Disclaimer: Bleach ain't mine, unfortunately.

Note: You might be happy to hear that future chapters have finally taken form in my head, so you won't have to fear any break in updating soon. Now a new chapter. I hope you don't have to work on sundays, lillithaffect^^. Enjoy!

Chapter 20:

They jumped, when the door opened and Byakuya stepped in. He looked better than before, his face slightly less sallow and without his stained haori.

Renji stood up to offer him his chair, but Byakuya made a sign to stay seated. "I just wanted to check whether you are ready", he said. "I will be back with Unohana-taichou in a minute."

They both sat up very straight and looked at each other with worry.

"When you are ready", spoke Unohana-taichou from the door. "We shall begin."

Byakuya came in after her and with him another healer, carrying two chairs.

Unohana-taichou retrieved a small vial from her shikakusho which was filled with a silvery liquid. She uncorked it and spilled three drops into Shihana's mouth. Then she removed the stasis kido.

"Kuchiki Shihana", she said softly, after her patient had opened her eyes. "You are at the 4th division quarters in Soul Society. I want you to tell me now all that happened since your abduction to Hueco Mundo."

The grey eyes fixed on the healer and seemed to beg her. Unohana-taichou gazed down on the young woman with even more than her usual gentleness. She took one pale hand in hers. "You are save here", she said. "We must know what happened so we can help you set it right. You want to set it right, don't you?"

Shihana nodded. She took a deep breath.

Then, haltingly, she began to recount the night of her capture and the following days in Las Noches. They were silent, four pairs of eyes fixed on her while she talked.

When she told them how Renji had come in, claiming to be there to save her, her eyes travelled around the room and locked on his face.

He tried to force a smile, yet couldn't, because her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Renji felt he was making things only worse for her and was already considering to leave when Byakuya looked at him almost pleadingly. He swallowed hard and constrained himself on listening to Shihana's wavering voice.

When she spoke of Ichimaru Gin's attack and her inability to do anything, her voice had dropped to a barely audible whisper. She started shaking violently and Unohana-taichou had to force her to swallow some blue liquid until she calmed down.

When she was finished, Byakuya looked strained and pale, Rukia merely shocked and Renji balled his fists, barely restraining himself from hitting something. Only Unohana-taichou had the same sad gentle gaze in her eyes she had worn from the beginning.

"Very well done", she said. "Thank you for telling us this. Now, let us begin to set things right. Abarai-kun, please come here."

Renji walked from the foot of the bed, where he had been standing, to Unohana-taichou's side, who sat right beside Shihana's head.

"What you have seen, has merely been an illusion", stated the healer. "Abarai Renji has never been to Hueco Mundo to come for you, because the morning he was to depart, you had already reappeared in Soul Society. He is here, alive and well."

"And I'm not angry", muttered Renji, "nor would I be, if I had died the way you thought me to. In fact, I'm a little pissed you thought that I'd be so cruel to curse you with my last breath."

A pale hand reached out and he caught it in his. It felt very cold and was fluttering like an imprisoned bird.

"Is that really true?", she whispered. "Byakuya-san, are you not all lying to make me feel better?"

"Stupid!", sobbed Rukia and threw herself at her friend. "You made us all worry so much and now you think we would deceive you?"

Shihana felt the warm pressure against her hand and all her doubts washed away. She closed her eyes and smiled.

Shihana has finally woken up. But be warned, nothing's back to normal yet! I hope you liked the chapter. As always, please review!