First Division Captain's Office

Vale nodded, looking over the Soul Society as the Ayakashi wandered around the burning streets. Glancing over his shoulder at the sleeping woman. "She will fight...She will fight." Turning his attention back to the Ayakashi. Teruo appeared on the balcony's ledge.

"She's moved," Teruo grinned, stepping down from the ledge. "And he's located him."

"So, why are you still here?" asked Vale. Teruo nodded and disappeared from the room. Looking toward his Master, Vale smiled and bowed slightly. "I have to go." Vale walked over to the desk and took Kita in his arms.

Vale disappeared from the room, Kita in his arms.

"Because, he released you. That is why I question it." Alister chuckled at the woman. "Do you care for him?"

Kita's head shook as she looked at him. "That's a foolish question. Of course I care for him and what do you mean he released me? Released me from what? Being the mother of his child?" She jested with a slight chuckle. "That's a little hard don't you think?"

"Free from his brief moment of control." The god nodded as he began to fade from the room. "I will share this with you, he has gone to prepare."

"For what?"

The god shook his head. "You will not see him again until the birth of the child you carry. Until that time, I was told to aid you, if needed." With a final nod the god faded from the room.

"Dawning Days" continued:

Unfortunately, the location and/or status of Gin Ichimaru was the least of Kyoraku’s problems. Propped up with cushions and a thick blanket against the balcony of his reclaimed office, the sightless reinstated commander of the Gotei couldn’t even afford to stay in the Fourth Division for long. He had allowed Isane, Kita, and Yumiko one week in which to worry over him before he decided to return to the responsibilities given to him. And to righting what their loss had written.

He had to stand up again. Even if he were - for most purposes and intent - blind. Between Kita’s miraculous powers and Isane’s experience, they had managed to save them, but now both were weak and painful in the daylight. So until the Fourth Division wasn’t so crowded, he kept them bound with a dark violet band. There was too much to do. To much rebuilding, of their city and of their souls.

To stand against the resilient fear that Sousuke Aizen was playing yet another trick on them and that he or the dark shadows in his control would return.

Shunsui sighed.

The voice reading the report halted and a gentle hand rested to his cheek. “Too much?” Nanao asked.

Shunsui’s lips quirked up into a quiet smile. At least there was one thing that hadn’t changed. “No. I apologize.” He turned his blind eyes towards the man on his other side. “Continue, Kuchiki-san.”

There was a moment’s silence and a disturbance of the breeze in which the man nodded. And then continued reading that which he could not. Having one of the captains with him was also one of the prerogatives to staying off bedrest.

Though he supposed he could order them to let him go.

The smile didn’t get to form though. He didn’t feel like reforming some of the old lines of conduct with some of the facts that had emerged in the last two weeks. People were hurt, wounded, and angry still. And some of that cut deep.

Although due to his short imprisonment with those who had been fodder in the prisons, Vacanze was an accepted member of their society - an honorable substitute much like the Kurosakis.  Kita had enough immediate support and was a powerful enough healer that her place in the war was only questioned in the shadows. And then only if her bright son didn’t hear and hiss something back out of her earshot.  He really was starting to look and sound like his father. Or so the Stealth members told him. (They were unconditionally loyal to their leaders, Ashimitsu and Namori, and were constantly watching over her with no voiced complaints).  But there were enough rumors about Yumiko to make even himself uneasy about her safety - because she had loved one mastermind behind the current disaster.  And it would be even worse if it was revealed that she still loved and would stay by the other.  Far too many people wanted to see the others corpse.  And later down the line... he would have to find a way to appease them and end the feud.  Even now, there were still fights breaking out in the streets debating the honor of fighting vs. surrendering - if they could trust one another again.    It had to end.  

But not in execution. 

He raised his hand and Kuchiki halted again.  "Let's stop for the day," the commander murmured.  

There was a pause as his fellow noble folded the report and Nanao reached past him for something.  Her gentle hands wrapped a saucer around his hand.  "Drink," she whispered. 

This time he did chuckle.  So much had been lost.  So much would have to change.  And yet, some things had remained or recovered.  Hope was still flickering around them, batting at the residue of many long months of despair.  

He tossed the cup back and held out his saucer for more, not surprised when Kuchiki joined him.

Fade

Shunsui looked towards the door as the knock sounded, feeling out the aura before smiling at his lieutenant. “It is an unusual guest, Nanao. Maybe I should stretch my eyes a little.” His grin grew with her reaction.

The fabric shifted as she crossed her arms over her breasts. “As long as you agree to put the blindfold back on when they start itching - which you will tell me - or you’re blinking too much because they are dry. Isane will not be happy if she has to start over with them. And neither will Kita," she hurried on. 

Shunsui chuckled, not necessarily at the acerbic tone, but the underlying hint of worry in his prickly woman. Reaching up, he slid his blindfold off and reached for his eyepatch, keeping the weakest eye cloaked in darkness. Blinking his eyes as they adjusted to the change, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I promise,” he whispered.

This wasn’t something to mess around with.

He pulled back as she adjusted her spectacles. “Come in, Kira,” he called out.