Hogwarts Castle: Hospital Wing

The strong scent of antiseptic was the first thing that Rojuro Otoribashi noticed the moment he regained consciousness. That's when he became aware of just how sore he truly was from his battle against that Quincy. He also felt hands gently carding through his hair, a sensation he hasn't felt since his century in hiding with the others.

Where am I? He wondered as he shifted in the bed, groaning in pain. Rose struggled to open his eyes as the hand that he had felt left his hair. Yet he could tell whoever it had belonged to remained beside his bed. The reiatsu didn't belong to anyone he knew but he took comfort in it all the same.

Rose fluttered his eyes before they opened fully. At first everything looked so bright to him that it took a few minutes.

"Finally awake. How are you feeling?"

He turned his head at the sound of the voice that spoke to him. Sitting beside his bed was a man with shoulder length pitch black hair and matching eyes. His attire was odd but Rojuro thought it suited the man.

Rose forced himself to sit up with a wince of pain. "Where am I? Who are you?" He had asked as he once more looked at the man that was beside his bed.

Severus Snape watched his mate closely before he shut the book he had in his lap. "You are currently in Hogwarts, the Hospital Wing to be precise." He set the book aside and stood up from the chair he was sitting in. "My name is Severus Snape. May I ask who and what you are? No normal human would survive the injuries you had."

Rojuro raised a hand to his chest and took note that the star shaped hole was no longer there and had to breathe a sigh of relief. Then his brows furrowed as he tried to recall what had happened after that.

Master, this man is trustworthy. You should tell him.

Kinshara?

Yes master its me. However we got here or whoever sent us here, they bonded us even closer than we already were. Me, you and the Hollow within are one, but I can still take my basic, Shikai and Bankai forms. All you have to do is summon me as if you would a Senkaimon.

He let his shoulders relax for a moment as he basked in the musical melody that was his Zanpakuto. A true artform his beloved Kinshara was and he was so greatful to still have her with him. Rose then turned his full attention back onto the man, Severus and lowered his hand to his lap. "My name is Rojuro Otoribashi and I am a shinigami." He knew he could trust in Kinshara and what she tells him.

"Shinigami? What is that exactly?" Severus snapped his wand into his hand and waved it over his mate. Rojuro Otoribashi, that sounds an awful lot like a japanese name. He mused absently as a roll of parchment flew from the wand. He snatched it out of the air and read through the results.

Rose shivered at the foreign feeling of reishi that traveled through and over his body. It made his aches all the more prominent. "We were originally called balancers, guiding those that have passed on to the Soul Society as well as cleansing those that have become tainted." He eyed the stick in Severus's hand and the parchment that had appeared. "What was that feeling just now? What did you do? How did that parchment appear out of that stick? And please call me Rose if you have to call me by anything at all."

Severus lowered the list in his hand and sat on the side of the bed. Holding up his wand again, showing it to Rojuro completely. "This isn't just a stick Rose, its called a magical foci. I am what is called a wizard and can use magic. That is what you felt just now and how the parchment appeared. I did what is called a diagnostics spell." He lowered his wand and showed his mate the list. "This is a list that tells me what injuries you have and how severe they are."

He put his wand back in his holster and ran his dark eyes over his mate. "In otherwords you are a spirit yourself who is tasked with overseeing the balance of life and death." Severus wasn't stupid, he had read up on such folklore. Up until now he had thought that it was all a myth. Now he was being proven wrong in a sense. "So how is it that you ended up near our groundskeepers hut, his name is Hagrid by the way, with a star shaped hole in your chest?" He was insanely curious about his mate, he wanted to know everything about him.

Rose once more raised a hand to press it to his chest. "I was fighting in a war. The one I was fighting with surprised me. After that it is all completely blank, I don't know how I got here." Kensei I hope you have survived the war along with the others. He truly hoped his fellow Vizored survived the war that Yhwach had waged against them.

Severus nodded and stood up then grabbed his book. "Get some more rest Rose. In a few days you will be moved to my quarters." He had no doubt there was more to that story but his mate had yet to actually know about them being soulmates. Which he was going to explain to Rojuro as soon as they could be truly alone.

"Why your quarters?" Rose asked as he laid back down in bed. Despite just regaining his consciousness, he was still tired.

Severus paused and looked down at his mate. "I will explain it all when you are able to leave this hospital wing I promise." He had no wish to hide anything from Rojuro but he wanted to explain in private.

"I will hold you to that." Rose said as he let himself relax in bed.

Don't worry master everything will be fine. I will watch over you as you sleep.

Thank you Kinshara.

He soon had his eyes closed and fell back into slumber. Letting his body and mind rest and heal from the battles he had fought in.

Severus ran a hand through his mates hair gently. I will not fail you as I have failed Lily. He vowed silently as he forced himself to pull away and leave the hospital wing. This time would be different, he would not lose his mate the way he had lost Lily. With that silent vow he left the hospital wing to finish prepping his quarters. His mate would be staying with him in a few days.