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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 9, 2015 12:54:51 GMT -6
Juushiro shook his head with a smile as he stood up again, setting a hand on Kiyone’s head to stop her flow of apologies. “I am sleeping fine, Isane. I visited the shop to welcome Sojiro into the world last night.” He chuckled. “The little one kept grabbing everything he could see, from my hair to Ichigo’s finger and Kisuke’s hat.”
The smile faded from his eyes though remained on his face for the sake of his third seats. “So I decided to make my visit earlier today and then take another nap.”
Perhaps the luck of his birth will help in healing another.
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Post by Captain Isane Kotetsu on Apr 9, 2015 13:09:54 GMT -6
Isane smiled briefly at the news of the child's birth but quickly faded at the thought in the back of her mind. She turned from examining Sentaro wearing a smile the best she could. "Please give my congratulations to Kita and the others. I am sure they are very excited about their new bundle of joy."
She turned back to Sentaro. "So are you enjoying your lunch?" Her smile widened eerily, her eyes closing and head tipping to the side.
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 9, 2015 13:36:49 GMT -6
Sentaro gulped. “Um…. yes, ma’am, captain, lady,” he murmured, ducking his head.
Beside him, Kiyone wrung her hands. "It was a gift...." she whispered.
Isane turned to her next causing Sentaro's female counterpart to squeak and come to attention. "What gift?" the healer asked.
Kiyone stuttered, not sure what to say, and then Sentaro sighed and revealed the cookie bag under his sheet. "Please forgive us, ma'am. I have only had one."
Juushiro felt slightly heartened by the comic scene before him. Even if the two stlll had moments of hysteria, tears, or silence, they were mending.
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Post by Captain Isane Kotetsu on Apr 9, 2015 13:45:35 GMT -6
Isane chuckled lightly at the two, folding her hands in front of her. "Promise me you will only eat that one. Then, after a good lunch you may enjoy as many of them as you please." She smiled warmly and turned to Kiyone
"You are very thoughtful, Kiyone. It was sweet of you to think of your fellow squad member like this."
Isane then turned back to Sentaro. "I am sure they are very good since Kiyone made them for you, but don't make yourself sick with too many sweets. You're still healing."
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 9, 2015 14:14:55 GMT -6
Sentaro didn’t seem to hear that last part. He was too busy staring at Kiyone, cookie back in front of him, looking down at it and then back to her and her quickly deepening blush.
“I thought you bought them from White Smile Caf-”
Kiyone threw a pillow at him and ducked out into the hall, hiding just out of reach in the hallway a few feet away.
Sentaro blinked in confusion. “Can I leave my bed now?” he asked.
Isane chuckled. “She’ll come back. Enjoy your cookie.” She stepped out and closed the door before turning to Kiyone.
Kiyone was crouched on the ground, beet red in the face. Isane looked to Juushiro and then knelt next to her, whispering something to her. The girl nodded and darted out of sight.
Juushiro looked to the healer and chuckled. “Do I want to know what you told her?” he asked.
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Post by Captain Isane Kotetsu on Apr 9, 2015 14:23:03 GMT -6
Isane chuckled and nodded her head, "maybe a little later then." She then walked over facing Juushiro, "Your lieutenant is doing much better as is Momo. It has been a rough few months for us all, but I am glad to say we are all on the right path to recovery. Even our Commander is slowly moving back to his old self." She chuckled softly with a slight blush thinking of his last visit to see her.
"That man needs to settle down, poor Nanao. I don't see how she has dealt with him for so long."
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 9, 2015 17:41:16 GMT -6
Juushiro chuckled. “I am sure it’s a closely guarded secret of hers.” He fell silent, thinking to the lieutenants who had suffered in Las Noches.
Nanao was being Nanao and steadfast in her work, and Hinamori’s recovery had really begun with Toshiro’s return, a slow, steady progress, according to the head healer. Rukia’s healing, however, was slower than the other two. Though Isane was right. She, too, was starting to show improvement. Hinamori and Rukia named the same attacker. The Seventh Espada Eisaku Koga.
Juushiro sighed as they walked towards the ward holding his lieutenant, his heart growing heavy again. The state of Hinamori had been enough for him. When Renji returned after the fires had been extinguished with Rukia wrapped in the Sixth Captain’s haori and Juushiro had pulled it back to reveal her black and blue battered state….
It was worse than even what the Ayakashi had forced on him.
Unlike Hinamori, Rukia had awoken almost immediately. Screaming the espada’s name, eyes afire, she attacked Renji, burning and bruising her childhood friend twice with kido before Juushiro had broken free of his shock and had restrained his lieutenant before she could turn to anyone else. She passed out and stayed in a coma almost as soon as he had cast the sleeping spell on her.
Only Hinamori’s past coma cast hope on her waking.
And when she had finally stirred again, two weeks ago, she started attacking any male that entered the room, except himself. Isane banned both Kurosaki and Renji from getting close until further notice. Both men hated the order and cursed her before seeing the sense in it. Ironically, it had been Renji who had understood first.
After that, she had started attacking reflections of herself and anything shiny. In terror? Or fury? He had collapsed more than a few times trying to reach her. When the strain had finally caught up with him, Isane banned him next. In the end, until Rukia started showing signs of calming, Isane had banned anyone save herself from the room. A combination of drugs, restraints, and long hours had finally brought her mind back from the hell in her memories three days ago.
He rubbed at his forehead. "Thank you again, Isane, for your miracles in Fourth Division. Uohana would have been proud of you."
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Post by Captain Isane Kotetsu on Apr 9, 2015 19:37:00 GMT -6
Isane chuckled softly patting Juushiro on the shoulder. "Why don't you go see Rukia? She has been getting up rather early these days. I am sure she is up and I know she would enjoy seeing you." She walked over to one of her squad members that had a file she needed.
"When you're done visiting, come to my office. I would like to examine you. It has been a month or two since I have." She looked back over her shoulder at him when the orderly walked away. "We don't want you relapsing, now do we?"
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 9, 2015 20:08:31 GMT -6
“That would be a good idea,” he admitted with a nod. The faces of his third seats flashed before him and he sighed. "No, we aren’t far enough long for me to go down again.” He looked down the hallway. “Thank you again for your help with her.”
She shook her head as she accepted a folder for her next patient. “I don’t need to be thanked every time you see me, Juushiro. Everyone knows you worry and you’re grateful for all healing.” She closed the folder. “I need to return to work now. Call if you have any trouble, but I do believe we are past the worst of it.” She set a hand on his shoulder. “Rukia needs to see people. She can’t avoid them, and I can’t keep her brother away forever either.”
Juushiro chuckled. “True. Even you would have trouble with the Kuchiki head.” He bowed his head and took a breath. “Let’s hope Sojiro’s birth lends us some luck.” He continued down the hall, leaving Isane behind.
Please let me be able to help her this time.
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Post by Lt. Rukia Kuchiki on Apr 10, 2015 11:29:07 GMT -6
Rukia twirled her oatmeal around with her spoon, appetite fading after a few bites. She considered staying silent about that but sighed and grabbed the notebook that Captain Kotetsu had left her. Ignoring her notes on yesterday, she scrawled the current date and then made a dash, writing down 'waking up early' and 'loss of appetite' next to it. She scowled at her untidy scrawl. But her hands were still shaking. Probably from the time that was still blurry to her. She closed the notebook and slid it back under the desk in the shelf. Crossing her arms before her, she let her mind drift. The monitor behind her beeped at her slight rise of irritation. She ignored it, recalling Kotetsu's summary of her treatment, including a drug that dulled any aggression in her system.
She pulled out another item from the shelf of the desk. A small hand mirror. She took a breath and flipped it open. For a few moments, she stared at her dim image... and then closed it again. Taking a breath. Flashes of her attacker hadn't been as prevalent that time....
Again.
Good.
She looked at the oatmeal again as her stomach growled and picked it up, spooning the slop out and then back in. Her eyes narrowed and she took another bite.
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 10, 2015 11:44:15 GMT -6
Juushiro knocked softly on the door to Rukia’s room before entering, seeing his lieutenant make a face at her breakfast. He chuckled quietly and walked over.
She looked up and then back at her mashed up meal. “Hello, Captain.”
“Can’t eat?”
She shook her head. “Barely. Nii-san would be disappointed.” She pushed her hair out of her face and then glared at her food. The monitor beeped twice. She spooned up another portion, paused, and then closed her mouth around another portion, making a face before swallowing.
Juushiro took the food away. “Byakuya would not be upset that you are having difficulties, Rukia. I promise.” She was silent. “Is it the food choice?”
She shook her head. “No. That’s the third new meal. I’m having trouble tasting mostly anything still, but I don’t want to stay like that.” Her eyes flashed for a moment before dimming. “I refuse to only taste blood.”
Juushiro took her pale hand. “One step at a time.”
She scowled. “That’s too slow.”
He chuckled. “For someone who was scurrying through the Rukongai as soon as she could walk, I am sure it is, but there are times you can’t rush.” He released her hand. “This is one of those times.”
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Post by Lt. Rukia Kuchiki on Apr 10, 2015 11:53:01 GMT -6
Rukia folded her arms around herself, suddenly cold. Her captain rose and wrapped the extra blanket around her shoulders. Rukia hunched down. “Rukongai was easier than this….” she muttered.
Her captain said something but she missed it, recalling a moment where she had almost been caught by a drunk woman with a cracked bottle but a redhead kicked her in the face. She smiled briefly. The woman fell right into a water bucket, and Renji swiped her purse.
She would never have hurt her friends back then, no matter how tough things got. That was Renji’s chip, not hers.
Renji.
She curled up tighter in the blanket.
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 10, 2015 12:14:24 GMT -6
Juushiro watched tears glisten in her eyes and then watched his lieutenant jolt up and wipe them away. “Rukia,” he coaxed gently, “you shouldn’t continue to stop yourself from crying. You have to let it out.”
“Not like that…” she muttered in the cocoon of warmth. “Crying makes you an easier target.”
Juushiro’s eyes narrowed slightly before he took her hand again. “Not here it doesn’t,” he murmured gently, giving it a slight squeeze.
Rukia looked down and then pushed the blanket away, sitting up again. “I am not ready for that yet, Captain. I’m sorry,” she stated in a firm tone, reminiscent of her usual voice.
“Don’t apologize,” the captain stated after her with a gentle smile.
“Could I have prevented…” Rukia stopped, her eyes narrowed, and she continued. “Could I have stopped him from kidnapping me?”
Juushiro sighed, his heart aching, and slowly pulled his lieutenant into an embrace. “That espada managed to capture me twice, Rukia. You are not at fault. I promise you that.”
"Would he.... be able to kidnap Nii-san?"
Jushiro was silent for a few moments. "He was a creation of speed and trickery. I believe he could capture him, and Byakuya-san would have fought as soon as he realized what had happened."
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Post by Lt. Rukia Kuchiki on Apr 10, 2015 12:29:33 GMT -6
Rukia nodded, content as she leaned against her captain. She closed her eyes, listening to his words and letting a tear escape her control. She did as Nii-san would. She was not anything less than him for fighting….
“Run all you want, Rukia. You can’t escape. Yours is a borrowed strength.” Koga’s words echoed in her mind. “You aren’t as strong as a true Kuchiki…”
“Rukia, are you alright?” Her captain’s worried call reached her and broke through the echoing voice in her head. “You became unresponsive.”
She nodded slowly. “I’m alright. Just some bad memories.” She sat up and gave a watery smile. “I think… I am getting tired again.”
Ukitake nodded and rose from the corner of the bed, folding the extra blanket back up before kissing her foreahead and then tucking her in. As he turned to leave, she grabbed his haori.
“Please stay…”
His gentle smile warmed her chilling mind as he took his seat again and took her hand. “Sleep, Rukia, you are safe.”
She nodded…. and dozed off.
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Apr 10, 2015 12:33:44 GMT -6
As the monitor's screen changed colors to signify that Rukia had fallen asleep, Juushiro turned to the door. "You can come in now, Kuchiki-san," he called out. "She's asleep, if that is what you were waiting for."
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