AN: This is a sequel to "Meeting her Capitan" however, they can stand alone.
I am not enough of an evil genius mastermind to own bleach.
Rated T for depictions of abuse and some cursing. More violent than the first entry.
Yume Kasai had been a member of squad thirteen for almost a year. She spent much of her morning training with other team members. In the afternoon she helped file paperwork and would run errands. Between the Capitan's long bouts of illness and the two third seats arguing about trivial things, papers shuffled slowly. She admired her teammates who came back from the world of the living, with vivid stories of hollows and lost souls, but she secretly enjoyed the safety of the filing cabinets and binders.
Some afternoons she sat in the Captain's office, simply watching him reading and marking on the pile of reports. He did not mind the quiet company. When it was time for a break, he would entertain short moments of conversation. Yume's responses were usually simple. On occasion, she would start a sentence, but drop it half way through. Ukitake was always kind and never pushed her for an answer. Despite her company in the office, he knew very little about her.
Eventually, Yume asked for a pass to visit her family and old friends in the 40th district. She gave a brief description, making it sound pleasant and happy. She never spoke of her family, other than to mention a few were in the 4th division. The captain gladly filed the papers for her.
Yume walked down the road of the 40th district. The summer sun was warm and inviting. It collected on her coarse, poorly cut dark hair, making it warm to the touch. Though light, her black shinigami robes did not help with the heat either. People stared at her, whispering to each other. She did not look to them; she did not put her hand on the red-orange hilt of her zanpakuto. While the subject of conversation, Yume was not in danger, at least not here. She did not need to intimidate anyone, it would not help the reputation of soul reapers.
She stopped at a house, much the same as the others. Her district was not poor, nor were they rich. The house was plain, with traditional paper walls and sliding doors. Her father's clinic was next door. He shared it with a few others in the area. She pushed the familiar door open, unaware of the warm green eyes that watched from the roof of an adjacent house.
"Father?" She called out. Please let him be in a good mood today. "Father?"
"Look what came back to me?" The man took a swig from a sake bottle, not bothering to waste time pouring it. "Did the bastards kick you out, yet?"
"No, I came to visit you." She replied quietly.
The man stepped closer. He wore a plain kimono, a few small stains on it. His dark hair resembled Yume's, roughly cut and deciding where it ought to go on its own. He sobered up long enough to help patients. On his days off, he'd find himself slipping inside a sake bottle. Yume had remembered him this way all of her life.
"What squad?" He asked.
"Thirteen." Yume looked down.
"Thirteen?" The man asked. "Thirteen. Why not four, like everyone else in this family?"
"My healing kido was not strong enough, sir." She bowed her head lower, sinking away. His hand flew across her face, causing her to stumble slightly.
"Who's your Captain?" He asked as she regained composure. "Maybe you at least did good enough to be in a decent squad."
"C-Captain Ukitake, sir."
"What does he look like?" Her father asked, his voice low. Family members sent him news of various captains since Yume had been admitted into the Shinjo Academy. He remembered them by appearance over name or number.
"Long white hair." The words seemed robotic as they spilled past her lips.
The man shifted, looking down to her. "That sick bastard? You got into that squad? That man doesn't deserve to be a Captain."
"He's stronger than he looks." Yume spoke before she realized her error.
The hand came from the opposite direction, sending her to the floor, before she could look up, a fist fell into her stomach. She couldn't catch her breath. He dug his knee into her ribs and continued to hit her. When blood rolled down from her lip he stood.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that! Did they teach you that in your academy, how to back talk?"
"No….sir." She gasped.
He took a fist full of hair, pulling her up. She squeaked in surprise and he slapped her again. He drug her to the door, wildly sliding it open and stood in front of the house. People stopped to look at him.
"Look what came crawling home!" He shouted. No one dared move. They knew what went on in the Kasai house, but never stopped it. If they tried, it seemed to make things worse for Yume.
"A dumb whore of a shinigami, not good enough for the Fourth Squad, like the rest of her family. They stick her with the weakest squad; maybe they'll use her as bait. It's all that she's good for." He laughed as hot tears began to roll down Yume's face.
It was a mistake to come back here. Things do not change…the young woman thought. Her knees trembled, making it hard to stand. Her father's rough grip on her hair forced her to remain upright.
The small crowd gasped as a man appeared in the middle of the street. Long white hair gently flowed down his back, covering the number thirteen on his Captain's haori. Today he was not smiling. His lips were in a tight frown, his green eyes narrowed at the man.
"I will only ask you once, please do not speak ill of my squad members and do not lay your hands upon them." His low voice growled.
Yume's father laughed, he reached down to the hilt of her sword. He pulled it out and held it to her throat. His drunken state made his hands less skilled. A small bead of blood rolled down Yume's neck. "She's useless, Captain. I'll finish her off for you."
The Captain raised a hand, holding up his index and middle finger, "Bakudo number 1, Sai."
The sword clamored on the wooden porch. Yume let out a scream of surprise as he pulled her hair before letting go. The man's hands fell behind his back involuntarily, locking in place. Ukitake walked calmly forward, picking up Yume's zanpakuto, and handing it to her hilt first.
"Forgive me for being late." His eyes softened, a smile returning to his feature.
Shaking hands took the sword he offered, replacing in its sheath. She half stepped, half fell forward, clenching the white haori tightly. He placed an arm around her then looked to her father.
"Lay a hand on her again and you will be without them." He growled.
"Can you even hold a sword long enough to cut me? You live on borrowed time." Yume's father spit towards the Capitan.
"My debt is in the thousands." Ukitake mused, unmoved by the man's anger. "The bakudo should wear off in a few hours. I think."
He turned, Yume clinging close behind him. He lead her through empty streets.
"I'm sorry, Captain Ukitake, sir." Yume whispered.
"For what?" He kept his arm around her, leading her out of the streets, to the large sparkling steam. It flowed steadily, the bright sunlight bouncing off the constantly moving ripples.
"I thought he might….be different. Please don't take offense to his words."
He took one of his white handkerchiefs and dipped it in the cool water. He gently washed the blood from her face and neck before putting his hand to her head. Warm green light radiated, soothing her sore face.
"I did not interfere at first, I thought you would stand up to him." As the light faded, he spoke again. "I can only reduce the swelling; there will be some bruising for a few days."
"How did you know?" She looked up, confused.
He looked away. "I followed you. I suspected your home situation wasn't ideal. I do not take offense to what he says. Many people see my illness before they see me."
"Thank you." She muttered. Her eyes began to move, trying hard to focus.
She stepped forward, leaning her head against him. He put his hand to her forehead, it was not hot.
"Mmm. I don't…" She mumbled, her words barely audible. He scooped her up into arms. Her eyes fluttered for a moment, then closed. He flashed stepped back to the Seireitenei
Yume woke slowly, still hazy. A fading candle was the only light that illuminated the room. She wasn't sure where she was. She squirmed, rubbed her eyes, and sat up. The room was not her own, but seemed familiar.
"Yume," The familiar voice greeted her. "Forgive me once again. Unohana said to keep an eye on you."
She looked up to Ukitake's face. He sat beside the bed, a book in hand. His lips were pulled back into a causal smile. Behind him, Captain Kyoraku was fast asleep on a small futon, hat pulled over his face.
"Shunsui falls asleep anywhere. Better here than the bathroom." He replied with a small chuckle to Yume's glance. He placed a marker in the book at set it down.
"Yume, You are not bad, you are not wrong. I know you'll find it hard to believe, I'm sure you've been told those things all of your life. You are a very strong and intelligent young woman. Do not forget that." His voice turned serious.
"He's my father." She whispered, looking at her hands. "I love him. How could he be so wrong?" Tears began to fill her eyes and fall down her cheeks.
"I understand." He reached forward and gently touched her hand. She flenched, but did not pull it away. "He is a human soul; he's flawed. I am as well, just in different ways, so is Shunsui."
The sleeping man snored louder, as if acknowledging the truth of Ukitake's words. He shifted and his snoring was quiet once again. Yume looked up to him in the corner, then back to her captain.
"He apologizes, says he'll never do it again. He'll buy me candy or toys or a new kimono and makes me promise to never tell. He does it again…he always does."
Several moments of silence passed between them. She took several deep breaths and wiped away the tears on her cheeks with a free hand.
"Captain Ukitake, why don't you have children?" She looked up to him.
He smiled down at her, although his eyes sparkled with sadness. "It wouldn't be very fair to them, would it?"
"You're so nice! Captain Hitsugya always complains that you dote on him and give him candy. He wants to look tough, I think he likes it."
Ukitake laughed quietly. "Thank you. But I meant my illness. Women generally don't find spewing blood attractive. A child shouldn't have to worry if their father will wake up."
Yume looked down. Ukitake's voice sounded sad. His gentle green eyes watched her.
"Next time you're sick, may I visit you? I don't want you to be lonely." Yume whispered. "I'm sure Captain Kyoraku has paperwork." She blushed as she asked. Surely he didn't feel alone like she did.
"Having paperwork and doing paper work are two different things, but I'm sure he'll appreciate your concern for his duties. I, however, make bad company I'm afraid. I sleep most of the time."
"I don't mind."
"Yume?" He said, meeting her brown eyes with his green ones. "There's nothing to be afraid of here, understand? You're safe."
She stared at him, eyes wide. He watched the emotions wash over her face. She desperately wanted to believe him, but something wouldn't let her. She watched the captain and glanced over his sleeping friend. They had been nothing but kind. Yume leaned forward, burying her face in Ukitake's shoulder. He put his arm around her.
"Get some rest." He said after a long moment. "It's been a long day for you."
Yume pulled away and nodded. She snuggled back down into the bed, tiredness easily taking over. Ukitake watched her until her breathing fell into a normal rhythm. He stood, quietly walking over to his sleeping friend, still snoring softly beneath the hat.
"Shunsui Kyoraku, I know when you fake sleeping." Ukitake said softly. He flipped the hat off to show his friends mischievous grin.
"First sweet Nanao, but now your squad is worried about my paper work?" His smile grew. "How'd you know I was faking?"
"Your fake snores are slightly higher pitched than your real ones."
"Hmm," He pondered while stroking his chin. He glanced to his friend. "I'll work on that."
Ukitake let his hair fall over his face as he wandered off into thought. Kyoraku smiled as he watched his old friend.
"You'd adopt every orphan if you could, wouldn't you?" He laughed.
"That would make you Uncle Shun." He whispered as he sat next to Kyoraku.
Kyoraku faked surprise. "That will make me sound old! Little Nanao will never love a wrinkled old geezer."
"We are old, Shun." Ukitake smiled. "I think Nanao already knows."
"Then let's not remind her." he protested. He watched Ukitake's face, his friend held a serious demeanor.
"If only Unohana could fix everything, eh?" Kyoraku asked.
Ukitake only nodded in agreement.