Chapter 25 : Winds of Change

Jonouchi arrived at the infirmary as fast as he could. How could he have let something like this happen? After what had happened to himself there, he should have KNOWN better. The 4th Squad members tried to question Jonouchi and stop him from entering the care unit, but he Flash Stepped right past them. Nothing was going to stop him. Captain Unohana was walking out of a room, and Jonouchi almost ran right into her.

"No need to rush, Captain." Captain Unohana smiled.

"Where is he?" Jonouchi demanded. Captain Unohana pointed to the room she just, and Jonouchi raced past her without another word. He came into the room, Koukeisha and Aya already there. "Kaze..." Jonouchi spoke, staring at him. Kaze didn't make eye contact. His eyes were locked on the open window. He stared at the bright clear sky, wearing an expression of sadness.

"What happened?" Jonouchi asked him. No answer. He never even looked at his Captain. Jonouchi sighed. Whatever it was, it was bothering him big time, and Kaze wasn't one to be silent and gloomy over a loss. Irate, yes, but never saddened. Something just wasn't setting right.

"Aya saved him, sir..." Koukeisha spoke.

"Ah..." Jonouchi grinned. "Thank you, Aya. I'm in your debt." Aya shook her head.

"No, Captain. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Kaze... I'm just glad I got there in time..." Aya replied.

"So, what exactly happened?" Jonouchi asked, looking at Kaze. A certain fear shown in Kaze's eyes, but he never turned his head from the window.

"He was attacked by an Arrancar." Aya said. "I got there right before she delivered the final blow, and stopped her."

"She wouldn't have done it." Kaze spoke up softly. Jonouchi turned and stared.

"What?" he asked, dumbfounded.

"She wouldn't have done it..." he said again.

"What do you mean by that?" Jonouchi asked.

"I MEAN that she wasn't going to kill me..." Kaze said with a bit of an attitude.

"And how are you so sure?" Jonouchi asked, kind of amused.

"Selena's different."

"Different how?"

"She's just different, ok?" Kaze growled silently.

"She's an Arrancar. A HOLLOW." Jonouchi spoke. There was a slight hint of aggitation in his voice.

"Hollow or not, she had a heart!" Kaze spat. He had continued to stare out the window the entire time, tears silently forming in his eyes.

"A heart?" Jonouchi chuckled.

"Captain..." Koukeisha whispered. She didn't like where this was going.

"Yeah, a heart..." Kaze said, softly.

"You've gotta be kidding me..." Jonouchi laughed. "You fell in love with a Hollow..."

"So..." Kaze questioned. This time, his eyes left the window, but his head didn't move. His eyes were now locked on his Captain, glaring. Kalinda panted, passing through the doorway of Kaze's room. She couldn't run as fast as Jonouchi, and had fallen behind. She stared as Kaze was visibly becoming aggitated.

"So?" Jonouichi smirked. "She played you like a flute, Kaze. At this rate, you're just going to be a burden."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Kaze screamed, finally turning to his Captain completely. Jonouchi's expression changed quickly from amused to serious.

"Excuse me?!" Jonouchi asked.

"You heard me!" Kaze shouted. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about!"

"Oh, I don't?!" Jonouchi asked angrily. "Why don't you explain to me what I don't know then, oh wise Kaze?"

"You don't know anything about Selena! She's kind and caring! And you don't know anything about love! You're getting married and you don't know shit!"

"Really now?" Jonouchi asked, getting more and more pissed off.

"Yeah, REALLY! What have you done to help plan your own wedding?" Kaze asked angrily. Jonouchi glared.

"That has nothing to do with your condition!"

"What's the date that was set for your wedding!? I bet you didn't even know that the date was picked did you!?"

"THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT RIGHT NOW!!!" Jonouchi shouted.

Kalinda's heart sank. She stood in the doorway, holding back tears. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She couldn't believe any of it. She sobbed, turning quickly and leaving before she was noticed. Koukeisha caught a glimps of her as she walked away, but let her be. She would go talk with Kalinda later.

"THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAN EXACTING YOUR REVENGE ON AIZEN!" Kaze shouted in return.

Jonouchi just glared. Kaze grinded his teeth, staring his Captain in the eyes. An awkward silence filled the room. Koukeisha and Aya stared at the ground. They didn't know what to say or do.

"I can't take this anymore..." Kaze cried. He sobbed, grabbing his

Zanpaku-to.

"Kaze, you need to relax." Koukeisha spoke up. Kaze looked at her. He slowly walked over to the open window, staring outside. "You're in no condition to be walking, Kaze..." Koukeisha said, grabbing his shoulders.

"I'll be fine..." Kaze muttered.

"Koukeisha's right. Get back in bed right now." Jonouchi ordered, obviously annoyed.

"DO NOT bark orders at me..." Kaze growled.

"As long as I'm your Captain you'll do as you're damn well told." Jonouchi was getting more and more pissed by Kaze's tone.

"Fine then." Kaze said, head dropping to the ground. He turned towards his bed.

"That's right." Jonouchi smirked. "You're going to stay there until your wounds have healed." Kaze glared at Jonouchi.

"You can't make me do anything 'Captain'." Kaze spat. A strong wind blew and pulled Kaze right out the window. Kaze stood in the air, the wind spiraling around him.

"Get your ass back in here right now!" Jonouchi shouted.

"Fuck you." He watched them from the air. Koukeisha and Aya's eyes were full of fear, but his Captain's were filled with anger.

"Excuse me?" Jonouchi growled.

"Fuck you. Fuck your orders AND your regulations. And fuck the Soul Society." Kaze clenched his fists, shaking. Tears grew in his eyes as he began to shake more and more, until he finally snapped. "I'VE HAD IT WITH ALL OF YOU! I'm DONE!" he turned away, but looked back. "This way I won't be a burden to the rest of you Soul Reapers..." Kaze glared, speeding off into the air.

"Kaze, wait!" Aya shouted in tears, running to the open window. Koukeisha caught her by the arm and pulled her back.

"Aren't you going to do something?" Koukeisha asked.

Jonouchi kind of chuckled to himself, and left the room without a word. He passed right by Captain Unohana once more, who didn't look too happy.

Jonouchi sat up that night thinking. Falling in love with a Hollow... He couldn't believe it. How could his Vice-Captain be so weak-minded?

"Y- You ok?" Kalinda called from the other room. She slowly approached Jonouchi, but never made eye contact.

"Yeah..." Jonouchi replied. "I'm fine..."

"How's Kaze doing?" she asked. Jonouchi had said nothing about his leaving beforehand.

"He's gone..." Jonouchi said. "He left the Seireitei after I talked with him at the hospital."

"Oh... I'm sorry..." Kalinda frowned.

"How could he fall in love with a HOLLOW?" Jonouchi growled.

"Why does it matter who he loves?" Kalinda asked.

"It was a Hollow. The ENEMY!" Jonouchi spoke firmly. "She would have just used him in the end anyway..."

Kalinda didn't speak. She watched as Jonouchi stood and walked to the bedroom. Kalinda followed behind him. Jonouchi lay down to go to sleep, and was out pretty quickly. Kalinda couldn't sleep. She kept staring at the ring that Jonouchi had given her. In a couple months they'd be married. It was really starting to scare her. She had never seen him act this way before. Did he really think stopping Aizen was more important than their own wedding? She didn't think so. Although, she had been looking forward to this for a while now. She stood silently and walked outside.

She stared blankly up at the cresent moon in the sky. It was so beautiful, shining brightly, even through the clouds that filled the night sky. She continued walking until she came upon the cherry tree. The same cherry tree that she had met him under. The same cherry tree that he had proposed to her under. She bit her lip holding back tears. She couldn't take it anymore.

There was a footstep from behind the tree. Kalinda immediately snapped to attention. A figure had stepped out from behind the tree. "Hello..." he spoke.

"Who are you?" Kalinda asked, brushing the tears from her eyes. The man just smiled. He was tall. Very tall. Almost 7 feet tall it appeared. He had a more muscular build, and a sash tied around his waist that held a katana. His black hair blew in the night breeze, a single white horn protruding from the left side of his forehead, as well as a bonelike jaw attached to his bottom jaw. There was a large hole in his chest, and it was clearly visible in the dark of night.

"My name is Ruy Sabas." the man spoke in a somewhat pleasant tone. "You are Kalinda Yochi?"

"Yes... How do you know my name?"

"Please. A pretty little lady like you? I've heard all about you." he grinned, placing his hand upon his katana. "Now, I'm only gonna say it once. Be a good little girl and come with me."

"You're kidding." she scoffed. "I'm not going ANYWHERE with you."

"That's too bad. Cause, you know... If I fail to bring you back to lord Aizen alive, it's going to be me who has to answer to him." his pleasant smile turned quickly to a look of hatred. "Wander towards Destruction, Del Maldecido!" he shouted. A black fire erupted all around him, completely swallowing him. The skull of a dragon emerged from the flame, two glowing yellow eyes staring Kalinda. Two large bat-like wings also emerged from the flame, stretching toward the sky. A pair of large feet slammed to the ground. The feet looked more like two large pillars. It appeared as if in-animate skeletons were trying to claw their way to freedom from the monsters feet. There was a wave of black fire surrounding the feet, burning eerily. Finally, a large forked tail emerged from the flame. The black flame never faded. It seemed as if it acted as the body to this giant titan. The ground shook as he chuckled.

Kalinda stood, staring at him. She was speechless, and shaking badly. She didn't know what to do. An Arrancar had infiltrated the Seireitei. "Please..." she whispered. "Someone..."