the kitchen.

"Oh, I see. You really are becoming a shinigami, right?" Orihime sounded sad somehow and she left the cups in the sink to get back to her friend.

"Yes. Why is it bothering you?"

"No, no, it's fine. Really. Come on. Let's go. You have things to do and I have to patch some shinigami back together." she said happily and was out the door before Tatsuki could even utter a single word.

Sighing once again she followed her outside after retrieving her Zanpakuto. It felt weird to have it hanging on her side and she decided to try different ways of carrying it later.

Maybe like Rangiku?

Or Toshiro?

Shaking her head she caught up to her friend and together they walked through the streets of Seireitei, talking about nothing special.

When they arrived at the gates of the Eleventh Division they were greeted by a rough looking shinigami stepping before them.

"What do you want here, women?" he growled and she instinctively pulled Orihime behind herself.

"We are here to see Captain Zaraki by orders of the Head-Captain." she said sternly and looked the man straight in the eyes. She didn't take bullshit from guys like this.

"The Head-Captain? Well, too bad. The Captain is currently training." the man grinned.

"And where is the problem?" she asked head on.

"No one without a death wish disturbs the Captain while he is training."

"Tatsuki, maybe we should..."

"Step aside and let us pass." she interrupted her friend.

It had been the Head-Captain's order that someone escorts Orihime here and hands her over to Captain Zaraki. She had been given the order by Rangiku, who was a Lieutenant. She would follow that order.

"It's your death, woman. Have fun!" the man grinned but let them pass.

She could feel Captain Zaraki's reiatsu and followed it until they reached what looked like some training grounds.

"Tatsuki, I don't think that is such a good idea." Orihime whispered behind her, sounding distressed.

"It's okay. No one will harm us. Everyone knows that I am friends with four Captains and at four Lieutenant's and a lot of other seated officers and you are much the same. Trust me, even the manics of this Squad aren't that crazy. There we are."

It wasn't like her to boost around her connections with the Captains and Lieutenants but if it helped to reassure Orihime she would do it.

They were standing on a small hill overlooking the training grounds. She saw a lot of shinigami down there wielding their swords but one stood out like an elephant between a horde of sheep.

Captain Zaraki was an imposing figure. His height alone was enough to make her take a step back. But it was the crazy aura he had that made her almost fear him.

But she wouldn't let herself be intimidated like that. Straightening her back she took Orihime by the hand and pulled her with her. Never leaving him out of her sight she marched over the field, the training shinigami stepping out of her way and stopping to stare after her. She only stopped when they stood a few feed away from his gigantic form, his back turned to them.

"Captain Zaraki, I am Tatsuki Arisawa from Squad 7 and I am here by orders of the Head-Captain to give Orihime Inoue into your care for the next six weeks." she said in her most authoritative voice.

The Captain slowly turned around to look down at them, a crazy look on his face.

"So you came, woman. And you even brought your Zanpakuto. Fantastic! Let's fight!" he laughed like the maniac he was and drew his sword.

She felt panic rising but pushed it down.

"Captain, I am not here to fight you. My orders are to escort Inoue- san and give her into your care."

"I've heard you the first time, woman. Now draw your sword and let's see what you can do with it."

"I won't repeat myself, Captain. I will not fight you."

Gods, she was dead! She was crazy coming here alone without any of the others.

"Captain Zaraki, I really would appreciate it if you could refrain from fighting Arisawa- san." Orihime suddenly said sweetly from behind her and when she turned to look at her friend she took a step back.

She had the look in her eyes. The look she only used on the stubborn patients in the hospital. The look that gave you no other choice but to do what she says.

It was a truly frightening look.

Captain Zaraki looked over at her and his facial expression changed instantly, a resigned look entering his eyes.

"Ah, whatever. Oi, Yachiru! Take your friend here and give her a room to stay." he yelled and a pink haired girl came running from between the trees that lined one side of the field.

"Jiggles!" the girl called and tackled Orihime to the ground.

"Yachiru! How are you?"

"I'm fine! Ken- chan said you will be staying with us. That is so great! We'll have lot's of fun riding on Ken- chan's back together again!"

"Of course. Wait a moment. I just need to say good bye to Tatsuki." she turned around to look at Tatsuki who was a little dumbstruck to say at least. This Squad was completely nuts.

"See you later?"

"Sure. Take care and if you need something just come and get me." she said before hugging her friend.

"I will. Have fun training and don't get hurt, okay?"

"I'll try. See you later." and with that she looked after the retreating forms of Orihime and what was obviously Ichigo's and Renji's little pink devil.

"You wanna stay here all day woman or fight me?"

She turned to the Captain with a stern expression. Could he think of anything else but fighting?

"Captain Zaraki, I will not fight you. But rest assured that if anything happens to Orihime I will come back and show you what I am capable off." she had no idea where that came from and inwardly slapped herself for the idiocy of threatening this maniac.

But he just started laughing so loud it echoed over the whole field.

"I like you, little girl. You've got balls. Come back anytime you want." was all he said before turning around and walking away.

She stood there for a moment longer, surprised to still be alive.

Shaking her head she turned to get out of this place only to find all the members of this Squad starring at her in a mixture of shock and admiration. She ignored them and quickly walked through their lines and out of this madhouse.

Orihime would have her hands full with them but she believed in her friend and if one person was capable of handling them it was Orihime.

A smile on her lips, she made her way to her next destination. Squad 6.

Nervously stepping into the hall of the Sixth Division she made her way towards the Captain's office.

Would he accept her apology?

Would he be angry for all the trouble she had caused him?

She was standing in front of his office's door and hesitated.

What if he didn't accept her apology?

But musing wasn't her style. Taking a deep breath and straightening her spine she gave the door a loud knock.

"Enter." she heard his deep voice and did so.

He was sitting behind his desk writing without looking up.

She closed the door behind her and took a step forward.

"Hello Captain Kuchiki. If you don't mind I would like to apologize for the events I've caused yesterday evening." she said in a steady voice and bowed deeply.

It was silent for a moment before she heard him lay down his brush.

"There is no need to apologize, Arisawa- san. The events were not intentionally brought on by you."

She straightened back up and looked at him to see him lean back in his chair, arms crossed in front of his chest.

"I didn't but I still feel the need to apologize for causing you such inconvenience. I..."

"Arisawa- san. It is fine. I am just pleased that you recovered. Captain Abarai took good care of you?"

She had to fight the slight blush that threatened her cheeks at the memories of them bathing together and drinking afterward. Oh and don't forget the plans of putting his sister into a closet with Ichigo to get them into a compromising situation.

"He did, Sir. And I am fully recovered."

He just nodded and kept looking at her with this unreadable expression. She wanted to look away but didn't.

"May I ask you something?"

"Of course, Captain."

"What exactly happened yesterday?"

Closing her eyes for a second she took a deep breath and told him in detail.

When she finished the room fell silent and she saw him thinking about all she had just told him.

"So you were able to hear your Zanpakuto?" he suddenly asked.

"I think so. That is the only explanation I can come up with." she said truthfully.

That voice she had heard right before she was sucked into her Inner World must have been her Zanpakuto.

"This is indeed a positive surprise. Usually it takes a shinigami years to get into contact with his Zanpakuto."

"I know, Sir."

"You should meditate on a daily base in order to strengthen this bond."

"I will." she answered with a slightly unsteady voice.

The thought of going back into her dark Inner World was frightening and she could feel the panic rising again.

"Are you afraid of your Zanpakuto, Arisawa- san?" his voice pulled her out of her near panic.

"No, Sir. It's not my Zanpakuto."

"Then what it is?"

Should she tell him? Nobody besides Renji knew of her fear but somehow it felt like she could trust him to not look down at her because of it. Somehow she knew that Captain Kuchiki wouldn't judge her.

"It's my Inner World, Sir. It was completely dark with no light at all."

He looked at her for a long time, his face unreadable.

"You are afraid of the darkness?" he asked after what felt like an eternity.

She could only nod, feeling too ashamed of her fear.

"Arisawa- san, never be ashamed of your fears or they will only get stronger until they control your life. Every single human is afraid of something but only those that overcome their fear instead of being ruled by it can live with inner peace.

Do you know how our Inner Worlds come into existence? What forms them?"

She stared at him wide eyed, shaking her head.

"Our Inner Worlds are partly controlled by our feelings. Most times it is the weather that changes with our moods. But sometimes there are different changes. Gravity, smells, small things like flowers withering, sounds can change as well. Or as I assume in your case, light.

And our Zanpakuto have to live with these changes as they can't control them. You are the only one that can change that."

Wow. She had no idea what to say. No one had told her that until now. Okay, she knew that this topic was a highly personal one and it wasn't something people usually talked about.

So why was he telling her all this?

"So all I have to do is cheer up and the light turns on?" she asked disbelieving. It couldn't be that simple.

"Basically, yes. But it is more a matter of your soul. Something is troubling your soul and this is responsible for an imbalance in your Inner World causing the changes. The reason for this is different for everyone. But if you can restore the balance the changes will reverse."

He said that all like it was something so easy to accomplish but she had no idea how she should do that.

Was there even something troubling her so greatly that it could cause something like that?

She didn't know and right know it felt like her head was reeling with all the new information she had gotten.

She needed time to think.

Straightening her back she bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Captain Kuchiki. I will think about everything you've told me." she said sincerely.

"It was my pleasure, Arisawa- san. If you have any other questions to this matter feel free to ask me." he said while he got up.

"Thank you, Sir." and with that she left his office.