When I woke up, Kisuke was still sleeping. I sat back up and rubbed my eyes. I stared at my Taicho for a moment until a heard a voice behind me.

''You are finally awake Tsukiyumi-san.''

I turned and saw Shunsui walking towards me. I got up and slightly bowed.

''You know, Kisuke is a very lucky man to have you on his squad.'' He said suddenly stopping beside me. I turned towards him, obviously suprised and he continue;

''You see, if I was in his place, I'm not sure that my dear Lisa will stay by my side all night.'' He turned towards me and I felt tears filling my eyes.

''You are such a kind person, Sara-Chan.'' He finished putting his hands on my shoulders.

I couldn't stop myself, I shed into incontrolible tears, and Shunsui pulled me into his arms.

''There, there, everything will be alright.'' he whispered in my ear while strocking my back.

''It was my fault Taicho.'' I let go. ''Urahara-Taicho was protecting me from Zaraki-Taicho.''

Kyoraku slowly pulled me away and looked at me in the eye.

''What do you mean?'' he asked me obviously worried, but I didn't realized that he had a slight sign of panic in his eyes.

''I saw it in his eyes, he wanted to kill me Taicho, he wanted...and by my fault.'' I said before crying again.

Shunsui brought his hands to my face and forced a smile.

''Sara-Chan, why would Zaraki want to kill you?'' He asked.

''I don't know, I just know it, he had the same uncontroled anger, like when Yoruichi and Hiyori were depressed...'' I said honestly looking at him in the eye.

Kisuke POV

That was when I woke up. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the Shunsui's pink coat. He kissed Sara on the forehead and left the room. Sara looked at him leave with her eyes that were red by cries. I felt my heart crush seeing her like this. Then I realized that she was wearing a beautiful dark purple dress. Wait, did she went on a date with Kyokaru while I was out? She slowly turned back to me, looking very depressed and when her eyes crossed mine, they light up. She rush to grabbed my hand and stroke it with affection.

''Taicho, are you okay?'' she said. ''Do you need something? Do you want me to get Unohana-Taicho?''

She was about to turn and leave to get Unohana, but I held her hand.

''No, Sara, please sit down.'' I demanded her.

She nodded with a smile and sat down without letting my hand go. She was holding it with both of her little hands. I realixed then how small they were. My hand seemed huge beside of those little hands she had.

''That dress suits you.'' I finally said looking back to her face.

A blush grew on her face like if she just realized what she was wearing. She didn't said anything, but her silence told it all. It was the dress she was going to wear on our date.

''did Kyoraku liked it?'' I asked.

Her blush disappeared and her face became very serious, it wasn't very often it happened to her while I was with her. She slowly free her hands from mine and got up.

''I'm going to fetch Unohana-Taicho.'' She dropped with a whisper before leaving the room.

I looked at her leave and sighed. I wondered what I did to upset her. Unohana came into the room without my third seat.

A few days later I was good as new, just in time for the holidays. I looked up to the sky, it was blue as usual, heh, it will not snow this year. I sighed and walked towards my division. The last few days were very hard for me. My wound was healing, but not without pain. Yoruichi came to see me a few times.

''How's everything going?'' I asked her then.

''Not so well, Sara found out that what affected me and Hiyori affected Zaraki'' She said very seriously. ''Kisuke, this isn't good knews...''

''What?'' I asked concerned.

''I spoke with Zaraki while he was held into prison, he said that he had no intention to attack you nor Sara-''

''Wait! Sara was attacked too? She didn't tell me! Is she alright?''

''Calm down Kisuke, she's fine, I interfear before anything could happen to her.'' She said putting her hand on my shoulder keeping me down on my bed.

''And why did he attacked us?'' I asked finaly.

''He had to attacked you.'' she said. ''He said to me that he smelled something funny before having the need to capture you and kill Sara-chan.''

My thoughts were flying in my head. And I understood.

''Someone is using our compagnions to kill Sara-chan... But who? And why her?'' I dropped looking into nothing.

''I don't know but I suggest you to keep a close eye on her.'' She said pulling me out of my thoughts.

''So, Sara-chan and I are targeted, they want to capture me and kill her... The affected breath a weird fume... '' I analyzed for both of us. My heart pinched.

''What happened with those murderes from the Rukongai?''

''We've locked them up and the fourteen of them will be executed.'' She answered not knowing why I was asking this question.

''The fourteen-'' I started but Yoruichi cut me off.

''Sara and Mayuri are preparing a vaccin against whatever that is affecting us. Like that, eveyone will be immune and no one will get killed.''

I was amazed how my third seat was briliant, creating a vaccin to avoid being killed haven't crossed my mind yet. No wonder she thought of it first, she was the one that someone want to kill. I arrived at my gate and the door opened as soon I touched it. Everyone was there to great their captain. Exept one.

''Welcome Taicho!'' Everyone said with one voice. Hiyori was in first row, arm crossed and looking me with her usual hating eye.

''Hello Hiyori'' I said coming closer to her as the others went to their usual occupations. ''So what's going on?''

''You freaking third seat is annoying! That what is going on!'' She scream pulling me by the collar to get me closer to her face. ''She freaking bossy! She kept me working on her freaking vaccin the past five days!''

I smiled, Sara might be a good captain one day... On the other hand, if she is Taicho of her own division she won't be under my orders anymore...

''Where is she?'' I asked when she finished shaking me.

''How should I know?'' She screamed as she ran away. I sighed without loosing my smile and went towards the lab, she might be there. When I came closer to the room, I heard someone apologizing.

''I'm so sorry Tsukiyumi-san, I never meant to-''

''Don't worry'' Sara voice cut off the first one. ''It is not your fault, it was an accident, don't worry about it.''

I opened the door at that moment. Sara was completely wet and a little boy was holding a bucket. Sara looked up to me and lost her beautiful smile and looked away. As for the boy, he turned to me and bowed with respect.

''Urahara-taicho, welcome back!'' he said with a smile.

Sara's POV

After I left the room I went to Unohana.

''Is everything alright miss Tsukiyumi?'' She asked me, I quickly nodded.

''Urahara-Taicho is awake.'' I said breaking the eye contact.

''Thank you, I'll go check on him after our dicussion.'' She said with her usual smile. I looked at her puzzled and follwed her to her desk.

''So Shunsui tells me that you think that Zaraki was affected by the same, lets say virus, as Yoruichi and miss Sarugaki?''

''That is what I believe indeed.'' I answered. ''But I'll need some blood samples to be a 100% sure.''

''What make you think that he is affected by this virus?'' She asked.

I was suprrise to hear the question.

''W-well, he had a bizare look...'' I started trying to find the right words.

''A bizare look?'' She repeated and I nodded.

''Yes, his eyes weren't his, they were burning with pure hatred...'' I tried to explain the best I could.

She slightly nodded before giving me a blood sample. I looked at her with a questionning mark in my eyes and she explained.

''I want you to see if it is really the same virus and nutrilize it.'' She said. ''I also want you to work on a vaccin to avoid anymore cases.''

I smiled and bowed before leaving the room, I'm going to prove that I am fit for the job.

And for the past five days I worked on it. Leaving my anger towards Kisuke behind. What he was thinking, that while he was hurt and dying I would go out with Kyoraku?

Well, even if he was extremely kind to me and was very handsome, I would never do something like that. And when I saw Urahara came in the door of the lab, my heart sank. I didn't want to go see him at the hospital because I was angry with him, but seeing him up and healthy made me feel guilty.

''What happened here?'' He asked with a smile.

''I was bringing water for miss Tsukiyumi, but I tripped...'' explained the little boy.

I smiled and carressed his hair with affection and got up.
''Don't worry Sora, a little water never hurt anyone, I'll just go change.'' I said to the little red head.

When I turned to Kisuke, he wasn't smiling either. His eyes were kindly looking at me though. I bowed for good impression infront of Sora.

''Welcome back Taicho.'' I whispered before passing beside him. As I did that he grabbed my wrist. My eyes went in his and we stood a few seconds, that seemed to be eternal, looking at each other. After, he bend over to me. My heart raced. What the-? But my heart calmed down as he whispered in my ear; ''Come by my office after you change.'' Then, he let me go as I nod.

After putting on a dry Hakama, I went to Kisuke's office. I haven't seen him for a few days and now I realized how much I missed him. I stopped and stared at his door for a moment before fidding the courage to knock. My hand haven't even touch the wood that Urahara was opening it. I gasped out of surprise and touched my heart with my hand.

''God you've scared me!'' I said with a smile.

He answered to my smile.

''Come in'' He gently said inviting me in the room.

I walked in and realized that the room was clean, for once at least. They're was a chair infront of his desk, that wasn't there before...

''Please, sit down.'' He invited me again.

I nodded and sat down in the chair. He walked to the other side of his desk and sat down in his big chair right infront of me.

''So how've you been, I didn't see you in a while.'' He said with a smile.

''I'm okay...'' I answered with a slight blush. ''Are you completely healed from your wound?''

''Not a scar left!''He said with enthousiasme before becoming serious again. ''I heard you are working on a vaccin?''

I nodded.

''Unohana gave me the idea, I guess she's tired to take care of crazy people.'' I answered with a chuckle.

He smiled but I lost mine.

''But I have a question for you Taicho...'' I said almost in a whisper.

''What is it?'' he asked me as I looked away.

''How come you've been wounded by Kenpachi?''

I dared to turn my eyes back to his as he sighed.

''He wanted you.'' He finaly dropped. ''He blowed up our gate screaming your name, sword in hand.''

I bit my lower lip, I knew it. It was all my fault. Kisuke seemed to have read my mind because he got up and came closer to me. I looked down as he put his hands on both shoulders of the chair. He slowly sighed as he bend over me, leaving me no choice to looked right into his eyes.

''Sara-chan, I beg of you to loose this bad habbit of yours to feel always guilty.'' He said with a firm voice. ''I would do the same for anyone in this division, it is my duty to assure your protection.''

He was very close now to me. His face wasn't stopping coming to me. I wasn't moving at all, to afraid to lure him away. My heart was beating so hard that I thought that he could hear it. His nose slowly touched mine as his lips kindly brushed mine as he was about to kiss me.

''Kisuke!'' The door opened with violence and Yoruichi walked in as Urahara quickly moved back.

''Oh? Was I disturbing?'' She asked with a smirk on her face when she saw me.

''No! Not at all!'' I said jumping on my feet. ''I was about to leave!''

I felt Urahara's hand grabbed mine and I turned to him.

''No you are not, I'm not finish speaking to you.'' Kisuke said with almost a smile. He pointed the chair behind me and I sat down.

''So, Yoruichi what brought you here?'' He asked looking at his friend.

I heard her sighed.

''The christmas party'' She let go. ''It is in only a few days...''

I smiled, I turned to my old Taicho.

''And...?'' I questionned her.

''There will be a contest... And all the girls will be participating, including you!'' She finished pointing her finger towards me.

''What sort of contest?'' Asked Kisuke holding back a chuckle.

''A beauty contest'' Dropped Yoruichi. She didn't seemed to appreciate the idea. ''And we have to wear a dress.''

''I don't see a problem, you look beautiful in a dress.'' Said Kisuke walking towards his friend.

''Oh shut it!'' She said crossing her arms.

''Well, in that case, I don't see the reason why you came here then.'' He dropped turning his back to his friend. Our eyes crossed and we shared a smile. Thing is, a few years back, Yoruichi needed to assist a very cultural and traditionnal ceremony where she had to wear a dress... She wined about it for abour a week. We both knew that she came here to complain.

I saw her sighed with desperation before she gave sign of giving up.

''Ah, I understand!'' She said. ''I'm leaving.''

Before Kisuke could even say good-bye to her, she turned around and left.

''So, beauty contest, huh?'' Thought the 12th division taicho out loud. ''I wonder who will be our queen of ice this years.''

His grey-green eyes stared at me. I shivered.

''It won't be me.'' I let go. ''I am no match for alot of women in the soul society.''

Urahara sat down on his desk in front of me, forcing me to look up to look at him.

''Don't be silly, I think you have a shot.'' He said with a smile that I never saw before.

I stared at him for a moment, questionning him with my eyes.

''Not I don't like your compliments Taicho, but I have some work.'' I finaly said with a sigh.

I was about to stand, but when I did, he put his hand on my shoulder and forced me to sit back down.

''I'm not finished speaking with you.'' He said again.

I crossed my legs and joined my fingers together and put them on my knee.

''If you have something to say to me Taicho, I'm all ears.'' I said becoming a bit imaptient.

He sighed and lost his smile. Not often happened when he stops smiling. I got on my guard.

''How many murderers were there when you've been held hostage?'' He asked after a moment of silent.

''Fifteen'' I said without hesitation. ''But I don't see the point...''

''Only fourteen of them have been arrested...'' He dropped with a sigh.

Kisuke's POV

''Only fouteen of them have been arrested...'' I dropped with a sigh.

My third seat's face became stone with motionless, but her hands crisped.

''And what is your theory?'' she asked. She tried the best she could keeping her calm but as she spoke, her voice trembled.

''That the last one is the key of the attacks...'' I said.

She slowly nodded.

''It makes sense, I was wondering why I was the one target, I mean, I don't have that much of ennemies.'' She said with a sighed. ''But how can a normal spirit can affect us Shinigami?''

I thought for a minute with her eyes burning me. I felt as she was able to see my soul and know my every thought.

''Do you have ennemies in the Sereitei?'' I finish by asking. I would be surprised if she had one, Sara always have been a nice kid... Well, she isn't much of a kid today. I stared at her lips and remembered that we almost kissed earlier... If only Yoruichi haven't came in.

''Not I could think of.'' She said taking me out of my thoughts and back to her eyes.

I slowly nodded.

''You need to be carefull, everyone in the soul society could want to kill you at any moment...'' I dropped.

She broke our eye contact and looked down.

''Does that mean I need to stay on guard with everyone?'' She said. My heart pinched as she looked back at me. ''Even with you?''

My heart sank when her voice broke. Damn that idiot who wanted to kill her! He could at least do his durty work the honest way intsead by striking from the shadow. I reached for her cheek but she slapped my hand away. She got up ad ran away. I stood there looking at where she disappeared when Yoruichi came back in.

''Why did you made her cry?'' she asked me camly.

''I needed to tell her the truth, she isn't safe even with me...'' I said with a sigh.

She had a smile. ''Life is often unfair... Sara did nothing to live this...'' she said looking me in the eye.

''But at least we will have soon the vaccin...'' I said a bit releaved.

''Captain commander disaprove the idea, he said that we only need to nutrilized this problem...'' she said swipping my hopes away.

''But she can be killed anytime!'' I protested.

''Kisuke, calm down!'' Yoruichi said before I could continue protesting. ''You need to believe in her, she is a third seat and she is fully aware of the situation. If you want to keep her alive that much, keep doing what you did before; protect her!''

I slowly nodded. She was right. Sara was strong enough to assure her own protection and I could awlays keep an eye on her.

''You really do care about her.'' She dropped as I stayed silent. Again I nodded.

''She is a good lieutenant and we have alot in common...''

''I am not talking about simple friendship Kisuke.'' Yoruichi said.

I looked at her puzzled. Was it that obvious? Yes, I did particularly liked my 3rd seat.

''Anyway, I guess I'll see you at the christmas party.'' She let go with a smile before leaving.

Three days later, the christmas preparations started. Like every year, we held the party in the first division mansion. But only Taichos, fukutaichos, lieutenants were allow. The others celebrate elsewhere. It wasn't my first year there but Sara was pretty nervous. I gave her the day off since she kept messing up. At least she didin't made anything explode.

I walked to my division's gate and waited Hiyori, Mayuri and Sara. The last two were both my lieutenants, Mayuri in the lab and Sara everywhere else. Mayuri was the first one to join me.

''You aren't specialy dressed for the occation?'' I asked with a smile.

The man looked at me.

''I don't like celebrations, and besides, you aren't dressed up either.'' He replied looking at me.

It was true, I was wearing the usual. Hiyori arrived at that moment. She seemed angry, more than usual. She was wearing a long sleeved red dress.

''Hiyori-san, you are very cute.'' I said with enthousiasme.

''Shut up!'' She said throwing a punch to my face. I didn't avoid it and fell backwards.

When I got up with a chuckle my eyes fell on someone behind Hiyori.

I gasped reconizing my third seat. She was wearing a simple white dress that tighten in all the right places and for the first time her hair was loose. She brought up the short part of her hair and curled the long part that finished under her knees. She was wearing a pearl necklace and had small pearls in her hair.

'Is it too much?'' She asked me since I was standing there and staring. I shook my head and smiled. ''Of course not, you are beautiful.'' I declared.

''And I am only cute.'' Grumbled Hiyori.

Sara distached her eyes from me and looked at her superior.

''Sarugaki-san, I never had imagine that you would look this good in a dress!'' She exclaimed.

''Yeah, yeah, you are no better than him!'' She said with her usual stubborn self.

''Are we ready to leave?'' I asked looking at the scene between the two girls.

Sara looked at me and nodded.

And we left for the christmas party where something was expecting us, something that will change Sara's life and mine forever.