Clinging To Hope

by heidlebergchick

On a routine patrol of the First District, Captain Kuchiki and his Lieutenant encounter a strange creature. As the encounter turns deadly, the Gotei scrambles to react, unaware of the burgeoning war at their doorstep. The Gotei ensemble must look to their past, to save their future. (Gritty, realistic Invasion Arc, Post-Aizen/Pre-TYBW, rich Bleach lore - TYBW 523-526)

5. Chapter 5: The Fragments We Gather

Chapter 5 - The Fragments We Gather

---

~ Day 2 - Squad One - Early Morning ~

As the first rays of sun delicately began to rise over the Seireitei, the sound of footsteps echoed along the deserted corridor of the First Division, as two shinigami made their way swiftly towards their Captain's office. The taller of the two panted as they maintained their upbeat pace.

"I can't believe they were both admitted. How do think it happened?" the petite soul reaper emphasized her words in low tones and was almost as out of breath as her companion.

"I've no idea, Kiyoko-san. Whoever is responsible is bad news." His deep voice held the distinct tone of trepidation, before he quickly added in a grim tone of voice, "I mean, Abarai and Kuchiki couldn't have gone down easily. Seriously… Kuchiki!"

The female shinigami gave a serious nod of agreement.

"I know. Still, I can't wait to find out. I thought it was supposed to be a standard patrol." Her colleague shot her a sideways glance. His expression was difficult to place but it seemed that while he was definitely interested in the story, he had the sense to disguise it with apathy.

"I'm sure Yamamoto Soūtaichou will find out what happened quickly enough. He has his ways." Despite his words, Kiyoko remained unconvinced. She shook her head with thinly veiled disgust.

"I'll guarantee they'll keep the good bits to themselves and insist on a 'need to know' basis for the rest of us. It's awful not ranking higher at times like this."

Kazuya smirked.

"You wouldn't be saying that if you were the Captain lying in hospital. Give it up, Kiyoko-san."

They drew closer to the end of the corridor where two doors extended from the floor to the ceiling. It bore the proud insignia of the First Division, drawing attention away from the beautiful carvings along its edges and the intricate metalwork of the door handles. As they approached, they composed themselves quickly before knocking.

Kiyoko felt the nerves tremor in her shoulders as she tensed when the door began to open. She had only been recently promoted, but since she and Kazuya had been on duty when the report from the Fourth Division came in, it fell to them to deliver their information to the Captain-Commander personally. It was the policy of the Fourth Division to report all work-related emergency cases involving Captains, Lieutenants, and other Seated Officers. For this reason, she and her older colleague had had to do a little questioning in order to learn the nature of the situation before passing the information along to Yamamoto. It was her first time meeting the Commander in person.

They stepped over the threshold quickly and were lead into one of the offices. It was spacious and richly decorated. Large scrolls of calligraphy art on the wall added to its traditional ambience and gentle colours. A large desk and some bookshelves occupied the main section of the room and the two shinigami took their place a few feet in front of it with their backs respectfully bowed.

Soūtaichou Yamamoto took a seat with a grunt. It was apparent that he didn't appreciate being disturbed so early in the morning. His Fukutaichou, Sasakibe, stood quietly next to him, looking equally as tired, and yet he did not seem to be the type to complain about such a thing.

"Your report, 11th seat Ogawa Kazuya." Yamamoto's tones were impatient.

"Yes, Soūtaichou, Sir. There has been a report from the Fourth Division saying that both Kuchiki Taichou and Abarai Fukutaichou have been admitted." Yamamoto's expression darkened and Kazuya continued. "Unohana Taichou has reportedly spent the last few hours performing surgery on Kuchiki Taichou, who was brought in with major, life-threatening injuries. Abarai Fukutaichou sustained minor injuries, but the preliminary reports state that his reiatsu was almost completely depleted, putting his life in serious danger. It has been observed that his actions may be the reason that Kuchiki Taichou is still alive. Little is known about how their injuries were sustained since Abarai-sama collapsed shortly upon arrival at the Fourth Division." Ogawa bowed again and Yamamoto sighed.

"What of the rest of Kuchiki's men? Where are they now?"

This time Kiyoko stood and spoke clearly. "Kuchiki Taichou's team is stationed at a new rendezvous point as requested by Abarai Fukutaichou via a second hell butterfly. Third Seat, Suzuki Haru, expressed his concerns to us, saying that when he and his team scouted the original rendezvous point that both the Captain and Lieutenant were absent, but that a significant amount of blood was found at the scene." Yamamoto's eyebrows creased in confusion, encouraging the female shinigami to continue. "They reported that the back-up call arrived shortly after midnight, merely hours ago and that Abarai Fukutaichou requested his men to exercise extreme caution, since he and the Captain had at that point, remained unaware of the number of enemies. He also requested, for some reason, that his men were under no circumstance to leave a reiatsu trail. He was very specific about them arriving as stealthily as possible. They have remained on standby through the night and have nothing further to report; there has been no further enemy activity."

Her voice faded away quietly, and Yamamoto frowned deeply. He turned to his Fukutaichou. "Call Fon Taichou. Have her scout the area and question Abarai as soon as he wakes up since Kuchiki Taichou is off active duty for now. Make a report of everything said, Sasakibe. Find out what the hell happened." The end of his sentence was almost lost in the intensity of his growl as he stood and left the room. Sasakibe gathered a few items from the desk before following him.

Kiyoko released the breath she had been holding in. She turned to Kazuya.

"Wow, he's not a morning person!" Ogawa rolled his eyes for show, but a fleeting look to his colleague had them both laughing behind their hands. They quickly used shunpō to return to their posts.

---

Renji's brown eyes flickered open. As if that minimal action was exhausting, they closed once before flickering open again. They blinked a few times before they began to focus and take in their surroundings. With the blinds closed, little light permeated the room. Instead, it was comfortingly quiet with soft and soothing shadows dancing playfully over the walls and surfaces. With the window opened by a fraction, a light breeze breathed in some fresh air and allowed the blinds to flutter and add to the peaceful atmosphere.

Renji closed his eyes and sank deeper into the pillow. He honestly had no motivation to move. His breathing was relaxed and unhurried. Slowly he began to drift off again and didn't notice the door opening silently. He registered no sounds as the figure stepped inside and resealed the door, nor did he pick up on the unrushed sound of footsteps as she arrived at his bedside.

Unohana Taichou smiled. Her eyes softened at the sight of the remarkable young man in front of her. She placed the back of her left hand delicately on Renji's forehead and paused. She was relieved to find no fever. She quickly assessed his other vital signs and confirmed his levels of response to stimuli, before recording them on his chart. She was generally pleased with his overall condition but was still worried about his low reiatsu levels. She made a mental note to send someone to check on them again. She wasn't too worried about it; it was expected after the extreme actions he had taken.

She knew that she could not linger for very long; her time was intelligently designated for each of her many patients. At the foot of the bed, she pushed away from the blankets and revealed the red-haired shinigami's feet. They were thickly wrapped in clean white bandages and she made quick work of removing them. She raised a critical eye to the soles of his feet. He had come to her with no sandals, skin peeling off his feet, and bloody blisters forming on his heels.

It most certainly had not been pretty, but she had seen injuries of this nature before. Grudgingly not quite as severe, but she had seen them, nonetheless. Her conclusion for this damage was that Renji had made excessive use of shunpō. These injuries were common in soul reapers newly learning shunpō, but also when a soul reaper used a level that he or she was unprepared for. It was rather like doing gymnastics without first properly stretching; it was asking for trouble.

But based on the injuries with which Captain Kuchiki had arrived, she knew Renji's decision to use Captain level shunpō had been an unconscious one. It was something his body had not been trained for, beyond his usual level and quite honestly spoke volumes to her. For him to go so far to save a fellow shinigami was nothing short of admirable and she wasn't the only one who could see that.

Upon close examination, she agreed that his feet had begun to heal nicely, and it was not one of her major concerns. She applied a specially concentrated salve to his feet to help them regenerate new skin cells quickly. This was followed by cotton padding and additional gauze bandages to keep everything in place and prevent the risk of infection. Unohana quickly checked to make sure that bandages were not too tight before she straightened up to her full height.

She spared one last fond glance at the exceptional young man as he slept peacefully. A sense of pride surged within her and she quietly exited to let him sleep in peace.

'Rest, Abarai-san. Regain your strength and come back to us.'

The young fukutaichou slept on in peace.

---

Rukia yawned.

'I wish it wasn't so early.'

As the dark-haired shinigami made her way to the breakfast room, she could hear her grandfather's voice. His tones were low, and he sounded worried, leading her to conclude that this was not a conversation between him and one of the housekeeping staff members. Rukia frowned.

'If I'm right, then who could be visiting so early?'

Quietly, she stepped into the room and inclined her head respectfully in her grandfather's direction. She smiled warmly.

"Good morning, Jii-sama." She seated herself gracefully adjacent to him at the table.

Only then did she turn her attention to his guest. Her eyes widened minutely as she noticed that he was a soul reaper.

'A soul reaper? How odd. I wonder why he's here…'

As she poured herself some tea, she noticed the turquoise sash on his shihakushō and knew he was from the Fourth Division. Before she could dwell on it, however, her grandfather cleared his throat softly. She looked at him.

"Rukia" his voice was coarser than usual, and his features showed that he was clearly upset about something. The shinigami beside him adopted a serious expression. A feeling of dread began to build inside Rukia, knowing that she wasn't going to like what they had to say.

"Jii-sama." She spoke softly. Reaching across the table, she touched Ginrei's hand comfortingly. "Whatever it is, you can tell me." Her gentle words seemed to have affected him and he squeezed her hand lovingly. His eyes shone with pride.

"Rukia-chan." He sighed. "It's your brother. There was an attack last night where he and his young Fukutaichou were stationed." He lowered his gaze. Rukia's lips parted.

"An attack? Are they alright?" She turned desperately to the soul reaper beside them.

His face was solemn, disclosing nothing. It was clear that he wasn't comfortable with the situation in the least. "I'm afraid Kuchiki Taichou is very seriously injured, but I haven't heard anything about his subordinate's condition. Unohana Taichou stayed with the Captain through the night, but she hasn't disclosed any further details. I'm sure she would prefer to speak with you both personally since you are family. I'm very sorry to be the bearer of such news, but I must return now. Please, excuse me."

He rose and bowed formally. Both Rukia and Ginrei followed suit and watched the man leave the room. For a few seconds, neither of the two moved nor spoke. Rukia's gaze fell upon the untouched breakfast food, and yet she didn't see any of it. Her eyes had become glossy as she did her best not to cry. She just needed time to think about everything. God, where was she supposed to start? She clenched one hand by her side as she pictured her brother lying in some hospital bed… in pain… alone…

She glanced at her grandfather and whispered. "Jii-sama is he… dying…?"

Silence was her only answer as Ginrei considered at her words thoughtfully. As her expression became more pronounced with concern and worry, he rubbed her shoulder lightly. He saw the tears in her eyes and admired her will not to let a single one fall, even though he knew she wanted to do nothing else. He drew her into his arms.

"They didn't say that, Rukia-chan. Unless Retsu-chan tells me something like that herself, I will not believe it; neither should you."

Rukia melted into her grandfather's warm embrace. She clenched her eyes shut and bit her lip. She breathed in slowly and took in his scent. She knew she had to think positively, and she drew her strength from him and her brother. Now she had to be strong and allow them to lean on her. Her worried expression changed into one of determination, fuelled by the love she held for her family. That's all there was to it.

"Do you feel better now, Rukia-chan?" His lips twitched upwards into a smile though his eyes gave away the immense concern and sadness he was trying to suppress in order to comfort his only granddaughter. She couldn't help but smile back, even if only to reassure him that he wasn't alone in what he was going through.

"I'm okay." Her voice wavered a little. "I just… will we be able to see him? And Renji?" He nodded.

"Yes, very soon. In the meantime, there's something I'd like you to take care of." Rukia's brow creased as she tilted her gaze upwards to meet her grandfather's eyes, willing him to elaborate. "Right now, your brother needs you. I'm sure he's going to be in a lot of discomfort at the moment and we need to do everything we can to support him. I'm sure he would appreciate having some of his personal effects nearby, like his own clothing and so on. When you finish, we will go and see your brother."

The elderly man's voice was heavy with emotion and Rukia knew that the duty of informing the clan elders fell to him in Byakuya's absence. The situation was a bad one and Rukia was glad for the chance to do something productive rather than linger on the unsavoury possibilities that awaited them. It was exactly what she needed to calm down and come to terms with all that had happened, and she had a sneaking suspicion that that was Ginrei's plan from the start. She smiled despite herself and thanked the old man silently for his never-ending wisdom.

"I will see you then, Jii-sama." She smiled and watched her grandfather turn away from her, as he slid the door open to leave. She knew he was trying to hide the turmoil in his eyes as it threatened to undo him. She would allow him this space and complete the task he had left for her. Slowly the door was resealed and Rukia allowed the first tear to fall.

All sorts of horrific and terrifying images of her brother's battered and broken body tortured her as the many questions ran through her mind. Just how seriously injured was he? Who in the world could have defeated him and Renji like that? Would he make it? Would he ever know how hard she had trained in order to become a resilient officer and gain his approval or how much she revered him for his strength and intelligence? Did he know how much she loved him and that she looked up to him? More tears cascaded down her beautiful face and she wiped them away furiously. She needed to be strong, if not for herself, then for him.

She headed to the family wing of the manor and took the path that led to her brother's room. She twisted the handle and let herself in remarking on the last time she had been there. It certainly had been a while, but she was pleased to discover that it was just how she remembered it.

The walls were a calming shade of tea green. The doors were made from a smooth, pale wood as were the various pieces of furniture. This included a large bed in the centre of the room, the tall wardrobe in the corner, and a very fine-looking dresser in the middle of the far-off wall as you walked inside. Above it hung an impeccably hand-stitched tapestry depicting a finely dressed, delicate woman sitting among some camellia blossoms. A tall man, with hair black as coal, knelt calmly behind her. Their hands intertwined softly at her shoulder, a loving gesture that did not diminish their regal gaze and proud stance. Rukia didn't need three guesses to know who this magnificent couple was and what they obviously meant to her brother.

As she moved to the dresser, she admired the traditional double doors which lead to Byakuya's private garden. She knew it was a favourite pastime of his to meditate while basking in the ambient sounds of nature that surrounded him. She remembered him telling her once that Hisana had tended to that very garden while they had still been married and that he had taken over the responsibility of looking after it when his wife had passed away. A pang of sadness waved over Rukia again. Her brother had already been through so much and she just wanted him to be happy.

With a final sigh, she returned her attention to the dresser and opened it. Inside, fine items of clothing were folded to perfection stacked neatly with other corresponding pieces. Rukia smiled. She knew what people thought of her brother. They thought he was some spoiled noble who didn't know what it was to cook a meal or wash his own clothes. If only they knew he refused to allow anyone to clean his room or touch his private belongings. There was so much that they didn't know, but she did. Renji did as well. Byakuya was a private person, but he made jokes and laughed around the people he really trusted. Tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't stand the thought of losing him, not now after all they had been through together. She wiped her eyes before forcing herself not to worry any further.

Quickly she went to the wardrobe and pulled out a sturdy travel case from the bottom. Back at the dresser she opened the lid of the large case and proceeded to fill it with various pieces of clothing. She placed them neatly inside. She included a pair of slippers and a silk dressing gown to make sure he had something to walk around in when he was fit enough.

As she folded it, she sincerely hoped he would recover and use it. Before the tears spilt, she rubbed her eyes again with her sleeves and sniffed loudly. She hurried to the bathroom and began to gather some toiletries and things like a comb, toothbrush, and razor. Anything she felt he would need was packed inside the case and soon it was filled. Proud of herself, she spared the beautiful room a final glance as she brought the case outside. She placed it outside the door in the hall, as she closed the door properly and made her way swiftly to the foyer, where she found her grandfather waiting for her. His eyes glanced over the sealed case at her side and he nodded.

It was finally time to go.

---

Rukia's expression told little of her worry or fear as she watched her grandfather speak with one of the Fourth Division shinigami. She did her best to remain still and calm. She was glad that for once, she didn't have to worry about hiding her shaking hands, as she rolled the suitcase along behind her. She forced herself to think about something other than the reason why she was at the fourth division's relief station. The Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho was a special section of the squad, reserved only for the seriously injured and those who needed constant care. It was an effective intensive care unit in its own way. It was a place she didn't come to very often, but she never enjoyed it when she did.

She observed the shinigami as they went calmly about their work. She had seen their unique pink scrubs on previous visits to the squad and mused that they were probably thankful to see something other than black. Even the building wasn't the same. While it did have the same exterior architecture as the other squads, it was completely different on the inside. The walls were horizontally dissected with tranquil white and blue colours. The hallways were well lit and welcoming. The nurse's station was organized and ornamented with medical pamphlets and a series of glass vases of orchids. Overall, it was tranquil and quiet, a place of healing.

Rukia's eyes returned to the form of her grandfather as he thanked the soul reaper. Apparently, Unohana Taichou had been anticipating their arrival and wanted to speak to them privately in her office before they could visit Byakuya. As they made their way through the corridors, Rukia wondered what the female Captain would say and gripped the handle of Byakuya's luggage tighter without noticing.

After knocking once, they were welcomed inside by Unohana Taichou. The walls were lined with medical encyclopaedias and large folders and binders. The furniture was comfortable and spaced out. As Rukia stepped inside and stood next to her grandfather, her dread and concern tripled. They were not alone as she had expected. The young female Captain of Squad Two, stood quietly at the desk by the window at the end of the room. Apparently, the two Captains had been talking about something before she and her grandfather had arrived. From the look of it, she was worried. Tension rolled off her and Rukia had never seen her like that. It didn't bode well for a Captain to be worried. She prayed that Retsu would give them good news, as she greeted them warmly.

"I'm glad you're both here so early. Please, have a seat, Ginrei-chan, Rukia-san." Before she could properly greet the two, a knock interrupted the Captain. She gazed at the door with mild curiosity. "Come in."

Sasakibe stepped inside quickly and bowed. He quickly nodded to the Kuchiki's before addressing the Captains. "Forgive the intrusion, I was told I would find you both here. Could I please speak with you, Fon Taichou?"

Retsu simply gave a nod, but Fon Taichou straightened up at the suggestion and gathered her folder. She strode towards the door as Sasakibe bowed and left and turned to Unohana. "Please be sure to send any further reports to my office as soon as anything new develops." She lingered by the door as she clutched a folder to her side. "I would like to speak to the Lieutenant as soon as possible, if I may?"

Unohana nodded her permission at once. With that Captain Fon tilted her head in thanks and left the room, sealing the door behind her. Retsu returned to her desk, returning her full attention to the two Kuchiki's present.

Ginrei watched his former colleague as she composed herself behind her desk. He could see the unending patience reflect in the woman's eyes and was reminded instantly why she remained Captain while he had chosen to retire. There was simply no other with her capabilities and soothing personality. The former Sixth Division Captain had nothing but respect for her and knew she valued him highly in return.

"Retsu-chan." He chose not to conceal his fondness for the woman in his warm tone of voice. "Is my grandson well? I hear he troubled you greatly."

Unohana simply smiled in a good-natured sort of way.

"He always was reckless, Ginrei-chan. You were much the same if I recall correctly." They smiled again despite the situation and Unohana continued. "I am sure that I have brought Byakuya-san through the worst. That being said, his recovery will not be easy. I stayed with him last night during surgery and Isane is with him now. I'm sorry to say, his injuries are quite serious. Had Abarai-san lingered at all, I wouldn't have been able to help either of them." Though her tones remained serene and quiet, the significance of her words was quite clear. "You both owe him Byakuya's life."

At this, Rukia gasped. Unohana's eyes settled upon her.

"Renji, is he okay?" she held her breath as the head physician nodded.

"He too put himself in great danger. In order to bring Kuchiki Taichou to me and save his life, Abarai-san almost lost his own by using Captain level shunpō which depleted his reiatsu to dangerous levels. The soles of his feet were almost completely worn away and he will have some recovering to do before I allow him to leave my care this time. Byakuya-san, on the other hand, was not quite as lucky."

Both Ginrei and Rukia tensed. An odd expression crossed Retsu's face as she recollected some of her unusual findings. Her voice became quiet and serious as she began to divulge some of the more delicate details.

"Byakuya-san lost a significant amount of blood due to his injuries. He sustained multiple, deep, stab wounds to his left kidney area, as well as some minor cuts and bruises. His ankle was cut as well. I have yet to learn the nature of how they were inflicted, but I can say with much certainty that they were not made by a zanpakutō. The wounds were deep and narrow, but the point of entry was sharp and circular. I know of no katana that can leave marks like that. Along with those, he also had four gouge wounds on his right side. It seems that all his injuries were made by the same weapon used in a different way."

She paused and Rukia brought her hand to her mouth in apprehension. Beside her, her grandfather's expression grew more concerned and his fingers tightened on the arms of the chair.

"I performed invasive surgery to reveal the full extent of his injuries and to stem the flow of blood. My team and I spent the night repairing the damage and I am pleased to say that it went as well as could be expected. His reiatsu is still much lower than I would like but he has regained some of his strength. I believe with the proper care and rest, that he should make a full recovery, given time."

She paused and locked eyes with both Rukia and Ginrei. Her tone was final, but still very sympathetic. "I must be honest. The additional risk of infection is high. There is a very slight possibility of renal failure since the damage was severe. I was able to save his kidney, but kidō and surgery can only do so much for him. We will continue to monitor him closely and provide the best care possible." She paused. "I'm sorry I had to impart such unpleasant news, but I will do everything in my power to return Byakuya-san to full health. Would you like to see him?"

Rukia nodded wordlessly. Ginrei merely had to glance at his old friend; his eyes told the female Captain everything she needed to hear. Unohana's eyes travelled from his back to Rukia's and nodded. She rose gracefully behind her desk and motioned for them both to do the same. She opened the office door without making a sound before turning back to her guests.

"His room is this way if you will both follow me please."

Unohana led the way to a private room not far from her office and the operating rooms. The silence was stifling; Rukia could feel her heart rate increase with each step. She prayed Byakuya was okay, but from the female doctor's expression, she wasn't so sure. She steeled herself; this was no time for doubts, Byakuya needed her now. She made her way inside, nodding to her grandfather who held the door open so she could roll the heavy suitcase inside a little easier. Ginrei quietly shut the door and went to his grandson's bedside. Isane looked up and inclined her head respectfully towards the Kuchiki's, but Ginrei's eyes were drawn straight to Byakuya. Rukia gasped.

Byakuya, still sedated from the combined trauma of his injuries and surgery, lay on his side. His white hospital kimono was pushed aside, revealing his pale skin. His normally unblemished body was littered with small cuts and bruises. His hair lay spread out behind him, still tangled from the attack. An oxygen mask covered his nose and mouth, while a machine at his bedside interrupted the silence as it displayed the Captain's pulse and reiatsu levels. It was distressing to see him like this, so weak and hurt. He had been positioned on his side while Isane had been redressing his wounds. The deep gashes had been sutured flawlessly, but Rukia's eyes widened at the sight of his broken and damaged skin.

At his side, the damage was as horrifying. The gashes were wide and shallow, unable to be sown; they had to be grafted with new tissue to help it knit back together. Thick padded strips of gauze covered the highest wound under his ribs. Evidently, Isane had been in the middle of changing them, but the sight of the blood-soaked dressing left Rukia and Ginrei aching with worry and pain where they stood. Rukia blindly walked to her grandfather's side as the fourth squad's lieutenant continued her work. Carefully she removed the last blood-stained dressing and Isane paused as Retsu observed the wounds. Her gaze was critical but betrayed nothing.

Ginrei's aged face hardened as he took in the extent of the damaged and wondered desperately what could have caused such destruction in such a seemingly effortless way. It was so rare to see a Captain as injured as this. Normally it only happened for three reasons; they were seriously overpowered; they were caught unawares, or they stepped in the way of an attack willingly. A feeling of dread coursed through him. He hadn't felt such a thing in so long, but what he was seeing was truly unnerving. What had happened out there? It was incomprehensible to see his grandson so marred and lifeless. He had hoped he would never again have to witness such a distressing scene after the death of his son, Sōjun. The same sense of helplessness accompanied the sight in front of him, but he was damned if he would lose Byakuya as well. He stood at the side of the bed as he mulled it all over in his mind. He needed to know what had happened out there.

As Isane continued applying fresh dressings, Rukia looked on silently. Her eyes were fixed in Isane's hands. This did not go unnoticed by Unohana, who donned an expression of both sympathy and worry. She had expected this. There was no doubt that Rukia had seen her fair share of injured shinigami but seeing her brother in a state like this would be overwhelming. The fact that she looked ready to burst into tears was an understatement and Retsu watched as she tore her eyes away from Isane once the last bandage had been applied. When Rukia mindlessly went to the locker and began opening the case, Retsu felt another strong stab of pity for her. She looked at her watch.

"Rukia…" she began quietly, "perhaps it would be best if you take a few days off active duty, you know… take a little personal time. I can see that this is difficult for you and your grandfather; I can speak to Ukitake Taichou if you like." She waited patiently, her eyes showing warmth and understanding for the situation and what the two family members must be feeling. Rukia did her best to hold back her tears but wasn't doing very well so she nodded in response to the Captain. Ginrei managed a small smile at her consideration before sitting in one of the comfortable armchairs.

Retsu watched them both and her heart went out to them. She turned to Isane.

"Call me if there is any change." Her voice remained soft and serene. Isane nodded, showing her full understanding and her Captain turned to leave. Just before she did, she bowed her head to the Kuchiki's and stepped outside without a sound.

Rukia finished placing Byakuya's items and clothing inside the locker and rubbed her eyes. Maybe a little air would be a good idea.

---

The paper cup of coffee was freezing now. Rukia didn't know exactly how long she'd been sitting in an armchair in the corridor. The tears refused to abate, and she sat, numb, unable to see two feet in front of her. The images replayed in her head of her brother splayed out, unconscious and the blood, there was so much blood… she didn't even know how he was still alive, honestly. Was it only a matter of time? Were Renji's efforts for nothing? Why was it always Byakuya? Hadn't he suffered enough?

She wiped her eyes for what seemed like the millionth time. Deeply, she breathed. She had to believe in her brother and have faith in Unohana's words.

It had taken some time before she could bring herself to leave her brother and grandfather's side. Ginrei hadn't said very much. Mostly, he seemed comforted by the steady beeps of the machine that monitored Byakuya's heartbeat and reiatsu levels but didn't move other than to stretch his legs. All the waiting around seemed to make the minutes' drag and the whole situation more miserable. Eventually, she summoned the energy to move. She had to go back.

As she moved down the quiet corridor, sounds blended together, she mindlessly followed the path she knew would take her back to the room where he lay, where Ginrei was holding back his tears and where she knew deep down, nothing was likely to change for the better. Instantly, she berated herself for that thought, even though she knew she couldn't help it.

As Rukia got closer, she could almost hear her brother's heart beating, softly, but it was still there. A terrible pain erupted inside her and she unintentionally moved toward that even sound. A strong heartbeat, wait… no… not a heartbeat…

… footsteps…

… but how…?

Then she finally understood. The young officer slowly returned to reality and located the source of the interruption. Fon Taichou and Sasakibe Fukutaichou were leaving a room not far from her brother's and Rukia barely caught the end of what the Captain was saying.

"—need to get this information to the Captain-Commander right now. We'll need people on the lookout if Kenpachi isn't already out there. If there are more of them, it could be a real threat!"

The young Kuchiki froze. What information? More of what? The Captain sounded so alarmed. Instantly she remembered what Fon Taichou had said to Unohana Taichou in her office and knew Renji must be in there. She hastened a little and glanced at the name on the top of the file, hanging just beside the door; her suspicions were confirmed. As worried as she was about her brother, Renji had been her best friend since they met all those years ago and his welfare mattered too much to the young Kuchiki. Leaving her hesitation behind, she entered the room slowly.

---

As soon as the Second Division Captain and the First Division Lieutenant had left the room, Renji visibly relaxed. He could understand why they had come. Seeing two high ranking officers in intensive care was unsettling after a night on standard patrol watch. He knew their first move was to understand why and how they had become so injured and if it was a once-off occurrence. No-one had any reason to suspect whether there would be another attack or not, but just in case, serious control measures did need to be implemented. Now Fon Taichou knew how critical the situation could get, she had to inform the Soūtaichou. That meant another Captain's meeting.

She had questioned him relentlessly while Sasakibe Fukutaichou had taken notes. Renji held nothing back in terms of facts but hadn't revealed anything personal. The young Lieutenant had given as much information about the strange new enemy as he could remember and knew anything, no matter how seemingly insignificant he thought it was, could help Byakuya's treatment and the other shinigami prepare to handle this potential new enemy. The Second Division Captain became increasingly concerned as he had described the events of the attack in detail and he couldn't blame her. There were too many unknowns to deal with. No-one knew anything about this enemy or their capabilities or even their motive for attacking in the first place.

When the discussion ended, Renji flinched when she commended him on his quick thinking that had saved the life of his Captain, but she had been in too much of a rush to notice. He simply watched them leave, unable to respond, or ask if his Captain's condition had changed. It felt like his new resolution was falling apart, crushing his strength as it did. He had never been so ashamed of himself for letting Byakuya down. Now all he could do was wait and cling desperately to any shred of hope that Byakuya would pull through and come back to him.

He was so exhausted. When Isane had explained to him earlier that he had exhausted his reiatsu to critical levels, he understood the danger he had put himself in. Regardless, they both knew he would do it all over again in a heartbeat if he had to. When she was finished and about to leave, he had almost asked about his Captain's state, but the lieutenant found he didn't have the courage to ask. He knew it was cowardly, but he couldn't bear to hear the truth. Since no-one was saying anything, he knew things must be bad and he could feel something breaking inside his chest because he knew it was his fault.

Why, Byakuya? Why couldn't you have let me take the hit? Why did you spare me?

Furiously, he buried the hopelessness and fear, but regret clung to him, relentless and constricting. Renji knew this anguish and pain was the price he had to pay for his lapse in judgement. It was a price he hoped he would never have to pay again. Renji focused on his Captain's flawless face in his mind and prayed.

Please come back to me, Byakuya, please!

I need you…

Renji's head jerked towards the door as it opened, but he ignored the effort it cost him to move at all. When he saw Rukia coming in, his body froze with a strange mixture of dread and relief at the same time. He was happy to see her, but he could feel his guilt heighten. He squashed the feeling down vehemently and offered a small smile to his oldest friend. He couldn't think of anything to say, he had no excuses and no way to offer any reassurances either. He met her gaze and was surprised to see her smiling, even though her eyes were sad.

"Renji" He could see her trying to holding back her emotions, but her red, puffy eyes told him more than she wanted him to see. "I'm so glad you're okay; Unohana said you were really lucky."

The redhead finally returned her gaze in full allowing her to see his pain, his guilt, and his remorse. Her shaky smile vanished.

"It wasn't like that." The bitterness in his voice surprised Rukia and she paused close to his bedside.

"What are you saying Renji?" The young Kuchiki's voice was soft and direct at the same time.

"I'm saying," he paused as the anguish built up in his chest, "it wasn't luck that got me here. In fact, I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for my own stupidity, neither of us would." His pain intensified deep inside him and now his voice had a hint of true rage. But Rukia knew it was directed at her; she knew her old friend too well. Then he looked at her again and levelled with his best friend. "I was attacked because I dropped my guard. Byakuya saw the assault coming and pulled me out of the way and took the hit instead. It was my idea to go back to the rendezvous point to wait for back-up. None of this would be happening if not for my carelessness. It was my fault. It was… my… fault…"

Then his voice broke and he couldn't look at her anymore. His teeth clenched from the pent-up shame inside him. Renji knew he would see her concern vanish and be replaced by hatred. Knowing that the Captain was so injured because of such a stupid reason would be too much for the poor girl to handle. She would be repulsed by him now.

"I felt the same way when my brother saved my life. I saw him later at the hospital, and he smiled at me. He was glad I was safe. Though he was bleeding and hurt, his eyes were relieved. I think it was our first real conversation and afterwards, I knew he never regretted saving me. Still, I felt so weak and ashamed, but he was just happy that I wasn't hurt." Renji stared at his friend in disbelief. But Rukia continued in the same emotional tones; Renji could hear the hoarseness in her voice and the tears welling up in her eyes. "I blamed myself so much, but now I know better." She looked directly at Renji. "No one makes Byakuya do anything he doesn't want to do. He saved my life that day because he cared about me, not because of some stupid obligation, even if that's what he said."

Rukia reached over and took Renji's shaking hand and gave him a soft smile. "Everyone has moments where they make a mistake, Renji. He knows that and so do I. If he wanted you to get hurt, if he didn't care about you, he would have done nothing. I know you think this is bad, but he'll get better, I promise…"

Renji's eyes snapped out of their haze at her words. "You saw him?" His deep voice trembled, and a lump rose in his throat. "Tell me… how is he?" He choked and turned his tortured expression to the girl that was like a sister to him. "Please, Rukia…"

Though there were tears in her eyes, Rukia still smiled reassuringly at the distraught man.

"He'll make it, Renji." She saw the hope ignite in his eyes and she squeezed his hands. "He needs rest and it'll take time, but his wounds will heal. Byakuya is strong."

Then Renji crumbled and wound his fingers in his hair. His jaw was set trying to choke back his feelings, but a few tears still leaked from his closed eyes. Rukia drew him into a hug and cried with him. In the crux of her shoulder, his voice continued to shake with the strength of his pain and regret.

"I'm sorry, Rukia… I'm sorry…"

Still, Rukia held him. No matter how bad she felt about her brother, deep down she knew Renji didn't deliberately do this to Byakuya. It wasn't in his nature to be malicious. She reassured him with a few hushing words.

"It's okay, Renji, it's okay. What matters is that you're both safe now. Come on, Renji. Breathe. He'll be fine." She sounded so sure, but Rukia was really trying to convince herself of her wishful thoughts. She held Renji for a small while and took comfort in his strength. His large frame shook in her arms as he slowly released the fear he had been harbouring.

Slowly, the two friends parted. Renji was still visibly upset, but he was trying to rein it in. Rukia rubbed his arm comfortingly as he continued to sniff and gather his composure. Finally, he met her gaze again.

"Thanks, Rukia, I needed that." When she smiled, the redhead heaved a sigh. "No Rukia, I'm sorry. It's not right, you've got so much on your plate and I'm just adding to it."

Rukia quickly silenced her friend with a serious expression. "Of course, it's right. I'm a little glad you're as upset as I am, not because I want to see you hurt, but because it shows that you care about my brother as much as I do. I'd be insulted if you were in here laughing it up with some of your Eleventh Division buddies."

Renji couldn't help but smile, though his pain was still visible in his eyes and voice.

"Well, there's no fear of that. Ikkaku is terrified to come near me after yesterday." He grinned through his pain at the recollection, but Rukia shot him a puzzled look. "Don't worry; I didn't hurt him or anything. Just he was at the office yesterday and you know Ikkaku, Rukia. He started his usual crap, insulting me and Byakuya walked in and almost literally, had him wetting himself like a child. He ran away shaking like a mouse. Oh, you should have been there, it was priceless. He didn't even raise his voice!"

He laughed, finally beginning to shed some of the oppressive negativity he was feeling and Rukia looked stunned.

"You're not kidding, are you?"

Renji furiously shook his head as he finally laughed heartily and Rukia became swiftly caught up in his new cheerful mood. She could tell he was trying to distract himself from worrying, by having a little fun instead, so she followed his lead. Then she clicked her tongue in mock annoyance.

"Typical, I'm killing myself training, and you two are sipping tea and laughing at your own witty comebacks. Making grown men shake in their boots! Its abuse of power, I'm telling you!" She crossed her arms and Renji burst out laughing.

"Don't forget the hair-braiding sessions while we bitch about the stupid Captain and Lieutenant meetings we have to go to."

Rukia wiped a tear of mirth from her eyes at the new image in her mind. "I'm so going to tell him you said that Renji!"

Renji shot her a scathing look, which was purely put on for show. "Oh yeah? Well then, maybe I'll tell him that it was you who told Yachiru how to get into his house and that when he was really upset that all his prized carp were going missing, it was because of you."

Rukia went deathly silent.

"That wasn't my fault! She got me drunk at one of our Shinigami women's Association parties. I got them back, didn't I?

Renji shrugged. "Yeah. He still blames Yachiru and he still hasn't truly forgiven her. He still counts them sometimes, just to make sure they're all there." They shook their heads at the hilarity of the thought.

"Fine Renji, I won't tell if you don't."

They went quiet, despite the joke. It was a nice break from crying, but Rukia knew Renji was still hurting emotionally as much as she was and that sometimes, a little laugh was a good thing in a situation like theirs. Anyone else would have thought their conversation was inappropriate, but Rukia knew it was Renji's way of trying to make her feel better, even though he was still blaming himself on the inside. Only a true friend would try so hard and not curl up into a ball of self-loathing and pity.

She gazed back at Renji. "I think I'll head back now. I'll come back later though. I might go home and bake a nice apple crumble for us."

Renji smiled, and then as he thought about her comment, his eyebrows creased in thought. "Don't you have squad duties today?" Then he paused. "Or are you taking a few personal days?" Rukia nodded.

"I think it's the right thing to do. I wouldn't be able to think if I had to go to the squad right now."

Renji nodded in understanding. "What did Ukitake say?"

"I didn't speak to him yet. Unohana said she'd talk to him instead." Renji was annoyed at his assumption and lack of tact. He instantly thought back to the last night's conversation with Byakuya about Rukia and the situation that had occurred at Squad Thirteen. Renji knew the matter required plenty of official paperwork. He would have to build a case against the perpetrators from the ground up, and that wouldn't be easy, but for now at least, he could get the ball rolling. He turned back to Rukia, who had noticed his contemplations.

"I need to talk to Ukitake Taichou about something squad related, so if you see him, I need him to come here. It's not urgent, but I'd like to see him anyway." Renji paused as Rukia nodded.

"No problem Renji. I'll send him your way for all that official squad stuff." He shook his head as Rukia teased him.

"Oh please! You're giving me grief even though it's a gigantic secret that you'd love my job. Tch!" Renji's mock offence wrought more peals of laughter from Rukia.

"Right anyway, I'm going to head back to Ginrei, he's probably a little worried. If I see Ukitake-sama, I'll send him your way."

She was on her way out, but quickly turned and added, "By the way, do you need clothes and things from your place? I could come over with a bag later on if you like?"

Renji paused at her comment and decided it wasn't a bad idea at all. "Do, thanks Rukia. If I end up staying here for much longer, I'll need them. It'll be a great help." He waved as she nodded and exited the room, and suddenly marvelled at how quiet the place got.

He shook it off and decided to focus on what he would say to Ukitake Taichou later. It was important that Byakuya's wishes were addressed during his absence, and the matter of Squad Thirteen was his to deal with now. At the end of it all, he was doing this for Rukia and his Captain and there was no way he was going to let Byakuya down ever again.

---

Ukitake sighed behind his desk and stared at the piece of paper from yesterday. The neatly printed signature from the Sixth Division Captain had kept him up late and allowed him only a fitful amount of sleep. To say, the older Captain felt worn-out and troubled was a bit of an underestimation. Jūshirō was afraid of the repercussions of knowing this information could bring about. He kept playing out terrible scenarios in his mind of what would happen if Byakuya did decide to do something about what he'd seen. After all, Kuchiki Taichou was renowned in the Soul Society for upholding the law to the letter. The elder man bowed his head wearily and knew there wasn't much he could do about the whole sorry affair. He sipped his green tea and found it didn't soothe his plagued mind in the slightest.

A knock at the door brought a quick end to his internal reflection. Being a Captain for so long told him; a visit first thing upon getting to the office, couldn't be good.

"Ukitake Taichou?" It was a deep, male voice and Jūshirō didn't immediately recognise it. "Are you there, sir?"

Jūshirō sighed. It was undeniably not good. He moved to the door and allowed the shinigami entrance.

"Please, come in. What can I do for you?" Jūshirō politely held the door open for the young soul reaper and noted the turquoise sash across the man's chest.

"Thank you, Ukitake Taichou. I have a request from the Fourth Division Captain, sir."

Ukitake focused sharply on the man in front of him. "A request from Retsu-san? May I ask what about?"

The younger officer hesitated slightly before he replied. "Kuchiki Taichou and Abarai Fukutaichou encountered a dangerous unknown enemy on patrol last night, and the Captain is still in critical condition, sir. Unohana Taichou wants to discuss a related matter with you if you have the time."

Jūshirō's hand momentarily tightened in a fist at the words. He almost couldn't believe it. An enemy defeated a Captain, on standard patrol. He couldn't think of an appropriate reply other than to simply go along with Unohana Taichou's wishes.

"Yes, it isn't a problem."

The shinigami bowed and exited, leaving Ukitake highly unsettled. An attack that could gravely threaten a Captain was daunting to consider. Taking into account the Captain in question added even more severity to the situation. Jūshirō needed to get to the bottom of this quickly.

---

At Squad Four, Jūshirō walked down the corridors and passing a few medical shinigami as they carried out their work. His mind remained completely focussed on the matter at hand as he headed directly towards Unohana's office. As unsettling as the report was, a part of him wondered where this would leave himself and his lover, but after consideration, he thought it better not to dwell on it. He was happy that he was dealing with Unohana and not the sixth division Captain. The thought of having to speak to him after yesterday was frightening.

When he finally reached his destination, Ukitake knocked and waited respectfully. Promptly, the door opened, and he was met by his old friend and colleague. Retsu stepped back to let him in and he couldn't help but tilt his head at the amused expression on her face. When she noticed Ukitake's look, she waved her hand lightly.

"Don't think anything of it Jūshirō. I just can't help but think I should leave the door open. I've been up to open it a hundred times or so since I got here." She took a seat and Ukitake followed her example.

"So, things are very busy I take it?" Ukitake thought this would be a more polite way of asking, 'Why am I here?' Something about Unohana's expression told him, his tact was appreciated, but unnecessary.

"Quite. This attack was incomprehensible and sudden. I honestly don't know what to think, but Yamamoto is trying to get to the bottom of it. There may be another Captain's Meeting soon when more information is available. That's why I asked you to come here." Ukitake's thoughts went from dread at the thought of another possible meeting to, interested very quickly. Instead of replying, he simply nodded for his colleague to continue.

"For now, we have to wait for information, but I can't overlook my patients. There is no doubt that Kuchiki Taichou is held in very high esteem by all the Thirteen Divisions." Jūshirō was becoming worried again as her tone began to get more serious. He nodded once again and listened intently. "Jūshirō, it's a miracle Abarai got him to me. It was such a close call, but I was able to stabilise him. Whatever enemy out there now is dangerous. This won't end well."

Ukitake couldn't hide his shock as he leaned back in his seat. He hadn't any idea that things were this bad. He looked back at Unohana thoughtfully. "I assume then since intelligence is being gathered as we speak, that the first two divisions are involved?" The female doctor nodded.

"Yes, I gave my preliminary report, but have to continue to send updates. Fon Taichou spoke with Abarai and I haven't seen her since."

At this, both of the Captains frowned. They knew the implications and understood that whatever she had learned had made her rush to the Captain-Commander. Ukitake sighed.

"I see. I will, of course, put my Division in full alert. Thank you for the information, Retsu-san." It was implied, but he was also thanking her for the warning. He made to stand and Unohana stood also.

"There was one more thing, Ukitake-san." The older man turned at her gentle words. "Kuchiki Rukia. I think she could use some personal time until her brother recovers a little. Normally I would expect her to be quite level-headed, but in this case because of her family member being involved in the attack, she was, understandably, quite upset."

Ukitake nodded. "Not an unreasonable request, considering the situation. Is she here?"

Unohana approached him. "I assume she is still with her brother and Ginrei-chan. I will show you the way."

The two Captains walked along the empty corridor in silence. Ukitake couldn't help but continue thinking about the imminent threat to the Soul Society and the possible outcomes. It was so much to take in and there was so much about this enemy that they didn't know. Still, they had faced impossible odds before. Ukitake shook his head and banished the negative thoughts from his mind. Right now, he had to consider his rapidly progressing subordinate. A part of him hoped the situation would resolve itself quickly because the older Captain was honestly beginning to depend on the young Kuchiki an awful lot to supervise training sessions and handle some of the administrative aspects of the work. She had the makings of an extremely valuable officer and he didn't want to lose her. He sighed again.

Ukitake was jolted out of his thoughts by Unohana, who couldn't help but smile at his brief confusion. He gave her a sheepish grin.

"Sorry, Retsu. I don't normally become so complacent."

The older female Captain simply smiled again. "It is to be expected Ukitake Taichou. The Captain is just inside. I imagine I'll be seeing you again over the next few days. I'll leave you to it."

They wordlessly went their separate ways before Jūshirō knocked lightly on the door. He opened it unhurriedly, allowing any occupants' time to gather their composure, before entering slowly. The first person he saw was Ginrei beside the bed in a comfortable looking armchair. Courteously, Ukitake grasped the elderly man's hands in a show of support and reassurance. The former Captain's face was lined with worry and sorrow.

Jūshirō glanced at the bed and saw Byakuya and his eyes widened in shock. Retsu hadn't lied to him; Byakuya really was lucky to be alive. The Captain was lying on his back. Jūshirō had never seen the young man so pale. His hair had been combed but lacked his usual kenseiken. With the mask and IV in his hand, he looked peaceful, but the quite controlled breaths told him that it was a sedative at work and that there was nothing peaceful about the entire picture in front of him.

Ukitake began to speak in a quiet tone of voice.

"Ginrei-san, I can't imagine what you and your granddaughter must be feeling at the moment. If you need anything, please ask. I spoke to Retsu and I think it best that Rukia take as much time out as she needs." He glanced back at his former colleague and sighed, knowing Ginrei was probably exhausted. "How are you holding up?"

Ginrei didn't move but replied, though his eyes lingered on Byakuya's still body.

"I don't know, Jūshirō-san. It's like my son all over again. I'm afraid to be as optimistic as I was then, but Retsu thinks he'll pull through." Ginrei paused. His eyes glazed over as the old pain merged with the uncertainty of the present situation. The pressure and stress remained as it did years ago. Jūshirō rubbed the other man's arm comfortingly as he continued to speak.

"Byakuya was young then, not a boy, but still. He was always so passionate, but the pain of losing both parents changed him. He had his father when his mother passed away, but when he died, the full weight of leading our noble family fell to him. Byakuya became colder and worked long hours at the squad. I knew what was happening, but I couldn't help him. Before long, his mask of coldness he had created to protect himself ended up becoming a very strong part of him until he stopped trying to build relationships with the people around him and his bursts of impulsive anger and happiness nearly stopped. Our relationship suffered much the same. For a long time, I wasn't sure if he blamed me for not doing enough or that he had simply forgotten how to let people in."

Jūshirō's frown remained constant. He had never heard anyone speak about the young Captain like this before. Yes, he had mentored the younger Captain and knew him well, but this story was one he was only hearing now. He almost never heard Byakuya speak about his family and believed it better to accept it. Not everyone expressed their every thought and Byakuya was an immensely private individual. It didn't mean he didn't care, but it meant he bottled things up instead. It saddened him, but he had never found the right moment to have such a conversation with his younger student. He didn't feel it was his place as much as it was his grandfather's.

"When Rukia was adopted, she couldn't understand him. She knew nothing of the constraints of noble life or the demands that were placed on him. Despite this, she really tried to, but again, the pain he associated with losing his wife, made him put her at arm's length. Around the same time, Byakuya took on a new Lieutenant and for the first time in years, I had hope. Byakuya would come home and train in the dojo for hours. He was so wound up by Renji; he had to vent the way he had done when he was a boy. Then when Rukia was held prisoner things went downhill again. He and Renji were trying to kill each other and I thought I was going to lose my entire family. It took an extraordinary young man to resolve the problem and he guided them all in the right direction."

Jūshirō smiled at the memories of Kurosaki Ichigo and the unimaginable lengths he had gone to, to help them all.

"Finally, he let in Rukia when he saved her life and fought for her and Renji as well when the lad's actions finally got through to him. It's admirable to follow the law, but if it is flawed, it's also acceptable to revise that law. Despite his hospitalization at the time, I was so happy he was finally seeing the people around him and now those two bonds are strong. Now he comes home and eats with us and I can tell he's happy. He talks about work and all the little things he thinks are good and could be better. His sister is doing remarkably well in your squad and Byakuya's is working well. I wondered why he chose to go on patrol with only his lieutenant, but with what Retsu-chan told me, I'm convinced his instincts were dead on."

Ukitake had a slightly puzzled expression on his face when Ginrei finally looked at him. The older Kuchiki wore a look of immense sorrow mixed with pride. The two locked eyes.

"Think, Jūshirō-san. Why do Captains get seriously injured? Keep in mind what you know about last night."

Ukitake mulled through everything the female Captain had told him. He knew the three reasons why Captains could become so hurt and also knew that Renji was the only reason why Byakuya was still breathing. Still, he couldn't quite figure it out and he shook his head. Ginrei held his gaze patiently.

"Did you see the lieutenant?"

"No, is he as badly injured?"

Ginrei shook his head this time. "No, a few scratches. Retsu told you he brought my grandson here, right? But did she tell you, he wore away the soles of his feet when he performed Captain level shunpō and used up almost all his spiritual pressure in the process?"

And like that, everything clicked in Ukitake's mind. His jaw dropped. His disbelief was evident in his expression and his voice.

"My god. He did this willingly; he stepped in front of the attack to protect his Lieutenant. That's why he is so injured and why Renji went to such measures to bring him back. Their trust and bond are so strong that they literally risked their lives for each other. I can't believe it."

Ginrei smiled and the pride shone through his pain.

"Exactly. He is finally learning to live. Finally learning to let people in and now, we might lose him."

Ginrei's smile remained, but his entire body shook as he finally released the emotion he had been trying to control. Terrible sounds of grief left him as Jūshirō continued to rub his shoulder in support.

---

By the time Ukitake had left his old friend in peace, it was later in the afternoon. He walked down the corridors of the hospital and spotted the canteen. A nice cup of tea would help at a time like this. After he had ordered and paid, he went to sit down and scanned the canteen casually. Unexpectedly, he saw his young subordinate, Rukia, sitting down with a tray of finished food in front of her. She didn't notice him but glanced at her cup seemingly lost in thought.

Slowly the older Captain made his way towards the girl and called her name, to announce his presence in the politest way he could think of.

"Rukia?" His words were gentle and soft.

The young Kuchiki glanced up quickly and upon seeing who it was, jumped out of her seat and bowed.

"Ukitake-sama!"

Ukitake quickly motioned for Rukia to return to her seat; they knew each other so well, he believed them past such protocols even if she didn't seem to think so. When Rukia did sit, Ukitake could see her trying to compose herself and focus as much attention as she could, away from how troubled she was feeling. Rukia couldn't stop herself from wringing her hands on her lap, thinking that since he couldn't see, he wouldn't notice. Ukitake, being as aged as he was, wasn't fooled for a second. He adopted an expression of understanding, laced with deep compassion for the exceptional young woman before him. He took a seat in front of her and she finally looked at him.

Jūshirō almost gasped at the lost look in Rukia's eyes. No one as young as her should have to feel so aimless or miserable, and yet life was cruel. He shifted as Rukia waited for him to speak.

"I spoke with Unohana and your grandfather." Rukia's eyes glanced upwards quickly. "It's okay, Rukia, and don't worry about a thing. I understand that right now, your family must come first, so please take as much time as you need before you return to active duty. I wish I could offer more at a time like this, but I will be working with the other Captains to learn how this happened. In the meantime, if there is anything, I can do for you or your family, I'm here, okay? My door is always open."

Seeing Rukia's small smile and nod, reassured Jūshirō. He truly disliked these kinds of situations, but there was nothing he could do about it. He smiled in return.

"Can I get you another cup of tea? Yours is cold I think."

Rukia shook her head, but her slight smile remained.

"No thank you, Ukitake Taichou. I need to get back; I said I would before, but I wound up here instead. I'm still trying to sort it all out in my head, but I feel a little better." Ukitake smiled gently at her as she continued. "I ended up visiting Renji earlier, you see. He said he wanted to speak with you about something. I think it was squad related, but he wouldn't say. He just said while it was important, it wasn't urgent and that if you had a few minutes to spare that he would like to see you."

Jūshirō nodded, though his previous worries concerning the Sixth Division sprung to the forefront of his mind and mingled with his concern for Rukia.

"I'll go do that now then so I can return. Remember, you know where I am if you need anything, okay?"

As she stood and bowed, Ukitake moved closer and gave the young Kuchiki a quick squeeze on the shoulder, to comfort her. With concern, he watched Rukia leave, before heading away himself to see the Sixth Division's Fukutaichou. His unease grew with each step. Ukitake wasn't stupid, he had a strong feeling he knew exactly what Renji wanted to talk about. He really hoped he was wrong.

---

The first thing Jūshirō noted upon seeing the Lieutenant was that Renji looked as drained as he felt. Ginrei's words came to mind about his grandson and his subordinate; now, the proof of Renji's extraordinary actions wasn't very difficult to believe. He took a seat and waited for the extremely tired fukutaichou to speak.

"Thank you for coming, Ukitake Taichou. Please excuse the way in which I requested this informal meeting, but this information is best coming from me. As well as that, I will also be sending a seated shinigami to your office with an official request for a more formal meeting at a later time. I feel the Sixth Division owes you greatly and I feel you deserve better than this, Ukitake Taichou."

Renji paused and Ukitake nodded. He could tell, Renji disliked being so formal, but he had no choice as he was the highest-ranking officer in his squad, in Byakuya's absence and he had to act like it. The Lieutenant continued. "If this current conflict worsens, this matter will be deferred until the situation is dealt with."

Ukitake nodded again. His meeting with Unohana had told him as much. He also knew Renji, as well as the Sixth Division, were particularly concerned after being told the news of their Captain. They would certainly feel much better once Renji was back with them.

"It's fine. Wartime or not, we still have normal duties to attend to, if possible." He smiled and Renji took it as a sign to continue.

"Well, I had a conversation with Kuchiki Taichou last night and since he cannot speak for himself at this time, it falls to me to address his concerns about this issue. It's come to our attention, that there was a case of misconduct at your barracks yesterday morning and the Sixth Division will be conducting a formal investigation into the matter, to deal with the two parties at fault. Again, I apologise for the lack of formal warning or paperwork, concerning this matter."

The apology went right over Ukitake's head. It was the least of his concerns. He knew when he had seen Byakuya's signature at the bottom of the files, he was in trouble. But he didn't know who had dropped off the files. Since there was an inquiry, Jūshirō knew it had to have been a seated officer at least, and that person brought up the subject with the Captain directly. He tried his best to hide his growing sense of panic.

I was right! Byakuya knows about my relationship with Shunsui and he's going to expose us! What am I going to do? We could lose everything, including each other!

…I can't lose him…

Jūshirō knew from the look on his face Renji could tell how worried he was. The Lieutenant didn't say anything as he knew; it wasn't easy to hear something like this. He could tell that Renji also got the feeling that he knew exactly who Renji was talking about, so the lieutenant didn't need to name names. The Sixth Division had a dual occupation. They sesponded to combat situations as needed, or requested, by the Soūtaichou, and acted as the Military Police, implementing the law across all the other Divisions and was itself in turn, monitored by the First Division. The Squad protected evidence, apprehended criminals, and if necessary, held them in confinement until Central 46 could deliberate in court and carried out its own independent investigations. No member of the Gotei Thirteen wanted to be on Byakuya Kuchiki's radar for any reason.

Jūshirō swallowed and took a deep breath.

"Do you have proof to support your claims of misconduct?" Not even the Captain-Commander could take action without solid verification.

Renji almost frowned. Why would he be here talking to a Captain if he didn't? While he didn't have written statements from Rukia, Kiyone, or Sentarō yet, he wouldn't have asked to see their Captain without something to back up his allegations. Byakuya wasn't a liar, but he also wasn't stupid. Under normal circumstances, Byakuya would be holding this meeting and would have presented Ukitake with more than his word. While the Sixth Division handled matters like this professionally, Renji knew Byakuya wanted to be as kind as possible to Ukitake Taichou due to their history.

"Yes, we do. As I said, there isn't any official paperwork yet, since I was told last night. For that reason, I didn't get a chance to speak to anyone from our Division yet about it, but so far, I can tell you this much. Kuchiki Taichou witnessed the misconduct personally, though the two high ranking officers weren't aware of his presence. From what he told me; he felt their actions were inexcusable. He was both surprised and appalled by what he witnessed, especially considering the respect he has for you and your Division, Sir. "

Ukitake felt sick. Now he knew the person that had seen them was Byakuya himself. The how's and why's didn't matter. There was nothing more to be done; it was over.

I need to see Shunsui, even if this is the end. I can't bear any more of this…

He couldn't stop his hands from shaking on his knees or the tremble that rose in his voice as he spoke to the silent lieutenant.

"I understand. I'll see you at the meeting then to discuss this with Kuchiki Taichou as soon as he has recovered. Thank you."

Renji, who was slightly confused by Ukitake's reaction, acknowledged the nod of farewell, and watched the older Captain leave. Although, he supposed he shouldn't have been surprised really. Ukitake had always promoted fairness and good manners among his officers. Theirs was a friendly and peaceful Squad and to be told there was going to be an investigation, into a breach of what he promoted, was bound to upset the temperate Captain.

Renji sank back into his pillow, utterly spent at having to adhere to such a problematic formal discussion. He was too worn out to think about Ukitake's lack of composure or how restless he had seemed to be. He didn't want to think. All he wanted was to sleep, so he allowed his mind to clear as he surrendered to the darkness and allowed his mind to drift off into peaceful nothingness.

---

It was dark. There was no wind, not even the leaves rustled in the trees Renji knew towered above him. The young man shivered and tried to resist the cold by wrapping his sleeves around him. It didn't help, but he shuffled along, one foot in front of the other. He moved quickly, not even knowing why he felt the need to rush. The earth dampened the sounds of his footsteps, heightening the sense of silence that seemed to persist. Renji strained to hear anything, but all he could hear was his heart pounding in his ears.

The darkness, the cold, the silence; it consumed him to the point where he could barely think, he was so uneasy and uncertain. Renji tried to squash down the menacing chill that clung to him tirelessly. Nothing he did made it go away, so he tried to move a little bit faster. Maybe if he could get to the edge of the forest, he could find somewhere safe.

Renji jogged, but almost instantly regretted the action. The surface of the ground beneath his feet seemed uneven in the obscurity that resulted from the lack of illumination. Only faint blotches of moonlight reached the forest floor, but it wasn't enough. This lack of visibility combined with the need to move more quickly, quickly found the young shinigami on the ground, sprawled in a heap.

Renji groaned as pain grew along his lower leg. He could feel the scratches on his skin, his hakama torn and his feet burning. How could he avoid tripping over roots if he couldn't see them? He cursed and wiped his brow, still biting back the soreness. A strange wet sticky sensation tingled across his skin. It didn't feel like wet mud, though it did have a coarse quality reminiscent of sand or gravel. But why was the earth wet and sticky?

Renji gingerly sat up, trying to ease his sore foot. He found a tiny patch of light and held up his wet fingers for closer inspection. Terror flooded his system when the light revealed the sticky red substance for what it was, blood. He quickly felt around close to him, following the patch of ground like a blind man. The next thing he felt was material, soft to the touch. Was it silk? In a forest? None of this was making any sense!

Renji continued his search in the limited moonlight and followed the cloth until he felt something solid, but it seemed to yield under his touch like it was soft in a way. The shinigami pressed the shape and moved his hands along it. His horror continued to build as he slowly realised what he was feeling under the silk. It wasn't just a shape; it was a body, definitely a muscular chest. Since he couldn't see very well, he frantically allowed his hands to travel further along the person's neck to their jaw. The individual had long hair and as he searched, he felt something in the hair that made him freeze. The stiff cotton under his finders arched in a very distinctive curve along the top of the figure's skull.

Kenseiken?

Then the person… No!

It couldn't be!

Renji's blood ran cold. Byakuya was the only person he knew that wore kenseiken in this manner, even without knowing this person had long hair and wore fine silk.

Words tumbled unintelligently from his lips as he tried to rouse the man beside him to no avail. It didn't matter that he shook the nobleman; he showed no signs of response or any life at all.

Before he knew it, Renji's cheeks were wet with tears. He tried to lift Byakuya but found he couldn't. If he could only get them to safety, they had a chance. Still, he tried to move his Captain, but it was if he had no strength or like Byakuya seemed to be heavier than usual.

Dead weight.

The horrific thought jumped to the forefront of his mind with sickening speed, like a snide voice that took great pleasure in his pain before fading back into the darkness. Renji banished the thought but couldn't rid himself of the feelings of helplessness. The lieutenant leaned over with disgrace. He was utterly useless.

A sound reached him through the darkness. Renji's eyes shot open and he called his Captain's name; was he really still alive and trying to communicate? Byakuya's face in the moonlight remained still and lifeless, but the growling sound was getting louder… closer?

Clarity came to the red-haired man instantly. The truth of this matter was clear now. Whoever had done this to Byakuya had returned. It was likely to finish him off too. While the shame, helplessness, and turmoil remained, Renji found that he didn't care about his own life. Remaining at Byakuya's side was the only thought in his head that made sense. Renji wasn't going anywhere.

Glowing eyes emerged from the trees, slowly, deliberately, with menacing death burning in their depths. A monster, whose fangs and claws were dripping with what he knew, was Byakuya's blood. Unwilling fear built up inside the younger shinigami at the sight.

…Aibou…

Hot breath fanned over him and Renji held his ground. Byakuya's blood-soaked the silk under his fingers and the loss and grief dug into his mind.

…You mean too much to me… That's why I followed you…

…why I always will…

Renji closed his eyes. I will even follow you in death, Byakuya.

…Aibou…

Then came a terrible bark, before Renji gasped and looked down at his chest to the claws entrenched just below his heart. He shook as he used the last of his strength to look into the eyes of the creature that was killing him. He wanted to see the pale face and stare into the evil deep in its eyes. Renji's dark eyes rose upwards and widened in devastation.

The outline of the beast quivered with scarcely contained savagery. Pale hair hung in elegant waves, past its shoulder blades. The snarl building at its mouth drew back in a vicious grimace. It looked almost like a leer of sadistic pleasure was playing at its lips. Its eyes bound him in place with the intensity of the inhuman brutality they held.

Icy, heartless agony gripped him before Renji collapsed against his Captain. As the slender, gaunt limb twisted around his heart in a final lethal strike, Renji gasped and felt his heart beat for the last time.

... Why…?

…

…Aibou...!

Renji shot up in his bed. An involuntary cry tore from his mouth as pain raced through his body at the action. His crimson hair clung to the back of his neck in long, heavy strands. Harsh breaths fell from his throat with each rise and fall of his chest. His stunned unfocused eyes darted in his head as scenes of his vivid nightmare tormented him. Flashes of Byakuya's body, his lifeless eyes, and blood-soaked haori, forced Renji's bloodshot eyes to dart to his hands.

It took the agitated shinigami a few seconds to process that his hands were undeniably, free from the stain of his Captain's ruby blood. As scenes of the nightmare began to lose meaning, Renji's rational mind reminded him of where he was and that he was indeed, in no immediate danger. Neither was Byakuya.

Relief poured through him. He relaxed against his pillows and ignored the damp fabric that cleaved to his muscular frame. He ignored the ache in his shoulder and the burning sensation along the soles of his feet. His body was too tired to do anything about it. He slowly felt his heart rate return to normal, but his mind continued to race.

'…Aibou…'

'We tried to wake you… master…'

Renji threw a sideways glance towards the window of his left, bewildered by the sudden sound that permeated the small room. His long sword lay across a small table near the corner. Its aura burned red in the low light of the room. It must be late evening, judging by the colour of the sky.

"Zabimaru?" Renji's voice shook with hesitation.

'Indeed. What troubles you, partner?'

A distinctly male voice held his attention until Renji was able to make out the form of Zabimaru. The Nu crouched near the katana in a deliberate show of calm and strength. The snake of the powerful primate's tail curled around to look at the shinigami directly.

'Master, tell us what's wrong.'

This time the snake chose to speak and Renji bit his lip in thought. His eyes closed, almost in a sign of submission; he would not lie to Zabimaru or hide things. That would be the very definition of lying to himself. But how could he explain his chaotic feelings towards Byakuya to his zanpakutō?

He sighed. He had no choice but to try.

"It's Byakuya," he whispered, finally. The snake inclined his head, causing a hypnotic twist to roll through its spine.

'Kuchiki Byakuya? Isn't he the wielder of Senbonzakura?'

Renji nodded.

"Yes. He is severely wounded from the fight last night. It's my fault because the attack was meant for me." Renji trembled as the whispered words left his lips. The large ape remained in his reflective state, content, for now, to ponder his master's words. The snake was not.

'He has been wounded in battle before on your account. You have also marred him in the past. What is different this time?'

Renji smiled. Zabimaru, a true representation of himself, also had his sharp, perceptive way of thinking. "That's right, Snakey. But a lot has changed. I will never raise you against him again."

His silence and his comments seemed to surprise his zanpakutō, so Renji confessed everything. He explained the entire events of the previous day. He admitted the entire exchange in the office, the actions, and the discussion on the roof in the village. He even divulged the sensitive conversation after the battle, word for word on both sides. Renji then told the Nu everything he felt about the ordeal, every private detail in brutal honesty that led to him carrying his Captain to safety. After his monologue, he fell quiet and waited for Zabimaru to reply.

'You pledged to protect and follow your Captain always and fight beside him. You saved him from death twice and your fear of losing him to his injuries now, is what troubles you the most?'

The serpent was blunt, which didn't surprise the Lieutenant. Finally, the ape spoke again.

'Aibou… It sounds like you are love with this man…'

It was not an accusation. It felt more like an interpretation drawn from the snake's words.

The room plunged into silence once more. Renji truly didn't know if this was the case or not, but it didn't matter. The thought of Byakuya dying because he hadn't done enough, combined with the fact that the Captain shouldn't have been injured in the first place, was the most torturing scenario his mind could come up with.

"It's true that things have changed between us." His reply was bittersweet, a result of his mixed feelings towards the events of the previous day. He had faith in the words Rukia had shared with him, but as a lieutenant, Renji knew better than to drown himself in wishful thinking. He knew first hand, the horrors of battle and the fate that accompanied the majority of those that worked for the Gotei 13. His worrying came from his lack of delusion on the subject.

"He did want to kiss me, but I don't know if that was a result of the heightened emotions from everything, we said to each other after the attack, or if he really does look at me that way. It could have been a whim for all I know, and I don't want to make a fool out of myself in front of him. I've nothing to compare it to; I've never looked at another man that way either. It's just, there's something about him that I just can't explain."

Renji trailed off, and paused as he pictured his Captain's face in his mind at the rendezvous point. It was just the way Byakuya had looked at him; his eyes had been so full of unreadable emotion. The feeling of the nobleman's hands settling on his waist had awakened something inside Renji and the Fukutaichou knew he wanted more. Still, the question remained, what did Byakuya want?

His additional uncertainties must have been exceedingly transparent, causing the ape to reply calmly.

'You underestimate him… partner. You are afraid that your love will be rejected, but you have overlooked many things he has done to persuade you otherwise…'

Renji frowned at his soul cutter. "What do you mean?"

The primate responded steadily, with poise.

'Byakuya acknowledged you. He defended your honour and lifted your self-confidence. He didn't turn away from you at the rendezvous point; instead, he invited you closer to his side and spoke to you as an equal…'

Renji shook his head in disagreement.

"That has nothing to do with how he could feel about me personally. He already told me in the office that he thinks I'm a competent Lieutenant. You're reading too much into this. As much as I'd like to believe otherwise, Byakuya only feels that I'm good at my job." His shoulders bowed in a defeated manner, but the primate made a sound that rumbled in his chest.

'There is more you are forgetting. If you take into account the measures your Captain went to, to protect you over the course of the encounter with the strange creatures, it is easy to see how much he cares about you. He took on the beast he thought was the only enemy, to spare you, Renji…'

The snake chimed in, adding his own thoughts.

'Don't you remember how disappointed he was to hear that you ended up having to defend yourself anyway? The Captain came across as being so concerned; Byakuya had wanted to immediately hear the entire story which led to you both becoming so absorbed in each other to notice the final foe…'

Renji was still torn. He wished that every word spoken by Zabimaru was true, but he still wondered if they were all grasping at nothing.

"I'll never forget how it felt, Zabimaru. We were so preoccupied with what had happened, and we thought we were safe. Even at the end, he was telling me to run. He was still trying to protect me…" Renji's face crumpled in regret and his previous mood resurfaced as he recalled some of the details of the terrible events.

"I remember the way his voice sounded, he was desperately trying to choke back the agony of being stabbed, but in spite of everything, I could still see it in his eyes. After I killed that monster, he couldn't stand from the amount of pain he was in. I was covered in his blood… I wish it had been me instead…" Renji broke down into sobs. "…why, Byakuya! It should have been me! It should …have been…"

Unable to complete his whispered words, Renji allowed tears to fill his closed eyes. Zabimaru crept closer to his bed and the serpent eyed him with pity.

'Master… '

The ape turned to his wielder, his expression showed compassion and understanding.

'Answer me this… Aibou… If you consider the way you feel about Byakuya, what would you have done if you were facing the same circumstances that he faced? Would you have allowed him to be harmed in your stead? If you truly loved him, what would you have done?'

Renji wiped his eyes with his sleeve, still unsteady from his jumbled mindset, and looked at Zabimaru as if they were strangers. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. His voice was quiet but sure.

"I wouldn't have wanted to see so much as a scratch on his face, let alone anything else. I'd have taken the hit in his place; I wouldn't have been able to bear seeing him suffer. He means too much for me to let that happen."

Finally, Renji gasped as he understood the point his zanpakutō was trying to make and he turned to the Nu, his expression showing quiet amazement.

"You're saying Byakuya chose to intercept the attack he saw coming for me and chose to suffer in my place because he has feelings for me? That's… unbelievable. There's one thing I don't understand though. Why me? How did he know that I've started looking at him that way? For all he knew, I could have rejected him."

The powerful Primate nodded.

'You may not realise it, aibou, but you returned many signals of your own. You took your Captain's advice and he saw that very clearly on the roof of the clock-tower. You showed considerable trust in him when you divulged sensitive information about Rukia and Byakuya listened. Your natural instincts spared him a painful death by risking your own life on his account more than once. Your vow to protect and follow him left the Captain speechless.'

Renji could barely process the remarks and sat rapt in surprise. The snake joined in.

'It is also true that Byakuya was well aware of your devotion before the patrol even began, not just towards the Squad and your job, but also to him. He gave you consent to use his name. His intuition told him he could depend on you during the patrol, by your display of trust in him. He had no doubts, that together, there was nothing you couldn't overcome, and he was right.'

Renji smiled.

They really had come a long way and there were no doubts left. He knew now, just how much their relationship had changed. First, they had stereotyped opinions of each other, disdain, and no respect. Byakuya thought he was an uncultured dog, perfect for the Eleventh Division he had been briefly a part of. Renji saw Byakuya as a proud nobleman, who only cared about himself. Years of working together and fighting for their voices and beliefs changed these opinions for the better. Now they were a well-oiled team, leading a very successful Squad and were finally beginning to really see and understand one another.

"He was right; I don't think there's anything we couldn't overcome together. Byakuya is a dedicated and capable Captain and an excellent older brother. That's only two of the things I love about him. I adore his whole personality; he's thoughtful, pragmatic and at the same time, you can talk to him and he will listen. I think it's comical how he cracks a joke when you're not expecting it and have you splitting your sides laughing while he acts as if nothing happened. Mostly, I love it when he smiles; I want to make him smile like that every day. I want Byakuya to be able to let go and have fun. He deserves to be happy and he's been through enough."

Zabimaru's was proud and pleased at Renji's words and the powerful primate bowed his head.

'It's up to you then, aibou. Make him happy and never let him forget how much he means to you. If you can accomplish that, he will smile radiantly each day without fail.'

The serpent winked and flashed him a final wicked smile.

'Next time we fight, I'll let those creatures feel the fangs of my bankai. I won't let them or anyone else hurt you or Byakuya ever again, master.'

Renji laughed and watched his beloved zanpakutō disappear. The fukutaichou finally felt his worries recede completely. Now there was only one thing left that he needed to do. He had to see Byakuya.

Pushing away his bed covers, Renji eased himself up and onto the floor. The redhead hissed at the stinging sensation building around his feet now that he was standing. His back and thighs ached from overuse; he felt his shoulder twinge and he steadied himself for a moment.

He spotted crutches in the corner and walked unsteadily in their direction. Once he was able to support himself, Renji opened the door of his room and entered the dimmed, deserted hospital corridor. The lieutenant slowly made his way down the hallway, following the direction he had seen Rukia taking earlier and was grateful that he was able to ignore his aching body. Renji knew it wasn't wise to be up and moving so soon, but he needed to do this. Only then would he get any real rest.

When he found the right room, Renji paused and collected himself. Nerves were the last thing he needed right now. Turning the door handle, the fukutaichou let himself in. His eyes instantly focused on the occupied bed.

Byakuya lay on his back with his arms resting at his sides. Two fluffy pillows supported the Captain's shoulders and head. The machines at the side of the bed beeped softly and Renji saw beautiful flowers in a glass vase beside them. Byakuya's chest rose and fell with each soft breath he took.

Renji closed the door and limped to the chair beside the nightstand. He felt humbled almost and sank into the comfortable seat. The redhead's muscles relaxed and ceased their fierce disapproval of being used. He leaned forward and rested his weight on his elbows.

Taking a good look, Renji could see that Byakuya was very pale. He brushed away the silky strands of hair that were falling into his Captain's closed eyes and took care not to dislodge the breathing mask. Quiet sadness and regret seeped through him and he took Byakuya's warm hand gently. He couldn't hold back his furious resentment towards the beasts that had done this before lowering his head onto his forearms in defeat. This was his fault and his repentance and guilt were evident in his spiritual pressure.

"Byakuya… I'm sorry… I wish I had done more, and I hate myself for not protecting you the way I should have. I should be lying there instead of you because it was my decision to go back. I know why you did it, but… I wish you hadn't…"

Renji wiped his eyes on his sleeve and squeezed Byakuya's hand.

"Please get better… please… I won't be able to keep going if you die because of my thoughtless miscalculation. I can't bear to see you like this…"

Renji closed his eyes. The regular sounds of the machines comforted him a little. He hoped Byakuya would fight this and recover, but only time would tell. Renji kissed Byakuya's hand tenderly, unable to stop himself. If Byakuya survived, Renji would never let him down again.

"Please come back to me... Byakuya... I need you so much…"

The tiniest hint of pressure on his hand jolted Renji back into reality. His head snapped to look at his Captain's face and his eyes widened with elation. A smile lit up his entire face when the truth finally sank in.

Byakuya's grey eyes were open and gazing back at him.