It's been a long week, but I've finally been able to sit down and finish this chapter. Thanks for being to patient!

As usual, here's a thanks to the reviewers (despite there only being one—again):

Kaneko Aikawa: I'm glad you like their unique 'relationship'. They're getting closer, but not quite there yet. Give it a few more chapters and you'll see how they turn out. The creative juices are flowing, but it's hard getting the time to write around the holidays. But you;ll have your HiroshixNanami fluff soon!

This chapter is, again, not very action packed, but it's something. You'll see (in this chapter and the next) what I had intended from Hiroshi from the beginning and see what lengths Nanami would go to in order to save a friend.

Enjoy!

. . .

Chapter 16: Nothing Is Normal Now

Time seemed to be passing more quickly. It felt as though I had been here for years, even though I've barely been here half a year (in human time). I know that even though there wasn't been any kind of Hollow activity since the attack at the beach almost a week ago, the peace wasn't going to last.

It was almost 10 o'clock at night. We had finished our dinner long ago and played a quick board game with the twins before it was time for bed. It was Dad's turn to get them settled and it was my turn to clean up the kitchen and the table. Mom was busy with Izuro, trying to get him to sleep, although it was always proven difficult.

I finished cleaning and said 'good night' to Mom and Dad before heading to my room. Sleep was needed, for sure. However, it evaded me. I was tired, for sure, but my mind was restless. I couldn't focus on sleep when Sakura was out there somewhere, stalking me like I was her pray.

And that's how I ended up here so late at night, in the park that I fought my first Hollow. The one that was after the two girls. I couldn't rest, but maybe I could figure out what to do about Sakura.

I knew what she wanted, and I knew the lengths she would go to get what she wanted. Originally, I thought Sakura engaged me in order to gain control of my Hollow—at least that's what she confessed to when they locked her up in Central 46. But…when I thought back to Una, that story didn't make sense. She wouldn't try to kill me to get to my Hollow, unless she truly thought that she could control it.

But what I didn't know was—

"Who is going to be her next victim?" I asked aloud, to no one. "Who are you going to take from me next in order to push me over the edge?"

"You know the answer to that, idiot girl."

My hand went to my head and my forehead scrunched in pain. "Not now…"

"Then when? It's not like we got to talk much. How do you feel today, mistress? Ready to die?"

I groaned in annoyance. "Go away. I have enough to worry about."

"Well, then maybe you should let me out every once and a while—maybe then I wouldn't be so…restless."

"Pft. You're not coming out any time soon, Osorozu. You're to powerful too let lose."

She made the same noise of distaste. "You bet your ass I'm too powerful for you! And one of these days you'll learn the dark way when I watch the life drain from your eyes!"

I rolled my eyes. "Sure, O. Whatever you say…"

Osorozu was the Inner Hollow. She was me but…not me. Our souls were linked closer than what people these days call 'soul mates'. It was rare for her to speak up, and even more rare for her to have an opinion of anything.

Is it wrong for me to feel the need to tease my Inner Hollow? I know it's like poking at a caged beast—literally—but it's almost calming. She's more than willing to greaten my life and try to scare me into submission. And on top of that, we have nicknames for each other. She calls me every insult available to her, and I call her 'O'. She started wanting to me called Osorozu soon after I first lost control. She said it was so I knew what to call me when I spoke my last words to her. But I'm not worried about that last part. Her name may mean 'fearful haze' but she doesn't scar me. I mean, I'm always fearful that she'll get out, but I'm never scared to face her.

I pushed off the ground and started to swing, thinking.

"What am I going to do?"

"Well, for starters, you could get your 'Una replacement' to help you out."

I glared at nothing. She was referring to Hiroshi. "That's not going to happen, O! Not again. Besides, Una was a friend."

"Oh, so that means this guy means nothing to you. All the more to throw him to the dogs."

I shook my head, though no one was around to see it. "No. Una was special. Hiroshi is…different."

"Ugh. You're turning into that mosh again. Whatever. It's your life. But just remember: the moment your weak and feeble, I'm the one that will be in control."

She was quiet after that, having no more to say on the subject.

I sat in silence and listened to the night, letting the sound of the metal chains moan under my weight as I swung back and forth slowly. I was completely alone until I sensed him heading this way, and then he was walking toward me silently.

Hiroshi approached the swings, hands in the pockets of his jeans. His face was blank, but is eyes were becoming easier and easier for me to read. His eyes held everything that he was feeling, because he couldn't seem to show it in his face.

"You know it's 10 o'clock at night on a Thursday, right?"

I looked up at him, and nodded. "Yeah."

He watched me for a second. His eyes on me made my heart beat slightly faster.

"My parents told me there was some crazy chick after you. And yet you're going to sit here in the middle of an empty part in the middle of the night. Alone."

I nodded, my thoughts again shift toward Sakura. "I'm really good at sensing Spiritual Pressure—better than most at the Captain's level. I'll be fine."

"But, right now, you're not a Soul Reaper," he pointed out, looking me up and down. "You can't sense Spiritual Pressure as well while you're a human."

I shrugged. "Yeah, but if it's Sakura I might as well let her take me, right? Then no one will be in danger because of me."

I didn't mean it. I hadn't even meant to say it. But…it was how I truly felt. If I gave myself up to Sakura then no one would be putting their lives at risk just by leaving their house. They would be safe.

He stared at me again, his blue eyes looking at me and then through me. I felt his stare more so than I felt his presence right in front of me.

"You better not say anything like that in front of your Dad. He'll freak out."

I sighed. "Yeah… I'm sorry. That's…not what I wanted to say."

He shrugged this time. "Maybe Sakura's not as scary as you make her out to be."

I glared at him, though it was half hearted. "Sakura is dangerous. She's smart, and she'll do anything to get what she wants." I looked down at my feet, letting the words spill out of my mouth. "She killed someone close to be back in Soul Society, but she failed to kill me. Now that she's out of prison, she'll come after someone else. I can't…I can't bear to lose someone else I love. I can't—"

"You won't." Hiroshi's words were fierce yet gentle, letting me know he was serious about what he said.

I looked up at him, holding back tears.

"Your Dad is too stubborn and too tough to be beaten down for too long. I've heard the stories more than once to know that. Your Mom is the same way; she's not going down without a fight. And your brothers and sister are more than safe with them around. No one's getting hurt."

He was right. But…

"I still have to think about your family, and Chad and Tara. Anyone who has come in contact with me is at risk of being killed. And…I can't let someone else die because of me."

He almost looked offended. "My parents are just as strong as yours—same goes for Chad. We can protect our own families."

"But…Una was the only true friend I had…and because I was careless, she's dead." As soon as those words left my mouth, a heavy silence came over us.

He didn't have anything to say to that, thankfully. Unlike when I told my parents, I felt…comfortable with the idea of talking to Hiroshi about Una. Sure, it was something personal and it hurt to talk about it, it felt okay to mention it to him. I think that was because it wasn't okay for my parents to look at me with disgust, but I could lived with Hiroshi disliking more than he already did.

Maybe?

I veered away from that topic and switched gears.

"What are you doing out here, Hiroshi?" I pushed off the ground again and started to slowly swing once more. "You realize it's past 10 o'clock on a Thursday night, don't you?"

A small smile touched my lips, admiring my own snarky tone. The corner of his own lips twitched, and I wasn't sure if that was out of annoyance, or the start of a smile.

"I always take a walk at night. Sitting on the roof is only good if I can actually see whats out there. This is…my way of getting out of the house and being able to think."

"So you always come to this park on your walks?" It was an innocent question, and I had expected a "why would you think that?" or something of that nature. But when he looked down at me, his eyes conveyed a deeper meaning when the word "no" fell from his lips.

I looked at him curiously. "Then, so you go into town?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, sometimes."

Now I was nosey. "Oh? And where do you do other than town and the roof?"

He must have known that I could read his expressions and turned his head so that I could only see the side of his face. "You're awfully nosey today."

I shrugged. "Just trying to figure you out, Hiroshi. You mentioned last week that you didn't necessarily hate me or Soul Reapers, but that didn't necessarily mean that you liked me either."

He looked at me out of the corner of his eye, waiting for me to finish.

"I just…want to know more about you. We're the same age and—"

"I'm 17," he corrected quickly.

I tried very hard not to roll my eyes. "We're close in age and I read somewhere that that helps develop a sense of friendship."

"You're trying to make friends based off of what you've head in books?"

"No, I'm saying that I've never had friends and I wanted…" I stopped short, feeling my heart race suddenly. "I…wanted you to be my friend."

There was a long pause and neither of us said anything. My heart was racing and I couldn't figure out why. Being friends with Hiroshi wasn't asking him out on a date—or whatever humans called it—right?

Hiroshi's expression was calculating as well as thoughtful. He was clearly trying to find a way out of this conversation, and I was regretting even bringing it up.

Before I could think about it any further, I sensed a Spiritual Pressure coming this way. He was right when saying I wasn't going to be able to sense Spiritual Pressure as well as I would when I'm a Soul Reaper, but I could still feel her coming. And she was fast.

I jerked up from my swing and turned in the direction I sensed it from. "Do you sense that?"

He nodded. "It's coming fast."

"It's Kaguya." I felt my brows knit together as I focused harder. "And from what I can tell the Captains are on her tail."

"You mean your back up from Soul Society?"

I nodded slightly. "I guess you could call them that."

Although, they aren't really 'backing me up'; they are trying to keep my out of this fight.

I grabbed his arm and started for the park entrance in a hurry.

"Let's go."

He didn't budge, and I almost fell backwards from the lack of movement. "What, now you're just going to run?"

I glared at him. "I'm useless without my Soul Reaper powers."

"So you're just going to lead her right to our families instead?"

I pulled on his arm again and this time I got him to move. "No one said we were going straight home."

. . .

"Are you sure about this plan of yours?"

"Well, we can't head right toward her, but we can't go home, either. So, the next best plan is to take a detour."

"But where are we going?"

I had thought about that, too. "Kisuke Urahara's shop should provide some cover. And maybe when she senses that there's someone else on our side, she'll panic and turn back."

"That's a big 'if'. And that Urahara plan is kind of a long shot—from what I know, Kisuke doesn't help you without a price."

"It's the only thing I've got right now. Unless you can come up with something better?"

Silence.

That's what I thought.

I looked behind us, as if I could physically see her coming. I couldn't, but there was still a slight hint of her Spiritual Pressure. "She followed us—that's some good news."

"Is it?" he retorted. "The shop is coming up fast. Those friends of yours better hurry up and catch her."

"She has incredible Flash Step abilities. I can only hope they catch her before she catches us."

"Now that's a plan I can go along with."

We were half way there, the both of us breathing heavy from the excessive running. Kaguya was still on our tail, and the Captains on hers. I realized then that I need to excursive my human body more. Running as a human was a lot different than running as a Soul Reaper.

We were almost there; though I found it weird was that I couldn't sense Kisuke or any of his helpers. The place was vacant. Either that or they were suppressing their Spiritual pressure to the point that I couldn't detect them in my human body. But…why?

Just as that though occurred to me, another presence was closing in. Fast.

I looked over my shoulder at Hiroshi. "We need to hurry. Kaguya is—"

But he was gone. Hiroshi wasn't running next to me anymore. In fact, he was gone completely.

"Looking for someone?"

I spun around. Standing there, with her Zanpakutou rested firming over Hiroshi's neck, was Kaguya. Hiroshi's arms were glued to his sides, clearly afraid that if he moved she would slit this throat.

Damn it. She's seen through my plan. We couldn't out run her—maybe we never really stood a chance and she was just playing us for fools. And now, because of me, Hiroshi is…

The smirk on her face more than just annoyed me. It scared me. She was just as capable of killing Hiroshi as Sakura was. But…I prayed that she wouldn't The fear in Hiroshi's face was hard to miss, and I was just as scared as he was.

"Kaguya… Don't."

"It's too late for begging. You should have just joined us when you had the chance, Nami-girl."

Behind her, I could see Captain Kuchiki, Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Matsumoto. I had to keep her talking. I had to keep her here where we—they—still had a chance to catch her. Then maybe it wasn't too late to save Hiroshi.

"I…I couldn't. I don't believe in what she's doing." I wouldn't dare take a step closer to her. I was no match for her speed now. "At…at the time I didn't know what she wanted from me, but I knew I shouldn't go with her. And I'm glad I didn't. I couldn't live with myself knowing I was hurting people. How can you?"

She glared at me, offend by what I'd just said. "She's done so much for me; she could have done the same for you, but you chose these people over us." She motioned to Soul Reapers behind her. "You're more like us that like them. Why do you side with the enemy?"

"Why are Soul Reapers your enemy?" I countered, still stalling. And still very aware of the sword to Hiroshi's throat.

Her eyes narrowed further, though thankfully that didn't effect the twitch in her hand. For now. "Soul Reapers…" She stopped herself, realizing she was letting me get to her. "You wouldn't understand. Sakura understands. She saved me. I owe her everything."

"I can save you." I put my hands up in a pleading surrender. "Sakura is only using you; you are only a pawn to her. You see that, right? I know it was you that followed and tracked me and Una back in Soul Society."

That got her attention. The tension on Hiroshi's throat diminished. Thank God.

"What are you saying? There's no way you can prove that—"

"Actually, I can." I tapped my head. "I have a strong point when it comes to my skills as a Soul Reaper—just like you."

She nearly growled at me. "I am not and never was a Soul Reaper!"

I continued, trying to ignore the anger I saw in her and felt in myself. "I can sense Spiritual Pressure better than most Captains. I can even distinguish how far away they are and tell you what direction they're heading in. However, I didn't have that skill when I was—when Una…" I cleared my throat of a lump. "I can also remember who I sensed, no matter how long ago it was. I may not have remembered you right away when you followed me here, but I realized that you were the same one following me around Soul Society all those years ago. You were the one doing all of Sakura's dirty work. While all she had to do was lift her sword and pierce my heart."

Yeah, I went there.

"If you continue to do her bidding, your life would have been for nothing. Please, Kaguya. Don't let her do this to you anymore. I can save you from her."

The anger flared in her eyes, but something else was there. After a long silence, she spoke up again, but this time I sensed a hint of sadness in her voice. "There's no going back. No one can save me now. Just like no one can save you. And just like no one can save him…"

And then she was gone, Hiroshi along with her.

Panic rose in my chest. My heart beat hard against my ribcage. Fear for Hiroshi safety consumed me. I had only hoped that Sakura wouldn't repeat what she had done to me all those years ago. But…it was clear that she was going to do exactly that. She was going to use Hiroshi the same way she used Una. And…it was going to be at the expense of Hiroshi's life.

I looked at the Soul Reapers before. And even through all of that work was put into chasing after Kaguya…no on went after her.

"What are you doing? Go after her!"

Matsumoto and Hitsugaya looked at Byakuya, who said nothing. Like usual.

"Why aren't you doing anything? If she takes Hiroshi back to Sakura, there's no doubt she will…!"

My words died in my throat. The blank stare I got from the man who raised me was more than unnerving. And it was pissing me off. I nearly growled in frustration. I got right up in his face, not fearing him in the way that everyone else did.

"What aren't you telling me? I think I more than deserve to know what you plan on doing. Why are you letting her get away? Are you just going to let Hiroshi die?"

"No," Matsumoto answered. "That's not what we want."

I looked from him to her—maybe she would be more willing to talk. "What's going on?"

"Rangiku. Don't overstep your boundaries," her captain warned.

But she didn't listen. "The boy—Hiroshi—wasn't meant to be involved. You two weren't supposed to be out here this late at night. But…now that he's with her, we can move on to the next phase of the plan."

I looked at Uncle Byakuya, expecting so much from him. All I got was a cold stare. No explanation. No reassurance that Hiroshi would be okay. Nothing.

I clenched my fists, furious with myself and my uncle. But if he wasn't going to tell me what they planned on doing, I would get it from someone else.

I bit the inside of my lip to keep as calm as possible. "Tell me. I deserve to know."

"How about we talk about this later?"

Another voice came from behind me.

"Shinji! Hiyori!"

The blonde man gave small wave, and his companion looked as annoyed as ever. I turned to him for some kind of hope. "Please tell me you at least know where she is? Where Kaguya is taking Hiroshi?"

I was honestly expecting him to tell me no and for all of the hope to drain from my body. But…what I got intend wasn't quite what I was hoping for either.

He smiled at said, "Of course we do. That's a part of phase two—provided that Kaguya got a hold of the boy." He raised a brow at me. "Don't you remember, Nanami?"

Captain Hitsugaya growled in annoyance and Lieutenant Matsumoto rolled her eyes. "Shinji, you fool…"

I folded my arms over my chest, now just as annoyed as Hitsugaya. "I was never told the plan, Shinji! But if someone doesn't start filling me in, I may have to treat your face the same way Hiyori does," I threatened, and boy, was it a very real threat.

My nerves were being toyed with, and I didn't appreciate it. I usually was more in control of my emotions, but today—and the last few months—have been exhausting. I was pissed off because I wasn't included in this 'plan'; annoyed because Shinji could be the biggest idiot; worried about Hiroshi; fearful for another innocents' life…

The man may have taught me everything I know about staying in control of my Hollow and harnessing it's powers, but he was still an idiot.

Shinji must have known what was coming, because he immediately covered his nose with his hand, as if that would protect him from Hiyroi's wrath. Her sandal connected with his face regardless.

"You idiot! You weren't supposed to include her in this! Can't you remember anything?!"

"Nanami is right, Captain," Rangiku cut in. "She's just as involved in this as we are. She deserves to know what our plans are."

Hitsugaya crossed his arms in thought. "I don't disagree with you. But…" He looked over at my uncle, who had yet to say anything.

Byakuya Kuchiki never showed much expression, but no one could read him like Aunt Hisana and I. I could tell in his eyes that a war was raging in his heart—between his loyalty and his love. He wished for Hisana's happiness and for her to never worry, although he was always loyal to the Captain Commander. And I think this is the first time that Hisana's happiness and his duty were so conflicting.

I looked up at him pleadingly. "I know I'm no longer on your squad, and I know I shouldn't ask for this, but…Sakura is here because of me. Hiroshi is in trouble because of me. You are here hunting her down again because of me. I want to be the one to make it right and restore the honor I've lost by putting you all in harms way. Please…Uncle Byakuya, let me be a part of this mission."

He looked at me, and I could see the battle raging in his eyes. He was to complete his mission as instructed, but he had also promised his wife I'd be safe. And no one is safe when it came to Sakura.

Finally, after what felt like hours, he said, "I'll report to the Captain Commander of our situation. Proceed with the plan."

Hitsugaya spoke up after a few moments of awkward silence. "I'll inform you of the plan when you meet us later."

I didn't turn to him, still looking my uncle in the eye. "Where do I meet you?"

"You'll find us, I'm sure." And with that, each of them disappeared.

The only ones left were me and my the man who raised me.

I managed a smile. "Thank you, Uncle Byakuya."

"Don't thank me. This is going against my own wishes." That meant he was worried about me, and about his weakly wife as she worried as well.

I nodded, my smile fading. "I know. But…I'm going to make things right. Hiroshi doesn't deserve this—Una certainly didn't, either. I'm going to end this cycle."

His eyes narrowed. "You are under orders to not kill Sakura or her accomplice. They are to be brought back to Central 46—"

"I'm not a part of your squad anymore, Captain."

My voice and demeanor changed, and that seemed to catch him off guard. I wasn't his niece anymore—I wasn't even his squad member. I was just a part of the mission. There was nothing more he could teach me at Soul Society. I was here, in the human world, to learn about my life as it would have been, and to build a future I deserved. And he knew that.

"I am under no such orders. I am only partaking in this mission with a personal vendetta, and I will complete it. Do you understand my meaning, Captain?"

There was a long pause. "Yes."

I nodded. And without anything left to say, I walked away. I took a few steps and looked back, but he was already gone. I took a deep breath and ran as fast as I could toward home, because I had so serious explaining to do. And I had to tell Uryuu and Orihime that I've put their son's life in serious danger…

. . .

Well, what do you think? Too dramatic? Not at all? I was having a very hard time figuring out how to set of Hiroshi's capture and whether Nanami would be aware of it or not. I figured this would get the story moving and chose the shorter route. If I had done it the original way I intended, it would have dragged on for a few chapters, and I couldn't afford that.

Let me know where I've made mistakes and what needs fixing.

Thanks For Reading And Reviewing!

—Romni