Chapter Six - I Remember You

The prisoner stood over the unconscious body of his Lieutenant. With a twitch of his smile a portal leading to darkness opened up beneath Omaeda swallowing him, the prisoner followed jumping in after his victim his arms hanging calmly by his side as he did so...

The grounds of the Fourth Division were as quite as ever, while they were constantly kept busy with Shinigami that had been injured in the line of duty the Third Seated officer Yasochika Lemura did well to keep the place running efficiently and professionally.

Because of this impeccable system Hanataro Yamada had managed to finish his local duties early and was on his way out of the infirmary to visit Rukia Kuchiki who was being held prisoner in the Sixth Division's Barracks.

He had been assigned to clean her cell during the early days of her capture and had come to enjoy her company, not only because of the interesting stories that she had to tell regarding the human world but also because of her warm and gentle nature.

Hanataro was such a person himself which is why he timidly fell back and froze upon his exit from the infirmary as it was then that the prisoner dropped out of the sky right in front of him. He landed with a thud that was as light as the prisoner's landing , Omaeda followed shortly after and the prisoner managed to catch his unconscious body safely with both arms before dropping him and dragging him behind his back as he made his way to Hanataro.

Hanataro had initially frozen purely at the surprising nature of the situation but when he noticed that the Second Division's Lieutenant had fallen along with the prisoner and that he was unconsciously being dragged along by his assailant he began to feel a sharp dagger of fear being driven into the back of his neck.

The prisoner's entrance had been attention grabbing though Hanataro was the only one in the vicinity to have noticed it and with each step that the prisoner took towards his secluded self the dagger at his neck pierced him further. Hanataro was about to break, he was about to lash out at the prisoner, or run , or pass out...he was about to do something...anything.

It was in this moment of pure adrenalin that the prisoner finally spoke causing the pain at Hanataro's neck to alleviate.

'My my did I startle you? My apologies but there was a bit of an...accident during a training exercise. Am I able to leave my companion with you?' he said with a sly smile which served to put Hanataro at ease unlike the effect it held over Soi Fon.

'Umm I don't think I can carry him, but if you could bring him inside to one of the beds I would make sure he's treated' Hanataro stated as he got on his feet.

'But of course.'

Hanataro turned back into the building, the prisoner followed still dragging Omaeda along the ground behind him.

With his curiosity overcoming his unconfident attitude Hanataro finally chose to ask about the patient that he was receiving.

'Excuse me...did Captain Soi Fon do this?'

'No no no, why this is my doing. I hope you can forgive me for causing you trouble.'

Such extreme clashes between Shinigami especially those of a high seated rank were punished severely and here lied a Lieutenant one of Soul Society's elite completely put out of commission by a stranger. The situation was dire Hanataro realised this, but he didn't feel like he was in any immediate danger...not anymore at least.

Shortly after they reached the designated room and the prisoner laid Omaeda down on the closest bed before turning to leave. He had caused enough of a scene and wanted to return to the shadows where he was comfortable away from potential prying eyes.

'Well then, now that that's sorted I must be going, thanks for your hard work' he stated as he made for the door.

'Umm, sorry but you can't leave, you have to see our Third Seated Officer first' said Hanataro with an unconfident conviction.

The prisoner ignored him deciding that Hanataro's lack of confidence would make this problem disappear if he simply left now and he was right in that aspect, but unfortunately for him he had already caused enough of a disturbance to warrant unwanted attention.

As the prisoner turned out of the room to walk down the hall a feminine arm slithered around his shoulders, the prisoner was too late and he froze completely in his moment of failure.

Hanataro noticed the arrival of the visitor and came to greet her.

'Uhh Captain...'

She turned to face him with a smile that snapped him out of his colloquialism, he bowed as an apology before greeting his Captain properly.

'Good morning Captain Unohana.'

It was as the prisoner had feared.

'Good morning Hanataro' she said returning the greeting with a warm smile before turning her attention to the man under her arm.

The prisoner undaring enough to move chose to greet her instead.

'Good morning Captain Unohana.'

She gave off a slight chuckle in amusement.

'It's been a long time hasn't it? My how your hair has grown.'

Her small talk brought a calmness to the prisoner, that and the fact that he had recalled the ludicrous length of his hair while in the Nest of Maggots.

'You should have seen it the other day' he joked...'though I am surprised you remember me.'

Hanataro looked on in surprise, he had never seen this man in all his years at the Fourth Division yet he somehow knew Captain Unohana.

'Well it's not often that I get to escape the responsibilities of the infirmary...with that said only one other man has given me a look as fierce as you have.'

...

The prisoner finally turned to face her, their eyes met and maintained contact for an awkward amount of time before she let him go with a smile.

'I shall attend to the Lieutenant, Hanataro will you assist me?'

'Yes Captain' he declared with a sense of regret knowing that his visit to Rukia would have to wait.

She left the prisoner and made her way to Omaeda.

'That's it? You're just going to let me leave like that!?' The prisoner asked abruptly in a fit of confusion.

'Yes.'

'Why? How can you be so trusting?'

'You brought me a patient not a corpse, I have no need for retribution.'

'But...'

'My responsibility lies with the wounded, I have not acted as Soul Society's sword...for a long time' she said interrupting him.

After a moment the prisoner ran back down the hall to his escape and Retsu turned to examine the empty doorway before turning her attention back to Omaeda.

Hanataro could only stare in awe as his ego prevented him from asking the blooming questions that that plagued his mind.

The prisoner made his exit and found a secluded area on the grounds before comfortably entering the same dark portal that brought him to the Fourth Division grounds, the only thought on his mind being that he wanted to pay the other Captains a visit.