Thank you all so much for reading the last chapter. I'm so lucky to have those of you who have been reading since the beginning, and I'm glad you all like whats going on.

Almost everyone has picked up on Nanami and Hiroshi having a romantic 'thing'. And I have to say I didn't think I had hinted at that, but you're all pretty much experts when it comes to reading between the lines, haha. There will, in fact, be a romantic 'thing' between Nanami and Hiroshi, but I'm still working on building a friendship between them first. Baby steps.

So, here's a thanks to those who reviewed before the new update:

Elfen Children: I want to thank you so much for sticking with me though out the long awaited chapter updates. I thoroughly enjoy seeing you name on my review list.

hunterofcomedy: I've seen your name a few times as well, and I want to thank you for sticking close to the updates and taking the time to read and review. I'm glad that you also noticed a relationship between Hiroshi and Nanami, and I'm very glad that you are enjoying the chapters.

NC2001: Thanks for the positive review! I'm glad that you're liking the story. I try to get the chapters up asap.

Kaneko Aikawa: Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. It means a lot that you would review afterwards as well. My initial idea was to make Hiroshi seem like the bad guy, but everyone seems to have seen though that already, haha. We'll see how his character changes. (: Also, I did have the idea to reveal Nanami's Zanpakuto, but I took a different route instead. I have a mad habit of writing the author's notes before I finish the chapter, lol. Nanami will be taking part in a few more battles, so her Zanpakuto will be revealed soon.

Thanks again to those who reviewed. As always, I treasure your opinions and greatly appreciate the comment and feedback.

It's only been a few weeks since the last update, but this is my treat to you for being so patient with me.

Enjoy!

. . .

(This chapter will be in Hiroshi's POV. Just for a little while. But it's longer than I thought it would be, so there's that! Haha.)

Chapter 9: Why Would You Do That For Me?

"I…I don't..think…"

I could barely hear what she said before her body swayed and she went completely limp.

"Nanami!"

Pure reflex is what helped me catch her before she hit the ground, but even I was surprised by my actions. Maybe I pitted her; maybe I felt bad for getting her into this mess; maybe I didn't want to cause her anymore pain than I already had. It was definitely one of those three options, because there's absolutely no way that I—

"Nanami, wake up!" I called to her, but even that was pointless—she had already passed out.

She was pale from blood loss, though she was breathing and that's all that mattered. I hoisted her up into me arms and hurried toward the clinic which, thankfully, wasn't too far from there. Ichigo might kill me, for sure; I had just seriously injured his daughter. And I wasn't looking forward to the lecture I would get from my own father. Hell, my overly caring mother might even be disappointed in me. Whatever. Nanami needed help, and I didn't know where else to go.

The Kurosaki Clinic was busy tending to those who had gotten in the Hollow's crossfire while chasing down those Souls. That monster had sure caused some damage to the people of the living.

I didn't need to call out to Ichigo—he found us; probably sensed his daughter's Spiritual Pressure nearby. He came out of the Clinic calmly, but was quickly panicked when he saw his unconscious daughter.

"Take her in through the back—quietly," he said, and then disappeared back through the main entrance.

I took a deep breath, readying myself for the assault of questions that was sure to come crashing down on me. I went through the back entrance at quickly—quietly—to the nearest room. I barely had her on the cot when Yuzu, Ichigo's sister, came through the same door.

"What happened?" she asked.

"The…Hollow was stronger than she thought," I with a slight stumble. I didn't know what else to say. Should I openly admit that it was my fault Nanami was in this condition?

It was rare for me to stutter for words, so I hoped that she was too distracted with looking over Nanami's wounds to notice anything.

She didn't say anything for a long time. When she did turn to me, her worried face held a small smile. "She'll be fine. It looks like her wounds are already healing. She just needs rest."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Her wounds are… How is that possible?"

She shook her head. "I'm not sure, but it looks like the bleeding as stopped and her wounds are closing. Soul Society might have changed over the years; maybe there's a kido spell that advances healing?"

If Nanami had cast a spell like that, she would have done it before she passed out, and because I was sure she hadn't done that, it was still a mystery is to why and how she had healed so fast.

"It's a spell that I am not familiar with, but her life isn't in any danger." She walked to the door. "I'm going to tell Ichigo her condition before he explodes with worry. Stay here with her for a moment." She paused in the doorway. "Thank you, Hiro. If it wasn't for you, she would still be out there and alone. Thank you for keeping her safe."

When she left, I let go of the breath I wasn't aware that I was holding. 'Keeping her safe'? If only she knew the truth. She wouldn't be thanking me then. She would be just as furious with me as I was with myself. How could I have been so careless?

All of my arrows were weak and sloppy. Nanami had done more damage to the Hollow than I had; she could have killed it easily had I not gotten in the way. I let my emotions get the better of me and I got careless—stupid, even. And because of me…

"I should be laying there on that bed, not you," I said to Nanami, though I doubt she heard me. She was sound asleep.

Looking at her now, her color was coming back. Her skin tone was returning to its genuine, live color. She looked…peaceful.

I reached out to touch her shoulder. I realized that was the shoulder my arrow went though. Looking down, I noticed the blood on my hands and shirt. Her blood. I clenched my hand into a hard fist and withdrew it back to my side.

"I'm sorry, Nanami."

That was all I could think to say. I turned to the door and left the room. I snuck out the back entrance and was gone into the dark of night. I couldn't stand to be there anymore. The guild was eating at me, and I didn't want to be there when she woke up and told everyone what really happened.

This was all my fault…

. . .

The next morning was uneventful. For me anyway. I told mom I was going out and left without another word. I walked around town aimlessly, thinking about everything that happened last night. Playing it over in my head, I realized just how stupid my actions were. Every move I had made was the wrong one, and I couldn't take them back. The only thing that turned out good was that Nanami wasn't seriously hurt.

I walked and walked until I found myself back on my street around early afternoon. The roof was my usual escape place, so I went up to my room—no one was home—opened my window and used the ledge to climb up to the top. Everything was peaceful again as I got lost in thoughts about what kind of trip I would take this summer when—

"Hiro! Hiro, are you up there?"

I heard Yumiko call me from my bedroom window.

"Big brother Hiro, what's wrong?"

I sighed. She knew she could get me to do almost anything when she called me that. "Nothing you need to worry about, Yumi."

"Oh, okay." It was quiet again, but I knew she was still there.

"Do you need something, Yumi?" I asked.

"No, but Nami woke up this morning. She's all better now. And Daddy and Uncle Ichi are looking for you."

That's a lecture and a string of threats on my life waiting to happen, I pondered to myself. I couldn't hide up here forever; I guess it was time to face the music.

I leaned over the edge of the roof. "Alright, I'm coming back inside."

She smiled her bright, innocent smile and disappeared from view. As soon as I was back in my room, my feet were barely planted on the floor when Yumi tackled me into a hug. She almost knocked us both back out the window. Her little arms squeezed my waist as hard as they could, and her face was buried in my abs.

I ruffled her hair just how she hated it. She could also bring a smile to my face, no matter how crappy I felt. "What was that for, shrimp?"

She pulled away just enough for me to see her face. There was s smile, but it was a sad one. "Well, I know you only go up where when you're sad or angry. And I don't like it when you're sad or angry. My Big Brother Hiro shouldn't ever be sad or angry."

She knew there was something wrong and she's trying to cheer me up, I thought, smiling a little more.

"Alright, you got me. I feel better now."

She beamed. "Really?!"

I sighed heavily, feeling the truth of my statement take effect. "Yeah. You're hugs are something magical, Yumi. Now come on," I said, leading the way. Then I mumbled to myself, "Time to face my punishment."

Down stairs, there was no one in the living room or kitchen, so I assumed that meant they were in the front yard. Yumiko and I walked outside and I was immediately tackled (again), but this time by my mother.

"Oh, Hiro! I'm so proud of you!"

That struck me as a little more than odd. She was proud of me? Hadn't Nanami told them what happened?

I scanned the faces standing in my front yard and saw everyone: The whole Kurosaki Clan, Chad and Tara, my family, and even Yuzu and Karin. The kids were chasing each other around the yard, laughing and screaming playfully. The adults, however, seemed to be conversing about something before his appearance in the doorway.

"Was there a lunch date I didn't hear about?" I asked sarcastically, my usual tone of voice. Though it faltered about how serious everyone seemed to appear.

"Nanami told us all about what you did last night, Hiro," Ichigo said, his face blank.

I couldn't focus on anyone else's expression but his. I physically gulped, not looking forward to the threats on my life, of the physical pain I might endure.

"O-Oh, uh…" Again, I couldn't find words. Which, of course, everyone caught on to.

"Why such a glum face?" Chad asked, brow raised.

"You're acting like you did something wrong," my father pointed out, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Unless something is wrong," my mother fretted. Her face was twisted in worry. "You only ever go up to the roof to sulk. What is it, Hiro?"

I was dumbfounded.

My mother just hugged me saying she was so proud—I'm assuming that's for taking down the Hollow last night.

Ichigo had just said Nanami told them exactly what I had done.

My father doesn't think that what I did was wrong.

I was more confused than ever—nothing about today was adding up!

I caught sight of Nanami standing beside her father. When our eyes met, she put her finger to her lips and ever so slightly shoot her head.

I looked back at the others. "What…exactly did she tell you?" I asked, trying to figure out the story Nanami obviously made up.

A bright smile once again crossed my mother's face. "She said you were a hero last night—" she giggled "—Hiro."

"From what she tells us, you took down the Hollow and saved her from much more serious injuries."

"She saved those two little girl's souls and when her back was turned the Hollow attacked."

"You showed up just in time to help, and we couldn't be more grateful."

"Thank you, Hiro."

Everyone had something different to say—added a different part of the fake story Nanami had told them. They all smiled at me and I even got a pat on the back from Ichigo. I couldn't trust my voice, let alone what would come out of my mouth, so I stayed quiet and listened to my dad and Ichigo bicker—like usual.

"You know, Ichigo, you should really be thanking me," my said, pushing his glasses up again.

Ichigo's expression turned annoyed when he looked over at Dad. "Oh, really? And why is that? I don't remember hearing your name come up at all."

"If I hadn't sent Hiroshi out to investigate the Hollow like Rukia asked, then your daughter wouldn't be standing upright."

"Oh, that's rich, coming from the one who couldn't 'investigate' the Hollow himself!"

"I was busy."

"Yeah, busy tending to your wardrobe of fancy clothes."

The argument was finished after that, seeing as though Rukia took it pin herself to end it. She hit them both upside their heads—doing the best she could considering her height and having a baby on her hip—and scolded them for being fools. Izuro clapped and laughed as his father received his punishment, much to everyone else's (expect Ichigo's) amusement.

They ventured into the house to start lunch for the kids, but Nanami didn't follow. Her focus was on the kids as she leaned against the fence that trapped them in the yard.

I'm going to give her a piece of my mind, I thought as I walked up to her, a fire in my step.

She looked up as I approached, as if she had just noticed me there. "Hey, I wanted to say thanks for—"

"Cut the crap, Nanami," I interrupted her. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing here, but it will stop. Now."

Her once calm features turned angry in the matter of seconds. "Do you honestly think I believe any of this to be a game?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, standing as tall as I could. "With that stunt you just pulled—lying to our parents—yes, I believe you think this is a game. Don't let them catch you in one of your lies, Soul Reaper, because I don't want to receive the shitty end of that deal."

She gaped at me, like a fish, before composing her self with an angry face yet again. "That's what this is about? You are only worried about your reputation? You couldn't care less about the souls we saved last night, could you?" She crossed her arms too, standing a little bit taller, but she couldn't tower over me like I was to her.

Oh, how badly I wanted to tell her how wrong she was.

Those girls…they were more than just kids. They were friends with Yumiko, and really sweet kids. Yumi would always make her take her to the park to play, and it would always be around the time the twins, Anika and Asuna, were out playing as well. Yumi would use me as a jungle-gym and climbed on me whenever she got the chance, and would occasionally invite her fiends to do the same. It was annoying to say the least, but I would trade anything to have that back.

I looked away from her—up at the sky with a few puffy clouds—and stuffed my hands in my pockets. I wasn't going to spill my guts to her, but she had to know that she was wrong.

"You don't know anything, Nanami," I said darkly. It was supposed to come out a little meaner than what it had, but thinking about Anika and Asuna changed that a little bit. "You don't know anything about what this town has been through, about what the people go through. Those girls from last night…they were more than just ghosts."

There was silence between us for a long moment, and I would have thought she had just walked away. If it weren't for her suddenly moving a lot closer.

I looked down in time to see her face. Right there. Only a few inches from mine. And the glare in her amber eyes was had to miss. I fought back blush as she spoke.

"We all have scars, Hiroshi. We all suffer pain and loss, but you will not benefit from letting it drag you down. Those girls may have been close to you—"

"Hey, I didn't say that—" I felt the need to defend myself, but didn't get much of a chance.

She held up her hand to silence me. "Oh, please. You gave everything away in your voice. That, and your mother filled me in on those girls and who they were."

I rolled my eyes. I should have known.

"I don't know what your past was like, but don't let that darkness cloud your future. Our parents would know a little about that, wouldn't they?"

That was more than true. I've heard stories from my Dad and Ichigo about the crap they went through to protect their friends and family. It was brutal, but they never gave up. They never let the dark past take control of their futures.

I scuffed, trying to acts annoyed. "That's a lot of fortune cookie talk. When did you become so philosophical?"

She ignored my taunt and took a step back, lengthening the distance between us. She was, again, watching the kids play. Yumi and Tara were running toward Yuta and Kana, portending to be 'monsters' while the younger kids squealed and ran away.

Then I remembered something else that was bugging me about last night. "You pulled some crazy stunt last night."

She turned to me for a moment and raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"When I carried you to the clinic, you were…still bleeding. I mean, the cuts were pretty deep." Ignore the fact that I caused some of those injuries. "When I got you there, Yuza said your wounds were mostly healed and that you would be fine. She said it could have been some kind of pido healing spell—or whatever is that crap is called. But I don't buy it." I gave her dark looked, one that she returned.

"Everyone has their secrets, Hiroshi. Everyone has a right to keep them so long as it doesn't cause harm to others. I don't see how keeping a secret like that could hurt anyone."

"Secrets don't make friends, Nanami." I smirked, knowing that would get her.

And I was right. "And friends don't make secrets. So I guess it's a good thing that you and I are not friends."

I glared at her. She glared at me. And then, acting like complete children, we both looked away from each other.

After a long minute she said, "And you should know that I hadn't lied to them. I could never lie like that."

I glanced down at her, just as a small gust of wind caught hold of her hair and blew if slightly from her face. She was smiling.

"I simply relayed the truth in different words."

I raised a brow. "That sounds like a kind way of saying you lied."

She shook her head, she smile only getting bigger when Tara grabbed hold of Yuta and swung him around playfully.

"I told them that I tracked down the Hollow to a park and found the girls. While I was tending to the souls, my back was turned and the Hollow went in for an attack. I blocked it too late and the suffered a few injuries. The Hollow had me pinned and I was in some real trouble. You came just in time to take care of the Hollow and finished what I had set out to accomplish."

I tsked. "Yeah, that seems a little far-fetched. And you left out a few parts."

"I told them what was necessary. The arrow…was an accident. Asuna was never in any danger from you. I jumped into the line of fire for no reason, so there was no need to mention it."

I let her words sink in for a minute. "Why would you do that? It's clear you don't like me, and I'm not fond of Soul Reapers. Why cover me like that?"

"Because…" She paused, really thinking about her answer. And I waited patiently, which was unheard of. "Because you covered me. You were there to finish the Hollow, just like you're there to keep the bullies away from Yumiko. You're there for her when she needs you. You were there for me when I needed someone to be, and I couldn't have done it without you. So…thank you, Hiroshi."

She didn't look at me, and her long black hair was shielded her face from view. And just like that, she walked away—headed for the door and quickly disappeared inside before I could so much as think of a straight sentence.

She…thanked me? I shot an arrow through her back and she thanks me? My mind was reeling, and this who 'event' from last night has been playing with my emotions—I don't know what to think anymore.

I barely noticed Yumi skip up to me saying, "Come on, Hiro! Come be the monster with us!"

I was pulled into the yard by my sister, and the only think I could think about was how right that little girl was and how wrong Nanami was.

She shouldn't have thanked me. I'm a monster.

. . .

Well, that was kind of a darker version of Hiroshi. I figured we had to get inside his head at least once to see how he truly feels about the Hollow hunt. And, clearly, even he isn't sure. And we, again, got to see the sweeter side of Nanami toward the end. Maybe they will make a great couple… Hmm.

I hope you all enjoyed! As always, let me know of the goofs I make and I promise to do better. (:

Thanks For Reading!

—Romni