InuYasha Fan Fiction / Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Death Is Only The Beginning ❯ Chapter Six ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Bleach nor any of their characters. Those belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Tite Kubo, respectively. I only own any original characters that may appear.

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Death Is Only The Beginning

Chapter Six

It had been another long day for Kagome. Her legs felt like lead as she walked through the streets of the Rukongai. And she also finally understood her lieutenant's frustration with Captain Kyouraku.

Kagome had just carried a small stack of papers into the captain's office of Division when Lieutenant Ise had appeared in the doorway and quickly looked around the room. “Looking for something, Lieutenant?” Kagome asked pleasantly.

“More like someone,” the woman had replied. Finally looking at Kagome she asked, “Have you seen the captain recently?”

Kagome shook her head. “Would you like me to help you look for him?”

Nanao thought on the offer for a moment before finally nodding and waving for Kagome to follow her. “He's been hiding from me all afternoon.”

`Doesn't he always?' Kagome thought to herself with a smile. She wouldn't dare voice the thought around the frustrated lieutenant.

But she soon grew to share the older woman's ire as their search turned into a chase and then finally devolved into a game of hide-and-seek. Every so often one of them would catch sight of a pink kimono flutter around the next corner or see a shadow from above them. But it became abundantly clear that he was teasing them when they would hear little whistles to get their attention.

She'd been learning about Shunpo at the academy and had started practicing when she had the chance, but she finally got her first glimpse of what a master of the technique could accomplish. While Kagome was only able to accomplish small bursts of speed, Captain Kyouraku was able to seemingly disappear on a whim without tiring. Even Lieutenant Ise had broken a sweat by the time their little `game' ended.

They had finally tracked him down to the home of Captain Ukitake. When they had opened the door to see the two captains seated comfortably at a small table and chatting happily, Kagome had to take a step back from the fierce aura that surrounded her lieutenant. But it wasn't like their captain to let things end there, and he didn't disappoint.

Smiling at his beloved lieutenant, Shunsui said, “Ah, Nanao-chan, I can't thank you enough for helping in today's little exercise.”

“Exercise?” Nanao ground out as her jaw clenched.

“Yes!” The brunette captain piped happily. “An exercise to help our little Kagome improve her speed and endurance.”

Kagome was sure that the lieutenant would have a stroke at any moment. But when Captain Ukitake invited them to take a seat inside and rest, exhaustion caught up with both women. The men had laughed as Kagome all but collapsed in the floor to lie on her back and catch her breath.

Once her breathing had returned to normal, Captain Kyouraku had told her to go home for the day and get some rest. And even though her legs ached, the adrenaline rush hadn't quite worn off yet and she was restless. So she'd forgone the barracks and made her way into the Rukongai to check in on the children.

Kagome was greeted as warmly as always and had to answer many questions about how her training and work was going. Then Yui had accompanied her to the market and they'd gotten what they needed for supper that evening. She told the younger girl that she would cook and then shooed her out the door. Yui was still young and needed time to play and be carefree like the other children that she'd stepped up to take care of. As Kagome listened to the laughter in the streets she let out a happy sigh. She had missed the sounds of children playing. But she almost had enough money to buy one of the small houses in the first district, and she couldn't wait to move them closer to her.

But for now they all seemed content with where they were, and she would care for them the best that she could from a distance. When they had all been fed she told them stories of her adventures from when she was alive and soon they were put to bed. But Kagome still wasn't ready to go home, so she took to the streets once more.

The sun had set some time ago and now a bright full moon lit her path. Keeping her eyes to the sky, she followed a familiar route with the sure feet that her new training had given her. Gone was the clumsy girl she had once been, and now in her place walked a warrior-in-training. Kagome's movements spoke of a level of confidence that she'd never had before. She finally stopped walking when she felt the tall grass brush against her fingers.

`I wonder if Inuyasha would be proud of who I am now…' she thought. Kagome could remember how he used to complain about always having to protect her. She still missed her friends and family, but things were easier than when she'd first arrived in Soul Society.

Spreading her arms wide, Kagome began to spin around until she lost her balance and tumbled to the ground in a fit of giggles. Like Yui, she was still young at heart too. It had been a while since she had really made time to have silly fun. Kagome released a happy sigh as she closed her eyes and thought about the last time she'd lain in her favorite field.

Her hand found her zanpakutou once more as she unsheathed the highly reflective blade. She'd studied the smooth piece of steel many times, and it always seemed to glow in any light. The hilt was a dark blue with grey wrapping and the crossguard was a perfect, flat circle a lighter shade of blue than the hilt. Rotating it gently in the air with a considering look, Kagome said, “You're going to have to introduce yourself sooner or later.” Despite a tug in her chest that was almost constant now, she had yet to hear a peep from the sword. “I'm getting stronger, you know? And in the academy they told us that each zanpakutou has it's own spirit and personality. I'd like to meet you and see what you're like. But the teachers also said that a zanpakutou will only reveal their name when they think the wielder is ready.”

Sitting up, Kagome placed the sword across her lap. “Personally, I think I could handle knowing your name,” she continued. But when she still received no reply she sighed and stood up. Gripping the hilt with both hands, Kagome dropped into her first stance for her kendo practice. “But I guess I'll just have to wait until you decide that I'm ready, huh?” She smiled before swinging the blade. Smoothly transitioning from one move to the next, Kagome watched as the moonlight glittered across the blades edge.

She didn't stop until she heard a soft rustle in the grass behind her. Spinning around, Kagome saw Aya, the youngest girl she'd taken in, watching her. “Aya…it's very late and this is too far from the house for you to walk by yourself,” she scolded gently as she sheathed her sword. “You could have gotten hurt. What are you doing out here?” She asked as she walked over to kneel in front of the small girl.

Aya looked up at Kagome with large, honey-colored eyes as she pushed dark brown hair out of her eyes. “I woke up and you were gone. I didn't get to tell you by, so I thought maybe you came here,” Aya explained in a small voice. “You used to come here all the time when you lived with us.”

A warm feeling always spread through Kagome's chest when she heard the normally shy and quiet girl speak. She and Aya shared a special bond. The small girl was the only other person she'd met who retained their living memories. And though the girl appeared to only be about six, Kagome had learned that she'd actually died over fifty years ago.

“Well, come on then,” Kagome said as she scooped the child up in her arms. “It's late and you should have been in bed a long time ago. I'll take you home, but then I have to return to the Court, okay?” She felt a small nod in the curve of her neck and smiled as she began to walk back the way she'd come.

Kagome had only just reached the streets of the district when she felt a shudder run through her. She could feel the energies of three Hollows coming from deeper in the village. “Aya, hold onto me tight,” she ordered before taking off with the same speed she'd used to chase her captain earlier that afternoon. But when her aching legs finally came to a stop, she felt her heart plummet.

The creatures were destroying anything in their way without any real rhyme or reason. All three were large and moved mindlessly which only increased the damage and injury that they cause. The terrified screams echoing around her finally snapped her out of her shocked state, and Kagome's eyes flew to the lot where several houses—including her own—had previously stood. Quickly setting Aya on the ground, Kagome gave her a gentle push in the opposite direction as said, “Run…Aya, run and hide!”

When Kagome heard small footsteps grow fainter, she drew her sword. She knew that it would be another several minutes before anyone from the Court would make it out this far into the districts, but she was here now and that was all that mattered. With one last devastating glance at her former home, Kagome prayed, `Please let them have gotten out in time.'

Kagome quickly analyzed the situation at hand and began to put what she'd learned in her classes to use. `Three enemies…large, but slow moving…never underestimate your opponent…avoid direct contact with the body and aim for the mask for the quickest victory.' With one steadying breath, Kagome charged forward. The first Hollow was easily taken care of while she still had the element of surprise on her side, but when the other two focused their dark eyes on her she realized that she may have gotten in over her head.

Focusing on the Hollow closest to her, she was able to effectively dodge its attacks but couldn't find an opening to land her own blows. After a few minutes of ducking and dodging, Kagome decided to take her chances. Slipping under one long arm that reached out for her, Kagome was in the Hollow's personal space. She was able to jump and bring her blade straight up the white mask, but not before a spiked appendage stabbed at her and left a deep gash on her right thigh.

Kagome landed sharply in the street and tried to test her weight on her injured leg. She winced when she felt more blood flow from the wound and down her leg. Knowing that she wouldn't be slowed down, Kagome silently hoped that reinforcements arrived soon. She didn't have the speed to attack anymore, but she managed a successful defense for several blows. But then an attack came that was too powerful and threw her into the side of a damaged building. Kagome was struggling to her feet when something flickered in front of her and a thin crack appeared on the Hollow's white mask. In only a moment the cracks spread and the creature disappeared.

A body appeared at her side and Kagome looked up into the dark eyes of her captain. “Thank you,” she said her breathing labored. Her body was demanding that she rest and recuperate, but she forced herself to stumble and limp towards the wreckage that was previously her home.

Kagome stared at the splintered boards for a moment before she began calling out the names of the orphans she'd cared for. She barely noticed when Lieutenant Kotetsu arrived on the scene and tried to heal her leg. But she pushed the woman aside as her calls became more frantic. `They would have come back by now,' she thought. `They would have come back when I called…' Her eyes once more fell to the rubble before she rushed into the mess to search for any signs of life. She continued to call out their names as she threw splintered boards and bent metal out of her way.

Panic had clouded her mind so much that she never noticed Aya's return to the scene. When the small girl tried to run and help Kagome, a large hand held her back. She looked up to see a tall man in a straw hat shake his head sadly. So Aya turned back to watch Kagome and hoped that her brothers and sisters were safe.

Ignoring the damage to her hands, Kagome continued to dig until she finally came across what she was hoping she wouldn't find. There, buried within the debris, was a small hand. Kagome worked faster until she had uncovered the rest of the small body. Falling to her knees, she cried as she pulled the body of Shinji into her arms. Hugging the boy close, she didn't see her captain place a crying Aya into the arms of Lieutenant Kotetsu.

He walked over the debris and knelt down with the intention to comfort Kagome until something caught his eye. Reaching underneath some of the remaining wreckage, Shunsui tugged free an item that just didn't seem to belong. When he finally held it in his hands, he turned questioning eyes to the crying woman. “Kagome, what is this?

Kagome blinked away her tears to see what her captain was referring to, but she sobered the instant her eyes saw the white fur. Gently laying the boy down, Kagome gripped the pelt tightly in her fists. It felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her head. In her hands was a dusty, blood-stained, and wholly unmistakable baboon pelt. She began to shake as she breathed out, “Where did you get this?”

“It was underneath some of the boards,” Shunsui answered. He was growing worried about his subordinate's reaction to the white fur.

Kagome began to take deep shuddering breaths in an effort to contain the angry sobs that were collecting in her throat. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest and her entire body felt as though it would collapse in on itself at any moment. “No,” she choked out as she began to shake her head. “No, no, no,” she repeated until she finally couldn't hold in the emotion anymore. Kagome doubled over and buried her face into the musty fur as she screamed out the pain that had consumed her.

Shunsui quickly took several steps back from Kagome as electricity started to crackle through the air. But he was determined to help the pained woman. He stepped forward again and reached out a hand only to be pushed back by an explosion of energy. Isane quickly placed Aya on the ground as she started her incantation. “Bakudou Fifty-eight: Invocation of the Tracking Birds…”

Within the Court of Pure Souls a message was being received. “Attention all captains, this is Fourth Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu. A situation has arisen within Rukongai Western District Forty-three. Member of the Eighth Division, Kagome Higurashi, has begun to release and lose control of previously untapped spirit energy and levels are rising without restraint. Captain Kyouraku and I require assistance in sealing the energy.”

After Isane's message ended, another message followed from the Twelfth Division stating that they had an item that could prove useful to the situation. Moments later, Nemu was standing at her division's gates with the item at the end of her outstretched arm. She waited until a blur blew past her, colleting the item along the way, before she calmly turned and entered the labs once more.

Byakuya had been going over paperwork when the first message was sent out. He was out the door once he had heard Kagome's name. The young woman had left an impression and if she was involved in a situation that made a captain and lieutenant call for help, then he would give his aid. But when the second message reached his ears, he changed course towards the Twelfth Division barracks. Once he was past the gates of the Court he was nothing but an afterimage.

When he came to a halt beside the Eighth Division's captain, he took in the scene around him with a small amount of shock. Shunsui Kyouraku's normally carefree face was lined with worry and Lieutenant Kotetsu was breathing heavily as she cradled an unconscious young girl. Byakuya knew that the spirit pressure in the area would be too much for many to handle easily.

Kagome herself was standing in the middle of a pile of broken boards as she silently sobbed and choked. Surrounding here were tendrils of pink energy that lashed out violently. Byakuya watched as the energy began to dissolve the debris that Kagome stood on, and he knew he had to intervene before the situation became any worse.

As he stepped into the dense energy, Byakuya could feel the sorrow and anger that was consuming Kagome's heart. When he was close enough to reach out to her, he pulled Kagome to him and wrapped the eye patch he'd been given securely around her head. The untamed energy disappeared in an instant causing Kagome to collapse into his arms. When the pressure around them had returned to normal it had felt as though the wind had been sucked from his lungs, but he held steadfast as Kagome shook against him.

Isane quickly recovered and handed the Aya to Shunsui before rushing forward. She turned Kagome over in Byakuya's arms at quickly assessed the problem. Kagome's face was ashen and covered in a fine sheen of sweat as her breath came in quick pants and gasps. Staring into wide, blank eyes, Isane frowned when she touched a pulse point and could feel the girl's pulse racing. Turning to Byakuya she said, “She's going into shock. She needs to be taken to the Fourth Division as quickly as possible.” And before anything else could be said, Byakuya had disappeared with Kagome in his arms.

Shunsui sighed as he watched Isane disappear after the Kuchiki head. He hated that he hadn't been able to do anything to help Kagome in her time of need. He was about to make his way to the Fourth Division when he felt the movement in his arms. Large, honey eyes slowly blinked open to stare up at him. He watched as the small girl looked confused for a moment before her eyes began to water again. Situating the girl so that she was seated on his side, Shunsui asked gently, “What's your name?”

A few sniffles were heard before a small voice spoke up, “A-Aya…”

Patting the girl's back gently with his large hand, Shunsui tried to smile at Aya reassuringly. “Would you like to come back to the Court of Pure Souls with me, Aya? I'm sure Kagome would be very happy to see you once she's feeling better.” His only answer was a small nod as she buried her face into his pink kimono. “Then be sure to hold on very tight. We're going to be traveling very fast.”

Once he was sure that the small girl was secure, Shunsui was gone.

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In the dark forest beneath the sands of Hueco Mundo, a lone figure relaxed against the base of a giant quartz tree. The pale skin of a porcelain face stretched with a forming smirk. Malevolent ruby eyes opened to look at the few rays of moonlight that broke through the sands above him as he hummed happily. A smooth, masculine voice echoed through the air as it pondered, “I wonder if Kagome enjoyed my little gift.”

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When Kagome awoke the first thing she noticed was the dull ache in her chest. Slowly opening her eyes she blinked against the bright sunlight that streamed through her window, but she soon became alarmed when she noticed that the vision in one eye was dark. Her hand flew to her face and she calmed slightly when she realized that the darkness was caused by an eye patch.

As the more of the haze that clouded her thoughts began to clear, Kagome eased herself into a sitting position and took in her surroundings. She instantly recognized the room she was in as one of the recuperation rooms within District Four. There were several flower arrangements on a nearby table and Hanatarou slept curled up in an awkward position on a chair near her bedside.

Kagome tried to remember more of what had happened before everything went black. Pushing away one corner of her blanket, Kagome lifted the hem of her hospital gown to examine the wound she'd gotten during her fight against the Hollows. Her fingers traced over the smooth skin that had replaced the deep cut.

She reached up to finger the eye patch again and was about to remove it when a deep voice stopped her. “I wouldn't do that if I were you.” Kagome looked over to see Captain Kyouraku standing in her doorway holding Aya in his arms. “You might get in trouble with the good doctor,” he said with a gentle smile. Aya gripped a small teddy bear tightly as she began to wriggle until she was finally set on her own feet. She immediately ran across the room and climbed onto the bed to snuggle into Kagome's side.

Kagome wrapped her arm around the little girl as she looked down and asked, “Aya, where did you get this kimono?”

“She got it from Yachiru,” Shunsui answered. “It turned out that Kenpachi never bothered to get rid of some of her old clothes, so Aya inherited a new wardrobe.” He saw Kagome glance between Aya and himself and knew that she was confused about the girl's presence within the Court. When she finally settled her questioning gaze on him, he held up a single finger to communicate that he would explain in a moment. For the moment, he reached down to pat Hanatarou on the shoulder, gently rousing the young man from his nap.

Hanatarou's sleepy eyes looked up and saw the happy face of Captain Kyouraku who was pointing towards the bed. He turned to see Kagome sitting up in bed with a soft smile directed his way and he couldn't stop the happy tears that sprang to his eyes. “I…I-I…” he stuttered for a moment trying to figure out what action to take, but finally settled on one. “I'm going to go inform Captain Unohana that you're awake!” He scrambled out of the chair and ran to find his captain.

Shunsui watched Hanatarou leave before turning to look at Aya. “Why don't you follow him and make sure that he doesn't get into any trouble?” Aya stared at him for a moment before she nodded in understanding and climbed down from the bed to follow the nervous shinigami. When only he and Kagome were left in the room, Shunsui removed his hat and took a seat in the now empty chair. He looked at Kagome seriously for a moment before asking frankly, “Do you remember what happened in the Rukongai?”

Kagome thought back and tried to recall what she could. Shaking her head she answered, “Bits and pieces. But I have no idea what happened to put me in the hospital, if that's what you mean.”

Shunsui released a heavy sigh as he rubbed a large hand down his face. “We were afraid of that,” he muttered. Sitting up a little straighter and looking Kagome in the eye he stated, “Kagome, as your captain, I feel that it's my responsibility to be the bearer of bad news.” He watched as her visible eye grew wide and anxious. This was going to be terrible. “You were brought here after you fought against a Hollow attack in your home district. The Hollows caused tremendous damage to many of the surrounding buildings. A team was sent to search through the wreckage. Your home had been destroyed.” He hesitated for a moment before he finished, “There were no survivors in the destroyed homes.”

He quickly stood and moved to sit on the edge of the bed when a familiar electric charge started to spark through the air. Gripping a small shoulder in each hand, Shunsui steadied his subordinate before saying, “You need to calm down, Kagome. I know that you have to be angry and in pain, but what has happened has happened. Right now Aya needs you to be strong,” when that seemed to calm her emotions some, he continued. “Aya lost her family in that accident, too.”

Kagome felt the ache in her chest intensify. When it finally became too much to handle she leaned forward, disregarding all formalities, and buried her face in Shunsui's chest as she cried. But the large man didn't say a word; he only held her and rubbed her back and allowed her to purge the pain that she was feeling. When her sobs began to die down and she was able to breathe normally, Kagome gradually had the vague spots in her memory piece themselves back together. Then a memory of the white fur of a pelt made her jerk her head up. Kagome locked eyes with her captain as she said, “That attack wasn't an accident.”

Shunsui sighed, thinking that she was in denial. “Of course it was, Kagome. You know that Hollows can make their way to Soul Society sometimes. Sometimes the outcome is tragic, but there's no way for us to predict it or prevent it.”

Shaking her head fiercely, Kagome insisted, “That's not what I mean. The baboon pelt…did anyone get it from the house?” Her voice was harder than Shunsui had ever heard before and it took him by surprise.

“You were still carrying it when you were brought here,” he said. But when Kagome began looking around the room he continued, “I'm not sure where it is now, but I'm sure that someone has it. Why?”

Kagome fisted her hands at her sides as she answered, “Because that's how I know that it wasn't an accident.” She swallowed thickly before she spoke again. “There's nowhere else…nobody else that it could have come from. He knows where I am, and he wanted to send a message. That attack was meant to get my attention.”

Shunsui was confused but also very worried. This wasn't like the Kagome he had come to know. “Who are you talking about, Kagome?” He asked.

“Naraku,” she hissed at just his memory. “I…I fought against him when I was alive. The things that he did…” Kagome paused to look into her captain's eyes, hoping to stress her point. “Evil doesn't even begin to describe what he was.”

Shunsui watched in concern as the distressed young woman seemed to relive an old memory. Gently touching her arm to bring her attention back to him he said, “When Captain Unohana says that you can leave, I'll set up a meeting with Old Man Yama and we can talk about this some more. But for now, you need to relax and get some rest.”

Kagome looked as though she would protest for a moment before she thought better of it and deflated a little. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against her pillows and headboard before looking at him with a more relaxed—if a little saddened—expression. “Why am I wearing this?” She asked as she reached up to trace the edges of her eye patch again.

Smiling at the conversation's topic change, Shunsui casually answered, “We had a small problem when it came to bringing down your spirit pressure. Apparently that eye patch is just like the one designed for Kenpachi. Kurotsuchi had a spare in his lab in case Kenpachi's was ever damaged in a fight. It's supposed to have some kind of creature inside of it that consumes spirit energy. I'm not exactly sure how it all works, but it did the trick.”

Kagome paled considerably when she heard that there was something over her eye that was eating her spirit energy. But when she really focused on how it felt, she relaxed when she realized that it didn't hurt; if anything it felt a little tingly. Fearing that her spirit energy would lash out again, Kagome decided to leave the creature alone until Captain Unohana said that it was safe. She didn't have to wait much longer though, as Captain Unohana walked into the room followed quickly by Hanatarou and Aya.

The small girl once again ran forward and crawled onto the bed to make herself comfortable at Kagome's side. Captain Unohana stopped at the bedside and smiled. “I'm glad to see that you're finally awake, Kagome. You had us very worried for a while.” When Kagome cocked her head to the side, Unohana asked, “Did your captain tell you how long you've been here?”

Shaking her head softly Kagome said, “No, we…” She glanced into Shunsui's serious face before she sighed. “It hadn't come up yet.”

Unohana turned to look at Shunsui for a moment as well before turning back to her patient. “You've been here for ten days now. You released a great amount of spirit energy, and going into shock afterwards didn't help matters. Things could have gotten very bad if you weren't brought in when you were. Luckily, Captain Kuchiki was the first to respond to Isane's call and he was able to bring you to me before things progressed too far. He saved your life, Kagome.” Unohana watched as Kagome let the information sink in before she suggested, “You should be sure to thank him the next time you see him.”

“Yes, ma'am,” Kagome agreed softly. Sometimes when she was with the gentle captain she felt like she was speaking to her own mother again. “I think I have a lot of people to thank,” she said nodding her head towards the multiple vases full of flowers.

Unohana smiled as she said, “Yes, but I think you'll also particularly like Captain Kuchiki's choice in flowers.” She walked over to the table and picked up a small, deep blue vase.

As the vase was placed in her hands, Kagome's eyes widened a little before an understanding smile took over her features. The fragrance of the small White Hyacinth blooms wafted to her and she felt a warmth spread through her chest. `Maybe he took my words to heart, after all,' she thought as she held the arrangement towards Aya so that she could smell the flowers. Aya giggled as the sweet smell tickled her nose. She pulled the vase from Kagome's hands to place it in her lap so that she could let her bear smell them as well. The surrounding adults laughed lightly as they watched the little girl push the stuffed bear's face into the flowers.

Unohana saw how Kagome tugged at the straps of the eye patch to arrange them more comfortably. “I think we should be able to remove the eye patch, Kagome,” she said. “We didn't want your spirit energy to get out of control while you were unconscious, but now that you're awake I'm sure that you can keep things in check.” Reaching forward with gentle hands, Unohana held the patch in place over Kagome's eye as she removed the straps. “I'm going to pull it away slowly to that there are no flares or shock to your spirit energy,” she informed. When Kagome nodded her understanding, she continued to slowly remove the patch until it was safely placed on the bedside table.

Kagome blinked her eyes so that her eye could adjust to the light of the room. She rubbed it with the heel of her hand when there was a small itch, but otherwise she felt perfectly normal. When she was able to clearly see the other occupants of the room, she turned towards the head of the Fourth Division's medical staff and asked, “Am I free to go home now, Captain Unohana?”

The older woman gave Kagome a knowing look as she answered, “You've worked here long enough to know that after something like you experienced, you have to stay for at least one night of observation.”

“I figured that it couldn't hurt to ask anyway,” Kagome said with a sheepish grin.

“Once word spreads that you've woken up, you're probably going to receive quite a few visitors. Would you like for them to be let in or for us to tell them that you'd rather rest?” Unohana asked.

“They can come in,” Kagome answered with a smile. “If they take time out of their day to come visit me, the least I can do is say hello.”

Unohana nodded. “Alright then. But for now I want everyone out so that Kagome can get some rest,” she ordered as she started to shoo away the others within the room.

Aya curled tightly into Kagome's side at hearing the command, and Kagome picked up the small blue vase that was still in the little girl's lap. Setting the vase on her bedside table, Kagome turned back to run her fingers through Aya's soft, chocolate colored hair. “Aya can stay,” she said. “She'll be good and let me rest. Won't you?” Kagome asked the child at her side. When the little girl gave a vigorous nod, Unohana approved before ushering Shunsui and Hanatarou through the door.

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Later that evening, Kagome sat looking out the window beside her bed as the setting sun painted the white buildings of the Court in varying shades of orange. She ran her fingers through Aya's hair as the girl slept with her head in Kagome's lap. There had been many visitors, as Unohana had predicted. She had greeted all of them and thanked many of them for the flowers and well-wishes that had been given to her. During the lulls, when it was just the two of them in the room, Aya had told her about what she had done while waiting for Kagome to awaken.

It turned out that during the day she had been in Captain Kyouraku's care; Kagome suspected that he was thrilled that he finally had a valid reason for not doing his paperwork. But in the evenings she had been going home with Lieutenant Ise. Aya had also inherited the many clothes that Lieutenant Kusajishi had long outgrown, and the teddy bear had been a gift from Lieutenant Matsumoto.

Kagome sighed sadly as she looked down at the girl resting in her lap. She had failed in protecting her adopted family; Aya's brothers and sisters. Aya was still with her, though. And while she knew that she had to be strong for the only family that she had left, the quiet girl's presence made her loss easier to bear. She could still protect the one small child that had kept a string wrapped around Kagome's heart from the day that they had met.

There was a light knock on the frame of her open door and Kagome looked up to see Captain Ukitake with a small basket in one hand. “May I come in?” He asked with a charming smile.

“Sure,” Kagome said as she returned the gesture. “Isn't it past visiting hours?” She teased.

“Perhaps, but I was able to pull some strings,” he played along with a wink. Setting his basket down on the bedside table, he asked, “Have they brought you supper yet?”

Kagome shook her head. “Not yet, but I don't think it should be much longer.”

“I was hoping that you hadn't eaten yet,” Juushiro said as he began to pull containers of food from the basket. “I'm no stranger to hospital food, and I thought you might enjoy something a little more palatable. I brought plenty of food in case Aya hasn't eaten yet, either.”

Kagome was a little surprised at his last statement. “You've already met Aya?” She asked.

“Yes,” Juushiro nodded as he arranged the food on the small table and set the basket on the floor. “Shunsui brought her by a few times when he came to visit me.”

`Of course,' Kagome thought with a small hum glancing down at the sleeping girl. `I should have figured that Captain Kyouraku would take her with him on his visits.' She looked back up at the white haired captain. “Well, Lieutenant Ise came by earlier and took Aya to get something to eat. She offered to take her with her for another night, but Aya wanted to come back to sleep with me,” Kagome explained as she gently lifted the girl and tucked her in under the covers before moving to sit at the edge of the bed.

“He was very worried about you, you know,” Juushiro said as he quietly moved the table with the arranged food away from the wall and situated it in front of Kagome. “Shunsui,” he clarified when he saw Kagome's puzzled expression. He then pulled the visitor's chair over so that he could sit on the opposite side of the table. “I think he's become quite attached to you. Every so often, it's not that unusual for an officer to take on a protégé when they find someone that really calls out to them. For a while I thought Shunsui might have chosen Lieutenant Ise, but I'm beginning to think I may have been mistake,” he said with a small, knowing smile.

As he handed her a pair of chopsticks, Juushiro looked to the arrangement of white flowers that sat on the corner of the table. “Those are very beautiful. Who are they from?” He asked.

Kagome smiled softly as she glanced towards the flowers that held more than one meaning for her. “They're from Captain Kuchiki,” she answered.

Juushiro was quiet for a moment before he remembered himself and donned his usual smile as he said, “That was very kind of him.”

Before they began eating, Kagome looked at the man sitting across from her and said, “Thank you. You really didn't have to do all of this.” She paused as a memory from her living years surfaced and she laughed quietly. “I'm positive that I've eaten worse things than hospital food.”

“It's no trouble,” Juushiro assured as he handed her a container of rice and poured tea for both of them from a jar much like the one he'd used when they'd gone to the lake. “Though I am going to warn you that it's been quite some time since I've cooked, and I'm afraid that my skills may be a little rusty.”

Surprised for the second time since his arrival, Kagome asked, “You made all of this yourself?” At his nod, she smiled and commended, “It's not very often that you meet a man who can cook edible food and be completely open about it.”

Chuckling at her comment, Juushiro explained, “I wasn't always a good cook, but you learn quickly when you're the oldest in a large family. I have seven younger siblings that I needed to care for when I was younger,” he paused as if to consider a thought. “I suppose that I still take care of them today, but in a more indirect way.”

Kagome stared with wide eyes. “Wow, I had one younger brother and thought that he could be annoying. I can't imagine have seven younger brothers,” she said as a shudder ran down her spine. She could just imagine seven Souta's running around the house and constantly moving things around in her room.

“Five brothers and two sisters,” Juushiro corrected with a thoughtful grin. “And don't misunderstand—they could be very trying on my nerves and patience at times. But I also wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world.”

Kagome smiled before she asked, “And you were actually born in Soul Society, right?” She was very interested in him. From what he'd mentioned in their previous conversations, she had learned that he'd been alive for a very long time.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “I belong to one of the lower aristocratic families. Many people within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are from such homes. Captain Kuchiki is the head of his family which is one of the four noble households,” he continued to explain.

“So that explains why you're such a gentleman,” Kagome complimented with a smile. “I suppose growing up in an aristocracy will do that to you, huh?”

Juushiro laughed as he waved a hand at the notion and tried to clarify, “Please don't over-romanticize it. As I said, we're one of the lower households. But I was raised to believe that women should be treated with the respect that they deserve.”

Kagome nodded her understanding before she said, “Well it's still nice to see that some men are keeping chivalry alive and well.”

Over the course of their meal the conversation consisted of things that she'd missed while she'd been unconscious and in the hospital. Even after they'd finished their meal, the pair continued to talk late into the night and learn more about each other. They talked of their families and their hobbies, their likes and their dislikes. It wasn't until Captain Unohana was making her final rounds for the night that they realized how late it had gotten. They were both a little embarrassed as they received a mild scolding, but smiled at one another as they said goodnight. Kagome waved as she watched Juushiro leave the room with his neatly packed basket.

Pulling back the covers, Kagome lay down and got comfortable before she pulled Aya closer and closed her eyes. She smiled as she fell asleep with a blush on her cheeks and thoughts of a kind captain.

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AN: This is by far the longest chapter yet. This chapter is four pages and almost 1,800 words longer than the original. I had really hoped to have the revisions for this story finished and posted already, but I'll own up to why it's not done: Cinco de Mayo party. I pretty much lost two days that I could have worked on this. There was a party one day and was followed by the obligatory mild-hangover breakfast at IHOP the next morning. Then we (my fiancé and I) were talked into having another mini-party by the pool of the original party-throwers. I'm tired. But I stayed up late so that I could finish this chapter! I have one more day before I go back to work and I'm determined to finish the next three revisions during that time so that I can get this posted. Sorry for the ramble/excuses. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of the new version!