A/N: It's been awhile, ha? At least for my updates. I was distracted, because I got new graphics tablet(it's awesome, btw)! But luckily, that distraction didn't take me away from my story work for too long.
Anyway, here's the new chapter. This story just got longer! I don't know if that will make you happy or what, but with this chapter I opened the paths I didn't even think I should/could. I hope you'll like it!
Thank you all for your support and wonderful words! I really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach!

Together Alone

Can You See It Now?

He then stood up suddenly and turned around to face the black-haired lieutenant standing there still in shock. Hitsugaya's face showed no emotion, only cold, just like the wind that started suddenly around them. When Hisagi took one look at those eyes before him, he lowered his head from fear and guilt that washed him.

"Explain!" He commanded, his voice as cold as his expression. His hands were covered in blood, but he ignored it, keeping them down. Hisagi let out a deep breath and silently cleared his trout. He knew Captain Hitsugaya and his protectiveness towards the ones he holds dear, he himself was friends with Momo so he saw it few times, but he never thought that Kuchiki was this close to the man. The others kept silent. Orihime was still concentrated in healing the wounds left on the girl lying on the ground, unconscious.

"One Adjuchas and few Gillian's…" He started silently. "We were on the way to our destination and they just showed up. The plan was that I attack Adjuchas and…she would go after Gillian's…" The whole time white-haired man was looking directly in his eyes, and it was making him very uneasy. Especially because of the wind that ruffled his white hair, while the man wasn't even bothered by it. He looked…scary. Teal eyes almost glowing in the dark, and he didn't move, didn't even blink. "But then…" Hisagi's look fell to the ground. "I lost balance and…I thought he would slice me in half, kill me, but…that never happened. The hit…never came. W-When I opened my eyes s-she was…she was standing right in front of me with katana in her hands. First I thought we did it…she did it, because Adjuchas was almost cut in half, but then…the hit…the hit I was supposed to receive…she…s-she just fell." Matsumoto came behind the black-haired guy and once again placed the hand on his shoulder, probably to calm him down, but more to protect him from the man that was still piercing him with his teal eyes.

"Where is he now?" Hitsugaya asked coldly.

"Who?" Hisagi asked confused.

"Adjuchas. You just told me he was almost cut in half. Where did he go?"

"I…I didn't see." He said quietly. "I apologize sir!" Hitsugaya just frowned and turned his back on the black-haired lieutenant.

"Matsumoto, Inoue and Hisagi…" He said looking at Rukia that was lying on the ground. "…you will take her to the apartment so she can rest and Inoue can proceed with heeling. Is that clear?"

"Got it!" Matsumoto said happily and urged the two to get on the way. Hisagi lifted Rukia's body as softly as he could and followed blond-haired woman and orange-headed girl, that was on the verge of tears, to the said destination. Hitsugaya turned from looking at the way they went to look at Ichigo and Ishida that were left standing there.

"You two continue with your assigned destination." He said coldly and turned around, but before he could leave, the voice of orange-top substitute stopped him.

"What? Hell no! I want to find that son of a bitch too!" Ichigo said harshly.

"Do not make me repeat myself Kurosaki." Hitsugaya said over his shoulder in a low and cold tone.

"I don't give a crap what you'll do, I'm going to find that thing no matter what you say!" Ichigo said clenching his fists, becoming angrier. "Rukia is my friend and that thing almost killed her! I will not go back and pretend everything is fine!"

"Is she now?" Hitsugaya said almost mockingly, but wasn't turning around. His body was stiff, and he began clenching his hands in fists. This was not the right time to question this white-haired Captain. Ichigo's eyes widened.

"What's that supposed to mean? And what the hell do you have with this anyway?" Because of that last sentence Hitsugaya turned around to face the man that was on the verge of yelling. He came one step closer, his face still cold without any hint of emotion. Quincy in the back remained silent, observing the two men standing there.

"Do not speak about the things you know nothing about…or even care to see." Ichigo was dumbstruck. He kept looking at Hitsugaya not sure what to say. And Hitsugaya just turned around and flash stepped somewhere. If it was any other night he would snap at that substitute in a second, but his priorities were elsewhere.

"How is she?" He said entering the apartment.

"Captain? Where the hell were you? I almost-"

"How is she?" He said demanding the answer, not in the mood for her little questionnaire. Matsumoto looked at him and saw he was covered in blood. She frowned. He was gone for a while now. She tried to sense his reiatsu, but the bastard hid it. She was worried he would overreact…and looking at him in this condition, he probably did.

"She's sleeping. What's that?" She asked pointing a finger at his uniform.

"Blood." He said coldly as he passed her on the way to the bathroom. When the door closed Matsumoto turned to look at the orange-head girl sitting on the sofa smiling confused, while Hisagi never even moved. She took one deep breath and turned around again.

"I need a drink!" And with that she was gone to the kitchen. Orihime left one deep breath free. Rukia was safe. Alive. It was all that mattered. She was glad. Everyone was worried. Everyone. Even the people that she would never guess that had anything to do with Rukia. She turned around to face the black-haired lieutenant sitting on the floor and when she caught his look she smiled gently, just to make him feel easier. He smiled back, but it faded away quickly. Orihime could see he was feeling really guilty.

"She is safe now." She said quietly and his head fell. He took one deep breath and remained like that.

"She almost died. It should have been me there…" He said quietly.

"Oh don't worry, it could still happen, just wait until my Captain cleans his uniform!" Matsumoto said grinning, holding one bottle of see-through liquid. Orihime looked up confused, but remained quiet. "Judging from the amount of blood on it, he still has some anger left!" When she saw the way Hisagi twitched she laughed and sat next to him. "Nah, don't worry…he's just overprotective and possessive." She said more softly. The man had enough of death treats for today. "He'll calm down eventually…I hope!" She laughed, but the two sitting near her remained quiet. One confused, other guilty. Matsumoto turned around to look at her Captain that entered the living room with small frown on his face.

"Did she wake up at all?" He said tiredly looking at Matsumoto.

"No. Inoue healed her, but she still lost a lot of blood. We should leave her to rest." She said calmly. Deep breath escaped him and he just nodded.

"Fine then." He said turning around.

"Where are you going?" She asked quickly.

"To rest." He said over his shoulder. "I suggest you leave that bottle and do the same." And with that he went to his room. Matsumoto felt easier. For a moment she thought he would go back out there, but luckily he had enough of sense in that white head of his to know better.

"Alright! Who wants some?" She said happily raising her bottle towards the two that were sitting next to her. Orihime began waving her hands, just to stop Matsumoto from making her drink that see-through liquid, and Hisagi didn't even move. After few moments of silence he spoke.

"When…" He stopped for a second, trying to gather the strength. "When did they become friends?" Matsumoto smiled and took one sip from the bottle in her hands before she spoke.

"I don't know…I mean, I only saw them together once or twice." She said and drank more. Orihime kept looking at the two sitting near her, not sure of what they were actually talking about. "I found out about it recently. Captain told me, actually." Orihime's eyes widened. It all became much clearer.

"Kuchiki-san is friends with Captain Hitsugaya?" She asked looking at Matsumoto.

"Yup!" Matsumoto said happily. "And from the looks of it, they are very close friends." They sat like that for few moments, apparently thinking about it more.

"I never thought he would…after the…" Hisagi began, but he just couldn't say it. Matsumoto smiled softly.

"After Momo?" She was still smiling, but something inside her twitched.

"Yeah… after that war…" Hisagi said looking at his hands. "That was a great tragedy for him, I never imagined-" But, before he could finish, Orihime stopped him.

"And there is no one else who understands that better than Kuchiki-san does." She said determined to stop this man from questioning reasons behind their friendship. She didn't knew much about that whole situation with Captain Hitsugaya and the girl named Hinamori Momo, but she knew Kuchiki Rukia enough to know that anyone would want her as a friend. Even though she was jealous of Rukia from time to time, she cared for her. She was her friend. An honest one.
"Kuchiki-san is a strong, kind and caring person. And she had her slice of tragedy too. Even before this war, so… do not question this ever again." She said angrily. The outburst of Orihime's anger came rarely, but when she did feel it, she would let anyone know…well, almost anyone. Matsumoto smiled. It was all true. Hisagi was just surprised…and felt guiltier than he already was.

"I apologize. I shouldn't have said that." He said looking at his hands.

"I just hope…" Matsumoto began and took one sip from her bottle. "…that she has a lot of patience, because she will need it around him." She said and laughed. The other two didn't.

"She has to go back Captain, you know she's not in the condition to fight anymore." Matsumoto said quietly standing behind her Captain on the balcony in the apartment.

"I know." He said quietly looking ahead. "Let her rest for now. I'll contact the Soul Society tonight." He said looking at the clear morning sky. Matsumoto nodded even though she knew he cannot see her. After few moments of silence he spoke again. "We need to hurry with this mission. Contact the rest of the Cleaning squad and tell them to meet me here in a few hours. I'll rearrange the teams, so we can…proceed."

"Okay." She said and started exiting the apartment, but before she left she turned around to look at him again. "Captain…" He glanced at her over his shoulder. "Eat something." After she saw a frown on his face she laughed and closed the door.

Toshiro sighted and left the balcony, going straight to her room. He hasn't seen her, not since last night and the condition she was in. Only remembering that image made him angry again. And to make things worse, when he saw her before that in that park he practically yelled at her.
He knocked softly on her door, just in case she was awake, but when no answer came he decided to enter anyway. She was covered in light blue blanket, sleeping. From where he stood he couldn't see any cuts or bruises on her body and he was glad that Inoue did a decent job. He entered and closed the door behind him. For some odd reason he couldn't move for few seconds, just kept standing there. The room was too dark, probably because someone closed the curtains so sun wasn't present. He could see her uniform, or what was left of it, lying neatly folded near her. She was wearing white sleeping kimono and had a peaceful expression on her face. He took one deep breath and went to the window to allow some light in the room. When he pulled the curtains he heard her move.

"W-what…" That was all she said and he quickly turned around and knelt near her awakened figure.

"It's okay, rest." He said softly, not sure if he should touch her or not. The hand that he stretched to her, returned to him quickly.

"C-captain…" She said rubbing her swollen eyes. He saw she tried to move immediately, but failed, probably due to blood loss. After a few changed painful expressions, she managed to sit up, facing the teal-eyed man before her. He wanted to tell her to stop moving, but decided better not to. "What happened?" She said finally, looking down to her stomach, and after only few seconds her eyes widened. "Hisagi?"

"He's fine…" Toshiro said harshly. "Thanks to your foolish move!" She stared at him for few moments, confused, until he spoke again. "You should rest now." His expression became as cold as always, brows narrowed and those eyes kept piercing her. She could see it clearly, he was angry. Why, she didn't know.

"I'm fine." She said boldly, breaking their look. He sighted.

"You're not fine. You almost died last night. The blood loss-"

"I said I'm fine!" She said looking directly at him again. He twitched a little from the tone that took over her voice, but frown creped on his face then.

"Stop being so stubborn."

"I'm not stubborn." She said crossing her arms.

"That's what stubborn people do." He said pointing at her arms. Her eyes widened for a moment, before she frowned once again. "I'll contact the Soul Society tonight, so till then you should get some sleep." He said and started to stand up, but once again he found himself hitting the floor because of the certain someone. Not that he mind…

"What? Why?" She said staring at the man before her, not even minding that she just pulled him down with all her force. He frowned.

"What do you mean why? You can't proceed with this mission." He said angrily.

"Why? I'm fine. There's no need-"

"Rukia…" He said warningly. His tone was cold and serious and she stopped talking because of that, and from the surprise. It was strange hearing her first name gliding over his tongue. When he saw that he frightened her, he took a deep breath and relaxed. He wasn't even aware of how he called her. Probably because it felt so natural to him. "You…almost died last night." He said softly. Her look fell to her hands, that were now playing with the edges of her sleeping kimono. "And even though you're healed now, the blood loss was…" He stopped for a second, trying so hard not to remember that scene from last night. Her body was covered in red liquid and she looked so lifeless, so… No! "It was massive. I cannot let you-"

"I don't care about the blood loss." She said suddenly. Her voice was calm and low. "I'm fine, alive, that's all that matters. And I came to this mission knowing I could get killed. I don't plan on quitting just because of some stupid injury."

"Stupid injury?" He said angrily, looking at her. She was still playing with the edges of her kimono. Stupid injury? Damn it Rukia! He couldn't stop it anymore, the images returned to him all at once. Hitsugaya Toshiro thought that he was usually very good at masking almost everything that concerned his true nature, his true feelings, but somehow he failed to do that every time he found himself around this girl. And those images weren't helping…at all. Her low reiatsu, river of blood around her and her lifeless figure… Last night he tried to remain focused, to do everything he could to save her, but behind that curtain he was scared. Terrified, actually.
"Look at me…" He said lifting her head with his hand. Her eyes widened because of a sudden contact, but that didn't bother the white-haired Captain at all. "I cannot let you die here. What you did last night was stupid and reckless and because of it you almost lost your life. If you think that I would just nod and allow you to proceed with this mission without a word, then you've lost your mind. Last night…" He stopped for a second trying to clear his head from the images that kept haunting him ever since he saw her lying there in the pool of blood. "I thought…" His look fell for a second and she felt his hand shiver for a moment, but he looked up seconds after that and frowned. "I'm still a Captain responsible for this and I've decided you are going back." His hand didn't move, not even after she spoke.

"That's selfish." She said quietly.

"Why is that selfish?" He said harshly, still looking at her. "I am simply-"

"You know very well why." She said looking directly into teal eyes that were now slightly wide in shock. "This is my job, I am trained to do this and…you just want to make me safe."

"And why is that wrong?" He said looking at her violet eyes. "You're…you're my friend after all. And I have a right to keep you safe."

"But I'm a shinigami too. And you know our job very well. This is what we do. I put my life on the line for a comrade, you would do the same in my place." She said sternly. His look fell down. He knew she was right, but still…that didn't changed the fact that she could've died last night.

He shivered when her hand covered his on her face. He saw her eyes softened and a deep breath escaped her pink lips, before she spoke again.

"I'm sorry…Captain."

"For what?" He looked up and asked almost whispering, confused from her sudden apology. He fought the urge to pull her to himself.

"For last night… for worrying you. I must've been…"She could see his eyes that were painted with pain and horror. Last night was definitely not as easy night for him, she knew. "For everything…"

"It's okay. I'm fine. And you're safe, so…" He said softly. She wanted to slap him. The tired look on his face and that stiffened composure told her he was far from being fine. She didn't know what actually happened last night, but from one look at the man before her she knew it wasn't a pretty sight. And one thing she saw so clearly that it shocked her was that he cared. He actually cared. So, she pulled.
Before he could even react, he found himself inhaling her scent. Her gentle arms were wrapped around his back and her head was buried in his chest. He sat there for few seconds, his hands in the air, not really sure what the hell just happened, before he relaxed and buried his head in her hair, pulling her even closer. His whole body relaxed and he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. It wasn't really a physical pain, it was more from the inside. From realization that he could have had lost her. It was that simple, one bad night on the mission and she was gone. She felt his grasp tightening around her, but she allowed it, not really minding a dull pain that went through her body. She needed this, but…he needed it more.

"Thank you." He said in a low husky voice and buried his head in her hair. Before she could speak they heard a door slam and they let go of each other in a second. First thing they did was looking in each other eyes surprised and slightly embarrassed, like what they were doing was wrong. He even saw her blushing a little. But he stood up and offered her a hand, convinced that after her outburst she can manage walking. She took it and stood up slowly. After Toshiro opened the door he saw four people standing in the hallway and he frowned looking at one of them. He exited the room and moved a little allowing Rukia to exit too.

"I found them near the apartment, so I decided it was time for some house visit." Matsumoto said grinning. And when she saw the look on her Captain face she fought the urge to laugh like crazy. "Alright, Captain, help me make some tea." She said waving to Toshiro and he just sighed and followed her into another room.

"Kuchiki-san, are you feeling okay?" Orihime asked entering the living room. Rukia sat on the sofa and smiled softly. She kept looking at the direction that white-haired man went.

"I'm much better. Thank you for healing me." She said looking at orange-headed girl that smiled and sat next to her. "Did you manage finishing your mission last night?" She asked looking at two man that sat across her. Ishida pushed his glasses up, while Ichigo kept looking at her, somehow confused.

"Well, we never found any hollows or Menos last night. We'll have to work harder tonight." Ishida said seriously.

"Good." She said and her look fell to the floor. She remembered, she will be going back. Not that she will miss the place, it's just that once again she failed to prove herself as a shinigami, especially now that she is a lieutenant. Her brother will not be happy about it.

"Are you sure you're okay Kuchiki-san? Do you need to lie down?" Ishida asked, looking worried. Rukia's head snapped up, realizing she just transmitted everything she felt to her face, but before she could speak someone interrupted.

"Damn it, I told you that you should rest!" Hitsugaya Toshiro said angrily entering living room, followed by his lieutenant that was holding a plate with tea.

"Leave her alone, she's just fine. Right Kuchiki?" Matsumoto said grinning and winking at her. Rukia smiled, amused by Toshiro's anger that was now directed straightly at his lieutenant.

Heavy. It felt like a huge burden was on her eyelids. When she tried to open it, her head started to hurt and the only thing she saw was white. But she couldn't decipher what it was, her vision was blurred. She kept seeing dots all over the place and that white, whatever it was, kept dancing around her. And her eyes hurt like hell, they felt…dry somehow. When the first pain settled she heard voices around her. To her it looked as they were whispering, but it could be due to her condition for all that she knows.
When she tried to move her lips, she felt that they were dry too. She couldn't feel the tongue at all, as she was trying to lick them and to get any saliva to help her call her own voice. That was a failure.
She could feel some dull pain, aside from her eyes that were still burning, but she wasn't clear where exactly. The white kept distracting her. Uncomfortable, that was the only feeling she was sure right now. She needed to move, she knew that much. Maybe the voices will help her. Did it work? She wasn't even sure if she managed to move a muscle.

"…awake." That was the only thing she heard, not really sure of the tone of that voice. But soon enough she saw something she recognized.

"Can you hear me?" The voice said. Silhouette was right before her, and she kept blinking just to clear her vision. Speak! But her voice just wasn't coming. "Rukia, can you hear me?" Raw male voice repeated.

"…y-yes." She said and tried to nod, but the second part was harder that it looked like.

"Thank gods, she's awake." He said turning around to face some other figure standing in the same room. She blinked again few times in a row. She knew this place. 4th Division. She's been here before.

"W-why…" She couldn't finish it. Her mouth was too dry and that second figure that was standing in the room seemed to read her mind, because soon soft hands were helping her sit up, and gave her some liquid. Captain Unohana Retsu. She was sure now, this were the rooms of 4th Division. After few moments her vision became better too, and now she clearly saw the two figures before her. Abarai Renji and Unohana Retsu were standing beside her bed and kept watching her. Renji had a worried look on his face, while Captain Unohana was calm, like usual.

"Rukia, can you see and hear me?" The woman softly said looking at her.

"Yes." Rukia's voice was clearer now, to her surprise. What was that liquid?

"Can you move?" Unohana asked again. Rukia blinked few times, before she moved her hand, and that send dull pain trough her whole body.
"I see." The woman said and took the paper beside Rukia's bed and began to write something. Rukia ignored that and turned to face her red-headed friend. She needed answers.

"Why am I here Renji?" She said nervously, remembering that in her mind she was on her mission just few moments ago. And Renji frowned.

"What do you mean why am I here Renji?" He imitated her mockingly, annoyed at her question. Her brows narrowed.

"Exactly that. There's nothing wrong with me." Renji fought the urge to strangle her in that instant.

"Yeah, nothing wrong!" He said mockingly again. "Hell, you almost died and lost amount of blood that could kill three people, but yeah…nothing." Her frown became heavier. She knew he was right, but that didn't change the fact that she failed on her mission.

"Rukia…" Black-haired woman began. "I'm afraid that Lieutenant Abarai is right. You need to rest. Your injuries were severe and even though Inoue healed you, you are still weak to fight." She said calmly and Rukia just let out a deep breath in defeat. Who can argue with Captain Unohana Retsu anyway!
"I need to leave now, and Abarai…" She said turning around to face the red-headed man. "…you should leave soon too." He nodded and she left, leaving the two friends alone in the room.

"Renji, did…" She began and stopped lowering her head, not having much strength or courage to continue.

"Yeah, Captain Kuchiki was here earlier!" He said as if he could read her mind. "And no, he didn't say a thing. Don't worry about that now, concentrate on your healing." She nodded weakly.

"But…what happened actually? Last thing I remember is sitting in Inoue's apartment and now this." She said nervously, looking at her childhood friend.

The man could not stop walking through the room as the others were sitting there looking at his changing behavior. One moment he was yelling and the other he was calm. Now, he switched to nervous. Then he stopped all of a sudden and looked at them.

"I'm going to rearrange the teams now." He said sternly and began. "And I need to make sure that every team has the same power level. One team I won't change is yours." He said looking at Yumichika and Ikkaku that were standing near him. "Your route is the same, and as far as I'm concerned you can leave and begin right now." The two just nodded and left, eager to find some good opponents. Hitsugaya sighted and continued.
"Matsumoto and Uryuu, you're together and take the destination that Matsumoto and I went." He was making huge pauses between the announcement of teams, and everybody could see that there was something that was bothering him. "Hisagi, Chad and Inoue, you're the third one and that leaves…"
He sighed as he looked at light brown eyes that were as narrowed as his own. "…you and me." He said tiredly.

"Fine." Ichigo said looking away. He knew that the white-haired man was doing this simply because he had to, and if he could choose he would fight alone too.

"Kurosaki and I will take the wider area, because I believe that that way we can finish this mission faster." Hitsugaya added. "Remember, if anything goes wrong use the cell phones you got and if you find anything unusual contact me immediately. We all know something strange is going on around here and I believe it's not just average hollow overpopulation. Alright, let's go!" He said and exited the apartment, followed by the rest of them.